Turkey Steak Goose Chase

Jesse and Anders had Friday off of school, so I dragged them along with me on what Jesse somewhat grumblingly referred to as a "wild goose chase after turkey steaks".

And perhaps it was.

After all, I had to stop at the bank to make a payment on our construction loan first (which meant I took the tedious, traffic-packed route along main street) and when we finally got to Lee's (where the one-day turkey steak sale was happening), we were met with this tragic site:

But I was not to be defeated so easily and continued on to the Smithfield Lee's. (It was at this point that Jesse made the turkey-steak-goose-chase comment. After all nobody wants to spend their entire day off on a mission to find turkey steaks. Well, except maybe Anders who actually loves going to stores.) But that comment didn't deter me. I told the boys I was going to drop them off at the front of the store so they could run in while I parked. "Listen boys: I don't care if you have to shove old women aside left and right. You might even need to pry them from the hands of women and children," I informed them. "Just do whatever it takes to get me some turkey steaks!"

Anders commented that we left the house looking like a normal family but that it appeared this would end with us--covered in soot and dirt, clothing torn--walking from Lee's as it exploded in smoke and flame in the background behind us. 

As it was ... things didn't come quite to that.

We left Lee's rather quietly with several packages of my precious turkey steaks, a whole bunch of Stephen's cocoa (also on sale), chocolate chips (again with the sale), reward donuts for the boys for their sacrifice, some random groceries, an entirely free turkey (which, apparently, they were giving out if you spent $125 dollars), and not even one soul shoved roughly aside (in fact I think I politely said "excuse me" at one point).

And then we came home, and Penny was waiting--lonesome--for us since one of her classes had been cancelled, and the little kids got back from school (Friday is their early-out day), and Starling ran directly to her room and came out looking like this (oh I love her):

(If you missed him, please scroll back up and spy Hans in the background.)

And Summer brushed Holly and fed her tall grass, and the other kids hung out outdoors for a bit. (It was the loveliest November day. It looked like a storm was coming all day long but just stayed 60 degrees and breezy.)

And then Penny went off on a date with her current boy Jacob. And the rest of us went to the farm to feed. (Now that we are graining the steers for their butcher date, it is twice a day that we have to go feed!) And we discovered we had a garage door. (Hurrah! ... Only why won't our trim ever get painted?)

(And here's our recently graveled drive and our sidewalk should you be interested. It looks so smooth and nice that it pains me to think of it getting worn away or scraped off as we clear the drive of snow over the next year or so):

And then we came home and the little kids had ice cream and watched The Little Mermaid. And then Mike got home and we put the little four to bed and watched Fantastic Four with Jesse and Anders. 

And that was our Friday.

A Strange Way of Helping and Empanadas

 A THOUSAND MORNINGS
by Mary Oliver

All night my heart makes its way
however it can over the rough ground
of uncertainties, but only until night
meets and then is overwhelmed by
morning, the light deepening, the 
wind easing and just waiting, as I 
too wait (and when have I ever been 
disappointed?) for redbird to sing.

I chanced upon that after a sleepless, worry-filled night and felt a tiny glint of sunlight split the heavy clouds in my soul.

"[W]hen have I ever been disappointed?" Never. Even in the waiting. I do know "redbird" will eventually sing.

But I shall tell you a funny thing. On this particular morning, I felt like I just desperately needed someone to reach out to me with words of comfort. I didn't know what those comforting words should be. I just wanted Heavenly Father to acknowledge my need by sending someone to my aid with just the right inspiration. I even prayed and asked Him to.

And do you know what happened? Almost immediately a niece texted asking for help with a serious problem she was having. Hahah. I had a good cry and told Heavenly Father I didn't think I had it in me to help anyone at the moment but that I would try if He would help me. And then I did my best to comfort her.

This very same thing has happened several times before. I've prayed for someone to be sent to help me ... and someone is immediately sent to ask me for help. 

The Lord seems to have quite the sense-of-humor.

Another example?

When Starling was born, school mornings were so difficult--particularly just the business of driving the kids to school. Loading up a newborn and multiple toddlers (along with the school kids) with Starling inevitably crying to nurse (because I'd either had to wake her up to get her in the car or she'd already been waiting to eat while I helped get kids ready for school) just felt like such a difficult and hectic part of every day. 

I knew my ministering sister likely would be happy to know some way to help me. And she had a daughter she drove to school each morning. I should have just asked her to pick up my kids as well, but I was too embarrassed or proud and just couldn't bring myself to. Instead, I said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father if He would just plant that idea in her head, just nudge her to offer help in that way.

