Loving, missing, and grateful!!!

Well, I can't sleep, so I guess I will give a much needed update. Right as things were getting to a point where we needed to decide whether or not we could afford to continue living in the apartments where we are, I was asked by the manager of the complex if I wanted to be her assistant manager. It was a serious answer to our prayers as I would work off our rent! It has it's moments where I want to rip my hair out, but all in all it's a great job. Every other week when the manager is gone, and I am in charge, I also take care of her mother who lives in the complex. She is the sweetest lady, and so easy to please and take care of!!! I love her to bits!

Unfortunately, this was still not enough to afford to continue living out here, since Ben was only working 3 hours a day. But, once again, prayers were answered when Ben got a call to go back to Takata to work. There has been so many hours of over time, which has been great, but I miss my husband!!! We have been so blessed to be able to work where we do!

This fall, since Ben isn't going to Big Bend, I decided that I am going back to school! YIKES!!! I'm not sure I am completely ready, but here goes nothing! I only have 5 more nursing pre/co req's and then one more class will give me my AA in Medical Assisting, so I figure what the heck?!

On a sad note, one of my heroes passed away last week. My great uncle William N. "Bill" Stoddard's funeral was Tuesday in Emmett, ID. Basically everyone in my family that was able to go, went. It was nice to see everyone, but sad that it had to be for a funeral. Thinking about my great uncle Bill makes me cry and smile at the same time. He was my Grandpa Stoddard's little brother. He was a selfless man, who would do anything for anyone. When he was born, he got stuck in the birth canal and wasn't able to get oxygen for quite a while and because of this, he was mentally handicapped. He never once let his disabilities get the best of him, and he worked harder than most of the men I know. He leaves a wife, four daughters, a son in law, and four grandchildren. People, even some of his own family, looked down on him because of his earthly limitations. They weren't able to see the amazingly sweet, spiritual, perfect being that he was. He and my grandfather are the only ones who remained faithful in the church. Bill read the Book of Mormon over 500 times, though he took the exact number to the spirit world with him. I know that he, my grandfather, and their mother, had an amazing reunion, and congratulated each other on remaining faithful through their earthly trials. I'm sure there was a sweet reunion with their father and other siblings as well!

The funeral was beautiful. I was able to assist my grandmother as she walked up to give the family prayer during the family viewing. I was so grateful to be able to squeeze her hand and steady her as she began to falter when the tears came. Two of my uncles gave AMAZING talks. I wish I could have recorded what they said! I was doing really well in the beginning, focusing on my little cousin Heather, but once my cousin Casey began to sing "The Test" it was over! I just sat and bawled like a baby, but I wasn't alone. We all felt my grandfather's spirit at the service, along with my cousin Adam who passed away soon after birth. A new wave of tears, along with a quick gasp) hit as my Uncle Gary began the life sketch by making note that the last funeral he spoke at was EXACTLY 18 years and 6 months earlier....my grandfather, his father's funeral. The emotions hit me like a tidal wave. I learned a lot about my uncle Bill in those seemingly short minutes, making me love him even more! After another tear-magnet "Oh My Father" by Casey, my Uncle Mike gave a beautiful talk about life, and trials, and perseverance bringing, you guessed it...more tears. Together, we sang "God Be with You Till We Meet Again". The words drilled deep into my soul, and I KNOW that they are true, that I WILL see my uncle and other deceased family members again! After the service, we moved to the cemetery where my Uncle Steve gave the dedicatory prayer. We all laid a flower on Bill's casket, and then made our way back to the church for a meal and some overdue reunions and introductions. It was an amazing trip, but I miss my uncle. I didn't see him often, but the world seems a little darker knowing that he isn't here to make some body's day brighter.

It was so wonderful to see his body, free of pain, and free of the limitations that have been with him for so long! I can only imagine the cartwheels that he is doing in heaven, and the conversations he is having with his family. I have no doubt that he is being an amazing missionary to his siblings and friends! It makes me remember (and dearly miss) my grandfather, and makes me so very grateful that I have an eternal family that will be together forever! I can't wait until the day when I will be reunited with my loved ones who have gone before me. I am now exhausted from the emotions, and the many fresh tears that have flooded my face. Just do me a favor and think about your family and friends. Think about the things they bring into your life, and how they make the world brighter....you never know when someone might be taken from you. Try to put the petty things aside and attempt to really make them know how much to love and appreciate them!

I love all of you, and I'm grateful for each and every one of you! Thank you for the love and friendship you have all shown me! You have made me into the person I am today! Okay, I'll get off my soap box now! Until next time my friends!

Better.....

Things have been pretty stressful lately. I just became the assistant manager of my apartment complex, so that has kept me busy, and I have been working more shifts at the high school pool, mostly babysitting brand new guards...but hey, it's a job. Ben has been actively looking for something that will give us a bit more breathing room, so we are optimistic that something will come along soon.

I wouldn't call these last few months pleasant, but we have grown up and grown so much closer! We couldn't have expected the twists and turns that have occurred, but I think part of us needed to be caught off guard in order to learn the things we have. We were so secure in where we were in life, and had become content with just letting life pass us by. Now we are looking more to the future and preparing for the things that we want most. Well, there really isn't anything else new or exciting going on, so until next time.

I am horrible at updates!!!

