alive with nothing exciting to share

Just a quick note. We are alive, working, school and all the regular daily routines. Thanks for keeping up all of your blogs. They are read often. We will try and get our's updated with good news soon. While you wait just know that the you are all loved.

a special moment

We never know how significant a phone call can be. The following story will be a very condensed version of what has really taken place.

In July a young lady walked through the doors of my husband's office. I cannot disclose what and where. She is with child and would not be able to stay there and due to policy of his work she would either have to go home or other arrangements for a temporary placement would need to be made. Derf only had 36 hours to help her find a home here or she would have to go back where she came from. She indicated that her home life was horrible. First, derf called our bishop to see if he knew of any families in our ward who would be willing to take this birth mother in and also if they would be interested in adopting a child of color. Meanwhile, another name came to his mind, a former bishop who is now a stake president in a neighboring stake. He made the phone call, this stake president then called the stake RS President who was inspired through prayer to not call the ward RS presidents but to call a particular family instead. Now let me back up here for one moment. The father of this family was a former boy scout when derf was the assistant scoutmaster and we had just visited with him at a wedding and the topic of future adoption came up. After the phone calls were made (with in 48 hours or less) this young lady was placed with this family. Life moved forward and derf had made contact to see how this young lady was adjusting and if she needed anything at all. About a week after that C was at a wedding reception and our former bishop (now the stake president) came by and we started to chat. He asked if I had heard what had been going on with this young lady and I had indicated that derf had checked in with her by phone. President.....asked, " How did derf know to call him?" I said that he was inspired to call. President...was amazed on how the Lord had placed people in certain situations to do his work and in particular to help this birth mother and adoptive family. I had found out that this birth mother was thriving at the home she had been placed in, she is so happy and the situation is working out very well. A few moments later another couple came to the same wedding reception and President....motioned me over to hear what they had to say. This young lady had been to church, the missionaries just happened to stop by 4 days after she went to live with this family and now she was going to be baptized!!!
Tonight Derf and I were able to witness this baptism and it was such a joy to know that she has the gospel in her life now and no matter what she decides with the baby she has been given a wonderful gift for eternity.

I am so grateful to me a member of the church!!!

craft blog and bling bling story

my nephew created this beautiful charm bracelet for me as part of a craft blog. On the bracelet you will find charms that represent things that I love: 4 wheeling, crayons that relate to my job as a teacher assistant, arrowhead - to remind me of all the times we went arrowhead hunting as a child, 5 for how many children I have, a heart to represent love for family and others, flip flop for my love of summer, my initial C and a sewing machine because sewing is one of my favorite hobbies.

During our craft fest last night I decided that I would add some more to the bracelet. Natalie was our jewelry expert and taught us the basics of making earrings and bracelets. She was multi tasking between teacher and card maker. She kept the cricut machine busy. During all of the hustle and bustle her wedding ring became lost. I hope that on her blog she will tell you the whole story of her ring. After last night she has another chapter to add to the saga of the ring.

Nat asked Josh to take a look at her car. I guess her finger was swollen so she took off her ring and attached it to her car keys. Josh did as he was asked and took the keys and checked out her car. I had no idea what was going on as we were all so busy crafting and talking. I guess either on Natalies way home or when she got home she let me know that her ring was missing. I was confused on whether she had taken it off before she gave the keys to Josh or after. Anyhow, Blake and I went looking for the ring by flashlight at 12 thirty in the morning. I did not know where Josh had gone. I knew that he may have crossed the street and had been at the neighbors. Blake and I searched the driveway, grass in our yard, the road and I went over to the neighbors and snooped around their yard while they were asleep. No luck. We searched the house, moved furniture, swept the floor, text our friends to check their craft stashes etc. Still no ring. I really felt for Nat. She was a trooper and tried so hard to not let her emotions get to her. After all she said it was only an earthy possession. This afternoon I was outside checking on our dog, Limi. My neighbor was outside and I thought jokingly that i would just ask him if he had found a wedding ring on his lawn. (I really believed that it was inside our house or with Nat's stuff) To my surprise he said yes! I was stunned and thought he was just pulling my leg but then he reached into his pocket and produced Natalie's ring. I was stunned. His son was cleaning up the lawn in preparation for it to be mowed and noticed something shiny in the grass. He picked it up and knew it was a wedding ring and gave it to his dad. They thought it might be a relative's ring but they were not sure. Mark was getting ready to put out a sign that said: Found==wedding ring. I thanked them and expressed to little Ethan that sometimes Heavenly Father uses other people to answer our prayers. It really was a small miracle for an earthly possession. However, I knew this ring meant alot to my daughter and that she had been praying for it's return. I am truly grateful for this answer to prayer today.