My Journal

 The last day of choir and orchestra at our house. It went well and everything sounds amazing. Martha is playing a lot of the music so I can lead which is a huge blessing. It really is a miracle that her surgery isn't until after the concert and that she can play a few of the songs that aren't my best one and even the ones that are I can help the singers by leading. I am looking forward to this concert...I'm thinking it might be one of my last big concerts but we shall see.

 Frances was back in town so I picked her up for church. It was fun to see her and good to hear that her testimony is still strong and that she has a strong desire to stay strong in the gospel. Alden and I did a musical number today. I played the violin and he played the piano. It went well but no one really said anything about it. I feel like it was a song I thought sounded good and would be nice but maybe I didn't make enough spiritual connections to it that I am not sure how well it brought the spirit but hopefully it did for someone.  The girls wore the dresses I made to church today. Fun to have them wear matching dresses that I made.

 I cooked up some eggs and hashbrowns and then left for the open house at the school. Alden and Calvin came on their own just a little bit after I did. Michael took Benson and Evan to basketball and took Roslyn and Maebryn along with them as I was going to be gone all day.  The open house seemed to go well. There were probably only a few new people looking into the school as a new school for them for the year but there was good flow of people and everything looked great. I finished up at the open house around 3pm. Once home we were going to have art with Sister Taber but she wasn't feeling well so we just had a nice low key evening at home. Which worked out well as Michael and everyone that was at basketball didn't get home until around 4pm. Both boys got metals for how they played today. It was a nice day. Michael and I ended it by watching a couple episodes of psyche. 

 These are a picture of a stack of cards from Maebryn. One day I am going to miss all of the cards these girls make for me. Right now it is Maebryn that will have piles and piles of cards, like these here were all from one day. She is at this stage where she loves to draw...usually quick not very detailed pictures but she is getting better and better at what she does, it's been fun to see. Roslyn doesn't write me nearly as many notes as she once did but every now and again I will still find a little note from her. I am always amazed at her ability to place them in such fun thoughtful spots, such as in the spot where I get pencils for the lessons I teach at the piano. I found a little note there the other day just saying Mommy, I love soo much love, Roslyn.  They are little bits of sunshine. The boys are as well, I love seeing Benson and Evan's love for animals and all of the growth they are having. Alden and Calvin have outgrown me and amaze me in many ways and are both so ...

 School was great again. We learned about ser and estar. I felt as though it was good to really do some good worksheet Spanish. Most of what we do is hands on and talking/ listening but every now and again I do think it is good to do some things like we did today. Only one more country in South America. After school we had a meeting with the teachers going over some things for open house and then I took Calvin to track in the evening. Another beautiful day.

 We celebrated a birthday in seminary so brought breakfast and I had all of the kids come. Benson and Evan played basketball and Roslyn and Maebryn came to help me with the lesson. We learned about callings so the youth practiced teaching them in some of the callings.  Came home and got a few things done and then went to the school to help clean up, I mostly just sprayed down some cushions that had gotten dirty. I then came home and taught lessons. It was another low key day. I feel as things are starting to be easier since we have done it throughout the year, we have more of a rhythm and everything doesn't take as much of my energy as it did at the beginning. Things haven't really slowed down but in some ways it feels as though it has. I have felt more relaxed. I've been trying to not eat past 2:00 or at least 4pm. I think overall that has been good...maybe that's another reason why things have been simpler.

 There has been lots of drama with things at school so I wondered what I would find when I went today. Overall it was a very low key day, a number of students were out making it very simple of a day. It was a rainy day all day so track was cancelled and I had would have been able to stay home but needed to go to the grocery store to get things for a breakfast at seminary in the morning. Overall a beautiful and wonderful day, the rain has made it where the yard is beautiful, so much is blooming and everything is green...I should take a picture...even though it would never do it justice as each spot only has a couple of flowers but there are a lot of little spots.

 Today was a really nice day. I got all of my kids piano/ violin lessons done before lunch. (Alden, Calvin, Evan, Roslyn, Maebryn) Benson's is on Tuesday. I also went through math with all of them and the house was relatively clean. To me that is a very successful day. I also had a couple of extra minutes which was surprising. Choir and orchestra went well. We only have one more practice but things are really coming together and I am excited to play everything at our concert. I now just need to start getting the word out. 

 Today was a beautiful day. We got a lot done in the morning, come follow me, the kids weekly sheet task I got printed out, we wrote birthday and thank you cards. It just felt productive. Church was wonderful and then we gave the Kramer's a tour of the property at the school. I then felt like I should go back and help with Karli and Amanda that were there so I went back to help. It was good to visit with Karli about her ideas and have both her and Amanda there together.  Michael and I signed the agreement for the property for his practice when I got home. We have felt good about this and feel like it will be a blessing.

