Family Reunion

Last weekend we had our family reunion. Every summer we meet up the second weekend in August and all come together to play and have a good time. This year we went to Sunriver. The weather was awesome! I could not believe it - we did all the things we wanted to do and I think the kids had a great time. It was fun to have all the grand kids there this year. They got to do some really fun stuff. David rented a uhaul trailer and hauled everyones bikes down. The house had a couple of extra bikes there - so I could ride with everyone. Chad and I went on several very long bike rides and I also ran a few times with Chelsea. There are such wonderful bike paths all throughout the area. When we were not out doing something we were in the hot tub or playing scrabble (Noah is very good at getting 50 points with only a few letters - he beat me twice!), or eating. I think we watched a few movies - I read instead of watching TV and got my book finished. It was such a relaxing week!

We rafted down the river two different times. These pictures are from our first trip. David went both times with the kids and said that the first time was the best. It took about 2 1/2 hours to "drift" down river. The second time they put in at the top and got out half way down. That time only the little girls and Noah went. I guess that Hayden got out of the canoe for a while and swam in the river along side the canoe. She said the water wasn't that cold and of course she did not wear her bathing suit that time. I really enjoyed it - the scenery was so beautiful!

One of the days we went hiking and went to where the falls were. It was an easy hike and the kids were glad that we did not ride bikes from the house to the falls because that would have been a very long bike ride.

We had very fun time swimming. There were two different pools. Tuesday the kids and I spent most of the day swimming at both of them. Of course, I only had the camera at the one pool and did not take that many pictures because I was in the water almost the whole time!

The most exciting thing for me was that my last little baby learned how to ride her bike without training wheels. She has wanted to do this for a very long time but we live on a little hill and that has scared her. Here it was flat and she learned in no time. Luke learned how to ride his bike as well and boy was he a proud little man when he got the hang of it!

I totally love this weekend the best in the summer. Even with the little "disagreements" that happen when there are this many people all under the same roof in a small house I love all the comings and goings! I am so blessed as a mom to have this "little" family of mine.

Morning Has Broken

A couple of weeks ago the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang a song during their "Music and the Spoken Word" that I immediately recognized but I knew it was not a church hymn. They often sing many different kinds of songs but I was surprised at this one. Cat Stevens was one of the artists I liked as a teenager. I liked his songs a lot apparently because not only did I have his albums I have his song books. (still do - I hardly ever throw music away and so have quite a collection) They sang a song that he had done "Morning Has Broken". (written by Eleanor Farjeon) I love this song - and by the way I loved the arrangement they did of it. The lyrics have been running through my head for a couple of weeks now and this morning I went for a long run (7 miles) and as I was running and watching the world wake up it reminded me of this song. What a beautiful run - in fact, I did not really think about how far I was going and when I was back home felt so good I could have run longer - it was because of the beauty I was witnessing. The sounds I was hearing and the smells I was smelling. I love it here! My run this morning was on backroads and near open fields. How very thankful I am for all of our Heavenly Father's creations. When things are hard for me I can just go outside and see His hand in everything! I know His hand is in my life! What peace this gives me.

"Morning has broken like the first morning.
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning.
Praise for them springing fresh from the world.

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight, Mine is the morning,
Born of the one light Eden saw play.
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God's recreation of the new day."

(The song is now on my playlist if you want to hear it - just scroll down to the bottom and click on it)

Happy Nine Months Old To Jonathan

Baby Jonathan turns nine months old today! I am amazed at how wonderful this little guy is. We are so blessed to have such a smart and cute grandson! He really does bring joy to our family and everyone just loves him so much. When the kids hit none months I always reflect back at the last 18 months really. It takes nine months for them to grow and be born and then the growing and learning that takes place the following nine months just blows me away! They have to learn so much and yet they just do it - mostly with a smile and effort that I wish I could bottle up. When he was learning to crawl or stand if he falls he just tries again - just gets right back to it until he can do it! We have lots to learn from these little ones. I think that is why this is one of my most favorite ages between about 8 months to 16 months.

