The good a Home Teacher can do

Our hearts are breaking.  Our wonderful home teacher Tim Colman is moving away.

When we moved to our current home in Allen Stephen and I prayed for a good a Home Teacher because we knew what a blessing it would be to our family.  And our prayer was answered.  Tim Colman and Brian Walker were our home teachers.  And they came every month.  EVERY month.  I can think of twice in the 8 years we've lived in our ward that they missed.

There was a point that Brian Walker got a job out of state and thought they'd move so his assignment was changed.  But Tim Colman remained.

Dedicated. Faithful.  Tim Colman ingrained himself into our family as if he were a family member.  He came to soccer games and choir concerts.  He remembered birthdays and attended baptisms.  He's come to give blessings.  He mowed our lawn when my mom died.  He's counseled and blessed me through tricky family issues.  He LOVED each of my children like his own.  Our family was blessed by him in ways that we will experience for generations.  One thing I am most grateful for is the example he has been to my boys of what a home teacher does.  Matthew and likely Sam have never known a world where a Home Teacher didn't come every month.

On his last visit to our family, he shared a video and then we had a kneeling family prayer that was as if he was pronouncing a blessing on each member of my family.  I remember how sacred an experience that was.

God bless men like Tim Colman.

Kaitlyn was especially emotional and torn up about him moving away.  For her birthday he gifted her a special stuffed elephant (which is funny because he could make a remarkable elephant noise and was famous in our family for it) which she named Tim.  The elephant was because "Elephant's never forget".  And we sure will never forget the goodness of Tim Colman and the blessing he's been to our family.

General Conference April 2017

A precious story worth telling.

Two important points to make as a backdrop.

1.  Lindsey at our Tithing Settlement with our Bishop this past December, when our Bishop asked if there was anything he could do for us, Lindsey courageously responded, "I've had this question for awhile.  I listened through last conference for an answer and I've thought about it a lot and I just don't have an answer.  How do I know if it's the Holy Ghost, or just my thoughts?"  WOW!  Deep question.  Stephen and I didn't realize she'd been searching and pondering that question.  We were thrilled she felt like she could ask the Bishop the question.

2.  Every time a General Conference comes around, as a family we make a list of topics or questions we hope will be answered or talked about in Conference.  In October 2016 Lindsey had brought up this question, and once again she included it on our list.

So then we began listening to General Conference, and sure enough, Elder Ronald Rasband began to answer her question in his talk entitled "Let the Holy Spirit Guide".  Sam was the first to vocalize it, and he nudged Lindsey and told her he was answering her question.  Lindsey was already listening.  Stephen then said that she should write to him, which I had also had the idea.

And this sweet poster is what she drew while listening--we were thrilled for her.  What a special experience to have a question answered so clearly in General Conference!

1.       Then practically the next talk was Elder Stevenson who began to talk to the primary children and especially those who were getting ready to be baptized.  Guess what Matthew’s question was?  How do I prepare to be baptized? It was an amazing experience

Sam soccer

A rough season due to losing a few players and trying to integrate new players we were thrilled to have Sam score a beautiful goal in his soccer game!

We have a teenager! Kaitlyn turns 13!

My beautiful Kaitlyn turns 13

This past year she has grown up SO much.  She's grown in confidence.  She's worked on building quality relationships with good friends.  She's transitioned to middle school seamlessly and is a star student.  She continues to excel in music and plays piano in Young Women's regularly.

For Kaitlyn's birthday we took some friends to go see the new movie "Beauty and the Beast" and it was wonderful!

And after we came to our house and had ice cream.  So grateful for these good friends!

Then on the REAL birthday Kaitlyn received her much anticipated present--a CELL PHONE!  Now this girl has wanted this for more than a year.  She had to work to earn half the money to buy it and even with the money in the bank we waited to make sure that she was responsible enough to handle a phone.  To say she was excited is an understatement!

 And as requested, a cookie cake!

He really wants to be a big brother

Matthew really really really wants to be a big brother.  One of the things we have begun to do on Sundays is to go for a family walk around our neighborhood.  Sundays are spent sitting through hours of church and "resting" but our energetic little bunch it creates havoc.

On this particular Sunday we stopped by our friends, the Hess' family and took any of their kids who wanted to come with us.  They'd just had baby #7 and were happy to send a few of their kids with us.  Matthew took charge of making sure little Mia was safe.  She held his hand the whole time.  He helped her cross the street safely.  It was precious.  Sweet sweet boy!

Dumbo Octopus

I bet you've never heard of a Dumbo Octopus, but it's an actual thing.

In 7th grade science, Kaitlyn had to choose an animal, do a report on it and make one out of household items.  And of course she decided to sew hers.  It turned out really cute and was totally a labor of love for her and Stephen.

But what I'm more proud of her for, was that she initially was graded unfairly on this project.  She was home from school sick during a few days when she was supposed to be working on it and so she did it at home.  She may have missed some addendums or additional directions on the assignment but she turned in what was asked for on the paper she had and she missed 8 points, bringing the assignment down to a high B instead of the A she deserved. 

Here came the lesson of learning to talk to a teacher about a grade.  Sure mom or dad could have emailed the teacher to correct the error, but at nearly 13, it's time to learn how to talk to an adult/your teacher to get some clarification.  She was really nervous.  She practiced what she was going to say.  And she did it, and she got the added points back by doing the extra little bit that was required over the weekend without a penalty.  She was so pleased!

Lindsey plays volleyball

I'm so proud of this girl!  We've decided to try something new instead of soccer. 

We were excited to have her join a solid established team of other Marion friends but that's not what happened.  She joined a team of mostly girls who have never played before who are hodge-podge from many schools all over Allen.  That was hard for Lindsey.

She's also not "perfect" at volleyball immediately so she was discouraged.  But she's sticking it out, and it's taken some work but she's made friends and is getting better.

Matthew turns 7

How is Matthew 7?  But he is and he really celebrated during his birthday weekend...

First, Matthew had a day with Stephen as the "Watch Dog" at school with him.  It was a bonus because it was also the morning that Matthew's class did the morning assembly performance at the "Rise and Shine".

All 3 of my children got to introduce him and he spent the day running between their classes.  They LOVE watch dog day!

Then the morning of his birthday we got the party started early...literally.  Aunt Laura and Uncle Andy gifted us this cool light bulb that's also a speaker that changes colors and turns our living room into a dance club--and these three started boogie-ing--SO FUN!

 He was excited about getting a "rip-stick" for his birthday.  He's still learning how to use it.  And by request, a chocolate cake with frosting and fajitas for dinner--YUM!