Concert And Job Interview

It is almost the end of the school year.  Vanessa had her year end orchestra concert.  Since her orchestra teacher teaches all of the orchestra classes from 6th grade to 12th grade here, the concert included pieces from all of those groups.  Vanessa performed with the 8-9th graders.  The 9th grader that is in 1st chair didn't show up to the concert and Vanessa immediately brought this to Ms. Dunns attention.  Ms. Dunn, the orchestra teacher, grabbed Vanessa's violin, began to tune it, and said, 'you have to be concert mistress (Vanessa would go out on stage while the audience has quieted down and play each note while the rest of the orchestra students make sure they are in tune) and don't forget to play 9th grade 1st chairs' solo part.'

After the concert, Vanessa told us all that had happened.  It amazes me to see Vanessa step up and do what needs to be done.  She said she was nervous, but one would never know it.  She did a wonderful job!  It was a special treat to have my parents, Jared's Mom and sister there as well to support her.

It is Friday today.  Jared has had his first interview for the Line Manager position at MOM Brands (formerly known as Malt O-Meal) two days ago.  He has one more interview and a psychologist test before he'll know if he is selected for the permanent position.  We should know by the first week in June whether he'll get the job or not.  In Jared's first interview, one of the interviewer's grilled Jared on whether he believes in negative punishment or not.  He asked Jared multiple times what he has done in a situation where he has had to reprimand someone.  Jared said that other than that, the interview was smoothe.

We are excited for the summer and love to see the green grass and leaves on the trees.

Outside

Rex comes up to me and says this, "Mom, I learned my lesson about wasps.  A wasp landed on the back of my neck and I didn't move.  Then the wasp flew away.  It didn't sting me!"

We are loving the change in weather and are outside most of the day.  The garden in the front yard is planted with perennials, and the backyard is planted with vegetables.  In the backyard we are growing corn, zucchini, squash, cucumber, tomato, pumpkins, carrots, and hot peppers.  I love watching the gardens grow.

Happy Birthday Vanessa

We had a birthday party for Vanessa today.  She invited 3 of her school friends over and they played volleyball, ate dinner, and chatted.  What a refreshing change to be with 14 year old girls.  I remember her 10 year old birthday party and the girls were wild.  The 14 year old girls are calm and respectful.  I loved it!  And wouldn't have a single problem having a birthday party every year for her if she invites girls like she did today.  After her 10 year old birthday party, I seriously thought I would never have a friend birthday party again!  Vanessa still has a friend over right now for a late night.  She lives a couple of doors down from us and is more like a sister to Vanessa than a friend.  They really have a fun relationship.

Alas, I am exhausted.  But happy for Vanessa.  Happy birthday Vanessa!

Baby Blessing

We went to my niece Veronica's baby blessing on Sunday.  What a precious little girl she has!  And what a treat to be able to spend such a special day with her and her family.  It was so good to get to know her husband and to see her after such a long period of absence on my part.  My own problems in my own marriage have caused my long absence.

I saw my parents for the first time in 5 years as well while at this special baby blessing.  It was strange.  But amazingly it went well.  I mean, we didn't break out into a fight or anything!  J/K  Really it was just awkward.  But the awkwardness didn't last.  We definately still have our disagreements, but we didn't discuss those, and I was grateful it went well.  Jared said it was really uncomfortable for him at first because the last time he saw my parent's, he had a fight with them.  My Mom sat down right next to him on the bench at church, while I was several seats away.  But Jared said that he had a powerful experience as he was sitting there where he felt the Lord reach into his heart and take away hurt and pain.  He said that it surprised him that he had that hurt and pain in there because he thought he had worked through his feelings.  But when he had this experience he realized that the hurt and pain was still in there because he felt the Lord take it out.  So, he was able to sit right next to my Mom and feel at peace.  What a wonderful blessing for Jared!

Vanessa had a remarkable experience as well.  She said it was strange to see my parent's holding hands.  Jared's parents don't hold hands and they are the only grandparents she has been around the last several years.  

I am looking forward to the future of mending broken fences.  I'm not sure how it will all work out, but I know that the Lord cares deeply about family and peace.  

Schedule of Events

Do you want more information on Common Core State Standards that Utah has adopted for our public school kids?  Here is a schedule of upcoming meetings the public can attend to find out more.  I really wish I could attend the one in Lehi with Dr. Gary Thompson.  He is the psychologist who is speaking out against it.

Tuesday night

Lehi: Wendy Hart, Renee Braddy, and Dr. Gary Thompson will be speaking at Traverse Mountain Corporate Center at 6:30-8:30

Herriman: Lisa Cummins will be doing a home cottage meeting at 7:00 PM

Thursday:

Kearns library presentation by Christel Swasey and Alisa Ellis at 7:00 PM

Saturday:

Orem Boy Scout Store, 6 PM mix and mingle, 7 PM presentation by Alisa Ellis, Christel Swasey, and Renee Braddy

Working

Homeschooling is going so well.  I love it!  The boys are working hard and I love being able to make sure they know the subject before we move on.  Eric missed some key Math lessons back in 3rd grade, 4 years ago, and so we are working on learning that stuff.  Joseph is also catching up on a few Math lessons that he missed when he had to miss 2 weeks of school a couple of months ago when he got his tonsils out.  Rex works hard and I am so proud of him.

