Kyara's First Job

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Kyara has needed a job for some time now. But, with the demands of school, she never got out there to do some serious job hunting. And after school got out, she was enjoying a little respite, so again she didn't really hit the pavement. Just about a week ago, Rom jokingly commented that Kyara would get a job when one came looking for her.

Well, last week, a job finally came looking for her! She babysits for a family in our ward. The husband was impressed with her, so he put in a good word for her with the Miners, a family here in town that owns the Dairy Queen. He set up an interview for her, but when she arrived, the owner was out of town. He then called her and asked her to bring in her social security card, and he'd put her on the schedule. She got her food handler's card Monday, and he put her right to work! She's worked two shifts so far. And, she was so embarrassed when I insisted on taking her picture outside of work. I wanted to take a picture with her behind the counter, but that was too much. Compromise!

She's a great worker, and I know this will be a good experience for her. Congratulations, Kyara!

Who Wants to Play?

OK, I got this from my cousin Sherry's blog (and stole the title from Lauri). Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! If you only know me through the blog, list a favorite memory of a post of mine. It doesn't matter if you've known me for years or we are new friends! All memories are fun and welcome!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Don't panic (like I did!) -- it doesn't have to be a really significant moment. It's fun to revisit those small, easily forgotten moments, too!

Gabe's Baptism

Gabriel Teancum Howells was baptized Saturday, July 5, 2008. Of course, our whole family was there, as well as Grandma and Grandpa Proffitt, the Romerils, the Bradshaws, the Davises, the Morgans, the Grays, and Bishop Lunt. Also, Gabriel's friend Sam was baptized the same day, so his family was there. Gabriel felt really happy and he loved getting baptized by his dad. He was pleased and surprised to get a special journal from Sister Davis and Baskin Robbins gift card from the Bradshaws. He was excited about getting his new scriptures.

I've been to many baptisms. I have five children now who have been baptized. I've served a mission in France and seen many baptisms there. I've served in the primary all my adult life, so I've been to many child baptisms as well. I love the spirit each and every time. And, Gabe's baptism was so amazing. He was a little nervous, and his embarrassed glance up at the audience was priceless. As Rom performed that simple ordinance, I felt Heavenly Father's love and pleasure so much! Gabe has been so ready for this. He is such a good boy. I felt like getting baptized for him was less about washing away sins than it was about preparing him for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now, he has that gift, and Heavenly Father can bless him more than ever before. I love that boy!

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4th of July Fun (on the 3rd of July)

When I told Gavin we were going to watch fireworks, he asked, "Are we going to the dirt place?" I told him yes, and he was ecstatic. See, some of the families in our ward have a 4th of July tradition. The Soboba Casino does fireworks every year on the 3rd of July, so they don't compete with the city's display. So, we load our kids up in the car, drive a couple of blocks, and park on the shoulder of the road. We set up lawn chairs and blankets and put snacks on a fold up table. The kids play together until dark, and the grown ups mingle and chat. Then, we enjoy the fireworks show. We get home and have kids in bed by 10 pm. So stress-free! Sometimes people will still go to the park the next day for the city fireworks; this year, our family just stayed home. It's not a spectacular event, but I just love getting together with our ward friends!

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52 Weeks Blessing

It is very fitting that I choose today to be grateful for my country! What an amazing place to live. I am grateful for all my freedoms and the men and women who fight and die to keep me free. I love that anyone can say whatever they like and not be thrown into jail. I love that I can go to the store and have rows and rows of choices for everything I need. I love that I can not only worship God however I choose, but that I can be enriched by others worshiping God the way they choose. I love that the poor in our country have cable TV instead of sunken eyes and naked pot bellies. I love that all it takes to feel rich is to look away from what others have and notice your own abundance. I love that this is a land of opportunity, that anybody here can get an education or make a buck or both. I love that inherent American pride that makes us feel like we are the best in the world, and that belief that we can become the best in the world at whatever we want to do. I love that search for excellence. I love that we are a generous, caring nation, and that we reach out to others in their time of need. In a million other ways that I can't think of because I take them all for granted, I love my country. Happy Birthday, America!

