Blessings

I find it is important to recognize the blessings in any situation. It gives perspective to what life has dealt you and makes the challenges easier to bear. While Trent has been unemployed we have been given many blessings with our trials.
First, Trent was able to be with our children while I took a very intense summer course for a month. The class was very valuable to my education and I learned so much. I was able to dedicate the time I needed to the class and not only did I learn so much, I also completed this class with an A. I also learned that Trent and I, working together make a great edit team. We would read through my long papers for class and edit them together, discussing and learning. It was awesome to work with Trent in this capacity.
The next blessing was a few weeks later, after my class ended, when I was caught off guard by a a very bad headache followed a few days latter by body pains and then a rash. Having seen Shingles before I knew what the rash was and called the doctor to see if there was anything she could give me so I did not have to come in to the office (no insurance). Of course once I described where my rash was and how much rash, the pain and headaches... I was told to go to our quick care clinic and be seen. Needless to say, several drugs later (one being a great pain med) and 10 days of sleeping and not much else, the rash had stopped spreading and scabbed over. I am gaining the vision back to normal in my left eye just in time for my classes to begin and the pains have mostly subsided. Through all this Trent was home and able to take care of me, the children and the house. Having Trent here to take care of everything so I could do what I needed to recover was a HUGE blessing.
The last blessing came from Trent and my faith growing. It is hard to have interview after interview and nothing come from them. Not knowing what we will do if.... SO, Trent and I started to pray as a family with our children. We also started to serve others in our ward and community. We had free time so we used it to help others. We knew that the Lord would guide us and the right job was coming. surprisingly enough, we were never worried that he would not find a job after we started these two simple things.
In the end, Trent started a new job this week. We were both very excited when Trent received a call offering him a job at Washington State University in Pullman, about 8 minutes away from Moscow. It is with an Enterprise group doing computer programing for their student systems. In the group are several great men from our ward and Trent is excited to work with them and the other members of the team. Although he has only worked two days, he is loving the job and we are both happy it worked out so well. Oddly enough, we both started back to work the same day, How cool is that?
It was a bummer to stay home all summer and not take any real vacations but it was also cool to spend time together as a small family, doing local activities and not getting lost in the hassle of vacations.
Now we return to our busy lives of school, work and various other extra activities.. but we had a great summer together.  :) Thanks for all the prayers and support!!
I will post some fun family photos later...

The trials of life

I feel like there is a life lesson here, but I am too close to the problem right now to appreciate it. Don't get me wrong, life is good in so many respects. I have a wonderful family with a fabulous, caring husband and 4 amazing children (I know, I'm a bit bias) and we have food to eat and a roof over our heads. Things have been good for us, with Trent and I both working and me finishing school. We have had enough for our needs and for surprise moments. We work as a team at our house, everyone having responsibilities so that we run smoothly and are there for each other. The children are successful in there own areas of school and really. life was good. A month ago, Trent received a letter from his employer letting him know the University of Idaho was not going to be renewing his contract, thus, Trent was out his job. This was a shock to him and to me. We saw it as a opportunity to find a better job for Trent. Trent had been looking for a new job at this point, because he was feeling that he had outgrown his current one so we were already applying for other jobs. We both felt comfort that it would not be long before he found another job and there was nothing to worry about. We love the Moscow area and so have kept our search local thus far. I have one more year of my education and we feel strongly that we need to stay together as a family. 

The worry is, the paychecks are stopping and we still have not found new work. It's hard. It is discouraging to make it to the end of a process for countless jobs and not get an offer. So far Trent has applied for 15 plus jobs this last month. He has had 6 in person interviews and all of them have gone from ok to great. We continue to pray for guidance and support, feeling that everything will be ok and that the Lord will provide for us. It's hard to have that kind of faith. To know that a job is out there for Trent but not knowing the where and when for it to occur. 

This reminds me a lot of when we had Hannah, and the trials that came with those blessings. I feel that this is another trial where Trent and I can be strengthened as a couple and as a family. I know that there is a plan here, we are not sure how it is all going to unfold but that it will be right for us. Right now it is about having a positive attitude in a crappy situation and seeing the good in day and not the struggle. We have had to cancel planned vacations, wait for a new dryer and make due with shoes that are getting holes. We have also gotten to spend more time as a family, with Trent home everyday. We are playing together and enjoying each other during summer break. I am taking a rather rushed and strenuous online class for the month and Trent being home has helped support me so I can focus on the class more. The children love having their dad around more than ever before and has been really nice to have that opportunity. 

I decided to write this post, not for sympathy but to let everyone know that we are ok. that we would appreciate any advice or job opportunities available and for your prayers through this trial.  because I think it is bad form to know have a picture in a blog post I have include this picture... 

Trent needed a hair cut to prepare for a job interview... we thought it would be funny to give him a mullet cut for the weekend  and then fix it just before the interview... 

We decided that Trent could probably pull of a mullet... Then I finished cutting his hair :)

Birthdays.. and last day of school

June has started with a bang. The children's last day of school was the 5th, an extra bonus to Cassie's Birthday this year. Emeline graduated from the 5th grade and will join Micah at the middle school in the fall. We are excited and nervous all at the same time!

 Congrats Emy!

