Jay and Susan

A couple of weeks ago, Steve and I were able to attend the temple with a lot of our ward members. Some dear friends, who were baptized last year were in the temple for the first time. The temple is always a glorious place to be - but being there with loved ones is a celestial experience. Several of my friends who are my family here in Ohio were sitting on a sofa watching the group hug and greet one another. We questioned if this is what "heaven" would be like. We were filled with joy. Pure joy.

Several days later, while sitting in the New Orleans airport I received a phone call from Jenny Wood. She asked if I had heard about Jay. I had not. She let me know that our dear friend/neighbor had been diagnosed with colon cancer and that he was going to have surgery soon. Over the past week, we have been on a roller coaster. Good news. Bad news. Good Days. Tear-filled, feeling helpless days.

I know the calm and joy that we felt in the temple, strengthened us for the week we had ahead. The remembering of our covenants gives us hope in a time such as this.

Jay had surgery. You can read his story if you click on the button at the top of my blog. What you can't read there is why we love Jay and Susan. I could write 40 entries on why we love Jay and Susan. Maybe I will later - but this is a start:

On our first visit to Ohio to look for a house, Jay met us in the hallway of the church. He told us that he had found the perfect street and builder and encouraged us to move there. We laughed. But I remembered him and his advice. We ended up moving to Pickerington , about about a mile from Jay and Susan. Our first 4 years of living here, Jay and Susan were ward members that we interacted with through callings - teaching each other's children, and more or less admiring them from afar. Susan was Grace's nursery leader and we knew she was special. But our interaction was just on Sundays.

Fast forward a few years. 3 bedroom house. Tanner, child number 4 on the way. We were looking for a larger home. Jay's advice and encouragement from our first meeting came to mind as I drove past a home for sale on their street. We moved in. As the housing prices have tumbled and other good friends have moved away - I have questioned our decision to move here. But then a vision of Jay and Susan come to mind - and I know we made the right decision.

Susan and Jay have embraced my children as their own. My children have traditions at their home. Grace and Tanner arrive at their home. Susan pulls out a big bin of candy. Tanner pulls out a yellow Laughy Taffy. Susan reads the joke on the wrapper. Jay walks in. He grabs some candy, jokes with the children. Jay entertains Tanner by playing fuseball or playing air guitar to Eagles music. Grace tells Susan all about her day at school. Susan listens. Grace tells her one thing she learned that day. Tanner and Grace come home happy.

Come home happy. That is what we do when we are with Jay and Susan. It is kind of like being at the temple. We come home happy. We know we are loved.

Easter Lesson

Tanner has had several Easter lessons this week. At school, at home and at church. He's not really grasping that Jesus was killed. When his teacher in primary talked to his class about Jesus being nailed to the cross - Tanner questioned why they didn't use tape.

Little Women

Tonight, I took my girls to see the musical "Little Women" at Pickerington Central. We know some of the students in the play. So you might say I am biased - but it was awesome!

I was greatly surprised by the humor in the script and the acting and singing were great. So if you live close by - I highly recommend it! It is playing Friday and Saturday at 8pm.

Goodbye February

It has been a long month. I know it is really the shortest month of the year. But February 1st was 4 snowstorms, 5 snow days and 28 days of little sun ago. Each of these pictures deserves a post but the month is over and I need to let February go. It is time to move on.

We ended the month with a bang. We had about 20 seminary students over for dinner and a movie. We watched "The Testament." I loved our discussion after the movie. I had prepared to focus on the students and their joy of living close to our Savior. Very quickly the discussion turned to their desire to share the gospel with their friends. They always exceed my expectations. These kids are amazing.

