Isaac and Grandma

I love this little boy, and am so happy that I get to be his grandma!

I think it is so fun to watch each little one develop their own personality,
how they react and how they become so individual...
and how they grow so much more amazing every day.

This little man was a grump when I first saw him at Jax's blessing.
(We blame teething!)
So I started taking pictures of him.
Which was enough to get him smiling like crazy for me.
He is more reserved with me than Gabe was,
but he watches me for a few minutes and then his little arms
reach out to tell me he wants me to hold him.Then he waits...
because he knows that the kisses are coming!
That's when I get the best laughs and smiles...
he knows it's going to happen...
and I know exactly the reaction I will get from him.

I love being a grandma to such a sweet baby boy.
There is nothing in the world better than watching our family grow.
Watching our grandbabies grow!


Gratitude Day 11 ~ Adoption

Today I am thankful for the most unselfish gift of adoption. We will get to see Jax blessed by his dad today and soon they will get to have him sealed to them and be a forever family. All because someone knew they could not raise a baby at this time, and they gave the precious gift of life to a family that has prayed for that blessing for a very long time.

For every person that chooses life, and adoption... Thank you so much!
Jax's adoption if FINALLY finalized
and he is on his way to having his forever family!!!
His adoption was finalized on November 5th
and he was blessed by his dad on the 11th.
What a fantastic day for all of them.
We are so happy that Shalum and Candice were blessed
with such a sweet baby boy,

and that Jax was blessed to have them as his parents!

Congratulations to all of you!

More gratitude...

November 10, 2012
Today I am grateful for the heat of our wood stove that keeps the house toasty warm on freezing days like today!

Gratitude Day 9

Today I am grateful for the gift of sight. It's something else I simply take for granted because it is there. Yet I know that it isn't for everyone. This morning at the breakfast buffet, Thayne helped a blind man get his plate of food. It hit me how I should take more time to tell my Heavenly Father how grateful I am for what I have and be less demanding about what I don't have because EVERYTHING I have is a miracle from God. I am also grateful for a man who recognizes the needs of others and is willing to do something to help.
This day was a very strange day from start to finish.  We were asked to be in Utah so Thayne could meet with the owner.  There were so important things that needed to be discussed and Thayne was more nervous than I had ever seen him.  The past several days had been a blur and we had truly felt like the hand of the Lord was leading our lives in a strange new direction and Thayne, especially seemed to be feeling emotional about all that we have been blessed with in our lives recently.  We drove over late Thursday night and were up early and ready long before the time we had to be at the office.  Thayne was... well, he was a wreck.  We decided to run down to the buffet for breakfast and eat and then pack and head over to the office. 

We got down to the lobby with a group of people eating breakfast.  I noticed a man standing off, alone and with a cane.  It was apparent he was blind, but the way he was waiting in the lobby, I assumed he was waiting to meet someone.  We grabbed our plate of food and I noticed he was still standing there... still waiting.  I started feeling that maybe he wasn't waiting for anyone and had a feeling that maybe he needed help.  But I felt uncomfortable about going up and asking him.  I know it was my own fear more than anything else, but still I hesitated. 

The man walked near the buffet table as Thayne got up to get something.  I started to tell him to maybe ask the man if he needed anything.  But Thayne had already felt the need to help and was explaining to him exactly what was offered for breakfast, and then helped dish up a plate. 

As Thayne sat back down, we looked at each other and both had tears in our eyes.  We have had such an emotion, spiritual time and that man did something to both of us.  We can't be afraid to reach out and help.  We can't let our fears determine our actions.  We need to express gratitude every single day of our lives for even the most simple things.  I don't think much of my sight every day... but that day, I counted it as a blessing, but even more, I counted the blind man as one of my blessings, because I remember that we are all blind in different ways, and we all are in need of help, of guidance, and of compassion and love.

Gratitude Post Day 8

Today I am grateful for adversity. I know... It's a strange thing to be grateful for but sometimes it's the trials that make your path clear and gives you the desire and the courage to take on hard things and make them wonderful. When it seems like something or someone is out to get you, stand back and see the big picture and understand that anything worth having is going to take work. If it didn't, it isn't worth having.
There have been some really interesting things going on at work.  They seem to be a road block, but I think that if we walk through this, it could end up being a big stepping stone.

