Happy Halloween!

The Witches' Brew is on the stove, the potatoes are baking, and I'm about to run out to get the ingredients for hot cider. I've got tonight's menu DOWN!

The decorations are up on the front porch. All I lack is candy. I know I won't need to buy much because we get few trick-or-treaters. When I get to the store, I'll be buying candy, too.

It won't feel like Halloween without my youngest here. Johnny is at 6th grade camp. Laine is going trick-or-treating with her dad. I'm not sure if the older kids are going yet. Without their younger brother, I think they feel self-conscious. Especially Joe who is 6 feet tall now.

I'm a little concerned because I've been feeling really down lately. I'm hoping a little halloween fun will brighten my "spirits." :)

Busy Saturday

Yesterday was a busy Saturday for the Cavanaughs. Kelly, Laine and Joe went to Poverello House with their youth group. Poverello House is an organization that provides meals for the homeless. Joe said that after they were done, one of the individuals they served came and sang them a song, which he said was excellent.

While Joe, Kelly and Laine were serving, Johnny and I were getting him all packed up for sixth grade camp next week. We checked off items on the list and discovered we were missing a few things so we went to Walmart to purchase them, then finished packing. We still have to pack up things for when he returns because he will be heading to an overnight camp on Friday for scouts. (Checking off more requirements that will bring him closer to his Eagle!) We also decorated our house for Halloween.

After the kids completed their service in the afternoon, they went to set up for the ward Halloween party at the building. I helped a friend get things posted on Craigslist for sale, and went to a storage shed to take more photos. When I returned, it was time to warm up my awesome chili and head over to the party. Laine set our van up for trunk or treat with decorations, and we ate fresh scones, cotton candy, hot dogs, chili, corn bread and popcorn.

After the party, my friend and I finished posting the photos for the items for sale on Craigslist, and the kids played on their computers and watched movies. We went to bed a little early (for us, anyway, on a Saturday night!) because we were TIRED! It was a good day!

Photos from Clovis Fest

First, they stretch the balloons
out on a tarp.

Johnny trying not to smile and
Kelly with her signature beauty and smile
joined me at the balloon launch.

Earlier this month, we went for the balloon launch at Clovis Fest. The only two children willing to get out of bed at 6 am for the Clovis Fest were Kelly and Johnny. Johnny brought his book, and several people commented how much they admired him that he liked reading so much. "Most kids these days have an electronic device attached to their fingertips," they said.

This is a basket before they test it
and attach the balloon.

Kelly had her camera and I had mine, and Johnny had his book. (There's a lot of down time while they get ready, and it can be boring at first.) Here's a few snapshots we took of the event!

This is a test of the tanks on the balloon basket. They use
heat to warm the air in the balloons and make them rise.

First they lay tarps out on the ground. This usually happens in the dark. Then they stretch the balloons out on the tarp. They take the baskets off the trucks, and check all the equipment on the basket, including the tanks that heat the air in the balloon. It's pretty dramatic when the flame comes on....really loud and everyone turns around to look. In the dim light of the morning, it's quite bright, too!! You wouldn't believe how long it took me to capture the flame, though, because they only turn it on for a few seconds, and my camera was slow.

Pretty soon, all the compressors are on (noisy!)
and the balloons are beginning to "inflate."

The first balloon to lift off the ground
on this festival morning!

This is one of my favorite photos...I love the drama of the
flame, and as you can see, everyone is trying  to capture the moment!

After a while, all the compressors and fans are on, blowing air into the balloons. They stay on the ground until they shoot the flame into the balloon, warming the air up that's inside. It's tricky to get a shot of that, too...again, the flame is only on for a few seconds, and the camera has to be ready for action to capture it before the flame turns off.

This is a shot of the two balloons closest to us lifting off, and the
first balloon into the air behind them.
Pretty exciting stuff, huh??

My aunt and uncle came to visit!

My Aunt Susan and Uncle Ron came to visit us several weeks ago. They live in Arizona. Soon they will live in the summer in Maine and in the winter in Arizona. We were so excited to have family drop in since it's so uncommon. My Aunt Susan has finally retired from nursing, and my uncle from his mining job.They stayed overnight with us and we had a lot of fun. They even treated me to breakfast at (no one who knows them will be surprised...) Denny's! Yum.

