Going to Highschool

 

Will! You are graduating out of middle school and you will be the most kind, perceptive, dedicated, grounded, realistic, persuasive, stable, solid, handsome, faith filled and easy going freshman there is. 

You really do have all of those traits and so many more. This school year flew by for you and you said yesterday that you know the next few years are going to be so fast and you will be out of school. That's normally what parents tell their kids by the way, but that's how you think Will, you think ahead so much that it can cause you stress sometimes. 

A few days ago, a parent might think they were preparing to have a discussion with their child about getting in trouble at school or something bad the way you came to talk to your Dad and myself at the table. You looked worried and you sat down and put your hand on your forehead and looked down and said, " I don't know what I am going to do because what I like to do the most will not make me the kind of money that I need to make when I am an adult." I said, " What you like to do most is?" Knowing that I knew but to make sure you'd tell me, and of course it is obvious to everyone what you like the most is working out and you confirmed that as you said, " going to the gym and lifting weights. " 

I suggested being a coach or a physical therapist to help those who like to work out so they get injured sometimes like sports medicine and you said you don't want to do those things and besides those wouldn't make enough money. 

You looked like you were going to cry and I just wished you could be a kid still and enjoy not having to worry about paying bills when you have this time in your life you don't have to pay for a family or living. 

At the same time, I was so proud and impressed by your ability to look into your future and having a desire to be smart and be prepared and responsible. 

This kind of thinking you have is what has produced the results you have made at the gym. While a lot of kids would not see results after a few months and give up, you have had very steady determination to grow your physical strength and you are regimented in taking your vitamins, planning what days you are going to work out what muscle group and watching videos and teaching yourself how to do it. 

Not only have you taught yourself how to do the workouts but you taught your friends too and you even started a group of kids to walk from school to the gym. You were the only one who went to the gym straight from school as I went with you and there were no young kids or a few with parents, but as soon as you started walking straight from school, you told a few people about it, they tried going with you and now when I go into the gym by your school, right after school, so many boys are there your age that walked from the school. 

It is really cool your friends get into my car and tell me, " Will is the strongest kid in our grade and can bench 190." But, I know that you have a lot more strength than physical strength in your spiritual strength. 

It's quite fitting that one of your most favorite scriptures says, " If you have faith of a grain of a mustard seed, you can move mountains." 

Because you want to be strong enough to move a mountain, or so it seems to me anyways. 

You are the one who says, " Let's say our night time prayer. " And Will, you call on your Dad many a time and say, " Dad, Can you say the prayer?" When you do this as its often, I see the Priesthood you hold shining through and I know you are blessed spiritually because you do have a lot of faith in prayer and you are going to easily be able to connect the principles you have learned from building your physical muscles to principles that build spiritual muscles. I have no doubt it will happen more in your life as your ability to look into the future with maturity will naturally manifest the need to turn to Geabebly Father as your life challenges will become more than high school concerns but adult trials and the weight of your responsibility grows. 

I see your compassion a lot Will, and caring for your family when you take care of me when I am sick or another example happened yesterday. You told me in the evening, " Well, two ladies came up to me and asked me for money for food by the gym today. " I was worried at first but then you said, " I didn't give them money because I didn't have a lot but I went and bought cookies for the two kids that were with them and gave them to the kids because I didn't want the parents to have the little money if the kids needed food. " I don't think all kids would have taken the time to take the little cash they had and go take care of the children. 

A few weekends ago we had some hotel points we needed to use and we took you and your best friend to Great Wolf Lodge and it's my favorite thing to see my kids have fun, so you probably had the last fun time at a place that seems more for young kids with your friend who by the way, you guys told us he got so many phone numbers of girls and thankfully you could relax and not worry about that since you have a girlfriend. 

I think because of some influence from your girlfriend in fact you decided to do wrestling this year with the school team. You had to wake up at 5am and that was really hard for you and us but you did well and won all of the meets matches that you participated in. 

You showed a lot of faith because before your meets you brought up that you wanted a Priesthood Blessing from your Grandpa Pack. Grandpa Pack was happy you asked each time. 

It's been quiet for you to not have Brooke home but sometimes you talk to her on the phone and she is now asking you about all the gym tips she needs since she got into lifting and running at the gym. 

You bless our family so much! I am glad you aren't afraid to share your religion and I know because I heard one of your friends say, " Will you are the only Mormon I know who is cool. " 

While I don't like your friend thinks that, in my listening driving ear, I was glad he even knew you were Mormon and you also told me this friend felt comfortable enough knowing you pray, to share that he prays for you in his prayers. I asked him if you prayed for him too and you said you will and your tell him too. 

I know you bless your friends and you will be a blessing to our church too! Because you have been given so many gifts. 

I love you so much Will! You are almost 15 in a few weeks! 

Love, MOMMY💝

Uncle Allen came to visit for a few days before moving to Columbia with the FBI!

          Brady and Will at Great Wolf Lodge 

Brooke for Spring Break

 Princess Brooke, 

You turned 19 years old last month and I missed being with you so much on your birthday. I was so blessed to have you here for a couple days of your spring break. We are all so very proud of you because of so many reasons but just to name a few : You have determined to spend your time with those who share your faith, you are the spiritual leader of your apartment because you help others go to church and you do have to go alone sometimes. You told me a few months ago, when you called you said, " I know what it's been like for you to go to church on your own now and I can see how that strengthened your testimony because when I go alone, it has strengthened mine." 

