Doodle funny

We were discussing our plans for the big city which may include baptisms at the temple. Doodle asked if she would be going with Emily, if Peter would do the baptising. . . We explained that Peter can't baptize at the temple until he is 19 but that by the time Debbie is 8 and ready to be baptized then Dane could baptize her. She said, "Dane is too skinny to baptized me. His legs are too skinny, his head, his whole body is too skinny."

Great Talk

I live in a great place that plays Sounds of Sunday all day Sunday. My highlight of the day is the talks that are shared. I especially enjoyed Mary Ellen Edmunds talk. She is funny and inspiring and real. If you would like to hear it please go here and scroll down the the Sunday Forum program with her as the speaker. And of course you could listen to Pres. Monson while you are there. Or just do what he says "Think to Thank"!

High School Musical

So our high school is doing Disney's High School Musical. Tonight was opening night and they did great. We have some great talent including Peter. He is one of the jocks and does a great job. They will be performing Sat., Mon, and Tuesday and would love your support. It is a really fun, family friendly show.

p.s. Peter is in the brown baseball shirt. The really handsome guy with the blond fro.

Giver or Taker, which one are you?

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I always wish I could give more. I feel a bit gifting challenged because I just don't quite know how to give, what to give, to whom to give. I know it sounds silly but I worry too much about if they will like it or not. I have also met and tried to give to certain people that just won't let you. I have felt pushed away and not needed.

When I was asked this question recently I thought "I want to be a giver". I really do but I am wondering if there is a third option. Can we be receivers? I don't want to take but there have been plenty of times that I have felt like it was important to allow someone else to give to me even if I felt it was a hardship for them. Isn't it important that we receive graciously those gifts/services/smiles/friendships that others offer? And is there a way in receiving to actually be giving back? We all need the opportunity to give and I will work on that but we also need to be good at receiving, at allowing someone else the blessing of giving, and of giving up enough of our pride to humbly receive those things that we probably do need but wish we could take care of ourselves.

I have been blessed with great family and friends that are always offering to help or just helping. I panic some times when I try to gracefully receive I wonder what is now expected of me? How can I show gratitude? Are they giving not realizing that I really could take care of it myself and hence am I taking under false pretense? Is there a point I can get to where I can say "this is a gift of love, receive it, enjoy it . . . do not analyze or worry about it."?

Then I need to swing back to the other side. When I give, can I give with no strings attached? Can I feel good about giving even when it is not accepted or appreciated? I am learning that I need to move forward, giving and receiving with a pure motive - love.  Moroni 7:8 "if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift."  My intent matters. vs.12 "wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God" 14 "take heed that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God or that which is good and of God to be of the devil."  It follows that in receiving our intent is just as important as in giving.  If we won't receive we may be judging something good and of God to be of the devil.

Now I still need to figure out how to show great appreciation and gratitude as I learn to receive and give. Vs. 19 "Wherefore, I beseech of you that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ."  May I be careful to focus on my own intent and assume the best in others. vs.5 " . . .God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also."

Half of them are adults

We squeezed in a birthday celebration today. Peter is now a legal adult. In many ways he has been acting like an adult for a long time. He definitely has the height but it is really strange to have your first born son grow up to be a man. I must say a fine man at that.

We enjoyed ribs, rice, and corn. (I know, where's the green veggies but I just got home this morning so we are doing great). Treats - rootbeer floats and later cherry pie. (Who took all my bottled cherries?)


Opening presents with lots of help and enthusiasm. We finally bought a child of ours an ipod. I guess to celebrate the end of childhood. He was very happy and we had a great day which included a patriarchal blessing. One more testiment to the greatness all around us. I love you Peter

My week in review

This is where I have spent the last week, minus one napping child.


This is the beautiful baby with the beautiful mommy that I got to take care of and enjoy.

This is the good little daddy that loved the kids enough to read them all stories.

This is the adoring look of a happy mommy enjoying a beautiful baby after her first tub bath. (the baby's!)

This is the said tub bath

This is the laudress with the mask that shared her presence from a distance and worked on getting better.

This is the cool train set to keep the big kids busy while mom and baby enjoy each other.

This is the quiet time where we admire and photograph the beautiful baby.

This was a slight distraction that we enjoyed. A cute little Amish furniture shop that I am hoping will inspire a few of the woodworkers in my family.

This may be the bench that materializes in my kitchen so I can seat all the company I want to welcome into my home.

