Yeah, We Made It To Utah!

We made it! Anyone wondering what I am talking about can refer to the previous post. We got in late on Wednesday evening. Jacob has already spend every moment with Grandma and Grandpa, Katie and Cam. He loves when everyone gives him attention and lets him do as he wishes!! We have done Jacob centered activities for most of the evenings and Jacob has loved every minute of it!!

We had quite the trip. So I said before that the airline was charging us major $$$ to change the date, etc.. but, when we got to the counter on Wednesday afternoon, we ended up having the waved! Yeah!! I was so happy when the ticketing agent said," I can't believe that they charged you after what you have been through. I am waving all of the charges and here is your flight ticket." I seriously was so excited I wanted to kiss the lady! Never doubt that the Lord is looking out for me was the lesson that I learned. I learn it over and over on a daily basis, but after praying for $$ the whole night before and wondering how we were going to pay for the credit card next month, the Lord took one for the team. I love how that works.
So, the flight was fine. I was exhausted but Jake didn't slow down a bit! With medicine in him, a cast on his arm and a sling to immobilize him, he still wanted to play and talk to everyone. He told everyone that would listen about how he had fallen down 15 stairs and went to the doctor. Everyone felt sorry for him but he was in heaven. I think that little guy would have tried to play the whole time if I let him. Jacob even finagled great seats from the ticketing agent, free snacks and goodies from the flight attendants and a seat in the cockpit. The pilot on our flight from Dallas to SLC let Jake sit in his seat and wear his hat. I got a picture of him playing pilot and looking pleased. It is adorable though.
The best part was getting in and seeing the family waiting. I love that we have so many people that love us. I wish Rick was here too, but I get to see him in 5 days and he can stay for 6-7 days. I miss him and hate being away. Thanks to everyone that was sad for Jake. He is such a trooper and I am proud of him taking it as such a little man!

Un-be-freakin-levable!!!!

I cant believe my day!!! So, I told everyone that we were 3 hours from heading out to Utah. Well, now we are about 18 hours from heading out to Utah. Math???? 3 hours is now 18 you ask?? The answer is ...Yep! How does that happen? Well here is how it happens:

Your child (Jake in this case) tries to Carry a toy chest down the stairs 1 hour before departing for the airport and trips, falls, tumbles down 15 stairs and lands on his left arm. You go to pick him up as I did to comfort and check him only to find that his left arm is broken. You go to a thoroughly incompetent Hospital near by for 2 & 1/2 hours and then get sent to a competent but slow hospital. Even after you expressly told them that you were trying to make a flight that day. Then in the new hospital they spend another 6 hours testing, confirming and treating the broken arm. You miss your first flights, then miss the new ones re-booked for later that day and after a few major breakdowns, major bills, and major flight re booking fees end up with new days booked and set. That is how you end up 15 hours in the rear for leaving.

Can you believe it?? Just our luck. I have had it emotionally and physically. I wanted to rip someones head off when things were so slow and after we had been in ER's for 9 hours for a freakin' broken arm that from start to finish should have taken 3 max. I can see why people hate to go to the ER. I wish that they could just knock everyone out when the walk in and only wake you when things are done. I think I could have been a lot happier with the results that way.

In the mean time, Jakie is doing his best with his cast. It is dark blue and huge and heavy on his little tiny arm. He is so sweet and took it like a man. Actually, I am pretty sure that he did better than a lot of grown men would have done. Not many tears and Barney cured his aches and pains for the first 2 & 1/2 hours as we waited to see a doctor without medication. Sad huh?? I am proud of my little guy. I am so grateful that his little arm was the only thing broken. Anything else broken, especially his little spirit would have been devastating.

I wish I could get a handicapped chair lift for the stairs now since I am never going to feel good about him walking up and down on his own again!!!! Anyway, We will try again tomorrow to get out to Utah. If anything else happens I give up. We can't afford anything else to go wrong!!

3 hours and counting till Utah

Well, we are headed out today. We have spent the last day or two cleaning, shopping, packing etc. and at this point, if I forgot anything I will borrow it or buy it new. I think that my bag is a s full as it can be and I feel fine about it because I will be gone a month. I don't think I have ever been gone a month! I am sure I have packed more before, but this time I am justified! Rick is so excited to see mom & dad and Jake is soooooo ready to start getting spoiled! Everyone needs someone that will spoil them. I am the one that does that for me! ha ha.

