Family History Thursdays

On Thursdays our regular homeschooling schedule goes out the window. Instead, we read and write family histories, play "Name that Ancestor" with photo flashcards, fill in pedigree charts and family group sheets, and attend the Logan Temple. We all enjoy this special day! Our kids develop a great sense of belonging. As we explore our family history our own family culture becomes more beautiful. As we attend the temple we strengthen our testimonies of eternal families. Thursdays are a cherished day!

Morning Blurp

This blog is more of a personal journal than anything else. I don't more than 10 minutes once in a while to throw out an entry. Obviously, it's always a first very rough draft. My hope is after the kids are raised I'll have time to come back and put this blog, our scrapbooks, and journals into some kind of readable order. But in the meantime, I will keep scribbling down little events in the kids' and my journal and a bit on this blog.

I love, love, love this time in my life. I'm surrounded by my sweet family all day! Everyday! I have the dream job. My job is to teach, train, and delight in my children! My job is full of ordinary moments that to me are sensational. Like right now.

Right now it is a bit before 6AM. Tank(10 months) has had a wakeful night. So he is hanging out with me. We kind of gave up sleep around 5AM. Between sentences we play peek-a-boo and hide n' seek. I get to cuddle him when he climbs up in my lap. He is also enjoying nibbling on a bit of sugar cookie that Hyrum (5) and Jaremy (35) made last night. They made Halloween cookies for Hyrum's stay up night and had a blast.

The last couple of weeks have been perfect fall weather. The kids would live outside if they could, so we do our school, eat our lunch, exercise, garden, and play like crazy outside. The boys, Benjamin (10) and Moroni (8) have been experimenting with zip lines between the cottonwoods in the back of the lot. The zip lines have been quite primitive and, from a mother's perspective, scary. Now they have enlisted Jaremy. So that means it's going to be 250 feet and I can only imagine how high. I will have to be the safety inspector, an unpopular job. It's wonderful the kids have these 5 acres to haunt. What would a child's life be if he couldn't build tree forts, ride bikes off "sweet" jumps, dance around bonfires, fly on the tramp, and sword fight?

Well, Tank is bored with this! I have to go assist Moroni in making whole wheat/oat pancakes.

Law of Kindness

In the beautiful 31st chapter of Proverbs a virtuous woman is described. It says, "in her tongue is the law of kindness." For the past two weeks I've been trying to follow this ideal. Unfortunately, most often in my tongue is the law of demands and anger. However, as I have focused on this phrase and prayed for help I have been softened. When I feel frustrated with my family or start to react with yelling I picture this gentle woman pausing. She then slowly and kindly proceeds to listen, understand, counsel, and guide. This image has helped me to stop and reflect on my ideals before I react. I still have blown it royally several times in the last two weeks. But even then, this scripture has helped me to regain control, apologize, and do better the next time around. I'm so grateful for the scriptures and the gentle reminders that Heavenly Father sends me through the Holy Ghost.

Wheat

Today I will spend several hours buying and delivering 50# bags of wheat to sisters in our ward. I am the "Food Storage Specialist" in our ward. My job is to encourage families to store a year's supply of food. You can store about anything, but I've been only focusing on the basics.

Of course, you can't get more basic than wheat. Our family uses about 50# a week. Jessica (12) and Benjamin (10) can make delicious wheat bread without any assistance. Moroni (8) can pretty much do it by himself too. We make the dough into loaves, cinnamon rolls, scones, Indian fry bread, orange rolls, garlic bread sticks, French bread, and dinner rolls. Our not-so-secret recipe is: Add 1/3 cup sugar, 2T (heaping) yeast, 4 cups very warm water
Mix and let sit and bubble for 5-10 minutes
Add 3T oil, 1T salt, and 5 cups freshly ground whole wheat flour
Beat until smooth
Add 4-5 cups more whole wheat flour
Knead until bowl comes clean, about 10 minutes, dough should be slightly sticky
Let rise for about 45 minutes
Punch the puffy dough down and form into loaves or whatever
Let rise another 15-45 minutes depending on room temperature or until dough is
doubled.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Makes 3 loaves or 2 cookie sheets full of delicious
cinnamon rolls. So delicious that all 40 of them are gone within 30 minutes of
taking them out of the oven. Of course, we have 9 people in our family.

We bake a batch of bread about everyday. We also enjoy (Jaremy detests) cracked wheat cereal with brown sugar and milk. We use wheat flour for all our baking: pumpkin bread, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, muffins, zucchini bread, etc. It is so healthy, filling, and delicious! Using wheat and baking our own breads saves us thousands of dollars each year. And it fills our home with a wonderful aroma and home baked love!