In our neighborhood, there have been several people and friends who have asked what we are doing homeschooling our children.  Vanessa and Eric have had to answer why I am doing it.  They give several of my reasons, but they feel awkward and uncomfortable.  I tell my kids to hold their heads high and to not be embarrassed.  The responses the kids get from these people are interesting.  The most interesting comment to me is the one that said, 'Your Mom is ambitious.'  I never thought I would be one to home school my kids.  I have always thought home schoolers are weird.  Of course, there are plenty of public schoolers who are weird too, but I never thought of that before.  There are challenges and hurdles we have to watch out for, but we are committed and loving this new adventure and challenge of home school.

Dr. Gary Thompson

Wow!  The Utah Office of Education isn't building their case for their decision to implement Common Core very well.  Take a look at what Dr. Gary Thompson said today about a meeting he attended where CC was being discussed.  Way to go Dr. Thompson for making your voice be heard!

• Dr. Gary Thompson said, ' I'm mortified at USOE. I'm half tempted to shoot off (another) letter to the State Superintendent of Schools demanding that they stop all future "informational"meetings until they themselves either know the correct answers, or can be honest and simply state, " we are investigating these issues currently, and we will get back to you when we know the answers." Anything other than that is pure deception, and if they (Judy Park, ect) are deceiving tax paying parents, then they should be asked to resign from their positions of trust. If I here one more meeting filled with deception and plausible deniability, I may take it upon myself to publicly ask for those resignations myself in a very public manner that will make the my Glen Beck appearance look like minor league. 
  
  It is just common respect. THEY asked for my letter of assistance and clarification. Attorney Flint and myself spent an entire weekend drafting it for them and the parents in our community. 
  
  Their response over a week later? 
  
  Crickets. 
  
  Not even a thank you note....and then they have the gall to present a LIVE feed to the entire State filled with definitive answers to parents questions that not only could they not answer during our 2 hour in person meeting, but asked for our assistance to clarify the issues they did not understand. 
  
  How hard would it had been to simply say, "We do not know." ??? 
  Ms. Parks response to questions regarding adaptive testing to children with learning "quirks" (out new name for disabilities) was so devious and deceptive that I had to turn it off. 
  
  Alisa Olsen Ellis, don't you ever stop this fight as long as you have life in you. God bless you.

  about an hour ago via mobile · Like · 1
• 

  Gary Thompson and yes, you can repost my response to the world. As long as you correct my IPhone induced spelling errors.

  about an hour ago via mobile

Wedding, Talk, And Job

I have been battling a headache for the last 3 days.  I'm not usually a headache person, so this is new for me.  I think the headache might have something to do with helping the neighbors put in there lawn.  I haven't done been able to do a lot of physical activity for the last several years, so I think I overdid myself.

We attended Jared's brother's wedding on Saturday and it was beautiful.  The sealer in the temple happened to be our Stake Patriarch, President Simmons.  Being in the temple and hearing the beautiful words of the ceremony was touching and the presence of the Lord's Spirit was strong.  It was such a special experience.  Oh, and we're happy to see Grayson married to such a nice girl.

After the wedding on Saturday, we went to a restaurant called Maddox in Brigham City.  The food was delicious.  Little Bruce ate his little heart out.  The kids were so well behaved the entire day.  I was so proud of them.

As we came home from all of the activities that surrounded the wedding, we spent the rest of the day recouping.  Sunday morning church starts at 08:30 and I wasn't sure how I was going to get there because of how exhausted I was.  We had to help Vanessa write a talk for Sacrament meeting as well because she didn't plan her schedule carefully during the week.  Her talk was on the apostasy and the restoration.  Her talk was really mine and Jared's talk and I told her that that is the last time that will happen.  She is almost 14 and in my mind it is completely unacceptable for a parent to write a perfectly capable daughter's talk.

Jared's temporary job is about to become a permanent position.  That doesn't mean Jared gets the position, it just means that his company is placing the job up for bidding.  Jared will apply for it and we will see what the Lord has in store for us.  We continue to place our faith and trust in the Lord and we will accept whatever happens.  We know we are in His care.

Home Schooling

I am home schooling again and this time for keeps.  I home schooled our children 5 years ago for 2 years.  If you've spent any time learning about what is going on with our public schools, you might be tempted to pull your children from their schools.  I understand.  In fact,  a few of my neighbors have found out that I have pulled all but my oldest daughter, Vanessa, from public school and they are asking me questions.  Vanessa will finish out her 8th grade year and I'll home school her again through 12th grade.  But, I am happy to tell my neighbors what I have found out and point them to the people who have informed me.

I love home schooling.  I love learning with the kids and having them look at me as their teacher.  I love that the kids and I are really bonding.  There is such a sweet spirit in our home.

