Our family has just gotten through an amazing and busy weekend, that tops off an amazing and busy few weeks.  Amazing in the sense that the things we have been able to experience and participate in for the last few weeks is probably a once in a lifetime event for most of us.  With the Kansas City temple open house, Steve and I were able to be tour guides for a day.  I was so nervous about doing that and guiding people through the temple, and wondering if I would remember all the points I needed to make.  But with a lot of reading and prayer, it all went off without a hitch.  I really enjoyed giving the tours; everyone that we encountered were so respectful and gracious.  There were many non-members that came on our tours and I hope they felt the spirit and went away with a feeling of peace.  I really wish I had been able to do more tours and be there daily.  I look forward to the day when I can serve in the temple more.

The three oldest boys had the opportunity to participate in the cultural celebration that took place on Saturday, May 5th.  James for one was so thrilled to be able to do this, since his 12th birthday was on that day!  He said it was the best birthday ever!   It was held in the municipal auditorium in Kansas City and since we were parents of youth participating, we got to go as a family and see the event live.  What an amazing sight!!  There were about 3000 youth participating, and the sheer size and scope of the event was mind-boggling. 

No clue where my kids are in this picture.

Each stake put on a different cultural dance or skit, and they all did amazing work. Our stake did a German polka, which our ward participated in, a Russian dance and the Polynesian ward did a great job presenting their culture through dance and song. They were one of my favorite acts, after my talented boys, of course!

The Polynesian ward and their talented dancers.  They brought
so much energy and fun!

We managed to find Derek and James in the German Polka number, and figured out where Riley was later.  He was singing in the choir as well, so he did a lot of moving around. 

Derek and James are in the circle in the middle of the picture with their backs to us. 
Riley was in the circle on the left. 

Here they are again, right smack in the middle, dancing in a manly way.

The Joplin, Missouri stake put on a moving number about rebuilding and helping out after the devastating storms they endured last year.  They were accompanied by a great singer, Kenneth Cole who sang a song titled "Broken Hearts".  It was really wonderful and moving.  I don't think there was a dry eye after they were done.  Even when the cameras were trained on the kids, they were teary as well.  The audience gave them a standing ovation when they were done, it was really special. 

The Joplin kids starting their number. Those are frames of houses that they put
together during the song.   

And of course, the Prophet was there and gave a great little pep talk to the kids before they started.  And when the event was over, he waved to everyone and wiggled his ears for them.  They loved it!  I was too busy clapping for them, and didn't get a picture when they were all waving their colored shirts at him to say good-bye, but this one is right before he walked out of the arena to leave.  He was so gracious and took the time to applaud them and spend a little time waving to them before he had to go. 

Words really can't express how wonderful it was to be able to participate in all these things the past few weeks.  To be able to see my kids have fun and build their testimonies and participate in something so wonderful has been such a blessing to me.  I really hope that they remember this for a long time and remember the feelings that they had on that day. 

Of course, the best experience was the temple dedication today.  To feel the Spirit as that beautiful building was dedicated through prayer was a moment that will stay with me.  I love living here and am so grateful that we were able to move here in time to take part in all these wonderful experiences!

Wordless Wednesday

Of mothering and choices

I have wondered for a while how to tell people the news. It's one of those things that once someone LDS hears it, they express their initial sentiment, but then hesitate to bring it up again because they don't know what to say. Would I have known how to comfort and what to say if I had a friend that dealt with this very same thing? I don't know. Would I have blamed the parents or wondered what they did wrong in bringing up that child? Would I have been on my high horse and thought, "Whew! Glad I didn't make their mistakes." Would I shake my head and think how that poor boy has ruined his life? I hope not. You never know the influences in someone else's life, even if you have known them for years. And of course, we all have our agency to choose for ourselves the path we want to take.

Andrew, my oldest, came home early from his mission. He arrived home the weekend before Thanksgiving. We were notified the day before. It came out of the blue and we really didn't have any information as to why until we picked him up from the airport. Neither my husband or myself knew what to expect from him, but we were definitely not expecting what we got. Over the course of lunch and the ride home, we realized he had somehow chosen a path that we would not have chosen for him. After the initial shock was past, we did our best to counsel, inform, and warn him of the consequences. I felt like I was talking to someone else's child at some points, and wondered what happened. I did briefly entertain the thoughts that I should have done more for him on his mission, prayed harder, written deeper emails, and been more diligent in my long-distant mothering, but a funny thing happened. I would have those thoughts, and in that same instant that they entered my brain, I kept getting the thought that these were his choices, not mine. My husband and I taught him as best we could, and now his decisions are all his. Our role at this point was to make sure he knew we loved him and that we wanted what was best for him. We felt that we needed to counsel him but understand that he has his agency and will make decisions for himself.

