Happy Birthday Stacie!!!!!!!!!!

Today starts the crazy birthday week at the Jacksons. Stacie's today......Carolyn's on Tues.....and Chris next Saturday. Stacie, we are so happy that you are in our family and that you get to be the first birthday of the year for us. I hope you have a wonderful day! I hope you had a wonderful birthday dinner at Tucano's. Wish we could have been there to join you. You are so awesome. HAPPY 22nd Birthday!!!!!!!!!!! We love you so much.

Oh my gosh....I can't believe it has been almost an entire month since I posted. Just been so busy....and trying to spend as much time with Chris as I can before he leaves that I haven't even been on much. I know.....SHOCKING! So I guess I will try to fill in the blanks from the last four weeks.

• The end of December brought a lot of tears into my life. One of my dearest friends moved away. This is not any friend....this is the friend that I can roll my eyes at during church and she knows exactly what I'm thinking. She knows when I'm at the very end of my rope and a girls lunch is necessary to help me hold on. I'm so excited for her though. Her husband got a great job in his field and the move is going to be so good for them. I just feel a little lost without her. I'm crazy about her kids too and the day they left they stopped by here and each got out to give me a big hug and I was trying my hardest to hold back the tears. I went to see her the other day....not only is she my friend....but she does my hair so I'm so glad they are only down in Richland. I'll be able to see her when we go to the temple. So....I got my hair done....and went to lunch with her and her two youngest ones. The little guy came on a dead run and jumped into my arms. It was just the fix I needed.
• We have been going to the temple once a week since Chris went and it has been so wonderful. We are going to try to conquer the pass the Friday and take him to the Seattle Temple. Just depends on the amount of snow up there.
• It is less than a month now before Chris leaves. The time is passing so quickly. It has been so nice having him around....even if I do have to share him with Kelcey. Just the two of us went to dinner lastnight and it was really nice to talk to him. In the evenings he cuddles up to me with his horsey blanket and i get to rub his head while we watch tv. I can't even begin say how much I'm going to miss him. He brings so much joy and laughter into our home. He is being sent to a pretty dangerous area and I'm scared to death but he is so excited about going to Mexico. They are so lucky to have him.
• There has been a lot of stress with Relief Society stuff this past month. It just seems like there is so much that people have to deal with these days. It is very sad to see so many going through so much struggle.
• The earthquake in Haiti was so devastating. It breaks my heart to see so many people struggling. I have cried many tears watching the news reports from over there. I pray that the Lord will sustain these people and bless them as they try to rebuild their shattered lives.
• This weekend we just needed break from everything here. Chris was on a boys weekend with his buddies that are all waiting to leave for their missions. They went to Pullman for the WSU women's game. One of Chris's best buddies is a 6 foot five freshman that starts for the team. They had a great time. So....we were empty nesters again for a couple of days and we headed to Spokane for Kobe's AAU playoff game and then we went to Ted's to watch the Zags game. A lot more fun watching it with them. Ted and Kobe get so excited. Zags win again!!!!!!!!!!!! They are having a great season. I love college basketball.....and right after that ends.............PLAY BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait! Just signed Hernandez to a five year deal and we picked up Lee in the off season. Mariner's will look great on the mound this year!!!!!!!!!!!
• Carolyn got a job at a middle school in Provo. She doesn't have her own classroom....but she is happy to be working in her field of study. Her diploma arrived the other day and she was so thrilled to get that piece of paper with her name on it. Way to go bug!