Every. Single. Day.

Honestly, I don't even know what to write.  Our world can be so beautiful and life can be so wonderful.  It makes me very sad that sometimes that is not the case.

Five days ago there was a mass shooting in our city.  On Saturday afternoon, I was waiting in Dallas to fly into Odessa, Texas when a friend texted and warned me to stay inside due to an active shooter.  Soon, I started receiving several other texts warning of the danger and so I pulled up a website of our local news.  Everyone around me at the airport was heading to Odessa/Midland as well.  We were standing in line to board and quietly sharing what we knew/heard while everyone was trying to figure out what exactly was happening.   How many people had been killed already?  How many gunmen were there?  Were family members and friends safe?  We boarded.  It was the longest 45 minute flight of my life.

One thing that was comforting during that time is I knew most of my immediate and extended family were out of town for the three day weekend.  Brian was in Dallas with the boys.  Brinley was in Utah.  However, poor Aubrey (12 years old) was home alone with her cousin Lauron.  They were hiding, scared, in a closet.  Lauron had a her phone, and they were watching way too much social media about the terrifying events.  I was worried about my brother, Kerry, who is a trooper.  I knew he would be very involved trying to capture the suspect/s...and he was.

The shooter went on a crazy driving shooting spree all over town.  He killed 7 innocent people and injured 22 others.  He shot at and chased one of my dear friends.  He killed a 15 year old girl while her family was shopping for a new truck.  He murdered a 29 year old postal worker so he could steal her mail van.  He killed the father of my eleven year old nephew's friend.  The family was on their way to take family pictures.

The shootings took place in areas my family is in Every. Single. Day.

They took place were we grocery shop and eat out and work out.  They took place on the streets I drive on to visit both of my brothers and their families and my sister and her family.  One of the shootings took place by our High School football stadium.

In the days since, as I drive along 42nd street, or loop 338 or Yukon/Grandview, I think of the families whose lives have been changed forever.  Of our town which has been changed forever.

I am heartbroken.  His senseless acts of violence will scar so many lives for years to come.

I am heartbroken, but I am also in awe.  The outpouring of love and support for our community and within our community has been a blessing.  Officers from other areas came in to add extra support and security.  Businesses in the area offered free food to first responders and free funeral services to the families affected.

There have been lemonade stands and benefit concerts and blood drives to support those injured.  Tanner and I went to the mall two days after the shooting and there were comfort dogs.  Kind people from all over Texas drove in to share their trained dogs so anyone needing extra love could receive some from petting the dogs.  Their thoughtfulness brought me to tears.

Witnessing the many kind and generous actions of others has been a blessing.  It's a reminder to me of the overall goodness of humanity.  It's a reminder to be kind and to reach out to others.

It's a reminder to slow down and treasure the most important parts of life Every. Single. Day.

BYU Babeeeee!

The big Heritage Halls move in day was Tuesday the 27th.  Bryn was super excited.  We had to cram about eight suitcases worth of life into our small rented Honda Civic.  We almost got everything in one trip.  I ended up bringing the last suitcase up on Thursday morning before New Student Orientation/Parent Orientation.

Heritage Halls has all been rebuilt.  They are especially beautiful on the outside but pretty basic on the inside.  She shares an apartment with five other girls and they have three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a small living room/kitchen area.  Ella (4 years old) was very sad to hear Brinley did not have a play room in her new house.  Charlotte, 6, said "No, they don't have a playroom.  They are big girls...but that is a tiny house."

The big moment....about to knock on that door and meet her roomies!

Three roommates had already moved in: Ashlyn, Elena and Kaitlyn. They were so welcoming and kind.  They helped bring up boxes, offered to help unpack, asked and answered questions and were just amazing.  I felt like I could just stay a day or two and have a lot of fun with these girls.  I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet a few of her roommates because I could tell Brinley was in good company.

Moving in was a lot of work.  We walked a million miles.  (Well, maybe just five but it felt like a million.)  We stood in lines for keys and IDs and Freshman information.  We hit up Walmart and Sams Club.  The shelves at Walmart were bare.  They were wiped out of basic food staples and college dorm needs like hampers and toasters and such.  I made another trip the next day to a Walmart in South Jordan to gather the rest of the items she needed.  We unpacked, and Brinley spent a lot of time organizing clothes and figuring out where she wanted to put everything.

  By the end of the day she sent me a picture of her room looking beautiful.  

I left Brinley and drowned my sorrows with two Chip cookies for dinner.  They were huge and the chocolate chip cookie was especially delicious.  

I stayed in Utah a few extra days and did things like: pickle ball and walks with Denise, lunch with Shawnee B. and DeAnna H., BYU parent orientation, the temple (!), shopping for Bryn, shopping for fun, and a BYU football party with family.  Brinley sent me lots and lots of texts and pictures about the amazing time she was already having.

 Getting poured on at the BYU game.

First dinner with her roommates.  The twins love to cook...definitely a plus!

I said goodbye to my girl on Thursday morning.  I was a little teary but mostly okay.  I loved my BYU years, and I am so excited for her to have this college opportunity at such a wonderful school.

Saying Goodbye to Bryn

Parker and Tanner said their goodbyes to Brinley on Sunday night.  Parker has been teasing her all summer that he cannot wait for her to leave.  He is inheriting her room and no longer has to share the kid car.  

He wouldn't quit flexing for the camera.  It was kind of hilarious.  Park has a very high self esteem about his body at this point in time!

Thinking of Tanner and Brinley apart kind of hurts my heart.  They snuggle and talk every day.

