Built Upon a Schalk

 Wow it has been a very long time since I have updated my blog! This is partly my fault and party the servers fault. I was down for quite awhile and once it was fixed we had to update the blog to make it all work again. 

So hi, here is what I have been up to in the last few months. The girls went back to school, Em is in 4th grade now and just got her first report card. She has straight A's and 100% attendance. Ash is repeating Kindergarten but that seems to have been the very best decision we have ever made as on her report card it says that she is at grade level with the rest of the class!! (My mouth dropped when her teacher told me that). 

Ash has been pretty sick for the past week or so with pnemonia. She hasn't acted to bad but the coughing and hard breathing caused more then a little bit of stress for her mother.  She seems to be on the mend though. Hopefully she will go back to school next week.

I have been doing several crafts and preparing to teach a few classes at my ward Super Saturday. Because I helped with other projects I didn't get to finish the ones I signed up for until today. My sisters and Mother-in-law wanted to see pictures so here they are!!

I made the turkey last year but when I saw these wood blocks I knew that they would finish this off!

I am a big snowman fan so it was a must have to add to my Christmas decor! I made a few changes to the original projects. I added some arms and a hat to him.

This project was a bonus to the turkey blocks. If I had one set I had to have the other right?

Well that is all for tonight, I am working on a whole new Christmas tree this year. I am making a lot of the decorations myself and praying that it turns out to look fun but elegant. I will post pictures as I go. 

 9 years ago my baby girl was born. The night before we were hanging out with friends and enjoying the beautiful summer evening. I still had a week before the baby was due and I was feeling good. Huge, hot, fat, but good. Tory and T were installing a stereo into someones car and Brooke and I were talking and playing with her 6 month old Austin. The guys had just finished putting in the stereo and asked us to come check it out. We both sat in the truck and bounced as the stereo played hard base. We joked that the base was going to put me into labor. We got home and went to bed. I felt my stomach grow hard and told T that I was having a braxton hicks. He felt how hard my stomach was and we marveled at how big I was. About 30 minutes later I had another one and didn't think anything of it. I feel asleep feeling happy and blessed to have such a great life.

I woke up about 7 a.m. the next morning to my water breaking. I could not believe it, I hadn't experienced any pain at all and here I was with in full blown labor. We headed out to the hospital that was a good 45 minute drive and prayed that we would make it in time. The contractions were coming now about every 3 minutes and the pain was starting. We got the the hospital and was immediately checked in. The nurses and doctors were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, and I was not a very nice patient. The anesthesiologist came in to give me an epidural but the doctor sent him away saying there wasn't time and in just a few minutes Emery was born. She came into the world with a bang at 9:52 that morning and has kept us on our toes ever since. 

Emery has always been a very smart child, she was telling me shaped like octagon and hexagon at 2 years old, she was counting, reading and spelling her name at 4 and she is always surprising me with new facts and information. Just the other day I was playing a game on my phone and it asked me what the 5 planet from the sun was. I had no idea (and still can't tell you) but she did. She can tell you about people in history like Susan B. Anthony or Betty  Ross and tell you what they are known for. She will ask science questions or math questions or history questions that I can not answer and have to go look up to give them to her. She just absorbs everything thrown at her. 

When her little sister, Ash, was born, she and I moved in with my family. Emery didn't know them all that well and was thrown into a world that she didn't know or understand. She was forced to grow up a little faster then I would have liked, but she did it with such grace. I have always leaned on her for help with Ashlynn and she does it all with a smile on her face and a love in her heart for her sister that will never falter. Once when we were helping at church to set up for a Relief Society party, Ashlynn was playing with another little boy. The boy was not being very nice and punched Ashlynn in the stomach. Before I could get to them Emery was on her way to killing that boy. I have never seen such love for a sister and such protection for another human being like I did that day from Every. She was in tears and I thought she would beat the snot out of him before I could get the them. I was so proud of her for wanting to stick up for her sister that day. 

Emery is a beautiful, smart, funny, serious, and sometimes clueless little girl and I am so blessed to have her in my life. I don't want her to grow up anymore but I can't wait to see what kind of women she will turn out to be. 

