Birthday Pics...

Christi has carried on a tradition that started in her family.  Every year on your birthday, you get breakfast in bed.  Not only that, but you get to choose what it's going to be.  Needless to say, this is a tradition that has been warmly embraced by our children.  Mangos and sausage seem to be a common theme for most of the kids.  (I guess I influenced the tradition as well!  My love of mangos, developed as a missionary in Thailand, has been passed on to most of the kids:)

-Jer


Cali:

Sophi:

Jesi:

Graci:

Reasons

I was making lunches this morning and watching Sophi and Xander at the breakfast table.  Sophi was slouched down in a normal chair with her legs propped up on the table.  "Sophi,"  I said.  "You are so lucky!  You are the only one who I will let put their feet on the table!  If Xander put his feet on the table, I would say, 'No Way!'  If Parker put his feet on the table, I would say, 'No Way!'  If Graci put her feet on the table, I would say, 'No Way!'  If Cali put her feet on the table, I would say, 'No Way!'  If Mommy put her feet on the table, I would say, 'No Way!'"  I went through everyone in the family explaining that there was no way anyone else could do that.

In her cute little voice she replied, "That's cuz my feet are so little, huh!"

-Jer

At Peace

I wish I could somehow pour my feelings out directly onto the computer screen.  The written word has many capabilities, but it falls far short when trying to describe the most heartfelt emotions.  It is also a poor medium for communicating the evolution of a train of thought traversing the human mind.  Nonetheless, I will give it a try.

I was driving down the road yesterday.  It was a beautiful fall day.  The snow-capped mountains around me were perfectly accented by the amazing blue of the sky.  The stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in Sara Bareilles anthem “Brave” was blasting through the car.  (This happens to be one of Cali's favorite songs, and I couldn't help thinking of her with a smile.)  My thought process began with how grateful I was for inspirational music.  From the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Josh Groban to pop anthems, music can do so much to lift the spirits and inspire us to action. 

My mind wandered back to a time when I used to listen to great music on the radio and feel jealous.  I wanted to be the one performing!  I thought I had the talent to write music like that, to sing music like that.  Why couldn’t that be me?  I was fortunate enough to have the chance to chase my dream.  We moved to Tennessee.  I attended song-writing clinics.  I performed at singer/songwriter venues and entered competitions.  I quickly learned that I didn’t have the talent to be a star singer, but felt that I could make it as a songwriter.  I tried for four and a half years.  Christi and I, my brother Matt and I and other aspiring songwriters and I wrote multiple songs that I felt had radio potential.  One of our songs actually made a publisher cry!  But we never had the success I had hoped for.  Then suddenly we knew it was time.  We needed to leave Tennessee and come back home to the west.  My dream was over. 

But something had matured inside of me.  Instead of feeling bitter or jealous when I listened to the radio, I felt grateful!  Grateful for the beauty of the music.  Grateful that I had been able to give it a shot.   Grateful that I didn’t have to wonder, “what if?”  I gave it all that I could for four and a half years…and I did not succeed.  The Lord had a different plan for me.  For our family.  Our time in Tennessee, while not producing what we had hoped when we moved there, was priceless.  Lifetime friendships were forged.  Christi and I grew closer than we had ever been as we adjusted to life with no family anywhere near.  Spiritual lessons were learned.  And we were led to China.  All while in Tennessee.  The Lord knew we needed to live there for a time.  But it was for His reasons, not mine.  And I found peace.  Would it have been fun to tour with Garth Brooks?  Absolutely.  Would it have fit into the unique calling Christi and I have come to accept as ours?  Not likely.  I am so grateful that the Lord did not answer my prayers for musical fame and gloryJ.  To quote Mr. Brooks,… "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers."

Of course all of this and more went through my thoughts in just a few seconds.  Next I reflected on the need to reflect.  I have been reading a book with the boys.  It is historical fiction set around the ministry of Jesus.  (It is called The Kingdom and the Crown series, and I highly recommend it.)  This past week was our fall break, and I went camping with Taylor, Parker and my dad.  As we were on the long drive home from southern Utah, my dad read to us.  (As a side note, I haven’t been read to in years, and I was amazed at what a wonderful experience that is.  Made me more determined than ever to make reading with my own kids a priority.) 

