The Wind in Our Sails

We went to a double missionary farewell/homecoming yesterday. What a great experience to see that visual difference. The strong, but anxious testimony of a devoted young man  going out and the deep, experienced testimony and self awareness of a previously struggling young man coming back.  Such uplifting thoughts.

The returning Elder shared a beautiful analogy about trials. I've heard similar comparisons, but this particular insight impacted me on such a personal level yesterday. The young man was talking about how people come home from their missions and say it was the best two years OF their life, but he wanted to clarify, personally, that it was the best two years FOR his life. He told about a one week period where a sister missionary in his district was killed in a car accident and her companion was sent home because she had a broken back. In the same week their area experienced an earthquake, two tornado's and Hurricane Irene, which completely washed out two or three areas. While all of the Elders were struggling emotionally with the death of their friend they were sent out to help with clean-up. On the first day they drove past a woman crying in the street and asked what they could do for her. She said she couldn't find her house--literally. He said it was times like those that he truly wondered what he was doing there. (He served in New York) But, he said as those things became the past, he would see in hindsight how the hard things were changing him and the people around him and he would remember why it was all so important. The analogy he used was much more succinct, but as I pondered it all day this was how I interpreted his inspired insight. Our earthly experience is the ocean, our lives are sailboats and the wind in our sails are our trials. Sometimes "nature" causes the wind to blow, sometimes Heavenly Father manipulates the weather and He is the source of the wind, but no matter the cause or the source, it's the wind that moves our boat. However, we are steering the ship and must determine the direction that it travels. We can steer if forward or we can steer it backwards or we can let go of the wheel and let the ship toss to and fro, or we can deliberately take down the sails until the wind dies down, but as long as the wind is blowing we can't cease the movement of the ship. Sometimes the winds are calm and though we enjoy the respite our ships doesn't progress very quickly toward their destination. Sometimes the winds are completely still but then we are in danger of the doldrums which is a state of stagnation and listlessness. Sometimes we think we're in the doldrums, when really we've just forgotten to put up our sails. But whatever the circumstances, we only move when the wind is in our sails. I'd never really thought about trials that way before. Such great imagery and symbolism!

Ran into one of those storms this week and realized once again that a compass and the understanding to use it skillfully is such an imperative part of steering our ships. Sometimes I think if I was just more discerning about what I feel is right, that the journey would be smoother, but that just doesn't seem the case in all of the annals of history. We're just all learning to overcome our weaknesses together, by trial and error and sometimes by fire. I keep waiting for that magical plateau, where I can heave a great sigh of relief because my family is finally "safe", but I am realizing that with "eternal increase" that's no part of the package. After all, even Heavenly Father hasn't reached that imaginary pinnacle, but at least in the equation, He has achieved perfection and I'm sure that makes all the difference.

Jordan will be making his last mission phone call home on Mother's Day. I can't believe his return is less than half a year away. What a sweet and vulnerable experience it is to have a missionary in the field.

Quote of the Week:
“There comes a time in a man's life when to get where he has to go--if there are no doors or windows--he walks through a wall.” ― Bernard Malamud
(Aaah...I'm still looking for this kind of inner passion and determination!)

Eden's First Prom (She got to go as a Sophomore because she was asked by a Senior)

Boutonniere's Are Hard

Getting Help From Her Papa

Late...But Ready to Go (Mom was so busy with the hair--forgot to iron the dress)

Modest Girls--Happy Boys!

The Epitome of Eden--Life is Fun!

The More...the Merrier!

From Mikayla

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Mikayla Bloomquist
Date: Sun, Apr 29, 2012 at 1:32 PM

I am so happy to hear that the weather has been so nice in Middleton! Here It was really hot and nice for two days. I think I told you but last Saturday it was so hot that he all got pretty bad sunburns, especially me. I would say it was mid 80's on Saturday and then Sunday and Monday probably more like 70's... so nice, On Tuesday I opened the door to see snow pouring out of the sky in a nice big windy blizzard and then a little larger than pea sized hail stones came out of the sky like paint-balls from a paintball gun. Rexburg is back, in full strength!

Working outside! Oh I miss it! Good times! So I'm guessing you have probably put some things out in the garden now, judging by dads eagerness when I was home. haha =). Oh silly Dallas, who does he think he is haha. I don't think anyone I went on a date with ever had to have a "study talk" how did that go?