And now she can go back to the life she loves . ;)




If you think I am cheap labor think again.

Things I broke

• bosch
• vacuum
• bullet blender
• wii fit

Things I used but don't know if they still work.

• oven
• microwave
• washer
• dryer
• waffle iron
• broom
• electric grill
• guitar hero

Definitely room for improvement. Now if we can convince Walter that all these things needed replacing anyway and seek in a few others that would be fun in the kitchen I will feel much better about my stay and lasting effects on this sweet family.

PS I came home to a clean house, happy, clean children who said they have never eaten so well as when I was gone. Thanks to neighbors and family for filling in. Next time I say let them fend for themselves and maybe they will miss me. Of course, it does make it easier to leave again. Anyone want to fly me somewhere for a week?

Things are going better, I think

So I am now in Maryland. A beautiful state with lots of rain. I can't believe how it has not stopped raining. I got here on late Tuesday night. Mom had been released from the hospital and was resting at a cousins house (unexpected blessing). I spent the night there as well and then we made the trip out to Amber's. She does not live close to the airport, hospital, or even Walmart. She lives in the countryside in a new housing development and has a beautiful new home. We found her worn out and grateful to see us. Although mom is still recuperating, they say she is not contagious so we are all here with Amber. Mom wears a mask and I get to help with the baby and children. Four under 5 yo are quite a handful but are very cute. Their ward has been good to bring in meals and very generous with the amounts of food. We are getting plenty of protein and carbs. We supplement with green smoothies and so far we are staying somewhat healthy. It's good to be useful. I sure appreciate my husband and family for filling in while I am gone.

Grandpa is convinced that she looks like an Eskimo or a papoose. She is just plan sweet and cute.

blessings abound!

Aebleskievers

These yummy Danish treats are a breakfast favorite at our home. We like to fill them with homemade strawberry jam. You mix up the batter and heat the pan. It is usually a cast iron special pan with lots of circles in it. When it is hot put a dab of butter and then fill with batter. As they begin to cook they will pull away from the sides slightly. That is when you take a fork or chop stick and lift one edge casing it to dump int contents into the circle. You just turn each one a quarter turn until they create a ball and the inside is hollow and cooked.

Then if you cook it just right and take pictures you end up with a fogged lens and a blurry picture of the finished product. But you take the picture anyway because the aebleskievers will disappear fast.

Aebleskievers

2 cups flour (I use whole wheat)

1 teas. baking powder

1/2 teas soda

1 1/2 cup buttermilk

1 Tb sugar

1/2 teas salt

2 eggs

Mix together well for form batter. Cook them in your special pan. Enjoy with jam, applesauce or anything you like.

Good, bad, and ugly

Already I am being reminded that 'I need my Heavenly Father to help me every day'.

GOOD: My baby sister had a beautiful baby girl, Maeli Skye, on Friday. Maeli is healthy and well. Amber did a great job with her labor and delivery and today they are headed home to enjoy sharing this new little sister with their other three children - all under 5. She has her hands full but she also has some good people in her branch ready to help out. She is the primary president and their program was today.

BAD: Mom went out to help Amber with the baby. She has been there since before Halloween since the baby was due the 28th. She was able to be there for the delivery but then headed down to the emergency room to have her cough checked.

UGLY: The doctors put her on oxygen, IV, and got her a bed. They are doing all kinds of tests. They have determined today that she has double bacteria pnuemonia. She sounded better on the phone but everytime I say goodbye she sounds like she is crying - I cry. Dad got there late last night and is with her. She sounds very comforted to have him there. They are doing breathing treatments and antibiotics that just are not making any difference. They are continuing to try different things. More tests and x-rays today as they seek to gather records from Utah and Denmark.

She is cooperating and resting but she is really missing real food. She eats healthy with lots of fresh veggies and green drinks. They are feeding her aspertame yogurt, high fructose corn syrup graham crackers, canned whatever. She finally requested a salad with lots of veggies. There came iceberg lettuce with a few veggies on top and no dressing.

My prayers are with her. Your's are appreciated. Pray that the doctors will be guided, that her body will respond the way it needs to to the medication, and that she will be well again. Pray that her worries and concerns for Amber and new baby will be alleviated and that we will truly see the hand of the Lord in all of this. I love my mom!

being happy

Just thought I would share some of the things that are inspiring me lately. As the pianist in primary I sometimes feel like I don't get my scriptural instruction but a loving Heavenly Father is teaching me through the simple songs in the children's song book. The song that is currently blessing my life is I need my Heavenly Father.

