It's Not Candy, It's Chocolate

During all of our Christmas morning activities, Ella has just made some really funny comments. While I was trying to sleep, I heard Ella go into their bathroom with much glee. She was exclaiming things like, "I am a junk food man, a junk food girl," "I am going to have candy, candycandycandycandycandy, candy."

While getting things ready for lunch, I told the kids no more candy. Ella is persistent in getting me to open a piece of candy for Felicity. I continue to tell her no and then she says, "Daddy, it's not candy! It's Chocolate!!"

Blessings for goodies on Christmas morning.

Klaus' first week

Every day is something new around here. Baby Klaus is great! He's healthy and strong. He's a really good nurser. In fact, when he's rooting for milk he makes a sound just like a little piggie. The kids think it's hilarious!

At first we had to wake him from a deep sleep every few hours to eat to make sure he didn't sleep his life away. I had to be mean and put a cold, wet washcloth on his skin to wake him up enough, but it was the only thing I could do that would work!

Then he turned yellow, I mean really yellow. I knew he had jaundice, just didn't know how bad. When we went to the doctor yesterday for a checkup, he tested his blood and his bilirubin level was high enough to warrant using phototherapy and pumping lots of fluids into him. Here's a picture of him hooked up to his new belt. In another picture you can see that even his eyes are yellow! Thankfully, we can do the phototherapy from home. I really didn't want to go to the hospital to put him under the lights just before Christmas! We went through that with Felicity three years ago.

He was quite a screamer for a few days of his life. He would wake up screaming, scream so hard that he couldn't nurse and then scream whenever he stopped nursing till he fell asleep. It was getting a little stressful around here. The kids would look at me like, "Can't you keep that baby quiet?" They would have to leave the room to play or have a conversation with each other. But since giving him extra fluids he's mellowed out quite a bit. In fact, last night he was quietly alert for 30 minutes or so! He was just laying in my arms and staring at me and staring all around. It was so fun to see him with his eyes open and happy!

Here are a few more pictures. Enjoy!

Nikolaus Knight Musser

The Story From Matt's Perspective
Wednesday night, Rhyetta and I finished celebrating her and Felicity's birthday by watching Eclipse and baking breadsticks for work. After the movie was over, around 1:00,  she commented on how she felt funny. We went to bed, but she woke me up at 3:00 am telling me that she thinks labor has started. We thought about what to do, and finally decided to call our friend, Dee, who would come and help. We then were up and doing things to get ready for the possibility of birth. From 3:00 to about 7:00, we were setting up the birthing pool in our bedroom and deciding how to fill it. I grabbed a pot from the kitchen so I could begin filling it. Dee mentioned to me, "Are you really going to fill it with a pot?" I then got the frozen hose from the backyard (I had just told Rhyetta that I needed to get it out of the yard). I was running around from one thing to the next trying to figure out how to get the frozen sprinkler off the hose to how to unthaw the hose. Running hot water over frozen things is a much better option that filling pots with hot water. Thankfully, Dee guided me along to more sensible decisions. Once everything was ready to go, the waiting started. We used our prior birth experiences thinking things would go fast, but not this time. Rhyetta wanted to have the baby, but, rightfully so, was scared of the pain she would experience.
Experience told us to go for a walk to get things moving. This didn't work this time. Experience would tell us to be up on your feet to get things going, but yet again not this time. Several different options presented themselves to us to help get things moving. Rhyetta hesitantly moved forward with getting her membranes stripped to taking cohosh pills. After taking the cohosh, Dee and her assistant, Christina, left to go home to freshen themselves up. It was probably a half-hour to an hour when Rhyetta's contractions really picked up in frequency and intensity (they were 3 minutes apart lasting about 20 secs.). OK, now were talking!!! Baby would be here soon because experience told us once labor starts and the contractions were there things would happen. Well... not so this time. Rhyetta wanted to get into the pool of hot water to help take the pain away. I filled the pool with hot water and in she went. At first, she said the pain went away and wondered if she would feel the contractions. After awhile she felt them and felt them strong. I called Dee and gave her an update, and she would be on her way back. It was about 2:00 when Dee was back and Rhyetta was in pain. For the next two hours things would only intensify and get worse. The hot water seemed to stop working and she had already been working so hard, tiredness begun to set in. Rhyetta would shift positions in the pool to help relieve her back pain, but her eyes were closed. She was getting discouraged at the length of labor. Encouraging words from Dee or myself seemed to take no effect. Pain and tiredness were more powerful forces. Dee suggested Rhyetta take more cohosh to help things continue, and this was done.
I have been an active participant for all of my kids births, but this one takes the cake. At this point in Rhyetta's labor, it seemed all I could do was sit on the floor quiet and do and say nothing. I would hold her hand when strong contractions came, but that was it. Rhyetta, in a moment of wanting to be distracted from the pain requested a movie. A movie, ELF, was started and for moments it seemed more of a distraction than a help. Rhyetta commented that she felt the need to push, but I could tell this was something she dreaded more than the actual pain of contractions. This is what she feared the most and it showed in words and actions. In what seemed like an attitude on my part of "Come on and let's get this over with so you won't be in anymore pain" came words of the like. These were words of encouragement more than anything else. Rhyetta was mentally and physically tired, but she gathered the strength to push. She wanted to know what position would work the best. I was asked by Dee, "Do you have a pair of shorts?" I answered that I did. She said, "Get them on and get in the water so you can hold her up." I quickly got on some shorts and stepped in the water. Rhyetta was instructed to stand up and put all her weight on me and concentrate on pushing. So there I was, holding Rhyetta's full body weight while telling her to push. Thank goodness I have two ears because she was screaming in my ear so loud I thought it would pop. Three good pushes and my leg was wet from her water breaking and then another gush of body birth fluids all over my leg. Baby was out, Rhyetta collapsed with exhaustion into the water and baby was laid on her chest.
The girls had been knocking on the door throughout the day asking, "Did mommy have the baby yet?" They were told that they would definitely know when that time came. However, Ella came knocking on the door asking if the baby was born. I opened the door to find not just Ella, but Felicity standing with anticipation. They heard the screaming and the noise. They came into the room to see their new brother. Felicity was very hesitant, and scared to see her mommy and this new life. I left the room, emotions unrestrained, to gather Kian and Abby so they too could welcome their new brother. My emotions were reined back in, and then I joined in on the jubilation. Everyone could finally breathe a sign of relief, but none greater than Rhyetta's.
This was the only birth that there was no smile on her face after baby being born. She was completely exhausted and her look and reaction told me in plain English, "DON'T YOU DARE MAKE ME GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" This was later vocally expressed, but the look was enough for me. Rhyetta stayed, resting in the pool for about 30 minutes until she was ready to deliver the placenta. This was another experience not to be forgotten, for I was actually involved in this process. There was no prior experience in this for me. I assisted Rhyetta getting showered off and dressed. She was finally able to climb into bed and rest. I was able to cut the cord and we left the room leaving Rhyetta resting.
The process of birthing our babies has always been a shared experience, in some degree, between Rhyetta and I. I am glad that we were able to have Nikolaus at home. I would much rather have been at home than at a hospital. Rhyetta feels somewhat different now. This labor took both of us by surprise. It was more long, painful and indeed hellish than anticipated. It will be one that will not be forgotten, but an experience we do not want to have again.

