Libby

This past month I've read... or should I say listened to four books! Our library has an app called, Libby, where you can borrow audio books any time for free. I like to listen as I'm taking care of various tasks around the house. It makes the work quite enjoyable! In the last four weeks, I've listened to, Unbroken, Mere Christianity, Animal Farm, and The More of Less.

Here's a few principles I've drawn from each one:

Unbroken:

 I have so much to be grateful for, especially waking up in peace each morning and enjoying the simple comforts of my own home; running water, plenty of food, plenty of clothes, and the absence of torture and horrors in my life. I gained a greater appreciation for the atonement, the miracle of forgiveness extended toward my enemies and the mental, physical, spiritual healing through Jesus Christ that can come after abuse. 

Mere Christianity:

I've read this book before but this time around I felt more keenly aware of the evils in my own heart - not in a depressing or discouraging way but a good healthy humble awareness to watch out, to pray always and genuinely center myself on the Savior. This quote below is a good example of my biggest take-away from it this time. I know it's at the end of the book but if you pay attention to the other chapters, it's a reoccurring theme: being made into a new creature in Christ and ridding yourself of self. 

 I really like the part that says, "You must throw it away blindly so to speak" and "It will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him." 

Animal Farm:

The fastest way to losing our freedoms is ignorance and being too afraid to speak up when we notice corruption in our laws or government. By our lack of knowledge and exploration of truth, we become ruthlessly enslaved and eventually destroyed by the lies and propaganda fed to us from evil and conspiring minds. 

The More of Less:

This isn't just about getting rid of all the physical junk in your life but other kinds of mental and spiritual junk (distractions that keep you from building your most important relationships). It helps you focus on developing meaningful moments with your family and God through simple choices to shut off your electronics - shut off social media, shut off the voices of advertisement telling you how to dress and what is beautiful. Simplify your life in all areas and focus on the things that truly matter most. Reminds me of a song by Colton Dixon..

"This life I hold so close

Oh, God I let it go

I refuse to gain the world and lose my soul

So take it all I abandon everything I am You can have it

The only thing I need is

More of You

Less of me

Make me who I'm meant to be

You're all I want all I need

You're everything

Take it all I surrender

Be my king

God I choose

More of You

Less of me"

May 2019

We said goodbye to our old house. We were at a place where it needed to be refinanced in order for us to take care of some major repairs but refinancing meant we would most likely be stuck in it until we retired and we didn't want that. We didn't feel very connected to the area we lived in and it felt like the neighborhood was increasingly becoming less safe. So instead of refinancing, we decided to sell and use the equity to put money down on a house in a better area, one we felt absolutely comfortable retiring in.  We loved this little home and it served it's purpose for the 2 1/2 years we were there but we both knew deep down that we were never meant to stay there. 

This last home was the perfect spring-board to get us to our new place though. As I write this, the date is actually July 26th and we've been in our new home since May 11th. 

We have been so amazed at the quality of neighbors we have found here! The area is extremely stable, very few move out and most have lived here for well over 20 years. Our first few weeks were booked out from our new neighbors inviting us over for dinner. Everyone here has been so incredibly kind and welcoming. It's almost unreal! 

After one week of living in our new place, we were asked to head-up a Ward Activity. We decided to do a Skate Party / picnic since our back yard is the church parking lot. It was a huge success. We had almost a hundred people show up. The Elder's Quorum President said he had so much fun that he wanted it to be an annual event. Every one was still talking about how great the Skate Party was the next day at church. All I could think of was, "Yeah, we're back. Back where we belong."

This is where we want to stay forever, to retire here. We are so glad we moved. We have finally come home again!

I haven't taken many pictures of our new home. This is just us clearing out all the terrible Iris flowers out of our front yard. In the background, where the old UTA Ski bus is (that belongs to our neighbors from Haiti). They are SO incredibly nice! 

One morning our neighbor's from Haiti had a pregnant goat that got loose and wandered over to our yard. That was an adventure trying to herd her back. We had a good laugh!

Miriam made a 3D printed Bridge Four (Brandon Sanderson - Stormlight Archives) keychain in her mechanical design class. 

No matter how hard I tried, she wouldn't let her face show in the picture. It's a game for her... little stinker.

Micah's 14th Birthday 

Micah and his cousins Devin and Quentin

Micah and his cousin, Jareth

Quentin, Devin, Micah, and Jareth

Just a few days after Micah's 14th birthday, he was hired to be an Expo Server at Brick Oven Pizza. Yes, they hire at 14. Micah never hears the end of it though. People who eat at the restaurant are always commenting on how young he is and it bothers him a bit. But, as his mom, I think he's looking mighty old... just growing up way too fast.

Mother's Day 2019

Chandler graduated from High School. He's had this smolder face in every school picture. 

(Makes me laugh.) He didn't want to go through the whole graduation ceremony and I couldn't blame him. Those ceremonies can be so boring. He talked about leaving early but we weren't sure if and how he'd follow through with it. And sure enough right after Chandler received his diploma he whispered something to the guy and then ran out the back and didn't return to his seat. We left the stadium in a rush to find him. The good news is we got ahead of the crowd and ditched the packed-full parking lot in record time.  I asked him later what it was he said to the guy who handed him his diploma. He simply said, "Hey, I gotta go right now." And he let him go. 

Chandler's favorite cousins, Caitlin, Halee, Isaac, and Justin

I absolutely love this picture of Miriam and Chandler! I don't know what it is... maybe because it illustrates so much their personalities through the years. 

We had to do a back-to-back with Alexa reminiscing three years prior when She graduated from High School. 

Chandler with Grandpa Manwill and Janet

Last day of school for Amillia and Kaylee

Kaylee and her friend, Charlotte, on the right in the pink jacket... I can't remember her other friend's name.

Memorial Day 2019 visiting mom's grave.

Dad and his fiance' Janet

Bio family visits for Amillia with her half-siblings Kami and Hailen. Josh is not Amillia's bio dad but the dad of her siblings - so he's family too of course.