At one point in the book the author gives a detailed description of a Passover meal in a Jewish household.  I was struck with the power and importance of recalling the sacrifices of those who have come before us.  As this family remembered the plight of their forebears as slaves to Egypt, as they ate the unleavened bread and bitter herbs, how could they not be more grateful for the blessings they themselves enjoyed?  How could they not feel grateful to their God for delivering them from such bondage?

As I was listening, my mind went to my own life.  I admit that there are times that I wonder why and how.  Why have I been given so many challenges to deal with?  How can I face a lifetime of caring for a child with Elli’s severe special needs?  But as I thought of the Israelites and others throughout history who lived in slavery for generations, as I thought of those living in poverty throughout the world today, as I thought of the pioneers who settled this land and the sacrifices they made, my perspective changed.  I have NOTHING to complain about.  I have been blessed beyond measure, beyond comprehension.  Where much is given, much is required.  And where much is required, much is given.  I was so grateful for this reminder.

I was struck by the value of the Jews celebrating Passover every year.  The clarity and understanding I felt as I was listening to the story was wonderful.  It will last for some time.  But I am sure that there will come another day when I am overwhelmed and wonder how I can make it and why the Lord would give me these particular trials.  How important it is to reflect on the sacrifices made by our ancestors and the blessings the Lord has given them.  By doing this regularly we are much more likely to see the blessings in our own lives and be grateful for the path that God has chosen for us.

I’m not sure I expressed myself very well here.  I hope some of my feelings came through.  Most of all I hope that my children can learn to find peace.  If the path the Lord has in store for them involves their hopes and dreams coming true, wonderful!  If a career in film animation or a spot on the high school basketball team is in their future, fantastic.  But if His path for them involves roads they would not have chosen themselves, I hope that they will be able to see His glory in their journey. 

Fifteen years ago, ten years ago, even five years ago, I had no idea where I would be today.  Had it been up to me, I very well may have tried to go a different direction.  But the Lord knew what was best.  I am grateful for His guidance.  I am grateful for His love.  I am grateful for His peace.

-Jeremy

Need some help here

OK,  I know you are all terribly excited when you see a post from me, but really now, aren't you all just dying to read something from Christi?  I've pleaded and cajoled, ranted and raved, insisted and demanded and flat out begged.  I'm not sure exactly what is stopping her, but I need your help.  Please start a comment campaign and ask her to start blogging again.  A simple "Christi, please post!" will suffice.  Let's flood her inbox with these comments and see how long it takes before she puts fingers to keyboard and rewards our efforts.

Thanks!!!

Jer

PS.  In fairness, she did write the post about Jesi's haircut, but Christi, quite frankly we're all looking for more than two words and three pictures!

Wishes

Christi and I were sitting down to our diet breakfast this morning.  The older kids were gone to school and Lexi and Soph were the only ones home.  As any of you who have stuck to a low-calorie diet for any length of time will know,  each bite of your allotted food is precious.  Each morsel has deep intrinsic value.  You would perhaps rather lose your pinkie toe than share even a nibble.  Be that as it may, I am a remarkable father, empathizing deeply with the desires and needs of my sweet children.  (Note the sarcasm.)

My breakfast was a bowl of Cream of Wheat sweetened with Splenda and a fresh pear.  The pear was delicious.  Perfectly ripened and bursting with flavor, nectar dripping down my underprivileged throat.  It was a delight to savor each bite.  But of course Lexi and Sophi wanted some.  Lexi, priding herself on her subtlety, stood nearby and said, "I wish I could have some pear."  Me (demonstrating one of my remarkable fathering techniques): "Better keep wishing."  Lexi was undaunted and proceeded to keep wishing.  To do this, she blew out three times.  It sounded like someone trying to blow out birthday candles.  I'd never heard anyone wish in this manner before and was quite enchanted with her charm.  "Is that how you wish?" I asked.  Goofy Lexi grin appears, "Yes."  I was so enamored with her that I cut off a piece of pear, put it in her mouth and said, "Your wish is granted."  Another goofy grin, this time with juice running down her mouth.

