Auntie's Boy is THREE

Dear Asher:

Auntie was smitten with you from the moment we found out you would be coming to our family.

I couldn't wait to hold you and love on you.

Your cousins are so protective of you.

They just love you so.

When your biological mom and dad chose your eternal mom and dad, our hearts were so full of gratitude.

We are so thankful that they chose your mommy and daddy to raise you and to be with you forever.

You are so loved, Ashy!

You are wild.

Funny.

Inquisitive.

Feisty.

Water-loving.

Music-loving.

You had a big crush on Celine Deon and loved Usher!

You love movies.

You love everything that spins!

You love water SO much!

You are a bit picky with food.

You love to be tickled and to giggle so much!
You love your mommy and daddy.

Auntie loves everything about you.

Everything.

I love your quirks and your way of communicating.

I love that you are able to tell us what you need and want without talking!

Happy birthday, Sweet Babe.

Missionary Moment - Chile Vina Del Mar Mission

Buenos días!

I hope that everyone is doing alright! It looks like it still continues to be a little wet up there with all the snow melting and the little rainstorms. Little does everyone know I actually miss the cold weather, and will probably be regretting saying that here pretty soon. But we have been doing really really well down here! 

We had the opportunity to have a zone conference, interviews with the president of the mission and have a stake conference this week! Crazy busy week but we were able to have a good time. The zone conference was awesome and we were trained on the importance of the members and their role in the missionary work. I encourage all of you that if you have some friends that may be in need of a huge amount of happiness, find the missionaries and they will be there to help. We are always willing to be there! The interviews were pretty cool also. The president is really more worried with my companion and his progression and actually told me that I will not be with him for another change so that he will be able to get to know other sectors. This is his first sector and will have close to 6 months here at the end of his change. 

The stake conference was flippin' crazy. President D' Hoyos (the president of the south america south missions), President Romeu (my mission president) and the temple president of the Santiago temple was there all because they changed the stake presidency. The spirit was super strong though we weren't able to hear a whole lot of what was being said, we were very far back and there were a ton of kids. But it was a fun time and they even encouraged members to start being missionaries (as they should). I learned a ton and I was very grateful to be apart of that awesome week. 

Last week we went to a japanese garden which was way cool. We learned that that is where all the teenagers go to make out...so maybe we should give missionaries the heads up before you run a group of 10 gringos into the park (all of us looking like absolute studs, mind you). But it was fun other than that mess that we had to get out of. 

We also have a baptism coming up at the end of this week so if you could all be praying for my little friend, Arturo, that would be awesome! I love you all so much and I will talk to you all soon. If any of you have any questions let me know in an email and I will be happy to answer them!

Elder Jorgensen  

Short Hair & Galentines & Flu & Foosball

It's all chopped off again.

Morgan did exactly what I wanted.

But Mama isn't so sure that I like it.

At all.

I had grown my hair out for my boys... 

because they begged me to.

I told them I would grow it out after the stroke, until Jackson left on his mission.

 I did.

Then I only trimmed it. 

Now I chopped it.

And NOW I'll grow it out again.

First world problems!

Valentine's Day...

How I hate thee.

Not hate.

Hate is a strong word...

I really don't even dislike it.

You know what I miss, though??
My babies bringing me home personally-made Valentine's!

I used to get a pile every year from my babies.

Now, they don't really do that kind of stuff in high school.

They should start that up again!

Poor Colton has been out of school all week.

He won't be going tomorrow, either, I'm sure.

T warned me that this was a long-haul kind of sickness.

Fever. Chills. Body aches. Coughing up a lung. Sore throat. All of the shizzy stuff!

Hoping and praying Kaydon doesn't get it.

Kaydon + coughing = scary.

I've had the worst headache for two days and went to bed at 4 yesterday.

Kaydon came in after mutual and I had dropped the remote to my TV between the wall and my bed and there was no miracle that could retrieve it.

He unplugged it from the wall and made sure I was tucked in.

Can I just say that my kids have the greatest of ALL TIME leaders???

BEST.

Like, these grownups - who have families and full-time jobs - come up with the greatest of all time activities.

Ever.

In the history of ever.

Last night - human foosball.

Kaydon was talking to me about it this morning and all of a sudden I wanted to be 12 again.

For real.

Blowing Kisses

This is an old picture...

But the idea is the same.

These two have my heart.

Their amazing mommy has FB Messenger video-chatted with me the last two weeks.

Anson thinks it's so much fun to be in full control of the phone.

He and Auntie blow lots and lots and lots of kisses back and forth over and over again.

Asher wasn't too fond of it the first time.

Last night, he climbed on his mommy's back to get in the picture.

Then he grunted to me all about his day at gymnastics.

Anson then took the phone and blew Auntie more and more and more kisses.

