A Great Day

Yesterday was a great day. Not only was it Nathan's 16th birthday (how did THAT happen?!) but I was able to go to the temple with four friends during the day while the kids were at school.

First the temple trip. The timing worked out perfectly, although as always happens when I'm planning to go to the temple, it seemed like things would fall apart before I left the house. Normally, my morning routine goes like this: Ben gets on the bus between 7:15 and 7:20. I have to leave to take Nate to seminary at 7:15, so Kylie usually stands out at the bus stop with Ben. Then I get back from taking Nate at 7:35 and get the girls out the door at 8:10. So I was planning to leave right at 8:10 to catch the 8:45 ferry. Everything should work perfectly. Except that since it was Nate's birthday, he wanted to bring donuts to seminary so we had to leave at 7:05 to stop at Safeway first. Which would have been fine, except that Kylie had a Natural Helper's meeting at 8:00, so she had to go with us. Fortunately, Brad decided to go in to work on the 8:45 ferry with me, so he was home to take Ben out to the bus. Disaster avoided. Poor Kylie had to wait at the school for 1/2 an hour before her meeting because I had to rush home and get ready for the temple. (I should have woken up at 6:00 instead of 6:30 and gotten ready early, I guess.) I got ready just in time to take Jillian out to the bus stop. The bus come right on time and Brad and I were out the door by 8:15. Driving on to the ferry always stresses me out because I never know how early I should get there to make sure I get on. Fortunately we made it just in time. Five minutes later and we might have been too late. My four friends met me on the ferry and we had a nice ride over to Seattle. But it was very foggy and the ferry was running behind because of it. We got to the temple at 9:50 for a 10:00 session...just in time! The session we were in ended up being a "hearing impared" session and there were technical difficulties in the middle of it. I've never seen that happen before. So it went a little longer than normal and we were out at 12:20. Plenty of time to catch the 1:10 ferry back and be home by 2:15. Ben gets home at 2:40, so everything worked out perfectly. It was wonderful to have that spiritual boost in the middle of the week, and to share it with friends. I'm looking forward to doing this once a month!

After all the kids got home, it was time for piano and guitar lessons. Then home for dinner and a quick birthday celebration for Nate before I had to go to the High School open house. I can't wrap my mind around the fact that Nate is 16 already. He only has three more years and then he'll be on his mission and starting his own life. Scary! It really makes me wonder if I've done enough as a mother to prepare him. I know, I still have three years, so I'd better evaluate and start cramming things in these last few years!

We got him a cell phone for his birthday. He's been asking for one since 7th grade, not pestering or anything, but hinting that he'd like one. We told him when he started driving we'd get him one. And now he's driving. I had it wrapped up and sitting on the counter. When Brad got home I whispered to him to call the number. We sat down to eat dinner and the package on the counter starts buzzing and playing music. At first no one but Brad and I noticed. He called it again, and then Ben picked up on it and said, "Someone's phone is ringing." Nate still didn't notice anything. Then the third time, Ben grabbed the package and brought it over to Nate, who had a huge smile on his face as he tore open the wrapping. I love to see him smile! Happy Birthday, Nate!