18, 19, 20

I guess I am not as organized as I thought for this RAK thing.  Days 18 and 19 hmmm don't think I can say I planned or did anything out of the ordinary.  Below are pictures from our family get together.  We had a potato feast and each family made a potato dish and we carved and painted pumpkins and had a grand time.

 Ashlyn and Zach carving a pumpkin.

 Mayah, Ethan and Hailey doing a pumkin.  Ashlyn off to the side.

It was SO funny.  After the kids started taking the guts out of the pumpkin the cat and the chicken ran over for a feast.  That cat LOVED it.

 Ethan picked this pumpkin from the garden.  Rachel is painting hers to look like a lady bug.  Mayah running to get something.

 Zach running with Ashlyn.

 A closer up of Rachel doing the lady bug.

 Ashlyn smiling after painting the pumpkin that Zach carved for her.

 Rachel now carving.

 Some of the cool pumpkins.  I love the bottom row and the lady bug.  The scary pumpkin is Ethan and the clown one is Mayah' and then Rachel's lady bug.  They had NO help at all one these. 

 Ethan, Ashly, Mayah and Hailey.  Cute painted pumpkins.

 This was SO funny.  Caleb wanted to scare the little kids so he got all decked out and sat in this chair while we had the kids go over to that area. He sat SO still and didn't even move a wink.  But his timing was off and he didn't scare them before they figured it out.

 That pumpkin looks like it just threw up.

 Zach helping Ethan take a ride on our sickly go cart.  Can't seem to get that thing running right.

 Another picture of the pumpkins.

 Rachel getting out the guts.

 Ethan carving.

 Mayah getting ready to dig in and grab the nasties.

 Caleb (14) headed to his first dance.  This kid is getting SO TALL.  I think he is 5'11".  DANG.

 Our cool homemade Halloween decorations.


But for today?  My 14 year old went to his first church dance.  OH YIKES.  I can't believe it.  I can't believe I have a 14 year old. When he gets home tonight I am taking him out for a milkshake.  HE LOVES CHOCOLATE SHAKES.  And that is my RAK for today.

Today the younger kids made halloween decorations and I taped them to the ceiling to make it look like they are flying.  There are ghosts, bats, and witches.  We also put some pumpkin pictures on the walls.  It really looks cool around here now.  Then we made sugar cookies in the shape of pumpkins.  It was fun.

The kids and I also went to the corner to try and sell the pumpkins that they grew.  NO LUCK at all.  We didn't have a single sale.  Poor kids.  OH well. 

We spent a bit of time outside trying to clean up a bit.  We round up some of the hoses and put things away to get ready for the winter.  OOOHHH I don't like the sound of that.  I am enjoying the fall.  I love this weather BUT I do miss the beautiful fall colors of Virginia.  That was breath taking.

Day 15, 16 and 17

I have let three days go by without blogging about our RAK's.  YIKES.  I can't believe how quickly the days pass.  It makes me sad.  I can't stop time and things just go and go and go.  Monday and Tues.  were not really any planned days for my RAK's.  I can't even remember if I did anything other than the same ole' stuff I always do...study, study, study. 

But yesterday as I was studying my scriptures and reading a conference talk I had the thought that I needed to go eat lunch at school with Ethan.  He took cold lunch so I decided to take cold lunch too.  I really needed to keep studying but I stopped and did as I felt I needed.  He has been getting into some trouble at school lately.  He was SO excited when he saw me.  He clung to me.  After we ate he wanted me to go outside and be with him during recess too.  As we were walking outside a couple of kids ran up to him and wanted him to go play but he wanted to stay with me.  I LOVE the age where your kids actually WANT you to come to the school.  My 4th, 2nd and 1st graders all want me to come.  SO I am good for a little longer.  PHEW....

I am so grateful I went to have lunch with him.  He was really happy.  And when I got home I went right to work on my studying and I was amazed at how much I was able to get done.  I know it was because I followed through with the prompting I had.  We should never ignore those promptings.  When we listen I honestly believe the Lord makes up the difference of what else we could be doing during that time.  God uses us to bless those around us and I love it when I can help someone else.

