Sticks and Stones.....and Thunderstorms

With two little ones, recreational use of the nearby lakes is not boating, swimming or fishing, but stone throwing, stick sword fights, and crawdad collecting.

Gary has been asking us to go camping or to the lake for the past week or so. It's the first time he had asked to go to the lake, so I asked, if he wanted to go swimming, on a boat, or fishing, to all he replied, "no." Then I asked what he wanted to do at the lake. Throw rocks in the water--of course! Friday morning I told him if he got dressed, cleaned up his toys and put his shoes on we would go to the lake. About 7 pm we finally got the toys picked up and shoes on and we all set off for the lake.

As we started setting up camp, it got a little cloudy. Rain is so rare that a nice sprinkle to cool us off sounded nice. But, just after the tent was all set up the wind picked up, so I headed to the tent to sprawl out and keep it grounded. The kids quickly joined me, and Ionut finished cooking dinner--(mostly) before running for cover with us in the tent. It was a wild storm with wind in all directions blowing huge raindrops so hard it pushed a mist through the walls of our tent.

The lighting would light up the tent and the thunder had the kids crying and wanting to go home. We said a little prayer that we would be safe and that the kids wouldn't be scared. They calmed down, but the lightning and thunder kept getting closer until it seemed right on top of us. That's when daddy ordered a full retreat into the van; the tent would have to fend for itself. Once safe inside the van we broke out the graham crackers and chocolate icing grandpa had handed us on the way out the door--about the best kind of smores in that situation.The kids loved it and got chocolate all over the car while daddy pulled out seats and spread out some sleeping bags just in case. About an hour later we made it back into the tent, but it continued to rain. At one point during the night Sara got scared and Gary offered to pray. "Hevnly Father," he prayed "Sara not be scared, lake fro rocks, camping, rain, bless Jesus, amen." Sara slept fine--at least until the sun came up. Around 6 am we got the wake-up call from Gary. "It's time to throw rocks in the lake!

We forgot about the frosting, but Sara didn't she made her own breakfast!

It stayed cloudy and cool long enough for us to catch half a water bottle of crawdads, get a bit of wading in, explode a non-swimming diaper, and have fun just being together.

Proof that I was there--just usually behind the camera. I did have fun wading in the water and playing "sharks & sea horses" with Gary while Daddy & Sara took down camp.

On the way home Gary wanted to climb a mountain.

Thank goodness for a Daddy who can be convinced to hike on hot red rock in 100 degree weather--carry you to the top...

and back again!

Happy Feet

One of the greatest things about children is how they cannot contain joy. Sara is especially cute when she gets excited. I call her "happy feet" because she does a little dance just like the little penguin on Happy Feet. She also cannot resist a good beat. She just came with the rock n' roll gene in her blood. A couple of nights ago she fell asleep during a movie, but as the credit music started, from a deep sleep she started her patented wiggle. It doesn't matter how happy or sad or tired she is, she will at least nod her head to the beat. Thank goodness for pure expressions of joy!

"I love you Mommy"

I just had a birthday not too long ago, but my favorite gift was when Gary, just out of the blue got a sweet no-teeth-showing grin and then said, "I love you Mommy." It is the first time that he has said it to me without me saying it first. Then yesterday he was going to do something, but stopped and came back to me saying, "I need to kiss you first." He melted my heart once again with his sweet words and tender kiss. He'll be starting a special needs pre-school in August and I am realizing, my time with him at home is going by faster than I expected. Sara is too little to say "I love you", but a couple of months ago I got a great 2-3 minute hug around the neck in Church that brought tears to my eyes and made it in a journal entry and several times she has given me little slobbery kisses too. Those are the moments that make it all worth it!

Classic Moments

Since I am a little late getting started I would do post with some of our classic moments that we have had to this point--Mostly pictures in no particular order:

Uncle Brandon pulled them on the sled, and Daddy made the biggest snowman we've ever seen!

Now you see them....

Help yourself!

They caught a fish, but Gary wouldn't let Grandpa put it in the boat, so they had to leave it on the line and paddle back to shore.

I think Betty crocker could use this for their frosting commercial. Kid tested, mother....got the camera.

When packing, always pack

the most important things first!

I was actually in the room the whole time, I just had my back turned cooking dinner--He made no sound, unzipped and emptied the entire couch cusion. That's him inside the empty cover. When he pulled his head out and saw me watching, he just smiled and said, "Look Mommy, Snow!"

Nothing like a good flashlight war with Daddy!

At least she eats her spinach!

We went on a spontaneous turtle hunt, and we actually found two! They do exist in the turtle reserve! Gary had a backpack with water, and Sara insisted on carrying something too, so she carried the basket with the foam ball. On the way back I think I carried it all, --Sara included.

That was my flour bin, My kids have a thing for wheat, flour and rice--right out of the bin!

Well, while that is not all, it is definitely enough for tonight....Stay tuned for more.

Heavenly Father are you really there?

