Post by Jake today....yes, he loves me!

I have now been married to my beautiful wife for 20 years plus one day. Why the plus one? It is the secret to the success of our marriage. Big events and milestones are wonderful, but what we do with the ordinary days is probably what matters most. Holding hands in the car drive to work, watching a favorite show together, praying as a family, dancing in the kitchen, sitting on my near perfect lawn, and sitting next to each other whenever possible are the little things that make each and every day special. Renee' Farrell is the recharge I need after a long day at school or a disappointing outcome. She is a warm cuddle buddy when she keeps the house freezing. She is the giver of unexpected smiles. She is part of my happiness. I hope to enjoy a lot more plus ones with her. Thank you for a wonderful 20 years, Renee' Farrell.

Has it really been 2 decades?

 

Most people will be celebrating Cinco de’ Mayo tomorrow but I will celebrating twenty years of the marriage and grace. Happy anniversary, Jacob Farrell- the guy I introduced to white cheese  dip and he introduced me to college football  and  nights.

 

My journey with you, Jake has been the best of my life and I feel that more every day (well, most days). I am still learning how to be your wife in the way you need me and I will never stop striving for that. I love you, Jake, for so many reasons—your energy, yearning to learn constantly, your passion for education, your love for the weather , fatherhood, your spiritual strength, your compassion and kindness, and your friendship—to name a few.

 

Jake- You make me a better person, happy, and laugh. You help me embrace life to the fullest. You calm my worries and my crazy. You make me a better parent and friend.

You have my back. You are always in my corner and on my team. I am better because of you!

 

I look forward to many more years of life lessons, memory building, and time with you as we navigate through this journey called life. Thank you for choosing me 20 years ago

Walk down memory lane

 This evening, I asked Jake to accompany me to take a few pictures of a house listing and it ended up being a wonderful evening for our family (- Ginny, she went to a singles family home evening instead).  We went and took some photos then took the youngest three by our old home, neighborhood, and one of our former favorite places to eat.  I was a little sad though when we pulled into our first home we bought on Red Lead Cove as it appears there was a fire or and the home looked so rough. It made me sad because of all our memories there and that the next time we go by, it may not be available to see.  We spent our dinner conversation sharing old memories and just enjoying one another.  It was a lovely evening. For scripture tonight I shared a few versus from 2 Nephi 4:4 where we learn that to prosper in the land means to have the Lord by your side or his spirit with you and then a few verses later in 2 Nephi 4:15-16, how Nephi delighted in the scriptures, pondered them, and wrote down teaching for his posterity. I want to do better at that. We also talked a little about the President Nelson's most recent conference talk on growing our faith, moving our mountains (spoke about how they are not physical mountains but can be our personal Mt Everest to overcome), and the story from the islands about 2 different types of miracles. Miracles where circumstances generously change and miracles where we are able to rise to the occasion and become equal to or greater than whatever trial we face. Personally, I think the second version grows us more.

 

"Two years ago, Sister Nelson and I visited Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Tahiti. Each of those island nations had experienced heavy rains for days. Members had fasted and prayed that their outdoor meetings would be protected from the rain.

In Samoa, Fiji, and Tahiti, just as the meetings began, the rain stopped. But in Tonga, the rain did not stop. Yet 13,000 faithful Saints came hours early to get a seat, waited patiently through a steady downpour, and then sat through a very wet two-hour meeting."

 

We saw vibrant faith at work among each of those islanders—faith sufficient to stop the rain and faith to persevere when the rain did not stop.

Our beautiful Aubree and her nosey, chubby cat, Salem

Our handsome Chris- when he looks nice he will ask if  I want to take a picture.

Our first purchased home (4180 Red Leaf Cove), I was so sad to drive by tonight and see it in this condition.