Days 13 and 14

I got the RAK idea from Pinterest.  They put pictures to each of their posts which makes it so much better but I was having issues uploading so am just going to leave them off.  Yesterday we had a family get together and had a potato gathering where each family made a potato dish.  It was fun.  We painted and carved pumpkins.  So we didn't get around to doing any RAK's. 

But today we made cookies for someone that gave the three boys a haircut.  I am fine cutting their hair but they have someone in the family that they really enjoy having their hair cut from we had him over to cut their hair and we decided today to pay him back with cookies.  Zach made the dough and I baked them.  We made andes mint cookies and chocolate chip walnut. 

Day 11 and 12

Last  night we got pizza and for our RAK's we decided to eat in front of the t.v. and watch a show.  We rarely do that and the kids LOVED it.  I have been focusing a little more on my little family for the RAK's.  Today I went and picked the younger kids up from school (which is also rare) and we came home and made carmeled apples dipped in sprinkles or pecans.  They really enjoyed that.  Ethan even game me two hugs and thanked me for it. 

Caleb and Zach have been working atleast 3 nights per week with an older gal in our ward.  She is such a sweet lady.  I think she is around 87 but man she can work.  They have been trimming trees, moving rocks, weeding, walking the dog, cleaning the yard, cleaning garage and house. 

They finally finished everything up.  She called me last night at 10 p.m. to ask if the boys could walk over to her physcial therapy appt after school and wait for her there.  It was very close to both of their schools so that was perfect.  She took the boys to visit a couple of ladies in our ward that are in a nursing home.  They share the same room so that is very convenient.  Then she took them out to eat at Kentucky Fried Chicken to get the all you can eat.....and she even got them a milkshake as well as a pop.  Caleb will do almost anything for a choc. milkshake.  :)

 I am grateful for her example to my kids.  The boys would walk beside her to keep her steady because she occasionally lost her balance and would fall.  She told me of a time when her dogs leash got tangled up around her legs and she started to lose her balance and how amazinly fast Caleb reacted and caught her before she fell.  She really taught them about work and boosted their self esteem with her encouraging comments.  She told Caleb he was better than a machine and told him every day how much she wished he could drive so he could take her to visit her daughter an hour away.  She loved how much Zach would talk and she wanted to adopt him.  She had a lot of good things to say about the boys.  I am a little sad they are done.  I think she gets lonely.  Her husband is a farmer so he is gone pretty much all day.  What an awesome opportunity for my boys. 

Day 10

Today for my RAK's I volunteered in my daughters class at school.  They were having a bike unit in their P.E. class.  The kids rode bikes in and out of cones. They had a lot of fun.  Not sure where the P.E. teacher got all those bikes and helmets but it was pretty cool. 

Didn't get much studying done today.  My head is about to explode with information that I can't keep straight.  It is exactly like learning a foreign language.  I read through the info and reread it over again and still don't get it.  :)  When I told one of the professors that I study about 5 hrs a day he wanted to know what chapter I was on.  When I told him chapter 4 he thought I was taking WAY too long on each chapter.  So he told me to not worry so much about reading the book but to try and skim through it and find the key terms and answer the questions on the study guide.  I have started to do that but I don't get it all when I do that.  I am going to try to read a bit more to see if I can go through it faster but still do what he wants me to do.

I am going to have a party when this class is over.  I can't wait.  But then I have read a few comments on FB from other students at WGU and they were complaining about how hard the next class is...which is college algebra/geometry.  UGH....Thank goodness we do one class at a time.  What a relief for that.

Days 8 and 9

Yesterday for our RAK's we gave a box of Ding Dongs with a note that said..."you have been DING DONG ditched".  It is a pretty funny story actually.  Caleb and Zach were so willing to run it up to the door of someone in our ward.  They live out in the country so it was easy to park near some hay bails.  I waited and watched as the boys walked toward the house.  Zach ran back and said he didn't think they should do it because the dog was barking.  I reassured him that the dog was fenced in the back yard.  So he ran back to catch up with Caleb and I watched and heard them knock on the door and run....they were fast. BUT...they ran into an empty field on the side of their home.  I was thinking they would run toward the road and hide behind one of the trees. 

