Day 3 🇿🇦🤩 "Our incredible Trip to South Africa" 🤩🇿🇦 Thursday, August 22, 2019

-Well getting some sleep didn't go as hoped... JET-LAG 🥴 (We we're trying to adjust to being 9 hours ahead...) it didn't matter how tired we were, we'd sleep for an hour or two and then lay awake--- we turned on the TV... we were laughing so hard watching "Idol South Africa" and some show with really bad acting full of over the top drama set in a township...🤣😂 not much on TV... got a little more sleep...

Got up as the sun was coming up, and got ready for our 1st day of 4 in Capetown... what a difference a new day makes, with the rising sun🌄 we felt excited and ready to go explore! 😎 (...What a true analogy of the Light of Christ ☀️dispelling darkness and fear... and filling our souls with incredible PEACE!!) Went outside our back patio to see our surroundings-- it was gorgeous 😁 our apartment was situated on the water's edge of the picturesque V&A Waterfront Marina. Such a beautiful morning, perfect weather! There we were looking up at the majestic Table mountain, we were really here in our BELOVED BEAUTIFUL SOUTH AFRICA!!!!🇿🇦🤩🥰

We went on a walk to explore the Water front and get some groceries. The Waterfront is a very nice touristy area with a huge mall and lot's of restaurants and shops. (The mall was new when we were missionaries.) Was such a trip down memory lane going to the Pic n pay-to pick up Litchi and passion fruit Juice, Schweppes Granadilla soda, naartjies (mandarins), little mini bananas (tastes kinda like pineapple-so yummy) cheese bread, roast beef-chutney and tomato flavored chips, south african candy bars.😋😄 (A few things I noticed is how small their soda section is-with small cans, 2 liters in the refrigerated section but...their tea and rusks section was a whole isle, milk only comes "full-cream") We were learning quickly to convert rand to dollars... everything was fairly "cheap" for us. When we were missionaries the rand was 6 to a dollar... now it was nearly 15 to a dollar. 😮 Definitely made it so we could "afford" a lot more. We were able to use our credit card most everywhere, but did get some rand just in case we needed it-- but even when tipping, everyone would rather have US dollars anyhow.

For lunch we went to the Spur https://www.spursteakranches.com/za (a favorite restaurant as missionaries) We ate outside so we could see the magnificent view! 🤩 Jared had a burger (unfortunately they no longer had "the Monkey-gland burger"-not made with monkey glands😉) ...I had a waffle topped with ice cream-since that had been my favorite thing at Spur--amazing how smells and food can transport you back in time. 😋😄 Went back and took a good jet-lag nap. Originally I had planned we'd go to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens... but It was really nice and relaxing to just stay close to our lodging the 1st day--and not have to worry about driving that darn stick-shift on the opposite side of the road... so by late afternoon I was mentally ready to drive again after having time to recover from my traumatic crash course the night before. (Jared was just fine letting me drive-turns out I drove the 1st week and he drove the 2nd week) We got ready to head to Jean's!!🥰😁😁🥳

Jean-She is a spunky fun white south African, she was 58 when Jared and I both served in The Milnerton ward in April 1997, Jean was learning about the restored Gospel, and got Baptized in May- (Jared confirmed her) Her conversion story was amazing-it really spanned her whole life- her husband was completely against her joining the church- but her testimony was incredible. She became all the missionaries South African mum- she took such good care of us all- always feeding us and giving us rides in her yellow VW bug. She was the most amazing member missionary- sharing the gospel with everyone, helping fellowship anyone we taught and she was just loads of fun, took us on adventures on our preparation days, and assisted in tricks and pranks-that missionaries play on each other. She was beloved by all missionaries, but we were some of her 1st missionaries and the bond we had, had never been broken... so we were very excited to finally see her again😁🥳 She was now 80, her health had been failing- she had been telling me for a few years she didn't think she'd live to see us again... but here we were, and despite her nearly dying 3 times the previous year and spending many weeks in the hospital... She was still here and actually feeling quite well-we were so thankful! 🥰 We had arranged to meet at 5pm and take her to any restaurant she wanted-a small gesture to try and repay her for all the meals she had cooked for us. Driving there took a lot longer than expected--we got stuck in rush hour traffic--- so got to practice my stick shifting -starting-stopping A-LOT!!!😩 -so by the time we got to Jean's I was doing fairly good and much more confident at driving.

