Moving in the right direction...

I love watching General Conference.  Dallen said to me this morning, "I love Conference Sunday.  We get aebleskievers and we get to chill out for church".  I couldn't agree more.  There were a few talks that really spoke to me this weekend and I am excited to go back and dig into them so that I can learn what it was that touched my heart.  I love that we can get them on Mormon Channel the next day and that I can listen to them while I am getting ready in the mornings.  I am also grateful to be able to watch them again with my family.  We record them and every Friday we have "Conference Friday" for our family scripture study.  We take a talk from Conference and listen to it and then when inspired, Scott and I add our own testimony to what we heard.  Calvin watched all the sessions this time and was searching for answers for himself.  He had his journal out and everything.  What an example to me of truly wanting answers from the Lord and knowing where to go to get them.  He told me of a couple talks that he really enjoyed and I hope he found what he was searching for.

Everyone is well.  Scott has had a couple long days and yesterday had to miss almost everything with Conference.  He only got to see the last talk of the Priesthood session and he was so sad.  After he took the boys to dinner (which he was so grateful to be able to do), he had to go back to work for a few hours.  It was a long day.  I am grateful for his continuing hard work.  In days of old, he would have quit by now and he is definitely not that same person.

Derrek is doing much better.  He was struggling being at the MTC and the psychiatrist there is having him take Welbutrim (sp?).  Then a few days later, he wrote me a note and said that they were role playing being in the mission field and he was loving it.  I am grateful he got the help he needed.  I was upset at myself at first because I'm him mom and I should have known, but as quickly as those thoughts came into my head, thoughts of "this is how it had to happen for Derrek and he is being taken care of" came in.  As I thought about it, I realized that this is how it had to happen for Derrek.  I feel bad that he had to go through it, but I realized that he is always saying he doesn't hear the Spirit and this was an example of where he felt he needed to go get help.  He heard and acted (as President Monson stated today).  He leaves for Ohio on Wednesday (in three days) and we are so excited for him.

Alec is doing so good.  I swear he is on a date with a different girl and he is so funny because he makes Calvin go with him.  Last night after Priesthood Session, we were all chilling out and Alec suddenly announces that he and Calvin are going out with Jessica and Brooke...they were in the driveway!  So they went and watched a movie with them and then came back.  He is truly happy and liked the announcement of being able to leave right after high school for his mission.  Calvin is too, but he realized that he wouldn't see Derrek for 4 years and that made him kind of sad.

Something has changed in Calvin.  I think something happened at Seminary, but I am not sure.  One night, when I went in to say "good-night", he said, "mom, could you get me a journal... preferably one with the temple on the front?".  Are you kidding?!?  Yes!!!  I will get you a journal!  So, I went and found him one the next day.  He writes in it often of his thoughts and things that he is learning.  He has been asking questions like "how do I truly prepare for General Conference?" and stuff like that.  He is happier and really trying to find peace and happiness and you can tell a huge difference in him.

Ashton is starting to be my little "playboy".  I think he likes the attention (I mean, who doesn't?!?), so we have had to have discussions on the way girls interpret the "play" and how boys interpret it.  I told him he needed to be careful because girls, for the most part, fall hard, and it can get you in trouble.  He is taller than me and very proud of that...I would expect him to be taller because he has a size 13 foot and needs to grow into them!  He was elected FFA Treasurer and although I am not quite sure what he does, he is loving it and having a really good time.  He has found his little niche and has really adapted well to Taylor, AZ.

Dallen is doing good, too.  There are times when his hormones get the best of him and he is cranky and hates his life, but thank goodness that there is sleep and he can reboot his system and start over.  He is having so much fun here in Taylor and really has a good group of boys to hang out with.  It's funny because he was over at his Young Men Leader's house the other day and I asked him why he was there?  Their oldest child is a girl and she's 11.  They have a 9 year old girl and a 7 year old boy.  I couldn't figure out why he would hang out over there, and then I found out that they got a new puppy...then I found out that the boys are trying to take in another puppy.  Thank goodness Scott is here because I would take it in (ask my parents!).

