more stuff?

It has been such a long time since I have posted any photos. All of my posts lately haven't really required any. I wish I could put pictures to our happenings this morning. We got ready for church this morning.....early in fact....but when we went out and drove down the driveway we noticed another flat tire. We were driving on the rim. So we backed up the driveway and Don attempted to change the tire. Well the tire wouldn't come off. The center of the rim was bent a little making it super hard to get off. And then as he was using the jack a piece of the handle broke off into the jack. SO there was no way we were getting to church in the truck. So Don told me to just put the kids in his car so we could go to church.

Rachel had a talk and since it was our last Sunday they Primary wanted all the kids to tell a favorite scripture story. SO we had a lot to do today and I didn't want to miss church.

Well a couple of days ago Don was out running some errands. He had taken a back road and met a deer on his route. A deer jumped the guard rail right into the side of his car. It's head hit the front windshield and cracked it in three places and then its body rammed up again the passengers side.....shattering both windows and breaking the mirror off and putting a nice dent in the side. You can still see deer hair all over the car. Glass got everywhere. Don just happened to be wearing his sunglasses even though the sun had gone down by that time. PLUS....he really tried to get Caleb to ride with him but Caleb was busy in the kitchen making cookies and he didn't want to go. THANK GOODNESS.....he would have been sitting where the deer hit and that would have been UGLY.

So we jumped in the windowless car and drove to church. CAN I SAY BRRRRRRRR. It snowed last night. But we were smart enough to take blankets. We were late but we were there. I was so glad to get to go since it was my last Sunday in this ward.

As we were driving to church Rachel brought up the fact that she was so glad that Dad had vacuumed up all the broken glass. We had just had a flat tire on the way home from my sisters a couple of weeks ago. I was so GLAD Don had just taken the tire in yesterday to get it fixed. We ended up having to buy a new one. PHEW....we had a tire to put on the car now. Don finally was able to get the tire off and use a different jack to fix it.

No matter what happens or what trials we go through there are always blessings and things to be thankful if we will just look.

Changes

I have been thinking alot about this word. Our family is about ready to go through a BIG change. Some think the change is good and some think it is bad. I remember talking with the counselor at the elementary school when we lived in Ellensburg, Wa. OH I LOVED her. She was awesome. She invited us to her house to ride horses. She was so good with the kids. I remember the comment she made one time.....she said that they had moved many times in her growing years. When I asked her how that was for her she just said, "It has made me who I am today."

Some like change and some don't. But it really is a part of life. And it is HARD. I am a little apprehensive about moving my kids in the middle of the year AGAIN. I play in my mind over and over how anxious they might feel on that first day. Everyone already has their friends and their routine. Everyone else is familiar with the school. Will they adjust well? Will this hurt them later in life? Will it be good for them?

But then I remember the answers to our prayers and know that we ARE supposed to move. And I try to take a deep breath and understand that because this is right I know that Heavenly Father will watch over every one of my kids. They are His children as well and He wants them to be happy and He will take care and provide a way for them to grow and learn from this change.

I read a blog today that had this written and I couldn't help but share it with you........

Change. It is inevitable, necessary, often painful, and hard to swallow. But it is part of life. And in the end, every change moves us forward and molds us a bit more into who we will eventually become.

And this quote was from a talk on Change by Elder Steven E. Snow and it says:

Second, keep an eternal perspective. Understand that change and challenges are part of God’s plan. By design this mortal existence is a time of testing or a time “to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:25). In order to test our use of our God-given agency, we as mortals undergo a series of changes, challenges, trials, and temptations as we proceed through life. Only then are we properly tested.

So you see....in my mind it is all on how we deal with change that is important. We can put up a fight and be stubborn (like I have done in the past with this big move) or we can accept what comes our way and put a smile on our face and enjoy our blessings and make it into something positive. Baby steps people...baby steps.

The house is getting cleaner and cleaner. I had three other girls from church come over and help today. That was so sweet of them. I keep thinking we have a lot done but then I start to look around and think......ahhhh I only have 6 more days and so much more.

