Summing up her Junior year...

Maddison had to excute a 10 step Rube Goldberg project for her Physics class.  If you aren't familiar with what that means exactly, you should google it.  People out there get extreme!  Not us.  Just simple and small enough so we could do it right in our kitchen.  But a simple A means exactly the same as a complicated A!  I think in this clip Cooper says "take 25" but I'm pretty sure we were in the thirties by the time it actually worked from start to finish.  It took up a good four hours of a Saturday morning.  Be sure you watch the slow motion clip after the real time.  Brent's roar of success is the best! 

Some other highlights of Maddie's Junior year included another great year of Highland Hawk basketball as #32.  She played on the JV team and really excelled.  She was co-team captain and was a defensive powerhouse each time she hit the floor.  When the defense would break down Coach would call on Maddison to get the team back on track every time.

It has been so rewarding to watch her develop as a player.  In 8th and 9th grade, at 5' 8", she was one of the tallest girls.  She played post and handled it well.  As a Sophomore and Junior the other girls playing post continued to grow but Maddie maxed out.  Still Coach played her at post even though most of the girls she played against had her by five or more inches.  She really had to make some adjustments and figure out how to play a tough post position at her size.  She figured it out alright!

And what girl doesn't want to go to their Prom??

Maddison went with her long time friend Jake.  He's a cutie and super fun.

She has managed to maintain her 4.0 through it all.  I take that back.  She might have 3.98 (haven't received her final report card in the mail yet) due to a 1st quarter B+ that her English teacher gave to her.  Gotta love teachers that mess with a clean track record just because he can.  And because I don't want to spend one more breath on this waste of human space, I will leave it at that.

Maddison Joy!  Congrats on a wonderful year : )  As always, you have made me and your daddy so very happy.  We love you most!

She'll keep busy this summer by working at the neighborhood Dairy Queen.  Go ahead and pay a visit...you'll never get ice cream with a side of gorgeous smile quite like this : )

She'll also stay out of trouble by taking part in a summer Highland basketball camp and playing on the high school Varsity summer league basketball team.  She has already been on the Pioneer Trek (more to come about that) and will spend a week at Girl's Camp and make lots of time for friends and late nights.  She'll take the ACT a couple times, come along on a family trip to Lake Tahoe and will fit in turning 17 in less than two weeks.

She has big plans.

BIG PLANS!!

a little bird once told me...

Every spring a mommy bird comes to our backyard and builds a nest on a small ledge high on the patio.
She works hard.
Back and forth she flys bringing a twig, string, feather or whatever else she feels will make a comfortable home for her soon to arrive little one.
It's an interesting process to watch.
I've seen her move one twig multiple times until she finally lets it be.
No wondering they call the final weeks of a pregnancy "nesting".

Once the baby's crib is finished to her satisfaction, the mommy-to-be will settle down and wait.

Soon the baby bird makes his appearence. 

After lots of attention and care the mommy will leave the baby to find nourishment.

Her first instinct...feed my baby.

It always surprises me that once the feeding begins it is not much longer until the mommy coaxes her baby from the safety of the nest.  She leads by example and soon her baby follows her to the edge and then she teaches her little one to spread his wings.

And then the once carefully constructed nest is empty.

I enjoy watching the process every spring.

I feel the mother in me relates to the mommy bird in many ways.

Build a home that is safe and comfortable.

Feed my babies - physically, mentally, spiritually.

Bring them to the edge, give them three squeezes of the hand and then watch them fly.

The process happens so quickly.

It stings my heart.

A refreshing monsoon...

On May 9th the rain came down.
It nearly flooded the back patio.

Buckets were falling from my roof top.
Usually the kids want to be out and play in this stuff but today they watched from inside.

Proof that water does come to quench the desert.

Progress...

photo here

I found this picture of the Angel Moroni arriving on site at the Gilbert Temple.  There was no announcement made (on purpose) of when it would arrive at the temple grounds but it looks like it came yesterday.  I thought it was amazing to compare the size of Moroni next to the workers.

I can't wait to get over there and see if for myself.

As for my personal progress in preparation for the trek...

