More, Savior, Like Thee

Originally written September 11, 2004

Three years ago, I watched with the rest of the world as the hate of some men brought down the Twin Towers and destroyed the lives of many people and families in one life shaking event.

The morning had started out crazy as most morning are in a house with four little people. Our fourth child had been born three weeks earlier. I was not completely recovered from that experience and I was sleep deprived like most moms of new babies. That morning, I busily tried to get all four of the kids dressed and out the door for my daughter's second dance class which started at 9:15 MDT.

About 8:45 the phone rang. My dear friend in Texas, Kelly, called to let me know that something big was happening. To be honest, I didn't really have the time or the emotional strength to care. We talked for a few minutes while I finished dressing everyone and then out the door the kids and I went. We arrived at dance only a few minutes late and then I took time to breathe and figure out what was going on back East.

I remember turning on the van radio and listening to Peter Jennings talk about these planes that had flown into buildings. My brain struggled to wrap around and truly understand this momentous disaster. At that point, I'm not sure that many of us in the country really understood what was going on. The other early memory that I have is of running into Idaho Camera to drop off 35mm film to be developed. They had a television on there. I saw footage of the planes flying into the towers and the towers collapsing.

Then I went home. My oldest had afternoon kindergarten. I got him lunch and kept watching the coverage of the terrorist attack. It was surreal. I remember seeing the planes crash into the buildings over and over and still it didn't seem possible that anyone could get on a plane and fly it, themselves, and hundreds of innocent people to their deaths purposely. I saw the footage of the towers coming down. The dust and debris rolling endlessly. I saw people crying and staring. Still my mind couldn't comprehend this huge tragedy caused completely by human hate.

In the days that followed I tried, with the rest of the country to understand what had just happened. I also slipped, like many others, into a fog of depression. I wasn't doing very well physically and emotionally to begin with. The fourth baby's birth had been a bit of a surprise right from the beginning. Then when he arrived, the rest of the family started into a bought of stomach and intestinal flu. Tad was the only one to escape the sickness, and he tried his best to keep us all going,  and while he was able to take some time off work still pulled at him too.

It had been a busy and rough three weeks of struggle right up to September 11, and I wasn't in any shape to deal with the emotions that a major terrorist attach on my country brought into my life. But I had no choice in the matter.

I spent several weeks walking around wondering why, such a terrible thing had happened and trying to find the energy to work through it and move on emotionally. About the end of September, I came out of the fog induced by pregnancy, child birth, sickness, and terrorist disasters. Finally I began to be able to deal with life and process the events that occurred in Pennsylvania,Washington DC, and most of all New York.

Through the ensuing months, I began to be able to consider the events of September 11th and the thousands of years of history that lead up to them. Yet, I still don't feel satisfied and settled.

Nothing on earth, created by mankind, can fix the holes that hate rips. Nothing can truly help me understand how men and women harboring that much hate could be raised and allowed to unleash that searing hate on the world. I do not understand how there can be mothers and fathers in the world, so wrapped up in their own beliefs, culture, and selves that they could be intentionally cruel to people they don't even know in such a final way.

I simple don't understand that way of thought. And I feel pretty powerless before it's fury.

But I have determined that I can do something. Perhaps it is very small, but I feel sure in its own way, it is powerful.

I can love others, one person at a time. I can teach my children, and other children about caring for others. I can continue a quest in myself and others to move forward toward understanding and love of others even when we don't agree or even accept what they stand for. Other people have intrinsic worth. I can teach and show respect for that eternal principle.

Humans have faults. Humans are all different. Humans just won't always agree, but they can still find a way to value something in another human as small as that something might appear.

I can be a positive influence for good in the lives of others. I can value the people I call Children of God; in other words, everyone. And I can smile at people. It takes very little effort to smile, but it does so much good for so many people.

On September 11, 2001, so much was destroyed through hate. I may never in my whole life touch as many people as those few men did in their moments of angry destruction, but I am going to continue to move forward with love anyway. I am going to continue smiling at people, continue plucking the unkind and unworthy thoughts from my mind, continue striving to be a builder instead of a basher.

I add my voice to that of Phillip Paul Bliss, the write and composer of More Holiness Give Me:

More holiness give me,

More strivings within,

More patience in suff'ring,

More sorrow for sin,

More faith in my Savior,

More sense of his care,

More joy in his service,

More purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me,

More trust in the Lord,

More pride in his glory,

More hope in his word,

More tears for his sorrows,

More pain at his grief,

More meekness in trial,

More praise for relief.

