St. Patrick's Day Morning

 By Xai

This morning I got out of bed and started getting dressed. 

Then Eli got up (I forgot how Eli and I got in a fight) well anyways Eli started chasing me.

 (sorry that I keep on forgetting but I forgot how Eli and I became friends again) so I was getting dressed when Eli started chasing me but anyways I was walking to my room when Mom asked" Do you want to help me update our job charts " I said "No I'm not wearing any green on.

 Mom forgot it was St. Patrick's Day so she jumped out of the chair super fast and ran into her room to change into green before Dad could pinch her.

 then Penelope woke and rushed into the living room (I think she thought that we were watching TV .such a cutie). At breakfast time Eli and I made green pancakes and boy were they good.

 

  

Journal: prayers, papers and pets

Here it is, my journal for today unabridged...peruse at your peril.

September 27, 2022

I just listened to how Moroni went back to the capital of the Nephites and reestablished peace. I think it was interesting how many more people joined his cause that were not out fighting in the field…willing to stand up in their homeland when the threat was more personally imminent.  And how it was probably good that they were there?

I am trying to think about what I should learn from this message.  Oh!  There was a part where they talked about how all the afflictions that they had endured softened some people and hardened others. I think my heart has been hardening. I need to consider this.  Also, the account mentions how Teancum had had a hard life, experiencing much affliction, but he was still a fighter. He was outraged at the evil and wrongdoings around him and took action, even giving up his life.  Am I still a fighter, I wonder?  Regardless, everyone has hard things they are going through and we have a choice to make.

Yesterday was a sweet day.  I loved doing things with the kiddos.  I love watching Elijah take Penelope out onto the tramp when she beckons him.

I am honestly not excited for Penelope to talk, loving her little bird sounds right now and expressive non-verbal communication.  There is something gained and something lost when a baby starts talking, a bitter-sweet moment–literally.  I love my baby, even if she does wake me up at 4 am almost on the nose every morning.  This morning, I was just giving myself five minutes to fall asleep at 4:17 am (or get up and do something rather than run circles in my brain) when guess who decided she was WIDE awake at 4:20 am???? Yep, Sweet Pea.  Ahhhhhh….she was pretty much awake and somehow mindful of the fact that I was going to make a break for it, so when I finally got up at 4:57 am she protested. 

Quinn rolled over and snuggled with her, sweet daddy, while I went to the bathroom to just take on the day. 

I think my heart is trying to harden to shut out the pain. I don’t get why I feel so much pain. My logical side is warring with my emotional side and thinking this is all G-A-R-B-A-G-E. I mean, is my inner angst really due to losing Isaak almost 20 years ago? My therapist seems to think so.  I wonder if it’s just my crazy, unrealistic expectations, demanding perfection from the beautifully imperfect people around me who, like Pahoran in the case of Moroni’s misplaced anger, was fighting his own battle. I just want to get rid of it!!! 

F-O-C-U-S. I’ve been trying to pray for wisdom, to see things from God’s perspective, for weeks since the missionaries gave that inspired lesson on wisdom. (Missionaries, never doubt the power of an inspired message, even if you never see the fruits.)

Back to my awesome day: Maia, the creative genius, designed a new FHE chart, which is BEAUTIFUL.  She also enjoyed watching Sing II as her reward for her piano practicing, inviting Havala to do it with her.  She sang “Could Have Been Me” from Sing II for our family talent show on Monday night and did such a great job! I was going to use the modern phrase “killed it” but I can see that not having the same meaning two weeks down the road and having posterity see it as a mother totally “dissing” her daughter. (Lol…”degrading.”)

Penelope is in the oh,so fun stage of taking off and putting on clothes…conveniently accessible from the piles she is continuously redistributing throughout the house.  Unfortunately she took it to a new level yesterday when she came out without her diaper as well!!! Yikes.  I remember having to use duct tape with Lily and Liesl at this phase. Hopefully not!  Some of the boys needed it to, but I really remember those two!  Lily would take off down the street with nothing on but her skin in Kaysville and I still remember us considering if we needed to install deadbolts on all the doors for Liesl in Medina.  At least if she wanders and pees around here, I don’t think the guinea fowl nor chickens will look askance.

Speaking of Liesl, last night she tried a new tactic.  She wanted me to stay in bed with her until she fell asleep. I wasn’t even considering it because for the 45 minutes I did lay next to her in her bed, she did nothing but climb all over and tell me how stupid I was…or maybe that last part was from earlier in the day or another night; but she was climbing around and being insolent.  Well, because she is SOOOOOO cute, I told her, “I am not going to stay here in bed with you but I will say a prayer with you!”  Following the pattern initiated by Eli, she asked me, “Could you say a prayer first?”  I decided to follow the model of her recent prayers.

“Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this lovely day.

Thank you for this beautiful day.

Thank you for this wonderful day.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

Heartfelt, I assure you, but maybe a little to the point.

Well, Liesl–rather than do her usual prayer which followed the basic outline I just used–decided it was time to warm up for the day when she might be invited to give a prayer at General Conference.

Either that, or she was setting the record previously established by Xai for the longest prayer ever.

Whichever one it was, the length of her prayer was very impressive.  I think she was thinking that somehow by keeping me there longer, she would get her wish of me staying there until she fell asleep. 

I think she realized towards the end–despite all the yawning–that she was NOT going to fall asleep while praying. (She hasn’t learned that particular talent from her mother yet.)

