Summer days...

Well, summer has finally set in here...the days are up to anywhere from 110F to 115F! Let's just say that in the afternoon, we don't do much outside :). But, the boys have found some things to do, other than jumping off the roof into the pool (which they have already done and got caught!). One thing they are trying to do is build a go-cart that is motorized. They have BIG plans for this thing and are determined that it will work! Here are a couple pictures of Alec and Calvin working on it...

Here they are extending it so that they can mount a motor onto it. I asked them if they were putting it in between their legs and they looked at me like I was stupid...I guess, I didn't get what they were doing (not unusual!). Then after they worked on this for awhile...Alec asked if we were going anywhere and I said, "I was thinking of taking you to get your haircut" and he said, "I'm going to take care of it right now". Again, not understanding what he meant, Dallen soon came in and said "Alec is buzzing his head" and this is what I found...(notice Calvin watching in the bathtub :).

Needless to say, he saved me $15! Thanks, Alec! Another day, we went to Scott's sister's house, Heidi's, and hung out because her girls were heading to Girls Camp and they really wanted to hang out with Alec and Calvin, so we went up there. After awhile, I couldn't find Dallen...and then I heard him outside with his cousin, Jeremy. They both had a hose and were having a water fight. They were having so much fun, and Cinder (the dog), was trying to get in on the action. I love those moments for kids.

On Thursday we officially sold our 12-passenger van. It's been a great car, but we needed money out of it and it wasn't very city friendly because a round trip to any of Scott's families' houses costs $25 or so in that thing! I had been searching for minivans over the past few day, knowing the van was leaving, and just frustrated because we could only afford so much to spend on a car, yet the ones we could afford all had 150,000 to 185,000 miles already on them. So, once again...I was on my knees asking for the Lord's help. I just couldn't do this on my own. So, the guy who bought our van came and got it on Thursday and Friday morning I was on the computer looking for vans to buy. One popped up that was in our price range and only 116,000 miles on it. That may seem like a lot, but compared to what we were looking at, this was a gift! So, I asked Scott if he could take a long lunch break and go look at a couple of vans with me. Well, none of the other van owners called me back, except for this one. So, we drove out to literally the middle of nowhere and looked at this van. There are some minor things that are wrong...like the power sliding door doesn't power slide...but it opens, and to be honest...my kids probably would have broken it soon, anyway :) and there is a tail light out, but seriously, these things are nothing to me. So we drove the van, talked to the lady and asked her to lower it because of these small problems and she said yes, and we got it for the price we felt good about. Here is a picture of it...

We are happy with it and SO grateful. The boys fit pretty good and they'll get used to it. It will be interesting going on trips, though...loading stuff in there might be a little tight :). Oh well...it will be an adventure!

Also, this week, Ashton went on a Trek with his cousin, Megan. He said he had a great time and that his favorite part was the testimony meeting, where he felt the need to bare his testimony. That is huge for Ashton and I am sure a great experience. Calvin got to go on a kayaking river trip. They were going to make it a campout, but when it is 90F at night, it doesn't make it for a good night to camp out under the stars...especially with the river so close! So, they went down part of the river the first day and then the next day, they got up really early and went down the rest of the river. They had a really good time. There were four leaders and four boys. So, while Calvin and Ashton were gone, Alec and Dallen and I had to find something to do :). We went and saw Kung Fu Panda 2. It was cute, and totally set up for a third movie.

Scott is still loving his job and getting ready for next week when he starts a month of schooling where we will literally never see him. He will be coming home at 10:30 pm for half the week. I just hope he will be able to get all his homework done! I am just grateful it will only be for a month. We have been registering the boys for their schools, getting shots, etc. It's almost that time again! Well, this week is busy...I am tired of the kids sitting around, so we are going to go explore the city! Hope your summer is going good. If anyone has any ideas for TEENAGERS, I am all ears. I miss the little kids...they are so much easier to entertain. The teens just are lumps on a log to anything I suggest. We are taking a fieldtrip to the mall. That perked them up...and they are boys! I can only imagine if I had girls :).

Amist the storm...

