Thankful Thursday: 25 years of Jamie Ann Schroeppel Gillman

If I was going to come up with a word that combines every word that would stand for this girl the word would be POWERHOUSE!

Meet my Jamie Ann! She is one of my MANY, MANY cousins. But one whose life I was able to be part of for all of it, and that was a BLESSING to me for sure!

Growing up I didn't have a sister and so my poor cousins had to just amuse me and let me adopt them.

Jamie was always great about letting me lug her around and I think she actually enjoyed it.

Since Jamie was a little girl, she had more personality than most people have in a lifetime of growing it!

She was sassy, knew what she wanted and was remarkably mature at all her ages. As she has grown into such a wonderful adult I know why the Lord blessed her with such greatness and maturity because she has had to go through A LOT! As I have watched her loose her first baby, nurture her second, bury her third and continue on have a fourth with a fifth on the way my heart has been touched by the strength this young mother has and the peace she exudes. She has taught me so much about the plan of salvation by watching how she has handled her struggles. Beautifully is the only word that describes how she handles trials.

Jamie KNOWS who she is. She also SHARES who she is with all those around her. She is a master decorator, party thrower, chef (except when she puts a pizza box in the oven and catches it on fire! haha), sister, cousin, mother, shopper and has a humor that will put you constantly in stitches!

Some of the fun memories I have of Jamie include:

• Jamie was named Andrea at birth and at her blessing her Dad re-named her to Jamie Ann to all of our suprise.. even her Mom's! (Most people don't have a story like that!)
• Playing School, house, cashier...fighting through it too
• The Tiffin Room at ZCMI
• Sleepovers
• Overnight babysitting
• Laughs and laughs
• Helping me clean and organize things ( I am pretty sure she is still a freak about it like me!)
• Drive-In's
• Funny girl's nights with Grandma
• Jamie and Amy's New Kids on the Block obsession (night gowns, sleeping bags, telephone...)
• the face she would give when she was "up to something"
• Her teasing personality
• the natural mothering that has ALWAYS been in her!

• 

James, I adore you! I have loved you from the VERY second you entered this world and I will love you FOREVER. Thanks for being all that you are! Thank you for being real. Thank you for your faith. You are such a ROCK and I am so thankful that the Lord allowed me to be in your family! Love you CUZ!!

HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY!

Thankful Thursday: The Women in my life!

This past 2 weeks have been really challenging for me. I won't go into detail right now but some past issues have resurfaced and I am going through some stuff emotionally because of it.

I have been reflecting on my life and the things that I know and believe about myself and just being reminded of truly how blessed I have been and how protected I have been from some pretty ugly things that have happened.

Today I was thinking about my Mom. I am so blessed that I got her as my Mom. She is virtuous, lovely, of good report and praise worthy! She is a women of strength, determination and steadfastness. But most importantly she is someone worthy of being called Mom and I am so thankful that I get to keep her as that, FOREVER!

As I thought about my Mom, I thought about others to that have loved me, buoyed me up, praised me, listened to me, counseled me and just loved me right where I was at in the moment. I am TRULY blessed to be surrounded by ALL of you angels! Your comments on my blog, your texts, your phone calls, your own trials (watching how you dealt with them), chats, gifts, kind acts, hugs, but far beyond all that your EXAMPLE has done wonders for me in my life.

I know that my Father in Heaven loves me, because I feel it through each of you in countless ways! What great peace that is to know. It is something that I come back to anytime I feel weak, alone, scared or hurt. He is a constant in my life and I am so thankful that I have people who have taught me how to find him.

Thanks to ALL YOU women in my life for being YOU!

I need you and I love you!

>P.S. I am SOOOO thankful for technology so I can still hear the words of our Beloved President Hinckley. Oh how I still love and miss him dearly!

Thankful Thursday: 8 years ago today... How is it possible?!

Sister Gazaway, was a beloved name that I went by for 18 months of my life as I lived in Riverside, Ohio. Deleware, Ohio. Westerville, Ohio. Englewood, Ohio. It was a name that defined who I am, what I stood for and who I represented.

I am literally in shock and don't know how it is even possible that 8 years ago today, I was walking off the plane with my Mom in Salt Lake City, returning home from my 18 month sacred grove in Columbus Ohio.

