Dear family,
Well, it has been awhile! Someone asked me if I had taken them off my update list - no, just haven't written any updates!
I'm not sure I can catch up - but I can give you a brief summary of our summer and then hope to be more consistant from here.
I AM GOING TO BE A GRANDMA! Best news ever! I gotta say, I was very excited when Taralynn and Kory told us. It's a great feeling and I couldn't be happier! Taralynn actually told us when we were in Utah dropping Scott off for summer school. The plan had been for Taralynn and Kory to meet us in Utah and play for a few days, including a trip to Lagoon. With Scott still healing from surgery, we opted out of the Lagoon trip. I was telling Taralynn reasons that we changed our plans and she responded, "that's okay. I don't think they allow pregnant women on many of their rides anyway..." Did I just hear that right?! I had to say it in my mind again...Really? Yes! It was a GREAT announcement. Her due date is FEBRUARY 7.
I had a hard time keeping it a secret from family and friends for a few more weeks until she had been to the doctor - and posted the news on her blog- but we enjoyed an Andreasen get-together with a note under the cookies reading "Kory and Taralynn are expecting a baby!" The cookies finally got eaten and Samantha shared the news with everyone in the house.
Unfortunately Taralynn is not feeling so good. She seems to be nauseous more than she is not. She is unsure of the term "morning sickness" as hers lasts most of the day and night. I feel so sad for her and hope that she improves soon! She did have a couple of good days last week, so maybe...! She has been to the doctor twice and heard the heartbeat! Love it! She is anxious to find out if they are having a boy or girl so she can prepare a fun nursery. But that would require her to feel better too! We'll keep you posted.
From what I hear, Kory is being a great support and kind and helpful husband to his wife who seldom feels good. That cannot be easy! He does the cooking and the shopping when Taralynn isn't up for it. He takes her out when he can talk her into it. He will be as happy as she will be to have her feeling better. He will go on a hunt the end of September and also plans to hunt at least one more time in October with his brothers and Dad.
Amy had a good summer. She enjoyed ten days with her roommate, Abby, from West Virginia. They played on the beaches of Myrtle Beach for a week and then enjoyed family time, including fishing (!) in West Virginia. Yes she caught a fish - we enjoyed the video clip on Abby's facebook! Abby then spent a few days with us in Arizona before she headed back to Provo for work and school. Amy successfully took the GRE and will now look into applying for Grad school, to begin in the Fall of 2012. She is back at work and loves those little ones that refer to her lovingly as "Miss Amy." She turned 21! Jay congratulated her and reminded her that she was now "legal and could vote." Oh wait! She could vote three years ago! Funny Jay. Jay and I are training with Amy to run the St. George Marathon on October 1! CRAZY! It is so hot running in the summer of Arizona! But we are making it and look forward to running together.
Scott successfully completed summer school at BYU! He took golf, sociology and Mission Prep. I think he got As in golf and mission prep and a B in sociology. He came home for a weekend, his birthday weekend! SCOTT is 18! Yep! He can vote - as soon as he gets registered! Scott has always showed interest in politics. It'll be interesting to see him vote. The news from Scott is that he loved Provo so much that he is STAYING IN PROVO for fall semester! Yep. I can't believe it myself, but it's true. It took a little effort, but luckily he knows a guy from Mt. View who decided later to go to Provo too, so he will know one of his five roommates, Jake Jarvis. Should be a fun time! He only has TWO weeks between summer and fall semesters though. He came home and headed up to Strawberry to work for Mel for a week (gotta earn some fun money for school). He will be ORDAINED an ELDER today (June 21) and we will head back to Provo Thursday, August 25, to get him settled in an apartment off campus. His schedule for fall is a little more intense. He may have to study more and play less but I think he will balance out just fine. Hopefully he will make a trip or two to Idaho for the weekend to see Taralynn and Kory - and cousins there too!
Jason is a SOPHOMORE! High school didn't slow him down. He describes it as boring, but I know better. I can't wait until boring is eliminated from his vocabulary! He has some honors classes that will keep him working hard and he is enjoying working out with basketball bound boys. The real season, complete with tryouts, begins November 1. He works hard and is growing! We are enjoying Jason as much as possible! We know they grow up and leave too fast! He is a great boy and we love spending time with him - doing just about anything! Jay took Jason and some friends to Strawberry this weekend to play at Fossil Springs. It was a great boys trip.
Jay is my hero! I can't tell you how much I love him! We celebrated 27 years of marriage on Jason's first day of school! We enjoyed dinner out and relaxing together that afternoon and evening. Then Friday, Jay took me to the temple and we made a last minute decision to go to Strawberry for a quick 24 hours (well, almost 24). We intended to run our 18 miles up there. It ended up that I WALKED 13 and Jay RAN 17.6. It was a beautiful day, but the altitude wasn't my friend (as well as I forgot my running shoes - but luckily borrowed some from Sarah!). Jay works hard and provides for us with no complaints. I am so grateful for his love and support shown in so many ways, always.
Much of the summer was preparing for Girl's Camp. LOTS of work! But it was worth it when we got there! Jay spent the week with us at LoMia and was invaluable helping non-stop! I am enjoying serving the young women of our stake. They are amazing and I love how I feel when I spend time with them. I enjoy serving in the temple. Yesterday I got to spend time with the Costello's grandson, Carter, in the youth center. What a sweet boy! Congratulations to Karen and Morgan! There is nothing sweeter than a temple sealing. I hope to sub this year. No calls yet, but maybe after I get home from Idaho. I'm excited to spend a week with Tarlaynn and Kory after getting Scott settled in Provo.
Life is good. I sometimes forget that and have to stop and remember. It is quiet times in the temple, quiet times reading scriptures, quiet time in prayer, quiet times just thinking and getting out and doing good things for others that brings me back to my senses. I am truly blessed! This update is so incomplete but will suffice for today...
love,
Lori
