Monday, August 25, 2014 "It's the most wonderful time of the year......."

Hayden's first soccer game

Logan and Hayden

I get to hold Zoey:)

Chet was tired after the first game and I'm sure wondering what he was thinking when he said he would coach 3 & 4 year olds. 

Soccer, Soccer, Soccer

This week was fun!! Chet has told the kids that he wants to coach their kid's soccer teams.  Well Rachel took him up on it and signed him up to be Hayden's soccer coach. These little kids have never played before. It was a hoot! We had kids playing in the grass, looking at bugs, tackling other kids, tears, and of course some goals.  By the end of the game, I think most of these littles were catching on. We'll see what Tuesday brings us..... This is a wonderful part of having some of our kids and grandkids still living close by. We get to see their games! Hayden was a sport and of course showed some true soccer skills like his mom (she was a great soccer player!) Can't wait until he starts football-then we'll see his Dad's side.

The Last Two......The Tweedles

LoganSierra

We spent this week school shopping and preparing for the upcoming school year. I like new starts especially school starts. We get to set new academic goals, friend goals, spiritual goals etc... My youngest starts High School. I'm really glad Sierra and Logan are only a year apart in school. They are so different from one another but great kids. I'm looking forward to a year of watching Sierra perform in choir and band and watching Logan play ball (as well as perform in the pep band-ask her: she is sooooo excited) I'm sure glad to have these two goofballs around for awhile....they make us laugh:)

Chase went back to USU

So Chase went back to school on Saturday. I'm grateful that Logan is only a little over an hour away and that we can text. Having him home the last couple of weeks have been a treat. Chase is such a fascinating person to have a conversation with. He has a lot of his Dad in him, which is good. (It's the kids that have Chet's brains and my sassiness that concern me). We have had some great conversations about life. He is so focused and is working hard on letting his heart have a say in some of his decision making instead of his head. He's bright and I know he will do well. This week he spent some time talking with an actuary at Chet's work. This would be a good field for Chase. He seems very interested. At any rate, he's decided on an economics major. There are good paths all around with an econ major. I was also glad that my son in law Weston came by for a visit. He's an Economics major with an MBA and was able to share some of his experiences with Chase as well. 

Rachel is turning 26...

My oldest daughter, Rachel, is turning 26 on Sunday. What a blessing she is in our life!! Being the oldest of 7 kids was not easy. Your siblings always embarrass you or try to attack your friends.  It was hard! Rachel is a great mom and wife and is very attentive to her family. She is the one who does special things for birthdays, will call you up to make sure you're feeling better and will spend time with each family member to let them know she cares. She is so thoughtful! She bakes wickedly wonderful treats and loves, loves, loves BYU football. She is so excited because this week is the first game. We love her so much and are so proud of her.

Random Stuff...

It's been an interesting week for me....I needed some spiritual reassurances that "everything is already alright....." Yesterday in church we talked about knowledge, wisdom and then finished up with Courage in Relief Society.  The missionaries talked in sacrament meeting. Here's some of my take aways......

• Knowledge turns into wisdom when we apply having the Holy Ghost within us to be our guide.
• Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put the tomato in the fruit salad-Stephen Hawking
• 2 Nephi 9:28 "O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth the not. And they shall perish."
• "Be the same person in the dark as you are in the light"
• and finally....a big thanks to Yohauna for her lesson and for Sister Bailey for summing it all up. In talking about having courage to stand up for Christ let me just say Sister Bailey has got it right. Being a loud mouthed opinionated beast is not the way. I don't say much, but I'm telling you if I get angry enough, curse the poor soul on the other end....(not good Jen) but there is so much wisdom in the scripture "a soft answer turneth away wrath" We need to be kind to one another friends. We need to realize that we are ALL God's children. Membership in the LDS church is not a ticket into God's presence. There is a place for all of us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, yes-God expects certain standards, but we are not judges, we are merely people helping others and letting others help us along the way. 

Have a great week lovies!!