53.

 

Another year, another birthday and this tall drink of water turns 53! He continues to shine and smile no matter what. I love how jovial he always is no matter what situation we are in. He deserves all the goodness and love especially this time of year because he is literally Santa Claus. He delivers packages all day long for the entire month of December except for Sundays but luckily we have him home early on Saturdays and we always make up for the days we aren't spending time as a family another time. He loves making people happy when he delivers packages to his clients and those tips he gets this time of year are worth his hard work all year long! So proud of my blue collar worker and that he doesn't like to get his hands dirty. Even at the age of 53! Happy birthday babe!

Happy Birthday Jon (no h)!

 

Per the usual, I’m so proud of this one. Today he’s 51 and he continues to smile & love each day as if it was his last. He’s the coolest dude you’ll ever meet! I Love that after long hardworking weeks he still adventures with us. He loves us hard and it shows. Cheers to accomplishing the first year in your fifties and for sticking with us! Happy birthday to you Jon (no h)! Love ya!

Celebrating 45 With Cupcakes, & The LDS Missionaries.

One thing that brings relief not only to myself, but to my family especially in this day and age, in the midst of all the somewhat hustle, and bustle I feel that I've been doing is having the sister missionaries over from our church to come into our home. They bring such a unique light, and truly have the gift of making one feel comfortable, and real all at the same time while eating good food, and having a few laughs. No matter their personalities, or how different one sister may be from the next I always manage to love them all, and make them feel at home. They are, after all away from their families for 18 months, and knowing that my daughter will soon be sitting in the homes of families makes me want to treat all my sister missionaries better!

Noah has been sick this past week, and aside from all the running around I've been doing with thinking of others during the holiday season I have realized that I need to make time for myself. I'm grateful that I acknlowedged the hustling and bustling a couple of years ago, and somewhat learned to balance all that I need to do when it comes to the holidays. The thing is that I'm never prepared to have a sick kid because we never know how bad the flu will hit our home come winter time. Luckily Noah's fever goes down, and I'm praying that he doesn't have pneumonia because with this crazy weather that we've been having you never know! He feels better after taking medicine, but if his fever persists, and cough gets worse off to the doctors we go. Sierra developed pneumonia in her freshman year of high school, and missed 10 days of school! That was not fun, and I pray that no one else in our family gets that again!

Having the missionaries coming over is such a spiritual treat to my family, and I see how much my kids love, and appreciate them. Since Noah missed church yesterday they totally brightened up his day, and were the remedy to making him feel better that evening. Even though it was Jon's birthday weekend he ended up being the one to stay home with Noah from church. Lexie had a solo for the Christmas program, and I didn't want to miss it so it was just us girls at church. It was a beautiful service, and I really appreciated all the lessons that were taught during class, and the fact that it was all focused on the Savior makes me extremely grateful that I belong to such a wonderful church where I am taught about Christ's life, and all the goodness that He brings in hopes that I can be an example of His light to others.  

I'm so thankful for all the missionaries who are serving around the world, and especially the ones who are in our area. It's so important to include them in our lives. They give so much of their time, and efforts in bringing new members into our congregation. Their energy is contagious, and being that I'm a convert to the church understand what kind of people they may be teaching, because at one point in my life I was an investigator myself learning, and figuring out if this was the right church to join, and if this is what I really believe in, and you know what...it was, it is, and I do! My passion in welcoming those who are new to the church is solid, and pray that no matter how tough life gets they will never give up on the Lord, or coming to church to be strengthened, but most of all to learn more about Him. 

The missionaries are such a joy, and after the week I've had with everything that I do that deals with the world, motherhood, and overall life, knowing that I am able to refresh myself on Sunday, and take in the lessons of Christ, and to sing beautiful songs of praise makes every chaotic week I've had worth it! And having the sisters over on the weekend of Jon's birthday made it even better, and that was the icing on the cupcake.