Scott and I got to go on a little "trip" to Durango, CO.  These days all the trips taken include something to do with the mortuary, but Jason (Scott's boss), wanted us to go and spend the night and have a little get-away.  It is a gorgeous town with some character and the leaves are changing and it is getting colder.  The hotel was right on the river and when we went to breakfast we were right on the river looking over it.  It was so pretty. We had an amazing steak dinner the night before and some Coldstone ice cream...who can go wrong with that?  The kids were awesome and just did their thing.  Dallen got up for school on his own and out the door and Alec went to work and Ashton helped me out at the house and Calvin had school and an extra curricular class he is doing.  I think they do better when I'm gone than when I'm here!  I am grateful they let us do that. Scott and I got much needed talk time and we are so grateful that Jason would treat us like that.

Calvin and Alec are doing a class at school which is the Dave Ramsey course.  My Grandma is a huge fan of Dave Ramsey and so is this town!  I think it is awesome that they have started a class for the high school students.  Even better, is that Calvin and Alec got it for free.  The first 10 that signed up get the course for free, so Calvin (my frugal child) jumped all over that and signed up him and Alec...number 9-10!!  They are learning lots and I think it is great because there are lessons that I have tried to instill in them, but they are finally getting it in a different way and are more willing to listen to someone else teaching it.

Well, no pictures this time...sorry.  Not much to take pictures :).  Alec was going to go to Homecoming, but decided not to.  I am not sure what happened, but it fell through.  Maybe for Prom.

Missionaries...

OUR MISSIONARIES!!!  Derrek and my parents (Dan and Miriam) are in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT.  My parents arrived there on the 17th of September and Derrek made it there on the 19th.  It is fun because I have an inside source telling me how he's really doing.  My mom said that the MTC doesn't give the Elders/Sisters time to think...they are going-going-going all day long and then they welcome bed time.  My mom said that Derrek mentioned on Friday (he'd been there two days) that he was still a bit overwhelmed, but in a week or so, I know he will feel right at home.  My parents get to do whatever they want/need.  My mom said that she needed to mail a package and they were going to walk down to BYU.  None of that for the Elders!  They also got to attend my Cousin, Mike's wedding in SLC.  We are excited for Mike.  My parents also Skyped me today.  My mom said that she was really sick this last week because they had her get the flu shot and influenza?!? shot (I can't remember the other one), but after that, she was really sick with a fever and such.  Glad she's feeling better.  We wrote Derrek a letter and you can to at "dearelder.com".  Just type in his mission (Columbus Ohio).  I'm not sure his box number, yet.  We haven't heard from him.  I don't even think he knows our address!  I guess he'll figure it out, or ask my parents!  Sending him off was way harder than I thought it would be.  I was fine until that morning and I realized I wouldn't be able to see him for two years and that I wouldn't be able to call or talk to him to see how he was doing whenever I wanted or felt the need to.  Then, as we were saying goodbye, Alec said "see you in three years" and I lost it even more.  I cried the whole morning.  By noon, I was settled down and doing ok.  All the boys were looking at me like I was a freak of nature.  Ashton lost it, too which made Scott tear up.  Ashton loves his brother, Derrek.  But, I know he is in better hands and the Lord can do more with him than any other experience at this time in his life could offer him.  Things are definitely more quiet around here.

Other things that we have been doing...CANNING, CANNING, CANNING!  Sister Rowley, in our ward, has a huge garden and asked if I would like to come raid it because there is no possible way she could do anything with all the food.  So, we went and picked green beans, lots of apples, and tomatoes.  I have made a lot of applesauce, green beans, and spaghetti sauce.  Then my friend, Donna, asked if I would come help her do hers because she just doesn't have time like she used to.  So, I went to her house and did apples (for pies and such), and applesauce.  Then she invited her family over for family night and we canned the rest of my applesauce and worked on her tomatoes to get them ready to be jarred.  It was a fun time and we really like being with the Larson family.  You can see we had quite the production going!

