Still keeping busy

I'm not going to lie, it is a struggle having Owen gone.  I don't like it.  It makes me realize how soon Davis will move out, and then Gator.  And I hate it.  I hate everything about the idea of my kids all moving out.  Gator did a volleyball camp this week.  She actually had two.  One at Rocky and one at a friends gym that owns ICE volleyball.  I really hope she keeps enjoying this and working at it, she really is in need of something to fill her time.  I've also got a call into ice skating lessons.

The dog continues to be a huge pain in my behind, but I realize that if we didn't have him, I wouldn't be able to take cute pictures like these ones.   I don't want football season to be over, I just want Davis home more so he can be the one to take care of Joey and not me.  I didn't want a dog.  

They are doing in class what we did this summer with the books and movies.  They started with the BFG then had a BFG party this week.  This is one of the books that Gator liked best during the summer, so she didn't mind reading it again. 

I've never had to take a lunch break at work.  I was able to just work straight for the day, but this year I'm not so lucky.  I have to take a lunch break.  I packed up my scriptures, and I sit outside in the shade and do my scripture study.  It is perfect, and I've quite enjoyed lunch break this year. Owen has sent home his first week of thoughts and he had a bunch of scriptures that I wrote down so  I could read them and understand a little more how he is feeling.   

We had homecoming week early this year.  It was a couple weeks ago.  Here is Davis and his friend Kennedy after the homecoming game.  

 He is nursing a foot injury, but he isn't letting it get him down.  He'll play on it and hurt for days afterward.

 Davis and I went over to watch his friend, Kennedy play soccer after his game this week.

 I love football.  It's always more fun when Fremont wins, but I know there are lessons to learn from losing as well.  I just don't always like those ones.

We finally heard from him

So Owens pday is Thursday. I guess they thought since they just got there last Wednesday, they didn't need to give them a pday last week, but we finally got an email yesterday.  And actually we emailed back and forth pretty much all day.  It was awesome to "talk" to him.  He is very homesick which breaks my heart.  I put my own broken heart aside and tried to help him, but I don't know if I did much good.  I cried all day at work, but my co workers were amazing and let me email him and cry. He went in knowing the MTC would be a struggle.  He is a mover and a  very active social kid.  It is killing him to be in one place all the time.  He feels very closed in and claustrophobic.  He is having some fun though, he loves his district and thinks there is a very attractive sister missionary in his district.  He shares photos through out the week on google photos, so we get to see his face and some of the things he is doing.  He said they have to have fun, or they would all go crazy.  I had an answer to my prayers yesterday.  They went to the temple and Clarks aunt works at the Provo temple on Thursday evenings.  She found him and gave him a big mom hug.  Owen said that hug was very needed, and I cried because of the tender mercy.  It is hard, and I still haven't gotten out of my funk, but I do hope the spirit will help me.  I think once he gets to Cincinnati, his personality will explode and he will love exploring and getting out and around.  I think people will be drawn to him.  His first step is to make it to October 1, that is when he leaves the MTC.   He has shared some very spiritual experiences though thus far, and I know Heavenly Father is with him.

 This Elder is also a future ISU Bengel

 Owen loved having some friends from Fremont there his first week.  They've mostly flown out now, but he loved getting to see them and that helped him those first couple of days.

3 days down

We did it.  We took Owen to the MTC.  I can't say that I enjoyed it at all, nothing about the day was fun.  And the last 3 days have honestly been terrible.  I am praying that he is happy and not homesick, because we are sure missing him.  I know all the cliche answers and in my heart I do know he is where he is supposed to be and he's doing the right thing, but it still sucks, and I still actually hate it right now.  I am hopeful my outlook will change, but for the moment, I hate it.  He emailed a little blurb saying he was there and fine 30 minutes after we drove away, but I haven't heard anything else since and I am dying.  I did receive a huge blessing today though and I had a couple pictures texted to me from moms of friends that are also in the MTC right now.  Owen was excited to see friends that had already left for their missions.  I am excited to start hearing awesome testimony building stories, but tonight I am sad and I miss him terrible..............
On Tuesday, the day before he left, I took the day off work and we went to the temple and to lunch together. 

We stopped for breakfast on our way to Provo Wednesday morning.

