Joy

 I know I am behind in posting for June...lots of good reasons and joyful moments and experiences in June.  Here is just a quick snapshot of the month...

Nathanael and Lindsay Ann are enjoying their last few months in Scotland.  Lindsay Ann is working hard on her dissertation for her graduate degree.  Even so, they have been able to take some time to continue to see the sights of Scotland.  They have both enjoyed the beauty of the country and making new friends.  Nathanael has also really enjoyed playing the organ in their ward.  I know that they will look back on this time with fondness and remember some of the joyful times that they had there.

 

Logan and Lindsay Kaye enjoyed some time outdoor-s including camping before they left for Louisiana at the end of the month.  I have really enjoyed having them live here.  I have loved their kindness and thoughtfulness that they have shared with our younger children.  We are still really missing them.  However, I know that they are enjoying their time in Louisiana and it is a joy to Skype with them on Sundays.

Ethan (no longer Elder-a full-time missionary) returned home on June 25th!!!!  True joy.  I cannot describe how grateful I am to have him come home.  He finished his mission strong and tried his very best to the end.  We then went to eat dinner at an Italian restaurant. It was such a truly joyful evening.  On Sunday,  he spoke in our ward on how The Book of Mormon helps us to understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  He was awesome before he left, when he spoke, he blew me away.  I was amazed by how much he has grown.  He is a man now-and a great man!  He is someone that inspires me.  Such joy.  I feel that way about all my returned missionaries.  They are such wonderful examples to me.  

 

Clarissa had a lot going on in June.  She went on tour to Florida with her COPA company.  They went to Disneyworld and Universal Studios.  Travis was able to go as well to support her.  She really enjoyed the Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios.  She and Travis are also big Harry Potter fans and they had a wonderful time at Hogsmeade.  Then after she came home from Florida, she had to pack for a Youth Conference river rafting trip in Moab.  Honestly, she was terrified to go on this trip.  She is not a great swimmer and she is not a girl who really enjoys the outdoors.  Travis and I told her that we would not make her go- but we encouraged her to go and not give into her anxiety.  She had a little panic attack on the way there-but she persevered.  She ended up actually have a great time and really enjoyed her experience.  Finally, at the end of June, Clarissa went to Girls Camp.  She was so excited because she got to be a Youth Camp Leader this time.  She really worked hard on preparing a skit for them to do and to be a good tent Mom.  Again, she really enjoyed this experience and I am so proud of her for being willing to try new things and find joy in those new experiences.

Zachary has had such great joy having his brother back home.  Ethan and Zachary have always been very close- and he has loved having him home.  As we were going home after hearing Ethan speak, Zachary told me that he felt the Spirit really strong when Ethan was speaking.  I asked him how he recognized the Holy Ghost and he told me that he felt so happy to hear him when he was talking about Jesus Christ.  I felt such joy hearing that!  He has also really enjoyed swimming lessons.  He has been a bit behind because of things going on in the last couple of years, but he has had so much fun and is doing so well!  He really enjoys the back stroke.  That is his favorite!  This picture is from the Cedar Hills parade at the first of June.  Zachary really likes Spiderman!

So just before Ethan got home and just after my birthday, Travis received a job offer with his old team at the Church and working with his friends there.  It happened really fast and it was truly a miracle.  I have no doubt of that.  Again, true joy to have this blessing.  We also enjoyed our 27th wedding anniversary.  He is still my very best friend and I have had so much joy over the years with him and our children.  I am truly grateful for my blessings-this is joy.

Blink

 I am pretty sure I blinked and then May was over...it was a good month here at the Lloyds and there are some notable events-it just was really fast...

Nathanael and Lindsay Ann are still enjoying their adventure in Scotland.  Things opened up in May in Scotland and they were able to rent a car and take a road trip to other sights and cities in Scotland.  They saw a lot of amazing things and had a really wonderful time.  Nat did tell us that it was kind of stressful driving in another country where the roads are so narrow.  They have been really good about  taking us along to see all the cool sites through Marco Polo videos.  Nathanael is really good about sharing the history of the things that they are showing us.  We also really enjoy Facetiming with them on Mondays along with Elder Ethan on his P-Day.  Although I blink and it is time for everyone to go.  

