I can't believe its been so long since I've posted something, I guess I haven't felt anything super exciting has been happening until last week. I apologize, I'm a huge slacker and didn't take any pictures so you have nothing to look at but I will still tell you my adventure of last week which my brother in law called the Jefferies Olympics. It all started on Wednesday, March 3rd (as a side note that is my moms birthday too:)) My favorite Aunt Fran was in the Boise area for a work conference and invited my cousin and I to go out to dinner with her. This was such a huge treat because for one it was nice girl time with NO kids or husbands, and two I got a wonderful free for me dinner at the Cheesecake Factory one of my favorite places to eat. It was also nice because I've passed my getting sick phase of being pregnant so I actually got to enjoy my dinner and I won't lie it was divine. So going out to dinner was like the calm before the storm, I'm not meaning to imply that the rest of the week was horrible just that I can't believe how much was packed into 4 days. Ok here we go...
On Thursday morning Jacob and I dropped Savannah off at my cousins house at 9am so that we could drive over to the temple for a 10:30 endowment session. Whey get there so early you ask because Jacob's youngest sister Sandi was receiving her endowments and we wanted to make sure we ended up in her session. Its a good thing we did to because it was packed and we arrived an hour early. It was a wonderful experience and Sandi was just glowing, words really can't describe how happy I am for her and that we got to share in such an important step in her life. Right after the session we headed off to pick up Miss Savannah and then we headed west to Nyssa, Oregon, that's right Oregon. Now, Nyssa is right over the border but still we drove to a different state and went to Jacob's aunts where we had lunch and then headed over the the church building. Jacob's grandma Jefferies passed away the previous week so were there for her funeral. It was a beautiful service and it was so nice to learn a little more about her. They had a nursery for the younger kids so it was nice to have Savannah playing with her cousins so Jacob and I could pay attention to the service. I kept thinking the whole time how grateful I am for the gospel. That the though of death really doesn't bother me and that I know what happens after we leave this world. What a comfort to know that because of the choices that Jacob's family has made that we will be together again as an eternal family. Jacob's sister Jeni sang a beautiful song and for the closing hymn Jacob along with his siblings and parents sang Each Life That Touches Ours For Good. It was so touching for me to see Jacob who I have never seen cry in 4 years of marriage try to keep it together as they sang through that closing hymn. After the service we grabbed Savannah from her second set of babysitters that day and went to the grave site. After the funeral it was time to get back in the car and head back to Middleton, Idaho and to Jacob's parents. There we all got changed out of our church clothes and dressed for Sandi and Jared's pre wedding party. Savannah was then left with her third set of babysitters that day and we all headed over to Jared's families ranch for our pre-wedding party. It was so fun! The food was AMAZING and it was a riot! They showed a slide show of pictures the happy couple growing up and then it was open to family to share funny stories or advice and of course singing. Now I am not a performer, I don't sing at all but I have married into a very talented singing family and Jared's family is also incredibly talented as well. Jacob who never gets up sang a song that he and Jared had been planning for quite some time as a surprise and it was the funniest thing ever. If I can figure out where the clip is I'll add it to my blog, its that good. So we ate and had fun and then I was done for the night because by now its like 9:30 at night. I won't lie I was a bit worried how Savannah had done with her last set up sitters, everyone told us how great she was with them and I was hoping our luck would continue. As it turns out it did, we walked in the door to Jacob's parents and Savannah is sound asleep in the sitters arms and the two girls couldn't say enough about what a doll she was the whole time. Needless to say I was relieved.
Friday, yes everything above this was just Thursday! So we needed to be at the Temple at 1:30 because Sandi and Jared were getting married at 2. We were taking Savannah over to Jacob's sisters to be once again babysat. We were going to drive over with Jacob's 2 sisters and brother in law so we had to be at their house at 12:30 because we were dropping of their car to be fixed since the service station was right next to the temple. So we drop off Savannah who is NOT happy were leaving her again and climb in our cars. As were heading out of the neighbor hood I actually look in my wallet for some reason and low and behold I don't have my recommend like I thought I did. It was in the side pocket of my temple bag which was sitting on my bed at my house in Nampa 20 minutes away from where I am. Jacob turns around and dropped me back off that his sisters because his younger brother was there. I then had to get Scott to drive me back to Nampa and back into Boise so that I could have my recommend. Its a good thing we were so early and that Scott drives like a lunatic! I totally thought we were going to get a speeding ticket and I'm socked we didn't. We make it to the temple at 1:30 so right on time and then at 2 we got to be with Sandi and Jared in the sealing room to witness their beautiful sealing. It of course made me think of my own and how grateful I am to have married Jacob. He is of course not perfect but neither am I and I really do think I found someone who complements me so well and I would hope he'd say the same. It was just a beautiful day for a wedding, the sun was shinning and it wasn't too cold. The happy couple were radiant and I am still beyond excited for them, Sandi couldn't have picked greater guy and I'm so excited that Jared had joined the ranks as a Jefferies in law with me. After the wedding we headed back to get Savannah who did not do well being babysat I think by this point she was just done not being with her mom and dad. We all grabbed our things and then headed out to Middleton for a quick dinner at the church before taking family pictures and having the reception start. It was a great time and everyone had lots of fun. Savannah looked adorable in her zebra print dress that was made for her and the two other younger girls just for the reception. We finally headed home around 9:30 and I was beyond exhausted.
Saturday was a bit more relaxing, Jacob and all the boys went off shooting that morning so Savannah and I played at home and relaxed in our jammies. Then that afternoon my niece Sarah was getting baptized. We headed down to Meridian to be at her baptism at 4, Sarah was so excited and I don't think I've ever seen such a big smile on her face. After her baptism we headed over to her house to celebrate as it was also her birthday. We once again had amazing food and lots of fun visiting and just being together.
On Sunday our busy weekend was coming to a close, we went to our ward for Sacrament Meeting at 9 and then came home for an hour before heading back up to Middleton because we were having 2 baby blessings. Jacob's oldest brother Jeff and his wife Anne had two adorable twin boys the beginning of January and while here for all the festivities they blessed their babies. Savannah was louder then both boys during the blessings but as I was trapped in a corner with no way out I had to do the best I could to keep her quite. Following the blessings, Anne, her mother, and my mother in law bore their testimonies of the Gospel and of their love for their families and there was just such a sweet spirit to be felt in that home. Following that we had another fantastic meal and just visited and had fun.
As I look back at all that took place over this very long weekend it really helped my testimony grow. I was really able to see how important the plan of happiness is. Over those 4 days all the important phases of life were covered. It help me realize even more how important ordnance's are and how much they affect our lives, how without them we lose blessings and protection that our Father in Heaven wants us to have. I am so grateful for the path my life has taken and that I have participated in the ordinances I need to have done to help me secure my place in the Celestrial Kingdom. What amazing blessing await us if we hold to the rod and do what is right, we might stumble along the way but I hope we never let go.
Then today for lunch I decided we'd have a picnic, now its only like 40 degrees today so eating outside was out of the question. We enjoyed our lunch on the living room floor while we watched Savannah's most favorite movie, Cinderella. We had lots of fun and I can't wait for it to get warmer so we can actually eat outside. And yes, she's still in her pj's but don't worry as soon as we finished lunch she got dressed.
