God's Helping Hands

Dear [Sister Primary President],

I've been meaning to thank you for a while, and am only now getting to it.  A couple of weeks ago, I asked the kids what they had learned in Primary that day and they told me about how they can be God's helping hands.  I didn't get a lot of detail, which was okay, I usually don't.  Well, a few days later I was in the kitchen preparing dinner and sliced the top of my thumb bad enough to freak out and call Jon inside to help me.  As soon as he was done fixing me up, Rissie's eye's lit up and exclaimed, "Mom, we can be your hands!"  She was so cute about it.  Lauren and Anna joined in on the idea and before I knew it they were working together to make sure the table was set and their jobs were picked up.  I loved it!  Then, as I was getting ready for bed, I noticed how sparkling clean our bathroom was and thanked Jon for his efforts.  He confessed that it wasn't him and told me how Anna, our five-yr-old, wanted to surprise me by being "my hands" as the upstairs bathroom is my job.  My heart melted.  I was so touched I couldn't keep back the quiet tears from this sweet gesture of love.  I was grateful to my sweet Anna, but I was also very appreciative that our girls are learning such valuable lessons in primary.  Thank you, [Sister], for all of your efforts in teaching these kids and the love that you have for them.  You, your presidency, you're all wonderful.  I'm a grateful mom. 

Thank you, again,

Becky Jenkins 

Happy-To-Be-A-Parent Meter

  Being a mom teaches me a lot.  I had an experience that I want to remember in words.  So, I'll share it.
  I'm not one that likes to ask for help, and have rarely asked for someone to watch my kids.  It's something I need to work on, and this time I really should have.  Lesson learned.
 A little over a week ago, I got Rissie out of school and took her to an eye appointment with my two preschoolers and teething 12 month old.  It was a new doctor for us and a new office, so it was an extra long visit.  The kids were relatively well behaved and the room full of geriatric patients were smiley and overall happy to be entertained by the four youngsters.  I wish I could have said the same for the staff.  The receptionist was kind, but the nurse and doctor were not, unfortunately.  Their wishing I had gotten a sitter could not have been more obvious.  That quickly made it true for me too.  I realize that being around little ones takes getting used to and sometimes a lot of energy, so I don't blame them, but I still left feeling my happy-to-be-a-parent meter waning. (Don't get me wrong - I LOVE being a mom!)
  Before going home we walked down the hall to Jon's office to say a quick hello to Daddy.  He was finishing up with a patient so we waited for him in his office that's shared by the other residents.  Another resident was there who I had met once before, but it had been a while.  After getting reacquainted, I remembered that this was the guy who gave Jon a place to sleep for a week until our house became available.  I was naturally inclined to like him.  Then with Emily strapped to me and my other three crowding into this little office and standing obediently still, he told me, and inadvertently my kiddos as well, about how he didn't want to have kids.  "They are too much work and responsibility."  He said.  Did he really just say that right in front of my sweet kids?  "Ah, that's true.  They are." I replied.  And as usual when I get some comment like that, I said stroking Anna's hair, "But they are SO worth it!"  They are.  The conversation continued with this and that about families and kids.  "I have a big screen at home, and if I had kids I wouldn't be able to afford it."  He said flippantly.  Lame.  Lame.  Lame.  Either he is dumb or he thinks I am.  I hate it when people treat me like an idiot.  He is going to be a practicing doctor in two years.  Of course he can afford one.  But his point was made, even though it was arrived at very poorly.   Fortunately, Jon came in before the conversation continued much further.  I left that office feeling very sad  and the conversation played over and over again in my mind weighing heavily on my heart.
  When I got home I sat at my desk to tackle Rissie's prescription issues with the insurance and hung my head in my hands.  I said a quick prayer asking for help through my slump.  By the end of the day, I had wiped several silent tears from my cheeks as I replayed that conversation through my head.  A television?!  I thought about my precious babies and couldn't imagine comparing their value to something so insignificant!  Each time I thought of it my heart would swell for my kids and ache for Jon's fellow resident and the mentality of so many others like him in this world.  
  At days end, my happy-to-be-a-parent meter was stronger than it had ever been!  Upon reflection, I see that God does work in mysterious ways.  Opposition in all things, right?  We see the good better when we've experienced the bad. (I'll still get a sitter for the next appointment.)  I'm so blessed to be a mother and am grateful that my experience with the bad has been so little.  So many others wish and wait to be parents, while others are content with the shallow happiness of stuff.  As we just celebrated Easter, I am overjoyed with gratitude for our Savior's atoning sacrifice so that this precious family of ours can be forever.

