Repelling

Our Bishop likes to go caving, rock climbing, hiking, camping, and repelling and I am so glad.  These are not easy things to do when you live in West Texas.  It's flat and dry here....very, very flat and dry.  One joke that circulates is: if you visit West Texas you can stand on a tuna fish can and see for two miles in every direction.  

I appreciate that he is willing to travel a minimum of two plus hours to give the youth opportunities that don't come readily here.  I also love that in the middle of this pandemic, he found a way for the young men and a couple of the young women to have an activity.  Aubrey was able to join because his daughter Trinity was going on the trip.  The group took more cars and had more leaders than usual to make social distancing easier. 

Tan Man

Aubrey was terrified before the trip.  She was really having second thoughts about going, but I kind of pushed her for Trinity's sake.  I  didn't think it was really fair to back out at the last minute and leave Trinity friendless.   She didn't sleep much the night before because she was so scared.

I did speak to Parker privately about encouraging Aub and helping her be less scared.  I was really surprised by his reaction however.  When I first mentioned how scared Aubrey was, he got this huge grin and started gleefully laughing.  He seriously had the little twinkle in his eye that I remember from his mischievous childhood.

I think he just saw this perfect opportunity to tease his little sister mercilessly.  I was a little shocked and tried to reign him in.  He just kept snickering and saying, "it's going to be really hard [not to tease her] Mom."  

I finally gave him the example to picture how he might treat a girl he wanted to date.  I encouraged him to imagine how he would treat her if she was scared about repelling.  He nodded solemnly, cracked up, nodded again and promised to try.  Since it didn't go over great with Parker, I decided not to talk with Tanner before the big adventure and hope for the best.

Tanner and Parker

Aubrey

All three of the kids said the first time down was intimidating and scary.  After that though, they had a blast.

Tanner

Aubrey

Later Aubrey confided, "Mom, it's nice to know the boys actually care.  When I was repelling for the first time, Parker was cheering me on by saying "You can do this!  You are doing great."  And one time when we were hiking up the mountain, I slipped, and Tanner turned around really fast to catch me if needed.  Then he kept turning around to check on me the rest of the way."  

BLESS those brothers.  It really made my heart swell as well knowing they "secretly" care for their little sister.

Parker

Tanner

Thanks youth leaders for taking time away from your families and Saturday needs to provide this awesome opportunity.  You are appreciated.

A Week Long Bash

We had a party week.  Our good friends the Stombergs and the Browns both came to town.  The both moved away last summer.  Gavin Brown was one of Tanner's best friends and Londyn Brown was one of Aubrey's besties.  The moms are both Amazing women and good friends of mine.  We've missed these two families.

We had sleepovers and early morning pickle ball gatherings.  We swam.  We did lunches and dinners and late night volleyball get togethers.  

Gavin and Tanner played played basketball and Xbox.  Aubrey, Londyn, Callie, Cara and Lauron made up dances and cheers, videoed commercials and laughed and talked.

I enjoyed hanging out with Amberly and April and Britney and Emily and sometimes Angelique and Natalia and Laurel joined in.  We had a happening week!

Sister Gwilliam with the Browns.  She was able to visit briefly join in visits a couple of different times this week.  (rt-lft; Londyn, Brinley, Amberly, Gavin and Jaxin.) 

Aubrey, Ella, Callie, Cara, Charlotte and Londyn (on the bed)

These cuties had a sleepover one night.  Londyn and Lauron came over to sleep over another couples of nights as well.  (Besides with cousins, Brian and I have not allowed our children have sleepovers,  so this was a real treat.)

Their commercials where hilarious.  One was from a dating app and how they all found true love from using the app.  I think Aubrey was the man, and it was so cute watching these young girls spout off the true love awaits lines.  April came to pick the girls up and had to watch.  Aubrey won't send the videos to me...darn girl. I told her I wasn't going to post them.  I just want to have at least one of  them to save.

They put together a legit cheer dance routine which included several stunts.  

Here's the mom group one day watching the swimmers.  Lt-rt: Gram Vore, me, Edyn B, April S, Amberly B, Britney B, Emily M

Aub, Ella, Londyn and Callie

The boys aren't as interested/cooperative with photos.  Although they hung out multiple times this past week, I think these are the only two pictures I took.  :/

Our Dominion game came out at midnight when I told them it was time to get off of electronics.  Somehow they survived.

We had the Browns over for dinner on Thursday night.  It was fun for me to be able to visit on a more personal level with Amberly.