 

Happiest of birthdays to our Gin-bug

 

Happiest of Birthdays to our beautiful Ginny! Last year was not the year you expected but you handled it with optimism and grace. Virtual college was not your idea of your freshman year, but you excelled academically and found joy in the journey.  Your faith seems to have grown and you have blossomed into a beautiful young woman. We love you!

Facts about Ginny, by Ginny:

You currently want to be when you grow up: freaking dental hygienist still

Your favorite color is: pink and grey and green... basically anything 

Your favorite show is: The Office, X-Files, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Your favorite game is: Spades with Papa or the Farming Game

Your favorite toy or activity is: Boys

Your favorite boy is: Jesus

You are really good at: everything. or Pickleball

Your best friend is:  Stella

You want to vacation to: The whole world. I want to do Salem MA soon 

Your favorite ice cream is: cookies n creme

Your wish is to be:out of the house

Your hero is: Jesus

Your favorite thing to do with your friends is: volleyball and sit around talking

Your favorite holiday is: Halloween

Your favorite person in the whole world is: myself

Your favorite song(s) is:  Like Real people do by Hozier, For Emma by Bon Iver,

Your favorite restaurant is: Tazikis

Your favorite foods are: cereal, donuts, candy ropes 

If you had $1000 you would buy: that's not a lot of money... new phone. Mom would say save it 

 

Happiest of Birthdays Jake

Happy Birthday Jake! You selflessly help others, are a dedicated husband, father, son, uncle, and educator. You really do make the world a better place just by being in it and you. You inspire and touch the lives of others. You find creative ways to help others realize their value and are just genuinely a good person. I’m glad you are mine and I am yours.

Some things never change such as some of Jake's favorite things. He has cereal almost every night as a bedtime snack. He loves pizza, especially Papa Murphy's stuffed meat on Tuesdays (it is $10), CiCi's Pizza (yuck!), fresh McDonald's french fries, and milkshakes.  He loves donuts and taco's al' carbon.  He loves Dr. Pepper, Dutch Chocolate Blue Bell ice cream, and Reese' Pieces candy. He loves his lawn, his cats, and to come home and just relax. Of all the things, he loves...we love him more.

Brave Awesome Loving Dad   Epic Amazing Great Loyal Excellent

 

 This past Friday (3/19), Jake and I received our 2nd vaccine for Covid. By midnight, I was not feeling well and did not feel well all of Saturday nor Sunday morning. Fortunately, Jake was not effected much at all.  Spring Break was last week but we spent the week at home. The girls house sat for two families and we worked on home projects.  Last Sunday at church, President Martineau (the branch president) shared something that has stuck with me about the principle of tithing. He stated that it applied to reading the Book of Mormon as well, that if we made time to read the Book of Mormon, our days would somehow be made to accomplish all we needed too int he time allotted. 

I love hearing the girls and/or Jake play.

Aubree loves theater and the director, Kiri Walz.

Sister Act

 The snow days brought so much fun and enjoyment.  The snow was here for almost a week because temperatures stayed below freezing. While the girls and I did not venture our much into it, Jake and the boys loved it.  We took the boys sledding one day, actually I am not sure if we can actually classify it as sledding or not because there was cardboard, old vinyl swimming pools, kayaks, and about anything you can think of being used to go down the hill. 

The following week Jake's parents came to visit. This was their longest visit to date with us. They stayed a week.  We were able to ordain Will to the office of a teacher that Sunday (2/28/21) with both our parents there and then hear Ginny play the flute and sing in the YSA branch. My heart was full that week. Seeing Jake and our fathers lay hands on Will's head was touching and watching Ginny sing, I was in awe at the young lady she has become.  Aubree also performed in Sister Act as Sister Mary Martin of Tours and seeing her shine on stage warms me. She definitely has her dad's rhythm and not mine. She is quite the character and her voice has developed so much. Both of my girls sing beautifully. 

Aubree is meant for the stage

Grammy and Papa Farrell were able to make it to the show.

Aubree's biggest fans.

Jake playing for his mom....it was cute because she sang along with it some too.