The Seven of Us

Taylor hit a milestone last month:  Her Magic Day arrived.  The Magic Day was her passport to freedom, aka Dating and Driving.  For a girl who's felt sixteen since she was half that age, this was a big deal! Her friend Quincy purchased tickets to a rodeo months in advance. She planned her whole day around going to the rodeo with several kids from Fort Morgn. First, she showered and was off to take her driver's test in Holyoke.  I was a little worried things weren't going well when it took longer than expected, but she passed her test. She came home long enough for me to call our insurance company and then left for Sterling, where her friends picked her up and whisked her off to Greeley.  I next saw her the following day (Jared went to get her--and our vehicle--late that night).  She still looked and felt like my kid, but I knew she felt different inside.  The Magic Day will do that to a girl.   I think the flowers were her fav...

It's no secret that kids grow up. Initially they're content with the simplest things.  They love their siblings unconditionally, Laugh spontaneously, And find joy in crazy, child-like pleasures. Then they get hormones. They get friends. They get busy. They morph. And one day they do this. ( Her prom date was Garrett Schafer, an old friend whose girlfriend had to go to her prom at another school that night.  They don't do many of the same activities, but they enjoyed their time together at prom. And I enjoyed knowing it was a "just friends" situtation.) They begin High School, get driver's permits, get jobs, play sports, start seminary, and their "but you said I could(s)" and eye rolls drive us crazy on a regular basis.  The good thing is, there are rays of sunshine which shine through the clouds and give even the most harried parents hope.  After prom, many of those rays came in the form of other's comme...

Taylor is twelve. When she reads this, she will remind me that she is "almost thirteen and I'll be driving in a year [NOT] and WHY can't I have a cell phone if I pay for my own plan"? All of the above will be said as written, using one breath, accelerating as she speaks, and ending with a plaintive smile. Taylor likes 6th grade and enjoyed being able to play volleyball and basketball this year. She has NOT enjoyed science (teacher issues). She's debating whether or not she wants to oversee our garden for a young women value project. Taylor loves to pose for pictures and is a big BYU/Jimmer Fredette fan.