South Africa!!!

My mom and her husband, Rusty, just received their mission call...Johannesburg, South Africa!!! They are thrilled, excited but I know they'd feel that way regardless of where they were sent. They enter the MTC on January 11th and will be serving for 18 months.

I'm excited for them but I have to admit I'm a little sad as well. Although I don't see my mom very often I'll miss her. Living two hours away and being able to call whenever will be very different from being half a world apart and not being able to pick up the phone for instant advice and wisdom.

This adventure and service will be taken in by many. I know my mom and Rusty will have firsthand experience but being able to hear of their tales and receive the blessings as we support them will be an amazing growing experience for us as well.

I'm thankful for their strong testimony, their desire to serve and willingness to give up everything to do so. I'm also thankful for the unknown blessings and changes it will bring to others. Rusty and my mom will become stronger (if that's even possible), the people of Johannesburg will be touched to strengthen their testimonies or accept the gospel and we at home will grow as well.

With three kids as teenagers, two of them only four years away from mission age, and no other relatives out on missions I'm hopeful that the next year and a half will make an impact on helping my kids have the desire to serve when their time comes.

Thanks, Mom and Rusty, for the wonderful example you are to All of US!!!

Dallon's Tonsilectomy and Adenoid Removal

On Monday, October 5th, Dallon went in to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. The week previous we went in for the pre-op appointment and he was given a tour of the surgical area so he would know what to expect. They showed him the special jammies they'd have him put on, where he would be taken for the operation and then where he would be reunited with his parents.

Somewhere in that tour Dallon came to the realization that if he didn't put the jammies on he wouldn't have to have the operation. Over the weekend he just kept telling me he was NOT putting on the hospital p.j.s

The morning arrived, we left at 6 a.m. leaving the big kids in charge while they got ready for school knowing that Aunt Nat would be there soon to step in and take over my morning responsibilities.

Dallon was very nervous, not fits or tantrums just EXTREME silence. Once we arrived they handed us the jammies and I went with him to get changed. For a brief moment I thought he was going to follow through with his threat of not putting on the jammies. I pointed out they were covered in fish and he could think of Grandma Fish while he was wearing them and know that she was thinking of him and loves him.

I have to admit my heart ached and the tears started rising to the surface as I had to watch Dallon walk off to the operating room while holding onto the nurses hand. Such a simple surgery but I worried for him with how nervous he was and knowing he was going to have a rough week ahead of him.

The week has gone great!!! Better than expected. He refused to take the strong codeine medicine and is just taking Tylenol. I filled the freezer with Popsicles and the pantry with Gatorade and Apple Juice but not much of it has been touched. Well, I take that back, most of it has been touched and is gone thanks to the older boys in the house! He prefers eating whatever we're eating and I have had to force the liquids down. Dallon has been very quiet and to save his voice, when I ask him a question, he uses the thumbs up or down sign.

Day four hit hard at midnight with Dallon in tears with pain. That was a rough night but we got through it. His breath STINKS!!! My kids were shocked at first and were wondering where the awful stench was coming from. The doctors said he had to miss two weeks of school. I thought that was a ridiculously long time but there is no way I'm sending him back to school until his breath clears up.

The neighborhood kids have been great. Grant, Jacob and Cody have come over to hang out with Dallon. I warn them he can't run around and play and that he's not really talking but they just end up sitting next to him with DS's in their hand quietly playing games. I'm thankful for the great friendships my kids have on our cul-d-sac.

Our doctor did say they have found that kids who have their tonsils and adenoids removed have a growth spurt. Hmmmm, definitely not something that Dallon needs!

Football Season Here and My Nerves are Being Tested

College ball has been going on for awhile, so has the Pros. My family LOVES to watch the sport but honestly, I could live without it. I do watch it with my family, and I love to watch the Cougars but having my boys play puts me on edge.



Tanner is playing on the Freshman team and Harris is playing for his 8th grade team. With their love for the sport it's something I support them in but not whole-heartedly. Three years ago when Harris was playing for the Boys and Girls Club he was tackled and ended up at the bottom of the pile. He was hit just right and ended up breaking four bones in his leg and foot.



