Boy, are the CA Cushings ready for this weekend. Besides a ward breakfast on Monday, there is nothing written on the calendar. Here's what we've been up to this week and WILL be doing this weekend:
Jason--had a busy week at work with an "off-site, on-site" activity with his team. I jokingly asked him if they were going to do trust-building exercises, and he said, "Yeah." We went down to Costco on Monday night (1.5 hours away) and picked up food for the event, and then on Tuesday night Jason invited me to join him for a social and dinner at the local USO building (fun!). They concluded the activities on Wednesday. He enjoyed his first official flex Friday yesterday since the furloughs have ended and spent most of the day setting up our new computer upstairs and the many things involved with that (thanks, babe!) Jason's weekend plans include just 3 things--training for his 1/2 marathon, doing some yard work, and swimming!
Rhiannon--says she's been really tired and needed this weekend to "sleep in." I don't blame her! We're what, two and a half weeks into school and we're not quite used to it yet! She's enjoying school, it's just a long day for her, getting up at 5:15am every day of the school week. (You can tell she's been busy because she hasn't been on Facebook too much, ha-ha!) Here's some of what she's been studying already:
PE--volleyball
US history--Native American tribes and then European explorers
Honors English--Flowers for Algernon (book) and written essays on an autobiographical event (she chose to write about our move to Virginia)
Band--first concert is next week; she loves being able to teach the boys in her percussion group different mallet pieces
Algebra--well, algebra!
Yearbook--her class is learning about making layouts on a website, and they're also studying the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. She really likes that book and asked if she could get her own copy! It came in the mail last week. :)
Science--not sure, but they've already done a lab to make sparklers, and she really likes the teacher!
Then there's piano lessons and Mutual night activities to round things out. This week for Mutual, the boys and girls got together and did an Iron Chef activity, dessert-style. Rhiannon said it was awesome!
We're proud of this 8th grader and hope she'll get that catch-up rest she deserves. Her plans for the weekend include sleeping in, finishing up chores, playing the piano, reading, and getting to the library!
Wade--has been working very, very hard on extra money chores to earn his part for his new iPod that came this week. On top of his regular stuff that needs done, he's cleaned all the showers in the house, super-dusted the nooks and crannies of the dining room table set and helped me dust the pictures and shelves above the stairs (really needed done!), and emptied the fridge and wiped it clean. Today he plans to "get up early" and get his last thing done--turning over the dirt in the garden. It stinks that his iPod screen broke in the first place, but we're proud of Wade for working hard to correct things and help earn his half for a replacement.
Wade seemed pretty happy about having me for a sub this week, too. I subbed in his class on Thursday, and it was a really great day--the class was fantastic and the day flew by! It made me so happy to see him excited to have his old ma at school. I've got to take advantage of that while I can, ha-ha!
Also this week Wade read the books Hoot and Flush. He got out his Origami Yoda books and has been folding little Yodas and light sabers all over the place. He went to Cub Scouts and worked on a geography belt loop, too. I think his weekend wishes are: swimming! TV! computer games and searching! library! and new iPod!
Me?--I enjoyed getting two "dates" in with Jason earlier in the week. It was fun going down to Costco and getting In and Out for dinner, and then I got spoiled with another "date" the following night. I did two sub jobs this week on Tuesday and Thursday, and I helped with Webelos Cub Scouts on Thursday night. That wasn't my favorite thing--I LOVE that calling and I LOVE working with those boys, but there was something in the air that night and they were CRAZY! They must need this Labor Day weekend, too, because my co-leader and I struggled to keep their attention the entire hour. That's not usually the case!
I've been reading The Adopted Dog Bible (really good!), a young adult book called Scarlet (recommended by Rhiannon), and this super-fun kids' book called Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. It's like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but with books and a really cool library!