My dad always said.....things will work out...they always do. I can hear him saying that right now. And it is true. Having faith and knowing that things will work out is very true.

I should be packing

I should be working but I am going to take a break and blog. I have had some ask about us moving. I haven't really said much about it. So I will start sort of at the beginning...if I can remember. It is sort of a long story. I will spare some details but this is a good way for me to have this written down.

We have wanted to move back west for quite some time. We miss it back home. We are tired of Don's commute and just felt the need to be closer to family. Well then my father passed away. The desire was even stronger. But we knew it wouldn't be possible. It just didn't seem doable. We thought about it for awhile but didn't pursue it. Well then Don started getting the feeling that we needed to move. But by that time I had already figured we were staying behind so I just let him have the feeling. My mind was made up that we were staying here.

Then I just happened to mention to him about the feeling he was getting. He just said....I think we are just going to stay here. That was OK by me.

Then only a few days later he came to me saying we needed to fast and pray about it. So we did. He attended the temple and we both fasted and prayed. It was AMAZING how things started to fall into place. I have never had a time in my life where I could actually see and feel the answers coming...and it was....little by little. It wasn't like BOOM...yeah you need to go. It was more like over the course of time we felt the urge to move.

Don doesn't have a job yet and we are moving the kids in the middle of the school year. WE have gotten quite a bit of slack for both. That's ok. I don't expect anyone to jump on board with us and agree with this decision. We know we have the answers. We know it is what we are supposed to do. And we feel that things will continue to fall into place and that we will be provided for. HOW DO I KNOW? Well there is a talk that I read recently and this pretty much sums it up for us....We don't know everything but we know enough.

I don't know exactly why we need to move. But I have an idea. It is a personal one that I will not discuss openly with anyone. But I have had some pretty amazing answers and a Priesthood blessing that has been a huge strength to me. OH how thankful I am for the Priesthood. What a blessing it is to have it in our home.

So I appreciate all of you that have been a strength to us during this time. I am grateful for those who have expressed an understanding to our situation. And for those who haven't...that's ok. I know it is out of concern and love that you are worried. Don't be worried.

It isn't an easy thing. I have really enjoyed my time in Virginia. I have met some of the most wonderful people. I find myself trying to stop time so I can stay a little longer. Many tears have been shed over this decision.

THE THINGS I WILL MISS:

our ward..I have just recently gotten really attached to the ward here and now we are leaving. THAT is OK though. The church is strong every where you go and it is what you make of it.

my sister and family..it is such a blessing to have family near by. I love spending time with them and have enjoyed all of our late night talks and the holiday times together. It will be OK though. I am moving near even more family and I am hoping this will get my sister out that way. Are you reading this Sue?

outdoors...it is sooooooooo beautiful here. I love the hiking..trees....mountains (well hills) in this area. It is OK though. I am moving to the beautiful Washington State. Now they have REAL mountains....just not as close as I would like. I can still take my family hiking even though it is pretty flat and desserty there.

My mother and father in law. They just moved to this area to be closer to family. And now we are moving away. I am sorry. I know it isn't easy but it is right....for now anyway. We love you dearly.

THE THINGS I WON'T MISS:

Ticks..oh how I hate em. Zach just had one stuck in his stomach the other day.

Humidity....so glad to move to a dry area.

Traffic.....never liked it...never will.

Don's commute...see answer above. Didn't matter if we lived in Manassas or Linden....it still took him the same amount of time to get to work....just one was stuck in traffic and the other a long stretch.


I better get back to packing. We leave in two weeks. WOW. Can't believe it. Don will be staying behind for a bit to put the house up for sale. Anyone want to buy a house? It has two acres and a nice front porch. :)

crazy how things happen.....