Sophi suddenly got wise.  "I wish I could have some pear."  Me: "I didn't hear you wish like Lexi."  Sophi blows out three times.  Me: "Your wish is granted" while popping a pear slice in her mouth.

Pause.

Pause.

Pause.

Lexi:  "I wish I could go to Disneyworld."

Christi and I could not stop laughing:)

-Jer

Random Pictures...

Why Taylor should not climb trees...

Jessica and Lexi after their church "Virtue Pageant."  They tied for first place (along with all of the other girls who entered.)  It was very cute.

Jessica's "P" party.  Princesses, pajamas, pizza...

9 inches gone...

Before:

After:

Us

What I would give to live a day in Elli's body.  To experience the world as she does for just 24 hours.  It would be a growing opportunity in many ways.  I would be able to empathize with her on a completely different level.  I'm sure I would develop a greater appreciation of many of the normal day-to-day things in my life.  But the primary reason I would like the chance to be Elli for a day is so that I could know how much she understands.

Is she completely oblivious to almost everything around her?  Does she understand everything around her but just isn't able to respond to it appropriately?  Most likely it's somewhere in between.  How I wish I could find out.  Perhaps some future technology will allow her to break free of her bonds to a greater extent.

Last night I had one of those little glimpses.  A moment where she put together a concept I thought would be above her.  When Christi tucked her into bed, she asked for me.  I went down and cuddled with her for a few minutes.  I started to play a game.  I sang her name up and down a major chord: Elli, Elli, Elli, Elli, Elli.  I did it a couple of times and she just listened.  Then I sang Taylor's name: Taylor, Taylor, Taylor, Taylor, Taylor.  Not surprisingly, she picked up on what I was doing and sang another sibling's name: Parker, Parker, Parker, Parker, Parker.  We went through several family members and she seemed to enjoy it.  One time she sang Me, Me, Me, Me, Me.  I responded with, "You, You, You, You, You."  She thought for a moment, then sang "Us, Us, Us, Us, Us."  Her ability to combine You and Me into Us was that glimpse.  Not a major accomplishment, and yet something I would not have anticipated she could do.  It is good to get these reminders that she is clearly understanding more than I realize.  Ah, Elli, someday I will get to truly know you and your special, special spirit.

On a completely unrelated note, Christi has put me on a strict diet.  Yesterday was day one, and boy did I feel the effects of caloric restrictions.  It was all I could do to ward off Grumpy Mr.  The first phase lasts three weeks.  Later we'll work into a plan that has a bit of leeway with some things, but for the next 20 days it is extremely regimented.  Ah, well.  It's been a long time coming.  Hopefully I'll have a little less middle and a little more energy when we're done!

-Jer

Metal Mouth

Parker got braces last month.  It's so crazy to see our kids go through phases that I vividly remember.  Parker's our third to get them on.  We got good news about Cali, though...she doesn't need braces!  That's a nice chunk of change we'll save:)

-Jeremy

Lone Peak 2013

My third Friday in September in a sleeping bag was on  Lone Peak.  Our sixth annual trip!  It's fun to compare pictures from other years and see how much the boys have grown.  I can't believe they were  just seven and nine the first time we went.  I also can't believe I carried the boys' packs half-way up on one of my arms because they got too tired.  Well, they carry their own weight now!  I am so proud of those two boys.  (I am so proud of ALL my kids, but this post is about a camping trip with the two of them;)  I am constantly grateful for the opportunity to associate with them.  They are great men.  They will do great things.  They will (and do) have a lasting and important impact on the world and the people around them.

