Conference Weekend 2010

For Conference Weekend we decided to haul our trailer up the canyon and enjoy the quiet loveliness of fall, while still within radio reception of General Conference.

We found a lovely spot surrounded by quaking aspens, and were able to face the trailer in such a way that we always had shade to sit out front of the trailer and just enjoy relaxing.

 The kids played and played. The younger two made friends with some close by Campers and they played with them as well!  

Sophia loved it... she found so many wondermous sunny spots to nap! LOL

 Jestin went on walk with the kids and found the perfect stick! He whittled most of the time, creating a cool walking stick with a rattle on the end.

 Cody got a ton of reading in...

Emmalee and I worked on our Personal Progress together. It was lovely reading the scriptures & discussing the Attonement with Em & Cody. I have such great kids!

 Across the next canyon a fire was burning. It was pretty at night! LOL

 We gathered wood for our fire and found this cool tree stump!

On Saturday, between sessions, we drove down to this little sign we had always passed by before. It said "The Grotto". We had heard it wasn't too long a hike and so off we went!



Cam waiting for us to be ready to join him on the trail... LOL

And we're off! It was SOOO beautiful!!!!

 Along the path there were these cool "improved" half log bridges.

About 10 minutes into our hike Caleb yells: We found it!!!!

Just around the bend ahead was this beautiful little grotto!

It was like a dream! A little cave, with a water fall, surrounded by lush green. The tinkle of the water was just lovely! We loved it! 

They all started looking for pretty stones.

(Huh. Wonder where my boys get it from?? LOL)

A family had taken a tougher route, and were above the falls. The kids were so excited to wave at each other! :) 

Cody took a ton of pictures... he has quite the "eye"!

Love my rocks!! 

Jestin even started checking the stream for gold. LOL

He has a friend that has him interested in panning for gold as a hobby.

No time like the present to start playing! *grin* 

The walk back down was just as lovely!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the fall colors! It is my most favorite time of year! I was in heaven on earth! 

That night, Jes drove down the canyon to attend Priesthood Meeting. The kids and I worked more on Personal Progress and we worked on TONS of Cam's Wolf cub-scout stuff and passed it off.

We made chili and scones, and s'mores and sang every song we could think of around the campfire. Then we all shared our dreams of what we want to be when we growup!

Emma wants to be a singer.
Cody wants to be a farmer, novelist, beekeeper, massage therapist & a scientist.
Cam was SO reluctant to tell us what his dream was for fear we would make fun of him... finally he shared that he has a passion for singing, but he would like to sing Opera! (wahoo! that makes this mommy excited at the thought! LOL)
Caleb want's to be a builder like dad, and "a guy that digs up dinosaur bones". :)
 I told them that I want to be an airline stewardess. They all thought that was weird! LOL I also want to be a missionary or a temple worker someday. :)

Emmalee taught us a "magic trick" she learned at girls camp. The kids all thought it was wicked cool!!

Jes came home around 9 pm and we ate more s'mores (so he wouldn't feel left out after all) and headed into the trailer to play card games until wee hours of the morning. (the boys were excited to have to put the fire out and sent Em and I inside so they could "take care of it"...translation... they peed on the fire! LOL

Sunday morning came and we ate a quiet breakfast and listened again to Conference. Between the 2 sessions, we took another explore and drove to "Devil's Kitchen". 

This is a view of the valley way behind Cameron... so pretty! Pictures don't do it justice! 

Can you see our lake in the distance? 

We got out many times on our jaunt to enjoy all the beautiful vistas!  

We are so blessed to live where we do! It is just breath taking!! 

Sophie had the time of her life! She LOVED hanging out the window and all the walks! It was really cute! 

We followed this really windy road, with sheer drop offs and gorgeous shades of red, orange, pink and yellow!

Finally we arrived! And after a little hike, in the middle of these normal northern Utah mountains, here was this little canyon:

"Devil's Kitchen"

Also known as "Little Bryce Canyon".

Such strange random formations!

 

But just beautiful!

Our family at Devil's Kitchen 

We headed back to the car, glad for the sucess of our "explores".

After our drive and hike we were hungry, and some clouds were gathering. We headed back to camp. While we ate our lunch and gathered up camp a bit, we listened to the last session of Conference. 

