Sad news...

I wish I could always relay the good,but that is not what this life is always about. We found out this thursday, that our littlest Allan would not be born. 9 weeks gestation. We will look forward to the next time, hopefully soon.

Our new home In Hereford AZ!

Here is a picture I took from a flower in our yard.

Well,We made it and have finally settled. This month has been such an adventure. So I put our pictures and some captions on Picasa,It has pictures of our home, here is the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/jenneeallan

We are MOVING!!

Yeah, so it all happened pretty fast. We found out there was a chance we would PCS to Fort Huachuca AZ in March. April 8th we found out for sure. One week later we got orders and now on Friday our stuff gets packed and loaded. Wow, we both said it still hasn't hit us. We have loved it here. Our home,Tennessee,our neighbors,our ward, the people Michael has worked with,our foster care company, and out girls that we have had in our home. We are sad, but we may come back in a few years, or so the Army is saying. I don't mean to hurt the Army's feelings ( as if they had any) But I don't trust them, sooo we shall see. This will be our 10th move in 12 years of marriage and our 6th state. Libbie is sad to leave her best friend. Aadric is thrilled to go because there are scorpions, tarantulas, lizards and cool bugs. I don't know if Kaedrin gets it,but he said if we take the Wii,that is what he is excited about. What Michael is excited about is that he will be doing what he has waited a year and a half to do. Work with UAS's. And heading up the first training of a new kind of UAS. The ERMP. ( yeah, I don't remember what that stands for).
I am excited because we will be 10-12 HOURS AWAY FROM FAMILY!!!!!!!!

They are so sweet.

We went to Utah!

What a blast! We got to see Jeanette and her kids, Wrestle with Charlie and get fab photos done by Carrie, Play pretend with Cozy and Elias, Have a sleep over with Lennyx, Boston and Ashton. See the Burton parents home from there mission.Surprise the Allan Parents with a visit of the WHOLE family for the first time in 11 years. And last but not least.... Get really sick and have to leave early:)

We found the snake!!!

Shortly after Shanon came she saved up her money and got a snake. The snake got out of the tank and the only comfort I found was that the person who sold it said that it needed to be warmed by a strong heat lamp, so of course it would die. Michael was looking for something for Kaedrin and he found "Shatooka" the funny thing is that Shanon,Michael and I have all dreamed she is alive. Its been 4 months!! The kids had fun watching her eat 2 little baby mice.

We got Chickens!

Amber inspired me! Now we just hope they live and someday produce Organic eggs:)
It would be funny if they all turned out to be roosters.

Shanon meets her Dad for the first time!!

Shanon Bryan has been in our home for 5 months now. She came to stay while Michael was in a 5 month long training in Arizona. I got a call from the state telling me this girl was a runaway. What they failed to let me know was that she was also on state probation AND house arrest. Not to mention, she had one of the strictest probation officers around. I'll admit Ms Byran took me for what I was worth.....
Here I am, just a little Mormon from Utah, Homeschooling my kids,trying to be a supportive wife to my husband in the Army. Innocent right;) I might look that way to some. What most don't know was that I grew up in Glendale (Ghetto of SLC) and that my parents liked to teach their kids to live like pioneers.
So I caught on quickly to her. Each time I have gotten a girl in my home I immediately start observing and planning what would be the best way to help them,specifically. With one girl it was to make sure she understood the world didn't revolve around her :). With one girl it was to show love unconditional. With one it was to make clear rules and clear consequences and be consistent. With one it was to feel apart of a family. With one, to know that God is good. Now, I know they all need all of those things, but some need one more than the other. With Shanon I felt kindness and gentleness. I cannot relay her life but I will say she has not seen much of that. How much fun has it been to show kindness,gentleness and motherly tenderness to someone who hasn't gotten allot of it? Most things pail in comparison to the reward.
Anyway, When she first came I had to pray quite often and ask father if he was SURE this was the right thing. I have never seen such an angry girl. But I saw the soft side too, so I held on.
The first day I saw that she could receive something and change was when we met her Probation officer. He was so mean, I had to keep my mouth from dropping in shock, I instantly liked him!!!
He wouldn't let her sit down and he brought up all the stuff she had done. I asked him,when we were alone if he minded that I allow him to be the bad guy for a while and I could be on her side. He agreed. So I told him how well I thought she was doing and acknowledged what she had been through and that I felt that she could change given the opportunity to be in an atmosphere that was safe. She came home that night and did her chore without complaint...SUCCESS!
All I can say is the last few months have been such an adventure. If anyone wants to know more just call me,plan on a good 2 hours of me talking non-stop,ask Anna, she knows:)
Shanon is like night and day. She learns quick and she has absorbed allot. I am so proud of her!
Here is a pic of her when she first came, then her and I together,then the first time she met her real Dad. Her goal is now to go and Live with him in North Carolina. It was so neat to see her meet him for the first time. She is off house arrest, and she is doing FAB!!! Isn't she cute!