"Our Three Sons..."

Alive and well.!

2010-06-10T23:07:00.004+02:00

Back in the saddle again. Home in the land of the free and the home of the brave! Torn between two worlds...here and Switzerland. It was truly amazing and while we are happy to be home we can't wait to go back! I wish I would have documented it better. We have a ton of pictures but not much journaling done. So I am going to try to Journal better.
Today:
Boys swam in our pond
We played with our new puppy Pal
I cleaned out the chicken feeder, pulled out old silicone and resealed the outside, then filled it all up with new feed. The Turkey gobbled at me the whole time while Ammon tried to keep the Pal (our new pup) from eating chicken and turkey droppings. Sick!
Played with a frog the size of a nickle
Talked to Brandyn via skype from France. He left Tuesday and returns a week from today, next Thursday. Man do we miss him when he is gone. If he came home and did absolutely nothing but sit on the couch (which he never does) It would be better around here then when he is gone. Just his presence makes us feel complete. He is our constant and we appreciate him so much more when we go through times with out. He works so hard for us to live free of worry or want. He is my other half and I miss him.

We absolutely love our new home! It is amazing here. 32 acres of beauty and peace. Great neighbors, fun pets, and the opportunity to self sustain...not there yet but working toward it. Brandyn said I am really happy. I do feel at home in away I never have before. I miss many friends that we have left a long the way but know that I would never have had them if I had not moved in the first place. Once again we have found a great church family. A terrific home school group 70 families strong. Just a really fun place we tons of great resources.

Ammon turned 8 in April. Brandyn's parents as well as my Mom and her good husband Bill both traveled to be with him for his Baptism. It was such a special day. He is growing up and making such good choices. We were so happy for him. Ammon loves to ride his bike with his brothers and go fishing with his dad. Even after a year off (in Switzerland, we didn't bring our poles) he is still a skilled fisherman. He has started scouts and is doing great.

Kaleb is following his big brother's example as well as being a great example to his younger brother. He is learning more and more about Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, their love and plan for him. He desires to make righteous choices and sincerely repents when he doesn't feel good about choices he makes after yielding to temptations. He is a very conscience child and we love him. He loves his new pup Pal and takes a great deal of care and responsibility as he tends to his many needs.

Hyrum-We love this kid! He is a ball full of energy. Yet so tender and innocent while being so determined at times. While looking a picture of Hyrum when he was a bit younger Kaleb said "man he is so cute" He is very kind, quick witted and polite. Then he is a little ball of fury at other times and he is just so darn cute we don't know what to do with him at times.
We are so happy to be a family. So happy to work together and help one another to return to live with our Father in Heaven as well as each other someday.

Brandyn-as I mentioned is in France and is adjusting to his new job as it is ever changing. He has an hour commute each way and we are trying to get used to that. He just got called into the Branch Presidency as a counselor so once again adjusting our schedule and routines. Actually not sure if we have ever really gotten to have a routine as our lives have been filled with uprooting yearly. Marvelous opportunities and experiences have been woven in so the sacrifice of re-inventing our routine has been more then worth it.
Life has not been easy all of the time but truly worth it!
Well the kids are calling and dinner needs to be made. I personally have more irons in the fire then I can count. Trying to get them down on paper so I can gain perspective. Some days I am cruising along, while others I feel like I am drowning. Overall I am truly blessed. With a wonderful family. A loving eternal companion. A lovely home, plenty of food to eat, the opportunity to continue my education, to home school my children to grow and have joy.
Truly blessed.

Oct. 03-Pumpkin Patch2 009

2009-10-21T08:06:00.000+02:00

Oct. 03-Pumpkin Patch2 009

Brandyn Survives!

2009-10-19T14:26:00.001+02:00

A "Birthday" Message For My Son

Shared via AddThis

The last pics from our first visit to the KinderMuseum

2009-04-30T13:26:00.003+02:00

One last picture of the trains we played with.

Tickets please...
It was fun to play pretend.
We ride trains(and buses) multiple times during the week. We love it!
Brandyn rides them everyday to and from work.
We don't have a car here. It is nice most of the time. I may ask Brandyn for a chauffeur when we return to the states. LOL

Mr. Kaleb Conductor

Train track fun.

More KinderMuseum FUN!

2009-04-30T12:59:00.003+02:00

Close up of the tracks. Still does not do it justice. Guess you had to be there.

Sweet Ball tracks!
There were lots of different tracks. We spent alot of time putting the balls through new slots and watching the new paths they would take.

More Cool Mirrors.

Cool Mirrors...

Hyrum-Sorting in German

Ok were did I leave off...Kinder Museum

2009-04-30T12:40:00.003+02:00

Kaleb-Puppet Time...Hyrum acutally spent the most time playing with the puppets but I didn't get a good pic.