Rom's Water Polo

Romney started water polo this summer. He'd like to play for the high school team in the fall, so we started with water polo camp during the summer. His teammates are a great group of guys. The first day, they asked if he was related to Mitt Romney. He said yes, so now his nickname is "Mitt." Even the moms call out "Get it, Mitt!" during the games. Too cool. A little confusing, though, last week when one of the members of the opposite team really was named "Mitt." (How weird is that?)

Rom's coach is toughening him up and giving him LOTS of playing time. It seems to be paying off, too. Rom is getting a lot more aggressive, and he even got EJECTED from the game today! Woot! Go, beast! Just kidding -- in water polo, when you get ejected, it's just for one play. His teammates do a lot to help him get the hang of it, too. I like it, because he comes home too tired to get into trouble. Very nice!

By the way, I stole this Smilebox layout idea from Suzann -- it was too perfect!

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Gabe's 8th Birthday

Gabe turned 8 on Tuesday. He was very spoiled all day long. Usually, the kids get breakfast in bed on their birthday (Kyara spontaneously started this tradition years ago). Gabe, however, convinced his dad to take him out for donuts. Then, for Happy Home Cleaning School, we all wrote about why Gabe is Great! Nearly everyone said he was loving, so I guess that's probably his best quality! And, he got out of all work for the day, both in the morning and after dinner. Finally, he got to choose what to have for dinner, so we all went to McDonald's play place, where he topped off the day with a M&Ms McFlurry. He was stuffed after that, so we saved cake and ice cream for the next day. It was a great day (and a half) of celebrating why we love having Gabe in our family!

Quote

"I guess I have forgiven us both, although sometimes in the night my dreams will take me back to the sadness, and I have to wake up and forgive us again."
Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

Quality #3 - Courage

Suze Orman, from Women and Money

Courage is the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty or pain without being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen course of action.

"Courage gives harmony expression. When your thoughts and feelings are one, courage helps you manifest them in the form of words and actions. When you are afraid to speak or act, courage helps you overcome your fear. Courage gives you the ability to speak your truth, even when it is not what others may want to hear."

OK, so last time I shared with you how I had felt out of balance, wanted to restore harmony, and was worried about confronting Rom with some problem I was having. Here's the follow-up excerpt from my journal.

"OK, this is so Rom and my marriage -- right after I had written that last entry, I discussed it with Rom. I basically asked him if he'd be supportive of me trying to bring my life in harmony even if it meant 'rocking the boat.' He responded, of course, with hyperbole and humor, putting me at ease. I then brought up the two things I could think of that had been bothering me. He agreed I was right; I don't know if that means he'll change immediately, but it opens the door to my speaking my mind when it comes up again. And, I realized, I don't need to do any digging, because that was all there was to it. Ah, I married such a good man!"

I've found that every time I get the courage up to say what I need to or act how I need to, the consequences are never so bad as I built them up to be in my mind. I'm still working on it, but at 43, I should be safe enough with myself to do this!

Puzzle Me This

We have a new summer hobby -- puzzles! Gabe had a puzzle day during the last week of school, and I had a couple of puzzles I let him take. They were sitting out, so we started doing the puzzles. They were 100 pieces, and we finished them pretty easily. Then, I had a 500 piece puzzle that I had bought at the 99 Cent store. We got started on that one. It was very cool -- I laid out the pieces on our living room table. While I was working, Kyara drifted in and sat by me and added a few pieces. Then, Ana and the others drifted in and out from time to time, adding a little bit here and there. Well, the 500 piece puzzle was a beast! All of the pieces were exactly the same shape, so it was really easy to put the wrong piece in the wrong place. The worst was when we got down to nothing but green -- that took two or three days alone! Once we finished the puzzle, we cheered our accomplishment, and Ana said, "You have to put it on the blog!" So, here's our finished puzzle. And, I went out and bought a 10-pack of puzzles (100, 300, and 500) that we're working through. We are saving the zebra puzzle for last -- if we make it through that one, I'll post our triumph!