A rickety ladder sure puts things in perspective

This morning Jason climbed a really tall ladder to tear down some unused, unsightly wires that have been hanging from the eaves of our second story forever.  I am so glad the wires are down--it was a small thing, but it had been bugging me for a while!  Our neighbor John across the street loaned the ladder and Jason made quick work of the project today.

I was terrified, watching him climb up and down while I spotted him at the ground.  I wonder what was going through his head!  On the last climb, I kept my mouth shut and said a silent prayer to God that He would help me keep the ladder steady and help Jason stay on the ladder.  I was trying not to think about him falling, and instead tried to imagine God holding the ladder with me.  At the very least, it helped me to focus on what I was doing and try not to bother Jason as he finished up the project.  I'm grateful for that answered prayer and for my super-hero hubby!!!!

On to the week's update:

Rhiannon enjoyed Rally Week at her high school--each day had a different dress-up theme and then on Friday there was a huge pep rally, recognizing all the different fall sports teams.  She said it was loud and fun!  Friday night she went to the football game with friends and had a good time with them.  Yesterday she and Wade ran a marathon of errands with me.  As we were leaving the Stater Bros. grocery store, this store employee--a really cute, sharp-looking boy--was putting away carts and gave Rhiannon the biggest smile.  She smiled right back.  It was sort of an out-of-body experience for me as a mom, watching that happen, knowing that she would be walking on Cloud 9 after that.  We laughed and laughed and laughed!  Still makes me smile thinking about that, and brings back some funny teenage memories of my own!  It was a long, tiring week for Rhiannon that ended on some high notes.

Last night she joined me at our neighbor Kristin's home to watch the Church's General Women's broadcast and eat yummy food.  Kristin had invited several moms and their daughters over--it was a lot of fun and the food was delicious!  Everything from pumpkin bisque to homemade bread to salted caramel dessert bars.  TASTY!

Wade finished up his Athlete badge at Webelos on Thursday night which was a big deal because we hadn't done too well preparing him for that. Somehow he pulled it off--hurray!  On Friday he started in on his vice-president job and helped out at his school's Super Stars assemblies.  His teacher chose him as one of her two Students of the Month, AND he got the top Accelerated Math spot for the grading period with 75 objectives covered (this was pretty amazing--the next highest in his grade was half that amount!).  Yesterday he went to two birthday parties, to his teacher's son's bounce-house birthday party, and then to a movie with his buddy Nick in the evening.  What a life this boy leads--it's fun to see him in his element.  The big thing for him this coming week is his Arrow of Light ceremony on Thursday!

I subbed two days this week, for first graders on Thursday and Wade's fifth-grade class on Friday.  The days went by quickly and the kids were good.  The first graders were very loveable, asking for hugs and telling me they loved me, haha!  Most of the fifth graders knew me already and looked forward to the game we play at the end of a good day--they also enjoyed comparing their height to mine, knowing that many will be taller than me by the end of the year. :)

We had more construction workers here yesterday working on some concrete and brick work in the backyard, and we'll be getting the three outside gates replaced.  I am so happy about this!  The next project will be figuring out what in the world to do with our front yard landscaping now that we've turned the water system off.

The other very important thing to report is that we've had some cooler weather this weekend and it is GORGEOUS outside!  We haven't seen the end of temps in the 90's, but this break from the heat has been very, very welcome!

September has gone by so quickly!

A random weekly report!

This past week was fast and furious.

Jason got home from travel and then he was busy with his department's off-site meetings.  He invited me to join him at a dinner one night with his co-workers at the USO building.  We had a good time doing that!

Rhiannon got her first high school progress report in the mail and has all A's and B's so far--we are very proud of her and hope she'll continue to improve on those "B" classes.  For a youth activity on Thursday night she did an Iron Chef competition and had a lot of fun with that!  She also got invited to her first "high school party"--her friend Kevin from seminary invited her to come to one of the parks in town and play some games like Kick-the-Can, etc.  She was excited about it but then her mom chickened out when the sky filled with lightning.  She told her friend to call her again the next time!

Wade had a very busy week of campaigning and found out on Friday that he WON the student council vice-president spot!  He is super excited because 3 of his friends won, too--Nick got president, Carson won treasurer, and Tucker won for secretary.  An all-boy council--should be interesting. :)  He also hit the streets with me yesterday to earn money for his school's Kiwanis fundraiser and had a great experience with that, earning $93 on one street!

On Wednesday at the Battle of the Books meeting, I donned an apron and did the "Elephant Toothpaste" science demo for the kids attending, and, man, that was a blast.  My institute lesson on missionary work was successful, and I learned a lot at an institute training on Thursday night.  I've got a lot on my mind with the annual 7-Day emergency preparedness challenge that's almost over--I haven't "participated" so much as I've made lists on things I'd like to learn about and do and save up to purchase.  SO MUCH information!