I was wanting them to come back to the car because no one was answering the door and I didn't know how long it would take before anyone noticed.  They waited in the field for what seemed like quite a while.  The dog was barking the whole time.  Then the back yard light goes on and the father was walking quickly to his barn.....I started to get a bit nervous wondering what plans he had.  LOL.....Then Zach finally said...HI brother ______.  The father looked over at the field then said

Father:  What are you doing?
Zach:  Ding Dong ditching you.
Father:  WHAT?
Zach:  Ding Dong ditching you.
(I don't think the father knew what that was)
Zach told him it was on the front door so they went to see and got their goodies and went inside.

When the boys came back to the car I asked them about it and they said their son heard a knock but didn't see anyone so he went and grabbed his bat.  He was in his boxers.  I'm pretty sure I know what the dad was headed for but thankfully he didn't get that far.

We were all laughing pretty hard on the way home.  I felt bad for scaring them so I texted them to apologize.  They thought it was hilarious and the boys sister actually said, "who needs a guard do when you have a hormonal teenage boy".  They had quite the laugh as well.

I guess we got caught but still random and kind right?


Today....well let's just say I didn't do one.  I know....slacker right?  Does driving my mom to an activity tonight count since she hates driving at night?  HMMMM I think is sounds pretty good but it wasn't planned and it wasn't on my list.  So maybe I can just remain a slacker for the day.  BESIDES I had a very bad mommy evening where I wasn't patient with the kids.

I say that is grounds for the WORST MOMMY AWARD.  I receive that award quite often.  Glad I am good at something.

Day 7 and 8

Yesterday the kids wanted me to drive them around the neighborhood to do their fundraiser.  I really didn't want to but I decided for my random acts that I would do it.  There are so many kind people and 12 people bought something from them so they can help raise money for their school and also get a small prize. Plus we got to meet a neighbor for the first time and he was super nice.  I was embarrassed that I had never gone and introduced ourselves. 

Don took Caleb to the Priesthood session of conference last night so instead of putting kids to bed at their normal time I let them stay up later and we got on you tube and pulled up one of their favorite songs and we sang and sang and sang our hearts out.  We got pretty good at the really fast part of the song.  I was glad to keep the random acts in the family yesterday and today.  Today when putting the kids to bed I read two stories AND told them a long story.  Some nights we don't get a story in....some nights only one.....some I just tell a small story but tonight I wanted to do a little extra. 

Day 5

Today our random acts was leaving a halloween container of candy for the mail lady.  I hope it made her day.  I don't even know her name and I don't even think I know what she looks like.  Isn't that horrible?  But we all know chocolate makes everything better. 

I'm doing chapters 3 and 4 this week in my Government class.  In chapter 4 alone there are close to 50 key terms I need to know.  AHHH fear is setting in again. 

We did Articles of Faith for scriptures tonight.  My kids amaze me with how fast they can memorize them.  Caleb and Rachel know them all.  Ethan is super close.  I think he needs one more.  Zach is working on it.  He knows 13 so that is cool.  The middle ones are a little challenging for him.  Mayah know about 6 or 7 of them.  I even used one of the Articles of Faith for a question I had to answer for Government.  It asked about the First Amendment and which I thought was the most important.  I wrote about the Freedom of Religion.  And I used "We claim the privilege of worshipping almighty God according to the dictates of our on conscience and allow all men the same privilege; let them worship how, where or what they may.  Isn't it awesome that in America we have the right to worship the way we want?

Tomorrow is conference.  I love conference.   It is a bit of a challenge trying to keep kids occupied but we manage and we don't make them sit through all of the talks but we provide games and things to keep them busy so hopefully they will choose to sit there with us.  After scriptures tonight Don had everyone think of an idea that would help them to focus on conference.  Everyone thought of one idea and we will try to incorporate them into our day. 