Elijah’s was blessedly shorter because a short while into Liesl’s prayer, Penelope had decided that it was time for her mother to play the “dress-up the baby game” and was throwing a screaming fit on the floor the entire time. (That could have also explained to a degree why Liesl wasn’t putting herself to sleep during her prayer.)

NOTE: I never enjoyed dressing up baby dolls when I was a girl, to my knowledge and my mother’s assertation.  I did pop the heads off of my friend’s Barbie dolls and was never asked to play Barbie’s with her again.

NOTE #2: Whenever I accidentally leave the “g” off of “putting” as I am typing (which I have done several times this morning), the computer auto-corrects to “putin.”  I was intrigued that this might be a word and….nope. It isn’t. It is just the name of the current Russian president.  Even in the online Webster dictionary, it just lists it as “Putin, Russian leader.” I think it is interesting that my computer is autocorrecting to that name…the Russians are taking over Grammerly!!!!

Xai is having fun playing the piano and doing quite well.  He likes to make up his own songs.  He also loves to hold my hand during prayers, which I love. I will hear the pattering of running feet during the prayer and then feel his slim fingers on my hand.  He also still is dealing with allergies. Between him and his boogers and Elijah and Liesl and their urine, it is providing nice grounds for sympathy for inherent weaknesses.  God truly knows what He is doing!

Yesterday I decided to use up the remaining veggies from a friend and threw them into a stir-fry: eggplant, peppers, broccoli, onions.  It was way too salty (I am used to the low-sodium soy sauce and had seasoned with salt as well), but the rice helped balance it out and honestly, it tasted like what you get at the restaurants, which tend toward the salty. Other than that, it was good.  I am still trying to provide a variety of foods to improve the gut health of my family, which I read helps to prevent/heal gastrointestinal problems like milk and gluten sensitivities. I’m game!  Maybe that’s the secret benefit of egg plant!

Quinn and the kids Maia and older are trying to go to the BYU football game in Virginia on October 22.  I am super happy for them!  I am also going to try and take the kiddos on a temple trip Friday, October 8…just a drive down and back adventure.  Piper was ecstatic at the idea of all that drive time for her driving record!  She is doing pretty well, but can be a little like Drew at times (lol, Drew!!).  I think I am going to ask Quinn to primarily teach the next ones how to drive because it is NOT getting easier!

Havala did a great job singing and playing the piano at the talent show and is loving her CC class.  She is SUPER looking forward to her birthday, a week from tomorrow, too! Oh!  Yesterday, she went up to Opama’s to help fold up our tent that was forgotten up there.  Apparently, a family of mice decided it would make a nice home because now our nice tent has a lot of mice-gnawed holes in it.  Quinn played the “wrath of God” role in this story and crushed the mommy and baby mice as they scattered from the tent when Havala and Quinn tried to roll it up.  Havala took it a little hard, but we all agree Quinn’s quick reaction was for the best will all the rodents we have around here. That was a fun Havala story for this week!

Hyrum had a busy day, which was kind of indicative of his life lately: he woke up and went with Quinn to work out at the gym while the girls were in seminary in Athens. He came back, took care of the animals, grabbed a quick breakfast (cinnamon rolls…I’m so nice) and then participated in devotional.  He headed out to drive comps for Quinn, came back and got some some schooling in, then headed next door to finish up Opama’s lawn to get it ready for them to be home.  He jetted out around 2:30 pm, using the motorcycle to drop Piper off at track practice (where she ran 6 miles and enjoyed it, crazy girl).  He headed straight to a fun activity Lance had planned for a bunch of his friends, hiking to Moonbridge (or something like that).  When he arrived home around 6:30 pm, he immediately crashed on the couch, where he slept all night.

As for Piper, she loves the challenge CC is providing. It is a good fit for her this year.  Here is a paper of hers that is worth putting directly in my journal (that “putin” autocorrect happened again!!!!). It has real symbolic meaning, not to mention just being incredibly well written.

Contentment

Christian stumbled to the ground; the rocks biting into his side. Glaring down at him, as though he had committed some unforgivable deed, was the sun in all her glory. Christian cast his eyes about the sprawling landscape, searching for a source of relief in the thick heat. The absence of any other life form was undeniable, testifying of the ferocity of the elements. The terrain was an inky black, a sharp contrast to the sun’s blinding robes. It was as though the night sky had fallen to the ground, and left the day to rule the heavens.

Knowing that to stay here would prove fatal, Christian staggered to his feet, moving toward the ever-distant destination. His burden seemed to grow larger with every step away from home, but he went on. It wasn’t long before Christian fell into a trance of pain. His throat was parched, his feet were bloody, and his eyes were stinging with sweat. All he could think of was the heat that consumed his entire body. Water was now only a shadow from the past.

“Howdy there, young man.” 

A strange voice jerked him sharply from his unpleasant revere. The figure before him was seated on a white horse and had an outlandish hat on his head. The person dismounted and walked up to Christian, sticking out a calloused hand. Now that he was closer, Christian could make out more of the man’s features. The man had a scar that he wore pleasantly on his brow and an absurd smile that was out of place in its infernal surroundings. On his feet, he wore boots that seemed to skip despite the black earth around them.

“Na’ tell me why yahou’ face is so blue in this heres pleasant valley.”

Christian felt no need to respond, seeing as the answer was branded on everything around them. He shook the man’s outstretched hand, then started walking past him, trying not to think of the miles ahead. But the man turned and ambled alongside him, drawling on.

