Tender Mercies

In this chaos that is life I have recently been so blessed to have three prayers of my heart answered without even asking.  These things were on my list of things to pray for but they were not urgent or very imminent but they were answered just the same.  The first one if Connor's Eagle project and merit badges.  I had been thinking that we needed to get this wrapped up here soon since he will be 18 in January and if everything isn't done prior to the 18th birthday it doesn't count.  I was going to get on this after school started but Kent Barlow the Scout Master in our ward called me last week and said that he wanted to help Connor finish his r few remaining merit badges and that he would help with with all his Eagle paperwork.  There are only 6 merit badges that Connor needed and only 2 of them I was worried about-swimming and camping.  Connor did not participate in hardly any camping trips during the last 5 years he has been in scouts for a multitude of reasons and they have to get 20 nights of camping done for that badge.  It has only been this year that he went on any camping trips with his troop so he was so far away from those 20 nights.  Kent said that he would help us with those nights by counting any hunting trips or camping trips he did with the family and even the Father and Sons campouts that are held every year-those alone would be 4 nights right there.  His scout leader in the other ward said he would pass him off for camping and cooking right away.  Then Connor needed to do either biking, hiking or swimming which are all very challenging.  He started swimming last year so we thought we could just get him to finish it but then we found out that he would have to do life saving as well if he did swimming.  Bryan Dorsey who works with Connor and Grandpa offered to help him get the hiking merit badge and they jumped right on it.  Since Friday night when Connor told me that, Bryan has taken him on 2 10 mile hikes already.  Connor did a hike a few years ago with Kent that he said he would count so that means Connor only has to do 2 more 10 mile hikes and 1 20 mile hike.  There are 2 other merit badges that were in progress with 2 leaders in his ward-physical fitness and first aid and he can wrap them up pretty quickly.  Kent said that he would help Connor get all his paperwork ready for the Eagle Board as well. 

Another issue I have been stressing about for a long long time and fasting and praying about it for any many months. The schoo district here requires all the kids to pass proficiency exams before they are able to get a diploma and even walk at graduation. Connor has taken these tests 3 times and failed 3 times. He can take them 3 more times before graduation and even one time after but if he were still at the high school if he didn't pass he couldn't walk at graduation. Well we learned this past week at Beacon's orientation that they will still let the kids walk at graduation even if they haven't passed the proficiency tests. Then they can take the test again if they haven't passed in the summer to try and pass again.  If he still doesn't pass he can get an adjusted diploma or go back to school next fall and take some classes and try again. There is something in the works that would not make the kids in the class of 2016 and on take the these tests at all so if that happens then he could take a few classes next fall and then graduate in 2016 with a full diploma.  All of things given me such hope and peace for Connor and hopefully now he can relax about these tests because graduation isn't looming over his head. And even if he doesn't pass he will still get to walk and he will still get a diploma.  

I have been worrying and praying and stressing about Caleb because of the struggles he has been having with being honest and being obedient.  Because he has been having such a hard time with these things we told him that it was going to be a while before he could get his drivers liscense because we were having a hard time trusting him.  Recently he has been trying really hard to be obedient because he wants his permit really bad. He has to have his permit for 6 months before he can get his liscense. So this desire that he has to drive has given rise to him doing what is expected of him so that we can feel like we can trust him enough to let him drive.  

Caleb wants to go on the Back East trip in the summer with a tour group for our valley. It is very expensive but very worth it.  We went to a information meeting about it and they said they wanted a $250 deposit to secure a spot. They usually have lots of room left for a long time but Caleb was at a friend's house the week after the meeting and the kids mom asked if we had paid for his spot yet and he said no.  She told him that they had just paid the day before and there were no spots left.  He called me and told me so I immediately called the trip planner and she said that she has 1 place left and if I brought her the money that afternoon he would have a spot.  That was a tender mercy!

I have been worrying about Cayden going to middle school and riding the bus.  We want him to keep going to tutoring with Mrs. Parker but she starts at 6:30 and school starts at 7:25.  That meant that 2 days a week we would have to get Cayden to Overton by 6:30 and then go back to get him to school by 7:15. We were called the week before school started and asked to be in a carpool that would help us tremendously getting him to school during the week when he goes to tutoring and when he doesn't.    We are each taking a day each week so that will help so much. 

