Born Again and Remembering

The last few weeks in Sunday School we have been talking about being born again and remembering.  Our teacher asked us all to think about that moment in our lives when we were "born again."  When we finally knew that Jesus Christ was our Savior.  When we finally knew the gospel was true.  When our testimony was finally our own and not some one else's.  Then he asked us to write it down and remember it.  Remember the feelings we had, the goals we set, the determination we had to do good for the rest of our lives.  Then he asked us to share it with those we love.

As I thought about it, I couldn't come up with a single moment when I all of a sudden knew.  I guess I have always known.  I don't remember not knowing.  I was born and raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I have been taught about Jesus my whole life.  From the time I went to nursery as an 18 month old baby to present time, I have had Sunday school teachers teaching me about Jesus and His gospel.  My parents always read the scriptures to us daily.  We have family prayer morning and night.  Every week we had family home evening where we would sing songs and have lessons about the gospel.  I read the scriptures on my own daily and had my own personal prayers morning and night.  I just always knew. 

I don't ever remember questioning the gospel.  There were times when I didn't always do what I should, times when I went against the teachings that I knew to be true, but I never doubted - I just chose unwisely. 

When I was 21, I served a mission for our church in Ireland.  We were taught to bear our testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and of the message that we shared to everyone we met.  We listened to the people, we invited them to learn about the Savior and then we bore our testimony.  Every time, every single time, I bore my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ, mine was strengthened.  Every time I did that, I knew again, in my heart, of the truthfulness of the gospel and of the love that the Savior has for me and for all of us.  Those experiences reinforced what I already knew and strengthened me.

Why remember?  Why hold these things close to our heart?  Remembering strengthens us.  Remembering brings it back into our heart, strengthens our resolve, increases our faith and opens our eyes to how much the Lord is involved in our lives.  Remembering allows us to see His hand guiding us through our daily lives.  I know there have been so many times in my life when I have been able to remember and draw strength to press forward through whatever was ahead of me.  It gave me faith to take one more step into the darkness because I knew that He had been there in the past to light my way and He would do it again.  Remembering gave me the hope that when I reached out my hand, He would be there to grab it.  And He has never failed me! 

I am so thankful for my knowledge of the gospel.  I am so thankful for the love that I feel from my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am so thankful for being raised in a home where I was taught from a very young age to know these things.  I am so thankful for all the doorsteps that I stood on and had the Spirit of the Lord testify to me as I testified to others.  I am thankful for a Sunday School teacher who helped me remember.

Swimming Fun!

This last week we had a busy, but sun-filled week.  We had our normal physical therapy, rock picking and work.  We did workouts, had library and got our shopping done.  We also got to spend two different afternoons at the pool with great friends!  We were all having so much fun that I didn't get any pictures taken, so that will be my goal next time ☺

Monday we got to spend 7 hours at the Brookings Pool.  We got there when it opened and stayed until they closed only leaving for a few minutes to go get something to eat - the kids were starving!  It was so nice to sit in the sun and visit with an adult!  The kids enjoyed having someone other than siblings to play with too.

Friday we got to go swimming again.  This time we went to Watertown.  We spent 5 hours there.  We got there an hour after it opened and stayed until closing.  Then we all went to eat together.  This time I got to talk to two adults!  And Watertown has a lazy river that I love going on so that made it even more fun.  The kids had more friends to play with and the day flew by.

I feel so blessed to have friends that I can spend time with and enjoy.  I am looking forward to more days at the pool in the near future.  The kids are too!

Michael

Today, as we celebrate Father's Day, I am overwhelmed with the blessing that Michael is to our family.  Michael and I started this journey of ours over 16 years ago.  Who would have thought that in that time we would have 6 beautiful, slightly maddening children, lived in 14 different houses, five different towns and 4 states, finally settling in the middle of nowhere South Dakota? 

Over the years, Michael has always, always been there.  He has worked long hours to provide for us, allowing me to be able to stay home with the kids while they were little.  He has helped with diaper changes, night time feedings, cleaning, cooking, playing, repairing, building, washing, drying, folding, reading, teaching, and everything else in between.  He has always made sure that I am able to get away from time to time and enjoy a few minutes of non-mom time. 

Despite how tired he may be or busy he may be, he always finds time and energy for us.  He tries to get to the kids games and meets, which sometimes means getting up at 4 am so he can get chores done in time to make it a basketball tournament.  He has helped coach the boys in basketball, football and baseball.  The kids know that he is always there (though sometimes just in spirit and texts) to cheer them on.

