We need your Prayers

Avarie started chemo last night. It was extremely hard to concentrate on sleep while knowing what was going on. I still feel like I'm living on auto-pilot. Anytime I forget for a second about what my sister and her family are going through or have to endure I almost immediately am reminded of something that triggers my mind and once again I am swallowed back into our reality. It was especially hard when I had Addisen and Carter stay the night on Monday and could not shake the absence of their sweet sister. Brooklyn kept getting mad that she had no one to play with. Brooklyn and Avarie are so close. They have always been so similar in so many ways that it is almost impossible for me to see Brooklyn now and not think of Avarie. In some ways that has helped me. I know that it seems almost selfish of me to go on about my grief when I am not the mom but Jenell and I are so close that it is impossible for me to seperate my feelings from hers. I truly love each one of my neices and nephews so much, being an Aunt for me has always been a verb to me. I truly hope that everyone who reads this will please keep Avarie and her family in your prayers. I have no doubt that prayers heal. This Sunday is fast Sunday in our church please join our family in fasting and praying. Even if you don't go to our church please consider attending some church this Sunday. You might just find what you've been missing.

Leukemia

I just got word that the our sweet Avarie has leukemia. I can't really express my truest sorrow of this but I just wanted to let you all know a story Jenell shared with me this morning. Her and Avarie caught some of conference yesterday and as Jenell lay beside her sweet daughter Avarie turned to her and asked if the prophet would ask Heavenly Father to make her better because she was tired of being sick. Jenell told her she was sure he would mention to bless the kids who were sick. After a little while of listening to one of the speakers, Avarie not realizing it wasn't the prophet asked why the prophet hadn't said "please make Avarie not sick" Jenell told her that the prophet hadn't spoke yet but not to worry. One more quick story to share is that when they were giving Avarie an ultrasoud the other day she was having a hard time holding still and began pleading with her mom to sing the primary song "I love to see the temple"so Jenell looked at the technician and explained that she would then began singing her daughters fav. church song(so she wouldn't completely weird her out) so sweet Avarie held still as her mom sang the these words

1. I love to see the temple.
I’m going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit,
To listen and to pray.
For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I’ll prepare myself while I am young;
This is my sacred duty.

2. I love to see the temple.
I’ll go inside someday.
I’ll cov’nant with my Father;
I’ll promise to obey.
For the temple is a holy place
Where we are sealed together.
As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:
A fam’ly is forever.

where much is expected much is given

I write with heavy heart but not with little faith. My barely 4yr old niece has been battling what we thought was arthritis but what now is thought to be leukemia or lymphoma. We went to see her in the hospital yesterday, she has been there since Friday, She was in so much pain I struggle with the words to adequately describe how my heart ached as I looked upon my sweet Avarie and saw her crumbled up in pain. She will have her bone marrow tested today or tomorrow, so until the results come in we wait. Jenell is holding up well but I fear that the toll of this will become evident soon. It has been hard on her being away from her other kids especially her baby. General Conference has never meant more to me nor have I ever I feel needed it more. There were so many wonderful words expressed. How truly blessed are we that have the gospel in our lives to help us through times of trial. I rely so heavily on my faith in my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that at times like this it is what brings me comfort. I'm not sure how others make it through without turning to them. I by nature research things when I do not understand something so here are a few things that I have found that have brought me comfort.

When Joseph Smith was in Liberty Jail, he cried to the Lord for comfort, and the Lord gave it to him. He said that “if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:7.)

Such trials give us the development of spirituality that we probably never would get if we didn’t have the experience where the very jaws of hell gape open their mouth wide after us. Not only must we survive, but we must develop the ability to have a concern for others while we are suffering. It is a key element in our spiritual growth. As we lose our lives in the service of our fellowmen, we find ourselves.

Jesus gave us the perfect example at Gethsemane when he forgave his Apostles who slept while he bled at every pore for all our sins. He only asked, “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” (Matt. 26:40.) Suffering is universal; how we react to suffering is individual. Suffering can take us one of two ways. It can be a strengthening and purifying experience combined with faith, or it can be a destructive force in our lives if we do not have the faith in the Lord’s atoning sacrifice. The purpose of suffering, however, is to build and strengthen us. We learn obedience by the things we suffer.

I truly hope that each one of us does not waste the precious time we are given on this Earth in things that do not and will not matter once we pass on. We each are given the opportunity to come here and have the freedom to live our lives according to our will but what a waste if we do not strive to make our life full of things of purpose. We have but little time to spare doing things that are not of eternal importance. I cannot waste the lesson this experience with Avarie has already taught me I will not allow here suffering to be invane. Please remember her and her family in your prayers. I will keep you all posted of her condition.

what a wonderful world

I realized after looking back at my last post that I was feeling overwhelmed but truly everything is actually going amazingly well. The kids are doing great at home and in their classes and are making friends. I am feeling really great about life right now. Jason is also doing well and spent the weekend giving IVs to a banana! I want to comment on the state of our world right now but I'll save that for another one. I just wanted to post some pics of the kids on their first day of classes and some of Jackson's soccer practice yesterday, which by the way was such an awesome warm day! Sadly though summer is over and the weather will be turning soon. Anyway conference is this weekend and I am very looking forward to feeling renewed and listening to the prophet.

