Celebrations and a Kidnapping

 June is a busy month of celebrations in our family. We decided to celebrate a few together. 

 One celebration was for Stephanie's 21st birthday. Here she is with her boyfriend. 

 We also celebrated Father's day. We had YUMMY food and dessert. Here is Dennis with two of his girls.

 Joseph's friends took kidnapping your friends to a whole new level. They came over at 5:30 a.m. with duck tape and a pillow case. They put the pillow case on his head and tried to duck tape him. The boys were being super rough and Joseph was screaming not knowing what was going on. They then threw him in the trunk. It was my job to drive so we were off to IHOP. 

 This is Joseph and Alexis. They were boyfriend/girlfriend a few days ago, but because of EFY, Joseph decided to just be friends with her. I can't tell you how much EFY is worth every penny!!!

 The Gang

 The waitress was very sweet with our loud and annoying group. She even brought Joseph a treat while we sang.

 We came back and Joseph got a treats from his friends. 

Happy Birthday Joseph

 Today my little preemie boy turned 14. Life is flying by. This little 2 pound miracle is the greatest joy! He serves others so willingly. He is a good boy all around and I am so proud to be his mom! 

 My sister and Emily chipped in to get Joseph these awesome shoes he has been wanting. Emily wanted to stay up until midnight to be the first to wish him Happy Birthday with a really strange dance. She gave him his present and as you can see from the picture, she was being really strange. (Not strange for her though)

 One of Joseph's friends, J.T. was there at midnight to celebrate too. He left and came back in the morning and made Joseph breakfast. J.T. is such a good kid. I am glad Joseph has such amazing friends.

 Speaking of amazing friends.....this is one of our families best friends in the world. She is a second mother to Joseph and Emily. She is Joseph's other BFF Cole's mom. She got Joseph this cool shirt. We love you Katrina!!!

 Joseph got this cool helicopter.

 For dinner, I took Joseph on a date to Tucanos. It is a Brazilian BBQ with non stop meat. He was so excited to go! 

 They made him dance while they sang to him.

 He decided to try the chicken heart for the first time. He had to spit it out.

 Dessert was delicious. He shared with me.

 When we got home, Christopher called him. Christopher secretly bough Joseph a Play Station 3. I hid it in my closet. Joseph was on the phone with his big brother when he told him that he needed to get something out of the closet for me. He was shocked!!!! He was so excited. 

 He also got him a game! What a good big brother!!!

He out now hanging with friends. His friend, Cole brought him another game and they plan to come back for a sleep over game night. Happy 14th Birthday my little miracle. I love you to the moon and back!!!

Especially For Youth

Joseph got to go to EFY last week with one of his best friends, Cole. EFY is a youth conference held at BYU. It is a chance for young people to get together and learn more about the gospel in a fun way while making friends from all over. Many fun activities and spiritual experiences. The first night I received a text from Joseph:

I read a chapter in my scriptures and I had so much fun today. Thank you for letting me come. Thanks mom, I love you and I am sorry for lying and I also wrote a page and 1/2 in my journal!! I love it here and I've learned so much about the gospel. This place is strengthening my testimony so much. It is actually fun learning about the gospel and my counselor loves me and Cole cause when he walked i...n me and Cole were writing in our journals and reading the scriptures and now I am in Mormon 4. It's awesome!!!!!!! I love you so much and today I made so many new friends like all the kids on my floor love me and we hung in me and Cole's room. It was a blast today love you goodnight!

 The second to last night I received another text from Joseph. He bore the most beautiful testimony of the atonement and his love for the gospel. I am so happy that it was such a great experience for him. It is a pricey camp, but when you take into account that he has his own testimony now, it is worth every penny. I guess we better start saving for next year. Oh, after I finish paying this year off. 

Joseph & Joseph

Emily's First Camp Out

 Emily has never been tent camping. She doesn't remember our year living in campsites in our fifth wheel to travel with her dad for work so it was time to give her a trip she has been begging for. 

 Emily brought her two friends, Nadia and Sasha. We went to Crystal Hot Springs. The water is supposed to have the highest mineral content in the U.S. and maybe the world. It was so relaxing. So many temperatures to choose from. My favorite is the warm tub with the cold waterfall running on your neck. The girls had a great time.

 The water slide was a huge hit!

 Their Barbies all went camping too!

 Emily learned how to start a fire in YW. She was excited to show us how.

 After swimming for the second time, she started it again.

 We roasted hot dogs and s'mores. It was so yummy!

 Sasha getting settled in for scary stories by the fire. 

 We had a couple of girls try to scare us!

 Dennis was there behind the scenes helping us set up the tent and stuff!!! Thanks Dennis!

Dennis slept in the car, so it was just us girls in the tent. We had fun little adventures along the way. It was a lot of work for a one day camping trip, but well worth it. Emily was so happy and that is all that matters. 

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Three years ago my sweet baby girl, Sarah Marie was born. She lay on my chest, holding her daddy's finger. She struggled for breath as I tried to take in every single second of the 15 minutes I would have to spend with her here on Earth. Much too short and oh so painful. When Sarah died, a part of me died as well. I have been forever changed by the short life of my little girl. I know her spirit lives on and she is waiting in heaven for us to come and raise her, but my head can't seem to quite explain it to my heart. I still ache for her all the time. On days like these it helps to know that there are a few people out there who love me enough to reach out to me on this day. I am still surprised at how many people don't express  love for our family on this day, especially family members, but the precious few that do, I appreciate so much. I want to know that other's are aware that although brief, my daughter was born, she lived, she is part of our family and she matters. 

     

 The sweet woman who works at the Macey's bakery made my day. She made this cake special for Sarah and gave me a great deal. Her loving kindness touched my heart and made me cry. She is seriously the best cake maker I know. She has made many special cakes for my children, but this one takes the cake......yes, I went there. Oh by the way, it was DELICIOUS!!!!!

 My wonderful friend from California sent Sarah this bouquet. I put it on her grave. Thank you Jamie for remembering Sarah today. It means so much!!!!

 My sweet friend brought this over to me this morning. I love it. It is a necklace with a nest carrying four eggs. One egg for each of my four babies. I love the mommy bird charm on it too. Thank you Teri for remembering that I have four babies and loving me on this hard day.

 We went to the cemetery to bring Sarah some special things we had gathered for her. 

 Emily brought her balloons!

 My beautiful friend brought this over for me with a sweet note. I was so glad she came by. I needed the personal visits I got today. It has been a rough day. Thanks Alesha for always loving me so perfectly!!

     My mom bought this sweet little bracelet for Sarah. It says, "Princess". Sarah means "Princess" so I love it. She also told me that it said Heavenly Father's Princess. I put it in her special box. I am sad the boys were not here to celebrate. The celebration felt so incomplete. I guess it always does because Sarah can only be there in spirit and when it comes to our babies, that just isn't enough. 

Happy Birthday my beautiful daughter. I miss you more than I could ever express and my empty arms ache more than I thought they could. I cannot wait to see you in heaven. I cannot wait to raise you and hold you and do all of the things I feel that I am missing. I love you Sarah Marie Ige. You have a piece of me with you. I am trying to get along without it.