Addie running

Addie ran one of her favorite races last week in Eagle Idaho. There were 157 girls in the varsity race. She came in 49th. This hill is steep and long luckily this year it was dry. Sometimes it is wet and slippery. I was able to attend the race thanks to Greg's help. We went to the temple first then he dropped me off while he went to the random parking facility miles away. He finally made it back fro the end of the race. We enjoyed being together and watching the kids work through the event. 

She finished very well keeping her emotions in check and finishing strong. The runners in Boise valley are very fast. 

This week she ran in baker another hilly up and down course. She made the same time 21.10 and again managed her stomach issues that have been a trial. I'm thankful she is learning how to control some of the involuntary reactions that have plagued her. She is a tough lady and really enjoys the challenge. She got a medal in baker for an 8th place finish. Her good friend and competitor from Burns is out with an injury, that is hard your senior year. Thankfully so far so good for Addie and Reed. We are truly blessed with health and strength. Life is good. 
 

Onions

The onions this year are gorgeous and abundant. Like all farm commodities they are worth little as in barely break even. My dad is a great farmer and knows how to grow good crops we are thankful for his generosity. This man is a such an example of work. He is older and bow legged and kind. He comes every year thankfully to irrigate for my dad. He makes sure the crops get adequate water and each row is completed. He also works in the harvest picking up the ends and pulling the few clods. I'm grateful for examples like these that I can talk to my kids about the importance of being all the way. In doing a good job no matter what the job. 

Onion harvest has really changed from the crews of people topping and bagging onions to these modern machines that top and load the onions its amazing to see large scale food production. 

I was running errands to get more stocked up and prepared for the months ahead. These girls were with me and got to spend some time with Anna in the truck she drives hauling onions. They were so excited to see what she does. Merle has been extremely disappointed that she doesn't come home at night but stays closer to her work. 

I'm so thankful for the time my kids get together. They are able to learn from and feel important from the attention of their older siblings. Work is such a lost word in our current world. It seems our society is bent on becoming obsolete in thinking and ability. I champion those who will and can do so many things and have the endurance and drive to make it all happen. We strive to instill that confidence, belief, and ability in our children. Greg is so good at making sure they are able and do get things done no matter the situation. Life on a farm is good and busy. We are blessed. 
 

Royal Homecoming

Another first this week Addie was notified she was nominated for Homecoming court. The Viking came and gave her a pomp pomp in class she was confused as girls she had considered the court were also in her class and were not nominated. This will be a new experience. I'm surprised at all the responsibilities being on court mandatory attendance at all the events all week, photo shoots, etc it's going to be a very full week. The young man on the left is her friend Wyatt. He is also on court. 

I had suggested this might happen and encouraged her to order a dress. We did so the weekend before announcements now I am sincerely hoping any of the 3 dresses we have purchased will arrive on time! Or we will be working on a desperate plan B or C. 

I'm taking it pretty easy this week resting up for the upcoming storms of harvest, Fundraiser weekends, and baby. So I tackled this mess of supplies needed for a house full of humans. Andrea calls people humans I'm not sure why or who taught her that but that's her designation for people. She will start speech therapy soon and had to do an assessment. It was interesting to me how she responded to the picture prompts. No idea what a zoo was- she hasn't been that's on my list of things to do this spring. 

We have high hopes of preventing cavities but maybe the shear number of these everywhere says they aren't used often enough? I got this all sorted I was proud of my determination and patience I don't love tedious jobs like this. 

But I do love hearing from this elder sometimes on P-day. They had a mission conference for trainers and new missionaries. He seems to have enjoyed his trainee. I sure look forward to him coming home. 

 ITs' truly staggering how many missionaries there are all over the world. I wouldn't trade their time or choice- not that it's mine to barter, but I do love being able to talk to them a bit more if they will. I know he's doing good and managing his own life just fine and thats the intention of parenting to raise independent self-reliant children. Added bonus if they are kind, thoughtful, love God and their fellow men.  

Life rolls  on the days get fuller and fuller and we try to be prepared and ready for the expectations that are next. The harvest is going well. All the repairs Mark, Reed, Bruce, and Merle did on the combine seem to make it function much more efficiently. Kids are already putting up fences for cows to come graze- the sooner the better and easier on equipment and people. The mud and winter weather destroys our four-wheelers and leaves a lot to be desired for the workers. We are trying to get Addie to train her siblings as she too will be gone next year. She prefers to work solo. We keep moving forward. We are blessed. 

Reed Football

We are thankful for home games where we can watch Reed progress on his football journey. We watch film with him covering the away games we miss. We are thankful he has been safe so far in his playing experience. More than a few games have been delayed due to injuries of players, and our cousin James broke his wrist last week while playing in our town. 

