Thanks for Thanksgiving

Last night, as a family, we talked about the story of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus and the lone one who expressed thanks. Then, today, I was teaching the preschool kids about Thanksgiving and how the holiday began. I couldn't sleep much last night as my mind sifted through the events of the day and the events to come. I think that my happiest times are when I take the time to remember how lucky I am. It's easy to get bogged down with the ups and downs of life and the problems that seem beyond my control. When I can put that all aside and take time to remember how much I have - well, suddenly, my sadness disappears and I can focus on and be happy with what's most important. So, as Thanksgiving approaches, I just want to say how thankful I am for this refreshing holiday.

Stumbling Block OR Stepping Stone???

Well, now that the parties are out of the way until Thanksgiving - I'll report on our latest and greatest news and headlines. We went on vacation last weekend and arrived at home in time for my latest check-up (which went well and the doctor said the baby and I are growing as expected - and we heard a strong heartbeat - due date remains steadily on February 5th).

Before leaving, we checked with Garrett's employment to make sure that our insurance (which was promised to start in July) was in order for November. The woman who is able to answer that question was out of the office, so we called the insurance headquarters and they had no knowledge of our having insurance at all. So we called the doctor's office to see what they wanted us to do. When I explained to the woman there the problems we'd had trying to get insurance with Garrett's work and how they had made us wait to sign up until our Medicaid ran out - which involved a month of no coverage so we could have a denial letter that would give us the "window" to sign up at Garrett's work - she told us to be prepared to have our insurance deny us coverage when the baby was born because of the lapse in coverage making us ineligible for any coverage from Medicaid or our insurance.

I, of course, being in a pregnant emotional state, fell apart after the phone call. I called our former Medicaid case worker who sent us to ACS - the billing unit for Medicaid - to see if that was true. Medicaid said that if you're eligible, you're covered, no matter what. So I went to the doctor's appointment. Garrett went back to work Wednesday, the day after the doctor's appointment, and explained the situation to his supervisor (who, by the way, has been fantastic to us). She said she didn't think that was case and checked with HR, who denied that there would be a problem. Garrett and I have a hard time believing all of this considering our problems in the past with the insurance. But it's left to wait and see...

Meanwhile, the nursing department met and decided that Garrett would need to take his 3rd semester exam again (which we knew) and the email said that he needs to take it with the current 3rd semester students. It also explained that he can request a list of objectives to study from.

In order to be ready to pass the test and continue in the 4th term program, Garrett and I feel that he will need to drop to part time status at his work. However, his supervisor told him Wednesday that part-time status was done away with and he has to continue full-time or go to per diem status. Per diem guarantees Garrett at least 1 shift per month. So, now we're in another debate over cutting to per diem, where he'd have to re-apply for employment and start over again - probably on nights - if he doesn't get into school. My whole being believes that he will get into school and we should go with our gut on this. But going thru the months on nights again where I feel like a single parent just doesn't sound fun at all.

So, for anyone that made it thru this lengthy synopsis on our lives, congrats - and please know that we are confident that things will work out for the best. It could be good to not be locked into part time hours when Garrett's back in school. It could be really good for me to drop back to not trying to put in so many hours of cleaning on top of being a full-time mom. The insurance thing could work out for the best. And if nothing works out - something else will and someday when we look back - I'm sure we're see divine intervention's hand in all this and be immensely grateful for how things went. Until then, we continue to take deep breaths and jump...

Happy Birthday to Me

Today's my birthday - The big 33 and (as my mother reminded me) my coming of age according to JRR Tolken's hobit civilization. I told her I'd shave my feet in honor of the event. I received birthday wishes from my parents, my grandparents, and a few of my siblings.

When Garrett took the boys to get me a gift, Jonathan said that he was going to get me a phone - so I guess he knows what I like to do. We're ordered Thai food which has recently become my favorite type of food - yum! yum! all that curry (Thanks to my parents for their kind b-day gift). I rented We are Marshall and Freedom Writers, but we just watched the first, which was good. We also ate my sugar-free birthday cake. It wasn't divine, by any means, but I enjoyed it. Jonathan took one bite and was done. Garrett said it was fine, but weird to eat salad on top, which made me laugh because that is what the sugar-free frosting was like.

Thirty-three seems weird - I don't feel that old. And I'm quite aware that I have two more birthdays until I have to pay the piper and answer to a bet I made my mother when she was 35 - That I would still be able to do a flip on the trampoline at 35. May I also point out that I was only 14 at the time and should hardly be made accountable for such a rash and fool hardy bet.

I felt so loved and special last night. Garrett and Jonathan sang to me - Gabe was snoring soundly on the floor in obvious desire to harmonize with the song - and I got two new pair of huge sweats that hopefully will keep the baby and I comfortable until delivery...

And to everyone out there - thanks for being part of the last 33 years of a great life. I'm a lucky girl. I think I'll have to see if a cup of milk will soften my birthday cake from it's condensed unsweetened state....

Garrett's Schooling

I've had a few questions this weekend about how things are coming for Garrett's schooling and thought I'd write about it. We are 95% positive that there will be an opening for Garrett in January, which is great news. The bad news is that the school decided that he would need to retake the final that he passed in 3rd Semester to make sure he's ready for 4th Semester. One of the instructors recently told Garrett that they are considering handing out the objectives for each unit to the students that are applying for reentry - to help them study. Then, I believe he would just take the final in December along with the other current 3rd Semester students.

Then, classes begin a couple weeks into January and he will go to per diem status at the hospital, which means that he must work at least one shift a month, but he can work more if he has time (and desire). He would finish in the middle of May and then prepare for the state board exam. The hospital puts him on staff as an RN until he takes his board. If he passes, he becomes a licensed RN and if not, he goes back to LPN status while he attempts to pass again. This first part is nice because it allows him to go thru the training for RN, but before he actually passes the board exam.

Garrett doesn't say a lot about what he's thinking, but I'm sure he feels like there's a lot of pressure on him. Having been enrolled in 4th term once already, he really knows what he's facing and the realities of what he must accomplish. I'm so proud of him for coming this far already, and knowing what he knows, being willing to go back and submit himself to another grueling term.

For those of you that didn't know, I am planning on, once again, supporting the family on my own while Garrett's in school. I have cut the daycare back to two kids and will quit altogether on December 21st (my personal D-day). I am still considering having a two-hour preschool, as Jonathan has benefited so much from this and its easier to do with more than one child. I have already started a side business of cleaning. It makes so much more money in so much less time and I can arrange the schedule to my own needs. I currently clean three homes, and am hopeful to add a business to the mix to make enough to support the family.

The current big kink I haven't been able to iron out is the C-section. I have to have one because of Wyoming's hospital insurance laws and it is just too far to go to have the baby vaginally in Ogden or Denver in the middle of Wyoming winter. Besides, it will be a lot easier for Garrett to plan the delivery around his classes. With a c-section, I'll be unable to vacuum for 6 weeks and I'm not sure how that's all going to work. But I'm sure it will be fine.

Endearing Quirks

Today, I've just been thinking about those cute little things that my little boys do that I don't ever want to forget. Gabe finds Garrett's baseball caps and wears them backwards around the house like a little punk. He flings himself at me for big hugs. He loves baths until it's time for washing, and splashes until the whole room is covered. He loves sitting in chairs that are his size (we found a recliner at Walmart and instead of looking at the toys, he just lounged in his special chair). He whines like a little puppy for anything he wants - usually food that someone else is eating. He loves his blankets. We were gone for a couple of days and didn't have his blankets with us - When we got home, he went to his bed and whined to get in bed. When I put him in there, he just snuggled with his blankets but didn't go to sleep. He giggles a lot when Jonathan gets giggling. He is so anxious to have fun with Jonathan. He'll go running if he hears Garrett and Jonathan playing together. He's snuggly and very firm in his desires for anything he wants.

Jonathan loves puzzles and tools and trucks and trains. He is so proud to be able to recognize the letter A. He says amano instead of tomorrow; cabach instead of ketchup; slerpy instead of slippery. He loves telling other kids what to do while we are trying to tell him what to do - that one's sometimes scary to see him mimicking me. He always asks me if Jesus is God. He loves looking and acting like his dad. He loves helping me cook - especially if he gets to get in the water in the process. He loves playing with (and pestering) Gabe. The primary has started to let the kids who will advance to Sunbeams come into singing time towards the end of church. He sits and folds him arms so reverently until the music starts, when his arms turn into a guitar and he strums away. He is always informing me that we are going camping. He loves telling me that he is "too big" to do things - like bath and go to bed.

And on a side note - my big man - Garrett - also has endearing quirks that are delightful. He puts soy sauce on any rice dish regardless of its flavoring. He salts everything (including watermelon). He eats condensed canned soup straight from the can and thinks I'm ridiculous for adding water. He has a cup of water or a bottle of water at many, many locations around the house, so he can always be assured of a drink, no matter where he is. He doesn't believe in wearing sweats outside of the house, unless you're exercising. He acts as if it's no big deal anytime he does something wonderful - like make dinner or clean up the house. He is one of the most wonderful organizers I have ever known and rearranges rooms when he gets tired of them. He hates positive attention and was the most upset with his job a few weeks ago when he and a coworker were recognized for having the most positive comments from clients - HR put his picture up on the wall - To listen to him talk, you would have thought he had was one step away from being fired. He can't resist playing around with his little boys - even when he's worried or stressed.

Oh - how I love these three wonderful men in my life!

What I believe...

