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. 
 

Christmas

After our traditional breakfast of turnovers, sausage, deviled eggs, and drinks of your choosing. We discussed what Christmas was like for various persons shown in the nativity. Then we gathered for presents and singing. It was good to be together. 

The presents go quick and each is left with time to play and enjoy the gifts. Aliza and Harold really enjoyed looking through the new photo books. Afton spent some time with them seeing what she was like as a young toddler. 

The boys got new utility knives. 

Andrea got a baby doll she was so happy.

Aliza trying on her new professional shirts getting ready for her job as a tutor at college. 

Later we went to grandma Saunders these two Andrea and MArilla shared a spot while watching a movie. 

A present to myself was some refurbishing my well used kitchen. I got supplies and happily told the kids it would be easy. After much cleaning and frustration it was the tenacity of Addie that got the kitchen put back together. 

Afton helping clean and not watching the movie she wanted too. 

Harold starting the renovation and sharing his bags of tools. I'm so thankful for kids with skills. 

The finsihed project of clean, relined drawers and cupboards and drawers that slide smoothly is so nice. Christmas is always a lot of work and added stress but the calm and happiness that happened this year made the effort worth it. We are blessed.
 

Before Christmas

We made all different variations of give away items this year. We share bread with neighbors who are mostly diabetic. I pleaded with my family to just give fruit or onions and potatoes as those are more healthy or blood sugar friendly but I was voted down. So cookies and treats galore left our house. We also have loved the delicious banana squash Reed grew and protected for us last summer. 

Or maybe it was lots and lots of cinnamon rolls. 

Merle getting ready to go do water with Aliza reminded me of John filling up on oranges daily. A box of oranges last a lot longer than it use to but I see that changing soon. 

We attended the annual family Christmas party. Lia got to be Mary, with Marcus as Josepgh and Merle as a cow. Livy and James narrated. 

Cousin cold cereal gift exchange. 

We played a skill game. It was trickier than it looked. Ruth is so pretty and always up for a good time. 

The kids came to try. It was a pleasant evening with great food, lots of visiting, and a great beginning to the Christmas experience. We are so thankful for traditions and family who love and bring joy. Life is so good. 
 

Reed and kids

When scrolling through my camera roll I have a lot of pictures of Jake and Addie and few of any others that live here. So I will pause the other posts to speak about Reed. He was ordained a priest with the help of these important men. My dad, Harold, Reed, Greg, and Lloyd. 

He also finally passed his drivers permit test. I helped him fail the first time. Who knew there were so many different ways to paint cross walks, or speed limits in town? Anyway alone he passed just fine. 

Afton also lives here. She sometimes takes baby duty. This is a hard job as you can see, but such a relief to have someone else love on him and care for him for a while. I miss this break when the big kids go to school. 

Jake is developing a square face. He is so cute, and requires a bib as he is a gentle drooler. 

Reed ready for the wedding sporting his Jethro look. He's about outgrown this medium size shirt. I loved the leatherman and boots. When we got to the event I realized he was under dressed. Addie and he went to Wal-Mart for a white shirt and tie. A kind man helped them get the new clothes and on their way. 

And Livy in the background. She is often at work. We are thankful for her help at the shop. The open computer is Addie's life this year. From college classes to college scholarships she definitely has her eyes on her next life. 

We are sure thankful for the steady dependability Reed shows. He sticks with jobs and includes Bruce, Merle and Afton in the learning. He is not very tolerant but has demanded maturity from the younger kids and that is not a bad trait. He was everywhere doing anything that needed doing at the wedding. He is definitely coming into his own age of greatness. With the others coming into that same chanel. A teacher asked Addie if there were any sub-par kids in her family. She said she didn't know but he could tell her in 18 years after he had met the rest of them. The path is pretty well laid and obedience is demanded from the kids leading the way. We are thankful for their assistance in turning out smart, strong, polite, working "humans" as Andrea calls people (not a word I taught her). Life is good and we are blessed to be chauvered around again! Yay!!