Brothers On Maps

 This afternoon, I used Google Maps to find the hospital

 in Ghana, where Claire has been working. 

It's been incredibly inspiring to hear how much she's been loving 

her time there, assisting in surgeries and providing wound care 

to patients using the skills she learned at the Arizona Burn Center. 

Later, I took a trip down memory lane with Lod and showed 

her on Maps all the houses our family has ever lived in.

It was so lovely to recall all the beautiful memories we shared 

together in Utah, Arizona, New Jersey, New Mexico, and North Carolina. 

We had such an amazing time in each of those places!!

Then she asked me to go to Umi and Grampa's house in Provo.

I discovered my dad's image on the camera outside while 

he was pulling a hose to water the flower pots near the garage.

But on closer look, I've concluded that he's cleaning

out his car and hosing down the mats.

This is because I can see the 1980s vacuum propped up against

the house, and there is only one reason why the vacuum is outside.

To clean the car, right?

I should be a detective.

I felt a sting of homesickness.

I miss my dad. 

I miss Provo, but in my mind,  Provo is still as glorious as it was
when I lived there. It's different now.

 I need to brace for the change I'll be met with when

we drop Claire and Jane off for school this fall.

I love that Google Maps captured a photo of my dad working on his lawn, 

wearing a BYU football shirt, with Marley, the dog - resting peacefully

 under the front yard tree. I can also see the pumpkins on the front porch, 

probably the ones he grew out back for the grandkids. 

I only wish I could have seen my mom, 

who was probably inside reading a book under the fan.

(PS...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY, MOM!)

I visited my brother Matt's house, where I grew up. 

While on the way, I "drove" past my best cousins 

Jayne and Katie's house- they lived just across the street from us.

I noticed that my Uncle Dave, who is my dad's brother, 

was outside mowing the lawn at his house. 

He stopped to wave at the Google car as it drove by.

I love "Uncle Brother Dave," as my kids called him when they were young.

After finding the Clark brothers on Google Maps,

 I texted Lucy, my mom, cousins Katie, Jayne, and Aunt Lisa

 (who is Dave's wife), all of whom still live in Provo.

 It was a fun way to reminisce about growing up in 

Provo and share other unforgettable memories.

He Is Patient As They Grow

I have a few concerns regarding the current state of affairs

such as job security, inflation 

(like my deodorant costing $8 - are you kidding me?),

and the conduct of certain officials in positions of power. 

Here are a few things I am not worried about in the country:

Claire:

Jane:

Oliver:

Nicholas:

Charlotte:

I love these kids so much.

They are amazing people who have lived amazing little lives

 and are doing amazing things. 

 "The youth today are among Heavenly Father’s most noble spirits...

 They were born in these days to gather Israel through their powerful 

witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows each one of 

them and knows their great potential. He is patient as they grow. 

He will redeem and protect them. He will heal and guide them.

He will inspire them."

-Michael T. Nelson

 

Stillestead At Dusk

Tonight, we went for a stroll to check on the cattle 

who are now at the edge of the pasture, furthest from the house.

 Christian has divided the pastures into sections and rotates the

 cows about every three days throughout about 50 acres of land. 

It's good for the cows, and it's good for the land. Spring is so 

beautiful here, and it smells so good; earthy, fresh, and clean.

We followed each other along the trail while 

Angus jumped in and out of the woods next to us, living his best life. 

I think I was living my best life, too.

At 7:34, I took a photo as we started 

out on our little family walk. 

This is what it looked like at 8:01:

True Sib Love Always

Tonight, after dinner we sat around enjoying the evening

until Lottie announced she had

homework that she had "forgotten about." 

So, while Christian and Lod finished up a few math problems,

 (homework on Sunday night around 10:00

at my house is just a typical Sunday activity.  Sadly.)

I cleaned up dinner and started making lunches for Monday.

Then, we had family scripture study and family prayer.

Just before we said our goodnights and before we all went to our separate rooms,

 I pulled up a photo taken 17 years ago of Gigs and Jane together on my phone. 

