and she's gone again

Emily has been home from her mission for nearly a month.  It has been a month of family time and great help at home. I can't tell you how nice it has been to have a cheerful, hardworking, beautiful, respectful, courteous, organized, fun, entertaining, thoughtful woman in my home.  . . and to think she is my daughter!  She had some great experiences on her mission in Bolivia.  She gave it her all and came back even better than before.  When we love and serve beautiful things happen to those we serve and also to us.

This photo depicts some of the special things of her last 18 months from the journal to the Preach My Gospel  manual to her Spanish scriptures.  The Book of Mormon is much darker than the Bible because this is what she was sharing and teaching so much to the people of Bolivia.

My personal favorite is the brush she brought home and continued to use until we finally got some shopping done.  That simple worn out brush symbolizes selflessness.  It is the desire to lose yourself in the service of others.  It is learning to be content with what you have and making do.  It is that touch of green that is her favorite color.  It is my little girl becoming a woman of God, a daughter in His kingdom, a tool in His hands.

She is gone again.  Off to college, to the next phase of life and to more great and good things.

grateful:

131 missions change lives

132 small evidences of big sacrifices given quietly

133 I got to drive Emily to college, help her get settled and get her some groceries

134 for GPS even though it took me on rough gravel roads, through abandoned farmlands, up small mountain roads I did finally find a major highway and people.

135 enough gas, air condition that worked and windows that kept the really big grasshoppers out.

136  family parties that bring together distant cousins.

137  extended family dinners every month

138 free peaches on the side of the road 

139 taking our extra corn and squash to church and having other people take it home.

140 trying homemade J dogs.  Pretty good.

141 finding this picture on my camera and remembering the muddy clothes on the back lawn and that all this happened because a couple of 16 yo boys went fishing?  (they did not catch any fish)

Idaho adventure

Summer is coming to an end.  It seems always that time has wings and flies so quickly.  It has been a busy, happy summer.  We just returned from Idaho where we travel for hours on a lonely highway to arrive at a small home in the middle of nowhere that is filled with love.  This is where we visit Natalie and William with their little boy and another baby on the way.  This is where we learn about quiet, very dark nights, busy days with sprinklers and hay and evenings where we squeeze in some family fun.

already casting a long shadow

first morning, off to change sprinklers

I've realized that sometimes I need to be in front of the camera so that the grandkids will remember  Granny.

T has begun cooking for us.

Dancing to the electric piano.  This brought back happy memories of when these grown up daughters of mine use to dance to this same piano.

 Playing games

The men heading off to haul hay.  The littlest stays with us.

 On this visit we enjoyed quiet days at home with mother and baby.  We watched movies, baked with zucchini, took naps and wandered down by the creek.  In the evening we went on a beautiful 4 wheeler ride - all of us trailing along and stopping every so often to find out where we were.

snitching the chocolate zucchini cake

The next night we tried horses.  Horses are so beautiful, majestic, and look so fun.  They put you up higher than you expect and they don't always do everything you think they should.  At least not for this city girl who dreams of galloping along and then gets nervous at a trot. Debbie and I rode together.  We both really wanted to try galloping.  It worked the first time.  But that second time, as we tried to follow Emily at a gallop up the grassy slope, Saguaro got too excited and threw us both off.

 This is what happens when you bring a long lens and try to take pictures on a trotting horse.

It amazes me how quickly things turn.  I knew that we were not moving forward, that something different was happening but when I tried to rein him in I found my self set free through the air.  We landed side by side.  So that all I had to do was sit up and scoop my little girl onto my lap.  She cried.  I wanted to but big girls shouldn't cry over things like that.  Besides it happened so fast I think my head was still whirling.  She was alright besides her head and back hurt.  Me? It was my wrist.

She eventually choose to ride with her brother. 

I thought it would be fine to head home or maybe just lead the horse and walk but once again my little (6yo) girl led the way. She was willing to get up on the same big horse and to sit behind me again.  We enjoyed a beautiful ride where the horses only walked and songs like "Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam" and "The hills are alive, with the sound of music" floated through my head and sometimes right out loud.

117 cool nights
118 safe driving
119 brave Simeon with a big burn on his arm.  He is pretty tough.

120 aloe vera, lavender and Burn Free really work well
121 Emily is getting over her allergies/bad summer cold, I hope.
122 Thomas likes to read books
123 Beans and bread taste pretty good
124 with time, a brace, BF&C, and good helpers my wrist is healing
125 Dane comes home from Elevation tomorrow.  I have missed him after his week long adventure
126 having fun picking curriculum and planning another school year at home.
127 my computer is working again, thank you honey.
128 sweet corn is ripe, yum
129 I'm not tired of zucchini
130 I got my first 3 ripe tomatoes with hope for more

I've passed my first 100

Grateful
103 It's always good to follow the counsel of our prophets
104 Acquiring food storage.  My daughter recently posted on Facebook her goal to have a years supply of food by this fall.  Someone commented asking if there was some reason she was working on it.  It occurred to me that we often look for some better reason to follow the counsel of our leaders as if their simply saying so over and over isn't a good enough reason
105 Great article about putting God first that I heard on the Sunday morning devotional given by Camille Fronk.
106 Deuteronomy 18:10-13

 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter ^ato pass through the ^bfire, or that useth^cdivination, or an observer of times, or an ^denchanter, or a witch,

 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with ^afamiliar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

 12 For all that do these things are an ^aabomination unto the Lord: and because of these ^babominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

