Happiness

  These pictures are on backwards, but Ethan came home last Thursday! There was a car accident on the way and we barely made it in time, but through a tiny miracle we got there just a few minutes before Ethan walked through the gate! It was so very good to see him! He came home with three of his very good friends from the mission and has been hanging out with them before he starts school at ASU next Thursday. Oh, he's also working at a job gathering petitions as well. Welcome home, Ethan, we love you! Also, Rosie was just fine seeing him- a bit shy but just happy!

On a Saturday afternoon around noon, Jonah flew home from his two year mission to New York City. We were cutting it short and I felt like we were going to miss him off the plane. We waited about 5 min until Josh said “I think I see him!” I was shaky and hadn’t slept for most of the night and we had rushed to make it there in time. I wanted to run away really. Then, I saw a smiling, blonde kid running up to us and gave him a hug! It was so good and unreal to see him! Josh gave him a big hug and Jonah started crying. Everyone gave him a hug and it was so good to see him! He looked skinny and well. We took pictures and then headed home.  I love the picture of us hanging out on the couch, snacking and looking at his mission pictures. Later they went to Walmart for supplies and our car ignition shaft broke. Glad it didn’t happen at the airport and just look at that sunset that we might have missed if our van had started just fine. We are so glad to have Elder Abbott home! Now to get the...

Happy Birthday, Ethan and Jonah! We’re so proud of the fact that you are out serving the Lord! New York and Idaho have been so lucky to have you! Jonah, you have only a little over a month left! Ethan 2 1/2 months left. How crazy is that? Time has both flown by and gone by super slowly. It’s been wonderful to talk to both of you each week and see your growth.  Jonah, you’ve grown from someone who didn’t like to talk to people to an Elder who can easily enter in and out of a conversation and also invite anyone anytime to Church! Ethan, you’ve excelled at teaching and working with other Elders. You’ve been a great example of someone who knows how to work hard and have fun!  We love you boys! Get ready, Arizona, these boys are coming home! 

Rosie, at age 4, loves taking selfies with her Mom, going to the Temple and touching the walls (and playing in the water fountain). She loves going out to eat with Mom- especially Chick-fil-a, drawing pictures of people, reading, playing at the indoor gym, going to the Movies to see Kung Fun Panda 4, playing outside at the play place and playing with her new care bears. She is sweet, fun, happy and oh, so energetic! How we love her! She's sick today but hopefully will be back to her normal energetic self.   

I want to highlight one of the most amazing women in my life:      She became a convert to the Church as a young adult and was brave enough to join in the face of opposition from her Catholic, Polish family, moving across the country to attend a college (BYU) that she had never heard of before her baptism.    She gave birth to 7 children, all naturally- including twins where she hemorrhaged and almost didn't make it through and one breech birth. She supported her husband when he went back to school to get a Masters in School Counseling, when they moved from one state to another and to live with her in laws in a small cabin in Northern Idaho an hour away from the nearest city and homeschooled her five children, all while being pregnant.      She took care of her husband for ten years while he dealt with chronic lymphonic leukemia only to begin taking almost full time care of his 98 yr old Mother/her Mother in law after he passed away.    ...

  A year ago, I started having weird stomach issues. Whenever I ate something with dairy or fat in it, my stomach would hurt for 3 or four days and I would be tied near the bathroom. I went to several Drs- my Primary Care Dr who ordered tests and tests of samples (you don't want to know!) and a GI Dr who ordered a colonoscopy. That was not bad- just the prep was really, really gross tasting. Yuck! just thinking about it. The tests showed inflammation and the colonoscopy showed one small polyp which they quickly removed and told me that I would need a colonoscopy every 3 years instead of every ten. Oh, well. Glad they caught it! And so, nothing really new developed. I stopped eating dairy and anything fried or red meat. I met with a new GI Dr who ordered an ultrasound (which was weird with a lot of pushing and breathing in and tugging) and some blood work. I finally had some dairy with some lactaid the other day and it went okay. I have an appt with my GI Dr next week. It's been...

  Asher is a Senior! He's had a great year being a part of Highland's Symphony as well as Wind Ensemble and Jazz Black. He took Finley to the Prom and went with a good group of friends. He is an amazing son, student, friend who loves listening to music, spending time with his friends and is a great follower of Jesus Christ. We love you, Asher!