First Camp of the Season

We are way behind this year. Usually we would have gone camping several times by now, but with a new baby and moving twice in three months it has been a bit crazy. It feels great to be camping in the mountains again. Right now it is almost ten at night. The big boys are exploring in the dark. I just nursed Adelynn to sleep. Jaremy is popping popcorn over the fire with the other kids except Jessica. She is at youth conference. We miss her; it seems like a lot more is missing. She leaves a big hole in or family. Each member its so important.  Oops, the popcorn burnt! Darn! Maybe they can master the next batch. We are having fun! The kids just love it!! I'm grateful Heavenly Father has given us such a beautiful family, world, and bonding times. good night!

Nursing Buddy

Heavenly Father has blessed my life with sweet Adelynn. Right now she is helping write this. She is a sweetheart!

Wonderful Date

Jaremy & I went out for dinner and to look for a new phone. It was a simple, relaxed, loving date. I love when we are together. I'm so grateful for the peace & serenity I feel this evening. It is nice to have calm moments now and again.

Phrases Stand Out

Today I felt the Spirit instruct me to have joy in my children. Going to the temple is wonderful. I also need to listen to my husband more even if what its said isn't said they way I would like to hear it. I need to see the good in people and stand up for them. I need to control my focus and focus on the positive.

Sabbath Reverence

Today Jaremy gets home! I'm so excited! I don't like being apart because it feels like we start to have nothing to talk about. Now isn't that weird? Doesn't it seem because we are both having completely different experiences we should have more to talk about? But without time to talk we just do little headline summaries. "My day was fine. We emptied the storage unit." Whereas if we did it together we would laugh at cute things the kids said, be amazed at how strong our older children are getting, and give each other a squeeze as we passed on the stairs hauling buckets. Oh, well.

Today I am going to try really hard to create a special Sabbath day feeling in our home. I want my children to feel the Spirit as I did on Sunday when I was a child. I don't feel I've been very good at inviting the Spirit on the Sabbath. So I will do better. I'm grateful for the peace & love & encouragement the Holy Ghost brings.

Management May 2012

Sometimes it floors me that I'm entrusted with managing a family with eight children. It seems chaos rules so often. I desperately need my Heavenly Father to bless me with greater love, wisdom, organization, selflessness, and love. I wonder if we waste so much time, if there is a better way of getting things done. Keeping everyone on task, or reverent, or obedient, or kind seems impossible.  I plead with Heavenly Father to help me become better at logistics, yes, but at showing love along the way even more.

Today we needed to empty the storage unit, but we didn't get that far.  We did have a good scripture study session, cut the boys' hair, fed everyone, cuddled, and went to the temple with Jessica. It was a great day despite the storage unit.

Stress

I usually don't allow myself to stress for the last several years, but lately life has been crazy!  Hospital bills, long business trips, broken vehicles, moving to a very old house, lead paint, asbestos, debt, deadlines, gardening, etc. I'm grateful for all of it! It's just today it seems like a lot to do and worry about.But that is one of the universal challenges of life! How will I deal with it? I need to turn to the Lord more and not forget to take time for plenty of spiritual nourishment.I need to treat my family kindly and with patience. I need to focus on acting like Christ so I can be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I need to trust Heavenly Father and His plan. Work, yes! Plan, yes! Worry, no!

Homecoming

Jaremy had another business trip for the last five days. It has been a difficult five days. We are still in the disarray that follows a move. We don't have hot water, internet, a dryer, locks on the doors, etc.  I love Ivy 'n Pine, but because she's so old it feels like we are flirting with danger. We still haven't covered all the lead paint, replaced ancient wiring, removed asbestos, or made a good fire escape. Then there are the normal things we are facing like van repairs, gardens that need to be put in right now, and a couple of children who must be feeling insecure about moving and it comes out as disobedience.

I've struggled with my emotions and figuring out what to do first. I've disappointed myself with how easily I am stressed, how quickly I murmur, how selfish and angry I can be, and how I quickly forget to trust & praise the Lord in all things.

Even though I've been lonely for Jaremy I am so grateful to be surrounded by my amazing children. They are so capable, funny, supportive, and amazing. Most of the time I feel like they are the ones raising me. They are so strong! I want to be tougher (less prone to whine or rage at stressors) for them and because of them.  Kids, if you ever read this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Thank you for lifting my spirits with your understanding, kindnesses, humor, cuteness, dances, hugs, and laughter. Thank you for singing hymns with me and not making fun of me when I cry while I sing. Thank you for lifting my burdens by pick axing, painting, and planting. By making dinner, playing with little ones, running things here and there, scrubbing the old condo and the new house, shopping, assembling strollers and wagons and electronics. You are my dear friends! Surely you have all experienced loneliness, stress, and fear because of this move, but you have handled it with more strength, courage, maturity, and selflessness than your mother. You have given me courage when I was afraid, hope when I felt like quitting, and a good laugh when I felt stressed. You are truly my examples! You remind me of the Savior through your submissiveness, service, and love. I've seen you turn to Him daily and in difficult moments. I know little and big miracles have happened because of your faith. When I grow up I want to be like you!
Again, thank you! I love you all ever so much!

I've seen the hand of the Lord in my life this week though my sweet children's hands for they are His.

Shopping

I'm so blessed to be able to go to the store whenever we need food and stock up. With ten people to feed that it's very often. Jaremy works so hard and Heavenly Father blesses us so much! I'm so grateful!

Scriptures

All the kids are in bed; the house it's quiet. And I'm awake. That's rare! So I've had some time to think and study. Tonight I just opened a copy off the Book of Mormon by chance to Alma 34:40,41,39,38,37. I read the verses in that order. It was the order I needed them in! They spoke to my heart and situation. They are an exhortation to patience in affliction (not that I have affliction, but I do have moments I find difficult), an exhortation to prayer continually, and a reminder that quitting leads to "no good thing'" "That tree contend no more against the Holy Ghost,

Adelynn's Sick

Poor little Adelynn is sick with a cold. I have a bit of one too. I'm so grateful Heavenly Father has blessed us with good health except for a bit of acute illness now and again.  Good health makes such a difference! I feel so bad for those with poor health.

Warmth

Today has been cold. Adelynn has a cold. So luckily we have a hand-me-down snowsuit that keeps squirmy babies warm. They wiggle out of blankets. We've had the doors open all day because we have been painting. But Adelynn has been warm. We've been so blessed and we take it for granted so often. Heavenly Father truly cares for us.

Moved to Ivy 'n Pine

Saturday we emptied our apartment and moved to Ivy 'n Pine. Big day! Sunday we rested, went to or new ward (which it's really great!), and enjoyed the peace of the yard. I love our new yard! Monday we brought order to the piles of chaos and had family home evening.

Air Show Protection

Yesterday we took the kids to the air show.It was cold & windy then it startedto rain & rain. Adelynn was in her snowsuit but it and everything else was quickly soaking. It was freezing especially for babies. She was screaming! There was no dry, warm place to hide. There were thousands of people around & I couldn't find Jaremy who had 5 of the kids with him. Jessica, Ella, & I ran to the van with Adelynn. We were soaked and freezing by the time we reached the van. But we were blessed to find the van & get there before the baby became hypothermic.  Jaremy had found shelter with the 5 older children. They were cold but of choose the situation was not dangerous for them only infants. I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who through His tender mercies blessed us to have driven the van instead of taking the train & kept us safe and happy.