Dancing Queen

Ashlee went to her first church dance last weekend on 3/21/09. It was a Tri-Stake dance in Grand Junction. She had a blast. I was kinda uneasy letting her go. I know, I know... I need to lighten up. It's just that these past few weeks I have really noticed that she is growing up. Last week we had new beginnings and for the first time I realized that she was so much more mature than the beehive class that she just left. I am so proud and happy for her, but it is still hard to think that my little girl is growing up.

I Miss My Sis

My Sister has been out of the country since the 27th of February. In my last post about being a new Aunnie I mentioned that we are praying they all get to come home soon. Well half of them did. Paul and Maddie flew home on Sunday March 15th. I was so excited when Maddie (my neice) called my first thing on Monday morning, but I am heartsick that my Sister is still in Africa waiting for the adoption paperwork to get finished.

Although I am dying for her to come home, I am also so proud of her for staying. I finally got to talk to her on the phone today for the first time in weeks. There is just something special about getting to hear her voice. I was glad to hear about the progress Little Quincy has made in just the short week that she has had him in her care. What a brave thing she is doing to stay and make sure he stays healthy. I am so happy to hear how much she loves him and I am so thankful that he is going to join our family. He is a choice spirit.

In the meantime though I miss my sis. I wish I could be there to help her, even if it was just to help her make it through the long days. I am afraid however that my "protective older sister complex would kick in and I would have to get those people moving to fix everything and help her get home faster. I am so proud of her and so lucky that I have her as my sister. She is a great example to me. Come home soon Heidi.

I Survived The Big Birthday Bowling Bash!

32 Invites and 27 RSVPs. I am one crazy woman. The party was a blast. We had contests for the most strikes with prizes, and we played one round of rotating bowling. The kids rotated to a new lane for each turn and after ten frames the lane with the highest combines scores won. I am glad that my Ex-husband and his wife were there to help cuz it would have been a lot for just me. Next time, though I am going to have the come early for the preparations so they can also enjoy making 48 cupcakes. :)

A Momma Make Over

My Mom came to visit me for 5 days last week and I was so excited. She helped me so much and it was nice to have a little relief. I don't care how old I get sometimes I just want my Momma. Whenever my parents come to visit we always do a project becuase not a single one of us can sit still and do nothing. Last summer we put a fence up in two days in the rain. A time before that we painted the entire inside of my house. This time Mom set up my office/scrapbook room. She brought a whole bunch of supplies from her store, including a paper rack, and also bought shelves and baskets to house all of my embellishments. She brought paper, stamps, pens, stickers... Yeah Me!! I was a fun project and now it is my favorite room in the house. Thanks Mom. :)

Patriarchal Blessing

Ashlee had her interview for her Patriarchal blessing on her birthday March 8th, 2009. It was very emotional for me. We have spent many family nights, car rides, and family discussion talking about how each of us is foreordained to do the work of the Lord. We have often discussed the importance of the Patriarchal Blessing in our lives and how it is a map personally for us from the Lord. I am so proud of Ashlee for making this an important goal in her life. She is very obedient and wants to follow the Savior. I am also very excited becuase she will receive her blessing from Patriarch Esplin, the same Patriarch that I received my blessing from. We are waiting for Bill to come home for spring break so he can be here to schedule. I am proud of Ashlee and so grateful for the wonderful daughter of God that she is. She is a blessing to our lives.

I Am A New Aunnie

Heidi, Paul and Maddie are in Ghana Africa this week picking up my new nephew Quincy Yaw Adu Rollins. I am so excited. They have been waiting a long time to finalize this. It is still not complete but they have him in their possession. I am really looking forward to meeting him for the first time and praying that they get to bring him home in a week.

Guess Who's 14 !?!?!

It looks like this is going to be Ashlee's Birthday WEEK!! On Saturday 3/7 she spent the morning with her Dad and Grandma and Grandpa Black. They went to lunch and then her Dad took her to pick out her birthday gift. With the money she got from him and Grandma and Grandpa she bought Guitar Hero World Tour. Then her and her Dad played that all afternoon. Saturday night I took her to dinner and then we played Guitar Hero when we got home. Yesterday 3/8 was her actual birthday, but she had a very busy church day so we didn't do any celebrating. She sang in sacrament meeting, had her annual interview with the Bishop after church, went to play practice and then went back to the church for a Tri-ward fireside. She was exhausted. Grandma C got to our house late last night so we stayed up really really late so Ashlee is home from school hanging out with Grandma. Tonight we are going to have some people over for FHE and we are going to celebrate with them. Her big birthday bowling bash is this Saturday and she can hardley wait for that. She has invited 32 teenagers to the bowling bash. Pray for me.