"Promise me you'll always remember, You are BRAVER than you believe, You are STRONGER than you seem, And you are SMARTER than you think." ~Christopher Robin

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Bitter/Sweet

I hardly know how to put this to words. My heart is just full. Yesterday morning Zach's Grandma passed away. We called her Bam or Bammy Roo, her name is Nel. She is just wonderful! I am glad I have pictures of her with my kids and memories that I can share with them, so they and their kids will know her too.
Ya know, it is hard when someone dies. At first I thought, she is with Daddy Pa now and that makes me really happy for her and him. She missed him so much! Then I started thinking about the last time I saw her. It was Christmas day I think....two whole months ago! She lived in Harrisville about 20 minutes from me! I started to feel badly about all the visits I meant to make, cards I meant to write and meals I meant to take, that never happened. I was talking to my mom about it and decided it doesn't do a whole lot of good to think of regrets and let them eat at you. I decided that thinking of those things is okay as long as I allow them to motivate me to be better, for her. Even if I can't visit her, I can visit my Grandma or widows in my ward, I can do better at doing things I want to do for others, etc.
I got to thinking about the kind of life she lived, the person that she was. Seriously, you guys, she was awesome! She would have a Halloween parade every year at her house while she lived here. When she lived in Idaho she would invite the families of the sisters she visit taught to a dinner for Halloween. (She loved that holiday!) She was a fabulous visiting teacher!
There are specific things I can remember that she said to me that are honestly so special! I can see her face when I think of her words! "Isn't having a winter romance so much fun!" She said that to me when Zach and I were dating because we started dating at the end of November. She said to me several times; "I think I fell in love with you before Zach did!". She told me once "ya know, if I want to give someone roses, I just do it, how else will they know I wanted to unless I do it. And besides you never know what will happen and you might not get the chance!" What a good example she was! :) I just love her dearly, she will be greatly missed!
I was thinking yesterday about her funeral and what she would want at it. I decided that what she would want to know is that what she tried to do on earth was important to someone, ya know helped someone in some way. I think she would want to know that what she did on earth was build bridges for those she loved that will help them and those that come after. I think she did just that! She was most definitely a Bridge Builder!
The time I spent with her, I will cherish as a wonderful memory! There might be things I regret not doing but there are things we did and time we spent that mean a lot to me, especially now. She is a special person who filled a great void in my life as my Grandma Moyes was a wonderful friend who I lost a few years before knowing Bam. I was so excited to join Zach's family and love and be loved by his Grandma. She reminded me so much of mine! How blessed I am to have known her! Well, this was long but thanks for reading! I love you Bam!















(above)Bam & Ben on Halloween. Isn't she the cutest Witch with my Little Stinker! (skunk)
(below) Bam & Sarah on Sarah's blessing day. Isn't Bam lovely! I love these pictures of her!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Alexa's b-day & ode to Zoe :)


While we were in Ireland it was Zach's niece Alexa's Birthday. She turned 8 and was baptized that Sunday. It was fun to be there for such a big day for her! (this was a little incentive to go at this time) Alexa is the one with the red head band. Zarra is the one in the green jacket on the left, by Ben. Such cute girls!
We went to her birthday party at a rec center in Belfast. This was interesting for us to see. As far as structure goes there wasn't much difference but the atmosphere really wasn't "child" friendly according to us. The music was very loud and wasn't the most appropriate and there were inappropriate posters on the walls inside. It is a different way of life over there.
Ben & tried ice skating. As you can see, it worked really well. :)


















Now this is Zoe, Alexa's best friend. Ben fell for her big time! He followed her around wherever she went! She was a good sport to put up with him! She is such a cutie, I do have to say he has good taste. :) Seriously, when she wasn't around he asked where she was and always wanted to go see her dance. (she's a dancer, Alexa is too) I just had to get a picture!




Sarah is 6 months old!!!

Photobucket Album

Weekend Cabin Fun

Photobucket Album

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Things I LOVE....

In light of the day and all I thought I'd dedicate a post to a few things I love.
1. My Zach
2. He is simply the best! I just LOVE him!
3. My kids
4. Their laughter!
5. Their smiles
6. Being a wife
7. Being a mom
8. My sisters
9. My mom
10. My family in general! They are seriously wonderful!
11. Flowers! Thanks Zach!
12. I love to smell them!
13. They make everything so pretty!
14. Friends who stop by to visit. :)...Alayna :)
15. My house
16. My neighbors
17. Snow...yep I said it, I LOVE snow!
18. When it is white anyway, when it starts to look dirty I don't like it.
19. The gospel of Jesus Christ
20. The knowledge that it is true!
21. Blessings!...who doesn't love those?!
22. Trees
23. Image consultants
24. A good joke
25. Sleeping in
26. to scare Zach
27. to tickle Ben
28. to hold Sarah
29. the funny things Ben says
30. to think about what I love

I'll stop there, that was fun to write whatever I thought of. :) Thanks for reading. Chances are if you read these, I love you too! Happy Valentines Day!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

It's been a little crazy lately!

So, I totally thought that I could get everything posted about Ireland last week....NOPE! Adjusting was spiced up with a trip to the hospital for Sarah for IV treatment and a nice healthy dose of the flu for me. I am feeling great today though....
This week I hope to be better at posting stories. We really did have a great time and I am excited to share. We did take Sarah with us. We just had Zach's parents there in Ireland for part of the time and they kept Sarah when we were going to be out walking because it was SUPER cold! It was so nice to have them to watch the kids sometimes. They even kept Ben so Zach and I could go into town and shop some. Way nice!
Well, I'm off to the dry cleaner! :)

on our way!...(out of order, I know)

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Here's my proof!

These pictures are for you Steph!....prove it?! Don't be so hasty!
So, I loved Ireland as a whole, but I especially liked Giants Causeway. There is a story behind it that makes it kind of fun. First let me explain the pictures a little better.
Basically the rocks start at the top of the hill and come down to the ocean just like steps. They go all the way down into the ocean and come back up in Scotland! Totally cool!
Well, the story goes like this:
There were two giants, one lived in Ireland and the other in Scotland. The giants were engaged and so during their engagement the guy giant used the causeway to walk across the ocean to visit his future bride!
I was amazed to see this! The individual stones all placed perfectly on top of eachother to make perfect and distinct columns. Honestly, I don't understand how it was done!
So, while Zach and I were walking down and I was marveling at this site and said to him "Heavenly Father had to have had so much fun creating this earth! What creativity!"
I really liked walking down to it, one, because I love walking and two, because it really was so pretty the whole time! I love to hear the waves crashing against the rocks and such. So lovely!

I loved Giants Causeway!

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Monday, February 4, 2008

Jet Lag....

Oh my, well it has been a while since I wrote last and some might wonder why.
Well, we ventured across the Atlantic to IRELAND!
So, I have only be to Tiawana and have never had a passport and all the sudden, bam! IRELAND! Needless to say, I was really excited to go! We had a fabulous time!
Now, we suffer from jet lag. :) Lovely as it is, it is so worth it!
The laundry is up to my ears and the kids are throwing up and so tired. We all wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning thinking we slept in! (In Ireland it is 10 or 11 in the morning!) Oh the joy of adjusting!
As the week goes on, I will post pictures and stories. What a beautiful place!
So yeah, I'm back! :) I missed you too! :) :)