Everyone has True Greatness

I have always wanted a family. From a very young age I started planning my family, and when I did get married at the ripe old age of 19, I chose a man who also wanted a family. We surprised ourselves by starting a family right away. And for the most part, I have been very content with my chosen profession. Here are 10  reason why I love my job-

1. It never gets boring. This job keeps me active and on the go!

2. I get to make the rules, although I can't really say I work for myself. 

3. I enjoy the people I work with, in fact, I would go as far as saying, they are my very favorite people in the world. 

4. There are times when it can be a thankless job, but in the moments when I do see the rewards of my efforts it is all worth it.

5. I get to make my own schedule, although I do have to get it approved by my "commitee".

6. Even though I don't get sick days, I do get take care of my babies when they have one.

7. I get to make food whenever I am hungry, although I do have to make enough for everyone.

8. I don't have to commute and I can work in my jammies if I feel like it.

9. I get to plan fun activities whenever I want and I always have someone to do them with me.

10. There are five people who love me, and need me, more than any other human being on the planet... And that is my favorite reason!

Those 10 reasons are great and make my life sound like a bunch of peaches and cream- but I have to be honest... 

There are days when it sucks. Days when I don't want to change another poopy diaper, make another hungry kid a PBJ, or wash my 10th load of laundry for the day- let alone fold it!

These moments come as often as the good ones, and sometimes they get me down and I think- Is this all that life has to offer me... Poop and peanut butter smears??? 

I am comforted by these words that tell me I am on the right path... And while sometimes my job seems like menial work with disgusting tasks that I wouldn't even expect a bio hazard crew to do, it has taught me so many lessons about life. I have learned that true greatness is in every single human being! It's not your job title that makes you great- its the attitude with which you do the job- whatever it may be- that makes you truly great. 

I am still working on this. It is not always easy to have a good attitude as I clean up after my kids and pets, or change diapers or hear kids fighting and/or complaining a hundred times a day... But I am a striving for progress not perfection...

If I know that my attitude is more important than the task at hand, and if I can remember it daily, I will achieve just as much greatness in my life, and in the lives of those around me, as any important king, queen, president, or leader! 

"To those who are doing the common place work of the world but are wondering about the value of their accomplishments; to those who are the work horses of this Church, who are furthering the work of the Lord in so many quiet but significant ways; to those who the salt of the earth and the strength of the world and the backbone of each nation- to you we would simply express our admiration. If you endure to the end, and if you are valiant in the testimony of Jesus, you will achieve true greatness and will live in the presence of our Father in Heaven." 

Howard W. Hunter - True Greatness

A Taste of Country Life

 We got a little taste of country life last Saturday when we got to go visit my Uncle Brian and Aunt Lisa's place!

They have 4 dogs and small herd of fainting goats! Yes, your read that right- fainting goats!

(Keep reading we will get to that part later!)

As soon as we pulled up the long drive way and put the car in park the kids were out of the car and running around like wild Indians, as my Papa used to call me and my siblings when we were little!

But Milo was the wildest! Milo and his cousin Leo just took off and found a mountain of dirt to dig in right over Indy's shoulder in the picture below and down the hill! We didn't see them for a long time and when we finally called them in they were covered in dirt and smelled like the wild out doors mixed with sweaty little boy smell! And they were happy, oh so happy! The kind of happy that made me wish I had my own piece of land to let the little boys be free and wild everyday!!

We all know how much Indy loves dogs! She was in heaven with all the well behaved big dogs my Uncle Brian has! They were so sweet and lovable! It almost made me want to scoop one up and take them home with us. (I said -Almost!) 

 We had the best adventure going to see the goats! These goats were the sweetest, little creatures! (Well everyone but Milo thought so. He couldn't get past the fact that their pupils are slanted horizontally and to him it was creepy!) But the girls and Nash loved them!  We came down to the first small pasture with the male goats and they came to the fence and were bleating and looking cute and my Uncle suddenly yells at the top of his lungs "Blah, Blah, Bloo, Blah....!!! and most of the goats scurried away but one of them fell for it and fainted! Its the funniest thing! Now, I really don't endorse scaring animals for my own entertainment but I was just a witness to it and it was hilarious! 

 My mom found some beautiful mazanita branches she took home!

This was the girl goat pasture and  we spent a lot of time here! There were a lot of baby goats and my Uncle Brian told the kids he would give a dollar to all the kids that could catch one!

All three of the girls caught at least one! It was so much fun to see them be out in the wild running free with animals! They were all so happy there!

Nash was loving it but he wanted to take his shoes of and I wouldn't let him and he was sad... Sometimes being a kid is tough!

They have such amazing views! This one is of what I think I heard was a casino just over yonder! :)

Beautiful Northern California.

It was the perfect Saturday! The only thing missing was my JuJu! We celebrated her life while we were in California and it was hard to say good bye. This visit reminded me that Juju is still with us everywhere we go, we just have to take her with us in our hearts! I thought about her a lot and how much she would have loved to see the kids enjoying this time at Uncle Brians. 

And my Uncle Brian was so good at honoring his parents lives by making his home as welcoming and fun as my Papa and JujJu always did for me and my siblings when we were kids! I am so happy my kids got to experience it on this day! I am pretty sure we will make it back for more! 

Reconciled to His will

This scripture stood out to me yesterday. 

As I read this scripture I felt the words "reconcile yourself 

to God's will" speaking right to me. 

How many times do I give into the ideas world? 

How many times do I think I know better? 

How many times do I choose to worry and stress over things I can't control? 

The answer to all those questions is- A lot! 

What I am working on is being reconciled to His will. 

And to me that means to have complete faith in his plan. 

I know what I need to do to follow Him so that one day I will be able to be with Him and my Savior again. 

God has taught me what his will is and I must "reconcile to him" by showing my faith in him and living the way he has taught. 

And we are so, so lucky!

Because our Heavenly Father has given us a very special gift- 

Our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

He came to earth to set the example for us to follow and then he sacrificed it all for every human being that has ever and will ever live on the earth. No one but He could have done that. 

I am so grateful for this time of year to remind me to treasure that gift above all others. 

Because what this season is really about-

Is not what we can give to others....

 It's about what One Other has sacrificed to give a Gift to you. 

The November Jaynes Family Birthday Party

 Here are some pics of some of our favorite people in the world spending time together! The kids look forward to going to grandma and grandpa's house for Sunday dinner. Last Sunday night we were celebrated all the November birthdays. We had Steve's family favorite chili verde for dinner. Yum! Some big news in the Jaynes family-- We are going to try doing a gift exchange this year for Christmas. I am excited about it! Jared and I picked Jessica and Brandon so we will have fun putting a gift together for them and the kids are excited to get gifts for each other. We have the most kids in the family right now so some of my kids picked a sibling but they take that as good news because they can make sure their sibling knows exactly what to get them!

Some how Indy didn't get in any of the pictures which is weird because she loves photo bombing! But she was there!