Computer Room: Before Pictures

I read somewhere that we should not be ashamed of taking pictures of our messes because we can always pass them off later as "before" pictures.  Aren't we always just works in progress?  Hopefully always getting better?  This is our dumping ground bookshelf, where things that don't have a home find a resting place.  Like empty computer boxes and long red wigs.

And here is the middle of our little computer room.  The walls are the same beige-y tan as the rest of the house.  In 40 years, this is only their third coat of paint.  My folks were never much for colors on the walls.  The carpet is the original 1970s green shag.  It's not staying, just in case you were wondering.  The boy is moving out, too, during the renovation, but I think we'll put him back in when we are done.

To the left of the bookshelf is a little closet.   To the right of the hutch is the door.  And that's the whole room! Next time, it will look different.

Hopefully, different in a good way.

Vanishing Computers

No, I haven't vanished.  I just can't post anything very easily because our computers are down.  All of them.  They're down and out, baby! 

By that I mean that they have been taken down and carried out to the garage.  That messy computer set up there?  It's Trent's.   Mine was squished awkwardly to the side.  We took everything out and we're redoing the room.  Fresh paint, new flooring, and then if all goes well, we'll only put half of our junk back in.  It should look great!

Oh yeah, and it has to be done and put back together in one week, before my first Mother-in-Law comes to visit.  I don't want to be scurrying around with a project when I could be visiting with her. 

Good luck to us (and so glad I have a great husband to work with!).

Mission Monday

Love getting these letters!

From South Africa:

Well, all that I'm going to say about this week is that it was very trying. The whole week I was learning more and more about the Christlike attributes of Patience and Temperance. Wow, our week was crap, but I did a lot of learning. Funny how things work like that. But I definitely feel like I am a better person because of it, and I now have a lot more patience than I had last week.

In other news, I got to to play with the tigers and lions at a lion park near us. That was way fun and exciting! One of the lions was even named Mufasa, so I got a picture with him, even though he was a little bit angry when we got a little bit close. 

From Madagascar:

First off, happy Independence Day! Our 26th of June over here (Madagascar Independence Day) was pretty good, we had a half and hour long firework show the night before which we watched from the balcony on the church and then everyone was out and about drinking/being with family on the 26th itself. We had a grand total of... drumroll please... TWO times taught that day! So that was poop. Especially because lots of people said they'd be home for sure even though it was a holiday. So we walked around a lot and had two way good times! And then this week is America Day!!! Have a good one of those all y'all. I will wear my American Flag sunglasses just for you. And my America socks.

We Eat Wheat

How do I get this to rotate?  It won't.  Sigh.

I taught a class about wheat last week.  It was for a preparedness fair where lots of people who know lots of good things were willing to share and help us know what to do in case of an emergency.

I don't think storing wheat is just for an emergency - but it will be sure useful if we don't have normal access to food.  We have wheat because it is good for us, and because it is a delicious, inexpensive way to feed lots of boys in a big family.

I was surprised when the nice lady sked me to run the booth.  I am not an expert, and I didn't think I would be able to tell people anything about wheat that hasn't already preached a million times.  She paused for a minute, smiled, and mildly asked, "But you use wheat, don't you?"  Yes.  Daily.

I guess that's good enough.

It was fun getting ready for the fair.  I did a lot of research, just so I would be armed with the facts.  I learned more about how amazingly nutritious wheat is.  Oh, it's so much good for you in a tiny bundle!  I was concerned about the current popularity of gluten-free, so I did a bunch of reasearch there, too.

I was surprised that the gluten-intolerant only comprise, at most (and depending who you listen to), 1-3% of the population.  Another half percent has a wheat allergy.  The rest of the gluten-free purchasers fall into an undefined gluten-sensitive category. 

Many people who, on experiencing vague symptoms of malaise, decide that they must be gluten-intolerant and go cold turkey on a gluten-free diet. After a short adjustment period, they start feeling much better, and conclude that it must be the gluten which is causing the problem.  But most of the wheat in our society is available in a highly processed form: doughnuts, cakes, pretzels, snacks and sweets.  Yes, if you cut those out of your diet, you will feel better.  It's not necessarily the wheat which is causing our health challenges, in spite of all the negative press.

I cooked up a wheat storm to have eating samples: sourdough bread, everyday bread, graham crackers, cooked wheat cereal, and wheat flakes (like Wheaties).  It was all yummy, and got gobbled up.