 This was a nice low key day. We had the Aston's over in the morning. I made the girls dresses. I had already cut them out so it was just sewing and putting them together. We did art together at Sister Taber's house and Michael made dinner. It was a rainy day and we were mostly inside but I got my room cleaned so that felt good. It was a nice day.

 Brock is still in session so sewing hasn't been as crowded but we had a few others this week then last week. It was full but at least I was able to help everyone. After sewing I went to Michael's office where we interviewed someone for the position available. She seems as though she will be good, we are hoping that it will all work out well.  I picked up pizza on the way home as we have the Aston's spending the night at out house while their parents have some time before Martha's final surgery with breast cancer. 

 There were a few families out today so it was a quiet and low key day at school. Later while I was a track with Calvin I talked to Amanda and found out that there is all sorts of drama going on. I am so grateful to her and all that she does and that I don't have to deal with all that she does at the school.  Pictured below is the enclosure that they boys did yesterday up in the forest. I love seeing all that they create in the forest.

 The lesson in seminary went well. We talked about mana and other miracles the children of Israel saw while in the wilderness and the lessons we can learn from them. With the mana I threw popcorn at them at one point which was kind of fun to show the mana coming from heaven.  After seminary I helped the kids with their homework and then went to the bank to get approved for a loan for us to buy some land to build Michael's practice. I also got some flowers from a guy on marketplace...honestly it was a little scary but he was honest and nice. I just wonder about how that man is doing spiritually, I always thought someone that grew flowers would not struggle spiritually but I think it is possible but maybe that is why he started doing plants and maybe he is in a better place then I thought.  Anyways had some lessons and took the kids to activities in the evening. Overall it was a nice day.

 Today was a great school day. We have a very set routine which really helps me and the students. I have been trying to establish some very set routines at home of eating and cleaning up the kitchen...we have that routine but it is always a constant battle to remember to do it for me as well as everyone else. We have been better this week though and I have felt as though there has been a general order in our home. Just once I get some time I start on a project which causes more chaos but that is what life is all about creating, learning and cleaning up the mess. After school I didn't have any lessons which made for a very relaxing evening. The kids went to the store at school today and got a number of lego sets, car track and some prism color pencils. All very nice things.

 For seminary I had done a slide lesson and it wasn't being as interactive as I thought it would...not the best lesson but at the end I had them watch a video in the lesson while I thought about how I could switch things up for at least the end. I had them all share an experience of when they have trusted in the Lord and that really brought the spirit. At home we had our typical Monday doing lessons and grading math assignments. I got through mostly everything other than I never did get to grading Calvin's math.  Instead of choir today we went to Autumn Hill Manor assisted living to sing for them. It was a great performance. I thought really it went quite well, the only thing was that we finished late but I was able to have Alden drive so I could message everyone that they could go in and that I would be right there. Both orchestras went well, I think we are really starting to sound good.

 This was another very relaxing day. We had break the fast which we took the potato salad that Calvin made last night for dinner. I haven't been able to get a hold of Frances, she says that she started working, so I didn't have anyone to pick up. I simply went to church taught my class and played the piano in Primary. At home I wrote in all the kids journals, got their sheets printed off, went for a walk and had time to relax. Miracle of the day was the simplicity of it all. Having time to do the girls hair, talk to Michael about the practice and have a nice clean house that we had cleaned up well the night before.

 Today was an amazing day as I didn't have anything I had to do the entire day. We got some yard work done. Cleaned out the shed and moved some mulch. I also almost finished getting the drip set up on the garden. I then did some grocery shopping and bought a little chair for the girls room. I took a load to goodwill as well. Michael took Benson and Evan to basketball which I think went well for them. It was a beautiful relaxing nice day to just be home and to get some things done.

 Friday school was great as Brock was in school so we didn't have nearly as many people. Evan threw up last night so he stayed home which made it so Benson wanted to stay home and Roslyn so I had Maebryn stay as well. Calvin was tired so also stayed home. I only had about four people per class in sewing which was super nice. Went home and got a few things done then we went to Mineral Wells state park. We had a camping sight but we decided to go have dinner, go for a hike and then come home where we could sleep in our beds. It was a wonderful little family trip. I think we should do it like that more often.

