Hershey Track Meet

Last night Makenna competed in the Hershey Track meet here in Green River. She placed 1st in the 400 for her age group which won her a ticket to the State meet next month. She placed 3rd in the 200. She will also get to run that at the state meet. She placed 6th in the standing long jump. We are so proud of her! She worked so hard and did such a great job! She is, of course, super excited! I'll post pictures later of her and her ribbons! Just wanted to spread the news!

Friday

Friday has finally come.  It has been a long week.  It has rained most of the week.  Michael has been working.  I have been dealing with the death of my grandma, taking kids to ball games, church activities and anywhere else they need to go.  I too have been doing some church activities, exercising, cleaning and whatever else needs to be done.  Maddi has a game tonight.  It will be a late game.  They don't start until 7:30.  Michael won't be coming home tonight.  He has to stay up in Pinedale for the night.  Makes the days a little longer when he is gone.  I am glad this week is over.  I am exhausted.  I look forward to not waking up to the alarm in the morning.  We will get to celebrate Olivia's 4th birthday this weekend.  She is so excited for it.  Michael will be gone and so will my parents, but we will still have cake and ice cream and celebrate here at home.  Hope you all have a marvelous weekend!

My Granny

Yesterday a piece of my heart broke away as my granny passed from this life.  She was one of  my most favorite people in the whole world.  So many memories are attached to her.  So much joy came because of her.  She held a special place in my heart that no one else could ever fill.  Over the last few years her dementia had worsened and she became just a shell of who she used to be but when she looked at me her eyes were still the same and when she talked to me she was still my granny.  Her hugs and winks still embraced my soul, even if she wasn't always sure who she was hugging.  I knew who she was.  She and my grandpa were married for 70 years (I think) before he passed away a few years ago.  During those years they were never separated.  They went through life side by side.  When she started getting dementia, he was there to take care of her even though he was suffering from cancer.  As long as he was in her sight, she knew she was okay.  If he got out of her sight she got worried and upset.  She never forgot who he was.  I wrote this about them a few years back:

Her hair is now gray, her face wrinkled with time.

Her balance has lessened, but her smile is still strong.

A once strong, vibrant person has faded with age

Once full of stories, experiences and memories,

Now only knows the one who sits with her.

Day after day he helps her go through

The daily routines that she needs to do.

He stays by her side so she won’t feel lost

Though feeble himself, he stays strong for her.

With each passing day, her memories fade

Her children, once cherished, now fade with her mind

Who comes and who goes she cannot say

But with him by her side she gets through the day.

Their love has grown strong over many years together

So together they climb through one last struggle.

One fully aware of all that goes on

The other only aware of when he is gone.

This act of true love is a legacy for all

For to love through the hard times and not just the good

Is simple and beautiful and completely pure.

Grandpa lived long enough to make sure that Granny had a nice home to live in where she would be taken care of.  Once he knew she would be fine, he quit fighting the cancer and left this world.  She followed two years later.  Now they are together once again in full health and mind.  What a joyous thought!

Granny was the last of my grandparents living.  With her passing, I feel like I have lost a part of my life and history.  I feel an empty ache for days long ago.  Sitting next to her on the couch, the smell of her house when we went to visit, the sound of her southern voice and the winks she always gave to let you know you were special.  It had slowly been disappearing over the years as her illness took over more of her mind and that was hard to watch but I still loved being in her presence.  I wrote this after I saw her for the last time two summers ago:

"Hey, I know you!  How are you, child?"  She'd say with a smile and a wink.

Then only like a grandma can she'd hug me tight and kiss my cheek.

Those words were music to my ears.  They filled my heart with gladness.

But years passed by and took their toll, her memory clouded by illness.

"I don't know who all y'all are, but I know that you belong!"  She'd say with a smile and a wink.

Then only like a grandma can, she'd hug me tight and kiss my cheek.

Those words would bring a smile to my face, but filled my heart with sadness.

More years passed by and her memory continued to fade like a sunset to darkness.

