Ooops, She Did It Again!

Yep, Taite has yet another broken bone. Redge and his mom took the kids and Redge's niece to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a couple of weeks before school started. Redge's brother, Jamie, lives in Jackson, so they were having a bit of a family reunion. I stayed home to finish school shopping and what not. They hadn't been gone 24 hours when Redge called and asked, "Guess where we are?" I responded, "The hospital." He was shocked that I guessed correctly.

Redge proceeded to tell me that Taite not only broke her hand, but was on her way to surgery. I called our good friends, the Becks, to see if they could spare one of their six kids to ride along with me so I wouldn't have to drive alone. Paula, the good friend that she is, totally revamped her entire weekend schedule to accompany me to Jackson Hole. Just as Paula and I were leaving, Redge called to tell us the doctors deemed surgery unnecessary, and he would bring home the kids the next morning, so Paula and I should just stay put. I agreed because it was already after 7PM, and Jackson is 5 hours drive. I'm sure the Becks were grateful to have Paula home rather than traveling with me, but they never said a single word about it. They were only concerned for Taite. The Becks are so great! I'm so grateful for that family!

Poor Reece, he saw the whole thing happen. They were out hiking, and Reece was up ahead of the younger kids. Taite yelled to him to wait for him. He turned around and stopped for her. As she was bounding toward him, Taite tripped over one rock, and landed on another. Reece said, "I was right there. I saw it happen, and I heard it happen." Taite's pinkie was perpendicular to her other fingers. I've tried uploading her x-rays, but can't. I'll try again later.

Taite was splinted in Jackson Hole, and casted 10 days later by her regular doctor, who, by the way, has now casted 6 bones in our family. Last Monday Taite had an appointment with Dr. Christensen in hopes of cast removal, but sadly, no. Well, she did have the blue cast removed, but only to be replaced by one of bright pink. Dr. Christensen said it is healing, but it's still broken. She has at least 3 more weeks in a cast, and probably a splint after that.

She broke it through the growth plate, so chances are the bottom joint of her right pinkie will most likely stay the size it is now for the rest of her life. It's not a huge deal because it is just one joint, and when measuring hers against mine there is minute difference. Plus, it is her dominant hand which tends to be the larger of the two, so her pinkies may be exactly the same size. However, if the right pinkie is smaller than the left she is perfectly fine with that, too, because, she explained, "My pinkie will totally match Uncle Jeff's!"

To Everything There is a Season

My mom, the ultimate book collector~ second only to my dad, gave me this book in 2001. I love it! She knows, as do many (especially my Mia Maids from the Grand Canyon Ward~ Courtney & Whitney Fall, Whitney "June" Durkin, Jade & Lauren Ozawa, Sammi Fay Baker Sneed, Whitney Thompson, and of course Emily McIntyre) how much I love the scriptures found in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. (A little shout out to Michelle Bocchino here because she, too, has always found peace in these verses.) My mom's inscription reads, "Lyndee, I've always loved, loved these verses and know you enjoy them, too. Love, Mom"

I had to pull this book from the shelf this week to read it once again as at this time I enter into many different seasons.

First and foremost... I have entered into a season of appreciation for Martin Luther King, Jr. Now don't get me wrong. He's a great man, but I can't see how he did any more for me and my civil rights than did Joseph Smith and/or Brigham Young. I do indeed pay homage to Doctor King, but the hoopla regarding naming an interstate connected street in every major city for the him is in my mind a bit silly, and I think Martin Luther King, Jr. would agree. I digress... At any rate, I too had a dream.

I had a dream that there would come a day that my children's toys would find places where they were comfortable. Places in my children's play areas, far from the adult gathering areas. Places where toys are free to be toys, and free from the threat of being yelled at, stepped on, or thrown by frustrated adults who have no appreciation for such nonsense. I had a dream that once these toys were placed in their own homes they would stay there for more than 3 minutes before finding themselves cluttered about where they do not belong.

I had a dream that I would one day be able to clean one room of my home, leave said room for more than 30 seconds, return and find the room in the exact state in which I had last seen it.

I had a dream that I would experience a period of 2 hours without hearing a single argument from my children, and enjoying silence from the x-box.

