Ode to the Wind Storm

The Twelve Days Before Christmas

On the first day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

A big blow in the tree tops

On the second day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Two inches of rain (in an hour)
And a big blow in the tree tops

On the third day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Three down trees (in the neighbors yard)
Two inches of rain
And a big blow in the tree tops

On the fourth day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Four trips for fuel (our generator drinks gas)
Three down trees
Two inches of rain
And a big blow in the tree tops

On the fifth day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Five bored boys (and a girl too)
Four trips for fuel
Three down trees
Two inches of rain
And a big blow in the tree tops

On the sixth day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Six nights a freezing (truly!)
Five bored boys
Four trips for fuel
Three down trees
Two inches of rain
And a big blow in the tree tops

On the seventh day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Seven meals on the barbie (we love meat!)
Six nights a freezing
Five bored boys
Four trips for fuel
Three down trees
Two inches of rain
And a big blow in the tree tops

On the eighth day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Eight people freezing (and a dog too)
Seven meals on the barbie
Six nights a freezing
Five bored boys
Four trips for fuel
Three down trees
Two inches of rain
And a big blow in the tree tops

On the ninth day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Nine extension cords (all tangled of course)
Eight people freezing
Seven meals on the barbie
Six nights a freezing
Five bored boys
Four trips for fuel
Three down trees
Two inches of rain
And a big blow in the tree tops

On the tenth day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Ten flashlights used (yes, we have that many)
Nine extension cords
Eight people freezing
Seven meals on the barbie
Six nights a freezing
Five bored boys
Four trips for fuel
Three down trees
Two inches of rain
And a big blow in the tree tops

On the eleventh day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Eleven rooms in darkness (plus a few more)
Ten flashlights used
Nine extension cords
Eight people freezing
Seven meals on the barbie
Six nights a freezing
Five bored boys
Four trips for fuel
Three down trees
Two inches of rain
And a big blow in the tree tops

On the twelfth day 'fore Christmas ma nature gave to me…

Twelve times twelve hours (without power)
Eleven rooms in darkness
Ten flashlights used
Nine extension cords
Eight people freezing
Seven meals on the barbie
Six nights a freezing
Five bored boys
Four trips for fuel
Three down trees
Two inches of rain
And a big blow in the tree tops

What no Recess?

A few days ago (Saturday, December 2, 2006) I was reading an article in my local newspaper, "The Seattle Times," with the headline "Elementary schools increasingly restrict or ban recess for kids" This article is about a national trend to rid the public schools of recess. The article says that 40% of schools have eliminated recess or are thinking about it. The two reasons they gave were ridiculous! The first was the fear of liability and the second was so that more time can be spent in instruction. "That fear of liability and the pressure to prepare students for high-stakes testing have spurred thousands of schools to cut recess and physical education -- usually in favor of increasing math and reading instruction." I don't think I want to be in a nation where kids don't play anymore.

What has this world come to? We have become a nation where coffee is too hot, guacamole doesn't have enough avocado and now slides are too slippery, asphalt is to hard and heaven forbid a child might trip over their shoelace (oh that's right we now have velcro).
"Running at recess was banned last year in Broward County, Fla. In October, officials at the elementary school south of Boston banned tag and touch football. Elementary schools in Cheyenne, Wyo. And Spokane banned tag during recess. And this past summer, Portland public schools eliminated swings from their playgrounds, along with merry-go-rounds, tube slides, track rides, arch climbers and teeter-totters."
How ridiculous is this? When are we going to pull out all the trees God gave us because the kids might fall out of them and do what little boys do; break an arm?

Public schools are consistently teaching to the test, especially here in Washington where we teach to the WASL. They teach so much to the test that art, music and now play are being pushed out of our children's lives! This is a shame! "But with all the other subjects we're mandated to have, all we have left for recess is 15 minutes." We are so fixated on the goal (but I'm not sure what the goal is and I'm not sure they do either) we are forgetting to look out the side windows of this fast moving train at the scenery. We are forgetting to get on our hands and knees and play horsey. We aren't playing tag anymore, kick the can, kick ball, rounders and all the other fun games we played as children on the playground. Our children aren't playing them either. We are too busy to teach our children so we left it to the public schools. Now we aren't teaching our children to play and we left it to the public schools but now they are giving play up because they have to teach to some test that is going to tell us our kids don't know anything. Well let me tell you something, our kids don't know anything because they aren't outside making their heart pump, blood circulate and or making synapses inside their brain. They are so concerned with facts that they are forgetting the fun! Boys and girls should be outside running and jumping. They should be out there picking sides for a kickball game, solving conflicts because someone "missed the base." Kids NEED TO PLAY!

"If we continue to eliminate physically vigorous games that help strengthen children's circulation, their strength and muscular conditioning, then just like a river, their bodies become susceptible to disease," say Rhonda Clements, a former president of the American Association for the Child's Right to Play. (She is also a professor of education at Manhattanville College in New York and has written or edited nine books on the value of child's play.)

"The most recent numbers from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention show that 17 percent of children and adolescents are overweight."

