Called to Serve: Elder Mains

I never posted and this needs a permanent spot here on the blog. 

Ryan received his mission call! 

Singapore, teaching in Malay. Both of his grandparents served in this mission. I am so happy for him, I could burst. And I am just so proud. Ryan doesn’t half-effort anything, including the way he serves. He’s totally cooking in his language study and all of his mission prep endeavors. The Willy kids are all super blessed to have his example. He is going to be an excellent missionary. Congrats, Elder Mains! 

Soren on strings: WJHS fall concert

 

Soren had a fun fall Orchestra concert. He really likes playing the cello and has found a nice cohort of friends, Many of who overlap with his church, basketball, soccer, and cross country circles. 

He had a little cello solo and performed two songs with the chamber group he’s been practicing a couple days a week with. I worried that being the third cellist in the family would not fulfill any individual needs Soren has, but he has really worked hard to run with it and made it his own. Above is a clip from the chamber group performing Donegal Fiddles. 

Soren, Cadence G

Trace B, cousins Lily M, Corbin, Soren

Corbin is such a proud big brother. He left his youth activity early to come watch Soren, cheered loudly, and then stayed after to pack up chairs and music stands for Mr Collett.  

I took Soren and Trace to Braums with some orchestra friends. Brody and Levi S, Huntington M, Cadence G, Soren, Trace, Amelia H, Cassidy P, ?, and Myla B

Soren Job Shadow

Soren had a job shadow yesterday, and set one up for himself with brother Baker at River Dental.  He got to watch a couple root canals, and several extractions. He loved it! I asked if he thought it was gross and he just shrugged and said, “Nah. Bloody teeth are still so much better than school, Ma.” 

 

Meg-enstein

 I had a cyst extracted from yesterday and shipped off to pathology. I’m now sporting 4 sutures and it’s all bandaged up for the next 10 days, but my children saw me change the dressing and told me I look just like Frankenstein. Adding insult to injury, my dermatologist zapped a whole bunch of iffy spots on my body with his Mr Freeze gun that looks and feels like a portable blow torch. I popped in my noise canceling air pods, turned up my “mega chiller” playlist, closed my eyes, and disassociated for 30 minutes. Worked like a charm. I treated myself to the first peppermint swig cookie of the season (not) on my way home.

 I feel crummy today, but ibuprofen, a lunch with Ryan, and Christmas decorations are coming in clutch. As is this 70* weather, even though it’s not very compatible with the turtleneck I put on to cover the big bandage. 

I have laundered every blanket and bed linen in my entire home over the past two days. I decided what I really want to comfort my stitched Franken-neck are flannel sheets. I love sleeping on flannel sheets more than pretty much anything in the world. 

So I pulled the little downhill skier sheets from storage, washed them, and flanneled up my bed today. And then I went downstairs and put a Christmas wallflower in Corbin‘s room and swapped his bedding out for flannel sheets and a flannel Christmas comforter. As I tucked sheets and fluffed pillows and stuffed the duvet, I thought about how we really have no idea where Corbin will be living at this same time next year. An unknown of that magnitude must really rattle up Corbin’s brain. It brought me immense joy to make a Christmas bed for him and provide a stable corner of flannel security for him to crawl into at the end of the day. I also thought about all the cuts and stitches and bloody wounds I’ve dressed over the years. So much can be healed with cookies and a cozy bed. 

Might get real wild and put a wreath above the headboard, too. Be excited, ya never know what FrankenMeg’s next move is. 

Weekend Willies

 

At Soren’s request, I taught him, Corbin, and Aaron how to play Mahjong tonight. Corbin and Soren are so funny. Corbin just likes to rage bait me and it’s 90% hilarious and 10% obnoxious and effectively aggravating. His new snarky vocal stim to throw out in response to anything is, “come sit on me, I’m Santa.”

 I cannot keep a straight face. It’s so dumb, but so funny coming from his mouth, always out of the blue with no context. He said it to Caleb Johnston from the sofa during the BYU game on Saturday and everyone was in stitches. 

Tonight was the first rehearsal for the Sugar Creek Ward orchestra for holiday performances at the giving machine on the square. There is also a cello choir for 8th grade + that sounds great! 

Tommy and Clark Bingham were sweet to work with Esme before rehearsal started. 

With a lot of help from Grammie, Sloane crocheted a fat orange cat  stuffy. She named it crookshanks and it’s going on the Harry Potter tree. It’s crazy adorable and she is SO proud of herself. 

This photo memory came up and I can’t stop thinking about it. This was one of my all time favorite mom days. Now I feel the need to play hookie and go to Tulsa zoo. Do tweens and teens want to go to the zoo? I hope so. 