Old parents? Haha I feel like you guys have always been the same age! Weird how that happens hu? People you know never seem to get older! Well i guess kids do, but that's because they grow too fast to not notice. 

You guys are so great out there cleaning up Middleton and making it a better place! Way to go kids! I hope you didn't have to wear those orange suits though, because I mean that would be pretty amazingly cool... maybe it would be a fun experience...

I have a sad sad situation- I think I will have to go back and try for that custodial job on Monday because I got let go... me and two others because they were overstaffed and we were the last three hired =(... early mornings here I come! Oh well, maybe it will be a good thing in disguise, because late at night its not like we do much anyway except go to apt #__ and sit around while they make gay jokes to each other... which I have to say "isn't very interesting" But it seems like the popular thing to do up at BYU-I, its like the stigma that only straight guys act gay or something, like your not really confident in your manhood if you don't... some weird reason. 

Anyway its fast Sunday again, I feel like it just was fast Sunday last week... I don't remember, but oh well =) I guess a double fast will make us double strong. I wish you a wonderous week, love you,

Mikayla

From Mikayla

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mikayla
Date: Sun, Apr 22, 2012 at 11:27 PM

¡Hola mis amigos locos!

Hey this first week has gone by so slow! It's weird! So how was your guys's crazy busy weekend with prom and everything? I so want to see pictures! So much homework around here, but its okay we played hard Friday and Saturday, we went to the Truman concert (they came last semester, but we really like them and they came again so we went again.) And then on Sat we played 2 games of Fugitive (if you don't know what that is, we started at apt 13 and had to get to the park before the 3 drivers could find us and catch us.) Me Tessia and Kelsey where 3 of the only 5 that made it, but it was intense because Colbe and TJ (they are from apt 10) got pulled over right across the street from the park, Kelsey booked it and made it, but me and Tessia were too far away from the park to run without getting caught so we hid behind a tree while they were looking for us. It was fun and it reminded me of that adrenalin rush that you get when playing night games as a little kid! I haven't felt that in a while!

Work was pretty chill last week, they had to cut some hours though, which is actually good because i had no time really, now I am only working M-R 14 hours. 

Summer has hit here! I can see that it must of hit there by the pictures you took! You know you're in Idaho when it is below freezing two days before you pass out from the extreme heat.

But the sun is good, and I'm happy for it. You're all probably getting nice tans, I will have one soon- only because I fried on side of my leg on Saturday because we were out doing homework for 4 hours and soaking in the serotonin... I knew it would happen but I just couldn't help it! Don't worry guys- It looks hott... Literally. 

Our ward is all switched up and surprise! We get to go @ 8 still, I think our ward is a 4-1 guy to girl ratio now... the prospects don't look good... haha. 

There are only 5 girls in our apartment... it's so very quiet! Two of them are always gone or in their bedroom laughing about something. So it's just me, Tessia and Kelsey. So very quiet. It's peaceful at home though so it's sort of a bittersweet thing. Kelsey is going to make both beds up so she can sleep in which ever and I think I will do the same when Tessia heads to Ecuador, then we can slumber in each others rooms whenever we want too. This also means you can come visit Eden... Hint Hint. I think it would be a good experience to come before you actually come, It really helped me to adjust quickly when I actually got here!

Thanks for the message. I got it, and it was lovely. 

I didn't go sing today, I took a 4 1/2 hour nap. It was very needed and I didn't feel groggy after I woke up, I felt like it was morning and time to beat the day- instead I did the dishes and at eggs and hash-browns (yes that's right, browns, not blacks, although I has ash-toast this morning) with Tessia and took a picture and added it to our " 'we are so cool' parties" album on facebook.

This letter is altogether too long,

I will end it here.

Just kidding,

I mean here.

Love you guys,

Mikayla

From Jordan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Elder Jordan
Date: Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 3:29 PM

Dear Family,

   This week has been super cool I have been learning a lot about me and others.  My new companion and I are very different, and it has been a good experience working together so that we are able to teach in unity.  My companion is very smart and I have learned many different things from him.  On Sunday Ayline was baptised, we have been working with her for awhile, Elder Palmer and I started teaching her together and Elder Keil and I finished the lessons.  She is such a special girl and she always reminds me of the twins when I go over there because she is 8 years old.  She is very service oriented and loves making people feel happy and welcome, I let her choose one of the bracelets you all made me and she chose the one that Eden made.  On Sunday right after she was baptised the primary got up to sing and she went up to sing with them but by the time they came to the second verce she had tears streaming down her face.  And I almost had trouble controling mine.  This spirit was very tangeble and it helped me relize that maybe we were just in a small chaple in the lower part of south america but one of the most important things in the world had just taken place. I have no doubt that God loves little children because they are so pure and inocent, and he is so happy when we make the disicion to follow Jesus Christ.  That is other thing that has become much more important to me here, the sacrament.  It is so cool how we can rededicate ourselves in being disciples of Christ every week through a simple act like that.  

