Happiness

On Memorial Day, we decided to drive up to Scottsdale and visit the grave site of my Grandma Beverly (on my Dad's side). After my Grandpa got divorced from Grandma Betty he remarried Grandma Beverly. She became a convert to the Church and they have such a sweet love story. She passed away from liver cancer in 1979 when I was about 18 months old. The grave site is right under this Olive Tree, which Grandpa and sons planted. It's been 33 years since Grandma Beverly passed away and the tree is a pretty good size! We ended up having our picnic lunch near the grave site. At first I was unsure if this was okay, but after talking it over, we decided it would be okay- as long as we were off to the side! This is a hummingbird wind chime that Uncle Jimmy hung about 10 years ago. Still looks good! This is the view right across from their headstone. I loved the swans and the "No fishing" sign! They have a perfect spot! This cemetery is called "Paradise Mortuary" off She...

First swim of the summer- at a public pool! Ethan went off the diving board, although I had to go with him! and all 3 boys went down the water slides! Fun! Before all the kids ended school and came home for the summer, I made it a goal to attend the Temple once a week in May. At one time I had to go on a Saturday morning, but I made my goal! once a sweet worker in the intiatory kindly thanked me for coming so often. She also said I am a lot taller than I seem sitting down.That made my day. On my latest visit, I opened the scriptures and began reading D&C 4. As I read, I knew that Heavenly Father was speaking to me- telling me that I am qualified to be my children's teacher, Mother and Guardian this summer and telling me how to do it. So, my theme for this summer is D&C 4 verses 5 through 7. I am going to post them on my fridge and read it when I need a special reminder to be kind and loving while the boys are fighting over one single toy. (At 9 am Friday morning, Ethan had ...

Jonah's teacher made an awesome end-of-the-year 20+ page scrapbook for each of her 25 students. Wow. Plus, a DVD as well. It was filled with Holiday, field trip and project pictures. Jonah came home and recounted his favorite parts of each event. Amazing! Yay! School is OUT! It's time for Summer! Hopefully we'll all survive the HOT weather here is Arizona! I'll let you know how it went August 6th- when the kiddos go back to school! To celebrate let me show you a few pages of the AWESOME scrapbook Jonah came home with. He came home with a DVD of the school year today too! I had heard from other Moms about this scrapbook! One thing about moving into a new school, is that you get the teachers they assign you. We sure lucked out! Jonah's teacher Mrs. Naumann has been great for Jonah! He usually doesn't talk to his teachers for about the first half of the year and he really opened up to her this last semester! Ethan got an amazing teaching with Mr. Fetsco- who plays ...

Jonah, trying out some Monster Feet! Ethan Presents- thank you! First of all, Happy 5th Birthday to our niece Shayla Marie Nelson! Happy Birthday! Second of all, the boys had an awesome 8th birthday! The next morning I overheard Jonah sigh and say to Asher "What a great birthday!" Of course, later that day they both- at different times- had a meltdown because all of the excitement was over. We started off the day opening one present- a fun pair of monster feet! The boys loved them and Elizabeth and Asher tried them on too! Asher loved walking up the stairs with them. For breakfast we had banana muffins as requested by the boys. When asking them what they wanted for breakfast/lunch/dinner it was mostly Ethan saying what he wanted and Jonah agreeing. Usually I'll have them both pick a dinner, but since they agreed I went with it. For lunch Jonah had a BLT at school and Ethan bought school lunch. I was subbing that day and got to sub for Jonah's teacher! It was lots of f...

I took the family to the Mesa Temple and took some pictures. I decided that since it was Mother's Day, I could choose what we would do and that's what I chose! We went in the late evening and the light alternated between being just right and too harsh- depending on where you stood. The kids were kind and patient and let me click away. Jonah recently lost his other top tooth- awesome, huh? Now Ethan has one missing tooth and Jonah has two! Pretty fun, huh? We live in a beautiful place! One of the pictures I took I used for the boys' baptism invitations, but I didn't post it just yet! Happy Tuesday everyone!  This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

Today, while I was walking Sadie, a thought hit me- like thoughts often do when the kids are quietly playing or off at school. That thought was that God is very capable . God is many, many things. He is kind. He is patient. He is understanding. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, thoughtful and good. God is perfect. But it had never occurred to me until today that He is capable. He knows how to help me. He knows how to solve all of my problems- from the little ones of helping Elizabeth to learn how to manage her time more wisely to the big ones of adding to our family. And with that thought came a burst of understanding. I can leave all of my problems in His Capable Hands. Sometimes I irrationally think that a certain problem is below Him. Yes, He can help me gain patience (very quickly in fact so I've learned to pray for other things besides just patience). Yes, He can help me be humble. But can He really help me with that inappropriate thought that I just had (and yes, I occasio...