I need my Heavenly Father
to help me every day.
He wants me to be happy
and choose the righteous way
He wants me to be happy
and choose the righteous way.

To me this simple message has many blessings in it.
1. In order to be happy we need to have opportunities to choose righteousness. Adam and Eve had to be given a choice so they could choose the righteous way.
2. My Heavenly Father is blessing me in my calling by using those books I carry to church to teach me the simple truths of the gospel and brings them to my mind to help improve my temple understand and worship. Maybe I am carrying scriptures because surely these songs are inspired and teach me the gospel of Jesus Christ. (My bag was heavy so I haven't been carrying my scriptures on Sunday.)
3. I am not as isolated and left behind in my calling as I may sometimes feel. He is aware of me, my needs, my hopes, and He is blessing me where I am.
4. I need my Heavenly Father every day. He is cheering for me and wants me to be happy. When I seek his companionship daily, he will guide me in choosing the right and moving forward on his path of happiness.

I also wanted to share this link why and how to work that I have found helpful in my desire to teach and do work better. Her additional links and ideas are great. The Lazy Organizer was first to get me thinking about work but I can't find a way to her past posts to share. When I do I will pass them along.

You better be good!

a blessing in big families

the truck, trailer, and the rock crawler

in action.

Often there are little reminders of the joys of having a big family, or at least a family with lots of different ages. It gives children the opportunity to grow at there own pace and revisit the fun of childhood while jumping into adult responsibilities. I am trying to figure out what work is. There is a major distraction at my house with legos lately. So are these creations work? They are definitely creative, educational, fun, family building experience that are teaching cooperation and sharing.


I love how you don't ever grow out of legos. They seem to grow with you. We have the constant need at our house to build trucks, trailers, boats, 4-wheelers and then they expand from there. To me it is a glimpse into what they are thinking about and what is important to them.

So I let them play and then I encourage additional work. The kind that gets my house in order. I do feel a great need for more order. I am also trying to change the way we have been praying. My little ones often bless our missionaries that they will have fun on their missions, or a good time on their missions; our families that they will have a good time. . . It all seems to be about having fun. I don't think that should be our main focus. It is definitely not the priority. It may be the fruit of our labors but the labor should be the priority. We need to learn to work and work hard. My boys have explained that Dad's work (working with Dad on projects outside) is lots more fun than Mom's work. That may be true but it doesn't mean that Mom's work is not important or needed or something that they don't have to do.

So as I try to rein them in and teach the importance of work I am reminded of my husbands grandmother. I remember her bearing her testimony about work. She said her mother always said work was the most important thing but she thought surely love was more important than work. She had discovered through life that her mother was right. Work was the most important because you even had to work at love. Interesting how the more I read about work, the more I recognize the blessings that come when we put forth the effort to work and work hard. Physical labor, mental labor, spiritual labor all require effort but bring amazing blessings.

I am so grateful when I hear my adult daughters explaining why they may not be interested in a certain man because he doesn't seem to know how to work. They have grown up with a father who jumps into a job all the way and really works hard. They see the importance of looking for ways to be helpful, useful, and figuring out what needs to be done and how they can do it.

I see my sons following their father's example in wanting to know how to fix things and I see the way they light up when I ask for their help, advice, height or muscle to help me with my work. Work is such a great way to show love, to grow strong, to bring joy, . . . and yes, to have a good time. So now as I continue raising children I need to remember to teach them the importance of work. I need to teach them to have a willing heart and an open mind. I need to teach them that taking that first step and just jumping in gets the job done so much faster. I need to teach them to take pride in a job well done. I need to share the joy that comes when we serve others - giving a gift of our work.






So back to the fun of big families. Not only do we get to play legos at any age but we don't forget the fun, silly songs of childhood. My teenage boys were singing "if you like to waltz with tomatoes . . . " from veggie tales this morning as we cleaned up the kitchen. And the best part was they initiated it on their own and no younger siblings were around to enjoy it. I got a good chuckle out of it. A couple of days ago it was Winnie the Pooh's song "I'm just a little black rain cloud, hovering under the honey tree . . ." I'm glad that growing up, working hard, and being in a family are all part of Heavenly Father's plan of happiness for us and that it is a safe place to learn, make mistakes, be silly, experiment, and try something again. (including another system to get the house in order.)