Week 33

The summer is coming to an end. We have two weeks of no school left and although I think we are all ready for school to start, it will be bittersweet. I've enjoyed the time that we have been able to spend at the pool, the beach, the library and other fun places in Midland. I do feel a bit guilty though, because this summer has been a little hard for me. We've had a lot going on and with the different age's of my kids, its getting hard to satisfy everyone at once. Kaiton still loves playing at parks and Brooklen is definitely not entertained by those types of activities. The highlights of the past week or two are: 1) I shot a wedding and I am SO GLAD IT IS OVER. I will not be shooting weddings anymore. I just don't have it in me. I don't like the pressure, being away from my family, or the fact that I am always underwhelmed by my wedding work. I feel quite a weight lifted off of me to have that be all over. 2) Brooklen had his birthday party at the Loons game. He invited Jake, Ethan, Carter, and Jordyn. They had an awesome time eating dinner and watching the game. 3)We spend a day at Tawas and it was so fun. We rented a stand-up paddle board for the first time and we all loved it! Then, we ate at a little Mexican place and then played at the State Park. So fun! 4) We took a day off of work and gymnastics to head to Bay City State Park and play at the beach. 5) We went blueberry picking for FHE. I also have to report that since being given a Father's blessing, Hurley has done much better with her emotions and anxiety and Brooklen has been able to not wet the bed. I love Rob so deeply and I am so grateful that he is a worthy priesthood holder. I love that my kids are seeing how the priesthood can work miracles in their lives.

Week 31

This post will be short and sweet. Honestly, I don't have much energy lately to record much. It has been great having the kids home this summer. I really can't express how much I love them. They are my heart and souls; I am so grateful that Rob and I have the chance to raise them. But, with the opportunity to raise them, comes a tremendous amount of responsibility and it scares me sometimes. I know that the world that my kids are being raised in is scary. There is still a lot of good and light out there, but it more difficult than ever to see it sometimes. Hurley has struggled this summer. At first I thought it was just a phase, and then I was convinced it was anxiety, but I think after reading several books, that she has OCD and I yearn to help her leave the trap that is taking her little brain and making life sometimes so miserable for her. My once free and confident daughter has become immersed in self-doubt, rituals, and the compulsion to always have perfection. I have so much hope for her and I know that if I do enough research, I can help her through this. Today, Rob gave her a priesthood blessing. We are trying to be loving and positive, but like all parents, sometimes we falter out of frustration. My daily prayers have turned to pleas to my Father in Heaven to help relieve her of this and to help guide Rob and I as we work with her to overcome this.