Family Weekend 2.0

For our second annual family weekend getaway, we headed south to Patoka Lake. We weren't actually right on the water and we didn't have a boat, but we still enjoyed the beautiful scenery and relaxing atmosphere. Unfortunately, Jacob couldn't make it down and we missed Thomas, of course. 

The first night, we all got there at different times so we took it easy. Nalon and Holden played Twister while trying not to lose their balance due to the monster baby crawling all over.

Saturday we spent time exploring. We went on a hike through the woods and drove down to the lake. We played games and made food. My favorite activity was putting Adelina to sleep. A few different times she let me just walk with her and she fell asleep right on my shoulder. Super snuggly and super sweet. I can't get enough of that squishy baby.

The lake was beautiful and I wish we'd gotten a boat to enjoy it more. We had fun just hanging out by the water for a few hours, though.

Dominika's little brother Azaan, who's three, came with us and definitely kept things lively. At the lake he was cracking us all up because he was afraid of the muddy sludge at the water's edge and wouldn't let Dominika put him into the water. It was hilarious to watch him raise his feet as high as he could as she lowered him towards the water.

As you may notice from the above pictures, Holden and Nalon were not afraid of the mud at all. :) They got down and dirty and pretended to be alligators - crawling slowly out of the water up through the mud and brush.

Saturday night we roasted marshmallows on the fire and made s'mores before heading to bed. On Sunday, we went to church in nearby English, Indiana where our family nearly doubled the size of their tiny congregation. Afterwards, we relaxed. Mom and Dad took most of the kids back to the lake while a few of us napped.

Monday morning, we packed everything up and headed over to Marengo Cave. Before we started the tour, my stomach started hurting and it got worse as we went through the cave. It started getting really bad, and I really think it was exacerbated by anxiety of being down in a cave with nowhere to go or even sit down if I got sick. I finally went back out the way we came in and hung out at the visitor's center while everyone else finished the tour. I was bummed to miss half the cave.

Afterwards, we all headed home. I had Nalon with me and we stopped at Sam's Club on the way home so I could get a blender. I became dependent on Tessa's Blendtec blender while I lived with her, and after only a week without one I couldn't take it anymore. My green smoothies have become such an integral part of my diet that it made the hefty price tag worth it. It didn't make it any easier to swallow, but it was worth it. I use it all the time and I love my smoothies.

Field Day

One of the things I love most about my job is the flexibility and autonomy. I have things I need to get done, but for the most part when and how I do those things is up to me. I'm able to adjust my day pretty easily and I love it. That kind of flexibility also means I often get assigned to do things because I'm "available," meaning I don't have a classroom full of students who I'm responsible for. Sometimes this is terrible, such as when I get assigned to do several hours of ISTEP testing every day for two weeks straight. Sometimes this is great, such as when I get assigned to go to field day. 

This year, IPS did a district-wide field day where they had dozens of different activities set up around a giant outdoor facility. Students and staff were able to go around at will and participate in the activities they found interesting. They had everything from jump rope and potato sack races to rock climbing and archery. My favorite: the DJ. A few of the kids and I got down for real.

Full disclosure: I hate field trips - it's tough enough to manage kids when they're all in one classroom. Release them into the world? Not fun. This trip was great, though. I was in charge of a small group and they were fabulous. We spent the day migrating from activity to activity and I got to play right along with them. Aside from the fact that it was freezing, we had a great time!

I also had the chance to get to know some kids I don't regularly come in contact with. By the end of the day, this little girl hugged me and told me I was a fun person. Nothing feels better than validation from a nine-year-old. :)

Last Day at the Temple

I've said it before, but working on the Indianapolis temple has been a huge blessing and miracle in my life. Temporally speaking, it came during a time when I needed some extra money without the restriction of a typical job schedule. Glen, my boss, was very flexible and allowed me to work as little or as much as I could. When I started, I think I was the first woman on the job site (there might have been one other there before me), so it wasn't always comfortable, but Glen and the other guys on his crew always made me feel welcome and valued. During my time there, I met great people and strengthened previous relationships. My understanding of and appreciation for the temple was deepened. 

More than anything else, it was a treasured opportunity to work with my brother on such a special project - something that he was so proud of. Sharing it with him was an honor and a joy. Before we wrapped up, my dad came up to help for a couple of days so I was able to work with both of them in the temple, which was fabulous. The ordinances we do in the temple bind families together for eternity and because of the covenants my parents made in a similar temple almost forty years ago, our family will be together forever and I'm so grateful.

The temple is absolutely gorgeous. The woodwork and detail inside is stunning and the architecture of the outside is majestic. I drove by yesterday and the landscaping is mostly in now. It's a gorgeous site. The last day I was there was bittersweet. On the one hand, I'm thrilled that we're now only about two months from the dedication - we'll actually get to use the temple! On the other hand, working on it has been a unique and wonderful experience and I'll miss that - I already do.

Throughout the seven months that I worked there, I periodically took pictures from the same side view to track the progress. I think it would have been more obvious from the front, but that's not where the parking lot is. :) It was so fun to see the evolution over time as it became the beautiful building it is now.

Moving Help

Last month I moved out of Tessa's house and into a house on the near east side of Indianapolis. I live with a few girls I met when I went to the singles' branch. Living here has literally changed my life. Everything is so close - work is a 7-minute drive, downtown is a 5-minute drive, church is a 6-minute drive. My decision to attend something no longer has to include figuring out what I'll do for two hours between work and whatever it is I'm going to. It's always convenient to go home. I love, love, love it.

