The Parable of the Soccer Game

It was General Conference Weekend. We were grateful that we have a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) System with our Dish Network satellite service, since we were going to have to leave during the morning session to attend Andrew's soccer game.

(As a side note, Ethan was especially grateful since he had been so excited to play Conference Bingo that he had cried to me the Thursday before, begging me to let us "do conference" that day instead of waiting until Saturday. I had explained that there was no way possible, but as soon as I said, "I would if I could," I realized that I could use the Internet to make his wish come true. We looked up talks from last April's conference & pulled our Conference Bingo sheets from their file. He sat & listened to 3 whole talks, carefully placing his own candies on the pictures representing the topics mentioned. I was so pleased & impressed. Here was my son, gratefully listening to the advice & counsel of the Lord's servants, while I cleaned the kitchen. Ahhh. Now, on with the parable:)

Tuesday of that week, Andrew was quickly getting off our reclining "cuddler" and scraped the back of his ankle very badly. He hadn't been able to wear shoes, other than sandals or flip-flops, since his accident. There wasn't even a very good scab on the injury, given that so many layers of skin had been removed & that band aids kept bring the scab with them when they were removed. Nevertheless, Mike & I pushed him to wear his cleats, along with his soccer uniform. He screamed in agony as Mike forced the shoe on. I kept assuring him that the pain would lessen as time passed, and tried to comfort & encourage him to just give it a try for a few minutes. Meanwhile, Sister Mary Cook, spoke from our T.V. screen about the Prophet Joseph Smith's operation on his leg at the age of 7. As she talked of his courage, I repeated some of the phrases to Andrew to give him strength. Finally, before I could give in to my heart's desire to end the obvious discomfort of my son, Mike whisked him away to the game, claiming that he should at least go to cheer on his teammates.

I readied myself & the other kids, grabbed the Gatorade, which has become a sort of "magic drink" to keep Andrew going through games he's not so sure about, & headed to the field. I was pleased & surprised to see Grandma & Grandpa Slade there, watching from the sidelines. Mike told me that, although Andrew was currently not on the field, he had participated in the practice drills before the game. Then, after some encouragement from all of us present, and some comfort from Grandma, who told him it was okay if he chose not to play, Andrew went over to his coach and said he was ready to try.

As the boys got into positions, before the whistle even blew for the quarter to begin, our family was loudly cheering, "Yeah Andrew! Good Job! You can do it, Andrew!" I wonder what the other spectators must have thought of our cheers for one who was merely standing on the field, but I didn't care. I was so incredibly proud of my boy for not quiting before he really gave it a try. He played the whole quarter. He didn't just limp along in the back of the group, though there was some limping involved. He actually got right in there after the ball! He blocked a few good kicks from the other team, & he even came close to making a goal himself. Alex & Ethan cheered loudly for their brother, along with us, which made those around us comment on how cute it was. I'm not sure Alex understood why this game was so different than the others, but he recognized for the first time that we were all there to support Andrew. By the end of the quarter, though, Andrew's pain overcame his enthusiasm for the game. He told his coach he couldn't play anymore, & came over to us.

Mike got to him first, telling him how proud he was of his choice to play & reliving his "good moves" with him. As Andrew came toward me, his face was sad & he immediately began explaining that he just couldn't keep playing. I could tell he thought I would be disappointed in him for giving up now. And yet, the truth was I could hardly speak over the lump in my throat from the pride I felt in him for his efforts. I told him it was okay, but he wasn't really hearing me, so I made him look in my eyes as I told him again that it was okay & that I was more proud of him than I could even find the words for. I hugged him tightly and let my tears escaped my eyes. Then I knew he believed my, for I caught him smiling.(Here's Andrew smiling with his friend & teammate, Sam E.)

We helped him to a chair by Grandma & Grandpa. He took off his cleat & showed them the reason for his distress. His wound was indeed bleeding once again from the stress he'd put it through. We cheered for his teammates as we watched the rest of the game, and then left.

