When the magic fades

When I was in third grade, My fingure was smashed in a minivan door and I had to get stictches. While my mom and I were waiting for the doctor, I asked her if Santa was real. She said, "well, what do you think?" and I told her I didn't think he was. She revealed the truth to me then and that was the end of the magic of Santa for me.

Christmas was always magical at our house, even after I found out that Santa wasn't real. My Mom did such an amazing job of making sure that we remembered the true meaning of Christmas that even after the magic of Santa was gone, the miracle of Jesus birth remained. Even when we did believe in Santa, we knew that Santa brought presents at Christmas to remind us of the greatest gift of all.

Zachary is in second grade this year, which is why I am remembering the moment that I knew that Santa was just Mom and Dad. This could be his last year of that magic and anticipation of Santa. It makes my heart a little sad to think about how quickly the time has gone by. My hope is that Zachary will still find Christmas magical even after he discovers the truth, as it was for me. We have continued the tradition of our daily advent from Thanksgiving through New Year at our home, and I know that both of my kids know why we celebrate Christmas. I pray that the miracle of Jesus birth would be the joy of their Christmas for the rest of their lives.

All by my self

This coming week I am preparing for my family to come for a nice long visit. One of the things that I need to do is get to a Walmart to pickup various things. The nearest Walmarts are either in Utah, or Vegas each a good 3 hour drive. Joe and I were going to take a day trip to Utah to look at a car and go to Walmart while we were there to kill two birds with one stone. This plan has fallen through. Now, I am going to Vegas BY MY SELF! Joe is staying home with the kids while I am gone from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening. This may not seem like a big deal to some people, but what you have to understand is that this is the FIRST time since the kids were born almost 8 years ago that Joe is watching the kids over night without me there. I know that I will come home to a house that looks like a tornado hit, and the kids will probably have skipped a bath, but I'm confident that they will survive. And as for me, it's a short break that will be very busy, but I can't wait!

At home for the holidays

This year, I was not able to make it to California to be with my family for Thanksgiving. I was upset about it, especially since this has been the longest stretch without seeing my family that I have ever had. I am happy to say, that Thanksgiving with just the Hornback 4 turned out to be a really nice day. I ended up making a full on Thanksgiving dinner, which I had debated doing for weeks before-hand. I've never made a turkey all by myself and I'm rather proud that it turned out so well.
It didn't snow like it was supposed to, but it was quite cold outside so we all cuddled up and watched a movie. Then we pulled out all of our Christmas decorations and the kids had a ball putting them up. I let them put everything wherever they wanted and just go crazy. It was so fun to watch them.
At dinner time we all went around the table and told what we were thankful for. It was a tearjerker moment for me to hear my children tell me that they were thankful that Jesus takes care of them and my husband say how thankful he was that we are all together after such a long, rough year.
I even managed to get a piece of black Friday down at the mercantile where I found a pair of sketchers for Katie on sale for only 15 bucks!
We won't be leaving Ely for Christmas either, but I am thankful that my parents are making the trip to spend Christmas with us. I can't wait!

Driller part 3

I just wanted to let everyone know that Joe got the position to train as a driller. He is so excited! Thankyou for your prayers.

Pet peaves

- little potatoes! You cannot buy a bag of potatoes these days with potatoes that are bigger than a babys fist. What am I supposed to do with those anyway? By the time you microwave them they are all shriveled up and uneatable.

-Pull up! Why can't the parents in the school pull around, pull ALL the way up in the line so that more cars can fit in the driveway. Is it really going to kill them to have to take a few extra steps.

-Utah news. Seriously, I'm not Mormon and I'm pretty sure there is news that is not related to the LDS church going on in the world. My local channels come from Utah and it drives me crazy!

-Big dogs. There are big dogs running all over this town and they FREAK me out! Keep your dogs fenced in people!!!

The future for the mine

Here is the latest news on the mine copied from the Ely Times, from an article this week.


Robinson Mine eyes future as copper prices plummet
By Kent HarperEly Times Editor
Quadra Mining, Ltd., has $266 million cash on hand and no debt, giving it a “healthy balance-sheet” as the U.S. and global economy enters a downturn, reports the company's president and CEO, Paul Blythe.

