Story Tellers

I don't know if this is my calling but I know I really enjoy the record that documenting this life we live brings. I loved this and snapped a picture while walking the halls with Jake in Joplin MO. I appreciate the records we have from people more versed in geneology than I. So I tell the stories we live and document the activity of this beehive full of busy kids. I'm thankful for the many ideas and experiments we are able to work through. 

Two years ago I really studied gardening. One of the magic products guaranteed to improve your garden soil is decomposed leaves and or earthworm castings. Being summer time I didn’t have leaves but that fall I stockpiled a large totes worth. I let them sit all winter our dry climate doesn’t force much breakdown. That spring I purchased 10 or twenty pounds of worms and turned them loose in my compost bin. We watered the bin a few times a week and added some grass clippings. Finally this year we opened up the pile to find nice soil. Hopefully this will grow some beautiful dahlias. 

Addie has been following my worm experiment through the years. We were very surprised to find no worms in the soil. I’m excited to get the compost bag cleaned out to see what holes are in the bottom. We got 4 big totes worth barrels so far from this. That’s a lot of potting soil from waste products on our farm leaves, wood chips, manure, grass clippings, and vegetable waste from cooking. Now it’s gonna be flowers. Life is good.

State Track

After graduation the track team traveled to Eugene to compete at the University of Oregon State track and field competition. Addie earned her spot in the 3000 and 1500. Many in this picture went to be inspired. 

The girls team placed 3rd overall. 

These 4 broke school records this year. Addie in the 3000 and 1500, Duncan in the 1500 I think, Brandon in the pole vault, and Claire in the 200, 100, and 300 hurdles. 

Addie at the beginning of the meet. We received pictures as we waited to leave for Harold's wedding in Arkansas. We have really enjoyed the state track trips and were sad not to be able to attend this year. You never know when your last time is until its past and you realize that was all. 

Addie ran so strong these days I love that she was able to put down power performances eachc day. Maybe the weight lifted of her own expectations, maybe it was such a relief have high school and clubs finished and have her next steps mapped out. Maybe its all the years of work and training. Maybe it's just the beauty of preparation.

Addie was not ranked to medal in her state events but she did this day. We were so happy for her and she broke the old school record of 10:53 from 1986. This was huge. 

With her coach Mary and training partner Duncan. 

On the podium. We were so happy for her. I love the mismatched socks. 

Holding her 4 year letter bar. 

She was an honorable mention state distance runner from OSAA. 

 She ran sub 5 for her 1500 with a 4:59. Again another goal she had hoped to achieve each year of running. I love how she was able to achieve the many goals she set for herself. I never imagined running would be enjoyable but it is a lifesaver for her. We are trying to convince the younger girls to train to be able to participate. That's not going well. Addie had some great windbreakers called brothers who made it possible for her to spend the time she did at meets, practices, and running at home. This next phase of our family the girls are having to do more. Addie also is a great worker at home but it wasn't all on her. Anyway we learn and we adapt to each stage. We are proud of the dedication and work ethic she applied to her sports expereince too. Life is good and this was a fun chapter to watch. 

Two Fridays

Last friday was National Donut Day. Of course we didn't go to town we made one batch at home. This felt very small compared to our football gifts. It also felt very decadent. 

We did not use tallow wanting to insure they tasted perfectly delicious. 

Millie is pretty skilled at donuts. She knows the process and is a great helper. 

Voila so yummy. We shared with our neighbors. It was nice to walk up to their door and offer them a few donuts to join our celebrating. 

The allotment Millie left for us at home. 

The next week Friday was a different story. I got this picture early in the day. Reed had noticed this cow hobbling around upon investigating he found she had a problem. He got her loaded and we went to the vet. The assistant asked if we wanted antibiotics that if we were going to kill her we would have to wait a few days before she could be butchered. This is a bred cow a few months from calving. A calf is worth over $1500 newborn. We don't want to loose this cow right now. When the vet came out she assured me the xray and possible removeable of whatever was in there complete with antibiotics would be less than $500.00. I told her that was cheap compared to the irrigation and tractor repairs lately. She laughed and said yes animals are much less expensive than mechanical issues. 

