Two Days of Heaven

Kailee has been talking about going to the temple for quite a while.  When Tallin and Jerica decided to get married, she decided she wanted to be there for their sealing and moved forward with going herself.  It seemed like the week leading up to going was full of nothing but stress and darkness.  Of course!  When you are on the path of something so amazing, it seems like you have to walk through the darkness to get there.  But on October 5th, when we walked into the Bountiful Temple, the tough times were put quickly behind us and it was the most incredible experience ever!  Kailee was beaming, smiling from ear to ear and where there was stress and darkness, it was suddenly replaced with nothing but light.  It was nothing short of amazing to be sitting next to her as she experienced so much wonderful! 

We turned around the next day and went with Jerica to the Logan Temple.  Thayne and I got to be the witness couple while she went through and again, it was as close to heaven as we can get on earth.  We had amazing friends come with us and I am so very grateful for the peace that comes when we are in the Temple of God.  It was perfect.  The temple is where heaven meets earth.  I told Kailee I am so excited that I now have a partner to run away to the temple with.  I hope we get to take advantage of it and get to the temple often!

The Wedding! Tallin and Jerica

Tallin and Jerica met quite a while ago. 

 In fact they dated a short time clear back then. 

Life happened, circumstances changed,

 and Jerica felt inspired to reach out to Tallin again. 

We could end the story there...

 

 The rest is history! :) 

 

They started dating again,

 and soon decided that forever sounded like just enough time to be together. 

 On October 14th, 2016 they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. 

 For time and all eternity.

It was a beautiful day.

A beautiful ceremony.

And they deserve nothing more than to be in love, for always!

Tallin graduated from ITT Tech in June and is still working for our company.

Jerica recently started at a local car dealership.

They have an apartment not far from us.

 

I cannot wait to see what the future holds for them!

 

 

 

An explanation...

I have thought a lot about how to address this... maybe even just delete and pretend it didn't happen.  But it did happen, and it's not something that you just delete and act like it wasn't part of the story of our lives.  Our stories are who we are, who we become.  So before I share an update about Tallin's life... an amazing update, I feel like I need to explain how his life got to be where it is now.

Last June, Tallin married Janae.  Eight days later, she decided being married wasn't what she wanted, and she left.  Her story is hers.  I can't speak for her part of the story.  Only the part of the story that affected us, especially Tallin.  I have empathy, and compassion for her life experiences.  I am sorry for the experiences she went through that brought her to this place.  However I also felt the pain my precious son went through as her life choices had such a deep impact on him.

Thankfully, it only took a few months to get an annulment for abandonment of the marriage, and his temple sealing cancelled. 

It was painful.  But you know what?  Life is often painful.  That's life.  Ideally, we learn from the painful parts and come to appreciate the good.  Because there is good!

And this is where the good part of the story begins...

Tanner and Jalene

 Could they be any cuter???

These two are busy, working (as of recently they work at the same mine),

shooting bows, and riding bikes.

They are doing well. 

And that makes me very happy!

Matt and Kimi

 Kimi and Matt have a busy little family.

I wish so much that they lived closer to us!

We are so spoiled that most of the grandkids live close,

and it makes us sad that we don't get to see these four adorable faces anytime we want.

 

We pray for Matt now more than ever.

Being a police officer has never been easy, but now, more than ever,

it is a dangerous job!

There is nothing we want more than for him to be home safe every day after shift.

 

Kimi is a busy mom...

she has four little people depending on her for their every need.

She is an amazing and patient mom.

4 kids, 4 and under is hard work.

 

Jared is going to an awesome preschool.  He loves it.  I cannot believe he turns 5 next month!

Emma also goes to preschool for speech therapy.  She is so independent, and so sweet.

Colten is active, a climber and keeps Kimi forever on her toes.

In May she had her 4th C-section (thankfully easier and less stressful than her last one!).

Paisley Faye is a perfect addition to the family.  Every time we see her she is so content,

 and happy to be part of whatever is going on around her. 

We got to go down and stay with the kids when Paisley was born.

 

I wish we could talk Matt into coming here to work! 

That would be practically perfect!!!

 

 

Paisley's blessing day

Going to meet their new sister!

Uncle Noah and big brother Jared meeting Paisley... we confused the nurses slipping the uncle in with the siblings.  Nothing out of the ordinary here!

Jace and Cait

 I love these pictures of Jace, Caitlyn, Maelynn and Everett. 

Mings and Everett are growing up so fast. 

 

Jace and Thayne are partners and are doing well with the business.

He is a big old softie when it comes to being a dad.

 Maelynn knows she has him wrapped around her little finger. 

