Telestrations

{For 18 months 

--> – Jan ’17 to Jul ’18 – I'm posting our letter to Miranda while she's on her mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Our letter titles are taken from a list of family sayings & catchphrases we recorded onto a pillowcase she has with her.  You can read her adventures on her mission blog: www.hermanamadsen.blogspot.com!}

Ok Finally got pictures of Sadie's.  Carlie went with Jacob {stealthy ninjas}, Shania went with someone cool {night & day}:

And these other awesome people went as fancy ninjas, and Jaxton is (Where's) Waldo... I suspect Kara is Carmen Sandiego:

This week was another whirlwind... how many times am I going to say that? Probably all through both soccer seasons.  =)  

Monday, the reason for the subject heading - Here's us playing Telestrations.  =)

Dad & I went to the temple on Tuesday.  I really wanted to take a selfie with him on our way out and FORGOT.  Dang it.  When we went to pick up Dad's truck right afterward, I saw this on a car.  Thought you would like it:

During the week, Sterling & Pepper were so cute.  I thought I'd take this for you:

We had a pack meeting here in our back yard again, the kids had practices for everything, Derek had a tennis match and ALMOST won, the Westfield t-shirts arrived and got sorted & organized just in the nick of time for the Wolf Walk... and we had to postpone until next week because - weather. I'm leaving to help Grandma & Grandpa Levie for the week, so Dad's going to step into my place for everything, even the Wolf Walk.

So Saturday, H&K had a bye week, but Morgan won his soccer game.  Here's post-header.  See the ball?  

And Connor won his game, too.

As Carlie & Morgan walked away from Connor's game to head home, I was just struck at how they get along and I love their friendship.  So I had to get this:

Later Saturday evening, we went to the General Women's broadcast.  Wasn't it amazing?  We couldn't find the twins in time to go out to eat nicer, so we drove through BK... we're so fancy.  =)

Afterward, Carlie was leaving on a date, and she got asked to Homecoming with a stick of butter.  We melted it to see if it was anything:

Nope.  But the rest came later. So cute.  

And it's snowing today!  It's still melted by the time it hits us, but still!!!!

I feel like I've had so many spiritual enlightenments this week, but I can't pinpoint any to say right here.  I've been reading at night with Carlie, I went to the aMAZing stake BofM study class, temple, pondering, Women's Broadcast, church today... I feel like I've been fed all week.  - Today, the bishopric spoke, and over the last 5 years, they have become amazing men of the Lord.  They spoke about finding joy in living the gospel, and their talks were filled with hope; then with Pres. Uchtdorf's talk on being Glad, I just feel so happy and full of light.  =)  

I'm also so happy that my parents are moving up here by us.  I feel like Heavenly Father is so close, because I've been able to see His hand in their lives so closely right now.  Grandpa found a PERFECT spot to open a gunsmithing shop, and now we just have to find them a great home to rent for a little bit.  I'm so happy to be driving down to Havasu for the last time EVER, probably, and while I'm there, I'm going to take some time to drive around to all my old memory spots.  Weirdly, for the first time in my life, I'm going to buy SOUVENIRS in my touristy little home town.  

Can you even imagine for even one minute, driving to Highland/Alpine, knowing that you'll never see them again?  Like, the rest of your life, you'll never see them ever?  Where would you go? What would you do?  It's crazy - I'm going to go to the parks we used to hang out at, walk out on the beach, go to my old houses, elementary schools, high school... just to say bye.  I really don't think I'll cry, but just be a little melancholy.  =)

And finally, the memes.  The last of my Star Wars memes, and a couple others.  Just in time for Conference:

And my favorite:

NERDness:

And SUCH A GOOD REMINDER.  I want this one on my wall somewhere.  I know it went around a few years ago, but still a fave:

LOVE YOU KIDDO!!!!  ~us

What was your FPD?

{For 18 months – Jan ’17 to Jul ’18 – I'm posting our letter to Miranda while she's on her mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Our letter titles are taken from a list of family sayings & catchphrases we recorded onto a pillowcase she has with her.  You can read her adventures on her mission blog: www.hermanamadsen.blogspot.com!}

So Grandma & Grandpa Levie came down from Tommy's open house last Saturday and went straight to Kimmy's to take care of their kids for their Spain trip, and Monday morning, Grandpa came here to build out the fireplace, etc.  BUT, he got a phone call that the people were ready to make an offer on their house, and they settled it on the phone...!! So they're moving up here, and looking for a place to rent for Grandpa to start a gunsmithing shop, maybe down on 8th North in Orem down the street from Daddy's hospital, and possibly live in this adorable house we found in Lindon.   !!!  So after 27 years in the same house, Grandma needs to pack up & clean in only a couple weeks after Kimmy & Todd get back, so I'm really excited to go down and help.  Dad will man the house & kids' schedule (!!!) and I'll go down in about a week and sweat & work in Havasu with them for possibly the last time.  =)  WOW.  It's kind of surreal right now.

I thought I'd put the pics right here that we shared on Hangout with you, so when we print this out for you and blog it, they'll be here.  =)

That night I went to Carlie's 9/11 Tribute concert.  Remember those days? Yours is the redheaded beauteous sister.  =)

The week whirled by in which I DIDN'T HAVE A PHONE.  One of the weirdest experiences of my life.  It was a lot quieter in my world.  I didn't have an audio book to turn on while I cleaned the house; I just listened to the silence and pondered things.  It was awesome.  But I also saw quite a few things I wanted to take a picture of for you, but didn't have it handy.  =(

But Dad is up to his old tricks.  Had to get a picture of the latest:

Friday, Morgan & I went to Derek's tennis match, and it was so cool to watch him play.  He's so happy wherever he goes.  The match was definitely not boring!

Then Saturday, Connor had an early soccer game, 

And when I got home, there was a missed call from Hermana Geertsen!  I went to her house and she gave me some things from my long lost daughter.  YAY!!!  It was so great to talk to her about you and hear how impressed she is with you; how proud she is to be your "grandmother." 

Those chocolate bon-bons are so good!  Thank you so much.  =)  The wrapping on your presents is my very favorite ever.  I can HARDLY WAIT to put them under the tree and just see them there.

Then Grandma "Grouped" everyone to show them that trusses were going up.  

The girls had their game.  Kierste:

Halle:

Halle again today.  Holy cow.  It looks like an actual addition:

Everyone messing around & being together:

I've had some experiences you would appreciate while reading the scriptures with Carlie at night.  We're doing her last 10-hour project for Faith together and reading our personal scriptures together.  It has been really great.  But each time, I've decided to open my scriptures to pages where I have something marked, and pick up there, and I'll read something FIRST thing, that is directly for me, exactly what I needed.  Almost like He had them write it thousands of years ago, just that way, just for me, so that when I saw it, it was worded so I would know He was speaking to me.  

I know Heavenly Father speaks to us through the scriptures; that when we have a question, we pray, read, and pray again, and if we have faith and real intent, He will manifest truth to us: answers to our questions, guidance for our problems, and help to conquer our shortcomings or trials.  He's right there, waiting to hear from us.  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  Matt 7:7

LOVE YOU.  And the memes:

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo, us