Tragedy

Soooo, it's been a while. Yes, I have Slacked! For that, I am sorry! I guess I have just been moved today to write down my thoughts. I have noticed as of late that there is so much tragedy that surrounds us everyday, and yet, we still have to get up everyday and live our lives the best we can.

Recently, my best friend's little boy, who is also one of Zach's closest friends, fell from a slide and sustained traumatic brain injury. He has been in Primary Children's Medical Center for a little over 3 weeks now and is making great progress. It will be a journey for him and his family to get through this awful tragedy, but I know that angels are watching over them and that they will get through this trying time.

I also had a family friend pass away on Saturday morning from a drug overdose. I can't tell you the suffering that I'm sure his family has gone through the last 6 years of his life. He served a mission, got straight A's in school, and was a great athlete. But he suffered with Obessive Compulsive Disorder and so he turned to drugs to deal with his suffering.

I had a very close cousin die of an overdose when she was 21, and at her funeral, the bishop said that she could no longer progress on this earth, and that is why Heavenly Father allowed her to die. WOW. I don't want to halt my progression in anyway. I want to keep moving. But it makes me more compassionate to those who do struggle on this earth I guess. I look at what Josh Powell did to his family and I am so grateful I do not have to judge him, because it wouldn't be pretty. Why on earth would he do that?? Once again, grateful I am not the judge.

All of the people in my life that have experienced tragedy recently are all wonderful, faithful, latter-day saints. So lds are not immune to tragedy. It happens to everyone. No one can escape it. I guess it is how they are able to deal with tragedy is what differentiates them from others that do not share the same faith. I see miracles and great hope and faith in these people. The sadness is still very real, but they are able to be lifted up and comforted and somehow get through. I am grateful for my testimony, and although my trials have been very humbling and sometimes embarrassing, I am grateful for them. So grateful.

Our 2011 Christmas Letter

MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A
HAPPY NEW YEAR
2011
We have had a very eventful year with many wonderful blessings and new experiences that continually keep us on our toes and as you can tell we didn’t get the chance to take a nice family photo. We purchased an annual pass to Disneyland this year and were able to visit family and enjoy Mickey Mouse many times. We also enjoyed a Criddle Family Reunion in Arizona as well as a few other fun weekend trips here and there. Emily and Jake were a ma and pa for our stake trek this year and had an amazing experience. We also celebrated our 10-year anniversary in October. Jake thoroughly enjoys working at Alpine Treatment and with his partner, has built a wonderful business. Emily finished school in October with a B.A. in Psychology and would love to go on to get her masters soon. Zachary (8) is spunky, feisty, and fun as ever. He gets straight A’s, loves basketball, and sings in the Utah Children’s Choir. Brady (4) is in preschool, played baseball and loves his swim lessons. He has a constant smile and is a joy in our home! We feel extremely blessed this Christmas Season and are so very grateful for our friends, family, and loving Savior. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2012.
Love, Jake, Emily, Zachary, & Brady Shoff

IT IS TIME

Hey all! It is time I go private. Leave your email address and I will send you an invite. There has just been too many random searches for us on google and weird sites coming up on my blog. Not that we are famous, but I fear there might be some old stalkers of Jakes :). Haha!

Ohhhhh the Answers!

A Beautifully, HEALTHY UTERUS!


So most everyone knows that we have been trying to have a baby for a few years and there has been no explanation as to why "IT" hasn't happened. After all it only took 2 months to get pregnant with Zachy but then took 16 months to get pregnant with Brady. All of our testing, (before we conceived Brady) came back basically normal and healthy. So we decided to go up to the "U" and see a fertility specialist last year. Well, the Dr. basically threw me on Clomid and did an IUI (intrauterine insemination) and called it good. Yes, I felt like a number there. We knew that we didn't want to go back. It didn't feel right. So we waited and decided to save the money for IVF. Well, I just couldn't figure out where I wanted to go to start the long road of fertility treatments. I had spoken to a couple different reproductive endocrinologists, both of whom I didn't feel good about. So I went to see my wonderful OB. HE referred me to a wonderful practice in A.F. Oh the difference was immediately evident in patient care and priority. Dr. Faulk, who Jake and I were both impressed with, instantly diagnosed my problem in a matter of 30 minutes. First off, I produce more LH than FSH, which is why I am so cool and not moody, HAHA! (Men produce more LH than FSH). Secondly, and more importantly, I have a 2 inch round endometrioma on my left ovary and stage 4 endometriosis! I have no predisposing factors other than my c-section, that would cause endometriosis. 2 months= Zach, 16= Brady, and the condition has worsened. So I started developing it after my c-section with Zach!

Oh, the answers are astounding and wonderful all at the same time! Here is what my uterus looks like! :)

Endometriosis (or unhealthy uterus)


My massive cyst!


So, I will be getting surgery soon and will need your prayers of course! Hopefully they can clean it all out and I will be good to go! You just never know what will come your way in this life, I tell ya. So grateful for an amazingly loving and supportive hubby that is so awesome! And Of course to a rock star Dr. that waisted no time in figuring out what was wrong and to get it fixed right away! Blessings, Blessings, Blessings! Too many to count!

