Change...

It has been said that in life there is always one thing that you can count on, and that is change. This week there has been happy change and sad change...

Last Sunday night, we got the word that Scott's grandpa, William "Bill" Stander, passed away. We were glad for him, but death always brings on the realization that we are going to be separated for a period of time. Scott and I were so happy for him that he is now able to be with his first wife, Doris, and their daughter (Scott's mom), Ruth. But, we are still here to work through life. Ugh! It was a beautiful service and a reminder that our time on this earth, really isn't that long and our time to "prepare to meet God" is really only a matter of years (whether we die old or young). So, when I was reflecting on that, I was instantly grateful that I have another day and hopefully more days to "prepare to meet God". It was supposed to rain the whole day of the funeral...but once again, the Lord poured out tender mercies on us and brought out the sun for the half hour that we were outside. As soon as the services were over and we got back in the cars to head to the luncheon, it started to rain again (and rained hard!). He had a miliary burial, and a gun salute and to see the American Flag on a Soldier's casket made me reflective of all those who have died for our freedom in the past and now. Wow! I am grateful! How I take it for granted! Like I said, it was a beautiful service and day.

Scott and I left the kids home for two days and a night while we went to the funeral. They informed me, when I got back, that they did better with me gone. What they didn't know, was that I had set things up for them so that they would have a good time together. I am glad they think they can do things without me, and maybe next time we have to leave them, they will remember that they are "adult" enough keep down the fort!

The other change that we had this week was Alec! He was in a drill team performance at school. He did one dance with the drill team, learned the steps, went to practices, and wanted to perform it perfectly. He was really nervous about it. The thing is, Alec never wants to do anything! I can't get him to try sports or drama or instruments or anything...then one day he came home and said "mom, I'm in this dance thing at school". I about dropped dead because it literally was the last thing I thought would ever come out of his mouth! Anyway, it was last night and he did a really good job and it was really fun to watch him.

We were able to have a family weekend, too and that was really fun. We had Jennie and Wes (Scott's sister and husband), Heidi (Scott's sister) and her kids, Kathie (Scott's sister) and her kids, and David (Scott's brother) stay at our house. Dallen and Ashton had fun because they got to sleep in the tent that we had set out to dry in the garage (here is a picture)...

Then we were also able to spend time with my family and Julianne's son, Cade, turned 9 and then Rod's son, Porter, was baptized. Again...change is constant. We grow up and things come and go, but again I am grateful because how boring would it be if things always stayed the same?!? We are going to be going down to Phoenix this next week. We have narrowed it down to where we want to possible look to live and so we are going to be visiting neighborhoods and schools and see how we feel about certain places. This is the first move that we have known about and have to wait to move. It's sometimes frustrating because I just want to get it over with, but we have been able to slowly have closure and have seen the Lord helping us through this all.

Past few weeks...

We have had a busy couple of weeks. We had a fun Valentine's Day party. I like celebrating Valentines Day because it is a day I can be girly and the boys don't complain! Actually, I think they secretly look forward to it...just like when we would pick names off the giving tree at Christmas time and it would be for girls and we would walk down the "Barbie" isle and I think they secretly like that too! Anyway, it was fun. We had heart pizzas and I always make some sort of gift box/bag and fill it with candy that I know they would like. We had Jose over with us and Tyler (a kid in our ward that Alec was babysitting, and I couldn't have Alec miss the party, so I had him bring Tyler too!).

Ashton had a choir concert and it was fun because they did renditions of "Humpty Dumpty" and "This Old Man". They even played the kazoo, which I think was their favorite part. Ashton really loves to sing. I hope he continues that.

Later that week, we had family come into town. Kathie's family and Heidi's family (Scott's sisters) and their dad came to celebrate our Nephew's farewell for his mission. He left this last week for the MTC and will be heading to Russia in a few months. It also happened to be Dallen's birthday while they were all here and so we took the party to Pirate Island Pizza because it was rainy and there was not enough room for Scott's family and my family! Thank you to all who came and helped us celebrate Dallen's 11th birthday.

We had another momentous night, a few nights later...we attended our last cub scout meeting as parents of a cub scout. I can't believe I have no more cub scouts! Dallen is now a Scout. I am sure I will be called back into it, one day, but to know that I have no more is just weird. It seems like we have been involved in cub scouts forever :). It feels weird because Scott and I had a deal when we realized we were having all boys, and that is that I would do cub scouts and get them through that, and then he would do Scouts and get them through that (I would help where I could, but it was more him and campouts and things like that). So, I guess I have no more responsibility in that area of cub scouts. We are done.

