Good Genes

Chris and I were playing with his Snapchat filter 

and this is me made to look like a middle aged man.

Look like anyone you know?

We're making plans for a day with Marty, Lizzie & Emi in Salt Lake 

during Thanksgiving week.

And New York plans for the week of Thanksgiving.

I found this photo from last year.

I love these three boys of mine.

(Chris, standing on his toes! haha)

They Things They Didn't See

I'm soooooo excited about my back cover blurb!

Raised on sunny boating days, Jill piloted a speedboat long before driving a car. Her father, husband, and three boys share her love for Lake Koda and cherish their annual first-day-of-summer boating tradition, until a surprise storm and tragic accident change everything.

Jill's grief is compounded by her struggle to connect with her teenage son, Jake. Everything she says or does seems to be wrong. Her husband takes Jake's side, and even her sweet youngest child doesn't trust her judgment. Striving to parent perfectly is backfiring.

Jake's trying to be a good kid but doesn't know where to turn when his head and heart are constantly racing; Matt's focused on keeping the peace between his wife and son; and Grandpa is determined to do anything to help ease their shared grief.

Jill is faced with challenges that threaten to destroy her relationships with those she loves most. Will her once-happy family be torn apart, or can they overcome their heartbreaking sorrow and find their way back to one another?

The emotional and ultimately hopeful story intertwines a family's love for each other with their misunderstandings, guilt, blame, and misguided attempts to grieve individually rather than together. Tensions build as they bump and band into one another with all the extra space as a family of four living in a home built for five.

Kids in the Box

Painting is hung and I love it so much.

Frame will be coming at a later date.

Asked Dan and Michael (Petersen -- in town for a boys trip to the Cowboys on Monday)

what we should title it. 

This is what Michael came up with in three seconds:

Adventure in the Box

Exploring the Box 

Out of the Box

In the Box

Boxing Day

Hidden Treasure

This morning on my walk I saw a little branch in the ground that looked like a sculpture.

And it was! I'm dying to know the story behind it.

Joy in the Morning

I loooooovvvvee spending time each morning in my sunroom. 

I never get tired of all the life I can view from that cozy space.

Today's feature: a deer and a buck.

Plus they effortlessly hopped the fence and I looooovvvvee

watching them do that trick.

I say my morning prayers most often in the sunroom and every time

I'm filled with joy and gratitude for our beautiful earth.

And for this special spot to observe nature. 

Several variety and sizes of birds fliting around the trees. 

Squirrels jumping across the branches, even way up high.

Leaves floating to the ground, or huge snowflakes falling, or rain pouring.

The trees showing off their seasonal outfits.

The view constantly changes so it never gets old.

I love it so so much.

I watched a hawk fly in and perch in this tree after the deer left.

A deer? A hawk? Are you serious? It's so wonderful.

Sometimes I'm so grateful, I think I'll just give prayers of thanks.

And then I think of my children and my husband and prayers they need.

And I feel bad if I miss not praying for them.

I'm kind of OCD that way, but thankfully the Lord knows me

and he knows my heart, so he gets it. 

Christmas Letter Memories

I was looking through the photo boxes and came across old Christmas letters.

I need to compile a book. Such sweet memories!

(And oh, my, we moved a lot! And had a lot of broken bones.)

 

Kershaw is 8!

Happy Birthday, Kershaw!

Born on Veteran's Day, 2016, he was originally named, Sarge,

and all of his litter given military names.

Our family debated names: Hermione if she was a girl,

Marty came up with Dak or Kershaw if he was a boy,

and everyone loved those choices, especially Kershaw.

We picked him up a few days after Chris broke his leg and before Marty went on his mission.

We had him home a few days, then left to Hawaii on our family trip and Kershaw went to puppy training.

Now he's eight years old!

Here he is with his second family -- also the Schaffers!

They watch him when we're out of town and the two little girls adore him.

He gets lots of treats and spoiled when we're gone.

Kershaw goes hiking every day he's home with a pack and is soooo excited 

when Aimee comes to the door to pick him up.

If any other white truck pulls into the driveway, he tries to jump in thinking he's going hiking.

Early days eight years ago!