  The weather here is starting to get much more cool, I was just thinking as well that it wont get warm for me for at least another year ahhhhh esta bien, bring it on.

 I am super excited to talk to you all on mothers day, is Mikayla going to be able to make it down,  I will get back to you with the details next week.

Les amo calete,  mas que cual quier cosa en el mundo.

Elder ...

Daily, Hourly, Minute by Minute

Mikayla left to go back to college yesterday. It was such fun for all of us to have her here for 11 days. We went out for pie and ice cream on Saturday just to celebrate being together. They had to push two tables together for us and we had so much fun visiting and laughing. An older gentleman, who was sitting nearby with a large family group, came up to our table and complimented us on our happy family. It's a good thing he wasn't privy to our conversation in the car on the way over, while we were trying to agree on one pie that everyone would be happy with,=) but it was a kind thing for him to say. He was there with his immediate family and his parents who were 95 and 98. We were feeling awfully happy that evening. We ended our outing with some fun window shopping and then played Pay Day at home until we all crashed. Good times.

This Sunday all the YSA Advisers in the stake and the Branch Missionaries are going on a "Find Hunt" to track down and visit or track all those who are less active and between the ages of 18-30. It is a considerable list so it will be a full on "door knocking" experience. I'm a little nervous but the branch missionaries enthusiasm "floweth over" and is contagious so I am sure it will be a good experience.

I had to run Olive in to the veterinarian this morning for her routine annual vaccinations, but the poor girl couldn't jump into the back of the suburban. With a lot of encouragement she tried and fell out. So sad. I had to pull the suburban onto the street so that the driveways descent would make the car floor lower before she would attempt it again and she was just plain stubborn at the vet's office. The vet had to come out into the waiting area and lift her onto the scale because she was utterly refusing. He was very kind and good with her. She's getting old and a little overweight so he suggested we change her diet a little bit and get her exercising more, to ease the strain on her joints, but not to let her off leash because the canals are full of giardia and the weeds are full of ticks. Of course there is no way to exercise her sufficiently if she's not off leash, so he suggested going to the giardia/tick safe park and playing daily games of catch. The only problem is that I have the only lab in existence who refuses to retrieve more than twice without pouting. The vet thought that was hilarious. So now we are left with the one "safe" option of exercising her on a bike--on a leash--which I am too scared to do and which Fred rarely has time to do. I'm an anxious pet owner and of course now have internal conflict. Mikayla told me to just keep running her off leash and be careful. Pets give me stress!

Lily and Sophie both received their Faith in God books in primary today. They have watched all of the other kids go through the program and they have been eager to get their hands on their own books for a few weeks now. They finally went and personally requested them and Lily immediately bore her testimony in public, for the first time that Sunday and Sophie passed off one of her FHE lessons last night. It is rewarding to see them so motivated and excited about setting and achieving these goals. The programs have been such incredible parental helps in teaching and guiding our children and I am so grateful for their inspired origin.

