So many blessings...

I can't begin to tell you how many miracles we have seen work in our lives since we made the decision to move here over a year ago. For some reason, we are meant to be here and stay here. As many of you know, we have counted on our savings to keep us going since the beginning of the year, and a couple of months ago... it ran dry. We knew this was coming and that we would have to figure out a way to make up the difference if we were going to stay here. I was trying to get my nursing license and start working, but it took two months longer than I thought it would. Tyler contemplated asking for a raise at his job, but that never felt right to him. We had been praying and praying and fasting and going to the temple for a couple of months to try to get some direction, but nothing was happening. Both of us felt that we needed to stay here, and that every thing would be okay, but we had no idea how. We were growing desperate and very frustrated with ourselves when one day, out of the blue Tyler calls me on his way home from work and said " Something really weird happened at work today." I could not imagine what, and I was hoping it was a good weird. "Annie told us today that she is leaving." This came as a huge surprise. Annie is Tyler's direct supervisor and has been at Fox for about four years. Tyler made the comment that this opened up her position, and he was really the only one in the department who was qualified, and wanted her job. A couple of days later his Department supervisor called him into her office and offered him the position. It comes with a raise! Heavenly Father truly does hear and answer our prayers. He may test our faith greatly before He can bless us with what we need, but he does answer them one way or another.
At one point, we considered (AGAIN) moving back to Utah. It never felt right, but we didn't know if we would have any other option. We worked through dozens of scenarios from moving to another apartment, to Tyler getting a different job, to me working two jobs, Tyler working two jobs, selling our car, but nothing felt right or worked out. Tyler even tried to get his resume updated and ready to send out to other companies, but when he went to find it on the computer, he couldn't. It had disappeared. He knows he saved it because he spent weeks working on it. He could not imagine what had happened and was quite upset that it was gone. Obviously we are meant to stay right where we are and we could not be happier. We still LOVE it here and are excited to keep moving forward.


It has also been a great privledge in our lives to have been able to participate in the Proposition 8 campaign. (check out Protectmarriage.com for info. and the latest news updates). We spent about every Saturday and some Sundays since the end of August making phone calls to voters about prop 8. We got many who responded positively, but many more who gave us an earful and called us all sorts of colorful names. It is an extremely sensitive subject, especially now, but has been since the campaign started. Tyler learned really early on NOT to discuss it at work. I am so proud of the Church however for all of their efforts to preserve the family and protect our rights to worship how we chose. If Prop 8 had passed, churches and other organizations would be forced to allow homosexual marriages, adoptions and other practices to take place on their properties, or face legal action. I find it an honor to be singled out and persecuted for standing up and fighting for what we know is right and most important and precious to our Heavenly Father- the family.
I find comfort in knowing that the apostles and prophets have seen these days and have given us guidance. Elder Neal A. Maxwell gave a talk at BYU in the 1970's that speaks of these conditions as if he was here in person today. Of course, we know that he passed away nearly four years ago. A family member sent it to me, and just this last Sunday at Stake Conference, our Stake President quoted it in reference to the protesting of prop 8. It in part reads:

"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life. This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.
Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive.. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened....Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat.'
--- Elder Neal A. Maxwell

In the wake of all that was happening the week following the election I have to admit that my heart was filled with a little bit of anger towards all those who were unfairly singling out the Church. Protesters stormed the temple grounds and made a mockery of all we hold dear and sacred. Signs and graffiti littered the temple gates and sidewalks. Some of those who contributed financially to prop 8, or displayed signs in their yards or on their cars were victims of harassment, vandalism and even assault. I was a little bit angry and needed to put things into perspective. I had received this month's Ensign- the conference issue and the first talk that caught my eye was by Elder Robert D. Hales entitled: Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship. The talk in its entirety is truly inspired and fits exactly the situation that is happening. It is so amazing! I recommend reading and rereading it. Our Stake President also quoted heavily from this address. Some of my favorite parts are:

...one of mortality’s great tests comes when our beliefs are questioned or criticized. In such moments, we may want to respond aggressively—to “put up our dukes.” But these are important opportunities to step back, pray, and follow the Savior’s example. Remember that Jesus Himself was despised and rejected by the world. And in Lehi’s dream, those coming to the Savior also endured “mocking and pointing . . . fingers” (1 Nephi 8:27). “The world hath hated [my disciples],” Jesus said, “because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14). But when we respond to our accusers as the Savior did, we not only become more Christlike, we invite others to feel His love and follow Him as well.

When we do not retaliate—when we turn the other cheek and resist feelings of anger—we too stand with the Savior. We show forth His love, which is the only power that can subdue the adversary and answer our accusers without accusing them in return. That is not weakness. That is Christian courage.

