Normal Days

This guys continues to fill my days and nights. He has grown into size 6-9 mos clothes at 3.5 months old. He is 16 lbs and 26 inches long. He is happy and charming when held. We sure love having his sweet presence in our home. This picture shows his first war mark. He was dropped on the cement when his holder tripped on his blanket. Both were sad. Jake healed quickly. The holder also recovered confidence and tried again. 

So many hours I get to sit and snuggle sweet kiddos. I could be exercising, or reinventing my self. Possibly finding the new me. But the old me not quite worn out, although dangerously close most days, gets to love and listen to these strong kiddos demand another story, more food, or a MOOOVIE. Oh they are smart and insistent. I'm thankful I am so blessed to have these three bonuses in my life. 

The chickens have been surprising us with eggs. We are thankful they are sharing again. 

Bruce has been trained well by Reed. He is 5' now and so manly. He's also sick currently but healing quickly. The beauty of all that fresh air and exercise he gets everyday. 

Mark also enjoying the fresh air and sunshine around and under the world from where we are. 

 I don't seem to move on or out of what I know. I'm thankful to be able to be home with my kiddos. They are growing and changing a lot right now or maybe I'm just noticing as I sit. I do get some time to exercise everyday. I watch quilting videos and had the kids start some seeds today. Tomatoes are in the future plans as are peas and beets, cucumbers, squash and potatoes, and hopefully lots of flowers. We are very blessed. 

Missionaries

 I love looking through the pictures from my missionaries. They are both busy and having good experiences. The sheer act of showing up everyday and continuing to work is an important proving ground for your mind and life. John is fortunate to go to the temple every transfer. Houston is a unique cathedral like temple. 

A recent convert lives in very humble circumstances and loves to share with the missionaries. This week they shared oranges. John loves oranges. 

This lady referred herself and got all the way to baptism. How exciting for all involved.

The whole group. A mother and son. And another man the sisters had been teaching. 

Enjoying lunch. John said his companion is from Arizona and is missing the heat. John is loving the cool. 

Mark with a child he met this week. This young man drew the picture while the elders talked. I love the big muscles. 

Marks all- American dinner mashed potatoes and chicken gravy with chicken. 

Weekly baptism and friends. 

The senior missionaries made him lemon sunshine cake. A difficult challenge but so yummy and so kind of them to work at. 

Marks companion is from St. George and raises long horns with is family. These two are working hard and enjoying many cattle conversations. 

There is much to the act of doing what the Lord asks. To being willing and to choose to keep working. These guys are having so many great formative experiences. From learning independence to learning to follow the promptings they receive, to obedience to the rules, to knowing and being open to meeting and interacting with everyone they meet. These are important life expanding opportunities. I see the growth in my returned missionaries and I'm impressed with what they understand now. Life is a great gift and God loves us everyone. We are blessed. 

Daily Living

I love the olympics I remember watching when I was a kid like these. I remember heartbreaks when performers fell or didn't do as well as they liked. I do lead them in watching when they are on. Not everyday exactly but several of the days we watch the highlights. 

All that late night practicing paid off for Addie she won the prepared public speaking event. Reed unfortunately was very nervous and did not look at the judges he did not place. 

This guys continues to grow quickly. His chubby cheeks are a welcome sight. 

We took a quick field trip to the neighbors to see her lambs and calves. The lambs were so soft. 

Millie made her first solo pies and her teeth are quickly lining up with her braces. 

The pie was delicious and quickly consumed. 

My favorite hero of the day. Millie the baby holder!! oh how my arms and legs love Millie coming home. I can stretch and take a break while she loves on Jake. 

One Sunday we got out some games the kids enjoyed playing for a while. 

We had cousins come visit. These two are about 6 months apart. Trenton is older. They have a good time visiting. 

Life is good we are thankful for the days that pass and the activities that fills them. 
 

reed driving and growing

Everyday is spent like this for hours. My kids at home snuggled up reading stories, talking, and waiting for Jake to get full. 

My late nights look like this watching kids give speeches and practice for competitions. 

I was mostly taking pictures of Reed's back because he has gotten so strong rolling the miles of wire from the fences we use to contain the cows that graze the cornstalks in the fall. He is continuing to grow into man size that is so interesting to watch. We are thankful Reed is able to do the work needed right now. 

Likewise Reed is driving and we are thankful for his many abilities and willingness to do what has to be done. 

There's a lot of responsibility placed on he and Bruce thankfully they have each other and can manage together. We are blessed with health and strength. 
 

Valentines celebrations

This has become a major holiday at our house. We worked for weeks to share love and recognition with those we care about. We colored pictures for a project Addie and the National Honor Society- where they gave a valentine to every person in the high school. 

