An Overdue Update and a Boatload of Pictures

So much  has been going on.

I played hooky from church to go to Temple Square and meet this lovely lady, Nancy Face

She is truly wonderful, fabulous, and leaves you feeling great about who you are. Much thanks to her Kris Face and Zach Face for sharing her for a couple of hours.

She hangs out with classy ladies whom I also got to meet

Baby J jot a urinary tract infection. He had dilated kidneys in utero so they think that contributed to his infection. He was hospitalized from Sunday to Friday, which is so NOT fun for new parents. It was hard for me to see him in pain. His heart rate was spiking and just seeing him uncomfortable was painful for me. His dad does a great job of calming him down. I sure hope his parents have been able to catch up on their lack of sleep some since he got back home. They were looking pretty tired.

  The day he was admitted. He was feeling warm and his mommy took his temp and he had a fever. Not good at 16 days old :(

We left Wednesday night about 9:30 PM to head out to California. My cousin's daughter was getting married and I had an opportunity to take some time off of work so we made arrangements and Hubs, the girls and I took off for a mini- get-a-way. We stayed in a hotel in Riverside, where my family lives. My dad's only living sibling lives there with his wife and their youngest daughter lives there with her hubby, too. My cousin Tammy went down with her kids and hubby and most of the family was able to come support Kim in her wedding.

2nd cousin Kim and her new hubby, Brent

The bride's sisters, Tammy and Crystal with another cousin, Cheryl taking pictures in the background.

My Uncle Joe and Aunt Reva, the proud grandparents.

Uncle Joe with cousin David- I love those guys.

Kim's dad died in a plane crash when she was little. Her mom died several years ago on her way to surprise her big sis Tammy on her birthday. Her family really supported her and made sure she had a great wedding day with all the beauty she deserved.

Hey look a pic of me on my own blog. Compliments of Tree Monkey :)

David and Marlene

Kathleen and her hubby Jim

Sassy

Tree Monkey- with David in the background

We went out to dinner with the family, laughed, took pictures of funny things, hugged a lot, and made promises to come back and visit when we can just sit and talk. I love this family. They are dedicated to family and to doing what's right. Perfection is not desired here. Just be yourself and you will be loved.

The wedding was Saturday. On Friday we went to Newport Beach. While my girls were collecting sea shells they had dolphins swim about 50 feet away from them. It was so cool to watch.

No pics of the dolphins cause they were under for a time and then when they came up we didn't know where so we didn't get a shot of them. Here are a couple pics of the girls on the beach looking for shells.

Swimming and dancing in the pool at the hotel

We stopped by the Shark Reef exhibit in the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Vegas on our way home.

I sure do wish my family members didn't live so far away. Traveling is easier on us than them, so we will be going back to visit. Hopefully in a couple of months.

We are home from now and will be back to the grindstone working hard and saving money to travel some more.

Long time no post........

It has been insanely busy over here in the jungle.

The first of April we got a new foster son. He is high functioning, smart, and slightly autistic. I am learning a ton! His mom is a great resource and he didn't come into foster care because of anything she was doing.

Then the same week we got another foster son that was in a bad situation and had some severe behavior problems. He struggled with following rules,being respectful, and not interrupting when someone else was talking. He did pretty good as the days went by.

Then I went back to work after Spring Break. Worked 2 1/2 days then got sick with something called vomitious annoyance. While said sickness was plaguing me I went to a training on trauma and attachment, packed and drove 3 hours south to a lovely town called Parowan and checked into a the motel in town. The girls swam while I went across the street to the grocery store and bought some fruit and sandwich stuff.

Next day, the girls had to be up early and to the high school for a dance competition. We had to be there early, so sick, with very little sleep, and grumpy girls we got up early, ate the free breakfast provided and headed out to the high school. The girls did great. I was proud of the team's improvement and the effort that the girls put into the dances.

We had planned to stay an extra night and relax, but I didn't feel good and I wanted my comfy bed so we packed up after the awards and came home. I slept all day on Sunday and finally, after not being able to keep anything in me for 6 days at 10:30 PM it passed and I ate a can of carrots. The best tasting can of carrots I've eaten in a long time.

