Class of 2025- BYU!

There's something about a married couple or couples in general who graduate together. I'm so so happy that this day has come for Lexie and Hyrum. They can now stop studying hard (for now) and get a bit of a break from school. I am also filled with gratitude that we were able to fly out and witness their graduation. She is my first in the family to graduate. Neither my husband or I got degrees from a university so you can see why I'm so so happy for them! I captured a few moments from that day. It was long day but a good one. Being with family was so nice. I wish my mom could have been here but I know she's looking down from heaven seeing these two filled with JOY and shouting "WE DID IT!"

On The Second Day In June...

We had our first visit to a swimming pool! 

When Lexie and Hyrum got married they were gifted a three night stay at a nearby hotel and it was the best! We got to swim in their pool and were able to get a little tan. It was so nice and I can tell Noah has been going through withdrawal not going to a pool and having his sisters with him made it twice as fun! I love this pool! We miss the heck out of these kids but luckily Noah and I have each other and find fun stuff to do to keep summer busy. Some days we will just stay home and veg out cause it's been too hot, and somedays we will go to the pool! hat we have a nearby pool to swim in! We do miss Jon but luckily we have the weekends with him!

Lexie & Hyrum.

 

By the looks of these photos words don't need to be shared but yes my daughter got married two weeks ago. These were taken by yours truly and I had a fun time doing it. Lexie is not one to take photos and is  a very private person which I don't blame her but she didn't mind me sharing a few pics of her and her beloved Hyrum. These were taken at Sayen Gardens the day before their wedding and although it was a very warm day they were good sports in taking pictures. I still can't believe she's married and I'm so happy these two found each other! 

Birthday Girls Celebrate Birthdays Together For The First Time In Five Years!

This past Monday Lexie and Chelsea celebrated their birthdays together for the first time in five years! It is so nice that they're both going to the same college, live about 10 minutes away from each other and that they celebrated their birthdays together. Such a blessing and by the looks of their Instagram story looked like they had a fun time getting their nails done and just celebrating it in the simplest way. Love their relationship in sisterhood and how thrifty they are. I did teach them you know! The special part of their birthday is being born on the actual day of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I wrote about their birthdays here  when I first started this blog in 2011. I'll just rewrite what I wrote to them then on here again...

"Born on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday you two have resembled all of his characteristics, and I believe that is why y'all were both born on his birthday. You both are very strong willed, and are not afraid to use your voice. Especially you Chelsea! You two have the chance to wish upon something so great in your life that you'll hope it'll come true. The best part of living this life is that you can dream anytime, and anywhere. Dreams are what make our life interesting, and sometimes those dreams become your life. I don't ever want any of you to give up on your wishes, or on your dreams."

So grateful for these two lovely girl of ours. They sure have come a long way in what their goals are and hope that they achieve them in the future. They deserve only the best. 

Cheers to turning 19 and 24! May all your wishes and dreams come true girls! 

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

The best part of college for Lexie lately has been being a part of a mariachi band and participating in the fiesta Spanish heritage events held at BYU. She loves folklorico and like her older sister loves dancing.  Even more so now that she's in college. I love that this university has events in which our heritage is exhibited. Through music, singing, and dancing it's so much fun. I wish I can be there to see her play, sing, and dance with her mariachi band. Hopefully someday. But for now I get to see her in photos and in the videos that she sends me. So in honor of Cinco De Mayo here are a few photos from this past year where she has met amazing people and has surrounded herself with really great friends.

Lexie Lately With Her Quilt From Project Repat!

It hasn't been cold enough to use a heavy blanket where we live, but this blanket that I ordered from Project Repat that was made for Lexie when she went back to college is good enough for her! Especially since it's been snowing a ton in Utah!! I was also so excited when I saw Lexie's photo used for their marketing ad. I have to say that they did a magnificent job in sewing all her memorabilia t-shirts together and it was a piece of pie to send them in. I have a ton of shirts I need to send to them for my youngest daughter who will be heading off to college this fall and it'll be interesting once again to see how her quilt turns out! Now for some photos of Lexie and her blanket. She is proud of it! Thanks to project repeat form making such a great quilt! I highly recommend them! 

