Question of the week:

Do you like to go to the theater? the opera? Which do you like best?
What production did you like best and why?

Happy Birthday MaKayla!

Happy Birthday MaKayla! MaKayla turns 11 today! We are so happy you are part of our family and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Mom's Happiness

I'm happiest when all my kids and families are happy and doing what's right and I don't have to worry about them. I know that doesn't do any good but it's always there in your head and heart if they are not. I'm happiest when we are all together and getting along. It is so much fun. I love to hear you all sing together too. That brings me joy.

I enjoy being alone and doing exactly what I want too. I love to read a good book and I'd love the bathtub if I could get out of it. I used to love it. I like my own company. Some people don't like to be alone and I wouldn't like it all the time but I do like it occasionally. I love to spend time with Dad too, and with my family. I am glad David lives here with his family. I am really looking forward to seeing some of you at the end of the month. I love you all, each and every one of you . Love Grandma

Jeny's Happiness

I just told Mindy I was surprised that others don't look at the blog very often, which I do. But I don't submit entries very often, so I'm going to try now. This is my first question of the week answer ever.

Having all my family home and near me makes me happy. I love to have people visit, and I love to have the house clean after they have left. I am always happy in the garden, especially when there are peas and raspberries to pick, and when I can dig up potatoes and there really are potatoes that grew.

I love the beach and wish I could be there now. Oh, yeah, I will be there next week. I guess I can wait. I am super happy when I can see my nieces and nephews smile at me (which means that you are visiting me, or I am visiting you), and I love when I'm sleeping in Austin's bed. I am happy knowing that my children are growing up and learning to be adults and doing a good job at this learning process. I'm happy when I think of Mark. I'm most happy every day when I get to walk out of the office and head home!!

Heidi's Happiness

Exercise!!! Exercise is my key to happiness. I love walking more than anything in the world. I HATE aerobics, but after a workout, I feel so good that it makes it all worth it. When I get depressed, I go for a walk and immediately feel better. Walking for me is a time to help my body feel healthy and strong, and time to really meditate. I can do a lot of thinking, even if I'm pushing a stroller. I love it.

I don't know how I am when I'm alone, because there's no one there to tell me, and I can't trust my own opinion. I really enjoy being alone just because of how rare it is. I read and love watching movies that Jason won't watch with me like "An Affair to Remember" or "To Kill a Mockingbird", two of my favorites.

Happy Birthday Dan!

Welcome to the family! We hope you have a wonderful birthday! Happy Birthday!

Teresa's Happiness

Almost everything one the planet and beyond makes me happy. I am very seldom upset. My kids being individuals make me happy. Taking a picture differently than other people makes me happy. Nature makes me really happy. The spontaneous order of nature in this world absolutely awes me, and that makes me happy. The only time I'm not "happy" is when my brain is twittling it's fingers. I love thinking and pondering things. Even when my kids misbehave, I'm happy (on some level) because I am trying to figure out the reason they are behaving that way. I know that keeping things positive in my mind has made life in general alot happier.

When I'm alone, I can be 2 different people. I love reading and I love loud music, but they don't mesh well. So I am usually doing one or the other. You'll find me reading on my deck or listening to music while I clean my house, dance or be creative (draw, paint, scrapbook etc). That's me in a nutshell.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today Mom turns 64. Happy Birthday Mom! We love you so much, and we hope you have an amazing birthday!

Mindy's Answer

Hi. We're back online. I sent a question of the week from my mother in
law's last week, but sent it to the wrong address and then accidentally
erased it when it came back. So I guess we'll forget about that one and
just do one for this week.
I'm still trying to figure out my personal secret for happiness. I am
happy when everything is done, which is never. I'm happy when my kids
are playing happily together. I guess I'm happiest when my family is all
happy and getting along well. Also when I see my kids choosing to do
what's right even when it's hard to.
I'm not sure what the second part of the question means, but I do like to
be alone sometimes. I wouldn't like it all the time, but I do love to
lock myself in the bathroom and take a long bath all alone with a good
book. I enjoy my own company.