Cayden hasn't played with any friends since his friend Dallin left in June.  I asked him repeatedly during the summer if he wanted to play with someone and he always said no.  Finally 4 days before school started he decided that he wanted to start playing with Spencer, a boy in our ward.  They have played 3 times since last week.  I have been worrying and stressing and praying for him about his social skills and now he is getting out of his shell.  I hope he will have a good experience at middle school. He has come home most days this week talking my ear off about all that went on at school that day.  I didn't really want to send him down to the middle school for various reasons but I felt like it was the right thing to do at his 5th grade graduation in June when the middle school principal got up to speak.  I felt a spirit of peace come over me that helped me feel that this is the right thing for him right now.  I have been frustrated lately about his lack of "quickly obeying" and not being as responsible or as independent as I would like him to be.  This has changed this week 2 nights interestingly enough when I was gone. I had Relief Society Tuesday night and when I got home he had the kitchen cleaned up, Kyle bathed, himself bathed and the front room cleaned up.  Then on Thursday I went to the temple and when I got home in the early evening he had his homework all done, he had put away is lunch box and emptied his back pack and even had washed his PE clothes-although he didn't quite do it the right way.  He did tried to do a few loads of laundry this weekend so we had to have a lesson on laundry so he wouldn't stop the cycle partway through and put ringing wet clothes in the dryer.  

All of these things have been weighing on my mind and while there are some other things that haven't been as easily resolved,  these  things that have been resolved or are on the way to resolution have increased my faith and my desire to honor and obey the commandments and keep my covenants so that The Lord will continue to bless and strengthen me and my family.

Lazy 4th of July

The 4th of July this year was pretty relaxed well except for the fact that we had 36 in my mother's kitchen for dinner that night.  We went to Seven Peaks in the morning and met Aunt Suzanna and Uncle Ryan and their family.  We stayed for a few hours and played in the water  Connor is quite brave and rides most of the slides and then he is content to hang out by himself.  Don will go down a few with him but we have to keep lots of eyes on Kyle so he goes back and forth.  We didn't rent a cabana like we did last year but Suzanna had an awesome sport shade umbrella that was really nice to use.  After we spent a few hours there we headed back to Grandma's to get ready for our BBQ.  Several of Granddaddy Larry's kids and their families came into town for several weeks so the Humphrey's Hotel was at maximum capacity and the kitchen was extra full when we were trying to get everyone fed.  Don grilled chicken and Quentin smoked a chicken and some brisket and we had strawberry pretzel salad which is in and of itself its own food group.  We made homemade ice cream and ate so much food it was ridiculous but it wouldn't  be a holiday without copious amounts of food.  Like Calley says you don't stop eating when you are full, you stop when you hate yourself.  Since Aunt Laurel and her family and Uncle Chris and his family couldn't come we didn't do the Driveway of Fire.  We were going to go out to Pleasant Grove with Aunt Suzanna's family to see the city fireworks but by the end of the evening we were too tired.  We ended up watching the Independence Day celebration from Washington and then were outside to watch the fireworks going on in the valley below.  It was a fun Fourth of July.  

Seven Peaks Part 1

An Attempt at Pictures

We attempted a few photos in grandma's back yard in our traditional Old Navy 4th of July t-shirts.  

Ski Trip

On January 20, Don went with the young men on the annual ski trip to Brian Head.  Cayden tried skiing and took a short ski lesson.  He had fun with his friend Dallin.  

They were super tired and fell asleep on the way home.  

Scout Camp

Cayden went to his first scout camp July 14-19 up at the BSA Del Webb scout camp at Kolob.  Don went with him to help him take care of his diabetes.  They had to leave super early Monday morning to get to Kolob by the 8am check in time.  They were up there a whole week.  They got rained on Tuesday so much that there were some kids that ended up having such wet sleeping bags and tents that they slept in the utility trailer.  There was also a lot of lightning that day they didn't want to tell me about.  Cayden worked on 4 merit badges, got his toting chip, worked on the Stake spiritual badge and had a lot of fun.  The theme of the camp designed by our stake was Armor Up.  They had to read their scriptures and some different conference talks each day and answer some questions.  At the end of the week if they finished all of the requirements they got a special badge.  Cayden also earned the second most number of points that the leaders were keeping track of during the week and he won a cool leatherman tool.  Don said that they had a busy week and Kent kept all the leaders busy keeping track of kids.  There were lots of prayers being sent up that week from this mom and the moms in this valley since all the deacons and teachers and lots of the men from our stake were up on that mountain.  