"Now who are you?  I think you're neat,"  she's say with a smile and a wink.

Then only like my grandma can, she'd hug me tight and kiss my cheek.

And I'd smile back and kiss her too with sadness still filling my heart,

But looking forward to the time when illness no longer can keep us apart.

Now I know that she once again knows who I am.  She is up there with my grandpa looking down on me here.  I can still see her smile and hear her voice as she tells me that all is okay.  I look forward to the time when I can once again be reunited with her and all those others who have left this life holding a piece of my heart.  I love you, Granny!

Lately...

I just realized how long it had been since I last posted anything.  Things have gotten crazy busy here and I just haven't had time to sit and think about anything.  At all :)  So today I have a few spare minutes.  I downloaded pictures and now I will catch you up on what we have been doing.

We've been playing baseball.

making dioramas

playing baseball

going on field trips

playing baseball

making brownies

playing baseball

experiencing a slow painful death (otherwise known as exercise)

more baseball, more field trips, walks on the green belt, trips to the park, preschool, school, "running" 5ks (me and all six kids), scouts, church, birthday parties, play dates, and who knows what else!  There are some days where we leave in the morning and don't get home until bedtime.  Michael is back on shift so the schedule is even crazier.  The weather has been good some days and really yucky others.  The kids have been enjoying baseball.  Maddi's team is doing pretty good so far.  We travelled to Kemmerer this weekend for a game.  The Green River Yankees played the Kemmerer Yankees and we beat them.  Maddi got her first hit of the season so it was a good day.  Zane has really caught on to the game.  He can hit, run, throw and catch.  I have been amazed at him!  Didn't know he had it in him :)  Dillon can knock the cover off the ball when he wants to and Zeke is still in it for the snacks at the end!  Olivia and Zeke have been enjoying preschool at the high school.  They have two more weeks before that is over with.  Makenna is getting ready for her Hershey Track meet later this month.  She will be running the 400 and 200 and doing the standing long jump.  She is excited for that.  She also finished her African Elephant report and diorama and scored the highest possible on that.  Maddi and Makenna also had the GATE presentation night where they told the parents all about what they had been learning through out the year.  They both did a great job.  Field trips are in full swing now.  We have been to Cody, Salt Lake City and Jackson Hole.  There are still about 8 more to go before the year is over.  I have started cleaning my parents house for them once a week.  I also follow the kids to all their functions.  The 5k season seems to be upon us so we have started doing that too.  Yesterday was our first one.  The four older kids and I walked/jogged the whole way.  Zeke and Olivia took turns riding in the stroller, walking and getting piggy back rides from me.  At one point I was pushing Zeke in the stroller (uphill against the wind) and carrying Olivia on my back.  I think we went over a half mile that way before my arms gave out and I had to put her down.  Later I had Zeke on my back and Olivia in the stroller.  Luckily it was with the wind and downhill and Maddi came and took the stroller!  I walked another half mile with Zeke on my back.  While carrying them, it made my desire to exercise and lose weight increase.  I have lost (since Olivia was born) as much as she weighs now, over 40 pounds.  Carrying her made me realize how hard that can be on my body!  I went home and did my p90x workout that afternoon!  Anyways, we all finished the race well in the middle of the pack and even walked away with all kinds of prizes!  We have another one in 4 weeks.

So, that is where we have been lately and that is where we will be for another month!  So if I seem to disappear again I will either be at a baseball game, hanging from a pull up bar, pushing a stroller down the green belt or driving some one somewhere that they should've been 10 minutes ago!

