Jeanne Marie Rayburn - My NANA

I want to tell you about my Nana. She had a stroke and passed away last week and I have been ok with it all week. I am happy that she is back with Papa and not hurting anymore. I have been preparing myself for her to leave this earth for awhile. But today I just feel sad. She was a REALLY great grandma and I was her favorite! Ok, I don't really know that for sure, but that was what she was good at - making whichever grandchild in her presence feel like they are the favorite! She would come pick me up and take me to her house to spend the night and be away from all my six siblings for the day. We would make dinner together and I would get to take a bath in her HUGE tub, then sleep in the guest bedroom in a queen size bed all by myself with no sisters kicking me or steeling the covers. There was a plaque on the wall in that room that said "don't count your chickens before they hatch" with a hen on it. I would wake up to the smell of hot coffee (no I didn't get any, but still love the smell), and if it was a school day, get ready for school and then walk to the bus stop by her house and go to school. It was always fun. Sometimes my brother would come too, but not always.

One summer she and Papa took all the grand kids that wanted to go and were old enough, camping for a few days. It was the coolest thing ever! They had a trailer, but the kids all slept in tents. She washed me and my cousin Keri's hair in the creek - oh so cold, but fun none the less. Papa taught us how to catch flies in our hands -cool! She would play Skip-bo all day with us. We learned to clean fish - yuck (although at the time it was really cool!) and fry it up. We had to go into town about three times because as she says "boy, you kids can EAT!"

She always wore Keds shoes: Blue, red, striped, white, whatever matched her shirt, and white, tan, or blue pants. And she always sat with one leg up on the other knee.

Her hair was always white (unless you count that time when it was pink and blue hued), always high on her head like a beehive.

She hated her picture taken but would let us none the less.

She crocheted and sewed beautifully and I have a few beloved things to show for it.

She helped me make a decision on whether I should marry a guy once - (no not Chad, in fact she thought I was crazy when I told her I was marrying Chad because it wasn't too long after our conversation about some other guy!) She didn't say "don't do it", but asked me questions that made me contemplate my true feelings and make the decision to not do it a lot easier. Once that was done, it opened me up for Chad to come in and those same thought provoking questions helped me to say YES to my sweetie!

My Nana was a special lady. She was my mom's mother and taught her well. I am grateful for that. She was an example to us all. I never saw her argue with my Papa either. They always showed nothing but tolerance and love toward one another. Oh, I have so many memories with this great lady. She will be missed. I look forward to the day when I will see her and Papa again. Nana, I love you.

MY Boy!

Isn't he cute?! I can't believe he is 12 today! It seems like just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital. You were tiny and squirmy and full of life. That Monday was a great day. Daddy and I had spent the previous weekend in Gilbert with the FFA kids from Heber, (He was teaching there at the time). I walked all day Saturday looking at model homes and shopping, then Sunday I completely rearranged my bedroom by myself (probably what started the labor!) I went to sleep and then early (5:45) in the morning I got up to go to the bathroom - seems like that is ALL I did for the last few weeks. I got back in bed and rolled over and thought "YOU have got to be KIDDING me... I did NOT just pee my pants, I JUST went to the bathroom!" No I did not, my water broke. So up we got and called the doctor and they said to go to the hospital so we called the Crandell's and they took Ashten for us. We got to the hospital by 7:30 (it was about 40 miles away). They checked us in and made me comfortable, the contractions were barely starting to be regular. This was a very small hospital and I was the only maternity patient there at this time, so I had people asking to help me all day - it was totally opposite of the last baby I had. They brought me a breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast - unheard of! Then I got to take a shower - also unheard of! It was glorious! Although as a nurse now, I am not sure how safe all that was as I could very well have gotten an infection or thrown up all over someone! As it was though, I was feeling pretty good. We called Grami and Pops to tell them we were there and Grami talked me through some breathing (she wasn't able to be here this time) and reminded me to relax all over and remember my hands and toes. That really helped later on. The contractions were getting regular, but not quite hurting yet and Daddy was tired of just sitting in the room so we went for a walk. After a little while he got tired of that too, so I put him in a wheelchair and started pushing him around. The nurses all thought that was pretty funny to see the pregnant lady pushing her husband around. But his ride didn't last long as the contractions started getting closer and harder to handle so we headed back to the room. We weren't in there long when I suddenly felt panicked and had to call the nurse. It was about 11:40 a.m. now and she ran out of the room and called the doctor and then came back in and had me breathe through a couple more contractions then the doctor came in and on the next contraction you were here! 11:53 a.m. 6 lbs 4oz 21 inches long! That delivery was quick and I wish I could say painless, but that would be lying, but quick it was.