“My name is Contentment an’ I think I kin fix you up a bit. Yo’ jus’ be needin a bit o’ joy. Now I found tha’ the map ta ‘appiness is in attitude. Na madder where yar, you kin find whatever you looken fer. Jus look fer what you got.”

Seeing the confused look on Christian’s face, he paused and gestured to the burden bound to Christian’s back.

“Yo’ see dat monster of a load ye got there? It wouldn’ be nearly as burdensome if ya wanted it. Makes natural sense, yae see. If ya wanna go somewheres, you gotta move or work or suffer ta git dar, but if ya wanna stay where ya are then you’ve already ‘complished it! No need to spend any whatsoever thing.”

Understanding dawned on Christian as Contentment finished explaining his creed. It then occurred to him that the man seemed to talk with increasing desperation under his cool facade. It was as though he was trying to convince himself that he wanted what he had and he had what he wanted. Contentment continued, every word now striving to defy the monstrous fever dream surroundings that closed in on them.

“This here homely land is a perfect place for livin’. There is sunshine every which way and now I ‘ave you. Wha’ moe kin a fellar want? Notin’ I tell ye. You may as well stay ‘ere as ‘ead off in any oder direction.” 

By then, Contentment was slightly out of breath and stopped to gulp down some of the boiling air. At the same time, Christian saw a fountain of sparkling, clear water ahead and shouted for joy. Contentment started then, seeing what Christian had seen. Contentment surged forward then caught himself. In a moment of consternation, he struggled with himself, his creed against reality. Then, resolved, he started back towards his horse.

“‘Ey, I got what I want. Don’t need notin’ else.”

Christian stared in disbelief at the complacency exhibited by Contentment. The man’s optimism was fatally mixed with inaction and devoid of hope. But Christian’s astonishment was nothing compared to his exuberant thrust, and he soon found himself making his way towards the fountain with renewed energy. After a short walk and a large drink of liquid life, Christian rested and considered the double-edged sword of contentment and the importance of endeavor.

Hyrum might get his mission call today!  How exciting.

I’ve figured out that I can listen to my scriptures in the morning and fold laundry at the same time, getting my laundry folded. It is nice.

I am looking forward to making some home-made buns for our chicken sandwiches tonight!   I am going to take the kids to the skate park and library today!! I am actually excited!  I might even try to use some rollerblades while I’m there. I am toying with taking the dogs along.  There is a dog park where they could run around at.  They would just have to sit in crates until we got back.

Speaking of putting animals in the car, wow! Did I have an adventure last weekend!!!!

We were given a cat named Xavia shortly after we moved here.  She didn’t like the rough treatment given to her by our dogs, so took off.  Over a year later, we discovered she had been found by our neighbor (just about a month before that) but she wouldn’t have anything to do with us.  She had kittens earlier this year and THAT is no good. I didn’t want to be responsible for a rampant wild cat population!! Yikes!!

So, I did my civic duty, signed them all up for getting fixed with a cheap clinic (that schedules out 6 months!), and prayed and prayed that we could get them. It was a miracle: two cat bites, one gone rogue and come back, and three scratches later they were all in crates or cages.  When I got to the clinic Saturday morning, I found out that because they wouldn’t be handled, I needed to move the ones not in cages (three of them) into cages that the clinic blessedly provided.  I got on my gloves, they locked me in the bathroom, and the fight was on. I felt like I was in the gladiator arena!  At one point, I had my two hands desperately grasping an out of control wild cat while a sweet assistant tried to follow my garbled directions to open the trap so I could drop it in, literally.  I was shaking like crazy when it was all done! Fortunately they had actual “feral cat gloves” that they let me use that were super thick and went all the way up to my elbow.  One of the cats sunk their teeth into the gloves several times, and I felt it on my skin so sharply I thought it had punctured all the way through, but nope!  Thankfully not.

I got to move them back to their crates after they were operated on and sedated, so not as bad but still! So glad that is over and I’ll never have to handle them AGAIN.

OH, another funny thing. I put together and donated a raffle basket (for the CC yard sale benefit) that was pretty expensive so I put in about $20 worth of raffle tickets (40 tickets total, easily about half of the tickets).  And guess who….didn’t win??? Yup. I told them there that it would be true to my luck to not win anything and yup! I didn’t.  But it was a good cause, so I wasn’t worried or upset.

COVID, Guinea Fowl and Power Outages

 "This it water, not COVID."  Gulp. Gulp. Gasp.

"COVID water is real." Nodding assertively.

"If you drink it, then you'll have COVID!" (All smiles.)

"Bye, Mom!"

*****

Elijah told me that his stomach was hurting last night.

"Maybe it's because you feel bad about something you did and need to repent?" I gently suggested. "Why don't you say a prayer?"

"Dear Heavenly Father,

]I'm sorry that I was mean to the guinea fowl today.

I'm sorry that I shouted at them.

I'm sorry that I threw rocks at them.

I'm sorry that I chased them.

I'll try never to do that again."

No wonder the guinea fowl were unhappy today.  The things you learn when you listen to your kid's prayers.

******

The power went off Sunday night and was still off when we went to sleep.

It came back on at 2:33 am.  Do you know how we knew that?

Xai came rushing around the house to declare the good news to everyone!

He'll be a great missionary.  He'll just need to learn about the timing of his approach.

