National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month and we love this video and thought we would share! It has been a good month. Spencer and I got to spend this last weekend together spending date night at the temple. It was much needed and something we definitely enjoyed. We are grateful for the adoption process and for the opportunity we have to be apart of it! I wish everyone could experience the spirit that it brings :) Happy National Adoption Month!!

Go Forward with Faith...

Spencer and I cannot express just how much love and peace we felt the day our family and close friends came together with us and participated in a fast. It will be a day I will cherish forever. My testimony grew leaps and bounds when I heard stories of my little nieces and nephews participating in the fast. When my 8 year old niece, Abby,  was told about our fast and whether she wanted to come out to our house and participate in our blessings and dinner or go to her other cousins house which she had already planned on, she replied with "I want to go to Aunt Jessie's house and help her have a baby!" So so so sweet! Then I was sitting on my front steps as my sister Jen and her kids pulled up. Then Abby and her older sister, Elle, came running up to me and Jen told me how important it had been for these 2 girls to fast for Spencer and I all day. At that moment, I felt the spirit so strongly. Then my sister, Patti, who lives in Boise, text me "Our fasts and prayers are with you today :). Then right after Spencer and I received our blessings from our fathers, Patti text me, "Just wanted to tell you Em has fasted all day, its been very important for her to do so :) :) !!  My little nieces helped remind me what true love and faith is all about. I definitely needed that. It was such a special day for us. We had family come to our house and participate in our blessings and dinner afterward. It meant so much to us because we knew they all had so much going on. We appreciated the phone calls and texts we received that day. The love and peace we felt that day has definitely been felt since. Just the other day, my dad sent me a text saying "Go Forward with Faith" I love it so much~I have been thinking about it ever since.

 

I cannot believe it is now September! Where has the time gone?! Our Summer was great especially because we got to spend more time together towards the end which is always a plus :)

 

Spencer is now back to school and still working. He is a work horse and even picks up side jobs! He has already done 2 side jobs since starting school and even with working. He definitely makes me proud! He is a go getter and is definitely going far in life! I love him and he is my world! My sister has a 4 (almost 5 month, crazy!) old baby and Spencer just adores holding her because he longs to be a father and it makes my heart melt every time I see him holding little Brinley. It is the cutest thing to me! I won't lie, at first it was so hard for me to hold babies, but I just want to be near this little one because it gives me such a peaceful feeling.

 

                        (I love this picture of Spence!)



Then to me...

First and foremost, I chopped my hair and went back to being brunette! I love it! It is definitely a fun change! I have settled into my job and am enjoying only working 3 days a week! It is definitely a lot nicer from the 5 day a week thing! Being a nurse has its challenges, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I am always being challenged, but hey, if you are not, you are not growing and being strengthened, right?!

People ask us how we are doing with waiting for adoption and we have our good days and our bad. Tears have been shed, but smiles have been had. We know our time will come, but waiting is hard...very hard. We appreciate so much the prayers that have been offered in our behalf. We appreciate everyone's support. We could not do this alone nor do we want to. We love our families and friends very much. They are all coming together with us tomorrow for a very special fast and it means everything to us.

If you are helpless, He is not. If you are lost, He is not. If you don't know what to do next, He knows. It would take a miracle, you say? Well, if it takes a miracle, Why not?

Something Perfect

I came home from work today and Spencer had bought a couple Adoption books and one of them had a wonderful CD. I listened to it as I was cleaning my house and I came across this song and it just made me pause. No one can understand this pain unless they are in this situation and I cannot wait until the words of this song are felt. This song is amazing and this video is very touching! I love it :)


Something Perfect...