He is always willing to help those around him.  He will be the first to offer help to the neighbors, his coworkers and our friends.  He will give up what little free time he may have to help where he is needed.

He is much more patient that I am.  (He doesn't have that red head gene like me...) He will take time to teach and explain to the children why what they are doing may not be the best of ideas. He takes the time to show them and help them understand a different way.  He is the chosen one to be in the front seat with the new, under-experienced drivers in the house. (I sit in the back and white knuckle the door handle while muttering some sort of cross between a prayer to God, my last goodbyes to my family and a death threat to our teenage driver as we take the corner on 2 wheels).  Michael calmly tells them to slow down a little before the next turn.

His funny stories and childhood "memories" bring so much laughter into our family.  The kids love to listen to his crazy stories about crossing the ocean as a baby, growing up with James (his older brother) and anything that starts with the phrase, "When I was a kid..."  The kids can't get enough of him!  His snuggles on the couch, him grabbing their toes and cracking them all at once, getting teased about what boy or girl they may or may not have a crush on, riding in the tractor with him, basically whatever he is doing, they want to be there.

I am so thankful for Michael and all that he is.  I love watching him be a dad.

Broken and Healed

Over a year ago I made clay hearts with the kids.  The idea was for them to do something kind for some one and leave a heart or if they saw someone having a hard day or just wanted them to know they were being thought of, leave them a heart.  I would often find a heart left on my pillow with a note when I went to bed at night or one slid under my bedroom door when I woke up in the morning.  Over the last year and a few months, some of the hearts have gotten broken.  They were stepped on or got something set on them or got dropped.

This morning as I was closing the windows in my bedroom I saw these broken hearts and began to think about all that has happened over the last year or so to me, my family and those around me.  How many hearts have been broken!  How much hurt has been felt!  Friends and family have been lost, cancer has been discovered, other illnesses and injuries occurred, jobs lost, belongings burned, favorite pets lost, relationships ended, so many things...  I think everyone I know has felt pain and hurt on some level.  Everyone has had their heart broken to some degree.  This last year has just seemed really tough.

As I looked at the pieces of these pretty clay hearts that my children made, my heart ached again for the suffering that I have seen around me and for the things I experienced first hand. 

Then I began to try to put the pieces back together.  As I did this, I thought about all the good that has happened during the storms.  I thought about how everyone banded together to lift those suffering up.  I thought of all the prayers that were said, scriptures that were quoted, hugs that were given and tears that were shed - all in the name of love.

I thought of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice.  I thought of His pure love.  I thought of how He, as we stumble through this life, at times falling down unable to move forward from the burdens we feel, reaches out His hand and lifts us up and helps us see the light.  He can put our pieces back together.  He can take our broken hearts and heal them.  He can take our pain and give us peace.  In 3rd Nephi (a book in the Book of Mormon) chapter 17 verse 7 He says, "Have ye any that are sick among you?  Bring them hither.  Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner?  Bring them hither and I will heal them."  In Psalms 147:3 it says, "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." The New Testament is filled with examples of Jesus healing the people - the lame could walk, the blind could see.  Matthew 14:35-36, "And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole."

Jesus Christ will heal us.  If we come to Him in humility and faith, He will heal us.  He will make us whole.  We will still have our trials and heartache, but He will provide the healing we need - from something as small as a really bad day to something as big as losing a child - He will heal us.

I am so thankful for the Savior.  As I looked at my broken hearts and thought of all that has happened in the last year, I am so thankful to be able to know and see His hand in all of it.  I am so thankful to have felt His healing presence.  I am so thankful that my wounded heart was mended and made whole again through His pierced hands.  Christ lives.  He loves us.  He is aware of us and through Him we will be able to return, whole and unbroken, to our Father in Heaven!

Life is Good!

Life is good!  These last few days have been amazing days.  We've worked hard - mowing, hauling branches, cleaning barns and scraping fences.  Maybe that's what has made the rest of the day feel so good.  Hard work makes everything better ☺

There have been so many little things that have brought joy to my day... 
Sitting out on the porch watching the sun set through the trees 
Getting winked at during supper by a cute little 5 year old boy - more than once 
Fist bump from the same cute 5 year old because he was impressed with my golfing
Watching the puppy wrestle with Nava
Listening to the kids run through the house and yard playing and chasing each other
Sitting around a fire roasting marshmallows
Feeling the warmth of the sun
Sharing Michael's hot, sticky buns with Maddi's boyfriend and totally embarrassing her (you had to be there - it was funny ☺)
Fresh bread with melted butter (yes, food brings me joy)
Waking up to birds chirping
Having a rainy day movie marathon
Going to the lake and watching the kids play in the water and try to jump the waves
Just sitting around, talking and laughing, telling stories until almost midnight
Playing cards with Olivia

Simple things bring the greatest joy and make life full.  Days like these, moments like these, help me get through the more frustrating times and situations.  The simple things that make life good, carry me through the challenges and keep me buoyed up during the stormy times. I'm so thankful for these simple, everyday joys.  The Lord truly has blessed me.

