Family Relationships Are Complicated

The End.

(Possibly to be continued.........)

Fun Photos

I'd like to think that some of these need no explanation.

 

The night before Morgan got set apart

  

 Birthdays, birthdays and MORE birthdays!

I'd explain this, but even I have no idea - and I was there!

Who knew Josh and I were so alike?

Halloween Party!

We had our annual Halloween party last night at Thom and Monica's house.  (See how much use we have been getting out of the Obama mask?)

Ally said that I was brave to show my true self in public. 

We sorely missed all our kids who are on missions, but Aunt Jayne and I took a companion photo to the missionary one on the stairs with Jonah, since he is the lone survivor. He was a good sport.

Happy Halloween to everyone, wherever you are!

The Nail Caught My Fall....

Have you ever heard that story?  The one where the man is working on a roof and starts to fall off?

He prays like crazy all the way down, "Lord, please don't let me fall.  Please don't let me die.  I'll be good for the rest of my life, I promise."

Down, down, down he goes until something wonderful happens.  At the last second, his belt loop catches on a nail, saving him from a lot of pain and suffering, or even death.

The man's response?  "Never mind Lord, the nail caught my fall."

I hate to admit it, but I have been a "nail caught my fall" kind of girl most of my life.  It's hard to change, but something happened the day we had Morgan's farewell for her mission that made me think about this story.

The weather had not been great all week and I was worried.  We don't have enough room in our house for all the wonderful people who know and love Morgan so I was mentally preparing for what to do in case of rain.  (It poured buckets for Austin's baptism and it was terrible!  Lots of brave Fronks ate outside on the back, semi-covered, patio.)  Well this time we had family AND friends AND ward members coming.  I kept  picturing all my cute little  nieces,  lined up and down our hallway, trying to eat. 

It started drizzling that morning, as it had all week, right before raining hard most afternoons.  It had rained so hard that the carpet in our living room, which had been fine for 3 years, buckled right in the middle.  And not just a little wrinkle either.  Kind of a "Hey, look at me!" kind of buckle that actually trips people.

Anyway, I prayed like crazy that morning.  And that's when I thought about the nail story.  I knew if it didn't rain that day it would be a miracle, just for us (me).

And guess what, it rained like crazy.

JUST KIDDING!  It DIDN'T rain.  It cleared up and was beautiful weather.  Nice and warm, but not too hot, and sunny.  There might have even been a rainbow.

The nail didn't catch my fall.  Somebody up there was thinking about US and answering my prayer.  It might have been a small thing to some people, but to me it was HUGE.  I'm not a fan of large gatherings in the first place, and having things like this at my house is enough to throw me over the edge on a good day.  Add in a thunderstorm and that's pretty much the end of it.  I feel like I barely survived the baptism and this was so much harder for me because I was already dealing with the fact that my sweet, happy daughter is leaving us for a year and a half.

Since Morgan has been preparing for her mission I have really been thinking about spiritual things.  Working on my testimony and really hashing out things in my head to see what I really believe in and where I stand.  It has been good for me, but hard at times.  I'm not good at feeling.  I'm barely good at thinking anymore.  Figuring out my current testimony has required both.  (I'm probably one of those people who can't walk and chew gum at the same time either.  I don't know.  I don't like to chew gum.)

So, just like the man in the story, I got my happy ending.  Except I do know and acknowledge who really saved us that day.

I just want to point out another difference. When I prayed, I didn't say that I would be good for the rest of my life.  I don't like to promise what I can't deliver.  (I might have said I would try harder though.)

Now We Have Something To Blame For Everything

We have had a DEVIL of a time getting Austin to do his homework lately.  It has been driving us CRAZY!

The other night he sat at the table for literally hours for something that would have taken about 10 minutes for him to complete.

Hal got frustrated and asked Austin what the problem was.

His answer?

"Obamacare."

(Now seriously, where did he get that?  We really don't sit around and talk about Obamacare.  At least not in front of the kids.)

Checking In. Still Breathing, But Barely.....

So this is going to be very rambling and probably somewhat disjointed.  I haven't written in months, unless you count all the  posts I've started in my head. (And believe me, I've had some doozies.  I have been spending a lot of time thinking and re-evaluating so many things in my life.  A lot of what I have been thinking had to do with figuring out what I do and do NOT have control of in my life and how I should act - or react, accordingly.)

