4.23.22 Living the Life

Bruce loves to take pictures. Hundreds of pictures at a time. I must concede he is a handsome guy and worth hundreds of pictures but alas we must pick the best and only keep those. 

This lady is giving fast smiles. She is maturing and battling through her first cold well. I'm thankful she seems to be very healthy for all the efforts of her siblings to develop her immune system she is doing well. 

A favorite pastime here is chips and salsa. Oh how we love that! Alivia demanded we make salsa last year so we could indulge in the year to come. Yesterday Lia was walking around with a shirt turned up to hold her chip stash. She shared with me as I blogged. Turned up shirts hold all kinds of treasures, toys, candy, eggs from outside you just never know what will be found in the folded shirt. 

A first at our house John got asked to Prom by a lovely lady in his seminary class. Sadly I will miss this prom too. I'm not distraught as I missed Aliza's prom last year in the hospital with Mark, but I do wish I could see how he looks etc. Oh well we will hear about it in random pictures I hope. 

Aliza and Andrea sharing a moment of connection. 

A recent ag mechanics competition. John and Mark both went along to investigate the activities. Totally new and knowing nothing of what was expected they are now in serious training with Mr. Noble the past ag teacher who was very competitive with this skill set. I'm so thankful he shares his retirement time with willing students and for the graciousness of the current advisor to accept his help. 

Mr. Tractor himself. Since he was born tractors have been Mark's passion. 

Wiring circuits. John placed in the rare group of 5 who's circuits worked when finished. 

More kids in training after loading yearlings to sell the crew gathered for an apology session for the lost tempers and hasty hollering. We are a team and get the jobs done but sometimes it goes too far and so I'm sorry is the grand finale. 

We are fortunate to have so many opportunities to learn and grow and of course to repent and forgive. Man loves his dad and the farm almost as much. Bruce schemes to get out of going to the farm and Merle looks forward to it and demands to go every time he can. One project from the weekend getting a much improved more sturdy bull pen assembled. 

All day Friday Mark and I hauled farm stuff. Then Saturday this was assembled. So thankful for a safer containment. We made a successful trip to the junk yard. It's so refreshing to get rid of junk. And it's pretty mind blowing to watch the huge equipment work. I made sure Reed came along with Mark as it's a dynamic show. 

 

We watched the crane operator disassemble this huge corn head in about 5 minutes. The precision with which he showed was just astounding. 

 

4.22.22 Grandma's 81 Birthday

Grandma's birthday wish is to have all her family together. We almost accomplished that this year. My mom hired a photographer to provide proof of the accumulated gathering. Seated on both sides of my grandma are her children then their spouses. 

Anna and Harold both managed to facetime with her for a few minutes too. 

Andrea done for the party. 

Of course the kids didn't eat a lot at the event but they were thrilled to have leftovers to eat when we got home. The Macaroni and Cheese was  hit along with the cooked vegetables. 

A very rare picture with my siblings. I see some resemblances and am so thankful for their trailblazing and examples. These are literally my people for better and worse we have each others backs always. 

The cousin twins. John born about 24 hours before Megan. It's been fun watching these two grow up. 

Our family with grandma Saunders. It's perplexing to post family pictures minus two of our family yet representative of our family now. 

Grandma loves babies, we haven't seen Grandma much since she has been born leaving the house is daunting at best and grandma is a busy lady. She began volunteering at the local grade school after my grandfather died and has continued to help struggling students on a daily basis. 

The girls with their cousins. There are more girls than boys in the family and most the boys are in the upper half of the cousin group. 

My mom and her mom. 

My sweetheart who wisely advises on how to manage the constantly changing dynamic of a large extended family. 

 I'm thankful for the sealing bonds that tie our family together for eternity. Each people relationship requires lots of love, attention, forgiveness, and laughter. Our family is no exception. There are so many memories of good, special, normal holidays and every days. There have been hurt feelings and tears, followed with apologies and time to soothe the hurt. There have been prayers and petitions to God for all of these occurrences. Truly God's grace has sustained, maintained, and been the mortar holding this family together. I'm eternally grateful and aware for the choice my mom made to be an active member of the church of Jesus Christ. Her faith led all of us to Him and has given us the gift of joy and peace. Through Grandma's work and love of genealogy she too extends this gift to generations that are past. We are all connected throughout time because of both of there efforts. We are truly blessed to work through mortality together with and looking towards Christ. Life is good. 

4.21.22 Spring Pig time of year

With spring in the air it's time to get the fair pigs on the property again. This week pictures are due so the fun of chasing and trying to get in the picture with one begins. And the distinct smell of pig is yet again in my midst. Aliza studying and preparing her plan of action. 

Bruce loves the pigs and with Livy's help is the main pig wrangler while the older kids are at school each day. 

Where there is dirt and toys there has to be water. 

Livy working on school and Bruce getting a turn with Andrea while I vacuum. 

She's getting bigger somedays she is independent and somedays she just demands to be held all day long. 

Afton started a bean seed growing at school in a plastic baggie. She brought it home made a hole with her finger in this pot with soil and planted it. I thought for sure it would ide but that bean is growing! It's impressive to watch it continue to thrive. Afton has hopes of eating beans off of it. We shall see that would be miraculous if it produced fruit. 

