Aubree's Senior Shots

How is it possible that next year, we will have two in college away from home....how I will yearn for the holidays! The best part of Thanksgiving was being together, our little crew all together. Our beautiful Aubree is a senior this year and it seems surreal. Aubree has a beauty that radiates on the exterior and the interior. She is selfless and a defender of faith. She lives her testimony. We are glad she is ours. I am not ready to be the only gal in the house. Aubree wanted to wait until the leaves were changing to get senior pictures. The downfall is it gets dark earlier, so they said many were too dark. However, I think my girl is picture perfect in every way....she is beaitful inside and out.

Happy Thanksgiving

The best part of Thanksgiving this year was our Ginny coming home. She arrived Tuesday afternoon and within an hour of her getting home, we headed to Hot Springs to meet some (Chris & Chrytal, Megan & Blake, Sarah & David, and Lynn & Tommie) for Thanksgiving. As we were driving up, Jake and I said it felt nice to have our little crew all in the same car again. Our family had the fun opportunuty to stay in a yurt...I say fun except for the part there was no bathroom in it andwalking out at 4:00 am in the dark cold night was not always fun. It was also nice to get home and spend Saturday together. Sometimes, I feel out of place with Jake's family and that I am not part of it, just tolerated for his sake. I know that I too contribute by not making more of an effort nad there is no excuse but I honestly do not know where or how to start. I have texted but they are not repsonded too and I invite over and over to visit but that too does not work... and we do not have the ability to travel frequently and invite. I really just pray that my children know and feel loved by both sides of he family and know that I always tried. On a different note, Jake had his first bishop's youth meeting at the house the Sunday before Thanksgvign and he had 24 youth in attendance. The youth are so lucky to have him!

Quick vist with the family

 Today after church, the kids and I left Jake "bishoping" and we left for Jackson about 12:30 to visit my family.  Church is currently 9-11 but Jake did not get home until 6:00pm tonight, so I was glad I did not wait on him. My brothers are down for the weekend with a few of their kids to hunt and bring Riley home.  It was nice to see them and I enjoyed the visit.  Sandra and Becky were also there.  Being around everyone made me reminisce of when we all lived in Tennessee.  I miss those days and thought how crazy it is that we have almost grown children of our own and my parents pods of us kids is soon to expand to individual "pods" of kids as our kids start branching out.  It was a very pleasant visit.  It would have been better if Charity was there but I still enjoyed the company.

Rebekah, Dad, Mom, Sandra, James, Michael, and me

 

 There times that I feel nervous that Jake is bishop because I feel kike I may unintentionally make it more difficult for him. I do not always feel that people receive the best impressions of me, which is my fault I am sure. I do not want that to be a burden to him. I need to figure out how to change and grow to be better for him. I want to help encourage and inspire him.  He does not always see how wonderful he is either. He is a Jesus loving man that believes the Book of Mormon is a book of miracles.  He states when he reads it he is better. He strengthens me and helps me want to be better.  Last night Jake and I attended a stake youth dance. We had the stake young men's president tell Jake that now he understands why the stake kept turning Jake's name down as a counselor and one of the counselor's wife tell me that they tried multiple times to get Jake into stake young mens.  I am married to a really good guy.  I was also told previously that my name was removed form being called as stake young women's president when we were released because they knew then that Jake was going to be the next bishop.

Social media post by Ginny

 November 7, 2021 ---> social media post by Ginny....made me momma heart happy!

"So college is a lot of fun right. I love it here. Anyways one of the biggest shocks to me is how many people don’t know about the church. It comes up that I don’t drink tea or coffee and then I’m like yea I’m Mormon and then they’re like that’s crazy. The next question is usually what else can’t you do? I always have like a hard time answering that because I dont really think of what I can’t do. I think of what the gospel gives me. The gospel has taught me that Christ is my Savior. And because He is my Savior I can be forgiven of all my sins. I can have an eternal family. I am given strength to get through any trials sent my way. I can find peace and hope in the situations I’m in. Yes He asks that we sacrifice a little but what we can gain is so much better."

November, so soon?!?

 Fall break was busy in different ways for us but nice.  I was glad to have Ginny home a few days. Jake went on a Civil War expedition with his dad and brothers and I kept part of Sandra's kids and Charity's kids.  We were kidded out by the end of the week but was sure glad to be able to let the kids play together. 

Chris, Tommie, TW, and Jake Farrell (of course, you have to stop by the Grand Ole Opry)

 

Jake went straight to work building relationships with the youth and is doing his best to be present for them. We were also able to attend a conference in Nashville over Halloween for TSTA. I more so went to just be with Jake.  I love my time with him. Aubree also has her school play "Puffs" happening right now too.  I get so happy when my kids send me pictures.

Corn Maze with the Youth

Twin Day at school for Red Ribbon Week, she asked me to twin with her.

Ginny- Halloween Sunday

My home crew Halloween Sunday

Aubree was so excited to put the cats in costumes for Halloween