Sunday July 19 (add family Sunday picture)

Madi and Logan made it home safely.

They traveled great the whole way, and then got stuck in traffic just outside of Boise, for an hour!!!

Poor kiddos!!!

Once they got home, and they got the truck unpacked, we opened presents for Elsie.

She had the best reactions!

So much screaming and then turning to cries 😂

Good cry!

We opened presents because dad has to work on her birthday.

Saturday July 18

I wasn't as productive today as I would have liked to be.....

But that's okay.

Dad went in for an overnight shift today.

I ran 7 miles, but I waited too long to go and had to run when it was pretty hot!

But it was still a good run.

We went swimming at the Morgan's.

Not much else.

Some cleaning of the house.

A lot of my time was occupied trying to figure out/look around for school options.

Our district offers a virtual schoolhouse, but I'm not sure if we want to go that route.

But also, our school still doesn't know for sure what is gonna happen until a week before school starts!

I just hate all this!!!!

We had a nice evening bike ride and then Port and I watched about half of spiderman: spider verse 😁

I have an early meeting tomorrow, so we didn't finish the whole movie.

Cassi worked earlier then went to roaring springs with her friends this evening, so she's not home yet.....

Madi and Logan got to Cheyenne for the night.

They will get home tomorrow evening.

Sounds like things have gone pretty good, except for Madi's hives and now today... Swelling in her hand and feet joints.

Hopefully it all clears up and goes away soon!!!

Friday July 17

I saw a huge butterfly at the gym this morning.

I think it's winds were injured, because it didn't fly away.

I ended up placing it in the flowers.

But it was huge!!!

After the gym, I worked in the garden some more.

I'm staking my zucchini plants this year and I'm excited to see if it helps keep the plants healthier.

Cassi had been working hard on a very cute gift for Elsie's birthday..... I'll share soon!

Dad and I had a date night tonight.

We ate at Kahootz.

Then we went to Sierra trading post.

We are looking into getting a backpacking backpack for me.

We didn't get anything yet.... But I'm excited to be looking for one.

We are gonna try and plan an overnight trip sometime soon, just dad and I and try and find something we can bring Elsie along.

I think we could get her to hike a good 4-5 miles... Possibly....

Anyway, it makes me excited to think about going backpacking!

Another 2 miles under our belts on the bikes with Vern and the boys.

We sure love hanging out with them!!!!

Thursday July 16

Sounds like Madi and Logan are having a really fun time in Virgina.

They will start their long trek home tomorrow.

They went let skiing today, played some games and Dave and Buster's, and then she got girl time with Logan's mom on the beach.

I got up this morning and went for a really good run with Makenna.

Then we worked on the garden.

Got the last row of corn planned.

Planted pumpkins... Finally!

Hopefully we have enough time for them to grow before October!!!!!

We also planted some acorn squash.

Vern was tearing out some lilacs, so I went over and did up a bunch of starts.

I think I might have enough to plant along the fence next spring!!!!

Yay!

Exciting!!!

After a bunch of work in the garden, we went swimming at the Morgan's house.

They are home to McCall, but told us we could swim whenever we wanted 😁

And then, of course or evening bike ride.

Porter started with us, but then he left to go watch Alone with dad.

Wednesday July 15

 Madi went to the gym with me this morning.

Cassi didn't come with me to put class, because she had a babysitting job.

I got home, picked up Madi and Logan and drive them to the airport.

They made it to Virgina safely this evening.

I can't wait to hear about how their trip goes!

Praying for their safety!

I spent the day editing pictures, picking weeds, and doing laundry.

And trying to get Elsie to do some chores around the house.

She was a bit of a stinker today...

But she did end up doing everything I asked her to do 👍🏻

Tonight Elsie got her 50th mile!!!

Woohoo!!!

Tuesday July 14

It was a good day today.

Cassi babysat Carley and took Elsie.

And Porter was at Cannon's house.

I actually got a couple hours with NO ONE IN THE HOUSE BUT ME!

Man, it was so nice!

I went on a good 5 mile run keeping a 7:56 min/mile.

I think the weight lifting class is helping me to be faster!!!

I went swimming at the Morgan's for a couple hours, then bright Porter and Cannon home with me.

This evening we had our ARP meeting.

Brent was on a call and was unable to join.

Dang, everyone likes it when he comes 😁

But it was a really good meeting.

Still taking about having a change of heart, softening of the heart.

Asking the Lord to remove your shortcomings.

I have a couple shortcomings.... Anger and judgement.

I've been thinking about the take we listened to on Sunday, slow to anger.