Harris had a cast up to his hip, spent a month in a wheelchair, four months in the cast and three months of physical therapy. After his recuperation he decided to take a little break from football waiting to evaluate if he really wanted to play again. He's now in 8th grade, the first year a player is able to play for their school and the year that Harris was going to decide whether to re-enter the sport. After much deliberation Harris made his choice...He's playing. Harris' first game is this Wednesday but he won't be playing. On Friday he broke his first knuckle on his middle finger on the right hand. Thankfully not a serious injury, one that happens frequently in football but something that has brought back my fears and worries as a mom of a football player. Well, I guess I should say as a mom of active kids. To be honest we've also had broken bones from riding bikes and snowboarding.



I'll be the mom attending all the games that I can (Tanner has played three games already all away, like, 1.5 to 3 hours away. Record Two Wins and One Tie) cheering as loud as I can (to the embarrassment of my kids) holding my breath and truly celebrating at the end of the game, winning or not, when my boys walk off the field uninjured.

SNOW!

This is what we woke up to this morning!

After looking out the window, seeing the road covered and more coming down I was sure school would be delayed. I was WRONG! We kept checking the school site to see if they'd change their minds. My kids were anxious to see a different message on the computer screen but it wasn't to be.

Ron drove Alex to school, took over an hour. I drove the boys. A drive that normally takes me 10 minutes round trip took me 40 minutes.

Thank goodness for my Suburban ( I LOVE IT!) because there were people sliding all over the place, traffic jams, and wrecks. (I know, Oregon drivers really don't know how to deal with snow.)

The kids didn't get a chance to enjoy it because once they got home from school our cul-d-sac looked once again like the green, wet Oregon it is.

Something So Simple!

It's amazing how a simple, I mean, VERY SIMPLE act of kindness can put a smile on your face and lift your day.

The past week and a half has been kind of dreary for me due to my leg. I have to admit I'm starting to feel the grouchies coming on. But a simple, thoughtful gesture was made towards me tonight and it has left me smiling from the inside out, I feel GREAT!

I am an Activity Day leader at church. About a month ago we had a fun activity where we learned how to make scarves using only our fingers and yarn. After everyone got the hang of it we took turns sharing our favorite books while our fingers kept working and our scarves kept growing . One of my favorite books is Ella Enchanted and that is the one I chose to share with the girls. Most everyone knows of the movie but that doesn't do the book justice. You've got to read it!
Out of the blue tonight one of my Activity Day girls, Leah, gave me a call. In her sweet, petite voice she said, "I just finished reading Ella Enchanted and it was really good!" We spent a few minutes talking about the difference between the book and movie and she agreed the book was the best. The fact that Leah thought of me and wanted me to know that she too enjoyed the book meant so much to me.

Something so SIMPLE but so HUGE in meaning!

DOWN and OUT!

At least it feels that way.

I had so many plans, get my blog going, learn how to do my photoshop, get healthy, do my mountains of homework for my church Family History class and more but all those plans have been put on hold.

A week ago I went in to see the doctor about two painful spots on my leg. I knew exactly what they were, superficial blood clots. ARGH!!!! I have had them five times before and usually right after the delivery of a new baby. Thankfully they are not deep vein clots. They're not dangerous but they are very painful and serious enough that my doc means business. He gave me my to do list and told me he'd see me back a week later (today).

Unfortunately they're not better. Well, one is but the other is probably worse. After my appointment today he said I have to take two weeks off of my transcription job, no sitting at the computer (yes, I'm breaking the rule right now). I can do a little walking but mostly he wants me down with leg elevated.

He was concerned when I told him I have three little ones at home during the day. When I told him I have two sisters in town as well as a wonderful women church organization he said, "It's time to ask for help."

Right now I'm really wishing for a laptop, I could be so productive with this time down!!!! I guess instead I'll get a lot of reading in (wait a minute, I do too much of that anyway) homework and reading time with my kids and maybe catch up on a movie or two.

My Grandma is NOT a Fish!

Since seven kids isn't enough to keep me busy I fill my extra time with a three year old daycare child. She's a cutie and a typical three year old.

We were driving home after an hour and a half of playgroup fun when I heard a discussion about grandmas going on in the back of the car. I didn't really pay attention and stopped off at a neighbor's house to drop off their three year old. As I climbed into the car Emi was sobbing and said, "Krista, my grandma is not a fish!" I was like, what?!? She repeated her complaint, "Dallon called my grandma a fish!!

I tried really hard not to burst out laughing. "No, Emi, Dallon wasn't calling your grandma a fish, he was saying his grandma is Grandma Fish. Fish used to be her last name." She gave me the wierdest look like, that's the dumbest last name I've ever heard of.

So, sorry mom:

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