Tender Feelings Today

I had my last day of work as a student at the birth center today. It was a good day. I have definitely improved and learned a lot since starting as a student almost a year and a half ago. But I have worked for Elaine at the birth center in various capacities, including childbirth educator, birth assistant, and student midwife, for almost 4 years. That is as long as I've ever had a job. But this was so much more than a job to me. In fact, for much of it, I made next to nothing or literally nothing. Working at the birth center was like living my dream job. It was like finding out who I really wanted to be in life. It was about finding out how much courage I have. And it was about having good friends.

I owe Elaine so much, I don't think I'll ever be able to repay her. Here are some of the gifts she has given me:

- She gave me an opportunity after meeting me only twice. I walked into the birth center one day and said I was a childbirth educator. She asked me to come back and meet with her and her partner. I came and met with them and they gave me the gig on the spot. Thus began my childbirth education classes at the birth center

- I was her first birth assistant at the birth center. I had been to births as a doula before, but I don't think she really knew how inexperienced and scared I really was then. But she trusted me enough to allow me to come to births and be taught by her. This was the beginning of a whole new chapter in life

- After working with Elaine for a while, I became pregnant with Charlee. There was no question in my mind that I would have my baby at the birth center. But after some upheaval in the birth center staff, Elaine had decided to not accept insurance anymore. This included mine, of course. So she did my prenatal visits and attended my birth for free. I don't think I've met anybody as generous in my life

- Soon after Charlee's birth, I felt some desire to become a midwife. It seemed like the logical next step, and yet an insanely scary one. Watching Elaine care for women and give them opportunities they never would have had in another birthing environment made me want to be involved in this amazing work, too. But it took me a while to build up the courage

- Finally, after much prayer and stress, I decided to take the plunge and go back to school to be a midwife. Elaine, of course, was tremendously excited for me and readily agreed to be my teacher. How could I have done any of this without her encouragement and support? Not to mention her unfailing belief in me, more than I had for myself?

- The last year and a half, I have work even more closely with Elaine as a midwifery student. She has given me opportunities for learning and growth and helped me be brave, and yet has not pushed me faster than I could go. I can only hope and pray that when we move, I will be able to find a midwife-teacher as amazing as Elaine has been for me.

So, today, after we finished up the clinical work, Elaine took me, Melanie, and Brianna out to lunch. I was so happy to be out with these wonderful friends, and yet sad that my time was up with them already. We had a great meal and were visiting as we finished up. Then, as a perfect ending to a midwifery apprenticeship, Elaine got a call on her cell phone that a mom was in labor and to hurry quick to the birth center. She and Melanie got up and quickly ran out the door to go down the street to the center to be with this mom on this most significant of days. Tears ran down my face as I watched them leave...without me. I can't believe this chapter of my life is over. I'm not sure I'm ready. Moving hasn't been this hard since I left Logan and my best friend forever Marie. But, life marches on. And, just like all the babies I've seen be born grow up and change, so must I.

More karate moments

Jayden absolutely loves being in Little Dragons. He does very well (I would say best in the class, but of course I may be a little biased). Anyway, today his teacher says, "Our three best weapons are our brain, our voice, and our feet. Why our feet?" and Jayden says, "Because they stink!"

LOL!

I am always getting after him because he puts his shoes on without putting on socks first. I tell him it makes his feet stink (it gets pretty bad). Apparently he did hear me, he just decided to ignore the advice! :)

James is a GOLD BELT!

James had his karate test today to earn his gold belt. Jason took James early this morning and the test lasted for several hours. Here is James's final portion of the test. After testing all their skills, the testees must break a board to earn their belt. As you can see, it is very exciting to see the kids break their boards. James didn't think he could do it, but he is stronger than he thinks!

Also, James had his birthday party at McDonalds yesterday. He had a lot of fun with his friends, despite the fact that some kid (not involved with our party) threw up in the playplace and we had to keep the kids out of it for the remainder of the party. YUCK!

James turns 7 and other items of interest

It has been spring break for the kids since last Thursday. We've been having fun, despite our kids being sick. The ward has been passing Hand, Foot and Mouth disease around, and Charlee got it. James has been sick and was pretty much couch bound yesterday on his 7th birthday. :(

Anyway, we took the kids to the circus on Friday, which was fun. We saw some friends there and went out to dinner afterwards, which is always enjoyable. Then we watched conference and went to a birthday party on Saturday. Sunday was great because between sessions of conference we went to the LaDuke's house for an Easter egg hunt with several families. We love friends!

Monday James got sick so we pretty much just hung out at home. Then yesterday was his 7th birthday. I don't know how the time has gone so fast. He got to open his gifts from Jason and I on his birthday, but we will celebrate on Friday with his friends at McDonalds.

This morning, Jayden's preschool had an Easter Parade at a local rest home. The kids got all dressed up and paraded in front of the residents and got Easter eggs to take home. When James got his eggs, he shouted, "Awesome!" and everyone laughed. It was cute.

I took some pictures of Charlee and her friend Jake sharing the lazyboy. They have a love/hate relationship. They hate it when they have to share toys, but they really love each other. My friend Alicia LaDuke and I watch each other's kids for our work days on Mondays and Wednesdays, so our kids get to see each other a lot. Anyway, I just thought they were very cute. Charlee kept leaning over to kiss Jake, but of course wouldn't do it when the camera came out. :)

Fun at the circus

Easter morning

Silly Charlee with a robin egg and a huge smile!

At the Easter Parade

Charlee and her best friend Jake

Moving

So, we finally got a closing date. It will be May 14. And, Jason's orders got changed to training en route, so that makes things a lot easier on us. I will leave with the kids on the 12th or 13th to be there for closing on the 14th. Jason will have to stay behind until May 28, then he will leave and come down to CO for about a week before he leaves for training in Cali. Then he will be back at the end of July. So, our time in Montana is wrapping up. I will probably stop attending births here at the end of April, and Jayden will finish up at Miss Carol's school in April. James will continue school until right before we leave. Then he will be done for the year (there was no way I was putting him in school for the last 2 weeks in Colorado).

So, after 4 1/2 years here, we are moving on. It is bittersweet for me. I will really miss Elaine and the other birth center staff. They have been so good to me. I will also really miss our ward. It is always hard to try to start over making all new friends. Hopefully our new ward will be just as awesome. But, they have a lot to live up to.

Charlee is 2!!

Oh, how time flies. I am happy and depressed that my daughter is 2. She has grown up so fast. Her birthday was interesting. I did her hair up all cute and put on her cutest outfit for the special day. Then I went to the HAWC to workout and she threw up all over in the kids room. One other mom had her kids in there and I could tell she was really mad. Anyway, after getting that big mess cleaned up, we went home and poor Charlee looked so sick. On the way home, she had the runs all over her carseat. Oh, what fun. I had to run inside to give her a bath quick before it was time to go get Jayden from school. When I got home, I put the kids down for a nap. We celebrated Charlee's birthday after James got home from school. Charlee was not longer in her cute outfit and had bed head from her nap, but oh well. She still loved her new toys and had a great time opening her gifts. She seemed to be feeling better, so we chanced giving her some cake. She thoroughly enjoyed eating her pink cake (everything was pink-including the wrapping paper on her gifts...it was a bit pepto bismol-ish). So, all in all, a good birthday.

I love you Charlee, and I am so happy you were born!

Major Update

OK, so a lot has happened since I last posted. First of all, we found out that the military decided not to send us to Cape Cod. At first, it was a major disappointment...especially since they didn't immediately have anywhere else assigned to us. So, we spent a couple frustrating weeks wondering what was to become of us. Then, they told Jason he could choose between Vandenburg, California, Denver, and Colorado Springs. Oh, and we had less than 24 hours to choose. So after some stressful and prayerful hours, we decided on Colorado Springs. Then, in classic military style, they came back and said that Cape Cod wanted us back, but we could choose to stay with Colorado Springs if we wanted. So after some more stressful and prayerful hours, we decided that Colorado Springs was where we belonged. We feel good about our decision.

So, soon after all this happened, we decided we needed to see our families before our move. So we went down to Utah and Idaho for a few days each to visit. Unfortunately, we forgot our camera so we have only one picture that Grandpa Hope emailed to us. I had two days of conference for MCU while Jason spent time with his family and the kids at G and G Hopes house.

Then we drove to Idaho for a couple days. That's when things got even more interesting. We were in contact with our realtor trying to work out some days to travel to Colorado to house hunt. Turned out that the very next week was going to work better than any other time. So, we talked my mom into watching the kids while Jason and I travelled to Colorado Springs. We spent the next 5 days intensely shopping for a house (I am not exaggerating...he had us looking at over 60 houses the first day). The Lord's hand was definitely in it because after a series of chance meetings and happenings, we found a beautiful house that we never thought we wanted. It seems to be in a great neighborhood and I feel like it will be a great place for our family to live. Another interesting circumstance that took place is that in order to get this house, we had to bend our ideas on when we wanted to close. The owners (the building company) insisted that we close 2 months earlier than we wanted to. So, I will be moving very soon (unless a miracle occurs and the builder changes their minds...we will find out for sure tomorrow) to Colorado and Jason is going to have to persuade a friend to let him crash at his place until he is OK to move, too. It will be a crazy few months, but I think in the end it will all work out.

So, thanks a million to my mom for watching the kids. It was a huge sacrifice for her and I love her a ton for it. We couldn't have done it without her.

Pictures will be forthcoming of the new house. The builder's sales rep had her husband go and take a ton of pics of the house today and is mailing the CD tomorrow. So, when we get it I'll post a few pics of our new beautiful house.