The most life changing experience of the month took place when Tanner realized that he loves being out in the snow and loves sledding. It was wonderful to watch him and Grace go sledding on the hill in our backyard. Five is a magical age. He is able to do so many things on his own now. I love it!
I believe this has been the snowiest February on record for central Ohio. We had a total of 5 snow days, 2 two-hour delays and one early dismissal. Steve came home early (5pm) one night and spent the evening on the hill with the kids. Eliza and I stayed inside sipping hot chocolate. We were all happy.
Grace and Steve attended the Father-Daughter dance at Grace's school. There is always a theme and my dear husband is always so good to dress the theme. He has dressed up like a guy form the 50s, 60s, and has been a cowboy and a movie star. This year's theme was a night in the Orient. Steve and Grace enjoyed dinner with several friends before the dance. I hope my girls will always be this wise in who they choose to date.

Forgotten Fun

We moved into this house 5 years ago. Tanner was a baby and had major throw up issues. Anytime he cried - he projectile vomited. We dutifully cleaned everything the best we could - but after a year of lots of throw-up and spilled milk - our carpet looked and felt horrible.

I co-hosted a baby shower at my house and was so happy when my friend, Catherine blew up 50 balloons and just threw them on my floor. It covered up the mess and I was tempted to keep the balloons there permanently.

We made a plan to replace the family room carpet when Tanner turned 5. We assumed by then it would be safe. So during the fall, we shopped for carpet and found the softest carpet we could in our price range. It took a while to get the carpet in - so we anticipated the change for about a month.

The weekend before the carpet was put in - Hannah and her friends colored a little bit on the old carpet and then colored a lot on it with permanent marker. They were giddy. It was like watching 3 year olds finger paint for the first time. The next morning, Tanner was shocked to see the carpet colored - but anxious to add his own picture. Everyone who entered our home that weekend - signed the carpet. I loved looking at it for the 48 hours we had until it was changed. I don't think we will start a trend (I love my new soft carpet) but the markered carpet was so much more fun to look at than the boring, awful, stained carpet we lived with for 4 years. Maybe I should have let them color it earlier.

By the way, Tanner christened the carpet about a month ago when he had the flu. Thanks to stainmaster - it cleaned up beautifully.

Snow Day!

Second Snow day of the school year. I'm already at "make your own hot chocolate and I'm taking a nap" mode. Perhaps, I would be in a better mood if the school district would call the snow day before my poor seminary students made their way to my house. Most of my own children were wide-awake and ready to go for the day. Perhaps I am grumpy because my sweetheart may get stuck in NYC tonight. Preemptive worry, disappointment and grumpiness are my downfall. I think the Book of Mormon calls them "vain imaginations."

So I am taking a deep breath and changing my mood and locking myself in my room to read a new book, Jenny sent me. The book is "Left to Tell" about the Rwandan holocaust. Not a happy-go-lucky kind of book - but an incredible story of hope during worse things than a snow day. I think my children will be glad I did. Thanks Jenny for the escape that I need today!

Never Too Late

Is this too late to remember Christmas? Holy Moly, I think there are still some Christmas trees lit - and there are still Christmas lights up around town - so I will not feel bad about this.

We went to Alabama for Christmas. We usually go there right after Christmas - but this year all of my siblings were going to be there.

Can you see the beautiful weather? Even with the colder than usual temperatures - it was still a break from the Ohio gray winter we love here.
This is the whole family at "Dreamland". Great BBQ in Birmingham. They claim to be the best - but we have never really tested that claim for ourselves. . . maybe a project for our next trip!
Christmas morning. We were all excited to talk to Brock who is in the Philippines on a mission for our church. Tanner was as patient as he could be while the Stringhams talked to Brock, and he waited to open presents. Breakfast was a good distraction. Grandma and Grandpa have always had a big breakfast on Christmas morning that had to be cooked, eaten and cleaned up before we could open presents. They tried to teach me patience and the excitement of anticipation. I mostly remember having a stomach ache. Steve and I have modified the tradition a bit. But it was fun to experience it as a parent.
On Christmas Eve, we had a surprise visit from Santa! He gave all the grandkids Alabama t-shirts and listened to their wish lists. Everyone was so happy to see him and talk to him.

The best part of the visit was hearing the cousins all laughing together and enjoying each other. Thanks Mom and Dad for a great Christmas!