Jazzy and her quirkiness...

Jazzy is 20 months now... but these pictures are from her 18 month old check-up. I thought they were too cute not to share even though I'm way late.

But first, let me give you some updates on Jazzy and her quirkiness. She is starting to talk so much. Actually, this week she is becoming a parrot and she repeats everything I say even if I'm not talking to her. She knows where her eyes, nose, hair, face, mouth, feet, and tummy are. She also points at her shirt and says "shirt." She says some sentences that usually include: I want eat, I dropped it, I want daddy, I want night-night, and much more.

A few nights ago, I was trying to work on the computer and Jrew was having a hard time going to sleep. So, I let him lay down next to me while I worked. A few minutes after we settled in, I thought I heard the doorknob jiggle.. and I looked up but didn't see anything. So, a few minutes later, I heard something else in the hallway. I thought maybe Thomas was home so I said "THOMAS?" and I heard "mama".

Jazzy had gotten out of her crib and was coming to get me. I was freaking out.. how in the world did she get out of her crib. But, sure enough... she can get out on her on. I took her down to the room (which I'm trying to refer to as the kids room for Jrew's sake and not baby room.). Anyway, she was able to get up to the top of the crib railing in probably less than 30 seconds. Of course, I stopped her before she could get out completely. But last night I again found her getting out of her crib just before she dropped down to the floor. I may have to put a bunch of pillows there until we are able to get the conversion kit that turns her bed into a toddler bed. Wow... what fun!

Enjoy the pictures... I took them while we were waiting for the doctor. She's just toooo cute!!!

Jrew's birthday

Jrew turned 3! He is (obviously) so very cute. He loves to sing. His current selection is the veggie tales theme song. He can't always remember the words, so he is singing "broccoli, broccoli" over and over again.

He talks a lot! (like his mama). He loves people and loves to give hugs. He is so compassionate and is always concerned for others. Last night, we were wondering where he was when we were walking out of a restaurant to our car and realized he was holding the door for people. :)

He is a fabulous little guy. He loves being a "brudder" and adores Jazzy most of the time. Other times, he is heartbroken because he "steals" his food, his drink, and sometimes his whole plate.

Jrew has a funny sense of humor. Here are two examples:

Last week, while we were driving to church, out of the blue Jrew said "I'll blow your house up." I queried "What?" and at the convenience of a stoplight, I turned to look at him. He just blew a puff of air at me and smiled. I laughed so hard and then I asked him where he had heard the story of the Three Little Pigs (because he didn't hear it from me). He said "Goldilocks."

Over the summer, sometimes Jrew would lay in bed beside me to fall asleep while I read. One night, he reached over and grabbed at my page while making a crunching sound. He smiled and said "I ate your letter. Do you want it back?"

I will update about Jazzy in a little bit. I am so far behind, I thought I'd at least start with Jrew's birthday. Enjoy!

New photos!

New photos of Jazzy and Jrew! Click here!

A few notes about the kids...

Jazzy is 17 (going on 18) months old. She is so precious. She is learning new words fast and babbles all the time. She has said "my milk" and "I want some". She also said (believe it or not) "I can't reach it" when she was trying to get Jrew's toothbrush down from the sink. It was more like "I tant teach it"

Jrew is a spitfire, just like Jazzy. Jrew is very close to being ready for big boy underwear and ditching the pull-ups. I think by summer's end it will be official. Jrew loves to read, knows all of his letters, and picks up song lyrics like they were made of sugar. After reading a story to him, he said "Please read this to me." and when I said "not now, mommy's tired" and he teared up and said "I can't read!". Of course, that woke me right up. Who else should teach him? ME! ME!

So, camp starts for us in about 1 week. I can't tell you how many loads of laundry I have waiting on me to organize. By the time I get them folded, it will be time to wash them again and pack for camp. :) Love that cycle.

I may be going to 1st or 2nd grade next year and I am so excited!!! It will hopefully be official next week. Rooting for 1st!!

Hope you all enjoy the pics. Look for another update soon during camp!

Love, The Roses

Jazzy and Jrew showing off.

Here is an attempt to upload a few videos for you all to see. They usually take forever to load. Here goes...

Growing Up

Here are a few pics of the kids. They are growing up, yes. But we are enjoying every minute of it!

How Great Thou Art

Sadly, Granddaddy Rose parted this life on Thursday, April 7, 2011. His memoriam can be read here. Before he passed, he mentioned that his favorite hymn was How Great Thou Art.

And truly, we thank thee Father for peace. How Great You Are!

