Donna's Journey

I think the last five posts gave you a view into my life. A recap since graduation…
* I did not move. We stayed.
* My oldest daughter got engaged to an awesome young man.

* I slipped on the ice while doing Bridal Boot Camp with my daughter and injured both wrists.
* My second daughter gave birth to my first grand daughter (at my home).

* My oldest daughter married and we catered the wedding.

* My daughter-in-law in California gave birth to her fourth son, my sixth grandson.
* I stepped on a twig while wearing heels, rolling my heel and sprained my ankle.
* I launched Princess Academies with my two married daughters!
* I launched the Princess Academies website, which I added most of the content.
* I tripped trying to step over a box barrier and separated my AC.
* I started teaching art classes in my home, through Moor House Academy. We had fun and my youngest was in the classes.
* My oldest daughter gave birth to my second granddaughter (at my home as well).

* I had four children move in a three week period and I assisted the new mom in her move and you guessed it, I tripped in the new apartment and fell. That night I went home and got sick.
Many of the above things were just part of being a mom.

Whew! Exhausted yet? I was!

* I got really sick with bronchitis and after 60 days am finally beginning to recover! At this point I began take stock. As I did, I began to cut way back. About this time I read Headgates.. This got me thinking deeper. I started this series of posts.

I closed down the discussion on my yahoo groups. I consolidated my blogs into Mahalo, Donna. I kept this blog and my Donna’s Recipe Box blogs. I taught at UHEA. I finished my art classes and did not start new ones. I started saying “no,” more often to outside things, so I can say yes more often at home. I switched lanes.

Sunday was my last Sunday as a missionary working at the BYU Family History center. I was called for a year. Has it been that long already?

Trusting God to care for our family. Though my husband is working hard on a project, no income yet. Things are in God’s hands. No, we did not get a tax refund. No we did not get stimulus money. No we are not on welfare, government or church. I am grateful for the Lord’s tender mercies, day to day miracles, and daily blessings. I realize our present situation is temporary. We will overcome. Challenges are where we gain the tools/skills needed for our journey. Meanwhile, I focus on changing lanes, slowing down, simplifying.

Yet, I have a little break. No more babies due in the near future, at least until 2011. No moves scheduled for the near future. I have two boys. One is living and working to earn the money to go on a mission. The other is 15. Their sister is 11, so it will be a while before another wedding.

Apparently, I needed more time doing less and less. I took a hike with my husband in the mountains, a short one, not strenuous. However, I tripped on a leaf covered root and fell headlong down hill and suffered a brainstem concussion and a twisted knee. I am so very grateful it was not worse! The concussion healed. The knee is taking longer, but is healing. Most of the simplifying has come by way of reducing outside commitments and having the rest of life grind to almost a halt. Lots of time to contemplate. Being ill and hurting has not lent itself to heroic efforts of decluttering and simplifying routines. Little by little, even those areas are visited as I change lanes and reconsider the rearing of my last two at home, our family rhythms, traditions, and possessions.

Isabella Sacred Groves, the little princess, has arrived. She was 10 days early and weighed in at 7 lbs. 8 oz. and 21 inches of absolute sweetness. Isabella’s mother, Julia, was attended by three fabulous midwives, Dianne, Lisa, and Ash. She was also supported by her husband Rory, her mother, her sister, Jennifer, and her dear friend/ sister-in-law Heather. Women helping women, and supported by her husband, encircled in love! Julia’s sister Jennifer and her family had been here most of the day, Monday and Tuesday. Even Julia’s oldest brother, Adam, came to bring Heather and Andy’s toddler to us and was able to join the anticipated arrival Isabella. Julia and Rory usually join Heather and Andy’s family and Adam’s family for family home evening each week. What a family home evening this swelled to be!!!

On Monday, when everyone arrived, I sent the men out to the yard to do yard work and then I joined them. They raked the flowerbeds, trimmed bushes, and dad tilled the garden. We have crocuses in bloom, blue starts, and a stately collection of daffodils gathering the rain spout, huddling to gather to drink from its spring floods at their feet. My butterfly bushes are budding new leaves, the promise of summer delights to come! after the beds were raked the leaves of the emerging violets became obvious, more promise of things to come. Isabella means God’s promise.

We had not abandoned Julia. Heather sat and chatted with Julia during the early stages of labor. Rory came home early to join us. Labor slowed. So we then sent the boys for an hour, around the corner to the church to play dodge ball. It was good for them to get out that energy.

