A big heart

Trying to find the words to write... Right now my thoughts are for our niece, Rose, who we haven't met, yet. She is 3 months and has a big heart, literally. It breaks mine just trying to comprehend what is going on with her and her parents. She is having her heart fixed today. She is in great hands. This came out of the blue, you never image something like this to happen. I am grateful for our faith and for the power of prayer. That is the only thing I know to do that helps. I have felt the prayers of others, it is truly some of my most spiritual experiences. I pray that Jake and Sara will feel the prayers that are being offered over their sweet baby. That they will have the strength and feel the power of our Saviors love. I pray His angels will be with them and Rose holding them. I am grateful for my testimony and the experiences we have that build it. I love my family and I miss them!  

One 5 year old

Today Dillon turns 5. He has been looking forward to this day for a couple months. He has been so excited to plan his day. I can't believe he is so big! Seriously where did the time go? He got special visitors today. Our sister missionaries and one YW came out to see the farm. He was worried no one was coming for his party, I am so happy it worked that they could come. He keep saying today "it's my b-day and I am the boss." He got a little spoiled! When the sisters got here we made a big breakfast, then played a couple games, took them on a short farm tour, had lunch, came home for cake and presents, and then they were off to go back home. After they left we played more games, the Wii, dinner, more cake, and a movie. It doesn't get better then that! OH how I love this kid! 

A prayer answered

It has been almost a year since Dillon was happy at church. It has been heart wrenching to watch him. Four year olds are not supposed to hate church. Although I know exactly how he feels. Before we even make it to the building he cries. He cries when he puts on his church clothes. He cries when he knows it is Sunday. He cries when we are at the building and refuses to go in. You see the pattern, the kid cries! He is a happy kid but on Sundays. We have been praying for inspiration so we can help him. I had no idea what to do. I only knew we had to keep going even if he doesn't wear church clothes. Only happened a couple of times. Then a new family moved in, they are an answer to our prayers in more then one way. This family has a son a year older then Austin and a daughter a year younger then Madison. He is the new controller for the farm. They speak ENGLISH, not their kids. We all were instant friends. She, Sandra, upon hearing about Dillon decided to go with Dillon to class to translate the lesson for him. At first he wasn't so sure what to think. After the first couple times he would come out of class happy. He had even learned and was excited to tell us. On Sunday, finally, he was happy ALL day. He walked into the building a different kid. Saying "boa dia" (good morning) to everyone he past. I wanted to cry. The members loved it because they have only known him as a sad kid. After countless prayers and our determination to keep going has paid off. Our almost 5 year old loves church again.
I think about this and wonder why wasn't our prayers answered sooner? We prayed for so long for something good, what were we doing wrong? Sweet Dillon was suffering and we needed help. Has this ever happened to you? I am sure we have all experienced this. Where we feel that our prayers are going unanswered. I know I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and does not want us to suffer. Also on learning how this family came to move here I understand why it took so long. Sometimes we are not so lucky to know the why. I understand why we needed to wait for answers to come. Clarity comes after the trial. We need to be willing to put our trust in our Heavenly Father. He is in control and will not leave us to suffer. We needed to learn to rely on Him and on us. To make it through this together as a family. We are learning things in a way I could not of imagined. This is a sweet experience one we will cherish forever.  

Are we really missing out?

It is that time of year where you feel like there are a million things on your plate. Why is it that the end of the school year is so busy? You just can't wait until summer because then you can rest, right? No, then you have all your kids home doing all that fun summer stuff. It is the time of year I look forward to most because I love summer. I love not having to run around. Summer is calm and relaxing. I love the warmth of the sun on my face. STOP! OH wait that is not me anymore. For one we are in fall which means winner is right around the corner. With all that end of the year school stuff, all we do is go down the stairs to the class room. I think about how I should be signing Dakota up for Jr High and Dillon up for Kindergarten. Wait when did they get so old? I would have ALL my kids in school this next school year. I think what would I do at home all day without them? I am not sure, but I would probably follow them to school, at least a couple days a week. These thoughts have been consuming me at times. I have looked forward to that time where they are all at school. I love having them home but there is something about that next phase of life. I think about how we are going to miss taking Dillon to school on his first day. Kindergarten is so fun. And Dakota she is really missing out? Better yet are we really missing out? I get the privilege of keeping my kids under my wings for a couple more years. I get to influence them, good or bad. I am their friend, teacher, and more important their mom. I get to protect them and shield them from the nasty world we live in. We can't and won't live like this forever but for now I am feeling this is a pretty good set up!