It's my new favorite thing!

Blowing kisses to the babies.

I can't wait to kiss them for reals this weekend when I have Auntie time with them!!

Missionary Moment - Chile Vina Del Mar

Buenos días!

How is everyone doing?? I am doing much much better. My back is doing a lot better and I'm back to working like normal, which is the best thing on the planet because I have been so bored! The doctor says that I have to do my exercises to bring down the inflammation. Which has kind of worked, I have just been doing whatever Brandon tells me to do and that actually works so I'll probably just stick with that. But we are doing super awesome!

We had a baptism of a girl named Andrea! Her story is super awesome. We got a call one day from her friend saying that she wanted us to teach her son because he wanted to be baptized. After teaching two lessons we realized that he really doesn't understand and can't keep up with the lesson no matter how slow we go, or how easy we explain the concept. But Andrea (the best friend of the mom) was always in the lesson listening and asking questions. Well one day we invited her to be baptized and she said yes! Well she actually said, "well if it will save me from going to hell, I'm all up for it." So a couple weeks went by and she got "dipped" as Elder Foster says.

We also went to a way cool old military fort last monday and it was pretty cool. We took some pictures and had kind of like a little picnic on a rock we found over there. Way fun, I'll add a picture.

And to explain about the chess champion. I am now the undefeated chess champion in my whole zone. Not to brag or anything, but I'm literally unstoppable. Are the wins getting to my head? Probably but who cares, I'm winning!! But we are doing really well down here for real. We have a lot of work to get caught up on after a week without being able to work. So we will be able to get a ton done this week, well, that's the goal. 

I love you all and I hope you all have a safe and wonderful week! Try to stay warm up there in the cold! And yes, that is a giant star wars poster that was gifted..

Elder Jorgensen

Passion

I've been thinking lately about passion.

What am I passionate about?
Meaning, what am I unwilling to give up in my life right now for things that I am less than passionate about...

Friday night, I began to prepare for my Snack 'n Shop on Saturday.

I was baking and cleaning carpets, sweeping, mopping, dusting, collecting garbage, feeding Doby...

Braxton (my 18 1/2 year old) came home at about 7.

He immediately began hanging my clock that had come crashing down prior to the holidays.

He knew that it was important to me to have the house looking decent and feeling comfortable for my event.

No complaints.
Then, he fixed a couple of cupboard doors that needed tightening and asked what else I needed.

On his FRIDAY night, he was there, helping me with something that I am passionate about.

I am passionate about my children.

I am passionate about sitting and talking to my children.

I am passionate about making sure that they are independent and ready for this world.

I am passionate about laughing with them, cooking for them, listening to them talk about their struggles, planning with them, and loving them.

I am grown passionate about my CBD business.

I am not as passionate about makeup and skin care.

It's fun and enjoyable and great to feel like we LOOK good and feel good about ourselves.

However, my real passion right now is CBD.

And marketing.

And sharing these things with the GH world.

I love being on the leadership team at Green HoriZen.

I believe in our product and our owner.

I believe in the work that we do.

I love teaching and training others to be successful.

It really is the job that I have that I put the most time into because it's my passion.

Doing events is fun.

Tiring.

Okay, exhausting.

But, so worth it!

And, I love that my boys participate in my business.

They can drop off orders like a bunch of bosses!

Baking is a passion of mine.

I love doing it when I have time.

I love sharing it with others and watching them go back for seconds.

I love watching my boys cook.

It goes back to teaching them independence.

They can do it all!

Colton loves to cook and bake with me.

He often asks if he can "help" me.

What he doesn't realize is that I'm pretty much making him do the whole thing, while standing there with him!

My health is my passion.

In a different sense of the word.

I have not been going to the gym more than twice a week lately.

I feel that in my mind and in my body and in my spirit.

I go to the gym to remind myself how strong I am and to get my head right with my body.

I go to listen to my scriptures.

I go to stay healthy.

I took a Sunday picture yesterday.

I'll take another one next Sunday.

I am not looking for a small waist line, or a tinier booty.

I am looking for strength.

I am looking for motivation to keep going, especially when I'm tired.

One of the great things about being single is that I am discovering who I am...

Something I could have done years ago, but didn't have the skills to do.

I am able to really meditate on what it is that I want and need, and who I am - my worth and value to go and get those things.

IEP 2020

To say that I dread the IEP meeting every year is a significant understatement. 

I have been attending these with my Colton ever since he was finally diagnosed as Legally Disabled, in the fifth grade.

Colton was abused by his sixth grade teacher.

The junior high, although kind, was NOT helpful.

They did everything in their power to avoid giving any accommodations to any kids with disabilities. 

The meetings were always a fight.

They were long, and I'd always end up having Colton leave the room because I'd feel the need to raise my voice and threaten in order to get him the resources he needed, AND is legally required to have.

