1997 Sequim WA

January

Andrew, Andrea, Courtney, Tamine

   

Wow it seems such a futuristic date 1997.  Another new year before us all, clean with little clutter in it yet the future is known by the Lord.  He sees all we will fill the year with and I pray it may be of good report and pleasing to Him and that we will be given the strength to endure what is written in our future.

This past holiday time has been wonderful and went by so incredibly fast I feel like I went to sleep and dreamed it all and now I'm awake.  It is almost spooky how fast and now all the times we all spent and voices are echoing in my mind with a loneliness and longing to dream it all again.   

February

Catch that sleep while you can!

                     

                     

We sure missed Jen on her 19th birthday. She & Dannah stay with Mom C and they are having a wonderful experience at Ricks.  It's so funny because this past weeks local paper had a picture of Jen in it!  She isn't even here! It had a write up of how she is on the honor roll at Ricks & a little blurb about the college.  

Also in the same paper Sharilyn is listed as participating with great scores in Solo and Ensemble in PA and Emily is in the paper on the honor roll section with a 4.0!!!  Man I have smart kids!

Although we still have a ton to do, we moved into our new house this month.  152 Mariner View Court. (this name later changed to 870 Spyglass Lane by the city so as not to confuse Mariner View Ct with Mariner View Dr in another part of town.) 

I am in such awe over it and feel overwhelmingly grateful and undeserving.  I'm up each morning before the sun (to get kids up) and I get to see the sunrise above the bay with it's orange and pink. The earth must love sunrises to create them so beautifully and the full moon reflecting a long beam on the bay is breathtaking...a stream of light reflecting and sparkling off the darkened waters, showing off the movement and ripples of the sea in the blackness of night.  I'll not want to vacation anywhere but here!  I could sit and watch all day.  I can see ships gliding through the straight of Juan De Fuca and the celestial whiteness and majesty of Mt. Baker.  I think I enjoy the sailing on the bay as an observer from my own window, just as much as those in the boat with their smooth white sails.   

Our pretty home

March

Sharilyn's 17th birthday

Shar had a birthday party with us and then
a party with friends on another day this week

I am filled to bursting with gratitude for the Lord and his great blessings to me.  I feel blessed beyond the beyond.  I will never take for granted this beautiful home and surroundings.  I will praise and thank the Lord each time I pray.  I don't know why we've been so blessed.  I feel a need to do better than I'm doing and try to show by deed how thankful I am.  I love the Lord Jesus and Heavenly Father and know as sure as I live that they live.  I have no fiber of doubt.  I never have.  I feel them - which is a more sure knowledge than eyes to see.  They cause my heart to fill with love.

I remember how very hard leaving SV and our home not selling and not being able to find a home here and it was a time of great expectations unfulfilled. Now those great expectation are far surpassed.  Sun Valley still holds such dear memories. Memories are treasures of the heart!  Life is our treasure of the present.  

I got to go to women's week in Rexburg! I went to classes with Jennifer and we walked to school, leaving at 7:30 each morning. She introduced me to so many people and we even joined a mother daughter look alike contest. We enjoyed a Mother/daughter buffet and also got to go to the BYU Men's chorus!  Fantastic!  It was such a fun time being with her and visiting with Mom Clarke, my parents and Paula who came down with Rachel. ---Jennifer forwarded to me the kindest note that Br. Ward wrote to me and I wrote a note back to him. (see journal for details)

I entertained Kristin Baker one day and Julie Wilford another day including two company lunches at our house, while their husbands were interviewing and spending the day with Sawtooth.

Chris & I have temple assignments and we also got asked to be in charge of the Stake Youth Conference.  I feel quite stressed and overwhelmed a lot.  I need energy and strength beyond my own and somehow we do always seem to get it. We are happy, healthy and terrific and blessed beyond what we deserve.

April

Emily's 13th birthday! We have another teenager!

Andrew with his buddy Kevin Beck

Read this cute thought on a Taco Time board: "Your day will go in the same direction that the corners of your mouth turn". 

For homemaking this month I'll teach blown out eggs covered in seeds and the cute crocheted sock tops Paula taught me. We always have a quilt on for those who love that "conversation corner" and I will do refreshments because no one signed up.

We went to CA for spring break.  (see next page)

 

Mr. H's kindergarten class had a visitor of a lady "musher"
and her two dogs "Flash & Marble" who were cousins 
of the famous mush dog, Balto.  Kids got to ride the dog sled.

Jennifer is playing Beauty in the Beauty and the Beast play at Ricks College!

We are way over busy and stretched too thin and trying to learn where it's ok to say no but not doing a very good job of it and splattering time all over the place instead of focusing on a few tings.  Lot of busy kids and church responsibilities means busy life.  These things keep us out of trouble and progressing in a positive way I guess.  

Dad and I gave a pitch for youth conference.  He dressed up in a tent and told them he was Timmy the tent who's ancestors came across the plains with the pioneers.  I dressed as a pioneer and spoke with a Scottish accent.  I told them who I was and that I had come from the world beyond to tell them that "The trek we began so long ago continues today with you!  ...only your handcarts and ruts in the road are invisible, which makes them far more dangerous.  You must be careful and know that we in the grandstands of heaven are cheering for ye!"   Someone told me afterward that my accent was perfect!  ha ha.  (We've called 3 subcommittees to help us with this conference)

May

Twins had a birthday party with five friends each.  Oh my was it wild.  12 five and six year olds... their bedroom still hasn't recovered.  Girls wanted to play dolls and paint.  Boys wanted to knock them over and bounce off the walls.

 Sharilyn has been in the Sound of Music as Sister Angelica.  (6 performances)  She did a wonderful job!  I'm just so sad because I dropped our camera and it broke and I couldn't take pictures.  She also will play her flute in the parade at Port Townsend and week after that she'll go to Vancouver Canada for four days for their parade.  She's running for Senior class president and lost by only 2 votes.  The teachers say hers was the very best speech.

Emily got first place in the science fair!  Her prize is a boat trip to Protection Island!  She's so excited.

For homemaking this month we did a tea party and invited the other ward.

 

Missing teeth won't stop her!

 Twins enjoyed a field trip to the bay where they explored tide pools and found crabs, clams, oysters, geoducks, starfish, seaweed etc.  I went with them (I help in the school twice a week) and had as much fun as they did.  We saw a seal swimming off shore.  One time while cleaning house I heard a seal barking down at the bay!  Such beautiful weather.  Feels like a day to twirl in the sun and rejoice.

 

June

Mrs. Moore & Aaron
5th grade graduation

This month we made a trip to Rexburg to pick up Jen for the summer and to attend Steve and Christie's wedding. (Boise Temple)  It was all wonderful and so  much driving.  

All they want for Christmas is their two front teeth!!!

   

Chris, Jen, Davilyn, Katie, Tami,Laurel, Mom C.

  

Family Group in front of Boise Temple

The reception was more than a week after the wedding and we couldn't stay that long nor could we return due to time and distance etc.  There are times like this that living far away and having many responsibilities becomes a sad reality.

 Here are photos they shared with me from the reception:

Dad and Mom

Mom and Bestifa

My siblings with Bestifa

Twins had a kindergarten party at the Steenburg's.  On the way home Andrew said "Mrs. Steenburg is so nice that Dane will grow up nice and then his wife will be nice and then kids and pretty soon it will spread to the whole world being nice." ha ha. 
 

Jennifer has been reading "The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe to the kids. It's Narnia time!

Andrea in our backyard Cosmos flowers

We all ate at a taco place the other day and all of us were laughing so hard and having such a wonderful time and then the children were all singing in the car.  Sure, it's not always like that but I find peace amidst the hectic-ness of life knowing that the glue that holds our family together is in place.  No matter how loud the voices cry out in our heads (do this, be here, report this, call these, write this, answer that, prepare this, sure I'll help etc) ...peace comes in knowing that our family is all OK and love each other and we are glued together through the principles of Jesus Christ.  We are on the path that Lehi saw in vision and we are holding onto the rod.  I know the confusing mist of darkness is all about but yet days like this show me that our part of the path is illuminated in the wonderful Light of Christ.  I am grateful.

July

Lizards!

Enjoyed 4th of July in Seattle.  We watched the firework show go off over the water (Puget Sound) from a pier down town. It all started with fancy flying airplanes shooting off fireworks from the sky. 

Jen had a day off so we all went to Victoria.  That was her first time there.  Such fun!

Aaron is back from Blazer scout camp. He went on a hike this week and also earned his swimming merit badge.   Sharilyn and Emily are at girls camp and Chris is on the bicycle trip with the varsity scouts.  Jen is working at the state park all day, so with half the family gone, we feel like such a little family this week. 

Chris, DJ Rutherford, John Burnette Stan Gilliam They had to come home a day early due to DJ flipping over his handlebars and getting a concussion.

For homemaking I taught how to make gluten out of wheat and turn it into mock jerky, hamburger and chicken :)

We went on a picnic and hike in Quilcene and Becks went with us.  Such a beautiful place with waist high fern and long strings of moss hanging from trees. 

Andrew & Kevin Andrea at Beck's with Shadow

 

 August

There's a steamship convention at the Marina and I keep hearing them blow their horns.  It's so fun to hear.  Sawtooth is having a convention in Seattle. People have registered from 22 states and 11 countries.

Andrew's first lost tooth!

