Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Resting

When we first talked about moving to Alaska I felt compelled towards the choice through the spirit. I *knew* it was the right thing to do even though the thought of leaving extended family and our home in West Jordan was heartbreaking. I referenced a song about a climb and that it isn't so much about the destination as the journey. I felt as if our time in West Jordan, though it had some hard moments - particularly on a financial level - had been a resting spot for us and that it was time to get back up and keep "climbing". So, acting in faith we moved anticipating that we would see the blessings through the trials of the move. And, as it turns out, I was woefully wrong.

We loved Ketchikan. Andrew had never been so happy with work and the financial strain had been anticipated. Life there wasn't perfect, but the trials were forgettable at most and it was restful.

Then we moved to Craig.

Andrew loves his job even more, his income is better, our home is nicer, his schedule is better, the area is even more beautiful, we already feel like we have more friends and are having an easier time integrating ourselves into the life here.

Lately my days seem bursting with joy. I've even come to enjoy and appreciate the early nightfall. When I first moved to Ketchikan someone who had lived there pretty much her whole life commented that she loved winter because she felt like it was a time when her family was just snuggled up in a cozy blanket of peace. This year I get that. (I think having Andrew home an hour earlier helps the evenings feel like peaceful family time instead of like time of me just trying to keep sanity with three kids on my own...) The darkness falls, scented candles are lit, Christmas music plays... It's all very picturesque.

Life seems good. My marriage is good, my husband has good employment that he enjoys and that makes decent money, My children are happy and are finding interests, activities and friends that they enjoy. I have peaceful time to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the peace of life which is often interrupted by my little miracle baby who brings me so much joy.

I've been listening to Christmas music and can't help but feel blessed. Then, on occasion, a song will come on that reminds me that things are this easy for everyone - that things haven't always been this easy for me. And I am certain that there will be years in the future, just as there have been years in the past, where life will seem more difficult.

But for now, I am relishing in what is promising to be the best holiday season ever. Life has had challenges. There have been difficult years. But right now I am filled with joy and peace. I am at rest.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Continuing on in our Educational Journey

For us, home school was an inspired decision. It was an answer to heartfelt prayers and has been a wonderful experience. There have been many benefits that have come from this lifestyle choice, but to me, the most important one was smoothing yet another transition for my children as we uprooted them once more and moved to a new home. 

Deciding to homeschool is a choice they had made last spring. It wasn't without a bit of sadness that they said goodbye to their school friends and teachers, knowing that they wouldn't be back in the fall. But it was on their own terms and because of their own choice and so the sadness of change, though it was there, was manageable and just part of the equation of choosing something new that they were looking forward to.

Once fall came, homeschool brought unexpected benefits. I have loved watching my boys absorb knowledge and come alive with wanting to apply everything in life to learning. I have gained a better understanding of what level they are at with various subjects and therefore have better insight about their individual educational needs. I have loved the hours of time I have been able to spend with them and the fact that a cranky hour here or there has turned into such a small percentage of our time together instead of filling what was previously our rare opportunities to be with each other.

When we moved I saw homeschool doing for us exactly what I had hoped. The transition was an easy one. We were sad to say goodbye to neighbors and friends from church, but the boys had already said goodbye to their friends at school; they had already detached themselves from their community. They were ready and prepared to move.

We have moved a lot and these boys have made the transitions well. It's been hard for these kids, year after year, to go in fresh as the new kids, and start all over making friends. Last year was the first year that we upped the challenge by not only bringing them to a new school, but by arriving after the school year had already started. I am so glad we didn't have to force that on them again!

But now we are here in Craig, settling in to a new home, and little promptings started coming again. EVERYONE we have met in Craig has been extremely supportive about our homeschooling. But over and over again I kept feeling like we are supposed to be more involved in the community by being enrolled in the school. Week after week I felt like it was all I was hearing about at church - not because it is what was being said, but because that was what I was being taught by the spirit.

After weeks of ignoring this thought, the kids and I finally went and took a tour of the elementary school here. We LOVED it. And most importantly, I felt washed over with a strong sense of peace.

I am so grateful that because of our homeschooling journey, Ammon and Peter were able to feel more in control of their lives. They CHOSE to leave Houghtaling and now they are CHOOSING to enter a new school. As a parent I feel so relieved to not have ripped them away from old friends and to not be forcing them into a new unknown. Change is always hard. But the challenge is less when we are facing change out of our own choice.

