Jill and Molly (my friends) were so on the ball with getting temple appointments once they opened for baptisms last month. I got on a few days later and the first appointment I could get for the kids was in July. So our kids have gotten up pretty early twice this month to go to Jordan Rive and Draper temples. What great mornings!! I wish every morning could go so wonderfully! (Thank you to Molly and Jill for making it happen--and driving!)
Well, I have been gun shy on social media with life highlights because social media can be hard for all of us. But I feel sad to not have a history of all my public "lovenotes" for my favorite people.
Ryan had a birthday a week + ago and I just never think he is celebrated enough. He is one amazing person. I wanted to have a minute to sit and think of all the extraordinary (true use of that word) things he has done lately to remember them.
-For months (quite literally) he has almost exclusively bathed, dressed, read stories and snuggled-prayered with Lucas and put him to bed. They have a routine and they both enjoy it I think. He said the other day he layed down by him (now that Lucas is in a twin bed) and rubbed Lucas' back and then when he turned over and was falling asleep, Lucas did the same to him. So cute!
-Last Saturday he had golfed for several hours, helped our neighbor dig up their front yard, helped me with our garden prep, and then spent several hours mowing our ward, weeding and watering everything till dark. Then a bunch of kids randomly showed up after prom and he sat talking with some of them until he went to shower and literally fell into bed exhausted after being up for 19-20 hours.
-He drags himself out of bed Sunday morning earlyish and gets totally dressed to get on Zoom bishopric. ward council and YM presidency meetings. And he has been doing that for years. I know he doesn't always want to do it, but I haven't ever heard him complain about having to get up for them. He starts those about 8:00 and finally gets home from doing tithing by 1:45-2:00 and then is on board with the "Come Follow Me" time round up of kids soon after getting home. He truly knows what his priorities should be and works so hard at them even when it's hard, discouraging or he's just really really tired.
-Last Sunday morning in between meetings he sat down with Blake (which he has done a few times before) to revisit the process for preparing a talk and helping prompt Blake with ideas, format and some stories (personal and scriptural) for his Primary talk that day. Which was excellent and well done and I am grateful for Ryan's approach to help but not do it for them. He is a master teacher in everything.
-He videos EVERY, EVERY, EVERY at bat of Robbie and Blake if he is at the game. And then often is found afterward at home when its quiet--watching them and helping analyze each of them (especially Robbie wants to do that with him). He has done it for so many years I think the boys (and I) take it for granted.
-we have started going on walks at night after putting the younger kids to bed--we have our mile route we do and its a beautiful walk. I feel more connected to what hes thinking and doing and vice versa then we have in a VERY long time. He reminds me half the time that its time to go. And we are much more wanting to interact with our oldest kids when we get home instead of feeling bitter about the time.
-he loaded up our trailer with 2 dirtbikes two different times in March to take them down to St. George SOLELY to connect with Robbie. It is not in his comfort zone at all and although he does like to ride, he probably wouldn't choose to do that all the time like Robbie wants to. But he really is making an effort to be a part of Robbie's life in that way.
-he knows I like to hold hands with him, or have him sit by me reguarly and he reaches over to hold my hand all the time in the car--pretty much 100% of the time. I don't always say anything but it never gets old to have him connect with me by holding my hand.
-he found out the info, contacted our lender and worked out the details to get our house refinanced, he spent quite a bit of time researching, talking to family and working out details of investing some money we had that was sitting in an account, and has taken the lead on other financial matters that I feel so grateful for, because it is getting us ahead and it can be so hard to stop and just do those things when life is so full.
I love him so much. I am grateful we are married and here is to another AWESOME year Robear!