For those of you who are wondering how I am doing it, I'll tell you a little bit about what I am doing.

I use Saxon Math textbooks.  I went online to amazon.com and found the oldest textbooks I could find.  The new Saxon Math textbooks have Common Core State Standards in them.  I am not interested in that at all, as you know!

For English/Literature I am frequenting the local library.  The kids are checking out classics, like Peter Pan and Where the Red Fern Grows.  We are reading and talking about the characters in the books.  I am guiding the kids to look at character downfalls, main plot, and then we look at the conclusions of the books and analyze the outcomes.

We memorize a scripture every week as a family.

We pray.

We sing.

We cook together.

Jared is teaching the boys the cello.  Jared recently purchased a cello for himself and we are borrowing an old cello from Jared's parents for the boys to learn on.

Jared is teaching the boys how to play basketball.

We have plans to plant our vegetable garden in the next couple of weeks.

We are looking forward to teaching our kids in all walks of life.

What a joy to have the opportunity to get the kids ready for their lives as husbands, fathers, neighbors, community members, etc.  I love having the opportunity to choose with my children what they want to learn.

Birthday, Christmas Concert, And Christmas

I haven't posted any family pictures in awhile and thought today would be a good day to catch up a little.

Rex turned 7 in December.  We had a birthday party and he had 6 friends over for a party.  Rex is working on completing his 1st grade.  He loves his friends.  He loves to sword fight with his friends and brothers.  We moved his bed downstairs and he now shares a bedroom with his older brother Eric.  He loves to be outside.  He is a good boy and is a big helper.

Vanessa had a violin concert at her school in December.  And here are a couple of pictures of our Christmas morning.  I am realizing I need a new camera and I need to start taking more pictures.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

As a general rule of thumb in my life, I really try to avoid begging.  I am not going to try to avoid it today.  Please, please, please learn about Common Core State Standards that your state has adopted from the United States Department of Education for the free public education for your children.  If you don't know where to start, look up the website utahnsagainstcommoncore.com.  Even if you don't live in Utah, that website will point you in the direction of your own state and how your state had adopted Common Core as well.

Check out what Glenn Beck said today on his radio program about who is supporting Common Core.   

http://www.glennbeck.com/2013/04/11/youll-never-guess-who-is-supporting-common-core/

Here is a comment a teacher made from the Jordan School District in Utah.

“I recently attended a common core day of cheer leading for the sixth grade teachers in my district.  Money was used to pay for subs so that we could all hear for a day why the common core was so wonderful.  We were told that students would no longer be graded on completion of assignments or an average of assignment and test scores over a grading period.  Instead grading will be based on mastery of a subject.  How do we determine mastery?  The district has provided bench mark tests in language arts.  We were told that these are not mandatory BUT that if we did not use them they would become mandatory.  I find it scary that students will now be graded only on tests written by the core.  The final assessment was a research paper on modern revolutions.  Interesting how now in the sixth grade learning can be skewed to a political point of view that may or may not be historically accurate.  I find the curriculum scary and the measurement of learning terrifying. I know though that any questions I asked contrary to the core were met with anger and frustration. It was NOT allowed and dismissed to ask a question that was not common core friendly. I along with other teachers are afraid to speak out publicly against the core for fear of losing our jobs. I work in the Jordan school district.”

**Edited to add some meetings held in some Utah school districts where Common Core will be talked about with county representatives.  My counties was held a couple of night ago, but I didn't hear about it until today, so I missed it.  If you can attend, this might be a great way to see what your area parents, teachers, and representatives think of Common Core.  

**IF YOUR DISTRICT IS NOT LISTED, CALL THE UTAH STATE OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND ASK FOR A MEETING ABOUT THE COMMON CORE TESTS.  Or Call your state's office of education.

Alpine District4–6 pm District Office575 N 100 E, American Fork Tuesday April 16

Weber District4–6 pm District Office / Board Room5320 Adams Ave. Parkway, Ogden Tuesday April 16

Logan District4–6 pm District Office/ Board Room101 West Center, Logan Wednesday April 17

Juab District4–6 pm Juab High School / Little Theater802 N 650 E, Nephi Thursday April 18

Nebo District4–6 pm District Office/ Board Room350 S Main, Spanish Fork Tuesday April 23

Davis 4–6 pm District Office / Kendell Bldg (2nd Floor)70 E 100 N, Farmington Thursday April 25

Uintah District 4–6 pm Maeser Training Center1149 N 2500 W, Vernal

Food

Our family loves Chinese food.  We also love our recent commitment to reducing our eating out.  I always have my eyes out for yummy recipes that won't break the budget.  We have been eating a lot of rice these days.  And I mean a lot.  I'm trying to keep the kids from getting too tired of it.

I found a recipe online, from facebook that I'm going to make soon.  It looks like a simple recipe.

It's fried rice:

Fried Rice 

3 cups cooked white rice (day old or leftover rice works best!)
3 tbs sesame oil
1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)
1 small onion, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup soy sauce


On medium high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok. Add the peas/carrots mix, onion and garlic. Stir fry until tender. Lower the heat to medium low and push the mixture off to one side, then pour your eggs on the other side of skillet and stir fry until scrambled. Now add the rice and soy sauce and blend all together well. Stir fry until thoroughly heated! **You could really play around with this rice too! Try adding some diced ham, or green onion :) Yum!

