REFUGE

Psalm 91
1: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
4: He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shalt be thy shield and buckler.
11: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

First Week of School

The first week of school is over. I am happy to see it go. I had forgotten how hectic the first week is. Each child brings home a supply list from each teacher. Keep in mind I have 4 kids in the upper grades who have 6 classes each, so you can imagine the magnitude. Not every list comes home on the first day, they sort of trickled in all week long. Some teachers ask for a separate binder for that class to keep in the classroom. Some ask for colored pencils, some markers. Some want notebooks, some want loose-leaf paper. Some want folders, some subject dividers. Of course the Spanish teacher wants a Spanish dictionary. They all want pencils, but some want pens in specific colors. Some want those large pink erasers. So off we go to find the various supplies. WalMart was out of pink erasers and markers. K-Mart was out of subject dividers and #2 pencils. Every store's school supply section looked like many small bombs had gone off. The aisles are full of parents that look like they just want to grab and get out quick. The employees all have glazed looks in their eyes from having had to deal with rushed parents and a school supply section that has been getting less and less functional since it started back in May.
The kids also bring a rules sheet and parent contact info. sheet from each class that the student and parent each have to read, sign and return. And then there's the packet with the health form and the field trip permission slip and the media permission form and the privacy protection form.....Are you starting to get the picture?
But, we survived the first week, and everyone's home for the weekend now. As I listen to the fighting and screaming going on as I type this, I am wondering if I always think "the grass looks greener" or am I really missing that hectic first week of school already? Monday will be here soon....Monday will be here soon....

BURDENS

I have been thinking about the burdens we all carry. We knew we were going to have trials and be tested when we came to this earth. Each person's burden is different, and some are heavier than others, and for a time, we may even feel our burden is light. One of my favorite scriptures, and even have it in a nice frame sitting by the phone and computer ~ Be ye not troubled for THIS TOO SHALL PASS. I have looked at it many times. There is a picture of Christ holding a little lamb. This scripture always seems to comfort me. I have gone through a few trials, and the saving grace I had was the knowledge that I was loved by God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. Sometimes prayer is the only thing we can do, and pray sincerely. I know our prayers are heard and answered. Sometimes the answer isn't quite what we want to hear. Sometimes our burdens aren't taken away, but our faith allows us to be able to endure them. Things don't always turn out like we want, but we will be judged not by our trials, but how we endure them. Whether its sickness, death, family problems, sometimes our burden becomes so heavy that all we can do is pray and turn our burden to God and Jesus Christ. The main thing is not to lose HOPE. We need to keep our spirits healthy and not let that happen. For everyone in the family who is burdened and downcast, please know that I love you and pray for you. I love you all.

first day of school

I'm Back

After several weeks of various internet problems (I was about to go through withdrawals!), our internet is back up and running so now I can post again. You probably thought I had joined Darvil's dark side, but I didn't. Yesterday was also the first day of school, so I can't help but feel a small sense of freedom right now. What's that sound I hear upstairs and in the distant rooms of my house? SILENCE!?! I haven't heard that in a while. The kids all had a good first day yesterday, Colby's first day of high school and seminary, Miranda's first day of middle school. Brady is a big man on campus, being a senior, and Kason said he enjoyed not being the youngest grade anymore at middle school. Eli is the only one at elementary this year, he likes 2nd grade and his teachers, and was pleased to find 2 of his best friends are also in his class. This should be a great school year.



But my to-do list is so long I don't know how I'll get to it all. Super Saturday is looming in the distance... any great ideas, anyone? I've got a few but need a few more.



The chickens are laying eggs like crazy. 5 or 6 per day. We're going to start selling them (we hope) and get back some of the money we spend on food. We let them roam during the day, (they're free-range chickens!--I love that term), so if you walk out the back door expect 6 large chickens to come running up to you hoping you have a treat. (we often take out our old bread or shriveling fruit and veggies and they gobble it up). They will follow you until you either give them some food or you run back into the house. If you have brightly painted toenails, expect them to peck at your feet, (they drew blood on Miranda's toes!), but not usually. Kason has given them all boy names, even though I have assured him that only women chickens can lay eggs, but he thinks the boy names are funnier. The meanest one is Evil Rick, then there's Horace and Frank and I don't remember who all.