Happy Birthday Emery, I love you so much!!

I had a very interesting experience today that I thought I would share. I was sitting in my kitchen and heard a very quiet knock on my door. My girls were outside playing so I thought maybe it was one of them playing but decided to go investigate anyway. When I oped the door I found two women standing on my door step with scripture in hand. I knew that they were not the LDS missionaries that usually come to the door but the Jehovah's Wittiness missionaries. These women also come to my door often but normally just stop to say hi and share a short message. I don't mind because every time they come, my testimony grows in my own beliefs. When I realize it is them I always say a quick prayer that I might be able to answer their questions with my beliefs (and have them be true and scriptural).

This time was different though, they had their little thought to share and I was very kind and listened. this time was a little different though because they asked me a question. Why do we have trials? I told them that without trials we would not know happiness. (2 Nephi 2:11For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.) For some reason this answer seemed to through them for a loop! They wanted to know who I thought caused the trials, I told them that God allowed the trials for without them we would not grow. They asked why in the scriptures Job was given such trials, I told them that God allowed Satan to give Job his trials so that he might grow and learn from them. One of the women was older, and she was the mother to the younger woman. She had seen my daughters playing in the yard and gave me an example of why God giving us trials didn't make sense. She asked if you had to have a sick child born to understand what a miracle it is to have a healthy child. I laughed because I have had the opportunity to live through both kinds of births. Em born a healthy happy beautiful baby was miraculous to me. To see this perfect healthy child that was mine to love and cherish forever. Then to have Ash born so early, so sick, and in so much need of help that I could not provide her. I again marveled at Em being so healthy and strong but cherished every second that I had with Ash. I knew that she and I were facing the biggest trial of either of our lives and whatever God had planned for us, I knew we had to see it through to the end. We had to endure and whatever He had in store for us, I was willing to accept.  When I explained this to the women on my door step, they glanced at each other, took a breath then turned to Geniuses. Now I have to tell you, honestly I do not know my bible as much as I should and I hoped that they wouldn't throw something at me that I couldn't explain to them. They asked me why then did Adam and Eve have to fall? Why did they have to go through those trials? Why couldn't they just live in a world that was perfect and have babies and be wonderful forever. I told them that they could not have babies in the Garden. Both of their mouths literally dropped! I am not kidding. They had never heard this before. I had to keep myself from laughing out loud at what I was seeing. When asked why, I told them that Adam and Eve were as little children, that they didn't even have the knowledge to multiply and replenish. They had to fall before they could obey Gods commandments. I wish that I had had this quote with me, I found it latter when looking up scriptures and thinking about my earlier encounter. "Adam and Even transgressed but did not sin because they did not have a knowledge of good and evil. They had been given a commandment, but could not sin because they were in a state of innocence, just like little kids can transgress the law without sin." I of course knew this, but didn't have the words at that moment to convey it. I think that at this point they were overwhelmed and wanted to get out as soon as possible so they thanked me for my time and got of the porch as fast as they could. I decided to study this thought so more and found some very interesting quotes and scripture that talked some about trials but more about enduring to the end.

"Often we do not know what we can endure until after a trial of our faith. We are also taught by the Lord that we will never be tested beyond that which we can endure."

This thought was always at the front of my mind while I was pregnant with Ash and while she was in the hospital. I knew that I would not be tested beyond my abilities. I always got a sense of peace when I thought about that.

"Our mission in life is much the same. We were not sent by Father in Heaven just to be born. We were sent to endure and return to Him with honor."

My family is not strangers to trials, Ash being born to early, my mom has MS, my father-in-law was killed in a motorcycle accident, my sister having a miscarriage before her beautiful Megann was allowed to come. But we all know that this was the life we chose to live, we all know that before we came to this earth we accepted these trails and couldn't wait to be sent here and be tested so that we could return to Him and be welcomed back into our Heavenly Fathers loving care.