Baking Soda And Deoderant

In talking to my friend a couple of months back, we were discussing deoderant.  Don't ask me why.  I don't remember.  She told me what she does for deoderant.  She pours a small amount of baking soda onto a dish rag, and then pats her underarm with the baking soda right after she gets out of the shower, or first thing before dressing for the day.  Weird!  I thought.  It is a bit of a mess, she said, but after some practice, she said the messes get less and less.

Well, I have been having a struggle finding a deoderant that I like and that keeps me smelling good all day long.  I am also very tired of yellow stains under my white shirts from the deoderant.  My friend says she no longer has that since using the baking soda.  What bothers me the most about store bought deoderants is that late in the day, I don't smell good at all.  My sweat smell mixed in with the deoderant just smells, well, nasty. So, I was willing to put the baking soda to the test.

Today I'd like to report the results of my baking soda deoderant test.  I love it!  It works!  I no longer have that nasty late afternoon smell.  And my shirts don't stink at the end of the day.  Even my hubby said I smell better.

Give it a try, if you are having the same issues I was having.  Let me know your results.

Jesus

What a beautiful Easter Sunday!  Our ward choir sang beautiful music today.  Primary was wonderful, as usual.  I love this time of year as my thoughts have been turned to Jesus and how He broke the bands of death.  I love to hear stories of how Jesus has transformed people.

We are headed to Salt Lake City to Jared's parents house today for dinner.  Even though our relationships with them are still strained and we have some work to do to get our relationship to a more healthy place, I am grateful that the doors have been opened for the opportunity to work on those changes.  Change is so hard, but I am totally committed to working in that direction.  I know it is the Lord's work to change us, and it is our work to stand for and live by true priniciples.

Happy Easter!

Get A Job?

Today Jared and I spent a couple of hours picking up some last minute items and groceries for the celebrations that will take place tomorrow.  We went to a little local shop here in our small town in rural northern Utah.  We pulled into the parking lot and had a hard time finding a parking place.  We wondered at this because this particular parking lot is never filled to capacity.  We thought maybe they were having a great sale or that other people are out getting their last minute items for tomorrow as well.

So, we walk in and there are people standing in the aisles.  We hear a lady come over the intercom and tell everyone to get on a number and that the drawing will take place in 2 minutes.  Jared and I ignore the announcement and continue discussing what we want to purchase so we can get home.  Then 2 minutes later the lady comes back on the intercom and announces that number 32 is the winner and to come to the front to  pick up their $20 gift certificate.  The crowd of people in this tiny store groaned and we heard the winner, a child, squeal in delight.  Jared and I were stunned.  We couldn't believe the large group of people who came out to this particular store just to try to win a $20 dollar certificate.  Jared commented that for all of the work these people went to to try to win this certificate, they would be better treated to go get a job.  I agreed.

The store emptied out, and Jared and I finished our shopping.  What a weird way to start our day!

Privacy And Our Children

Check what Dr. Gary Thompson has said about the Common Core State Standards that the US Department of Education has put out.  He was a guest on the Glenn Beck Program today as well and you can check that out as well.  I don't have a subscription to Glenn Beck's TV broadcast program, so the link to this came from a website called utahnsagainstcommoncore.com.

Here is a bit of what he said:

Given the gravity of these issues, I cannot professionally endorse the Common Core State Standards as currently written until pointed clarification is provided by politicians and educators from both party’s endorsing CCSS.  Nor in good conscience can I enroll my toddler in a public school system that utilizes CCSS until these issues are clarified to my satisfaction.

The issues involving psychological testing and privacy are issues that should be of concern to every parent with a child enrolled in public school.    The power granted federal and state education administrators via the regulations of CCSS are unprecedented in nature.   

Please, please, please if you have kids in the public school, please become informed about what is going on with Common Core.

What Is Going On In Our Schools

I have been made aware recently about what is going on in our public schools, a new curriculum being put into place called Common Core.  It is replacing No Child Left Behind.  I wanted to post today some comments from teachers across the state of Utah and their thoughts on what they think of Common Core.  The teachers were allowed to do this anonymously.  Follow the link to find out more.