I was supposed to go in and be trained today by Jan, the office manager from Utah.  She is an amazing lady and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from her.  As I was preparing to leave, Thayne called and said that the internet was down and they were saying it would be down all day.  My first thought, after all of the 'road blocks' that had happened all week was, "EVERYTHING is going wrong... WHAT is the problem here???"  Instantly I heard as clear as could be, "Did you think something so wonderful would be without adversity???"  and it felt like fire ran through my body and I knew exactly what was going on.  This IS something wonderful, and of course there would be adversity.  It's now just a matter of how we react, and how hard we are willing to work.  Will it be worth it or not?  Only we can determine how well we succeed!

Gratitude ~ First Week

I haven't dropped off the face of the earth... although some days it feels like it.  Life has just been incredibly BUSY!  Fun, crazy, exciting but so very busy.  We have spent days on end working in the shop and turning the office into an... OFFICE!  Things are taking off and it is so exciting to see it happen.  So that is where I have been.  We have gutted, painted, moved, cleaned and rearranged and finally we have a place that looks and feels like an office.  It is so fun being with Thayne every day.  Fun to watch his enthusiasm and energy and best of all, to be together for such a great adventure!
November 1, 2012
I love the Thankful Challenge every November, and have been thinking about what I am thankful for since I woke up this morning. Today, as I worked in the office with Thayne I decided that my first thankful day would be how thankful I am for the opportunity to work with my husband to build a dream! That I get the chance to work with him makes it all the more wonderful. The fact that the owner is one of the most gracious, good men we have known makes it all the sweeter and I can't wait to see where this adventure takes us!

November 2, 2012
Today I am grateful for the opportunity to be a mom. I know the blessing it is and do not take it for granted, knowing how some ache for that blessing. I am grateful for what being a mom has taught me, for all that it has given me, and for how it has fulfilled my every dream. I am grateful to be loved by some of the most incredible human beings ever born to this earth. I am grateful that every...

day they give me a million things to smile about, and sometimes a million reasons to cry. I have learned to appreciate the good, and the bad... I learned that it is possible to love so much your heart feels like you can't contain it all. I have found joy as they learn to fly and I love their attitude and zest for life! Being a mom was my only dream. I didn't have a plan B. I count my blessings every single day for that!

November 3, 2012
Today I am grateful for the ability to work, and the desire to do it. We spent the day working on the office and I felt very grateful that we find joy in working, especially towards accomplishing a dream. As I painted and scrubbed and cleaned I thought of the story of the Little Red Hen. I think that too often we all want the fresh cooked bread, the end result, without being willing to gather, grind and bake...without putting forth the necessary effort. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to work beside my husband, and watch how things come together! My feet ache, my back hurts and my neck is in pain, but it felt good to get so much done!
November 4, 2012
Today I am grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it! I love the peace it brings in a world that is often less than peaceful. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so very thankful for what that does for my family.

November 5, 2012
Today I am grateful for the kids I gained through marriage. Matt, Tiffany and Caitlyn have blessed our lives in more ways than I could ever put into words. I appreciate how they love my children, how they honor their marriage and how much they love the beautiful grandchildren they have given us.

I want you all to know that you are as precious to me as my own kids and that I love you and thank Heavenly Father every day that you came into our lives.

November 6, 2012
Today I am grateful for amazing kids who are willing to step up and help us as we are getting the shop and office ready to go. Thanks! You guys are amazing!
November 7, 2012
I am thankful thankful today that I had the opportunity to sub in seminary. Thanks Connie for asking. We have some amazing youth.

Carving Pumpkins

As crazy as life is,
We did get around to carving pumpkins for Halloween.
Noah was a hoot to watch.
He wasn't sure if he liked it, or hated it,
and he definitely didn't like the taste of it!!!
The kids had fun and carved some cute pumpkins.

We put them on our porch,

and within two days the deer ate them...

Crazy!!!

