My part

I seem to be on a journey.  So much of my time lately is spent trying to figure out my part in life.  My role as wife, mother, homemaker, teacher, sister, friend, daughter, disciple of Christ.  I continue to be introduced to resources that bless my life.  This one came today and I would like to share.

Now the anniversary boxed set of Michael McLean is on my wish list.  I remember playing Celebrating the Light cassette tape over and over. I loved The Ark.  I continue to love The Forgotten Carols every Christmas.  His songs touch me as did this one "Which Part is Mine".  Read the article.  At the end you get to hear the song.

attention span

Yesterday we got a new Relief Society presidency.  We have been blessed with some great women in leadership and I would not have wanted to follow them but this new group will do great.  I'm in primary. Sometimes I really miss Relief Society, adults, conversation . . . During the third hour of church I did get to go to a special parents meeting for the new Duty to God program.  I got to sit in a chair and listen to adults.  I was excited but soon dosed.  How frustrating.  Apparently the Lord knows my limited attention span so he has me spend two hours on a bench in primary with time to play piano and stay awake.

I have especially appreciated the tender mercies that come with enjoying our callings.  I do love my calling.  The tender mercies that come to me are often in the words of primary songs that come to my mind and feed my soul. There are so many truths taught through music to the children that apply to me in every way.  The new song for this year has bought tears to my eyes several times.  Recently the words "I know who I am, I know God's plan, I'll follow him in faith" have been gentle reminders.  I love how the blessings of the Lord can be seen in our lives daily, that we can know his will for us, that we can be content in our own situation and choices and enjoy others as well.

I especially enjoyed this blog post.  We really do need to appreciate our individual paths and differences without judging others or ourselves.  We don't need to compare just bloom where we are planted.

A decent visit

The VanO's came to visit. A decent visit lasts at least a few days and they stayed a week! ;-)  Actually John spent most of his time bow hunting, camping, and absorbing the smell of nature.  Elise and Baby J got to hang out with us and it was sure nice.  Baby J has the best aunts and uncles, they can not get enough of him.  Saying goodbye took a while as we just didn't want to quite let them go.

We had a baby shower for Anna, played games, had some various camping/cookouts in the mountains, read stories, made good food and I have no other pictures.  

My sweet Peter decided to get up at 1:30 am to hike a mountain to see the sun rise.  It ended up being more than 8 miles each way.  They thought the 8 miles was the round trip mileage, oops.  He and his friends made it back in time to spend the afternoon working at the farm (more physical labor) and boy were they fun to watch as the hobbled around and groaned.  I think they loved it.  Sore muscles forgotten and adventure remembered.

So here is the sun rise and the view from the top of this corner of the world.  On the way down Peter dropped my camera and didn't realize it until the bottom.  They were much too sore to go searching.  They left a note on another hikers car claiming any camera that may be found.    Hope smiled brightly as my camera is now back and we are back in the business of documenting memories.

Back to School Night

I am pondering our coming school year.  I home school.  I love home schooling.  I love the excitement of choosing books, supplies, schedules and my children's input as we plan a new year.  Tall One is beginning high school full time.  I will miss him.  He has been my right hand man.  He has been an inspiration to the younger children and a great help.  He has been a great example as he has taken charge of his own education, become self motivated.

Now my focus is on my 9, 6, and 4 year old.  They are a lot of fun to be with and there will be a lot of great unit studies, nature studies, great books and feeding that sense of wonder that leads to a love of learning.

I have been homeschooling for quite a few years, long enough to have been introduced to a lot of different curriculum and philosophies.  Thomas Jefferson Education is a great philosophy with noble ideas and has produced some great leaders, confident adults, and people who continually continue their education and expect great things from their children.  I remember being in UHEA conventions, visiting with Diane Jeppson as she packed her cooler and parked for the day in Oliver DeMille's lectures.  I continue to attend seminars and conferences that teach and refine these principles.

Charlotte Mason  philosophy is wonderful because of its short lessons, whole books, nature notebooks, art, narration, training the will, and avoiding twaddle.  I feel grateful to have been in support groups with Karen Racliff and Penny Gardner.  I am desiring to revisit these ideas.

I've tried Konos, Celestial Education by Michelle Stone, and Kindred Learning by Terri Ebert.  I've done some Abeka, Saxon, Apologia, online classes, Learn With Me,  co-ops with friends and with Annie Laurie Richardson, clubs, private lessons, and even some unschooling.  My experiences have been many and yet each year I re-evaluate the needs of my children, my goals as a parent, and seek for guidance.  Not one of my children's education has been the same.  Each has ended up with some public schooling eventually except the youngest 3.  I don't have a hate for government run schools but I also don't believe that they are all knowing and the only option.

