We just experienced a wonderful family-filled weekend! Renee and her gaggle of girls have been in town from Alaska for a couple of weeks and Kent with his boisterous bunch of boys joined in the fun and festivities. On Friday night we celebrated Zach's 7th birthday. We partied outside and it was great watching the kids run and play with each other. On Saturday morning at noon we picked Spencer up from his Mosida trek experience.
I worried about his emotional status. He had been very anxious about going for the previous week, but Destry gave him a Priesthood blessing and he seemed happy to go on Thursday morning when I dropped him off at the church. I prayed and kept my fingers crossed and was excited to see his return. He had a great experience and was in good spirits--hooray!
The ward was invited to greet the returning trekkers and enjoy a picnic lunch together at Mosida. We left Taylor home who hasn't been feeling well, but the rest of us went and had a good time.
After Spencer showered and had a chocolate shake, apparently that is what one feels like eating when one comes home from a short Pioneerish trek experience, we met all of my extended family at the new Living Planet Aquarium in Draper. Sadly, Adam could was not there, something about not being able to take an entire month off of work, and Erika was on her way to Hawaii, no excuses there. Other than that we were all there, even Taylor with his tissue box. It was crowded but convivial and when we had had our fill of fish wen trekked over to our house for hamburgers and hot dogs.
We spent Sunday afternoon together. After a Thanksgiving dinner we participated in our annual "Smith Family Olympics." Jessica headed it up and as usual did not disappoint. We played a memory game and pudding Pictionary as well as a family favorite, reverse charades. Team "Butterfly Ninjas" headed up by Christine won every round!
I absolutely love having cousins for my kids to play with. Even though my teenage boys don't have anyone their age, they enjoy their younger cousins. Emma is a favorite of the toddlers and she loves it! Even though Renee lives a lot farther away than Kent does, it seems like we have seen them more often than we have Kent's family. Renee has only been gone for a year and a half and has been back three times. She stays 2-4 weeks each time. Even though we have to share her with her in-laws, when it is our time with her we make the most of it. Kent is only a four hour drive away, but it seems like we only get a few hours with him once or twice a year. I am so glad that their boys are loving a friendly and we get to play with them when they are here.
These are memories that will be treasured by everyone forever. There is a lot of chaos when we are all together, but I love it! My kids get to be loved and taught by other adults who love them. They get to have cousins be their best friends. I'm grateful we live in the technology age where staying connected is easy and inexpensive. We can turn on a computer or tablet or phone and see the person we are talking too. My girls have even played Uno and princess via Skype with their Alaskan cousins.
It doesn't seem to matter how much time goes by or how far apart we may be, we are able to pick up where we left off. That is a blessing of families. I am glad we get to spend time with Kevin and Christine's family and with David and Jessica's family and with Erika twice a month. We get to spend time with my mom every Sunday. I hope my kids will always stay connected with each other.
I had a couple of other connections of sorts this past weekend. While we were at the aquarium, I ran into a high school friend. Cheryl Long Whitney was a childhood friend of Andrea Sumsion Nunn and because of my friendship with Andrea, I became acquainted with Cheryl. I have seen Cheryl a handful of times since high school, but that is about it. I am facebook friends with her and I keep track of her family that way, including the fact that she is a grandmother and that she is getting married in three weeks. I was truly excited to see her there and hoped to make a real reconnection with her. However, after a few pleasantries, she quickly gave me the brush off. I did not take it personally, we haven't really communicated for 20 plus years, but she was a part of my past and I hoped to genuinely connect with her now. We change we grow and we make new connections. I'm glad I saw her she looked great.
I made another connection in the virtual world with a complete stranger, but for some odd reason he made my day. I intended to send a text to the PTA president, Sheryle Coray, yesterday morning, but I transposed two of the numbers when I was adding her number to my contacts. I realized my mistake and corrected it. A few hours after sending the text a gentleman with the name of Brian, responded letting me know that I had sent the text to the wrong person. I thanked him and let him know that I had transposed two of the numbers when I was entering the number I was wanting to text. He told me that that was no problem and that he had done the same thing himself. It was a simple communication with a total stranger about whom I know nothing. Yet, his kindness and courtesy made my day. I have received random texts before that I simply ignore. I have sent texts to people I didn't mean to only to be met with less courteous responses, not rude ones necessarily, just not as kind. I don't know why I was so impressed by this brief communication, but I was.
