Halloween 2009

Just Hard Times

I haven't been thinking about what to write for this post for a long time. 2009 has been a hard year for our family. In fact, I think it has been the year most fraught with trials since John and I were married. Nothing terrible has happened and we are all actually very well. But selling a house and moving 1,000 miles is hard. Living with your parents when you are in your 30's and when you have a group of destructive toddlers is hard. Moving into a new house is hard. Starting a new job is hard, and for that matter being unemployed, interviewing, and feeling uncertain about the financial welfare of your family is hard. Having all of your kids get a severe stomach flu and mostly all in one night is hard. Changing doctors and having a baby where ob practices are very different is hard. For the last month John's new job has not paid him at all. They are saying they may have half a months pay next week. That is hard. The month we were unemployed we had $3000 to live on. But moving and being unemployed and all has bottomed us out to nothing but more debt than we have had ever. This is hard. However, we have each other and we have the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We have the comfort we find in the Temple, the scriptures, and from the Latter-day prophets. We also have 7 healthy, wonderful, and good kids. We also live in America where we have clean water, central heat and air, dishwashers, hot showers, thrift stores with cheap clothing and a government that generally takes care of the poor in way that provides them with many comforts that the poor in other nations just do not have. Unlike people in several countries we have safety from war and destruction. So in reality, while things are not the way we want them to be, we are very okay. I am not scared for our family. I am sure in time we will be blessed with a job that pays and be able to provide for our family very well. I know without a doubt that as long as we work hard and live good, clean lives hard times will come and go and life will still be good. I also think that we need to let this be a time of learning for our family-- not a time of complaining.

What is to be Done America????

I recieved this email and I have no idea who wrote it. But I generally agree with the sentiments in it, so I am posting it here. For about the last month when I think, "What is to be done?" (That thought has to do with the state of our nations and the alarming rate laws are being introduced and/or enacted to decrease individual freedom and to socialize America.), I have concluded that the only thing we (regular American citizens) can do is campaign and vote to change Congress. The next big congressional election is in 2010. I plan to campaign in other states by making phone calls, blogging, and sending emails. I feel like I must do this for the future of my children. I want my children to enjoy the freedom that I have been able to enjoy.

Here is the email I recieved:

I hope you will join me in this effort to change the majority in Congress
and Senate in 2010 and make this President a one term president.
AS I PASS THIS ON TO MANY IN MY ADDRESS BOOK   I AM AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT SOME DAY I MAY NOT HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DO SO---A VERY SCARY THOUGHT.

I have noted that many elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans,
called upon  America to unite behind Obama.

Well, I want to make it clear to all who will listen that   I AM NOT 
uniting behind Obama! (I do not unite behind himm in opinion, but I think it is good to keep the laws)

I will respect the Office which he holds, and I will acknowledge his
abilities as an orator and wordsmith and I will pray for him, BUT that is
it.

I have begun today to see what I can do to make sure that he is a
one-term President!

Why am I doing this ?

It is because I do not share Obama's vision   or Value system   for
America ;

I do not share his Abortion beliefs;

I do not share his radical Marxist's concept of re-distributing wealth ;

I do not share his stated views on raising taxes on those who make
$150,000+ (the ceillng has been changed three times since August);

I do not share his view that America is Arrogant;

I do not share his view that America is not a Christian Nation; (THIS
JUST SHOWS THAT OBAMA CERTAINLY ISN'T UP ON HIS AMERICAN HISTORY!)

I do not share his view that the military should be reduced by 25%;

I do not share his view of amnesty and giving more to illegals than
American Citizens who need help;

I do not share his views on homosexuality;

I do not share his views that Radical Islam is our friend and Israel is
our enemy who should give up any land;

I do not share his spiritual beliefs (at least the ones he has made public);

I do not share his beliefs on how to re-work the healthcare system in
America ;

I do not share his Strategic views of the Middle East, and certainly do
not share his plan to sit down with terrorist regimes such as Iran.