Then we couldn't decide what you would be named. When I was still pregnant with you and I had gone for an ultrasound to find out how you were doing and if you were a boy or girl, they told me a boy and I was so excited I went from there to the store and bought a little yellow tracker and a blue balloon. Ashten was just two and cute as can be, daddy was teaching class when we got back to town so I had her carry the tractor and balloon into his class and give him a big kiss. It was so fun to see the look on his face! Well from that point on we called you Spencer Chad. However, when you were born, you just didn't look like a Spencer to me. So we started all over again. I wanted David Chad, Daddy wanted Jedekiah Clarence - I said NO WAY! Then he said John Clarence and I said no to the John (there are enough Johns in our family). We battled for a while longer and finally I blew up and said "I don't care, I am tired, you are the dad - go name your son!" so he left the room and went to the nurses and a while later came back and told me Jedekiah was it, and I almost cried. But then he smiled and said how about Johnathen David. It was perfect, and I loved it (I wanted to call you David, but he wouldn't let me - so I was adamant that you would be called Johnathen, NOT John). But, in the end it worked out that we both got a name we liked, that fit you, AND had some family heritage after all - John for your great grandpa on Daddy's side and your Grandpa on Mommy's side, and David after your Grandpa Lewis. I still wish we were able to use Daddy's name, but he wanted to honor his dad and grandpa more than himself.

That night after you were born the hospital brought in a special dinner for Daddy and I. I had a Cobb Salad and Daddy had a steak - they even put a candle on the tray, but wouldn't let us light it for fire rules - talk about hospitality! You don't get that in the hospital today. No way!

Well that is how the story goes. You came home with us the next day and had a really good first 12 days! Of course you know what happened next, but that is another story to tell. All that matters is that you lived through that and it made you stronger. You have grown so much since those first days - obviously, but I mean spiritually as well. I love your sweet spirit and how you are good about following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. You try so hard to be righteous and to make sure we are righteous as well. You are a great brother to your sisters and they know you love them. You are funny and smart and SO talented with music and stories. You make friends easily and people like to be around you because you are fun.

I love you, Son. I hope you have a great birthday! Love, Mom

::: BREAKING NEWS :::

In 2009 the government will start deporting all the mentally ill people.

I started crying when I thought of you.

Run my little crazy friend, run!

Garden Fresh!

We have been told to have a garden. It is not always easy to do - either the veggies don't grow like you want, or you have too many that you don't know what to do with them! Well, a great thing happened for us. Tera LOVES anything that grows out there. She thinks it is great that she can be outside playing and run over and get a snack without having to stop playing! Although she is finding that green tomatoes just aren't the same as a red one! Her favorites right now are the carrots and sweet peas. The following is her ritual to the pea... Breaking open the pod to get to the peas.

(Embarrassing that huge weed in the background - at least it is not IN the garden - one of the perks of having it off the ground I don't have to worry about them in the garden, just under it!)
It is total coincidence that the shirt she had on that day says Garden Fresh on it. But how appropriate!

Almost there!

I got it!

Lettuce in the background not doing as great as we wanted, however, we did have brussel sprouts with dinner yesterday!

Yum, pea.

Mmmmm!

I think she might actually have dropped that one, but you didn't need to know that!

Can't waste the pod - though it is not as tasty as the pea, and a little harder to chew, thus the concentration of the eyes closed and pulling real hard to the side!

We love the garden. Our squash was doing great until the last big storm that even the plastic cover could not save it from freezing, but Summer is just around the corner and we will have Zucchini and Strawberries - can't wait!

Christmas Past... I mean Post!

Even though it was ages ago, here is the post of Christmas promised! Christmas was great this year. We spent Christmas Eve with some wonderful friends, the Masitis family. We had dinner at Texas Roadhouse (a tradition started three years ago when family bailed on us last minute). Then we walked the Temple grounds looking at the amazing light and nativity display. It was quite chilly but fun non the less. Thanks Melissa and Erik for joining us with your kids. It brightened our night. (Even though I am SURE that your kids went home with some very unsavory table manners learned that night... flying straw covers, peanut shells and ice, oh my!)

