The most wonderful time of the year

First day of school. Katherine is so excited to be in Kindergarten finally!! She has literally been crying each morning she woke up and it wasn't a school day yet. So finally all her dreams have come true. She has Mrs. Sorenson, a new teacher to our school, but an experienced teacher who really seems to be on top of things. Many of Katie's friends from church and Joyschool were placed in afternoon, so there is only one girl in her class that she knew before the first day of school, and one boy. But she sees it as an opportunity to make new friends. Our Katie is really quite relentlessly cheerful.

Elizabeth is in second grade and I don't know a child more eager to please her teacher. She wrote at least 3 letters to her teacher before she even met her. Mrs. Pritchard seems to be very organized yet relaxed. I think this will be a great year for Liz.

JR is in 5th grade. Because the new school will not be finished until after Christmas break and the current school is too small for the # of students, the 5th grade is being bussed out to the intermediate school where there are some available classrooms. So JR thinks he's pretty cool to get to ride the bus twice a day to and from the elementary. He also has many new kids on his class. None of his friends (all boys) are in his class, and their recesses are weird out there because there is no playground. We are going to make some extra effort to make sure his friendships stay strong this year. He ended last year at the top of his class and has great expectations for this year. His teacher, Mrs. Chantel Browning (formerly Mertlich,) is a former student of Russ', but as she was a great student, there is no conflict in that. (Someday we will run into a disgruntled former student. I hope it won't be too bad.)

Sarah is at home with me. We decided not to preschool this year. Mom just wanted to have some Sarah time. Being the youngest of 5, I think sometimes she really doesn't get to see mom and dad one-on-one very much. She can preschool or Joyschool next year. This year, we'll just have fun together.

Aubrey is back to school in 7th grade, which is a lot like 6th. No dad for a teacher this year, but other fun things. Choir, for one (lots of concerts and activities), and algebra (good thing she has her dad to help with homework!) Her friends are a year older and acting like it. Back to school for 2 days and she wants me to let her wear make-up. The next few years will be challenging!!

Russ, of course, is back to school also. He agreed to take a 7th period this year, which means a little extra money but no prep period during school, so he's probably going to be home a bit later each day this year. His eyes are acting like they are in their 40's (surprise) and he's needed reading glasses for the first time this year. All in all, though, I think the back to school transition for him has been fairly easy.

We are blessed to live where and when we do. I love that I can send my kids to public school in our small town and trust that they are learning appropriate things. I'm glad homeschooling is not a challenge I have to take on at this point in time.

JR "Mr. Monk" LeBaron

I found this entry in one of JR's school notebooks while we were cleaning out his room. I think my son has a little bit of OCD tendencies. Note the date made into an equation at the top. And do you know your favorite colors in order? He's a keeper!

At the end of July Russ finished laying up the wall in the back lot. Then we grouted it (filled up the empty columns of block from the top with concrete to make the wall stronger.) Aubrey and JR helped pour the concrete and they worked hard while the little girls played in the back yard. When we were done working, we had fun spraying the kids with the hose. We made reverse shadows on the wall. The kids called them "ghosts." It was fun to work together and then play together.

Our backyard is looking so nice. Tex's workers are here as I type putting up the canopy over the patio. Russ and I will pour the concrete over the next 3 weeks or so, and then we'll be done. YEAH!! We'll have to have a barbecue and picnic in the back yard to show off. Everyone is invited to come and check out our yard!

Backyard Fun

This is what we had in our backyard before (not at the very beginning, when we moved in. I neglected to photograph that.) This is just after we began work.





Now, after a year+ of hard work and patient waiting, we finally have a backyard we can enjoy spending time in. There are no photos of the patio because it's not finished yet. I'll post it when it is (might be another year+.)

Funny Kids

I threw out a kite the other day, but saved the tail streamers because they are very long and pretty, and I hung them from the back porch to fly when the wind blows. The little girls were out playing with them and Elizabeth says to me, "Mom, I've got the colors figured out. The red is the charity of Christ..." (so far so good,) "...the yellow is the light of God..." (sounds nice)"...and the blue is the wind of the gospel!" What? The Wind of the Gospel!? Sounds like a Rob Reiner movie (see This is Spinal Tap, and their album "Break like the Wind.") Made me laugh.

Quote of the week

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." Mahatma Gandhi

Gourmet Cooking

I had a little 'aha' moment the other day as I was puttering around the kitchen. I was making some dish and substituting what I had for what the recipe called for and I remembered the following poem from a cookbook of mine (no author is cited):

I didn't have potatoes, so I substituted rice.
I didn't have paprika, so I used another spice.
I didn't have tomato sauce, so I used tomato paste,
Not a half can, a whole one; I don't believe in waste.
A friend gave me this recipe, she said you couldn't beat it.
There must be something wrong with her, I couldn't even eat it!

It's a humorous idea, and one we all can identify with. But as I thought more about it I saw a great parallel with how we treat God's plan for us. God loves us and wants us to be happy. He knows the exact recipe that will result in our ultimate happiness, and we in these latter days are blessed to have the entire recipe available to us. It is clearly laid out in the scriptures and in modern revelation - the gospel plan. God freely tells us what to do and what not to do, and if we follow his "recipe" we can achieve happiness (in spite of struggles in life). But how often we substitute our own wisdom for His, like the cook in the poem. We pick and choose which commandments are convenient for us, and leave out or alter those we aren't so keen on. Then, when we find ourselves frustrated and in despair, we blame others or even God for our unhappiness. It's so silly, really, to expect to arrive at the desired result when we choose to ignore the directions. I know that there are many sad/bad things that happen to people who are truly striving. I'm not trying to imply that suffering is only ever a result of our own choices. Clearly this is not the case. However, there is so much misery and sorrow that could be avoided by simply believing in God's plan and accepting His loving guidance. And I feel that if we are following the path laid out for us by a loving Father in Heaven, we can find peace and joy even in the face of great trials and tribulations. I've seen it happen with those who have suffered trials I don't know if I could handle. I watch my brother and sister-in-law who lost a child a few years ago, and I see a couple who have suffered and sorrowed and yet, because of their great faith and strong testimony, they haven't become brittle or withdrawn. Rather, they radiate love and warmth and joy. They are a great example to me, a testimony of the peace that following God's plan and enduring to the end can give. As I look back on my own life and examine my devotion to God and His plan, I see clearly that the more closely I follow His plan, the more joy I find in my life, regardless of the events that are happening. And this joy, this peace, I want to always have with me. So... if I know what I want and know what I need to do to get it, I guess I'd better be more vigilant in following that recipe God has seen to bless me with.