More purity give me,

More strength to o'ercome,

More freedom from earth-stains,

More longing for home.

More fit for the kingdom,

More used would I be,

More blessed and holy--

More, Savior, like thee.

Don't Bury Yourself in the Dust of Time

Yesterday was a day for hearing stories of conversion to the gospel of Christ. It started as I read a conference talk by Sister Cheryl Esplin about Filling Our Homes with Light. I was expecting to hear about teaching my children or filling my lamp, but what I really found the spirit saying was share your conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ story. And go and get others to do it too.

I think I have a lot of those stories of testimony, because I can't remember the moment that I was converted, but I do remember a turning point story that I will share one day. And I keep sharing stories that I find help me. Maybe they will help someone else too. I would like that, but mostly it is about me, but not today.

In any case, the day continued with a fireside/panel discussion given by our Stake Presidency and their wives to the youth in our area. During this discussion the first counselor and his wife shared the turning points in their lives where they made the choice that sent them down a path of discipleship.

I had previously heard President F's story, but despite working with his wonderful wife for a year in nursery, I didn't know much about her life growing up. What a sweet testimony they both shared about finding the feelings of "home" in the Church.

All of this made me think about life stories, conversion stories and lessons that we could pass on to our children.

Several weeks ago, I learned that my son asked my father to write down lessons he had learned in his life, because, my missionary son suspects that he will want to refer to them as he gets back from his mission and continues on with life.

Another thought came from all the life sketches of my ancestors. Several years ago, I collected all that I could find and put them together in a book. I love them all. They help me understand who I am. But one is my favorite. 

Most of them were either written by someone else rather than the person, or written in third person with very little personality. I know the bare facts. I don't know the feelings.

One of those is Caleb Baldwin. Caleb Baldwin was there at the beginnings of the Mormon Church. He was converted to the Church in 1830 being baptized by Parley P Pratt and confirmed by Oliver Cowdery. He hosted John Murdock, the father of the twins later adopted by Joseph and Emma Smith, in his home as the Caleb and John built the church in Warrenville, Ohio. He lived in Far West. He hung out with Joseph Smith. I never knew any of this until familysearch.org pointed it out to me one day a few months ago, and I went on a search.

“He has shone himself appointed as a preacher of the gospil on all accatins [occasions]. He is a worthy brother.” said his missionary companion Levi Jackson. 

He was a great man, who lived an amazing part of American history. But while Caleb Baldwin "played an active role in some of its most significant events (LIKE LIBERTY JAIL!!!). And while as a scribe he possessed an able pen (AT LIBERTY JAIL!!!), he failed to keep a record of his involvement during the early years of the Restoration." according to Justin Bray, his autobiographer. (Parenthetical additions are all me.)

And I have to agree. Nobody knew this. I asked my mom. I asked my aunt (who has the records and reads them.) Nothing, Na da. Seriously this whole piece of our family history was gone, because he didn't leave anything.

But my great, great grandma Phoebe Emma Moore Nixon (the woman standing in the picture below) left some personality and a personal record. In three short pages, she packed a story of faith and testimony from her mother, Helen, many memories of life in Randolph and Garden City Utah, attitude about Iona, Idaho, her later years in Evanston, Wyoming, and an overall enjoyable glimpse into her life. 

I love her. I am so glad she took some time, probably felt a little silly, and wrote herself onto a piece of paper back in 1951 at the age of 78. And I am so glad my grandmother Marguerite Kennedy had the good sense to collect the pages and keep them in a drawer so she had it to share with me 40 years later.

Now back to the story from Sister Esplin. The striking part of that talk is about her great aunt, Elizabeth Staheli Walker. Elizabeth, in her life history tells an experience of her childhood "for her children and their children after she is gone." 

Elizabeth's life (1831-1915) spanned about the same period as Phoebe's mother Helen's did (1835-1928) and just like Helen, Elizabeth had a story that strengthen her faith and cemented her conversion. 

Years after Elizabeth Walker's experience happened she 'received a powerful impression. She said, 'The thought came to me as plain … as if someone had said to me, … ‘Do not bury your testimony in the ground.’”'

