A Drastic Change

Blythe decided she wanted to make a drastic change in her hair, so we went for a haircut today. She cut off six or seven inches! The stylist gave her some layers, including cutting her dark hair shorter than the lighter part underneath so you can see the current color (reddish-pink). It's super cute and looks great on her. 

Here are the before and after pictures.

Look at that long hair!

Pink peeky-peeky

DeMartini Family Campout

We gathered at Grandma Sue’s house yesterday evening for a DeMartini Family campout. Who doesn’t like being with family? Who doesn’t like sleeping in a tent? Who doesn’t like doing both at the same time? Actually, I can think of lots of people, including Kent. But the rest of us, we like to sleep in tents, in backyards, in the company of family. Both Brandt and Blythe were delighted at the prospect of a family campout, and I took earplugs and a comfy mattress to sleep on, so we delighted too. Eugene and Sharae and their people plus Mikayla and Guy and their people pitched tents and camped with us. Small people wanted to sleep with big people (Johnsens with us and DeMartinis), but we all stuck to our family tents. We had a delicious French toast breakfast this morning and went on our way. Hoorah for family fun!

Blake didn't quite fit in his tent.

4.0 GPA

 

Brandt sent me this picture today and said, "I have a 4.0 GPA"

I replied, "WOW!! Terrific my son. Keep it up!" 

School has been in session a whopping eight days. Here's hoping he can keep his grades even somewhat close to this.

*post edit: Brandt finished the first semester with a 3.13 GPA. 

Once I Was Engaged

Years ago, the girls in the family went to see the movie Once I Was a Beehive. It was set at girl's camp and we all loved it. It made us cry. Then Brandt saw it at our house, and he loved it. It has been a favorite.

This year, the follow-up, Once I Was Engaged came out. The kids have been begging me to take them to see it, and I realized that it was going to leave theaters and we would not have seen it. I like to support local and clean films with my money, so today I suggested we go. Brandt looked up times, we texted others, and met in Pleasant Grove (one of very few theaters still showing the movie) to watch. 

The film was very funny. We knew many of the actors, including Blythe's friend Margaret Clark (small tiny pancake friend) who is the daughter of Lisa Valentine Clark who stars in the movie. It was sweet and emotional and we all really liked it, even Brandt who can get in touch with his feminine side when the situation warrants.

Neighborhood Culdesac Party

This afternoon/evening we gathered with many of our neighbors for the Drake Family hosted Culdesac Party. This year was the 9th year it has been held. It should have been the 10th year, but sadly, with Covid preventing gatherings last year, it was the 9th year. It is always a pleasure and delight to be with our good neighbors, to catch up, to laugh, to eat, to watch the children run around wildly. In addition to wiggle car races, water balloon toss, dunk tank, and rope pull, this year there was a karaoke machine (VERY popular with the kids) and a group dance. I didn't see the kids all evening because they were off doing their own thing with their own people, so no pictures of them. It was fun, fun, fun!

First Day of School

Official summer has come to an end. Today was the first day of school. I am happy to report that both Blythe and Brandt have been excited to start school again. I took Blythe to registration last week. She had her picture taken and got her schedule, and we wandered around the school to see where her classes were. She is totally cool, unconcerned about making her way around. She’s in 8^th grade now, familiar with the school, knows how everything works. She was hoping she would have friends in her classes, and when she returned from school, she happily reported she’s got peeps in all her classes and a whole posse of people at lunch. She likes her teachers and her classes and is hoping tomorrow, B Day, will be as good as A Day.

Brandt missed registration last week because he was at FSY, but went with Kent to school on Monday to get his schedule and t-shirt. Like Blythe, he wasn’t nervous or worried about finding his way around, and he had friends in classes too. He was especially pleased to be back in Tech Crew and mentioned several times that there were over twenty new techies in their class. He’s Lead Sound and was confident as he taught the new kids about the soundboard and stuff.

 

Kent and I are delighted the children are back in school full-time, not required to wear masks, and feel generally positive about the new year. We did have a discussion about computer usage and homework efforts on Monday for Family Home Evening, and we are hopeful this year will be better than last in several respects.

It was raining this morning, so dark when Brandt needed to go to school. I had him step out onto the porch to take his normal (the traditional spot) picture, but it was dark. So I had him come back in and do the picture from the other side of the door. Much better.

 

Blythe colored her hair again last night.
I must say, I quite like the red.

And when I do a fishtail braid for her, I like it even more.

A Date With Brandt

Brandt has been dying to see Ryan Reynold’s new movie Free Guy. The trailer made it look really funny, but it’s rated PG-13 and I wanted to make sure there wasn’t a huge amount of questionable material before we went to see it. Mikayla had tickets last week, so I told Brandt she could see and then let me know if it would be okay for him. Although he was at FSY all last week, he texted Mikayla repeatedly to ask if she had seen it yet. She called to tell me he is verging on the annoying. I just laughed. She called me as soon as the movie was over to let me know it was fine, and then texted Brandt. Within just a few minutes of having spoken with Mikayla, I got a text from Brandt (at FSY) saying, “When can we go to Free Guy? Don’t call because I’m in class. Just text.” As I haven’t been working on Tuesdays during the summer, I promised we could go today.