I had a dream that I would be able to walk through my home without sticking to the floor, stepping over dirty clothes, be able to see the kitchen counters, and open a pantry door without finding the bag of bread open and every slice dried to the state of being large, flat croutons.

I had a dream that I could wash, fold, and put away laundry all in one day while watching whatever I want on television!

Brothers and sisters, that day has arrived! My baby, my little Arthur, my large headed white child, has entered the first grade! I have 6 hours everyday to myself! I get to choose what to listen to, watch, do, think, say, and find things just as I left them! I am here to tell you dreams do come true! Freedom is a reality!

The school bell rings, and it is the bell of freedom! And I say, "Let freedom ring!" Yes, I am free! Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I am free at last!

Now, for my disclaimer... I love my children. Very, very much! Every single bit of them.

I also find myself coming close to the end of gardening season. Of course there are always things to do for the garden: compost, trim, turn dirt, start seeds, plant bulbs, etc., but with it now being harvest time I see my time outside waning. So, I know enter my favorite season. The Reading Season. My Heavenly Father loves me! I know he does, and here's why. I don't like snow. I don't like cold weather. I don't like being far from my parents, siblings, and extended family during the holidays, but Heavenly Father has given me the gift of loving, no not just loving, but more a ravenous need to devour the written word. So, while the snow flies, and the wind howls I curl up with my kids, Redge, or by myself and read for months on end. Its absolutely euphoric to me, and my eyes roll back in my head now as I just think about it.

In the olden days I wasn't overly picky about my readings, but I've learned I don't have time to read everything so I must be choosy. On my computer monitor is a sticky note which reads one of my favorite Brigham Young quotes, "Should our lives be extended to 1,000 years, still we may live and learn." I want to know everything! I can't learn it all now, but I know whatever I can get now gives me a head start for my next estate. I know this because in Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19 we read, "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come."

So, over the next few months I will share with you some of my favorite readings. I do use the website goodreads.com so you can look at some of the things I've read. It's a very condensed list. I have not entered everything I've read, nor have I yet listed my entire library. I'll work on it, but for now it's merely a work in progress, and I don't have to finish it all today because I've got an entire season to work on it. And, more importantly, who care if I don't finish?

The Garden

Three weeks ago Reece and his friend, Jesse, took several pictures of our garden. I want to share with you all the fruits and vegetables of our labors. (I know~ that was horrible.)

Curious George the Complete Works by Margaret Rey

My friend, Susan, bought this for my oldest son, Reece, before he was even born. All four of my children have loved it, but my youngest, Arthur, is especially enamored with the naughty little monkey (probably because he has an uncle named "George," and my husband calls our children his "Monkeys." Arthur, now in first grade, still loves to curl up with me and this fabulous classic. The stories are lengthy, longer than than the abridged versions available now, but that's just so much the better! This complete compilation of the original versions is absolutely perfect for a rainy day, or to be read over several days. Reading with my kids is my absolute favorite pasttime, and as my kids get older it's hard to find books they all enjoy. This one spans years, ages, and genders. I wish Margaret Rey was still alive so I could tell her, "Thank you! Thank you so much for writing a book that makes my very important job as a mom so much easier because I know how much reading with my kids helps them in their lives!" But, since she has passed away, may she rest in peace, I have only to thank Susan for knowing and loving my family so much, and being wise enough to give us this amazing piece of literature that has now become a family tradition.

Books, Books, Books!

WE NEED BOOKS! Reece is currently working on his Eagle Scout Project, and he needs books! He's collecting books for the library at his school, Rockwell Charter High School, that opens in two weeks. Rockwell is a public school, and serves grades seven through twelve. Because this is the first year we are running short on library funds, and we are begging for all book donations~ including elementary age books because there will be "story time" for younger children.

If you have any books to donate to our cause please, please, please let me know. You can either leave a message here, email me, call our home, or my cell to arrange a time for Reece to pick them up from you. If you prefer to drop them off at my home that's fine, too. If you're in Las Vegas, and you're interested in donating NEVER FEAR! You can drop them to my parents, one of my siblings, or just let me know, and when we're in Vegas for Mo's baby's blessing Reece and I will set up a time to get them from your homes.

Thanks so much for all your help!