This month my goal has been to tackle those little house projects that always get neglected. I felt that the black color in my house was washout so I retouched the doors, the gate, the front of the house.
These are a few of the projects I'm tackling. For the last few years, I let my house fall into disrepair. I am currently working on it, and it's looking so nice. Sadly, contractors want to charge way too much. I can do a lot of it myself. I still need help fixing the shingles on my garage.
Milo and Eelin Martinez
This is Milo's new girlfriend, Eelin. She is so cute, and I love her. She speaks Spanish, is really smart, is an honor student, and serves on the Salt Lake City Youth Council, where she helps advise the city on issues affecting young people.
Mario didn't want to go to prom, so Milo went instead with his girlfriend. I think it's hilarious that Mario doesn't care about his high school prom. I also learned that Mario is kind of moderately popular at school and seminary. Everywhere we go, people call him by his full name. He tells me who they are, but then he never brings them up again.
Milo is going through a new fashion phase. He bought these pants at a thrift store, dyed them himself, and added wax to give them that worn-in look. This is definitely his Lenny Kravitz phase, and honestly, I kind of love how creative he is.
Some randoms photos of me going to the Taylorville temple for the first time. Mario and Milo heading out to school together. I was sharing my testimony in church and Milo took my photo. Lunch at a buffet after church.
Mario is going on a mission!!!
We are beyond excited because Mario received his mission call in just six days! He has been called to serve in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Mission, and he'll be serving in Spanish. We couldn't be happier for him.
One of the things that makes me smile is that Mario is genuinely excited to share the gospel with others. He has always had a kind heart, and he is looking forward to serving people, meeting new friends, and helping others come closer to Christ. More than anything, he sees this as an opportunity to strengthen his testimony, deepen his faith, and grow into the young man Heavenly Father wants him to become.
And then there's the Spanish! Right now, Mario understands and speaks Spanish like a two-year-old, but I know that's about to change. I cannot wait to have real conversations with him in Spanish when he comes home. As his Dominican mom, that makes me incredibly happy. I have a feeling he'll come home speaking better Spanish than he ever imagined.
Watching him prepare for this next chapter has been such a blessing. I know these next two years will challenge him, teach him, and shape him in ways that will stay with him for the rest of his life. We are so proud of him and can't wait to see all the amazing experiences that await him in Minnesota.
Congratulations, Elder Hobbs! We love you so much and are cheering you on every step of the way. ❤️
This is Jared's new house.
Jared and I have consciously uncoupled. We've actually been separated for quite a while now, but we chose not to make a big announcement because we still care deeply about each other and wanted to navigate this transition privately.
Although our marriage has ended, we remain very involved in each other's lives, especially as we continue raising our boys. We have a great deal of respect for one another, but romantically, our relationship simply ran its course. Sometimes two people can love and care about each other and still realize they are no longer meant to be husband and wife.
And just to answer the question I know some people will ask—no, no one cheated. There wasn't some dramatic event that ended our marriage. Life simply took us in different directions, and after a lot of reflection, we realized this was the healthiest path for both of us.
We didn't share this sooner because we wanted time to process everything ourselves, and honestly, people can get a little weird when they hear the word "divorce." We preferred to move through this chapter quietly, with kindness and respect, rather than making it a public discussion before we were ready.
This new house marks the beginning of a new chapter for both of us, and while change is never easy, we're grateful we've been able to approach it with compassion, friendship, and a shared commitment to our family.
I went with Jared to Walmart to pick up some supplies for his new house. I also called my gardener, Francisco, to clean up the front and backyard because they were completely overgrown with weeds.
I wasn't a fan of the front porch, so I gave it a little makeover. I bought a new outdoor rug, added some string lights, and gave it a fresh coat of paint. Jared also picked out some new outdoor furniture, which really pulled everything together. While I was at it, I painted the front of the house too.
I have to admit, I kept coming up with more ideas. I really wanted to get rid of the rocks in the front yard and redesign the landscaping, but then I had to remind myself... it's not my house anymore. 😊
Instead, I planted a small herb garden for him and added a few perennial flowers to the front yard. It was nice helping him make the house feel more like home, and I think it turned out really well.
I am helping Jared to decorate and set up the rooms for our boys. As you can see, I am wiser now because I wear glasses (I can't see anymore.) The dogs are not very invested in Jared's house. We still need to get him a garage in the property.