Trek 2011

Well, a few weekends ago, Jake and I returned home from serving as a Ma and Pa at our Stake Trek. I can tell you that I was really excited to go at first but as it approached, I started to comprehend the great responsibility that we had signed on to do. I started feeling nervous and a bit upset, if you will, at the list of things we were responsible for.
Well, the morning came and Jake and I left at 6:30 AM to head out on our pioneer journey. We arrived at our trek site about 2 1/2 hours later, met our 8 children, loaded our 600 pound handcart, and started on our way. 33 miles, and 3 days later, we arrived back home, and I can't tell you how this experience has changed my life. My 8 children starting with Juan-18, Kaden-16, Kirsten-16, Ashton-16, Kiley, 15, Annabelle, 15, Justin, 14, and Zachary 14, all became apart of my life forever. I know that Jake and I were suppose to be there for these 8 kids, and to be their ma and pa on trek.
We were witness the to most amazing miracles in what would take months or years in "real life", in only a day or two on trek. WOW! Lot's of tears, laughter, hardship, trials, long talks, and instant bonding took place out on the hills of Wyoming.
When we arrived home, smelly, dirty, tired, hungry, blistered, and spiritually renewed, we stood in a circle as a family, and sobbed our eyes out because we didn't want to say goodbye to eachother. We truly loved one another and all felt the same way, that we were meant to be in eachother's lives for a reason. If I could only share some of the sweet miracles that took place, I would! I just want my 8 kids to know, how much I love them, and appreciate how they let Jake and I take part in their lives, for a brief time! We promise to be at every mission farewell and every temple wedding! Love~ Mommy and Pa....


PS. DAYBREAK STAKE TUG O' WAR CHAMPS WOOP WOOP!!!!

Here are some cute pics of our family...

Getting ready for the Company Championship (there were 3 companies with 10 families a piece)

Jake hanging out of our 2 man tent. He had 18 blisters on his feet by the time we got home! So sad but he was a trooper and walked the whole way!

7 of our 8 kids ( L to R ) Ashton, Kirsten, Annabelle, Zachary, Juan, Kiley, and Kaden) Justin must have sneaked off!

Us gearing up for the last day's trek! Can you see how dirty my skirt was!?

Arriving back at base camp Jake and Kaden began unloading the handcart..

Our family huddled together, one last time, saying goodbye, sobbing and telling our kids how much we loved them. All of us were a bit emotional!

One last pic, with our family flag. We were all crying being babies! Love you guys! ( Annabelle left after our huddle)

Hold em tight

So I randomly... sometimes.... I go onto Jake's facebook account to check any haps in our family and friend's lives. I just happened to read a post from Jake's friend from high school. It basically said, "Pray for this sweet family as they have lost their mom." It went on to say that you could read a post on their family blog from her husband, so naturally I was interested and went to the link. I can't tell you how this has affected my life. I read the post last Thursday and I would encourage anyone and all to go their blog and read it. It is www.dennyandwendy.blogspot.com.

Trust me, the tears will flow. I think for me, I realize that even though I am young and healthy(for the most part), any of us, at any moment, could be taken. I am sure Wendy was an exceptional person for her to be taken from her sweet little family. I just have to say, that I have held my little ones and my husband a little closer lately. Obviously yesterday was Mother's Day, and I think of her little children yearning to be with her and to give her their precious homemade cards and gifts. I have cried many times thinking about them. I sobbed last night in bed at 12:30 am. Yes, I am a boob, but this has touched me so deeply. She was exactly my age, graduated with Jake from Af, had 3 little children and were about to really start their lives.

I just have to say that I am so grateful for this time in my life. I adore my husband and I cherish my little boys. When I hear of things like this, I just have to think...... time is short, we shouldn't waste it on being mean..... jealous......hurtful......passing judgement......sarcastic.......prideful.......and unforgiving. Too Short. I have recently started to pray for opportunities to be kind to someone in need. To reach out to someone that may need a friend. Don't we all need that??? I know that I do. I have many wonderful friends and family that are always so good to me. I hope that I can show you all that I simply appreciate and adore every single one of you. Again, please take time to read the post from Wendy's husband. It's amazing. Here's to holding our loved ones a little tighter and to always striving to be kind to each other.

I can smell........spring!

So spring is Definitely in the air! There will be two new Shoff babies ( 1 niece and 1 nephew) born this year! We also added McCall Miles to the Shoff family on the 18th of March! SO fun! Weddings and babies..., sounds like spring huh??? But before all of that wonderful stuff happened or happens, I wanted to update our winter fun!
Here's a pic of the cute couple!

Right after Christmas, we enjoyed lots of food, fun, and family~ We went sledding and enjoyed being very cold, for a very short amount of time. Brady got way too cold and ended up chillin in the car watching a movie most the time!








Then of course, we went on our annual Disneyland trip where we spent 4 magical days at California adventure and Disney! We met up with some good friends, the Jeppsons and the Browns, my cousin and her family, and my SIL and her kiddos. It was so much fun! We went everyday from start to finish and I actually went and upgraded to annual passes. Yes, I love it that much!











Zachary has lost is two front teeth and it's been so cute watching him grow up! He played basketball and loved it and I have to say, Jake and I actually got a little excited watching him play! He was aggressive and ran the whole time! Made lots of shots and played great defense! We look forward to his future, and his DADDY will be coaching him in the future!




All in all, we have had a pretty good winter! Yes, I had my depressive days, negativity and flat out anger, but hey!, this winter wasn't so bad!
PS! I passed college algebra and statistics! Yeah for me!!!!!