The Exciting and Miscellaneous

 In-between moving and painting, decorating and sorting at work, home life is busier than ever this month of April! My goodness, there is a lot going on!

We were able to hold our All Hands Meeting for work at a volunteers house. She had the biggest, sweetest dog and hairless cats. I took pics to show Zeke.

I snapped this cute pic during Come Follow Me to send to Adren. We miss him!

I also sent Adren this glorious scene of the Provo River Trail after the rain. It is so pretty out there!

Prom dress shopping continues...

One morning while at work, Dev called. I felt immediately that something was wrong. "I don't even know how to tell you..." she started to say. Mike had passed away. Mike! I was having a hard time processing this. Then someone called on her other line and she had to go, she'd call me right back. I sat there, stunned. My friends at work were all looking at me and I just started to cry! I decided I couldn't wait for Dev to call me back- she doesn't have time for that. I jumped in my car and headed over to her house. I just needed to hug her. It's Mike! I called Jon on my way over. He was just as stunned.
Boy, oh boy, was it hard to see her sweet boys' faces. They have had such a hard relationship with him over the past several years. I think it was making all of this even harder, for various reasons. Devron, of course was handling everything. She was comforting her boys, making arrangements for Mike, planning a memorial, ordering urns- just bustling around like she does. I am constantly amazed by her warmth and discernment and love. There was absolutely nothing I felt I could contribute to the state of things. But it was good to talk and cry. I was living with Devron and with her when she first met Mike. Jon and I had just gotten engaged. They were married a week before us! The four of us spent so much time together over the next couple decades. Trips, dates, just hanging out and playing cards until the wee morning hours, concerts, movies, chats, babies, parties. Mike took our family pictures. They were our people. Jon and Mike were so close at one point for years. We'd joke that we'd all get chatting into the night to realize Dev and Jon had fallen asleep. Mike was really great. He was so talented in drawing and had such an artistic eye with his photography. It was so hard to watch him spiral into mental illness as Devron tried to hold the family together. It was so hard over the years to hear of Devron's struggles and frustrations with him. One of the last times I saw him I wanted to punch him. I hated feeling that way because I loved him and Devron and their boys so much. It has been hard! As Dev and I hugged and cried, she said, "Mike was the love of my life." I know that is true. And even in death, Devron is still his person. She did everything and is continuing doing everything for his estate, funeral, cremation, cleaning out his storage units etc.

His funeral was really lovely. Everything that was shared was perfect and painted a great picture of the Mike we all loved so much - and the Mike we were frustrated with as well. I was so happy her boys could hear all the great stories that were told of their dad. Jon said the prayer, one of Mike's lifelong friends spoke, Devron spoke and somehow sang. Her boys! Squeeze your heart out. 

Afterwards, Dev threw a great party in her backyard- like she does. It was like the best reunion! It was so good to see so many people that we haven't seen in years. I sure love and admire Devron more and more over the years. 

She called me to see if Jon wanted to look through any of his old CD's while she was at his storage unit. Jon went over with Zeke and Paisley and brought back quite a bit of stuff. I keep seeing Zeke wearing new shirts, shoes, rings and chains. When I ask about it, he says, "It's Mikes!" It makes me smile. And the more I think about it, they have a very similar style ;)

We had to include Anne (Dev's mom) in our pic because in a lot of ways, she was a part of our "group" in High School! We all love her so.

Sara, Me, Kim, Devron, Jen

 It sure was great to see Dave and catch up. We got talking so long we had to schedule a dinner date for the next week.

 

We have quite a history with these rowdy friends and it is really special to be able to meet and catch up and see everyone happy and doing their thing. Life sure is wild!

Jonny and I are always able to sneak away for our movie night. We had some fun with the posters. 

He-he.

Us women stake Presidents hold a monthly meeting we call WOLC. (Women's Organization Leadership Committee). This is with the Stake Relief Society & Primary Presidents and myself. We go to lunch and go over upcoming things and see how we can support each other. It is so wonderful! Having formed a close relationship with these ladies has made all the difference. We hold an annual brunch for all of the ward presidents of the three organizations to encourage them to hold their own WOLC meetings on a ward level. My assignment is always to go the night before and set it all up.

It was a great turnout, great food, and even better discussion!

PROM~ I somehow got roped into helping decorate for Prom. Even worse, next year I'm not just helping, I'm planning and organizing it all with Diana! (GULP) I ran over after our WOLC breakfast was cleaned up and started putting up banners!
I marvel at the amount of totes and detail. (GULP)

It turned out cute though! And Paisley... Could not be more stunning!

 

Jon and I had a few hours to plant...

And then race over to the Library for the Promenade. And when I say race... I was texting Paisley who was standing off to the side and letting others go ahead so I wouldn't miss her. I finally jumped out at the intersection and ran while Jon found a parking space. I made it! And Jon did too, soon enough.

It was such a gorgeous night. I love these early spring evenings that just shimmer! I came home and got the island all dressed up for the group to return and end the night at our place. They munched and played games. I could hear them all oo-hing and ahh-ing when they walked in. Paisley came up to my room to say thank you and that everyone wanted me to go downstairs so that they could thank me. Too late, I was already glossy-faced in bed. I told her to send my "Your Welcome's" and have fun!

Not shown: Martinelli's chilling in the fridge!

 

It was extra special to be able to attend Harrison's farewell. He is such a great guy and will be a fabulous missionary! He gave such a great talk. We all love that guy so much! I have such an extra soft spot in my heart for Elders especially. Missions are hard! It is always fun to be in the Shafer's home with the whole fam!

I took a screenshot to send to Adren!

He liked it...

Along our driveway, we planted a row of evergreens a couple years ago. I know, this is risky because if one doesn't do well, it affects the whole look. Way down at the end by the fence, that last tree really struggled. It died. Jon dug it out and replaced it. It struggled. It died. Jon dug it out and replaced it. He has done this FOUR times! There has got to be something going on in this spot, we just have no idea what. This spring I asked Jon what his plan was. He told me he was just going to paint it. You know what? He was serious.