Thoughts from the Hearth

Holding on to Hope

2012-02-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

Artwork by Greg Olsen

This weekend has been a bit frustrating. And I've been really hesitant to share what's been going on. But, due to my present circumstances, it's becoming necessary-- how else can I explain why I've had to put the brakes on my very busy life?

Sigh.

Friday morning I asked Russell for a priesthood blessing. I try not to ask him for blessings too much because I tend to prefer that means of communicating to the Lord, (I like to hear the words) and I have been known to abuse it a bit. Yet in the last week or so I've felt prompted by the Holy Ghost to ask for one, so I did.

You see, after two miscarriages since Eryn was born, I am finding myself again in the early stages of pregnancy. I am keenly aware that my childbearing days are nearing their end, but in a sacred experience in the temple, I was told that there would be twelve. And that I would need to be BRAVE. That happened way back during the summer.

Anyway, Russell gave me a beautiful, concise, detailed blessing. I was told quite clearly that I would carry this baby to term, bringing another child into our family circle. And I was told to take very good care of myself physically, writing down the inspiration I receive. (See why I'm blogging about this now?) And I was reminded that I need to make a list of all of the good things I'm heavily involved in right now, and to PRIORITIZE them.

I felt such joy, peace, and relief after that beautiful blessing! I have been on edge for weeks, worried that I might miscarry this baby, too. I haven't told anyone I was expecting, except for Russell and my older kids, because of my fear of losing another pregnancy. It's still quite early; only seven weeks.

I resolved to do the things that the Lord has asked me to do. At ten o'clock I had to take Dierdre to her charm and poise class, and so I gathered up a notebook, pen, and the most recent Ensign magazine before heading out the door.

Her class lasts about 2 hours, (but it's far enough away from home that I don't want to go back and forth twice) so I dropped her off, grabbed myself a quick breakfast in the nearby Trader Joe's, and parked at a nearby park. It was a beautiful day and the park was quiet. I quietly turned on some relaxing music, ate my meal, and started to write.

I made a list of everything within my stewardship right now. Husband, children, homeschool, directing a musical, three church callings, unfinished projects. Growing a baby. Everything. As I went down the list, I felt the inspiration of the Lord touching my heart. I could see where I was worrying unnecessarily, and what things I could simplify and re-work. It felt good. I had peace knowing that I was doing what the Lord had counseled me to do.

I went to pick up my daughter, and visited with her teacher for quite some time about her midwife. She gave me her reasons why she liked her so much, and told me more about her practice and how she worked. I felt good about her recommendation. I determined to go home and talk to Russell about it so that we can start planning and saving to pay for the birth.

I finally allowed myself to get excited about the pregnancy, seeing that we would really be getting a new baby out of this! I could relax and rejoice. I even started playing with baby names again. (One of my favorite things!)

After I arrived home, I made a scary discovery-- I was bleeding. Only a tiny bit, but still. That's how my last two miscarriages started. I ran to Russell, panicked. What about the blessing? What about the promises of the Lord? I thought I had done what He asked of me. Had I done something wrong?

I quickly laid down, and Russell and I talked. He told me that he had hesitated to make those promises in the blessing, but that the Spirit had pushed and prodded him to say those things exactly in that way. I took deep breaths, and remembered the story of an acquaintance who had been able to keep from going into labor with one of her babies by rubbing lavender essential oil on her abdomen. So I applied some lavender oil and prayed and PRAYED. The words "Faith is a verb" kept going through my mind.

Since then I have put myself on bedrest. I'm not out of the woods, yet, so Russell and the kids have taken over. I look at my calendar and try not to panic. This was going to be a very busy week for me! Auditions for the musical are on this Tuesday-- Valentine's Day, not to mention I had some big plans for Russell and I that evening.

Now I think I understand better about what the Lord meant when He told me to prioritize. I'm working my way through one moment at a time. We'll see what this week holds. But I am also trusting in the Lord's promise that I will carry this baby to term, that he or she will be okay. I need to do my part and follow the promptings of the Spirit, so can know what is most important for me to do right now, and not endanger the life of this new little one.

Thanks for listening. Any prayers would be most welcome.

Love,
Rachel

Our Fairytale

2012-02-08T09:15:00.001-07:00

Image Source

Once upon a Time...

There was a young girl in high school with lots of plans for her future. She was going to major in Music Theatre, be a member of BYU's performing group, The Young Embassadors, go to BYU's Jerusalem Center in Israel, get her Bachelor's degree, and by then maybe young men would notice her and she'd get to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a wife and mother.

And until graduation in the Spring, she would fill her schedule with choir classes, drama classes, and participate in every play she could.

My High School Senior Photo

At the same time, there was a handsome young man just finishing up his service as an LDS missionary. His plans included immediately returning to Ricks College-- though with a change in majors. Where he had been a computer science major before his mission, thanks to the influence of a great, musical family he met on his mission, he would now focus on Music Theatre. Other hopes involved a cute daughter in the musical family...

Russell, on a mission hike, at the top of the Superstition Mountains

The young man had special permission from his mission president to end his mission a bit early, in order to attend college at the beginning of the semester. His paperwork was all in order, his classes were chosen, and he was ready to go. He returned home with honor...

BUT. Just before arriving home, he found that the school had lost his registration. He would NOT be starting school at the beginning of the semester.

Now what?

He decided to kill some time in between working and waiting for school to start, and actually try out this "music theatre thing" for real-- see if he really liked it.

Coincidentally, the little community where he lived announced auditions for it's yearly musical show, produced by his local, tiny high school.

My Fair Lady

Meanwhile...

The young lady had just been cast as "Jack's Mother" in the musical "Into the Woods"-- which was not her first choice of role. And in her Drama II class, she had snagged the role of the lead (Dolly Levi) in the play "The Matchmaker."

BUT. Her dear friend, Krisalyn and her friend's mother, Shari, were going to audition for My Fair Lady in a little town south of theirs. (In fact, Shari-- the girl's music mentor and teacher for years-- was the show's music director.) Would she like to join them in another show?

Uh, YEAH. Of course!

Yet the young lady's dad was worried about all the driving and going. Why did she want to be in another play?!

But the young lady was determined. She had wanted to join her friends in these small town shows for years, and now that she was a senior in high school, it just might be her last chance.

Interestingly, while she was negotiating with her father, a little voice in her heart was saying "This is a big decision. If you do this now, it will change the course of your entire life."

She brushed it off, thinking "What could possibly happen in that little town?"

She would soon find out.
Rehearsals Begin...

The production of "My Fair Lady" was in full swing. Both the young man and the young lady had small roles-- he as the Footman, she as Maid #2-- and filling in chorus numbers, as well. As a result, they each spent lots of time waiting for their turn to be onstage.

The young lady had noticed the quiet, mysterious returned missionary right away. He was awfully handsome and had a beautiful tenor voice. But the girl knew that she was silly, a bit boy-crazy, and that she was chubbier than her lovely friends. She was nervous, but determined to find out more about this young man. So she bravely left the company of her friends to approach him as he sat alone.

Their first conversation lasted longer than she had expected. He surprised her by opening up about how he missed the city of his mission, and how strange it was to be home and back in a family dynamic.

Amazingly, she didn't say too much. She listened with rapt attention, surprised that he was talking to her.

And so they became friends. He even asked her to be his dance partner on one number. But she was falling in love with him, all while he was oblivious to her, romantically.

And yet she was nervous about the fact that she was still in high school, and he was a 21 year old returned missionary. Everyone knows that returned missionaries are counseled to find a spouse as soon as they can. She was NOT looking to get married anytime soon. She had plans, remember?

Being Friends...

Soon they were spending lots of time with each other and all their friends in the show almost every day. (That's how rehearsals work.) And then, one day he asked her out on a date.

Her first, honest-to-goodness, un-arranged-by-friends, HE-asked DATE.

They saw a movie (My Girl), went dancing, and talked and talked and talked. But it was more than crystal clear that he was not interested in being any more than friends.

After he took her home, she firmly proclaimed to her mother, "Don't worry, Mom. I won't marry him."

And Then One Day...

... Out of the blue, (The very next week, in fact!) he approached her in the middle of rehearsal, eased his arm around her shoulders, and asked "So what are we doing this weekend?"

She was astonished! And speechless. She fumbled around in her mind, thinking about all the things on her busy calendar. Finally, she told him about her first cousin's wedding reception that weekend. Would he like to join her for that?

He agreed.

And she was confused.

My uncle, my grandpa, me, and Russell

They had a great time at the reception, and he suggested they go back to his house to watch a video. But in her nervousness, she asked her two other cousins to come with them. (Hi Tylynn and Michelle! Only one of them came with us.) She was still not sure that he was actually interested in her, and she was also still nervous about the whole "returned missionary thing."

Throughout the evening he made it clear to her that he was, indeed, interested. In her. Romantically.

She and her cousin stayed late, past her curfew. But she didn't care. Something big was happening.

At my high school's prom

Trials and Tribulations...

In no time at all, they were "a couple," holding hands and spending even more time together. But there was something that was still unresolved between them. Remember that cute girl in the musical family from his mission? He still had a bus ticket to go see her and find out if there was anything to his plans after his mission.

The heroine of our tale was scared. She didn't want to have her heart broken. But she also didn't want him to always be wondering about the other young lady. She knew he had to go. So she made him a big batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies for the trip (she was a bit crafty, after all) and agreed to meet him at the end of one of her performances of "Into the Woods."

And then, she waited.

And he returned. He met her at the stage door after her performance. With a single red rose.

Everything was going to be just fine-- or so they thought.

After a long drive to his house one day, they talked about marriage. They were soon officially engaged.

She was still worried about being so young. But later, one chilly April night, he took her to the temple grounds by the river for a walk. As they sat in the moonlight, he quietly pointed to the temple and said, "I want to take you there."

She stared at him in shock. He was echoing some of the words from her own patriarchal blessing. And then she was sure that this was right. And this was real. She knew that he was the one she never thought would come into her life so soon.

But then the real opposition reared its ugly head. Her parents were not happy about how young she was. What about all her well-laid plans? She was only seventeen! Her friends thought she was crazy.

But she loved him. She was a responsible, strong, mature young lady. (She thought so, anyway.) She was spiritually prepared. And all her really important dreams were coming true.

Just sooner than she expected.

Graduated and Engaged

And so...

The happy couple set their wedding date for December. She had already paid her housing down payment, after all, and she wanted to try living on her own before getting married. He gulped and agreed to wait until then.

Luckily, her wise grandmother took our heroine's mother aside and told her that December was too long to wait-- August would work just fine.

The couple happily agreed.

They were married for time and for all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on August 14th, 1992.

Their biggest, brightest, greatest dreams were coming true. So, of course...

They lived happily ever after!

This post is part of a Wordfull Wednesday link-up hosted by Chocolate on my Cranium.Share your love story and link up your post!

What Creates "Teenagers?"

2012-01-30T12:46:00.001-07:00

"Little Women" book illustration by Jessie W. Smith

Did you know that before the early 1900's, no one EVER used the term "teenager?" And not only did the term not exist, but there was also no expected "teenage" behavior and no rampant, cultural adolescent angst.

This morning I read a fascinating, encouraging article from the "Scientific American Mind" magazine that I knew I just had to share on my blog today.

This article addresses the myth that adolescents have a "different" type of brain than adults. The author, Dr. Robert Epstein, wrote the article way back in 2007.

You can read the entire article at this link, and I've also included some great excerpts from the article, as well.

Today, with teens trapped in the frivolous world of peer culture, they learn virtually everything they know from one another rather than from the people they are about to become. Isolated from adults and wrongly treated like children, it is no wonder that some teens behave, by adult standards, recklessly or irresponsibly. Almost without exception, the reckless and irresponsible behavior we see is the teen’s way of declaring his or her adulthood or, through pregnancy or the commission of serious crime, of instantly becoming an adult under the law. Fortunately, we also know from extensive research both in the U.S. and elsewhere that when we treat teens like adults, they almost immediately rise to the challenge.

In 1991 anthropologist Alice Schlegel of the University of Arizona and psychologist Herbert Barry III of the University of Pittsburgh reviewed research on teens in 186 preindustrial societies. Among the important conclusions they drew about these societies: about 60 percent had no word for “adolescence,” teens spent almost
all their time with adults, teens showed almost no signs of psychopathology, and antisocial behavior in young males was completely absent in more than half these cultures and extremely mild in cultures in which it did occur.

Even more significant, a series of long-term studies set in motion in the 1980s by anthropologists Beatrice Whiting and John Whiting of Harvard University suggests that teen trouble begins to appear in other cultures soon after the introduction of certain Western influences, especially Western-style schooling, television programs andmovies. Delinquency was not an issue among the Inuit people of Victoria Island, Canada, for example, until TV arrived in 1980. By 1988 the Inuit had created their first permanent police station to try to cope with the new problem.

Consistent with these modern observations, many historians note that through most of recorded human history the teen years were a relatively peaceful time of transition to adulthood.

Teens were not trying to break away from adults; rather they were learning to become adults. Some historians, such as Hugh Cunningham of the University of Kent in England and Marc Kleijwegt of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, author of Ancient Youth: The Ambiguity of Youth and the Absence of Adolescence in Greco-Roman Society (J. C. Gieben, 1991), suggest that the tumultuous period we call adolescence is a very recent phenomenon—not much more than a century old.

FAST FACTS from the Article:

Troubled Teens
1) Various imaging studies of brain activity and anatomy find that teens and adults use their brains somewhat differently when performing certain tasks. These studies are
said to support the idea that an immature “teen brain” accounts for teen mood and behavior problems.
2) But, the author argues, snapshots of brain activity do not necessarily identify the causes of such problems. Culture, nutrition and even the teen’s own behavior all affect
brain development. A variety of research in several fields suggest that teen turmoil is caused by cultural factors, not by a faulty brain.
3) Anthropological research reveals that teens in many cultures experience no turmoil whatsoever and that teen problems begin to appear only after Western schooling, movies and television are introduced.
4) Teens have the potential to perform in exemplary ways, the author says, but we hold them back by infantilizing them and trapping them in the frivolous world of teen culture.

WHY are we parents doing our best to turn our own youth, our precious sons and daughters, into annoying teenagers?! Why are we holding them back in their progression, and cutting their potential short?

If we could get past all the myths we've been taught, and in turn allow our youth to be the adults God designed them to be, can you imagine how society would change?

My mind is reeling from the thought of it.

As Sands through the Hour Glass...

2012-01-26T12:43:00.001-07:00

(You know you finished the sentence in your head!) *hee!*

So, as usual, I am late to this blog game, but better late than never, right?

(If you are curious as to how I schedule our days, while still allowing myself to be the "free-spirit-who-despises-schedules", see this post I wrote for the Latter-Day Homeschooling blog.)

I read Cocoa's post about her typical day late Tuesday evening, and so I'm recording what happened in our house yesterday...

Good Morning!

I began the day by squinting one eye open at the sound of a little 4 year old voice whispering, "Can I have a banana?"

I mumbled a heavy "Yes," and rolled over to try to catch more shut eye. Ha! (It should not surprise anyone when I relate that all attempts at getting more rest were fruitless.)

A new day had begun!

Sleepy Morganne being awakened by happy Eryn

I found my big kids in the living room, waiting for their biking buddy, Mark, to join them in a ride to seminary at the local high school. (We only have one vehicle, and the school's not too far away, so they get a little exercise each day.)

Working on one of his compositions

Morganne (age 18) likes to go back to sleep on the couch after getting ready, and Brennan (age 16) plays on the piano while waiting. Our Lliam (age 15) was getting ready a bit later than the other two.

Prepared to brave the "cold"-- which is luckily not very cold here.

The youngest kids (ages 8, 6, 4, 3, and 19 months) are usually busy playing hard and making messes just before 6am. Even if we went to bed with a clean house, it will be destroyed before the big ones leave at 7am.

Rumpled Grayse and Ava

Lately Russell has been getting up earlier to get more hours in at work. His New Year's resolutions are to avoid going out to eat and to eat healthier, so he's usually making himself breakfast and packing his lunch of leftovers before the big kids head out into the dark morning.

Since most of us are out of bed, we gather for family prayer. We always sing the Primary song "Family Prayer" before Russell calls on someone to pray, so often still-sleeping kids will get up and rush in at the sound of the song. That's not its purpose, but it does make me smile! :-)

Ronan is up!

The big ones ride off to seminary as Bonny, Dierdre and I get our buddies changed and ready for the day. Russell heads in to work, and I decide it's time to get showered and dressed.

Mornings are for Organization

Bonny busily baking

While I'm getting ready, our Miss Bonny (age 13) starts making breakfast (her daily stewardship). She wants to try a new recipe, and asks me what she should do about the brown sugar filling. I look at the recipe, and could see that it would not work with honey or maple syrup, so I tell her to go ahead and make it as is. I'll find something to eat on my own. (Yup, I'm still sugar-free.)

Unfortunately, because it's a new recipe, and because I didn't take note of how long it needed to bake, breakfast was destined to be VERY late....

To do...

While Bonny is busy cooking, I begin the daily nagging of "Get your jobs done!!!" and load and start the washing machine. I gather the things I'm hoping to accomplish this morning: two baskets of clean laundry waiting to be folded, and a box of my mom's photos I need to scan in to create a promised Christmas present for my baby sister; a photobook. (Hi, Abby Sue!)