Also, this week...Jose, who had been living with us, and we still consider our "son" received his mission call to Canada, Montreal...Spanish speaking. We are so excited for him and feel in our hearts that the Lord truly knows Jose. I really can't imagine him anywhere else. He will be leaving for the MTC on June 29th...the same week we are planning on moving to Mesa. So, we will probably be taking Jose to the MTC and coming home and loading the truck to move. It will be a wild time, but we are grateful for the opportunity to help Jose and it has been neat to watch him with his family...I am not sure they fully comprehend what is going on and in a way have been immersed in having to learn a little more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints whether they wanted to or not. They are not going to see their brother, son, nephew, cousin for two years and I think they are trying to comprehend what this is all about. They have come to church the past two weeks, by Jose asking and explaining to them what is going on. His sister, Angelica, was here when he opened his mission call. I am pretty sure she didn't know what to think. I know with Jose's example, they will at least feel in their hearts that this is a good thing. We heard Jose speak today in Stake Conference and Scott leaned over and said, can you imagine him in two years after his mission? It was a humbling thought because he is an amazing spirit/person right now. We look forward to seeing the man he is to become. It will be pure joy.

Scott is still doing really well in school and that helps me with fears of before. I see things changing and I am glad that he really feels purpose and is excited for the future. It wasn't always that way. We have started narrowing down where we would like to live and will case neighborhoods while we are down there for Spring Break.

Also, I now have a facebook page. So, if you want me to be your friend...I'm there :). And, I found Alec on there, too...he's not supposed to have a facebook page. He set it up on his friend's phone...nice. Not quite sure what to do about that one...

We just got word that Scott's grandpa Stander (his mom's dad) is fading fast from this life. We are happy for him and yet are sad that we will have to wait again to see him. He just turned 90 this past December and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his two daughters, Karen and Darlene, and his wife, Jackie. We love you grandpa!

Another Teenager!

First, before we get to this week, I have to tell you what I woke up to...

I heard tape being used and I walked into Dallen and Ashton's room to see Dallen standing on a chair with Alec taping him to the wall with masking tape to see if it would hold him there (it didn't). Another one of Alec's great ideas. Dallen was more than happy to try it out. Seriously those two are so much alike!

Anyway, we had another birthday this week. Ashton is officially 13, and that means we have four teenagers in our house! He had an interesting birthday. The day before he stayed home from school because he didn't feel good and had a slight fever. On the day of his birthday (Friday), it started to look a lot like strep throat (which Alec had a couple weeks earlier). So, Ashton got to open his presents in the morning. He got Halo Megablocks (like Legos). He was pretty happy about that, especially because he was going to have to stay home from school and he could build them all day long! Then we got showered and ready and headed into the doctor. Sure enough, it was strep and he was good and even though he didn't want to, he had a shot in the bum. We are so bad about getting the pills in for the 10 days and so he was so nice and allowed me to push him to do it. He swears never again! Since we couldn't do any family or friend party, and he couldn't swallow, his birthday dinner consisted of an Orange Peel Smoothie and the rest of us had pizza. His birthday ice-cream cake is still in the freezer, ready to put candles on it for when he can swallow! So, he managed to build all his gifts (pictured below...and there are still two sets missing from that!). He said he had a good and bad day. Good because he got to play all day with his stuff, but bad because his throat really hurt and he didn't feel good. It is definitely one to remember!

We had a fun family night with my parents this past Monday, also. We had a lesson about prayer and how we do have a Heavenly Father that listens and answers our prayers. We each looked up our favorite scriptures about prayer and read them. Then we told why we picked that particular scripture. Then others would chime in about there experience with that scripture, if they had one. It was amazing to hear how the Lord has touched all the boys in their simple lives at times when they needed it. My mom made these pillow cases for all the boys and they have put them on their beds. Thanks mom and dad!

Scott continues to do well in school. He took an accounting test and got 100%...the only one in class! He was really excited about that, as he should be! He also had a biology test (super hard) and got an 86%, and was the only one who didn't fail it. So, this week he tells me he thinks he can get a job and do school and work. That freaked me out a little because he shuts down when he gets in over his head and quits everything and I just don't want history to repeat itself, even though he swears things are different (and they might be...I'm just overly sensitive about any sign that might swing things to how they were before). So, a couple of days after he made that statement, my cousin, Mike, called him and said that he is just super busy and needs help. Mike just graduated as a Mortitian and has a job here. So, he wanted to hire Scott when he needs him. It is the perfect scenerio and it is even in the field that Scott would like to eventually work permanently. Anyway, a little something coming in is better than nothing! Hopefully it works out for both Mike and Scott. Even just the chance is a blessing and feel we are looked after constantly.

Derrek officially started back at McDonald's this week. It has been PACKED, but he is liking it and is really excited to start getting a paycheck again. He really is excited that he can fix up his bike because it has some needed TLC coming it's way!

The other boys are doing good. Alec and Calvin have been over to our neighbor's house a lot lately. I can tell that they are frustrated with me and/or Scott, so they go over there. Especially Alec, and I know it is because they feel they can't come to us. Calvin even told me so! I am just grateful they have the Beechers and keep teasing them that they are just going to have to move with us because my kids won't know what to do if they actually have to come to us with their problems!