Swimming and Showers

We love our pool summer membership and espectially love to torture the staff regularly with our presence...and the local patrons. It's been even more fun since Hyrum got a job lifeguarding there.

1st story: The other day, shortly after Hyrum started working there, Quinn did his dead-man's float in front of his station...for a LONG time. (Quinn is a champion breath-holder.) Hyrum told him to knock it off (since he's a lifeguard and can tell his dad to do so) and Quinn stopped with a smile.
Five minutes later, Quinn did it again and Hyrum exasperatedly explained that if Quinn didn't knock it off, then the whole pool would go into lockdown to make sure he wasn't really drowning and Quinn would be kicked out. Ahhhh, no fun. Every party has a pooper. And speaking of poop...

2nd story: We went swimming at the pool again yesterday because we had to pick up Hyrum anyway from his lifeguarding job.  One of the pools was closed because someone had POO-d in the big pool and it had to rest for 24 hours.  Dad generously offered to do a similar service in the leisure pool we were swimming in but after a close vote, he took his bowel movement into the bathroom.  And speaking of bathrooms...

3rd story: Apparently the women's locker room shower head is broken.   I was trying to figure out how to use it, since it jet-streams out and I have two little girls that I didn't want to pulverize with water pressure.  I thought, "Maybe if I turn it up into the air and make it like rain, then it will be gentler on them?"  So, following my usual modus operandi of acting without thinking, I turned the spout upward and called out, "It's raining!"

Yells, shrieks and curses from the changing stall immediately next to the shower confirmed that I probably should have thought that action through a little more first.   I apologized profusely, but somehow I don't think that a genuine apology helps dry soaked clothing. :S I felt dreadful.

Liesl "speaks" Hungarian and Goodbye to Sister Lily Biesinger

 Today Piper and Havala were quizzing each other on Latin declensions for their upcoming scholastic group this fall.  Liesl watched them for a while and then asked what they were doing.  

After they explained that they were learning how to say "land" in Latin, Liesl said, "I know how to say that in Hungarian."

"Oh, really," replied Piper supportively.

"Yep, like this!" Liesl rubbed her tummy in the ASL sign for "please."

****

More significantly, perhaps, we took Lily to the airport this morning so she could fly to the Provo MTC.  Wow, I'm going to miss that girl. We all are.  Anyone who knows Lily knows of her ability to love without judgment.  To care. To persist. To persevere in behaving compassionately in the face of pretty crazy opposition.

She is strong.  She is determined.  She is love.  

Australia is super lucky to have her.

Last night we had a mini "farewell" for Lily to share a talk/testimony before she left since she didn't for church.  It ended up being a blessing in disguise because then we got to invite grandparents and out of town siblings to video chat in and hear it as well.  She picked "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" verses 1 and 3 for the opening song; shared her thoughts about missionary work, testimony, the role of members and the Holy Ghost in conversion and retention and quoted a bunch from Alma 26.  It was great: at the beginning she couldn't stop giggling. I just love that girl!

She chose "Have I Done Any Good" for the closing song.  Then after we said goodbye to the online group after chatting for a few minutes, Quinn gave Lily a super sweet blessing--about loving the people, trusting God, capturing the essence of missionary work, peace in her travels, that she would be able to get along with her companions and the Australian people and, of course, a reminder that her Father in Heaven loves her and that we love her.  He also asked Heavenly Father to bless her that her sense of homesickness would be alleviated.

By the end of the prayer and especially after the hugs, both hers and her daddy's eyes were moist,  a rare instance for these two sillies.

Quinn is sure going to miss her.  Every night she would rub his feet and after we finished our section of reading for the night he would ask, "Does anyone have any thoughts....Lily?" before even finishing the question, a mark of privilege :D.  Every night, she would have some thought drawn from our scripture section, even the harder to connect with ones.  

Beyond that, she works hard, teased gently, never took offense that I can remember, and just enjoyed her dad.  And he could feel it.  They have a sweet relationship and I am glad for both of them.

Denying the Studmunks

 Lily just got her wisdom teeth out and has "enjoyed" a few days of puffy cheeks. Unable to resist, Quinn told her, "Some chipmunks came to the door last night, but I told them that you weren't available until after your mission..."

"...but I only talked to the 'stud'munks, of course."  He expertly threw in a little jibe at Piper, who once asked where all the "studmunks" were for the "chickmunks."

Oh the fun!

A Face That Launched a Thousand Ships

...or not. 

Hava just told me that my face made her puke.

Sniff.

I'm going to go finish feeling sad.

;)

How to Get Taller

 We were watching "Tall Girl" where she wants to have reductive surgery, and Hyrum commented, "Maybe if they stick more dead people in me, I would get taller!"

Such a funny guy :D.

Xai's Sunday Parking Lot Performance

 We were gathering up after church yesterday with our usual craziness and I asked Quinn where Xai (9) was.

"He's out in the van, jamming to music."

Intrigued, I had to go and see. Xai has "Heart of Courage" pumped up to full blast and was standing outside of the van doing some interpretive dance moves. He was completely into the music! Apparently, he did it for over 20 minutes, starting the song over again and again. I am sure everyone else in the parking lot enjoyed it. I know it made my day!!

Windows, alligators and headmasters

 Drew just hear me say, “We have too many windows open!!” In his sick mind, he wondered for a solid few seconds, “What do windows have to do with the computer?”

