Thanksgiving

Ian and I were invited to Nicholas and Linnea's for Thanksgiving. We ate WELL!
After dinner we went for a walk in the arboretum and saw the ducks.

But then...someone lost the frisbee into the duck pond...and it was lots of fun to see the men figure out how to get it back.

We ALMOST lost Nicholas into the icky duck pond!
They ended up getting two branches and tying them together with Ian's shoelace.

It was an adventurous evening. Then we all went back to their place and had dessert!

Measured Voices

I loved this! The church sent out this publication to show there are many out there that are also outraged by the persecution of Mormons over Prop 8 besides the Mormons, even those who were against it. And how insensible it all is.
http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/measured-voices-provide-reason-support-amidst-proposition-8-reaction

Certificate

Here it is.

Adoption

Ian and I finally sent the initial application in to LDS Family Services for adoption this week. It's a long and arduous process, but we want to get started now since it's been nothing but headaches trying to grow our family ourselves. For all we know we may be actually pregnant before things start getting under way, but the more open doors the better! I have about 5 more months before I'm cleared from the molar pregnancy last August.

By the way, I don't want continual queries about how the process is going for us, I just wanted to let our friends and family know that we are taking action.

More Blessings

Did I mention that it's STILL warm in California? Sacramento valley, to be exact. I keep hearing about snow and seeing pictures of people making snowmen, and I think it was around 65 degrees in Winters today. Ahhh, I love it. Given, I have had to wear a jacket to work a couple times the last few weeks, but that's it.

So, I said a couple months ago that I was LOVING my job. I still get a lot out of it, but I've been getting exhausted and burnt out. How long can you work 11 hour days (only paid for 7) just to try to tread water and keep the positive attitude? I have never felt caught up on the billion things I'm supposed to be doing. I swear my job should be 1.5 people if not 2!

I just had a four day weekend, which was lovely (I finally started going to the water aerobics class I've been ogling at). When I walked into work the first day back I found a note in my box:

How cool is that?

Wow, just when I was starting to feel overworked and undervalued! That really brightened my day. I wanted to share my happy thought.

Love ya!

Laura Tagged Me

8 TV shows I Love to watch
1.NCIS
2.Numbers
3.Bones
4.Big Bang Theory
5.House – before it went morbid
6.Stargate SG-1
7.Stargate Atlantis
8.Star Trek Next Generation

8 Places I Love to eat
1.Mom’s –homemade tacos
2.Red Lobster – 1 time, UW graduation celebration
3.Olive Garden –mmm, all you can eat salad
4.Spaghetti Factory – I miss it!
5.Elephant Bar
6.Cheesecake Factory
7.Mom Walker’s
8.In a home filled with the spirit!

8 Things that happened yesterday - Shoot, yesterday was boring because I was so exhausted from the past week. I’ll say the past week instead.
1.I got new glasses this week to stop my headaches. They’ve got a cool design on the side.
2.I bought new shoes and inserts this week that will hopefully make it possible for me to work a whole day and not be in dire pain at the end.
3.I chaperoned the ‘Haunted Harvest Dance’ at my school. Middle school kids are much more pleasant to watch that high schoolers!
4.Parent-teacher conference.
5.RS “Get to know you” activity, I go to church with AMAZING people.
6.A full day observation of my classroom program by the county program specialist. She had great advice.
7.The dentist fixed one of my teeth but left the gums surrounding it in lots of pain that still hasn’t gone away, yet! I go back this next week, too.
8.Trying not to stress and worry about the consequences of the blatant disregard for Heavenly Father’s Plan by my fellow Californians in the upcoming elections.

8 Things I love about Fall
1.Changing colors.
2.In Cali it’s NOT cold, yet!
3.The feeling in the air is exciting.
4.Christmas is coming!
5.Christmas music.
6.My cold weather wardrobe is much more versatile than my warm weather wardrobe.
7.Watching migrating birds.
8.It’s easier to snuggle with my honey when it’s cooler.

8 Things on my wish list
1.Ian to have a good job in his field so I can stay home and live without stress and pressure.
2.Our own LIVE children.
3.Peace and serenity.
4.Being debt-free.
5.A full years food storage.
6.Kids
7.a dog
8.Kids

8 People I am tagging
1.Bonnie W
2.Stacy P
3.Paige
4.Heidi
5.Mibi
6.Tani T
7.?
8.? I don’t know how many more of my friends have blogs!

Prop 8

Alright, so I haven't put any information about Proposition 8 (California) because I wasn't sure what to say. I learned tonight that most people haven't been educated about the repercussions if this doesn't pass so, here is some factual info for you to look at and share with others.

http://www.whatistheharm.org/

This is site with the mission of exploring the consequences of if Prop 8 doesn't pass in California. The first article highlighted is phenominal - read it!

