double dip temple trip

 It has paid off to be Aunt Kelly the last couple weeks.  Last week Livi Lundberg invited me to attend her live temple endowment.  On Saturday Tony and I attended the sealing of Tony and Kelsey Lundberg.  It was a sweet experience both times and well worth the drive to the beautiful Payson temple.  I felt grateful during the sealing yesterday to have one more covenant-organized/priesthood-empowered couple on the earth.  During Livi's endowment session I gained insight about representing the Savior as I stood on Tony's right hand and wore the symbolic veil.  No other symbols or activities help me recenter on what matters, calm down about my worries, and look at the bigger picture than the temple.   

Friday Max told us he was going to SL with friends to stay at their uncle's house and go four wheeling.  My mom sensors were going off and I knew he was lying.  I asked him straight up whether he and his friends were renting a VRBO with no adults present.  He lied again.  When I called the phony number his friend answered and then hung up.   Game on.  I called the principal and got the parent's numbers of the other boys.  I called the parents got the address of the VRBO.  Then I asked Amy to pay a visit.  She didn't end up going in, but did a drive by and verified the safety of the situation.  Later the boys called to tell us how upset they were that we "stressed them out" and ruined their relaxing weekend.  Unbelievable.  I have one more year to fulfill my responsibility to parent, keep Max safe, and do everything I can to help him launch as a functional adult.  I can already tell he isn't going to let this be an easy one.   

Max stayed to work at Tyler and Chelsea's this week and I am feeling a tremendous sense of relief.  Sam finishes up school this week.  Eliza is working full time at the law office and enjoying every minute.  She quit the pool and is going full steam ahead to live in Seoul Korea for the Fall.  

Letter to Evan

Dear Evan/Elder Rippy,

A few weeks ago your Mom and sister (and cute Parynn) joined us on the houseboat on lake Powell.  I loved hearing your mom’s stories and perspective about being a missionary mom and about your experiences.  Because I did not get to serve and have not (yet) had a kid serve a mission, I love hearing the experiences of others.  Thank you for sending such amazing pictures.  Your herb garden pictures from the time of COVID were my favorite!  I’ve enjoyed reading about the people you have met, about your companions and your success learning the Portuguese language.   One of the things that I am beginning to understand is that missions are mostly work, with some fun and some spiritual experiences. I would love your advice on how I can best prepare to serve.  Here is what I’m doing so far:

1.   Learn not to judge people.  If I’m judgy, I will miss opportunities, make people feel             badly, and condemn myself.

2.   Study a foreign language 

3. Learn how to study with a companion, not just on my own.

4. Be OK with discomfort, like heat, homesickness and unfamiliar food

5. Get really good at hearing and following promptings of the Holy Ghost

I would love for you to add to my list.  Uncle Tony would be in a good position to be the mission Dr, and I could be the mission bossy-lady, because that is what I’m good at.  Sam (formerly Marcos) will graduate in 4 years, so that’s how much time we have to get ready.  

Next week we are headed up to WA for CSC.  I’m excited to ski, because it is not something I can not do in St George.  Even at Lake Powell we just surfed.  By the way, your sister Kate is getting darn good on the surf board!  I would show you pictures, but Tony dropped his phone in the bottom of the lake.  Here is a little update of our family, to get you ready for re-entry. :)

Uncle Tony:  really likes his new job at the VA in St George.  He has way fewer hours, holidays off and can spend lots of time playing racquetball and pickle ball.  He’s the Sunday school president in our ward and loves the hot weather.

Me:  I work at two elementary schools as a speech therapist.  I’ve met many nice friends and just got called to the nursery, my dream calling.  I don’t like the heat at all, but I just go to the pool a lot.  

Wilson:  has had the same job for 7 months as a plumber and is making good  money doing yucky work!  Wilson and his ex girlfriend are expecting a baby in December.  He still loves to play video games and drink beer :)

Cooper:  Engaged to be married to Jes next May.  Cooper works as a finance manager at a car dealership in Washington and hopes to own his own dealership some day.  He works long hours 6 days a week, but gets paid well and really enjoys what he does. Cooper and Jes own the world's dumbest dog, Brodie.  Brodie has it’s own emotional support animal, a cat named Mr Bean.  

Eliza:  Finished her first year of college at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and is majoring in forensic psychology.  Eliza is excited for a grand adventure in Seoul Korea and leaves Sept 1, if her passport and visa come through.  She and Kate both still like long fake nails!

Max:  Ready for his senior year, graduation and getting the heck out of here.  Max spends a lot of time rapping and at the gym.   He is working on bulking up by eating ridiculous amounts of eggs and meat.  Max has had some rough patches over the last few years, but is trying hard and learning a lot. 

I’m so proud of your choice to serve a mission.  It has been a blessing for our whole family.  I will be at a wedding in Pennsylvania on the weekend you get home, so I’m hoping you would consider a road trip down to St George sometime this Fall so we can spend some time with you.  We hope you will bring O when you come, because Tony and I cannot get enough of that kid.  He is so hilarious and he loves to play pickle ball with Tony.  

