The Last Supper/Birthday...

I am not trying to be all sad and depressing with the title of this post.  As a matter of fact, I didn't even cry on my baby's 19th birthday!  Not one time, 

1. not when he woke up and "smelled" the birthday cake I made, 
2. not when he tried to snub me while I was trying to get a photo of him leaving for work, 
3. not when I couldn't reach him all day long (because my strong silent mysterious man's phone is retarded and he never gets my calls), 
4. not when I found out they left the birthday cake in the truck and never ate any of it, 
5. not when he was so humble the whole time and never really wanted or lusted after anything for his birthday, 
6. and not when we offered to invite people to go to dinner with him and he only wanted to be with his Mom and Dad, 
7. and not during the thousand bazillion times I thought about him on his special day and how blessed we are to be entrusted with such an awesome amazing son, 
8. and not even that night when my strong silent mysterious man talked about the day he was born across the pillow, and the reminiscing about some of the great memories we have of him growing up and we layed there beaming (there was certainly glow shining under the door that night from our bedroom) about what a really good guy he is now, and wondering where he will go and what he will do in his life. 

Nope, not one tear!

It is "just the facts" kind of title... because it really could be the last birthday we have with him at home, or if he comes back to the nest, we are just pretty sure it will never be the same from here.  So not being weird or morbid, or sad thinking about how LOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGG two years could be.  So just celebrating the moment.

Feeling the pain of being up at 3am about 11am, I managed to get through work only tempted to doze a couple of times while on hold on the phone... but I restrained and tried to never blink too long.

Got off of work and did a little shopping for the birthday boy.  It was the very hardest shopping I have ever done.  He didn't want anything (what?? usually I have a big ol' list and don't know how to break it to him, he won't be getting any of it).

Then drove out to get my hair cut.

 This is one of my favorite views in Idaho... I have always loved coming up over the hill and seeing this.  And it always looks a little different, green or snowy covered mountains... depending on the season.  I am always rushing to make it somewhere on time, and never stop to get a proper photo, but this time I had my camera ready in the seat next to me and snapped and snapped just holding the camera by the window hoping to get a good shot.  I promise I wasn't looking through the lens... all eyes on the road!  I promise!

I wish you could really see it, the Snake River runs right through the middle, it's so beautiful.   Isn't it beautiful? 

 Speaking of beautiful... I think I have mentioned not to take anymore photos with Katie.  I keep forgetting.  I can't not get this photo with her, no matter how homely I look next to her, ha ha ha.

But I do love my hair!  Thanks Katie.

I ran into my friend and fellow blogger there, and totally spaced getting a picture with her... I only do "after pics" Lindsey.  But my appt. is right after yours next time (total accident, I promise I am not stalking you), so remind me, K?  

So back to the birthday boy...

This is what happened to him at work.

They love him at work. Yes this is how they show their love.  Duct taped to a chair and draw on his face.

If they didn't love him, I wouldn't have been able to put the words on my blog.  I know, boys huh?

But he loves them just as much... you can tell by the smile on his face.  Boys have a crazy way of showing their love.

 I was really happy when the sweatshirt I ordered made it in the mail on time... but the arms are too short.  So Dad is taking this one, and I will be sure he has one that fits (well fits the arms, the middle will be all baggie and huge on him).

 Journals and an external hard drive to back up photos on. Assuming he might be in areas from time to time with electricity.

 And mini speakers to listen to "approved" church music.  No headphones are allowed, but if they plug it in so everyone can hear... the missionaries can take some music with them.

Jacob has learned to love "Motab" as they call it.... also known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (I can hear my mother gasping at the nickname now)... just smile and nod Mom :)

 And then his birthday dinner out...

 If you could eat anywhere you wanted for your special day... really????  Buffalo Wild Wings??? 

Okay whatever, he loves them.  I half way think he was just being humble and not making us spend allot of money, because he already had picked out Tucano's Brazilian Grill at some point earlier in the birthday talk.  It was all good.  Whatever he wants, it's HIS last supper.

Then special birthday visitors with treats and homemade cards (the best!! except for the strong "Duck" influence... are you really supposed to send subliminally inserted football team fanatics into birthday wishes?  jk he LOVED the drive by!!)  Thanks for helping to make it a special birthday for him by remembering him so fondly.

We had a really great day, I hope the teenager felt super special and loved on his birthday and it leaves him with lasting memories.  

I just had a thought that he will still have birthdays for the next two years and even though I am not there, he will still be creating life long "memories" on his birthdays.  They just won't include me.

Hmmm.  

Interesting thought I might have to entertain at a later time since I am NOT crying today.

Happy 19th Birthday!

Yes.. it's A.M.!!

