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Jennifer came home really blue after the last game for the seniors. She was realizing that she would be in their shoes next year and said how she didn't have much time left and was fighting tears. She loves high school and will really have a struggle at graduation.
Jen was in a speech contest and out of about 50 competitors she came in 2nd place! She came home with a plaque and was on cloud 9.
Shar has 11 games she needs to be to with pep band. Jen has to sell concessions at 2 games and play in 6 or 7.
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| Brain Freeze! |
Emily missed a week of school due to tonsillitis. Aaron really missed her at school.
Chris has been gone on a business trip for a week and will come home to a house full of girls. The 12 girls are from Boise (one used to be in our Branch) coming for the weekend and they had all planned to stay at Jill Farr's but Jill's now going to be gone for a funeral so they have no place to stay. I called Lois Chandler and she can take four of them and we will have the rest. On Saturday morning, all of them will meet at our house for cross country skiing. We had invited Elders to dinner Sunday so I guess we will really have a house full. Sometimes when I feel anxiety over people coming over I remember "Because I have been given much I too must give." I'm very grateful for our lovely place to live and I'm glad to share our home.
February
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| Happy 17th Birthday Jennifer! |
Jen had a slumber birthday party.
Aaron had a belated birthday sledding party.
Shar had many pep band games.
Jen and Shar went to Star Events in Twin Falls with USO. Shar did really great for a 1st year and Jen got a blue ribbon. She gets to go to state which she can't do because she will be in Florida with Marine Biology class. Jen's state speech meet is also that week.
Also Jen attended Academic Triathlon in Twin Falls one Saturday and the Simplot Games the next Saturday. The Saturday after that we went to Rexburg. I got a perm at the beauty college. Shar spent the weekend there with Katie and they sewed look alike dresses. (Looking for the photos.) They have such a good time together.
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We went to Joe Curry's to celebrate his birthday. I brought salad and cake.
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Sharilyn got a new flute at Chesbro's in IF. She so LOVES it! She takes it out and plays & plays then cleans it, puts it away and a little while later out it comes again. She plays beautifully and has been working hard saving her money to earn this new flute. We will give her birthday money to help with the cost as well.
Aaron was in a cub scout skit. He is getting better overcoming his bashfulness. They had a "cake" auction for the scout fund. My bread (sour dough cinnamon bread) went for $21.00!
Sis Peterson offered Emily and Aaron a months free lessons in Taekwondo so it'll be tricky but we've added 5pm lessons each Mon, Weds, Fri.
Emily was made Principal Pal at school so today I took her in to get her free milkshake, then dropped Em & Aaron off at Taekwondo, picked Shar up at Chris's office, went home and fixed dinner. Chris picked E & A up on his way home and then went to Branch Pres mtg and Em had primary achievement day. Jen & Shar had to skip YW to work on some big reports and study for tests.
Em was up late preparing her book report presentation and I helped her make a costume for it. Next morning I got the twins dressed and we got to school at 8:15am to see her presentation. Em met me in tears because she left her costume on the bus so she has to wait until Monday.
Talking about symbolism in institute tonight and Christ being the Bread of Life. I made little mini loaves of bread for everyone. :)
March
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I took Shar to Hailey and she now has her driving permit! She starts drivers Ed this month! Woa! We bumped into Br. Pooley and Shar told him that he better stay off the roads for awhile because she just got her permit. He thanked her for the warning.
Emily has become a popular babysitter for branch people and neighbors. She has been enjoying Achievement Days and she and Aaron just love their Taekwondo lessons.
Aaron is working on a mobile book report and a boat for the cubscout regatta races this month. He had regatta races with Cub scouts in Hailey. His car did great and almost came in 3rd.
Black Wednesday March 22nd
This was a most dreadful day. The kids say the day will always be black Wednesday from now on. Because of a change in Sawtooth Software they have decided to split in two and we are relocating our part of the business to Sequim WA most likely in July. (Joe Curry is the current president and he's moving to Hawaii to get married and Rich Johnson is retired and moving to Sequim WA. )
I felt such shock and terrible sorrow when Chris shared the news with me. How could we even begin to tell the kids. We have only been in our new addition part of the house for 4 months. Jen will be a senior and on varsity basketball team. Shar has a kindred spirit buddy (Lindsay) that she doesn't want to leave and Em and Aaron have their fort on the mountain across the street and neighbor dog Jake that thinks he belongs to us and on and on. It is really hard to believe this. We still have a lot of finishing left on the addition.
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| Andrea comforting Jake who came in frightened from a thunder storm |
When we told Jen and Shar they almost fell to the floor with shock and they wailed like someone had died. The look on their face was so heartbreaking. Then Aaron did the same. Emily was asleep so we told her the next day and she did the same. It was so very hard. I was so touched to see Jennifer trying to comfort and cheer Emily. We have had knots in our stomachs...not sleeping well or feel like eating. I don't know how we can leave these people and this home that the Lord blessed us with and these mountains. Chandlers have spent many many hours of labor in our behalf and my Dad, who wired and brought us supplies, has as well. It almost feels like betrayal. So hard. I feel like writing in big letters on the wall "This home was lovingly built by the King Family & The Chandler family and Debbie's Dad and Chris's Mom and even Elder Archibald of the quorum of 70." I feel like these people were investing in us with such love and now we leave.