From Rhyetta's Perspective:
We had just finished celebrating my and Felicity's birthdays, when I felt the first real feelings of labor starting with our new baby!  By 3 in the morning, I felt certain enough that this was real labor to wake up Matt, call our friend Dee who helped us deliver the baby and call my mom to help with the kids.  I wanted to be checked to know if this was real or not.  If it was, we'd have a baby by morning!

I was at 5 cm dilated when Dee checked me at 4 am.  Not as far as I thought I would be, but progress would be quick, I felt sure.  It turned out, progress nearly stopped till noon!  What was going on?  This had never happened before.  Usually I delivered so quickly.  It all felt strange.  The kids who had woken up to a house full of people (my mom being here, Dee, and her assistant and her assistant's baby) were told that today was the day mommy was going to have a baby!  By this point they were asking, "Are you really going to have a baby today?"  It just felt like a party with all of us hanging out together.  I wanted things to progress but they just weren't.

I didn't want another sleepless night.  I didn't want to wait it out that long so I took some herbs and got my membranes stripped to get things going.  Maybe that's what made the whole experience more painful, I'm not sure, but it turned out to be my most difficult labor, one that I WON'T forget, and do not ever want to experience again.  The contractions started again and they were really happening now.  I got my bedroom cleaned up and ready and it felt like progress was really going quick.  We called Dee and her assistant to come back over (as they had gone home to get showered and changed) because the contractions were seriously painful now.  Whenever I had gotten to this point before, I was ready to push.  I felt sure, I would be pushing the baby out very soon.  It was around 1 pm.

When Dee checked me, I was at a 7!  How discouraging!  How could I be experiencing such intense contractions and only be at a 7?  I labored in the birth pool, breathing and moaning through heavy contractions every 2 minutes.  I felt tired.  No, I felt exhausted.  I couldn't even keep my eyes open.  When I did, I looked at Matt or Dee and thought terrible things like, "Quit telling me I'm doing a good job!"  All I could think about was getting rid of this pain!  If I was at a hospital, I could've had an epidural.  But I had no options being at home.  I thought the warmth of the water would be enough of a pain relief to me, but laboring in the pool was more painful.  I don't know why exactly.  This whole pregnancy has been so much harder than any others either.  Maybe I'm just older now.

Anyway, after what felt like years (I'm not kidding) and pain beyond anything I've ever felt before, I was FINALLY ready to push.  It was probably 4:15 pm.  I didn't know what to do, where to go, or what position to get into because I was in such agony.  I couldn't imagine pushing the baby out (because that's the part that always hurts the most) and yet at the same time I had to get the baby out.  This had to be over or else I would die.

I thought I would move to the bed but I couldn't.  Dee had Matt join me in the pool.  I hung on to him with all my body weight and screamed that baby out.  Thank God he came out quickly.  He kind of dropped into Dee's hands, she lowered him into the pool and out again.  And then I dropped into the pool, so thankful for it to be over.

"Please," I said to Matt and everyone there really, "Please, please don't let me go through that again.  I know all women say that who just finished labor, but I really, really mean it.  Please, never, ever let me experience that again."  I mean it.  This was more difficult than what Matt and I have gone through before.  I haven't mentioned much about Matt so far, but he was so available to me through this whole ordeal.  I know it was physically demanding on him to be such a help for me in such a long labor.  And the screaming part and holding me up part during pushing must have been extremely difficult for him.  I feel so much closer to him after experiencing something like this together.  I'm thankful we survived it.  And now we have a beautiful baby to enjoy!

This morning when I woke up I wondered if the previous day was real.  Did that really happen?  What  a nightmare!  I'm so glad it's over.  I'm so glad that our baby is here!

Now I just feel like celebrating.  Matt is home for his Christmas break a week early.  I'm not pregnant anymore.  We can just enjoy this season, being together as a family and celebrating Christmas together. 

The kids just love him.  We all do.  He's sleepy and hard to wake up to nurse often enough, but I'm sure he'll get the hang of it soon enough.  He's heavy (he was 8 lb 10 oz) and has a double chin already.  His skin is so soft, his hair is so cute and soft (looks brown to me), he smells so wonderful, he's just perfect.  It will be wonderful to have another baby boy around here.

I realize this experience doesn't promote home birth like I normally would.  Felicity's birth was so comfortable and easy.  It was a wonderful birthing experience at home.  This was far different for some reason, as the entire pregnancy has been.  I still value home birth and would recommend it to some.  This time, however, I would have liked some pain relief because the pain was so much more intense and lengthened.

Introducing Dr. Kian Musser

Dr. Musser with his enthusiastic 6th grade audience

On Wednesday, November 24, 2010, I had a guest scientist come into my classroom to conduct some science experiments on chemical changes. Three experiments were conducted in the midst of 50 sixth grade students. With the students huddled closely to a small table where the experiments were to be conducted Dr. Musser was introduced to the group. Donning his white lab coat and chemical samples, Dr. Musser began. His first experiment was mixing baking soda and vinegar together. The captive audience recorded their observations and the baking soda and vinegar bubbled and fizzed to the top of a clear plastic container. The second experiment Dr. Musser performed consisted of mixing iron nitrate, and sodium ferrocyanide in water. The result was clear water turning a deep shade of blue right before an awestruck audience. Dr. Musser's last experiment was to be the most exciting and somewhat unexpected (Kian and I had conducted this experiment at home, so we knew what should happen). A tin container was filld with some water, and a piece of potassium was removed from the bottle and dried of its mineral oil bath. I, Dr. Musser's assistant, while using a metal science spatula, placed the potassium in the water. Quickly it spattered, caught fire, smoked, and ferociously moved about in the water. All of this was to be expected. However, when it started to pop and explode on to the table, student papers, and other places this was not an expected reaction. The audience scrambled away from the table in pure excitement. They wondered where they could get some potassium, how he knew all of this stuff, etc. He loved it; they loved it; it was an awesome experience for all.

Forgiving Ourselves

At some point in my journey in motherhood, I've learned to forgive myself. I don't know when exactly it happened. Was it with the first baby? Or when I had the second? Was it when I had to give up nursing Felicity? That took a lot of forgiveness.

It's probably been a gradual process, a lesson learned deeper with each child. Now I'm expecting my fifth baby--only 5 weeks to go. I find myself often thinking, "It's alright... It's because you're pregnant... You deserve it... Better to just let it go... Just try your best, it's all you can do... Don't worry about it... If it's important, you can do it tomorrow... Don't feel guilty... and all sorts of other phrases that excuse me from feeling guilty about whatever it is I'm thinking about.

I've just wondered if this is a good thing. I realized yesterday I'm not studying the gospel anymore. I read the scriptures and hear the prophets and I enjoy what I read and hear but I don't think deeply on a subject anymore. I don't even feel like I can! I don't contribute to gospel discussions in sunday school. I sometimes don't even go to Relief Society because I might cry. I wonder if I forgive myself so much that I'm losing something.

But forgiving myself keeps me sane. Otherwise, when I stay up late at night with insomnia playing Sudoku puzzles I would feel frustrated with myself and my life. Now, I just say to myself, Don't stress; tomorrow will be a sick day. Or when I catch myself raising my voice to the kids, I just remember, Quiet time is not too far away and I can pray harder for patience tomorrow! Or, when I haven't planned a ward activity for several months and that is my calling, I think, Maybe next year will be better!

Do we sometimes excuse ourselves too much?

You know, it doesn't really matter anyway, does it?! I cope; I survive; I try to remember to enjoy it.

