A Day in the Life...

Once upon high school seminary I had this teacher, Richard Ellsworth, who was (is) seven feet tall and super knowledgeable about the gospel.  Fast forward twenty-five years, come to find out he lives down the street from me.  He's our stake patriarch but sometimes he substitutes and teaches our Sunday School class.  It's one of the few times I really enjoy Sunday School.  Once I asked his wife how he knew so much stuff and she said, "He retired and this is what he does all day now- studies Christ, the scriptures, history, and the gospel."  Today he was talking about a lot of stuff.  He dissects the bible verse by verse and it's actually enjoyable  and understandable - and relatable. Today we talked about Paul and part of his mission in the city of Phillipi.  One of the verses talked about joy- not just things that make us happy, not just things that we enjoy, but the joy that comes no matter what is happening in our lives.  He showed us thi...

This is the fitness center I started going to about four or five months ago.  It may not sound exciting to you, but it's an important part of my life that I want to remember. A few days ago at Orange Theory I did:  1000 meters on the rowing machine, then 100 jumping jacks, then a 500 meter row, then 50 jumping jacks and 50 squats, then a 250 meter row, with 25 jumping jacks and 25 squats.  That was only the first 20 minutes of an hour workout.  Then I walked on the treadmill with inclines between 6-12% for 20 minutes, then nearly 20 minutes of weightlifting.  Times this by five days a week (workouts like this) at five in the morning and it's how I start my day and why I'm ready for bed by 8:00 pm. But I love it!  Even though results aren't physically noticeable (not to me at least), it's something I know starts my day off right and I just feel better and know I've gotten stronger.  Plus, nearly everything there is orange, which happens to be my favorit...

Micah:  When I get a job I either want to be a rock star singer or work at Cabela's. Tim:  You know, you can do both of those if you want! Micah: What?  I can!?! 

At Activity Days a few weeks ago, the girls made Tim thank you notes.  I love them!  They crack me up. I impulsively bought a pasta maker.  We've made homemade pasta twice.  I'm messing around with whole wheat pasta with freshly milled flour.  The smell is incredible.  The dough texture is not easy to work with, but I'm a bit determined to figure it out! Last Sunday Copper and I made little tiny meat pies for dinner.  She did almost all the work, including the filling (chicken, carrots, celery, with a creamy sauce).  She's amazing! Sometimes the dog wears ear muffs... We had a family lesson where we built a wall that represented all the things in life that get in the way of us remembering Christ.  They took turns knocking down the wall so we could reach Him.  I don't know if the girls will remember all the games, lessons, talks, and activities we do, but I hope they remember all the times we've spent as ...

A long time ago (2 months) I told my sister I had a HUGE announcement to make but that it wouldn't be ready until September 21st.  I asked her to save the date and to plan on a big family party for the reveal.  She thought for sure I was pregnant.  Or moving.  Or building a house.  Or adopting.  Or making Ryan pour cement in the backyard. I couldn't have known the days before would be full of a viewing, funeral, family in town, a baby shower, a crisis with Tim's family, and people getting sick.  By the night of the 21st, I was plum "peopled out" and didn't really want to have the party.  But, I knew all the nieces/nephews on my side were coming anyway because it was my scheduled weekend for the cousin sleepover, and my sister was going out of town.  It's her and Ryan's anniversary but they promised to come back early to help celebrate our big announcement. Yikes.  I think if she'd have known the big announcement was the two dogs' first...

My grandma Janice Detomasi Sager Olson (Bottema) was born in 1937 and died on September 13, 2019.  I am not surprised she died on Friday the 13th, though I was surprised to hear it was fast and peaceful.  Knowing my grandma, I'd for sure have guessed it would have been full of dramatics. My grandma was a FUN grandma when I was a kid.  Full of drama, loud, loved to be the center of attention, loved to write and perform skits with us, loved art, loved to camp, loved games, and loved loved loved pranks.  My mom was with her, the only one with her, when she died, and it was literally in mid-sentence.    In the hospital, she was flirting with male nurses and howling like a dog when someone remarked that the bruise on her eye made her look like a dalmation.  Nurses tried to talk to my mom and aunt about dementia; but no, it wasn't dementia- it was just grandma.  Life of the party even when she was in the hospital. My grandma had no idea she was dyi...

For their upcoming 1st birthday, Amber and I bought the dogs matching bow-ties... and top-hats.  There's a special surprise around the corner! Copper tried out for the 5th grade student council.  She had to give a speech on leadership.  She found a quote and we talked about ideas related to that.  I wanted to let her know that if she didn't make it, that it means nothing about who she is.  We had a great talk about what it means to love and what it means to win.  I was soooo happy to see she typed it into her speech!  She came home disappointed that she didn't get voted in but I'm especially proud of her speech, her courage to give it, and her humility to accept the outcome.   Micah left me a note about what kind of "smart" she is.... I love it! Field trip time with Kota and Micah... off to the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival.  It is so phenomenal; I should remember to go every year! Night fishing ...