13 Heroes

These are the latest heroes in my life. These are the cheerful, amazing teenagers I get to spend time with every day. They come to my house every school morning at 6am for seminary. We are studying the Book of Mormon this year. They are all in high school. Some have jobs. Some have lots of homework. Some have team practice and other activities for hours after school. Some have lots of responsibilities at home. All inspire me to try harder and be better.

Ohh?

Hannah has been to EFY , started high school and been to a few dances this summer. After every one of these events, she came home and told us of meeting boys. When the boys she met found out she was 14, they would often reply, "Ohhh" while nodding their head. We heard this story multiple time this summer. A few weeks ago, we were all at Barnes and Noble. Hannah and Eliza were both in the same area and Eliza heard a conversation between Hannah and an unknown boy. Eliza burst into laughter when the boy said "Ohhh" and admitted she didn't believe that it really happened the way Hannah said until she witnessed it.

Should I make her where a badge that says, "I'm only 14!" ?

This is a picture of Hannah with her cousin Nora (the only other Brown-Eyed Lange girl in the family).

Happy Birthday Mom!

My Mom is the best at a lot of things. Especially at everything that has to do with mail and wrapping presents. We all get birthday cards before our birthdays. Random packages arrive in the mail from her with just what you need. My favorite packages arrived while we were living in an apartment in South Pas. She would tuck rolls of quarters in whatever else she was sending to use for our laundry. Having to take two toddlers into the bank to get quarters was a chore. So when those quarters would arrive - I felt so understood and loved.

My first year at BYU, she asked me about a current event in the news. I knew nothing about it. The next day when I went to pick up the mail I was excited to find a new subscription to USA Today. I don't know who loved it more - me or my roommate Sara.

Mom is an expert package wrapper. Presents always look like a piece of art when she wraps them - She takes great care to make things (not just presents) beautiful. So I am sad to say that her card from me will probably be late and I can't think of the last time I wrapped her a present. I have to admit that my wrapping skills are not like hers. In fact - more than once I have allowed a mother at a birthday party to believe that my child wrapped the present and it was really me.

But I hope I have inherited some of her other great traits. Mostly, I hope that I can be the kind of friend that she is to others. Everyone could use someone like her in their lives. I know I am blessed. Happy Birthday Mom. I hope the card gets their soon.

Sad

In 10 days, Steve has had 1 hour with the kids. And this is where they spent it. They are sitting in his car parked in our garage while he is on a conference call. Sad.

So while I have been enduring life without my comic relief (Steve), dear friends told us that they are placing their house on the market and moving out of state. I won't name names. But I am still getting over the Woods moving. And they moved two years ago. I get teary thinking of our lives here without my children's Ohio-grandparents. So like this post says - I am sad. And I will probably wallow in it for a little while.