Oh how joyful it will be to gather in that glorious world where "goodbye" doesn't exist. We must live valiantly and stand firm for the name of the Lord until He comes and gathers us under His wing to be together forever.
A Tender Mercy
I was so very blue. Chris opened the church directory of Bishops etc and suggested we call a name to get info about wards etc. We picked (or should I say we were divinely directed) the Sorensen's in Sequim 1st Ward. Sister S answered and had just returned from teaching seminary. She was so nice and thoughtful in answering my questions. An hour or so later Br. Sorenson called us back and asked if we knew the Devine's. YES! He is vice principal of the High School. They moved here from Sequim and were in Sorenson's ward. I called Br. D at the school and explained things to him. (The girls didn't sleep all night and went to school red eyed and sad.) Br. Devine was so wonderful and told me that we will absolutely love Sequim and he would move back there in a heartbeat. He said he would give a pep talk to the girls, which he did. (Brought them into his office). We are all trying to be excited about the adventures that lie ahead and this was a helpful beginning.
If we weren't so sad leaving here, going there truly would be so exciting! It's on the Olympic Peninsula just west of Puget Sound. We will have Mt. Olympus on one side and beach on the other. It is a ferry ride across the Strait of Yuan de Fuca over to Victoria in British Columbia or across the Puget Sound to Seattle. People go clam digging and they grow fields of tulips that stretch out to the sea. It will be very different and fun and we're in a bitter sweet excitement about it.
APRIL
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| Happy Birthday dear Emily |
Well, we told our parents the sad news. Mom Clarke is having a really hard time with it. I feel so bad I just want to take her with us. We will take a trip to Sequim with the kids to get a feel for the area and look for a place to live. We hope Mom will come with us when we go.
Jennifer has been busy with a heavy class load in school, track, orchestra. She auditioned for and made it into a community play "The King and I". She got on the front page of the newspaper in a great high jump photo. She's had Marine Biology class meetings to prepare for their trip to the marine lab in Key Largo Florida during spring break. The trip was such a great and fun experience for her! She called us a few times while she was down there and sounded so excited about what they'd been doing. Sadly she lost her glasses while there so we have a eye exam set up for her.
Sweet Jennifer put Chris & my name into a drawing for dinner at SV lodge and I can not believe it but we won!!! Thank you dear Jen and SV! We went to this free, four course dinner in the most beautiful luxurious lodge dinning room. It was so delicious and when the musicians played "It happened in Sun Valley" I couldn't hold back tears. It is soooo hard to think of leaving this place. Sooooo hard.
The girls were in the SV Youth Orchestra spring concert.
Sharilyn has kept busy with orchestra, band, drivers Ed and her good chum Lindsay. The two of them spent most of spring break together. We took Lindsay with us to Rexburg and Shar went with them to Idaho Falls a couple times horseback riding. (They own some horses over there.)
Me: "hurry and get in the car or we'll be late and I'll have to drive over the speed limit." So we are driving down the road and Andrea asks, "Mom, where's the speed limit?" I showed her the speed limit sign. She looked so confused and asked "How do you drive over it?"
Chris & I taught an emergency prep class for Sunday School.
We made a trip to Sequim and took Mom Clarke with us. We hoped to find a place to live but did not have success. We just do our best and live in faith and hope and strive to have more charity and things will work out.
This month we got much done in the house; hung doors and trim, cleaned walls, carpet, window, tiled fireplace & hearth, repairs hole in wall where plug socket was moved, repainted, framed in puppet theater hole in wall, wallpaper and floor vinyl in two bathrooms...
MAY
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We had numerous realtors going through our house.
A trip to Denmark with my Mom and Dad and Aunt Carole. (See next page) They were so excited to have this opportunity to go to the homeland of Bestima and Bestifa and of course pick up Steve from his mission! They tried to get Bestima and Fa to come too but they didn't want to see it. They said they want to remember it the way it was when they left there. Mom Clarke kindly came over and took care of the children. We were so grateful to her.
JUNE
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The last day of school was really hard for the kids. They came home so blue.
We have been so busy finishing our addition on the house to get it ready to sell, trying to keep it spotless and "showable", trying to find a house in Washington and trying to go on with life which is hectic without all this. Someone was coming to see our home and I had cleaned and made it as prefect as I could, then rocked and read to the twins while we waited for them to come, and to keep them out of trouble until the "lookers" were done. Andrew got mad at Andrea and jumped off my lap, ran upstairs and messed up 'Emily's bed, pulled books off the shelf and threw a puzzle all over the floor. After all that, the "lookers" buzzed in and out in about 4 minutes. Hhhhh. I will take and be grateful for this kind of stress though, rather than a tragedy.
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We made another trip to Sequim and made offers on two homes but lost them to other bidders.
Sharilyn got her drivers license. She isn't old enough to drive in WA so it was cool to be able to take drivers Ed here.
Jen took the ACT test for College Entrance.
Pickett Reunion in Lake Tahoe.
Jen was in dress rehearsals for The King and I so she couldn't make it to this reunion.
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Jen & I joined her old girl scout troop with Willa and Carole and went to lunch in honor of Jen and Liza who are both moving. Liza (moving to MT) has been Jen's best buddy so in a way this is good that they both move the same summer. They were given very beautiful SV sweat shirts. I so admire Willa and Carole who have been the most amazing GSA leaders.
Jen had the time of her life as she performed in The King and I as one of the wives, the one that presents the children to the King. She did such a great job and it all was so well done with two professionals as the leads. (Laughingstock Theater in Ketchum) Sadly all our pictures turned out red and blurred.
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| Jennifer standing in background |
Our family spoke in Sacrament meeting and at the end the congregation stood up and sang "God be with you till we meet again." I lost it. Just cried so hard.
Emily cut off the woven bracelet that Debbie Coulter made her. She has been wearing it for four years!!! Her wrist is growing and it is getting tight.
JULY
On the 2nd Elder Eyring and his family was in church. They usually come up once each summer. I'm glad we didn't miss them. Elder Eyring shook our hands and our children's. Mom Clarke was visiting and told Elder Eyring that I was Debbie and he said "Yes, I know." He asked me where exactly we were moving in WA and I told him and he said to Chris and I "We'll come find you. We'll find you." I have wondered about that comment ever since!! I'm not sure what he meant but I told him they were welcomed any time.
We had a branch FHE at Manipoo. It was for Thomas's and us who are moving. I was so touched at everyone's out pouring of love. I told them all that I loved them and they were our family and we'd love to have them all come visit us. I told them how there is a whole eternity ahead and I hoped we could spend it together with them. There were tears and hugs. We were given a beautiful ceramic of Christ with the Children made by the Yate's.
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| Bagging up things to give away. (My stuffed animals from when I was a kid- I can't believe I parted with them) |
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| Aaron, how did you do that! |
We went to Sequim a third time looking for a place to live. Everything fell through again and we've signed up for a 4 bedroom rental in town. It's been disappointing but we know something will work out. We really wanted to get settled and make a place feel like home quickly because Jen only has a year to live with us before college.
Our beautiful Hulen Meadows is a so green and like paradise right now. Our garden with the Snow in Summer, pink tall Fireweed, Chicks & Hens, Red Dianthus and bright Poppies. So pretty. The shed that we've wanted for years is done and the kids now have a playroom in the eves of the house which has been like a dream. They enter through a cubby hole door in the closet. We carpeted it and wired in a light and put in a puppet show window. They play there all the time.
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| Back of the house with shed |
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| Our pretty living room |
Our emotions are on the edge in this our final week here in Sun Valley. I still feel a sense of shock like I'll wake up and everything will be normal again but I think I'm awake and we're really going to go. Shar said goodbye to Lindsay and I cry every time I see that scene in my mind.
I must say this has been a time of great expectations, high hopes and disappointments in regards to selling out home and buying one in Sequim...but someday none of this will matter. All that matters is that we love each other and make home where we are and take care of eternal things, We're all happy and healthy and have each other and friends and worldly blessings and spiritual wealth. There is no need to fret when one has all these things.
On our last Sunday Jen, Shar & Whitney sat together and cried through the whole meetings. Whitney would blow her nose (which has a honking sound) and that would make them all giggle and then they'd cry again. After church we were presented with a scrapbook full of letters from branch members and photos.
Our last night in Sun Valley, Pooleys invited us over for Jambalaya and then Nasor's invited us to spend the night in their basement. (Let us get a good sleep and take off in the morning). Unfortunately we got food poisoning from the shrimp in the Jambalaya. Fortunately some of us including myself, avoided the shrimp so I was well enough to take care of the others in the night. Jen woke up first and vomited all over the carpet on her way running to the bathroom. I spent a long time getting the carpet cleaned up and running some wash in their washer. Chris was hit with diarrhea and then Emily woke up and vomited in her bed. I got up and cleaned it up and put blankets in the washer to soak. I felt so bad for my sick family and for Nasor's having our sick family throwing up all over. They were kind about it and sent us off with biscuits, scrambled eggs, bacon and juice. Chris and Jen didn't feel at all like eating but they were polite and acted well. Em just couldn't eat. She had it the worst. Nasor's fixed her some black tea and told us it's good to keep on hand to settle stomachs.
We drove all three vehicles. Although I wouldn't choose to do it that way, it was actually rather pleasant not all being crammed into one car.
See next page for the rest of the year in Sequim.