Tender Moments...

Two days have past since Lexie flew back to Utah and we already miss her something fierce. I know that time will pass and that we will see her again during the holidays but when you're getting up there in age and have two kids left at school-you just want to relish all the time with your kids and honestly at times don't want them to leave. These tender moments in pictures of Lexie saying bye to us are priceless. I am so grateful for the time she took to come home and visit and spend three weeks with us. We had such a great time and wish she could have stayed longer but school for her starts at the end of this month plus we need to wind down and get the rest of the kids prepared for another school year come September. So glad school starts after Labor Day here in the east so we can have more time for one last little hurrah of summer. 

Tender Temple Moments And The Joy It Brings!

 

Going to the temple with my family truly brings me joy. I didn't realize how much joy it brought until I recently attended with Lexie while she was visiting - twice! I mean, I've gone so much in the past but as I get older and as I watch my kids grow older going to the temple brings a different meaning every time. 

Each time I go my will to become a better and more loving person becomes stronger. I feel a big difference in my life when I've been absent from the temple for so long. I seem to become more short in temper and impatient. I know that's part of life-being human and all but there should be limits as to how we treat people. Especially our own kin. No one deserves nasty text messages or emails. Especially when one doesn't know what's happening behind closed doors. It saddens me that the ones I love have done that. No one deserves that! So I plead with those who read this post to rethink what you write or text before you send it off. Rethink about the things in your life that you have done. Picture how you would feel if someone sent something so nasty to you that it causes anxiety to the point that they don't trust you or want to have anything to do with you. Whether its family or a friend- please treat each other with kindness. Not everyone is going to like each other and I get that but we all deserve some level of respect.

A Forgotten Post From Christmas Time in 2020.

Couldn't let the year go by without doing a little shout out for Lexie who continues to valiantly serve her mission in Arizona. Although time in the beginning of the pandemic seemed slow when she first came home cause the borders closed she pressed on and continued to serve the Lord from our home via zoom with her fellow zone missionaries. She truly shined and no matter how challenging it seemed to learn the language from home as opposed to an in person class setting, she was lucky enough to have had some free time after her missionary classes so she can relax and spend time with us. Thanks to a chill and understanding, caring mission president, he didn't expect her to be cooped up in her room all day strictly reading the gospel. Fast forward to today where he continues to be the best mission president and she appreciates him and his wife so much. She is lucky to have them and they are lucky to have her serving in their mission. So proud of her in how she has handled every challenge that has come with this pandemic. She is unstoppable and amidst the challenges she has faced - she has learned to face them and spiritually grow from them. Yup, she is just like me when it comes to facing and learning from hard things because...we can do hard things! 

Eight more months and she's home! Merry Christmas everyone! 

Lexie Lately in 2022....

 

“One of the best things about a church mission is not only sharing the gospel and seeing people’s lives change, but the relationships you develop with the people and the friendships you create with fellow missionaries.” -Lexie

Since Lexie doesn’t share too much online she gave me the ok to post a bit about the beginning of her 2022.

The first week back in Utah was super busy for her. She flew back on New Year’s Eve and had a whole weekend to move into her apartment. Started school that Monday. Was part of a wedding party and a bridesmaid for one of her missionary companions that same week. A lot of crazy firsts but she loves her classes, her new ward, her new place (she has a room of her own) and rooming with one of her old missionary companions, but most of all…she has much more appreciation for her religion classes, and the fact that she has some of her old mission peeps attending BYU is the best!

Lexie Lately: A Farewell To Her First Missionary Companion & How 'Change' Blesses Her Life On Her Mission.