Sorry...I don't have pictures this time...it's all writing (journaling)...
These past eight months or so have been some of the most challenging to me personally. Sometimes I wonder if these trials aren't just for me. Scott seems to be handling them better than me (which irritates me...I'm competitive!). But, at the same time, I am grateful because I truly can see the Lords hand in all of this...even though sometimes while in the mist, it's hard to see it, I know the Lord is there.
I was thinking this past week of the last eight months of Scott leaving Sunwest and that whole thing, Scott going back to school and not working for 7 months, how Scott chose Mortuary Science (of all things) and how it has all fallen into place for him, losing our house (someone is doing a short sale for $150,000...half of what we paid to build it! The lot was $120,000 when we bought it!), facing the fact of maybe having to file bankruptcy...some serious financial strains, yet amid it all, there has been constant peace and serious miracles along the way. I don't think I have ever had to use faith like I have this time around. This time around, there is literally nothing I can do. It is all about communicating with my Heavenly Father and staying close to Him so that I can feel Him near and know what would be best for us. I still go here and there, doing my best, but most of the time, my feelings are of "just have patience", something I definitely need to learn!
The scripture in Helaman 5:12 has truly felt like I have been living it and so grateful for the Gospel because there were days that I felt like I couldn't/can't get up and do this another day. But then I remember the days I truly felt the Lord's help and it would give me the strength to do another day. Don't get me wrong...I don't have it figured out or am doing great...I just have been in the midst of the storm and have felt the calm reassurance that everything is going to work out.
So, the reasons my thoughts have gone this way this week is because Scott and I finally had the big talk about finances we have both been dreading...knowing that we have no money, the job pays nothing and I don't know what to do about working because right now I would have to sacrifice my children for money and I can't do that. So, we felt that we should weigh all of our options and then take it to the Lord...really, that's all we could do because we seriously cannot do this without Him. Anyway, we felt that it was time to sell the van and buy something that would save us money in gas and would also allow us to have cash in our account. We had tried to sell it in St. George, thinking that we would have an easy opportunity to sell it there. Scott got lots of calls, but nothing. Then as we were packing up the moving truck, we realized that we needed to pack up the van as well. We packed it FULL! The Lord knew that we needed the van and a minivan wouldn't have done the job. I was very grateful that He helped us realize this. So, Scott put the van on Craigslist this week and it sold the next night (we even had the check engine light come on that day and when I decided we had better have it checked, it turned out to be a loose gas cap...little blessings!). We still have it for the time being, because we had to send a request to Utah for a duplicate title, but know everything is fine. We are sad to see the van go. It's been a great car, but are so grateful that we are able to sell it so that we could pay for our needs...a small sacrifice for a big blessing.
Then the next day, Scott was trying to figure out his July and Fall school schedule and found out that his Biology class that he took at Dixie State didn't count and that he has to take this other Biology class, but they don't offer it in the Fall, like he thought. So, he digs a little more and found that there was ONE spot left in this class (which he took) and it is at the only time of the day that he could afford to go. It will be a sacrifice for us because he will have to be gone Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights until 10:00 pm and the Thursdays he will be gone until 7:00 pm. But, another small sacrifice for a big blessing. It has been like this the whole time during the past eight months. Yes we have had to make sacrifices, but when we are willing to do the hard thing of sacrifice, then we are able to have and most importantly, see the blessings. It's been incredible.
The boys continue to do well. Ashton had his first campout this weekend. They hiked in about 2 miles and Ashton came home sore! But, he has already found more friends than we could ever wish for him! Calvin was getting ready to go to Young Men's on Wednesday and there was someone that was going to pick him up on his way to someone's house to do kiyaking at their pool. They were late and so I was encouraging him to call someone in his group to see where it was. He had determined not to go. So, I silently said a prayer to please let someone come and get him and about 5 minutes later, someone showed up and got him. Alec went and did baptisms at the temple with about 6 other youth (boys and girls) and then they went and played games and swam and ate. Something Alec NEVER did when we lived in St. George. I was shocked when he wasn't home until 10, but grateful that he was out and having fun. We have felt so blessed that the Lord chose to put us here for the boys. We could have gone anywhere, but I feel so much love from the Lord that he would put us here.
This storm is not over...but I KNOW that we will be okay and that we will make it through. I don't know how, but really it doesn't matter. I just need to make sure I am keeping myself in tune with my Heavenly Father so that when He gives me His "Fatherly advice" I can accept and trust that it will be the best path for us. It has been so far.
Hope you all are having a great Father's day. I am grateful for Scott and he seriously is a great father. I am grateful for my father, as well. He has helped shape me into the person I am. I am grateful for my father-in-law as well. He has helped shape Scott into the father he is. And, as said before, I am grateful for my Heavenly Father, for shaping and refining me into this person I am becoming (as amazingly stated in Elder Christofferson's conference talk this past April).