 

Caitlyn is a dental hygienist and now is starting up a new business selling clothes,

which is going to get us ALL in trouble!

I constantly have people stop me in the grocery store to tell me they met my cute daughter in law at the dentist's office, and how great she is!

They also finally got to move into their new house they had built.  It's beautiful!

 

Maelynn and Everett are getting so big. 

Everett recently turned 2.

He is a mommy's boy, very protective of her (like his dad always was of me!).

But he also ADORES his 'bumpa'...

It's so sweet to see how attached he is to his grandpa.

And Thayne loves him just as much back.

They are quite the pair.

Maelynn is almost 4 and in preschool now.

She is full of sass!

She learned how to say the Pledge and it is absolutely adorable!

She is the sassiest, smartest little girl and she knows how to get her way!

They are so much fun to hang out with.  Maelynn always has stories for us.

She loves all things Princess and Kitties.

 

 

 

Garrett and Tiffany and their growing family!

Garrett and Tiffany now have five amazing, beautiful, practically perfect in every way babies that are growing way too fast!  Gabe is in first grade now and growing up so much.  He rides the bus with his Uncle Nate, who feels he must be Gabe's protector.  Gabe, Isaac, Emmett and Lyndsey keep Tiffany on her toes.  Tiffany is a great mom and seems to roll with the flow when it comes to being a mom to many small people.  She is also taking foot zoning classes with us and is going to be an amazing foot zoner.  And on August 22nd, she gave birth to a big, 8lb 10oz, beautiful dark hair baby girl.  Rosalee. She is named after Thayne's grandma.   I was privileged to be there for her birth.  Tiffany is tough!  We are blessed to have her in our family. 

Garrett left mining for a while to work on starting his own business.  He worked extremely hard to make it work.  He will be going back to the mines this month.  It is so hard to get a construction business up and going.  I hope he knows how proud we are of him for trying, for giving it an amazing shot, and for being willing to fail, because that is the only way we grow.  He is willing to do whatever he has to for his family, and that is an amazing trait to possess.  He also started school so he is going to be a busy dad.  Busy is good!  Life is good, even when there are trials. 

Maybe time for an update?

 I think maybe it's time to update my blog!  At least that is what some of my kids keep telling me.  Honestly, I haven't slowed down long enough in the last few months to do much blogging.  When I finally sit down, the last thing I think about is pulling out the computer!   However... LOTS of fun (and not so fun) stuff has happened and it's really time to catch up.  Because some really awesome stuff has happened!

First of all.  The top picture.  My dream come true.  This family that I have dreamed about since I was old enough to understand, is growing beyond my wildest dreams!  There is nothing better than what they are becoming!   We have had babies, and a wedding and the love just keeps getting bigger. 

While our "family" is shrinking, it continues to get bigger and my heart keeps growing! 

Thayne is staying busy with work.  Business continues to grow, and we count our blessings every day for that. He can mostly work from home except when he has to go out to the different mines or go harass them at the shop to make sure they are doing their jobs! (haha)   We are now den leaders in scouts at church together.  It should be fun.  As soon as I get over my bad attitude about scouts!

I am now training to be a foot zone instructor.  I am so excited to see where this all leads.  We are doing classes at our house right now.  Kailee is taking the classes and is an amazing foot zoner also.  I have spent the past year going to classes in Idaho and Utah to learn more about zoning, energy work, homeopathic healing and essential oils.  I am so, so grateful for the blessing this has been to our family, and to watch it bless the lives of so many others.

Kailee, well this girl is something else.  She was promoted to manager of her store and what once was the store with the highest theft in the region to the top performing store.  They got the email this week that they were number 1 in the region last week.  She loves it.  But I think bigger and better things are coming along in the near future for her!

Willie has been working at the shop for Thayne and is doing a great job.  He has coached Nate's AYSO soccer team for 3 seasons and is an amazing coach to these little boys.  And they ADORE him.  It melts my heart to see him out there with them, and to watch them with him. 

Wyatt is a senior this year.  My heart is just a tiny bit sad that he finished up his soccer season.  He is an amazing defender.  One of the other coaches from a really great team, who had also played professional soccer told him not to give it up.  That he has great potential in college and beyond.  He is such a fun kid.  He is a protector of my heart and I am so grateful for him.

Hayden, oh my Hayden!  We have struggled finding his spot in school.  There were some bad experiences and I have been so very disappointed with our school district and some bully teachers who aren't sure what to do with a kid that ask questions and has opinions.  We decided to home school him but were really struggling, and he went to work at the shop.  He also has some side jobs.  Lawn care and working with his brother when he needs the help.  Amazing thing is he had an opportunity to go to a new program at the school, and has a wonderful teacher who recognizes the good in Hayden.  He went from being behind in credits, and us worried about how we were going to even get him to graduation, to being ahead of schedule and ready to graduate this year!  AMAZING!

