Life is moving!!

Well, we have been here for over three weeks now. The girls are getting settled in, and love the fact that we have a huge back yard for them to play in every day. My grandparents have a sprinklers in the backyard so the girls feel like they are at an amusement park everyday. We finally got renters for our house in Tucson which is a huge relief. Adam is still loving his job and stays pretty busy every day. His company has government contracts with the Air Force base here, so he spends a lot of time there, or out in the field in Hydrogeologist terminology. The ward here is really great. We are actually young compared to most. It is an older more established ward. There isn't a huge primary or Young Women's program. They were so excited to get us with our young children. We have enjoyed going and visiting our family here. We got to spend last weekend with sister in laws and nieces and nephews. The girls have so many cousins to spend time with, it is great.

I need to take some pics of the girls doing what they do best. They end up becoming so dirty and just full of mud and sap. My grandparents have a huge pine tree in their backyard and it just drops sap by the pound. Bailey loves to sit in it, and they get in all over the skin, shoes, clothes and even hair. Then to add to it, my grandparents have black dirt in their backyard, so add that to the sap and it makes one fun play area, but not so fun for me to clean up. I really should take pictures of them, but by the time I think about it I am knee deep in cleaning and scrubbing my kiddos! We feel very blessed to be here and miss our family in Arizona but are so grateful for Adam's job. In this economy it is almost like a privlege to be employed. I will take some pictures and post them I promise. Congrats to all my wonderful friends who have had their babies recently!!! They are beautiful!!!

We are here!!

We made it, we are officially in Utah. We have been here a little over a week now. It was such a blur of packing and cleaning and moving and driving and unpacking and trying to get settled. Things of course never go as planned. The truck we ended up getting was to small for our stuff. So, at the last moment we were trying to track down a trailer to haul the rest of it. We found one Friday morning and got that packed. We still had to end up leaving some of our stuff in the garage, and Adam's jeep. We didn't end up leaving Tucson until 1pm that afternoon. Needless to say we got in to Utah about 3:30 in the morning. We were all tired and exhausted. We got about three hours of sleep in and were up and unloading the truck. Because it was the 4th of July weekend no one was in town to help us. Good thing my sister in law and her hubby were here. My Aunt also came to help and my Uncle. We are now in my Grandparents basement with my Uncle living in the upper level. We only unpacked what we need, the rest will stay in boxes until we move again. We made it safe and sound. Adam seems to really like his job. The girls are adjusting to the weather. Today it is only going to hit 83. The always say it's so cold in the morning. Spending most of their little lives in Florida and Tucson, I could see how they would think it was cold.

We are doing well just trying to get adjusted. I am feeling fine. I am 15 weeks along now. I had an appt just before we left and everything is going fine. We feel very blessed to be here and happy to be around family and friends. We miss our family and friends in Tucson. Hopefully you are all doing well. Thanks to everyone who helped us move and sacrificed time and energy for our family!! I will post some pics soon I promise.

Some Pics to hold you over.....

Let the Craziness begin!!

Well, thank you to everyone who prayed for Adam this week while he was interviewing in Utah. He got the job he wanted and the one that actually uses his degree!!!! It will be a good job that will provide for our family. The bad news is we have to be packed and cleaned and in Utah for Adam to start his job by the sixth of this month. Can we say whirlwind week!!! Adam will be home late tomorrow, so I think we will start our week of insanity on Monday. We will be moving over the fourth of July weekend. I feel very good about this move. Things are crazy, but Heavenly Father definately has taken care of us and shown us his tender mercies and love. We will be sad to leave everyone here in Arizona. Especially my family :(. However, we know this is where we need to be. This may be the last post until we move and get settled. We are going to be living in my grandparents house for a while until we can get a place to rent. We will rent out our home here. I am not in any hurry to buy another place, not until this one sells, which may be a while. Again, thank you to all of you who prayed and fasted for our little family. We truly felt every prayer. Our family has been very blessed the short while we lived here and I feel so grateful to all the wonderful people that I have met, and that have changed our lives for the better. We love you all and will keep everyone posted.

So long since I blogged!!!

