According To the Plan

One of my favorite things in the whole world is walking.  This is not something new--I've talked about my love of walking (especially morning walking) before.  I love starting the day with fresh air and exercise.  I love experiencing the change of light and the seasons.  I love walking and talking with my friend as we process the stages of life we're in.  And I also love walking by myself.  Sometimes I listen to music.  More often I listen to a podcast or audiobook.  And these days, quite often, I don't listen to anything, except the sound of my own thoughts and the thoughts that come to me as I "pray walk".  

I have a loud and busy house and I struggle to find a quiet place to pour out my heart to God.  In the scriptures, it says to pray in your closets in secret, but my closets are messy and not conducive to meaningful, peaceful prayer.  So I pray while I walk.  I just talk to my Heavenly Father about whatever I'm thinking about, whatever I'm worried about, whatever I'm thankful about, whatever I hope will be, whatever I'm deliriously happy about, whatever I'm hurting about.  This kind of prayer has changed my life. 

I recently listened to a Brooke Snow podcast episode called "The Fruits of Happiness".  For whatever it's worth, I highly recommend her podcast.  In this particular episode, she discussed how we all have lots of thoughts.  Almost none of them are 100% true and accurate.  Life happens and the adversary is quick to offer us his interpretations (thoughts)  of those events.  We don't even have to ask him.  He'll just plant the seed of blaming other people and doubting our own worth.   

When Nephi wanted an accurate understanding of his father's dream, he didn't settle for Satan's interpretation.  He asked God what it meant.  

On a recent morning walk, I was feeling weighed down with heartache.  People I loved were hurting.  I was hurting.  I was frustrated on several fronts and mostly I was tired of feeling this way.  So as I pray walked I asked God what he thought of the heartache I was facing.  What did he want me to think about what was happening?  What does he think about what's been happening?  How could I change my thoughts?  As I continued walking and pondering, Heavenly Father answered my prayers.  I am sharing it here because, while I don't know that this is the best place to record my sacred experiences, this blog is the place where I write and where I am most likely to actually record it.  And as my dear friend says, and I wholeheartedly agree-- done is better than perfect.  

As I prayed, I tried on different thoughts to see how they felt.  I've heard the idea that when facing a hard challenge or life trial, it can be helpful to think "It's supposed to be this way".  That thought hasn't rung true to me.  I haven't been able to wrap my mind around it.  Perhaps that's because it smacks of my least favorite word-- SHOULD.  As if it should be this way.  I just don't like it.  

But that thought led me to the thought--what if "It's all going according to THE plan?"  By THE plan, I don't mean detailed, individual plans that God has somehow predetermined will be the best path through life for each of us.  That doesn't ring true to me.  Rather, THE plan is THE PLAN OF HAPPINESS.  The Plan of Salvation

It's all going according to THE plan.  We are all having experiences and we are all learning to choose the good from the evil.  

I said these words to myself over and over and over, and I knew Heavenly Father had answered my prayer.  He had shared his interpretation with me.  Immediately, I smiled as I walked and my heart felt so light.  It has continued to feel lighter than it has in months.  I understand that even as my loved ones have trials, I can be at peace that their experiences will help them learn to choose good from evil.  Just as mine will help me.  It doesn't matter how long it takes.  It doesn't matter the particulars of the path, so long as it moves us along in learning to choose the good from the evil.  It is all going according to the plan.  It is according to the plan that we learn from our experiences.  It is according to the plan that we feel really bad sometimes.  It's according to the plan that we struggle as we grow.  It's according to the plan that we have sickness and sadness.  It doesn't mean something has gone wrong.  It's all going according to the plan.  We are all having experiences and we are all learning to choose from evil.  Because of Christ, as we choose good, we can repent of our wrongs and become more like God.  THE plan is so good. 

I knew this on some level.  Doctrinally, these are not new ideas to me.  But somehow the Holy Ghost communicated this truth to my spirit in a way and in language that I totally understood.  It CHANGED me and that is a miracle I want to remember.

