Happy 9 years Baby!!!

I am a little late to post this but this past week, as crazy as it has been, Jake and I hit our 9 year anniversary. Luckily for us, we do not feel the need to celebrate extravagantly. That is a good thing because we hardly saw each other that day. Jake had work and by the time, he was home. I had a CE class and we saw each other briefly in passing before scouts and activity days. Sandra was able to come up that day unexpectedly because schools in Jackson and surrounding areas were out most the week, if not all the week, due to the flooding from last weeks storms. We are blessed that we nor my loved ones do not have damage. The week has been crazy busy but I suppose that is life, so I have no complaints on it.

Aubree's share at school

At school this week, Aubree shared during share time. She is very excited for the baby and enjoys feeling him move. She shared her excitement with her class about feeling him move, my belly growing, and wanting to be there when the baby is born. Aubree explained that she will be in there when the baby is born and went over to ask the teacher if she could say "vagina", the teacher said that may not be such a great idea, so Aubree proceeded. She explained there would be lots of blood and they would have to cut her mommy "down here" and started pointing to her vagina....that's right, and explained that it would be bloody and the baby would be bloody and her mom would scream. The teacher got a real kick out of this and one of the students wanted to know why I would not be given medicine when I scream. Mrs. Hulgan had to explain a bit about childbirth for the first time as a kindergarten teacher. How does Aubree know these things? She is determined to help me have the baby and be in there, so I have been trying to discourage that, I do not want my child scarred, and in the process have tried to make it sound yucky to her. She is still determined.

So, recently Jake was offered another employment position at a charter for school. He has been asked to come as the the director or curriculum and instruction or the dean of students. At first, he was ready to go but we are know trying to decide if it is best for our family. The pay is a little more but the hours are longer each day and he will not get the same breaks that we enjoy now. Also, it could eventually open more doors possibly to other opportunities. Over the next three years, he could hold the students more accountable and feels he could have a greater impact on the students. If you weigh out the added hours and days of work, the hourly wage is actually less than he makes now but both are salaried positions. However, if he stays with Memphis City Schools, he has tenure and if he tutors or takes a couple more classes, the pay is equal or a tad more than the charter school and he is still off when the girl are off and the days are shorter. Also, a large portion of his student loans would be forgiven next year and he has a little more flexibility to get off for a couple hours to attend the girls things. We enjoy summers together and like the idea of being able to visit family or go places in the summer.
I have been praying that the Lord will direct Jake to make the best decision for our family but Jake asked me last night to pray that I may know too. Ultimately, I think either can be a good choice and will support him in the decision made but I, too am asking the Lord for guidance. With that said, I believe most of the answers to my prayers come through other people, so that is why I am sharing. Here are a few of my current thoughts, the charter school would give a profound impact on the students but our children would lose some of that time and influence...however, our children have a strong, good family life and most of the students do not. Are we not suppose to serve and help others but at the same time, family is top priority. I think the decision comes down primarily to the time involved and possible career path, Jake may want to pursue. He loves teaching and does not desire to be in corporate America nor administration at this point, but who knows what tomorrow holds. He wanted to teach for the impact on his students and to be a positive role model. He has succeeded and is a wonderful teacher, his stats and test scores show that but at the same time, I do not want him to pass an opportunity...see how I am torn? If we look at our treasures in life, it is not monetary things but our families and relationships with others, so that is why the pay is not too much of a factor and besides that it is about the same. I suppose this is a blessed dilemma because we are blessed that Jake has employment and our family is taken care of. And it is not very heard of that a person can assume an administrative position after only four years of teaching.....