1.  Greater centralization will result in inefficiency and waste. It will result in poorer student performance.  It will lead to encroachment on the freedom to home school. It will create databases which are expensive and dangerous to personal liberty. The standards do not promote individuality, liberty, or excellence or greatness in education. The centralization will make it harder for parents to become involved, so less will become involved.  That will hurt the education of children more than anything else. (Cody Nelson, Utah County)

2. I am most concerned about who has put together the common core.  They have started with math and reading but have designs to push their socialist agenda onto our children when they add the science and social studies components of common core.  The math standards teach a  “fuzzy math” that makes it hard for parents to be able to assist their children with math, making the parents seem weak to the children. Children then learn to trust the school more than home. There are no benefits to the “new” math, in fact it slows the learning by teaching children four or more ways to get the same answer. (Principle, Salt Lake County)

3.  It dumbs kids down, puts us behind schedule where we were, removes local control, eliminates creativity, omits important curriculum like cursive writing & classic literature, it forces “fuzzy math” based on common consent as opposed to fact-based math on individual merit, it was signed onto outside of proper legislative procedures & without public input. It is Socialized education, one size fits all and it doesn’t fit. It will only serve to harm our kids’ education, not improve it.  (Teacher K-5, Davis County)

A Day of Worship

Last night we had the second of four lessons for Family Night about the Resurrection. I had put pieces of paper in a plastic Easter egg that had St. John 20 written on it. Vanessa, Eric, Joseph, and Rex each got one since they are the kids in the family that can read. I hid them in the kitchen before we started Family Night. After the prayer and the song, the kids went into the kitchen to find their egg. After they read their scripture, we talked about how Mary must have felt to see Jesus standing there outside of the sepluchre and how just three days earlier she had just seen him beaten and hanging on the cross. It was very touching to hear that when Mary sat there weeping and Jesus spoke to her that she immediately recognized his voice. She must have been stunned and overwhelmed. I can't wait for Family Night next week to hear once again how the apostles reacted to Jesus's resurrection.

 After our Family Night, Jared and I headed 80 minutes south to see a Jazz game. We were given the tickets by a co-worker of Jared's. What a stark contrast to attend that Jazz game after our wonderful lesson at home. It was difficult to enjoy the game, and in fact, I didn't try very hard to enjoy it. It was nice to be with Jared together without the distractions and interruptions of the kids. I used to love the Jazz and would have loved going to a game, but it just doesn't have the thrill it once had. Don't get me wrong here, I am just fine not being that into the Jazz. I love my new life and the greater joy I have found.

We are in a day of worship. Joseph Smith was given the restored Church of Jesus Christ. We each have the privilege to study what Joseph Smith has restored and judge for ourselves what we think of it. Having Family Night each Monday night is one of the things we do to show our belief in Christ's restored church. I love that I can show what I think of Christ everyday as I worship Him and follow His prophets.

Vanessa

We went to Vanessa's concert today at Utah State University. Wow! It was amazing! Bridgerland School is the one who put it together. It was all of the best kids from Ogden to Preston, Idaho. It sounded like a concert you would go to for college age students. Vanessa is exhausted from the practices over in Logan, 30 minutes away. Jared's Mom, 92 year old Grandma Harris, and sweet Marianne drove up from Salt Lake to be there. Jared had forgotten to tell them exactly what day it was, so they went up to Logan last night, Jared's dad Doug, his brother Grayson and his fiance with them, but the concert wasn't last night. But, Linda drove up again today to be there for Vanessa. What a special day it was! We went to lunch at Texas Roadhouse as everyone was starving. Now the kids are out playing night games with the neighbors. I am sitting here on the couch waiting for them to come home with an ice bag on my hurt foot. I think I'm going to have to go the doctors for it because I'm not healing on my own. The original injury is from 12 months ago. I must have re-injured it because a couple of weeks ago something happened and now I have to hobble around. It has been a journey of injuries and healing now going on 8 years. I just can't seem to heal.

Co-Dependency

I was just looking through my blog stats, which I have never done until today.  It was interesting to me that a post I wrote in April 2010 got 157 page view hits on it.  Here is the link to it.  The post is all about me being a needy child.  The next closest post only had 20 page view hits.  Wow!  That is pretty remarkable to me.  What was so interesting about that particular post, I wonder?

I have no idea who has read that post 157 times because I don't have a widget that shows me who is coming to my blog and who isn't.  I have done that on purpose because I don't want anyone to think I am watching to see if they come to my blog.  I like people to feel like they can come here and their presence will be anonymous.

As a follow up to that post, I am happy to report that I have come a long way from being a co-dependent daughter, wife, friend, etc.

It is strange to think about where I've been and how far I've come.  Life feels normal to me now and I have so much happiness.  I feel like a part of my Patriarchal blessing has been fulfilled which states that 'As you keep the commandments, your life will be a joy and a pleasure.'  I feel so grateful that the Lord got to me and He helped me change my life.  He has done so much for me and helped me in ways that I can't possibly explain.

I am a testimony that people can and do change.  I have changed so much and I know with the Lord's help, I can change more to be who He wants me to be.  I am happy to allow Him to do this to me.  I am gaining more trust in His care, something that has been incredibly hard for me to do.  But, something inside of me yearns to trust Him more.  Something beckons me to feel after Him and search out His love for me.  Something inside of me wants to tell everyone I know of His love.