 His first companion is a kid from Fremont.  They actually have played football together for the 3 years of high school.  I guess that is a little comfort of home. 

An early fall drive

I've gone for a drive conference weekend for years to see the fall leaves.  Sometimes my kids go willingly and sometimes I have to beg, but they do go with me. And I take pictures, sometimes they do so willingly, and sometimes it's a fight, but I get pictures.  This was something I really wanted to do before Owen left for his mission, but I was worried the leaves wouldn't have changed yet.We saw some beautiful colors up higher than we could go, but we saw just enough down lower to make me happy.  I broke the news to Davis that I was still going conference weekend, he took it pretty well. 

A day off

It's awesome having a day off just 2 weeks after school starts.  I really wanted to plan something fun for Labor Day since Owen is leaving in 9 days and my kids love to shoot guns.  My friend has property that she said a while ago we were welcome at any time to go shoot, so I took her up on the offer and we went out and played.  Davis still had football practice and we did have some chores that had to be done, like an oil change and the lawn, but we started with the fun part of the day, the most important part.  

 And a treat at Zeppes to finish the day off. 

End of August happenings

Gator spent the night at Krissy's and went to soccer games the next morning.  I know she misses soccer so bad, and I hate that I let her say she wanted to take a little time off.  I hope we can get her back on a team next year when try outs come around again.  But she was asked to be in charge of the sideline flag.  She was pretty excited about that.  

 The football coach at Rocky met Owen and asked him to help coach the team.  He told him he only had a few weeks, and the coach said come for what you can.  Owen has loved it.  Anything to do with football.

 Davis has been dressing varsity as well as playing on the sophomore team.  He is so excited about this, I hope they give him the chance to go in, even for just a minute.  His varsity number is 63.

 Quick lunch dates in the car because he's just too exhausted from football.  But we had fun none the less eating in the car.

 I know Gator supports her boys, but she really just goes to the football games because she gets to see all her friends.  She is so social and loves to see everyone.

 Yes, it is the time of year that football takes over my blog and our lives.  But we love it that way.  Davis has been starting offense and defense.  He is on the bottom of this pile after he tackled the QB.

 The boys love to fish.  I only go because I get to hang out with them.  They go because they really just enjoy it.

 Fitting in as much football as he can before September 12th.

Farewell

Owen still has 2 1/2 weeks, but with fast Sunday and stake conference we had to do his farewell today.  It worked out perfect, we got everything done in this week and now we have the rest of the time to chill and just hang out together (in theory).  A few weeks ago Owen was at the farewell of a friend and he texted me and told me I couldn't cry because than he would cry and it would just get ugly.  I must say I did really good... until he started to talk anyway.  Who on earth would give a missionary the topic of honoring your mother.  A mom is already sad about her son leaving, then when the talk is about her?  Ya, so my promise of not crying went down the drain.  Owen gave an amazing talk.  I know Owen is a great kid, but his composure and ability to address the congregation even blew me away.  He was so grown up and talked with such authority in a calming and confidant way.  He is going to be a fantastic missionary!  I am so excited for him, still sad and nervous, but so excited.  We took a ton of pictures, but I can't put all of them on here, I'll save them for his book.  I just want Owen to know he's got a huge crowd at home cheering him on and praying for him.  

Life's purpose

Last night Owen went to the temple to receive his endowment.  Nothing can prepare a parent for the experience of seeing their child dressed in white waiting for you to join them in the celestial room.  As with any right decision, we had a few bumps in the road, but everything worked out perfectly.  I hope we can make it back together a couple of times in the next few weeks, because it is so cool to go to the temple with your own kid!

Ready for some football

Having been through this once with Owen, I know how fast this 3 years in high school goes and even faster is football season.  I only have 3 years left of high school football, and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it before all too soon I won't have a son playing.  Davis is coming into his own and it is so fun to watch.  A little discouraging too though, he wants coaches to see him for him and not Owen's little brother and it is taking time.  They expect him to be an Offensive lineman.  And Davis has played center ever since he was 8, but he really wants to play defense and that is what is taking time showing the coaches that he is one heck of a defensive player.  He will continue playing O line as long as they need him to as long as he's getting some defensive play time as well.