In My Next 30 years!

So, it's been a long time since I posted anything! This is serving as a reminder to me, to update this as soon as I get back from girls camp next week!!!! I can't believe the Summer is almost over. I don't want my kids to go back to school yet! I miss them already. Life is going to fast for me at the moment! I want to put it in slow motion so I can actually see half of what's going on with everyone in my family! I am getting ready to enter my 3 decade of life, so I've been doing some soul-searching/ contemplating on life. I am very happy with my family, where I live, and all that, but I want more out of life....not in a monetary way or what I have. I want to seize the moment and really do all I can, for my family, my church, my friends, and myself. The only problem is, I have always been good at noticing what I do wrong, or don't do enough of, but change is always the hurdle I get stuck on. I have the hardest time sticking with something. So to take a line from Tim McGraw..."In my next 30 years" I am going to learn how to not only see what I need to change in my life, but to find it in myself to stick with "it" (whatever that may be) and change!

Ok, enough of this....I need to go and DO! Girls camp is almost here! :)

Garner Family Photos 2008 2009

Click here to view this photo book larger

"Temporary Home"

Here is a video I put together with a song my sister, Jaime, shared with me several months ago. I love it and thought I'd share!

This life we are in is also just a temporary home until we meet our maker again. So let's pray that we all make the most of this experience here on Earth.

How can I arrange the pictures once I add them to my blog?

My pictures for my last post ended up being in reverse order because I started added the oldest ones first...I want it the other way around. Is there any way to rearrange them once I add pictures?

Mother's Day Miracles

Wesley took this one.

One week ago on May 3rd I got a call at around 3:00pm and it was from Arizona's Children (the agency who helped us get our foster care license last year). They told us they had a possible placement (which we have got many calls the same that haven't amounted to anything) They asked me if we would be willing to take in a newborn. I told them yes. They said they were having a meeting regarding him on Tuesday and if I was interested in getting him to come to the meeting. I was excited, but I didn't think it would happen. So I went about what I was doing....getting ready for our Family Home Evening activity at the park to celebrate my Aunt Leonda's bday! I got another call about 3o minutes later telling me that the placement could possibly happening today and asked if I would be able to pick the baby up from the hospital that day. They said they would let me know if that was happening in about 30 minutes. I figured I should probably finally shower for the day. I had so many feelings, I was excited, nervous, and I didn't know what to expect. I decided to kneel down and pray that if we were supposed to welcome this new little baby into our home that everything would work out....I was feeling good about it and in the middle of my prayer I got a call from the CPS caseworker asking me if I could meet him at the hospital at 4:30...it was now 4:05. I had just got out of the shower and I had my 3 kids I needed to find a babysitter for. I asked if he could make it 4:45pm so I could get my kids to someone's house. Good thing I live so close to family. I called my Dad and 10 minutes later he and my mom were over at my house picking up my kids and taking care of the situation. I had called Shawn and told him not to meet me at the park as previously planned, but to meet me at the hospital instead that we were going to get the baby after all. He was a little shocked, but excited too!

We had a really neat experience where they took us into a special room in the hospital to wait for the baby. When the closed the door and left Shawn and I in there alone to wait for the baby I got pretty emotional. I couldn't believe that this was actually happening. We started the process to get licensed to become foster parents in May 2009, we took 12 weekly 3 hour long classes, did background checks, got letters of recommendation and all sort of other stuff to get licensed. We finally finished that process in October 2009 and have been waiting for the perfect situation to come along. It did last Monday! When they wheeled that little baby into the room. I was amazed. I was excited. The first thing I saw was this head full of dark brown hair. There were security guards outside the room. The CPS worker, a hospital caseworker and a nurse in the room with us. They were all very kind to us. After about an hour of talking with the nurse, and signing some paperwork, they had Shawn pull our van up to the side entrance, to avoid any conflict with the parents and then I walked out followed by the guards, and nurse. The nurse kept telling us how grateful she was he got to come to our home and gave me a hug before we left. Let me tell you walking into the hospital not pregnant, and then walking back out 1 hour later with a brand new sweet little baby is quite an experience.