Liesl just spent a few moments making her stuffed white alligator eat Piper's arm up and down while Piper played the piano. After the alligator was done eating, Liesl consoled Piper.

“Don't worry. I'm the headmaster. I will make your arm come back.”

Whew. So glad we have a headmaster around!

Proper Public Protocol Preparation

 Piper asked Xai not to pick his nose or scratch his bum when he goes into public later this morning.

"Noooo! I don't want to go into public!" Xai wailed.

"Do you know what the 'public' is?" Piper inquired.

"It's where you have to be proper," Xai replied sullenly.

"Do you know how to be proper?" 

Xai replied, "Yah.  It means no picking your nose."

He immediately started picking his nose.  Piper watched him dumbfounded for a moment and then asked, "What are you doing, Xai?"

"I'm emptying it out."

Just 5 am

 This morning I got an early start and was quietly reading my scriptures around 5 am. I heard a loud creak as Xai's door opened.  He stumbled out, eyes bleary but I could tell he was a little agitated.  He poked his head over the railing from the upstairs and exclaimed, "I think it is the three days of darkness before the Second Coming!"

"I'm quite sure it's just really early in the morning. It's 5 am, buddy."

Pause.

"Oh.  Okay!  Can I snuggle with you?"

Love my little buddy.

"Surprisingly" hard to swallow popcorn!

 Eli just told me that a movie made him laugh so hard, he couldn't swallow his popcorn.  So cute!

Yesterday, he was also telling me about his pre-school experience.  He apparently couldn't get the colored bubbles to yield the colors he wanted.  At one point he said, "Surprisingly...."  Really?  "Surprisingly"??  He's six.  It was adorable!!

All spoken without his two front teeth, which make it all the sweeter :D.

The Super Snap!

 I knew it was going to be a great morning with Liesl when she came out wearing her Wonder Woman power outfit.  

She always makes an entrance with powerful 3 year old punching moves and a glisten in her sparkly blue eyes.

At the breakfast table, she took her super human powers to a new level--

We had just finished reciting our current poem, "Carry On!" by Robert Service, so the room was charged with energy.  

"Okay, Wednesday's Child," Dad calls out, "What song are we going to sing?"

Xai was quick on the uptake, acknowledging his role on this day, called out: "Our Father has a Family!"

So we started singing, Biesinger style.  It involves a lot of snaps and claps and a very dynamic energy.  Caught up in the emotion of the entire morning, Liesl leaned over to Hyrum who was sitting next to her and whispered fiercely in his ear, "Watch this!!"  

She brought her pudgy little arm around with her sweet fat hands right next to his ear.  Arm trembling with the effort, she rubbed her finger and thumb dramatically together. After a few seconds of heroic effort, it happened.

She SNAPPED her fingers.  Kind of.  :D  But she was SUPER proud.  And so were we!

Our favorite little super hero is coming into her own powers, one power at a time.

Addictions to Make Us Happy??

 Xai was giving the lesson tonight.

He said at one point, "The Savior gives us addictions to help us be happy." I believe he meant "instructions" but wow, that was a fun spin!

TACO BELL!!! The Perfect Potty Place

 On a road trip....

Xai: "is that ANOTHER Taco Bell???"

Me: "Why? Do you like Taco Bell?"

Xai: "Because I need to pump some gas out!"

Puzzled, I ask what he meant.

Xai: "I've got to go potty!"

The fact that he has never been to Taco Bell makes the connection even more random.

Disappointment

 Piper: Tonight, while I was listening to Dad, Eli came over to me and said "Could you help me please?"  And commenced to pull me to the couch. Immediately, Eli dubbed himself "master." 

"Draw a tent. Not there, there. Write fire." 

He then asked me for ideas for his "camp list." After the following suggestions, swimming, roasting marshmallows, and eating, he insisted, 

"Tell me stuff to do, not stuff to eat."  

"Okay, swimming, tackling, and roasting marshmallows."

"Piper, I am disappointment at you. I am not mad. I am disappointment."

Spelling Confusion

 Maia remembered that she needed to get another bra when we were in town.  So, in the car, she called out, "So, Mom!  When am I going to get a B-R-A?"

Eli jumped in. "And that spells chocolate."

Xai quickly corrected him, saying, "No it doesn't!  Mom, what does B-R-A spell?"

Mommy said, "Bra."

Xai replied, "You're going to eat a bra?"

Ummmm...nope!

Animals, Babies, Selling Houses and Miracles

 At the risk of being perhaps a little too personal, I am going to cut and paste my most recent journaling, which includes much about pets, children, houses and miracles.  Enjoy and please read without judgment ;D.

May 31, 2021

Yesterday we went to an open house for a young man in our ward who is heading out to a mission and then BYU afterward. The family is really nice. No one was wearing masks, which was so refreshing to see everyone's faces. At church we still are wearing masks, which I respect the need for. Next Sunday we will have our first second hour meetings together since before COVID. I am excited.

As a family, we are shutting off our wifi except for intentional use. We are trying to create an environment for healthy defaults for the kids. Last Saturday, after the Georgia family left, we spent the day playing games and relaxing and enjoying each other. It felt really good. The oldest kids only watched one episode at the end of the day. We laughed and played together. So bueno!

The Georgia family came to stop over for a visit on their way home from visiting other places. It was great! We got the house super clean and organized and that also meant finishing up my book case for scrapbooks in my room (made out of only five purchased boards and the rest scraps!). I filled them with scrapbooks and journals and it looks so amazing!!! I love coming into my room and seeing kids sitting in our padded rocking chair and looking through the scrapbooks with whimsical smiles on their faces. Family history in every aspect is so rewarding! Next step, hang up all the pictures I have in the house somewhere :D.

