Miracles

I have been wanting to write a post about doing This Is Kirtland! because it was such a fabulous experience. However, as I thought about what to write, being in the musical seemed really to be a smaller part of a story about miracles.
I first did This Is Kirtland! two years ago during our first full summer here in Cleveland. Although I did some drama in high school and often sang in choirs, I still suffered from terrible stage fright. It took all of my courage to even audition and get up on that stage to sing for the director and music coordinator. I was given the role of Thankful Pratt, Parley P. Pratt's wife.
Parley led a fascinating life and pretty much everything we know about Thankful comes from his autobiography. If you've never read it, give it a try. There are some really great and uplifting stories from his life. Anyway, he and Thankful were married for ten years. She was sick much of that time, he was gone at least part of each year on missions and he and Thankful were unable to have children. They suffered many hardships and poor Parley always struggled with the decision of whether or not to leave his poor wife to go on a mission when the time came. It was during one of these times of indecision that Parley and Thankful received a blessing that if Parley went on his mission, Thankful would be healed and they would have a son. The blessing was honored. Parley left on a mission and when he returned three months later to replenish supplies before returning to Canada he found Thankful completely healed of the tuberculosis that had plagued her for years. She was able to go with him back to Canada and a year later they had a son, Parley Jr. Thankful died three hours after giving birth and her grave is here in Kirtland.
I really resonated with Thankful's story. We had just finished a very difficult year in which I had sometimes felt the bad news would never end. We had endured a robbery, we had moved to a new place where I was having a hard time feeling like I fit in, we had had to short sell the house that we owned and lost not only our credit, but thousands of dollars that we had to pay to seal the deal. The house that we were renting seemed determined to break every major appliance (see this former post) and of course Marc was an intern so was never home, ever. To top it all off, we had just found out that because of the new healthcare legislation and increasing costs, our insurance would no longer be covering IVF. This meant we would have to save twice as much money on an already strapped budget if we wanted to have another child.
This Is Kirtland! was a lifesaver. I got to be with wonderful people and to sing, which I love. I confess that I was not fabulous at my role. I think I was still just grateful to get through my scene without shaking too badly but being a part of it really blessed my life. Then, about a month after the musical was over we found out that  little Benjamin would be joining our family in April. We were blown away. A spontaneous pregnancy, we had been told, was an impossibility. We couldn't believe this miracle had happened to us. A few months later, our van died in spectacular fashion. The money we had saved for IVF was needed to purchase a vehicle for our family. Again, we saw the Lord's hand in our lives.
I wasn't able to do the show in 2011 because I was very busy with a fussy, but well-loved, newborn. This year, as I contemplated auditioning again for This Is Kirtland! we were also considering what to do about our family. Marc would be starting his chief residency in July which would mean that we would once again receive IVF coverage. Everyone figured that Benjamin was just a million-to-one shot and that we would still need IVF for any future children. We decided we would go ahead and do it as soon as we had enough money. We knew that likely wherever we moved next year would be remote and we wouldn't have access to infertility treatments. I also decided to go ahead and audition for This Is Kirtland! Marc's schedule was going to be crazy, but I just really felt like our family would be blessed even though it would take most of my weeknights and Saturday mornings May-July. As I auditioned and read the various parts, I realized that I really wanted to be Thankful again. I felt like I could do a really great job this year and there is just something about Thankful that I love. When the cast list came out, I was thrilled to find out I was indeed Thankful and that some of my closest friends from 2010 were returning this year even though they weren't in the musical last year either.
This year has also been full of miracles. Doing This Is Kirtland! got me through the sadness of my two closest friends moving away, one of them with only about a month's worth of warning. We had a fabulous run. The vocal talent, orchestra and dancers were just amazing. As a cast, we were asked repeatedly after performances how many of us had been "flown in from Salt Lake". It was a real pleasure to inform audience members that this was a local, Kirtland Stake production. (Okay, Jon is from the Akron Stake, but I think by now he is an honorary Kirtland Stake member.)
Here are a few pictures from the show:
Thankful and Parley have a scene in which, once again, Parley is agonizing over whether or not he can leave his sick wife and go on a mission. He's also worried about a house that he is in the middle of building, some serious debts he hasn't repaid, and the fact that they are so destitute he doesn't even own a coat or a hat for traveling. Thankful urges Parley to go, knowing that the Lord will provide even when things seem impossible.

