Old El Paso~

Helene, did our time together not pass away as if it were a dream??!! 

Whenever I am with you, I leave asking myself, 'did that really happen?' As if the time and space only existed in a dream land far away. Such were our days in Nova Scotia, and such is the life whenever I am with you! Even now... tried and tested in El Paso ~ Just like a dream! 

Somehow responsibilities, worries and cares go out the window... Motherhood looks more beautiful, friendship more perfect, days more enjoyable, and the sun even shinier. :) You have a way of doing that to my life, my beautiful talented wonderful friend. 

No wonder my world is better when I am with you~ 

*

Justin surprised me with a plane ticket to El Paso for christmas...

Maybe he was sick of hearing me gripe and moan about missing Helene. :) 

Whatever the reason, it was the best surprise!

 Ever since that day I have been looking forward to February! 

Justin arranged for Miley and Scotlin to be with their grandma for the week. 

I decided I couldn't leave my baby girl, so little Loren came with me on a girls trip. 

When it came time to go, I could not believe this was me! Was this really me?! 

Getting ready to board a plane for a week away with my best friend?!

 I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world! 

Sweetheart, thank you for being so generous with me, and allowing me to have this special time away with my friend I hold so dear! I recognize the sacrifice it was sending me away, and want you to know I appreciate it to the moon! I feel so loved and taken care of by you, and recognize all that you so generously do for me. 

XO~ Thank you!

I was so excited to reunite with Helene, Taylor, Kingston and Isla again! 

One of my favorite moments from the trip was seeing Kingston for the first time. 

(I was worried he might not even remember me..) 

He came running up at the airport holding a bouquet of flowers, and wrapped his sweet little arms around my neck with the biggest smile on his face. 

This moment made the whole trip! I have missed that sweet little boy with all my heart,

 and I am saving the feeling of that moment forever!

 I missed those kids more than I can breath. 

Kingston, I feel that you might as well be my own son, I love you just that much. 

And Isla, I loved you even before you were born! You are the Isla to my Loren. :) 

I had been looking so forward to hearing your little voices, and having the chance to give you all the squeezes you have been missing! :)

 I wanted to see you in your new little world, and hear everything about it you wanted to tell me.

 I lived for every minute of 'Jess, look at this..' 

Helene surprised the girls with matching jams. And the moms turned in to deliriously excited paparazzi... :) The little ones ran around playing together that first night, and receiving all the kisses I had been saving up all year.

How did we get so entirely lucky to have sons and daughters the same age? Sorry girls, but you are going to be best friends wether you like it or not... it was just in the cards. ;) 

Kisses for days~

Hels, I loved our days together... enjoying our time chatting,  running errands, cooking, playing with the kids and laughing all day long. 

I was so glad you took me on the tour of your new city and I was able to take it in and picture your new life. I loved sharing our opinions of the area, and seeing all the ways El Paso truly is the perfect place for you. Seeing you on the other end of dental school, happy and well is what this trip was all about. It meant the world to me to have our connection no matter what world we share. Magical. 

It's hard to choose a favorite day or moment with you because I loved every minute! And that's the truth! Here are a few of my highlighted favorites~~

The wonderful night you held mutual in your home. I had the chance to meet your Laurel's and watch you interact with them as their leader. All I can say is, those girls are so lucky! You love them, purely love them. You befriend them, and genuinely care. You are real, and they are blessed by you, and everything you have to offer as their leader. Great girls. Loved this night. 

I LOVED the insights and feelings you shared with me about living on the border of Juarez, Mexico. Your heart is so large, and your love for people far reaching. 

You look over a dividing line to see hope and motivation to do and be better. 

Similar to our days in Nova Scotia, you ALWAYS look for the positive, and focus on what you can be grateful for. I love this about you, and you have impacted my life by your strength and example.

You expressed to me your desires to get involved in your community. 

You never cease to amaze me when it comes to your compassion,

 and ability to SEE goodness all around you. 

El Paso is lucky to have you. 

You are needed, I know your influence and presence is felt now, and will be long lasting.  

If you weren't cooking for me, cleaning up after me, or catering to my every need, then you were sharing and blessing me with your divine, god-given talent of photography. 

Words can not do any justice to how much this single act means to me, influences me, stays with me, lifts me, inspires me, and nearly brings me to my knees with gratitude! 

I just don't have the words. 

I am sure any mother can relate to the feelings they have when their beautiful baby is captured on film. It is a treasure like non other. 

But somehow, Helene, you take this experience to a whole new level~ Because somehow you can look into her precious soul, as if to bring it to life, and yet freeze it forever in the same moment. 

How?! It's incredible. 

And what's even more amazing, is how you do it effortlessly, in a matter of split seconds, 

and with all the love in the world. 

All of the goodness that you possess comes out in your photographs.

 Only very few times have I ever seen such raw talent. 

You are marvelously gifted, and I feel so special to be a recipient. 

So special, and so grateful. 

Thank you for capturing my angel~

Loving on the babes! Is there anything better than a Kingston hug?? 

Loved seeing this little man in action, so responsible and all grown up. 