My dad turned 82 this week. I love him and am proud to tell people he’s my dad. He has done a beautiful job dedicating his life to providing his family with love, shelter, a testimony, safety and sustenance. We have been well fed in all the ways. I love you, Dad-o! 

Another pal showed up for a buzz cut after youth activities on Wednesday night. Corbin and Soren were at hoops, but Rich brought 2 girls and 3 guys over. I am learning that the buzz cut requires an audience. He assured me his mother knew. Halfway through, I heard a disdainful, “oh my. Your mother won’t like this at all.” Richard’s brother had their dad on FaceTime.  I should make sure next time to use the word “approve” instead of “know”. This buzz trend is hurting my rep as a respectable barber. (Barbette? Barbie? Is there a female title for barber? Is that just Spanish duolingo messing with my brain?)  

They love their new looks and peacock around telling each other they look “so tuff”.  Corbin is not on board yet. I am not sad about it. 

After the Halloween buzzing, I found so many clothes laying around the living room that I’m certain there has to be a whole teenager just running around desnudo somewhere. I’m relieved to know my boys are not exclusive in the living room clothing trail blazing craft. I sent a photo of said clothing articles (a windbreaker pullover, a crewneck sweatshirt, a pair of sweatpants, a beater tank, and a tee) asking the buzz boys if anything belonged to them, and the thread of comments is still going. Here’s the start though. Teenagers are so funny. 

Corbin helped himself to my $28 mascara for eye black for the big rivalry BHS v West football game last night. I want to be annoyed, since a washable marker could have done the same job, but I will choose to be satisfied that my son has good taste in his choice of beauty products. 

Our Cougs had a devastating loss to Utah in the Holy War. Things looked good for a while, but went south again. We went to the Johnsons to watch and the Willies filled their home with messy noise for a few hours. Corbin hugged Tiffany a few times and Tiffany said it melted her heart. Soren tackled me to the sofa after a byu touchdown and Tiffany said she wished it was her. Corbin said Ammon tackled hugged Tiffany every day after school clear through senior year. I can relate to the void after they leave for school…I didn’t know what to do with myself with no daughters climbing into my bed or literally joining me in my closet as I got dressed. (there is zero privacy in a house with Quincy). I still have a decent succession of sons lined up to provide Bear hugs as my older crowd leave for missions and college, but I do not see myself adapting to an empty nest with ease when this resource runs out. Especially after decades of having Velcro children in my bubble. I’m happy ny boys share their love and hugs with other mons doing the good work of mothering all around them. We live for it. 

Sloane was invited to Londons with the sole purpose of destroying a massive leaf pile Elmer created. I don’t know if a leaf pile jump is quite as satisfying without investing hours of work raking it yourself, but I they seemed to have no trouble enjoying themselves! Poor Elmer. 

There’s an old barn on one of the many mountain bike trails in north Bentonville that I pass several times a day on my route to town from Bella Vista.  I noticed a year ago that it is lit up at night. Like a lot. Neon signs, maybe? 

For a date tonight, I borrowed my parents car, stocked it with blankets, and we grabbed takeout and parked on the trail near the new crystal bridges expansion. We popped the trunk open and sat on the back bumper with our blankets and ate and talked about the kids and current events and family drama and all the what ifs and what’s nexts we could scheme up. A power yap, if you will. Then we walked on the trail in the pitch of night toward the glowing edifice in the woods. 

It’s an art installation. And it’s rad. Bentonville is way cool. 

The words “we rise by lifting others” and “dance now, think later” illuminate the space in big marquee letters. Some old school deep house hip hop music was blasting over the  speakers from a public radio station as part of the installation. Very cool. I love where I live. And I love dancing with Aaron in a random art barn. 

There is Peace in Christ

Here’s something super sweet to kick off your weekend. 

Sloane learned this in 15 minutes and decided we should record it to send to Quincy. 

We only did one take, but it was too big to post here so I just uploaded it in  little clips.

It’s no masterpiece but come on…I mean are you kidding me with this cuteness? 

 Esme wanted in on this and I started teaching her, too. 

I submit that there is no better way to spend a Friday night than this goodness right here. My heart is full. 

Defibrillator Friend

I had a short lunch visit with my dear Kristi and this woman, this fierce, joyful, deep thinking, driven and thoughtful, creative, persevering. loving friend woke up part of my soul that I think has been asleep since our last visit. An hour with Kristi is like getting strapped to an AED machine and the energy she gives off fires through me like a current that shocks me back to life. 

 

I feel like I am the most authentic version of myself around her because she has the same zest for life and desire for making things fun. Kristi calms my fear of becoming bored or boring. She likes to like things, just like me. She collects friends, tries new hobbies with confidence, and wins things. (Really. She just does. Contests, drawings, raffle prizes, life, whatever. Kristi wins. It’s a thing.) She is super smart and charismatic. It’s wild because there’s one and only one Kristi Aase in my life, but I think she has like 25 Meg Willardsons, so I feel extra grateful she made time for me, when I know she really didn’t have time to spare. 