A day or two after offering that prayer, my ministering sister did reach out to me. She was having some back issues ... and wondered if I could pick her daughter up for school in the mornings for awhile.

Ohhh I chuckle just remembering it.

And I actually loved that ministering sister. I was happy to help while she struggled with issues of her own that I hadn't known about. 

Even still, I couldn't help but look sideways at the heavens and mumble, "Really, Heavenly Father?"

I don't know exactly why the Lord has occasionally chosen to respond to my pleas for help in this way.

Perhaps, each time, He was saying, "Oh buck up, Nancy. Things aren't as bad as you think. And you can do much more than you suppose."

Or perhaps it was just His knowledge that the best medicine for me would be to forget myself in helping another. 

Those things are both probably true.

But I have a feeling that it is something bigger than that. Something tied to heavenly law and blessings predicated on obedience. The feeling I have is that there are channels of blessing and strength that can only be opened upon our willing sacrifice and service to others and that when I have most needed serious help, God has not ignored my plea, rather, He has given me immediate opportunities that would then somehow allow me to claim and receive greater strength, answers, and help.

That's my thoughts on the matter.

And I should add that many times in my life I have had friends and family reach out to provide just the comfort and help I need, so it isn't as if God only responds by giving me a chore. Haha.

And now.

Empanada making:

Skating, a Shower, Reuben the Duck and So Forth

On a whim, Mike had us take the kids roller skating one October Saturday night. I did not try it myself. (My knee. It's so discouraging.) But I did let them try and give me five as they skated past. :)

My sister Shannon threw such an amazing bridal shower for Goldie at my mom's house. So many aunts and cousins showed up. Shannon told Goldie that she wanted her to know that all of these women love her and are there for her. And then she did something I loved so much. She had scoured my blog (which I've had for 18 years) to find little snippets of touching and funny things I'd recorded about Goldie over the years to read out loud--reminding her that she has always been loved so much. (And it also made me realize that there is value in my efforts to record things!) It felt very much like surrounding Goldie with a circle of wise and good women. Thank you so much, Shannon!

No, brother John is not one of the women folk. But his wife Missy (far left) has been taking care of her ailing dad so much lately that she said she and John had to find any time to be together that they could. And so, we happily welcomed him into the circle of women. :) (My mom and sister-in-law Priscilla are also in this picture.)

Allred cousins Addie, Charley and Maddie.

Harris cousins Gwen, Claire, Allison and Maggie.

Sister-in-law Debbie and sisters Amy and Megan

Kenya. (She came all the way up from Provo for the shower. Abe came too and took Jesse and Anders climbing while Kenya was with us.) Mette and Penny.

Cousin Lila, sister Kathy, cousin Tessa.

Two of Goldie's good friends with Daisy.

Two of my stinker kids with cousin Lila.

Gayle and Mike's sister Lisa.

Goldie's best friend Becca is on a mission, so she sent her mom (and a cardboard cutout of herself) in her place. :)

Goldie and Addie.

This was a recreation of a photo from when they were both small. I need to find the original to put here with it.

My mom's living room full of women who love Goldie.

A cool shirt Penny won at the shower.

My shower gift was a huge supply of groceries--staples for baking, etc. as well as some fun foods. I didn't want to haul them all to my mom's so I just gave them to Goldie before and then, at the shower, gave her a gift card to get fridge and freezer items as well.

A recent book Hans wrote. I adore Hansie.

Starling's teacher has each student be the special student for the week. Every day they get to do something special. One of the days they sit in a special chair while everyone in the class gives them a compliment, another day they share a poster all about themselves, another day they get to teach the class about something that interests them, and on this day I got to come read books to her class. 

Goldie and Wyatt at Bear Lake for their honeymoon.

Abe, Kenya and friend Noah took a day trip to Goblin Valley.

It turns out that if you have outdoor cats (as we do--Shasta and Biscuit), you end up attracting stray cats (the food left out). We now have four strays who are nearly always at our door looking in pleadingly for food. Three of them are completely wild and scared of us, but this one was a kitten and occasionally actually sneaks in our house and lets the kids hold him (her?). I don't know what to do about all these strays when we move. 

Kids watching a movie.

My friend Jessica came to Logan to visit.

Summer with Reuben--the orchestra class duck that they take turns taking home to practice with. Summer thought we ought to give him some good adventures at the farm to share with her orchestra group this go round. :)

And that wraps up this post.