SEVEN ON SUNDAY

1. okay here is the email address for Google sorry Tiff i realized that i have my old one for blogging and i can't view your blog:)

Jess_brendancox@hotmail.com. so if you would like to invite me to view your blog add this email address. thanks.

2. this week has been both stressful and rewarding all at the same time. the stress part was working last weekend and pulling a double/turn around shift on Monday. and Tuesday was hard to work. but wed and Thurs were enjoyable days off work. Thursday was kyle's fourth birthday and it was both a spiritual and emotional roller coaster. first kyle woke up in the morning and I sat up and asked how was my birthday boy and gave him a hug and kiss and he smiled. then he proceeded to ask if i remembered going camping with daddy this summer. i asked at Yellowstone and he said yes. then he said but daddy doesn't want to live with us anymore does he. as i was thinking he said but " mommy families are forever." it broke my heart and made me feel a great love for my boy who seems to understand this simple truth I have been trying to teach him. I was angry at Brendan all over again for not realizing the pain he has caused his own flesh and blood. needless to say it was my angry week. but I survived.

3. depressing week....sometimes I just miss having my "best friend" to talk to at night when the kids are asleep. I feel bad and so alone at night sometimes. I have a great SUPPORT system here and I would NOT survive without Nate and steph, but still at the end of the day I go home alone and everyone else goes on with their life. I took that all for granted i am sure. you don't realize how much you enjoyed those evenings after kids were put to bed and you had that alone time to just "talk". I am really doing fine just feeling lonely. this too will pass.

4. my dad had a chest x-ray and they found out that he did not have pneumonia but found a couple of masses instead. WHOA!!! well anyways he went to the pulmonologist and he seemed to not be too worried about the masses they are only 2 and 3 cm. I know prayers were heard on his behalf. just has to have scans every 3-4 mos to see if any changes occur. so once again miracles continue to happen in our life.

5.my in-laws(okay i still cannot bring myself to call them my ex and probably never will) came up this weekend for kyle's birthday and to see the grand kids. It was a great visit. I have grown to love Kim and Brenda dearly as if they were my second set of parents. they have given me numerous counsel that will Be eternal in its effect and have loved me unconditionally. KIM fixed my apple, corer, slicer....what a man! now apple pie filling won't be so excruciating to can this week. thanks guys for your help with fixing little things around the house and playing with the kids...also for helping me keep my temper in control:) we sure love them!

6. Brendan came up for the day on Saturday to celebrate kyle's birthday with us. Thanks to him for finding the "perfect" bike and sacrificing his time to come all the way up. We all had fun at chuckie cheese's and left with headaches. and of course we realized once again that i don't read maps well even if it is with a navigation system!!!! kyle got a new bike from mommy and daddy, transformers from gma and gpa and uncle wade, and a new helmet for his bike from uncle nana and aunt steph. it was fun and the dinosaur cake i made turned out half-way normal(kenzie kept telling me it looked like a cows head). so enjoy the pics of this FUN day.

7. Forgiveness. a lesson i keep learning over and over again. I guess Heavenly Father is trying to teach me how to forgive easier and let go of things i cannot change. this week has been full of small little insights and learning opportunities for me. with all of life changes we have made i sometimes get REALLY angry and it always seems to come when i think i have finally forgiven and let go so i can move on. I think of all the time my Heavenly Father forgives me and i often wonder why i can't be as forgiving. today the thought occurred to me that i am trying to become more righteous everyday, but it takes and eternity to become like our Heavenly Father. as long as I am striving each day to be better and realize without the Savior I cannot make it through this life or into the next then I am doing the best i can. so once again just do better each day and each day is a new beginning.

Seven on Sunday
1. here is my 2 week update:) the high for the past two weeks is me cutting back at work so that I can see more of my children. I am now working 4 days a week which actually means I am now working 40 hours a week:) the kids and I have enjoyed more time together which leads to our number 2.

2. Labor day fun( i should have taken pictures). We went out to the church's orchard to pick peaches with Kimberli and Jonathon and Boys. It sure was COLD!!! but lots of fun. A teaching moment for the kids with the picking for the bishop's storehouse. they were able to serve in a way we don't get to very often for those in need of nourishment. This was our 2nd annual trip to the orchard. I think this will turn into a new family tradition. Thanks guys for all of your help!!!

3. Well since I had peaches I guess that meant more CANNING. I was able to can 39 quarts of peaches. this year With steph's help we did a marathon canning session and we even DICED them to fit more in our jars. Then I decided to branch out a little and i canned 10 quarts of peach pie filling and BOY is it YUMMY. Considering I really don't care for peach pies, I am excited for them now. I have officially caught the canning spirit since i tried something on my own new this year.

4. this next week since i now have my 2 bushels of apples, will be apple sauce and apple pie filling....YUMMY! I am so grateful that last year I HAD to learn to can for financial reasons and the Lord has blessed me bounteously this year. With all the changes, I was able to put away 6 quarts of peas, 18 bags of Zucchini(thanks dad cox), 15 bag of corn(thanks to a funeral home who decided our facility needed to be thanked for all our hard work or in my opinion for providing them lots of business!!!), carrots, 8 pints of salsa , peaches, and apples(sauce and pie filling). so with the blessing of my garden and early harvest and the love of others my canning and freezing season has been bounteous.

5. Mackenzie was chosen for honor choir at school and is involved in the Buddy program, it allows older kids to help the first graders. Her teacher called me last week and we talked about her situation and she said Mackenzie is such a loving student and very intelligent. she explained that only honor students our allowed to do the buddy program. I am so grateful for Mackenzie and the BIG help she has been these past few months.

6. Boys, this week was my week to teach joy school. The boys both loved learning about the joy of our bodies. kyle LOVES joy school and his new friends. brevan enjoyed being allowed to be at school last week and is also enjoying the alone time he gets with mommy twice a week now. it's nice to be able to get the kids involved and enjoy most of the things we did when i was a full-time mommy.

7. prayers are HEARD and ANSWERED. Once again I have gained a stronger testimony of prayer. yesterday i had my sitter cancel and I called 9 different people and I couldn't find anyone for the kids. It was stake conference so most of the youth and adults were busy. So I said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to please help me find someone. I went to work and the kids were at home. I didn't want steph to have to miss conference. She called around and after 9 people found a laurel who could come. She was awesome. this laurel doesn't have a job and is willing to watch my kids several days now. It may seem like a small thing childcare but as a single mom it is IMPORTANT so that i can work. The Lord new my need and found a way to provide for me and for my future needs. So when our faith is about to waiver it seems he provides a faith building experience. and like the scriptures say he is aware of all creatures, and how much he loves us as His sons and daughters. have a great week