Florida

We have been in Florida for 4 months, And I have finally gotten around to blogging about it. Its been a great adventure for us. I'm just going to try to hit on the high points of our summer and our new adventure here.
-I worked at Impact solutions for families from August 2009-August2010 which is an accomplishment in and of itself, as my co-workers can attest:)
-softball, softball and more softball. Jake and I coached our girls (JV Bonneville
HS softball team)during the summer. We continue to see a lot of growth. We left them in the very capable hands of Trudi Maosi. She was a pitcher at Wichita state and coached a few years on the high school and collegiate level.
We also played with the family team and our co-ed team. We had a least a game a night Monday-Thursday.
-I quit work the first of August and then I stayed at my sister Beth's house for a little while. I was able to go to the Ru pp family reunion, my brother Adam's farewell and brother-in-law Devon's farewell. Jake moved to Florida the end of July because he started classes in early August. I really wanted to attend these events so I stayed for a few weeks without him. And I was so glad I did.
-So halfway through August I drove to Florida. My good friend Jen accompanied and helped me stay alert and helped keep my sanity. She also helped keep Malynn in Kenna in check-Thanks again Jen.
-We stayed a day with my sister Marylynn in Dallas. She took us to an "arboretum" or a fancy garden:) and took us to sample some southern BBQ. We also stayed a night with my cousin Joey in Mississippi. They were all so kind and accommodating to our little group.
-We were so happy to get to Florida 5 days later. I have never missed Jake quite so much. I still remember how excited Malynn was to go see daddy and "get some elbows from him"
-Since we have been in Florida it has been an adventure. We were welcomed with open arms. I am so grateful to the girls whose husbands also attend the law school. We have a lot in common including husbands that are rarely home and a love for the gospel. We have dinner groups and date nights and play groups and have grown and bonded closer together. I'm sure if it weren't for these girls I would be missing my family and friends in Idaho so much more. Thank you girls so much.
-Malynn has been attending a government funded preschool. The state of Florida funds preschool half a day 5 days a week and then kindergarten is full time. SO she has been attending "victory preschool." It is held in a Lutheran church. One of the teachers is also the youth pastor. Part of the curriculum includes chanting prayers and bible stories. She loves it and learns a lot. I volunteer there every Tuesday and really appreciate the teachers kindness and dedication to her job. I think we picked a good place for her.
-Kenna turned 3 september 1st. She and I get a lot more one on one time now that Malynn is gone during the mornings. It has been fun getting to know her. She is so mischievous and fun-loving. She seems to be a favorite with all the kids around here.
-Jake has been diligent in his studies. He seems to have learned the most efficient way for him to study for law school. He writes great outlines and seems to be able to remember the overload of information he is given pretty well. He's told me that he enjoys reading his law book. He wrote a note to one of his teacher that taking her 3 hour final was "fun." He is almost done with his first semester of law school. Time for us to start looking for an internship. Anyone have any leads on that? just doing my best networking:)
Jake has also been playing basketball wednesday nights and football Saturday nights. I'm sure he will be embarrassed if he reads this but his quarterbacking skills which were already good are now amazing. Really amazing. I go watch him on Saturday nights. I hear the guys on the sidelines talking about him comparing him to Ben Rothlisberger. Its fun to see him doing so well. And he loves it. I have also heard some people talking about his basketball skills as well, but since I haven't actually gone to watch him play, I better reserve judgment on that one:)
-I am missing my family especially during this holiday season. It has been very warm here still. the beginning of this week tempertures were in the low 80s. However we got a cold front so highs have been in the mid 60s. Its hard to believe its actually december. It still feels like early fall. I am loving it and not missing the cold idaho winter, just miss my family.
I am so very grateful for this opportunity we have to further or families future. I am grateful for Jake's hard work at school and his devotion to me and the girls. I am grateful for the good girls we have. They are so fun and energetic. They are learning and growing everyday. I am so grateful for the gospel I am a part of and for the blessing that the support of our ward family has been to us. I am grateful for good family and friends. I am grateful that Jake's health has been relatively good. We have been so very blessed.

Happy Mothers Day

Its been a busy time in our lives. I havent been good at updating my blog, but being so busy has not made it any easier. By way of update this winter was eventful. Jake got accepted to some law schools. At this point were thinking of going to Florida Coastal Law School in Jacksonville Florida. We are planning on movin towards the end of July. Jake also had a bunch of health problems, suprise, suprise:) He was feeling good but went in to get his blood checked and some of his scores were high. After a lot of time, tests and money spent (of course:)) We found out that the right lobe of his liver is three quaters of the way scarred up. The result will be a need for a liver transplant someday in the future. Hopefully not for at least ten years. Jake has gotten serious about excersizing and eating healthy to help his chances of prolonging the process and then getting a transplant when the time comes. I started coaching softball in January. Its been a chaotic few months with that and work. I dont even know what happend to March and April, although during those months I thought it would never be over. Life was truly crazy but I do love softball and it was fun to see my team improve so much. We won one game last year, this year we won 9 games. The improvement has been immense, and next year is looking good as well. But of course I wont be here because we are moving to Florida. Jake and I had our 5 year anniversary in february and we booked a cruise for it. So we will be leaving to check out the law school in Jacksonville, and then off to the Bahamas. We are both very excited. We bought a new minin van in anticipation of our move. We love all the space and the girls love the automatic sliding door. Malynn turned 4 in march and is so creative and smart and fun and softhearted. She is the oldest child and keeps things fun for everyone. Kenna is 2 she is trouble in her terrible twos. She stays very busy and loves to give her big sister hugs. They are the joy of our lives. We are grateful for our girls, our temple marriage, our full and busy lives and the many blessings the lord has given us. Today is mothers day and I was asked to speak on the righteous influence of mothers. I took more time than I usually do to think of my own special mother and the example her righteous life has been to me. I wish I could have gotten to know her, but I feel sure she is watching over me and my family, and I am grateful for that. Happy mothers day to all those righteous mothers whose influence for good is felt by not just their own children, but so many others.