 13 Thou shalt be ^aperfect with the Lord thy God.

I don't need any other power to teach me.  I can look to God and receive all the answers, direction, comfort, guidance and validation.  Verse 13 uses the term perfect.  I understand perfect to mean complete.  I can be complete with the Lord my God. 
107 my loving Heavenly Father has provided a proper line of authority for receiving revelation and direction, for guiding Christ's church here on the earth.
108  I have righteous priesthood holders serving as our stake leaders and teaching the words of Christ.
109  Emily willingly ran my household while I was in Maryland.  The house was clean, animals cared for, beans in the freezer, and my family had done service, attended the ward party, had a day at 7 Peaks, and had dinner on the table when I got home.  Wow.
110  Doodle has become Emily's companion at home.  She loves doing everything with her and has moved into her room until Em goes off to college.
111 I got to sit next to my husband because it was stake conference today.
112  We found old hay to cover the orchard.  I'm hoping it will eliminate weeds and keep the ground moist for the fruit trees.
113  Brookside Dark chocolate Acai blueberry candy found at Costco for under $10.  I like to think they are good for me. hehe
114  Another article worth reading by Patricia Holland
115 Sunflowers follow the sun through the sky.

When I thought I was done today I found
116  The table, a blog that says many of the things I have felt as I watch my little girl become such an amazing woman.  The journey has been long and not perfect but I am so grateful for our own kitchen table that has seen so much of the ups and downs, hopes and dreams, prayers and tears, laughter and love served up in that kitchen of mine.

Why this dad homeschooled

and

"Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord 'shall suffer persecution.' That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives."

—Russell M. Nelson, "Face the Future with Faith", Liahona and Ensign, May 2011

A smile

A smile is all it takes.  I'm traveling this week.  My sister had her baby and it has become tradition to show up to help her.  I'm a little late this time.  Daxton is over 2 weeks old but still just cute, cuddly and about the same size as most of my newborns.  The nice part is that  new mom is feeling well enough to want some projects done and I get to help with that too.

I'm traveling standby.  Not me favorite way to travel. Especially these days when flights tend to fill up or be canceled.  I figured I would try and if I didn't make it the first flight then I wasn't meant to go.  Well I made it on to the flight.  And I am grateful.  One of the things I have noticed this time is that people who fly have to spend time in close quarters. Maybe that is why they stay distant in their manners. Even in the terminal restrooms no one speaks.  I did.  I smiled.  I showed someone how to get the soap to work.  I moved aside so they could reach the towels too with a "Here you go".  I do not know why we don't speak but it was fun to get a smile and a reaction out of these strangers. It brings the walls down and it is like you have made a friend.

Well I couldn't stop with the restroom.  Once on the flight I was in the middle of 3 seats.  Not the favorite spot among strangers - sharing the arm rest, having to reach over for your drink, not knowing if your air or light is on them too.  So I talked to the man next to me.  He's from Bountiful, has 4 kids, is a stake president and does commercial real estate.  He also doesn't mind paying for wifi because he can get a lot of work done sitting on the plane. After quietly eating my packed lunch and reading for a while I began talking to the woman next to me.  She was a little harder to talk to and had not made any effort to even notice I was next to her.  Now her eyes were open and I got to show her where to plug in her ear phones.  Later we even talked about her angry birds she was taking home to her 2 boys.  I got a smile out of both of them.  It made me smile too.

When I arrived at Amber's in Maryland each of her kids ran to greet me with a smile - YEAH!  I may not be a lot of fun but we all smile together and it is fun.  Daxton even gave me some smiles.  I didn't have to do anything and he suddenly grinned . . and again, I smiled.  I plan on going home smiling.  It sure feels good.

Grateful
91 a new nephew
92 air conditioning
93 getting to be the hero for a day.
93 Beautiful nieces who like to talk
94 my own beautiful daughter at home not only holding down the fort but having a blast
95 talks with my little sister
96 fans and windows for when I smoke out her kitchen
97 on line recipes that usually work
98 ice water in a mason jar
99 beautiful Maryland countryside
100 my dear husband's support as I enjoy the early days of a new ones life
101 my sister's happy marriage

She's home!

83 Emily was in Bolivia on Friday and then home on Saturday

84  She loves Bolivian people, Spanish, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and home

After missing a flight and spending the night in Denver airport she arrived 10 hours later than expected but just as welcomed and looking fresh.  There is something incredible about a young woman who willingly submits to the Lord's plan for her and simple loves much.  The spirit is sweet and strong.  Suddenly 18 plus months in a foreign country wishing she were close become as moments and we are together again and better for the experience.  She is still my little girl but she is so much stronger, confident, patient, and happy.  She is ready to meet the next challenge.

She came home to a new niece and nephew with 2 more on the way.

24 hours later she was talking in church sharing experiences of the way she witnessed the gospel changing lives for the better.  She shared the miracles that welcoming the Spirit into your life bring to each of us.  She struggled with English words that didn't come quickly.  It was beautiful.

85  The Spirit strengths, quickens, humbles, and teaches

86  Family comes together to celebrate the milestones in our lives and together we share the joys and all are edified.

87  Even in the middle of great blessings and celebrating Heavenly Father is in control of the little things and continues to protect and bless us.  On Sunday morning I prepared to iron.  On Wednesday evening I came home and finally noticed that the iron had been left on, fallen on the floor and been burning the carpet for I don't know how long.

88  I am grateful that my house is still standing,
89 my family is safe
90 when I do something so very careless my husband does not get mad at me but counts blessings with me.