Bottom line, my America is vastly different from Obama's, and I have a
higher obligation to my God and my country to do what is Right!

For eight (8) years, the Liberals in our Society, led by numerous
entertainers who would have no platform and no real credibility but for
their celebrity status, have attacked President Bush, his family and his
spiritual beliefs!

They have not moved toward the center in their beliefs and their
philosophies, and they never came together nor compromised their personal
beliefs for the betterment of our Country!  They have portrayed my
America as a land where everything is tolerated except being intolerant!

They have been a vocal and irreverent minority for years; they have
mocked and attacked the very core values so important to the founding and
growth of our Country!

They have made every effort to remove the name of God or Jesus Christ
from our Society!   They have challenged capital punishment, the right to
bear firearms, and the most basic principles of our criminal code; they
have attacked one of the most fundamental of Freedoms , the right of free
speech!

Unite behind Obama?  Never!

I refuse to retreat one more inch in favor of those whom I believe are
showing themselves to be Evil !

PRESIDENT BUSH  made mistakes during his Presidency , ( EVERY PRESIDENT
DOES), however; I believe that he weighed his decisions in light of the
long established Judeo-Christian principles of our Founding Fathers!!!

Majority rules in America, and I will honor the concept; however, I will
fight with all of my power to be a voice in opposition to Obama and "his
goals for America ."

I am going to be a thorn in the side of those who, if left unchecked,
will destroy our Country!!  Any more compromise is more defeat!

I pray that the results of this election will wake up many who have sat
on the sidelines and allowed the Socialist-Marxist anti-God crowd to
slowly change so much of what has been good in  America !
                            

                  *          *       *       *
"Error of Opinion may be tolerated where Reason is left free to combat
it." - Thomas Jefferson
"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God , then we will be a
nation gone under."-                Ronald Reagan


GOD BLESS AMERICA  --- AND AMERICA , BLESS GOD!

Top 10 Parenting Experiences

The Gross Top Ten

Here are our 10 most disgusting experiences with our children so far. Of course they are mostly related to the bathroom in some way.

10. The park across the street from our house in Wichita would flood whenever we had a big storm. All of the kids in the neighborhood would put on their swimsuits and go swim under the play structure. One time when we got there a girl pulled Ruth aside and said, "You don't even have to go home when you have to pee."

9. When Rachel was around 18 months she loaded everything from our bathroom trash can into the toilet. Of course we had to take everything out by hand.

8.When I was potty training Adam, he pooped his pants while he has playing outside, took it out of his underwear and smeared it onto the side of the house.

7.When Kate was 4 she shoved a chocolate icecream cone behind Johnny's car seat  and we didn't find it until we were giving some one else a ride. I should also put in the dried up cheese burger. The escaped frozen concentrate orange juice and the tray of raw pork that Ruth was suppose to take out of the car when I came home with a lot of groceries.

6.When Johnny was just a few months old a man at church asked to hold him. After I had passed him over, I noticed that his diaper had leaked poop all over my skirt. The man looked down and had poop all over his tie and shirt. I  think we all went straight home after that.

5.The summer Ruth was 6 we lived in apartments with an indoor and an outdoor pool. We told all three of our children that they had to tell us when they had to go to the bathroom and we would take them. Ruth apparently realized she could pee in the pool, not have to get out, and no one would know the difference. I think this worked well for her until she tried pooping in the swimming pool. We didn't notice it until the bath with the floaty brown pieces after swimming. We asked where the poop came from. Ruth denied it again and again, even though it was up and down her legs and in her swimsuit. She swore it must be Johnny.  Johnny put the poop in her swimsuit some how. Of course we checked the pool and there was a log of poop sitting on the edge of the pool. That was an embarassing phone call to the maintenance guy!

