Sevark Central

It's nice to have boys wanting to ask girls to Prom. Kid's just don't date like they use too. They all "hang" out. So when Caleb and Noah said they planned on going to Prom... I was all over that! :) So this weekend I helped not only Caleb and Noah ask their beautiful dates to Prom, I also help some of Caleb's friends too! Hahah!

We arose early once again today...this time earlier than usual since we had to be at the Stake Center for Garrett to report to the HIgh Council at 7am. Garrett did a great job talking about what he learned on his mission and how his testimony had grown.  Immediately after, we rushed right to church since Garrett reported in our ward at 8am, Lexine was the organist today and we had so much family coming!  He did outstanding there too and gave a superb talk!  Grandpa Severtson and many others commented how well he did one sister in the ward said that was the most spanish version of english she had ever heard…since he still sounds like he’s speaking Chilean Spanish, but in English.  :-)  He did awesome and I couldn’t have been more proud of him -- I’m sure Cindy was just beaming as well.  As soon as Sacrament service was over, it was home for a brunch with all the family and friends who came out to see him speak.  Our house was packed since we have such a big family and it was a nice time visiting and enjoying donuts, fruit and breakfast casserole -- Yum.  But it wasn’t too long that we were able to visit -- just a couple hours -- because around 11am Grandpa Severtson was over to say pickup Garrett and a few others to head out to Oakland California to work on the temple screens there this week.  So Garrett is gone again...heading up there for the next few days and to earn some money.  It was a busy day for him glad he’s wanted to keep his missionary momentum and hit the ground running!  You’re awesome Garrett! 

Today we celebrated Cindy's birthday together as a family! In previous years we would celebrate by going to dinner at her favorite restaurant, but we’ve realized with kids getting married and grandkids starting to show up in our family, that tradition is not going to be able to hold up much longer.  So we just have a family dinner now together with something that she liked...this year it was Carne Asada burritos and tacos -- Yum! It was a nice time for all of us to spend together remembering her. Last night we got Porter, Garrett & Caleb together - the kids at home - and gave them a small present for her birthday.  Porter got a $15 Amazon gift card and Garrett & Caleb each got Bluetooth Headphones and a $5 Jack-in-the-Box gift card to get tacos there that they love -- and she loved too! :-) It was a wonderful day to remember and honor her the wife and mother we love and miss.

Boy, do I love this man! I'm so glad he's still around to celebrate another year! Last year at this time he was having surgery to remove a tennis ball sized tumor from his leg. What a year it's been for him to recover. He still not where he would like to be, but he wont let that get him down. He's such an example of strengthen, endurance and hard work. I love to spoil him on his birthdays, since he does such a great job spoiling me everyday. We went to Joe's BBQ for his birthday and for the weekend we stayed at a hotel. There were movies and more eating out to finish the birthday weekend. Happy Birthday my superman!! Sure do love you!!

This will be the last year for the Easter pageant. We heard they will be taking a break with the reconstruction of the Mesa Temple for the next 2-3 years. So I wanted to make sure we went to it this year. It was a little crazy getting everyone's schedules to go. It happened to be during our spring break, which was nice, but that also meant that the boy would be going with their mutual group too. So instead of making them go twice, we had them go with church instead. :) So it ended up being me, Toby, Porter and Garrett. Bentley and Sadie joined us too. Sadie wasn't quite sure what to think of it all. Haha! But we had a good time watching the story of our Savior's life.

Friday morning we got up early and left on a family vacation...all boys this time since our girls are either married or away at school.  Caleb’s friend Cade Ellingson also joined us which was nice since he’s a common friend to all of them.  It was fun to see Garrett’s Spanish in action down there. It was a fluke cold weekend down there, so we only spent a little time at the beach, but some how managed to all get sun burned! They had a nice miniature golf course as well which we did as a family a couple time -- the WiFi in our condo was terrible which was an added benefit on the trip for spending more time together without devices. ;-) Each night was game night playing Nerts and then a movie before retiring to bed. My favorite, I always enjoy going to church in foreign places and we went again while we were there. Caleb & Jonah were once again asked to help with the sacrament which is always a privilege for them and always someone seems to recognize them who we meet after. It was a quick trip, just over a long weekend, but most of all it was just nice spending time all together with Garrett again.

What an amazing day!  It started out around 9am with all of us meeting at the airport in anticipation for the event we've all been anxiously awaiting -- Garrett's returning home after his two year mission in Chile!  Since it was spring break, just about everyone was there.  Then all of a sudden around 9:45am there was this huge roar and cheer as he appeared! Like always, Grandpa Porter was the first to greet him with a hug -- he’s done that with Kami and Porter too...and I suspect he’ll do the same for Caleb.  (I love that he does that... ;-) Garrett then started going down the row to Grandma Porter, then Porter & Caleb -- I finally couldn’t take it anymore and came into the security exit area a little bit to get in there to him and give my son a big hug. Lots of friends and family who showed up -- which I’m sure made it extra special for Garrett.  I sure like when my missionary kids return far better than when they leave. :-)

After all the greetings and hugs, we went home since Garrett was to be released at 12:30pm by President Murset.  That was a neat experience as well. Later in the day we went to Tia Rosa’s for a family dinner then raced home for his Open House.  He had a great turn out of friends, family and ward members that wanted to welcome him back. Lexine used her great party throwing skills to have all sorts of treats and things for those who came to visit him.  I suspect this was probably one of the best and happiest days of his life. It was a great one for me that's for sure and I suspect somewhere Cindy knew what was going on and wished she could have been here in person to welcome him back and show him how proud she is of him as well. Welcome home Garrett...we're sure proud of you!

I can't believe its been 8 year since Cindy passed away.  I remember the first 5 years I just wanted the time to pass quickly, because it just hurt so much missing her and I had heard the it might take that much time.  Now here it has been 8 and I don't miss her any less, but the time has flown by in some ways, and gone so slow in others.  Sometimes I don't know where the time went and feel that it has just passed me by as our kids have all grown up so fast and are all doing such great things.  I asked Caleb today if it has seemed long since Mom died to him, which he said yes -- I guess it will be half of his life soon since she passed away.  But I know she is so proud of him and all of our kids which is a fulfillment of her patriarchal blessing that says she will "Delight in her children" -- she probably just didn't realize that she would be delighting in them from the other side of the veil.  

Caleb's tennis season has officially started once again and he's back at it and doing great!  He started as a freshman with just a few guys on the team and little by little has gotten several of his friends to join.  Now he just loves it even more because its all his buddies having a great time together! They are having their best year ever so far and have won more matches than they have lost.  Hopefully they can continue to hold strong for the few weeks they have left.  Way to go Caleb! 

Porter has been looking for a car on craigslist for quite some time and finally found one that worked out!  He drove home today his 2013 Honda Civic which just so happens to be the same exact color and model as both Kami's and Bentley's Honda Civics!  I guess they have become the Sevark car of choice!  :-)