I still remember that day like it was yesterday...

After touring my mission and other areas for about a week, (Kirtland and Palmyra NY) with my Mom and Grandpa and Grandma Schroeppel we had to separate to go on our flights home. I sat in my seat on the airplane grasping my Mom's hand and tears just pouring profusely down my face because I had to leave the land that I loved SOOO much. It really was a good thing that Mom was with me, I am pretty sure I would have run off that plane and stayed a while longer! (at least 6 more months.. that was the first time ever I wanted to be an ELDER)

We had a lay over in Cincinnati, OH and when I found out that our plane would be delayed 4 additional hours I had a nervous breakdown...literally! There I stood with Mom at the ticket counter as they told us this news. I started uncontrollably crying. Mom was so embarrassed with my antics as I had my missionary tag on.. she kept nudging me and saying, "stop it! You are a representative of the Lord!" I couldn't stop! I had so much pent up emotions inside they just came tumbling out of my eyes. The ticket agent didn't know what to do and Mom could tell she felt awkward about my situation that she proceeded to explain to her the reason I was crying that way. She told her that I had been away from my family and friends for 18 months and wasn't able to talk to them or anything so I was very anxious to be reunited. She explained that as missionaries we pay our own ways and in return we focus on what we are there to do and so we aren't able to call home. The agent felt pity for me and I think she really wanted me to stop causing a scene so she sat us FIRST CLASS! (Mom, you can thank me later for embarrassing you! hahhaa)

I was so worried that all the people that made such effort to come would be waiting at the airport for hours that I started to call and cry as I talked to each of them and tell them that I was delayed.

As emotional as I felt there at the Cincinnati Airport I could not expect how much more emotional I could possibly get until I walked off the plane in Salt Lake City to a sea of a hundred waiting at the terminal for me. It was an unforgettable moment. When I started to walk down the ramp into the terminal it was like the herds were unleashed. ALL the kids in my life that I loved so much ran down the hallway (nearly where I got out of the door of the plane) and litter ally tackled me. I was flat on my back with kids dog piled on top of me and I just kept hugging and kissing them and crying. I can't even imagine a better reunion. So many people that I loved and cherished were there. All My Aunts, Uncles and Cousins, The Whiting Crew, Draper Crew, The Goulds and Latus, Friends, Missionary buddies more people than I could count... all there for me! I felt so loved and so special.

I remember my Brother driving home with Mom and I and his new bride and just crying as he told me and showed me all the new things that had been built in Utah while I was gone. I remember that from the point of the mountain back to Orem NOTHING looked the same.. there was NO LAND LEFT! One of the funniest parts was he had to take the long way home so he could show me something amazing! We got off the University exit and there at almost midnight there was a line of cars a mile long trying to get a Krispy Kreme doughnut. He thought they were so amazing and I played along with him but on my mission Krispy Kreme was like how it is now in Utah, you could buy it at every gas station and grocery store and so I didn't understand the fuss, but I played along!

I hid from the Stake President for 3 extra days until Lynn Whiting ratted me out and told him that I was home and I got a call asking me to be released. I didn't want to be released. I didn't want to give up the badge that gave me great honor and courage the last 18 months! I wanted to wear it forever. I was so thankful that President Lloyd never asked me to take the badge off. He just read the letter he had received from my mission president, gave me a blessing and released me as a FT missionary and asked me to stay in my family ward for at least year after.

I went home with lots of tears. Sat on the couch in the front room totally numb as to the fact that I was going to have to surrender that tag and wondering how I was going to do it. Just then a tap at my door and then someone opened it. There stood Richard Kolopeaua (one of my best-est friends since twelve yrs old) he gave me a huge hug, escorted me back to the couch and put his arm around me and I just snuggled up to him and he held me. He asked me for my tag, I handed it to him and told him all about my mission and he told me about his. I don't know how it all came about. I can't remember if I even told him I would be released that night, all I know is it was the BEST way to end the wearing of the tag I could have ever imagined.

Today I don't wear a tag with the name Sister Gazaway over my heart which gave me such power and authority. But just as we learned at conference I can still have Christian Courage to share the gospel and stand up for the right, day and night where ever I may be.