4.When Johnny was 5 and before we got him an inhaler, he would catch colds that would last a good month. Whenever he ran around with these colds he would really start to cough and often he would cough until he vomited. After about 2 times of him puking from coughing, I would carry him to his bed, hand him a bucket and tell him he had to cough into the bucket in case he puked. On one of these occasions, I said, "Try and calm down. Here is a bucket in case you puke, but just don't puke. That would be better." Johnny took me too seriously! He did puke and then stuck the puke back in his mouth because he was afraid he would get in trouble. I have really tried harder to have more compassion with my sick children since then. Poor kid.

3.Ruth always gets the prize for the worst vomit messes!! Once she puked down the side of her bed. We had to clean her bed, the floor, the boxspring, and the bedframe-- not to mention the sink when she went and washed her hands. Another time, she tried to turn the light on while she barfed all over the top of the toilet, the floor, the wall, the toilet paper holder, the trash can, the bathmat, and the bathtub.

2.Anya stuck a face cloth into a flushed toilet that still had poop streaks and then sucked on the face cloth before we discovered her.

1.Rachel at around 18months played in a toilet that some other kid had pooped in and forgotten to flush. (It took a while before we had friends over again after that one.)

Top Ten Sweet Experiences

There are a ton of these. Here are ten that come to mind right now. I think I have them in order of memory fondness, but there is no true 10 to 1 order.

10.Rachel rolled up her sleeve in church and asked Johnny if he would lightly scratch her. (She means rub or tickle, but she always says scratch). Johnny did and then he did so for everyone else in the family that day.

9.Kate rescued a bird from the cats mouth and tried to heal it. But it died. She also tried to save sevral mice from the cats.

8.At around 18 months Rachel was asked to say the food prayer at breakfast. She would only say, "Bless babies."

7.Johnny wrote a song about all of the nice things he likes about his mom and dad. Then he sang it to us.

6.When Rachel was born, Adam at 17months just adored Rachel. He would very gently hold her, hum to her and rub her gently when she cried. We were just amazed at how gentle and sweet Adam was with Baby Rachel.

5.When Kate was 3 we asked her what she wanted Santa Claus to bring her for Christmas. She said, "Could I have my true love?"

4. When I was pretty angry with Adam and Rachel for some serious toddler mess, Ruth, Kate, and Johnny started singing "I Like to Look For Rainbows" to make our house feel happy again.

3.Recently when I had been very busy all day, Ruth saw me start to clear out the dish washer, she came over and said that she would do it and she just did. She didn't even seem to except anything in return.

2.One night recently, Anya had crawled out of bed and could not climb back in. When she got tired she layed down on the floor to go to sleep. When we went to check on Anya and Rachel, Rachel was laying next to Anya, rubbing her back and singing softly to her.

1.When Ruth was three, I saw her walk out of our front door, and look at a group of birds eating some bird seed we had put out. She started creeping carefully toward them and said, "Don't be scared, Birdies. It is just me, Ruthy."

It's Not Wichita, Part II

Snow in October!!!!!!

