September 14, 2025

Dearest Isaac and Lily,

It's been a crazy week!

I spent a gazillion hours on the paint-by-number that Emmy got me for Christmas, and I FINALLY FINISHED IT! It looks amazing!
Emmy, Hana, and I went to the temple on Wednesday. We were only a little late - due to my auto-pilot brain missing the exit to go to Hana's apartment.
I had my very first ever organ lesson! There's a group that does group organ lessons every 2 weeks, and I started going! (Lily, I saw Sister Linford's mission plaque in the church where the lesson was! I assume you know her.)
We had dinner with Nani, Papa and Chelsie. I enjoy spending time with my in-laws. I married into a great family. Chelsie did tell me that Gabby had a miscarriage (hopefully you knew she was pregnant). She was about a 1/3 of the way through her pregnancy and is pretty devastated by this. Please keep her in your prayers.
I ran/walked at the gym on Thursday while Dad played racquetball with Shane and Eric.
Emmy had her first polo game of the season. They played Sky View (Logan area) and WON! Emmy scored 2 goals, got a couple awesome assists, and generally played amazing!
Dad and I drove out to the Basin to get the fifth wheel. We're bringing it home to do some much needed maintenance and repair.

Strawberry reservoir was covered with such cool fog! It was basically fog everywhere there was water.
There was a hot air balloon launch getting ready to take off in Roosevelt
We barely got the essential winterizing things done and the trailer hitched to the truck before the fog and rain moved it (Beautiful! But stressful)
There was a problem with the hitch that caused a couple bolts in the hitch base to shear off and damaged a couple hitch parts. Stress! BUT! We were a 5 minute walk from a hardware store that had everything we needed to repair it enough to limp home. Stressful day! But FULL of tender mercies!
We couldn't find a way to get the tires aired up enough, so we had to stop at a Big O Tires for some help
We made it home, though, safe and sound! And then we discovered that the problem came from not removing a couple bolts that would have let the hitch move like it was meant to. My ignorance is to blame!

Emmy made the most beautiful rose shaped garlic rolls and cinnamon rolls for her YW lesson today!!!
I went to Lauren Greenwell's (Greenwood?) mission farewell today! I thought you'd like to know that, Isaac. I saw the boys there. Abe is apparently starting on the next transfer - sometime in October... Apparently there was an issue with starting before then because of when his mission's transfer dates are. Connor has facial hair. It looks good - not a crust-ache. Jaydon is liking school a lot!

In RS today I was introduced to a fabulous article called "An Anatomy of Trouble" which was written for use by an organization that helps people dealing with/recovering from addiction and trauma. In it, he talks about Adam and Eve and how they hid from God after they ate the fruit. He suggests that when they came out of hiding and tell God what happened, God's reaction is basically, "Who told you being naked was a problem? And why did you think it would bother me so much? I knew you were naked. I created you that way." I was struck by the idea that Adam and Eve were wrong to think their nakedness would bother God. I think I make that same mistake all the time. God is not bothered by my weaknesses, flaws, mistakes, etc. He made a plan for all of that -- before I messed anything up! Because of the Atonement of my Savior I can come out of hiding and be covered by his goodness. That felt so true to me today.

I love you to the moon and back!!

Mom