Happy Thanksgiving

We'll miss being with family and friends, drive safely, enjoy thoroughly, and feel our love.

Drowning in Dryness!

My children's school has a policy that they're not allowed to bring water to school. The privilege was revoked when high school students were caught sipping on vodka in class. If Tanner tries to leave the cafeteria with a bottle for the rest of the day, he can't leave the cafeteria until the bottle is in the trash. If Porter needs water at 10 a.m. and reaches into his backpack for his bottle, it goes into the trash. I keep sending water because there are times when they're not caught, but usually they're sent to the water fountains. They're coming home with cracked and bleeding lips because they're not getting enough water, and I'm less than thrilled to think about them drinking from something that has more germs than a toilet! What's the best way to approach this with the school district, any suggestions?

Cooper's Baptism

Cooper waited five months until Tanner turned 16, because he wanted his older brother to baptize him.

Hunter was asked to speak on baptism...

The boys were asked to sing a song...

Headed to the font...

Dad speaking on the Holy Ghost...

Sawyer FINALLY with a smile on his face!

Small Sanctuary

Driving along in the hills of West Virginia, we stumbled upon "Our Lady of the Pines," more commonly known as "the smallest church in the lower 48 states." You've never seen anything so small. The 24 x 12 foot church has six pews and seats 12 worshippers. Lithuanian immigrant Peter Milkint completed Our Lady of the Pines in 1958, with hopes that the world would come visit. More than 30,000 visitors sign the guest book each year. It should be 30,006 but my husband forgot to sign the book! I am grateful this season for my husband who helps me to remember the past.

Eye Envy

I have great eye sight, pilot eyes, 15/20, the kind of eyes Tiger Woods got after having surgery. I get them from my Dad. I never had a question about whose eyes my boys would get: mine. I've been wrong. I have two boys in glasses, one about to get them, and two more who want them. This season I'm grateful for my eye insurance.

Such a Beautiful, Yummy Bird!

My friend Ann sent me pictures of these birds in her neighborhood. It got me to thinking about all the yummy dishes associated with Thanksgiving, and the many ways to enjoy this bird, runner-up choice for our national bird. Butternut squash, turnip, pearled onions are some of my favorite side dishes. Marinating the bird in citrus and garlic was a delicious and different way to enjoy this king of poultry. What are your favorite Thanksgiving dishes? I need to know before I head to the store!

Home Sick

Yesterday I got a call from the school nurse: "Please pick Cooper up from school. He's not feeling well. Neither are the other second graders who he threw up on." How could she forget to mention he was on risers practicing for the Christmas spectacular? Otherwise, I don't think his 10 to 1 ratio would have been as successful.

What's For Dinner, Dear?

We've enjoyed seeing deer in our drives about town and countryside. This sight was not as common in Texas. Recently our good neighbor 'compounded' our relationship and gave us three packs of ground deer meat, otherwise known as venison.

I remember eating venison as a child, more as a stew, and have a slight rememberance of the taste. But I have put off using this gift as I have felt insecure in my ability to cook with venison. The family comments of "Is this spaghetti with deer meat?" or "What's for dinner, Mommy 'deerest'?" have made known to me my family is just as insecure. We bit the symbolic bullet and cooked it for chili yesterday. I never would have known it was venison, I'm glad I'm over that hurdle, and am wondering if there are any other recipes that would sway my family?

Geometry Rap

Sshhhh

I think I've thrown him off the trail...posting two days later...but every sweet sixteen deserves a little recognition. It's just one of those birthdays that's important. Look out world, Tanner's 16!

I Dislike Conflict

This is a picture of the 5000 some protestors in front of the Los Angeles temple (Westwood, California). Two full squads of LAPD in riot gear set up their base inside the temple grounds while SWAT vehicles and hundreds of officers followed the crowds. I'm mostly sad about this situation, a little confused. Mormons have been targeted in California as having been the main impetus behind the passing of Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage in the state. Although the population of the state voted on the passing of the constitutional amendment, the Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations. Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims - all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California. Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members. African Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls show that 70% of Black voters chose Yes on 8. No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs.

Mormons make up less than 2% of the population of California. There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million. Mormon voters were less than 5% of the yes vote. If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6% of the Yes vote and 2.4% of the total Proposition 8 vote.

I appreciate those in California who joined together and did something good. I feel sad for those in situations whose lives would have benefited otherwise. I love this quote by Brigham Young: "You that have not passed thro' the trials and persecutions, and drivings with this people from the beginning, but have only read them, or heard some of them related, may think how awful they were to endure, and wonder that the saints survived them at all.-The thought of it makes your heart sink within you, your brain reel, and your body tremble, and you are ready to exclaim, 'I could not have endured it.' I have been in the heat of it, and never felt better in all my life; I never felt the peace and power of the Almighty more copiously poured upon me than in the keenest part of our trials. They appeared nothing to me." L. Aldin Porter, "'But We Heeded Them Not'," Ensign, August 1998, 6.