 We take a picture here every year at the beginning of the school year and I remembered to take one at the end of the year.. 

 Cassie opening her gifts

 Cassie wanted to decorate her cake this year. She is still at the age where more is better than less. There was a lot of candy on that cake, but it was yummy!

 Hannah's birthday was quick to follow, she helped put the sprinkles on her butterfly cake. 

 gifts of course...

 trent is limiting his sugar intake these days and so for his birthday his special treat was a bowl of grapes... he also picked dinner since Hannah picked the dessert. The kabobs were great!!

 Normal for our birthday weekend we go camping. The week got away from us and we were not ready to go, so we took a day trip to Elk Creek and went hiking instead. We were luck the water levels were relatively low so we got to walk on the rocks, which led to playing in the water. It was the first time in years I was not prepared for the children to get wet. within minutes of walking on the rocks all the children were wet from the neck down. I guess that teaches me.. we got lucky and a group of college students there lent us a towel for the shivering little girls.

 It is so hard to get a picture with Micah in it lately I asked him to please let me take on of him. He obliged  this was after several goofy pictures...

Well, Summer is underway at our house... we'll have to see where it takes us next.

Updates; mostly pictures.

 Our family took a trip for a weekend to Triple Play. We always have a great time. We played laser tag...

 did some rock climbing...

took a ride in the go-carts

Were a little bit lazy by the end of each day...

and had a great time!!

Enjoying some of the first signs of summer

Found some eggs at the University of Idaho egg hunt

Had a very happy Birthday to Emy. 11 now!!

Decorated eggs with friends..

Just some photos, thought it was time to replace the Christmas letter :) 

Merry Christmas!!

I can't seem to get my pictures to upload to the site but we just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!!!

A short update of each of the children;

Micah

Micah is in middle school and loving it. He also enjoys scouts and young mens. he has helped removed yard waste for some of the people int he community, taking treats to some of our elder members and gone on several camping trips, the last to they saw snow.. cold!

Emeline 

Emeline is in the 5th grade, the oldest class in the school. She loves her teacher and continues to show gains in reading and math. Emeline is amazing with her sisters and although some times they try her patience she is a little mother to them. She enjoyed volleyball and is considering basketball as another sport. 

Cassandra 

Cassie is in the 2nd grade and also enjoys her teacher. Cassie is a very happy girl and does well in everything she tries. She is egger to try new things and can not wait for gymnastics to start. Cassie is also an excellent reader and enjoys it!

Hannah

Hannah is a mighty Kindergartener. She attends all day Kindergarten and always is excited to share what she has learned at school. she brings home a reader book each day and she reads it to me. She loves to learn and so far is very excited to go to school. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

What's Up?

 I was not sure if I posted first day of school pictures, so I threw this one in. Yeah, school started... first for me and then for the children about 2 weeks later. It was a HUGE juggle the first few weeks but now we are finally in a good grove and everyone is getting their homework done, including me.

 Football with Micah. If you count from the left he is the third helmet, number 67 white. He was a lineman this year and saw a bunch of play time. We loved his coaches and he learned a ton. they finished 6th in our league this year.

 Micah had a great team this year. This is his last year playing Thrasher ball, next year it is on to middle school football (his middle school only allows 7&8 graders to play) 

 micah is to the right of the football in white.

 Cassie had been complaining of headaches the last few months after reading so I figured we should have it checked out.. sure enough she needed glasses. She loves them and now she can read for hours without getting a headache (which is good cause she loves to read).

 Emeline did another year of Volleyball for our Parks and Rec team in Moscow. She loves to play. She has decided she wants to serve overhand and is working hard to master this skill. Her team did very well, I think they only lost 2 games.

Just because we love our dog... 

If I could use one word to describe out house it would be busy. It seems we are always on the run and have to be somewhere. Between work, school, church and extra curricular activities I am happy if I get a break between 6:30 each morning til 8:30 each night... 

We are all doing well and have learned a great deal about helping each other. 

Our trip to Idaho Falls

 The kids were so excited to ride the four wheelers. Emy, Micah and Cassie all go to drive them on their own. Hannah was still just a bit too small so she got rides on the bigger four wheeler with an adult. This was so much fun and they rode for hours!!

 Hannah was waiting her turn on the bike that was not working.. and playing with a helmet. 

 While we were there we went to the Crook family reunion. (Trent's moms family.) It had a super hero theme. we had sooo much fun going and the kids are already talking about next year, I guess we will have to make sure we can go again. :) Cassie borrow a left over costume and was super man.. she is posing for the contest in the above photo.. so cute!

 Super hero training started the next day... Here trent is leap frogging and below they are playing twister.. luckily he never fell and Emy did not get squished!

 After super hero training the kids and some adults cooled off in the water... Which was needed cause it got hot for us. (we were use to 70 degree temps not 90) 

 Cassie riding and Hannah attempting to ride... that did not go far. (sorry these are out of order but I could not get the pictures to move and decided it was not worth the effort)

 This was one of the coolest things at the reunion.. a blow up obstacle course.. all I can say is the Crooks know how to have fun!!

We had a fabulous vacation!! We got to see so many people. Maybe one day I will be able to name every Crook.. but I think I made a good attempt. Now to do all the laundry and get my house put back together again! :)