My plans for the weekend include dog walks, pulling weeds, swimming, groceries, library, reading, and ch-ch-chillin'!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Crossroads
cross·road
[kraws-rohd, kros-]
noun
1. a road that crosses another road, or one that runs transversely to main roads
2. a by-road
3. Often, crossroads ( used with a singular or plural verb )
a. the place where roads intersect
b. a point at which a vital decision must be made
c. a main center of activity
Related Words: hamlet, critical point, juncture
A long time ago a friend of mine shared a quote with me about mothers "at the crossroads." I've looked all over the Internet this morning and just can't seem to find the quote that I remember. But I did find this:
“First, take time to always be at the crossroads when your children are coming or going—when they leave and return from school—when they leave and return from dates—when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are six or sixteen.”
and this, from President Harold B. Lee--
"Mothers, stay at the crossroads of the home. Some time ago, I was attending a quarterly stake conference. … I said to the president of the stake, … “Have you some mother here, an older mother, who had a large family and had the joy of seeing every one of her family married in the temple?” He looked out over the audience and he said, “Well, there is Sister (I shall call her Sister Jones), she has had a family of eleven, and they all have been married in the temple." As this lovely white-haired mother stood beside me at the microphone, I said, “Would you take a lesson out of your book and tell us, what have you done to reach this most marvelous achievement?” And she replied, … “I might give you two suggestions. In the first place, when our family was growing up, I always was there at the crossroads of the home, when my children were coming to or going from the home. And second: whatever we did we did together as a family. We played together, we prayed together, we worked together, we did everything together. I guess that’s all I can think of.” I said to her, “Now you have preached two great sermons.”
Keep the mother of your home at the “crossroads” of the home. There is a great danger today of homes breaking down because of allurements to entice mothers to neglect their being at home as the family members are coming to or going from the home. Now, I recognize the necessity of some mothers being required to earn sustenance for their family. But even here, Relief Society presidents and bishops should take care lest they fail to lend all aid possible to the mother of small children and to help her, if possible, in planning the nature of work or the schedule of time. All this lies within the province of the Relief Society working with the home.
Today I feel that women are becoming victims of the speed of modern living. It is in building their motherly intuition and that marvelous closeness with their children that they are enabled to tune in upon the wavelengths of their children and to pick up the first signs of difficulty, of danger and distress, which if caught in time would save them from disaster."
And this poem, shared by President Thomas S. Monson:
He stood at the crossroads all alone,
The sunlight in his face.
He had no thought for the world unknown—
He was set for a manly race.
But the roads stretched east, and the roads stretched west,
And the lad knew not which road was best;
So he chose the road that led him down,
And he lost the race and victor’s crown.
He was caught at last in an angry snare
Because no one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better road.
The sunlight in his face.
He had no thought for the world unknown—
He was set for a manly race.
But the roads stretched east, and the roads stretched west,
And the lad knew not which road was best;
So he chose the road that led him down,
And he lost the race and victor’s crown.
He was caught at last in an angry snare
Because no one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better road.
Another day, at the self-same place,
A boy with high hopes stood.
He, too, was set for a manly race;
He, too, was seeking the things that were good;
But one was there who the roads did know,
And that one showed him which way to go.
So he turned from the road that would lead him down,
And he won the race and the victor’s crown.
He walks today the highway fair
Because one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better way.
A boy with high hopes stood.
He, too, was set for a manly race;
He, too, was seeking the things that were good;
But one was there who the roads did know,
And that one showed him which way to go.
So he turned from the road that would lead him down,
And he won the race and the victor’s crown.
He walks today the highway fair
Because one stood at the crossroads there
To show him the better way.
[quoted from Central Christian Monitor, in Conference Report, Oct. 1993, 66–67; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 48]
This theme of crossroads came flooding back to me during my sub job yesterday.
I was teaching a 5th grade class right next door to Wade's classroom, and all of the 4th and 5th graders were outside in the afternoon for a quick recess, called "choice P.E." of all things. I was standing in the middle of the blacktop, rotating around to keep an eye on a particularly energetic group of boys playing baseball . I'd move around in a circle to check on other kids, too.
After a few minutes my eyes rested on one of the wall ball courts, and there was Wade, faking that he was staring off into the distance, when really he was waiting for me to notice him. We both smiled and I walked over to him, touched him on the shoulder, and we laughed. After that Wade stuck by my side the last few minutes of the recess, and I cherished that moment with him. He wasn't embarrassed to be hanging with his mom (yet), and he was the perfect breath of fresh air that I needed to get through the last couple hours of the day.
