8.23.17 Holdin' On

This time of year is full of gathering, sorting, backing, packing, boiling, pressuring, and generally preparing for the year ahead. We have spent the month of August picking and preserving what we can and preparing for the school year. A normal shopping day is my 4 helpers a bulging cart and a crazy attempt to be patient while mentally remembering my long list, not running over anyone or thing, and balancing the ever expanding grocery purchases. Not my favorite way to spend a day.

Because we have been so busy The little ones get left with some big kids while I go work with groups of older kids. It was nice and crazy. So when I got home Bruce insisted we sit and cuddle, he is after all still a baby and does for a few minutes need his mama.

Making use of some huge zucchini we discovered in the garden. The chocolate zuchinni bread was so delicious.

A quick picture of the bounty around us. Beets from a dear friend. Beans beans and more beans! Cucumbers, zucchini, and one of the chickens Greg butchered months ago. We are so blessed.

Actually I'm so thankful for this little guy who still loves to be snuggled and for each of my little people who reminds me I need to slow down and focus on them in between all the produce and process of living. Life is good. Not sure if I can say I'm living the dream, but  we are living well with lots of love.

8.23.17 back to school

Ahh, another school year. This year I have 8 school age children!! So far we were up and ready early. Everyone had oodles of time to spare catching the bus. I got my walk in and we are off to a good start, I hope. I have been very apprehensive about this year. I always am. My heart, help, and friends go running out the door.

We accomplished a lot this summer. They grew in so many more ways than can be physically measured. We have been talking a lot about transferring those lessons to their school experience. We talked briefly about goals for the year and our last one in a list of 4 was "Be Brave!"
So begins the days of missing them, of trying to get all the chores here done so they can manage school when they get home. Of trying to mess the still present load of farm and home life with the requirements of teachers.

Standing up straight to accurately document who's taller. Aliza is so close a little more than an inch separates them. Next year I anticipate John being very close to the same height at Harold.



Brucey got up early to see what was going on. I think he is gong to miss these older kids more than me. He loves being our baby. Although he's almost not a baby.
And watching for the school bus while Harold reads.

This is not new and this is not bad just structured (which I like), and being pulled in all the different directions the kids need to go. It's a blessing to learn and a blessing to share the experience of life so off we go to become smarter, stronger, and braver. 

8.22.17 eclipse

Today was a singular day to experience history, science, and Awesomeness! I kept the kids home as I was just not sure how the hoopla would unfold. Our town did swell with people at the local RV park. Last week we did some good corn business there and enjoyed meeting some fellow earthlings when we went to visit Sunday night. Today we donned our glasses and enjoyed watching the sun eclipse. 

We were pleased to have Uncle Don and Aunt Shawna come share in the memory. 

Waiting and visiting and trying to preserve the moment and the glasses from bored little hands who would crinkle them up after viewing.

A hornets nest occupied some interest for a few minutes. They were quickly disposed of with soapy water.
More entertainment the blocking out of the sun took a long time for these little people.

The shadows possibly called sun snakes were really intriguing.

The special viewer Uncle Don rigged up helped the little ones be safe and see the eclipse from many angles.

Trying a welding helmet too. All worked, the kids were very good and happy to use their special glasses.

Our animals and the birds in general got quite. The roosters stood at attention but there was no mad dash for the chicken house. The cows laid down. We have no dog so I heard no barking. All in all it was very peaceful, then the sun reappeared like stadium lights and chased the darkness away. The roosters did start crowing about 20 minutes later. But they do crow during most days. This may have been more insistent but nothing too outrageous.

 Dark and then it receded. It was a calm interesting experience. SO nice to be with family and relax for a while. So thankful I choose to have them close to end out our summer 'vacation.' The kids then went to work on fixing pivots. Changing a tire and replacing an end plug. Doing homework, more chores, and generally finishing up our last items on the to do list. Alas another summer in the books. 

8.18.17 A little R & R

Well Sunday was my first off Sunday in 3 years. No meetings, no responsibility no worries...or something like that. I did go to a youth fireside with my kids and brought them and others home but Greg had to stay for another 2+ hours of meetings so I felt pretty free. In that free time I decided to make some pies to share. Something I haven't done in years. We shared and came home to pie. It was a pleasant return to the Sundays I had remembered.
Bruce is the lucky guy to work clean-up crew. He was helped by brother John who did the same thing 10 years ago. They are similar guys.