That being said, moving was tough. When I first came back to Indiana, I moved in with Tessa because I didn't know exactly where I'd want to live or who I'd live with. It was always a temporary thing - I was thinking maybe six months max. Once I got here, though, it just made sense for me to stay - she needed help with the kids, I didn't have much money to pay rent, the setup in her basement was really nice (separate room and private bathroom). Then when we moved to Fishers, that was going to be even more temporary because I hated the drive and quarters were a little more cramped - the youngest three kids were all squished into one room and I was sharing a bathroom with all the kids. But I didn't quite know who I'd live with yet, and it didn't make sense to move during winter, blah blah blah. Even over those years, moving out was always still in my mind so making the decision to actually do it wasn't hard. That's what I had been planning to do the whole time. But once I made the decision and I started packing, I realized I'd been living with them for almost three years. That's the longest I'd lived with anyone since I lived at home. They became part of my everyday life and I realized how much I would miss them. 

I don't think me living there was an accident at all. There were a few moments, especially during my first year teaching, when I felt very strong impressions that me living with them was a very specific blessing for me and for them. I know I was meant to be there for the kids as an extra support and constant during their parents' divorce. I know I was meant to be there for Tessa as an extra adult to watch the kids and to talk to when she needed someone who wasn't a child. I know they were meant to be there for me as I came home emotionally and mentally exhausted from teaching - stressed and weighed down beyond what I felt like I could handle - they were there with smiles to cheer me up. They got me through a lot of really rough days that first year and both years since then. I remember one day when I was struggling with the disappointment and frustration of not being able to have a family of my own yet, and a thought came into my mind, "I can't give you your own yet. But here are these to help fill the void until then." They filled my heart and soul more times than I can count and I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knew how much we'd need each other. 

Living with my sister has also been a blessing - we're eight years apart so we were never really on the same page growing up. Living together, though, strengthened our relationship as we bonded over food and weight loss and the kids and complicated romantic relationships. I now consider her my friend and I'm not sure that would have happened otherwise.

The last week before I moved was tough - I think all of us were adjusting to the idea of me not being around all the time - I'm sure the twins couldn't remember a time when I hadn't been living with them. They would always ask me why I was leaving and tell me I didn't have to. One night as I was bringing boxes down, Cooper came down and asked, "Will you come visit us? Like on Valentine's Day?" I assured him I would come visit much more often than just on Valentine's Day.

I hate moving. Packing is the absolute worst. Fortunately, I had this darling little assistant to help me.

Once everything was packed, I loaded my car and brought it down and Isaac loaded my dad's truck and brought it down. Between the two of us, we got everything down to the house. I was so impressed that he'd loaded the entire truck - including my bed and dresser - by himself. He also brought a fun little surprise. :) We went to dinner after we unloaded everything and she threw everything on the floor, per usual.

Isaac also brought up an old fridge my dad had out in his shop. It was the most disgusting thing I'd ever seen. Fortunately, my mom came up that weekend to help us move everything in (I moved in Thursday and my roommates moved in Saturday) and she hit that fridge like no one's business. She's amazing. I wish I had an after picture - just imagine this fridge but clean.

My mom spent her entire Saturday at my house cleaning everything. The house was super dirty when we got it, so she and I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom, the floors, the woodwork, the bathrooms, the laundry room - everything. She event brought a salad for us to share for lunch. She's incredible. Then that evening Tessa and her kids came to visit and brought us a delicious home-cooked meal.

Last week, my dad, Isaac, and Jacob brought over Isaac's piano (they're leaving it to me since they're not taking it with them to Colorado) as well as a few metal shelves he doesn't need. Did I mention it was 10:30 at night? Jacob's also building us some shelves for our pantry. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by how blessed I am with the family that I have. I simply couldn't do life without them.

It's been so nice being convenient - I get more visitors, too! A few weeks ago Dominika's mom had a baby so my mom came up to watch Adelina and they came to my house to visit because it's not far from anything! My mom took Adelina up to my room to put her to sleep and this is what I found when I came up. :) Apparently she flopped around until finally falling asleep on her face.

Mother's Day

I hosted Mother's Day dinner for our family - it's hard to figure out a way to make sure none of the mothers have to cook! We had a yummy dinner then the locals stayed and played games.

My dad's a really cute grandpa. It's fun to see his softer side come out with the grandkids.

It is with absolute confidence that I say that every good thing in my life can be traced back to the righteous influence of my mother. She's an incredible example, support, and friend. I'm grateful to have her in my life.

American Pie

Columbus North High School does a really fun historical rock concert ever spring - I participated in it three years when I was in high school and Micah's now been in it three years as well. The auditorium is always packed, there's a full band, and students pack into the pit area up front. It's an unparalleled opportunity to feel like a legitimate rock star. It's been fun to watch Micah. Plus, I get to hang out with my parents which is really fun for me. 

Baby Girl

It's no secret that my greatest desire is to be a wife and mother. I'm not, in case you didn't know, which has been my greatest trial. The loneliness and void in my heart is sometimes too much to handle, but most of the time I do ok. One of the biggest reasons I'm able to carry on positively is the blessing of having all seven of my nieces and nephews close to me. They fill and soothe my yearning heart and soul. Some of my strongest moments of love and comfort over the past year have come through this baby girl. I love her so.

Isaac and Dominika have been in the process of moving to Colorado for like the past month and a half. I picked Adelina up this day to watch her so Dominika could pack. We hung out at the playground for about a half hour, but once she got in the swing it was very clear that she was too sleepy. Her eyes were drooping on every swing back and forth. So I packed her up and brought her back to her house and put her to sleep - one of my favorite things to do. I thought about laying her on the bed, but decided to just sit and hold her so I could soak up those baby cuddles before they're all the way on the other side of the country.

When she woke up, I fed her some rice and we played outside for a bit. It's hard for me to handle her cuteness sometimes. Those little sandals! That toothy grin! Those chubby cheeks! Those big blue eyes!