BYU Football Game Live and In Person

 

A few weeks back Faith asked Abe if they could go to a football game.  Even without the picture, I probably wouldn't need to tell you that meant we were going to a football game:)  Abe got us tickets to the BYU versus University of South Florida game last night.  We don't really care about South Florida, except for the fact that I guess not that many other people around here care that much about them either--- causing lower-priced tickets than other games with more in-demand teams.  So we got four cheap tickets in the nose-bleed section and one more seat from the Snow family for George to sit with them in the markedly less nose-bleed section.

George was unimpressed with Faith's Etch-a-Sketch rendition of him created on the ride down to Provo.  But I must say, I am actually quite impressed.  I especially like the detail on the ear on the left side and the full lips:)

We ran into one of Cannon's dance friends, Hazel, and her family at the Chick-fil-a in Provo.  They were headed to the BYU game as well.  It's not every day you see Clara and the Nutcracker Prince at Chick-fil-a!  Hazel is amazing and her family is so nice.  They've been dancing together for about five years.  And they are, in fact, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince in their upcoming production.

We were supposed to wear navy blue to the game.  I think it looks awesome and is super fun to have the crowd coordinated.  It's great for team spirit and feeling unified.  Sometimes word goes out that everyone should wear white, or everyone wear black, or everyone wear royal blue.  All great fun that I will happily support and go along with.  Afterall, I am a big fan of matching family pajamas and Halloween costumes and such.  I also note that someone is making a KILLING outfitting themselves in all the specified colors for each game.  Oh well.  It's fun.

And it does make for some awesome pictures:)  Of course, Bethany and Elinor were up at Utah State and Clark was so kind to come up and hang out with Peter and Greta.  They were thrilled beyond belief to get an evening with Clark.  

One of the things I enjoyed the most about being at the game was running into lots of friends and family-- Here we are with the Evans Lee.

A contingent from my Clark side of the family seated very near to us.  They are die-hard BYU fans (as opposed to my fairweather fan nature).  They are the real deal.

The Snows are also legit BYU football fans.  George had fun sitting with his buddy Taylor for the game.  After half-time, we moved down to some empty seats closer to them.  I can follow the game a lot better when I am watching at home with the TV commentary, but you can't beat the atmosphere of a big crowd at a live football game.  It's pretty exciting.

My very bestest cousin Ben and his son McKay and their very scrumptious looking bowl of nachos.

BYU football and college football, in general, has been a fun bonding thing for Abe and Cannon this season.  They watch games, they follow the rankings and general talk and care about it a whole lot more than seems entirely reasonable to me.  But I'm glad they enjoy it together.

Faith is obsessed with Tyler Allgeier-- a BYU running back.  It was pretty funny to sit by her and little to her commentary.  

George thoroughly enjoyed his Cougar Tail (a giant maple bar).  I think he shared it with Taylor.  I hope he shared it with Taylor.

It's always fun to be back at BYU with Abe.  We were babies when we met and got married.  Now we're at 24 years and a whole lot of life later.  Still learning and loving each other.

Now for my most favorite or favorite pictures!  It's beyond my favorite picture of the week.  "George Q."  is the cannon the BYU ROTC fires off at the games when the team scores.  George Q. Cannon was a remarkable leader in early church history and he's my third great grandfather.  So you know I really wanted this picture of George and Cannon with "George Q." at the game.  Abe was so obliging to take them down at half-time and beg access to "George Q." and get this picture I will treasure.

Is There Anything More Glorious?

 Keep scrolling... nothing to see here--- just a mom taking her three boys shoe shopping.  

But wait...

We weren't shopping for just any shoes!  We were shopping for new ballet shoes for all three boys.  Between summer intensives, regular classes and several hours of Nutcracker rehearsals to boot, their ballet shoes were pretty shredded.  

I'm sure they aren't the only set of three ballet brothers around, but they are a bit of an anomaly.  I think they are pretty awesome.

We visited a very fun park in Pleasant Grove while waiting to pick up Cannon from dance last week.  We don't visit parks as much as we did when the bigger kids were younger.  I figure schedules are just  tighter with kids involved in so many great things.  It was a treat to have a block of time open to just let kids just run around and play.  