Day 4 of RAK's

Today I didn't get much done in the way of studying.  I feel so guilty when that happens.  But I guess it will happen.  It feels so good not to study but I know it is still there waiting for me to finish it.  I watched the debate last night.  I LOVE Romney's ideas.  He rocked it last night.  He had such great success in Massechusettes and I believe he could do the same for our country.  As I am learning more about government in my online class and learning and trying to memorize all the amendments I am seeing how far this country has gotten away from the things our founding fathers put into place.  It is sad.  I really do think the smaller the government the more freedom for the people. 

For my randoms acts today the kids and I took dinner to a friend for her birthday.  Well her b-day was Sunday so this was a late birthday dinner.  We made cream cheese chicken enchilladas and apple snicker salad (I added carmel sauce to the top this time).  YUM.......

Beyond grateful

My RAK for the day was sending a card to someone.  I enjoyed a lesson at church and wanted to thank this person for their lesson.

You know how you go through life and the troubles you face sometimes seem more than you can handle.  Even though we are told that we will not be given more than we can handle....sometimes it is all I can do to just keep going.  I read one of the best talks ever yesterday for scriptures.  It was by one of my favorites....Jeffrey R. Holland, "Broken Things to Mend".  As I sat there listening to Paul Cardalls music and reading that talk I didn't want to do anything else.  I wanted that feeling to stay that way forever.  I wanted to forget about everything else and just remain with the feelings of the spirit. I LOVE reading my scriptures or studying a subject while listening to Cardalls piano music.  It is some of the most peaceful music. 

Yes I admit I am going through some of the hardest trials I have had to face.  And yes I admit there are times I turn from God.  I stop praying...reading....pondering.  My attitude turns crappy.  I hate it when I do that.  But I am so so eternally grateful that he never turns from us.  He is always there for us.  He hears and He knows.  And I need to follow Him just like the talk I read yesterday said to do.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

I love it when Elder Holland said...The Savior is saying trust me, learn of me, do what I do.  Then when you walk where I am going we can talk about where you are going, and the problems you face and the troubles you have.  If you will follow me, I will lead you out of darkness.  He promises.  I will give you answers to your prayers.  I will give you rest to your souls. 

He also says:

If you are lonely, please know you can find comfort.
If you are discouraged, please know you can find hope.
If  you are poor in spirit, please know you can be strengthened.
If you feel you are broken, please know you can be mended.

I have felt all of those and still do.  But I know that turning away from God only makes things worse....even if we feel that He doesn't hear us or answer us.  I know He does.  I know.  Many times it might not be in the way we want or expect.  But we can know that it is for our good and the Lord has a plan for us.  And that plan will help lead and guide us back to live with Him.  If He were to give us everything we asked for it could lead us off the path and make it harder to reach Him and return to Him.

He knows the way because He is the way.  (I love that)  Be not afraid, only BELIEVE.

The gospel gives me so much hope.  It gives me an understanding of what we need to do in order to get where we need to go.  It brings peace.  It is for imperfect people.  It is true.  I have felt it over and over and over.  And I am so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I am blessed.

RAK's day 2

I texted my sister to see if she had any tortilla shells.  She only had corn.  Then I asked if she had any tortilla chips.  She had half a bag.  She asked if we wanted to borrow them but I didn't answer.  Instead I grabbed the crockpot of chicken nachos and took her dinner.  I was just making sure she had the chips to go along with it. 

My sister is just awesome.  She is such a hard worker.  Despite the fact that she has alot of pain in her heel and elbow she still works extremely hard....physically.  She is amazing.  She has gotten alot of praise at her new temp job working for the city.  They want to keep her on but she needs to get her CDL.  She is a single mom and I knew she would enjoy not having to cook dinner. 

I am LOVING this RAK's stuff.  It is super fun.  I recommend it to all.