I experienced a sweet and personal tender mercy yesterday afternoon. Since high school I have had a particular gospel question that has just nagged at me and caused me quite a bit of internal distress. I have relied heavily on the prophets to answer all doctrinal questions and with enough study have almost always been rewarded with answers or at least the peaceful assurance that I don't need to worry about something--that it will all be sorted out in the end--except for this particular concern. I have always been emotionally tortured by the story of Kind David and his lifelong struggle to repent. I have cried over him many times and have taken sadly and hopelessly to heart the repeated statements by prophets about his salvation being lost. And yet, there has always been a seemingly opposing conflict as I have also read prophets, especially recently it seems, who are constantly telling us that other than sinning against the Holy Ghost there is no sin that the atonement can't cover. The latest example is Elder Hollands words in general conference, "... however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines." And yet Elder McConkie has taught that the atonement doesn't cover murder. So you see my internal struggles (or probably you don't because maybe most people understand the process more intricately that I do--but sometimes I make things harder than they have to be and so internal war is an often and excessive occurrence for me--Mikayla says it my blue/red personality that causes innate "fire and ice"). Anyway.......Sunday night I was pondering this same plaguing question and verbalized it to Fred. I wasn't really asking for an answer, just needing to say it out loud, and he didn't have answers. When I woke up this morning, the thought had completely left my head and I went about my daily routine. In the afternoon, I was waiting for a few minutes near a "decorative stack" of books in my bathroom, all of which I have read cover to cover, and randomly pulled the second book in a stack of 5 out and opened it up, randomly to the middle of the book and in front of me were the words, "It Is Possible to Sin Beyond Repentance". I was not consciously looking for anything, I was just literally filling a few minutes and I saw King David's name on the page and then a concise and detailed answer from President Joseph Fielding Smith. It wasn't necessarily the "comforting" answer that I have always hoped for, but it was a definite answer and for some reason--FINALLY, after all these years--received that calming assurance that Heavenly Father would make it all work out and that it wasn't necessary for me to carry that anymore. It wasn't a hard answer and I'm not sure why I had to wait so long to find it, but maybe I needed to experience enough of life to make it possible for a hard answer to bring me peace. I am just grateful that Heavenly Father is ALWAYS mindful of us. I KNOW that his hands are daily, hourly, even minute by minute, actively engaged in my life.

Quote of the Week:
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

From Elder Jordan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Elder Jordan
Date: Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 4:24 PM

Dear Family bloomers,

    I hope that you are having a wonderful week.  Today we had changes and Elder Palmer left, it has been such an awesome change with him, we got work done and had lots of goals and plans for the up comming change, so I was a little bit bummed when he changed out but I know that God knows best right.  My new companion is Elder Keil he is a little more reserved but super funny.  I am excited to work with him and see what we can learn and acomplish together.   In our change meeting today president talked about the parable of the ten virgins and changed it to the ten missionaries.  He talked about be faithful and strong and constantly saveing up oil in our hearts by doing that which was right, as a reminder he and sister laycock gave us small viles of oil which were pressed from olives in Jeruselem and it was consecrated in the Garden of Getsemani.  I am going to carry it around with me to remember.  

I am sorry this letter was so short my other one got erased so I had to parafrase.

But I love you all so so much, les amo a las estrellas y mas alla,

Elder ...

Dad my streets are Jorge Monckeberg with Grecia I live on the corner in apartments

A Gorgeous Easter Weekend

It is Middleton Unplugged this month, so life has been slightly different this past week--better! Our personal family rules have evolved over the years as we have seen what enhances our unity and what detracts, so we are allowing movie night on Fridays and made some exceptions for Easter, but for the most part the computers and Ipod's get turned off right after school and we spend our "entertainment" time in other ways. Lily and Sophie's teacher told their class that any night that they participate in "Unplugged" they get out of homework. Since we participate the entire month, the twins are excited; I'm concerned.=) We've had to come to some mother/daughter compromises (no matter what the teacher says) so that they don't flunk their spelling tests, and their reading levels don't suffer, but I do let them eliminate their "busy work", so they are happy--mostly. Last week the community events included a mother/daughter makeover night at one of the local spa's, which the twins adored, and the infamous YMCA night, which everyone enjoyed. There aren't any grand and exciting "events" planned for this week, but I so look forward to the serenity of radio-free days, happy kids playing outside, and quality family time. This month is always such a good tech withdrawal time for all of us. I think it helps us realign our priorities--especially during family hours.

Mikayla is home for 10 days for her Spring Break. Everyone just soaks in her company when she is here. She has transitioned to college so well--straight A's, except Spanish, which is giving her a little run for her money. She just got a job on campus driving people around in a 16 person mini-van. She'll start that as soon as she goes back and she's excited to have some financial resources.=) It will entail a lot of waiting-for-people time so she'll also be able to study on the job, which is perfect. We've all been praying for her and I know this is a blessing.

We enjoyed a beautiful Easter day--gorgeous weather! We were able to have our traditional Easter dinner out on the lawn and take our first official family Sunday walk, with Eden practicing her photography skills, which is what she has decided to study in college. This morning the weather was back down to 36 degrees, but we'll take whatever bits of sun that we can get. I'm hoping those bits become more lengthy soon, because the kids (minus Mikayla) are out of school on the 16th, due to the schools being out of money. Crazy! We're all ready to be done. I think we were all ready at Spring Break!