Amazing Provider

My husband Jaremy is such a stud! He has his priorities set right and firm. On Saturday he needed to meet a deadline at work. However, he knows how important it is to work and play with his family. So he scrubbed bathrooms and loaded the washing machine. He weed whacked, watched the kids do their "tricks", mowed the lawn, awed over a snake the kids caught, went grocery shopping with me, and insisted on a family movie night with popcorn. It was a great day because of him!

This morning he woke up at 2AM so he could meet his deadline. He sacrificed his sleep so he could spend time with us and provide for us. He is amazing! Benjamin (10) and Moroni (8) both remembered to thank Heavenly Father in our prayers today for their amazing dad! I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for such a wonderful sweetheart!

Religious Freedom

I am so grateful to live in a country where I can believe as my soul tells me.

I believe in Jesus Christ! He is my Savior and Redeemer. He has shown me the way to live in peace and happiness.

I testify that Jesus Christ has restored his true church on the earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Joseph Smith really saw and spoke with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith is the great prophet of the restoration of Christ's true church.

Jesus Christ speaks to His living prophet today, President Thomas S. Monson. President Monson and the living Apostles and Prophets tell us what Heavenly Father want us to do. When we listen and obey we are blessed and prospered by the Lord.

I am grateful to know that the Lord sanctifies marriage between a man and a woman. The family is central to His plan for the happiness of His children, who we are. The Lord loves children. I'm so grateful the Lord has sent us seven of his choice spirits to be in our family.

I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have studied it for years. This book has reminded me to turn my heart to God and my fellowmen. I am grateful for its precious teachings.

I am grateful I can express the beliefs I hold dear. I am grateful I can practice my religious beliefs.

Hot Days

It's hot today! The kids are all in the house in the afternoons. Tomorrow we are going swimming at the Logan Aquatic Center. That's a great way to cool off! and get tan! Oh, I'm so vain!
I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon. It helps soften my heart and brings to remembrance all the principles of the gospel. I'm so grateful for repentance and Christ's ability to change our hearts. Mine doesn't change very quickly, but I'm trying to make it more pliable.
Benjamin (10) is a cool kid! A bit picky about his hair, but he's brilliant, kind, hardworking, and handsome. (He was reading over my shoulder.) I'm so grateful he puts up with me and hasn't run away from this circus to join another one. ;) Seriously, we are so glad he is in our family!!!

Beloved Jaremy

Jaremy is such a stud! I love spending time with him. On Saturday we were able to go to the Parade of Homes together. As we walk through the houses we discuss organization, decorating, architecture, and tons of other things. Jaremy totes Tank around (that's a huge job), but the rest of the kids have to stay at home; it's our time. I love when we can just focus on each other. When Jaremy puts his arm around me while we are looking at something that becomes what I'm really focused on. When his hand reaches for mine, he grasps my heart. He loves to get my opinion about absolutely everything. Do I like this color, do I want this kind of bench, do I feel understood by him, do I need him to till the garden, do I know he loves me? Yes! He makes it obvious!!

We love to go driving! On Sunday we took a long, gorgeous trip to Mink Creek & Bear Lake. We saw this cabin on the way. We both loved it. Jaremy took the kids on a walk through the woods on one of our many pit stops. We stopped at a couple of parks. We had a little scare when 20 miles off the pavement on the top of a mountain our van died. Sunday drives with Jaremy always turn into off-road adventures. Jaremy transforms any vehicle into a jeep. Luckily, he can get us over any obstacle & out of any mud hole. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. Of course, by the end of seven hours Tank was screaming & the kids were bouncing off the walls of the van, but it was great.

Jaremy leads our family by example. He is the first one up, the last one down. He starts his day with yard work. He gets more done by breakfast than most do in an entire morning. He gathers us for family devotional after breakfast. Jaremy loves organization and helps us get and stay organized. He gently encourages me to be up and about early in the morning so we can have couple, scripture study and prayer. He shows us we should take the words of the prophets seriously by listening to them himself on his way back and forth from work. He is a great leader!

Jaremy knows the importance of fun! He's always doing fun things with the kids. Camping in the backyard, showing up with a new wading pool, insisting on Fat Boys (ice cream sandwiches) for everyone, fixing bike tires (again & again), reading Peter Pan, stopping by a park, hiking for hours, hosting huge parties, playing soccer and boccie ball, and coming up with a million other ways to keep the kids excited about life.