This year Taylor, Parker and I were joined by my brother, Tyler.  He's been up before, but it's been years.  We had a great time with no major mishaps, which is the exception to the rule.:)  The waterfall was as beautiful as ever.  I got as little sleep as I always do up there.  (As we were getting into our sleeping bags I told Tyler: "Well, this will be the best worst-night's-sleep I have all year!")  But in spite of the lack of sleep and the achy muscles when I get back, I look forward to our trip every time.  There are so many facets to why I love it.  It's a spiritual experience up there.  Multiple prophets in the Bible experienced marvelous visions and revelations on mountain tops.   I haven't had any visions, but I have had some promptings up there over the years.  The views are as beautiful as any I've ever seen.  The hike itself, while exhausting, is very fulfilling.  Probably something like a runner feels when he crosses the finish line of a long race.

It's a great tradition.  The boys hope to go up there someday with their own kids.  Hopefully I'll be up to a trip or two even then.  My goal is to keep doing it until I'm 70.  Better lay off those doughnuts!

-Jeremy

Tyler got rid of a large tree branch that was hanging dangerously over our campfire area. 

View from the top

Oh, no! Taylor's barely hanging on!

This is me.  Still brave enough at 41 to jump in that cold mountain water!

Laws of Life

Murphy's Law:  Anything that can go wrong, will.

Hanlon's Razor:  Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

Green's Theorem:  Random difficulties are infinitely more likely to occur when only one parent is present.

I was on the home stretch.  Get the kids off to school and all is well.  One little appointment for Lexi and then Christi will be home and the universe will once again be in alignment.  So simple.  But of course our life couldn't be quite that easy.  

Our morning scripture study starts at 6:25. I usually get up at 6:20.  At 5:59 I woke up to a shuffling noise in my room.  It's always just a bit eerie to sleep by myself, so knowing someone else was by my bed gave me a bit of an adrenaline rush.  I figured it was one of the kids, but I must say I was relieved when I turned on the light and saw Jesi's face and not some guy in a ski mask.  (Side note:  we LOVE having light switches right by our bed:)  Sophi and Lexi were whispering in their room.  Jesi had determined this fact was important enough to our family's wellbeing that she needed to wake me up and let me know.  Of course, the worst thing that would have happened if Lexi and Sophi continued to talk was they would have woken me up...

I told Jess that it was OK as long as they were being quiet, and that she should go back to sleep.  (Judging from the completely-ready-for-school state she was in upon arriving in my room for scriptures 20 minutes later, I'm guessing she never made it into bed.)  I had an excruciating headache, so I took some ibuprofen and laid back down for 20 minutes.  Just drifted back off when Jesi came in and turned on the lights.  "Time for scriptures."  Head throbs.  I look at the clock.  6:15.  "Um, Jess.  Scriptures start at 6:25."  "Oh.  OK."  Lights go off.  Head throbs.  I just drift off when my alarm rings.  

After scriptures the older kids are sensitive enough to my lack of skills to realize I need extra time to get everyone to school.  They all volunteer to have school lunch instead of home.  Grateful, I tell them my head is killing me and I'm going to sleep until about 7.  You guessed it.  I finally drift off and the alarm rings.  

The older kids are almost entirely self-sufficient in the morning, so we say family prayer and then I help Cali out to the carpool.  It's now 7:28.  By 7:40 I have to have Elli up, Lexi bathed and hair washed and leave for school with Elli, Lexi, Sophi, Jesi and Xander.  I have to be back by 8am because Lexi is having a 3-day EEG and the technician will be arriving between 8 and 10.  I'm hoping it's not right at 8, because Lexi is supposed to have her hair washed and dried before the tech arrives.  Also, Elli's bus arrives at 8:15.  The race is on.  

Ask Jesi to go get Elli from her room and bring her upstairs.  Throw Lexi in the tub.  Wash her hair.  (Because of the EEG she can't use conditioner.  How is that going to work?)  Get her out.  "Jess, can you get Lexi dressed?"  Cut up an apple and spread peanut butter on a plate for Elli.  "Thanks for getting Lexi dressed.  Can you get Sophi out to the van?"  Hand peanut butter and apples to Xander.  "Can you feed Elli while we drive to school?"  Hand Jess the van keys at her request.  Apparently say "yes" when she asks if she can start the van.  Lock up.  Head out to the van and realize Jesi is filling our garage with carbon monoxide.  Give a quick lesson on why not to start a car when the garage door is shut.  Last thing I hear as I shut the side door is Sophi's plaintive cry, "I don't want to die!"