That night the phone rang several times for call-ahead sub jobs. I'd already reached my self-appointed "quota" of jobs for the pay period, the point where I can take 'em or leave 'em and not feel guilty about it, especially if I've got other commitments or appointments the day of the job. After the second phone call, Wade looked up from his homework and said, "Don't take it, Mom." As gracious and wonderful as our kids are about my "sub job days," when they are as helpful and understanding as is humanly possible, the fact of the matter is that they like it better when I'm home to greet them at the crossroads. They can sense the difference, no matter how hard I try to amp up my game and make things as normal as possible.
Am I going to quit subbing? No. I enjoy it (most of the time), and it's a good outlet for me. The pay stinks, so that's not why I do it, ha-ha! Plus kids are fun!
Is this a "mothers should stay in the home" post? Not exactly. Have I offended anyone? I hope not. Women have different needs, different family situations, different circumstances, different opportunities, and different personalities. There isn't a cookie-cutter answer. There may come a day when things change for me and I give up subbing altogether or decide to work full-time.
What this post is, well, it's a personal reminder to myself, to pay attention, listen to promptings, and work with Jason and the Lord to do the very best we can for these two wonderful kids in our home. To recognize and be able to balance their needs with our own.
I feel really, really, really blessed, and I am very grateful to be a wife and a mom. It's not easy, but it is so worth it!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Jason's 20th high school reunion
Jason did something fun last weekend and drove up to Salt Lake City for his 20th high school reunion. He tried to leave Wednesday night but had to turn around after he got to Trona because there were some washed-out roads around Death Valley. This made for a long, lonesome day of driving on Thursday, but he was able to make some memories all day Friday and Saturday!
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| This was his high school's Vulcan Club. Can you spy Jason? Apparently that year the joke was to come up with all kinds of crazy clubs so you could get into the yearbook. I don't think this would have happened at Marcus, as much as I love my own high school! When I grow up, I want to go to Highland! |
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| Cool! |
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| At the Saturday picnic--Jason with Brandon Weilenmann and Jaron Briggs |
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| Al Westenskow, Autumn Jensen, Jason, and Parrish Brady |
On Friday morning Jason had a good time playing golf with his dad, his Great-Grandpa Rod, and long-time friend and neighbor Kray Hammond. He also got to hang with the Cropper clan for a bit Thursday night. Then on Sunday he woke up really, really early and got home in good time around 3:00pm. We were so glad to get him home safe and sound!
Hopefully I can join Jason at his 30th. I had WAY more fun at his 10th year reunion than I did at my own, which was surprising because I loved high school! But it just wasn't a good time this year for me to join him, with school starting for the kids, and the, ahem, new family addition of a second dog! But I'm glad he got to go and had a great time!
ps. Jason got the "Coolest Job" award, for the second reunion in a row. :)
Captions
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| Which calendar helps me breathe a little easier? |
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| Definitely this one! It's called Amy Knapp's Big Grid Calendar. I am in love. |
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| Ya know I also love my photo calendar, but it doesn't have enough room! |
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| Yay for getting organized! |
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| Samson got a haircut on Wednesday. Sometimes I slip and call him Fifi for short--he looks like a girl, ha-ha! |
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| He was already for me, posed and everything. Whatever Samson gets, Oscar wants, and vice versa. |
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| I haven't had a shower yet. I need one. BUT I've gotten lots of good things done already today! |
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| The ever-evolving Cushing chore chart, where it's out of the way but the kids and I still see it every day. Rhiannon will have plenty of time to get hers done this weekend (plus she just happened to draw really easy ones this week!) |
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| Yay for chores! |
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Wednesday wonder
Ahhhhhhh. That's the sound of me exhaling. Everyone is off to school or work, and I'm putting my feet up for a moment after a productive morning. Dogs are walked, leaves are swept up, patio, driveway, sidewalk gutters, all swept. The A/C finally kicked on, too, so I'm feeling content and happy. Oscar is passed out on the tile floor and Samson is asleep next to me on the couch, even though it's only 8:45am (we gotta get that exercise in early, ya know? before the heat sets in!)