Jacob's Ladder

From left to right: Baby Thomas Jerome Rose IV (Jrew), Thomas Jerome Rose III (Jay),

Thomas Jerome Rose II (Ron), and Thomas Orie Rose I.

Words cannot truly express how grateful Thomas and I were to have some special time with Granddaddy yesterday evening. After returning from dinner, we found ourselves in his room with no distractions. Some cousins had taken the kids to the complimentary playroom that the Hospice Center offers. It was just me, “Jay”, and Granddaddy Thomas. You should know that Thomas is referred to as Jay in the Rose family. Since Granddaddy is the first Thomas Rose in the family, he gets to use the name rightfully so.

Often during these two days, Granddaddy wakes and talks to those of us in the room. Some of what he says is incoherent, confusing, and doesn’t quite make sense. Other times, he says things you would normally expect from someone who is tired of being in a hospital. “Get me out of here” “Take me home”. He usually lifts his head a few inches off the pillow only to lay it right back down. He is so weak and in much pain so he keeps his legs curled up toward his chest and keeps his eyes closed sometimes when he talks.

As he began to talk, we slowly began to understand some of what he was explaining to us. He was talking about making choices and that some choose to the right thing and others choose to the wrong thing. He referred to the Bible once or twice and began leading into an interesting conversation about Aladdin. (This part was confusing). He then said “That’s why I’m here. I’m sick because I chose to do the wrong thing.” I couldn’t believe he had truly said that. I of course told him that wasn’t true. He was sick but it was not a punishment from God by any means. Thomas began to talk to him about forgiveness and told Granddaddy that it was his faith that Thomas had looked up to as a child. The fact that Granddaddy is a believer and ready for a better place is no secret. He is a faithful man who has lived a life as so. He agreed with Thomas and started to talk some again.

Soon he began to talk about Jacob’s ladder in the Bible. He talked about where it was in the Bible and so Thomas took Granddaddy’s Bible off the shelf nearby and found the reference. Genesis 28. Thomas asked me to read the chapter aloud and I gladly accepted the honor. I began to read aloud the story of Jacob and Esau. Pretty quickly, the scripture begin to describe a dream that Jacob had.

He dreamed of a ladder. At the top of the ladder was the Heavenly Father and angels were going up and down the ladder. He spoke to Jacob and said he would bless Jacob and his descendants and would grant them the ground on which he was sleeping. God even says “I’ll stick with you until I’ve done everything I promised you.”

When Jacob awoke, he proclaimed that God was “in this very place” and was awestruck. He declared “This is God’s House” and “This is the Gate of Heaven.” Jacob vowed to God that he will be faithful and he will return a tenth of all that he is given back to God.”

Through tears I read the story and tried hard not to weep too loudly. I certainly don’t want Granddaddy to be saddened. However, it was a very sweet and holy moment. It felt as if Granddaddy knew he is near the end of life. Of course, Granddaddy is 82 and knows that his time on earth is nearing the finish line. However, just how soon the Father will choose to take him home no one knows.

From this conversation, we can rest in the truth that Granddaddy knows his maker. He is endeared to God and his family is (like Jacob) blessed. He has many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to be spoken for. I am not born into the Rose family, but I also like to think of Granddaddy as my own flesh and blood.

Thomas Rose I is a man of faith, love, truth, honor, courage, bravery, and uprightness. He has lived an example of these in every sense and loves the Lord with all of his heart. He desires to do right by the Savior and prays for his descendants to also believe with a full heart. When the Father chooses to reunite Granddaddy with his beloved wife Sarah, we will truly be saddened and broken for the loss of such an amazing man. However, we may rejoice in knowing that he is with his loved ones that have “gone on before him.” He will no longer be in pain. He will regain the youthful and strong body that he once owned. Walking and playing the organ (some of his favorite things to do) will be but a glance into the glorious life he looks forward to.

He will be with Jesus. The One who gave His life for all. A ransom for us to redeem us from our sinful state so that we may be rejoined with the Holy Father as He created us to be.

May we all take the advice of this man and choose to live a forthright and faithful life. May we choose to make the right choices and to follow God’s commands. May you know the love of God and may you truly grasp how wide, how high, how long, and how deep the love of Christ is. (Ephesians 3:14-21). And may we trust in the Father’s love and strength to help us through the days ahead.

We pray now for peace with the future. We also trust that God can perform miracles and healing. He is not ruled by time, tradition, law, or popularity. He is our Father and He is faithful to answer us when we pursue Him.