Easter Weekend

Michael had to work this year on Easter so we celebrated with him a week early.  The kids had a long weekend for Easter so we loaded up and headed to Idaho.  The kids were excited to get to spend Easter with Grandma Joyce, Grandpa Jim, Aunt Kelli and Grandma Great.  The weather was okay so we were able to spend some time outdoors on Saturday.  I got to go to town all by myself and do some shopping (thanks Joyce and Kelli).  Kelli took two of the boys to a basketball game and Joyce took the rest of the kids to go do other things.  We all met up at one of the schools that afternoon.  The kids played on the playground and Kelli played ball with them too.  They had a great time.  Later, Jim took the kids out and shot Zane's new BB gun.  Zane had one BB bounce back and hit him in the tummy.  He thought it was pretty funny!  The highlight was Joyce getting her BB and little closer to the middle of the bullseye than Jim :)  Of course, Jim says otherwise!  Sunday was church and then Easter lunch with the whole family followed by an Easter egg hunt for the kids.  My kids had one of their cousins there to hunt and play with them.  Monday started off beautiful but we had to cut our visit short and head home because of threatening storms.  We visited my dear friend Karla, went to Grandma's and then met Joyce for lunch before heading out.  The kids were sad to leave early but we'll be back in a few weeks for Zane's baptism.  It was a very nice weekend and I am so glad, once again, to be back closer to family so that things like this can happen.  I didn't have my camera with me for everything but here are a few pictures from the weekend.

The Easter Bunny even found the kids again Easter morning.

Olivia with her first egg - pink of course

Serious egg hunters

All the kids together

Jim, Zane and Olivia shooting

Spoiled Rotten

That's me!  This year Michael has totally spoiled me.  Not only did I get a dozen roses for our anniversary but I also got an ipad!  Yes, that's right!  I have been coveting one for a long time now knowing that I would never own one.  I have even tried on multiple occasions to win one but with no luck.  Then, all of a sudden, Michael told me that he was going to get me one for our anniversary.  I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.  I ordered it today.  It will get here next week.  I don't know if I can wait that long, although I don't think I have a choice :)  I actually felt really guilty purchasing it.  I have never spent that much money on just me - especially when it was something that wasn't a necessity.  I am still drumming my fingers wondering if I should have done that even though Michael said to.  I asked him (over and over) if he was sure it was all right.  He said yes, but the guilt is still there.  Of course I feel guilty whenever I spend money on myself.  You should hear the conversations that go on in my head when I am debating a purchase for me.  Anyways, back to the spoiling... :)  I even get a cool red case for it.  It will fit nicely in my Miche Bag purse that Joyce gave me (love them too).  I have never felt this spoiled in all my life.  Money (or lack of it) has always been such a huge issue.  It still is, but some of the pressure is off now and we are able to enjoy things a little more than before and that feels good.  I grew up without money.  I have begun to raise six kids without money.  Finally there is a little extra and we can do things like go to McDonalds or take a trip to Grandma's and not have to worry so much about how we will afford it.  I have never felt that before and it is a wonderful feeling.  It makes me that much more grateful for Michael.  He has given up things that he loves in order to do things that are needed to support our family.  He works long hours and misses out on lots of family time - something that he wishes he didn't have to do.  Yet, each day he is up and going again so that we can have what we need and enjoy some of what we want.  It's not the fact that he gave me an ipad that makes me feel so spoiled (although it adds to the feeling :) it's the fact that he is willing to give so much to make these things possible.  What a wonderful man I am married to!  Now you may be thinking, what did this wonderful man get for our anniversary?  The answer - tires.

Yankees, Dodgers and Phillies

 As I have mentioned before, baseball season is well underway.  We have been practicing for weeks.  Maddi had her first game tonight (they won) and the boys have their first games next week.  Maddi plays for the Yankees.  She's number 2.

Zane plays for the Phillies.  He's number 6.

Zeke and Dillon play for the Dodgers.  They are numbers 2 and 3, respectively.

This is me.  I play taxi driver, cheerleader, coach, and vending machine.  I don't have a number.  

Olivia and Makenna just play where ever and whatever they can while they are being drug from field to field.

It keeps things crazy busy but we do enjoy it.  The weather isn't always the best.  We've been rained on, snowed on, frozen and blown away, but occasionally we will have a nice day which makes it all the more enjoyable.

