Finally some Decorations!

I was in another decorating mood. Here are some of the finished products.. I still have a few more projects that hopefully I will be able to finish this weekend!


The ledge above my kitchen
The ledge above the bedrooms

Bathroom

For Brayden's birthday I was going to make him a train table... well, I finally finished it about a month ago (his birthday was March 1st)

He said NO

So life hasn't been 'easy.' Whatever easy means. We have created some pretty good stories lately, things that would only happen to us. My mom says one day I should write a book. It would be a tragic comedy. All that we can do now is laugh. I just want to say "bring it" "what else ya got"


This last weekend was one of those. I laughed.. and I cried. Sometimes I just want things to work out.

I have a secret. I can play the piano. I never play for anyone, not even my husband has heard me play. I'm not great and I can't read music, but it playing kinda comes natural to me. If I could choose anything for myself in the world, I would want to be a concert pianist. I think it has the most beautiful sound.


We heard of an incredible opportunity of a lady selling a piano for $100. It was in pretty good shape. We jumped on it. (Brayden and I danced about it when I first heard about this piano) We planned to go pick it up one weekend. That week Whitney ended up in the hospital because she was so sick(another thing that is becoming part of our life). The doctor released us Friday about 7 pm. I didn't want to drag her up to Idaho while she was sick; so we planned to go the next weekend. The week dragged on and I couldn't wait for the weekend to come. Patrick go home from work Friday and I had everything ready. I practically had the kids waiting by the door. We were able to borrow a truck from a friend and I had reserved the uhal to bring it back.

We made the 2 hour drive to Idaho without much fuss from the kids. Once we reached my in-laws we were all ready to get out. Patrick unloaded the truck while I got the kids ready for bed. He came in and told me there was a noise in the garage. He finally was able to find the key and went in. A car was sitting in the garage, running. We later found out the car was being worked on the day before and was left running. So after more then 24 hours of the car running everything was filled with exhaust. We had just fixed our house of CO2 and Brayden and Whitney had been doing so well. This is something we didn't want to mess with.

So we called the fire department. The city is only volunteer firefighters so everyone showed up. We had about 7-10 cars had come, 3 fire trucks, and 2 police cars. I can create quit a scene. The neighbors came out and sat on the sidewalk across the street to watch. The firefighters suited up and went in the house. The upstairs was just a little high, nothing they were to concerned about. They went to check the downstairs, just to be safe. CO2 detectors go off at 21 parts they found levels in the basement as high as 71. I am so grateful we didn't stay in the house long. They brought in fan to blow the air out and opened all windows. The car's hood was almost red so they checked the garage and even pored sand under the car to cover any oil. They said we were extra lucky the car didn't start on fire. About 2 hours later they cleared the house, we didn't feel comfortable staying there. So we packed up the kiddos and jumped back in the truck... well battery had died. Great! Spencer jumped the truck and we went to find a hotel. After checking with lots of them we finally found a decent price and put the kids to bed and feel asleep ourselves.


The next morning, I jumped out of bed and started getting ready. I was excited! Patrick called the lady to get directions and a time. I heard Patrick voice get down and he said okay then and hung up... I knew it wasn't good. She had sold the piano to someone else. Are you kidding me?! She figured since we didn't get it last weekend we didn't want it. Patrick told her "Sorry, but we were in the hospital for my daughter!" She had been told on Monday that we were coming on Saturday, but that didn't mean much to her.

I was so devastated. I cried and cried a little more. I am so tired of things not working out. I have started to think that when I want something, Heavenly Father says 'oh, that Jessica wants something again....NO! I know that is not true and that He loves me, but its been awhile since things went good.

Looking back on the weekend, I see that we were very blessed. It was a blessing we went to the house to see the car so it didn't start on fire. It is a blessing we got there before Angie cuz she would have just gone downstairs and gone to bed without noticing the car. It was a blessing no one was home to be breathing the CO2. It was a blessing we are experienced with CO2 and know what to look for and what to do. But I can help but think, why couldn't the piano thing work out too. Isn't it a good thing to use music and to develop talents.. then why couldn't it work out?

I am a big fan of the singer/songwriter Cherie Call. She has a song called 'NO'
http://www.cheriecall.com/albums/songs/stars/No.html
(the top bar has a link to preview the song)

I still have no idea why good, righteous things haven't worked out for me yet, but I know its not because He likes telling me 'no'. Maybe something better will come, maybe not.

The other day another one of her songs came on: It passes all my understanding.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cy9YRkDp_Yo


How life works out is so past all my understanding. I don't understand how things work. I know Heavenly Father can't take away someones free agency, and yet things always seem to work out for the best.

Neal A Maxwell said
"Faith in God includes Faith in His timing"

Wow... I have so much to learn and so much more to grow. I am guilty of questioning His timing and questioning my faith.

My goal is to work on having complete Faith. Faith in God. Faith in His timing. Faith that blessings will come into my life.

a little update

Whitney has started to like wearing necklaces. She can put them on all by herself. Look at that attitude.. We are in trouble!

This is how a boy plays with a doll house...

First they eat... then the dinosaur attack the house... Once Brayden's imagination was more creative... now that kid will think up anything.

When Brayden's not looking (or at school) Whitney loves to 'drive' his loader.. Its just her size.

Sometimes I get quiet moments when they play together and Brayden lets Whitney touch the toys.

Poor Whitney has been so sick that her body is just exhausted. She didn't even want to eat her dinner.

Two weeks ago, our house got a stomick bug. Whitney got it the worse and she couldn't keep anything in her stomick. By Wednesday night I finally took her to the hospital. She was so dehydrated they couldn't get an IV started and she couldn't keep anything down. She had a double ear infection (again) and the nurses had to watch her all night because her temp was around 104 for about 4 hours. Finally they brought in a blanket that blows cool air and it finally brought her temp down. The next day they tried for an IV again. 14 tries later they finally got an IV in. We stayed in the hospital until friday night. She was feeling much better. She is such a trooper. This is Wednesday befor I took her to the doctor. I woke her up, but she had decieded it was much more comfortable to sleep this way.

Brayden is such a goof ball. Before the bus comes, I make him comb his hair but because it is so thick and wavy I have to wet it down. He doesn't like it so he crawls with his head down to 'dry' it. He just makes it all comb forward... what a silly boy

Vacation Picture

Sadly, while on vacation my camera broke... Patrick was finally able to get the pictures off the memory card. Actually right after this picture was taken he dropped the camera and broke my lens. (he broke the camera... I broke the car... we are even now :))

petting the starfish

The Aquarium by the Bay

The school of fish was we walked under

Patrick is in deep thought about the jelly fish...

If you look closely you can see nemo and dora right behind me!

The first time I have been on a beach since I was 4! Too bad it was too windy to enjoy.

All the cable cars lined up

My mornings.. sit outside on the balcony in the warm air and watch the ocean as I ate a cream cheese pastry and read a good book.. (Patrick was at a conference during the day)... ohh soo nice can we go back?

The beautiful view from the balcony

On the cruise of the bay we went around Alcatraz.

On the boat looking back to SF

Some crazy couple who was just happy to be together without any kids!

All the seals enjoying the warm sun

One goofy guy who I had to make be in pictures

Another famous picture of Patrick... He just wanted pictures on a tree without anyone in it!