the end of an era

In November of 2003, we had only been in our house for a few weeks, and were expecting our second little girl in just a few months. Katie was only 2 1/2 years old. And Aaron was called to be a counselor in the bishopric. It was quite unexpected, but we adjusted to Aaron's new calling and his busier schedule. When Sarah was born, Johnice came over on Sundays a little early and helped me get the girls ready for church for the first few months until we finally settled into a routine and I felt like I could handle getting the girls to church by myself. When Sarah was almost 18 months, Aaron was released and we were asked to attend the Jennings Branch. Just when we felt like we were figuring things out over there, Aaron was called back into the bishopric in the Lake Charles Ward. It was again, an unexpected change, but we quickly got back into the swing of things. By the summer of 2008, Aaron had been a counselor in the bishopric for almost five years, and served with three different bishops. However, Bishop Jorgensen had taken a new job and would be moving in a few months, so we were anticipating Aaron's release as a new bishop was called. I was really looking forward to having my husband sit with me at church and help with the kids. At the time, Katie was 7, Sarah was 4, and our baby boy was on the way. On September 28, 2008, Aaron was released as a counselor, and sustained as the new bishop of the Lake Charles Ward. We were both thinking he was gonna get a break, but the Lord had other plans. And that was fine. I knew that the Lord would take care of us as Aaron served faithfully in his new calling. I thought it wouldn't be much different than his calling as a counselor. But it was. He had more meetings, got way more phone calls, and was frequently called out to go take care of different things. It was really hard at times, especially when the kids were young. There were times when the girls would ask why Daddy had to go to another meeting, and why he couldn't just stay home with us. Sometimes they would cry. That was really hard. One time when Aaron had to travel a few hours away to girl's camp, Sarah very firmly declared that if Daddy was going, then so was she. Aaron had to sit down that night and try to explain to her why she couldn't go, and then promised her the moon if she didn't throw a fit when he left. After John David was born, getting to church became a challenge. Johnice came and helped again for the first few weeks to make sure we got to church on time. Eventually, Katie and I figured out how to get it all done by ourselves though. We got into a routine, and though it keeps changing as the kids grow and get older, it works well for us, and we have become really good at getting to church on time. I have learned how to entertain, corral, and quietly discipline my rowdy bunch during sacrament meeting. I have learned to plan to have family prayer and scripture study and just hope that Aaron happens to be here when we do it. I have learned to make the most of our family time together because we never know when our plans might suddenly get changed. We have learned to be flexible, and go with the flow. A few weeks ago we were about to walk out the door to go do some stuff as a family and Aaron got a call and we had to change our plans. You could see the disappointment on Katie's face. Aaron asked her if it was hard when your dad is bishop. She said, "Yeah, but you get used to it and I've learned to just get over it." He said, "Well, I won't be bishop for forever." She said, "Really? When are you getting released?" He said, "Oh, I don't know, but I won't be bishop forever." She said, "Well, when you get released, I'm gonna jump up and cheer!" It was pretty sweet to see how excited she was at the thought of having him around more. We have learned to pray for Aaron when he got called out that he will know what to say and what to do, even though we didn't know where he was going or who he was going to see. We have learned and grown a lot over the last (almost) decade that Aaron has faithfully served as a counselor and bishop, and the blessings we have received are far too many to count. We have been blessed with the things that we need. We have been blessed spiritually, and so have our children. We have been blessed to be invited into many special moments of the lives of our wonderful ward family that have touched our hearts and changed us for the better. It reminds me of a quote by Spencer W. Kimball, who said, "As we give, we find that 'sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven'. And in the end we learn it was no sacrifice at all."

What I didn't realize was how Aaron being released today would effect me. I knew it would be hard for him, but I didn't expect it to be hard for me. My head tells me that I should be doing the happy dance that my husband will be around more. But my heart is heavy. And I have been having a hard time understanding why. Until a sweet older sister in our ward today (whose husband was bishop when Aaron was in the youth program) grabbed my hand and told me that I would feel the let down too. She said the bishop's wife always feels it, just like the bishop, but that we would be okay. Such simple words, but it meant so much to me to have my feelings validated and to know that I wasn't just being weird about the whole thing. I talked to one of my childhood friends whose husband was released almost a year ago as bishop too, and she said she felt the same. And so did my mom. In fact, my mama told me my daddy didn't even give her a heads up that he was being released. She found out when the rest of the ward did, which I can't even imagine how hard that was on her. I'm so glad Aaron didn't do that to me. I am grateful for feeling validated, but I still find myself teary eyed. It reminds me of when I was released from being a missionary. Feeling so excited to get home to be with your family, but also feeling lost and not sure how to act. I told that to Aaron and he said that's exactly how it feels, but magnified by 100. I guess because it has been such a huge part of our lives for so long. Almost ten years. That's a long time. Two of our kids weren't even born, and Katie was only 2 when this journey began. We know it was time and the Lord's will for sure, but it's just gonna take some getting used to for us. It is a comfort to know that we are going through this together though. Together we will figure out how to close this chapter of our lives and begin the next.

saying goodbye to Bailey

I have to confess....there were many times I have wanted to get rid of her. Many times she has made me crazy for going potty in my house. Or digging holes under the fence. Or sneaking out of the gate while it was opened and at the most inconvenient times and we'd have to go looking for her. She has been a lot of work. And I just didn't think that she was worth it. So when Sarah came to us a few weeks ago and said she thought we should find a better home for Bailey, I thought it was a good idea. She keeps digging holes and getting out of the fence and running around the neighborhood and she's almost been ran over a few times. We even found out that she can jump over the back side of our fence, which is shorter than the other sides. So it really is best for her. What doesn't make any sense though....is how much I miss her. I actually cried when the man came to get her. And I've cried a few times since then. I miss letting her out in the mornings. I miss her following me around. I miss her begging for chicken when she smelled it cooking. I miss her cleaning up the food the kids dropped on the floor. That was really handy. I just didn't realize how attached I was to her.



But I do want her to be safe. And happy.

And I hope she is both of those at her new home.

The More the Merrier

Mike and Tiffany's boys came over to spend a few days with us. We were so excited to have them here. They all played so amazingly well together.



We entertained them a couple of days by taking them to the waterpark since the new part had just opened up. They all loved the lazy river.



Especially this cutie patootie! Love her!



The big kids mostly stayed on the lazy river and went down the water slides.



While these two played hard on Parrot Island.



Maw Maw even came to join us. She's pretty much the coolest Maw Maw ever!



She even took all the kids on the lazy river by herself.



We loved having these sweet boys here, and can't wait for the next visit!

Independence Day

After watching a movie this afternoon, we went over to church for the 4th of July dinner. I just love my patriotic cuties!







The kids had so much fun running around and playing water games outside with their friends.



After dinner, we went to see the fireworks.



I am so grateful to live in the USA!

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.”  ~Erma Bombeck

2013 Summer Bucket List

Since we left the day after school got out and have been busy ever since, we have just gotten around to making our 2013 Summer Bucket List. I think it may be a little ambitious, considering half of summer is over already. But at least it'll give us some stuff to do. So lets see how much we can get done in the next six weeks!