My Heart ....

Schools got shut down for good yesterday. My heart just breaks for all those amazing REAL teachers out there who have put in so much work and most importantly have loved my little babes for the past six months. Yes school is still online but it's just not the same (and not because they have ME for their teacher!). Kenzi struggles in school, it's hard for her and she knows she doesn't learn like everyone else. Her sweet teacher this year loved her anyways and treated her just like those kids who do understand everything. Her amazing teacher went out of her way to show her praise and excitement when she saw Kenzi working hard. Her teacher changed Kenzi for the six months that she had her. Kenzi use to HATE school and when I say HATE I mean the fierces kind of HATE (and that girl has passions folks!). But when she met her teacher this year, that all changed. She actually went to school and LOVED it! Now when she does her online work, instead of typing the answers to her assignments she types 'I miss you!' (tears right now!).

Boston is just in Kindergarten (it was only half day so I mean it's fine right?). He had an incredible teacher. With Boston being my little guy (for now) I worried about him (and his sweet teacher!). But he has done GREAT! His teacher is so kind and sweet with him that I really think he would do anything for her. She told him that he has the very best handwriting. Now every time he does his homework he tells me that his teacher told him 'his handwriting is soooo good!' He now takes pride in that.

This was Lexi's first year having a guy teacher. I wasn't sure how it would go (and not because guy teacher's aren't amazing, some of my best teachers were guys) Lexi just needs extra 'help' some times. But her teacher has been amazing and so thoughtful of her! He noticed she was struggling to find friends, so he went out of his way to move her seat in class to sit next to some outgoing girls in hopes they would play together.

So yes, my heart hurts that Kenzi, Lexi & Boston won't get to spend the rest of the year going to school and learning from their amazing teachers. But my heart also feels so much gratitude for amazing teachers like their's, who truly love their students and care more about THEM then scoring high on test. So THANK YOU TEACHERS!

My Favorite Time of Year

This is my FAVORITE time of year .... I mean I love summer, let's be honest .... but Spring is winning my heart over! It's like I'm coming up for a big breath of air after just trying to survive winter (I HATE winter, like I think the snow is amazing for Dec and then Jan comes and I'm like 'k, Bye, where's Spring?). So when spring comes I'm all about celebrating with Happy Dances .... or just a big FIIZ! .... Our flowers are slowly starting to pop up, which makes me soooo happy, but that's a post for another day. Another (main) reason this is my favorite time of year is because we get to hear from the leaders of our church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has General Conference twice a year & because of that it become my favorite time of year! So many uplifting messages and such a sweet spirit that is felt as the leaders are speaking to us. We get two full days of watching conference on our TV and soaking up everything they are saying and the amazing music.

Two full days is amazing for me, but the kids - not so much! 2 hours of church is rough let alone 10 hours over 2 days. So let's just say we tried, we tried hard with: tents, coloring sheets, cuddling, yummy snacks, art projects, walks in between sessions, and finally 'go jump on the trampoline!' But overall I'd say it was a win. Lexi said her favorite part was when new temples were announced (mine too girl!), McKenzi said 'the coloring sheets' and Boston said, 'when all those people sang' (choirs from around the world sang the closing song!). My favorite part: remembering that Jesus Christ does know each one of us, He loves us, and even though the world is in complete craziness right now, we can still HEAR HIM if we turn our hearts to Him!

Beating COVID-19 one Act at a Time

Can we just review these past three weeks for a minute (and yes it's only been 3 weeks, or has it been 4, I've lost track). First it was: 'let's stay home for two weeks from school and give online learning a shot, oh and only groups of 100 or less, ohhh and let's not do church either.' Yeah okay we can do this! We were dying for an early Spring Break anyways, and church (well let's be honest, if you've ever sat behind us in church you know the struggle is real. Pretty sure our last time we went to church, Boston refused to sit on the bench in our row, so he sat on the floor ..... in the isle ..... and I'm pretty sure he took his tie off before we even made it inside ..... #itsfineitsfine). Then it went to 'groups of 50 or less' and thennnn it went to no more then 10 people! And now this week, 'scratch all of those and stay inside, like really stay inside!'

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Yesterday we joined in on the Day of Fasting and Prayer. Boston, our 5 year old, even tried his hand at fasting too - anything to be able to 'play outside and go to the park again!' It was such an incredible day with such a sweet spirit in our home. The kids only made it to 12:30pm .... which to me is a full day, right?! .... They were so excited to join in on the Worldwide Prayer and Fasting day. Which made me think - 'Yes, this whole COVID-19 totally sucks! Everything is cancelled (I mean I was on count down for the softball college World Series), but so many blessings are coming from this awful situation too! We will NEVER get this time back with our kids, ever! So being able to spend ALL DAY with them ..... and I mean alllllll day ...... is truly a blessing. I know I joke a lot about being with them ALLLLL DAY, but in reality, I wouldn't want it any other way.'

Today I went on a walk ...... this mama needed some air! ......, while I was walking I was listening to talks from some of our Church Leaders. The talk spoke about doing service during hard times. And how serving others during hard times will make those times so much easier. So I have decided ...... executive decision here ....... that we are going to do an act of service every day until COVID-19 dies! We might need a lot of ideas so please fill free to post some!