7/11/21 Life with 4 kids

 This week has been so calm.  With Gary Jr. and Lily visiting the sacred grove, Niagara Falls, and the Eastern US with grandparents, life is pretty calm around here.  We have gone boating a few times and done crafts, went to the river with friends, but really not much .  Grant got his cast off and got put in a brace, which is great progress too.  Overall, a calm nice week. 

I also found out the teacher's graduate program I have been pursuing is moving online, which is a real possibility for me.  I, however, contacted the department chair of MCC and although MEd + 18 credit hours is listed as a requirement in the job description, he said only 1 of 40 in his faculty have gone that route.  I don't know what to do.  I would love nursing, PA, medicine, teaching, seminary, I just don't know what to do.  

What I want is something that allows me to be flexible and work from home and still use creative juices and my mind a bit.   I don't know what direction to head, and it is frustrating beyond frustrating.  I feel like my hands are tied a bit. 

7/4/21 Happy 4th and Family reunion

 

Our family reunion was amazing at Bear Lake....we had beach days, boat days, hike days, cave days (that didn't pan out), and lots of food, devotionals, and games with cousins.  I had my fill of sister time and it was just amazing to be together with such a gorgeous backdrop.  My favorite was probably kayaking in the freezing water and hauling little children out to the water trampoline we had rented for the day.  It was such a great time.  Gary and I had the bunk room, in which there was a bed for every kid, but Gary and I also had bunks (no snuggling).  I had a little weight to lose now, but it was truly a wonderful week with my family. 

We made our way down to temple square the on the way back and got to look around the conference center.  We sent our two oldest for a week of church history tours on a plane home with grandparents this week (there flight was delayed and didn't get in until 3am).  

Grandma's 90th 6/26/21

 What a wonderful family reunion.  I drove up Wednesday, (Gary and Lily stayed behind for girl's camp).  And we attended my grandma's 90th birthday party.  What a wonderful party, catered by cafe Rio in at Timpanogas park, with my mom's cousin Ronny making the birthday cake and homemade gelato (he is a pretty famous caterer in Provo).  

My grandma has always been a selfless, soft-spoken woman, and sitting there, it was clear that her family was her treasure.  Each child and grandchild spoke and gave a memory, each felt like they were important to her and her favorite.  She has taken the time to bless our lives: give money when we had babies and given cards for every single birthday.

It was lovely, and I love her so much.  Her true birthday is Christmas day, but it was so nice to have all but 1 of her grandchildren there and great-grandchildren there. 

I had to share a memory, mine was about her buying me a comforter when she knew my BYU married apartment was freezing. She saw a need and filled it.  I also talked about how she had a desire after grandpa died and she actually had the freedom to choose...to attend the temple to receive her own covenants.  She kept it in her vision, what an example to us.

We also made a stop by the Provo City Temple....a place I used to attend Stake conference in my BYU days. (note the statue....)

Lake Life 6/20/21

 The last two weeks have been lake life and enjoying time with friends at pools.  We have been boating like 8 times the last two weeks and I really love going.  We went this past Saturday with friends and it was so much fun. It makes the heat so bearable. 

A dear friend (I team teach with her for activity days) and Gary ministered to their family for years before he got called into the bishopric.  Their oldest committed suicide.  I led the music for the funeral.  It was very emotional and has produced a lot of reflection the past week about suicide and help and life being cut off too early.  

It made me want to reach out to this community that I have and love more, care more, nurture more.  I truly felt I need to try and reach others better. 

5/30/21 Bounce House of Doom

 

5/30/21

Well what a week.  Last Thursday, the last day of school, our neighborhood had a big party with bounce houses.  Grant was on one and it went up in the air 30 feet and dropped 4 boys, 3 on their heads.  C had a broken tail bone, Grant had a severe concussion, broken tooth, and broken arm, T had lacerations in his liver, spleen, broken ribs, punctured lung, and at the moment has brain damage.  R had a broken neck, back, skull fracture, broken elbow, broken patella, and broken heel.  We continue to pray for T and the potential brain damage he received. 

 This is has been the scariest moment of my life with regards to my children getting injured.  As I ran to him at the park and saw his little eyes roll to the back of his head, I prayed that the Lord would not take his sharp little brain.  The next two days seeing him unresponsive except to pain were truly agonizing.  He slept 22 of the next 24 hours.  Gratefully, he will okay. 

 I have seen God’s hand close.  I truly was in trauma mode when reaching the hospital, and felt angels present to remind me that he would be okay and these experiences would prepare me for the future.  In addition, my other kids were immediately swept up by the members of our ward and neighborhood and taken care of the next few days.

 

Some sweet tender moments:

1)      Grant couldn’t remember what he ate for dinner, mom got worried.  He said, “ Mom I still remember what 5 to the 5^th power is" and then proceeded to tell me.

