The Marston Family

My goodness... this month just flew by in a heartbeat! It's been a little on the unpleasant side to have our home in chaos.... but we are excited for the day when it is all put back together. That day may be in a month or two? Or sooner, but it makes me think of this quote:

We have our bedrooms and a kitchen! So we are FINE. Especially with the LA fires that took so many homes, I am well aware of how small this inconvenience really is.

Without any furniture or TV, we have spent a lot of time outdoors together and in the master bedroom. It's been fun! At times... haha! And luckily, it was ski week so we enjoyed a lot of adventures and our annual ski trip to Brianhead for most of the week. This year, Kenzie and Anna's friend Afton joined us and we had a blast skiing, snowboarding, shopping, visiting Swig, golfing at Big Shots and exploring the local farmers market. Loved seeing Evelyn for a few days. She's been so busy with nursing school. She is loving it, but it keeps her occupied to say the least! So many tests! She did take a quick visit to Boise to see Lily for a weekend this month and enjoyed catching up with her and her family. Proud of Evelyn's dedication and hard work.

The high school soccer season has been wonderful in many ways and also painful in one major way. So great to see Grant start every game and enjoy his new friends and coach and the whole experience. Sad to watch all the varsity kids arrive - all Dane's buddies- and not be able to watch Dane out there on the field. Actually more painful than I thought it would be. Well... it's over now anyway. Grant had an amazing season with 7 goals, 5 assists and a great demonstration of leadership. We just attended his JV banquet last night where he was awarded MVP of the JV team! Considering there were only a couple freshmen on the team- it was quite an honor for him ! Everything about high school sports is fun- the games, the pasta parties, banquets, even the rainy season! Grant's last game was played in the POURING rain. Love that Grant's seminary teachers came out to support him more than once! He has the best teachers, coaches and seminary teachers on earth. They also took the class to the temple last weekend where Grant was able to baptize his buddy Carson for his friend Sammy's father- who passed away last year. It was SO SPECIAL for the entire class and especially Grant who is a newly ordained Priest. Proud of my awesome kiddo.

Lots of fun filled days this past month for Anna. Tennis is a big highlight with Afton and Adele each week. Along with dance classes, nightly ab workouts and journaling each and every day. She is a disciplined girl! And friends mean absolutely everything in the world to her. Anna had the best time ever at the Twin Peaks Valentine's dance at school. As previously mentioned, church dances are quite a trigger for this little girl at the moment (because she can't attend) ... so it was very joyful to get the girls together to prep for this dance! Along with school dances, you can find the crew of girls celebrating Galentines day, shopping at the mall, making tiktoks, eating out, planning picnics, and trying on make up at Sephora. They are always having a good time and it makes me smile. Speaking of smiling.... Anna got invisalign this month. I must say, this was against my better judgement and a decision she and her dad made together. So far, Anna has had her invisalign for 1 week and lost the trays approximately 2 times. Heaven help us! I want her in basic braces!!!

Keeping me busy this month, aside from constantly second guessing myself in terms of which floors to install, or cabinets to choose for the house restoration: all sorts of tasks to set up the new counseling office in Scripps Ranch! Jess and I found a practice going out of business and so we scored three rooms full of furniture absolutely PERFECT for our new office! We move in this weekend! It's been so fun to put this together and we are THRILLED for the opening next month. And speaking of offices being put together... I loved seeing the finished product of Blake's office remodel last week. I've obviously been many times, but it's finally complete and it looks wonderful! So happy it's all done! I know it's been awesome for Blake's sanity to have it complete!

Church youth events and activities continue to keep Blake and I on our toes. We enjoyed a youth temple trip this month and putting together a youth sacrament program. The kids all sang a beautiful song: Look unto Christ. Blake spoke and then we had a luncheon for all the youth and the friends they had invited! Blake taught all about bringing others unto Christ outdoors- since the electricity went out! Beautiful day.

We also hosted our annual "You Belong" meeting where we introduce the new young women to the program. This year the theme was: Bloom Where you are Planted. Lots of flowers, lots of amazing talks by the girls- including Anna and then I loved what Elizabeth Jorgenson and Blake both said in their addresses. It was such a fun night. We enjoyed watching Poway High's Cinderella- many of the youth from our ward were in the play and that's always a highlight to be there for them! At least for me.... I don't know that Blake enjoys watching musical theatre... ha!

Superbowl at the Judds, Galentines Party at Helen's house= very fun times. Weight lifting, lunches out with friends and weekly hikes all keep my life in balance. Still enjoying teaching our morning skills meeting and working on training sessions for the new office. And VERY proud of myself for studying for the CA written driver's test and passing- phew!