Stuff

Thursday night, sitting at the playground, the temperature outside is just right. Ethan is at baseball practice, Grace and I are across the park at the playground. She has met a girl and the two of them have climbed to the top of the rock wall and are deep in conversation. There are quite a few kids here, taking advantage of the last long evenings before fall settles in. Oddly there is a little girl I know here, practice is not really in our neck of the woods so it's surprising. Her mom and step dad are in our ward and she's a cute little thing. Her dad has her every other week and its his turn. I feel kind of like I am spying on a secret part of her life, although of course I am not. Divorce is a hard thing. Last week Mark and I saw each other at Jenna's wedding. It's not hard to see him , but it is curious. It makes me think how things might have been different. It was hard for the girls..actually sometimes for the 3 younger too. Making a good, wise choice of a mate is SO important and has such far reaching consequences. I listened to thePriesthood  session of the last conference while I was painting the bathroom this afternoon. Lots of amazing talks. I was thinking while painting and listening about all the things we need to teach Ethan and the girls and about how righteous living spares us some of the trials and hardships around and strengthens us for the ones we are not spared. I am grateful for the Gospel plan, for the blessing and gift of the Atonement, for the balm it provides our hurts and the forgiveness it affords our mistakes and missteps and misfortunes, and the chance it gives us to grow and change and become Christ-like.

It's been a pretty good week. Ethan has played a bit of baseball. Chris had him over to his batting cage for some tutoring, he went to scouts and has worked on lots of homework.

Grace has been getting up at 530 with us this week since its our week to drive the STEM carpool. She had her first Brownie meeting of the new year. She loves Brownies and they have some great fun activities scheduled. Including an overnight to the aquarium to sleep with the dolphins!

Hannah had a theater meeting, is running for freshman class president, and never cleans her room... Typical teenage life.