It's that time of year again

We got an email at the end of last week saying that there were plentiful amounts of strawberries that needed picked and they were only charging $1 a pound for them you pick.  So we loaded up in the van that afternoon and invited our neighbor to follow us there and off we went.  It was a beautiful day.  Wasn't too hot but we should have got there that morning to make it perfect.

We were thankful we got there when we did for he said that the price was going to go up the next day.  Brayden had a blast!  He was so excited to pick strawberries.  I told him that we had to pay for them before we could eat them... was only trying to do what was right so daddy says to him that he could eat some.  Brayden was insisting that he couldn't have even one until we paid for them but daddy said it was ok.   And staying true to what his mom taught him, he didn't eat a single one until we got home!
I only could pick for a few min before I was done but I stood there and cheered my family on.  They ended up picking 18 lbs and Ross had them charge him for 19 because he and the kids ate some.

The next day we spent the afternoon with Ross washing and stemming them and the kids helping in any way they could,  I made 8 pints of strawberry jam and almost 12 half pints of freezer jam and then Ross made his Mom's delicious Mile High Strawberry Pie yesterday.  I was tired and very sore after the day was done on Friday but it was all worth it!  And we've only just begun... I am thankful for the knowledge of canning and storing food.  Even though it is mostly cheaper and easier to buy it in the store, there are so many benefits to being able to do it yourself, although some things I just have to admit that it is better for me to buy than do myself.  I am grateful to have these beautiful jars filled with homemade jam and the rewards of my family enjoying every bite of their bread with the jam that was made with love and service.  It makes me appreciate my grandmother and all who have shared their gifts and service all the more.

Please Remember Her in your prayers!

I don't usually do this but this is very important to me and Ross.  I would ask each of you to please remember Ross' Mom in your prayers.  We have been asked to participate in not only a family fast for her but also their Branch in Cascade has sent out emails asking the Branch and all its members to fast for her and also for dad.

Sister Lawana Stevens continues to have health problems which have lingered longer that anticipated. It has crushed her spirit and caused her and her husband, Jerry, concern as she tries to recover and make progress - and does so - but then her condition relapses and she finds herself struggling and doctors have not yet been able to determine the diagnosis or problem.


We love her more than words can express.  The Lord has said when many are joined in prayers and even fasting great things can come about.  Thank you for taking the time to not only read this but to remember her in your prayers.  This means a great deal to us all.  Thanks and much love to you.

Addicted...

I'm not sure if anyone reads my posts.. its hard to tell when noone leaves their thoughts but that's ok:)  I will post nonetheless...

So we have a new addiction.  Actually Ross is more so than I am and he got me started so I have him to thank..lol.

Our neighbors brought over some Smallville Series to watch while Ross and I were down.  We never have seen them before.  Now we are well into season 3 and we enjoy the series.  We are trying to get other things done first before watching an episode.  Coming from being a family where we don't watch tv and only movies, I think we are ok.  So we watched the original Superman Movie the other night.. and it is as slow as I remember it being.  Smallville is much better. I am anxious to get thru them so we can move on.... but it makes for a fun date night as well.  And it is fun to see Ross actually get into something like this so I guess it isn't too bad....they do a good job of leaving you hanging and wanting to come back for the next season.  It's nice having them on DVD.. no commercials and no waiting.
IT doesn't help any that he happens to be alittle cute...lol. 

So if I talk about my obsession with superman or the like and my dreams that I have had lately have been about Smallville, you will understand why and don't laugh.. well at least not too hard anyway.

How to plant your garden...

How To Plant Your Garden

First, you Come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses.... (PRAYER)


FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Peace of mind

2. Peace of heart

3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip

2. Squash indifference

3. Squash grumbling

4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful

2. Lettuce be kind

3. Lettuce be patient

4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings

2. Turnip for service

3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN, WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other

2.. Thyme for family

3. Thyme for friends (TIME FOR VISITING AND HOME TEACHING)


WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

Post Surgery

Yesterday was a big day for us. Ross went into surgery at 1pm at the Idaho Surgery Center to have an inguinal hernia repaired. We are both grateful to his brother Bryce for giving him a Priesthood Blessing early Sunday morning. This was my first time EVER being on this end of surgery. I have never been in a waiting room before. Thankfully I brought the dvd player and a good movie to keep me distracted. At an hour into his surgery, they came out and told me that it would be another 45 min due to excess scar tissue. 2 hours after surgery had begun, Dr Krueder came out and discussed with me the details of the surgery. He said that the previous stitches he put in 17 years ago for a hernia, were about an inch to 2 inches from where he had placed them due to the amount of scar tissue pulling on them. So instead of placing one mesh in the area, he put a mesh up against his groin area with muscle and scar tissue in between another piece of mesh. So he has a double mesh. It is VERY Critical he said that he must not even forget once that he cannot accidently pick up one of the kids or help someone put something in their truck. He absolutely cannot lift, strain or have pulled more than 7 lbs worth in the next 3 weeks or he will end up in major surgery with them going thru his stomach and opening him up much more than he did.