After dinner and lights we went home and opened the ceremonial one gift that Rachel finally figured out is ALWAYS going to be PJs! But of course always the Diva, she is the first to have her picture taken! Love the pink silk! She wears it well. You can't tell in the picture, but they have little white polk-a-dots as well, too cute!
And how thrilling that they come in wee sizes too! (ok, so one size too big, but she will grow, right! They had to match, ok!) Besides my kids are so short they would look too big anyway- look at Rachel's feet) Tera's hair just cracks me up. If you notice in past pics it is always the same wild do! It is quite un-tame-able, but loved just the same.
U of A is #1


Ashten didn't want a solo pic, but notice the cute Smurfette on her Pjs! Aren't my kids adorable?! And they are so excited to go to bed so Santa will come...

AND boy did he! What a spoiled rotten bunch!

Tera didn't want to wait for the scissors, teeth work just fine! Notice the unwrapped gift in the background. Once she realized that kitchen was for her she could care less what else there was to open. Lesson learned...one great gift is all she needs! Though, she may have lost interest when the next gift opened was undies! The kids made their protest known that undies should not be wrapped-Haha- I was just trying to make it look like more under the tree for the wow affect, ya know! Necessities can be gifts can't they?

The highlights of the day: Wii, Guitar Hero band (something for everyone of course!), 42 inch LCD for dad, Kitchen for Tera (she's not quite yet a fan of the Wii), and of course smiles from everyone for mom, (yes, I got some great gifts too, but the smiles make it all the better!) made the day what it is - fun!

We were supposed to spend the evening playing games with some friends, the Wilson's, but by 4 pm I had a horrible headache and was feeling the starts of a sinus infection. Sure enough, by Friday I could hardly talk and had a cough that could speak to seals! Of course that didn't stop us from spending Saturday with Chad's family at his brother, Nathan's home, or going to his niece Rebekah's baptism which I was asked to speak at and did very hoarsely. We are proud of her for facing the freezing cold water - there was snow on the ground outside and the church's hot water was not working, but she went in willingly - brrr!

So there you have the Christmas post. It was a wonderful time for me. I LOVE Christmas, it is my favorite time of year - the whole month between Thanksgiving and New Years. Nothing beats the feeling of the Savior in our thoughts and actions. Celebrating it makes it all the better.

Oh, I forgot about the FHE we had with some neighbors and friends as we went caroling down our street and gave out goodies to the neighbors still at home. We ended with a five minute video of the Nativity at the Brady's home (on their movie screen) and hot chocolate and goodies to share. It was a tradition for me growing up that my family of 9 would carol to our neighbors, I loved it. This was so much fun for me, it will be a tradition again from now on. I hope everyone else had as much fun as I did and will want to do it again. So, that is it for 2008, on to the New Year!

Back Pedaling...Ashten's Birthday

Ashten's birthday was lots of fun. Getting to the age where her tastes become expensive has caused me to have to be creative with gifts, at least the wrapping part. Because how boring to only get to open one gift on your birthday! Gift Number one....oh the excitement!

Ok, not so much!! Hehe...


Opening gift number 2...

Yep! Another gift inside, what fun! (Mom really having fun now!)

Now wasn't that worth the wait??!!

Look what I got - "I know it says touch, but that only means ME!!"

"I can't believe you GOT me THIS!!!"

(She is almost in tears right here, and literally bouncing with excitement!)

The look I got when I said I needed it back to re-wrap and put under the Christmas tree!

That didn't go over too well!

(and no I didn't really - although it WAS stressed that there probably wouldn't be ANYTHING under that tree with her name on it- she didn't even blink!)

Birthday dinner at the Olive Garden. Ashten got her fave Ravioli and a candle in ice cream with a song that the camera was being too difficult to capture!

Tera enjoying that birthday dinner and some yummy cheese sticks.

Happy Birthday, Ashten. We had fun teasing you and watching the joy on your face. Thanks for letting us share in your day.

Back to where we were.

So, I just spent the last hour and a half putting away the Christmas decorations. It is always so sad for me to do this, and a pain because it is way more fun pulling them out then carefully storing them away. I wish my family would let me leave them up all year. They are so pretty to me and make me smile when I walk through the house. But alas, now the house is back to "normal" as far as decorations go. With no evidence of the past month ever taking place other than the new calendar on the wall in the kitchen. So, another 11 months until I get to pull out the Christmas again...sigh.

Oh, and I don't know what happened to it, but a very large box is missing and I had to put decorations into three boxes instead of four. Not an easy task and next year will be a little chaotic to unload because of it. You watch, now that it is all put away in the closet, I will remember where the box got put!