Busy having fun!

 Thursday after school, Jocelynn's friends Adara and Spencer come over to play. Jocelynn loves it. They have a great time together!

 Helping mom make dinner. It was a big mess but they enjoyed rolling out the dough and putting chicken and BBQ sauce on the dough.

 Carter's cheesy smile was killing me!

Our special friend, Gabrielle. She turned 3 and we got to see them a couple weeks ago. We love Phil and Alice and Gabrielle!

Jocelynn loves all animals. She made me laugh one day when she was walking around the house with a hat on and a toy lizard was on her head. 

 Spencer is such a sweet boy and has such a great family! We love having him over to play!

 Jocelynn wanted to pose for the camera. She is becoming such a big girl!

The Pursuit of Happyness

Weeks ago I got a call from James while he was at work. He said "Jenn they let Alex go!" Alex is over the department he works in. For the past 6 months his company has been doing a lot of lay offs. Fortunately, James has been safe. When James said those words to me, I immediately started to reflect on the night 6 months ago, James came home and said he didn't get the position that was open, Alex did.

James has worked so hard to get where he is. His first job at KFC. Since KFC, he has always had a job and slowly over the years has moved up. I thought for sure he would get this position 6 months ago. I was so confident about it. He would go in early, leave late, he's so smart. It was a perfect opportunity for our family. It could not have come at a better time for us. I was so wanting him to get the position but he didn't. That night I cried and I cried a lot. Not because I was disappointed in James, of course not! I was frustrated and disappointed that these individuals in these positions can not see the potential that James has and how hard he works. Why can't they see it? (I kept thinking). That night James put in the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" He always puts this movie in when he is feeling like he needs a boost of inspiration. If you haven't seen the movie you should. It's about a man (real story) that was homeless and becomes very successful. 

I remember praying that night, praying for more faith, praying to press forward positively, praying that we might continue to put our trust in him. Since that time, so many people from his work has been let go, including a lot of management. I think about if James was given that new position, would he have been let go? I don't know but I feel grateful for all that I do have. I feel grateful to have a husband that works so hard so I can stay home with my children. I'm grateful for these experiences that draw us closer to our Heavenly Father. I feel blessed to have these moments in my life that I can truly reflect on what matters most. I will continue to put my trust in my Heavenly Father. There are reasons certain things happen in our lives. He definitely can see the bigger picture. We just need to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path. Proverbs 3:5"

Grandma is 88

 My grandma turned 88. 88 years! That's so much life, stories, experiences. She has so much wisdom and knowledge and I am so lucky to have her in my life, in my kids life and to see her a couple times, sometimes more, a week. 

Grandma started volunteering at a retirement center. She has a special gift of playing the piano by ear. After moving in with my parents she didn't know what to do with herself. She had so much time on her hands that she was feeling as if she had no purpose. I used to pick her up to go to the park and she wouldn't hear my knock at the door because she was playing the piano. I would use my key to open the door and I would just watch her play. I love to hear her play. Music brings her so much happiness. It's amazing to see her almost be in a different world. My mom found this place, down the street that agreed to have her volunteer playing the grand piano in the lobby. She goes 3 times a week and what a difference this has made in my grandma's life. She is serving others and can tell that others are enjoying the music she is playing. It makes me so happy that she feels needed. On her birthday we got her balloons and surprised her at lunch. She was happy to see us!

 For dinner, we met at Marie Calendars and ate and then went back to my mom and dad's house for cake and ice cream. 

 My mom made the cake and there were balloons on the floor and decorations up. I think my grandma felt special and knows how much we love her! I love every moment with her!