During the "heat wave" he has spent a lot of time over at our house so Adrian can swim in the pool. They both loved the pool and got a special treat last night when Grandpa jumped in, with his clothes on I might add, and played with all the kids. It had been so hot officially I think they said it was 106 degrees but it was hotter in some places. I just have to say it is not natural for it to get that hot here where the sun doesn't shine for nine months out of the year:) Oh it shines, but when you are used to rain and sun mixed just straight sun is way to much. I am not complaining mind you but it does make you be sort of lazy - no energy to do much but sit and watch the kids play in the pool and eat Popsicles! I guess that is not such a bad way to spend a summer day in July. Especially when it ends with David giving us quite a show with his pool tricks!

Also, just a quick Happy Anniversay to Toshia and Andrew. Three years! Boy has the time gone by fast - I wish you many, many more years of happiness:) Love you!

Plumbing 101

Recently the sinks in my bathroom have been very slow draining. This has happened in the past and usually I just buy drano and be done with it. With a house full of girls the sinks are always clogged. Seth has been working for a plumbing company for a couple of years now and I remembered that he had said how bad drano is for your pipes and that usually it was not that hard of a fix and using chemicals did not always take care of the whole problem. So late Saturday night I called him and asked him how to take apart the sink so I could get the drain stopper out. He was so cute - he explained step by step what I should see and what to do when I got under the sink. I emptied the cupboard and began my operation. It was just as he had described and I found the "p" trap (which by the way should be called "u" trap it looks nothing like a "p") unscrewed the nut thingys, unscrewed the nut thingy that holds the stopper and can I say I have never been so disgusted as when I pulled out the grossest thing I have ever seen. It was the size of a small rat (hair and other junk) - YUK! Once I was over the shock of what I had found and disposed of it immediately I put the whole thing back together - all the thingys screwed back in place. I tested it to make sure nothing leaked and lo and behold I had just completed my first official plumbing job! And all in about 15 minutes! I was so excited about what I had just done that I did David's sink as well. (I won't even describe what I pulled out from his sink - YUK!) When he came upstairs he was so surprised - usually these tasks are his responsibility and I never mess with it. Thanks to Seth's help and the fact that plumbing runs in my genes (my dad was a plumber when I was a little girl) I have clean flowing pipes again!

Ten Day Spiritual Trek

Yesterday I finished my 10 day spiritual trek. Ending on the celebration of pioneer day was really special for me. Last year I had gone on a trek with the youth and that was awesome in so many ways. I learned a lot about myself and loved watching the youth grow in ways that only can happen on a trek. I also enjoyed spending the time with David and learning a lot about him as well. I have thought a lot this week how I wish I had been in the better physical condition that I am this year. It would not have been so hard - but on the other hand that is what motivated me more to finally lose the last of my "baby" weight and get into a better more consistent exercise plan. This trek was very different for me. A journey that I did not expect to take me the way it did. I have to say to study the scriptures by topic is not a way I usually do. I was lead to many scriptures I don't think I would have gone to on my own. I found I have many things to work on in my life to even measure up to the sacrifice and devotion of the early pioneers. I also realized that I have the ability to finish what ever I set my mind to do. I know my sacrifices that I have to make at this time are just as hard as they were for the pioneers. The thing I learned the most was it is all attitude. My attitude to do the things that will bring me closer to Christ is what will make what sacrifices I have to make all the easier. The pioneers had for the most part a willing attitude or willing heart. One that made them feel as if what they were doing wasn't much of a sacrifice at all but just what you do to be closer to Christ. I feel that the last 10 days my heart has been willing to put aside some of the things of the world and have the ability to approach each day with a smile and cheerful attitude. Giving up TV and music was not that hard. The hard part was not getting irritated at the little things. Not so much at my friends - but my children. It is so easy to just let them get under my skin and I really wanted this to make me a better person so I had to work on this the hardest. I think I did pretty good. Only a few minor set backs but thank goodness the children are easily forgiving of my faults! I want to keep this willing heart and continue with some of the things I had committed to do for the last 10 days. I like how it made things feel here in my home and how I thought about all the people in my life. I love everyone who has blessed me and been my friend. I love my children and especially my sweet husband who sacrifices so much for all of us. What a blessing this life can be if are hearts are in the right place - no matter what comes my way it is still a wonderful blessing!

