Thoughtful Thursday: Can it Get Any Harder

To a group on Facebook, I wrote:

"It's nice to have good family relationships when the fan on our furnace dies leaving you with no a/c the same day the wii quits working, one week after the van breaks down while you are 5 months into unemployment and counting and you just want to yell UNCLE. And then your teenage daughters get home from school, seek you out and tell you every detail of their day. Family makes life bearable. I love my teenagers!!!!!!"

Needless to say, life has been rough. On Wednesday, the fan to the furnace died leaving us with no air conditioning. On Thursday, we got the van to the Ford dealership so their electric specialist can begin to diagnose the problem. He will not be able to get to it before Tuesday. Our minivan has not had air conditioning since 2010.

On Friday, it hit 90 degrees inside our house and close to 100 degrees outside. It doesn't look like it will be cooling down any time soon. We have no cool basement to retreat to, hardly any fans, and our bedrooms are all on the second story. We can't even begin the process of repairing the furnace until we know what damage the car will be to the credit card we know we have no way of paying off for who knows how long.

This is the time of year where both of our cars have to be inspected and registered. We already put $500 on a credit card to get tires for the van so that it would pass inspection. Not too long after that a rock hit the windshield on the van leaving a big spidery chip. That will have to be replaced. I have no idea what it will be for the minivan yet. 

As I have been driving our kids back and forth to school, hearing the news on the radio has been tough. Broadcasters are always spouting off the statistics of unemployment and food stamp usage. They'll either talk about how it is getting better or how this is the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression. And then I think, well, we are those statistics, and while this might not be considered a Great Depression for the world, it is our own personal great depression. 

The kids are seeing the soccer games being played at the park and say they wish we weren't so poor so that they could play soccer too. I have had to email all the teachers that require fees and tell them our situation and ask them to be patient as we get all the forms necessary to apply for fee-free school. And then there are the secretaries at the school that give my kids a hard time when they turn in the forms or the teacher that mockingly states as she walks through the office, "I want my fees free too," as I'm asking the secretary if a fee free program even exists.

I do want to say, "Uncle!" I wish I could just get a good high paying job and things would be great. I wish John had gotten a job months ago before our money ran out. I wish finances weren't tough before this and we had $40,000 saved and no debt. But that has not been our reality. 

Our reality has been thus:

We have never taken big vacations or bought new fancy furniture, houses, boats, or cars. We haven't bought clothes that weren't just necessary. I do not have a closet full of shoes. We don't have a huge movie collection, nice dishes or anything. The worst we have done is gone on dates instead of putting that money into savings. John prepared well with plenty of education and training to be able to support his family and have his wife stay home with his children. He thought about that as he chose a career and schooling. The reality is this is our trial. This will make us stronger if we endure it well. 

Our blessings are not financial. Our blessings are our 9 amazing children, our good health, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Monday Management: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Homemade cookies are one of my families favorites. The kids love coming home from school to a plate of hot cookies. I have been developing my recipe for years. At last, I think it is perfect,

Here's what I do:

1/2 C butter
3/4 C sugar
3/4 C brown sugar

Mix together until it is smooth
add:

2 large eggs

Mix
add:

1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Mix
add:

2 C all purpose flour
1 1/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 for 9 minutes.

You can use regular salt and imitation vanilla and shortening instead of butter. But the butter, the sea salt, and the pure vanilla extract enhance the flavor nicely. It takes me about 10 minutes to mix these up by hand. I can always just mix up some cookie dough in short notice when the kids are hungry and we are out of other quick snacks.

Our other favorite homemade cookies are: Big, Soft Ginger Cookies, Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies, Jammie Dodgers, and No Bake chocolate cookies.

