Just a random thought to share...

I love springtime. It is so full of new life, new hope, and blooms. Blooms that will turn into beautiful flowers and blooms that hold so much promise. I hope I am a bloom. I know that one blossom went away but I feel it is time for me to bloom again. I feel ready to bloom again. And I feel that I have been given another springtime to flourish and share with the world. I know that every flower goes through something hard whether it is rain, harsh winds or scorching heat but I think that it only makes the bloom stronger. Like in the Disney movie, Mulan, "The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all." I hope I can be that flower. I hope that I can still help others out and be able to share what I have to those around me.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me. This has been the hardest thing that I have ever had to face. I couldn't have done it without the prayers, thoughts, comfort, listening ears, shoulders to cry on etc. I feel so loved and truly blessed. I know that Josh thanks you too. He wanted his girls looked after and you all have done that. I am so thankful to those who are helping me with the next chapter of my life. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for them and all they have been doing. I am sad to see this chapter of my life come to a close. I will always remember and love Josh but I can feel him pushing me onward. He wants me to be happy. And I am. I still have my moments; I always will. He has given me such a wonderful new blessing in my life which in turn has given me so much more also. He gave me a beautiful daughter that reminds me every day how lucky and blessed I am. I know that we all have a purpose in this life. Joshua fulfilled his and went onto his next greater purpose. I still have more to fulfill down here on Earth.

I hope you all have great and safe weekends.

love, jess

Spring time...

So we went out into the sunshine for a bit today. Just thought I would share a few photos from our venture out...












Hope you all had an enjoyable Monday!

love, jess

Pics from this last weekend...

Michael was learning to cross at a 4-way stop. This one was so busy! His instructor said it had never been that busy. We waited for like 10 minutes before he could go across.



Here we are dyeing eggs. It was a lot of fun!



Roxann cooking us dinner!



Here is Kadence with a few of her gifts from Easter. A few people gave her stuff; the theme was apparently Disney Princess even though I hadn't planned it that way. She had tried to wash her own hair, that is why it is all wet. :) Gotta love it.

A quick update...

I spent this last weekend in Cali with Michael and Roxann. The good weather that I had been lucky to have down there ended. It rained pretty good one day and felt like Oregon. It was wonderful to watch General Conference; the talks were great and just what I needed. It was a little bittersweet not being with Kadence on Easter but I don't really think she knew what was going on. She was a bit upset with me though because my mom would ask her if she wanted to talk to me and she would shake her head. She would talk to Michael though. And whenever she heard his voice she would smile. I see how it is. :)

Saturday we cooked a big dinner and had a lot of fun doing it! Michael (with a little help from Roxann) made asparagus wraps and then we all pitched in with chicken fried steak, loaded mashed potatoes and flaky biscuits. I made an ice cream pie but we were too full to eat it then. Later we watched the Phantom of the Opera. Such a great flick! Now I have the soundtrack stuck in my head.

Sunday night Roxann made us breakfast burritos, which were great! And Michael and I dyed eggs. It was a blast. We had green (which were the favorite), red/pink and purple/pink eggs. I haven't done that in a really long time so it was fun to find the inner kid again. After supper we watched New Moon. Had to get my vampire fix. :)

I flew back home on Wednesday. I was there a bit longer because Michael had been scheduled to have a surgery on Monday but that was moved so we just hung out and had fun. Michael still had to go to class though. Roxann and I were able to soak up some sunshine and read outside for a while. I loved it. It has been so long since I have been able to just sit and read. Normally I am chasing a toddler around or she is ripping pages out of my book.

It was great to get home and see Kadence and Jayce (my dog). Jayce practically jumped on my lap when I opened the car door. He is a 100 lb. Labrador so it would not have been so great for me. Kadence was squealing when she saw me so I guess I am forgiven. Now I am just back to my crazy life. I have quite a bit to do now since my mom is moving and I have to go with her until I make my final move.

Last night there was a concert type thing at a church where Josh's family lives so we went to that to support the troops. It was also in honor of Joshua and was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I am glad that there are people who do support our troops and realize the sacrifice that they and their families make. During the event Kae saw me crying and reached over, plucked a tissue from the box and started drying my eyes. It was the sweetest thing. She has never done that before but she is so astute. It touched me so deeply and broke my heart a little because I realized that she sees me cry a lot. I was hoping to shield her from my emotions but I think now maybe it is okay. She has such a tender heart and always wants to help.

I hope you all had a good week. And I pray that you all have great weekends. I have a new picture progam so I am currently trying to figure it out to reduce pic sizes so I will get some up when I can!

Love, jess

Some of my favorites...

I have had this in my head today...

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death:
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His Name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
I know that my Redeemer lives!

This hymn brings me great comfort.