If the kids aren't playing at school then they must get it at home. But they aren't getting it at home. At home their head is stuck in front of a screen so they can "relax, and veg out" since they worked so hard at school and are facing HOURS of homework. Our kids aren't playing with the neighbor kids. The kids aren't climbing trees, riding bikes and playing stick ball in the street. I will admit it isn't safe out there because of all the loonies running around BUT they don't even get the chance to do that, there is no time because they are busy doing homework or "vegging out."

I also want to know where and when the kids are going to blow off steam? I know that while working on a very mentally taxing project, if I schedule in some breaks I work better and smarter. I actually save time by exercising. I get up at 5 every morning to go spend an hour exercising so that my day runs smoother. When I turn off my alarm and miss my workout my days don't go so well, even with the extra hour or so of sleep. I wonder how these kids are going to make it. How will they be able to work smarter on those dreaded tests?

America wants to move to the head of the class so badly they are forgetting that the beauty is in the journey and the goal should be to learn in all areas of their life. Math, science, English, history, art, music and physical education. There is seldom joy in life when it just one sided. We don't need extremely "smart kids" we need extremely well rounded healthy kids in America. We need kids who know how to lead because they learned how to lead on the play ground. We need kids who know how to play by the rules and not cheat. We need kids who are healthy because they know how to play and have fun. We need recess!

Vegetarians, Daniel and Lions

On an email list I'm on a post came through written by a mother about how her children were singing, "I'm a Vegetarian Now" from the latest Liken video, "Daniel and the Lion's Den." She was delighted that her children were learning a scripture story and singing. Someone else posted in reply that Daniel wasn't eaten because he didn't eat any meat and therefore the Lions didn't smell the rotting meat inside of him.

A couple things are wrong with this statement. 1. Lions eat grazing animals theat don't have any rotting meat either and yet those animals are number one on the menu. 2. If you know anything about the digestion system, you know that what you eat doesn't stay that long in your system to become "rotten" before it is all broken down, nutrients pulled out and eliminated from the system. And 3. God does work miracles and to say that the Lions didn't eat him because of no "rotting smell" takes away from a miracle.

As much as the 89th section of the Doctrine and Covenants says that, "…flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained from the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;" and then in the 49th section he says, "And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, it not ordained of God; For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth is ordained for the use of man for food and raiment, and that he might have in abundance." This second (but first in chronological order) revelation was given because of a group of people, the Shakers, were inquiring as to the Second Coming.

The Lord is very clear that meat isn't on the "no" list, but on the "ok" list with due diligence and prudence. We need to understand our stewardship over those things that the Lord has given us, all things, including beast and fowls. It is only with complete understanding and wisdom that we are part of the Lord's plan.

So to that poster, no the lions did not eat Daniel because he was a vegetarian. The lions didn't each him because the Lord had plans for Daniel. The Lord needed to perform a miracle and Daniel, a faithful servant, was the one the Lord chose to perform that miracle with. I can only hope to be a faithful servant like Daniel.

Sit Down Dining vs Drive Through

I love to go out and eat. It means I don't have to cook and better yet, I don't have to clean up. Some of the best words my husband can say are, "Where do you want to eat tonight." Of course I don't hear them enough, but they are still lovely words when he speaks them. There are different restaurants I like better than others.

Every now and then we are caught out and about come dinner time, but don't have time for a nice sit down break and have choose a local fast food drive through to keep us going. Not the best of food, but it is quick and will fill our bellies for a little while. I don't read the nutritional information because I would probably run for the nearest door, but it does give us enough whatever to keep going. Not all of us will be satisfied with the choices on the board above the local teen, but my children are usually satisfied with the little toy they find in the bottom of the sack. I know my husband and I will grab something a bit more when we arrive home. We will not starve that night, even if we are all not satisfied.

Other times we have a bit more time and find ourselves at an establishment where there is a sign in the entrance that reads, "Please wait to be seated." A nice gentle man (usually of Mexican decent because that is one of our favorites) sits us in the back corner where there is a large table to sit all eight of us. This food has a bit more nutritional value and we sit and enjoy the food spread before us. Depending on the establishment, the food is usually good enough to finish all of it and of course all are satisfied.

Then there is this restaurant that is one that my husband and I visit every now and then because the food is so good. If we could lick the plates in such a classy place I think we would. The food comes in big enough portions that when the waiter comes back to clear our plates and ask about dessert we have to evaluate how full our tummies are, but it is very tempting because they too are delicious. We have yet to be disappointed.

Of all of these choices, the first cost us the least in amount of time and money. The second is a bit more and takes a bit more money and time, but we still can get in and out in quick fashion. The last choice is a lot more money and take more time, but we also linger over dinner and enjoy the company as much as the food. It is also interesting to note of which our young children like. Of course their choices are just the opposite of mine. We also wouldn't take our very young children to our favorite fancy restaurant because it would be a waste of our time, money and energy.

"Feast upon the words," (2 Nephi 32:3) is much like going to the third choice. We have been asked often to feast and I would like take these three choices and compare and contrast them.

