12.31.21 Into a New Year- Keeping On Keeping on

Our prayers have been answered. We have cold to kill the bugs, snow to fill the reservoirs, and the best part this amazing crew is here to keep life going. They are tough, resourceful and well aware of their role and responsibilities. We are so thankful for Carhart and Bogs even in the bitter cold you can tolerate long stretches outside when properly layered. 

The inside crew are also learning their parts and places. I'm thankful for the mostly happy noises from the kids at home. There's plenty of crying and fighting over one toy in 30 but mostly they enjoy each other and do funny things like share one hashbrown. 

Harold sent socks for Christmas they are very comfortable. 

The boys taught Merle how he can share his new truck. Even though he had been sick this day he took many turns pushing Lia around the room. With extra energy at the end of the day because they are mostly house bound running trucks has long been a final wind down in the winter months. 

Addie's been puzzling she's pretty good at it. Merle is equally good at breaking them. Livy has been painting a lot. Millie is reading. Afton plays horses. Bruce is sporting a new scrape on his lip from crashing trucks with Reed, it can been a pretty dangerous game if not careful. 

This made my heart so happy to see my oldest two together. It was so good to hear them both interact and to listen to their stories and advice to each other. I'm so blessed to be the mom. 

 Life has not been easy this week pinched nerves have made my days very painful but when I watch my kids when they aren't biting and fighting with each other I'm so thankful for the choice to add each one to our group. It's not easy to manage all the needs and to be intentional teaching them all but it's a blessing for sure. Watching the oldest two grow, develop, and show us who they are has been awesome. As the other's come along I'm equally impressed and humbled with who they are. We work to become better parents and yet hold the line on important lessons and boundaries that make for indepdendent, respectful people. So into a New Year we go same ol' same ol' yet so thankful this is our life and while we struggle with many things we are in it together. We work to forgive and improve and we strive to love and hold tight to that which is most important, each other though with less teeth and more hands would be a big improvement! Ahh kids - always interesting how they interpret life. 

12.15.21 New photographer

Bruce loves to take pictures. I find hundreds of funny shots like these on my phone all the time. They aren't perfect but they are in the moment and they catch the personalities of these kiddos. 

He even takes pictures of me. I was busy putting together some pies for friends for Christmas. 

He caught me greeting Man when I got home from church. Merle definitely missed his mom when I'm gone. 

This week we are studying the proclamtion on the family. The first suggestion is that successful families are built on the doctrine of Christ. Being that it's Christmas time this is a no brainer. We are teaching and talking about Christ daily- or we try to. Years ago I had a girls come to my primary class who had never heard of Mary and Joseph being the parents to Jesus Christ on earth. I was shocked! But it is becoming a lost part of Christmas. I'm thankful for the time to teach my children. I'm thankful for the hope, comfort, and peace that doctrine provides. I love the gift of the Atonement and the strength that comes from repentance and covenants. On this the day of our family beginning I can hardly believe how far we have come, how fast it has passed, and where we are headed. We are blessed!  
 

12.11.21 Health and Sickness

We've had a December of sickness. Different kids on different days showing symptoms. Pre- Covid this was nothing out of the normal decreased sun exposure, coldness, tired, germs in general we got sick. But we pushed through and continued to do what had to be done. Sickness was not an excuse to miss life. Now in Post or during COVID any symptom is a requirement to hunker down at home alone doing nothing but resting, waiting, and waiting. Not here. Life still goes on. So we heaped on the vitamins, oils, supplements, even some nasal rinsing and waited for better while continuing with the have to's. 

Merle got the worst of it being a COVID baby he has little exposure to germs so he's in for a lot of immune building in the next few years. Sometimes he was soothed going for a ride. One of Mark's responsibilities is to change Merle he puts him on the cart and takes him to the bathroom for the procedure. Usually Merle likes the rides, lately though he's just generally miserable. I finally looked in his mouth and found 4 teeth working on coming through. Since they have erupted he's doing a lot better. 

I'm very pleased with how Mark's leg has healed it looks so good. The shape is coming down, the compression socks have made a huge difference in the blood capacity and movement thus aiding in healing, size, and general health of the leg. I'm so thankful for easy fixes. This year I have learned to differentiate between hard fixes and easy fixes. We are thankful for the easier options! 

 And some of the cute things happening at school. I appreciate their work to make school enjoyable even with all the rules, worries, and oversight being pushed on their days. Santa is a much anticipated guest these days. While we aren't big Santa believers we aren't opposed to excitement and childhood dreams. Afton is blessed to have a small class and a creative teacher. 

Life rolls on the days pass full of responsibility and needs. I love holding sleeping children I too nod off with them most times. I'm thankful for the happiness that mostly fills my home. We are blessed. 

