Another Farm Project and the Definition of Tenacious...

Early this summer we had a bit of an undertaking...actually that is a ridiculous understatement- we took on a huge project that had to be done at our farm property. We had to install a well, pump, pumphouse and watering system. When you say it out loud or list it out it is hard to believe that it could be so overwhelming. There are just a few things, right? Not so much. It was far more than we were expecting and took night after night and hours upon hours. Cory was completely exhausted by the end of it (which we just finished "for real" today...so it has dragged on for quite some time!) and we really didn't think it would ever end. Our kids spent hours in the hot sun and sitting patiently in the car or even babysitting themselves at home (one evening they were alone for 3 hours while we worked- they had my phone and Ty was asleep). They really had to push through too.

I hate to sound so gloomy and negative- but sometimes life is hard. There are hard things that have to get done and most of the time they just aren't fun- no matter how you look at it! This was certainly one of those times. But you know what, you can always learn something from these experiences and you can always become a little stronger and a little more capable.

Cory was amazing. He pushed and pushed and just kept going. The definition of tenacious is persisting in existence; not easily dispelled; determined. Cory certainly exemplified this tenacity throughout this project. I hope that our children learn from his example how important it is to keep pushing even when something is uncomfortable, unpleasant or just plain hard.

Working Hard...

These two had their second year of their "job" where they haul wood for a widow named Diana. It is a pretty hard thing. They come once a week and take 3 or 4 wagon/wheelbarrow loads of wood from her wood stack to her house and stack it inside (maybe 150 feet) and the loads are heavy and they do it whether it is muddy, snowy and even hot...(yes they still hauled wood in May this year and worked up quite a sweat doing so). This picture below is from last year- it was much harder for them and I helped them a lot more. We actually all kind of dreaded the days that we had to go haul wood. But they were each paid $5 each time and we knew it would be a good experience for them.

The picture below is from this year- they were much more capable and I helped much less this year- however- there were much more difficult conditions thanks to the hard winter we had. We even had to use sleds since the wagons wouldn't even roll in the deep snow. Something else changed this year- I started to look forward to Wednesdays. I felt like I could see their natures being changed from having to do this hard work and I loved the hour or so that we could spend together trying to work a little harder and talking to Diana (I would often challenge them to try and learn something new about Diana and try to hold a conversation with her).

This job has been a blessing and taught (not only them but me) much more about the value of work, money and being polite. I am grateful they have this opportunity!

Trek Sample...

We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to join my home ward in their family Pioneer Trek. We only joined them for an afternoon (although I have a thousand pictures on this post...I can't help it- everyone looked so adorable in pioneer clothing!) but it was such a great experience.

 

It was hard.

The whole group hiked about 17-18 miles in 3 days. Like I said, we only joined them for about 8 hours. It was an uphill climb the entire way. Pulling handcarts. With families.

Yes- babies and toddlers and grandmas and grandpas. 7 weeks to 75 years old joined the Trek. This made it a really unique trek experience because it was so much more accurate to what the pioneers experienced.

We joined the group after lunch on Friday and got right down to work. Cory started pulling since a few of the men had to leave so that meant the kids and I would have to do our best to keep up. 

It was quite obvious that Ellie was not going to be able to keep up and the sun was blaring down on Jase in his front pack, making both of us quite sweaty.  So the two little kids were tossed in a handcart and Brig and I kept walking- hand in hand. 

Right away Brig started to ask when we would be done because his toes hurt (I forgot to switch his shoes and the ones he was wearing were too small. Oops. Chalk it up for making it a more realistic experience.) He was already hot and we were clipping along at a pretty fast pace because things were running behind schedule. 

I learned a valuable parenting lesson on those few miles we walked. 

I tried to "get after" Brig, letting him know that we had a long ways to go and he had to keep going. In my head I thought-  "we aren't going to make it. I'm already having to nag and pull him. This is just for fun and so far it's not. Maybe this was a bad idea." 

Then I changed my methods...I started telling Brig every pioneer story and fact I could recall. He did not complain again. I was so proud of him. He kept walking and when he would get tired he would ask me to tell him some more stories because they distracted him. 

Isn't that how it really is with parenthood- we can either drag and nag our children as we make our trek through life or we can get creative and make things more enjoyable for everyone. 

I needed that reminder. 

Ellie and Jase were quite the troopers too! Jase usually hates being in his car seat if he isn't sleeping but he just layed there and enjoyed the ride. Ellie was squeezed in between buckets and backpacks and she didn't complain the entire ride either. It was hot and bumpy and they didn't really understand what we were doing or why. But they were so content. 

That made me think about the real pioneer children. They were quite impressive! No toy rooms, no movies, no quiet and cool rooms for nap time. Just walking day after day. Children are ao resilient- it's amazing. 

 

I was so grateful that we could have this little trek sample. In those 8 hours, I gained a much stronger appreciation for the sacrifice and hard work those early Saints displayed. 

At one point the men had to leave and the women pulled the remaining handcarts on our own. With all the children and babies. 

