Days go by

Summer is changing to fall coats and sweatshirts are coming back out. Kids found these giant zucchini they called babies in the garden. Our chickens were thankful. 

Merle was awarded student of the week after his second week of school for working hard no matter how hard the assignment is. He prefers being outside but is a good sport and will do his homework and study at home each evening I remember. He also got bottom teeth so has a full row on the bottom for the first time in 5 years. 

Came home from the family reunion to find Reed baking. I was surprised. He informed me Aliza had instructed him last year and he knew what he was doing. Well a man will never go hungry that knows how to farm and cook. Way to be self-reliant. 

 Usually Reed in is the shop fixing things or around the farm managing crops and livestock. I demanded they hunt mice so took traps and peanut butter to the shop one evening. Merle sure loves being back in the mix. It was a long slow summer waiting for his bones to heal. Now he is well and ready to be helping on the farm. While we may not enjoy sit down dinners together my kids adore or are blessed with long hours with their dad learning to solve problems and be strong. 

Andrea is a bit stir crazy being the only talking and walking kid at home. So I'm working to teach her how to do things. First up cleaning the bathroom. She is very good at this job. As long as we keep Jake away this is a successful project. She is a go getter. 

Why are toilets so entertaining for little people? Yuck. All hands were washed thoroughly. 

Reed on his way to church. I was taking pictures for aunt Brenda showing the bag she made him years ago is still in use it houses his church stuff. He's busy and it's nice to have his stuff ready to go with just a grab. He's a good man and very capable. We are sure thankful for his abilities. 

And this random picture came through on facebook so I figured it better get in the record. Addie with her school records. We took for granted how hard that is. Happy for her and the application of working hard that we preach and live all the time at our house. 

We have been blessed by a dear friend with an abundant raspberry patch. We have picked so many berries we even made pie with them. Jake is a huge fan of raspberries and loves to eat as many as we let him. He also enjoyed the rope swing Lia helped him play on. 

The earth is amazingly abundant. We are thankful for time and generous sharing. We share what we have when we have excess and always strive to be willing to serve. As Andrea told Grandma Saunders we make lots of pie and give them away, sometimes we even get some. That was over stating a bit but we are thankful for dedicated pie makers in Millie, mom, Andrea, and sometimes even Reed. End of summer is gluttonous and good. We are blessed. 

Livy enters high school

Livy is trying out cross country. She is working from the ground up building her endurance and strength. This is a huge stretch for her and yet she keeps showing up and finishing. We are so pleased with her ability to endure to the end and her willingness to try new hard things. The team is as Reed observed "The nicest kids in school." 

Her first race was a nice 100' on asphalt with a finish at the pool. A full hometown crowd was surprising to her. She had two full practices before this. I was so proud of her for making it the whole two miles. Millie was waiting at the finish line. Livy went around talking to fellow racers after she recovered. 

It's good to do hard together. She traveled this last week to Nyssa and Catherine Creek for the true mud, hills, over trees run. And she survived! 

She also went dair judging and was the lone placer from our chapter. She was the 10th overall. Way to represent. Those art eyes are great at seeing the small stuff that is critical for judging. 

We told her just pick the pretty cows. She did and had a good day. Livy likes life better with Millie around but so far she's doing pretty well solo. 

So here we go with another high school youth. She's making her own way and finding her core. Love this lady and her courage. Trying to teach her that she is far stronger than she realizes. She has a group of friends and does not eat lunch with Reed and his guy friends. A few friends makes school infinitely more enjoyable. Prayers answered we are blessed. 
 

Canning

One of the last gifts Addie gave was helping us can pear and peaches. She is fast and knows how to get things done. It has been a hard adjustment to not have her energy and know how. I notice daily the huge amount of organizing and cleaning she just whirled through the house and did. Wading through our messes I concur with her we need to get rid of a lot of stuff. She was also right that Jake just wants to be outside. He cries because he is sick of inside. A playpen in the yard may be happening soon. We fought about that often that I couldn't just leave him outside but alas I'm finding she was right. He stops crying and is pretty happy out there watching things. It's black widow season though so we do have to kill those before just letting him explore with the tonka trucks. 

These two have stepped up and are becoming pretty proficient at food preservation as well. One thing about our house is day after day of canning the skills become second nature. 