Logan and Lindsay Kaye are continuing to work really hard.  Lindsay Kaye was able to celebrate her earning her Associate Degree with a drive through graduation.  We then went to dinner as a family in her honor.  It was a great night.  We also celebrated their missions to San Diego on Cinco de Mayo.  We had Mexican food for dinner, a pinata etc.  When I think about their love story, I am convinced that they really are meant to be together.  Even though they both served in San Diego, their missions were very different.  Logan was working mostly with refugees and had to learn Swahili.  Lindsay Kaye was able too serve in places like La Jolla and enjoy YSA activities at the beach.  I know that they both worked really hard and did their best to invite others to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I also know that they are both better for having sacrificed their time and talents to serve. It seems to me that I blinked and my little girl became an incredible woman.

Elder Ethan is on his last transfer.  His companion got transferred and he is staying in Liberty and finishing his mission there.  I know he was kind of disappointed to not be transferred to a Spanish speaking area as he has worked really hard to learn Spanish.  I also know that he was hoping for one more baptism before he left.  We have had great conversations about righteous desires and for whatever reason, the Lord has other plans in mind.  We just need to keep trusting and have faith that even though we do not know why right now, and we may never know, as long as we are doing our best to magnify our callings and keep our covenants, we will be right where we are supposed to be.  I am so proud of Ethan.  His mission has been very difficult with the Pandemic and social issues going on, yet he has continued to persevere and do his best.  In a blink he will be home and getting ready for the next chapter in his life.

Clarissa has worked so very hard and got really good grades.  I don't know if I have seen anyone work as hard as her in everything they do.  She finished her Junior year strong and is looking forward hopefully to a more normal year next year.  Clarissa participated in her last choir concert of the year and also the choir Luau.  She won the Limbo contest!  Are we really surprised?  I have passed the baton-or limbo stick ;)  She was finally able to finish all of her Driver's Ed and will hopefully get her license soon.  I blinked and she turned into an amazing young woman.

Zachary finished 5th grade really strong as well.  He was able to participate in The Hope of America program at school.  He told me a couple of years ago that he was the Lloyd that doesn't sing-so I was really surprised that he auditioned to sing in a small group during the program-and made it.  I kept asking him leading up to the performance if he needed me to help him practice.  Nope!  He got up and sang with his little group and did such a great job!  He can sing!  Again, are we really surprised?  We also got to see him dance in the school dance festival.  They danced to, "The Eye of the Tiger", from Rocky and I could tell that Logan had helped him with some of his boxing stances and moves because he was spot on!  Finally, his little AA soccer team made it to the Championship game.   They actually competed really well against a team that had crushed them before.  This time, our team held their own until the very end.  Zachary's team ended up losing-but won the silver medal for second place.  We were most excited that the team really improved.  I am really trying to enjoy the things that he is doing because I know that when I blink, he will be grown.

As a family, we honored our angel, Michael, by donating Build-A-Bears and going to the cemetery.  I can't believe how long ago that was-13 years.  Although that was one of the most difficult times in my life, I know that I will see him again if I keep my covenants.  I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have of the Plan of Salvation. 

Birthdays, Proms, and Performances Oh My!

 April was a full and busy month at the Lloyd home.  Lots of notable events .  So here is the latest...

Nathanael and Lindsay Ann are still enjoying living in Scotland.  Nathanael celebrated his 25th birthday.  I cannot believe that I have a 25 year old!  I have a memory of waiting in my hospital room for Travis to put the car seat in the car.  I was holding Nathanael and he was crying and I couldn't seem to comfort him.  So I just started singing, "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" and he immediately stopped crying and listened.  Music always has been and always will be part of who he is.  I am so grateful for the man that he has become and continues to be.  Lindsay Ann finished her course work and only has her dissertation left to complete.  So exciting!  She has decided to do her dissertation on Tabernacles.  In the meantime, they are enjoying the sights in Scotland.

