Persevering

Things are getting on same as usual around here, we have settled into a work heavy routine for the school year and all do our best to persevere.  Jared hurt his back playing basketball last week and had a tough time of it for a few days until it adjusted again, its never fun to see him in that much pain, but he went to work same as usual. He is enjoying the BYU football season as he usually does and is still eating clean and lifting weights.
I (Heather) got a bad head cold last week and kept up my work despite it, making all my appointments and canning 40 cans for food storage, and I was thoroughly tired out by Sunday. Trying to prepare for our big trip to Jerusalem in October, its fast on our heels. I've also been working on creating a 30 day meal plan for those who struggle with digestive issues, health problems, or sugar addiction and need mild but delicious recipes, with pictures (trying to get pictures of my meals every time I eat is tough!). I am spending whatever free time I have to keep it updated, if you want to check it out click on the sugarfreeforlifeschauers.blogspot.com link to the left.
Savanna still struggles to think mathematically but she belabored over her homework with her parents hovering by until things started to click, and we finally this week found her an affordable tutor that she clicks with, and she has reported that her grade in math has moved up from an F to a C. She hates walking to school still but we still keep making her earn a dollar every time she wants a ride. She also did lots of chores to earn some overalls she insisted on buying, I guess those are back in style.
Fiora keeps up with her homework pretty well and has just started a gardening class at school.  She has really gotten into geography lately, she has memorized all the countries in the world and where they are on the globe. I'm amazed at her love of learning, she also voluntarily decided to take a free online spanish class. Her biggest trial lately is having an overwhelming love for cats and not having parents who will let her get an indoor pure bred cat that she wants, not even for Christmas. She bought a nice Egyptian Cat Goddess costume for halloween with her own money and wants lots of other cat paraphernalia as well.
Weston keeps plugging away at gymnastics and passed off Level 6 at the intrasquad with flying colors, this meet season should be a breeze for him, he nearly meets level 7 requirements but not quite, so he will compete as a level 6 this year.  He's still making time for piano practice, and barely scrapes by getting his homework done. Weston went on a father son camp out with Jared last weekend with beautiful weather and slept under the stars.

Conquered Baldy!

Jared and I spent half of Labor Day hiking to the top of Baldy, the mountain peak right above our front yard. I'd heard it was really steep, and long, so I hadn't braved it yet, but I thought I could handle it after doing weights all year. I'm still such a weakling. About an hour and a half into the hike my legs were done (it really goes straight up, no switch backs) and my energy was gone. I sat on a rock and almost cried, and Jared assured me we could go as slow as I needed to but I didn't see how I was going to get 4 more hours through this journey, slow or not. I really really wanted to make it to the top!  I said a prayer and felt I needed a walking stick, so I kept going up and searched for a stick, and thankfully found one.  I ripped the bark off and knocked off the branches with rocks and that stick pulled me up the mountain. It was so much easier using my upper body strength to make that climb!  I had the words of "The Lord is My Shepherd" running through my head the whole hike, and even on the way down when I didn't need the stick as much I kept hanging on to it, I was quite attached to it! Reminded me of my Savior, I'm so weak I could never get through this life with out Him, but since He is always with me I can keep moving forward and His strength makes up the difference.  It was a beautiful hike and I'm so grateful I was able to make it to the top!

 On the way down we ran into Uncle Charles Rappleye and his family repelling down Battle Creek Falls. He offered me a harness, he had a small one on hand, so even though I was tired and weak from the hike I repelled down the falls. I hadn't been repelling in 20 years and I loved it!  It was terrifying for a minute but not long. If you look close on the waterfall picture you can see me going down.  Jared thought I was brave.

Fiora has really gotten into cats lately. She wants all cat stuff for Christmas--she would really like an indoor real cat but Jared would never allow it--so she is settling for cat decorations and accessories. She purchased a couple cat shirts, a cat bag, and a Egyptian Cat Goddess halloween costume already.  She calls herself a crazy cat lady. Fiora decided to decorate a soda bottle for the school carnival "Pop Walk" all on her own. She decorated her 2 liter bottle of club soda as a cat. What a clever and creative girl Fiora is!

Savanna's back to school nails

Savanna lost her retainer even though she had owned it less than a month. Put in on a fast food tray under the paper and threw it away unintentionally. What an ordeal it was getting her another one! I have not been impressed with the orthodontist we chose for her, and neither has Savanna, and I had hoped we were done with them. We learned our lesson and we paid a little more for Fiora's orthodontist, so she has had a much nicer experience.  Savanna said when we walked out of Dr Healy's office, "Mom, sometimes its not easy being the first pancake." Ha ha.