"Courage" is so cool...

Jim was trying to convince me to root for South Carolina State Gamecocks today. He really didn't want #2 ranked Florida Gators to win. I can't blame him there, but I was having a hard time rooting for the Gamecocks... they are, after all Clemson rivals!

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But when I saw their uniforms with words like "courage" and "integrity" on the back instead of the players last names... I admit I was impressed and courious!

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I found this article (click here) describing their support of the "Wounded Warrior" project and I was hooked!

I hope they win today!

Go Gamecocks!!

(sorry Sis!! but we really don't want the Gators to win do we?)

Doctor Dayley...

The teenager got an opportunity to go do some community service at the Discovery Center with one of his church leaders who is a operating room nurse. He got to wear the cute blue scrubs and everything!

So here is what Doctor Dayley will be helping to teach to a bunch of screaming youngins!!

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"Operating Room! (all day)
The Association of Operating Room Nurses will be presenting exciting engaging activities all day at the Discovery Center; including a Laparoscopic Display where kids and adults alike can try their hand at keyhole surgery. Learn about first aid, CPR and what injuries that
bicycle helmet can prevent."

(sounds cool huh!)

We also got a skiff of snow last night, so it was his first drive in the snow alone too! He did make it into the city without incident.

This is one of my favorite things about living here... even when it is freezing cold and snowing... the sun shines!!

It is a beautiful Idaho day!!

The family that sweats together, stays together...

My Mom used to have this plaque that read "The family that sweats together, stays together"....

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growing up I always thought it should say "the family that plays together, stays together"! It rhymed and playing was much more fun than working! But it never quite worked that way at my house... something about learning "work ethic" (said with a sarcastic voice and finger quotes up in the air, followed by a big sigh).

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So yesterday, when the teenager got a call to go load up the irrigation pipe he had pulled from the field last week. My strong silent mysterious man must have been feeling a little stir crazy from all his time off... and I just wanted to be with them! So we all ventured out together. My parents other favorite saying is "many hands make light work"... I guess some of that stuff just seeps in no matter how much you resist it growing up!

The pipes aren't heavy, they are just long and awkward!

I was secretly impressed that the teenager thought to face them all the same direction when he moved them out of the field... otherwise turning every other one could have made for a very long frustrating time loading them on the trailer. I was a good sport, and only squealed one time, when a mouse ran out of the end of the pipe as I reached down to pick it up.

The boys thought that was funny, but I was just relieved it wasn't a snake!!

Nobody said anything about critters out there, I wasn't expecting that at all, they are lucky all I did was squeal!

This is Betty, the old dog on the farm. She is so sweet and adorable, and soooo loving! She wanted to get out of the truck and help us, but she was recently beat up a little by the younger dogs... so she was hobbling and had to wait in the truck!

I was most impressed by Jim's bff and his backing skills... he backed that long trailer down the skinniest dirt roads without jackknifing it, turned it around on a dime without running over any fences... pretty impressive I might say!It was fun being together, getting a little dirt on my boots, and that feeling of accomplishment!



The view all the way to the mountains from both sides of the knoll will never get old to me!
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Sorry you missed out on all the fun Rachel... I bet you have handled your share of pipe huh! Don't worry, I am sure it all has to be moved again next spring!

Four!!!!

Thursday afternoon was so beautiful here.

So in an effort to spend as much quality time together with the teenager as possible while he was off work, Jim took him out golfing.

They let me tag along with my camera, as long as I didn't get in the way.

Lucky me! I was really just looking forward to some much needed exercise and vitamin D!

It always starts out innocent... but you know my boys have tinge of a competitive nature...

But I only had to remind them to "be nice" a couple of times...

But the teenager had plenty to keep his mind occupied with his famous behind the tree shots...

He managed to keep his mind focused and clear...
And surprisingly he managed to get most of them right around those trees without much effort (he must have had lots of practice at those)

Okay, now your just showing off... you know Dad can't get down like that and still get back up!

This was his best shot of the day... on the 4th hole, a short par 3 shot, but still... I was impressed. You can see the divot in the lower left corner where the ball hit and then it rolled up next to the hole.... his closest hole in one so far!

Oh and there were some not so good shots... who put that road there?

It was a fun time!!

Lots of male bonding!

And everyone showed good sportsmanship!

(for once)

I love my boys!

I might have to take up golfing one of these days! This time they actually made it look like fun.

Elk Steaks...

Last night the youth group put on a dinner and social with some of the older adults in our ward. It was a big Thanksgiving dinner. It's a tradition for them every year.

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When the assignments went out, I had really high hopes that some of the youth would be learning to cook turkeys. But instead a few parents stepped in and helped out. Our group of girls was assinged a turkey and 5 pies... So I took a turkey to cook for the event. I know! but hey, it was better than me trying to make a pie!!! That really would have been a disaster.

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I was so proud, I was able to touch my raw turkey and give it a good cleaning and rub of herbs. I even stuck my hand down inside to get the "stuff" out of his insides (only ever attempted previously with BIG TONGS, or forcing the teenager to do it).