While the release has been nice. The phone just doesn't ring, I'm not constantly thinking of many other people, I don't ponder all day long how to organize and or help people it has however been a little depressing.



We drove by the local diner after church to see this. Obviously a corvette club out for a drive. But the blue reliable, old, pickup is what caught my attention. I feel like the pickup so often. Obviously out of place. Reliable, dependable, worn and used but still able to get the job done. In public I see other women who are so much more put together, talented, confident, less encumbered and how my heart melts with envy. (Yes I know that is a sin). It is a lifelong struggle. Yet like the 4 wheel drive capability of the pickup and the straight forward operation that it is, I too can handle hard situations. I'm not unfamiliar with getting dirty if that's where the road leads.

The Relief Society calling taught me to pay more attention to details, to evaluate and improve from criticism, to pray with real intent and real confidence in God. I learned to use flowers on tables and to care about table clothes. I learned that people are great! I worked very hard to care and to speak with care to encourage and to lift. In the transition weeks I knew that my offering was enough.

And now as I figure out my place in my family, ward, and life I am striving to take what I learned and not totally retreat into who I was before. I'm thankful for the many busy activities that keep me physically occupied or I may have really been depressed. I'm thankful for the powerful, loving, generous women in my ward and stake who taught, and served me and my family. It was a singular experience where I learned a lot about myself, Greg, my family, and God. Honestly I think my kids are a little sad to have me around more, they had got a routine set-up that flowed pretty smooth without mom. We will adjust.

8.17.17 Mud n GRIT

The last 30 hours or so have been the stuff muscles and nightmares are made of. Broken pivots. I was not quite sure what this really meant until I requested some pictures. I am very familiar with the hour of sloshing the muddy clothes in a bucket to remove most of the mud prior to washing in my machine. I am very well acquainted with the hours the kids are gone and am shocked at the stories they share when they come home. But I love these pictures and I love the powerful Gritty children the experiences are producing.

Confidence. Life doesn't get much dirtier than this. And please note at least 50% of pivot issues are resolved after dark here. Imagine this with small flashlights strapped precariously on your head.

In the pivot track he is on the mud that they will have to shovel out. 

Resting on the job he may be floating. For real the track is that wide and deep.

See that's about 3 feet deep. 

And it goes on forever! or many miles. This treat was two towers that kept alternating getting stuck. So dig for 5-100 yards then pray the wheels will grip that distance and move on. Then move to the next tower and do the same thing getting the tires to roll one inch then one foot at a time.

My 5'11' Aliza standing waiting to put more cement in that mud. The cement gives a bottom to the marsh like pit. So ever being earth friendly they are breaking up old cement ditch with hammers moving it by tractor, then in 5 gallon buckets into the field to be placed like puzzle pieces into these trenches. The good news is that generally when the project is complete the pivot does not get stuck again this season.

The sloppy mud that was removed to get to the bottom of the trench. First is the shovel, then more shovel, then some pushing and pulling, and then more shoveling, then the laying of the cement. This is where endurance, perseverance, will power, team work, etc. come from. 

I've mentioned Reed's struggle with reading. Each of these three struggled with reading or math. Sometimes life is hard. Mastering new skills is often a challenge. THere are many situations that are not pleasant or fun. But I hear often from Greg's siblings "these memories fueled me when life got hard and those lessons on the farm gave me the confidence I could master anything!"

 Reed's teacher tonight was stating the necessity of Grit in learning. Well I think I have proof they are gritty kids. Reed was not involved today, he has been on many of the other days though. This was not the first time for this kind of adventure. This summer has been ripe with broken, stuck pivots and the call for helpers to fix them.

 After they ate lunch today they went to tackle the other pivot that had literally broken. They lugged a 100# lb gear box and jacks and other tools into the field and fixed that and a driveline. 

About 12 hours total in the corn field today after 2-4 last night.  Sweat running down the back, covered and caked in mud and corn stuff. It was a long day for them. Just like many more that will come in their future. But they will take the lessons they learned of working together and the only way to get through a job is to get through it. It's hard to be the mom and wait on these days. I don't love them having to work so hard, I don't like them having little time to play like other kids. However,  they do seem pretty creative in their play and I know that these lessons are more valuable than just loafing around. Just a few more days and school will start and then the resting will begin. Or more accurately they will come home to these messes and work through them then to bed and back to school. Thank goodness for lots of water to clean up in. Showers are a most blessed event here. 

