Life in a Northern Town: FAMILY LETTER 09.03.17

Dear Loved Ones,

Wow, we have had a roller coaster week! It has been one of hard choices, disappointments, laughs, joys, exhaustion, and adjustment to school standard time. I think the hot dry wind and the thick layer of wildfire smoke have really added to the desolate mood of the week.

Monday we had to part ways with the Sister Cities program. It was really hard after 10 months of work, and it was just one disappointment on top of another for our Heidi-girl. Anyone who takes time to get to know her knows she has the softest heart and best sense of humor L We pray she will find her tribe and thrive this year and realize how cool she is-- without a crusty shell ;) After James’ soccer practice, we went to Mark’s In and Out for family night (“to eat our feelings”, LOL!) (There is nothing on the menu I can eat, so I had a very yummy Cherry Coke and some pickles) and then we went home and had a short lesson and dessert with Grandpa and Grandma Melin. They brought flowers and hugs and made us all feel better. Poor Addie was working through all of that, and was a little teary when I picked her up. She had to make some tough choices about how best to use her time this week (less work, drop a class, get more sleep). But both girls pulled through it and made good choices and five days later, all is well. Addie bore her testimony today of how prayer and Heavenly Father and the Comforter helped her make it through this week. Trials can bring out the best in us.

Tuesday was Niles’ first soccer practice, and as usual he was greeted by a gaggle of adoring lady friends who are on his team. He wanted me to drop him off (not stay and watch—he is a big boy now), but right after I left, he got a gnarly bloody nose—the first of many for our family this week. The smoke from the fires is wreaking havoc on our noses, throats, and lungs, but we know it is much worse NW of us. Niles is such a little joy bubble. He is just so good at everything and so determined and passionate and funny. He rocked at TBall and he looks pretty good on the soccer field (like I know anything—hahaha! We are so non- athletic and non-competitive, Niles is blazing new trails for our family!). He is also passionate about music. He tries everything—the piano, the ukulele, the drums, bells, triangle, tambourine, guitar. We may have to start him on some lessons when soccer is over.

On Wednesday, Ammon and I enjoyed a park playdate/picnic with our Johnson friends. It felt just like summer (we got sunburned!) and the boys had a ball while I caught up with Naomi—good for the soul! It was also James’ soccer practice back to back with Scouts and Youth activities. James was the only 11 year old there, so he and his leader joined the combined youth activity, playing Cops and Robbers through our whole town. It sounded like quite the adventure, and exactly the fun release my kids needed after the stress of starting school.

Thursday I worked super hard in the kitchen—I was on my feet for 10 hours straight! I made some dilly beans, grated and froze a bunch of zucchini, blanched and froze chard and spinach, and cooked a yummy Italian dinner from scratch (green salad and gnocchi soup) because our cute friends Emily Schwendiman and Lauren Ney came up from BYU for a visit. They were missionaries here a while back and it was so fun to catch up with them! They took pictures, but I forgot to—I will have to get one from them.

Friday was a nice peaceful laundry day at home, but Rich was neck-deep at the office still catching up from his Utah trip. Addie had to work and Heidi went up to Clyde Park to stay with a friend, so it was just me and the fellas again. The boys watched a movie and I crashed super early (8:30), which allowed me to wake up ridiculously early on Saturday morning (4:30). I was able to study conference, Book of Mormon, 1 Peter, and attend a 7am Bible Study at the coffeehouse with my sweet Jesus loving friends. I was able to take a nice lavender soak at 5am and watch the red sun rise in the smoke and think about Grampy who died 7 years ago Saturday. The scriptures we read in Bible study were a message to me, so much that I got teary (1Peter 2:20-25—which remind me a lot of the Liberty Jail messages in D&C). I went home and did some chores with the fam and then took Ammon to a sweet baptism for Payden Prosser and his cousin. The whole Barnes family was there and it was really sweet. The grandpa, Erin Barnes, played “When I Am Baptized” on his guitar and his grandchildren gathered around him and sang. It wrecked me big time! Grandpas are so special! Addie worked all day (12-9) and when I picked her up she was so excited to have given her Labor Day hours to a co-worker. I’m so glad that worked out, poor girl has had pretty much no friend time since camp, so I hope she and her friends do something fun tomorrow. Heidi also made plans with a nice new friend, so things are already looking brighter this week than last.

Fast Meeting was lovely today—definitely a theme of “God is aware of us and loves us.” Grandpa and Grandma sat with us, and they came over this evening to celebrate James’ Birthday. He chose a tortellini dinner, so we had that with 2 sauce choices and 2 salads (veg and fruit), and a Mud Pie ice cream cake. We talked on the phone with Uncle Mark in Colorado for a minute, then we hurried off to another missionary fireside. This is the last one for a while, from Keaton Segil, who served in the Johannesburg South Africa Mission. Such a nice way to spend a Sunday evening with our ward family. Africa is a special place!

So all is well here. Nothing exciting, just “anxiously engaged” in some good causes, staying busy doing good things, but not too busy. We appreciate everyone who prayed with/for our family this week. I know things are going to be okay and go according to our Heavenly Father’s will. We are so grateful to be parents to this band of funny, unique, hilarious, creative characters. Life is good. I wanted to close with this quote from our Relief Society lesson from Spencer W. Kimball (“Tragedy or Destiny?”).

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven. …” (Orson F. Whitney).

I noticed this week more than ever how much more focused and energetic I am when I am challenged. I’m sure Heavenly Father would like to let me rest, but He knows how quickly I lose focus when I am not toe to toe with the adversary. Okay then. Bring it.

All our love and prayers for a happy week—

Love, Rich and Jamie and Family