Then, the half-built house promptly burns down. Parley is completely distraught but, after an initial reaction of despair, Thankful starts hysterically laughing. She realizes the house burning down is the Lord's way of solving Parley's dilemma. Now there is no house to worry about! Problem solved! Parley remains the straight man as, one by one, his doubts are all taken care of. Thankful just can't help herself and the other characters aren't sure what to think about her joy, or possibly hysteria?, in the face of tragedy.

When someone brings Parley a coat and hat, it is just one too many miracles and Thankful falls on the floor laughing. Our little scene is definitely comic relief and so fun to play.

After Parley and the rest of the men leave on their missions, the women sing a song about taking care of each other. It's one of my favorites. This year, I had a little two line duet with Emma aka my friend Tiffany. I was really nervous about having my voice exposed even for a short time, but I did it!

This photo is just after the final dance during the celebration feast after all the men have returned from their missions. Huzzah!

As if being part of an incredible show wasn't enough, our family has received yet another miracle this summer. In preparation for IVF, we had scheduled some testing that needed to be redone before we could qualify for coverage. The day that the testing was supposed to start, we found out that we are expecting our fifth child. This miracle, for us, is almost too much. We can't explain why we have been so blessed, but we are so so grateful. I am twelve weeks along now, due on February 17th.
For us, this moment is bittersweet only because we have family and friends who are waiting for their own baby miracles and we know how painful that waiting can be. However, I have strong reason to hope that we will be hearing good news from them soon. After all, what better year for miracles to be born than lucky 2013?

Bathing Beauties

My boys have loved to going to Miss Debbie's pool this summer. Miss Debbie is our very kind neighbor with an in-ground pool that she lets the neighborhood use. The first time we went, I didn't bring my camera and I was sad that I didn't get pictures of the awesome things my boys wear in the pool. Never fear, last week I came armed with my trusty Canon and got these pictures.

Note there is only one picture of David John. He spent most his time circling the pool agonizing about whether or not to get in. He finally got in for the last fifteen minutes and then didn't want to leave... typical.

Elijah loves the water and is very faithful about wearing his "sun scream". Marc got a sunburn the other day, and Elijah chastised him, "You should have used sun scream Dad. Then you wouldn't get burned."

Gabe was preparing to jump off the diving board in a feat of unparalleled daring. Can't you tell?

Benjamin is a water baby. He kicks around like a pro and even climbed out of his flotation device twice. We caught him and pulled him out but both times his face went in the water briefly. He was totally unfazed. 

By the end he was just using this inner-tube to hold on to and kick around.

Gabe decided to ditch the tube and just go with the floaties. Maybe swim lessons next year?

Even Elijah was getting braver and experimenting with kicking around and using noodles instead of tubes. I'll be happy when they can swim on their own, but I will miss how cute they look with all this gear.

Happy B'Day Bapa

Today is my dad's birthday. I won't say how old he is, just that he is older than David John who turns 3 tomorrow. David John loves having a birthday so close to his Bapa's. All month we've been hearing the following from David John:
"I will tell you a joke."
"Okay..."
"Bapa's birthday in July like me! Bwahahahahahaha!"
Of course we start laughing because of his wild laughter and the fact that his statement is nowhere close to being a joke.
Last weekend, my parents were here just for one day to see the final performance of This Is Kirtland!
Because the performance was a matinee, and my parents had to leave right afterward we decided to have a little breakfast birthday party for Dad and David John on Saturday morning.
We served smoothies and zucchini bread (thanks Mom!) with candles in it. My Dad received photographs and drawings from the grandsons as well as some dark chocolate covered macadamia nuts. David John got a Thomas the Tank Engine backpack with coloring books and two DVDs inside. When he pulled out the first DVD, Hercules, he shouted "I got Percales!" When he pulled out the second DVD, We're Back, he said, "Oh, and spooky movie grownups watch!" Since then we have watched it and he decided it's not so scary or spooky.
Anyway, here are some pictures from the birthday breakfast. I sure love both July birthday boys.

