Is LILY a teenage mutant ninja turtle???? Maybe . . .because she is fearsome on the soccer field, has a killer smile, and is officially a teenager tomorrow!

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LILY💖. You have always brought such joy, happiness, and laughter to our family.  You are kind, thoughtful, and I love that you are always up for a trip to Noodles & Co, and/or Sephora 😀. Love you so much!!

      

 

   I have so many fun Lily videos that I had a hard time deciding which one to post so I decided to share the earliest.  It is amazing 😂

 This has been a busy week for our kids starting school after a great Summer.  

Can you believe that these two cuties are going to be Seniors in High School?

  Where did time go?  I was asking Eilis what  she thought about doing after she graduates  and she said she loves literature so maybe something along that field.  I told her I thought she should become a DoDDS teacher and see the world.  

Anyone else want career advice from Grammie? 😃

AND my "triplets" are all Juniors this year - 

 Lily is in 8th grade this year, and Jake, who has grown up so much, is a 3rd grader 😢 

 Ben started 1st grade last week, and Sayre will be an official 1st grader on Friday.

ALSO the beginning of a new school year welcomes Kate, Jonathan, Cory, Adam, and Kim back to their jobs, which they do so very well.  I know it may seem tiring year after year of working in the educational system, but I think kids, whether they are university students, or in 1st grade are so impressionable, and what you do, and the way you do it really matters. 

Kim and Selena hold down the fort at their school

The kids at Timberview Middle School are in good hands with Adam and Cory - Cory teaches 6th grade math classes, and Adam is the 6th grade counselor this year.  He also coaches soccer for Liberty so another way he has a positive influence on young people.    

 Kate and Jonathan teaching university students to excel in their talents.



 

I hope you all have a wonderfully, rewarding school year.

 ANOTHER fun "Sayreism" this week - 

 He was loading his nerf gun with AT&T darts instead of TNT darts.  😂

THANK YOU FOR THE SUNDAY SELFIES ~

One sweet story from Chicago - 

When Max was younger he forged a special relationship with Ron, an elderly man in their Ward.

Just recently, Ron's wife passed away unexpectedly, so Max went back to Chicago for the funeral.  Such a kind and thoughtful thing for Max to do, and I'm sure it meant a lot to Ron.

He also took time to see Spencer, who we definitely don't see enough of!  Miss you Spencer 💖

 I am so happy to be home this week.  Kevin has really taken care of everything from laundry to cooking to dishes and dog walks while I have been working.  I am ready to dig in and get some touch-up painting done, floors cleaned, downstairs organized, quilts to the dry cleaners, and weeds pulled.  (Dad will probably want to send me back to work).  AND we are hoping for a visit sometime in the next couple of weeks from Max and Grant 😀

Also, Max, I have a date set up for you with Sister Boren in 6 months when she gets home from her mission 😊.   Anyone else want me to be their matchmaker?  

Friday evening we went with the missionaries to visit two ladies who are taking lessons and reading the Book of Mormon.  The Elders showed a video clip from Elder Holland that was amazing.  I'm sure it was from a conference address because I remembered part of it.  The funny thing is that just this week I had been thinking about this and I was talking with someone (was it one of you?), or maybe I was talking to myself (yikes) about this exact topic.  I love the Book of Mormon!  Reading from it just truly makes my days go better - I think more clearly, I feel more peaceful, and answers seem to come when I am pondering a problem or question.  I think there are some very real practical lessons that we learn from the Book of Mormon.  This week in Primary we talked about Captain Moroni and his strategies in leading the Nephites to battle.  Please take, even if it is just a few minutes a day, time to ready from the Book of Mormon - and watch this short video (just click on Elder Holland's name).  It is only 4 minutes long but it is amazing!

Elder Holland

We pray for you everyday and hope you know how much you are loved and how important you are to our family.