This shot of mining activity near Ruth, taken in 1909, shows a Bucyrus-Erie railroad steam shovel loading ore cars. The work was in the Eureka Pit, which in 1916, was merged with the Liberty Pit, now called the Ruth Pit. Quadra Mining, Ltd., has planned to return to the Ruth Pit to work in 2010 as the Veteran Pit reserves are limited, but additional permitting will be required to remove water from the surrounding aquifer, a perennial problem.
“Clearly, the current metal price environment will have an impact on Quadra going forward,” Blythe said in a summary of the Vancouver, Canada-based company's third quarter 2008 financial report.Quadra owns the Robinson Mine near Ruth, and all of the company's revenues, to date, have been generated by the mine.Revenues from Robinson have declined in the third quarter from the same period last year, but the year-to-date revenues still are running above 2007 because of the high price of copper in the first two quarters.Robinson revenues are listed as $115,957,000 in the quarter that ended Sept. 30, 2008. That's down from the $134,587,000 in revenues during the third quarter of 2007.But for the first nine months of 2008, there was $494,559,000 in revenues, compared to $412,181,000 in the same period during 2007.The report notes the changes in revenues reflect market trends.“Since 2003, the growing demand for copper, particularly in China, coupled with an inability of the copper industry to increase supply due to a lack of immediate development projects, has resulted in decreased global inventories of copper,” the report explains. “The combination of high demand and low inventories, together with a weakening U.S. dollar, led to a substantial increase in the copper price through the first half of 2008. Recent events in the credit markets, together with impact of unwinding speculative long positions and fears of a global recession have led to downward pressure on the price of copper.”During the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, 2008, the spot price for copper has ranged from as high as $4.07 per pound, to as low as $2.85 per pound. But at the end of October this year, the closing spot price for copper had plummeted to $1.81 per pound.Another downward pressure on Quadra's earnings is the time lag in how the copper concentrates price is determined.Revenues from the sales of concentrates are recognized at the time of delivery, which usually is when the ship is loaded at the port of Vancouver, Wash., the report noted. But due to the timing of those shipments, the amount of product sold in any quarter may differ from the actual production at the mine. And final pricing isn't determined until a future date.As each quarter ends, price adjustments are made based on the “payable pounds” actually received by the customer.The payable pounds usually run 3-5 percent “lower than the metal volume actually delivered, and the amount of the deduction varies depending on concentrate grade,” the report added.“This sharp decline in the copper price is an unexpected outcome, and one that has led to full review of our plans for 2009 and beyond,” Blythe said. “Pending completion of this review, which is targeted for the end of November, we will not be in a position to provide production guidance.”Blythe noted that the mine, however, has met all of its current 2008 guidances.“At Robinson, copper and gold production were in line with expectations and we are on track to meet or exceed our 2008 guidance of 150 million pounds of copper and 115,000 ounces of gold. The cash cost per pound produced was $1.21 for the quarter as compared to $1.62 per pound for the same period in 2007 and $1.03 per pound of copper produced for the nine month period ending September 30th 2008.”The review underway may effect the production outlook for the mine.“The Company has been evaluating two options for the Robinson mine plan going forward - either moving to the Ruth pit in 2010 when the existing reserves in the Veteran pit have been mined, or expanding the Veteran pit for an additional phase of mining,” the report says.But recent hydrological work at the Ruth Pit has determined that additional permitting will be needed to remove excess water from the surrounding aquifer, which are above amounts already permitted under the mine's water use permits.Because the permitting process can be lengthy, as well as installing the needed, new equipment, the timing to resume operations in the Ruth Pit would be uncertain.“Furthermore, recent testwork indicates that the concentrate grades from ore mined in the early supergene area of Ruth may not meet the contained copper specification unless this ore is blended with material from another source. As a result, the Company is considering an additional phase of mining in the Veteran Pit, and revising the sequencing of mining operations, which would allow time to obtain the additional permits for the Ruth Pit, and also allow for an orderly blending plan to be executed,” the report continued.But expanding the Veteran Pit and the transition to the Ruth Pit will require a large capital investment, so the plan is being reviewed.The company's future profitability and cash position depends on the price of copper and gold. If the copper price remains low, because of the time lag between delivery and actual pricing, the company could be forced to repay customers as much as $50 million, while “copper put options,” based on the Oct. 31 price of $1.81 per pound would generate only $11 million. The price has dropped since to $1.62.Quadra has cut back its plans for the Sierra Gorda project in Chili and the Malmbjerg project in Greenland, basically putting both on hold until copper prices recover.But leaching activities at the Carlota project began in early October, and first production at that Arizona mine is expected to add some to Quadra's bottom line by the end of the year.Another bit of good-weather news in the economic storm, is the declining price of fuel.The “onsite costs” at the mine increased by $3.3 million in the third quarter because of supplies, which is mostly fuel. But the huge drop in diesel prices can only help in the fourth quarter and in 2009.

Driller part 2

Joe got a call that he is to come in for an interview for the driller position/training. The interview is on the 19th at 10:00 and we are really praying that Joe gets it. The mine is not doing well and has cut all temporary positions, special projects, and over time for many of the employees, and has a hiring freeze. It is a miracle that they are going through with the drill training at all. There have been several jobs posted within the company, and then taken down a week or two later as copper shares continue to drop. There are rumors that there are only 18 days worth of Ore to mine, and other rumors that they are going to try to keep their doors open until at least June. I am praying that none of them are true and that the original 7 years of mining continues. There are limited opportunities in Ely and the closing of the mine would be devastating to not only our family, but all of the 500 employees.

A little bit retro

When was the last time you saw metal slides, horsey swings, and merry-go-rounds? We have a retro park here in Ely that my kids and I adore, and I'm just hoping that OSHA never decides to shut it down. It is one of a kind and a favorite of ours.

I choose joy!

My five year old daughter just told me that today was the greatest day of her life because she blew a bubble with her bubble gum. LOL! If only such little things in life brought me such joy! I heard a sermon, or read a devotional somewhere about choosing joy. It's harder as an adult to see the joy in the day to day grind, but sometimes you just have to decide, or choose joyfulness no matter what. Today I choose joy! I hope you do too!

Driller

There is an opportunity at the mine for Joe to train to be a driller. He signed up for the training, but there are only a few spots. He is REALLY excited about it and is hoping to get it. Joe doesn't get excited about anything work related too often, so I am praying that he gets it and asking everyone else to do the same. Not only would it be something fun and different, it would be great on his resume. Drillers are hard to find, so it would be HUGE for him to get the chance to learn it while getting paid.

In case you're wondering what a driller does, they drill holes for the explosives to go into for when they are blasting pieces of the mountain to mine.

Please keep Joe in your prayers and specifically this drill training. Thanks!

Halloween

I tried to e-mail these pics to my Family, but they wouldn't send, so I'm posting them on my blog. Halloween was fun for the kids. We went to a magic show and candy give out at the Elks Lodge, and then went trick-or-treating in the evening for about 45 min. (about as long as I could stand the cold) The cupcake pic, are the cupcakes I made for Zachs class party on Thursday. I am kind of proud of them! LOL!

