Conference. Easter. Birthday.

Conference weekend. 

Once Abe had been stuck in his military-style quarantine in El Salvador, and once it had become certain that he would not be able to stay, I began quietly dreaming of how happy it would be to have all my family together for conference. 

That was impossible of course. There was no way they would be able to arrange everything and get all those missionaries home by conference. 

But then, magically it happened!

And then Easter happened too! (We spent the weekend at our cabin for a change of quarantine scenery.)

Mike drove home one of the days to finish some work stuff, fertilize our dead-looking lawn, and get the baby goats (who are still being bottle fed). On his way back up to us he stopped in Logan and hauled the giant, old, unsalvageable trailer from his parents' Logan land to the dump. He and Abe had gone up earlier and done a lot of work removing various things from the trailer that couldn't go to the dump and pumping up the tires, etc. I honestly didn't think it could be pulled out of its spot. And by the time Mike did begin pulling it one (maybe two?) of the tires were flat again and he prayed his way to the dump. It was a huge job!

AND, then Daisy had her 18th birthday! (Writing this post I am realizing that the days during this pandemic have not been quite so monotonous as I tend to think they have been!) But Daisy! We have her dorm all arranged (rooming with a cousin even!) and I suppose she really WILL be leaving us in a few months. It's unthinkable of course. How can we exist without her here? How can the three older girls be … what they are without Daisy here driving them places and playing Marrying Mr. Darcy or watching Pride and Prejudice with them? I don't know. 

But at least her birthday itself was pretty good. With everything shut down and no chance to go out and shop for her, I was afraid it would be a disappointment, but as I mentioned in my last post, Mike took part of the day off and took the older kids on a biking adventure. And we had Cafe Rio takeout. And her cake was delicious. So I think it was a hit! Or at least hit enough. 

Anyway, that is all. I keep doing these frantic monthly catch-up posts in hopes that once I catch up … I can just simply write with no agenda! But then … life. I haven't written anything just for the sheer joy of creating in so long that I sometimes fear I never shall again. Sniffle. 

But. Here is a nice picture of Jesse. And Jesse again. And then really the end.