Bittersweet memories

Monday for family night, Kerry had me read a book. Doesn't sound like such a big deal, right? Wrong. He had me read "I'll love you forever". It's a book that makes me cry everytime. This time, though, I couldn't even start it before I was already bawling. Kerry had ME read it because HE was bawling. This all made Jeff bawl. That made Heath bawl. Jared Lee just looked at us all like we were crazy. Which, I suppose we are. Jeff is leaving for two years to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa mission... French speaking. He is SO excited. AND we are excited for him and the wonderful memories he will make, and the great service he will be doing for the people of Africa. But, I wonder how the time flew by so fast. It just seems like yesterday that he was happily dumping flour from my 5 gallon flour bucket all over himself, and his little friend. Kerry saved him from death that day by asking me to get the camcorder and come see something. I suppose that he figured I wouldn't kill them if it was on film! ;) Then he, and the same little friend, dumped baby powder ALL over his room. (as a side note, you cannot clean baby powder easily. It clogs the vacuum cleaner bag, sweeping it up just creates a dust cloud, and mopping it only makes it "gunk" up) I remember the night that Kerry killed the goose, because it "bit the boy". He went out there with great purpose to kill that goose. My only qualm was that the kids were all outside watching! Sure they would be scarred for life, I went outside to get the kids and shoo them inside. I was too late. BUT, they weren't scarred for life! I went outside and found them all cheering and dancing around because "the goose is dead"! When he was 7 years old, our bishop asked him if he was planning on serving a mission. Jeff's reply: "As long as there is breath in my mom's body!" The bishop took that as a "yes". ;) I'm happy to say that while I may have told him since he was little that a mission was what he should do, he is going because he truly wants to, and not because I've told him he should/would. I know this, because I have since changed my mind. I think that two years is too long, and that Africa is too far away! LOL Jeff insists on going anyway. I don't know where my baby boy went, but I'm proud of the man that he has become. It makes me proud to see him serve the people of Africa, and the Lord. I wish I could take some credit for the fine man that he has become, but he truly just came that way. Go forth, and return with honor, Jeff. We love you!

What a SLACKER!!!!

I've been so busy the last 9 months, that I just realized that I've never blogged all of the events of this last year! It would take forever to do any of it justice, so I will just have to summarize!

ANDY
In August of last year, Holly met Andy Jensen when she went back to school. Little miss picky-pants had a list as long as her arm on what constituted a perfect man. I told her that while it was okay to be discriminating, she really was going to have to settle a little bit on the less important things. She has just always liked to prove me wrong. Turns out that this Andy fellow is everything that she had on her list! Who knew that someone like that actually existed?! They were married on February 12th of this year. They are living in Pocatello (where she is GRADUATING from ISU in May) while Andy finishes school.

JEFF
Jeff finally got back from boot camp/AIT in November of last year. We were beginning to wonder if the army was going to keep him forever! He put in his mission papers, and will be leaving to serve his mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa mission. French speaking! He reports to the MTC in Provo next Wednesday, the 5th of May. We are all going to miss him so much, but we are also so very excited for him! He can hardly wait! And, it comes not a moment too soon. His unit is being deployed to Iraq in September. Because he will already be out on his mission, he doesn't have to go...THIS time. I know that he's in the Army, and that he loves it, BUT, I prefer him right her where he belongs! ;) We had a party for him this past Sunday after his farewell at church. It was awesome seeing how many people love and support him. He has some amazing friends!

HEATH
Heath started high school this year. He is going to Bonneville High School, and seems to really like it. He, unfortunately likes the social life a little too much. Academically, he's not doing as well as his mommy thinks he should be. Not as well as his teachers think he should be, either....

KERRY
Once again, Kerry joined the unemployed. He was layed off February 17th (yep, right after the wedding). They "restructured" again, so no chance of being rehired. He took a few weeks for fishing....okay, not fishing the whole time, but fishing nonetheless....then found another job. Not so sure that I am liking said job, but he does have one. It's commission based (again) and it's for a lumber yard in Salt Lake (again), and building is down in Idaho (still, again) so the work is hard and slow. At least this time I had a job. I suppose that it could have been so much worse.

BIG JARED
Jared graduated from BYU-Idaho in December with his teaching degree. Right now, he's job hunting. He has been playing "Mr. Mom" since graduating in December. We are all hoping and praying that his job hunt goes well in this not so great economy with slowed hiring rates for teachers, and pay cuts that go along with that.

HANNAH
Our sweet little Hannah turned 1 year old! We had an amazing party, where she loved being the center of attention. We love her to pieces! :D She won't crawl (yes, I said "won't"). She just likes to "army crawl". Maybe it makes her feel closer to her favorite uncle, Jeff! LOL

I'm still working in Blackfoot, and I still love my job. I've been putting in some extra hours since Kerry went on "vacation". I've been working in different areas of the clinic to just fill in where needed. I'm not sure what all that I will be doing the next 8 weeks. My boss, Dr. Julian, has left to have her baby TODAY!!! She is taking 8 weeks off, so I will be working in other parts of the clinic until she comes back. This week I'm working 3 twelve hour shifts, and I was supposed to be working today. BUT, since Christie is having her baby, no working today! ;) I can't believe that we take Jeff in less than a week! I'm going to miss him so much! I'm hangning in there okay right now; I think maybe it just doesn't seem "real" yet. By this time next week, I think I won't be doing so great....

There. I think that I'm pretty much just caught up! Now, if I can just remember to keep blogging!

The new job!

