Life in a Northern Town: FAMILY LETTER 05.13.18

Dear Loved Ones,

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, my MIL, my Gram, my Aunties, and my 18 sisters/sisters-in-law. Each of you has taught me tons about nurturing, loving, healing, serving, and unconditionally loving. I hope you all feel loved and valued today, because you are! Today has been sweet, peaceful, and overcast—just the way I like it.

Monday 5/7 was a regular busy errand-running Monday for me. For Family Night Rich and I helped the kids make gifts and notes of appreciation for their teachers (the boys potted flowers and the girls baked cookies). On Tuesday 5/8 we were all home for a change and we enjoyed a family dinner and some trampoline time.

Wednesday 5/9 was busy day! Ammon wanted to stay home from school and he helped me do some more potting of plants, housework, etc. and at 2:30 we headed out to pick up all the other kids to attend Heidi’s end of the year drama assembly at SGMS. Heidi started the club this year with Ms. Clewis as faculty advisor and they have done a lot of cool stuff through the school year. At the assembly they presented a fun 20-minute version of “MacBeth.” It was awesome and we are so proud of Heidi for taking the initiative to create a place for her fellow “drama nerds” to get together and share ideas and experiences. We gave flowers to all the participants, and Big Sky Insurance made a donation to keep the club going next year, hopefully—there were some really great 6^th graders in the club who can keep the dream alive ;) That night, we had a Youth Activity BBQ at Sacajawea Park and Niles’ baseball game, both at 6pm. So I took Niles to his game while Rich took everyone else to the park to start grilling up burgers and dogs. Of course a storm blew in and it started raining COLD rain at 6:15, so half the games was kind of miserable, but it cleared off and the field didn’t get too muddy. I only took one photo, of Niles playing 2^nd base. Rich set up the BBQ under the gazebo, so they were able to eat out of the rain, then it cleared off in time for the kids to play Frisbee and tag. Niles and I went over to join them at 7:30 but there wasn’t any food left, so I took him to Mark’s In and Out. We saw our sweet friend Zach Roberts there getting off work and got to wish him a happy 17^th birthday.

Thursday 5/10 was Ammon’s 4^th birthday. Rich came and woke us up with a toy birthday cake that plays “Happy Birthday.” Ammon wasn’t very cheerful—he snuggled into my back and gave Rich his famous wag of the finger and said, “No, Dad. I need a real cake!” Grumpy bum! Rich made him sprinkle pancakes and sausage while I helped the boys get dressed. We went to eat breakfast with Ammon just as Addie and some seminary girls showed up between seminary and school. They all sang to him and gave him kisses and helped him eat his pancakes and sausage. He opened a card from Grandma Melin, then he was off to preschool wearing his “Birthday Boy” badge. After school, we all headed over to the bowling alley where we ate pre-grilled brats, watermelon, and cupcakes after a round of bowling and some arcade games. The Johnsons joined us and the boys had a great time together. The cold rain from Wednesday was still going strong on Thursday, so we came home and got snuggled up and headed to bed. The birthday boy had a very happy day and loved all his cool gifts.

Friday 5/11 I had to leave at 7:15am to get the girls to dental appointments at 8am in Bozeman. Ammon came with us and brought his Calico Critters he got for his birthday. We had fun sorting through all the tiny food and accessories while the girls got fillings. They were numb for a while, so I decided to stop and the store and wait for the numbness to wear off, then grab them some lunch and head home. Addie had a track meet at 5pm in Dillon, MT, and I though her bus would leave around 2:30, but I was wrong and we had to RACE to get her checked in to school and on to the bus at 1:30…ooops! That night Heidi and her friend Sophie babysat while Rich took me out for Korean food. It was a great date that included a trip to Costco (so romantic! He knows my love language) for contacts and flowers ;) Saturday was a relaxing rainy day of indoor chores and hanging out. Addie and her friends Brianna and Izzi got to sing for the Mother’s Day brunch at American Lutheran Church, which was cool. They hung out at Mikayla’s working on school projects the rest of the day, and Addie went to watch them in “Camelot” for the second time this week. Meanwhile, the rest of us attended an open house for Colton Carter and his lovely bride, Janelle. They met on their missions to the Germany Alpine mission and Janelle is majoring in German education, which is so cool. They both attend Utah State, but will spend the summer in Livingston, so we look forward to getting to know Janelle better. It was great to see old ward family-friends and feel a sweet spirit at the party; I think they will do great things together!

Today we had a sweet church meeting. Richard gave a talk on Gratitude, and before he spoke, Emmalin Parks gave a talk about mothers and Vicky Denniston spoke about sibling relationships. All the messages were great! The Primary sang “Love is Spoken Here” beautifully…I loved seeing my boys up there singing! I got to sub in Niles’ primary class today, always an adventure. We talked about Jesus healing the sick and they all actually had some really sweet stories about receiving healing blessings through the priesthood. It made me so grateful to be yoked with a worthy priesthood holder in this life. It is wonderful that we both can call down the powers of heaven upon our family. I don’t know how people live without it!!! The kids gave me beautiful flowers, letters, cards, a bracelet, treats, and a NAP. It’s been a great Mother’s Day so far. If everyone goes to bed at a decent hour, it will have been a perfect day!

I hope the same is true for YOU. I will close with a favorite thought from Sister Marjorie Hinckley:

“I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”

I am so grateful for the opportunities I have to truly live and love. Most of them come from my children, and for that privilege of motherhood, I am eternally grateful. If I am ever anything like my Savior, it will be because of them.

Have a great week! We love you and miss you all so much.

Love, Jamie and Rich and Family

MONDAY 5.7 FHE: Thanking our teachers

New Youth Programs coming in 2020 announced on Tuesday 5/8. This includes no more BSA for boys, no more Activity Days or Personal Progress for Young Women. Mixed feelings, but mostly excitement. Can't wait to hear from the prophet on June 3rd!!!