Christening the Garden

Our garden officially became a family garden this week. We decided it was time to buy a swing set and a trampoline for the girls. Deldon has spent the last couple of evenings putting up the stuff, whilst I've sat on a seat and watched (that's what I do best in these situations). Actually I'm very proud of myself, I was feeling a little better yesterday so I mowed the lawn and put up the toddler swing (even though I did put the top bar upside down, of course if there wasn't writing on it you'd never know). Daddy's gift for his birthday was a full sized portable basketball net that he finally got to put up this morning and tried out tonight. I'm just worried the girls are going to get in his line of fire as it's a little off right now being so out of practise hee hee. The trampoline is proving to be the favourite. I'm hoping this will discourage them coming in to our bed and constantly wanting to jump on it. Sophie's word of the week is bounce, you should hear how she says it, it's sooooooooo very cute.

Prompted by the Spirit ????????????

Samantha dressed in Old Testamant style for the stake primary presentation

Yesterday was Deldon's 30th B-day, I would have had pictures of the lovely cake Samantha decorated and of our night out on saturday to celebrate, only I didn't have my memory card in the camera and don't have the lead to transfer them onto my computer! Saturday night the boys went to see Indiana Jones whilst the girls had a more spiritual evening at a Jenny Phillips fireside (LDS singer). It was so wonderful to hear her and the choir sing in real life, they performed The Miracle. We met up with all the guys later for a meal at a great Chinese restaurant in Belfast. Sunday, Deldon had his first traveling assignment in Omagh and didn't get back until 4pm whilst I had my first ever experience of church on my own with the girls, Sophie only escaped twice but did make it all the way up to the front both times. But the highlight of yesterday came when we attended a stake primary presentation. We had Samantha all ready to sit on the stand with all the kids and told her we'd be watching her and how fun it would be. When it came time for all the kids to sing a song together about 1/2 way through, Samantha fought her way through the crowds to the pulpit and began to give her own talk. Deldon and I looked at each other for a split second then Deldon said I didn't know she had a speaking part! and then I thought for a second - man she's good, she memorised that all by herself (she was talking about Jesus) then we came to our senses and realized she is so not meant to be up there! Our ward primary president nearly had a heart attack, so she got up and told her to say amen and lifted her down. Everyone was in fits!! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I could hear whispers all around me of "who's wee girl is that?". Afterwards she told us she was saying a prayer and funnily enough earlier in the day when we were telling her she'd be on the stand she had kept saying she was going to say a prayer - I guess she meant business!

March Madness

Well it became official this weekend that we will be having another little one joining our family in December. I've been calling it march madness, because that is exactly how I am now 3 months pregnant. We thought we'd hold off for a while until after our family reunion church history tour as I really didn't like the thoughts of pregnancy, heat, and jet lagged kids combined with driving half way across America, but in the end decided that they were not the greatest reasons to put off having kids. At least the morning sickness will be gone. Samantha has been my nurse for the past number of weeks as I have spent a lot of time lying on the couch and Deldon has become super dad and house husband all rolled into one, he has always been so good helping me out during the rough early weeks. Now all we need is lots of prayers that it will be a boy!! The rest of Deldon's family struggles to get the girls, but we've got the opposite problem. Either way we will be excited to have another little one with us.

Out with the old, in with the new

I am so excited as I woke up this morning to a new car. My mondeo was pretty much ready for the scrap heap, it's latest issue - a leaking sump made it more expensive to fix than it was worth, so we had to bite the bullet and get into a car payment - another first in our 6 1/2 yrs of married life! That part I don't like, but what I get to drive, I do. Here's some pics of our old car as I was cleaning it out, Sophie was loving pretending to be the driver.

Got to love the dirt on this car, I haven't cleaned it for weeks since I knew it was going to the junk yard!

Wet, Wet, Wet

So about an hour ago Deldon takes the girls outside to water the grass with the hose. He decides to let our 3 year old water the grass - humm? Well she not only waters the grass but her 20 month old baby sister whilst she's at it. Didn't see that one coming- yeah right! So Deldon brings her in to me dripping wet. I take her clothes off and leave it at that. Meanwhile outside the drama continues, Deldon is screaming out the window to stop hosing my car (although it could do with a wash) and then surprise surprise Samantha comes in wet! But about 5 minutes ago Deldon is freaking out at me for leaving Sophie without a nappy on as there is a pool of pee on the floor. I never took the nappy off, she obviously did!! and there's the nappy sitting right beside Deldon....how did he miss her dropping off her nappy to him? I've heard of kids taking their nappies off, but strangely I've never experienced it before. Deldon is all mad as he had very kindly done so much housework this weekend for me including washing the floors!

Happy 8th Birthday Andrew

Yesterday my nephew celebrated his 8th B-day by being baptised. Sadly I had our camera on the wrong setting for taking pictures of documents so pretty much all the photos came out fuzzy except the one above. The service was lovely and my sister and I sang a song by Jenny Phillips called "Your Song". I'd love get the music on my blog but that's not going to happen so here's the words.