Okay, so sorry everyone for the long delay in blogging. I really haven't forgotten you. I know I promised to do better, but my life is really busy. No excuses, but I will use that one for now. Adam did not find a job here in Arizona. Try as we might, nothing came up. So, Adam is currently in Utah doing job interviews all this week. We are going to rent out our house. We still need to find renters. We will probably be moving mid July to Utah. We will stay in my grandparents house. They currently do not live there, and it's just my uncle in that big house. Big changes for our family. We are very sad to leave Arizona. We have made such incredible friends here and love our ward, our house and our neighborhood. I get very sentimental driving down the road knowing that I won't be doing it here for very much longer. On to other news. We are expecting our fourth baby. It was a huge surprise. It took us five years to get pregnant with Bailey. Aislynn was our bonus child!!! Cecely was a clomid baby, and this baby was conceived using birth control!! Imagine that. I am currenly 12 weeks along. No sickness. I am very lucky that way. I guess losing all that weight and a gentle nudge from our Heavenly Father gave us this miracle. We are all happy and healthy. Really busy trying to get things done and wondering where our new path will take us. I will post pics as soon as I can. Love ya!!!

Some News!

Okay, so no pictures this post, but some will follow I promise. Well, Adam finally found out about the job in Utah on Wednesday. It turns out that the President of the company really likes Adam. He really pushed for Adam to be a part of their team, however the investors decided that they didn't want to hire anyone at this time. The investors thought that at this point in the game with the way the economy is, they just don't want to make that type of financial commitment and hire someone and then not be able to afford it. So, the president of the company told Adam that things may change down the road but for now it is a no. So, we feel good about that and have decided to make things work here in Tucson. There are many wonderful things about living here and great things to come. Adam has been kept really busy with the subbing and hopefully he can get on as a full time teacher come the next school year. Thank you for everyone who has been praying and wondering about our little family. Every prayer is heard and felt. We will continue to have faith that the Lord knows where we are to be and what we are to be doing. Thank you!!

A family Outing!

As a family we have made an effort to go and visit Sabino Canyon. This place has always held such special memories for me. As a kid my parents would take us here and let us get all of our energy out, hiking up to the top. I remember I felt so small compared to the huge Saguaro Cacti. I loved the wildlife. I loved the signs that say " Walk at your own risk, Mountain Lion's known to roam". I loved the smell of the desert. I remember I loved seeing all of the older people with the white noses(due to sunblock) with their huge sun hats and maps. As a teenager my Young Women's group would go and hike and have picnics and talk and sing in Sabino Canyon. We would hike up to the pools and swim and gossip and all that fun girlie stuff. I loved it. When Adam and I were newlyweds we would hike up to the pools. I remember the long conversations we would have about future children, future jobs, future homes, future everything. Those were some great conversations. Conversations that made me fall in love with my husband more. Now that we have moved back to Tucson we have made our girls fall in love with Sabino Canyon. They love to go on Saturday mornings. They crave the outdoors and love to learn about all the fun things our beautiful desert has to offer. The love to run and run. They say "hi" to everyone we pass on the trail. They love wearing their sun hats and sunblock. They love to look at the different cacti and have their daddy ask them what kind they are. They love all the bugs, poky things and heat that this wonderful place has to offer. I am so glad to share this wonderful experience with them. I love that they love it. This is our family, this is who we are. Things may change tomorrow. We may not live here forever, but one thing is certain.... my children have learned to love the desert and that warms my heart!

Some updated pics!!

Alright, so here are some pictures of us. We cut Cecely's hair. Actually my very talented sister in law Nicole cut her hair and she looks so grown up. The first picture is of her with her cousing Isaac right after we cut her hair. Isaac was her favorite cousin while we stayed in Utah. She still asks everyday where he is. He was so great with her and played and loved her. She is full of energy, so funny and has a mean streak too. Only to her sisters and relatives though. In nursery she is an angel and so soft and gentle. Bailey and Aislynn are getting so big. They can both write their names and practice everyday. Poor things, I didn't give them easy names to have to write. They are so smart and funny and growing up right before my eyes. I love hearing their prayers, and love their kisses and hugs. The picture with them on the couch is with their cousin Lily. She is such a great cousin and was so patient to let them play with all of her toys. She even colored and watched movies with them. Adam is still substitute teaching which we are so grateful for. He has been booked everyday and that tends to be the trend for now. He received an email from the guy in Utah and they still haven't made a decision. All of their board members were not able to be there last week so they are making the decision this coming Monday. So we will wait and see. I am loving my calling and my Young Women. I am so excited to see them every Wednesday. They are such incredible girls. I love the broadcasts that I get to attend and the firesides. It keeps me young and makes me realize what an incredible program this is. I cannot wait for my girls to be able to attend Young Women's. Don't get me wrong, I am in no hurry for them to grow up. However, it gives me such peace of mind to know that there us such a spiritually based program that my girls will have to help them as they grow up.

We are staying happy and positive. We know that we are in the Lord's hands, and there is no other place I would rather be. We will keep everyone updated as we get news. Until then I will post some more pics. I have so many!!!

Hello????