Photos of the amazing Abby with her nieces and nephews

I start scanning, and mess with Shutterfly for far too long-- so the clean laundry was temporarily forgotten. The big kids are home from seminary just after 9:30am on Wednesdays, as opposed to 8:30am on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. There are no classes on Thursdays. (Yes, we have a very dorky school district we have to work around. :-p)

Bonny calls everyone to come eat her breakfast masterpiece, and I get off my rear to reheat some leftovers for my own breakfast. (It's now 10:30am. Yikes!)

She doesn't make it easy to resist, does she?

After breakfast, I take it upon myself to begin the chore-nagging once again. "You guys only have just over an hour to finish your jobs! Get busy!!!" This is when the kitchen gets the attention it needs. I finish eating, and decide to quit scanning and scrapbooking for the day.

Middays are for Education

~~Bothering~~ Petting our Katie-Kitty

The kids and I get our chores done, and "school" begins. The little kids go outside to play, explore, and get filthy in the gorgeous Arizona sunshine, and the big kids get on the computers and/or hit their books. I require that my older ones from 11 years old on up do 1 hour of math before they do anything else online. (And if they start hanging out on Facebook before their other studies are done, they get to face a Mad Mother. *grr.*)

Brennan helping Gavin (age 11) with a math question

We have three computers in the Family Room, and my husband has a work laptop he brings home to use. But we have five kids who use the computers for their study, so we just have to take turns. Those with their jobs done first get to use the computers first. (Usually. Most of the time, they ALL have their jobs done by noon, and it's just a matter of who grabs which computer first.)

We also have a quiet "study" room for those kids who are reading, studying, or writing-- things they don't need the computer for. (It's also where my husband works from home once or twice a week.) They also often read and study in their rooms.

While she waits for a computer to work on, Bonny teaches Dierdre some of the ballet techniques she's learned in her ballet class.

Somewhere in the midst of everything going on, Miss Eryn (19 months) goes down for a nap.

While the older kids do school work, I finally get to folding the clean laundry. I like to listen to something while I fold, so I put on a couple talks from the last LDS General Conference.

Later in the afternoon, I help our Dierdre (age 10) get going making a late lunch, due to our late breakfast. (Can I say "late" one more time? There.) She does a great job making oven-melted cheese sandwiches, and brings out the cottage cheese and applesauce to supplement. (Lunches are her stewardship during the week.) The baby gets up in time to eat and join in the rest of the afternoon playing.

The rest of the afternoon rolls slowly along, and before I know it, it's time for the younger boys (ages 11 and 8) to get ready for Cub Scouts, which begins at 6pm. I feel a flood of guilt wash over me as I realize the Pinewood Derby is this Saturday, and we haven't gotten started yet. Luckily, that's Russell's department, and I know he'll get to it soon.

Evenings are for Inspiration

Our lovely Miss Morganne has already begun dinner, so I know that's taken care of. (Dinner is her stewardship 5 nights a week.) I look around and realize the kids still haven't put their clean clothes away yet. More nagging! Oh, and it's hard not to laugh at the toddler who crashed in the midst of the laundry piles.

A collapsed toddler and the still-waiting folded laundry

Our Cub Scouts head out, and the big kids try to finish up their e-mailing and Facebooking before they head off to mutual. Five minutes before 7pm, our Morganne finishes making Hamburger Stew, and sadly has to leave before she eats any of it! So the big four go out the door (living across the street from our church building is AWESOME!), the boys come home from Cub Scouts, and those of us at home eat Morganne's yummy soup.

Morganne's Hamburger Stew, ready to eat.

You might be wondering where my husband is in all of our Wednesday evening craziness. Usually, he's hanging out with the Teachers' Quorum on mutual night, but tonight he has a programming meeting after work that's going to last until at least 9:30pm.

Notice the clean laundry buckets were emptied at last?

On Wednesday evenings, I usually let the younger kids watch a movie while the big kids are gone to mutual. Last night, they picked "The Secret Garden". I love this version of one of my favorite books, and they haven't watched it in quite a while. It was a good choice!

While the kids are watching the movie, I take advantage of our quiet living room and settle in to read. It's a good one, too!

The big kids arrive home at 8:30ish, eat their dinner, and finish watching the movie with the littles. (MacKenna, 6, and Grayse, 4, fall asleep before the movie finishes.) At around 9:15pm, the movie is over and I call the kids in for Family Scriptures and prayer. (Usually Dad's job, but since he's gone...) We're in 1 Nephi chapter 15, and had a good reading and discussion session.

Unfortunately, Miss Grayse wakes up angry about missing the movie's end and her turn reading. Once she calms down, I allow her to jump in and repeat her two verses. We sing our song, have our prayer, and Russell calls to let me know he's on his way home (9:40pm).

The kids disperse to brush their teeth and change into their pajamas. Russell arrives home, and everyone shares hugs and kisses. Some of the big kids stay up to discuss politics and some of the things Russell and I have been reading. He's been reading "Beyond Socialism and Capitalism", which goes pretty hand-in-hand with what I'm reading. (NOTE: the link to the book is NOT an affiliate one.)

I didn't get around to the final rounds of chore-nagging, so we all go to bed without finishing the kitchen jobs. But sometimes the late night discussions are more important, especially when Dad has been gone all evening.

It's been a good day. And now it's time to say "Good Night!"

We Interrupt this Blog...

2012-01-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

Me at age 2

... to join a blog party I'm way late for.

But I'm posting about it anyway.

The question Cocoa put to her readers was this:

What fictional character do you identify the most with?

Because I am generally indecisive and because I like waay too many characters and read waaaaaaaay too many books, I cannot answer this question with a single character. So here are my top seven.

Yes, seven. Ten is too many, but five is too little.

(See? Indecisive.)

Some of these characters are warnings for me to not give into my bad tendencies and habits. (I think I'll start with the bad ones.)

7) Mrs. Jellyby (from Bleak House by Charles Dickens)
I include Mrs. Jellyby here as number seven because she is the one I dislike the most, and yet find I have to constantly work at not being more like her. She is my "id," you might say. She spends so much time working hard on her pet "cause" that she no longer sees or concerns herself with the needs in her own home. Yeah. Not a happy thought. But she reminds me that I need to truly see what is of most importance in my life.

"We passed several more children on the way up, whom it was difficult to avoid treading on in the dark; and as we came into Mrs. Jellyby's presence, one of the poor little things fell down-stairs-- down a whole flight (as it sounded to me), with a great noise."

"Mrs. Jellyby, whose face showed none of the uneasiness which we could not help showing in our own faces, as the dear child's head recorded its passage with a bump on every stair... received us with perfect equanimity. She was a pretty, very diminutive, plump woman, of from forty to fifty, with handsome eyes, though they had a curious habit of seeming to look a long way off. As if... they could see nothing nearer than Africa!"

6) Mrs. Bennett (from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)
Poor Mrs. Bennett. No one seems to understand her! Unfortunately, I do far too often. Luckily, I am married to a husband who loves me even when I channel her silliness and laziness from time to time. (He's actually a lot like Mr. Darcy, but I'm no Elizabeth.) Oh, and I also can go from depressed and crestfallen to giddy and silly in an instant.

"Ah! you do not know what I suffer."

5) Molly Weasley (from the Harry Potter series)
I share many attributes with Molly Weasley. I have a large family that I like to fuss over. We don't have a lot of money in our family, but we do have a lot of love. I like to cook for and feed an army of teenage boys, I worry about my children and my husband, and I do tend to yell more often than I should. All that's missing is the red hair and her immense knitting talents. Oh, and the magic thing.

"You'd best hope I don't put bars on your window, Ronald Weasley."

"Where Have You Been?!"

4) Sophie Hatter (from Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones)
I have to re-read this book at least once a year, but it's usually more like every six months. I don't know that I can accurately explain why I love this book so much. I think a big part of it is that I've always wanted to be beautiful, but never really ever have been. I mean, I'm fine with how I look, but somedays I feel like young Sophie burdened with a magical spell that makes her look and feel like an old woman. (Why would the handsome Howl ever think of her?)

She's also the oldest of her sisters and has always carried the burden and responsibility of being the strong one who needs to make everything good and happy for everyone-- even if that means sacrificing herself. I adore Sophie because she finally breaks out and stands up for herself once no one knows who she really is. And because she doesn't ever realize how very talented with magic she is in her own right.

""It's just a tantrum,' Sophie said. Martha and Lettie were good at having tantrums too. She knew how to deal with those. On the other hand, it is quite a risk to spank a wizard for getting hysterical about his hair. Anyway, Sophie's experience told her that tantrums are seldom about the thing they appear to be about."

"She stumped into the bathroom and stared at her withered old face in the mirrors. She picked up one of the packets labeled SKIN and then tossed it down again. Even young and fresh, she did not think her face compared particularly well with Miss Angorian's."

3) Anne Shirley (from the Anne of Green Gables series)
I know, I know. So many young girls identify with Anne, but so do I. (I especially love Anne's adventures as a parent and adult in the later books.) When I was a child, my vivid imagination got me in to lots of trouble. And I am flighty and easily distracted by lovely thoughts and wild stories in my mind. I am stubborn and determined, digging in my heels even when what I am rebelling against is not the best thing for me. Oh, and I am a pretty big drama queen!

"The downfall of some dear hope or plan plunged Anne into 'deeps of affliction.' The fulfillment thereof exalted her to dizzy realms of delight."

"There is a book of Revelation in every one's life, as there is in the Bible.Anne read hers that bitter night, as she kept her agonized vigil through the hours of storm and darkness. She loved Gilbert-- had always loved him! She knew that now. She knew that she could no more cast him out of her life without agony than she could have cut off her right hand and cast it from her. And the knowledge had come too late-- too late even for the bitter solace of being with him at the last."

2) Clare Peggotty (from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens)
I love Peggotty! She is kind, but strict, and loyal to a fault. I have often caused myself trouble and headache because of my dedication and loyalty to those I love, though I've never had to endure some of the things dear Peggotty had to go through. I hope to be a solid, and strong, and as dependable as she was!

"'My own!' said Peggotty, with infinite compassion. 'What I want to say is. That you must never forget me. For I'll never forget you. And I'll take as much care of your mama, Davy. As ever I took of you. And I won't leave her. The day may come when she'll be glad to lay her poor head. On her stupid, cross old Peggotty's arm again. And I'll write to you, my dear. though I ain't no scholar. And I'll-- I'll--' Peggotty fell to kissing the keyhole, as she couldn't kiss me."

1) Pollyanna (from Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter)
I have always been a wide-eyed Pollyanna. I love to talk, and I love people, and I want to believe the best of everyone. And I like to be hyper and cheerful, though I often annoy the daylights out of many. I don't think before I act, and I make all kinds of mistakes and silly assumptions. I want to be happy, and I want to make as many people happy as I can. (Which also can get me into trouble, too. I have a hard time realizing that I can never please everyone!) But I am glad to be "a Pollyanna."

"...I love folks so I just can't help it! I saw you from my window, Aunt Polly, and I got to thinking how you weren't a Ladies' Aider, and you were my really truly aunt. And you looked so good I just had to come down and hug you!"

"A little later Pollyanna and the minister descended the hill, hand in hand. Pollyanna's face was radiant. Pollyanna loved to talk, and she had been talking now for some time."

Thanks for letting me indulge in a bit of introspection. So fun!

What literary characters do YOU identify with the most???

Unplugged: Part One

2012-01-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

In the midst of the droning hum of computers, appliances, and continuous music, my husband and I decided to do something different to welcome in the New Year.

But, let me back up for a moment.

A few months back I resolved to quit Facebook. And I'm happy to say that I'm still on that path. (Though I do answer messages and direct comments on my FB Wall-- which doesn't happen too often, thank goodness.)

Anyway.

I thought that quitting Facebook would be the cure for my Internet addiction, and while it helped, I still hadn't stopped wasting too much time online. (In fact, I began to substitute Pinterest for Facebook. Whoops.)

So.

I prayed for help in kicking my addiction, and one day, in a rare quiet moment, the Spirit gave me the idea to have a media fast-- a week of disconnecting from the Internet, e-mail, movies, (we haven't watched television in years) and even eliminating listening to music from any machine. No i-Pods, i-Tunes on the computer, CD players, radios, nothing. (I did still allow my children to MAKE music on the various instruments in our house.)

I discussed the idea with my husband, and we both had a freeing happiness come over us. Ah, yes! This experiment was just the thing!

Now, we did have to create some exceptions for my husband. He is a web programmer, after all. But he decided to leave his work laptop at the office, and committed to joining us in the fast whenever he was home.

As we headed off to bed Sunday evening on January first, my husband shut down and even unplugged all three computers, our printer, the speakers, the wireless network and cable modem.

The silence was deafening.

The Switch

Monday dawned nice and early for us, Russell heading in to work before the sun rose.

I started thinking through a plan that Russell and I had discussed involving the switching of rooms with our seven girls so they would have more mirrors, more closet space, and more room for their baby sister. We felt that the media fast would be a great time to get this major moving project-- complete with "New Year Deep Cleaning"-- done. One major change that would HAVE to happen before switching was that the smaller room needed painting. For some strange reason, Russell just didn't like the idea of sleeping in a room with light lavender walls. (Go figure.) We decided to go to the home improvement store later that night to get some paint and supplies.

The kids and I had a hard time getting moving, but we eventually got the girls room packed up and lots of my cluttered sewing supplies into boxes and put in the outbuilding in our backyard. (Hooray for strong teenage sons!)

When Russell got home he took the girls' bunk beds apart (and enormous job!), moved them into our front room, and the girls staked out spots on the couches to sleep on.

Day one ended with satisfaction, minimal whining, and that good, tired feeling that comes from working hard.

One day down, the new year was shaping up to look pretty good!

A Book

2011-12-31T12:08:00.000-07:00

The other day I got to hang out with a friend who's been living far away for a few years now. (Hi Celeste!!!) We had a great time just sitting and talking about our lives and philosophizing about politics, homeschooling, how we're raising kids, and even about our blogs.

Out of nowhere, it seemed, she looked at me and told me that I should write a book. At first, I thought about the books I'm working on, and how slowly they're coming along. (One on teaching kids to work, a homemaking curriculum for daughters and mothers, and a collection of classic readings.) I started feeling guilty and ashamed that I haven't finished the projects I've begun. But then she brought up my philosophies about womanhood, and I realized that she meant I should write about those things.

It took a day or two to sink in my scattered brain, but I'm now really excited. So, YES, WORLD! I AM WRITING A BOOK!!!

I can't believe it, but it's already coming along nicely! I've got the Table of Contents done, and found that I've actually been writing this book since 2005-- the day I began blogging. :-)

YAY!!!

Please excuse me while I get back to it...

Eighteen

2011-12-27T08:51:00.003-07:00

Morganne Natalia, born on December 27, 1993

Eighteen years ago TODAY, an angel danced into my life and made me a mother for the very first time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet Morganne!!! You have brought me more joy than I had ever imagined existed. We all love you so much!

Thank you for blessing us with your serene goodness and tender heart. Your good example touches more people than you know.

Love,
Mama

From Our Family to Yours

2011-12-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

Avalon Noelle blowing out the candles on her snow-woman cake.

This December has been filled with happy memories and wonderful time spent together as a family. We started off the month with Miss Ava's birthday-- I can't believe she's now three years old! She is such a blessing to our family. She is full of JOY and is always ready with a quick smile and a warm hug. She loves to dance and sing wherever she goes. We are so grateful she has joined our family as baby number ten! What would we do without her sunshine in our lives?

Russell is a wonderful father.

Next came Russell's forty-first birthday. It never ceases to amaze me how much we grow in love for each other over the years. He has one of the kindest hearts I have ever known, and I feel privileged to know that it belongs to me! We spent a lovely day together, including taking the middle and little kids to the park for a picnic lunch of pizza and playing. We had a great time talking and swinging in the gorgeous weather while the kids played on the playground equipment. (Have I mentioned why I love living in AZ?) Later that night we went to the Hale Theatre's live production of "A Christmas Carol." It was so fun to attend a play together again! Since we met in a show, and then studied together as Theatre majors in college, it's a lot of fun to go back to our "roots," now and then.

The rest of the month has been filled with movie nights, multiple trips to stores, Spirit-filled sacred moments, wrapping marathons, and hours and hours of Christmas music blaring. I've loved every minute of it!

We love and miss our wonderful families, but we're also grateful we got to see so many of you this past summer and fall. We hope all our awesome friends and family had a very Merry Christmas and we wish you all the very best in the year 2012!!!

Lots of love,
The K Family in AZ :-)

A Song for Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T09:51:00.002-07:00

This is one of my favorite Christmas Carols, and here it is sung by one of my favorite singers with my favorite choir. :-D

May we each give Him our hearts this year. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

A Sweet Reminder

2011-12-16T06:59:00.002-07:00

Be sure to watch all the way to the end-- you'll be glad you did. :-)

Giving up Their Christmas

2011-12-13T18:20:00.001-07:00

Making December Memories

2011-12-09T11:31:00.001-07:00

www.capturedmiracles.org

This week is full of December busy-ness! But for some reason, it's also been very pleasant. I think a change of heart has made all the difference: I decided that I'm NOT going to get stressed or caught up in doing things "perfectly"-- or even up to the standards of anyone else! It's made a very busy week a time of happy memory-making for our whole family.

Here are some of the things that have happened this week:

1) Monday Night we had a low-key Family Home Evening: We sang a Christmas song, had a prayer, and got caught up on the latest "Merlin" episode. :-) It was nice that the moral of the show was all about forgiveness and taking responsibility for our bad choices.

2) Wednesday evening was an easy and fun Activity Day: We attended the band concert of a couple of our Activity Day girls, and had cookies afterward. No more activities until next month!

