NEW SPRING JACKET!

(PHOTOGRAPHED BY SWEET TAYLEE)

I CAME TO UTAH AND I FOUND THIS NEW SPRING JACKET. I AM READY TO WEAR IT BUT IT IS STILL 27* AND LOWER AROUND THIS NECK OF THE WOODS. GOOD THING I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO SPEND AT THE MALL. I COULD DO SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE CHECK BOOK!!!! SHOES AND COATS ARE THE ONLY THING THAT FIT RIGHT NOW SO I LOVE TO CHECK THEM OUT. (MY SHOE SIZE WILL BE THE NEXT THING TO GO UP) OH WELL DREADED WINTER IS STILL HERE. I CAN'T WAIT FOR SPRING.

I DID IT AGAIN!!!

I AM GOING TO BLAME  THE BURNT DINNER ON BLOGGING.  I BURN SO MANY THINGS BECAUSE I COME IN THE DEN AND START LOOKING AT BLOGS AND SURE ENOUGH, I'VE BURNED  DINNER AGAIN.  I BURNT THE FREEZER MEAL I PAID $5.00 FOR AT ENRICHMENT LAST WEEK.  I SCRAPPED ENOUGH OFF THE SIDES I HOPE MIKE CAN'T TASTE THE BURNT.  I WILL NOT TELL HIM - JUST SERVE IT UP A SMILE (AND LOTS OF CHEESE ON TOP)

NO GREEN BOOGIES ALLOWED!

I WAS ASKED TO SUBSTITUTE FOR ONE HOUR IN THE NURSERY TODAY.  OH MY, IT BROUGHT BACK FRIGHTFUL MEMORIES.  RUNNY NOSES AND DIRTY TOYS.   I COULDN'T BRING MYSELF TO WIPE THEIR NOSES.   I IMMERSED MYSELF IN MAKING THE TRUCKS GO VA ROOM, AND PUTTING PUZZLES BACK TOGETHER.   WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK "ONE" I HAD TO GO TO YOUNG WOMEN'S.  I WASHED MY HANDS AND RAN.  I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO BE IN YOUNG WOMENS.  I DIDN'T SEE ONE RUNNY NOSE.   THE LITTLE CHILDREN ARE SO CUTE BUT RIGHT NOW I AM SO THANKFUL TO BE WITH THE YOUNG WOMEN.  I THOUGH IT WAS FUN TO BE THERE FOR ONE HOUR AND I WILL GO BACK ANY TIME BUT IF I WAS THE NURSERY LEADER, I WOULD HAVE A SIGN ON THE DOOR:  NO GREEN BOOGIES ALLOWED.  (IT GIVES ME CHILLS)

THANK YOU SARAH!

I LOVE MY NEW BLOG HEADER AND BACKGROUND.  YOU ARE SO GREAT.  IT WAS A NICE SUPRISE.  I THOUGHT I WAS ON THE WRONG BLOG.  YOU ARE THE BEST:)  

OUR LIFES HAVE BEEN TOUCHED

WE WOKE UP TO SIX NEW INCHES OF BEAUTIFUL WHITE CLEAN SNOW TODAY.  IT MADE IT'S OWN STATEMENT.

JOSH'S FUNERAL SERVICES WERE MOST BEAUTIFUL!  THE WORDS AND MUSIC WERE ALL ABOUT THIS KID WHO WE CALLED OUR FRIEND.

   A MISSIONARY COUPLE THAT SERVED WITH JOSH WERE THERE.  ELDER LAING SPOKE.  JOSH WAS ONE OF HIS INTERPRETERS AND THEY WORKED WITH JOSH THROUGHOUT THE MISSION. THEY FLEW IN TWO DAYS EARLY SO HE COULD SPEAK. THEY JUST HAPPENED TO BE FROM AMMON.  IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HEAR HIM SPEAK OF JOSH AND HEAR OF THE SERVICE JOSH GAVE IN THAILAND. A CHOIR OF FRIENDS AND PAST MISSIONARY COMPANIONS SANG, "CALLED TO SERVE".  THE SECOND VERSE WAS SUNG IN THAI.  I CANNOT EVEN EXPLAIN THE SPIRIT THAT WAS THERE.  THE BISHOP AND STAKE PRESIDENTS GAVE MESSAGES ALSO.  IT WAS ALL SO UPLIFTING.

CHAD SANG IN THE CHOIR AND IT WAS VERY NICE TO HAVE HIM REPRESENT OUR FAMILY WITH THIS SMALL SERVICE TO JOSH.

WHEN I ARRIVED AND STARTED READING THE PROGRAM UNDER "HONORARY PALLBEARERS" IT SAID JUSTIN MERRILL.  ALTHOUGH JUS IS IN THE UKRAINE THE JENKINS FAMILY MADE JUS A PART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL SERVICE.  THEY ARE SO GIVING AND IT MEANT SO VERY MUCH.  