Drawing Out the Best

David John has a very unique style of drawing people that I have been wanting to to preserve. I find that I really enjoy looking back at the drawings from the other boys that I've posted in the past. So, when David John announced, "Mommy I am going to draw you!" I was delighted. Surely, this would be the perfect opportunity to scan in the picture and post it on my blog. Before I show the picture, let me try to describe how David John draws his people so you will be able to tell what is what.
David John never draws a circumscribed head. He starts with two big eyes, hair (if you're lucky) and then draws a straight line underneath the eyes for a mouth. The arms are sometimes impossible to see because they protrude directly out of either side of the mouth and sometimes look like just one continuous line. The legs, likewise, grow directly downward out of the mouth. Can you picture it? I labeled the first drawing in case you can't quite envision it.
So, this is the drawing he proudly brought to me:

"Look, Mommy! I drew you! You are a monster with four legs and one arm!"
Lovely. I guess that must be my monster friend just behind me.
"Thank you, David John. Do you think you could draw a picture of Mommy when I am not a monster?"
"Okay."

A few minutes later he came back with this one:

"Here Mommy. You are big and fat and mean and angry!"
"Wow. Another great drawing! Can you draw one more where I am not a monster or big and fat and mean and angry?"
"*sigh* Okay, Mommy."

Finally, he brought me this picture:

"Look, Mommy, you are not a monster and you are not fat and not angry..."
"Oh, thank you David John! It's just right."
"...but that monster with four legs and the one with just eyes are going to eat you."
How does one respond to that?
My children so often leave me speechless.

Dreams of Spring

Like much of the country, we are experiencing a heat wave. It isn't even that bad here, we are only in the mid-to-high nineties and haven't broken 100. Still, all of this heat has me longing for those cooler Spring days we had just weeks ago. I thought I would post some of my favorite Spring pictures. Maybe mother nature will see them and decide to banish this summer heat in favor of spring-like weather.

What could be better than enjoying the butterflies and lilacs in your own yard?

Our neighbor rescued this little tent which was destined for the trash. My boys swept it out, then moved right in. They are excited to have a place where they can make up their own house rules.

Spring training, anyone?

Hey batter batter!

Nice bunt!

Uncle Sam (my brother, no political reference intended) turned these boys into warriors using cardboard and duct tape.

Swingin' at Grandpa's house.

I think he may be high-centered. A little help?

Elijah enjoyed making Benjamin's car balance on two wheels. Benjamin wasn't so sure if this was a good idea.

On one of our only hot spring days, Benjamin got his first experience with the kiddie pool. It was a big hit.

David John and Benjamin love the big chair swings at our favorite playground, Bexley Park.

It was nothing but blue skies and cool breezes at Gabriel and Elijah's last day of preschool picnic.

 See? Spring was so lovely. Now you'll excuse me while I go turn up the AC. Spring was cheaper too.....

North Dakota, Here We Come

So, I think we may have finally signed the last piece of paperwork sometime last week to make our appointment as a physician in the clinic in Dickinson, ND officially official. Yes folks, in 2013 we will be moving to the Peace Garden State. Now, you may be asking yourself "What is a peace garden?" or maybe "What?!? Are they crazy!?! Isn't it like freezing up there? I have seen the movie Fargo and people died in that movie. Their deaths may or may not have been weather related..."
Don't worry, I will attempt to answer all of your North Dakota-related questions in one handy post, and I will even include some pictures.
Q: How did you guys even find out about a job in North Dakota?
I admit that when we got an email about a job that seemed pretty amazing but didn't list the location I was a little worried about what they were hiding. Usually, this means the job is in the middle of nowhere Alaska or in the deserts of east Texas or the swamps of southern Alabama or something. So, actually, when I heard it was in North Dakota I didn't think anything of it except, "I don't know anything about North Dakota."
After some brief research and looking at pictures I knew two things. 1. North Dakota is the "Peace Garden State" and 2. North Dakotans like to hunt. The clinic sent us pictures of the area meant to entice. There were pictures of beautiful vistas, but also a lot of pictures of dead pheasants.
Q: So, what, you were won over by pictures of dead pheasants? (And really, what IS a peace garden?)
Although the dead pheasants were impressive, it took more than that to win our hearts. They flew us out for an interview at the beginning of May. My parents graciously agreed to watch all four boys while Marc and I went to check it out. (The Peace Garden is a 2,000 plus acre garden that crosses the Canadian border and is maintained by both sides as a symbol of international peace. It is supposed to be pretty cool, and I think it is currently the only way you can visit Canada without a passport. We did not get to visit it on our trip.)
Anyway, we flew into the capitol city, Bismarck. It was a charming airport with just one terminal and four gates. Bismarck is home to just 61,000 people. From there it was a 90 mile drive due west to reach our destination of Dickinson, ND. The drive was lovely and fast and surprising. At one point we said "Holy cow!" and then started laughing because we had spotted Salem Sue:

