Merry Christmas from the Secrists...

There's a New Sheriff In Town

I drove the girls to school and West came along for the ride.  We walked on campus and I turned around and he was shooting everything in sight with his toy gun.  Neeley said, "Dad, I don't think you can even have toy guns at school." By number three, these are just details I don't stress about or think about anymore.  On the way back home, while in the car, I turn around to say something and see that Sheriff West is finger sucking, gun wielding (notice its placement in the picture), and blanket carrying.  I'd hate to meet up with him in a dark alley.  

San Diego Color Run

Best. Day. EVER

With my brother Kyle.  West demonstrating how he feels about taking pictures. 

2012 Primary Program

Yesterday was our 2012 Primary Program.  Taani is in the presidency and wrote the program and did an outstanding job.  The closing number was an arrangement of I Am a Child of God and they sang the 1st verse in Chinese (our Ward is part Chinese Branch) - amazing.  Violins, amazing arrangements, great talks.  It really was touching.  

And a highlight for us...Hattie and Neeley played a piano duet.  See movie below.  It was great to have Taani's parents visit too - so good to live close that they can come to things like this.  

What?

Me (Ryan) after scripture reading this morning:  Let's see, who's turn is it to pray.  It was Neeley yesterday so it must be West today.

West:  BOOYAH!

Amen.

Happy Halloween!

Tonight we had our Ward Party.  There was a pumpkin carving contest...which we take VERY seriously.  First place...bring it.

We Miss 'em.

The best highlight of our October has been a visit from the Worthen family.  We miss this crew terribly and although Lindsey has not forgiven me (Ryan) for taking our crew to CA, we felt lucky for having them in our home.  These kids all care deeply about one another.  What a great family!

Down On the Farm!

Yesterday I took the kids and we headed north to Faulkner Farms in Santa Paula (http://www.faulknerfarmpumpkinpatch.com) and enjoyed a great afternoon!  It was surprisingly entertaining and we enjoyed the scenery!  What an outstanding day!

This is the Faulkner Farm House that sits on the property.

A great view of the big red barn across the pumpkin patch.  Its great to see barns like this again - the barns on the farmland used to be my favorite thing about living in Illinois.  

West and his new "picture face."  You say you are taking a picture and you get a contorted smile.  They loved the animals at the barn.

Hunting for pumpkins and got a tad distracted.  We did find two near perfect pumpkins!  The kids LOVED the pumpkins and hunting for our pumpkins.  There was a massive pumpkin launch as well.  That device tossed the pumpkins at least 25 yards where they hit a target and split wide open.

With their friend Sara.  We stopped in Santa Monica and picked up my business partner and his daughter.  The kids love hanging out.

 So much to do!  Look at the backdrop.  It was great to get into open country yesterday and just chill out!  Great day.

Double Digits. The BIG 1-0!

Fun Day!  Hattie chose to take the family to The American Girl Store today for shopping and lunch.  Our AG store is in a great shopping district called The Groves.  We had a great time.  It's hard to believe 10 years ago, on a crisp night in Chicago we rushed to the hospital for a surprise delivery of our oldest.  She's an amazing kid.  She loves to read.  Has embraced the change of our family and is thriving at school, is kind to all, and is a good student.  We love you Hattie-pants.

We have a Dylan's Candy Bar!  We saw this in NYC and stumbled in.  The kids were amazed.  This is an amazing place.  

Dessert at the AG Cafe!  

West's picture face.  

Go Dodgers?

Strings Attached!

She's excited.  We are too!  I have to admit I enjoy unzipping her violin case and taking a peak at this newly purchased, hand made piece of art.  We live in an amazing community that provides six months of lessons and a youth orchestra so it all came together to study under one of the best violinists in the world.  I love the opportunities in LA.  So great.  Go Neeley, Go!  Lesson one done.

After conducting a choir, I love a good violinist.  She's got it in her and has been so excited.

Bucket List Item: CHECK!

Fun week in Austin for Keller Williams Annual Mega Agent and Mega Leadership Camp.  Mo Anderson, a huge leader in KW invited me to speak on a leadership panel for the company.  Mo is an icon in the industry and one of the current biggest influences in my life.  This was a HUGE honor.  She's the former CEO of KW and launched it into what it is today and at 75 is the Vice Chairman of the Board.  When asked if she'd retire she said "NO FREAKIN WAY" while I was on stage.  

She is the one that put God, Family and THEN business into KW.  

She rebuilt her world after loosing it all at age 55.  

She is firm in the convictions of her heart.

She leads an Inspirational Brunch annually at our convention where she has all major religions offer prayers (no words can describe the entire event - nothing like it in business).

She is a servant leader and it was an honor to be interviewed by her in front of the whole company.  A huge bucket list item fulfilled.  She has changed how I view leadership as we've gotten to know one 

another.  

Life Snaphots

Random shots from the last few weeks...some of our favorite things.

1.  Newport Beach...fun living minutes away!

2. At the Newport Temple on a Sunday drive (so fun to get in the car and be within a minute of million great things).  Forgot about toll roads...hoping that cam didn't work (I have a history).

3.  See that line going from the lower left to the upper right?  Yup, stairs!  I run these puppies a few times a week.  They go behind the trees in the lower left.  Bring it.  Lines crossing over are runoff drains.

4.  From the bottom looking up.  These are a quick drive from our home.  Love this workout.

5.  The view from the top of the stairs.  Yeah baby, that's the ocean. There is something that mellows my intense personality living by the beach.  BIG TIME.

