WHERE OH WHERE DID MY LITTLE BOY GO???

I can feel the emotions rising as we prepare for the last days of High School for my one and only son. Gosh---how and why does it all happen so quickly? What do we learn from this very short time together? Is he really ready to be on his own at college? Is he really ready to cut the home strings that have been so attached for over 18 years?

James has been and still is a great kid. He has a wonderful sense of humor and he loves to have fun. He has great leadership skills and has been asked to use those skills throughout his life in many different areas: Teaching piano for 5 years, the "lead" at work, serving as president in priesthood quorums, Zion's camp presidency, and many other leadership positions. I hope that he knows that a great leader will always be something that the world needs right now.

James is a great example to his family and friends. He doesn't speak ill of anyone. He is very responsible and he enjoys helping other people. He reads his scriptures every day and he has shared his testimony every Fast Sunday for the last three months. He is doing what he can to prepare himself for his mission in a year.
He loves his two sisters and knows how to speak their language. He is a spiritual giant in our lives and we will miss him when he leaves our home.

I just don't think that I am ready to have my one and only son gone from me. I haven't taught him everything yet!! Where did my little boy go? I know where he went, he has grown into a handsome young man who is ready to move on with life and be what we have taught him to be, and be what his Heavenly Father wants him to be.
I just hope that he never forgets that our home is his home--always!!!
Love you James--thanks for being such a great young man!!!

SPRING=HARD WORK!!!

I love the Spring--don't get me wrong. It is just that there is so much to do out in the yard during this beautiful time of year. I hauled two loads of compost to the garden from the dump ( I get it from the dump because it is pretty inexpensive).
I spread it all over the garden and my flower beds and Michael tilled it all in for me. It looked very rich and ready to be planted--I just love the way it looks after it has been freshly tilled. I actually planted some peas yesterday. My tomato and pepper seedlings are getting bigger but not quite yet big enough to plant in the garden yet---they are like my little babies. I love seeing the lawn turning all pretty and green but I despise all the wasps that swarm outside no matter where I am. The wasps must be a "Utah" thing. I have spent most of my days this week in the yard getting it ready for flowers and vegetables. I lather up with sunscreen, water, put the hat on and go outside to enjoy the beauty that Spring has finally brought me. I do really love Spring!!

SUNDAY WILL ALWAYS COME

Easter morning was just beautiful when the sun rose up over the mountains. My thoughts turned to that day so long ago when the Savior rose from the tomb. How thankful I am that we will all rise and we will be reunited again with our loved ones. I love Easter and the purpose for this beautiful holiday. I am so thankful for my Savior and his unconditional love for me. I think about the great gift of the Atonement and feel that at times I am so undeserving of His great love and mercy for me. I truly stand amazed at that kind of love. I know He lives and that someday I may fall at his feet and express my great love to Him. For it truly is wonderful that he could care for me enough to die for me. I love that Hymn "I Stand All Amazed",I can't sing it without tears. What a wonderful gift to have such blessings given to us because someone loves us so much.

I think about the talk that Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin gave not too long ago about the gift of the resurrection. He talked about the loneliness of being without his sweet wife after her passing. I loved that talk and I think about it quite often when I have some struggles in life. I try to remember that Sunday will always come.

On a lighter note, we had the "BIG" Jasperson Easter, Spring, and Birthday party at our house on Saturday. Dad turned 75 on Friday and so we partied to make him feel special and loved by his family. It takes so much work to plan and prepare for those parties but it turned out great. We had 35 people and we had to put everyone downstairs because it was not really good weather outside. It as a house full but it was so much fun. I love seeing those little kids play together and just have fun at my house. The food was good. We felt bad that our turkey didn't get finished in time for us to serve it at dinner time. It was a really large turkey and it took a really long time to cook in the trash can. We shared some with everyone and we will have lots of turkey dishes this week to use up the rest. We were glad to know that we could fit everyone in our basement and that we could have heat to warm it up when it is cold. It was fun seeing everyone and getting caught up on siblings and their children. It is good to be back in Utah and we can participate more in the family activities and even host the parties every once in awhile. We love you all and thank you for coming. We missed those that couldn't come and look forward to the time we can all be together.

OUR OLDER JAMES

This is James at the Clark Planetarium with a huge expandable ball on his head.

It was James' birthday on Saturday. I can't believe that I have a son that is 18 years old. He is just a great young man. I don't know what I did right to have such a great kid as my own. We spent the day together as a family. We went to the Clark Planetarium to see the IMAX movie "Under the Sea" in 3D. It was just amazing.After the movie we went to Applebees for dinner and the food was very yummy and filling. I was just amazed at how much food James could eat. The girls and I had the General Young Women broadcast to go to that night so James and his Dad just stayed home listening to basketball games.



This is James on Mars---he's still good looking even on Mars!!


We have this tradition that on our children's birthday, we have to talk about their birth and how excited we were as parents to have them finally here. James' birth was very scary--we almost lost our first child. He was an emergency C-section because he had the cord wrapped around his neck twice and a true knot in the cord. We feel so blessed to have his as a part of our family. I hope that he always knows the great love his parents have for him.
James passed his board of review for his Eagle and he passed with flying colors. So, James is legally an Eagle. We will plan the Court of Honor for a future date.
James, you are an amazing young man--we love you so much. Always be a good example.