Treking

Jimmy and I were able to go with our Stake as a ma and pa for the annual (every 4 yr) pioneer trek. This trek is for youth ages 14 to 18 so Jessica and Jeana were able to go as well. It was incredible and I don't think words could really do it justice. We have been planning for it since January with walking, sewing and meetings with the last real push being the last week or two.

Thursday morning we were up bright and early to get to the Stake center with our stuff that needed to fit into a 5gallon bucket and meet our new family. Jimmy and I had 7 kids all together and we couldn't have asked for a better bunch of kids. We had a great time with all of them. We boarded buses and headed out to a place somewhere between Elgin and Caliente called Rainbow Canyon where we unloaded our stuff into our handcarts and off we went.

I won't bore you with the details of pushing and pulling, hills and dales. We really had alot of all that and it was hard, but the real meaning was knowing what the pioneers did for us and what they went thru so that the church could be brought west away from persecution.

As I watched the youth do what needed to be done it hit me even harder how important they are in these latter days. They have strenth beyond what we needed to have as youth.

I also was so grateful for what the pioneers did for me. I only had to go a third of the distance that they had to go in one day and by the end of my third day I was glad to know that a shower wasn't far off. They didn't have someone giving them food, or port a pottys every so often, they didn't have coleman stoves or warm sleeping bags. Ya, we were a little wet the last day but we knew the end was near. They didn't know how long they would be going before they were going to be in an actual home with warmth and comforts. The pioneers went truly by faith and although I would like to think I gained a better understanding and greater testimony for all those things I think most of us went by knowledge because we had an end in sight when we started.

All in all the experience was wonderful and unforgettable. It was something that I would definitely do again and knowing what I know now I would do it better from my end. We had wonderful kids, fabulous leaders who planned for everything and the Lord watching our for us.

Surrender?

I heard a song today that made me think about my life up til now. If you would have asked me in high school where I thought I would be in 20yrs I think I would have answered differently than what I am doing now. But this song reminded me of how important what I AM doing is in the whole scheme of things.

It isn't as important for me to be entertaining millions when I can entertain the 6 MORE important people I have in my home.

Maybe it would be fun to be recognized for amazing things that I do with more flair but how much more I LOVE having a thank you from my family and a hug from my kids. How could I ever live without those soggy wet kisses.

So, I was thinking of things that I may have surrendered in my previous ideals and found that I am happier than most could ever hope to be. I think I have followed God's plan for me instead of a plan that my youth thought I should have.

When I was in high school I had a friend, who I still am in touch with and talk to, we were talking about what we wanted to do with our lives when we graduated high school. I told him that money didn't matter, I just wanted to make people happy. Guess I got my wish, most of the time.

In my sock

If your family is anything like mine, we race around on school mornings getting lunches, getting dressed, finding shoes, doing hair, wheres my jacket, did you get your homework etc and whew! So, it is wonderful when I get a good laugh in the mornings to lighten up the mommy mood.

The last couple days Johnston has said owie everytime I put on his shoes. First I thought it was his socks then something in the shoe because he said it hurt in back not in front. Yesterday, I decided to see where his toes were in his shoes and if maybe we needed new shoes. As he stood in front of me I tried to push down on the toe and these tennis shoes are really hard to push down let alone find any toes at times. I said,"Johnston, where is your toe?" as I pushed as hard as I felt comfortable on his shoe and he said,"In my sock!". I was laughing so hard I had to stop. When I finally composed myself enough to go on I asked him to move his toe for me and instead his whole foot started moving.

Sometimes I forget that at different ages they see things in different ways. It helps me to also remember that not only do we need to remember that with kids but everyone. Sometimes we say something that is not meant to be rude or mean but it can be taken in a totally different way.

I love the way my children make me laugh and smile and the simple things.

M & M's

You may be thinking at this point, "Wow, alot must be happening in the Skinner house, look how often she is writing on the blog!." To be perfectly honest this was to fun to pass up and since this is sort of like a journal of sorts, I wanted to share the M&M name in our home.

Last night as we were having dessert, yes our kids have dessert almost every night of some type and no I don't make it every night (can you say store bought cookies), the kids decided to have candy. Jeana came up with the name of Merry Mormons for M & M's and I just thought it was a cute way to say it and wanted to share with the rest of our family and friends. Feel free to use it, no trademark.

Copycat

So, a dear friend of mine, who is an INCREDIBLE blogger, got a new camera and posted a picture of her daughters eye on her blog. That got me thinking. I LOVE the color of James' eyes, not only is he the only one that doesn't have straight blue eyes but they are more a green/blue and so pretty. I tried to get some pics of his eyes like she did her daughter but found that Jimmy did a much better job at it which stands to reason since he has taken over 2,000 soccer pics with it in the last 4months. So, being the copycat that I am, I wanted to post a picture of James' eyes too. Hope she doesn't mind, and if she does I will apologize later with gummy bears and Jazmins or maybe BBQ. Thanks for the idea.

Sleep Reading

We have been trying really hard to read scriptures in the evenings with our kids. And up until the last couple days it has been sort of difficult getting Johnston to participate, however; we found a set of missionary scriptures and gave them to him and that is all it took. He can't wait to read scriptures now and really was excited to go to church and take them with him.

Normally with Johnston, we have him repeat after us a scripture. We use to have him say the "And it came to pass" but he got to the point where he wanted more. The other night we were reading and he actually fell asleep mid word. It was so cute and Jimmy and I were laughing while still trying to be somewhat reverent. Jimmy even had to finish the verse for him.

We are so glad that our kids are getting excited about reading the scriptures and reminding us about reading them as a family. It makes a wonderful end to our hectic days to spend some good time together.

Lose Something

Well, we've been in our house 6 months and although I'm pretty sure I have gone thru all the important boxes, those that are mine, I still have some stuff I can't find. I know I had them when we moved. I know I didn't give them away with the mounds of stuff I did give away while packing and moving. But still, the lost thing cannot be found. I have resorted to making one of them myself and my daughter of course had to point out that once I make it I will probably find what I am looking for, thanks Jeana. Oh, and all those Christmas cards that got out late, lost my addresses and found them in January. Surprisingly, my mind is basically still intact which is a good thing with everything going on in our lives. Let me give you a quick synopsis.

Jessica and Jeana finished the high school soccer season (we just got home from their banquet) and are now ref-ing for league as well and Jeana playing still on league with Ohana. The week isn't quite as busy for them but boy saturdays *whew*.

Jillian is playing not only league ball but is on the O'Callahan middle school soccer team, playing alto sax in school and piano out of school and still likes to go to the elementary school and help her old teacher out there.

Jordyn is taking gymnastics and piano. She loves them both and can't wait to practice both.

James is taking Karate and is having a blast. He has the best teacher and with it being at the rec center I have the best of both worlds. He keeps practicing at home and I think we have found his passion.

Johnston is as busy as ever. He waits by the door for his older sisters to get home and has them all wrapped around his little finger. He says some of the funniest things and has a ton of energy that I just wish I could bottle up.

Jimmy is still coaching and healing from his ankle injury. He loves coaching his girls and can't wait for games. Right now he is counting down til James is in scouts and he can do all the scouting stuff with him.

And I am just keeping busy as you can plainly see. Still looking for things that I have lost in the move that I know are still somewhere in this new home. Not only that, upon looking in our attic (something we did just recently) we found boxes and boxes of stuff that was just left here from the other occupants. Like I don't have enough of my own stuff to go through they left me theirs too.

But even with all that is lost, I am glad we are here at this home at this time. I feel like this is the place and like we've lived here for years already (even if the backyard is still dirt).