Wall of Books

Let’s talk about Pinterest. It’s awesome. I’ve got a zillion things pinned, and sometimes, I see something and am inspired to create my own  immediately. 

Sometimes, I pin inspiration for 5 years and then wait not-so patiently until “its time!” 

This was one of those projects. 

Mostly because I am not superhuman and had no ability to build a 7 foot book case 15 feet in the air. 

But I can pay builders who are! 

The inspiration: 

I believe I may have had some of these pinned before we even owned this house. I just love the look of a wall of books. Our home happens to offer the perfect blank wall. 

Years of bids and craftsman drafting ideas have passed. 

Finally I had to just draw my own picture of exactly what I want (or was willing to pay for, anyway). 

Earlier this year I reached out to the cabinet builders who did two of the new builds on my street. Quality work. 

Yesterday, they installed this massive, beautiful beast! 

I can’t wait to fill it with our books and all the cute holiday things!!! 


I have to paint it myself because the bid to have it painted was outrageous and set my budget back another 3 years. I also need to (eventually) instal my own pipe rail system for the rolling ladder. 

....Which Kasey had lying under her house in a discard pile! Heart eyes! Crusty old ladder be mine! Once she’s reassembled, sanded and cleaned up, and has rolling hardware attached to her, she’s going to be a real beaut. 

Sunday Drive

This is a story about being in the right place at the right time.  Aaron woke up Sunday with an urge to take the kids for a Sunday drive to see fall colors. He knew where he wanted to go, and when we should leave. He loaded up our party of eleven (9 kids last weekend), and drove south in search of fall colors. Arkansas delivered! All the heart eyes for this glorious state where we are so lucky to live! 

We listened to the hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth” a couple times first, and then rotated through a couple of church music cds that we’re handed out at the stake women’s conference on Saturday. Perfect sounds for the sabbath. Many of the children were not enthusiastic about being on a drive and had refused to bring shoes (or kind attitudes toward one another). The music helped regulate the mood in the van. 

We stopped at Artist Point to take in this beautiful sight. We decided the highway was much too busy to get all the little ones out, so Aaron parked, and I just jumped out to take a pick and then we planned to drive onward to a park area for the kids who’d brought shoes to safely be out of the van. 

After a few pics, some Lamborghini’s sped by at a frightening speed.  This view was sandwiched between two typical Ozark highway blind turns. A woman near me was as shaken as I was and we made small

talk about the dangerous stretch of road for a pit stop, and where is highway patrol, etc. 

I went back to the van and Aaron stepped out, just in time for us to hear a pickup screech their brakes and a motorcycle slam into the back. That’s what we heard. What we SAW was a motorcycle spinning on the ground and the cyclist launched almost 20 feet onto the shoulder of the road. Aaron immediately ran toward him, commanding the museum owner (who ran out the front door) to call 9-1-1. Told the children not to leave the van under ANY circumstance, grabbed my reflective vest from under the seat and ran toward Aaron, the cyclist, and another couple who’d witnessed the accident.  The woman I’d chatted with about the Lamborghini’s was there with her husband asking what they could do. Hubby was wearing a bright orange Guy Fiery flaming shirt. He went one direction to slow traffic, and I tossed my vest to his wife to go the other direction.  

Aaron directed a couple of bystanders to move the motorcycle out of the middle of the highway. 


I remembered and used my first responder training! 

His leg was obviously broken. I picked up a dagger that fell from his Fanny pack and had landed (fortunately) next to him. 

He was breathing and responsive, and bleeding, but only mildly. Judging by the fact that he could not feel pain, and not seeing signs of uncontrolled bleeding, did not want to move him at all! 

I obtained consent and started going down the list of questions (allergies, medications, past medical history  last time he ate or drank, etc) and got name, dob, what happened, etc. 

A registered nurse pulled over and joined us, and another certified responder civilian came and the three of us stayed with this 19 year old kid. 

I asked the young man if he would like us to pray. He pulled his hands out from under his body and held onto mine and the nurses. She offered a prayer and the 10 or so people now gathered around all held hands or touched his shoulders and gave reverence and an amen. 

I obtained a family member’s phone number and called him but only was able to leave voicemails. 

The victim’s buddy was also there, gathering things from the road, and experiencing a bit of shock. Someone sat with him and they kept trying the father until they got a hold of him. 

At this point We just kept talking to him, and I considered how much time had passed. Where is the ambulance? When did they say they would arrive? I sent someone inside to find out and they returned saying no one had phone reception and the guy at the shop had called but lost connection. 

Are you kidding me? No one has spoken with an emergency response team?! 

In his defense, The guy in the shop thought he had made a clear connection and had told Aaron they’d be on their way soon. 

I called 9-1-1 anyway. They had no idea where the accident was, or that there was an injury and an ambulance was needed. 

Pain. Suddenly our motorboy realized he was in extreme pain. A couple big guys got right in his face and told him not to move. 

We kept him distracted another 15 minutes until helpers started to arrive. A few locals in street clothes who were on call and eventually an ambulance. 

