Wednesday through Friday

Trichelle is involved in Limitless a lot now and so we get her cuties more often.  We had them this week from Wednesday to Friday.  Ivy not as much since her time is shared with her dad.  We had a great time and I enjoy having the little's at my house. (they all sleep really good too)  They are all pretty easy and are good at entertaining themselves.  However, they do prefer me or Kimleighel in the same room with them which means I accomplish nothing while they are here.  That's the good part about being a grandma...it doesn't matter so much.  I am able to just spend time with them and feel grateful I can help out.

Macie gets to come on Friday mornings.  Her mom is helping with Parker and Mya's classes and so Macie gets to come play with me.  She's a cutie and it's fun having her.  Macie and Behr are cute together. I adore our little ones....they each add so much happiness to our family. They each add so much happiness to me.

Julie's Birthday

Our sweet Julie turned 30 today.  Julie is definitely a keeper.  Julie is easy going and so kind.  She is smart and a goal setter.  Julie plans things way in advance and has helped me to be better at committing to things and getting them on the calendar.  Julie is adventurous and  likes to stay busy. On her days off she will take her kids to the zoo or lagoon or thanksgiving point.  For Christmas their family always gets passes to one of these places so they can spent time together enjoying each other.  Julie is good at organizing and has a real gift for it.  She's the one that headed the cleaning of my hall closet one year for mother's day.  Julie works hard and loves her job.  She is a dental hygienist and works three times a week.  Julie is very supportive of Kevin.  I know she didn't love sports when they got married but she takes their kids to all of Kevin's games.  She even dresses them in their colors to show her support.  Julie is also very thoughtful.  She is always sending a text thanking us for supporting them.  I'm so glad that she was interested in our Kevin and put the moves on him and that he continued to pursue her.  I love this girl.  Our family has been very blessed to gain such awesome kids.

Birthday Dinner

As I write about my cute son, every now and then I have to pause to wipe my tears away.  We are just so blessed!  Jared loves seafood and I think for the last three years we have ended up at the Red Lobster to celebrate his birthday.  He likes the captains feast (I think) because it has a variety of fish.  He was hesitant this year to go there because he realizes that it is kind of expensive.  I reassured him that it is fine on his birthday.  I love our one on one time with our kids for their birthdays.  I love just looking at them and seeing how well they have grown up.  I love thinking back over the years and remembering their little journey to now.  Being a mom has been my greatest desire and blessing.  It's all I ever wanted and I have enjoyed the kids that were sent to us.  I love every stage of their progress.  Some stages are harder and cause anxiety but even those stages are worth it when they make it through.  Oh my word....I love my family!  I'm thankful for every single birthday we get to celebrate!

Breakfast with the Birthday Boy

This will be our last birthday celebration with Jared for a few years.  When I realized that I got a gut ache.  I really wanted to make his day a little more special.  We decided to go to breakfast since the afternoon was packed with things and he should probably stay in school.  We got up early and headed to Village Inn.  He did open his birthday present before we left our house.  We got him some nice binoculars for hunting.  I think he might like those better than the luggage I was considering.  I think it's going to be hard to sent this boy our on a mission.  The first was hard and I think my last will be.  The others were hard to but I was good at focusing on the positive and good since they overlapped each other.  I want to cherish the time we have left and for the first time in years I will say that I am glad we have one more year of school.  I pray that my son will believe in himself.  That he will be kind to himself and realize we all make mistakes and no one is perfect.  I hope he knows how much he is loved and cherished by our family.  I wish he could see himself through my eyes and better yet our Savior's.  Jared is a Great Kid!

Jared is 18

This cute son of mine turned 18 years old today!  I find it hard to believe that my baby is that old but let me just say it's been a pleasure watching him grow up.  He was a fighter as a baby and needed to have a strong will to survive.  He has always been so cute and when he was little even men spoke of his cuteness.  As a toddler he cracked us up.  I remember him egging on one of his brothers saying..."you want a piece of me?"  then when they came towards him he rolled right under their feet.  He had quite the imagination.  He would start his stories with "Remember When?"  He had stories of owning dogs and changing Justin's diaper...which he realized wasn't true and corrected himself.  Gramps could always get him started and Jared would go on and on remembering things through his imagination.   As he grew he became more sensitive and tender hearted.  He doesn't like to be corrected and kind of thinks he needs to know how to do everything on his own.  If someone tries to critique him he feels bad about himself.  I feel sad about that.

Jared is a hard worker and Larry loves having him close by to help him.  I think Jared enjoys working with his dad.  Jared is the best uncle ever!  Little kids love him and he is just super fun and loving.  Jared is affectionate and still likes hugs.  He often lays his head on our shoulders to express his love.  He trusts me and tells me things or asks me things that he isn't sure about.  I love that!  Jared is just so kind.  I'm so glad he is ours and that God knew we needed this little guy. (no so little anymore)  Jared is truly a blessing to our entire family!

Kimi's New Do

After growing her hair out for years, Kimleighel decided to chop it all off.  Kimleighel is a girl who knows what she wants no matter how extreme it is.  I think Kimi looks good with any hair style and I love that she tries new kinds.  I'm kind of excited that we won't have long black hairs all over the house for awhile...just mine now. ☺  I love this cute, sassy look on Kimleighel...it fits her to a tee!

Visiting Teaching

I have such a testimony of visiting teaching.  I love it and I know that through visiting teaching miracles can happen.  Right now I have such wonderful visiting teachers...Ruth Dawson and Jeanenne Murdock.  Jeanenne is moving and so I'm not sure what will happen.  I really hope that Ruth will be able to still come to me.  I love them and I feel the love they have for me.  They are such wonderful examples. (I can't believe I didn't get a picture of them when they last visited me)

I am blessed to be able to go to Crystal and Linda.  I love these two ladies so much.  I have a hard time keeping our visits to half an hour.  Actually with Linda they haven't been less than an hour.  It just seems there is so much so say and share.  These two are also such wonderful examples to me.  I learn so much from them and I always feel the spirit as we visit.  I love getting to know others better and through visiting teaching that is accomplished.  I continue to love and care about the sisters that I have visited over the years.  I have been truly blessed.

Larry and I have assignments together to visit the Mark family...another favorite of mine.  The Marks aren't active but they are the best example of how families should love and support each other.  They are so close to one another and are absolutely wonderful.  We also get to visit a single mom that just recently moved into the ward.  Erin has walls up but allows us to break through them just a little.  Her little daughter is the cutest and we love interacting with them.

I'm a fan of visiting teaching.  It's powerful and important.  When the Marks lost their little preemie they knew to call us for the help they needed.  Visiting Teaching Blesses Others!