The Tolman Family

zoe climbing

2011-09-19T15:39:00.000-06:00

a dad only because of you

2010-06-20T17:58:00.000-06:00

these are the reason i am a dad

zoe and Dr.p

2010-05-03T20:42:00.000-06:00

Zoe has found her new vice in life, empty Dr. Pepper bottles. thanks to gramp Ben

Zoe's first easter

2010-04-05T22:01:00.000-06:00

4 genarations

2010-03-03T13:05:00.000-07:00

great grandma Dina, grandma Patti, mom Jessica , and baby Zoe

baby zoe, im ready for my close up

2009-09-29T21:20:00.000-06:00

Pocatello Pump

2009-09-14T12:36:00.002-06:00

I am very pleased to announce that Jared placed third in the Pocatello Pump {a national climbing competition} yesterday even though he didn't climb on Sunday {which was necessary to win}! We are so proud of him! Way to stick up for what you believe in Love! I love you!

Zoe...three weeks old

2009-09-14T11:57:00.005-06:00

Zoe has amazed us yet again! She was lifting her head on her own the day she was born and this week, she started lifting her head and legs at the same time. Saturday morning, as Jess was getting Zoe warmed up after her bath, she completely flipped over and we thought "wow, that probably won't happen again." But Saturday night, Jared and I woke up at 4 in the morning to find that our power had gone out. Thinking it was a tripped breaker, we laid Zoe on her back and went out to the garage to see what we could find out. Well, it wasn't a breaker and after calling Idaho Power, we found out that our neighborhood was in the dark. When we got back to bed, not even two minutes later, we found Zoe flat on her tummy! Yep! She rolls over at not even three weeks! Super exciting but rather scary as we will be keeping a VERY close eye on her every move from now on! We've also discovered that Zoe LOVES bath time, or rather, shower time. Jess loved taking showers when she was pregnant because it helped with the nausea, and now whenever Zoe even hears the shower water turn on, she gets really quiet and looks super content! And she loves the shower water running over her. She is so gorgeous and is such a good baby. We are so blessed that she is a part of our family!

Zoe in the shower with dad

"almost" rolling over

State Fair

2009-09-14T11:39:00.003-06:00

This week, Junae and Jared and Zoe and I went to the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Jared made sure that Junae and I tried the infamous Idahoan "Elephant Ears" and we enjoyed delicious candied and carmel apples. We also went to the petting zoo, saw dogs that jump in the air and catch frisbees, and saw some amazingly large vegetgables, courtesy of the FFA {Future Farmers of America}!

Junae and Zoe at the petting zoo

Jared and his dream puppy {someday love...I promise}

petting a baby goat

amazing flying dogs

the largest pumpkin we've ever seen!

Zoe...two weeks old

2009-09-14T11:22:00.004-06:00

At two weeks, Zoe is more adorable than ever! She is definitely a snuggler and can really only sleep if mom or dad are holding her. She is especially adorable when she wants to eat. She just opens wide and tries to find where her food might be and sometimes ends up shaking her head back and forth with her mouth open because she's just too tired to find it. She also "jumps" whenever we burp her. We aren't sure if the recurrent taps surprise her or maybe it's the sound, but her whole body startles whenever we do it. She just gets cuter by the day! We love her so much!

Uncle Jordan

Auntie Lo

Gramma Martha

Sarah designed and made this adorable princess outfit for Zoe....it says "little princess" on the bum :D

Labor Day 2009

2009-09-14T09:35:00.008-06:00

Jessica's dad, stepmom, sisters and brother, and Jared's mom and stepdad were with us for Labor Day this year so we spent the day at Ross Park doing a little climbing. Everyone did so well. Jordan scaled the wall like a champ and Martha made it to the top {even with a bad hip and BAREFOOT}!

Jordan victorious

Lauryn

Martha

safe on the ground again

Jordan

Jess's Dad

Jordan enjoying the view

Jess's dad and his motorcycle {which he drove all the way from St. George}

our first week with Zoe

2009-09-01T19:06:00.013-06:00

Our first week with Zoe has been full of sleepless nights, changing diapers, and feeding frenzies, but we wouldn't trade it for the world! She is so adorable and is such a good baby! How thrilled we are to be her mom and dad!!!

the prettiest baby I ever saw

such a sleepy face

still so tiny

perfectly content

her adoring dad

admiring the grass

she was freezing by the end of her "photoshoot"

she was such a little trooper

our little family

what a beautiful baby

"how much longer"

two beautiful girls

baby Zoe and aunt Junae

very tired mom and baby

Grampa Mike

Nonna and Zoe

trying to smile

she looks just like her daddy

our little thinker

Zoe's arrival

2009-08-30T20:18:00.025-06:00

Here are the long awaited pictures of Zoe Adriana Tolman's arrival and the full version of the story. So it all started on Saturday night during the adult session of Stake Conference. I had started feeling more intense Braxton Hicks contractions that night so Jared and I walked the halls of our Stake Center so we could still hear the member of the Seventy that had come to speak. We didn't really think much of it because there were still like ten minutes apart and they would kind of come and go because I was able to sleep through most of the night without any pain. Well, the next morning was the general session of our Stake Conference. We left the house early at about 9:30 in order to get a soft seat but by the time we got there, the only seats available were in the very front row. So we sat down and and the meeting started. About halfway through the meeting, I was starting to have contractions again, but they were still rather mild, so I got up and walked the halls again and sat out in the foyer for a few minutes. Well, the President of the Idaho Pocatello Mission was one of the speakers and he got up and started talking about the fact that the greatest missionary we will ever do will be within our own homes. Then he mentioned that as he looked out over the congregation, he noticed a "young couple sitting up here on the front row" (Jared and I) and that the young lady(me) was pregnant and had gotten up and left. "She may be delivering right now in fact!" he said. Then he asked Jared when I was due and Jared told him that we still had three weeks to go. He talked about how seeing young families like that gave him hope and excitement for the future and that how thrilled he was that our baby would grow up in a gospel centered home, and would attend primary, and would be baptized, and would constantly have the gospel in her life. To avoid embarassment. I waited till he was done speaking and then came back in for the remainder of the meeting. After the closing prayer, nearly everyone on the stand came to congratulate us and ask us questions. Our baby was a Stake celebrity before she was even born. We went home, made dinner, and started watching a movie, but the contractions were becoming more intense. I have always been told that contractions would be the worst pains that I would ever feel so I thought I was just being a whoos and that I was maybe at a 2 or a 3 on the intensity scale. But by the end of the movie (The Audrey Hepburn Story), I was getting a little nervous. They were now much more intense and were about six minutes apart and this time they weren't going away. I told Jared we should do a little straightening up, just in case, which took us about half an hour. I finally called Labor and Delivery at about five o'clock and they "well, you might be in labor, you might not, but you might wanna come on in." So after throwing the last minute items in the suitcase and getting a blessing from Jared and our great neighbor Nash Johnson, we headed to the hospital. At this point, there was no way these weren't REAL contractions! I changed into the gown, they took my blood pressure, and then the ONLY nurse(or person for that matter) in L&D that night, checked to see how far I had progressed. We were expecting a 2 or a 3 and thought we would be told to go home. But she looked up at us and said..."You're at a 6 missy. I need to go make some phone calls." So by 7:15 they had started the epidural, and by about 8:30 the on-call doctor had arrived and had broken my water. There was no going back now! :D By 9:30, the doctor and nurses filed in and within minutes, everyone was ready to get to the pushing. A very tiring thirty minutes later, Zoe Adriana Tolman was born and we couldn't believe it! Certainly not the way we had been expecting to end our day, but SO much better! She was absolutely perfect, and we loved holding her and kissing her and we never wanted to let her out of our site. We were able to leave the hospital the very next night, and it may have been sooner but nearly passed out several times getting up to go to the bathroom. Thank goodness for Jared who was always there to catch me! The doctor, nurses, friends, and family were all wonderful. My mom and dad were there as well as my little sister Junae, and Jared's mom came as well. And of course we can't forget Tim and Audrey who brought Jared a much needed pizza dinner. Thanks to everyone who made Zoe's "birthing day" so special!!!

waiting to find out if we're staying the night or not

Audrey and Tim...we couldn't have done it without them (they brought dinner and much needed moral support!!! Thanks guys!)

Jared...just before they started the epidural. I think he may have been a little nervous.

just after pushing

Zoe Adriana Tolman. She was born with a "heart of gold."

finally some mom and dad time

our beautiful baby

our little family

the cutest dad ever

wrapped around her finger

the new mom

Gramma Patti (Nonna) and Aunt Junae

Gramma Karla, Jess, Gramma Patti, and Baby Zoe

Zoe, Mom, and Gramma (three generations)

Grampa Dave

Zoe's first kiss

her Christmas bow (The nurse asked us what our favorite colors were. Mine is red and Jared's is green so she made this beautiful "Christmas" bow for the two of us.") And she has strawberry blonde hair!!! Yay!!!

our "bundle" of joy

the car ride home

Zoe Adriana Tolman

2009-08-24T10:34:00.004-06:00

We are pleased to announce that baby Zoe Adriana Tolman arrived Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 10:06 PM. She weighs 5 pounds and 12 ounces and measured in at 20 inches long. We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 and was already dilated to 6 cm. By 9:30 she was ready to make her debut and after about a half an hour, we welcomed our new baby girl into the world! She is absolutely perfect, healthy, nursing like a champ and hardly ever cries. We're the luckiest parents in the world! We love you Zoe!