I can’t believe it. I truly cannot believe he survived being launched from a motorcycle. I can’t believe Aaron woke up knowing where we would need to be at what time. I can’t believe some of my kids weren’t in shoes so they weren’t tempted to get out of the van.  I can’t believe the couple I’d chatted with wore a flaming orange shirt so he could stop traffic. 

I can’t believe this dude didn’t land on his knife and sustain a stab wound on top of the ribcage and leg injuries. 

I can’t I was not grossed out in the least when I saw a bone sticking out of a leg. 

I can’t believe in the Good Samaritans of Arkansas. So many asked how to help. People helped quickly.  

I can’t believe how brave this kid was and how trusting he was of total strangers to be with him and help him. 

I got a text from his biker buddy late Sunday night. Out of surgery. The roadside volunteer nurse’s prayer was answered and every bone in his body will heal. He will be in casts for a long time. He will walk, and soon after, I am sure, take a Sunday motorcycle ride. 

My Sunday school boys discussed the miracles when I shared the day’s excitement with them. 

God knew that this would be a life changing day for our young rider friend. He placed a lot of tenacious people on his path. One student summarized, (after lying on the ground as another student reenact the body position and realizing its impossible for the leg to bend that way on purpose) 

He said, “Everyone has a few bad crashes in their life. Physically or Spiritually.  Heavenly Father knows when it’s going to happen, so he sends help like how you guys helped this guy.” 

The class concluded that the people around us are like doctors. Or just committed helpers to get us healed up and walking again. Like parents, friends, Bishop, and even Sunday school teachers who bring pics of mangled motorcycles to church. 

Since its Gratitude Season, today I’m thankful for Aaron. He’s always in tune with the spirit, and he’s rescued me from my own crashes many times.  I’m thankful for his tenacity to keep calling on Higher powers for help. 

I’m thankful for the hours we spent renewing first aid. We totally did not save this guys life or anything, but someone has to be the first responders and this event was good “skills practice” as we respond as parents calmly and smartly, and prepared, to future crises in our children’s lives. 

We left when EMT’s had everything they needed from us. Officers were around each corner controlling traffic. I had to include a pic of Guy Fiery, here, that I snapped from the van. Now he has a story about being in the right shirt at the right time. 

Hey I’ve got skills. Laundry Skills!

I’ve been thinking about President Nelson’s invitation to sisters in the church to ponder and discover their spiritual gifts and strengths. In a world where Satan is a well operating machine that freely dispenses self deprecating thoughts, it can be challenging to recognize our gifts among mortal flaws and shortcomings. Not all of us are skilled musicians, patient hand holders, social interaction experts, or enthusiastic “try something new” tacklers. In fact, many of us are living out our day to day routines, just trying to be our best selves, or barely keeping our heads above water ministering to our families. 

I’ve been “wowed” lately at how just being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and being a mother of a large family have prepared me and given me necessary skills to serve my community. 

I stopped by The Call office in Springdale last week to meet up with a foster mom friend and discuss doing some respite for them. When I walked in we were met with this room of donations that flowed out into the hall, and down the hall, and toward the door. 

The two workers had been trying to sort it for hours, but didn’t know what to do with the sheer volume of stuff, where to begin, where to put things, etc. 

I asked if they needed help and was met with a resounding desperate, PLEASE! 

This is where my inner Monica Gellar shines, people! I’ve trained my whole life for this very moment! Haha! 

I rolled up my sleeves and tore into that room like a bunch of teenagers who’s just been handed a box of donuts after church on a fast Sunday.  Sloane played delightfully with a basket of toys in the corner. This was also a small miracle, as she tends to be particularly needy on the days it’s just the two of us.  Recently, she has been self entertaining, and I’ve had much more available time to help others. This day at the Call office was a perfect opportunity to put my individual skills to use. 

What skills?  

Well it turns out that mothering a large family has provided me with the very specific ability to sort HUGE amounts of clothing by size, gender, item, and season, very very quickly.  This was basically a laundry rodeo, and I won. As I opened bag after bag and organized everything, I kept thinking “I was totally put in the right place at the right time. God knew that I could not only do this task, but do it quickly and effectively, and enjoy doing it. 

This was not overwhelming for me in the least. Growing up as a member of the church, I was trained in the art of packing and moving when my parents took me with them to the families they ministered to. I’ve helped sort through many a retired windows apartments. (I’ll never forget the time Glen Mellander and I found Sister Hess’s false teeth in the back of her freezer!)  

Anyway, my life has given me many opportunities rooms filled to the brim with bags of stuff don’t stress me out at all. And call me Monica, but it felt so good to rip into that room of bags and put everything in a place. 

The next day, I went on a ministering visit with my companion Lani, who told me her guest room was filled to the brim with bags of clothes and shoes.  I took the triplets with me to her house and spent an hour with Lani and 4 other fun ladies from church sorting clothing by item into piles. And I came home with a bag of new to us items for my big girls and I.  Yahoo! 