11 Years

Today is my 11th wedding anniversary.  I can't believe all that has happened.  Michael and I met just over 11 years ago in a potato field.  It was harvest.  I was piling potatoes and working in the office for one of the farmers north of Rupert.  Michael was driving tractor for the same farmer.  The last night of harvest he was the last worker that we took dinner to.  That was the first time I met him although I had heard a lot about him.  The other workers in the office would tease me about needing to meet him because he was the only single male that spoke english!  Shortly after harvest the farmer I was working for moved me to his potato packing plant to work in the office there.  That was near the end of October I think.  When beet harvest was done Michael, too, came to work at the plant in the maintenance crew.  That was towards the end of November in 1999.

We went on our first date a few days after News Years.  We were together every day after that.  We took our lunches together and spent our evenings together.  After the first week, we both knew that we wanted to stay together.  It was just one of those things.  I didn't know a lot about him, but I just felt he was who I had been looking and hoping for.  We bought the engagement ring by the end of January.  He didn't give it to me until near the end of February.  We were married two months later.

We had a lot of opposition to our marriage.  It was hard to deal with.  This was supposed to be a happy time, yet there was disappointment in the reactions of some.  Our love for each other and the strong knowledge that we knew we were to be together helped get us through it all, along with the support of some of our family.

The next 11 years seemed to come and go quickly and at the same time, last forever.  We have been blessed with 6 beautiful children.  They have changed our lives and changed who we are.  It has been extremely hard and heart breaking at times and overflowing with joy other times.  The roller coaster never ends and I don't think that I want it to!

We have moved many times.  Sometimes just from house to house, sometimes across country.  Our first year of marriage brought two moves, two jobs and one child.  Our second year brought another move and another child and the opportunity to be sealed to Michael and our children for time and all eternity in the House of the Lord.  Our third year brought child number 3.  Year four brought a new job and a move far away from all that we knew.  It was a hard move but a necessary one.  We needed to go and be our own family, learn to rely on each other and establish our dreams and goals in life.  Year five brought another child and a move back home and back to a previous job.  Year six brought child number five and another move.  Year seven brought a miscarriage, two moves - one across country again, and back to the same job there.  Year eight brought us our last child and many wonderful memories and fun times.  Year nine brought yet another move and another job.  It was an extremely hard move.  The hardest I have ever had.  I still, 2 1/2 years later struggle with it.  Things stayed quiet for year 10.  No moving, no children, a few broken ribs, a few trips to the emergency room, but nothing life changing.  Year eleven however, brought change again.  New job, cross country move, two new schools, and another in town move.  It brought us closer to family, which we love, but farther from dear friends, which we don't love.

Over the years, I have changed.  I have gone from short hair to long, thin to not so thin, newly wed to mother of six, country life to city life, small little hyundi to 8 seat expedition.  I have left my 20's and am now half way through my 30's.  I look for potties instead of bathrooms and I snuggle in blankies instead of blankets.  My idea of dressing up involves pants without elastic waists and my night out on the town is fast food followed by Walmart.  I love it though.  I am so blessed.  I am so grateful that I met Michael when I did.  I was ready and he was ready.  We didn't know what the future held but we were ready to take it on together and we have.  We have come so far and done so much - maybe not in worldly standards, but in what matters most to us.  Michael works hard and takes care of us.  He is patient with me and doesn't get mad when I go to town and come back with more than just the necessities.  I love home so much and I am so glad that I have him to share my life with.  And just like 11 years ago, we are ready.  We don't know what the future holds but we are ready to take it on together!

Zeke

Zeke is always coming up with hilarious things that he says.  The way his little mind thinks always keeps me laughing.  Here are a few of his latest conversations.  The first one was last week when we had a little hail/sleet storm.  The second one was Tuesday night after he had eaten some Goldfish for a snack.  The third was from this morning.


Zeke comes running in the house, "Mom, it's raining little white balls on my head!" 
Me: "That's called hail."
Zeke: "I have to get my jacket."
Me: "Why don't you just come inside until it stops?"
Zeke: "No, I like playing in it. I just need a jacket because the little white balls hurt my head when they hit it."