My kids were very excited when they got home from the park. Wesley kept asking if we got to keep him or not. That is the difficult part. We don't know. In the past week that sweet little baby has stolen my heart and it feels like he is mine. I love him and I am nervous and anxious to see what the first hearing that we have this afternoon will bring. We could have him for a very short time or it could go to adoption, which is what I am hoping for. It just feels so right having him as a part of our family, but Heavenly Father knows what is in our hearts and what is in this little sweethearts best interest. So if we keep him a few months or forever I am going to love him as long as I have him and give him what he deserves, a family who will love him, and nurture him like all babies should get. I just hope we can make a difference in his life like he has already made in ours. He is definitely a blessing and a wonderful Mother's Day gift.

When I was talking about the situation with my brother-in-law he brought up the quote

'Tis better to have loved and lost

Than never to have loved at all.'

Alfred Lord Tennyson

So that is going to be my quote to live by as we go through this experience. Everytime we went to the classes to get licensed we would go in kind of questioning if Foster care would be for us or not, and then we would come out 3 hours later knowing that we were doing what Heavenly Father wanted of us. We felt so good about it and now we are finally getting to do it. I just hope I can cope if it doesn't turn out how I want, as this sweet little baby as an eternal member of our family. I didn't think I would become so attached so quickly, but I think it is because this perfect little baby came as a clean slate, who is easy teach the correct behaviors as he grows, not a child who has learned so many incorrect things from neglectful parents and trying to get them to change their bad behaviors. Let's just say he is very easy to love. I can't post his name, that is why I haven't mentioned it yet.

So I am praying every day in gratitude for the experience and for strength to be ok if the outcome isn't what I want because I know it would feel like my own child was being taken from me. So only time will tell, but I am going to love him every minute I have him!

Gracie's 8, Wesley's 5, we moved, I had surgery, Shawn got a new job...

So as you can see we've had a little bit of everything the past month and a half! The most important is definitely Gracie's baptism. It was a wonderful event. I didn't realize how emotional it would make me having Gracie baptized. She was so excited to take this important step. She was very ready and excited for what lies ahead. She looked beautiful in her 2nd white dress and I loved watching her and Shawn meet in the middle of the font. She was baptized directly after her double-cousin, Stephen Garner who is 8 days older than her. We had a lot of family and it was wonderful. I will post pics soon!

My sweet boy, Wesley turned 5 the day before Gracie's baptism, so he was lucky enough to get to have a bunch of family at the park for a bbq and bday party. He also had a bowling party the next week with some of his "boys" and Gracie.

About 3 weeks ago we moved into a home we bought right across the street from my sister, Gretchen. Her address is 1818 and we are 1817! Our front doors front each other. My kids love it, my husband loves it and so do I. We love being in our own home! It is wonderful.

Shawn started with a new law firm about 6 weeks ago and it is going wonderfully. It is a much better fit for him and we are grateful for this new opportunity.

The last bit of "exciting" news is that from March 12-28 I was in and out of the hospital 4 times which resulted in my gallbladder being removed. As much as I don't like staying in hospitals, I am grateful that we fixed the problem and I am back to normal...with a four additional scarres (spelling?)

Oh, I almost forgot the best thing....1 week after we moved in Molly decided to help decorate my bathroom. She took a red King sized sharpie and covered my sink, counter, cabinet bathtub, walls, shower door, tile floor, and doors with red artwork. After a ton of scrubbing. It all looks as good as new, except that my doors and walls are primer white right now! Thanks goodness for little girls! I love my kids!

Pictures from Brittany

Click here to view these pictures larger

So today Dylan taught Wesley how to do back flips into the pool. The one on the video isn't as good as some of the ones I saw him do, but I can't even believe he can do it! It just shows how important it is to have GOOD examples because kids will do whatever they see, good or bad. I am grateful my kids have so many cousins to be good influences to them!!

Family Time is Fun Time!

Sunday afternoon with some of the family!

Wesley took this picture of Rachel
Dad and his first-born Heather

Sarah, Gretchen, Meagan, Me, Mom, Rachel, Dad, Heather

Everyone and Mikaela

Doesn't he look happy to be in a picture!!!

Maycee

Gretchen and Sarah

Mikaela.....isn't she cute!

Molly and Sarah

My niece Maycee showing off her talents!

American Idol Finale!

KRIS ALLEN WINS!!!

Yipee! Shawn and I were laughing at ourselves. I think last night's American Idol finale was kind of like our Super Bowl. We loved hanging out watching the comedic finale that gave us a surprising, but desired result. I can't wait to see what kind of album Kris puts out. I really think he is going to be great! (Sorry Meagan, I know you wanted Adam, but it just wasn't meant to be) Actually, I do think Adam was good, but everything started sounding the same to me after a bit and did you notice the shoes he was wearing when he was performing with Kiss???? Scary!