It's funny when you make a goal to do something, it all of the sudden seems harder to do!

I've noticed the anger and hate and irritation I'm feeling around all the things going on in the world.

All the different and opposing views..... Make me angry.

I think anyone who doesn't think like me is an idiot and it just doesn't seem possible for the world to ever turn around for the better!

Peace seems so out of reach when there are so many differing opinions!!!!

I'm thinking, how can anything work out.

Then it came to my mind, that video that President Nelson put out in February about learning how you #hearhim.

I was all of the sudden struck with relief.

There is an answer!

That's the answer....the world needs to listen to Him!

That does not mean we all need to think alike, but the spirit will guide is to what we need to do.

There are no worldly solutions to the problems of the world.

The solutions have to be spiritual.

It has to come from him. 

I think about the timing of that message from President Nelson.... February, right before the US got but with Covid.

I'd that doesn't prove to you that he is a true prophet of the Lord, I don't know what will....

That he gave us the clue we need to fix EVERYTHING that is going on.

That he encouraged us to learn the way we are spelled to by the spirit, so that in these dark and lonely times, we will know how we can be guided.

Hate doesn't come from the Lord.

Anger doesn't come from the Lord.

Those are not ways to #hearhim.

So, it's not easy, but we need to pay attention.

We need to not hate or judge..... We need to love as He would love and listen and act on the promptings we receive ❤️

If only we could get the whole world to join in!!!

After the meeting, Elsie and I rode with Vern again.

And bubble and Eldon were our cheering section at their house.

She has 48 miles..... She will hit 50 tomorrow!!!

So cool!

I'm so proud of her for sticking to this goal.

I really owe it to Vern!!!

I don't think she would be as 'gung ho' about it if Vern wasn't riding with us!!!!

She's the best!!!

Monday July 13

Went to the gym with Madi and then with Cassi 😁

Then we all went, not Madi and Logan... They had to work, to the young's house for lunch and a swim.

So good to see them and spend time with them.

We really don't get enough time together!

So grateful for their friendship.

B back at home, the boys cut down the line tree that had died.

It looks nice and open in that space now!

Bummer to lose the tree, but it's nice to have the dead gone!

The rest of the day was spent cheating up the branches.

I have big plans for the grape gazebo thing...

Probably won't happen this year, but I did start cutting out some random plants that have grown in there other than the grapes.

After dinner, I cut ports hair.

He really wanted the back to be faded the way Logan has his.

I think I did a pretty good job for my first attempt!

I should have gotten a picture of the very back, that's where you can really tell the fade 😂

Then what and I rode two miles, and picked up some veggies from Bubble on the way home.

So far, our get to bed early goal for this week isn't going the best it could be!!!

Maybe tomorrow....

Sunday July 12 (add family picture)

We had a really nice Sunday today.

Can was home a lot of the day though, she had a babysitting job.

We had home church.

We listened to the talk by president Hinckley, "slow to anger".

It was really good and we had a great discussion.

We did our fast Sunday today, since we didn't do it last week.

I made some bread to go with the jam I made yesterday.

So once we broke the fast, we tested that out.

For dinner dad made, he made some beef street tacos that were so yummy!!!

After dinner, Madi, Logan, dad and I went and visited the Capalls and the Clapsons and Madi delivered some bread to her ministering families.

When we got back, Elsie and I rode bikes with Vern and the boys.

Billy was with us for a bit, then he broke party of his bike...she couldn't finish.

Afterwards, we all hung outside and had the most beautiful sunset.

It was a lovely evening to a lovely day ❤️

Saturday July 11

I went to the gym with Madi.

Port went cherry picking with the Morgan's.

It was so hot today!!!

We didn't do much besides moving sprinklers around.

I also made a bunch of raspberry jam.

I also had some strawberries in the fridge, so I made strawberry/raspberry jam too.

So much fun!

All the kids except Elsie went to roaring springs this evening.

So Dad and I took Elsie out on a little date.

We are at Costa vida.

Then back at home I cut dad's hair.

And when the weather finally cooled off a little bit, Elsie and I rode 3 miles with Vern and the Edwards boys.

Fun times!

Friday July 10

Just a regular day...

Went to the gym with Cassi.

We picked up sticks when we got home with Porter and dad.

We also made a temporary chicken pen for the chickens to roam, safely.

Dad and I had a fun date night tonight.

We went to Gramercy for dinner.

Then went out to waffle love for dessert.

And, of course, grocery shopping 😂

When we got home, Elsie was riding her bike with Madi and Vern, Max and Zephyr too.

They did two miles, then Vern convinced her to ride another with me.

So she got 3 miles tonight.