Monday morning, early, we had a C-R-A-Z-Y thunderstorm roll through, the kind of storm that had most of Ridgecrest awake at 4:00am, several making comments and posting lightning pictures on Facebook. Instead of tossing and turning and grumbling, I got out of bed and watched the sky through the window blinds and was treated to quite the electric show. It seems like everything is intensified here in the desert, especially when it comes to sunrises, sunsets, and thunderstorms! It's a little scary sometimes, but always worth the view.
I'm filled with wonder about that storm this morning. There I was, standing at my window, taking it all in and, truly, enjoying it, while our sweet neighbors right across the street got both their TVs and their computer blown out! Sigh. I guess it's another reminder that there are always two sides to a story!
Today is grocery shopping day, if I can get motivated to do it, plus a grooming appointment for Samson (who finally got his cone of shame off), missionaries over for dinner (what to fix?), and then Rhiannon's church group of 12-13-year-old girls coming over to swim for an activity. Our calendar is probably pretty skimpy compared to some families I know, but I decided to order a bigger wall calendar so I could fit everything on! The way my brain works, if it's not on the calendar, it's not in my brain, ha-ha!
This has been Wednesday wonder musings, random but current!
Monday morning, early, we had a C-R-A-Z-Y thunderstorm roll through, the kind of storm that had most of Ridgecrest awake at 4:00am, several making comments and posting lightning pictures on Facebook. Instead of tossing and turning and grumbling, I got out of bed and watched the sky through the window blinds and was treated to quite the electric show. It seems like everything is intensified here in the desert, especially when it comes to sunrises, sunsets, and thunderstorms! It's a little scary sometimes, but always worth the view.
I'm filled with wonder about that storm this morning. There I was, standing at my window, taking it all in and, truly, enjoying it, while our sweet neighbors right across the street got both their TVs and their computer blown out! Sigh. I guess it's another reminder that there are always two sides to a story!
Today is grocery shopping day, if I can get motivated to do it, plus a grooming appointment for Samson (who finally got his cone of shame off), missionaries over for dinner (what to fix?), and then Rhiannon's church group of 12-13-year-old girls coming over to swim for an activity. Our calendar is probably pretty skimpy compared to some families I know, but I decided to order a bigger wall calendar so I could fit everything on! The way my brain works, if it's not on the calendar, it's not in my brain, ha-ha!
This has been Wednesday wonder musings, random but current!
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Dogs' life
Well, we did it. We are the official owners of a second dog, adopted from the animal shelter here on Tuesday, neutered and then straight to our house on Wednesday. We had a long list of names we were thinking about--Chewie, Rex, Tex, Chip, Jett, and Samson, for starters. Samson won in the end, mainly because I couldn't resist Rhiannon and Wade's puppy dog eyes!
This morning I was out taking both dogs for a walk and had to laugh at the drivers swiveling in their cars to check out the odd pair. You've got Oscar, a lean, mean machine, tall and white, and then you've got Samson with his cone of shame, 5-10 pounds overweight, short and black. Or maybe people were just laughing at the short little woman out trying to walk them at the same time!
I have slept on the couch the last three nights to be near the dogs downstairs. Oscar is in his crate, and Samson is in an exercise pen right next to Oscar. Samson can't fit in his crate yet because of the e-collar, and I imagine it's going to take a while for him to be comfortable in the crate. I'm not really excited about bringing crates and dog beds up to our rooms, but I did read that shelter dogs in particular have abandonment issues and can get freaked out at night until they've adjusted and know for sure that you'll always come back. Samson whined a TON the first night. Seems silly, but it makes a lot of sense because when I came home from errands and carpool several times the past few days, Samson was beside himself when I walked in the door, SO EXCITED!
Oscar is doing pretty well with the new addition. He wants to play with Samson so badly, but Samson lets him know when enough is enough. I'm grateful for this, especially since Samson just had surgery! We're trying to establish Oscar as the top dog, feeding him first, not letting Samson into his crate or play with his toys, etc., but sometimes it's a little unclear who the natural top dog is! Oscar gets one-on-one time each day playing fetch, but otherwise we try to give the dogs equal amounts of attention.
