The Fruit of My Loins

With me starting school as well, I've been amiss in celebrating my children's start of a new school year. And one with all three in school, too! Hard to believe. Rob and I have truly been blessed with wonderful children. They are the neatest kids. I hope they have a great year.

Here's my junior high school student (or should I say middle school). Cameron started 7th grade this year and loves his P.E. class and teacher. The first thing he tells me about each day is what he did in P.E. and then something about Mr. Lamoreaux. So yes, that's his favorite subject so far. He tried out for the Knowledge Bowl team and made it, so he gets to do those competitions. Mr. Trivia will really enjoy himself.


Look at my lovely 5th grader. She just turned 10 and is growing up so quickly, but so well. We love everything about Missy. She has the most loving spirit of anyone I know. And her huge spirit is just so happy to have a healthy body and to be here on Earth. My Missy is such a joy to me.
Yes, the Tiny is off to kindergarten. It's been a rocky start. School started on a Wednesday, but the next full week of school started with tears every morning once she got to school. One day they lasted until noon. None of this was I aware of until Friday when I took her treats to school and found her crying. Her teacher said she did it every day. So we made Amy a happiness chart that her teacher would sign everyday if she wasn't crying in the morning. She almost lost her reward one morning but her sweet teacher helped Amy find her smile and she was able to get her reward at the end of the week (season 2 of SpongeBob). I hope that all is well this week.

Here are some more pictures of that morning.


Amy in her classroom. Her hair is finally long enough again to put in a ponytail (and that was on her orders).

I'm still comtemplating the events of the other day. I'm still troubled by the whole thing, but on an interesting level. It's still disturbing to me and a little tender. Have you ever felt completely alone before? Like there wasn't one soul in the entire world who cared about you? No friendly face, no encouraging words? I've never felt so empty before in my life. As I stood at the ticket desk, trying to comprehend what was happening, I felt despair like I've never felt before. Now I'm a pretty independent individual and pride myself on being able to make the best of a bad situation. Things usually work out for me because I feel I think well on my feet. But at that moment, I really needed someone to rely on. I wanted to feel like someone cared about me and my situation and that someone had answers or suggestions, or just something for me. But there was not a soul in that entire airport who looked my way, gave me any comforting words or reassurances, especially the airline people. They just wanted me to go away and be an idiot somewhere else. I can't even put into words exactly how I felt, other than it was the most horrible feeling in my life. I just kind of aimlessly walked away in a daze, having absolutely no clue what to do. I didn't even have the wherewithall to say a prayer. But Heavely Father was still with me, I guess, and the only thing I could think of was to get back home. Thankfully, I had a sympathetic husband to talk to when I got back to my car, and the sweetest customer service person at Expedia. She was the one who finally got the tears, once I wasn't numb anymore. I really appreciated her listening ear and trying to help me out with my problem. The most amazing thing of this whole experience was the love that I felt from my students the minute I walked back into my classroom. I decided to go back to work and not waste my personal leave day, and they were so happy to see me and so empathetic to my plight. I truly love where I live and work. They are the greatest places on earth!

So there's a point to my rambling, and I think a lesson I have learned. I feel so badly now for anyone of Heavenly Father's children who have ever felt the way I have in their lives. I don't want anyone to have to feel like this, especially if I am around them. I will, in the future, do everything in my power to help everyone around me know that there is at least one person in the world who cares about them. We are all sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, and just like our theme in Primary this year, we all can say "I am a Child of God". I think it's amazing that that is usually the first song our babies learn when they go to Primary (along with Popcorn Popping on the Apricot tree and Book of Mormon Stories, of course). I was playing it on the piano one day when Amy came and sat down on the bench beside me to sing it. It was the most beautiful thing and I was so amazed that she knew all of the words. So I hope that you who read my blog (few, though, you are) will join me in this quest, endeavor, or whatever you call it. Help those around you feel the love our Heavenly Father has for them. I love you all!

I hate terrorists.