Zoe's room

2009-08-16T20:14:00.013-06:00

Sorry these pictures are so late in coming but we finally have a computer again thanks to our great neighbor Jake. Here are just a few pictures of Zoe's new room with a great new rocker-recliner thanks to Dad and Martha; curtains, bedding, and paint, thanks to Mom, Pauline, Kate, and Carlee, and crib assembly and beautiful woodwork thanks to my wonderful husband Jared!

baby showers

2009-08-02T19:59:00.003-06:00

Jess and Sarah (and future buddies Zoe and Finn)

This last weekend we were able to travel to Salt Lake City for a baby shower thrown by my dear friend Sarah Wills and then to Manti for a beautiful thrown by my mom! Both showers were beautiful and I just wanted to thank Sarah, my mom, Pauline Clayson and company, and Martha and Natalie for all they did for us this weekend. And a giant thank you to everyone who joined us for the showers whether in person or in spirit. Thanks for the gifts everyone! Zoe will LOVE them!!!

happy birthday Jess

2009-08-02T19:45:00.003-06:00

Jordan came to visit us for my birthday on the way up to Canada. We went shopping, ate a killer burger at Senang's, and had birthday cake (which Jordan so beautifully frosted!) Thanks buddy! And for my birthday, Jared got me a much needed bath pillow, a beautiful new set of black leather scriptures with my new name on them, and a book called "Mothers of the Prophets!" And it's incredible! And thanks to everyone else who called, and sent cards, and texted! Love you all!

family fun

2009-08-02T19:30:00.003-06:00

A few weekends ago Jess's dad, stepmom, and sister came to visit us. We had a great time playing hand and foot, seeing the sights, experiencing the Titanic Exhibit at the Museum of Idaho, and hangin' out. Thanks for coming guys! We had SO much fun!

baby Zoe!!!

2009-07-20T18:32:00.001-06:00

So it's official! We've decided to name our baby girl Zoe Adriana Tolman and only six weeks or so left! We can't wait to meet her!

One Year Anniversary!!!

2009-07-19T22:52:00.002-06:00

So Jared and I celebrated our one year anniversary today! We can't believe it's been a year already and so much has happened, including two moves and a pregnancy. It has been a year full of excitement, happiness, and love, and even some disappointments. But through it all, being married to Jared Tolman has been wonderful, and I just wanted to let everyone know how grateful I am to be his wife! I love you Jared!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

2009-07-02T23:09:00.005-06:00

our baby girl

precious face shot

she has all ten toes

high five mom and dad

she already has hair

"I'm a girl!"

So it's official everyone. We are having a baby girl! We're a little shocked to say the least but oh so excited to welcome her into our family! We're 30 weeks now so not much longer! Only 10 more weeks at the most! Love you all!

Anziano(Elder) Daniel Kinzie!

2009-05-04T11:11:00.006-06:00

Last week we were able to be in Manti with Jessica's family for Elder Daniel Kinzie's farewell and to see him off at the Missionary Training Center. He gave a wonderful talk on Sunday, April 19, 2009 and he entered the M.T.C. on Wednesday, April 22, 2009. It was so wonderful to be able to spend some time with Daniel before he left and he will be GREATLY missed. But don't worry Daniel, as already exhibited, I will keep the letters coming, and Baby Tolman will know how to say your name when we welcome you home April 2011! God speed Elder!

trip to nampa

2009-04-29T16:32:00.003-06:00

well we have been having one heck of a time Jessica's heart has been acting up again. Jessica has what is called Wolfe Parkinson's white this is where her heart try's and beats a 150 to 200 beats a min , this can really wear some one out. right before she went on her mission she had surgery done on her heart witch seamed to take care of it.
but now that she is growing a baby and her heart has been working twice as hard to take care of the baby it has come back . she will most likely need surgery again once the baby is born , it is a crazy time for us but we know everything will turn out okay Jess has quit her job to help keep her heart beat down and stays at home taking it easy . this last week we traveled with randy and Tara to Nampa and had a chance to spend some time with my family which was really nice i also got to show Jess where i leaved when i got home.

this is a picture of Jessica in font of the Boise Temple.

