September 24, 2017

Today was a nice relaxing Sunday. We went to church. I went to choir practice. While at choir practice Carrie ask me if I got the email with our family photos in it. I hadn't yet so of course I ran home and pulled them up. I am so happy with them. I am so glad that we spent the money and had Carrie do them for us. We ended our day by facetiming with Madison. Kevin figured out how to hook our TV up to the iPad so we got to talk to a big Madison. I love that we have so much technology available to us to keep in touch with Madison.

September 22, 2017

Today was a great day. I started my day off by going to a quilt show with Dawn and some friends. There were so many beautiful quilts. I wish that I could just spend all my time quilting. I never knew when I decided to make Allison a quilt last year that it would become so addicting. After the quilt show we did some baby shopping with Capri before we picked up some lunch at Applebee's. It was a treasure to be able to spend the day with friends.
Once the girls were home from school and Kevin was off work we headed to dinner. I wanted pasta but not the Olive Garden like we normally do. We tried Louis at first but the hostess told us that they did not have any room so we left. It was like 6:00 and I have never been turned away from a restaurant before. Kevin thought he would call and see what they said. They ended up not even being busy it would have been only a 15 minute wait. Oh well I guess they didn't want our business tonight. We instead ended up at Flatbread. It was good. Since I am not a cake fan after dinner we headed to Culvers for some frozen custard. It was the perfect birthday surrounded by friends and family.

I missed having Madison here but she sent me a fun little snapchat. She gets to come home next weekend I can't wait.
After the quilt show I checked my phone and I feel bad because I missed a call from the school. Ashley fell and sprained her ankle in PE. She was ok but I still feel bad for not hearing my phone.

September 21, 2017

It has been a long time since I have been able to hang out with Megan. Today I headed to her house to help her can her applesauce. She got a lot of apples and had a lot of canning to do. I am glad that I was able to go out there and help and visit with her. Next I will probably get some apples and can some apple sauce. Fresh canned applesauce is so much better than the store bought stuff.
After helping Megan I ran to Ashley's cross country meet. Ashley was pretty excited for this meet because it is the first one that Kevin has been able to make it to. He was so impressed with how much she has accomplished this season. I am glad that he was able to make it to support her.
When I snapchatted with Madison today she was letting me know how much she misses Macie so I passed a cute little picture along to her. I remember when I went off to school it was a lot of fun but it was also so hard because i missed everything back at home.

September 20, 2017

Today was a pretty low key day. We didn't do much. On this day I always think of my little brother alot and wonder what his life would be like if he was still alive. He would be 31 if he was still alive. I miss him and am so grateful that families can be together forever. I look forward to being with him again one day.
Madison sent me a fun snapchat today. She got me a birthday present. I will have to wait till she comes home to get it but it was so nice of her to think of me.

September 19, 2017

Ashley ran in another cross country meet today. She got her best time yet. I love watching her run and improve each time. Cross country has not been easy but she is doing such a great job at sticking it out.
I got en excited snapchat from Madison today that it was snowing. She loves cold weather and snow. I think she picked the best place to go to college.
I finished my evening out by attending a Relief Society dinner. It has been a while since I have been able to make it to a relief society meeting. It was nice to visit with the women in the ward.

September 17, 2017

Today was a nice relaxing uplifting Sunday. I love Sunday's. We facetimed Madison and she seems to adjusting well to be at college. It is different not having her here but I am glad that she is adjusting and making friends.
Allison and Ashley got invited to Capri's house to make fall decorations. They said that they had alot of fun hanging out with Capri.

September 16, 2017

Ashley is back at playing Rec soccer. This morning as she put her uniform on she said it was an ugly uniform. She does not miss competitive soccer but she does miss the cute uniforms. Ashley played goalie the first half of the game. It was fun watching her enjoy herself again playing soccer. She did such a great job playing goalie. The second half she got to play center forward. I love watching my kids play and love playing. Ashley's team won 5 to 4.

September 15, 2017

The weather is even cooler today. Ashley did not want to be cold so wore pants. I can not believe that it is September 15th and it is this cool. Madison snapchatted me and told me that she could see her breath on the way to her 3 oclock class.

