I Know. I Know. It's Been Awhile.

I know it has been a very long time since I have posted last, but I also know that you all love me anyway, right?

Since I last posted anything we have had much happen:
-Doug had his 36th birthday.
-Doug had knee surgery on his left knee to repair damage he incurred while playing his beloved football.
-My sister Amy and her family came to visit just around the holidays.
-We went through another Ice Storm and found how beautiful the world can look if it were made of crystal.
-We cleaned up broken branches (thanks to my Brother-in-Law) due to the Ice Storm
-We fed the missionaries, twice. Once on Christmas, and once again this last week.
-We drove to Lawton and explored some new-to-us parts of Oklahoma.
-Caleb has played in several basketball games.
-We went to see the lights in Chickasha.
-We visited with one of Doug's old mission friends as he was in town.
- We drove many institute students to the airport and picked them up from the airport.
-We went to the movies.
-Doug spent 3 days in Dallas at a training.
-I cooked for the Institute 3 times (cooking for 30 people)
-we Celebrated Christmas, and New Year's
-We did many, many chores and lots of homework.

The Ice Storm

This is a branch right in front of our entryway.  Now just imagine each leaf and branch on each on each tree, along with each blade of grass and each street sign.  It was amazing.

This is a picture Caleb took with my iPad on the way home from church the week we had the Ice Storm. I wish that you could see it in a little better detail, it was simply breathtaking and as I would drive around I was amazed to see how the world had been transformed into something I had never seen.

I learned that an ice storm can cause a lot of damage, especially to trees.  The ice weighs down the limbs so much that sometimes branches just snap off.  These two pictures are of the large branch that broke off the tree that is in our front yard.  The tree is actually between our house and our neighbor's, but the branch fell into our yard.  

A few houses down there was a branch that landed on a car, it broke out the windows and it took a couple of days before our neighbors really knew what to do with it.

I don't know if you can tell how large that branch is.  Doug heard it as it crashed down to the ground in the night.  It had fallen in the street, and during the same night the city came and pulled the branch into our yard.  We we now in charge of breaking it into manageable pieces so that the city could come haul it away.  Thank goodness to my brother-in-law Rich who came and used a chainsaw to chop it all up.  Caleb and Brody helped haul the pieces to the side of the road into a pile.  I just couldn't have done it and Doug was still down with his knee surgery. 

A Change of Subject

This week I have found this fun little machine on our street.  

You know what this is right?  The local police place these little guys around town to give you an acute awareness of what the speed limit is.  This remarkable and annoying little machine reads your speed as you approach the sign and if you go over the speed limit you get a blinking number.  

I have seen many of these in my life, and much more now that we live in a larger city.  The funny thing is this week as I have seen it, it has angered me.  Usually I would just try to shove it off, but this week as I see this little sign each time I come home I am annoyed.  I think I figured out why.  

This little sign/machine is very good at pointing out whenever I speed.  When I speed (even just one MPH over) this little sign sure is good about letting me know about it.  I don't like that.  

I don't like when people or things point out everything that I am doing wrong. I also don't like it when I  am made to feel like I am not perfect.  I am going to go out on a limb here and guess that you don't either.  

Now, I know that I am not perfect.  I never declared that I was.  I know I mess up, and I do mess up quite often.  I just want to be willing to become better without someone pointing out all of my little tiny mistakes. When others point out what I am doing wrong I almost want to rebel. (I am sure you have no idea what that feels like. ;)  )

There is someone I met when we were living in Idaho who whenever I was around her she made me feel loved.  It was so easy for me to be around her.  I was always accepted and understood.  I could voice out certain frustrations and she would guide me with her years of experience.  I never felt uncomfortable around her and would actually seek to find ways to be around her more.  She was such a great example to me of Christ.  I know that that is how He would make me feel.  I think that when I meet Christ He will have so much compassion, love, and understanding for me. 

Christ atoned for my sins.  He created a way for me to be able to walk away from my wrong doings and become better.  When I accept His Atonement I am aware of what my sins are, but I am also aware that I am forgiven.  Each week I am reminded of His Atonement and I have the opportunity to recommit my life to Him,  "To always remember Him".  I know that He, as I commit myself to Him and to becoming better each and every day, will be my advocate; He will support me with His compassion, love, and understanding.