Fast Food:

• Quick
• Always there and most are open 24 hours
• Will serve just about any meal; breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Not the best for you, but will do and you could survive
• Quick preparations
• Come as you are dressed
• There are usually no free refills
• Cost you a little in your time and money
• Décor of the restaurant are sparse, if at all

Sit down restaurant:

• Not the fastest, but not the slowest
• Nutritious enough if you pick the right item
• Lingering if permitted, but sometimes someone is waiting for your table
• Many enjoy it more than the first
• Usually done with the family
• Preparation time is a bit more
• Clothing attire is hopefully a bit better than the first
• The décor and atmosphere are a giant step above the first choice

Fine restaurant:

• Preparation time is much longer for both patron and chef
• Food is most delicious and often very nutritious
• Dinner is enjoyable
• Usually for a special occasion or need
• Company is most often a loved one
• Clothing attire is usually carefully chosen
• Water and bread are complimentary
• Reservations are sought after
• The décor and atmosphere in the restaurant are a bit more classy

All of these places give out food and drink. Each give refuge from the outside while we take a break from our daily care. Each make it possible for us to live another day. Each can be a special experience (just ask a little child who is going to McDonalds). Families are always welcome. Conversation can be head in each of the establishment.

Now let's go to The Gospels and the feeding of the thousands. Each author tells of a miracle of the Savior making a little fish and bread go a long way. In one account, five fishes and two loaves fed 5000 not counting the women and children, and you can only imagine how many people that must have been. He continues to set the table for us to eat. His table is never empty, He has 12 baskets after all were fed. He even says He is the "living bread" and "living water" with a promise that we will never hunger or thirst again, if we endure to the end. What a feast! (See Matthew 14: 17-21; John 6:51; John 4:10-11)

Unlike some of the fancy restaurants that require a tie and coat, this feast of our Father's requires only a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He also begs us to invite our family and friends to make it a family event. This isn't a rushed event, this is meal that we should linger at, taste it all, enjoy it all, discuss, and be filled. His restaurant is always open--scriptures never close their doors, and they are everywhere--as long as you can bow your head and say a prayer there is a feast, reservations are never needed for revelation. He encourages us all to attend when we can, well prepared and most enjoyable. There are some places He would like us to gather and feast with others; sacrament meeting, the temple, other church meetings and our home.

Sometimes you don't have the time to linger over a meal and you need a fast food variety because worldly matters press upon you. You have a family to care for, a job to be at, human bodies with frailties, and many other human and natural events that occur in our lives that prevent us from lingering at His table. Sometimes we need the "fast food" version of a feast. Sometimes all we can get off is a quick prayer, a five minute reading of the scriptures, sometimes you are lucky to do it with the other family members. But if done with the required broken heart and contrite spirit, it is acceptable to Him. Even though it is a quick nibble, you do feed the soul and oft times it hits the spot, for now.

Every now and then my family goes to a restaurant and sit for a little bit and enjoy a meal. I equate this to our Sunday worship. We linger just a little, but the next family wants our pew, so we move on. We do this as a family and never want to leave a person home. The atmosphere is a bit more beautiful. You notice the other families there too. This feast is a little more filling and we prepared for it a bit more. Someone usually greets you at the door, you are served at your place. Your tummy is a little more full and your appetite a little more satisfied.

Less frequently, but just as important is the times when we linger over a banquet in the temple. It doesn't happen as often as the fast food drive through window or the family restaurant, but when it does it is special and the food is always good. The menu choices are specialties of the Chef and you can not go wrong with any pick. Yes the time and money (for those who have to hire babysitters) if often more than we usually spend, but it is always worth it and you sometimes wish you could lick the plates because you don't want to miss a morsel of the delicious feast. You can not ask for a more beautiful dining room with servers who are there to assist you at every turn. You can not ask for a better spirit at the feast then when you walk through the doors of the temple. As a bonus every now and then you get to take your youth with you to give them a sampling of the feast the Lord has waiting for them when their understanding of the gospel is more mature.

Every now and then I get to sit and feast at a banquet, but for the most part, I'm just thankful for the chance to nourish my spirit anyway I can. I truly am thankful for every type of restaurant that Heavenly Father has given us to enjoy.

Sports on Sunday

Today I'm sitting at home while "my boys" are out playing a soccer game. I call them "my boys" because I have been there coach now for three years but my son has been on the team for six years. They truly are my boys and I love them. It is killing me being home not knowing how they are doing. I watch the clock and think of them.

Why am I not there with them? Well, I keep the Sabbath Day holy and therefore I'm not out there coaching today, the Sabbath. It pains me to no end. To make matters worth I have five other children on the team who believe in keeping the Sabbath Day holy as well, so the team is down five kids (one is mine). That means my team is down to 10 players, one short of a full team.

I was a young athlete myself and had to make the decision of playing on Sunday as well. A few times I played on the Sabbath and I didn't like it, but God didn't strike me dead. But I don't look upon those days as good days, even when we won the championship. This is a hard thing for kids to make the choice of and it is a crying shame they have to make it.

How do you tell you children to keep the Sabbath Day holy when there are role models out there breaking them and reaping great rewards. Every LDS kid I knows who has faced this will bring up the name of Steve Young, the San Francisco 49er's famous quarterback. How do you explain that to you young son. How about Dale Murphy? He was converted while in the Majors and went on to be a Mission President. What do you say to a young son in tears when he finds out his team is out of the tournament because of a loss? How about all the other many LDS athletes who play on Sunday?