An Update

I thought I'd post an update on happenings around here since it's been a while. I should include pictures but that would mean I would have to exercise patience while uploading them to the computer and then getting them onto the blog. I just don't think I can be that patient right now!

The pregnancy is going well. It's been a hard one, that's for sure, but we're excited for a baby boy. I'm huge already...two months to go and counting! Felicity passed her crib on to the baby. We moved it into our bedroom and set up a big-girl bed for Felicity in the girls' room. She was very excited to have it. "Mine new bed!" she exclaimed all day and evening. It was hard for her to sleep in it. She was up a few times and fell out of it once during the night, but she's getting used to it. And she loves it.

Felicity is talking, talking, talking. She cracks me up with how well she is putting sentences together. Sometimes she just doesn't stop, even when you're hoping for some privacy like in a public restroom. She loves to "read" books like her older siblings do. When the older kids play a new song they've learned on the piano to daddy or grandma or anyone who will listen, she has to play her song too--and she sings along. It is wonderful to see her growing up.

Ella-Bella-Cinderella just turned 5 years old! She is very happy to be able to chew gum now. She is reading like crazy; you just can't stop her! She loves doing lessons for kidschool. She wants to be included in everything just like the older kids. She has learned "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" on the piano and it sounds very nice. Ella is so easy to get along with. You can't help but love her.

Abba-Dabba is growing too. In fact, both girls have grown over an inch in the last 3 months! Some days she wakes up and she is so cheerful and helpful. She does her chores pleasantly, then helps her sisters with their chores. Today she wiped Felicity's bum after Felicity went on the potty four different times! Felicity didn't like it at first; she wanted mommy to do it, but mommy was busy. By the second time around, Felicity was done on the potty and shouting, "AB-BY!!...AB-BY!! WIPE MINE BUM!!" Sometimes, Abby is not so pleasant. Like last night, in the middle of dinner, OUT OF NOWHERE, she starts crying. At first it's quiet and she's trying to hold it in and the tears are streaming down her face. When we ask her what is wrong (because none of us have any idea why!), she won't answer, she just cries and cries and it gets louder and louder. We offer to help but she just won't take it. She just cries. Finally it comes out that she can't find her favorite Barbie. She sometimes cries in random outbursts like that, Matt and I just look at each other in puzzlement. She is a champion bike-rider. She can manage the hills on our road like a breeze.

Kian is currently absorbed in computers. It's really all he thinks about. Almost everything out of his mouth is something about computers. He gets a couple of hours in the afternoon to explore his computers after completing all of his kidschool requirements. He's not playing games; he's opening and installing programs, learning how they work, making things with them, connecting monitors, and a bunch of other stuff I don't understand. He knows so much more than I do. I often tell him, "I don't understand what you're saying. Can you talk to Daddy about this?" As soon as Daddy is home, Kian is firing questions, "Why don't you install such-and-such program on your computer, Dad? It's on my computer and this is what it does..." His questions are much more technical but since my brain completely turns off when I hear computer language, I can't even remember them to write them down.

I do make sure he learns other things to give this kid some balance in his life. Actually, I consider that my role as his mother/teacher--just to mentor him enough to balance his education out a little. He studies 1,000-page computer manuals for fun. It's amazing.

Our house is wonderful and the land is so beautiful right now. Isn't October the best month of the entire year? I'm loving the fall weather and the color of the foliage outside and the cool breeze that flows into my bedroom windows at night and lets me snuggle under my big down comforter and feel so warm (but not hot!) We go for walks every day. Today was a windy one! We see woolly bear caterpillars all over the road and even small snakes sometimes.

We have new pets. Our friends ordered guinea eggs and incubated them and now we have 10 guinea keets (baby guineas). If you don't know what guineas are, they are funky-looking birds about the size of chickens that will eat lots of bugs on our land next summer--especially ticks! They'll go through your garden and eat all of the pests and none of the produce; isn't that amazing? We had them in a box in the house for a while because they're still small but they stink! I couldn't stand it! And they are good flyers already and would fly out of the box constantly. When we came home from church on Sunday there was poop all over the dining room and I said, "That's it! They're moving to the garage!"

Matt and I purchased a wood stove for the house so that we can save on astronomical heating bills. That'll be a fun addition to our home. Hopefully we'll be warmer than we were last year, especially with a newborn coming in December! I kept the thermostat so low last year and the bills were still almost $400/month. Forget that. This year, we should be toasty warm with our new wood stove.

Matt finished his first quarter of school. He's teaching 6th grade this year. He survived parent-teacher conferences last week (what long days!) He is singing in the ward choir now and is, as always, a wonderful, patient, adorable husband and father.

We had family come visit us in Missouri this month for their first time which was lots of fun. First, my dad and Jackie came from California and showered us with presents and took us out to eat. It was wonderful to see them and for the kids to interact with Grandpa Chad and Grandma Jackie. And then Randi came from Utah and hung out with us for a week. She brought the kids their home-made Halloween costumes which are awesome and showered us with gifts and treats too. The kids loved every minute of it. And she took the kids out for the day after a night when I couldn't sleep and I loved every minute of it! Thanks, Grandpa and Grandmas!

That's life here at the Mussers in Missouri. (Maybe pictures will be forthcoming).

God's Porch Light

For Family Home Evening tonight, the usual jobs were assigned: lesson, prayer, songs, treat, scripture, and activity. Tonight, Abby was on activity. Rhyetta made a great suggestion that Abby loved. We would go on a night hike. After Kian gave us a lesson (read the story of Elijah from the Old Testament), and Ella gave us our treat we headed outside for a walk. We walked up our long tree lined driveway with flashlights in hand. We decided to walk up the road to the top of a little hill where we could see for miles around. As we were walking, the stars were coming into view one by one. The crescent moon was shining brightly, and the night insects and critters were singing loudly. As we paused at the top of this small hill, we looked around and saw city lights, radio tower lights, electric windmill lights, and house lights in the distance. Rhyetta commented on how many porch lights were on indicating where people lived. There were dozens. The attention was turned to the moon and what it looked like. I commented that it is God's porch light.

How reassuring to know that we are given so many examples in our hectic, busy lives that there is One smiling upon us each night as we sleep and wind down each day. One who, as Tom Bodett coined, "Leave[s] the light on for you" and me. Even when there's a new moon and all seems dark and frightening, take a look and see what you can see. Amazingly enough, you can still make out the shape of the moon. It's not completely darkened. We are given dark moments in our lives so we can appreciate the light.

Thank goodness for these lessons nature and the Gospel give us.

And The Winner Is...

We are sending you kisses from our new baby. Can you guess what we are going to have?

Why I Love Couponing

The coupon deals this month have been so good....I must share.

First, free beverages. Matt and the kids have gone online to play a Sobe Life Water game and they keep winning Buy One Get One Free coupons. You can play every day if you want. Well, we ended up with 20 or so of these coupons. Last week at CVS, Sobe Life Water was on sale Buy One Get One Free. When you combine a BOGO free sale with a BOGO free coupon, they both turn out free! So we got about 40 bottles of Life Water for free. Fun!

Second, breakfast cereal. Normally I consider it a good deal if I can use coupons and sales to get cereal for $1/box or less. One time I sent Matt to the store with a stack of coupons and told him to get some Cheerios if it was $1/box or less. He came home with 52 boxes! The kids made huge walls of Cheerios boxes! We went through them all while I was sick with nausea.