Wow it was just like stepping back into 1997...walking up her drive-way... and there she was, the same spunky, funny Ma Jean we knew and loved-just older and thinner. 🥰 We brought her a few things from the U.S. she had requested and surprised her with loads of american candy. She began talking... telling us everything she'd been through since our time as missionaries til now... after an hour, we insisted she pick her favorite restaurant so we could take her to dinner... and of course in ma Jean fashion she wanted to make us dinner-that we mus-ant waste our money taking her to dinner. We had to put our foot down and remind her... we were't poor missionaries, and it would be our privilege to take her to dinner!

We went to the Blue Peter http://www.bluepeter.co.za/dining.html right off the beach at Blouberg strand.😍 Drove her in our car---my driving scared her a bit 😳 It was dark and a bit chili and windy when we arrived-would've been so beautiful to have watched the sunset there (but we would be staying close by there on our last night of our trip... so we planned to bring her back for dinner at sunset before we would fly home) We dined inside on the upper floor, was such a lovely dinner, wonderful food, visiting with Jean- reminiscing and laughing. What a beautiful night-- 🥰now this was what I had anticipated and envisioned when planning our trip... I just wanted to savor every moment. Such a perfect day! 🥰

Day 4.... continued tomorrow 😎🇿🇦

2nd Ultrasound

First I want to thank all of you for your kind words, prayers and thoughts, they really mean so much. I'm so sorry it's taken me all week to update everyone, many of you have asked... so on Sunday, I woke up feeling that I should do all I could do to show my faith in my Savior, I decided I would fast (I know I'm pregnant, not supposed to fast) but I figured I could do one meal, but right before church I felt horrible, and ended up eating a yogurt... later in the afternoon our home teacher and Jared gave me a blessing, it was amazing, it said how the baby would be normal and have no complications, that I would see miracles in my life because of my faith in the Savior and also that I should share these experiences with others, and testify of the power of faith. So I knew with out a doubt that there would be absolutely nothing wrong with our little baby girl. Went to the Ultra sound Monday morning, (with the high risk pregnancy Dr) He said everything looked perfect, he couldn't figure out why any concerns were raised with the brain or the foot. She is growing well.

I am amazed! I was ready to receive the will of my Heavenly Father, if I was to have a baby with a deformity, mental disability, I was willing to accept that. Of course we all want and pray for healthy babies, but I didn't ask for that last week, I just asked that I would have the faith to deal with whatever the will of the father was for me. It reminds me of my favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon, when Jesus Christ visits the people in America after his crucifixion, he is teaching the people, he is about to ascend to the father, but then says... verse 6... Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you. verse 8...for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you. 9 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.

10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come forth the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears. skip to verse 20....Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full. 21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. 22 And when he had done this he wept again.

I also love this quote from Ezra Taft Benson about faith: "Faith in Him is more than mere acknowledgment that He lives. It is more than professing belief. Faith in Jesus Christ consists of complete reliance on Him. As God, He has infinite power, intelligence, and love. There is no human problem beyond His capacity to solve. Because He descended below all things, He knows how to help us rise above our daily difficulties. Faith in Him means believing that even though we do not understand all things, He does. We, therefore, must look to Him “in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”

I have felt a great out pouring of Love from the Savior and my Father in Heaven. We can see miracles in our loves no matter what our circumstances are, our faith in them must be unshakable.