Physically I have been keeping up with my walking and no soda.  Well, let me clarify the no soda thing.  In my home I have not had any soda.  I did have some when I went to lunch with Brent on his birthday last week and another time while I was out running errands I did partake.  My walking came to a stand still last week on Wednesday night when my throat started really hurting and waking up on Thursday I thought I'd like to cut my head off my my shoulders.  I took a percocet and used my oils liberally for the next three days to get through work and the days events and responsibilities.  It took a slight edge off but I truly can't remember hurting so much.  I could feel the pain all the way into my ears.  After getting no sleep on Saturday night I woke up Sunday (mother's day) and went to urgent care.  I was waiting at their doors when they opened.

Diagnosis...Strep throat.

Crazy!  I can't think of the last time I had strep.  Y E A R S ago for sure.

Anyway, thank goodness for the power of modern medicine.  After two days of antibiotics I am, thankfully, feeling so much better.

So that was the long way around to say that I haven't been walking as of last Thursday but plan to get back to it tomorrow.  Happy day : )

I have thought a lot about how easy it is to take my day to day good health for granted.

I go to bed, wake up, go about my day.  I go, go, go.  Form here to there.  To this thing and and then that thing.  I express my gratitude for a healthy body in my prayers but probably more out of routine than realization.  Myself and my little family are truly blessed to be healthy and not have any out of the ordinary illnesses that we have had to deal with.  A cold here, allergies there and the flu on occasion.  We truly are blessed.  As I've said my prayers over the past few days, my expression of thankfulness for my health is sincere and heartfelt. 

I am still reading and wondering with awe at the many stories I come across in regards to the early saints and my own pioneering ancestors.  It fills my heart to overflowing.  How did they do it with raging sore throats?  And that seems insignificant to know that it was much worse.  I found a journal entry about my Grandpa Willie.  I did not correct any spelling or punctuation...

"November 2, 1856 - Bros. Willie, Woodward, & Christiansen staid behind to bring up the sick. This morning we had not teams enough to haul the feeble that were left behind. After a short time several teams came on from the Valley & picked up the sick. The brethren that staid behind were late into camp. Bro. Willie’s feet were in such a bad condition from frost that he was unable to walk to the Camp; a wagon was sent for him."

And another comment stated this...

"This entry noted that President Willie and two other men stayed behind to help the sick. There appears to have been trouble getting everyone into a wagon. Through all they had experienced, President Willie kept leading and helping his company, although frostbite was taking its toll on him and he was having a difficult time walking."

Thank you Grandpa Willie for your faith, your courage and your testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ that kept you moving ever onward, ever forward.

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Trek is only 15 days away.

Preparing both in body and mind...

Day three was a repeat of day one and two.
Day four I mixed it up a bit and did a 20 minute Turbo Jam workout.
You know...one of those cheesy DVD workouts that I bought probably 9 years ago after I had Cooper.
Still no soda and that may prove to be the toughest challenge of all.

One of my favorite parts of all this preparing is reading so much about James G Willie, captain of the Willie Handcart Company.  He is my grandpa a few generations back.  Reading one thing leads me to another thing, then another link to another link.  Truly...the hearts of the children turning to their fathers is a beautiful thing.

photo here

*note the spelling of his last name is different in the photo than most records that mention him and the company.  it may have changed when he came to America (from England) at the age of 21*

Here is just one story I recently read as told by Betsy Smith Goodwin, a member of the Willie Handcart Company...

I will not dwell upon the hardships we endured, nor the hunger and cold, but I like to tell of the goodness of God unto us. One day, especially, stands out from among the remainder. The wind blew fresh, as if its breezes came from the sea. It kept blowing harder until it became fierce. Clouds arose, the thunder and lightning were appalling. Even the ox teams ahead refused to face the storm. Our captain, who always rode a mule, dismounted and stepped into the middle of the road, bared his head to the storm, and every man, as he came up, stood by him with bared head—one hundred carts, their pullers and pushers, looking to their captain for counsel. The captain said, “Let us pray.” And there was offered such a prayer! He told the Lord our circumstances, he talked to God, as one man talks to another, and as if the Lord was very near. I felt that he was; and many others felt the same. Then the storm parted to the right and to the left! We hurried on to camp, got our tents pitched, and some fires built, when the storm burst in all its fury!

journal excerpt here

I'm grateful to know that Grandpa Willie was a man who knew God and spoke to him in prayer like he would speak to a friend standing beside him.

Day two...

Seriously.  Two consecutive days.
I feel good about that.

Walk - 38 minutes.
then
20 jumping jacks.
15 lunges (oh. my. i. am. sore)
10 push ups.
each x 3
and
no soda.

