It was about last March, Jon and I started talking about moving. He loved his job, but the probability of his job being able to continue to pay for our families needs was not likely. Since before we were married, when talking about where we'd like to live permanently, the Mid-West was always the answer. So, we began fixing up our house to sell it. We listed it the beginning of June. It was sold by the end of August. Jon started a new job in South Eastern Iowa (still in Probation and Parole) the 1st of July. We found a nice little rental property to live for now in a rural area. We love the school and the area.
Since I wrote last... We each have had a birthday. Henry is now 3 1/2, Eliza is 6, Maren turned 8, and Emiline turned 2.
We are getting to know the people in our town and at our church. The girls are making friends at school. I think the only thing preventing us from feeling completely settled is that we are renting. We have plans to purchase a home in the area as soon as what is available and what we basically need comes up for sale.
(On the left is a picture of the girls first day going to school 2013-2014 school year.)
The Girls get to ride the bus to and from school each day. It is really nice that they are the last ones to be picked up and first to be dropped off each day and the bus stops right in front of our house. It has been an exceptionally cold winter for this area. We have had many snow days so far this year.
Eliza has lost her first two teeth (both front bottom). She was so upset about the tooth fairy taking her teeth that we ended up telling her the the tooth fairy is really just a game adults play with their children. This made her feel better that when she wants to see her teeth they are available.
Halloween 2013 Maren dressed up as Cleopatra and Eliza (wanted to be a mustache but got scared that kids might make fun of her and so settled on) a pirate for their school parties. We stayed home from trick - or - treating to hand our candy. We did make it to the Nauvoo Pumpkin Walk though. They had hundreds of Jack-o-lanterns carved and many on the shops handed out candy. It was fun to walk up and down the main road to see all of the many jack-o-lanterns.
On Sunday, November 3rd, Maren chose to be baptized by her father as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Since her baptism we have had the opportunity to feed the missionaries several times. Their visits have helped her to see even more clearly the choice she has made and how that choice has and will continue to bless her life and the lives of those around her.
I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the path that being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints puts me and my family on. There is so much joy that I receive from the knowledge that my family has been sealed to me for time and all of eternity by men who have authority and by keeping the commandments and the covenants I have made. Being a Mother is the best "job" in the whole world.
