How to catch up?

Wow! So much has happened in my life in the last while...I don't even know where to start. My friend Shannon says it feels like a chore to do her blog but she does it to document her life right now. Oh, that made me feel a little guilty. It does feel like a chore to me too, but it's also fun.

My sweet husband spent/is spending New Year's weekend in Missouri so that he can get our house ready to put on the market. I can never get over how talented he is...he can fix ANYTHING! He made our home there very beautiful. I was watching the screensaver slideshow on our computer this evening and the tears started to come.

Babies, 1st birthdays, more birthdays, fireworks, neighbors, leaf piles, crawling babies grabbing Christmas tree ornaments, kids in trees, children holding smaller children, Easter egg dying, homeschool at the kitchen table, projects, library outings.

And then, all of a sudden, we get a new job and off we go....

I love my mom and dad, and Jon's parents. I love my brothers and sisters, their spouses, their sweet children. What an incredible joy it has been to see them so much. They are such neat people. I love to be with them, I love who they are, and who they are becoming. So why do I feel so sad about leaving Missouri?

I really shouldn't blog in the middle of the night when my husband is out of town and I'm feeling a little down.

Our little 7 year old nephew, Jared, passed away on Mary's birthday at the end of November. His parents, Andrew (Jon's brother) and Jaime spoke at his funeral. There words were comforting and beautiful and made the veil between our world and the spirit world seem very thin. Jared will always help me remember that this life is a temporary part of an eternal progression...or standstill. I want to progress. I want to be sealed to my family forever. I want to live with and serve my Father in Heaven.

"Draw near unto me, and I will draw near unto you"

Our former home and way of life isn't all- important, though I will always have precious memories of it. What is important is that I recognize the Lord's hand throughout my life. He has watched over me, protected me. He has lifted me up when I was weighed down by grief. He has given me a husband who I want to be with forever. He has given me precious children to be part of my family. He has blessed me with faith, which becomes more important to me as I grow.

He has forgiven me.
Only through Jesus Christ is it even possible that I can have the peace to hold my head up and be happy.

Pre-Baby Campout

This was our last "getaway" before little Isaac was born. We wanted to go camping, but being 8 months along can put a cramp in your style! So we pitched the tent in the backyard and Jon made a fire pit (sorry about the smoke, neighbors) and we cooked hot dogs and s'mores and slept in the tent. It was SO MUCH FUN! Except that I got up 3 times in the night to come in the house and use the girls room. On the 3rd visit I crashed on the couch and said enough is enough! Fun times.

The fire pit feast!

The fire tenders.

OK, if my dad saw this he would say that this is definitely some cushy camping. Blow up mattresses, a tent you can stand up in with 2 rooms, lots of snuggly quilts. It's certainly not the roughing it that occured on our yearly summer backpacking trips. I say, you've got to start somewhere...we'll work up to it!

Isaac Wesley

Isaac Wesley born 9/15 (Tues) weighing 8lbs. 4oz. and 20.5 in. long. Thank you all for your prayers and kindness.

Baby Boy!!!

Baby Born Just Born

Welcome Baby Boy Vance

39 weeks, 6 days

Why do we even have due dates, anyway? I think they just cause stress more than anything! I actually thought yesterday was the day. I was contracting all afternoon, and then around bedtime it stopped. I was actually glad, because I was TIRED! But today I'm thinking I need to go on a long walk or something.

Really, this pregnancy has been a pretty nice one. A couple of months ago, I started praying that I would have more energy to be able to take care of my family and home. Heavenly Father truly answered my prayer. I definitely have days that are more tiring than others, but wow...I cleaned out my closet (that was a crazy job), pulled down the wallpaper in Danny and Nate's room (getting it painted is another matter), and got almost two months of homeschooling done early so we could take a month off around baby time. We've been doing some serious dejunking!

It's been great to have Jon home right now too. His company began closing the KC division back in 11/07 but they asked him to stay on with 3 other guys until things were pretty much finished up. So he has been out of work since 8/1. Thankfully, we've been putting in a stronger effort to follow the counsel of our church leaders and have prepared for this time.

Anyway, I just really want to hold this sweet little person in my arms. I want to sing to him and nurse him and kiss his widdew (little) cheeks. Come on buddy...come join the family!