My First Stay at Home Mommy Project... Kinda

So, I said before that my new ward is super great. Part of what I have been doing with some of the girls in my ward is a sewing class.  I have always wanted to learn how to sew, my mom started to teach me, but got too sick to really finish. I wasn't quite as interested then as I am now. I am so excited, we have a really great teacher and a fun group to chat and sew with. We meet together twice a week and pick out our projects to work on.  I started with something small, easy, and affordable. I got the material for 60 percent of on sale. So this is my first project. I am making a night gown for EmmaLynn. 

The one on the right, the longer one. That is the one I am making for her. I am going to make it short sleeves like the picture above it has. I am so excited. Below is a picture of what I have done so far. it is a pretty simple pattern so far. let's just hope it stays that way.  I will post a picture of the finished product later. 

What is going on in our life?

Well, we had decided a few weeks ago that we were going to move to California to have Dan work the security systems again. My job was less than enjoyable near the end and quite a bit more stressful than needed. So our plan was to leave the Friday after Memorial Day weekend.  Well, plans quickly changed and our move date was moved up to Tuesday after my mom passed away. So we packed up as much as we could Monday and left Tuesday. It was a 3 day trip to California. A very very long and exhausting trip.  EmmaLynn was stuffed in the back seat and had her own little corner with DVD player and some books and a few toys.. It was a little rough for her. We had to pad her seat cause it wasn't the most cumfy carseat. We used a bunch of plastic bags we got from a very nice gas station attendant somewhere in Oklahoma or Arkansas.  She slept better after that.We arrived in Santa Clarita about 4 am Friday morning slept a couple hours and got up to get ready to be at LAX in time to catch our plane to Spokane. EmmaLynn and I arrived safely there, much thanks to my sweet sister, Gailyn, for helping us get there for the funeral.  I decided to stay a bit longer with EmmaLynn since I didn't have a job to go back to. So we enjoyed some time with family we hadn't seen in quite some time.  We hung out with Dans family.  My sister in law, Brooke, and I went to Silverwood with EmmaLynn and Christian and spent some time. We had a lot of fun. We also got to spend the last week with Eleasha and her 3 muchkins. It was so much fun. I wish I had taken my camera out more while I was there.. It was the last thing on my mind. I am so bad at picture taking. Dan does a lot better than me.  EmmaLynn was in heaven  having so many other kids to play with. We will miss everyone so much, but now that we war much closer it will be easier to get back every once in a while to visit. So, for now we will wait on the Air Force to see what comes of that and do a lot of praying that Dan is able to make enough sales each week for us to survive for a time and pay our bills.  We had a chance to go to a ward activity right when I got here.  I met several very sweet young couples.  Many our age with kids EmmaLynn's age too.  They have already invited me to several different things like play group and sewing class and birthday parties.  So many very sweet and very welcoming people. We are very excited to be in such a wonderful ward. The best I think I have been in for the first time. So the post below has some of the pictures of our adventure over here and our fun time with family.  That is what is going on in our life. Thanks to everyone for your love prayers and support in the time of loss for our family. 

pictures of our latest adventures.

riding in the car before our trip with her cool sunglasses
sleeping at the table.. too exhuasted to eat
She decided she wanted to read on the potty. We were trying to potty train before we left.. not successful yet...
here she is stuffed in the back with all of our stuff
wearing Daddy's hat.
here is what our ride looked like... with a car top carrier on top stuffed, as well as the trunk. 
trying to find a new movie for EmmaLynn... the dvd player was a life saver.
Swinging at Grandma Johnson's
Climbing on the toys in the back yard.
She loved jumping on the Trampoline
and playing in the little house outside 
and of course loved to play in the sand.
here she is with Daddy on the tramp.
she wouldn't take a nap so here she is all tuckered out.. around 5 pm.. she just curled up and fell asleep.
A day at Silverwood with Brooke and Christian.
Riding the airplane with Christian.. they rode many other rides but a few I was riding with her too, so I didn't get any pictures. 

