Montana History

Well, I realize it's been a while since my last posting. I guess I should just give up having that be the first line of every post and accept the fact that I won't be a frequent poster. There are of course changes in life in the last year, and this post will hint at the question of my May 1st 2013 post. We are currently in Montana and there (maybe) will be more of that later. But just the last 2 days, I spent with AR and the 4th graders from her school on a Montana History trip. This was just an incredible trip. I actually remembered my camera and even more miraculous was that I took pictures - almost 200 of them! And some video. I think I am able to post videos, too - we shall see. I guess I should also say here that we moved here in February and 2 weeks after arriving, AR's class had an ice-fishing field trip. Montanan's are extremely proud of their state, but they are also very much active in outdoor activities. They make sure that the next generation has exposure to and develops respect for the outdoors. The ice-fishing (yes, I took my camera to that and will (maybe) post about that another time, too) was put on by the fish and wildlife department and so they had lots of volunteers out there helping the children with baiting, patience and education of fishing. They also had demonstrations on water/ice safety. More on that (if) when I post later.

Onto the Montana History trip. As the state capitol is 4 hours away, we had to be on the buses by 6 am. For the first time all year, I did not have to drag AR out of bed on a school morning. She jumped right up and as a result, we got to the school with time to spare. Our bus (the 3rd one) was actually a little late, so we ended up waiting out in the cold (it was around freezing, and snow had actually fallen early that morning). I saw that they were school buses, and thought "Oh, great! bench seats for all day travelling. Well, I am assuming with all the long distance travelling the students have to do, they have these special buses for those occasions. The outside looks like a school bus, but the inside has touring bus seats and a dvd player. It was quite comfy.

She didn't look too enthusiastic. It was not a posed
picture, and remember, it was an early morning.

However, our bus was having a few problems. There are a few steep hills going out of town, and the first big one, we were struggling up. On the way down, we were all choking from diesel fumes. Turns out (one of the other parents drives for UPS), with diesels, it is common for gas to build up when going up hills (build up in what I do not know), and when going down the other side, the engine has to burn that off resulting in excess fumes. We had to have most of the windows open to vent. Also, the parents in cars following said that we were blowing black smoke out of the exhaust. There is a long steep hill about halfway between Missoula and Helena and at that point we were struggling to get up to 10 miles an hour. She was about to pull over, when the bus got a little 2nd wind and we made it to the top! Well, not too much later the bus driver slammed on the brakes and we heard a loud CRACK. A lot of the passengers were sleeping or resting (also, our dvd player didn't work). It woke all of us up and we learned that we hit a deer. The deer must have jumped at the last second, so the windshield was mostly cracked. That was a topic of excited conversation for a while. We also heard the drivers following us description of the fate of the deer.

1st stop Helena and the Capitol Building. (well, there were bus problem stops and a rest stop after Missoula). The building was built in 1902 and a few years later had to be expanded to allow for the growing state. Montana is proud of it's history which begins (of course) before the white man came. There is a lot of art depicting the native Americans, Lewis and Clark and others who helped settle the area. In fact, in the cornerstone's time capsule is a list of the first 1700 settlers to come into Montana.
 A funny story: On top of the Capitol is a statue called the Goddess of Liberty. During construction of the building, a statue arrived by railroad from a company back east. Nobody knew what it was for or who had bought it. The statue company's records were destroyed in a fire, so nobody will ever know for sure why the Goddess of Liberty was made. The Capitol builders wanted a statue for their dome, so they used this one.


I have never been in a capitol building - or many government buildings for that matter - but this one is really elegant and is full of art - statues (of the first ever Congress(wo)man, etc) paintings and murals. The building was renovated to be all the same colors and decor as it was back in 1904.

AR's class in front of Capitol building

AR close up - with her teacher right behind. Mrs. B.

 The 4 Founding "Fathers" of Montana- paintings are directly below the Rotunda

The Trappers

The Indians

The Miners (Montana is known as The Treasure State)

The Cattlemen

Rotunda 

Painting of completion of Railroad

Grand Staircase

Charlie Russell's painting of Lewis & Clark meeting the Indians
It is 25 feet long and 12 feet high

One of the murals in a senate room

Filling out their schoolwork about the Capitol building

Can you see him?