2 videos you need to see now
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1803212239?bclid=1745181164&bctid=1784521903

Religious Freedom Concerns are Real with Same-Sex Marriage
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/familyleadernetwork/080925freedom.html
"...California law now requires that students in public schools from kindergarten on must be taught about “Family health and child development, including the legal and financial aspects and responsibilities of marriage and parenthood.” California Education Code 51890
Now that marriage has been officially redefined, any discussion of marriage must include discussions of same-sex marriage...."

http://d2race.blogspot.com/
For those of you that are interested - here's the blog of our local chapter of the Coalition to Protect Marriage. The pictures are of our phone-calling days at Bishop Gubler's house...you can see Ian in a few.

Six Likely Consequences If Proposition 8 Fails
1. Children in public schools will be taught that both traditional marriage and
same-sex marriage are okay.
The California Education Code already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. (§51890) Therefore, if the definition of marriage is changed, children will be taught that marriage is a relation between any two adults. There will be serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.
2. Churches will be sued if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings that are open to the public. Ask whether your pastor, priest, minister, bishop, or rabbi is ready to perform such marriages in your chapels and sanctuaries.
3. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston has already closed its doors because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
4. Religions that sponsor private schools and which provide housing for married students wiil be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if it runs counter to church doctrine, or lose tax exemptions and benefits.
5. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages will be sued for hate speech and could be fined by the government, it has already happened in Canada, one of six countries that have legalized gay marriage.
6. It will cost you money. A change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits. Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today's activist judges), think of the money - your money, your church contributions - that will have to be spent on legal fees.

And think of all the unintended consequences that we cannot even foresee at this time. Where will it end?
It's your children, your grandchildren, your money, and your liberties.
Lets work together to protect them.

September

This has been a very busy month. I am loving my new job and the people that come with it. It requires a lot of energy and time to be a special day class teacher! I'm almost putting in 12 hour days every day. This is a lot like my job in Everett, WA without the nasty behaviors. The kids are sweet and the aides in the classroom are great. The hope is that I will find a way for it not to take so much time each day, poor Ian gets a zombie when I get home. On the other hand, I've been really grateful that I'm so busy -I can't be too sad about personal stuff that has run amok.

Speaking of which, my hormone levels are decreasing wonderfully so much so that whereas it was possibly going to be 6 months + 6 months before we could try to start our family again, it might only be 3 months+ 6 months. The morning sickness had caused me to stop taking my Reliv, but I'm feeling so much better now that I'm trying to get back into the habit of taking my shakes again.


I do need to start finding balance in my day to day living. I need to add more exercise and healthier eating! I also want to finish my latest scrapbooking venture. So many things to do and so little time.

I had the opportunity to teach gospel essentials today and what a blessing that was! I love to have the opportunity to look back on my life and the blessings that the gospel has brought. I'm so grateful that Ian and I have 'built our house upon the rock' and that when the rains have come (and boy, have they come) we have been able to weather it and come out steady on the other side. I don't know if it's possible to go through a really difficult trial and not be angry about it or feel betrayed somehow, but I do know that after it's over (or almost over) that the gospel can bring peace and hope unknown to the world. Mom sent me aftermath pictures of hurricane Ike, I kind of feel like this house below. It may be the only house left on the whole street, but it's still hanging on. I am so grateful for my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for a living prophet today who can share his perspective and guide us through difficult times. I'm grateful for the scriptures that provide their daily dose of wisdom. I could never have done the things I've done nor accomplished the things that I have accomplished without the Lord and his guidance. He is wonderful!

When It Rains It Pours

Not that we couldn't use a bit of real rain around here...

Most of you already know the recent events of whats been happening in our household, but I figured I'd post it, too. Last spring I accepted a new teaching position in my school district. I was going from my cushy job as a resource teacher at the High School to the SDC teacher at the Middle School. A job ten times harder + students going through puberty.

After my trip to WA I was pretty wiped and spent my last week of vacation reading fun books that I'd been depriving myself of because I can NEVER put them down once I pick them up. The week that school started I was gearing myself up for the huge challenge ahead of running a special day class and supervising 6 staff. That same week my car needed over a thousand dollars of repairs after a failed emissions test. Ian had decided to share his nasty cold with me on the same day that I was going in for my much anticipated first prenatal visit since losing Andrew. I had been feeling pretty crummy with nausea even before the cold.

Well, the nurse nor the doctor could find a fetus on the ultrasound. It got worse from there. Not only was I not going to have a baby, this was some weird genetic mutation that would turn into cancer if not immediately removed and would deprive us of the opportunity to try again for about a year. I was furious, talk about feeling betrayed. One week later Ian and I were in OR for them to remove what they call a "Complete Molar Pregnancy." Lucky us, we've gotten another rare reproductive problem with devasating consequences. Here's a site with more info if you want it: https://members.kaiserpermanente.org/kpweb/healthency.do?hwid=hw165877
Some have said that at least we didn't have a baby to mourn this time. I suppose that's true, but we thought we did, we hoped we did.