I use to use the line, "but that is their job." Just like a doctor doesn't plan on working on Sunday, but I didn't plan on getting sick or injured on Sunday either. Sometimes we have to pull the mule out of the ditch. But is an athlete pulling a mule? So if it is a job, what about all those years prior to it being "their job" when they played on Sunday?

With all these thoughts running through my head my one question is, "Where are all the blessings for all the Sabbath Days my family has kept holy?" What are the blessings? My team has yet to win on Sunday.

I'm sure the blessings are there, but today with a heavy heart for "my boys" and a very hard fought game that came up one goal short, I'm not sure I see them.

Editor's note: I have a huge amount of faith that end the end we will be rewarded for our faithfulness in keeping the commandments, and I will continue to obey.

A Stop Sign Along My Route

I'm trying to speed read my way through The Book of Mormon which means no looking up footnotes, no searching and studying. I'm just trying to get through The Book of Mormon and get a since of the book and the spirit of it. I can not tell you how hard this is. I have had to stop reading them out of my hard copy of scriptures. The one that I have had since I left home; in fact they have my maiden name still one them. They aren't tattered because I have treasured them and made sure they are still in good condition BUT they are marked and loved like nothing before. This causes a problem when I'm reading. I stop and read my notes and then I get bogged down. This is only a problem because I'm trying to speed read through the Book of Mormon.

I found the solution; my PDA. It doesn’t have any of my markings and it is so portable. But I'm still having troubles. I'm stopping to make notes, and there are still the footnotes and they are so easy to get to--just touch the superscript letter and up pops a window, and as they use to say in seminary, "The chase is on." The other problem I have, is that I don't get a real study time. I am a mom of too many that my alone time is short and often far between. This year I have come up with a special little time and as long as traffic is with me I get a good 20-30 minute scripture time with no distractions.

I take Kray to seminary, run to the gym and meet him back at the building after he has gone over to a friends house while they wait for school to begin. If I get my workout done in a timely manner and traffic is not so bad, I get back to the building with about 20 minutes before he comes back.

Well, I was doing well until I hit Alma 37 (I made it through the first part of Alma). Then I ran over these verses:

34 Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.

35 O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.

36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

And then in the next chapter these two verses:

5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delievered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

12 Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.

If you know anything about me, I'm a busy mother. I'm homeschooling six children, coaching two soccer teams, putting on monthly ward activities, teaching classes, one many non-profit boards, running conferences, talking at homeschooling support groups and just plain trying to keep my head above water. I am weary and I'm doing good works, but I enjoy it--totally. Yes, I have those days when I want to throw it all away, but I love being involved in many things, especially if they involve my children. There is no better joy than seeing your children succeed and doing good works. I try to be very meek and lowly (or as I read it as humble). I try not to do it for praise, glory or income. In fact this "good work" usually costs me. I just hope my heart is really in the right so that I may find the rest.

In verse 36 it says that we are to "cry." I can not tell you how often tears are flowing down my face as I ask for peace and rest. I don't mean to stop being busy, I just want a few things to go my way. In particular my children and their interaction with the rest of the family.

But I think chapter 38 says I'm doing too much and I'm not putting enough trust in the Lord. I'm not sure, but I sometimes think I'm not letting the Lord direct all my thoughts and actions. (OK, I know not my actions because I have a hot temper. Just ask my spouse and children.) I use boldness and overbearance. I need to get rid of the forcing my ideas. I need to bridle my passion as I have many. I think those are the things I need to work on the most.

If the scripture is true then I will be filled with love. I think that is my biggest downfall is that my actions do not say that "I love you" especially when dealing with members of my family. I have many things to repent of. In these few verses, I see these:

More heartfelt prayer

Heart in the right place in my "good works"

Slowing down (learn to say NO!)

Listen more closely to the prompting

Be bold but gentle

Bridle my passions

Be more diligent in having my actions say, "I love you" to those in my home (we will start there and branch out)

I continue to still ponder on these scriptures and see them in new light. So much for speed reading through the Book of Mormon. I know I'm going to have a hard time finishing Third Nephi as it is my favorite.

Vision without action is a day dream; action without vision is a nightmare.

I saw this quote on a lumberyard's reader board the other day as I was driving. As I like to think myself a visionary woman, it has made me stop and think. Am I putting my visions into action? Am I living in a dream world?

I have to say, Yes, I am. I have a vision of a happy home, where children are doing their school work, getting their daily jobs done and volunteering for one extra chore a day. I see them smiling and laughing with each other as the day progresses. I see them quickly coming when Dad calls them to Scripture Time or Family Home Evening. I see them reading the scriptures on their own, gaining a testimony and doing good works daily. But like I said, I'm a visionary woman.

Now putting these visions into action. Been there, done that. Still the out come isn't what I vision. Fights and contention are ever present in my home.

Some of my actions are without vision. When I'm angry…well, let's just say, "it ain't pretty."

So the quote is try. I'm a visionary woman living in a nightmare, at least some days it is a nightmare.

So Busy I Can't Stop to Breathe

I have been so busy that I can scarcely catch my breathe. I don't know how I'm going to continue at this breakneck speed because I'm going to kill over in just a few days. Something needs to break, stop or change very soon.