 Gigs, 6 months, Jane, 4, when we lived in Mesa, Arizona. (2007)

We all had a good laugh.

Jane stopped growing at 5'3, and Gigs is still 

sprouting up over 6 feet!

But he'll always be the younger, taller brother,

and she'll always be the shorter, older sister.

 

Make A Difference

We dropped Claire off at the airport for her  

16-hour flight to Accra to be a part of a medical mission,

Ghana Make a Difference

She's going to fly into Ghana a day before her group so she can 

visit and serve in the temple before she leaves for the hospital

to start working.

GO, CLAIRE, GO!

She left her roller skates at home.

 

Run In The Blood

 For Lottie's birthday, we gave her horse lessons,

 and today was her first lesson!

She's a natural!  

Her horse, Baylee, was such a gentle sweetheart 

(and 30 years old! Perfect for first-time lessons!)

I didn't want to be a helicopter mom, but I also wanted to watch her as she

saddled the horse, ride, rise & post, and learn proper horse commands.

So I hid in the bushes.  

Just this first lesson.

I LOVED horse lessons as a young girl (about the same age as Lod).

And I LOVED my instructor, Candace; she was college-age, calm, and fearless,

and I consider her one of my greatest mentors.

She had a way of making me feel good about myself, 

and the way I worked with my horse.

Candace prepared me to show in competitions, 

and that was such a cool chapter of my life.

I want Lottie to feel this same confidence in herself.

Her instructor, Megan,

is just as fearless and wonderful as Candace was to me

and I think Lod will love it.

Besides, horses run in our blood:

Nothing Can Replace A Sister

 Today, Claire started packing for her 2-week medical mission trip in Ghana!  
She's been planning this trip for nearly 6 months, 

and tomorrow she's finally going!

Lottie stayed home from school today (obviously sick),

and sat curled up in her tortilla blanket on Claire's bed, surrounded

by clothes, luggage, shoes, food, and other things while Claire packed.

 I could hear them laughing and listening to music.

From time to time, I'd check in and give my opinion about which sunglasses

or fanny pack she should bring, help fold clothes to fit in her backpack,

 and then die a little inside thinking

that AGAIN, both sisters would leave for college in late August

leaving Lottie the lone sister.

At least she's got me!

Even though I know NOTHING can replace a sister.

RIP Brane

It is with sadness that I announce that our darling bunny, Brane,

passed away this morning around 12:35.

Yesterday evening, we noticed he was acting lethargic

and showed zero interest in eating like he once did.

Sweet Brane is reunited with his sister, brother, and 1 bazillion

cousins in Bunny Heaven.

Thank you, Brane, for letting us care and love you.

You've made our home happier, and we'll miss you!

RIP

 

Hi?

 Enjoy this text dialogue between me and Gigs this morning:

Now, enjoy these cute mother/son photos we got 

together yesterday during the solar eclipse

while he was working on his welding project with Christian.

(Working on the lawn mower) 

Solar Welding

Seven years ago, in 2017, I viewed the solar eclipse together with all the Nies.

We were living on the ranch and we used Christian's welding masks to 

see the beautiful solar phenomenon!

On both days, 2017, and today, Christian happened to be welding and happened

to have his masks out, and I just happened to return home from exercising

right in time to view it,

AND, it just happened to be the last day of Spring Break, which

meant everyone was home!

 What are the chances of all these happenings?

If we didn't have the welding masks, I don't think we would

have been able to see this celestial miracle! 

 Around 2:00, we noticed the sky started getting darker, and things felt eerie.

Shadows were sat differently on the trees and the lawn, 

and Stillestead was noticeably quieter.

We texted Claire who was at work and told her 

that we were outside looking at the eclipse

(with the song, Total Eclipse of the Heart on repeat blaring on the porch)

She told us the hospital had given out glasses to everyone

to view the amazing sight! 

I was happy to hear that because I heard that we won't see another occurrence

of the solar eclipse for a few years.