“He that shall [faithfully] endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Mark 13:13) and return with honor to our Heavenly Father."I know that this has been a very long blog, but I thought it was important for me to share. If no one else ever reads it but me, that is fine but I am glad that I researched it some and that I was able to have chance to share a little with others.

Robert D Hales Testimony: There is nothing that we are enduring that Jesus does not understand, and He waits for us to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. I testify that if we will be obedient and if we are diligent, our prayers will be answered, our problems will diminish, our fears will dissipate, light will come upon us, the darkness of despair will be dispersed, and we will be close to the Lord and feel of His love and of the comfort of the Holy Ghost. It is my prayer that we can find the faith, courage, and strength to endure to the end so that we may feel the joy of faithfully returning to the arms of our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.   

 For all of those that don't know yet, (I know there isn't many at this point) T and I entered into our ward dessert dutch oven cook-off. We have a wonderful friend that does dutch oven almost professionally and she was kind enough to share a recipe that I entered into our contest. 

We WON!! It was probably the only thing that I have ever entered and won so it was fun to do. Anyway here is the recipe for anyone that wants to make it for themselves.

Crust:

1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
6 Tbsp. butter, melted
3 Tbsp. Sugar
1 tsp. grated key lime peel

 Cheesecake mixture:

 3 pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. all purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. grated key lime peel
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup key lime juice
3 eggs

 Topping:

1 cup sour cream
3 Tbsp. Sugar
2 tsp. key lime juice

 For the crust, combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar and key lime peel in a small bowl. Place this mixture into the bottom of a 10 inch Dutch Oven and press evenly around the bottom. Set aside and prepare filling.

 For the cheesecake mixture, in a large bowl beat cream cheese with a whisk until it is smooth. Blend in sugar. Add flour, vanilla and key lime peel. Stir in sour cream and key lime juice. Beat in eggs one at a time blending just until incorporated. Pour mixture into the 10 inch Dutch Oven over the graham cracker crust.

Bake using 14 coals on the top and 7 coals on the bottom for 50-60 minutes.*

While cheesecake is baking prepare topping. Mix sour cream, sugar and key lime juice together and chill. When cheesecake has finished baking, let it cool then top with topping and garnish with key lime slices.

*You may also bake this cheesecake in a Dutch Oven in your oven at home. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 50 minutes.

 Well sadly I did not get a picture of myself today or any day in the last few days. Actually I am ok with that as I don't like to have my picture taken and hate to look at them so all works out for me!

Three good things that have happened to me, now that one is easy.

One, I met and married the perfect man. You know our story so I won't repeat it but I know that it was meant to be. I could not have asked for a better life and it is because Chris gives me all that I have. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for directing me to Chris and allowing me to spend eternity with him.

Two, Emery, she is a beautiful, smart, funny little girl. I love watching her grow, hearing all about what she is learning, how much she absorbs and wondering what kind of women she will be someday. I believe with everything in me that she is going to march her way through any trials that are thrown at her. She is going to lead this family to the end and make sure that not a one of us falls. She has the most incredible testimony and love for her family and the gospel. She is going to be an inc readable instrument for the Lord someday. I love that little girls with all my heart and soul and feel so blessed that I was allowed to be her mother.

Three, Ashlynn, this beautiful little girl touches every life she enters. There is something about her that people just love. She has such strength and power in her spirit. I have always said that if Emery is going to march through life with a vengeance then Ashlynn in going to be right behind her inspiring everyone around her to follow the two of them. She might be small and different from the other kids her age but she had the most mature soul I have ever seen. Ashlynn has taught me more faith, trust, and strength then anyone else. From the second she entered my life she has kept me on my toes and I think that she always will. She is going to be a force to be reckoned with when she gets older and I can't wait to see what kind of women she is going to become.  I know that Ashlynn was given to me to teach me things that I would have never been able to do on my own. I am also grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving her to me so that I could grow and learn along with her.

Well that is the end of my 30 day challenge. I have had a lot fun doing this little project! I can't promise that I will keep it up every day but I do promise that I will try to be better at writing on the blog. 

Thanks for reading!