This was a fun puzzle. Both Ammon and Kaleb(pictured here) completed it.

This was pretty cool. This is a mirror with section missing so you can see through to the person on the other side. So you line up your faces and when you look at it you see your eyes but their nose etc...Kaleb and I are the ones that make up this new face. It was hilarious we laughed and laughed!

Hyrum in rapture.

Ammon studying his obscured reflection.

Kindermuseum Fun! Still March 18th-It was a busy day.

2009-04-24T18:51:00.003+02:00

Heading to check out the upper floors.

Fun for everyone...

Whirlpool Fun!

Out front...we are so excited. Open...open...open!

Waiting for the Museum to open.

More Park Pics

2009-04-24T18:37:00.002+02:00

I just love these flowers.

Hyrum headed for the mole tunnels.

Sun in the eyes!

At one of our favorite parks. (Still March 18th)

2009-04-24T18:11:00.005+02:00

The park is under a bridge that connects Wettingen to Baden. Probably a 15 min walk for us.

On our walk to the Park (Still catching up. These were taken on March 18th)

2009-04-24T17:26:00.005+02:00

Boys with the old Cathedral in the back ground.

More wildflowers.

Making Froggy shadows

Spring is here! These wildflowers are everywhere. It is really beautiful here.

A neat house we saw.

More pics from our first month in Switzerland...

2009-04-24T17:13:00.003+02:00

A Power Ranger Breakfast before Church.

McDonalds Swiss Style

The boys and I out and about. You can see the river through the little arch way in the middle of the pic.

Sheep on the hillside along our path to Baden.

Ammon in Old Town Baden

Mmmmm! Swiss Chocolate.

2009-04-24T17:10:00.000+02:00

1st Swiss outing!

2009-04-24T16:40:00.011+02:00

A few days after arriving we took a walk to Baden a neighboring town. The first pic is on the way to Baden(We walk this route often) The second is in Baden old town.

Snow...Snow...Snow

2009-03-06T22:02:00.004+01:00

April 24th, 2009 LoL- I found a whole new area of blogger called 'edit posts'. Do you know what was in it. My lost draft of the original post I was re wrote below. Can we say Insult to Injury or rather my assumed injury. Hilarious!

Ok so I was almost finished writing my post for today...I was almost finished and then suddenly it left my message and went back to my blog without saving it. ARRRRRRG! I am pretty bad at blogging as it is and I am really trying to stay up on it while we are here. Oh well, here I go again.

It has been a good day. We woke up to a wet snow falling.
Brandyn left to go check out the plant and the boys and I hung around the apt. just enjoying not having to do anything.
We put puzzles together, the boys played with their rescue hero's and took video clips with my phone.

Once dad got home we found out he had a good time at the plant. The people were nice and impressed with his Resume. He is really looking forward to learning new things and feels confident he will be able to add to the programs here as well. Another American family (one of Brandyn's co-workers from TN) arrived today. We visited briefly with them as well as Orin (another co-worker who came in the same day as us). Orin has been really great, he is the one who took us into Baden yesterday to look around.
Ammon and I went shopping today for the first time (Brandyn picked some things up the first day when he was out with a Swiss co-worker, but this was the first time for me.)
It felt great!
We Did It And We Were SO Proud!
It was a little intimidating. Not everyone speaks English here and we learned a few things by trial and error, but we figured it out!
We came home made dinner and for the first night everyone went down at a reasonable hour. I think we are finally adjusted to the time change now.
The first night we all woke around 1 am Swiss time and didn't go back to bed until 5am. Thankfully the American Family that came today lives below us and was not here then.

The boys are doing quite well and use the little German they have already picked up as often as they can. It is really cute. Just simple words like please, thank you and your welcome. I think they are going to come along with the language just fine.

I was googling LDS Missionaries in Wettingen, Switzerland today when I came across a member’s site. I was able to send her an email and she called me. She is a native Swiss married to an Englishman. Her English was good and we had a great talk. She gave me lots of info about church and the members here.
There are 180 members in the ward and 110+ attend church regularly.
There are 30 children who come to primary. Isn't that awesome!
Ammon's teacher is away for the next month and does not speak much English. The previous Bishop may be taking his place while he is away and I can't remember if she said he speaks English or not.
Kaleb's teacher is actually American and is married to a native Swiss. She has lived here 10 years and naturally speaks both languages.
Hyrum's teacher speaks English as well.
Of course classes are conducted in German. I think this will be terrific as the boys will be exposed to a lot of German while their teachers will be able to understand them. (Cause when you got to go, you got to go! Just kidding, I couldn't help it.)
We continue to feel more comfortable everyday. We still have the huge hurdle of figuring out the transportation but it is coming. I figured out on my own between two maps and the bus routes the fasted way to get to church. I was actually right, as I checked with Sabine and the Clerk at church. (Sabine is the member with the website I found, who called me.)
Anyways I need to get to bed and get this posted before it gets lost again.
We sure love everyone and hope to see some of you over here this summer.
gute Nacht

2009-03-05T19:55:00.003+01:00

Guten tag from Switzerland!