Wesley's take on the camping trip

I love hearing little kids talk and I love my Wesley's raspy voice. Here's what he says about the camping trip. (Notice Shawn looking very sleepy in the background. It is a lazy Sunday afternoon!)

Look's Who's Walkin'?

Gracie and Molly cuddling before Gracie heads off to school at Ronald Reagan Elementary!
These next 3 pictures are from today. Wesley loves to do "Tough Guy" poses and Gracie does a pretty good job too!

Ok so we didn't manage to get everyone in the picture, but here we are!

Shawn and his brood!

Shawn hardly ever wears a hat because he says his hair is too poky and that his hair actually hurts his head, but I really like him in one, so everytime I want him to wear one I can look at this.

My little Molly Allison is walking! She started about 3 weeks ago and now she has perfected it.

Shawn and Wes' Camping Trip

Ok, so I sent Shawn with the camera to document his camping trip with Wesley, his brother Steve, and Stephen. He didn't actually remember to take any pictures while they were camping, but at least he got a little video of the campsite before they drove away. Don't miss the dirt all over Wes' face as proof of a great time.

On Friday after work the boys headed up to the Laguna mountains for a "Boys Only" Camping trip. Friday night they sat around the camp fire and roasted marshmallows for s'mores. Then all went to the tent to play some games (uno and trouble). After games each took turns telling camping stories before falling asleep.

Saturday morning they ate pancakes and eggs for breakfast then hit the trails for a nice long mtn. bike ride. Little Stephen was riding like a pro on his new Trek five speed. Wesley, kept up very well. And even though he only learned to ride a two-wheeler just over a month ago, he was able to ride most of the trail all by himself. After mtn. biking the four stopped in at camp for a little rest before hiking to the highest point of the Laguna Mtns. When they got back to camp for lunch, they found that a critter had gotten into their bread, so they had to make a quick stop by the camp store for more bread for sandwiches. After lunch they headed back home, dirty, tired and content... until next weekend.

It's Getting Hot Outside!!!

I think my kids have had just as much fun in their NEW plastic pool as in any other pool they've been in. The simple pleasures of childhood! We love Summer and can't believe the warm (ok....hot) weather is here!

Over Spring Break we went to the Yuma County Fair and Wesley decided he wanted to go on this really scary ride!!! Shawn even went with him. Gracie is on the far left, with Madison next to her, Uncle Mike next to her, Wes, Shawn, some stranger and then Dylan. Wesley's head was hanging down during much of it and I thought he would be sick, but he came off laughing and he loved it! Gracie and I decided on one day off she had to do some Glamour Shots so we painted her nails, did hair, and makeup and tooks some photos. Here is one of them!

Molly is our most active baby!!! We love her! She was rolling well by 3 months, crawling great at 6 months and we have been hoping she wouldn't walk too early! The week before she turned 11 months she started taking some steps and just this past week she decided walking was definitely the better way to get around!

Wesley, Molly and Gracie...the 3 Amigos!

Back at the fair! Pictures got out of order.

My Mr. Fix-It Men!

Wesley got a tool box with his own real tools for Christmas and ever since he has loved helping Shawn with anything he can. He helped fix the gate, tighten his training wheels and several times I have found him pushing the stool over to the shelf to get his tools so he could fix his toys. He will take the back off of his toys so he can replace the batteries and then he gets his screwdriver and puts it back together. I love that he is learning so much from Shawn. (Just a side note... Wesley was the one to go into the garage find the safety glasses, get two pairs, and give them to Shawn so he could help out and look cool!)

Gracie's first music video

Composed, Choreographed, Filmed, and Performed by Gracie Paige Garner

Lyrics..... also by GPG

My first video upload!!

Molly at 9 months!

Good Times at Nana and Papa's house

Cooking for the Stake Relief Society Bday celebration ..... it took almost all day.. 40 pounds of pasta... a lot of mayonaisse, chicken, celery, olives and a lot of other great ingredients. It was a fun and busy day. My mom, sisters Heather and Gretchen and I had a fun day.

Molly absolutely loves her Papa and especially when he feeds her!

This is my cute niece, Sarah, who is only 3 months younger than Molly.

One of the many talents of Shawn Wesley Garner

Hannah and Molly havin' a good time.