And that is what I have to say today. DO NOT BURY YOUR TESTIMONY OR YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES IN THE GROUND!

People want to hear them. They can be disjointed. They can be in a million little pieces. They can be just about anything that shows you. Just get them, get yourself, recorded. 

Thanks for indulging my soapbox. WRITE YOUR EXPERIENCES!!!

Christmas Letter 2013: The Return of Miss M

I totally forgot to post this last year. I meant to do it about five days after I got the cards out and then I didn't do it. Might have been the college and LDS missionary prep along with Christmas, a new job, a five kids. Anyway enjoy. With luck I might get the new one I drafted today out and up here before next year. - Kristen

Dear fellow humans (or aliens, I don’t judge),

I am back again to write this Christmas letter because my mom said everyone thought it was hilarious last time I wrote it (you can tell I love having my ego stroked.) Anyway, let’s get on with this so I can go do something else.

First let’s begin with D. Ah, D. Mr. “I’m so tall and bearded and manly that people think I’m 25 not 17.” Yes, him. He got his Eagle this year. I know because I had to help with his court of honor (Tons of work, guys) He’s done some stuff in choir (Mom, add something here. I literally don’t know what D did this year.) I have to be nice to him because he drives me to school. I don’t see him a lot, (no joke, he’s either at school where I don’t see him, at work where I also don’t see him, or in his room, or out with friends.) I don’t talk to him much, but I know he loves me because he watches out for me in the parking lot. Just a tip, if you are walking through a high school parking lot, bring someone tall and who will watch the traffic for you or else you might get run over by some speeding teenager.

Ugh, I just read what I’ve written. I sound like your typical teenage girl. Maybe I should write how D would write this. Have you ever read something that kid wrote?

“The Russian Federation was no longer a great player in international politics in the ‘90’s. The country was becoming obsolete. Gone were the times when the Soviet Union dictated the paths of its vassal states and allies. Under Putin, a reorganization took place. The corruption and misuse of government funds by the “oligarchs” was eliminated. The Russian economy has steadily grown at a rate of seven percent (Starobin). Putin’s decisions in consolidating and organizing the Russian Federation have led to great domestic success.”

I grabbed that from some paper he wrote on Vladimir Putin like two years ago! Pretty impressive stuff, eh? Oh well, I’ve always known I’d never be able to write as well as D. Might as well resign myself to that fact.

Next is me, M. Not much to say besides that I’m amazing. I um… this year I… This is awkward. I’m 15 and a freshman in high school now. That’s pretty cray cray. (Cray cray means crazy for those of you out of the loop.) I’m in choir, Spanish, and Key Club (the key club isn’t by personal choice. I kind of got sucked into that by a girl who seems to like D. Not that service groups are bad things!) I’ve been baking lots and I’ve also been playing the piano a lot lately which my mom is happy about. Can I brag real quick? I really want to. I just wanted to mention that I’m in honors Algebra II which is 11^th grade math and I have an A! Woot, Woot! Sorry, I’m just so happy! In case you feel like my bragging was too much, I’ll put in something bad about myself. I’m kind of sucking at taking care of my diabetes. Yeah, I have an A1C of 9.0, or something like that. That’s pretty bad. Now I’m sad. And feel worthless. I think I’ll just tell you about Enow.

E is tall. Taller than me tall. And I know I’m only 5’5”, but he’s still like 5’8-9” and only 13 and in 8^th grade. Wow. He’s taller than me when I’m wearing really tall heels. He’s also playing the clarinet in band. And he’s in FLL, or First Lego League which means he builds robots out of Legos. It sounds boring and difficult to me, but he seems to enjoy it so good for him. I asked him something good he did this year and he said “puppies”. Personally, that sounds pretty cool to me, but I also know he had nothing to do with puppies this year so he’s lying. Liar, liar pants on fiyah! Did you know lying is spelled with a ‘Y’?

C, who is 12, is in 6^th grade. He’s very proud of grades. (Yes C, I know you have A’s, I have A’s too. You don’t need to brag. My A’s are just as high as your A’s. Plus I have an A in art and you don’t because you obviously are far too hard on your self-graded assignments. Learn to relax, it’s art for crying out loud. You could paint a canvas blue and call it art and people would buy it for lots of money, ‘cause that legitimately happened.) He does stuff called percussion, which I did last year in eighth grade, but I’m not bragging. He also is about to do some basketball with B and does FLL with E, so that’s fun for him I guess.