Sam:  Starting his freshman year of HS.  Sam loves basketball.  He wants to play on the high school team really badly, but is only 5’5” which means he has to work really hard.  He tries to put up 100 shots a day, even in this miserable heat.  Sam misses Reggie the most and has been begging for a dog.  He loves to drive me crazy with weird hair styles.

y 5’5” which means he has to work really hard.

I’ve been studying 3 Nephi all summer and this week I’m in Chap 22.  These Isaiah chapters are really growing on me as I begin to understand how Jesus Christ is the pivot point.  He takes us from barrenness to fruitfulness, alienation to reconciliation and insecurity to security. I love reading how he will “with great mercies and everlasting kindness, gather all his people.  I keep getting my butt kicked by life and parenting.  I have no idea how to solve all the problems and complexities that I see around me,  but am more and more convinced that Jesus Christ is the only way.  Thanks for getting this message to people who so desperately need relief.  We can’t wait to see you.  Love you!

Aunt Kelly

 He tries to put up 100 shots a day, even in this miserable heat.  Sam misses Reggie the most and has been begging for a dog.  He loves to drive me crazy with weird hair styles.

Dia de Amistad y Amor

 Gladys (Mi Maestra de Espanol) and Kelly celebrate with Pupusas y risa.

Wilson turns 25

 

10 years ago when we started meeting with professional counselors for advice on how to parent you, Dr Fielding told us that in his experience, many people's brains start to settle down at age 25.  For 10 years Dad and I have been reminding ourselves of this possibility, and although we usually say it tongue in cheek, there seems to be some validity!  This has been quite a year.  You started and ended a relationship with Wendy and became a father.  You have have kept a job for almost 7 months and have learned a ton about plumbing and become a valuable employee.  You bought your first car and recently purchased insurance and tires.  You even bought a bed and no longer sleep on an air mattress or the floor.  There are some kid things you still really enjoy like beer and video games and Dad and I hope you don't feel judged by us.  We all have our vices and weaknesses and are all just trying to do our best.  A few weeks ago Cooper and Jes came.  We had family pictures and a family meal for the first time in 3 years.  It felt like some healing is happening in our family, and you are a big part of that.   I am thankful to be your Mom and curious and excited to see what life has in store for you.  I love you.  

St John to St George

 We spent a wonderful week hosting our dear friends from St John, The Larsens plus a bonus weekend with Amy Kolb!  Our visit was pure joy with Val, Sophie, Cami, Joel and Celeste.  They flew into Vegas on Monday night so both Eliza and I drove to pick them up since we don't have a car big enough and Eliza was still dying to get a Korean corndog in Vegas.  That's when the trouble started.  I got a late start due to a counseling appointment and the highway was closed and included a looong detour around the city.  Once I had finally located the Larsens and grabbed dinner at Kanes (Eliza and her crew finally had their corndogs and boba tea) we headed toward home in the craziest lightning storm I've ever seen.  Just as we were coming out of the gorge at 11:30 at night, we saw an orange glow that I hoped were just the lights of the city, but turned out to be a fire.  We were rerouted all the way back to Mesquite and then all the way around through Santa Clara.  We didn't get home until 1:00 in the morning.  It was an adventure!

After a good sleep we spent Tuesday doing some shopping, exploring downtown and listening to Sam's constant giggle from Joel's jokes.  The girls loved Urban Renewal and even found Senior picture clothes (a miracle).  Max took everyone to Bahama Bucks and it was really nice to see him smile with old friends.  On Wednesday Val, Sophie and Cami got up early and happily caught the shuttle in Zion.  Celeste and I had a quiet day at home, swimming at the pool and learning to snorkel. Joel and Sam played basketball and laughed their heads off.  After work Tony took Joel and Sam mountain biking at Bear Claw Poppy and made it home just in time before a wonderful summer monsoon turned our street into a river.  It was a glorious show of thunder and lightening.  We also discovered that pizza and sushi actually go wonderfully together.  

On Thursday Val and I dropped the boys off to a movie and got lunch at Mixed Greens.  We explored the Kayenta art village and thrifted a bit.  Thursday night we had dinner at Pepes tacos and explored Snow Canyon and introduced Larsens to Creamies.  Tony, Sam, Joel and Sophie made it all the way to scout caves and had a great 5 mile hike.  The rest of us enjoyed dodging the red ants and avoiding the cactus.  It was a beautiful night.  

Later that night Amy came to help mitigate any post company depression.  

On Friday the fun ended all too soon and we loaded Larsens up and headed for Vegas.  This time the trip was seamless and I was back before dinner.  