Okay, so it's been several months since I last wrote anything, so here it goes. Ben got a job working for some members who run a home business selling homeopathic remedies. He runs all of the credit card orders and that sort of thing. It's only three hours a day, but it works with his schedule. He's planning on getting another job over the summer.

I unfortunately lost my job at the clinic. I have been pretty sick lately and the Doc's don't really know what is wrong. My body couldn't handle the crazy running around, and was shutting down on me. Plus I really didn't like floating around the clinic. I couldn't get a grasp on the different departments during the VERY short time I was in each one. Ugh, let's be honest, I hated floating. I love being a Medical Assistant, just not under that particular title. So I am looking, but there really isn't much out there. Thank goodness for savings, and wonderful parents who let us eat their food!!!!

Back in January, when my pain was at it's worst, my doctors ordered a pelvic ultrasound. I was bleeding really bad during my periods, and I was having pelvic/abdominal cramps so bad I couldn't even get out of bed. I was nauseated and was taking a handful of pills every morning and every night just to make it through the day. It was horrible. They found what is called a uterine septum, or in other words, a wall that divides my uterus. They don't know how thick it is, or how complete it is (how far down the wall goes) because I haven't had an MRI, but one OB/GYN thinks it has nothing to do with my pain, another thinks it has everything to do with it. I think it is the cause since it began shortly after I went on birth control. I went to a doc in Wenatchee (the one who thinks it's the cause) and I asked him to do surgery to take it out, since my doc here in Moses doesn't do that kind of surgery. After looking at my ultrasound and talking with me for like an hour, we decided not to do surgery. Apparently, it's not such a great idea to cut it out just because you can. It can potentially cause more problems, like scarring, that could prevent me from getting pregnant. So he told me that if I have any miscarriages to get another appointment with him and we will re-evaluate the situation. I was really impressed with his knowledge on my condition and how candidly he spoke to me. He didn't talk down to me like I was stupid. He didn't talk over my head just because I was in the medical field. He talked to me like I was a person, who is facing something unfamiliar and scary. Plus it was nice to hear that this ridiculous amount of pain wasn't just in my head, he actually listened to me and acknowledged my situation, fears, hopes, and questions. Why can't there be more doctors like this in the world?

Ben has been so amazingly strong during this whole thing! Between my Rheumatoid Arthritis and now this, he has never once said anything degrading or hurtful to me. He is always trying to lift me up and help me think positively. Plus he is being thrown into a world full of crazy medical terms and concepts and he is catching on really quickly. I am usually a very upbeat person, but these last few months I have been really stressed and a little bit depressed to tell you the truth. There is nothing better than a great big hug from your husband when you are feeling down to let you know how much you are loved!

I know that years down the road I will be grateful for the experiences that I am having now, but as for the present, I can't wait for them to be over! I can only hope and pray that this all blows over soon so I can get back into my routine that I miss more than anything! Well, until next time!

A much needed update!!

So I figure it's been long enough, and a lot has happened, I guess I should fill in! We moved into our apartment after returning from Disneyland, which was a BLAST by the way!! We're still trying to figure out a place for everything, but we are getting there.

Ben was laid off from Takata. I can't say that we weren't expecting it, but it was a hard hit none the less. I've been working a few shifts as supervisor at the high school pool trying to get a little extra money. He had an interview today, so we are keeping our fingers crossed. On top of that, I've been pretty sick. We've found out some new things about me, but nothing that answers why I am sick. So I take a handful of pills in the morning, and another at night. They haven't been super expensive, and the clinic has good insurance, so we've been lucky.

Well, I can't think of anything else that's new, so I will end for now. Until next time!

Ben and Jamie

Waiting....waiting....and more waiting!

Okay. So we're still moving, but it's going to take a little longer than we thought. Our move-in date has gone from Nov. 1, to Dec. 1, to Dec. 10, and now we're not moving in until after we get back from Disneyland on the 29th. Oh yea...we're totally going to Disneyland for Christmas!!! Don't know if I mentioned that, but you should totally be jealous! Anyway...it's frustrating! I was really looking forward to decorating for Christmas, and just being on our own. Oh well, I just have to keep telling myself we'll get there. It's late, but Brie was on my butt for not writing more often, so here it is Briezy Poo!

We're Moving!!!!

Okay, so it's been a while since we have written anything, and it's time for an update! Ben and I found an apartment here in Moses Lake! It's been a long time coming! It's really close to my work, and closer to the college and Ben's work too. I've been freaking out trying to get things to fill our little home, but the crazy pre-move jitters are starting to go away and the excitement of getting out on our own is setting in. Anyway, it's late, but there will be more updates as we go along!!

Brad got his mission call!

We are all really excited because Brad got his mission call to....................................El Salvador, San Salvador West/Belize!!! How cool is that! He will be speaking Spanish, except when he is in Belize, where they speak English. He has to purify his water, wash his clothes on rocks, and that whole deal. Pretty much every Boy Scout event he has ever been to, will be like a 5 star hotel compared to El Salvador! But this is what he wanted. He wanted a "hard mission" and HE GOT IT!!!!

Ben got hired on at Takata. He'll work from 3-11, so I will see him in the morning when I leave for work at 7:30 then I won't see him again until he comes home at about 11:30...and by then I will be alseep. This will be our life for the next couple of years. We will have to savor the weekends, and just tough it out for a while. I'm not super hip on the idea, but it's the best option for us to get out on our own right now.

Well, there really isn't anything else to report, so I wil just say good bye for now!

Loves and hugs!