So my oldest baby, Morgan, leaves in less than a week for the MTC and then off to the Philippines.  Oh, the emotions......  One thing I am so very grateful for is the fact that she has wanted to go on a mission since she was a little girl, so I know it was not a rash decision or one fueled by peer pressure from all the enthusiasm brought on by the recent age change for missionaries.

People have started asking me how I am feeling, which I honestly think is a very brave question.  Anyone who knows me even somewhat well is probably prepared for a less than upbeat answer.  (I had already scheduled my nervous breakdown for Thursday, all day, but then I remembered there is that blasted Orchestra meeting for parents that apparently is not optional.  I'm still a little annoyed at the music teacher that told my son that he seemed like he would be a good cello player, so Austin took her literally and HAS to play the cello.  Never mind the fact that the cello can NOT go on the bus, so I will now end up doing something I have previously avoided at all costs - driving to the school at regular drop off and/or pick up times. Sigh.  (I think that is one of the few times I have actually typed out the word "sigh".  That seems a little dramatic, even for me.) :-)

So, my pity party for one is now grudgingly postponed until Friday.  I have been saving a Lifetime movie just for the occasion and plan to make kettle corn  and my famous "healthy"(ish) Coconut Oil Fudge.  (And eat it all myself.  Mmmmm, I need to post the recipe.) Hmm, I better throw something healthy in there too.

(Oh SHOOT!  I just remembered I DO need to go somewhere Friday.  Can't a girl wallow in sorrow for a full day anymore? I just looked at the calendar and I have at least one thing every. single. day. the next week too! Nooooooooo. This may turn out to be an ACTUAL nervous breakdown. I have been waiting all summer to be ALONE for a day.)

And in other news: I just took the Myers Briggs personality test, per Morgan's request.  She is an INTJ and thought I might be the same.  I had heard that term before and it did seem to fit.  So I did take the test and I turned out to be an ISTJ.  It said I was really close to an INTJ, but I had a small margin, less than 1%, of sensing over intuition.

My first response was "Really?  I'm that close, but still can't be one of the "cool kids"?  But then really, I don't necessarily trust my intuition so it was a pretty interesting result.  One of our favorite things it said when Morgan read the explanation of my personality type is that I have an off beat sense of humor, I'm introverted but can be the life of the party at family and work gatherings.  (Which of course, I CAN be, I just choose not to.  Ha ha ha.  Anyway.....)

Austin Does Not Have A Poor Self Image

I was driving down the street with Austin the other day and we drove past a really nice house that was for sale.  Austin said he liked it.  I asked him if he liked that style of house, and explained that the style was called Lodge.

We then went on to talk about the different house styles:   Colonial,  Coastal, Craftsman Bungalow, etc. and the styles I like best.    I told him I didn't care what style if house he lives in when he grows up, as long as he keeps it relatively clean and it has room for me (and Hal) to come visit him.

Then I asked him what style of house he wanted to live in when he grows up.

He answered, "Castle!  (Duh.)"

Of course, what a silly question.  At least I know he will have plenty of space for that all-important guest room.



And another incident, this one makes me smile every time I think of it, I can just picture him saying this:

He came home yesterday with a birthday party invitation from a girl.  I was surprised and asked if the whole class was invited, but he said no, just he and his friend, Peter.

When I RSVP'd, the mom said that her daughter wanted to invite Austin, but invited Peter too, because he was Austin's best friend.

Peter's mom called me to see if Austin was going, so Peter wouldn't be the only boy.  After we made arrangements to get them to the party together she told me that when Peter saw Austin with an invitation he was surprised because Jessie is his neighbor and he didn't know Austin knew her that well.  (Austin told me they bonded over throwing erasers back and forth between their desks and drawing faces on them.  So, they decided to be friends.)

When Peter asked "Are you invited to Jessie's party too?"  Austin replied, "Of course I am, I'm the coolest boy she knows!"

In Peter's defense, he is pretty cool too.  Austin just has the bigger ego.

Not Crying.....

So Austin spilled a tall glass of milk at the dinner table a couple of months ago and it all ran down the crack in the table.

It was that awful kind of spill that just keeps running and spilling all over everything, no matter how quickly you work.  It got milk all over the table, which I could have dealt with rather calmly, but it also ran the whole length of the crack, spilling milk all over the rug beneath the table.

I may, or may not, have freaked out a little.