It's Been A Long Time

Wow!  I can't believe it's been almost 6 months since I have last written.  Time has gone by so quickly.  I have missed 6 birthdays, basketball season, track season, concerts and everything else!  I'm not going to try to catch up with all the little details.  I will post some pictures to document our lives the last 6 months - to show we were here and doing stuff!

School is out now and summer has started.  The kids are busy as usual.  Makenna finishes track this weekend.  She is going to state as an alternate this year.  She got to run in a qualifying 4x800 relay team but she was one of six that did that.  Her times this year were not among the four fastest so she will not run at state but go and support those that are running.  She has had knee and ankle issues this season so her running was not as strong as it usually is.  She is in physical therapy right now for her knee and they are also working with her ankle.  Hopefully this summer will be a time to heal and prepare for cross country next fall.  I am proud of the effort and hard work she put in to track this year.  She pushed through the frustration and pain and always did her best,

Maddi ended up straining her Achilles part way through the season so she was not able to finish running.  She has physical therapy 3 times a week and has been in a boot for a month now.  She has at least another month in it.  The swelling won't go down and stay down so that slows down the progress.  She has also been advised to not run cross country this fall. 

We just celebrated Olivia's 9th birthday!  She was very excited for it!  She chose a brownie cookie dough cheesecake pie instead of a cake this year.  It was yummy!  We are so thankful to have her in our family.

We got a new puppy the other day.  Dillon named her Sue.  She is a black lab and the boys are hoping to train her to hunt pheasants.  They have been wanting a hunting dog! She is super cute.  I love lab puppies!

She will keep the kids busy this summer chasing them around the yard.

The boys have started picking rock again to earn some money this summer. Makenna will start once she is done with track.  Maddi is starting a new job this summer too.  Her first day is Sunday.  She gets to work at the local gas station.  Summer will be filled with camps - church, scouts and sports, work, swimming, and hopefully a trip to the horse races!

Here are a few pictures of all the things I missed over the last little while:

 Zane #5 throwing in the ball

 Maddi on offense

Makenna taking a shot

 Maddi on her 15th birthday

Makenna turned 14 :)

Christmas morning - my most favorite day of the year!

 Zeke turned 10.  Happy Birthday Super Z!

Zane on his 13th birthday with his Reese's Fudge

Makenna turning 14 also means she gets to drive!

Spring Concert

I love this picture so I am just posting it because I can!

 This was the race Maddi ran right before she injured her Achilles.

 Zane finishing the mile.

Makenna

Our elementary school also did a Couch to 5K program for the 4th-6th graders.  Zeke and Dillon both ran in it.  I did too.  It was so fun to watch the kids work hard and see all the progress they made.  They are hoping this will become a yearly tradition!

 Zeke

Dillon

A Different View

Last Tuesday, November 24th, I went to the eye doctor.  About 5 or 6 weeks ago, my eyes had become very sore.  It hurt to move them and touch them.  It lasted almost 2 weeks.  I blamed it on allergies and didn't think much more of it.  Then I started experiencing cloudy vision, mostly in the early mornings or late evenings.  I blamed my cataract on that and just kept going.  Inside I was a little uneasy about it but I pushed that aside and worked around the cloudiness.  Then it started lasting longer until my vision was cloudy all day long.  In fact, it got to where I couldn't really see what my makeup looked like in the mornings.  I just hoped I was getting everything in the right place!  I decided to go ahead and get them checked.  Maybe my cataract had grown and was causing problems or something. 

Well, as soon as she looked in my eye she knew exactly what was going on.  I had something called uveitis.  It was in both eyes and it was pretty bad.  It is an inflammation of the eyes.  As the eye gets inflamed, the body sends in white blood cells to help heal.  The eye can only hold so many white blood cells and then they end up causing more inflammation which makes the body send even more!  So the eye starts depositing the white blood cells in the eye.  That, along with the inflammation, causes the cloudy vision.  It also makes things inside the eye sticky and gooey.  So the pupil in my left eye is actually stuck to the cornea. 