I just got a call from a sister in our ward who said she had a 5-gallon bucket of tomatoes for me, if I wanted them...um, YES!  That's like gold for me.  I think I will do salsa this time.

The boys have been learning how to work hard and serve.  They have been helping a member in our Stake to bail hay.  They didn't realize how hard it really is, and poor Calvin had some fun allergies to go with it.  Luckily there is medicine for that!  They also chopped some wood and I am grateful to these men who are teaching them how to work hard and that it isn't just their parents that do it...it is just a requirement when you live out here.  Ashton got to drive the hay truck and it was a stick-shift!  He was jerking it all around at first (his first time driving...ever!).  He did good by the the end.  Every night they would come home and the boys would say "I'm not going tomorrow" and then they would end up going the next day.  Then the last day they were going to go, the guy borrowed his neighbor's stacker and did 800 bails in a day and got it all done.  He had 2000 to start, so the boys were glad he was able to do that.

I did my first run for the mortuary this last week.  You know they are desperate when they are calling to ask me if I would do a run for them.  It was nice to drive and hang out in Payson and all that.  It is weird, though, that this is just how life is, now and that's ok.

Sending my parents off at the airport on their way to the MTC

We got to go to St. George last weekend for Derrek's farewell talk in the Red Cliff's 6th ward.  It was so good to see all our old friends and there was so much love and support for Derrek and we were really grateful that he was able to go and do that.  I really had a hard time with him demanding that he do a farewell in St. George because of the time and money he was asking us to spend.  We weren't going to be able to go because of finances, but we are very blessed with family that helped us get there.   I felt it was selfish, but in the end I realized why he needed it and I am glad he was able to do it.  It was my parent's farewell also and it was good to be with family.  The kids really wanted to say goodbye to their Nana and Papa, and I am glad we were able to do that.  My sister and sister-in-laws put together a really cute family dinner with my side of the family.  They did decorations for Italy and Ohio and missionary stuff all over the tables.  Then they had an Italian type meal and and ice cream bar.  It was perfect.  Dallen and Ashton, the night before, got to go see Les Miserables in Cedar City with Kent/Amy, Kathie/Paul and their families.  We had a fun time riding to and from St. George with Kathie and Paul and their family.  On the way up, Kathie and I got to ride together and chat the whole way, while Paul and Scott were in the other car.  Then on the way home, the adults (and Jack) were in one van, Calvin and kids in the other, and Derrek and Alec in the car.  It was fun.  Definitely made the trip go faster.

 I almost forgot!!!  Alec, Scott, and Derrek all had birthdays!  Alec turned 18, Scott turned 41, and Derrek turned 19.  It was hard this year because we literally have no money and so the birthdays were kind of lame. Alec and Scott are great because they really don't care (or show that they care).  Derrek is a little different.  He likes the attention and I tried to do my best, but I'll admit, according to his standards, it was lame (sorry Derrek, I tried).  Anyway, we got Alec a didgeridoo.  He has been playing it non-stop...he even brought it to St. George!  It drives Shep nuts, but it is so Alec and I am glad I got it for him.  

Derrek got money to help him go to St. George, and I got Scott a shirt from "Kid History" that says "I've got one minute left in my brain".  It's a quote Scott says all the time and to me it fit perfect.  After their birthdays, Scott mentioned he wanted a cowboy hat!  Now that's something I have to see...and I am not picking that out.  There is no way I would want that responsibility :).

Everything else is going good.  We are healthy and the kids are doing good in school and still adjusting, but they are doing very well.  There are still days that are hard for me.  I like to stay busy and moving to a new place takes all that away and it's hard to have the energy to start up again.  Most days are good, though, and like with everything else, you just gotta keep on going.

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 :)