Okay, so sorry for the long delay in blogging. I will post pics very soon!! I have gotten lots of hate mail or email I should say because I have not updated my blog. So sorry!!! Things have been very crazy. Adam had a job interview in utah about two weeks ago. It would be with a company in Draper. He would be doing some of the same things he did with his consulting firm before, and a lot of new things. He really liked the company and felt very good about the interview. We are still waiting to hear back. We got an email today basically stating that he is still being considered but they have to meet together as a board and then they will give their final decision sometime next week. One of the owners of the company is actually coming to Tucson next week and wants to meet with Adam to give him their final decision when it happens. Soooo..... We will keep you all informed. In the meantime Adam has been subbing for elementary schools and tomorrow he is subbing for a high school. He really likes it, and loves the kids. It's pretty easy work. We have been dealing with sickness after sickness in our house. Two cases of a very bad stomach flu. My carpets are now severely stained because of it. I think I have washed 70 loads of laundry in the last two days. Everyone is happy though and we are enjoying our life. I loved General Conference and all of the incredible messages. I am so grateful to be a member of this church. I will put some pics on of everyone, and yes including myself. I am still losing weight and feel really good!!

We love you all

I am stepping out of my non craftsy box!!!

The first FIVE people to respond to this post will get something made by me personally. What I make is my choice, but it will be made JUST FOR YOU! My choice. For you. However, (like all things that sound too good to be true :), this offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- There is no guarantee that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you personally.
3- It will be completed sometime this year.
4- You will receive no clues as to what it's going to be. I'll let you post a request of some sort with your comment, but still... it could be anything!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange if I so desire... it may blow your mind! Or it may not. It may be very simple and predictable... but hopefully you will benefit from it!And like most things that sound too good to be true, there is a catch. You must re-post this on your blog and offer the same deal to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. Not too bad, huh? In fact, I think it'll be a lot of fun!!So-- on your mark, get set, GO! The first 5 people to leave a comment telling me they posted this on their blog and want to win a free, FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift from me will receive just that!!! **Remember: You have to tell me in your post that you've posted this on your blog before you can be guaranteed one of the five slots!** Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Am I a Nomad?

As I was sitting and thinking today I realized something. I am a nomad. When Adam and I got married I had no clue where our life together was going to take us. I guess no couple really does at that stage in your lives. I knew that Adam was starting school, that he would be in school for six years and we just had to try and make it through those six years financially. Of course we were poor, we still are. That is not what bothers me. We have three beautiful girls and have been married for almost ten years. It will be ten in April. I feel like we have accompolished quite a lot in our few years. Adam did complete six years of school, he is currently working on his thesis. The one thing I guess I didn't expect was the amount of moving we would do. We have moved 10 times in our almost ten years of marriage. Ten times!!! My oldest girls have lived in Utah, Florida and Arizona. Cecely has lived in Florida and Arizona. We have moved and moved and moved and moved. Not something that I am very fond of. I hate packing, I hate the whole cleaning and throwing out process. I am not so good on the change thing. I try, oh believe me I try and with success I will tell you. So here we are again, maybe we are moving maybe we are not. We just bought our house a little over a year ago. I have the girls enrolled in school starting in August. I love our house, our ward and our neighborhood. I love the fact that my parents are just 45 minutes away. I love that my kids can see their grandparents and have grown to love them so much in this short period that we have been here. I guess though as someone put it in my ward, "living next to your parents is a luxury in these days". How true it is.

Adam hasn't been offered anything as of yet, but everything he has applied for is out of state. EVERYTHING!!!! There is nothing here. But yet there is a lot here for me. A lot that I just can't fathom giving up. But I will.... I knew that when Adam went to school we would have to move to where the jobs where. I knew this. However ten moves later do I like it?? No, not really. I would really love to be able to paint my walls and put fans up and put pictures up and know that they are permanent. That I can hang my hat longer than a year somewhere. Umm I guess such is the life of a nomad right. So, for now I will keep the song in my head that I learned as a child, "I will go where you want me to go". I am constantly reminded of how are lives truly are in the hands of the Lord. He is our gentle guider. Thank you for all of your prayers and concern. It has been wonderful. We love all of you!!!

A Job Please!!!