BABY # 6

I always wanted 6 children, after 5 though, ...six seemed impossible, not only the intense challenge of raising so many children, when it seemed I just might go insane, but with my back pain only getting worse (I fractured my back when I was 19 and was also recently diagnosed with scoliosis) I figured 5 was good for me. Then about a year ago I had a dream that I had another baby, it was a little girl... at that point I couldn't really imagine that it could actually happen, it was difinately "A Dream" just lifting Jace into a shopping cart would cause me intense back pain for the rest of the day. There was just no way I could possibly endure another pregnancy and delivery... when I would pray/fast about if I should have another baby... I didn't feel any strong urge to have another baby, or guilt if I didn't... I just felt love, that Heavenly father knew my circumstances, and would bless me, whatever decision I made. I started to think 10 years down the road and what I might regret... I read my patriarchal blessing, and I knew I wanted to have my 6th child. It didn't happen right away, I had 2 early miscarraiges, I thought, "well this just isn't meant to be," I told Jared if I miscarried again, we were done... and here we are over 5 months later. This morning was my ultrasound followed by my Dr's appt. my only concern this pregnancy (not so much weather I was having a boy or a girl, was the health of the baby...) I feel like I've really known all along what I was having, so I didn't mind waiting a couple extra weeks, so I could schedule my ultrasound and Dr's appt. together, so if there were any issue's with the ultrasound my Dr. could talk to me right away about them. So there we were in the room seeing the baby on the TV screen (Jace and Kaden were with us... Jace says we watched the baby movie) and right off she looked at the sex of the baby.... "it's a girl!!! no doubt!" she said. Jace was a bit upset, and said, " I don't like girl babies only boy babies!" Then she went on with the normal measurements and checking out all the babies organs, and says looks good after each one... spine, looks great... the baby wouldn't show it's face so she said we would have to come back for another ultra sound, so they could check the face for cleft lip/pallet. We left with a few pictures of our little girl and I went to my Drs. appointment. After waiting in the room for the dr. for over 30 minutes... I started to wonder what was going on, was something wrong with the baby? Finally the Dr. came in... said there were a few things that were concerning on the ultra sound, first that there is a part of the babies brain that looks a little enlarged, and 2nd that it looks like there is a possible club foot, and 3rd of course they needed to see the babies face. So she asked that I see a high risk pregnancy Dr, that will do another ultra sound next Monday. It's interesting I've had other concerns raised in previous pregnancies that just put me into hysterical shock (everything turned out fine in each case) ... and this time, I can't even explain the incredible peace I feel. I feel like if there is something wrong with the baby, that I have the faith and strength to get through it. I just know that Heavenly Father will bless me and my family with whatever we need to grow closer to him. (oh and by the way I have probably had the least amount of back pain with this pregnancy compared to all the rest... it's amazing, I have truly been blessed!) Her middle name will be Faith... she is here because of Faith... and I have never felt Greater Faith in my life than I do right now! I love this little girl tons already... ♥

well onto the kids reaction:

I told Jace and Kaden they couldn't tell the other kids when they got home from school, that they would all find out together if we were having a boy or a girl.... so here's the footage of them finding out....

BLAAAA BLAAAA BLAAA....

Hmmm as you can see I've been out of the blogging world for quite some time... it's the last thing on your mind when you feel like bbbblaaahhhh BLLAAAA nearly every second of every day, and you could honestly just lay in bed all day, but of course you can't, cause you have 5 kids to feed, take to school, laundry, dishes, and when your husband is gone quite a bit, for work, and is bishop... yeah well life just goes on, and the kids start wondering what's wrong with mom. You become not so nice to be around. You gain 7 lbs in one month because the only thing that sounds good and doesn't make you sicker is peanut butter, Reese's peanut butter cups, chocolate... (no I'm not depressed, just yes- you guessed it... pregnant) and now that the kids finally know, I guess it is time to finally announce it. I'm a day away from 16 weeks, due May 18th. I'm feeling ton's better, but still not completely over the nausea. Now I'm much more excited about being pregnant and all I have and will have to go through to have another baby join our family. I always wanted 6 kids and just decided it's now or never. It was really wonderful to hear this talk during General Conference, while feeling blaaa....BLLAAA. I needed that reminder during that so not enjoyable time. I loved the quote, “Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.”⁷

The kids couldn't believe it when Jared told them I was having a baby, and kept thinking it was a joke. Kaden (5) is really concerned about how the baby is going to get out, Kyler had told him the Dr. will cut it out... he wanted to know if I would be okay, I told him that's how Brianne was born, but the rest of you, I had to push out, he looked even more concerned... (and he's asking all these questions on the way to school) so we're walking into the office at school, and he says, but how do you push the baby out?!... I told him we would talk about it later... hmmm that was 2 days ago and he hasn't asked me about it again. Looks like my kids are gonna learn a lot this pregnancy.

