The Bad Thing About Rain

I think that we are being compelled to be humble. As if a torn apart kitchen is not difficult enough to maintain some normalcy, we noticed some really wet blankets behind the couch in the basement last night when Clay went to get some extra blankets so that he could prop himself up while he sleeps so that his coughing/bordering on bronchitis/ would not bother him so much. When we bought the house the owners had mentioned some flooding problems they had when the neighbor used to flood irrigate his field. {he doesn't anymore} This would cause the water table to rise to an unmanageable level, and their basement would flood. It didn't even occur to me that the large amount of rain would cause the same thing to happen. But it did. Now the kitchen is all but gone and our basement is completely useless. We're going to have to take out the pad {we really don't want mold problems} and we're looking for something other than carpet to replace the flooring. We need something that can handle water if it happens again. {and I think we'd be safe to say that it will} The "funny" thing is that the water is in completely different places than the last flood we had, so we'll be replacing literally all of the flooring in our basement. I don't know if we can afford to keep up with the weather!

Just Like I Said

It's raining.{again} It happened just like I said it does. And I see blue skies coming...at least for a little while.

The Good Thing About Rain

It has rained so much here. I think yesterday was the first day in maybe two weeks that we have not been pounded by rain at some point in the day. This rain is different rain than the Ohio rainstorms and grey skies that I grew up with. It may start out with blue skies, birds chirpping, grass unusually green {from all the rain} and the temperature mild. Then then wind picks up and the grey clouds come over the mountains and the storm is here. Often there is thunder and lightning, which scares Amelia to death. Other times the rain is not rain at all, but hail. When this happens, my kids say that it is raining "bug guts." We've been rained out of two ball games, one for a very close lightning storm that I think passed right by us as we tried to seek refuge in the dugout. The rain came so fast that the water rushed into the dugout and covered our shoes before we could make a run for the cars. The whole time Amelia just cried. She cried the whole time the next game too, when we had to seek shelter from a downpour. This one involved lots of "bug guts" and by the time the rain had let up enough to get to the car, the fields were puddles. The games were cancelled the next day too because the rain continued all night and the fields were too wet to play on. It didn't break my heart too much.
I really haven't minded the rain too bad. It does make me a little more somber and contemplative. But the land needs the moisture. My lawn and plants love it. And we always get little breaks of sunshine and some impressive rainbows to remind us to be happy in the midst of the storm.

Cousins

Having Lindsey move here has been so fun for my girls.

They love to play with their cousins.

Ryker wasn't sure that he liked having a pink bow on his head at Amelia's birthday.

Feeding SeaGulls at the State Park

It's fun for me too to have a little boy around the house while Lindsey is working to get their house ready to move into. Ryker loves the little table and chairs we have for the girls. Again, the pink...this time on the bib. That's what happens when my littlest boy is 8.

Ryker helped me water our new trees the other day. He likes the yellow bucket. He filled it with weeds for me this week while I was weeding the front gardens. I think he is the cutest boy ever. Of course, I am a little biased.

It's also great because Lindsey has taken over the bookkeeping/payroll for the business. We've never been so caught up. It's such a relief not to have that responsibilty anymore, and knowing that it's being done well. I'm beginning to wonder what we did pre-Lindsey in Evanston.

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.