The Six of Us

Have I really survived nine bike trips?  Has Lee? Well almost he will be home in the afternoon The honest reason I struggle with the bike trips isn't because I am home alone with the kids it is because I worry Lee won't make it home.  My biggest fear is I will get a call saying Lee was in an accident.  Is it logic?  Maybe.   Lee is my bestest friend and the thought of raising these four holligians without him is overwhelming at best.  I really miss him when he was gone. he balances me.  I come up with some crazy ideas and he can bring me down to earth.  Do we survive without him here ?  Sure but that is all we do.  Next year we will for certain be going somewhere.  Even for a few days.   I am glad Lee can go on these trips.  He gets to see some pretty amazing things t I love hearing about his adventures.  I hear some scary stories as well which is probably why I worry.   So here is o another adventure done and to...

I listened to talk today that hit home.  The person talking said we need to ask God once for something and then act like you are going to receive that blessing you asked for.  He talked about praising God for future blessings. He used the example of a child asking over and over again for something they aren't ready for but something you are going to give them at a future date.  He talked about how annoying that would be.  I am going to try this.  For the next few weeks I haven't decided how long I going to ask in prayer for a specific thing one time and then act and pray like I already have the blessing. He said it much better then I did.  Another thing we listened to is the concept of not getting frustrated with things we can't control the example he used.  We are stuck so we have two choices get upset or roll with it.  Just so happened at that time then we were stuck on the freeway so it worked as a good object lesson for the kids.  Tod...

Last Sunday when I was driving home from McCall I was listening to BYU radio station and there was an interview with Sister Hinkley.  President Hinkley's daughter who use to be the general primary president.  I listed to a half hour interview and the one thing that stuck with me was she said that we always talk about what a strain children are on marriage.  Which she admiited they were but she said we fail to talk about the strengthing in a marriage that happens with children.  Children have the ability to bring us to our lowest lows yet our spouse has the ability to help us out of those lows.  She didn't say it but I think moms often feel the stress of raising kids more then dads. she gave an example about how she was stressed about raising several young children when her husband was busy working long hours.  Her husband was able to hire some help for her.  She said she was at her breaking point.  Been there done that.  Luke's colic Andrews ...

Last night as Lee was packing for his trip he made a comment about how every thing seemed to be going wrong. He made a comment about how maybe the adversary was trying to stop him from this trip and I said or maybe God is.  We will never know which is which.  :)  Lee left 12 hours ago and I am already ready for him to come home.  Tonight has been tough but I think me working all day played into that.  Even thought I wished I could have gone to Pocatello today it worked out that I didn't,  We have been praying for Lee's aunts family that they may find some comfort in this that maybe with time they will be at peace. We are counseled to mourn with those who mourn.  I think we don't always do a good job at that,  So while I may complain about the bike trip I won't complain about Lee leaving early to go to Pocatello, although other people did.  I grew up where funerals were important and although my dad despised them he would always encourage ...

This weekend I went to McCall with some of the most spiritual and fun women for a leadership training for MOPS.  It was fun and exhausting and really great.  Part of wishes I would have gone up Friday but part of me is glad I waited.  As I listened to these women's stories I was in awe of them.  They are strong and are truly great leaders.I feel honored to serve with them for the next year When I was gone Lee cleaned the garage.  So I can almost park my car in there. And I think if we have six motorcycle at our house next Saturday night most of them will fit. Lee's cousin died over the weekend and so Lee is going to Pocatello on Friday for services instead of riding to his dad's house.  I think it will work out okay.  Then they are all meeting up Saturday in Yellowstone and I am totally jealous.  I tried to find a hotel or cabin that was reasonable so we could go this weekend as well but instead the kids are doing a triatholon....

So for the month of July I am decluttering one area a day I really don't have the time to do it one whole section of the house the way the group organizer suggests but I am getting rid of one of stuff per day which is freeing.  I believe that every thing in our home either gives us energy or takes away energy.  By getting rid stuff we don't need we are allowing more positive energy to enter the home. I am wondering if I can do this every month.  At least until the spring when I am hoping to get the house on the market.  Part of the reason for my motivation for decluttering although I have always "tried" to do it is I started helping my mom  clean and get her house ready to sale.  30 years worth of stuff.  I don't want my kids (or spouse) to have to go through my stuff like we did when Lee's mom died. We spent several hours helping my mom yesterday.  Jake has taken on the project of taking all the wall paper off the walls.  Then we will be p...

My dad use to say that all the time along with when things did go our way ...You must be living right.  So on July 17th I was schedule to work 8-5 (ish) at one hospital and then 5-10 at the other.  Also I am on call that night from 5-8 am for the hospital I am working the day for.  We rarely get call out.  But there is a chance.  Also Lee decided instead of leaving for the bike trip Saturday the 18th he is going to Kamiah the night of the 17th.  Too much.  I couldn't be in three places at once (work, with the kids and possibly getting called in) so I emailed my one co worker who wanted to pick up some extra shifts and she said no.  Then another coworker agreed if I took a shift for her earlier in the week.  Couldn't have worked out any better.  Not only do I now only have to work the day I also don't lose any pay/  Now I just have to find a babysitter that day and find somebody who is willing to be on call to come watch the kids....

Late last week my mom said she needed to go to the cabin I told her if she worked around my work schedule I would go.  She did😄.  We drove up Monday after picking the van up from our mechanic and a drop off at the airport.  Since we were out later then expected we got hotel rooms.  I loved the hotel.  It is older but well maintained rooms are spacious (more so then other hotels) pool was nice breakfast was pretty good.  We did grill your own steaks which was yummy. We spend two days at the cabin getting dirty and swimming at the lake and doing odd chores my mom needed done.  Jake caught a fish.    I think it may be our last trip of the summer as Luke doesn't sleep at night well anywhere but his own bed.  Who knows I may change my mind.   I love being at the cabin.  No cell service no facebook no emails from work.  I did miss texting my friend who is going through some really hard stuff.   Andrew saw my...

Because I have sat in a court room as a judge orders an adotpin of three kids who have lived with a gay couple and only one of those people could be the legal parent.  Which means if the other parent dies those kids won't get benifits.  It means that although the couple has been raising the kids together as a family at the end of the day only one parent has the right to make medical decisions for the kids. I feel as though millions were wasted to fight this losing battle and that money that churches and states spent could have gone to helping families be stronger. I beleive that divorce, abuse and children born outside of marriage does far more to destroy "traditional marriage" then gay marriage ever could.