Счастливый 14-ый день рождения Натан

Happy 14th Birthday Nathan!We Miss You!!!

I got nothin'...

Over the past week or so
I've come to our family blog

and stared.
I want to update.
I have time to update.
I have nothing to say.
I blame it on the death of my iPhone.
I could say I'm in mourning.
I could say I'm totally annoyed and frustrated.
The truth is I'm lonely.
We'd become friends.
"i" was always there for me with weather updates,
TMZ updates,
dings when I had mail,
beeps to alert me of a text,
my calendar for my ohhh so busy life and highly in demand time (irony alert)
games,
fox news, usa today news, deseret news,
oh the apps I've lost..it's devastating.
Now all I got is laundry, dishes, and life...
dang it!
Impersonal interactions...I miss you!

14 baby!

Just in case anyone was wondering...new high yesterday.
Our girls gave us 14 eggs.

The boys are working on their advertising and marketing plan.
Scout Camp, Summer Trip to UT, Stuff they want...
all very motivating to get to selling.
Feel free to contact them if you want some farm fresh eggs
from happy chickens !
(get it..happy cows...cheese...commerical? I knew ya did)

Free bonus: if you'd like to bring your kids to gather your order of eggs
I know Will and Zac would be willing to take them.
It's a really cool thing.
Our Mr. C begs to go get eggs.
I don't know if it's the eggs or chickens he likes more.

January...let the fun begin

Where to begin...

So far this year I've had a shocking revelation -

This boy

and I have the same size feet!He's 13. I have a confession to make. Since we don't know anything about our boys genetics I used to worry that I could end up with short boys. Please don't hate me. Don't leave me rude comments.
My dad was tall, my brothers are tall...it's my world, ok.
Anyway, Zac's only a shoe size behind so I guess I can check that off my list.

****
While we're on Zac he finally discontinued the diet he'd had our chickens on...
you know "the teenage boy I don't want to do my chores so I'll just say I gave them food and water today" diet. Now they have the proper nutrition our chickens have finally come around. Today we got 8 eggs! We're getting there girls... 17 hens, 1 rooster.
It will be a real party when we get a dozen a day. Now if they can just start paying for their feed I'll be a happy mom.

It is really cool to have my boys, relatives, friends etc come in with an egg they've found.
The smiles are priceless. Gary's older brother Billy was the best.

****

I've been spoiled by Cully. He's sweet, easy, little (as in 2yrs and 23ish pounds), and his parents are the best. Today we entered a new phase...
about 2 and a half hours after he went down for a nap I turned around and found him standing behind me in the kitchen. He's known how to climb out of his pack and play for months, but never done it when he was with me (I told you...spoiled)
I guess all good things must come to an end.

****

Speaking of Cully...his dad, Stephen was able to come to sacrament meeting Sunday. At last count I think he'd lost 30 pounds since his surgery. He looks so fragile to me, but he's here and that's all that matters right now. He says he's feeling stronger everyday. He still can't take anything by mouth...can you imagine. We're getting close to a month since he's had anything to eat or drink besides taking some pain meds.
He says he dreams of fruit.

****

Since I brought food up...our freezer has a fresh supply of deer meat thanks to my super hunter, manly man husband who got a deer this week and processed it himself. Did I mention we're having record lows here?
It was a chilly experience for all involved. I was warm and toasty in the house. I did google, "How to tan a deer hide." so I did my part.I'm not even asking...I just relay the info. (PS this picture makes my heart smile...I hope my dad is smiling from heaven. I know my grandpa Hyde is...he taught Gary how to butcher a dear...many, many years ago. Another generation of hunters!)
Oh, don't even ask about the hat...I have no idea.

****
So how's 2010 goin' for ya'll so far?

2010...here we go again!

I know my Heavenly Father loves me.
Thankfully He is also very patient.
Now if He could just help me get over the heart wrenching pain of good-byes...

I didn't mind saying good-bye to 2009.
I did ok, saying good-bye to Gary's big brother Billy.It's such a joy to have him in our home. We will all miss him!
Gary and I had our first date of 2010...we drove him to the Atlanta airport today.
We had a great talk, up and back. It was heaven.

Tonight, though, we gathered together and set some family goals and
had our last whole family counsel until who knows when.
My heart hurts.
We had our last whole family prayer, for awhile.
I cried.
Mychel-Anne flies back to Utah tomorrow and it's killing me.
I know it's right. I know it's good.
That doesn't make it easier...at least not tonight.

i have the BEST cousin

This is our family

My awesome cousin Amy made them and sent them in her Christmas card to us. I'm so blessed!That's her in the middle...she's the mom of 4 beautiful children. Thanks Amy! We love you!

When needed Heavenly Father will use the phone...

I will admit this last quarter of 2009 has been rough for the Murphy family for a variety of reasons. I've been looking for the blessings...sometimes it was harder than others. I've been practicing an attitude of gratitude. I've been focusing on my haves and not my have nots. Monday, we were "blessed" that Gary was able to have knee surgery and everything went well. It's not fun to spend the holidays recovering, but we have insurance and sick leave so...attitude of gratitude. Really, over all I can't complain and then...Tuesday happened. As I was leaving to take a friend to drop off her car, to have work done, I simply stepped out my front door and BOOM...down goes Fraser! Yup, nasty sprained ankle was my reward. My first thought was...you've got to be kidding me! I have a 3 months old, 2 year old and 43 yr old invalid to take care of during the day...this is NOT an option. Add to that the 2 year old's parents were on their way to Atlanta to find out if the dad's mass on his pancreas is cancer. Really a sprained ankle? I mean REALLY???
After two days of sharing crutches with my patient, head shaking in disbelief, husband I admit to feeling a little sorry for myself. Enough is enough. Then my phone rings. A lady on the other end asks if I teach scrapbooking classes and if I'd be available December 19th to do a workshop. Can you imagine where my mind went...it wasn't pretty...then she goes on to explain she works for the Division of Child and Family Service and she wants me to help about 40 foster kids make life books. To say I was instantly humbled is an understatement. As I sat in my comfy recliner, looking across the hall at my healthy, loving husband, with pictures of my incredible children on the wall in our warm, safe home I was put in my place by a kind and loving Heavenly Father.

Thanks for calling...it's just what I needed.

If you need me on the 19th I'll be busy from 10-2.

PS Is a miracle sprain healing too much to ask? As Gary would say, I had to ask ;D