Halloween 2012

Halloween kind of snuck up on us there year,

and I mostly dislike that my kids are so busy that I can't get a picture

of all of them together.
But they had fun..

and I suppose that is all that counts!

Willie, Kinzee and Kassi had to work.
Kinzee got away before I got pictures of her (I think she planned it that way!)

Kassi bragged about her $80 in tips that night.
She's such a wonder woman! (Ha!)
We went to trunk or treat at church.
Which is always a mad house...
You have to get there early and a half hour later
the kids have more candy than they should eat in an entire year.
Then it's over...
for another year at least!



Team Work!

I cannot believe I did this... but I did!  I am now part of the TECH-FLOW team!  It's crazy really, and I am very overwhelmed and VERY excited!

It all started a few weeks ago when we went to meet everyone at the office in Utah.  We were completely amazed at how wonderful they all were (and we still pinch ourselves wondering if this is really real).  We felt so excited about the opportunity for Thayne to work with them.  And then Jan (the officer manager) asked me if I worked.  I laughed and asked her if 16 kids counts as a job.  After the initial shock wore off that someone actually has 16 kids, she told me that they needed someone to help get invoices and other paperwork taken care of here, so that she could do her job more efficiently over there, and would I be interested.  Without thinking, I said  YES!

Yes.  Because for as long as Thayne and I have been together we have talked about some day doing something that we could do together... and here he is, taking this chance to build a dream!  Now, with an opportunity to jump in and do all I can to help build that dream.  How could I say no?  But how could I say yes?  I have my little man still home, and I am kind of attached!  To little man that is! 

We tossed the idea around not really sure that it would even happen.  Except true to how the rest of my life works, Thayne calls and says if I am serious, Jan would be out on Thursday and we would go to work.  No time to drag my feet, I am either in or out.  If I was in, we had an opportunity to build this dream together.  If I was out, I probably wouldn't get this chance again!  So we jumped, feet first (again, didn't we just do this???) and wow, it's been a whirlwind!

Thankfully we have kids that are just as excited about this dream and are willing to balance the crazy that it will be while we get through this learning curve and figure out what it all means.  Tallin is actually working in the shop and will be learning to rebuild pumps.  So it really is turning into a family business. 

The whirlwind began when Jan showed up. (Some would call Jan a whirlwind... but I enjoy her kind of excitement and it was so much fun spending the past two days with her). She informed me that she was not there to train me as previously planned... our first order of business was to turn the shop/office into something that was worthy of the Tech-Flow name and reputation because Thayne is ready to fly and Greg is prepared to do all he has to in order for it to happen.  We left the men ripping out carpet, moving furniture and papers and books and boxes, tiling the office, putting in a sink and counters and cupboards, and we went shopping.  We came back with most of the things we needed to get this party started!  Greg is going to be shocked when he comes out on Monday!  They had tractors outside clearing out the brush in front of the shop and gravel delivered.  It already looks like a whole new place.

Next week Jan and I will start training.  I still can't believe I am doing this.  I have never done some of this before, and I am a little scared and a lot overwhelmed.  Thayne teases that I am going to feel silly at the Christmas party if they end up firing me (Ha, he's a brat!) but I mostly feel so blessed that this opportunity has opened up for us.  I feel blessed that we get to live a dream, and that we are working for such good, good people!  I am excited.  I am not sure I have been excited about something in a very long time.  In fact I had just been praying about what I should be doing with my life.  What now?  And then this... a purpose. Not that I didn't have purpose before... but my entire adult life has been about having our family, having babies, and I have been a little (a lot) lost about what I will do in the next stage of my life! Now... I get to learn new things, I get to stretch and grow and work towards making this something that can bless our family in so many ways!  I get to spend more time with my husband.  We rode to work together this morning.  How fun is that???  We worked side by side.  I will get to hassle him and it will be all about the job!  haha!  I did tell him that the last time he hired me I ended up married with 16 kids, so what kind of trouble is he going to cause for me this time! :) 

Tomorrow we will be down there early painting and cleaning and working to get this place ready to roll.  I couldn't be happier!