Never say never

After 6 months of living without electricity we finally were able to proceed with getting temporary power. When we were applying for a construction loan they told us not to do any improvements on the land i.e. electricity until we closed. The loan process started in August and we finally closed in November. So those four months we had to sit on our hands and not improve anything (even if we were going to pay out of pocket). Then in December we were not sure if we should just wait till we got our house permits and just get our permanent electric line in and not waist the money for the temporary line. Well getting all the permits in order has taken longer than expected. Oh, the red tape. Getting trenches dug, Benjamin and Scott setting up our electric box and pedestal, all that stuff takes time. But with Suzie's little Franklin being born 10 weeks early our need for temporary power seemed eminent. We decided that the extra cost would be worth it to receive temporary power (it ended up being less then 500 dollars, are you kidding me!).

Finally the day arrived Monday January 26, the county inspector would come to see our set up and see if it met the code. If it made code he would then "green tag" it. Once it is green tagged then the power company comes out and puts all the power lines in and juices it up. The power company was scheduled to come the very next day to set the lines and turn it all on. But.......... we didn't get green tagged. The inspector came (or as I like to call him the dream crusher) and he failed us. We would not be getting power. Six months we have lived with out. Six months. SIX MONTHS.

I was devastated. I woke up on Tuesday knowing this was the day we were suppose to get power but wouldn't. I was really getting pruney in my sadness. I was shopping with the boys and Holman says to me"Mom will we ever get power?" I turned to him and said, "no son we will never get power." I bought a chocolate cake from walmart and took it home.

When we got home from our shopping trip I called the power company told them we weren't green tagged and almost cried on the phone, they asked when we would be able to be green tagged and I said, it would probably be another month until we could get all the stuff done that we needed to. I explained that I didn't want a worker to drive all the way out here only to find out that we weren't tagged to go ahead. Then at 1 in the afternoon a worker shows up. I apologized to him for not getting the message and for waisting his time. He said he got the message and was just going to place all the wire and get it set up, and that he would come back to turn it on once it is green tagged. Then he says, "How long till you get green tagged"......I nearly cry again as I tell him my woes. He smiled and said "Oh".

I picked up the kids from the bus we all crammed in my trailer and I pulled out the cake and we ate to our mediocrity.

At five thirty when I was making dinner I hear the workers telling me they are leaving. I thank them for coming and as he is leaving he says, "mam, you got power now, just run an electric cord to the outlet by the pedestal." I say, "but won't you get in trouble?" He turns to leave and shrugs his shoulders and says, "maybe." Love that man! The kids were so excited and asked but how mom how did we get it? I told them that the man saw a damsel in distress and decided to become a hero. Never say never!

Two seasons in Arizona

There are two seasons in southern Arizona. We have summer and not summer. When dealing with our two seasons I have learned a couple of tips, these tips really benefit people who are in a camping like situation but I feel that it might be of interest to the privileged who live among us.

Tip 1: When wearing deodorant in the summer season I find it best to wear the gel kind. The powder gets all clumpy when you don't live with AC or swamp. Also in the summer it is quite refreshing to apply that cool gel deodorant to your armpits and on really hot summer days it is never a bad thing to reapply several times especially in the afternoon. But when you are in the season of not summer, man that cool gel does nothing for you except bite at the pits! So in the not summer season stick with the powder DO.

Tip 2: A working car is your friend no matter the season! In the summer season without AC or swamp (did i mention we have been living like this for nearly 4 months?!) a working car can be a life saver, even if it is just to ride to the mailbox for four miles on a dirt road. To have the AC blasting at you at full force can be that lifesaver that you need till that 5:00 sun hides behind the hill. In the season of not summer the working car can provide the heat that awakens your limbs. I find it a particularly good hideout after you have dropped the kids off at the bus station, to just linger a bit for maybe two or three hours enjoy the warmth and the tunes.

