Dirty little rat -

Jake has a new job.  Which means that Jake has new money.  The rule WAS that he had to put half into savings, pay his tithing, and the rest was his to spend.

Jake likes to spend.

Saturday, I got a phone call that went something like this.

Jake:  "Mom will you take me to Petco to buy a fish?"

Me:  "No.  We don't want anymore indoor pets."  

So he came home with a hamster.  

I began to raise my voice ... lecture ... and throw a little fit.

Jake:  "But you said that I couldn't get a fish"

Me:  "No.  I said that we don't want anymore indoor pets."

I continued to rant and rave.

Not only did he purchase a hamster, but he purchased the whole castle and moat that is apparently required to raise the hamster into a fine young rat.  He bought the best food, the best fluffy white stuff that lines the bottom of the castle and the best exercise ball that any creature would desire.  He spent every last penny of his earnings and all of it was non-refundable.

I continued to rant and rave.

About 20 minutes after arriving home with his new little friend and introducing him to his new surroundings and naming him Wall-E,  I heard this ...

Jake:   "No.  Please don't die.  Please don't die.  Please don't die."  Tap, tap, tapping on the castle wall.  Gosh he's dead."

Me:  Feeling a little guilty about the ranting and raving and possible verbal abuse to the rodent ... we hopped in the truck and drove to get a replacement. 

New rule.  No more purchases without some serious consent from a parent.

The new little guy is named Wall-E 2.0.

We're giving it a trial run.

Jake is grounded.

Creative genius I tell you!

The other day, I was going through photos, and I found this little number ...

This picture is not only hilarious, but it also tugs on my heart strings ... yes, I have them.  This was 1975.  I had just lost my Mom, my Dad had just lost his high school sweetheart, and there we were just trying to hang on for dear life.  We were living with my Grandma and the big Daddy-Daughter Date came up.  What a trooper my Dad was ... and what a great sport to wear this homemade mess.  What?  You didn't realize that his outfit was homemade?  Stop it! 

Since this picture defined what a great Dad I have, I decided that I would like to use it for Father's Day.  So, of course, I called up Miss Kacey.  Because she's a creative genius.  I told her that I'd like to make a card out of this picture.  She giggled.  Five minutes later ... she emailed me this masterpiece!  In one hour, it was waiting for me at the local Walmart to pick up and mail to Overgaard, AZ.

He loved it.

I don't know how she does it, but she does it good.  How did she get that paperclip on the picture?  How did she come up with that cute notebook paper background?  How did she know how to put it all together to create exactly what I wanted?  I don't know.  

On Mother's Day, I wanted my little Nursery kids to be able to give their Momma's something at church.  So I sent her a sweet little picture, and she turned it into a gift.  

Look at this adorable graduation announcement ... front & back ~

And these are my super cute nephews & niece in the form of a perfect Christmas card.  

So my point is ... she's a genius.  And if you are like me, and you have no idea how to participate in this digital age that we're in ... you should contact Kacey.  She's good.  She's real good.  Amen.

Happy Birthday Matthew Parry!

 

This is so weird. 

How can you be 24 when I'm only 29?  

Happy Birthday my boy.

They walked, and walked, aaaaaand walked.

The Trek was a huge success from the Shaker point of view.  My instincts were correct ... my boys are part pioneer.  They loved every minute of it and Gary was ready to go again as soon as their journey was over.

Look at these cute pictures! 
Click on them to enlarge ... and see my boys right up front.

Jake was assigned to the Free Family with Ma & Pa Free.

Garrison was assigned to the Harvey Family with Ma & Pa Harvey.

And Gary (who is hiding in the back) was assigned to the Hutchinson Family.

If we are ever counseled to walk across the plains again ... I will have no problem sending my boys men.  They will most likely have to send for me later ... by airplane ... accompanied by a soft pillow, a blanket and plenty of carbohydrates mingled with some protein.  Amen.