Bonneville Park Picnic

We were happy to spend lots of time playing with our cousins while we were in Utah.  We went and got lunch at Wendy's and met at Bonneville Park.  It was not too hot of a day and there was quite a bit of shade for us all to sit under.  It also wasn't that big of a park and not crowded so it made it much easier and nicer to watch the kids.  July 31, 2014

Presents from Mawmaw

Mawmaw brought up some special presents for the boys.  Cayden got a new Lego set and Kyle got a big stuffed horse we named Charlie.  We love our Mawmaw!

We Love JCW's

One of our favorite places to eat in Provo is JCW's.  We love their hamburgers.  We love their fries and fry sauce and we LOVE LOVE LOVE their shakes.  After our real family pictures in Lehi we went to JCW's while we waited for them to get out disc ready.  That was only one of the many times we partook of their greasy artery clogging goodness.  

Seven Peaks Part 2 and 3

On our third trip to Utah we wen to Seven Peaks twice.  Don took the boys for a few hours earlier in the week after he got done working.  I didn't really want to go but Don took Kyle for about an hour. The second time on that trip we all went together.    We didn't get there until around lunch time but it was not super crowded.   We didn't have Aunt Suzanna's super awesome shade only 2 big umbrellas.  We didn't really use them that much anyway so it was fine.  We love using our Pass of All Passes.  We never would be able to go to Seven Peaks as much as we do without them! Best Christmas present ever!

First Day of School 2015-2016

School started bright and early Monday, August 25. Don gave the boys father's blessings Sunday night like he has every year since Cody started school. I didn't get to be in there with them though because Kyle was out of his mind tired and after we did scripture and prayer I just had to put him to bed. Cayden was quite excited to go to school this year. He is a big new 6th grader at Mack Lyon Middle School. He had a hard time falling asleep Sunday night, hard enough that Caleb went and slept in Kyle's room because Cayden was tossing and turning and talking too much. Caleb was not as thrilled to be starting school again. Home school is just anti-climactic I guess. Cayden made his lunch and got his clothes set out the night before so he was ready to go. As it seems almost every year someone is sick on the first day of school. I don't know why that happens but it does. Caleb had gotten sick the week before and he graciously shared it with Cayden so Cayden woke up all stuffy and coughing Monday morning but you just can't miss the first day of school so I had him shower to help clear his head while I made him breakfast (egg in a basket). We are in an awesome carpool for the mornings to the middle school so we made sure he was ready to go even though it took a little cajoling and encouraging to get him to hurry. After 11 weeks of no schedules and staying in pj's till whenever, the first day of school can be challenging.  Grandma and Granddaddy came down the Saturday before school started to spend a little time with us since we hadn't seen them in 3 whole weeks!  Cayden and I went to his school open house the Thursday before so we could get his schedule and walk around and see all where all his classes were.  I took Connor and Cayden into their school that Tuesday before school started for their mandatory orientation.  

Don took Connor and Caleb into Beacon Academy Monday morning so they could get their computers.  Our friends the Dorsey's are having their son Brayden go to Beacon as well this year so Don took him in as well on Monday because Serena was super sick-probably from Caleb the week before when we all went in to orientation together!

Cayden will start tutoring again the week after Labor Day with Mrs. Parker.  She doesn't usually tutor kids when they start going to middle school because the middle school starts at 7:25 but I asked her if she would be willing to tutor Cayden still even though he will only get 35-40 minutes and she said that she would.  That will make for a really really early morning 2 days a week because he has to be there by 6:30am and it's in Overton but we feel it is worth it for Cayden to get the extra help.