Now, there are three main lessons our family has gleaned from this experience. These lessons were felt on that day, though they didn't really become solidified into words, for me, until the following Tuesday when we were asked by a homeopathic specialist to try a sugar-free diet for a month. I have contemplated the theory of "sugar-free diets" in the past (Mike suffered through one as a child. I can't remember how long, but it was much longer than a month - it was their lifestyle then.) I have always come to the conclusion that, while they are probably good for those who can do them, I was not one of those people. I could never be successful at such a thing, & neither could my family. And yet. . . As Jennie, the specialist, made the suggestion, I felt something, which I recognize more & more to be the Holy Spirit, urging me to consider it. Through the "Fight or Flight" panic that I felt as I thought of what it would be like to live "sugar-free" for a whole month, came the words of the three lessons from what I now call the Parable of the Soccer Game. #1 Do not Quit before you Try. #2 Give it your Very Best Effort, despite the discomfort. #3 When you've honestly given your very best try, when it becomes more than you can continue to do, then it's Okay to Be Done.

Each time I repeat these three principles, I feel the Spirit confirm the truthfulness of them to me once more. I agreed to try the sugar-free diet (which, through rule #3 has become more of a Diabetic - Carb counting, Sugar-substituting, sugar avoiding - Diet), and I used these three lessons to invite my children & husband to support me in this venture. Gratefully, they have all agreed to submit to it. The kids were even excited about it, . . . until the first breakfast without any sugar.

Admittedly, it hasn't been easy. But I have felt encouraged, lifted, & supported in so many ways. I have felt that this experience will not just be about our health. It will be a way of becoming more united, cheering each other on through the difficult times & working together toward a common goal. It will be evidence we can draw strength from that We Can Do Hard Things, with the Lord's help. Both Andrew & Ethan have turned down treats offered when they were away from home. I could just burst with the joy they are bringing to my heart through their obedience! Andrew denied himself one Pringle chip, even though he checked & the package said there was only 1 gram of sugar per serving. I gave him a sugar-free candy for that one! Ethan not only told his buddy Elliott that he could eat their preschool treats in front of him- a Twinkie & a Blow-Pop - but tonight he asked to make graham cracker & frosting treats to take to neighbors, though he knew he could not even lick his fingers when the frosting got on them. We made them & he was true to his word. I was only able to resist because of his determination.

It is an answer to many different prayers I've said: "Please help my kids to eat better;" "Please help me to set a better example of eating better;" "Please help us all learn to try new foods & to actually like them;"(we'll have to wait & see about that last part! LOL!) Anyway, I am grateful to have experienced the Parable of the Soccer Game. I am grateful for the lessons I am continuing to learn & for all those who have been supportive of me in following the guidance I have received. The past four days have been a challenge. I honestly don't know if we can make it to Halloween (well, the Saturday before, since Halloween is on Sunday this year.) But, I know I'm not alone. We're not quitting until we've tried. We're going to give it our best shot, cheering each other on, even when it's really hard. And we will be pleased with whatever we're able to do.

This is a video of Andrew's game today. He's still in some pain, was still reluctant to play, but still did a great job!

Longest Saturday Ever

Last Saturday was Awesome! It was as if there were hours on end to fill with activity upon activity. The day began with breakfast in bed, brought to Mike & I by our thoughtful boys (with a little help from us as we took turns leaving the bed to help get table trays, open Pancake & Sausage on a Stick wrappers, or fetch the syrup, and then obediently returning to the covers to await our meal).

Following a little wrestling on the bed, we all dressed and began our monthly family clean of the whole house (on most Saturdays, regular chores are the kids' only "Saturday Work," but once a month, thanks to the blessed motivationsl efforts of my dear husband, we can squeeze out them a little more help). We wrote four rooms & one free-time on slips of paper in a small container. We all worked in whatever room we drew for 15 minutes, then moved on to discover our next area to clean. Ethan & Alex (well, mostly Ethan) were willing & helpful from the beginning, but Andrew required a little more "encouragement." Mike acted out a phone call to Grandma Slade, explaining that Andrew may not be able to attend the scheduled Grandma Date that day, unless his attitude changed. (It may have been a stretch of the truth to fake the call, but if his attitude hadn't changed, Mike & I were agreed that a call to Grandma would indeed be made.) Luckily, with a little help from Simon & Garfunkel's song, "It's All Happening at the Zoo," Andrew decided to pitch-in witih the rest of us.

