it's tough

I've been bawling on and off for weeks now. Today was the worst. I sobbed all the way home from the airport.

Don't know how I'm going to do this loving by distance thing. Not being able to have my loved ones near, to hold them, kiss them, it makes my heart hurt. The only thing that makes all this easier for me is knowing that in saying goodbye, ld and I are giving a great gift to the world out there. Wisconsin now claims a special little family.

I'm not thinking my situation is unique, lots of mothers deal with separation and I know that it's time that I put my big girl panties on and quit with all the weepiness. And I will. All in good time. For now, I worry that Faye will forget us. Please remember Faybee that somewhere in a far off state there is a Grandpa and Grandma who love and miss you so much.

And Emmer, we will miss cooing and gooing to you. Peek...

a.... Boo!

God be with you as we let you go knowing full well that He most certainly is. Remember,too:

the bish

They released ld yesterday. Me, too. A bit bittersweet but time to move on. As Ld and I have rotated in and out of callings through the years it’s become pretty obvious: it’s all been a privilege. The people, the lessons learned, the self-discovery, the problem solving, the miracles, it’s all been such an important part of our spiritual growth.

And for all our thinking that our service is such a sacrifice, in time and commitment and in, well, pain-in-the-buttness, the years have taught us that we can never put the Lord in our debt. Nope, not even come close. You always hope that in your callings or assignments you make a difference or you touch or really help someone, but the truth is service is really for the person giving it. It shapes and molds us more than it does the person on the receiving end, I think.

From where I sat in the audience yesterday I had a pretty good view of ld and when the Stake President released him from the pulpit, I saw a tear or two fall from his cheeks. He has grown and given so much. Ld you really are such a good, good man with a tender and committed heart. Well done, Bishop Lance. Well done.

So, a few tears were shed yesterday by both of us and now we look ahead. Don’t know where will land as far as new callings or opportunities but it doesn’t matter much, does it? All callings are the same in that the Lord just asks for a faithful heart and a willingness to just show up.

eggstravaganza recap

The tradition of donning silly hats and prancing around lives on.

It's not every family that can juxtapose the Hunger Games with Easter, but the LDA family is nothing short of creative.


Who needs an Easter bunny when you can have a horse? Next year Penee promises to resurrect the Gorilla costume. Because bunnies, chicks and lambies are so lame.


Yoda and Jackie-o showed up, too.


And let's see what have we got here? Hmm. A Jane Austen bonnet, some international bears, a ladybug, some grass and a Ascot/royal creation.


Seriously, folks. Grandma Ethel would be so proud.