This weekend I spent forever at the soccer fields and Jessie didn't even have a game. We started off at 8:30 and I got to come home at noon for a lunch break. During that lunch break I either had to help Steve with the railing for the deck or do something that needed to be done for our church. Well, Steve really didn't want my help so I spent about an hour writing a script for our ward's Christmas program. I didn't quite finish by the time it was to go coach Mike's team.

After this we came home and cleaned up the deck scraps. It was a HUGE pile and we filled the trailer will all the scrapes and added to our concrete rubble pile. It took us a good hour to get the trailer full and lots of the concrete chunks picked up. Steve wanted to go out to dinner, so we went to our favorite restaurant, Sages.

After dinner we came home and I spent another hour or two, putting the finishing touches on the script. Steve and I finally got in bed and I still was doing a bit more work. I finally climbed into bed and still couldn't sleep so I did a bit more work. That was just Saturday; my day off.

Shall we go back a day or two….
I scarcely can breath.
I'm going to bed on Sunday and I still don't have tomorrow's classes ready. I even have a class with other children coming and I'm not ready for them. I hope that by class time tomorrow I know enough about Australia to teach it.

Well, I might not have time to breath, but I have to take time to sleep.

Life is School and Love is the Lesson

I saw this saying on the bumper of a car a few weeks ago and I have been thinking about it ever since.

There is a lot of truth in this saying. Our school motto is "Life is school and school is life," and if you add that "love is the lesson" we have a complete curriculum.

What better way to teach spelling, science, math, language arts, social studies, history, etc. than through love. It doesn't matter the book, what matters is the attitude of the student and the teacher. I believe that when both the teacher and student love each other and approach their academic studies with love then you recipe for success.

If you take the love out, learning doesn't necessarily stop, it just takes a bit more time, more head aches and more planning.

When you homeschool you already have that love part because of the child-mother relationship unlike in a traditional school setting. That doesn't mean that traditional teachers don't love their students and the students their teachers, but there is something more between a mother and child.

I'm not sure if it is "illegal" for teacher to hug their students when they do a wonderful job on an assignment, but I can only imagine it is with all the law suits that land in court. As a mother I constantly hug my kids when they do well and when they don't do well. I know students don't get to sit in their teacher's laps during story time, but my kids do. I know that when there is a bad day, we can talk about it and work through it and make a bad day turn out to be an OK day if not a great day.

As we enter a new school year, I hope that I can add to our school motto, "Life is school and school if life and love is the lesson." Yeah, I think that sounds better; now I just need to change our website.

Doreen

A Need for a Miracle

These words are some of the hardest for me to write. My wonderful sister who has fought a brain tumor for the past few years isn't doing to well. Her daughter just posted a desperate email on our family website asking for our prayers as her mother, my sister, is declining and in her words, "quickly." She has asked us to come and visit her.

Oh, how fragile life is.

I am praying for a miracle. It is so very hard to say, "thy will be done," in a situation like this. You spend the time on your knees begging for a miracle, a miracle that a mother of nine, wife to one, grandmother to one, sister to six and friend to many may live to see her nine year old baby married in the temple. You beg for her life and you also beg for her suffering to end. You plead for the family to have peace and comfort. You bargain, you sob and you feel helpless.

How does one face the next person who asks, "How are you?" How do you tell them your family's need and desire for your sister to be well and a family to be at peace? What do you say? What do you do?

How do I get to see her? Calling her leaves only silence on the other end. Email goes unanswered and life seems to speed ahead while standing still.

My sister is 13 years older than I am. I didn't grow up with her. In fact my first real memory of her was when she was preparing for her mission. She came home and took over my bedroom. I was just thankful that after her mission she got married really fast and left my room. Ok, so she and her husband came back and took it over and this time kicked me out. But I am glad that I got to spend those few months with her because I really never knew my sister. I found out she was a pretty neat lady. I found out she was very smart. I found out she loved the gospel. I found out that I loved her.

All the best, Nadine. I'm praying for a miracle, even if I have to say, "thy will be done," at the end of my prayers.

Malachi's Promise

Once you get to know me you will understand that the most important thing in my life is my family. In the long list of priorities behind My Heavenly Father and my testimony in the gospel is my family. Everything I do is because of these three things. I live my life for my family.

This sense of family has been with me since I was a little girl. It has stayed with me all these years. I was told in a special blessing that family history would play an important part in my life. I have always thought this to mean that I would search for those in my family who we have no record of. I have come to find out that it means something totally different. It means that family history, the STORIES from my family are important to me.

Nine year ago (I know because it was right after Matthew was born) my mother came to help out. My mom brought an orange box full of pictures from her childhood and her family. Now, I know very little about her family mostly because I was born so late in her life and her parents had passed away by my birth. I was thrilled to see these pictures. My husband sat with her at the computer and scanned them in the computer, cleaned them up and as fast as my husband's fingers could fly, he wrote while she dictated. He then compiled it all on a CD and burned one for each of my siblings and any aunt, uncle or distant relative who wanted one. I love to look at those pictures.