8.12.17 Warriors

There is a cute children's story called blueberries for Sal. After another long day of picking selling and or canning, we came home with blueberries. These are candy to my girls. They are familiar with the book where little Sal picks 3 in the bucket 2 in his mouth. They bagged the berries about the same a few in the bag a lot in the mouth. We did not pick these rather ordered them from a sweet friend. The big kids were out fixing a pivot lugging a 100# part through tall wet corn in the dark of night. 

We got the better end of that night for sure. After such long days naps are so necessary. I got up one afternoon to find this very happy camper.

Obviously prepping for his future in advertising. I mop the floor but with the amount of traffic these summer days it's impossible to keep clean. In some ways I'm excited fro school to lighten the load on my home, in others I will deal with messes like these alone and that is challenging. Bruce is walking well thanks to conscientious siblings pushing and cheering him along. He will be severely disappointed with just boring busy mom when they leave. Always so much to do. Still trying to understand or grasp how we could live more peacefully. 

I got released from the Relief Society President position in the ward. It was very hard to accept. I honestly know I did my best and gave my all. I did not leave anything undone that I could have done. Yet it's really hard to slow down. I have really struggled this week as to what my new role/life/opportunities will or should be. I learned that I can still be a friend. I can still reach out to others. I can be friendly and I can still run myself tired just keeping my family going here and there. So life has not slowed down it is different I don't feel the weight of others, yet I still can be concerned and caring when I hear of others in need. Changing gears is always an interesting process. Thank goodness for lots of busy so as not to think too much.

I called this warriors because we have been fighting ourselves and the clock this entire year of 2017. The Imagine Dragons group has a song called warriors. My family are warriors. They fight and don't give up. We strive to build our town and community. We strive to care, to serve, to lift and to love others. We don't leave, we think I better take care of that. I know in my heart we are making a difference. I get tired the kids get more tired, but they are happy and they are gaining confidence. They find ways to make every situation positive. They are amazing. 

From the song that caught my attention:

As a child you would wait
And watch from far away.
But you always knew that you'd be the one
That work while they all play.

CHORUS 

Here we are, don't turn away now,
We are the warriors that built this town.
Here we are, don't turn away now,
We are the warriors that built this town
From dust.

8.10.17 Corn

A long time ago, when we were first married, we needed income. Greg had the idea that we could sell sweet corn on a road side stand. We did that for many years. My brothers eventually took over the venture and were known for the Corn Farms Corn they grew and shared each year. They gained valuable experience that led to successful business ventures. Fast forward to this summer and there is an abundance of sweet corn, and a not too tired mom with kids needing new lessons in life.

Thus, my kids have been picking and selling corn for a week. 

They are learning a lot. 

We first took care of our own needs, spending a day doing corn. Bruce was a newbie and loved the process. All you can eat corn and lots of water to play in. 

Many hands make lighter work. They are getting so capable they could do this without me easily. Although I do keep the ball rolling and am still the fastest! More years of practice.

Livy got the camera and thought it would be fun top take a picture of my corn covered toes. It is a starchy process. One thing for sure, we always have a lot of work to do and get done. They are troopers. I'm so thankful to have each of them in my home, so I can work them of course... no, so I can admire how great they are. 

8.11.17 Potatoes

We go the assignment to get potatoes for our ward. Being ever-obedient, we went to a neighboring farm and gathered potatoes. About 15 60 lb bags the first time and 18 the next time. They were lovely potatoes and Harold had a great time distributing them to anyone he saw or  could think  of. 

The girls delighted in their heartshape potatoes. 

First trip. Even Bruce was out there helping. He loved the dirt.
The next time we took Greg, who is a gleaner at heart. It is always dangerous to take him to these events as there is always more to get. We worked until after dark and lugged home a very full trailer.

As I sat pondering the events of the evening, I was struck by the groups of two around me. Everyone was content and happily working or playing. As I read a post today about how to stop sibling rivalry, I thought "no idea"? But I think that's because we don't have much competition.

A while ago, a lady asked how I keep a handle on the crazy of having 11 kids? I said it's not too bad, but we work a lot! The kids are tired. They don't have tons of energy to spare on beating each other to a pulp and they know that payback will come around. They also know that the next project will require their team effort to accomplish the objective.  They also might just be working on surviving life with their parents who overbook and never leave a service opportunity unattended. I'm seriously pondering if that is a strength or failing to our children.

Nonetheless, this evening they enjoyed being together and sharing the burden. Another day survived.