Brainy

I am amazed at how fast John is learning. He's like a sponge! He told me yesterday, "Mama, I almost fell down!" I was amazed that he's using correct past tense for irregular verbs and understands the meaning of almost!

I always knew he had a big brain. His head couldn't have been so big when I delivered him for nothing!

Safari Time and Flowers

We got to talk to Seth this morning. He got to be outside the house he is staying at. It looks nice! He is looking forward to going on a Safari until Saturday. 

The first rose bloomed on our rose bush today! I'm so excited!!! And I may have bought some petunias at Kroger to plant, because flowers make me so happy! And Seth, you can pat yourself on the back as if you bought me flowers! This is even better! Thank you! :)

12 more nights

I've been having a hard time sleeping without my dear Seth by my side. Despite exhaustion, I struggle to want to go to bed. 

12 more nights! We've made it half way! And if my love and appreciation for this man grows in those 11 days as they have in the past 11, I don't know how I will contain myself!

Seth hasn't taken a picture yet in Africa, (that's normally my job) but I'm hoping he will! Thankfully others have taken some that he can download. Like these below. (He's so handsome and wonderful!! I'm very proud of him)

Touch a Truck

John was absolutely overjoyed to go to the "Touch a Truck" event in Worthington. 

We went with our friends, the Shurtz's. Bentley is one of John's good buddies. And john loves his little brother, Beckam too. Kyla and I have a great time together as well! John has prayed for their whole family twice this week, even Ben, Bentley's dad! John is thorough :)

Hopeful Thursday

This picture of me and Seth was taken at my grandma Shepard's house years ago, although I am not sure how many years. Maybe three or four. I sure love this man. And I hope that he is having a wonderful life changing experience helping people in a very rural village of Kenya. I am excited to hear from him on Sunday, and know that he's safe.

I feel very hopeful today. God is blessing me with a renewed assurance and perspective. I felt like I mothered John very well, and we weathered any possible bumps in the day with composure.

I am very proud of John. I made a delicious vegan Caesar dressing from Oh She Glows cookbook, and put it on a delicious green salad with kale, lettuce, zucchini, carrots, and tomatoes. He ate his whole bowl-full, asked for seconds and ate that too!

Then we had a very pleasant family home evening, singing songs, saying the Pledge of Allegiance, praying, learning about Ruth in the Bible, and having a delicious banana muffin treat. I felt proud to be a mother today, and remembered that I have a very crucial job, and God is helping me.

Happy Mother's Day 2015

I am exceedingly thankful to be the mother of this wonderful child. John is a great blessing to us!

We got to talk to Seth for 10 wonderful minutes. He looks happy and safe. And it seems like he is learning a lot. I'm very glad that he got to go to church today, and that it is so close by. It is truly a miracle that The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints is pretty much everywhere in the world.

After church, we got to go to Reynoldsburg, Ohio, to visit my paternal grandma, Phyllis Paver Shepard. She was very glad to see us, and John really put a smile on her face. He was very sweet, and gave kisses, and said Happy Mother's Day!

At grandma's we also got to see some of our very favorite people, my aunt Laura (in red), and my aunt Candi (in black). John absolutely adores them, and the feeling is mutual. John was really excited about that pink flamingo. He carried it around almost the whole time. We got to see the video of aunt Laura skydiving yesterday. She is a daredevil!

I am thankful for the wonderful women in my life. There are too many to number. Our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, sisters-in-law, cousins, friends, mentors, teachers. We are so blessed.

John is having a really hard time with Papa being gone. He does wonderfully when we go out, he was a little angel at church, and cuddled, and folded his arms, and played quietly the whole time. But when we get home, John struggles, he asks when Papas coming home, and it is like he knows that something's missing, and it is. It is lonely here without Seth. We sure miss him! 

Although there are many two-year-old tantrums when we are at home, I know that John loves me. I love him so much. When I called my mom, John told her, "I have mama!" So sweet. 

We are going to pretend like it is Mother's Day after Papa comes home. :-)

Safe in Nairobi

We got to talk to Seth today. He is safe in Nairobi, he and his colleagues are staying in a house in a gated community. All of their meals are prepared for them, and he said the food is good. He doesn't have to make any food, or do any dishes. The luxury!

They even have three bathrooms. One for the four women, one for the eight men, and one bathroom on the main floor for everyone.

They went to a small village today, and they got to experience what it is like to haul water for a mile, up the hill back to the village. He said it was really tough. I can only imagine. So when I turn on the faucet, my dishwasher, the shower, and flush the toilet, I am really going to try to remember to be grateful.

He forgot to take his hat, and didn't wear any sunscreen. So he got burnt. I am hoping he will start using those resources :-)

Seth is excited to be able to attend church tomorrow. There is an LDS church just 3 miles away from where he is.

He's On His Way!

We're missing Papa already. John keeps asking me, "where's Papa?" "Is Papa coming?" "I want to see Papa." So do I. 

We took this picture right before we dropped him off at the Columbus Airport today. He is on his way to Nairobi, Kenya! He's going to help with a project that helps people carry and store water more easily and sanitarily. The trip and project have been organized by the OSU MBA school. Even though we will sure miss him for 3 weeks, It is such a great opportunity for Seth! We're excited for him! :)

Year One Down!

We did it! We finished the first year of MBA school :-) and I have no qualms about saying we, Seth would be the first to tell you that this has been a family effort.

God has blessed us so abundantly throughout this whole year. We have all learned so much, and grown a lot. We have made wonderful friends here, and had so many excellent opportunities!

Seth has done very well in school! He has worked so hard. We are very proud of him. He is an exemplary husband and father. Although, he is one of the only ones in his MBA class that is a husband and a father, he has been there for us.

He is been there for family dinner, scripture study, bedtime, family home evening, date night. We are so grateful for him. Great job Seth!!

Hanging with the Barkers

Our great friends Emily and Sam Barker from Cleveland, and their sons William who is four years old, and Paul who is two years old, came to visit us today. We had such a great time with them!

Sam and Emily were some of our very first friends in Cleveland, when we moved there in 2008. It's awesome that Sam and Seth get along so well, and Emily and I love to spend time together! Couple friends that you keep forever are quite hard to find. We are so blessed!

John loved playing with the Barker boys! We sure wish we could see them all more often!