One of Jordan's best friends, who just returned from his mission, came over for FHE last night. It was fun to hear all about his mission experiences and just hang out like old times. These kids get into your heart and no matter where they go--or for however long--they aget embedded for keeps. It was an enjoyable evening and we had to force the younger kids into bed, while he was still visiting. They were only content when Luke and Mikayla consented to play them guitar lullabies until they fell asleep. Good times.

Quote of the week: 

“The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.” ― Barbara Kingsolver

Saturday Easter Egg Hunt

 

 

Dividing the Spoils

Easter Morning Basket

Easter Morning Breakfast

Easter Morning Clothing

Sun in Our Eyes--Feeling New Like Spring

Traditional Easter Picnic--Weather Permitting Roasted Fish and Asparagus, Pilot Bread, Olives, Grapes, Tamarind Pods, Broken Cheese, Nuts, Grape Juice--and Sun!

Pretty in Pink

The only pretty spot in our yard--but it makes me happy.

First Sunday Family Walk of the Season

Sisters

Sneaking a Peek

Picking Grass for the Horses

Feeding the Horses--Grass and Jellybeans=)

Proof of Spring

Abe Being "Gangsta"

Coming Back Home--Fred's Ingenious Carrying Tool

From Elder Jordan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Elder Jordan
Date: Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 5:43 PM

Dear Bloomin Bloomers,
   This week was so great, obviously because of conference, Oh man it seems like it passes so fast as the years go on the anticipation come and then its gone without you even noticing.  I loved it though It is always a great learning experience for me and good battery booster.  I watched it live in english except for two talks we went into the chaple to watch in spanish because it was super hot and stuffy in the room that we were in.  The only reason I like it better in english is because I can hear there voice and there is feeling. I thought it was funny when Elder Christofferson said that big word and then was like, transilate that... ha ha ha poor translators.  I think the thing I learned most is that to be happy I need to work hard and have a good focus on my family,  I wrote down a lot of stuff that they talked about in raising children,  wow thats a huge responsibility that I am a little scared for.  Thank you mom and dad for being such good teachers and examples to us. 
   So spring break was the classic rain hu,  maybe we can move down here there was nothing but sun and heat the whole time.  Sometimes Elder Palmer talk about what we are going to do after the mission.  So much to do so little time.  Dad I was thinking, would I get a discount if I went to steven henegers?  Just brainstorming here.  I could to the track of that to see if medicine and all that is what I really want to do with my life.  But if not I would always have something be the back up if other plans fell through, or for work during college, cuz I don´t got no money. anyway just to get that out there but I still have plenty of time.
   We have been working with a young boy that will be baptised on friday, he has a super short attention span and by short I mean shor...hey wow this computer screen is super bright... if you know what I mean.  He is a super smart kid just needs some focusing.  We are excited for him though, I hope it is a good experience for him, this past lesson Elder Palmer had some good Ideas to get him interactive and involved so I think he liked it much more.  Other than that we have a few more investigators that are progressing slowly but surely.  The field is white and we are ready to harvest.
I love you all heaps and heaps, have a bodacious week.
Love
Elder...

A Bit of Earth

I've been thinking about Mary and Martha today. So many lessons have been taught from their brief experience recorded in the scriptures and most often Mary's example is the one whose choice was considered best among both good choices, but I was pondering how incredibly I love conference and the powerful, encircling Spirit that comes when sitting at the feet of the apostles and how easy it would be to just sit there indefinitely and steep in that atmosphere and how sometimes I just want to do that continuously. But after emulating Mary, the necessity to emulate Martha always comes and sometimes, for some people--for me--that is the more difficult expression of discipleship. The whole grace without works doctrine seems to invariably trip me up. "Just do it!" is an arduous discipline
.
Most Personally Piercing Conference Thoughts
*Before I hear the words, "well done" from my Heavenly Father, I hope to hear them from my mortal father. (Boyd K. Packer)
*Teach children to understand the doctrines in the context of what they are experiencing in the very
   moment...these are spontaneous and cannot be planned. (Cheryl A. Esplin)
*It is possible to be active in the church and inactive in the gospel. (Donald L Hallstrom)
*Give me this mountain!...The way to rise above trials is to believe that there is a balm in Gilead. (Henry B. Eyring)
 *Why should you be jealous because I choose to be kind?...Envy is equivalent to downing a quart of pickle
   juice anytime anyone is blessed around us. (Jeffrey R. Holland)
*Let us not live our lives in regret of what we did or did not do. (Robert D. Hales)
*Live to lift the burden of others (David S. Baxter)
*You can't be right by doing wrong, you can't be wrong by doing right (Ulisses Soares)
*Have the courage to refrain from judging others. (Quenton L. Cook)
*Be cautious with humor. A good sense of humor helps revelation, loud laughter will not. (Richard G. Scott)
*How can we deny for others the grace we so desperately desire for ourselves. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf)
*When you come upon a drowning person would you ask if you could help, or would it be better to just jump in. Asking if you can help, is no help at all. (Ronald A Rasband)
*It is your privilege to go into homes and exchange robes for rags. (Julie B. Beck)
*Come back, come up, come home, come to me. (Pres. Monson)
*Family and values are the cause--everything else is effect...Put everything you do outside of the home in subjection to everything you do in it. (M. Russel Ballard)
*We lose any power or authority we may have from God when we choose to control others...Wise parents prepare their children to get along without them..."Oh look who is here, and are we glad, and isn't she beautiful." (Larry Y. Wilson)
*Share the gospel in natural and normal ways. (David F. Evans)
*Those unanchored by the sacred will find themselves morally adrift on a secular sea. (Paul B. Pieper)
*What thinks Christ of Me? (Neil L. Andersen)
*May we be better than we were two days ago, when this conference began. (Pres. Monson)