3) Thursday (yesterday), after three of my kids attended their Civil War class, everyone helped me haul all the decorations over to the church for the Ward Christmas Party happening tonight. My older girls and I had a great time unwrapping all the different Nativity sets from ward members, and decided what fabrics and trims we should use as accents, and where we would put them. It was so fun ooo-ing and awww-ing over each one!

4) And then last night, Russell and I took the Big 3 Kids to a free screening of Steven Spielberg's new movie "War Horse." Oh, it was soooo good! It inspired much pondering and discussion in our family. Themes like the importance of family and home, the relationship man used to have with nature, the relationships we have with our fellow man, and where technology has brought us. Oh, so worth watching! I HIGHLY recommend it!

5) As I mentioned above, tonight is the Ward Christmas Party. We have some more tablecloths to lay out and Nativity sets to display. Thanks to a sweet friend, I have some pine trees I can add to the decor, as well. Then, we have yummy potatoes to make, and a ham to warm up in our oven. I haven't quite figured out how I'm going to use the oven for both of them at the same time, but it will all work out, I'm sure. :-) I'm excited for this evening! (Even for the clean-up-- each family can gather up their own nativity set and take it on home!)

Happy December to all! And Merry, Merry Christmas!

Beautiful Videos

2011-12-04T21:06:00.001-07:00

I am so very excited about this wonderful new series of videos based on the life of the Savior, Jesus Christ!

The videos now available are just about the early life of the Savior, but there are more that will be added over time. These are BEAUTIFULLY done, and are an accurate depiction of the New Testament as found in the King James Bible.

What a wonderful way to be reminded of the reason for the season. Merry Christmas!

The Land of Normal

2011-11-26T11:08:00.001-07:00

Illustration by Gary Larson

Last Fall we had a new student join our homeschool classes. We hosted these classes once a week for youth ages 12 and up in our home. It was a great way for our youth to learn with other like-minded teens who value similar things like family, reading books, high standards, lots of studying, etc..

This particular young lady was not only new to our classes, but she was new to homeschooling. She had had a rough time in Middle School, and had begged her mom to bring her home. She was a beautiful girl, and very smart, but she really struggled in our classes. She seemed to focus a lot on her appearance, she was always on her phone texting, and she continuously complained about-- well, everything. She was a quintessential teenager.

One day, the dozen or so youth in our Shakespeare class were having a lively discussion and this young lady in frustration flung out the sentence "Ugh! You guys are so WEIRD!"

The other students blinked, looked at her in amazement, and said with smiles, "Yeah, we know."

She was shocked. Here she was, delivering one of the greatest insults in all of normalcy, and those "weird" kids were taking it as a huge compliment!

She quit after the first semester, and we've never seen her at any other homeschool gatherings-- I'm assuming she went back to school where she can feel "normal" again.

Like the "weird" students in my class (four of which were my own children), I've come to feel that being called "weird" is actually a compliment. I grew up in the Land of Normal, constantly comparing myself to my peers, whether it was in my appearance, my intelligence, or my abilities. Though I wanted to "fit in" and be accepted, I never felt that I ever measured up to what I "should be." I was told I was too loud and obnoxious, not smart enough, and definitely not thin or rich enough.

The battleground youth face every day creates a trail of broken hearts that rarely heal into adulthood. I know; I've been there! It's sad, because coming to accept myself as I am has taken me years and years-- and it continues on.

BUT, it has been so refreshing, so cleansing, so freeing to stand up and say, "I am going to try something different. And I DON'T CARE WHAT THE LAND OF NORMAL THINKS!"

Ahhhh. (Feels good!)

The Land of Normal is a very comfortable place for most people to stay. But where has normalcy actually brought us as a society? To materialism, body obsession, debt, ignorance, and down-right denial about the state we're in. (Heaven forbid we ever do something "weird!")

The citizens of the Land of Normal frequently shake their heads at me, my family, and my friends and all our "weirdness"-- some even giving me helpful advice like "You're crazy!" or "I'm really worried about your kids," or "What about the prom?!"

I'm finally okay with who I am-- that I'm "WEIRD." Remember, I think being called "weird" is a huge compliment.

Charity: The Pure Love of Christ

2011-11-20T19:48:00.001-07:00

Quote attributed to Plato

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."

"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all... Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:" (1 Corinthians 13: 1-8)

"But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." (Moroni 7:47)

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the word CHARITY. Not simply in general terms, but what it means in my life. How do I treat others-- those I know, those that are strangers, those who live in my home? Am I dismissing, pre-judging, trampling those I come in contact with? Or do they feel happier and uplifted because I was kind and understanding?

We children of God have the potential to do sooo much good! There is so much negativity, so much criticism in this world. Are we part of the problem, or are we different, because we know and love Christ? Are we building others up, sharing the pure love of Christ; or are we tearing people down, breaking hearts, treading on tender feelings?

Artwork by Greg Olsen

I have learned that CHARITY is not just about giving to the needy, it's not just feeling concern for people, or even about praying for others.

It means treating others like Christ would treat them.

Everyone needs to be loved, understood. Every person is a child of God, and needs to be valued.

And sometimes, all it takes to make people feel the love of Christ is to receive a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, or a hug.

One of my favorite quotes about the worth of souls comes from C.S. Lewis:

It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbour. The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbour's glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken.

It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.

All day long we are, to some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics.

There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilisations-- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit-- immortal horrors or everlasting splendours.

From the LDS Scriptures in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 18, verse 10:

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

Sister Mary N. Cook said this at the last LDS Young Women's Broadcast:

"Benevolent is a lovely word that we don’t hear very often. Its roots are Latin, and it means 'to wish someone well.' To be benevolent is to be kind, well meaning, and charitable... Our Savior taught us about and lived a benevolent life. Jesus loved all and He served all. Centering our lives on Jesus Christ will help us acquire this attribute of benevolence. For us to develop these same Christlike attributes, we must learn about the Savior and 'follow in His ways.'"⁴

"President Thomas S. Monson taught us how to interact with our peers and everyone we meet when he told the young women of the Church, 'My precious young sisters, I plead with you to have the courage to refrain from judging and criticizing those around you, as well as the courage to make certain everyone is included and feels loved and valued.'"

We do not know the battles that other people are fighting, as we go through life's journey. If we treat others as Christ would treat them, we will not only please our Heavenly Father, but we may bring someone else to Christ.

We can all be a little kinder, more gentle, more benevolent. WE CAN HAVE MORE CHARITY, which is the pure love of Christ.

October Journey: Part Two

2011-11-14T10:15:00.001-07:00

Russell and Miss Eryn

We had a WONDERFUL time in Idaho last month! Karl and Kenzie's wedding was so sweet, so lovely. It is a tender, beautiful thing to be at a family member's temple ceremony-- the Spirit radiates through the couple, and all around the room. Such a sacred event!

The adorable, happy couple!

Sonja's next!!!

Sonja is marrying the kind and handsome Isaac in January, and we're so excited for her! They'll be sealed in the beautiful Rexburg temple.

Granna and some of our pretty girls

(L. to R.) Isaac & Sonja, Karen & Nick, Reed & Julie (with new baby Allie!)

Two day old Miss Allie Mae and her gorgeous mama

Kitchen Duty

I had a great time helping to set out all the yummy sweet breads my mother-in-love Diana made and the pressed apple cider my father-in-love Randy made for the refreshments. The smell was HEAVENLY! (And I was good and didn't eat ANY! Still off sugar, yup.)

Miss Abby did an AWESOME job helping me! She is a wonderfully hard worker, just like her pretty mama.

Adorable Miss Abby

The real troopers were Debbie, Clay, and Miss Tyler, who slaved away in the kitchen practically all day! First for the family luncheon (and so did the amazing Karen and Nick!), and then before and during the entire reception. They are such a wonderful family! We sure love them!

Aunt Linda talking with Debbie, as Clay watches the reception fun. (Oh, and Avalon looking for more yummy bread.)

My handsome big boys!

Gavin and the garter!

The funniest part of the night was when Gavin joined in the crowd to vie for the garter-- and then HE caught it! Everyone was laughing! Then Gavin brought it back to us, holding it like it was a dirty rag or something, and asked "Now what do I do with it???" Hee! That made us laugh even more! :-D

Dancing with the Princess Bride

Our little cousin, Miss Macie, LOVES brides! She was so excited to dance with the lovely bride, and so MacKenna followed along. At first MacKenna was dancing with Karl (her FAVORITE!), but then she decided the Bride was funner to dance with. (Sorry, Karl!)

Avalon joined in.

Cake by the very talented Mandy! (I got to help a bit, too. So fun!)

I loved seeing Miss Macie holding her new little sister, "Owie." (Allie) What a sweet moment!
(I wish I were a better photographer...)

We had a wonderful few days, but then we rushed back and traveled home without a hiccup! (Thank goodness!!!)

And here's two last pictures to show how beautifully Grayse is healing!

Still smiling!

"I'm ready for my close-up, Mama!"

A New-Old Chapter

2011-11-09T07:55:00.003-07:00

"Twelfth Night" 2008

Since we moved back to Arizona, I have felt a little bit adrift in the homeschooling community. I came back home to find that many of my homeschooling friends had moved away or moved on. I sure miss those that have moved away, but I understand that life goes on and things are bound to change with time.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" 2009

So I got together with some that were still in the Valley, though more spread out in recent years. We created a wonderful little Commonwealth School, and met once a week in my home. We had classes on the Constitution and Shakespeare. We put on a fun play by the Bard. We laughed and talked and commiserated. Community!

"A Comedy of Errors" 2011

Then this past summer, I did NOT feel good about teaching Shakespeare this year. I was puzzled, but figured I would enjoy the break. I decided to have faith that the Lord must know some things about this next Spring that I didn't know.

Our little group moved to a more central location, at the home of my wonderful friend who is teaching a Civil War class to a few of the kids who were in our group last year. It is such a wonderful thing for our kids, and we so appreciate this amazing lady and all she's doing! But we mothers don't get to talk much any more. We're all in a rush, and have other things in our lives to do. Our little community just isn't what it used to be.

Life waltzed in again, and a new season is in full swing.

So. I recently got an e-mail from the chairwoman-- who is also a dear friend-- of the "other" Commonwealth School in the Valley. It's a BIG, active community with lots going on, and they have been planning for quite some time to put on a musical production next Spring. BUT, due to life changes in their own community, they no longer had a director.

Any guesses on what the e-mail was about?

Yes, you are "looking at" the new director of "Fiddler on the Roof" being produced next May!

I was kindly invited to the group's board meeting yesterday to talk about the show and my vision for it. As the ladies walked in, one after another, warmth filled my heart. HERE they were!!! The community I once knew before we left the state surrounded me. It was such a great feeling, and ended up being a wonderful reunion for me!

It's good to be back among some more great families. And I can't wait to get going on the show!

Mazel tov!

October Journey: Part One

2011-10-30T17:23:00.002-07:00

We've been to the Frozen North and back again-- AGAIN. We had some wonderful moments, and some traumatic ones, but we made it through them all to come HOME.

This is all too vague, you say? Well, let me sit back and begin the story of our October journey..

(WARNING: I want to retell this part of our journey in its entirety for historical purposes. There is some graphic descriptions and images of an accident below, so please proceed with caution.)

First,we got up early and were on our way by 5:30am. In all of our family travel experiences to date, NEVER have we made it up and out so early. We were euphoric about it, other than the nagging feeling that we had forgotten something. (Turned out to be something very minor, so it all worked out okay.)

The weather was glorious, the traffic was non-existent, and we were feeling like traveling pros. YAY! We only stopped a few times, and made them quick ones. We were cooking!

When calling our friend, A, to let her know where we were, she told us that our usual route was blocked by a landslide, and told us a different way to go; up over Cedar Breaks and down through Brian Head ski resort.

It was BEAUTIFUL! We all got out and peeked over the edge at the majesty and glory of God's earth. There was snow on the ground in patches, and the boys took the opportunity to make and throw snowballs. Even a cute little ground-squirrel got to experience a cold and chilly snowball, thanks to Brennan's great aim.

Driving down the steep switchbacks of the road home was a bit nerve-wracking because the brakes were acridly smoking. Russell downshifted when needed, and coasted as much as he could. Luckily, we made it safely down the mountain and back to the main road.

So, we arrived in our stop-over town at the unheard of time of 3:00 pm. Our dear friends, the "H Family", were as surprised as we were to get there so early, but-- as usual-- they welcomed us with grace and kindness. We were all thrilled that the kids got to play, and we got to actually visit and rest before the next day of full driving. Brilliant!

The Accident

The big boys were lighting firecrackers in the front yard, the little kids were playing in the back yard, Russell and J. were chatting, and I was helping A. make a salad to go with the pizzas. Our friends' large dog was chained on the back porch as a precaution meant to keep the kids from bothering him.

Grayse had been going in and out of the back door repeatedly-- why the frequency, I'm not sure-- and she had just stepped outside once again. As I stood in the kitchen slicing peppers, J. jumped up with a start, his baby still in his arms, and stormed out the back door, with Russell following close behind. I could hear Grayse crying in the background, but I was still working on the salad, with a strange, slow calmness flooding over me. I heard Russell call my name, and I asked "What happened?" placidly. Russell said something about the dog biting Grayse, and J. ran in yelling "Will someone take my baby?" I stepped in and took the crying little guy, all the while feeling this incredible calm.

The baby was getting more and more upset, so I handed him to his big brother, and in came J. and Russell carrying a screaming Grayse. There was crimson blood streaked all over her ivory, pale face.

J., being a doctor, barked instructions, and handed me a clean rag. I remember running it under cool water, and squeezing it out, and carefully daubing her face, trying to see where the blood was coming from without hurting her.

Everything slowed down.

A. started handing me essential oils and tinctures, and I was dropping them on Grayse's tongue in between cleaning her up. I think Russell was standing beside me through all the this-- I'm not sure. A. was saying "This is for shock," and "This is for ..." I don't remember what else.

I think J. went outside to deal with the dog.

Grayse's right nostril was entirely sliced through, and her upper lip had a large puncture wound in the shape of a Mercedes symbol that went all the way through to her gums inside her mouth. I was praying over her, asking for her to be comforted and calm so that we could help her. I asked Russell to give her a priesthood blessing and he gently placed his hand on her head, giving her a blessing of comfort.

I kept talking to Grayse, saying something over and over again. I think it was "It's going to be okay." She kept screaming "But it hurts!" I remember telling the big kids to take the little kids... away.

I will never forget how red the blood was against my little Snow White's torn-through nose. Russell said something about "Our pretty baby's face," and mixed in with my own fears about her scarring, my adrenaline was raging, my head not grasping the reality of what was happening.

Grayse was fighting my attempts to cover her with a blanket-- my Girls' Camp first-aid lessons about shock immediately coming to my mind.

The next thing I knew, J. was telling us about a doctor friend he has that specializes in stitches on the face that he had called and was on his way over right then. Grayse still screamed, refusing to be comforted.

The doctor arrived in an instant, and as he explained that he would be taking us to his office, I remember thinking, "Can this actually be fixed? Can her nose be put back together?" He explained that he had a little 4 year old, too, and that he had fixed her nose when it had been hurt in the same way. (Though not by a dog.) Grayse was slowly calming down, as the doctor distracted her, asking her questions, and explaining that he was going to fix her, and that he had a drawer of toys in his office that he was going to show her.

I asked the big kids to hold down the fort and take care of the other little ones, and we got into our van.

Her upper lip was swelling, and the blood everywhere was clotting and turning brown. I remember cuddling with Grayse as I sat next to her in the back seat, and her calmly leaning over and kissing my lips. I was amazed that she would do that, even though she was in so much pain.

We arrived at the office in a moment. It was now fully dark outside, and we climbed out of the van, and into a large building. As I climbed each step, holding my little one's hand, I kept thinking "Is this real? Is this really happening? Will this moment ever end?"

The doctor was wonderful. He put some swabs of sweet numbing liquid into her mouth to sit for a while, and I filled out the paperwork. Grayse was now lying perfectly still, her eyes closed. When something was said about her being asleep, she promptly insisted that NO, she was NOT asleep, she was simply resting her eyes!

After being numbed a bit, Grayse told us in no uncertain terms that the big chair to sit in was "scary", but then she agreed to be held by her daddy. (Russell held her throughout the entire visit.) She really hated the "pinches" of the numbing shots and told the doctor quite firmly that she didn't want him to do that anymore!

After making sure she was numb, he carefully cleaned her up with a gauze pad and saline solution, wiping all the blood away so the wound was clean. I recall looking at her perfect skin, the tiny white hairs on her face glowing under the light of the doctor's lamp.

J. arrived telling us that he was going to fill the prescription for a powerful antibiotic. He also announced, especially so that Grayse could hear, that the dog was GONE-- that it would be living somewhere else. (We never did ask more about that.) Russell and I felt no anger or blame. We ALL knew it was an accident, that it was no one's fault, that sometimes bad things just happen. That's life!

Grayse was exceptionally brave. I am still in awe of her calm spirit through almost all of the doctor visit. Every time the doctor asked her to close her eyes, she kept them shut tight. She laid calm and still, answering questions when asked, all the time cradled in her daddy's strong arms.

As the last few stitches were being put in her nose, she started to cry again, saying that it hurt. Unfortunately that meant more "pinches" which were very upsetting to her. I clumsily tried my hand at retelling her the story of "Snow White," which helped a little, but not quite as much as we hoped. Finally he was done, and Grayse scolded the doctor with "No more pinches!"

Then came the bandages, which calmed and comforted her. We limped back to our friends' home, reality setting in at last. We all went to bed, Grayse lying in a recliner chair right next to me.

