Farm Update

It's been a minute since I gave a farm update.

We have spent a lot of time on the farm this year.

My house looks like a hurricane went through it because no one is cleaning it.

We are all outside every day.

I told my niece the other day that at this farm we turn lettuce into money.

That is pretty true.

The farm is holding it's own.

We are paying our bills.

There is not much extra but we are comfortable.

This morning the power was off in the house for some reason and I couldn't do the laundry and dishes I had planned to get done.

I decided to go out and do some weeding.

I spent about three hours outside.

The sun was shining and every once in a while there was a breeze.

I weed wacked the walkways for several rows and then weeded the beans and beets.

It was so quiet and peaceful out there. 

I love living on this farm.

Right now we have squash getting ready and I am excited to make zucchini bread this coming week.

Out in the field we have broccoli, cauliflower, beans, beets, three kinds of squash, peas, turnips, onions, bok choy, pumpkins, and lots and lots of lettuce.

Things in the greenhouse have slowed a lot but we have cucumbers, kale, squash, and some beets.

We are planning on replanting everything in the greenhouse in the next few weeks for fall.

North Face at Alyeska

I've had North Face on my bucket list for a while and today we finally did it.

It was cloudy when we left home but I figured it would burn off.

It did a little bit when we started out but by the time we got to about mile 1.6 on the trail it started raining.

The mosquitoes were quite awful as well, but it was totally worth it.

The cool thing about this trail is that after you climb 2.2 miles basically straight up gaining over 2000 ft, you don't have to climb down.

There is a tram that you can ride for free at the top.

That was a beautiful thing!

The trail was lovely.

I was a little concerned about bears but a family with four kids and a dog were hiking in front of us and the baby was not happy for a good chunk of the trail so we were definitely safe!

By the time we got to the top were were soaked and there wasn't a good view but we had a great time.

I was especially mindful and grateful for my body today.

Heart issues or not this body is pretty incredible.

I'm grateful it does mostly everything I want it to do.

Crappy Two days

Yesterday I went and picked Jamie up to come over for a sleepover. 

As we were pulling in the driveway I told her that there were giant marshmallows in the field next to our house.

She really thought they were giant marshmallows.

They sure look like it.

It would be pretty fun to live in a world with giant marshmallows.

Monday I met with my cardiologist and got a lot of unwanted answers.

I can not have any surgery to help with the excessive bleeding that is making me anemic because my heart is not strong enough.

I do not have heart disease but I do have a heart defect that I was most likely born with.

It is something that just gets gradually worse over time.

I will have to have heart surgery.

My aortic valve has to be replaced at some point.

If I was having symptoms right now I would be in surgery but I am not having symptoms yet.

The options are not appealing to me at all.

The tissue option is bad because they fail after about 10 years.

If we choose that option that means that if I live to 80 years old I will have to have that surgery around 4 times.

The other option is mechanical which would last my whole life but I would have to be on blood thinners until I die and not allowed to eat as many green vegetables as I want.

Both options mean a surgeon cuts my chest open, breaks my sternum and works on my heart.

UGH!

For now we are in a waiting pattern.

Unless I start having symptoms.

In six months I have to go and have another ECHO and meet with the cardiologist again to see where we are.

I have been thinking long and hard about what to pray for.

Part of me wants to ask for a miracle.

I want my heart to be whole.

I don't want to have a broken heart.

 I don't know God's will in this, but I do know that He is aware of all of it and He loves me.

I know that it is important to pray for those things that are within His will.

So I have settled on praying that my heart will last as long as possible.

Thirty more years would be awesome.

I am grateful that I know one thing for sure- God LOVES broken things!

 

Family Dinner

We haven't had family dinner for the last 7 months.

There have been many reasons for that.

But today we gathered everyone that could come to celebrate Dallin's return.

It was so fun to be with the nieces and nephews again.

I really love each one of them so much. 

 The best thing that happened is an interesting story. 

Those who came to family dinner showed up and somehow the keys to Mom and Dad's truck got locked inside. 

Under a yellow bag on the center console they sat.

 Just out of reach! 

For a long time many people tried to get the doors to unlocked but they refused to open. 

A new plan was hatched to send Dad home in the vehicle Erin came in and get the extra set of keys and head back out. 

Well, extra set of keys were no where to be found.