baby showers and birthdays

2009-03-31T09:45:00.004-06:00

Last weekend, Jared and I traveled to Manti, and then continued on with my family to Cedar City for Grampa Mike's birthday lunch and Bridger's baby shower. We were also able to see Nat and Charles' new baby Bella(our newest niece) and we were able to spend some time with Daniel before he leaves on his mission in three weeks. :( sniff sniff

our brand new niece Bella Shirley

blowing out the birthday candles on the severely deformed pineapple upside down cake I attempted to bake for his birthday

lunch with Daniel @Miller's Drive-In(chewing was fun to watch as he was still experiencing the effects of pre-mission dental work novacaine)

sibling love :D

visiting Mom's class

@ the store

Baby Bridger's new clothes

Brooklyn's smile

Jordan getting a little excited

Courtney and Jess...BELLY BUDDIES

baby's first pictures...

2009-03-09T23:00:00.002-06:00

We visited the doctor again on Thursday and it is definitely official! Here are Baby Tolman's very first pictures. The first one is a profile of the head and arm. The second is the head, body, and leg; and the third is the face looking straight ahead. We find out what it is in 5 weeks. Start deciding your official guess!

fog

2009-02-19T17:06:00.002-07:00

so hear in southern Idaho we have been getting a lot of fog , hear is a picture of the fog there getting in SLC

happy valentine's day...

2009-02-15T22:18:00.005-07:00

or rather...a happy valentine's WEEK! I have the best husband a girl could ask for! Every day was a new surprise! On Monday morning, Jared brought home a giant cookie with the words "LOVE YOU" written in delicious white frosting. Little did he know that there's always been a special place in my heart for "giant cookies" thanks to my wonderful parents!

(the giant cookie next to a shiny penny so you can get the idea of just how ginormous it was...)

Thursday morning, I woke up to the smell of french toast(with freshly made cinnamon burst bread) being prepared in the kitchen. What made this even more special is that Jared wakes up at 3:30 every morning to be to work by 4, and that morning, he had gotten off early, made the grocery store run, and finished the french toast all by the time he woke me up at seven thirty. Like I said...the greatest husband EVER!

Saturday(Valentine's Day), Jared picked me up from work with fresh flowers and Lindt chocolates and asked me to get dressed up for the secret night out he had been planning for over a month, and surprised me with a special Valentine's Day dinner at our favorite restaurant, "Senang's." It included an apple amuse, deconstructed chicken curry soup, marinated red beet spinach salad, braised New York beef rib with mushroom garlic rice, prawns in a lemon creme sauce with a red pepper risotto, a lemon sorbet "pallette cleanser" as they called it, and finally a flourless dark chocolate torte with fresh strawberries, all locally grown and prepared in a kitchen with an actual "sioux chef." (although I probably spelled that wrong) Everything was beautiful and perfect!

(Valentine's Day dinner)

Before the night was over, we saw "Coraline" which was super cute, but quite honestly a little scary! Definitely worth it!

(sweet 3-D glasses)

Yep! I'm the luckiest girl around! Happy Hearts Day y'all!

temple square

2009-02-11T22:55:00.002-07:00

Here are just a few pictures of Temple Square at Christmas time. My absolute favorite!

9 plus weeks

2009-02-11T22:37:00.005-07:00

This is just the first of many pictures of the crazy ways that Jess's tummy is slowly but surely becoming the size of a small planet. I had my first appointment almost a week and a half ago and the official due date is September 12, 2009; although the first ultrasound isn't for another few weeks so the due date may be plus or minus a few days, but as far as their calculations go, I should be 9 and a half weeks along. The morning sickness is easing up and my appetite is finally getting back to normal. Almost done with the first trimester! YAY! P.S. I was turned more sideways for the second one, so you can actually see the baby bulge! :D

Italy Catania Mission

2009-02-11T09:38:00.002-07:00

It's official! Daniel received his mission call this morning to the Italy Catania Mission! I'm so very proud of him! He enters the MTC on April 22nd! Yay for missionary work! :D

the one doodle that cain't be undid home skillet...

2009-01-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

that ain't no etch-a-sketch... Though most of you already know, and for that matter probably fell where you stood when you heard the news.....Jared and Jessica are going to be parents! Rest assured it surprised us too! We're due sometime in September so it's still a bit early for all of the details but we'll let you know how it all goes down....first OB appt. next week! So we're taking name suggestions, advice, and anything and everything you got!

my hope for my children and posterity (D&C 1:38)

2008-12-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

A Prayer for the Children

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

At the close of His first day teaching among the Nephite faithful, the resurrected Jesus turned His attention to a special audience which often stands just below the level of our gaze, sometimes nearly out of sight.