Going through a room stuffed with bags went so quickly because these women also all had sorting skills and “lets get this done” energy! 

I blog about this because I want my children to know that they have skills they don’t even know about! Everything we are given is a gift that can be used to bless others. 

So the cumulative hours I’ve spent doing masses of laundry? Blessing to my family at the time, and refining my skill for future opportunities to bless and serve others.  Even laundry can be done as an offering to the Lord.  Children, take a look at your day and consider what skills you never knew you had!  Did you practice being a listener? A hard worker? That toilet you made sparkle or bed you made is no big deal to you, but your diligence, obedience, desire to do good, or just get a job done is a skill that you will be able to help others with some day. Maybe you will make a toilet sparkle for a pregnant spouse or friend some day, so they can throw up in a clean bowl.  Maybe you will change sheets and make the bed of your elderly mother.  Or put fresh sheets on the bed in the guest too again for another foster placement. That is a gift you can give that you wouldn’t be able to do if you didn’t have the skill.  Your gifts are how the Lord can use you do his work, but you must recognize what gufts you have, and then show up with a will to act. 

Three cheers for life skills and awareness to serve. I have been greatly blessed by many people who have cleaned out and organized their own closets and donated unused items. Soccer cleats from the Chandler boys, dresses from the Thompson Twins, proprioceptive input therapy items from Hiligrass, Castillo, and Glover families.  It was so good to be able to pay it forward with some quick service with a unique knack for closet organization in a couple places this week. 

I hope this musings of mine emboldens another to “go and do something, today.”  

Or rather, it’s not MY words that embolden, but remind a reader that he or she has already been prepared to be whomever he or she must be today for the work to carry forward. 

Corbin solves a mini Rubix cube

Jimmie gave the kids a 2x2x2 (mini) Rubix cube. Corbin could not wait to get his hands on it. He patiently waited and watched as everyone else passed it around for a few days. Our feeble attempts scrambled it up even more! 

Once he figured out the pattern to move a color where you want it to go, he was a machine and had the puzzle cube solved in minutes and a smile of satisfaction on his face. On to 3x3x3! 

Willyween 2018

Here we are at the ward trunk or treat. This year included a family/ancestor/day of the dead theme and many people brought favorite family recipes for the potluck. Everyone hit me had a Star Wars costume for the evening. I made Reese’s dress from an old sheet in about 15 minutes, and then used safety pins and a fitted sheet for my Jabba costume. Aaron said “no one will know you’re Jabba without a slave leia! You’ve got to make her a golden bikini! Ha. I cut the hem off an old Snow White dress and sewed it right over the top of the turquoise leotard top from Quincy’s Princess jasmine costume that I made when she was Sloane’s age. Then I cut up the Velma skirt from the scooby doo gang costume Reese wore a few years later and ta-da! Princess Leia in minutes! Jill S provided the golden accents for Sloane and Reese’s costumes, and Han Solo’s vest. Sloane was supposed to be Yoda, but she loved her princess costume even more.  I scored all the non-homemade costumes at the Rhea Lana sale a couple months ago for $3 each! Adrian’s are pajamas. Bonus! 

Here’s our traditional Foust, Knaup, and Willy kids pic, minus a few kids. 

And here’s a pic of part of the neighborhood gathered at the Durbin’s. A few sets of Grandparents joined their children who live on the Lane, and a few sets of grand kids joined their grandparents who live on the Lane. One retired neighbor carved a sword for one of the younger kid’s costume. Many homes had gluten and nut free treats for friends with food allergies. I love seeing this little community come together and care for each other. It’s so good. 


Halloween on Primrose Lane is awesome. There are only about 25 houses on the entire cul de sac, but everyone goes all out and it’s a big block party. One house had chili, another hot dogs and chips, another glow sticks. My parents set up a hot cocoa bar. Several of the neighbors made little treat bags for each of the kids, and had spooky music playing on their porches. The houses are decorated so cute with hay bales and corn stalks and jack o lanterns. All of it is just great! 






We came in for the great candy sort. Aaron made it rain candy on the kids and they took a slow mo video that is so funny I’ve watched it like 20 times. Corbin’s smile is just so genuine it’s clear that Halloween is the best day of a 9 year old’s life. Soren swims breast stroke through the candy. Reese “showers” in it and runs candy in her arm pits. Quincy shoves masses of it in her top. Sloane jumps up and down like she’s going to explode and then drops to do snow angels in the candy. 

The triplets all kept saying “I love it! I love trick or treating! I love this candies!”  They dressed up as Anna, Elsa, and Olaf from Frozen, to trick or treat.  And today they were Rapunzel, Rapunzel, and an airplane pilot for therapy and story time. 

Table for one

Nothing but royal treatment around these parts. 

Sloane was here

I can’t post pics of the twins at therapy, but this one of Sloane has me rolling. She joined them for a family session recently and I’m pretty sure we all need a little counseling to help us live our best lives the way Sloanie here is!