 

Neither Blythe nor Kent wanted to see the movie, so Brandt and I had a date. The movie was very funny, there were great cameos, and I was delighted to be with my boy. Because it was a date, we went for yogurt afterward. Brandt reminded me that he is only fifteen and so not old enough to date, but you can go out with your mom anytime, whatever your age.

 

A New Calling

I have received a new calling. I've been asked to be the Second Counselor in the Stake Young Women's Presidency. I will be serving with Katie Craig as the President, Beth Wilkins as the First Counselor, with Betsy Barrow as the Secretary. I don't know any of these women, but I have found in past callings that if you have a common goal and are working for the Lord, you can do amazing things. I also know that those I have served with in presidencies have become some of my dearest friends, and so I look forward to serving with Katie, Beth, and Betsy and becoming friends. 

A couple of weeks ago, Kent and I met with Todd Seamons (2nd Counselor in the Stake Presidency). While our meeting was ostensibly to ask me to serve, we had a very open, frank talk about how I'm doing at the moment. It's not great. I am sad and mad and malcontent about my current lot in life. Things are not good at home with Kent or with Blythe, I feel spiritually distant from God, and I'm largely without hope of things changing. I'm not having a crisis of faith, I'm just having emotional turmoil. It has been hard. I was surprised to be receiving a new calling as I don't feel that I have much to give spiritually. I cried with Todd and expressed my awareness of my shortcomings and struggle and asked for time to think about accepting. He then asked if I would like a blessing. I did want a blessing, but things have not been great with Kent, and I haven't wanted to ask him. 

Todd gave me an incredibly sweet, comforting blessing where I felt not only Heavenly Father's presence but the very real, palpable presence of my dad. I felt his large hands on my head along with Todd's and Kent's. Todd promised that as I turned to Jesus Christ, I would feel his love. It was so tender and reviving and I was so, so grateful.

I accepted the call and today was set apart with the other members of the presidency. Again, Todd set me apart and gave me a lovely blessing which I recorded on the sly. I wish I had done the same with the previous blessing. I am grateful for the priesthood that is used for the blessing and uplift of God's children, and for the myriad ways it blesses my life specifically. I will try and do my best to magnify my calling.

Dear Sister Katherine DeMartini Barrus, in the name of Jesus Christ and by the authority of the Melchedezidek Priesthood, we lay our hands on your head and set you apart as the Second Counselor in the Stake Young Women's Presidency of the Provo, Utah Sharon East Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and bless you, Sister Barrus, with all of the rights, the powers, the authority, and privileges you need to serve in your calling in ways that will be significant, important, and effective. We bless you, Sister Barrus, to know that you have been called of the Lord to serve and that through your service, many will hear the voice of the Lord through your example, through your love, through your kindness, through your personality. Not only will they see an example of a Christlike follower, but they will hear your voice and they will understand that you love them and that they can trust you and follow you. We bless you in your own home, that as you teach your children who have been blessed to come to your home, to you and to Kent, that you will be given additional insights and inspiration in how you can guide and direct them. We bless you with peace, with confidence that the Lord knows you, that He knows you as a mother, that He knows you as a spouse, and is grateful for you. And we bless you that in these roles, you will be blessed and be magnified in ways that will help you. We bless you that as you teach and as you counsel together both with your presidency, but also with young women leaders and with the young women, that you also will be given inspiration and direction. This is part of the blessing that comes to those who are called to this position. So we bless you that you will be mindful and aware and that you will write down those things that come to your mind that will be helpful in the moment, but also in the future, and bless you to keep a record of those things that will come to you. We bless you that as you plead to the Lord and pray unto him, not only will He hear your prayers, but He will give you guidance and direction and answers, and that additional answers will come as you continue to pray and ask for additional direction. We bless you that as you serve, you will also feel comfortable in sharing your thoughts and feelings and that the relationship that you have as a presidency will grow and develop in ways that will be such a blessing to you and to your family. We bless you and through you, we bless your children and your sweetheart, that they will be blessed as you serve. You have given a life of examples of service and dedication and we bless you now that as you accept this call to serve, that there will be a great spirit in your home and in your life. We bless you with the blessings of health and strength, of happiness, and bless you now to go forward in the blessings of the Lord and bless you with all the other things you need. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Peace

Blythe thought she looked particularly cute today and took quite a few selfies. I must agree. She does look particularly cute. And full of a desire for peace on Earth.

FSY - For the Strength of Youth

Hi, this is Brandt. this week I went to FSY I had a fun time. I went and bunked with my friend Paul. We stayed in the dorms at Helaman Halls and ate breakfast and dinner at the Cannon Center. Our first day, Dad took us down to check in and get our "swag" (t-shirt, lanyard, meal card, schedule, keys, and a bag) and went to our room. Then we met our counselor, Brock, and the other youth in our company (pictured below). They are nice guys and I had fun with them all week.