Awful.

I always left these meetings feeling so defeated.

Feeling as if my child was really on his own every day at school.

Yesterday was his first high school IEP.

This has been a different year for him.

All of his classes, besides one, are main-stream classes.

Including Math.

We decided to give that a shot this year.

He is still in the "Special Education" program.

His case manager is the Director of Special Education.

He still has two classes on his schedule which are considered "labs."
These are applied labs.

They give him a break during the day, but they also allow him to do school work, to make up tests, to re-take quizzes and tests and to be with other kiddos just like him - totally awesome!

I knew that it was challenge him this year to be in a main-stream Math class.

However, I wanted him to try.

When we (Colton and I) walked into the IEP meeting yesterday, I was astounded at the adults in that room.

They KNOW my son.

Well, they know all of my sons!

They talked TO him, not about him.

They included him in everything.

His case manager said to me, "Mom, he is getting C's and D's in his Math class."

I said, "Yup."
He said, "You haven't contacted me."
I said, "I have no need to. Letter grades mean nothing to me. He is trying. He is doing his best. He is putting forth every effort. I want my son challenged. I also want him to have the resources available to him to succeed."

Mr. B said, "I wish all parents were like you."

Big smile!

Colton was asked if he wants to go back to Applied Math, or stay in his main-stream class.

Colton said, "I never want to go back to Applied Math. That's too easy."

That's my boy!

We then went over the IEP.

By law, every three years - kids have to be re-tested to see if they still qualify for accommodations. Mr. B said that he had never seen so much paperwork in a packet.

He said there was no need to re-test.
All of the data needed had been accumulated over the last few years, through neuro-psych testing, outside testing, and doctors.

That was great news!!

All of the accommodations that my son requires were already written.

Plus some I hadn't thought about.

And, for the first time ever... 

I was told that Colton will graduate from high school with a diploma!!!!!!

We have many activities to attend to prepare him for after high school, but this kid blows my mind.

(And, a note. For those who have considered me to not be a great parent - this. I have done this by myself. I may not be YOUR kind of great parent, but my children will succeed and I am not the worst parent)

Wednesday, Kaydon and Colton went sledding with the youth. They had the best time! We have had so much snow and it was perfect to go to death-defying acts in the snow!!

Also, baking!

I have a snack and shop at our home tomorrow.

I started baking for it yesterday.

These are almond Hershey Kisses-wrapped cookies!!!

Hair

Last night, Braxton came home and washed my hair in the kitchen sink.

I may or may not have cried.

I cried.

A lot.

He protected my eyes and all of the wires and monitor.

He made sure the water wasn't too hot.

He got the shampoo all mixed in there.

He made sure it was all rinsed out.

Made sure I was comfortable and in bed.

Then, he went back out with his friends.

I didn't realize he was with his friends.

He came home, from his friend's house in Ogden, just to wash my hair.

I turned on my meditation and went to dream land.

With clean hair. 

I'd tell you this is a rare occurrence.

I'd be lying, though.

It's daily.

And it's been daily for the 20 years that I've been a mom.

My boys are going to be the best spouses.

They are so compassionate and empathetic and unselfish and perfect.

In other news, I think I want to chop my hair off again.

Thoughts??

These boys, though!

24 Hours Down

Here I am.

All bound up.

I am 24 hours down.

Sleeping was pretty much non-existent last night.

I tossed and turned.

I propped and slumped.

I tried everything.

I worried about sweating.

I worried about rolling.

I worried about the button accidentally being pushed in all of the tossing and slumping and turning and propping.

I stressed A LOT about not being able to shower this morning.

I took an epic monkey bath outside of the shower and then drenched myself in rose water spray and deodorant. 

Not showering is not my thing.

Today, it's a hoodie and jeans.

There's a big bulge in my hoodie.

I have tried to put the monitor and the cords off to the side, as to not make people think I got miraculously pregnant.

This morning I woke up tired.

Emotional.

My tummy is hurting.

My head is hurting.

I'm dizzy and nauseous.

But, I'm here and I'm 24 hours down.

Holstered Up

Finally.

Finally, they called my name.

Finally, I got all holstered up.

It took about 45 minutes.

I cannot shower for 48 hours.

Yeah, that's not going to work out for me! I will FIND a WAY to shower!

The little fanny-pack part would not stay no.

Xavier tried a command strip.

Mr. Watkins went to the store and bought some industrial-strength velcro.

It's on.

And I don't think it's going anywhere.

But, I legit look and feel like I have an illegal device strapped to me!

Clear up to my collarbone.

Clear down to my belly button.

All around my rib cage.

Then wires hanging out from all of it.

A monitor in a little pouch that is now velcroed so I can wear it around my waist.

And, thus begins the next 48 hours.