New Years Eve

I can't believe 2014 has come to a close! I have to admit that this was a much better year than 2013. 2013 was amazing in the fact that I found my soul mate and one true love, but it was also filled with lots of bumps in the road as Jeff and I bumbled our way through blending a family. 2014 seemed to go a lot smoother. That's not to say that there still weren't bumps in the road, but those bumps seemed smaller and less frequent. I can't say that we are completely "blended", but I'm not sure there will ever be an end to that journey. We are not the "normal" family, but we are a family. We are our own imperfectly perfect family. I felt very blessed as I reflected over the last year. The Lord showered gifts in abundance on me. Some of those gifts came after the trials and tribulations, but others were simply given. As I look toward the new year, I am determined to return some gifts to Him. My gifts may be meager in comparison to what He has bestowed on me, but they come from my heart. I know I have a long way to go before I could ever reach a state of perfection, but I know He doesn't care about that. He simply wants to see that I'm progressing toward that goal...and to get there, I have set new goals for this year. I want to change. I want to be better...and I know, with His help, I can.

Well to start off this last day of 2014, I attended the marriage and sealing ceremony of one of my best friends, Johnny Jones. I have known Johnny since I was about 18. We met at ASU while completing our undergrad degrees. He was always my go-to guy friend when I was having guy troubles and couldn't understand why guys were so dumb! He and I always found time to have fun as we muddled through the adventures of single life after 25 years old (which most would consider young, but in the church culture you're practically a spinster by that age). He was there as I cried and he was there as I rejoiced in finding my ultimate best friend, Jeff. I was so happy to be there to see him finally find his one true love. Aubrey is such a beautiful person - inside and out. I am so extremely happy for them. Aubrey was married once before and has three kids. Each of them has had their difficult journeys to get to this point, but I am so glad that neither of them gave up. I know what a true blessing it is to have found your eternal companion and to have that best friend to journey through life. Congrats Johnny and Aubrey!

Jeff and I attended their reception that evening then got the party started at Nichole's house! Each year, Nichole plans and executes the best New Years party. She has activities for the kids (and adults) to do every hour on the hour so we keep ourselves awake and busy and having fun all night! This year her theme was "New Years around the World". Each game was related to a different country. She is so creative. The kids had a blast as we welcomed in 2015! I am so excited to welcome this New Year and all the adventures that lay ahead!

4 out of the 5 of us: Me, Michael, Nichole, Krystle

Gotta love my boys!

Happy New Year 2015!!!

Arizona fun!

Over the next week, the kids enjoyed visiting a couple jump places, paint balling, an arcade/ropes course, and more. Needless to say, they were a little spoiled. They also simply enjoyed playing outside without any snow! That won't happen again for a few more months at least. I didn't really participate in any of the activities, but it was fun watching them build relationships and memories. I can't imagine what it would be like to welcome a new family into my life, especially one I never expected to have, but I was pleased to see the boys blending with my family as if they had known them all their lives. Here are quite a few pictures we took of the kids' activities over the week:

Arizona bound!

Today the boys, Jeff and I (along with my niece, Kaia) headed down to Arizona to celebrate the New Year! Unfortunately, the girls either had to work or had school responsibilities and were unable to join us. The joys of being an adult! In any case, I was more than a little excited to go "home" for the week. While I have adjusted (for the most part) to living in Utah, I keep telling Jeff that it won't really be my "home" state until I've lived here longer than I lived in Arizona...so maybe around age 70. Jeff would like to believe I shed a tear of sorrow when we crossed the Arizona border, but it was more a shout of joy. I was ready for sun, warmer weather, and family. I got two out of the three. Unfortunately, Arizona hit a "cold" snap the week we were there and didn't get out of the low 50s. I guess I shouldn't complain when the highs in Payson were only in the 20s. Still, I didn't mind the cold or the rain because I had my sunshine and my family. My sister, Nichole, and her family live in Arizona as well, but my sister, Krystle, her family, and my brother, Michael, and his wife, Jenn were also there. It was quite the Shumway party! We woke up early so we could get to my parents house before dinner that day. After we had dinner, we headed to the Mesa LDS temple to see the temple lights. I grew up visiting the beautiful light display every year so I wanted to make sure we saw the lights before they turned them off on New Years Eve. As Jeff and I wandered around the temple grounds, I got a bit choked up as I recalled our wedding day. This is OUR temple. This was where I convenanted to spend eternity with my best friend, companion, comfort, support, and eternal love. I will always cherish this sacred place. It was a great way to start our little New Years vacation.

All the kids (including my cousin's kids): Kate, Kaia, Kate B., Kelsey, Nolan, Tyler, Daniel, Dallin, Colton

With my handsome prince in front of our castle.

My cute parents.

The two most important men in my life.