Joy in the Journey: Remembering September...

September is always a fun and exciting time for our family and also a very busy time. This September was no exception. We have so many birthdays in our family during the month of September. Now that our family has grown so they are really spread out but September seems to remain the busiest. It’s a great month that we look forward to spending a lot of time together as a family. It begins with Gnger on the 12th, Will on the 15th, Joanne (Jack’s mom), Aunt Ronella, Paulette, and my dear friend Linda Browder on the 21st, my friend, Pua Perreira on the 22nd, ME on the 23rd, Mom on the 27th, and Marshall on the 28th. Birthdays, birthdays, birthdays! Cake and celebrating are what we do best this month! Ha!
Each birthday has been a special one and this year was no exception. For Ginger’s Brithday we surprised her with a party at Lugoff House of Pizza with some of her friends and it was great that she was surprised! She’s always doing so much for others and it’s such a blessing to do something for her -- she’s so sweet. We had a great time.
Will’s Birthday was at San Jose’ as was mine -- this is somewhat a family tradition -- to choose where you want to go for dinner on your special day and we all seem to choose San Jose’! It’s a family thing! Joseph and I actually celebrated several days for my birthday -- he is so sweet. We had a movie and dinner night and went shopping another day. He also took me to the flea market in Charlotte a couple weekends ago and we had a great day together that day. He is so good to me and makes anything fun. We love spending time together…
Mom’s birthday was really fun for everyone, too, I think. Since hers was on a Sunday and she typically cooks we told her she couldn’t cook anything that day for company and that everyone was to come to our house. I cooked and others brought things and we had a wonderful meal and a great time together. Those who could not attend were there in heart. Even Erika, Jack, and Leighton were with us via SKYPE and the web cam. It was so cool!
Jenny and Brandon are expecting their little baby boy in November and Lindsay hosted a wonderful baby shower at their new home on the 26th. It was well attended and they received so many precious gifts for baby Hunter. He is so loved already! The same day of the shower was the Women’s Broadcast and Dinner at the stake center that Ginger and her counselors prepared before the broadcast. They did a great job and it was decorated so beautifully. She is truly amazing and such an example for so many. The broadcast can be viewed on the church’s website which is www.lds.org and is available for viewing. It was a wonderful broadcast.
As for me, I was on call a lot of the month due to the census being low at the hospital. The time off was nice some days but not when pay day rolled around…I am transferring to the new Urgent Care at Elgin which opens tomorrow and I’m excited that I will be working somewhat of a schedule and not having to take so much call time. I will miss my friends and co-workers greatly at the main campus -- they have been so very good to me and I love them like family.
Well, September has come and gone and with it came wonderful memories and experiences. I am grateful to be healthy and strong and to have celebrated my 43rd Birthday (YIKES -- did I just say that!?!) I don’t feel that old, though, at least not most days! Ha! I have so much to be thankful for and I am happy to be spending life with my family and my best friend in the whole world who also happens to be the love of my life and my companion and dear husband, Joseph. He is a jewel. I have also had a lot on my mind this past month and many concerns that I have had to pray about and put a lot of faith in my Heavenly Father about some things. All along, Joey is so patient and kind and always has a hug and an outstretched arm ready to hold me or just let me cry or just be quiet…He is my soul mate and I love him with all my heart. It is hard when sometimes people don’t do as we’d like and our kids make choices that we don’t think are the best or the right ones -- it’s tough to know that it is out of our control sometimes…But I know that the Lord knows my thoughts and the desires of my heart and nothing is impossible with Him. It has been a good month, really it has, and I have so much to be thankful for each second of each day. Without the storms sometimes we could not fully appreciate the sunshine. September has been a month I’ll remember…Here's some photos which tell the story...