Well, this week's deal is even better than $1/box. On sale now at Hy-Vee (my favorite grocery store) are General Mills cereal. In the store ad is a coupon for $10 off instantly when you buy 6 boxes of cereal. Well, I can combine my own coupons with this store ad coupon and save $13-14 off of the 6 boxes of cereal. Already, my $1/box threshold has been met. But, to sweeten the deal even further, when you buy these 6 boxes of cereal, the register prints up a $6 catalina coupon which is basically $6 off your next purchase at the store (it's like cash in your pocket good on anything at Hy-Vee). So, not only am I getting a smoking hot deal on cereal, they are giving me money back.

Tonight on a date night, Matt and I stopped in at Hy-Vee. We both picked 6 boxes of cereal, gathered our coupons and checked out. His total was $3.83 after coupons. Mine was $3.65. Then the store gave us back a $6 catalina coupon. So, basically, they paid us just over $2 to buy 6 boxes of cereal. Cha-ching! Love, love, love deals like these.

It's why couponing is fun.

PS: Should I feel bad for eating Peanut Butter Captain Crunch at 10 at night? My excuse is: I'm pregnant!

How Kidschool Runs

Matt will have to give an update on how his school year has started out (I'll give you a hint: it's been good!) After a summer off from all my normal duties (cleaning, cooking, and child-rearing so that I could lay in bed and try not to feel nauseous) I was worried how I would survive taking care of the kids and the house when Matt went back to work. Well, it's been two weeks, and it's been going great!

I spent a lot of time preparing for kidschool this year; that is what we call home school around here. If you're curious what we're doing for school, read on. I thought I would share. If you're not curious, then you might want to stop reading now! I always enjoy reading other people's schedules so that's where I'll start.

I set my alarm for 7 am. Isn't that the best time to wake up in the morning? Not too early and not too late. I'm so blessed I get to wake up every day at 7. It's such a habit now that I wake up at that time even on the weekends. I have an hour to myself to let the chickens out of their coop, play fetch with our dog Storm a few times, eat breakfast by myself (I relish this), read my scriptures, start some laundry, get myself ready and tidy my room.

At 8 am if the kids aren't up already, I put on some quiet but uplifting music as their wake-up call. I open their doors and tell them, "It's time to wake up, sleepyhead!" After about 5 minutes, I turn on some dancing music which is the signal that it's chore time and time to get dressed. No more playing quietly, no more laying in bed, no more reading. It's time to start the day! Last week I chose "They Might Be Giants" (one of our faves). This week it was a CD my friend Emily made for me a couple years back with "I Want to Soak Up the Sun" and other fun songs to sing along with and dance to. The kids get their chores done, I help Felicity get ready and tidy the kitchen and make their breakfast and 20-30 minutes later they're at the breakfast table. Now the music in the background is their Suzuki piano CD which they're supposed to listen to daily. Throughout the day if there is extra time, they have it for themselves. It's downtime and I try not to pester them.

But by 9 am with teeth and hair brushed, we're ready for kidschool. They have their turn practicing piano and then we gather together for morning devotional where we begin with a prayer. We memorize poetry, a scripture of the month, and a Primary song of the month and we read a story about manners or a story from the Friend. We then do our spanish. We're learning spanish this year by repetitively listening to a recording of a short story in spanish or by learning songs in spanish. I've gotten some good selections from the library that are quite beautiful and catchy. They are learning, slowly but surely. It's great practice for me too.

By now it's about 10 am. Because it's technically still summertime and very hot, we go outside for P.E. in the morning. Probably in the autumn and winter, we'll do P.E. later in the day. The kids are the ones who asked for P.E. I got an awesome book at the library with suggestions of fun games to get the kids moving. So far we've played balloon volleyball, badminton, hopscotch and blanket toss (using a blanket like a parachute). I brought out a tennis racket of Matt's from years ago and showed the kids how to serve (it was hard for them!) But I was loving it. It totally made me want to play tennis again. Sometimes we weed the garden.

I have been so surprised at how little the kids want to play outside. Now that we have land to explore, I thought they'd be climbing trees and playing hide and seek all day long. I actually have to require an hour of outside time in order for them to go outside. It's so strange.

About 11 am, we come in for a snack and then we gather for an hour of kidschool. On different days of the week, we study different subjects. For example, on Monday we have an hour for American History and Geography. On Tuesday, we study our science. This year it is Zoology. On Wednesday, we learn World History and Biography (this semester it's Leonardo da Vinci!) Thursday is Art History/Art and Music Study. If the subjects don't take an hour, again, it's just free play time till I gather them around again.

Then we have an hour set aside for Kian and Abby to do English and Math. It doesn't really take an hour, though. I have never required so much of the kids before. If this seems like a lot, it did to me too but I just felt it was time to fill in some of Kian's holes (because I've been rather relaxed about school until recently) and it feels like the older two are ready for this level. I'm using an excellent english resource from Milestones Academy. Each day they write an entry in their Copybook. It might be a poem, a saying or some sentences. They get a little grammar lesson every now and then and also memorization. I really like it. For math, we're continuing using an old-fashioned math lesson book I found online that is free. Kian is working on memorizing multiplication facts and doing advanced multiplication. Abby finished simple addition and subtraction last year and is starting simple multiplication. Ella won't be left out of all of the fun so she has demanded math lessons too. She has learned to write her numbers 1-10 so far. Monday we do a math lesson. Tuesday they have 20 minutes to play math games on the computer. Wednesday we do a math lesson. Thursday we read picture books about mathematicians or with math as a subject. There are so many fun ones!

Whew! We did it! We've eaten lunch by now as well. Once all of the subjects are covered and the house is tidy again, we enter quiet time. This is when Felicity naps and I read and rest. Sometimes the kids can watch a movie. Kian usually uses the time to work on his computer (only allowed to play computer games if it's Monday). We usually start quiet time about 2 and end at 4:30 or 5. I just seem to need that much time by myself and Felicity usually cooperates with long naps.

We make dinner and eat dinner when Daddy comes home and the kids go wild and crazy wrestling with Daddy or running around the house getting some energy out. We spend time together, or sometimes apart, but gather again about 7 or 7:30 for reading time and scripture and prayer time. Currently this semester we are reading "Tales from Shakespeare" and "The Four Story Mistake." As a family we pray and we read a selection from the Old Testament.

The kids are in bed 8 to 8:30 pm. Matt and I can then do whatever we need to on our own to prepare for the next day, work on callings, or go to bed early. I usually read.

Fridays are different. After chore time and breakfast, we have our "Wild Day." We read a bit from some nature books and then go outside for a nature walk and snack. Starting September 10th, we'll be participating in a co-op on Friday afternoons where the kids will get to take a lot of extracurricular activities like art and gizmos and drama and whatever else they want.

That's what we're doing around here. It's been going so well, I'm very happy. We are all learning a lot. The kids are writing a lot which was a major deficiency last year. I think Kian is finding he can do well some of the things he hated to do before like writing and math. He is studying chemistry and computers on his own. Matt mentors him sporadically in those subjects.

Now, what will happen after Christmas? Well, I've taken the entire month of January off and then after that... I'm guessing we'll do a lot of the same subject-wise but I'll have Kian and Abby do the reading on their own and then we'll discuss together what they've read. Hopefully by then the habits will be in place and I'll be able to take a step back with the little ones (mainly, the baby) and the older ones can continue on their own.

