GOING BACK TO ZACHARY!

A little over a month ago Ivy and I began earnestly praying and fasting for a home of our own in Zachary. We loved living in Zachary especially because of the schools and the home town feel of it. When we were forced to leave and moved to Baton Rouge we always knew that we would return it was just a matter of having to accept Heavenly Father's will for us at that time. Yesterday we were approved for our first home and guess where it is? ZACHARY!

Our home is beautiful! It is on a a quiet street in the heart of Zachary. It is on a corner tree covered lot. It has a heart shaped fish pond in the backyard which is breathtaking. We have a gazebo and several fruit trees in the backyard. The landscaping is very nice and compliments the house. It is a 10 room home and Ivy and I will have one portion of our home to ourselves which is what I am very excited about!!

It is old fashioned and cozy just what we both prayed for. I know that this home was sent to us by Heavenly Father knowing our hearts and our desires for our family. He knew that we would need a large home because Teayona and Arielle would be coming home. He knew before we could ever imagine their return.

How wonderful Heavenly Father is. How he has blessed our lives and answered our righteous prayers. The children are so happy to be returning to Zachary and have already began to pack. We close on the 21st of this month. You can rest assured that we will be packed and ready to go well before the closing date.

I will post a picture of our new home soon. I will continue to rejoice and give thanks to my Heavenly Father and my brother Jesus Christ.

Good Night and God bless.

Changes good and bad...for better or worse.

There is so much going on in my life right now, and prayer and scripture study have never been more prevelant in my life.

Tomorrow we are starting production for an animated series based on my book, The Chronicles of Daddy-Man! I am really looking forward to it, and feel that it has been a long time coming.

I am doing what I can to magnify my calling and recently Ivy has been called as Ward Executive Secretary. We are still Ward Missionaries and had a great and inspiring meeting yesterday.

We are also adjusting to having Arielle and Teayona back home after they moved on their own for 4 months. What has been the biggest adjustment is Teayona coming back to our home pregnant. We are all still trying to get over the surprise of realizing that she is going to have a baby. I lay awake at night trying to make sense out of it, but I still can't. Thank goodness that I have a strong testimony or else I would have lost it months ago when they first decided to move out.

Teayona has decided that she wants to keep her baby and I don't think she is aware of how difficult it will be for her. Ivy and I have explained that it won't be easy, but we will do all that we can to help her get through what is a difficult time for all. There is no possibility for her to marry the father of the baby because he is getting married in August and he already has a child...a 3 year old. Teayona is unemployed and doesn't seem interested in getting a job. Sometimes when her father and I talk to her it is as if we are talking to a 6 year old. She is in a denial phase and it is very frustrating at times. We keep praying, fasting and trying to be there for our children, but sometimes they do not want us to be there for them and I think that is the hardest thing for a parent.

These changes are difficult, but I know that if Ivy and I continue to remain unified and strive to be the best parents we can with the help of Heavenly Father we can overcome the feelings of desperation, dismay and heartache for our children who choose to make the mistakes that they make. We can't change them...they have agency to choose for themselves and that is something I had to come to terms with. I am anxious and excited about some of the things going on in my life but there are some things which I am not anxious and excited about and will have to deal with when they come.

Prayer is so helpful. Our prayers bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and gives us to know of his will for us. Be prayerful and develop a relationship that will help you to deal with changes good and bad...for better or worse which comes in your life because they will and there is nothing you can do to stop those thngs.

Just when you think you can't love any harder.....

The more I am around my precious grandson, the more I realize how love can grow stronger and deeper. My grandson is so special, so important to me and I absolutely adore him. It is amazing watching him when he realizes that it is me holding him. I know that he has a special bond with his mother, but I am so pleased and happy that he smiles that certain way when I am talking to him and the way he laughs when I tickle his chin. I love him and it is an extension of the love I have for Haley and only makes me love her more. She is such a gentle and loving mother. I love watching her when she and Noah are interacting. She talks to him and he does his very best to talk back to her. He giggles and tries to get to her, and when she settles down to put him to sleep, he snuggles under her neck and she gently rubs his little back. It brings me to tears of joy when I see my child with her child and the love she has for him. I imagine how it feels...and I know exactly how it feels because this is the way I felt about her and still feel today.