Summer Happenings

Summer has been very relaxed for us thus far. Annie did YW camp and FSY. So that was busy for her. And Scotty did YM camp. But I have been able to do my thing and get a lot of writing done. I have also been working on not letting my calling take over my life. The handbook says priorities should go like this: 1) God 2) Family 3) Job 4) Calling. Isn't it interesting that God and calling are not the same thing?? I've been reminding myself that my calling comes fourth. That honestly helps me to be better at the calling because I don't feel so overwhelmed by it. Elder Christofferson came to our region recently, and he said that "if you feel like you are doing too much, you probably are." I've been trying to remember that. And I also thought about what is my job? I decided I'm a homeschooling housewife writer. I've been leaning into those. things And not letting my calling hijack them. So that means I'm going to say no if a sister asks me for a ride during school hours. And that means I take feeding the family seriously--we don't grow our own food or anything, but it still takes at least two hours of my day to feed my family and keep our house looking like something other than a pig sty. And then I'm a writer. I write for two hours a day, five days a week. And I make sure to read my scriptures and pray and date my husband and spend time with my family. These are all very important things that build Zion. Serving as RS president does, too, for sure. But it comes fourth! 

Anyway...this summer it has been nice to have fewer commitments and fewer classes. We aren't totally without classes, though. Scotty started up a geometry class. And Annie finished her geometry class and will be starting an algebra one on the 15th. And we still have piano. And we're still doing co-op...But it still feels less busy. Which is really nice.

Our friends the Brimleys moved. We helped them pack up. It was sad. We will miss them greatly. But we'll have to try out the direct Allegiant flight that connects our two cities. It has been a good period of friendship. Sad to see the end of this era, but excited for the great things the future always brings.

Annie had another friend visit, Glenn! He came and celebrated Attalyn's birthday two months late on a special day Annie planned.

We have been swimming every Monday for our co-op. Texas weather hasn't been too bad so far this year.

Our San Antonio temple is closed for four or five months. So we made a trip to the Houston temple. It was nice, but also definitely farther away than SA. But we didn't get stuck in traffic at all, so that was a bonus. I love being in the temple as a family. I felt the Spirit, and I felt like my little family is so great. And I got some inspiration I needed on the long drive there. When we reach out to the Lord, He's always already reaching back 

Annie also hosted (but didn't plan) a murder mystery night with people from Tuck Everlasting. It was so adorable. This group of homeschooled teens is the nicest little collection of humans.

And now the traveling part of our summer starts: The beach, the McCombs reunion, and the Dennis reunion all coming up! We're excited! Time for these Texans to have some extended family time!