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Hey after a night of watching the elk get skinned and almost being brave enough to hear breaking bones. A little turkey was a piece of cake. (well I still used the tongs until I HAD to touch it... but then I didn't even scream this year).

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Jacob made enough mashed potatoes for an army... we were trying to get them from tasting sooo bland, and Dad had to step in and help us out.

It was just allot of potatoes to season.

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It turned out pretty good. The kids are all so different. Some took the invitees by the arm and escorted them to the tables and talked and really had fun with them. Some kids kept leaking into the kitchen and seemed more comfortable around the leaders. They mostly all helped out, it was a big job and we needed lots of hands to pull it off.

I had my camera and didn't take ONE picture!

I know, I am soooo fired!! Ugggg!!!!

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It has been fun having Jim around this week, he took the week off to go hunting. Today we slept in together (I was so exhausted from the big dinner last night) and he is going golfing with Jacob this afternoon.

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Yesterday we got his Elk moved home in quarters to hang.

He delivered some on the way home to friends to share.

Then together we cut up some steaks from the back straps.

They were the most beautiful steaks... again not ONE picture... what is wrong with me? He was really proud of them when we got done.

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I couldn't wait, I had to know if ALL this work for meat was really worth it!

I cooked up one steak for us all to taste it.

I liked the deer meat, but it did have a funky after taste to me.

I liked eating it as jerky the best!

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I am a huge steak lover, since I was really little, there just isn't a steak too big for me to eat!

After the deer meat, I was a little nervous.... but I LOVED IT!! As much as a beef steak!!!! That is huge!!!

There was no funky after taste!! AT ALL!!! And they say it is even better after you let it cure.

I don't know if all elk is that way, or just this one was pretty healthy. But I totally love it!! And it is sooo lean, it is actually healthier for you than beef.

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I think it is my new favorite food!!!

I can't believe I am saying that but I love elk steak!!!

His first Elk!

Elk Down!

Jim was sooo happy to get his first yesterday!

I was thinking I would be the hunter wife, home alone for the week... but he got her on his first day this year!

It was really special when we were alone and he told me about his personal experience. He is very sensitive and said that watching something God made with his own hands standing there in such grace and beauty, and then to watch it fall dead in an instant was very humbling to him and he was extremely overwhelmed with emotion.

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I hope he never loses that humility, and the sport never becomes about "the kill" for him. I hope he never loses the thrill of the hunt, and is always content with that and the beauty of being out in God's nature.

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We will appreciate this meat for the winter, for our family (and if you know anything about Jim... for any others he will reach out to, that would appreciate and need it for their families). I love that about him, his heart is one of his quality I most admire about him.

She is really really big! He and his bff (remember the one who bare handed our 200lb pump out of a hole in a dead lift?) couldn't even budge it sliding her on the ground. Not a budge he said!

I have no idea how heavy that would be?

Good thing they have their own equipment operator!

I won't post all of the de-skinning photos, I think I lost viewers after the "Hershel the Deer" post!

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But a huge thanks to his bff and family for supporting Jim and and guiding him and

teaching us so much about this skill and wonderful blessing that will be a treasure for our family for a lifetime!
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I actually held the flashlight during the entire skinning, and only had to turn away and hold my ears when he broke the legs off!
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AND... check this out... this morning I had to get a turkey rubbed down and in the oven for a dinner the youth are doing tonight, and I touched it without squealing or screaming once!
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I am really on my way to becoming that
cowgirl, hunting country chick for sure after this week!
I love personal growth!

Where does the time go?

I have been sooo busy with my new calling, I am gone most all days on Sundays now at meetings it seems. And I have been pulled out of the house for work, and service, and more work, and more meetings... that I came home the other day to this...

I know, I had to sit down too... the teenager was ironing blue jeans!!! (what?)

I don't even know my own child anymore!!

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I knew he was picking up some of the slack for me around the house... but this was unexpected, (and frightening to be honest).

So we took him to a surprise birthday luau the other night to let his hair down (because he is on restrictions and can't go out and play with his friends for two weeks, it kind of makes the punishment all too real when you have to go out with your parents, he he he)

It was a 50th surprise birthday for a friend. He has been in Iraq since January. He is back home for now, and they surprised him with a luau and his daughters and some of his family that teach Hawaiian dance performed for him. His daughter and her husband made this cake... they have just taken up cake making as a hobby... isn't it amazing!!

When the cute hula girls were looking for audience participation, we volunteered the teenager! They were pretty cute, so he didn't resist too much.

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He is in the back with the blue lei... it was sooo funny, I was really impressed what a great sport he was being about it. Some of our adult male friends that had served missions in Polynesian countries were up there with him... so that helped!

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So with a little instruction... he will be ready to serve a mission in a "lava lava" too! (that is the wrapped skirts the men wear). That would make his Uncle Pat really happy I am sure!