Merle Birthday

Merle had another birthday and we had a party. The grandparents came. 

And some cousins for a spaghetti picnic outside. Oh how I love parties that can utilize the big outdoors. 

The Utah cousins came and the kids were happy to share the slower pace of rural life. 

We had the lemon sunshine cake. At our house that just seems to be the standard. The whole event was the norm. 

Afton lit the candles and Merle extinguished them one by one. 

Aliza and her cousin Karadyn washed the piles and piles of glass dishes. I had forgotten to get paper but truly there is good conversation that can come around a sink of soapy water. They were so kind to do that. Jake is positively huge. Here he is showing off his super legs. We were happy to get Reed back he had left for the weekend for the Auto and welding Skills USA contest. Reed had a good experience and is more determined to continue in his preparation for next year. 

It takes a long time to cross the state of Oregon and Reed had less sleep than he liked on Sunday thankfully we had later church. 

And what after school for about 5 hours a night looks like right now. Homework so much homework. They are working through and preparing for state tests, the play, a huge final writing project of 4 papers a week from Livy and Millie complete with illustrations which they are working on. The regular one page active each night, 4 science review worksheets for the week, and maybe some help at home. That's a lot. I know the end confidence that comes from hard things, so I'm biting my tongue, lip whatever. But it is a big stretch in a little time and more than one kid in the grinder is tough. 

We need some blessings to be able to cover all that is suppose to be happening. Yet another blessing of the rain we can't be in the fields they are too wet so we can keep working through this load in the house. These two are serious about food right now they must be growing to need so much nourishment. I love kids who will eat. 

Life is good and we shall survive. Aliza's presence is so nice. We are thankful. 
 

Home

We are so happy to have Aliza back at home for a few days. How we all love the calm and skill she brings with her. She matches the other redheads here and is getting reacquainted with the baby boss. He is charming and demanding all in one the longer one is around him the more they see his range of emotions. Thankfully he is still amicable to new people holding him. 

The girls have a play coming up for school. Aliza was kind enough to go costume hunting for them and found exactly what they needed to look their parts. 

Livy let her magnificent hair down for us. She has a lot of wavy hair. It is thick and gorgeous. She will be playing the part of a manners or etiquette teacher. 

With pearls adjusted we think she is ready for the stage. Oh and high heels she is so excited to wear high heals. 

And on another note we had Joey on the call this week as we were receiving answers and blessings from heaven in 1.5" of rain over the weekend. Allowing for another week waiting on the dam to release water and a good nourishment pre-planting. 

Sometimes it really blows my mind that there is a potential to have 30 children or next generation in our family. Then there's the grandchildren we hope each gets to have. Wow!

We are reading the short books of scripture in the Book of Mormon those that follow Enos before King Mosiah and King Benjamin. The ones that write less and less and talk about being defenders of the people but not having much to relate about God. For most of my life I have thought well yes how does one improve on Lehi, Nephi, Jacob? But maybe they got side tracked in working to protect the people and fighting battles that they didn't know Jesus. Maybe they thought they were too stained from fighting and leading or living to be worthy of Revelation. Maybe time passed so quickly they didn't record special moments or missed them? Isn't that easy to do? To focus in the wrong direction. To entertain, or live and forget to know God, to worship him, to praise and thank Him.

The rains came Saturday night heavy and really heavy on Sunday. Months ago fellow faithful ward members shared how God had blessed them in years past. I have clung to their faith and testimony. And here on another fast Sunday God answered those prayers and sacrifice. Alma 45:1 says the people rejoiced with prayer and fasting. I told my family we should also be joyously fasting that God had heard their hard giving up of food. He saw their struggle and blessed us. That he surely does hear us when we ask. 

It is my most sincere desire that my family knows Jesus and knows they can depend on Him and His word. I am working to recommit my time and effort in paying attention, using the time we have together and being a better follower of Christ. To turn my will more to him. I still get caught up in what is happening in the current war but I'm working to be more present and more serviceable to Him or my family which sometimes I think is pretty similar. As we head into a long year of farming and new trials I hope we can see the hand of God not because we have crisis after crisis but because we pay attention to the small blessings he gives daily. Life is good and beautiful. 
 