Mostly his head and neck

 Next stop was "Gates of the Rocky Mountains" state park. On the way we passed a mountain that is referred to as "The Sleeping Giant"

Close-up of head

Proof that I was on the trip

 This is part of the Missouri River where there is an unusual perspective that when you are coming up the river, the limestone cliffs look like they are parting or opening like a gate. We took a 2 hour boat ride through the part of the river that has limestone cliffs on both sides. One of the areas of interest is call Mann Gulch. In 1949 there was a fire here in which because of certain conditions, the fire jumpers were caught and surrounded by the fire. 13 of the 16 jumpers died in that fire, but because of it, there were lessons learned which helped current wild-fire fighters learn important techniques to fighting forest fires. There are also a lot of formations of the limestone that look like certain things, and we saw some wildlife and pictographs also. The river is about 20-25 feet higher than in Lewis and Clark's day because of the Holter Dam which is down river. This part of the river is also flowing south to north. If I am able to add video, you will hear the voice of the boat driver who was very informative. The trip was about 90 minutes and he talked the whole time.

Opening to limestone passage. It took them several hours to
travel this part of the river. Our return trip took a few minutes.

Limestone cliffs

All the caves and formations are just a result of
water pockets left behind from ice melt or rain

In this there is "The eye of the Rhino".
I thought the formation up to the right
was the horn. Actually the eye is
the opening at the very bottom,
left-center and the horn is to the right.

Can you see the Elephant's
face and trunk?

The Canyon Monster

Some pictographs which are
approximately 1200 years old

The River Crocodile

Mann Gulch

 OK, so now the placing of photos is driving me crazy right now. I know they are taking up a lot of space - and I'd like to make them more coherent to the text, but at least I am uploading just what I am talking about and not all of them at once. I am going to put in one or two videos showing the Gate part of the river. I think you just click on it and it should start to play. Also, if you want to see a picture better - they are all being put in small - then just click on it. I am pretty sure the first one is the gate opening, and the second is showing the gate closing.

Eagle's nest

What a fantastic boat ride. Here are some of the flora and fauna we saw. The close-up of what looks like lichen or moss actually fooled the botanist (Kelsey?) who documented it. He called it Kelsey moss or something like that. When it was further studied, it was found to actually be a member of the rose family. There were a couple very small plants that were in bloom, but we didn't get close enough to see the extremely small blossoms. There is an osprey nest, a Bald Eagle nest with eaglets, some big horned sheep - but I think I only got the female, which has small horns and they are the exact color as the stone, so they are hard to see. We also saw turkey vultures in flight, ravens, loons, goose and pigeons, but I didn't bother to capture them :-) I guess I didn't get the osprey nest.

Moss type plant that is actually a rose.

Can you see the mountain goat in these pictures?

 The Ponderosa pine is the state tree.
They really packed a lot into this very long day. The next stop was another hour long bus ride away. To First People's State Park Buffalo Jump. This was a really fun stop and AR's favorite part of the whole trip. Our group first did the traditional games, and then went to the top of the Buffalo Jump to learn how the Native's got the bison herd to stampede over the jump.

AR with her stick

Explaining the game - similar to field
hockey. Rules: sticks stay below the
knee and if everyone clumps around
the ball, the "ref" calls break and
re-throws the ball.
Get the ball into your goal

 AR got right into this game. She is all in black in the pictures above and to the left. In the others she has a white shirt with pink long sleeves. The ball was traditionally made out of a bladder and is the size of a nerf basketball.

This game the children had straight sticks (thankfully no eyes were gauged out) In the video you may hear one child crying - he got hit with a stick on the arm, but was right back in to the game. It was called Double Ball. The players had to carry the balls on a stick - the balls were connected with fabric - and try to throw it onto or over the goal. 1 point for getting it in the goal, 2 for over the horizontal pole, and 3 for getting it to land on the pole. One team got it on the pole!

