Happiness

Last week, Josh went on a business trip to New York City for a tech Conference. He wanted to take me with him, but since I am not quite eight months pregnant, we decided that that wouldn't be the best idea. And so he was off- for four days! Not long compared to other's business trips but long enough for us! I was bit worried because I had been so tired that around 4 pm I was done for the day.  I bought a few frozen meals and prepared just to wing it from 4 pm on. It was a blessing that I was totally fine! I was still tired, but not too badly. I had let Declan pick out the menu for each day of the week since he often complains about dinner (and then ends up eating it all). Lol! He didn't complain once that week and would often say "I know what's for dinner- it's ______." Of course, he picked all things that he likes (he doesn't like Chicken Noodle Soup or even Breakfast for dinner). While Josh was gone, the toilet overflowed. Ugh! This ...

Yes, I do have pictures from Christmas. Yes, they are seriously adorable (I think!) but this year I think I will just share these. (I thought the pictures were on my real camera and couldn't find it so I couldn't post them but they were on my phone the whole time!). This year was a special Christmas for our family.We had just moved to Utah from Arizona the month before, our job at ASU was waning and we were living with family. We had explained to the kids that this year Christmas was going to be a little different. It would not a big Christmas, but it would be a special one with family. We saw many tender mercies **sweet kindness from the Lord** that Holiday season. The Church congregation we were attending delivered a basket of goodies along with a few gift cards to Wal-mart and a gas station (and a sizable gift card at that). We were touched and felt loved. Not only that but it  helped supply us with a supplies for our new home, snow boots for all the kids and a few ext...

I didn't sleep well last night- lots of thoughts and ideas and emotions rolling around. I wanted to share with you one thought in particular. It is this: Sometimes the miracle is when the Lord answers differently than we prayed for. His answer- whatever it may be, includes the miracle and his Tender Mercies. Often it is very hard to see during that time  we are praying for something. This idea hit me more strongly as we, as a Church group, reflected on the pouring rain that happened during Saturday's Youth Cultural Celebration. Everyone was praying for a stop to the rain- the leaders of our area, the Parents and Leaders of the Youth, the Youth themselves. All day there was a circle of blue above the Youth practicing- keeping the field dry and clear. In fact, if it had rained even a 1/2 inch in the reservoir basin they were practicing the city had said they would cancel the event. President Monson would not arrive and the many hours of practice and prep would have no...

   Asher and a Playdough Monster  Good Valentine Reads Upon Awakening The Dream Still clings Like the Lingering smell Of Garlic and Onion Or like an old sweater, Worn and tattered. I try to shake The smell, The fell, The taste But it stays Past noon. -I've been busy- subbing in 2nd grade for a teacher who went home with a sore throat and ended up in the hospital for 3 days. She e-mailed her sub plans from her i-phone (go technology!) each night to another team teacher and I would get them 5-7 minutes before class started. I would prep for until recess and at recess I would prep for until lunch and at lunch I would prep until the end of the day. Luckily her class was super good and made it pretty easy for me. Today they were going on a field trip and I was slated to go, but am now staying home with Jonah who may have Strep Throat. I'm learning to be oh so flexible as a sub! -Valentines Day is actually my favorite Holiday, although Christmas comes i...

Well, I guess since I mentioned in my last post that I love it when it pours down trials, more trials have hit and I've been humbled. No longer am I prideful and rejoicing in that fact that this move has been hard. I am holding on and doing my best to rejoice in the small, tender mercies of the Lord. The Tender Mercies: -Even though we lost access to water last night because of a broken pipe caused by a repair man, we were able to get it back quickly this afternoon. -I finished the laundry right before we lost our water. -We were able to go swimming in our pool this afternoon (Heavenly!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pool at home idea!) and the water came back on right in time for me and the kiddos to have a hot showers! -Yesterday it rained and while we were figuring out what to do with the broken pipe, a double rainbow appeared. Amazing! -I have a stye (a red bump) in my eye from lack of sleep but was able to sleep in and it is getting better. -Even though it was something I didn't ...

Our ward in Church yesterday dedicated the whole meeting to the singing of hymns. People would share what their favorite hymn was and why. Josh talked about his favorite hymn- Lead Kindly Light. I was in the shower this morning and the words of that hymn ran through my head: Lead Kindly Light, Amid the encircling gloom, Lead thou me on! The night is dark And I am far from home. Lead thou me on! It goes on, but I love the word "kindly" in Lead, kindly light. It speaks of the kindness our Heavenly Father shows to us so often. We can see it daily in the tender mercies that He gives us- like seeing a favorite flower, or hearing your child laugh. I love the Lord and am thankful for his kind light in my life.

At our nearby Mall, Lakeforest, their is a small place where Chinese men give people massages. I've never been interested until recently, when I took a kick boxing class and became so sore I could barely move. Ever since then I've been craving a massage. Usually Josh is my masseuse, by being a lawyer by profession, he is using very tired at the end of a long day and isn't trained in Massage. I've gone to the Mall several times, on a fact finding mission, but nothing ever came of it- until today. My day started out as usual: oatmeal for the kids, a shower for me, getting everyone dressed and in the car, dropping off Elizabeth and then Ethan and Jonah at preschool and then Asher at a friends so I could do volunteer work at Elizabeth's class. As I walked through the school I noticed something strange. Miss Fermanack's class was dark and there was a sign: "no heat. In Mrs. Jocham's class today (Elizabeth's class)." This is not good I thought to my...

Sorry for those who received my freaking out e-mail this morning as a call for help. I'm glad I sent it, because I received lots of help (Someone taking Elizabeth to school and back and a plan to take her tommorow also, a nap while Ellen watched the boys, dinner brought over and soup being brought later tonight). For those of you who don't know: I woke up around 4 am not being able to speak a word and I freaked out. Josh, I whispered, I'm sick! You have to stay home! Then, the realization hit: he's a lawyer. At a big law firm. He gets paid big bucks to do big jobs. He's not going to be able to stay home today. This is the first time I've ever been sick to the point of not functioning as well since he's had this job (I've not been pregnant for two and a half years and am generally healthy!). I kind of freaked out and sent a mass e-mail calling for help. In the end, it turns out I don't have strep. Yay! When 4 pm hit and the doctor hadn't called, ...