6.  Our new favorite toys - our backpack beach chairs and umbrellas.  Thanks B and D - you nailed it!  Now that we have the beach chairs time for paddle boarding.  This is our favorite beach - Locals only really.  It feels like "our beach."  Its the one right by our house and people are familiar - the lifeguard, the surfing twins, the sun bather, families...we see the same people and we love it.

7.  And just to drive it home...West with a light saber in his pants.  This picture needs no caption.

California 1st Day of School

Hattie - 4th Grade

Neeley - 2nd Grade

West - Preschool

Hattie and Mrs. Palmer.  Great minds think alike.  This was the first person the kids met at the end of last year when they visited their school.  We are thrilled Hattie has Mrs. Palmer as a teacher - she was so kind at the end of the year when wandering on campus.

Neeley and Mrs. Irvine.  Mrs Irvine is in a detached portable classroom - Neeley thinks that is pretty cool.  

What a big day!  They are used to knowing everyone and today knew only a couple of kids.  We are so proud of them for being confident (albeit, normal nerves) and happy.  They have embraced this move and we are proud of them.  

From Scorpions to Skunks

I smell a skunk!  A few days ago we thought we saw a mom skunk with a baby skunk right out our slider in our family room.  Apparently we were correct!  Last night, while the screen door was open and we were watching something in the family room we saw it!  We have a stone built-in gas bbq and there is a small opening where the gas line goes under the structure - a small opening that makes a great front door for an unwanted visitor.  Looks like we have a chore ahead of us this weekend.

Where's my gun?  Skunks are a dime a dozen here.

Grandma Blanche. A Superhero.

It's taken me a week to type this and process.  Grandma Blanche (my Mom's mom) is a force for good in my life.  Both Grandma B and my Grandpa were vested in my upbringing and present and participated in my life.

They provided sage advice.

They were always the shoulder to cry on or the first to call/see with great news.

I'd ditch cafeteria lunch and drive to Grandma's with friends for her BLTs.

In times of need or pain she was my rock.

When my Grandpa died in 1994, I was a freshman in college.  I went into my closet and cried with her on the phone so my five other roommates wouldn't hear.  I was heartbroken and still am.

She has always been there.  Her food has been comfort food.  Her home a refuge.

She was always cool and had style.  Heads turned when Grandpa and Grandma walked into a room.  Always the best dressed in the room, always.  I like to think I get my love of suits from Grandpa.  He could be casual in a suit.  So cool.

She made quilts and clothes.  The baggy late-80s shorts are long gone but the quilts still warm my family.  They are special to me.  All of them.  All representing a period in my life.

She was huggable.

She wrote me constantly on my mission.

She, at 80+ would not miss my wedding for the world and boarded a plane by herself for Chicago.

My 2nd oldest is named after her (her maiden name of Neeley became a first name for us).  I called her FIRST when Neeley was born and she threatened me if I named her Blanche.  Neeley it was.

Last Sunday, while in UT we visited her in her nursing home in Bountiful.  It's been two years since I've seen her.  A series of strokes and old age have taken their toll and have left her without voice or functions.  Heartbreaking.

But her eyes...

She's in there.  She knew me.  She started to cry and held my hand.  She was processing and wanted to speak.  Moans came out but she was attentive and fixated on my eyes.  It was my five minutes of connection into the soul of a woman who has been so much to me.  Her eyes have always had that sparkle that only Grams eyes could have and I saw it.  She knew me.

This picture is incredibly private to me.  I posted it on Facebook and then took it down.  Not that I don't want people to see it, however, without the context of who she is and what she once was makes it meaningless and there's nothing meaningless about her.  This is not her body and it pains my soul to see her like this.

The worst part that I'm still not over?  Walking away from her and leaving her all alone in that room.  She was always in the middle of people.  People wanted to be around her and yet there she sits awaiting her time.  Heartbreaking.

And out of this I witnessed my sweet mother's care for her mom.  I saw my Mom speak and attend to her in a way I've not seen my Mom serve before.  My Mom was strong and loving and deeply compassionate for this woman who raised her and also supported her as she raised her family.  I know its hard on my Mom to see her this way.  I can't imagine not being able to speak to a parent and talk through life's joys and sorrows.  I feel that way so I can only imagine how my Mom feels.  But she is there and she cares for her and I was able to witness it.  Words can't describe how wonderful my Mom was with Grandma.  It impacted me.

I don't understand some things in this universe.  This is one of them.  So, forgive me for writing the things of my heart on this one, yet I needed to do it.  It was a beautiful moment encircled in heartbreak.  I love you Grams.  I miss you terribly.  I'd give up anything I owned to talk with you for five minutes.

Ry

We Heart Kyle

I left for BYU a hundred years ago, Kyle, my little brother was only a year and a half years old.  It was hard to leave such a little guy and even though I would come home for holidays and summers, I missed so much of his earlier years.  When Ryan and I got married Kyle was four years old.  Moving all over the country has been fun for us as a married couple but sad to be away from family and especially from little Kyle.  

Now we are closer!  Not close but closer!!  We get to see Kyle-boy quite a bit these days.  When Ryan and I went to the Hollywood Bowl, Kyle was our babysitter.  Actually, we kidnapped him and he stayed with us for a few days.  My kids, especially West, ADORE him.  As a matter of fact, I am sure that West would consider Kyle to be the most important person in the world.  Serious crush.    

Kyle is not so little anymore.  In fact, he is actually very very tall.  Digging a hole to fit him in was quite labor intensive.   We love you Kyle-boy!