Well, it happened. Adam was laid off from work on Wednesday. It wasn't just Adam. His boss was also let go along with four other people. Adam felt like something like this might happen. Working in the consulting business as a hydrogeologist has been very hard this last little while with the way the economy has been. He hasn't had a project to bill to in over two months. We thought that the company would try and stick it out because they do have a very big project in the works but they couldn't wait and had to let most of the office go. Now comes the big questions. Where do we go? Finding another hydrogeology job is very hard. A lot of the companies are in the same situation as the one he worked with. They either aren't hiring or they are laying off. Adam could teach. He would have to get some certifications and he would love to teach however teachers are so underpaid. I don't think our family could survive on that salary. We have been checking into it and most of the teachers make less that half of what Adam made. It makes me very angry that our teachers are so under paid and under appreciated. We just bought a home over a year ago. I really do not want to have to move again. We have moved so many times. The girls were supposed to be starting school this year. I don't want to have to try and sell a home in this market. So we are praying very hard. We know the Lord knows where we are supposed to be and what we are supposed to do. We have to be patient and obedient and the answers will come. It is very hard though. It's not just ourselves that we have to think about. So, to everyone that reads my blog, please pray for us. I know it's a tough economy out there right now. Everyone is on pins and needles when it comes to their financial security. I guess it's time to ban together and pray for eachother. I am grateful to the Lord for everything he has done for our family and continues to do. We will keep everyone posted!!

"Love thy Neighbor?"

Some of you know what has been going on with our neighbor. For those of you who don't let me fill you in. Our houses are set up a little differently. We kind of live in what you would call a pod of six houses. Three on one side and three on the other. Our driveways all face eachother. Hopefully you can imagine what I am talking about. We of course have two vehicles. I park my van in the garage and Adam up until about Sept. had been parking his jeep right in front of our garage. It let other people get in and out no problem. Well we had a lady move in across from us. Her garage faces our garage. She moved in about two weeks after we did. She is divorced no kids two dogs. She never really smiles, pretty much keeps to herself and stays in her house all the time. She is probably in her 40's I am guessing. Well in Sept. she comes knocking on our door very angry and proceeds to tell me that I need to tell our friend to moved his car out of our driveway because she can't get out. (Adam was home teaching and his companion parked in the back on our driveway). She then tells me that Adam needs to stop parking back there because she can't get out of her driveway and that we are causing problems for other people in our little pod area. So I quickly call Adam and tell him that they need to get home so that his companion can move his car. Adam comes home and his comp moves his car and that was that. I then proceed to tell Adam that she said we are causing problems for other people in our pod and that he needs to stop parking back there. So we go over tell her we are sorry, we had no clue it was causing her problems(we obviously can't read minds and had no clue she had a problem with this)and that Adam will start parking in the visitor parking up the road. She still is pretty upset and really doesn't want to talk about it, but oh well we did our part right? So Christmas comes around and my parents parked back there so they could unload some Christmas gifts for the girls. Lo and behold when they go out to leave, there is a note on their car that says "this is not a parking spot". I was so upset that she would do this especially on Christmas Day!!! My parents just blew it off and left, but I was still very upset. I decided that I would write her a card and give her a bag full of candies and just let her know that I really didn't want there to be any problems between us. We are neighbors for heaven's sake. I also went to all of our neighbors to apologize for causing any inconviences about the parking situations since she made it sound like we were causing lots of problems. Our neighbors had no clue at all what she was talking about about. They had no problems whatsoever with us parking there.

She didn't answer the door when I went over to give her the gift so I left it at her door and went on my way. Since then I have done my best to say hi to her she ignores me. When my kids go out to play in our backyard she immediately slams her windows shut. Or she will come out on the phone and then notice that my kids are playing outside and she will say in a really loud voice " I need to go inside my neighbor has their kids out playing and I can't hear". So I have grin and bore it. I have still tried to be Christ like to her no matter what but last night was the last straw!!! Adam had picked up some fans for our home in his jeep. He needed to unload them all so he parked right up against our garage to unload everything inside. Once inside I told him that I immediately wanted to move the car because I didn't want her to have a problem with it. Adam laughed it off and thought it was funny. I told him however that I was going to go move it because I didn't want to give her any more ammo for hating us like she obviously does. So I go outside to move his jeep. As I turn on the headlights and start to move the jeep to the visitors parking area I notice that there is something on the windshield. I get out and notice that it is a Christmas bag, it looks really familiar. Inside are candies and a card. Yes, dear reader you guessed it. She returned the Christmas bag and goodies two months later and on the card that I so lovingly wrote for her she wrote back "you couldn't even go two months?"