I hardly slept a wink. The adrenaline was still racing through me, my heart pounding. I kept thinking over and over again about how I was going to tell my parents the next morning, giving them plenty of time to calm down and find peace before seeing us arrive. (I didn't want my tender-hearted Daddy to panic, or for Grayse to see anyone's looks of surprise and shock at her appearance.) And everytime Grayse whimpered in her sleep, I woke up to stroke her hair, tell her it was okay, and rock her in her chair.

Finally, the morning came and we hugged our dear friends goodbye. I was very sorry that their children had to say goodbye to a beloved pet, but I was also so grateful for all of the tender mercies God had placed in our path to make the situation as manageable as possible: we were in a doctor's home, he knew exactly who to call to help, we didn't have to wait in an emergency room. We received the right help, at the right time, and in the right place.

The Lord did not keep this bad thing from happening, but He did bless us with help, peace, comfort, love, kindness, and blessings to eventually heal the pain.

I testify that the Atonement of Christ is REAL. He has the power to carry all of our pain, suffering and burdens, as well as our sin. He can calm the raging seas in our hearts and minds, and bring peace to whatever comes our way. I say this in His Holy name, the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.

Breath of Autumn

2011-10-12T11:08:00.128-07:00

October Sky-- Photo taken by Morganne

After a WONDERFUL LDS General Conference early in the month, the heat has (mostly) subsided, the windows have been flung wide, my children are frolicking outside, and we've been planting some things in our Fall garden.

"Spooky" pancakes created and photographed by Bonny

Autumn here in the desert is like taking a big, deep breath! The breezes are cooler and flocks of birds are returning. It was so lovely to start off the month with a spiritual feast!

Every six months (in April and October), the leadership of the LDS Church hold a BIG conference that they broadcast in LDS meeting houses all over the world, as well as over the Internet. We hear from various Church leaders, especially from the current prophet, and the Twelve Apostles of the Church. As members, we believe that these men are living witnesses and representatives of Christ on the earth-- so we REALLY value and treasure what the Lord inspires them to say to us!

These conferences are held on the first Saturday and Sunday each October and April. We do not attend church on these weekends. Instead, we gather together as a family and listen to the inspiring words prepared for us.


Ronan and Gavin listening for topics on their lists.

Thanks to Cocoa over at Chocolate on My Cranium, we had some great activities to help the kids have a better Conference experience.

Lliam being camera shy.

Dierdre is happy to experience conference!

Lovely Morganne took careful notes.

Bonny was drawing during the talks.

Grayse's chart

Even Mr. Tumnus joined in! (The image on the screen is the current prophet, Thomas S. Monson.)

Brennan and Eryn

In other news, we have a new arrival at our house-- but it's not a baby, or even an animal. It was an AWESOME deal on Craig's List!

$150 from Craig's List. Oh, yeah.

With our other loveseat, we now have room to seat everyone in our "Celestial Room", where we have family scriptures and prayer. (It makes me just giddy to even think about it!)

We are loving it!

It has been such a wonderful thing for our family! It was a tender mercy that I wasn't even really looking for, but simply had in the back of my mind. It is a small, but happy, testament that Heavenly Father knows and cares about our little needs, as well as our big ones. Our front room finally feels like "The Celestial Room" we've needed!

I think the youngest ones at our house have spent every waking moment they can outside. It makes me smile to see them climbing all over the grapefruit tree in our backyard. I can almost feel the tree smiling, himself.

MacKenna is up the highest, Grayse is hugging Mr. Grapefruit Tree, and Avalon is grinning from ear to ear. (All these outdoor pictures of the little girls were taken by my Dierdre.)

The Three Princesses

MacKenna looking uncharacteristically placid.

Gorgeous Grayse Dawn

The Amazing Avalon

Silly girl! (Moments before "The Accident.")

Amidst all this playing outside, our little-getting-bigger-every-day Miss Eryn is doing her best to navigate the wild and rough outdoors.

Unfortunately, she had to learn the hard way not to stand behind someone who is swinging...

"Did YOU do this to me?"

She has yet to slow down simply because of a little scrape under the nose, however. No sir!

The rule is "No feet upon the new couch!" I don't know if Miss Eryn heard about that...

Miss Katie Bell is glad the heat has subsided. Prrrr!

Mr. Tumnus is ready to play anywhere, anytime!

We will continue to soak up the October sunshine and gorgeous weather until we head up to the Frozen North for a wonderful wedding soon.

We are so excited for Karl and Kenzie! It will be wonderful for Russell and I to attend their sealing in the Idaho Falls temple.

Now is the time for laundry and packing, but more pictures will be coming in the very near future...

HAPPY AUTUMN, to one and all!!!

Sweet, New Little Baby!

2011-10-04T08:18:00.002-07:00

Gina, Will, and Sean

My wonderful, beautiful, amazing younger sister, GINA, had a beautiful baby GIRL yesterday. She's a tiny little peanut, weighing only 6 pounds 14oz and measuring only 17 1/2 " long! Awww!

I hear she has dark hair like her daddy, and her daddy's dimple, but her mommy's nose. I dreamed about her all night last night, and wish I could whisk myself away to California this very instant to meet her!!!

*sigh*

Her name is still being decided, but I've seen the list of possibilities, and I know it will be a good one.

Welcome to the world, little angel. Your Auntie Rachel loves you already!!!

Why I'm Quitting Facebook

2011-09-30T16:50:00.001-07:00

"Lady Looking at Drawings" by Adolpho Belimbau, 1894

... {Or maybe I should title this post "Goodbye Facebook, Hello Life!"}

It is no secret that I have loved spending time on Facebook. I am a BIGTIME social butterfly, and FB made it so very easy to not only connect, but "hang out" with some of my favorite people in the universe-- especially friends I haven't seen in ages or family members I don't get the chance to see very often.

BUT... Starting today, I am quitting, jumping ship, abandoning cyberspace, whatever you want to call it, because I need to be a big girl and LIVE MY LIFE.

For anyone who'd like me to be more specific, I give you my "Reasons Why I'm Quitting Facebook" List:

MY REASON NUMBER ONE:

It is frightening, but true, that my house, my family, and MY CHILDREN have suffered because of all this wonderful socializing I've been doing. My children would have an easier time recognizing the back of my head in a crowd than they would know me seeing my face.

And that is, frankly, TRAGIC.

My kids are growing up, moving on, and they need a REAL MOTHER. With a face and everything.

REASON NUMBER 2:

I'm sure this will shock everyone, but I have a very addictive personality. With almost anything (well, anything pleasant) I don't hesitate-- I JUMP in with both feet!

And Facebook has been no different for me. For example, I have almost 600 friends, I have a ton of pictures posted, I change my profile picture and information at least every month, if not every week, and I feel it is my duty to comment or "Like" all of my friends' posts, pictures, links, and notes. (What if someone thinks I don't like them?!)

REASON NUMBER 3:

I am in the midst of several IMPORTANT writing projects, and I have sadly been wasting my precious, scheduled "Writing Time" hanging out on Facebook. And so the only writing that's been happening has been rushed, poorly-written blog articles. And only because of deadlines. Oops.

I have finally realized that typing LOL and {{{HUGS}}} over and over again is not really helping me improve my writing skills-- ya know?

REASON NUMBER 4:

I recently had an epiphany about Facebook itself. In the last few weeks, Facebook has changed its format-- which it does quite often.

But this recent change really frustrated me. It came right at a time when I was trying to reasonably reduce the amount of time I was wasting there, and yet the new changes were taking away my choices of what friends and stories I wanted to see. It also added a feature that showed everything that my friends were saying, commenting on, posting to OTHER friends-- people I do not know.

The privacy issues at Facebook are now more intrusive than ever. And with all the "Friends" I have on Facebook, I have neither the time nor inclination to comb through every friend and change my settings for them.

Not only that, how could I know that ALL my friends would also be willing to do the same for me? It was like, the people at Facebook were TRYING to get me to waste more of my time there, adjusting and fixing everything, and getting comfortable with the new format.

And then it hit me. Right between the eyes.

YES! They WANT me to WASTE MY TIME hanging out on Facebook.

But why? What do they care?

BECAUSE, the more time people STAY on Facebook, the more likely people are to click on an ad, (supporting their sponsors, which is how they earn money) or play a game where I spend money on non-existent items.

Guess what, folks? FACEBOOK IS THE NEW TELEVISION. Facebook keeps people distracted, busy, obsessed with doing NOTHING, all in the name of earning money. Sound familiar?

I used to think that Facebook was "The New Town Square," the place where "The Great Debate" was going on. I am now ashamed to say that I talked MANY people into joining Facebook using this argument.

But it's not true.

Does anyone really do any deep, meaningful thinking while they're on Facebook?

How about nurturing relationships--with those CLOSEST to us???

Does Facebook make our homes happier places?

Does it add to, or take away from, our family togetherness?

I think these are questions worth asking. And so I did.

And the answer I came to was that even though Facebook is an ego-boost for me, even though I enjoy yakking to everyone else in the world, and even though I've been able to stay in touch with many wonderful people, I find myself with a choice-- as my wonderful cousin-in-love ReNee put it-- between GOOD, BETTER, and BEST.

And today, I've chosen.

P.S.-- I will keep my blogs attached to my Facebook account, so that anyone who wants to know what's going on with me and mine can stay in touch. I have decided that the Blogosphere is really where "the Great Conversation" is happening, and I'll be working on my writing skills there. I would also love an e-mail from any of my friends and family, as well. You can always get in touch with me at libermama at gmail dot com.

Love,
Rachel

Idaho Trip: Take 2

2011-09-23T08:53:00.001-07:00

Foolish Carriage from "Cheaper by the Dozen"

This has been
"The Summer of Driving."

To recap, we traveled to Idaho at the end of June when Russell's Grandma K passed away and ended up staying for about 3 weeks because of our K family reunion in July. It was inspiring and touching!

It was a sixteen hour drive EACH way.

Then, in August, we traveled to Northern CA for our W family reunion. It was wonderful!!!

It was also a sixteen hour drive EACH way.

Next we have the month of September. Russell's Grandpa K. joined his wife in the Spirit World and we drove to Idaho again. It was a touching, yet heartrending, visit. (More on this to come.)

You guessed it-- sixteen hours EACH WAY.

And now, Russell's brother is set to get married. In October. Any guesses on where we'll be?

Okay, don't guess right now. Please.

I'm off to continue unpacking. Why? I have no idea.

Your trucking buddy,
Me

Life Lessons

2011-09-04T17:08:00.002-07:00

What a week this has been! But before I begin, I am not having a pity party, and I am not trying to get anyone to feel sorry for me. Rather, I have learned so much this week, that I simply HAVE to record all the tender feelings and life lessons I have learned, so that I never, ever forget to be kind and treat all God's children as the miracles they are.

Monday, I woke up to find that I was miscarrying.

*sigh*

This is the second miscarriage I have had since Eryn was born, the previous one happening on April Fool's day of this year. That makes six total for me.

I was only a few weeks along, but I was looking forward to having another sweet baby. I know my time of bearing children is nearly over, but I don't feel ready yet! I want to invite all the children God wants us to care for, and one more boy would be such a beautiful end to the wonderful family we have been blessed with.

But there are MY plans, and then there are GOD's plans. And I hope I finally know from personal experience that His always work out better than my own.

Monday was the day before my birthday. I thought that was hard enough.

The next day, I got word that a hastily written and posted article I had authored was not only being hotly debated, but that I had become the subject of ridicule and scorn.

My first reaction was to feel defensive about it, and justify my strongly-worded article. But as the day wore on, I decided to let go of any hurt and shock I was feeling, and just take in the criticism with a peaceful heart.

I now realize how the Lord had humbled me in preparation for a hurtful situation. I could have cried and sworn off of writing forever, or I could have waded into the discussion with indignation and anger. Instead, I found myself being changed and refined.

A few days later, I read this for the second time this year, and cried as I thought about the people I may have hurt with my opinionated article. And then, yesterday, my sweet Russell took me to see "The Help" and I sobbed all over again.

We are all fragile. Each person on this earth has magnificent hopes, crippling fears, and astounding dreams. And all of us sometime rush in with passion, unknowingly bumping and bruising souls all along the way.

I am sorry.

I am so sorry.

It was not-- it IS not-- my duty to rush in and "set people straight."

My words cannot be taken back. But I CAN learn a lesson from this experience. I CAN love people more fully, more tenderly, more sincerely, and more kindly.

I am so grateful for the chance to begin again.

"Remember that whatsoever measure you mete out to others, it shall be measured to you again." ~Joseph Smith

Reunion Delights

2011-08-16T18:26:00.001-07:00

Windmill Colony just east of L.A.

Last Wednesday, we woke up early, ate breakfast, loaded all eleven kids, one dog, and two parents in the 15-seater van, (it was prepacked the day before, thank goodness!) and drove over and up to Sacramento, CA. (I have a million and one pictures, but I'll try to be good and not post every single one. Just ALMOST every, single one...)

More windmills

My AMAZING sister, Gina, welcomed us to her home with open arms. We got to see her sweet husband, Sean, and FINALLY meet her adorable little guy, Will.

Beautiful 8-months-pregnant Gina, with her William and our Miss Eryn


Will and Sean in front of the super-cool fireplace Gina painted in her house

We laughed, we cried, we took a million pictures, ribbed my dad about anything and everything, laughed some more, and all the cousins played with each other and created mayhem all around. Isn't that what reunions are for?

My Dierdre and Wade's Libby eating breakfast on the first morning.

The Boys!

A couple little girls

Pa cooking scrambled eggs

Granna, his lovely assistant

Everybody eating good ole' grits, hashbrowns, eggs, and bacon. Yum!

Eryn and Will were highchair buddies

We outsmarted Mr. Sun and moved to the front yard for lunch. Ha!

Gina's cute little family!

Beany Wade hamming it up. (Rico... suave...)

It was so fun to see the cousins playing, playing, playing together. Grayse and Isaac had a great time with one another!

Young Keppners

Posin' cousins

Pa's typical after-meal pose... ;-) (Hee! Love you Daddy!)

I have to admit that I was very worried about this reunion. My siblings and I rarely see each other, and have all gone down very different life paths, including spiritually. We are a family made up of very stubborn people with strong opinions, and honestly, I was expecting World War 3 to happen. Instead, we had a beautiful, loving, enjoyable time. *whew!*

Keppners and Libby ready to hit the beach!

Ronan got to ride with Wade and his boys, Isaac and Ethan.

"Here we come, Santa Cruz!"

The beach down in Santa Cruz was AWESOME!!! Below are a TON of pictures, but it's a memory I never want to forget. It was the first time my kids had EVER seen the ocean, and it was the first time Russell ever remembers playing on an actual beach in the rolling waves. (Putting his feet in the ocean in San Fran and getting in the water as a one-year-old just don't count!)

It was cold and misty, but we charged in anyway!

That water is COLD!

Eryn is just delighted to be outside.

Morganne lived up to her name's meaning, "where the foam meets the shore", and rode almost every wave while we were there. She was a vision of joy!

Attempting to build a sea-proof fortress. (It didn't work!)

Gina and Granna helped the little girls be BRAVE!

Liberty, Bonny, and Ethan are happy the sun came out.

The tiny girls tried to help Lliam and Brennan build a water trench.

Brrr!

Morganne the Mermaid

Cutie 'Kenna

Pa was cold and a bit nervous about the powerful waves, but he helped keep little kids dry and blankets and towels clear of sand. (He also was holding almost everyone's cameras at one time or another!)

Morganne and Russell riding wave after wave

Will was not thrilled about the noisy, pushy waves.

After our long day traveling to Santa Cruz, playing on the beach, and eating a picnic lunch, we decided to head back up to Sacramento along the coast, and then across the Golden Gate Bridge. The trip along the coast, seeing the farms of organic crops planted right up to the seashore was breathtaking! I so wished we had been able to take the time to stop and get some produce at the fruit stands!

A REAL lighthouse! (Yes, I'm a nube!)

Seeing the mist envelope the green hills like a blanket made me feel like I was in the UK. We nearly froze to death when we stopped for a BBQ dinner further up along the coast, but it was a beautiful, magical day!

Freezing on a short cliff above a misty, windy beach.

BBQ! Food hot, people chilled...

Some of us who liked the warmth of the van. (Ethan, Eryn, and Morganne)

Sweet Ethan reading Eryn a story. I told him I'd be willing to adopt him!

On the last day together, we headed over to a park to get family pictures taken. Gina's friend, Sara, was a great photographer and so kind to photograph our large group.

Almost everybody in the Williams clan! (Except Abby-- we sure missed having her with us!)

Granna and Pa with all the grandkids

Gina, Will, and Sean

Granna and Pa

Those cuh-razy Williams!

Sisters with their favorite brother

I have a TON more pictures of my kids playing in the park, but I'll save those for another day. (I think I almost made Blogspot cry with the picture overload...)

FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER!!! And I want to be with mine that long!

August Update

2011-08-06T07:34:00.002-07:00

Funny Miss Eryn

First of all, I am STILL off sugar. (Yay!) I passed the 2 week mark this past Wednesday, and I am feeling GREAT! I'm still taking just one day at a time, but I have been surprised that it's been easier than I supposed-- especially when I have sweet and amazing teenaged daughters who have been experimenting with honey-sweetened treats. (Thanks, girls!)

Morganne with Mr. Tumnus

Secondly, we adopted a new little mutt-doggie whom we've named "Mr. Tumnus." Poor little guy came from a family who was never home, and he was suffering from separation anxiety with them. But he has mellowed and settled in with our family, I guess because we're nearly ALWAYS home! LOL! He has been a wonderful addition to our family!

