High, Low, and What Do You Know? -

January 22, 2026

When our kids were younger, we played a game at the dinner table every night called “High, Low, and What Do You Know?” Each person around the table would share their high for the day, their low, and something they learned.

We are three weeks into the new year, which means I have had a few highs and lows and learned some things. So, in the spirit of nostalgia, let’s play the game:

The Highs:

Greg and I drove to and from church together on Sunday for the first time in four years. We also sat together in both Sacrament meeting and Sunday School – a luxury I forgot how much I missed.
He was sad in the weeks leading up to his release as our bishop, and thought that would continue once he turned over the reins to new leadership. It was undoubtedly strange for him to sit in the congregation rather than on the stand on Sunday, but he was not sad about sleeping in, taking a nap, or sitting by me (especially that last one). One of his best friends (and former bishopric counselors) took his place as Bishop, which made the transition a bit easier. I think we are going to be just fine in this new chapter.
We survived our first two weeks of living and working between Phoenix and Kansas City. The weekly travel will surely get old, but it is doable, at least for now. (And by “we,” I mean Greg. I am holding down the fort in Phoenix until Carson graduates from high school in May.)
The work in KC is going well so far. The practice desperately needs his help, and he looks forward to doing so on a full-time basis.
After months of a drought of applicants for his AZ position, a couple of promising options have surfaced within the last week. We are feeling hopeful. (Once his replacement is secured and trained, he will be able to work in KC full-time, avoiding the hassle of midweek travel and filling a desperate need there.)
We got an email from Kate’s mission with a survey about travel plans in preparation for her upcoming release. She will be home in nine weeks, but who’s counting?!?
Because she will be home shortly, P-day calls are filled with discussions about college, housing, jobs, majors, summer plans, and life after the mission. Having been here with three other kids, I know these transitions can be challenging, but also exciting.
Carson is trying to figure out his post-high-school plans, which seem to change every few days. In the last two weeks, he has changed his mind about studying aerospace engineering, which he had chosen because math comes easily to him (Mr. Perfect ACT Score). Realizing that he is happiest when he uses his natural creativity, he is exploring architecture, which beautifully combines math with creativity. And, since he has always been business-minded (at least since he hung a sign on his door at age five that said “Pay 5 cents to fight me”), he is curious about the creative side of business, including marketing and advertising. Things are evolving as we speak.
Until last week, his plan was to go to a year of college before serving a mission because he will not turn 18 until early September. Now he thinks he will work through the summer, go on a mission as soon as he is able, and hope to return a transfer early, in time to start college in the fall of 2028. Again, this is an evolving situation, and a huge decision that belongs entirely between him and the Lord.
This week, we are getting a brand-new roof to match two brand-new A/C units, a brand-new water softener, and a brand-new water heater, all replaced within the last couple of months. Our 43-year-old home might as well be brand-new. (The future buyers will surely thank us, as we plan to list it in early March.)
A friend gave us enough boxes to pack our entire house – the sturdy small and medium ones from Lowe’s that stack nicely. We are thrilled with the gift! Now we just need to start packing.
We finally booked the cruise that set off the Great Breakdown of 2025 a few weeks ago. I am happy to report that this time, I made it through the entire process without even coming close to losing my marbles, despite the fact that we still do not have a firm plan for our move. I will give myself a pat on the back.
We saw our dear friends, who are currently serving as mission leaders in Argentina. They came home for a few days for their daughter’s wedding, which was the party of the century.
After spending the past year as one of the temple baptistry coordinators, I was scheduled to work in initiatories for 45 minutes today. I love the baptistry, but it was fun to do something different for a few minutes. (Also, I remembered the words of the ordinance, so I was #winning)
After a hiatus, caused by burnout, overwhelm, and the fact that Greg and I were eating very differently, I am back to cooking homemade meals *most* of the time. My Zoe app tells me I am averaging 46 g of fiber a day and 36 different plants per week. With at least 95% of Americans not getting the recommended 25 grams of fiber per day, and research showing that prioritizing fiber and eating at least 30 plants per week is the best thing you can do for your microbiome (which then protects your health in multiple ways), I am feeling pretty good about my averages. I am also feeling more energetic, and my post-holiday sugar cravings have *mostly* disappeared.

The Lows:

Greg left Phoenix when it was 80 degrees last week and arrived in Kansas City, where the high was in the 20s. Same story this week, except the forecast for the days of his visit boasts highs of 9 and 10 degrees, respectively. Why are we moving there again? Also, I hope he can get home this weekend, as this severe storm is expected to wreak havoc across the country.
Spending half of every week away from my husband is going to get old in a hurry.
Getting a new roof means a team of workers walking and pounding on it before dawn for five days in a row. It has been a noisy (but productive) week.
Today, while working in the temple, I realized my time in that role is short. We plan to put our house on the market on March 1, which means it will need to be ready to show to potential buyers at all times. I have no idea how many showings it will take to sell the house. But, if I am unreachable on Thursday mornings, Greg is in KC, and we have two dogs that need to be out of the way when people come over, I will probably spend my time at the temple stressing about the dogs freaking out for potential showings while I am gone. For that reason (and because our timeline is filled with a million question marks), I think it will be best to wrap up my service as an ordinance worker by the end of February, which makes me sad. (But I will pick it back up in Kansas City once we are settled there.)

What Do You Know:

I am currently reading Your Endowment by Mark A. Shields and learning so much! It coincides perfectly with what we are learning in CFM about the books of Moses, Abraham, and Genesis, and how those stories relate to the temple endowment. I plan to write more about this later, but I highly recommend the book for those wanting to learn more about the temple.
By Ali’s recommendation at Plant Whys, I have been trying to eat a whole can of beans (almost) every day because they have so many health benefits. The easiest way to do that is to make a smoothie with beans, which I know sounds weird, but is surprisingly delicious. Plus, it’s packed with fiber, protein, and chocolately goodness. Not convinced? This recipe might change your mind.
I read Plant Powered Plus by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, whose 2020 book Fiber Fueled opened my eyes to the benefits of eating more fiber. As a world-renowned gastroenterologist, he has spent his career studying the gut, the microbiome, and how to heal the gut with diet. His conclusion, based on high-quality research and his own medical experience in helping sick patients turn their lives around, is to eat more plants. This aligns with the Word of Wisdom, which I believe is very relevant to our lives today, especially given the mountain of conflicting nutritional advice. With all of the confusion, I choose to stick with the Lord’s dietary revelation in D&C 89 and truly believe the science will eventually catch up. (Science is a slow learner because it studies one variable at a time, and nutrition is highly complex. Maybe I should get that Master’s in Nutrition that still calls to me at times like these.)
After several failed attempts to use a menstrual cup over the past year (don’t ask!), I finally got it to work for me. With the built-in measuring lines, I learned that I lost about 80 ml of blood in 16 hours on day two of my typical 7-day period. For reference, healthcare professionals have defined heavy menstrual bleeding as losing more than 80 ml of blood in one period. I lost that much in 16 HOURS, and similar amounts on the day before and two days after. No wonder it is stressful to go anywhere (especially the temple, dressed in white!) for more than an hour or two during the first few days of my period! I have never felt so justified. Also, after 34 years, I am OVER IT! (And, don’t worry…I take iron supplements.)

That about sums up the past three weeks of highs, lows, and things I learned. Want to play along? Share one high, one low, and one thing you learned this month in the comments. It will be fun!