I started blogging last weekend when my memory was fresh but…it’s not here so I’m starting over.
Bummer
Last week I was I posted the nice email from Cannon’s teacher and Saturday I got this from Seth’s.
(And a cute note from Tanner to his Sister 😊)
Ok so Saturday we hit the road headed for Nauvoo (barely in time for me to make the temple but my goal all morning long was to just not get wound up so I did what I could and tried to keep things peaceful) anyway we got going and I said to Isaac “do you feel like you just made this drive?” He did.
To help minimize fighting we listened to a Hank CD called “He knows You” and that could’ve been the theme of the weekend!
I went to the temple it was awesome…just one of those times when I got to feel pretty close to Riz. I came out and the troops were still at the park. So I walked over and switched Isaac had a sandwich and we left him in the temple with plans to walk to his meeting at the church and the kids and I back tracked our way to Keokuk to the hotel. (Basically we stayed in keokuk due to confusion..but it gave us a pool so we were excited)
Isaac called before his meeting started and I said “oh hey-was the tire pressure light on when you were driving?” He said no so I said we’d check’n after we got in and I turned to Cannon and said “remind me” thankfully he did because I totally forgot and as he started on the passenger side with the tire pressure gauge I glanced at the drive side front and I was like “oh crud! It’s this one!!! Get back in”
Thankfully our hotel was basically in the Walmart parking lot-so we limped the van over to the tire center and walked back across the parking lot undeterred on our little swimming plan!
Even though it was a Walmart tire that we had road hazard on it was still unrepairable and bought two new tires 😬. They got done just in time for us to head back to Nauvoo and pick up Isaac. Well actually he’d been done but we got him, touched the temple. And a quick race—
Grabbed some gas station pizza and headed back to the church. As we walked down the hall Cannon wanted to stick his head in and see Elder Soares and I said “no way tomorrow when you’re dressed appropriately” (he wasn’t there yet anyways) but we found a primary room to get the boys set up in. We couldn’t get the Wi-Fi to work, so I left my phone with them as a hotspot and headed in to the adult session. Just a few minutes into the meeting all of a sudden it hit me —I reached up and grabbed Isaac’s arm and said “I forgot the boys suits!” I panicked! My mind raced! Walmart? Is somebody coming in the morning? They HATED wearing shorts and t-shirts to church in Puerto Rico…But ultimately -nothing- I realized I was missing meeting there was not one thing I could do about it.
See where being calm and try not to freak out why I was packing up got me? Dangit.
After Elders Soares remarks he openrd it up for questions and I was blown away at the hands that went up. The guy sitting right behind us asked a question about basically wanting to have kids feeling like he was promised that in his patriarchal blessing but it hasn’t happened. Anyway Elder Soares started out by telling him he knew exactly how he felt. I was like oh crap we’re the people with a baby sitting right in front of them Addi’s been smiling at his wife the whole time. But as Elder Soares continued on answering his question, (and I knew Elder Soares and his wife had lost a couple kids-I don’t remember where I read that) but him telling about their stillborn son and him walking holding the casket in the cemetery and that (these are my words not his) but basically that was where the rubber met the road and he realized he really did know there was Peace in Christ. It was pretty powerful-just an incredibly spiritual moment and the tears filled my eyes as my own mind went to our own place. Elder Soares was alone burying his son though- I just kept thinking at least I got to be there. Anyway it was pretty tender-possibly even just for me even if it was to answer the guy behind me’s question. I wasn’t struggling I didn’t even know I needed it but —it was awesome.
The meeting was short by design so that anybody there could shake his hand if they wanted to it was really cool. Since our kids were just in a primary room we snuck them in too, of course I didn’t get pictures but basically this 😉
After we shook his hand I ended up chatting with a gal I know from when I served in primary -she was like “we’re Nauvoo! People come here on vacation-don’t even think twice about not having church clothes” it made be feel a little better. The boys had gone back to clean up the tablets and such and I met them in the hallway talking to President Thomas. Isaac had broke the news that I’d forgot things. (It always goes better when he tells them stuff!) But he too said “don’t even worry about it” so we didn’t. 🤷♀️ I didn’t even go to Walmart and look. It was shorts and t-shirts all the way. Thankfully no one was in neon-we have a lot of that.
The best was my friends husband saw them and said “there has to be a story” it’s really just my pride but I like my kids to look good for church! Hopefully I learned my lesson!! Anyway back to Saturday night-
we headed back to Keokuk-again. Cannon asked about a ball game and I grabbed my phone to look and it died—charger left at the church. No light no alarm no scriptures or come follow me-at least not on my phone. Ug I use this thing (I’m blogging on it now) for everything!!!
I’m kinda annoyed about losing everything I had blogged so far I was at least this far in the story! Ug anyway
Sunday morning getting the boys “ready” for church was a breeze. 😩😩😩
But conference continued to be a spiritual high. Pres Thomas talked about his own conversion story but prefaced it with The Other Side of Heaven movie and “Hoorah for Israel” he said it over and over in his talk-it was awesome. It was the Riz weekend! Hoorah for Israel indeed! Oh and it happened to be the 28th too. Then when Elder Soares talked he talked about when they lost their other baby. I heard that part from the mothers lounge but that was cool too. I was alone just listening and yes he was in the other room but it was powerful because it was just the same as anytime I just listen to his messages. I can’t explain it but-powerful-very cool. He told us how rare it is for him to be assigned to single stake conference. He told us he came to tell us how the Lord loved us-I thought boy I guess! And that he was excited to report back to Pres Nelson. Oh and he told us about always sitting in a semi-circle but because he’s the junior apostle that puts him closer to Pres Nelson and the first presidency.
It was just a spiritually loaded weekend!
After they wanted a picture of everyone in front of the temple but the weather looked sketchy enough they did one inside one first. I wondered how long Isaac would last-not long He doesn’t do well with that when it’s just our family!
But we got it done-the rain stayed in check
Sister Barlow snapped us a little family pic
But by time they gone done with the whole group done-then the drone had to do it too-there was no way we were staying for the picnic! So we headed for the van then home!!
But look at the heading from Elder Soares last Conf talk
Perfect huh?
He told us about that talk and why he gave it too!
Then Lego ships (they are kinda a thing at our house right now) and remember when Cannon used to chew on silkies?!?!!!
And we have a roller!!! Man they grow fast!
So much for not even having to turn the electric fence on. Here’s a picture of the walk of shame. He was clear down almost to the pavement. The fence is on now! The best? Worst? Was when I dropped Seth off at preschool his teacher asked if his horsey got out-I said “how’d you know?” she said she’d seen it on Facebook and knew from the comments it was ours, oh great we’re FB famous. 🤦🏼♀️
Above-we finally made him an equipment shirt. & Below…now this!
Isaac sold-or is in the process of selling his pump trucks.
They’re call’n him the “golden goose” the boys were pumped to go get it. Hallelujah it wasn’t a drive across the country just here in town so a quick drive up the road.
These two-Buddies!
Addi and I are loving preschool sonetimes we just need a quick break from all the Love (mauling) Seth gives her. No preschool on Fridays though.
Flag football tonight I took pics with my big camera I’ll have to check them out and maybe add’m later. Addi and I took Cann to the varsity game, she wasn’t so sure but it’s super late be and I’m super tired now!!!
So—I’m done!