I am so thankful for my sweet friend and her example.  She was the exact opposite that annoying little Speed Limit machine.  She too had much compassion, love, and understanding toward me. I am excited to work each day to become closer to Christ, and for each week to recommit myself to Him, so that I can be an example to others like my dear friend was to me.

A Christmas Challenge

Our dear bishop quoted this a few weeks ago.  I found it today and remembered what a wonderful challenge this is.  I hope to succeed in allowing someone to feel Christ's love through me before Christmas.

December

The beginning of December I found that we were able to head outside with just sweatshirts on.  In fact, Drake and I raked leaves all morning on Monday, then Leah and Drake enjoyed playing on the school playground.  Leah ended up finding a ladybug shell among the leaves.  I was a beautiful day, and I was loving it because it is so unlike the weather that I have ever had at the beginning of December.

Then on Thursday Heavenly Father blessed us with a little bit of home by sending a cold front along with a storm.  Friday school was cancelled along with all extra curricular activities, that included Caleb's basketball tournament. It has been a welcome break.  

Friday morning we woke up with several inches of snow.  

By the afternoon I don't think there was a part of our yard that didn't have a footprint in the snow.  

 This was our entryway at the end of the day.  A few towels with shoes all over the place.






One of my favorite traditions is whenever there is a snow day and the kids are home from school I like to make homemade doughnuts.  I use my Grandma Bowers' recipe as did my mother.  It sure brings comfort to those tummies that have been playing out in the cold all day.

We used a reward system called "brownie points" to help the kids know how many doughnuts they could eat.  Each time a child did their chore or was kind to someone they received a point.  How ever many points they had told how many doughnuts they were awarded.  It was great!  I had kids willing to do all sorts of extra chores.  Unfortunately the doughnuts ran out before the chores did.

I also love to make homemade hot chocolate on cold snowy days.  Everyone wanted seconds on that too.

It now feels like it can be Christmas.  We have the cold outside with warm treats in our belly.  Drake and I worked hard during the days this week to set up all of our Christmas decorations, so just another element added to make sure that Christmas can be on it's way.

 Thanks to Heavenly Father for allowing us to have a little home here in Oklahoma.

Thanksgiving

We sure have been blessed in so many ways.  

I love the opportunity to think about all of those blessings during Thanksgiving.  

Doug and I decided this year to invite the missionaries for the Thanksgiving dinner.  It was because of some advice from Terry and Denise Littledike that we chose to have the missionaries.  Terry and Denise once had the exact same job that Doug took and had to learn how to live without their family near, so they often had the missionaries in their home.  It was a great feeling to know that we could serve others who also were missing family on this day.
   Now, inviting the missionaries here is no small feat.  We have four in our ward and three serve in the institute where Doug is currently working.  Two other missionaries were invited to come as well, so in all we had 9.  That makes 12 adults for dinner along with our 4 children.

 Thanksgiving is Doug's favorite holiday because he usually plays 4-5 games of football while I cook.  This year was a bit bitter for him because he was unable to play.  Not only because of his former health problems that he incurred from his meniscus surgery he had during Labor day weekend, but he played football about a month or so ago and he tore several ligaments on his opposite leg.  Thanksgiving football is one of his most favorite things (this has been a source of argument between he and I for several years) and this was his first time in 20 years he has not played.

Caleb, Brody, Drake, and Leah enjoyed playing just dance on the Wii during the cooking.

This is a silly video of Leah.  A few years ago at my parents home my siblings dressed Caleb up as a turkey and put on a Thanksgiving play.  Caleb decided to carry on the tradition.  This is Leah trying to figure out how to walk like a turkey, but she was unable to remember her lines so Drake ended up acting out the turkey when they performed for the missionaries.


It was a great day.  We ended up eating at the Institute because there was no way I would have been able to fit all the missionaries in our home.  The Sister had come the day before to help cook pies, deviled eggs, and rolls.  The Elders did the dishes. We all played a few games and enjoyed visiting with each other. It really did feel like we were family.




