Dear Kinzers,
We sure miss you but are glad we have all these really fun pictures to look at. You would be 9 months old today. Hard to believe that it's been 3 1/2 months. I used to think of heaven as above us but have come to find that it is right around us.
Brigham Young said, "But where is the spirit world? It is here...Do spirits go beyond the boundaries of the organized Earth? No, they do not. They are brought forth upon this earth, for the express purpose of inhabiting it to all eternity...If the Lord would permit it, and it was His will that it should be done, you could see the spirits that have departed from the world, as plainly as you now see bodies with your natural eyes."
Thus, Emma teaches me again. Right after Kinzie died, for weeks she would say "Mom, it's ok. Kinzie be back." I'd say not for a long time thinking of the millenium but then stopped saying that because I began to realize that I didn't want to teach what I didn't know. I know spirits can visit people in this world, usually in dreams, and didn't want to tell my daughter that was not or could not happen to her...especially if it was happening. I know children see much better than we do and maybe the veil between heaven and earth is much thinner for them. Maybe. I love both my girls as they teach me daily.
Daddy and Emma miss you too sweetie and think of you all the time!
Love, mom

Canning

I have been keeping busy by canning. My neighbors grow a huge, beautiful garden and are more than willing to share. Thus, I have bottled tomatoes and salsa from their tomatoes and peppers and onions. In addition, many neighbors have apple trees that they aren't harvesting and after asking around was able to pick to my heart's content. I canned applesauce and apple pie filling and have been making pies! I then decided to buy pears and peaches from Utah and can them too. They were the only thing I had to buy! I was so excited. I'm getting ready to do the last batch of salsa again as it's now finally getting cold and the tomatoes are done. I just had to boast for a second I guess because I was amazed at what first began as busy work to distract my thoughts turned into some great food storage! Here is my list:

16 quarts of Tomatoes

35 pints Salsa

24 quarts of Applesauce

30 quarts Apple Pie Filling

50 quarts of Pears

5 pints of Pearsauce

50 quarts of Peaches

My neighbor and I were talking about how much we miss having a DI around us and that I wanted to get Emma a big wheel or bike. She ended up going to Utah shortly after to visit her daughter who just happened to be giving this bike to the DI. She gave it to us instead! They brought it all the way back from Utah just for Emma! And Emma loves it.

Annual Taylor Sweet Corn Festival!

We love the sweet corn festival and have gone every year so far. This year it was over Labor Day weekend and we decided to splurge the ridiculous $5 and let Emma ride the pony. We wondered if she would get scared and not want to do it but she LOVED it! We had to wait in line for an hour and endure parents, yes parents, butting in line for their children. Poor Emma just cried and cried saying "I been good. I waited my turn." Finally it was her turn and she was in Heaven. Her pony's name was Thatcher but she called him "Skatcher!" She didn't even throw a fit to do it again when it was done. Just said goodbye to Skatcher and got back in her stroller.

(Yes Brittany, those are purses in the background. Bet you wish you'd come again this year!)

Coming Home

We came home at the end of August so that Cale could start back to work. My wonderful sister Jamie and her daughter Summer came with us for a week and a half (thanks James)! I had been dreading coming home to the empty house. We had already put all of the baby stuff away but I knew we'd find things here and there and plus I left the crib up even though she had just barely started using it during our nap time. Once my sister offered to come with us it didn't seem so hard. I was kept busy with two kids and all their noise in the house and with my sister for company. Soon after she left I took a 2 week sub job at the high school I taught at last year and declined again an offer to come back and work. I just need to be with my Emma. She needs me and I need her. I'll start work again at BYU Idaho teaching online courses in math on my own time! It will keep me busy, provide some extra income and keep me home with Emma.

These two little girls love each other. They were so sad to be separated again. They held hands like this in the car and on stroller walks in separate strollers.

We left with a volunteer squash plant and flower in our yard and came home to 3 pumpkins!

Emma is adjusting well but I found her here in Kinzie's crib shortly after Jamie and Summer left.

My beautiful little girl is back to smiling and entertaining herself....for seconds at a time anyway. She loves dress-ups and enjoyed her presents from Grandma Young and mommy and daddy.