I love the peace and confidence that full jars bring to my mind. We worked hard this year to make sure each jar looked golden. We waited a day longer for ripening due to energy and ability of mom, and then worked slower and quicker to lessen the sitting time the fruit had in the waiting water. I was very happy with how the end jars looked. We had very little problem with jars not sealing. I packed almost everyone and was very careful with fullness. 

Andrea is the head jam maker. She squishes the raspberries and then mixes in the sugar and clear gel. This is her task. Then I fill the containers to lessen spillage. 

One Saturday Anna announced she would like to can some fruit. We invited her over and after Reed's football game we pealed pears with her. It was nice to be in the kitchen together. Also nice to remind Livy how to can. She is mostly at the shop so she doesn't have the hours of kitchen time Afton and Millie take for granted. The girls really enjoyed visiting with Anna. 

We also canned beans. Lia is learning the sizing and process of that product. 

Afton has been promoted to canner watcher. She is learning about weights and timing. She has also found that "watching" the canners allows for a lot of reading chapters too. 

We enjoyed pizza one night and Lia made hers heart shaped. 

John came the same Saturday as Anna needing help with his FAFSA. We also got that complete I hope. He hasn't heard back on that maybe it didn't work?

I was very tired after all of this and sat down to snap beans. People say oh I could never.... I do what I can and I'm most often found in my brown recliner. Yes I strive to move more, lift heavy, and eat healthy blah blah blah. Canning checks all those boxes and then some. 

And then after this hugely long day Jake was sick with a fever for a week and didn't sleep well and just wanted to be held and nursed all the time. Then we went to Salem and rushed home to go to Jerome. No wonder in a mere 8 days I was the sick one. Alas life goes on, what are days and nights for but to wear yourself out in the service of your fellowmen (family). I'm thankful to can and I'm thankful when it's over. We have apples left but all the in-house jars are full. We are so blessed with many helping hands and lots to do each day. We don't say we are bored very often in August and September. Life is good. 
 

Jake

When people hear we have 15 kids they are dumbfounded. They really have no words for a few seconds. Then we repeat because they say what did you say? Well #15 is growing up. He's developing. Somethings faster- like teeth he has a lot of teeth quicker than the others. And somethings slower because we fail to take time to let him work out a skill. So here is the night he first gave himself a drink. I was so pleased because he should be doing this all the time. But the crying and the bustle means I don't just let him figure it out. But he can. I have proof.

And then the next day his foot got smooshed by Millie and we were back babying him while he suffered through that pain. But he could be ok for minutes at a time as seen in this picture at the doctors office where he was playing with the chair. 

And then some weeks pass and he's back to playing. A box is a centuries old favorite toy. 

And we found some zucchini that were as big as him. It's always a good time when siblings are around you never know what they will come up with for entertainment and education. 

He spends time riding in the car and he hates it! But sometimes his sisters sing to him. Songs like Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road. Yes I thought it was odd and made up but no it was on YouTube with instrumental back up. It's actually quite catching and funny. Greg loves to kill skunks with our minivans so its slightly a family thing. 

 

And when people hear we are a large family they say man I wonder what dinner is like at your house. This is what it's like everyone out working me and the little kids hungry and eating together. It's pretty lame. 

So that's Jake currently. He's growing he's starting cow milk, he's crawling a lot. He's mostly better from the summer off and on sick. He's climbing and very curious. He loves outside and being with his dad. In all he's becoming a toddler. We are thankful and so blessed. 

State Fair

Addie was at state fair on assignment as a state officer. I was suppose to go feed the officers for a day but as gas prices sky rocketed and the reality of 9 kids at home hit me, again, I realized that was not best for my family. So I reached out to another family and they took my days. I bought drinks for the officers and all was done. Until Greg called on a Thursday a d said let’s go to the fair tonight. So I packed our stuff made dinner for the kids and Bruce’s birthday cake and away we went after candles and singing for him. 

We drove the 6.5 hours in the dark arriving around 1 am in Salem. The next day after finding I forgot jeans for myself we made a quick trip to Walmart then headed to the fair. Addie had discovered we weren’t at home the evening before. I didn’t realize she is tracking me. That’s kind of nice and so like her.

We have no pictures with her. She wasn’t that thrilled we showed up. We met her teammates they seemed lovely and awesome. We viewed the exhibits and tasted the best ice cream Greg has had in years. 

The dairy barn never disappoints food wise. They added raspberries and blackberries on top oh it was perfect.