Busy Times

Just thought I'd check in and let everyone know that I'm here but I am really busy with school and life. The kids and Jason start classes on Monday so really my life is about to get even more crazy. I remember when I graduated from high school I had the thought that unless I go to college the stress of all that was over but I swear it is like my life is reverting back to that time in my life. I didn't always apply myself in high school and I used to be such a procrastinator not necessarily by choice but by default. When it comes to my kids though I really want the best for them and want to give them every advantage which I believe for them is to be homeschooled but I have to keep on top of myself so much, I'm sure that is the reason more of you don't go this route. I am extremely excited about their classes! Payten has an American Girl class on Monday's and a History/an intense writting/math/ art class all day Tues. and Thurs, Jackson and Brooklyn have a math class on Monday's and Jackson has a class like Payten's on Tues. and Thurs. Brooklyn then has a Kindergarten class on Wed. and then the girls have Ballet on Fridays. Oh ya Jackson and Payten have a skills class on Friday's also, not to mention Payten and I have achievement day's everyother wednesday and jackson still has soccer three times a week. I think if I didn't homeschool I'd never see my kids! . Anyway I am getting very excited about the political debates coming up for those that don't know Oct. 2 is the VP debate. I'm sorry but come on Joe Biden???

Out of the mouth of babes

The kids were tagged by Kaylee and Nikayla Lippy so here are their responses

and no I did not bribe them nor did I beat them!

1.What is something mom always says to you?
Payten: Do your school work
Jackson: Do your math
Brooklyn: go do your laundry

2. What makes mom happy?
Payten: when we listen to you
Jackson: when I do my school work
Brooklyn: When I love you

3. What makes mom sad?
Payten: When we yell at you
Jackson: When I don’t listen
Brooklyn: When I hit you

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Payten: When you act like Jackson!
Jackson: when you tickle me too much!
Brooklyn: When you make funny faces!

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Payten: Always happy
Jackson: you played Nintendo
Brooklyn: you had light hair

6. How old is your mom?
Payten and Jackson: 28
Brooklyn:21?

7.How tall is your mom?
Payten:5’2
Jackson:5’2
Brooklyn:11

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Payten: spend time w/ our family
Jackson: Have fun w/ our family
Brooklyn: read scriptures

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Payten: watch movies
Jackson: talk on the phone
Brooklyn: clean up with Daddy and watch movies with him

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Payten and Jackson: singing
Brooklyn: Dancing and music

11. What is your mom really good at?
Payten: cleaning and taking care of our family
Jackson: reading, writing, and math
Brooklyn: cleaning and laundry

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Payten: I don’t know?
Jackson: your not good at climbing trees anymore
Brooklyn: nothing you’re perfect mommy!

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Payten: takes care of our family
Jackson: helps Daddy with his homework
Brooklyn: she very, very, very takes care of the family( she insisted that there were 3 very’s)

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Payten: lasagna
Jackson: taco casserole
Brooklyn: cake

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Payten: When you help us out
Jackson: Always helping us
Brooklyn: Because I love her soooo much

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Payten: Sleeping Beauty’s Mom
Jackson: Your not a princess your more like a queen
Brooklyn: Sleeping Beauty

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Payten: we go to Achievement Days
Jackson: go fun places
Brooklyn: We go to restaurants

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Payten: we both like going shopping
Jackson: we both like video games
Brooklyn: we both like pink

19. How are you and your mom different?
Payten: I have dark hair
Jackson: you make some gross dinners
Brooklyn: you have green eyes I have brown

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Payten: all you do for us
Jackson: because I love you
Brooklyn: you love me very much because

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Payten: the way he laughs and talks
Jackson: you just love him
Brooklyn: he helps you clean and do the laundry

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Payten: Target
Jackson: the mall
Brooklyn: taco bell

We now tag Addisen, Carter and Avarie

Happy birthday babe!

Today is Jason's 31 birthday! He has to go to the second part of his all day nursing orientation.
I decided for his birthday I would write 31 things you may know or not know about him.

1. He weighed 8lbs 7 oz
2. He was born in Kennewick, WA
3. His older brother Kris and him are 22 months apart.
4. He had surgery at a few weeks old because of a condition called pyloric stenosis.
5. Once he was so sick and had such a high fever his mom laid him naked in the snow(and swears he was the healthiest child from then on)
6. He is allergic to dust, pollen, grass and most other things in the air.
7. He tried to burn his school down( he says he was just playing with matches) when he was 7, the FBI interviewed him!
8. He told his mom he wanted 10 kids when he grew up!
9. He shares a birthday with his youngest sister Tara( Sweet 16 for her today!)
10.He loves all music
11. He has OCD!
12.He loves to wake up at 3AM on Christmas!
13.He could go to Disneland or world every year and never tire!
14.He loves dollar coins and believes they will be worth money in the future ,so if they are we will be millionaires!
15. He loves cologne.
16. He hates sour cream, mayonnaise, and does not drink milk.
17. He loves spaghetti!
18.He can and does put most things on his ice cream sundaes.
19. Mint chocolate chip is his favorite flavor
20. He likes sushi
21. His favorite show is Monk
22. His favorite show of all time is Highway to Heaven.
23. He does not like to dance
24. He wears a size 11 in shoes
25. He always has a pocketful of change.
26. He worked in plumbing for 4 years
27. He hates camping (though I'm working on this with him)
28. He has nice handwriting
29. He loves the Lord of the Rings trilogy
30. He is the most caring person I know(which is why he is a great nurse)
31. He is the best Husband, father and nurse in the world!

All these things have helped make him the person he is and I'm so glad he's all mine!
I love you and hope that you have a wonderful birthday.