Knock on wood, there have been NO accidents, just lots of little surprises and glimpses into Samson's personality and past. I think he's been trained (good on a leash, dances for treats, potty-trained), and it's pretty clear he's been spoiled (overweight, jumps right into your lap when you're on the couch, loves to snuggle). He's scared us a couple times with his jumping feats. He scaled some chairs I had set up as a barrier because he wanted to be RIGHT next to me in the other room, and then the next day he jumped from the top of the couch. I think we're pretty lucky that he didn't open his surgical incision!!!
It'll be great to get Jason home tomorrow night from his high school reunion so that he can experience all the fun we've had with two dogs, ha-ha! So far things are going great! We're all a little in awe. Wade put it best when he said, "I just can't believe that we met this dog for the first time on Saturday and now he's ours!"
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
First day of 8th and 4th grade!
First day of school went off without a hitch--hurray!
Rhiannon has zero period this year--a PE class starting at 6:30am on the dot--so that she can take an extra elective (yearbook) plus band. Most days Jason will be able to take her on his way to work (which I REALLY, REALLY appreciate!) Rhiannon was up by 5:15am and came downstairs looking GREAT! She said she got a ton of compliments from friends and a teacher on the dress. She likes all of her teachers and is excited but nervous about yearbook class--it's full of her friends, but it's going to take a lot of time and effort on her part.
Wade has Mrs. Keehan for 4th grade, the same teacher his sister had. He came home glowing yesterday and said he really liked how Mrs. Keehan handled another kid in his class who has some issues. She was a good mix of patience and firmness. Maybe it's a sign that times are a changin', but Wade also already had a list of cute girls that he liked in his class, since the girls he secretly liked last year had moved or were in a different class. (!?!?!?)
We took these pictures in the evening--aren't they cute? :) Love these kids and hope they know how proud we are of them! It's going to be another great year!
To make the week just a little more exciting, we're bringing home a new dog today and Jason will be gone for 4 days! EEK! :)
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Double trouble?
The kids and I have visited the animal shelter often this summer. Ever since we got back from our Utah trip, I've been thinking about getting Oscar a 4-legged companion. I know, crazy, right??? But Oscar is so stinkin' DEPRESSED for a few days after we get home because he's played his heart out with other dogs while we're away. He gets a walk every day and he's given plenty of attention; we just don't play the way dogs do!
Oh, and seeing this all over town didn't help me let it go any, either:
So today Jason graciously joined us for another animal shelter field trip. We wanted to show him Annie, this Vizla mix, and a couple other dogs we'd liked, just for fun. Well, turns out that Annie is older, overweight, and SHEDS like nobody's business. She was sweet, but the hair flying everywhere was a major deal breaker.
On our way home, we stopped by the Desert Dogs store to check out the animal shelter's adoption fair. We played with Pierre the poodle, another dog we liked at the shelter. It was fun to give him a little one-on-one attention because at the shelter, his kennel mate wouldn't let us get near him, hogging all of our attention. Pierre was pretty cute and super-soft.
But then we played with Chip, just for fun. He'd had a bath, he was mellow, liked being petted, stayed right next to us, didn't bark, and, dang, he was awesome!!! He's a Shih Tzu/Poodle mix.
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| Hi, Chip! (or maybe Chewie? Rhiannon likes that name) ps. This is Chip's picture on the shelter's Facebook page, pre-grooming |
About 30 minutes after we got home I sat down to do this blog post, and Jason told me I should bring Oscar over to the shelter to meet Chip and see how that went. Oscar and Chip did great. There was no barking or biting; Oscar followed that little dog around like a puppy!
So, who knows? We turned in an application and will wait for a home visit from an animal shelter employee next week. Maybe when Jason gets home from his reunion trip there will be another "baby" greeting him at the door! :)
Friday, August 9, 2013
Friday before school starts
So, what are we up to today, our last Friday before school starts?
Jason woke up early and went for a run. He finished P90X and is now training for a half-marathon in October.
We all worked on chores this morning.
Jason mowed the lawn and did some projects, such as replacing a sprinkler head that looked like it'd been chewed on (Oscar!), adding some chemicals to the waterfalls, and pounding in fertilizer spikes around some pine trees that weren't looking too hot.
