Daddy Daughter Weekend

Years ago, Graci pointed out that I took the boys on father/son camping trips, but didn’t do daddy/daughter camping with the girls. So we started an annual daddy/daughter camping trip. Several of those have blog posts on this site. But after 5 years of camping trips, the girls decided they weren’t really tent campers. (Given wheelchairs, blindness, lack of appendages, etc., who can blame them???) So we changed our annual daddy daughter trip to renting an Airbnb for two nights. We go to a movie, go out to eat, play games and watch more movies at the Airbnb, and just have a generally fun and relaxing time. I’m so grateful to have these amazing daughters!

Braille Uno!

The Hearts of the Children

Dear Joseph or Victoria or Claire or Braxton or Xander, Jr., (I'm sure there will be quite a few of you!):

This is your grandpa! I had a really beautiful epiphany this morning and I want to share it with you. It started last night. I took several of your parents (Sophi, Lexi, Calais, Graci and Conner) to a Chinese New Year dinner. It is a wonderful tradition that began last year. A non-profit called the Utah Chinese Civic Center wanted to provide a venue for local children who had been adopted from China to connect with their culture. They had heard specifically about our family and called your grandma to ask if we would be interested in coming to a Chinese New Year feast and if we knew other families who would also be interested. Grandma Christi reached out to several friends directly and also posted on Facebook and the inaugural dinner had 13 families attend. This year, that number increased to 21 families who, like ours, have been blessed to bring wonderful children from China into their homes. After the dinner last night, there were several moms that came up to me and commented on how much our family meant to them. They had seen us in Find Me, or had read our blog, or had just noticed something that one or more of their children had in common with ours. One particular mom mentioned how much her girls love reading about our kids on the blog. As has happened on previous occasions, I felt a bit guilty for not posting more regularly. Grandma Christi and I have seen so many people blessed by observing our kids (your parents!). In fact, one of the great unforeseen blessings that adoption has brought to me is this: our kids bless other peoples' lives pretty much every time they go anywhere. It is a wonderful thing to observe and be a part of.

So last night I determined to write more frequently on our blog. I wanted to share our amazing kids with anyone who might benefit from reading about them. This morning I woke up way too early for a Saturday. (The older you become, the harder it is to get good sleep-enjoy it while you're young!!!) The good part about getting up early is that you have the house to yourself for awhile. I wandered into the living room and opened the shades. I enjoyed the sunrise over the beautiful mountains to the east. Then I took some time to pray and read the scriptures. As I was pondering, I was hit with the most beautiful thought: YOU are my most important readers! And I don't even know you yet!!! The thought filled my heart with joy. A few years ago, Parker and I were working on his genealogy merit badge. The 1940 census information had recently been made public and we found the page with information about my maternal grandparents, Roy and Elita Lind. I was amazed at the emotions that filled my heart as I found the line for Grandpa Lind. Living at 4335 NE 68th in Portland, OR, they owned their $1,700 home. He worked full-time as a local truck driver making less than $1.00/hour. In 1940 they had two children: Joyce, my aunt who passed away when she was 16, and Stephen, my uncle who I have had many fun interactions with. Tears filled my eyes as I thought of my Grandpa as a 25-year-old trying to make ends meet for his growing family.

And so, sweet grandchildren (and children and great-grandchildren), I am thinking of you this morning. I am looking forward to meeting all of you someday. Hopefully in this life, but meeting in the next life will also be amazing! I hope that as you read this blog you will find wonderful glimpses into your parents' lives. Funny stories. Inspirational moments. A greater understanding of some of the difficult trials they went through. And hopefully, your understanding of your grandpa's life when he was 35 and 45 and 55 will be more expansive than a few lines on a census.  I love you all!

Grandpa Jeremy

What I love about this picture is how perfectly it captures my favorite side of Graci: her ability to fill everyone around her with exuberant joy!

Lots of wonderful friends at this event!

Conard and Ilah Green family begin on line 70. 7118 SE 72nd Ave, Portland, OR

Roy and Elita Lind family begin on line 28. 4335 NE 68th, Portland, OR

Oldest and Youngest

A couple of funny conversations:

At family council on Sunday I mentioned that one of my cousins' kids was having a wedding reception in a couple of weeks.  I knew my little wedding buddies (Sophi and Lexi) would want to come with me.  I asked if anyone else would like to attend.  Graci quickly asked, "Are they having dinner or light snacks?" Christi and I cracked up.  I guess if you ever see Graci at your wedding reception, you can thank the caterer!

I was dropping Sophi off at school earlier this week.  There are two lanes that parents can pull into: lane one is right next to the sidewalk, lane two goes through the parking lot and requires the kids to cross at a crosswalk.  Usually I pull into lane one, but the flow of traffic that morning required me to get into lane two.  A deep, annoyed sigh came from Sophi in the back seat.  "I hate lane 2!  It's so humiliating!!!"
Me, in surprise: "you're embarrassed when you go through lane 2?"
Sophi: "I'm not embarrassed! It's just humiliating!!!"
Me: "Humiliating means really embarrassing."
Sophi, now a little embarrassed: "Oh.  I thought it just meant terrible."

