The Spirit of Santa was alive and well in the Allen household this Christmas season. The kids were up at 11:30 and had to go back to bed until 6:00. At exactly 6:01, footsteps were heard coming down the stairs....sounded more like a stampede. It was a flury of fun for 2 hours. Steve and I went back to bed at 8:30 after a delicious Allen special breakfast. Can't wait for next year! We love Christmas!

Happy Birthday to Megan! A whopping 9 years old. All she wanted for her birthday were clothes...is this an indication of things to come. Oh boy! Watch out for the teenage years. I have a feeling clothes are going to be her addiction.

I love the crazy claw hands about ready to devour her delicious raspberry and chocolate cake. YUMMY! She was so excited to sing and enjoy her very special day.

Every halloween, I am always excited to see what Megan chooses to be. This is the first halloween though she wasn't as excited as she has been in the past. She was a princess...and of course...Michael was one of the star wars troopers. He had more fun this year than I had seen him previously. I guess they switched places. Can't wait for next year to see what happens. This was an indication that my children are getting bigger and are not far away from being "too old" to go trick-or-treating.

Megan feeding her little guy! Adorable!

One of my favorite pictures! Hand in hand...no need to say anything else.

Best friends!

Buddies!

Uncle Ryan and Aunt Laurie have a wonderful piece of property with almost every imaginable animal possible. A blind goose, two corgies, lots of chickens, 5 new baby cows, horses...dogs, cats....kittens...like I said...everything possible.

Megan loves this pony! She enjoyed being escorted by her favorite cousin...Kamden.

Michael feeding one of the five babies. So cute!

First Day of School

Everyone say...Cheesey!

I love this picture! Megan loves her brother so much. This was in the neighborhood when we first moved to Grants Pass. Their school was just down the street so they were able to walk to school every day. They loved it and so did I.

Of course, now they look like they can't stand each other. Oh, can't you feel the love!

Name change.....

We found out this week that our little baby was actually a little boy. This came as quite a shock as both Steve and I felt it was a little girl, thus the name Joy. We thought of keeping the name as Joy, but it just didn't seem masculine enough and it was a bit weird talking about him and using the name Joy. So, we have decided to name him Adam. I felt a very deep spiritual connection with this name and our little boy. Adam means, "Son of the Red Earth". This seemed absolutely fitting as the only remains we have of our little baby is his ashes. We were finally able to pick up his cremains on Thursday which helped in continuing the grieving process....our little boy has finally come home.

Our precious Baby Joy!

Baby Joy!


As some of you may or may not know, we recently lost our little baby. I was 18 weeks pregnant and went in for a routine ultrasound to find out how the baby was doing and hopefully if we were blessed with a boy or a girl. Unfortunately, the routine ultrasound turned into something not so routine for Steve and I. We found out our little one had passed away sometime within the previous week. Needless to say we were devastated. We were all so very excited to add this little one into our home. Michael couldn't wait to be a big brother again, hopefully to a little brother, and Megan was so excited to have someone to hold and kiss.


Although the week has been difficult, we have found much comfort in the arms and prayers of our ward family here in Belmont. They all have been absolutely amazing! We also have had the support and love needed from each of our families and truly could not have moved forward with the faith we have without them.


We have felt the awesome power of love the Lord provides to those who are hurting. We have gained a greater appreciation for the eternal plan....not just the earthly life we are currently living. Steve and I now look at our children with a different set of eyes; truly amazed at the sheer miracle of their life but also all they have brought into our family. They are the only medicine I needed. They have both filled the hurt in my heart and have helped me to move forward, remembering they are still here and still need their mom.


We know, one day, we will be with Joy again and be able to raise this precious spirit. We know, life is uncertain and so live every day to the very, very best we can....for we truly do not know what will come tomorrow. I wrap my arms around my loved ones tighter than ever before and say "I Love You" and "I am so proud of you" as much as I can to let them know how important they are to me.


We are given trials that at times seem bigger than anything we could ever handle, but, with the Lord on our side, we can be blessed with the strength to overcome all things. His ways, are not our ways, and if we trust in Him, have faith in the plan He created for each one of us, we will be just fine. He will never abandon us, instead, he will stand next to us and help us navigate all the pitfalls and mountains that come our way.


Without the trials in my life thus far, I would not have been able to gather the strength and faith needed to find my way through this most recent one. I give thanks to my God....for He will never, ever abandon me.


Here are some pictures of the furniture I painted for baby Joy. It was a painstaking process, but worth every cramp, every foot that fell asleep and every paint stain on my clothes. We did find a wonderful home for all of our baby items to go where a special little boy is enjoying all of it. Even in times of desperation and heartache, little blessings and joys pop up all around you. This was one of them.