I have noticed that a lot of people - including myself - are curious about the religion of those with whom we associate; however, not wanting our curiousity to be misunderstood as serious intention, we hesitate to ask questions. Here is some basic information about my religion and church - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Facts:

• “Mormon” is a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members are often referred to as “Mormons,” “Latter-day Saints,” or “LDS.” The term “Saint” means “member.”


• The Church was restored in 1830 in upstate New York with Joseph Smith as its first prophet and president. Today it is headquartered in Salt Lake City, with President Gordon B. Hinckley as the present prophet.


• There are now over 13 million members in 176 countries and territories. About 6 million of these are in the United States, making us the fourth largest Christian denomination in America. As one of the fastest growing Christian faiths in the world, we complete a new chapel every working day. Members pay a tithe, which is 10% of their income, making this and other programs possible.


• Local congregations are led by volunteer, unpaid members. Both men and women serve in assigned leadership positions.


• Mormons are well represented in politics and government. (In the United States, for example, there are 16 members in Congress, from both political parties.) Members also serve in high and trusted positions throughout the world in business, medicine, law, education, media, sports, and entertainment.

Faith:

• See our 13 Articles of Faith at http://scriptures.lds.org/a_of_f/1.


• We believe in the eternity of the soul, that God is the Father of our spirits, and that we can return to Him after death.


• We believe that Jesus Christ is our personal Savior, and we try to model our lives after Him and His teachings. We commemorate Christ’s atoning sacrifice in our Sunday worship services, similar to taking communion in other churches. We accept as fellow Christians all who believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and the Savior of all mankind. Many Christians do not understand that we have much common ground with them. Joseph Smith taught that Jesus Christ is the core of our belief, and everything else is an appendage to it. The name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


• We believe the original church that Jesus established was lost and has been restored again in our day. The priesthood, the authority given to man to act in the name of God, with apostles and a prophet to lead us, has been restored as have all necessary ordinances of salvation.


• We believe in and we use the Holy Bible, both the Old and New Testaments.
  And we believe in the Book of Mormon and other books of scripture which support and authenticate the Bible and testify of the ministry and divinity of Christ and of God’s ongoing revelation to man. Indeed, the Book of Mormon is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”

Family:

• Mormons place particularly strong emphasis on family as the basic unit of the Church and of society. We have a deep commitment to marriage (defined as a union between one man and one woman). Polygamy, a limited practice in the early pioneer days of the Church, was discontinued in 1890, some 117 years ago.


• Families and individuals, whether members of our faith or not, can attend Sunday services in our chapels. Here we worship together, instructing one another from the scriptures.


• Latter-day Saint families are encouraged to hold family home evenings weekly, usually on Monday nights. This provides a regular and predictable time for parents to teach values to their children and to have fun together. We invite those not of our faith to adopt this practice with their own families.


• The Church has auxiliary programs for women, youth, and children as a support to the family. These programs provide such things as religious instruction, opportunities for Christian service, sports, drama, music, and Scouting.


• And there is also much focus on extended family, genealogy, and personal family history, providing young and old with a stronger sense of roots, identity, and belonging. The highest and most sacred ordinances of our faith relate to our families, both living and dead, and some of these ordinances take place in our temples.

Fruits of the Restored Gospel: The Savior said “by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20; emphasis added). Here is some information based on United States statistics. But these would be similar throughout the world among practicing Mormons (by which we mean those who attend church and the temple regularly):

• One of the fruits is a longer life. Studies show that practicing Mormons are healthier and therefore live longer than the national average. In 1833 the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith the Word of Wisdom, which is the way to live in order to enjoy a long and healthy life.
  Those who are married in and attend the temple regularly have a divorce rate far below the national and world average.


• We achieve an educational level that is higher than the national average.


• Over 70,000 members volunteer at their own expense to serve for 18 to 24 months in humanitarian efforts, Church service assignments, and full-time missionary service throughout the world.


• We place strong emphasis on self-reliance and a solid work ethic. We encourage active involvement in our communities and in providing service to others. The Church continues to donate substantial money, goods, and services to humanitarian causes around the globe, including untold hours of labor donated by members to assist in disaster cleanup and relief.

If you want more information, please go to www.mormon.org .

Gabe's One Year Photo

Well - Gabe turned one in August and we had his pictures taken the first week in September. My brother Joseph picked them up for us and we got them last week. Isn't he cute! He's such a delightful boy, but doesn't show that side often to the outside world. He giggles a lot and loves playing. Today, he had an early nap and Jonathan was napping when he woke up. Garrett and I sat on our bed and played with him. He loves holding his blanket and laying back on one of us. He lays back so quickly, he almost knocked me out twice. He is so ticklish - Garrett had him giggling a lot today. It's so fun watching them together. He loves it when I pick him up and spin him around. I did it once with one of the daycare mothers here and she said it scared her, but Gabe loves it. He's a fantastic eater - if he feels like it. I have really enjoyed him and just hope that he has enough time as "the baby" before the next one gets here!