2)      Last Wednesday was a moment of stress for me as Grant wiggled his broken tooth that is leaving blood all over the bathroom, and told me his elbow may be broken.  I was feeling a little overwhelmed.  Stressed, I walked in the hall to see a sign the 12-year-old young women had put on my outdoor chair saying “Be Strong”  which was a quick reminder from God to me.

3)      Lily had a lesson in which other mothers told of their impressions not to go or keep their kids close before the bounce house incident.  At first I was feeling, why did I not receive that impression? I felt in that moment that we were meant to be the hospital for the other little boys.  Gary was able to act in his bishopric calling and help these little ones while hospital visitations were limited to everyone else. 

4)      Grandparents willing to step in for whatever is needed

5) The bishopric was able to quickly set up grief/trauma counseling as a Sunday class for the adults because over 100 children mostly from our neighborhood watched this scene unfold at the party.

6) Parties were stopped and prayers were offered all across this day.

7) A ward fast was held for these four children, and I received 100+ texts from friends, school people, and acquaintances telling me they were praying for Grant. Go fund me and other fundraisers were organized. 

Here are a few news articles:

https://www.azfamily.com/news/mesa-children-recovering-after-wind-picked-up-bounce-house-more-than-15-feet/article_4ee0a66a-bddd-11eb-908b-43e7720d0b14.html?block_id=997196

https://www.azfamily.com/news/mesa-children-recovering-after-wind-picked-up-bounce-house-more-than-15-feet/article_4ee0a66a-bddd-11eb-908b-43e7720d0b14.html

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-4-brave-boys-get-back-on-their-feet

5/9/21 Mother's Day

 Well this week we are wrapping up school.  And I am ready for a little break. School has killed Gary Jr. this year.  Grant had to make an ocelot sock puppet for his rainforest presentation.  He is such a cutie! 

Charlotte and her snuggle blankie.  Can't be without it.

I was reflecting on my experience as a mother.  I have always oscillated being the highs and lows of motherhood, the companionship of having so many children and the burden of not having much freedom or free time. Seeing my baby sister have such a hard time with two and all the sisters weigh-in has made me realize how alone I was when it was really hard, and having to figure out a lot on my own.  I know how critical I had others of me in my early parenting years was so very hard,  I remember a relief society activity changing my life 

Lately, I have seen my other friends move on in their callings and interests because of their availability and I felt a little stuck.   Some growth is needed but I am just not sure in what direction.  I would love to be involved with my older children, because I feel like I am missing out a lot on my older children's growing up experience because I have according to others"my hands full".   I guess I didn't anticipate living in an high LDS population area would bring this kind of challenge.  In Houston and my mother's growing up experience you were used regardless of your family size. 

The other thing is the lack of help "babysitting" when I want to attend field trips and volunteer in my kids classes.  I don't like to pawn my kids off, but I saw the one time I had a babysitter for Charli (a mom with 2 little girls) how much she loved the social interaction.  

I remember this post, it is amazing that my body was able to do that 6 times! Have to add Charli's in....

Now I just have to raise these little people with testimonies, brains, talents, and a work ethic to rival mine. 

5/2/21 18- year-anniversary and Gary's birthday

This was our first trip since Covid.  Since Gary had to be up at Stanford this week, I tagged along and it was pretty wonderful.  Lots of beach walks, eating at Darbar Indian, Golden Gate Bridge, China town, Little Italy, and more beach walks.  I love the ocean.  We even saw 2 whales.  The highlight (of course food) was eating seafood risotto overlooking the ocean.  Well, I actually think I loved just walking on the beach the best.

The comical part of the trip was the drunk guy that sat next to Gary on a very crowded plane on the way to san Jose.  He kept leaning his head on Gary and putting his arm around him.  Talk about yuck, especially during COVID.  Ugh.  Very memorable though. 

The grandparents survived our kids crazy schedule and carpools, and it was just wonderful to be the two of us for a few days.

We came home and had a big birthday party for Gary Jr.   completely with lots of teenage boys, wet swimsuits, too much pizza and candy, and a Marvel movie while in the hot tub. Gary apparently made a bucket load of money from the party which was his highlight.  And what does he want to buy...invest in stocks.  He is a delightful and crazy kid.  He is so smart.  He is so kind to his little sisters.  He is so loyal to his friends.  He loves the group. This year has been rough on our relationship.  I hope to see the sparkle return in his eyes this summer with less homework and computer time.  I just got to get him to stay on the straight and narrow.  That kid! He got a bamboo steamer from China town for his birthday.

Also Lily's orchestra concert with her amazing friends.  Although she didn't make it into the select chamber orchestra next year (she is 3rd chair and there were only 2 spots), I hope she stay close with these girls because they are pretty stellar.  Missy plays the Viola, Jill the violin, and Chrissy the cello.