A little pick-me-up

I used to love to show people how strong I was by picking them up.  When I picked my dad up on the cruise I could see this picture of us when I was younger in my mind, but I didn't know where it was.  Caitlyn was looking through my old photo albums and found it.  Sometimes you just need to pick up your dad!

Last week I walked with Tiff in Provo Canyon. The colors are changing and it is beautiful!

I have been able to get back to going to the temple once a week.  I didn't make it much this summer, but it's nice to be back in my routine now that the kids are in school again.  I love the view as I walk up the hill to the temple.

Caitlyn had another busy tennis week last week.  She played doubles with Alisha.  They are so fun to watch, they are both hilarious and have so much fun while they are playing.

Tiff and the kids came to her match on Wednesday, that was so nice of them.

Grandma drove down for her match on Friday.  Caitlyn loved all of the support. 

I'm so glad Alisha told Caitlyn to join the tennis team.  Caitlyn has loved every minute of it.  She has one more match on Friday.  The coach is going to keep having practices and conditioning through out the year, Caitlyn is really happy about that.

Caitlyn is so grown up.  I look at pictures of her a year ago and she looks like a baby!  She is taller than me and gaining on Keith.  It is so weird to look up when I talk to her.  She is beautiful inside and out (cheesy, but such a great description of Caitlyn). 

I wanted to take her picture one night and she wanted to give me all sorts of poses instead of smiling. Caitlyn is so fun to be around.  At least once a day she will give me a big hug and say, "It doesn't count if you don't hug back girlfriend." A couple of weeks ago she was going to go home with my mom after her tennis match and stay at Amarie's.  The tennis match got canceled so I told her that she probably wouldn't be able to go to Amarie's because I didn't want to drive all the way down and back and I would have to take Hallee and Wyatt with me.  She was so sad, she didn't get mad and handled it so well.  After her reaction I wanted to make it happen.  My mom was nice enough to meet me so I could try and beat traffic (the freeway is so frustrating to drive on and always backed up).  While Caitlyn and Amarie were shopping Caitlyn bought me lotion from Bath and Body Works to tell me thank you for taking her.  She told me that she knew it was inconvenient for me, but she really appreciated it.  She has always been so thoughtful!

Finally a smiling one!   Caitlyn was finally home this weekend, even though she was wishing she was at Amarie's.  On Friday night she went over to Alisha's and watched a movie with her and another friend from tennis. She is working hard to make friends and strengthen friendships. 

On Friday Tiff took Wyatt to Boston's birthday party so I could go to Caitlyn's tennis match.  He had a blast swimming and being with his buddies.

I think the huge bounce house was a big hit.

Tiff is always great about taking pictures for me.

Tessa and Damon came to play with us during the party.  We loved having them here.  They are both so cute and so funny! 

After lots of playing we had a movie party in the basement.  They were all so excited that they stayed until after 8:00 PM!

Jonah and his friends were here Friday night too.  They couldn't think of anything to do, so Keith told them to get in the car and he took them to the store and bought them treats and then brought them back to our house to watch a movie.  He is such a fun dad.  He was making jokes and had these boys cracking up.  It was so fun to watch.

Jonah had to read a personal narrative for English.  He decided to read the book I bought about Dennis Schleicher and his conversion story.  He really liked it and we found out that Dennis was doing a fireside in South Jordan Sunday night so we went.

We stayed after to meet him.  Dennis posted this picture on facebook.  I was a little worried that Jonah would get restless, especially after two hours of Stake Conference earlier that day, but he said he really liked it.  Dennis is a great speaker and very entertaining, so that helped a lot.  He has such a great message.  I really don't understand why people are gay and how that fits into Heavenly Fathers plan.  I used to think that they chose that, but I know from listening to a lot of peoples stories that they do not choose it, which makes it all the more confusing.  I used to avoid things that didn't make sense and want to keep my kids from tough stuff so they wouldn't have to question and struggle, but I think the opposite is true.  We need to ask hard questions and we need to be open to everyone's opinions and experiences, that is how we grow.  I don't have the answers and that is hard, but I'm becoming a better person by learning and understanding different viewpoints and experiences.  The more I learn the more I think it boils down to we just need to love everyone.  We don't have to agree on everything to love and accept each other. We don't need to judge or save anyone, we all have a Savior, that is not our role.

There was a girl in front of us that met Dennis and she told him that she was so thankful for him because she "experiences same-sex attraction" and she is so scared that she will never be happy.  She said it brought her so much hope to see someone who is gay and happy.  It broke my heart to hear her, luckily she was there with her mom, which tells me she has support.  He was so kind to her and reassured her that she can and will be happy.  He told her that he wears his CTR ring on his ring finger because he is married to the church, that this is his family and it brings him joy.  I think it is so wonderful that we live in a time where so many people are so open and share their stories and bring so much hope to those that are struggling.

Jonah and I went to Costa Vida before his soccer game on Monday.  I have loved having so much one-on-one time with him this week. 

Last night for scouts we played glow in the dark bowling. You can't see Wyatt, but this is him bowling.  He loved it.