Experience shows that seasons of negative publicity about the Church can help accomplish the Lord’s purposes. In 1983, the First Presidency wrote to Church leaders, “Opposition may be in itself an opportunity. Among the continuing challenges faced by our missionaries is a lack of interest in religious matters and in our message. These criticisms create . . . interest in the Church. . . . This provides an opportunity [for members] to present the truth to those whose attention is thus directed toward us.

We can take advantage of such opportunities in many ways: a kind letter to the editor, a conversation with a friend, a comment on a blog, or a reassuring word to one who has made a disparaging comment. We can answer with love those who have been influenced by misinformation and prejudice—who are “kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (D&C 123:12). I assure you that to answer our accusers in this way is never weakness. It is Christian courage in action.

I know that we have true disciple's of Christ on the earth today and a true and living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.

I have to remember that God is in charge and whatever happens is necessary for His plan to come to pass.

The true gospel of Jesus Christ is truly my most prized possession and I am proud to stand up and defend it.

I am so grateful for all Heavenly Father has done for us. I do not know why He has decided to bless us so much, but I am so grateful for all we have and I hope that I can prove to Him by the way I live my life and try my best to follow Him that I am grateful for all He does for me.

Happy Halloween!

Finally I am getting around to posting Halloween! Only a week late... oh well! We did have a great Halloween! The Saturday before Halloween we went to our ward trunk-or-treat with our neighbor/friend Brett and his son Ryder. Halle really wanted to be Belle, Donovin was none other than BATMAN! And Ryder was Buzz Lightyear! There were a lot of fun games and treats for the kids. The funniest of them all had to be the donut on a string game. Halle was REALLY good at it and devoured two or three donuts in record time, Donovin had a little more trouble deciding how to get the donut in his mouth without using his hands. As a result, he ended up with powdered sugar all over his Bat mask. He just grabbed it and stuffed it in his mouth after that. It was hillarious to watch though. After an hour of games we went outside to do some trunk-or-treating!


Thursday night we decided to carve some pumpkins. Halle really wanted to make a jack-o-lantern, so we helped her do that. Tyler made a great Batman pumpkin, and Vinny and I painted a lumpy, bumpy witch pumpkin.

Halloween day was exciting as well. Tyler dressed-up for work as Dwight Schrute from The Office (our favorite show!). He won first prize at work for the best costume. He said it was because he didn't break character once during the day. What he won?.... A giant bobble head Stewy doll from Family Guy. Wahoo!!! Halle had school, and they did not celebrate the holiday at all, which I think is a good thing. There is no point in trying to teach kids when they are in costumes and high on sugar. After she got home we went to the local rec center for a super hero Halloween party. Halle won third place in the costume contest! She could not have been more excited! Donovin got to get his picture taken next to Batman, the highlight of his life so far. Halle decided to be Wonder Woman for this party because it was all Super Hero based.

After that, we came home and had a "spooky" dinner of mummy dogs, eyeball crackers, tomato soup and vampire blood (thanks Kim for the recipes on your About.com site!) Halle wasn't so sure about the food. I guess it really grossed her out. We got ready to go trick-or-treating and went with our friend Fraya who was a beautiful little Jasmine. We went around the neighborhood behind us right by Halle's school. We were out till about 8:30, then came back to our place and all the kids watched the original King Kong (1933 version), and a couple of Simpson's Tree House of Horror episodes. They ate candy, popcorn and then went to bed, or tried at least.

Fire safety day!

It was fire safety day at the Fox lot! Tyler really wanted me to bring Donovin to see the big fire truck and meet real live fire fighters and Smokey the Bear. Halle wanted to go, but she was in school :(. Oh well, maybe next year. Vinny had a great time. He was a little awe struck at the size of the fire truck. The firemen were really nice and showed him all of the neat tools on the truck. He of course had to wear his fireman suit, and everyone there (especially the ladies) thought he was the cutest thing in the world (which of course he is)!






He liked the boots for a second, but then he really wanted to get out of them!





The firemen take this ginormous truck out an average of six times a day! And they keep it so clean. Those are real wood ladders and they use them every day. Can you guess the advantage of wood over aluminum?
Two reasons:
1- wood does not conduct heat like aluminum, it does not get hot the whole length of the ladder
2- it is easier to see defects in the wood ladders and repair them before it causes an injury.

Kidspace!

