My Pot of Gold

Today I received a txt from a friend that had a list of all the things she was thankful for.   Then Kaci brought home a punch of Lucky St Patrick's Day things.   Suddenly I knew I had to blog about my favorite Holiday.   St Paterick's Day.  So what is this silly holiday and why do I love it so much.   Funny that I love it and don't even know or maybe remember its meaning and history.

Saint Patrick's Day^] is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutheran Church. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early seventeenth century, and has gradually become a celebration of Irish culture in general.

The day is generally characterized by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on eating, and drinking alcohol, which is often proscribed during the rest of the season.

The last part strikes me as funny church services but then we lift all rules after the service?  Kinda crazy but I guess tradition is tradition and its ok because we went to church first?

  So why Shamrocks and the color green.  According to legend, Saint Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish people.  So what is Holy Trinity it is the belief of God being three divine persons, God, The Son, and the Holy Spirit.   They just have a different view on God being all three. 

Not far off what I believe.   Just that I believe they are separate personages.   I believe the Father and the Son are two personages with their own body and spirits.  We believe in the Holy Ghost.  

First Article of Faith.

 1 We ^abelieve in ^bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His ^cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the ^dHoly Ghost.

Originally, the color associated with Saint Patrick was blue. Over the years the colour green and its association with Saint Patrick's day grew.^[13] Green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of St Patrick's Day as early as the 17th century.^[14] Saint Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish, and the wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become a ubiquitous feature of the day.^[15][16] In the 1798 rebellion, to make a political statement, Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms on 17 March in hopes of catching public attention.^[13] The phrase "the wearing of the green", meaning to wear a shamrock on one's clothing, derives from a song of the same name.

Today even though most people int he United States observe St Patrick's Day it is not an official holiday.   In the US it is not typically observed with church services rather lots of food and alcohol.  

Now that you have had my history lesson for the day I guess I should explain my love of the Holiday.   I was born on March 16th for the longest time I wished I would have been born on St Patrick's Day.   I really have no idea why other than, maybe in my simple childlike mind that would have made me more special to have my birthday on such a unique holiday.    My wonderful mom must have sensed my lack of self worth and confidence because at the age of 12 she made a big deal of my birthday being the day before St Patrick's day and gave me my very own shamrock plant.   From that year on she gave me something green to let me know how special and important I was.   So for that reason alone I have developed a love of this holiday.   Now 36 years later I have come to learn how special I am.   First,  I am a daughter of a King a Heavenly Father who loves me and wants what is best for me.    Second,  I am a daughter of earthy parents who love me and have taught me what is right.   Third, I am a Wife to an imperfect most wonderful Husband in the world.   Fourth, I am a Mother to three amazing children who teach and love me every day.   Fifth,  I am a Friend to so many amazing people.    The list could go on and on today.   My heart is very full and I am so very blessed.   Because of this in a few days I will not go searching for a pot of gold.    As you can see my pot is already pretty full of GOLD!   

Let's go back to the Good Old Days

Jake took all of his money from Birthday, Christmas and Rodeo.   He has loved driving his pony around his goal is to get the pony broke enough to sell pony cart rides.  It is so fun to watch the boys work together and figure things out.  Fae wants nothing to do with the cart and horse days she is all about her roller blades after all, they are the ice skates for concrete! This last few months I have really got into family history.  I don't just want to do their history I really want to know their stories and know them.   This last weekend while at my Grandpa and Grandmas we read stories about my great great great grandparents who moved their family to the farm and raised cows and chickens, they sold eggs and beef.   As I was reading Jake was enthralled in learning that his love of animals was an inherited gift. Dan's Aunt sent us her memories of her dad and him and Zeak loved learning where their love of horses and dancing came from.   So fun to see my kids loving the good old days and wanting to learn more about them.  Then taking what they learn and relive them in the 20th century!

CUJR Award Baunquet

The boys had there awards banquet the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We tried not to let them know how they had done but someone slipped and told Zeak. He finally won his first saddle and he was pretty excited. He had an awesome year and improved a lot. He Loves to rope and can't wait to rope in his new saddle. Him and Dan also won another set of team roping buckles that they were excited about. Dan said there is nothing like winning a buckle with your son.

Jake had a great year as well he held the record for the fastest barrel run of the season for all three age groups. Him and Stran were the only two boys really in contention for the saddle this year and they had a great year it was so fun to watch them improve and gain confidence this summer. Jake said, Stran can have the saddle because there is no way I am riding a calf and I am pretty sure Stran would choose riding a calf over any of the other events.

They promise we can have a little break for the Holidays before we hit the practice pen hard but, with Zeak's new saddle I might have a hard time keeping him off.

October

Payson Temple Ground Breaking

Deer Hunt Weekend

Grandma Lou annual Halloween Party

Kaci friend Halloween Party

Halloween Day with the Durbins

Jake's Pumpkin grown with lots of Love from Grandpa Miller

First Snow Storm

Jake's Oops

October was so full.  There was a week or so where time seemed to stand still.   We lost our beloved friend Grandpa Don.   I have never felt the abundance of the spirit as I have felt this month.   It started with an amazing opportunity and experience Dan and I had to attend the ground breaking of the Payson Temple.   Our amazing Bishop Mark Drake offered tickets to Dan and I we also had the privilege of riding up with him and his wife and Dan's parents. I am so excited to have the temple so close.   I will be able to drop the kids off at school and do a session before they get home from school.   I am hoping there are some amazing opportunities for our family to help with the process of the temple dedication.     This is a true blessing to our community.  