  Maybe Jon and I should invite his friend over for dinner soon and maybe he will see something good in being a family.  Maybe.

"...to more than I can be"

   I know myself well enough to know when my reaction to difficulty is better than "me".  I pray on a daily basis for the Lord to help me overcome my weaknesses.  Sometimes I have a specific weakness in mind, other times it's a general feeling of knowing I need help to become a better person.  Most of the time I don't recognize the help I am given.  But there have been a handful of times when the help is obvious.  I see myself responding to a challenge in a way that is better than my natural man self without a conscious decision to do so.  It's evidence to me that my prayers are being answered.  It reminds me of the song beautifully sung by Josh Groban, particularly the line, "You raise me up to more than I can be" (Graham).  Although we all have a higher potential to reach, the words illustrate my point well.  Here is an example I'm willing to share.
   A little over three years ago, I was in a brief state of panic when I learned that Jon and I were expecting our fourth baby earlier than we had planned.  Our oldest of three girls was four, turning five by the time this baby would come.  I was scared and on my knees.  As tears of fear rolled down my cheeks, I prayed for faith to know that He would help me survive the challenges that were inevitably ahead.  I stood up and wiped the tears knowing I wasn't alone.  I was blessed with the faith that replaced my fear enough that I was no longer afraid of what this future would mean.  In fact, most of the time, I wasn't even thinking about the challenges ahead.
   A few months after our sweet baby boy was born, I experienced a day full of chaos and mess - not a good combo, especially for someone like me.  Then just as I was reaching the thickest part of this chaos I had an awareness of the smile in my attitude and this burden that would otherwise seem heavy was light.  My reaction to this situation was better than the typical me.  In that moment, I knew that my prayer many months before was being answered.  I enjoyed the moment filled with gratitude for this blessing of help as well as the wonderful reminder of God's love for me.  My confidence and faith grew knowing that with God helping me I could do this.
  I find comfort and peace knowing that I can turn to the Lord when there is adversity in my life or those that I love.  I don't expect the trial to be removed, and I'm not afraid of the challenges of my future as my faith grows in His ability to ease my burdens when I come to him and ask.

 

The Nativity Open House in Midland

  For a couple of months now I've heard about the Nativity Open House in Midland.  In fact, Young Women's was cancelled this week and our church services today was a combined Midland ward's fast and testimony meeting for one hour.  "It's amazing!" I was told, and, "You don't want to miss it."

  Yesterday, Jon and I took the kids.  I was looking forward to it, but not nearly as much as I'll be next year now that I've experienced it for myself and know what to expect.  

  Over 600 Nativity scenes were set up in the classrooms throughout the meeting house.  The windows had been covered with black cloth and tables beautifully arranged with great care.  Boxes on tables covered in silks of gold, green, black, brown and other rich colors allowed each scene to be showcased.  The rooms were lite by white lights around the Christmas trees and the mini spotlights positioned around the displays.  Pleasant Christmas music streamed through each room, which, for me, was the perfectly essential finishing touch to make this moment of reflection so meaningful.

  

  By the second room my heart was swelling with love.  What I was experiencing was a culmination of countless hours of inspiration.  The talent of the artists sculpting and painting these beautiful scenes, the music, the lights, the display came together because of their individual desires to display love and tribute to the Savior they worship.  I naively thought I was entering a museum, but really, I was joining a spiritual feast ready and waiting for me to partake.  The sweet feelings of love I have felt in my life as I've been touch by His tender mercies and love were brought to my remembrance.  My prayers offered in recent weeks were that I would be able to make this Christmas season a spiritual experience for my children thereby gaining appreciation for the reason for our celebration.  I knew this was a gift not to let pass.  I gathered my little ones around me and shared with them how my heart was being touched and if they listened with their hearts they too would feel the beautiful spirit of love their Savior has for them.

   As we walked through the rooms, they quietly observed.  What a great blessing this was, and just what I was hoping and praying for.  At one moment, my six-year-old, Rissie shared how she was sad because she missed Heavenly Father and Jesus.  This allowed us to talk about the veil and how in special moments like this we are able to remember a little more.

