So, it has been FOREVER since I last posted, and on Sunday our home teachers brought up keeping a journal... I kinda count my blog as my journal--it's definitely the easiest and most fun way for me to keep a "journal" of what is going on in our lives. However, if I only write about once a month or so...that's not really helping me, is it!? :) haha
So...quick catch up from the last 20 days or so. On Halloween Ryan and I moved away from Provo (hopefully for good) because we decided that it was time to move on from Student housing and the student life, since we aren't technically students anymore! So, with the help of both our families plus many other extended family members that are just wonderful!, we moved in last weekend. It went well...I wish I could say the same for the "Unpacking process" but that'll be well in a few weeks... hopefully! :)
After moving, I was worn out. Having growing pains with a baby growing inside me ... I was down for a few days. No energy whatsoever to do ANYTHING! :) haha Oh, the joys of being pregnant.
Then this past weekend, we babysat some of our friends' kids while they went with their older kids on band tour. We've watched their kids before, so it wasn't too bad. However, we quickly discovered that we lead a completely different lifestyle than they do. Not in a good or bad way...but we are just in a different season in our lives. (We have one toddler...don't get up early...bedtime is anytime after 7... etc.) They have children up at 6:30am, gone for school all day, a child in preschool some days, and children who want to stay up till 9:00 or so! :) It was a fun weekend, but I'm glad to be home and back on my own schedule!
The last thing I wanted to "journal" about the past week is about a boy in my parents ward. On Wednesday, Jared was missing after school. His parents called friends and family to try to find him. They ended up having the high priests and elders in the ward go out and help search for him around 9:00 that night. Not long after, we heard that they had found Jared and didn't need any more help searching. However, he had died. Turns out he went hiking up in the mountains and somehow he fell about 100 ft. I attended my parents' ward on Sunday because my mom (primary president) had their primary program yesterday. It was very touching because the theme for primary this year was "My Eternal Family". What a fitting subject for a ward and family that has recently lost a member.
I got to see Jared's parents and family at church yesterday as well... they seemed to all be okay. Sad, of course, but wanting to very much be a part of the ward and be with their friends and neighbors. They also reached out to the youth in the ward, explaining to them what really happened to Jared and letting his peers know that they are willing to be open and honest about anything they were wondering. I was impressed by their sincerity and willingness to welcome people in with outstretched arms...because that is what all their friends want to do for them too.
I don't know Jared very well, but I do know his parents fairly well, and my heart has been aching all week for them. In fact, I've been very sensitive to this whole thing...maybe more than I should...but I have had a difficult time getting over the fact that a wonderful and diligent and straight A student, 17-year-old boy from an excellent family really is gone. I don't have any doubt in my mind that he is with our Heavenly Father and furthering missionary work on the other side of the veil....however, my "depression" so to speak, is for his mother. No mother should ever have to lose a child. And this experience has made me wonder what I would do. Would I be able to trust that everything is okay? Would I want to reach out to others around me for help, (like this family) or would I naturally be angry and want to be to myself? I don't know...but it has made me think.
So...hopefully I'll get an actual Halloween post up so that pictures are included and everything soon...but this will have to do for now!
:)