This makes me feel good because when I'm out on my little walking route I'm getting passed by moms with babies in strollers and old men walking their dogs.
But hey!  I'm better off than those on the couch : )

Carry on!

30 days...

Day One...

35 minute walk
then
20 jumping jacks
20 lunges
10 push ups
each x 3
and
no soda

In 30 days I will be leaving on a Pioneer Trek.  I do not want to be the weak link.

Wish me luck on my 30 day walk to physical and spiritual strength.

Have I Done Any Good?

Pause my playlist music and enjoy!

I bought a little yellow bird awhile back.

It was love at first sight.

I incorporated him into my Easter decor but didn't want to put him away when the eggs and bunnies were taken down.

So I came up with this entry display.

I'm still working on something to put in the glass jars but

I gathered up some books from around the house and tied them with twine.

Honestly is was more about color than content : )

With Mother's Day around the bend I thought it would honor two beautiful mothers...

who we love deeply and miss everyday.

Tradition...

MLB Opening Day is something we don't miss around here.

I would love this job.  Maybe when Cooper leaves on his mission.  Will I be too old??

America's favorite passtime : )

The flyover...goosebumps every time.

Our Diamondbacks!

(what's with the guy and his head in my shot!)

Kennedy throws a strike on the first pitch.  This will be a great day!

Grandpa Brown joined us for the annual event.

As always...if you need us anytime soon,

look at the ball fields!

It's that time of year...

Baseball season = my boys being boys!

Did I forget to mention???

How could I!!!

Cooper's lean, mean, lightening machine won

FIRST PLACE

at the recent Pinewood Derby!

We've made a lot of cars in our day.  I guess after six cars that are mediocre, you deserve one that keeps a kid pumping his fist, jumping up and down and smiling from ear to ear.

Best part is that Brent turns this activity over to the boys.  With a bit of advice and guidance and a little help when they ask, the boys make it happen.

It was a joy to watch Davis really take such a big brother role and help Cooper turn his block of wood into "The Fitz" and come up winners : )

A friendly visit...

It was wonderful to have Carrie come and visit.  Of course she brought along her family, minus their oldest son who is a brand new missionary in Washington D.C.  I have pictures of him holding Maddison as a newborn.  We go back a long way...all the way to 1967 when Carrie and I were both in the womb of our respective mothers who were next door neighbors and wonderful friends. We emerged only about 4 weeks apart from one another and have remained best of friends.

To keep the love flowing, our daughters were born only about 6 weeks apart.

They have remained wonderful friends despite the miles.

We enjoyed a girls lunch, family dinners, lots of laughs, an over the top chocolate birthday cake (just for Carrie who loves her some chocolate) and a visit to the Mesa temple to see the Easter pageant.

It was a wonderful visit.  Lasting friendships are a priceless gift.  We should celebrate those relationships often!

Speaking of celebrating relationships...

I love this girl more than words can express.

(let's ignore the fact that I don't know how to spell pageant. although I just did spell it correctly, I didn't when I was editing my pictures.  oh well)

A walk to remember...

I spent a day with my adorable boy.
At nine years old he may cringe at the words "adorable boy" but secretly I know every child loves affirmation. 

I was able to chaperone a recent 3rd grade field trip to the Riparian Preserve.  We walked from the school all the way to the park.  In the cool of the morning it was a pleasant walk, although not a short distance, and I smiled as Cooper and his friends laughed and threw rocks and tried real hard to be cool.

They dug up some artifacts and listened to some interesting stories about our Arizona history.

They learned about the reproductive system of the flower world.

And as the day grew warmer, they enjoyed the stream and facts about the Riparian preserving the precious water of our desert.

The walk home wasn't filled with nearly as much laughter.
They were hot and wanted my one bottle of water.
I showed my preserving skills as I rationed one 16 oz. (not entirely full) bottle of water between 5 hot, tired and thirsty boys. 

My days of joining my children for elementary field trips are getting fewer and fewer.
I say that with a heartfelt sigh...
Sigh of relief as I realize my 45 year old body doesn't bounce back like it used to.
(I'm not going to mention here about what shape I'm in)
But mostly a sigh of many happy memories...
Dinosaur museums, rock museums, art museums, plays, parks, zoo trips, Stuffington Bear factory, science centers and the such.


Sometimes being the mom is hard on the heart.
Sigh...