We had some very tough times with Gary in the past few months. I was getting frustrated and on many occasions felt like I was being pushed to my limits. It was hard not knowing what was causing his seemingly bi-polar behavior, and feeling like I had to learn through trial and error all of the things that did not work. I wondered when I read in the scriptures about children who had odd behavior and they cast out devils, and wished it could be that easy. I had Ionut give me and Gary a blessing, which I believe helped us both with patience and understanding. It was still hard always getting feedback, both positive and negative from loved ones that I trust and respect and constantly debating with myself whether I was doing the right thing or not. But, in the past month the improvement is so drastic that I would almost call it a miracle.
Three things have happened that I attribute that to. 1) I shared my experience with family and friends that I know prayed for us and put our names on prayer rolls. I know that made a difference, because almost overnight we went from 2-4 hours of melt-downs a day to one to three 15 minute mini-melt downs a day. 2) I finally got some professional help and diagnosis--A long exhausting process, but I am SO GRATEFUL for resources like that. They pointed us down the "Sensory Integration" path that has brought us miles! 3) A couple of weeks ago I woke up and Gary was not in his bed. I found him upstairs near Bruce & Bryce's room. I said, "Gary what are you doing?"
"Just talking"
"Who are you talking to?"
"Bryce"
Then as I came around the corner he pointed and said lighting up with a big smile "See!" and pointed. I thought he was pointing to the mirror, but he corrected me and said "Jesus!".
Surprised, I looked again, and on the wall was a picture of Jesus. Then he told me that Jesus put his hands on his head and he closed his eyes and then he opened them again. Bryce told me that he had just told him the same thing, and later he repeated it once again to my mom pointing to a different picture of Christ. Since that day we have not had a single "melt-down" even during a week long vacation in a 3 bedroom condo with 5 little ones running around. The night before we left, we had another experience with prayer. At about 4:30 am Gary woke up screaming because his ear hurt so bad. I put some ear drops in his ear and gave him ibuprofen, but it took about an hour to calm him down, in the end I offered a quick prayer that he would be able to go to sleep, and within minutes he was asleep. Half-way down the canyon on the way home we had to stop because the pressure change was too painful for him. I repeated the meds and then asked if he would like me to pray with him. I think my mom was thinking the same thing, because just then the other two cars joined us and I offered a prayer that his ear would stop hurting and that it wouldn't hurt him the rest of the way home. Although he still complains about not being able to "hear me" they have not hurt him again, and I never re administered meds.

Each Life that Touches ours

Yesterday was the birthday of my cousin's step-brother's wife, who was killed in a tragic car accident just a couple of weeks ago, leaving behind a husband and 3 young boys about the same ages as my children. I ached for those boys, for their grandmother, daddy, and all others who knew her. I don't believe I ever carried on a conversation with Aaron, yet I was still very affected by her sudden death. I have been thinking a lot about how we are all so intertwined with each other.

A few weeks ago, in Sunday school we were talking about our covenant to "Mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort." I asked my class (16-18 year old youth) What the difference was between mourning with others, and comforting others. One wise young man, Tom said something to the effect of, "When you mourn with others, you get down in their sorrow with them, and then you are in a position to comfort them." It is so true. In your moments of deepest sorrow, you turn to those who have been through it before, those who truly know what you are going through.

A few years ago, my brother was in the hospital, and it didn't look good. I remember feeling angry when people would tell me everything was going to be okay. "You don't know that," I thought, "And what if it isn't?"

I really did appreciate, however, the countless people who called just to say that they were sorry, they loved us, and that we were in their prayers--especially those that had been through similar experiences and could offer insight. I made a list of those who called so that my brother would know how many people cared about him and were affected by his life. I filled a couple of legal pad pages with names--some of whom didn't really know him like my grandmother's boss, etc.. I was surprised at how many lives are connected to one life of an ordinary person.

I have thought about that over and over in the weeks past as I have heard about one heart-ache after another, and I have hurt along with them. A couple of years ago when a 5th grader in our stake, whom I did not know, was hit by a car and killed, I mourned. (I still think of the boy and his family every time I drive past that spot near our home.) Then, I hoped that somehow my hurting would ease the pain of his family, but I think Tom from my class has it better figured out. Our life experiences prepare us to help those around us- I believe that my aunt and cousins (who lost their husband and father young) will be in positions to help this grieving family, where others may not. For without knowing the pain, we wouldn't be in a position to help ease it. That is why the Savior suffered all, to be in a position to get down in the depths of despair with us and lift us out. Hopefully I will learn to do the same.

Savor the Moments

Well I have finally jumped aboard the Blog boat after a few years of resistance. I titled my blog after the talk in General Conference by Elder Ballard directed toward mothers of small children. One of the things he said was,

"Recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction."

This is my main motivation to blog at this point. I find that I don't get much time to sit and write long journal entries, so I am hoping that by having a blog I will be able to just add small tidbits of moments described with pictures so that I won't forget about the daily "moments" that I am having, and that are quickly slipping by. So this is mainly for me, and some day my children, but if anyone else dear to us cares to be a part of our journey, welcome aboard!