This is one of the ways that the Willis guys in our home bond. Aren't they so cute?

Thanksgiving Feasting

When the Halloween pumpkins are gone,
And the leaves have all fallen to ground,
When the air has turned windy and cold,
Then Thanksgiving will soon be around.

Thoughts of loved ones all feasting together,
Pleasant pictures from past times appear
To dwell in each heart and each mind--
Then Thanksgiving is finally here!

The kitchen has scrumptious aromas,
The dining room looks oh, so fine,
Decorations with pilgrims and turkeys,
And now we are ready to dine!

First the napkins are placed on our laps;
Now the prayer for the meal to be blessed,
Then we stuff the good food in our tummies,
And we hope for it all to digest!

By Joanna Fuchs

We made OREO turkeys just for fun. The kids were very creative. We were supposed to use candy corns for the feathers but you have to plan way ahead for that because they are hard to find this time of year. Scott and Julia both looked at several stores. We will plan on that next year.
They were fun and tasted good anyway.

I talked to John this afternoon and he said he read everything I had given him last night. He said he posted the Articles of Faith on the cork board in his room.
Heather was on her way over there and he planned to talk to her about what he read and how he felt. He said it looked like exactly what he needed. We talked for a few minutes about the Proclamation to the World and they strength the church instills in our families and in each of us.
He called the Articles of Faith card by name. He really had read it.
This is backward. He should have been a member and they should be married and then they should start a family. Since it is what it is, I will pray for him and teach him every opportunity I get. There is a lot at stake. I am hopeful.

Thanksgiving feast

We had Ham and turkey real mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, jello, pudding, green beans, corn, rolls, and stuffing.
We had Nickie and John (Heather's boy friend) for the first dinner and then Julia and Josh and the missionaries for the late dinner.
Our day was full of food and family.
On our way back to Springfield John said he loved our family and wanted his to be just like it.
I had the opportunity to talk with him about the church and gave him several church
pamphlets. I had planned to give him a least the first discussion while he was there.
I sent him home with much more. It was a wonderful day and the spirit was there all day.

This is a picture of the Zola and Merrill Wills Family.
I thought you all would enjoy it since most of those who follow my blog are from here.
When I think of the love and beautiful legacy they have pasted on it makes me feel very blessed to be a part of it.

The light bulb

When you have an ordinary light bulb and it goes out, it blows as you turn the light on with a blue flash that would almost be pretty if it didn't leave you standing in the dark or just doesn't come on at all. If you have a "long lasting" bulb it does the same thing it is just supposed to take longer to do it. However if you have a florescent bulb and it goes bad it causes the other bulb with it to dull too. It is a long drawn out and somewhat painful process. Both bulbs are dull every time the light goes on barely making it worth the effort to flip the switch and this can go on for days or even weeks, then the flickering starts! To sum it up the florescent light bulb is a drama queen by design. I'm going to die.... I am dieing .... I .. am.. d....i....e...i...n..g. If you already have as many girls in your house as we do, invest in regular bulb, this process is just too much.

Little girls learn things from watching their mommies.
I actually learned to make bread from Julia and now I get to teach the rest.
Thank you Julia! I have bread in the oven right now. =) That is my favorite smell.

Jennifer is six and in first grade. She loves to read and write and is very good at it. This is a copy of her latest art work and writing.
They really are priceless.

These are some of the pictures Julia and Melinda took earlier this month.
Aren't they precious?

Twilight midnight showing

Count down to Twilight is over Julia drove all the way to Springfield to watch the midnight showing with her most sensitive of brothers.
Heather took a car load from our house (Jordan, Jessica, Mariah) to watch the midnight showing in Monett and both theaters were packed. Mostly girls but a couple guys.
They were not quite bright eyed and bushy tailed the next day but they did go to seminary, school and work the next day and said it was so worth it.
They lost a little sleep but they will be able to recover soon enough and the memories
of midnight showings and getting the book as soon as it comes out last a life time.
They love to read and they enjoyed it together.

Fun survey – Who are you most like?

Ladies Only ... Which Movie Star Are You? This is kind of fun!
Ever wonder which movie star you are most like?
Well ~ A team of researchers got together and analyzed the personalities of movie stars.
They gathered info has been incorporated into this quiz.
There are only 10 questions so it doesn't take long.
Number your paper from 1 to 10, then answer each question with the choice that most describes you at this point in your life , and then add up the points that correspond with your answers.
In the comment section put who you are most like.

