GUESS WHAT?????

I SAID YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep... you heard me. Devon and I have been dating for quite a while now and he proposed to me on Feb. 1st and I said yes :) :) I have never been happier in my life! So I figured I would share our story with all of you.

Devon and I met last March out dancing. I first saw Devon on the dance floor and something about him caught my eye and I knew right then and there that there was something there. Being that I had recently gotten divorced... I was trying to steer clear of men for a while. And Devon too had just gotten out of a bad relationship and thought all beautiful women were "evil" :) So needless to say (according to him)... that's why he avoided me all night. He danced with everyone BUT me that night. He was a friend of my girlfriend Tricia and she went to say goodnight to him at the end of the night. And that's when I walked over and said to him," What? You too good to ask me to dance?" So we danced and called it a night.

The next morning I had received a message from Devon on FB asking me out for coffee. Being that he wasn't a member of the church... I kindly told him that I don't drink coffee and that I wasn't looking for a relationship but that he is more than welcome to come to Movie Night that I hosted every week at my house. So he nervously came and ended us staying til 4 in the morning chatting with me :)

Long story short.... I felt the need to continue to date around and not settle down with anyone. I needed to see what was out there and find what was best for me. Sweet Devon sat back and played the "friend" role as I went on date after date with different guys. All the while... he would tell me how beautiful I looked as I left on these dates. During all this time, I had received a new calling at church.... Gospel Doctrine Teacher. Scare me to death! Devon had been very set in his way that he had no desire to know much about Mormons but I took a chance anyways and invited him to come listen to me teach my first Sunday. So he willingly did... later reveling that it wouldn't have looked good on his "resume" to not come support me :) That Sunday, everything Devon needed to hear in his life... he heard! With tears streaming down his face... he KNEW that he needed to learn more. Without me knowing... he met with the missionaries for WEEKS. And came to me one day and told me he wanted to be baptized. I was shocked! Being leary as to his intentions as to why he was being baptized... I struggled with his choice. But after many talks with my mother... I came to realize that Devon's choices were his own and I needed to support him the same way that he has constantly been supporting me. So on August 14th, Devon got baptized :)

Now let's jump forward to the afternoon of Feb. 1st. I had a nail appointment in the afternoon and Devon text me and asked me if we could go for a drive later. I agreed and he took me up to Look out Point on the way up to Virginia City. ( Months before this he and I had gone up there and had an AMAZING day. It was a pretty special memory for us. ) And as it was completely FREEZING.... he told me to take off my gloves and to close my eyes. I did so and when I opened my eyes... he was down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said, "YES! Ten times over!!!" We kissed and he said, "I would cry but my tears would freeze." It was too cute! So very simple yet so sweet. It was perfect!!!

We later went home and asked the girls how they would feel if mommy was to marry Devon. They got SOOOOO excited! They absolutely ADORE him and the feelings are mutual. I truly never thought I would find someone who would love me AND would love my girls like their own. You would NEVER be able to tell that these girls were not his. The connection and bond that they share brings me to tears. I truly believe that the Lord has blessed me in ways I NEVER thought possible by putting Devon in our lives! We are SOOOO excited to start our new life together and all that it brings. I am sooo grateful for all in my life who have supported me on this long, hard road that I was on and in sharing our joy and excitement for the future. I truly am soooo happy and I absolutely LOVE my life!!!!

Yes we are still alive.....

Believe it or not... we are. The Hemerson Chicks are alive, well and kickin. We have been enjoying life too much to stop and write about it. Lots has gone on and too much to write but here is the readers digest version..... I am still working at Kids R Kids... now in the baby room and I love it. I have 12 babies from the ages of 6 weeks to 1 year. I never thought this would happen but I am now an early riser. I am to work by 6:30 in the morning so that I can get off work the same time my girls get out of school. I couldn't possibly accomplish this task if it weren't for my sister (Kayla) who moved out here to Reno about a month ago. And that of my new boyfriend, Devon. Yep.. you read right.... I took the plunge and am dating again. He is amazing and my children adore him. And that is perfect for me... for now :)

The girls are doing great. Aleah is now in 3rd grade and loves her teacher, Ms. Martinez. She is taking piano and while it is usually a fight to get to her practice... she is getting the hang on it :) She is still in art, music and reading. Her imagination hasn't dwindled a bit and it is fun watching her learn and grow. Mya is my big 1st grader now and has the same teacher that Aleah had, Ms. Meissner. I absolutely adore her as much as Mya does. Mya is very much a momma's girl and is usually found glued to my hip and doing whatever it is that I am doing. She is also in gymnastics now and is doing really well with that. It is fun watching her do something that is just HER.

