Settled in...

I just saw that it's been 6 weeks since I posted!  First of all...Derrek received his mission call to COLUMBUS, OHIO!  He leaves September 19th, which is a huge blessing, considering other young men that we know who have received their calls are going 4 months later and Derrek will have only had to wait a month and a half.  And other awesome news...he'll be at the Missionary Training Center when my parents are there!  Have you ever known a missionary to get to be in the MTC with his grandparents?!?  Amazing and I can't wait to see that picture!  Derrek is ready to go.  Living here is driving him crazy.  The pace of life in Snowflake, AZ is SO much slower than in St. George and especially slower than Mesa.  I will admit that I have broken down a few times (okay, maybe more) because I feel like I have moved to a foreign country.  It isn't that foreign, though, really...I have just forgotten how it goes.  Oklahoma was a lot like it is here.  No one is in a hurry, everyone looks out for each other (or they gossip about them!), and there are just good, humble, people trying to do their best...what can be so bad about that?!?  The night Derrek moved here, we literally rolled into town, dropped off his stuff at the house, and took him to a rodeo.  That takes me to my next event...

Scott was in a rodeo!  It was fun to watch.  His boss, Jason, had signed them up for the "Calf dressing" competition.  They had to put a pair of bloomers on a calf.  It was a three-man team and Scott, Zach (a kid that worked at the Mortuary and is now on a mission to Nebraska), and Jason were the team for Silver Creek Mortuary.  It was really good advertising...especially because THEY WON!  Here's the video..
July 2012 - Pioneer Day Rodeo and other 010 from Amy Bowler on Vimeo.

Scott and Zach are the ones you see at the front of the arena.  Jason got lost with the rest of the crowd on the side and then comes running toward Zach and Scott just as they are finishing putting on the bloomers.  My favorite part of the video is seeing the calf in the yellow bloomers trotting across the screen at the end.  So funny!  It was fun to watch and they did all sorts of other fun competitions.  It was also fun because we knew some of the people participating.  Here is a picture of the three of them the next day showing their buckles off and the other picture is of the buckle.  Scott told me that at church a guy in our ward came up to him and said "yours is pretty nice, but I'll still take mine".  We found out that his was from a WORLD CHAMPION Bucking Brono.  His name is Craig Click and then we also found out that Cody Hancock, WORLD CHAMPION Bull Rider is also in our ward!  I've seen Cody ride in Vegas a couple of times.  Very weird that he is in our Ward!  I serve in the Primary with his wife.  She's great.  Scott is still proud of his buckle and so happy to give Silver Creek Mortuary a little more advertising.  Scott and Zach didn't think they had a chance because there were some real cowboys in the competition that handle calves all the time, but it came down to not being tricked by the announcer and seeing the calves coming out and Zach literally diving for the tail of the calf they caught.

I love going to the rodeos here (and other events for that matter).  I think it is because there is a huge sense of patriotism that seems lost, especially living in the Phoenix area.  Prayers are said at public events, the flag is pledged to, and there is a sense of gratefulness to be in this great country and for those who serve us to keep it free.  I am really glad my boys get to have a sense of that.  It seems rare these days with everyone trying to be "politically correct" and not offend those that don't believe in God.  I am grateful to be surrounded by others who have a sense of gratefulness to God (no matter what religion they belong to) and are thankful for this country and what it stands for.  Such a blessing.

Other news...we were able to go to a Steurer family reunion at Bear Lake, ID.  For one afternoon we were all able to be there.  We weren't sure everyone was going to be able to be there because my brother, Geoff, had to have surgery to have a mass removed (turned out to be infected stitches that didn't dissolve from a surgery 20 years ago!).  Andy was at Lacrosse camp, Chad had work meetings, Craig couldn't take very much time off, etc.  So, we were able to take pictures the afternoon everyone was here...


We did tons of fun things besides waterskiing.  We played a live version of angry birds, scavenger hunt, two birthdays, giant bubbles, lots of ipad (we counted at least 8 ipads at the cabin and at least 14 iphones! SAD!), games, pool, air hockey, and movies.  I was so grateful Scott had a week off from work, especially since he had just started at this job.  My parents really wanted everyone to come because it was our last hoorah before everyone starts going different directions.  My parents are headed to Rome, Italy for their mission, Derrek is leaving on his, and then my boys start graduating and moving on in the next couple of years.  It was good to be together.  Dallen also got to see a really good friend of his when we lived in St. George, Ashton Loosli.