Friday we had a real treat.
My good friends the Barton's came to visit.  I taught at the high school in Melba with Dennis.  They had come to Oklahoma to visit his sister for Thanksgiving and found that she only lived about 10 minutes away from us.  What a great visit we had.  Jennifer is always so much fun to talk with.  They had moved this summer as well to a new town, so it was fun to ask about how their transition was going.  It's interesting the places you find dear good friends.  I never would have expected to have become so close.  I am so thankful for it.

Like I said, we are so blessed.

The Weather

You know, we heard that we were going to love the fall and winter here in Oklahoma.  I have been loving this fall.  There are still so many trees with the beautiful colors of autumn on them.
These trees really love the leaves, they just won't let go of them.

Last week we had gorgeous weather.  There were days that were nearly 70 degrees.  I have enjoyed walking just over the mile to Leah's school in the afternoon to pick her up and the weather could not have been more picture perfect.  Walking home with the cutest kids in the world is also a wonderful thing.  I love when they share what is on their minds and also find wonderful discoveries in nature.  There have been many times when we have brought home a stick, acorn, or leaf collection.

The following picture is the street that we walk home on.  This was from a few weeks ago.  The first time I drove down this street with all of the trees I fell in love.

Well, guess what?  The weather changed.   Last Thursday morning I woke up and turned on the news to see what we were going to be expecting as far as the weather goes.  I was very surprised!  

I honestly don't remember the last time I saw a 100% chance of precipitation.  

Not only was I surprised by the 100% chance of precipitation, but I was also surprised by the sudden drop from 68 high on Thursday to 32 high on Friday, and I have never seen or been through an ICE storm before.  Then, on Sunday it showed a 70% chance of snow.  It rarely snows in Oklahoma, so it is a dramatic event when it happens.  Everyone makes a pretty big deal about it and hardly anyone is on the roads.  It's kind of nice....  

Now knowing that the weather was definitely changing from the wonderland that I had been enjoying I decided to go and talk to the Support Specialist (secretary) in at the Institute to ask about what I need to expect. She was super helpful.  After she showed me some pictures of what to expect I learned that I was thankful we had a fire place just in case the power went out. (which it did not.)

This weekend was fantastic.  We stayed home and rested up.  Caleb was to have a basketball game, but it was cancelled due to the icy roads.  We watched some fun movies, played some games, and read some books snuggled under some blankets and with the fireplace in use.  It was so good in fact, I didn't want to send the kids to school today.  I just love having my family near.

This morning though we got up and got ready and sent the children where they were supposed to go.  As I was driving home from dropping them off I noticed that still the leaves were stuck to the trees.  Even though they had each been coated by ice through the weekend they are still as beautiful as ever.  It was like the ice had preservation effect. 

The red leaves on the tree near our driveway.

The tree near our driveway

Isn't it beautiful?  I am so used to Idaho where by the time it snows everything is all brown, and there isn't much color left.  It was simply beautiful to see all the icy crunchy piles of leaves and the dust of white snow all around.  It creates some sort of magic in me.  I just want to stay near my loved ones and pretend we all live in a snow globe.  

 I love learning about this new home.  

The tree in front of our kitchen window. 11/25/2013

Did you notice the snow?  

The Happenings

Recently our oldest child, Caleb, finished his football season as a seventh grader.  He was pretty successful too because he played every minute in every game during the season.  I love that kid and the hard work ethic that he has.  He is an amazing example to me in so many ways.

Caleb now had the opportunity to make the 7th grade basketball team.  So far he has just been participating in practices, but his first game is tomorrow night, we will see how that goes.  He loves sports and loves to be busy.  Every minute spare time he has he asks to go play basketball so that he can improve as much as possible.  

Brody is currently playing the tuba in the 6th grade band.  I love listening to him play.  He is really pretty good at it and has a natural knack for it.  His band teacher Mr. C complimented him in front of the entire band the other day announcing to one and all "Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a tuba player!"  Brody beamed with confidence about this.  He is thrilled to be finding his way in this new town.  He has a friend who is also in the band that he met this summer, but if you know Brody at all he has many more friends now.  That kid is one of the friendliest I have ever known.  I love his genuine heart.  