 Here the children were taught two games. The first being a game which helped build stamina and strength. They had to scream and run. When their scream stopped they planted their stake in the ground. The second one they kicked a little ball with a tail, down and around a stake in the ground and back to the finish line. The video is of the whole group running and screaming. Before that, they had to do it individually. AR got further when she did it alone. 

 

Love the Big Sky country!

To the Buffalo Jump! What they did was pick a fast, brave and smart person. He would be the Buffalo Runner. He would study the herd and determine which one was the lead cow. A herd will always follow the matriarch. Buffalo have bad eye-sight, but good smell and hearing. The runner would dress in a baby buffalo hide and go close to the cow. He would make sounds like a lost calf. This would make her want to bring it back into the safety of the herd. He would always keep just enough distance from her so she couldn't see him well, but keep following him. The herd, in turn would follow her. The runner would lead her to where some others were waiting dressed up in coyote skins. This would cause the herd to panic and start stampeding. Further on would be people hidden behind rock piles - the piles formed into the shape of a funnel - to funnel the stampede towards the jump. They would yell and scare the herd more. Meanwhile, the runner is still in the front leading them all towards the jump. He would jump over the cliff, landing on a lower ledge and crouch down as the buffalo spilled over the ledge of the cliff. The tribe would use all of the buffalo and every piece of it for different uses.

All the docents were just wonderful!

Looking over the jump

From the jump, we went to a park in Great Falls to have pizza and play for a little before heading to the Ursuline Center for our overnight stay. This building is over 100 years old and was originally a school run by nuns. Our group stayed in one of the big

dorm rooms which used to be a
classroom. The kids were so tired out from an early morning and a packed day, they were all asleep within minutes of lights-out. The next day we went to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls, then went to see the smallest river in the world - the Roe River. Then it was lunch and heading home - another 4 hour drive.

They carved little boats just like L&C

Our docent for the morning.

Replica of one of the long boats
the group had to take up and around
Great Falls

Quote of Thomas Jefferson for why
the Corp of Discovery was necessary

Dressed in period clothing. AR wearing
a winter coat.

AR in front of a replica mud house

AR and friend B- Look out for grizzlies

Bison

Bison hide with a story in pictograph

The Missouri river at Great Falls

The Roe River - shortest in the world @210 feet long

 The last thing I want to mention - good job for sticking this LONG post out! - is before we left the Ursuline Center, the children all put on a little skit for us. They were all in a big circle on the outside edges of a big room. We parents all stood in the middle of the circle to watch them perform.

Note: I worked hard to hold back the tears - part of the song says "Montana is our home" - another reminder we are no longer in Washington!

A Wedding in the Family

Well, I just re-read previous posts from September and January. First off, we didn't stay a household of 4 very long. In October our niece BK moved in as she got a nanny job close to our home. It was nice to have another body in the house after it feeling so empty - but she is a very quiet person, so we didn't really notice her when she was home - she wasn't a lot as her fiance lives in the next town over. She was here enough to have NG calling her the "sister-cousin". 

For Christmas we decided to go to Utah since that is where CM/MA and VP were living.

CM joined the army reserves in October (?) and was going away to Basic Training in January. We won't see him until August or after. We had a great time there with all of them - we also met VP's boyfriend JD at that time. We didn't spend a lot of time with them, but were able to see how happy VP is and that they are good for each other. One thing that has happened in the last couple of years is that we have some really really close friends who have moved away. Luckily a couple have moved to Utah, so we were able to visit with them. AR spent one whole day with her good friend TW - they ended the day with coming and caroling at CM's apt. We all had crowded into their 2 bedroom apartment for the week. It worked out well, but it was a little squishy.

Long about the end of January we got a call from VP telling us that she and JD were engaged! Our biggest hesitation (which unfortunately came across to VP right away) was that we didn't know him - and hadn't seen their relationship grow, so we couldn't get all jumpy-up and down - happy for them. But that hesitation was overcome and we are genuinely happy for the two of them. They were married last week in Taylorsville - in JD's grandparents home. VP looked so happy and beautiful. She insisted on not doing anything for the wedding. Well, being long distance and knowing that you just can't do 'nothing" when 2 or more people 



gather for a celebration - I was very frustrated. I knew that there would be food involved, pictures to take and chairs to set up. The in-laws were very gracious and everything turned out beautifully. They have taken VP into their hearts and love her like she deserves. JD and she are really cute together - it was very comforting to meet them and get that from them. It was a 'small' wedding - only 25 people there. That was just the immediate family. We really did miss CM, though.

