Mija....

 

 Dear Precious Mija...(my daughter)...

You are 22 years old today! 

 I know I always say the same thing when you and your brothers birthdays roll around...

"where has the time gone??" 

I am amazed by you! You have the strength and wisdom of an old soul...

I guess that is really what you are. You have been and continue to be a great comfort to me...

Thank you for that! You are fiercely loyal to those you love. You seek to comfort anyone or 

anything you see that may be suffering. You defend the underdog. 

 You don't speak badly of anyone, and hate it if you hear others gossip. 

 I love that about you. You try your best to make correct choices. 

 You are constantly setting goals and want to achieve great things. 

You have a deep and strong commitment to Jesus Christ. 

 I think this is one of your greatest traits, one you inherited from your Dad.

 

You have had some great learning experience these past couple of years. 

Some of those experience have been hard to understand. 

 But you push forward with great faith...faith that they will all work for you good. 

I have to admit that I have spent many nights, and days, in prayer for you, 

pleading with Heavenly Father to support you through these experiences that are meant 

to be yours, and He has done just that. You are stronger than you have ever been 

and I know that you will continue to get stronger. I have faith in you!

   

 You light up a room with your smile and your sense 

of humor keeps us laughing! You are a light in our family! 

Oh how I love you My Girl!! 

Happy Birthday to you!!

Happy Birthday Rooster!

My Sweet Rooster... Happy Birthday!!! 

 I can't believe that you are 19 years old! I am so grateful for you. 

 I am so grateful that you are my son. What a blessing you are to me and to your family. 

 You are our darling baby boy and baby brother. 

These are the things that I want to remember about you right now. 

You are nearly as tall as your Dad! Who thought that would ever happen ;) 

And you are still growing. I am not sure where this will end...but you are the tallest of your siblings. 

 I know that makes you really happy! You have the most fantastic hair. 

 It is curly and you like wearing it a little long... 

I think we can blame Grandma Christine for that...she has never wanted us to 

cut your beautiful locks. You have a smile that lights up a room. 

 The twinkle in your eyes makes everyone around you happy. 

You have a special gift with people. 

 That you inherited from both of your grandfathers,

 but you are very much like your Grandpa Charles. 

 The fact that you carry his name is a special thing. 

 He had a great affection for you and you did for him.

 I know his death has been very hard on you. 

 He loved you very much.

   

 You are a great friend to everyone. You are loyal. 

 You are kind and thoughtful. 

You have a tender heart and when those you love hurt...you hurt too. 

This is one of your great traits. 

You are a great brother to your sister and brother. 

They love you with all their hearts.

   

 You love a good steak. 

 Grilled artichokes are another favorite of yours. 

Pasta, Chinese food, and anything sweet...these are all things that you love. 

Your deep voice and sweet laugh keep us all smiling.

You are a great photographer!

Every picture you take is a masterpiece! 

You have a great sense of humor and love the farms. 

  Bubba...you are loved. 

 So very very loved. I hope you will never, ever forget that! 

 Happy Birthday My Boy! 

Your Momma loves you!!

A Fresh Start...

This Beauty returned to school this semester. 

After spending 9 months at home, healing from her car accident...she took a leap of faith

 and made a fresh start in her life. She is in a new town, a new school, a new apartment 

with new friends...and a new job. Our home is quiet and we miss her madly...

but we are so very, very proud of her, her strength and determination to get her life 

back. I was visiting with one of her doctors as she was preparing to return to school 

and the Dr. said, "I am so proud of Precious...she has fought a hard fight to get her health back... 

she has earned it!" That is a true statement. She really did fight hard. 

Some days it seemed like things would never be the same for her...

and truthfully in many ways that's ok. She knows more about herself now and how 

strong she really is. She knows her limits and respects them. 

 She knows that it is her choice, 

who she invites into her life and who she does not. 

She loves greater than she ever has...

she is wise, she is beautiful!

We are so grateful that she is where she is in her life...she inspires us!

 

We moved PreSh up to Utah in January.