Tip 3: When using the portapotty in the summer or in the not summer season sanitation is always important. There are a few tips that I find beneficial to share. In the summer season after you have finished your business that has brought you to the portapotty open the door hold it open with your foot get a quick squirt of hand sanitizer and get the heck out of dodge as quick as possible! It is summer man, heat rises, no use hanging around! But the story for not summer season is quite different. You prop your foot to open the door, squirt the hand sanitizer and rub it into your hands as quickly as possible before exiting! Picture this it is late at night you leave the unrubbed wet sanitizer in your hands and you step out into the howling cold wind. That my friends feels like stabbing knifes. The five second wait to make sure it is all rubbed in will be well worth it, remember there is no fire or heater awaiting you at the trailer to warm your little tootsies or fingers.

Path of Enlightenment or trail of tears :)

One of the things we want to have at the homestead is a path that encircles both properties. With the path we wouldn't have to worry if the kids are out riding their bikes or driving the go-cart. So since our building progress has been in a holding position and we had nothing we could do to further it, I decided that something I could do was start our path. The first day I grabbed my shovel and just started bushwhacking through the desert landscape. In the first day I cleared about 100 feet with a narrow footpath. Later Benjamin came home and I had showed him my handy work he said, "Oh, Lesley you must have been really bored!" Which was true. I had cleaned my little 8X10 cell i mean trailer and I was ready for a change. The next day i woke up and made the path wider about four feet across. The process continued. The little boys would grab a shovel and head for the trail with me - and then promptly ditch and chase after grasshoppers. I actually had dreams that my arms turned into Popeye's, way too masculine (don't worry that hasn't happened). The kids would arrive home from school and ask how far I had gotten and run out to see the progress. So far I have cleared over 450 feet. The kids were great and helped collect rocks to line the path. At the time of this path clearing I was reading the book "Fire of the Covenant" which is about the Willie and Martin Handcart companies crossing the plains in horrible conditions. I kept thinking I got to get to the South Pass for me that was the wash. ( I just want to give a quick shout out to my ancestors the Loaders, Their son in law (Jaques) blasted them for not wanting to go by handcart, even publishing an article about there lack of faith. But those Loaders weren't prideful and showed up with their handcarts ready to pull, Grandpa died on the trail showing where his loyalties were, so take that Mr. Jaques!) Sorry I digress. I made it to my South Pass and Benjamin built me a bridge, all from lumber he had salvaged. When my project is done it will be a little less than half a mile long! Great for a jog or stroll in the moonlight admiring my port-a -potty :)

its nursery time!

For all friends who might not know significant Mormon achievements, I will tell you about one that all Mormon parents look forward to: 18 months! At 18 months your child is welcome to attend nursery during adult classes. It is oh so liberating, no more bribing them to be quiet with countless fruit snacks. It is a fabulous moment. When we dropped Parkin off he saw the toys and knew that this was where he was suppose to be! We love our little man or as we call him Triple P (Practically Perfect Parkin). This is a picture of him on his momentous day.

Family Feud Forgotten

As many of you know about ten years ago Benjamin along with my twin sister Lindsey and her husband Ryan and my brother John were on the television show Family Feud. It was a crazy fun once in a life time experience, that I often look back on and laugh. Unfortunately we lost. It came down to the last question (which it always does), I gave the number one answer and got control of the round thank you very much, Benjamin gave the number two answer and then it came down to my brother John..... he gave a good answer but it wasn't the number three most surveyed response. We lost our chance to go to the final round to win ten thousand dollars, now the grand prize is twice that (timing and chance right, Jay). Since then we have always ribbed John that he owes us.

Well all is forgotten. This whole construction loan process has been a nightmare. Everyday the bank was coming at us with this request or that request. We were about to lose our loan if we did not come up with hard liquid cash and fast. Not many people you can approach with such a large request (one they don't got it, two they won't lend it), but after some brainstorming John and Robin popped into our minds. They saved our bacon! So if they ever get this documentary thing rolling you better believe they will get a shout out from the Howe's but if not, my blog will have to suffice. Everybody should have a big brother to turn to when they are in a pickle, so john thanks for being that brother and thanks for making wise investments! Robin, thanks for marrying my brother, you have been a great friend, you provide the perspective I need on so many levels. Thanks to all the people who have prayed on our behalf, now the real adventure begins........