Fish they caught in Dave & Marilyn Stanford's pond
at a Sawtooth activity

FHE to Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Jen and Aaron

Jennifer, Aaron and Andrea

Feeding the goats

 Jen, Shar and I played "Come, Come Ye Saints" at the Stake Sesquicentennial Concert.  We also went to Becks and played the missionary medley I wrote to wish Jason well as he leaves on his mission.

Dressing in white just for fun

Chris & I got home from a stake meeting and found the house empty.  It startled me for a moment until I noticed notes all over.  Jen took them all to the state park to see the bioluminescence and meteor shower.  It was amazing and they came home all enthusiastic. 

Chris and Aaron

Next day after church we went to the beach in PA to look for moonstones because Emily found one on that beach the last time we were there. It was so pretty.  A gorgeous clear stone with a colorful luminescent pearly look. No luck finding more but we had a good time. We came home and practiced our musical number for sacrament meeting ("The Lord is my Shepherd") then took the canoe to the state park and paddled around with Christensen's in the bioluminescent waters under the meteor shower!  The water glowed with every stroke and the boats left a glowing trail behind them.  This is a phenomena I never knew existed until we moved here.  Jen & Emily jumped in the freezing water and the glowing splash was magical!

September

Sharilyn is a Senior

Emily 8th grade

Aaron 6th Grade

Andrea 1st Grade

 

Andrew 1st Grade

A visit from Mom and Dad and Aunt Carole.  We enjoyed Paulsbo, Salt Creek, Spitt, Troll Haven and Victoria.

One of the castles in Troll Haven and Dad on a  swing at Rich Johnson's. (We went over by invitation to pick blueberries)

 

Trolls, craft, ornate gates and houses
at Bandy's Troll Haven
Gardner Beach road

On the ferry to Victoria

A rest after much walking

Mom and her sister Carole

 

Chris, Emily and Aaron spent a Saturday putting up the picket fence.  Now my job is to paint it.  

Chris was called to be Stake YM President.

OCTOBER

Andrea:  "I love roses.  You know what Mom, if you just look at a rose you say "Oh that's pretty" but if you REALLY look at a rose you say "Woahhhhhh!!!!!"

Her comment about roses is true of so many things like even the gospel! When you look at it you say "Oh that's nice." but when you Really look at the gospel you say "Whoahhh!"

Jennifer wrote an email to me:  "All of Rexburg is a Good Humor truck and we are but popcycles in the cargo space."  Ha ha!  I love it.  I wrote her back:  All of Sequim is a dog's nose and we are the playful victims of it's sniffings. 

NOVEMBER

Aaron gets a haircut Gerbils in Aaron's room

Thanksgiving in Sequim with Grandma Clarke

Isn't it wonderful to have a holiday especially for giving thanks! I feel so thankful for such wonderful blessings.  A wonderful husband who is loving and hard working and wise and smart.  Jennifer excelling in college and her testimony bright!  She has been appointed the first ever editor of the internet Scroll newspaper!  She is busy and said that when she gets stressed she picks up Bestima's violin and old bow and plays hymns.  She said the violin is magic and plays itself and that it is truly her daily therapy. 

Sharilyn's testimony also burns brightly.  She is so helpful and will be such a gem of a mom someday. She just got the lead roll in the school play "The Importance of Being Ernest" and is also playing Juliet in her drama class play.  She's a teacher's aid in 4th grade after school and works at the office & is teaching flute lessons to someone in our ward for free!  (as part of her laurel project). 

Emily is progressing and maturing and has such a sweet spirit.  She is helpful and hard working and has the cutest sense of humor. She brings a smile to my face each day.

Aaron continues to be straight as an arrow.  He may not see it but he has a mighty spirit of righteousness.  He is self motivated like the others and achieving in scouting and school.

The twins are darling.  I take them to the bus each morning and just before getting on they turn and wave and give the "I love you" sign with looks on their faces of "I'll miss you."  Then they climb on the bus with their little backpacks and with their little faces to the window they watch me for as long as they can see. Hhhhh...oh must we really send our little ones out into this world?

We got our Christmas tree!  It's become tradition to go cut our tree the week after Thanksgiving.  Trees grow so fast here, the permits are only $5.00 and they want you to cut them near the road!  Chris and I take turns because I like smaller trees that fit just right in front of the window and he likes trees that fill up the room.

This year was Chris's turn.  We scouted it out and when he found "the one" he yelled "Timber!"  Emily grabbed the saw and then I said "wait!"  (We had to bless the tree first)

Every year I feel sad cutting down a pretty tree so I made up a blessing:

"Dear Tree, you have been chosen this day amongst all the trees of the forest, for the most noble and exalting position of 'Christmas Tree' to stand supreme in our home to be crowned with lights, stars and angels in this most honorable calling.  May your joy be full and may your spirit reach the highest kingdom.  Amen."  Everyone then said amen and Andrew yelled "Timber!" and all filled with gleeful grins!  While Chris sawed I sang "Oh Christmas Tree".  As the tree shared her fragrant pine perfume, it was as though her spirit was encircling us with her love.  "She was honored to be chosen" I told myself, trying to ease the sadness I felt in sacrificing such a beautiful creation. 

As we drove home with our tree I saw an apple tree in someone's yard.  It was entirely bare of leaves but loaded with shiny red apples!  This tree had gone bald in this winter of it's life but the fruit it bore was burning brightly like a testimony for all to see.  Wish I had a picture. 

December

Sharilyn King speaking at Soroptomists
Girl of the Month Award

Oh yum! Christmas cookie fun!

I went with Shar on an overnighter ASB retreat as a chaperone.  She and I also did face painting at the school craft fair.  She is a senior Senator. Emily is a popular babysitter.  She has a calmness about her even in crazy times.   Aaron got his Gospel in Action award from primary and graduated on.  He and Sharilyn played in their band concerts and the twins did a school puppet show. 

I love Christmas music. It brings peace when I'm feeling overwhelmed...

Jen came home on the 20th and we were all so excited.  We're going caroling with all of us, our cookie plates, guitar, flutes and viola to neighbors and also the Dawleys (rental house neighbors).  Dawleys were so touched and brought us a gift!..a beautiful ceramic painted cake plate that is about 63 years old.  They have had it since they were married.  I was so touched they would give this to us!  Sorensen's want us to come caroling with them so we will do that. 

The company dinner party was here & went well. It was a German theme...Rouladen, red cabbage, hot potato salad, dumpling soup etc. 

For neighbor/friend gifts this year I've made ribbon angels, Christmas light bulb Rudolph's, Santa starfish and malt ball Rudolph's. 

We planted a ton of fruit trees this month! (December is when to plant trees in this area!) 4 apple, 2 peach, a nectarine, 2 pear, 2 cherry, Italian prune, yellow plum, 2 apricot, 12 blueberry bushes, 2 current and 1 gooseberry! 

We enjoyed another Christmas Eve with Becks.  Did the Christmas pageant with bells, singing, our instruments etc. Chris performed the German Night Before Christmas.  Becks have been being a secret pixie to us this month!  So cute leaving things on our doorstep.

Another amazing creation by Aaron

 

  

Aaron and Em watching Chris play Riven

Puzzle time!

Success!

 

This has been a wonderful Christmas season and I've enjoyed the spirit of it.  I realize that our children are growing up and I cling onto every moment and love them and love the moments and thank Heavenly Father for blessing us so much. I feel sad that so many in the world don't have the blessings that we seem to take for granted.  Truly a fulness of joy will be when we are all together forever to never say farewell and to know that every one enjoys peace, health, happiness, companionships and no one suffers with pain or sorrow or loneliness.

Our tree was losing needles like crazy so we had to take it out of the room 2 days after Christmas to clean up the room.  We all went to Seattle and went to the Imax theater where we saw Nutcracker and Alaska.  We also enjoyed exhibits at the science center. 

Happy Birthday Aaron

Aaron's 12th Birthday!

 

End of year Family Sketch:

We love our new home down by the bay.   We love to watch the sailboats & the ships out on the strait.  As we watch the moon or the sunrise reflected in the water or see the sun shine on the celestial whiteness of Mt. Baker, we are filled with awe for the beauty of God’s creations.

Chris was recently made Stake YM Pres. & continues as Sawtooth Software Pres.

Debbie continues in the RS Presidency & volunteering in the school helping 1st graders improve their reading skills.  We took a most glorious trip last month to New Zealand and just loved it.

Jennifer worked at the state park on Sequim Bay last summer.  She got a full scholarship to Ricks (this is her 2nd yr.) & was recently named editor of the Internet “Scroll” (Rick’s newspaper).  She continues to excel in school & is so in love with the wonderful spirit that abides there, her goal is to graduate and come back to Ricks’s & teach.  She will graduate in English & Journalism & go to BYU or Brown University  in Rhode Island.

Sharilyn is a Senior class senator, a 4th grade teacher’s aide after school, works part time as assistant office manager at Sawtooth Software, gives music lessons, & this month was named Girl of the Month by and honored by the Soroptimist club with a breakfast & pinning.

Emily has taken an interest in photography & her teacher has entered one of her awesome photos in a contest.  

Aaron likes scouts and is doing wonderfully playing a trumpet in the band.  They both helped Chris build a picket fence for the yard.  

Andrea & Andrew love 1st grade.  They all love to dig clams, gather oysters, find starfish & shells and go sailing.

We’ve been working really hard putting in a nice yard including fruit trees.  We planted apple trees, cherry, peach, nectarine, apricot, plum, pear, blueberries, raspberries, gooseberry, current, & soon we’ll have in the kiwi arbor.