My mission wasn't just the best 18 months OF my life, it was the best 18 months FOR my life! I left a part of me in Ohio that I will never get back, but I came back a stronger, more in tune, more Christ-like, more compassionate and fortified person. How eight years has come and gone since this day recalled, I don't know. But what I do know.....

THESE ARE DAYS NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN!!

Thankful Thursday: My sweet Le'o

How could I live without my sweet Sister Le'o. She and I have been through thick and thicker.. hahahaha I just love her.. we can boss each other around and laugh about it.

I don't know how familiar you are with the Polynesian Culture but there is a different way you speak to each other (when you are a younger poly) Words like "EW", "FAB" (pronounced FOB), Ugly etc are always in the conversations between us.. really we sound pretty ghetto when you think about it.. but we will say things to each other like, "EW, you are so UGLY" and it isn't meant rude. I probably sound so dumb talking about it if you don't know what I am talking about! hahah but this is one of things I love about Mafile'o, is we can total say these things and both burst out in laughter.
How could you not laugh at this :)

Le'o and I go through our different stages with each other... sometimes we can't get enough of each other and other times we are running so fast in separate directions that we don't get to spend time we each other and so when we do a year later, it is like it was yesterday that we saw each other.

I have had some of my most significant spiritual experiences with Le'o around and I am so thankful that she was there to back me up when I feel impressed to share so someone will believe me.

Le'o serves more than nearly anyone that I know.. she is a modern day Mother Teresa. She is always giving 150% to the church callings, piano students, school and family and still has times for friends (although she is never ON TIME!hahaha, oh well somethings we will have to work o n in the next life, right Mafi!)

I can share my biggest, fattest, deepest concerns with Le'o and she is such a good listener and sometimes listens so good, she falls asleep! hahha But even that is endearing, I can't blame her for the kind of schedule that she hold and the stress she holds onto that she needs her beauty sleep.

Above anything else funny or quirky I love Le'o because of who she is and what she represents! She stands strong in a world where it is sometimes hard to do that. She has integrity and tries really hard to be what everyone around her needs her to be. She has a charitable heart and will take the shirt off her floor and give it to you if that is what you need.. she is humble and teachable, loving and nonjudgmental, caring and selfless. She has dedicate her life to using her talents. She blesses peoples lives greatly with her gifts and abilities. And everyone that ever crosses paths with this giant, never is the same and never forgets her.

Le'o I love you and love who you are. Thanks for always shinning your light and example on me. My sister you will always be! Palangi or not, we are be here for each other through the good the bad and the UGLY!

'Ofa 'atu

Thankful Thursday: Emily is HOME!!

THIS PICTURE SAYS IT ALL!!!

Emily we are so happy that you are at home with you family! What a great place to be! You have been SO brave and all the prayers were worth it!

Praying for you that you can stay with your parents, friends and favorite dog Leo!

Look at all the friends that showed up to welcome her home!

EMILY YOU ARE LOVED!! I love you girl!

Thankful Thursday: Mommy/ Daughter Dates @ the Scera

Today I am thankful for all the fun Mommy dates I have been on this summer and last. It started last Mother's Day when I decided to buy my Mom season tickets to the Scera Shell. We had SOOO much fun that I did it again this year!

We have been to great concerts and plays together! Sometimes a friend will come and play with us as well for the really fun concerts and my Uncle Mike and Aunt Leslie also have season tickets so sometimes we even get to play with them! With one of my strong love languages bring "quality time" this activity together is really something that I am so thankful for! One of my favorite parts of this activity is my Mom and I's people watching skills. We spend half the time pointing people that are getting SOO into it and laughing our heads off! Wouldn't trade it for the world!

Tonight we get to go to Boys 2 Men! I am really excited to be there, just me and my Mom!

After seeing how PACKED the last concert of Abba was (Mom and I were in the boondox!) and the fact that this is a concert of MY childhood, I am going to head to Scera 2 hours early so we can get prime seating. Can't wait to watch all the people get into the concert tonight... maybe I will be one of them... Mom, watch out! :)

Thankful Thursday: Mike, Val and Emerson Hall

This week I have been really reflective on my sweet Cousin Val's family! My cousin married such a great guy. His name is Mike and we call eachother "Janet" it is too long of a story to describe but basically I called him the wrong name at Brad and Staci's wedding and so he started calling me the wrong name, and I knew that I would remember his name always if I called him the same thing, so I do! hahahha Dumb i know, but it has endeared us to eachother!