I raked, swept, blew leaves into a pile, and removed tomato plants from the garden. (Got the shock of my life when I realized one of the plants was COVERED in caterpillars and jumpy cricket thing-a-ma-jigs. That's all I'm going to say about it, because if I keep talking about it, the tears and gag reflex will start up again. Note to self: do NOT let this happen again next time we do a garden! Pest control is coming at 3pm today!)
Wade pulled weeds and helped me outside with picking up the leaves. He helped Dad by cleaning up and sweeping out back. Then he watered the grapevine and flowers.
Rhiannon helped me sweep off the porch. She also used the steam mop for the first time and mopped the downstairs--she did a great job with that.
Right now Rhiannon is across the street babysitting three little boys. Wade is listening to his iPod and dreaming up ways he can earn money to replace the broken screen on it. (iPod dropped on tile floor is no bueno.) Jason got a haircut and is now enjoying some tasty Taco Bell and ESPN downstairs. I need a shower bad, so that's what I'm about to do!
Tonight we're going to all put our feet up, maybe swim, and enjoy a family movie night--Star Trek Wrath of Khan that Jason got for Father's Day. :)
Happy Weekend!
Jason woke up early and went for a run. He finished P90X and is now training for a half-marathon in October.
We all worked on chores this morning.
Jason mowed the lawn and did some projects, such as replacing a sprinkler head that looked like it'd been chewed on (Oscar!), adding some chemicals to the waterfalls, and pounding in fertilizer spikes around some pine trees that weren't looking too hot.
I raked, swept, blew leaves into a pile, and removed tomato plants from the garden. (Got the shock of my life when I realized one of the plants was COVERED in caterpillars and jumpy cricket thing-a-ma-jigs. That's all I'm going to say about it, because if I keep talking about it, the tears and gag reflex will start up again. Note to self: do NOT let this happen again next time we do a garden! Pest control is coming at 3pm today!)
Wade pulled weeds and helped me outside with picking up the leaves. He helped Dad by cleaning up and sweeping out back. Then he watered the grapevine and flowers.
Rhiannon helped me sweep off the porch. She also used the steam mop for the first time and mopped the downstairs--she did a great job with that.
Right now Rhiannon is across the street babysitting three little boys. Wade is listening to his iPod and dreaming up ways he can earn money to replace the broken screen on it. (iPod dropped on tile floor is no bueno.) Jason got a haircut and is now enjoying some tasty Taco Bell and ESPN downstairs. I need a shower bad, so that's what I'm about to do!
Tonight we're going to all put our feet up, maybe swim, and enjoy a family movie night--Star Trek Wrath of Khan that Jason got for Father's Day. :)
Happy Weekend!
The boys go backpacking!
To commemorate his hike to Mt Whitney with the Boy Scouts last summer, Jason took Wade on his first official, for-reals backpacking trip last weekend. They had a great time hiking around Cottonwood Pass and camping out by Chicken Spring Lake. Jason took some great pictures--enjoy!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
My take on Summer 2013, according to Facebook
I've got a few minutes before I head to a baptism tonight, so I thought I'd make a list of my Facebook posts the last few months, just for kicks:
June 5:
The kids were great helpers this morning cleaning up the front yard, which was full of weeds and leaves and blossoms falling from the trees. Afterwards Wade and I jumped in the pool, so nice after our hard work! After a while I wanted to get out and see what time it was, and Wade said, "No, don't do that. This should be timeless." translation ("Mom, we don't need anything scheduled right now! We don't need to hurry up and be somewhere!") I sure appreciated his appreciation of what summer is all about!
June 12:
Wade has one more requirement to do and then he'll have his Bear award in Cub Scouts. Yay!
June 14:
Yay for summer haircuts! Thanks, Julie!
(I wasn't on Facebook at all during our week in Utah. That's the sign of a VERY good vacation!)
July 7:
I come from a great family. Just finished up an amazing 4th of July reunion in Round Rock, Texas, and I was reminded again that Sheens know how to have fun, know how to eat, know how to laugh, know how to dance/sing/party, and know how to pack in every last minute with good times and memories. Very thankful for our time together!
July 7:
Love.
July 7:
More Love.
July 10:
Judith Bal is a rock star! We just planned out our Webelos den meetings for an entire year!!! WOO-HOO!
July 12:
To celebrate Furlough Friday, these two are going to see Pacific Rim today in 3D. I never get in the way of Father/Son time--it's awesome! The picture is a flashback from 6 (gasp!) years ago, a favorite of mine! — at LDS Temples- Washington D.C.
July 12:
Excited to get Rhiannon home from Girls Camp today! I've missed her--we're pretty boring and quiet without her around!
July 15:
Enjoyed a great visit from Angela and Sheri today--these ladies are the best. While they were here, the kids kept busy cleaning bathrooms, taking the dog for a walk, and folding laundry! I (heart) visiting teaching!
July 18:
A pic from our Family Fun Run at the Texas reunion. Traci, you are my favorite sister-in-law who lives in Fort Worth for taking this shot
July 18:
And here's another one, for kicks. Jason won the chicken hat, Derrick won the coonskin, and Tommy won the umbrella hat. I should have gotten a fourth prize for Logan for his sheer determination! (Texas Reunion Family Fun Run) Let's do this again, folks. (Thanks, Lydia, for the pic!)
July 21:
I can't help it. I HATE commercials, but this one was awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tc_2euPLXc
July 22:
Yay for desert rain! (And not having to be out in it!) Yes, I am a desert rat!
July 23:
Getting things DONE today, everything from calendaring to dog walk to dishes to laundry. Now I'm off to run errands with the kids. Then we'll take it easy the rest of the day!
July 25:
Man, I'm telling you, Webelos is where the party is! Tonight at Cub Scouts we talked about Safe Swim Defense, changed lightbulbs, inflated bike tires, discussed chores, and played water games. We had 6 fantastic boys show and were missing 7 because of summer vacations, etc. Love. (Remind me of this status update if I ever start complaining!)
July 26:
Ridgecrest humidity is harder to handle than Texas humidity, in my humble opinion!
July 27:
Finally watched The Artist today. It was fantastic!
July 28:
June 5:
The kids were great helpers this morning cleaning up the front yard, which was full of weeds and leaves and blossoms falling from the trees. Afterwards Wade and I jumped in the pool, so nice after our hard work! After a while I wanted to get out and see what time it was, and Wade said, "No, don't do that. This should be timeless." translation ("Mom, we don't need anything scheduled right now! We don't need to hurry up and be somewhere!") I sure appreciated his appreciation of what summer is all about!
June 12:
Wade has one more requirement to do and then he'll have his Bear award in Cub Scouts. Yay!
June 14:
Yay for summer haircuts! Thanks, Julie!
(I wasn't on Facebook at all during our week in Utah. That's the sign of a VERY good vacation!)
July 7:
I come from a great family. Just finished up an amazing 4th of July reunion in Round Rock, Texas, and I was reminded again that Sheens know how to have fun, know how to eat, know how to laugh, know how to dance/sing/party, and know how to pack in every last minute with good times and memories. Very thankful for our time together!
July 7:
Love.
July 7:
More Love.
July 10:
Judith Bal is a rock star! We just planned out our Webelos den meetings for an entire year!!! WOO-HOO!
July 12:
To celebrate Furlough Friday, these two are going to see Pacific Rim today in 3D. I never get in the way of Father/Son time--it's awesome! The picture is a flashback from 6 (gasp!) years ago, a favorite of mine! — at LDS Temples- Washington D.C.
July 12:
Excited to get Rhiannon home from Girls Camp today! I've missed her--we're pretty boring and quiet without her around!
July 15:
Enjoyed a great visit from Angela and Sheri today--these ladies are the best. While they were here, the kids kept busy cleaning bathrooms, taking the dog for a walk, and folding laundry! I (heart) visiting teaching!
July 18:
A pic from our Family Fun Run at the Texas reunion. Traci, you are my favorite sister-in-law who lives in Fort Worth for taking this shot
July 18:
And here's another one, for kicks. Jason won the chicken hat, Derrick won the coonskin, and Tommy won the umbrella hat. I should have gotten a fourth prize for Logan for his sheer determination! (Texas Reunion Family Fun Run) Let's do this again, folks. (Thanks, Lydia, for the pic!)
July 21:
I can't help it. I HATE commercials, but this one was awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tc_2euPLXc
July 22:
Yay for desert rain! (And not having to be out in it!) Yes, I am a desert rat!