So my co-dependency is a faded memory.  Strangely, I feel like it could become a living, breathing part of my life again if I let it, but I don't.  I fell down on my right bum cheek 6 years ago on the pavement and the Lord has seen fit to not heal me from the injuries I sustained that day.  I attribute my spiritual growth to this.  I have been virtually physically immovable since that fall.  I sit a large portion of every day because of the pain I have in my right foot.  The Lord has taught me that through physical immovability, I could learn spiritual immovability.  And that is the exact lesson that I have needed to learn so badly, for I had consistently lowered my standards and consistently offended Heavenly Father in the process.  So, I am grateful for my physical immovability for the lessons it has taught me.  I wish I could have learned some other way, but...  And I suppose I need the constant reminder, ie constant pain in my foot, to never lower my standards again.  I gratefully accept it if that is the case because I have gone to every doctor, chiropractor, neurosurgeon, etc with no cure available to me.

So, I'm off to bed.  Church starts for us at 08:30 am, bright and early!  Good night everyone!

Weary Not

This is from Mark chapter 13.  It impressed me because I've been asleep as to things spiritual most all of my life and I still fight the weary feelings that come over me.  I loved the song sung at President Monson's birthday celebration in August of 2012 called Weary Not.  It has helped me so much to remember that song every time I find that the challenges and temptations of life are dragging me down and I am tempted to throw in the towel and go back to living the way I used to.  Weary Not.

32 ¶But of that ^aday and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

 33 Take ye heed, ^awatch and ^bpray: for ye know not when the time is.

 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave ^aauthority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you ^asleeping.

 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Just Stuff

I love my kids!  They are the best!  They drive me crazy sometimes, yes, but I love them so much.

Rex, who is 7, just learned how to make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Now he can make two things for himself, cereal and peanut butter and jelly.  This is a big day for him and me.  He is now less dependent on me and he doesn't have to only eat cereal when he gets hungry in between meals.

Vanessa is practicing her little heart out for her concert, which by the way, all of you are invited to attend.  Her concert is on Saturday March 18th, 1pm, at Kent Concert Hall, Utah State University campus, east corner of campus.  She came home from school yesterday, after staying after school for 90 minutes to practice with her orchestra teacher, in tears.  She said how hard the piece of music is and that her friend, who is a second chair violinist, not first chair like she is, has a way easier piece to learn.  I told her how much more advanced of a player she is than her friend and that her friend is probably going home in tears to her mother because her piece of music is too hard for her to learn.  That calmed Vanessa down and we were able to talk about the details of the performance and the practices which are over in Logan, 25 minutes away.

Jared is on a snowmobiling trip to Wyoming right now with his brothers, uncle Cordell, and cousins.  This will be a 3 day trip for him.  I talked to him this morning and he said his brothers and him stayed up until 4am last night chatting.  He said that Grayson, his 28 year old brother told them his conversion story.  Grayson has been away from the Church for the last 12 years 'ish.'  He recently got engaged and we are so happy for him.

Other than that, life is business as usual. 

Disturbed And Beautiful

I read this from Ezra Taft Benson this morning and wanted to post it because I agree with it:

'Our prayers should be meaningful and pertinent. Do not use the same phrases at each prayer. Each of us would become disturbed if a friend said the same few words to us each day, treated the conversation as a chore, and could hardly wait to finish it in order to turn on the TV and forget us.' - Ezra Taft Benson

In other news, Vanessa gave a talk on Individual Worth last night at her Young Women's New Beginnings night.  I helped her fine tune her talk.  But, it was when she gave the talk that I was able to hear how she really felt about what she was saying.  She got emotional and teary as she spoke of Jesus Christ and of the love she feels from her Heavenly Father.  She spoke of the talent that her Heavenly Father has given her with the violin.  She told how she loves to hear how other's have felt of Heavenly Father's love for them through her music too and that it is beautiful to her.  I don't get to see this side of Vanessa.  In the normal course of the day, we don't get spiritual.  At family home evening she doesn't show us her feelings.  I have heard her bare her testimony at family night, but she didn't get emotional. 

Heavenly Father is so kind to us.  He is so patient.  He is firm, but loving.  I love how He hasn't given up on me.  I love how He hasn't given up on any of us.  He wants us to do our best and is always reaching out to us to lift us from where we are.  I love Him.

Room For Jesus

'Only greater consecration will cure ambivalence and casualness in any of us! As already noted, the tutoring challenges arising from increased consecration may be severe but reflect the divine mercy necessary to induce further consecration. (See Hel. 12:3.) If we have grown soft, hard times may be necessary. Deprivation may prepare us for further consecration, though we shudder at the thought. If we are too easily contented, God may administer a dose of divine discontent. His long-suffering thus becomes very necessary to maximize our agency and development. But He is not an indulgent Father.

We “cannot bear all things now,” but the Lord “will lead [us] along,” as we “give place” in our thoughts and schedules and “give away” our sins, which are the only ways we can begin to make room to receive all that God can give us. (D&C 78:18; D&C 50:4; Alma 32:27, 28; Alma 22:18.)

Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!

Consecration is the only surrender which is also a victory. It brings release from the raucous, overpopulated cell block of selfishness and emancipation from the dark prison of pride.'

I love that each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus.  This is a marvelous talk given by Neal A. Maxwell.  