It was such a good reminder to me--men and women are supposed to work as a team. That is how Heavenly Father wants us to make our journey. I'm so grateful that Cory "pulls" so much more than just his weight in our family. 

  

I was also reminded of the strength in sisterhood. As the women rallied together- it made the hard work possible. 

Like I said, we were only with the trek for a few hours. I was super impressed by everyone who did it for all three days and even more impressed by those who did it day after day for months!

Now it wasn't all hard work for us. 

We went up the night before and found a rather handsome "maurader" who harassed the Trekkers and made them find a new place to camp. 

They were pretty scary I guess. 

A few kids were ready to go home...and a few others were ready to throw rocks at them. 

That night, we stayed in a cabin. In nice, soft beds with pillows. We cheated. 

When we woke up the next morning we got dressed in our pioneer clothes and hung out around the cabin while we waited to join everyone. 

Cory was begging me to be real pioneers and even told me if we could homestead a place in the mountains that he would bring clean water in by hand each time I needed to use the bathroom. 

I said I would think about it. 

Friday evening, after we walked with everyone we gave a fireside on unity. It was fun to get to speak with Cory and try to think about ways to be unified as we prepared. 

It was also fun to see my sister Sydney. All day long people were coming up and telling how awesome Syd had been and how she never stopped pulling or pushing. We were proud of that girl. 

We were all super dirty and sweaty by the end of the day. I am still sore. But I was so grateful for the hard experience. Hard is good. And I think we all need to be reminded of that every once in a while. 

As we rode a four wheeler back to our truck that night, feelings of accomplishment and unity definitely trumped the feelings of exhaustion. 

I was so proud of my little family. 

I was so grateful for the legacy of strength and faith that those early pioneers left behind. 

But most of all, I was grateful to belong to our church- and know that all the suffering and sacrifice was because of their faith in the Savior. I was grateful and strengthened as I remembered that we don't have to push a handcart for miles and miles to show that same faith every day in our lives. 

Stones and Light...

So parenting can be hard.  Like really hard. Don't get me wrong- I love it with all of my heart.  It is always what I have wanted to do and there is nothing I would rather be than a full time mother and wife. Oh- I love it. But I have mentioned before how three kids has been tricky for me. 

I feel like I have a lot less patience than usual and I get grouchy so much easier. Well this sweet picture of these three adorable kiddos was taken on one of those days.  The kind where bedtime can't come soon enough but is hours away and I have already had to repent so many times for yelling at one or two of them and I was feeling a bit frazzled. One of those days.

We had to go somewhere that evening and I just wanted to take a picture of them because I knew that even though things were hectic and we weren't really on our A-game- I loved this. I chose this. Well it made me start to think...

Something had to give.  I knew this was fairly normal to have chaos with three kids and be impatient and messy and have occasional fights (or frequent fights) between siblings...but I didn't think it had to be that way. So, I wanted to change something. And I turned to my scriptures. I read the story of the brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon.

To summarize: He has built boats for his people to cross the sea and go to a promised land, but they had a problem- they needed light. So, the brother of Jared is instructed to come up with a plan. He finds 16 stones and asks the Lord to touch them and be filled with light that when they are crossing the ocean, they don't have to be in darkness when they are being tossed around by the waves. Read it... it is way better in real life:)

I knew this story is true and that Heavenly Father could indeed touch something and fill it with light. And I knew that we needed light in our family...so I prepared my proverbial 16 stones. I came up with a plan and then I asked Heavenly Father to bless that plan that we would not have as much contention and more peace in our home.  Here were my "stones:"

-We have always done Family Home Evening but we had started to get a little too relaxed about it...I knew that there are so many promises from the Lord if we will be obedient to this counsel and so I wanted to have a renewed effort. We would pray, read the scriptures, testify and of course have treats:)

-I would wake up 30 minutes early each weekday and exercise.

- I would buy more underwear for Ellie (I know this seems silly but her accidents were a huge trigger to frustration for me)

- I would be more consistent about immediately disciplining the kids for fighting...as soon as they start to fight- I try to take away the object of contention and they sit in  a time out where I can see them.

-I have also tried to increase my personal study and worship time. I try to listen to a talk from General Conference when I exercise and read my scriptures earlier than right before I fall asleep so I can be more alert.

-We also had a family meeting where we each set goals that we would work on to try and be happier in our family...Mom and Dad would not yell, Brig would listen and not whine, and Ellie would try to not have accidents.

 

 

Our family is no where near perfect! But I can testify that Heavenly Father has blessed our family with light! We are doing so much better and I know that if we let the Savior be a part of our parenting...he will touch our families- and whatever he touches- lives!

Our Three Kid Groove...

Having three kids was a huge adjustment for me.  It was difficult.  Emotionally and just plain busy! I knew that people had said 3 kids was rough...and I had tried to prepare myself...but it still gave me quite a run for my money.  Early in my pregnancy with Jase I had read an article that stated that moms with three kids are more stressed out than moms with four or even five kids.  I also had several friends that were "concerned" for me since they remember their third kid was difficult for them.

I thought that I would be ready. But that little bundle of joy was born and the whirlwind began!!!