July 23:
Getting things DONE today, everything from calendaring to dog walk to dishes to laundry. Now I'm off to run errands with the kids. Then we'll take it easy the rest of the day!
July 25:
Man, I'm telling you, Webelos is where the party is! Tonight at Cub Scouts we talked about Safe Swim Defense, changed lightbulbs, inflated bike tires, discussed chores, and played water games. We had 6 fantastic boys show and were missing 7 because of summer vacations, etc. Love. (Remind me of this status update if I ever start complaining!)
July 26:
Ridgecrest humidity is harder to handle than Texas humidity, in my humble opinion!
July 27:
Finally watched The Artist today. It was fantastic!
July 28:
Really great talks about pioneers today during church. Especially loved this quote that Tara shared, by M. Russell Ballard. Long but worth it!
"We are all needed to finish the work that was begun by those pioneering Saints over 175 years ago and carried out through the subsequent decades by faithful Saints of every generation. We need to believe as they believed. We need to work as they worked.... We need to serve as they served. And we need to overcome as they overcame.
Of course, our challenges are different today, but they are no less demanding. Instead of angry mobs, we face those who constantly try to defame. Instead of extreme exposure and hardship, we face alcohol and drug abuse, pornography, all kinds of filth, sleaze, greed, dishonesty, and spiritual apathy. Instead of families being uprooted and torn from their homes, we see the institution of the family, including the divine institution of marriage, under attack as groups and individuals seek to define away the prominent and divine role of the family in society.
This is not to suggest that our challenges today are more severe than the challenges faced by those who have gone before us. They are just different. The Lord isn’t asking us to load up a handcart; He’s asking us to fortify our faith. He isn’t asking us to walk across a continent; He’s asking us to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He isn’t asking us to give all of our worldly possessions to build a temple; He’s asking us to give of our means and our time despite the pressures of modern living to continue to build temples and then to attend regularly the temples already built. He isn’t asking us to die a martyr’s death; He’s asking us to live a disciple’s life."
--"The Truth of God Shall Go Forth," M. Russell Ballard, Oct 2008 General Conference
"We are all needed to finish the work that was begun by those pioneering Saints over 175 years ago and carried out through the subsequent decades by faithful Saints of every generation. We need to believe as they believed. We need to work as they worked.... We need to serve as they served. And we need to overcome as they overcame.
Of course, our challenges are different today, but they are no less demanding. Instead of angry mobs, we face those who constantly try to defame. Instead of extreme exposure and hardship, we face alcohol and drug abuse, pornography, all kinds of filth, sleaze, greed, dishonesty, and spiritual apathy. Instead of families being uprooted and torn from their homes, we see the institution of the family, including the divine institution of marriage, under attack as groups and individuals seek to define away the prominent and divine role of the family in society.
This is not to suggest that our challenges today are more severe than the challenges faced by those who have gone before us. They are just different. The Lord isn’t asking us to load up a handcart; He’s asking us to fortify our faith. He isn’t asking us to walk across a continent; He’s asking us to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He isn’t asking us to give all of our worldly possessions to build a temple; He’s asking us to give of our means and our time despite the pressures of modern living to continue to build temples and then to attend regularly the temples already built. He isn’t asking us to die a martyr’s death; He’s asking us to live a disciple’s life."
--"The Truth of God Shall Go Forth," M. Russell Ballard, Oct 2008 General Conference
July 31:
These gals at Food Storage Made Easy host a 7-Day Emergency Prep challenge every year, where you get different scenarios and tasks each day that you have to work through. I've always avoided it, but I signed up this year. It'll be a good test to see where we need to improve. Because "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear," right? :)
August 1:
Girls Night while the boys are off backpacking in the mountains. Off to get a pizza and some Redbox movies. Of course my beautiful daughter comes downstairs ready to go and dressed to kill, while I take a moment to remember if I put on deodorant or not today.
August 1:
The past week we've had caterpillars (I think that's what they are, but they're really ugly!) all over our porch. Jason found one on our grapevine, but I've found them on the cement, one or two every morning. Should I do something about them??? I wouldn't care normally, but there are a lot of them!
We have one more week of Summer Vacation.
I'm sad!
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