 It was so fun to get her set up in a new apartment! 

 She is so creative and had carefully planned how she wanted her room to look. 

 The best part was to see how happy she was and how ready 

she was to start this next phase of her life.

 

The Farmer made a plate for her with each member of the family represented... 

Something she could keep in her room to make her smile.

 

Saying good-bye was really hard. 

 I took this picture through lots of tears. 

The look for contentment in her face made it a little easier for us to drive away...leaving her behind. 

I love the way these two love each other! It warms my heart.

 She thinks he walks on water (and he does!) 

and he thinks she is amazing and wonderful...(and she is). 

 She also knows that he would protect her and defend her. 

 There is nothing quite like the love of a Father.

   

 A little reminder for her room... She's got this! 

 Amazing things are in her future! 

Oh how we love our Precious!!

Letting Go....

 

 On the 28th of November we joined The Boy and his beautiful fiance

 at the Draper Utah Temple. It was a very special day full of tender mercies. 

 It was a cold and snowy day...

it was perfect!

 

Aunt Cedar drove from Idaho to be with us which made the day extra special! 

 We didn't expect to know anyone in the temple that day, 

but it turned out that some very special people "just happened" to be 

there when they had not idea that we would be there.

 I love it when those blessings happen.

I sent the photo of us in front of this beautiful temple to our family that was not

able to be with us that day.  One of my dear sister's-in-law replied with this...

"I can't help but notice how tightly you are holding on to your boy's arm...you are just

about to let him go...I am guessing these are very tender, bitter sweet moments."

And she was very observant!  I guess I really didn't know how tight I was holding 

on to him.  Although as thrilled as we are, it is a change.  

A change for our little family...our clan.  

It's time for that Boy of ours to begin his new life with his bride,

He is ready...she is ready...

Together they will be great!

We are grateful...We are blessed.

21

Dear Precious,
 You are 21! Where did the time go?
It seems like it was just yesterday that you were a newborn...a huge fat baby
amidst the tiny preemie babies in the NICU section of the hospital.  Ten days later you were in the
arms of your big brother who could only mutter the words "Babe...Babe..." over and over
again as he patted you so tenderly.  And now you are  a beautiful young woman with so many
hopes and dreams.  You have had a rough year.  You have had so many challenges that you never
thought would be yours, and you have navigated through them with such grace and strength. You
have amazed your parents with your goodness and with your desire to be your best.  Thank you for
blessing our family.  Thank you for blessing your parents...For lending your strength to us when we have needed it...
For loving your brothers and being their biggest fans.
Thank you for helping us laugh and laugh and laugh!
Thank you for being you!
We are blessed that you are our daughter.
Heavenly Father know you PreSh...he knows the desires of your heart...
and He will bless you with those desires....
This I know for sure!
Thank you for choosing to be our girl!
I love you madly!
SMOOCHIE!!

 

Grateful...

It was a beautiful weekend for our family. 

13 years ago The Rooster was only 5 years old and The Farmer was

called to serve in church leadership in our area. 

The Rooster is now 18...and 

The Farmer has finished with this assignment.

 

It has been a great 13 years...but it has also been a very difficult 13 years.

 The Darlings sacrificed the most I think. 

But we have been blessed. 

I am grateful that The Farmer will answer a call to serve God, 

no matter the location, or what may be required of him.

 

These great men spent the weekend in our home. 

 They taught us, and they loved us.

 It felt like we were old friends when the weekend was done. 

Our family is looking forward to seeing a little more of that Farmer of ours...

 I am grateful for the experience of the past 13 years...

and I am looking forward to the future.

   

I Don't Want To Forget...

 

 Last night I spent time with My Rooster decorating our Santa Tree and just talking. 

That boy LOVES Christmas and starts getting the Christmas spirit usually around 

the 1st of November. This year we have been working on a major renovation 

of our home and it really turned our lives upside down for a bit. All the while we 

knew that the holidays were quickly approaching and both he and I were wondering if

 we would be able to decorate our home for Christmas.

 It was stressing me out... and it was making him sad. 

