Carpool GOATS

Kamiko uses a term GOAT. It means greatest of all time. He has a former co-worker Danny who calls me momma goat. I love it. Well, I had breakfast with my dear friends today to celebrate 2 of our birthdays. We have known each other since our family moved here because we have boys the same age and we carpooled them to junior high and sophomore year of high school together. That's a lot of time spent together. We are the GOATS.

Wendy Lee, mom to Jason Lee, always had great Costco food for the kids. It's no wonder they hung out at the Lee's a lot. Good snacks and video games. She is a sweetheart. She'd do anything to help anyone, but is the last one to ask anyone for help. Thank goodness she asked us all for help today with Jason's upcoming wedding. We're making soups for the wedding lunch. I'm so glad to help. She and DJ moved to the US from Taiwan to pursue DJ's advanced education. Both kids, Jenny and Jason, were born in the US. DJ and Wendy joined the church when living in Virginia. DJ is a professor at BYU. They love camping and have taken us before. They've travelled the US way more than I have. Wendy and I enjoyed regular temple visits together years ago when our kids were younger and when our schedules matched up better. Wendy also makes legit Chinese food...like a full Chinese buffet. She will share whatever she has with you.

Everyone should have a friend like Debbie Larson. She makes me feel like I'm such a great person. She always tells me how happy she is when she spends time with me. Her son is Michael. He's married and is working as an engineer for Hill AF Base. He has earned a spot in a program where the government will pay for him to go to grad school. Debbie has her law degree, but when the prophet urged moms to prioritize staying home with kids, she quit working. She and her husband have been a great support to their daughter Laura and her young family and Laura's husband battled and BEAT cancer a couple of years ago. Debbie and her husband have served in BYU wards for 5 1/2 years. I know it means she doesn't know our home ward well, but I also know they are doing great work in Provo. I look forward to her coming back to our ward. She really is one of the kindest people I know. Plus, if it weren't for Debbie teaching us how to navigate Boy Scouts, I don't think any of our boys would be Eagle Scouts.

I see Kim Blight, mom to Brennan, the most, as she is one of my walking buddies. Brennan is in medical school at the U. Kim has 3 younger kids. I was her daughter, Savannah's YW leader. I admire Kim's simple kindness and quiet ways. She's not out there and loud, but I know she serves many people in her own quiet way. She works part time at an elementary school as an aid. It was a special treat that we could all get together today, part of Kim's fall break. Kim is very close to her sisters and to her extended family, taking vacations to St. George together. I think it's really cool. She always looks great and she gave me the courage to cut my hair short. She lost a little girl years ago, before I met her, and she's a hero to me for making it through that. Kim is one of the very first moms I met because Kamiko and Brennan were classmates before we even moved into our house. I remember bringing Kamiko to play at their home from my sister Debbie's house where we were staying temporarily.

Great friends. I love them all for who they are and what I've learned from them.

p.s. We went to Kneader's and for the first time ever, I got the French toast. Wow, that is GUD.