Since VP didn't want to "do anything", I hesitated on one thing for a moment - at the last minute (literally), I detached the back part of the veil from my wedding attire and stuck it in the suitcase. Her dress was an antique white (I would call it almost peachy), so I wasn't sure how the white veil would look. Well..... she decided to wear it!! The stitching had aged so it looked almost the same color as the dress, and there were little pearls on it, so those matched her necklace and bracelet. She really did look radiant. 

 











We look forward to getting to know our new SIL and seeing their relationship grow and all the wonderful things that will come to them in their marriage!

New Mexico????

Well, JS and I have been contemplating (praying, fasting, studying, exploring) a possible move - really a move, not just a new house in the same ward/school/neighborhood. In the 24 years since we've been married, we have lived in 13 different homes - 5 wards and 2 different school districts (besides the year VP attended Kindergarten at Easton instead of Snoqualmie Valley but that was not because of a move). In the last almost 14 years we have lived in 6 houses (same ward and schools). This move will be most likely to another state!  
Last fall, JS closed down his office of 10+ years and business of 25 years - mostly due to economic hardships. He went into something completely different than Hearing Aids. A job was pretty much given to him from a friend who was making a similar move - into a recycling company in their ebay department. JS ended up staying on and running the department of reselling the electronic equipment that came in to the warehouse. While this is all happening, he has been putting his feelers out for hearing aid jobs elsewhere. One company in Roswell, NM contacted him after receiving his resume. He also heard of an opening in Kalispell, MT. After visiting both places, we have decided to go ahead and seriously look at the Roswell job. Of course after making that decision, he has been contacted by at least 3 other places. So, we aren't decided for sure, but it is very likely that in the next couple/few months we will be moving from here.

 I am not all that excited about leaving my home of 48 years. But, I am open to doing what Heavenly Father wants for our family. I know He will bless me to be able to 'handle' a new way of life. After visiting Roswell, I realized that if that is our final destination I will need a LOT of help. Pretty much everything about the town is the complete opposite to what I am used to in my home state. I realize that hardly anywhere in the world has the same kind of climate that I am used to here.

JS made me take this to prove there is some greenery
 (it is along the Rio Grande)

There it is HOT and DRY and there are no mountains very close, hardly any trees and essentially everyone has no lawn in their yard. I know the extreme heat is only 2-3 months in the summertime. I am actually looking forward to the median temperature being not very cold in the winter (a handful of days is below 40). There are some nice things about it - small town, JS's commute will be no longer than 10 minutes depending on where we find a house (as little as 3 mins), etc. 

 I am trying hard not to sound negative, but there are so many sarcastic things I can say (and do) that I really say in jest. Roswell is known for aliens - so that may be interesting to explore. I am a person who loves greenery, but don't have a green thumb in any way, shape or form - so I won't feel guilty about not being able to grow anything. I will miss a varied horizon - or close up horizon of the tree in front of you.

But, then again - we may find ourselves in a completely different part of the country. 

We shall see - or better said - 

to be continued.........

Thoughts on parenting.

I have a lot on my mind - time to think, but no time to put on 'paper'. First things first. I would normally start out saying, I hope this makes sense, but hopefully I get around to editing before publishing - thus taking out or changing things to have them make sense. But then again, it's me and sometimes it sounds good until I hit the SEND button. 

Being that I have the priviledge that not too many people have (although I'm finding more and more families like ours), to raise almost to adulthood 2 wonderful children before starting in on raising 2 other wonderful children, I have had a lot to contemplate about parenting. I had an 'ahah' moment the other day while trying to find something uplifting to watch while doing a mindless task (not laundry, but mindless just the same). Really hard to find, btw.

