CHARITY'S BIRTHDAY
I didn't take any pictures on Charity's actual birthday. Don't know what's wrong with me lately- I used to be so good at that. But we did do a lot of celebrating! Kelly and Noah gave her their gift that they had been working on for days- a really thoughtful gift. I wanted to do something new and special for her 12th birthday, so I decided to do the 12 Hours of Charity's Birthday (kinda like 12 days of Christmas). I started when she woke up instead of 4:27 when she was born, but it worked :). I gave her a different little gift or surprise for each hour. It got a little tricky at church, and some of the the ones at church were more simple, like a list of 12 things I admire about her. But it was a lot of fun to spoil her like that. She deserves it. I was glad to see that Kelly liked the idea and will be looking forward to whatever cool thing I do for her 12th birthday :). As if the 12th birthday isn't cool enough on it's own :). Charity got to go to Young Women's ON her birthday AND received her very first temple recommend AND received her first calling!! BIG DAY!! It's weird that there are only three Beehive girls in our ward. They didn't even have a presidency to come visit and welcome her into Young Women's :), but I think Charity felt more than welcome as she has expressed after each of her activities. She has been SO excited to turn 12 and be able to go to the temple and YW. It's been fun to get excited with her. She makes it a little harder for me to feel bad that she's growing up too fast :). So she got showered with gifts all day, sung to in Primary, welcomed into YW, and then celebrated again at the Maynes Family Meeting. We took cupcakes and sang to her and all that good stuff too. Kinda blows my mind that I have a Young Woman for a daughter, but really, she's been grown up since she was born :). She's such a sweetheart too. I feel blessed to know her and to know that I will be able to have her as mine forever! 3-9-14
MIA MAIDS
I too got a new calling on Sunday- came as a bit of a surprise- but with SO much reassurance from Bro. Jacox and endorsements from the Bishop, I really feel like this was a call from Heavenly Father. It's hard to believe that the calling to teach RS felt so needed and for me and then to be released and called to something else so quickly could feel so good, but it really does feel right. I'm SO excited to serve the Young Women. I LOVE Young Women. I always tell my kids that teenagers are the funnest people on the planet. You can never have as much fun as you can with a teenager. So this will be a lot of fun. I'm nervous because it's been a while since I worked in the YW and when I did, I was just the Secretary, so not as close to the girls. This will be fun to be closer to them. I have all the normal, "what if they don't like me?"s going through my head, but that's just my insecurities talking I think. I really am excited to get to know them and spend that time with them. Bro. Jacox had called me earlier in the week asking me what my Wednesday night schedule was like because my name had come up for a calling, and I had told him that Nate works and I am home with the kids because my sitters are now gone to YW and Activity days on Wednesday nights, but that if they felt I was supposed to have that calling, I didn't mind working something out as far as babysitting goes. I talked to my mom towards the end of the week to make sure she was still willing to watch my kids on a regular basis (she had been offering a while back), and she was! I thought about calling Bro. Jacox and telling him that I had found a solution to the problem, but I didn't want to influence him in any way- Heavenly Father knew and I wanted the call to be from him. There is so much inspiration in this ward. It amazes me. Everything the Bishopric does just feels so inspired. I can't get over how special he made Charity feel and gave her her recommend already in the little plastic cover which "he never does!" There's just a lot of thought and prayer that goes into everything. Means a lot to me.