Some more of Cody's Photos (above and below) 

We were headed home as Conference wound up, making it just in time to not be caught in the main vein of a fall thunderstorm that lasted for days.

Our family really enjoyed each other, the words of the Prophets, and forgetting about the stress that seems to not slow down of late.... It was  SUCH a perfect weekend!



Cute Photos

This summer when my brother Brent and Family came down for a visit, one of the people Brent met on his mission did family photos for us. These are just a couple of them...

I am so thankful to be married to my best friend!

And for my beautiful little family! What a great gift from God!

This is my little Cam... I am so glad he wanted to have the guy take a picture of just he and I... This little man fought so hard in his life to stay part of our family! I  am so thankful for his strength and courage!

 

And the guy wanted to get Mom & Daughter pics...

I can't believe what a sweetheart I have for a daughter! She is one of my very best friends!

I am so blessed.

For more of his photography, or to be able to schedule a sitting visit:

Jeremy Hall

He did not get the job

We are sad.

We are discouraged.

This too shall pass...

We hope.

Salt 'n Peppa'

Emma had a Young Women's Daddy-Daughter Date

They were suppose to dress up as a famous couple.

Whad'ya think?

Pretty cute huh??

About Caleb...

This cute note came home with Caleb the 1st week of Kindergarten. And here is what we put in his bag:

 

1. The letter Mm because he LOVES letters and writting, and writes every letter he sees 

 and can't wait to start reading!

2. A toy tractor from his sand box because he wants to be a "builder" like Daddy when he grows up.

3. A baggie of sand from his sand box, because that is what he does. He can always be found in his sandbox... for hours and hours... and he LOVES it. :)

Yep. That's my baby in a nutshell!

While we wait...

I need an outlet of gratitude and this is my means... ENJOY!

I am thankful for:
* My cute kindergartener and our precious time together.
* My wedding ring that has survived all our economic strife.
* Our nice warm bed on chilly mornings.
* My children's laughter and chatter as they get ready in the morning.
* My computer fixed so that I can catch back up on all my "stuff" I gotta do.
* My faith which gets me through everything this life throws at me.
* My scriptures that often whisper comfort, re-prove, counsel and hope to my heart.
* General Conference, and for honest good men who sacrifice so much to teach and lead us.
* Good friends who call when I need it, laugh with me, cry with me, talk/listen to me, and make life so full of joy.
* Family, who love and support, and try to understand, even when it is not easy to do.
* A husband who I am so thrilled to get to spend eternity with.
* Where I live, for my life in general!
* An understanding of what is really important and how silly things I used to stress over really are.
* A camp trailer to run away in at little to no cost.
* Camping on colorful fall days and watching my kids laugh and play together.
* A Dr. who has our best interest in mind and did everything he could move Jes' eye surgeries forward to save his sight.
* Government programs that may help defer some of the costs of said eye surgeries.
* Insulin, needles, test strips that keep my sweetheart alive.
* Heart and thyroid meds that make it so I can LIVE my life :)
* My cute puppy, who is warm and cuddly on colder fall days... and who loves my husband so much it melts my heart.

I could easily keep going and going... but I best get things ready to run Kindergarten carpool...

Caleb and I need some story time before he leaves. ;)

Still no answer. He called them and they wanted to review the 2 more resumes they received. We don't know what that means. It could be a no. Or it could be protocol and it is still a yes, or maybe...

*sigh*

Patience is being exercised at our house this week....

The suspense is killing me...

Jestin interviewed for a job this last week... A GOOD job.

We will not hear their decision until Monday, as they had one other guy they were interviewing for the position on friday.

It is a perfect fit. It's almost too good to be true.

And though I have COMPLETE faith that what is suppose to happen will happen...

...the suspense is killing me!!

Prayers for the Fire

After watching footage on the news of the wildfire that took out people's homes here locally, we put kids to bed. Sweet Caleb, age 5, prayed as follows:

"Pweese bless the people who are loosing their houses to da fire... could you put it out? Umm... maybe you could send some rain? that could maybe put it out..."

So so sweet...

About my great-great-great-grandma...

We went to the library today. I wasn't really looking for a book for me. The kids needed reading books, and some movies  to entertain them for the busy weekend Jes and I have going on that they will be left home for. I was standing watching Jes try to use the library computer to put a book on hold for Emmalee when I started walking down the isle. There were lots of interesting titles... self help... lose weight... remodel your house... etc.

