Harper Grace

Every now and then I have a few

FAMILY and FRIENDS

who ask me to take a few "professional" pictures for them.

I'm super uncomfortable with it since my only photography class I've ever taken...lasted only 4 hours.

But when my stepdaughter Britni asked me to take pictures of her sweet baby...

Harper Grace

I couldn't refuse.

In fact I felt honored.

It took us longer to get things "set up" and for baby Harper to settle into a "deep" sleep...

soooo....
we didn't get all the poses and positions

we were hoping for but who really cares when you are photographing

a beautiful subject such as our sweet baby Harper!

 Isn't she gorgeous?!?

I think I will take her picture anyday!

No Wrinkle Grandma

 

I'm going to self-indulge for a minute and share a couple of cute stories that have made me

feel so special recently.

Last weekend when we dropped off Rachel to babysit our sweet grandkids...

Leo and Hailee,

Leo asked his mommy,

"Which Grandma is coming over...

the wrinkle grandma or the non-wrinkle grandma?"

I'm happy to say that I turned out to be the 

NON-WRINKLE

grandma he was talking about!

He is only four-years old...

but I will take any compliment I can get!

I also have to compliment these sweet grandkids who

love to give us the 

BIGGEST HUGS and KISSES

every time they see us!

They also are looking forward to

being a BIG sister and brother soon.

 There mommy will be bringing them 

a baby sister in late September or early October!

The second story comes from this amazing kid:

Gehrig!

He is the son to my dear friend Katee who I work with in

Young Women's.

One day while his mommy was getting ready,

he told his mommy that she was Pretty!

(Which she TOTALLY is, by the way!)

When his daddy asked him who else he thought was pretty

he said,

"I think Rachel's mom is pretty!"

(Rachel babysits him on a regular basis and he loves Rachie!)

Awww...he has no idea how much this not only made my day but my

WHOLE month!

I seriously couldn't wait to come home and tell

my hubby he had better watch out...

he had some serious competition from the cutest three year old... ever!

I don't think my husband is TOO concerned...

not only does he think he can take him...

he has my TOTAL heart

for eternity + 1.

Finding Forgiveness and Updates

Monday I had the opportunity to attend

a remarkable funeral

of an amazing woman and friend.

It was heart wrenching to watch her husband walk in with his five 

VERY YOUNG

children and know that their beautiful wife

and mother

would be gone for a time.

During these moments when it seems unclear why a mother would be called back "HOME"

when her children need her so badly here...

that I am ever so grateful for the knowledge of

THE PLAN OF SALVATION

and of

ETERNAL FAMILIES.

 While going to a funeral is an emotional experience

I'm grateful for the reminder

to keep life simple,

to be in the service of others,

  and to find forgiveness in ourselves and others.

Recently I had the opportunity to
TAKE ACTION
in forgiving someone who had hurt me more deeply than anyone else ever had.
I remember once telling a friend that if I couldn't
find justice in this life
then I knew I would find justice in the next.
This friend reminded me that I would never be able to "testify" in the heavenly trial if I didn't first find
COMPLETE FORGIVENESS HERE IN THIS LIFETIME.
Last week while sitting in a courtroom
I found myself not only finding forgiveness for this person
but finding
MERCY!

As I listened to the words so beautifully spoken at the funeral I felt a strong confirmation
from my
HEAVENLY FATHER
that he was proud of me and with tears rolling down my face
I felt lighter and happier
and a peace
I haven't felt in a long time!
I sure love the Eternal Plan of Happiness.
If we follow it...
we truly will be happy.

***************************

Update #1: My laptop is in the "shop"...
currently being worked on.
I have a "special bond" with my laptop and I miss it!
My sweet hubby is letting me use his in the meantime!
I think he misses my blogposts too! 

Update #2: I took a two week break from running because I got really sick...
but I bought some new shoes and I'm ready to get right back at it!

Update #3: Our sweet friends the Maxwell's, i.e. Builder Lisa are moving and we went to their 
FAREWELL PARTY
tonight and oh, I will miss them!

Update #4: I was able to watch the grandkids 
MONDAY and we had a lot of fun.
They helped us cheer on Rachel at her soccer game!
Their team WON!

   

They were very proud of themselves...
this team has come a long ways from last year!

Update #5: Ron took Katie today fishing!
He drove an extra hour to a "special" fishing hole and he found this:

I'm happy to announce the arrival of a
LargeMouth Bass: 3 lbs. 8 oz and 20 inches long!
We will be enjoying it tomorrow for dinner!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Grandpa's Girl, Project Weekend Day 2 and a date!

Last week when Britni called to invite us to

Leo's 4th Birthday...

Leo started asking in the background and wanted to know who his mommy was talking to.

Britni said,

"Grandma Jana".

Leo said,

"Who is that?"

So Britni tried to explain.

Finally catching on he said,

"Oh yea, Grandpa's Girl!"

Ron, Britni and I have laughed about it ever since!

Today this Grandpa's Girl  

got to go visit our sweet little

LEO

for his 4th birthday party.

Here were a few highlights from his special day!

 A gift from us has to involve FISHING!

 Leo was so excited to do the TURTLE PINATA!

 Leo's BESTEST buddies!

 Leo will NEVER give me a hug but as soon as he sees Katie he starts running, yelling her name

and gives her the BIGGEST hug! 

 Rachel kept shoving candy into his fishing VEST!

He scored lots of CANDY!

          It's a BUG cake!

Happy 4th birthday sweet little LEO!

We sure do love you!

**************************

Project Weekend....DAY 2!

My least favorite chore:

LAUNDRY

Instead of working on a decorating project I decided I had better work on the overall

HOUSE CLEANING

that is never ending and I always seem to be behind in.

I know some women

spread out their laundry throughout the week

but since I dislike it so much...

I do it one day a week,

so I don't have to think about it for another 6 days!!

So it starts out looking like this:

  And ended the day looking like this:

Another project complete!

************************

Christopher had his first date tonight!

We decided 45 minutes before his date that he needed a new outfit so we quickly ran to the store

and came up with this:

     He said he was looking SWAG tonight!

When he got home I asked him how his first date went and he said she told him,

"Chris you look really nice tonight...

I've never seen you not in sweats!"

Ummmm...I think that will begin to change!

We had a chance to talk before his date so I could give him tips on how to treat a girl!

1.  Open her door

2. Never let a girl pay unless it is agreed to go Dutch (I had to explain this term to him...he asked me if I made it up!)

3.  Compliment her and let her know she looks nice

4.  Never ditch her for another girl or friend who might be on the date too (It was a double date.)

5.  Make sure she is home on time for her curfew and Be home 10 minutes after her curfew!    

Next week I'm taking him to get his driver's permit!

Ohhhhh...I'm so not sure how I feel about him growing up!

:)

    

Grandad's can do...

Granddads are something special.

Ron especially LOVES the idea of walking the kids to the park,

strolling on a beach, 

riding an amusement ride,

or sitting quietly to read a book!

But kids have their own ideas...

and so REALLY special

GRANDDADS 

enjoy whatever moments they can take!