Now Don't look ahead or you will ruin the fun!
1. Which describes your perfect date?
a) Candlelight dinner for two b) Amusement Park c) Roller blading in the park
d) Rock Concert
e) Have dinner & see a movie f) Dinner at home with a loved one

2. What is your favorite type of music?
a) Rock and Roll b) Alternative c) Soft Rock d) Classical e) Christian f) Jazz

3. What is your favorite type of movie?
a ) Comedy b) Horror c) Musical d) Romance e) Documentary f) Mystery

4. Which of the following jobs would you choose if you were given only these choices?
a) Waiter/Waitress b) Sports Player c) Teacher d) Policeman e) Bartender
f) Business person

5. Which would you rather do if you had an hour to waste?
a) Work out b) Make out c) Watch TV d) Listen to the radio e) Sleep f) Read

6. Of the following colors, which do you like best?
a) Yellow b) White c) Sky blue d) Teal e) Gold f) Red

7. Which one of the following would you like to eat right now?
a) Ice cream b) Pizza c) Sushi d) Pasta e) Salad f) Lobster Tail

8. Which is your favorite holiday?
a) Halloween b) Christmas c) New Year's d) Valentine's Day e) Thanksgiving
f) Fourth of July

9 If you could go to any of the following places, which would it be?
a) Reno b) Spain c) Las Vegas d) Hawaii e) Hollywood f) British Columbia

10. Of the following, who would you rather spend time with?
a) Someone who is smart b) Someone with good looks c) Someone who is a party animal
d) Someone who has fun all the time e) Someone who is very emotional f) Someone who is fun to be with

Now total up your points on each question:
1 a-4 b-2 c-5 d-1 e-3 f-6 2. a-2 b-1 c- 4 d-5 e-3 f-6
3. a-2 b-1 c-3 d-4 e-5 f-6 4. a-4 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-1 f-6
5. a-5 b-4 c-2 d-1 e-3 f-6 6. a-1 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-4 f-6
7. a-3 b-2 c-1 d-4 e-5 f-6 8. a-1 b-3 c-2 d-4 e-5 f-6
9. a-4 b-5 c-1 d-4 e-3 f-6 10. a-5 b-2 c-1 d-3 e-4 f-6
NOW take your total and find out which Movie Star you are:

(10-17 points) You are MADONNA:
You are wild and crazy and you know it. You know how to have fun but you may take it to extremes. You know what you are doing though and are much in control of your own life. People don't always see things your way but that doesn’t mean that you should do away with your beliefs.
Try to remember that your wild spirit can lead to hurting yourself and others.

(18-26 points) You are DORIS DAY:
You are fun, friendly and popular! You are a real crowd pleaser. You have probably been out on the town your share of times, yet you come home with the values that your mother taught you. Marriage and children are very important to you but only after you have fun. Don't let the people you
please influence you to stray.

(27-34 points) You are DEBBIE REYNOLDS:
You are cute and everyone loves you. You are a best friend that no one takes the chance of losing. You never hurt feelings and seldom have your own feelings hurt. Life is a breeze. You are witty and calm most of the time. Just keep clear of back stabbers, and you are worry-free..

(35-42 points) You are GRACE KELLY:
You are a lover. Romance, flowers, and wine are all you need to enjoy yourself You are serious about all commitments and are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday and never forget a Birthday. Don't let your passion for romance get confused with the real thing.

(43-50 points) You are KATHERINE HEPBURN:
You are smart, a real thinker. Every situation is approached with a plan. You are very healthy in mind and body. You don't take crap from anyone. You have only a couple of individuals that you consider 'real
friends'. You teach strong family values. Keep your feet planted in them but don't overlook a bad situation when it does happen.

(51-60 points) You are ELIZABETH TAYLOR:
Everyone is in awe of you. You know what you want and how to get it. You have more friends than you know what to do with. Your word is your bond. Everyone knows when you say something it is money in the bank. You attract the opposite sex. Your intelligence overwhelms most. Your memory is the
next thing to photographic. Everyone admires you because you are so considerate and lovable. You know how to enjoy life and treat people right.