Hels, you beauty! You did so much for me. Loved every minute visiting and laughing in your gourmet kitchen. Loved our late nights, makeovers, and relaxin' in the sun~ :)

Most of all, I just loved being with YOU. I felt like somebody needed to pinch me the whole time, it was simply the best~~ :)

LOVED seeing Dr Guapo in action!! :) Such a fun office and environment. Tay's happy, which makes me happy. :) Remember how scared Loren was of Taylor's Lorax costume? To this day she is terrified of the Lorax. I'm blaming this one on Tay. :) 

Babies busy being stinkin' adorable~

Nothing tops our girls night out in New Mexico. By far, one of the best nights I've ever had. We love checking out new places together, and this new adventure was not disappointing. Las Cruses had a fun flair, and the mexican food and flavor was divine! Our girls were hysterical, drawing all sorts of attention from the locals.. ;) And our fight with the waitress over who would pay was record breaking. :) I'm so glad you found our future home while we were in town, and found it within yourself to throw in a horse for Miley~~ Thank you!! ;)  

This was a great night. 

The best part didn't start until we were delirious though~ I am pretty sure Taylor has not yet recovered from the idiocy of these two women laughing until we cried. I haven't laughed that hard in a while, and I'd fly to El Paso just to do it all again! :) I love ya Hels. 

I went to bed smiling and giggling myself to sleep. It was a night I truly didn't want to end. I knew the morning would come, and I'd have to go back to missing you. :(

Helene, 

Thank you for being such a beautiful person, inside and out. 

Thank you for being an influential person in my life, and for all the ways you encourage those around  you (me) for the better. 

 You are a listening ear, a positive outlook, a helping hand, and a golden heart. 

Friends like you are few.  

Just like we always say~ 'I prayed you here'~~

I prayed you into my life, and you continue to be a direct result of what I need. 

Thank you for being you. And thank you for loving me. 

I love you~~

Jess

February Favorites~

We celebrated the birthday of our beloved GG. 

Miley introducing Scotlin to the class~ she plays 'teacher' day and night, and Scotlin is always her excelling, and most incredible student. I will often have a 'parent teacher conference' with her at the end of each day where she will rave about how my son is doing in her class. 

~The funniest part is when she imitates her teacher, Miss Paulsen, perfectly, word for word!~

Justin and I enjoyed an amazing Valentines Day! I kept our heart attack tradition strong~ 

Before taking the kids out for dinner, Justin surprised me with tickets to Les Miserables~~! Going to the theatre is one of our favorite dates.

I'm so grateful for my one and only valentine, and so happy our love is alive! 

Our precious niece Lucy was given a name and a blessing, and we were overjoyed for the opportunity to be a part of her special day. We love you sweet little Lucy!

Scotlin loves these precious new baby cousins... sweet boy.

~Family fun night to Chucky Cheese~

These guys~

This kid~

The kids wake up all too early..

This particular morning they swiped the camera to document their early morning shenanigans...

Now I see why the lack of sleep is necessary~ can't miss out on the granola bar snatch~

Apparently, all the freedom in the world can be found in the wee hours of the morning~

Baby Loren and Uncle Bran~

He's one of the only people she will actually go to outside of mom and dad. 

Sweet little connection, these two~

Wild Montana Skies~

This is the year of finding a good job, a place to call home, and somewhere to stay and raise our family. This is no small task. It's been a big year, and a stressful one. 

We have walked that fine line between having faith in the future, 

and having no idea what it has in store. 

Ultimately, we know there is a plan, and that the Lord will direct our path as we trust in Him. 

One day, looking back, it will all make sense, and we will be able to see where all of the dots connected, to lead us to where we need to be. In the meantime, it can be an overwhelmingly stressful process, complete with many sleepless nights. 

After months of searching, we decided to investigate an opportunity in Helena MT. 

We took the family with us on our journey, and did our very best to take in the area, the job, and all that Montana had to offer. 

We enjoyed our little family getaway, and the opportunity to find out about the practice. 

Over time, and with great consideration, patience, and prayer we made a decision to move forward with the job in Montana. Justin accepted the job, and with that came the full time investment of my heart and soul as I began preparing Helena to be the home for our family. 

Our excitement grew quickly as we continued forward with our plans. Very suddenly however, Justin's feelings changed... as if a bigger picture had become clear to him. From this new vantage point he could see this may not be the right fit. He began feeling very strongly that our family should look else where. Within just a matter of days, and a few intense hours, the job fell through, and we went back to the drawing board once again. 

 I am so grateful Justin followed his promptings, and so proud of him! It is not easy to do what he did. Sometimes, not at all easy to follow what your heart is telling you. He had enough faith and enough courage to act, and that will make all the difference. If Helena is not where our family needs to be, it's because we are needed somewhere else. I know he is so trusted by our Father in Heaven, even with such a large decision as this. I have felt very much a part of the decision making process, and I am glad Justin will discuss these important matters with me, ask for my opinions and feelings... I am not sure if he likes my answer at times, because the thoughts and impressions that have come to me, are that 'he will know' and to 'let him lead, and follow.' 

What a blessing it is that I have to follow him with complete confidence, trust and loyalty. He has my whole heart, and it is my honor and privilege to follow him, and ultimately, there is nothing I want to do more. Knowing that following him is what Heavenly Father wants me to do as well makes this even more important to me. I don't want Justin to feel he is carrying the burden all on his own... just the opposite. I know we can still talk and discuss these important matters, but feel comforted knowing he will feel clear and confidant regarding where to lead our family. 

So for now it is back to the drawing board, and back to the unknown. 

~Our future is as bright as our Faith~

-Thomas S. Monson