And then

I saw this little book:

Now I must admit, I know of the author. One of the few things I asked for for Christmas was her other book:

I really wanted this book. I asked for it from my in-laws... but my cute mom-in-law told Jes, when he told her what I had requested, that HE could buy me that book! She was NOT going to buy me a book with that kind of title! (*giggle*)

Well, Jes bought me the book. And I LOVED it!

(It's about stretching yourself spiritually. It is not about loosing weight! LOL )

SO when I saw this little book tonight I decided I needed a book for me too.

I brought it home. And tonight as my family was gathered on my bed, watching the last few minutes of one of their borrowed movies, I used up that 20 minutes and read it from cover to cover.

And I cried. And cried.

It is a great little book about finding the true balance in life... AWESOME!

...but for me tonight the next to the last chapter is what had me in tears.

She talks about my great-great-great-great Grandmother, Agnes Caldwell (Southworth)!

 Agnes came across the plains in the Willie Handcart Co. at age 9. She talks about how Heavenly Father easily could have stayed the elements, or not let them leave that late in the season. But He didn't. And then she talks about Agnes' story of wanting to ride in the wagon of the rescue party, even though she was not one of the ill or aged, and how the driver (in her history I have that she names the driver as Heber C. Kimball) told her yes, then grabbed her hand and made the wagon go faster, causing her to run. Grandma said, "...what went through my head at that time was that he was the meanest man that had ever lived or that I had ever heard of".

The author says, "I've tried to imagine this scene. I've pictured a little girl who had given everything she knew how to give for a cause she had been taught was dearer than life itself. I've wondered how it felt to finally be offered some relief, and then have it just as suddenly withdrawn."

Grandma said, "Just at what seemed the breaking point, he stopped. Taking the blanket, he wrapped me up and lay me in the bottom of the wagon, warm and comfortable. Here I had time to change my mind, as I surely did, knowing full well by doing this he saved me from freezing when taking me in the the wagon."

She then uses this story, which has always been so dear to me, for an analogy I had not really considered before...

When we have those "running beside the wagon moments", when we have given all we have to give, and we are relying on the Lord's promise to lift us up and bear our burdens, and we start to question why He doesn't pull us up into the wagon; when we are about to drop from the sheer exhaustion of it all, that if we stopped and listened, we might hear Him say, "Wait. Wait just a little bit longer. You don't know what I am trying to save here." and that maybe the message would be "you don't know who I am trying to save here. You don't know who's life may be eternally affected by your willingness to hang on for one more moment, to keep taking step after step. I promise I won't leave you to drop. I know what you can bear, and your trials will not exceed your capacity."

And I cried.

 I always loved that story of my grandma... for the strength that she was... and how cute that she was in saying he was the meanest man she ever met... and for the joy in my pioneer ancestry. But I had missed the whole point of what I could have seen.

I am running right now. I am out of strength in this trial. And I have wondered about the hand dragging me along.

But I am not alone. I know that I can do it! That I will survive it! That we will finally be pulled into that wagon, all snug and warm, and that I DO trust my Heavenly Father to know what is in store for me and my family... even if I don't get to see what's ahead. I just have to have faith, like my little great-great-great-grandma did, I want a wagon ride... and this run is for my benefit and part of my plan... and soon He will scoop me up, and nice and warm inside the safety and peace of the wagon.

And I am so thankful this night for a random book from the library.

I'm a Grandma!

Tee hee! Ok... not really... but dag-nabit Cody did such a cute job I would totally claim her!

As a lesson in responsibility, the 6th grade classes made their own "Sugar Babies". See how cute a 5lb. bag of sugar can be...?

Meet "Summer Loulou"

Cody did a great job as a "dad". He only left her unattended 3 times for short periods of time! He did great! He often could be found talking to her as he went about his day, or holding her and bouncing and swaying just like a real parent. All the kids loved "tending" for him and he "paid" them with acts of service.

"Uncle" Cameron

Cody really enjoyed this project. The only negative he had to say about it was that he didn't get "twins" - they drew from a hat as to what gender and how many babies they had. He was hoping for twins! LOL

Now... who want's sugar cookies...?