The sacred record says: “He commanded that their little children should be brought [forward]. . . .

“And . . . when they had knelt upon the ground, . . . he himself also knelt . . . ; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, . . . so great and marvelous [were the] things . . . [He did] speak unto the Father. . . .

“. . . When Jesus had made an end of praying . . . , he arose; . . . and . . . wept, . . . and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and [again] prayed unto the Father for them.

“And when he had done this he wept again; . . . [saying] unto the multitude, . . . Behold your little ones.”

We cannot know exactly what the Savior was feeling in such a poignant moment, but we do know that He was “troubled” and that He “groaned within himself” over the destructive influences always swirling around the innocent.¹ We know He felt a great need to pray for and bless the children.

In such times as we are in, whether the threats be global or local or in individual lives, I too pray for the children. Some days it seems that a sea of temptation and transgression inundates them, simply washes over them before they can successfully withstand it, before they should have to face it. And often at least some of the forces at work seem beyond our personal control.

Well, some of them may be beyond our control, but I testify with faith in the living God that they are not beyond His. He lives, and priesthood power is at work on both sides of the veil. We are not alone, and we do not tremble as if abandoned. In doing our part, we can live the gospel and defend its principles. We can declare to others the sure Way, the saving Truth, the joyful Life.² We can personally repent in any way we need to repent, and when we have done all, we can pray. In all these ways we can bless one another and especially those who need our protection the most—the children. As parents we can hold life together the way it is always held together—with love and faith, passed on to the next generation, one child at a time.

In offering such a prayer for the young, may I address a rather specific aspect of their safety? In this I speak carefully and lovingly to any of the adults of the Church, parents or otherwise, who may be given to cynicism or skepticism, who in matters of whole-souled devotion always seem to hang back a little, who at the Church’s doctrinal campsite always like to pitch their tents out on the periphery of religious faith. To all such—whom we do love and wish were more comfortable camping nearer to us—I say, please be aware that the full price to be paid for such a stance does not always come due in your lifetime. No, sadly, some elements of this can be a kind of profligate national debt, with payments coming out of your children’s and grandchildren’s pockets in far more expensive ways than you ever intended it to be.

In this Church there is an enormous amount of room—and scriptural commandment—for studying and learning, for comparing and considering, for discussion and awaiting further revelation. We all learn “line upon line, precept upon precept,”³ with the goal being authentic religious faith informing genuine Christlike living. In this there is no place for coercion or manipulation, no place for intimidation or hypocrisy. But no child in this Church should be left with uncertainty about his or her parents’ devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Restoration of His Church, and the reality of living prophets and apostles who, now as in earlier days, lead that Church according to “the will of the Lord, . . . the mind of the Lord, . . . the word of the Lord, . . . and the power of God unto salvation.”⁴ In such basic matters of faith, prophets do not apologize for requesting unity, indeed conformity, in the eloquent sense that the Prophet Joseph Smith used that latter word.⁵ In any case, as Elder Neal Maxwell once said to me in a hallway conversation, “There didn’t seem to be any problem with conformity the day the Red Sea opened.”

Parents simply cannot flirt with skepticism or cynicism, then be surprised when their children expand that flirtation into full-blown romance. If in matters of faith and belief children are at risk of being swept downstream by this intellectual current or that cultural rapid, we as their parents must be more certain than ever to hold to anchored, unmistakable moorings clearly recognizable to those of our own household. It won’t help anyone if we go over the edge with them, explaining through the roar of the falls all the way down that we really did know the Church was true and that the keys of the priesthood really were lodged there but we just didn’t want to stifle anyone’s freedom to think otherwise. No, we can hardly expect the children to get to shore safely if the parents don’t seem to know where to anchor their own boat. Isaiah once used a variation on such imagery when he said of unbelievers, “[Their] tacklings are loosed; they could not . . . strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail.”⁶

I think some parents may not understand that even when they feel secure in their own minds regarding matters of personal testimony, they can nevertheless make that faith too difficult for their children to detect. We can be reasonably active, meeting-going Latter-day Saints, but if we do not live lives of gospel integrity and convey to our children powerful heartfelt convictions regarding the truthfulness of the Restoration and the divine guidance of the Church from the First Vision to this very hour, then those children may, to our regret but not surprise, turn out not to be visibly active, meeting-going Latter-day Saints or sometimes anything close to it.

Not long ago Sister Holland and I met a fine young man who came in contact with us after he had been roaming around through the occult and sorting through a variety of Eastern religions, all in an attempt to find religious faith. His father, he admitted, believed in nothing whatsoever. But his grandfather, he said, was actually a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “But he didn’t do much with it,” the young man said. “He was always pretty cynical about the Church.” From a grandfather who is cynical to a son who is agnostic to a grandson who is now looking desperately for what God had already once given his family! What a classic example of the warning Elder Richard L. Evans once gave.