It felt so good to have a nicely clean house, that Mike & I were each inspired to complete other projects. I shuffled a few things on the shelves in the playroom so as to be able to fit my craft supplies in that closet - a project I began about 4 months ago & never finished. Mike researched & purchased the necessary materials to then build a compartment to house our various routers & modems for the computer. It's wonderful to have them all organized in one place now!

Andrew did indeed go with Grandma Slade to see the new movie "Alpha & Omega," along with his cousin, Jase. They got ice cream afterward and returned home around 2:30 p.m.

Alex went shopping with Mike & came back asleep. Ethan's friend, Brianna, called & came over to play. While the two of them were playing inside, I folded laundry & sorted through a pile of papers as I watched the movie "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (It was okay, but nothing special & geared toward an audience older than my boys, yet younger than I. I did not appreciate the usage of the Lord's name in vain, however. I wish we had a TV Guardian.) While the two 4-year-olds were playing outside, I weeded much of my flowerbed in back & my "bushbed" in front.

Around 3 p.m., Mike & I ended our projects, sent Brianna with her sister who had come to retrieve her, and readied everyone for Andrew's soccer game. Andrew had escaped to his friend, Kyler's house, for the 1/2 hour between his movie date & game. I took a shower & then brought him home. And then we left. Oh, Mike also managed to squeeze in a quick mowing of the front yard, too - Alex was not to be disappointed!

Andrew's game went well. He's improving in his skill and interest in the game. He much prefers to be an offensive player, rather than a defender, but he's very good at getting the ball out of bounds to force a corner kick, as his coach has taught him to do. This game he did a better job of staying on his feet a little more. Last game he slid into every kick he made, putting his face about where every other player's feet were. Luckily, no injuries resulted.

After the game we returned home, threw Chicken Pot Pies in the microwave to have for dinner, along with bananas, yogurt, & carrots (so the picky ones could find something on the table they would eat). About the time we were going to sit down, Andrew's friend, Ethan B., called to remind him about the Late Night he had invited him to. I quickly ran him over there. Mike & Alex watched football, Ethan had some much needed alone time, & I called a friend, then spent some relaxing time on the computer, reading people's Facebook posts.

At 8 o'clock, we remembered that it was bath day, so Ethan & Alex were quickly washed before our regular bedtime routine. They were all settled into their jammies, with their teeth brushed & prayers said, when I left to pick up Andrew. He was very cooperative with getting right into bed, despite the amount of s'mores he'd eaten & games he'd played that had him rather hyped up!
Ahhh. With the kids settled into bed, Mike & I relaxed a little on our own & then watched a show together before turning-in ourselves. It had been a wonderfully productive & fun day!

Super Labor Day Weekend

We had tossed around the idea of going camping at South Fork again, but it proved to be too much, especially since our tent is in need of repair before it can be used again. So, instead, we spent Saturday afternoon at South Fork. Mike & I had promised the kids that we would return sometime during the summer, & this would likely be our last chance.

The main attractions at South Fork, for our kids, were the Landslide hill and the cave. Andrew was a little disappointed, this time, because he's worn flip-flops (which were necessary for our other plans) and therefore couldn't climb the landslide as high as he'd been able to back in May. He did get pretty high, though. Coming down is half the fun.

The cave was next. The main reason we'd promised a return trip to South Fork was so the boys could go into the cave when the water wasn't so high & so cold as it was in May. The water was still VERY cold! It took about three tries to get their feet used to the cold enough to endure walking all the way across to the dry part in the cave, but Ethan & Andrew did it! I was proud that they were so determined to do it! Mike, of course, was tough enough, but I chickened out - all in the name of staying with Alex, who also wasn't quite tough enough yet either.

Mike had carried Alex, who had regular shoes & socks on, halfway in & back out again. But, as soon as our backs were turned to help the other boys make another try, Alex trudged right into the water anyway. So, off came the shoes & socks. Why didn't we think of that in the first place?