One night several families ended up at the Birds for volleyball, pickleball, and hanging out.  We all love the Browns and the Strombergs and wanted to spend time with them while they were here.  So much for social distancing...luckily Brit has a huge backyard.  (lft-rt: Mike Winfrey, Edyn B, Chris Vore, David King, David Martin, April, Natalia Winfrey, me, Kate M, Amberly, Laurel King, Kyla McKown and Emily.

Our last gathering was a swim party at the Vores...you know you can't go wrong with the white mini van convention!

David Martin tossed this large zucchini in the pool.  It was hilarious because all of the kids from 4-15 played with it.  They put sunscreen and goggles on it.  The zucchini floated, and Char used it as a foot rest.  The big boys dunked it in the basketball goal.  Ella cried over it.  

By the end of the week, Aubrey was walking around like a zombie.  She was tired and super dramatic if I asked her to take out the trash or help around the house.  Also, with Tanner, Aubrey and I all spending more time hanging out, our house mess was piling up.  I guess it was good our friends' visits only lasted a week so we could re-establish a home routine.  

We had a fabulous time together.  I sure hope the Browns and the Strombergs will be able to come visit again next summer.

Home MTC

Home MTC is THE BEST.  I am so grateful we get to share in Brinley's missionary training experience.   I love getting to hear a little bit about how she is feeling about her classes and workshops everyday.  

Her companion, Sister Hyatt who is on the left, will also being going to Boise.

Brinley's schedule is pretty intense, but she comes out of her room on brief breaks just glowing.  She is soaking in all of the gospel centered training and loving it.  She will grab an apple, refill her water bottle and head back in for more Zoom classes.  Here is her basic daily schedule:  

6:30 - wake up, pray, exercise for 30 minutes, get ready for the day

8:00 - personal study of the scriptures

9:00 - get on Zoom with my assigned companion, share personal study insights, read scriptures     together, plan for future teaching appointments, etc.

10:30-1:30 - class with my District (a group of other missionaries I’m learning with)

1:30 - lunch, play the piano, spend time with family, etc. 

3:30-6:30 - afternoon class with the District

6:30 - dinner

7:30 - some scheduled workshops or devotionals, family time

9:00 - get ready for bed, journal writing etc..

10:30 - lights out

She has a preparation day (p-day) on Saturday and Sunday is set aside for church, Come Follow Me, family time etc...

She has been in the MTC for eight days now, and we have been able to squeeze in two short evening walks.  She will fill me in on some of her classes or funny things that happened with her district.  

Another perk of home MTC is being with her when fun packages arrive in the mail or on the doorstep for her.  This was a package from her roommate Kierstin.  She gathered 70+ "Open When" letters for Brinley.  She asked friends and family to write them and include a scripture, hymn or conference talk to go with their topic.  A few of the topics were: "open when you are set apart," "open when you've had a rough day," "open when you miss your dad" etc....  I know she will feel so loved and uplifted as she reads these letters throughout her mission.

This package was left on the front porch this morning.  A cute family in Midland who has a son starting his mission next week dropped it by.  How awesome is that?  Thanks Grays!

I took these pictures during her lunch break one day.  I love that we get to get our hugs in before she is away for the next 18 months.  Can you see her gospel glow?

As mentioned, Sundays allow for lots of family time.  In addition to church, were she gave her farewell talk, we played a few games and watched Saturday Warriors.   She was also able to attend our Sunday night family gathering.  Right before our extended family gathering, she baked cookies.  She wanted to visit a friend, Brother Olvera, from our ward who has been on her mind recently.

Brother Olvera is a sweet man from church who is too sick to attend.  His wife was Brinley's Primary teacher when she was nine, and Brinley loved her so much.  The Olveras were new members of only a couple of years when Sister Olvera unexpectedly passed away.

This framed essay hangs in his house.  Brinley wrote it when she was in 3rd grade.  It mentions many ways in which his wife, Bryn’s church teacher, touched her life.

We were going to visit at the door, but he insisted that we come inside.  I felt like I was back on my mission serving with my favorite companion.   Brother Olvera talked non-stop for most of the visit.  We were both so glad we took the time to go over.  

Isn't the home MTC amazing?  

It really has been a blessing, and I hope every parent who has a missionary gets this unique opportunity.  I will definitely need to add this to my "blessings from Corona virus" list.

Here are a last few pictures. Sister Gwilliam serving at our Relief Society drive thru ice cream social.  The activity was on her p-day, and I really appreciated her help.  I think she had a lot of fun seeing ward members while doing some service.  