http://www.realnd.com/salemsueindex.htm

Yes, that is a giant holstein cow. She is 38 feet tall. Like Texas, we got the feeling that things are bigger in North Dakota. Also on our drive we could see one of seven giant steel sculptures that line the "Enchanted Highway". It was really beautiful and quite impressive, entitled "Geese in Flight".

http://www.enchantedhighway.net/

It is listed in Guinness as "world's largest metal sculpture" and weighs in at almost 79 tons. Anyway, as I was saying we had a lovely drive into Dickinson and were met with friendly hospitality. We toured facilities, ate out for every meal, were put up in a lovely town house and were given an awesome gift basket which included some amazing chocolates. Frankly, I think it was the chocolates that won me over. Forget about the great people, awesome schools and incredible community center. They know the way to a woman's heart.

Q: Do North Dakotans have an accent?
Yes, yes they do. It sounds like a mix between Canadian and Minnesotan accents, which makes sense seeing as they border on Canada and Minnesota. Also they use charming phrases like, "Oh, it's about a horse a piece."
Q: Isn't North Dakota far away from... well, everywhere?
Oh, no. Any resident can tell you. "Oh, Dickinson is close to everywhere. It's only 8 hours to Minneapolis, 4 hours to Mount Rushmore, 7 hours to Yellowstone, and 8 hours to Winnipeg! We're just in the middle of everything."
Q: Is there anything to, uh, do? There?
Actually yes. We drove to the badlands which are part of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. They really are close, only thirty minutes away and they are breathtaking. I have a couple of pictures but they just don't do the colors justice. The badlands are populated by roaming bison and running herds of wild ponies. We didn't see the ponies on our trip, but we absolutely saw bison. We also visited Medora, ND home of the Medora Musical. They have some great shops and we sampled some awesome homemade taffy and drooled over some stylin' cowboy boots. Anyway, here are the pictures:

That last one is buffalo chips. We failed to get a picture of the bison, but we have proof he was there!

So, yes there are a lot of outdoorsy kind of opportunities. Also, the city map lists the following on their Dickinson points of interest: Patterson Lake, Dakota Dinosaur Museum, Joachim Regional Museum, Ukranian Cultural Institute, Roughrider Outdoor Arena, oh and also Super Walmart. 

Q: Are you sure?

We are sure that this is where we are supposed to go next and we are looking forward to the adventure. The staff of the clinic Marc will be working for are thrilled to be getting him. They even sent us flowers on our anniversary. We hope our friends and family will also be adventurous and come visit when we move to the "Gateway to the West".

Chalk It Up to Toddlers

I took these pictures to document the phenomenon of kids eating strange things even though they often won't eat the perfectly good and delicious food you offer them at meal and snack times. On this particular day, David John and Benjamin thought it might be tasty to sample a wide variety of chalks.
Here is what your mouth might look like if you tried, say, blue chalk:

And here is Benjamin offering a delectable purple:

This is his terrible face when I tried to fish a large chunk of purple out of his mouth:

Finally, David John, even though he cried heartily after the blue chalk incident, just couldn't help himself and also tried the yellow:

This made we wonder, "Is this Pica?", "Are they suffering from acidic stomachs?" Maybe I should start offering Tums with every meal...