Grandkids...

Here are my 4, (soon to be 5) grandchildren. They are perfection !!! It is fun learning how to be a grandma, and Scott is the best grandpa already, and very natural at it..... Emmy belongs to Erika our 3rd daughter and her husband Riley. Livia and Gavin belong to our first daughter Sherstine, who is expecting (our #5) another boy July 19th 2010 and her husband Wayne. Lucy belongs to our 2nd daughter Kaylene and her husband Johnnie.... "Rejoicing In Your Posterity"
has brought a whole new meaning for us. And it is just the beginning !

(Emmy)

(Livia, Gavin)

(Lucy)

67 Days....

The Days cannot go fast enough for me until Jacob returns from his mission in Neuquen Argentina. The first year went very slow for me. Between his terrible homesickness , the language barrier, and stomach illnesses from living in a foreign country with different kinds of intestinal bugs in every area, there have been many tears shed. At about 7 months out he experienced the "gift of tongues" and has loved his mission, the people, and all of his companions since. Well, there was one companion , that caused him some grief, but he was only with him one transfer. Some days it seems like I will never see him again, but the days are finally winding down for his return.
Many asked us if we would be traveling to pick him up. For us the cost was far too great, but the thing that helped was that when he comes home it will be the middle of winter there. Very cold, and not the time of year to be seeing the sights of his mission. I am content to receive him at the airport , as has been done by so many mothers . Jake may likely be our only missionary , unless his youngest sister Heidi decides to serve. I have wondered many times how mom and dad Spjute sent 7 of their 9 children out into the world to serve....Truly it takes greater faith than ever before to send a child out into this world of uncertainty, to take the gospel of truth to the Lord's children.
Though I have missed the absence of my son's presence in everything we do, there have been many rewards, blessings and gifts brought to our family and especially to me, because of his willingness and desire to serve his Lord and Savior. This experience has been a privilege ....

Fire Pit

After a few years of thinking about the idea to have a little fire pit in our back yard, we finally have one . Big enough to have fun together and small enough so we don't start our neighbors really nice fence on fire, or burn our own house down. Our yard is small , and it seems that over the years we have been so consumed with raising children, work and church activity, that we spent very little time working or fixing up our yard, and making any changes. We always talked about little things that we might like to do, but the reality was that there wasn't much money, and even less time to make those changes. We have kept our yard groomed and looking nice, but the back yard has always been very uninviting , if you ask me. With the exception of a new deck many years ago, and the family trampoline, and the tree house, there has been much left wanting. Livia, Gavin, Lucy, and Emmy, inaugurated it, as it were. I think it will provide a lot of fun times for our family and the many young adults that continue to grace our home.....
Scott and Riley rolled in the grass, and Scott did a great job making our little fire pit. The pit itself did not cost a penny. Thanks to Carl for getting the grass for us and delivering it to the very spot where we needed it.

The Thick and the Thin of It

Miracles happen in the latter-day! My girls have convinced me that it is hightime that I begin my own blog, so I begin....Thank Heaven for children that are far more intelligent than I. With a little time and experience, I may find that I am smarter than the average mamma bear....One can only hope......