Dear Family,
We are grateful that we've started up the blog again and want to thank Miriam for getting us going. We look forward to hearing from others and they post their monthly entry (hint hint).
Well, as you all know, we're moved into Mom and Dad's home and are getting adjusted to life here in Centerville. While leaving American Fork was extremely difficult (we miss our friends down there very much), we're getting to know people here and we've been grateful for family all around us to boost our spirits and help our kids in particular make the transition. The kids love their cousins, aunts, and uncles, and we are grateful for your love and support as we continue to adjust.
The kids started school last Monday. They all love their teachers and are generally excited for the year. New friends have been made and fun activities have started up. Rebekah is in junior high (it feels weird typing that!) and acclimating to the junior high "system". She's already made several friends, is enjoying her classes, and is considering getting into track. For the time being though, she has plenty of school work to do, friends to hang out with, and dance classes to excel in. And she is just loving her braces as they make eating so much fun.
Joshua has been a little less quick in adjusting. He has made some new friends at church and is getting to know them better through scouts. We were hoping to get him onto a soccer team--but despite our best efforts, it just didn't work out. So he'll try out in the Spring and hopefully get onto a team so he's involved in at least one extra-currircular thing. That's probably part of the challenge right now--he just has school and scouts. But he does like his class (he's in the same class as Missy) and is still enjoying reading, Wii, and computers.
Lydia has been doing great, particularly on her soccer team (she's on the same Forza team as Kennahdy). Just the other day she played in a Mayor's cup tournament, having advanced to the final round. And wow...what a game. After the two halves were over, it was tied, so they played two five-minute segments--those ending with a tie as well. So then they had each team do five direct kicks to see who could score the most. We were dying of stress and excitement, not only because it had come down to that, but because Lydia was the goalie for our team and the pressure was on! But Lydia only missed one and we ended up winning. Anyway, she's had fun. Now if we could just get her to love school (she has a great teacher, but just finds things "boring").
Sarah is loving 1st grade. Her favorite part about going a full day is that she gets three recesses :) Dance started up for her so she's enjoying that too. We just need to find a few more friends for her to do things with. She's always wanting to go back to American Fork and play with her friends there.
Matthias is enjoying lots of mommy time during the mornings and afternoons as he's the only one home now with Jenn. He's finally warming up to some of you uncles and aunts, so that's definite progress for our boy who constantly hides his head away when he sees just about anyone. If we could just get him to sleep through the nights...
Jenn is adjusting to everything little by little. It's been hard to start anew here. What made it harder is going from a demanding calling she loved, to being released right before the move--and then having to process all of that. And some of you probably know that when you get out of a calling that has required a lot of your time, you go through somewhat of a withdrawl process. Particularly if you've loved it. But she is getting to know some women in the ward and now that dance has started up, she's busy each week getting dance lessons ready and teaching. Along with organizing and cleaning the house, pulling the endless weeds in the yard, and otherwise running the household.
Ryan plugs along with work, and is now having fun with the 11 year-old scouts--being the assistant scoutmaster for them. He also gets to teach twice a month to that age group. He recently took Josh and Matthias to the Father and Sons outing (having a fun ride up with Travis and his sons) where they were able to taste the famous high priest scones that get served there each year. He's finding it interesting reconnecting with the older brothers in the ward who he knew when he was younger, and getting to know the younger ones too.
That's about it for us. If we've learned anything recently, it's that the Lord doesn't withhold trials, he just makes a way for you to get through them. And even if He ends up lightening them, they still have to hurt some so that you can place your trust in Him and continue learning patience and humility. The Lord will have a perfect people. And there's only one way to get to that state of being, and that's through trials. It's a bit ironic how we want to rid our lives of the very thing that will help us get to where we ultimately want to go. No shortcuts unfortunately.
We love all of you and pray for you lots. Thanks in turn for your love and support. We have felt it and are grateful for it.