Not having a car while Matt's at work has been a little difficult, but I have enough opportunities to run errands in the evening or go to game night with friends that I haven't felt isolated.

Overall, life has been going great!

Belonging

I realized something cool this morning... It was how well we fit in here.

Who would have thought that two modern kids growing up in So-Cal minutes from the beach with all the conveniences that L.A. offers would end up belonging in the farm country of rural Missouri? The friends we've made since we've moved here feel like they'll be our friends for life. When we go to church on Sunday, the parking lot is filled with vans and cars covered in as much mud and dirt as ours is because most of them live in the country too. I think the average family size in our ward is 8. It's 40 miles to go to the library, and just as far for any store other than Wal-Mart. I just think it's funny. And it feels really good to belong.

A Fun Giveaway for Any Expectant/Nursing Moms

Here's a fun giveaway for expectant or nursing moms. Check out

milanmaternity.blogspot.com

Only through tomorrow!

Leah, Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah

I've been wanting to institute a consistent, nighttime reading routine for a long time. But usually by evening, I'm exhausted and don't want to do anything else educational or gather the kids around me anymore.

This summer, Matt and I have finally managed it. We've read some fun books: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Cricket in Times Square. Now we're reading some fairy tales but we'll probably start Sarah Plain and Tall soon. We read a fun book for 15-20 minutes in the living room, then order the kids to brush their teeth, get water, go potty, etc. and meet again on our bed for family prayer and scripture study. I don't know what it is about all the kids on our bed but they get so giggly. If Daddy says something silly, it's like he's set off a funny bomb and everyone (including Felicity who is just copying) just explodes with laughter. Any of you who are familiar with Abby's laugh know how deep and loud it is. It is usually her laugh alone that sets me laughing.

The other night for scriptures, I read some verses from Genesis. (I want the kids to be familiar with Bible stories so we're in the O.T.) It was the part where Jacob works seven years for Rachel, then Laban gives him Leah (the older sister) instead so he has to work for seven more years to marry Rachel. Leah has a bunch of children and Rachel cannot so she gives her husband her maid, Bilhah, who then has sons. You know how these Old Testament stories require explanation so as not to seem so bizarre, and after explaining to the kids up to this point, Abby reasons with, "They're like having a baby competition!" Ha-ha, she laughs. Well, it only gets better because when Leah stops having children, she then gives her maid, Zilpah, to Jacob. If you could have heard Abby's laugh at this point, you would have been laughing yourself. She and Kian just giggled and guffawed at the hilarity of the story. Matt and I were laughing just as hard. Of course, Kian has to chime in with something silly, "She's going to have a zillion pods for Jacob!"

It's when family night and scripture study and prayer include moments like these, parenthood is truly an enjoyable endeavor!

Overdoing It

Vegetation just seems to grow (except our grapes, and some of our blackberry and raspberry bushes) even when you don't water it. The grass in our backyard is no exception to this. We have just finished a round of severe weather and this has prevented me from getting things cut. Well, the rain moved out and the heat moved in, and I just wanted to cut the grass in the yard. Monday was the day I was going to do it. Rhyetta, being the great person that she is, was concerned about the heat. I reassured her that I would drink lots and lots of water. Before heading outside, I fill up a 64 oz bottle with ice water. It was definitely hot and humid (I think the heat index was 100), but I was determined to get the job done. It took several hours to cut the grass. I had to push what should be a self-propelled mower up, down, and around the yard. Three bottles of water later came some relief when the mower decided to start propelling itself (what a blessing that was). Alas, the entire yard was not finished; the front was left to be conquered. I went inside for a short respite from the heat and got more ice water. My body was telling me to stop. My legs hurt, I couldn't stop profusely sweating but the job was not finished.

When I started mowing the front yard, the lawn mower cooperated but soon decided to just cut the grass and not assist in moving. So, I pushed and pushed myself to push the mower until the job was done. The one thing I failed to do was drink water while working in the front. By the time it was all said and done, my body was done. I felt sick even after taking a cool shower and I just couldn't cool off. My head started to hurt and so I went to lie down. I was so hot Rhyetta thought I had a fever.

The moral to this story: listen to your body. It knows when you've had enough, even when the job isn't finished.

Heat exhaustion is no fun, and neither is overdoing it!

Becoming One With Nature, I Think!

The funniest, and maybe disgustingest thing happened the other day. Rhyetta and I were in the living room keeping cool while the kids were doing a variety of activities around the house. Ella decided to go play outside. Time passed and Ella soon came at the door wanting some assistance. Rhyetta gets my attention and has me look at Ella. Ella has her shorts and underwear around her ankles and a big smile on her face. I, being curious why she would come to the door like this, inquired what happened. She mentioned that she had to go potty. I asked her to show me what happened and she proceeded to take me around to the side of the house where she had deposited some poop; all the while very proud of herself. I took her into the house and told her to head to the bathroom. I busting up laughing and told Rhyetta what had just transpired. While helping Ella finish going her dooty, I reminded her that next time she had to go potty to come inside and use the bathroom.

Ahhh, living in the country has it's perks, eh?!

My Summer Domestication and Reality Check

I knew that when Rhyetta and I decided back in April to have another baby, things would have to be different, especially when she would be in the death-trap of morning, or evening or whole-day, sickness. This is one of the reasons why we waited till April, so it would be ensured that I would be home to help out. What a wake-up call it has been.

Now I know, to the best of my second-hand ability, being pregnant is not always easy for Rhyetta, especially when she is sick so much. I try to do as much to help Rhyetta as I possibly can. I help to make sure she has lots of books to read, movies to watch, and time to sleep/rest while in bed. I try to provide her with "food-on-demand" (no, that is not a satellite or cable service!) so she doesn't get nauseous even more. Even with all the help I provide, I still feel like I am not doing enough and that there is more to help out with. This is where my domestication training has begun. Washing three loads of laundry and hanging them to dry on tie-downs, strapped between trees in our backyard as a make-shift clothes line, making breakfast, lunch and dinner for the family, trying to keep four tornados under control, tilling more land for our garden, killing the incessant supply of ants and bugs that make their way into the house, bathing the kiddos, taking care of the chickens and dog, and making sure Rhyetta is as comfortable as she can be has become somewhat of the norm. Rhyetta has always been the bread maker in our house. Recently, I have even taken up making, if I do say so myself, delicious loaves of bread that are eaten up within days. I would be lying if I said it wasn't enjoyable to make and eat a nice warm buttery piece of homemade bread. Tonight, Rhyetta commented on how I earn and make the bread, while she eats the bread.

Rhyetta has said that she is glad that I am the one not pregnant because she couldn't handle waiting on the whole family everyday like I have been, and she is grateful for it. My reality check has been (and I have to remind myself this often) that she works this hard everyday while I am at work or off doing things for church. How grateful I am for Rhyetta and for her being patient with me during my summer domestication training so far. I am grateful that she is feeling better and better each day, knowing that I cannot let up on my part. It gets frustrating sometimes, but I have nothing to complain about (not that I am looking for sympathy or that I would get any). I should be doing this for her a lot more, especially when she is not pregnant. This kind of reality check isn't always nice, but necessary indeed.

 

Oh, BTW, Rhyetta sees the doctor for the first time on Tuesday. We'll let you know how it goes.

Cub Scout Day Camp and God’s Camera

Yesterday and today Kian was able to attend his first Cub Scout Day Camp. He had lots of fun these past two days doing crafts, throwing tomahawks, shooting BB guns, driving go-karts, and other fun activities.

