Renewed Happiness

I realize it has been a very long time since this was last updated. A lot has happened so I will just use this as a recap of it all.  Our family has been through quite a lot in the last year.  We have had many ups and downs, laughs and tears, trials and celebrations. 

The best thing that has happened to us is Kendra and Shaylee are now back home in West Virginia with us.  It was a very hard and trialing time for our family.   I had given notice to their dad that I had planned to move here and take the girls with me.  I sent him the proper notice and everything.  The first time I sent it, he refused service on it. He never said anything about my impending relocation until a day and half before I left. Ultimately, I was not allowed to take Kendra and Shaylee out of UT, so a very bitter custody battle ensued. Ultimately, they are now back with us like I said, but they had to endure some abuse so we are working through that. A lot of you already know the full story of what has gone on as you have read their blog and fasted and prayed for us. Thank you so much to all of you. We surprised Megan and Morgan by not telling them Kendra and Shaylee were home until they got home from school.  This is the video.  Its pretty cute! Megan and Morgan's surprise

The girls love it here! We see a lot of wildlife here and its a totally different atmosphere than Utah.  I have noticed that some of us are starting to pick up that Southern-like accent.  Its pretty cute hearing Morgan say "yee-ah" but in Utah, it is said "yeah." 

Richard is still in business for himself.  There are times that it is slow and other times that we are busy and would just like five minutes to sit and catch our breath.  He is also so good with the girls and has really gotten quite close to Morgan and Shaylee.  We are still trying to break Kendra and Megan's shell as they are quite good at not displaying their feelings.  The best thing that Shaylee has experienced with Richard is their love of WWE, Twilight and Nascar.  *yuck* Its really cute to see them watching that together.  I am happy that Richard is able to be a part of the girls lives and watch them grow up and be a part of his life also.  He truly is a wonderful father figure for all the girls.  Oh, and the girls love that he is so ticklish. 

Two weeks after we got back from UT with Kendra and Shaylee, they experience their first hurricane.  We had Hurricane Sandy rip through our town.  While we did not see a lot of damaged homes, we did have quite a bit of flooding.  One road by us looked like a river for a few days.  You don't really realize how convenient a bridge is until you can't cross it for a few days due to flooding.  Kendra and Shaylee have both started school here and they love it.  I don't think Kendra is too fond of the early morning Seminary and getting up at 4 am, but this is her second week of it so hopefully she will adjust soon.

 I never thought I would ever say this again, but I am actually looking forward to the holidays, Christmas particularly.  I used to love Christmas so much, then Jason died unexpectedly and it kind of sucked for me. each year around that time, I think back to the last night of him and the girls and the last memories they have of him.  Like I said, we as a family have been through a lot this last year, but I am so ready to keep moving on with a positive outlook.  My girls are happy and I am happy that they are.  Seeing them all together again and smiling is the best Christmas gift I, as a mother, could ever receive. We recently got some family pictures done, so I will share a few.  Hope you like them as much as we do.