A Drive Through the Countryside

Sam and Chris

I was talking to my good friend Jane from Utah last night and was again surprised at how difficult it is to explain what life is like for us now. I really didn't understand until I started living it myself. Life is slower, yet still busy for basic family things. People are nicer, almost everyone holds the door open for each other. I've even had to convince people in line that they really were there before me and I have not been flipped off or honked at on the road yet, even though I never know where I'm going.

Nayna

One weird thing about living here is that the sky seems HUGE! There are no mountains to judge where I am at in the world. In the Phoenix Metro Valley there are mountains surrounding the valley that let you know where you are at. In Flagstaff we could always tell where we were based on the mountains and hills. Here in the Ozarks, it all looks the same! Every farm road and rolling hill looks exactly the same. Directions are given by stores and man-made landmarks as well as odd things like "stump of that big oak" on the corner of Farm Road 79 and Highway Z. I'm learning to give the right directions so people can find our house.

For all my Arizona friends and family, I thought you might enjoy a little view of "God's Country" as everyone calls it here. This is a small clip of a civil war driving tour we took a couple miles from our home. All our Missouri friends will just think we are being silly video taping the trees. LOL! It is about how Arizonans feel when people take pictures of themselves in front of cactus.



Beautiful isn't it!?! If only it was as cool (temperature) as it looks. It was actually a very humid and muggy day, but we had a blast anyway.

3-D Puzzles

Over a year ago I picked up some 3-D wood puzzles at Michael's craft store. We tried the helicopter but everyone was sick of it after a few hours. Friday I was going through more storage items and finally found some of the homeschool art items I have been looking for, among these items I found the 3-D puzzles. I decided that since everyone is "so bored out of their minds", to bring them inside and just leave them on the table.

Pretty soon Nayna got hooked...

It took a couple of days, but she completed it all by herself.

Book Review: "Phaedo" by Plato

This dialog is longer and is the story of Socrates facing death, and finally taking the poison in prison, surrounded by his friends. The conversation has many interesting subjects, including the existence of the soul and whether it lives on without the body. Many conclusions are correct and many are incorrect. It is truly sad that they did not have scriptures by which to learn the truths that they sought. Rather they leaned unto their own understanding, which had fallacies amongst the truths.

I do believe that Socrates was a great thinker and Plato's records of his teacher and mentor are fascinating. My only warning, like with all of Plato's writings, is to keep your canon close. There are times while I was reading it when I needed to stop and reaffirm the correct stance on spiritual things like the pre-mortal existence of the soul and to cast out teachings of reincarnation. Plato is very convincing and so one must guard against loosing their testimony of certain things, at least that is how it is for me.

I can clearly see where New Age and Humanist worldviews come from and why they are grounded in a few truths amongst their untruths. I'm glad that I read "Understanding the Times" before reading Plato.

Personal Progress Book Holders

For Christmas last year we decided to have a "Home Made Christmas". At first everyone was a bit dismayed and then it turned to confusion over what anyone could possibly make that anyone would want. In the end, it ended up being one of our best Christmas' ever! We got some pretty neat stuff. I also noticed that everyone was more interested in what they gave than what they got.

Personal Progress Book Holder
One of the gifts that Sam made for Nayna was this Personal Progress Book Holder. It folds out, having three pockets for Personal Progress book and journal, For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, and the Young Women Camp manuals. Nayna also has a small Book of Mormon in hers.

I found instructions on how to make them here. I decided to make one to try out the instructions. These instructions call for two pieces of fabric and Sam made the one above with only one piece. Obviously the two pieces takes longer, but I like how it turned out.

My fabric is not as cute as Nayna's. I just used left over scraps from the pioneer clothing we made for past treks. I was thinking it would even be cute to make patchwork covers with any scraps we have around. I was thinking it would be cute to personalize them with buttons, appliqué flowers, their name, etc.

I definitely want to do this as a Young Women activity with my Beehives. They all complained about how they can't find their books. Maybe this will help. ;-)

Modesty and Virtue

I have been thinking a lot about this topic and was considering writing a post when I saw this post at Being a Mother Who Knows. I don't think I can say it any better.

I would like to add that I found this little book that has 10 "Truth or Bare?" fashion tests. We implemented these little tests a few years ago with Sam and Nayna. It has worked really well for quick judgements on clothes. However, after reading the post I mentioned above, I would add that we do need to prayerfully consider not just our clothing, but our behavior.

From Bored to Busy

Nayna and Chris' Art - A Combined Effort

I don't know why I always do this, but every time we move to a new place I always feel like we will be eternally bored. Yet in a matter of weeks or a few months our lives are just as busy and hectic as they always are. This move is no different!

We are now busy as bees...

• Callings - Mike is a Sunday School teacher for 16-17 year olds. I am the 2nd Counselor in Young Women's. Chris is 2nd Counselor in Deacons.
• Weekly - Nayna (changed from Marly, she doesn't like Marly anymore) will be in homeschool choir. Chris is still hoping the football team works out. Plus, we have weekly park days for socialization and our Mutual activities.
• Monthly - TJED Teens Club, book colloquium, scout campouts, Temple trips, and church dances (called Super Saturday's here).
• Work - Mike is still working 60-70 hours a week. I am starting my part-time substitute teaching job.
• Volunteering - I am organizing several events including a Face-to-Face with Greatness seminar in October and trying to recruit other speakers for this area. Chris and Nayna help with that as well.
• Daily - Of course we are still homeschooling. I am only working 1-2 days a week. The kids will have their tasks to complete and will suffer the consequences if they have not completed them.

Considering that the St. Louis Temple is a 3.5 hour drive each way and we are trying to go once a month, which takes up a whole Saturday (and 1 1/2 tanks of gas), then I think we have successfully booked all our weekends. LOL! At least the yard is cared for by the owner. I thought our Flagstaff house had a lot of mowing, but Missouri is a whole other story...it MUST be mowed every week or it is a jungle.

Second "Freebie Fairy" Visit

Wow! More Freebie Fairy gifts...

Chris was so happy to have a new "game stand" and shelf unit for his room. He also was the beneficiary of the closet shoe organizer, which he just needs to use now that we have it. I think he is the worst offender of the "where's my shoes?" family rule.