Today, I had the privilege of being one of the leaders that was to spend the day with 9 boys. The day started off early since we were to meet the other cub scouts at the church at 7:30. While we were waiting for the other boys to get to the church, lightning and thunder surrounded us. Then the rain fell off and on. No big deal; it is just supposed to briefly rain and then will pass, I thought. When we arrived at Wallace State Park in Cameron, MO the rain subsided but the threat was heard all around us. A cardinal even came by to play while we waited to head to camp, so how much of a rain threat would it be today if the birds are out playing? To get to base camp, we had to hike ½ mile from the parking lot along a trail which crossed a small stream in a beautiful green canopied wood. Kian brought a rain coat, as part of his suggested gear, and I didn't think I would need one; needing one would soon be an understatement.

While waiting for the activities to start, the rains came back with fury. Boys and adults were scrambling to get ponchos on, trash bags for ponchos on, or rushing to a nearby tree for shelter. As I was standing under a nice tall tree in a thunderstorm, a thought crossed my mind. Can you guess what it might have been? Haven't you always been told to NEVER seek shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm for risk of being struck by lightning?, was shared with another leader. We laughed about the irony, but continued to stay put and talk. When all of the Cub Scout packs were gathered together during a break in the rain, we were advised by the camp director that if there was lightning and immediate thunder twice in a row, we were to pack the boys into the bathrooms for shelter. Needless to say, fitting over 100 Cub Scouts into camp bathrooms was NOT an enjoyable thought for anyone present. I just can't imagine why this would be a problem, would you?

9:25 am and the rain started falling as we headed to our first station, decoys, and would soon become problematic for everyone. There just weren't enough portable canopies to go around. Kian enjoyed making a bug decoy out of sticks, pipe cleaners, glue, and googley-eyes. As the other leaders and I noticed the rain not letting up but getting harder and time to switch stations, 10:00, was approaching, we all made a run for it. Dripping wet from head to toe would be my lot for the rest of the day, while Kian would just be somewhat wet from this point on. We had to walk through a muddy, water-logged, and flowing stream trail to get to the next station which was BB guns. Kian said he liked shooting the gun at a pie tin, even though he did it just once. Thank goodness our next station was a few steps away and the rain finally slowed to a light rain. However, the lightning and thunder kept their presence known. 10:30 and the boys were moving on to drivers training (or in other words riding go-karts down a water-logged hill which would soon become muddy). Kian's excitement grew as he watched some of the other boys take turns on the go-karts. The leaders were huddled under a portable canopy while the boys didn't mind the light rain while having fun. At one point, Kian and some other boys joined us under the canopy to get out of the rain. A flash of lightning was seen and I asked, "Was that someone's camera, or was it lightning?" (I had seen a leader from another nearby Pack taking pictures of their group, hence the question.) Kian exclaimed, "It's God's camera!"

It was 11:00 and as we headed to our next station, we were informed that everyone has packed up and went home due to the rain messing everything up. The boys were glad to hear this news. What this meant was we had to fiord a now swollen creek and a slippery, muddy trail on our way back to the cars. The boys didn't mind it at all. On the way back to the church, and a proud moment for me, Kian was enjoying the companionship of other boys by starting a conversation about, "What is your favorite toy, or object?" Now this was a proud moment for me because Kian is sometimes shy around other people, even if he knows them. He won't join a game with friends unless he is invited or motivated to do so. So, I was smiling and felt proud for my little man as he was conversing with his peers. I also imagined driving to the temple to take the youth for baptisms and hearing Kian and his friends carry on in conversation. What a flash forward! Anywhoo, thus ended Kian's first Cub Scout Day Camp.

Since Kian's comments, I have thought about what he said. How perceptive and thoughtful it is to think that God is taking pictures of his creations having fun and enjoying themselves. I mean, isn't that what we do as parents? We take pictures and video of our kiddos all the time. I could imagine that our individual Book of Life is more of a scrapbook than a long list of things we have done right or wrong. It kind of puts how I picture lightning a little different now. Just remember, don't forget to say "CHEESE" when your picture is taken from beyond the clouds and lightning is the flash of God's camera.

Morning Sickness

It's been six weeks since the morning sickness started (never actually in the morning, mind you, much worse at night, but anyway...)

Six weeks of nausea. Day after day of feeling like I'm going to puke all the time, and many times actually puking. I've watched endless movies. I've read dozens of novels. I've laid in bed and tried not to move or smell for 10 hours/day. I've laid in misery, asking myself "Why?!" and "When will this ever end?!" and hoping that this will be the last time I ever have to go through with it. The kids were so ignored before Matt got home for the summer, acting out, desperately needing attention. Matt's home now and so wonderfully taking care of all of us.

And then, I reached 11 weeks, and all of a sudden I'm not nauseous all the time! I'm not feeling desperately sick anymore! I've started to feel myself again--with ambitions. I picked up my first book of nonfiction that I read in a day! It feels so good, I want to shout, "Hooray!"

Yeah, I still feel pukey at night and I gag at every bad smell, and Matt still changes all the diapers and does all the laundry, BUT I can be in the kitchen again! I can open the fridge again! I can sweep the floor and help out around the house!

Come on everybody, shout "Hooray!"

Weeeee’re Baaaaaack

After much deliberation, Rhyetta and I decided to get the internet back in our home. We will now be able to do so much more during the summer months while I am away from work and the internet there. We are also able to stay on top of our rental home in Utah much better. We are grateful that we are able to be connected once more.

Rhyetta is 9 weeks pregnant and thought she would be getting over the sickies. However, her body is not easing up on her and she says she feels like it is getting worse. I hope that it is getting better. We are not sure what we are going to do about where to have this baby, but Rhyetta does want to see the doctor for prenatal care, especially since the closest midwife is 30 minutes away and we just haven't chosen one. We are still heavily leaning on having the baby at home though.

The kiddos are growing up so fast. They love playing outside, even if it is pond water with tadpoles in it. Kian is becoming a self-proclaimed computer wiz, and it is all he talks about. Abby has learned to whistle on her own and makes beautiful music with her new found talent. Ella has become more and more independent and isn't shy about letting people know she is in command. Felicity is using more and more words to communicate with others, and has taken on quite a comical and commanding voice sometimes.

Rhyetta and I enjoy me being home for the summer. We spent the morning today at a produce auction and came away with 4 flats of 48 bell pepper plants, and one jalapeño plant for $16. WHAT A DEAL! Our garden is beginning to grow (beans, cukes, and zucchini). Our dog has become chicken friendly and actually plays with them. The summer break looks like a fun family together time once again.

That's it for now. We'll write again, sooner than later now that we are connected at home again.

 

Loves from the Musser Family

Abby's Announcement

Sorry the video is sideways.

Springtime Preparedness

Living in Missouri has brought on a new meaning of April Showers. We have recently purchased a NOAA Weather radio to keep us informed of weather warnings, watches, and advisories. On April 1st, we had our first experience using this new radio. It is plugged in and goes off if an alert is issued for our area. Rhyetta and I were working on our chicken coop outside when it went off. It told us oncoming severe thunderstorms. We cleaned up our tools and things outside and headed inside. It went off several more times, which prompted me to invite the family into our laundry room (it is the room on the inner-most part of the house) to practice being safe when we are advised to do so. As this alert prompted us to "Stay away from windows (due to high winds and possible hail), and take shelter inside promptly due to the severe thunderstorms (heading our way)." We were in the laundry room for a time and decided to venture out to the living room because the warning was downgraded to a watch. Well... we went to the living room to watch the storm blow past. Dark clouds darkened the sky and room. Then almost instantaneously the heavy rain and strong wind started (you couldn't see outside the wind and rain were so strong). We headed back to the laundry room to seek safety. Welcome to Springtime in Missouri!