  Ashton's family goes to Bear Lake every July and we were literally just a mile south of them in another cabin.  Saren was so nice to go and pick up Ashton from Scout camp early so that he and Dallen could spend a little time together.  There was a huge storm and they were out on the lake paddle-boarding and got swept out to the middle of the lake because of the wind...and they weren't wearing life jackets.  Poor Saren was freaking out, especially since Ashton knew they needed to have life jackets on.  Someone on a jet ski was nice and pulled them back to shore.  Whew!  Saren kept telling me, "not on my watch!".  It was scary.  But, they had fun and it was just like old times.  We miss them.  We also did family Olympics.  Here is our family flag that we made for it.  Actually the boys made the flag.  Scott and I were too tired and it was 10:30pm and the boys stayed up and worked on it...it turned out great!

Do you see the SADACAD?  Stands for "Scott, Amy, Derrek, Alec, Calvin, Ashton, Dallen"  The "S" and the "A" are in the torch.  Calvin said he worked the whole time on the flames.  They did great.  The kids said that one of their favorite things at Bear Lake was using Uncle Mike's helmet camera.  They loved being able to video their "run".  They also loved trying out grandpa's surfboard so they could try wake surfing.  I think, of the boys, Derrek was the only one that finally got the hang of it.  We got lots of sun and toward the end of the week we stayed inside more than we were outside.  My kids that would say they didn't need sunscreen were lathering on 50 by the end of the week!  It was a good time, and glad for those memories.

The boys started school on August 9th, just to be home on August 10th!  We started school on a Thursday and then this year the high school doesn't have school on Fridays unless you have below a "C" in any class, then you go and get help in that class on Fridays to get your grade up.  So, they started on Thursday, and were home on Friday.  Dallen has to go on Fridays, but only for 1/2 a day.  It's a crazy schedule.  No one could figure out why they didn't just start that next Monday.  In a way it was good because it got the jitters out and come Monday, they all knew where to go and what to do.  It was almost like Thursday was a trial run.  We just measured Calvin the other day because he was just sure he was taller than Scott...Scott is still 1/4" taller than Calvin!  That means Calvin is 6'4 1/2"...Scott is 6'4 3/4".  I am sure, though, that Calvin is not done growing.  Alec is a good 6'3" and Ashton is catching up fast.  He's taller than me and I'm 5'8".  Dallen is getting close to passing me up, too.  Alec is a Senior this year, Calvin is a Junior, Ashton is a Freshman, and Dallen is in 7th. They are doing well in adjusting.  Calvin had a breakdown once, but he still keeps going and tries to keep positive.  This is their third school in three years.  I can't imagine how hard that is.  I would hate it and probably not handle it as well as they have.  It helps that it is a small school and they already knew a few kids from church.  Calvin has already been asked if he does drugs (smokes weed) or drinks and I just told Calvin "see, it's like every other school!".  For some reason, he's the one that gets asked that.  Good thing he's a good kid and doesn't care about that stuff.

Alec is working at the Mortuary with Scott.  He works on Fridays and after school a couple days a week.  Calvin is still looking for a job and has been taking yard work jobs to earn some money.  Of course, he didn't realize that yard work here is much different than in Mesa or St. George...yard work consists of 2-3 acres of mowing and weeding!  He spent 8 hours (5 hours Dallen helped) at one house.  The couple he helped, the Rowleys, are a couple in our ward.  They are retired school teachers and you can tell.  They were very patient with the boys who didn't know how to use a hoe, and taught them some good skills.  Brother Rowley was a shop teacher and has some great woodworking pieces and showed his treasures to the boys.  Sister Rowley was a reading teacher and she is fiesty!  I love her to death.  She's great and whips the boys into shape real fast!

As you can see, we have obviously been able to move into the house in Taylor, thanks to my parents who actually own the house.  It is so nice to be able to put things in a place and not live out of a cooler for a fridge and boxes for cupboards (thank you mom and dad!).  We are really liking it here.  The boys especially love all the critters we seem to keep finding.  The boys have brought home 4 tarantulas (that I can remember), a couple snakes (one was lost in the house for a day...found this morning!), caterpillars...at least 40 or more hoping to see them cocoon and turn into butterflies, and bats!  Here is a picture of Calvin playing with one that came in the house...