Worn out kids (And I have no idea why Grayse insisted on wearing footie pj's and snuggled under a quilt!)

Summertime always gives us a bit of cabin fever (HOT here!), so the kids have been getting more creative. Which is GOOD and bad. (Depending on the age, really.) We've been pretty busy, and August is no exception. I've been really looking forward to a new study group we are forming, based on "Fourth Turning" principles. Our first meeting is tonight, and I'm STOKED! :-)

A New Block Wall! YAY!!!

Our wonderful landlord hired a fast crew to put up a new block fence in our backyard. The old fence was wood that had rotten to the point that it would fall down when a strong wind came up. Russell and the boys tried fixing it over and over and over again, but the wood was just too old to stay up. Now we don't have to worry about it any more. Hooray!!!

Three little cuties in a great Goodwill-found office chair


Adorable Miss Grayse Dawn

We are traveling to CA soon for a Williams family reunion at my sister, Gina's house. The kids are sooo excited to go to the beach for the first time! I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to share when we get back.

Ronan turned eight yesterday, and will baptized on the 20th. (I'm excited to share his special day soon!) Russell and I have our 19th anniversary on the 14th, Lliam turns 15 on the 23rd, and I turn 29 (again) on the 30th. (Wow, that's a lot of numbers in that sentence...)

Happy August, everybody! :-)

Five Days Sugar Free!

2011-07-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

I think I can...

I think I can...

I think I can...

And I am!

Whenever I get a craving for something sweet, I eat fruit, or fruit sweetened bars. (They are really yummy!) And my sweet Bonny even made me some sugar free molasses cookies the other day. They were great!

I'm finding that if I eat meals on time, then I don't crave sweets as much. BUT, if I don't eat when hunger starts to set in, then I want SUGAR almost immediately.

I've also found that drinking water often helps, because sometimes my body misinterprets my thirst for hunger. So I'm working on being more hydrated, too.

Thanks for all the support! It really helps me A LOT, because I now have lots of folks to answer to. YAY! I appreciate y'all cheering me on! :-D

Conquering a Sugar Addiction

2011-07-21T21:14:00.004-07:00

I have ALWAYS had a sweet tooth. You know the obsession that kids have with candy and how they want it all the time, and would eat it all the time, if they could? That was me. As a grown-up.

And no, ladies, I am not big on chocolate. I'll eat it, it's fine. But. I. Love. CANDY. (And Cookies.)

You know that kind of person who buys the marshmallow Peeps as soon as they hit the shelves, and then keep them stocked in their cupboards until that particular holiday is over? (Did you know they have Peeps for pretty much every holiday but Labor Day now? It's true!)

That was me.

Until now.

See, this thing called "getting older" has been happening to me. (dang!) I feel out of balance, my teeth are not doing well, and I'm having issues with my thyroid. (Whee... I told you I was getting old.)

It is not pretty, let me tell you!

I've been justifying my sweets-munching habit, because I started drinking green smoothies, exercising, eating more veggies, drinking kefir, and trying to be more conscious of the portion size on my plate.

So I figured I didn't need to give up my beloved sweets.

And then, yesterday morning I woke up knowing that I had to do more to take care of the body the Lord has given me. I realized that I have been an unwise steward, and it's coming back to bite me in my ever-expanding-you-know-what...

So, I decided that just for yesterday I would go 24 hours without ANY sugar. None. Zip. Na-da.

And I did it! I was so proud! But I figured that was a good test of my self-control, and that I would be free and clear to dive into the ice cream today.

THEN, I posted about my successful 24 hours on Facebook and voiced my uncertainty about going off sugar completely.

WOW! I had a huge response! My friends gave me so much support, encouragement, and even recipes, I started to think more seriously about quitting.

Honey: my new best friend!

I've decided to take it one day at a time, which feels less daunting to me at this stage in the game. After going today without ANY sugar, I feel much more balanced, my teeth are not bothering me, and I have more energy. My mind isn't as foggy.

Who knew?!

I think I CAN do this!

One day at a time.

*For more help in conquering my sugar addiction, I have found a great article that I highly recommend to others who might be battling their craving for sweets: Slay the Sugar Monster in Four Doable Steps

Honoring Our Grandparents

2011-07-15T09:10:00.002-07:00

Summertime in the North is a beautiful time of year-- like heaven! We had a wonderful time visiting family, playing outside, and staying up WAAAYY too late.

We had some very tender and sweet experiences with grandparents-- the kids' great-grandparents-- that made big impressions and beautiful memories.

My beautiful Grandma Nielsen is so elegant!

My Grandma Nielsen is one of my personal heroes. She works harder than any other person I've ever met, and her strong faith, her love of country, and her indomitable spirit hold our extended family together in a bond that is amazing.

She has some health problems and has been without my Grandpa for nine years, but she keeps herself busy doing Church Humanitarian projects, participating in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers organization, and-- most of all-- actively serving in her ward (church congregation). In fact, one weekend we were up North, she spoke in church. (And I understand from my mom that she did a great job!)

Her excellent example effects me everyday, and I know that I have my strong convictions about right and wrong in great measure because of her strong faith and example.

Grandma Nielsen with all the kids

We also got to visit with Russell's Pike grandparents. He was very close to them when he was growing up, and they have always treated me like one of their own grandkids. In fact, it was meeting his grandparents for the first time that made me see how much I loved Russell and how much I wanted the kind of relationship they have. (I often joke with him that I married him for his grandparents!)

At our first meeting they sat and told us how they met; singing in the county fair talent show. Russell and I met in a community production of "My Fair Lady" and used to sing together all the time. We occasionally sing together as a family, too.

Granny Pike, meeting her namesake Eryn Mildred

When they came over to Russell's parents' house during the family reunion, Brennan played a song on the guitar that Granny Pike had once sent us. And she sat there and sang along with him as he played.

When we visited their home a few days later, Russell, Lliam, and Brennan sat on Grandpa's bed and talked while Granny and I visited in the livingroom and the other kids chased around their two enormous dogs. Grandpa honored us in the sweetest way by bestowing one of his beautiful guitars on Brennan, who's been learning the instrument. It was so wonderful to spend time with them, yet it was so hard to see them struggling with their health. We love them so much!

Russell with his Grandma

At the end of our visit, they asked us to please sing for them. It's the only thing they've ever asked of us and we were so thrilled to fill that one little request. The feelings were so sweet and tender as we stood in their little bedroom-- Grandpa laying in his bed with Granny sitting close by, her eyes twinkling-- and sang our hearts out to these amazing people. As we left, Grandpa held my hand and thanked me, and then he asked us to send them a recording of all of us singing together. I said that we would.

We are so grateful for the heritage of love and faith all of our grandparents have given us! I pray that we will always honor them by the living the way they have shown us to live.

Grandma Nadine

2011-06-30T08:32:00.001-07:00

We traveled to Idaho to attend Russell's grandmother's funeral. It was wonderful to see so many family members as we celebrated Grandma Nadine's full life. What a great lady she is!

Sweet Dierdre has such a tender heart.

Russell taking Grayse and Avalon over to say goodbye.

Family

Birthday Girl Eryn!

2011-06-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

I don't know how it could have happened. Where have I been?!

She was just born yesterday-- wasn't she?

You know, I never gave her permission to do this growing up stuff.

But she did it anyway, that clever, clever girl.

I didn't think that I could be the mother of ELEVEN, but I am so very VERY grateful and humbled that God trusted me with one of his sweetest and brightest angels.

And I'm so glad she's mine, even if she is growing up in spite of all my protests!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, PRECIOUS ERYN!!!

My Opinionated Thoughts Page

2011-06-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

"Psst! She's really opinionated!"

Due to the demands of friends, I decided to add a new page here, with links to the various opinion pieces I've written as part of this blog. So, if you're interested, check it out! :-)

My Opinionated Thoughts

Love ya,

Rachel

Summertime-- It's All About Attitude!

2011-06-07T17:04:00.002-07:00

(Artist and Title Unknown)

I'd give all wealth that years have piled,
The slow result of Life's decay,
To be once more a little child
For one bright summer day.
("Solitude" by Lewis Carroll)

I was recently asked by the Relief Society (my church's women's organization) in my ward to put together and present a workshop on "Boredom Busters: What to do with your kids in the summer".

*gulp*

Now, I'm not scared or nervous to teach a class or talk in front of people. In fact, it's one of my favorite things to do! HOWEVER, as you should know if you're familiar with my blog here, I have some strong opinions about certain issues, and the idea of teaching a class on what moms can plan and do to keep their kids "busy" in the summer could have been dangerous territory for ALL of us!

But, as I pondered about it, and discussed it with my husband, my mom, and a good friend I greatly admire, I came to the conclusion that the women on the activity committee must have been inspired to ask me, so I was going to go forward with kindness, love, while still being true to myself and my convictions.

I am happy to report that it was well received, and I felt peaceful about delivering the words that Heavenly Father wanted me to say. WHEW!

I've been planning to share my notes from the class for a while, but when I read this awesome article today, I knew I had to be brave here on my blog, as well, and share what I presented to the wonderful ladies in my amazing ward. (Love you gals!) I think that now, at the beginning of summer, is the ideal time! So here goes:

Summertime: It's All About Attitude!

I have two questions to ask you.

1. What are the complaints you get from your children throughout the summer?

2. Now, what are the words that YOU think of when you contemplate your children being with you every day, all day long in the summer?

Now look at your two answers. Do you see a similar theme running between the two? When you think of your honest responses to both questions, do you sense a connection?

May I suggest that both the children in our homes-- AND us-- need an attitude adjustment!

Seeing Summertime as an Opportunity

Instead of seeing summer vacation as a trial, with attempts to fill every moment of our childrens' days with things to do outside our homes, I challenge us to see the summer months as an OPPORTUNITY to re-connect with our children. A phrase that's been playing over and over again in my head these last few months is this:

"Behold Your Little Ones"

A recent conference address given by the LDS General Primary President, Jean A. Stevens, has reinforced what this phrase means in our every day lives:

Elder M. Russell Ballard has taught us the importance of the Savior’s admonition to 'behold your little ones' when he said: 'Notice that He didn’t say ‘glance at them’ or ‘casually observe them’ or ‘occasionally take a look in their general direction.’ He said to behold them. To me that means that we should embrace them with our eyes and with our hearts; we should see and appreciate them for who they really are: spirit children of our Heavenly Father, with divine attributes' " (“Behold Your Little Ones,” Tambuli, Oct. 1994, 40; emphasis added; “Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children,” Ensign, Apr. 1994, 59).

Are we stopping in all of our rushing about to behold-- really SEE-- our children? Are they strangers to us? Do we know their hopes, their dreams, their concerns? When was the last time we looked in the eyes of our children to see their very souls?

Our time with our children is so fleeting, and we have only a few years where they are under our influence and in our homes. Are we taking advantage of this time? Are we cherishing these moments with OUR little ones?

LDS President Thomas S. Monson has said the following:

"My brothers and sisters, time with your children is fleeting. Do not put off being with them now. Someone put it another way: Live only for tomorrow, and you will have a lot of empty yesterdays today." (April 2005 General Conference)

Four-Letter Words
When we have our children at home with us during school breaks, we are given the great gift of TIME. I would like to share four other four-letter words that can help us know what to do with our kids, while we have them all to ourselves.

Our Little Girls Demonstrating Free PLAY Time

I. PLAY: This should say it all! Children need time to run, explore, soak up the sun, climb trees, make mud pies, and use their imaginations. THEY CANNOT DO THIS IF WE OVER-SCHEDULE THEIR TIME OR LET THEM FILL IT WITH MEDIA DISTRACTIONS.

Rousseau framed childhood with this thought.:

"You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? never in his life will he be so busy again."

Children learn best through free, unstructured play. When parents over-schedule or over-stimulate their children, they are robbing them of the chance to think, explore, imagine, and think about the great things in the universe. There have been several articles* in recent years about the toll that over-scheduling is taking on families. And when our children are being electronically stimulated by game consoles, television, movies, or computer games, they are NOT able to let their minds wander and ponder.

I think it can be a fun and exciting family challenge to try a Media or Game Fast for a few days, a week, or even a month, during the summer. But we can't just empty the time, and then walk away from our children. We can play with them! Give them ideas of things to try, like building a fort out of cushions and blankets, catching bugs, going on nature walks, or running through the sprinklers. We need to remember that kids spell "LOVE" T.I.M.E.. How much of it are we spending with them?

That brings me to the second "Four-Letter Word":

Sisterly LOVE

II. LOVE:

Summertime gives us more opportunities to say "I love you," and to spend time face to face with our little ones. Love is what urges us to share our testimonies with our children. When we share that precious possession with our children, we are giving them our greatest treasure! Our love for our children is only enriched and enlarged by our love for our Heavenly Father.

Do our children know, feel, and see our devotion to truth? Do they know what we believe? What we reverence?

Margaret S. Lifferth put it this way:

"Children are open to gospel truths more than at any other time, and protected childhood is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to teach and strengthen children to choose the right."

Fredrick Douglass once said:

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

Summertime is a wonderful time to help nurture and build our children's personal testimonies!

We can also show our love for our children by establishing new, or reinforcing old, traditions. Is there something we can try this summer that we've always wanted to try? A small town Independence Day parade? A camping trip or two? A visit to relatives at the Family Reunion?

Traditions. Make some!

Caught in the Act of Cleaning!

III. WORK:

School vacations are a FABULOUS time to teach our children how to WORK! We all want our children to leave our homes knowing how to care for themselves. All parents hope their kids will step out into the world as capable, independent people. But when our kids are always gone from home, how can they learn the skills they need? The schools are not the place for them to learn those things, and sports practices, music and dance lessons, and loads of homework keep the teaching of home skills at bay, as well.

So, vacation time can be a great gift to parents, if we utilize it. If we have older children, the domestic clocks are really ticking away, and we should start teaching life skills NOW.

Assigning chores is important. However, our children cannot succeed at housework until they are taught HOW the work should be done. Family Work-- work done together-- is the key to this teaching. The very best advice on how to implement a culture of Family Work is found in an amazing article by Kathleen Slaugh Bahr of Brigham Young University.

Sister Bahr gives us lots of reasons why Family Work is so important. (This is a LONG quote, but it's all so good!):

"Ironically, it is the very things commonly disliked about family work that offer the greatest possibilities for nurturing close relationships and forging family ties. Some people dislike family work because, they say, it is mindless. Yet chores that can be done with a minimum of concentration leave our minds free to focus on one another as we work together. We can talk, sing, or tell stories as we work. Working side by side tends to dissolve feelings of hierarchy, making it easier for children to discuss topics of concern with their parents. Unlike play, which usually requires mental concentration as well as physical involvement, family work invites intimate conversation between parent and child."

"We also tend to think of household work as menial, and much of it is. Yet, because it is menial, even the smallest child can make a meaningful contribution. Children can learn to fold laundry, wash windows, or sort silverware with sufficient skill to feel valued as part of the family. Since daily tasks range from the simple to the complex, participants at every level can feel competent yet challenged, including the parents with their overall responsibility for coordinating tasks, people, and projects into a cooperative, working whole."

"Another characteristic of ordinary family work that gives it such power is repetition. Almost as quickly as it is done, it must be redone. Dust gathers on furniture, dirt accumulates on floors, beds get messed up, children get hungry and dirty, meals are eaten, clothes become soiled. As any homemaker can tell you, the work is never done. When compared with the qualities of work that are prized in the public sphere, this aspect of family work seems to be just another reason to devalue it. However, each rendering of a task is a new invitation for all to enter the family circle. The most ordinary chores can become daily rituals of family love and belonging. Family identity is built moment by moment amidst the talking and teasing, the singing and storytelling, and even the quarreling and anguish that may attend such work sessions."

"Some people also insist that family work is demeaning because it involves cleaning up after others in the most personal manner. Yet, in so doing, we observe their vulnerability and weaknesses in a way that forces us to admit that life is only possible day-to-day by the grace of God. We are also reminded of our own dependence on others who have done, and will do, such work for us. We are reminded that when we are fed, we could be hungry; when we are clean, we could be dirty; and when we are healthy and strong, we could be feeble and dependent. Family work is thus humbling work, helping us to acknowledge our unavoidable interdependence; encouraging (even requiring) us to sacrifice "self" for the good of the whole." ~(Family Work by Kathleen Slaugh Bahr)

Former President of the LDS Church, Spencer W. Kimball stated the reasons for Family Work beautifully:

"Who can gauge the value of that special chat between daughter and Dad as they weed or water the garden? ... And how do we measure the family togetherness and cooperating that must accompany successful canning? Yes, we are laying resources in store, but perhaps the greater good is contained in the lessons of life we learn."

Sister Reading to Brother

IV. READ

There is power in a shared experience, and when we share a great book with our children, we have something wonderful to discuss! When we cry together, sit at the edge of our seats in suspense, and laugh at funny circumstances, we bond together as a family. And when the story is an enriching tale filled with the struggle between good and evil, we are also teaching our children important lessons they would never learn from sitting through a parental lecture.

When we read "out of the best books" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118), we learn about the intricacies of human nature, about the differences between right and wrong. We also learn how to transform ourselves into the people God needs us to be.

When we read as a family, we should also take it one step further, and have those discussions which modern laws forbid the classroom to have. We should reinforce the lessons these good books teach us. Would we be strong enough to act as Jane Eyre did? Is it right to choose romantic love above personal convictions? What is right? What is wrong? What would WE do in that character's place? Our children need to be able to answer the vital questions we ask. The Socratic Method can be utilized, and every parent can begin those kinds of great discussions with the simple question of "Why?".

Great books inspire us, they change us. And when we read great books together as a family, we can ALL be transformed!

Pile on Dad!

HOME IS A HAVEN

Our homes should be the sanctuaries our children run to, away from the chaos and turmoil of the world. In their time at home, they are OURS alone, if we turn off the media and the distractions, allowing them to be our own.

Think of all the wonderful possibilities this summer holds for our families! Let's laugh together! Learn together! Play together! Sing together! Work together! Read together!

I challenge each of us to try some of these things together with our families during school breaks this year. The Lord will help us!

It never takes a "special kind of mom" to spend time with her children.

It only takes an inspired one.

Love,
Rachel

*Links to articles on over-scheduling children:
1. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200301/the-overbooked-child
2. http://www.parenthood.com/article-topics/overscheduled_children.html
3. http://www.movingandlearning.com/Resources/Articles16.htm

Our Ballerina Bonny

2011-05-26T17:03:00.002-07:00

Miss Bonny Dianne, Age 12

First of all, I can't believe how grown up my pretty little Bon-bon is getting. This year she started attending Mutual (our church's youth group), studied hard in her Constitution and American History studies, as well as Shakespeare. She got more serious with her ballet lessons, and she will attend her first Girls' Camp in a couple weeks. She cooks, she cleans, she does laundry, and she keeps me organized.

Long ago, before I became pregnant with Bonny, I had three little kids, ages 3 and under. I wanted to wait before the next baby-- I wasn't sure I "could handle" any more. In truth, I just was feeling selfish and wanted to get back to my own interests in performing and directing shows. But the Spirit kept telling me there was a little girl waiting to come. After raving and complaining for a while, I finally received a priesthood blessing from my husband, and in it, the Lord told me that I should NOT delay in getting pregnant, and I was was promised that "This next child will be a great blessing to you and your family."

And she IS!!! Oh, how grateful I am that I followed the Lord's counsel to me, and welcomed this beautiful daughter into our family circle. She blesses us and brings us joy daily. I can't wait to see what her future holds for her!

Here are two videos of her recent ballet recital. I'm so proud of how hard she worked, and how responsible she is! I am also so pleased that she decided to be modest, and wore a skin-colored leotard under her regular costume. I think she was much more comfortable than the other girls because she didn't have to worry about showing too much. :-)

Life after the Shakespeare Play

2011-05-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

The Cast of "The Comedy of Errors"

I think it's finally sinking in that the show is over.

Wow.

For a number of reasons, this was the most STRESSFUL time I've ever had directing a show. BUT, it was still wonderful; I love all my actors and their parents, and I think they still love me, so it's all good. *wink*

Some of the gorgeous girls in our show

I am especially pleased with how the costumes turned out. We had some great seamstresses helping us! (Thank you Mom, Heather, Toni, Staci, Audrey,and Samantha! Oh, and I sewed some, too.)

Here are some photos of the cast in action on stage, as well as goofing off. I'm sure going to miss these kids!!!

Brennan as Antipholus of Syracuse being tied up by Madame Pinch's "Minions"

Bonny, Alyssa, Rebecca and Carli

"Satan, avoid!"

Beautiful "sisters"

"I'm not mad, you doting witch"

"'My Gold,' quoth he!"

About this year's show:

We set Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" in 1774 Jamaica, and it was SO FUN!!! The cast did great, and we had some wonderful audiences. I'm tired, and a bit relieved it's all over, but at the same time, I miss all my actors and the team we formed these last few months.

I love you, YES Kids!!! See you at the cast party!!!

Love,
Mrs. K.

My testimony

2011-04-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

"He is Risen" by Greg Olsen

This beautiful Easter Sabbath, I want to share my testimony of Jesus Christ with my family, friends, and blog readers.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I know that he lived a perfect life. I know that He healed the sick and the infirm and that He healed-- and continues to heal-- the hearts of all people. I know He is the long-awaited Holy Messiah.

I know that He suffered for all the sins, the pains, the heartaches, and all the sufferings of all mankind throughout all time and ages. I also know He suffered willingly, and because of His great love for ALL of us. I am so grateful for His sacrifice and pure love for each one of us!

I know that because of Christ's suffering and death, along with the sacred covenants I and my husband have made in the Lord's house, I can be with God and with my family for time and all eternity. This is the greatest gift the Lord can give me, and I pray for it and work toward it with all my heart and might.

I testify that the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, will come again in his glory and majesty, to rule and reign over all the earth.

I know all that I have written above to be true not because of anything anyone has told me or because of my own ideas and thoughts. I know the truth of these things because of the undeniable, strong witness of the Holy Ghost I have received after much prayer and study.

And I bear strong witness of these sacred things in the holy name of Jesus Christ, my savior, Amen.

Happy Easter and Hosannah to all the world!!!

Love,
Rachel

He Lives!

2011-04-22T10:03:00.006-07:00

March 2011 Memories

2011-04-08T19:34:00.002-07:00

Life has been so hectic lately! We're in our last month of rehearsals, costume-making, finding a location and general STRESS of putting on a Shakespeare play. (We'll be performing "A Comedy of Errors" on May 6th and 7th, location TBA. Anyone got a great location suggestion???)

Anyway, I realize it's been forever since I posted last, so I just thought I'd share some pictures of all the recent goings-on in our family. We love and miss all our friends and family-- I promise we'll be back in touch AFTER May 7th.

*grin*

Avalon "driving" her big brother, Lliam

March has been filled with family fun! We had fun places to go, and wonderful people to see.

Dad Russell and Cub Scout Gavin

One of the first events of the month was Gavin's final Pine Wood Derby of his Cub Scouting career.

We took the whole gang, and everybody had a fun time...

... EXCEPT Gavin, poor guy. He was really sad that his car didn't do better. But his car was probably the coolest-looking one there! It was silver with gold trim, and it had its name "The Ride of Sauron" painted down the sides. Lliam helped him paint the eye of Sauron on the top, and we decorated the rest of it with elvish and dwarvish runes. :-D

Yes, we are one of "those" families!

Brennan keeps practicing his music like crazy, and composes new pieces all the time. I've decided it's about time he has a different piano mentor other than me, so I'm on the hunt for a good one that doesn't charge too much. (Is there such a thing?) If you know of any in my area, please let me know.

Bonny and Morganne showing off their new creations: chocolate cookies with green mint icing.

We had a fun St. Paddy's Day at our house-- for some reason, we just love to do that holiday up big. We watched "Darby O'Gill and the Little People", and during that week also managed to watch "The Quiet Man" and "The Secret of Roan Inish". We also had our traditional (though not really Irish) feast of corned beef with cabbage, red potatoes, and green beans. I didn't cook the corned beef long enough, so it was not very good.

Russell attended "Drupal Con" in Chicago this year, and had a great time in the windy city. (I, however, did not envy him ONE bit! I was happy to stay here in my lovely Arizona!) For pictures of his trip, check out his Facebook picture album.

And THEN...


Aunt Abby knows how to have fun at our house!

AUNT ABBY CAME!!!!!!

Every March, Russell and I, and sometimes the big kids, travel up to Salt Lake City for the biggest TJEd (Thomas Jefferson Education) event in all the world! I've been blessed to teach a class at the TJEd Forum for a few years now, so we get to go to classes, drool over books to buy, and socialize with all our TJEd friends from all over the US and Canada. It's so wonderful!!!

And each year, our sweet Abby has come to babysit the younger kids. They ALL look forward to it!

Three Adorable Girls!

Abby is the funnest aunt! She brings them fun things to do, and plays with them all day. She is so amazing to be willing to spend her Spring Break with eleven kids, but they all love her. She's a rock star at our house!

Happy Birthday, Gavin!

This year and last, the TJEd Forum fell on the same weekend as Gavin's birthday. I worried about it until he informed me that having Aunt Abby here is the best present he can have! This year, Abby brought him a bunch of squirt guns and they had a full day of playing outside in the water. Abby also gave Gavin a supply of chocolate for a present. As you can see, he LOVED it!

Always busy Dierdre and Ronan

For most of the month, life was pretty slow-paced. The weather has been gorgeous, so I've been encouraging the kids to be outside as much as possible before the heat sets in. We do most of our heavy studying in the summer here, because the kids can't be outside much by the time May rolls around, and then things don't cool off again until Halloween. (I feel sorry for the kids in public school classes who have to be sitting inside during all the gorgeous winter and spring days. They really should fix that down here!)

Is this a cute face, or what?!

Eryn is growing all too fast for me. In fact, she finally, after a month of pure crankiness, sprouted her fourth tooth; now she's got two on top, and two on bottom! She has finally earned the official title of "Snaggletooth."

Our Miss Millie (as I often call her) is standing up to things, crawling like a pro, and the kids take her by the hands to walk her all over the house. She's even starting to get into really fun things like the toilet water and the garbage can. *sigh*

Cruel and unusual punishment

Recently, I've been trying much harder to get more vegetables in our family's diet. I've been reading the book "The Green Smoothie Diet", and it has given me some great ideas about getting my kids to eat greens. I or Russell make a green smoothie each morning, and the kids all beg me for what's left. (Begging for spinach?! Yes! It works!!!) I also instituted a green salad requirement each night for dinner. Most of the kids are fine with it, even Brennan-the-picky-eater. But as you can see in the picture above, Grayse is not yet a fan. We'll get her there!

Caught in the act!

Ronan has been mastering the art of teasing his sisters, and I must say, he is really excelling in that area. In the picture above, he is showing off his skill at dropping ice down his sister's shirt. (Access to evidence is the real reason I let the kids use the digital camera!)

Baby!

Eryn, on the other hand, is a champion at finger-sucking. She really practiced a lot while she was teething.

Sleeping Beauties

While Russell was away in Chicago, I was busy for a while, sitting at his laptop, and found three little girls zonked out on my bed. Aren't they so cute?

I hope this post finds you all well and happy, and on the right path. Best wishes for a Happy April!!!

Love,
Rachel

Field Trip: Going to WAR!

2011-03-03T11:30:00.001-07:00

WARNING: This post includes LOTS of pictures. You have been forewarned! *wink*

A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity to attend the annual SCA Estrella War with our local homeschool friends on an educational tour. We always look forward to this great event, and are so thankful we got to go this year! (Initially, we were on a waiting list for the tour.)

The SCA (The Society for Creative Anachronism) is a medieval reenactment group with chapters all over the world. My husband and I used to "play" when we were first married, but experience taught us that it is not a family-friendly organization to be heavily involved in. We find that being able to attend Estrella War each year is just the right amount for our family.


Here we are gathering with our homeschool friends. (Check out Lliam's interaction with his younger brother. sigh)

The girls are ready to go!

This was our tour guide. She had a brand new baby with her, and a sore ankle, but she walked us all over the acres of encampment in order to show us everything.

This falconer was great! He knows so much about falconry, and was really kind to the kids.

Head of an SCA "Household." He was full of little known facts about medieval food, cooking, feasting, and living. His enthusiasm was super contagious!


The table and chairs are handmade and collapsible. This feasting hall was really amazing! I found myself wishing we could return later in the evening. (But then, I am not into drinking mead and singing medieval drinking songs. wink)

This lady played the part of a "pilgrim", and had lots of really cool stuff! She explained how rosary beads are made (out of rose petals!), and she had all kinds of small, handmade things a real pilgrim from medieval times would have carried as they made their way to Canterbury. (Notice Baby Eryn being held by my good friend, Toni. Doesn't she look cute in her little medieval dress and bonnet?)

Gavin really enjoyed trying on the Viking armor!

Our big boys probably spent 20 minutes standing here asking the Vikings questions. They were fascinated!

This lady had told us all about how real wool felt is made and shaped. Fascinating stuff!

Morganne was so happy to be there! (Doesn't she look pretty in the medieval dress Granna made her?!)

This woman was spinning wool thread. The wool yarn to her right was dyed with onion skins!

The cooking area was a real favorite with all the kids. They not only got to see cinnamon rolls being made, they got to taste samples, too!

Here's Grayse trying her hand at rolling biscuits.

They were really baking in these really cool clay ovens! They said that when the clay would crack, they'd just lay more wet clay on them. Then, when the event was over, they could just break them up, and sweep them away.

Here's a lady baking cinnamon rolls and telling us about how fire was the biggest danger medieval women faced. Cooking over an open flame is not as romantic as it sounds!

A BATTLE!!! The boys wished they could be out there in armor, too.

This fighter taught us a lot about the rules of fighting in the SCA. He was really nice.

We just HAD to take this picture of Avalon in front of one of the many shops on Merchant Row!

Talk About Living Simply!

2011-02-21T11:17:00.003-07:00

Living Simply-- Is it possible today?

Oh, my. I totally LOVE this woman's clutter-free, simple-living philosophy:

The Zero-Waste Home Blog

While I have very different reasons for wanting to live in such a way, and while I could NEVER give up my precious book collection, I do admire what's she's been able to accomplish and I long for her simpler way of living. She's a modern-day Ma Ingalls!!!

Can you imagine how much less stress we'd all have if we lived with LESS STUFF in our lives? I am salivating at the possibilities!

Now, do you think there's any chance I can talk my girls into giving up a ton of clothes and shoes? (I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth even now!) Hmmmm...

To read and watch more about this family's amazing lifestyle, follow more link below:

The Sunset Magazine Article (Where I heard about them first.)
A Video of living with "Zero Waste"

This calls for more de-cluttering today. (Woo-hoo!!!)

A Fire Re-lit

2011-02-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

Plato (I couldn't find a picture of Socrates!)

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend a wonderful event that exercised my brain in a way it hasn't been worked in a LONG time. It felt just like the days when Russell and I would trek up to Cedar City for another TJEd event, and come home, filled to the brim with excitement, enthusiasm, and inspiration to keep going another few months.

You see, these last couple of years I have not worked hard on my own education. We moved to another state, our Five Pillar group broke up, I've been swamped with mentoring Shakespeare, we moved back again, and I had a baby.

You could say I've been a bit busy.

But then, I attended the Southwest TJEd Forum yesterday, and I feel like my veins have directly been given the shot of inspiration and excitement I haven't been able to find for a very, VERY long time. My four biggest kids also attended, and it was a LIFE-CHANGING experience for them. They're rejuvenated and ready to focus more on their missions, as well as already pining away for their Forum friends. *grin* We're all walking around with new eyes and minds today!

I wish I could share everything I learned, thought, and felt, but that would take me hours! Here are some of the things that inspired me and the random list of the books that were mentioned throughout the day:

How can we lead unless we KNOW what is true, right, and good?
Nietzsche was the first one to use the word " values", rather than teaching about good and evil or wrong and right. It's interesting that he substituted the age-old terms of enlightened instruction with a purely economic term. How telling.
Charlotte Corday and the French Revolution: I have read several books on the French Revolution and I had never heard of Charlotte. I also did not know that the French Revolution started out as something good, and then turned into a blood bath once evil, ignorant people started taking over. (Marat) Charlotte's story reminded me that tyrants cannot be overthrown on passion alone-- the MORAL people in America, who were also EDUCATED in the LIBERAL ARTS, made the American Revolution successful. And because the French did not have the same kinds of people at the time of their revolution in France, it did NOT work. (Is it JUST to kill a tyrant? Is it EFFECTIVE to kill a tyrant?)

Charlotte Corday and Marat

I need to read Plato's Republic. (I think I'm finally ready!)
I need to research Plutarch's Parallel Lives
Justice is its OWN reward. (Thank you, Socrates!)
I am astounded-- yet not surprised-- at how wonderfully Socrates' philosophies on education mesh with the Learning Phases taught by TJEd. Truth is truth is truth. :-)
"Ethics of Elfland" by G.K. Chesterton
I need to sit down and listen to different types of music with my kids, and then discuss them together. We do this with books, but I haven't done that with music since my biggest ones were small. How could I forget there are "classics" of every kind? We need to do the same with great artwork.
Tell stories. It's from STORIES that we learn and become inspired to change and be better. There's a reason Christ taught in parables.
The BEGINNING is the most important part of any work. (Character Building is the MOST essential of ALL learning!)
Who knew that "The Headgate" would be in Plato's Republic? (There's that TRUTH stuff, again!)
I need to read and discuss Shakespeare's Henry V with my kids.
"History of the American People" by Paul Johnson
The Math taught in today's society is based on TRUST and FAITH (not PROOF!) that those who came before us actually PROVED their theorems. If I want to understand math, I need to go through the steps and the hard work MYSELF. Am I ready for Euclid? We shall see...
Leadership Education is all about ENVIRONMENT. That's it! ("The Headgate" again!)
Pray and ponder. Pray and ponder.
"Skills" do NOT equal EDUCATION.
I need to create an internal change in me (inspiration), so that I can create an inspiring external environment, so that our children can experience their own internal changes. (Everything is cycles.)
JUMP IN with both feet. I need to get back to the deep end. I've spent enough time taking a break in the shallow waters.
Getting MY education right now is not "ideal." I need to both accept and embrace that, and move forward, so that my CHILDREN can have the IDEAL education.
Never forget: IT'S ALL ABOUT MISSION.
"Teach the ideal, but then you DO what's RIGHT." Thank you, Oliver. (I could hear you saying it through Angie Baker.)
Go to the Eight Keys (And remember the Ninth: God, not men.)
"The Talent Code" by Daniel Coyle
"Study creates a more powerful motherhood."
Leadership Education is about PEOPLE, not about curricula or test scores. It's RESPONSIVE to what my family needs.
The Power of parental EXAMPLE is enormous! It can be used for good OR for bad.
We are ALWAYS teaching, whether by design or accident-- whether we homeschool or not.
As parents, are we cheerleaders, or coaches? (I choose to be a COACH!)
"The Spyglass" by Richard Paul Evans ("You've seen what might be. Now, go and make it so.")
WE, the parents, are the key.
"Work without vision is drudgery. Vision without work is just dreaming. Work PLUS vision is a dream come TRUE."
Pioneering: We'll learn and succeed by DOING!
I LOVED learning about Mentoring in ALL its forms: Peer Mentoring, Mentoring from the Classics, Classroom Mentoring, PARENT Mentoring, and Personal Mentoring
I am so excited to simplify my mentoring sessions with my kids!
Mentoring is RESPONDING.
"Eight Cousins" by Louisa May Alcott
"A parent's subtlest power is in Parent Mentoring."
Mentoring MULTIPLIES our efforts!
It's more important to prepare what my students NEED, than to prepare what I WANT to present to them. (Powerful mentoring follows.)
Madison was ONE little man who changed the WORLD. (If not us, then WHO?)
Genius is not a level of intellect-- it is a CALL. It has the same root word as "genie." A GENIUS is a guide, a path, a direction. We ALL have genius.
"Let us not be weary in well-doing..."
Find out more about the movie, "Secretariat"
TRUTH IS TRUTH
And much, much more...