It was also about this time that my mom got it in her mind that she would write her memoirs and publish them for us. It is the most precious book I own. If this house would burn down I would be sorry to see it ruined. In fact I would risk my lift to retrieve at least one copy (I bought enough for my children to have one.) It has a red cover and often my kids ask to read from "Grandma's Red Book." The stories aren't going to win any awards, but it doesn't have to because they are MY stories. Stories of my people, my family.

What makes "Grandma's Red Book" (properly titled "My Legacy") is that my mother's health as of late has declined. How timely it was for her to write her memories and thoughts about her life and her family's.

Recently, I got my hands on a "blue book" that a half cousin compiled about my mother's father (my grandfather). I know very little about him because he died many years before I was born. What I did know of him was wonderful, but what I know now is more.

There is something powerful in the written word. I learned that back in 1984 while in high school. My English teacher made us write in a journal everyday (I can still feel the moan I let out the first day of school when he told us about the assignment). Today I thank that teacher. I now have a very detailed and lengthy record of my thoughts, feelings, actions and other dealings. This record, much like "Grandma's Red Book" and the "blue book" I would be remiss if something happened to it.

After my husband and I got married we wrote our first letter to our family and friends. Seventeen years later we are still sending out a monthly letter, only we do it online, called the Blanding Bugle. We have seventeen years of family stories.

Just recently I have decided to become a Heritage Makers Consultant so I can publish NOW the stories of my life and those of my children. Just like my mom's book, it won't win awards, but those books will be full of stories that mean something to my children and their children.

The first book I published was about a trip skiing we took back in January. It is full of pictures and memories that my children relive every time they pick that book up. I often catch my children reading that book. I can't wait to get the first Blanding Bugle book hot off the press! I'm sure it will become another classic at my house.

 

Just Sit Down!

Last winter I did something I didn't think I would every do; I learned to ski. Our family went on a ski vacation in British Columbia, Canada and for two days straight my daughter came in with a smile that I thought was frozen, but it lasted well into the night. I knew I wanted to have that smile on my face too. So I did it. I rented the ski, purchased three half-day lessons and did my best.

The first day was great! I didn't fall once, well, that was until that cute smiling face greeted me after I got off the chair lift. Her arms wrapped around my legs and when she let go, I was totally off balance and hit the snow. (Just for the record, I don't call that falling down.)

That afternoon I spent the day on the bunny slope with my young children showing me all the great tricks they have been practicing. I went to bed with very sore muscles but a smile on my face.

The next day was much of the same lessons. My classed stayed on the bunny slopes and once again, I didn't fall down once. OK, I did fall down when Jason ran over my skies when we stopped for the afternoon, but that doesn't count.

Again, that afternoon I spent the day skiing with the kids on the bunny slope, taking pictures and enjoying the tricks the kids performed on the bumps on the side of the run. My daughter even did a head plant after a rather large "jump." She pulled her head out and continued on down the slope. I still have no idea how she did it, but it was awe inspiring to think about that event. We even came back out after dinner and skied under the lights.

The last day of my lessons the teacher took me up to the top of the mountain. My heart was already pounding and my legs were screaming, and we hadn't even gone down. We went down one slope and as I came down the second part of the slope my legs screamed, "We are sitting down, NOW!" They didn't ask me, they just did it. My legs just bent at the knees and I sat down and there was nothing I could do about it. After about 30 seconds, I willed my legs to pull my body up and head on down the hill. Needless to say, I don't call that a fall since I was in "control" when I "fell". Out of control falling is what I'm counting as falling down. I managed to pop back up before anyone could see me. (WHEW! Ego intact.)

Now every now and then when we are schooling we get knocked over by a well intended child or even by accident. Then there are times when you body just gives out and you have to sit down for a second or two (ok, maybe even a minute). You can recognize these days when getting up and facing the day isn't about the missing smile (it is probably there) nor is the desire gone, the body just say, "We are sitting down, NOW!" I can testify that you need to obey and "sit down."

On these days you might just pull out all the blankets, spread them out on the floor, grab your pillows and spend the day reading. You might even grab the bin of Legos and build monsters. Maybe it is your daughters doll house that comes out and you play "house" for the afternoon. You might even bring your lunch down there and enjoy the day just "sitting down" because your body said so. Or you might just take those blankets outside and spend reading outside, looking at bugs, drawing pictures, looking at the clouds or whatever your heart desires.

Listening to those legs that scream "We are sitting down, NOW!" really got my attention on the slopes. But I wouldn't have missed that exhausting day for the world. Why? Because you don't want to miss the smile that is spread across your children's face; I also wanted to find one on my face too.

Cub Camp Reflections

I love cub camp! There is so much to learn from a group of 10 little guys that are so excited to be alive and learn something new and exciting. I am spending the week, yes every day, with ten 8-11 year olds painting, hammering, gluing, playing, shooting arrows and having fun and I'm loving it.

I come home very tired each night and rightly so I have spent some 7 hours walking, standing, rounding up and having fun. I come dirty every night because we have painted, glued, sweated and spilled each day. I come thankful that I am only bringing home the boys that belong at my house.

This I only have one boy at cub camp and I am thankful that this is his first year at cub camp because that sparkle is contagious. There is something wonderful about having a barely 4 foot child wraps his arms around you and says, "This is the best yet!" and he has barely begun to do the first station of the day. It is better yet to have him jump out of the car and run into the house eager to tell his brothers all about the wonderful things he did today.

