A Caveat (did I spell that right?)

I will add that I'm sure Kara now counts Skyler as her greatest, greatest gift, but it is lovely to see sisters who love each other, support one another, spend as much time as possible together, and are so hilarious as a group. Kara and Skyler are embarking on a great adventure and we're all planning to come along.

Kara's Tribute to Her Sisters

A few months ago, Kara wrote a wonderful essay about me (made me cry...but they were happy tears). And now, she has written a beautiful tribute to her sisters. I'm just so proud of all of them and it's a joy to see how well they get along and how much they love each other. We are a blessed, blessed family (even though the girls do admit that their collective IQ drops significantly when they are all together due to the silliness factor). Because of their wonderfulness, and with Kara's permission, I include here her thoughts about Julie and Lauren. I will also attempt to include a lovely photo of my three wondrous daughters.

The Greatest Gift

What is the greatest gift you have ever been given?

I've been thinking about the best gift I've been given a lot lately.

Now, just so no one thinks I'm a heathen, yes the Atonement would have to be number one along with the truth of the gospel and the gift of the Holy Ghost, but with that disclaimer aside, there is something else in my life that could never ever be replaced by anything or anyone else. And maybe this gift will change someday when I have kids or something, but I kind of doubt it because it has shaped so much of who I am.

I am incomplete without this gift. I would be a entirely different person had I never been blessed by it. And I'm extremely grateful to those who made this gift possible which must include both Divinity and my parents.

The Greatest Gift I have ever received in my life is actually two amazing gifts. My sisters.

I've been missing them a lot lately, and it really is hard to be so far away from them.

So, Julie & Lauren, you are my favorite people. I am most me when I'm with you. I suppose our siblings could have been anyone. But I can't imagine what my life would be like if we didn't have each other.

We haven't all lived in the same house now for about 12 years, and it will probably be about 50 more until we're little old ladies, wearing matching outfits and wide-brimmed hats sipping lemonade on our big porch (probably with binoculars close by for bird watching), but won't life be a fun adventure? People say they can't wait to grow old with their spouse, but I can't wait to grow old with my sisters. We'll be as crazy as those who came before us and I don't give a hoot. We'll have earned that right.

Someday, I'm sure we'll bury one another. But we know we'll see each other again, because no matter where life takes us, we're stuck together:) And it won't be sad because our lives will have been full, because we have each other and many others to love. Plus we'll have hilarious stories to share so people will remember what we were like when we could still touch our toes. And at the awesome party we'll have (because we'll celebrate the life each of us had, not mourn that one has started a new journey) Lauren will show off her awesome moves and say "In my day we danced like this."

I love you. Both of you, an insurmountable sum.

My sisters are the Greatest Gift I've ever gotten.

We're Adding Another Boy!

The wonderful news of the past week is that Kara is engaged to the terrific Skyler Thiot. They are planning to be married December 30 in the Dallas Temple and we are all totally thrilled. He is such a good man and treats her like she is a queen. I so appreciate his constant care--especially during school last year when she was traveling all over Utah working on new stories. He was right there with her much of the time, watching over her and making sure she was safe. Mom's are endlessly thankful for good men like Skyler. With my minimal computer skills, I will try to add some pictures of the happy couple and later I will add details about the trip Michael and I took to Salt Lake City/Provo in early July and the fun times we had with Kara and Skyler. First, here are the pictures.