What kind of mean and vindictive person would do that? I do not get it. I was so angry, so hurt, so frustrated. I have gone over and above for this woman. I have tried to love her even though she is a bitter hateful person. I have prayed for her in my prayers to let me love her no matter what she does. Let me tell you though it is so hard. Adam went over to her house to try and talk to her about this and to tell her to stop leaving notes on our car. She immediately got very snobby and proceeded to tell him with her hand in his face " oh toodles see ya later" and wouldn't listen to a thing he had to say. So I am at a loss. I will of course continue to pray for her. That is all I can do. Obviously she is a very unhappy person. There is nothing I can do that will change her attitude, but I of course am in control of mine. After brooding over it last night and some this morning I have decided that I will still be my happy self. I will still let my children play outside and have fun. I will not secretly wish that javelina will dump over her garbage. Because they did do that last night you know. Anyway enough of my rant. I am done I guess until the next episode happens. I hope you all have very kind and loving neighbors. Sometimes I think we can take them for granted. So, lets bake some cookies or bread and drop them off to those good neighbors!!! Hope you all have a fabulous day!!!

The Battle

Alright, so most of you know that I have been losing weight for a little while now. I have been bombarded with the pleas of family and friends for a picture of me!! I hate pictures. I don't care what my weight is, but I know they are important for posterity and all that good stuff. I am down 60 pounds. It hasn't been easy and I have lots to go, but it's a good start. I feel so much better, excercising is easier, playing with my kids is easier. I feel better about myself, I can fit into clothes that I haven't worn in over 6 years. Most of all I am trying to be an example to my Young Women that I teach. Last year towards the end of the year we gave a lesson about taking care of our bodies. We talked about how our bodies were temples that our Heavenly Father put them together with such care. I know that Heavenly Father has been on my side this entire time that I have started treating my body better. I could not do this alone. Sometimes it is hard, frustrating and sometimes way too slow!!! Could someone please invent a body slimming machine that takes it all off in like one day! I still have to cook for my family and live in a world where treats and sugar are everywhere. I take it one day at a time. That is all I can do. Thank you for everyone who gives me support in this. Especially my hubby!. My girls tell me I look beautiful everyday and ask me why I excercise so much( ha ha). Here's to a healthier 2009!!!

Hooray for Book Clubs!!

As many of you know I am in a Book Club that consists of women from my ward. We get together once a month to review and discuss books that we have selected to read. We have refreshments, we get away from kids and housework and everything else and get to just talk about good books and have good conversation. I really enjoy my book club. It's women whom I admire and respect. They love books like I do. They do not think that I am weird because I love to just sit and read and read and read. I usually do it at night, during the day of course is impossible. I love to just escape and let my imagination run wild. It is also so nice to have some really good book suggestions every month.
I also know that the books I am reading are good books, morally and everything else. I wanted to share some of our book suggestions with everyone just in case you were looking for a good book!!!

The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

So, read away!!! Let me know what you think of these books. Book reviews are always welcome! If you have any good suggestions please let me know!!

All Warm and Fuzzy

So, these wonderful pictures are kind of a mix of what we have been doing Dec. until now. The first cute pictures are of Cecely with her grandpa. She loves her grandpa. She doesn't get to see him as much as her grandma, but she loves him just as much. Of course her grandpa is my dad. I often wondered as a teenager what my dad would be like when I had kids. I am sure we all do this at one point in our lives. We wonder if they will be as strict or more loving or let their grandkids get away with murder, because we certainly didn't get away with any thing when we were kids right? My dad and I were always at odds it seemed during my teenage years. I am sure a lot of teens will say the same thing. So sometimes I would daydream about having children of my own. I would wonder how my parents would love them. I wondered if they would love them like I loved them. Of course at that age it was nearly impossible for me to imagine the love a parent has for their child. Now that I am a parent I feel that love everyday. Sometimes your heart feels so full it may burst, but it doesn't it just expands a little more to let more love in. I believe Heavenly Father made us that way. There is no way humanly possible for one to explain the love between a parent and a child. Love... Love..umm

My dad has turned out to be a great grandpa. He does love my children. He loves to be around them, to play with them. He even let them ride with them on his quad. Now that is love for you. I have all girls, no boys but my dad doesn't mind the baby dolls are the princesses or anything like that. If you know my dad you know that that has to be hard. My dad is very much a man's man. But he trys so hard and is so good with my girls. Grandpas are the best!! I love grandmas too, they are wonderful but that is a post for another time.