Yes, we are totally fine if we have a 5th boy in a row (I don't think Brianne will be okay...) All I'm praying for is a good pregnancy and a healthy baby... 5 1/2 months to go! :)

Brianne's Humorous Solo Competition

A couple weeks ago Brianne and Easton competed in their school's Oral Language competition. They both did a humorous Solo (so yes they ended up having to compete against each other, as if they don't get enough of that at home ☺) They both put a lot of hard work into their performances. Easton performed "Dogzilla" (hopefully I can get him to let me record it) and Brianne's was "Help send Candy Bars" Brianne won 1st place and Easton 2nd, but only those with 1st place went on to the district competition. (Easton wasn't very happy about that)

Tonight was it... Brianne was pretty nervous before, but did a really awesome job.

Here's a picture of her with her Oral Language coach Mrs. Wright, just before the results were given...

There were 17 students competing in her catagory

here she is... there were lot's of great performances, and she did her best, she didn't win, but it was a really great experience for her. Super proud of her!

my Jace is 3

Critter pancakes (I let the kids pick what they want for their birthday breakfast, and it seems critter pancakes are becoming a birthday tradition around here) My birthday boy got up and ate bright and early, before all the kids went to school!

Jace could hardly stand looking at all his presents all day...

Dad was working from home- Jace wanted pizza, so off to Round Table Pizza we went for lunch... I love this picture! ♥

He loves going to look at toys, so a little stop at ToyRus had to be made for the cute lil 3 year old... this was his favorite

He couldn't wait for everyone to get home from school-because then it was present time!

Jace was soooo excited when he got a birthday card in the mail from G&G Brown, he carried it around everywhere, and pretended he was reading it♥

just what he wanted- Buzz Lego's.

hmmm what's in the bag...

roaring Rex

What he went and picked out with his gift card from G&G (and some help from dad, he couldn't get Jace to understand that it cost too much--and Jace's sad pathetic face just made him buy it anyways ☺) still holding his card, thanks G&G, you made this lil boy feel extra special ☺

His cake- with his new buzz ship on top.

(he requested since Kaden's birthday (he had a lemon cake-) that he wanted an orange cake, so he got it, orange inside and out) weeks previous, he would talk about his birthday and his orange cake to everyone, everywhere we went, it was too cute and funny ☺

so excited about his cake...

eatin' cake

His birthday sign

He had one fun filled birthday! still can't believe he's 3! Wow!!

4 in school now... WOW!

wow, I can hardly believe I now have 4 of my 5 kids in school!! ...and they are all at the same school... so YAY, I finally get the picture discount, pay for the first 3 kids and the 4th is free, ha ha!!! (just my luck, they will eliminate it this year.)

here's the 3 oldest before school, Kaden was still sleeping, he has afternoon kindergarten.

Brianne is a mighty 6th grader, Easton is in 4th grade and Kyler is in 2nd grade

Brianne (she says while I am taking this picture, "why do you have to take so many pictures? you better not get one with me and my teacher, how embarrassing!..." She could hardly sleep last night she was so excited for school to start! She loves to look for ways to help others. Today she sat by a new girl at lunch who was all alone... very proud of her.

Easton with his teacher Mrs. Franco. He will be in GATE this year (the kid nearly got 100% across the board on his STAR test) I guess his 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Kaznecka was right when she said he was a genius, and couldn't wait to see what he would become, that he could seriously be a rocket scientist! Keep up the great work Easton!

Kyler was super excited for school! He had a great day, and said his favorite part was his teacher reading a story about how everyone has an invisible bucket and you fill your bucket by being kind. (he shared the whole story for FHE tonight) Kyler loves being nice to everyone. What a great example you are, Kyler!

Kyler with his teacher Mrs. Hall

Jared had to leave right after to meetings in Irvine for 2 days, so he was sad he didn't get to be there when I took Kaden to afternoon Kindergarten...

oh and here's a picture of Kaden and Jace after dropping off all the other kids... too cute!

Now on to my dreaded experience... all Kaden could say all weekend was "I'm not going to school! I HATE school!!!" so after lot's of bribing, he actually got dressed on his own, got to watch some of his shows (I think afternoon kindergarten will be good for him) get his backpack ready... then it was off to school, I could not get one single smile out of him... he was not happy at all to be there. (thankfully he didn't cry or throw a fit) but look at this sad pathetic face...

eating his lunch... he only ate a 1/4 of his sandwich and drank his juice. (he was sure hungry after school, poor guy was just too scared, nervous and upset to eat)

Thank goodness when I picked him up he was all smiles and had a good day, YAY!! (although he says he doesn't want to go again...)

All 4 of my Loudon Leapard's!!!