Crazy Summah, Hangin wit the Boyz, Lovin Kidz

The summers at our house sometimes get so full we barely have time for ourselves. Shane is now the Adventure Scout leader. Gladly he was released from being the Elders Quorum President. Having that calling is quite a burden. He was gone most nights during the week, his phone was always ringing or making his text message sound. He going to work at 3 in the morning and some nights not getting to bed until 10 or so at night. It was a difficult calling but he loved it, he grew to love the men under him and found ways to encourage them to become better, stronger, happier men. I admire Shane for that. I wish sometimes i could be more of a believer in myself like he is. That is not to say that he doesnt have his down times but his are far fewer and between than mine and are much shorter. He is different that is for sure. Most things for him are black or white, but he is starting to learn there may be grey in there. I think having 3 daughters has really helped to soften that pert of him. I am so glad we had the girls first. Not sure the boys would have had a chance in the universe if they had come first.

Well this summer there was a high adventure planned, a pig roast/turkey roast planned which also included a fund raiser for the scouts. On top of that we had to clean out the last of my mother in laws house, tear down some things in side the house, get rid of the things the mother in law needed to get rid of, there was quite a bit of work out there. In fact, on our Anniversary we were cleaning out her house and tearing apart things, it was frustrating that was for sure. I was pretty up set about that for a minute,but then i figured get over it, family needed help a bit more.

This photo is at the end of my mils house. The clouds were so beautiful that day. Off to the right of this photo across the highway is a raceway, for drag racing. It is loud but fun to watch.

This is the last photo of the home where my in laws lived. There isnt much left inside or out...but hopefully we can sell it for her soon so she can have some savings for her future. 

Once that was over, Shane had planned to do a high adventure with the scouts. Well they needed money first. They set to work to figure out how to make money. Shane offered our services(which went with most disagreeable noise) and the pig roaster to make some money. A plan was hatched and Pig/Turkey roast happened. Along with some of the games we do. It was tough to pull off. To make it harder, Laura needed a senior project. So photos had to be taken from beginning to end. Even on her journey to the pig farm...she had to be in the middle of everything. When all was said and done i think she is going to have a wonderful project when it is done. She learned a lot of really great skills, planning, organizing...so many things. It was a long tough day. I would say the best part of the day was the fact that a sweet wonderful sister offered to bring us dinner for 2 nights. My boys were so grateful for green salad and fruit salad, they were in literal tears when i told them they didnt have to do any more work. It was one of the best meals they had in a long time.

The boys and I had a day together, i had some errands to do and i like to take them with me. We happened to be by the new Meridian Temple. The construction is not finished. The spot is super beautiful. Off to one side the river flows by. We happened to park down by the river so we could see what was going on with it. This year the water in the river has been horrendous. The winter bought us so much snow and rain that by now all of the reservoirs are completely full. The river is so high it has come over the banks. It has been wild, no floating the river this year. If you look at the photo above. The road is just behind the boys. The trees you see are usually not even close to the water. They wanted to skip rocks and see if they would go down the fast moving water. Interesting to see how Mother Nature has taken over. 

Jake took this photo, he did a great job. They kept talking about how big the angel was It looks so huge, i have never seen a angel Moroni so close up. They are usually atop a huge spire, high in the air. 

Every temple has these words above the front door. Its exciting to have have this temple built so close to us. The Boise temple is a good half hour drive, this one is only about 15. That is a far cry from going to the Boston temple which is what we had to do when we lived in Maine. I have had some questions from friends about the temple. There is a beautiful Stake Center (chapel) next to it. I am excited to see the inside. The open house is coming in October, I hope some of my friends will want to go. The inside of the temples are so beautiful. 

As an aside see those boys...they are growing into men. I am sort of in awe of them. They work so hard with their dad. But have both decided that blue collar work is not for them. John wants to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. He reads medical books like they are going out of style. He reads other books and researches them. Its interesting cause some of the things he researches are so wild...the other day it was hours on the CIA and NSA and why and how they work. Jake wants to go into the military, police officer or lawyer. He is super smart as well, but has more common sense than John. John just doesnt have time to worry about the small things and so he skips over things, all of the important things. It is interesting to watch. I love them both so much. They are getting taller, stronger, huskier...i think with all the work they do they are very husky. They have a good layer of chub, but hey look like Henrie boys. 

They have been working all summer for a person in our ward. The man they have been working for is very impressed with the boys and how hard they work. They are super willing to do anything he asks them to do. They have dug out his yard, hauled rock, moved the dirt...they earned enough money to go to the movies. Transformers was the one they wanted to see with me. So we went... it was great.

I think i watched them during the movie more than i watched the movie. They were so happy to see it, there were more oos and ahhs and open mouths and lots of quiet...Love those boys. 

Summer crazy is slowing and now we are prepping and waiting for our grandson to arrive. I am still a bit weirded out by that but its okay. Watching Brenda has been fun, she is amazing and doing a fabulous job working on being a mom. I know she is nervous and probably a bit frightened but she is going to be great. She is going to love him so much, as much as she loves Skyler. It will be fun to watch. Baby shower is coming up, photos will come....

I think for a long time i was afraid to really love my kids. I really had to work hard to show love and affection to them mostly i think because i didnt love myself. I know i am late to the game but i am really trying now. i am really working on love, what it means, how it affects me. I want to be able to let them go when i have too, with out too much heart ache. 

I suppose that is what life is about? Finding ways to love with out too much heartache? I wonder often how others do it. I am working on me, that is hard enough...and another blog for another day.....