Aubrey and Brian said their goodbyes Monday morning.  Aubrey will really miss having her big sister at home.  I hope they will have a chance to live in Provo at the same time like Britney and I were able to do for a couple of years.

Brian drove us to the airport.  I sat in the backseat so Brinley and Bri could visit on the way there.  That did not happen.  It was a completely silent ride.  Bri just had tears rolling down his cheeks.  It was pretty sad.  We will miss not having our girl home everyday.

Bryn's Last Sunday Night

We had a happening Sunday night out at the Bird's.  Here are a few picts. 

Some of the group.  It was nice to have the Martins and Grandma and Grandpa Honey.  It always adds an energy to have friends or family come who usually don't.

Erin was cute with the kids.  She and Braddock got this Monopoly game going.  (And is Joseph always going to look like a total dork in every group photo?  I thought he'd outgrow this stage...crazy kid.  I am really hoping my boys do by the time they are in their 20s!)  lft-rt: Joseph, Kate A, Erin, Braddock, Isaiah and Benjamin.

Charity, Brinley, Hud and Aubrey joined in at the table.

Tanner taking a turn on the four wheeler.

Adam B, Adam V with Lincoln, Dave, Benja, Tanner, Holden and Parker

Adam Bird has a new toy.  A mini motorcycle.  The younger teens especially spent some time riding the four wheeler and the motorcycle.  Aub, La, Holden and Tanner had a traffic activity going.  They would take turns directing the driver to stop, turn etc...  It was pretty cute.  (Tanner gets his driving permit in 3 weeks.  We have driven a little in a church parking lot and have practiced stopping, parking, backing up etc...  I think this was a little bit of driving school they put on for each other.)

Aubrey directing Holden and Tanner.

Yoga pose challenge anyone?  Aubrey and Lauron giving it a shot.  I love that Gram is clapping.  She's a great supporter.

Goodbye Brinley.  She will miss these little Birdies.  They are especially close because she has babysat a lot over the years.  She adores them.  Bryn stopped by one time this summer and the kids were NOT pleased.  They knew she was going to college but they had just learned that meant she would not be in Odessa anymore.  They wanted her to stay right here.  Pretty sweet.

Erin Meisje is Home!

Erin Meisje has been serving in the Independence Missouri Visitors Center Mission for the past year and a half.  She has written the best emails describing the love she has for the people she has taught and her love for the Savior.  She was also really cute to write letters and postcards to each of her cousins 2-3 times while she was gone.  She was only home a week before heading off to BYU but we tried to make the best of that week with visits and family gatherings etc...

 Part of the welcome home group of family and friends.

The Vore fam (plus Joseph's girlfriend Kate) back together again.  Benjamin left for the MTC and then to serve his mission in Little Rock Arkansas, Spanish speaking five days after Erin returned home.

Ang and Chris had a barbecue and swim the next day so everyone could see Erin and say goodbye to Benja.  We were invited over to meet Christian before the gathering that evening.  Bryn had a little sore throat, so she decided it was best not expose him to anything.  He was so tiny and sweet.

   That's a lot of love in one hot tub!  (lft-rt Starting with those in the hot tub: Charity, Aubrey, Lauron, Tanner, Parker holding Ella, Hudson, Charlotte and Erin.  Sitting outside the tub: Brinley, Joseph, Kate Arbetelli, and Morgan Hill)

Welcome home Erin Meisje!

Our Somewhat Stressful First Day of School

Monday was stressful.  I am not going to lie.  Tanner was angry and worried because his football practice started at 6:15 am and seminary, which started at 6:00 am, would interfere.  (Seminary is a four year scripture study class that takes place during the High School years.)  We felt badly for him, but of course we want seminary to be the priority.  It was his first day in High School and I didn't want him to get chewed out by the coaches.  It made for a rough start.

I set my alarm for 5:35 so I could see the boys before seminary.  I especially wanted to give Tanner a hug because he was going straight from seminary to football and school.  I didn't get much love.  Such is the life of a mom of teens sometimes...especially so early in the morning.  

And Tanner gave his usual glare for pictures. 😂 I didn't even try to coerce a smile.  Doesn't he look styling though?  I do love this boy.

This was Park's before seminary picture.  He was much more cooperative once he came home between seminary and school.   It also helped that he had been up for more than 5 minutes.

This is more like it!  Park raising the roof.

Aubrey brought her curling wand to do her hair at Lauron's on Sunday night.  She was worried about it being wavy enough.  La talked her into letting her curl it and bobby pin each curl.  

When Aub took her hair out on Monday morning she was horrified.  She had tight, tight ringlets.  She tried to brush it out and was not happy with the results.  I mentioned I thought it looked cute and she growled through gritted teeth, "Ya, for 80s day maybe!"  

She spent the next 30 minutes, with tears streaming down her face,  re-curling her hair.  We made it to the last 10 minutes of her friend breakfast...and she didn't get to eat.  I'm telling you, it was stressful sending my kids off for hours and hours hoping their days were getting better and not worse.

Jencee T. and Aubrey

After school I found both Tanner and Aubrey were both on their reading their "summer reading" books.  They looked so relaxed.  I was impressed that I didn't have to say a word.  They have a few more chapters to go.

All three kids had a great first day of school....WHEW!!!  Tanner, who usually is silent the first few days of a new year, had lots to say at about his first day at Permian.  He has friends in most of his classes and seemed positive about maneuvering in a school of 4000+ students.  Park was jubilant about his schedule and the teachers he has.  He feels it will be a breeze.  (Not necessarily what I wanted to hear.)  Aubrey came home happy and had moved on from her bad hair day.  I was so glad their first days went well.