I settled on a talk show and the topic was raising children who are different than what the parent expected. (only watched for 5 minutes) There were 5 - one child was deaf, one was a child who had committed horrible crimes, one was dyslexic I think,  one family was 'normal-size' and had a child who was a dwarf and I can't think of the other. The person interviewed was a reporter who did a story on parents raising a deaf child said he found that there is actually a deaf community and culture - in his words "not one that I chose to embrace, but a culture non-the-less" WHAT??? He had to make that stipulation, that it was viable, even tho he chose not to embrace it? yes, of course there is a deaf culture - as he put it, deaf poetry, deaf literature, etc, etc. This is all leading somewhere - but it may be long in getting my thoughts out. Well, as one would expect - the reporter is also gay. (That  is what he means by "not one I choose to embrace". That his 'culture' is viable - even if some choose not to embrace it.) That may be the other set of parents they were highlighting - straight with a gay child. Anyway, his comments led me to assume a lot of things, but they are taken in context with an explanation set forth in a blog by a gay man who has chosen a different way to live his life than this reporter. The reporter said that his parents tried to 'fix' him, and he even at one point wanted to become straight. He went to counseling and tried to change himself. He said "I wanted to have a family and children, and I thought that was the only way to achieve this goal. Well, I decided that I couldn't change and guess what?!? I have a family and children!" I am not questioning the viability of his affections towards his family. I don't know anything other than what he said in the 3 minutes I listened to him. I do know that this is what the world is saying - that you can follow your urges - you aren't wrong, just different and different is ok, not need to change for anyone, be yourself for your own happiness that is what  matters most. Unfortunately the world is the only resource that most parents and people have to turn to for help.....(does 'blown about by every wind of doctrine' mean anything yet?)

Now, I'm not going to quote the blogger, but I remember a lot of what he said, so I will paraphrase. He is a gay man who was raised in a family who are members of the Church. They obviously knew and lived their lives in accordance to the pure teachings of Jesus Christ. His parents never criticized him or tried to change him. They loved him. They also taught him the gospel and things not only about this life but the next. His best friend (a girl) also supported him and had many long and deep conversations about his preferences. He had a strong testimony of God, God's love, the Plan of Salvation and about Eternal Life. He also wanted to have a family and children. He knows that the only way to have these blessings is by following God's Plan. (See Proclamation on the Family at lds.org) He BELIEVED these eternal principles. He has a wife (his best friend) and children. He has a loving family. He still is gay, but he understands the things of the gospel-of eternity. 

NOW, this got me thinking - have I raised my children - am I raising my children with these key parenting ingredients? That God loves them, that they can reach their full potential by following God's plan? I think that is essentially what parenting comes down to. Of course there are little things - do I teach them to be good people, to be responsible, to be self-sufficient, etc etc. But if they don't have that underlying knowledge of the Love of Heavenly Father and that anything can be overcome with the Atonement - then I haven't taught them anything but how to exist and get by in this world. 

This last year has seen a lot of changes in our family. CM & MA tried a couple different employment paths and they are now headed in a direction different than they thought 12/9/6 months ago. CM is just about to start basic training for the Army Reserves and MA is in pre-nursing ready to apply to nursing school at the end of this semester (I think). VP had a rough start to her year, then got up again and headed in a different direction than she thought 9 months ago. It would be easy for me to say "why don't they just finish what they start - they keep changing direction" but in the end, it doesn't matter - as long as they are strong with their testimony of the Atonement. They won't go wrong with that foundation. Struggles will come, change will come, success will come, but all this is what life is all about. 

I am no expert and I certainly hope that in spite of my many shortcomings, our children will turn out okay. Also, this morning, my visiting teacher GB gave me an example from her family that one of her daughters is a professional of some kind. She is very close to her family and there for her children. Either another daughter or someone they know is a "stay-at-home" mom and isn't there for the children and family. (not saying that the only way to have a successful family with well-adjusted children is to have a SAH mom. I'm not as narrow-minded as that). There is no set way to do things, step-by-step. It all has to do with the attitude and desire to do what is right.

Before I start to babble - I'm going to end this. No real conclusion because I can't think of one - unless I already concluded and I've lost my train of thought. 

Changes

I know life is about change. What would it be but boring, boring if there were no changes to our lives? It would be predictable, but boring nonetheless.