My own education is continually growing and that spills over into what my children need and receive.  I do believe that as a mother I have a sacred trust to teach my children.  So many parents assume that children must attend public school unless they receive direct revelation not to send their children.  It has occurred to me that we should be expecting direct revelation telling us that we should give up our time with our children and outsource their education to others.  If we do not receive specific instructions to turn our stewardship over to others then we should assume that Heavenly Father wants us to be in charge of the children he has blessed us with.  I was talking to a friend about food choices for her children.  She was nervous about making healthier choices for her children because she didn't know if it was "safe".   I asked her if she worried as much about giving them junk food as she was about choosing better foods.  It is odd that sometimes we worry more about making better choices than we do about following the crowd.

Ultimately the choice in education should be made by parents taking time to seek the Lord's will for their children, for their family.  Homeschooling may not be the answer for everyone.  I respect that and am grateful for the many people I know and love who have succeed in the public school and other options.  My desire is to be more in tune each day and more obedient to the gentle whispers of the Spirit.

At this time of year I am asked if I will keep home schooling, if I like it, if it is hard, what curriculum I use, if I plan on putting my children in school at a certain age.  Because of this and as I plan out another year of learning together my thoughts are working in overtime and I am grateful when I find people of like minds who have received answers to take similar paths.  I appreciate their insights, experiences, and sharing openly with me.  Several of the blogs I follow do just that.  Recently I enjoyed Holy Experience's Pros and Cons.  I do believe that especially through the early years children are best taught by their mothers.  The majority of time if not all time should be spent working, playing, being with mom at home.  As Michelle Stone teaches we as mother's are the ones to act as a constant companion to teach our children who they are (A child of God), right from wrong, discernment, and obedience.

Alma 57:21 "Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of the command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them."  

This is speaking of the young men fighting in the army of Helaman against evil.  They were protected and blessed as they defend freedom.  The point that came out to me today was that they obeyed and observed with exactness but they learned to be valiant in righteousness, to be obedient, in their homes with their mothers.  Mother is the primary teacher, the greatest influence in teaching and preparing our children for their mission and purpose.  It is our duty and opportunity.  We will be blessed.   We are called to be mothers and "whom the Lord calls, he qualifies".

Twinkle is now going to the elementary school as the PE teacher and crossing guard.  The first day went great.  Too bad my other kids don't go to school with her.  Maybe she will do PE for us once a week also.

Good, better, best

I really want to remember to choose wisely in my life.  There are so many good things all around us, so many opportunities for me, for my children.  So many options that it can be overwhelming and then what ever is the most obvious, loudest, easiest gets chosen just because it's there.  There are also times and seasons when good is good enough because you need to focus in another area for your better or best.  Luckily we are not left without help in making choices.  The trick would be to seek that help and listen to the answers.

I was really grateful on Monday that Mr. O. taught family  home evening on Elder Dallin H. Oaks talk titled Good, Better, Best.  It was a great way to explain the need to know what you are choosing, understand the qualities of that choice.  Having a family of boys worked well for this object lesson.  Ike had the first tool.  He carries it with him as do the others belonging to Tall One and Mr. O.  It was a perfect example of good better best as we looked at the qualities and abilities of each tool.  He likened it to the effort we put into our work, our worship,  or where we spend our time.  

I am really hoping that with this common understanding and goal we can stop and consider the options and then purposely choose our course.  I was recently visiting with other moms.  We were discussing activities, sports, being involved in extra curricular activities.  My family chooses to do very few.  I believe children need time to be children, lots of free time to figure things out, create their own fun.  We don't do basketball because we want the time and freedom in December to celebrate Christmas, attend family parties and less stress.  We don't do baseball because we can do MM pageant in June together as a family.  We do soccer because it is low stress and a short season. The children get to exercise, have a team experience, learn a sport and not have it take over their lives.  I find great joy is seeing my boys create a go cart out of scrap lumber and going to their big brothers for help when needed, learn to use tools, work in the garden, help with family work.  We haven't done a lot of formal lessons and sometimes I worry that my children aren't reaching their potential, that we are settling for mediocrity.  Then I get a glimpse of the love my children have for each other.  They enjoy listening to a good story, working with their dad, discovering new things, being free and available to go to family outings, watch a movie with another family, or an afternoon at the lake.

we love to project a movie on a sheet outside and enjoy watch with others.

When there is a real interest in learning something new we move forward with that but mostly we just try to have lots of fun learning about the world around us, learning to get along with others, experiencing art, music, museums, animals, and taking time to recognize the Creator of them all.  Sometimes best means choosing simple.  Sometimes best means a lot of extra effort.  Sometimes best means not being understood.  Always best means real experiences, real joy, real progress in things that matter in a more eternal sense.