Though it was a little excursion, the boys were sufficiently impressed with the cave Mike adored in his childhood.Tubing down the river was the part Mike & I were most excited to introduce to them. One of the embarrassing moments of my life is when we were engaged & Mike took me tubing here on the 4th of July. I hadn't been tubing down a river in many years, so in my mind, tubing always meant going down a snow-covered hill. As we had gotten ready, I asked Mike if he though there'd really be snow up there in July. He'd said that yes, there usually was some at the tops of the mountains there. I was a little confused when he asked if I was wearing my swimsuit, & he was a little confused that I was wearing long pants. I quickly changed, thinking that it was a very hot day, so the snow would probably feel good to me, but I still didn't understand what we were really doing until we were almost there & Mike shared stories of past times he'd been tubing there with his cousins & family. The light went on, & we had a good laugh as I admitted my mistake. I shared that story with the boys as we were on our way.

We saw many other tubers as we got ourselves all ready. The boys were all very excited by the time it was their turn! Alex hung out with me while Mike took the big boys for the first trial run. They loved it & hurried back for another go.
We'd invited Uncle Levi to join us at the last minute. He was already spending time with some friends, & they all decided to join us. When Levi showed up, I had him take Alex down for a turn. I had to take my last few pictures & then put the camera away before I got a turn. We hiked up further than before to take one long ride down. One of Levi's friends' tubes popped on some branches, & Levi traded tubes with me so I could balance better with Ethan on my lap. Ethan & I had a scary moment when the current forced us under the branches along the bank, but luckily we recovered & were able to keep the tube from getting popped. Some parts were very shallow, which meant sore bums for the adults, but other parts were just right! We even enjoyed a couple "rapid-like" parts, & no one fell off their tubes! Overall it was a great activity!

That night, as I was putting Ethan to bed, he told me, "Thanks for riding in the tube with me! You're so fun to be with. I'm glad you're my mom!" He also gave me lots of hugs. Those are the rewards of parenthood! I love my sweet Ethan, & all my adventuresome boys!

Sunday we rested, as was appropriate for the day.

Then, Monday morning we joined the whole Slade family for a hike up Strong Canyon. Grandma had been working with a trainer & figured she'd be able to do a 1 mile hike. We went a little further than that, since Jase had done this same hike in Scouts & wanted to show us some cool things.

There was an enormous pile of straw & loose dirt that begged to be climbed. So, we obliged. Aunt Kathie & Uncle Henry made several trips up & down, assisting climbers as needed.

Shoulder-rides were once again a necessity, which meant that a picture of them was also pertinent. I carried Brooklyn, Will carried Braxton (until he chivilrously traded me), & Henry carried Alex.

One of the cool things Jase showed us was this old car that had wrecked here years ago. there was another was nearby that was more of a pancake than a car.

All the kids loved to climb on the rocks, too. Heidi & I just had to hold our breath & be grateful when no one fell off!

Our day together didn't end there. Sept. 6th is also Uncle Levi's birthday! For his birthday present he had requested that everyone help him with some projects at his house. "That's not a very good birthday present," Andrew responded when we told him what we were there to do. The kids were initially too tired from the hike to willingly help. But, after a break, which included some playing of the Wii & some snacking on grapes, they all did a wonderful job at helping!

Uncle Henry used a chainsaw, while Will, Levi, & Dale pulled on a long tethered rope to take down the trees that were causing damage to Levi's roof. They also helped repair some of the damage on the roof.

The trees were then sawed into smaller pieces, which the little boys (and the big kids, for a while) helped to sort into piles. Alex & Braxton were inescapably drawn to the power tools, but it was a bit loud for them.

The big kids helped with other projects too! Jase helped trim the overgrown bushes in the back, while Andrew, Brooklyn & Ethan carried the branches into a neat pile. Heidi was overseer for the kids, and helped sort the wood from the trees once the kids were done with their part. Mike used the hedge trimmer to get more of the bushes, and used the "lawn-mower-trimmer" on the grass.

I weeded the front flower bed & some between the landscape rocks. Brooklyn & Ethan helped me for a bit with the flower bed. After all the hard work, we decided to stay to play too. We were treated to Subway for lunch. Then Janice took the youngest ones for a drive & a nap, while the other kids found ways to entertain themselves. Mike & Will spent time studying Java, to prepare Will for his upcoming job interviews, & the rest of us played Levi's German version of Settlers of Catan (the picture of which accidentally got deleted - oops!). Afterward, Kathie & Henry bought us pizza for dinner. All in all, it was a terrific day! A terrific weekend!

