time

Hey.

I can imagine from your point of view that I am kind of a slacker. And you are so right. I'm sorry. I do have a hard time getting to update here. I totally admit that.

And I do not claim to be any busier than anyone else, but, holy cow, I have a lot going on. Let me share:

During the school year, I teach an early morning (meaning 6am) religion class to high school students every school day. It's a lot, but I really love it. (Boy do I have an even greater respect and admiration for full time teachers - they do so much!) And during the summer, that responsibility does not go away - I am reading the next book of study (Old Testament) every day, trying to finish it before school starts. Plus, training classes and reading materials, classroom prep, etc is happening, too. I had no idea how much I would do over the summer for a school year calling. Totally an awesome responsibility.

I am so excited for another project that will be happen in just a few weeks - Young Women's camp. (This is a camp for young women age 12-17 that is a super fun and spiritual 5 days. And very little sleeping happens.) I have been the camp director for the last two years and it is so, so great to serve in this way. I learned so much the first year and am happy to be a part of things again this year. I have been working with three awesome assistants since last winter - lots of delegating going on, but still a bunch of work to do and has been a giant priority since June, when daily Seminary teaching ended :). Camp will be finished up at the end of July - I am looking forward to the fun week.

Lauren, David and Max moved back to Michigan the beginning of June. Yay! - We are thrilled they live just about 45 minutes away. Lauren is not working since they are having a baby girl mid-August, so we have time to visit and play. Love it.

Alex, Lawson and their two cutie boys moved to Utah at the end of June. Not fun. I knew we would miss them so much, so we spent lots of extra time with them while they still lived in Michigan. And I was right - Saying goodbye was hard. I am excited for them for their next adventure - Hopefully they will feel at home there soon and flourish.

And, Colin is going to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a missionary in Salt Lake City and needs to be there August 12. We are so dang excited for him! And we are trying to help him get everything ready to go, which is kind of tricky since he is still living in East Lansing until July 25. And remember, I will be gone from home the last week of July? Ugh.

So, not a lot of projects going on for the small house. but lots of living and loving is, that's for sure. I love that our home is where we work and serve and plan and create and dream. Where sometimes we say "welcome back" and other times "we are going to miss you so much". And where we get ready for new adventures. Our home, like your home, is where it's at - Big or small, just how you want it or a mess of home improvement projects, owned or rented - there is nothing quite like the place we call home.

with sweet baby Daxx 

Um, here I am

Oh. My. Goodness.

Really, I am that blogger.

I have about a million things going on (like everyone), but the thing that falls to the bottom of the list is my little blog.

I have nothing to say, except dang.

As I bounce around the internet, I am loving all the Christmas posts on decorating, treats, gift ideas, ways to celebrate, yummy foods, advent calendars and so much more. 

I do not have that kind of post today. And I may not have that kind of post at all this Christmas.

Dang again.

If you needed to know that you are not the only one who does not have it all together at Christmas time (or anytime, really) trust me when I tell you I am all over not having it all together. 

But I have gotten really good at 'enough'. Enough really is enough.

 How cute are these cookies? 

They represent several fun hours goofing around with my daughter and grandson. We giggled and made some terrific memories. We ate way too much sugar and I even tried to feel bad about it, but I didn't.

I really do not like the idea of stressing out over perfection. I am so happy with enough, especially when enough comes with a great experience.

We named the yellow ginger bread girl "Macaroni and Cheese Girl" and the friend on the right "Ugly Fred" (even though I think he is super cute with his green jimmie pants).

Have a Merry Week Before Christmas.

oh, man

July 10.

Tomorrow is our son Colin's graduation party.

This is happening in the season of "everything happening". It's a good season, but, oh man, it doesn't seem to slow down. At all.

I think about posting but I don't have the photos ready. So I put it off another day, which, in this season, turns into a week and a half.

Dang.

Since the last time I've been here, we have had a million things going on -

I finished that wedding I decorated.

Colin graduated.

(And we are planning his before mentioned party.)

We have gone to a bunch of graduation parties.

I got my hair cut (Yay!)

I've been working on Young Women's camp. Two and a half weeks away!

I got a new church calling - Starting in the fall I will be teaching Seminary, which is an early morning (5:55am!) religious class for high school students. They meet every school day. Needless to say, I am a little overwhelmed, but lots excited. And working like crazy to prepare.

We've had visitors - mostly Lauren, David and cute cute Max.



Father's Day.

Youth Conference.

Tons of yard work - mulch, leveling the back yard, sod, planting 17 little arborvitaes, cutting down a tree, building a tree fort, and everything else that just comes along with yard work.

Hero and I taking a few days with Colin and Liam to go camping and to Michigan Adventure. (Which by the way, we all totally recommend. Nice park, great rides and not super crowded.) The camping was pretty awesome, too, right on Lake Michigan.

4th of July.

Kids needing stuff.

Work. And overtime.

I think this list could keep going, but you get the idea.

I wouldn't trade what I have going on for anything - Although it's a lot, I am happy with loving and taking care of my family and home, serving others and having some play time, too. I am a huge believer in pacing myself, saying no to things that I really need to say no to and focusing on what is most important. But this pace is working at the moment.

Must be the season.

p.s. I am so going to get those photos in order! You need to see our crazy backyard update and the awesome tree fort Hero built!