I am working on finding joy in the moment and not feeling driven by lists.

I have realized that it is still okay to have lists and projects and dreams, though.

I am also working on having “charity” be my default...the directive of everything I do. It is powerful! Today I am working on “thinking no evil.”

I am also excited to plan my trip for having ALL MY CHILDREN ON EARTH together :D!!! Less than a month!!

June 7, 2021

Wow! What a busy week. Today I am just going to capture a little bit.

This week we got guinea fowl keets. Because my phone and I are frequent strangers, I have not pictures but you can Google them: big, ugly and loud.

And they eat ticks by the pound.

So I ordered guinea fowl.

Apparently, they are flock creatures so you can't order them in quantities less than 15. Most places required 25 but yikes! We'll start with 15. Like I said, they are noisy.

And right now? They are absolutely adorable.

Just imagine picking up tiny beaks and legs combined with soft fluffy air with less mass than a cotton ball.

I reached in to the box they came in last Friday morning to get them out and put them in the lovely new home we had just completed for them moments before (no time like the present, eh?). I could feel tiny faint scratching limbs and then soft fluffy weightlessness. I gently closed my grasp to a ball and lifted. In it was a tiny baby. Crazy! And super cute.

Later that day, Maia and Piper chanced upon the coop when all the little fluff mites had made it out of their enclosure---apparently they are tiny enough to squeeze through the holes of chicken wire with not much fuss. The keets were all over the inside of the coop so they corralled them back inside. However, one was missing as evident by the next incident: two chickens were desperately trying to escape the chicken yard through an opening and upon investigations, Piper and Maia discovered a small pullet behind them, honking loudly and terrifying the much larger hens. Hilarious!

I have to share a miracle about this experience: I felt compelled to start the day early, at 6:30 am.  While not being early for me personally, I don't like to force the kids to get up to work with me then.  However, I kept feeling driven to insist upon it, so I told them I would get up at 6:30 but needed them all up by 7--Lily and Hava to help with breakfast and birthday set-up and Drew, Hyrum and Piper out helping me get the guinea fowl area ready.  I anticipated getting the guineas in the afternoon like I had the chicks so felt there was plenty of time later...but kept feeling like I needed to insist on early prep.

Well, the morning rolled around and I forced myself out of bed around 6:20 am, remembering I had told everyone else they had to be up soon.  I had experienced a rough night with Penelope but...here we go!  I grabbed my cell phone (with whom I am frequently a stranger) per inspiration insistence (recognized in hindsight) and after prepping the breakfast with waffle batter, headed out. I had felt driven to prep the tools and supplies we would need for the pullet enclosure the night before so most of it was ready to be taken out to the coop where we were building it. 

The phone rang a little after 7 am. "Ma'am, your keets are in."  Miracle number one--I actually had my phone with me and working when they called. Miracle number two--because we were up and everything was in place, we had just enough time to build the keet enclosure before they got there.  They require a 95 degree temp to keep them alive at first, which requires heating lamps and somewhere to experience those heating lamps.  

It was truly miraculous.

June 12, 2021

Another busy week has flown by.

Apparently, both of our dogs have Lyme's disease so they are going to start antibiotics after I capture a urine sample from my dog Kujo (??right??).

Penelope is pulling herself up on furniture right now, progressively figuratively following in the footsteps of her nephew, Akos. (Soon to be literally! They are visiting in two weeks!!) Unfortunately, her mobility led her to bruise her cheek on an end table by our bed and it is super sad to see the cut and bruise on her sweet pudgy cheeks. She is still as adorably sweet as ever, smiling and enjoying her life so much—interspersed with occasional frustration at not being changed, fed and adored as much as she may feel necessary, little darling. The last few days, she has been particularly insistent on being near me, content to play near me or in my lap while I work on something else or help another child.

I feel myself waxing eloquent after reading excerpts from a collection of Jane Austen biographies. Sigh. Perhaps I should scale it back a wee bit ;P.

Xai is excited to go to a Primary young boys activity. I am excited to use that as an opporunity to fulfill the last steps of a miracle...

I have felt for some time to make Drew's room a real room. It is one of those “pushings” from heaven that I have learned to recognize. I also recently reviewed President Nelson's talk about believing in and seeking for miracles. It all came together yesterday.

The next step in his room is to secure two more mattresses to make the room's bedding complete. We used to have viable bunk beds in there, but as Drew sleeps on the floor as his preferred space, I had him move the bunk beds to the other room for a visiting family to use. His room has become more and more an extension of the storage room, with box springs and bedding frames stacked about. Buying mattresses right now seems like an extra expense, not desirable on top of Quinn switching jobs from NY to Ohio and all the expenses we have had for upcoming vacations, building our chicken “palace”/coop at the height of lumber prices and finishing up our Medina home to get it on the market.

Feeling prompted to buy more mattresses I looked online and found nice mattresses on sale at a location over an hour away. However, I would be passing that way en route to taking Xai to his activity.

Now, for the money.

I didn't feel right asking Quinn. So I asked God. “Please let me know about or find any stash of money that may be about so that I can purchase the mattresses not using funds that we are currently delegating every other direction. I really don't want to stress Quinn out. Please help me if possible, but if not, no worries. I trust You.”

