Josie's Blog

Josie has a blog.

I Tend to Write . blogspot

Enjoy.

an ord valentine

doesn't this valentine remind you of Brig and Dan in the seventies?? hilarious.

A high FIVE

Ah... those were the days! The joys of waterskiing with my sibs...

OUCH!!!

Hi, everyone!

Yesterday was a REALLY tough day (except for the fact that I played soccer with my Papá for a young women activity, but I was coughing and hacking the entire time). I am EXTREMELY happy that we (in our day and age) can get our teeth straightened out, BUT: it hurts extremely a lot!! And of course, my sore throat (I'm starting to show the signs of strep throat, which has been making it's way around our family) had to come the day before I received the WONDERFUL braces. Oh, gosh. I've lost my voice.

But, don't get me wrong, I'm actually really happy that we can do this. To prove it, here are some pictures Calvin took when I got into the car to go home. Okay, maybe I'm not ENTIRELY as happy as I seem in these pictures.

"Shout Out #2"

I wanted to acknowledge our handy husbands. I don't have pictures of all of their work, but I know that each one has done so much to please us wives.
Below are pictures of the homes that Tyler, Jared and Mark have built "on the side." I know that I take Jared's skills and service for granted. There are times that I complain that the project is taking too long, costing too much, making a big mess, or not done the way I wanted. I couldn't ask for a better husband. He is always willing to stay up late, complete projects during his vacation time, and fix things to make me happy. I just thought I would pay a small tribute to the men in our lives. Their "To Do List" is never done and they are always the last to complain. Also, I must express my appreciation to Mark for being a patient father and teaching Jared along the way. It won't be long before we send our sons to work with Grandpa.

~ AMPLIFYING ASHTON ACTION ~

(Earlier today, Ashton sat with me and wanted to read updates from everyone's blogs, and then said, "I want a blog, and I just thought of a title..."  then he told me the above.  I said that he already had a blog right here! - For today, he'd like the background of 'his blog' to be red... it's the week of Valentine's, so that works!)

"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! -- Oh wait, I just made this.  So no anniversary yet.  I told my mom that it was MY turn to have a blog.  I'm really enjoying the idea.   So i have an F-4J that my Dad bought in a salvo of planes and one night as i walked into his room i found a MIG 21 that was 1/100 (the same scale as the Phantom).  Also a damaged MIG 17 came in the mail with it.  It's vertical stabilizer was bent, but my Dad managed to straighten it.  But there's still one more thing that it's missing, it had a shattered canopy.  I suggested to take one of the scrap canopies that he already had and cut it in a shape that would fit.  But Papá suggested first that he would try to glue the canopy's pieces together.  So he said he would try both.  But in one of the ways or another, one of them should work.  It remains on display in his room, but i have faith that one of the ways will work and he'll be able to put the canopy back on."   by Ashton Malcolm Juárez

...And on a lighter note...

This is a classic! Anyone who's been a mom or had a mom can relate to this!

A Shout Out

I just thought we could give a shout out to our little mothers right now.
I've been awake since about 4:00 this morning thinking about them:
Amie in the early stages of pregnancy--morning sickness, etc.-- with a sick little Emilie (mono)
Leslie in the later stages of pregnancy-- sore, can't bend over, etc.-- with a sick little Ella (bladder infection)
Lauri with newborn Mya-- worn out, hormones still out of whack etc.--with a sick little Mya (RSV)
We feel your pain.
I'm sure you weren't expecting all of this when you signed up. It takes everything you've got and then some more.
Motherhood is not for wimps. And pregnancy is not for the feint of heart (or stomach).
I know there are times when you feel like yours is a most unappreciated lot in life. This is the absolute hardest and most exhausting thing you've ever done.
We just want you to know that we salute you, we support you, we pray for you, we love you. Thank you for sacrificing your time, your sleep, your health, your own interests, your otherwise glamorous life, and your sanity to bring these precious children into the world and give them all you have. You are all doing an amazing job... (and I'm including Andrea and Lyric here too!)

I can remember being willing to give my right arm for just one night of uninterrupted sleep. Now I would give anything to be able to have my kids little for just one more day...

And now, while I'm sure your kids have already awakened you from a blissful night of sleep and you're at it again, I think I'll go back to bed! :)
XOXOX

Long Distance

I am so grateful these days for technology. It's really wonderful to be able to stay up to date on my family from so far away. I even got to watch Calvin open his call. And I don't have to wait for another five weeks to find out how every one is doing. Speaking of which, I'm so glad Mya is okay. Brig and Emily and all of you are constantly in my prayers.

For those of you who don't know, I'm in Guatemala right now, in the same city where my dad grew up. I love it here! It's completely worth it. Sometimes it's hard, like when there is only one bathroom with out a sink because the others are being repaired, or when I feel bad for refusing more food 'cause of how fast I get full/how much I miss my mom's dinners, or when I don't drink the milk at the end of a bowl of cereal because the dairy here is weird. But it's all worth it. I really miss Utah, but... well, like I keep saying, this is worth it. Thanks to Mom and Papá for letting me come.

I don't have a digital camera, or I'd post pictures. I know people who have one, so I'll try to get some fotos soon.

But hey Josie, your mommy has access to a picasa web album from your photographer RM cousin, Jordan... who happened to be in Guate the first week you were... so there you GO!!!

Emilie Sue

Yet another family member to add to your prayer list...our little Emilie was diagnosed with mono last night (see here). We are grateful it's not something worse, and know the Lord is watching over us and our sweet Emilie Sue.
p.s. I am bummed that this means we won't be able to come visit sweet little Mya for a few more weeks! I'm so glad she's doing better!

Update on Mya

Little Mya got to go home from the hospital last night after being there 4 days. At first, they were going to send her home on oxygen, but she was doing well enough that she didn't need to. We are grateful for priesthood blessings and modern medicine! She is so precious... those who haven't met her need to! On Sunday at the hospital, she smiled at me (she's just starting that) and I totally melted! It made my whole day! We feel very blessed... Thanks for your prayers---

We have another Bishop !!!!

We received a phone call late Saturday night from Brig informing us that in a meeting with his stake president on Thursday he was called to be the Bishop of the Spanish Ward in the Menlo Park Stake. Brig has had an association with that ward for ten years in one capacity or another, most recently as the High Council advisor, having been released from that assignment about a year ago. When he mentioned this to the President Jacobs he was told that it was time for the ward to become bi-lingual and that he had been impressed by the spirit that Brig was the one needed to accomplish that goal. The Spanish members of the Ward need to learn English in order to be more successful in establishing themselves in America. Needless to say Brig is very humbled by this call and has spent some sleepless nights. He and Tara went to the Temple and received inspiration and peace and strength to face this new challenge. He will be sustained on February 15th. Congratulation Brig, our pride in you and love for you knows no bounds. We join together as a family in prayer for your success. Dad.

We're praying for precious MYA's strength ~ and for TARA's :) ~ and for CAL's future comps! ;D

1. We're hoping for an update from Tyson's, and can't stop thinking of them!
2. We know the new obispo de corazón puro and his "obispA" will continue to bless the lives of many!
3. We're hoping some day we'll hear more Brittish tracting like Dan sent home 33+ yrs ago. But meanwhile, click here on CALVIN to see a 5 min video from a couple of nights ago!