Quest to Believe

While Kiefer's striped belt looks funky--it was not! I promise!

Last week out of the blue a bunch of posts, this week...back to nothing.  Why you  ask ?  

Because of what you see in this picture.... and yes, I know it's blurry.  I attribute that to the early morning hour and my late nights at the sewing machine over the past week.

This is Kiefer and Quinn, dressed to go to our Church Youth Conference.  They will be living in tents for 3 days, dressed as people who lived in the Americas around the time of Christ's birth, and there will be no showers, no TV, and no jobs to distract them.  

There will be dramatizations of stories from the scriptures,  games, and campfires, testimony meetings, and quiet times to ponder.  There will not be any electronic devices, make up, electricity, or extra food/snacks allowed (Quinn is pretty sure he might starve).  

Making these costumes for the two of them to wear for the next few days took me much more time and energy than I anticipated.  They had to have a long coat, then a tunic, then long lightweight pants, and a t-shirt to wear underneath.  I made them all except for the t-shirts.  It was time consuming, I'm adequate when it comes to sewing, but no seamstress.  Of course, it didn't help that I decided to add pockets so they could carry their bug spray and chapstick and a pen.  Or that I put off beginning until the week before they needed them!

Shopping for the material was fun, I took the boys with me and let them pick out all their material.  Although that meant dealing with slippery knits, which added much frustration and time to my load, the fun we had together was worth it.  And, they enjoyed seeing their vision for their clothes come to life, from bolts of fabric to actual costumes. I also used the time to teach Sage and Thane how to sew straight lines on the sewing machine.  Now they all want to make their own pillowcases-sounds like a fun summer project!

They have had mixed feelings about this adventure, it's hard to do this in a new place, with few friends, and not knowing any adults who will be there.  They don't know what to expect and are feeling a little apprehensive.  I don't blame them.  They also struggled a little with the guidelines for the conference, extra snacks and books to read were begged for---many times.  In the end it didn't matter, the leaders gathered all the bags last night and went through them to check for contraband.  They left this morning with literally only the clothes on their backs.

I hope they will get more out of this adventure than sleeping on the ground, playing games and eating odd food.  The Conference has the theme "A Quest to Believe" and I hope they each have taken that to heart.  A few months ago our leaders gave out a list of scripture stories they wanted the youth to study and prepare to discuss.  I encouraged my boys to do it, but felt they are old enough to make their own choices.  My heart wanted so badly to push them into a spiritual experience, but I realized you really can't do that.  

That's the heart of spirituality-the individual nature of it all.  When you get right down to it, we are all on our own Quest.  It's the journey, the tears, the triumphs, the mistakes, the lessons learned and those neglected that  make who we are.  And, no matter how much I want my children to have all that I have, they have to earn it for themselves.  And it will be all the more precious when they realize their own answers.

The Great Orange Explorer

  This is the great Orange Explorer.  Jeff has been looking for months, literally---months!!--for an old truck he could work on with the older boys.  He wanted to get an older model so he could teach them to change the oil and the brakes, and all that good stuff.  Don't ask me for details, I thought it sounded like a great way for them to spend time together, so I happily agreed.  I wish I had a picture of Kiefer and Quinn's faces when Jeff brought them out and told them his plan.  Priceless!! They love this truck so much it's worth all the headaches of rebuilding carburetors and broken valves and leaky fuel tanks, but don't tell Jeff I said that.  At least not when he's in the middle of another repair issue!

He finally found this 1976 Ford Explorer, isn't that original hood ornament fabulous? It might be my favorite part of the truck.  That or the shag carpet inside, which Jeff insists is leaving and I really, really want to stay.

They've been spending lots of time on it, and it's been so much fun to watch.  I love it!   They just finished rebuilding the carburetor, and were so proud when they were done.  I don't blame them, I really wish I would have taken a picture of the dozens of tiny pieces and parts that had to go together just so.  I didn't, but here they are putting the finishing touches on the carburetor last weekend.  They are almost done, and they can't wait for their first official big trip in it....wonder where they'll go?  Five bucks says the movies or DQ....what do you think?

New Around Here

Yep, that's what's new around here...Orthodontist appointments galore!  I've been busy taking Quinn and Tate to different Doctors, getting opinions and checking out the office, while the boys have been assessing the video games available and the promotions offered for good check ups.  We all have our priorities.

Both these boys will be getting braces, but Tate isn't quite ready, all the Doctors agreed he should wait 8-12 months.  Meanwhile Quinn is raring to go! Lucky him, right?  He has a baby tooth that is fused to his jawbone, no permanent tooth ever grew to replace it.  He is all lined up for a visit to the oral surgeon to have it removed and then into the Orthodontist to have braces placed on all those pearly whites.

He only needs them for 9-12 months, just long enough to fix the teeth right around where that baby tooth is still hanging out and he'll be good to go.  Just about the time he gets them off Tate will get them on.

Incredible Flowers

I've just discovered a new favorite flower.  I love flowers, they inspire and amaze me, all while bringing me a constant reminder of the beauties all around me in this amazing world.  I've loved watching the surprises spring up all around me in our new home this spring.

Please excuse my finger in the next two shots, guess I was so overcome with the beauty I didin't notice I was covering the lens! That or the amazing sunshine after such an incredibly rainy spring left my mind befuddled.  Oh, nevermind! I just noticed Blogger added Picnic photo editing-how cool is that?!? I just cropped my finger right out!

 I think they are Peonies.  Tell me if you know differently, because I love them.  I want more of them.  Do they bloom all summer or just once?  I think I need to learn more, because theses flowers are INCREDIBLE!

Visit Miss Jenny's blog for more Incredible posts inspired by the letter "I"

Officially Employed

 Quinn (in the green) and Kiefer (in the blue) are officially employed at Lagoon. They've been hired for a while, but were working only a few hours here and there . Between the crazy spring snow storms we had and school still being in session they didn't have many opportunities to clock  in.  

That all changed when school let out last Friday.  Kiefer worked 14 hours Saturday-his first double shift.  Ugh! This week he's working about 35 hours.   He operates some of the rides-if you head up to Lagoon this summer look for him at the Sky Coaster, it's one of his favorite rides to work. People are hooked into safety harnesses and raised to the top of this tower, then they are let loose to free fall and swing back and forth.  He says the teenage girls can make you go deaf, but other than that it's a fun ride to work.  

Sky Coaster

random riders on the sky coaster
both images from Google Images

 Money, Money, Money says Quinn--he has dollars on his mind all the time now.  This one has big plans for how to spend his money, too bad Mom and Dad say no to him buying a flat screen TV for his room, or his own laptop, or iPad.   Poor boy will just have to save for his college education, his Mission, and all those car expenses coming up!  Quinn works for the private party catering service Lagoon has, so far he's mostly manned the BBQ and he loves it!  His job is mostly Fridays and Saturdays, but they use an internet based work scheduling program that allows them to trade shifts and pick up open shifts if they want to.  He picked up 3 week day shifts this week, and someone took his Sunday shift.  So far, so good!   

I'm thrilled to have them both employed, otherwise they'd be at home driving me nuts!  I think it's so good for them to learn to manage money, budget, and learn the responsibility of working for someone besides mom and dad!  Here they get no special treatment, have to ask in advance for time off, and pay the piper if they mess up.  They are doing great, and of course the added benefit of going to Lagoon for free whenever they want doesn't hurt!