Sadly there were no beef exhibits other side of the state is deaf to our reality of cattle country. They are primarily dairy and smaller animals. 

Bruce’s quick birthday celebration. One decade of him in our family. Hardly seems possible for that much time to have past. He is a strong, above average young man in all ways. Academics, athletic ability, farm work, height strength, insights and observations. He’s a handful with abundant energy, thankfully the farm life requires a lot of work so its a perfect match. 

He was sure to remind me about the special cup that we use to always use. We are so thankful for his reliable help and way of living. 

At the fair I was entranced by the quilts. This is just a sample. We were suppose to vote for the best one. I couldn’t pick I liked so many for different reasons. Greg is more discerning and noticed the lack of precision immediately. His mother should be so pleased. She is a perfection sewer seams, points, and plaids match. She works diligently to make precise corners and lines. Thus proving it can be done and the results are awesome.

And finally my dad encouraged us to try a turkey leg. We were game as this was an adventure. The $24.00 per leg was too much for our curiosity. So we got a burger at carls junior and drove on. 

 We got pizza in burns for the family and got home repacked and loaded up the younger kids and headed for the family reunion. After 13 hours of two lane highways we were thrilled to relax on two to three lane freeways going fast and getting where we wanted to be. Those are great innovations. We enjoyed a nice time away and really enjoyed our few hours at the fair. Mostly thanks to the dairy treats and the quick break together. 

Family Reunion

We headed south to the family reunion. We arrived late but rejoiced in the ease and speed of freeway travel. The next morning service was the first part of the gathering. The under 12 crew packed bags of food for meals on wheel people. They lined up in groups by age. 

Merle's peers. Myla, Klaym JAmes, with Rhett peeking from behind

Andrea's cute 4 year old friends- Marilla, Sadie, Miriam

Alia's group- Evander, Wyatt, Ephriam, Lia, and Vivian with Afton looking on from behind. 

Bruce would have been here but Greg took him to work with the older kids moving uncle Eric. Megan, Aayliah, Eloise, Alyda, Sam, Claire, Saige, Afton 

Kids filling bags with non perishable food. They filled over 40 bags. Thank you Modernwoodmen service funds for providing money to do good with. 

Cousin James always wanted a fire truck so he bought one and brought it for the kids to look at. Why not. 

My two big kids. How I love having my kids together. 

And how they love still teasing each other. Not many just move Aliza around. John can do anything his heart desires. Love these two confident, calm, and funny young adults. 

The afternoon had water slides and bounce houses. 

And laser tag. Again modern woodmen money. Do some service get some rewards. The kids and adults loved the laser tag. They have a grove of trees that made a great battlefield. 

A cousin braided hair and styled it like rapunzel. Lovely flowers and ladies. This is Afton. 

Family photos are dreaded but honestly so nice to have. The photographer has come the last few years she does great work. I only wish more of my family was included. Im working to reconcile my heart to these great group photos though not whole group they are who was there. Love these people so much. This is my life work and calling. 

The families. There's a lot of forgiveness and choosing to stay that happens in a family this large and this diverse. That's important to point out. It doesn't just happen. It isn't all sunshine and roses. It is perfect meaning complete because we choose to let go of hurts, annoyances, hardship (travel cost of gas etc.), rather be doing something else with that Saturday (go to Reeds football game, work other stuff), and gather. To give a day or three to being together. That's a choice and one I'm thankful is important enough to choose to gather. 

The kids loving the truck. Such a fun different thing. This is a majority of the grandkids. Three missionaries, my two married, Addie Reed, and Kristi's son Troy and family are all that's missing. Pretty impressive. 

The siblings. So impressive they choose to gather. Praying their examples will eventually lead my children to also all gather. 

Pleased parents. To know your children walk in goodness and independence is there anything better? Just to be together for a short time. It was truly good. 

After a lovely tri-tip and dutch oven potato dinner we ended the evening retiring some flags and shooting off fireworks. I was done. All day my energy slowly drained until nighttime I knew something was wrong. 

A rough night of sleep/resting and in the morning I felt terrible. The family went to church and then we went home. We stopped at an urgent care and I tested positive for strep. We waited even longer for meds- being a holiday weekend few pharmacies were open. I'm thankful we went, the kids have some good memories stored up and it is powerful to gather and share some time and space. I'm thankful for these people in our life. We are blessed.