I love those perfect fall days when it is crisp and cool in the morning, and then pleasantly warm in the afternoon.  You can open the windows you don't need to run the air conditioner or the furnace.  On this particular morning, Peter and Greta were cold when they woke up and Faith playfully wrapped them up and turned them into "penguins".  They were delighted! 

Let's take a moment to relish how good fall is.  The colors, the smells, the schedule, the traditions, the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (I don't eat them, but I still love to make them)  the feeling of gathering in, the anticipation of holidays on their way, the sweater weather (not quite here, but knocking at the door), the perfect morning walking weather, the college football, the crunchy leaves, the start of Christmas music as piano students start learning recital pieces.  Is there anything more glorious than fall?  

Football, Reptiles, Straight Teeth, and Cup Towers

 That is perhaps the strangest, but most descriptive blog post title I've ever written.  Football, reptiles, straight teeth and cup towers.  Let's go in that order, shall we?

I freely confess to being a fair-weather fan of BYU football.  When they are winning I love to cheer them on.  When they aren't, I have better things to do.  I know my attitude isn't very loyal or admirable, but it's football team, not my religion.  So there you have it.  

Lucky for us, BYU's season is off to a very good start!  So we're all in!  We're loving staying up late watching the games and following the rankings and wearing our BYU shirts.  This picture was taken right after BYU beat our rivals, the University of Utah after nine straight losses.  It was a sweet moment.  

The game last night again Arizona State was a lot of fun as well.  Next week Abe is taking Team Middle Kids (Faith, Cannon, and George) to the game in Provo.  

Faith recently acquired this little leopard gecko.  I think I mentioned a little while back that reptiles are all the rage in our house again.  I say again, because I thought I was done with reptiles when Clark left home.  Alas, 'tis not so.

He's pretty cute.  Because she got him on September 11th, Faith named him Tower, but his nickname is Tewey.  Get it?  

Peter was overcome with joy to catch this garter snake on the front bushes outside our front door.  "Funny" story about this snake.  We don't have him anymore because Peter took it over to his friend's house.  This friend also has a pet snake.  The friend had the idea to let the snakes slither around the bathroom.  Sadly for Peter, his snake then slithered up into a hole under the bathroom drawer and disappeared.  I had to send a text to his friend's mom informing her she had a snake on the loose in her house.  Not a fun text to send and I'm sure it wasn't a fun text to get!  Thankfully, the following day the snake was found on the hamper the next day and let go in the great outdoors.  Peter was devastated to not get the snake back, but consequences-- am I right?

Favorite picture of the week:  On a recent visit to the pet store, Abe took this picture of Great holding a large bearded dragon. 

I told the kids they had to let the two stinky garter snakes go because they were stinky and if I can smell them they have to go.  They decided to pool resources and get a ball python.  Sigh.  He is a very attractive snake-- maybe about six months old.  His name is Monty.  Get it?  Monty Python.  

Now you see them...

... Now you don't!  

Faith was so happy to get her braces off this week.  

The cup stacking started small...

Then it grew...

... and grew...

... and grew...

Well, you get the idea.  George had quite a fun day building cup towers.

He got artsy on us:)  I love how George loves to create things from anything and everything he can find around the house.  

 

 

Twenty Years Later

 

On the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks we visited the Riverton City Park to see the memorial flag display.  

It's hard to believe it has been 20 years.  In so many ways, it seems like it was about five years ago-- maybe ten at the very most.  But twenty?    

To put that in perspective, here is a picture taken a day or two before--

We were with Abe's brother's family in Orlando, Florida.  Clark had just turned two years old and Bethany was about six months old.  We were all babies!

Clark and his cousin Alexis.  Our vacation got extended several days because we had to wait for the airlines to be permitted to fly again.  I was so nervous to fly home.  

None of the children in this picture were alive at the time and their understanding is about what my understanding of the Vietnam war was as a child. Bethany has written a beautiful song about 9/11 called "Post or Pre" exploring the idea of how we are unified through these major life events.  Here is a link to the song and video she put together.  