Jess and Xander are at school.  We are headed back. We'll make it home by 8, but if the EEG tech is there before 8:15 I won't have time to dry Lexi's hair.  I drive up to the home and open the garage door.  I pull in.  My phone rings.  EEG tech has the wrong address but is close.  Give her the right address.  She will be here in 20 seconds.  Not good.  I get the girls and walk in the house.  It's very dark.  Several things are beeping.  I'm focused on Elli and Lexi and don't put things together very quickly.  I turn on the light.  Only the light doesn't turn on.  I try it again.  What is going on???  The electricity is out.  You've got to be kidding me.  Sometime between opening the garage door and flipping the light switch we lost power.  

I yell out the front door to EEG lady (Tena.)  Do you need electricity for what you're doing?  'Cuz ours seems to be out.  She does indeed.  She has us scheduled for a two-hour appointment, so she comes in to wait for awhile.  I usher her into the living room, apologize for the wet hair and my lack of ability to be in the room with her and I rush off to get Elli dressed.  There are still at least three loud beeps coming every 10 seconds.  New house-I have no idea where they're coming from.  One starts to be overpoweringly obnoxious.  I track it to our security system and turn that beeper off. I start taking the duct tape off of Elli's clothes.  (It worked last night.  YEAH!!!)  Elli fights me, making it even more challenging.  (Ever left duct tape on clothing overnight and then tried to remove it in the morning?  The warmth of the body stickifies it even more than already ridiculously adhesive duct tape normally is.  It can be a bit challenging.)  Clothes off.  BEEP. Help her use the bathroom.  BEEP.  Pull-up on.  BEEP.  Complete stranger in the living room talking to Lex and Soph.  BEEP.  Clothes on.  BEEP.  Looking for socks.  Can only find socks with the toes cut off (for Soph).  BEEP.  Suddenly realize that one of the beeps is the computer backup battery.  BEEP.  Turn off computer and backup.  BEEP.  (Man that thing's obnoxious!  What is it?  Don't have time to look since bus will be here momentarily.)  BEEP.  Find socks and shoes.  Put them on.  BEEP.  Put on harness.  BEEP.  "I'm taking Elli out to the bus.  Sorry to leave you alone in here.  Be back in a minute!"  BEEP.  Get Elli on the bus.

Take a deep breath.

Back inside.  Notice that Tena is now doing Lexi's hair.  Maybe it was a good thing I didn't get very far with that.  She'll do a much better job than I could have.  BEEP.  Start looking for the beep.  BEEP.  Track it down to the elevator.  BEEP.  Realize it's likely a backup battery like I have for the computer.  BEEP.  Flip a couple of big power switches in the control room.  Wait.  Wait.  SILENCE.  Glory be!

I finally have a minute to talk to Tena.  She explains that there is a fair amount of prep before she needs the electricity, so she'll get that done and see how things are.  By the time she's got Lexi's hair braided and marker all over her head for the spots where the EEG goes, the electricity still isn't on.  She can come back later, but perhaps we have a relative locally and could go there instead.  Hmmm.  Where could we possibly go that has electricity?  Hmmm.  How about our other house that hasn't sold yet?  So we pack a couple of camp chairs and head out.

Tena fixes Lexi up good.  I believe she has 23 wires attached to her!  Pretty cute.  Tena is enamored with Lex and Soph.  We finish up with not a second to spare.  Got to rush back home and get Sophi ready for her bus.  Pull up to the house and the granite repair guy is sitting and waiting in his car for us.  Electricity is back.  YEAH!  Show Raul the crack in the granite.  Tell him I can talk in several minutes once Sophi is on the bus.  Take her to the bathroom.  Change her clothes.  Feed her a frozen GuGurt.  Rush out to the bus.  Apologize for the hair and the lack of a coat.  Explain that mom isn't here and dad is an imbecile.  Driver agrees.

Take a deep breath.

-Jer