Time for Baseball

It's baseball season again. Sam started his games a couple of weeks ago, and Clay started last night with his first game. Sam's been playing catcher, and doing a really good job. He isn't afraid of the ball, and I think that being behind all that gear and not front and center, like the pitcher, he doesn't get the nerves in the way of his performance. It's fun to see him doing really well and finding his niche.

Clay is doing really well also. He actually got to play in a couple of Sam's games for the lack of players, and he did awesome, making a great out at 3rd in one game. Last night he made a great hit, and got a double. I didn't get the camera to his game last night. I think I'll wait until the rain stops.

Mom, Look What We Did

Mom gave us this darling cookbook for Easter this year. Each of the girls picked out their favorite and we made these fun cookies. Yes, we did them a month ago.

I think it's funny that Emma chose the pigs because I thought they were the cutest, and that was the page mom opened it too first, and also thought they were darling. Ours weren't quite as puffy, but they were still cute. Tasty? Well, if you like refrigerated sugar cookie dough.
I think Amelia just wanted to buy a package of gummy worms. I don't usually fund such purchases.

Finally Making Time

I've been hesitant to add posts to the blog until I made the time to "privatize."
So, I've added a couple of posts telling what we've been up to.
Aside from the busy of our everyday lives, we have been very humbled in our little community by what may seem to some as a "series of unfortunate events." For a little while I felt that way. Then I realized the miracles and the strength that has been poured out on these families, and although these trials will be difficult, there is sufficient strength, love, and healing in the Atonement for everyone to come out better for these experiences.

{Clay M., Carson, Clay, Reid G., Brady, Reed R., Amelia}

Three weeks ago one of Clay's friends and wrestling buddies, Reed Robinson, was kicked in the head with a horse while he and his brother were feeding them grain. It was incredibly critical, and there were tears at our house. But with those tears were the most sincere and thoughtful prayers that can come from an 8 year old. The community immediately rallied around this little family with a spaghetti dinner, and other events to raise money for the medical expenses. Our PTA at North had jars in every room with the promise that $30.00 would allow the kids to silly string the teachers.

Mrs. Tesoro, Reed's Teacher

Chaos that followed

Mrs. Lester {no relation, but a great teacher} and Sam

Together with a lunch fundraiser during our carnival, those kids brought in $1,200.00 for Reed. And, the company that did the carnival, after hearing about the incident, took $100 off of their fee to donate to the family. The generosity is absolutely amazing. Prayers and fasting were offered immediately on their behalf, and a miracle happened. The doctors were not hopeful that he would survive, and if he did, there was certain to be damage. On the Children's Miracle Network the other day, the doctor said that they did not think he would talk again because there was damage to the speech center. He said that as Reed sat and told about what had happened to him just three short weeks earlier. Last Sunday we went to visit Reed, who talked to Clay and tossed a football back and forth with him. They were going to remove the feeding tube the next day and then move him to the rehabilitation center, and they would keep him for a couple of weeks until they could replace the portion of the skull they had to remove to release the pressure. On Wednesday night is Clay's turn for Family Prayer. He said,"thank thee that Reed could come home." In the middle of the prayer Nate and I looked at each other with disbelief and astonishment. I tried to explain to Clay what we had talked about Sunday and that it was impossible for him to be home already. He insisted that it was true. I found out the next day that it was true. Reed was at school Friday morning for the awards assembly, and was recognized as the "ultimate survivor." What a miracle!!!!

Last Sunday, a young member of our ward passed away after a short illness and an unexplained infection. He was only 32, a husband, father, son, nephew, and friend to many people we are close to. His passing was unexpected and sudden. As with Reed, when many became aware of the situation, there were many prayers and fasting on his behalf. The difference in this situation is that it was Jeremy's time to go home. How fortunate for the family to have that confirmation from a loving Heavenly Father who blesses us with trials to strengthen our faith, and then blesses us with strength to make it through the trials. The next Sunday Jeremy's brother-in-law suffered a stroke and is scheduled for surgery this morning. They are hopeful that there are no lasting effects, but the reality remains. We are constantly reminded that we are not in charge here. There is a greater power who has his hand in all things.

O Remember

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl

I can't much believe that my Amelia is 5. She has been looking so forward to this day. It's actually been pretty good leverage. I think she really believed that we could take her birthday away, and then she wouldn't turn 5, and then she wouldn't get to go to kindergarten. Almost every day she includes the phrase, "thank thee that I can go to kindergarten" in her prayers.

So, of course she had to get a backpack with school supplies, her favorite.