Said he: “Sometimes some parents mistakenly feel that they can relax a little as to conduct and conformity or take perhaps a so called liberal view of basic and fundamental things—thinking that a little laxness or indulgence won’t matter—or they may fail to teach or to attend Church, or may voice critical views. Some parents . . . seem to feel that they can ease up a little on the fundamentals without affecting their family or their family’s future. But,” he observed, “if a parent goes a little off course, the children are likely to exceed the parent’s example.”⁷

To lead a child (or anyone else!), even inadvertently, away from faithfulness, away from loyalty and bedrock belief simply because we want to be clever or independent is license no parent nor any other person has ever been given. In matters of religion a skeptical mind is not a higher manifestation of virtue than is a believing heart, and analytical deconstruction in the field of, say, literary fiction can be just plain old-fashioned destruction when transferred to families yearning for faith at home. And such a deviation from the true course can be deceptively slow and subtle in its impact. As one observer said, “[If you raise the temperature of my] bath water . . . only 1 degree every 10 minutes, how [will I] know when to scream?”⁸

When erecting their sacred tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai, the ancient children of Israel were commanded to make firm their supporting cords and strengthen the stakes which held them.⁹ The reason? Storms arise in life—regularly. So fix it, fasten it, then fix and fasten it again. Even then we know that some children will make choices that break their parents’ hearts. Moms and dads can do everything right and yet have children who stray. Moral agency still obtains. But even in such painful hours it will be comforting for you to know that your children knew of your abiding faith in Christ, in His true Church, in the keys of the priesthood and in those who hold them. It will be comforting then for you to know that if your children choose to leave the straight and narrow way, they leave it very conscious that their parents were firmly in it. Furthermore, they will be much more likely to return to that path when they come to themselves¹⁰ and recall the loving example and gentle teachings you offered them there.

Live the gospel as conspicuously as you can. Keep the covenants your children know you have made. Give priesthood blessings. And bear your testimony!¹¹ Don’t just assume your children will somehow get the drift of your beliefs on their own. The prophet Nephi said near the end of his life that they had written their record of Christ and preserved their convictions regarding His gospel in order “to persuade our children . . . that our children may know . . . [and believe] the right way.”¹²

Nephi-like, might we ask ourselves what our children know? From us? Personally? Do our children know that we love the scriptures? Do they see us reading them and marking them and clinging to them in daily life? Have our children ever unexpectedly opened a closed door and found us on our knees in prayer? Have they heard us not only pray with them but also pray for them out of nothing more than sheer parental love? Do our children know we believe in fasting as something more than an obligatory first-Sunday-of-the-month hardship? Do they know that we have fasted for them and for their future on days about which they knew nothing? Do they know we love being in the temple, not least because it provides a bond to them that neither death nor the legions of hell can break? Do they know we love and sustain local and general leaders, imperfect as they are, for their willingness to accept callings they did not seek in order to preserve a standard of righteousness they did not create? Do those children know that we love God with all our heart and that we long to see the face—and fall at the feet—of His Only Begotten Son? I pray that they know this.

Brothers and sisters, our children take their flight into the future with our thrust and with our aim. And even as we anxiously watch that arrow in flight and know all the evils that can deflect its course after it has left our hand, nevertheless we take courage in remembering that the most important mortal factor in determining that arrow’s destination will be the stability, strength, and unwavering certainty of the holder of the bow.¹³

Carl Sandburg once said, “A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.”¹⁴ For that baby’s future as well as your own, be strong. Be believing. Keep loving and keep testifying. Keep praying. Those prayers will be heard and answered in the most unexpected hour. God will send aid to no one more readily than He will send it to a child—and to the parent of a child.

“And [Jesus] said unto them: Behold your little ones.

“And . . . they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending . . . as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.”¹⁵

May it always be so, I earnestly pray—for the children—in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

our house...

2008-12-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

So Jared and I have lived in Pocatello for three months now and we realized this morning that most of you have never seen our home or even have any idea of what it looks like....so here are just a few pictures of our home @ 1235 East Center Street...ENJOY!

oh christmas tree...oh christmas tree...

