Happy New Year

This year I did not take any pictures or send any Christmas Cards... So here is a New Year Letter in blog form for everyone. Maybe next year I will find some time to send actual cards and pictures. So here is a break down of our crazy year, the years just keep going by faster and faster.

January- We started the New Year in Coeur d'Alene with family, then headed to Cancun Mexico. It was such a fun trip to take since I had never been on any exotic vacations. It was supposed to be an incentive trip to work with a different company selling security systems. In the end we actually chose not to go with that company. We went to see chen chen itza (the Myan Ruins), It was a very neat place, although I would have loved to go inside or climb up the stairs of they pyramid. It might have been a little more interesting if we'd had an LDS tour guide, but it was still neat and fun buying stuff from the vendors inside it. We enjoyed a lot of free food and time on the Beach. EmmaLynn was a little frightened of the ocean water and the noise, but she had fun still. What a way to spend a January.

February- This was a fun adventure for us. I was called to be an enrichment councilor in the Relief Society Presidency... Little did I know this meant something like 2nd councilor. It was fun and I got to plan the Relief Society Birthday party in March. We didn't have a big turn out but it was still fun. I served with some really fun and sweet women. I miss our ward and friends in Florida very much.

March- We spent out side in the sun we tried to use our passes to the local theme park Busch Gardens. We took EmmaLynn there for her birthday along with our friends Sarah and Joe , we went and saw the animals and took her to a really cool performance they put on there in one of the theaters. She loved riding the rides and every time it was over she did not want to get off and wait in line again. The have a very large area for kids that includes the biggest tree house/jungle gym I have ever seen, and even a little water splash place. This was also the month we found out, much to our surprise, we were going to be expecting another baby come November.

April- Dan spent 2 weeks in California selling security systems for a different company to see if it would work out for us. EmmaLynn was able to spend a lot of time with our friends the Hodges while I was working during those 2 weeks. We had to make a decision of weather or not we were going to stay in Florida or move to California.

May- This was a crazy month. Dan came back from California to find he was not going to have his same job at work and he'd need to be placed else where. Work had been less than pleasant to me.. and with some prayer we felt that I needed to quit.. So our next option was... go to California. So we decided this is what we were going to do. Our plan was to leave the friday after Memorial Day. When we found out my mother had passed away on the 24th our plans to leave changed from the end of the week up to the next tuesday. It was a very sad day I spent crying and packing and when I stopped packing I was crying some more... hormones from pregnancy certainly didn't help. We stuffed everything we could fit in and on top of our car and headed to try and make it to California in time to catch a plane to Spokane for the funeral. It took us 3 long days to drive across the country, we got into california Friday at about 5:45 am, to sleep for an hour and get up to catch the plane to Spokane. Can I just say, I hope I never have to do that ever again. Not only was I running on no sleep and pregnant, but we also went to see my mom and dress her in her temple clothes for the burial. I was such a mess. I am very happy to had the opportunity to share with my older sisters such a bittersweet experience. Her spirit and body were no longer united, There we were with her body, but when I think about it now I could definitely feel her presence there with us. I think the hardest part was that I wasn't able to see her and talk to her once more before she was gone I had been away so long. There are so many things I wish I could ask her and talk to her about, that no one else could ever answer. The last thing I was able to do with her was read a book to her called "I am a mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson. It was nice to be able to have shared that with her at Christmas time. I miss her so much every day, I am comforted to know that she was such a strong spirit and person while here on earth and she had so much time to prepare for her mission beyond this life. I am sure she is working hard and teaching many people. I can't wait to be able to see her again with no disease and be able to spend time with her. I am grateful for all she taught us and I am also grateful for 6 wonderful sisters who are all my very best friends.

June- After the funeral I went back to California to see our new apartment. Dan was already there and selling security systems. We met some really awesome people in our ward there. I even started to go to a sewing class where I made a nightgown for EmmaLynn.. I wish I could have showed and shared that with my mom.

July- Dan was accepted into the Air Force. He just needed to wait for a job to come available. The end of the month we were not doing well and not able to pay bills or feed ourselves so we decided California was not the best place for us to have gone. So once again, we packed up everything we could in our car again and headed North to Idaho. Halfway we stopped at my Aunt Jenny and Uncle Ricks. We stayed the night and spend most of the next day visiting with my cousin Brooke and her kids and Aunt Jenny. We really enjoyed our time there and are thankful we got to visit. After that we headed to our the Annual Johnson Family Reunion in Sunbeam Idaho. We had so much fun there just like we do every time!!! We rafted, played games and hung out by the campfire. After that I was able to go with EmmaLynn back to my sister in laws, Jenny, house with her while her kids went up with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson. We had a good time. I am so lucky to have such awesome sister in laws.

August and September- This was just a time of looking for jobs and just trying to enjoy not having a job... I spent a bit of time with my sister. I sewed another dress for EmmaLynn, that was fun. These months were not so busy just kinda laid back.

October- Halloween, this was the first time EmmaLynn really started to understand what it was kinda about.. We spent time that month gearing her up for it by letting her watch the "spooky movies" as she called them. These consisted of Micky Mouse Clubhouse Halloween along with Dora, Winnie the Pooh, and Backyardagains Halloween. She just couldn't get enough of them! We went to a trunk or treat and took her actual trick or treating with her cousins Keeley and Jarrin. We had so much fun with it.

November- The highlight of this month was, of course, having our sweet little boy 1 week early. The last month working up to it seemed so long and so short at the same time. He is such a good baby.. I am not sure if it cause it's the 2nd time around and I know a bit better what I am doing.. but either way I am enjoying it. I find myself thinking " I think I could do this again...... In a very long time from now!!!"

December- The end of the year finally, We said goodbye to Dan and sent him off to Basic Traning in San Antonio... His expectations for what he would go through exceeded him. It was quite a shock but he is doing well and misses us just as much as we miss him. We can't wait to see him again in February. We had a most wonderful Christmas, despite missing Dan. I am so lucky to have such a great extended family to spend it with. The New Year brings another new baby boy to my side of the family and a new start in everything for our family. I hope you all have had a great year and hope the New Year will bring the great blessings and new adventures to you all. Happy New Year!!!