The other day while I was at work, more Spring storms started to blow through our area. Rhyetta reported the following to me when I got home from work: They, Rhyetta and the kiddos, were doing their afternoon activities, when Rhyetta looked outside and noticed the chicks got out of their temporary pen. Rhyetta noticed dark, ominous clouds rolling in fast. Rhyetta knew a storm was coming and put the chickens into their newly built coop. With the help of Kian and Abby, this chore was done. Our dog, Storm, was moved to shelter and started tidying up the yard. While Rhyetta, Kian, and Abby were cleaning up the yard (and watching the chicks peck at the first snake of the season in our yard), the phone rang and the weather radio went off at the same time. Ella, who knew the routine when the radio went off, went into our room to listen to the weather radio. She shouted out warnings to her mom and siblings still outside, "Stay away from the windows!""Severe Thunderstorm Warning!""Damaging Winds!""Seek Shelter Immediately" On her own, Ella grabbed the weather radio and brought it into the laundry room and plugged it back into the wall (it has batteries in it as well so it can be unplugged and still work). She also went and grabbed our battery-free flashlight/radio and brought it into the laundry room.

Nothing happened, but who says that preparing your kids for emergencies doesn't pay off? I know that Ella will make sure that Rhyetta, Kian, Abby, and Felicity are safe with the weather radio, and flashlight if an emergency happens.

Ten Things We Can Do Now That We Live in the Country

1. Watch our 19 four-week-old chicks explore the yard and raise a ruckus with each other (there are some roosters, for sure). We smell them too. Until the coop is built, they are in our dining room. Stink-a-rama.

2. Look outside of our house East, West, South and North and see no one, no house, no evidence of any other humans except ourselves. It's so private!

3. Walk down our loooooong driveway--because it's too muddy to drive! I tell Matt, "It's like we live in a campground! It's like we're camping!" On Sunday morning when we're hurrying to church and our shoes and socks cannot escape the mud, it's still fun!

4. Hear and watch the frogs mating all day long. They are so small but they are so loud! We found the ones in our upside-down backyard pool and I told the kids, "Don't pick them up! They're mating." Kian asked, "What will happen if you pick them up while they're mating?" I replied, "I'm not sure. But we should just leave them alone and they'll make baby frogs."

5. Walk down the middle of the "street" with the kids and never worry about them being run over.

6. Not check e-mail for a month. Well, maybe this is good, maybe this is bad. It gives me a lot of free time, that's for sure.

7. Explore creeks and fields and forests, right outside our doorway.

8. Battle beetles. Why are there dozens of Japanese beetles that get into our bedrooms? How do they get in? Where are the holes?!

9. Burn our garbage. We just throw it in a pile and set it on fire. Instant bonfire. Really, that's what we do! No trash pickup here.

10. Watch the kids build forts in the trees, jump in the mud puddles and revel in their new life outdoors.

11. The Stars! Who knew there were so many up there?

12. Go for a drive in the country every time you get in the car to go somewhere!

13. Having a valid reason for owning a truck (and not just a truck but a 4x4).

(Okay, so maybe you can do some of those things and live in the city, but it was a fun list to write).

Neighbors

We love our new place. It's so totally what we were looking for--it's actually better because there's a new house on the 10 wooded acres that we didn't have to build ourselves. We're having lots of great experiences--meeting new people, learning new things. Can't wait for winter to be over so that we can get out and plant. Our ward is so awesome.

I had an experience that I'd thought I'd share. I got all the kids bundled up to go for a nature walk. We hadn't all been out of the house yet, usually just me and one kid will go for the walk up the driveway to check the mail. It's just been so cold every single day that we haven't been outside much but I was determined we'd all get out of the house for even 15 minutes.

It was freezing cold and supposed to snow. We got ourselves bundled and I was the last out and shut the door behind me, only to realize (too late) that I had just locked ourselves out of the house. I said, "Kids, I just locked ourselves out of the house!"

"Let's go for our walk anyway!"

I'm thinking, I'm thinking, I'm thinking to myself. What am I going to do? No car. No phone. No idea even where anyone that I know lives. I don't even know a friend's phone number. Freezing temperature.

Three options: 1. We huddle in the garage all day till Matt comes home (NO GOOD!)
2. We get to a neighbor's house and call someone to come pick us up and we hang out at their house for the day. (Don't even know our friend's phone number).
3. Call Matt and he comes home early so that we can get into the house.

The kids vote to hang out at a friend's house all day. I'm thinking to myself, "I wish I knew where they lived!"

I'm convincing myself not to cry. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. Don't panic. Say a prayer. Just don't cry.

We walk up the road to our nearest neighbor's house. The bundled up 2-year-old is having a hard time managing the uphill walk in the freezing cold. I'm trying to keep cool. Abby is terrified of going onto our neighbor's property when we don't know them yet. I knock and knock and no one answers. Shoot.

We walk on. I remember seeing a driveway further down the road that is secluded like ours. I don't know where it leads but when we get there, we turn on it and hope that this neighbor is at home. Again, the kids are uncomfortable on someone else's property. Well, I am too, but there wasn't really a choice, was there?

We live on a seriously quiet street. I wouldn't expect a car to come down it for hours.

I knock on the door of the log cabin. Yes, someone is home. I hear him shushing his dogs. The moment he opens the door, I start crying. The tears are just streaming down my face and I hear myself saying, "I'm sorry. I'm crying because I'm so stressed out. I locked myself out of the house and I'm your new neighbor and I don't know what to do." Can we say pathetic?

He's totally cool and nice. The kids have a great time playing with the dogs while I call Matt (can't get ahold of him) and leave him a message. "Hon, I'm locked out of the house and I don't know what to do!"

Thankfully, our neighbor, Leonard, knows of another neighbor who can open car locks (he's a mechanic). He calls him up and soon Mitch is over with his pickup and we all pile into the back of the truck and ride back to the house (that was the fun part).

He pulls out his tools and starts trying them out on the house. Meanwhile, Leonard is checking the windows and finds one unlocked and we open it! Hooray! We are back inside. Talk about relief. I was so thankful for my house that day!

Lesson learned: Living in the country means neighbors help you and drop what they're doing so that you stop crying in their living room! I needn't feel stressed about the isolation. I discovered that neighbors here are neighborly!

PS: I told the story to a couple of people in our ward and they just laughed at me. "I don't even know where the keys are to my house!" they replied. Apparently, not everyone locks their doors. Oh yeah. We live in the boonies now. "Actually," one friend replied, "A farmer told me once that you want to leave your truck or car unlocked and leave the keys in the ignition. You never know when your friend might urgently need it!"

So there you go. A new paradigm. A friendly place to live. I don't have to be worried about that anymore. Living in the country lesson #1 learned.

(If this post has mistakes, it's because I don't have time to edit it. Please forgive me. And I'm practically NEVER on the internet so these posts will have to be few and far between.)

We Finally Got Off the Closing Roller Coaster

Here is the latest news about us getting our dream home and land.