It was almost as if we have been invading their space.  The house has been empty for a year and so it is to be expected that there have been some critters that call this home!  Dallen has caught MANY lizards and is so happy to explore...just hope the rattlesnakes stay away.  We have been told by several ward members that we need to get at least one "fixed" cat to keep the mice away so that the snakes stay away.  We were also warned that we shouldn't get too attached to the cat just in case the owls come and take it!  Circle of life around here!  Someone in our ward has kittens that have been raised outside and when I think we can get the thing fixed, we'll see if we can take one of hers.  We'll see...the more critters the better, I guess!

Just had to show a picture of our backyard!  We do have neighbors right next door.  They are nice and they have an Australian Shepherd, too...but we aren't supposed to interact with it because he's training it for something (I got my info from the kids).  But, every now and then Shep and their dog are able to converse at the fence :).

Scott got called as Young Men's president.  He is excited about serving with the youth.  It's good for the boys, too.  We have a really good group of kids.  They are all hard working and love to serve.  Their parents are the same.  I got called to be Primary Pianist.  Of all the callings, this one is hard for me.  I don't enjoy playing the piano.  I get stage fright and I am a perfectionist and it doesn't matter how much I practice, when it comes to performance time...I screw it up and can't do it perfect and get frustrated!  But, it humbles me and makes me work hard at getting better and for that I'm grateful.  Plus, I love the Primary songs and have them stuck in my head all the time (as well as my family, too!).  We are always humming Primary songs because I have to practice a lot and it's always in our heads...how can that be bad?

I think that is all for the past six weeks.  It rains every day here, which is good.  We have some wicked lightning and thunder.  It's freaked out the boys (especially Alec) a few times.  But, it passes quickly and life goes on.  We love having a temple close by and are grateful to be here.  I really haven't seen the boys this happy for a few years.  They are really taking to the small town.  Who would have thought?!?  The Lord knows :)

Snowflake, AZ!

First of all, I needed to post this, because I think he is so handsome! Derrek just cut all his hair off!  Whoot-woo is all I could say!   

Here is a picture of him a month ago and the other one is how he looks this week.  I guess he's really serious about sending in his mission papers :).  We are excited for him and know what a huge and scary step it is for him to take in his life.  He will not regret it, though, and will learn more about himself and the Lord through this experience. 

Okay, now onto Snowflake...

We moved, actually, to Show Low, AZ, which is about 20 minutes from Taylor/Snowflake.  We found a house, but it was to buy only, and my parents are so helpful because they are helping us to purchase it and we will rent from them, basically.  We are in a little house in Show Low for the time being and are grateful that we could move into this until we find what we need, especially since the rent is only $500 and it will help us get back on our feet.  When we moved in, all the utilities were shut off, and wouldn't be turned on until Monday (we moved there on a Saturday).  So, Scott's boss and is family (The Brubakers) took us into their home for a few days until it all worked out.  They have just been so amazing and kindred spirits.  There was absolutely nothing to rent in Taylor/Snowflake, but tons to buy. A lot of it, we found, was just junk, but we think we found a decent home that is well built.  We really hope it all works out because we have already started going to that ward.  It is actually in the ward of Scott's new boss.  I had a hard time with that, at first, because I didn't want to mix the two, but they are so friendly and we feel like we have known them for awhile and I am finding that there really is no way to escape always being around people in a small town :).  Every event and every thing that happens, everyone is there.  I forgot that is how it is in a small town, but I also forgot how much I love it.  After moving in, I had the pleasure of driving the rental truck back to Mesa.  We saved $200 by doing that.  I was so freaked out and then once I got on the road, I was almost embarrassed with myself on how much I freaked out.  I really didn't want to have to drive it, especially in the city, but by the time I got to Mesa, I was so comfortable with it, that I pulled it up to the pump at the gas station before turning it in.  I got to spend the day with Jennie and Heidi and so it made the trip totally worth all the stress!  