She has always wanted to move to Alaska because she hates being hot. I think she is going to be pretty happy in Rexburg. It gets cold there and this is just the beginning.
Ashley has been really struggling with her emotions and holding it together since school started. She is trying but still struggling. I had this thought this morning of when she was little and how she slept best when everything her was just right and clean. I noticed that her room was really cluttered and I think that it was contributing to her struggle so I spent the majority of my day sorting through things and perging thigs from her room. I didn't get to finish but made a good start. She thrives in order but really has a pack rat problem. I need to keep up on this so it doesn't get like this. I really think it will help all her emotions.

I love organizing. It makes me excited to go through the house organizing until I get a job.
Tonight I went with the girls to the Capri's baby shower it was fun. I can not wait to meet this little baby. I am so happy for Weston and Capri.

it is fun to see the girls get so excited. Until one of them has a baby this is the closest thing to a sister having a baby right now. I love that we can be apart of it and celebrate this new little life.
Madison had her first visitors at college. Aunt Jill and her family came and took Madison out to dinner and hung out with her this evening.

I love the support that has in her family. I love that she has so many people that love her and are rooting for her and that are there for her. She had such a good time with the Poormans and when she called tonight we talked for over an hour. It was wonderful hearing her excitement as she told me about her evening and other things from her week. This mommas heart really needed this talk tonight.

September 14, 2017

There was a big weather change today. It was so nice to sit with the windows open all day.

I love fall especially the smells of fall. Today was a pretty routine day for me. I worked on things around the house while the girls were at school. Ashley had another cross country meet today.

The weather was so nice and I could tell that it was a relief for Ashley too. She did not seem as exhausted and cranky this evening like she did on Tuesday. After the meet she went to soccer practice and she really seems to enjoy soccer again. Switching back to recreation soccer from competitive soccer has been a real blessing for Ashley.
Allison worked again this evening. She is really liking her job and seems to juggling work and school. She is almost all caught up with her makeup work. It is always a pain to miss school but Allison does a great job getting caught up after an absence.
I didn't hear much from Madison today. She has been keeping herself busy with school and her social life. I love that she is doing better and starting to adjust to college life.

September 13, 2017

It has been a pretty uneventful day but it sure has been a long day. I started my day by volunteering a the cannery. It was exactly what I needed to get out of this funk that I have been in. It has been hard to motivate myself to get stuff done. It has been hard having Madison so far away. She seems to be doing alot better and that really helps me. Last night she let me know that she got all of her work done for the week. I am glad that she is finding her groove with school. I hope that she starts reaching out more and finds friends. I am afraid that she is still holding on to relationships back in here Meridian alittle too much and it is holding her back. I trust that it will all work out.
When I got home from the cannery I rested a little and then checked out the garden. This is the first time that I have looked at it since we got home from Rexburg and it had a ton of ripe tomatoes and some more huge cucumbers. I had planned on focusing the rest of my day on cleaning and laundry but instead canned marinara and pickles. This was my first time doing marinara so I hope that it turns out. It was really time consuming and made for a late night.

Ashley day was less stressful then yesterday and she was a huge help in the garden getting everything picked with me. While we were getting things prepped for the marinara she talked and talked about an assembly that they had at school today. It was fun hearing all about it. (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) She had a much better attitude today. She must be getting used to the early mornings.
Allison had the busy day today. She made up some tests at school. She got a little break after school today for about an hour before she had to go to work. She worked until 7 and then headed straight to mutual. Tonight they started practice for the temple celebration. It is exciting that the dedication is around the corner. It has been a long three years since the ground breaking and even longer since it was announced.

I only got to speak to Kevin for only 10 minutes at 11:30 pm. This convention that his company puts on each year really keeps him busy. I bet he can't wait till Friday when he gets to come home.

September 12, 2017

Things are starting to feel somewhat normal again around here. We have got back into our groove of morning scripture study again. It really seems to be working and the early hour isn't too hard on everyone. Ashley was a little resistant this morning but she showed up and that is what is the most important. The girls left for school and I focused more on getting this blog(journal) caught up. I have a lot to do but every little bit helps. I had this thought that I should email President Eyring and thank him for his thoughts during the parent meeting. I didn't expect to hear anything back but he emailed me back.