IONE JARMILLO
My Dad's Aunt Ione died last week. Her funeral was on Monday. I LOVED Ione. I still do. She was my Nana's older sister, the second oldest of the nine kids in their family. She was AMAZING!! I think I was most interested in going to her funeral because I wanted to hear all the stories about her :) I love stories. She was even more amazing than I had grown up thinking. She was always one of the people I looked forward to seeing at the reunion. I always got a smile on my face when Nana would talk about Ione. And I'll never forget the day we spent over at her house a couple years ago, just talking and watching the kids play. She was so sweet to invite me over and had been nagging me for months to come over. I think it was after Nana died. I had needed someone to fill the hole Nana left in my heart and while it was only for one afternoon- she just about did it. I really did love watching Ione with her grandkids/great grandkids. She was an awesome grandma. Practically raising about 3 generations. I don't know how she did that and then everything else she did. My Dad gave one of the talks at her funeral and he talked about how she was industrious and independent. Kind of an understatement (as he admitted) when you consider she built her house with her own two hands. Pouring the cement to make each brick that built the foundation. I don't know how she and Albert did that. All on their own with no training. She raised and trained dogs, helped run her son's machine company, changed her own transmission to save on money (and she was even offered a discount by her brother-in-law!). She was the epitome of frugal to say the least. She was up on her roof, repairing some holes, in her 80's!!! She just did it all. Sewing like a professional, some dresses for her niece Sharman, helping to raise her niece and nephews living next door, making everyone who crossed her path feel like she thought the world of them. My dad felt like a brother to her son and knew how much he loved his mom. He wasn't embarrassed at all to be called a "momma's boy" by his cousin. She lived through the untimely death of her son and not long ago, the death of her husband. All while helping to care for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, with several of them living with her. She rarely complained about things. She was a horribly slow driver :). Nana would purposely not ride with her because she couldn't stand how slowly she drove :). Makes me laugh just thinking about it. Not to mention Ione's own description of being pulled over and telling the young police officer, "You're not going to give this old lady her first ticket are you?" She was hilarious!! I loved being around her. I hope she is safe and sound with her husband, son, and brothers and sisters, enjoying the freedom from her aged body. I will miss her dearly. 3-10-14 (I need to remember to post the obituary)
FHE
I was the lesson this week. I am still mad that I didn't prepare more for it. I had not planned on spending so much of my day on those cakes, but with the funeral and that, I just didn't have much time. I gave a quick lesson on prayer, just talking about it, because I feel like it's something we haven't really talked about formally in a while. Didn't feel like much of it set in. I hate that feeling. Felt rushed. But it happens. 3-10-14
LIFE
I have spent a lot of time thinking about life and death this week. It's so crazy to think about how quickly this life can end. Without warning even. I read this blog that Emily recommended to me, www.themomentswestand.blogspot.com, written by a girl whose husband was shot in the head and in the heart by the husband of the woman he had been cheating on her with. She had 5 kids, one being a 6 week old baby. I seriously don't know how she even survived that kind of devastation, but her blog is really beautiful and brings the Spirit into it so well. She talks a lot about the angels and miracles that occurred throughout it all. I just couldn't get her story out of my head all week. And then with Jen and Ione and then even the news about our old neighbor in Bountiful who sexually assaulted his 15 year old patient and had been in a year long relationship with her- we've really just been in a funk. It's so strange to think that life can just change in an instant like that. All of a sudden your husband, wife, mother, sister, friend- could be gone. The choices we make do matter. Every day. Because you never know when it's going to be your last day. Your last day to shine. Your last day to make a difference in someone else's life. Or even your last day to repent. Breaks my heart to think of these people who lost what they had, lost the lives they had been planning and hoping for because of a wrong decision. That girl's husband and my neighbor in Bountiful will never get that life back. They are here, living, and trying to raise families, but everything else has change completely. So weird. Anyway. Not to get all morbid on everyone, but this week really brought out my crazy, irrational fears about Nate or one of my kids dying. It's a serious thing for me and had me to tears a few times this week. I know it's crazy and yet it still disables me sometimes. I had Nate give me a blessing and while he didn't say that that is not going to happen, I felt rejuvenated to know that if something did I would have my Heavenly Father and family and friends right there by my side to help me through it. I have no doubt that I would be blessed with angels as well. And that whoever was gone, would still be able to be with me. It's so hard to think about it, but it's easier if I make a plan and prepare to stay close to Heavenly Father no matter what. I'm sure I sound like a loony and I have no concrete reason to even feel this way, but I believe Heavenly Father lets us feel things for a reason. Whether it's to prepare me or to just help me to be more loving and kind to those I love and feel close to, I don't know, but I guess I just have to use it to make me better. 3-11-14
BAPTISMS WITH CHARITY FOR THE FIRST TIME!