There's an ache that's missing today
There's an emptiness that's been filled
There's a cloud that's lifting and drifting away
There's a ragin' storm that's been stilled
There's a joy that's real
There's a wound that's finally healed
There's a future replacing a past
There's breath of new life in the cast

And there's something perfect
happening here
And this moment will bury
the mountains of fear
And through countless tomorrows
It won't disappear
This something that's perfect
Happening here

No one knows, so no one can say
That tomorrow all will be well
Will the brightest promise that shines on today
Shine tomorrow? No one can tell

But one thing is sure
And will be forever more
When such unselfish love has been given
The world just made more room for heaven

And there's something perfect
happening here
And this moment will bury
the mountains of fear
And through countless tomorrows
It won't disappear
This something that's perfect
Happening here

:)

What I've Learned...

I've learned what is true happiness. Happiness is not how big your house is, the car you drive, or the job title you have. Now, I've always known that, but it means so much to me now more than ever. You see, I was a Director of Nursing at a young age. I got complimented all the time at what a great accomplishment it was. Was it...sure!! But, see, it wasn't what I wanted. To have a job title such as that, takes so much time away from family and it killed me. There were countless times I was pulled away due to phone calls, text messages, call offs, etc...you name it, it happened. It was tough. My husband is such a stud though, he was so supportive. There were times I worked endless hours or had to pull a grave after working all day and I would come home to breakfast and a sweet, sweet letter. But, you see, I wanted more. More? Yes, more! I wanted my family to come first, so I decided to leave my job. It was a tough decision because I loved the place and my co workers. It was tough because once I turned in my 2 weeks, they did everything they could to keep me.  I will be honest, their offers were tempting, but after a couple days off with my family and an incident where I was face timing with my nephew from Boise and I had to see his saddened face when I had to break the news to him that I would not be attending his baptism...broke my heart :( , I knew what my decision had to be...family first! I have had such a calming peace come over me since leaving and having my new job. My new job will definitely allow me to have more time with my family and our future little ones. It makes me so happy to even think about it. The Lord definitely knows what is best and definitely prompts us to do what is right. Right now all that matters to Spencer and I is family and saving up for a little one that is coming someday soon :)


Anyway, so...what have we been doing lately? Funny you ask because we have pictures!!!


About 5 weeks ago, Sash had puppies! She had 4 of the cutest little Brittanys around and we adore them! Please visit sashandpuppies.blogspot.com for more pictures! I have updated that blog weekly with their cute photos :) :)

FYI...I have the best babysitter in Kyndal! She has been amazing with these puppies as you can see her in the bottom left corner! She was making sure they didn't get out...literally!

We have been teaching the puppies all about the pheasant wing since they're hunting dogs, but lo and behold...Kyn might be the best, haha! Love her!!

After I left my job, our first night out was to the Shedaisy concert. It was fabulous!! Not only did they put on an excellent show and awesome fireworks, I did not receive one phone call or text regarding work...it was mAgIc...

Spencer and I are quite the team! I could go on and on about this statement, but I will spare you...haha! We have started Ultimate Reset. It is from Beachbody and it is kind of like a cleanse/getting in a (extreme) healthy eating habit, lol!

Here we are preparing one of our meals...aprons and all...it is game time!!

 Here is Spencer opening up some Nori Seaweed...sounds good, huh?!

Here I am making Tempeh...sounds even better, eh?!

Here is my Miso Soup I was so proud of! Spencer was not much of a fan. He could have done without the seaweed :)

Here is our Nori rolls with Tempeh...

This is Lentil Lime salad...

 Here is Sash watching us cook...she is sooo cute!!

Here is Chade at the vet! I cannot believe he is almost 9 years old! It seems like just yesterday he came into my life, aww!! The vet started asking me questions like does he have excessive thirst etc...That made my heart race because I knew he was seeing if he had symptoms of kidney failure like Paysley did. Thank goodness he does not.

This is what our outside days look like in our backyard with the puppies. This was when they were about 3 weeks old. Now, they will not hold still long enough for us to get a picture like this!

I just had to end this post with this picture...it makes me laugh and that is what we all need...a good laugh!!!

Taking a leap of faith...

I turned in my 2 weeks and have 1 week left...more to come...