Where in the World?

For years I’ve wanted to permanently hang a big map in our house, like the one Grandma and Grandpa Lowe had hanging next to their kitchen table.  As Evan was preparing to submit his mission papers, I decided that I needed to get that map in place before he opened his mission call.  I ordered a giant world map (10 feet by 6 feet) made by National Geographic.  Before I could hang the map, I had to patch and prime walls, and then paint the study.  It took me forever to choose a paint color!  I finished painting the walls on Monday afternoon, all except for the spot where I planned to put the map. 

I had an inspiration for our Family Home Evening lesson that night.  We talked about how Evan would be receiving his mission call sometime that week and would be leaving for two years to serve the Lord.  I told them that each of them will leave home one day and go forth somewhere to live the gospel and serve those around them, whether as a missionary or in another capacity.  I asked them to pick their favorite scriptures, quotes, or hymns to write on the wall that will give them courage to fulfill their missions here on earth.  I started them off with the message found on the sign at the entrance to BYU campus.  “Enter to learn, go forth to serve”, since they were sent to our family to learn and prepare to one day leave home.  This is the final result, though it is hard to read…

These are the messages we wrote:

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.   Moroni 10:5

And it came to pass that I Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord has commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that the may accomplish the thing which he commanded them.  1 Ne 3:7

Go forth with faith to tell the world of Jesus Christ the Lord.  Hymn #263

Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.   Alma 29:2

If ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.   Mosiah 2:17

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord.   Hymn #270

I hope they call me on a mission.  -Primary songbook

I will teach and preach and serve as missionaries do.  -Primary songbook

I love to see the temple, I’m going their someday.  -Primary songbook

And maybe my favorite in Hayley’s cute handwriting:  I am a child of God.  I love Evan and Alyssa.

On Tuesday, armed with thick wallpaper paste and a level, a friend helped me mount the map to our wall.  The next morning, Evan received his mission call, so I finished just in time!  I often walk past the study and find someone studying the map.  I love it!

Creative Corinne

Corinne (age 9) has such a desire to be independent.  She comes up with ideas and carries them out herself, sometimes waiting until I leave the house just in case I may not give my approval.  I admit, my reluctance to clean up messes causes me to squelch some of her plans.  I need to give her more freedom because she has some great ideas.  Here are a few things she’s been up to lately:

Making lemon bars all by herself

Hosting a hot chocolate party for friends

Creating fancy centerpieces for Sunday dinner

Designing her board for the history fair

Trying to beat her own record for lego tower building

Creating her “spotlight” poster

Directing and acting in plays and dances with Hayley

Designing her own Halloween costume—a TV news anchor

What will she think of next??

Swim Team Regions 2014

The boys’ team performed the haka to intimidate the other teams.  It almost worked.  They came in second in Region, but Grant had a great meet and swam his personal best in the 50 and 100 free, and also swam in two relays.  He put in so much time and hard work this year.  As a varsity swimmer he had the privilege of going to 5am practices.  He accomplished his goal by lettering this year!  Can you spot Grant in the back, on the right side?  He chose not to shave his head this year.  Smart boy.

You’ve Been Chopped!

Watching free episodes of Chopped on Amazon Prime has become a favorite pastime in our house this year.  I decided it was time to host a “Chopped” dessert round.  Grant and Jillian were our chefs and Corinne, Hayley, and Brian were the judges.   They began with four ingredients in their baskets:  thawed blackberries, prepared angel food cake, potato chips, and coconut milk.  In 30 minutes they each created delicious desserts for us to try.  I was very impressed with their creativity and skills in the kitchen.  Where did they learn that?  (patting self on the back)  The judges had a difficult decision to make, but finally declared Grant the winner.  Why did I forget to take pictures of their creations??

Friday the 13th

Know what that means?  Turn these kids loose in the grocery store with $13 for 13 minutes to buy their dinner and they come out with frozen pizza, soda, candy, and chips.

Six Kids in Five Schools

It gets harder and harder to take the back to school pictures of the older kids!

Can We Have a Lemonade Stand? Please?

I used to be the kind of mom who talked the kids out of big plans, especially if I thought it meant more work for me or involved trying to sell things to the neighbors.  Until Jillian took charge and worked out all the details and assured me that she had everything under control.  She and her sisters wanted to have a lemonade stand—it was on their summer to-do list.  She requested a list of jobs that she, Corinne, and Hayley could do around the house to earn money to buy their start-up supplies.  She made a list of things to buy—cups, lemonade (it has to be the good kind, Mom, made from real lemon juice because it tastes better, she insisted), napkins, and chocolate chips for the cookies she wanted to make.  The rest of the items I let her purchase from me.

She got up early this morning to bake cookies, and then worked hard designing and making a banner.  She allowed Corinne to make a sign, and in the process I overheard Corinne say, “Oops, I made a mistake.  Oh, well.”  Immediately Jillian said, “Oh, well???  Fix it!  It has to look really good.”

But the best part was this piece of paper that I didn’t find until after they had hauled everything to the corner and set up their stand.  Apparently there was an employee training meeting this morning where the rules were explained to the 4-year old “sign holder” and the 7-year-old “casheire”.  Take a look below.  Does she know her sisters well, or what.  (#6 “All employees who whine or cry loudly will be asked to leave.”  Such a great rule.)

I loved watching these girls set up their stand and wait for customers.  Hayley was so cute smiling and waving her sign at passing cars, even when she forgot rule #2 after a car would drive by without stopping and she’d drop her sign in defeat.  Business was booming this afternoon despite a little wind and overcast sky.  They’d run home to restock the cookie plate or to give me an update on how many customers they’d had. 

They closed up shop when they felt a few raindrops and were almost out of cookies, and hauled everything (including the wooden table from their bedroom!) back home with huge smiles, talking about how to spend their money.  (Corinne—movie ticket to see Brave, Hayley—candy, and Jillian—”probably I’ll start saving for college since I can’t think of anything else I want right now.”)  Can you see how she came up with rule #8?  Purpose accomplished.