 Then Dallin and I were able to work a back window open enough and he had a brilliant idea to pull the bag off the center console with the coat hanger used earlier and then hook the keys. 

The fisher of men is now the fisher of keys and Mom and the two kids with her finally got to go home. 

Pretty epic ending to an eventful evening! 

The Things of Eternity

Matt got a call about two weeks ago from Larissa.

She is the daughter of our friends and she asked Matt to come to Seattle and baptize her.

He couldn't say no.

These are the things that really matter.

These are the things of eternity.

She is 13 (same age as Corban) and has taken the missionary lessons and she wanted to baptized.

It was beautiful that she asked Matt to do it.

He caught a flight at 130 in the morning Saturday, went and visited with Larissa's dad for a little while, went to the baptism and then had a chance to do some work in the Seattle temple. 

Then he hopped back on another plane and 9 pm and was home by 1 am.

It is a miracle to me the day that we live in.

There are planes to take up hundreds of miles in one day, temples that dot the earth everywhere and chances to bless the lives of those around us everywhere.

I am grateful for a good man as a husband and best friend. 

He is basically a big deal!

 

To Market, To Market

Today was market day and usually Matt takes one of the girls with him.

Well, he was in Seattle doing more important things and so I had to go.

I don't really like to go to the market. 

It's something about standing for hours at a time, smiling a lot, and trying to sell product that exhausts me.

I joke around that I don't like going to market because I don't like having to be nice for that long.

With all that said, it is a really fun market.

The people are all very nice, there is musical performers through out the day and lots of good food every where.

We made pretty good money too and almost sold out.

However, I'll let Matt and the girls do it from now on.

 

Return and Report

Last night, as a family, we went to High Council to hear Dallin report on his mission. 

I am not sure what was better- the homecoming hug or his testimony of the Gospel.

It was so beautiful!

After his report we went to Senor Taco for dinner.

It was fun for me to have these four kiddos back together again.

It's been interesting seeing how everyone is adjusting. 

Corban doesn't want to leave Dallin's side.

He's being very patient with him.

Makenna harasses Dal which is the most normal thing.

And Brittan is just present and talks to him basically when he talks to her.

I am not sure how he is adjusting.

He won't really say.

Regardless, it's good to have him home.

How grateful I am for his testimony and faith.

 

Blueberry Hill

We were going to hike North Face at Girdwood today but we had to be careful about time because Dallin was reporting to the High Council. 

Instead of North Face we decided to do Blueberry Hill and it was so good. 

There was this bench, once we got to the top of the first incline, that was pretty high off the ground and was reclining a little bit. 

The entire hike was so good but I probably liked relaxing and swinging my feet on the bench the best. 

After we had gone almost the entire hike I realized how many different kinds of flowers we had seen.

Then we started counting and taking pictures.

We found over 30 varities.

It was SO awesome!

Here are pictures of 18 kinds- 

 Alaska in the summer truly is the most magical place to be!

Best Day Ever!

Last night at 1150 pm my boy walked through security at the airport and back into my arms.

I didn't realize how much a mess I would be.

I literally ugly cried into his shoulder.

I missed him terribly bad.

He got taller which I didn't think was possible.

I think he is probably 6'4 now. 

He is such a blessing to my heart.

It felt so good to crawl into bed around 2 am and know that four of my five children were safely tucked in their beds under our roof.

I'm excited to see what he does with his life.

But mostly I am just so glad to him home!

 

Weekend Recap

This weekend has really been a spiritual feast.

I love those kinds of weekends!

Saturday night we were invited to a private concert with Garth Smith.

He's such a great guy.

Super down to earth.

I loved meeting his wife Diane as well. 

Then on Sunday we attended the fireside all about the hymns and their sacred nature.

I sang the song I Know That My Redeemer Lives accompanied by Garth. 

I felt privileged for the opportunity to bear my testimony of the Savior through music. 

Also-

Dallin comes home tomorrow!

And Corban found his incredibly tall fireweed outside

 

Full Day

Thursdays hikes continued yesterday.

Kenna and I went up April bowl.

It was seriously so beautiful.

I wish it would stay summer so much longer then it does.

And for me it was a MUCH needed trip away from the farm and people in general. 

I'm feeling considerable amounts of stress trying to find a new normal with Matt working from home and all our income coming from the fields that we have planted. 

We had a quick but great hike. 