This is a video of her singing the song from Sleeping Beauty what she could remember of it. " I know you, once upon a dream" 

My mother

Well, It has been quite a long week. We traveled for 3 days from Florida to California. We arrived in California at 4 am and got up at 7 to get to LAX to catch our flights to Spokane for the funeral. Not only were we exhausted but being pregnant on top of everything proved to be a bit more difficult.

 I made it in time to Spokane to be with my sisters to dress my mom in her temple clothes. A very hard, and bittersweet thing. It was so hard to see her body and not see her smile like she always did. Yet, I know she was there with us in spirit. It was difficult but a privilege nonetheless. Some moments it still feels unreal, even though I know it is real. There are still tears when I think about her and how much I will miss her. I am so grateful for her and everything she taught me. She was so talented and she was so patient and always willing to do whatever needed to be done to help us girls. She taught us many things, and I am who I am because of her and her trial. She is such a great example of endurance, even in the hardest of times she joked and laughed, and always had a smile on her face. She served as much as she could whenever she could.  She even was able to help and uplift others simply by her sweet spirit, and in this way blessed many lives when she physically couldn't. I am so thankful for her example and her love. 

The service was sweet and exactly what she wanted. She always wanted us to celebrate her life and not to mourn her death. So we had balloons and cake just as she requested. There is still an empty place that will not be filled by anyone but her and for that there will always be a little sadness, but also a hope to live my life worthily to be able to be with her once again.  I am so grateful for the plan of salvation that allows us to be families forever. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father allowed Me and my sisters to be here on this earth together with our dear Mother. 

Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers. They are greatly appreciated.  

In Loving Memory

This is probably the hardest post to write. I have such mixed feelings about it. I am incredibly sad and yet peaceful. My Sweet mom passed away Sunday morning. She had MS for 15 or so years. We knew it was coming, but it definitely doesn't make it any easier. She is such a great woman, and she held on for so long. She truly did endure to the end. It is tough to be so far away from family at a time like this. I've cried and cried and I know there is more still to come.  I also know that our family can be together again forever. I know she is freed from her diseased body.  Walking and talking and doing many things as she did before she became too sick.  I know with all the knowledge she gained while in this life, she will be a great missionary for those who didn't have the chance in this life. I love my mom, and I am so grateful for the example she has been to me all these years. I will miss her very much. I can't wait to be with her once more and for her to be able to walk to me and welcome me home one day. There will be and open service in Spokane this Saturday May 30th. 

1 Week Down 1 to Go

Well, this week has been super crazy, and a bit lonely.  I have been able to work mornings again.  I found that the morning isn't too bad. Especially cause I keep myself busy at work for the most part. EmmaLynn has had a blast playing with our friends kids this week. She got to play in the pool and go to the park several times.  She may enjoy being there more than being home.  Someday I will be able to not work and do those things too.  

Dan has done well for the first week. He has sold 3 systems. He will be in California for 1 more week. I can't wait for him to come home. He'll be back on the 18th, I just have to make it through this next week.  

Here are the pictures of EmmaLynn  I talked about last time. We had come home and found what looked like a real lizard.  It was actually a lizard skin that it shed. I picked it up by the tail and teased her a bit... but then she wanted to hold it. she played with it for a few minutes till I said enough and threw it over the balcony.  Time to wash our hands now..  

Time will only tell

Well, good news is that the green capsules have worked wonders on the taste thing. My hope was it would help the sickness as well.  It was just that though, a hope.  I have had somedays that were terrible. Some days are better than others. Only time will cure the sickness now. Until then Dan is helping out a lot still.  This Sunday he is leaving for California for sales, so I am going to have to suck it up and deal with the sickness and take care of everything all by myself... For a couple of weeks. 

I am dreading it, but also hope he does extremely well and makes it very worth it.  Then when he comes back we will have the neurologist appointment to find out weather Air Force is going to happen or not. Hopefully he gets in, waiting is so stressful. 

I have some cute pictures of EmmaLynn but I can't find my USB cord to upload them. I'll post them later.