 

I felt like things could go from calm to chaos in a moment.  It was nuts! I was grouchier than I had ever been with my kids, particularly Brig and was so tired.  Jase had acid reflux and so he was a pretty fussy newborn until we got some medicine for him- but until then it made things ultra hard. He also wanted to eat every two hours...that is not very conducive to having two other busy toddlers running around the house. 

 

In my journal I wrote:

"Sometimes it feels like I'm drowning in diapers and dirty dishes, legos and laundry and that I'm constantly feeding someone and then picking up mess after mess.  I literally shower twice a week and get ready and dressed maybe four times a week."

 

I think I may have even had a little post partum from the stress.  Then one day I was pretty thrashed from lack of sleep and the whole parenting gig and we were having some people come over for family home evening (and they were bringing us dinner- so that was nice) and my mom had stopped by for a little while.  She noticed that not only was I not ready for the day (at 4:00 pm) but that my house was pretty messy...I was not ready for guests at all! So she quietly took the kids in their room and cleaned up their room and then took them downstairs and cleaned that up and helped me pull myself together (ok that might be a little bit of an exaggeration but that is what it felt like on the inside!) That was my turning point.  I started to get the hang of things...

 

I still feel like I am much crabbier than I usually am...but I think that will start to improve as Jase sleeps better.  And our house still gets super messy super quickly.  I still don't really get very many showers and most of the time it is after lunch but before dinner that I get ready. And it still goes from calm to chaos in a moment...

BUT

I have realized a lot of good can happen in a moment. 

The moment when the house is quiet except for the hum of the dishwasher and Cory is reading the older kids a bedtime story and I am holding Jase as he sleeps. Good moment.

Or when we are eating dinner and everyone is laughing hysterically as Ellie and Brig crack "jokes." Good moment.

When all three of the kids are getting along and talking and cooing at each other. Good moment.

When we have nice weather and we go for a walk and everyone is just content.  Good moment.

So- all in all. Yes, three kids is crazy. But I love it. I love being a mom and despite all of the chaos there are moments that completely outweigh it all. And Elder Neal A. Maxwell said,

"Moments are the molecules that make up eternity."

 

We are finding our three kid groove one moment at a time!

 

The Two-Wheelin' Kid...

Brig learned how to ride his bike on 2 wheels! And we can't slow him down now! He LOVES riding his bike up and down our little lane...

 

 

To motivate Brig when he was learning, Cory told him they could have a drink of soda to celebrate if he reached his goal...they were all pretty happy about that little success!

 

 

As Brig was learning, we would try to push him and encourage him to go a certain distance or make it to a certain landmark...but it wasn't until he chose what his goal was that he really had success.  He had to decide on his own but once his goal was set and his mind was made up- with a grunt of determination...he was off!

I love that about this boy...if he sets a goal- he is quite determined and super motivated by it!

(Therefore, we have tons of charts and jars and little motivators around our house...more on that some other time!)

 

Parallel to Life...

A couple days after Thanksgiving, most of the Walker family went on a little hike.  Yes, even this 9 month pregnant lady! When I say "little" that word really means that it was pretty intense to the top of the Little Butte.  It wasn't really a walk in the park.  BUT I LOVED IT!

 

I decided to do a little tribute to hiking because I love how it parallels life so much.

 

Every time I go on a hike I wonder why I like this activity or if it is going to be worth it at all.  I have to constantly remind myself (and usually my kids at some point) that THIS IS FUN!

 

 

But then, when you get to the top- it feels so great! I love looking at the great views and KNOWING that it was worth it and it was so fun.

 

 

It is totally worth the racing heart and the sore legs just for the sense of accomplishment and the literal high that only comes from looking over some beautiful vista.

 

 

So it goes with life.

 

 

Sometimes I think we have to remind ourselves of the joy IN the journey and have the faith that all the "hard" is worth it. 

 

 

And then feel the overwhelming sense of joy and success that comes from sticking it out and making it to the top!

 

A Fond Farewell...

On September 8th, we said goodbye to our little house. 

It was harder than I thought!  We had a lot of memories there....

I mean that is where both of our babies were born (well where we brought them home to!)

In that house we moved back to Emmett; paced for hours at all hours of the day (and night) with Brig as a colicy baby... and quite a few hours with Ellie also; had many family prayers; put blood, sweat and tears into remodeling it; giggled on the tire swing; where Brig looked out the window at his first snowfall; found out we were pregnant with Ellie; really found out what it was to call a place "home;" ran down the hallways on stick horses; where Brig learned to walk and potty trained; where we had friends and family stop by for visits; we laughed, cried, shared, teased and mostly loved in that house.

That's a whole lot to say goodbye to! 

I know...I just got a little sentimental for a little while:)

We are so happy for how blessed we were with this house. It really was a blessing in our life- it kept us steady in the present and propelled us for the future and we are grateful for the past that it gave us.

We made sure that we all said "GOODBYE" to each and every room before we left...

so we give a fond farewell to our little house that had big things happen inside and outside and say hello to all that lies ahead...