8 years

8 years ago today....

Fall

I just finished raking and bagging 200 gallons of leaves from my front yard. I guess that I have never lived in a place where Fall, actually means FALL! It's like attack of the leaves around here. There are still a lot of leaves left on the tree, so I have a feeling I'll be raking a lot over the next several weeks. The kids sure are enjoying it though.

Teachers and guns

I saw a political add last week that really upset me. It was a local Las Vegas candidate that was trying to allow teachers to carry guns at school. I had a short conversation about it with a friend of mine who supported this idea and her point was that kids are carrying guns to school, so teachers should also, for protection. I went on the Internet this morning to read more about this and found that about 95 percent of people are opposed to this idea. I also looked for articles where teachers had been shot by students. I only found one article from Florida. I for one do not understand this notion at all. The fact that kids are carrying guns to school, for me is just another reason why teachers should not. We don't need more guns at school, we need less. More guns only increases the odds of an unnecessary shooting. There are just too many scenarios running through my mind of a teachers gun hitting the wrong student, or the teachers gun getting into the hands of a student, or a teachers gun going off accidentally. I don't normally express my political views, or rant about these kind of topics, however, I am wondering what other people think about this idea, and why. At this point, I do know that if teachers were allowed to carry guns at my childrens school, I would pull them out immediately.

My vegas shopping spree

7 new pairs of pants : $88.00
2 new jackets : $100.00
many new shirts and sweatshirts : $ 200.00

Knowing your kids will be nice and warm in the snow : Priceless

Thankful

I am thankful for so many things. Here are a few.

My salvation
Joe, Zachary and Katie
My extended family
My dog Jazz
Heaters and Hot showers
Never going hungry
Pillows
My up bringing
Spaghetti dinners
Air 1
Memories
Robinson Nevada Mine
The most fantastic espresso machine in the world
Courtni and Kelly
Books
Mouse Trap and Sorry
Laughter
Overdraft limits
Made up songs by Katie and Zach
Christmas traditions
Disneyland
Pictures colored by Katie and Zach
Digital cameras
Willow Trees

Let it snow!

This morning we woke up to our first blanket of snow! This is a first for me. It's beautiful, but boy is it cold!!!!

Yummy

I was just sitting down to make a grocery list and I am very excited about the menu! This week we are expecting 3 - 12 inches of snow, so it's time to put away the bbq and break out the crockpot. Pot roast, clam chowder, meatloaf split pea soup and so much more! It makes my mouth water!

Where is the technology I need!

One of the problems with living in Ely is that your options are limited on businesses. For instance, my bank does not exist in Ely and the closest branch is 215 miles away! Now, I need to deposit money TODAY, and I cannot unless I take a really long drive. You would think that with all of the technology these days, there would be some way to get the money in there with out having to leave the city, but sadly no. Even western union takes at least 2 business days to deposit the money into my account. Obviously I should have switched banks by now, but I just really don't want to! It's 2008 people! Why can't I get the money in there!!!! So, in short, I am off to Utah to go to the bank. :(

Church shopping in Ely

For the last few weeks I have been looking for a church to attend in Ely. Here are my choices:
-Ely Baptist
No childrens program
about 10 people in attendance all above the age of 80

-Ely Methodist
No childrens program
about 10 people in attendance all above the age of 80

-Ely Presbyterian
No childrens program
about 10 people in attendance all above the age of 80

-Ely Lutheran
No childrens program
about 10 people in attendance all above the age of 80


My search is not looking great!
I am beginning to wonder and pray about how churches are planted in communities. I e-mailed my pastor from Vegas for suggestions and prayer a few days ago and am hoping to get some direction from him. There are plenty of people in Ely to start something where young families can get connected to God and fellow Christians. I believe that Ely is in desperate need of this. I am in desperate need of this! I just have NO clue where to start or where to turn other than prayer. I am feeling frustrated and sad.

staying home

I was watching Americas Got Talent the other night and one of the contestants was being interviewed about her life. She was a mom and she said that she and her kids had sacrificed a lot over the years as they had struggled financially, but they had never had to sacrifice her, because she was always there. This little statement brought tears to my eyes, because that is how I feel as a stay at home mom. Since I do not work and money is usually tight my kids go without many things. But to me, in the end it is worth it because I am always there. There is no better substitute, no better pair of expensive shoes, no better designer jeans or latest toy than the time that I get to be with my kids. The satisfaction that some hot shot caraer could bring me would be nothing to the satisfaction of knowing that my kids are being raised by me rather than daycare. I don't condemn working moms at all, but for me, I am thankful that I have been able to be at home and just be a mom.

Life with out a car

******** NOTE *********
This blog and the one that follow were written a few months ago, but due to a lack of internet access, are just being posted.



For the last few weeks and for the next month or so, I am without a car. Fortunately, I have a bike! I am also fortunate that Katie and Zachary both know how to ride their bikes like little experts. You can see us riding around Ely daily, my bike baskets filled with groceries as I have to do my shopping a day at a time with no way to carry more. We live only 2 blocks from the school and so when school starts it will not be a challenge to get there. We ride to the library and to the soda fountain shop and to the park. Katie and Zachary have met the challenge of the big hill from town, back home and it has become a breeze for them. And I am sure that I will finally loose that 10 pounds that I have been trying to loose for the last 6 years! Really, this is just another great adventure in the life of a Hornback!

