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.)