More of July

July 2023

So much in July....quick run through since it is now the middle of October, and I am just trying to catch up.  

First day at church with our Parker Bryce.  (Aub got home from her Taylor Swift vacation trip later that evening.)

Kaide loved Parker right away.  He would reach for him and want him to hold him often.  Parker would pick him up and ask "which way?" and wait for Kaide to reach out his arm in a direction.  Then he would walk down the hall to the next option and ask "which way."  It was pretty cute and three months later Kaide is pretty sure he gets to direct anyone who is holding him.  (I think I have heard Tanner grumble a little that Parker ruined it for the rest of us because now he is pretty sure everyone should pick him up and go in whatever direction he points.)

Parker and Kaide

Our Brinley Kate is home too, for a quick week, which has been awesome!

Parker just cried when he saw Gram again.  When he left on his mission, she was doing well.  She had to move slower, and she had broken her knee cap earlier in the year; but overall she was doing pretty great.  So seeing her huge decline was really hard.

The day Parker got home, July 15th, was Grandpa's 75 b-day!  We stopped by the next day, on Sunday afternoon, to visit.

Gram loves when Kaide comes over.  

Gram, Bryn and Kaide

Kaide's 1st birthday was the day after Parker got home, July 16th.  It was fun to have lots of celebrations.  We all love this little guy SO much.  He is cute and adorable and happy and smart and so loved!

We got him a xylophone and a Little People fire truck and a couple of other little things that I can't remember because they are not pictured!

Sunday night at the Birds.  

Tanner and Erin had a one year old b-day party for Kaide.  It was happening!   

Lots of Erin's friends came, Tanner's bosses and their families, and lots of family from both sides.  Kaide is SET with clothes, books and toys for the next year of his life.  

I think having a big party for a one-year-old might be a Hispanic tradition.  I still feel badly for not attending a b-day party for my friend's one year old when we lived in Provo.  Brian and I received the invite and thought, "What?  A birthday party for a baby?"  and we didn't give it another thought.  The day after the party, Mary, my neighbor friend from Mexico was so sad that we didn't go.  I felt horrible.

Back to celebrating our one-year-old grandbaby....

It was really fun celebrating Kaide Tanner at Erin's house with friends, family, swimming, food and fun.

His first taste of sugar...he was a fan!  

The cute family.  One month until these guys get married, settle into their own apartment. and start college.

Parker feeding Kaide watermelon.

My brother Chris with two of his grandkids (Lincoln and Christian).  Two of the Bird cousins: Ella and Hudson (holding Kaide) plus Bryn and Aub

Park was able to get together with some of his group before we left for the lake house on Tuesday morning.  

We left the lake house on Saturday, a day early, since Parker's homecoming talk was the next day at noon.  We knew about a really fun surprise, but he had no idea.  The Newtons, a couple he worked with in the office, was flying to Odessa for his homecoming talk.  How sweet is that?!?  They didn't want to interrupt family time or be a bother in any way.  They said they knew family might be coming into town etc... What they didn't realize is they were the excitement!  Most of my family lives here, and our out of town family of both sides were able to join via Zoom.   We were touched that this sweet couple wanted to fly to the middle of nowhere to support Elder Gwilliam.

We made arrangements for them to come over before church for the surprise and after church for dinner.  I asked Parker if he would mind having his talk prepared well ahead of time so he could help me take care of Gram on Sunday morning.  

So he was sitting on the couch reviewing his talk when the doorbell rang.  I was "busy" in the kitchen and asked him to answer.  He protested a bit but went to the front door to see "Elder and Sister Newton" standing on the other side!  Soooooo fun!!!!  He was definitely surprised.

Clay and Kathy Newton

They were awesome.  They were easy to talk to, and lots of fun.  Parker served as an office elder for 6 months, and that is when he really got to know them. It was interesting to listen to Parker and the Newtons visit about their mission experiences.  After church and dinner, we invited them to join us for our Sunday night gathering and they did.  I especially love them because they so obviously love my boy.

A family picture with the whole group!  

He made his bed just like this every day he was home.💕

Parker.  He has been a lot quieter since coming home.  There is a calmness about him.  He has changed, and he is probably still adjusting to life off the mission and back in the states.  I can tell he is making an effort to think before he speaks.  Growing up, he was often "stirring the pot" within the family ...kind of poking and picking on us to get a reaction.  In his homecoming talk, he mentioned how contention is not of God, and we should strive to be peacemakers in our families.  

One night we were on a late night walk and I brought up a gospel question I had been pondering.  He had answers.  When we got home, he excitedly took me from one scriptural reference to the next.  It was helpful and impressive.  

I'm grateful for the mission opportunity God provides for the youth of the church and very grateful Parker was willing to take that leap of faith, make the sacrifice and serve.  I know he has blessed many lives.  I also know, because God is so good, Parker's life has been blessed even more.  His mission opportunity will be a great foundation for home, church, and work in the years to come.