B, recently discovered a love for Doctor Who. He is now a Whovian. I accidently got him started on this path because I am like that. He also likes Minecraft. Actually, they all like Mincraft, except D. Some of their stuff is pretty impressive. B is eleven, no wait he’s nine. No, no he’s 10. He is definitely 10. And I know he’s in 5^th grade because he still gets track break. Lucky duck. He is pretty funny (though not as funny as me) and does stuff. I don’t know what though. (Mom, put something here too!)

I really don’t know what my parents do. Mom got a job as a receptionist at the same place D works,  Journey Mental Health clinic, or as my friend put it so eloquently the other day “The crazy people place”, *sniff* their name just brings tears to my eyes.

My dad works to buy me stuff. No one else, just me (well I guess he works to buy all the stinkin’ food my brothers eat. They eat a lot. And I guess he pays for the stuff mom buys. And the stuff he buys for his bike. Did I mention he rides bikes? All the freaking time! Well, that’s actually a lie. He more rides his bikes sometimes and walks a lot with mi madre because they wanted to walk 1000 miles this year. He also tries to get me to do stuff, but I’m just like “ain’t nobody got time for that!”) He also is pretty annoying sometimes, but I’m working on my anger issues and just ignoring him instead of punching him (but I could totally take him if I wanted to).

So, this is done. And now I get to go do something else. I’m so excited! As a grand finale, I will finish off with some Spanish!

No me gusta escribir ninguna palabra, pero me gusta leer muchas palabras y ver películas. ¿Te gustan las hamburguesas? ¡Adiós señores  y señoritas!

-La familia de Schafers

Family History - I am Doing It*

Go to this link in another browser and play this song while you read

Preferably with the music and vocals

At the end of July, my son Camden went with the Deacons Quorum to visit the Family History Library. Sister V was there and taught the young men about Family Search and the Finding Our Cousins program. Sister V and Camden looked for names for him, but had little success. 

The next day, knowing that we had some names reserved on Camden's paternal line, we got on familysearch.org and went looking. While there we printed off the pedigree chart and family group record that Camden needed for the Genealogy merit badge. We also dug around in our paper files and uploaded copies of US Civil War Service Records onto the entry for a man on Camden's maternal line. Finally we printed the names that we had reserved for the temple. There were two female names and five male names.

A week or two later Camden, Marleise, Egan, Dreyton, and I went to the temple on a Tuesday morning with Sister W and her daughters, M & S. Dreyton was able to baptize Camden and Marleise as proxy for the family names. Then I was able to go in and sit as the confirmations were done. During the confirmation for one of the women, May, I felt a warm, almost burning, sensation in my chest. When the officiators finished the confirmations, one of them turned to me and said, "That first female name. That was strong." I felt sure that she had been there.

When we were finished in the baptistry, Sister W took all of the younger kids home. Dreyton and I went upstairs where we continued to do work for those names. We had appointments to do all the initiatories and then we attended an endowment session. I decided to take May's name. Dreyton took her father George.

I didn't really feel anything during the endowment session, but I had a reoccurring thought that I needed to go home and find May's husband.

When Dreyton and I finished, we had mission prep errands to run. It was 4 or 5 o'clock before I got to the computer, but I felt like I really needed to do that so I went in to our office, sat down, and typed in May's father's name. I don't know why I chose him. It was partially because I had no idea what her married name was. But mostly it was because that is what popped into my head/fingers when I sat down.

Immediately a USGenWeb entry written in 1910 came up for George. It was a bio written about him in a book about the families of Grundy County Illinois. The article listed him, his first and second wife, his children and their spouses. May's husband Thomas was there.

I have more to do before we can take Thomas and the other names found in that article to the temple, but this sweet experience was a blessing during a busy time in our lives. It reminded me that God is mindful of all of His children living and dead. He wants us to take those few moments on a Sunday afternoon or a quite evening or even a crazy busy Tuesday afternoon and look at our family history. Maybe we will only find out that our family and our spouse's family crossed the plains in the same wagon company (true experience). Or maybe we can help our children upload the life sketches that came from our grandma's bureau drawer (a project yet to be done - but waiting). But just maybe if we take that few minutes, we will find a cousin who is excitedly waiting for us to find her, print her name, and take her to the temple.