Val has been one of my best friends before she even knew what best friends were! She was my little baby that I would carry around with me... I would take her on stroller rides.. I would walk with her to the gas station in Spanish Fork and buy her candy.

When they moved to Orem and she grew up a little we would spend our whole summer's together. We would ride our bikes down to 7-11 and get White Cherry Slurpees and Laffy Taffy's all the time. I even had Val with me when I totaled Grandma's car before I was 16 (we wont go into that!).

Basically Val, Amy and Jamie (all my cousins) were my little adopted sisters that I dragged to the Tiffin room at ZCMI, movies, Mi Ranchito, anywhere that I could spent all my babysitting money on them. We played house, store and fought a lot!

As adults, Val has become my lunch buddy and I have loved having lunch with her and Emerson.

I am so thankful for Val. She has a huge heart and is ALWAYS wanting to help with any project that is too much for you to do alone.

Mike has moved her away from all of us to go to Dental School in Arizona for 4 years! It has been a hard week for us all realizing that she may never be permanately back to us... but so thankful that there are airplanes that can get her here quickly!

I have the cutest pictures of Val and I from chilhood that will be amoung my posts when I learn how to scan! We were adorable (ok, I was a little awkward looking, but she was adorable). Val, I am thankful for cell phones, blogs and planes that will make you being 12 hours away seen so much closer.

Thanks for always being my WITTO WOWIE! The memories we have together are priceless and I will never forget the void you helped fill in my life by taking the place of the little sister I always asked Santa for every Christmas and prayed for every night.

YOU ARE MISSED!

"Janet", we are so proud of you and your hard work! Val we are proud that you are being brave when we aren't. And Emerson you better stay just as cute and adorable till the next time we see you.... don't grow!

I LOVE YOU FOREVER!

Thankful Thursday: Kelly Stayner

As you will all see that even with all these pictures being at girls camp.. she is still beautiful and some of my GREATEST FUNNEST MEMORIES are of Kelly and I at camp. Now on to the details of one of my dearest friends Kelly Arlene Fowler Stayner.I met Kelly at 12 yrs old, this was one of the hardest times of my life because we had just moved into a new house, new ward, and lots of changes! Yes, Kelly was my first beehive leader and stayed with me in YW through my youth. (For those of you reading this that don't know what YW stands for it is the youth group for girls ages 12-18 in The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints)

I learned a lot from this woman. I spent a lot of time at her house and I have even seen her husband in his underwear! hahaha

I thought it was about time that I wrote about her because even now she is a major part of my life. Just tonight she came and saved me after the wedding, bringing her husband's truck so I could have some way to haul all this stuff home. She is ALWAYS willing to help me. She is a saint!

When I say I love Kelly it goes even beyond her.... I love her FAMILY! They have always treated me like one of them. Here are some of the few things that I am thankful for:

• Her family loves me unconditionally for the person that I am.



• Always a steady-constant in my life.
  



• Given so generously to me and my family.
  



• Kel always texts me and checks up on me.
  



• She gives great advice.
  



• She so candidly talks to me about life's realities.
  



• She is REAL! She doesn't try to be something she is not. If she wants to drink a diet coke and eat chocolate chips for breakfast she will!
  



• She has shown me how to keep a home.
  



• Jerry and the kids are also loving and accepting of me too.
  



• Her extended family is accepting of me as well.
  



• She shares her multiple talents with others.
  



• She has even gotten out of bed at night after I have text her that I was having a bad day to go on a walk with me, Food runs as a youth at midnight on Sunday/Monday night, Also laser tag at midnight! Oh the memories!

In high school she was known as Smelly Flower (nickname because her name was Kelly Fowler) and I have adopted that cause I thought it was awesome! Smelly Flower, I love you so dearly! Thanks for always being a true friend to me and just because I tease you that you are old cause you were my leader as a youth and I am now 30, it's just because I love you so much and want to heckle you! Heck, I babysat Jordlyn at 1 and she will graduate next year! :)

You are a true woman through and through and I celebrate and am so thankful for the person you are and the person that you have helped me become. I love you Kel!