We made it! It is amazing. We might stay here forever.

We are still a little jet lagged but are adjusting. It is 6 hours ahead of EST.

We got in Wednesday and got oriented to the new apt and our immediate surroundings.

Today, Thursday, we walked into Baden and looked around a little more. The boys had a great time and we were fascinated by just about everything we saw. We ate out today and that will be the first and last time we do that. It cost us around $54! OUCH We had two kebabs, and the boys ate chicken nuggets with fries. We shared a drink. The boys nuggets were $1 a piece. Yes you read me right $1 a piece and they were regular size. Amazing. Were going to have a great time we will just be broke when we get home!

It was raining most of the day today. The clouds were low and it reminded me of a scene out of Peter Pan. We are truly feeling blessed.

Our apt is great. Big and spacious. (Especially compared to the hotel room we were in for the last 6 weeks!) Very modern. It looks like it is straight out of an Ikea add. Someone met us at the airport and took us to our home. A different woman was waiting at the apt. and showed me everything. They had it all set up ahead of time. We have seen lots of kids out playing and there is a playground right outside our building.

I tried to call the bishop at home tonight but there was no answer. We are looking forward to going to church on Sunday and making new friends.

I took some pics today but we are not unpacked yet and I do not know where the cords are to download them from my phone. We will try to add them tomorrow. We love you all.

-The Switzerland Edwards

2008-12-11T20:32:00.003+01:00

We are on the move again. This will make our 5th move in 4 1/2 years.(NC, IN, MS, IL and now TN)
We just left our beautiful home and wonderful friends in Mapleton, IL for our next adventure in Chattanooga, TN!
We are excited to be in the south again and this city is absolutely beautiful! We truly miss everyone we have grown to love in each of our past locations and spend a lot of time singing "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold!" to try and help us gear up for yet again, a new location.
Each of you are golden friends of ours and we are eternally grateful for your acceptance, friendship, service, love and all of the priceless memories we have taken with us.
We miss you and find comfort in the knowledge that we will one day be together again, if not in this life then the life to come. We are still holding out for more visits in this life. That said you are welcome in our home anytime your in the neighborhood and we hope to be in your neighborhood sooner then later!

We have been living in temporary housing since Dec. 1st and will be here till approx. Feb. 1st when we will move to Birr, Switzerland. We will live in Switzerland till Sept. 15th, 2009. All of our belongings are in storage and will be there till we return to Chattanooga and find a home to purchase next fall. So that means after we return in Sept. it will be back to temp. housing until we find that HOME, then hopefully our final move into it.(That will make 8 moves in 5 1/2 years, but whose counting. J/K)

We are very excited about spending time in Europe and are attempting to learn French via Rosetta Stone. We hope to visit Brandyn's cousin in Germany, my ancestors homeland in Croatia (My grandmother was full Croatian). Get back to see friends in Romania(Where Brandyn served his mission '97-'99) and then see some of the other surrounding countries. It is an amazing opportunity and we feel extremely blessed!

This has all come about because a 'headhunter' called Brandyn in September and offered him a position with a French Nuclear Power Company, Alstom. As you know Brandyn has worked for Caterpillar since graduating BYU in '04. Caterpillar offered us many opportunities and Brandyn gained much from his almost 5yrs experience with them. We feel as though this new opportunity is a gift and were not sure yet if the lord is giving it to us for past behavior or because he has need of us in these new places. Probably both but even more so it is to keep me stirred up in remembrance of the Lord and how much more I have to learn, grow and stretch to fulfill my mission here on earth. My life is still tremendously easier then my pioneer ancestors, who were driven from their homes leaving behind their belongings and sometimes family members over and over again.

Brandyn loves his new position and is anxious for the many opportunities ahead of him in the company. He is an amazing husband and father. He is tireless at providing for us. We are happy to support him and feel as though this change is inspired.

We hope to hear from you soon and will keep you posted.

Feel free to email me.

edwards.ladybug@gmail.com

Ammon's first Bass!!!!!

2008-06-25T05:03:00.003+02:00

So excited! Ammon was freaking out after he caught his first Bass. All by himself none the less! Cast, set hook and reeled that bad 1 3/4lb boy bass in all on his own. Dad just got the net out and scooped it up. We love living on the lake. Seriously good times.