As for me I'm just trying to keep this place running, it's a full-time job. Life's pretty good over all, we can be grateful we still have a house to live in, a good job, good neighbors and friends, great family, the gospel, and (for now at least) a wonderful, free country that even with Obama as president is still a lot better off than anywhere else.



Here's a couple of quotes to end on:



"Look on the bright side. Things will work out, they always do."

-Gordon B. Hinckley



"The future is as bright as your faith."

-Thomas S. Monson

End of an Era

Yesterday morning we went to the funeral of Linda Norton. A lot of memories came back to me while I was sitting there. Not only of Linda, but about the years I spent working at Ruth Barnes, Jusice of the Peace's office. Linda wasn't there when I first started. It was Judge Barnes, me, & her secretary Vita. The office was down in the basement under the Sherriff's office & jail. Then, after I had been there awhile, Ruth fired Vita for some reason, I never quite understood why, something about Long Distance calls. So then I had to work longer hours, and this was right at Christmas time. It was scary down in the basement when I was alone. No telling who would walk down those stairs and come in. Then Ruth hired Linda. She was very efficient and learned the ropes fast. Then our office was moved upstairs, so we walked up a flight of stairs to get to the office. The Assesors office was up there, so I became acquainted with some new ladies, especially Donna. Barbara Brazil and Carolyn Donham came to visit often. Then another part-time person was hired: Lenore Barney. I got to know all of these women, and that office is where I spent many hours. Linda & I had many conversations. She did well for herself, being a widow for so long, and then had a couple of bad marriages. I got to know her 3 kids a little.
When Ruth retired, Linda was appointed to her position, and she held that for about 9 years.
But that is a chapter of my life that is closed now. I talked to all of the women yesterday, except Carolyn. Linda was 2 years younger than me, and now her and Ruth are gone now. Linda went through the temple and had her first husband's work done also. At the funeral, her only brother gave the Life Story and told lots of stories about Linda and her friends. I am glad she did her temple work. I didn't think she ever would because of the life style she had when I knew her.
We never know when our time will be up.

Neutering: who knew

Mom and Dad, I was so surprised to read about Linda Norton's death in the Courier on line. Had she been sick for awhile or was this sudden? She was only 65. That's too bad. Are you going to the funeral?
Also, I wanted to tell you about the changes in Zero since he got snipped. The good news: he doesn't seem to need to mark things in my house anymore. The bad news: he growls and barks alot now. He didn't used to bark at the doorbell or knocks on the door. But now he sure does and it about knocks you our of your chair it's so loud and startling. If he hears the slightest noise outside, he'll growl this low growl or bark and he can't be consoled. It's weird. Who knew neutering would do that? I loved him so much more before he found his voice.

That's all.

HOME AGAIN

How does 10 days in the cool pines, just a short distance from a beautiful lake sound? That is where we have been - Big Lake to be exact. It was so nice up there and the weather was perfect. It even rained on us a few times. It is so much fun to sit in the trailer, watch a movie, eat snacks, and look out at the rain. The campground is new, and has electricity, water, and sewer. No more begging to have the generator turned on. It was great. We rode in to Eager/Springerville a few times, and even managed to find an antique store or two. It was nice, but its always good to be back home. We are going to do a few projects, like working in our little postage stamp garden, and plant some things for fall and winter. We thought we were going to have to buy a new wood stove, but Jerry took the top off of it yesterday and thinks nothing bad is wrong with it. So, I guess we're set for winter. But its stilll mighty hot here. Its hard to imagine kids starting school already. We enjoy the pictures of the kids and hearing about what they're doing. Keep it up.

LULU

Yesterday I was moving a few things around in the closet in the toy room, when one of Lulu's toys fell out from behind something. I had bought this for her a few months ago, a funny looking orange felt doll, with two uneven eyes, also out of felt, one eyebrow, and a crooked mouth, and a few sprigs of black yarn sticking up for hair. Well, Lulu grabbed it and ran off like she had found a long lost friend. She carried it around in her mouth for a long time. She would put it somewhere, then a little later go find it and carry it around again. She wouldn't let anyone have it. She put it in her dog bed a few times and also in my bedroom closet. She finally went to sleep with it by her side. This morning, she carried it around again, whining a little, like she couldn't find a safe enough place to put it. Then she put it and herself on top of the Sunday papers and whined a little as she shredded the papers into little pieces and finally made kind of a nest of papers on the couch for her and her doll. How funny! Is she trying to tell me she wants to have puppies or is she just extremely bored? What do you think?