For the Love of Soccer!

Soccer season has begun yet again! I LOVE to watch my kids play soccer. This season Cavin didn't want to play for the school, he wanted to just take a break and play for fun. So, we signed him up for the Heatwave league. Deacon also is playing again and Ragnar is his coach again.

Ragnar is reffing and mentoring new refs, and Cavin is reffing and playing as well. Cavin wasn't able to get on a team with his friends, so he is just playing on a random team. 

I love my boys!! All 3 of them! Cavin and Deacon both scored 2 goals in their first game. I hope it's a great season together!

Ella has been Called To Serve

Ella has been wanting to go on a mission since I can remember. She has always had a desire to serve. When she came home for Christmas break she had gone through the temple in preparation and then submitted her mission papers right after she got back to Cedar City and could upload the passport she had there and had all the paperwork from Texas. From the Sunday it was submitted til the day she received her call, it was a total of 9 days! It came so fast!! I was so grateful for the tender mercy of it coming on a snow day so that the whole family could be together as I knew Ella would not be able to wait until I was off work to open her email! 

She had a break in her school schedule and wanted to open it asap! She had wanted to open it just with our immediate family before she opened it with everyone. 

We were shocked!! She opened it with us, then called her grandparents in Germany because they would be asleep when she opened it with everyone. Then she called her other grandparents. They were excited for her.

She opened it at the Cedar City institute building with her friends and roommates. 

She was called to serve in the Laoag, Philippines mission speaking Tagalog and leaving for the Provo, Utah MTC on June 16th. You probably could not have put many other places that I did not expect her to go, but that would have been one of them. The call doesn't seem to fit her personality or what I would have imagined for her at all, but she is excited to serve. All I really wanted was for her to be excited. I was slightly hoping with two citizenships that we wouldn't have to worry about a visa, but the Lord had other plans. 

It will challenge her for sure, but I know she will do her best and learn to love the people of the Philippines. 

This was my favorite text from her afterward. She really is a great kid and we are so proud of her willingness to serve the Lord. 

A TEXAS Snow Day!

It has snowed only a handful of times in my life living in Texas. We had a rare snow day when everyone was out of school and it froze with enough precipitation to have snow!! We were excited to have it!

Channing and Deacon went out first thing in the morning to play in the snow and Cavin and I joined a little later. 

They made a mini snowman!

We all worked together to create a fort/igloo. 

We got banana bread pans and made "bricks" to create the walls. 

Cavin and Deacon were playing baseball with snowballs. 

It was a fun day of play together and it is a very rare thing! We enjoyed ourselves!

Channing's Basketball Career

Channing played basketball for Timberwood Middle School this season and last season. Unfortunately, in two seasons, her team didn't win a single game. They only got to double digits three times. Needless to say they weren't very good. Channing however really enjoyed being on the team and playing with her friends. She played almost the whole game each week. She didn't have a great coaching staff to help her learn, but she got better and had a good time. 

Her last home game with her good friends Ellison and Berkley

I am pretty sure that middle school games will likely end her basketball career, but I am glad she got to try new sports. She was a great defender and tried her best. Go Panthers!

Snowball at TMS

Channing got to go to the Timberwood Middle School Snowball last night with many of her friends. 

She got ready for the dance at Berkleys house. It's crazy how old she is getting and that she will be in high school this year!

She has some sweet friends. Berkley, Caroline, Meg, Scarlett, Maely, Cadence, Ari, and Emmy

They danced and then hit the ice cream shop!! I'm glad she has a good group of girls to hang with. 

Bring On 2025!!

I have been ready for a new year for several months. I appreciate the time to start fresh and new and reevaluate where we are and what I hope for the next year. Last year was a hard one for me with a lot of changes and challenges. I was glad for it to be over and start a new one.

On new years eve my mom, Ella, Channing, and I went and got pedicures and had dinner together. Ella had been wanting to do a girls day with Grandma before she left. We enjoyed being together.

That night we went to our friends the Larsens house just as we did last year and rang in the new year with friends.

We played games, karoked, and did fireworks. Ella got to see old friends who are in college. 

Channing always has a blast with friends and is always up for a party! 

2025 is off to a good start and we are hopeful for an amazing year! 

Cavin even saw his childhood dream New Years Day...Lightening McQueen and we had to get a picture with the car! Ella also submitted her mission papers today (1/12/25)! Exciting times!! 

Family Visit

This past couple weeks I was able to see all of my siblings. First Marisa's family came which was great. We got to hang out with her and her animated family :). They are always entertaining. 

We enjoyed hanging out and having fun together.

Right after Marisas family left, Coreys family also came into town and because of both families being in town, it allowed us to be able to see some of Chris' family as well which my kids were very grateful for.

Cousins are important and I wish they got to spend more time with them. 

We swam, played ping pong, corn hole, and mini golf. 

It was a beautiful, sunny day!! I was grateful to have a little time with everyone. Its been a difficult 5 years with our extended family, and I pray everyday for peace and healing so that we can one day be a whole family again.