Tuesday, April 30, 2013

GRANDMA's PAJAMAS

Yesterday, I was having a rough day and I called my little sister and complained.
She said, "Did you get your package?"
I said, "No."
She said, "Oh."
I continued chatting away and made my way quickly to the mailbox.
I found a key in the box.
I used the key to open the box containing packages.
There was a package for me from my sister.
I opened it and cried as I removed two of my grandmother's dresses and one of her nightgowns.
Tonight, after another rough day, I put on her nightgown. 
It is dainty.
It is pink.
It is soft and so comfortable.
I thought of her and I was happy.  
 

 


 
After Sierra took some pictures of me and Jamesy, she asked if I would take some pictures of him and her.
She loves him so much.
I did.
Then she disappeared with my camera and this is what I found.... hilarious.
Can you say black-mail?
I will be keeping this picture somewhere safe.

Monday, April 29, 2013

MY HEAVENLY FATHER HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME

 Yesterday, I was going through all my discs trying to find a set of family pictures for my blog cover and a I came across a lot of pictures I had forgotten about. These two are pictures are from before I had my first baby. I was working full time and going to college full time finishing my degree in Business, Marketing. I supervised a team of people who did global compliance for the company I worked for.
 
I was making about thirty thousand dollars a year, it was enough and more to support both of us while Nate finished his education. He was focused solely on doing well in school and studying for an entrance exam, so he could get into Medical school. (Then he changed his mind and went to Dental school.) We were happy. We lived in a one bedroom apartment on campus. We went to the Provo temple often and tried a wide variety of flavors of ice cream at the BYU Creamery. 
 I found out I was pregnant. I geared up to finish my education. The last semester before I had Sierra I was taking 19 credit hours and working a 40 hour a week, plus I was pregnant. I had one more year to complete after she was born, but I was determined to get as much done as I could before I had her. I knew I would never see my baby if I continued with my current schedule. I quit my job the day she was born. My boss told me if I stayed, he would give me a promotion and almost double my pay, but I was determined.
 
Nate at the time didn't have a job and we didn't know how we were going to make it. We prayed. A month after I quit, Nate was able to find a job making close to what I was making before I quit. My mom and my siblings helped me take care of my sweet baby while I finished school. I graduated a year later. Nate was accepted into the dental program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Then we were off to Pittsburgh.
 
I was still determined to be at home with my baby. I couldn't imagine turning her care over to another person. When we were told we only had fourteen thousand dollars a year to live off of, I cried. It seemed like we would not be able to make it, if I didn't work outside our home. Our income had been cut in half and despite every effort our expenses had doubled, and no matter how I did the numbers they didn't add up. Despite all of my fears, when I prayed I felt peace that all would be well and my Father-in-Heaven would provide a way. It was my choice to be at home with my baby, so I didn't want to push the burden of our care onto another soul, so we determined not to get any help from the government beyond our health insurance, which the school required in order for Nate to attend.
 
I gave up everything.... clothes shopping, getting my hair done, expensive foods (Soda, Chips, Crackers, Cookies, Ice Cream), eating out, everything past our basic necessities. We ate a lot of soup and left overs and I think I wore the same outfit for two years, until I discovered thrifting. (Thanks Shelly.) It was hard to keep our drafty one-hundred year old condo warm, I knew the heating bill was going to be high, and so in order to conserve money I turned the heat down and we dressed warm inside our condo. Sierra wouldn't keep anything on her little hands and they were often cold, so I made mini rice bags out of cloth and heated them in the microwave and we played with them on the floor.  We spent a lot of time at the library because it was warm there and I loved reading to my little girl.
 
I remember when that first heating bill came, regardless of my efforts, it was over four-hundred dollars. I wept and wept. How were we ever going to make it? Again, I felt the sweet peace and assurance from my Father-in-Heaven. A few days later I walked out onto my front porch and there was two hundred dollars in cash sitting in a gift box on my porch. I still don't know who the angel was who left it there, I had no friends and knew very few people. I remember the feeling as I opened that box. I felt the love of my Savior and his rescuing power wash over me.( The rescuing power he gives to all those who trust in him.)
 
Bit-by-bit and day-by-day we made it. It was a miracle.
 
I remember often thinking things could have been easier if I had of chosen a different path, but I am so glad I didn't. It was the path I wanted to take and it was the path I felt I should take. I remember often the sweet whispering of the spirit telling me, "Life won't always be hard in this way. There will be a time when things will be different, but YOU need to know what this feels like."  We all have to be stretched in this life. It is how we become strong. I am grateful for my stretching moments and I am grateful that I didn't try to avoid them by putting the care of this precious little girl into anothers arms. Oh, how I love her. When I look back on these pictures I realize all that I could have missed and I am so glad I didn't.
 
The purpose of this post isn't to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do, everyone gets to choose their own path and that is the beauty of life. The purpose of this message is to testify that the tender mercies of our Father-in-Heaven are over all those who put their trust in him. Oh, how I have felt them in my life.
 



Sunday, April 28, 2013

WHAT DO YOU DO AFTER 9:00AM CHURCH?

