Merry Christmas Granddaughter!

From Adrienne: Here are some photos of Melanie opening and playing with her gifts from you. She loves them!

Christmas 2017

No Christmas tree or lights on the house and very few decorations. I struggle with this time of year. I am grateful my sweet children love and support me in whatever it is I am able to put together for them. I feel an amazing peace tonight and am grateful for the encouragement of so many good people in my life. Tomorrow will be a beautiful blessed day and I am so thankful for my many, many blessings! I am also grateful for the birth of my Savior. He is the reason for the season!! Merry Christmas!!

Kids Town

So much fun with Adrienne and Melanie this morning. And now they are headed home. I am so blessed to have such amazing children. They bring me so much joy!!

Christmas Fun With Adrienne

We were the ONLY people at the second showing of the Rexburg Christmas light show tonight. Every half hour, people! Good times!! It was pretty short but it was lots of fun!

Highlight of Joseph's Dr Appointments in Salt Lake City

On the way to our hotel we stop at Wheeler Farm. On the way out of town(usually the next day) we stop at Wheeler Farm. It is my children's happy place for sure!

Good News for Joseph!

Today's update on Joseph: he has grown 4 inches since June. His weight is climbing very proportionally. He is doing great with his meds and is still in remission. His doctor is very optimistic that he will remain in remission for another 5 to 6 years. Then we move on to new meds. She challenged Joseph to go into medical research and cure this awful disease!! It was a great appointment!

Tree Of Life

While in Salt Lake for a Joseph Medical appointment, we had a fun night with a dear friend! Thanks Kylynn, for the fun trip to the Tree of Life!!

Fun with Christmas Lists

This is what happens when you don't give mom a complete Christmas wish list!! Sister gets creative and adds: a mustache, and a jar of pickle juice and a single shriveled pickle with a bite taken out of it. But you gotta love that all Joseph could think of was hugs and kinetic sand. 

Last Minute Halloween

Yesterday my to do list included "ask Joseph about costume stuff". He said he was fine. Today after school he said, I'm going trick or treating with my friend Will and I need a costume. And this is what I came up with. He loves it. Sad thing, I had just recycled a ton of online shopping boxes, and I was still able to find all these. I may have a problem. Anyway, Joseph is officially a black Friday delivery!! He said it got kinda heavy, but he managed and I'm sure in some way he is now stronger!

Helping Out in the Rescue World

Today Annalina and I drove the first leg of a rescue transport consisting of 13 kittens. Our shelters are overflowing and these babies needed to get to Kalispell to find their forever homes and stay alive. We got them to Butte. Annalina was so sweet to sit and talk to them quietly to calm them down. She even handled transferring them to other carriers all by herself. It was a six hour round trip, but so fun. And Annalina and I talked the whole way home. Fun Saturday with my girl!!

Our Home, Our Temple

 

Mind vs Soul

I hit a wall today. A big thick painful wall. In all honesty, I have seen it coming for a while. But I have shoved the emotions down and ignored them and now they have come spilling out of the cracks in my healing heart and there is nowhere to put them all. I want to climb into my safe place, my bed, and just let it all out, but I have too much to do today. I have plans with my widows group tonight, and even if my mind is telling me I just can't do it, I know it is what my soul needs, even for just a little while. Things will get better, they always do, but this roller coaster ride can get exhausting.

School Pics with Adrienne

The kids missed picture day at the school, but I have decided its way cooler to have Adrienne take them, because of the variety and the skills she has for capturing the best pictures!  Melanie joined us too.