The refiner's fire.

I am watching BYU this morning and I don't know why this is hitting me so hard. Is it that I have so many friends and relatives who are going through this or is it that God is making me ready for for our family Crucible. Either way I am struck by the utmost spiritual awe that I have for you. I can not in the depth of my imagination understand the struggles I see you go through and the strength that somehow comes out of those depths. There seems to be no short of miracles that come into your lives. I know that the refiner is polishing you to a high shine and that your time here all ready shines.

I love you all and you mean the world to me. If the time comes for my crucible I WILL be turn to you for direction love and understanding.

oh so sweet

yesterday and today marked the first days of school for my kids. I also marked the back to school father's blessings.

I love this that each of my children can ask their dad to help guide them as they go back to school. Yesterday was Christine and Sean's turn to have their blessing and this morning was the other school kids.

Well when the last of the school kids had gotten done with the blessing. Kyla climbed up into the chair and folded her arms. Her daddy asked her if she wanted a blessing and she nodded. It was so sweet, and i was in tears. She us 2 really I know she didn't understand most of the blessing. but I know that her father in heaven was really blessing her and that he could tell her heart what it needed to know. I am so glad she had that example from her older siblings and that she followed through with it. I am also glad that her Daddy didn't dismiss her as just wanting what the others had even though that is more than likely what she wanted.

He then gave one to Brianne and mom, and boy did "I" need it. the priesthood is the most wonderful thing to have in our home.

A return to norman. + a shumway first.

this week marks the end of summer for the shumway family. My kids will all be back in school starting on Wednesday. Tyler's birthday marks the beginning of school and the end of his life (his words not mine). I will have 2 in elementary and 2 in middle school and one new freshman this year. I can't believe my oldest is that old all ready.

I though. this year I would make Ty's bday a bit better for him though, and just couldn't see a way of doing that until some friends helped me out. They wanted to see if we could get tickets to the sky sox ( local feeder league for the Rockies) and their father worked as security so we said sure give it a go, asked which day we wanted to go so I picked the day closest to my son's (who btw has not had great bdys for the last couple of years with grandma dieing and such) bday and thought what a great bday gift this will be for him. well they came back and said that he couldn't get that many seats together but they had offered the "box" to us. Can we say WOW. The ''box" is for VIPs ya know big screen and air conditioning for the game. I thought even better. Will they let us do the cake thing since it is he bday. They asked and then GAVE us a budget of 200 for food. basically I just got a catered party for my son's bday for NOTHING. didn't cost me a dime. My dh will be out of town so I asked if his best buddy could come and NP and all is set. Finally my son's bday will NOT be one of sorrow. I hope he remembers this for a long time. I know I will.


In other news Christine went to a seminary open house this evening. This is a first for us though she always will be the one with all the firsts. We found out who she will have for seminary and what time it starts ( tooo early) the rules and the whole shebang. I am so excited for her. I have watched her grow and try to be a better person and try helping this family become better as well and I think this is just one more step on that road. Confession time I never did finish seminary, I don't know if it was my parents or just the fact that I was too rebellious but I pray everyday that my kids are better than I was. So far it is working, I worry that it won't always be that way though. I am so glad that they have great leaders at church helping me to look out for them and keep them safe. I still am in shock that in 4 very short years I will have a senior and will be trying very hard not to cry through her entire last year of school.

When did I get so old.