12.10.21 Snow Prayers

We all prayed and some fasted for snow this past weekend. We were delighted when it accumulated on Monday. So much snow that snow things could be made. The temperature was perfect! The kids were in heaven, I thought it beautiful and was so grateful for the quick answer to our petition to God. 

Until we went to water and it was cold and a little slick especially this tricky spot. And then I realized, blessings are sometimes not all good warm fuzzy feelings.

I was so thankful that we had spread fertilizer the week before. I was thankful it was able to all get worked in. I was so thankful Greg was around because we were soon herding cows because the snow covered their feed and their hoofs tromped it into the mud. 

Yes we have put this guy to work on the tractor. This time with no open wound I'm confident it wasn't bad for him. Really he needs to get outside some more. He worked and worked and got the fertilzer covered with soil, I sure hope that's a good idea. 

While the older half battled the cows, the younger ones played and played and played. Those hands are covered in socks. We have a lot of socks in our house, they put them to use when one pair would get too wet to be of use they would throw them off and get a few more dry socks out of the heaping basket. 

Can you see the snowballs flying?? They had so much fun Livy and Bruce let loose with good aim and made contact with each other a few times. Millie would run half way there then throw, Afton didn't hit anything but threw. Lia as the little sister of course stood in the middle as a target just watching. She didn't get hit I don't think. 

These two were thrilled to play the next day too. They were smart and found snow clothes. I'm so thankful for all the many hand-me downs people share with us. I would never buy snow stuff it happens so rarely here, but it's nice to pull it out of a box when the opportunity arises. 

Bruce thought he was so tricky to pull his bib overalls over his shorts. Then just wear his shorts at home. He has taken to giving piggy back rides to Merle Man. Merle of course loves it, he was bummed not to go in the snow but I can't find two of any of his shoes and he doesn't have snow boots so inside was best for him. 

At school Reed and classmates made a fort. 

Bruce getting ready for some serious fun. 

And the opposition in all things part rounding up the 300 cows everyday this week. They found a weak spot in the fence and decided hay was a lot tastier than cornstalks. So everyday for an hour or more we would herd thme back in. 

 I helped a few times. I've never been one to be fast on snow or do enjoy cookies or spins. While herding cows to get them to move and to head off break-aways those are required moves. I can see why people like it. I kept thinking I shouldn't be out here, but it was fun I can see why my boys do those things. And I didn't feel so bad for them herding cows is a perfect excuse to go fast to be agile and to enjoy the abilities of the machines. There are good parts to the hard and there is always a hard part to the good. The scripture that rings in my mind these days is there must needs be opposition in ALL things. Yep everything. While discouraging, I'm learning that giving up is not an option you just keep going and working on solutions until one finally works. Yesterday Addie and MArk took a good look at the fence these cows kept crossing and found part of it was wired wrong. Since their repair the cows are in. I don't fence I would have been no help.

 I watched anxiously all afternoon today wondering if the cows would breech the fence but they didn't and we had one day of not chasing them. They leave Friday at least a major portion of them. I'm not sorry to see them go. I'm ready to move on. We've had long daily chore requirements since September, it's time for a break. The next herds won't be far behind thankfully. It has been comforting to work with my children and admire their skill and teamwork. It's honestly been fun to do some of what they do. Life is good. 

12.9.21 Youth development

There's a concentrated discussion this past month about the children and youth program. A desire to refocus energy and attention to teaching and encouraging our kids to set goals, make progress, and reflect on growth. Sometimes this is discouraging and sometimes I think we got this! Livy and Millie showing their most recent pictures. 

A sweet picture sent from a member Harold was having dinner with. The Santa was the man of the house who was preparing to go spread some Christmas cheer with members of his ward. 

Anna sent a pictures of an entry in the horse parade she got to witness. They are both learning and experiencing so much. 

At home we had our monthly testimony meeting. It was boisterous as always but I was thankful Livy insisted we do this again, we had slacked off. Sharing of testimony is an important skill to learn. Saying out loud what you believe helps cement ideas and thoughts.  At this point of parenting I'm on auto pilot trying to fulfill the traditions we have set years ago- if the kids remember or if I think it is important enough. 

At a meeting with Elder Stevenson they listed short term and long term benchmarks of success with the children's and youth program: 

            Short Term

                                -Recommends- all youth can have recommends
                                -Ministering—Just means ask questions invite them to reach out
                                -Ordinations
                                -Attendance
                                -Participate in Family History
                Long Term
                                -Advance in the Melchezidic Priesthood
                                -Endowments
                                -Sealed
                                -Recommend
                                -Mission

We are all working towards and checking off those items. It's hard and requires much more patience than I often possess. We all live different lives curses and blessings to facebook for showing other people's way of living. We are fine and this is ours so I try to love it and search for satisfaction in our reality. Writing here always reminds me it is far better than I fear and to keep on keeping on. Life is good.