Painful as this is, it has taught me to realize that my children are not always in my control. I have to let them go and make decisions. And as long as I know I have taught them the right way, I can be sure that my conscience is clear. How hard it is to stand by and watch! But I do, and I pray. And I mourn for what might have been, and hope it may all work out.

Up to date

Wow....Amazing what having a baby that hardly sleeps does to your blogging schedule, huh? Now that he is 5 months and sleeping much better, I have time to get to those little neglected things!

We are really enjoying living here in Missouri. The kids have all adjusted well and we are really feeling like this is home. We have even discussed staying here for the rest of Steve's career, and maybe buying the house we are in right now. And it is funny how many people we know that have lived here, passed through here, know the people who own the house we are in, or grew up here. It's a small world!

I have just recently been blessed to start working for Hallmark. The job is part-time and very flexible. I have really enjoyed the work and there are some great benefits to working for them. I just had the opportunity to go to their main office in Kansas City and go to the employee stores. Talk about deals!! I can tell that I am going to have to be careful about how often I go up there, a girl could really spend lots of money there! And from this point on, friends and family will be getting Hallmark gifts! Woohoo!

Here's some more recent pictures of the kids:

Another baby that doesn't look like me....

I am sure most of you have been waiting with baited breath, cause I know all the world revolves around me. Just kidding...anyway, here are some pics of the newest addition to our blended family. My 7th child, and the 9th one added to this family. And yes, I have misplaced my mind on occasions, but am really enjoying this last baby.







Isn't he cute? Little Nicholas is a sweet baby, and everyone is loving him. Even Rachel loves him, although that may change when he starts getting into her stuff in the room they share. She is already quite posessive of the baby toys that I put in his crib. Oh well, she has had free run of the house for the past two an a half years, it's time for her to learn the hard facts of life. She needs to learn that the world doesn't revolve around her, like it does her mommy. (I am still working on humility...)

Missouri, rudeness and baby dates

Nope, no pictures yet. I have my camera, but am awful about remembering to take pictures. Which is a bummer, considering we camped our way across several states and my kids looked rather homeless by the time we got here on account that I kept using the pools as bathtubs. I am sure I looked just as bad. I did get a picture of my hubbie jumping fully clothed into a pool in Kansas, but it's on my phone and I don't know how to get it here. Maybe one day I will....


We moved across the states during a record heat wave and are still in the middle of it. It feels like we never left the desert. Except for the humidity, which in a weird way, doesn't bother me at all. Not sure why. Anyway, we are in our house, without our stuff, which is fun on some days and not so fun on others. But the kids are enjoying the large and shaded back yard, and I am enjoying having some space and not having to wake up to the *#@! birds at 5:30am. (Seriously, who knew when you camped that the birds and squirrels could be so loud at that hour? Don't campgrounds have some kind of quiet time rule??)


One of the things I have enjoyed about being here is how nice everyone is. I have been around so much big city rudeness that I have been shocked at times by the genuine kindness that I have encountered here. I realized it when I got a call earlier today from someone that I left a message for, and I was fully prepared for her to berate me for asking for some items when their office was under construction, that I was almost speechless when she did quite the opposite and bent over backwards to help me out. I realized that I have been dealing with such rudeness for the past 18 months that I have come to expect it in most situations. It was eye-opening to me!


Well, the kids go back to school in 3 weeks, and supposedly this newest boy is going to show up soon after that. I have an official due date of 29 Aug, and I am always late. Nothing is ever happening around my due dates. So when I went to the ob office here, I saw a midwife that is part of the practice, and asked her about inductions. She, in her oh-so-polite granola way said that they usually don't even think about inductions till you are at least a week late. Really? Well, we shall see about that. This is baby number 7, lady, and he shows up early or on the date of my choosing. And my choice will NOT be a week after he is due, you can count on that. (This was all going on in my head, it being my first appointment there, didn't want to make myself stand out yet.) The next appointment is with the Dr , and I am sure that I can convince him that my plan is a mentally and physically sound one. A little water-works and those male doctors fold like origami. So wish me luck!

My work here is done...

Well, I am out of here. By July 15th, the hubbie and I, with most of the bedlamites, will be embarking on a semi cross-country trip to our new home in Missouri. The military has spoken, and I am actually happy for it! I thought for sure that I had not learned my lessons here, and that I would have to stay until I embraced Las Vegas with love and admiration. Luckily for me, that is not the case. And while I have certainly learned some things about myself from living here, and have been able to experience a part of the country that I hadn't before, I am perfectly content to move again. I am almost certain that I have offended tons of people, and while that is not what I set out to do, I am not sure I could have helped it. Some of it was unintentional, some of it wasn't. How's that for an apology?

Well, lots to get done before we can actually move: the oldest girl is graduating, scout camp, and a family reunion of epic proportions. (That we are in charge of...) Once that is done, the movers show up, we pack up the vehicles, and hopefully leave early enough in the day that I don't have to drive thru the night to whatever stopping point the hubbie picks out.

Wish us luck!