It was also Dallin's birthday!

 After hiking we went and grabbed some hugs from Afton who was playing at the park. 

I have no idea what is going on with my neck in this picture.

It's freaky.

But Afton is adorable!

And to end the day Matt and I went to the temple and then out to eat dinner with Matt and Jeri afterwards. 

It was a good day.

 

 

Early Morning

This morning as I bowed my head in prayer I thanked Heavenly Father for summer in Alaska.

There are moments when I feel filled with so much gratitude that I feel like there is no way to properly express it.

I've learned recently a few interesting things in the scriptures connected to gratitude. 

When ever someone 'gave thanks' it was almost always preceded by an offering made.

This morning my offering was waking up early, seeing the mist on the lake, walking down to enjoy it and sharing it here.

Not sure if that is a good enough offering but we don't really do animal sacrifices anymore. :)

We have 5 days until Dallin comes home.

Last night Matt got a phone call and emails from a man in the ward that Dallin has been serving in for the last 6 months.

He expressed his love and joy for our son.

He talked about his testimony and how Dal helped him come back and not feel like he was worthless.

I cried when I read the emails.

How do I make an offering of thanks for that boy?

Yesterday I had a doctors appointment. 

My iron levels are up from 7 to 12.7.

That is a relief.

Nothing can be done about my uterus misbehaving until my heart issues are fixed so...

we wait until the 23rd for the cardiologist appointment. 

Until then I am going to keep on keeping on.

Packing lettuce, studying the Book of Mormon, hiking, spending time with my family and loving this life here on the farm. 

Strawberries

Yesterday morning I checked on the strawberry plants that I moved from the field into the planter boxes that line the greenhouse.

I was delighted to see a bright red strawberry hanging there.

I quickly ate it and remembered how wonderful they are.

We don't have thousands of plants this year.

In fact the back patch is covered in weeds and I am not even sure we will see many berries from there.

But that one was amazing.

I am taking President Nelson's challenge to do a week long social media fast.

I will admit- I only have finished one day and it's really hard for me.

I caught twice yesterday mindlessly scrolling.

I didn't even remember opening the app!

One thing I have noticed already is that my mind is more focused.

That seems weird, but I was thinking about it in bed this morning when I woke up.

I feel like scrolling through facebook and instagram overloads me with information.

It makes my brain kind of frantic.

I don't know.

It's weird.

I really like both those social media outlets though.

I love connecting with people I love through social media and seeing their lives.

It will be interesting how the rest of the week plays out.

7 days left.

Dallin emailed yesterday and asked that only his dad and I be at the airport.

At first I was confused about that.

I asked him why and he said it was mostly for selfish reasons.

He said he wants to just be us and him before he gets back in the swing of things.

I can appreciate that.

I also secretly am so, so happy about it.

I didn't want to have to fight for his attention at the airport.

Problem solved!

Nine Days

It's been two years.

It has actually gone pretty quickly.

The first six months were the hardest.

Finding his laundry in the wash or having to pass his car parked in the driveway every day. 

But then life just moved along.

His emails were always short.

He rarely answered my questions.

He almost never sent pictures.

I had to scour other missionaries blogs to find pictures of him.

Members of the wards he served in sent me texts with pictures.

He was always a person of few words so I didn't expect too much.

While he's gone I've gotten more grey.

The kids have all grown up.

We had some really hard, stretching experiences.

When I think about seeing him come through the security hall and wrapping him in my arms I immediately tear up.

He has always been and will always be a comfort to this mother's heart.

I wish every mom could have a son like Dallin.

I feel unworthy and blessed to be his mom.

Nine more days.

Only nine more days!

Thursday Hike: Gold Cord Lake Trail aka Hidden Lake

I was excited to go up to Hatcher Pass today after we got over 430 lbs of lettuce packaged for the week.

Whew!

It was beautiful and warm today so they snow at the top and the frozen lake were welcomed.

Corban's protocol for hiking is complain all the way up and run all the way down.

Kenna and I decided to try to beat him down by taking a short cut.

That resulted in a very upset thirteen year old that thought his mother had abandoned him.

No worries.

Little Millers made it all better.

It was gorgeous up there.

Unfortunately, my selfie lenses seems to be dirty or something, but here are some pictures anyway.

 On the way off the mountain it started to rain and it was beautiful and looked really tropical.

It smelled so good!