End of School Year and a fun weekend retreat: Mostly pictures.

First, an undate on baby Zack

Zack had an MRI on Friday.  The doctors were looking for any differences in the two sides of the brain that would indicate cerebral palsey.  The neurologists were worried because Zack has hypotonia in his core, but hypertonia in his legs.  The physical therapist told Crista she didn't think he could have cerebral palsey because his movements were symmetrical. The brain scan was encouraging because no differences were detected.  He did have a cyst between the lobes, which is concerning but not unusual; even in "normal" children.  They will watch the cyst to make sure it doesn't get larger because if it grows it could cause some problems with his eyesight.  They said they can treat it if that happens.  His brain looked normal.  Zack is also going to get a helmet this coming week to help with the shape of his head.  Because of his hypotonia (muscle weakness), he has had to lay on his back too often.  Crista tried to prevent the need for the helmet by laying Zack on his side.  She was able to improve the shape, but not completely fix it.  

Thought for the Week

I'm listening to a book on Audible (suggested by Elise) called, The Power of Vulnerability, by Brene Brown.  She's not a member of our faith, but she has a lot of good insights.  This is her definition of faith:

"Faith is a place of mystery where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see, and the strength to let go of our fear and uncertainty."  She said that she feels that there are many people who are not religious at all that have deep faith, and some religious people that don't have faith at all.  She shares a quote by Theologian Richard Rohr: "My scientist friends have come up with things like principles of uncertainty and dark holes.  They're willing to live inside imagined hypothesis and theories, but many religious folks insist on answers that are always true.  We love closure, resolution, clarity, while thinking that we are people of faith.  How very strange that the word faith has come to mean its exact opposite."

Brene continues: "Faith and reason are not natural opponents.  It's our need for certainty that have pitted faith and reason against each other...How uncertain will our lives be if we believe that faith and reason can't coexist.  Some things will be mysteries that we will not understand, and other things are worth the pursuit of understanding and explaining.  We would rather be miserable and certain than wholehearted and uncertain."  She encourages us to find room for uncertainty.  She asks, "What do you do to protect yourself from the vulnerability of that uncertainty."  She tells us to make space for our "gut" [she's saying gut is intuition, I think it's the Spirit] with silence and asks how many of purposely create white space in our life for silence.  Of course, when we add our definition of faith it may change how many religious or non-religious people can actually claim to have faith: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.  And Alma's definition is similar; Alma 32:21 reads: Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen which are true." But even with the definition from the scriptures, I thought Brene made some good points.  

 Pictures from last Sunday's family dinner

Roy with Cub;  Caitlyn with Foster and Cub

Zack, Catharine and Roy; Dan, AJ, Roy, Nick and Jieun

Doyeon, Dallin and Caitlyn

Caitlyn with Effie, Dojin, Cub and Doyeon;  Cub and Yuna

  Finn and Gunnar (not great lighting, but great kids!); Dojin, Foster and Effie

Ila: Even when the weather's great for outside entertainment, the kids still love the dress-ups!

Hyeji, practicing her jumps and tricks since she's now on the cheer team for next year!

Grandma with Zack and Cub

    Dojin with Effie and Foster.  I think 

    these three hung out the whole night.

End of School Year Activities

Doyeon graduating from Elementary School. On the right she's with one of her school friends.  

Harvey, end of year pre-school program.  He's the one on the left 😁

And Hyeji's first cheerleading opportunity since making the team for next year.

Weekend Getaway to Flaming Gorge

On Thursday Roy made the trip to Green River Wyoming to register some of our vehicles in Wyoming (since we have a Wyoming residence).  He stopped at the Intergalactic Spaceport but said there was no one there.  

Friday we were joined by Caitlyn and Dallin and we enjoyed an all-day side by side ride.  It was perfect weather for it; a little on the cool side, but not too cold with lots of sunshine

We gathered a few rocks to add to our rock garden by the creek.  Caitlyn thought I was funny to stop for rocks.  We enjoyed a little hike around this area.  We didn't see any people other than each other.

          

A view of the lake

A view of the valley (north side of the mountains)

Saturday we were invited to a picnic with Keith and Cindy Larsen and their extended family.  Keith has 10 siblings and their family owns some acreage down by the river.  They had a large fire going and lots of delicious food.  We brought baked beans to add to the fare (and a small bowl of banana pudding).  Cindy had made enough homemade noodles for everyone.  She had made 2 kinds of soup; a chicken noodle and a beef noodle.  She was worried it wasn't a picnic kind of food, but since it was a cool day, the soup was perfect.  I've never put mashed potatoes in my soup, but they were all doing that, so I tried a little that way.  I think I liked it better without.  There was also the option of sloppy joes and several sides.  It was a beautiful spot.  When we were leaving, Keith said we could use the spot for camping anytime we wanted.  I don't think there were facilites, but it would be a great spot for a family picnic.

A Few Saturday Chores

Roy spreading some pasture dry mix on our lot.

Other Happenings

Bridget making pizza with mom

2nd injury for Beverly this week.  The church door somehow got her toe.  Luckily, Andy's equipped to handle this kind of emergency.  Her toe required 3 deep stitches and three surface stitches.  It's nice to have a doctor in the house when you need one.  The first injury involved scissors but no stitches.