She reminded her of her younger sister Chelsea which is why they got along so well. Yeah, like literal sisters. They each had their own different views but somehow got along. They leaned and learned a lot from each other even when times got hard because isn't that how people...particularly church missionaries spiritually grow? Together. Discussing about who their teaching and sharing the gospel to. Creating. Finding ways to reach out to others in a pandemic especially when they are still quarantined in Arizona. But life goes on, and transfers come. Missionary companions will come and go. Investigators who are interested in the church will also come and go, or stay. And then a new missionary arrives and it starts all over again. Growing and learning something new from each missionary. And perhaps even investigators. Being teachable to every one they meet. Lexie continues to love her mission in spite of change. She knows this is what it's all about and how she sees change as a blessing.

Hermana Cook seemed kind and I for one was glad to have met her via Facebook when I would talk to Lexie. She even wrote me a letter! She was a pretty good first companion but her time has come to transfer and for Lexie to have a new sister! Farewell Hermana Cook! 

More photos below:

Spiritual Thought.

Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ not only share the gospel online or in person. They also make time to physically serve others and in these days it’s sooooo needed. Serving others in these days has helped me cope throughout the pandemic. Not only is it therapeutic, but I find that when I serve others I tend to focus on them instead of myself. It is so true that when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God. And one can truly find joy when they serve and help others.

**Pictured is my cute daughter and her companion Hermana Cook who are currently serving in The Arizona Tempe mission.

Lexie Lately: 4th Of July Weekend!

Talking to Lexie twice a week feels like as if she's still in college and the weeks without her continue to fly by.  I miss her presence in our home but technology is a miracle and a blessing and we absolute enjoy hearing about her week and the weekend on Mondays. We recently talked about the 4th of July and how she celebrated the holiday in Arizona. One thing for sure is that she is the life of a "missionary party." Her photos literally brighten my Monday's when she emails them. You're missing out on her musings which sometimes have grammatical errors but blame that on typing it from her smartphone and the fact that she wants to type in spanish instead of English.  Ha Ha! She probably takes after me in that department! Luckily I get the gist of her emails and they are wonderfully written. 

No matter what her days bring she truly relies on hope and faith in God. In her email last week she mentioned how neighboring communities go all out for the fourth and how united all the missionaries are in her district. She has more ups and fun with her sisters than lows. Even when things don't go as planned after one has lost interest or is not ready in the Lord's gospel her faith is unwavering and she continues to stand tall and love her mission more and more...and she is humbled.

Lexie Lately: 100 Days of Quarantine As A Mission, Four Months As A Missionary But Technically Six Weeks In The Field!

Reading Lexie's emails sparks so many thoughts in my head and because she is my daughter can't help but to wish I can help her somehow. I know I can pray, but sometimes we need so much more than that. And one thing that has helped me is having faith. And I know that hanging on to faith is what helps her. If you read her emails you'll understand why I am writing this.

I know that we all lead busy lives right now whether we work from home or not but for those of us who know all about the missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ and what they do I plead with you to please make time for them.

Lexie Lately In Tempe: Three Months In the Mission Field.

When we spoke with Lexie last week she mentioned to us how she has already been on her mission for three months. "THREE months." Technically she's only been in the mission field for two weeks but she still can't believe that between learning the language in the MTC in Mexico City, being quarantined at home for seven weeks then finally leaving to Arizona it all added up to three months. But who's counting. She continues to shelter in place with five other sisters living in a huge house and her dad even recommended cold calling from a phone book (if they still exist) to share the gospel. Take it from one who did that in the 90's as a missionary with excellent results as well as being a sales guy. Very easy to do if you're fearless! She took him up on that and also connected with people via Facebook and had some luck! They met their goal of five people and two "went to church" via zoom last Sunday! Awesome experiences this sis of ours is having in her second week of her mission. Sure she's had a couple of lows but nothing that she can't handle. Her unwavering faith is amazing and she knows the gospel brings truth and light when it's read and seriously studied with a lot of prayer involved. She has learned that more now than ever before and it shows! So proud of her!