Today I was with a group who one of their adult leaders was a recent high school graduate so ready to get to college you could see her counting the minutes until she leaves. During the day it came out that one of the mothers paid her to come in her stead. My first thought was, "Why didn't I think of that." But after some reflection my thought change to, "But who would want to miss all this." For many years I sent my husband in my stead since I was home with babies either nursing or pregnant and sometimes even both and I missed out on all this fun! Now I get the next four years (Chris isn't yet a scout) to have a blast!

So do I mind having to spend the next three days at Cub Scout Day Camp? I wouldn't miss it for the world--especially those little arms that wrap themselves around my mid section and say, "Thank you mom, this is just awesome."
Doreen

Traffic Woes

A month or two ago our local newspaper had as their front page feature article the traffic mess that we deal with on a daily basis. They have called it "The 520 Vortex," but I call it "a pain in the backside."

To put it simply this is where quite a few roads come together; a major freeway, and four or five major surface streets. What the main trouble is that these roads are all four lanes and the freeway is one lane for a little bit before it goes to two lanes or even more if you are going west. Bad planning on their part, but we, the voters, took the money away from them 10 years ago when we voted something down. They had the money to make the overpass two way each way, but we stopped them just a few inches away from making it two lanes. Bad on us OR maybe bad on the government for letting so many developers build homes around here. For over 10 years there have been citizens who have fought some major developers who have, well, to put it quite honestly--they lied! The people who bought those home do not work there nor do they shop there. They drive to Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue and the like. They are just (10 years after the first tree was cut down) opening up the first elementary school. It really doesn’t matter whose feet we should put the blame at because what is done is done.

What makes me very upset is the letters to the editor after this article appeared in the newspaper. "Blame those who don't live close to where they work." "Blame the people for wanting space to raise their children." and on and on the drivel spews.

What if while working for a company they move their office from one side of town to the other? That happened to us. My husband has worked for one company and has had an office in many different offices all over town. I could only imagine those who work for Boeing! Kent, Renton, Everett, Bellevue, Seattle and who knows where else their offices are. How do we pick a home that way? Move every few years or months? What if you wife works in one town and your husband works in another? Do you have separate homes? What if you can't afford a home next to your work? Around here that is very, very possible. I know our first home was quite a ways away because we couldn't find a home in next to the office because the prices were outrageous. What happens if you want a good school district?

I know there are many reasons to pick the place you live. We had many reasons to pick this home. We only live about 8 miles from my husband's work place. That isn't very far and it shouldn't take 40 minutes to drive home, but it does and we just live with it, but wish there would be a fix to "The Vortex." And we hope it sooner than later.

Fresh Air

All I want to do is drive down the road with my windows open with the breeze flowing through my hair. BUT I can't!

SMOKERS!

The State of Washington just passed a law that states all smokers must be 25 feet from any entrance to a building. What happened to 25 feet from the entrance to my building.

The other day we were driving down Avondale and I almost threw up all because I couldn't get my window up fast enough as the car in front of me let out smoke. Not exhaust but cigarette smoke from the front side window.

You know I don't smoke for lots of reasons, all of which are wonderful, but one of the top reasons is because I don't want to get cancer, so if you are going to smoke and you see me driving down the road, roll your window up; I want to breath fresh air and live a long life.

Doreen

I Believe in Miracles

A week before the 6th WALDSFE conference I sent an email to the other board member, Robin, to ask her what thoughts were about a new idea I had to fix a problem I thought we had; no one showing up for the annual WALDSFE conference. My idea was to hold three or four mini conferences in my home. We have a rather large basement and could put 20, maybe even 30 people down there in a classroom setting. We have a large screen TV that is hooked up for Power Point presentations. If we need it we could even put a smaller class in my family room. This sounds like a great solution to WALDSFE's financial problem. Our problem is a simple one. It costs close to $4,000 to put on the yearly homeschool conference, even with a switch to a less expensive venue, and we just don't have the number of people we need to pay for the conference.

But a miracle happened June 10th in Redmond, Washington. I had about 60 people pre-register and for the conference and in the past only about 20 show up for at the door registration. I prepared for such, but I think there was 40 who showed up at the door. I also had two extra vendors appear in the last week or two to help our cash flow. In fact even though the deli screwed up my order and charged us more for the sandwiches (I checked back in March they were less than $6 and by conference time they were over $6) I think we made money this year. That will hopefully make up for the past six years when we were in the red.

But even more than the financial boost, this conference was one that just made my heart sing. We had a great set of presenters. Everyone spoke with such conviction and with the Spirit. The vendors were just awesome. The attendees were even better! But to top if off for me was the set of teens that showed up. I got to be with them for three of the hours and they just were awesome!

I don't know who it was who leaned over my back and whispered in my ear, "Thank you," while my friend Jolene speak. I had made up my mind to announce that we are going to do the idea I had proposed to my board member. Dang it! If I didn't have the Spirit whisper to me, "not yet, not yet." I took the microphone and broke down. How could I tell these faithful parents that we aren't doing this again? How could I look into those eyes and say I won't share my knowledge, passion and experience?