The Race to the Eagle

Tonight, the gauntlet was tossed down. Johnny, an 11 year old scout, has officially informed his brother that he's going to get his Eagle Scout before Joe!

Tonight was the court of honor for the Stake, and Joe received two rank advancements. He's now First Class, working on Star (is that right??). Johnny, meanwhile, has been working hard with his troop and will be finishing up Tenderfoot, Second and First Classes before he moves on into the regular troop on March 7th. That means that barring any unforeseen circumstances (like Joe deciding not to be lazy), Johnny will be the same rank as Joe and I have no doubt that he means what he says when he tells his brother he's racing him to Eagle.

Now, how to motivate Joe??

Sunday

Sunday! I'm always so glad when Sunday comes. I love going to church, taking the sacrament, seeing all the happy smiling faces at primary, listening to the talks at sacrament, and singing in the choir. Today we had an extra bonus, as the Martin family came to visit before they move to Utah. We were so happy to see them!! We are preparing for the primary program and it happens in a few weeks. Panic! Not really, but the pressure is on.

Our ward senior missionaries spoke today, and I really enjoyed what they had to say. The Elder who spoke made me cry, though. He told a touching story of 5 "touches" between a man and a woman, and it made me feel lonely and full of longing for someone in my life who might ever feel that way about me.

Kelly is almost done with her personal progress. In two weeks time, she should be completely finished! Seeing her hit this milestone has motivated me to finish personal progress for myself, too. I've been working on it online so that I can't lose the records this time. Laine is working on hers, too...hopefully she will be able to finish hers before she turns 16. I told Johnny today that he had less than 5 months in primary and he grinned from ear to ear. But I also told him he had to get busy to finish his "Faith in God" award. He's working really hard on his scout requirements (Go, Johnny!) because he wants to be done with Tenderfoot, Second and First Class requirements by the time he graduates into mutual. That would put him even with his brother, who is finally getting Second and First Class this week. Getting Joe to do his Duty to God is driving me crazy. He keeps losing his book, and I keep telling him to work on it online. Arrgh!!

I've been thinking what a big year this will be for the girls in our family. Erin finished her degree, I'll be finishing mine, Kelly will be getting her young women's medallion and will be graduating from high school, and Laine will be graduating into high school.

I was given a box of slightly overripe apples, so I spent much of my evening making muffins...apple cranberry, pumpkin-apple-raisin, and pumpkin apple. They were all a very big hit! I still have apples left over, so I'll be making more muffins today to put in the freezer for quick breakfasts.

This week, I have two tests. Classes are in full swing, and it's a challenge keeping up with everything.

News about my awesome son. :)

Joe was selected as student of the month for academics. Also, another of his teachers nominated him for a prestigious leadership conference. Unfortunately, the conference costs almost $3,000, so he won't be going. Still, it's a nice thought, isn't it?

Still Alive

Yes, for my two avid readers (Hi, mom and dad!). I AM still alive.

Even though this semester is only 16 units, I find myself busier than a one-armed paper hanger. I've been studying and going to counseling (a requirement for one of my classes). In addition, I'm trying to research Grad schools, study for a retake of the GRE, secure reference letters, and get in the habit of walking every day again. Oh, and my biggest worry of all...trying to find employment to start in January. Yikes!

The biggest non-school drama in my life of late has been my front tooth (#7, according to the dentist). I fell and broke it ages ago, and it was okay for a while. I didn't have money to get it fixed right away and it wasn't too noticeable. Well, a few weeks ago, I suddenly found myself with another piece of my tooth in my mouth and excruciating pain in my jaw and face. I called my kids dentist and explained I didn't have any money, but wondered if he could look at my tooth. He did, and we realized that I needed a root canal and crown, a procedure that was going to cost me $2,000. He prescribed some pain medicine and antibiotics, and referred me to a place that supposedly would perform low cost or free dental work. My phone inquiry later the next week revealed that the clinic no longer did the kind of work he was referring me for at low or no cost. I discussed the situation with my counselor, who referred me to Evangelicals for Social Action. They did a search and found a dentist who would see me and help me with my problem at no cost. I made the appointment, but upon entering the clinic was informed that the procedure they were willing to perform for free was a tooth extraction. Um, no. I already have enough challenges with my appearance...let's not make it worse!

