7.9.21 Farm work

One night early in June Greg took me and the boys to the pivot to fix some problems. The boys always love to go, and Merle cries often when he is left home. Their desire to be doing starts so early. 

Knee high by the 4th of July is so relevant in farming but I guess it depends on which knee you are measuring by. He loves being with the big guys. I'm so thankful he can be. 

Cleaning nozzles. 

We bought a fourwheeler in Utah in Novemeber. We haven't had time to go get it. Our horse hauler friend was passing through that state and picked it up literally and brought it our way. 

It traveled well in his hay rack. Getting it down was tricky especially since I, the novice, was at the controls while Greg helped lift it off the trailer onto the pallet the tractor was holding. 

Phew safely on the ground and now used all the time. 

Rarely the work kids take time to play or interact with Mark. Usually they watch a movie he has found. 

The next crew. They grow fast and slow. There are so many lessons and so much time to put into training up each child. I get weary and wonder are we doing the right things? Are we expecting too much are our priorities a mess? What are they taking from our home? Do they truly know we love them? I guess in the end they take what they want. I hope as their vision and experience broadens they come to understand in part why we chose what we did and why we lived as we do. There is a lot all the time- although I have a lot of pictures of rest- they are safe, sound, and loved. Life is good. 
 

7.8.21 Summer days

This was an ideal day. Greg was home for lunch and we took time to have ice cream cones. As usual his lap is full and he got pieces and parts of his meal with lots of hungry mouths intercepting his fork. 

Mark has a lot of surfing time and has found many interesting farm videos. He is sharing one with his dad. Mark misses time talking with his dad  while they work. 

Merle has also become a daddy's boy waiting up for him and demanding his ride while dad does pushups. 

Yet some nights are too late and Merle fell asleep on Greg's back. greg got through his entire set with the sleeping baby on his back. Late nights are the norm in June. 

Merle has one leg he turns out, this is called over-toenation. We tried shoes to see if that helped straighten his foot. Aren't those cute legs? Babyhood passes quickly. 

Mark and John are showing chickens at the fair this year they are handsome young men. 

Millie had a birthday and we had no candles the matches didn't work so well but I think she got to blow out 2 in the end. 

Lia likes ranch just like her siblings. We didn't eat much ranch when I grew up but man my family thinks its a staple food. 

The mess I came home too after one of my trips to town with Mark. 8 boxes of Mac and Cheese on the carpet. Legos galore. Ugh. Kid messes 19 years of kid messes. He and Afton cleaned it all up. I helped vaccum but they spent a few hours cleaning this and the storage room wehre more boxes were dumped out. 

So Lia and Man went outside to play in a puddle to cool off. Life is good with a sibling to share adventures. 

Livy lost another tooth and loves to paint. I bought her a paint by number picture and she is having a great time creating the picture. Painting is soothing. I was working on one as well but Addie took it over- she's doing a much better job. 

Mark down at the farm out of the house. My guys getting ready to work cows. It is not lost on my heart and mind that these moments are quickly coming to an end. 

A quick piano lesson Addie and Millie. It's only happened once. 

Afton found a use for morning glory. Millie suggested we plant some- all the older kids yelled no way! 

My side kick. 

 Summer is great time to imagine, play and work. We do it all everyday. We are blessed and we are thankful for our opportunities and challenges that bring life into perspective and challenge us to grow. Life is good. 

7.7.21 Girls camp prep

 This year grandma Saunders was called to be the head cook for the stake girls camp. She prepared for weeks. The night before leaving several Aunts came to pick strawberries and also helped prepar more food for camp. Lasagna and chicken fettucine alfredo were to be made and cooled for consumption later in the week. There were a lot of hands which is good because there was much that needed done. 

Grandma is a master shopper, thankfully there were 5-9 little kids who made trip after trip from grandma's stockpile to the waiting pickup and grandpa's arms. 

Addie, Jill, Grandma, Sheryl, Rishelle, Reed

The crew visiting and waiting for instructions.  Janice, Crystal, James, Rishelle, Sheryl.

Miles, Another helper carrying more supplies. 

Bruce and his best buddy who tells him everything and knows all- according to Bruce- Zane. 

Zane. 

Harold could carry considerably more than the little boys. But there was room and need for all sizes she had over 150 people to feed for 4 days. 

There is always a possibility for a great spirit of unity and love when there is a large task to be done. Grandma Saunders is professional at finding a job for everyone and breaking the impossible into doable bit by bit. The kids love working with and for her- she always gives rewards. It breaks ice and eases tension of new visitors. It's imperative to be needed and building to be a solution. All's well that ends well we were thankful to be part of the solution and to enjoy the experience. Life is goo. 

7.7.21 A busy 3rd of July

The fourth of July was mostly celebrated on the 3rd this year. Early in the morning Addie decided to run the 5k race. Aunt Alena joined her see them in the back row. 