I didn't spend a ton of money on new school clothes and supplies this year partly because Caleb and Connor didn't need a lot of brand new clothes to sit home in.  I did get Cayden some new shorts and a few pair of pants because he was just getting too tall for his others and I got him a few new shirts and socks and undies.  In years past I have spent hundreds of dollars on new clothes, shoes, backpacks and supplies for the kids but I have decided that they really don't care all that much and if they don't need it then we don't need to buy it.  Cayden got a really nice backpack last year and it is still in great shape so why spend the money on a new one when it isn't needed?  Connor and Caleb did get new shoes and a couple of shirts but that's all.  I will need to buy new winter clothes for Kyle since I don't have any hand me downs any more.  I was really not thrilled about school starting up other than the fact that it signals that weather should change and it should start getting cooler again.  I had a hard time at the beginning of the summer with the horrible heat looming ahead but when August came and we were done traveling, the days just seemed to fly by and then it was the week before school and then it was school time.  Part of me wants to get back on a schedule and get up early because I can get so much done but most of me doesn't want to mess with the hassle and the stress and worry that school brings.  Here's to another school!  May we all survive it!  

I Love To See the Temple

This was Cayden's first experience doing baptisms for the dead.  The youth had a temple trip to the St. George temple on August 16.  I had been doing some family history research and several names that needed baptisms.  Grandma and grandpa kept Kyle so Don and I could go with the youth.  Don did the baptizing for our kids and several of the youth.  I felt the spirit so strongly in that room while I was watching my boys and the kids from our ward doing ordinances for their own family members.  The temple was very accommodating and got the cards stamped quickly after the baptisms and confirmations.  I was able to take 5 female cards and go upstairs and do those 5 initiatory ordinances.  It had to wait about 45 minutes to get in but the youth were finishing up and I really wanted to have some of those names ready for endowments.  It was a great experience and I am so glad that I could go with my boys and Don.  

Goodbye to Abuela

Connor got to be a pall bearer for 2 funerals this summer.  This one was for Sister Hortensia Morales who was in his ward and he and grandpa were home teachers for the daughter's family that she was living with.  He was asked by the family to be a pall bearer and he was so good at it.  I went to that funeral with him and it was in Spanish and then English.  It was quite a long funeral.  Sister Morales was an sweet old Columbian lady who didn't speak English but she was the happiest and sweetest woman.  She lived with he daughter and her daughter's 4 kids.  They were very poor but hard working and they moved around Logandale too many times to count.  Sister Morales' daughter, Osiris used to clean our house a long time ago.  I can't even remember if it was this house or our other house.  I'm thinking it was this house because she started having back problems and couldn't work anymore but she always found me lots of other ladies who needed work to come and clean for me.  When they moved into Grandpa's ward a few years ago Connor and grandpa became their home teacher.  There used to be Spanish branch out here where this family would go to churhc but they disbanded it about 5 years ago.   At the funeral there was an amazing musical number by Kristy DAlley and Jill Greig who are sisters and are amazing violinists.  They played How Great Thou Art and there are no words to describe it.  Sister Morales was such a great lady and will be missed by all who knew her even though most of them could only communicate with her heart to heart.  

Hortencia Morales

La abuela, my dear momLa abuela, mi querida mami

Hortencia Susana Morelo Morales, passed away at home in Logandale, Nevada on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at age 83. She was born in San Antero, Cordoba, Colombia on July 24, 1931 to Inocencio Morelo Castaño and Gregoria Morelo.

Hortencia grew up in Colombia and began working at a young age making and selling candy, chocolates, cookies and many other types of food. She was very generous and over the years had many family and friends stay in her home while they went to high school or worked. She came to the United States in March of 1999, she moved to Moapa Valley in 2003.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she loved attending General Conference in Salt Lake City. She also enjoyed traveling and visiting new places. If there was dancing at a party or quinceñeara she would dance all night.

She is survived by her daughter, Osiris Navarro and grandchildren: Salvador, Teresa, Diana and Angelica all of Logandale, NV; one son, Jairo Buelvas and grandson John Jairo Buelvas both of Colombia; two brothers: Pablo Morelo, Gaston Bonifacio of Colombia and many extended family members.

“Mami this is not a good bye it is just see you again. The time is coming when I will see you again. Mami este no es un adios, es solo un hasta luego.El tiempo vendrá en que te volveré ver.Tu hija Osiris. Te amo, Gracia”

Funeral Services were held Monday, August 18, 2014. Friends and family are invited to sign an online guestbook at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.

PS-for whomever is reading this-I would like God Be With You Till We Meet Again as the closing song for my funeral.  Not that it should be happening anytime soon but just and FYI!

