Two of my new favorite pictures.

Embracing the camera today.

I'm so grateful to be married to my best friend!

Sunday Reflections: Beautiful

It's all I think when I look at my children. It constantly amazes me how different all three of my kids are. They each bring something different to our family. I'm grateful for all of them. Our family wouldn't be complete if any one of the three were missing.

Porter came into my life when he was seven. He moved in with his Dad and I when he was 11. What a blessing he's been to our family. Right now he's on a 2 year mission for our church. He's been out since August of 2010. We haven't seen him since the day he got on the plane. And we only get to talk to him twice a year on Mother's Day and Christmas Day. I am so proud of him and I miss him so much. He has overcome so many trials to become the man he is today.



Jordin came into my life when she was six. She was independent and spunky and wanted everyone to know she could handle anything that came her way. She just moved in with us this summer and I'm so grateful she's here! We've had so much fun together. She's still independent and spunky, and she definitely can handle anything that comes her way. I've watched her go through some really hard stuff and come out the other side of it stronger than ever.




The day Jay was born I knew I was in trouble. She was a little early and had some fluid in her lungs so the nurse put a tube down her throat to suction the fluid out. She pulled it out but Jay still had fluid in there. She tried to put the tube back down there but Jay clamped down on it and wouldn't let her. She was all of 10 minutes old at this point. Fifteen years later, she's still just like that strong willed baby. She knows what she wants and she wants to figure out how to get it all on her own. She's stronger than she knows, and that iron will of hers is going to take her where ever she wants to go.

They are so much of my joy and I will be eternally grateful I can call them mine.

                                      2 Nephi 2:25

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

Road Trip

Last weekend the girls (Jay and Jordin) and I drove up to West Virginia for the weekend. We were supposed to leave Thursday night, but because of an "OH FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING HOLY IS MY HEAD GOING TO EXPLODE?!?!?!" headache, we left on Friday.

I just love the rolled out of bed look, don't you?

Even with the delayed start good times were had by all. We left dark and early at 6:30 am Friday morning. Our first stop Chick-fil-A. We got breakfast milkshakes, chicken and tater tots. It was yummy!!

Isn't she sweet?

After our power breakfast, we hit the open highway to make the long-ish treck to West Virginia. Conversations ensued, naps were taken (don't worry, Jay woke me up before I ran the car into anything) and semi truck drivers were persuaded to honk their horns.

We stayed with my awesome friends Heidi...

















And Morgan...

And Wade.

I thought I had an awesome picture of Wade with pink hair but I can't find it.

If I find it, I'll update it here.

We had a great time. We went on a midnight donught run and stayed up talking and laughing. We watched movies and ate at my favorite restaurant, Habanero. While we were there the Macarana (not sure how to spell that) came on their radio. So, of course my girls had to get up and actually DO the Macarana. Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch. They were a hit.

Taken with my camera phone. Bad picture, but you get the idea...

After lunch it was time to get ready for Homecoming. (Did I mention it was Homecoming weekend?)


Hair was curled, 

pictures were taken,

and the girls had a great time at the dance.


Sunday we went to church and it was awesome to see everyone again. Especially my Young Women. I can't believe how much I miss them! After church, it was time to go home. The leaving is the worst part of any trip. On the way home, we listend to a ton of great music, thanks to the girls. (Sill waiting for my playlists ladies....) And there was more talking and laughing and ice cream. I think we have a new road trip tradition. We got home pretty late Sunday night and had to get up early Monday morning. That was hard, but it was totally worth it!

Thanks again Heidi, Wade and Morgan for letting us crash with you! Let's do it again soon!  *Nov 11* ahem.

Survival Skills

I am supposed to be on my way to West Virginia right now. I had to put the drive off until tomorrow because I got a wicked headache. Seriously, it was so bad that if I moved I almost threw up. (TMI?) And by moved I mean breathing, blinking, etc. You know, those type of non-essential movements we can all do without.

Husband was awesome. He pulled me off the floor (where I was rolling around in pain) and put me to bed. He then called my friend to let her know I wouldn't be there until tomorrow because of my headache. She told him to get Dramamine because it helps with headaches and sleeping. Because he's so awesome, Greg ran right out to get some.

Once home, he had the task of opening the pills so he could give them to me. Apparently he had trouble with this.

Being an Eagle Scout, his motto is "Be Prepared", so luckily he had the right tool for this job.

The moral of this story: Practice your survival skills, you never know when you will need them!

Thank You

Last week marked the 4 year anniversary of the passing of an amazing man.

Thank you JD for raising your your son with integrity.
Thank you for hanging in there through his rebelous years.
Thank you for teaching him it's not how a child comes into your life but that they come into your life that matters.
Thank you for recognizing the truth of the gospel when you heard it and choosing to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Thank you for sticking with church all those years even though it couldn't have been easy.
Thank you for bringing me into the family with open arms and love.
Thank you for always making me feel welcome.
Thank you for always being the first to laugh and enjoy life.
Thank you for starting family traditions that we carry on today.
Thank you for working hard and teaching by example.
Thank you for picking out JJ's last birthday present from you yourself. She still talks about how special that pig is to her because of the effort put into it.
Thank you for teaching your son to be generous and giving.
Thank you for showing him how to be a good dad and to love unconditionally.
Thank you for teaching your son the importance of the temple and eternal families.

