The time has come

It's not been an easy or quick choice and we have logged many hours of internet research followed up by weeks of field study.   

Our journey began with Chad making a quick trip to Tillamook, Oregon and an even quicker job interview over Thanksgiving weekend.  We had other paddles in the water so we moved on.  

Our second stop led us to the banks of the North Platte River and over looking the landscape of Scottsbluff, NE.  I must admit it was pretty humbling to feel the frigid cold of the flatlands and see the tracks from the wagon wheels that rolled through that territory years before me. Tori was a little freaked out over the size of the school and determined that one of the outlying communities would have to be called home because she and Jordan were not going to that HUGE high school.   

I sent Jordan along for the third field study to Mountain Home, Idaho where we all really thought this would be the place.  But after a lost set of rental car keys and a veterinarian left with some duct work to be put back together we learned that it wasn't where the lord wanted us to go.  

We made it through Christmas still not sure where we should be going and praying fervently for some answers.  

 

The new year took us even further from home to the town of Hardinsburg, Kentucky where they boast about having been the home to the world's smallest Walmart and McDonalds.  Although the wide open spaces of Kentucky were beautiful in their own right.  I quickly figured out I'm just not an east of the Rockies kind of girl.  I like my mountains!!  School there just wasn't a good fit for our active bunch, but Chad would have loved all the cows he would have worked with.  

However, it was a nice little trip just Chad and I.  We got to spend a few crazy non-cell phone nights away from the kids.  Chad would lay in bed at night with one arm in the air holding up the phone and the other arm pulling his ear just right so we could keep our one bar of reception to have a nightly check in with the kids.  That was unnerving for this momma, no internet was one thing but not being able to talk to the kids whenever was almost unbearable at night.  

The end of our trip we got to spend a whirlwind day in Nashville taking in as much as we could.  

The Ryman Auditorium where so much country music has been born was pretty impressive.  To think of all the people that have walked out onto that stage knowing they had one shot to make it or break it. The stories the walls of that building could tell would be amazing!  

We have travelled over 10,000 miles, looked into numerous high schools and what they offer, meet some really great people and have seen more breeds of cows than you can imagine.  

But our search will come to an end and we feel our Father in Heaven has directed us to where he wants us to go so our family will be relocating to the land of many waters...

   and cheese.....  

where our children will now become...

 and Chad will have a plethora of these big gals..... to take care of on a regular basis.  

Sweet Sixteen

It’s been a few years since Jordan has had a birthday party, now don’t get to quick and make me out as the worst mother in the world.  She’s had a cake every year with presents and a special dinner, but she’s not had friends over to celebrate in a while.  In fact, the last party she remembers with fond memories was the year she turned 12 and we loaded up in the car with cake and presents and went to the Oklahoma State Veterinary clinic.  Chad was working that night and couldn’t be home to celebrate, so there we sat in the middle of the student lounge singing happy birthday dear Jordan.  As I recall there was even a few other vet students helping us sing. 

So this year we wanted to have something SPECIAL, I mean afterall, a girl only turns 16 once!
After weeks of thinking and having NO, and I mean NO input from the birthday girl I decided to have her friends get pedicures...however where in Forks do you find someone to come and give a bunch of teenagers pedicures on a Saturday night?  Answer, no where!  So I went to the local (an hour away) Dollar Store and loaded up on supplies.  After a few hours browsing Pinterest for the latest and greatest ways to apply a home pedicure. 

 

 

Not everyone can say they had a 4 year old and 9 year old give them a pedicure. 

Morgan was thrilled to be able to paint toenails and making everyone sparkle. 

The birthday girl is still humble enough to make sure little brother is included. 

Mom and Dad made their best attempt to make a giraffe print cake. 

 It wasn't from the pros, but it was made with lots of love. 

See she even got presents, again this year. 

Try Again

I think it's time to revisit the blogging world.  I have missed keeping a family journal in this way, mainly because it hasn't been happening. Sure I post the occassional photo on Facebook, but I rarely post the adventure or result along with that picture.  So, if there is anyone out there still who might happen to occassionally look at this blog bear with me while I attempt to ressurect this project. 

For now, have an enjoyable November! 

P.S. Happy 16th Birthday to Jordan!!

A little bit of nostalgia



As the ornaments were removed from their year of hiding, I found myself really reflecting on the journey they have made.  Luckily, our family took that journey with them and have so many memories that accompany each and every ornament that hangs on the tree. 

 

 

 

The years each of our children were born will always hold a special memory.  We recall each childs first Christmas and experience with the lights, the sounds and smells of Christmas.  I can only imagine how it must have felt that night in Bethlehem when Mary and Joseph looked down upon their little miracle, knowing he was a miracle to the world and would grow to be the Savior to us all.  



 

 

The sheep ornament represents numerous events to our family.  It was given to us by Lyle "Doc" McNeal, a professor at Utah State University.  He not only educated the parents of the household, gave the girls a love for sheep watch but also became a very dear friend.  The snowflake ornament, brought back memories of alot of different things, from Jordan playing in the snow the night we got 18" in one night to our Christmas' spent with not even a hint of a snowflake in the air.  It's been fun to recall each childs first experience with snow.  Oklahoma State was a big year for us, it not only brought Kordale into the world, but was also a beginning to the end of school.  We spent our last Christmas as students there and made so many fun memories.  

 

Our truly homemade Christmas' will probably always be the ones we remember the most, at least the two older girls.  As we removed these special ornaments from the box with great care Jordan and Tori both had memories come flooding back.  From collection the sea glass and carefully hot gluing them to our hand me down ornaments.  The following Christmas we got a little more creative and gathered shells from the beach to make our angels, whos heads were formed from modeling clay because wooden balls were to expensive.  We made our angels with The Kitsmiller family and will always remember Christmas with them. 

Here is our final masterpiece! 

May your Christmas be as memorable as ours. 

Crazy little thing called life!

It's crazy how quickly life can run away with all your time.  We have been overly busy all summer!  I don't know about the rest of the family, but this mom is looking forward to winter and possibly life getting to slow down a little. 

Girls camp

Just hanging out at girls camp this week, stay tuned for more info when we get home!

Sent from my Samsung smartphone on AT&T

Girls camp

Hanging out at girls camp for the week. More details to follow

Sent from my Samsung smartphone on AT&T