The Power of the Lawn Mower

Alex LOVES lawn mowers! He waits all week to mow our lawn with Daddy's lawn mower, despite mowing it several times during the week with his own toy lawn mower. He likes to find who is mowing their lawn & watch them, if he hears a lawn mower running. If we go on a walk, he notices not only the lawn mowers in any open garages, but also if the owner's lawn has been mowed recently. If their lawn is a bit too long, according to his calculation, he says, "We should give them a service." (That's thanks to a few opportunities Mike has had to mow a couple lawns for others - complete heaven for Alex to be able to mow more than just our front & back lawns in one week.)

For our family pictures (which I still need to post on here), we could not get him to smile for anything. Finally, Mike thought to start talking to Alex about lawn mowers. He perked right up, & we got a few good smiles out of him.

In sacrament meeting, we've learned that the best way to keep Alex somewhat still, for at least a little while, is to draw lawn mowers, "lawn-mower-trimmers" (grass trimmers), hedge-trimmers, riding lawn mowers & (since a service day at Uncle Levi's, when Alex witnessed his first real one:) chainsaws. We also draw "the shed" to put it all in, & the gas container "to put gas in it to make it go loud." This is the best use of the power of the lawn mower obsession yet. Unfortunately, it doesn't always last the entire meeting, & Alex still needs to be taken out for loud or unruly behavior, at least once each week.

I hope Alex is still this excited about mowing the lawn when he's 8 & can start helping to actually mow the lawn, rather than just watching Dad do it!

The Best 10 Years of My Life!

This post comes to you a day later than I had intended, but I want to share some of my thoughts & our celebration surrounding the joyous occasion of our 10th Anniversary!

When I was 12, I told myself that I wanted the man I would marry to have known me for 6 years before we were wed. It wasn't until after I had accepted my Sir Michael's proposal that I remembered my promise to myself. I added it up, and by August 10, 2000, Mike & I had known each other for 5 1/2 years. That was pretty darn close to my goal, and just underlined the feeling I already had that he was to be the perfect man for me!

The past 10 years truly have been the best years of my life, by far! Sharing daily joys & sorrows, troubles & wonders, with my best friend. Overcoming humbling challenges of my two years of teaching through his support & love. Riding the waves of morning sickness together, throughout 3 pregnancies. Accepting the "call" to move our little family 2,000 miles away from everyone & everything we knew, only to grow closer & rely more on one another. Gratefully returning to our home state, while sorrowfully leaving behind all our new loved ones. And continually learning new ways to serve & love & guide our children & ourselves toward paths of righteousness/happiness. It has all been marvelous!

I am amazed at the completeness of Mike's love for me. I am so filled with flaws and weaknesses, yet his love for me is undeniable. I can only hope to one day feel as if I have done enough to show my love for him as he has done to show his love for me.

To celebrate this significant anniversary, Mike not only bought me a card & a large package of Peanut M&Ms, but he also took me away to Cancun, Mexico for a week!!! Ahhh, it was delightful! Here are a few of my favorite pics from our trip: (in almost a complete reverse order from the order we did all these things, since I forgot to upload them in reverse order, & I refuse to go through the hassle of rearranging them - just some of my weaknesses coming out) Mike had a good time hunting fun shells from the public beach.

On our trip to Mercado 28 (which was Mike's favorite part of the whole trip), we bought all our souveniers, saw a bit of a "real" Mexican city (as opposed to the tourist driven resort strip of Cancun), and enjoyed listening as a Mariachi Band sang to us "una cancion alegre!"

I also got my hair braided by a lady who sold her services alongside the street. It was one of the few self-indulgences I had considered from the outset of the trip. While the resort charged over $100 for hair my length, this woman charged us only $15.

These enormous fruit sculptures were just outside the World Cafe Buffet, in which we ate all of our breakfasts and many of our other "all-included" meals. One of the greeters that worked here, Lucia, looked almost exactly like Julia Styles, but Mexican. We came to really like her and gave her a Pass Along card before we left.

