Hidden Blessings

Two weeks ago Jacobs truck got broken into. The individuals that did it pried open his truck door frame till the window popped and shattered. Then they grabbed his backpack and gym bag then rummaged through the console took a few things from there and headed home. doesn't seem like much damage but on Tuesdays Jacob goes from work to school then sometimes basketball so this night in his backpack he had-- 

Drum role!

*family computer

 (i had just uploaded all pictures and wiped memory card 2 nights before-bye memories)

*2 ipads

*wallet

*house keys 

*car keys

*church keys

*watch

*ipod

*new football shoes

*both his glasses (prescription)

*ID badge & key card to his office

*blue tooth headphones
*SkullCandy headfones 

-- that's all we have noticed missing. every few days we figure out something else that got stolen

Anyways we were not expecting this (obviously) so we were not prepared financially to pay to have his truck fixed, car keys re-programmed, house re keyed, plus our bills and rent payment. 

We sat down and went over what money we needed to spend, and what we had coming in. Things unfortunately didn't quite add up. 

A week ago we listed our guest bedroom set (that we got for free and refinished) on ksl and had no bites. On Sunday I said a prayer that we would be able to come up with the money that we needed to get things in order and a few hours later my parents called to make sure we were okay and offered to help any way they could- just knowing they were there for us was enough support! So grateful for family. Later that night I had 2 people ask about the bed set then on Monday I woke up to a few texts about the bedroom set and they kept coming all day. On Tuesday the bedroom set was sold and we had some money we needed but was still short about 200 bucks. So I put our piano on kls (tears) and it sold within 21 hours for exactly the amount we needed to get Jacobs truck fixed.

On Friday I went to get the mail and was taken back when I opened up a card with a check in it that said "I'm sorry you got robbed but at least you didn't get shot" -true that! It had 2 kittens in the picture- cracked me up! Then it said "here is some money so you guys can have a Christmas"

looks like hobbes and his puffy friend twigsy that comes to visit

Again on Saturday there was a letter and a Christmas gift that had a check attached to it- we really are being blessed.

Our prayers were answered and I know that we are being looked after and taken care of. I am grateful that people listened to the promptings of the holy ghost. The help we have gotten has truly helped us throughout this trial. It strengthens our testimonies to know that if we do what we are suppose to we will always be blessed even in ways we don't expect.   These trials can be hard, stressful, and make us want to go hunt down some people but I am glad after the fact that we were able to learn a valuable lesson from this.

Jacob was not harmed and belongings are just material objects that we can get by without. even though I shed a few tears at the fact of the only pictures I have from the past few years are what are on this blog.

We are grateful for everyone. We truly are blessed more than we know.

Ride that Bull

My two favorite people!!

Jacob & Xelly riding the bull at our neighborhood Cowboy and Indian party

 

We got lucky and didn't know we were moving into such a great neighborhood! We had so much fun!!

Lets go to the mall!

I was always the person at the mall that would walk past the mall play place and cringe because all the kids playing on the toys and sharing germs and ew. it just grossed me out. still kinda does.


But... its our only way out of the house to go play for free that I know of. So I did it. We would wait till most of the kids were gone then play and had a blast!

I think we went about 3 days in a row then we also got dad to come one night.

Each time we could not leave without riding the carousel.

Under the sea

About two months ago we went to

The Living Planet Aquarium. 

It was so much fun and Xelly ran all over the place looking and touching everything.

Talk about her kind of heaven

 Fish faces

It was so odd touching the stingray they were so slimy. not what I expected!

 This shark tank was rad. As close as I plan on getting to a shark.

I jumped when one came around the corner by me and that made xelly jump and grab me.

 Xelly needed to show some love to all the penguins

We had so much fun exploring. 

The good thing about a new state is that everything is new and exciting to us!

ZOO

Our goal for enjoying Utah is to go see something new each weekend as a family
So a few weekends ago we went to the Hogle Zoo I think I was more excited to go than Xelly or Jacob.
We packed some snacks loaded up the car and took off!
Xelly didnt care to much at first because she didnt notice any of the monkeys because they were all sleeping and hiding in trees. Then we got to the Elephants and she got so excited.
The tigers were by far her favorite she would growl at them and call them kitty.

We went and it was still "zoorassic park" so they have life size modles.
Xelly was not a fan of them!

We stayed for about 5 hours and we were all exhausted on the way home.

Xelly passed out in her car seat then Jacob passed out once we got home.

Sometimes we miss Az

A few months back when it was still a little chilly here in Ut but was in the 90's to 100's we got a pool for Xelly to play in. It was still a llttle cold so I heated the water then filled up the pool so it was a little better.

playing with the hose is the best!

learning to drink out of a cup!

then the wind came...

and it was time to go back inside to warm up!!

Pool Day!

We had been doing yard work most of the day so after xells woke up from her nap we disided to look up a local pool to go swimming at to cool down.
Their happened to be one about 2 miles away that cost 3 bucks a person and xells got in free so we had fun!
Xelly is not afraid of the water at all. She will jump in off the edge of the pool and go underwater.
She loves to be thrown in the air and land in the water.
I am glad she loves it because Lake Powell is coming up soon and it will be so excited!

Teddy grahams are a family favorite! 

oww oww!!!

don't even think about touching her snacks!