I don't know where Doodle learns her poses but she likes to express some interesting attitude.

I pray for guidance in choosing better and best and leading my family without regret.

Idaho, whoah

Our first glimpse of "Porterland" after almost 10 hours in the car was a welcome sight.  Our girl in pink was first to greet us.

There is something very special about visiting your own children in their own home.  It is very rewarding to see them setting up house, planning for a family, working hard on those simple daily things that make life great.

It is amazing how water calls to children, especially my boys.  They found this creek right away and we decided it was a great place to cook dinner.

. . . or dig in the mud.

We had hot dogs, cucumber salad, and s'mores.  I recommend using dark chocolate, it is so good with marshmallows.

These too honeymooners welcomed us into their home, feed us oh so well. . . and provided the guest house for the old folks (me and my sweetheart?)  Thank you to the Bean family for their hospitality.

patches was a sweet gentle horse that let the kids ride him again and again.  They started with help from their dad but were soon doing it on their own.  Ike was going down a small hill but leaning way back on the horse. He says, "What movie am I?"  Well we love Man From Snow River and that was his version.

We saw a very small cattle drive go by.

On the left is the Porter home nestled in this beautiful valley.

a great place for a morning walk with lots of time to think, enjoy nature, feel the elements and move forward.

So this is the beautiful place where my eldest daughter is becoming a woman, wife, and everything else she is created to become, nurtured by a gentle farmer, relying on one another and watching their love grow.  I miss her.  It's easy to love him.  I am grateful for this plan of happiness and families.

And the winner is . . .

Thursday morning we awaited the call from the post office. Living in a small town where so many are LDS the post office recognizes mission calls and will call the home of the person so they can pick up their call first thing in the morning. As it got to 8am and we had not heard we started checking the phones and realized they were not working! I took off to the post office anyway sure that the call would be there. It was!

First order of business was to find enough cell phones to connect with at least his three sisters and Dad that were not home. Then we sent for Grandma and Grandpa to come from next door. There was no stopping him now.

Out came the steak knife and with a clean zip and not waiting for us to figure out our cameras he slit it open.

Quick, switch to video and go.

We are so excited. He will be serving in Orlando, Florida!

Walter did guess Florida. He received the first phone call and will get treats when he comes to visit!

some extra cute kids for the week

Julie's kids came to stay while she and her hubby had a get-away.  I got 4 of the 5 and we had such a good time.  Each of the kids had a cousin to play with and I got to have the baby.

They sifted through the gravel, found the pretty ones and set up shop.  We played and played in the back yard.  They were great help in harvesting the garden.  (Anyone local?  We have extra zucchini and cucumbers all ready! come and get them.)  They gathered eggs and usually dropped some on the way in.  Despite that I let them do an egg toss.

We went to the river and played in the water catching bugs, throwing rocks and building things with logs.  They also built most of a go-cart, chopped wood, rode bikes, played in the water/sprinklers and did dishes together.

The trampoline got a lot of use also.  

This week I also got to read a book by a dear friend of mine.  She always makes me wonder  if there is more I could/should be doing with my life.  She lives by the spirit and courageously moves forward as she feels compelled by God.  I have known her for nearly 14 years and kept in touch through many moves.  

I highly recommend her book.  She shares her experiences in gathering her family from around the world.  She has adopted 19 children.  Her book is all about the journey of adopting these great kids but it is also about listening to the whisperings of the spirit, following those promptings through whatever Satan may throw at you, recognizing the tender mercies along the way, and rejoicing and glorifying God all along the way.

Annie Laurie was my surprise in Nauvoo.  My dad met a few of her children doing baptisms in the temple.  As he told me about their family I knew it was my friend.  I found her at her booth on the street promoting her book.  Seeing her again was a tender mercy as she now lives in Missouri and I had no idea how to get a hold of her.  She has had some amazing adventures in between our visits and I am so grateful to be able to read about them and to get a glimpse into her heart.  It is pure and full of love.  Her life is a testimony of her love for God and all his children.  

Her link is on my side bar but unfortunately when you are busy raising 25 children you don't update on the internet much.  Please buy her book and enjoy her story.  Let it inspire you to seek out your own purpose and mission in life and then have the courage and determination to truly receive the call and go forward.

A few quotes from her:

Either I believed in God's mighty power and trusted that he truly was involved in my life, or I didn't.

I started pleading for the strength to joy in his plan, in his timing, and in his understanding of what we all needed.

It is easy to be obedient to a whispering that has a happy ending.  But it is refining to be obedient to a whispering that seems to make no sense at all.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.  It certainly even helped me make the most of this week with extra children, helped me to want to open my heart to others and to give more.