Friday night we attended another USO Open Mic night, our first since Rhiannon's birthday party back in May.  We were just there to listen this time, and there were sure some great acts.  The final one before we left was a little different, though.  A very talented belly dancer performed for what felt like FOREVER, while some musicians banged on drums in the background for her.  She was really good, but it was pretty awkward, too.  That's all I will say about that, ha!

To end on a spiritual note, I felt the truth in what Brother Robins, our home teacher, said in his closing remarks of his talk in church today.  He said, "I know that if I will let Him, God will bring me home."  Both talks were great, about learning from burdens and adversity and strengthening our relationship with the Savior.  It was a good day.



ps.  The new air conditioning units are heavenly!

Wade for VP!

It's a busy week for Wade. His official campaign for student council vice-president starts today!  Should be lots of fun....I hope.  :)

Erasers to pass out to his hopefully future constituents

T-shirt--hopefully I can peel it off of him and wash it every other day. :)

Our favorite part:  "My name is Wade Cushing and I approve this message."

Posters:  they allow you to make 7 of them.  :)

He gets to give a speech to all of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders on Wednesday morning, and then the election is on Friday.  His speech is pretty short but it includes quotes from Spiderman and Napoleon Dynamite, so it's good. :)

Vote for Wade!

Food processor heaven

Ever since I made that homemade laundry detergent, I've been dreaming about food processors (apparently it will grate/shred the Fels Naptha or Zote soap into powdery snow--would have been nice to have when I made it!).

Food processors are expensive.  They are bulky.  They gather dust in cupboards.  SO I was only going to get one used and for cheap, if I could find one locally.  Even if I only used it for the laundry detergent, I felt like it would be worth it.

So, yesterday I bought a used one for cheap.

And I've used it twice and cried tears of joy at the chopping/shredding/blending job it did!  (OK, I didn't cry, but I had a huge smile on my face!)

Using THIS IDEA online, I threw some frozen apricots and blueberries in the food processor and pulsed for a minute or two.  The concoction was the texture of Dippin' Dots and was YUMMY!

Then this morning, as soon as I got the groceries out of the van, I made a cilantro jalapeno dip, using the food processor to chop up the cilantro and jalapeno in a way that I didn't think was possible in this life, and then adding a cup each of sour cream and mayo and a packet of ranch mix.  Sliced up a baguette and dined like a queen.  Here's the recipe link for that one:  CILANTRO JALAPENO dip.

This is going to be fun!

It's National Preparedness Month--do you have the basics?

I found this helpful, a link on the Survival Mom website that puts emergency preparedness in a simple format.  

I'm also including President Thomas S. Monson's presidency message for September 2014.  When the prophet speaks, we really need to listen!

President Monson's message this month:

"Are We Prepared?

BY PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSON

In the vicinity where I once lived and served, the Church operated a poultry project, staffed primarily by volunteers from the local wards. Most of the time it was an efficiently operated project, supplying to the bishops’ storehouse thousands of fresh eggs and hundreds of pounds of dressed poultry. On a few occasions, however, being volunteer city farmers meant not only blisters on the hands but also frustration of heart and mind.

For instance, I shall ever remember the time we gathered the Aaronic Priesthood young men to give the project a spring-cleaning. Our enthusiastic and energetic throng assembled at the project and in a speedy fashion uprooted, gathered, and burned large quantities of weeds and debris. By the light of the glowing bonfires, we ate hot dogs and congratulated ourselves on a job well done.

However, there was just one disastrous problem. The noise and the fires so disturbed the fragile population of 5,000 laying hens that most of them went into a sudden molt and ceased laying. Thereafter we tolerated a few weeds so that we might produce more eggs.

No member of the Church who has helped provide for those in need ever forgets or regrets the experience. Industry, thrift, self-reliance, and sharing with others are not new to us.

We should remember that the best storehouse system would be for every family in the Church to have a supply of food, clothing, and, where possible, other necessities of life. The Lord’s storehouse includes the time, talents, skills, compassion, consecrated material, and financial means of faithful Church members. These resources are available to the bishop in assisting those in need.

We urge all Latter-day Saints to be prudent in their planning, to be conservative in their living, and to avoid excessive or unnecessary debt. Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had a supply of food and clothing and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have a supply of debt and are food-free.

I repeat what the First Presidency declared a few years ago:

“Latter-day Saints have been counseled for many years to prepare for adversity by having a little money set aside. Doing so adds immeasurably to security and well-being. Every family has a responsibility to provide for its own needs to the extent possible.