Thankful Thursday: Pat Terry

I am one blessed girl with so many things to be thankful for.. one of my most prized possesions is the great church leaders I had as a youth, who have become some of my best friends as adults... one of those people is Pat. This woman can do ANYTHING. She is a woman of all trades. She can fix about anything, make about anything and decorate anthing. Basically everything that she touches turnes to gold. More importantly than what she can do, is who she is. Pat has made an everlasting impact in my life.

In 1994, she was thrown a devestating blow when her best friend, and only daughter was tragically taken in a automobile accident. Through this experience I have seen a real champion emerge. She has held on through the pain, fought a good fight and found ways to serve, teach and nourish those around her despite the loss she herself has faced.

• A few of the things that I LOVE about my dear Pat: I can talk to her about ANY subject and not feel judged.

Her love of country, she knows her politics.

Her love of shopping- she can even put me to shame.

Her big heart...if you are ever involved in a good cause, she will be the first to join in with you and donate or support you in anyway that she can.

She is the lover of people, she keeps in contact with those she loves.

Always put together... you can always count on her looking done up, having her house perfectly clean, and looking darling regardless pf the pain or anxiety that she may be feeling.

She is the perfect travel companion. She is all about relaxation- my type of traveling

She is a master teacher. I learn from her and she delivers the message so graciously.

She is a great friend. After all these years, we still have lunches and have fun chatting with eachother.

Have I forgot to mention that I got the honor of going on a cruise for my 30th birthday with this gal?! We had such a good time. We laughed, met new people, slept and relaxed, ate, SHOPPED (oh did we ever shop!) and just reconnected our love and sweet friendship! Here are some of our highlights...Isn't she a HOOT!I took this picture to capture how annoying the emergency demo is. While I was taking them this odd women came up to me and said that this picture had "great perspective" and that I should sell it... Pat and I laughed about it the whole cruise.These are our friends from back east that we met. Our dining partners.All dressed up with our new handbags :)

Pat and I's crazy adventure to the middle of nowhere, we were worried that we wouldn't get returned back to the ship.As you can tell I love this woman, I play with her, I have a blast with her and I thank the heaven's above for such a woman in my life! Pat, thank you for who you are and what you do for all of us! You are wonderful!

Thankful Thursday...Gratitude Journal

I have a gratitude journal that I keep when things feel a little rough. I started it months ago and open it up on those not so happy days. When I started this journal I decided that I didn't want to do the usual gratitude journal where I wrote about all the things that I am thankful for (although that is noteworthy) but that I wanted to put a twist on it and write about the things that are most important to me.. PEOPLE. So each time I feel in a slump, I open up that book and pick someone in my life that I am grateful for and dedicate that page to them. So, I have decided that every Thursday I am going to post these gratitude moments so all that read this will know what great people I have in my life and why they are so great.

I am going to start off this tradition with my Brother... I know, I know some of you may be a little suprised because we fight like an old married couple, but really over the last 8 or so years, I have really learned that my brother loves me so much. This is for you Pat. Thanks for always trying to be a Dad to me, even when I don't like it most of the time, I know that it is all because you are just trying to watch over me.

The Top Ten Reason's why I am grateful for Patrick Neal Gazaway...

10. Whenever I have needed help with things car problems, money, fixing something he always comes through.

9. He suprised me with a car for Christmas in 2004 that has works like a champion!

8. He bought the house that my roomies and I live in and eats money on it every month but still lets me live there.

7. When he knows that something is really important to me, he does whatever it takes to help me. (personal trainer, weightloss, non profit work, etc)

6. He is the daddy of my two nephews and one niece.

5. He tries so hard to be there for Mom when she needs him. Helps with yard work, repairs, upkeep when he can.

4. He let Dad and Lisa stay at his house for a week.

3. He has a hard exterior but is just a soft cuddly bear on the inside

2. He has actually started complimenting me and saying sorry on occasion.

1. He is sensitive to the spirit. I am thankful that my brother is not afraid to cry when he feels something sweet.

Pat I am very thankful for you, even though sometimes I am not the greatest at showing it. I love you Bro!