When we neared the end of our walk, I came to this beautiful sculpture of a mother and child, meant of course, to represent in this setting Mary and the Christ child.  It reminded me of a necklace I was given of a mother and child connected in arms in a similar fashion.  I wear it and remember the wonderful blessing of being a mother.  In this moment, I saw the special connection that I have as a mother to my precious babies that Mary had to hers.  God and the world loved her baby.  Then with great intensity, I felt how God loved my babies too.  He loves my babies and my sister's, and my mom's, etc. He loves all of his children.  As quickly as my mind accepted this concept my heart felt the magnitude of this great and wonderful truth and it grew inside of me.  

Moments like this that strengthen my conviction and solidify what I already know to be true are gifts from heaven.  I'm grateful for these gifts.  I love my Savior, and know that He loves us. 

I hope that you, my friends, family, and other visitors, are blessed with moments this season that help you know too. 

 

Is she okay?

    I had the chance to walk my first grader to school alone this morning, so with her hand in mine we had a little chat.  I asked her who she played with at school.  She didn't remember any names.  I told her after school I was going to ask for at least one name for her to remember.  Later, I suggested that she might want to find someone that was alone and ask if they wanted to play with her.  We even did a little role play.
   We got to the school and when we reached the door where the kids her age wait she let go of my hand and waited by some of the boys. Parents were waiting with kids, little people were scurrying about and monitors in orange vests kept the chaos to a minimum.  I stood back and watched.  She didn't say anything, just waited quietly watching them interact.  She looked adorable to me, but in this situation with her drowning in her backpack and cute little glasses, she looked so vulnerable.  After a minute or so of this I intervened pulling her aside and encouraged her to visit with the girls.  I suggested this a couple of times.  She didn't want to, so I held her hand and waited with her.  I crouched to her eye level and quietly asked her if she played with anyone at recess.  When she didn't respond, I quickly asked her in a no-worries tone, "Or do you play on your own and do whatever you want?"
  "Do whatever I want."  She said in her little voice.  My heart sank.
  Here it is.  She is brave.  On the first day in her new school in a new town, she wasn't nervous at all.  When I dropped her off in her classroom she sat down and never looked back.  She is also a little shy, maybe, or at least she's quieter than Lauren and keeps more of her thoughts to herself.
  I'm a little heart sick about this, but maybe she is okay.  She doesn't seem worried about it, so why am I?  I'm not much of a keep to myself kind of person, so it's hard for me to imagine that she is okay.  Please share your thoughts!    

Our House in Midland!!

As promised, I've posted a few pictures of our new home in Midland. I was going to wait and post OUR pictures, but that's not going to be for a while. So, these are the pictures from the listing. I LOVE this house. Looking at these pictures again, makes me really wish I had more rugs. There is zero carpet in this house - which is awesome! The only down side is how much it shows the crumbs and dust. I sweep at least once a day and sometimes more. Jon and I laugh (sort of) at how much our feet ache when we go to bed each night. I've finally wised up and am wearing my cushioned Nike's.
We have been here almost a month now and I still can't get over how much I LOVE this house. The basement isn't finished, but that hasn't stopped me from putting all of the toys down there and letting the kids go crazy. It's amazing to me how much something as simple as a play/toy "room" can change a persons life!

We haven't been able to figure out yet why this play set isn't IN the fenced area of the yard.  So one of our first projects is to add some fencing to this back portion of the side yard.  We are on a corner lot which you can't really tell from the pictures, but the yard is BIG.  I love it.  Have I mentioned that I LOVE this house?!  Jon's not here much, but he loves it too. :)

Oh yeah, there is a new porch that was put in after these pics were taken.  It looks great.

Okay, now scroll back to the top and notice how far spaced the top windows are in the front.  They need something...shutters.  I've been observing a lot of the houses around that are similar to ours and some have dark shutters, some have light.  I really like both versions but I haven't been able to decide.  What do you think?  I'm gonna make a poll on the side bar or leave me a comment if you have a thought.

Anyway,  here is the house...LOVE IT!! :)

Emily's Welcomers

 Emily's Family

Lauren, Rissie, Anna, and Kade

and Dad & Mom...What a sweet sweet day!

