Out of order!

Those last two posts are out of order!  The sick and a sidekick one didn't post last night for some reason.  She wasn't so sick then just fab for getting contacts. Lol although she still didn't feel great today getting contacts seemed to help her feel a lot better. :) 

Sick and a sidekick

My poor littlest kiddo is sick. The kind of sick where she had to stay home today and the kind of sick where I will be keeping her home tomorrow.  The neighbor kids have it too.  Headache, runny nose, headache! Miserable headache.  Haylee is ok if she has meds in her system as soon as they wear off though she is miserable again.  I wasn't feeling to great myself Sunday and Monday but feel a little better today.  So glad I don't have to worry about being at work.  Now while I was supposed to watch my little cutie Mia tomorrow that schedule is pretty flexible and I called her mom to see if she wanted me to bathe my house in Lysol -which lets face it I'm going to do anyway- and she could still bring my little bug over tomorrow or of she wanted to keep her home.  She opted to keep her home.  Probably a smart move.  Tomorrow we will be resting and drinking more orange juice.  Why does oj automatically make you feel better? I know it had vitamins and stuff but it really does seem if you drink it you feel better that moment.  

Mailed a box to my missionary boy today. Gloves, hat, scarf and some Halloween treats.  Poor kid is prepared to go to the equator not Utah this winter lol.  I miss that kid something awful.  Can't wait until Christmas when I get to talk to him!!!  :) 

Speaking of talking I talked to Sierra tonight for almost an hour.  Anyone who knows Sierra knows that is an eternity to be on the phone with that girl.  It was so great to catch up with her and chat about all the things going on. I love to see our relationship changing as she is away at college this first year.  Can't wait to see her at thanksgiving!

And now for my sidekick.  This cute pup doesn't leave my side for very long during the day. I am sure she would be near me at night too if we allowed her to come upstairs. I don't mind having her near even when she is shedding what seems like half her coat! 

 Look at this sweet face!! 

Love love love her!!!  She really is the best dog in the whole wide world.  She will be eight in a couple of months I hope she sticks around with us for lots more years!  

Contacts!

It took some convincing but I finally got Haylee to agree to try contacts.  She got them today and LOVES them!  :) probably helps that they are her correct prescription, her eyes had gotten a little worse since her last eye appointment a year ago, she was great at getting them in and out!  It takes some practice but she was almost a pro at her first try.  Lets hope that continues in the morning before school!  

Heavenly Father sent me a text message

You probably read that title and thought "ummmm....yeah this nut has def cracked!"  While the cracked part may be  true so is the text message part!  Here is the story....

So Tuesday HD left the MTC and headed out into the big wide world of the mission field he was temporarily reassigned to the crazy town of Salt Lake City, Utah.  Not kidding. When I saw his email last week stating he had been called to SLC I just couldn't quite believe it...our whole family lives there.  HD was born there....he just spent a year of his life just south of there in Provo.  How is that where he is supposed to be? These along with other things were amoung the thoughts I had.  Then I realized that Heavenly Father knows all of that stuff. He knows who lives there, where HD was born and where he went to college.  I also read a great talk by elder Ronald A Rasband about how missionaries are assigned.  So I felt better.  Mostly. Peaceful. Mostly. I was still trying to get used to the idea but I know that he was supposed to be there. Tuesday came and I expected to hear from his mission president (each mission has a president they are always married and they watch over the missionaries in that mission sort of like a mom and dad for the missionaries) most people get a picture and an email from the mission president once the missionaries arrive.  I was 100% fully expecting to hear something. So Tuesday I waited.....nada....Wednesday I waited.... I checked my email every five minutes all day and NADA!  I was so anxious to hear something.  I wasn't really worried that he made it or that HD was ok I know he is under the protection of The Lord but still why wouldn't the mission pres. Email me? All of last evening I went downhill I was so sad, just missing my kiddo and feeling really disconnected.  I cried and went I bed early.  I woke up at 2:30 feeling really sick I ended up getting up and coming downstairs to search for something that would help me NOT toss my cookies and I checked my phone to see what time it was.  Imagine my surprise when I saw a text that read....