Logan and Lindsay Kaye continue to work hard and plan for their future.  Logan celebrated his 24th birthday at the beginning of the month.  I am so grateful that he is part of our family.  I have come to love my kids' spouses as my own.  It was fun to have them here to celebrate our Easter traditions with us too!  

Elder Ethan has been working hard in his new area.  He enjoys that he is close to the temple.  He also is grateful that they are able to get out more and have contacted a lot of new people that he hopes will continue to progress.  Elder Ethan also got his Covid vaccination and got  sick from it because he already had Covid.  So that was not fun-obviously. He also had the opportunity to go to the zoo.  He had a really great time there. I am amazed by his example of always doing his best regardless of the circumstances.

Clarissa has had a full month.  She was asked to go to Prom with someone that she did not know well.  They have a lot of mutual friends.  For their day date, they went to an Escape room.  She had a lot of fun and they really got to know each other and have some great conversations.  The next night was the actual dance.  Clarissa did a fabulous job on her make-up and Lindsay Kaye helped with that a little bit too.  Lindsay Kaye did Clarissa's hair and I did her nails and picked out her accessories etc.  She looked gorgeous! (Logan did us proud and cleaned his gun when her date came to pick her up.) She ended up having a really good time with this young man and making a new friend.  I am grateful that she got to go and have this more normal high school experience.  She also performed in her COPA spring concert.  Her solo was Belle from Beauty and the Beast and she did a great job.  I love being able to watch her perform.  I am amazed by her talent and so proud of her for her work ethic.  She works harder on everything she does almost more than anyone I know.

Zachary has been playing soccer and he is quite a defender!  He always has a great attitude win or lose.  In activity days, they did rock art pictures.  His picture depicted all the members of our family.  I have put it in our kitchen on display because I love it so much.  I am so grateful to have him in our family.  He brings a lot of joy to our family and keeps us young!

It has been a month of many blessings and opportunities for growth and making memories.  I am so grateful for each of my children and their examples to me.

MMMMMMMM

 March was a lot less hectic than it has been in the past. Thank goodness! However, we still had some notable events here at the Lloyd home...

Nathanael and Lindsay Ann continue to enjoy living in Scotland.  Lindsay Ann has been working really hard on her projects and assignments.  She has decided that for her Master's degree dissertation, she is focusing on Tabernacles.  It is very cool.  

 

Logan and Lindsay Kaye continue to work and are both starting to feel better after dealing with health challenges for months.  Logan is studying hard to earn his EMT certification.  He has also been working on his Music.  We will just have to see where life takes them.

Elder Ethan was transferred to the Missouri side of Kansas City.  He loves to be close to the temple and is learning to get to know the people in this new area.  He has worked really hard at being a good Missionary-it is hard to believe that he only has a couple of months left!  He made some really great friends in his last area and he is anxious for them to continue to progress.  It has been a more difficult experience than he anticipated with COVID -19 affecting so much-but he has also seen so many Miracles.

Clarissa and her friends decided to do a group date for MORP- even though they did not have the dance.  She asked a really good friend and had a blast.  They went on the date as Beauty and the Beast.  We had gone to a party store to get some simple horns for her date to represent the Beast. We also picked up a tiara for her.  She wore a yellow blouse and Lindsay Kaye did a Belle hairstyle.  She was so cute!  We had to laugh though because neither of us realized that the tiara had the number 60 in the design.  Zachary noticed immediately.  She just went with it!  They went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving point and then to someone's house for games and food.   Clarissa also got asked to Prom-which was a great surprise!  I am so pleased that she can have some normalish like high school experiences.  She also sang in a recital for COPA.  She did so well that I got chills and Travis got emotional.  Super talented chicklet!

