HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

Happy Anniversary Josh and JoDee!!!!!

J & J Celebrate 10 years in Baltimore and DC. (Courtesy of ACCC) Yesterday's photo of J&J at the Inner Harbor of Baltimore.

So I could have written all the things I love about Josh, but I didn't. Instead I wrote about marriage and advice. Please skip to the photos if you aren't interested. Before vacation I wrote each of my children a letter (in case we didn't come home.) So today I was partly writing to them.

I absolutely love being married to Josh. Everyday is wonderful. We have grown together so much over the past decade. It's amazing how much more you can love each other every year. It seems like our biggest obstacle of year one (and maybe two) was selfishness or only child syndrome. When you are dating you put each other first, then slowing when someone is invading your spaces your guard it put down and you become set in your habits. We learned new habits. We learned to see there are two sets of clothes on the floor to pick up (not just one), and maybe since I'm up could I get you something too?.

It seems in today's society Divorce is all together too common!! Being from homes of divorce (which in some cases is necessary) Josh and I came into our marriage with a commitment to each other, but mostly to ourselves, that we would never get a divorce. I remember discussing this many times with Josh and the very clear moment for me was in the car at the stop light in Ephraim. Josh said to me, "I don't ever want to get a divorce." We weren't married yet and he could have been talking about anyone, but Josh is strong willed and when his mind is made up, things are easy for him. "Faith without works is dead." As is any form of thoughts to do. Which is why we work on our marriage. We read together about strengthening and becoming closer. I love to read about things that can help our relationship, sometimes it seem like anything I can get my hands on. Josh listens intently when I read to him things I like. He enjoyed the movie "Fireproof" (which I thought he wouldn't). You know when it's someone you love and want to be with, it doesn't actually feel like work, it feels like love.

Our marriage is a 3 part marriage and we take that seriously. We are stronger together because of our faith in Jesus Christ. Because of our shared values and love for our Savior. When we are spiritually strengthened and are in tune to share those spiritual moments we become closer together. Our spirits are bound more tightly.

Here is some Advice we have taken to heart and used.

• Always Kiss Goodnight. (we heard it at our wedding, and haven't stopped hearing it since. We even have a sign above our bed with this phrase. I will admit early on, there were nights when the smallest action of a kiss can have such a large meaning, and the lack of a kiss had large consequences. Thankfully I received advise for these situations too.)
  
• "Heavenly Father, I loved her once please help me to love her again." I don't remember where I heard this, but someone gave a talk and I have never forgotten this phrase. I have used it in my plea to Heavenly Father and it works. My heart was softened and I was able to love again. It doesn't seem like I could ever not love my husband, nor can I remember any more than the phrase, but Satan is real! He destroys families starting with marriages. He is the father of contention and to overcome his power, we must include Heavenly Father.

There is so much advice and every marriage needs different things to help them work. This is what has helped me.

Our Heavenly Father is a big part of our family. He has given us so very much. 10 year anniversary is a diamond celebration and although we have no actually diamonds in our home (not even a ring), our family is made up of the most precious jewels. Thank you so my dear Father in Heaven.

J&J Celebrate 5 years in Hawaii. (Courtesy of ZB)


One Cool Dad!


One Happy Family

We support each others teams. Even when they aren't having a good season(s) (Raiders)




Just an old Ma & Pa now. Trekin' around Martin's Cove. '08

These are photos I have on my computer. Many of the 5 yearish ones are on CD's at home. Before 5 years predates the digital photos and I have a lot less of those.

LOVE YOU!!! Happy Days to come for you.

We are Here!

We made it to Baltimore. Here we are on vacation and it has been snowing like crazy through the night. We had taken an early flight so we were able to land and such before the storm hit. (so early we just stayed up all night.) Anyway, it is kind of crazy and Josh and I can't quite figure life here? So bunches of schools have been cancelled. The news had HUGE coverage of the snow. It showed a picture of the roads last night (not a car in site.) Now the storm has passed and what remains on the roof outside is about 1 1/2 inches. I guess it should clear up and be sunny the rest of the week. We have outside plans for the weekend and are hoping for good weather. HUM?

So I just thought they got a little bit of snow here regularly. Turns out Sept. is the wettest month according to weather.com. I know who cares about the weather. What you really want to know is who posts to their blog while they are on vacation. Josh is actually here for work. He has meetings all week and I came along for the trip. Today I am sitting in the room. Partially because of the snow?, and mostly because I am trying to keep the swelling down. (a natural occurrence during pregnancy for me.) I have big plans for myself the rest of the days, but I welcome any ideas you may have for me, and your thoughts could change my life or at least my big plans

BACK ORDER??!?!?!?!?

Are you kidding? We've ripped up our carpets, put in all the baseboards, painted and painted. Our living room is scattered everywhere (as if we had room to put it somewhere.) We (Josh) have moved the furniture a gazzillion times and yet on Wednesday of last week they came to lay the carpet. All ready to go and I mentioned where the permastone should be lain.
Carpet layers "What? You have permastone?"
Me, "Yes and it was on back order it should be in tomorrow." More conversing on what to do.
CL "Well you just don't do things back words. ... So we will call on the permastone.... and get it put in tomorrow." Everything was a good to go situation the CL put down the backerboard and got the remaining items ready to go. Needless to say another call came and the permastone was on backorder until MARCH 10!!! GRRRRRRRR!!!
So I go down to look out another permastone that could be put in tomorrow. I bring the store home and pick out the same type of permastone just 2 shades darker. (I like this one better anyway.) It turns out this same type is also on backorder probably until the 10th too. Lucky for us we are on vacation for the next week and we don't have to try to live in the house for another 2 weeks!!!!

PS>> for those who don't know, permastone is an awesome new type of tile that "just feels different." Check it out!

Out with the OLD!!!

On Saturday, we took out our old carpet!! WAHOO!! We had carpet up the wall as a base board too. This is Josh and Jina taking the carpet off the wall.

GROSS!!! Here comes the carpet.

Josh show Jaxon how to roll up the carpet.

Jaxon tells Dad to fix his own side.

Are you going to help Jina??

No! I am going to JUMP!!!!

Oh So cute!!!! Thanks for the help Jaxon and Jina!!!
Thankfully for Boo and her asthma, she was playing outside with Em.
After the carpet was up, we kicked the other kids outside too.
Then Daddy got to work on baseboards.

Now the questions of everyday is, "When are we gonna get a new RUG?"

The Belly

Hello!!! Nice to meet you all!!

Ok, very funny!!! Somebody (I think Gramma) took a picture of the belly!!! AS IF it wasn't big enough. I look like I should have this baby next month!!! BUT really he/she won't be joining us for a FEW more months. It's always like this. (big I mean) You would think I would be used to it, but "When's your baby due?" does get old. Well Aunt Jill says "It's a girl, look at the way it sticks out there all up front. Boys are in the back." Could be true, but my boy did make all this room and it seems like there are lots of places for this baby to hide in the back too.??? I just don't know.

So on a good note, the baby is moving tons!!! I am getting kicked and punched all day long. And one of my favorite parts is when I am sitting down, and my belly moves. It is so funny!! Josh just laughs at me laughing at my belly. He just doesn't get the same experiences. When he touches the belly, the baby calms to Daddy's touch and doesn't move.

So there you are. LOVE YOU!!!!