Okay, okay, now that our little "move" is over, I need to let my friends know where we are! We live atop the giant hill between the Salt Lake and Utah valleys. We have gorgeous views all around! Yes, it is very snowy and icy at this time of year, but it is very beautiful! Give up?
Okay, this is hard for me, because it's hard to admit that we're poor and that we needed help. Because that is exactly the situation for our family right now. We moved from our home in Riverton, put mostly all of our possessions in a storage unit in Herriman and moved to John's parents' home. They live in 'Suncrest'- still a part of Draper, but really way above it! It is very beautiful and we feel blessed that they have opened their home to us and are sharing it with us.
If any of you know John at all, you know that he is the kindest, sweetest, hard-working, most wonderful husband and father in the world. He started a custom home building business 2 1/2 years ago, and in 2007, everything was wonderful and moving right along. Our tests and trial were on the way, however. It started on Dec. 27, 2007 when we found out that our baby boy had died. Along with the trial and hardship of losing a child, John's business started to fall apart. We were actually very happy to kiss 2008 goodbye! The scenario for building someone else's home goes a little something like this:
1. Builder and client meet.
2. Builder is happy.
3. Client is happy.
4. Builder begins building clients' home.
5. Client is elated- they are finally getting the home of their dreams!
6. Client gives a list of MUST HAVES for their house- these are things that they absolutely, positively CANNOT live without! Tile, cabinets, rock, stone, stucco, granite and the like.
7. Builder advises client that some of these items are out of their budget.
8. Client gets very angry. Client blames builder for going over budget. After all, this was not part of the original bid!
9. Client decides to take the amount that went over budget from the builder's pay.
I could go on and on, and obviously this is a simplified version of what has happened, over and over again, unfortunately.
So, in August, John decided to finish up the remaining building projects and move on to a new career. He started looking for and applying for jobs. Does anyone know anyone else in this situation? If you do, you will know that finding a job in today's market is very difficult.
The point of my story is not to gripe and complain, it is to tell you how unbelievably grateful I am for the many, wonderful blessings that we have. I am grateful that we have a home to live in. I am grateful for family and friends that are so wonderful and supporting. I am grateful that the prophets advised us to have food storage (especially those in the '3 month' category), I really went gung-ho on that stuff in the summer- we've been living on it for about 4 months now. I'm so grateful for my husband that never gives up and remains positive, even when the odds seem insurmountable. I am grateful for your continued prayers on our behalf. I am grateful that I have a Heavenly Father who has sent us the very blessing needed, at the very moment of need. "As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be." That hymn has taken on a new meaning for me. I am grateful for the gospel, the scriptures, our prophets, and especially our Savior, Jesus Christ. He suffered all things for us.
I found a quote that I really like, "When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup."
That's how I feel today. I am reminded that Joseph Smith's family's crops failed three years in a row before they moved to New York. Joseph Smith needed to be in New York to be near the Hill Cumorah. I am reminded of Lehi's family leaving all their possessions and living in the wilderness. I am reminded of the pioneers walking away from their homes in Nauvoo, not knowing where they were going. Their faith is inspirational and makes me appreciate my circumstances even more.
One more story. We attended Stake Conference with John's parents last Sunday. The Stake President's talk went something like this: When they were first married, they were expecting a baby and moving to California. On the way, his wife went into labor. She delivered a baby boy that was 1.5 lbs. They did not try to save the baby. She was not able to hold or see him, because everyone thought it would be too difficult for her to handle. The baby lived for 24 hours, then died. They continued with their move and discovered that their rent was too high with all the bills, etc. from the hospital. So, they moved to an army barracks turned into apartments to save on rent.
The point of his story was to tell us that they made it through that difficult time. He doesn't know us and our situation, or that we were there at the conference. But the Spirit knew and I felt like this was a little miracle on our behalf. We will also make it through this difficult time!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
December 24 and beyond...
I haven't completed a post since Dec. 24, so this is what our little family has been up to since that day.....
My three sweeties in their new jammies! They were presented these new p.j.'s by some pretty funny looking reindeer! Hee hee, my in-laws are awesome!
The antlers were the big hit of the evening.... as you will see....
The kids danced and danced while John sang to the tunes of the Chicago Christmas album
Looking good, Tommy!
Everyone had to try them on.....
All the new P.J.'sDecember 25
Look what Santa brought! An awesome castle complete with action figures....
An art desk and lots of goodies....Allison got clothes, but I didn't manage a good picture of it. Sorry Alli!
New snow clothes courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa!
The castle proved to be a big hit! Tommy was great at sharing with his cousins!
We also took on a service project for the Christmas break... honestly, I don't know what we were thinking! It was fun to give of our time to a worthy cause, here we are tying a quilt. My nephew was awesome at it!
December 29
Matthew's Day
This is also my sister's birthday- Happy Birthday Em! So sorry that it's a sad day for us.
The kids each picked out a balloon for Matthew on his "birthday."
We'll probably have to dig through the snow each year on this day to see his stone. We love you Matthew!
December 31
I had the chance to visit with one my awesome friends from my mission, Jenna. We were two Utah girls finding our way in London about 14 years ago! She lives in Virginia now, so this was a special treat for me!
My Dad had the awesome idea of having a countdown for the kids- at about 9 p.m.! Way to go, Dad!
We also FINISHED the Book of Mormon as a family for the first time ever!
Yeah!! It only took us about 4 years. No, we didn't break any speed records, but
WE DID IT! We're all feeling great about this!
We wish you all a very happy new year!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Funny, funny Mother
Ha ha, I got this poem at our Relief Society party and thought to post it after spending 3 hours going to the DI to pick up a service project and going to Wal-mart. Hopefully your Christmas has not been like this mother's:
See Mother. See Mother laugh. Mother is happy.
Mother is happy about Christmas.
Mother has many plans. Mother has many plans for Christmas.
Mother is organized. Mother smiles all the time.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother smile. Mother is happy.
The shopping is all done. See the children watch TV. Watch, children, watch.
See the children change their minds.
See them ask Santa for different toys.
Look. Look. Mother is not smiling.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother sew.
Mother will make dresses. Mother will make robes.
Mother will make shirts. See Mother put the zipper in wrong.
See Mother sew the dress on the wrong side.
See Mother cut the skirt too short.
See Mother put the material away until January.
Look. Look. See Mother take a tranquilizer.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother buy raisins and nuts.
See Mother buy candied pineapple and powdered sugar.
See Mother buy flour and dates and pecans and brown sugar and bananas.
And spices and vanilla.
Look. Look. Mother is mixing everything together.
See the children press out their cookies.
See the flour on their elbows.
See the cookies burn. See the cake fall.
See the children pull taffy. See Mother pull her hair.
See Mother clean the kitchen with the garden hose.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother wrap presents.
See Mother look for the end of the Scotch tape roll.
See Mother bite her fingernails.
See Mother go. See Mother go to the store ten times in one hour.
Go, Mother, go. See Mother go faster. Run, Mother, run.
See Mother trim the tree. See Mother have a party. See Mother make popcorn.
See Mother wash the walls. See Mother scrub the rug.
See Mother tear up the organized plan.
See Mother forget the gift for Uncle Harold. See Mother get the hives.
Go, Mother, go. See the faraway look in Mother's eyes.
Mother has become disorganized. Mother has become disoriented.
Funny, funny Mother.
It is finally Christmas morning. See the happy family.
See Father smile. Father is happy. Smile, Father, smile.
Father loves fruitcake. Father loves Christmas pudding.
Father loves all his new neckties.
Look. Look. See the happy children. See the children's toys.
Santa was very good to the children.
The children will remember this Christmas.
See Mother. Mother is slumped in a chair.
Mother is crying uncontrollaby. Mother does not look well.
Mother has ugly dark circles under her bloodshot eyes.
Everyone helps Mother to her bed.
See Mother sleep quietly under heavy sedation.
See Mother smile. Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother laugh. Mother is happy.
Mother is happy about Christmas.
Mother has many plans. Mother has many plans for Christmas.
Mother is organized. Mother smiles all the time.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother smile. Mother is happy.
The shopping is all done. See the children watch TV. Watch, children, watch.
See the children change their minds.
See them ask Santa for different toys.
Look. Look. Mother is not smiling.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother sew.
Mother will make dresses. Mother will make robes.
Mother will make shirts. See Mother put the zipper in wrong.
See Mother sew the dress on the wrong side.
See Mother cut the skirt too short.
See Mother put the material away until January.
Look. Look. See Mother take a tranquilizer.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother buy raisins and nuts.
See Mother buy candied pineapple and powdered sugar.
See Mother buy flour and dates and pecans and brown sugar and bananas.
And spices and vanilla.
Look. Look. Mother is mixing everything together.
See the children press out their cookies.
See the flour on their elbows.
