Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Jason and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary on the 14th of September. Well, He celebrated it by drinking the sparkling apple cider I bought and the chocolate covered strawberries I made. I laid in bed with a fever and a massive chest cold and watched.
His comment?
No matter what day it is, I will always love you.
We don't need an anniversary to celebrate how much I love you.

Yeah, I have a great husband.

And he is like that all the time. Just like the song from The Sound of Music, I often think that "somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good."

So, in honor of my husband, here are fifteen reasons I love him (in no particular order):

1. He loves me and he tells me a lot.
2. He is a good father.
3. He can bring me to tears when he plays the violin.
4. He knows how to calm me down.
5. He works four jobs so I can be a stay at home mom to the children.
6. He loves the Lord and he lives the gospel.
7. He still makes me twitterpated.
8. His kiss still makes my knees weak.
9. He likes to dress well and take care of himself.
10. He is a good listener.
11. His laugh always makes me smile.
12. He holds my hand all the time.
13. His rule in the house is I can do whatever I want to it as long as I live in it.
14. His children adore him.
15. I adore him. Everything about him. All of him.

I love you Jason Day! You are my everything and I am so blessed to have you!
Thank you for 15 great years!
I am looking forward to many more!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

I KNOW THREE DARLING LITTLE GIRLS BORN WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER....

BABY ANNIE

Born to a family, who when she was less than two weeks old, her dad was called to be the Stake President. Both of her parents are active in the church, as are most of her extended family. She will be taught the gospel daily and will learn the songs for primary and be immersed in a loving home environment. She will watch as her Father serves the Lord and her Mother faithfully supports him in righteousness. She will watch as her brother goes on a mission, her older sisters become righteous women and she will gain a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ through daily scripture study, Family Home Evenings and other gospel centered activities. By being born under the covenant, she will claim blessings promised to her and her parents for living the gospel.

BABY MADDIE

As a first child, she has been anticipated for months by her Grandmothers and Grandfathers and even a Great-Grandma. She too will be taught the gospel by her parents. She will be loved and cared for in every aspect of her life. Her life will be full of primary songs and stories of Jesus. Her parents will share their testimonies with her and teach her how to return to her Heavenly Father. She will learn talents from her Mother and responsibility from her Father. As other siblings are born into this little family, she will know that they are all a part of Heavenly Fathers great plan. Because of her parents, she will be able to achieve great things in life and have many wonderful opportunities afforded her.

BABY PAITYN

This little one came to earth to a mother, still a child herself. Due to life's circumstances, her mother has decided not to continue living the gospel of Jesus Christ. She will be loved, but it will not be without heartache, as her father and mother struggle with their own love for each other. Her knowledge of the gospel will be limited, as all of her family, except one aunt, have decided to leave the church. She will most likely not grow up listening to primary songs and, if she is lucky, she may have a story of Jesus told to her. Her life will most likely mirror her mothers, one of struggle and heartache. A life of always trying to just make it to the next paycheck. A life where alcohol, drugs and smoking will be prevalent. She will have to be strong. Very strong.

These three little girls knew each other in heaven. I am sure of it. I personally have been anticipating their births for months. Praying for their safety and their family's safety. Our family has been waiting and wondering what day the phone call will come letting us know they have arrived in the world, safe and sound. I have thought many times about how they were in Heaven just waiting to come down to earth. Their beautiful, strong spirits united in the anticipation of fulfilling their part of Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness.

As I have heard of their arrivals and seen their first pictures, my heart has been full. They are beautiful. I long to hold them in my arms and smell their new baby smell. I long to give a hug to their mother and congratulate their father. But, instead, I send well wishes from afar, as each one was born in a state far away from where I live.
And I send special prayers to heaven for each of them.
As I heard of the news of little Paityn's arrival, the last of the three to be born, I couldn't help but wonder what these three talked about as they were preparing to come to earth.
I imagine them promising to try and find each other on earth. I imagine them giving the one last hug as Annie's turn arrives to leave.
I know we don't know what really happens before we come, but I can't help but think it is similar to our arrivals and departures here on earth. The excited and tearful good-byes, the promises to keep in touch, the final hug that tries to display how much you really love that person. I really believe that it isn't that unfamiliar.
And as I thought about this, I thought about their loving Heavenly Father's last words to them. In their last quiet moments with Him, I am sure he told them how much he loved them, how proud he was of them. I know he told Annie and Maddie that they were going to wonderful families. I am sure he told them they would progress and do well on earth and make great mothers and leaders. I am sure He told them that He would be there for them when they needed them and that when they received the Holy Ghost that it would be their comforter and guide them to make right decisions. I am sure he told them to do everything they could to return and live with Him someday.
And then, in his quiet moments with sweet little Paityn, he also told her how much he loved her. I'm sure her excitement of receiving a body was acknowledged and he probably spent just a few extra minutes letting her know that He would be there, watching over her every step of the way, to be strong and to do her best to find her way back to live with Him.
As I pondered on this, my heart ached for my Heavenly Father as he allowed this sweet little spirit to come to earth to a situation where she would have to struggle on a daily basis, where the gospel would not be taught in the home, where the strains of "I am a Child of God" would not be heard.
My heart is full for these three little girls. They are truly blessings in their family's life and my life. Their birth has made me reflect on how my loving Father in Heaven is there for me and how much he loves me. I have thought so much about how the choices we make affect our lives. I have thought a lot about this last year and how we had to make hard decisions for Garrett and the other children regarding their schooling. And then just weeks ago when we almost lost everything, only to almost lose Savannah a week later, followed by an earthquake, a hurricane and flooding.
The experiences we have had are preparing and shaping my family. To make me stronger, but only if I choose the make myself stronger.
I do not have the luxury to sit back and hope that my children learn the gospel.
I need to be in the trenches, doing the hard thing. The daily application of gospel principles in their lives and mine.
My prayers will continue to be said for these three precious little girls and I anticipate with excitement watching them grow, meeting them for the first time and growing to love them individually.
I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who has blessed my with four beautiful children, my own blessings from Heaven. I am also grateful for a husband who makes my life complete.
And I am grateful that in my own quiet moments, I can almost remember my Heavenly Father's voice in our last moments together, telling me that He will always love me, no matter what.