They start their new school on Monday. A part of me is sad. Really, really sad. A part of me is relieved and wants to have a party thinking of all the "free time" I imagine myself suddenly having. But mostly I'm just really grateful for personal revelation because logic and reason just can't flush out all the things that are unknown to me but that our Heavenly Father is mindful of and guiding us through.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Veteran's Day Family Outing - Cemetery Island Park


Our address is 105 Cove Rd. This is a picture taken on Cove Rd just before it bends around and become 9th street which takes us out onto the main road. This picture doesn't capture my favorite view here, but I have really fallen in love with the scene I see along this road every time I leave my house.


9th street isn't very long and it basically has the pier and then this old abandoned building. We moved here just weeks before Halloween and it seemed like it had a good "spooky" element to it. But really, I think it just adds a rustic charm to the street.


After going out on the main street, we walk past the pier that is near our house and then cross the street to another pier.


At that point we take the first right hand turn and travel down this road.
This road will take us one of three places - all of which we have done.
The first option is to take a left hand turn a ways up the road and continue on to the church.
The second option is to turn left at the end of the road. This leads to what the locals call "the loop" and basically loops around back to the main road.
The third option is what we did today - take a right at the end of the road to head out to Cemetery Island.





This is a picture of Cemetery Island.
You have probably already realized that it isn't truly an island as we can travel to it by land.
However, it is just a narrow road with water on each side that gets us out there, so it kind of seems like it's own island.


Coming up to the end of the road.
Turn left for the loop, right for Cemetery Island.


The pavilion at the crossroads.



On the narrow road to Cemetery Island.




Looking back towards Craig.


Looking ahead to the park.




The other side of the road (back facing Craig and the park).



















Horse shoes














Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Kindergarten Boy

Kindergarten Boy
August 2009

Carefree

Carefree
August 2009

Ready to Swim

Ready to Swim
July 2009

Splish Splash

Splish Splash
July 2009

Temple Open House

Temple Open House
June 2009

Chocolate Face

Chocolate Face
June 2009

Wilderness Explorer

Wilderness Explorer
May 2009

Camping Adventures

Camping Adventures
May 2009

Green Eggs

Green Eggs
April 2009

Eggs In One Basket

Eggs In One Basket
April 2009

Steamy Swim

Steamy Swim
March 2009

Relaxing

Relaxing
March 2009

Valentine Treat

Valentine Treat
February 2009

Swinging in the Snow

Swinging in the Snow
February 2009

Silly

Silly
January 2009

Driving

Driving
January 2009

Picture of the Savior

Ammon Christopher

Ammon Christopher
December 26, 2003

Peter Joseph

Peter Joseph
April 12, 2007

Blog Archive

King Ammon

King Ammon
December 2008

Concentration

Concentration
December 2008

Autumn Fun

Autumn Fun
November 2008

Happy Runner

Happy Runner
November 2008

He's MY hero!

He's MY hero!
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Dreaming of Chocolate

Dreaming of Chocolate
October 2008

The Joy of Watermelon

The Joy of Watermelon
September 2008

Cool Dude

Cool Dude
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Desert Beauty

Desert Beauty
August 2008

Cake Face

Cake Face
August 2008

Burried Alive

Burried Alive
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Wet Walk

Wet Walk
July 2008

Reptile

Reptile
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Crazy Hair

Crazy Hair
June 2008

Water Boy

Water Boy
May 2008

DisneyLand Joy

DisneyLand Joy
May 2008

Tire Swing

Tire Swing
April 2008

Swing'n It

Swing'n It
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Biker

Biker
March 2008

Big Boy

Big Boy
March 2008

Riding Fun

Riding Fun
February 2008

Standing Tall

Standing Tall
February 2008

Yummy Breakfast

Yummy Breakfast
January 2008

Serious Job

Serious Job
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Apple Sauce Monster

Apple Sauce Monster
November 2007

Smiling Big

Smiling Big
November 2007

New Suit

New Suit
October 2007

All Dressed Up

All Dressed Up
October 2007

Men In Black

Men In Black
October 2001

Yellowstone Family Reunion

Yellowstone Family Reunion
July 2002

Choo-choo

Choo-choo
December 2004

Bath Time

Bath Time
December 2005

Grinch

Grinch
December 2006

Little Builder

Little Builder
Andy as a little boy

Hanging Out In the Kitchen

Hanging Out In the Kitchen
Jenny as a little girl