Happy New Year!

I hardly ever get on this blog, but I hope to do more of that as time goes on. It's a New Year's goal.
I am so greatful as I pass into 2010. I have a healthy family, a clean organized house (generally speaking of course), my yard is manageable, I have loyal friends and family members who love me. My enemies are at bay and life is GOOD! I have only God to thank for this. I pledged my life to him long ago, but every day I pray that he will use me to further his kingdom, and that I will feel those promptings and DO them! (I often get the promptings....it's the action I tend to fall short on)
I hope all of you who check this blog have a great new YEAR and that come what may with our country that we are found on the front lines defending GOD and FAMILY and the CONSTITUTION!!!

Ephraim Does Mr. Grinch

We just got our NEW Christmas CD "Straight No Chaser" It's so awesome. Ephraim has been listening to it for hours....He couldn't resist this one song especially.....

September happenings

Many fun things have happened in August/September It started with Andrea Perona's Wedding...what a lovely affair and a lovely feast. I really enjoyed meeting all my old CVIII friends.

Then Autumn had a birthday and invited a ton of kids over for a murder mystery dinner..they all came in 1930's hollywood garb and really got into it.

Then Autumn and Ephraim started their horse back riding lessons for homeschool

YEAH!!!

Horse back riding lessons

Autumn and Ephraim got to take horse back riding lessons! It's very fun for them. Except when Ephraim's horse decided to roll while Ephraim was still in the saddle. The teacher yelled and ran at the horse to keep it on it's feet. The horse bucked and bolted, Ephraim flew off, landed under the horse and the horse jumped over Ephraim's head. It took a while for Ephraim to be convinced to get back on...scary!!! But he did it. He also put in a call to Uncle Nathan, rodeo man, to share the experience. It's so cute when Ephraim is trotting in a circle, he loves the feeling and sings gleefully as he goes. Autumn looks "fancy" posting on her horse, she belongs on an English Saddle....

Civil war at Duncan Mills, CA

You know, it was so weird. The boys were drilling all morning to know how to march in formation, "fake" a hit and fall to the ground for the "show" (hundreds of people come to watch) and it was all fun and games, but when the actual battle started I was standing in the woods behind the cannons ( I wasn't in the battle but Autumn and Spring were out there somewhere as nurses) I saw Ben and Ephraim standing a few yards in front of me waiting and watching the big scene before us and Ephraim reached over and took Ben's hand and I just felt a sick wave rise up in my chest and I began to sob uncontrolably. As the cannons roared and the guns smoked and the men and women yelled and manuvered I wept. I was not expecting that reaction but it was horrible. I guess I was also thinking the the civil was happened because our country turned on the church of God and drove them out. And now our country is doing that again and we are ripe for another war on our own land and my children may very well be facing that battle for reals! It was an awesome and sobering event. The weight of that battle was lightened by the wonderful dance held that evening.. The girls were swirling in their hoop skirts and the boys were dashing in their uniforms!

Bugsy Malone Musical!

Well the Windsor Performing Arts Academy was a huge success. Autumn, Spring, Ben and Cousin Keenan had a great time and about 150 people attended the show and gave them a standing ovation. Ephraim had a little cameo part where he skips out on stage from the audience with a GIANT swirly lollipop during the bad guys dance and a gangster tries to grab it out of his hands but he yells and kicks the bad guy and runs off. HAHAHA!
Autumn played "Blousey", Spring played "Tallulah", Ben was "Bronx Charlie" and Keenan was "Dandy Dan".
The pictures speak for themselves!

trek

Autumn and Spring participated in a TREK where the Young Men and Women in their stake reinacted a portion of the Willie/Martin Handcart companies. They had such an amazing experience. The fireside was wonderful. Testimonies were really strengthened. It was amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWV1LklxtXM
See it on YouTUBE at the link above.
Love,
heather