One of her teachers raved about peanut butter hot dogs...so she tried it...crazy girl.  

Here she is wrapping up her night by writing in her journal.  

She has loved her MTC experience so far and so have we.  One week down and two more to go.

The Energizer Bunny

Tanner's mostly self imposed schedule amazes me.  It differs a little from day to day but here is a glimpse of one day last week.

8:30-10:30 a.m. worked out with his high school basketball team 

11-2 p.m. mowed four lawns in 104° heat and did his morning chores at home

3-5 p.m. b-ball shooting/drills outside on the asphalt in the 108° heat

At 5:00 p.m. I took pity on him.  I was going to run some errands near the church and offered to drop him off so he could practice indoors.  Once we got there, however, someone was in the gym, so we went through the Chic Fil A drive thru instead.

7-10:30 p.m. It's still over 100° outside, and he finished the evening doing basketball shooting and dribbling drills.  

How is that for: 

        Energy

            Dedication

                Drive

                    Determination

Definitely impressive in my book.

Before we saint him, however, there is this.  As we were eating our Chic Fil A in the parking lot, having a great little conversation, he nonchalantly turned to me and said, "I'm going to win the lottery one day, and then I'm going to use my winnings to put you in a nursing home early."   

The turkey boy.  

I love him anyway.

Sleepover Time

Aubrey and Lauron were able to spend the night w/ Gram and Gramp last week and do all of the fun things they do over there.  They played games, used the massage chair, played the piano, did the polar bear early morning jump in the pool challenge, had a yummy breakfast and just enjoyed spending two on two time with Gram and Grandpa.

Thanks for creating these fun memories Gram and Grandpa!

We Have a Missionary

It's official!  Brinley was set apart a week ago on Tuesday, July 14th.  She is doing her MTC (Missionary Training Center) experience from home, via Zoom.  

I love the state of Idaho more than ever already.  I can't wait for all of the opportunities Brinley will have to serve, learn and grow there.

Bryn with our wonderful family mission flag display.  Grandpa Gwilliam made me this for Christmas one year because I loved the one at his house so much.  We have mission flags representing the missions our children's cousins, grandparents and parents served in.  We could add their uncles' flags, but I want to leave plenty of spaces for the 18+ cousins they have on both sides.

The Gwilliam fam.  We sure love our girl! Brian, Aubrey (13), Parker (17), Tanner (15), and Erin (me).

Adam (Bryn's cousin) with Lincoln, Brinley, Megan with Christian

Gram and Grandpa Vore  They were cute and brought over cake and ice cream to share after the setting apart.  (This Corona thing is the pits.  We missed having Grandma and Grandpa Gwilliam here for this special week.)

Our good bishop and his daughter.  Bishop Matthew Ormsby and Trinity  When our wards split it decimated our Young Women's program.  Brinley and Trinity were the two active girls.  We had a couple of more that were hit and miss.  Brinley was a Laurel (16 years old) and Trinity was a Beehive (12 years old).  They took good care of each other.

The Bird cousins and their parents.  Back row: Adam, Brit, Brinley, Braddock  Front row: Hudson, Ella and Char

Vore cousins!  President Vore (aka Uncle Chris), Charity, Angelique, Bryn and Lauron.  It was nice of them to come our way to do the setting apart.

I served a mission to the Arcadia California mission back in the day.  I am so grateful for that opportunity, and it makes me especially excited for all Brinley has to look forward to the next 18 months.  Missions are tough.  They are also rewarding and life changing on so many levels.  

My dad asked Chris and I the other day if we could have only served a mission or gone to college, which would we have chosen.  We both said we would have chosen the mission.  It's a life lesson that lays a foundation for life: a foundation of the gospel, of relationships, or serving, of trials, of love, of heartbreak, of families, of blessings, of scriptures, of callings, of prayer, of miracles, working hard and so much more.

President Vore speaking to the group about her calling.  (The group was our family and our bishop and his daughter.)  Because she has been set apart, we are now supposed to refer to her as Sister Gwilliam.  Aubrey is definitely doing the best in that area.  It's tough to remember.

Enjoying visiting and the cake afterward.  The boys also got a little ping pong in with the bishop.  Apparently Bishop puts a mean spin on the ball.  

Before they left, Ella and Char came up and said, "Goodbye Sister Gwilliam" and gave her a big hug.  

Isn't she adorable? She just glows, and I love her so much.  Good luck Sister Gwilliam.