“We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from this bondage. Save a little money regularly to gradually build a financial reserve.”1

Are we prepared for the emergencies in our lives? Are our skills perfected? Do we live providently? Do we have our reserve supply on hand? Are we obedient to the commandments of God? Are we responsive to the teachings of prophets? Are we prepared to give of our substance to the poor, the needy? Are we square with the Lord?

We live in turbulent times. Often the future is unknown; therefore, it behooves us to prepare for uncertainties. When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past."

Remembering 9/11 today

A big change this week!

This week we are getting our 36-year-old air conditioning system replaced.  We are all happy, happy, happy about this!!!

This morning High Desert Air Ductor guys showed up and immediately got to work.  Then a crane truck arrived and they carefully took off the old units and positioned the new ones.  So far so good.  Of course the day we get this done, it starts POURING rain on the poor guys in the middle of the job.  Have I ever mentioned the times it rains in Ridgecrest?  FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, folks.  Ha-ha, oh well, the workers are off taking a well-deserved, early lunch break until the rain stops.

Talent in the desert!

On Saturday night Rhiannon and I joined our friend Sandi Collins and went to a musical put on by the RMES, the Ridgecrest Musical Education Society.  Most years RMES puts on a play and donates all of the proceeds to the schools and scholarships for music education.  It's pretty neat!  They do auditions and then work on it all summer, voluntarily.

This year the play was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

It was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We also knew several people in the play from school and church, so that made it even more magical. :)

I had no idea that much talent existed in our little desert town!  Can't wait to see what they do next!

The boys got milkshakes and then had a "guys night" watching Need for Speed.  They had a good time, too, but hopefully I can convince them to join us next time. :)

Raising children with a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ

"Help your children in every way you can to grow up with a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Teach them to pray. Teach them to observe the Word of Wisdom, to walk faithfully and humbly before the Lord so that when they grow up to manhood and womanhood they can thank you for what you have done for them and look back over their lives with grateful hearts and with love for their parents for the manner in which those parents cared for them and trained them in the gospel of Jesus Christ."

--President Joseph Fielding Smith


A few weeks ago a sweet lady in our ward, Sister Olsen, asked me if I'd speak for a few minutes in her Relief Society lesson on things we do in our family to help our kids know the gospel and gain a testimony of the Savior.

She called me yesterday to remind me that the lesson was today.  One thing she said really hit me:  she knew there were going to be mothers in the room who would feel guilty about that lesson on raising children, who would only think of the things they did wrong.

That reminded me of a powerful meeting we had at church a couple months ago, when members of our congregation were getting up and sharing their testimonies.  One wonderful older lady was talking about how every single one of her children had joined her to serve in the St. George temple as part of their family reunion, and how much that had meant to her and how happy it made her.  It was really neat to listen to that, especially since I'd seen her family pictures of that day on Facebook.

A few minutes later, this other woman got up and said she felt strongly she should share her feelings about raising a non-typical family in the Church.  She said she probably wouldn't ever have an experience like the other woman had shared where everyone was in the temple, etc, but she loved the gospel, and she loved her family so much.  It was a really good reminder to not judge and to just keep doing the very best that you can.

So...when I read the lesson that we would be studying in Relief Society today, I had those very feelings that Sister Olsen mentioned--doubt, guilt, and worry about all the things we could be doing better for our kids, to help them have a knowledge of and love for the Savior and His gospel.

It was not a fun feeling.

But then I thought about Jesus Christ, and His mercy and love, and I remembered some of the things we are doing right, like having family home evening, emphasizing family time together, teaching our kids how to work, expecting honesty and integrity, eating dinner together every night, saying family prayer, and attending church together.

And I felt better.  I felt the truth of that scripture--"by their fruits ye shall know them"--and thought that if you just looked at Rhiannon and Wade and watched their goodness and their good choices, that Jason and I were doing something right.  We can always improve and do more, but it was comforting to remember the good things we've done and that we're doing, and to keep trying!

Some fun "green" projects

Unconsciously I've been going a little more "green" lately and saving some green $$ in the process. It's a REALLY cool feeling!  Here are the projects I've been busy with the last few weeks:

I made homemade Swiffer dusters using used flannel receiving blankets that I bought from a friend.  They are fun to use and they work pretty well!

Update on that laundry detergent I made a few weeks ago:  I'm almost done with my first bottle's worth and I LOVE IT.  It smells great and the bonus is that I've got a huge bucket of it still to go through, haha!

Sun Oven experiments have gone really, really well.  I put this apple-cinnamon bread outside in the solar oven at lunch time and it was ready to eat in about an hour.

