Today is Friday, August 21. I am very glad for Fridays. I love the time to be home with my family on the weekends.

Ryan will be leaving for BYU-Utah on Monday. We have enjoyed having him home when he is here. That man is social! I wish I had that much energy to stay out late at night and still get up early in the morning for work. That work/play ethic will come in handy when he is away at school. Ryan grew a short beard this week. It was reddish in color. I can't remember what color he called it, but I know he did not say red. It is gone now. I don't think we got a picture of it though. I think every RM tries to grow facial hair at least once. We will miss him, but his two years away on a mission has prepared us for letting go.

Have you ever wondered why we don't appreciate what we have until it is gone? I thought that I really had treasured my 20 plus years at home with kids, but I could have loved it more. Now that I am a working mom, all I want to do is be home with my kids. I want to get them up for school, kiss them goodbye at the curb when I drop them off for school, play with them more, love them more, hug, kiss, and laugh with them more. So, today, is an official hug the ones you love day. Go for it. I don't think anyone will complain. My hubby is off to scout camp with Zac, so I can't hug him, but I would if I could. That is my goal for this week-give more hugs and kisses.