Saying Bye to Our Cuzzies.

This was the last day we had to all be together before we all had to leave.  We of course had to go to JCW's one last time.  We eat there as much as possible while we are up in Provo because there is nothing like it here in Nevada or in New Mexico where Laurel is or in Oregon where Chris is.  Kyle and Ella had been inseparable and Cayden and Owie were best buddies.  Collectively I think me and Cayden and Kyle spent 42 days in Provo this summer.  Don and the boys went back and forth a few times because of work.  We had lots of fun and made lots of memories with our cuzzies and ate out way too many times!

A Little Trip to the Park

With all the kids running around at Grandma Penny's it can get a little crazy.  One afternoon we loaded them all up and went to park close to Grandma's house.  We had fun exploring and wandering around the path.  Afterward we went to 7-11 and got Slurpees!

Ogden Temple Open House

On Monday August 4 we were able to drive up to Ogden and see the newly remodeled Ogden Temple during the open house.  It was a little rainy when we first go there but it dried out while we were in the temple.  After the open house we went to Brick Oven in Layton.  

Summer in Utah By the Numbers

36 days spent collectively in Provo.
3 trips back and forth for me and Cayden and Kyle.
4 trips back and forth for Don and Caleb
2 trips up and back for Connor
10 hours it took to go back to Provo before the 4th of July because we took the very very circuitous route through Cedar Canyon and Panguitch
2 birthdays celebrated-Grandma Penny's and Abby's
3 trips to Sonic-now that is very very strange as we usually live there all summer.
2 trips to the park.  Bonnevill Park by where Aunt Anne and Uncle Chris used to live and Sherwood Park by Grandma and Granddaddy's house.
2 trips to Seven peaks
4 trips to JCW
10 milkshakes from JCW's-that is the whole family not just me.
34 episodes of Longmire I watched.  All 3 seasons.
9 books I read while I was up there.
12 movies that we watched whilst sitting on the couch with Anne and Suzanna while the kids played.  Watched on various days though
3 Lego sets Cayden got and built
30 Disney Cars toy cars spread out all over the house all day every day.
1 trip to Toys R Us for some extra Cars toys because you can never have enough cars.
1 trip to the Ogden Temple Open House
1 trip to Brick oven after the open house
10+ hours Connor spent on the swing in Grandma's backyard.
6 deer sightings near Grandma's house.
10 slurpees from 7-11
4 trips to Target
3 trips to Walmart
4 Geocaches found
200+ cans of soda consumed at my parents house with all the company they had all summer.
0 trips to the mall and I can't hardly believe that one!
1 trip to the temple with my friend Steph from high school
2 movies at the theater.  Cayden, Kyle and I and Aunt Suey and her kids went to Rio 2 and Don and Caleb went to Guardians of the Galaxy
1 trip to Los Hermanos with the kids
1 trip to Texas RoadHouse-me and Don for a quick date
1 trip to PF Changs-me and Don for a quick date on a different trip
1 trip the aquarium
2 trips to Seven peaks
1 trip to the splash pad in Springville
2 attempts at family pictures-1 at Camera Shy and 1 and in Grandma's backyard
5 BBQ's in the backyard  Grilled chicken, chicken sandwiches and hamburgers and hotdogs
36 people in my mom's house and mainly in the kitchen for 4th of July
1 trip to Chic Fil A-surprisingly
4 bags of pebble ice
4 batches of home made ice cream
1 meltdown from Connor which was right at the beginning of his second trip and only lasted about 30 minutes
3 nails I have let grow back since I bit them off while stressing about Caleb being on his bike ride
1 night of Kyle up all night long crying because his legs hurt
30 nights Kyle slept all night on his big boy cot
5+ pounds I gained sitting around eating and watching movies
Too many to count-hours played with cuzzies
100's of memories from the summer of 2014

Abby's Baptism

Abigail Grace Pitts was baptized on August 2, 2014.  We got to be there for her special day.  Her baptism was held at their stake center in Pleasant Grove and then we had a nice lunch afterward.  I played the piano for the baptism and did a rotten job even though I practiced my guts out!  Grandma Penny gave a really nice talk on the Holy Ghost and Abby's other Grandma Deb gave the talk on baptism.  It is so nice to live close enough that we are able to go to Provo and be at these great family events.