Happy Birthday Dave

Today is my brother Dave's birthday. I am so proud of my brother and all that he stands for. He is truly has many Christ like qualities and is an example to all. He is a wonderful husband, father, brother and son. I know that he is an awesome Bishop, and a true example to his YM/YW. Dave overcame his own trials as a Young Adult, and those trials made him the man he is today. He always has good advice for his older and not always wiser big sister. I am grateful today and always to be the "Big Sister" to my younger brother Dave. Have a wonderful birthday.

Happy Birthday

It's funny when babies are not a year old yet we measure their birthdays in months. Today Kaiser is 3 months old. This is a recent picture of him from last week. Kaiser & I spend a lot of time together these days. I babysit him while Whitney is doing her clincials to become a Certified Nurses Assistant. Jesse is working days again, so Kaiser & Randi have been coming and hanging out with Grandma. He's an alert, happy baby. Even when he was sick last week and into this week he still manages a smile when he hears my voice. I cherish each day that I get to spend with him, to feed him and talk to him and have him coo back.. It's all worth it. My lil' Kaiser man. Grandma Jeana loves you.

Sad days

My sister Debbie and her family are on their way to their new home in VA. My brother-in-law has an 18 month TDY with his employer. He has already been there since Jan. There have been zig zagging back and forth from the East coast to the West since my brother-in-law took this job. This is their 2nd time on the east coast. I'll miss having them come to Utah for their summer visit, hanging at Cherry Hill, Lagoon and just plain hanging out. They left AZ yesterday and hope that they can make it to VA in 5 days. Drive safe you guys. We love you.

Happy Birthday

Happy 2nd Birthday Randi. It's hard to believe that our granddaughter is 2 years old today. The time has really gone quickly, she is a bright light in our lives, she brings laughter, joy and much happiness when she's around. She is so smart, it's fun to watch her learn and grow. She's a good big sister to her brother and loves to help around the house. She always wants to sweep Grandma's kitchen floor, help me vaccum and would love to help clean the bathroom if I let her.

Have a very Happy Birthday Sweet girl. Grandma Jeana loves you so much.

Kaiser

Kaiser is 2 months old now. He's so cute and has those chubby cheeks you love to kiss. He recognizes our voices when he comes to Grandma & Grandpa's house. He will coo and smile, and brings a smile to our faces. It's so much fun to be a Grandma.

Anniversary

18 years ago yesterday, a little scared, nervous, but very happy couple went to LDS Family Services to meet our 1 1/2 day old daughter. We had only 1 week to prepare for her arrival. We were so happy, and yet nervous at the propects of becoming parents. We waited exactly 9 months to the day from the time we put our adoption papers in to pick up Whitney. We were told it would 18 -24 months before we could expect a baby. I was still working full-time when Whitney was born, and we didn't think we could afford to have me quit.

The first time I held her was surreal. We had wanted a child for 6 1/2 years. I was really holding my daughter. She was so precious and tiny. We both just couldn't take our eyes off her, and were so excited to finally be parents and be able to take her home. We had to change her into the outfit we brought, the mother instincts kicked in as I changed her diaper, put her in a pretty pink dress and feed her a bottle.

Fast forward 18 years and wonder where the time went. But I still hold close the memories of the day we picked her up, how tiny and precious she was. But mostly I can't think of that time without remembering her birth mom and what a precious gift she gave us. I am grateful to her everyday for giving us our Whitney.

Happy Birthday

Today Whitney turned 18. I can't believe where the years have gone. Now she is a wife, mom and student. We are taking her and her family to dinner tonight to celebrate. I hope she's had a good day. Even though she's married and has 2 children and I'm a Grandma having her turn 18 makes me feel old. Time flies by so quickly.

Happy Birthday Whitney, I love you.

Draper Temple

Today we had the opportunity to attend the Open House of the Draper Utah Temple. We took Scott with us, I was very excited for him to have the opportunity to see the inside of the Temple. He has done Baptims once in the Bountiful Temple, but this would be a whole new experience. I had talked with Scott before and told him that after the Temple is dedicated only Endowed worthy members can attend the Temple. When we got there we walked through the tents and then directly into the basement and right past the Baptismal font. As we started climbing the stairs Scott asked, "is this the part where I can't go after it's dedicated?" I told him yes it was. I could see the reverence in his eyes, his mood, and it was awesome. He enjoyed everything about the Temple, especially the wood around the door frames, and wood tables, the wood was imported from Africa, the chandeliers, especially in the Celestial Room. We took a minute and sat in the Celestial Room and enjoyed the beauty and the Spirit that was there. Next came the Sealing Rooms. As we entered Scott was totally mesmerized by the beauty of that room. The chandelilers are a smaller version of the Celestial room. We sat down and the ushers a husband and wife spoke of the purpose of the sealing room. As he was talking I whispered to Scott that at 6 months old he sat on the alter in the Salt Lake Temple and was sealed to Robert & I. I could tell as he looked at the alter for a minute that he was thinking about that. The ushers had everyone look in the mirrors before leaving the room to see the meaning of forever. Scott was pondering everything in that room. He said to me, "I want to be married here one day and stand with my girl, to look in that mirror with her." For a parent that's an awesome moment. He didn't want to leave the Temple, as we got on the bus to drive away he wanted to go back and go through again. That was another we're teaching him right moment. I told him that we'd go to the Oquirrah Mountain Temple Open House this summer. Hopefully then Whitney, Jesse and children will be able to go with us.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's to the man that I have shared 27 Valentine's with. He still can make me laugh and smile. He's more handsome today than the day we married, he still takes my breath away. For all his qualities that I admire I love you my Valentine.

Sealing Anniversary

We're one of the lucky families that first gets to adopt children, and then to take them to the Temple and have them sealed to us. 12 years ago today we took Scott and Whitney to the Salt Lake Temple to have Scott sealed to us after the finalization of his adoption. It was the most wonderful experience to have both of our children in the Temple with us and surrounding the alter. Whitney sat in a chair next to the alter with her Gran by her side. It was the most wonderful experince that we had. And we got to do it twice. We're so glad that Scott has been in our family for the last 12 1/2 years. We love you Scott!!

Finding comfort

The past 2 days Robert has been home from work sick with a bad cold. Both he and Scott got a cold at the same time. Scott went to school yesterday but today only long enough to take a test, then called and said he wanted to come home, could I come get him. I realized when Scott got home that having them both here is a comfort I enjoy. We may not be in the same room the whole day or even talking all day long, but just knowing their home give me a sense of peace. It makes grateful to have a wonderful family.

Kaiser's blessing

The proud mommy and daddy

Great Gran Stockdale, Great Grandma Whitney,

Grandma Jeana, Grandma Chris and Randi

Grandpa Sam, Grandpa Rick, Grandpa Robert,

Great Grandpa Whitney, Great Grandpa Stockale

Randi looking so cute and big in her

pretty pink dress.

Randi and big sister Randi

Scott and I went to the Young Single Adult Sacrament Meeting with Robert. I enjoyed listening to their Testimonies, I am glad we still get that association with them through Robert.

This afternoon Robert blessed Kaiser at my parents house. It was a small gathering with family. It was nice to spend a few hours with my parents, my brother and his wife and my oldest nephew, Whitney, Jesse and my grandchidren. We did get home in time for Robert to catch the last half of the all important Superbowl.