Enter miracle number one.

Hyrum came up to me after using our old laptop for some “random” reason and held out a roll of bills. “Here, Mom. I found this in the laptop and it is probably yours.” (No one else in our house loses $100 without noticing...the kids are always paying me back for random expenses on Amazon and I frequently stash the bills somewhere that I am “sure” to remember later!)

I felt driven a day later to organize my bookshelves downstairs. We had recently purchased two more on sale (only $35 each, yay!) and had emptied the storeroom of the extra book boxes...so it all matched up to happen soon. I started yesterday and upon clearing off a top shelf, I found the money from our plays that people had paid me that I thought I had already deposited. And—witness the miracle—it was just over the amount I needed for the two mattresses. Amazing.

As we say in our house, “God is good...” “...all the time...” “...and all the time...” “....God is good.” (From “God's Not Dead” the movie.) Truer words were never spoken.

Another miracle: this week I went to Medina with Lily, Hyrum, Xai, Eli, Liesl and Penelope.  We were there for less than two days and were able to get our house there pretty much ready for market--adding flowers and mulch to the flower beds, painting trim, mowing and trimming the lawn (thanks to superhero Hyrum) and still have the little ones be mostly happy (thanks to superhero Lily).  Quinn added the final shutters and grow boxes and I had fun filling them with fake flowers.  I felt guided and not frantic, with a prayer in my heart.  The only disappointment was that I wasn't able to get my kids back for their church youth activity this week--I hate making decisions that make them sad or suffer at all.  I need to learn how to better deal with that but until then, I will get a little grumpy and my heart will hurt a little whenever I need to make those decisions.

Maia hurt her foot this week...bruising it pretty severely.  She has been rocking it on crutches, though making her keep the foot elevated and iced has been a challenge.  We have "Family Camp" next week so hopefully she can keep it happy until then!

Eli has drifted from "sweet momma's boy" to "belligerent feisty man" in his transition from five to six years old. I am always amazed at how much Skousen's "So You Want To Raise A Boy" nails the stages of boys on the head!  He just needs a good wrestle, tickle-session, or battle of some sort every day.  Several times.  Enter Hyrum, Drew and Daddy....invaluable.

Liesl calls me and everyone else "stupid" at least a hundred times per day.  Quinn tried to help her transition to "stupendous" but she didn't buy that.

Speaking of Quinn, he is currently still in Medina longer than his usual three days a week. Even though I saw glimpses of him earlier this week, I miss him excruciatingly.  The house, however, is now officially on the market so he is trying to get it under contract asap with the hot and hopping market in Medina right now. My prayers and heart are with him...I miss that man.

Xai is still doing so well at trying to do what is right. I love conversations with him about making good choices. He really thinks clearly about things. Unforunately, that means when others don't think clearly or want to make negative decisions he is not very sympathetic. He, Drew and Piper are so much alike in this regard! And maybe a little me.

I think the dogs may turn out to not me chicken killers after all. We haven't lost one yet, miraculously, but will still keep them in our prayers and keep actively training and observing them. While I got “extra” chickens for the express purpose of “just in case,” I still don't want to lose any of my silly feathered darlings.

Havala and Piper had a great time staying home this week taking care of animals while we were in Medina. It is fun to see their friendship grow! Last night I was touched to listen to Havala play the accompaniment to a song called “Footsteps” while her sisters sang along. I am so grateful that I still have children in the home that I get to watch grow and unfold in their talents. Being a mom is so rewarding.

I am still amazed on occasion walking through our woods at the beauty we have here.  While there is thick humidity at times and more bugs than I am used to, I guess that is to be expected to have such green and to be in such  "camping" type place.  I love watching Penelope outside.  She is almost always looking up at the sky, watching the light filter through the branches in wonder.  So sweet. I love having little ones around me to help me remember to find wonder in the world around me.

Here's an excerpt from a Messenger conversation with Tova, after she shared some Jane Austen biographies and other documents:

I loved this one so much! What depth and perspective it gave into her writings and life. and from so many people's view. Loved it! Right now I am going downstairs to organize my bookshelves. I need a little time to myself...I think this is the only time I am going to get it, as I love my darlings during the day and want to spend it enjoying them . Love you! Thanks for the delicious opportunity to hear from you yesterday! My phone is struggling to recover from its encounter with baby slobber so I may not be able to communicate much in the near future, save for this medium, but I must confess that reading those biographies have inspired me to wax eloquent in my written communication with you, most darling Tova . LOVE YOU!!!

I felt a little overwhelmed with the projects I feel I need to do and still spending time enjoying my darlings. I prayed for help. Maybe getting up at 4:15 am after a moderately interrupted night's sleep with Penelope is the answer? I just needed some alone time.

I think I will go and organize my bookshelves some more and get Drew's room ready.

Life is truly about doing a great work. And that requires...work, ironically enough :D.

Maia's injury

Front yard in Medina

Penelope loves eating solids!

Eli turned 6 this month! What a great kid!  As part of last week's busy-ness, we had a fun birthday celebration for him, complete with a "treasure hunt" of Dollar Tree items along a curling ribbon path set up by Havala. I love that the kids pitch in their efforts to wrap and hide presents and decorate for birthdays!