Ely

I arrived in Ely in late June for the first time. This place is not even what I could have begun to imagine. I had this picture in my head of this cute little town with little boutiques on main street and a big clock tower in the center of town over city hall. In my head I saw planters filled with flowers and everyone waving a friendly hello as you passed by.
I was in for quite a shock as I roamed the town my first few days. The best way that I can describe Ely is (excuse my French) shit hole!!!! Everything is run down and dirty. The neighborhoods are filled with homes displaying old couches on the side of the yard and trash stacked up every where. The famous and Historic Hotel Nevada has to be the dirtiest place that I have ever stayed and this is what Ely claims as one of the big attractions. Yes, it was the tallest building in 1912, and yes it has history, but nobody has given it much TLC since it’s debut.
As for the people, I’m sad to say that in the 2 months that I have been here now, I have come to realize that this town is filled with scandal and a lack of family values. Everyone has slept with everyone and marriage vows and commitment seem to matter little.
Outside of town, Ely does have a few redeeming qualities. Cave lake is only about 20 minutes away, and although too small for boating, is beautiful. There is camping and fishing and, an adventure I have not partaken in quite yet, crawdading, which I have heard is very fun. There is also the McGill swimming hole, which although slightly run down and dirty along with everything else, is charming in it’s own way. It is exactly what I said, a swimming hole. Literally a big hole filled with water, two water slides and a diving board. You can buy nets at the snack shack and catch guppies and swim for hours. The kids really enjoy it there.
I am thankful that I have my own little bit of normalcy here in the house that we found to rent. After a few days of nothing to rent but homes that were in my view unlivable, God did provide us with a cute little house, with a nice yard that is very clean! I’m telling you that in this town, it was a miracle of God that we found it at all! Although I have not been thrilled with being here so far, I just came across a card that my mom had given my sister when she moved a long time ago. It was stuck in a book that my sister had passed on the me to read. I pulled it out and this is what it said:
Dear Kim,
One of the things that Jule said that was important when she got moved to Merced (a place she hates) was "bloom where you’re planted" In other words, try to stay focused on the good and learn what you can do to find your niche. That may take growth to try new things until you find what’s just right, but don’t sit and stew or think about what you wish.
I’ll be praying God, our gardener, makes your "life garden" a beautiful one.
I love you,
Mom"

Good neighbors

Since I have been staying in Upland for the past 6 months, I have really come to enjoy the neighborhood that we are in. Everyday after school and now all day since summer has begun, all of the kids in this neighborhood go in their front yards and play together, or swim in one an others pools. I have lived in so many neighborhoods in my adult life and have never had the experience with neighbors that I am having now. The boys all play baseball in the front yard or throw a Frisbee or have races on their bikes. The girls too, join in on the racing, or sit in the avocado tree in my parents front yard and play dolls, or house or color. One of the parents, including myself pulls out the slip n slide and all of the kids spend the afternoon having a ball. The neighbors with pools, share and all of the kids swim until they can't swim anymore. Even the parents chit chat. We all sit out front and watch our kids and exchange pleasantries. We all know each others names and we all take turns having the kids in our yards. It's been such a nice change. We have lived in places where no one ever talks to anyone or waves or smiles. Kids don't play outside and you would never feel comfortable letting your kids spend time in a neighbors house because you just don't know them. Here, kids are in and out and all around and I simply love it. It's how all of the world should be!

Denali hikers rescued!

Tears came to my eyes today as I watched the anchorage news. Erica Nelson and her friend were rescued today! I got to see her mom, Ellane from my small group giving her daughter a hug, safe and sound with no injuries. Thanks for all of your prayers. I know it meant a lot to the Nelson family.

PLEASE PRAY

I was contacted today regarding a friend of mine from my small group in Las Vegas. One of the ladies in our group, Ellane Nelson, has a daughter who has gone missing on a hike in Alaska. This has been on local Las Vegas news and on the national news, so some of you may have seen the story. Ellanes daughters name is Erica Nelson. Please keep Ellane and Erica and the rest of the family in your prayers to bring Erica home safely.

Here is the link to the story which includes a picture of Erica.
http://www.adn.com/outdoors/story/438758.html

So. Cal

I took my kids to Newport Beach yesterday. The weather was perfect and the water was pretty warm too. It was just beautiful. Beaches in So.Cal are one of the things that make me wish that I could live here. Unfortunately, the average price of a home is somewhere around 600,000 and rent is 2500 a month or more. Blast! I don't think we'll ever get to live down here!

Just a reminder of what America faces

This is 9 minutes long but a good reminder of what America faces.


If you know someone who doesn't understand why we have 180,000 brave U.S. troops honorably serving in Iraq & Afghanistan, then please share this video with them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lKZqqSI9-s

We are approaching the 7-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and since then Islamic jihadists have not been able to inflict another terrorist attack on American soil. And U.S. troops deserve a lot of praise for this fact. Our troops have al-Qaeda broken into pieces, and their affiliated terrorist groups largely decimated. This is the direct result of our troops' missions in Iraq & Afghanistan, and around the world (in conjunction with the dilligent work of law enforcement and intelligence agencies).

So please realize that while you are sitting at your chair reading this, a young man or woman is over in Iraq or Afghanistan, enduring temperatures over 115 degrees, and fighting violent radical jihadists who want to see you and I dead, and our society and values destroyed.

We should say thank you to our troops. In fact, we cannot begin to thank them enough.

It's funny because its true

This is for anyone who has lived in or near L.A. It made me laugh, so I'm passing it on to you! Enjoy.




You must first learn to pronounce the city name L.A. ; it is "L" "A" and not "la" like in the Sound of Music.

All freeways are referred to as "The 405" or "The 10" regardless of it being referred to as I-10 in other states.The morning rush hour is from 5:00 a.m. to noon. The evening rush hour is from noon to 7:00 p.m. and Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday, just after noon unless it is a three day weekend and then it begins sometime Wednesday evening.

