It's been a while....

I haven't posted in a very long time and I am going to start with something I have needed to do for quite some time! I need to count my blessings!! 1. A home 2. My family 3. Food to eat 4. Cars that run 5. Enough money to take care of our needs 6. Wonderful friends 7. The Gospel 8. The opportunity to repent (The Atonement) 9. Being a daughter of God 10. Making mistakes and learning from them 11. Sports 12. Good children 13. Smart children 14. A hard working husband 15. Being adopted 16. Growing up in a loving home 17. The blessings of the Temple 18. Clothing 19. Individual Worth 20. Knowledge 21. Choice and Accountability 22. Faith 23. Divine Nature 24. Good Works 25. Integrity 26. Virtue 27. The opportunity to serve 28. The Young Women's Program 29. The Word of Wisdom 30. A loving and merciful Heavenly Father 31. Wonderful parents 32. The wisdom my birth mother had in being unselfish one time in her life 33. Pets 34. A beautiful world There, I feel better already!

Charlene

I just wanted to give an update on Charlene...It's been almost one year since she left our home. We miss her, but are glad to be able to keep in touch with her on a regular basis!

Charlene has been going to school full-time and working full-time this term. She's working at an upscale restaurant in Seattle, bussing tables. She was able to earn enough money to pay for her classes this term! Yay, Charlene! She is doing well and has a much needed break until classes start for Summer term the 27th of June. During her short break, she will be flying to New York to visit with her cousin, who has been working there for a while. If I hear more, I will gladly update!

Shhhh....Don't tell the kids!

Since we've lived in Rushsylvania, we've seen about four Barnum % Bailey Circus trains come through town. They're neat to see, and the kids think it's REALLY cool. Through work we were given the opportunity to purchase tickets to the Barnum & Bailey circus at Nationwide Arena for less than half what the tickets are going for at Ticketmaster. We decided it would be fun to get tickets. I bought them and we're not telling the kids. My parents are going with us too. May 14th we'll head to Columbus, the kids having no idea what we're doing. It's going to be a lot of fun!

Spelling vs. Pronunciation

Ok, so something was buggy to me this morning. I was driving into work and I heard an ad on the radio for dishwashers and the man in the ad was pronouncing dishwasher like dishwarsher. It bugged me! There's no "r" it's dish"wash"er not dish"warsh"er!!! I "wash" my car not "warsh" my car, I do the "wash" not the "warsh", and I certainly wouldn't be on the radio selling dish"warsh"ers!!!! Sorry, had to share my bugginess. Proper English is a pet peeve of mine, in case you didn't already know.

I did it!

I did it! I actually did it! I turned in my notice on Friday and it feels good! I know this is the right decision. My boss told me he was prepared to offer me more money and that he would try to talk me out of leaving, but he knows he can't compete with my desire to be at home. He was so sweet and VERY supportive of my decision!! What a great guy! So, it's official, May 20th will be my last day. Lots of work to do before then, but that huge step (leap) of faith has been taken. My fear is gone and I'm super happy and crazy excited!

Panic hit me...

I wrote yesterday about finally setting a date to be done working. Today...panic set in. I'm so worried about how things will work. The security of knowing I'll be getting a bi-weekly paycheck will be no more. Whew...full-on Panic attack today! I keep telling myself this is what I've wanted (and I do, more than anything!). I am trying to remember that you cannot have Faith and Fear together. I guess it wasn't really real until there was an actual end date. Heavenly Father will provide a way, I'm sure. I just hope I can get rid of this panicy feeling. Sorry if I'm driving anyone crazy. I can't say anything to anyone at work so, this is where I'm channeling my need to talk. This is HUGE for me. I've never done anything that has required me to rely so fully on my Heavenly Father, and trust that He will take care of things. I appreciate all your support and thank you for putting up with my DRAMA!

We've decided on a date!

My last day of work will be May 20, 2011. The kids get out of school the 1st or 2nd week of June depending on how many make-up calamity days they end up with; so, that gives me 2 weeks to get things in order at home. I'm going to babysit for Parker and Lexi (2 kids that currently go to our babysitters...Lexi starts school in the Fall and Parker is 3). Lexi and Sariah have been attached at the hip for a few years and Parker thinks Ammon is the coolest thing since sliced bread. I think it will be fun and it will give us a little extra income.

Jason has applied for a Supervisor position at NEX. If he gets this job it will be an answer to our prayers. We honestly have no idea how things will work out financially once I quit. We feel like this opportunity presented itself in perfect timing with our plans and we pray that as we move forward in faith that things will work out for us.

Wish us luck...and a few prayers would be nice too =0)

Tough, but not so tough...

