Jacob's Talent Show

This week Jacob's school put on a talent show, and Jacob's class was in it. They have what they call their "Fourth Grade Buddies"-- a class of 4th graders who comes into their class once every couple of weeks or so to play with them, and they helped Jacob and his class do the show. Brigham and I cried through it (I know, I know-- I've been bawling a lot lately), though neither one of us can tell you exactly why. For me it was mostly two things: 1. There was my Jacob up on the stage like any other kid! 2. There was a fourth grader kneeling behind him, helping him to do the actions, and losing her moment in the sun to give him one. I think Jacob's teacher has been so inspired on so many occasions. How brilliant to give these preschoolers with difficulties fourth grade buddies to look out for them at school! Anyway, we loved the show and hope you will too.(I had to let it buffer a lot to get it to play.) Click here to see Jacob in "The World's Greatest"

Home Owners for the First Time!

It's official! That beautiful home that I've been dreaming about for the last two months is now ours! We couldn't be more excited to move in and start our new life.

We want to thank everyone who has helped us throughout this whole process. A BIG thank you goes to Dad Dastrup who has had to put up with a lot from us as his pickiest and most opinionated clients ever. Thank you so much for helping us make this dream a reality! We also want to thank Mom Dastrup for all of her help in the home search as well. We know you put in long hours on our behalf too-- THANK YOU! A huge thanks goes out to Mom and Dad Groneman as well for babysitting for days on end while we searched for the perfect home and for doing our walk through.

There are others who have helped us with a down payment. You know who you are. THANK YOU. You've made our dream come true!

Now let the happily ever after begin!

First Tooth Lost!

No, it wasn't Benjamin-- it was Jacob! When he was coming off the bus today, he had blood running down his chin. I thought he'd bitten his lip and was going in for a closer look when he reached up and pulled a tooth out of his mouth! Benjamin is NOT going to be happy about this. Apparently he is the only kid in his class who hasn't lost a tooth yet, and he's been imagining wiggly teeth for months. This is going to be some serious salt in his already tender wound.

Blessings-- Some in Disguise

Lately I can't help but see all of the ways in which we are blessed-- there are so many!

Jacob had his very first playdate this week. Some of you already know the story, but a couple of months ago I was out to dinner with Brigham, and I asked Brigham if he thought that Jacob would ever have a real friend. He said he didn't know. About a week and a half later, a girl I didn't know ran up to me in church asking, "Are you Jacob's mom?" I said I was, and she told me, "My son, Jack, is in Jacob's class, and I just had to tell you that Jack LOVES Jacob! He tells me all the time that Jacob is his best friend, and he wants to know when he can have a playdate with him." Of course I cried.

My second blessing this week came in disguise. Brigham and I finally got to go to the temple on Friday, and I was really looking forward to it. We were almost there when I realized that in the rush to get Ty to the babysitter, I'd forgotten my temple recommend. I was so bitterly disappointed! I dropped Brigham off at the temple and then rushed home to get my recommend, hoping to get back in time to be able to do SOMETHING. I'll admit that I cried again-- this time in sheer frustration. It's not easy to line up a babysitter for 3 hours.

When I got back to the temple, I asked if I could do some initiatory, but the lady said they were full for the next 20 minutes or so (that never happens here, but it was a stake temple day), so I could wait in the lobby. I went and sat in the lobby-- disappointed, but trying to get my feelings under control. You can hardly imagine my surprise when a minute later my mission president came walking into the room! I gave him a hug, and he asked if I could wait for him a minute. A minute later he came back and invited me into his office. I was so confused and asked what he was doing there. It turns out that he is our new temple president! I'd heard that we had a new temple president named Shumway, but I had no idea that it was THE President Shumway! I had a wonderful visit with him and his wife, and the next day when I took Jacob and Benjamin to their temple tour, I was able to introduce them to President and Sister Shumway. We plan on having dinner together sometime soon. So all is well after all!