Laboring

In my morning study of a talk given in General Conference 1987, I read this by Robert D. Hales, who was then Presiding Bishop in the church:

May the prayer of Alma also be our prayer:

“O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me. …

“Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come upon them. …

“O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.

“Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee” (Alma 31:32–35).

“We love you; we miss you; we need you. Please come back.” Come back to go to the temple, enter into the covenants, and receive the ordinances of eternal salvation.


It got me to thinking about how to reach out to lost souls and who is in my circle of influence who needs reaching out to.  I have learned that it is sacred work to reach out and in that process we strengthen our own spiritual underpinnings.

It is one of my favorite things in the scriptures to read others' prayers.  

It is also interesting to note that the title of this post is laboring.  When you think of a woman who is laboring to bring a new life into this world, it is work indeed.  It is hard.  It requires focus and determination.  But it is worth every effort because the new life that is brought into the world is so innocent and beautiful!

The Kids

Valentines Day was nice.  When the kids got home from school, Jared and I had filled little sacks with candy and treats and had hidden them around the house.  The kids had to go searching like a treasure hunt for their sack.  Once they found a sack, they had to look on the outside of the sack to see if was their name on it.  Joseph found 4 of the sacks.  It was really fun.

Vanessa is in 8th grade and they had a dance over at the school.  Vanessa got asked to dance by a boy that she really likes.  She was pretty happy about that.  The girls in our neighborhood love and look up to her.  She never has a hard time finding a friend to do something with.  She is 13 years 9 months old.

Bruce is becoming more independent and able to entertain himself and play by himself better recently.  He is 3 and a half years old.

Rex has been arguing more with us lately.  He wants his way and has been having a hard time just obeying.  He loves healthy foods and is easy to please.  He has a large group of friends at school and in our neighborhood.  Kids love him.  He is 7 years old.

Joseph is a very helpful child.  He is motivated by rewards.  He likes to tell his side to every situation, and wants to be right even when he isn't right.  There aren't many kids his age in our neighborhood that are his age.  He is 10 years 7 months old.

Eric is in the famous grumpy pre-pubescence stage.  He is very sensitive to how his body looks and how he is different than a lot of the other kids at his school.  He has a lot friends too.  He is 12 years 7 months old.

                                               
About 18 months ago!  The whole group!

Vanessa is such a sweetheart.

Vanessa and Eric are good friends.  They are 14 months apart.

Pretzel

Soft Pretzels

1 1/2 cups warm water
1 T sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 T yeast
22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups

2 c. boiling water

1/4 C. baking soda

4 ounces butter, melted

Combine the water, sugar, salt, yeast, and flour in a stand mixer and beat until they form a soft, not-too-sticky dough. Knead the dough for 5 minutes in the mixer or by hand. [We always do the last couple minutes by hand; I love to knead and so do ALL the children, who each have to have their turns]. Then let it rise for an hour. [The KAF recipe says just to let it "rest" for 30 minutes, but we went ahead with the longer rise.]

*NOTE: Some recipes have you immerse the pretzels in a boiling water/baking soda solution for a minute or two, and others use just hot water---but the KAF recipe is the only one I've seen that actually calls for a "soak" in the soda bath---not boiling, just lukewarm.  I've used the boiling-water-dip in the past, but with kids helping, the soaking option seemed easier, so we gave that a try. And I was very pleased with the results! So I think I'll use that method from now on.

While the dough is rising, prepare the soda bath. Mix 2 cups boiling water with 1/4 c baking soda, stirring until the soda is totally (or almost totally) dissolved. Set the mixture aside to cool to lukewarm (or cooler). Then pour it into a cake pan or other shallow pan.

When the dough is puffy, divide it into pieces and roll out each piece into a long snake. Let the "snake" rest for 5 minutes (to let the gluten relax) and then twist it into a pretzel shape.

In batches of 6-7 at a time (however many you can fit in the soda-bath pan), put the shaped pretzels into the soda bath. Spoon the solution over them so their tops and bottoms are covered, then let them sit for 2 minutes. Remove them from the bath, place them on a greased baking sheet [they say use parchment paper, but that didn't work well at ALL for us---it stuck to their bottoms terribly!], and sprinkle them with kosher salt. Let them rest for 10 minutes, and then bake them at 450 for 8-9 minutes or until golden brown.

When the pretzels come out of the oven, brush them immediately with melted butter. Then eat them while warm. They are SO GOOD!

Doesn't this look like a yummy recipe?  I am going to try it!  I got it from this website:  

http://nielsonschool.blogspot.com/

Dad's Heart Attack

My Dad is doing alright.  He is weak and will need some rehab.  I am so glad that he didn't die because there is some repair work that needs to happen in our relationship and I would have been VERY sad not to have had the chance to do that.

In his own words in his recent email letter to our family:

'The story about me goes: Last Sunday, I lived through something that I should have died from. After 7 years of dealing with two stage four cancer tumors and now a massive heart attack that has left me with 3/4 of a heart that works, I am well adjusted to my own mortality. You don't need to tippy toe around me. We can joke about me and discuss it any time you want. Just don't ask me how I am doing. I mean I am a double stage four cancer guy who just had a massive heart attack. I am doing terrible as far as normal is concerned. But, I am having a ball in most other ways..