The solution?  Dilation.  She immediately dilated me and said I would have to stay dilated until it heals.  How long will that take?  Two to four weeks or more.  Why?  Keeping them dilated means that the eye isn't constricting and opening during the day so it helps not cause any additional inflammation.  I also have to put steroid drops in both eyes every hour or so.  I put dilating drops in three times a day.  I have to go in to keep a check on my eye pressure and to see if there is any improvements.  If there aren't any soon, then I will have to go to the next step which is injections (shots) into my eyes or take oral meds.  The injections are usually the way they go though. 

Also, because I have it in both eyes I have to be tested for other things that could be going on in my body that are being manifested in my eyes.  Things like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, viruses and other things.  These tests are just to rule out any underlying causes because sometimes you get uveitis for no reason at all.  That's what I am hoping for.  I will get testing done on Tuesday.

So my life right now is one big blur.  It's blurry up close, it's blurry far away.  Even with the new prescription glasses that I had to get while dilated,  it's still all blurry.  I can see, I can drive, I can do things.  I just do it all with a blur.  People have to read my texts for me and send them for me.  Michael had to read my recipe to me yesterday when I was trying to make rolls.  I had to wake Makenna up to read the thermometer to me so I knew when the oil was hot enough to fry my pies.  Black Friday shopping was not fun because I couldn't really see well enough to do much.  When I do try to see things or focus in, my eyes get really tired and I end up with a headache and achy eyes.  Work is hard.  My computer screen has to be magnified really big so I can read my emails.  I wish I would've worked harder in computer class years ago so I could type better without looking ☺ That would really come in handy now!  I have to wear sunglasses all the time and even then, the light gives me a headache after a while.  I can't see to put on my makeup.  I can't really see to do much with my hair.  I struggle doing my girls' hair too.  Trying to watch movies with the family gives me a headache too.  Today I tried to set up one of our Christmas trees, but my eyes were too blurry to fluff it and trying to focus hurt so I had to give up.  Life is very frustrating right now!

The good news?  It isn't permanent!  She couldn't see any damage to any parts of my eyes so once this is all cleared up, I will be able to see just fine again!  That was very good news to hear!

I know there are so many out there with much more to deal with than I have to right now.  I know there are those that aren't lucky enough to be told it's only temporary.  Going through this has opened my eyes, as blurry as they are, to the struggles that so many face.  Day to day things are so hard!  Things that once brought joy, like decorating the Christmas tree, become a struggle.  Cooking is hard to do alone, reading causes too much discomfort.  So many things are affected. 

I don't like to ask for help.  I have always just done it on my own, whatever it may be.  Having to ask for so much help is frustrating and humbling.  I am grateful for a patient husband and children that help me with all these simple, yet undoable, tasks.  Things will be hard and I am crossing my fingers for a two week recovery and not four weeks so that I can enjoy this Christmas season a little more.  This is my most favorite time of year.  I love the lights and decorations, the smells and joy, the carols, the love and the giving of gifts!  I love the story of the baby Jesus.  He who came to this earth into very humble circumstances, who walked and taught and served those around Him.  He who healed and forgave and loved.  He who suffered, bled, died and rose again so that we may return to our Father in Heaven in perfection.  As I struggle with these earthly ailments, I am reminded of Him and the  promise we have of freedom from these struggles when we return to His presence for eternity.  These earthly imperfections teach us, strengthen us, bring us closer to Him.  Then when we leave this life, He removes them from us so we suffer no more.

My eyes are filled with things obstructing my view of things that I love.  Our lives are filled with things obstructing our view of Him.  Just as my sight will return if I follow what my doctor tells me to do, we will return to Him if we just follow.  We have to take that leap of faith, step out into the darkness so our light will expand and our view become clearer.  I have eye drops to help my physical eyes see.  We have the teachings of Christ to bring sight to our spiritual eyes and bring us back to Him. This knowledge gives me hope on so many different levels and brings peace to my heart as I work my way through this life.

Who is Your Superhero?

In comic books and movies, superheroes dress up in costumes, fight evil villains, rescue damsels in distress and then, in a huge final battle of good vs evil, they save the world from destruction!  Only a few have the special powers needed to be a superhero.  Only a few can win the battle over evil. 

Today these girls had their Young Women In Excellence program.  The theme was superheroes.