*The title for this post came from and LDS Primary song. If you know your Primary songs or followed the link, you figured that out.

Looking for the Blessings

Today I came home from work with an overwhelming urge to call an individual who had aggreed to help one of my children. This child has been silently struggling.

I had done all I can to fix the struggle, but it was beyond my abilities. I reached out to several people and organizations for ideas on what to try next. I was exploring several options and avenues hoping to find something that would work. During one of those calls a glimmer of a path appeared.

I have often felt the influence of the Holy Ghost in the way I felt it that day last week. For me that influence is like going to the eye doctor. There I sit, peering through the optics trying to make out something as the optician says, "Is one clearer, or two?" Blurry images swim in front of my eyes, until a quiet click opens a clear view and I say, "That one is the one."

Talking with a helpful advisor last week, a person was mentioned, and I thought, "There. She is the one."

So on Monday, I called her and left a message. And waited. And waited. And got distracted by other issues and other children. Today as I drove home I felt a need to call right now. So I came in the house and checked my messages. Nothing.

I got distracted by the things that always distract me when I get home from work, but the urge was still there. So I looked for the number, which fortuitously was right on my bedside table, and Ms. V answered. She was so gracious and kind and willing to help.

I hung up grateful to her and grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who was mindful of my family's need and sent much help this week from many directions, but most especially remembered this important need and sent promptings at the perfect time to remind me to make a call for my child.

The Schafer Family Quiz - 2012 Edition

The Schafer Family Quiz - 2012 Edition

1.       Who went shirtless 350 days of the year, despite the complaints of the rest of the family?

A.       D                         B. T                   C. B                           D. E

Answer: C. B (9) – He says he is too hot to wear a shirt. Rarely pants either. Usually he is found in cutoff sweats or shorts. No socks.

2.       Who rode a bike to the elementary school a mile away in order to get on a bus to ride to their elementary school nearly every day last year and this year until 20 degree temps and a flat tire stopped them (yesterday)?

A.       B          B. D            C. M           D. C

Answer: A & D, B & C (11) - They are in 4th and 5th grade this year and ride two miles a day back and forth.

3.       Who chopped off all of their hair just before the first day of school?

A.       T – He’s going bald anyway.

B.       B – “It’s too stinking hot!”

C.      M – She wanted something new and exciting for the last year of middle school.

Answer: C, M (14) – It is really cute. See the picture.

4.       Who got a new Fuji bike in May and rode 250 miles on it this year?

                A. K              B. T                    C. C                           D. B

Answer: Well it’s not T. He rode way more miles than that on vintage road bikes, because that is how he rolls. It could be C or B, they did ride a lot of miles to and from the school last year. The answer is A, K. It is light turquoise and she really likes it.

5.       Who spent hours in the neighbor’s basement playing with Legos to make a robot for the Lego League competition?

A.       D          B. M            C. E                D. C

Answer: C & D, E(12) and C joined a First Lego League Robotics team for 9-14 year olds last year and again this year. They did okay last year and better this year. They will be going to the state competition in January. Stay tuned.

6.       T and his friend, Rob, went on a day hike in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. That day they covered...

A.       5 miles           B. 15 miles            C. 21 miles            D. 30 miles

Answer: D, Yes - 30. Crazy. We agree. (This cameo is payback to Rob who always includes T in his annual Christmas letter and has never appeared in ours. Enjoy the moment. It will be another fifteen years until the next shout out.)

7.       Where did the family go on a fun-filled summer vacation?

A. Disneyland       B. The Alamo       C. Broadway         D. Yellowstone        E. Ogden

Answer: both D & E, Yes we toured the Wyoming and Utah border including Yellowstone, Teton Park, Jackson, Montpelier Idaho, USU in Logan, Lagoon, and OGDEN. Don’t ask about the ghetto Motel 6 near 12th on Washington Blvd in Ogden. It was an adventure in smelling like cigarette smoke and wall-to-wall beds and cots for seven people in one $45 a night non-smoking room. Nothing was stolen and we only feared slightly for our lives.

8.       On our summer vacation T took...

A.       Some great pictures of the natural wonders.                         C. Way too many pictures!

B.       A lot of pictures that rarely featured people.                           D. Something like a billion pictures!

Answer: It depends on which family member you ask.

9.       Who went to camp in June and swam in the Sun Valley pool, repelled down a rock face, white water rafted on the Salmon River, and shot lots of arrows?