Leah exudes confidence in her academics.  She recently found out from her report card that she is excelling in each subject.  She loves her teacher.  We have decided that her teacher reminds us of Miss Honey from the book Matilda.  Leah not only believes that she is smart, but she now knows she is smart.  I have heard her claim that a few times in the last week and it sure makes my heart swell.  Leah is a girl after my own heart, she loves all things that involve the arts.  She is constantly drawing and creating.  She has expressed her desire to begin a dance class so that one day she can be a great dancer. We have enjoyed many things together as mother and daughter.  I could not be more blessed.

Drake.  Oh Drake.  That kid has me wrapped around his little finger.  Drake loves to snuggle and he enjoys playing trains, cars, and legos.  He is the life of the party whenever we go to the Institute to visit Doug at work.  Elder and Sister Homan the missionary couple who serve in the Institute also love Drake to bits.  Drake is learning to play the harmonica so that he and Elder Homan can play as a duet one day.  Drake is clever, and he knows that he is loved beyond his capacity to understand.  Drake is one smart boy and he will never cease to amaze me with words that come out of his mouth.  

Doug is learning more and more about his new job each week.  I am sure that he is overwhelmed often, and I try to ease his burdens as best as I can.  This is a huge learning curve and he has quite a bit more responsibility than he had in Idaho.   

I help at the Institute once a week by making lunch for "Friday Forum".  This is when students come to listen to a speaker and then eat a yummy lunch afterwards.  I work with another woman to do this and I am so thankful to have a purpose.  It also allows me the opportunity to meet the people Doug works with on a regular basis.  I love being able to put a face to a name. 

Doug's younger sister, Megan, recently moved here to Oklahoma and is currently residing with us.  It has been so great to have her here.  Leah mentioned how excited she was to get a sister.  Megan amazes me with how well she is getting along.  She found herself a job already and has found opportunities to work a little on the side helping an elderly couple.  She is also already in the social scene of the singles ward, she goes to all the functions she can and participates in Institute.  She is also a great support to Doug. 

Not Easy

Would you say you have an easy life?

No?

What?  You must, you look like you have it all together!


Something that I have realized lately is that not one person on this earth has it easy.  Life is NOT easy.  It wasn't meant to be.

I recently was reading the life story of my step-mom's grandmother.  I found her life so interesting.  She was born in Germany and joined the church there. She was growing up during much of the Hitler years.  Later one of the missionaries came back and married her and he then brought her back to the states.  Their life was tough!  They had a farm and also eight children.  She was married to her sweetheart for just over 20 years when he had an accident and died, leaving her alone to raise the rest of the children left at home.  She worked on the farm with her children to keep the family united and fed.
She lived as a widow for 48 more years before she was able to join her sweetheart.  Of course there are many, many, more details to this sweet woman's life, but what I realized is her life was not easy.  Though when I met this Grandma, she was so gentle and kind, I would never have imagined that she had gone through such trials.


As we prepared to move here to Oklahoma, we knew were supposed to come here.  We had that personal revelation revealed to us through the Holy Ghost.   It was amazing.  I lean on that feeling a lot.  Why?  I have to lean on that feeling a lot to remind myself that this is what the Lord wanted us to do.
Life is hard.  We have had hard times.  Not everything goes our way.  I certainly have imagined much of our experience here to go much differently.

Life certainly isn't easy, but if it were easy would it be memorable or as wonderful?  Would I be able to realize the beauty of a great day if I had not had the crummy days before?  I figure that I am still being blessed, that I am being built to be the exact person Heavenly Father wants me to be.  Through each experience I learn and I grow.  If I become bitter, I believe that my growing will lessen.  I want to be what Heavenly Father has envisioned me to become.  I don't know what the future will hold, and frankly I truly don't want to know.  I can only handle one day at a time, trying my best.  My best is not anyone else's best, but it is MY best.  If I keep putting in my best, eventually I will become better than I am today.

Knowing that others have had trials comforts me. I love knowing that we are all in this together; that generations before us have had to problem solve their lives day by day and generations after us will have to do the same.  It is in this that it really doesn't matter our age or our differences, because we all have one similar truth....Life is not Easy.