 School went well. I brought our kitchen set and we played restaurant with the food, having them take orders and serve the food to one another. In the afternoon I took Calvin to track then went over to Michael's office to meet with Terry Toolbelt where we went over ideas for building an office for Michael. It will be a lot of money but we think it will be worth it in the long run. We still have a number of steps until that point because we first need to purchase the land.

 Seminary went well, we did a sedar meal as we were talking about the Passover in Exodus. It went well and I enjoyed putting it all together. After seminary I set up my appointment to get a mammogram and chose Wednesday since those are good days thinking it was next week but then realized that it was in a couple of hours. It worked out well, I was able to get a couple of things done that I had been wanting to do and then when I got there I saw a couple of friends I hadn't seen for a while so I felt as though that was good.  Once home I sent a message to Amanda about a couple of people interested in working at the school and about high school...I knew if I sent it to her she'd call which she did. It was good to visit because it had been a while, but we did talk for well over an hour. I ended the call when one of my lessons showed up. After that lesson I was able to go over homework with the kids that I hadn't done throughout the day and call a couple of banks to talk about l...

 It almost felt like coming back to school after a break since Friday was off, not quite but in some ways it did. School went well, we are learning about Peru this week. Calvin had his first track practice and it seemed to go well. Michael and I are looking into possibly building a practice so I got in touch with Terry Toolbelt. We will meet with him on Thursday evening.

 Today was a very nice day because I didn't have as many lessons and choir and orchestra were canceled. I like all of these things but it is so exciting to me when I have some extra time to get a couple of things done that I have been wanting to do.  I got started on the drip system for the garden. I definitely still need to do a number of things to finish it but I am getting close. In the morning we also went to the park for Teddy's birthday. Maebryn had been asking to go to the park so it was nice that she got to go.  In the evening the orchestra played at a nursing home. We always enjoy going to the nursing homes to perform. I think next year that we might just do that and not have a big concert...but we will see what next year brings. Luckily I have some time to think about it.

 Beautiful day. The kids were up early to find their baskets and then we all had granola cereal for breakfast. Afterwards we went for a walk, the weather couldn't have been more perfect. Before breakfast we read the Easter story in the Bible. Something that I think we should do each Easter just like we read the Christmas story faithfully every Easter. The baskets were simple but I did also give them the magnatiles that the McKinney's had given us a while back, they really enjoyed playing with those. Conference was wonderful and it was nice to have a day at home with the family. I went and dropped off little Easter things to some of my ministering sisters between conferences and worked on taking in a dress afterwards...I now realize the importance of pinning. I took it in some but it wasn't nearly enough so I really took it in and now have a skin tight dress that I can hardly fit into...definitely a learning experience. Tonight was the miracle- it was starting to get late so...

 We all slept in and then just a little before conference I ran a couple of errands with Maebryn. We did the grocery shopping so that we would be ready for the elders who are coming for the second session of conference and for dinner. Conference was wonderful. I felt a strong theme of remembering Jesus Christ and becoming more like him through following the Spirit and increasing our love for others. It was nice having the missionaries over for conference and dinner. After they left I had my family call and read to the girls. It was another low key kind of day, being home with the family and enjoying conference. I did cleaning and a few things throughout...I do think I remember more if I take notes so next time I think that might be good.

 It was nice to have he day off from school and Michael from work. I left to the airport at 10 am to take my parents. I got back home a little after noon. I then went shopping with Maebryn. Michael didn't feel well today so he spent most of his day off sleeping. It was a blessing that he had the day off to get better. (He was throwing up throughout the night last night.)  I got a few things done but really felt a little lazy myself. I just was tired but nice to be able to have a low key kind of day. I had Benson, Evan and Calvin mow and weed the lawn so later in the evening Alden and the girls helped me continue the rocks by the pool project. I am hoping that this thick landscape fabric will keep the weeds out so that it won't be a constant weeding project. 

 School was great. Really there have been so many miracles even with teaching at the school this year. Every time their is a class that starts to get a little difficult and starts to become a struggle, something changes and student's are moved around and there isn't a problem any more. I have come to really love and see each student more and more throughout the year. Serving really is a great way to come to love a people or a person. It was a great and beautiful day at the end of the day there was an Easter Egg hunt. Every child was given an egg carton and needed to find eggs with the letters to make the sentence. Jesus is Risen. Such a great way to do an Easter egg hunt. When I came home my Mom had cleaned everything up and organized a number of little areas. Her and my Dad had also prepared dinner for us and Ron and Tara who came a little before 5:00. We then got everything ready for Roslyn's baptism. We were able to get all ready by 7:00 and it all worked out perfectly e...