 Well...it's done! 

 The construction site is cleaned up...although I am not sure I will EVER 

 get the dust out of my house! Our tress are set up and we have a constant fire in the 

fireplace. It has been so fun to get our home ready for this special season. 

 So last night...The Rooster and I finished decorating the Santa Tree.

 He carefully placed our ornaments that we have had for many years. 

 As we decorated we talked. We talked about things that are going 

on in our lives right now...school...firends...just plain stuff! 

 But is was great stuff. 

 The Rooster isn't a big talker...he's alot like The Farmer.

 They are quiet, but grounded and strong. 

 I loved my time with My Rooster last night...it made me happy!

   

 Around 8:30 our phone rang. 

 On the other end was a sweet cousin who just happens to live in Sis. Precious' mission.

 Sis. Precious does not live in her area but ended up being there for an 

evening to attend some meetings. The sister missionaries who live in our cousins ward, 

let her know that Sis. Precious would be there and so they planned to meet for dinner. 

 Cousin Karen took them to have Mexican food and she said that they talked and

 talked and talked. She said 

"...I wish so much that you could see Sis. Precious!... she is doing so well! 

 In fact she is literally glowing...she is so happy." 

She must have said that 4-5 time..."Oh how I wish you could see her."

 And so...I wept. That's what missionary moms do right?! 

 Sis. Precious has a new found and intense interest in family history. 

 She asked Cousin Karen everything she could to find more information about her

 heritage. Sis. Precious said that he always remembers what her Dad told 

her as she left for her mission..

."Remember who you are...and where you come from." 

 And for that reason she is hungry for more knowledge of her ancestors, 

so that she might understand more fully..."from where she comes."

 Cousin Karen and I talked more...I cried more ;)...and then she told me that she

 needed to go so she could pick up Sis. Precious and take her back to her area. 

 "Is there anything you want me to tell her ?" 

She asked...and I said with tears running down my face...

 "tell her that I love her with all of my heart and that I am so proud of her!!" 

And we said good-bye. Man do I miss that girl of mine! 

 But how grateful I am that she has chosen to serve this mission!

 

On another note...The Aggie Boy will be home in another week! YAY!!!

 I can't wait to have My Boys together for a few weeks!

 Let the Mothering begin!!! ;)

Thank You To The Little Yellow House...

The little house we rented in Utah this Summer was called The Yellow House. 

And it was true to its' name! 

 It was a darling little yellow house that became our home for a few wonderful weeks in July. 

 It was located in the perfect neighborhood, close to everything we needed, 

and it had everything we needed to live comfortably while away from our home. 

One morning, before Sis. Precious entered the MTC, The Farmer stated that 

this little yellow house would be a beloved site for us for a long time. Not only because 

of the rest and refuge it offered us, but because it was the spot we held tight to our Precious 

for a wonderful few days before she began her missionary journey. 

It's where we laughed together. 

It is where we shed tears together. 

 It is where we tried to solve the world's problems 

and it is where we packed up our girl and said good-bye for 18 months. 

 The Farmer was right!

   

 While staying in The Yellow House, we became friends with our sweet neighbors. 

 It was fun to visit with them. What we didn't really understand completely, 

was that they were watching us. They watched us come and watched us go. 

 The morning we headed to the MTC to drop off our Sis. Precious, 

they watched from their windows as we loaded her bags in our car. 

 They watched a tender good-bye in the front yard and they watched as we all climbed into our car 

and drove away. And when we returned to The Yellow House,

without Sis. Precious, 

they greeted us in the street to tell us that they watched the heartbreak from their homes;) 

 They also told us that they shed tears with us. 

 And how great that Sis. Precious will be as a missionary. 

 Oh how I needed that when we returned to The Yellow House.

 

The night before Sis. Precious big day, The Yellow House was a full of fun...laughs...tears...friends...advice...and good-byes. 

To have The Darlings together was a dream for me.

   

 This made me cry...in fact...it is making me cry now!