Monday, September 12, 2011

THEY HAVE COME.....

They have come.
By the truckloads.
Everyone is helping to load, unload and load and unload again.
They take over my house, the yard, the driveway....and there is nothing I can do to stop them from coming!
Except make some more from chocolate.


Saturday, September 10, 2011

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 2011

First Day of School 2011
Xander left for the bus almost an hour and a half earlier than the other children, so that is why we have curlers and pi's in the first picture!
SEVENTH GRADE
Is he really that old? My little bug? The one who could name all the dinosaurs and say all the articles of faith by the time he turned three? Now he towers over me at 5 feet 9 inches, has a deep voice and gets texts from girls.
Starting at his new school has been a little bit hard for him. He was excited to go and have a new adventure, but all his friends texted him and asked him when he was going to come back to Flint Hill. They all miss him and I know he misses them too. I know it won't be as bad when everyone gets into the groove of school.
The first day of school he went to the cafeteria and didn't know anyone. A redheaded girl came up to him and told him, "You are not sitting by yourself! You need to sit with my friends and me!" My response the that was, "You can never go wrong with a redhead!"
His homeroom teacher is a redhead also, so I know he will be well taken care of by the redheads!
He is taking all honors classes and it will be a great challenge for him. He is going to love having band every day and I know he will be successful!
This was right before they went to the bus stop.....notice the hair is fixed!
My diva princess Eleanor. As always, she had to be sassy about going to school on the first day. She wanted to go back to Flint Hill and see all her friends also. She insisted on curlers in her hair, a new dress with sparkly pink shoes. I love this little girl so much!
I think all the stars lined up together when she got assigned to her teacher. The first time we met her teacher, she had on high heels with big flowers, a dress and has thick, curly black hair. Eleanor could not stop talking about her shoes and dress. So, the first day of school, she comes home and tells me that "Mrs. Connely wore go-go boots, a cool skirt and this really cool necklace!"
I'm hoping there is more than fashion in that little girls head this year!
I know there is! She is doing great with her reading and loves to learn....along with being social!!
It's going to be a great year for her!
And then there is the G-man!
This boy is so great! And he is going to be so successful in his new school!
We went to meet his teacher and I got delayed in Eleanor's room with a special treasure hunt she had to do. Garrett asked if he could go to his room and put his stuff away.
When I got there, he immediately introduced me to his teacher, showed me the desk he chose (the one that faces the blackboard and should have the least distractions in his mind) and showed me all of his school supplies neatly stacked on his desk.
Hmmmmm.....this is the child we were told would not be able to function in fifth grade at FHS.
Well, guess what! It doesn't matter! Because he can function just fine in his new school! His teacher told me how polite he was and how excited she was to have him in class.
Oh, how grateful I am once again for the tender mercies of the Lord!
I am actually grateful we left that school. It is going to be an amazing year for the G-man!
Savannah starts school on the 12th of September, but she got to hold a sign also!
Eleanor and Andrew. Best friends since forever! We made a kindergarten sign for him also. It's become a tradition for them too now!
Walking to the school bus.....and just some of the kids at the school bus! My kids had a zillion friends in ten minutes! It was wonderful!
Because the bus was late, there was some goofy pictures.....
And some cute pictures....
And then the bus came....Garrett getting on the bus....
Eleanor getting on the bus.....
Savannah and Grace watching the kids get on the bus. They both go to preschool next week. I thought this was such a cute picture!
So, there you have it. We survived. I knew we would be fine, but I was amazed at how happy the children were and how they never looked back from what we had to deal with last year. I have such amazing children and even though I cried as they got on the bus (I cry every year!) I also was os happy for them to be able to experience life and learn!