"Hi! This is ......[not posting her name for privacy reasons] We had the privilege of feeding your son and his 2 other companions tonight. Elder Jacobs and Elder Shoaf. Your Elder arrived here [......,Utah] just today (maybe it was last night) while waiting for his visa, but I am sure you probably know that already. If not, now you do. ;) He was a joy to have in our home! So excited and willing to serve and some great stories. ♥ He was ecstatic  that I asked for your information to send photos and info. He wanted me to let you know this was his first meal with a family out in the field and he is doing well. ♡ I asked if it was too late to send this text, but he said with excitement, "You can send it tonight! " I sent them home with lots of leftovers and some other extra stuff. The Elders are helping me with my sharing time in primary this Sunday. I am going to try to snap some more pics then. ;) I will text and/or email them to you. Let me know if you don't get 2 pics on this text and/or pics in your email Sunday. So that you can watch for my email it's purplejenn@msn.com. And PLEASE, please don't hesitate to ask me if you need me to get and/or do anything for him. (Or your family) It would be my pleasure. :) Thanks for sharing such a wonderful young man! ♡ My family and I appreciate it."

This is not typical! Members rarely contact the missionary's family. So there you have it. Message. From. Heaven. That sweet lady was an answer to my prayers.  Such a profound moment where I was reminded once again that my Heavenly Father is aware of me.  That He LOVES me.  I actually told Joe when he called to say hi "Heavenly Father LOVES ME!" He said he was happy about that lol -friends just want you to know that I know for sure that Heavenly Father loves us and cares about us.  He is always aware when we are hurting and while the comfort doesn't always come immediately never doubt for a second that He is there!  Amazing my friends. Simply amazing.  Here are the two pics she sent 

My boy!!!! 

Here he is with his companions. He is a real missionary!!!  So awesome!  

Military Honors

These are three of my favorite men.  We have been friends for the last nine years.  I always love them - but when I see them in full dress uniform and for a solomn event like today was I am honored to be able to call one my husband and the other two dear friends.  Today we attended the funeral of Matt's father.  Matt is the one in the middle. Matt's dad served in Viet Nam and was awarded full military honors today at the end of his service.  It was a beautiful funeral with wonderful speakers and hymns.  When it was over we all went outside and the VFW members did the 21 gun salute and played taps while Matt stood at attention. Then the honor gaurd members removed the flag and folded it up Matt recieved the flag from the honor gaurd and presented it to his mom.  It was more than I could take for sure.  Joe and Bob were both concentrating across the street trying  not to look at Matt so they could keep it together.  It was such a moment of pride and sadness.  Seeing them all salute the flag was a moment I won't soon forget.  I am so glad we were able to be there.  I have only seen my husband cry twice in our entire 13 and a half years of marriage but last night at the viewing he could not keep it together as he saw his one of his best friends, who is like a brother to him, cry.  Mourn with those that mourn.  Part of the baptismal covenant and a part that was fulfilled for sure.  So thankful for the knowledge of eternal life and all the hope that goes along with that.  

Training

Did a training today with the YW presidency in my ward.  It is always weird to be a stake leader in your own ward I think.  It is sometimes weird to be a stake leader period.  Lol.  Lana and I trained another ward last Wednesday i had never done one before and I am so grateful for Lana and her leadership.  I often leave whatever it is -a meeting, or an activity or a training wondering of I said or did the right things.  Lana is a great example and I am thankful to be able to serve with her. I have to speak this coming Sunday in another ward.  I did it twice at the beginning of the year and I was so nervous the first time but the second time was easier.  I hope this time is easier too we will see!  We had a great lesson today on the pioneers and their trek west. Today we focused on the Martin and willie handcart companies.  What an inspiring lesson it gave me a totally different view of doing trek next summer. I know I will identify with those who just wanted to give up, those who did not think they could go one more step. But I hope also to identify with those who were drawn closer to The Lord and those who gained a testimony that they could do hard things.  I know I will be praying for three days straight!  :) 

Operation FHE

Having a non member husband we don't usually have "FHE" (family home evening for my non-lds readers) we do have family nights but not always on Mondays and they aren't usually spiritual at all (FHE is generally held Monday evening) well we had a free and easy afternoon and with homework done it was just Haylee and I at home we decided to watch part of the Saturday morning session of conference which we had missed due to Haylee's soccer game.  I had listened to elder hales earlier in the day so we skipped to elder dube as I had seen a bunch of Facebook stuff that he was awesome.  He was!  Love that guy!  "Don't look back! So much more to do!" We watched David A Bednar.  He was great also can't even remember my favorite quote form him but it was awesome. Then we listened to president Uchtdorf.  He is so amazing!  Well joe came Home as we were at the last 5 or so minutes and Haylee and I both wanted him to listen and he did!!!  In years and years of watching conference and always asking him to listen he never has.  We were so happy!  "Come! Join with us!" Just a pres Uchtdorf said! :) we rewound the talk and he listened to the first part of the talk too.  Haylee and I were on the kitchen afterwards congratulating ourselves on sort of secretly having FHE and I told her we should make it our secret mission every week and Haylee mimes it as she says "oh look! I have a piece of paper in my pocket.  What's this? It has a talk written on it! Guess I will go ahead and read it. Oh it's on prayer. Let's go ahead and do that now."  LOL!  I was cracking up.  That girl is too funny.  Dang I love that kid.  Operation FHE is now official.  :)

