Tucker turns 11

At this time last year I was lamenting leaving California. Tucker's birthday reminded me how he was thriving in Oakley. He had friends, a school system that worked for him, he was enjoying being in choir and athletics.

One year later I am happy to report that my children are still thriving. We all miss California - the wonderful people and the gorgeous weather. I really miss my roses. But, we have found that wonderful people and opportunities are everywhere.

Matthew loves attending Moscow Jr. High and has made many friends. He also received recognition from the principal for his positive attitude. He is doing great academically and loved the youth group here.

Tucker also has found new friends and felt so comfortable in his new school he ran for a school office. He has enjoyed participating in sports, tells us his friends call him a "football legend:, received 3rd place in the spelling bee, and is happy.

Josiah cried every school day for the first month here, but then moved on and has made many great friends. He has a teacher that is able to challenge him academically and is reading at a 3rd grade level.

We still talk about moving back, but where ever we go, I know my children can thrive if they choose to.

Stephanie's wedding

It was like another family reunion. So fun to see Matt's youngest sister married. She is so shy and she was so cute kissing her husband in front of us all and getting embarassed. We love Stephanie!

Happy 90th Grandma!!

I was in Firth to celebrate the 90th birthday of Grandma Mildred Mecham. My Grandma is amazing and doesn't look like 90. It must be because she keeps so busy doing chores around the house, growing her gardens and shoveling snow!

We had a family reunion and party rolled into one. I got to see cousins I haven't seen in years. We got to see pictures from when Grandma was a child. It was wonderful.

Missing California but also Thankful

I have seen a lot of photos of our old house in California lately. I miss it. I miss the four bedrooms, the big kitchen with the family room attached. I miss the fireplace (especially now!) and my own little yard to grow things in. I can't even look at roses anymore, they vividly remind me of my own that grew nearly all year long, and were huge and fragrant and beautiful. And the pool. I know this summer I will really miss the pool. It has been six months since we left, and now someone else is enjoying the things I loved about it.

I feel sad about the way things have ended up, but I also feel a certain excitement about the future and the way things are slowly, but definitively, working out for us. I am grateful we could find a cheap place to live on campus, with free internet and local phone, and a big sledding hill with a playground ten feet from my back door. I am grateful to be together as a family unit again. I know that the Lord has been beside us through this journey, and when you are down the only way to go is up. We are on our way up.

First Snow

Here are some pictures of the first snow in Moscow. My children were delighted to play in the cold stuff. They made a snowman and then a gigantic snowball, almost as tall as Joey. They pushed the snowball to the top of the hill and then rolled it down to see how far it would go. Sadly, it fell apart, not even half way down the hill. But, it's the creating part that is so fun - right?

Happy Halloween in Moscow

We had been in our new place in Moscow- all 1000 feet of it- for about 2 1/2 weeks when it was Halloween. Matt was gone the three days leading to Halloween attending the ASIS conference. ASIS stand for American Indians in Science and Engineering - I didn't get the acronym right, but you get the general gist of things. Matt did get a job offer at the conference so I tried not to complain too much about him being gone on Halloween. Ok, he did come trick-or-treating with us at 7 pm that night, so he didn't miss all of Halloween, just most of it.

The boys were pirates because it was cheap to make their costumes. We left all our favorite costumes in Firth or Idaho Falls accidentally. Eva was going to be a witch but once she saw the boys cool head bands, she had to be a pirate too! My friend Pam made Eva's cute skirt - I don't know if you can see it but it is adorable. Thanks, Pam. Miss you tremendously!

We went trick-or-treating at the Tower which is a co-ed dorm here on campus. The boys played Twister in one of the rooms - they were pretty funny!

What a blessing to have such wonderful memories!

Apples coming full circle

I have always loved Grandma's garden. I remember the pink, purple, and white petunias on the front border with the strawberries just behind. I remember the peas in the middle and the raspberries in the back. There was a little wooden path that separated the garden from some fruit trees, and this path took us out to the big pasture out back.

I loved hunting in her garden for strawberries and peas. My cousins and I loved to grab the peas and eat them right out of the pod, right there in the garden, and then we would look for more. We also loved to eat the apples that had fallen off the tree. Some of my cousins had to have salt with them, but I loved them just as they were. I have no happier memories than the times I spent in Grandma's garden with my cousins.

We got to pick apples at Grandma's house this Fall. Grandma's garden is a lot smaller now. There aren't as many petunias or strawberries, and the wooden path is gone, but some things never change. My children loved Grandma's garden. I don't really remember these apple trees that we picked from, but it doesn't matter. My children had so much fun picking apples with their cousins and I know that these times, with their cousins, are going to be some of the happiest of their lives!