The jury is still out as my husband would like me to take a break if not for the financial reason at least for the time and energy that I give up. I'm thinking of maybe doing both. A few mini conferences here at my house and a major conference. I just can't give up preaching the gospel of homeschooling because I believe in miracles.

Don't Focus on the Trees or Don't Focus on the Stones

When I took skiing lessons six months ago, the instructor told me to not look at the trees because I would definitely hit them. My physical therapist, who rides a bike, tells me not to look at the stones when I'm discourage with the lack of progress. I must remember not to look at the trees or the stones or I will hit them.

Last weekend I attended the LDS-NHA homeschool conference where Lori Scovill told us that the best way to change negative behavior in our children (and us) is to look for the positive and not say a word about the negative. She said to "catch them doing something good" and then tell them about it. Celebrate the positive!

In other words quit looking for the trees or you will hit them. If you look at the stones you will hit them. I don't know if you have ever hit a tree while skiing or hit a stone while riding a bike, but I know from experience that when you hit a stone it hurts. My bloody ten year old face remembers how hard the cement hurts when you hit a stone while riding a bike. I still can feel the bean size lump in my lip when I think about it.

I want to avoid hitting that tree or stone, so I'm going to focus between the trees and down the hill. I'm not going to hit the trees. I'm going to try to see the positive things my children do and "catch" them doing it and then celebrate it!

Lori Scovill taught us a "happy dance" that her daughters made up to celebrate when they do something right. She has even done it with her grown daughters in the middle of Target. That must be a scene and I want to do it too. I think it is time for us to make our own "happy dance." We need to celebrate our successfully ride down the hill.

Lost Eyesight

I went to Utah for a few days to attend the LDS-NHA homeschooling conference. When I got to my hotel on Thursday night I took out my contacts and went searching for my glasses. I couldn't find them. I know I brought them, because I remember packing them very carefully so they wouldn't break. I was blind! Ok, maybe in my nervousness about flying I forgot to packed them. I'll just looked for them at home. Well I got home and went searching for them. No luck. They aren't in my house!

I don't wonder if they aren't at the airport. I know they open bags to check them and my bag was packed very full and they could have fallen out. It really doesn’t matter where they are because they are lost and I can't see when I take my contacts out. I found my old spare pair, but they just give me a head ache.

Now, what does this have to do with the homeschooling conference I went to? I lost my eyesight. I lost sight of the end…I was near sighted; just like in real life. I forgot my long range goals for homeschooling my children. I forgot that homeschooling in my family is about relationships and not about education. I forgot that the best things I can teach my children are the gospel, patience, love, long-suffering, dedication, responsibilities and that family comes first. All that is more important than algebra, history, science and grammar. I lost my glasses. The spare pair I had been using was giving me a head ache. I'm so glad I went and had my prescription adjusted.

Now I have to get my physical pair adjusted and I will be back in business.

MIA

Missing in Action

Yes, I have been missing action for the past two months. It is called soccer mom/coach! With five kids playing, one of which is also coaching a team. Only one of my children sat out this spring, sort of. He was there the whole time, helping, reading or playing with those children not playing. Needless to say I have spent the past eight weeks Monday through Thursday from 4:00 to 7:30. By the time we get home we either do Family Home Evening (Monday), Dad's game night (Tuesday), Scouts/Young Men's (Wednesday) and nothing (Thursday). This makes for quick dinners of sandwiches and off to bed! And that is just me!

I literally have just been jumping into bed and trying to get to sleep. I've been trying to read up on the human body and the civil war (the two units we are doing). It hasn't been a total success, but I'm trying. My biggest obstacle is has been some really restless legs trying while trying to sleep. I'm hoping that now that we are done with soccer it will stop.

Another thing that has made me MIA is the fact that I'm speaking this coming weekend in Utah. I'm not ready, but I will be before I get on the plane. Then the following weekend I'm doing my own conference which I'm not even close to being ready.

Well, hopefully in two weeks I will be back from being busy, just in time to get busy again with tearing down a deck and doing a yard!

Chorus of Noise

Because it has been so warm lately, we have slept with our windows open at night. Come about four o'clock in the morning I am woken to a wonderful chorus of beautiful bird chirps. The primary song, "In the Leafy Tree Tops" enters my mind and I can't help but say, "Good morning" back to them.

This morning was no exception. The birds were out after a night of rain (that's another sound that I love) telling me it was morning and I should get up and welcome the day. Since it was Saturday, I just looked out the window and said, "Not today, I'm going back to bed." I rolled over and tried to get back to sleep. I know it worked because the next thing I knew there was sounds coming from below me in the kitchen. These little "birds" were my own children. They were happy sounds. Sounds of children laughing at the comics in the newspaper. Sounds of them asking for the milk. Sounds of them discussing their reading from the night before. Sounds of them setting up today's pretend game they will be playing. Sounds of children waiting for parents to venture downstairs and crack the whip.

I did have to ring down and tell them to be a bit quieter as Steve and I wanted to sleep in just a little. It worked for a whole 30 seconds and then the decibels rose. Steve and I looked at each other and almost played rock, paper, scissors to see who got the shower first.

As much as I love the chorus of birds that wake me each morning in the spring, I love the chorus of sounds that wake me up three hours later that come from my kitchen.

Doreen