We make connections every day. Family connections are by far my favorite, but I have some very dear friends and neighbors whose associations have blessed my life. Even a complete stranger made my day yesterday. I started reading a book whose purpose is to identify people who are truly happy. As it turns out those who are connected and willing to be vulnerable are the most content with their lives. I value my connections, but vulnerability is something I need to work on.
I worried about his emotional status. He had been very anxious about going for the previous week, but Destry gave him a Priesthood blessing and he seemed happy to go on Thursday morning when I dropped him off at the church. I prayed and kept my fingers crossed and was excited to see his return. He had a great experience and was in good spirits--hooray!
The ward was invited to greet the returning trekkers and enjoy a picnic lunch together at Mosida. We left Taylor home who hasn't been feeling well, but the rest of us went and had a good time.
After Spencer showered and had a chocolate shake, apparently that is what one feels like eating when one comes home from a short Pioneerish trek experience, we met all of my extended family at the new Living Planet Aquarium in Draper. Sadly, Adam could was not there, something about not being able to take an entire month off of work, and Erika was on her way to Hawaii, no excuses there. Other than that we were all there, even Taylor with his tissue box. It was crowded but convivial and when we had had our fill of fish wen trekked over to our house for hamburgers and hot dogs.
We spent Sunday afternoon together. After a Thanksgiving dinner we participated in our annual "Smith Family Olympics." Jessica headed it up and as usual did not disappoint. We played a memory game and pudding Pictionary as well as a family favorite, reverse charades. Team "Butterfly Ninjas" headed up by Christine won every round!
I absolutely love having cousins for my kids to play with. Even though my teenage boys don't have anyone their age, they enjoy their younger cousins. Emma is a favorite of the toddlers and she loves it! Even though Renee lives a lot farther away than Kent does, it seems like we have seen them more often than we have Kent's family. Renee has only been gone for a year and a half and has been back three times. She stays 2-4 weeks each time. Even though we have to share her with her in-laws, when it is our time with her we make the most of it. Kent is only a four hour drive away, but it seems like we only get a few hours with him once or twice a year. I am so glad that their boys are loving a friendly and we get to play with them when they are here.
These are memories that will be treasured by everyone forever. There is a lot of chaos when we are all together, but I love it! My kids get to be loved and taught by other adults who love them. They get to have cousins be their best friends. I'm grateful we live in the technology age where staying connected is easy and inexpensive. We can turn on a computer or tablet or phone and see the person we are talking too. My girls have even played Uno and princess via Skype with their Alaskan cousins.
It doesn't seem to matter how much time goes by or how far apart we may be, we are able to pick up where we left off. That is a blessing of families. I am glad we get to spend time with Kevin and Christine's family and with David and Jessica's family and with Erika twice a month. We get to spend time with my mom every Sunday. I hope my kids will always stay connected with each other.
I had a couple of other connections of sorts this past weekend. While we were at the aquarium, I ran into a high school friend. Cheryl Long Whitney was a childhood friend of Andrea Sumsion Nunn and because of my friendship with Andrea, I became acquainted with Cheryl. I have seen Cheryl a handful of times since high school, but that is about it. I am facebook friends with her and I keep track of her family that way, including the fact that she is a grandmother and that she is getting married in three weeks. I was truly excited to see her there and hoped to make a real reconnection with her. However, after a few pleasantries, she quickly gave me the brush off. I did not take it personally, we haven't really communicated for 20 plus years, but she was a part of my past and I hoped to genuinely connect with her now. We change we grow and we make new connections. I'm glad I saw her she looked great.
I made another connection in the virtual world with a complete stranger, but for some odd reason he made my day. I intended to send a text to the PTA president, Sheryle Coray, yesterday morning, but I transposed two of the numbers when I was adding her number to my contacts. I realized my mistake and corrected it. A few hours after sending the text a gentleman with the name of Brian, responded letting me know that I had sent the text to the wrong person. I thanked him and let him know that I had transposed two of the numbers when I was entering the number I was wanting to text. He told me that that was no problem and that he had done the same thing himself. It was a simple communication with a total stranger about whom I know nothing. Yet, his kindness and courtesy made my day. I have received random texts before that I simply ignore. I have sent texts to people I didn't mean to only to be met with less courteous responses, not rude ones necessarily, just not as kind. I don't know why I was so impressed by this brief communication, but I was.
We make connections every day. Family connections are by far my favorite, but I have some very dear friends and neighbors whose associations have blessed my life. Even a complete stranger made my day yesterday. I started reading a book whose purpose is to identify people who are truly happy. As it turns out those who are connected and willing to be vulnerable are the most content with their lives. I value my connections, but vulnerability is something I need to work on.
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