 



Each of the girls thought about who in their life was a real life superhero.  Then they wrote about why this person was their superhero.  They each got to invite their superhero to the program, present what they wrote and thank that person for being their real life superhero.  I was touched as I listened to the things they said.  I felt blessed knowing that they had people in their lives that they could look up to and follow.  These superheroes have taught them faith - in themselves and the Lord, kindness, confidence, persistence, positivity, charity and hard work.

These superheroes don't have fancy costumes, cool weapons and a tricked out car.  They don't have sidekicks or informants or a superhero squad.  They are everyday, ordinary people living their lives the best that they can.  Most of the time, I don't even think they know they are superheroes.  They just do what they do because it's who they are!

As I listened to Maddi and Makenna present their superheroes I thought about the superheroes in my life.  I have a lot!  They are the ones who have taken time to listen when I needed to talk.  The ones who held my hand and lifted me up.  The ones who smiled when I couldn't do it myself.  The ones who went out of their way for me.  My life has been full of superheroes.  Heroes who have silently lifted, served and helped.  Heroes who have taught and led and sometimes pushed and pulled. 

I had a 4th grade teacher that I loved.  She made me feel like I was her favorite student!  I was shy and quiet and nervous and she took time to get to know me and talk to me.  She is a superhero.  I had a Bishop when I was 14 who taught me about charity through the love he had for Christ.  When his son died in a car accident.  Despite his grief, he bore strong testimony of Jesus Christ and His love for each of us.  He is a superhero.  I have friends in Idaho (Katie and Monica) who made those early motherhood years so much more doable.  Superheroes.  I have a friend, Karla Wilson, who loved me and helped me and encouraged me and treated me like one of her own.  A very loved superhero. I have one that when I moved here for the first time 12 years ago, invited me in and has never turned me out.  One that I know is only a text away.  One that will come and help chase bats out of my house when Michael is away. A super superhero!

I work with superheroes.  They amaze me.  My fearless leader teaches me love and patience with an occasional burst of crazy to keep us all laughing.  I have superheroes that greet me every morning with a smile and hello.  There is a superhero that listens as I share my teenage girl woes and encourages me that we will all survive!  a superhero that stops by my desk just to ask me how I'm doing.  A superhero that goes above and beyond to help me with Zeke when I am overwhelmed with the thoughts of it all and encourages me to take time for me.  She reassures me that I am doing just fine.  A superhero that teaches me love and patience with her quiet voice.  A superhero that teaches me kindness as he goes about the school getting balls off the roof, cleaning up spills and messes, letting kids look at all his keys and showing them what's inside the boiler room.  A superhero that listens to my stories as I step into her office with a "so, guess what..."  So many superheroes.  So many small acts from people just doing their best that changed my life for the better. 

My life has been blessed with so many people who have helped "save" this damsel in distress and rescued us all from the evil villains that we face in life.  I am thankful for each one of them.  I am also thankful for the superheroes of my children - friends, leaders, teachers, coaches - all who take the time and reach out to pull them up.  Your light brightens the path for them.  Your example helps show them the way.  You are doing for them what so many have done and still do for me.  So I ask, who is your superhero?

Blessings

Ok, so this summer Maddi got her driver's license.  We started searching for an inexpensive car for her to drive.  A neighbor of ours in Hendricks called one day and said that her daughter was selling her old car and it just happened to be in our price range!  We went over, checked it out and decided to buy it.  We knew it was older and that there is always a chance that something will go wrong with it but we decided to take our chances.  My first car was $250.  I bought it at a rummage sale.  It worked great for several years.  Sometimes those old cars can go forever.  We were hoping this would be the case with this car.  We really couldn't afford anything more than that right now. 

We drove it some this summer and it never gave us trouble.  Once school started, Maddi started driving it to school and back everyday.  Then, one morning around 7am I got a call from Maddi.  Her car had died on the way to school.  I called Michael to see if he could go help them.  Friends took them to school and Michael took the car to the repair shop.  Several days later we got the news that the timing belt had come off and there was other damage that would cost close to $2000 to fix.  So, Michael went and got the car and parked it in the yard.  We could not fix the car and it really wasn't worth putting that much money into.  Unfortunately, we couldn't afford another car either and with her 7:30 class, she needed to drive to school because there are no busses that run early.

She drove our Expedition to school, but we didn't want that to be a long term thing.  We started looking but couldn't find anything that would work for us.  Finances are so tight right now that we could not afford to add another car payment to our list of bills. 