4 wheeler rides

This guy does not like to be left alone or inside. He likes to see and know what's going on. So we carry him and he's happy. We went on a walk after dinner as my blood sugar likes me to do. We went to the farm. The kids run there to jump on the Marvin's trampoline. We walked and saw what the guys were doing in the shop. Jake of course loved seeing where the men were and what they were doing. Its curious how soon babies identify their spots. Jake loves his dad and wants to see what he's doing.  Then after all that investigating we asked for a ride home. 

Bruce is always happy to give a ride. We piled on and headed home. But as Jake was unshielded we had to go slow. 5 mph slow. That was hard on Bruce's thump we jumped off when we were close enough and gave Bruce the freedom to drive normal. Jake thought the ride was great. I was so thankful for the assistance. 

We do love family rides. I found this picture earlier in the week. My big kids all gone from my house now and my much younger husband. This picture is 17 years old. Similar time of year I believe. How time does fly. 

Andrea and Merle had a delightful afternoon using tools to screw screws into our wooden drawers. They were so happy and industrious I didn't worry about that not needing to be done. Learning through exploration and real application- you pay big money for toys that simulate that. 

And the results of the recent chapter FFA elections. It will be good for Reed to serve and learn more leadership skills. 

Surely the time will continue to speed ahead and in a few blinks of an eye it will Merle then Jake who are also running for offices and working to develop their leadership abilities. I won't wish it away as I cry thinking about the tender memories I hold of the first 6. I'm so thankful there are more because I would be pretty heart sick if my mothering time was over. I jus thave to make and keep track of my daily weekly and monthly lists so I can keep up with who's where doing what right now. I invested in a two month calendar so I can spacially keep track of those items. I'm trying to keep in focus what is most important today and tomorrow and do those things. Like dinner earlier, enough clean clothes, supplies etc. and now with farming coming into play we up the requirements and here we go. Life is full and that is a blessing. We are grateful for the miracle of managing. 
 

Elder John

I can't say much about these photos other than he's serving well, he's still got his sense of humor, he's a big guy. And I love getting to spy on him a bit. 

Senior missionary couple who supports the missionaries. I will say John makes people smile with the words he wears. He's always working to make people smile. 

I believe the young lady is a recent convert that he really enjoyed teaching. She was just ready and understood it was a positive experience. 

Missionary Monday. Harold is the tile ceiling, Mark and John after a tough pickle ball or basketball match. Love his curly hair. A puppy yay. Anna had so many dog stories, John is much more cuddly like a puppy. No idea just a picture he shared. 

He teaches a lot has a few people on date to be baptized and is working hard. He has had approximately one baptism per transfer. People are looking for new ways. He is particularly strong in his testimony that Jesus can help you change. I love that about John he is passionate about the power of the book of Mormon and Jesus Christ. These things are good and true. 
 

Growing little things

Reed wanted chicks for his birthday. We agreed they are a nice addition and our current birds are getting old. Merle, Andrea, Jake and I waited for the next batch to hatch and headed over to the hatchery. We selected 30 birds 26 regular chickens and 4 bantam/silkies which are determined setting hens. Reed loves watching the hens do their natural work of setting on eggs. This story illustrates the power of a mother.

We got the chicks home and settled in the house. Their little ceeps are cute and noisy. Merle and Andrea were very interested. We watched and waited for Reed to come home very late on Wednesday after school, practice, and drivers ed. He was happy and all was good. The next day Merle and Andrea were instructed to just look at the chicks. No touching. Later Merle came to tell me a chick was not standing up. I said just leave them alone and continued with my race to do dishes while Jake watched. I went down later to find Merle laying on his bed very sad. We went to look at the chicks and found one drowned in the water dish and two others who were very wet. One was cold when I picked it up. This reminded me of the calves we have worked to save that were chilled after birth. 

