Jacob Says

This text came from my friend today. Jacob (now 12 years old) will hopefully shake his head and then laugh at himself when he's a grownup and sees it from a parent perspective someday.


"Jacob made me laugh so hard right before they decided to go to your house yesterday.

Jacob: i have to go home in about 50 minutes.

Gabe: why?

Jacob:...because... I'm bored."

Pandemic Begins

I am going up and down for sure being locked down for Covid! We find ourselves in a very similar situation as we were in when we lived in Saudi. Locked down and feeling very stuck. We are doing school at home again and church at home just as a family.

I had to search and shop in the times when I was allowed out of our Saudi compound for little cups we could use for the sacrament and a white table cloth. This week as we pulled the old familiar table cloth out and adjusted to the fact that this was not a short situation anymore my emotions were very near the surface. Last time did not go well at all. This time I am determined to do better for me, for my family and for God. Last time my friends could and did still come visit me because we were the only ones locked down by ExxonMobil. This time it's just us and God in our house.

Before church on Sunday I listened to a podcast by some friends that run Meridian Magazine. Their words really brought my spirit to a slow and thoughtful place of peace and I felt so humbled and loved by my Heavenly Father. When we had the sacrament shortly thereafter I was really able to connect to the Savior. I am in awe at his overwhelming love and concern for me. I know he loves each of us and watches out for individuals.

I saw a great video on youtube this week that helped put my thoughts a bit more concretely. It is portraying a dentist that doesn't believe in God because of all the war and pain in the world. His patient relates it to not believing in dentists. To be useful, both God and a dentist need to be utilized. It made perfect sense to me. God is always available when I am ready to let him in. https://youtu.be/kH_o5_hxyT8    It's awesome to think that God will help me as I come to him, even if it doesn't mean that I will always be kept from pain.

Jacob Wants Streetlights

10:30 at night in very rural Utah I made the kids turn off electronics and try to sleep as we drove. After a while he asks, "Where did the streetlights go?"

Brian says, "They moved to the city." Jacob is totally confused. Brian then explains that the government doesn't put lights along all the roads in the country.

"That's weird," was his only reply.

Comments like this remind me just how suburban my life is and what my kids just don't know or see.

Maddie Learns About Yeast

Mom, dad, Ben and Maddie are in the kitchen working. Maddie opens the fridge and sees the yeast which reminds her to ask a question.

"Oh yeah. The yeast says it's alive but I watched it the other day and it didn't move. So is it really alive or is it dead?"

Then we all proceed to have a hilarious and long discussion about yeast farting and how to activate it with warm water and sugar for it to nibble on. She is totally disgusted and we couldn't stop laughing.

I really enjoy the happy chatter we have in the home as the kids get older and continue to discover their world.

Jacob Sees a Desert

Driving through the dessert of west Texas Jacob asked, "What happened to all the bushes?"
"What do you mean?"
"Over there. They're all dead."
"Huh?"
"They are all brownish."
"Oh! We aren't on the coast anymore with tons of water and rain."

Ashlyn Says

Random question of the day. "Uh, mom, dad has dry hands and you have dry feet. What's going on with all this dryness?"
"I don't know. Why do you care?"
"It's just weird!!"
"It's your future."

Ashlyn and Karina Say

Conversation between Ashlyn and her best friend Karina
A: Do you want to marry BennyBoo?
K: No, but he is cute. Hahaha. He has a cute haircut. Haha.
A: I want to marry my dad because he is nice.