Amelia at 5:

loves to sing and listen to primary songs on the ipod and on cd

loves to play outside: riding bikes, running, jumping on the tramp

loves to play make-believe: mostly taking care of dolls

loves to go shopping

loves spending time with dad

Favorite Book: Pinkalicious

Favorite Food: Eggs, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Chicken Nuggets

Favorite Color: Pink

At 10:00 she collapsed on my lap, exhausted from a very fun day. Emma, from Nate's lap, said to me "Mom, your 5 year old is asleep."

A Little Blue

So, Nate's cousin's wife is due about two weeks after I am. They were in the office the other day, and told Nate that they are having a girl. Nate thinks about this for a couple of days and then starts to get a little antsy. He wonders why we have to wait another three weeks to find out. So, yesterday he decided that we wouldn't wait. We found a place that has a certified technician, and went to have an ultrasound done. The girls have really been anxious to see "pictures" of the baby and were super good sports. I was a little more reserved. From my experience with Amelia I know that an ultrasound is not always exciting. An ultrasound can deliver good or bad news. Of course, we always hope for the good, but that is not always the case. What I wanted more than to know {boy/girl} was to know {healthy}. But I was a good sport and went along. They couldn't have done it without me. And I'm sure you are saying, would you just get to the point? OK, the evidence is clear that we are having another......

BOY

The boys were at school, so we had the girls each pick out a little something that would indicate the gender of the new baby, and we wrapped it up in yellow, pink, purple, and blue. The girls got giggly when we told them not to tell, that it was a secret, and we could try and trick the boys when we got home. On the way home Amelia got on the phone with Clay, who tried to get her to tell. She stuck to her guns and would not say. Nate thought he would have the boys do a few slave acts before he would tell. I think they would have done about anything he asked just so they could know. He had them giving him a foot massage. I wish I had had a video of the commotion, the whooping and hollering that ensued when the boys pulled out the blue camouflage blanket. I was laughing my guts out. Their excitement was contagious.

So, farewell, purple room, and boxes of baby girl clothes. Another adventure awaits us.

The Rest of the Story

Nate had a neat experience last weekend that I have been dying to find the time to jot down here. Here's the part of the story from our end of it.

In 2004 Nate wanted to go to Guatemala with Dave and his dad as part of the Hirsche Smiles Foundation humanitarian trip which took place in January of 2005. We both thought that would be a wonderful experience for him and a great opportunity to serve. The problem: it was going to cost us $1,000.00. We didn't have the money. We lived on about $1,100/month, $800 of which went to pay for rent, and $200 paid for our transportation costs. There was never any money left over. Nate and I tried a few odd jobs in all our spare time. {Oh, wait, we didn't have much of that either.} Nonetheless, we felt like this was an important thing for Nate to do, so we did the only thing we could do. We prayed that a way would open up for Nate to be able to go. It was very close to the deadline of submitting the dollars when a check showed up in the mail for $1,000.00. It was a scholarship from the Academy of LDS Dentists. We were not expecting that to be awarded to Nate. Although a very good student and an excellent clinician, Nate was not the shining star on the application. We were surprised, and immediately recognized this as a blessing from the Lord. Nate had a wonderful experience that first year in Guatemala, and has been able to return there every year since. {except for 2008, after he got really sick} That scholarship paved the way for what I'm sure will become a lifetime of humanitarian service for Nate and our family.

{Nate in Guatemala: 2005}

Now, here's the rest of the story.
Nate is learning to place implants, and attended part of the coursework last weekend in Heber. While he was there, he met a dentist from Provo. They talked about the service Nate and Dave have been able to give in Guatemala over the last five years. At some point during the weekend, this dentist mentioned his affiliation with the Academy of LDS Dentists. Dave told him that it was a scholarship from the Academy that allowed Nate to go that first time. This dentist, with some emotion, asked Nate what year that would have been. Nate told him, and the emotions deepened. And then he explained. That year, this dentist was a Stake President and he and his Counselor, also a dentist, were going through applications to choose who would be awarded the 5 scholarships. He said it was a pretty long and involved process and there were certain requirements that had to be met. Part way through this process, the counselor suggested that they change the way they were choosing the people who would receive the scholarship. He suggested that they take the names home, pray about them, and then meet back together and award the scholarships according to the direction of the Spirit. The next time they met, they had both chosen four of the same people. They conferred, and chose the fifth together. This dentist remembered that Nate was one who had received a scholarship that year.


Many times in our lives miracles happen. Often it is enough to know that they do. The miracle, in and of itself is enough to strengthen our faith. My gratitude and faith have been strengthened as I reflected on the blessing of that scholarship that has blessed, not only our family, but the lives of so many. But, to now understand the additional miracles that happened for this blessing to come into our lives makes me feel humble. It strengthens my understanding of a Father in Heaven who loves us all, a Father in Heaven who answers prayers, a Father in Heaven who wants us to serve. I know He lives and loves us all.