I LOVE Holidays

It does not make a difference what holiday it is...I love holidays. I enjoy dressing my family for the festivities and the family gatherings that usually occur. This past weekend we went to my parents for a small family gathering because some of dad's family was in from out of town. We had planned to go and only stay a couple hours but stayed for almost five hours. Jake even enjoyed it. I loved reminiscing with our cousins about growing up and sharing different memories. I enjoyed watching my kids play with distant cousins and some they had never before me...it was wonderful. This past weekend was exactly how I remember patriotic holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day) growing up. It was great. The only thing that would have made it better was if all my siblings could have been there.
Earlier before the cook out, we met Papaw at the cemetery to put patriotic torches on a few of the graves. Aubree has been asking to put flowers on them, so she enjoyed it. However, she was very concerned that my Mamaw (Virginia Pauline Litton (Jones)) did not have any, so we went to a nearby store and purchased some flowers and a balloon and went back to the cemetery and put them on the grave. Overall, the day or even the entire holiday weekend has been a good one.

Vacation week from work

Originally, my vacation from work was suppose to be the 1st week of May, however, I volunteered to change it to this week (May 16-20). I guess it was a good thing because last Thursday (May 12), Jake threw his back out and has been very immobile. He has been unable to drive, so I get to play taxi for everyone. He took Friday off work but I have driven him every day since and to the orthopedic doctor and now he is beginning physical therapy. To me, it has been a subtle witness of the generosity of the Lord. I am not saying it is a good thing that he hurt himself but I am saying is the Lord was mindful when vacation week changed. Jake can not even lift Christopher, so I would have had to figure something out. He is even unable to put on his socks and shoes right now. Other than that, life is good. Actually, I had a pretty sucky day Tuesday. Let's see: my iPhone was dropped in the toilet (not even clean water...), spent 3 hours at doctors with the boys, dropped Jake off at temple, and had a flat on the way home. The flat was not even on my van but on the Xterra and getting to the spare tire was a challenge. But, I did it, with the help of Charity. Changing the tire gave a sense of accomplishment but overall the day just kept adding up. My phone is fried and has to be replaced and I am taking the tire in today...life just comes as you sometimes but things could be major. These are all minor things.

Spring photos by Kara

I am blessed that my brothers chose wonderful women to marry. They are good women and have added bonuses too. My brother James, is married to Kara, the more I am around her the more I love her. She has lots of neat things about her and as an added bonus takes great pictures. She has asked to take a few pictures of the 3 cousins together and I also asked her to snap a few of the kids. We did this in her garage and it took literally a few minutes but the pictures are great! Here are several of them.

The Mighty Mississippi

The talk of the nation these days is the death of Osama Bin Laden and the rising Mississippi, including the current flooding it has caused. Yesterday, we decided for family home evening to drive down town to witness the near record height. It was impressive the width and to see parks that use to be, covered in water. People were taking tons of photos, my Ginny included. Then we went to Gus's fried chicken for dinner....yummy. I very much enjoy evenings with my family.So, today Ginny had a field trip and wanted one of us to come but did not want her brothers to come. Jake took off work to go, which made Ginny thrilled and then he plans to go read to Aubree's class. The cutest thing about the whole thing to me is not only did he take off work but he spent hours preparing a scavenger hunt for the kids with prizes and certificates of completion included too. He is such a good dad and each of the kids knows that he loves them individually.

Happy Mothers Day

Yesterday, was a day set aside in our nation to celebrate mothers. I am blessed with not only a remarkable mother but many great women in my life that have influence in me. I am also thankful to my mother in law to raising the man I married and preparing him for me. My mom is a women that has taught me the importance of reaching out to others, maintaining a clean home, and being willing to serve when needed, without hesitation, or being asked. She is a woman who values motherhood and is teaching me how to be a GREAT grandmother when the time comes. She is a comforter, therapist, friend, example, and teacher to me. I am blessed to have the mother I have. Also, there are many other women in my life at different circumstances in their lives that touch my life. These women are of different ages, marital statuses, health conditions, trials, some are mothers, some are not but they each touch me in a profound way and teach me a little more about life and handling those curve balls or home runs. So, on Mothers Day, I choose not only celebrate my mother but all women or daughters whom touch my life. Some nights when I come home from work, I have small moments that make me love my family a little more and here is on. I came home to discover all the babies snuggled up in bed with my hubby. So, I changed, moved Christopher (did not want him getting rolled on), and went to sleep in one of the kids beds. Within minutes, Jake had joined me....it made me smile!

Cinco de Mayo = 10 years of marital bliss

Ten years ago, I made the best decision of my life and began the most rewarding adventure for me to embark on....I said yes. Jake and I were married on May 5, 2001 in Town and Country Missouri at the St. Louis temple. On that day, I was unaware of the happiness that laid ahead. When one marries, they are usually in love but if they are like me, clueless to how that love will blossom and grow. Jake and I may have hit a few, brief, rough spots but they have made us what we are today and we are happy in love. Life is not always easy but I am forever thankful that Heavenly Father blessed me with such a good man to weather the storms with. I have no doubt that he loves me. Jake believes me and encourages me. He is my source of steadiness in life. He loves me unconditionally and is not only good to me but to our children. One way that I am certain of a loving, father in Heaven is that he manifests his love for me as his child by giving me one of his best sons! Jake shows me daily that he cares for me. I am blessed. Happy Anniversary to Us and I look forward with great anticipation to many more.

bye bye April....hello May

I love the weather in April but am happy to report that April is over for me this year. It started rough for me and ended the same way but May is much better already! A quick summary of my negative April: rear ended, had to replace evaporator coil on AC (expensive), had to repair parts of fence that were blown over, and discovered truth about something I did not believe.Did I mention at the second home someone store the air conditioner outside unit (I suspect it was the old renter) and the door was kicked in. But despite those things, there were some good things. Jake and I feel we weathered a financial challenge without having to use credit cards and many small moments of joys with my babies. May is a special month in my life anyway because it is the month that we celebrate our anniversary. We were also able to spend a little time with Michael and Amy as they passed through to begin a brief journey in their life. Originally, I was scheduled to be off for the first week of May but we are short handed and I volunteered to post pone my vacation week because Mothers day week is a little busier than average and I figure every person counts. So, I am looking forward to May being a good month and the beginning of many more.