Anyone who could color was enlisted only Jake, Greg, and Reed did not help this year. 

Cutting each one exactly correctly. I suggested the powerful old time paper cutter the slicing one. But the boss who is too perfectionistic said oh they are sometimes crooked. I reminded the Boss that these were destined for the garbage. 

Alas she recruited more help and they continued shaving the paper down to the perfect dimensions. 

The kids put in several hours a piece along with some high school helpers the project was completed. Perfectly. 

A few days before we broke out our paints and markers and made Valentines for the missionaries serving from our town. This was  nice break from holding Jake all day everyday.  

Andrea loves to paint. 

Lia is getting more control of her color placements. 

These activities were done together and in hope all would know and feel loved for a few seconds or minutes. We are thankful and blessed to have that feeling often living and working together as a family. For years my grandparents and now dad gave us chocolates for Valentines. We expanded that after reading a delightful children's book called Somebody Loves you Mr. Hatch. Addie read that book to her high school student body then handed each a box of chocolates and a card.

 I have a large group in my home I want them each to feel and share love with others. We need more recognition and expression of love. We can do that in our own way. We can spend less time watching and more time doing. We are blessed. 

Jake Blessing

 Jake got blessed we squeezed it in and didn't skip it although with all the other turmoil and hoopla going on it was very tempting and talked about. I worried for months about all the emotional re-balancing that always happens after a baby. I had no idea. However it was a special day and we are so thankful to have another boy to help balance our family numbers. 

The younger girls showing their new church dresses from Christmas. They are a good looking group. 

Harold introduced Jake to a shoulder ride. 

Jake cried through his blessing too. It was all I could do to sit and listen to his crying I was very thankful to get him back in my arms. I was likewise thankful to find this white outfit a kind customer had gifted him a month earlier. It was just right for his blessing. Yes I use to have a fancy outfit but it disappeared and so we had to improvise. 

He seems no worse for the wear. He is a sweet guy who loves to eat and reminds me of John in his appetite. Other than that he has his own look besides the red hair he is unique. He sleeps pretty reliably until around 5:30 then some more then wants to eat and eat rests a bit awake eats some more and sleeps. He trusts Merle but isn't completely confident with Andrea. He smiles and coos and loves to be talked to. Worries pass and seasons change quickly. We are thankful to have him join our family and begin his journey on earth. Life is good. 

Missionaries

Well the missionaries continue to enjoy their time working for the Lord. Mark shown at the Christmas devotional. All missionaries were gathered back to Durban for a few days. In the forefront his mission president Laguna and wife. 

Highlights of the week continue to be missionary Monday. Sometimes I get to see many of my kids on these calls. I love that. We are so blessed to have the ability to gather event hough we are far apart. Each of these big kids are having their own unique adult journeys but still counsel and support each other. That is the good stuff of parenting. 

I finally found the shared photo file and copied pictures of John as a missionary. He has been very reluctant to share much of his mission but these pictures show he has not lost his John spirit of fun and strength. 

Planning and preparing to teach. He is a powerful teacher. 

He has come to love thrift stores. So many options, but this may be a gas station or something. 

This Tongan elder is showing his genetic strength. John is a big guy and this is pretty impressive. 

This elder also picked John up. Wow to both and prayers for their backs. Where there is a will there is a way I guess. 

John is so blessed to be able to attend the temple every month or so. 

And a picture with the damage done to his car after the accident. He can't drive anymore and that is tragic to him. But he will learn more patience and survive. The brakes did not engage and he slid into another car. Several weeks were spent riding the bus and waiting on rides but they are back in a car and driving here and there. 

People think with large families there is no change or relief when kids leave. That is not my experience so far. A family is not like a pool of water where things added or subtracted to the water make no difference after the initial ripples. Instead they are more like cobbles on a road. Each has a specific space and need. The road goes one but we notice when each moves on. And to put the mom feelings of wondering, watching over, and waiting on those kids has to be squelched to survive when they leave home. I'm thankful for weekly calls and them sharing what they will. Really just a look in their eyes and I'm pretty content. It is a connection hard to explain. I'm sure they don't understand it yet but possibly someday they will. I'm not sure I understand all of it but I know my heart is very tied to each of these kiddos and I get inspiration about them in unique ways. Sometimes feelings, sometimes expanded insights into the little they share, sometimes words, but I know God is aware and watching over each of them.

I'm thankfulf ort he missionary program that allows them space to grow and become. For generous humble mission presidents who shoulder so much responsibility and work to sheperd these young people. For an inspired leadership structure that allows the accountability and assistance in their new independence and responsibility. Mostly I'm thankful for who they come back as. Still themselves but better, broader, more confident, and most of all sure of their Savior Jesus Christ. That is priceless and our whole purpose as parents. God has blessed our family greatly.