 I woke up this morning at 3am and could not go back to sleep... still trying to think of what to do for the teenagers birthday?  I really just want him to feel special all day long!  I blame this and no sleep on my mother... but in a good way, she has such a knack of making me feel so special on my birthday.  Growing up I don't remember much about gifts, or cakes or decorations or candles... but I LOVED my birthday, and it was one day I felt beautiful and loved and special!

I just want that for Jacob, I love him so much... I want him to have that legacy to carry with him forward in his life.

So what to do... what to do?

 Well I'm up... might as well make a CAKE!!

 And dig out the Happy Birthday sign... I know it's around here somewhere.   (The house is a mess, I will do that at lunch break today).

 Chocolate Cake... his favorite.

So he woke up and as I was singing him the happy birthday song, he says "I smell cake"!   Ha, ha, ha. 

I wrapped it up and sent it with his Dad, to share it a work today.  My strong silent mysterious man laughed that I put sprinkles on it??  (are sprinkles girly??)  And then he didn't want to take the trouble to pack it out to work???  what???  I was up at 3am making it... so I  insisted, and the cake was loaded up and off to work!

I have no idea how the rest of the day will unfold... but it was a good start (well minus the grouchy, cake criticizing, old guy who doesn't have a clue about the "special birthday spirit", even though he really likes to celebrate his own.  Jeez he is exhausting sometimes).  It could be my last birthday with the teenager at home and I am determined for him to feel special and loved... if I have to make him and drag him kicking and screaming through every minute of it!  Ha ha ha.

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y

JACOB!

I love you so much, and I love who you have become.  Here are 19 of the BIG list of things I LOVE about you...

1. You have always been very special.  
2. I love your sense of humor and listening to you laugh.
3. I love your compassionate heart. 
4. You make friends easily, and everyone loves you.
5. You know who you are and are confident in yourself.
6. You are never afraid to speak in public.
7. You like to be crazy sometimes and have fun, but mostly come off calm, cool and collected.  I can't wait to see all the directions you could grow when you leave the nest.
8. Your love of golf and drive to always improve inspires me.
9. You are always willing to pitch in, and work harder than anyone if you have help;  but don't necessarily like working by yourself.
10. You have always wanted a brother or a sister, and I am so excited for you to have a brotherhood in your companions on your mission and pray they will be lifelong friends for you, like a brother.
11. You are cheerful and have a happy disposition and have survived "hard things" in your life.  Knowing how to overcome opposition will serve you well in your future.
12. You sleep like a tornado.
13. You are very talented and learn new things quickly and easily.
14. Music is important to you, and moves and inspires you.
15. You  can be highly motivated, even when others around you are not.
16. You welcome new things, and are not afraid to try something different.
17. You LOVE kids, and have a genuine respect for your elders.
18. Your witty, but have learned to be tactful with it.
19. You have a beautiful testimony of the Gospel, and I LOVE hearing you share it publicly.

Self Family Portraits...

I won't lie, I get allot of resistance for these pictures, especially since we just had one the week before.

But my excuse is that I want as many pictures with and of my missionary before he leaves, so if I start to quiver my lip and pout, they just get in and smile and get it over with. But I only get one shot!

Unless everyone looks scowly... then I MAKE them stand there for two!  I play the "grandma card"... "I can't send that picture to your grandmother"!  And I always get a second shot then :)

he he he!

Demands of Work vs. Missionary smiles...

Last Thursday and Friday my Strong Silent Mysterious Man had to go to Nevada for work.  It's his least favorite thing to do, leaving his family, leaving home (he is really a home body), and it always means something went wrong that he has to go fix.  Stressful being on the customers job site trying to trouble shoot problems and having to be the bearer of bad news on how much it will cost them to fix it.   It's really not his favorite thing to do at all!

But he survived it once more and made it home in time to get mugged by our dogs... they both wanted to be as close to him as possible.  They really miss any of us when we leave, and are never afraid to show you just how much!

 Luckily he made it home in time for dinner with the missionaries.

We really love the missionaries, and have been trying to find "the list" to feed them, or any excuse to have them come to our home, as much as possible these days.  Don't you just love their smiles!!  They are doing really good right now.  We see them go through some of their up's and down's sometimes, just a little.  But this week, two thumbs up!  They are working hard and enduring the trials that come their way.

An unfortunate update... Jim had to go back to Nevada on Monday, they are so busy at work, and somehow he picked the short straw again or something...  but the good news is that he made it back home late in the evening and didn't have to stay overnight.  It was a really really long day of work, but we were so happy to have him back home with us.  It makes me feel super fortunate that it is not a regular part of his job (well other than twice this past week), and I appreciate families that have to deal with that in their lives.  It's not for the squeamish.