Kalli is a sophomore and busy with friends and school.  She got to go to her first big dance at school this year with a bunch of friends, including her big brother.  She looked so pretty in her dress.  Like a princess, which was her whole goal.  She is a ball of energy, except when she sneaks down to nap because they get up so early for seminary before school.  She makes me happy, except she doesn't like to shop...  not sure where she got that sad personality trait.  haha

Hyrum is in 8th grade.  He is homeschooling and his passion is soccer.  He will be trying out for the high school team next year and is starting on an elite team this week.  He mostly defends, like his big brothers.  He says it's because he can hit, and take a hit.  I'm pretty glad he is going to play because I think I would go into withdrawals without high school soccer. 

Kami is in 7th grade and homeschooling also.  She loves to go to the elementary school and help the kindergarten teachers.  They are so busy, have so many students and went to all day kindergarten this year and they love having her come in and help.  She has a soft spot with the special ed kids and they love her so much.  I love to hear her tell me stories about the kids. I think she has found her passion also. 

Nate is in 3rd grade and doing great.  He is like his big brothers and LOVES soccer.  He says he wants to be a professional player one day.  He is such an amazing kid.  He loves everyone and has the softest heart.

And then there is Noah.  He is five.  We decided not to start him in kindergarten this year because he would have been one of the younger ones and the thought just didn't sit right with me.  He goes to preschool two days a week, but usually he has to be bribed.  He told me he made a deal with his dad.  That he would go to preschool and his dad would take him to the store after school and buy him a treat.  I kind of think he gets away with far too much, but he is the baby and he seems to be amazing despite having us as his parents!

And there is a quick update of my little, shrinking family.  I'll do an update on the rest of them in another post.  I love these people!  I am grateful every single day that I get to live my dream!!!

Who Said 13 Was Unlucky???

Well, for some strange reason, I am not allowed to make this Facebook official, but she told me I could blog it! (???)  Hey, who am I to argue?  However I am thrilled to announce grandbaby #13, currently known as "Avocado" mostly because mommy and daddy haven't come up with a name that will be worthy of the princess this little one will surely be!  Avocado is, well, it's kind of funny.  When we were in Hawaii for Chris and Kassi's wedding, we had lunch at Bubba Gump.  The waiter was a hoot, and his name tag said Avocado.  When Kassi found out she was pregnant she started calling the little one Avocado, and it seems to have stuck.  Poor baby.... since it's a girl, not a boy!  But it makes us all happy (and makes us wish we were in Hawaii again!).  She is due to make her appearance in early October, but who knows with this one.  She's done things her own way since she was no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence.   Kassi is seeing a midwife and plans to have her in a birthing center.  It's going to be an exciting ride.  Chris is out of the military and deciding where to go to school so we get them around for a little while.  I will surely cry when they decide to leave, because we have all gotten extremely attached to having Kassi and her sunshine back with us for a while! 

So, our family continues to grow in the most amazing ways.  These grandbabies are... there are no words for how amazing they are.  Each with their own amazing personalities.  It is so fun to watch them grow.  Thayne has the most tender heart and if it's been very many days in a row without seeing them, he starts telling me we need to see them.  He's gotten soft in his 'grandpa' years which is probably why he recently insisted we get a play house/swing set for them.  One much nicer than he did for his older kids (yes, we heard about how spoiled the younger kids are, but we couldn't help it that the younger kids were born the same time the grandbabies were being born).   Life is busy.  It's sometimes overwhelming.  There is so much going on in everyone's lives, and often we get pulled in to the whirlwind, above and beyond the normal whirlwinds of our own life.  Last week, we had plans to get out of town overnight for our anniversary, but heard Kimi was planning to come and spend the weekend.  Thayne just shrugged his shoulders and with a goofy grin on his face, he informed me that this whole crazy mess was my idea!  He always tries to turn it around on me!!!  haha  

Honestly, I have a million dreams, a million hopes, a whole bunch of 'stuff' I want to be working on now.  But I know that in the end, the love these babies show to us, the hugs and loves and kisses and squeels of laughter, well, isn't that what life is all about anyway???

13 is the perfect number to round out the year.  Our arms are full... you should see our hearts!

Did I say 11 was great? What I really meant to say is....

If 11 is great, a dozen is even better!!! 

Yes, a dozen grandbabies. 

Garrett and Tiffany gave me the best birthday present.

An ultrasound picture of our next grandbaby,

due in August!

And she's a girl...