We also watched "Raya and the Last Dragon" (enjoyed it), had a delicious waffle, sausage and Orange Julius breakfast by Lily, ate "chicken with a bone" and went swimming at a local pool after buying a summer pass, which we intend to use weekly! Super fun!  The kids love the water and little Penelope is like a tadpole.  I can't wait to see how my grandson does in it in a couple of weeks <3.

Best news ever!!! My parents are closing on a house and are moving next door this summer! I am super excited for the kids to have grandparents living near them after so many years of being at only extended traveling distance.  There has been a lot of ups and downs for them, but having them near will be the fulfillment of a dream I have had for years.  Super excited!

We also will be able to spend time with Quinn's parents this summer, between a reunion and hopefully a visit later.  Coolio!! My kids are super blessed with loving grandparents on both sides and this summer seems like it will be a great time for the kids to bond with them again <3!

Funnies, Play "Louis Pasteur" and Work

 Xai came up to Piper this morning and said, out of the blue, "Did you know that you can't grow apri-cados over here?? You have to grow them where there's always sunshine."

Later..."I wish we lived in Florida."

*****

Yesterday Liesl told me, “I missed my dream so I had to go to sleep again.” I love the little phrases and words she uses! I may have already recorded how she uses the word, “Beezer” for “zipper.” She also refers to plays as “the Act”: “are we going to the Act today, mommy?” or “I need to get my special dress on for the Act!” It was adorable to see how much she and Eli picked up on the choir and acting. After the cut-off of one of our songs, we heard someone still singing in the audience, perfectly on pitch and with all their might...it was Liesl. So cute!! She and Eli know the words to many lines and most of the songs for both groups and loved being a part of it. I think it might be also in part because they get to watch movies almost all the time when I am doing my groups, but it is apparent that they also like feeling a part of it.

By the way, the play “Louis Pasteur” was last week...a musical comedy/encyclopedic wealth of information, but also very fun! I put in a lot of staging, nuances, and changed a few words to make it more humorous and enjoyable. They did amazing! I have never had such a perfect performance and all I did backstage was open and close the curtains and turn lights on and off! The kids came on and off themselves, remembered lines and got into character really well! They slowed down, enunciated. The audience was vocal and outgoing in their feedback, which fed the actors and made them have so much fun! We did visualization exercises beforehand to help them calm down. Overall, just awesome!  Hyrum was Louis Pasteur and had a ton of lines.  Piper played many minor roles: young Louis Pasteur, Greta the bread girl, the two sheep that died.  Hava was the reverend.  Maia was Pasteur's daughter.  Xai was the sheep that lived. Right as we were finishing and getting off of the stage, Xai called out loudly from within his sheep costume, “And just so you know, I'm really a person!”  What a ham. 

That Saturday, we had a stake training planned and I just didn't see how I could get to it with having the play that night. True, all the scenery etc was on the stage already but still...wasn't it just too much. Besides, I had so many home projects that felt pressing. Well, I was super glad I went. I shared some deeply felt testimony and experiences. I was uplifted so much by the sharing by others. Lily came with me and I loved having a day with her! Piper watched Penelope (I paid her) and so it was just Lily and I. She also really enjoyed it and had a little break when I went to my leadership meeting, which was also fantastic. The visiting authority was so incredible...I could have listened to his words of spirituality and counsel all day. He was bold and sensitive at the same time, definitely following the Spirit and definitely heartfelt. I was blessed.

Lily, Hyrum and Maia went with Quinn to Medina this week so we are down a few people. It is amazing how few people eight people feels like when you are used to more! I told Piper and Hava to do their own thing and I would take care of the littles. We have also super cleaned the upstairs, main level and will be working on the downstairs today. Poor Hava. Piper and I love to clean!

I finished my book case for my bedroom!  I am super dooper excited.  Wood is crazy expensive so I used scraps from our other projects and five purchased pieces of shelving to make my 8 foot by 6 foot creation.  It will be for scrapbooks and family history stuff which I haven't had out for about 5 years now.  Soooooo excited!

Yesterday Piper and Havala took Xai, Eli and Liesl on an adventure...that apparently involved a lot of spiders. They also found a toad/frog that Eli loved and loved...until it died. And then he mourned. Poor dear.

Xai finally lost two of his four loose teeth that he has right now. Now the first one loose is still to go, but it is close too. He has that adorable “two missing front teeth” scenario, which I love so much! Last night, he prayed that he would be able to improve in how he spoke since he is having a hard time speaking with his front teeth out. I assured him that his speaking was just temporary and that I was completely enjoying it :D.

Piper came up to me yesterday, excitedly talking about how she was studying the scriptures. She is writing down all the various names of Christ. “Isn't it cool how each name refers so specifically to a role that He has in our lives? Ways that He is able to bless us?” Super cool! She is enjoying her new baby goat, Austin. Right now she is also caring for Gus, Maia's goat that she got to be a companion to Austin. We are still deciding if they are going to be meat goats come next spring. We think it might be fun to get new baby goats every spirng (they are super cute), use them to eat down the forage (we have an invasive wild rose that is taking over and goats love roses!) and then eat them the next year. We'll see. The girls are adjusting to that idea—Piper more readily than Maia, no surprise.

Drew has quit Wendy's for this month before he plans on going on his mission and is now full time working our property. He has enjoyed the first two days but it was pretty hard work. We'll see if the arrangement works for all of us :D. I have raised some pretty strong, independent children and so sometimes sharing the same roof as adults can get a little...tricky. It is nice to have someone work on things that I am not choosing to get to out of different time choices, so at least I am liking it for now :D.