Father's Day

Nate spoke on Father's Day. He gave a beautiful talk on the importance of honoring your priesthood. He ran out of time and only got to speak for a few minutes. He amazed me with the points he brought up. I kept thinking, "You think about that?" He continually surprises me. It has been so fun to see him muddle through calling and announcements, bare his testimony, and weep after the primary children sing. I am seeing. a new side of him. Being second counselor in the bishopric has been really amazing for his soul. We feel so blessed to be apart of a ward that needs us and loves us.

Confession, I forgot it was Father's Day until I got to church. I did make Nate a nice dinner, luckily despite being out of town I was able to come up with something good. We had sweet meatballs and rice, salad and green bean casserole. Sierra made a naked cake with Happy Father's Day written on it. She has been baking a lot lately and has gotten really good at it.

I made some snarky comment about knowing I should make him a nice lunch because it was Father's Day. He actually said, "Lay down. I will make lunch." He made the kids hotdogs. I didn't get to lay down but I thought it was such a sweet gesture. It warmed my heart. I am continually in awe with how far both of us have grown as a couple.

VERNAL TEMPLE

We got to go to the Vernal Temple with Simon and Leslie on Saturday. Leslie had some direct family names she has been eager to take to the temple. I wanted to go. It was a little bit of a miracle how it all worked out. Friday is date night. We were out at El Tapitio, our go to restaurant for date night. Nate had committed to go and he wanted me to come. I told him with Logan and our other kids I just didn't think I could make it happen. Then a thought came to my mind, call the Price girls. It must have been inspiration from the spirit because everything fell into place. Nate and I ran to the grocery store and bought some easy things for them to cook. They met us at our house. I knew our kids were in good hands. We took off to the temple. We stayed the night in Vernal. Logan slept through the night. I felt tender mercies all about us.

I didn't get to go into the temple with our nursing son. However, we were challenged to read the Book of Mormon and highlight all the examples of ministering. I sat on the temple lawn and read while Logan slept for two hours. It was such a beautiful moment. I learned so much. I was so amazed by all the revelation I received as I sat there pouring over the scriptures. The Isaiah chapters that I have endured so many times, came to life on the page. I would have loved to have stayed there all day.

We went to the LDS bookstore and I bought my first set of scriptures with the name Lisa McKnight on them. I love them. Then we went out to lunch and stopped at a gift shop and bought Logan a teddy. His first. He loves it. He was a little fussy on the way home. Overall it was an amazing trip. We were so happy to just laugh and talk with Simon and Leslie, we don't get to spend quality time like that together very often.

PICKING CHERRIES

 The sour cherries are ripe on Kay's farm. We headed over early in the morning to help pick them. Kay makes the best sour cherry jam. 

WYATT

Grandma and Grandpa stopped in for a few minutes with my parents to drop of these hats. I was gone to pick up our car that was in the repair shop. My Grandparents came in to town to get an adjustment on grandpa's dentures. I didn't even get to see them. (Insert sad face.) My kids were beaming when I got home. They were so proud of their hats.

GOODMORNING BOYS

LOGANLICIOS

Memorial Day WEEKEND

Memorial Day weekend we headed to Utah Valley. We stopped in at my in-laws and had lasagna and hung out with Nate's family for an hour. My boys loved playing with their cousins there and playing with grandma's legos. I haven't seen Spencer in a while it was so good to see his handsome face. I was teasing Nate that Spencer is only a year younger than him. He is as ripped as Nate was when we were first married. He has a full head of hair. I shouldn't have, but marriage and children does something to a person... me included. It doesn't have to. I have girlfriends who still fit into their wedding dress that have had as many kids as me, but it takes a ton of effort. Effort, neither of us is committed to right now. I diverge.

I got to spend a day at my brother's house. I wish I could say I was helping bless his life because he was having a hard time, but I was just there. I watched Katrina scrub walls like a hero, Karalee organize a closet like a professional, Kimberly steam a bathroom and sanitize it like life itself depended on it, (and maybe it does) and my mother scrub a toilet and polish it better than new. They did all this with fourteen kids running around needing to be fed and nurtured. I did nothing. I held Logan. I took up space and bought lunch. It was so good for my soul to be surrounded by good, kind, serviceable, Christ-like women. I believe those women could move mountains! I think they did that day. 

I got to go up and see my grandparent's grave too. I miss them. I wish I could go down and sit with them and feel their souls near mine again. I wish I could play grandpa a round of ping pong and ask grandma how she did it. Her home was always a place of perfect peace, organized and spotless and she made beautiful meals and served them all with love. I never heard her complain, it was just what she did. I often think my pathetic attempt at being a housewife pales compared to what she was about to do with so much less. Grandma I just want you to teach me!

I got to spend one day babysitting all the grandkids while the other women ran back up to finish what they started. I was glad Jennifer trusted me to watch her girls. I absolutely adore them. Tamara brought Lily over and helped me out. Michelle also let me watch Leo, Claire and Tessie. We had a house full. It was a lot of fun. The kids ran through the sprinklers.