Today I subbed at the kids school as an aide for some First Graders who have autism. Whenever I get a call to teach/aide Special Ed. I always take it happily. Josh said that most people wouldn't react that way. I do. I love those little kids! I don't think I could handle it every single day, but when I get a chance to be around them I grab it! Today I had a few chances to talk about the Gospel. This morning, for some reason, the teacher I was helping didn't have enough copies for an assignment and I quickly ran down to the copy room to make some more. While I was there, the cross guard was making copies and since I had a talk with him earlier about our Church (his ex-wife was LDS- I found out) he said to me (somewhat accusingly) "Didn't you tell me that the largest LDS Temple is in Washington D.C? {It's not- the Salt Lake Temple is, but D.C. is the tallest} "Yes." I replied, not realizing it was actually Salt Lake. "Pretty convenient for Rom...

Dear Ethan and Jonah,      You are finally 8!!! We've been waiting for this day for a long time! This time in your life is when you get to be baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! We were so excited when Elizabeth made this same step, and now you, my twin boys, get to follow in your big sister and Christ's footsteps and make this important covenant.      I am so proud of both of you. You both have made good decisions in your life up until now. You attend Church, you read your scriptures as a family and sometimes on your own. You attend Family Home Evening and ask questions, say prayers and help out.  You are good brothers and friends to each other and to Asher and Elizabeth. You are both kind and loving to Sadie the Dog and Snake.I get to be your teacher today, Jonah, and I'm excited to spend the day with you! What a great day to be 8! Lots of Love, Mom       

Gifts for Mother's Day from the Kiddos! An Apron for Mother's Day/just for fun!  An art print from Hue and hum.com- love! On Saturday, I was driving Ethan and Jonah to a birthday party at Bounce U, their second party in 2 days, when Ethan said to me "Does that sign say 'Haz-dar-dus'? I think it says 'Haz-dar-dus." "Yep, it says 'Haz-dar-dus'." said his all-knowing younger twin brother Jonah. It took me awhile to figure out what they were talking about. When I finally did, I said "It says Hazardous, guys. HAZardous." What does "FRAgeeeele" say? I told Josh about it and he said it all depends on where you put the syLLAbus. Yesterday, on a fun Mother's Day, I was playing hiding seek with the kids and Ethan said "Here or Not, here I come!" Hee hee. I was hiding in the living room, and from far away I here "Ssshhh!!! I'm trying to hear her BREATHE!" I don't think he co...

To my Mother, Thank you for raising me. I know it's a hard job. I know that you had to get up in the middle of the night to change sheets and comfort and cuddle. I know that you had to sacrifice many of your own wants and desires for us to be happy. Thank you. Now that we are taking foster classes I know that there are a lot of Parents out there who don't step up to the job, like you did for me. I have never had to leave my home, leave all my belongings and go to another. And for this I am thankful. I am thankful to belong to this family. I am thankful that we have been sealed in the Temple and all have Temple Marriages so far. We are not perfect, but I find joy in all the good things we have: being able to call you whenever I am in need, Dad always being supportive and understanding, brothers and sisters who love each other and care deeply for one another. Mom, Thank you for being the back bone of our family. Thank you for being you. Happy Mother...

  Elizabeth's hair do during Girls Night Out Last Weekend The boys in the tub after coming home from Fathers and Sons Campout- everything, even them smelled like smoke!! Loving Ethan's forehead! I had an epiphany while substitute teaching today. I have been subbing for 6 months now and this thought came to me only just now. Teachers like having people pay attention to them. I realized this as I was in the middle of a first grade math lesson and I had to get everyone's attention back on me so we could move forward. I knew what tools to use- I graduated in Elementary Education- I just did not want to use them. I wanted to let the whole class of 20 some students, plus an Aide, continue their working on the worksheet. I wanted to let them chat, fiddle with their rulers and make little side comments to one another. I did NOT want them looking at me.  And that's when it hit me. Good Full-time Teachers like having all of their students pay attention to th...