Not As Expected

 I went to bed last night wondering if we would get the 3-5 inches of called for snow.  Hoping that we wouldn't.  We had a busy day scheduled at Mid-Ohio with 4 children coming in to have a play-based assessment.  They are hard to schedule.  So when I  could hear the traffic driving by my bedroom window at 6:15 this morning.  I knew it was not what I expected, that we had less snow.

 Mind you, we had enough that I had to brush off the car before I could make the trek to Ashland.

 As I drove down the beautifully snow covered back roads on my way to Hawkins Market before work.  I could not stop smiling and thinking just how beautiful the snow was.  The thick, heavy flakes coated the trees and were just beautiful.

It was not all that I expected.  I made my way across the backroads to Hawkins Market to pick up cake donuts to celebrate Lillie's 70th birthday at work.  Lillie and I have a spunky relationship at work.  She is our school psychologist and she comes on play-base assessment days to help in the assessment of the children.  Every time we meet she tells me how old and tired she is.  We laugh and joke.  She was so happy with her cake donuts to celebrate.   A lot of things in life aren't as I expected, and most times they are much better.

MN the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes and 1 Moose

 Some where in Crawford family history they gave each other nicknames.  Toby my father-in-law wanted to keep that tradition going, so he nicknamed all his kids and grandkids.  They wear their nickname with a badge of honor.  Kyle nicknamed our kids too.  Kota, is lovingly known as the moose.  He was always big for his age when he was little.  He even is an inch or so taller than his dad.  Anyhow the Moose stuck.

We did a major cannonball run with his last weekend.  A long exhausting trip.  We left for MN after my parent teacher conferences 2/23.  We headed northwest trying to beat a major snow storm that was going to hit the upper peninsula of Michigan.  At 7:30 pm we began our 19 hour quest in two vehicles bogged down with 22 years of accumulation and one canoe strapped to the top of Kota's car.

Our night owl son only made it until about 10:30 when mom had to take over driving.  (He thought he'd be able to drive until about 4 am. Ha!)  We took one whole family snooze at about 5 am for 30 minutes.  When we left at about 5:30 the sunrise was just coming up.  So running on less than an hours of sleep we resumed the quest to Klayton and Trisha's house where Kota is going to be living.

 

We made it at 2:00 Ohio time on Friday.  Kyle and I helped him unload with the help of Tricia and Kaleb.  Even little Kenzie and Kooper helped carry things upstairs to his new room.  We visited awhile then went to Robin and Toby's house to crash.  We were dog tired.  We took a couple hours snooze and enjoyed dinner and conversation with "the old people" and Kota.

 The plan was to get back to Klayton and Trisha's house to help Kota organize his room before half of the family came to visit Kyle.  When we got there to organize we were told no.  He didn't want help.  He'd do it himself when he felt like it.

 So, I swallowed my frustration and just said ok.  What do you do, he is 22?

 So we visited with Trisha and the kids while we waited on everyone to show up for a lasagna lunch.

 They trickled in, we had half of the family here to make it easier on one host.  We visited the other half that evening.

 It is great to see the nieces and nephews.  Brothers- and Sisters-in-law all came and chatted.

 So many Crawfords, all with a nickname...I can't ask for a more loving family to leave my first born with.

Mabel is the youngest at just 1 years old.  She won't be the youngest for long, two of the sisters-in-law are expecting, one boy in April and a surprise due in May.  That will put Robin's grandkids totaling in at 25.

I was so tired that I forgot to take pictures that evening at the other 1/2 party.  Such a big family, so
much love shown.  I feel like I left a piece of my heart in Minnesota this time.  I thought I was an old pro at this, but I guess I am not.  I left my Moose in Minnesota to become a man.  At least I don't have to wait until Mother's Day to talk to him.

Ponderize

We downloaded the ponderize app a few weeks ago.  It is a free app to my frugal friends, but it reminds me 3 times a day to read my selected scripture of the week.

So what is ponderize might you ask? 

We have been taking turns at our house choosing a scripture of the week.  This has become our adult FHE for the week.  It has been good for me because my phone buzzes during the work day everytime I get an email.  Sometimes it is a reminder to ponderize.  Often I take the minute to read that family chosen scripture and it makes a difference in my day.

Our family has chosen to ponderize these scripture references over the last several weeks:

Ezekiel 37:15-17

Alma 37:35-37

Luke 2: 7-14

Luke 18:15-17

3Nephi 11:3-11

D&C 109:7-9

Moses 1: 1-42

Matthew 22:37-39

Moses 6:53-62

D&C 42:61

They come from lessons we felt the Spirit in or personal study, but it has been fun reading together and learning what each other find important in the scriptures.  We can see the lines each other have gained and enrich our own study.  I've enjoyed this in our lives.  More than that I enjoy when the kids come with a scripture when it isn't their turn, when they say I have one to share tomorrow, without being asked.  It took a long time to get people in the family want to study together. 

Birthday Boy in Training

 I had the opportunity to go to BGSU to do some special education coordinator training.  It happened to be the day after Kyle's 45th b-day.  So I talked the old guy into going with me and getting a hotel room the night of his birthday.

 It was fun getting away for a night.  We went out to dinner and just relaxed without kids and animals.  It was nice to just hang out and talk for awhile.  Kyle dropped me at BGSU the next day for my training.  This one was not the best I've been to, but not the worst either.

 So I got picked up by Kyle and had a nice lunch and we went home.  What a great way to spend sometime, trapping him in a car with me for a couple of hours.

Before heading home we stopped in Bass Pro Shops and did a little shopping.  I told Kyle to pick out somethings for his birthday, but he waited for me to actually purchase them.  He ended up getting some things for the camper he is building for us.  I can't wait to see it finished. 

Cousinly Love

 We got to enjoy our niece and two nephews Saturday.  It was fun having them over after the YW fundraiser.  The energy of younger children in the house is stimulating.

 It is nice to see cousins getting to know each other and share talents with each other. Kayla did Kamryn's hair before church today.

 It turned out super cute.  She's turning into a beautiful young woman.  I remember keeping her when she was a baby, so her mom had a break.  She was very colicky and cried a lot. 

 Kadin is a freshman in high school now.  He is interesting in history.  Boy after my own heart!  He is very interested in wars.  He is really mature and easy to talk to.

 Kolton, also know as, Kole train, was lively.  He really loved our dogs and had them working out.

 They wanted to follow him where ever he went.  Kolton asked, when can we come again and stay more than one night in a row?  We might have to grab them this summer for a bit.

It was a fun weekend with the extended family hanging out.  There is nothing better than family time. 

What Can Happen in 22 Years?

My oldest turned 22 today.

Is it even possible that time can go that fast?

 We've changed a lot over the years.  We grown up learned so much and have lived a rather blessed life.

We cheered and watched and were involved.

We pushed, taught and watched.

We experienced, laughed and cried.

 We bloomed and grew stronger.

 We had arguments, ups and downs.  We tested boundried and picked ourselves up when we fell down.

 We did it over and over again.  What a happy day, when you wake up one day and know that you did the best you could, you loved, forgave, and moved on.  Moose you have been great for your mother.  I have become better because I know you.

I've loved the last 22 years.  I look forward to watching the next 22 and hope to see you achieve the goals you have set for yourself.  Happy birthday son!

2017 I'm Ready

So I've had some time to think about goals and what I want to accomplish in 2017.  The New Year always brings about the opportunity for positive change and reflection.

 At the beginning of the month we had unseasonably warm weather and took a family walk at Byer's Woods close to home.  We want to be mindful of our health.  I have also been trying to do yoga 2-4 times a week, but have gotten sick.  I hope to pick it back up when I can do it with out dripping out my nose while trying.

It's fun when the puppies can go too.

 Kota got a vest for Blair as one of his Christmas presents.  He wants to take her duck hunting when he is in Minnesota.  So he puts the vest on her on occasion, it has floats in it like a life jacket.

 She is cute in it anyhow.

 So the goals for the year are to learn new skills some things I have always wanted to, but haven't made time for.  I signed up for a knitting class with my mom.  We are going to go Tuesday to Joann Fabric for a class.  I'm excited.  I am also planning on picking up my genealogy again.  I haven't had much time to work on it the last few years.  I am going to blog hopefully once per week, but no less than twice a month.  I want to have a journal for myself and this is a fun way to do it.  I am going to take more pictures.  I need to start carrying my camera around with me more, but purchased a new SD card and am ready to go.

Spiritually, I have been called into the Young Women's organization.  So I have a lot to learn again.

I have been enjoying working with the girls, it is challenging, but Kayla is good for me to help me bridge some of the gap.

We read D&C 109: 7-9 (7 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith;

 8 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

 9 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord, that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord, that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High—) as a family at the beginning and decided this was going to be our family scripture for the year.  To build our house and to focus on our personal areas of weakness.  We have been using the ponderize app to read a weekly scripture and think about together.  We each made a list of things we will fast for in the next few months.

2017 is off to a good start.