August 31, 2020

We've missed you SO MUCH THIS WEEK! COY AND BECCA ARE GETTING SEALED THIS WEEKEND! They came home from their honeymoon to a letter and had all the proper interviews and they will be sealed this Saturday at 2: 15!! So exciting! I didn't know you knew about Nate and Nic. I've been dreading telling you and praying about how and when. I'm so sorry. I don't know how you found out. Do you have any questions? I'm so sorry. It's terribly sad. I've been aware of problems and trying to help for a long time. The entire experience has deepened my testimony a lot. I know it's true, but it has helped me realize even more and cherish even deeper the beautiful principles of this gospel. They WORK. They are REAL. She doesn't think the gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to happiness and that is heartbreaking. How I wish we could download knowledge. I'd like to give her the download of my uncle Kim Steven's final testimony. After a life of drugs, prison and everything else he said "there's nothing in any of it. It is all all empty. Everything Satan offers is a cheap imitation of the Spirit." I was reading Jesus the Christ with the kids yesterday and it talked so beautifully about how absolutely vital agency is. She has got to figure it all out. I just hope that somehow, somewhere she knows that there is a God that loves her. I'm not sure how she feels about that right now. Coy, Becca, Annie, Spencer and I sat at the kitchen table yesterday and had a good cry together. We talked about how you can't make choices for people, we can only love them. Love and witness. I shared that I feel like I was in a boat holding onto Nic's arms and she slipped into the water, and I keep thinking about how much more and how much better I could have loved and testified. The kids said yesterday that she only has one Savior, and He has not let go. Also, people have to want to get in the boat. Hard stuff, very hard. I'm fasting today about motherhood, my calling, school (I think I need to withdraw from a class, I just have too much on my plate), and how our family can serve more and better. My point is, I know there is a loving God in heaven who will look down on my fasting and praying and listen to me and ANSWER MY PRAYERS AND HELP ME. Where does she go for help? The first week of school is in the books! Seth rocked school pictures with a tank top over a sweater, a church tie, and his hair smashed down and glued to his forehead with hairspray. Annie has had a big week and made a lot of changes to her schedule. She will tell you about it but she is pulling back a little, yoga and calligraphy instead of anatomy physiology and physics. She seems like a NEW WOMAN! Seth kicked Spen out of his room and into yours so now they are all set up in their own rooms. Seth has four mattresses. Seth likes a girl and he's pretty sure that she likes him because she gets shy around him. So funny. He is staying in DANCE! He's not the only boy. I'm so proud of him. Spen got 400 pots delivered yesterday and he is starting to propagate plants. He's starting with trees! We've learned how to start new trees from cuttings of existing ones so all of our trees are FREE! He's super super excited! ME TOO! We are hoping to get a big commercial greenhouse next summer, or build on to the back of the house with a theater on the main floor for children's theater and the roof would be a greenhouse. We'd cut a door in the laundry room to access the upstairs greenhouse! AWESOME! It's super exciting! Aunt Neddie had a heart surgery this last week and we had miracles and it went well. They did this crazy procedure where they stopped her heart for ten seconds and replaced a valve, but all remotely, they didn't cut into her at all. It's amazing. Grandma Jan's bedroom is getting redone! If we get to talk to you today we will show you! It's PINK! I love you so much. We did a little family weekend this weekend before school starts for everyone. We did Chinese hot pot on Friday night. Saturday we went to Seth's little league football game and screamed our faces off. It was so fun. He's playing both ways and LOVING IT! We went to Fairview and rock climbed in Maple Canyon then went to Snow College Rec and went swimming, played wallyball and basketball and soccer....came home and played games until 2 am. Yesterday Grandma Raspberry came here for sacrament and then we went to a bird show, a private Sabbath showing of BEAUTIFUL BIRDS. It was fun but WE MISSED YOU SO MUCH! Alee was here this week dropping off water balloons, just in case we needed some. I love you buddy. Things are feeling better now that we are in school. I tried to put my big boy undies on on the summer and keep everyone constantly motivated and engaged, but I sure appreciate the help of other people like teachers and friends! I feel the Spirit so much when I think about having neighbors over that we don't know very well. I think the work of God is largely done one by one. Excited to do better and be a better missionary! love you so much! So excited to hear about your week! Love, Momzies