First Day of Kindergarten!

My littlest man started kindergarten!! He was SOOOOO happy to finally be going!! He was up at 10 to 7am. He ate breakfast, got a haircut, took a shower and was dressed to his shoes by 9 am!

Sadly... he didn't start school until well after lunch! LOL

He was so excited for before first day picures that he was jumping up and down!

WOOT! WOOT! FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

Oh yeah!! Oh Yeah!!

We had to find something to occupy his time... so we sat outside and he rode his bike, WITH his backpack on... tee hee hee

Then he wanted to tell Gram that he was going to school today. So I gave him my cell phone...

And he chatted away.. .while riding his bike! ACK! Bad habits start young! Bwahahaha

A few minutes later his bestest buddy and his mom came to get us and we drove to the school.

Our cute little boys!

Off we go! We aren't babies no more...

This is my class!!!

His teacher is just AWESOME!! She is in our ward and we just love her!

Caleb found his desk, by reading his name on a tag! (he is such a smartie pants!) He dove into his paper at his desk and I barely got a goodbye! LOL

Now...here... as the mommy... I have to admit:

I was SO happy for him! He was so happy! I walked him into his classroom. He found his desk. I told him goodbye and "have a great day"! And I walked out the door...

and a few steps away...

my eye lids sprung a leak! I could not stop crying! Even as I type I am getting tears in my eyes! So silly! I am happy for him! I am happy for me. Time alone again.

But I am so sad inside too!

A chapter of my life has closed. It is over.

No more babies that are mine.

They are all school attending little people!

*sigh*

I cried... like a baby.

Yup. I did.

And I wandered around like a lost puppy dog.

Ah. So fun.

On to the next phase of life! Momy of School Age/Jr. High children here I come! *WINK*

Last Day

Today is my last day.

Last day to be the mom of "little kids at home".

Last day of keeping my ever busy "baby" occupied since his siblings, and best friends, all went to school.

Last day to have him all to myself.

Last day of having someone with me... all. the. time.

Last day of a phase in my life that I loved, toughed out, relished, endured and learned so very much from.

It's my last day with my baby at home...

Tomorrow he starts kindergarten...

and life will never be the same again.

It's very... VERY... bittersweet.

Here are some new blog posts... sorry they are not in order for your enjoyment... but since this is my "scrapbook" of sorts, I decided it needed to go chronologically. :) Enjoy!

Baptisms for the Dead

Pinewood Derby 2010

Our dearest friends

Testimony Builder

1st Day of School 2010

Mommy all alone?

A conversation with Caleb, talking about him going to Kindergarten next week...

MOM: Are you excited to start Kindergarten in a few days now that you have met your teacher?

CALEB: Yes. But Mommy! You goin' be all awone at home?

MOM: Yep I am! Sad huh?

To which he replied, "It will be ok... you can come sit outside my cwass and wait for me to be done if you want." :)

What a sweet kid! Such a sacrifice on his part for his sad... and soon-to-be home all alone Mommy! LOL!Ah the joys of putting your youngest baby in school!

Testimony Builder

We had a very neat experience at our house! Jestin has been working on a steel fabrication job for his uncle the last few weeks. Today he was grinding some metal. He said he saw a light out of the corner of his eye and ignored it for a bit. But when it didn't go away he looked down. His shirt was on FIRE!!!

He patted it out frantically and then looked at his temple garment underneath. There was brown burn marks on the outside of his garment, but nothing on the back side.

The kids were in awe... what a testimony builder about the blessings given for our temple garments! I am so thankful he did not get burned today! We feel very blessed!

First Day of School

First day of school 2010

We sent the first 3 kids to school today!

Cameron - 3rd Grade

Emmalee - 7th Grade

Jr. High!!! Can you believe it??

Cody - 6th Grade

They love their school and so do I! I have had many people question our choice about a Charter School, but I know it is what is right for my kids. I love the atmosphere, I love the devotion to America, the REAL America, and the deep immersion into the principles of the founding fathers and constitution. I love that my children are free to learn as fast or as slow as they need to. I love that they teach them the basics from 7 Habits of Highly Sucessful people. I have just loved it all. And so do the kids!