Scott LOVES his job.  He has had to learn some things that he hadn't learned from Bunker, but other than that, it is going really well.  He's working at Silver Creek Mortuary with Jason Brubaker.  There are others we have met through them and through the ward that have made us feel like we were long lost friends!  The kids even noticed how friendly and helpful people are around here.  If you  need something, a person will contact everyone he/she knows to help you get what you need.  I heard that the only animosity that goes on around here is whether or not you live in Taylor or Snowflake.  If you move to the other, supposedly you are a "traitor" which is funny to me because the kids all go to the same Junior High and High School.  

Alec and Calvin get asked EVERYWHERE we go, "Do you play football?".  It's almost becoming funny.  Alec is actually thinking about doing it and I am not sure about Calvin.  I really want him too because I think it would really be good for him, but I don't know.  Our family met the coach's father-in-law at one of the restaurants in town and he wanted to know if the boys played.  Then I was able to get the football coach's phone number from him and this last week I called the coach.  I keep hearing that this is not a normal football team and from talking with the coach, it seemed that, yes, they played football, but that it was more than that to them.  That's why I want Calvin to try it.  Anyway, who knows what will happen with that.  Tomorrow the boys were invited to come weight-train with them, so we'll see if they go.  

The boys are in heaven here.  They really love the slower pace and nature.  They have bought a pellet gun, for starters, and have been out every day trying it out.  We went to the 4th of July Rodeo (on the 30th of June!), and had a blast.  All the wards in Taylor are assigned to work food booths as service to the town.  Our ward was assigned to work the Navajo Taco Booth and our family signed up to do it from 5-7pm...probably the busiest time, but we got to meet a lot of people and had a great time doing it.  Scott kept saying, "that was really fun".  The boys all helped and had a good time doing it, too.  I felt that I was finally starting to feel like I belonged there.  I'm the one that's been struggling, but I think it's because I feel I can't settle yet because of all the house stuff.  I want this job to last forever and I have a hard time wanting to attach because it hurts to leave.  I'll work it out and I'm sure I will jump in, just like I always do.  It's just taking me a little longer this time.  Anyway, I played softball with the ward this week and was glad they called and asked if I was going to come and play.  It was fun.  We have all been able to go to the temple and love that you can go to any temple and have the same blessings and Spirit and guidance/comfort.  I love that I have kids that allow me to go and actually love it when I do.  

While at the Rodeo, we sat next to the Larson family (in our ward...we are loving their family).  They have lived here all their lives and are just great.  They have one son married, one on a mission, and then Katie (17), and Nick (13) who have befriended our kids (and four other kids, I can't remember their names!).  Katie asked Alec and Calvin over to their house for movie night after the rodeo.  I am so grateful for other kids that welcome my kids in.  They will never know or understand what a blessing they are.  So, Alec and Calvin went and had a great time.  Donna, Katie's mom, told me today, "I asked Katie what she thinks about the Bowler boys and if they are good boys and she said "Mom, they are good boys and fun to be around"".  I just thought that was great and a compliment.  Anyway, the story I wanted to get to is that on the way home, Alec hit a rabbit and what did he do?!?!?  He turned around and picked it up and brought it home!  So, this morning, I woke up to the boys skinning it and gutting it!  Then, Dallen wanted to eat the meat, but that was a big "NO!", and then we found out at church that the wild rabbits during the summer have worms in their insides and are not good to eat.  The boys are truly loving the country and I want to know why it's okay to do this in the country and not in the city, as much?!?  Oh well... 

I think that is all that has happened.  We haven't been able to move Derrek here yet.  There is no room for him, so he will stay with my parents for a week or so before our Bear Lake family reunion, and then one week after and then we will move him here at the end of July.  Hopefully the house will close by then and we can move into it.  We are all wanting to feel settled.  Oh...here is a picture of my kitchen (and pretty much the rest of the house looks this way).  I just had to document it, for memory sake :)

I have left everything in boxes, we have sheets and push pins for draperies, and a cooler for a fridge.  I think with the amount we will spend on ice, we should have just bought a fridge!  Oh well, too late now.

Some days it feels like it is all closing in on us, but we are quick to remember that it is a blessing and it makes it better. We could really be homeless and or living in a tent or something like that.  I am just grateful we aren't!  We love living here.

One thing constant is change!