The minimum acceptable speed on most freeways is 85 mph. except on the 91, the 105 or the 110, where your speed is expected to match the highway number. Anything less is considered "Wussy."

Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere, L.A. has its own version of traffic rules. For example, cars/trucks with the loudest muffler go first at a four-way stop; the trucks with the biggest tires go second. However, in Malibu , SUV-driving, cell-phone-talking moms ALWAYS have the right of way. If you are in the left lane and only driving 70 in a 55 - 65 mph zone, you are considered a road hazard and will be "flipped-off" accordingly. If you return the flip, you will be shot. If you actually stop at a yellow light you will be rear ended, cussed out, and probably shot. Never honk at anyone. EVER. Seriously, it's another offense that can get you shot.

Road construction is permanent and continuous in all of L.A. and Orange counties. Detour barrels are moved around for your entertainment pleasure during the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a bit more exciting. Map Quest does not work here - none of the roads are where they say they are or go where they say they go, and the freeway off and on ramps are moved each night.

If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been "accidentally activated."Do not try to estimate travel time-- just leave Monday afternoon for Tuesday appointments, by noon Thursday for Friday and right after church on Sunday for anything on a Monday morning.

And finally, why is the L.A. Freeway called "the 405"? Because no matter where or when you are traveling on it, it takes 4 or 5 hours to reach your final destination from wherever you are. Make sure you have a small ice chest filled with snacks and drinks. L.A. is a desert and getting stuck on the 405 can result in dehydration or possible starvation if you are not prepared.

Timing part 2

God did miraculously provide for Joe to go to Kingman yesterday. In fact the whole family went! We loaded Zach and Katie in the car and drove the 4 hours to Kingman. Joe went to the interview and it went well, so we'll see if they give him a call. After the interview we went over to Needles and found our own private beach and spent the rest of the day in the river. It was really fun. On our way back, Joe had me laughing so hard almost the whole way home. I couldn't hardly see the road! We had such a fun family day out and who knows where this little trip will lead us. God is good.

Timing

Anyone who knows me, knows my current situation. Joe is in Ely working and I have been staying with my parents while Zachary finishes school. We are supposed to be joining Joe in Ely sometime in mid to late June.

Last night we got an e-mail from another mine that Joe had applied to a while back, asking him to come for an interview on Monday. This mine is in Kingman, AZ.

There are a few problems with this. First of all, this is Joes first week off in 2 months, and he is supposed to drive home today. Katie especially, but all of us, can not wait another second to see him. We miss him like crazy. The second problem is that with gas prices being what they are, it would cost a fortune to get there and back and again, if you know us at all, we are BROKE!!!!!

The thing is, that I have learned with Joe, that it's always a good idea to take risks. Most of the time for us, when we do, they turn out to be better than what we had before. We are also having such a hard time finding a place to live in Ely, and chances are good that when we get there, we could all end up living in a hotel room together.

When I got this e-mail last night I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. There are so many things that would be better about living in Kingman. It's closer to my family and to major cities. It has ALWAYS been Joes dream to live near the river. And it doesn't snow there. I hate snow. But honestly, we need him to come home now for a visit, not be in Kingman on an interview. And I just don't know how we can pull off the cost to get him there. Sometimes it feels like God is just messing with us! I just told God, if you want Joe to go to this interview, then you have to figure out how to get him there, because I've got nothing! And if He does want Joe to go, then I know He will get him there.

If you are reading this, please PRAY! Thanks.

Joining the cause against drunk driving

Please don't drink and drive.
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=4564276
Click on the link

Random stuff

So I was watching Beauty and the Geek tonight, and one of the girls was talking about her fool proof diet. I loved it! She just simply put her scale in front of her refrigerator and would step on it before opening the door. Her weight would determine what she ate. I have no need for a diet right now, but next time I do, I'm totally doing that!

I went to my sons back to school night last week. Everyone in the class wrote something they thought was special about every classmate. The teacher made a book for each child with every ones thoughts about why that person was special. No joke, about 6 of the girls wrote, Zachary is special because he is handsome. LOL! It was the cutest thing ever!

Katie is so excited about Joe coming home on Friday. She told me that we had to make daddys favorite dinner for him. She said that he would want mashed potatoes, meat and salad.

Joe is in fact coming home on Friday and I can't wait! It has been almost 2 months since his last visit. This last week has been really tough. I just had melt down after melt down and I am so thankful that he will be here to rescue me on Friday and staying 6 whole days. After he leaves, it will only be about 2 more weeks until we finally join him in Ely.

Missing Las Vegas

One of my favorite things about living in Las Vegas were the amazing parks! The kids and I used to go almost everyday and spend 3 or 4 hours. Here are a few of my favorites!

A quick shout out, whoop, whoop!

I just wanted to give a little shout out to the ladies from my small group back in Vegas! I have been gone for nearly 6 months and these ladies continue to care about me and love me. They keep in touch via e-mail, pray for me and my family, send me cards, call me and even sent me the latest study so that I could keep up. These are some of the most wonderful women I know. Thanks Arleen, Vicky Charleen, Dawnna, and yvonne. I love you guys!

An unfortunate veiw

I thought long and hard about weather or not I should write this blog. I want to start off by saying that I am in no way trying to call anybody out, or implying that I know anybodies intentions. I am not putting words into anybodies mouth or trying to say that I know what a particular person meant when they made a certain statement. This blog is simply about understanding where others including my husband are coming from.

I recently read a blog from a friend of mine whom I have great respect for. He is a pastor and has been in ministry a long time. The blog was simply a little blurb about a day in his life where he ran into a bunch of people whom I'm assuming are members of his congregation. At the end of the blog he made a statement that since he had run into these people outside of church, some of his "duties" for the week were taken care of.

Like I said previously, I don't know what exactly he meant, and I am not putting words into his mouth. However, as I was reading it, it dawned on me what my husband Joe has felt and expressed to me many times about people in ministry and Christians in general. Joe has always shied away, not from God, but from religion and always says that he is hard pressed to find people who he feels are genuine, or not fake or people he feels truly care about him. I could hear his voice in my head as I read this statement saying, "see Erin, it's his job to care about people, so he makes the rounds like he's supposed to." I am constantly defending "Christians" and saying that of course there are people who are hypocrites in the church, but not everyone is that way and sometimes you just have to have a little bit of faith in people. I for one have found more Christians than not that have a real love for one another. I think that it is important though that people do not have ministry burnout because that is when it becomes just a job, as opposed to genuine caring and concern for others, their lives, and their emotional needs. It's unfortunate when these burnouts give substance to someone who is already a skeptic. I pray for Joe everyday that he may find whatever it is that he is looking for in Godly people. I do understand why he may feel the way that he feels, and I pray that those who are involved in ministry, including myself would remember why exactly they are doing what they are doing.

Yummy

My dad is making apple pancakes with apple syrup this morning. This was a childhood favorite, and I can't wait to eat them!!! YUM!

Humbled

Today I am thankful that God has told me no. It is such a great reminder that God knows more than me! I am humbled today by Gods hand in every situation in my life and that no matter what I might think the best plans for my life are, how much greater does God know. I want to be like David in 1Chr 17:16-20; 22:7-12. David responded to Gods plans with humility and gave glory to God when things did not turn out the way he thought that they would. I am blessed to have his example to follow. Ps 4:3 reminds me that the Lord will hear when I call him, and PS 10:1 reminds me that even when God seems far away to KEEP PRAYING! I may not get the answer that I want, but God knows what He is doing and it is my job to continue in prayer and seek Gods will and lift up my hands in prayer and praise Him because of His unfailing Love for me.

Birthday Party

Katie had 8 kids at her party. I sent them home on a sugar high after they ate a bunch of candy from the pinata, had a root beer relay, made their own ice cream sundaes, and had cake! I hope the parents don't hate me too much! I think the kids really had a great time though, and the party was a really great success. It was such a fun day. Lesson learned however: 4 litters of root beer is too much for 8 kids in a root beer relay!

Katie

5 years ago today I was holding my beautiful baby girl, Katelyn Kimberly. She was 7 pounds, 9oz and 19 inches long and absolutely gorgeous! Today she is turning 5 and she has grown up to be such a fun, joyful, intelligent big girl! Katies favorite thing to do is crafts and painting. You won't find her playing with dolls, she would rather be outside on her bike. Happy Birthday Katie!!!!!

Butterflies part 2

We got to let our butterflies go today. It was such a fun experience. Here are some pics. Enjoy!

Whirl wind

Today I am 29 and I am thinking about the last 10 years of my life. It has truly been a whirl wind. 10 years ago, I met Joe while I was still in college. We were engaged on my 21st birthday and married 6 months later. I had Zachary and bought my first house when I was 23. A year later, we sold our house and bought our second home in Hesperia. Shortly afterward, Katie came along. We have moved so many times between then and now and lived all along the 15 freeway between San Diego and Las Vegas! Now, I am in my last year of my 20's with a 5 year old(on Friday!) and a 6 year old. Although I would not trade the last 10 years for anything, I am hoping that my 30's move at a slower pace and the bumps in the road are fewer.

Good news

There was an article in the Ely times last week that I forgot to share. It is very good news for our family. Take some time to click on the link and check it out! The article is about the mine that Joe is working for.
The Ely Times - elynews.com :: News: Mine to operate for at least seven more years

Joes Job

Joe has been working for a copper mine in Ely, Nevada since February under a temp agency during the 3 month probationary period. He got his permanent hire date today and a raise so I am very excited. It is all working out and coming together. Now to find a place to stay up there...

Butterflies

I ordered a butterfly sanctuary for my daughter Katie as a little bit of home science since she is not currently in preschool. Our caterpillars arrived a couple of weeks ago and we watched them eat and grow and grow. This weekend they shed their skin to reveal their beautiful chrysalis. They are specked with gold and absolutely gorgeous. The whole thing is an amazing process and I myself spent hours staring into the little container. To me it's just another example of how amazing our God is. I can't wait to see them after they have morphed into butterflies and observe them for a few days before we let them go.

Bipolar disorder

Soon after I was married it became quite clear to me that my husband was a very angry and depressed person. It took him the first 5 years of our marriage to admit that he may have a problem, and then get him to the doctor. He was prescribed Zoloft for the depression and anger by his PCP and he had an almost immediate turn around in behavior. It was like a whole new Joe and I couldn't be happier. Unfortunately, lately, he seems to be back to his old self even though he is taking the maximum amount of medication aloud.

After his last episode, a dramatic mood swing from out of the blue, I took some advise and looked up Bipolar disorder. From what I read, I believe that Joe has this disorder. The Zoloft is not enough on it's own to treat the disorder and he needs to go back to the doctor. I am hoping that he will go without a fight and that it will not take 5 years like it did the last time.

One of the statistics I read about people that have this disorder is that the divorce rate is very high. Joe and I have been through a lot over the years and we have been able to survive somehow. I am thankful that I have a personal relationship with Jesus and that no matter what, I can turn to him. I am thankful for the Bible that guides me, that he provides every answer that I need, including the letters from Paul to the Corinthians that I refer to every time I just want to run! I am thankful for the Psalmist, and for their constant reminders of Gods love, mercy, and hope and at the same time reassured me that it was O.K. to lament and give glory and praise to God. I am thankful for stories of people like David who God did great things through even though he was a nobody, and women like Esther. I am thankful for my small group made up all of women whom are married, but spiritually single and hold each other up.

I refuse to be a statistic just because of this hurdle. I know that we can get through this and that God calls me to ,even when I just want to give up. I am thankful that God does not give me anything that I cannot handle and I pray that God will use me, a nobody, for something great one day, even if it just to share my struggles with someone else that may be dealing with the same thing.

The invisible mom

I got an email today with a wonderful story and I just wanted to share it with any other moms out there. I do not know who the author is, but here it is:


It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lackof response, the way one of the kids will walk intothe room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken tothe store. Inside I'm thinking,'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; noone can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, orsweeping the floor, or even standing onmy head in the corner, because no one can see me atall. I'm invisible; 'The Invisible Mom.'Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Canyou fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even ahuman being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is theDisney Channel?' I'm a car to order,'Right around 5:30, please.'I was certain that these were the hands that once heldbooks and the eyes that studied history and the mindthat graduated summa cum laude -but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter,never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, andshe's gone!One night, a group of us were having dinner,celebrating the return of a friend from England.Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, andshe was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.I was sitting there, looking around at the others allput together so well. It was hard not to compare andfeel sorry for myself as I looked down at myout-of-style dress; it was theonly thing I could find that was clean. My unwashedhair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid Icould actually smell peanut butter init. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turnedto me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'Ibrought you this.' It was a book on the greatcathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactlysure why she'd given it to me until I read herinscription:'To Charlotte,with admiration for the greatness ofwhat you are building when no one sees.'In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - thebook. And I would discover what would become for me,four life-changing truths, after which I could patternmy work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals- we have no record of their names. These buildersgave their whole lives for a work they would never seefinished. They made great sacrifices and expected nocredit. Thepassion of their building was fueled by their faiththat the eyes of God saw everything.A legendary story in the book told of a rich man whocame to visit the cathedral while it was being built,and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the insideof a beam. He was puzzledand asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much timecarving that bird into a beam that will be covered bythe roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workmanreplied, 'Because God sees.'I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall intoplace. It was almost as if I heard God whispering tome, 'I see you, Charlotte. I seethe sacrifices you make every day, even when no onearound you does. No act of kindness you've done, nosequin you've sewn on, no cupcakeyou've baked, is too small for me to notice and smileover. You are building a great cathedral, but youcan't see right now what it will become.'At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction.But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It isthe cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness.It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. Ikeep the right perspective when I see myself as agreat builder. As one of the people who show up at ajob that they will never see finished, to work onsomething that their name will never be on. The writerof the book went so far as to say that no cathedralscould ever be built in our lifetime because there areso few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.When I really think about it, I don't want my son totell the friend he's bringing home from college forThanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning andbakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkeyfor three hours and presses all the linens for thetable.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or amonument to myself. I just want him to want to comehome. And then, if there is anything more to say tohis friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. Wecannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day,it is very possible that the world will marvel, notonly at what we have built, but at the beauty that hasbeen added to the world by the sacrifices of invisiblewomen. Great Job, MOM!

LOL

So my husband likes a certain brand of tooth brush because it is a little bigger than the normal size toothbrush. They stopped carrying it about a year ago and it really actually upset him. I was just wandering through Walgreens and came across the biggest toothbrush I have ever seen. The thing looks like it was made for a giant. I was literally laughing out load in the store when I saw it so hard that I had tears rolling down my face. I bought it as a joke and showed it to Joe laughing hysterically. He loves it! He's going to use it as his new toothbrush. I am going to add a picture, but I don't think a photo will do it justice. It was a good laugh for me though.

Homecoming

Joe is home for the next 6 days! Yeah. Man I missed him.

running out of ideas!!!

This year I was forced to pull my daughter out of preschool because I simply couldn't afford it anymore. She has been at home with me and I have been doing our own version of preschool here at the house. It seems like the time when we are focused on learning goes by much to quickly. We do an art project at least once a day, go to the library and the park a few times a week, but I still feel like she is watching TV a lot. She also wants me to play ALL the time. I don't mind playing, but I just can't do it 24/7. I know that she is bored at home, but I am running out of ideas. I am only in California for a short time and haven't taken the time to find a church or a playgroup and I think that has added to the problem significantly. It is just Katie and mommy from 7:30 to 2:30 everyday without any other contact, but because we are leaving so soon, the effort to find friends for her and myself seems like a waste. I just wish I could come up with a few more FREE activities because we are both going CRAZY here!!!! I am looking forward to our butterfly project coming up next week. We ordered caterpillars and will get to feed them, watch them make cocoons and turn into butterflies. That will be fun for both of us and a great learning experience too.

STILL NOT SMOKING!! YEAH!!

Quiting smoking sucks!!!!!!

mysterious blessings

This year, as I finally get to my taxes, I am reminded of what a difficult year this has been. As the housing market took such a crash, the construction industry also did. My husband runs heavy equipment for a living and jobs have been few and far between. Joe has never had trouble finding work, but this year was the first time that there was truly nothing happening and time and time again he was sent out on a job that lasted a week or two and then ended. We have struggled to get through the year barely scraping by.

Somehow we did manage to survive our financial hardship and as I reflect I am amazed to realize the blessing that God gave us during the year. Joe spent so much time at home while he was unemployed. He really had a chance to spend quality time with his kids and really enjoy them. He and I had so much time to talk and work on things that have needed mending for a long time. We are closer than we have ever been during our 7 year marriage. I don't know many dads that get to spend the kind of time with their kids that Joe got to spend this year. It truly was a blessing to have him home so much. It's funny the way that God works things out sometimes. Prayers are answered in mysterious and unexpected ways. Sometimes, you don't realize that God has given you this amazing blessing until after the fact, but when you do, you are humbled and awed.

Friendship

Over the past several years I have been praying diligently for God to bring me a good friend. I have never had very good luck with friends and there are very few people that I actually consider true friends. I have always thought of myself as an exceptionally good friend to others and haven't quite figured out why I cannot find someone to truly rely on myself. To me, a friend is someone who is loyal beyond measure. Someone who would do anything to help a friend in need. Someone who always has the time to talk, and someone who listens with an empathetic ear.

I was recently angry at someone that I thought was a real friend, but soon learned was using me. It is unfortunate, because I really did care about her and thought of her as my closest friend for a long time. I felt burned and disappointed. As I grew bitter toward her, I prayed yet again for God to bring me a real friend and not someone like the last person whom I only thought was my friend. Suddenly, I felt God tugging on my heart, telling me that He felt the same way about our friendship that I felt about my last one. God is the friend that I imagine that I am to others, but I am the friend to Him that I despise. I do not listen. I do not spend time with Him as often as I should. I often come to Him with requests, leaving that as the extent to my daily prayer.

How can I expect God to answer this prayer I have had for a friend, when I am treating Him the exact way that I do not want to be treated. I am thankful that God always finds a way to remind me that He is there, that He wants to spend time with me and that He desires that I find time for Him. My new prayer will be that I am continually reminded of the amazing friendship that I already have in Jesus and that I can be the friend to Him that, I expect my friends to be to me.

A rock and a hard place

I have heard so many discussions over the years about Public school vs. Private school or homeschooling. I never saw the issue with public schools since I made it through the system without any problems. My son Zachary is in 1st grade this year and I am beginning to see a problem with the public school. I feel like he is being pushed so hard to meet "the standards" that he is loosing a lot of his childhood. I don't have a problem with homework, but the amount that is sent home each week is appalling. He is only 6 years old and instead of spending the majority of his time outside playing after school, he is sitting inside doing homework.

I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I cannot afford the luxury of a private school and I do not feel qualified to home school since I have no background in education. If I allow him to spend less time on his school work, I am afraid that he will not meet the standards, but if I do not allow him to rush through his work, then I am afraid that I am not giving him the precious time he has left to just be a kid. It is exciting to watch Zachary reading so well and learning so much, but I really feel that they are pushing kids today far beyond what is necessary. Being a child is supposed to be the time of your life. A time without pressure or anxiety. A time to be carefree. We all know that once you grow up, feeling like this is usually just a memory, but will my children ever have a memory without pressure with the way things are in the current school system. How can I as a parent, make sure that they do, and at the same time, keep them on track with the standards? I do not want my son to miss out on being a kid.

Small town

My husband took a job in Ely, NV last month. My son Zachary is finishing the school year in California before we join my husband in Ely. I am especially excited about moving to Ely because this will be the first time I have ever lived in a small town. I love for Joe to mail me a copy of the Ely times each week so that I can dream of this small town life that I am not yet accustomed to. The Times only comes out on Wednesdays and it is only a few pages. Most of the news is devoted to what Elys small number of students (elementary through high school) are accomplishing. An entire page lists the churches and their service times. These are people who really care about each other.
Last week my husband asked me to call and find out if a particular hotel had weekly rates because he is currently staying in hotels until the rest of the family comes up. I called the hotel and an old man answered the phone. I asked him about the rates and he told me that they did have weekly rates, but he just didn't have any rooms at the moment. I told him that my husband worked at the mine up there and that I would call back another day to see if they had rooms because He needed a place to stay. The man quickly replied, "Well in that case I have a lot of rooms! I only rent to truckers and miners! Tell your husband to come in and I'll make him a great deal." I wanted to laugh out load because he was just so cute. This man is devoted to his small town life and does not want anything else seeping in and ruining it. "How late can he come in tonight to check in?" I asked. "Well ma'am, I usually go to bed at 8:30." Wow, what a difference from Las Vegas (my last home) where everything is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
I can't wait for the feeling of quiet, real friendship, caring people, and a slower paced life. Although my husband thinks I will hate the fact that the nearest Target or Walmart are over 200 miles away, I'm looking forward to shopping at the local mercantile, taking my kids to the soda shop, and going to see the one movie they play at the small theater every month. Slowing down a bit sounds just fine to me. If you would like to check out what Ely is all about, visit www.elytimes.com You'll be fascinated!

Home

In the past 8 years I have moved 12 times. I have no military affiliation as some may assume. My moves, my families moves are just life for us. In the first few years of my marriage, I despised these moves as I had grown up living in the same house and the same city my whole life. Now, as I prepare for my 13th move I am content because I have learned over the years that home is wherever my family is. This apiffany struck me a few years ago when I found myself living in a 32 foot motor home with my husband, my 3 year old son and my 16 month old daughter. The motor home was in a city called Hemet and we were there during the summer when temperatures reached at least 110 degrees daily. The motor home was impossible to keep cool during the hottest parts of the day and it was much cooler to sit outside in the shade. I was feeling so sorry for myself one afternoon when the toilet we had backed up and the whole cramped area smelled of rotten eggs. It must have been 120 degrees out that day and I just sat outside and cried while my kids ran around and played as usual. It was then, watching them, that I knew even though I felt homeless, my kids did not. They had their mommy and daddy there with them, a roof over their heads, food to eat and toys to play with. As I watched the joy in them, despite our living conditions, that is when I realized that it does not matter if I live in a mansion or a motor home. Without my family, I would be truly homeless, no matter where I was, but as long as we are together, I am home.