Wednesday I took Caleb to scouts. Most of the time I drop him off and go shopping or run errands but I decided to stay at the church this time. I was sitting near a member of the bisopric and another guy in our ward. So the guy says to the member of the bishopric....you know...the Puhlman's are moving and this Sunday our family is speaking in church but I think the Puhlman's should have one last time to speak. The member of the bishopric apoligized to the guy and told him that wasn't the way it worked. They already had speaking assignments scheduled weeks out. He kept giving me a bad time and I went on to give him a bad time telling him GOOD TRY but I would be really busy this week packing things and getting stuff ready to move in a couple of weeks.

So at church on Sunday this guy came up to me and said he had some good news....I said OH YEAH what's that. He went on to say that the bishop said there would be no need for him and his family to speak. That might be good news for him. As soon as he said that I thought.....well if you're not speaking then I wonder who is. After church and right before Rachel got baptized the bishop called me into his office letting me know that Don and I and Caleb would be speaking this Sunday.....same subject given to this 'guy'. PRAYER.

So this guy happened to stay for the baptism and when I saw him I gave him a REALLY BAD time about all this. We just laughed and he told me over and over he had NOTHING to do with it. He hadn't even mentioned anythinig to the bishop.

SO last night was our RS birthday celebration. As soon as I walked in the door at church that member of the bishopric was there and he wanted me to know that he had NOTHING to do with what happened either. It was pretty funny. I think this is kind of fishy myself. Because remember....we are moving in two weeks and I don't have time to prepare a talk. If we ever move again....I am going to make sure not to tell anyone until we are driving down the road in the Uhaul.

So yes I guess I better make time to prepare this talk....even if I am wrapped up to my eyeballs in things to do.

Birthday girl

Today was Rachel's birthday. And she had the priviledge of getting baptized today too. It was a GREAT day. There were alot of people who came and supported Rachel. Rachel wanted to give out some invitations at school for her baptism . She did most of them herself. She folded some cardstock type paper and drew designs on the front. Then we printed off some cute pictures of her in her baptismal dress and put all the information of where and what time it would be. She ended up giving 7 away.....one to her bus driver. One to each principal. One to her teacher. One to one of the P.E. teachers and two to her good friends. What a little missionary.

She was very excited when her bus drive emailed to let us know that he would be coming and brining his whole family with him.....his wife and four of their kids. They even left their church early in order to make it their on time. We felt very blessed that they could come. Her bus driver made each of my five kids bracelets. They had different colored beads on them and each color represented something spiritual. It was AWESOME.

My sister came from Springfield with Sara and Leila and one of Leila's friends. That was a great blessing....I love spending time with them.

Don's mom and husband came. Del was able to stand in the circle when Rachel recevied the Holy Ghost. What a blessing. It was so good to have them. They brought dinner and a cake. Oh the joys of having a good cook for a mother in law. YUM.

There was alot of the ward members that stayed to support us. It was really FULL and we felt so blessed and loved. We love this ward soooooooooo very much.

I am so very happy with the decision Rachel made to be baptized. She is a great and loving daughter. She tries so hard to do what is right and I have seen a HUGE growth in her in just this last year. She is really growing up. She has a lot of love for her family. Her heart is HUGE. When I picked her up from piano last week she had gotten some candy from her teacher. She made sure to save EVERYONE in the family some. She received two snicker candy bars today from her primary teacher. She gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and said that the snickers would remind her that as she keeps the commandments there would be many who would snicker...and that she would need to remember to NOT listen to the snickers but to do what the Lord would have her do. She shared both the snickers with all of us....which pretty much meant that she didn't get much. She really has a concern for her little sister. She really makes it a point to watch out for her. She holds her. She loves her and she plays well with her. I am so thankful for Rachel. We are blessed to have her in our home. She is kind, loving and fun.

Yesterday for her birthday I took her to get her ears pierced. She got her hair cut....super cute. Then we went out to lunch and went to Ross to find her a cute hair piece to wear for her special day. Then for her special dinner for today she wanted bacon, sausage and pancakes but since Don's mom was bringing dinner for tonight I got up extra early this morning (with Caleb's help) and made the BIG breakfast. WE put the initials RP for her name made of candles so we could sing to her. It was fun.

