Jean's Birthday Surprise!

As most everyone knows, yesterday was my birthday (44 years old...eek!) Anyway, it was rainy and chilly but everyone tried to make it the best day they could for me. I loved all my gifts but I have to show off this one from Jeff. Yesterday, as I do on most special occasions, my thoughts were on Noah and how much I missed him not being here. I am married to the most wonderful man who understands me more deeply than I even realize and he knew how down I have been for the last few weeks. Yesterday just seemed to bring all of that to the surface and last night we went in different directions with the kids...Michael and I went to pac meeting and Jeff and the girls went to the temple. I just didn't feel like it was anything more than another day. Later that night though, when Jeff and the girls came in he said he had saved the best gift for last...and I took a picture of it below. He told me when I opened it that when I look at it he wants me to know that this is Christ bringing Noah back to me one day. The tears fell and my other children all beamed because they knew I would love it and we all look forward to having our family complete again. Anyway... it is a very special gift from my sweetheart who knows just what I need all the time and goes out of his way to make sure I have my needs met. I love him with all of my heart and he really is my rock and my hero!

Family Update

Well, there really isn't that much to update about. This past week Emily has been battling a cold which I think she is finally starting to get over. School has started and is in full swing...Michael is doing great, so is Lauren but she likes to gripe about it. Emily stays busy with her online studies and is doing quite well. She is gearing up for a final exam in her history class which she will need to take next week. Jeff is very busy with his new job...he has been having to travel a lot so between that and church meetings this past couple weeks, Jeff is swamped. We are all looking forward to this week-end when it looks like there is NOTHING on our calendar so we can take a break and have some family time together! Other than that...there really is no new news from this front. We are grateful for our blessings and try everyday to see the hand of the Lord in our lives (which we do!). If something exciting happens then we will post again before long! Until then, everyone have a great day!

Fun Time

Yesterday, Jewel and I took the kids to a rally for Elizabeth Dole (our senator in NC running for re-election)! It was a rally for veterans and we went to support both! The girls really are getting involved in the politcal process this year (how could they not with me as their mom???) and Mikey came along because he had to...hahaha (we took him out to dinner afterwards...good way to get him to participate)! It was fun to see both Senator Elizabeth Dole and Senator Bob Dole together. I was able to help the kids see a little of what an election year is like! We got signs and bumper stickers and felt like we were involved! The girls are anxious to do more now so we will continue on our quest of learning about the election process and hoping to bring victory to the candidates we feel are better qualified at this time to lead! This is the best way to teach the kids about our government system and how it works plus have fun along the way. I tell everyone that I found my love for politics when I was 15 years old and campaigned for Granddaddy when he ran for sheriff! That was the most fun summer I can remember...it was also the only time I have ever campaigned for a democrat..hahahaha! Those memories were fun ones and I hope my kids will learn the importance of voting and having a voice in our democracy! We have a lot to be grateful for in this nation and I never want my children to take for granted the liberties that we have been blessed with! I think Granddaddy would be pleased at how involved we get....he's the one that started it all with me! Thanks, Grandaddy....I love and miss you!

Good Day!

I love Sundays! They are the best day of the week for me. I get to go to church, have a great family meal (we always eat the same thing every Sunday...roast, mashed potatoes, butterbeans, carrots, corn on the cob, rolls, and brownies for dessert), take a nap, and enjoy my family. What better day could you have than that???? Today was fast and testimony meeting at church and it was so uplifting. All the lessons were great and I felt the spirit all day. I am grateful to have so many blessings! I am glad that Momma is feeling better and her back is healing. I am grateful that Jeff got a good job and is finding joy and fulfillment in his new position. I am grateful that I get to homeschool my kids and teach Emily seminary. I am grateful for the blessings that flow into my life everyday. I am also grateful for the challenges that help to keep me focused on doing what is right. I taught in Relief Society today and I talked about standing as a witness...I repeated a poem that Momma used to tell us all the time so I will share it with everyone. It goes, "Oh, you're writing the gospel, a chapter each day, by the words that you say and the things that you do. Men read what you write, whether faulty or true. Say, what is the gospel according to you?" I may not have gotten the words perfectly right but that is the jist of it. I try to remember that each day and teach my children to always stand for truth and right. I just felt like expressing the blessings in my life because I have felt so good today. I love days like this...when you see the blessings despite the trials. To all my family and friends...I love you! Thanks for sharing your lives with me! I hope everyone has a good week!!!!

Tagged!

Okay, Kim...this is for you since you tagged me:

3 Joys:

Jeff
My children
The gospel

3 Fears:

Mice
Losing Jeff
Not being righteous enough to be with Noah again

3 Goals:

Organize my house so it's easy to keep clean
Be an efficient home school mom
Eventually add on to the house and have a fenced in backyard

3 Obsessions/Collections:

Politics (I can get carried away...I can hear you all laughing!)
Shoes
Anything that is Noah's (clothes, pictures, whatever)

3 Random Surprising Facts about me:

I am becoming more like Jeff everyday
I love doing family history...it intrigues me
I never end a conversation with a family member without saying I love you!

5 People who are tagged:

Emily
Lauren
Michael
Jewel
Stacey