I love the way Jaremy serves people. It comes from his heart not his to-do list or sense of duty. He fixes cars, moves people, camps with the scouts, loans out his tiller, visits his aging grandparents, takes my grandma to dinner, stays forever home teaching, talks with me until everything is worked out and I feel understood and loved (no matter how long it takes or what he has to cancel in order to get this outcome), runs over to help aging neighbors with anything they need, gives money and cars without a second thought, and hugs people so tightly they know he really loves them. Jaremy speaks well of people and doesn't judge them. That is real love! He never complains about helping someone, hosting events, or losing sleep, ever! He gets excited about showing people they are important to him. He loves family reunions and getting together with people.

Jaremy provides so well for our family! He is so talented! He helps out at home like no other. He baths kids, changes diapers, cleans all the laundry (and a family of nine has a bit let me tell you), weeds, mows, fixes our vehicles, takes care of the budgeting and finances, keeps us technologically in the grove, holds babies while he eats so I can eat in peace, plays with the dog and kids, washes dishes, etc, etc. He gives more than 100%. The rest of us scramble to keep up with him! Did I mention he is such a stud?!!!

I love Jaremy with all my heart!!! He is my life!! He makes me whole! I hope I can make him feel that!

Prayer

Prayer is a real force. Heavenly Father does hear and answer prayers. When contention is in our home, when I feel dark and angry, when there doesn't seem to be any solutions, when peace seems impossible all I have to do is pray for peace and humility. Almost immediately my heart begins to soften; I become more humble. I am able to understand the other person's feelings and my own emotions become clearer. I feel calmer. And somehow a miracle happens everytime I pray for peace: it comes. Peace seeps through in spite of my pride, anger, and confusion. My Savior is able to change my heart and the situation simply because I prayed with real intent. Paradime shifts occur, gentle reminders from the Holy Ghost are heard, and love replaces contention. It truly is a miracle!

Sleeping with Little Ones

Today we drove over to Logan in the rain. The colors are dark and rich. I love the rain! I love that I can't mow or weed in the rain. I took the six youngest kids into Wal-Mart. We picked up a crib bumper I ordered on-line. Hopefully, it will help Tank sleep through the night. He was getting to small for his newborn crib and always getting caught between the bars. Benjamin and I lined the toddler crib for him with the bumper. Now he is upstairs crying himself to sleep. He has been getting up every hour almost every night to nurse. After six months of this I'm tired and rather annoyed with it. Letting him cry it out doesn't bother me as long as he is safe, healthy, and comfortable. I would let babies cry it out on the first night if I could. But my babies always fill their diapers all through the night until they are about two months. Once they only have bowel movements in the day is a great time to train them to sleep through the night. However, it seems a cold or teething can torpedo that plan. So can not having a crib that is comfortable and safe. Oh, so can having a husband that doesn't let them cry it out. But it has to be done. They will have to be trained the same way at two years old as two months, so get it over with as soon as possible. Jaremy is at Girl's Camp with Jessica tonight, so that obstacle is also out of the way. Tank's crib is now in the boy's room, so they will have to sleep out in the recreation room for a few nights until he is trained to sleep through the night. They love any excuse not to sleep in their beds. Ella was moved out of the toddler crib to the girl's room. She will share the bottom bunk with Natalie for now. Sometimes letting a baby cry it out can be really heart wrenching. However, I have to remind myself it is for the best. It really helps them sleep soundly, be healthier, and helps me do the same. And if I'm energetic, healthy, and clear-headed the whole family and house runs much better. Now and then I go up and sneak in to check on Teancum to make sure he is safe, but I don't let him know I'm present. I also time his crying. I've read no child will cry over 45 minutes at a time when crying it out. Most all my kids cry for an hour to an hour and a half for the first two times. That can seem like eternity. But I've found no other way that really works. And this system is tried and true. In a couple of days Teancum will be on a perfect nap and night sleeping schedule if I am disciplined and let him cry it out every time he goes for a nap or when he wakes up in the night.