Sophi is SO amazing.  I love her independence.  The other day she needed something out of the fridge:

I love kids! They keep me laughing:)

Jer

Love my girls!

Last Friday night I had the awesome opportunity to go on a daddy-daughter campout.  As the girls get older and I get older I guess Dad gets less exciting to hang out with.  When given the choice of coming with me, only two of the girls decided that was what they wanted to do with their Friday night.  (And let me be perfectly clear: the option was to stay at home.  No big plans for anyone.  Basically a campout with Dad just didn't seem particularly awesome.  I guess I had some foresight when I blogged our campout in 2011.)

But Graci, Sophi and I had a great time!  We returned to Clover Springs for the first time in seven years.  The campground is pretty remote and the stars were absolutely fantastic.  Hot dogs, s'mores, and egg mcmuffins for breakfast made for a great menu.  The first year we went on a daddy-daughter campout we started a funny tradition.  On a pre-camp shopping trip I saw Funky Flames in the camping section at Walmart.  We tried them out, the girls loved the colors, and now they want them every time we go.

Having Taylor leave for school has really driven home the reality that our time with these angels in our household is limited and short.  I am so grateful for opportunities like these that provide the chance to create memories that will help sustain me when more of them are gone.

Jeremy

Sophi loves to pose 😂 

We took a little hike...

...to the springs that give the campground it's name.

Apparently Sophi decided to take some pics before I woke up 😂

Cool pic, Soph!

Random Photos

Best friends!

 Christi loves my beard, but she will not come near me with this thing on my face:

Elli taking a break at church...

 What a lucky dad to have so many delightful daughters!!!

Whatever She Puts Her Mind To!

Since Graci graduated from high school, lots of people have asked her what she's going to be doing next.  Her standard answer is: "I'm going to take over the world!"  While Grace can be a bit of a jokester, she really is a resilient young woman who finds ways to accomplish difficult things.  I continue to be so proud of her.

The other day she came in and commented on how long my beard was getting.  I told her it was too bad that she couldn't grow a beard.  She would look so cute, I said.  Taking me up on my challenge, she returned a few minutes later, demonstrating that she can, indeed, do anything she wants to.  Cutest beard ever!!!

Home Ec

In sixth grade I learned to use a sewing machine in a home economics class.  We had to make a few projects, and I decided I would make a set of pillows for my dad that would spell out his name: ALLEN.  By the time I got through the first two sadly misshapen letters, I realized that there was no way I was going to get through the entire name, so my dad was stuck with two pillows that say "AL."  But as a good father should, he pretended he loved them.  Thanks, dad!

Since that time, I don't believe I have ever touched a sewing machine again...until last night.  On our camping trip, I noticed that one of the seams on a sleeping bag was coming undone.  Instead of taking it to our beloved sewing lady, I decided it was high time I re-learned my home ec skills. A couple of years ago for Christmas, Graci received a sewing machine from Santa.  I asked if she would train me on how to use it.  She was generous enough to distill her knowledge upon me and I was ready to go. I practiced on a couple of small stuff bags first.  Then I took on the sleeping bag.  When I was finished, I was acutely aware of the similarities in stitching patterns between my newest project and my dad's pillows from sixth grade.  It's a good thing I do not make my living as a tailor!

It won't come undone, and who's going to look at the bottom of a sleeping bag?

Dream Night at the Zoo

Every June, Utah's Hogle Zoo hosts Dream Night at the Zoo.  For three hours in the evening, the zoo is open only to kids with special needs and their families.  This year I took Cali, Graci, Sophi, Lexi, Jesi, Xander and Conner, along with my nephew Ben and Jesi's friend, Erin.  Chick-fil-A provides food and they have school mascots and Star Wars characters and face painting and princesses.  It is really a fun night for the kids.

Off we go!

With Cosmo, BYU's mascot

This is the mascot for Rocky Mountain Raceway.  He was clearly touched by Conner and Lexi.

Storm Troopers and bounty hunters!

About every 30 seconds Sophi found a new spot in which she absolutely HAD to be photographed.  I've only included a small portion of these pics:)

Looks like she could reach out and pet him...

Aragog or Shelob? I guess it depends on which epic fantasy you prefer.

They thought it was pretty cool to be so close to a bald eagle!

These cuties spent most of the night on their own.

Xander wanted to capture this beautiful sunset.

Conner braves the lion's mouth for a drink of water

These two could be twins!

Conner surrounded by beautiful girls.  He is very happy!

I'm a lucky dad to have all these fantastic kids to hang out with!!!

-Jer