How will I greet this day?

Slide Rock... A perfect day!

Since Saturday is our only day to sleep in these days, we took full advantage of that and started our 2 hour journey to Sedona near 10am.  We arrived at Slide Rock only to find that lots of people had our same great idea!  Great minds think alike I guess!  :)  I am going to let most of this post tell of our day through LOTS of pics.  Too tired to do much else, but I had to document this perfect day.  I have so many other posts to put on here, but this one had to come first.  

B talking to Lora while we waited in an hour long line of cars to get in!  Duh.. we should have invited her! Jake is getting some fresh air and stretching his legs. 

 

  

My sweet gentleman boy is putting suntan lotion on me.  

Jake went first.  I was cracking up at the rocks and current flopping his body in every direction.  HAHA!  

Brenna asking Jake which way to go.  She is so funny.. always has to have a plan, just like momma.  

You can tell she is a little cautious!  But it looks like so much fun, she can't resist. 

Yes!  She did it and loved it! 

 

Jake snapped this one!  I was FROZEN!  I mean "take your breath away" frozen!  SO FUN!  (Minus the freezing part)

B and I were freezing when we got ourselves out.  The rocks are so slippery that I had to flop myself up on the top of a rock like a seal to get out of the water.  It was hilarious.  Perhaps if I wasn't laughing so hard, I would have been out of that freezing water sooner.  I won't be showing those attractive pics that Jake got.  HAHAHA!  

Here is a bigger view of what slide rock looks like.  SO AMAZING!  Gotta love the choke hold Brenna has on her brother!  

   

You can click on these to make them bigger.  Here is Jake climbing the wall, then jumping off further down the creek with no hesitation!  

Yeah, that is one yummalishous boy!  

Here is another view of this magnificent place!  The clouds were rolling in and we heard thunder and got some sprinkles.  Such an amazing day!  

Jake got this picture of me.  Unlike Jake, I didn't just jump right in. I was just fearful of that COLD water!  UGH!  I asked how deep it was and one guy told me that I wouldn't be able to touch the bottom, but I am pretty sure he was wrong, because I touched something slimy under there.  I must say it was so much fun!  

Jake took this one of B also.  She just hesitated for a minute until I told her how fun it was! 

And... we got to see this rainbow on the way home.  What a perfect ending to a perfect day.  I had forgotten how beautiful Sedona is.  The kids and I had some great conversations on the way there and home which wouldn't be complete without random thoughts, by Jake Devaney.  I need to put a notebook in my purse to have on hand for those moments.  I can never remember them quite like he shares them.

As it should be.

Today, I had the rare opportunity to help in B's classroom.  So fun to meet all her new classmates and hug all the old friends!  Sweetest kids!  I only got to help for a half hour during my lunch break, but Carrie was sweet enough to get me a juice drink and I made the most of my time.  Some of the kids went out to play while we prepped the room, and when they got back they had to "Stop! Drop! and Read!"  So cute.  Here are some pics I took on my cell phone of B with her dear friends!  

Meagan, Brenna, Courtney, Lora and Maddie.  

Another Jake funny...

Random thought # 252 (or whatever) LOL

Jake -  "Mommy, I have a question?"

Momma - "Talk to me Jake!"

Jake - "Why don't eggs taste like chicken?"

I love his random thoughts.  I was rolling!  I am always curious about the thought process that led up to those kinds of questions that he just has to ask me.  I need Doc Brown's mind reading machine!  LOL  

Back to school reflections...

For the kids, going back to school was one of their happiest days.  They looked forward to it with joyous anticipation as we told them that they would be able to attend their beloved school that feels like home to them.  For me, it was definitely an emotional day.  I tried to contain my emotions and excitement during their new/old school opening ceremonies.  Thank goodness for sunglasses!  :)  I couldn't wait to find out how their first day went.  I was just SO stinkin' excited for them.  Of course their response was an overwhelmingly FANTASTIC day!  For those of you who think this is weird to have such an emotional attachment to a school, you probably experienced what I did growing up... teachers who were there for a paycheck and a cold campus.  The American Leadership Academy (formerly Eagle's Aerie)  is so contrary to all that I experienced.  I would write more on that, but it would take me all day. There are lots of changes with the new school, but they are all amazing!  

Let me give you an example of what I am talking about though.  Before I knew we were going back, I had a lady in my ward call me with questions about the school.  When I raved about the school, she went and enrolled her son soon after.  I talked with her today about how it's going and she said that she didn't really know how to explain it, but when she walks on campus she feels like crying.  She loves it SO much.  I can't wait to talk to her more because that is EXACTLY how I feel.  

Going off on a little tangent... I am especially emotional today, because it was a year ago this very day that we told the kids they would have to attend a different school.  I remember it like it was yesterday. It was awful. I found myself dotting my face with tissue on more than one occasion today just remembering all the details of that day. 