Friends of ours asked Maddi about her car and if it was going to be able to be repaired.  She told them no.  Then a few days later, these friends told us they had found a car that might work for Maddi and wanted to know if we were interested.  I said yes and asked them to tell me the details on it so we could look in to it.  I never heard back.  The other day, I asked again, if they were ever able to find out more about the car. 

Yesterday, I got a text from this friend and asked if I saw what had been dropped off at the house and if would work.  I hadn't been home yet so I asked what it was.  The response... you'll have to wait and see... ☺ When I got home, there was a car sitting in our driveway.  The same car that they had told me about.  The car had been paid in full, put in Michael's name and delivered to our house with a full tank of gas! 

Wow!  I couldn't believe it!  I didn't even know what to think!  I expected details on the car - mileage, price, color, etc... Not the actual car!  I never imagined that this is what they had planned!  What a blessing!  What an amazing act of kindness! 

I had been struggling with things lately.  Kids are expensive, food is expensive, life is expensive.  I am working.  Michael is working.  The kids worked during the summer, those that were old enough.  We are doing all we can but sometimes ends just don't seem to meet up and things get tough.  This car means so much.  It showed me that God was aware of my concerns.  It showed that I have friends who love me and care about me and are aware of me.  It showed me that blessings do come when we try hard to do our best.  It shows me that, despite all the crazies in the world, there are amazing people out there, doing great things in their life and making the world a little less crazy!

It is something that I can never repay them for, but I hope that they know how much this means to us.  I can't right now - not in this way, but hope that I can find ways to pay it forward and help some one else in need.

Fall 2015

It has been so long since I posted last!  Once school and sports start, life becomes a whirlwind of kids, bleachers, golf courses and football fields!  We have had a good year so far.

Maddi is in 9th grade.  She is a legal driver now so she drives to school every morning for her 7:30 class.  She is a member of student council.  She joined FFA this year and is getting ready to go to Louisville for an FFA convention.  She ran cross country again this year as a varsity runner.  This year the distance changed from a 4k to a 5k so it was a new challenge.  She also started seminary this year.  For those that don't know, seminary is kind of like a bible study class.  Each year during high school they study a different book of scripture - Old Testament, New Testament, Book Of Mormon, etc...  She gets up at 5:30 every morning, gets ready for school, and then does her seminary lesson from 6 - 6:40.  Then she leaves for school about 6:50.  I am proud of all that she is doing this year! 

 

 

Makenna is in 8th grade.  She is in chorus and a member of the student council at school.  She plays volleyball again and gave cross country a try.  She goes to school early every morning so she can meet with the cross country coach and do her workouts before school.  Then she goes to volleyball practice after school.  She has worked hard at both sports this season and has shown great improvements.  She ended up qualifying for state in cross country as an 8th grader! She placed 13th (top 20 go to State) and cut several minutes off her time.  She knows how to give 100% and keep working even when it gets uncomfortable.  I am excited to get to go see her run at State! 

 

 

 

Zane is in 7th grade.  He is learning to adjust to the new demands of a junior high student.  He has surprised me!  He is usually very unorganized and doesn't care too much for school.  While those feelings haven't changed, he is doing better at staying on top of school work and getting things done when he has missed classes for sports.  He also ran cross country this year and did really well!  He is also the president of his 7th grade class.

 

 

Dillon is in 6th grade.  He is enjoying being the big dog in school!  He is in band and enjoys playing the drums.  He also played football this year and loved it!  His last game he scored 4 touchdowns - a great way to end the season!  He is looking forward to basketball starting in a few weeks. He loves sports!  He also loves horses and working with his dad.

 

 

Zeke is in 4th grade.  He loves to read - it's his escape from life.  He played football again this year and had fun being with his friends.  He tried out for an honors choir and loves learning new things!  His best buddy is Maddi and he loves hanging out with her.  She is able to calm him down when other things don't work.  They have a very special relationship.

 

 

Olivia is in 3rd grade.  She isn't old enough to do much but cheer the others on while they area doing their thing!  She is a good sport about it and is happy that her siblings have friends and teammates who have siblings her age so she has company when we are out supporting ☺

Michael and I are still working and trying to get the kids where they need to be when they need to be there.  It keeps us busy and we rarely have a quiet night at home but it is fun to watch the kids.  I am grateful that we live in a place where the kids can be so involved and that I have a job that allows me to be there with them.

That is a brief summary of our lives right now!  Crazy, busy, exhausting.  We are always in some kind of a whirlwind of coming and going but I love it.  I also love the occasional night at home in pajamas doing nothing.  It is getting chillier out now so I love spending the evening by the fire when time allows.