He put a light inside you
To remind you
You're a part of His plan
And you may not see
What He's shaping you to be
By the power of His hands
He has written beautiful things in your life
You are a masterpiece in His eyes

Chorus:

There is a song inside you
He wrote a melody
Only you can sing
He's leading you by faith
To find your voice
So sing it strong
He's seen it all along
It's your song

You have his love to guide you
You carry a purpose divine
He draws you near
And the music you hear
Whispers of your heavenly design
He has blessed you and given you so many
gifts
You're an instrument for Him

Repeat Chorus

I thought the words were so lovely and so true to Andrew and his life right now. All day before the baptism Samantha was talking about when she gets older and gets baptised. We as a family were all very aware that mum and dad weren't there with us, but my sister reminded Andrew about the promises he was making to Heavenly Father and Jesus through his baptism and shared with him that although it was sad that Granny and Grandad weren't there, they were keeping their promises and that was a good thing. I was touched that while we were waiting for Andrew to come back into the chapel after his baptism that Irene and Raymond Lowry were asked to bear their testimonies. To me it was as if they were standing in on behalf of mum and dad. They talked so fondly of them and Irene shared how her heart had fluttered to see a grandchild of Marshall and Yvonne's enter the waters of baptism (they all joined the church around the same era). Many shared how their thoughts had been with mum and dad all day. To top it off, there was yummy food afterwards. Andrew could hardly wait to eat it all. The first thing he said to me when I arrived for his baptism was "Karen, have you seen the food in there"? he has a one track mind just like his favourite Aunt!

It's Samantha within 2 feet of a snail and smiling

This is a small miracle in the life of Samantha. She is so scared of any creepy crawly or anything with wings. The teachers at her play group say "she is totally demented" by worms. They kindly throw them out of the play area for her when she freaks out. She even stoppped going on grass for a few weeks, but thankfully has gotten over that fear!

Happy belated Mother's Day to everyone in the Land of the Free

Hope all you "moms" out there had a lovely day and that your kids and husbands treated you like the queens you are. We made phonecalls with both our mom and mum being out there on their missions. But for 6 hours straight from 2:30 -8:30 we had missionaries phoning home to talk to families. We have free international calling so it's an easy free way for them to call home. I was so happy for them to get to chat with thier moms and family. I am starting to think I should really have 2 mother's day one in March and May......what do you reckon? my kids are both British and American afterall. Don't think Deldon will ever buy in to that one though, but it's always worth a try!

Bitter, Sweet

That is how I would best describe how I have felt over the past few days. Deldon and I both got phone calls to see the Stake President this weekend before Stake Conference which could only have meant one thing, a stake call for him and a release for me. Turns out are whole RS Presidency was released so there is definatley something in the works for the president's husband (I say a new Bishop) so I was on chopping board whatever way you look at it. On a happier note Deldon was sustained as 2nd counsellor in Stake YM’s yesterday and I am so excited for him and for all those who he will serve with. It’s been a stressful weekend, he had an exam to take on Saturday then had to run from that to Stake Priesthood session, be interviewed and then speak at the Saturday evening session of conference. His topic – Standing steadfast and immovable with regards to his youth, and how his parents and leaders helped him stay steadfast growing up. Normally I am the one out flying my kite in the stake, but instead I got to stay home with the kids feeling sick (we’ve all got throat, cough head thing) and feeling sorry for myself as I now have to face Sundays alone with the girls whilst he does what I have done for the past 2/12 years and travel around speaking in the various wards and branches in our stake. What a joy ride I have been on. I had no idea the night the Stake President interviewed me to be a counsellor in stake YW’s what a blast I was about to embark on. I was actually devastated at the time as I had only been ward YW’s president for about 11 months and didn’t want to leave my girls. I was very nervous of the working with the YW President – Julie Wallace, and couldn’t understand why she would have chosen me, but she turned out to be one of the most amazing leaders I have ever worked with along with her other counsellor Tricia Boyd. We had so much fun in everything we did and all sincerely wanted the best for the girls in our stake. One of my funniest memories is camp when we all stood up and sung a song to the tune of “Man eater” only we changed the words of the song to relate to camp eg “We are Camp Leaders, make you work hard, make you sweat hard, make you get up too early. We are camp leaders, former man eaters do you like our hot men” and flashed up our hottie husbands on sticks we were laughing so hard we could bearly get through the song. That night Julie left camp early to go on holiday to Spain with her family only to return home very ill and only 8 months in to our presidency Julie was diagnosed with Leukaemia leaving Tricia and I to cling tight to one another as we continued for the next 13 months running things mostly by ourselves as Julie was only in remission for a short period of time. Throughout her time fighting cancer she was always asking about the youth and freaking out about something or other that needed doing, it was amazing that she still was concerned for the youth despite the terrible illness she was fighting. After we got through our all Ireland youth conference (neither Tricia nor I could sleep for days before with the pressure) we got called in and released from our callings. Julie was released as YW president so she could focus on her family and fighting her illness and her mum was released as stake RS president so she could tend to her daughter full time. Then the strangest thing happened, it was like a swap over of presidencies in the stake. Tricia was called as the new RS President and one of the old counsellors in the RS presidency, Janet Potts was called as the new YW’s President. Both of them request me as a counsellor and both requested Emily Curran who was the old secretary in stake RS. The stake Pres made the decision in the end and I was to go to stake RS and Emily over to stake YW. The stake presidency said they felt that it had become clear that Tricia and I had built up important relationships with the laurels and now we needed to welcome them in to RS. The people in Tricia’s ward actually thought the high counsellor had mixed up the business when the names were put forward as logic appealed to Tricia to be the new YW president and Janet to be the new RS president. So since last August that is where I have been serving. I was so sad to leave stake YW’s but glad to still be working with Tricia, she is one of my heroes! This woman is amazing, and I just laugh constantly when I’m around her. Sadly Julie lost her battle against cancer in December and that was a dark month as we said goodbye to her, but I’m so grateful that I had the brief time I did have to serve around her and get to see what an incredible lady she was. So can you see why is it any wonder I feel sadness today that I will not be serving around all the great women in our stake anymore? I will miss all the other stake auxiliary presidencies it’s like a little circuit on the road, you all know each other, I will miss our JAM (joint auxiliary meeting) we were due to have one this coming week, where we get together as stake YW’s, RS, and primary presidency to correlate with each other (but really it’s just a great gossip session with yummy food – in a good way of course!). I will miss all my wards under my stewardship and all those relationships that I have renewed and created though my time in the stake. Our stake is so spread out here that there will be many I will not see on a regular basis anymore. For example, Lynn the other counsellor in our presidency lives in Derry, nearly a 2 hour drive from where I live. I will miss all her cooking and amazing homemaking skills. But I guess where the Lord closes one door another will open….and for now I am happy for Deldon and the journey he is about to embark on. I know the young men will love him, as will the girls, they were always telling me how hot my husband was lol. He is a great example of a young man who stayed faithful in his youth, served a mission, married in the right place at the right time to the right woman (of course hee hee) knows how to have fun, and continues to do what’s right, so what more could you ask for in a stake YM leader?