I think it is no accident that our lesson in RS this morning was entitled "How glorious are faithful, just and true friends".  No lesson could be more near and dear to my heart at this time.  Just before we went into RS, my friend Jenny, (who I am not sure what I would do without) wrote me a note in Sunday School telling me how strong I am.  While I try to believe that about myself, I am keenly aware of my weaknesses.  The empowering influences of my dearest friends can never be measured.  I can't thank them enough for not giving up on me, hearing me out and for checking up on me.  

Here are some pictures of this very special day for us:

 

Sorry, they aren't the greatest first day of school pics.  I was actually shaking a bit, so I didn't have a steady hand.  And Jake wasn't really helping me, since he didn't want pictures taken.  Good thing he is cute... little stinker.  

The flag ceremony did me in.  I am just so thrilled we are back.  

Brenna and her friends/classmates... AS IT SHOULD BE!!! YAY!!! I haven't ever been so happy for her. (Well, except on her baptism day, which is her FAVORITE day ever!)  As one friend put it "this day must have been like a beacon of light for her".  Sorry for the blur.  It's  the best I could do that day.  

These last two I snapped real quick before heading off to work. 

Meggie and Brenna Boo

These two... when they are together, you don't see them apart.  This weekend we were up in Chico (an hour and a half Northeast of Sacramento) for my sister-in-law's wedding.  (more to come on that later) We pulled up to Erin's house and Meggie was standing outside and Brenna let out a blood-curdling scream of excitement.  They couldn't stop giving each other hugs and I love how they can just be sitting together and be enjoying each other's company.  They even cleaned out the refrigerator together with smiles on their faces and enjoyed every minute of it.  I dislike VERY strongly that they have to part each time.  Those sweet little sad faces break my heart and bring tears to my eyes, but I can't help but think that maybe they will room together at school one day. Perhaps BYU Idaho since Meggie is moving near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  

If I had a scanner I would scan this, because it is so stinkin' cute, but I'll just type it.  :)  Brenna sent Megan a quiz with the following questions on it and Megan sent her back the same quiz for B to answer.  Here is is: (with Brenna's answers)

1. What is your fave color?          yellow

2. What is your fave flower?        poppy

3. What is your fave candy bar?    Twix

4. What is your fave singer?         Coldplay, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato

5. What is your fave outfit?         Sweats and a t-shirt

6. Could you rather be?               (no answer)

7. For a million dollars would you:   Have a pie thrown in my face every 10 minutes for an hour

8. What is your fave scripture?     1 Samuel 17 (David conquers his giant)

9. Who is your hero and why?       My mom, because she takes time off to take us to fun places (I have a hard time keeping composed when I read this one)

10. If you could help someone in need, who would you help and what would you do?       I would love to do a service project in Mexico with my family

11. What is something you've always wanted to do?       Swim in a pool of jello    P.S. with you!  (LOL that's my girl)

12. What is your best feature?       I can sing

13. What makes you smile?           My whole family, including you!

14. What makes you laugh?           You and Jacob

15. What is the craziest think you have ever done?      1. whipped cream fight   2. Mighty Mud Mania

16. What is your most embarrassing moment?           My dad's weird voice. 

One more picture I had to post.  

On a positive note:

Just so that it is clear that my life is not all doom and gloom, I'd like to share some positives in my life.  I am so sorry that I have been venting so much, but as said in prior posts, it helps me so much to do that.  

I have so much to be hopeful for.

So much to be grateful for.   

-First of all, school is AWESOME!!!  My retention has increased and my confidence is up and the feeling that I am getting from just learning so much is priceless.  

-Not to mention, I am giving and receiving massage once and sometimes twice a week.  If I had to go through such a hard time, I picked a GREAT time to start ASMT.  :) We started advance massage tonight, which included fists, knuckles, forearms and elbows!  And we got to listen to some Radiohead.  So so awesome.  Oh my, I must admit I was literally drooling!  HAHA! Yeah, so I will be needing some more volunteers to dig my elbows into!  Texting me is the best way to get hold of me lately.  :) My phone # is the same.  

-Ok, and some more good news... I got all A's in my first quarter (quinter since it is broken into fifths, lol). 

-I feel grateful to have a job in this economy.  And I feel grateful that I really like and care about the people I work with.  

-Even though I am a social misfit... or maybe that is not the best way to say it.  Perhaps I am socially deprived?  Anyway, I am grateful for those who check in with me.  You won't ever know how much it means to me.  I smile each time I see those texts or missed calls.  

-I am so so so very grateful for the leaders of the church who lead and guide us and have given talks that I can listen to each morning as I get ready for the day.  I feel so recharged and empowered.  

-My kids seem to be adapting to our new lives.  We have some amazing discussions when we are together and just to hear those little voices when we are together or on the other end of the phone means the world to me.  

-I am grateful for prayer.  So many prayers have been answered daily, not just for me, but for others on my prayer list.  I have a few big ones that try my patience sometimes, but I am learning that all in due time, I will receive those answers.  

No, life isn't perfect, I still miss my kids every day, but I am not sure who really has that perfect life.  For now, I am just pressing forward with what I have... making the most of it and enjoying the ride.  I know that this time is temporary. Thanks for reading.