I can't wait to see you again.

And Then She Turned 19

Today is my daughter's 19th birthday. She's an amazing girl. She's got a huge heart, she's full of compassion, kindness, love. She works hard and finds the joy in life. She's a wonderful artist and I love seeing her art work. I'm enormously jealous of her talent!! She loves to bake and is wonderful at that too. In fact, I'm hoping there is banana bread when I get home from work. I planted that seed right before bed last night. (My evil genius has no limits!) She works hard and (mostly) doesn't complain about it.

I married her dad when she was 6 years old and she was pretty sure she didn't need a step-mom. I was pretty sure she was still hoping Mom and Dad would get back together and who could blame her? Anyway the years that followed were happy, sad, full of joy and heartache. When she wasn't with us, I wished she was and when she was struggling, I cried because I couldn't go to her and give her a hug. She's been through a lot in her short life. And through it all she's been able to keep her compassion, sense of humor, and her ability to find joy.

She came out for an extended visit this summer and that turned into moving in. And I couldn't be happier. We spent years trying to build a relationship with each other. And in the past few months, it's blossomed! She is even more awesome than I ever knew. My favorite thing she does is when she wanders into my room and sits down on the bed next to me. That's when I know she wants to talk. I *love* those moments. They are precious and our time for them is limited.

She's at a crossroads in her life. She's making big decisions right now and trying to find her direction for the next few years. I have no doubt she will find her way and do it with her typical excitement for life. She's an adventure seeker and after all, what is life but the best adventure we have?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JORDIN! I know you are supposed to make a wish, but my wish for you is that where ever you go and what ever you do, you find your true love and joy.

I love you!!

Baby Jordin

Jordin about the time she came into my life. That's her older brother next to her. (More about him later).

Letterboxing in Harper's Ferry this summer.

Beautiful!

Meeting Our New Neighbors

Last Saturday we moved into our new house. 

Our furniture was delivered the Tuesday after we moved in and our appliances were delivered on Wednesday. The front door was off it's hinges and the dogs were out back. We were still trying to unpack so the entire house was in chaos. While all this was going one of our new neighbors came over. Below is the conversation we had.

Me: Hi! I'm Angie it's nice to meet you!

NN (New Neighbor): Hi, I live behind you and we're home all day. And I have a dog so I totally understand, but could you do something about your dog's barking all day, it's annoying.

(I'd like to point out that the delivery men had been there for about 20 minutes and that's when the dogs were put out back).

Me: Well he doesn't usually bark. The dogs are out back because our appliances are being delivered and he's barking at the delivery men. He'll quit once they're done.

(At this point they are standing in the front door because they need to get out to get another appliance to bring in the house and we're in their way.)

NN: Well like I said I have a dog so I totally understand, but can you do something about his barking all day, it's annoying. (Insert huge smile here).

Me: ...

Delivery Men, still standing in the door waiting: ...

Me: Sure.

NN: Great, Thanks!! 

And she walks away, leaving me to try to pick my jaw up off the front walk so the delivery men could finish their job. I guess there was a reason the only other people we've met in the neighborhood warned us about them.

Awesome License Plate

I saw this license plate today while I was out. I knew North Carolina was going to be awesome!!

Because Doctor Who is cool.

My Eternal Sweetheart

My husband is a good sport. Any man who lives with 3 women (1 wife, 2 teenage daughters) has to be! Since our move to North Carolina, he's been picked on more than usual which is saying something. There was the time I took the picture of him in his sleep mask (because he worked nights and slept during the day) and JJ posted it on Facebook...

Or the time we filmed him falling asleep in church. (Sadly I don't have that video anymore). And the countless times he's said something completely innocent and the 3 of us start giggling and can't stop. Usually he just stands there and stares at us.

But he's also full of awesomeness. He took us to dinner and the movies because he knew we needed to get out of the house. He bought JJ ice cream to reward her for working so hard in school. He took Jordin to Waffle House for no other reason than he wanted to spend time with her. He hugged me while I cried when I found out we didn't get our home loan and I had a minor panic attack. He danced with me in the living room just because. He sings along with us at random times and he can still make me laugh after 13 years. Not just chuckle, but really big belly laughs. I've found it's the little moments like these that the love I feel for him completely overwhelms me. 

I want our daughters to understand how lucky they are to have him as a father and pray that they marry someone just as wonderful as him. I want our son to turn out just like his dad. I can't think of anything better than that for him.

Thank you Greg for 13 wonderful years. I can't wait to spend the rest of eternity with you!

Best.Toys.Ever.

These make me smile every time I walk by them. Thank you random toy guy for making me smile every time I walk by your desk.