The Day of the Many Pictures

2011-02-11T14:58:00.001-07:00

Sleepy Grayse

After we came back from our Thanksgiving trip up to Idaho, Avalon promptly took our digital camera in the back yard and broke it.

*sigh*

(Yes, this was right before her second birthday. And CHRISTMAS.)

After two months of no camera (other than Russell's cell phone), we have finally set aside enough money to get a new digital camera. YAY!

And so, I would like to declare today "The Day of the Many Pictures" here at Thoughts from the Hearth. I hope you enjoy looking at these pictures as much as I've enjoyed being able take them again!

I love this man of mine!

Beautiful, shy Didi

Gavin wants to know why I'm taking his picture.

MacKenna LOVES the camera!

Happy Eryn Millie!

Three of my beautiful girls.


Just Ronan


Lovely (though blurry) Avalon

And one more of Baby Eryn-- just because...

What I love about babies

2011-02-04T13:48:00.002-07:00

The way they kick and smile when I walk toward them to pick them up.
The tiny indentation at the base of their heads-- it's my favorite spot to kiss.
The sweet smell of their wee heads.
I love it when they learn to clap, and how they do it over and over again, just because they can.
Baby-babbling, complete with gurgling and spitting.
The way a baby seems to be born knowing how to hug and snuggle.
The contentment they feel being held and rocked.
Tiny, soft ears. Another great spot to kiss.
I love the way they giggle and squeal with delight.
Their cleverness in teaching adults the "Oops, I Dropped It Again" Game.
Happy kicks, bounces, and rocking back and forth.
Pouting lips when they wind up to cry.
Tiny tongues. (See the picture above.)
Grunts of happiness when they realize they're going to be fed.
Soft, squishy, sleeping babies.
The way they can relax so completely.
The trust, love and adoration they give to the "big people" in their lives.

I love babies. I feel so privileged to be a mother of eleven little ones!

A Homeschool Opinion Post

2011-02-02T17:10:00.002-07:00

I hope my friends and family will forgive me. If you think you might be offended by my opinions on homeschooling, please feel free to skip this post. But there are some things I just HAVE to say today, and I cannot rest until I've said them here.

Usually, when other parents find out I homeschool, I get one of two reactions.

1) "Really?! Are you crazy? Aren't you afraid your kids will turn out weird/unsocialized/dorky/uneducated? Why do you think you're qualified to teach your kids everything they're going to need to know?"

OR

2) "Really? Wow. I could never do that. You must be a saint/have so much patience. But, you know, if things ever got bad enough, I'd homeschool my kids, too."

My concern doesn't ever lie with the first response. If I get that reaction, I automatically assume that the person responding is very close minded, and/or lives their life in fear. I have nothing more to say to them on the subject, so I usually just smile and walk away.

However, the second reaction always puzzles me. Today, I'd like to say here what I am not usually brave enough to say to someone's face. *gulp* Bear with me, and know that I love my family and friends. I am not writing this to offend you. But I am in a quandary over the idea of what "if things ever get bad enough" means.

What DOES it mean???

What constitutes "Bad Enough" for YOU? Because I reached my limits on what's "Bad Enough" years and years ago.

Let me 'splain.

Reason #1 why I think public education is "Bad Enough":

I believe that PARENTS, not the State, have a divine stewardship to raise and teach children.

Just this morning, parents in two different states got the same reaction on closing school due to weather concerns from school officials in their respective states. In a nutshell, parents were told that they couldn't shut down schools today because of all the students that "needed" to be provided food, warmth, and babysitting services, even when the weather is bad.

To directly quote the Superintendent of Denver Public Schools:

“Equally important in making our decision was the consideration for the thousands of our families of working parents who are on moderate incomes, have few to no child-care options, don't get paid days off from their jobs, and therefore face a huge burden when schools are closed for a second day, while private-sector and other public-sector employers are open.”

“Our schools also serve tens of thousands of children who come from low-income households. Schools are not only are vital places of learning for those students, but they are also in many cases the only place where these students get two free hot meals a day, health care, counseling and support services. We felt it was the right thing to do to give our parents the option of sending their kids to school.”

“We consider our schools to be learning centers as well as community centers where children and families can get help with health and other social-service needs. And we feel an obligation to the public we serve to keep our schools open as much as possible.”

Do you hear what this Superintendent is saying? He is saying that without the state-run school, "tens of thousands" of students would go hungry, not have health care, counseling, or CHILDCARE. Gee, did this man just say that school is glorified BABYSITTING?! Um, yes. Yes, he did.

Wow. Where, may I venture to ask, are the PARENTS of these children? This school official is telling us that because parents are "low income", they NEED schools to be open, or else they could not parent their children on their own??? If this is true, then our nation and educational system is in a sadder, scarier state than ANY of us could have imagined!

The attitude that "schools parent children better than their own parents" is not new-- not by any stretch. Remember the people that love to question my abilities to homeschool my children? They ask me this because THEY don't feel "qualified" to teach their kids. It makes me wonder why they feel that way, especially if they feel their own public education-- and, consequently, the education their children are getting-- was completely adequate.

I am a HUGE proponent of Parent Rights. I believe that the right to parent comes from God, and NOT the State. When parents believe that others are more qualified to care for and teach their children, they are handing the State the right to parent, teach, and nurture their offspring. So when the state assumes the role of "The Protector" and "The Expert", how can parents be shocked by their audacity?

Here is an example of out-of-control state-run schools. How would YOU like to be graded as a parent?

"Last Thursday, CNN reported that a Florida legislator has proposed a bill that would have public school teachers issuing a grade to parents. Yes, grading the parents. HB 255 provides that “each prekindergarten through grade 3 student report card shall include a section in which the teacher grades the parental involvement as satisfactory, needs improvement, or unsatisfactory…” based on criteria set by the bill."

"The whole idea of setting up public schools as overseers of parents is one more sign that American parental rights are in danger. Parents should not have to answer to government agents unless and until there is solid evidence of abuse or neglect on the part of that parent. Giving a grade to every parent clearly violates this constitutional principle."

"In fact, this bill would espouse the same foundational principle as the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child: assume that all parents are bad parents, and that only government oversight can save our children from parental incompetence. "

Parents should NEVER answer to schools. Rather, schools, teachers, and administrators should answer to the PARENTS in their communities. Do any parents out there disagree with me on that?

Reason #2 why I think public education is "Bad Enough":

Schools don't actually want students to be literate or think for themselves.

When I felt I should learn more about homeschooling, I studied the history of education in America. Did you know that compulsory schooling laws were not instituted across America until the late 1800's? Did you know that parents used to do the hiring and firing of ALL teachers in their communities BEFORE then? Did you know that education-- actual learning-- in America has gotten worse EVERY YEAR since the institution of compulsory education laws?

If less educated, more ignorant students is the result of compulsory education for all children, then WHY were those laws and ideas instituted?

Professional educator and former New York State Teacher of the Year, John Taylor Gatto explains it this way:

"The structure of American schooling, 20th-century style, began in 1806 when Napoleon's amateur soldiers beat the professional soldiers of Prussia at the battle of Jena. When your business is selling soldiers, losing a battle like that is serious. Almost immediately afterward a German philosopher named Fichte delivered his famous 'Address to the German Nation' which became one of the most influential documents in modern history. In effect he told the Prussian people that the party was over, that the nation would have to shape up through a new Utopian institution of forced schooling in which everyone would learn to take orders. So the world got compulsion schooling at the end of a state bayonet for the first time in human history; modern forced schooling started in Prussia in 1819 with a clear vision of what centralized schools could deliver:"

"Obedient soldiers to the army; Obedient workers to the mines; Well subordinated civil servants to government; Well subordinated clerks to industry; Citizens who thought alike about major issues."

"Schools should create an artificial national consensus on matters that had been worked out in advance by leading German families and the head of institutions. Schools should create unity among all the German states, eventually unifying them into Greater Prussia.

"Prussian industry boomed from the beginning. She was successful in warfare and her reputation in international affairs was very high. Twenty-six years after this form of schooling began, the King of Prussia was invited to North America to determine the boundary between the United States and Canada. Thirty-three years after that fateful invention of the central school institution, at the behest of Horace Mann and many other leading citizens, we borrowed the style of Prussian schooling as our own."

President Abraham Lincoln simply said it this way:

"The philosophy of the classroom today will be the philosophy of government tomorrow."

State-Run schools have an agenda to teach children NOT to think. (Please read the ENTIRE article by Mr. Gatto I've linked to above, to fully understand the history of compulsory education.) Many parents refuse to believe this. It's unpleasant. It's sad. But it's WRONG, and parents should not sit by and refuse to see it happening. "Not in MY school district." "I live in a little town." "Stuff like that only happens in California or New York."

I hate to tell you, friends, but the curriculum and the standards are the same across the United States. The SAME textbooks, lessons, methods, and ideals are being taught NATIONWIDE. Not only can it happen, it's already been going on for more than two generations. Whistling in the dark will not change that.

Just consider that it might be true. Is that "Bad enough"?

Reason #3 Why I Think Public Education is "Bad Enough":

The current atmosphere in public schools is spiritually damaging to children of ALL ages.

I have heard countless friends, family members, and fellow church members tell me that they want their children to go to school and "be a light" to children with no spiritual upbringing. My question is: Do you really feel your 5 year old is strong enough spiritually to stand up and tell their teacher that evolution is wrong, and that Heavenly Father made the earth? Really?

Maybe your children are stronger than mine, but I didn't have one that knew their own minds about sex, evolution, or homosexuality before the age of 12. (All of which is being forced on Kindergarten students.) At the MINIMUM. Half of what I just listed was not on their radar, as children. I guess they could have invited their atheistically-raised playmate to Primary, but how do children combat the falsehoods their teachers teach them? After all, most children love and idolize their teachers.

Public-schooled children spend at least FOUR TIMES the amount of time with their teachers and schoolmates than they spend with their parents and siblings. They follow their rules, abide by their standards, and are not allowed to pray, mention God, or proselyte the Gospel to their friends on school property. (My little Activity Day girls recently informed me it's against their school's rules to give any of their friends a Book of Mormon on school property, and that they are not allowed to invite their friends to church or any church activities at school.) So how can they be "a light" again?

I went to public school in a small town, with a high population of LDS students. We went to release-time seminary during school hours. The seminary teachers were great, and there were some kids with high standards. But not nearly as many acted like the Latter-Days Saints they supposedly were. In my high school, you were NOBODY if you didn't have a steady boyfriend or girlfriend. Even among my "good" friends, make-out sessions and the watching of rated-R movies happened on a regular basis. Seminary was something to "ditch" or "suffer through." Music lyrics and dancing at school AND STAKE DANCES, was lewd and obscene.

The fruits of Public Schooling is not "lovely, virtuous, of good report, or praiseworthy." Public School is a spiritual trial for youth, where they only come out with strong testimonies intact if they completely distance themselves socially. How ironic.

Reason #4 Why I Think Public Education is "Bad Enough":

We undeniably live in the Last Days we've been warned about.

On occasion, I have had a friend or associate tell me that "in the Last Days," when it's "Bad Enough," they will just send their kids to me to teach. That we could just start having classes at the church building, and that we could have positive, Gospel-based education for all the kids in the ward. Doesn't that sound great?

Those of you familiar with the scriptures should know the parable of the Ten Virgins. In that parable, was the oil available for ALL of the virgins to buy? Yes. But when did the wise virgins buy their oil? When there was NO indication that the bridgroom was tarrying. And when did the foolish virgins realize that they were short the oil they needed? When it was too late.

Now, I'm not saying that I'm better than anyone, ('cuz I'm pretty pathetic) or that I would deny anyone the help that they might need, should they choose to teach their own children at home. What I AM saying, is that like food storage, or emergency supplies, I am working on my own family's needs right now. IF I have excess, OF COURSE I will share! But I cannot give anyone the knowledge and the experience I have gleaned over the years. And I cannot turn into the only teacher for the ward's needs, should it "get bad enough." But I can do my best to encourage, to suggest things, and to help all I can.

Yet I cannot give anyone else my oil. Each family must go and secure their own.

What I am trying to say through this post, is that would it be so very terrible to consider that right now, today, it's "bad enough" to bring your children home? Would it be so very bad to consider learning about homeschooling as part of "Being Prepared"? Is it really so outrageous to question whether or not your local school district truly has YOUR KIDS as their greatest concern? Because I bet YOU are concerned about YOUR kids. I know that YOU have been given the stewardship over YOUR children, and not the schools.

All I ask is that you open your mind and heart to the possibility that public school is not the best option for Latter-Day Saint families.

Here are a few quotes from leaders of the Church that have reinforced and inspired me to keep homeschooling my children, even though it's not always easy. I hope they might inspire and help my readers simply CONSIDER the idea of homeschool.

"In many places it is literally not safe physically for youngsters to go to school. And in many schools – and it’s becoming almost generally true – it is spiritually unsafe to attend public schools." ~Elder Boyd. K. Packer in 1996 at the David O. McKay Symposium at BYU

Moral values are being neglected and prayer expelled from public schools on the pretext that moral teaching belongs to religion. At the same time, atheism, the secular religion, is admitted to class, and our youngsters are proselyted to a conduct without morality. ~Elder Boyd. K. Packer, General Conference, April 1994

“Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility. Yet opportunities and abilities differ. I believe that in the pursuit of education, individual desire is more influential than institution, and personal faith more forceful than faculty.” ~Elder Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, Nov. 1992

"Do the Saints need perfecting? Yes... People would not be found shuffling their children over into the hands of the enemy to be educated... If such people ever get into the celestial kingdom... they will find the children that might have been there with them, wallowing in misery; and those children will point up to them, if they may, and say, “Father! Mother! I blame you for this; for it was you that led me to it.” I tell you such people will sup sorrow in this world and in the world to come. Therefore, be careful how you treat your children: act the part of fathers and mothers to them, and not the part of unnatural monsters, who, having been enlightened to a degree by the Spirit of the Lord, trample under foot the things of God, and cast your offspring into the arms of the corrupt, of the evil, and of those who are seeking your life, and striving to destroy you.” ~John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Volume 24, 12/9/1883, “The Age in Which We Live, Etc.”

Even if you feel you cannot consider homeschooling for YOUR children at this time, I hope and pray that you can now see homeschooling as something that is not as "out there" or "strange" or "crazy", as you might have thought before.

I hope you can see it as not just "do-able," but also as "desirable"-- should "things get bad enough."

Love,
Rachel

Fifteen Fictional Characters

2011-01-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Bonny, reading a favorite story

A friend of mine tagged me in a note on Facebook, and it was a really great exercise for me to do, as well. As I was writing my answers, I realized how true the old adage "You are what you read," has been in my life.

The exercise also reminded me how CAREFUL and PURPOSEFUL we should be in the books and works we expose ourselves and our families to. I am so grateful that my mother set an example of not just reading often, but that what she read was "virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy." I hope I am setting a similar example to my children.

*PLEASE NOTE: All of the characters below are fictional. Of course, my life has been hugely influenced by the people in scriptures, and by other great men and women throughout time. This list is one of fictional characters only. And I believe that fiction has much to teach us about the truths of life, families, goodness, wickedness, wisdom and intelligence. I believe that reading fiction is VITAL to learning and knowledge.

Here are the Fifteen Fictional Characters that have strongly influenced-- and continue to influence-- my life and heart.

1) Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre
I first read this when I was fourteen years old, and I believe it helped me form my ideals for love, marriage, and putting God above all. I wept and RAN from Thornfield with Jane. And because she could withstand even the pleading of her true love and move on to do what was right, I knew that I could do what is right against all odds, too.

2) Beth from Little Women
My cousin (Hi Michelle!) and I were about ten when we read this book separately, and then we both cried over Beth together! Beth was always so concerned about everyone else, and never once thought of herself. She was the ultimate example of Christlike love and caring for me at that young age, and she continues to teach me how to put my wishes and wants last on the list today.

3) Bishop Monseigneur Bienvenu from Les Miserables
The purposefully-destitute Bishop (because he gives all that he owns to the poor) shows me how much God values each of his children-- even those who rebel and revile against Him. To have the convict Jean Val Jean come to him begging for a bed and food, to give him all, and then to have Valjean steal some of the only things of value he owns, I was sure his greatest gift to Valjean was to forgive him and spare Valjean from being sent back to prison. But when he gives him the candlesticks also, I stand in awe. "Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul I am buying for you."

4) Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables
Anne has always been huge in my life, not just because she makes me smile, but because SHE IS ME. Overactive imagination, clumsiness, silliness, sentimental, goofy, scattered, vain, and ALL. Luckily, I had "a Matthew", too. (My wonderful mother!)

5) Meg from A Wrinkle in Time
Poor Meg was a square peg that just could never fit in the round hole everyone tried to shove her in to. Everyone, except her wonderful family, that is. I related to Meg from the moment she entered my world. My Fourth Grade teacher, Mrs. Oler, introduced us. And while I loved the magical Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit, it was Meg who brought me along to tesser beside her. From her glasses, to her awkwardness, and then to the fierce love and protection she felt for her little brother, she made me believe I might actually have potential, too. (Though not in math-- yet!)

6) Samwise Gamgee from the Lord of the Rings trilogy
Sam feels like the older brother I never had in my family. I consider him the REAL hero of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. His unflinching loyalty, his tenacity, his charity, his soft heart, his wise mind, his humility, his simplicity, his strength. This is just a short list. If you want to know ALL the reasons why I love him so, go back and read the books. You'll find out pretty quickly.

7) Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird
Scout is who I think my little Southern Granny was when she was child. I remember her telling me how she liked to climb trees and pick watermelons with the boys-- especially with her big brother, Wade. She's also told me how she was "mean as a snake" and "so naughty" when she was growing up. Now that Granny is old and living in the world of full-blown dementia, thinking about Scout makes me a little sad, and yet makes me appreciate the Granny I knew. I bet Granny would have taken Boo Radley by the hand, too. ("Hey, Boo!")

8) Miss Betsey Trotwood from David Copperfield
I ADORE Miss Betsey Trotwood!!! At first, I was terrified of her, just like David's mother was. But the way she gathers, cares for, and nurtures the "lost boys" around her (Mr. Dick and David) absolutely melts my heart. And no one else could tell those horrible Murdstones off better than Miss Trotwood! "Let me see you ride a donkey over my green again, and as sure as you have a head upon your shoulders, I'll knock your bonnet off, and tread upon it!"

9) Lucie Manette from Tale of Two Cities
Getting to know Lucie Manette literally changed my life for good. She didn't tell me, she SHOWED me, the very real POWER there is in feminine nurturing. I wrote a paper on what Lucie taught me. If you're interested, you can find it on my "Old-Fashioned Motherhood" blog here: http://blog.oldfashionedmotherhood.com/2007/07/lessons-from-great-literature.html

10) Mrs. Jellyby from Bleak House
Mrs. Jellyby provides the perfect example of what happens to me and my family when I put too many people, activities, and causes above my husband, children and home. Oh. My. DISASTER. I have to go back and re-familiarize myself with Mrs. J. every so often in order to keep my priorities straight. She's a powerful reminder for me.

11) Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare's Macbeth
This is another negative example I use to keep myself in check. Lady Macbeth was The Champion of All Wifely Nagging. And I do NOT want to end up like her. The end.

12) Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle
Sophie is the reason I read this book over and over and over again. I have the same kind of heart Sophie does, I'm also the eldest child, and I also have a tendency to be hard on myself, with a propensity for missing the forest for the trees. Plus, I have a secret wish to be able to sew life into the things I create. (How useful would THAT be in my Shakespeare plays?!) Oh, and Sophie and Howl interact in a similar way to my husband and I. (I'm married to Howl. Shhh!)

13) Heidi from Heidi
Heidi is so pure and trusting, and changed everyone around her just by living JOYFULLY. I loved my childhood, and I can go back and be a child again when I see life through Heidi's eyes. She teaches me to be more grateful and to see everything with wonder and love.

14) Mrs. Stanton from Laddie
Mrs. Stanton changed my life as a mother and homemaker. I learned from her that children need to be taught, trained, and trusted. I love how she was feminine and tender, supporting and loving her husband with all her heart. And yet, I love how strongly and fiercely she defends her family, truth, and the Lord above. Her influence reverberated through everything her children did, and almost every word they uttered. And if their mother was sick, everyone clamored to make things just right for her. I'm working to be more like her every day.

15) Elizabeth Ann "Betsy" from Understood Betsy
Betsy's experiences with her uncle and aunt remind me that "I CAN do hard things" if I will only gather up my courage and TRY.

Youth Standards

2011-01-17T12:35:00.001-07:00

Artwork by Norman Rockwell

Okay, so there have a been a few little bits of "drama" that have been going on in my kids circle of friends that prompts me to write down my thoughts and ideas on the matter.

First of all, our family subscribes to the standards set forth in the booklet called "For the Strength of Youth" put out by our church (The LDS Church, a.k.a. "Mormon"). This is a wonderful guide for our whole family to follow, because it reminds us of the scriptural teachings regarding morality and spirituality that will bring us closer to Christ.

Image courtesy of lds.org

One thing in particular that we are currently dealing with, is when youth not of our faith don't understand my kids' standards with regard to DATING and PAIRING OFF. Here is what "For the Strength of Youth" says about it:

Not all teenagers need to date or even want to. Many young people do not date during their teen years because they are not yet interested, do not have opportunities, or simply want to delay forming serious relationships. However, good friendships can and should be developed at every age.

When you begin dating, go in groups or on double dates. Avoid going on frequent dates with the same person. Make sure your parents meet those you date. You may want to invite your dates to activities with your family. Plan dating activities that are positive and inexpensive and that will help you get to know each other. Do things that will help you and your companions maintain your self-respect and remain close to the Spirit of the Lord. See 2 Corinthians 6:14

Notice the part I highlighted? This is where our family has decided to be in terms of dating until our youth are of marriageable age. We will allow casual group dating when we know the family well, AND when those they will be dating are of our same faith.

Recently, one of my oldest boys received a long, romantic poem written for him by a young lady in our circle of friends. It actually mortified my son, and caused lots of discomfort and concern for us, as parents. I have gone back and forth as to how to react. Do I share the letter with the young woman's parents? (It was written anonymously, but we're pretty certain as to it's author.) Do we ignore it? Or do we seek to educate this young lady regarding our family standards? Or would that embarrass her?

For now, the letter is in my possession, and I am grateful that my son feels comfortable enough in our relationship to share it with my husband and I. As to what to do about the young lady in question, I'm still praying about it. I will continue to do some sleuthing, and find out FOR SURE who wrote the poem and sent it. I'd appreciate any advice my readers here can give, as well!

One thing I WILL be doing, is laying down the law in my Shakespeare class regarding crushes and silliness between members of the cast. (The poem-letter was delivered during auditions last week. Yeah, I'm pretty UPSET about it!) There is nothing that can destroy the peace in a class, in a production, and in friendships like that kind of nonsense. Grrr!

Your thoughts? (Thanks in advance!)

New Family Pictures

2011-01-10T16:20:00.003-07:00

Can you believe everyone is looking pleasantly at the camera?!

We have a wonderful friend, Jill Rich, who also happens to be a VERY talented photographer. (Check out her other work here: http://www.jillrichphotography.com/ )

She gave us a great deal on a family photo shoot, and since we haven't had a FULL family picture since before Avalon was born (2008), we decided that we wanted Family Pictures for our family Christmas present. We had a great day shooting on the Mesa Arizona temple grounds.

(Click on the pictures to enlarge them.)

Here are just the girls:

Morganne is 17, Bonny is 12, Dierdre is 9, MacKenna is 5, Grayse is 3, Avalon is 2, and Eryn is 6 months

And just the boys:

Brennan is 15, Lliam is 14, Gavin is 10, and Ronan is 7

And here are ALL the kids, in RANDOM order:

Lovely Morganne

Little Miss Avalon

Miss Grayse Dawn

The bubbly MacKenna

Mr. Ronan

Beautiful Didi

Charming Gavin-a-tor

Gorgeous Bon-bon (Bonny)

Heart-breaker Lliam

Handsome Brennan

Adorable Eryn

I couldn't think of any other place we wanted to have our family pictures taken than at the beautiful temple grounds.

Here are the rest of these fun photos:

I love this man so much!

Still in love after 18 years

36 years... young?

Our Eternal Goal...

Together Forever!

Scrambled Thoughts

2011-01-03T19:10:00.001-07:00

Miss Eryn is sick. She finally got the Monster-Icky-Cough-and-Cold nastiness that's been passed around our family since early December.

Sleep is elusive; for her, and her Daddy, and her mommie.

She's been experiencing all kinds of new adventures...

Hot steam from the shower to clear out the ickies.
Cold air from outside at 3am-- also to clear out the ickies.
Wheezing.
Laryngitis. All her squeals have been replaced with hoarse squeaks. (Doesn't seem to bother her a bit!)

Miss Eryn's moods move between sleepiness, crankiness, hyperactivity, and serenity.

Mommie likes the serenity one.

We're hoping that's the one she picks, come bedtime...

Becoming "Un-Dragoned"

2010-12-26T19:47:00.001-07:00

"The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt." From The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

My heart and head have been so full these last couple of months. As I alluded to in a recent post, things have been rough this year. Here at home, money has been tight, and clients for Russell have been sporadic, but we're getting more and more used to living on faith alone. This fall, we found out a former neighbor and ward member was killed by his struggling son. And very recently, a hero of our family was arrested and his weaknesses laid out for the world, his family and all his friends to see. So many marriages of those we love have ended or are in major trouble. Dear friends have moved away as our homeschool community has dissolved and scattered to the wind.

Broken hearts seem to be everywhere around us.

Because of all this heartache, my family and I have been clinging to one another even more fiercely and reexamining where our priorities lie. We are rejecting the fruits the world has to offer, because we now see them for what they truly are: flimsy trappings that distract us from the true treasures Heavenly Father offers to all of us.

I love how C.S. Lewis put this in his wonderful work, "The Weight of Glory":

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because we cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

Surprisingly, we've found that these things have also brought us to the feet of our Savior. We have seen far too many we care about fall over the edge, and we are moving as far away from it as we can get!

Around the same time that this devastation has been happening, we saw the need to abandon a family tradition that Satan had found a way to poison for us. I know this may seem like "no big deal" and "just a little thing" to many, but to us, it was a HUGE test.

Ever since the first Harry Potter movie came out in 2001, we have gone as a family to the first showing. This was usually the ONLY movie we ever spent money on to see with the whole family. (Movie ticket prices add up, even on matinees, when one has a family of thirteen!) We had read the series out loud in our family circle, waiting with baited breath until the next book came out. And we were experiencing the same thrill as each movie came out in theaters. We'd count down the days, and giggle as we headed out the door to stand in line to get a seat in the theater. (Again, finding thirteen seats all together was a job!)

And then, the news came out that the latest, longed-for, LAST movie had nudity in it.

*thud*

We were aghast. No, it couldn't be true. We researched it thoroughly. We found out EXACTLY what the scene was, and what was going on in it. Russell and I decided that we would not, COULD not, support the movie. The production team had gone too far, and we could not condone their actions.

We didn't know how on earth we were going to explain this to our children. I held my breath, thinking, "Please, Lord. I pray we have taught them well enough that they will understand."

And I also prayed that Russell and I would stand strong, and not make excuses that would expose our family to something we would never allow in any other movie they might view. We had to put principles ABOVE tradition.

To my great pleasure and relief, when we told our kids the new movie had nudity in it, their faces fell, and they declared that we could not go see it. There was no arguing, no pleading, no whining. The answer was clear.

So, you can see why we felt like we had passed a test. We had been confronted with a choice. Would we choose our family's chosen "idol"-- or the commandments of the Lord?

And after we made this choice, truth seemed to flow into our hearts and home. We have found things to read and ponder on that continue to bring us closer to Christ. We have rejected more of the world than we ever have before. Our "summer cottage in Babylon" is now a pile of glowing coals. Until we stepped out of the shadow of the idols we had set on a pedestal, we couldn't see the rewards and gifts God had waiting for us in the sun.

As a result of this journey to completely leave Babylon, I have been working every day to have the Spirit with me always, and to invite its presence in our home. I've been battling my weaknesses, and the easy path of the "natural man". I must have been really entrenched in Babylonian culture, because all this living close to the Spirit has been hard work-- definitely not for the faint of heart! I must admit, I feel a little like Eustace in the quote above. But as Eustace further explains:

"The only thing that made me bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off... It hurts like billy-oh but it is such fun to see it coming away."

The other night, Russell and I went with some friends to see the latest Narnia movie, based on "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader", in the theater. I still want to weep when I think about it. And now I wish we had the money to take all of our children to see it. THAT is the kind of movie that I want to support. And I am so very happy that the production team chose to quote so much of the book EXACTLY. Even the part where Aslan tells Lucy she can't come back to Narnia. When she replies that she won't meet him again, he says :

"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.

"Are-- are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.

"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."

One of the sources of our discussions and ponderings these past few weeks, has been a talk that was given long ago by President Spencer W. Kimball. Below is the link, and a couple of excerpts from it. But PLEASE, read the entire article. It has changed my life for the better, and I know it can help others, too!

The False Gods We Worship

"Whatever thing a man sets his heart and his trust in most is his god; and if his god doesn’t also happen to be the true and living God of Israel, that man is laboring in idolatry."

"As the Lord himself said in our day, 'They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own God, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.' (D&C 1:16)

"What are we to fear when the Lord is with us? Can we not take the Lord at his word and exercise a particle of faith in him? Our assignment is affirmative: to forsake the things of the world as ends in themselves; to leave off idolatry and press forward in faith; to carry the gospel to our enemies, that they might no longer be our enemies."

"We must leave off the worship of modern-day idols and a reliance on the “arm of flesh,” for the Lord has said to all the world in our day, 'I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.' (D&C 64:24.)

His message closes with this electric statement:

"We believe that the way for each person and each family to prepare as the Lord has directed is to begin to exercise greater faith, to repent, and to enter into the work of his kingdom on earth, which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It may seem a little difficult at first, but when a person begins to catch a vision of the true work, when he begins to see something of eternity in its true perspective, the blessings begin to far outweigh the cost of leaving 'the world' behind."

"Herein lies the only true happiness, and therefore we invite and welcome all men, everywhere, to join in this work. For those who are determined to serve the Lord at all costs, this is the way to eternal life. All else is but a means to that end."

NOTHING is more important than returning with our spouses and children back into the presence of our Heavenly Father and our Savior.

NOTHING.

Not movies, parties, friends, television shows, clothes, money, ambition, hobbies, Facebook, blogging, Shakespeare, drama, music, sports, lessons, convenience, independence, prosperity, and on and on and on.

Nothing.

As the New Year swiftly approaches, I am examining the things that I am still clinging to in my life that are taking me away from Jesus Christ and my eternal goals.

And it hurts a little. But just like childbirth, the effort will be totally worth it.

Another quote from C.S. Lewis says it perfectly:

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to?"

"The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of — throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself."

To finish, I want to quote a man who came to know, while he was battling cancer, what it means to submit to God's plans for our lives. The late Elder Neal A. Maxwell said:

"The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar. The many other things we 'give' ... are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us."

The sacrifices we make will be worth it. I testify this is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

I love the British sentiment! It's sorta funny that we in the U.S. use the phrase "Merry Christmas", while "over the pond", they say "Happy Christmas."

:-)

At our house today, we are cleaning, baking, wrapping, planning, giggling, and rushing to finish the last of the homemade gifts.

It has been such a peaceful, serene Christmas season for us this year. Russell and I sat down at the end of November to make our plans. We have done our best to keep our focus on the Savior. As we tell our kids, "It's Jesus' birthday, not yours!"

We made the decision to get each child just one heartfelt, inexpensive gift. We eliminated sending Christmas cards and newsletters. We found our budget couldn't handle our extended families' gift exchanges, so we opted out of them, as well. We planned the activities we wanted to keep, and abandoned the activities that were not as important. I gave myself permission to not feel guilty over the things that I can't do, and have thoroughly enjoyed the things that we have done.

The kids also drew each others' names for our family gift exchange. It's been so heart-warming to see them plan and work on gifts for one another! I think they are finally catching the spirit of giving each other more than just presents they've bought from the store with Dad's money. They are not just giving a gift, they are also giving their hearts and time to one another. It's been so delightful to be part of it! :-)

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. And I also know that without Him, none of the wonderful things in our lives would ever happen.

Because of Him, and the gift of the Atonement He gave to us, we have the potential to be together as families FOREVER-- not just for the here and now.

I am so grateful for His birth, His life, His example, and His sacrifice for each one of us.

May His love fill our hearts and lives this joyous time of year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, one and all!!!

Love,
Rachel

Finding Peace

2010-12-16T18:38:00.001-07:00

"Be Not Afraid" by Greg Olsen

This has been a rough year.

Not that things have been distressing in our home, or in our immediate family circle (That's actually been very good), but there has been loads of turmoil and despair in our extended families and among our friends and community.

I have no doubt that the Last Days are these days in which we are living!

In times such as these, I am finding less and less comfort in "the world" and have begun turning to the Savior more and more. These last few months, I have realized that HE is the only source of real HOPE left to us in these trying times. And if we don't look to HIM for help, comfort, and strength, we will never find it elsewhere.

Of course, I've heard statements like this all my life. And while I believed it was true, it's been in the midst of the pain all around me that I have finally seen the reality of the hope and help that comes in mighty power from the Savior Jesus Christ.

I testify that if we look to Him for peace and hope, we will find it!

I am continually praying for peace for our family and friends. I am doing all I can to help, but I feel so helpless! What can I actually do??? Then I remember that the true healer is Christ alone. And so, I also pray that our distressed loved-ones find HIM and the peace and love He offers so freely.

May the Lord bless all those we love so very much!!!