Happiness

I haven’t blogged in here for awhile. But, now I’m back! Hopefully you are all still with me.  Life has been busy! I’ll just briefly hit the highlights and then move on from there! Elizabeth turned 23! Hooray! Ethan came home from selling pest control and started working at In n Out. He and Jonah left together for BYU Provo in August and are rooming together. They are having the best time! We sure miss them though.  Asher had three areas and four new companions and hit his one year mark in September! He’s doing awesome! School started and with is Declan started 6th grade and Rosie started Kindergarten half day in a Montessori program. They both love school and say those exact words “I love school!” What a blessing to have found a great fit for these kiddos. Josh continues to work and take a few classes each semester for his PhD program in Complex Adaptive Systems. He absolutely loves school too! I have been staying home- cleaning the house, exercising, resting and reading. It’...

Around two years ago, Josh picked up a book on Complex Adaptive systems and he was immediately intrigued! Several ideas kept popping up in his head and he learned all he could on the subject. Complex adaptive systems is a science of studying patterns in life and applying them to our daily life. He realized that he needed to study it formally to really be able to learn more about it. He applied for the program last Fall and was the first applicant ever to apply to ASU’s Complex Adaptive system PhD program. We joke that he probably won't be the first to graduate! Because he works at ASU, he is given a tuition discount which helps out a lot! After graduation, Josh wants to become a law professor. If he does, he needs to be willing to take whatever opening that is available across the country since they are often few and far between. We've been living in AZ for six years now and I am ready for a change when it comes! And so, here is to four years or more of higher education. He...

  Lots of things were happening this April- and one of those events was Josh’s 45th birthday! We usually keep things pretty simple with a birthday dinner of choice and cake and presents. Often we got out to breakfast or dinner at our local Joe’s Real BBQ where Elizabeth and Asher work since they give you a free meal for your birthday! For Declan’s birthday, he got a kids meal and still had money left over so I got a large salad with a side of Mac n cheese for Rosie. How awesome is that? This year we decided to stay home and I made one of Josh’s favorite meals- Lasagna. I usually only make this if requested because it dirties so many dishes (even if I use my quick tip and soak the noodles instead of baking them). I used ground turkey since because of my latest stomach issues I can eat red meat. It turned out really good! For dessert we had hot lava fudge cake- yum! Last year when we had it, the candles melted into the cake but this year, they happily survived!  It was a good bi...

School started yesterday! The kids first day of school went well! Asher is a Senior at Highland High School and Declan is in Fourth Grade with Mrs Yocklin at San Tan Charter School. Asher has a few challenging classes and Declan likes his class.  Elizabeth will be a freshman at Mesa Community College majoring in Conversative Biology and a Rosie will be at home with me. Ethan is currently in Blackfoot, ID for his 3rd transfer and Jonah is in Woodside/Queens for his 3rd transfer as well. They are both doing very well and we are so proud of them and their service to others and to the Lord. Josh is going back to school too! He got accepted to the PhD program of Complex Adaptive Systems at ASU. He can work on his degree while working at the same time. He is also teaching an online class.  I have eight piano students for this school year and I love each one of them! I enjoy teaching during the week. It’s going to be a great school year! I’m excited!! 

Rosie and I took a walk with the group Heaven’s Hummingbird’s-  a local support group for Moms who have lost a baby in miscarriage or still birth. The Mom I talked with had a stillbirth at 37 weeks! And a sweet 3 month old. After almost two years, Jonah got his braces off! It looks great! Now he has to wear clear retainers for six months and then nightly after that! Pretty wild! I just finished this book by Brooke Romney and every chapter seemed to hit a chord in my life! Perfect for a pep talk or advice on how to follow the Spirit! The kids are back in school full time and my house is a lot cleaner now! And the pantry is a bit fuller. Hooray for that! Also, Josh got the vaccine at ASU so we’re pretty happy about that as well! Life is great!