This system also works for temper tantrums in most children. Usually it only takes two or three times of letting them cry it out in a safe place they can't leave (locked bedroom, crib [if they can't climb out]). We used to use a landing on the top of the stairs in Paradise because you could lock them on it. Whatever is safe and secure. Then just let them throw their fit. It might last an hour and a half. They will probably cry themselves to sleep, but don't let them out for all their begging and screaming until they are perfectly quiet for 60 seconds. Count it! Because if they start their fit again you can't let them out. If they start crying and acting up after they have been let out you have to start all over again every time they throw a tantrum. It's a pain in the neck. Sometimes it breaks your heart. However, it teaches them acceptable behavior and self-discipline. And like I say most of the time it only takes two or three times until they don't throw fits. However, Ella has been an exception. She has thrown fits for months. She would have several tantrums a day and have to cry it out. But we haven't been as consistent with her simply because their are so many adults living here right now and they all deal with here differently. So she has had a unique situation. Gratefully, she is out-growing her tantrums and is getting more able to communicate in positive ways everyday. She is almost three and that really helps.
Well, Tank is sputtering to a stop now. He is practically asleep now, but whimpers now and again. Soon he will be completely out. And in a few days he will be completely trained. Unfortunately, if sickness, teething, or schedule interruption interferes with any of this, we have to start all over again. Usually I have to train a baby to sleep through the night a few times in the first year. But after that it's smooth sailing!

Typical Afternoon

I changed and nursed Tank (6months) and laid him down for a nap. Then Natalie(6), Moroni(8), and I made pbjs for lunch. While Natalie, Hyrum(4), and Ella(2) ate their sandwiches and bananas I made a stevia, chocolate pudding. Ella threw a fit about eating the crusts. Hyrum snuck out of the house to collect more rocks and avoid his nap. Hyrum came back to finish his meal. Ella touched Hyrum with her foot. Mistake. Ella removed from counter screaming and promising "I'll be good!" Moroni sent to deliver lunch to Benjamin (10) who is weeding the strawberries back on the farm. Both boys return to beg for a break. Granted until 1PM. 1 Hour. Natalie forced to go outside and play. Ella escaped from bed, begging to eat her crusts. Ella sent back to bed. Tank woke up crying. Hyrum begged for his nap alarm to be set so he knows when to get up. Grandma comes in with mail and gardening hat. Grandma saves Tank. I will now go put kids back in bed and nurse Tank back to sleep.
Jaremy loaded the canoe and us in van for family home evening on Cutler Dam Resevoir. Moroni gave a great lesson on prayer on the way. We all enjoyed a quiet evening. Ella refused to ride in the canoe than begged to get a ride. Then Ella was afraid. Finally Jaremy forced Ella into the canoe, screaming for her life. Jaremy gently paddled her around the marsh until she returned calm and loving canoeing. Jaremy makes my heart melt!

My Savior

My Savior, Jesus Christ, has done everything for me and my family. If I just follow Him and keep His commandments I can inherit eternal life with my family.
Jesus came so humbly to earth. He meekly did His Father's work and glorified Him. He was beaten and betrayed by those He lived and gave His life for. Yet He loved them. Oh, how he loves all of us. He loves us even when we don't remember or care for Him. His hands are continously stretched out for us. And He fully welcomes us back when we repent. I hope I can become meek and lowly, so I can also follow the Lord's plan for me.
I don't know how the Savior paid the price for all of our sins and infirmities, but I know He did. I don't understand the Atonement completely, but I know it works in my life. I know the Lord knows all things and He loves me. I pray I can bring small honor to His name sometime in my life. I pray His sufferings for me will not be in vain.
"I feel my Savior's love in all the world around me." I am so grateful for the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. He has blessed me beyond measure!

Courage

Courage is saying "I'm sorry."

Courage is putting a grumpy two-year-old to bed.

Courage is swining really high. (Like over the bar)

Courage is riding a train with seven children.

Courage is going to Primary all by yourself.

Courage is not jumping off the roof.

Courage is being born.

Courage is not crying when you get your hair done.

Family photos

Here are some pictures of our family.

Jaremy (Dad)
Ella
Hyrum
Jessica

Natalie

Moroni

Benjamin







Grandma Deborah & Robert
Aunt Jeni
Hyrum
Teancum (Tank)

Grandma Eva

Aunt Eva Anne

Aunt Melissa

Natalie

Moroni

Ella

Natalie

Moroni

Hyrum

Jessica

Benjamin

Natalie

Ella

Ella

Hyrum

Moroni

Our Fondest Goal

"Our Lovely Deseret" is the name of our home in Honeyville, Utah. The hymn says: "In our lovely deseret where the saints of God have met, There's a multitude of children all around..." We definitely have started on our multitude of children. We have seven beautiful ones. "Our Lovely Deseret" is usually brimming with wonderful grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends as well.

Our kind Heavenly Father has blessed us beyond measure with a wonderful family. And that what "Our Lovely Deseret" is all about. Family!! Our family's dearest goal is to return together to the presence of our Heavenly Father and Precious Savior, Jesus Christ.