Last Friday, Rhyetta and I, went to close on the house. When we got to the title office, we were told that we weren't going to be able to close due to Fannie Mae not getting all of the required paperwork to the title company. We basically said that there was no way we can delay this any longer, because we were being kicked out of our current apartment and had no where to go. A phone call was made and we eventually signed all of the paperwork to close and got the go ahead to move in, eventhough the title company still was waiting for one last document.

We moved out of our apartment Saturday morning. Blessings from the Elders Quorum in helping us load up the truck. It would have taken a tremendous amount of time if we had done it ourselves. Once the truck was loaded, we drove the hour from Platte City to our house in Weatherby, MO. Blessings again from the Elders Quorum in our new ward in helping us unload the truck, that took 2 hours to pack, in aproximately 30-45 mins. WOW.

We love our new home. It is much bigger than any place we have lived in. There's room enough to stick all the kiddos in one room, if needed. There's room enough for dancing in the living room. We are able to actually use our dining table again, not a card table. The garage is big enough for all of our storage, two cars, and then some. Needless to say, we are thrilled to be in a home big enough for our family.

However, homeownership is not all roses. Before we closed on the house we had to get repairs done on broken pipes because the house was not winterized properly. We continue to have a broken pipe here and there which will leave a 4x6 hole in our kitchen ceiling until fixed. For the first two nights, we had no hot water because one of the heating elements in our water heater burned out (and I am glad to be able to take a hot shower now!).

Aside from this, Rhyetta and the kiddos explored portions of our 10 acres yesterday, and they loved it. There are some advantages living in the "boonies", as there are disadvantages. The main disadvantage we are facing is internet access. We have no DSL or Cable access. We may have to resort to dial-up. We may have to not have internet at home. Satellite internet is too expensive. So, for now we only have internet, email access from my work. Please be patient with us while we figure things out. We are going to be getting a land line, so when that happens we'll let you know.

Also, pictures and video will follow soon. As for now, we are glad to off the home buying roller coaster and settling in our new home.

The New News

Well, here's the new news.

We were hoping-hoping-hoping to close on the house today (Friday) and move tomorrow. The bad news is that didn't happen. We've got to cancel the moving truck and pay for another week in the apartment. The GOOD news is that I heard these words out of the loan officer's mouth, "Let's plan on closing next Thursday."

I've been waiting for those words, those magic words. It's really going to happen! We are buying our dream property! It will be ours!

One more week!

Reassurance

The anxiety of planning for a move in 6 days and yet not really knowing for certain if the move is going to take place or not finally got to me. Our closing on the house should be Friday. We've got the moving van rented for Saturday and people lined up to help. We've got the utilities turned on in our name, we've paid for repairs to the house, we even have the keys. But we don't really know for sure that it's ours. We're still waiting for some very important approvals. We should know soon...but a girl's got to make plans for moving earlier than six days, people!! I've been practical (trying not to get my hopes up). I've been excited (this is our dream property!). I've been organized (pack a few boxes a day and do a big cleaning job each day before we move should keep us on track). I've been prayerful (please, God, be in charge here! Bless us with what is best, really!) But this morning when I realized that we are supposed to move this week and still don't know if it will really happen, I felt stressed. How did you all deal with this when you ever bought a house?! It's tricky business!

This morning as Matt and I drove the kids to Cameron to visit what we hope will be our new ward, I told him, "This not knowing is getting to me. I feel really anxious." He reassured me that we'll know very soon. I thought to myself, just keep on waiting for a little bit longer. This is the hard part before the great blessing springs forth. Just keep on waiting. Just keep on waiting.

Well, we got to the church and let me tell you, this ward is FRIENDLY! Someone in the parking lot noticed us and waved! During our first meeting, I noticed how many children there were. Lots of families and lots of kids. It will be easy to make friends. Hooray! As soon as the meeting was over, a member of the bishopric was shaking hands and getting all the details out of us. He was a big friendly old man with 11 kids, homeschooled. A couple sitting behind us also spoke with us and visited. She asked us if we had a 4-year-old (which of course, we do). She was the Primary teacher for the 4-year-olds and was soon hand-in-hand with Ella walking to their primary class together. Every Primary leader we spoke to was extra-happy and friendly. By the time I sat down in Gospel Doctrine I felt like I was a part of the ward! I was touched to the point of tears because I felt like I already belonged in this ward. Isn't that amazing? I continued to meet ward members and happily shared our hopes regarding the property we want to buy. "Ten acres? Oh, that's perfect!" "With trees? Oh, the kids will love it!" "Where is it located? Oh, that's near me!" It was all so fun. As I looked around the room in Relief Society, I thought to myself, I could be best friends with all of these ladies. When the teacher got up to give the lesson she talked about doing her chores before getting showered and ready for church. I thought, how cool that these are people who do real chores like tending farm animals and such. Two of the mothers (and there were lots of pregnant bellies and babies in arms) nursed during class. I just realized how we are so totally going to fit in and how I have so much to learn from these people and how much I want to be a part of this ward.

I felt like Heavenly Father was telling me to relax. This is where you will be. This is your ward family now. Everything will work out. What a blessing.

Spiritual guidance and real estate news

So much of what I have read today in my personal study has reminded me that we are literally sons and daughters of God. Because we are His spirit children, we have the potential to become like Him. We can become more like Him now, while we're living life on earth. You already knew that, didn't you? But if you believe it and if you think about it, it might change your attitude about life.

I recently read in the scriptures about coming to Heavenly Father as a little child. When I keep that perspective as I pray, it changes the way I pray. I feel so much more trusting and submissive and thankful. I know Heavenly Father will answer my prayers by blessing me with the guidance I'm asking for. I know that by letting Him be in charge (and giving up a little of what I want) He'll give me what I need and what will make me happy. And it seems like Heavenly Father doesn't so much care about blessing us with a comfortable life. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that if you are persecuted and reviled you'll feel joy and be happy! And Elder Uchtdorf's message in this month's Ensign taught us that ease and luxury are not what the Lord has in mind when he offers us blessings.

Mary Ellen Edmunds in a BYU Conference talk quoted an Ensign article by Stephen Robinson who wrote that one of the great and abominable church's characteristics is that it seeks wealth and luxury. I guess I'm thinking about this a lot as Matt and I and the kids anxiously await moving into a new home. God will bless us with what we need. I know that.

Enough contemplation. On to the update on the house...

Matt and I visited the house on a trip to Cameron to sign some homeowner insurance paperwork. We wondered what it was like with snow (we got a lot of it in the last storm!) The drive was so full of snow we didn't feel safe traveling it in our car so we parked on the road and walked up to the house. It is so pretty in the snow! It is just beautiful! Later, we heard that the appraiser had been there and needed some repairs made before she could finish her appraisal. So Matt drove up there again last week and met with our real estate agent and replaced smoke detectors and installed switch plates and GFI switches and concrete steps, etc. A bunch of little things that needed to be done. He installed a new doorknob and lock to the front door and now has the keys to the house! We also turned on the utilities to the house, the water and electricity. Isn't that strange? Matt commented that it really feels like our house with the keys in his pocket and the utilities in our name! We hope, hope, hope everything works out in the next 12 days so that we can officially call it ours!

We plan on visiting the Cameron ward next Sunday so today was probably our last day in the Platte City ward. We said our goodbyes at church today. The kids got sung to in Primary. I returned my nursery manual and keys. We also have reserved the moving truck. It's so strange and exciting!