Lexie Lately: Second Time Is A Charm!

It's been seven weeks since Lexie returned home from the MTC in Mexico City and like all other missionaries was waiting to hear when she would be back in the field. We finally got word from our stake president that Lexie's itinerary for travel will be on May 12! That was today and in spite of all the feels she was so excited for this day to come! I'm just so happy that she was spared to spend one last Mother's Day with me! Her time with us has been fun and productive and we made many more memories with her. I know that time will pass quickly and that she will be home before we know it. The Lord is in charge and in spite of the pandemic which is still happening know she will be in good hands. She is needed out in the world and the people of Tempe Arizona will be very lucky to have her  and to know her! She truly is a special spirit and you can see it in her face as we say our goodbyes how happy she is for this day to come! 

Released Over Conference Weekend.

The weekend of general conference will certainly be one to remember. Not only were the talks given amazing and inspiring, they were thought provoking. And the fact that our daughter was released from her mission that weekend is something that I'll never forget. I never thought that a global pandemic would disrupt the missionaries from furthering the work of The Lord. The day she called telling me she had to leave Mexico to return home to finish her training online was mind boggling.  Little did we know that those two weeks would turn into an unknown date as to when she will return to the mission field. All missionaries who came home from different countries were released that week and my heart was breaking for her knowing that her time to be released was coming.

The Only Missionary Who Was Waiting At The Curb At Newark Airport.

I know this is old news but I wanted to express how thankful I am that Lexie arrived home safe and sound last week. Even though she was rushed to leave the country from Mexico City it was nice knowing that she wasn't among the 1600 plus missionaries who arrived in Utah. I also count my blessings for not living in Utah (lived there experienced that) and that she and her companions were the only missionaries at LAX to switch planes and that she was the only missionary at the Newark airport to pick up! After reading this article on how sooooooooo many families in Salt Lake City were NOT waiting at the curb for their missionary but instead were allllllllll NOT practicing social distancing blew my mind! It didn't surprise me with that many missionary families did not follow protocol. I get that families were excited to greet and have their missionary home, and maybe they feel invincible from this virus but they really should have practiced caution. I only hope that none of those missionaries or their families got infected because of NOT social distancing and minding protocol. 

Lexie Lately: Home From The MTC For A Two Week Quarantine.

I knew sooner or later that Lexie was either going to come home to be quarantined for awhile or go straight to the mission field once it was announced that all U.S. citizens must leave the country. So when Lexie phoned me this past Sunday to let me know what was happening and how quickly she was leaving was excited, confused and sad for her at the same time. Excited because after four weeks of being away on her mission I was going to see her again, confused because I wondered why she was coming back to Jersey where there are more cases of covid19 here than in Mexico City or Arizona, and sad for her because she was truly going to miss learning with her mission peeps whom she grew to love at the MTC. I could literally hear the tears over the phone as she was sharing her beautiful testimony of her love for God, and friendship. 

Lexie Lately In Mexico City MTC - Week Three.

"Although hearing the news about everything back at home and some missions being closed blows my mind. It's insane how things are happening but I know that we will all be okay and just have trust in the Lord. It's crazy so many of the devotionals that we've been having, I feel like they are meant for me. And it's comforting to know that we have an older brother always looking out for us." 

That was a snippet from Hermana Jorgensen's email today. It just brings me peace knowing that she is safe surrounded by others who are there for the same reason. To study and to know God more. To spiritually grow. To have a refuge of peace and love. And because of her faiths knows "what will be will be." Things are not too bad where she is at compared to here in Jersey, but because of the fact that I know our Father in Heaven is looking down on us I know that we will be ok. We cannot let fear take over our life and allow the chaos to make us forget all about humanity and what the purpose of life really is. The smile on her face in all these photos are all too real and it just shows me that she is loving the missionary training center even though there is a lot to learn! And she is blessed to have these eight other people in her life!