it's been a while

hello again! well, a LOT has happened since my last post. wow. to make a long story short, my divorce (finally) became final. it had unnecessarily dragged on and on for almost a year - and if you count everything that happened before that, almost two years. i had very mixed emotions on closing that volume of my life. of course, with three children together, we must still communicate.

i never in a million years thought i would ever get divorced. it was a complete shock to my system, and by far the most devastating thing i have ever experienced. i am grateful, though. i have learned and grown so much from this. i have connected with people i may never have come across without this tragedy. most importantly, my testimony has sky-rocketed and in the best way imaginable, i will never be the same again.

amazingly, many blessings have come forth through this. the greatest one of all - i fell in love with my best friend. jim is the greatest man i have ever known (aside from my own father, of course). he loves the Lord, he cherishes me, he adores my children as if they were his own. he is an able provider, always willing to help, thoughtful, loving, kind and generous. he is gentle and peaceful. he is a calming influence in my life...so needed after the turbulent experience i have endured. i believe with all my heart he is the answer to my prayers. i know my Father in Heaven was watching over us all and brought us together.

on december 8th, he proposed outside of the seattle temple. we were just walking around the grounds with the children. jim kept admiring the statues and commenting on them. i saw him lingering next to the statues of a man and a woman, so i walked over.


he looked at me and said, "i think they are getting engaged." that's when i looked down and saw a breath-taking ring, sitting right between the statues.


he called the children over to witness this moment, got down on one knee and proposed. it was a beautiful moment and none of us (well, maybe jenna and james) will ever forget it.

jim is very much the male version of me. for all who know me well, you'll know exactly what he is like. he's goofy, passionate about so many things, giving, committed, silly, cheesy....oh, how we love to laugh!! he is my best friend and more. i am ridiculously happy, grateful and content.

we had a wonderful christmas and look forward to a very happy new year. 2008 will no doubt bring about many exciting changes. a new marriage. perhaps even...another baby? i will keep you all posted. *smile*