2008-12-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Jared at Wal-Mart carrying our new Christmas tree. As you may be able to tell, he wasn't very happy about the fact that it took me over an hour to pick out a pine needle factory and beads and ornaments in order to glam it up a bit. But our finished tree is beautiful and sits quite nicely in our front window! Merry Christmas to all!

thanksgiving

2008-12-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

Our first big holiday as a family! This year we traveled to Twin Falls to be with the Tolmans and we had a grand ol' time playing games with the family, movies with Tim n' Audrey, climbing at Dierke's Lake, and more scrumptious food than anyone could imagine, including all the traditional trimmings...i.e. turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, blueberry cream cheese pie, stuffing, Great Harvest rolls, and fruit salad. We hope that y'all had a fabulous Thanksgiving with you and yours and don't forget to count your many blessings! See what God has done!

FGD

2008-11-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

this is me getting it finally

i worked for a really long time trying to get this but still didn't get it i can if i am fresh i know it .
it was also really cool having every one cheering for you

this was one of the best problems

this is what we did the next night for fun, in Rexburg, all the locals flipped, or at least we think they did if they saw. it was good times to be had by all.

FGD

2008-11-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

the beautiful picture taker

proposal pictures

2008-11-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

So when Jared proposed back in early June, there was a gentleman there taking pictures of the Salt Lake temple and when he noticed we had just gotten engaged he asked if he could take our picture. He said he would email them to us but up till now we hadn't heard from him. But this morning, Jared received an email with a sweet note and our pictures of the night we got engaged! We've included this gentleman's email as well. What a happy surprise!

"Sorry i took so long to send these pictures. I drove a truck across the country 33,000 miles and saw 30 states. Seeing both of you was a highlight of my trip. Hope you are still getting married. I had a feeling you were made for each other. You looked so happy together. I wish you all the luck in the world and thank you for making my travels a little bit better. my email is actually ronald.tilghman@yahoo.com. love to here from you." -Donald

first pair of climbing shoes

2008-10-22T21:25:00.000-06:00

We are very proud to announce that after months and months of searching, shoes that were too loose, and even a few that were too tight...we found the perfect climbing shoes for Jess, and thanks to the generosity of several friends willing to break the mold and use our R.E.I wedding registry, we were able to order them Monday night. Upon our arrival home from Randy's grand opening Costco party tonight, we came across a beautiful little brown box which, to our delight, contained Jess's very first ever pair of climbing shoes. The 5.10 Gambit. (HA HA kind of like the X-Men hero that Jessica secretly had a crush on when she was little and her brothers made her watch X-Men but secretly her little nine year old self couldn't wait to watch the animated character which shot playing cards at the enemy). They're a fabulous green color with a touch of glittering bling! They even look a bit like skater shoes which adds yet another brownie point on the shoes' behalf.

a new jessica

2008-10-22T08:42:00.000-06:00

That's right folks. It was on a whim and just for fun. We figured it probably wouldn't happen much when the kids start coming....so.....Jessica dyed her hair brown. Havana brown to be exact and she absolutely loves it!

fall conference 2008

2008-10-10T14:09:00.000-06:00

Jared and I loved conference for the first time together this last weekend in our first home together. We were watching it online though, and the signal cut in and out, so we ended up catching many of the talks late on Sunday night. We were thrilled to be able to listen to the prophets and apostles of the Lord and we both witnessed that the mantle of the Prophet of God on the earth has certainly descended onto the shoulders on President Thomas S. Monson. Between the Sunday sessions, we were able to watch the video detailing President Monson's life and it was interesting to learn how this servant of the Lord was prepared for what was to come from the time he was born. He is truly a prophet of God we were inspired by his words and encouragement to love one another no matter the circumstance and to live a Christ-like life. One of our favorite talks was that of Elder Joseph Bitner Wirthlin. What a wonderful man of God he is. We loved his challenge to take more time to laugh throughout our lives and to as President Hinckley once said, "stop seeking the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight." We have been in Pocatello for a month now, today, and we are loving it. Between the two of us, we are working five jobs. Jared took a part time maintenance job and I am so proud of him for working so hard to support our family. I am now working full time for Virginia Transformer Corporation, which is an electrical transformer plant and repair shop. I've never had a job where I had to wear safety glasses outside before! :) I am also working for Down East Basics, a clothing company that makes adorable but modest clothing, and am excited to move up in that company. Pocatello is becoming more and more beautiful as we approach winter. The forecast for tonight and tomorrow is that the sky is said to drop over 6 inches of powder and although we can't wait for the holiday season, we aren't sure if we're ready for snow! To everything there is a season. Jared's sister Becky and her husband Paul came into town yesterday, so Jared and I, Randy and Tara, and Becky all went to lunch and it was great to spend time with family. We are excited to be closer to them. Happy Autumn!

new temples

2008-10-04T21:17:00.000-06:00

For all those of you who may have missed conference this weekend, they announced five new temples which are to be built in the coming months and years. Although we are thrilled for all five of them, two of them are extra special, the Canada Calgary Temple and the Rome Italy Temple. Jessica's brother served in the Canada Calgary Mission and her mother, father, step-father, and dear friend all served missions in Italy. The Rome Italy Temple also means that the members in Croatia will have a temple more easily accessible, as it will now only take them 11 hours instead of the four day bus trip. The Standard of Truth has been erected! No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; until the great Jehovah shall say "The work is done!" HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!