A few hours later they called to say she was ready to go and sent us home with this wire they found around her hoof. 

While waiting for Reed and Livy to get the pen ready for her these two were coming very slowly to the farm. They thought they had run out of gas. Reed showed them the reserve tank and they shook their heads in disgust. This is just a small example of the type of season it is. Learning lots of novices learning. Reed takes a few with him often to show them how to start motors little tricks to get things to work the stuff anyone wouldn't know because they haven't done the process. 

I woke from a nap with Jake (the first one in weeks) to see Reed carrying Merle in held straight up. Merle was very dirty and crying. I demanded to know what was wrong. There was a four wheeler accident Millie was driving Merle was holding the toolsf rom fixing the pump at another place and Reed was following in the tractor. Millie got spooked by traffic on the road passing and whatnot and Merle got tossed off into the dirt. Millie also fell off the fourwheeler I learned a day later. Our neighbor Kerry Wysocki stopped to help them and assessed Merle for brokenness. He deemed him fine. He brought home Merle and the tools. Reed carried Merle in. He would not move his arm at all and was very upset. I could see no blood and little scratches but did not like how immobile his arm was. I decided to take him to urgent care for xrays. We got a blessing from Greg before we proceeded. Merle did not like going over the train tracks or bumps in the road. We got right in and the worst part was manipulating his arm for the x-rays- He does not do well with painful events. This is him and I after the xrays calming down with a warm blanket. The doctor told us nothing showed up and just see how the next few days go. 

We went for a burger and fries after the doctor check-out. He enjoyed them. Kids went to bed GReg came home and Jake thought push-ups looked really fun. 

He's getting to the age where he really likes his dad and wants to go with him. He's not quite big enough and with Greg's intense load of repair responsibility on the farm the days of just going for a ride are past or gone not sure which. Thus when Greg comes home at night Jake is sure to spend a few seconds with him. 

Two Fridays. One week apart. Weeks full of fixing, figuring, and frustration. A week full of sick kids,  I was at the doctor office three days this week getting strep tests and medicine for very sick kids. Weeks with some friendship and a lot of faith. Even some fighting. Ok a lot of fighting. 

The night before I had read about a recently popular singer who was talking about how big his God is and how he could rescue a drug addict no-body and turn them into a saved singer star. I thought and lamented I want a God that is that big. I could use some help right now. So I prayed it out I fought some with God about how hard life is this summer, how we just can't seem to catch a break because everything is breaking. I asked for help. 

The next day we had the DMV added to list of things to do. It was a five minute wait 2x we walked in. That is unheard of ever in my almost 30 years of going or hearing about people going. Most new drivers have to wait for hours and hours even days because they can't wait that long. That was God making a miracle for me. 

The second and far more important was Merle and Millie being spared the pavement, the full canal, and obviously serious bodily harm. I know for sure they were protected and helped. I know that all our trite prayers for safety are heard and answered. I'm thankful yet again for kind neighbors and for angels who watch over us. 

Merle spent the day in a home wrapped sling to help isolate the arm. As the day wore on he used it more and more. A free squirt gun from a yard sale helped inspire use. He is still pretty sensitive without it. We found lots of bruises on Millie who also left the 4wheeler. Her upper thigh, knees, shoulder and a bump on her head. No one told me she too had been thrown off. Again thankful she is ok.

We will not be superstars- we don't want that attention, but we do have a big Big God who loves and watches over us all the time. We need to ask and we need to pay attention. Life is good and we are blessed. 
 

Harold Wedding pt1

This is the story of farming this year. Lots of repairs. This is Greg troubleshooting the pivot control  switches thankfully he can sit standing arched foot on the cables is crippling. Bruce and Millie are relaying tools, gadgets, circuits, and whatever else is needed. I demanded he get down and we head to the airport for Harold's wedding. Thankfully they had found the problem and Reed was able to replace the parts that had worn out. 