Thank you to The Little Yellow House in Provo Utah, for allowing

us a very special few days within your walls!

p.s. the fringed couch make it pretty special too! ;)

 

On My Mind...

 I find myself in quiet thought a lot these days. There is so much on my mind.
Mostly it is my children. They are all in such great times of their lives.
One is in the winding up of High School...two beginning or continuing college life...
one returning from a mission...two preparing for a missions with one leaving
later this year and the second next year.
All good things.
 I wonder...ALOT...if I did enough for them, teaching them.
 Do they have the moral strength to make hard decisions,
 and will they do it when tough moments come.
 Have I lived my own life in such a way that they will know, for a certainty,
what I stand for and what I believe with all my heart. I think about the issues that we all face today, especially this very moment, the great attack that it taking place on the family.
 Did I teach those children of mine to stand for what is right but at the same time
 exercising great empathy and charity to those around them?
I so appreciate those who have the courage to publicly stand in defense of the Gospel and it's principles. I am grateful for those who do not take their questions or discontent into public forums, but have the wisdom to work it out privately with those who can help guide them through inspiration and prayer. I don't understand why a person would fight against something
 that is fundamentally not within their belief system.
Why fight?
Quietly walk away rather than fight on public forums. Simple.
I don't blog to become involved in debates and arguments about fundamental beliefs of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I gladly follow our prophet,
Thomas S. Monson, and the other leaders who have been called of God to lead His church.
 I blog to record the lives of our family. But I will "Stand True" to what I know to be truth,
 without passing judgment or criticism on those who choose to believe differently than I do.

 

Last week one of The Darlings was faced with a moral dilemma.
Without much help from the parents...this child took action to correct a pretty major
problem that they had been exposed to. It wasn't an easy process,
and truthfully it could have really created some significant repercussions.
But regardless that child was willing to stand for correct principles. During the process of this experience, a person who was also involved in trying to correct the situation,
commented to one of The Darlings, that they had an exceptional Moral Compass.
That they understood clearly between right and wrong.
That is a happy parenting moment for a Mother.
 I am grateful that the Moral Compass of this child led them through
a very hard situation,which, thankfully resolved well.
Do I believe that The Darlings will never make a mistake...
No, I do not.
Do I believe that they have never made mistakes...
Oh...I know better than that!
Typically parents don't need the opinions and analysis of everyone around them,
when it comes to their kids.  It is a rare case that the parents actually don't know
what is happening with their kids.  They know.
But what I do know for sure,and what saddens me, is that we are surrounded by people
who wait for mistakes to happen so they can gossip, criticize, and demoralize...
which can weaken when the next challenge comes along. And often does.
Have I too been guilty of this in my own life...yes I have.
But, the more I live, the more compassion I feel for those who have momentarily lost their way,
or who have made a mis-step. I see all too often the pain that is carried by those who
 make mistakes. And even more often I see the sadness that is carried by parents
who suffer when their children are suffering.
I don't want to add to their pain.
I guess you have to live a little and raise a few kids to learn that lesson.
Most often it seems to be people who haven't yet raised their children who are
the most critical.  Those who have "been there...and done that" are kind and gentle.
 I do wish our communities would exercise a bit more kindness,
 and alot less judgment when people are struggling.

 

Last night The Farmer taught our Family Home Evening.
He taught The Rooster and I about Standing In Holy Places.
 He teaches us, very often, through the experiences he has. It was a great lesson.
 I hope that The Rooster will remember the words of The Farmer.
 The Farmer also taught him about how the power of the Priesthood is directly related to the worthiness of the Priesthood holder. The two messages went hand in hand,
 and made for a great night of spiritual learning in our home.
 I am grateful for that.

I am Smitten!!!

An impromptu photo shoot rendered some pretty great photos of The Darlings!
What I love most is you can see the personalities of each one!
You can see that some one is really creative...one does NOT like to take pictures...
and one REALLY likes to take pictures! I love them all, and the combo made for some
 great laughs and some even greater pictures that I love!!
*all pictures were taken with PreShie's cel. phone ...can you believe it??!!