The week after the temple dedication is when time stood still.   I will save the details and experiences for another post.    

Kaci and I got to go on our annual girls deer hunt weekend with Grandma Nelson this is always a fun weekend full of crafts and shopping.

Early this spring I got a phone call from Grandpa Miller.   He had just purchased some large pumpkin seeds and large strawberry plants.   He sent Jake some seeds and ours didn't work but grandpa's did.   So we drove up and listened to General Conference and had dinner with grandma and grandpa.   Grandpa gave Jake the biggest pumpkin in the patch.   It was so fun to have it on our front porch.

Mona is getting a new sewer system.  Our streets have been tore up and closed most of the year.   This month was our roads turn.   They had to cut the sidewalks at our house and Woolslayers.     Just before school was out they poured and put the first finish on the sidewalks.   Jake wasn't paying attention and to his defense they didn't really mark it well saying it was wet and he stepped right in it.  Two foot prints when he realized it was still wet.   He came in the door in complete tears.   I thought someone had died by the way he was acting.   When he calmed down enough to tell me, I burst into laughter.   Zeak felt really bad for him and said, "mom I know how to finish the concrete I will go get dad's tools and fix it. "  The men working on the sidewalk saw the boys fixing it but didn't come over to see what was going on they just watched from the corner.    Not that I know anything about concrete but I must say I was a proud mom watching my boys fix Jake's mistake and the fact that it looked better than the original was awesome.  

Kaci wanted to have a Halloween party with her dancing friends.   We dropped Kyler off on our way to dancing and they invited him so after dancing we picked him up to come to the party.   It was fun we made paper plate pumpkins,  and spider cupcakes.

Towards the end of the month we had our annual Halloween party with Grandma Lou we carve pumpkins and have a fun dinner.    This is a fun tradition that I always look forward to.   My kids have gotten to the point that as long as we get in a pumpkin carving party with grandma Lou then we don't need to go trick-or-treating.  It is fun to see the creativity and individuality show through.

  We also got to have another pumpkin party with Grandma Janice.   They finally needed a little break from cows and packing.  We need to have a little fun and celebrating.  I love the fun memories we are creating with our kids and the special grandmas in their lives.  

Woodland Family Vacation

Drum roll please... it is the night of the big Home Coming game at Juab High School. The crowd is full of energy. It was time to announce the home coming royalty. The Queen for the year 2011 is Kaci Fae Woodland daughter of Dan and Lisa Woodland of Mona. She loves ice skating and dancing. She is a member of the JHS Provita. Her date and Home Coming King is Tuff son of Skipper W and Smart Chickalena from Mona. He is captain of the football, basketball, and baseball team. Don't they make a handsome couple.



It was Christmas Eve and all Jake Woodland wanted was a goat. Yes, that's right a goat! How would Santa bring a goat? He wouldn't be like all the other toys he would need fed, and watered and what if he left little goat droppings on the toys. Jake new there was no way he would get a Christmas goat but, wait a minute. I here bells I here here hoofs they are on the roof lets have a look! What is this? Where is Rudolf? what is that leading Santa's sleigh? Why, it is Squirt the red nosed goat doing the work of the reindeer today. He is bringing toys to all the good little girls and boys with out leaving little goat droppings on all the toys. Jake Woodland got not one but two goats for Christmas this year. But, the real surprise did not come until spring when little squirts was found, a perfect example of Christmas wishes do come true.
Jake participated in the kids talent show. He sang, "Proud to Be an American" and he had me accompany him. I was shaking like a leaf and hope that I wasn't the reason he was so nervous. I decided after this experience to never give Dan a hard time for missing when he is roping with our boys. That is just way to much pressure for a parent.
Jake and Zeak are cultured they switch things up by running barrels on their bikes instead of horses.





Dan made it his goal last year to sign up for the County Fair Idol. He asked Jaron Carter to accompany him. They performed at the Mona Days Celebration and had a good experience so they decided to give the Fair Idol a go. The first night of the competition Dan had to sing 30 sec Au Capella number. He chose Good Brown Gravy by Joe Diffie. He made it through that round and him and Jaron chose "Lady" by Alabama unfortunately there was not a round 3,4,or 5. They were relieved and bummed all at the same time. After talking to the other two judges they felt really bad. I am just proud of him for accomplishing his goal and doing so well. He is already gearing up for next year.



Extreme Horseman is another fun event Dan enjoyed last year and Zeak decided to try this year Dan didn't do as well this year but Zeak ended 3rd.


After 5 years of the Ranch Rodeo Dan and his team of Jaron Carter, Mike Kajanis and Scott (friend of Jaron's) Dan finally placed 2nd and was out of winning it by 30sec. He had a blast.


The team penning needs some work that is all I have to say.


This year the Woodlands had another great family vacation. We really are rednecks who love to go to the Juab County Fair. The only part of the fair we don't enjoy is the derby, yes I know that is terrible we don't love it but we still sponsor a car every year.