This last week was making up work for 4 days- after being gone for 3 days the week before- having the newest foster son freak out and leave our home when he was asked to apologize for being rude to Tree Monkey. Sadness fills my heart. His life is hard and he couldn't keep it together long enough to learn some skills. He now has to go to residential treatment. :( I take the really hard kids so I know that it won't always work out. It never gets to a point where I am okay with it.

Yesterday was a fantastic trauma, attachment, addiction, and adoption conference. Got up at 4:30 AM - after going to sleep around 1 AM...ugh!!- drove down with a colleague and then came back after it got out at 4:30 PM. Got home and went to Carraba's for a baby shower for Corronin and meeting up of some blogging ladies. It was amazing.

Got home to three little guys. My cousin is a foster parent and her hubby was admitted to the VA hospital  so we took her boys for the weekend. The neighbors are helping during today as my girls have their final dance competition at Provo High. Then we will take them back until tomorrow night. The church congregation members will assess with her the needs and we will help where we can the next week.

Yeah so now you know why I haven't been blogging. Too many things going on to think straight some days. I felt sufficiently guilty for being a blogging slacker after last night AND the three little guys woke me up at 7:20 AM this morning so I had some time to sit and blog while they watched cartoons. They really are a little gift to all of us, aren't they.

Ok, so now I am off to the dance competition where I hope to remember to take a lot of pics for your viewing pleasure.

Trip Odds and Ends or Little of This and That

Funny stuff happens on vacation. In that land of Nebraska, that never ends by the way, I got pulled over. I was not speeding. I was informed that they like you to follow trucks with the 3 second rule (though 2 seconds is the law). I was 7/10 of a second too close. That was because the speed limit had just dropped to 55 MPH and I was slowing down by coasting and not braking.

Hubs said I laughed at the officer when he told me that. I remember smiling and not being upset with him. He gave me written warning, because the document all stops. I am so scrap booking that piece of paper. We did get a lot of laughs out if it. Mostly because hubs and the girls were sleeping in the back seat and my mom and I were up front listening to MoTab music and just chatting. I was in no hurry. So I was a little surprised that I got pulled over. The officer even asked me who owned the truck. Uhm, I do. With that guy in the back. He looks at hubs and his blood shot eyes. "Drive all night?" he asks. I laughed at that. From that moment on we commented on anyone following too closely. Usually the response was, well they aren't in Nebraska so it's okay.

Do you want to see what we saw the most of? Well...............okay!


Corn fields and cloudy skies. We left the sun in Utah and didn't see it until we came back through Wyoming. True story.Exciting. . . . isn't it!


A small handcart with Tree Monkey standing by outside of a little shop.



A cute little general store that smelled yummy from all the baked goods.


Sassy (standing) and Tree Monkey (sitting) beside a statue of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.



Side view of Carthage Jail


Looking up the main road in Nauvoo. Small shops, cafe's and hotels line it


Winter Quarter's Temple in Omaha Nebraska. Did I mention that Nebraska goes on FOR.EVER.

Little Squirt (Sassy's puppy) playing on her lap. He was too little to leave at home and he travels well.
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Tree Monkey sleeping through Nebraska. It was preferred over the repeated questions of "are we out of Nebraska yet?"


It was great timing for the kids school break to coincide with the weekend before our 20th Anniversary on October 20th. Yep. 20 years we've put up with each other and even learned to love the little things that some might find annoying. So glad I've spent more than half my life with my great hubby.

How A Utah Girl Connects to Nauvoo Illinois

When we decided to take our mini vacay the direction of Nauvoo it was about more than church history for me. My 4th great grandfather, Henry Jolley, worked with his sons and grandsons on the Nauvoo temple. They wrote their testimonies about their conversions to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They wrote their feelings about seeing the bodies of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum being returned to Nauvoo. It was difficult for them to cross the plains and to help establish towns in Utah.

Knowing that the Jolley's worked hard in Nauvoo and worked on the temple sparked a desire in me to see what they helped build.