A. D            B. E                  C. M           D. C          E. B

Answer: C, M had a great time at Camp Hodia because apparently Type 1 diabetics get to do a lot more in the outdoors than the Boy Scouts.

10.    Who went to Scout Camp for the first time, experiencing a lot less adventure than his sister, but getting a whole lot dirtier?

A. D             B. E                  C. C

Answer: B, E - He was filthy and happy. He doesn’t know that his sister did a lot more.

11.   Who finally broke down and got a real job as an office assistant at a local mental health counseling office?

A. K                              B. T                   C. D

Answer: C, D (16) - K continues dabbling in volunteer work and writing/editing non-profit grant proposals. T still works for MarkMonitor, who was acquired by Thomas Reuters this summer. D, thanks to K and all her volunteering contacts, got hired to enter data, file, and generally fill out Medicaid forms for a PSR company. (Okay it wasn’t just K’s connection to, and lunch with the wife of the boss on the day they started hiring; it also helped that the office manager was the mom of one of D’s good friends from Jazz Choir last year.)

12.    Who spent a lovely weekend at the Sun Valley Jazz Jamboree in October?

A. D                            B. T                    C. K                             D. All of the above

Answer: D, D sang with the Jazz Choir for a second year at the Sun Valley Jazz Festival. K pretended to chaperone, but mostly just let all the type A moms take over all of the duties. T drove the car up and back, ate the free food, rode his bike about 65 miles during the day Friday and Saturday, listened to some music, and made all the boys go to bed at night. All the kids and chaperones stayed in the Sun Valley ski season employee dorm which was less than plush but still a step up from the previously mentioned motel in Ogden.

13.    What did we name the mouse who invaded our home for the kickoff of the 12 Days of Christmas?

A. Jerry      B. Stuart      C. Mickey     D. Algernon       E. Fieval        F. Ralph             G. Reepicheep

Answer: D, Algernon - This was a really brilliant mouse. He evaded capture for several days holed up under the dishwasher, stealing the food delivered multiple times daily to his door on a bright yellow spring loaded tray. (It was a 98 cent trap people! The mouse kept taking the food without springing the trap.) Finally in desperation we set up four traps, only baiting the very farthest one from the hole and lured the mouse to a dramatic death at 12:12pm on 12/12/12. (Okay, it was really 11:34am, but the rest of the story is true including the name Algernon. We did not get him flowers.)

The Schafers 2011 by Miss M

Dear Whoever,

I am writing this letter because apparently you care what we do. I personally find this very stalkerish but whatever.

Anyway, this year we did stuff. My dad (40 something – I don’t keep track and he doesn’t tell me) climbed mountains. What their names are I really don’t care but you can email him if you want to know.

My mom (not as old as my dad) fed us, and cleaned for us, and did other stuff. It was very nice. My dad says to tell you she also read a lot. So - SHE READ A LOT. WOO HOO. Like I care.

D (15) did some singing in a Jazz Choir at school. He also debated. I hear he is good. He’s pretty good at arguing with me, so whatever. He says he’s talented. I think mostly obnoxious.

I (13) did some stuff at school, like being Lady Macbeth in a play. I also played the saxophone, which is really irritating when it is crammed into the bus seat with me and two other girls. I should have played a flute or a clarinet like Egan, but my dad had this saxophone…parents are so bothersome.

E (11) started sixth grade. He apparently thinks that this is a great accomplishment.

C (10) did Lego robotics (and Egan did too.) He also played soccer, I think.

B(8) broke the kitchen faucet, played some baseball and soccer and was generally annoying.

As a family, we did some things like…um…going camping and go to Burley for Aunt Carrie’s wedding. We also went to Salt Lake for our other Aunt Carrie’s wedding. We have two Aunt Carries. We are special like that.

I’m sure we did a lot of other stuff this year but I can’t remember most of it so I will just leave it at this, because I don’t really care, and I don’t see why you do either.