Spring Break
Of course it rained...and rained...and rained, but we anticipated that and enjoyed each others company reading, playing games, (lots of Twister) shopping for Eden's Prom, watching movies, rollerblading with the extended family (thank you Ben and Renee for your generosity and for your music=), participating in cousin sleepovers (thank you Renee and Lori for being such incredible hostesses to my children) and then magically, in between Saturday sessions of conference the sun came out and warmed to 70 degrees and we were ecstatic to get our hands in the earth weeding and pruning. By the next session it was gone, but it was a gloriously tender mercy and made us so grateful for Spring. I am not ready for school to start up again. I do not look forward to those quiet days by myself, but I am looking forward to Easter and Mikayla coming home and the hope of more sunshine, so moving forward is good.

Life Lessons
Temporally, I don't consider myself to be overly high maintenance (of course probably no one considers themselves that way). If given a choice, I prefer security to "things" and because it is a choice I am  generally content with the tangible things that I have--sometimes when Fred goes through my closet, he thinks I am too content,=) but for the past few months my farm girl yearnings have become intense. "Just for fun"--I've told myself--Fred and I have been driving around Middleton "just dreaming" about land. Friday, we were driving down this quiet little road with unkempt houses and tiny properties everywhere, getting closer and closer to the river and suddenly there was the prettiest, green, rolling acres--over 25 of them--with a for sale sign right out front. It was the first time that the dream had materialized visibly and when it was staring me down I couldn't help but start putting dreams into facts and figures and of course those figures revealed that the dream was actually a fantasy. and with that realization of reality came a deep disappointment and longing for me and somewhere along the way discontentment and envy starting seeping in to my heart. We have these goals and plans in place that seem painfully plodding. They are goals and plans that we have chosen, that fit within our circumstances but sometimes I get tired of always being sensible..of always waiting, and when I get tired I start looking around me with distorted eyes, seeming to be the only one with unfulfilled hopes and wishes. I had such trouble sleeping Friday night, but Saturday afternoon, Elder Holland, who I am convinced writes his talks specifically for me, forcefully reminded me where "fairness" and envy fit in the grand scheme of things. I am so grateful that those feelings were addressed and nipped before they could fester longer than a day. Isn't it amazing how Heavenly Father knows counsel that we will need and prepares the way for us to receive it before we even have a problem? I love that. It makes me feel safe and nurtured. I know, deep down, that no tangible things can determine joy or peace or even contentment--that has to come from inside and I have some work to do there while I am methodically working toward material comforts that are merely wants. I do know that my family is richly blessed, and that even so, my Heavenly Father cares about my hopes and dreams--even if they are only wants--and maybe--one day--if I am very careful, wise, patient, and generous, I may earn my farm girl dreams and " a bit of earth", "by the sweat of [our] brows", but I will wait and be joyful now.

Quote of the week
"Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is." --Maxim Gorky

Twister--not pretty--especially when you play with a family of cheaters!

Extended Family Fun at the Nampa Rollerdrome

Roller Blade Limbo

Crack the Whip

Nurturing the Crack the Whip Crash Victim

Older Girls Sleepover

Conference Break

The suave way to "lick" the bowl