Ten things I am loving right now...

1. My ten dollar table find - you can't see the wood but it is so pretty!

2. My jewelry class. This is the bracelet we worked on yesterday - I love the friendships, the food, and the fun finished pieces!

3. My ten day spiritual trek I am doing with the Relief Society sisters. I love that we are all doing this but each person is experiencing their own journey!

4. I love my bed. I have some antique linens on is right now that just make me smile when I walk into my room!

5. The flowers that surround my front door. I miss my baskets this year (just never got around to getting them bought) but I have enjoyed the sweet smell the flowers have as I enter my home!

6. I love my latest crafting project. I mostly love that some of my dearest friends shared with me and together we came up with this. Each one was different but the same theme - we love America!

7. Our garden. We have already enjoyed some of the pickings and tonight will eat these beans!

8. The random pictures on my camera that I know Hayden took - I think she wants to be a photographer!

9. When the kids are together and the silly faces and fun times we have!

10. I love swim lessons. I love to watch as the kids splash, float, and swim all around. We love their teacher and her patience with all the children and most of all I am loving that all the children can now swim and I don't have to worry so much when we are around water!

What are you loving right now?................

Every day matters

Today I heard a song (don't know the artist or who was singing) but the line that stayed with me all afternoon has been "you just can't hurry up the good stuff in your life". I have thought about this all afternoon. I have thought about when I was younger, much younger, I wanted to be older. I could hardly wait until this or that happened so I could have the experiences. I thought I knew what I wanted to be when I "grew up". That was constantly changing. I thought about after I started having my children I would think "I can hardly wait until they are older, or could walk, or could talk. I can hardly wait until they go to school, or play ball. I can hardly wait until they can drive or get a job." Those thoughts have always been running through my mind as the children continue to grow. A few years ago when I realized I was not going to have any more babies I realized that every moment I wanted to cherish with this last little child. I was going to capture everything and write it down, take tons of pictures. I never wanted to lose these memories. But soon, too soon, I found myself thinking the same thoughts I had with all my other kids, when will this or that happen. I have learned that you can't hurry up the good stuff in your life - you need to capture it and live it every day of your life! The past 27 years of raising children sometimes seems like a blur. I find it hard to come to the realization that I have a 27 year old; and also, that I have a 5 year old, and lots of "year"olds in between. David and I were talking and he commented that he could not remember certain things and was amazed that I could recollect certain things with such clarity. I told him that these things had been on my mind for a while and that I often remembered things as I was going back to scrapbook an event or read in my journals. These things were the "good stuff". But today I realized that all the little things, the things that happen day to day that don't get pictures taken of or written down in my journal - those things really are the "good stuff". I shouldn't hurry them up - I should savor it - laugh with it- love with it - cry with it (when necessary) - and slow it down if I can. Every day matters!

I have been prompted to start a project - don't know how it will go or how I will journal it but I want to chronicle somehow the subject "Everyday Matters". I think I want to do it for a year like my sister has done with her "Day in the life" journal. Yes, I will start that and work on it for the year. I challenge my friends to do the same and if you do let me know - we can encourage each to keep it up for the year. As I begin I know that it will be subject to change - not the theme but maybe how I record it. I have something in mind and will share from time to time on my blog.

For today though, I will not hurry up the good stuff and remember that today mattered!