About 25 minutes after Doc came out I was able to go and see Ross. I was going on only 2 hours of sleep that day and was a basket of nerves from everything. Ross slept like a baby the night before his surgery and I wasn't able to so I literally got the house spotless so he wouldn't have to come home to a mess. I got back to see him just as he was waking up. It really only took him and hour to wake up but about 2 hours to be coherent. What he struggled with the most was moving and trying to get to a sitting position. It kept collapsing the Vegal nerve which is what causes a person to pass out. Honestly, It was so much harder on me to be there with him, watching him struggle so much with the pain of moving and then watching him almost pass out and seeing him lose all his color in his face and then seeing the monitor with his heartrate and bloodpressure dropping due to sitting up than it was for me to be out in the waiting room! Everytime he would feel nauseaus and light headed, I would get that way from watching him go thru that. I couldn't handle it. It was like my body was experiencing what his was... like I was connected to him. I now have a bit of an understanding of what he has gone thru when I have had my surgeries and why he said it is extremely stressful on him. I also went from 11 am to 9 pm without a meal. I had a couple of crackers and some soda and that was all. I was going on sheer adrenaline yesterday. I am sooo thankful for everyones prayers because he really needed them. I needed them as well. Also we have such amazing neighbors as friends for they took care of the puppies and dogs yesterday for us and said to please let them know if we needed anything at all. I don't usually ask for help but I really needed it yesterday. They watched for us to come home so when we pulled in they were waiting outside for us. Aaron helped Ross into the house( I am thankful he was there for I couldn't have caught Ross if he passed out), Aaron and Kina unloaded the van for me, then they came back over a bit later and brought a yummy potroast and dinner to share with us since her sister cancelled on them. We ate and watched a movie and I tell you it was so nice to be home and have some food in me! We went to bed around 12:30am but I sat next to Ross with my head in his chest crying because I just was too stressed and emotional and worried and tired and I knew I would not be able to sleep next to him. To watch him move made me hurt so bad inside because it is sooo painful for him to move and he needed to be next to the bathroom. He slept in Jerry's bed( thank you for still having the craftmatic bed with us, Mom and daD) because it was more comfortable for him and closer to the bathroom. I left his phone next to him and told him I would have my phone with me in our room so if he needed anything at all to call me. He teased me lovingly and said that I was his nurse. I set the alarm for during the night so he could have his meds so he wouldn't have to try and play catch up. He and I slept good.

He looks so much better today. He is in a lot of pain when he moves, but he is a tough guy. Such a handsome, sweet guy I am married to! I love him with all my heart and am so thankful that I am here to serve him in any way I can.

Ok so this isn't taken after surgery but its the closest one I have that would look like it.
 
I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who knows our needs and answers our prayers through others.  Thank you everyone for your prayers and love and offering your help for us all.  We love you.

Tables Turned....

Tomorrow is a big day for us.  The tables have turned, now I get to be the one who anxiously waits for the Dr to come and tell me that everything went good during surgery.  I have never been in a waiting room before, waiting for the patient to wake up and be able to go see them.  Unfortunately Ross has been on the receiving end of that way too many times!

So we head off first thing tomorrow morning to take the kids to my sister's to spend the night, then to our Chiropractor to put one of Ross' ribs back in place( I keep telling him that he gave me the wrong rib or that it is feeling lonely), then to Costco for pellets for the BBQ then to the Surgery Center where he will go under for about an hour.  True it is not a major surgery, but surgery is surgery.  In fact, I am more nervous than Ross is.  I am so thankful for the Priesthood, Ross' Brother gave him a Blessing early this morning and it meant so much to the both of us.  What a special experience for both parties.

After tomorrow he is not able to lift more than 7 pounds for the first 4 weeks.  I am thankful that it is during Spring Break and that the kids get to be here to help serve their Dad.  I am thankful for sweet friends who live close by who have offered their help for us all.  For family for their prayers and love and support.  I know that this will all work out and that great blessings will come from our trials.  There are alot of changes coming up and some that have already happened... Ross' last day of work was this past thursday.  I look to the future with bright hope and unwaivering faith.

So keep us in your prayers for tomorrow that all will go well and smooth.  I know I will be a bit nervous waiting to hear, but at the same time will try to keep myself filled with peace.