I've been tagged

I was tagged by Lyndsey to find out what I carry in my bag. My handbag is really small because I have a baby bag too. I love this bag, my mother-in-law bought it for me in France a few years back and I've used it ever since! So now to what's in my bag.

Wallet

Pen

Inhaler

Tissues

hair clip

gum

extra strong mints

more gum

crackers

phone

keys

travel sickness tablet (think I had this in my bag to give to a friend I travel with around the stake who has bad car sickness)

And that is my bag full to the brim. I am now tagging Mandy, Kendra, Natalie, and Kelly

Wallace Park

Any glimpse of sunshine and we are off to the park. Samantha goes to playschool 3 mornings a week, which gives me and Sophie some play time together. Rachael has her youngest still at home too. They are both so funny, they have minds of their own when it comes to where they want to go, So it takes a while to actually arrive at the playarea but they are at a lovely stage now where we can take them and let them enjoy all the park has to offer, instead of having to trap them in the pram whilst the other kids play.

Sophie is always so happy, I love it!

Isn't Luke's hair just the best, wish Sophie's was more like his

This photo was taken right before Sophie smacked her wee face with the swing...ooopps!

Called to Serve....the Johnsons????

Our Elders are always great at helping us out with diy projects round the house, especially since it has become increasingly difficult to get service opportunities in the community here with vetting etc. Today we have been blessed with 6 of them as they are all in town for a district meeting. They have been asking us for a few weeks now to come over and help, but every day we've planned on it, it has rained. Today is glorious so over they've come and are painting our fence and gate for us. We love the missionaries and the great people they are. We always enjoy having them in our home because of the good spirit they leave. Last Saturday night we opened our home to a lady investigator from South Africa called Vela, she has visited with us once before and is really lovely. But as we sat there I was watching these young young kids teach her the gospel and share how it has blessed their lives. I was so proud for them and for their future familes, that on a Saturday night when they could be out party with friends they were sitting on our couch testifying of Jesus Christ and his Atonement. Aren't Missionaries just the best?? We of course enjoy the discussions and they take us back to when we were in the mission field. Sometimes I feel like Deldon and I forget we aren't the missionaries anymore - we're the members and I hope we don't take over too much, but we just love it!! We have to restrain ourseleves from inviting people to make commitments and remember that is the missionaries' job, not ours anymore lol.

Blast from the past

My sister and I regularly stalk the property news website here in Northern Ireland. I love anything property related, even when I'm not planning on moving house. Really it's the nosey side of me, I like to see inside people's houses. My sister randomly decided to do a search for the street we grew on up until I was 11 yrs old and our old house was actually up for sale! We are thinking we might have to go have a viewing just to step inside it again. The current owners are obviously property developers and have completely renovated the place, but it's a just a small glimpse back at where I was taken home to as a new born baby and spent many happy days as a child in a great family and playing out in the street with my friends.

If you want to be nosey too here's the link and hope all you American readers don't experience too much sticker shock when you see the price (double it to get US dollars)!!

http://www.propertynews.com/brochure.php?r=1&c=1&s=44455696&i=0&p=PNC327832