See the cookies burn. See the cake fall.
See the children pull taffy. See Mother pull her hair.
See Mother clean the kitchen with the garden hose.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother wrap presents.
See Mother look for the end of the Scotch tape roll.
See Mother bite her fingernails.
See Mother go. See Mother go to the store ten times in one hour.
Go, Mother, go. See Mother go faster. Run, Mother, run.
See Mother trim the tree. See Mother have a party. See Mother make popcorn.
See Mother wash the walls. See Mother scrub the rug.
See Mother tear up the organized plan.
See Mother forget the gift for Uncle Harold. See Mother get the hives.
Go, Mother, go. See the faraway look in Mother's eyes.
Mother has become disorganized. Mother has become disoriented.
Funny, funny Mother.
It is finally Christmas morning. See the happy family.
See Father smile. Father is happy. Smile, Father, smile.
Father loves fruitcake. Father loves Christmas pudding.
Father loves all his new neckties.
Look. Look. See the happy children. See the children's toys.
Santa was very good to the children.
The children will remember this Christmas.
See Mother. Mother is slumped in a chair.
Mother is crying uncontrollaby. Mother does not look well.
Mother has ugly dark circles under her bloodshot eyes.
Everyone helps Mother to her bed.
See Mother sleep quietly under heavy sedation.
See Mother smile. Funny, funny Mother.
Monday, December 22, 2008
A wonderful Sunday
The girls sang in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. I think they sound like angels!
This is for the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins & friends that missed it!
We love you! Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
TOP TEN
....reasons to move. Okay, I'm going to be positive about this- thanks, Jill for being a ray of sunshine, as usual! Here we go.....
10. Deseret Industries sees an increase in donations.
9. My children clean (out) their rooms.
8. I organize my sock drawer.
7. Lots of exercise.
6. Dejunk, dejunk, dejunk.
5. A chance to make new friends and keep the old- (thanks bloggers and Facebook!)
4. We know that wherever we move, we have an instant family in the ward there.
3. The Relief Society is going to bring us dinner the night before!
2. I get to see lots of service in action- yeah for family, visiting teachers, and friends.
1. We're making this adjustment so John can get his MBA! Yeah!
Now, don't you want to move, too? :)
10. Deseret Industries sees an increase in donations.
9. My children clean (out) their rooms.
8. I organize my sock drawer.
7. Lots of exercise.
6. Dejunk, dejunk, dejunk.
5. A chance to make new friends and keep the old- (thanks bloggers and Facebook!)
4. We know that wherever we move, we have an instant family in the ward there.
3. The Relief Society is going to bring us dinner the night before!
2. I get to see lots of service in action- yeah for family, visiting teachers, and friends.
1. We're making this adjustment so John can get his MBA! Yeah!
Now, don't you want to move, too? :)
She's done it again!
My cousin, Laura, just posted another beautiful entry on her blog, and I wanted to share it- it may mean something to someone else. Especially those that deal with loss at Christmastime. Click here to read! Thanks, Laura!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Gypsies
Hello all- the title of my post describes my family. John thought of the perfect name for our family. Can you guess?? Yes, unfortunately, we are MOVING! .....again. Just call us the gypsy family. We are not excited, but it must be done. Are the kids excited? Well, we try to tell them that they'll have the chance to make new friends! Where are we moving to? That is yet TBA. We'll let you know.
Sorry, I try to keep all my posts positive- sorry if this has a sour tone. I wanted to let you all know before we're MIA, and you wonder where we are!! We will be moving either the week after Christmas, or soon after the new year. We would appreciate your prayers and thoughts at this busy time of year!!
Sorry, I try to keep all my posts positive- sorry if this has a sour tone. I wanted to let you all know before we're MIA, and you wonder where we are!! We will be moving either the week after Christmas, or soon after the new year. We would appreciate your prayers and thoughts at this busy time of year!!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
O Christmas tree...
This is my favorite- our 6 stockings. We bought a stocking for Matthew last year, knowing we would need it soon! We will fill it with notes this year, telling Matthew what we will do to make sure that we can live with him forever one day.
My three cuties, making the neighbor Christmas gifts! I love free labor. They seriously love helping, and they had 16 jars of cookie ingredients filled in no time.
Our tree- this is just to fulfill Lorenne's request! This pic looks a little out of focus?? We fill our tree with every ornament we can find, but it's so fun- we have lots of memories from all our childhoods! If you haven't posted your tree yet, please do it!Thursday, December 4, 2008
What I've learned...