Here are some pics of things that we have been doing. All very fun stuff and all very random.... but that's how I love life ;)

Is it really already April???

So where has 2010 gone? I apparently have been too busy to notice that it has flown by... and have gotten plently of slack at my lack of blogging for the year. Maybe because it has been my lack of picture taking as well. But here is going to be a really quick 4 month update of everything that has happened. First off.... New Years Eve. This year I decided the girls were old enough to stay up with us. A couple of friends came over and we just chilled :) It was wonderful :)



Secondly, about a month ago I decided that the girls could have a big play date. So they each invited some friends over from school and we partied it up. Pizza, soda, junk food, movies, fingernail painting, games.... the works. It was a absolute BLAST!!! A must do again sometime :)



And beyond that.... we have been up to nothing but school and my work. But I am happy to announce that we are all alive and happy. All the sickness that has been hitting our house is almost done and gone. Let's just hope it doesn't keep coming back. We are very ready for summer to hit as the girls are on their homeward stretch for this year in school. Hard to believe that Aleah will be in 3rd grade very soon and that Mya will be in 1st. Wow! Can time just stop yet???

Christmas

Christmas this year was a bit hard but I think that considering our life changes.... it turned out to be a GREAT christmas for the girls. They were able to spend Christmas eve with their dad and they had a great time. Did all the fun traditions we used to do.... bake cookies for Santa and all.... :) I got to have a quiet evening out with some dear friends... had dinner and wrapped presents. I even got to sleep in the next day :) The girls came home Christmas day and we had a blast opening presents. Then we went to see A Princess and the Frog! TOO CUTE :) :) And sadly... I left my camera in Utah the week before and so I was unable to get too many pictures this year :( But I got a couple of pictures on my camera... so it works :) So over all, the girls made a hall and Christmas was as great as it could be. I can't complain :)

Aleah's First Piano Recital

Aleah started taking piano lessons about 4 months ago and had her very first recital. She did a GREAT job! She played a piece called On a Funny, Sunny Day. I am SOOO proud of her and how well she is doing playing. Look at how grown up she looks!

Halloween 09

Crazy year.... fun year! Costume craziness. Pumpkins Patches. Lots of school and work parties and TONS of candy. What more could you ask for :)

Happy REALLY late 7th birthday Aleah

Wow! I am so not good at this. So I publicly apologize to Aleah and my lack of staying on top of things with her. Not like I don't have alot going on in my life right now... right? But hey... better late than never... right? (is my just justification working?? :)) Without much ado....

Dear Aleah,

Happy SEVENTH birthday my beautiful sweetheart. I almost called you my little girl but I think that you are past that stage. As much as that makes me sad... I am SO happy to watch you grow into such a beautiful girl.

You have always been such a wonderful part of my life. I have loved watching you learn and grow in life. You love to come home from school (the 2nd grade.... already!!!) and tell me all about the things you are learning. I have loved to see the light in your eye as you "get" something. It is fun to watch you with Mya.... trying to teach her all the things that you are learning.

You absolutely LOVE to read. I am shocked when you came home one day from school and asked me for the book Ralph and the Motorcycle. WOW! You are reading books that big already?!? Needless to say... I was SO excited going to the bookstore to pick out new books for you. What a fun door we are starting to open. You also LOVE your computer games. You wake me up every morning asking me if you can play the computer :) You have just started playing the piano and this thrills me beyond all words! You are picking it up SO well and I have never been more proud!

You still have an imagination the size of Texas! I find you playing in your own little world all the time :) I hope that that innocence stays with you for a long long time. You are such a delight and you make friends so easily. I love how sweet you are to those around you. And especially to your little sister. You two are the best of friends and it makes my heart smile.

Aleah... I want you to know that I love you SO much. I am so grateful that the Lord put you in my life. The Lord knew what I needed when He gave me you! Happy birthday sweetheart! I love you!!!

Love, Mom