That BBQ run ended up being the following:
brisket (1)
pork shoulder (4)
chickens (2)
pork ribs (5)
pork rib roast (1)
It turned out nicely but I had also used nearly all my wood to do this. I was on the lookout for any fruit wood I could get my hands on. The week before I left a note on this fellow's home and he called me back. Anyway, he said he was available both today and next Saturday for me to stop by and get some wood so I called up my father-in-law to schedule a time to borrow his pickup and chainsaw. By the time all this transpired Samantha was up and moving. I took Madilyn and Ammon with me to get this wood. We spent a few hours cutting the wood and loading it into the truck (long bed F150 Ford). The cherry tree we took was substantial in size. We only took a single limb but it filled the entire bed of the truck. It started to rain towards the end of our time and by the time we got back to the house we were soaked to the bone. I got cleaned up and took a minute to eat some lunch.
I noticed a txt from one of Jan's friends about her commonwealth school she founded. Jan's friend created a separate domain name. It was bitter-sweet. It enables her to move forward with the school and for me to do something with the website that won't hinder the progress the school is making.
I feel like time has moved on. I feel at times that Jan is near. It is comforting to believe that she is aware of how the kids are and our current living environment. Things seem to be so different from our lives back in Arlington. In December I decided to change my health. This has been a long-time brewing so it finally took shape in me making changes in my life directly after Christmas. I altered my diet (permanently) and introduced activity into my life. I have dropped about 25 lbs. That sounds like a lot but I have a lot to lose so this is just a step in the right direction for me.
We took some family photos as well and I am just shocked at how the kids have grown. It seems as if it is overnight.
Here is one of the entire family
I realize that me writing in this blog is healing. It is healing for me to just get it down somewhere. Sometimes life moves at such a pace that we forget the little things.
The older boys and Emma Jean are on a high school choir tour that visited Disney Land. They will come back tomorrow afternoon. I'm sure they all will be super tired by the time they return. Samantha and I have spent some time with the younger kids while the older ones are out. It has been good. I feel at times there isn't enough of us to go around to all the kids. They have a lot of patience with us!
Well - I'll write more later - for now - off to the gym. :-|