At then end of the night when we were upstairs getting kids ready for bed we found a big pink note on our bed....it said.....THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR ME. I LOVE YOU. FROM RACHEL. How much sweeter can you get? I feel very blessed to have children that appreciate what they get and even more grateful when they express that gratitude.

Rachel....we love you. We are grateful for you and are so eternally grateful that you have been placed into our family. What a blessing. Happy B-day girl.

Almost 8

Rachel is very excited about getting baptized. She can hardly wait..she has been talking about it all the time and she mentions it every time she prays. We are very proud of her and we are excited for her excitement. I took a few pictures of her. Please give me your feedback on which you like best. I am not a photgrapher but I do LOVE taking pictures. If you do not have the ability to comment here...just leave me a comment on FB or email me.

HIGH shoe LOW shoe

I do not like this shoe UP here...I do not like that shoe DOWN there...I do not like these shoes at all....I thought I liked them...but NOT NOW.

Caleb has been wanting some different shoes. He had his mind set on something and we were super excited when we saw some at a second hand store. And even more excited when they were in his size. $5. FIVE BUCKS...people that just rocks.

I LOVE to get good deals and I thrive on it. I don't like to pay full price for ANYTHING. And so garage sales and second hand stores are just absolutely FUN to shop at.

Check em out...I made sure he tried them on. I even made him walk around the store in them. Caleb has had issues with his feet since he was little. He had to have special made inserts for his shoes when he was a toddler. Those babies cost $400. He still has some issues but his DR. doesn't find it necessary to do anything about them. So it normally takes us a LONG time before we can find him shoes that he likes and that are comfortable for him. So notice my E-X-C-I-T-E-M-E-N-T...when he found some that he really liked and we only paid $5.

SO we pay for the shoes and we go home. As soon as Don got home Caleb put the shoes back on to show him. Caleb walks in and asks me if the shoes were even the same size. I had him stand still as I took a look. I BUSTED up laughing and couldn't stop. Don had no idea what was so funny until I pointed it out. We were all laughing. So much for our great deal but it was SOOOOOOOOOO worth the laughs. Check out the next picture to see if you can spot the difference in the shoes. I HAVE NO IDEA why they are like that.

On the ice

This is kind of late since we no longer have snow. But this snow just melted a couple of weeks ago. And in fact, it turned to ice. It got so cold after it snowed and it had rained and everything was just pure ice. AND that made for FAST sledding. It was awesome watching the kids try different 'things' to sled on. And no matter what they used IT WORKED. Items used to sled in our front yard were

pizza boxes---yep they worked
sleeping bags
sleds...ofcourse
wood
laundry baskets
plastic bags

I thought the wood topped them all. I had to get the camera out when I saw Ethan and Mayah working together to carry their homemade wooden sled. Now that is teamwork. I even went down a few times.....but I used the sled....and Mayah and I ended up going almost to the road. It was fun.

I do have to say,though, that I am sooooooooooo glad the sun has made an appearance. I am overly ready for spring.

Today I thought about the garden we would plant. Then I got sad and realized my dad won't be around to help with all my questions. But I can do this. I will PROVE to myself that I can plant a wonderful garden.........and then have the kids weed it. :)

What a surprise

ON Sunday our friends wanted us to stop by so they could give us some eggs. REAL EGGS as the kids call them. The kids were surprised to see that they were brown. But OH how we love fresh eggs.

SO today....I was picking some things up around the house. I found something that I didn't recognize...but then realized it was a piece to Zach's DS. Mayah broke it when she decided to take a bath with it. And Zach was hoping it would dry out. He took the battery out of it and set it out to dry for a LONG LONG time. But it didn't work. I decided to just go ahead and put the battery back in his closet. He has a shoe box that he stores items like that in. I didn't understand why he had pillow cases in the box. When I lifted the cases off there were three eggs under it on top of some grass. LOL....I guess he is using the pillow cases to keep the eggs warm to see if they will hatch.

I tell ya....the things we find in our kids' room.