In the last year+ we have had a son come home from a mission, a daughter graduate, the same son get married, said son and daughter leave for school, come back, leave again, etc. In all that happening, we have also had our younger children continue to grow and change from 2-3 1/2 and from 6 1/2 -8 years old. We had some tough financial difficulties, and I went from being exclusively a domestic architect, to doing some intensive work-from-home things. One thing that I have noticed as a generational thing is that it seems now that it is very normal for people to change careers or employers quick frequently. When I was growing up, if you were in the work force, you maybe got promoted, but you typically stayed with the same employer and career. Well, my dh, JS, has been different. All the time we have been together he has had the same career. He has gone from working with a company, to being self-employed, to working for a company to being self-employed again, but all with the same business. When the economy went sour, his business struggled. Also, other options have opened up for people to get the product he sells for cheaper than what he can purchase it for, so it has been very rough to make the sales we need for our support. We prayed and prayed (also mentioned in previous post), and just when things looked desperate, he would make a sale that would come just at the right time. Our landlord was very understanding and was lenient with us being creative with the rent. Then I got the job that was exactly the amount that we needed for that time frame (I literally mean exactly the amount we needed). Well, the season ended, but it still wasn't looking very promising for JS's business. Our very good friend and home-teacher happened to mention a couple things and it turned out that JS was able to start working with him. JS thought it would be a part-time, in-addition-to-his-business, type thing, but it has turned into working full-time with this other company and completely different job. He is liking the change and challenges. And it is helping us breathe easier come the first & last of every month! Again, and again, prayers are being answered. Not in the way we expected (or advised Heavenly Father :-), but in better ways than we could have ever imagined.


Other changes in our family - VP all of a sudden in August said she had been applying for jobs in SLC and was going there for interviews. At the same time, CM/MA were coming home earlier than expected from Maine since things there were not what they expected and were promised, so they were coming to go back to school in the fall. AR turned 8 and was baptized and 

NG just keeps growing and growing. She is actually turning into a ham, but is so shy that only the close family members get to see her humor. She is sharp as a tack and amazes us at what she comes up with. Her latest thing is asking "Why did Jesus create...." One day it was "Why did Jesus create all this stuff (waving her hand over the glass, plate and food at dinner). Then: "Mom? Why did Jesus create the bad guys who killed him?" That is just the way that developing mind is working!




Well, AR got baptized, VP flew to SLC (where she had left her car the previous week), CM/MA left for Provo all within 4 days of each other. I am happy for the changes, but they just keep coming at us from all directions! 

VP is very happy in SL at her job as a trainer in a fitness club. She actually wasn't supposed to get this job. She applied as a front desk/greeter. One of the managers got a call from a trainer in Idaho who was moving to SL and wanted to transfer. The manager talked to the other manager and said "Someone just sent in their application who is transferring here, so go ahead and hire her". He pulled up VP's app instead and called and offered her the job of trainer. She is currently studying to certify to be a trainer. 

CM I can't really post what he is doing as he isn't sure yet. He is applying for jobs while MA has started school - she has 3 years left before she graduates, so they will be in Provo at least that long. He has lots of options, but hasn't firmed anything up.....

   

  And so again, our house is emptier than it was. We are most likely going to stay just a family of 4 in the household - except maybe for summers and holidays??? It is very much quieter now than it was 6 weeks ago. AR has started 3rd grade and NG is doing preschool (well, we're doing it together as a co-op) and swim lessons. I am so blessed to have children who work hard, love to serve others and are resilient to challenges. They are forgiving and understanding and faithful. I have a hard working husband who is also forgiving and understanding (they must get it from him....). He is not selfish and is kind to everyone that he meets. I have a testimony of a loving Heavenly Father. I am grateful for the opportunities that come because of changes that happen in my life. (I might not like them, but I am grateful for them - and love the results).

Where have all the months gone??

So, obviously it's been so long since I have posted that the whole blog thing has changed and it took me a while to even figure out how to get to the publishing page. Can that be my excuse? NO. I have just not taken the time to post - I never thought about it and thus it just got put way back on my to-do list. I actually don't have a to-do list except in my head.... Anyway, so here I am again. Trying to get caught up on life in the H household!