Things I've Noticed this week...

There are a few things I have noticed about life as well as living here in Mesa. First, even though it gets really hot here, it is really pretty here. We have lived in Phoenix before, but where we are in Mesa (North East corner) is really pretty. There is so much wildlife around us. There are birds everywhere...quail that run around the neighborhood as well as other birds. There are geckos everywhere, too! Here is a picture of Dallen after church today, catching six while he was trying to obey and change out of his church clothes! The kids found a "blind snake" in the pool today (that was exciting). It was really little and almost looks like an earthworm, but squirms a little faster :). This is a boys playground! It has been good for our boys.

I have noticed that we REALLY like having a pool again. Even the dogs like it. Today, Shep was throwing his ball into the pool, jumping in to get it, just to do it all over again. Now, that was funny to watch. Poor dog has to play catch with himself because no one will go out there to play with him ;) The boys are constantly in it and play so well with each other while they are out there.

I have noticed that I miss having a calling. I realized today that one thing I miss about having a church calling is that when you have a calling you are asked to think of others and about Christ a little more than if you don't have a calling. I miss that connection with God and others. I have been working hard to learn people's names!
I have noticed that this new ward already feels like home because SO many people look like people we already know. Today, we were waiting for Sacrament Meeting to start and Dallen leans over and said "Mom, that looks like Brother Webster from our old ward". Sure enough, it does and then we learn his real name (it's not Brother Webster) and people are easier to remember because we feel like we already know them. Our Bishop reminds us of Bishop Seamons and Ashton's Scout leader looks like a more outgoing John Stucki! Our Gospel Doctrine teacher looks and talks like our Dentist and even has the same first name and who also is a Dentist! It's just been crazy. Then today, I learned that I know someone in our ward that I literally haven't seen for 20 years! We met her husband and really liked him (he brought us homemade salsa that he made...YUM!) and then we were looking on the ward directory and saw that his wife's name was Thelissa. I said, that's funny, I knew a Thelissa my Freshman year at BYU. I said, "wouldn't that be funny if that was the same Thelissa?". After the meeting I went to check it out, and sure enough it was the same Thelissa!!! She was roommates with my cousin, Kim and she and Kim and Emmaline seriously saved my sanity because I had been struggling at BYU and the second semester they let me follow them around and be with them. I really loved being around all of them. Anyway, here we are again 20 years later!
I have also noticed that it is not a coinsidence that we had to move here at the end of May. Last Sunday, we were told that Alec and Calvin could go on the Pioneer Trek that this Stake was having this last week and we looked at Alec and Calvin and they said "no!" and we said "yes"...so they were good and only complained a little and went on this trek in a brand new stake and knew no one except for the few people they had met last Sunday. We geared them up as best we could and sent them on their way. Friday night, Calvin was sent home because he had become so dehydrated that he was throwing up really bad and they had to give him an I.V. and it still wasn't helping. I was worried that he was having a bad experience, but when he came home, he could't say enough good about the whole thing, and believe me, Calvin would complain if it wasn't good! He said it was way more spiritual than the trek that we did in Wyoming and that it was so hard. They literally would pull their carts and then camp for the night in a bed roll under the stars. Calvin said it was amazing to see all the stars like that. Then he said that they had experiences where the men were taken away for the military and actually given training to be in the military. Then they were raided by Indians, they had "Angels" help them (people dressed in white), they had to bury their babies along the way, and then saw them later dressed in white as if they had passed on. Then Alec came home the next day and expressed the same observation of the Trek. Alec made a comment...he said, "yeah, in Utah everyone acted like, well, like me, and here they all have testimonies and share their testimony". I thought that was really interesting. We laughed that he realized he acted different, but for him to notice that it was the norm there to act that way and it wasn't the norm here really impressed me and made me thankful that they were able to have that opportunity. They got to know kids and I am glad they will know someone when they start school this next year.