I was able to find out where their property was located. I did go to the cemetery to find his first wife's grave. I was not successful. Some of the head stones couldn't be read. They were too worn down. The whole time I was walking around, freezing, at the cemetery I kept thinking how Millie would be so proud that I was hanging with dead people. ;)

It was so cool to feel the connection with a town so far away. I have never doubted or second guessed the story of Joseph Smith. I have always known he was the prophet of the restoration. I find it puzzling that some accuse us of worshiping him. We worship Jesus Christ. We are His church. Joseph was simply a tool in the Lord's hands. We honor him for his efforts on our behalf and the suffering he endured to keep the Lord's gospel growing. He is honored just as Mother Theresa was honored for her dedication and service.

We went to Carthage Jail to visit the site of the martyrdom. Walking in those hallowed halls, sitting in the rooms where Joseph and Hyrum were held and eventually killed was humbling. Hyrum ordained my ancestors to the office of Elder in the Melchezedik Priesthood. He touched the lives of my ancestors. His actions have affected my life in more ways than I can ever express gratitude for.

Actual bullet hole from the mob's invasion

The outside of the jail

Like I said before. I have never doubted the truth of what Joseph Smith saw and what he endured. His wife, Emma, is a hero to me. The things she watched her husband endure and her hospitality at inviting those who tarred and feathered her husband into her home are amazing to me. I get so angry at those who hurt my family members. The hurts of my family members pale in comparison to that which Joseph Smith endured.

As we listened and toured Carthage Jail and Nauvoo I felt as though my beliefs were being validated. The little shops and homes tell a story. A story that I know. It is more real having been there.

They walked, and walked, and walked, and walked, aaand walked.

Last week we set off on a road trip. One that gave me great appreciation for all the pioneers that crossed the plains to flee Nauvoo and and come to Utah. Life has been very busy and a small vacation was needed to re energize ourselves. The cheapest way to do that is to drive, stay with friends, and take food to eat. We were all about cheap and our friends were all about us sleeping over.

We took off Tuesday early evening and headed out East. We drove all night except for having to stop for a closed Freeway due to truck fire in Wyoming and for hubs to catch a nap for a couple hours in Nebraska.


In case you didn't know, Nebraska goes on forever and ever and ever. Most of our driving was in Nebraska. In our children's song book for our church there is a song that we sing about the pioneer children singing as they walked and walked and walked. I'm pretty sure that song was written after some one realized just how long and tiresome Nebraska is. The scenery never changes and ......well you get the point.

So after we finally got out of Nebraska we stopped at Nobody's home. I love watching her kids play. They are so cute and funny. Bo is incredibly smart. You can just see his wheels a turning as he takes in what is going on. Danyo knows how to hold a guitar. Avee is a sweet little angel. She didn't even bop Danyo when he took the guitar away from her. I think they should move by me and let us play with their kids. Sassy is 14 and loves to babysit.



We only had a few minutes and so not enough time to visit then we were off to some neighbors that lived by us years ago. I realized how much I miss them. Down to earth and very hospitable people. Their 2nd oldest is getting married so that was a big reason we went and then it turned into a Nauvoo trip. I'll get to that later.

We feasted on Moe's famous and delicious chicken enciladas when we arrived. Then after some good sleep we ate yummy pancakes. I love pancakes. Then we packed up and said out sad goodbyes. I was wishing we had just one extra day. One extra day to bask in the company of Moe and her family. They pretty much rock and I was sad when they moved back to Dubuque. I was glad to finally see their hometown and the view of the Mississippi River. Aww that is beautiful.

We then drove to my mom's friends home. They are only about 30 minutes from Nauvoo. Mrs. E is my kind of people. She is fun and enjoys being around people. Her and her husband have different political views. She has this little sign above her kitchen sink that says, "The views and opinions expressed by the husband are not necessarily those of the management." Oh do I love that. Mostly just because it reflects her spunk. She made great dinners and yummy breakfasts. Her brownies were absolutely sinful. So sinful I ate 2! She put pecans in them.



Check back in for more. Nauvoo, Carthage, Family History, and beautiful architecture.