So thankful for the missionaries, and all the good that they bring. If you have any interest as to who they are, and how you can learn more about the plan of salvation please don't hesitate to reach out to them. You can log on to lds.org to learn more too!

Have a wonderful Christmas week! 

a birthday wish for my ups man with a prayer.

I don't like airing too much of our dirty laundry online, but for those of you who read my blog, and I mean faithfully know that Jon lost his job this past summer. Plans of relocating to the New England area backfired due to the lay off. Luckily we paid way ahead on our rent, and other bills but life still happens in between those rays of sunshine. I'm grateful that he got a job working for UPS but the downfall is that it's seasonal. And his last day may very well be on New Years Eve. Worried. Yeah. Sad. Yeah. At best they will hire one, maybe two drivers out of the 30 plus people they hired. So on his birthday my wish for him today is the hope that they will retain him due to his fast paced, (delivers 200 plus packages a day) kind, & glowing personality. If not...well we may have to just rely on our faith, and God that he will land a permanent job somewhere. He is so resourceful, and a hard worker that I'm sure he can land any job. 

Although his expertise is sales, and loves it he has developed a crush for UPS, their benefits, pension plan, and everything that this awesome company has to offer. I am praying and hoping that they will choose him, and if they don't that he will have an opportunity to work for the company in another sector. UPS is all over the country, but we love the east coast and are praying that he gets hired somewhere in the tristate or New England area. We will have to see. 

And that is my wish for him, and I believe that it may be his wish also. He won't tell us because he doesn't want to jinx anything & not have it come true, but I know his heart. His heart is to be able to provide for us, and to know that we have everything we need to survive. 

So once again...if you're the praying kind I ask that you please pray for him. He's an absolutely great man who is one in a million. He deserves every happiness because he literally does no wrong to anyone. I pray that The Lord will guide him in a position that will be a perfect fit for him in a workplace that his suitable to him. As long as we are provided for, and that he is happy is all that matters to us.

Happy birthday babe...and may all your dreams and wishes come true. 

P.S. I love the dreams that you've been having as of late. Too bad we don't play the lottery so that they can come true! Haha!!

Happy Birthday to the King of our house

made with love by Sierra

There is something special between a daughter and a father. A bond that is different from that of a mother. I noticed that bond between you and Sierra the minute she was born. Now that she is older, she has grown closer to you more than ever before. Happiness fills my heart when I see the two of you bond. As you know, I didn't have a relationship with my biological father, or my stepfather. The closest person that I looked up to as a father was Joe, mom's companion of 12 years, so it really makes me appreciate the love and support that y'all have for one another.

At first it was something I had to get used to. Watching you and Sierra laughing and talking about all the things of the world was different, and it was something I had to get used to. Different because I NEVER had that kind of interaction with any father figure until I was in my 30's. I eventually got used to your actions, accepted it, and it makes me happy to know that she can rely on you, and talk to you about anything! Although there are certain topics she feels she can only talk to you about, I'm happy that you include me in those conversations. Sometimes Sierra will ask you for a favor, and if it is something that requires my part in it, you will always tell her to ask me. It makes me feel good that you include me. It is a sure sign that you trust my opinion as her mother, and to have the final say. Sometimes she'll do that with me, and at times I'd have to tell her that we need to ask you if that's okay. Bottom line is that I'm grateful that both you and I have great communication, as well as a close relationship with our children. 

The firstborn always tend to be our guinea pig in many ways, and although I made a lot of mistakes with Sierra in the beginning...I corrected them right away. I feel that I am a better person, and mother because of all the experiences we endured with her being the only child for five years. With our second it became easier, and so forth.

As I look at this ship that Sierra made for you, and all the things that she wrote about you...

Defender of dreams.

The hospitable one.

Lover of the family.

Holder of the priesthood.

Seeker of wisdom.

King of Corny.

It warms my heart to know how much she LOVES you, and how she looks up to you as her father. 

All of those things that she wrote about you are true, and that is exactly why I married you.

Wishing you the happiest birthday ever! 

xo