Icicles, Snowflakes, and Sledding

 Weston contracted influenza at the beginning of this month. He called home saying he had a headache and was cold and sure enough the poor boy was feverish and his nose ran like crazy for three days. He was achy, weak, and couldn't keep food down sometimes, I had to change my plans a little bit that week. I'm not used to having a kid at home all day that I can't leave for more than an hour at a time, but I didn't mind hanging out with my Weston at all, he is a real special kid. Thankfully after 4 days of being coughed on, cuddled with, and general exposure of the highest degree, I didn't contract the flu myself.  I tell my kids its because I don't eat sugar and take my vitamins and exercise regularly, but I better not be bragging too much about that or I'm sure to come down with something just to keep me humble. I took advantage of the time with Weston to cut his hair, it was getting pretty shaggy.

 Lillian's birthday was the 15th of January. My parents and Gma R, and Kynsie, Krystal, Rachel, Joseph came over the evening prior to celebrate. It was only 2 degrees outside but the older kids braved the hot tub and we wimpy old people stayed inside to play games.  It was really fun playing Scrabble Slam and Mormon Rook with Grandma and my parents, I don't get exclusive time with them very often!  We sang Happy Birthday to Lillian and had apple crisp. The next day I went to the cemetery and uncovered her headstone and gave her a card. Funny how I always seem to be directed to wherever it is under all that snow!

 Savanna in carpool was telling her friend Katie that "TV is my life!"  I try not to engage in a power struggle with Sav but I couldn't help myself this time.  I said, "No, TV is not your life." She tried to debate with me all the reasons it is her life, her very reason for living! I said, "Well that needs to change."  So that afternoon the kids came home from school and I said "Today is 'get a life' day; no TV, iPad, iPhone, or computer of any kind for the entire rest of the day."  Fiora and Weston said, "OK" and made these cool snowflakes and played outside and read.  Savanna was, um, less cooperative with the idea.  Ok she was furious. She moped, and pouted, and burst out in a tirade a time or two, but did manage to make it the whole afternoon without any electronic entertainment and even picked up her violin to play for fun once.  !!!  She helped me with dinner and she read and did homework, and by the end of the night she was happy too. 

 Here is one of the stalactite icicles we have coming off our roof.  They are finally starting to fall off due to some warmer weather. Savanna found one and brought it in the house, and boasted that she ate an icicle today.

Jared's been ice fishing a couple times this month, and I'm glad he made it back alive both times (sub zero temperatures). Jared took our family up to Timberlakes last Saturday and we all had fun sledding down a huge hill then being towed up by four wheelers, over and over and over. That was the first sledding trip we've had that not one complaint was heard by our kids the entire time.  We stopped for chinese after and the kids must have worked up an appetite because they devoured everything we put in front of them plus some of our food as well. Veggies and all.  We love and appreciate our children, for the most part they are responsible, fun, and smart, and I'm doing my level best to enjoy them rather than endure them every day. :)

Karli's Book Part II

QUEST TO THE LAND OF HeirZONA

PART II

By Heather Schauers

(Base on true events)

In this chapter of our adventure, we will discover the secret powers of our heroine Karlisu, who is learning in many ways the things only a quest can teach her regarding her inner strengths!

One day, Karlisu was tracting in the cactus forest of Tuscon, when she came upon a rare heart shaped cactus. Heart shaped cacti bring good fortune upon those who touch the heart and make a wish!   Karlisu squealed in delight and carefully touched the cactus.

The heart shaped cactus began to quiver, smoke started to rise, Karlisu could barely breathe, and then “poof!”. . . two Elders wearing capes appeared.

“How did we get here?” said the first Elder. “We must have been summoned by the Cactus Heart!” said the second. Then they noticed Karlisu, who was very frightened.  “Ah ha! Fear not we are Elders who have discovered our inner strengths and have been granted capes and dubbed Super Elders,” said Elder #2, who was very tall and handsome.  Karlisu blushed.  “Fair maiden, you have made an honest and true wish, and your wish will be granted.  You too can become a “Super Sister!”

Karlisu blurted out, “I have healing powers now? Can I have a cape too?” 

 

“Patience,” said Elder 2, “Your wish WILL be granted, but only on one condition: that you first discover what your true inner strengths are. Then you will be dubbed a super sister, granted a cape, and obtain the wish of your heart.”

“But that’s easy, my strengths are being honest, helpful, inspiring, and kind,” Karlisu said expectantly, reminding the elders that she was the most honest, helpful, inspiring, and kind maiden in the land.

“That is true,” said Elder #1, but there are more strengths that you have yet to discover.  As you continue on your quest they will be brought to your awareness, you only have to see them!”

Lightening crashed, and thunder boomed, and the Elders vanished!

“Wait!” said Karlisu, but all that was left was darkness.

Karlisu hopped on her bike, “I must tell Sister Blood!  I bet she can help me discover my other inner strengths!”

But when Karlisu asked Sister Blood what her inner strengths were, Sister Blood simply said, “You are honest, helpful, inspiring, and kind, probably more than anyone else I know!” 

Hmm, thought Karlisu, this might be harder than I thought!

So Karlisu tried to be patient. The next day was a nerve wracking day for Karlisu…transfers!  “What if Sister Blood leaves, or I leave, maybe that is how I will discover my inner strengths, but I don’t want to do it that way!”  Karlisu and Sister Blood prayed for strength and acceptance of God’s will in case their partnership had come to its end.

But lo! Sister Blood was not transferred, nor was Karlisu, in fact they received first place in the “Best Sister Pair” division of Quest goers, and rejoiced in more time together to journey on their quest.

“We just need to keep working, we’ll find a way for you to earn that cape and get your wish!” encouraged Sister Blood.  They put on their helmets and got to work.  That day they worked so hard serving people in their fields, and in their cottages, Karlisu was exhausted at the end of the day!  She thought, “I’ve never worked so hard in my life. Maybe one of my inner strengths is that I have courage to work hard!” She wrote that down.

Karlisu served in many ways, she even helped with a wedding of one of the people saved from the invisible demon.  It was a happy happy day for Karlisu, she was bursting full of love for the people in Tuscon.  “Maybe my inner strengths are being happy and loving!”  She wrote that down. Sister Blood said, “I think a good word for happy and loving is serenity, write that instead.” “OK” said Karlisu serenely

Karlisu continued to work, and before she knew it, she had reached her 9 month mark!  “WOW!  I’m halfway done with my quest!  Maybe my inner strength is endurance, and never giving up!”  Sister Blood said, “Endurance should go under COURAGE because it takes courage to never give up.”  Karlisu made that note.

But Karlisu’s strength was about to be tested at a whole new level…

 

The Invisible Demon was hard at work too. The people who Karlisu was trying to help became more blind, and more deaf, and started canceling appointments and refused to learn more.  Karlisu was not discouraged at first, remembering how courageous she was, so she decided to write the plan of salvation on a large paper and leave it in the park so anyone who could see and hear might be able to find her.

But as Karlisu went to write down “perseverance” under Courage and “creativity” under Serenity on her Inner Strengths paper, a thought occurred to her…what is the good of my hard work, endurance, and creativity if no one is being saved? Her courage wavered, her serene happiness turned into sorrow, and she wanted to cry. 

Sister Blood had an idea!  “We can go back to the blind and deaf people in disguise!  And we will keep teaching them the truth.”  They put on their glasses and mustaches and got back to work.

Then one beautiful starlit evening in the land of Heir Zona, Karlisu met a beautiful maiden, Emmaline.  This maiden was so willing to hear the truth, and so diligent in reading the Word of the Lord, Karlisu felt courageous and serene.  She loved Emmaline oh so much!  She prayed every night and morning for Emmaline to be strong and did everything she could to save her from the invisible demon.

But the next week, miracles started to happen.  More people wanted to hear the truth and people that had cancelled visits before started showing up!  Karlisu realized that her courage had not been in vain, and that her serenity had not completely vanished.  In fact she was happier than she had ever been and realized she still loved Emmaline no matter how blind or deaf she was, and would forever and ever.

Maybe this is how the Lord handles it when His children stray.  He had courage—hard work, endurance, perseverance-- to fulfill the Atonement for us, and serenity—love and happiness—even when his children use their agency to not accept his great gift.  She contemplated what this Godlike quality could be. 

She wrote “WISDOM” on her list of strengths

Suddenly smoke started rising and POOF!  There before her stood 4 elders in capes!  “Congratulations fair maiden Karlisu!  You have discovered your inner strengths: Serenity to accept the things you cannot change, courage to change the things you can, and wisdom to know the difference!”  Karlisu shouted with joy! 

“You now have the power within you to truly heal yourself and others.  We now dub you SUPER SISTER!”

Karlisu now had a cape and mask of her own!  “I feel so grateful!” said Karlisu.  “Now I can help save even more people in the land of Heir Zona!”  Then Karlisu stopped, “But what about sister Blood?  She helped me find my strengths!”

The Elders bowed on one knee, and said, “Sister Blood is already a Super Sister, she has humility and patience, and is the one who dubbed us Super Elders.”  Karlisu looked at her companion in awe.  Sister Blood smiled, and humbly said, “You may now burn a skirt as a token of your advancement as a Super Sister!”

Ask the skirt became ashes, the Elders said,“Before we fly into the sunset, do you have any food?”  Karlisu and Sister Blood smiled, “Why yes, it would be an honor if you would join us for dinner.”

Karlisu and Sister Blood continue to exercise their inner strengths.  In fact, Karlisu had achieved such a large amount of Serenity that she was able to overlook the immaturity and mistakes of the Elders. Therefore the Super Elders and Super Sisters became good friends.