Happy Sweet Sixteen, Faith!

 

I took this picture of Faith and me one week before her 16th birthday.  It was 4:45 am and we were headed to swim practice in Lehi.  I felt like I look and she felt like she looks.  I took it because it was almost the end of an era.  The end of Abe and I driving her to swim practices.  Understandably, we've never been so happy for a child of ours to get their license.   

She's delightful, and we've treasured our time (morning and afternoons) with her.  But even so...

You better believe that at 8:30 ON HER BIRTHDAY we were at the DMV getting her license!

She had a fun time going with several swim team friends to an escape room.  Such fun girls!

You know those traditions that get started for no particular reason, and they just stick?  That's what a birthday lunch at IKEA is for Faith and me.  

Here are Faith and Cannon driving by themselves to swim and dance in Lehi.  I called her birthday my Driving Liberation Day!

Abe put this little collage together of milestone birthdays for Faith-- blessing day, baptism picture age 8, first time going to the temple age 12, and 16th birthday.  Now that she can drive, I'd like time to freeze.

Faith's most recent spring photo with her daffodils.

THIS!  A picture of Faith with each family member.  I couldn't possibly pick a favorite of these pictures.  

A couple weeks back Faith was awarded the "Most Dedicated" female swimmer at Riverton High School at the end-of-season banquet.  Could not have gone to a more deserving girl!

Only five girls lettered, which basically means they medaled at Regions and/or competed on the state team.  Faith did both:)

The team picture

I am so grateful to have Faith in our family.  I could list a hundred positive adjectives to describe her, but the short of it is, she is perfectly named.  She believes and she acts to make things happen.  I admire her in so many ways.  Faith does move mountains.  Happy birthday, my love!

Sunday Evening March 27 2022

St. Patty's Day is a simple, but fun affair at our house.  A little treasure hunt with clues left by our local leprechaun.  

It's short and sweet, and it gets the job done:)  I don't know why George is making that face.

We helped the Schramms celebrate their anniversary with a lovely dinner at Black Bear Diner.  See, the thing is, I have discovered their cheeseburger salad.  It might not sound like much, but it really hits the spot for me.  So, I shared my newfound love of Black Bear Diner's cheeseburger salad with Camille, who is already a fan of cheeseburger salads in general.  We decided we all (except Abe) needed to go enjoy them together.  By the end of the dinner and after much raving over how good it was, Abe decided we needed to come again soon so he, too, could partake!

It's an important day in a young man's life when he first moves into his parents' basement.  Cannon is over the moon excited to have a little more space to himself, albeit an unfinished basement room.

I love the concentration.

Abe, Clark, Faith, and I went to a production of The Lamb of God.  I don't know how I've never seen/heard this beautiful music before, but it was so good.  I loved it and hope to repeat the experience every Easter season. 

Bethany's Nauvoo missionary friend Dallin was one of the soloists (so good!)  

Having just sent Bethany off this week, it was a treat to get to sit with several of her performing missionary friends.

This past Saturday morning Abe and George were able to go to the temple.  This was George's first time getting to do baptisms at the temple.

Many thanks to Ryan and Jake Butterfield for the invitation to attend with them.

Cannon spent the day competing in a speech and debate tournament.  This one was online (a throwback from our COVID days).  He competed in extemporaneous and loved it!  He was so happy to place sixth out of .... well, I don't know how many--- at least 15 competitors.

Look who learned to ride her bike on Saturday!!!! That's the last one!  

TallyHo!

 

Hey! I know-- let's have everyone line up and we'll see how heights change while she's gone.

And then these.  They were just for fun.  And they all understood the assignment.

3-2-1- POSE

A personal favorite

What special children!

I suppose we needed to keep things a little lighter before the goodbyes.  

In our Facebook Messenger chat, she calls us Dearest Momsie and Popsicle (from Wicked).

I adore this picture!  This is what is REAL!  They are very different and I appreciate how they try to be kind and understanding of each other.  Time and distance will make their hearts grow fonder. Also, not having to share a bedroom will make their hearts grow fonder:)

This separation is going to hurt them both.

Greta's pose is killing me.

Then we moved up to the field across from the temple.  We planned a meet-up with Sister Gordon's family-- Bethany's MTC companion.  The great thing about home MTC is that they already knew each other and were so excited to meet in person.

She is from Pleasant Grove.

Abe wore his cowboy boots for the occasion.

We're missing Greta-- but even so, we've got this family selfie thing down!

The final family pic in the drop-off parking lot. (how many final family pics do we need???) Greta's pose. Oh, and cool thing-- you see the big black van behind ours?  It was Shawn Bradley and his family.

Look, we're all still smiles... but the tears are about to flow.

This was the moment that really got me.  These two are tight and this one stung.

So happy for my girl and it is so good for her to go.  But she will be missed. Sister Fox's final words in-person to us -- 

TALLY-HO!

Almost There...

Four Texas missionaries-- Bethany headed to Fort Worth, Zach headed to San Antonio, Clark went to Dallas, and Dave went to Houston. 

It was only fitting that the Youngs and Foxes shared a meal at Texas Roadhouse and talked missions in Texas.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I love that Clark and Bethany will have the Texas connection forever.  

A couple days before Bethany headed down to the Provo MTC, she did one of her missionary training assignments, lead a Book of Mormon study session.  We had a few kind young men and young women come and talk the talk with Bethany for an hour or so.  

On the morning of the send-off, I taught the Schramms piano lessons.  Camille popped in for final hugs and well wishes.

Our final (at least for a while) Mega-Van family selfie-- wahoo!  We got everyone!

For our final family meal (at least for a little while), we went to lunch at the Black Bear Diner in Orem and we enjoyed delicious food and my favorite company in the whole world-- each other!

More talk of Texas missions

Oh man, time flies when you're raising a family.  I love these two.  I love how they have come to love and appreciate each other.  

Maybe someday we'll be going out for a meal together...

...when this last one goes on a mission:)

Okay, now it's time for the final (at least for a little while) send-off.  See the following post:)