Time out For Women

Recently, I was able to attend Time Out for Women with my mom and sister, Sandra. My sister in law, Kara, joined us Saturday with her mom and sister visiting from Idaho. It was a great weekend and I was very happy to be able to share it with them. Friday night, we were privileged to hear John Bytheway and the musical entertainment segments were done by Jenny Oaks Baker. There was also a video presentation by Sherri Dew. I felt uplifted and edified as I left that evening and who knew that Saturday would be just as edifying and uplifting. Emily Watts, Michael Wilcox, Hilary Weeks, and Mary Ellen Edmunds were on the venue for Saturday. There was also another lady (Amanda Dickson) on there but I was unable to listen to her due to a mishap at lunch. The theme this year was infinite hope and the key speaker to portray the message was a young lady from Africa, Mariama Kallon, with an amazing story that saw her family murdered right before her eyes. They were mutilated and shot and the only reason she survived is because soldiers came to chase down the rebels. There was a movie based on her people. It's called: "Blood Diamond." Anyway, because her family died she was left to care for her sister's children. She didn't know how she was going to do it so she moved in with a friend. An LDS family lived next to her friend and she started taking the discussions. She had to walk 3 miles every day both ways to listen to the discussions. She said some days it was raining so hard that she would put her Book of Mormon in a plastic bag and walk the 3 miles anyway to hear the words of the Lord. She knew after she was baptized that she wanted to serve a mission but she didn't know how she could leave the 2 children. The Bishop said he would keep the children while she served her mission. She was called to serve her mission in SLC at temple square. The one thing that scared her most was wearing Knee highs because she never even wore shoes. She saw many of her companions receiving letters while she did not have any family to send her letters. The missionaries wrote back to their parents and asked that they send her letters. She was so grateful to be loved by so many strangers. Then she was asked to go see the mission president. She was scared to be around so many white people that she thought she was in trouble. When she got to the office she was asked by a young couple if she knew of any African boys that needed to be adopted. She was overjoyed that the Lord kept his promise that he would would provide for them and not forget about them. She only had one picture to show and they saw the little girl in the picture too. They wanted to adopt both of them. What a miracle! They even asked her to stay as a nanny for their family of 8 children when she was done with her mission. She was blessed to be able to stay in the United States and remain with her sister's children.

The speakers and artists were all very approachable and I loved that the setting was a little laid back. It was like an EFY for women. Usually, I find myself to cheap or cost efficient to pay $50 for tickets to anything like that but after participating, it is something that is well worth the costs and just makes you feel good. Here are a few of my favorite lines that were shared. Jenny Oaks Baker was preparing to perform after the Sherri Dew video presentation and her comment was “Oprah is leaving, maybe Sherri Dew can replace her.”. How cute is that. John Bytheway shared a great quote from Jeffrey R Holland that made a lot of sense to me “The future of this world has long been declared; the final outcome between good and evil is already known. There is absolutely no question as to who wins because the victory has already been posted on the scoreboard. The only really strange thing in all of this is that we are still down here on the field trying to decide which team’s jersey we want to wear! Source: Cited in John Bytheway, When Times are Tough, (Deseret Book, 2004), 30." He is exactly right, the end has been determined, I just need to play for my team live the gospel….I just need to enjoy the game and my playing time. We need to not let our team lose and play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back. Sherri L Dew said the following: "No one knows the quantitative influence of a woman. No one but saints can be happy under any circumstance. There is no way to measure or limit influence of a woman of God. If people are going to see what latter day women of God look like, we need to be that." Hilary Weeks made this comment: "Gratitude gives us proper perspective." When everything says you can't, believe in the part of you that says you can!

I think every women needs the opportunity to experience an even such as this, not only does it edify us but unifies us.