After 25 years of non-paying employment (taking care of kids, taking care of hubby, and occasionally taking care of the house..haha) I have a real job! I am working in Blackfoot at Blackfoot Medical Center. I work for a new pediatrician that just finished up her residency at Primary Children's in SLC. Her name is Christie Julian. I'm working Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9-5 (ish). It's a little more than a half hour drive from our house to work; it's just enough time to unwind after work before I get home. Perfect!
The other day, the receptionist sent a phone call over to my desk and told the caller, "I will transfer you to the nurse and she can answer your question." I had a momentary panic, as there was no nurse there! I AM the nurse! LOL I kind of feel like I'm playing dress-up!
I have an official license now...it came in the mail a couple of weeks ago! I'm really, and truly, a nurse now! :D
Now, the challenge will be figuring out how to get dinner on the table before midnight sometime. How have working moms done it all of these years?

The three graduates

We had three, count them, three graduations last month! I graduated from EITC, then Heath graduated from White Pine, and last (but not least) Jeff graduated from Hillcrest. A fun time was had by all....all month long! :D

He's in the Army now!

Today we took Jeff to the airport. He's on his way to bootcamp at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. First stop is a stay in Salt Lake City, then he's off tomorrow to Missouri! Poor kid had never even been on an airplane until today. I tried to hold it together, but I wasn't very successful. I shed some tears in the airport, but most of them came in the car and at home afterward. He has texted me to let me know that he landed safely in SLC, and that the flight offered him a new view of his world. Now, we just have to wait until he's done in about 11 weeks for graduation. He won't get to come home then, however. After boot camp, he has AIT (Advanced Individual Training) for another 4 weeks. Maybe I'll be done crying by the time he gets back? Dang these independent kids that think they can have a life of their own! I wonder if they allow moms at bootcamp.... :s

The graduate Gran

I can't believe it! I finally graduated! It was a wonderful day/evening. We had a pinning ceremony first. Long ago, thankfully before me, nurses had a capping/pinning ceremony where they received one of those "lovely" nurses caps and a pin. Now, we just receive pins. I had to speak, which was a little nerve wracking! My family tells me that I did okay, but I did choke up. I wish that I didn't have such a high water table; crying just comes way too easy for me, especially when it's an emotional time/event, etc. After we had all received our pins, we stated the "Florence Nightingale" pledge together; it's an adaptation of the the Hippocratic Oath that doctors take. After the pinning ceremony, we went to Heather's house for a "picnic". Idaho weather being what it was/is, we decided to beat the chill and wind and cram into her apartment. It was a wise choice, by the way. Then, we headed back for the actual graduation ceremony. The best part of graduation was as I was walking across the stage. Suddenly, from the balcony, we heard (clear as a bell) "That's my mom!" It was Heath. How awesome he made me feel! :D With graduation over, we headed back to our house for cake and visiting long into the night. I can't stop wondering how we all survived. My family has been amazingly supportive through this whole thing. The boys say that they are glad to have their mom back. I must say, that I'm just as glad to be back!

Saga of the laundryroom counter

It all started innocently enough. I went into the laundry room and realized that I haven't seen the counter in there for, oh, about 5 semesters now. So, I decided to clean off the counter. I figured that way I could put the drink boxes and chips that we put in the boys' lunches on that counter and off of the kitchen floor. Sounds like a good idea. BUT, I couldn't really get to the counter. There was quite a bit of laundry...some clean, some dirty. Must first figure out what is clean and what is dirty. The clean laundry really needs to be folded and put away. Start washing dirty laundry and start folding what may end up amounting to 5 semesters worth of laundry. Finish the laundry (well, as finished as laundry can be. My family doesn't seem to like the idea of walking around naked...so there is always more laundry to do). By now, it is time for dinner. Make dinner. Eat dinner. Hubby finally comes home. Visit with hubby while he eats dinner. Wash dishes...okay, wash what will fit in the dishwasher. Plan to sort laundry into the proper bedrooms. Hubby realizes it's the last day of the month. Realizes also that two of his three Home Teaching families still need to be graced with his presence. Asks son to go with him. Son is going to a study group for a test. We want this son to graduate; living at home forever is not an option. Allow son to go to study group. Asks another son to go. This son is grounded until every speck of laundry has been discovered in his room and has been place in the proper laundry receptacle (aka: hamper). Allow son to finish the laundry hunt. Next son begins to whine before even being asked. Don't bother to ask this son. Hubby is now out of sons. Asks wife. Wife can't think of a good enough reason. Decides to go. Family number one, out-of-town. Family number two, not at home. No surprise on either one; that's why wife decided to go. Wife thinks she gets to go home and finish laundry room. Wife is crazy for thinking this. Home teaching families live within two blocks of mother-in-law. Go to mother-in-laws for a "minute". Leave 90 minutes later. Wife is now tired, and boys need to go to bed. Decides to finish in the morning. Great night's sleep.
Next morning. Get boys off to school. Decide to tackle laundry room. Find purple sheets on counter. Purple sheets that go on bed in master bedroom, that needs sheets changed. Hmmmm. Don't want to put the sheets away, since I'm going to use them. Go down the hall to make the bed. Hmmmm. Can't change the sheets yet. Bedroom needs dusting. Don't want to get dust on clean sheets. Bedroom hasn't been dusted for a while. Not 5 semesters, but looks that bad. Can't dust. Bedroom is a mess. Must clean surfaces off before dusting. Clean off surfaces in bedroom. Dust bedroom. Grandbaby comes for a visit. Hold baby while daughter puts clean sheets on bed (I highly recommend this method of changing the bed, by the way). Go back to laundry room. Decide to go on date with hubby instead. Laundry room counter, still unseen.