This has been another extremely difficult time for us. After about two weeks I'm starting to feel physically better. I really don't understand why we are being deprived of the opportunity to be parents. We've been trying really hard not to dwell on it, and, just like last time, my blessings make themselves apparent every day.

I KNOW Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me, I don't understand their lack of intervention in the growth of our family, but I know they are there. My job, of which I was so worried about going well, has turned out phenominally well. My students are great and the aides in my room are terrific and work together. Adminstrative support has been bounteous. The fact that I have a job has been a tremendous blessing because I have to be 'on my game' every day I'm there and that means I don't have time to think about my personal problems. My ward family has been so supportive. I feel calm and that things will be okay. Little things happen every day to let me know that I am loved and appreciated. Who could ask for more than that? ..except maybe a child.

I think that when it rains trials, it pours blessings as well. It's just up to us to recognize them in the blur.

Back to WA

Well, after a stressful and informative month of summer school at my new job I got to fly up to Washington to visit my mom (whom I hadn't seen since Andrew's funeral) and family. The weather on Camano Island wasn't great, but it was good to see mom again. The weather in Ferndale was terrific. So, if Ian and I ever move back to WA we'll be avoiding anywhere between Seattle and Mt. Vernon. The trip sure made me appreciate our warmer climate in northern California.

Mom and I got to see lots of wildlife in her yard and feed the deer some apples. They apparently got so full that they had to go rest on the front lawn. Becky and family came down one evening for a campfire (Brrr!) and Marisa couldn't get enough of the train in the guest room.

We also went up to the Walker's in Ferndale and got an extra special treat to see Grandma, Daniel (after about 3 years!) and finally meet Miles. I sure wish we could spend more time with all of you wonderful family peoples. Dad and William helped my Mom and I learn how to play golf most of an evening. London was adorable on the trampoline with Uncle William and Daniel. Plus we got lots of yummy cherries and raspberries. Love you guys!

The rest of the pictures are on my picasa page.

Introducing...

I thought I'd introduce all-brawn-no brains, Razor, and her royal highness, Mande. They, being our primary sources of entertainment and our replacement 'children' to date...

We got both of them at the animal shelter in Washington.


Mande's name at the shelter was "Peeves." Hah, if that wasn't a warning about her personality! We settled on the name Mande Underfoot Walker, Mande being short for Manic Depressive. One second she was purring in your lap and the next she was chewing on your hand and hissing! It's taken months and years to calm her down. Now she's our cuddly-est, purring-est kitty. Ian used to come home and start dinner, and he could hear her hissing and growling at her, but he couldn't figure out where she was. After about a week we found her hiding on TOP of the kitchen cuboards above the refrigerator!
She used to obsess over our feather toy we hung on the wall, constantly jumping up to catch it. She also sat on the windowsill and accosted our company sitting at the dining table. Man, she was hilarious. She really likes elbows, we think she imagines that a point of weakness because she's always going for it. She's also always knocking things to the floor. Whether it's a cup full of liquid or a pen!


She loves:

• Asparagus


• Meat!


• Ice Cream


• Milk


• Kitty treats


• Chirping at birds out the window


• Lasers
• Knocking things underneath the couch, fridge and oven.

Razor we got as a scrawny adorable kitten. The minute he walked in the door Mande was following him around the house hissing, spitting and growling for an ENTIRE week! He was constantly in a state of "poof" that week and thus we discovered that the only part of him that poofs is his back and tail. He looked like one of those razorbacks in Africa, so we named him Razor. Mande sufficiently established her dominance over him so that it lasts even today, regardless of the fact that he is 14 pounds and she is 7! Razor was famous with our friends for his aerial acrobatics chasing the feather toy.

He loves:

• Asparagus


• Smoothies


• licking plastic bags


• licking plastic window blinds


• boxes


• bags


• stuffed animals


• crawling under blankets and carpets


• rubbing his cold wet nose to get our attention at bedtime!


• Lasers

We love them both and they definitely keep us entertained!

It's a Hard Life

It's a hard life around here, work, work, work. That's all we ever do. We need to hire some help...

Glorious Washington

Ian and I took a trip up to Oregon and Washington to visit friends and family last week. What a wonderful time! I spent two days with my friend Juanita and her family then drove up to Ferndale. Ian and I arrived at the same time even though he flew! We had a great time visiting with Mom and Dad Walker, Darian Kindel & Family, and my sister and her family. We had great weather, lots of food, games and good company. We weren't sick or exhausted so it was great. We even got to see William perform at the FHS Graduation. For those of you Walker's out there who are missing Mom's yard, we took a few pics to share with you. Mom's created a haven for all to enjoy, and I even caught her in a few pics, also. Her flowers are wonderful.

On our way back south we stayed with my cousins Carl & Chris in Oregon. We haven't seen them in years!

Glorious Washington

The backyard is amazingly beautiful and I even caught a few pictures with Mom in it!