Of Good Report

I just dropped Taylor off for his week long scout camp. I always worry about him when he is away because of his medical issues. Thankfully, my desire for him to participate as fully as possible in life's experiences allows me to let him out of my sight. In addition to his campout, Spencer went on a three day trek and a week long scout camp in June. In July Emma went to Clear Creek for a week. The kids and I went to Panguitch from Wednesday to Saturday last week to celebrate the 24 of July. Destry had to stay behind to work. Spencer, Emma and Sarah stayed an extra night in Panguitch and came back home yesterday with Grandpa. Destry is going out of town for three days next week and he and Spencer and Taylor have another three day campout planned for the weekend before school starts. The boys also have the annual "fathers and sons" in August. When I left the three kids behind in Panguitch I found myself stalling before driving away. I hadn't planned on leaving them. We...

We received a note in the mail a few days ago from Claudia. In it she explained that what Leon would like for his birthday was for everyone to do five acts of kindness. We were to write them down on the card she provided along with a birthday wish for Grandpa/Dad. He will be turning 72 next month and if each family member does 5 acts of kindness that would add up to 72. We are going to meet for dinner at Golden Corral on August 2 to celebrate together. Only Taylor, Estelle, Sarah and I were home when the invitation arrived, but we had a brainstorming session and watched a video on facebook about a group of college students that got together and did 21 kind acts. We got a few ideas from that as well. We discussed later with the other folks and we decided that we would do four things together as a family and that we would each do one thing on our own. We also did them a week earlier than suggested because Taylor will be at scout camp the week just prior to the birthday party. ...

Nearly two years ago I posted about my kids growing up and our lives changing. One of the changes we made was that we no longer played in the "baby pool" at the Lehi Legacy Center.  In addition, Spencer was beginning to attend Stake Dances. Last Saturday the girls, Erika, David, Jessica, Malcolm and I went to the Legacy Center pool together while the boys were out on a 4 wheeler adventure without any adults. I pondered on my hesitations for letting the boys spread their wings and realized too, that I could have dropped the girls off at the pool and they would have had a perfectly lovely and safe time without me. Much of the past 16 years have been spent teaching and protecting my children from physical harm that could befall them. Wear your helmet. Look both ways before you cross the street. Don't play in the street. Brush your teeth. Don't talk to strangers. Buckle up. Learn how to swim. Don't climb on that. Wash your hands before you eat. For one ch...