Emma is taking Intro to Voice, Hip Hop and Drama, as well as her main curriculum. She can start chasing her interests NOW, instead of waiting until High School in public school. Next semester she is taking Piano lessons as well! It's AWESOME!!

Cody is taking his 2nd year of Drama. Yep. Drama. In 6th grade. It has been SOOO good for him! He loves it! He really likes his teacher this year. I think he reminds me of Cody...so that is awesome. Great minds and all that. *wink*

 Cam's teacher is also a man this year. He reminds me a lot of our Brother-in-law Greg. In fact, when we met him, we were talking about it as we left the school... to which Cam says, "Yeah, but he doesn't SMELL like Greg!" We all laughed and laughed! He then told us that Greg smells like deodorant. LOL. Who knew?

Caleb is not too happy! He doesn't start school until the 31st. It's "jus' not fair!". Poor boy.

This is my favorite though... Daddy helpin' his little girl with her hair before school *GRIN* I have SUCH a cute family!

Special thanks to Mom & Dad and Ma & Dad for helping us to get the kids the school supplies they needed. And for Aunt Jenny for spoiling Emma with a pre-school shopping trip.

We are so blessed!!!

Oh how I love August storms!! And my home sweet home....

Caleb-ism

Upon observing Mom take her medicines in the morning at breakfast:

Caleb: Why you take dat medicine?
Mom: For my heart.
Caleb: Oh! So da food doesn't go down and break your heart?
Mom (laughing): No! It helps my heart to work right.
Caleb: Oh! So it worked all wrong, but now it sees da medicine coming and works right?

Yep. That is exactly how it works little man! :)

I have been so busy...

and boy do I know it!

July has been full and busy. We had family here, went to a reunion, had a yard sale, had a camping trip and an 11 yr old boy had a birthday, all the while I have been trying to get a ward cookbook made up! It's been a blast and has kept sadness about the non-changing economic status in my life from really getting me down.

I am so excited about this ward cookbook! I have typed in almost 300 recipes so far!! The ward members only have 2 more weeks to get them into me and I have about 2 more weeks after that to get them all entered! Then we will do proofs etc and hope to have them off to the presses, to be arriving in time for Thanksgiving/Christmas gift giving! I have LOVED reading the recipes and imagining all the dear people in my ward making these recipes for their families! It's has been SOO fun!!

Jes and I have been applying for jobs all over. I am secretly hoping I get the crossing guard position I applied for. A few hours a day I could commit to with my heart. 8 hours days I am not so sure. : \   Jes is hopeful that one of the jobs here locally will be "the one" as out of state work BITES so very much! LOL We are leaving it in the Lord's hands, after all we can do, and we are trying to be ok with it. It's tough. But we also know we are not alone... so that brings us comfort. And we keep being told to keep up our businesses too... so we do.

I think the hardest thing for me was this yard sale last weekend. We had nothing with which to pay our house payment. We didn't know what to do. I took the entire week and gathered everything we owned that wasn't SUPER sentimental, or things that could be replaced, and I tried to sell them on Saturday. I tried not to cry that whole morning. Bless my good friend Suzie for coming to help me... and not saying a word when I got a little quiet or would not budge on a price for something (because...well... if it didn't sell...I really wanted it to come back into my house! *blush* LOL) It was amazing! We had some great neighbors stop by, some good things sell, and a small check for JWD Electric come in... and all in all we made enough to pay our house payment and our tithing on what we had earned! It was a little miracle for us... and reminded me that "sacrifice brings forth the blessings from heaven". We must be doing something right... even if the "end" of this trial hasn't yet come almost 2 years later, we still have somehow made it this far. Somehow the Lord doesn't forget us. :) (though I have to honestly admit, I would love less "be patient" answers, and more "take this job on this day" kind of ones! *grin*)

And admittedly, I have seen blessings in our lives that go far beyond financial. Money really doesn't matter. (Hear that certain creditor that won't stop calling me? bwahahaha) My family matters. My testimony matters. My kids matter. My husband matters. Our friends matter. How I treat others matters. My relationship with God matters.

Life lessons are pouring in. My heart is often so full of love for the members of our ward, my family & friends I can hardly breathe! The things that used to make me crazy with my family, doesn't seem to effect me the same way. I like feeling complete peace. I don't have answers. But I have peace. And it is good!