WITH SO MANY TEARS SHED AND SUCH SADNESS FELT I COULD NOT HELP BUT FEEL JOSH'S LOVING SMILE ON US.  HE MADE ALL OF US BETTER PEOPLE BY BEING OUR FRIEND.  THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND WHERE JOSH IS AND WHAT HE IS DOING.

IN MY MIND HE IS IN HEAVEN TELLING PEOPLE THERE, "LETS GET R DONE"!

OUR FRIEND, JOSH JENKINS

I  WANTED TO POST THIS PICTURE OF JOSH FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.  HIS FUNERAL WILL BE FRIDAY AT 11:00 AT THE CHARLOTTE BLD. HE IS A GOOD LOOKING KID.  LOOK AT THOSE EYES.  THEY ALWAYS TWINKLED AND HE ALWAYS HAD THAT SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE IS ONE OF A KIND.

FOREVER A FRIEND & A MISSIONARY FOREVER

Justin has two great buds in this life.  Derek and Josh have always been there for Justin.  On Saturday Derek and Justin lost their third wheel when Josh was killed in an Avalanche.  He was having the time of his life flying through the powder on his snow machine.  He was hit straight on when the Snow decided to shift and come forcing down the hill. Josh was in its path.  He was killed instantly from the impact of his snow machine.  

The shock has been tremendous to his family as well as our family.  We are all still in shock and in total desperation of the Lords help to get through this.  Josh's family are wonderful people. They are hurting so badly. Josh had only been home from his mission in Thailand for four weeks.  Not enough time. 

Mike got permission to call Elder Merrill in the Ukraine to tell him the news.  Mike said it was the hardest thing to date that he has had to do.  Justin was getting ready for his Sunday meetings when Mike got through to him.  He had no words to express his sorrow.  On Monday we received his email and he is handling it well.  He says, " I kinda feel like its a dream. Don't feel like its real.  Josh loved being a missionary and missed that more than anything, and that is what he doing now, what he loves." He goes on to say, 'I'll be fine, I will just keep chugging along and work a little harder for Josh right now."  

Jus also would like me to Thank everyone that has expressed concern for him.  He is so grateful for your letters, love, support and prayers.

I would like to say Thanks also.  It is so comforting to know we have the gospel and although we will miss Josh and mourn his passing, he was a great kid.  I loved having him in our home.  He was always the first one to thank me for feeding him.  WE love you Josh, You are, Our Eternal Friend and Missionary.  "GET R DONE JOSH"

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH

TODAY IS SARAH'S BIRTHDAY!  WHEN I TALKED TO HER SHE WAS NOT FEELING WELL BUT WAS AT OLIVE GARDEN TRYING TO ENJOY DINNER.  (HOPEFULLY SHE WON'T THROW IT ALL UP)  WE HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT BIRTHDAY AND HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THE CLOTHES WE BOUGHT WHEN YOU WERE HERE.  SORRY ABOUT NO SURPRISES, BUT AT LEAST YOU LIKED THEM ALL.  LOVE YOU AND HOPE YOUR DAY WAS SUPER!!!!!!  LOVE, MOM AND DAD

BABY-BABY-AND MORE BABIES

HOW WONDERFUL!!  I HAVE BEEN  READING BLOGS TONIGHT AND I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE NEW LITTLE BABIES TO BE BORN IN "2009".  I AM ESPECIALLY THANKFUL THAT ONE OF THOSE WILL BE MY OWN LITTLE GRAND BABY.  SARAH HAS BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY FOR Baby #2 AND WE FOUND OUT SHE IS PREGNANT WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT IN IDAHO FALLS ON DEC 14TH ( OR SO).  IT WAS SO CUTE!!  MAK WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND I WAS TELLING HER I HAD A BIG GIRL CAR SEAT FOR HER.  SHE ASKED ME IF IT WAS FOR A BABY AND I TOLD HER NO, IT WAS FOR HER AND THAT IT WAS FOR A BIG GIRL.  SHE TOLD ME OK AND THEN TOLD ME THAT THE OTHER CAR SEAT WAS FOR THE BABY.  WELL I CAUGHT ON FAIRLY QUICK AND SAID, OH ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A BABY?  JUST THEN SARAH WALKED OUT OF THE AIRPORT AND SHE SAID, LOOK GRANDMA, MAMA HAS A BABY IN HER TUMMY!!!  IT WAS SO CUTE.  SO OF COURSE WHEN SARAH GOT IN THE CAR, I SAID, MAK TOLD ME THERE IS A BABY IN YOUR TUMMY!!!   WE LAUGHED SO HARD.  MAK WOULD NOT TELL ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE SHE SAID, NO, IT IS A SECRET.  FOR SOME REASON THE CAR SEAT WAS A CONCERN FOR HER AND HER NEW BABY BROTHER OF SISTER.  SHE ALSO TOLD ME, I WANT A SISTER!     SHE WILL BE A GREAT BIG SISTER.