It's Been A Month?

HOLY CRAP!!!

I can't believe it has been a month. Once we got back from Cali. it was like life hit full force as we tried to get ready for school to start on August 18 -- LAME!!!
I definitely needed a couple more weeks to laze around with my kids, go to the pool and put off the start of Fall, which means the imminent return of winter. All things which I love about the start of school: 1) The kids being on a schedule, 2) new books, new teachers, new friends, and appreciating the novelty of it all, 3) looking forward to Fall -- the crispness in the air, the change of flowers and leaves, the smell of spice and warmth. So I will focus on those as I adjust my day to fit the kids' lives. It's ALL GOOD!!

I am extra-blessed because I was able to attend BYU Education Week August 18-22, and WHAT A WEEK it was!! My sister, Sonya, and I worked as volunteer hosting staff from 6-9:30pm, and were able to attend all other classes for free. We were fortunate to be placed at the building where some of the best Youth speakers were. The most notable was John Bytheway, but other great ones were Brad Wilcox, his son, Russell, and Michael Allred. Now, I'm no longer a "youth", but the feeling in that place, is invigorating!! The subjects they speak of ring with simple straightforward truth -- they do not mince words, but I would be hard-pressed to find any person who had attended one of their talks, not to feel a change, a spark of hope and confidence in the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's like eating spiritual Pop-Rocks -- ZING-PING POW!!

I hope to in some small ways enact the changes that were etched on my heart during that week. I was blessed with a lot of support to help me with my kids so that i could attend 13 hours a day for almost 5 days straight -- I was spiritually raw the first day -- it was almost too much! But the myriad of emotions are seared into my mind and heart -- charged, humbled, inspired, encouraged, energized, lifted, consoled, smarter, braver, tenderized in such a way that I feel marinated in the simple, profound truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May God bless me to act on the truths that have touched me this past week.

Well -- Cameron has started 7th grade and all evidence points to his smoothly adapting to a rather big change. But Cameron has always been one to roll with what life can throw -- as long as he knows we are there beside him. We will continue to enjoy the view of his life from the front row!

Hannah is loving her 4th grade teacher and classmates. She continues in the Spanish Immersion program and loves life!

Emma has become an all-day-er -- a 1st grader. The other night she was a little sad because some boys were teasing her because of her last name -- calling her Emma French Fry. I assured her that she wasn't the first one to deal with that and that no matter what anyone said -- she was more than just a name. Oh and that there were way worse names than Fry -- Butts, Crapo, Buggar, the list goes on and on, then she giggled and I think has turned the tide. I stepped in her class to drop off a forgotten notebook, and her teacher joyfully shared with me how much she is loving Emma!! She couldn't stop smiling as she shared her impressions and pleasure in having Emma in her class -- what a great thing for a mom to hear!! Now I don't claim credit for who Emma is -- but it is a nice thing to hear that someone else sees your child as you do!! She is a joy!! A challenge, yes, but JOY through and through!!

Hope life is kind to you this week and that you can find all that you are looking for...
Heather