 

SNAKES

I have been told we have poisonous snakes out here on the farm. I really haven't been too worried about them because the only ones we have seen are dead on the road. I have been more concerned with the scorpions that are on my house! Until a couple of weeks ago!!!! We were at the learning center doing our thing. Austin comes in while I am teaching, he knows not to disturb me, and announces he found a snake. He was out almost as fast as he was in. One thing you should about this kid, he loves snakes. Always has been fascinated by them and knows quite a lot about them too. He knows what ones are poisonous and to stay away from them, or so I thought. He didn't mention what type of snake it was that so I assumed it was harmless. After my class I went outside and he showed me how he trapped the snake in the corner, he was very proud of himself. He wasn't alone in this, he had Dillon helping also. The snake he captured was a coral snake, very poisonous! I told the boys to stay away from it and stop terrorizing it with sticks. Austin to me "but mom it is just a baby it can't hurt us that bad!!!" ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I should band him from ever going outside again. I thought my words would stick so I went in to hold my second class. When I finished that class one of the employees was outside with the sweet, harmless, coral snake, dead. He told me "you know your kids are playing with this very dangerous snake, they should not be outside playing with it." YEP! I know and I probably gave Austin the look of death.
Within this week we have found 2 live snakes by our house. Now I really don't want them outside. One Dakota almost stepped on, they didn't feed the horses that day. Not sure what type it was but it was bright green. The second was found today down at the guest house. I am not sure the name but I was told it is the most poisonous snake here on the farm. Not too comforting.  The kids were pretty excited about this black snake. Austin says "if I get bit I only want it to paralyze me not kill me." I told him if he got paralyzed I was not going to take care of him, I would send him off and have someone else care for him. I am such a nice mom! He said it in a way that he wanted to get bit so I had to bite back a little to him!! Pray that his curiosity doesn't get the best of him!!!!

Some Celebrations

There are a few things that I haven't written about. Some happened some time ago like Easter and Bruce and Sandi's visit. I want to at least post some photos of these happenings.
We are getting excited for school to be almost over. We just finished the 3rd quarter. June 20th should be their last day of school!! I am so proud of my sweet kids. We will be ordering their school supplies for next school this week. I want to make sure we get them in plenty of time.
We are 6 weeks away from being back in the states. It will be a fabulous month!!
The learning center is going fantastic, it is truly a blessing. Lately when Austin reads with Humerto they have been reading in English for 15 min and then Portuguese for 15. They reading in the Book of Mormon and are in Alma. They both help each other and it is a joy to see.

Here we are on Mother's Day! I hope everyone had a happy day. I am grateful I am blessed with 4 wonderful children and  my 3 moms who I look up to and all my grandmas, aunts, sisters, cousins, and friends. I love you all and miss you more then you could ever know.

We celebrated Spencer's b-day!!! I feel so blessed to be married to Spencer!


Sandi and Bruce's trip!

Easter!

We spent in Brasilia with our friends the Zimmermans. We had a blast!! They have a couple of traditions for Easter. One is they find a big hill and roll their eggs down it whoever's egg is together the best wins. The other tradition is they send their kids on a scavenger hunt to find their baskets. Our kids thought is was great and now want to do it every year. We are lazy parents because we don't do any fun traditions. I guess we will have to start!

Just dance

Some of you may know that Dillon loves to dance. He is pretty good too, so fun to watch. Somehow he got all the dancing genes while the other 3 were left with none. I like to dance and I don't do it as much as I used to. Maybe because I married a man who doesn't dance. I decided the 3 older kids were not going to use their genes as an excuse to not try. I pumped up the music real loud and pulled Austin out of his room. He pretty much freaked out on me, just like the girls did. But I made them dance! It took a little bit for them to loosen up then they did we had a dance party on. It was so fun!!! I would highly recommend it.  

Filled up

We had 3 families come visit us on the farm. They are our American friends who live in Brasilia, one family we hadn't met. It was a blast!!! Just what we needed at the right time. Our drivers licenses finally came in on Saturday so we didn't need to be escorted around anymore. Perfect timing! 

We stayed up too late playing games, ate yummy food, rode the horses, slip-n-slide, farm tours, woke up too early, laughed, played, had a blast!! They all left some yummy treats for us. Since they work at the US Embassy they have access to American goodies. How did they know what I needed, I am so blessed. We are going through some withdrawals today. Such a blessing to have friends like these wonderful people. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father who knows what I need and blesses me. I have been feeling lonely and running a little low in my happiness tank. Having friends around for a couple days filled me right up!