Father's Day

2008-06-15T21:41:00.002+02:00

When I got online to post this picture there was an email from Scott telling us to check out his blog. Glad I did......Wow!
No words can describe the amazing father Brandyn is to our boys. We are truly blessed the lord allowed him to stay on earth with us. I am truly blessed he is my husband and the example my boys watch and emulate as they learn how to be dads themselves. Thanks to Scott as well for teaching Brandyn what being a father really means.
Love, Jen
The following is from Scott & Deb's (Brandyn's parents) Blog.

"...To Be A Dad"

By Kathryn Kay Edwards (Brandyn's baby sister)

That day, my brother went to work, it was nothing new at all.
I went about my normal day until I got the call.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I listened through the phone,
"Your brother's been in an accident and might not be coming home."

My eyes soon filled with tears as thoughts went racing by,
I closed my eyes and dropped the phone and prayed he wouldn't die.

I rushed up to the hospital, I had to get there fast,
My brother's condition was unknown, who knew how long he'd last.

The doctor did not lie to us, he said he might not live,
But in my heart I knew he would, he had so much to give.

I walked down the hall of the ICU, the air smelled of stale breath,
The darkness and the gloominess reminded me of death.

I came upon my brother's room where he was lying in bed,
I took one little look at him and thought that he was dead.

There were tubes connected everywhere, there was blood upon his face,
I wanted him to be awake so that we could both embrace.

It all seemed like a nightmare, a terrible, horrible, dream,
But when I realized it wasn't, I just wanted to scream.

Sometimes that moment haunts me, although it was long ago,
What would I have done if he had died? No one will ever know.

Today, my brother is doing fine, his life has just begun,
He is now happily married and was just blessed with a son.

My brother could have died that day, but he lived and I am glad.
He needed to be here for some reason, perhaps, to be a dad.

Copyright 2002, Katy Kay Edwards

Katy wrote this powerful and inspiring poem in the 8th grade

shortly after her nephew Ammon was born. It recounts that terrible

day in 1999, when Brandyn left us for awhile before God graciously

gave him back. He now has three sons and he continues to bless our lives. Happy Father's Day, Brando. We love you... and Ryan and Jayson also.

Thanks to all my children for making me a blessed father!

Posted by Scotty and Deb at 9:55 PM 0 comments

Last Game of the Season

2008-05-12T21:29:00.003+02:00

Our last soccer game was COOOOLD!
But we had a great time. The boys did great and had a lot of fun! They sure enjoyed playing against the parents for the last half. We had a lot of fun playing against them. Great exercise!

Ahhhhh it's quite time.

2008-05-01T21:56:00.002+02:00

It is quite time at our house. The boys are suppose to be laying in their beds quietly reading books or resting. I hear plenty of talking but at this point as long as they stay in there and are not interrupting me it is AHHHHH quite time. I only have a sec as the house is a disaster. Grandpa Monte comes in at noon this Sat. The boys have their last soccer game that morning (Against the parents, it should be interesting.) Tonight I have bunco, tomorrow homeschooling and then date night. So now is really one of my only chances to 'spruce up', or rather accomplish the major overhaul that is needed. It is amazing how much damage can be done in one day!(Let alone 7, lol) I should take before and after pictures but I am still too proud to let all of the out of town family see what it is 'really like around here.' Good news is my dryer is working again after being down for almost 2 weeks. The kitchen sink is functional after being down for 1/2 a week. So my excuses are gone. Off to work. Till later.....

Spring is here!!!

2008-05-01T02:46:00.003+02:00

Quick report for today so we can start this blog going. It is so fun to peak into friends lives through their blogs. I hope at the very least ours will be a journal and record of our everyday living.
Today started off slow. We got our couch returned as it was being repaired for damage done during our move.
The boys and I ate "orange smiles" and cereal then did school. Ammon is so smart and Kaleb hangs right in with him, always wanting to be involved. Hyrum is absorbing tons just by hanging around as I teach. I am finding a new grove and it is working. After school we made lunch and had a picnic outside. We read and acted our stories from our core curriculum "The Brave Bull Calf", a story from England.
We love it here it is so beautiful. All the trees and bushes are in bloom and we are so glad the LONG winter is over. We watched a crane fly in and land near our deck in the shallow water. The birds are so diverse, colorful finches, cardinals, blue jays, wood peckers..... We have squirrels, chipmunks, geese, etc... We are looking forward to seeing their babies soon.
Brandyn worked a long day and went straight to church for mutual. We hope to see him soon. The boys and I are about to make some popcorn and go downstairs to start a movie. It is late but we'd rather see dad before we go to bed. Till tomorrow.