Missing Mack

It is amazing how true the saying "you don't know what you've got until its gone" is or even "absence makes the heart grow fonder". My Mack has been gone since last Sat. He was able to go with his Grandpa and Grandma Muhlestein for a week to Arizona to visit with his Cousins. We talk to him every night and can tell that he is having a blast. Aric's brother and his wife have 4 boys of their own so he is feeling right in his element. I have to feel a bit bad for our niece Abigail who also went for the visit. I am sure she is wishing she had some girl cousins with her.
I am glad that Mack was able to go and spend this time with family but, I am missing his funny little personality. I miss all of his smiles and hugs and I miss that great big front tooth that has led to his nickname "bucky beaver".
Hurry home bucky this place just is'nt the same without you!!!

The Family

I have to say I have had an inspiring afternoon. I do not know how many of you have seen the interview that CNN did with the 3 men who were rescued from Columbia recently but I just watched the whole thing. There were bits and pieces of it on this morning as well. I was certainly impressed with these three and their attitudes after being held captive for 5 and as half years. The most impressive part of the interview for me was when they were talking about who they were before they were captured and what changes they were making for their future. One of the men turned right into the camera and said that the best and biggest message he wanted to get across is that it was all about FAMILY. He said that with everything that got taken away from them when they went into captivity it was family that was the most important. He (and both of the other men agreed) was going to focus his energy on being a better father, husband, son, etc. They were talking about how before their capture they were like many of us and going through their lives and not truly appreciating all that they had and that they were determined never to do that again.
What a great message to share and have come out of their ordeal. To focus on the family. Now where have I heard that before??????
I am grateful that I have been taught the gospel and that the family has always been such a focal point of it's teachings. I am grateful that I have the freedoms I do. I am also thankful for these men and their reminder to me of how important it is to have both of these things. I hope that all goes well for them in their future.

Soccer Camp

Karli was able to go with one of her friends last week up to the University of Utah to a soccer camp.
She got to stay in the dorms that were built for the 2002 Winter games. It was a little hard to take her and drop her off up there. It did not feel like she should be old enough to be able to stay on her own at a college!! It really made me realize how quickly she is growing up. I can just imagine how quickly it will be before I am taking her to drop her off for college.
I am so happy that she was able to go and have this opportunity. She said that she really loved it. We will have to wait until her Fall soccer season starts to see what it did for her soccer game but her social life was certainly enriched by the time there (luckily it was an all girl camp so her new friends are all girls.. I am so not ready for co-ed).
It is good to have her home I have not realized how used to having her help me out I have gotten. I love being able to run to the store or drop one kid off somewhere with out having to load up the others. She is a great helper and I am so lucky to have her!!