Thank you Josh

Last night I got a call from Heather. Things were really out of hand, I could tell from the noise in the back ground and from the tone in her voice.
I am usually very calm but I was an hour away and she needed me right then.
Then I thought about Josh, he was really close. I called him and asked what he was doing, he said playing video games. I asked him how many people he could get to Heathers and how fast he said three and we are out the door. I called him a few minutes later and he was half way there. He didn't even know what she needed but he was going.
He and his roommate packed all of her stuff and when I got there they loaded it up for her.
Thank you for being there for me and for being such a good big brother.
I love you!

Out of the mouths of babes

I want to share my ten year olds and their testimonies of their Heavenly Father.





Brooklyn came to me in tears. She said that she had been moody a lot lately. She said that she said her prayers but it wasn’t the same as when she used to study a lot. She said that she wanted to know more and she felt so bad that she didn’t all ready know it. She cried and I felt bad for her but felt good that she had such a desire. I hugged her and told her we would take more time to learn what she wanted to know.
Scott and I get up at 5:15 to say prayer with the seminary children and go back to bed. On Monday’s he has to check to be sure that reports were run before he goes back to bed. There was a soft knock on the door about 5:45, Scott was still up so he answered. He hugged Joseph and told him it was only a dream. Joseph went back to bed for a few minutes till it was time to get him up for school.
When I came in he told me that it wasn’t a bad dream that scared him that it must have been the cats fighting outside his bedroom window. His reasoning was that it sounded like cats and that he always prays before going to be that he will have a good night sleep and have no bad dreams.
What he said made sense and I did have four more kids to get moving for school.
When I thought about it later I realized that this was an important link in his testimony.
When he woke up, it was sudden and he was scared, he went down stairs for comfort and reassurance.
Then in his bed wide awake he decided it couldn’t be a bad dream because he had prayed like he always does that he wouldn’t have them, so it must have been a cat because Heavenly Father always answers prayers.

Today I see it clearly

I have been told all of my life that the end is coming and we must be prepared. I have believed it would happen... I just couldn't see it in my life time.
Now, I believe things will change and that I could be here to see it.
We have also had many ice storms and I felt the need to have the required food and water for our home. We have 14 children, 8 of them still live at home.
Those who don't live at home are not quiet self sufficient and would need our help.
That is a lot of preparation. The cars we own are not our only financial set back yet, seem to be the biggest one.
I am thrilled about the lower gas prices and have decided to set aside what we saved to buy our food storage.
I have the best adviser in these things ever and she lives right next door. Mom Willis said I needed a ton of canning jars. She didn't say a ton she actually calculated it up.... it was a lot! They are a seasonal item and can't be found now.
I took my advise and prayed for what I needed.
Scott found jars online but then found out the shipping was $90.00.
The next day I took Jordan to work. She was out of Soda water and asked me if I would go to the dollar general and get her one. I said yes, reluctantly.
I had Haylee and it was cool outside....I went in and since I was there I looked around for canning jars. Then I asked the store manager. He said he had one box left and told me where I would find it. I went and got it but had to go back and ask if he could order more. He said no but the other man beside him was a store manager across town and he had a bunch. I got Scott from work and we bought all they had.
Eighteen doz quart jars and three dozen pint jars! They were less than we would have paid on line too. These jars were in the back, I had to ask for them and I wouldn't have been there at all if it weren't for Jordan and my willingness to serve her that morning. God answered my prayer.
I am a spoiled daughter of our Heavenly Father and today I see it clearly.

Raising Kids Who Turn Out Right by Tim Kimmel

Every parent hopes their kids will turn out right. They pray that when their children leave the nest, they will be ready to face the world. And they hope that their kids will be equipped to stand strong in life's battles.

There are no shortcuts to successful parenting . . . no secret formulas to raising kids of strength and character. However, there are steps you can take to prepare your children for the challenges ahead. But you'll need an effective game plan.

He Dedicates this to his parents and thanks them for the legacy and says he'll do his best to pass it on.
He talks about every day opportunities to teach that many parents miss and helps you look for them and make the most of them.
One well put example is:
"The Gold Rush Days- Miners slaved in the hot sun day after day. They'd swirl sand around in their pans for hours to extract tiny glimmers of gold. Most of what they ended up with was gold dust.
But it had value. Supplies at the general store and whiskey in the saloon could be had by simply sprinkling a little bit of that dust on a scale. Sometimes, however just as they poured the stuff, someone opened a door and allowed the wind blow some of the partials off the scale-where they would settle through the cracks in the floor. At other times the miners were simply careless. In their hurry to get what they wanted they'd sacrifice more of their precious gold than they needed to. It would float through the air.... and ultimately slips through the cracks.
Our relationship to our kids has too often followed similar lines.

