Isolation Gratification Day 28

We officially have a quarantined fourteen year old in our house.     Both Emily and I had low expectations for this birthday in isolation.   She was the most disappointed that the two of us couldn't go out to lunch at Red Robin to celebrate.   Emily's been planning this for months.  I'm thankful it turned out to be a calm great day.    I was proud of my kids as they all chose to fast despite salivating over me baking Emily's cake and withstanding all the treats that showed up on her doorstep from her amazing friends.   She enjoyed a couple of air hugs 6 feet away as a couple of friends lingered on the sidewalk to say hi!   Her best friend Alix went to great lengths to decorate our church pavilion to surprise Emily with a social distance hang out session with just the 2 of them and chick fil a, Emily's favorite. 

In the world of social media and cyber bullying I am continually amazed and extremely grateful Emily is such a wonderful uplifting friend to her peeps and has such wonderful uplifting friends back.      Since our phones are connected through icloud all of Emily's texts come to my phone.   They are often blowing up my phone with encouragement, love and respect to each other.   What more could a mom ask for than to watch her teenager become an influence of good in the world.

This is called a "quarantine cake"  We made due with what we had!!

I'm grateful 14 years ago this beautiful girl came into my life.    She's a person who is stubborn  and persistent and never gives up about what she wants.  (Even if it's airpods, not going to happen sorry Em)  and expensive straightening hair shampoo.)  I'm grateful her testimony steers her toward having good desires of life.   She's always been very comfortable in her own skin and doesn't need to be something or someone else.  She's an outstanding sibling and often keeps the peace as the leader among them.  Even if she at 14 is embarrassed with her mom's "Karen" moments  I love that she seeks me out at night when everyone else is in bed and says "what ya doin?" and sits right next to me like she still likes me.

Isolation Gratification: Day 27

Today I'm grateful that our fall flood forced our renters out and youtube channel that kept Aaron busy out of his sister's hair.  

Im amazed at how relaxed I've been about a messy house lately.  But my kitchen was gross and needed a deep clean that only a mom can do yet all my kids were driving me crazy wanting me to do this wanting me to do that.  My patience was gone and I needed them gone.  Thank Heaven's for Aaron finding a youtube how to draw star wars characters and a basement just far enough away I almost felt like I was alone!  

Isolation Gratification: Day 26

I've been working at least 9+ hours a day the last couple of days and have some more meetings, phone calls and videos to make on Thurs.    I'd forgotten that I'm really only a part time employee in all this new found mess of a job I have. My kids are on spring break right now and are caught up on all of their school work.   So when I woke up a forecast of the most beautiful day Utah could offer I decided it was a good day to spend outside and leave all my work and house responsibilities behind.  

  First we went on a hike up to the Draper Suspension Bridge.    During the hike Spencer joyfully commented I've never been hiking before this is fun.    He was right I don't hike with small kids,  I don't have a strong back to carry them and I was a little nervous Spencer's little legs wouldn't hold up to the 2 mile hike but he skipped along the whole time and I realized I may have entered a new world of hiking with all of my kids.   

We then drove through Chick fil a and got the family 30 piece meal deal and enjoyed a lonely isolated picnic on the grass of a local baseball park.   

After lunch when we arrived home I just wasn't ready to go inside and tackle on the cleaning so I asked if any of the big kids wanted to go on a bike ride with me.    Jane and Aaron were game and Emily volunteered to stay behind and attempt to get Spencer to take a nap.



I forgot how much I love to ride my bike.   I biked so much as a kid and always loved it.  We started south down the trax trail right by my house and discovered a new townhome development had build a connection to another trail that looped around back to a nearby fishing/ duck pond and back to the trax trail.   I can't tell you how energizing it was to bike with 2 of my favorite people.   It also gave me hope that in a couple of years Spencer will be old enough to keep up and maybe we can do family bike rides together.

Utah Springs are so fickle but occasionally mother nature blesses us with a perfect day.    Jane has been reading outloud  "Anne of Avonlea" and  just read this line to me as I am typing.  "Isn't today heavenly Diana.  It's like a day left over from the Garden of Eden."  It's exactly how I feel right now L.M. Montgomery!

Isolation Gratification: Day 25

I love that our nightly family walk/ bike rides turn into my kids speeding ahead  turning around stopping to say hi and speeding away.  Its then just Bart and I strolling along.  I love the connection these walks bring us.

Isolation Gratification: Day 24

I'm grateful this quarantine cleared our evening schedule. Without it I'm not sure my 4th child, who since last fall was more than competent on his balance bike,  would have had his dad and Jane's full attention to give him a quick lesson on peddling and stopping on his new "surprise" bike.    It only took a few minutes and he was off on his own.

Isolation Gratification: Day 23

I'm grateful I had this white handkerchief to use for the solemn assembly today in General Conference.   Mary gave this to me a couple of years ago for my birthday and I love the personalized C and crochet around the edges.   I love homemade thoughtful gifts that I can treasure forever.    I'm grateful I've used it a couple of times for temple dedications and I'm excited to use it for more as they continue to dot the Earth

Isolation Gratification: Day 22

I love my great neighborhood.  Even in social distancing my good neighbors find ways to reach out.  A couple of days ago chalk was delivered to our doorstep with a note inviting us to "chalk our walk" on Sat. 

Emily quote from "Dairy of a Whimpy Kid"

Jane "game called hope the Corona off"

Aaron quote "Its an avocado,  thanks"

Spencer "Mom take a picture of mine.  I wanted to draw a snake"

The day got away from us with conference but we finally made it out at dusk to check out the creations.  The night air and emerging moon was superb and we enjoyed the art work displayed.