A Testimony of Family

Tonight, I sit here in tears.

I recently watched a documentary on a mother who adopted 11 children with disabilities. A few of their stories are extremely compelling, but the one that touched me the most was Joe.

In short, Joe was given away by his 13 year old mother and in and out of foster homes for the first two and a half years of life. Poor Joe never felt connected or loved by anyone. He was destructive and verbally abusive to his family. Joe died at the age of 15 feeling lonely and unloved.

This shook me to my core.

There is a reason our Heavenly Father sent us to this earth. There is a plan.

"Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations."
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World

I want everyone to know that I KNOW the family is ordained of God. I know there is a reason our Heavenly Father established the family. I know it is my sacred opportunity to raise and love my children and the children around me. I know there is a plan for us and that within this plan I will live with my family forever. And I will do everything in my power to do so.

No child should die like Joe did.

Us, lately.

Choo Choo! Joel is 2!

happy birthday, buddy.

I made his cake. I'm very proud of it )


he LOVED his cake!

He got a ball maze!


A digger.

And, of course, his train.


We love you, bud. Happy birthday.

The Fort

We recently have introduced the fort in our home. Joel was terrified of it at first... until daddy got in with him. Now he asks for one and plays in it often.

I guess I'll start with Christmas....

Well, I'm a bit behind...

We had an awesome Christmas this year! We did family Christmas a day early because our Christmas day was packed! But we had fun.

this is how it all started. hahaha. Aren't they showing the true Christmas spirit?


He slowly became interested.



Santa brought him a tool set. His favorite gift by far.


Joel's fat stack!

Santa visited Evie as well!


Joel helped her open her presents.

She got a baby doll and some books.


Evie didn't really care.... at all.

We had a great Christmas. And it was so fun with my babies.

A Day Off.

Just a quick post on my day off. :)

My friend Melanie took the kids so i could have a day to myself. And now that Evie is getting older, Joel is turning TWO!!, and Jared has started School, I forget to take pictures. Let alone make a post on my Blog.

Here is a little family update:

Joel is turning two. And if you don't believe me, spend some time with him!!! He's getting naughty. And it's sad! He's currently learning how to share (not only toys but mommy). Everything is, "MINE!". He's starting to play by himself which is nice. He'll make up songs, and make trains out of everything! Including my makeup! He loves Super Why, Diego (heaven help me), and "My Queen" (McQueen)...if you can't tell from the outfit.... (thanks to the Grandma's for that!)

He has "chores" now. He throws away all of the diapers and has to pick up his toys at night. Potty training... well he wants to wear under ware like daddy, but he won't sit on the potty. It's a work in progress. I don't think I'll really press that issue until this fall.


Evie is a DELIGHT! She is such a good baby. She's loves watching Joel play. We'll sit her in a chair and she watches Joel run around. She can't sleep in our room. She snores way too loud! She used to snort a lot so she's acquired the nick name, "snort". She also goes by, critter, baby girl, girly-girl, and tweeter-bug. She's sleeping through the night!!! I love it! She's only three months and has made me the happiest women in the world! Every once in a while, she'll wake up for a pacifier, but that's all. She hates tummy time and is a very sensitive soul. We love her.

Jared is possibly in his last semesters of school!!! HORRAY! Only four more years to go! haha.

I'm adjusting to having two kids. I can't get out of the house by myself until noon so i don't leave much! To keep me sane, i'm doing a lot of home improvement projects. I have a lot of "almost there!" going on.

Anyway. I'm going to go enjoy my day off. :)

Eye Soup

Ok, this is what happened....

I was putting in my contacts the other day. and Joel came in and asked what i was doing. I told him. He looked in the contact case, and said,

"water?"
"no its contact solution."
pause
"eye soup?"

So we got it on video. Joel putting in his "eye soup".