House update #8

We are projected to move in about two weeks, but phew, there's a lot to do before that point.

In the meantime, here are some more glimpses.

The floors. (Thank you, Captain Obvious.)

 The island in place along with countertops installed. I love the darker wood. Unfortunately the backsplash behind will not be able to be installed until after we move in because the tile is on backorder.

 Apron-front sink = fun.

Definitely looking forward to some more color in here--I love neutrals but need some contrast. The white bookshelves in the great room will be painted on the backs so that will help

 Master shower. Pray for my cleaning abilities to be up to the task. I am thinking about just using the kids' shower and having this one for decoration. Just kidding. Sort of.

High school graduation

The day after his Eagle Court of Honor, Hyrum graduated from high school. He was so ready for high school to be done and had no desire even walking in the graduation ceremony, but we made him anyway.

These first four pics are courtesy of Clara.

 Can you tell that the ceremony and speeches were riveting?

All done with high school. Hooray!

Beautiful end to a special day

I'm truly grateful to have a wonderful husband who is the best father to our children (and a terrific father and father-in-law, too).

Eagle Scout and Woodbadge Beads

Two weeks ago, Hyrum earned his Eagle Scout award and Michael earned his Woodbadge beads. I'll spare you all the details and drama leading up to those awards. For his Eagle project, Hyrum organized and carried out a special Olympics for some of the high school special education students. It was a very successful event and the students had a great time.

 Before the Court of Honor.

 I couldn't comfortably fit both names on one cake (Costco didn't have a lot of Court of Honor appropriate options :-)) so I opted for two. Go big or go home, right?

 Michael presenting Hyrum with his award.

 Pinning on the patch (pin?) with proud parents looking on.

 Honoring his Eagle mother.

For those unfamiliar with Woodbadge (I was), it is a Scouting leadership course that men or women can take to strengthen leadership skills and serve their Boy or Cub Scout units. The course itself requires two three-day weekends, followed by a six?-part project (called a "ticket") involving a lot of time and effort--kind of like an Eagle Scout project for adults.

 For the record, can I say how disappointed I was when I discovered that he wouldn't even be getting a badge of wood (Woodbadge?), but instead got beads and a new neckerchief? The mysteries of Scouting are still beyond me in some respects.

 Singing the essential "Back to Gilwell" Woodbadge theme song.

 Proud of these boys.

 Even though Hyrum is now taller than Michael, Michael still likes to show his strength.

 And vice-versa.

 Proud parents.

 Proud parents part two.

 Proud parents part three.

The whole gang. (The Weilers brought two of their other grandkids, Clark and Jane, up with them along with beautiful Melody.)

It was a great night, especially since we got to take the leftover cakes home and enjoy them for the next couple of days.

Embrace the crazy

One morning last week I was feeling stressed and complaining a bit about everything that we had going on. Then I decided to reframe my attitude and told Michael, "You know what? I am just going to embrace the crazy right now and recognize that life is pretty nuts right now, and that's okay."

Last week we had the last week of school, Hyrum's Eagle Court of Honor with Michael's Woodbadge beading ceremony, Michael's parents and youngest sister along with two grandkids come, Hyrum's high school graduation, Hyrum packing up and leaving for home, and then stake conference for church. In the midst of building a house, packing up, and hoping to move in in a few weeks.

All of the events contained in the craziness were welcome (which I had forgotten), and reminding myself of that helped me feel better.

Meanwhile, with school out I have little time for computers and am whipping this out before I hit the sack.

I have lots of pictures to show you of last week's festivities, but in the meantime, here's one of my favorites.

I was definitely teary-eyed on Saturday on more than one occasion as we said goodbye to Hyrum. He is now in Atlanta, working to save money for his two-year mission for our church. He'll turn in his papers some time this summer and will find out when and where he's going after that.

The past two years with Hyrum have flown by. Looking back, the challenging times are overshadowed by the joy we have felt as we've had Hyrum with us. He has blessed our family so much (babysitting a lot during this house adventure being one of them!). I so appreciated his overlooking our faults and being patient and loving with Clara (she just asked tonight, "Where's Hyrum?" which she would ask every day). Robbie adored him and followed him all over the house, and we miss him already. Goodness, all of this sounds like he's died or something . . . Thank goodness we can see him in a few short years. Still, I am understanding a bit of what it feels like to have a child leave the nest, and it is an immensely bittersweet feeling.

Church history in the flesh

As part of our trip to visit our friends in Rochester, we made plans to tour some of the sites where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, including the home of Joseph Smith and his family, among other places. For those who are unfamiliar with the story of Joseph Smith, go here to learn more.

We visited the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York. We felt a special peace there. 

 Hey look, a little gnome crawled out of his home.

 A pacifier dragging in the dirt brings extra fiber and boost a gnome's immunity.

 Gnomes just love hiding inside hollowed out beech trees.

 This pixie only smiles if I command her not to smile.

 "Don't do it, Clara! Don't smile! Quite smiling!"
Works every time.

 Ah me, friends are the best.

 Beautiful country. We had no problem envisioning Joseph Smith and his family here.

 Three little girls on a country road.

 Hey, the gnome popped up in a field!

Sibling photo attempts are awesome.

Tigers in the grass.

 Someday we'll have a photo with everyone looking.

 Gotta love the self-timer-on-a-stump trick.

 My two favorite guys.

 The Alvin tree--planted after Joseph Smith's older brother, Alvin, died.

 The Palmyra temple.

 Our forever family.

In the Grandin building, first publisher of the Book of Mormon.

 Home of Joseph Knight, Sr. in Colesville, New York. First branch of the Church site.

Joseph helped Joseph Knight plow these fields nearly two hundred years ago.

 Site of Joseph and wife Emma's original home in Harmony (now Oakland), Pennsylvania.

Gravestone of their firstborn son, Alvin, (named after Joseph's older brother) who died as an infant.

Seeing these sites was wonderful, but they would mean nothing if I hadn't already prayed about the Book of Mormon to know that it is indeed another testament of Jesus Christ in addition to the Bible. It is true, as is the Bible. Joseph Smith restored the church that Christ established when He lived on the earth.

You can also call these guys and they'll tell you all about it.