Well, the last post was VP's engagement. Her status has changed, not to married, but to unengaged and single. (YAY). This all happened right before the end of the semester in April, so she came home with very mixed emotions. She also didn't go back for the 2nd semester, but decided to stay home and work and do online classes. She did work - lots, but didn't ever get her classes started. We were very happy to have her home. As I said in my post about the engagement - there were concerns as well as us being very happy for VP and her intended. But through all the drama, I just kept feeling very calm about the whole thing - whichever way things turned out. Maybe it is good that I didn't post until now. I can look back and share a much different perspective than would have been shared had I posted right in the thick of things. The calmness was a real blessing, because whenever VP called with any kind of emotion (and there were several), I was able to say things more like support and concern rather than "I told you" so's, etc. I was able to just say things to help her see things differently and make her decisions rather than freak out with her. She might not have liked it in the moment, but in the long run, these reactions were better coming from me than anger or frustration (which is what she had - I didn't need to have them too). I wasn't calm because I knew what the end result would be, but Heavenly Father always gave me that calm feeling whenever I prayed about the situation as a way to know it would all work out with the end result being much growth and understanding for all concerned. That has been the best blessing of the last year in all situations of my family life. With VP, I am glad she had this experience. She has learned to rely on whisperings of the Spirit and the power of prayer. She wouldn't admit it, but she will understand that it is important to listen to those who love you and are concerned for you and have your best interest at heart. Even if you don't necessarily do exactly as they suggest, it will give you other ways at looking at things that will help in your final decision. That's what life and free agency is all about - not doing all things independently, but gathering all information, then deciding from there.

There is actually a lot of perspectives about life that I am now looking back on and being very thankful for how it all has turned out. AR was not too thrilled to be giving up her room 3 months earlier than anticipated. We had just got her settled when VP came home for the whirlwind weekend, then 2 months later, VP was moving back in, so AR had to go back into sharing a room again. She was really good about it, though. At the same time, CM & MA were coming home to work for the summer. It included CM coming 6 weeks earlier than his dear wife to work at a landscaping company, then they would head out to Maine to work on a farm to see how they liked the "simple" (haha) life. All this was happening when our financial life was pretty much tanking - after several months, and it was looking pretty desperate. Lots and lots of praying, fasting and temple attendance was being done on our part to see which direction we needed to go.  One night CM just happened to mention that I should be the office manager for the landscaping company. Well, it was 2 days before the season started, and I said YES!, but I am sure at this point they have someone already to go. The owner had done all this in the past and it was the first year they have hired someone to answer the phone, do all the computer work and deposits, etc - no office space, just from my home or wherever I happened to be. Well, he mentioned it to SP and I prayed. I had also recently interviewed for a part-time job of a neighbor in their home office. I actually said these words in my prayer "I know that someone else probably has this job already, but if there is any hesitation on their part, and it is something that I can and should do, then please have everything work out that I can get this". (this was Monday) In interviewing with SP and his wife (on Wednesday), they mentioned that they had someone all set up through the gal's mother. She was returning from a mission, so the mother had set it up so she could start right when she got home. When she got home, she decided on Tuesday that she instead wanted to go right away to school and declined the job.!!!! They used my exact words that I had used in my prayers. Looking back on it - I can say that it wasn't easy - not in the least bit. It was actually quite stressful, but it had an end to the season, and I was able to hang on to the fact that I knew that we needed it, and it was an answer to my prayers, so I knew that Heavenly Father knew I could handle it. It also so happened that I was watching a kindergartner all during the same time as this other job - so it was good for Nova, but also added to my normally quite calm life. In the end, the timing couldn't have been more perfect financially, too as what I earned during that 3 month period was exactly what we needed to stay afloat. 

This post is getting pretty long and drawn out. I just know that there really, really is a Heavenly Father - a Father who is concerned for all of His children with all aspects of their lives. He is caring, and knows us personally. He has eternal perspective - which our perspective is far from that, so when we rely on His, and have faith, life might not go as we think is best, but the end result is better than we could have imagined.
I am going to go do another post right away, just to break things up a little!