EFY and family in Arizona

Thought I would let you know about my latest adventure. I brought the kids with me (four youngest) to Arizona for my final EFY assignment of the season. We came to Arizona a couple of days early so we could hang out with the Ben Lyman fam. We went out to icecream with Benj and Amy on Saturday night. We went to church with Benj, Amy, Lori and assorted g-kids including Benson, Bronson, Jefferson and Esther. After church we had dinner with all of the above and we were joined by Jo, Rachel and their adorable baby boy Joshua...a little while after that, Daniel and his baby girl Lila came over. It was so wonderful to see everyone. I had not seen Jo since before his mission. I was surprized at my own strong reaction to seeing him. It was like I felt all the grief he must have experienced being away from home when his Dad was dying. It seem like I felt Ben's pain and joy over the obedience of his son as well. I was overwhelmed with emotion and sobbed into his shoulder for a while. The new babies are so adorable. Not so new anymore. Joshy is almost a year old...has the most adorable chubby cheeks and captivating personality. He loves to crawl around and doesn't mind being man-handled by all of his older cousins who obviously adore him. Lila is gentle and sweet. She immediately came to me and was content as long as Daddy was in the room. When he went outside to get something out of his car...she got a little grouchy until I took her to the door so she could keep an eye on her Daddy. Dan obviously adores his little girl. Her curls are enchanting and she is cuddly as can be. Little Esther is a pistol. (Keep in mind she is the youngest in a family of brothers) She refuses to be held by anyone but her Mom or Dad and only if it is her idea. She is smart as a whip and likes to play keep away from Aunt Lollie and Mommy around the Hotel swimming pool...freaking us out by her nimble little body coming a bit too close to falling in. We swam with Amy and her kids Monday morning and then took off for Tucson. EFY outdid itself this trip and put us up in one of the nicest Marriot resorts I have ever stayed at...complete with a lazy river and water slide. I would post pictures but of course my camera is broken so you will simply have to take my word for it when I say all those children are adorable and the scenery in Tucson and Gilbert is actually quite lovely. We hit during the Monsoon...what luck!!! Temperatures only around 90! Speaking at EFY is always a pleasure. It was fun to make the audience laugh and even more rewarding to lift their spirits and challenge them to be kinder, more forgiving and believe in themselves. I am so blessed to lead this life.