Another thing I really wanted to do was to visit some ruins from the possible Book of Mormon lands & people. Thanks to my carelessness in leaving our camcorder in the pouch of the bike I rode in Xel-Ha (the stop before this one), we were afraid we might miss the tour. Somehow, though we left the Xel-Ha park 45 minutes later than the tour bus, we arrived just in time for our group's English Tour to begin. AND, of all the people we shared a bit of the gospel with, thanks to Mike knowing Spanish from serving his mission in Anaheim, CA, I believe the Taxi Driver that took us from Xel-Ha to Tulum was the most prepared to receive it. If he accepts our invitation to listen to the missionaries in his hometown of Veracruz (where my own brother is currently serving!), I believe he will someday be baptized. It was an awesome experience - after all the panic of leaving the camcorder was behind me, that is.
It was at Tulum that Mike heard a man call me "una Guerrita," which means "little white girl." To the man's surprise, Mike answered him in fluent Spanish. As soon as the shock wore off, he said, "Son los Mormones?" (Are you guys Mormons?) Mike said in Spanish, "Yes, how did you know?" To which the man replied (in Spanish, of course), "The only white people who speak Spanish that well are Mormons!" Isn't that great? Speaking Spanish was indeed one of the best aspects of the trip for both of us, but particularly for Mike. He doesn't get to use it as much as he has in previous jobs, and he really misses it. I was surprised at how much of my own limited knowledge & ability came back to me once I was surrounded by it continually. It is truly a beautiful language.

Tulum is a well-preserved, ancient Mayan city. While I was there, I had the distinct thought that it didn't matter if this Mayan civilization was indeed the Nephites, or the Lamanites, or even the Jaredites from the Book of Mormon. Whoever they were, because they were here, on the American continents, we know they were brought here by God. This is the Promised Land. The land that was preserved for those who worshipped Jehovah. (Not that all that were brought here continued to worship Him, but that all who were led to these continents originally came as a result of their faith in Christ.) I am grateful for that testimony born to my heart that day!

So, here we are at Xel-Ha. We rode bikes, without handbrakes (it felt so primitive), through the jungle, to the top of a river overgrown with Mangroves. Then, we floated down the river, under the Mangrove canopy, ending up in an inlet from the ocean, where the warm water & cold water mix (Xel-Ha is a Mayan word that means "mixing waters.")

There were iguanas everywhere. It was so cool to have to watch out for them on the path as we rode the bikes.

Of course, when we went down the river, we didn't have our camera with us, since we didn't want it to get wet. But, I wanted a picture, nonetheless, so after dressing again, we repeated the bike ride to get this picture of complete strangers doing what we did.

The Dreams Cancun Resort: (as seen from it's Tower, which we did not stay in) Our room was on the back side of the Pyramid, which was ideal, since the beach on that side was just a cliff, and therefore not littered with people & their activities.

Our room inspired romance like no other I've ever been in. The next time I am in labor, or experiencing any pains for that matter, it is to this room - in the early morning hours, listening to the gentle waves crash upon the shore & watching the sun rise calmly over the ocean - that I will come in my mind.

To me, hammocks are the physical representation of "without a care in the world!" (The Strawberry Daquiris , "sin alcohol," did much to further this notion.) This trip was truly so relaxing! Knowing that our precious little ones were in such capable & loving hands back at home, we had absolutely no cares in the world for this one week of our lives.

Other ways we enjoyed ourselves:

I joined Mike for Water Volleyball, but I let him play Beach Volleyball on his own while I painted a small ceramic turtle. What a stud!

We tried out all but one of the restaurants at the resort. Mike, who does not typically enjoy fish unless it is fresh trout right from a river, ventured to try "El Pescado del Dia" (the fish of the day). He actually liked it, and even commented that it was the same kind of fish he had seen while snorkeling earlier, right at the resort. My Tilapia was equally delicious!

One of our first nights there, we ate a Caribbean Buffet on the Beach, and watched a Fire & Water Show (But we left before the water part - there was only so much twirling of firesticks & pounding of hand drums that could entertain Mike.) We did meet a few couples that were nice to visit with, & whom we saw a few times over the ensuing days. One couple from Russia, celebrating their 20th Anniversary, were very friendly. We gave them a Pass Along card the night before they left, as well.

I will be forever grateful for this relaxing, romantic experience with my sweet, wonderful husband! It was good to be there, and it is good to be home again with our boys, family, & friends!