Zachary performed in his first school play.  He was Munchikin #1 in a kids version of "The Wizard of Oz".  He did a great job on his lines and seemed to have fun participating.  The Spring soccer season also just started.  His team played a rival team recently and they won!  He made a Monumental defensive play to keep the ball out of the goal and his team got the Momentum after that and pushed through to win.  It was awesome to be there and see him play so well.

Our family celebrated St. Patrick's Day on the Sunday before March 17th this year.  We had our feast of corn beef and cabbage, soda bread, rainbow jello, and fruit.  We had lemon-lime refrigerator cake for dessert.  We also had a small treasure hunt and talked about some ancestors from Ireland.  On the actual day, Zachary had Lindsay Kaye put green freckles on his face.  That was my family's tradition growing up.  I was so pleased to see that he wasn't embarrassed to continue that tradition this year.  I was just really grateful to spend time with my family and celebrate our heritage.  I am so grateful for their legacy of faith and sacrifice.  

February in a Flash

 February seemed to fly by at our house...

Nathanael and Lindsay Ann are still living in Scotland as she works on her graduate degree.  They are enjoying their time there- but have been frustrated with not being able to go out and explore more as they have been on strict lockdown again.  They are enjoying that the sun is coming out a bit more and wild flowers are starting to bloom everywhere.

Logan and Lindsay Kaye continue to work.  Logan is busy working on his EMT class.  One really exciting thing is that Lindsay Kaye earned her Associate Degree in Humanities and Social Sciences.  This means that all of her credits will transfer to wherever she and Logan land.  It is quite an accomplishment.  We decided to celebrate Fat Tuesday in honor of Logan and his hometown of New Orleans.  We did a crawfish boil.  He is an amazing cook.  The food was really good!  I also tried to make a King cake.  I am thinking that I should submit my picture to the Pinterest fail website because it did not turn out the way I expected!  It tasted good-but looked very off!  Ha! Ha!  It is fun to have new traditions to celebrate with the family!

Elder Ethan is still in his same area that he has been for the last two transfers.  He has continued to work hard to find those who are ready to make covenants.  He has specifically been working with a man who has read all of the scriptures and seems to really like what he has learned.  Hopefully, he can receive his own witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Clarissa has been working hard on learning to drive.  I have been able to take her to see my old schools and Travis' old schools and the house where Travis grew up.  Last weekend, we went to see my Grandparents' homes where my parents grew up.  That was really fun-although it made me miss them so much that my heart hurt.  They were such a wonderful influence in my life.  She also drove on the freeway for the first time.  She has been not wanting to do that at all-but she did really well.  Clarissa also performed in the choir's Movie Knight.  She sang,"I'm The Greatest Star",  from Funny Girl.  She was so fun to watch.  She is so entertaining with her facial expressions and her singing was fabulous!  I was so proud of her because she was so nervous about doing it.

Zachary has had a great time playing Jr. Jazz basketball.  His class also won second in the school reading contest and first in their grade.  He was happy because they got to have a pizza party and a doughnut party.  We have been reading Harry Potter together.  Currently, we are on the fourth book.  One thing that I have been impressed with Zachary this month is that he has pushed through his fear and had a couple of really fun experiences because he did not give in to his anxiety.  Our family went to East Canyon this last month.  Logan and Lindsay Kaye took Clarissa and Zachary sledding.  Then, Logan took Zachary sledding again because he wanted to go.  This time, the hills were bigger and Zachary went down even though they were a lot steeper.  I love that he and Logan do things together.  I think that Logan is a great big brother to him while his brothers are not here.  I think Logan likes having a little brother too. 

It has been really nice to be able to spend time with my family.  We have created new memories and strengthened our relationships.  I am so impressed by how solid and faithful my children are.  They have exceeded my expectations of who they have become.  They are such good examples to me.  They are solid and strong and stand up for what is right.  I am in awe.  Mostly though, I am extremely grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving them to me.