Where to begin?!?  So much has been packed into less than a month that I am not sure how much longer I can keep up this pace!  It's almost exhausting, but a good exhausting!

A couple of days before we left for St. George for Derrek's graduation, we had two major things happen.  The first was the Sunday before, we all found out that Scott's dad got remarried.  We were all in shock, especially because he has only known the woman for two weeks.  But, in my opinion, I hope it works out for him.  Here is a picture...

Her name is Terri Lynn, but there was a bishop with her same name and so she is now going by Ivy Lee.  Her 94 yr old mother lives with them, too.  She is an accomplished pianist and vocalist, and Chuck seems happy.  It's been hard on a lot of us, and for my little family, it was just another reminder that Grandma Ruth is really gone.  Heidi is the only one that has met her, because they are in the same ward, so I can't tell you much about her.  But, I hope it works out for him.

Then, the second big event is Scott's job.  It's been a really weird experience, and the only explanation I have for it, is that it is meant to be.  For about a month Scott has been trying to find out what his new position and pay will be at Bunker so that we can see what we need to do on our end.  We thought they would tell him when he graduated, but nothing.  It was just really weird.  Why couldn't they just say something.  Scott and I had speculated about what might be happening.  Then one morning he woke up with a very distinct feeling that he needed to reject the offer that they were going to propose.  We have lived on $10/hour this whole last year, and a whole lot of miracles.  We knew it couldn't continue in that grand of fashion, but we knew that it could work out.  So, the night before we were to leave for St. George, they finally called Scott in and offered him a very generous offer for what they were going to be having him do.  But, it wasn't the intern position that they had said he was to have and basically it was a more glorified grunt.  He has loved working there and realized that this offer was very generous for that position.  Even while they were "gushing" over his importance to the team, he was reminded about his feelings a few days before and graciously declined their offer.  He came home and said "I feel like I just stepped off a cliff".  The next morning we left for Derrek's graduation (I'll get to that in a second!).  While in St. George, we figure that we could make things work if they could offer $2 more an hour.  Bunker said that they were going to hire a Funeral director and a grunt instead, which didn't make sense considering they could have Scott in the funeral director position for less than a licensed funeral director.  It was just not making sense!  We just couldn't believe that this could be the end of our journey with them.  We had a great time in St. George and came back on Memorial Day.  That Tuesday, Scott talked to them again, and they basically said, you can stay until you find a new job.  Again, he felt like he had just stepped off that cliff.  So, Wednesday (the next day) we were focused on "now what?!".  He decided to contact others in this business and see if what Bunker was offering was fair and if he needed to go back and plead for his job.  He called a guy here in Mesa and basically that guy confirmed that the offer from Bunker was very generous because of the amount of graduates that come out of the school looking for work to intern (40 every year), and they can hire them for really cheap.  So, Scott thought about St. George and other places where he had met others.  He remembered this one guy in Snowflake, AZ  that had helped him with a graveside service and this guy had made a real impression on him.  He was rural and decided to see what it was like working rural and what kind of pay he could earn as an intern in a rural area.  Thursday he called him and Friday, Scott and I drove up to meet him and his wife, Anna.  His name is Jason Brubaker.  The boys had gone on an Aaronic Priesthood Encampment Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, so it was perfect timing for Scott and I to just get feelers out without the boys having to see and watch all of this.  It would have really wound them up.  Friday we went to Snowflake and it was a really good day.  Jason and Anna are great and so friendly.  Jason started telling us that he had just had an opening and was needing someone.  We did not expect it at all, but by the end of the day, Scott had a job offer.  We looked at the offer and about died.  It was more starting the internship with Jason than Scott could earn after getting his license two years later with Bunker.  And that wasn't all of it.  There was incentives to being a team member and a representative of Silver Creek Mortuary.  It was crazy!  We went to the temple there and just sat in awe.  We didn't know quite what to think about all of this.  We came home and told the boys the next day about the experiences we had had while they were gone.  They all said, "I know we are supposed to move".  We asked them to fast for their answer on Fast Sunday and then we would talk about it as a family, but we all already knew.  So, Sunday night, Scott accepted Jason's offer and that was just last Sunday!  We went up this week to look for a place to rent...Nothing is available.  I had a thought to call my parents to see if they could/would help us purchase a house.  Our credit is trashed from our foreclosure, and it just wouldn't be possible otherwise.  My loving parents are willing to help and we are so grateful because that opened up a whole bunch of possibilities, considering there really wasn't any other options!  So, this last week we were able to go twice, but still nothing.  I have packed the house and we have told the land lord that we will be out by this next weekend.  He has been amazing through all this and we are so grateful for them.  I never really realized how good I am at packing!  Kid's rooms are done, kitchen, almost everything.  I have about one day of all the odds and ends and then we are packed!  Today, of course, the kids wanted pancakes...packed; orange julius...packed!  If it wasn't packed, they wouldn't want it!  The kids have been amazing through all this and are really excited to move there.  I was so relieved because the move from St. George to Mesa about killed them.  I wasn't sure I could or they could handle another trauma like that, but it's been the opposite and I feel that is a huge blessing.  It has made this craziness tolerable.  So, tomorrow we will go up again to see if we can find something and then we will know what we are doing (hopefully).  Through all this, there has been constant peace and thoughts of "be patient" and I know that in a month we will be looking back grateful for the Lord's hand in all this (we already are!). Derrek graduated!!!!  He had high honors and was in the National Honors Society.  Here are some pictures of that day...  The graduation was awesome.  It was only an HOUR long!  I have never been to one so short!  He also graduated from Seminary (shown with his best friend, Brandon).  Derrek is just amazing!  He pushes himself so hard and achieves his goals.  My mother was AWESOME and put together a little graduation party for Derrek, mostly so family could congratulate him and so that we could see people as well.  It was such a weight off my shoulders and I really appreciate all that she did for us that day.  Derrek, then was off to Grad Night and it was quite the ordeal!  I am impressed with the talents of some people.  It was themed off the movie "2012" and they were seated in an "airplane" in the auditorium (pictured above) and were given a drink and peanuts!  They watched the movie and then then fun began.  They went into the gym where it was decorated like they had landed on some island or something.  They had tons for the kids to do.  They had a wedding chapel and races, and food and pictures, swings, etc.  Then Derrek said around 2 am they had a "Minute-to-Win-It" competition, and Derrek won prizes from that.  They fed them breakfast and I think it ended around 5 am!  Crazy kids!  But he had a blast and I am glad.  The boys really had fun hanging out in St. George, but Calvin and Alec said that they don't think they would move back any time soon.  That was a shocker to me because for half this last year that is all they talked about.  We really enjoyed seeing all our friends and family.  Here is a picture of us visiting with Grandma Nyquist and Grandma Gilgen (both at the Beehive Cottages).