On another note the sky was beautiful this evening the pictures do not do it justice!  

 

New York, New York!!!

Best idea ever for your birthday weekend grab three of your bestest friends and head to NYC for a couple of days.  I had never been to the big apple.  It was FABULOUS!  Just like movies and television make it out to be.  Busy, loud, bright and amazing.  We rode the train.  SO. MUCH. FUN! 

We got up at 3:30am to catch our 6:30 train. So so so early.  

The most fun train guy ever! Molly and I walked by him and he said to another train guy "these are the two we have read about on the Internet" lol I told him we didn't talk about that in public.  Later he came back and asked us of we were going to NYC when we said yes he said "I'll call ahead and warn them." As he walked away I told Molly "Good idea. our husbands work on Air Force One we know you should always call ahead when preparing to visit New York."  LOL!  

We stayed at the Marriott Marquis right in Times Square!  Amazing!!  The view from our room 

I have better pics on my camera I'll upload another day. 

We are lunch at Carnagie Deli.  Delish pastrami!  Mione and I had the chicken salad with three ponds of bacon.  Ok maybe not three pounds but it was a lot! 

After lunch we headed to Central Park to take a carriage ride and then went to a food cart called "waffles and dingles" BEST. TREAT.  EVER!  If you are ever near Central Park do not miss it! 

We went to FAO Shwartz and had a great time with all the toys.  Look!  The BIG piano!  

We were so busy we didn't even have time for dinner!  We grabbed tickets from the TKTS booth and headed out.

Love this pic of the four of us in Times Square! NYC at night! We went to see Cinderella on Broadway.  It was AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! 

We went to bed around 1 and were up at 5:30 am to check out of the hotel and head to battery park to catch our ferry to the Statue of Liberty.  It was the most beautiful day!  We had such gorgeous weather and the bluest skies without a single cloud. 

We had tickets for the crown tour. Which means we climbed allllll the way to the tippy top!  354 stairs UP.  It was hard but worth it! 

Lady Libertys view of Manhattan

After that we headed to Wall Steet.  This is the New York Stock Exchange. 

We decided later that DC and NYC are

both very powerful cities.  NYC has financial power and DC has political power. One thing they have in common is that a lot of money changes hands there everyday.  However the people in NYC talk about it while the people in DC keep that whole part on the down low.  

We had lunch visited the Chelsea market -sorry no pics from my phone- then went to the World Trade Center memorial.  So very, very sad.  I am so glad we went. 

This is Freedom Tower built after 9-11. 

We went to Times Square and did some shopping then took one last shot before we headed home.  We could not have packed in one more thing!! We were exhausted but laughed almost the whole ride home.  

Blessed to have these ladies in my life!!!!  

 

5k!

Saturday after the Air Force ball I "ran" my first 5k.  The Diva Dash!  Ran is stretching it but I did run some and there were obstacles!  I am so glad I did it. I have never ran/walked 3.1 miles in my entire life. Well ok at Disneyland or the fair somewhere completely by accidnet and maybe even then not all at once without a break of some sort.  I didn't prep for it at all. That is the only thing I would change.  The weather was great I ran with 25 or so of my closest friends -go team Girlz on fire!- there is no way I would have made it through without two of these ladies specifically Vicky Egbert and Brittany Gilbert. They stayed with me the whole time even though I know they could've gone faster without me.  Their support and encouragement meant the world to me.  I don't think they will ever know how truly grateful I was.  Then the entire team waited for us just before the finish line so we could cross together.  That part made me cry. Dumb I know but what can I say I am a crier.  After the race we all went to cracker barrel for lunch.  That was the best part of the day. :) my body wasn't too bad.  I was good and sore for about 4 days afterwards but no nearly as bad as I expected.  All in all a great experience and I will definitely do another one.  

The team. 

My running buddies!