I don’t know how to end this-

The Schafers (though primarily Miss M) - 2011

An Average Christmas 2010

2010  

- Just another average year in Our Home -

Another year has slipped by for our family, and it’s been a pretty average one. We slept, we ate, we worked, we argued, we laughed, and we played. Below we share just a few of the average happenings –

• T averaged 8.1 hours of sleep a night. On week days D averaged 6.7 hours of sleep, He averaged 12.6 on weekends. M 6.2 on weekdays, and 10. 1 on weekends. E 9.3. C 8.4. K 7.9. B averaged 8.2 but needed 10.7.
• Our family consumed an average of 2.9 boxes of cereal each day.
• An average of 8.5 gallons of milk were guzzled each week.
• An average 1.3 loaves of bread disappeared into stomachs daily.
• Weekly, an average of 1.5 jars of crunchy peanut butter disappeared, usually on the bread.
• Dishes sat in the sink waiting to be done an average of 4.7 days.
• An average of 8.3 loads of laundry sat waiting for washing, drying, or folding each week.
• An average of 2.9 evenings a week were spent finishing homework. An average of 1.6 hours were spent after 10pm.
• An average of 7.8 pairs of shoes laid in the entry from 5pm to 7am. 2.1 from 9am-5pm.
• On an average day, 3.7 orthodontic rubber bands, in puddles of spit, littered the kitchen table.
• The family room floor hosted an average of 4.8 dirty socks daily.
• Family members attended an average of 14.2 debate, scouts, soccer, basketball, tennis, volleyball, swimming and/or wrestling events each week.
• D, M, E and C practiced .57 hours of piano per day. M spent .16 hours on the saxophone.
• An average of .78 choir, band or piano recitals occurred each month.
• An average of 5.6 hours of the week were spent in church related activities.
• An average of 3.8 arguments occurred daily.
• An average 14.8 family group hugs occurred each week.

We wish you a very average Christmas & New Year too!

And he still says, "I am bored" 4 years later OR Christmas Letter 2009

My name is B. I’m 6 yeres old. I‘m riteng the Christmis letr this yere. – There’s a silent e at the end right?—

C is 8. He relly, relly, relly likes Oreo pudn. He goes crazy for it.  Today I made sum with E. It was relly exasting. I had to ster it for 2 awrs – E was it two hours?—O, 2 minits. That was exasting. C likes playing on kumputrs. Ca duz not like to see me at school. Neether duz E. I think I mite drive them crazy. It is not fun to be the yungest. I hope sumdae I’ll get a miracle and gro big and strong. Til then I’ll try and do evrything rite but sumtimes I mes up.

E is 9. We play all kinds of games. Sumtimes win we play a game, E thinks that it is not fare and I do, but sumtimes I think it is not fare and E duz. But it is not fare. E likes to play at reses at school. Mom says he likes siense and math too, but I don’t no about that. Those things are kinda borine for me. I like reses, free choise and moovees.

M is 11. She is nice sumtimes. Sumtimes she is helpful and I like her here. Sumtimes she teaches me art. She likes to decrate her room and draw girl stuff like flowrs and buttrflys. I don’t like them much. She draws rainbos too. They are prety. Sumtimes she logs me onto the kumputr so I can play games. I have to sit by her on the bus becuze I was being bad at the frunt. It is kinda borine at the back of the bus with M. But I get to lisen to her mp3 playr.

D is 13. He teezes us win we don’t want him to. But sumtimes he is good, not uzualy, and hugs us. He eats like a pig. He needs to go on a diet. But Mom duzn’t think so since he is taler than her and oly ways 123 ponds. We no his wate becuze he resld. I need a lot of food. I only way 51.5 ponds. It is not fare. I need to gro more than him. He is all redy big. Kinda biger than Mom. He is biger than Dad if he stands on the little step stool. So he shuld stop eating so much and giv his food to me.

Mom is not that nice sumtimes. Sumtimes she sends me to bed erly becuze I was being bad. I probly deserv it, but I hate it. She helps me get down toys that I want to play with and sumtimes she can’t becuze she has gone sum where like Walmart or Fred Meyer. She sumtimes lets me fall asleep in her bed, and Dad caryees me upsters. I have a hard time falling asleep in my bed becuze C is smack in the middle of the bed and there isn’t a lot of room for me. Sumtimes I roll around in my bed. C duz not kinda like it.

If you ticle Dad he doesn’t laff. He werks at Suprvalu. It is kinda boring becuze he cumes home at nite and I don’t get to play on his werk laptop. E says they shuld pay him more or let him werk less. Dad has hiking gear. I don’t no eneethng about his gear exsept he has a lot. Dad has about a bilyun hiking poles. Mom thinks that they are an adicshun.