On Tuesday Halle had an "unassigned" day at school meaning they had no school, why? I still don't know, but they have those frequently throughout the year. I think it was a Jewish holiday. Anyway, we went to an awesome kids museum in Pasadena with some friends from the ward and Fraya (Halle's little freind from next door.) We had a blast! It was SOOOOO hot though! It was the first of October and 100 degrees! But the kids stayed nice and cool playing in the water. It is the closest our children will get to playing in a mountain stream being the city dwellers that we are. There is a little rock water fall that the kids love to climb up and down and at the bottom is a big pool that they can play in. At the top is a water fall and pool and water wheel. We spent the majority of the day there, although, as you will see there was a lot to do inside as well. The majority of the indoor exhibits are bugs! Donovin loved going into the dark room and looking at the spiders, beetles, and cockroaches in their cages.... UGH! Bugs are not my thing, but he loved it. They also have a colony of bees that you can observe through glass. Very interesing, but there are a lot of bees around outside as a result and unfortunatly, Eric got stung on the arm by one. A worker got the stinger out with her name badge (do not try to pull a stinger out, use a credit card or something else hard that you can just scrape it off with) and he did not even cry. What a trooper. At least we know he is not allergic.



Fraya, Olivia and Halle having a ball giggling together and being girls!




Eric and Donovin, two of the cutest little guys in the world!




Any time we go anywhere Donovin has to have his "tocts"- crocs, "yite mean a teen"- Lightning McQueen sunglasses, and his hat. He will not leave the house without them. I think he likes wearing the hat especially because he knows that means I am not going to do his hair.



Olivia climbing out of the ant hill. I don't think Halle ever tried this because she said it was too dark and scary.

Doing better

I knew it would happen sooner than later. Halle came home from school happy every day this week. She says that she listened to her teacher better and talked to her freinds less, so her teacher did not have to scold her as much, and that made them both happier! She still says that it is hard, but she does not have emotional break downs anymore. I'm sure the year will still be full of ups and downs, but for right now things are looking brighter for our little first grader! Thanks to everyone for your comments and encouragement and advise. I am going to try potty training with Vinny FOR REALS this time! I have "tried" two times in the past, but after cleaning up 6 accidnets in a three hour period two days in a row, I just felt like being lazy and giving up and trying again later. That was about a month ago, so I think we will start Monday, and hopefully I can stick with it! At least we have wood floors. Now I just have to worry about all of the furniture.

Struggles

So, Halle started school about two weeks ago. She does not like it very much at the moment. She misses Kindergarten and her teacher from last year, who was absolutely fabulous. She says her teacher this year is mean and she yells a lot. I have talked with her teacher, and she seems nice, but can come across as a little harsh. I feel so bad for Halle because she LOVED school last year, and now she comes home grumpy every day. She will often just break down and cry and cry. She says that first grade is so hard and she has a hard time paying attention for a long period of time. I feel so bad for the poor emotional girl. She is doing very well academically. All the homework she brings home is no problem for her and she is reading very well. I guess she will just have to keep getting used to her new environment. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be happy to take them :) It is so different to have to deal with theses types of problems.

I haven't posted pictures for a long time, so here are some random ones from the summer...

On Halle's last night of freedom before school started we had a slumber party and movie night on the living room floor. It was so much fun! I ended up in my bed at about 1 am because I wasn't too comfortable. Tyler came in around 4. We watched movies, had snacks and had a great time together!

At Home Craziness

Since we got back from Utah, I still don't feel like life is back to normal yet. We ended up driving home to California with Tyler's parents instead of flying home. We had a great time with them and saw a lot of neat things. After we got back to being just us again, we had to seriously decide what we were going to do for the income deficit we are in when our savings runs out this month. We had discussed it quite a bit before we left for vacation and came up with about six different options that would work, each of course had its pros and cons. After weighing the options and praying and praying and praying about the decision we decided that me going back to work would be the best for our family right now. I have been trying to get a job as a medical transcriptinist since October of last year, but the company I was going to work for didn't have work for me until now. A couple of times I thought it was going to finally work out, but then it would fall through, so I gave up in July and decided to spend the 300 dollars and send in my application for my LPN California licensure. Wouldn't you guess that a week after I sent in my application and made arrangements to get recertified in CPR so I could start working I got a call from the medical transcription company to start work the next day. I was in shock! I should know by now that Heavenly Father does things on his time and not ours. He wants to give us what we need, but we have to be willing to accept it on his terms. So, I started work last Monday and am very happy with the way things are going. I am probably still going to have to work a day or two at a nursing home for right now, but that will be okay. I miss being a nurse and am excited to get back into it.

I have the greatest kids! Last week when I was glued to the computer all day every day trying to get my new job figured out they entertained themselves and eachother so well. They have been playing together all week. Halle has been the greatest helper to me and plays so well with Donovin. She loves to help me clean and that has really helped me this week too. She does dishes, makes beds (as best she can anyway) picks up and helps me clean the bathroom. The poor things didn't leave the house for like three days, and handled it all really well. Things are already getting much easier as far as my job goes, so I don't think this week will be nearly as rough. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to work from home and not have to leave my kids.

