October Little Things

Phew, who cares about October when all this gratitude is swirling around us finding the goodness of life, right?? But really, I’m grateful for October. A month where I was strung so thin with so much going on but also filled to the very brim with people and places I love with all my whole heart.

I mean, we got to kick off the whole month by celebrating Lucy’s EIGHTEENTH birthday, and what could be better than that? (Except that it marked the day my baby-of-all-babies turned into and adult…and there will never be words to describe that feeling for any mother with the unique needs and desires and hopes for that particular child.)

We got to be in Utah for Fall Break and with so many of our kids.

We got to be in Jackson Hole with my family to celebrate my Dad’s EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY together.

(Of course, doing the “grapevine,” his exercise of choice, was part of the celebration in that smoky, beautiful land.)

And lots of late-night talking-deep gatherings as per family tradition:

Lots more on that post.

We also got to spend a couple days at Newport Beach, and happened to be there not only with the whole of our neighborhood from the desert (that’s where people go for Fall Break around here), but also with Dave’s sister and her family.

We love them dearly and Lucy has Ryan saved as “my favorite unkle” in her phone. I think that’s because he loves the “Milk & Cookies” shop there as much as she does.

I went to Jackson to meet up with my Eyre family AFTER Newport so by the time I got home Lucy and I had missed each other so much…it was a pretty special reunion.

(Bo was obviously in need of a little TLC bath-time…ha!)

Some other “little things” I haven’t posted yet from October…

Lots of the things I want to remember aren’t pictured, like Lucy’s “I’m sorry” texts after she thinks she’s hurt my feelings and Grace’s pep-talk to Claire who had disappointing transfer news, all three of us on FaceTime together. (Well, actually there’s a picture of that in Claire’s update post this week…) I want to always remember how my heart felt like it might burst watching those two sisters, a mother-hen giving the best advice.

A FaceTime talk with my boy Max while his girls were away, talking deep and filled with SO MUCH LOVE for that kid who is so earnestly working so hard to make sure which direction is best for he and his family.

Lucy re-took the ACT, the thing she’s been pining away to do even though it really won’t do her much good with the places she’s applying for college. She was determined, as per tradition from that feisty and awesome girl. Despite the fact that sometimes (most of the time) we walk a tightrope trying to help or not help, I’m so grateful for her GRIT to keep working and learning. Also teary-grateful for her vision specialist who sacrificed two full school days to be her “reader” to get that test done. Such a huge relief to have the ACT crossed off with a giant check-mark for our family for good and forEVER!

There have been baby showers and bridal showers and ward/friend Halloween parties.

A football game with all the Pothiers, huddled together on the bleachers watching my niece cheer.

Lots of game nights with the “three musketeers,” trying to help Lucy through her sorrows and wishing to find “belonging” and serious stress about college applications.

I baked sourdough bread and got closer on finishing off some house projects (mostly our art wall next to the fireplace that has taken all my heart and soul to try to finish), replanting my flower beds which took all day because of watering issues we had to work through.

Lots of FaceTiming with Abby and Murph as she tries to potty-train, that little girl so full of life to show me her tricks over the phone.

Immunotherapy shots twice a week (which involves sitting in the doctor office for a long-while) trying to get these allergies under control.

Figuring out our “living will” with Dave and getting power of attorney for Lucy so we can still help her with medical and financial things even though she’s now and official adult. Big sigh of relief to get that squared away.

For me, these days were filled with lots of soul-searching at the temple and with friends, talking deep while walking down the canal in the finally-cooling-off mornings and one-on-one with lunch and mentors who I admire. I love how soul-searching can rip your heart open and wide and vulnerable as you try to figure things out, and at the same time forges deeper relationships and sense of self. A FaceTime call with Sayds and Tal to follow up on our “shadow work” car ride home from Jackson Hole. Such good advice and so much to learn.

Volunteering at MCO (Lucy’s choir group) as they get ready for their big Christmas concert, and celebrating this girl we love who got married:

Lucy officially launched her new business.

Much more on that soon!

Bo got a funny haircut and came back to us adorned in a tie. Lu and I went out to dinner on a special date on Homecoming night since she wasn’t going:

Dave got to go to the Suns vs. Lakers game with these life-long friends:

I got to go to the best baptism of our friend, and also have been working my tail off to get blog Blurb books in shape to turn in for the Black Friday price specials.

Gosh, THAT’S a big job. Books filled up with my blog posts spanning five years over ten years ago. So much history of our family here. So many pictures to be nostalgic about, so many memories like gold being stored on those pages. This will take a LONG time, but I think it will be worth it, at least for me.

My brother Jonah was in Utah and offered to take care of Murph so Max and Abby could go on a date. Why does that make me cry? I love him so much.

“Survivor Night” with all the cousins is still going strong up in Utah, and Elle and Carson got to go on an epic trip to Nashville.

Watching Survivor together has become kind of a highlight for us Three Musketeers here at home. Another thing we had to sweet-talk Lucy into until we were blue in the face that she LOVES so much now and looks so forward to.

Love that all our big kids watch too so we are in sync that way.

We are trying our best at Family Home Evening after church. There is something so very beautiful about those times sitting in our Family Room talking about God. And how He answers our prayers sometimes in such different ways than we want. Or recognize.

Also (right above), I get to gather with RS ladies every now and again since I’m still in charge of the activity committee.

Claire is doing so well and there is this deep gratitude I can’t even express for that. Especially after so many teary pdays. She is finally coming out from under a shell of worry and anxiety, able to speak the language, carry on all conversations with her “friends” (people interested in learning more about Jesus) and forge deeper relationships with everyone she meets. This makes her positively glow. Another testament for the power of connection. She is working to feel her connection with God deeper and figure out her testimony still, which is a lifetime process.

I wrote an update on her, and talked about how her siblings have been so supportive and I forgot to include this picture of she and Elle…man! That big sister is such an incredible support and mother-hen for Claire and has done so much to talk her through and cheer her on from some pretty tough times.

Learned a new pumpkin bread recipe and YOW, it is SO good. (I’ll share if I can get my act together.)

And also read this book. Also SO good.

And then it was Halloween.

And here we are, almost to Thanksgiving.