This Week at Our House # 31

1. We got the car fixed and the next day it broke down the same way. We are going to need to get it checked by a car electrical specialist. I think we will bring it in tomorrow morning. John had a phone interview this week. This was his first interview since early June. I don't think this will result in a job, but interviews mean hope.
2. School started for 4 of the kids and Rachel was off. All of the driving and the lunch making with doctors appointments and trying to get the car fixed and start of the school year parties, and the paperwork, emails, and phone calls, etc made for the craziest, hardest week of my life! This year is the first year I have asked for a back to school blessing for mom. I hope things slow down. But, I am very grateful for Legacy Prep. I already know my kids are going to get a good classical education there.
3. Ruth finished off her last week of summer vacation. I am sorry that it had to be such a crazy week. She starts Bountiful High tomorrow. She is excited for the 10th grade. I am apprehensive. Her summer reading assignment was clearly anti-Christian based on a straw man argument. I am down right worried about who her English teacher is and what she is going to try and put into my daughter's head.
4. Kate had her first week of the 9th grade. I think it has been a tough week. She had trouble with her locker. She's struggling with not knowing anyone and trying to make friends. She did have a nice schedule change surprise. Instead of taking Latin, Kate gets to take two year long art classes. Kate turned 14 today. She has always been such a blessing to me. I love her so much and I am happier because she is a part of my life.
5. Johnny is doing pretty well in the 8th grade. He has one kid who picks on him in gym and he is handling that gracefully. He's made it to all of his classes fine. He seems to be enjoying what he is learning and he is doing his homework without nagging or complaining. I am proud to say that Johnny is undoubtedly mature enough for the 8th grade. I am glad that the Spirit has guided me on what to do for his education.
6. Adam started the third grade. He keeps forgetting his lunch, which is annoying. Other than that he seems to like his new school, teacher, and classmates. He is also going to bed earlier without complaining which indeed is miraculous.
7. Rachel had a very tough week. She hated seeing everyone go off to school and wear their school uniforms while she was out of school and on vacation. Rachel's year apparently is the most over populated in our neighborhood. It is really difficult to get kids in her grade into the charter schools, and the public schools are over flowing. I guess that was a popular year to have a baby.
8. Anya started kindergarten. She is loving it. She has asked everyday if this is a day she gets to go to school. Anya was my first kid that could remember her "friends" name after the first day of school.
9. I did a little bit of homeschool pre-school with Joseph and he is just in love with his time with me, writing in a workbook and reading lots of stories. He really needs me to focus on him. I am glad to have this school year to really make that happen.
10. Josh is a cuddly little guy. Every morning he has to sit next to me and get in his cuddles before he is good to start the day.
11. Arwen had her shots this week. Poor baby. The doctor was worried because she is only 17 pounds, but all 5 of my daughters were 17 pounds at 12 months. Arwen is actually a lot taller than my other daughters.

This Weeks Pictures

Anya's first day of kindergarten

Rachel and Anya helped me cut up a bunch of peaches! It was so fun having my little girl's help out.

Beautiful Kate is now 14!!!!!

She's getting 5 teeth right now, poor baby

She pulled out the air freshner

Thoughtful Thursday: A Frightening Ideology

Imagine a part of the population believed the only good they could do in the world was to die? Imagine that the rest of population believed this was true too. Imagine if certain people were born simply to harvest their organs for the people who were 'chosen' to live. Imagine a Brave New World.

Some people have gone beyond imagination. Some people are promoting these ideas in the public square. Some people, possibly without fully considering the implication and poison of such ideas, are trying to legalize death as an optional cure for the disabled or terminally ill. And to make it sound good: use the organs of the disabled to save the lives of others.

Sherri Muzher, a 43 year old Michigan woman in the final stages of MS is pushing to legalize euthenasia by "making a wish".

"Homebound and now living in Flat Rock, the law school graduate and avid writer can no longer use her skills she once thrived on, but she believes she can still help others. That's why she wants to end her life and donate her organs.'It would be a nice legacy to give life,'"

No where in the North America is assisted suicide coupled with organ donation.  Muzher must be hoping that the right argument will change this.

Others are making the same wish. In Toronto Canada, a mother of an autistic 13 year boy  recieved an anonymous letter from a neighbor.  The letter stated:

"He is a hinderance to everyone and will always be that way!!!!!Who the ___is going to care for him," the letter states.  "No employer will hire him, no normal girl is going to marry/love him and you are not going to live forever!! Personally, they should take whatever non retarded body parts he possesses and donate them to science. What the ___ else good is he to anyone!!!”