Our escape artist

Jake's parents have shared many stories with us about Jake as a little boy and how he always managed to escape places. Well, I am here to tell you, like father like son. The past two weeks, Will has sent my heart racing on a few occasions. The first time, were downtown with Jake's parents eating and we had all been chasing Will. We sat down with him in the chair and turned to help the girls. The next thing we see is a little boy out the door jetting in the street. My heart stopped as Jake and I raced to get him.
Then at the hotel at Disney, Saturday, Jake had taken the kids up to the room while I was finishing up downstairs. I finished up in the lobby and headed back to the room, upon getting on the elevator, there was an employee on the radio with another stating there was a little boy trapped in an elevator. My first instinct was that it was my son, so I immediately called Jake and he said no, he was in the potty but Will was in the room with his sisters and the doors were locked. However, after Jake verified with the girls, he was not. By this time, I was off on our floor and went to the room. To my dismay, my son was no where to be found. I left the room in a frantic frenzy to attempt to locate my son in a large hotel. I dial the front desk as I am on the elevator but no one answered...the whole time, I envisioned my sweet little boy wandering the halls or what if someone had taken him....every thought that crossed my mind did. I arrived at the front desk and he had been found on the 4th floor and brought to the front desk. As I took, my baby, I could feel the judgments of other people and frankly, I did not care. All that mattered to me at that moment was that my baby was back in my arms. Tears swelled up in my eyes as I held my little boy and went back to room. It took a little time for my heart to stop racing. I know he has a guardian angel watching over him and I felt the tender mercy of the Lord.

Where dreams come true

A little while after I began working at FedEx, I began putting money aside each week from my check for a family vacation. Well, we cashed in on that deal this past week after Spring Break and headed to Disney World. It was quite a crazy week because Ginny was baptized Saturday, March 27th and we left Sunday evening, March 28th. Jake and I had committed to do a fireside, so Ginny and Will left with his parents for Atlanta and we met up with them the next morning there to head to Florida. We arrived in Florida Monday evening and met up with mom, Sandra, James, Kara, and Elle. Jake told me that evening he was a little apprehensive about being there with the family but Sunday on the way home, he told me it was a good trip and he had a good time. The fun began Tuesday and did not stop all week.

Tuesday, we spent the day at Magic Kingdom, some of the crew even stayed until 1:00a.m. The girls experienced their first roller coaster and had a blast. It worked out well because Sandra was able to ride with one of them and Jake the other. Aubree met her favorite princess that evening and could not have been happier. It was comical because earlier that day, Ariel waved at her during a parade and Aubree about collapsed afterwards...she loves Ariel.
Wednesday, we decided to do Animal Kingdom. It was a smaller park and was very enjoyable too. We rode rides and watched "The Lion King". The kids were able to get several autographs from characters and liked that. Will discovered the characters and wanted to go up and see all of them from then on out. He would just hug their leg but would not pose with any of them.

Thursday, it was back to Magic Kingdom...but we got there early to try to get the princesses signatures. We stayed until about 4:00 and then went back to the hotel and met up with James and Kara. We ate and then that evening they went back for the night parade and fireworks but mom, Will, and I stayed at the hotel and went to bed.
Friday was spent at Hollywood Studios. The girls rode more roller coasters and we watched several shows. I enjoy the shows a lot. That night mom, Sandra, James, Kara, and Elle headed home. I was a little sad to see them leave because we were having a blast but what do you do. So, Saturday, we decided to have a light day to prepare for our trek home Sunday. We took the girls to Downtown Disney and Will to eat at the T-rex place. They had a great time.

Accountability

Ginny has reached the what is often referred to as the age of accountability. With that, she has chosen to be baptized. It was a very special day for her and she was surrounded by those people who care the most for her, that were able to attend. She has several family members who would have loved to have been there but due to distance were not able too. She looked beautiful dressed in her little white jumper.

Jake gave her a beautiful confirmation prayer. He blessed her with the following but although it is in quotation marks, the wording may not be 100% accurate. The blessing went something to this effect summed up: " Heavenly Father is pleased with you. I bless you to read the scriptures and pray often. Feel the promptings of the Holy Ghost. To have the desire to choose the right and at difficult times to feel the promptings of the Spirit and heed them. You are a righteous daughter of God. He will never forsake you. He hears your prayers. Your father and mother love you. Continue to listen to your church leaders and heed the counsel of your parents of your grandparents." We enjoyed our day celebrating Ginny and being with family. I look forward to the day when are around all our family more often. Way to go, Ginny!!