RAK's

I have decided to do another round of RAK's or Random Acts of Kindess for the month of Oct.  I am shooting for one thing per day.  I have written down a few ideas and hopefully do one a day for a total of 31.  It is SO fun to think of things to do and even more fun to carry them out.  So for today I sent a text to a middle schooler for her birthday.  Not a big thing but still an act of kindness in my book.  I'm trying to stay simple and cheap since the online class I am taking is VERY HARD.

It has been a LONG time since I have been in school.  I have my AA degree and a tad more but that was 16 years ago.  YIKES time flies.  My first class was exciting and intersting and fun.  It was Health and Wellness.  I passed the class with a 91%.  My new class...oh I almost dread it.  I am having a hard time living my life normally.  There are so many other things I want to do right now.  I want to pick the tomatoes and turn them into salsa or sauce or something before it freezes outside.  I want to preserve our zucchini.  The pumpkins need tending.  I want to have a cleaner home and spend more time in the kids' classes.  I want to organize.  I want to be a better preparer or healhty dinners. 

And yet I need to study...and that is what I have been doing almost all day every day....expect I take it easy on Saturday and I don't study on Sunday.  My schedule kind of looks like this:

I wake up at 6 and get kids up.  I make breakfast and get older two out the door at 7:15.  I do an exercise video (sometimes Rachel will join me) and then get the younger three out the door at 8:15.  Once eveyone leaves I study my scriptures and check email and FB.  Then at about 9:00 or 9:30 I start my studies for the day.  I stop for lunch and then again when I have to go pick up kids at 2:30.  If Don picks them up I continue on until about 4:30 when the younger ones get off the bus.  If I pick up the kids I come home and begin studying again for a bit until 4:30.  I stop at that time and help kids with homework and get dinner on the table and then we do scriptures and prep for bed.  If I have enough energy I will study a little at night before bedtime.  I ususally get to bed at 11:00. Sometimes later....just depends. 

So my ideas for the RAK's is going to have to be things I can do quickly or on weekends.  I am going to get the kids involved and there is one that Don will help me do.  I am sooooo excited.  I will definately have to share my ideas each day....if I can fit it in.

Oh and back to my online class.  It is a government class on the Constitution.  I have memorized the preamble to the constitution and have done chapters one and two....but need to really learn more about what each amendment is.  I can hardly keep all of this straight and I have 12 more chapters left.  This stuff really phyches me out.  Don keeps telling me to say I CAN DO THIS I CAN DO THIS I CAN DO THIS.  So if you randomly hear me saying that you will know why.  I have to play these mind games.  If I don't I start to almost panick.  I have only six weeks left of this class and I am a little scared.....ok terrified...panicky.....AHHHH it is like learning a foreign language.  I really don't like math too much but give me math over this any day. 

If you feel so inclined please add me to your prayers.  I have been praying for a super power brain to learn all of this but so far I haven't been given one.  Do you think it is unreasonable to pray for such a thing?  I DON'T.  :)

OK it is 9:30....I wonder if I have it in me to do some more studying.  Do you know what Federalism is?  What do you know about the Articles of Confederation?  What president was huge in helping the first African American man get into a university in the south?  Do you know how many articles we have in the constition?  How many amendments?  Which amendments are the Bill of Rights?  What year did America actually recieve its indepence?  And no it isn't July 4, 1776. 

Phew...now do you hear what I'm saying about this class?  They really think I am going to be able to learn all of this?  HEHEHE  I know this stuff is very important.  I think everyone should have to learn this.  It should be required to take in highschool.  I am learning more about Ronald Raegan. I really really like him.  I love what he stood for.  I agree with alot of his ideas.  I wonder if they could show his debate (if that is what they called it then) before the Pres. debates this Wed.  He was awesome.  George Washington is what kind of Pres we need again. 

I am learning so much.  I have always had a hard time sitting still for so long.  I am ALWAYS doing and on the go.  I have to be with five kids.  So sitting for five or more hours at a time learning something that is difficult for me is a challenge and is teaching me more than just patience.  I am grateful for this opportunity to go back to school and get my BA.