I have noticed that even though we really miss our friends and comfortable life in St. George, we have already grown spiritually in more ways in the 10 days that we have been here than we could have in the 10 days we would have been in St. George. We have all been stretched and tried and continue to learn more about ourselves and our relationship to our Heavenly Father every day.

Scott has worked one whole week, now, and I find his stories of his experiences to be interesting. I think the most interesting things I find is that something will happen at work and the Scott comes home and tells me that he never realized that he would have to be doing these things. It makes me laugh because you would think that if someone picks a profession, they at least know a little bit about what they would have to be doing or come in contact with, but most of it never occured to Scott and when the interesting parts of the job come up, he is almost taken back and it makes me laugh. He is still okay with it all and every day is different, which is really good for him. School is going good and we are just grateful for how it has all worked out.

Anyway, last but not least, I have noticed that Ashton makes the best brownies...which I am going to enjoy right now :). Recipe is on the side bar :)

We made it...

Wow! What an adventure we are having. Some good days and some bad. Half of us are doing okay with the move and the other half are still struggling (me included). Well, we would first like to thank, with a big THANK YOU, to all of our friends in St. George who helped us get to where we are. I keep reflecting on the past six years that we lived there and I am so grateful that we lived there and were able to rub shoulders with so many wonderful people. You are truly missed, but we know that it isn't the last time we will see or talk to you...you're our friends for goodness sake! Where to begin?!?...

We, over the month of May, slowly packed up our house, room by room. It was nice because EVERYTHING that we touched had a place to go...either the trash, to Deseret Industries, or with us. So, we are officially de-junked. Although, there are a couple things, since we have moved in, that we found we didn't need and so they will soon be finding another home, too :). Last we did our last Family Home Evening together, well, sort of...Alec and Derrek had a yearbook signing party that they wanted to go to and so they met up with us a little bit later. We went to a trampoline place called Antigravity, in St. George. It was really fun. Here is a picture that we took to document that...
School got out for the boys and so we were finishing up all that. It was just a crazy week. Then, we were down to less than a week until we were leaving and Alec still hadn't finished Drivers ED! I was kind of freaking out and I am sure I drove the teachers nuts. So, I called the teacher, emailed him and finally, Thursday he got back with me and Alec drove on Friday and got the paper...whew (so I thought!). Well, the DMV is closed on Friday and Monday was Memorial Day and so we literally would have to take Alec out to the DMV to get his license the morning we were heading to Mesa so that he could drive one of our cars down so we wouldn't have to tow it. It was crazy. Not to mention, that somehow on Saturday, I accidentally packed the paper we needed for him to take to the DMV and I had to contact the teacher again and beg him to get us another one. So, on Memorial Day at 8 pm, I was up at the high school getting the paper Alec needed so that he could get his license and drive down to Phoenix. Anyway, that was on top of all the packing and finalizing things with moving!
Finally, last week (last Saturday), we finished packing everything in the house, except the things we needed. Sunday came and we had our last supper together (Lasagna always brings them home :). I had to take a picture to document the occasion. It's not a very good picture, but it will do. Jenette, and her husband, Craig were down visiting/helping us with our packing up (mostly they entertained the kids while Scott and I worked, which was a HUGE help). Then Monday, we loaded up the truck, but before we did, the boys put out flags for Memorial Day (their last time doing it) and then a kind family (Cory and Scoop) fed us breakfast...my kids were so happy and said it was better than Ihop! It was so good...we had pancakes, fresh fruit, juice, milk, bacon, whip cream...the works! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Then, Cory was so nice and gave Dallen a haircut (much needed!). So, we were a little late to our own loading the truck party. By the time we got there (Scott was already there because he had to go get the truck), most of the stuff was already out of the house and in the truck or on the front lawn. It did not look like everything was going to fit. Then we started throwing things in the van...thank goodness we had a 12 passenger van/bus. It was literally pack and the only things we had to leave behind was our fridge and our lawn mower...both we really didn't need here because there was already a fridge and we don't have to do yard work (part of our rental agreement!). Then we had a fun pool party at my parents house and they made us dinner.
This is Dallen with cousins, Cade and Riley.

