HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHUA!

Josh will be celebrating a birthday this Tuesday, Aug. 14th.  With his busy schedule, we don't get to see him as often as we would like, but we have such fun memories of his youth.  He didn't like grass - we could be outside in the yard with Josh on a blanket, and he would be a captive audience because he didn't like the feel of grass on his hands 😀.  He played baseball and excelled at anything that had to do with computers long before I even knew how to turn one on.  I would get an occasional call from a teacher letting me know that Josh was not turning in assignments, to which he would reply that he got A's on all of his tests so he didn't see the need to do the homework😈.  He was a great missionary, and now a great father to Emma, Eilis, Hollie, and Ben😇.  

Happy Birthday, Josh - Have a wonderful birthday week!

I kept busy this week helping out in Central Registry for District 20.  The registrars in the District Office are so busy trying to process all of the applications that came in over the summer, that they don't have time to answer their phones.  I certainly can understand why as the phone calls were consistent.  Every morning I would listen to 15 or so voicemails, and when I would hang up there would be 11 more - all day long.  The phone calls are coming mostly from parents wanting to know when their students will become active in the school system, and the answer is always "we are working as fast as we can.  Only one more week.  Yay!!!  

Dad has been a good sport - doing laundry, running errands, taking Sendai for walks, and fixing dinner.  What a guy!!

STORIES THAT WILL MAKE YOU SMILE!

  From Iowa - Jonathan, Kate and Sayre were disc golfing and some little guy came up to Sayer and asked him if he was 12 years-old.  Sayer's reply was "no, but I'm almost 12 in 6 more years 😁.

Good job with the math, Sayre!

He has grown so much!

Yesterday I was looking for a photo (without much luck) but I did run across this video that actually made me laugh outloud.  I'm not sure which is funnier - Sayre's chocolate smile, or Jonathan's comments 😀

MAX is back in Provo waiting for school to start, and currently homeless 😟.  Actually he has a great place to stay with Aunt Heather - just until he can move into his new apartment.  Apparently Heather's cat has taken a fancy to Max (who wouldn't?) so now they are besties!

I have heard rumor that Max and Grant are thinking about a road trip to Colorado.  We can only hope!!!  Maybe you could bring Spencer along and have a brother's road trip.  I sure miss these amazing young men 💖

LAST OF THE SUMMER ANTICS ~

Blythe went to Girl's Camp a couple of weeks ago and it looks to me that she is taking over where her Mom left off - in the kitchen cooking!

School starts for her this week and Kim will be back at work tomorrow. She spent some time last week cleaning out her basement, with the help of Grant, who is also ready to take some more college courses. 

We love it when grandkids we get to see grandkids during the week.  Paul stopped by Monday evening with his good friend, Ben.  Luckily we had some left-over brownies and ice cream from Sunday's dinner with the missionaries.  They were cute and we had a fun visit.  

Yesterday we stopped by Cane's to see Eilis where she just started a new job.  It was so fun to see her, and then she came by after work and had dinner with us.

I got a little of a late start tonight so I'm going to save back-to-school pictures and stories for next week.  

In our Addiction Recovery class this week, our lesson was on Service.  This is the last lesson in the cycle, and then next week we will start on lesson #1 again.  I always love this lesson and the quote by President Benson is especially meaningful - 

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can.  He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace.  Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life."

It is amazing what comes into our lives when we give service to others.  I love you all so much and pray that you will have a wonderful, peaceful week!