I can hardly believe that another has come to an end! Where does the time go? As we get ready for Christmas I can't help but think about my year and reflect on what I am grateful for. First and foremost I think would have to be families. I am blessed with so many great family members - husband, parents, siblings, sisters-in-law, nieces, aunts and uncles, cousins, and yes, even my dogs are my family :) We lost Jeff's grandma this year, saw Jeff, Amy, and the girls, welcomed Jordan home, and got good news about new additions to our crazy but wonderful group. We have made great memories and some sad ones too. Life is not always the easiest and I think we have definitely had more than our fair share of trials, but I imagine we can all say that about our lives. I am grateful for my testimony of Jesus Christ - to know that even when I don't see or understand it, there is a plan bigger than me for my life. I am grateful for friends to lift and support. I am glad I have a job when so many don't. Even though some days, well, really suck let's be honest, I am glad I have a job to go to and that I am capable of working. My life is blessed even when I don't want to admit it and would rather wallow in my trials. I am super grateful for a husband who helps me recognize that! This Christmas may we all look for all of the wonderful things we have instead of counting all of the things we don't. May the Lord be with us all this beautiful time of year - xoxo

It's the most wonderful time of the year

We have had so much fun since last post and, as promised, lots of pictures! Jeff and the girls got to spend quite a bit of time here in Cali and I was so grateful to be able to be with them. Missouri is just too far away! I don't think I will launch into a "travel log" but we did pack alot in while they were here - shopping, Disneyland, the beach, sing-alongs, a dance party, picnics at the park, soccer games, and more. The most exciting thing of course, was Jordan returning home from his mission :) He seems to have settled into normal life these days and we are glad he is home! General Conference was last weekend and it was a much needed spiritual pick-me-up as usual. President Monson's talk on Sunday was a true highlight. The whole talk was about gratitude and the moment he began speaking I thought about my dad. My dad has always taught us that being grateful and appreciative is so important. I am thankful for my parents and the example they have always been to my brothers and me. I am a pretty lucky girl.

Who forgot to blog...???

First of all, I must tell you that these pictures are in the wrong order. They never come out the way I plan, but truth be told, I am probably the only one who cares! Anywho, a few fun milestones since I disappeared: First, Justin (the baby of my family) graduated high school! Can I just say for one moment how OLD that makes me feel!? He looks amazing and gots lots of awards but I will not embarrass him. (For now at least :) Another fun event - Jeff and I got to take care of Jessy while her folks got to go on a much needed and awesome cruise to Alaska. She adored Duke and it was awesome to see just how great all three of my crazy beasts were with her. Sadie girl loved licking her face and Jess didn't even seem to mind...all that much anyway! The 4th of July was pretty mellow, it being on Sunday. Fun pic of me and the hubby I must say. I usually can't get him to smile that big! I am working summer school again which is both a blessing and curse - grateful for the hours, bummed that I had to miss Bass Lake again this year. (As I type this Mom, Dad, and Justin are enjoying the lake without us!) However, we are going next summer no matter what! The true highlight of this summer however, is Amy and the girls coming. They get to spend a whole entire month with us and I am busting at the seams with anticipation! Jeff even gets to come for two weeks as well, but will be coming a few weeks after the girls. He arrives the day before Jordan. And yes, I said Jordan. Jor gets home from the mission at the end of August. Mom and Dad are going to have ALL their kids, in-laws, and grand kids here at once. I think this might be a first since me, Jeff, and Jon all got married. Get ready for a bunch of pics!! xoxo

So what has been going on in the Goodwin house? Jeff and I celebrated our 4th anniversary with a trip to the temple, dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, and a somewhat ambitious tandem bike ride through Irvine Regional Park. Thanks to you honey, I still have feeling in my legs...not sure if you are that lucky! We have been working hard, hanging out with friends, bothering our families- basically loving life :) Justin's volleyball team has been kicking butt and are currently up for CIF semi-finals! It has been so fun to watch him grow as a player and an incredible person. He is being awarded male athlete of the year for Cypress High School and I couldn't be prouder. He is awesome :)
Some randomness we discovered today, Soto loves artichokes. (I am sure you all care :) Goes pretty nuts over them in fact. Hopefully, artichokes aren't bad for dogs, but seeing as he is still kicking 4 hours later, I think we are OK. Plus I had to just throw in a random picture of Sadie. She snuck her way into our room and onto our bed and was just so proud of herself. Oh, and she couldn't forget her crazy sidekick Duke.

Where to start?

It has been awhile since my last post. Much has happened. At times I feel as if time is rushing past me and I am trying to keep up; other moments seem to last forever as if moving at a snails pace. To start, Jeff's Grandma Alice passed away here in our home the beginning of March. It happened quite suddenly and I know Jeff took it pretty hard at first. He has lived with his grandmother since he was about 5 and she was more than just a grandma to him. I wish I could say something that would do her justice, but words just plain fail us sometimes. Perhaps, when he is ready, Jeff will write an entry about his "old lady." I would indulge for a moment though, and share just one thing that will forever stick out in my mind about Grandma Alice. Our room and her room are right next to each other. We shared a wall :) Every single nite we have lived here for the last two years, I heard her pray. I wish I could say we are that diligent :) She always prayed aloud and always prayed for every one of her kids, living and the one that sadly passed, and every single grandkid by name. Some nights she would pray for almost an hour. One nite, just about a month before she passed away, I heard her praying for Jeff and I to blessed with a baby. I was so touched and humbled and grateful. Not being able to have kids yet has been a really hard thing for me. We never talked about it, she just knew. And I am pretty sure that wasn't the only time she had prayed that for us.

At times I think we all feel like everyone else is so wrapped up in their own lives that no one could possibly be thinking about us and our problems and heartaches. And at this stage in life for most people that is true unfortunately. Very few of us consistently take the time to think of others and pray for them unless something tragic happens. That quiet example, that strength, her willingness to always think of others is what I will remember most about her. She is missed and the house is still just a little too quiet. We love and miss you Grandma!

We have also celebrated St. Patty's Day, Easter, and General Conference. I had an ingrown toenail removed by the doctor, and just yesterday I believe I broke my first bone ever - my toe! And it is even on the same foot as my now deformed toenail that had the ingrown :) Poor Jeff also dislocated his knee yesterday! What a pair we are right now! Haha! Hopefully we will both stop limping and recover quickly. Here is to a HAPPY, maybe slightly less eventful April! xoxo

I love February

I love February, and not for the obvious reasons. True, my sweetheart and I had fun going out to lunch to celebrate Valentines Day. And I thoroughly enjoyed commemorating our Presidents with two Monday holidays off work. However, I love February because we get to see the Westminster Kennel Club dog show! I love watching dog shows, and I love that I have even gotten Jeff to like them! :) And although they will never make it to Madison Square Gardens, in honor of this great event, I am going to torture everybody with pictures of the most gorgeous pooches I know. They are all my "Best in Show." xoxo





Duke

Sadie

Soto