My normal sleeping babies after crying babies. I am blessed and tired, and frustrated at no me space let alone time, and thankful for these trusting kiddos, and happy they are adapting to their situations. Up and down on the teeter-totter of motherhood all day everyday trying to change what isn't working, having self-discipline, faith, grace, love, charity, forgiveness, grit, on and on. Adult life is much more challenging than I ever imagined. 

A sweet visit with my Anna. How I miss her, last week it was hard thinking how much longer they would be gone, wasn't this enough time to get the experience? But alas there is still a year for her to go and 1.5 years for Harold. I haven't spoke with Harold since the bike purchase, he's fine. I'm going with the no news is good news he's growing finally without lots of family watching and giving advice. It's all good just another side of parenting unique kids. 

As  we strive every week to learn, understand, and apply the gospel of Jesus Christ as we navigate life I'm thankful for scriptural help. I'm thankful for the thinking of my children they ponder things I have never considered. Reed questioned how Jesus' hands were removed from the cross? Aliza and Mark wanted to know if Jesus had to suffer spiritual death after he died or if it was covered while he was suffering in mortality. Things I have not considered. And as they earnestly ask I'm thinking - you think I know but I have no idea. Some situations I know what to do and others are on the fly, or handled wrong and I regret it and try to fix the bad judgement or action. Parents are not all knowing. And just because I ahve my first 20 years past I am still working on similar failings, fears, and follies. Yet I have concrete evidence we aren't awful and the kids turn out ok in spite of my still growing up. My prayers now aren't to just survive the days but to have the stamina to keep up the process and to endure the parenting journey well. 

I have loved learning with my kids. Plantains are currently ripening on the counter to try with Alivia from a math lesson she had last week. I study more intently to teach my children what they need or want to know. Currently researching why chicks don't develop to hatching, political stuff for discussion, gospel, books to read aloud, how to write for state testing, weight training etc etc etc. I know God has, does, and will help Greg and I in this mighty undertaking. We are blessed. 

 

4.20.22 Easter

Easter week was hit and miss. We sometimes had every together and had some great conversations so that was a hit. We did lots of activities, watched Easter movies about Christ and the atonement those were hits as well. And then it was lots of crying and fighting, and late nights, and not being all together and those were misses. 

Wednesday we got busy filling plastic Easter eggs for the community Easter egg hunt and our family hunt. The kids waited 5 days from when Aliza and Addie purchased the supplies to when I let them begin filling them. They had to eat dinner first or that was the plan, of course the older half of the family was gone with mutual and such so dinner waits between shifts. 

Millie making the bags of candy for the teenagers who wouldn't be hunting eggs. 

My crew baby always wanting to be close or safe maybe. And man always wanting to be right there too. 

Older kids presented this program 4 times last week. It was beautiful and I'm so thankful they were able to marinate in the message of Jesus Christ for 3 months of Sundays. It is a great experience. 

Saturday we got to dye easter eggs. I'm so thankful Addie will head up activities like this while I deal with baby and other stuff like food. 

Livy enjoying new DIY books Aliza aquired from an older man who is moving. The kids have really enjoyed the pictures and instructions on everything you could imagine wanting to do. 

Greg's family makes easter cupcakes for the holiday. Millie was on that project, while Alivia made the cheesy potatoes for Sunday dinner. 

Reed, Mark and Greg built or arranged the bull pen and moved the bull from the herd. 

Finished cupcakes Bruce and Afton placed teh jelly beans the more the better was their thought. 

John was having adventures in Portland with the auto team. He placed 5th. 

Sunday morning easter egg hunt. The kids hunt, and hide all morning long. 

Then we attempted Easter bunny pancakes but those are really hard to shape and flip so we had delicious pancakes with raspberry syrup and whip cream, with deviled eggs. 

 This week's come follow me is about Jethro instructing Moses to share his responsibilities to delegate. The discussion questioned if parents share enough with their children so that they can become competent even experts. Here that is a survival skill I cannot cover all the bases I'm thankful for the big kids rescuing me and the younger kids. I'm thank for auto-pilot, and I'm thankful for hte many hands that are in my home. We are grateful for each one. As the chaos swirled and I was texting with my sister about something else she likened it to a circus. That's pretty accurate a 3 ring or 4 ring circus wild acts and entertainment or responsibilities all the time. Yet as we see the products in our older kids I'm thankful they are so able and hope that the method works again and again for the younger crew. Life is good and we are blessed. 

A few weeks ago I was pondering the question what would my life be like without the gospel  and decided that was too cliché so I switched to how is my life blessed because of the gosepl. Biggest experience is right here this big boisterous family. I would not have had all these children without belief in the plan of Salvation that spirits must have bodies to progress and I can help in the process. I'm blessed with health, my children are healthy, we have enough and it is doable here. Bruce and Alia have been asking lately if we are rich? I tell them yes because we have each of them. They are my joy and dedication. So I try to view the very demanding time we are in through that lens. I get grouchy and overwhelmed but it's gonna pass and thankfully outside is part of our life again!!! Yay spring.