Here is my history leading up to the MI (Myocardial Infarction or heart attack). Three or four years ago when my total cholesterol was in the 240 range, triglycerides 350, I felt a heavy feeling, not actual pain, around my heart in my chest after eating burger king hamburgers. And, I still love them. This feeling was broadened to include brownies made with butter, beef roast, five or six broiled pieces of chicken breast which I loved the spices on them and ice cream by the 1/2 gallon. Any fat filled food gave me that feeling. The heavy feeling would go away after an hour or so and if I drank a few glasses of water.

One week ago Friday, as I was shoveling snow, I couldn't lift the shovel like normal. There was pain around the heart which I discounted and drank some water and took an aspirin. The pain went away. Then a few hours later, it came back.  Both arms ached like bad. The same through Saturday, every 5-6 hours an episode of pain that didn't go away for 30 minutes or so.. Sunday morning at 0500 in my little bathroom the pain was so severe and unrelenting that I knew it wasn't going away. I yelled to Myra, "Call 911." She panicked and said, "Are you sure? I don't know how." I yelled  back, "Figure it out and hurry." The pain was crushing in the upper chest. I started sweating on the forehead and neck. I walked to the living room and collapsed on the sofa. The EMT team arrived in a few minutes, two ambulances and a fire truck and we sped away to the hospital. 

They ran an EKG which was normal and drew cardiac blood tests which were normal. This was a huge puzzle as I was moaning in very severe pain. Finally, an older doctor came to me and said, There is a little spot on the last EKG that shouldn't be there. I FEEL as if you are having a heart attack. If it is what I think it is you need a stent right away. We are sending you directly to the front of the line in the cardiac catheter lab. (There were four other old men snow shovellers who were being worked up for stents). On the table upstairs the doctor came to me and said, "Mr Taylor, you are having a heart attack as we speak. We will insert the stent right now." They ran the tube through the femoral artery starting in the groin up to the center of the heart, dissolved the clot with blood thinners, placed the double stents and finally relief of the horrible pain. The rest is boring. The crisis was resolved. I haven't felt any pain since and I don't expect I will. That old heavy feeling is also gone. I believe I am more healthy than I have been in many years since my veins are clear. I hope my heart will recover to at least 90% which they said might happen after several months.'

Love and Chili

Jared has become quite the cook.  He loves to make us chili.  He loves experimenting with different spices.  The chili is delicious!  The kids don't like it as much as the canned stuff, but I do.

I feel so blessed!  Heavenly Father has been so good to our family.  We have made several changes over the last few years and they have seriously tried our marriage.  But, we have come through it and are not only just surviving this life together as a married couple, we are thriving in it.  Jared continues to find dignity and respect at his new job.  And we both continue to find out what a marriage filled with love is all about.

Heart Attack

My Dad had a heart attack on Sunday, and has been in the hospital for the last 3 days.  I had Jared text my Mom and ask how he is doing.  She said he has been through a lot and the doctors said that he is weak and shouldn't have visitors like us right now.  He is 71 years old.

Violin and Basketball

Vanessa is on to her next item in her bucket list of things she wants done.  She got braces a couple of weeks ago.  The orthodontist told her she'll have them on for about 16 months.  She only has them on the top because the bottom teeth are fine.  Hopefully, by putting them only on the top it won't ruin her bite, thereby needing to put them on the bottom as well.

Vanessa is also working on a violin piece by Lindsey Stirling.  She is working on perfecting it to perform at an audition on February 9th.  If she gets chosen, she'll get to be part of an orchestra that will perform somewhere, I'm not sure where though.  She is getting really good at the Lindsey Stirling piece called Crystallize.

Eric is playing basketball at the church with the Deacons Quorum.  The Bishopric asked Jared to be the coach.  It is fun watching Eric play.  He isn't very good, but he has had hardly any exposure to basketball.

Birth

We have spent the last several weeks catching one sickness after another.  It is our Stake Conference today and we are missing it because of fevers and tummy bugs.  We thought Rex had strep throat again, after his bout of it 2 months ago, but his fever went down and he is looking better today.

I have been thinking a lot lately about having another child.  It has been on my mind more and more lately and since I just turned 38, I realize that I'm getting closer and closer to that window closing on me forever.  As I've thought of bringing children into this world, it occurs to me more and more that there is a connection between the desire of bringing children into this world and allowing new life to come into my heart.  The Lord has worked a wonderful work in my life and he continues to do so.  But, like birth control or the barriers we can place in order to prevent conception, we can also place barriers in our lives that prevent the Lord from being able to put new life into us.

I'm studying about this right now and learning that I don't trust the Lord as much as I should.  I think of my own children and it offends me when they don't trust me.  I can imagine how the Lord feels when I don't trust Him.

Furthermore, as I have been yearning to trust Heavenly Father more, I have been thinking of the birth process and how I haven't trusted that process.  I have been studying midwifery and considering the idea of going to school to become a midwife.