Jason and I have felt for a time now that we need to make the sacrifices and changes in our life that will allow me stay home and take care of our family. I have been thinking a lot about this lately, and I have tried to work through things in my head. I've come to a very clear realization that it doesn't need to make sense in my head, or on paper. More than anything in the whole world I want to be able to make a comfortable, peaceful, environment in our home. I want to be readily available to my children and husband. I want to be the best wife and mother I can be. For many years I have tried to make this happen without being able to give my all to my family. I have fallen short. I've done the best I can, but I have not done it "the Lord's way". I am not as happy anymore. I am stressed all the time, I'm constantly overwhelmed and I can see it effecting my family. I can see it in my actions and in the way I speak to my family. I can see it in my children's actions and in the way they speak to each other and to us. I have failed them and I have failed the Lord. I've questioned and rationalized. Why now? The economy is in the dumps, so many people are looking for jobs...shouldn't I be grateful I have one, and a good paying one at that? Both the kids are in school, why do I need to be there when they aren't? How can I give my children what they want/need if we don't have my income? What about our cars? What if we need to make home repairs? What if Jason gets sick and can't work again? These are all valid questions, but a lot of times "the Lord's way" seems counterintuative. I ask, How can things be better for us if we only have half our income? I can't answer that question; however, I know that we are promised blessings if we choose to do what the Lord asks of us. I have faith that my Heavenly Father will open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings upon me and my family if we choose to follow His plan. Does this mean it will be easy? Absolutely not! It will take a lot of work, planning, and sacrifice, but I KNOW it WILL be worth it! I love my Heavenly Father and I am grateful that He leads and guides me in this life!

Baseball & Soccer Pictures 2010

Ammon & Sariah's Baseball and Soccer Pictures 2010

Back to School

School started August 24th. Ammon is in 3rd grade and is in an accelerated class. He is very enthusiastic about school this year and I think the accelerated class will be the extra push he needs to continue to excel! Sariah started Kindergarten and is loving every minute of it! No tears here, just put this kid on the bus! She's been begging to go for 3 years now and FINALLY she gets to go!!

Baseball

The kids finished coach pitch baseball and t-ball the middle of July. Here are a few pictures from the season. Ammon has turned out to be quite the baseball player, and Sariah enjoys seeing her friends!

A new additions

We've been adopted by a little tabby kitty. Her name is Miss Kitty and she's so much fun!




My parents have also added a new member to the family. They have a, now 5 month old, golden retriever puppy named Chester. Chester is a very good boy and he visits us when my parents are away.

Saying Good-Bye

Charlene left to go back to China on June 26th. We had a great year with her! She is doing fine back in China and hopes to come back to the US in September for school.

Ammon's Baptism

Ammon turned eight on June 14th, and was baptized on June 19th. Here are a few pictures from his baptism. We're so proud of him!

**UPDATED** Wow, it's been a while...RANDOM

It's been quite some time since I've posted a new blog post. I'm so sorry. I promise I will get pictures and stories of Charlene's stay with us up soon. The reason I haven't posted is becuase I have been doing Weight Watchers and there's a blog section on their on-line tools. Most of my blogs have been weight related and I chose to put them there instead of on here. I have been doing okay, until the last few weeks. As of today's weigh-in, I've lost 40.8lbs. I feel better, but I have a LONG way to go still. I would like to lose at least another 55lbs. PHEW, that seems like it will NEVER happen, and I'm struggling.

We're very busy with baseball and T-ball right now, and graduation is in 2 weeks. Ammon's 8th birthday is one month from tomorrow, and his baptism is 1 month and 5 days away. We have family coming in for his baptism, and things are going to be crazy between now and then.

Charlene will be heading back to China on June 26th. She's both excited to go back home and wishing she didn't have to leave. She is hoping to go to College in Seattle next year. I hope she is able to reach that goal!

Jason and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary July 1st. Has it really been that long? (Read: WOW, hasn't it been longer than that...HA, HA). We're heading to Hocking Hills June 30 - July 2. We're renting a CUTE cabin ( http://www.ashridgecabins.com/cuddlebug.htm ). I can't wait! The kids are mad that they don't get to come, but hey, if we like it...it may become our new family vacation spot!

**UPDATE**
Heather wanted to see pics. As much as I HATE pics. I am happy with the improvement from one to the other on these. The bottom one is at my heaviest, just 1 year before I started WW. The top pic was taken in Kansas City on Spring Break. I chose this one so you could all see the kids too =0)

Decorating for Christmas

Sariah turns 5!

Sariah turned 5 on November 14th. We were lucky enough to have Uncle Greg, Aunt Carey, Eli & Wyatt with us to celebrate! Sariah got Littlest Pet Shop Stuff, a tea set, and a Barbie scooter. The weather was beautiful so we played with the scooter at the park that afternoon.

Halloween 2009

We had lots of fun for Halloween. We carved pumpkins, trick-or-treated (several times), and enjoyed the beautiful fall weather!

Primary Temple Trip

Our primary took a trip to the Columbus Temple. Charlene got to go along. What a neat experience for ALL!!!

Young's Dairy - August 2009

The weekend after Charlene arrived here, we took her to Young's Dairy. We played mini golf, ate ice cream, did the batting cages, fed the animals, and went down the big burlap sack slide. Lots of fun!