Remembering Lola

Lola as a pup & Lola all grown up

Our dog passed away this weekend. She was very young and this was not expected. She stopped eating and within days was dead. I don't understand why she died. Did she eat something? Did she get heartworm? Many unanswered questions. It has been really hard for my family, especially me. I am really not a dog person but Lola was a great dog. She was very obedient, well-behaved, low maintenance and loved us unconditionally. I cried for days. Every time I would think of her I would cry. My heart aches that she is gone. I wonder if there was something we could have done. But, then I wonder if the medical bills would have been too much. I consider a blessing in disguise that she died peacefully in our backyard. We don't talk much about where dogs go after this life. Have you seen the animated movie "All dogs go to Heaven"? It doesn't seem like a heaven to me if there are a lot of dogs barking all night, only my dog (which she rarely did, bytheway, only for strangers). I find comfort and peace that she will be waiting for us on the other side and we will still be her masters. We send off balloons with messages to her in the sky for FHE. We love you, Lola.

Diamond in the ruff

Our new favorite spot-Splash park in Highland. The kids love it!

Some pictures of our 4th of July Festivities

Happy Jetting (JetBlue logo)

My husband just got a PT job with JetBlue. We feel pretty lucky considering they only hire less than 10% of the applications. I had heard that JetBlue has great benefits for PT and you can work at home so I told Paul to apply. Paul applied in October and they contacted us in April. It took a month or so for the background check, etc but now he is in training. 4pm-midnight for 4 weeks. It is up in Salt Lake so he has to leave at 3pm. I'm not use to my husband being gone so long or so late. I'm use to him working about 4-6 hours a day. I don't like it but I know it's a huge blessing for our family. I just have to get use to it. After training he will be able to work from home 4 nights a week (and it changes every 3 months) and still do appraisals during the day. The benefits are really great. Finally our whole family will be covered. Preston has been uninsurable since his seizures. The only way we were covered is if we pay a huge premium or be covered under the umbrella of a company. We consider this to be a tender mercy from the Lord. He is watching over us and protecting us. We are grateful.

Oh and the flight benefits aren't that bad either. All family members get to fly free plus Paul's parents plus we get 4 one-way tickets every quarter any where JetBlue flies. So many options now. A whole new world has opened up for our family. We are excited!

July 4th Festivities

I love the 4th of July. It is my favorite holiday. Most like Christmas. Nope, not me. Mainly because all the family gets together but also because I don't have to give presents to everyone like at Christmas. Don't get me wrong. I love giving presents to others. I give presents to my kids all the time. And I usually have Christmas all bought for by July but what I don't like is my kids expecting a present when I wish they would realize the true meaning of Christmas. I guess what I don't like is being forced to give my kids presents when they might not have deserved a present. I don't like to reward my kids when they are rotten. But I do love to spoil my kids when they are good! Whew, I got off on a tangent.
The 4th of July festivities started on Sunday, June 27th. We went to the Patriotic Service at the Marriott Center. Besides the Glenn Beck patriotic service a couple of years ago, this one was my favorite one. I loved the music, singing, stories, and saluting our soldiers. It made me proud to be an American.
My brother and sister in law came into town and stayed with us. We had so much fun. Kailene was in heaven to have her same age cousin, Davis, to play with. Viva (3) was a doll and could talk your ear off (especially around bedtime). She played on our loft for hours alone. We were able to go swimming, go the Cedar Hills park and tube down the stream, watch the World Cup (my brother is a fanatic!), and BBQ's. We loved the company!!
Saturday we went to Stadium of Fire. I love Stadium of Fire. It brings back so many memories as a kid. It is a tradition and we make it so much fun. Carrie Underwood was great as always. She has the most incredible voice! I love her new songs, Undo it and All-American Girl. The fireworks were spectacular. Preston would ask me everyday if we were going to see the fireworks. He loved them which has not always been the case. When he was little, he would hide under the bleachers. Now he can't get enough of them. Brad was even in Stadium of Fire this year as a scout. He and his 3 other cousins held flags on the grass and got even better seats than us! And of course we love going to the after show in the Cougar room for food and mingling with extended family and friends. We were able to see the Lowe family. I grew up with them. They even named one of their daughters after me (Karalece). The dad just kept hugging me over and over. We hadn't seen them in 15+ years. It was pretty amazing to see them. They are a great and amazingly talented family.
Monday we went to the parade. Nothing is better than the Provo parade. We are spoiled because we always have reserved seating on the bleachers in the shade (with my dad being on the freedom festival board) but his year we were cold in the shade! The kids loved the parade. That night we went to my parents and had a BBQ, baseball at the park and fireworks. I love having my parents home (they have been on a mission for the past 18 months). It was the perfect end to my favorite holiday.
BTW: We have a new camera and took a ton of pictures but don't know how to shrink them yet and get them uploaded. Pictures to come...

It's a baby boy!

Don't I look good for having another baby? Okay so it's my sister's. My sister just had her first baby. Yeah! He is so cute. 6 lbs 7 oz of pure love. I love babies. That is why I have 5. Am I done? I hope so yet I am struggling. I hear people saying they KNOW they are done. I don't. I want to be. I am overwhelmed and exhausted. It takes everything to take care of my five yet when I see a new baby I think, I want one. Everyone tells me that since I don't know, then I am not done. What?!? I already have 5 and one is autistic. I don't feel right praying about it. Is the Lord really going to tell me NO, don't multiply and replenish the earth even though it's a commandment? I know the Lord understands my situation and knows what I can handle. My emotions get the better of me because I want another baby but common sense kicks in and I realize it's really not that great of an idea. I am at the point where I want to raise my kids not keep having kids. And then I do the comparing thing and look at other women and they are having 5, 6, 7 kids. And then at church I hear how good their kids are, that they never fight, etc and I think what is wrong with my kids? But really I should be saying what is wrong with me because I am teaching these kids, right? Maybe if I had easier kids I might have another...maybe if I don't get so sick when I am pregnant, I might have another...maybe if I don't gain so much weight when I am pregnant, I might have another...maybe if someone else can raise my kids, I might have another...Sounds like I won't be having another soon but he's so precious! :(

Baby Streeter (no name yet)

What are your joys?

Last night for scripture study we were talking about the joys of Alma. Alma's joy was "bringing people unto Christ, being His instrument, bringing souls unto repentance, laboring and bringing forth fruit, and success of his people" (Alma 29). We went around the room and asked everyone what brings them joy. Family, providing for the family, Disneyland were some of the responses. We asked Preston what makes him happy and he said one word: "Brad".

This is just another reminder of how much Preston ADORES his older brother. We were at Lagoon all day yesterday and not once did Brad complain about having Preston with him the whole time. Truth be told, Preston enjoys those rides more than most so he is not a burden but I applaud Brad for his patience and diligence with Preston. He really is a wonderful older brother to him. I have always felt that Brad told Preston in heaven that he will come first so then he will be able to take care of him on earth. Thanks Brad for being such a wonderful big brother!