Pumpkin Carving Family Home Evening

Things never work out the way you envision them in a family. I was excited to do our annual pumpkin carving with the kids last night. Because of some rather annoying work/financial circumstances (that I will blog about at some point) we have not done a lot of our usual fun stuff, like the pumpkin patch trip and all. When asked if I have been excited about Halloween my emotional response is generally, "NO, we have no money." But, John's parents gave us the pumpkins that grew in their garden and I had kept the fact that we had pumpkins a secret, so yes this time I was excited. I was excited enough to get dinner made and finished early, and to even load the dish washer for Ruth so we could get straight to pumpkin carving. At first the kids were like, "How can we carve pumpkins when we have no pumpkins?" I just sent them to do the chore of getting the pumpkins out of the car. While removing the pumpkins from the car, Ruth, Kate, and Johnny chose the ones they wanted with only a small tiff. Everyone seemed pretty happy. Since we only had 2 pumpkin carving knifes, John and I cut the tops off of all of the pumpkins. At first things were fairly calm. Joseph went to sleep, Rachel and Anya didn't seem to mind taking turns and everyone was intrigued with or disgusted by their goop enough to be pleasantly busy. We sang a couple of Halloween songs and, John got the camera set up on the tripod to take some pictures of our happy family. Not too long after that things started to slowly change. Anya took her diaper off and began climbing on the table. That led to some good, "don't try the lemonade jokes", but she started struggling and getting grumpy as John tried to wrestle a clean diaper on her. So our peace was broken up by a 1 year old's screams. Adam finished de-gooping his pumpkin first. He wanted to put a pattern on his pumpkin to help him carve a face, so I taped one on. As the other kids began finishing they wanted to tape a pattern on too. John was annoyed with this. Said he, "I like you creativity better!" I gave Rachel a pattern, but she just began bawling that it was not staying on, she needed more tape, etc. So now we had a 3 year old's screams added to the 1 year old's. John and Kate argued and eventually Kate decided to do what Dad wanted and created her own face. Around this time Ruth walked a round the table and stepped on a sharp cookie cutter used to clean out the pumpkins and gouged her foot pretty badly. John got a bandaid on it right away, but this put a definite damper on the fun. Because we only had 2 carving knives I decided it would work best if we took turns cutting out one feature at a time. Adam and Johnny did this very well, but Ruth and Kate did not. Fortunatley by the time Ruth and Kate were unhappily taking turns, Anya had settled down. Things were okay.

About the time I finished helping Johnny and Adam carve pumpkins,  Joseph woke up hungry. I took Joseph into the other room to feed him. While I was feeding Joseph, Anya came in, took off her diaper again and began dancing around naked. But she soon decided she wanted her diaper back on. She tried to put her wet diaper back on her bottom and when that failed she put it on her head. Okay so now a bath became a must. I finished feeding Joseph and put Rachel and Anya in the bathtub together. Joseph would not be out down, so I had to hold him or listen to him scream. I wanted to take a few pictures of this event (we hadn't really gotten to that much, and Ruth, Rachel, and Anya were all bathing--Ruth in a separate tub.) So John took Joseph while I tried taking a few pictures. While taking pictures, we heard some serious gagging coming from the little girls bath. John went to check and Rachel had puked in the bath tub. John was still holding Joseph. I put Rachel over the toilet, but their was still puke in the bathtub with Anya. I grabbed Joseph and put him down so he started screaming. Adam came into the bathroom (arrg) to check out the sight. But we kicked him out. I got John the cleaning stuff. He started the tub draining and the cleaning of the bathroom. Because we had already had two baths going and filled all of the way, we had to shower Rachel and Anya off in luke warm water. While I was showering off the screaming girls, John was trying to solicit the older kids to hold the screaming baby and clean up the huge pumpkin mess while he finished cleaning the puke mess. Kate picked up Joseph and he spat up all over her. We had to help her with that. Finally, we got Rachel and Anya in their pajamas, gave up on the kitchen/pumpkin mess for a time, and put Adam, Rachel, and Anya to bed. I then cleaned a bunch of the kitchen mess, but gave up on that as Joseph was still crying. I fed Joseph and read to the older kids, and John finished the kitchen mess, and then put Joseph in his bed for the night. Instead of a happy, fun family night. I think we were all just relieved when it was over, but disappointed that it was not fun. Maybe we will all be well and happy for trick or treating and have a great Halloween.

My Really Weird Husband

John wears his winter coat in the house almost every morning, but he never wears his coat when he goes outside. If I say, "It is cold. You will want to wear your coat, " when we are going out John will say, "I am not cold. I will be fine." (I usually say this when it is less than 50 degrees F out.) But every morning when I wake up and the house is between 68 and 72 degrees John is wearing his great big winter coat, two pairs of pajama bottoms, and his really big, thick sweat shirt. I think there is something wrong with all of this. Maybe John should jog for a half hour on the treadmill every morning to warm up :))!!!!!