Another Wonderful Year...

When I was a teenager, I had quite the laundry list of qualities I wanted in a husband. He had to be handsome, smart, spiritual, kind, a good dad, an eagle scout (I probably could have lived without that one), and of course he had to treat me great. It's amazing that I found such a man, but I did!! And Jonathan still opens my car door, pumps my gas, does dishes almost every night, and always makes me laugh. I love being married to my best friend! Happy Anniversary Jonathan!

Samantha Rocks Out

Samantha and I usually listen to pretty mellow music. Classical piano, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and Hillary Weeks are a few of our favorites. Once in a while we'll listen to Rascal Flatts. Today Jonathan came home and wanted me to hear a guitar piece that his friend is learning to play, but somehow we ended up listening to Guns N' Roses. The song had just started when we noticed that Sami was really getting into the music. Lately she has been freezing when I pull out the camera, but she didn't today, and I am so glad I got this on camera! My favorite is the leg kick. She is so funny.

Why I Love Yard Sales

Last week I found this exercise saucer, brand new, in the box, for just $20! It's a Disney Winnie the Pooh saucer and Samantha loves it. We love watching her play in it. She loves to stick Tigger in her mouth. The week before last, I found a Leap Frog infant gym, in great condition, for $3. And I have to mention the brand new cabbage patch doll I found for $3. I put it away for Sami's birthday. I love yard sales because it's the only way I can afford to have awesome toys and clothes for Sami.

I grew up going to yard sales. One of my favorite childhood memories is getting up every Saturday and going to yard sales with my mom and then going out to breakfast. My mom and sister still go out every Saturday together in Nebraska. I think going to yard sales every summer will be a tradition for Sami and I too.

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

Jonathan turns 28 today! I made him this poster and had it printed at Walgreens and put it on the front door so he saw it when he came home from school. He had a final on his birthday, poor kid! He works so hard for us. I am so blessed to have him for my husband. Happy Birthday Sweetheart! (By the way, I am only 13 months older than Jonathan.)

Little Buddies

Last week we had our little friend Hallie over to play. She is about six months older than Samantha, but they are almost the same size. They had a lot of fun playing together. Come again soon Hallie!

The Wonderful Mothers in Our Lives

I am so grateful for the wonderful mothers in our lives! My own sweet mom is a pillar of strength and faith in my life. She has taught me how to love and serve the Lord through her example. She is never too busy to serve. I can call her anytime, and she always claims it is a good time to talk. She is my best friend. I love you Mom!

My mother-in-law is the best sort of in-law. She is kind, loving, and supportive. She raised my Jonathan to be a wonderful man, husband, and father. We are so excited to live close to her. She is a wonderful friend to me and has done so much for us. We love you Mom!

And our beautiful birth mom, where would we be without her?! She is a dear friend, and we love her for who she is as a person and what she has given us. Our birth mom is an example of sacrifice and love, and those are very motherly characteristics. We love her.

And so here I am, my first Mother's Day as a mother! I always thought I would enjoy being a mom, and I really do! I am so happy as Samantha's mom. Sometimes I get tired, but Sami is patient with me. She is literally an angel in our home. I feel so blessed to be able to stay at home with her, this is a blessing that not many women have. She is our sweet heart, and we can't imagine life without her.

I think Mother's Day is really a celebration of the divine qualities in women. So to all the good, beautiful women in our lives, our sisters and friends, those who have children and those who don't: Happy Mother's Day!

A Family Resemblance?

My landlord is very sweet and has become a friend. Every time I see her, she tells me how much Sami looks like me. She knows Sami is adopted, so she's just being nice, right? The obvious difference is Sami has gorgeous blue eyes, and mine are dark (although my sister and two brothers have blue eyes). But when my parents came two weeks ago, my mom brought my baby pictures because she thinks Sami looks like me too! She said that there was something about Samantha's nobby chin, button nose, and chubby cheeks that reminded her of me.

Okay, so it's not an exact match, but I'll take it! One side note though, do you like the dirt background used in my pictures? Those were from the "wilderness days," you know, when my parents lived in the teepee. Speaking of the teepee, I thought I'd throw in a picture of it just for fun:

With parents like this, you'd think I would be a little tougher, maybe take the cold a little bit better. I did live without electricty and running water until I eight for goodness sake! It just goes to show you, genes aren't everything :) !