PS Sorry if this embarrasses you two,but this blog is also my journal and I need my posterity to know .

8 random things about me

1. I have tons of freckles everyone who has seen me knows that, but on my left hand there is one giant freckle, that luckily helped me remember that it was my left hand. "Students please raise your right hand" yikes stay calm Lesley just look for the freckle. "Now if everyone could please turn to their left" casually stretch your fingers Lesley oh yeah there's the freckle. Man I love that beauty mark!

2. I love a good practical joke, at least the ones I pull :) Once I convinced my Biology teacher in High school that I was on the wrestling team. He said girls don't wrestle, I replied with don't you read the newspaper they have written about me. Then when they announced over the PA that the wrestling team was excused for the rest of the day for a tournament I collected my things and he wished me luck. The list goes on National candle day, a deaf interpreter...remember it is only lying if you don't correct it within in 24 hours otherwise its just a great joke!

3. I have a secret stash of Whoppers in my sock drawer. Some days it is what carries me through, the knowledge that a little malt and sweet loving chocolate will be there.

4. I love thrift stores! Unfortunately in Benson I have only located one. Parkin goes through shoes like mad out here, I got these shoes for 50 cents!

Luckily the laundry mat that I go to (there are two in Benson, I patronize the classy one, yes there is a difference) has a rack of used clothes for only 25 cents! This is Bella modeling her new dress. I clean my clothes while I shop, how great is that!

5. I am a talk radio junkie. My parents would always listen growing up and it would drive me crazy not listening to music in the car, luckily Holman and Parkin don't mind...yet.

6. The theme song to Murder She wrote instantly soothes my soul and puts a smile on my face.

7. My favorite day of the week is Thursday. The anticipation that the weekend is near (the weekend is never quite as relaxing or fun as I imagine it to be) but come Thursday its time to think of what might be.

8. Since downsizing to a 23ft by 8ft home I only do 4 loads of laundry every six days. This is a picture of my kids dressers, they each have three drawers worth of clothes (the girls do have a couple of dresses hanging in a portable armoire (compliments of Sarah downsizing). Oh yeah who wouldn't trade their comfy home with running water and electricity for only four loads of laundry for a family of six! I have such a blessed life ;)

Top ten things I have learned from using a Port-a-Potty

10. Don’t look down! Whatever happens don’t look down.

9. If you find that you are compelled to look down, open the door and walk backwards, this will remind you under no circumstances to look down.

8. If you know it will be a quick visit, take several deep breaths before entering and then hold the last breath and make a race out of it. You will be a winner if you can make it without breathing.

7. If you know it will not be a quick visit, it is socially acceptable to tie a handkerchief to your face before entering. You will be glad you took the special effort.

6. Treat the people that dump crap for a living like heroes! They are doing what most wouldn’t ever dare to do. Man I love those guys, their visit is the most anticipated service call ever.

5. The closer the John not always the better, sometimes a healthy distance can be worth the walk especially if the Heroes aren’t coming for a few more days.

4. A cleaned out port-a-potty isn’t always ideal. When it is cleaned out they add more liquid, when there is more liquid it splashes better……enough said….too much said.

3. Because of this splashing effect, it is sometimes ideal to squat. You may say that you always squat over a port-a -potty toilet, but when you are using a port-a-potty as your sole source of toilet use that practice is soon forgotten, unless it has just been cleaned out. Then squatting is a must!

2. Teaching the kids to keep the lid down is no less hard out in the wild, but the consequences are a whole lot more! Keep the lid down.

1. Don’t look down! Whatever happens don’t look down!