They did however connect me with "care credit," a company that provides no interest financing to pay for medical care. I opted to get just the root canal and a filling done for now. Provided I take care of it, I should be able to get the crown at a later time when I hopefully have more financial resources.

I finally had the procedure done last Friday, without anesthetic. The dentist was shocked that I had never had a cavity. I thought he was really kind and patient with me, considering I was so nervous I was shaking. And now, only a few days later, I find the pain in my face (from the abscess) is finally receding, and I'm kind of getting used to my "new" tooth.

Sleepless in Fresno

Okay, okay...doesn't have quite the same ring as Sleepless in Seattle. Still...having trouble sleeping again. Maybe I need a night job. At least then I could get paid for staying awake.

Sigh.

Stress is mostly my culprit...worrying about the roof, worrying about the kids, worrying about finances, worrying about applying to grad schools, worrying about my last semester of undergraduate work. Feeling super lonely for companionship and someone to share life with. I guess it's a good thing that one of my classes requires us to be in counseling, because I'm surely going to need it.

One of the things that always bothers me the first few weeks of the semester is how hostile the college environment is to people of faith and/or people with conservative values. All but one of my instructors this week bashed religion in one way or another, and all of them made it clear which candidate they supported in the election by ridiculing Romney and his campaign. Now I'm not the biggest Romney fan. I didn't vote for him in the primaries. Even though I'm an independent voter, I tend to support candidates that are for smaller government, less taxes, protection of the freedom of religion and personal liberties. Anyone who holds these principles who is attending college learns really quickly to keep their mouth shut if they don't want others to try to humiliate them in their classes or if they want to be taken seriously. 

I keep telling myself to breathe. So far, I haven't died from stress. I'd like to keep it that way.

I'm happy to report, though, that we received some good news today. The STAR test results came in the mail today for Laine, Johnny and Joe. Laine scored advanced in English/language arts and proficient in Algebra I. Johnny scored (super) advanced in English/language arts and science, and received a perfect score in math. And Joe received (super) advanced in English/language arts, proficient in math, and a perfect score in biology. I am continually amazed at the intellectual gifts of my children, and terrified that they won't put them to good use.

Deeper Gratitude

Recently I was helping someone who needed assistance. I was not doing anything particularly grand, just a helping hand into bed and settling everything around the person to ensure comfort and accessibility. I was shocked and frankly a little overwhelmed when the individual grabbed my hand and covered it with kisses, thanking me profusely and humbly for my help.

At that moment, I felt very self-conscious and unsure how to react, murmuring that I was glad to help and that I didn't do anything that spectacular. As is often the case, the Lord turned that situation into a teaching moment for me.

As I left the side of the individual, into my mind the Lord placed the image of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus, kissing his feet, wiping his feet with her hair. Tears sprang to my eyes in that moment, and even now as I think about it, I feel teary-eyed. Now before I get struck by lightning on the spot, I want to say I am NOT comparing myself to Jesus, because that would after all be the saddest and sorriest of comparisons. Rather, I am looking at the gratitude being expressed in these two situations, and comparing it to my own level of gratitude.

How grateful am I when others do things for me? How do I express that gratitude? While my heart may be full of thankfulness, how am I expressing that to others? And most especially, and perhaps the Lord's point in all of this, how grateful I should be to the Lord! How much time do I spend pondering the blessing of the atonement and expressing my gratitude for what the Lord has done for me?

I've made it a personal commitment to think more often about the magnitude of what the Lord has done, to express more deeply my gratitude in prayer and in action for all that it means to me. In general, I want to be more thankful and aware of the kindnesses that others have done for me in my life. I have been so very blessed to have the spirit as my teacher.