Saturday Tony, Amy and I completed a triathalon sprint at the rec center.  It felt good!  I'd never put all three together before.  Tony spent the afternoon playing raquetball and Amy and I made Wilson a real Audrey birthday cake!  Wilson came over that evening and we all ordered CupBop Korean BBQ and had a really pleasant evening with our newly 25 year old son.    

Sunday we slept in, had church and hosted a few of Tony's raquetball friends for dinner.  It was a kind of painful event because they were single guys who spent the evening oogling Amy.  We were able to excuse ourselves and go to the airport where I continued to try to convince Amy to meet Andrew Borders, Jeff's recently divorced friend.  Imagine my shock when Amy sent me a picture of she and Andrew who had met in the SL airport completely randomly!  It was beyond Karma and my matchmaking wishes were in full force!

Yesterday I abandoned my to do list and invited my Spanish teacher to lunch.  I was so happy to discover that it was the Argentinian Day of Amistad y Amor.  We had a lovely afternoon eating pupusas and laughing.  I learned the best Spanish word ever: Diosidente-not an accident, not a coincidence, but a God thing.  I'm hoping to recognize more diosidente moments in my life.

Lake Powell Family trip 2021

 We have embraced the lake in a whole new way!  We've survived a week at Lake Powell in July!  The temperatures were a record high and the lake was at a record low, but the beauty and magic of Lake Powell is indescribable.  We stayed on the houseboat in the Marina because it was land-locked and I was surprised that it was actually very nice and in many ways less stressful.  The air-conditioning wasn't working well up front, but the bedrooms stayed cool so we all slept like the dead.  

Coop and Jes arrived Saturday night in Las Vegas.  Emotions were high, but we sent Eliza, Sam and Max to pick them up.  They came back full of Cane's fried chicken and RedBull soda laughing their heads off.   We sent Eliza and Sam to get us snow cones and sat around the table and laughed.  It was a happy beginning!  

 On Sunday Grandma and Grandpa Rippy came by to visit.  We had breakfast then my lovely friend Allison came to take family pictures for us.  It was really a miracle to have everyone together., especially Wilson.  We all went to church (Max, Coop and Jes' gift to mom) and Jes and Eliza helped me in the nursery.  After church we loaded the cars and were off to Powell.  The next few days are a blur of sun, sand and surfing.  We went up Navajo canyon and found a picnic beach, we swam in our favorite EBB bay and cliff jumped.  Coop brought matching swimsuits for the boys and spoiled them by handing them his credit card at every opportunity.  Jes spoiled Eliza at the gift shop with a Lake Powell tee shirt. and special girl attention.

  Tony and I loved just having time to talk to Coop and Jes and get to know them as adults.  It was fun to hear about Cooper's success at work, and Jes' graduate school dreams.  Jes said she had not swam in open water since she was 12 and she conquered her anxiety in Powell and let it go.  We loved sitting out on top watching the stars at night when in cooled a bit and had fun teaching Coop and Jes to play code names.  The beautiful blue water certainly healed me and I couldn't be in it enough.  Eliza left Tuesday night to return back to work and we said goodbye to Coop and Jes on Wednesday morning.  It seemed like the perfect amount of time and we left wanting more, not less.  

We had a day of recovery on Wedensday -mostly sleeping and swimming.  Sam did not feel confident to try surfing or wakeboarding this trip.  This means we have swung from the extreme parenting position of forcing our kids to do things in the water to totally abandoning any effort.  To be fair, we did take Sam out to surf, just the 3 of us, but it ended poorly.  It must be hard to be 14, the youngest, and not really sure where you fit in.  

On Thursday we were surprised and happy to welcome Chelsea, Kate and her friend Parynn!  The Lake is Kate's happiest place and it was a treat to have them with us.  We took everyone up the canyon again.  It was especially hot and choppy, but it's so quintessential for the Powell experience,  Max also had his friends Jackson, Carson and Ethan come on Thursday afternoon and they were well behaved and fun to have.  It was too hot to sleep up top, so they all slept in one bed head to foot.  Aunt Chelsea taught all the kids to play SkipBo and Tony taught them to play Screwie Louis.  It was fun to watch all the teenagers enjoying card games and not being on their phones!  I think Max especially enjoyed having Aunt Chelsea there, as she is a trusted adult for him and Tony and I were hopefully able to shower Kate with love and approval. 

Tony spent a lot of hours driving the boat and for the most part was patient and kind.  It wasn't exactly a relaxing week, but we agree that helps us anticipate our trip in October with our friends even more.   The saddest moment was when Tony dropped his phone in the lake-Sad because it was a brand new phone and because of the pictures we lost.  

We are blessed.  It was a gift that we had the resources to enjoy such a beautiful place and to be able to share it with others.  It is a gift that Tony and I can work together without the tension we used to have.  It is a gift to be able to heal the wounds that our family has had.  All of these gifts are only possible because of the Savior who created this amazing world, blesses us with the connecting power of a priesthood sealing, and facilitates healing through his Atonement.