Wednesday, June 22, 2011

My stool covers :)
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We had to take a trip to Texarkana during Ryan's spring break to get our boat. It was nice and warm :)


We stopped in Moab and took a few pics on our way home. Scarlet was doing a great job modelling for me!


The boys hiked to the "hole" in the rock. It was a nice break from our 30 hr drive!


It's nice to have our boat back, can't wait to dip it into Powell :)
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Just after we moved in, Jen Langness and the kids were able to come visit for their spring break. It went quick, but all the kids were very happy to see some CO family. We just had to snag the Jackson girls from school for lunch and "frogurt" before they had to leave town. It was a lot of fun :)

Jen's really enjoying her camera, she took some great pics of all of us during her visit....I keep telling her to start a blog!!! (hint, hint)
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Finally getting around to blogging :)

Well, we're just about settled in our new home here in Draper, UT. We're nestled half way down the Wasatch mountain range atop a hill we call "South Mountain". Our cute cul-de-sac is filled with plenty of playmates for our kids, we've really enjoyed getting to know our new neighbors.

This is our living room, I love that it's right off the kitchen. The house was used as a model home for the builder's, so the rooms were already painted nicely, so we just went with it. The colors wouldn't have been my first choice, but they've really grown on me :)
This is the view from our entree way. I like that it's so spacious.
I absolutely LOVE this island :)













Here the front side of our house, we're on the corner of the street with 3 other homes on the east side of us. It was a cold dreary day, so you can't see the giant mountain just past the houses. The other side of the cul-de-sac is just a big field right now, but there's supposed to be a church built on the property sometime in the near future. I really hope they'll give the kids a small patch of grass to play on :)
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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Here we go again....

Well, our time in this 3br apartment is drawing to a close.  We have spent the last 3 months here while getting to know our new city.  It's been a chaotic time, a new school for Ryan, new Church, new Awana group, new job for John, new Bible study group for me...sellling a house 500+  miles away, finding one here and waiting to know if our offer was accepted.  A lot has been going on here, and yet...Corey was still able to be potty trained!  He's officially a "big boy" accidents are few and far between.  Today he left a playground to go #2 in a public restroom, so I think he's in the final phase!  Yes, ice cream was definitely earned!  Next weekend we'll be moving in with either family or new friends as we complete our permanent housing details, which hopefully won't take long.  Ryan just started soccer here and just loves it!  All is going great.  This past year I've seen the Lord work so miraculously for us and I'm so thankful for His provisions.  I can't wait to get settled and be back to keeping the pics flying up here.  'Til then...pray for a quick transition and a great home for our family to come available!  Thanks~

Friday, December 17, 2010

:'(

Well, it's December 17th.  How does this happen!!?!  This past year has been pretty crazy, and thankfully less crazy then the previous year.  Since we didn't keep any usb cords from being packed and sent to storage, I have a camera filling with adorable pics that I can't upload!!  I was able to snag one off of it at the kiosk and will hopefully get a Christmas card out soon. 

We are starting to get used to Utah and hoping to get settled into a house in the near future.  We are grateful for a good job and how wonderfully the Lord has provided.  We continue to pray for His guidance in where He wants us to live.  I am anxious to get Ryan in his new school and finally have a house to call our home. 

I can't help but feel very depressed and I don't know if it's the stress of the move or  because it's Christmas and for the past 13 years, this time is especially difficult.  It is for most of us who've lost loved ones.  My Mom was such a fun person.  I know she had her faults like we all do, but, looking back on her life, I'm so glad that she was mostly known for her electric smile and energetic personality.  Gosh I just miss her so much.  I hate that I lost her when I was 18.  I was such an idiot back then.  I was just getting over the "know it all" stage when she was diagnosed.  I remember the summer before she was diagnosed I was at Camp Elim.  One morning after breakfast I had some free time, so I called her.  We talked for almost an hour.  I remember telling her about the boy I liked and how much I loved being there.  I also remember telling her that I missed her.  After we hung up, I remember thinking, I'm so glad I have such a cool Mom

Little did I know that would be the last summer I'd spend with her.  I think it was easier saying goodbye to her knowing that she was sick and that it was out of her control.  She simply submitted to God's authority in her life and welcomed the path He allowed for her, even if it meant she would leave us so soon.  So many people were shown such a testimony in her as she slipped away from this earth.  That gives me such comfort. 

3 years ago, however, I lost the next closest woman to me, my sister.  She walked away from her life as she knew it.  Her husband of 14 years and their 3 beautiful daughters.  She walked away from her closest friendships and spit on the bonds that once held us all so tightly together.  I love her very much, but a piece of me hates what she has done.  Selfishly, I hate that I don't have an older sister anymore.  We use to spend so much time together.  I loved riding in the car with her.  I loved just hanging out...and if it was lunch time, she would make the BEST sandwiches!  She's made the best of anything really.  She was the best party hostess!  Oh I miss those parties.  Unselfishly, I hate how much confusion and pain she has caused my brother in law and nieces....even my own son.  Ryan still doesn't want to give up hope that she'll come back.  Even though I love her so much, I just wish I could grab her by the shoulders and shake her violently!  Then as those words actually pass through my fingertips, I realize it's not so much her that I hate, it's Satan.  He was the one who attacked, he's the one who decieved her, he's the one who is getting great joy from all of this.  I'm so glad I'm going to heaven, but if I ever got a chance to meet him, I'd sock him as hard as I can in the stomach, and maybe knee him between the legs!!

It's felt good getting this off my chest.  Unfortunately, the reality is still here.  It's Christmas, the time of year we're supposed to celebrate the birth of our Savior and cherish the families He has given us.  I will gladly do that, but the hole in my heart is very hard to ignore.  I miss the warmth of my mother's hug and the gleam in my sister's eye.  

Maybe I should have blogged this on my personal blog!  Oh well~ I guess it's ok to let people in on the ramblings of the heart every now and then :)  I hope we all remember to make great memories with the our closest of family and friends because we never know when it'll be our last.

Merry Christmas~

Sunday, October 24, 2010

On the road again...

Well, our time in Texarkana is finally coming to an end.  Which is surreal since we were supposed to be here for 3 years and we have been here just over 1.  I say finally because in March John was approached with a potential job offer in Utah and after all these months we're finally ready  to make the move.  It's been a tremendous journey and I'm still in awe as I have seen God working so miraculously through the process. I've been brought to tears many times as I've learned to trust in Him to guide and respond to my concerns.  This part of the country can be beautiful, but for this city girl from a dry cold climate, I've been like a fish out of water.  I am ready to get back to a more familiar climate, however, I wish I can take a lot of the wonderful people I've met with me.  Thank goodness for the network sites and cell phone mostly have to keep in touch.  I will miss my dear friends here but there are a few that will remain close for the rest of my life.  Thank you Lord for the lessons You have taught me by bringing us here and please prepare me for the many witnessing and counseling opportunities you may have for me in UT.  I love you and I trust you with my life! AMEN :)

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Ryan's first day of first grade! He has Mrs. Butler, she is
just as sweet as his kindergarten teacher :)


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Happy 3rd Birthday, Corey Jay! We had a great day with lots of friends here.
We rented a waterslide bounce house and the kids played all day and into the night!


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Thursday, July 22, 2010

We got to see Kaden's boxing~ it was hard to watch for an
Auntie...not to mention his Mommy!!! He's a natural for sure!



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