Convincing disabled people that their deaths are better for the world than their lives is a frightening premise.It would be downright dangerous if a wider society held that belief. Do not be fooled. Suicide and death, even coupled with aide, are not for the greater good. A moral society cares for the ill and the handicap with love and respect.

This Week at Our House #30

1. I arrived in the airport Wednesday night just after 11pm. The next day John and I went grocery shopping and the van broke down. We had someone give us a jump. The van started but kept beeping and the electrical stuff kept blinking in and out. Then the gas light went on. We had to stop to get gas, but we did not turn off the van. Still while John was pumping the gas, the van died again. We had someone else jump start us again and it did not work. John tried to push the van away from the pumps and a few guys came to help him. They weren't able to get very far. I suggested trying to jump start it again. A guy with a big jeep did it and the van started. We were able to make it home before the van died again. John took the battery to be tested and it is good. So it looks like we have to get a new alternator. Blec. Life can be so tough sometimes.
2. I loved the beach and spending the first half of the week with my fam. I got to visit with Rhoby, she was like my second mom. I hadn't seen her since my wedding so I just loved that. I loved coming home to my husband and cuddling all of my boys. I am blessed with great family.
3. My parents took Ruth and Kate out school shopping and out to dinner. They got Ruth a very fashionable wardrobe to start Bountiful High in. I am glad Ruth got to be spoiled. On Friday, Ruth and Kate had girl's camp. Because it was ward camp this year and there are only 5 young women in our ward and only the leaders could attend the first day, the leaders decided to make girl's camp a day camp this year. They went tubing on Friday and hiking on Saturday. Despite no sleep over, no testimony meeting, and no songs around the campfire, they had a great time.
4. Kate had a great last few days at my family's. Because we slept next to the TV, Ruth and Kate did a Dr. Who marathon each night while I chatted with John. Kate had fun with girl's camp. She starts school tomorrow. She is nervous about her locker and combination most of all. Did I tell you that Kate is not yet 14 and she tested into honors pre-calculus and honors 9th grade English? Did I tell you Kate didn't read very well until the 3rd grade? Did I tell you that I am proud of Kate? 
5. Johnny kept the house cleaned up some while I was gone. He also did a bunch of laundry. Johnny spent his last week of summer vacation building legos. He made some pretty awesome lego helicopters. Johnny's pretty creative and really good at building things.
6. Thursday, I found out that Adam's spot at Legacy Prep was still open. So he's going! He's registered and starting school tomorrow. I am not going to home school at all this year. I feel relieved and guilty for being relieved. Adam is excited, and even though he is attending a whole new school, 2 girl's from his 2nd grade class will be there with him.
7. Rachel was a little star at my family's and so kind and such a good friend to Sadie. Rachel has reached star status as she made up a song that got stuck in all of our heads and is still going. The title: Junk Food Vacation. The day after we left, Sadie sadly said to Monika, "Junk food vacation is over." Rachel had her last two days of school before she got off for her first break of the year. She has been a little jealous while I've been getting school uniforms and stuff ready for the 4 Legacy Prep kids. Maybe, she'll still get in this school year, but it is doubtful as there are 15 kids total on the priority list for second grade.
8. Anya was a little crazy on the plane ride home moving around and being bored. But she made it and didn't really bother any one. Thankfully our plane had free dish-tv. Cartoons helped a lot. 
9. I was so glad to hold my little Joseph again. He's been really good since I've been home. I am really happy that he will get focused daily little kid time since I am not homeschooling anyone but him (for pre-school). 
10. I sure missed my little toe head. He's hugged and hugged me since I got home. Today I asked him who he played with in nursery. He said he played with a truck. I asked if he played with the boys and he said he played with a car.
11. Arwen took her first two steps yesterday. I think she'll be walking sometime in the next month. My mom bought her red sparkley shoes and she has been sleeping with them.

This Week's Picture

Grandpa let the kids bury him.

My mom bought matching outfits for all the little girls.

Waiting in the airport to go home.

Back to School 2013 Photo Shoot