A birthday wish for Ryan!

Our weekend was full of moments as we celebrate Ryan turning 12 and the priesthood. We were able to share tender moments with Courtney and Davis as she received her Patriarchal Blessing. The awareness of her leaving in three weeks is becoming all to real. There are so many emotions...that seem to surface for me at the very mention of her moving.

I am intrigued at time that has just flown by all to fast.

The dreams for children over the years never seemed to include the raw emotions of your family being forever altered when those dreams begin to be realized. Have we done enough? Did we teach enough? Have we enjoyed enough? Were we all that we wanted to be? I hope so.

With all the happenings we continue to create new dreams together as a family as we grow through trials and amazing life changes. The fact that life's breath itself is uncertain, brings with it the certainty that we must strive to acknowledge the goodness in our surroundings. We are truly finding the joy in the journey that can often only be recognized in the midst of adversity.

What a strange and powerful connection to the meaning of our ultimate purpose.

Ryan had the birthday wish and a prayer that Davis would not have to stay in the hospital ALL day on his birthday today. We began our morning with the traditional breakfast in bed for the birthday boy. Then we all dispersed for the day to various friends, family, work, and the hospital. There was a midday run to the movies with Ryan and a few friends, while Davis and I waited for labs to determine the extent of our day. Much to our happiness, we had a short stay today and headed home in time to begin the football season with Ben and Ryan, then off to celebrate Ryan just a little more.

I'm in love with the days that bring the "routine" chaos that raising a family offers. You know those days when you pause to lie down from the day and your very being sinks into the peaceful recognition of a day well spent. True, some days may redefine the phrase "peaceful recognition" to pure exhaustion... It's all about perspective.

Happy Day