My old iPad would randomly turn off whenever it wanted to, & I’d lose whatever I was typing unless it was in the cloud. At 1st, this was very irritating: typing is hard enough as it is, & to lose a huge text that I was typing was infuriating! But in time, I learned to type all my texts on the notes app. I made a folder called “finish texts too…” & it actually helped me with another problem I was having, where I’d forget to text people back! This was a welcome solution & it solved my issues for quite a while, but when I tried to copy & paste it into another app & it didn’t work, I again wanted a new iPad.
I thought getting a new iPad would solve all my issues. But it didn’t. My new iPad just has different quirks & is a new kind of annoying! HaHa! I realized that every iPad I have owned has something different to get used to, & some are easier to adapt to than others. There’s no “perfect iPad!” (as nice as it would be!)
People can be that way. We are all different, with different quirks to get used too.
On October 23rd the Bee Cave ward (12001 Bee Caves Rd.) will have its primary program at 10:30. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear the children’s testimonies through word & song & let them share what they have learned this year – all are invited! I was fortunate to assemble the program this year. I won’t lie – it stressed me out. But when I wrote the program last year, I learned that I like to involve the children in the process by asking them questions. So I did that again this year, & it was very uplifting to read their responses. If u would like to hear it, but can’t come, even though the sound quality will be better in person, it will be available on zoom:
Last month was a LOT of travel: 1st was a week in Utah for Jessie’s wedding, then almost 2 weeks in Europe (Italy & Switzerland – shout out to Guili, our foreign exchange student from a few years ago, who we got to see & spend some time with in both countries), & then (after 2 days at home), back to Utah for the 4th of July festivities Travel is not easy for me & involves a lot of anxieties, so it is good to be back to where I can be more independent & communicate & do more through Wi-Fi.
I’m a fairly healthy eater, but after all that travel, we didn’t really have fruits & veggies, & I wanted some variety, but that meant there was a lot more fresh food than I could eat, so I got an early birthday gift: a Vacuum Sealer by ZWILLING. Oh my gosh, I love it (the best part is that I CAN DO IT)! It keeps food fresh so much longer & helps decrease my anxiety to hurry & eat it before it goes bad. I make fun of my mother-in-law cuz she freezes EVERYTHING, but now I’m going to be the mother-in-law/grandma who uses her vacuum sealer for everything!
That said, my trip to Europe was beautiful & I loved being with family. I loved being with all 3 married children & their spouses, & with my grandbaby – what a wonderful stage of life! I love seeing them all so happy! I wish I could put a pause on life! Or put them in a vacuum sealer! HaHa Totally kidding!
One thing I’ve learned is that life is unpredictable! When I was my kids age, I had my life mapped out, & according to that plan, I’d either be teaching right now, or I would be serving a senior couples mission. But neither are possible now…which I could be sad about (& I was at first), but I have seen the hand of the Lord in my life, & He has made my life better than I could’ve imagined.
I was carried A LOT in all our travels (but the most in Italy), so my left ear got something like a rug burn, & my shoulders got sore (my muscles are pretty weak now). But by some miracle – seriously, it was a miracle – I ran across this medication called “Heal & Soothe” that I could try for free. It is basically a bunch of supplements, & seemed harmless to try, so I decided to get it. It said it was for arthritis, so I initially thought I’d see if my mom wanted to try it (since she has arthritis), but I noticed one of the ingredients is turmeric, which I use for my shoulder on a daily basis – my shoulder gets sore from over-use, & turmeric decreases any inflammation that causes pain.
When the medicine bottle came, the picture shows a sore shoulder, exactly where my shoulder gets sore! So, when my shoulder started to hurt after the wedding, I tried it & it helped! I swear that w/o it, my shoulders would be killing me right now! But it was manageable the whole time. Good thing too, cuz after almost 2 weeks in Italy & Switzerland, we went to Utah again!
Little miracles like this happen all the time. It’s a miracle that my husband stayed healthy & strong the whole time. It’s a miracle he took care of me the whole time (I’m not easy)! It’s a miracle that I can even go there!
I’m so grateful for small miracles, for my wonderful family, & for the ability to still see beautiful places in the world.
my youngest child, Sophia, got married in October, &
my middle daughter, Jessie, was married on Friday, June 3.
Here’s a picture with all my kids, their spouses, & my grand-baby, James.
Obviously, I can’t be there for them (the way I’d like to be), so one thing I’ve always hoped is that they marry into families where they feel comfortable receiving help, & feel as fortunate as I do to have married into such a family!
I’ve been so focused on my kids that I didn’t realize until now how comfortable I am with each of my kid’s MILs! It’s crazy! I feel so blessed to be so comfortable & to be friends with each of these women – women who are sharing their children & (future) grandchildren with me!
1. Sophia married Davis Wycherly in October in the Jordan River Temple (though it mostly just meant more travel – my awesome S-I-L, Margot-Mark’s “big” sister–by 1 year, was the most awesome wedding planner!)
2. I had my first primary program in October, & I have now been the primary president for a year. Being the primary president at church is crazy busy from September (when I finish writing the primary program) until January (when I’m finished organizing for the new year). But I love it! It makes me so happy to feel like I still have something to contribute!
3. We went on a cruise during thanksgiving. It was great if u are vaccinated & go w/o the kids. They have the non-vaccinated & vaccinated sections, so u can go w/o a mask sometimes. It was also very uncrowded.