So I used what I had. I wrapped the chick in a small sock and placed it on the roaring fire place trying to get heat back into the chick. The animal kept throwing it's tiny legs out of the sock and flopping its head on the too warm to touch stove surface. I knew it would burn quickly so I added the kids magnets as a barrier. They stuck to the surface of the stove nicely. The chick was not warming up quick enough so I made a hot bath and put it in there thinking maybe the water had a residue that was coating the down and not allowing it to dry fluffy. The chick enjoyed the warmth and begin to cheep again. I used a minuscule amount of soap to clean it and spooned hot water all over its body. Then wrapped it back in a sock and put it back on the fireplace enclosure. I removed the other completely wet chick from the pen and also gave it a bath. It was not as cold but appreciated the warm water as well. 

The second chick could still stand. 

They were not drying fast enough. So after a quick google search I learned they could be towel dried or blow dried and then would need some electrolytes. 

The slightly dry one the stronger one hoped out of this enclosure so I had to make a taller pen. I used the bigger tiles. I was so happy to see the weakest one standing up. 

I called on my local resources and borrowed a hair drier from Aunt Alena. The birds enjoyed the blow-out. And looked much more like chicks. Merle held the blow drier while I held onto the vigorous chicks. Trying not to squish them and get them all dry was challenging. And not cook them in the process. After they were dry and after a consult with my friends who raise many species of animals including hundreds of chickens from chick to freezer we decided some sips of egg would be good for them. So I gave them egg yoke by delicately dipping their beaks in some fresh egg yolk. I made sure to wipe their beaks with my finger so they wouldn't seal shut when the yolk dried. They seemed to appreciate it. After a few hours resting the kids put them back in the large pen and they are doing well. I think because they are smaller than the other chicks they may have gotten run over or something. I don't think Andrea or Merle bathed them. 

It's been a frustrating year. I want to do all the things I use to but I have a big responsibility called Jake, and my kids are also at different help points. Thus my plant starts have all but died. I will be buying my garden starts this year. I'm very sad about that. I liked being self-sufficient and watching them grow but I am thankful for great gardeners who provide that service. 

My sourdough starter died again. I think I could have revived it but my helpful child deemed it dead and tossed it.

But this guy is thriving. He insists on seeing what is going on. So I pack him. I get discouraged not getting my workouts in but I figure carrying him while I pull weeds or check chickens or do laundry also counts. He's about 18 lbs now. 

Other items don't matter like these living people do. So we take each thing in stride. I'm thankful the warm water method worked on the $5.00 chicks. We lost a calf last year to cold and I read the next day about using a warm bath to revive them. I see it works now. Good lessons to learn. Next year Jake will be moving about too much to have plants indoors but maybe the next year we will grow some together. We shall see. We are blessed with years to learn and grow. 
 

Mark Wreck

We got a call early Saturday morning from Mark telling us he had been in a bike wreck and to the hospital but was fine. Later we got the pictures. I'm pretty sure this is the terrain maybe not the exact spot but a fair representation. Harold says there are bikes that are really good for this but they are very expensive custom bikes he saw in California. Guaranteed that's not the kind of bike Mark is riding. Nonetheless we are thankful he fared so well. This is a beautiful place very lush and green. I'm also noticing a lot of rocks as I study the pictures. 

The back of his shirt. He was racing with his companion to get to their next appointment when the road turned to mud from a washout and he wiped out. Greg had encouraged him to race to stop thinking about how hard or uncomfortable riding up and down hills all day is to thinking about being stronger and better. His bike tire is bent in a wobbly c-shape unrideable until a new tire is found. He knew when he picked his bike up something was wrong with his shoulder. 

This companion is familiar with the hospital taking his last companions there for other reasons. Thankfully only the end of Mark's collarbone is fractured. He was placed in a sling to keep the bones pulled together. 