Reed and friend and fellow tough competitor Lincoln. Its an enjoyable part of being a teen boy to see how your strength and ability compares to your own. Lincoln is a national wrestler and very agile, but he respects Reed's strength and drive. These two match-up really well in practice and appreciate each others ability against other teams. So far JV is 3-0 and Varsity is 3 wins 1 loss. Reed usually gets to play the 4th quarter of Varsity and the entire game both sides of the ball on JV. 

After the games the guys gather round to hear the coaches comments and celebrate the game. 

 Greg and Reed, it won't be too much longer and Reed will be bigger than his dad. How thankful we are for strong sons who work hard and become the men we prayed and hoped they would. Life is good we are very blessed. 

A dog update

These two are quite the buddies. Andrea spends time with the dog everyday caring for it and loving it. He appreciates her concern. 

It was funny she wanted a picture so I came over and snapped this, then the dog perked up for the next snaps. 

He had to show his better side. Sometimes I worry how sleepy he gets, but he must trust that we aren't doing anything interesting or harmful and therefore he just rests. He loves to run with the four-wheeler- and has finally learned to stay away from the tires. He is always up for a walk we try to do a few of those a day between all the people that are here, that has been good for all of us. 

Andrea would be a lonely kiddo without the dog this year. It's thought provoking to see how things that aren't always chosen work out to our benefit. We are thankful for opportunities we don't know we need. 

 Life is good and we are blessed. 

Weekend feasting & waiting

This has been a new experience to enjoy some of the fruit from our trees. The trees have been here longer than us, but as we are ignorant about fruit trees we don't spray them as much as they probably need and usually the assorted farm animals- chickens and cows eat them. This year with a more advanced and aggressive rotational grazing program we have some  fruit to harvest. We made jam out of the peaches and pies this weekend. We enjoy them with peanut butter too. It's been a delight to eat the fruits of labors. 

Even better between two crusts. I was so delighted to eat this ok for my blood sugar numbers. Thankfully the kids took care of all the rest, they are so helpful cleaning up any treats. 

Lia shared some flowers with grandma. She did selected, picked, and arranged them on her own. 

These two are becoming more social. They work together more often when Livy is around, usually she is in town at the mechanic shop. Right now they are about the same height if Livy stands up straight. Her leg is also looking better, not completely straight but much better. 

Sunday they made dinner together. They were cooking steaks in frying pans. Livy tossed in a steak and teh grease burned Reeds arm and stomach, along with Livy's nose, cheek, and eyelid. The steaks were good but they are learning the consequences of burns and not treating them sufficiently when they happen. Cold water until it doesn't hurt anymore out of water. 

We enjoyed the dinner in spite of the sacrifice of skin. It's truly a joy to be together until the negative comments and sarcasm drive me crazy. 

Bruce was taking pictures with my phone instead of reading scriptures. More harvest around mark the last spaghetti sauce I plan on doing, and red potatoes from the garden which are so good. That's been a real challenge of this lowering my blood sugar very limited in-season starches. 

These two are good friends during the day and get along most of the time. Merle is soaking up the time with Mark working during the day doing different repairs and odd jobs. They both want a sibling of their own sex I told them the baby will be what it is and we will love and enjoy it no matter what it is. 

They are both very excited to be older siblings as the youngest this is a fun prospect. Life rolls on with dentist appointments and other commitments. Days pass and it is good to be a family. Here's to growing up and waiting on harvest. 

 

Harold Summer

After the accident and his foot was all healed Harold went back on the mountain crew. These pictures are pretty amazing. I only know Harold but the scenery and activity look like a dream. The dreams of my grandfather Dick. He would have adored hearing stories like these and seeing what his great grandchildren have come to love. They have told me they felt close to him in these experiences. I am thankful they knew him in person to recognize that presence now as well. 

Each week a new group of 25-50 people comes to Jackson Hole and goes camping for 4 days with the crew. The scenery is beautiful still untamed and relaxing. There is no cell service and it's up to the young adults working there to ensure safety and enjoyment for the guests. 

Stronger draft teams are used in the mountin as its higher elevation and bigger pulls. 

Harold reported he hates sleeping in tents after a summer sleeping in the open. Anna had a tent but said solid walls feel too confining now. 

Someday Harold will finally get a dog of his own. He still loves animals and looks forward to permanence where he can have the things he always hoped for. 

He's also had the opportunity to fly with a cousin who has a few small airplanes. This cousin lets Harold take the controls some. The same cousin continues to teach get a job that affords the hobby not a hobby that demands a big job. I'm so thankful for the approach of this cousin. Harold has had such a good time working for him and going to fly with him. 