From Junior High to the trek ~

So much has happened since I blogged last!  School is out and Summer is in full swing.  We completed another phase in our house as we finished strong in Junior High. 

Elementary School ... check.

Junior High ... check.

High School ... here they come!

Garrison got straight A's this term and I couldn't be more proud.  

Jake ... worked very hard as well. :)

Today, my modern family has traded in all of their batteries, bathrooms and comfy beds for three days of pioneer living!  They will be pushing handcarts, hiking mountains, sleeping on the ground and eating off of tin plates as they reenact our pioneer heritage.  When Matthew and Kacey did this a few years ago, they dreaded it.  It was hard, hard, hard.  Tears were shed (not by Matthew) and blisters were born.  But this morning, the attitude was different.  These three boys could not be more excited.  Gary has been running around for a month getting ready for this day.  I think he was born to be a pioneer.  I can't wait to hear all of their stories!  Look how cute they are! 

 

Dear Keaton -

When I got this picture on my phone on Saturday, I cried.  I saw you and Dad standing there, and my mind got dizzy.  I thought to myself ... "Wait a minute!  Dad said he was working in Utah ... Keaton is in Idaho ... oh ya, they're right next to each other.  Gosh Dang it Gary!"

 
I realized that Dad had pulled a fast one.  He called your Mission President to ask for permission to see you, but he forgot to ask for my permission.  Silly Dad.

After I was done huffing, puffing and pouting, I realized that his decision was wise.  If Dad had asked what I thought about a quick visit ... I would have stomped my foot and said absolutely not!  And then, once I saw that my opinion didn't matter to him, I would have swiftly packed my own bag and hopped on board.  And then, once I saw your face ... I would have clutched you like there was no tomorrow and probably stuffed you in my bag and took you home.  Who knew how wise Dad really is!

His report (and your Mission President's report) is that you are solid.  This little distraction would not affect you, because you are focused and steady.  I'm so proud of you ... still a little bit mad at Dad ... but SUPER proud of you.

Have your best week ever!

Love, Mom

Arkansas Trip - Day 3

I woke up in the morning feeling like P Diddy ... just kidding.  We woke up early the next morning and drove through some curvy, windy roads to get to Blanchard Springs Caverns.  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

We took an elevator 200 feet into the ground ...

and came out to see this. 

The pictures don't do it justice ...

trust me ... 

it was super cool. 

After exploring the deep underground,

it was time to get cleaned up and go baptize Grandma Freda!

This was, by far, the best part of the trip.  

 She was so excited and couldn't stop smiling.

 So proud of these two Shakers!

This is Elder Quinn and Elder Syme. 

They taught her everything she needed to know.  

They loved Freda and she adored them.

After 18 years of waiting for another member of our family to join us on this spiritual journey, it was finally here.  It's so exciting to see a lady of this caliber, who has always been a very good, righteous and happy person ... actually find a whole other level of happiness and meaning.  Freda knows her Bible.  She has studied her scriptures for years and arguably knows them better than many.  As she studied, prayed and came to realize that there was another book that added to her knowledge and the Bible ... she said "It just HAS to be true!"  She never looked back.

We are so glad that we were able to experience this as a family.  Watching a person that is darn near perfect, grow in strides that didn't seem possible, is a testament of what is available to everyone.

If you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and you would like to learn more about it ... check out our website.  It's so exciting!

Keaton even added his input on the website.  He's so cute!

I know that this is the one true church on the earth today.  This statement might sound a bit uppity, but shouldn't you know this about your religion?  There are many good people and awesome works going on in our world, but I stand firm in my knowledge that this is the one true Gospel.  It is perfect.  I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has created a plan that has helped me grow while I'm here, so that I can return to Him with my family at my side and live in a state of glory that is incomprehensible.  I know that I have family members already there preparing for us and teaching those that didn't get to hear this message while they were here.  It's amazing.  If my testimony can testify of one thing ... it's that there is more.  So much more.  Amen!