I hope that I could be as courageous when I'm called upon to defend my beliefs.

The Borrowers

Did you ever forget something and needed it so badly that borrowing was a good alternative? Maybe a slip while traveling, a toothbrush? We attended a conference with Jarrod, just for two hours, and were looking for something to do. We didn't know there would be a heated swimming pool. Thank goodness housekeeping keeps lost and found items. Mens XL, L and M did just fine on these skinny boys, with a BIG tug on the drawstring.

Veterans Day 2008

This is Porter in his grandfather Hutchins' dress Navy uniform, from the Cuban Missile Crisis. Remember the Veterans today. Think about their service and sacrifice for our country. Enjoy the freedoms they helped preserve.

Nana

It seems like forever since I've posted - have been traveling to attend my grandmother's funeral in Massachusetts. What a drive! I am so glad to be home. It was an uplifting memorial service, and I appreciated being there for this chapter in my family's life. As I have been pondering her life, (you have a lot of time to do that between Ohio and Massachusetts and back again), I've realized there are a few things I'd like to remember from this experience. Singing two hymns in this little Episcopal church in Walpole made all the difference in the spirit that was there, and visibly transformed funeral attendees to being very uplifted by the time they left. Music is an amazing tool, and I want to think about using it more in my life. Also, I wonder what I'll be remembered for? I hope the things I'm memorialized for will be important and eternal. I want to do better in using my time on important things that will have a greater impact on people's lives. What would you hope to be remembered for? P.S. I commissioned Cooper to do this painting of my grandmother, it's very sweet.

Used Furniture

I recently acquired a beautiful pair of twin beds for my boys. They've been sleeping on mattresses on the floor for a very long time. We've waited since September for their bunk beds, but they weren't being delivered until mid-November. When these came up in conversation, I grabbed them. Then I realized that most of my furniture is used. Is that a bad thing? I love wearing things out, and making them do, but is it wrong to have a whole house of used furniture? For example, my bedroom set, including two dressers, two nightstands, and headboard and footboard, my sons' bunkbed and dresser, my other son's bedroom set (two dressers, head/foot board, two night stands), my two sets of kitchen tables, my ping pong table and pool table, my t.v., my fooze ball table, my microwave, my computer...you get the drift. Today I am thankful for my used furniture. I do need to clarify that the mattresses are always new ;-)

Guyandotte Civil War Reenactment

During November of 1861, the sleepy southern town of Guyandotte was firmly in Union hands when Confederate raiders struck suddenly, capturing the Garrison.

The Confederates left town the next morning with their Richmond-bound prisoners in tow.

By nightfall, two-thirds of the village had burned to the ground when the Union Army returned and regained Guyandotte, WV.

Okay, with six boys and one man, we do a lot of this. This happened five minutes away. It's confusing living near two state borders. We drive over the bridge nearly every day, and we're in West Virginia. Usually I stay put, and I'm in my house in Ohio. But, the weather was perfect, and my husband, the get up and go guy, had his fix for the weekend.

I Love Contests!

This is Porter's entry in a local Halloween coloring contest sponsored by a grocery store. He placed second in his age division. There were probably less than 50 entries for his age group. Sawyer and Cooper entered as well. What a fun day for him. We were told to go to the store to pick up the prize. He actually got to pick out his prizes. He'd be shown a vender specific section on the shelves, such as Nabisco, and was told to pick something out. Then Keebler. Then Frito Lay. So here is Porter with the stash. In his words, "Go ahead and color - you never know - you could win! It was awesome!"

The Pumpkin House

Every halloween season, the house at 748 Beech Street in Kenova, West Virginia is transformed into the Great Pumpkin House.

The owner, Ric Griffith and hundreds of other volunteers carve thousands of pumpkins for display at his home.

This year they had approximately 3,030 pumpkins on display.

So if you want a little Halloween fun, be sure to visit us next year, it's only twenty minutes away, and so worth the visit. One of the best displays was his wall of pumpkins choreographed to music, the pumpkins that lit up were done so when the instrument that was carved on them was playing.

Sunday Thought

"We know from the scriptures that some trials are for our good and are suited for our own personal development. We also know that the rain falls on the just and the unjust. It is also true that every cloud we see doesn’t result in rain. Regardless of the challenges, trials, and hardships we endure, the reassuring doctrine of the Atonement wrought by Jesus Christ includes Alma’s teaching that the Savior would take upon Him our infirmities and “succor his people according to their infirmities.” The scriptures and modern prophets have made it clear that there will be lean years and plentiful years. The Lord expects us to be prepared for many of the challenges that come. He proclaims, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” One of the great blessings of the scriptures is that they warn us of challenges that are unexpected but often occur." Elder Quentin L. Cook