4. Jessie just got engaged & will be married in June in the Timpanogus temple to Kyle Van Roosendaal. All 3 of my kids married within TWO years…crazy!
5. Zach, & his wife, Maddie, had my first grandbaby, James, in December, & they just moved to Texas! (Yes, I’m a grandma! I’m not a fan of the word “grandma” though … my mom is “grandma” & she’s really old! Haha – love u mom!)
Prior to my stroke, I was a “Pintrest mom”. I threw amazing birthday parties (I’d taken a cake decorating class so my cakes would be amazing, & I went all out, like making Superman shirts w/capes, or balloon light sabers), made file folder games (thanks to my Elementary Education background), etc.
After my stroke, I had a really hard time re-defining the word “mother”. If u know the enneagram, I’m a 3, & I define that word by what I do. All of my “best mom” identity was stripped away with my stroke. It was so tough for me, but Mark says my stroke made me a better mom…the kids didn’t care about all of that! they were happier just having me there to cover with stickers, watch a puppet show, or to play our improvised version of hide-&-go-seek!
I don’t think I learned from it though, cuz I’m facing the same issues as a grandma! I think I’m facing the “Pintrest grandma”. I seem to define that word by what I do, as well, & my OCD-personality only makes it worse, because I don’t “do” what I “think” I should do. To me, a grandma helps mom, possibly by take care of the kids, & does stuff like bake cookies. I do neither. So, I’m working on re-defining that word now. In the beginning last time, I felt so useless until I discovered unique ways to still be a mom. Hopefully I’ll learn faster this time! I’m sure it will help having him live closer!
Sorry I’ve been MIA. I’ve had a hard time setting aside time to write on my blog. In what little “free time” I have, I have been reading & learning about some stuff & I attempted to work some more on the book I wanted to write 17 years ago… but as u know, I’m the primary president (which I LOVE!) It’s so awesome to be able to serve, & I have witnessed many little miracles to make it possible!
I have two counselors & a secretary to help me (plus my “co-presidents”, Mark & my helper/friend, Angie, who serve as my arms & legs), but now the Primary program is coming up (it’s usually in the fall, & occurs once a year), & planning the program has kept me busy! (The primary program is a time for the kids to share about the things they’ve learned that year & to share their testimonies through word & song.)
That alone has kept me busy, but to add to the fun my youngest daughter (Sophie) just got married on October 9 in the South Jordan temple in Utah (shout-out to my awesome sister-in-law, Margot). But wait! The fun doesn’t stop there: my son’s wife is expecting grandbaby on Christmas. So I figure life will not be slowing down anytime soon!
So, thought I better share… about the wedding: I let Mark’s sister, Margot, & Sophie plan it – Margot had done my little brother, Mike’s, wedding, so I knew she’d know “my style,” & since it was Sophie’s day, I didn’t want to get in her way! It was supposed to rain all day, but after the sealing (which was amazing), the “heavens opened up” & I did not see even a drop of rain until they left! Amazing, right?!?! & I thought my reception was fancy, but hers blew mine out of the water! Only thing I did fancier: the dads & groomsmen wore tuxes instead of suits (Zach was best man, & bet he liked doing suits instead of tuxes! Maddie was a bridesmaid, & Jess was co-Maid of honor, & heir dresses were “less fancy” too, accommodating Maddie’s pregnant belly!)
I had a small win at Sophie’s wedding: I did my own make-up! The few times I’ve worn make-up, Sophie did it. Jessie & Maddie don’t do make-up, so at 1st, I didn’t know what to do. I knew others who would’ve done it for me if I asked, but I didn’t want them to! I am still in my toddler phase, where I want to do everything myself! So I had my eyebrows dyed, my eyelashes dyed & curled, & put on concealer, blush, & lipstick!
With all the stuff going on, I tend to push aside caring for myself, so I’m grateful hippotherapy (horse therapy) has started up again! It forces me to take care of me too, & now it is at the new covered arena, so I can go rain or shine! It makes me so happy when I go (still the best part of my week), & not only is the new arena AMAZING, but the windy road to get to it is therapy in itself! Ha!
I have a new horse, & new therapist who I LOVE! I have loved every horse therapist, because they all have a different focus so new muscles get targeted This therapist is making muscles tired that haven’t been tired in awhile – which is always a good sign! (Luckily, the arena is by a restaurant that sells a yummy spinach salad, so I can “get my Popeye on” – I get super tired, but eating spinach helps me regain enough strength to at least pick up my iPad & turn on an audio book! Haha)
I used to stand daily on a tilt-table for 30 min – 1 hour. When I got my standing w/c, I stood like 1-2 hours after every meal. This new standing chair, it’s dwindled to like 10-20 minutes a day (I can’t do as much when I stand now, & as I pointed out previously, when I’m busy, the 1st thing I “let go off” is me!). I keep trying to self-motivate to do more, but it wasn’t working. Then my new horse therapist brought it up…it has been brought up before (by my old therapist), but this time I gave myself “homework” 👏🏻. Yay – it’s the push I needed!
Anyway, I’d love to have u join us at the primary program! It just so happens that our primary program is the same weekend of my daughter’s wedding reception in Texas (the primary program is on the 31st – probably because I could guarantee I’d be home then-haha)
JENNY LYNN'S NEWS 