This past weekend, the three big kids spent the weekend with Nana and Papa in Show low. They had so much fun! In addition to soaking up the cooler weather, Papa and Nana took them horseback riding and you can imagine how excited the kids were to do that. Here are a few pictures from the ride! The kids can't wait to go again and are so grateful for the opportunity they got to spend time and explore Showlow with Nana and Papa!
I can't believe Jennings is already going to be turning 3! Where is the time going!
No matter how you look at it.... this little boy is thrilled! And we feel the same way that we get to share our lives with him.
Not gonna lie, he keeps us on our toes like no other kid in our house and it would be fair to say... he rules the roost.
But with that sweet smile and his curly locks... somehow he gets away with all his crazy antics and we just write it off as, "That's just JJ"
We love him so and are so grateful to have him in our lives.
Happy birthday Jennings Jarrett (If that's what you want us to call you today... sometimes its JJ, sometimes it's spiderman). We all love you and hope your day is super special!
For the last two weeks we've been so lucky to get to spend time meeting and knowing the family Jarrett lived with when he was in high school and studied abroad. He was just a young pup (still a teenager) when he went abroad for the first time and he stayed with Wolfgang and Waltraut Germanus and their son Mario. Mario and Jarrett are close in age and he enjoyed spending time together.
While it had been more than 20 years since Jarrett had seen his host family, they so graciously made plans to come to America to visit and meet us. Jarrett's host family, his host brother and their two grown children made the visit a couple of weeks ago and just left this past Saturday. It was such a wonderful trip.
I wasn't sure how it was going to work since we thought they only spoke German and Jarrett was the only one in our family who can speak German.
Turns out almost all of them were able to speak English and we were able to communicate really well. Turns out even Jennings was able to make friends and play. We smiled when Jennings started playing with Wolfgang... turns out no matter what language we speak... there is a universal language of love, kindness and fun.
Here are a few photos of the fun we had sharing dinner, having pool parties and meeting Jarrett's parents, brother Nolan and husband Jarrett.
We hope to be able to visit Germany next year and see them again. We are hopeful to see them in person again soon!
This summer Isabelle has been in swim team and she is rocking it! It's the first time since before COVID that we've returned to competition meets. It has been so fun watching her confidence in her abilities grow and seeing her enjoy it!
It is still hot sitting outside but we've really enjoyed it.
She only has one meet left before the season ends and soon enough they will be back to school. Here are a few photos from her most recent swim meet where she got two first places and two second places!
Go Belle Go!
Swim Belle Swim!
Even though its hot, I find myself seeing so much beauty in this state. Trying to be present in all moments this summer.
This past week I concluded my journey of becoming a nurse, when I took the NCLEX and learned less than 24 hours later that I passed! It's official, I'm finally a nurse!!!!
Can you see the relief on my face? My gosh I was so stressed after the exam and I was convinced it didn't go as I had hoped. I'm ever so grateful that my fears were wrong and I passed.
Here are a few photos of the graduation celebrations that happened a few weeks ago. I'm so grateful for all the support my family has given to me these past many years. Going to nursing school was definitely one of the hardest things I've chosen to do, and never would I have expected how difficult it would have been with the pandemic thrown in the middle.
Oh and then add in having another little one to the family in the middle of school....
Here I am the day after Finn was born... studying in the hospital because I had finals the following week...
I'm so grateful for this family and those kiddos (including Gabe) as they've given me lots of practical experience for learning about pediatric nursing illnesses.
And Jarrett... Jarrett assumed the bulk of the extra work that was needed when I had to study or I had to be at clinicals til late. He reassured me I could do it when I doubted myself over and over.
It was definitely a family journey to get here and I'm so grateful for each of them.
It was nice to celebrate with our parents and I'm grateful for their help as well. Nana and Papa cared for the little guys many many many days and my parents helped by listening to me stress and worry about how my exam went.
I was honored to be one of two students selected to give the graduation remarks. I feel so honored to be a part of this profession but it is only because of the experience we had with Noah and the efforts of so many nurses who helped him and our family, that I was finally motivated to follow the dream I've held onto for many many years.
Here's the link to my student speech... Mine starts around 37 minutes in.
A few days after the pinning ceremony at Mesa Community College, I was lucky enough to celebrate my BSN graduation from ASU.
I am lucky enough to get to work at the college so it was even more special. Our Dean, Dr. Judith Karshmer and our Assoc. Dean, Kathy Kenny are some of the wonderful ladies I get to work with.
It was such a wonderful day to celebrate and I am so so so so honored to be joining this profession. It has been a dream I've held onto for many years. At 18 years old I shared at my high school, that I wanted to be a NICU nurse. Finally, all those dreams are coming true.
Finally, a nurse. God has been so good, and I'm so grateful for this journey and that I can finally say I'm a nurse.
Because of so manys support, motivation and source of inspiration, I can finally say it.
Including this guy... I am thankful for him being my reason to finally go back and follow this dream