His mission president had advised all the elders to diligently wear their helmets. Mark was thankful he did. As he told me this week. He knows farmers who are missing an arm or a leg but none that are missing a head. Heads need to be protected.

He knows he was protected from serious injury. We have family stories about people being protected from wearing their garments and keeping their covenants. Mark is building his own collection of stories. He always asks about the cover crops. They are coming in well. It is amazing how well dormant seeds can grow in the spring time. Even after feeding hungry geese al

 Although it was unnerving to hear of his accident we are thankful for his protection and personal awareness of healing. He does know what it takes to heal bones. They have strong medicinal concoctions over their. Ibuprofen, tylenol, and codeine in one pill taken after each meal was the instruction. I told him to switch to just ibuprofen as that was a lot to be taking. He has a high pain tolerance and needs to not be getting use to feeling nothing. He said they are talking to more people while they walk around so that is good too. He likes Swaziland it is very hilly. So life rolls on and is moving forward. He hits his 6 month Mark in a few days and that is reassuring that time is passing quickly. We are thankful. 

Easter

Easter came with so many expectations this year. We were asked to celebrate more fully more joyfully just more. That is a hard command to check off. I ordered some decorations but not all I had laboriously found. I did make some cards with the kids to share with family and friends. We visited friends after church like we do at Christmas. We went to the temple to celebrate and worship. 

It was lovely. We were invited to go in support of one of John's high school classmates who joined the church. Its always good to be in the temple with friends. The kids did baptisms switching taking care of Jake. That is nice too to know  all is taken care of.

We made Easter cupcakes. Alia insisted we could make them from scratch. She had found a recipe in the cookbook. She was right they were good. She made the coconut frosting before asking how... she added more green than I would have and we all had green teeth for a bit after eating them but they were tasty and fine. We had pizza after the Saturday sessions of conference. I had purchased some special treats for conference: grapes, mandarin oranges, gogurts, robin eggs, jelly beans, chips, peeps, chocolate bunnies. These are not normal purchases but went with the trying to celebrate more the day and event of gathering for conference and celebration of Easter.

Andrea and Marilla found dandelions and used them as face paint. They are a pretty little flower and so fun for little fingers to pick and pick. 

The kids also dyed eggs that were used for Sunday breakfast. 

Grandma Saunders and Alena are the picture of industry always busy in one way or another. They are working on this picture quilt. The treco fabric is nice to quilt but challenging as it snags easily. This bright puprle enlivens the senses. The amount of time put in to hand quilted heirlooms is hardly understood by those who don't participate. 

And we ended the festivities with an Easter play. This was new and a bit challenging and entertaining to say the least. Cousin Natalie is a veteran actress and knows how shows should go. The rest of the cousins not so much. Some were ok with dressing up- thankfully the Christmas costumes worked just fine in this application. Some were more reluctant. And one was downright vibrant. His joy at having a shepherd’s crook was evident and made us smile.

I loved the idea and think it was good to review and think about Easter too. 

Bruce had declared he wanted to be the apostle Peter because he had a sword. There were no swords or ear cutting. Aunt Rachel suggested grandma could teach him as she had cut her brother ear off on accident, as a child. Such witty siblings I have. Alas no swords which was for the best after the enthusiasm for the cane from the littlest apostle. 

We had enjoyed a lovely dinner with over 60 in attendance. We continue to grow in number and that is a blessing. I hope we can each keep choosing to forgive and gather. That becomes harder as more years pass but I hope there is enough good memories to want to come back together. 

These two were enoying grandmas flowering trees. Afton had fashioned a crown for Andrea. 

They hunted eggs thanks to Aunt Mary and went home with bags of candy and full tummies. We received a phone call as we were leaving that a friend needed some help eating soft serve ice cream. We are all about service so we rushed to their house to finish off a very full day with more food. Thankfully ice cream just squishes around what else is in your belly. We are blessed to know Jesus lives, that he suffered and died for us and did indeed conquer all. The great gift of His gospel is peace, hope, and joy. I am thankful for this understanding and faith. Life is so good.