Where in the World was I last Weekend ?

I enjoyed a fun weekend getaway with my girlfriends this past weekend.  Can you tell by the pictures where I went?

That's right, New York City!  We had tons of fun, the weather was perfect, and we had a great time together.  I am getting to be quite comfortable getting around New York now, so whenever anyone wants to come visit, we can take a quick trip up there.  Come see me!!  (That last plea is to my sisters, or maybe my nieces)

Pictures:

1.  First stop - Museum of Natural History (did you see Night at the          Museum?)

2.  Central Park for lunch

3.  Next visit - Metropolitan Museum of Art

4.  China Town for shopping

5.  Dinner in Little Italy (yes, I am holding my precious buys in the          infamous black bags, Coach purses!!!)

6.  Evening in Times Square

7.  We saw the newest show on Broadway - 9 to 5.  Way fun!

The joys of home ownership

As you know, we have lived many places.  We have bought and sold many houses.  I have to admit, I really loved my time living in quarters when we lived on military bases.  My quarters in Germany were huge and I loved living there. My quarters at Ft. Lewis were a bit small for our family, but I still loved living in them.  I liked the fact that when something needed to be fixed, I could just call a phone number and a nice man would come fix it.  I miss that.

We have noticed for some time that our garage doors were not going to last much longer.  I just hated the thought of what it would cost to replace them, so we just kept putting it off.  But when it got to the point that we could only open one of the doors, we knew the time had come. So today we got new garage doors.

I can think of PLENTY of things I would have rather done with the money, but this is the reality of home ownership.  For those of you still in quarters or in apartments, enjoy it while you can!  As for me, I will just have to go outside and admire the new doors every day  to make me feel better.

                            Our house before new garage doors

                   As you can see, the door is not in good shape

                  Jay's repair job is not going to last much longer

                                        New garage doors!  

I don't know her, but I love her

I love coming across things that make me so happy that I cry.  My previous post was about how happy I was to be able to watch Twilight in my own home, whenever I want.  This post is about how happy I was to watch Susan Boyle perform on Britain's Got Talent.  I know this clip is everywhere on the web, but I wanted to post it on my blog because rarely do we get to see something that just plain makes us feel so good.  So good in fact, that it brings me to tears to watch it. I am so happy for her and for all of us that we, through the power of the internet, get to know about her.  I will watch this whenever I need a good pick-me-up.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Why I Am Happy Today

I am happy as a clam sitting on my couch watching Twilight today.  And, YES, I did go at midnight with my friends to buy it!  Can you say NERD ???

Don't care... so happy...

27 Years ago today

                    March 19, 1982

       Jordan River Temple

Amazing... I love him more today than the day we got married (and I was REALLY in love with him that day)

Here's to 27 more great years!  (at least)

My fun week

I was in Utah a couple of weeks ago, and I just haven't had the time to post about my fun trip. So, for those of you wondering what I did all week, here's a glimpse....

18 Years Ago Today, An Answer To A Prayer

Jay left for the Gulf War when I was 8 months pregnant.  It was not an easy time for me, I had three small children at home, and, at the time, they were predicting a very bad war with many casualties.  Jay was the commander of a field artillery battery, so I needed to watch over all the wives of the soldiers in our battery while the men were deployed.  I did pretty well, I just did what I knew what to do, which was making them all visiting teachers to each other (they never knew what hit them).  We all took care of each other and watched the news and waited.

During the beginning it was mostly air strikes.  I did pretty well during those days.  But then the day came with an announcement on the news that the ground war had begun.  My due date was still a week away and I was very worried about how I would keep it all together for my kids and the other wives. I remember thinking that I didn't want to watch the news, but I couldn't NOT watch the news.  I just didn't know how I was going to get through it.

I knelt in prayer that morning and asked my Heavenly Father to please help me get through this, and to be able to not worry, so that it could stay somewhat calm around the house.  Now, I have received many answers to prayers throughout my life, but I know my Heavenly Father was aware of me that day, that He heard my prayer, and blessed me.

I went into labor that afternoon and Jacob was born that evening, February 26, 1991, the day the ground war began.  I spent the next four days in the hospital, focused on my baby, and by the time I went home, the war was pretty much over.  

Every year, when Jacob's birthday rolls around, I am reminded that his birth was an answer to my prayers, that he came at the exact time that I needed him to, and that our Heavenly Father knows us individually and will always watch over us.

Fast forward a couple of months, Jay came home safely and saw his son for the first time.

I am grateful every day for Jake.  He has brought happiness and fun to our home for 18 years.  I am so proud of the wonderful young man that he is.

        HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE