A double date with Mom and Dad..

At the beginning of April, Eric and I were privileged to go on a double date with my parents. We went and saw George Dyer at the Mesa Broadway Palms. It was a very enjoyable evening! We had front row seats. George Dyer came into the audience and we were able to shake his hand, plus I got very lucky because I got a rose that he threw into the audience. :p He will be coming back this winter and next spring. I am going to take my kids to go see him. I love his voice! If you haven't seen or heard of him.... you are missing out!

Levi in his school play.

Levi was in a school play called A Pirate Love Story. He played the evil brother. He was quite evil I might add. He performed this weekend. He did a fantastic job. He is getting more confident in his acting and singing abilities. He is quite a character. Here are a few pictures of him and his mates'.

This kid here in the first photo is Levi's clone. His name is Feyd. He looks and acts just like Levi! Watch out world...

I think they have too much fun! :)

Ok....I have some STRANGE children...

This is a clip about Jonah being a goof ball.

This is Levi ....

This is Levi, giving us our weekly show....

Having faith as a child...

This week we had another test of faith. On Wednesday, I was up VERY early with Sariah because she was going on a history tour with her school and I had to have her down at the school by 6 AM! When I got home, I had to get kids ready along with myself for school. After school, I ran by my house after work to get my swim suit (I know crazy, but it was a hot day!). Then I went to my mom's because Jonah had therapy. When I got there, my brother Michael and his family came over and I got distracted from the pool because we were visiting. Then all of the sudden Michael, my son, showed up. Kaylee apparently had opened one of our gates and didn't latch it because it was too hard. So instead of asking for help she just left it, well it was windy and a wind gust pushed the gate open. The dogs had gotten out and they couldn't be found and that Jesse and Kaylee were harassing Michael, so he came to Nana's house.

When we got home we looked EVERYWHERE. We couldn't find the dogs. The kids had mutual that night so Jonah and I took the kids and we continued to look. It was so sweet to hear him calling the dogs and pleading with them to come back. I was so distraught and upset because it was Sariah's dog that was lost. We returned home and not sure what to do. Jonah came over to me and I asked him if we should say a prayer to help us find the dogs. He said yes and he said the prayer.

It was now dark and my hopes of finding the dogs was fading. Now I was worried of how I was going to tell Sariah. Well, I went online and started to post lost notices on facebook, craig's list, and http://www.pets911.com/. I had just printed some signs to post around our neighborhood about the dogs when the phone rang at 9:30 pm. A woman was asking if we had a dog named Precious. I said "yes" she asked if she had another dog with her, again I told her yes. She said that she found our dogs and would like to return them to us. So at 10 pm our lost little dogs returned home. I was so elated and happy that they were back safe and sound and also that someone was honest and caring to return our little "delinquents".

When I was praying that night, I was so filled with gratitude for bringing these dogs home, that a thought that occurred to me. Our Heavenly Father is so aware of everyone of us and aware of our worries and fears, that if we go to him as a little child having faith that our prayers will be answered. It was through the pure innocence and faith that Jonah showed me that we should always go to our Father in Heaven in prayer, knowing that he hears and will answer them according to His will.

ERIC GOT A JOB!

I am so happy to report that Eric finally found a job! I know that the Lord has been mindful of us and tests our faith and trust in him. Let me tell a little story about this job....

The week of General Conference Eric found a job on Craig's List that he had applied for. The Sunday after conference was fast Sunday, so we decided as a family to fast that Eric can find a job. We prayed and fasted ALL day (needless to say we had a VERY grouchy house by the time dinner came around!) That week Eric got called for an interview with the company called TCH. It is a rehabilitation center for disabled adults (Weird, huh?). He went to the interview on Thursday. They said if he made the cut he should hear from them by the following Wednesday (April 14).

I had to take some time off work that week because Michael had pneumonia and he was on bed rest. Sariah stayed home school that Wednesday (April 14) because she had a doctor's appointment. I took kids to school and decided to go to the temple. I did an endowment session and then sat in the Celestial room for quite so time (it was so peaceful and quiet, compared to the outside world!). That night we were at mutual with the kids and Eric turned to me and said, I guess that I didn't get the job.

The following day, I get a text from Eric saying he got a job offer from the company and would have the job if all the background checks come back clear. So that Friday he went in to fill out paper work and get a drug test, MVD records, etc. That Sunday we paid our tithing. It was wasn't hard to know that we needed to do it, it was putting our faith and trust in the Lord that he will take care of us. The next day Eric hadn't heard back from the company yet about if he passed the clearance parts. He called them and they said they had everything but the drug screen back and everything was clear so far. That night Eric got a call from the blood lab and inquired if he was on any medications. Eric told him yes and listed the meds he takes. They said that he test came back positive. We then had to get copies of the prescriptions and fax them in to prove that he was on medication. On Tuesday morning, I told Eric that he should go to the temple and serve. So he went that morning. It wasn't until evening that he got a call from the company that everything came back good and he was officially hired! He wouldn't be starting work until the following week. Thursday he got a call again from the company and wanted him to start that Friday. Was this all a coincidence? We don't think so! It was definitely a trial of our obedience and testimony of faith and we are very grateful we passed!

Just a little interesting note....our cobra will be running out this summer on July 31. Eric's new job has benefits and they start August 1. What a blessing, I thought I was going to have to put them on my insurance, but it wouldn't take affect until October 1. I was worried what we were going to do for two months with no insurance. Now I don't have to worry!

Thank you to all who fasted and prayed for our family. It has taken a year and half to finally get a "real" job for Eric! Thank you and we love you!