It's been a little over a year now since Tyler left to come to California in search of "the dream". It's so strange to look back and remember what our lives were like a year ago. So much has happened and so much has changed. We are not the same as individuals, and we are not the same little family we were a year ago. So many people think we're crazy for being here and having to struggle so much, but as I've said before, we wouldn't trade this experience for anyting else in the world. Tyler and I gained our testimonies by going through those trials. I can't fully put into words what exactly happened to us. I just know that we have been through our own little refiner's fire (with a lot of other fires to come in the future I'm sure) and we are more dedicated to the gospel and to eachother than we ever have been before. Struggling keeps us humble, and apparently we need to be kept humble a lot, but I've also never been happier, and our family and faith has never been stronger. We have grown so much and continue to grow here in ways we couldn't anywhere else.

Anyway, sorry for the LONG post, but I just wanted to express my feelings a little and say how grateful I am for this answer to our prayers even though the timing seemed all wrong to me at first. I can see now that it has worked out for the best just as it always does, because Heavenly Father knows what we need and when we need it.


Oh yeah, one more thing. I know it's been almost a MONTH ago... yikes, but we did feel the Los Angeles earthquake on the 28th of July. It was about 11:40 am and I was just on my way out the door with the kids to go to the police station to get my fingerprints done for my application. I got to the car and the kids all buckled in and remembered I should probably bring some documents with me from inside. I knew exactly where they were and it would only take a minute. What's the worst that could happen? So, I went inside, leaving my kids in the car, (I know... I am a STUPID, AWFUL, HORRIBLE mother), and called Tyler because I couldn't find the key I needed to get into the drawer we keep all that kind of stuff in. So, I'm talking to Tyler and all of a sudden he says, "Oh my gosh! It's an earthquake." My heart froze. I felt a surge of heat run through my body and I was running out the door screaming "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" My neighbor probably thought I was seriously mental. I felt the floor shaking at first, but then I didn't notice anymore as I was running out of the apartment and to the garage where I had stupidly left my precious children to be crushed to death in the car. I don't know how long the shaking lasted. It was over by the time I got to the car. Halle was really frightened, and said that she thought it was a robber shaking the car, but Vinny was just sitting there sucking his thumb like nothing had happened. Nothing was knocked down, or over or even off the walls. There was virtually no damage done to anything in the whole city, so we were very, very blessed. I freaked out so much because I thought this had to be "The Big One", and I was expecting all the madness and mayhem and destruction you see in the movies. Well, at least I learned a lesson and will never leave my kids alone in the car again, even if it is in my own garage! You never know what may happen. I called Tyler back when we got back in the house and he said his building was still swaying about 20 minutes later, but every one was all right. It was a scary experience, and I hope we never have to deal with a bigger one, but the odds are against us on that. It also made us realize that we have some more preparing to do to get ourselves ready when the big one hits.

LiKe PeAs In A pOd!

I never considered myself a "country girl" or considered Newton "country", but after being away for a while I've realized you don't get much more country that this! I love it though. It's so nice to have nice fresh air and beautiful mountain views everywhere you look. Also, it's SO QUIET there! Besides the cows and goats and dogs there's really no other noises. Another thing I love is picking home grown vegetables and enjoying them at your dinner table just minutes later. Is anything more delicious? My mom's peas were ready for the pickin' so we took the kids out with us and had a pea picking fest!

Halle and Carson were super helpers and cooperated very well together. They were having a competition with me to see who could fill up their bowl the fastest.











Carley and Alivia gettin in on the pea picking extravaganza!




Then it's time to shell the peas. It's like my mom said, "It we had to live on our crop of peas, we'd starve!" You don't get many peas for all your labor, but it's fun just to sit around and visit while you shell, and shell, and shell and shell some more peas.



Kjeaton helped out by keepin us entertained and riding the tractor sprinkler.


Carson and Halle very dedicated to the shelling of the peas.

fun with the family

We went to Willow Park for our "Ladies Get Together" that our family tries to have every so often. I certainly hope it becomes a tradition, because it's loads of fun to get together and let the kids have a chance to play and get to know one another.




The crew ready to go! Get a load of all those strollers! It's so fun to have kids around to same age to be friends and play together!

Kjeaton enjoying his snow cone. It was very refreshing on such a hot day!


Carson, Brooklyn and Halle showing off their snow cones. Halle and Carson had to get Tiger's Blood. I guess it sounded the most dangerous.

Darling little Gracie and sweet little Garrett!

Me and my sisters. My best freinds in the whole world!

So, then Monday we all got together again at my mom's house for a pool party and picnic. I couldn't believe the slide Camille brought for the kids to play in. I wasn not expecting it to be so big! It was awesome and the kids had SO much fun! Halle especially enjoyed it. So worth the money to keep your kids occupied for the summer!

S'Mores night!

I'm so glad Carley and Grayson decided to put a fire pit in their back yard (for 10$ too.. you go you pro DIY's :) Summer just isn't summer without at least one campfire to roast s'mores over, right? Mmmmmm.... s'mores!






Halle and Carson with quite a mouth full!