Wandering Thoughts of a Crazy Mom

Absent - that's what I've been lately .   Not really however - I've been right here on Pepperwood Dr.  just lapping up this wonderful summer with my kiddos.  My life is sooo crazy.  Isn't everyones?  I've been busy juggling mom responsibilities, my night chatter job, Young Womens and that's just the top 3 .  My sweet kids went back to school yesterday and it was a hard day for me.   I've got a middle schooler folks! She loved her first day and she opened her locker on her first try.  Anna's off to the 4th grade this year and my darling Z-man is conquering the all day routine at first grade.  I know they say you can get so much done when your kids are at school but everything just seems so much duller around here.  Don't get me wrong - I've still got Mr. Spunky (Googer) by my side -so never a dull moment - love that boy!

I know most won't believe this but it's true -  I actually have more on my mind than I actually spit out.  My mind is constantly moving.  I self talk!  I do!   I share my testimony with myself - at least twice a week.   Speaking of which !!!!   Some months ago I was reading the Ensign and came across a talk that had a quote in it from Elder Holland.  That quote has echoed in my heart and in my mind every day since I read it and I've felt inspired to share it with others.  I feel like I need to share it again with my 2 blog readers.
                                     "Opposition turns up almost anyplace something good has happened.  It can happen when you are trying to get an education. It can hit you after your first month in your new mission field.  It certainly happens in matters of love and marriage.... There are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been genuine illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing.   If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now.  Don't give up when the pressure mounts.... Face your doubts.  Master your fears.  'Cast not away therefore your confidence.'  Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you." 

Jeffery R. Holland

Isn't it worth repeating -love that quote and the man that said it.  Satan is called the great deceiver for a reason, he has the ability to put doubts in your mind about something you once felt so strongly about.  He doesn't want us to succeed , to grow or to achieve.  He loves it when we stumble and when we fall.  Just some thoughts.

More thoughts here - new subject.
Three of my beautiful sisters have birthdays this month of August - Terri's is today actually.
So,  I just want to share something that I love about each of them.  The lists could really go on and on but I have other thoughts to share.

Moll, I love you - you really are the example and poster child for "I Can Do Hard Things"  .  I love that if you call Molly for a favor she says Yes before you ask and figures out all the details of it for you to make it easiest for you  - not her the one with 6 kids.  LOVE HER -  so much!

Ging,  I love you -  you are steadfast and immovable.   You are a wonderful example of enduring to the end.  You are funny and spunky  and spiritual -I know that I can look to you for gospel answers and that you will always be an example of what is right .  LOVE HER  -just as much.

Ter,  I love you -  you are my twinner and your thoughts are my thoughts.  You understand me and you always say what I need to hear.  You are wise and thoughtful of others.  You accept others as they are -and never expect a return on what you give out.   LOVE HER - equally!!

My last thought - not that I have but that I will share for now is that I have been married for 14 delicious years. I say delicious because that wonderful man is sweeter than anything I've ever eaten.  He exemplifies Christ like attributes in everything that he does.   I recently told a friend that I sometimes think Jared will be exalted because of his patience . Just lifted right up into the heavens.  Honestly -   No one compares in my eyes.  That's all that matters right!  LOVE HIM!   ewww I love him.  Glad we made that an eternal deal on August 20th 1997.

I have pictures to share  - this is what you can expect to see soon:
*back to school kids
*my glorious garden
*my incredible whiskey flower barrels (no really - grand champion)
*family photos that Ging & Wendy took
*my girls' bedroom redo!!!

Stay Tuned!!
I love you!  xoxoxoxoxo
Come See ME  --- MOM!!
jen

Yes She Is!

I have alot to write about - I've been off the blogging scene for quite some time.  I've had this one thing on my mind however and so I blog!  I finally got to see my little Hadley this past weekend!  Oh my goodness I adore her.   The feelings weren't mutual however and that made me a bit sad.  I'm gonna give it some time though since she was A. Tired and B. I stank and had a hot pink hat on.  She did however really really like her Uncle Jared.  That wasn't any big news -everyone likes him - Right?!!!   When I was leaving Johnny said to me, " was she everything you wanted in a niece."  I was thinking about that as I drove away and I was thinking - oHHH man was she ever .  She looks like her grandpa Ray a whole lot - probably because she looks like her Daddy!  She has beauty untouchable like her Momma however.     So, yes Johnny Boy  Yes  - she sure was - I love her  - I really love her.  I hope to see her again soon and wisper things in her ear like :"I'm Your Favorite Aunt" over and over again.  I try to start that fairly young so as to brainwash the children.  I think its worked pretty well over time.  We won't take a survey - don't want anyone else to get their feelings hurt.   I included the above song because I heard it again today and thought of that sweet Hadley getting blessed by her daddy and how she really is a child of great worth not only to me her Aunt Jenny but to her Father in Heaven.  I hope she will always be blessed to see what Heaven Sees In Her!     I Love You Miss Hadley!  Now come get a squeeze from your Aunt Jenny - I'll take my hot pink hat off I swear!

xoxoxoxooo
Johnny, please share the song with Felicia I think she would really like it .  

We've Got Bugs People!!!

Soooo,  yesterday I found what I had been searching for for over a week.  Yup,  LICE!  I was just doing Anna's hair for school and when I got done  I looked down and there he was a big ole LICE bug on my shirt.   I tried to remain calm but then I made the first part in Paige's hair and the stupid ole bugs were right there in her part.  OHHHHH man.  You wanna know what lice look like?

 They look like shaved heads on little boys who didnt' even have the evil creatures!

OHH , don't they look cute though.

They look like 20 -25 loads of laundry.  This picture doesn't even represent half of what I washed.

 

 They look like 5 hours of combing through one daughters very very long hair.  1 hour of combing through her sisters luckily short hair.  Shampooing and gelling everyone's hair.  Spraying pesticides on every unwashable surface.  Bagging up all stuffed animals and decorative pillows for a month long visit to the garage.( this one doesn't hurt my feelings real bad, heck they might not make it back in the house ever).  I called my sister-in-law Jen about 50 times to make sure I was doing everything right.  Bless her heart she did this last week and she knows my pain.  Poor Madison come to our house for about 15-20 minutes maximum last week unknowingly with LICE that she picked up at school.  I thought we were gonna make it out with out them.  I was sooooo wrong.     Now, I'm in lock down mode.  No one is coming in and my kids , well, I swear I'm gonna send them to school for the rest of the year with hats on.  I bet you didnt' know that they changed the policies on head lice in schools.  YOU CAN come to school with lice.   We won't tell anyone you have it - not even your classmates or your teacher.  HOW NICE!  WHAT!!!!!   A vicious cycle I tell you!  I'm scared out of my ever bug hating mind right now!!!   If I have to do this again - someone's gonna get home schooled!  I'm just sayin!!!!!  I need a nap and some chocolate about now!  The END!  OHH I hope so!!!