Delish, and I didn't use any electricity to bake it! :)

I hard-boiled these eggs WITHOUT USING ANY WATER in the sun oven.  SO COOL, and yes, they are edible! :)

This was my first sun oven experiment--brownies using a brownie mix.

They turned out great, too!

I won't be buying any more of these Swiffer refills, either.  I found an idea online where you could use old chenille socks and they worked just fine.  Then I take them off and throw them in the washer.  We only use the Swiffer to get under furniture, and the sock magically "grabs" all that dog hair with ease.

Oh, and Jason has kindly let me do his last 3 haircuts.  He's a good sport to trust me with that!!! :)

This boy

This boy has been feeling a little neglected lately.

He was telling me at breakfast the other day that he felt like all our focus was on Rhiannon--Rhiannon and seminary, Rhiannon and homework, how'd Rhiannon do on her tests, Rhiannon plays the piano so well, Rhiannon needs to get to school early tomorrow to practice with the band, etc, etc, etc.

He wasn't whining or crying about it, he was just sharing how things looked from his perspective.

It made me smile.  I reminded him that there were plenty of things that Wade got recognized for, too: Wade is going to start flag football next month; wow!  Wade is reading at an almost 9th-grade level!, Wade is doing a good job saving up some money, Wade is so close to getting his Arrow of Light for Cub Scouts, Wade did such a good job mowing the lawn!

It's not like we stick him in a corner and forget about him, but I appreciated his honest opinion and told him I'd do a better job.  :)

One thing that Wade has been planning for is the Student Council election coming up in a few weeks.  He plans to run for vice president and have posters that say:  "WANTED, Wade Cushing, for Vice President."  Which is the reason for the dog house pictures. :)

We love Wade and we love his sister, too!  We're blessed to have such good kids!

Rhiannon's first experience playing at a football game!

Last night we went to the first home football game for our local high school.  We got to watch the Burros beat the Warriors, 35-21, and we got to SEE RHIANNON PLAY WITH THE BAND on the field at half-time!  It was so fun!!!  In the video Rhiannon is on the far right on the mallets.  She said she had a really good time and was happy she got to see with the drumline people, the life of the party. :)

BHS Burros Symphonic and Cadet Band, 2014-2015

Fun panorama of the field

A quick, random update

Labor Day weekend was terrific:  major take-everything-out-and-earn-its-way-back garage clean-out.   We really didn't get rid of too much stuff in there, but it looks so pretty and big now, even with two of our vehicles and 3 bikes parked inside!  We enjoyed swimming, grilling steaks, watching Amazing Spiderman 2, and attending a church Labor Day breakfast--good times.

Jason has had to travel quite a bit and is home (mostly) for the next two weeks.  Heaven.  He's been busy lining up the process to have our air conditioning units and system replaced and redone, and also for 2 new gates outside.  (YAY!!!) He's also picked up running again to prepare for a Las Vegas Ragnar in November. 

We took Wade to his second-to-last Cub Scout pack meeting tonight.  Last night he attended a Boy Scout swimming activity that he needed to pass off the "outdoor activity" requirement for the Arrow of Light award.  He's close--we are very proud of him!  He should be getting that at the next pack meeting.  Wade got signed up for flag football and will start that the middle of October.  He's started the Couch to 5K running program and has been jumping on the treadmill bright and early a few times a week, too.

Rhiannon is taking high school, seminary, homework, and hard tests in stride.  After talking to some other friends whose kids are really struggling, I am so grateful for her easy-going nature and the minimal number of "freak-out" moments that she has.  She had a D in her honors geometry and raised  it two letter grades with her recent test, to a B.  First, the fact that she took that D and just rolled with it and didn't automatically jump to "I'm done, my life is over," says a lot about her.  Tomorrow night she will play with the symphonic band at the high school's first home football game.  Should be fun!  Oh, and she had a fantastic time at her first stake dance a couple weeks ago--she brought a friend with her, and her friend said it was better than a school dance, even with the tiny turnout.

Me?  Oh, I feel like I live in the van.  And that's okay.  :)  I subbed for 3 days straight in a 5th grade classroom and had a pretty good experience with that.  My Institute class prep is keeping me busy, as well as my "duties" helping with the Battle of the Books team at Richmond.  I got a sun oven (solar cooking) for an early Christmas/birthday/anniversary gift and I've had a BLAST cooking with that thing.  So far I've hard-boiled eggs without water, baked brownies, and baked bread--all with the sun, and all came out great!  I can't see myself using it every single day yet, but from an emergency preparedness standpoint, I'm hooked. :)  

Pictures later--life is good!