Change??? I hate change!...this has nothing to do with Obama :P

Is hate too strong of a word? Hmm....Perhaps I should've used the word "dislike" instead.

About a month ago, Brent's company was bought out by a telecom company based in Colorado. We're not sure of where that will place us. Will we be staying put, here in Arizona or will we have to move? I do love the weather here in Arizona...no snow to shovel and sandals are worn almost year round.

We're going to have to be patient and see how things play out with this merger.

Fingers are crossed that we stay put...well...mine are anyways....

Our lives are a bit less chaotic these days...

Well...
Our foster baby ..Baby M is no longer in our care and it's been about 2 months since she left our home. I didn't think I'd get as attached as I did, but I guess I'd be heartless if I didn't cry the whole drive up to drop her off to the new foster family and the drive back home. It was one of the most difficult things I've had to do in a long time. I still get a lump in my throat each time I see the pictures we took prior to her leaving.

Doing foster care has it's challenges...The system is broken...CPS is understaffed and underpaid...and I have my opinions about the judges (but I won't even go there)....

There are many blessings when doing foster care...
Seeing a child smile for the first time in months...hearing the child giggle for the first time...consoling the child when they need comforting after months of being neglected by their relatives...

I'm currently going through mixed emotions when it comes to doing foster care...I have not stepped into the nursery since Baby M left our home. The clean clothes are still folded and in the basket, waiting to be put away. Perhaps I'll have the courage this week to organize the room...hmm..we'll see...

I know that Baby M will never remember us, nor will we ever see her again. I feel so thankful that we were able to be there for baby M in her time of need. All we could do now is pray that things will go well in her life. A thought just occurred as I wrote the first sentence...that I would never see her again. I'm now thinking of my kids...my husband...my family... How utterly sad it would be to never see them again after I died... I don't know what I'd do if I were ever in that situation... It makes me grateful for the truth that I have in my life...Being a member of my church and getting married and sealed in the Temple, I will forever be with them throughout the eternities...

Hiking in January????

I can honestly say that I LOVE living in Arizona...uhh...during the winter!
We decided to hike a portion of South Mountain in the middle of January! It was only in the 70s and the weather was fantastic.


Brent has a couple of stowaways in his backpack....Baby M. and a couple of colorful sock monkeys...

Changes in the Smith home...

Yikes!
So much has happened in the past few months...I don't know where to begin...

Our family is still doing foster care and we have a new addition that came into our home the day before Thanksgiving and will be in our home for a few months more...She is a darling little 8 month old little girl that came into our care at five months old. It's been an adjustment since our last baby is now 11 years old! hahaha! She's been thriving in our home and has made huge improvements since coming here.

I can honestly say that our Heavenly Father answers prayers... The day before this little one arrived, my neighbor across the street came over and dropped off an infant carseat that they were no longer using. A couple of weeks before that, Alycia's friend's mother dropped off several baby items when she found out we were doing foster care. Coincidence? I think not. As we were getting ready for church one Sunday, I watched my dear husband holding Baby M. in his arms...a scripture came to mind (in Matthew 25:35) when Christ said "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in".... I'm so grateful that we have this opportunity to serve and help out these little ones in their time of need and that Our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers..

Santa Didn't Visit our House

When Alycia was four years old, we went to a friends' house for dinner a few days after Christmas. Our friend Christa was chatting with Alycia while Logan gave Anna and I a tour of their home:

"What did Santa bring you for Christmas Alycia?"

"I don't think Santa visited our house."

"What? Didn't you get any presents?"

In a conspiratorial whisper, Alycia says "I did, but they were only the ones from my parents' closet."

Interesting how a four year old's mind works. She knew these presents came from her parents and not from Santa. Therefore, Santa must not have visited our house. Not that this fantastical fat elf who arrives via the flue and delivers a sack full of toys might not exist. Huh.

It wasn't until a few days after Christa told us about this that I realized that Alycia didn't confront us or even ask about the conflicting evidence. I guess she figured if Mom and Dad want to take credit for Santa, she would go along with it just to humor us.

But she knew the truth: Santa just didn't visit our house that year.

Escaping AZ heat for cool Utah fall weather...

Yikes!
I can't believe it's been so long since I've last updated my blog...So much has happened since then...

Our kids go to year round school and we thought we'd take advantage of one of their breaks and escaped the horrid heat of Arizona. It was gorgeous weather in Utah and visiting with family was a huge plus!

Selflessness...

As I entered the Honda dealership waiting area, I felt a bit annoyed since I had been in the same waiting area the day before to get my vehicle worked on.

"Good thing I have my headphones, phone, and a 440z cup of Coke with crushed ice"...were my thoughts. I wasted about an hour checking my Facebook, emails, and Googling stuff on my phone. I paused for a moment to check out my surroundings. I must admit, I enjoy people watching.

Across from me sat an elderly couple in their seventies. The wife sat staring at a blank wall...it seemed as if she were in a different world. "What must she be thinking.." were my thoughts. Her lips would curve into a smile, then she would proceed to go into her blank stare mode. Her expressions were mesmerizing...one moment she was happy, the next she off someplace else.

I glanced over at her husband to see what he was doing. He was reading the paper, but would often look down at his watch. He would occasionally look over at his wife, say a few words, get out a handkerchief and tenderly dab the corners of her mouth and chin. The way he watched her and cared for her made me feel emotional. I felt as if I was witnessing something special, something sacred.

I turned away and felt tears escape my eyes...

At one point, the husband got up and told his wife that he would be back and not to move. I gathered that that was what he was telling her in Spanish mixed in with some other language. I felt a need to watch her...to keep safe until her husband returned. She looked over at me and smiled...I smiled back. Her husband arrived a few minutes later and had a cup of coffee. He spoke to her in their native tongue then gently put the cup to her lips.... He was so careful and gentle whenever they interacted... She made a sudden movement and some coffee spilled onto her lap. He seemed to panic, our eyes made contact, and off I went to look for napkins. I quickly brought them to him and he thanked me numerous times.

I finally had the nerve to talk to him...the nagging feeling kept telling to do so...as I spoke to the gentleman, the wife would smile at me each time we'd make eye contact. I cannot express in words the experience or feelings I was having....I felt as if she were thanking me for talking to her companion.

He told me that his wife suffered from Dementia and Alzheimer's. My heart sank.

"Oh." was all my mind could come up with at the time.

We spoke for about 20 minutes, then my Service advisor came to tell me my vehicle was ready. I said my goodbyes and off I went to get my car.

When I got into my vehicle a wave emotion came over me. I was grateful that I was able to witness the pure love of Christ being administered to this wife...a daughter of God....This husband never seemed frustrated nor did he ever seem upset with her....

We never imagine that these bodies we have been given, can become soo ill that we would be unable to care for ourselves. This man took his marriage covenant seriously...in sickness and in health...til death do us part....

This made me think of the covenants I made when I got married....I'm not married for just this time I have here on earth...I'm married for time and all eternity...death cannot tear me from my husband nor my family...

I feel a sense of gratitude for having the opportunity to witness this sacred, yet humbling experience. I will forever remember this....