Heather observed how the first 42 hours of labor seemed more of a social, family gathering. (This should have been titled the Birth Day Party). People playing board games in the living room, Rory setting up his Wii to keep the children and adult men occupied. Jeremy worked as the Kitchen on call to provide a sumptuous delectable delights to feed the hungry masses. He made home pan popped butter popcorn, banana berry smoothies and the best steak sandwiches! Heather’s husband Andy took the kids to the kitchen when labor picked up. There, Andy distracted them by teaching them how to make tortillas from scratch! Heather came up and made Julia’s Pink Lemonade pie to celebrate the birth. Heather was the official chronicler of the event, taking pictures, and video interviewing family about the birth of the little princess, Isabella.

During the day, there were bouts of napping, laboring, and socializing. Andy and Heather spent the night on Monday, Jennifer and Alan went home, as they live really close. Jennifer returned again on Tuesday and Alan went to take college exams and joined us in the evening. I made Beef Barley soup on Monday Night and Taco soup Tuesday night.

All in all we worked to conserve energy and let gentle labor progress the work. Though labor was long it was needed to let her body do as much work as possible before the very active stage arrived. She has struggled with mitral valve prolapse syndrome that responds to magnesium supplementation and with toxemia for about a month. Slow patient labor kept the blood pressure in check and permitted her body time to rid itself of toxins and fluid retention, before the strain of the advance active labor. Her midwives were careful, deliberate, and skilled in dealing with the challenges. We knew of their policies and knew if her blood pressure went up and could not be coaxed down it would mean transporting. We were so blessed through their skillfully applied knowledge and the blessings of slow and patient progress. The last six hours were intense, but Julia was able to labor in a sterile heated tub and that helped quite a bit.

Then at 4:21 am, this morning, Isabella Sacred Groves, who had already entered into our lives and hearts, entered the encirclement of our arms, as she chose to make her debut into mortality at grandma’s home. She was born in the library. How fitting for a girl who will receive a refining liberal arts education from a mother who knows.!

Has it been that long already? Elizabeth, my oldest granddaughter is 1 today!

Wow! Time sure flies. Six years ago I became a grandma. I was there for the birth of Jarom Matthew Goff, born at 21 weeks gestation. He was with us long enough to feel our love, receive a name and a blessing, and be released from mortality. Oh so brief was his visit, but what an impact he has made!

Wow! It has been 27 years princess. I remember well the day you chose to come, 10 days late, you had your own timing. Oh, that is right, you were not late, we were all just early. You were a Saturday’s child, like me. We are the worker bees. Enjoy 27, the age I was when you were born!

You are the sweet little doll that walked and talked before your 7 month birthday. You have grown to be an awesome woman, a wife, and soon to be a mommy. It is great to have you and your younger sisters as business partners.

Wow! Can you believe it? It has been six years. May you have many more happy years!

What an exciting time!!! Mary turns elven today. Wow, has it really been 11 years since she was born, right here at home. This launches her last year in childhood. We have such a wonderful year planned!

Wow, my oldest child, Adam, was born this day 31 years ago. Has it really been that long? Happy birthday son!

Six years ago today my second oldest son Jon, was sealed to Tiffany Cragun in the Portland Temple. As we sat in the chapel waiting for the sealing, my oldest son leaned over and said, “this may not be the only wedding this year!” My husband grabbed his elbow and said let’s talk. There was enough time, so out the door they went. Funny Adam wanted to ask her on his birthday, we encouraged him that if he knew in August he should not delay for another month. After the ceremony, we went to the Bridal Lunch and then the wedding party headed to Eugene for the garden reception that night.

I loved the reception. Tiffany and her father sang a father-daughter duet. Tiffany’s brothers and Jon sang Tiffany a love song. it was a beautiful evening.

About midpoint through the evening, Adam invited Julia to leave immediately to drive back to Utah with him so he could propose to her former Room mate. Off they drove in the night.

One wedding, and by November there would be a second one!

We love Tiffany, now mother of four boys, Jarom, Jonny, James, and Peter.

Happy Anniversary Jon and Tiffany!

Yes, 3 years ago today, my grandson Zane Isaac Goff AKA Zaney Bug, or just Bug for short, came into this world 9.5 weeks early. He just could not wait to get here! He is a cutey-pie and we love him!