I haven't been much of a blogger lately. I am recovering from having the whole Relief Society at my house last night as part of a progressive dinner. They had appetizers here (I actually held back and didn't make any, I really wanted to make my sister's amazing cranberry salsa) and we had a special "program" of a sweet little children's choir. I decided that it's very difficult to accompany a choir and lead them as well. We used the beautiful music they have on the children's songbook CD's and I chose to lead. It was wonderful! The kids sang "Christmas Bells" with chimes included, plus 3 more Primary songs about the birth of the Savior.
So now my house is clean and decorated for Christmas! Phew! It's great to be finished- now I can back to blogging, etc. Marianne did this on her blog awhile ago and I wanted to use her idea to list a few things I've learned recently. It is amazing that we do actually learn new things everyday!
1. I learned that scholars (Susan Easton Black, for one) believe that Jesus was born in a limestone cave above Bethlehem, not in a stable. I remembered someone telling me that there is no mention of a stable in the scriptures. Check Luke's account- it's true! He was laid in a manger, but there's no mention of the stable, animals, etc. that we picture with the traditional Christmas manger scene. How will this fact change our songs, manger scenes, etc.? "Once within a lowly cave....?" I think we'll stick with tradition, even though it may be historically incorrect.
2. My Relief Society President is the same age as me.
3. Mandarin oranges are delicious in smoothies.
4. Emilee makes the best sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner. And she is a more amazing mother than I thought. The patience she has for her little insomniac toddler! You're awesome, Emilee. Allison is getting a lot of compliments on her haircut.
5. Tommy loves, loves, loves playing with all the boy cousins on the Blackwell side. There's quite a big pack of them these days. They love Tommy, also. They love the same things: Superman, Batman, Transformers, Pirates, etc. Can it get any better than that?
6. Becca is going to insist that she gets the drumstick every year.
6. If I hold my ground, Becca will wear her puffy blue coat to school. I'll bet she's glad I did, it snowed today!
7. You can send a preschooler on the bus with some food if you are running late, or if they are running early (which is usually the case). They do, however, draw the line at pancakes with syrup. BTW, I was not the mom that attempted this.
8. I'm so grateful for my wonderful parents (this isn't just something I learned recently)... they are so kind, patient, forgiving! I'm glad they have overlooked my shortcomings, mistakes, and just love me! Thanks Mom and Dad! You really are the best.
So now my house is clean and decorated for Christmas! Phew! It's great to be finished- now I can back to blogging, etc. Marianne did this on her blog awhile ago and I wanted to use her idea to list a few things I've learned recently. It is amazing that we do actually learn new things everyday!
1. I learned that scholars (Susan Easton Black, for one) believe that Jesus was born in a limestone cave above Bethlehem, not in a stable. I remembered someone telling me that there is no mention of a stable in the scriptures. Check Luke's account- it's true! He was laid in a manger, but there's no mention of the stable, animals, etc. that we picture with the traditional Christmas manger scene. How will this fact change our songs, manger scenes, etc.? "Once within a lowly cave....?" I think we'll stick with tradition, even though it may be historically incorrect.
2. My Relief Society President is the same age as me.
3. Mandarin oranges are delicious in smoothies.
4. Emilee makes the best sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner. And she is a more amazing mother than I thought. The patience she has for her little insomniac toddler! You're awesome, Emilee. Allison is getting a lot of compliments on her haircut.
5. Tommy loves, loves, loves playing with all the boy cousins on the Blackwell side. There's quite a big pack of them these days. They love Tommy, also. They love the same things: Superman, Batman, Transformers, Pirates, etc. Can it get any better than that?
6. Becca is going to insist that she gets the drumstick every year.
6. If I hold my ground, Becca will wear her puffy blue coat to school. I'll bet she's glad I did, it snowed today!
7. You can send a preschooler on the bus with some food if you are running late, or if they are running early (which is usually the case). They do, however, draw the line at pancakes with syrup. BTW, I was not the mom that attempted this.
8. I'm so grateful for my wonderful parents (this isn't just something I learned recently)... they are so kind, patient, forgiving! I'm glad they have overlooked my shortcomings, mistakes, and just love me! Thanks Mom and Dad! You really are the best.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Draper Temple Open House
Hey all, you may know about this already, but you can click here to make reservations for your family to go to the open house for the Draper Temple starting next month! I'm so excited for my kids to see the inside of the temple!
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