This is a picture of some of the cousins playing "Colored Shark" in the pool.
Calvin with his two best friends, Steven and Alex who came to swim, too.
We ended up spending the night at my parents because we had decided to pack our beds too. Then, we all drove over to the house on Tuesday morning (this last Tuesday) and Scott dropped us off and took Alec to get his license. I was again freaking out because someone had taken the folder I had left out that had his birth certificate and all that and packed it. It was buried in the truck and it would have been horrible trying to get it out, but luckily, they had it all on file from when he got his permit and all they needed was his SS#, which I had in my wallet...whew! So, they came back and Derrek came over to say good-bye. Seriously, I think it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do was to leave my child behind, especially when he is struggling with us being gone. It was his decision, though, and deep down I know it was the right one for him...it will just be hard and in a way, that is good too...we learn the most about ourselves in trials (I'm finding out a lot about myself right now :). So, we are finally on our way to Mesa. Scott was in the truck with Dallen and Ashton. Alec and Calvin drove in the small car with the two dogs. I was behind in the van with all the stuff that couldn't fit in the truck. It took us about 8 hours. We stopped twice. Once for gas and the other for gas and food (even though we only had an hour left...I was cranky and needed food! and it wasn't even good food...it was Jack in the Box!). The only mishap we had was in our stop in Vegas, Scott was pulling in to the gas station and had to pull around. Well, as he was pulling around, the tail end of the Uhaul clipped the front end of a car that was parked. It was a Mitsubishi Eclipse! He said he didn't even know he hit anything until he looked in his mirror and saw plastic flying in the air! Anyway, the Lady at the gas station said that the car had been parked there for over a week, so we had to leave our information and hopefully the person's car will get fixed...that's what insurance is for, right?!? So, we get to Mesa. Alec did really well driving. There were a couple scares where I had to call him and tell him to check his mirrors because he didn't look before he would move into the lane! Poor Calvin was about to have a heart attack a couple of times. Then we get here and it then occurs to me that I had totally forgotten to put Alec on our car insurance before I left! Whoops! All I have to say is that we had angels watching over us! Scott's sister, brother, and dad were here to help us unload and it didn't take too long. Scott's sister, Heidi, is superwoman...she practically had my whole kitchen put together the first night! She then came down the next day and helped put the rest together. By Thursday, the house was pretty much done and I collapsed. We didn't do much on Thursday. Friday we have pictures hung and it is a livable house. We just need to work on the garage and then we are set. We have a lot of boxes to get rid of :).

We have been adjusting slowly. Alec and Dallen are in heaven, though. We are just a mile or two from the Salt River and so Dallen and Alec have already gone fishing two or three times. Here is a picture of them in their fishing tubes floating down the river (for 4 hours! and they are the two dots in the middle of the water!) and a picture of Alec carrying his up. They have been having fun. Calvin is doing pretty good. I think it is hardest for him. He misses his friends. Ashton has always just gone with the flow and so for the most part he is doing good. We enjoyed church today. That is one of the best things about our Church...no matter where you go in the world, you are in a ward boundary and the same lessons are taught, same songs are sung, the only difference is the people that surround you, but I have come to believe that even they are the same...just look different! The ward was VERY friendly and there are lots of youth for the boys to get to know. It will be good for them. Alec and Calvin are jumping in (more like being pushed into) going on the Stake Trek here. It is this Thursday. They aren't too happy about it, but they realized that there is really nothing else for them to do, so why not? They keep trying to tell me that they are going to the Scout camps and stuff in St. George, but to be honest, I don't know how I would get them there. So, this will have to do until then. I will let you know how it goes for them next week...The dogs and kids like the pool. I think Angel like it especially. She is funny because when she paddles, she splashes, and then she tries to bite her splash. I need to record it because it's funny. Shep isn't as fond of the water, but once the kids pull him in, he likes to be there for a little while. We are just grateful we got here and are ready to start this new adventure (on most days ;). Scott started school already and starts work tomorrow. Hopefully that will all go well.

Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes. We miss St. George more than ever, but we know that this is where we are supposed to be right now in this time in our lives...(darn-it!).