What has happened to our world? I'm a WASP female, of middle age, in Phoenix, AZ. Am I going to hijack a plane? Certainly not. But because some fanatical extremists rocked our world nearly 7 years ago, I cannot go home to Canada without a stupid passport. Stupid airlines. Tourism Canada says I only need a driver's license and birth certificate. If I drove to the border they would let me in. But I couldn't board my Air Canada flight this morning without my passport. This is at 4:00 am this morning. So I drove back home and went to work. I miss Jan and Catherine. I've been looking forward to this for a year and a half. I've had my ticket since April. Now I have a $150 cancellation fee and a credit until April on an airline I don't want to fly on anymore. But at least Amy will be happy I'm home. I haven't slept since Wednesday night. I'm tired and I don't feel well. I need some colostrum.

I did get to enjoy the "hurricane" we had in Phoenix last night. I was right in the middle of the worst of it. 1.5 inches of rain in 20 mins, 75 mph winds, 10,000+ lightning strikes/minute, power outages, hail, the door of the lobby of the motel was ripped off its hinges. Exciting!

Mom said maybe I just wasn't supposed to go on this trip. Maybe not, but maybe it's because we have so many crazies in the world that are trying to bring down America. And I don't think Barrack Obama will have a clue how to deal with this, let alone our domestic problems. I had greater faith in John McCain until this morning. What was he thinking? A female 2 year governor from Alaska? Please. We're going to heck in a handbasket. Hold on tight. Regardless of who wins it's going to be a bumpy four years. I wanted to move to Canada for 4 years but they don't want me anymore. Geez, I lived there for 16 years. Whenever I say where I'm from, I always say I'm from Canada. I still say "eh". Isn't that devotion?

Okay, I'm going home now. Have a great long weekend.

Two Days in a Row!

I should be doing laundry right now, but the siren call of the computer captivated me and lured me into its clutches. So here I am and I'll write between loads!

This picture tells it all. . .whatever Amy will be doing in the future will always involve having a phone sticking to the side of her head. She's really into books, lately, and I don't think it will take her long to learn to read. I have a reading program that Cameron used in kindergarten to teach him to read, so I'm going to start it with Amy. She already likes me to read the books to her, but they're not my favorites (see, see me, see me Sam, Sam sees me. . .you get the drift!).

Amy's best friend is her cat, Trinity. Although I don't think the feeling is mutual. Trinity is quite tolerant of Amy and everything she does to her for being a grown cat we found on the side of the road (or in the middle of the road, as the case may be).

Guess who?

Missy and Amy were both in the play again this spring. They really have a good time and I'm so glad that the college offers this opportunity. Missy is hoping this fall that she can get a lead part. So am I! This will be her last year in this age group (4-10 yr olds) and she has this semester and next to try. She loves acting and is really quite a ham in her everyday life! Here she's a squirrel (they did The Adventures of Mr. Toad adapted from The Wind in the Willows and she was a spring-cleaning animal. Not a big part, just part of the ensemble which really bummed her out. She felt it was a step down from past plays). Amy has really gotten into the plays, as well. In fact, she's the standout in her group each time. Here's she's a duck.

Which one is Amy? Yep, she's the shortest, there in the middle!

Bottom center is my beautiful Missy!

Closing night!

The finale! Amy didn't want to stop. We're not supposed to take pictures (copyright and all that stuff, but she was just too cute not to!)

At the Academy Awards night, Amy got an award for the best littlest actress. Missy was a little sad that she hasn't won any awards, yet. There's still time!


There's supposed to be a picture of me, here, but it didn't load. Maybe tomorrow. Have a great day. Back to the laundry!

Only 10 more days . . .

I hate that the pictures come up at the beginning after I've already typed in other things! I really need some lessons on blogging! Anyway. . . yep, that's right, the Gillespie's go back to school in 10 days. Where did the summer go? I know where mine went. . .work, work, work! But I have a minute to put some things on.

Cameron went to scout camp for the first time this summer. Here's pictures of him leaving. I didn't get pictures of him coming home, because I was at work when he got home. But he probably wouldn't let me post any, even if I had some. Apparently, one night they had green chile burros for dinner and the next morning the lines for the portapotties were several boys deep! Cameron, unfortunately, had his share (0f dinner and standing in line the next morning)! It's a memory, though!



We've had a really wet and cool (for our area) summer. We had the worst storm of the year (and probably the worst one since we've lived here) coming home from church today. Here's some video:

In this one, watch as I pan over between the bush and the van...watch for the lightning in the road! That was scary and close!

Since I have to load the pictures first, I'll do more tomorrow about the girls. Have a great day!