Zeke: "Mom, if you kiss me right now you will get some Goldfish crumbs."
Me: "What?"
Zeke: "I just ate some Goldfish and there are some crumbs on my lips so if you kiss me you can have some crumbs."
Me: "I don't want to have any crumbs off your lips."
Zeke: "Why not? Don't you like Goldfish?"
Me: "No, not really."
Zeke: "Oh, okay."


Me:  "Do you want anymore Coco Roos in your bowl?"
Zeke:  "They're not Coco Roos they are Coco Puffs.  See (pointing to the words) Coco P-Puffs."
Me:  "Oh, right. Coco Puffs."
Zeke:  "I know 'cause I read it yesterday too.  I even read it with my eyes closed!"
Me:  "Wow!  You read it with your eyes closed?"
Zeke: "Yes.  It was (in a higher voice) AAWESOOOOME!!"


He's dead serious when he says these things.  He brightens up my days in a way that no one else can.

Sheep and Lambs

Today as the kids and I were packing to get ready for our trip to Idaho, I started debating about what to do on Sunday.  It's Stake Conference there (for those of you who don't know, we have this conference twice a year and it's when all the members in the area meet together instead of in smaller groups like we do on other Sundays.  There are usually hundreds of people there and our church leaders teach us).  This time it is not going to be one of our usual Stake Conferences.  It is going to be broadcast by satellite from Salt Lake and it will be for the whole region.  They are usually very good and I really enjoy going to them.  However, for some reason, the thought of dressing up the kids, taking them to a two hour meeting and all that will be involved with it just didn't sound appealing.  I have been tired lately and I guess I wasn't in the right mood today.  I expressed my feelings to Michael and he said to do whatever I wanted about it.  I tried to tell myself that it wasn't that big of deal.  People do it all the time and they are good people.  It won't make me "bad".  Growing up, I was taught that God comes first and we should ALWAYS try to do our best and choose the right.  Today, however, I was putting that out of my mind.  As I was in the middle of saying that maybe it wouldn't be that big of a deal, Olivia came running up to me. I looked into her eyes and the thought came to me, "What will I be teaching her and the others if I skip church?  What example will I be setting for them?"  They had all packed their church clothes without any question.  They know on Sunday we go to church and for the most part, they enjoy it.  They know the importance of learning about Jesus, keeping the Sabbath Day holy and making good choices.  Yet here I was, their protector and teacher, questioning the importance of church attendance this weekend.  

As I looked at Olivia, a talk from one of our leaders, Richard J. Maynes, came into my mind.  I quoted it in my Sunday School class a few weeks ago and this afternoon it came back strong.  He was talking about our responsibilities as parents to teach and lead by example, about how much influence we have over our children and what our actions can do.  He quoted a poem by C.C. Miller titled "The Echo".  It says:

’Twas a sheep not a lamb

That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong,

It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when the sheep are lost

What a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay.

What I do today, will affect my children for good or bad.  I can be the sheep that leads my little lambs back to our Father in Heaven or I can be the sheep that causes the heavens to weep as I lead my little lambs astray.  I can read the scriptures to them, take them to church, teach them of Jesus, and show them obedience.  Or I can do the opposite and leave them without the guidance and direction that they will need to make it through this life here on earth.  

These children that I have been blessed with are not really mine.  They have been given to me from a very loving Father in Heaven.  They are His children.  It is my responsibility to see that I do all in my power to help them return home safely to Him.

In the Bible in Ephesians we are taught to "...bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."  In the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi it says, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ...that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."  In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord says, "But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth."  All through the scriptures we are taught to teach our children, to be examples to them and to bring them back to live with God again.  

This Sunday I am going to church.  I want to live up to the stewardship that my Heavenly Father has given me in caring for his children.  I want to be the kind of sheep to my little lambs that will lead them safely home.