James just sat and watched me do the final review on our 2010-2011 blog book.
It is finally almost done.
I just need to find the family pictures for the cover.
I called Darcy praying she kept a copy.
My computer crashed about a year ago, I am only now discovering that I lost a lot of my pictures because of it, thankfully I blog.
Darcy said she will check.
Cross your fingers.
 The girls played in the backyard. They laid under the shade tree and chatted.
They kept begging every five minutes to run through the sprinklers.
I told them, it was Sunday.
They finally came in drenched from head to toe.
They decided to squirt each other with their water bottles because Mom wasn't budging on the sprinklers.
I wasn't happy.
Not only were they drenched, but they were covered in mud again.
They were required to be in the house for the rest of the evening.
Mostly I was mad, because Madison has a cold and it isn't warm enough to be drenched.
She was shivering.
I am pretty sure I know who's idea it was.
Nate worked on his fly rod.
My sister Kimberly helped design the fish he weaved.
He added the pattern to the left.
I think it looks amazing.
He weaves these patterns one thread at a time.
He said at the end of the day, "I can't wait to go back to work tomorrow. This house is so loud. I have a headache." I had to giggle.
 


Friday, April 26, 2013

GLAD IT IS SPRING

 
 This little one planted and watered.

While this little one played in the irrigation ditch and held Treasure.
He has grown since last year.
Kay says she is getting rid of him because he is so mean, but Sierra just loves him.
Kay and Chuck were surprised he didn't peak her to death.
In shock Chuck said, "Look at that girl, she is holding the (bleep) rooster!"
I giggled.
She has no fear when it comes to animals, look at that monstrous thing.


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND JESS

I can't tell you how happy this visit made me.
I have missed this girl so much!
 It has been almost three years.
What?
Seeing her made me smile all day!
She got to meet James and hold him.
 
Story....
Three years ago, before we left Pittsburgh we were down to our last pennies.
We didn't know how we were going to move to Colorado.
Nate bought a small trailer to hook onto the back of our four runner, which was cheaper than renting one.
He said, "Whatever can fit in the trailer can go, everything else get rid of."
I started chucking things and giving things away.
We were down to our final pile of stuff and Nate said there is no room left in the trailer.
There were a few things I really cherished in that pile.
One of those things was a box of blocks my father made and gave to Sierra when she was James age. She loved playing with them. They were her favorite toy.
I was so sad.
I took them to Jess's house and asked her to hang onto them and bring them to me if she was ever out West again.
She promised.
 
Guess what was on my porch today?
Three years later.
I have thought about those blocks often, but I never mentioned them in three years of sporadic phone conversations.
She never forgot her promise.
I cried. I am still teary.
.
She is so sweet, the greatest friend anyone could ask for.
She will be moving closer to me but not close enough.
However, I am still excited to see her more.
Love you Jess.
 
Now, I just need to find away to get Shelly and Joy to move closer.


Monday, April 22, 2013

TWO KIDDOS

   They were so sweet together today.
I was doing my Monday cleaning.
He woke up from a nap and I laid him on my bed.
She was chatting with him and helping him with his binky.
It was adorable watching them communicate.
I had to stop my scrubbing tornado and just watch them.
He is now three months old.
I can't belive how fast he is growing.
Not to mention, I still call her my baby girl.
She'll be five this year. What?


Sunday, April 21, 2013

BACKYARD FUN

 I am glad it is starting to warm up a bit.
These two love to be outside.
They will play and play for hours together.
Sierra gets a little rough with Madison sometimes.
(See the last picture for evidence. She convinced her to hold onto the bars and pushed the stool back. She loved it until she couldn't hold on anymore. She screamed for her sister to help her and her sister said you can do it a bit longer or just drop by yourself Madison. Pure torture. Scared to death. I had to put my camera down and tell Sierra to stop torturing her sister.)
I will hear Madison squeal and I will have to go and check on them.
It will take one threat to bring Madison inside and Sierra will usually straighten up pretty quick.
She hates the thought of losing her playmate.



 

Saturday, April 20, 2013

BEST BIG SISTER


She stood and rocked him to sleep while I stacked the dishwasher tonight, such a precious moment.
I love my job.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

TWO LITTLE FRIENDS

I got to stay with Jenn while I was in Utah.
James became friends with his little cousin really quick.
They liked each other.
I think they miss each other.

GRANDMA's PASSING II


 It was freezing outside.
I stayed in Utah an extra day because of the snow.
It was so cold.
I couldn't take James out in it.
He was already struggling with a cold.
I asked Benji to take pictures and the graveside.
He was sweet and did.
Thanks.
 
We will miss you grandma.
We will see you with grandpa again.
We love you so.
 
 
 

 




GRANDMA's PASSING

“The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. ” - C.S. Lewis
My uncle shared this quote at grandma's funeral.
I thought it summed up perfectly who she was and what she stood for.
She was a homemaker and she loved it.
Grandpa supported her in her role.
She supported him.
Uncle Kent said she woke up ever morning and made grandpa breakfast before he left for work.
He said that once he was giving her a hard time about it.
She said that she wanted grandpa to go to work every day knowing how much she loved him.
It made me want to be better.
 
We recorded the funeral and you can access it here.
It will be available till the 30th.
If you want it permanently, download it.
 
I thought every word said was inspiring.
I downloaded it for my girls.
I hope they think of her often throughout their life and have the desire to emulate her.
I know I will.











Notice Dad's poor eye....
It's going to be okay little sister. We will see her again.





My mom says that she has been thinking about who James looks like for a long time.
After looking at this picture she said, "He looks like his great-grandma and her dad!"


She loved to journal.
I thought it was cute to see entries about my family.
Oh, how I love her.... she will be missed.