 Emily's Visitor's

Aunt Alishia & Uncle Tyler, then Josh, Uncle Kenny & Aunt Jamile, Aunt DeAnna, My cousin Lisy, 

Grandpa & Grandma Jenkins with Uncle Brett, Papa Lee, Aunt Carillisa, and Grandma Lee

My cousin Joe and his wife Amy were expecting their little boy the same time we were and we ended up only a few doors apart after delivery.  Jon saw Lisy in the parking lot after visiting her new nephew.  Fun coinsidence.    

Emily's "Welcome to the Family" Party

Before Emily was born we bought her some gifts, each member picking out one to give her.  Then, without the kids, Jon and I pick out a gift for Emily to give to each of her siblings.  The day she came home, we celebrated by exchanging gifts.  It's become a favorite tradition in our family.   -- Emily slept through the whole thing! :)

Emily had several visitors and welcomers.  In this collage we have Aunt Carillisa and DeAnna with the kids, Amy Fox, Uncle David and Aunt Elaine, Uncle Jared and Aunt Andrea, and more of Aunt DeAnna.I didn't always remember to get a picture, remember all of those who came.  Thanks to those for all of your gifts, love, and support.

 We've had some crazy fun!  Having a new baby home brings all sorts of excitement and love.  I had to include a representation of what happens when Mom in "unavailable".  Kade in his jammies, Anna is a princess with mismatched shoes and Rissie is a ragamuffin.  

Aunt Missy came to visit from Kansas, Aunt Jenny came from Seattle (her pictures are on Mom's camera still needing to be downloaded), and Marcy came with her friend, but I missed getting a pic.  Aunt Alishia helped get a great smile out of Kade.

I made similar hats for both Anna and Emily, and by chance ended up with two very similar pictures.  Emily does look like Anna, but really, she is a good blend of everyone.  She doesn't fit into any one particular mold.  She even looks a little like her Aunt DeAnna, which is cool seeings how Emily is girl number four following our only boy.  DeAnna fit in our parents family in the exact same order (3 girls, boy, girl - my parents then had another boy and then another girl - we'll have to see if we can fit one more boy in our family too so Kade can have a brother.)

 Emily Caroline Jenkins 

March 15, 2012 - 7:15am - 6lbs15oz  

I don't remember how long she was - it wasn't 15.

More to come.

We found a HOME!!

Birchfield Drive

I am leaving to meet Jon for lunch and sign the papers for this cute little house we found.  After WEEKS of finding and losing houses, I am so excited to finally be done and have a home!!  None of the changes or upgrades we are planning will keep us from being able to move in, so we can just improve as we go.

click on the link  "Birchfield Drive" for pictures.

Happy Birthday, Kade!! TWO - Wahoo!

 I can't believe our little man is already TWO!!  He is only going to be my baby for a few more days.  I'm excited to meet our little Emily, but I am in mourning for my together time with Kaders. 

Mikell's baptism was on Saturday, so we celebrated with the Jenkins' that evening and had a fun little pizza party with cake and ice cream.  Kade was too funny when it came to blowing out his candles.  I still need to get the video from Aunt Missy.  Anyway, he was fine with the candles at first, but when they didn't blow out the first time he got uneasy and eventually started crying and reaching for me.  He was curious a moment later with his second mini cupcake, so we tried it again.  He did better the second time but still didn't like it.  In some ways he is such a boy, and in others he is just a little tender heart.  Cutie pants.

Sunday, was his birthday and poor guy was sick.  Sad way to celebrate your birthday, but he did alright.  I did manage to get a little smirk in one of the pics.
Thanks to everyone who was able to help make this a Happy Birthday to our little Kade!  

Rissie's Spotlight Poster

 Do any of you remember this sweetheart?  I made a spotlight poster for Rissie's unbirthday today and brought it to her kindergarten class.  It was so fun to go through all of these pictures and remember her.  I eventually had to stop adoring her poster to keep it together.  So many fun memories!!
These were the 8x10's

This one I had to leave off, but only because I didn't have space for it.

Anna had just learned that she was going on a date with Daddy.

I wish this had come out clearer.  This is Kade in the process of bedtime routine in Lauren's boots.

I 

The girls had to walk home without the rest of the other kids a week or so ago.  They are so sweet together.  They held hands the whole way.

Ten weeks to go.  Well actually, now we are down to nine.  Little Emily (sometimes Emmie) is getting so active, especially at night.  Sometimes Jon and I just watch her movements across my tummy before going to bed.  It's fun.