Amanda Thripp

(Lucy, Amelie, Max, Viv, Lucas, Kai)

The fan club showed up to watch Vivian in her play.

She got to be the part of Amanda Thripp.

Her first speaking part!

and she got to have a double!

They pretended to throw her across the stage by her braids.

Such a fun part in Matilda.

 

scones and assists

This picture of Abe reminded me of these pics of my dad on his mission to Trinidad with my mom.

My dad knew how to love on people. 

He was interested in them, 

He helped them.

At my dad's funeral, my brother described it as passing our assists.  My dad loved basketball and loved shooting. "Shoot first, shoot second, shoot third" was a common phrase he would say to the grandkids.

But my brother Marty, pointed out my dad's real specialty was assists.  Helping other people score in the game of life. He also told a story about scones and passing out scones. He told the grandkids to decide if they like passing out assists or scones and then to be like their grandpa and get good at it.

Missing him.  

I think he is still passing out assists from the other side. 

 I believe he is still involved and helping.

 

Abe in Africa

It was a big decision for Abe to serve a mission. He really wanted to know it was for him.

I don't think he got an answer about serving so he decided to just do it anyway, but then when he received his call, I think he felt it.  It reminded me that sometimes we have to act in faith and then we get the knowledge we are wanting.

He went. Four months in, Covid happened and all the missionaries in the world were sent home.

Covid was crazy.  Everything shut down. What a weird time.

A few weeks later, Abe was given the option to go back on the mission, reassigned to the states in quarantine, or to go back in 12 months or 18 months.

He chose 12 months and later he told me with the hope he never had to go back. He went to school at BYU and UVU for the next twelve months. Masks and online school was a different first time college experience. At the end of the year, the decision started to loom over Abe. He moved home so he could decide what to do. He was praying and fasting about whether he should go or not and he felt like he should call Brother Hansen, his priest quorum advisor. 

They went to dinner and Brother Hansen told him that the night before Abe called him, he had a dream that he was out to dinner with Abe, telling him how much he regrets not going on a mission every day of his life. It seemed like this really affected Abe and felt God's direction in it.  Even though he didn't want to go back out on the mission, he decided he would. 

Here are some of my favorite picks from his time in the Congo. 

I think Abe learned to love people.

I was inspired by Abe's desire to know God's will for himself and then to have the courage to follow it.

'Not my will, but thine be done' feels more real when you are faced with big, hard decisions.

I'm grateful for Abe's time in Africa.

So glad he is part of our family. 

first day of school

year: 2021

Kai- Senior

Max-Sophmore

Vivian- 5th grade

traditional first day of school candy posters

back to school pedicures

starting line

and 

family theme: you are 100% enough- live in abundance.

they each received a hundred dollar bill to look at each day to remind them they are not trying to prove their worth, they are enough, so feel confident enough to live outside of yourself.

 

mother's love

I've been thinking about a mother's love.

Jesus' mother sitting at His feet when he was hanging on the cross. 

I can imagine her desire to take some of the pain and help him through.

By being there, somehow she would help ease his suffering.

I feel like that.

I pray for Abe in Africa.

I remember when he had the nail in his heart and after the surgery to remove it, just sitting on the foot of his bed, rubbing his legs all night long. It was the only thing I could do-rub his legs and watch him breath. My offering to take some of his suffering and help him along.  

 

Max's first date:)

Max got asked to girls pref.- first date pics