Numbering the Days of Summer

ONE Happy Father's Day

FOUR Grafs at girl's camp

Erin turned SEVENTEEN.

She's smiling because all of her presents had money for school clothes.

Rachel had FOUR horse lessons with hopefully more to come.

We were with TWENTY THOUSANDish other people at Strawberry Days Rodeo.

TWO creative hair bows.

THREE girls at a piano recital.

A Steinway that's worth ONE HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND dollars.

The girls and their great piano teacher of the last FIVE or so years.

Easter 2013

We missed the actual egg rolling (and all the accompanying scorpions that hatched from the sand) but we got to color eggs at Grandma Grafs.

Zion National Park. My favorite park and the best place to spend Easter weekend.

 At Upper Emerald Pool. We haven't been here in a long time.

Here's a picture of some of the approximately 80,000 people on the trail and in the park. Thank goodnes for the shuttles or parking and driving would have been a nightmare. My mom, dad, Rachel and I enjoyed a lovely lunch in the lodge (love the parks, love the lodges, love the food!) while waiting for the Angel's Landing hikers to return.

Speaking of Angel's Landing hikers...here they are.

I brought random Easter things down in a plain bag. Luckily my mom made it look cute. Without true believers, my motivation to go all out is gone.

We had a lovely Easter breakfast. Then left for Cedar where we had a lovely Easter lunch.

Random fact.  Last October we went to Lava Hot Springs and bought a rug. Well here it is in all it's glory. I knew it would work with whatever we decided to put in our downstairs family room and it did! Now we just need window treatments, pictures framed, and some organization. This summer's goal.

Rachel turned 12 and is now in Young Women's. No more Primary programs with a Graf child in it. Sad.

Rachel's Primary teacher brought her banana cream pie because Rachel said that was her favorite treat. What an awesome Primary teacher--the whole family enjoyed this treat. However, in this picture, it looks like Rachel isn't going to share! Mine! All mine!

And finally....
Phish enjoys the fish that Krysta got as a white elephant over Christmas. She hasn't stuck her paw in but she loves to look.

February and March 2013

Pictures and a few words to go with them:

Krysta turned 23! 

Pretty Valentine's flowers from Curt.

Erin went to Prom.

Kevin and Christian met up at the MTC and were able to see each other several times.

We talked to Kevin before his flight to Ohio. He loved his time in the MTC, but felt it was time to move on and was glad to be going to his mission.

Ready for the Best Two Years

Kevin was finally all packed and ready for the best two years.

He said good-bye to Krysta at home since she had to go to work. (When she got to work, she found that her patients had cancelled a few minutes before. She could have come to the MTC with us.)

We parked across the street at the Provo Temple and took a few last pictures. Driving into the parking lot, we were immediately confronted with crying families. A younger sister and grandparents were wiping away tears. Families were hugging and taking pictures. Hard to hold it together, but we remembered that we were HAPPY that Kevin was getting this wonderful opportunity to serve, and he reminded us that even though he'd miss us, this is what he really wanted to do .

 A father dropping off his daughter kindly took a picture of all of us.

Then we followed the long line of cars into the MTC and the drop off points at the curb. I could see parents in the other cars, and I wondered if my face reflected the emotions I could see on their faces. A mixture of happy and sad.

Missionaries were lined up to escort the new missionaries. This cute elder, who was Kevin's host, nicely told us how many missionaries were coming into the MTC that day--over 800! "So you want us to hurry," I joked.

 I still tear up when I see the following pictures. One last hug for everyone.

 And then good-bye. Into the Lord's hands for two years.

Such a wonderful/reflective/happy/emotional/contemplative good-bye. Words really can't describe it. We were a solemn bunch on the way home. We went to Kneader's to let cookies and cinnamon rolls help us feel better. I didn't want to go home immediately and deal with an empty room. A few good friends brought treats and kind words that night.

However, the overriding emotion is gratitude. We are so grateful that Kevin is on a mission and that he is enjoying his experience. We love him and have already felt blessings from his service.

You can read his letters on his missionary blog (listed on the right).