The day finally came!! Charity turned 12, got her recommend, (waited two LOOOOONG days- since the temple was closed) and then she and I went to the temple together!! It was so neat! I can't express the joy I felt watching her, and being with her in the temple. This was a day I had hoped and prayed for as long as I can remember. Having one of my kids make it to the temple! So cool. I wish I could give more details and share more but unfortunately it's much to precious. I will write about it in my journal. Needless to say, we had an amazing time. To top it off, the cute little old man in the font area asked if we were sisters! Wahoo! Why thank you!
No special event is complete without a trip to Dairy Queen :). We figured since we missed taking her out to eat on her birthday (since it was Sunday) that this could take it's place.
What a blessing the temple is. I'm so happy to share that blessing and the first time experience of it with my beautiful daughter. Doesn't get better than that. 3-11-14
YARD WORK
I hate yard work. I'm not gonna lie. I love spending time with Nate, so I make myself do it sometimes :), but this week, Nate has been out in the yard a lot and it's really starting to look good! I'm so proud of him! It's nice to drive up to a nice looking yard when I'm coming home. If only I could make the inside stay as nice. 3-11-14
TRAMPOLINE
Now that the weather is nice, we've been spending a lot of time outside. The other day when Luke was home from school and Erika was napping, Luke, Jack and I went out onto the trampoline. It was so much fun!! If you ever want to have a good time- Luke and Jack are your guys. They are hilarious! They make everything funny and then laugh :). Cracks me up. They were rolling around, tackling each other, climbing on me, we did airplane a bunch of times, just all around good time. I love my little monkeys. Made me feel so much love for them and from them. I feel so blessed to be their mom and to be able to have them as mine forever. 3-12-14
FRIDAY
I love Fridays! Jack's been super clingy the last week or so, just wanting me to hold him and cuddle. It's been perfect for keeping my mind out of this funk. He wanted to cuddle today and I just couldn't not. We sat and cuddled for a good hour. Just he and I. It was priceless. I am so glad that even though I don't have a tiny baby that I still get to have those moments. I get them with my big kids every now and then, but they sure don't last as long as they used to. He even pats my back and runs his chubby little fingers through my hair, I just love it! Sweet baby boy. I'm glad he is still a "baby" :). Playgroup this week was the best. I totally didn't want to leave! It's so nice to get together with lots of moms and just talk! Felt really good today for some reason. Then we took Noah to school, took care of Nate's pork in the smoker, picked up some lunch for Charity and then had lunch at school with she and Jentree. It was a lot of fun. Tonight we have the BBQ with Nate's family- we're all looking forward to that too. It's just a good day. TGIF 3-14-14
HEIDI/CHARITY DATE
Heidi took Charity out for lunch on Saturday. From what I heard, they had a lot of fun. I should have Charity write about it. They went to Texas Roadhouse (Charity's favorite), and even had them sing to her- which of course means sitting on the saddle!! Fun stuff. We have a fun Aunt! 3-15-14
BRENT AND SARAH
We got to out to dinner with Brent and Sarah (and Savannah) on Saturday. We went to Fuji Sushi (I think that's what it's called!), and ordered way too much food :). It was pretty good though. I've never actually HAD to eat with chopsticks, this was my first time. Kinda tricky! Especially with the sushi! I ended up using my hands a few times. It was all really good sushi! I'm glad I can eat it again. There were a couple years there where it just would not go down! Ever since I was pregnant with Erika I guess. Kinda weird. All better now though :). We had a lot of fun with Brent and Sarah. I enjoy talking with them. I got Brent to give me his view on Immunizations and Vaccinations since that's my latest obsession. He humored me. I loved that they came over and we were able to still visit even more after. I love that the kids all seem to get along just fine even with two extras. Works out great for all of us :). And the babysitters :). Good times! 3-15-14 (we should have had them sing to Brent!)
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