Laura Update, Windmill, Tree fun

The last time I started writing it was Easter, so its has been a while. Life is moving so fast sometimes that i cannot keep up. Since Laura has left on her mission everything has been moving along like clockwork, almost at an unsettling pace. Laura seems to be doing very well on her mission thus far. She is in a little town in the northern part of Washington state. This town is close to the Canadian boarder. She has figured out that she cannot go too far in to the North or she could end up in Canada. She does not have permission to go across the boarder. Laura has to learn some Spanish as well, that will be a challenge for her, but she can do it. There is a lot of walking where she is as well. This past week both she and her companion have been sick. She went to the store and got some honey and lemon to soothe the sore throats...her companion had never used honey and lemon before. She is also teaching her companion to cook/bake. Laura said baking has certainly helped her in serving her companion. They have had some rough days as a companionship but they are working through it.

Sister Henrie and her companion Sister Brunner

So when we moved into this house there was a huge pine tree in our yard. Shane and his friend Shane and the boys cut the tree down and had a saw mill come and make us some good planks of wood. Shane has built book shelves and shelving to go above our front room window. The next thing on the list to make was a new kitchen table. The table is finally finished, and its wonderfully amazing.

Tables in our house always get piled with things, which is slightly annoying to me, but happens. I think when my children are all gone, possibly?? who knows. This table fits in our house so very well. It is huge and will fit all the kids around it and maybe a few grandchildren.

One morning last month I woke up and Shane had shaved his beard complete. I was not sure what happened and he did not tell me for a few days. In fact a friend of his he works with told me, all the crap at his new job was getting in his beard and making a mess. So off it came and it is still gone, not sure how long it will be gone but i like it for now. He certainly looks much younger. For a while he would not let me take any photos so I had to sneak them. 

Axel helping with the tree cutting.

It was a windy day but he had a great time, and slept well...

Sometimes Shane gets the opportunity to help out others with his mad skillz....Everyone knows how much he loves to fire up his chainsaws. We were in need of some more apple wood to smoke meat and low and behold a person around the corner from us had an apple tree that was out of control, so Shane got to cut it down and we got tons of wood from it. We happened to have Axel that day and he was a huge help....well as much as an almost 2 year old can be. He is always fun to have around. 

Makayla and I took a load of brush to the dump and Groot was hanging on...If you havent seen Guardians of the Galaxy that stick is Groot, he fell off when we got to the light....sad times. 

I work at a pretty big building in down town Boise. The main building has an Annex attached to it, that Annex has a sky bridge that connects the 2 buildings. One day i thought i would take a walk out of the Annex to the big building...i came across this windmill. I have never seen it because it is directly under the sky bridge. The day was beautiful and a light breeze was flowing...It was a pick me up in the frustration of learning a new job. Sometimes I go down there just to sit by it and watch it. Summer will come and the breezes will be gone, glad i videoed it....

On my worst days if i realize that i can fall apart and it is okay, as long as i remember what and why i have life here on the earth. Why am I here? I had to really look at myself the other day and find the reason i was here. I was in a bad place that really actually made me afraid, so i went and got some help and am now on the mend. But i realized i am slightly like a taco...hard shelled, all kinds of junk in me and sometimes i break, but i can go back together. The pieces do not always fit and sometimes they become something new...but i am good and wonderful the way i am. For a bit i got caught up in the feelings of inadequacy then i realized that is not me...I am loved, a mum, a wife, a grandmama. Essentially what is the most important part of this life? FAMILY. I have to keep remembering that, sometimes its hard,very hard.

Somebody seriously has this as their license plate...i more angry that i cant have it now

One of Shanes boys is a racer. He loves to race his cars. He gave us tickets to the races, Jake did not want to leave but after 5 races we had to go. I am sure we will go back again to watch James race. He is a great kid, not a bad driver either. 

When i was in a bad way this week, Brenda was in need of some help. So we went up and hung out with Axel and Brenda. Grandpappy played with him until he was ready to go to bed. He needed to be worn out before bed, at the same time Brenda needed a break. Its hard to be pregnant and sick....and have a toddler around. It was a good thing she needed us cause it broke me out of my funk and made me get some help i needed. Service is the key really.....

Our friends the Nakayas needed a tree brought down in their back yard. Funny story, Dru works at Simplot as part of the legal department. He came to my desk about a week ago and wanted to chat I was otherwise engaged at that moment. But told him i would come to his office to see him. He left and everyone around me wanted to know what legal was doing at my desk. I am sure people wondered if i was in trouble. I told most people he is a sort of cleaner and i needed some stuff cleaned up....it was funny to see the reactions. After i while I told them, we are friends and my husband cuts trees down sometimes. Best part of the day was seeing Drus wife Melissa, she has a way of always making me feel okay, that i am good. She is a woman of no judgments and clarity that often i cannot see. I know she probably is that way for herself as well, but she is a true gift in my life. 

So a small snapshot of life in the Henrie family. There is not much happening but still life is full. Hopefully i will get better at keeping up. Until the next one, serve others so you dont get lost....