And, my reaction may (or may not) have freaked him out so much that he ran away, refusing to help clean it up at all., 

Anyway, I happened to spill a glass of milk on the counter, as I was pouring it for him the other day.  I can't even remember the last time I spilled milk like that.  But, instead of freaking out again, I thought "Aha.  Now I can show him by example what you should do."  Because we all know that actions speak WAY louder than words, right?  (Right?)

So I said very calmly, "Austin, I just spilled a whole glass of milk.  What is the proper reaction?"

Austin automatically answered, "Scream."



Well, I guess I had that coming, so I calmly cleaned up the mess, showing him where the rags are and what to do.

When it was all over, I thought I'd try again.  I said, "Austin, now that you know the answer, I'm going to ask you again.  What could a person do if they spill a whole glass of milk?"

Without looking up from his homework he answered, "Panic and leave the mess?"

Let's just say he will be getting half glasses of milk for a while.

Melancholy

So, we dropped Morgan off at BYU last Wednesday.

It was her 18th birthday, of all days.  Bummer for her and for us.

I have really been missing her.  I keep going around the house wondering where she is.

And then I remember, and that's when I reach for the cookies.

I had really cut down on the sweets the last few months, but boy  have I made up for it in the last couple of days.

Unfortunately, the cookies don't really make me feel any better, even though they are delicious.

That's how I know that I must love her more than I love  chocolate chip cookies.

(I told Morgan not to worry about the "freshman fifteen".  I think I'll probably be the one who will end up gaining it for her.)

We've Acquired a Zoo

So, two weeks ago we had a cat and a betta fish.

Last week we ended up with a new baby lizard, which I totally love,  and a baby garter snake (not so much).

I've been so worried about and attached to the lizard that I have literally checked on him (her, whatever) every hour, just like a newborn.  Austin caught the lizard right as we were leaving Bear Lake, ironically hunting for his missing lizard ring that got lost in the sand.  It was starting to get dark and not only did he find the ring (miraculously), but the baby lizard too, which he has been asking for all summer.  I told him if he kept his room clean for 3 months, I'd let him have one, pretty much knowing that he couldn't keep up his end of the bargain.  Since he found one, so it was free, and it was almost his birthday, I decided to let him keep the lizard.  I had no idea what all is involved with those things.  Heat lamps, calcium powder, crickets, mealworms, etc., etc.  Oh yes, I am also now the proud owner of a mealworm farm.  Lovely.

Anyway, the snake was one the kids caught two days later at their cousin's house in Tremonton.  The snake has stayed outside so far and that's the way it has to be.  I keep telling the kids that pretty soon the snake needs to go home to his mom.  Baby snakes might be somewhat cute, but bigger snakes are not cute at all.

So, this week, a homing pigeon decided that our garage should be its new home.  I spent hours sitting very still in our garage trying to get close enough to try and read the code on the yellow band on the bird's leg (do birds have "legs"?), and e-mailed and called many people trying to locate the owner.  I have it tracked down to the local pigeon club and have talked to two of the members, but so far they haven't figured out who it belongs to either.  Supposedly there is a list, but the guy in charge just can't get around to looking at the list.  He said he'd come pick up the bird, but that hasn't happened yet either.

The bird is now used to us and lets us get very close.  One of the first nights Ally rode a scooter around in our garage and every time she would go around close to the bird (who was doing his "business" all over the four wheeler) would make a funny sound at her, kind of like a little baby laughing.  It was pretty funny.

We are starting to grow fond of the little guy, except for the problem with the mess that he has left in the garage, that hasn't been so pleasant.  I'm sure we will be hosing things down for months to come.  I think I'll start feeding him in the back yard, as soon as I can figure out how to keep the neighborhood cats away.  Strangely enough, our cat - who goes into fits every time she sees a bird, seems unaffected by the new addition to our zoo.  I went to great lengths to keep our cat and the bird separated, and one day when I realized they were both in the garage I ran in, afraid I'd see a bloody mess of feathers on the floor and they were just fine together.  Weird.

So yes, that's the story.  I'm beginning to feel a little like Dr. Doolittle.  Plus, I know way more about lizards and homing pigeons that I ever thought I'd care to.  The snake is pretty much on his own.

Edited to add:  We are now also in possession of a skunk.  He lives under our shed.  I think that's going to end up being a bigger problem than the snake!