August is flying by fast!

Wow - can you believe it's past mid-August already?! Where does time go so quickly? The days seem shorter everyday and my list of things to do is not following the example - it gets longer by the hour. I feel really behind with my blog and my journaling so I just thought I'd do a little recap of this month's happenings.

First and foremost - married life is wonderful. Joseph is such a wonderful husband and is so good to me and all the kids. I've known this for a couple years but I wondered what it'd be like once we married and were living together and let me just say that things could not be better. It so awesome to come home and things are done around the house (even my laundry!) and dinner done when he's off. He is a wonderful husband and I love him so much!!!

I am back to my previous job at the hospital in the Women's Center and working 3 12-hour shifts a week and I LOVE IT! I'd really missed patient care and being on the floor working and I feel like I've "gone back home" at work. I'm very grateful for the opportunites I've had at work and to be back at my old job!

Joey got a new shed / garage that he'd been wanting for his "man stuff" -- all his hunting and fishing stuff and all the tools and stuff that men collect and it's a great addition to the back yard. (Wonder why they don't make these sheds for our "women stuff" - all the scrapbooking and sewing and crafty stuff we like to do? Hmmm...)

Stake Conference was really awesome this past weekend and the talks were really inspiring. I loved them all but my favorites had to be Pres. Woodrow's and Pres. Holt's talks. One thing that really stood out was "the gospel of Jesus Christ leaves no room for social convenience...Where the gospel's concerned you're either 'in' or 'out'..." This made me think about how people search and search for a church where they can do as they please and want the religion to be built around their circumstances but it's not supposed to be that way. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to come unto them and follow their example. I appreciated these two talks and it really made me want to do better and also to pay close attention to the kind of example I set in front of my family and peers.

Erika and Jack celebrated their FIRST ANNIVERSARY today! Happy Anniversary, kids!!! I love you both so much! Hope your weekend and your date tonight were perfect!

Ethan moved into his house in Florence Friday and it was a happy/sad time for me. Addison and I went down with him along with Blake's mom to help them get moved in and set up. It's a cute house they're renting and even had some friends come by with balloons and a cake to welcome them into their new home. I was so tired when Addi and I left which may have been a good thing to help me keep from crying so. My I sure miss him being around. The summer passed oh so quickly and before we knew it is was time for him to leave. He'll be starting classes Wednesday and I wish you all the best in school this year, Eeskee! I love you, son, more than you can ever imagine.

Addison also started school today and I absolutely cannot believe my baby girl is a senior! Talking about wanting to cry all morning but I've been at the brink of tears. We have a tradition that we go out to breakfast on the first morning of school and on the last day so this morning at 6:45 Addison and I went to Shoney's and Wesley met us there. It was fun and the company was great and I was very proud of myself that I didn't cry - at least not until she dropped me off at the house as she headed on to school. I am so proud of you, too, Addison -- you are a wonderful young woman with so much ambition and I know you'll do well in school this year. My wish is that you enjoy all the good things about your senior year and treasure the memories. Enjoy this time with your friends and make new ones because things really change after high school -- make the most of it and do your very best!

Well, I'll close here for tonight and get to bed so I can finish reading the second book in the Twilight series. Erika's been so anxious for me to finish reading them and I LOVE this series! I've not had time to read much lately but this one's ending really well and I'm excited to begin the third one. (Erika would not let me open the fourth book when they were here visiting for fear I'd look at the last chapter -- she probably knows me pretty well! Ha!)

P.S. Tried to add photos but kept getting an "internal error" message. I'll try again later to upload pictures. Have a wonderful week!