Here's our new contact information. I think Jeny sent it around for me
already.

4325 Lenville Rd. #55
Moscow, ID 83843
(208) 882-6128

Question of the Week

What is your personal secret for happiness? What kind of company are you
when you are alone?

Dearest Family:

I offer you a challenge. A challenge with great benefits that will accrue to all those who accept it.

Mom and I have each individually just finished reading a book by the author of "The Peacegiver". The new book is "The Holy Secret" by James L. Ferrell. To me, it is one of the most impactful books I have ever read, short of the scriptures themselves. It is a small, 214 page book that -- as far as the writing style is concerned -- is very readable. However, I predict that it will take you a lot longer time to read it than you think it will because you will read a few pages, then stop and ponder and perhaps even pray before continuing on.

This little book does many things. It answers some particular doctrinal questions that have caused both Mom and me to ask for answers that we were unable to find elsewhere. For instance, why did God give Adam and Eve what appears to be contradictory commandments, i.e. "multiply and replenish the earth", vs. "thou shalt not eat of the tree of knowledge". The answer is here.

Here is the challenge. Get the book and read it individually. Then, read it together as husband and wife and perhaps with some of your older children. Mom and I are now going to read it aloud together. Then, share your thoughts, questions, observations, with the rest of us in the BLOG. I think this could result in a very healthy exchange. Only one rule: thou shalt not share any thoughts, questions, or observations that are critical of any individual or any ethnic group. Keep it as charitable as possible.

I hope you will accept this challenge. I think it will cause all of us to grow much faster than we possibly could any other way. What Bro. Ferrell presents is truly a "Holy Secret".

God bless you all. We love you and pray for the very best of this mortal experience for each of you.

Dad

Holly's Date

I guess my dating life was kind of boring, because I don't have any very memorable dates with a boyfriend or fiance. My most memorable dates are the horrible ones where I was set up by a friend or met someone on the internet. The one that takes the cake is a guy who I met on the internet when I was desperate, and even though his picture was scary I went out with him because his e-mails were very nice. We met for ice cream on our first date, and had some good conversation, so I consented to a second date even though I wasn't attracted to him in any way. The second date was to see Harry Potter. He picked me up for the "early bird" showing (it was at 9:40 in the morning) and on the way to the theater he said, "So, is it okay if we go dutch?" I was floored! First of all, the early showing of a movie costs $3! Second, we were already on the way there. That's usually something you discuss BEFORE the date, right? I went along with it, though, and enjoyed the movie. After he asked where I wanted to go for lunch, and since I knew I was paying for myself I chose Arby's. He took me home after lunch and came in and sat on the couch, even though I didn't invite him. I tried to give him the hint that I was done with the date, but he was clueless. Rather than try to make strained conversation, I started taking apart my DVD player to fix it. He still sat there for probably half an hour before he got bored enough to finally leave. I never went out with him again!

It's A Girl....again!

We had an ultrasound today and it's another girl! The technician was very patient and funny, so even though the baby was not cooperating very well we were able to see almost everything. We are sure it's a girl, though. Now we just have to think of a name! These are pictures of her profile, showing a cute little nose and her lips, and the other one is a foot (it's the white blob on the right of the black space). On my copy of it you can actually see all of the toes and everything. Pretty fun!

Babysitting Co-op

O.k., I guess I took for granted that everyone in the world knows what a babysitting co-op is just because it has been in my life for so long. Here's how it works. You get some friends with close to the same number kids you have and it's nice if they're close to the same age as yours, too. We got together with three other families. We all agreed on a night and time each week that would work for a date night, then rotated a babysitting schedule. So with us and three other families, we only ended up babysitting one night a month for three hours. True, it was 15 kids, but for three free date nights it's TOTALLY worth it. We even had some fun on our babysitting nights. We would do playtime, then a craft or outdoor activity, then a snack, and finish up the night with a movie. It was great!!

Heidi