Riting this took to long and I’m bord so Merry Christmes in a happy noow yere!

You know you live with a lot of young children when...

You know you live with a lot of young children when you tell time not by the clock, but instead by the cartoon showing on PBS.

You know you live with a lot of young children when everyone starts out the night sleeping in their own bed and wakes up the next morning in someone else's.

You know you live with a lot of young children when the most requested meals are pbj sandwiches, pizza and hot dogs, and the nicest restaurant you've eaten in lately offered $.69 hamburgers and $.39 ice cream cones.

You know you live with a lot of young children when the closest you've come to an art gallery is the collection of paintings that you keep picking up off the floor and returning to the increasingly overburdened magnets covering the refrigerator. .

You know you live with a lot of young children when the last novel you read was The Little Engine that Could . And the next novel that you are likely to read is The Little Engine that Could .

You know you live with a lot of young children when you and your friends opt to take a four-passenger sedan over your roomier min-van because you don't have to remove and reinstall any car seats.

You know that you live with a lot of young children when you dream of hiring a real maid as you wipe up the bathroom that your one year old son has just "cleaned" with the toilet brush and toilet water.

You know that you live with a lot of young children when your two year old Golden Retriever, answers to the name Egan, and is also known as your son. And you are grateful that you can enjoy two things a dog and a son for the price of one.

You know that you live with a lot of young children when your floor is covered with paper scraps, your table is covered with paper scraps and your four year old daughter is covered with paper scrap and glue from her latest art project, which you now must find a spot for in the "art gallery". Of course you can just call in the one year old maid. He cleans refrigerators, inside and out as well as bathrooms.

You know that you have hope that these children may someday grow up when your six year old informs you that he is going to be a businessman and sell the books that he is now writing when he gets older. Of course some of the excitement is lost when he continues telling you his plan for building his office in you backyard!
But at least your retirement years will be provided for by his plans to build another office next to his, so that Dad can help manage the business.

You know that you are happy with your life when you and the other parent in the house can look up from the clutter, crumbs, and chaos all around you and smile at each other.

December 2002

Deck the Halls 2007

Deck the Halls 2007

Start the fall with a new job for Dad.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Went to HP ‘cause Micron was so bad.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

He thought that was plenty of stress-

Fa la la la la, la la la la

But read on to know the rest.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

We bought a new house, a great place to dwell,

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Room for us and all our stuff as well

Fa la la la la, la la la la

A park with a pond and climbing trees

Fa la la la la, la la la la

We’re sure we all will be really pleased.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Pack up the old house, move some boxes.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

‘Tis not the best season to move houses.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Found some things we’d forgot we had.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Lost much more, it’s really, really sad.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Try to find the winter jackets-

Fa la la la la, la la la la

While we move and stack and stack it.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Move the piano in the snow,

Fa la la la la, la la la la

At least the mover is taking it slow.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Have Thanksgiving at the old place

Fa la la la la, la la la la

With everything gone it has a lot more space.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

“Maybe we should just stay here.”

Fa la la la la, la la la la

“Have you lost your marbles dear?”

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Thought we’d love that park and pond.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

It even has geese of which we would be fond-

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Except for turds from honking birds.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Instead of gaggles they must come in herds.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Spend our first night in the new abode

Fa la la la la, la la la la

We’ve only moved a mile across the road.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Miss the bus at the new bus stop-

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Run back home, avoiding goose plop-

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Think about dear family and friends

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Plan to write them before the Holidays end.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Good intentions are thwarted once more.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Hope the New Year is great for you and yours.

Fa la la la la, la la la la

In case you didn’t follow the song, On September 4, Tad started a new job at Hewlett-Packard here in Boise. His life was pretty much turned upside down. On October 10 we made an offer on a roomier home about a mile away from our old home. The builder accepted the offer and suddenly everybody’s life was turned upside down. We signed and signed and signed on November 14 and began an exhausting holiday adventure which we are still in the middle of.

While it has been a stressful year with many ups and downs we feel truly blessed. We are very appreciative of the help and support of so many friends, the opportunities we have had to connect with many old friends, and the chance we have to build new friendships. Although it has been a year full of changes for our family, we recognize even greater changes for many, many of our friends and family as they have faced moves, loss of jobs, job changes, illness and personal tragedies. We feel blessed to know so many good, courageous people. You are always in our thoughts and prayers.

Love,

The Schafers