He gives pearls of wisdom that we can all use in our own lives.

Well, I should go enjoy my children before I have to put them to bed.

Creative corrections

I don't know how many people have told me I should write a book about my family and how we do it. I don't have time right now so I just blog.

I wanted to share one of the books I have actually read and referred to often called "Creative corrections". Lisa Whelchel is best known for her role as Blair Warner on the hit 1980s TV series "The Facts of Life." She and her husband, Steve, a minister, have three children, whom they home-school. This excerpt is from her book, "Creative Correction."
I looked on google to see what I could find and was surprised to see negative things about her and her book? I have read and read that book and I don't remember her suggesting that spanking was the answer. I know it is an alternative, on the rare occasion I have resorted to it my self. I think explaining to a child what they did, that other times other things have been tried and why you are going to have to do this, spanking them and them that you love them and need them to make different choices is different from snatching them up and hitting them while they hang in the air by on arm or smacking them as they pass you.
I love the book because she defines their behavior and has a scripture for every behavior that they can come up with. The Bible says that it is important to teach them this and this is where in the Bible it is found.

I think as mush as this book offers my favorite part is the scripture references right with the behavior so you can remind them these aren't your rules but Gods rules that you are responsible for helping them learn to follow.

There are behaviors and suggestions for discipline
Leaving a mess? The next time your child "forgets" to put something away, put it away for him. When he asks where it is, tell him that he'll have to look for it. Believe me, he will learn that it's a lot more trouble to find something that Mom has hidden than it is to put it away in the first place.
Yes, there are thinks I do different because I am different and my children are different and I do like that one.
One thing she taught me was that a child's behavior in public may be more embarrassing to you but it doesn't make what they did more wrong and the discipline shouldn't be greater because you were embarrassed. I had to face that one not too long ago. I took a deep breath and had to agree.
I had made arrangements and they didn't get followed through with. I had to admit that I wasn't upset that there was a misunderstanding but that I had to face the other people involved. That new perspective helped me a lot and avoided unnecessary conflict with in my family.
I totally love this book!

Realization at its best

Realization at its best

Jennifer is six. She is beautiful and smart. She is sweet and helpful and spiritual. Jennifer was fighting with her younger sister over a toy. That is what young sisters do sometimes. Jennifer was bigger and taking full advantage of her size (she was being ruthless) so mom had to step in.

I found out that it was Jennifer’s toy but that Haylee had it first. I explained to Jennifer that if she had waited a little bit Haylee would have gotten tired of the toy and she could have just gone behind her and picked it up. The other wiser option was to offer to trade a more exciting toy for the one she wanted.
The third option was even more clever, if she refused to trade take that rejected toy and pretend that you are having so much fun that she has to have that toy. I reminded her that she was older and that she could easily out smart her little sister and it could be fun and there wouldn’t be violence or crying involved.

We also had to talk about how she was feeling at the time. She was not sorry that she had handled it the way she had and she was mad that I was talking to her and she couldn’t learn because she was angry.
She went to her room to think about it. (they let themselves out when they are done thinking)
Later that evening I was in the middle of cooking dinner, you know that crucial time when everything is finishing all at the same time so it gets on the table hot? Well Jennifer had been reading and wanted to share it with me. I somehow felt that it was more important than dinner and listened intently as she shared an article from the friend. It was about trading with your little sister instead of fighting with them and about not being angry because you can’t solve things that way.
Wow! That was more important than dinner. She heard what I said and recognized it in print.
That was a true mom and Jennifer moment.

They will always look back and remember times like these.
Sometimes there isn't a camera available but their heart always takes a picture.