Sadly, the event was not well advertised, and was sparsely attended.  Even still, I was flabbergasted that our booth was the most popular one there!  I was constantly handing out samples, extolling the virtues of sourdough,  explaining how easy it was to make wheat flakes, or talking about good wheat nutrition.  I was quite hoarse by the end.

As I'm typing this, I have hungry children and an empty breadbox.  Maybe I'd better get that strong husband of mine to haul me up another bucket of wheat.  I'll grind it and make bread for lunch.  Maybe some crackers, too.

Eat your wheat!  It's good for (most of) you!

Mission Monday

Where has the time gone?  Nine months until the first boy gets home, and only a year until the second.  This is going by so fast - and so slow at the same time.  Isn't that how it goes?


From South Africa:

So I studied the atonement and a ton of what is associated with it, and I have grown and learnt a lot this week. Basically long story short, I have a new view of the Savior and what He did for me. And then this week, that boiled over into teaching and it was so cool to see. So it goes something like this, we were in a lesson with a less active, and we were talking about the atonement. And suddenly he sits up and says something along the lines of, 'So when I miss the Sacrament, I miss the Atonement. And then I just leave Christ hanging on the Cross.' Wow! It hit me and it was totally amazing to see him take the atonement into his life. So yeah, that was basically how my week went.


From Madagascar:

But that leads us to our Malagasy Morsel of tetiarana. It means geneology and it's super important, because it's something that all of our wonderful members need to do to go to the temple and to help their ancestors recieve their ordinances too! It reminds me of a hymn that goes like: "Out in the desert they wander hungry and helpless and cold. Off to the rescue we hasten, bringing them back to the fold." There are still so many people out there that need to go home to our Heavenly Father with us! Don't forget how important family history is and don't get to lax about sharing the gospel with friends and family and everybody! We taught a lesson in Gospel Doctrine yesterday about missionary work and it is for everybody!!! If we really love those around us, we should at least give them the chance to start heading towards eternal life, and we owe it to them.

Getting Taller

Look at these tall boys!  I told my boys, eons ago it seems, that my main goals as a mother were pretty simple.  I want my boys to be good at loving.  I want them to follow truth.  I want them to avoid trouble.  And they need to be smarter than and taller than and independent of their mother. 

 That is my job.

It looks like they are working on their end of the bargain - the first three have passed me up handily, and the fourth is only a few inches away.  They are growing; I can tell because those long black marks on our measuring chart are getting higher and higher, and because they eat.

And eat.

And eat...

Summer Melodies and the Pursuit of Harmony

I surreptitiously snapped this shot during family scriptures the other day.  I love having my family together in one room.  I'm always impressed that they come for family time without complaining.  Most of the time.  To be real, occasionally we'll be missing someone who chose not to be with us, but most of the time it's good and they all come.

This is the first summer we've been with my dad, living in our new, cozier (realtor-speak for smaller) digs.  As a mother, I know that the tighter my kids are packed in together, the quicker they will annoy each other.  So I've been curious - and a little nervous - about how this summer would play out.  Will our home-song be lovely, or filled with jangly emotions and cacophony?   So far, most of our interactions seem to be smooth.  The kids have regular disagreements, especially the twins.  They don't know how to deal with negative situations as well, and it appears that they are a little perturbed with all the older kids invading the turf they have quietly enjoyed while the other kids were off at school. 

This morning, I had to have a frank talk about the importance of respecting our family rules with one of our older boys.  He'd been slipping into a bad habit of ignoring the rules and needed some correction.  Bad behavior is harmful to the individual, to his relationship with the parents, and can be contagious to other family members.  I hate having these talks.  I was as forthright and unemotional as I could be... and it was not received well.  Not at all.  He turned on his heel and stormed off to his bedroom where he cranked up some loud music.  

The few times he came through the kitchen for the rest of the morning were filled with angry looks, stubborn silence, and a roar of disharmony swirling about behind him.  Gah.  I hate this part.  Playing the firm parent, the disciplinarian, is one of my least favorite parts of parenting.  I know they need to learn and be corrected, but I wish they could somehow figure it out for themselves, instead of me needing to dole out negative consequences.    They won't learn solo.  I know that.  Phooey.

A few hours later, all three of my big boys left for youth conference.  The dark cloud left with them (after being passed on to three more people).  Harmony is restored. Sometimes I wish mothering was easier, but 'tisn't.  Still worth it.

Hope he feels a little better when he come back!