My mom took the younger kids to their cousins in Weiser where all things awesome happen. They got to ride horses.

And swim and see a colt be born. And much more I'm sure. I'm so thankful for family help. 

We got to Arkansas no problem Jake was great on the planes sleeping most of the time. We went to dinner at McDonalds and got a call from a neighbor asking if we needed a tractor with a large blade to put out the fire at our house? We were surprised and didn't know what was going on. We called Reed who informed us he was burning cheat grass but all was well. We found out when we got home a string of neighbors had come to help at 11pm. He had Bruce send them home knowing things were ok. We are thankful for neighbors who are willing to help. 

The next day we met up with Harold at the temple. It was good to see him and Lexi get sealed. 

The temple was gorgeous and the day was special. Their planning led to a stress free day for us and we really enjoyed seeing some of the south. 

There were a few people at the wedding and it was nice to meet her family. 

Greg's parents Lloyd and Sue had driven out and hauled us around from place to place. 

We provided a luncheon of fried chicken vegetable platter, fruit platter, rolls, and potato salad. I really appreciated Harolds brother in-law helping so much with the set up and clean up. He was always available to help through the whole day. 

I always like seeing the countryside. This was green and had lots of trees growing out of rocks even. I think the soil is pretty poor. We saw little farming and fewer cows. I'm always curious why there are no ruminants grazing. I learned when I got home from a neighbor that the grasses are lacking nutrition to support livestock. I don't know why. But he said the cows will die with bellys full of grass that is not nutritious. Interesting. I learned from a book I read when I got home this area had been logged in the 1800's to help with the building of Kansas City and the railroads. The trees obviously grew back these might be 3rd grow back from then. It was humid and hot while we were there over 90 each day. 

As we were driving down the freeway I heard the wind blowing and told GReg he checked mirrors and realized the tailgate had flew open and our one piece of luggage had flown out the hatch onto the freeway. We stopped and backed up and he retrieved the bag. Thankfully it was only scuffed up everything was fine inside and out and the bag is still very useable. 

We heard tale of this ice cream shop. We decided to try it out. It was so good we went two times. 

 After the ice cream refreshment we found farm fields as we got closer to where Lexi lived. Ripe wheat fields and corn in various stages from a few inches high to almost shoulder height. 

We saw a few random pivots that we learned were used to distribute and pull water that pools in low spots in fields to other areas. So their pivot pull water instead of apply it I think? 

The siblings worked to assemble to food for the evening. I enjoyed helping where I could and watching them tease and talk to each other. 

I was missing my family group at this point and took pictures to share with them the special day. This is just before the reception began. 

The refreshment spread. It was very good and so diverse. Fruit and vegetable cups, chicken salad and ham sandwiches. Meats, cheese & crackers, berries, cheese and tomatoes, granola and yogurt, if you could think of it it was available. 

Brownies from Sam's club and a delicious lemon cake. 

Her aunt made the dry flower arrangements. 

My kids would have enjoyed the dirty soda bar. 

Lexi fed Harold cake so nicely he got a bit on her nose. 

We did some dancing Harold chose I'm so Happy. A nod to his childhood nickname. It was fun to swing with him. They had a string send off Greg wasn't sure what to do with those I taught him- you wave it.

 They left under a rainbow from the downpour that had occurred during the reception. Her sisters had used blank sticky notes and paint to decorate the car. Much washed off but enough was left to get the idea. 

We helped cleanup, washup and pack up the buffet bar and headed for our nights lodgings.

Jake missed his siblings and enjoyed seeing them on the phone. He also showed us he is strong enough to pull himself up on things pulling himself up on the bed blankets. 

The next day we went to church in Joplin and met kind members. We flew home to more work and things that needed to be fixed. We are thankful for this new family and their desire to start in the temple. All's well that ends well.