Tuesday, September 29, 2015

So Much Love.


  I love that Meghan decided to go through the temple
 with plenty of time to return often
before she heads out on her mission in December.
And I love that I got to be a part of that. :)
Such a beautiful experience,
on a beautiful night, at a beautiful temple.







 Love you Meghan!

Monday, September 28, 2015

Matters of the Heart.


 " Have an eternal love affair with the life of the Son of God. 
I pray that you will .. . love everything He did, 
everywhere He went, everything He said, 
and everything He is. 
 
I would walk on hot lava, I would drink broken glass
 to find one more word, one more phrase, 
one more doctrine,
 any parable that anyone could give me 
of the life of Christ, the living Son of the living God. 
 
The doctrine of Christ means everything to me 
as a result of my feelings for the author ...”
                                                       
 Elder Jeffrey R. Holland                       
                                                                                              

Monday, September 21, 2015

Time.

The other day, Angie, my hard-working single mom sister, asked me, "What do you do all day now that you don't work?"
Ha!
I'm not sure what I do all day but I am definitely "doing" all day.
I don't feel any less busy than when I was working!
To quote Janis: "I'm not sure how I ever had time to work."
Anyhow, time is marching on at a rapid pace, and things are always changing here at the Labit household.

Michaela:
Just started her first semester at UVU in the digital media program. So far so good. She also changed apartments and jobs all at the same time. She doesn't often get stressed or ruffled but all of those changes at the same time pushed her a little... thank goodness she has more of her dad's temperament than mine. I have been so proud of Michaela's desire to be independent and self sufficient. She has amazing resilience and adapts so easily to change. She loves her new ward and just received a new calling, in a new way. Basically: "Hey, here's a list of callings we need filled. Which one would you like?"  Ha! Life in a student ward I guess. She is officially the Relief Society Activities Coordinator. Woot!

Bethany:
Traditionally, the women in our family go to BYU Idaho and hate it. Bethany has decided to buck that tradition and embrace Rexburg. Undaunted by Michaela and my horror stories (okay, horror might be too strong of a word) she is settled in and doing fine. Some might say she is doing great! :)
After a long week of adding and dropping classes, which is basically a nightmare of stress and ulcers, her schedule is set, and we are crossing our fingers and hoping for the best. Yay Beth! She has good roommates and has found a fun group of friends and if you know Beth-that's top of the priority list. Leaving Sodalicious was the hardest part of leaving Provo. To say she loved that job would be an understatement. :)

Elijah:
Elijah is home and that makes my heart happy. Before Bethany left, sometimes I would look around at all five of my kids and think how great it was that we were all together again. It's the little things. He is working full-time at Clear Link, and seems to feel like he is a natural born salesman. To complete his last year of seminary, he goes to Institute at UVU once a week. We just got the official word that his high school diploma is in the mail. BIG sigh of relief on that one.

Hannah:
Hannah is completing her second year at Merit Academy. She is happy there and that make me happy. In 2 weeks Hannah will be 16. SIXTEEN! So many reminders in my life that I am old.
She is chomping at the bit to get her license and be a full fledged solo driver. Of all my kids, she is probably the one I feel most confident letting on the road at sixteen. She still loves art and is taking her 3rd art class at Merit. For a few weeks, she was the only student in Art 3--she enjoyed the one on one art lessons. Since then, two more students have joined her.  Sure love Hannah and her calm in the midst of our craziness.

Will: 
Eighth grade has been bit of a challenge. Most of his classes are honors classes and his homework load has increased dramatically. On top of school, he does cross country, volleyball and plays the bass ( all are of his choosing). He is "this close" to finishing up with Merit badges for his Eagle.... and even with all of that on his plate he never complains and lives his life with gusto. He certainly brings happiness wherever he is.


Michael and I: 
Michael is experiencing life as a high councilman. It's certainly different than being in the bishopric. He is still busy but it's a different kind of busy.
I am going on a month with no calling. Kind of weird. It's a nice reprieve but I am ready to get back to work.
We are both just hanging in there doing the best we can to keep the wheels turning and the going in the right direction.

So there you go. Life moves on. Better try and keep up as best you can.

Happy Sabbath.
Shabbat Shalom!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

A Half Century of Gratitude...

I turned 50 last week.
It was awesome (snicker, snicker)
(Actually, since my Forties was the decade of the dog bite and Rheumatoid Arthritis, I am hopeful that my Fifties will be kinder to me...)

The best part about any birthday is the outpouring of love.
And I felt it.
Especially from my daughter Bethany who went to great lengths to plan a surprise party for me.
FOR ME.
And I was surprised.
And almost embarrassingly blindsided by it, but it was super sweet.

One of the treasured gifts I got was my Grandma Brown's beautiful personal history. 
It was wonderfully put together by my Aunt Joan with the help of my sister Kathleen. 

I read it from cover to cover in one sitting.


I laughed.
I cried.
Seriously I did.

Mostly I just rejoiced in the blessing it is to be part of her posterity...

I was reminded of a letter she sent me when I was studying in Jerusalem...


Grandma Brown had a way of making you feel that you were the most important person on the planet to her. 

I'm pretty sure all of her grand kids felt that way...

Sometimes I wish my kids could really understand how they won the lottery with the family they were born into. And what a great opportunity that they have to draw upon the strength of the magnificent people that are part of their great heritage. 

From their own Grandma and Grandpa Brown, and Grandma Kaneshiro, all the way back to those who crossed the ocean to get here. 

What a blessing of faith and strength. 

And even with a half a century under my belt, I feel that from my head to my toes, and deep in the corners of my heart.

 I am blessed. 

Here's to 50 more years.
Ugh. Just kidding. Maybe just 35 or so?