Home is where your heart is...

Our home

I spent the majority of January in Rexburg, Idaho. Our new adorable grandson, James, was born on December 28th! Grandma Sandy was not only able to bond with our new little one but I was also able to spend time getting to know Rylee and Sadie even more! (unfortunately I didn't get any pics with them!) By the time I left I was friends with Rylee, and Sadie had warmed up to me. How I love my grandchildren! I love everything about them... from their snug hugs and "I uv you", to their messy faces and happy little smiles at the simplest things - like a burrito at Taco Bell! Fun stuff! Life doesn't get much sweeter than that!

One of the few times he found his thumb... too adorable to pass up!

Grandma Sandy with Sweet Baby James!

All tucked in! Such a tiny guy!

The only thing missing for me were Pat, Craig, and Angie! (Rach came up for a visit and that was wonderful!) Had they all been there life would have been blissfully perfect! At least I like to think it would be! ;-)

One of the most difficult parts of being away was the absence of Pat. I just plain missed him. He was being a little difficult at first, telling me we weren't allowed to express missing one another... which I objected to! Fortunately, we had gotten most of the kids webcams for Christmas (sorry, Rach, you needed other things!) As a result we talked together one day on Amy and Brad's with Rylee, Sadie, and the gang. After that he wanted to talk every night that we could, because it just made him feel happier to talk with me face-to-face. I know exactly how he felt! Thank heavens for webcams! They are a blessing!

While I had a wonderful time in Idaho, spending time with Amy, Brad, Sam, Linzi, Rach and all the grandkids, it would have been so much better had Pat been there also. It was difficult for me to be able to be with our family knowing that he wasn't able to experience that along with me. Next time, he will be there!

Some of the highlights of my trip were:
1. Seeing James and holding him - what a gift to be able to bond with him.
2. Taking Rylee out shopping and to lunch!
3. Having lunch out with Sam, talking about important things and just stuff; seeing the wonderful father he is, the love he has for his family.
4. Spending time with Brad and Amy. Of our four children Amy and Craig are definitely the most talkative, so we had some great conversations!
5. Being able to help Amy to rest and understand what it takes to recover from a c-section as I've had all our children that way!
6. Seeing several friends in various situations - at their home, a grocery store, at Amy's apartment, or at her baby shower! So fun! I love friends! ( ... even at the airport!)
7. Going to the Cocoa Bean and getting cupcakes and hot chocolate - a little rich, but tasty!
8. Seeing the love that Brad and Amy have for James - and how he has become first in their lives.

9. Snow! Yes, Snow! I love the snow, and am quite satisfied that I am not living in it! Yay me!
10. Amy's baby shower that Linzi gave for her - it was very nice and quite fun! Thanks again, Linzi, for doing that!
11. Also, watching Rylee and Sadie in their home - seeing how they feel so much love, and are happy, and growing well. Linzi and Sam are wonderful loving parents. I am grateful for that. Also, the gospel is a big part of their lives as Rylee loves to read The Friend, another thing that I am so grateful for!
12. Spending time with Rachel as she came up to meet her new nephew! We had two nights at the Americinn where we could talk and sleep!
13. Idaho Falls... I love that place. We were able to go there several times during my trip. For having only lived there 23 months it certainly made a difference in my life. I feel that it was a blessing and a privilege to live there. Every time I visit it feels like home. I can never get enough of it!

That pretty much sums up my visit to Idaho. I am so grateful for my wonderful husband, a loving dad and grandpa, who felt that I should spend as much time as possible there. I am grateful to be home with him again, too. How I missed that man! So, yes, home is where the heart is... my heart happens to be divided into three areas in our country - here in Manteca, with Pat; Rexburg, ID - where Sam, Linzi, Rylee, Sadie, Brad, Amy and James reside; and then in Utah - Pleasant Grove and Provo where Craig, Angie and Rach live. Anytime I am visiting any of them, no matter where we are - that is home to me. How I love my family.

Waiting for me when I got home from my thoughtful husband
who wanted to give me a bit of sunshine with yellow flowers! How cute is that!?!