She’s still so real about hard things. But I love the way she leans into every emotion full send and says all the things. Big vulnerability and big returns. My kind of people.

We laughed to tears and also had actual tears all in our little lunch escape.

She reminds me to breathe and go for it, this one. 

She just does things and inspires me to just do things too. 

Bless the great influential women in my life and any chance I get to rub shoulders for an hour. 

I love her. 

Lucky Lunch Lady

Corbin has had a slightly longer lunch break a few days in the past week, so he came home for lunch. I made him a turkey avocado sandwich on sourdough and he curled up on the sofa to eat. He was only home 20 minutes, but I’ll take any time I can get. 

Throwback to this little lunch date. Corbin truly hazed me in to life as boy mom. I think he’s the best product because he has his boy world, but was still raised by two sisters abd Barbie Princess and the Pauper. 

Here he is another day that he dropped in for lunch “on the way” to an Ignite event. Corbin in a suit: 5 stars.  No Shave November: zero stars. Leftover lasagne with Corbin? Not enough stars to list. 

My reels algorithm reads my life energy so well and keeps sending me funny @what it’s like to have boys/brothers reels where moms are getting jump scared outside their car, always picking up shoes, getting a sweet bear hug that is chased a Dutch oven, but also being begged to come tuck them in, or mom getting air boxed while serving a dozen boys waffles and she’s wearing whatever hoodie her son left laying around. They’re always super accurate and so funny.  

Just me forever fan girling over here. 

Next year will be tough without him around. 

 

Welcome November

One can always tell when Soren sat up front last. The air vents are closed, or the passenger side temp is 90* and the seat warmer is on. Soren’s body temperature control is a little iffy at best. He gets in your car and immediately begins pushing buttons and touching and moving all the things. He is usually very schwetty. I feel like an nyc cabbie as I’m booting him to the back. “Aye stop touchin everything. Don’t mess with my air. Stop. STOP. For real stop ok you betta simma down now. Stop it with the air.” 

We fed the missionaries last night. I made a homemade lasagne at the humble request of one of the sisters who is feeling pretty homesick. A member in Korea once gave Quincy tortilla chips and 8oz of cheese and she starting a crying. I hope this darling sister felt all the love I put between delicious lasagne layers. Here’s a pic before I popped it in the oven to puff up and get all golden and melty and perfect. I served it with homemade French bread and a salad. Gorgeous.

 A couple days a week between middle school pickup and when Soren gets out, you’ll find us at the fitness center. I reserve a badminton court and we go play doubles for 30 minutes or so. It’s super fun. Sloane wants to find a youth league to join. 

My parents are back in Arkansas and the van is out of the shop. This means I am back to driving the van after a glorious week in a Honda pilot. I made a terrible mistake and looked in the way back seat of the van today today. It’s a science experiment. The boat cover, 3 fishing poles, a wakeboard, markers, a race medal, playing cards, a journal, backpack, scriptures, blanket, a coat hanger, a library book,  a red wig, candy wrappers, an air freshener, protein drinks, socks (ALWAYS SOCKS) etc. 

I just wanna board it up and walk away. 

For Dia de Los muertos, we made rolling tacos and played Lotería (Mexican bingo) as a family. It was extra funny because Reese and Logan and Quincy were on FaceTime and Ryan and Soren were comically competitive. 

Then we watched Coco.

 I love this movie. I went to the temple this morning and felt a wave of closeness and gratitude for the posterity and ancestors rooting for us on the other side. Also, Abuelita might be my favorite cartoon character ever the way she loves on her children and grandchildren but also has eyes everywhere and will chase you down with her chancla. Mad respect for abuelita and her wild grudge holding ability. I pity any fool who wrongs her daughters. 

Last night I spent an hour catching rebounds for Soren and just listened while he unpacked his take on the effectiveness of two days of disciplinary ISS for an impulsive action.

 I love him so much. I love being a boy mom. I’m not a skilled basketball player, nor do I find much joy at all in playing the game. But I do love to watch. And anytime a mother gets to post herself under the hoop catching rebounds with buckets of words from a mouthy son is a sacred position to hold. 

Corbin’s BYU application is IN! 

We made it, everyone.  The weeks on wend of anxiety and late laaaaate nights sitting up with him at the end of the sofa while he edited essays. The 1-2am crash outs weighing pros and cons and beating dead horses while he wrestled with the the decision to apply for summer or fall…which resulted in 4pm battles, encouraging the now over-tired and cranky Corbin not to nap because his sleep schedule was just so wacked. It’s been a season! 

I got Corbin a daylight simulator alarm clock and have been appointed as afternoon bad guy to keep him awake. Anyone with a teen whose sleep schedule is off knows this is SO much worse than a toddler who missed a nap or midnight feeding a newborn. Quincy went through something similar. It sucked then, too. 

But we made it. Corbin is mostly on the better end of it.  

I will soon be prioritizing my own sleep. 

Today? We celebrate that the biggest monkey is off Corbin’s back. I didn’t realize how tense it was until he hit submit at 2am and we all (me, him, Quincy on pday FaceTime) breathed sighs of relief for him. And for us. 

I am proud of Corbin. He put his heart into his essays and worked hard on his application. He signed himself up for an ACT retake and raised his score 4 points. He shared a thoughtful testimony on Sunday with his experience of including Heavenly Father in his plans, and following promptings even when it wasn’t the easiest route.

Are you bready for it? 

I received some criticism from a drop by visitor last week that my younger children are “not getting a magical childhood” because I invest so much energy on my kids that are adults. this happened during dinner time rush and I was also helping a little with homework and cooking. Two kids were practicing instruments. One was having a bit of a meltdown on the stairs. I was discouraged by the judgement—especially since it came at me during a chaotic hour that I felt like I handled pretty smoothly. I wish I’d just dismissed the commentary and moved on. 

But I didn’t. 

Unfortunately, I welcomed the negativity right under my skin and let it itch away at my heart. Probably because I didn’t say anything in defense of what I do. I disagree with both the statement that I’m not doing enough for my little kids, and with the idea that teen and adult children do not need attentive mothering. Those discouraging ideas sound so much like the adversary thoughts that I already argue with too often.

 I don’t often get to actually hear them voiced to me in concerned observation of my parenting style, though, and it shook me. 

The same day I ruminated over this hurt to myself in my head, Kasey spontaneously dropped off a loaf of cranberry sour dough and a fresh balsam candle (saying “I know you are burning the candle at both ends right now. Hold on!”) the bread is incredible. She is incredible. I am thankful she followed a prompting to breathe validating truth back into my brain.

Be a Kasey. Be the friend that cheerleads instead of judges or criticizes. Be the voice that reminds someone to believe in themself when they are worked and weary.

We are all doing our best to create lives that we love. 

Rolling tacos and This Corn is Like an Angel Elote 

I love the rolling tacos at a local taco truck. Ryan tried them for the first time last week and we decided to try and recreate them for Sunday dinner. The girls and I picked up all the ingredients Friday night and we made some killer tacos on Sunday. I made cilantro lime rice and a pan of elote to go with. The first time I made this, Quincy quoted one our very favorite movies, Dan in Real Life, “this corn is like an angel!” And the name stuck. 

Mix 2 cans of sweet corn kernels(drained) and 1 lb of frozen corn, 1/2 c crema, 1/2 c cotija cheese, juice from 1 lime. Top with tajin. Serve at room temp. 

For the Rolling Taco dupes: 

Layer 2 corn tortillas like a venn diagram on the black stone. Top with melting cheese (jack), chopped carne asada (cooked on the black stone), and a fat slice of avocado. Sprinkle with cilantro and fold the tortilla sides over and flip. Serve with limes and green sauce.

I bought Reese a Christmas tree today and I’m about ready to deck the halls around here. I wish my big girls were here to be festive and decorate with me! 

Jumped and Buzzed

 New tapes going up on the Willy Vert board. 

Corbin and Ryan’s friend, Noah, has been planning to get a buzz cut for months. He had to wait until senior pics were done and decided on a Halloween buzz watch party. 

They all came over together as soon as the BYU game ended. 

He wanted to do something ridiculous with the hair first, so I gave him a classic bowl cut… which he somehow managed to absolutely mog as well. Forgive me, Lisa. 😂 At least I didn’t leave him like this. 

Corbin, James S, Kyle, Neal R, Brody S, Ariana D, and Landon W circled up. 1 successful buzz cut became two when James sat down then Neal made three…and then Brody for buzz number four. 

Special shout out to Corbin here. He is the most welcoming and inclusive guy. He puts prayerful effort into this skill and daily I can see more and more what a good friend he has grown to become. If I moved somewhere, and my kids needed a friend, I would choose Corbin 100%. 

Neal’s hair was too long for missionary standards. I think he starts his mission in 6 weeks, so it should be a perfect length by then. 

I won’t lie. I don’t love the buzz cut or understand why every boy around 17-19 feels the need to get one. Perhaps it’s a rite of passage? It seems to make them look either way older or way younger. Maybe that’s the goal. I don’t know but there were so many laughs and smiles and funny shocked squeals during the buzz-a-palooza process that I think it was worth it. Hair grows. Memories last. 

They all left for a party at Sydney’s feeling happy and extremely confident, so I hope their mothers forgive me when they see their hairless sons this morning.