We fly out with rick on one airline and Jake and I on another. Bummer huh. I am doing a full harness leash for Jake through the airport. I know that people think it is inhumane but so is me chasing him through the airport 1 step from letting a cuss word fly and threatening to take everything he owns away! Jake is so funny when we travel. He is so curious and alert. He talks to everyone (sound like anyone?) flirts with the ladies, gives high fives, charms the grandparents and ends up the center of attention. Rick and I get embarrassed as he tells about potty training, mommy being mean to him, begging for candy from others and trying to get in on others conversations, but it is pretty funny to watch.

I am excited to see the family and have some quality time with dad especially. Everyone else too, but since knowing about the cancer I cant wait to hug him everyday over the next month and let him know how much we love him. I think that he already knows, but we just want to express it as often as we can. We just want more quality time. Time with him laughing, talking, telling stories, playing with Jacob, picking on us, whatever. I plan to see friends, get some of my favorite Utah things in, but mostly I just want to spend time with family. I hope to do the same with my Mom & Dad too sometime soon. I just really miss all family right now. See you soon Utah!

Un Tempio a Roma!! (A Temple in Rome)_

Sorry that it has taken so long to blog on this, but I was so busy with all of the other things going on lately.

I wanted to announce to any friends and family that we learned on Conference morning in this October that there would be a temple in Rome!! Amazing huh.

Here is the site that the church has slated for construction:


It looks so truly Italian. It will be an amazing temple just because of where it will be. I believe that this is the very site that President Pacini took us on our first day in the mission. I still have an olive leaf from the ground there.

I served in Rome in 2000-2001 so I cannot begin to express how excited that I am. We worked so hard to get enough members for just a real stake, so I am thrilled to know that the work has progressed enough to merritt a temple! I can think of all of the faithful members that will want to work there if not visit every week. Even the people of Sardegnia will be able to go with less trouble than before.

Fact: For years, Italian Saints have traveled the long distance to the Bern Switzerland Temple, which now serves more stakes and districts from Italy than from any other country.Today there are over 22,600 members organized into 6 stakes and 7 districts. That is just amazing to me. I am a missionary from Italy's past but I know that the first missionary to Rome is so proud. Paul, *Paulo* I know that you are so proud of your mission finally being ready for all of the blessings of exaltation right in their own city!! Cant wait to see the construction start and visit on day! Anyone else planning on going to the dedication?

A Wonderful Fall Day In Pittsburgh!

Jacob and I had a wonderful time today in a park nearby. It is acre upon acre of rolling hills, tree lined lanes and ponds, etc. It is the largest I have seen since Central Park in NY. I took Jake out to a favorite spot where the leves had all turned and fallen. The scene was something out of a story book and made me so glad to be here during this season. The leaves are all falling now and I am so glad that I got out to take advantage of the weather, perfect lighting, and my beautiful boy in his cute little outfit. He was so much fun to shoot! I go the pics back today and loved them all. I have a favorite, first you see in the series, but they all made me smile. He has so many expressions and emotions. I love this little boy! Hope you enjoy them too.

Fun on the Farm 2

Rick got to see how much fun Jakie and I got to have on Friday and wanted to... You guessed it... go see another farm on Saturday. I loved what I saw Friday so I was up for it again. We looked all over the area and found a great farm in North Pittsburgh that was unbelievable. The colors are so amazing right now and a hey ride, pumpkin patch walk, and the other games available sounded like fun again. This farm had 3x's the fun that Trax farms had and Jake loved it. I think the face painting, slide and Halloween games were the biggest hit!

Farm Days

Ahhh, Farm Days!! I got to take Jake to a local farm (Trax Farm) In South Hills of PA on Friday. We got to go through the store, harvest yard, do a tour of the apple processing areas and do a fun hey ride. We met up with some moms from the ward and Jake was in heaven with other kids to play with. We had so much fun!! This is about my favorite time of year and I have loved being home to enjoy it with Jacob. Every day is a gift. I love it! Here is a record of our fun: