Summer 2025 as empty nesters!

So this summer marked an important milestone.  Sage was off on her mission, Ty and Ashley were in Seattle for his internship with Paccar, and Connor was back in Florida doing his internship with AG Reserves. The nest is feeling empty.  It was bittersweet.  Here are a few highlights...

A hike up Silver Lake in American Fork Canyon: We live in this beautiful place yet so much of it we have yet to explore.  So I've been determined to slowly change that. When researching local hikes I came across this one which said it was "easy to moderate" which sounded perfect since it had been a while since we'd even been on a hike and that was probably just hiking the "Y".  It was 4 1/2 miles long round trip so took several hours. I guess we hadn't been hiking enough because it definitely felt more like a moderate than easy hike but with all the kids and dogs making their way up the trail I was determined we would make it too.  While I enjoy hiking quite a bit I know it's something Jack tolerates so I was thankful he stuck with it to the end.

Nova leading the way...

We made it!

Next up was the Lehi Round Up Rodeo which is quickly becoming a tradition for Jack who went two years in a row without us while he was working and living in Utah before we had relocated.  Thanks to our friends from Snoqualmie the Atkinson's who book the tickets months in advance, it's become a summer favorite!

The day the nation celebrates Dad! Happy 4th of July!  And happy 82nd birthday to the man we all know and love!  What a blessing it is to be able to celebrate another birthday with dad.  It's been over a decade that he's been fighting his cancer and the fight continues.  Here's to another decade...

How happy Nova was to have a new friend care of Gary and Kelly.  Before long Cooper may be bigger than Nova but for now Nova likes to feel like the big guy on campus...

Florida fireworks across the lake are getting some tough competition from the amazing display we see off our balcony here in Heber City, Utah!  Pretty impressive and boy, there seems to be no shortage of people lighting up the sky from noon until midnight!

Another fun activity was joining some friends from our ward on a group Razor trip back behind our home.  It's so amazing all the beauty that exists literally in our backyard. It was pretty cool to come across all of these sheep and then to see the one black sheep amongst all the white ones.

Almost Heaven, West Virginia...

Since Sage was a junior in high school she has wanted to serve a mission! And while most parents are thrilled to hear their kids want to serve missions, there was a side of Jack and I that was equally ok with her sticking with her studies instead of going on one.  The last thing I wanted was for her to feel obligated to go because everyone else in the family had served one.  But anyone that knows Sage knows she's not easily talked into or out of anything so before I knew it, her papers were in and what felt like less than a week later, her call was on the missionary portal!  We were really happy for her and it's no secret I was really happy to have her serve in the states so Charleston, West Virginia, here she comes!!! Take good care of my baby!!!

Oh, the anticipation...  So fun watching all her friends gather in the dorm lounge!

Photos with BFFs Carly and Katelyn, her cousin Halle and Brent!

 

                                                   

Here are Sage's closest friends from her freshman year that all decided to serve missions  How cute are they!  Somehow I got nominated to take their photos...so I did my best.  I love how she found such a great group of friends to start off her college experience with.

Finally after a grueling second semester of her freshman year behind her, it was time for Sage's home MTC experience to begin, she had her farewell talk and open house and away she went.  We have no doubt she will be an amazing missionary and we are so proud of her for having a true desire to serve and spend this time lighting the world with her beautiful spirit. Once again I didn't get many photos from her open house.

Home MTC...

Some of many cute friends, family and supporters that made it out to her farewell/open house.

Of course we got in in one small hike the day before her departure to the Provo MTC.  

And before we knew it, it was time for good byes... The jury is out on who she will miss more....Jack and I or Nova...

Good bye sweet girl.  We will see you soon.  xo