All these little tender mercies help me see more and more that Madison is going to be ok. I love that she is at such a wonderful place.
Ashley had a cross country meet today. She has been struggling with practicing because the air quality has been so bad. I know that her asthma was really bothering her but she did not let that hold her back. She ran the mile in half and did not give up. She did do more walking then last meet but that doesn't matter she finished. She was the last one to come in and it was so amazing to see everyone cheering her on. I love this sport and especially seeing how her school cheers everyone on.

This sport has been so good for her. She has so many friends she is doing this with and she has made lots of new friends also.

Ashley wasn't quite done with her day after the meet. We headed home to pick up her stuff for soccer practice and piano.

Tuesdays are a crazy day for her until the end of September.
Allison worked on getting caught up after missing school last week. She also worked on some family history. She installed the app on her phone a few months back and it is fun to see her get excited when she gets a notification about a new possible family member. She has reserved about 50 names for baptism in the last few days. I am glad that she can still fit in things like family history while she has such a big load at school. I love seeing her prioritize things.
Madison finally has got registered for all the classes that she needs. She has four on campus classes and two online classes. I think that it is a good load to start out her first semester with. She has also been making friends.

Every time I talk to her she seems happier and happier to be at school. She actually ask if she could live there in the winter and work while she takes a couple of online classes. I don't think it is a good idea since she can live here for free and save more money that way but I never thought that she would be asking something like this a couple of days ago.
Kevin has been busy all day at a conference in Salt Lake. We haven't been able to talk much today. Friday can't come soon enough so he can come home.

September 11, 2017

Today did not start as a good day. I did not sleep well last night. I tossed and turned all night worried about Madison and then took Kevin to the airport at 4 this morning. I got the girls off to school and then laid down for a bit before I ran my errands. Madison's backpack arrived after we left and there were a few things that she forgot so I got a package ready for her. I think this is going to be fun sending her stuff. It helps with how much I miss her.

While I was out Madison sent me a picture for her first day of school. I love that she knows how important these things are to me. To me it was a sign that she is doing better.

She is going to to great. She called before bed time to report on her day. She hung out with her roommates. They went to Walmart and to get dessert together. I am doing a little happy dance. She told me she found her classes fine today. I hope with all this good news that I will be able to sleep tonight.
Allison and Ashley had good days at school. Allison has a lot of makeup work from missing two days but she jumped right into it when she got home. She will get caught up fast. Ashley was able to ride her bike to school again. It is so nice that the air quality has gotten better.
We all wore our BYU-I shirts proudly today. I think that it was therapeutic for us all.

We all look forward for the phone call from Madison each night.
It was a good day except for one minor annoyance. A fire alarm started to chirp. I was able to narrow it down to the upstairs and then Allison came home and found out which one it was. Kevin normally does this but thankfully I was able to get it changed so it wouldn't annoy the girls all night.

September 10, 2017

Today was an emotional day. There are signs everywhere that Madison is not here. We sat on a side pew at church and when church was over Ashley ask if we were going to wait for Madison. It was also obvious when I was making dinner. There is going to be so much to get used to now that there are only four of us here. Kevin had a Scout court of honor and while he was gone we facetimed with Madison. She wasn't very chatty. I could tell that things were bothering her. After the girls went to bed Kevin and I facetimed with her again. Madison was having a hard time and it was heart wrenching. After we were done talking Kevin and I both joined Snapchat.

We have no idea what we are doing but hey one more way to connect with Madison so why not. The first thing that I saw on Snapchat was that Madison found our care package that she hid in her closet.

I am praying for a good day tomorrow. I wish that I could be there with her but I know that she needs to do this on her own.

September 9, 2017

Today we left Madison in Rexburg. As a parent this was the hardest thing that I have ever done.

I knew that it was going to be hard but then to see her face it was so hard to walk out that door and not just pack her up and take her back with us. I know that it is going to be hard for a bit but she is going to do amazing things and have the best time in Rexburg. We will also find a new normal at home.

Before we left, we finished up some grocery shopping for Madison while she was on campus finishing GetConnected. We also took a tour of the new apartment complex that the girls will be switching over to next semester. The complex Madison is in now will become boys housing and the girls will get this pretty new complex. I can not believe how much has changed since Kevin and I was there.

She hasn't signed a contact for the Spring yet but she is pretty sure she wants to stay in this new place. I guess we will wait and see.