Aliza helped with the organization of the race. We were there to watch and eat watermelon. 

The race ended in an exciting rush to the finish line. Addie was hot on the heals of the man seen in the blue shirt. He is a good friend of Alena's. Addie was about 2 seconds behind him.  She placed 2nd and 1st in the womens group. 

After Addie's exciting return Harold decided to see if he could still win the 1 mile race. He competed in tennis shoes this year instead of boots. He came out on top 6:41 minutes for a mile. He hasn't ran since football. I love his heart. 

I assured the girls that came in after him this was his last race for a few years. 

After the race we attended the ward breakfast and helped clean up. Mark enjoyed visiting with the men there. 

We headed home to gather towels and swim supplies. When all was gathered we headed to the lake. 

After the annual lake and picnic Mark, Anna, Aliza, and John went to the rodeo to sell tickets. 

Those at home worked on recovery. Lots of water, some sleeping, and cool cloth on the face to help take the burn down. 

I decided burgers sounded delicious however that plan took a suprising turn when we found this. We asked Uncle Kevin who instructed us to play fireman and get that grill wet. 

Not all the burgers were lost. We enjoyed the ones that were not black and moved on. Addie posed with her race trophy rock. 

 We are thankful for this country we live in founded on belief in the Bible and the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are thankful for the integrity and grit of our founders to learn, sacrifice, and envision a world of Agency, of people allowed to live  lives they chose. We are thankful we have had that opportunity. We are blessed and we have a sacred and urgent need to learn what American means and why it is unique. We are working to uncover that lost understanding. We are working to instill patriotism and testimony and love of God then love of fellowman in our family. We have a lot of work to do but it is important and thus we will not give up. Life is fragile, freedom is quickly disappearing as we fail to understand where it comes from and how to hold and use it. 

7.6.21 Millie Baptism

Millie was baptized by Harold last Friday. The night definitely didn't go as I had planned or hoped but in the end it was all ok.

Millie is our #9. She is a sweet, smart, dependable girl. She likes to be silly sometimes but can be relied on to care for others, or do a job. 

She shared the evening with her friend from our ward Jolene or Jo-Jo. 

I had told my family that we were leaving at 6:15 so we would not be late. I had planned and thought we would actually make this goal. I started calling the workers at 5:45 asking for clean-up and come home. I called again at 5:55, 6, 6:10 and 6:15. They finally came home at 6:25. John and Harold cleaned up and we hit the road at 6:45. On the fast ride over the check engine light came on. We turned off the a/c rolled down the windows and hoped the car kept moving. We got to the stake center at 7:01 or so. Millie and Harold had their shoes off. We rushed to the clothes closet got the jumpsuit and changed. We snapped the above pictures and sped walked into the chapel. I apologized and the program began. It was so nice that the stake had everything handled. Millie was baptized by Harold and confirmed by her dad who showed up sometime during the program. 

My parents provided a pizza dinner later. We enjoyed a special evening where Millie continued on the covenant path making her first covenant with God. She is a sweet girl and will be blessed by this decision. I am thankful for her part in our family. 

Addie caught the beautiful sunset as we rode home making a quick detour to the grocery store to score some great deals on chicken and picnic supplies. Another step taken and memory made. We are blessed.
 

7.5.21 Sharing Flowers

For years I have been the grateful recipient of flowers at random times. A dear sister in our ward has cultivated, then arranged, and finally shared those flowers with sisters in our ward. This year her health has been more problematic than usual. One Sunday her husband said in passing you should come get some flowers they are just going to waste. I was excited we love to share flowers. Little did I know what he was offering. 

We arrived on a very windy afternoon. A big storm was forecasted and I was worried the flowers would be destroyed. WE got their to find the man in a lawn chair relaxing in the strong wind. He pointed to the sky drawing our attention to a struggling dragonfly. He said he had been watching the dragonfly struggle to move away but the air currents just kept him in the same spot. I marveled that this man noticed something so little. He related he had been up all night getting his hay baled so it would not be harmed by the storm. We moved on to see his wife. She was in the midst of her flower goodness. I was so impressed. 

There were magnificent blossoms everywhere. 

We gathered a bucket full and some vases and headed home slowly and carefully. At home we separated, trimmed, and arranged the stems. We then headed out to deliver to people she had requested and we had thought of. 

The younger kids get pushed aside or left at home a lot. With all the COVID stuff, heat, and limitations on attendance they stay home when I go. So this was a great time to get to go and see people. 

I am so thankful for the opportunity to go share happiness. I appreciate this dear sister sharing her many years of hard work. While I am not a gardener yet I can help and I can appreciate. I can share with my kids the joy of noticing others. I continue to be amazed how time works out if we just get out the door. We were able to do this another time and loved getting to visit with others. Life is good.