Labor Day at Utah State University

 

Bethany snagged a ride home on Saturday, and then Monday morning we all piled into the Mega-Van to take her back up and go visit Elinor-- who was still getting settled up at school and wasn't ready for a visit home quite yet.  We went our for pizza for lunch.

I really feel quite the fraud kissing on the A.  Not only am I not a true Aggie-- since that requires kissing on the A at midnight at the full moon-- or something like that.  But I am not, nor have I ever been an Aggie.  I am a BYU Cougar.  So Abe and I were total posers.  But that's okay, because actually, I really like Utah State and am happy the girls are enjoying their experiences there.  

Turned out pretty much everything on campus was closed since it was Labor Day.  We had a lovely walk-about anyway.

 

 

 

We paid a visit to the marker with the words to the song-- "The Scotsman"-- the school song that Abe's Great-Grandfather wrote.  

Random side-note:  Cannon thinks it looks like Greta's arm is a giant corn dog in this picture.  He's not wrong.

We went to the creamery for Aggie ice cream.  

I'm glad we got to go see Els.  Moving away from home and starting college are huge adjustments and we are proud of how she is working to figure it all out. 

Lovely September Days

One of the loveliest things in the world is when Abe takes the younger kids for an outing and I am left home alone.  Perhaps I've mentioned before that the nicest thing you can do for someone in this house is to let them be home alone. 

Their favorite outing as of late is to the pet store to visit the reptiles and get supplies for the reptiles that are already in our care.  Which, might I add, are far more numerous than I would prefer.  I thought my reptile days were done when Clark left on his mission.  'Tis not so.  We currently have two snakes, two green anoles, one crested gecko, and one leopard gecko.  Are you grossed out?  It's okay.  I'm kind of grossed out too.  But they love them and they are taking very good care of them. 

Faith got this little beauty today.

A little time at the park.

Breakfast together.

Nutcracker rehearsals for Central Utah Ballet are in full swing.  George is Fritz and Peter is a party boy.

Clark picked up Cannon from rehearsal last night and he snapped this picture for us.  Cannon is the Nutcracker.  Some people enjoy baseball season or football season.  We enjoy Nutcracker season:)

Bethany was home for some of Labor Day weekend.  It's always a treat when she comes home because we get to hear what new music she is working on.  I just love listening to her play and sing.  It's pretty much my favorite thing.

She had a few fellow Nauvoo performing missionaries over for games on Sunday evening.  What a delightful, happy group they are.

A little corn hole is always in order:)

George was pretty happy this week to finish last year's math book.  In our house, the yellow Delta/Division Math-U-See book is pretty tough and all the children feel somewhat traumatized by it.  George was no different and he is relieved to be done with it.

Fox siblings dinner Friday night to celebrate Phil's birthday. 

Because we were at this dinner, Clark was so good to pick up Cannon from rehearsal and then we went to Clark's apartment to retrieve Cannon.  This is how I found the two of them in Clark's room-- working on painting figures Clark has 3D printed.  For as much as I am NOT crafty, I suppose it is true that these things skip a generation.  Clark is incredibly creative and crafty.  I am impressed:)  I also really love the relationships that Clark has with his younger brothers.

Several years ago we were gifted this amazing detailed dolls house with exquisite little furniture for all the rooms.  We had moved it to the basement where it wasn't accessible for playing because Faith was too old and the boys weren't interested.  Today I cleaned out that area of the basement and we brought it upstairs and Greta was in HEAVEN!  She kept calling it her Jane Austen house--- because she is my daughter and she is familiar with fancy houses in Jane Austen movies.  Daughters are such joy!

George built himself this "hammock"-- which really resembles more a medical stretcher--- but it works.

I believe he used old closet poles and duct tape.  This is so typical George--- he is always on the lookout for projects to create and build around the house.

Faith and Abe went with the youth in our ward and all of the southwest valley to a suicide awareness concert by Alex Boye.  

Faith babysat her cousins last weekend and we loved having the girls come to church with us on Sunday.