Charity Never Faileth

Happy Birthday, Relief Society!

Here I am (March 18)-the day after the anniversary of Relief Society's organization- in the upper room of Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store where the Relief Society was organized! So neat! I was released (March 13)- two days before our trip to Nauvoo, so Relief Society was very much on my mind (and always in my heart).

I don't have time to post the Nauvoo pictures right now. I had planned to do it the Sunday of Conference weekend, but our internet died the day before Conference. (Not the best timing!)

Anyway, just a little about being released from serving as Relief Society president. Life has been very different! It was a blessing to serve. And a blessing to be released. It boggles my mind the sacrifices some people make for the Kingdom; I think of the bishops, stake presidents, apostles, prophets and all their families. I only served a year and a half and once I was released it seemed more apparent how much of my time and thought went to Relief Society. I just think of so many people who are never released!

How would it be to be the wife of an apostle? Life can be so challenging with your husband gone all the time. For multiple reasons, it's a testament to me that this church is true. Why else would we sacrifice? I'm grateful we have so many amazing leaders in this church. Just think of President Monson alone! Early twenties- bishop and hasn't stopped since. That is so time consuming, thought consuming, life consuming!! Boy, what a wife he must have!

What a wonderful church.

Some people have asked me what I do with my extra time. I doubt there will ever be "extra time" for any of us- there's always a million and two things to fill it with. But what I have enjoyed having more time for has been, spending more quality time with my children. I also try to get my house cleaner. (That quest will never end.)

And I've been working on my novel!!! The pages are double and I'm on 45 (so that's 90)- almost 1/2 done. I'm planning to get it done by the end of the month. (After the baby is born, I won't want to be working on it!) That's what I'm suppose to be working on right now! That's why I blog only Sundays because I don't work on my novel on Sundays. So, I'd better go. The kids will wake up soon.

:)

December 2010 and January 2011 Pictures

Greetings! Much has happened since last I blogged. Right now I'm going to create two separate posts for the sake of organization and simplicity. This one includes events from December 2010 and January 2011. Then the following one I will post will include more recent events; (mostly, if not all, from March.) I'll probably not finish the next post today; that will hopefully ensure that this one won't be missed :)

Wendell's Second Birthday

Thursday, December 20

We were going to have two of his favorite friends over (Zeke and Abbey), but it didn't work out, so we just enjoyed time as a family. He opened presents. We watched Toy Story 3 together and ate his birthday cake. We also went out to dinner as a family (a different night.) Wendell is very two :)

Enjoying sprinkles.

Wendell still shows signs of a dairy allergy, so he can't have ice cream :( But he had a cookie or brownie or something. His favorite part, as you can see, was the sprinkles.

Christmas

Our cute little Christmas tree. And our cute little daddy + kids.

Yes, we still have the tradition of little sugar cereal boxes Christmas morning. I don't think any of my siblings continue this. I heard one sister explain that it's not uncommon for their family to get sugar cereals on a normal basis, so it's no big deal anymore. We seldom get them, so it's still a perk of Christmas and trips. :) (Or when we do get them we mix the treat cereal with another healthy one, like coco crispies with rice crispies. Is that just wierd?)

Isabelle and Wendell have new matching monkey PJs. It is so cute that they love to match. Richard's PJs were made by his sister, Kimmy for a Christmas present a few years ago.

Playing with new toys.

Isabelle's wearing the present from Wendell and he's holding the present from Isabelle.

A different day. They're in the other set of monkey pajamas and holding their awesome matching sock animals from our hometeacher and his fam, the Tesene's.

Playdate with Cade and Rylee Ratcliffe. I can't resist photographing them when they play in dress-ups.

Isabelle's Fourth Birthday

January 16

Isabelle wanted a birthday party again this year. This time instead of at the institute building, we did it at our house. It worked out really well. Even though our apartment is small, we did it open house style and people ended up flowing in and out with it always being busy, but never crowded. Isabelle liked playing with her friends. She was really excited about the cake flavor she picked too- lemon cake with strawberry frosting.

Here's Isabelle's little best friend, Emry.

Cade, Jenna and baby Rylee Ratcliffe, Bonnie Barrett, Laynee Hancock, Andy and Katie Wiscombe (couch), Zeke Wiscombe, Emry Schlegle and Abbey Barrett (front).

I wish I would have been more proactive on getting a group shot of all the kids. There were other families that came that I unfortunately didn't get pictures of.

I think I get a little better at hosting every time we do an event. I wasn't as stressed and was even able to enjoy myself. It was actually nice not having to transport everything to a different place also. My goal is to become a fabulous host one day.

Rylee; Wendell; Emry, Myla, and Alaine Schlegle; Isabelle

Here's Wendell's best buddy, Zeke with Emry.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and blurbs :)

Love ya! More to come soon. There's small news in the next blog.

Update

Hello! I can't believe it's been so many months since I've posted. We hope you had a great holiday season and that your year is going wonderfully thus far.

We are keeping busy as I know you are too. We enjoyed a peaceful Christmas and New Year here at home in Manhattan, KS with just our little family. It was our first like that. It was nice to not have to travel, esp. after I (Amy) flew with the kids to UT- by myself! (Not a recommended feat.) It is always nice to see family though. Amazingly (sadly, really), my siblings had never even met my then almost-two year old son! We really must do more family reunions.

Anyway, we went to Utah for my grandmother's funeral. It was a wonderful and uplifting experience. The funeral itself made the travel challenges completely worthwhile. It was like experiencing a little bit of heaven. It was a very spiritual experience. I am priviledged to come from such amazing pioneer heritage.

Richard will graduate the middle of May. Our baby GIRL is due June 12. Richard has Army training beginning the end of July for 5 weeks (in TX). We will move to WASHINGTON state in the fall when he's done. We are super excited!!

We're scheduled to be in WA only a year for an educational vet/army program. Then we'll serve 3 years in the army for the scholarship payback. We plan to have Richard specialize in radiology which will be 3 more years of schooling. We'll see how we like the Army and decide if we want to complete the specializing through them (which would require a 5 year payback when we're done with specializing.) We feel good about trying to follow the prophet's council to get out of debt/avoid debt and feel really blessed to have had so much of vet school paid for through the Army. And also follow the prophet's council by pursuing more education. We feel very guided by the hand of the Lord and we feel blessed for trying to do His will.

We're excited to have a baby- and a girl. Isabelle and Wendell are really excited too. Tonight Wen said he has a baby in his tummy. When I asked if it was a girl or a boy he indicated it's a monkey. Then Isabelle informed me she recently had a baby tiger. The good times roll with a vet for a dad, right?

Rich's sister Brittney (and Job) just had their baby today (or last night?) Yay! Annie Maurene Jones. Congrats!

I'd better get to bed. I'm on my own with the kidlets again tomorrow morn so I'd better rest up.

Pictured: my parents, sibs and their kids minus my own husband. (My Nov. trip to UT.)

Love, Amy

Wendell was a lion, Isabelle was a princess, Richard was Super Dad and I was Wonder Mom. We had a rockin' good time.



Inside a submarine at the Children's Museum.

Isabelle often works on Relief Society. It is way too cute. She also likes to give away pass along cards :)