I have had two wonderful grandpas in my life. One of course is my mom's dad who passed away almost two years ago. The other is my dad's dad. I really didn't have that much contact with my grandpa John. He lived in Louisiana and I moved from there when I was young. He was also divorced from my grandmother and had another wife. He was a good grandpa though and whenever we would visit he was always such a sweetheart. He came to visit when we adopted Aislynn. He held her and even fed her a bottle. It was hard to believe that such a big teddy bear of a man could be so gentle with her. I loved him and miss him very much. My other grandpa is my dad's dad. I am very close to him. He was always so kind to me. We lived with them for a year when we moved from Louisiana to Utah. We stayed in the basement. He would always have a good hug and stories to tell me. I loved to stay up and watch MASH with him. He was never cruel or mean and never raised his voice to me. After I graduated high school I decided to go to college. I went and then did what some dumb teens do and got mixed up with the wrong crowd and decided with the help of my parents to move to Utah with my grandparents. It was a hard decision, I was heartbroken and embarrassed and a whole slew of emotions were encompassing me. My grandparents welcomed me with open arms into their home. I stayed in the basement. It was quiet and nice. My grandpa drove me around town the next couple of days looking for a job for me. We would stop and get food, or drinks and then head out on the road again. He would never pry or ask questions about what happened to me and my college experience. Instead he told me stories of his life. Stories of his mission and the gospel.

He would come downstairs with popcorn and a movie and we would watch movies together. He always had candy stashed away somewhere and was more than willing to share it with me. He always had kind things to say to me. He was never over bearing or judgemental. He always made me feel loved. My life has changed in so many ways because of him. I decided to go on a mission. I loved his stories about his mission. I loved hearing about how they would have to find food and shelter each night. How they went out without purse or script. It was amazing. His spirit was and still is amazing. So here is to grandpas, we love you. You are incredible gifts that Heavenly Father has given us. Each of us are so blessed because of you. I hope that everyone has or had a kind and wonderful grandpa. They are the best!!

Thank Heavens for Good Friends!

So you are probably wondering who these people are, well besides the pics of me and my kiddos right? Well this is my great friend Heather and her kiddos. She does have a husband, but I didn't get any pictures of Ethan. Sorry!! We all go way back..... When I say way back I mean pre-kids. Now for me I know that is not that long ago. My oldest girls are only four, but for some reason when I say pre-kids it seems like a long time ago. Heather and I both worked for State Farm Insurance in Utah. I had moved to Utah with my hubby so he could finish his schooling at BYU. I had already been working for State Farm in Arizona, but transferred and starting working in Lance's office with Heather. We both hit it off from the beginning!! She of course tells me that she was a little afraid of me because I had been working for State Farm for a while and she had just started so she didn't know if I was going to be this task master of a woman or not. Of course everyone that knows me knows that that is so not me!!!

Her and Ethan hadn't been married for too long yet and Adam and I had been married for a little over four years. She was younger than me, and I loved her stories about her small town of Paulsbo in Washington. We would often talk about kids and of course I told her about the fact that Adam and I had been trying for a while but just couldn't seem to get pregnant. She listened to all my stories, and my fears and desires for a family. We could talk about anything, and it was so nice to have such an incredible person to talk to , and to cry with on occasion.

Well to make a long story short, Heather ended up getting pregnant. I remember the day she came into the office and told me. She said she had like seven pregnancy tests lined up because they couldn't believe that they were going to have a baby. They had been trying, for like a month!!! Yes, Heather was one of those people!!! Heather I love you, but I had to put that in there. She didn't have any problems getting pregnant!! She went and had a blood test done just to confirm and I remember her calling the lab to get the results. I remember when she got off of the phone and we just sort of stared at each other!! I was so happy for her. I didn't get angry or jealous or experience some of those things that you might think I would. I was genuinely happy for them, and I couldn't wait until I would one day be able to have that same emotion of finding out that I was going to be a mother.

Heather was really sick!!! Really sick. I remember our office used to order Cafe Rio on Fridays and just the smell of it would send her running to the bathroom. I would often turn around to tell her something and realize she was in middle of full on sprint for the bathroom!.. I felt so bad. I remember she would come back from lunch and tell me how many times she had to pull the car over before she made it back to the office. It was not a fun experience for her, but she was a trooper and she came to the office everyday sick or no sick.

Adam and I had decided to adopt through LDS family services. We had prayed about a family and knew that this was something that we needed and wanted to do . We felt very strongly that Heavenly Father wanted us to start a family and that this was our answer. Heather and Ethan were of course very excited for us. I would talk to her about our workshops that we went to and I would tell her about stories from birth mothers that would come to these workshops. When it came time to turn our paperwork in, Heather came over to our house, sick and all and helped us do our little collage of pictures for our profile. She is so awesome with crafts and being creative. I of course told her that I would have her favorite candy on hand!! So we finished our paperwork and had an awesome looking collage thanks to Heather.

We turned our paperwork in and a week later I found out that I was pregnant. Heather was one of the first people to know. It seemed only fair, after all I was one of the first to know about her little peanut. I called her right from the Dr. office and said "Heather, don't say anything and don't act surprised but I just found out that I am pregnant". I didn't want Lance(my boss) to know yet and so she acted very casually and said, "Wow, that is great". I told her I needed to get some snacks and I would be right back in the office. So one month later Heather was also there when I got a call from my husband telling us that our case worker with LDS family services wanted to speak with us and he was sure we had been chosen. It was true, we had been chosen. We all screamed in the office. We had clients but they chimed right in with us.

Heather was there when we got Aislynn. She came to the hospital when I was in labor with Bailey, and then afterwards when I had a c-section. I came and saw her when she had Eliza. It was a very blessed time for the both of us and our families.

Our kids got to spend a little time together before we moved to Florida and they moved to Seattle. Not enough time though. That was a very special time in our lives. I guess that is why I consider her one of my great friends. We went through a lot together. We grew a lot during that short period of time that we worked together. Now we email, and we were just able to see them. They came and stayed in Phoenix with Ethan's sister. We got together kids and all and were finally able to see each other again. It was like old times. It was so much fun. They have two adorable kids. Eliza, who is so smart and funny. Liam who is all boy and so much fun. My girls loved them.

Bailey and Aislynn now talk about wanting a little brother. They have enough sisters they tell me. I think they think I can just order one or something. I will put in an order, not now but soon for a brother. We will see what Heavenly Father wants us to have. All girls, a boy, whatever the outcome is I will always feel very blessed. Thank you Heather and Ethan for being great friends. Thank you for not letting the miles of separation separate our friendship!! Congratulations on number three!! Heather is of course sick sick sick. But like always she is a trooper and handling it. I am grateful for such great friends. They truly make life more enjoyable and way more blessed!!

Our Christmas Story

Well, as most of you can see my children hit the mother load this year when it came to presents. Adam and I of course bought them some, Santa brought them some, grandparents got them some. Grandma and Grandpa Bingham got them some very cool pink huffy bikes!! That was the first thing they noticed as they came downstairs. They were a big hit. Christmas was wonderful, incredible, magical, whimsical, and will be a Christmas that we never forget. This is our Christmas story.....

As many of you know we had a very special "Christmas Angel" who came to our door every night or sometimes day, for 12 days. My girls thought this was the best thing ever. They would go to bed every night waiting to see what our Christmas Angel would bring. They would often ask me if I could see "her". It has to be a her, my children quickly pointed out to me, because she is like a beautiful fairy with wings, and she can fly so fast we cannot see her when she drops off our presents at the door. My family was so blessed to have this wonderful angel come to our door, we received so many wonderful things and truly felt the spirit of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we got back from a very long day of last minute shopping. The girls were tired, we were tired everyone was exhausted. It's probably our fault for doing last minute shopping on Christmas Eve, but we did it anyway. We had not been home all day so I thought that maybe our Christmas Angel had dropped off our last bag of goodies. I have to admit I was a little sad we would not be receiving anymore visits from our friend. I had grown so attached to her. She made me even as an adult await with anticipation and excitement to see what clever things they had left at our door.

When I opened the door I stood in absolute shock and amazement. At my door was a huge black trash bag filled to the brim with wrapped presents. Wrapped presents my dear readers!!! There was also a bag filled with other goodies left as well. The presents were all neatly wrapped, and named!! They were big presents and the girls eyes were wide and their little hands grabbed each one and shook them and smelled them and just devoured them. Of course we knew we had to wait until the next day to open them, but I will tell you I haven't been so excited since I was a child at Christmas. I didn't know what these packages held. As a parent you are so used to knowing what everything is under the tree. That is what we do. We stay up way to late wrapping and wrapping and organizing and knowing what every gift is. I did not know, I was at a loss for words. The little bag that came with the gifts had gift certificates inside. We had some for Fry's grocery and some for Borders. There was also a 40.00 bill in a card that was left for us.

Adam and I stared at each other in absolute awe. We could not believe that we were the recipients of such kindness, such goodness. Our children were apart of what the true meaning of Christmas is, and was so many years ago when Heavenly Father sent his son in the form of a new born baby to us to live and eventually die. Giving us the greatest gift that this world will ever know.. The gift of forever, the gift of repentance, the gift of the atonement.

Christmas morning came. Presents were unwrapped. Bailey had the stomach flu and spent most of her time on the potty. I had to run to the only 24 hour Walgreens to get some Children's Imodium. The girls got some incredible gifts. The gifts that were most special, had the most value to our girls where those precious gifts from our Christmas Angel. They received dolls, beautiful dolls with corn silk hair. They also received my little pony everything you could possibly imagine, and even a Dr. kit so they could operate on Max(our dog). We had my parents over. The girls got to ride their bikes. They had so much fun, and so did we. Snapping pictures and taking videos, you know all the stuff a parent normally does on Christmas. However this was not a normal Christmas. This is a Christmas that we will remember forever.