Two last things...my parents just received their mission call to ROME, ITALY!  My parents were really hoping that they would get to go there.  They will be gone for two years and leave October 1st.  I am so happy for them.  They have wanted to do this for quite awhile and have really worked hard to achieve that goal.  Derrek has started his mission papers and so in the next month or so, we should know where he is going.  Hopefully, we will have a place by then, so that he will know where he is leaving from!  It's just been crazy.  So grateful to Steve and Michelle for letting Derrek stay another month.  We had no idea that all this was coming, but Derrek felt that he needed to stay until July, and we are grateful that he hasn't had to deal with the anxiety and craziness of our life right now.  We are so excited for our missionaries!  Derrek will be gone and back about the same time as my parents.  If Alec goes when he is 19, then he won't see my parents for 3 years, and if Calvin goes when he is 19, he could possibly not see my parents for 4 years!  That is just crazy...but I know it will all be fine.  

Well, I think that is all that has been going on!  I am just grateful for the Lord's hand in our lives.  I am grateful for this journey and all that I have learned about myself and continue to learn so that I can be a better person.  We will really miss our ward and friends we have made while here in Mesa.  They will forever be in our hearts.  They took us in when we felt like we had broken wings.  They mended our hearts and loved us unconditionally, especially the boys and the rough time they had moving here.  I am glad for Facebook for the fact that I can constantly be in touch with these good friends.  They have a deep place in my heart forever.  It was fun re-uniting with Thelissa Blackhurst (Martineau) after 20 years and my old roommate, Jen.  I hope we get to do this again :).  I love that we are friends forever, especially in the Gospel.  We can all move around, but we are always connected.  Anyway, pray for us.  We'll let you know where we land.