He attended a mission reunion I'm not sure who is pictured with him. 

He also worked the dinner adventure too driving wagons full of people up to the dinner venue visiting and teaching along the way. 

On the seat is a commemorative custom made canteen. This has been an ideal summer for him. The beauty and joy of young adulthood is making memories and growing your skills and contacts. I'm thankful for good places where they can stretch and prove their abilities to themselves and others. Life is good. 
 

Snaps of the kiddos

I sometimes find random pictures of the older kids. Aliza is on the left buried under chips. I asked why all the junk food? She said it was for the mountain crew which Anna and Harold worked on. She is so good at keeping track of everything and everyone. Each of them truly enjoys the responsibility and nature aspect of their job. Aliza that she is in the kitchen, and Anna and Harold out in the wide open spaces. 

Mark helped Merle and Alia vacuum after a large funeral last weekend. I love how he helps people do  more than they have done previously. He is patient and clever how he comes up with adaptations. They did a great job. 

I just love this group all gathered surly after church waiting for the next thing. We have a family testimony meeting on fast Sundays. In hopes this will teach the kids how to bear testimony and how to be comfortable sharing the thoughts of their hearts. After these Greg gave each father's blessings for the school year. That was tender and spiritual. Few give so many blessings in a row. The spirit is thick and Greg gets a peak into the divine worth of each of his children. I'm thankful he wanted a big family it has taught me much. 

Bruce had a very late birthday read late past the day and late at night. These are quick and my favorite dessert. After being so careful for weeks with my sugar intake I did freely eat these, no ice cream though, they were good but it was enough for a while. The changes though challenging are probably for the best and should be my new normal. Exercising twice a day, lots more vegetables, a lot less carbs just whole forms like potatoe, and or rice I actually feel pretty good with the changes. 

It's a constant fight to get the lawn mowed here. I have been threatening to just let the cows eat it, well when moving from one pasture to the next- rotational grazing works well!- they stopped for some munching on my 3 weeks tall grass. They nibbled it nicely and I took a picture to show the kids the possibilities. 

A picture of John from the most recent Zone conference. He just seems very comfortable with missionary life. I'm so thankful for that. 

And attempting to make enough peach jam for Reed and Bruce. Reed loves biscuits and jam is a must side dressing for hot biscuits. But with our big crew a jar of jam doesn't last through more than one round of biscuits and then some toast and jam- the kids favorite snack. Such problems to have I guess. 

We take for granted so much our health, our togetherness, our excess, and our opportunity to have and do what we want. I've been studying about the beginning of the persecution of the saints in Missouri and it is heartbreaking. One memoir recounted they left all their possessions and 100 freshly canned jars of blackberries. The historian today said she calculated they had spent 1 million work hours in two years in Missouri to then be driven out by a mob with guns and very ill intentions and actions. 1 million hours! At a time when they had given all they had to continue building the money alone would have been devastating let alone all the time they spent building what they hoped would be a peaceful place to come to know God. We work a lot here and I know that would be very hard on our resolve to have to leave what we had invested so much into. Because it is our canning season and we are filling jars left and right this really struck a cord with me. So today I am thankful that my family and I will 95% sure eat what we have preserved in our home safely and securely in the next few years. The gift of abundance is one we have always enjoyed. Life is good. 
 

What we like

This summer Reed found a good surprise he had two hens that were willing to sit on eggs. Those good birds worked for about 2 months hatching a total of 20 chicks. 

Each day he would get a new one or two to add to the collection. These brought big smiles to his face. I don't love animals in the house but when they are small and helpless I make an exception. This is one of Reed's favorite things-baby chickens. 

This is another but more stressful activity Reed enjoys he's number 65, and is much more worrisome for me to watch. He is enjoying the football season. 

I like science. For days then weeks we watched three garden spiders weave intricate webs and help control the fly population in our kitchen. They were fast workers and so interesting to watch. 

Then this new spider showed up in my most used cooking corner and I decided it was time for the spiders to go. It looked more frightening or poisonous than the others. With a quick suck of my vacuum they were all gone. Although their wonderous webs took much more to erase. 

 Addie lovest his. It's hard to think about this being her last year, her last races etc etc. But it is good to be involved and to challenge yourself. We are thankful for many different interests and memories to share. Time flies quickly. I don't wish time to stop or even slow down I'm thankful for a place to keep a simple record because when I look back I am wisked back to those days and stages. It's a grand thing to raise kids to have them develop and become in my home. Mostly I feed them, clean-up and listen and watch adding comments occasionally. Oh and drive them places. We are very blessed.