My Point of View: 2024-12-29

Solly 2/10/24

Youngest Grandchild. He'll always be the baby, just like his Daddy.

That face has all of our hearts.

Sweethearts 2/10/24

Graham's date, Kate, knows him all too well! As a fan of UP, he quickly became a fan of her!

The Super Bowl...Taylor's Version 2/11/24

The extended family all gathered at the Shafer's for the annual party. Woot-woot!

The teams playing were Red and Maroon, respectively. We have all gotten a chuckle about the new interest in football since Taylor Swift began dating Chief's star, Travis Kelsey. Here is an exchange on the Bocas thread.

During the Super Bowl, I also had a funny conversation with my mom's cousin John. I mentioned that I had gone to Costco, and I saw so many of my fellow temple workers there. However, they didn't seem to recognize me not in white. He said, "You know what they call Costco? The KIRKland temple."

Bwahaha.

I wanted to bring something fun for the family so I combined a T. Swift tradition with a Native American twist (for the Cheifs). I brought everyone a woven friendship bracelet. I spent $25. Then I won the trivia game and got a $25 Amazon gift card. Even Stevens.

Sugar Cookies...I'm ba-aaaaaack! 2/14/24

Good gravy, I sort of forgot how much work this is!

It's a lot of work and a lot of cookie—maybe even too much. With older kids now watching their sugar intake, I will be scaling down next year...yippee!

There are a couple of special needs adults in our ward. I made them each a Valentine's plate. I feel like the days of knocking and running are over, so we said hello as well.

Valentines! Galentines!

Callie and I were surprised that Matt had never heard the term, Galentines. Nor had Graham. Then we figured, "Why would they have?" I told Callie where she might locate some V-day decor in the house and she set to work all on her own. I went downstairs and thought she had done such a lovely job.

So cozy and inviting. They planned to watch 27 Dresses and make Valentines for boyzzz.

Callie hooked me and Matt up with tickets for the Valentine's train (and here we thought we wouldn't ride the train anymore once we didn't have littles, and there we were ba-aaack). We planned on paying for tickets, but at will call they were handed over for freeee. We were seated in the swanky lounge car on a leather loveseat. Other passengers had to pass through our car on the way to their seats. I recognized Dave from Orem High and we had a joyful reunion. More importantly, he gave me the date of my upcoming high school reunion.

During the convo, he put together that Cade is my baby brother. His mind blew up. He had to text Cash a photo to let them know he had run into the queen of Heber. I didn't correct him.

What delightful snacks were served to us throughout the evening! The playlist was spot on, our car was full of merry happy people, and it was the perfect date night.

Checking in on Matt

Matt conducted a funeral. I didn't know the person, but I sat in the crowd for moral support. Funerals are Matt's least favorite thing about the calling of Bishop. I believe this is his 21st funeral and the second one in three days. He always does a nice job.

Madame Webb

Sometimes Matt throws out an odd suggestion on a Friday night, such as going to the local theater to see a Marvel movie. We haven't gotten into Marvel much, but we sure enjoyed Madame Webb!

And all that Ja-aaaaz

Our saying, "Sure, why not?!" Continued when we went to the Jazz game to watch Raegan's dance team perform during the pre-game show. It was my turn to throw Matt off when he asked, "You are suggesting a Jazz game?" Grayson rode up with some Gouldings and we enjoyed free parking and a burger before walking to the arena. The boys showed up in their matching Hawaii sweatshirts but they wouldn't let me get a photo. Still did.

Since the game had yet to begin, the crowds were small. Basically, just the parents were in attendance. I get it. We support our babies! We were there to support our niece, Raeg!

JROTC

A few weeks later, there we were supporting Graham in his JROTC Drill Competition in Ogden. I love seeing this other side of him in action. He works hard. The competition is strict and takes many hours of practice. He always rocks it!

I had been feeling a bit silly during the competition. No disrepect, but sometimes ultra-serious situations bring out my giggles. I shared the funnies with Graham afterward, "Do you know how you spot the colonels from each school? They are the ones with greasy fingers." Even he laughed at that. Then while we were walking out, someone began hollering about some kind of emergency and was wanting people to go a certain way. I didn't know what was going on but they seemed to be overreacting. I realize that I am someone who just stays put until I have more info. Matt observed, "Abby wasn't going anywhere." Turns out we didn't even need to.

Graham won the command competition at one of the events!

I also treasure seeing Graham all decked out for an airsoft war.

Last Day 2/24/24

When I went back to school, I got off Facebook because if I was going to be online, I needed to be doing an assignment. So, I never post anything. However, last February, I felt prompted to make an Instagram post. I reminded the Lord, “I don’t do that.” He reminded me that He will give me words when He needs me. I opened my phone and recorded my thoughts and pictures of the day.

Instagram Post: February 24, 2024. Matt and I stopped for a picture on our way into the Provo Temple. We have a photo of us exactly 29 ½ years ago, August 24, 1994, when I received my endowment. Today, my eyes were already filling with tears as a stranger snapped away with Matt’s phone. Inside the temple, I was assigned a locker on the back row of the dressing room. After I changed, I walked down the side aisle—alone. There was a mirror at the end where I could see my reflection as I walked. On that day, 29 ½ years ago, I was an 18-year-old girl. Now, I am a middle-aged woman. I’m the same, yet not the same. So much has happened since that day! During our wait in the chapel, I reflected on those who accompanied me on that long ago day, including some who have passed on, such as Granny and Grandpa Woolf and Grandma Taylor. Then I realized I am the age that my parents were on that day! The blessings that have come into my life as a covenant daughter of God are too numerous to name. I know the ins and outs of the building after serving 4 ½ years as an ordinance worker. I realized as I sat in the endowment room that the Provo Temple is where I feel most at home when I am away from home. My emotions were flowing freely as I entered the celestial room to the near-standing room only. The feelings are too sacred to express, but I will treasure them in my heart, always. We enjoyed walking the grounds afterward as we watched families gather for pictures—including a newly married bride and groom. The future Provo Rock Canyon Temple will be beautiful, but the “cloud by day and pillar by night” temple will forever hold a special place in my heart. Honored to be part of its last day. #BecauseofHim

Our late winter stayed late as well. Look at all of that snow!

Surprise!

Because the Cash family celebrates four of their birthdays in February, Ash invited us all to a celebration on the 25th. I committed to bring the cake. I had a vision of a volcano in my head. Don't know why. I just did. However, I did not make the red and orange icing thin enough and it wasn't running down the sides. Other visions were going awry as well. While I fussed over it, Callie decided to go take her Sunday nap but first, she told me,

"You'll figure it out. You always do."

I hoped that was something that was instilled in her from me. Because you know what? She is right. I fiddled and faddled, and raided the toy box, and wah-lah.

The cake was hidden when Matt came home from his meetings. I told him that I had made a cake. He closed his eyes and tried to picture what it would look like. When he opened his eyes he said, "That is not what I was picturing at all!" I like to keep people on their toes. He also added, "She's ba-aaaack!"

At the party, I heard Romney say, "Wait, Abby, you made that!?" Guilty.

Ava thought it was someone's 7th grade science fair project sitting out.

The real fun came when we lit that sucker.