Christmas Angel I do not know who you are. I do not know how your Christmas turned out, or what things were under your tree. I do know one thing.. We love you. You have made our Christmas one of the most memorable. One of the most spiritual. We will miss you. We will miss the kindness that only Christmas brings. We will try to incorporate the unselfishness, the kindness and the love that you showed our family to others all year round. You have embodied what our Savior came on this earth to teach. You have made his life, his teachings a part of your life and we in turn will do our part to be examples and emulate his life in our own. Thank you our magical friend and until next year may everyday be like Christmas.


"The dreams of childhood-its airy fables, its graceful, beautiful, humane, impossible adornments of the world beyond, so good to be believed in once, so good to be remembered when outgrown".

Charles Dickens

Gingerbread Joy!!

One of the great gifts that we received from our "Christmas Angel" was a gingerbread train set. The girls were very excited and wanted to put in together right away. We have done gingerbread houses with them for the past couple of years, so a train fit right in.
This is Cecely enjoying the fruits of the gingerbread train. Does she look happy or what? Notice her "night night" or blanket in adult language. She has to have it right behind her when she eats. Basically anywhere she goes her trusty "night night" goes as well. It makes for a very dirty blanket. Its been washed a couple hundred times in its short life. I have learned though, never ever separate a girl and her night night.
Adam and I helped put the train together, but the girls had free reign over where to put the decorations. We just opened the candy and let them go to town. They were very articulate about where everything went. It had to be just so. Santa would never have a gingerbread train that had lopsided wheels or a misplaced gumdrop, are you kidding? So here they are going to town.
They looked at the picture on the box and did a very good job placing each little piece of candy. They looked and thought and talked about it for a while, and then they started the masterpiece. It turned out very beautiful, and I think even Santa would be impressed.
Of course while building the train you must taste each candy and the frosting. Haven't you read the directions?? It's in there I promise. So the girls did a great job of tasting and finger licking!! The end product is the first picture on this post. I was very proud of them. They are quite the little gingerbread train makers. Of course right after this they wanted to eat it. So, I gave in and let them eat some of it. It was right before church and I really didn't want them bouncing off the walls during Sacrament. Of course they already do that anyway. It was great fun and lots of good eating(on the girls part). There is something about industrial frosting that is really nasty to me, so I never taste!!! Hope everyone is having a great season!!

We are still being visited by out "Christmas Angel". We have received so many wonderful things. I continue to be touched by our special visitor every day or night. The girls love it so much and are constantly talking about our Christmas Angel. They have to tell all of their friends and even Grandma. Last night we received some beautiful Christmas place mats. We continue to get a piece of Nativity every day. We make sure we yell out the door"thank you" in hopes that whoever this magical person is, they will hear us. Well time to start getting ready for the next couple of days!! We love you and Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Angel

Someone in our ward has chosen our family to do a "Twelve days of Christmas". Every night for the past five nights we have received a ringer of our doorbell only to find a special package but no one there. Each package has contained very special gifts. The first night we received a pair of Christmas socks for each of the girls. On the second night we received two movie tickets(for me and Adam) and a piece of Nativity. The third night we received 4 chocolate Santa's and 4 gift certificates equaling 100 dollars and another piece of Nativity. The fourth night we received three hello kitties for the girls and another piece of Nativity. Last night we received 5 special little planters and seeds for the girls to plant and watch grow from the comfort of our own home. We do not know who our Christmas angel is, and we prefer it that way. Every night before the girls go to bed they ask about "Santa's brother", or the "Christmas Angel". They stay in their beds like good little girls waiting for the ring of the doorbell. They know that the next morning they will get to see what this magical little helper has brought to our family and it is better than Christmas morning to them.
Our family has felt truly blessed by this act of love and kindness. Times are hard. Money is tight for everyone yet they have chosen our little family to show this great act of love and unselfishness. I am brought back to the true meaning of Christmas. Something I learned as a child. Something that unfortunately with time has faded a little. Sometimes it becomes all about the gifts, stressing out that we don't have enough money to buy for everyone, or will they even like their gift? I forget, or not forget really but lose for a while, the true gift of Christmas. The greatest gift our Heavenly Father could have ever given to us, his son Jesus Christ. Because of that incredible gift I can have eternal life. I can be with my family forever. I will be resurrected. I can repent of my sins in this life and be able to live with My Father and brother again in the next life. What greater gift is there than this?

Thank you my Christmas Angel, wherever you are, whoever you are. Thank you for bringing back the true meaning of Christmas to our family. Thank you for listening to the promptings of our Heavenly Father and being a true "Angel" to our family.