Life Goes On...

I had decided that I would try other forums for our Family History and felt impressed that I needed to go back to this blog.  So I am documenting our life in this crazy and unexpected time...

The month of January has been hard for Nathanael and Lindsay Ann.  Scotland went back on strict lockdown.  That means that everything has shut down and there really are no jobs available for Nathanael to get.  It also has been frustrating for Lindsay Ann as she has to do a lot of work online instead of on campus.  They have been able to see a few things this month-just not as many as they would like to visit.  They just keep going and try to enjoy the experiences that they can.  For example, it snowed at the beginning of the year in the middle of the night.  Nat and Lindsay Ann went out to enjoy the snow and Lindsay Ann made a snowman that ended up on the local news.  

Logan and Lindsay Kaye started the new year visiting Logan's family in Louisiana.  They had a great time there.  Lindsay Kaye earned her Associate Degree so that all of her credits will transfer to wherever she ends up with Logan.  She and Logan have had some health issues and so they are trying to figure that out.  They have been to many different kinds of doctors-just not for Covid.  They are working right now as they are deciding what they are going to be doing next and where they are going to be.  

Elder Ethan celebrated his 20th birthday this month.  I was so excited for him to get his package because we had got him a KC soccer jersey that was only $20 and was just like one he was looking at on P-Day for $120.  He said that he had had a wonderful birthday.  He and his companion also got Covid-but one tender mercy was that they quarantined just as they started having symptoms and were done with their quarantine in time to attend the baptism of a young lady they had worked with.  It was a small miracle.

Clarissa got to perform in COPA's Winter Concert.  She even had a little solo part-which she did really well.  That first performance though was interesting.  The costume lady decided to have her change her costume right before her performance- but it took too long and she missed about 1/3 of her song and was not wearing all the costume pieces because the costume people messed up on that too!  Despite this, she handled herself well and of course, the show must go on.  She continued as if nothing had happened.  The other performances went much better and the costume lady realized that she had made a mistake. She also got to perform in Lone Peak's production of , "Hello Dolly".  She had fun with her friends and really likes that musical. Clarissa also got to go on her first date.  A young man that she is good friends with asked her out.  He is from Australia and is a really good guy.  They went to Popeyes and grabbed dinner.  Then they and the two other couples they were with went back to his house and played some really fun games.  Then they did a cookie contest...she had a blast.  At the end of the date, he brought out all of her favorite chocolates like Kit Kats etc.  It was so sweet.  I am so grateful that she had a wonderful experience.  She was happy that she got to do something that normal teenagers do in high school.  

Zachary celebrated his 11th birthday.  Of course, it was Harry Potter themed.  I texted each Mom individually and asked if they would feel comfortable having their child come to our home for a party.  There were kids who had already had Covid.  One Mom was concerned- but everyone ended up coming and having a lot of fun.  We had the wands choose the wizards first.  My Dad had made the wands out of the branches from his snowball bush.  He stripped the bark, sanded them, had them dry out, and then stained them.  They were each unique because of that and imperfect-which made them so cool!  I love that he did that and the kids were so amazed by them-especially Zachary.  We then had them sorted into the different houses.  They we had Defense Against the Dark Arts by having them play a Werewolves game that Travis' sister had made with Hogwarts characters.  After that, we did Potions by making Butterbeer.  Then the kids had Charms using Sparklers.  Finally, they played Quidditch.  It was fun and successful.  It was my last party that I was in charge of for my kids.  When they turn 12, they get to do late nights instead.  I honestly felt kind of relieved and also a bit out of sorts because we are moving into a new phase of life....

                                                                                     

Even though things have been so different these last several months, we are grateful for the things that we are able to do and enjoy.  I am also so grateful for each of my children and their spouses.  They are solid and unwavering in what is right and have been able to discern truth through all the confusing philosophies of men.  I have had many moments of joy and I am looking forward to the events coming up this year .