Bella's band season and Christian's cross country season have come to an end. It's been a lot of fun and they have both done wonderfully well. Christian came in lower than he'd hoped but ran a great last race. 45th out of hundreds of runners. He's an amazing runner that's just a little too cautious to really push to his limits and so he often ends the race with a lower place and with a lot of energy left. He gets really frustrated about it but that's something that he'd learn if he had more practice. It really doesn't bother me. It's so fun to see him run and remember that little 7 year old who ran the 10k race with me all those years ago. He was so committed to training and giving it his all and it took every thing he had for those little legs to keep up with me. Now it would be reversed. He could leave me in the dust. He is really amazingly fast.
Figuring It Out As We Go
Who knew life could be so entertaining?
Friday, October 25, 2024
End of the Season
The Peter Report
Peter continues to struggle socially but in all other ways he's the very best kid I could ask for. He loves to go to museums, the zoo, and to bowling.
He loves to do school work and play math games I make up. He's reading at a late 1st grade level, so where a 1st grader should be at the end of the school year, but his math isn't as proficient. Therefore, we've been working on that. His favorites involve the math cubes or when I put math problems on hot wheels cars and he has to solve them to drive them around. Today I put the answers in parking spaces on the floor and he played valet, moving the cars into the spots where the answer matched the car's problem. Then we timed him to see if he could get faster. He was so happy when he did!
He Made It to Kansas!
His mission president and his wife picked Benjamin and all the other new missionaries up at the airport and took them to their respective apartments and areas.
Tuesday, October 08, 2024
The New Normal
With the school year in full swing, Benjamin gone, Kelly in a new job at Ford as Associate Director of Capital Strategy, and me teaching early morning seminary, we are slowly finding a new rhythm. Benjamin seems to be doing the best of all. Every week we get happy emails, photos, and some really great calls. We are so proud of him.
He is having eating contests (who can eat the most tacos/ice cream bars/etc) during down time, but mostly he's staying quite busy and learning a lot. He has been made zone leader and even willingly got another hair cut! He's definitely growing and changing. When we talked on the phone he even spoke some Spanish with me which was so fun to hear.
I think about him all the time but I no longer get weepy...actually that's not true. One time I cried - when I attended the school district's marching band showcase. The showcase is where all three local high schools come together to perform. For the last four years Benjamin was right there in the middle - tall, blonde, with his giant drum, and even bigger smile, leading the cadences, keeping the beat. He was never happier than when he was performing in marching band. Unless he was playing video games. :) This year, it was his friend Evan. It was Evan's name that was announced as drumline captain and Evan that led the band in cadences. Nowhere was my handsome boy in his red uniform. I couldn't help crying a little. It just seemed so wrong. I just kept reminding myself that Benjamin was doing something infinitely better.
Bella and Christian were in the showcase this year, which was wonderful. Bella always looks so good out there. She's got the perfect posture, perfect marching steps. She really stands out. I was so happy Christian could join too because the high schools invited all the 8th grade band students to join them for the national anthem.
Monday, September 23, 2024
Missionary Training Center Life
We haven't heard from Benjamin except for the email he sent when he arrived:
"Made it. all was super easy except for all the spanish."
He's not a man of many words but I very much appreciated knowing he was well. Thanks to the internet, I've managed to glean a little more information.
This picture was sent to me by the man in the bottom of the picture. I received a text from him telling me that he'd been in a lesson with Elder Dalton and Elder Brooks via zoom and wanted me to know "He radiated the light of Christ and taught with power through the Holy Ghost." I don't know how he got my number but his text made my day.
This picture is of all the missionaries who entered the mission training center in Mexico City the day Benjamin did. It was posted on the MTC's Facebook page. I knew they were going to take this picture because they post the new arrival picture every week and I'd asked him before leaving to please try to sit in the front row so I'd be able to see him well. The sweet boy obliged, even though I know he's not a usual front row sitter.
Friday, September 20, 2024
He Left A Hole
A piece of my heart went to Mexico today and a huge hole has been left in my life and home.
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
It's Official - We Have a Missionary!
Benjamin was set apart as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints yesterday. He spent all day today in on-line training meetings with other youth from all over the country. He met his training center companion who is from Irvine, California will also be serving in Wichita, Kansas, Spanish Speaking, so hopefully they can travel from the Mexico to Kansas together. He says he's really nice and they get along well so far. Otherwise, Benjamin has shown remarkable maturity. He sat and learned and focused from 2pm-11pm today (late start due to differing time zones) and it was amazing to see him so dedicated. We're super excited for this new phase in his life. We know he's going to be amazing.
Friday, September 06, 2024
Family Pictures
Before Benjamin leaves, we wanted to get one more set of family photos. I was super grateful my teaching partner in seminary was willing to be our photographer. She does an amazing job. I think they turned out very nice. The best part was Peter willingly posed! First time in multiple years of trying for a decent family photo with him. It made me so happy. Also, I'm so glad I got a last picture of Benjamin before his dramatic hair cut.
It's Getting Real!
The fact that Benjamin is really leaving for two years is starting to hit hard. This past week we had some big milestones - Benjamin's ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood and his first time in the temple to receive his endowment.
Awkward attempt to document the moment in Kelly's office after the ordination (we only thought to take a picture after other priesthood holders had left):