Copperton Park

We spent the evening picnicing after a family home evening lesson at the Copperton Park.  It is beautiful with huge trees.  It reminds us of Logan.  Most of the parks here are just grass and a playground.  This one was lush and mysterious with trails, meadows, and a one-of-a-kind playground.  I love spending time as a family!!!

Adelynn is starting to get on a schedule.  She is sleeping more deeply.  Sleeping well and enough is such a blessing.  It helps us function so much better.  I'm grateful Heavenly Father is helping us in this regard.

We are plugging away at school.  It seems everyday brings exceptions and interruptions to the schedule, but eventually we will get it.  And even when we aren't right where we need to be we are learning and enjoying it.  In a month or so I will have a better feel for how much we are progressing.  I guess I better take a good snapshot of where we are now, so progress doesn't just slowly trickle by without us noticing the huge yet imperceptible change.  I also forget to count the desserts of learning.  You know, listening to an audio-book (We are just finishing Uncle Tom's Cabin; a beautiful, powerful book!), watching and discussing a documentary, visiting a museum, etc.  Those are an essential part of education, but because they are so fun I sometimes don't count them as much a completed math or spelling lesson.  But surely they are just as important.

Well, good night!  

Daybreak Beach

This morning the big kids ran around Daybreak Lake. Tank, Adelynn, and I went slower and only part way. It had been a beautiful morning. I'm letting the kids hang out for a bit then we go back to start school. Heavenly Father has made my life Heaven.

Sleep Training

Sleep training a baby is so hard, emotionally. It breaks my heart to let them cry themselves to sleep. But Adelynn is 9 months and is waking me up 6-10 times a night, so something really must be done. She cried it out last night and now she is crying herself to sleep for her nap. She still got up a lot last night, but she slept deeper. Soon she will be well-trained! Both she and I will be healthier and happier because of it! And the while family and household will run more smoothly. I'm grateful Heavenly Father let's us train and buried our children. We learn so much of His love for us as we do and come to trust Him more in the process.

Tank's Head Bonk

Tuesday evening found us in the emergency room with our sweet, adorable Tank. He had fallen 3-5 feet and landed on the cement on his head. It was a sickening sound. Oh, it about broke my heat to see him in agony. He threw up so we quickly headed to the ER. We prayed earnestly and Jaremy with one of our ward members gave him a Priesthood blessing. I felt comforted knowing no matter what happened God was at the helm. But still I wished I could take away this angel's pain.

Everything is fine now. He was feverish and sick all of Wednesday, but he is back playing and being our dear Tank again. I'm so grateful to the Lord for this beautiful blessing.

Dentist

I'm so grateful we have insurance and dental care. It saves so much pain and suffering! I want to share or blessings with others!

Beautiful Ivy 'n Pine

Today I can see progress! Our little cottage is coming along! I'm excited! She it's organized, weeded, cleaned, painted, and comfortable. The rest can be done gradually over time. Jaremy, the kids, and I worked on the yard a lot today. I love to work in the yard and see improvement. It also helps you slow down and really see the gardens as you weed them. It's so relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. I love heating the kids laugh and chase each other around the yard. This evening we rearranged bedrooms. In fact, Jaremy & I now have one! It will be so nice to have privacy and a retreat. Heavenly Father has blessed us with all these things and every thing else! I love Him! I want to be like Him.

Oh, yesterday Jaremy & I went on a date, just the two of us. We wondered through a farmers'  market and through some shops for a bit, we drove a bit, and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant which had a guy singing with his guitar. It felt so refreshing to get out by ourselves for a few hours! Heavenly Father has blessed us with amazing, sweet babysitters, health, safety, and precious couple time.

Good night!

Progress

I'm grateful we get to gradually work on our house and lot.  We are learning a lot about priorities, work, and persistence.  The yard looks yellow and dry, but we have made progress.  We have ripped out nasty bushes, planted strawberries, some herbs, rhubbarb, blackberries, blueberries, apple trees, kale, chard, and collards.  All of which will come back next year.  Somehow, we must come up with a lot more money if we want a bigger garden, chickens, a large orchard, and such.  Time and hard work will make it productive and beautiful.

The house needs a lot of updating, but it is perfectly comfortable the way it is.  It would be nice if it was safer, prettier, and more organized, but we are still enjoying it just the way it is.  Contentment is a virtue!  One must stop, breathe, sit on the porch, and soak in the beauty that is all around us.  We must count our blessings and not just our wish or to-do lists.  Our blessing list is always infinitely bigger than our wish list.  I'm so grateful Heavenly Father has taught me this!