We went to an orientation to get us pumped up for the week and they told us the rules and everything like that. They introduced the theme, this year's youth theme. "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind.” (D&C 64:33-34) We played some family home evening games as a company and set some goals. Our company goals were to memorize everyone's name and memorize the theme, and then set individual goals. 

Top row: Logan, Cameron, Nash, Daniel, Jack

Bottom row: Carter, Levi, Reuben, Paul, Brandt, Reed, Woody 

The rest of the week, every day started with a company devotional. We met in someone's room and someone gave a thought. We mostly met in our room because Paul and I kept our room pretty clean. I never made the bed. I didn't even put the sheets on the bed. I just slept on the mattress with a blanket thrown over me. And I slept in my clothes, long pants and a hoodie. Lights out was at 9:30pm. The counselors would come around and check to see if there was light under the door.

The last night, Paul and I stayed up watching a movie. We heard a counselor out in the hallway. I looked out through the peephole and he was on the floor checking out the room across the hall. I waited by the door for him to come to us, and when he moved to our door, I threw it open and scared him. It was funny! I should have been recording for my youtube channel Blarrow . 

During the rest of the days, we went to classes. There were topics we could choose that interested us. I helped set up a sound system for one of the classes. The teacher couldn't figure out how to set it up, so I did it for him. We created a banner and cheer for our company. Our cheer was "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God!" We had two dances; I played cards during both of them. I was refused by a couple of girls I asked to dance, so I just didn't. We had a whole group of people play with us (me and Paul) including two counselors. We played Blackjack and I taught them Six Tricks. We had a game and pizza night. We had friendly competition between companies and ate pizza. We were all tired so we didn't give it much effort. 

The fourth night we had a talent show. It was cool. One kid brought his butterfly knife, but because weapons weren't allowed, he had to use his practice one. He tossed it up in the air and caught it. It was super cool. There was magic. There was a guy who asked three random girls to come up on stage and help him with a magic trick. He asked them to write down their numbers, then he just walked off stage. There was another magic trick that was amazing. This dude blew bubbles to very intense magic music, then held his hands around the bubbles as they fell to the floor. Then were was a musical program, but you had to sign up and stuff and I didn't. We finished that day with a testimony meeting. A couple of groups were combined, not the whole big group. I cried. 

It was a great week. I really enjoyed it. I would go again.

Doing Manly Shooting

Kent and Brandt went shooting this morning with Guy, Blake, and Luke. Brandt reports, "It was fun. We went shooting. What more do I need to say?"

Kent reports they went up Hobble Creek Canyon and shot into the hillside. They used a variety of weaponry. Brandt is a pretty good shot. Says Kent, "It certainly makes one feel macho shooting high-powered weaponry."

Night Games

 

Brandt playing night games in the culdesac.

He's with Luke Stovall and Same Oyler.

So fun to run around the neighborhood with friends!

Birds and Bees and Other Things

This is, sadly, too true.

Water Balloon Fight!

When we were doing our summer planning, Brick requested we have a massive water balloon fight. How fun does that sound? Super fun! Today was the day, and we gathered to fill balloons and then throw them at each other. We had close to 2,000, placed them strategically around Mom's front yard, and then went at it. We all ended up soaking wet which I think was the goal. It was wild fun, everyone from Mom to Thea was actively engaged in the battle, and we all shrieked in delight (and sometimes pain). It took more time to pick up all the little bits of balloon all over the yard than it did to fill then empty them, but we all had a great time.

We did a fun Boomerang with us all holding balloons that we popped at the same time,

but it doesn't translate to a still shot.

Too bad.

Because we were already at Grandma Sue's house, and we were already wet, and the day was still relatively young, we decided to just stay and swim. Every time we swim with cousins, someone, usually Lyla, asks me if I've got my waterproof camera. I did remember to bring it today, so we have a series of pictures, mostly taken by Kal, of our swimming in the pool. 

And because Kal is only four, most of the pictures are terrible. There were 209 pictures of the side of the pool with Cora under the water and then coming up out of the water. There were 142 pictures of Freya in the kiddie pool, with and without Kal fingers, none in focus. And there were 23 underwater pictures of nothing but water, not even a body part. There were 5 pictures underwater with body parts, but no one wants to see pictures of headless chubby bodies floating in water. There were 23 body parts pictures taken so close as to render the body unidentifiable. Then were five pictures of structures outside the pool, and then there were some pictures that weren't completely a waste. Here is a smattering of those.

A good picture of Lyla.

An example of the 5 pictures with body parts.

This is a cute picture of Freya.

A reasonable, though slightly out of focus picture of me.

Blake

This is Cora

This is one of the 142 pictures of Freya in the kiddie pool with varying degrees of Kal's fingers in.