You work not just one job but two jobs Brooke! Wow, you are ambitious enough and responsible enough to make your financial needs put you in action! I am so grateful I can help you weekly with groceries but you save for your part of the rent you have to pay on your own and you enjoy the service of teaching children as your work and helping people at the library as your second job. 

A few days ago you went to the mountains and you mentioned on your 5 mile hike, all alone, that you prayed and felt the spirit comforting you in the concerns you were having. You said you felt peace surrounded by the beauty of God's creations. It was the best kind of blessing to hear about your special experience with Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost Brooke. 

We were so blessed when you came to visit Texas for a few days because you wanted to live the Texas culture while here and we went to Fortworth to watch the cattle drive and pose as the Texans we are. The next outing you wanted to take interest in, was my interest of shooting at the gun range. You and I are good at shooting and we are not afraid of that at all. Will enjoyed himself with you in an environment and activity he likes too and he asked to take some cool photos with you and he talked me into sitting on the table to pose with an unloaded gun. He asked you to take photos too. Grandpa Pack showed you a lot and even Grandma Pack went to the gun range just for you!!!

You took Will to an estate sale while you were here and I know he will cherish the adventerous sister memories he has. When you were home you took him to lots of estate sales. You think outside the box and get creative about fun things to do and we loved having you for a few days Brooke! 

You also inspired me to learn to do something new Brooke. Because you did not want to stay in your high school room decor even one  more time, I had to fix it.  You realized so many things all over the room and walls, was anxiety producing. I had to change your room which I did gladly since I was patient to even let you do that to your walls in the first place.  I taught myself to paint your dresser and book shelf and bought you a new bed which Will has taken over now. Your Dad painted the walls all night one night before you came for the couple days. 

I know you appreciate what I did to fix your room because you tell me, that now you are out of the house, you also know what it's like to clean up after people. You are so kind that even when people in your apartment leave a big mess of crumbs all over the kitchen and dishes in the sink, you clean it up for them. You are the only one in your apartment who cleans the common areas and they are so blessed to have your testimony of Jesus Christ and His church among them, and to have your cleanliness. 

I am proud of you that you have taken your health into your own hands and have gone to the doctor for any blood work or health needs. You have taken your financial planning into your own hands in meeting with the school's financial counselor, and you have taken your mental health into your own hands by choosing to do healthy things like working out and going to institute. 

I always knew you were ready to go to college at age eleven Brooke, but I am so grateful I got you for so much longer. 

You have mentioned you know you have matured and you are happy with the person you are now and though even in any struggles you may have had, I have always thought you are so amazing, and only saw the best parts of you, I am grateful to God Your first Father in Heaven that YOU see the best parts of yourself now too. 

I love you so much Brooke! 

Love, 

       Mommy💝

Wonderful Will

 

 

Will, 

It is such a joy to be your Mother. This 8th grade year is going by fast for you and you are really positive,  hard working and our enjoyment as parents that have one child out of the house now. 

This Christmas you did something really thoughtful first for your girlfriend and for me. 

It was about to be Winter Break and you told me you needed a gift for your girlfriend and that you had a plan to make a " BRRRRR Basket " , which you later said was the gift boyfriends should give their girlfriend. According to who? I don't know? Tik Tok probably.  Anyways, you put together the cutest Basket full of gifts to keep someone warm and more. You chose a furry pink blanket and rolled it up in one corner and you put hot chocolate, candy, Alani energy drinks and a pink boxed up heart necklace, a stuffed penguin, and everything was pink in it! You did it mostly on your own except I was not satisfied with the actual basket it was all sitting in and so I asked to take you to a different store for that. 

We did go to an entire other store and I kept pointing out pretty things we could add and although you said no except to the Basket I was satisfied with as I told you that was one of the most important parts in presentation or packaging; well come Christmas you had asked your Dad to take you back to that store and it must have been pretty soon after because you got me all the things I was pointing out that I said were pretty and made a Basket for me with Victoria Secret Leggings instead of a blanket. 

This was so thoughtful of you for a 14 year old to go back and get the exact things I pointed out but for me!

You are very thoughtful like that Will. If I am or your Dad is not feeling well, you every single time go get us a glass of water or hot tea that you made on the tea kettle on the stove and you hand over vitamins and watch us take them. 

Your friends told me in the car that you are the strongest 8th grader there is. I guess you all are watching how much the other kids can bench press at the gym. 

Recently I learned how to play chess for the first time and I am kicking myself I didn't make you join the chess club at school in elementary because as I was playing and seeing how hard it is, I recalled receiving an email that in your grade you ranked highest in the grade tournament and we're invited to join the team. You told me you didn't want to but that you like playing chess. I guess I didn't know how hard it was myself and didn't realize that was a talent to be invited to the team and I should have made you do it! I wish I were as good at chess as you! In fact you are better at it than three minds combined! Grandpa Pack, and your Dad and me were all playing against you a few weeks ago and you didn't flinch but kept winning until I took over your game and then I lost to Grandpa Pack, of course. 

Will your favorite scripture is about faith and if you have the faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains. I see the strength that your faith gives you. 

When we are sick this week you tell me, " Everything is going to be okay Mom. " 

You are right Will and your faith shows. 

I love you so much precious Will. You warm my heart in your kindness and your positive attitude is a huge blessing. 

Love, 

Mommy💝