This is the laundry room, I spend a lot of time in here.
I have to share my inspiration in this area because it isn’t as bad as you would think.
When I first got here we had thirteen children in the house. All the laundry would come to the laundry room where I would wash, dry fold and attempt to sort according to size.
We had big boys and little boys, that wasn’t too bad. Then the girls….. We had them all different sizes and if you got this one’s clothes in that one’s pile the other child thought the other one was going to keep it. With girls they get attached to clothes and at times a shirt means more to them than their sister.
Then after my attempt to sort, the piles would go to a long table in the downstairs living room.
I would remind them that no one was to come to the dinner table until they got all of their clothes off the table. Then these clothes that meant more to them than their sister…. You guessed it…. Didn’t belong to anyone. Mountains of clothes not belonging to anyone or having been worn by anyone were now clean and folded and taking up space on my folding table. I was inspired! It all came to me at once.
Every room got a laundry basket, and two days that their laundry would be done a week.
Whatever came from that room went back into that room. No more sorting, no more claiming or not claiming. Laundry was simple! The schedule is posted in the kitchen, both bathrooms, in the hall and the laundry room. The older ones do their own laundry and the rule is that they have to spend a few minutes straitening up the laundry room first in order to use our machines and soap. The laundry room is never clean but it is much better and although laundry will never be easy it is simple.

In our home we have two bathrooms.
The upstairs bathroom is a bit bigger with more counter space and a bigger mirror; it is the favorite among all the children especially the teenagers. Scott and I usually take the bathroom of least resistance the smaller one downstairs. I find it makes the wait for the bathroom seem shorter if you go up and down the stairs between the two checking to see if they are still occupied. =)
We have a strict shower schedule, all the younger ones Brooklyn, Joseph, James, Jennifer and Haylee are to bathe before dinner giving the hot water heater a chance to restore and the older ones their time in the bathroom after dinner. No one except for Scott can shower in the morning.
Scott went to Arizona a few weeks ago and we really missed him.
The night before he came back Jennifer said “now we will have to share the bathroom again”.
We probably won’t ever have another bathroom but they will have lots of fun stories about sharing the two they had.
Uncle Jean said that when his kids were younger they always talked about adding on to their house and that every summer they decided to go on vacation instead. He said they don’t tell stories about the bathroom they would have had but they share lots of stories about their family trips. Yes, we have two bathrooms and surprisingly it is enough.

This is the first pioneer trek I was involved with.
Jacob, Julia, Jordan, and Nickie had fun getting ready for it and a blast there.
They got rained on, and were dirty and sweaty but had the time of their live.
I know that their testimonies grew too.
They are doing it again next year and Mariah, and Jessica will get to go.
Scott and I have already signed up to go. I am looking forward to it and will
need to prepare spiritually and physically to be able to enjoy it to it's fullest.
I will be looking for suggestions between now and then for the best clothes / material and stuff to take. I guess I should learn to sew too. =)

Obama-nation

I couldn't find a picture to go with the way I feel this morning.
As I watched the electoral landslide unfold before my eyes I felt an overwhelming feeling of numbness come over me. It was like watching as an avalanche heads your way and knowing that there is nothing you can do to escape it.
I watched so many celebrate this coming destruction and it reminded me of a scene from Independence Day where many people went to the top of the tallest building to welcome the aliens. They were having a big party waving signs to welcome them. The bottom doors of the ship opened to destroy them and they stood there in awe at how beautiful it was. Then in an instant it is over. To the rest of the world the intent was clear and panic resumed.
In this case it is amazing to see how many people chose to stand on the tallest building to welcome and celebrate this. So many people so desperate for change they didn't care what kind or where it comes from.
It is too late now, what is done is done. Now what?
Mom Willis quotes the profits and says there will come a time that if you can't make it, fix it or grow it, you won't have it. The end seemed so far way until yesterday.
Good ideas for Christmas this year...
clothes line and old fashion hand washer
Hand grinder for wheat
wood burning stove
generator
more quilts
old fashion tools
canning jars and lids
Food storage
water in bulk
entertainment without a cord

It will be like the old days we have heard stories about, only harder because we are so spoiled.
I have to admit that I had almost envied the simple life they had and the closeness they found because they had to work together and had less distractions.
Maybe they are right and this is a good thing?

Christmas is my favorite time of year. For me along with the birth of Christ and the special feeling it gives me I love to give.
I am a power shopper mostly because I don't like to do it and usually get it over with asap but Christmas is different, I start months in advance and enjoy every minute.
I love to find the perfect gift and the look on their faces when they get it is the best present I could get. I also like to save money so if I got it on sale that is even better.
One of our new family traditions is to get the kids together and give them a certain amount of money so they can shop for each other. No one who works at Wal mart has complained yet. We have done it for the past four years and will do it again this year. I think it is the kids favorite part too. I love to see them trying to be all sneaky hiding from each other and from us too some times.
It is a lot of fun! We pair them up and give them names to shop for and they have really gotten into the the spirit.
Jordan shows the look that makes my heart melt.