@ home in pocatello

2008-10-04T20:58:00.000-06:00

So it's October and we've finally posted the rest of the wedding pictures. Well, maybe not all of them as there were over a thousand, but at least the favorites. As many of you know, Jared and I moved to Pocatello, Idaho about three weeks ago, and we've been asked numerous times..."What do you guys see in that place?" But we LOVE it here. We live in the avenues or the University Neighborhood Historic District just north of ISU(Idaho State University). Our ward is a wonderful mix of newlyweds, newly-parents, newly-parents with teenagers, and even a few newly-youth challenged individuals, and we absolutely adore it. In fact, our Relief Society President's husband was Kresimir Cosic's college room mate at BYU so I've loved hearing stories about the Croatian Basketball great who did so much to bring the church to his country. We are the second Tolman family in the ward, as the second counselor in the newly called bishopric is a Tolman, and although we are no relation, it sure does make a great conversation starter. Jared is working at Great Harvest as a Baker there and had this to say about it..."It could very possibly be the coolest job I've ever had!" So there you have it..the coolest job ever. He brings home as many loaves of bread as we can eat...so I certainly agree with the "coolest job ever" sentiment. He is also working at the Holiday Inn but that one isn't quite as preferred as the previous. I am still looking, but I've interviewed with some great companies and we'll see where it goes from there. Jared is also setting routes at the rock wall at ISU which is fabulous because it means that he and I get to climb for free. Right now I am working on grabbing onto the rope with both hands and trusting Jared to bring me down in one piece. Jared is a wonderful coach and I am very proud to announce that I can come down without bursting into tears! :) The leaves are changing and the smell of rain is in the air. What a beautiful time of year! Jared and I also enjoyed going to the Idaho Falls temple last week for a session and it is a beautiful "Temple on the River." Jared's brother Randy, wife and kids just joined us here in the marvelous Portneuf Valley and we helped unload the U-Haul last night. We are looking forward to having family and best friends so close. Until next time...be good, or be good at it!

wedding day pictures

2008-10-04T18:23:00.001-06:00

reception pictures...updated

2008-09-30T18:05:00.000-06:00

After another very long delay...here are the rest of the wedding pictures! ENJOY!!!!!!!

reception pictures

2008-08-17T17:25:00.001-06:00

We finally received our wedding pictures. So sorry for the delay, but my amazing photographer cousin Janet who made remembering the whole day possible, had a bit of a sick computer, so we want to thank her and her son David for their incredible work and for the time that they have taken to give us these beautiful pictures. Thanks so much Janet! We love you! We hope y'all love them as much as we do.....and thanks to everyone who was able to share this incredible day with us!

a day in the life of the tolmans

2008-08-12T18:31:00.000-06:00

So, Jared and I are living in St. George where Jared works at Costco and Target and I work at Southern Utah Home Care and Hospice. We both like our jobs but that's what they really are...jobs. We would rather be out playing! When we have a free moment, we go climbing or to a dollar movie or out to Thai food, and lately, we've become addicted to the show "Heroes." We've been trying to watch the complete first two seasons before the third season starts so we don't miss anything. But we were certainly happy when we were done with the first season so that we could stop being zombies and start living like real people again! Here are just a few pictures we've taken over the last several months..in some of our wierder moments!

twin falls

2008-08-12T18:09:00.000-06:00

I have yet to write anything about our trip to Jared's old stomping grounds of Twin Falls, Idaho. We had so much fun. Jared and I packed up Belle(our beautiful eurovan) and drove all night through Nevada, snacking on flaming hot cheetos and gatorade! yummy! and we only had a few more hours till the sun came up by the time we finally arrived, so we camped out in the back of the van. It was super neat to see all of the places that Jared calls home...the houses he lived in, the schools he went too, etc... and we were even able to go climbing with Corey, where Jared worked on one of his current problems. Friday night we headed out to Murtaugh Lake where we met up with his brothers and sisters and set up our van-tent and everything...goodness sakes...Jared's incredible at that stuff. Then Saturday morning, the rest of the Tolman clan joined us for an incredible day of boating. The new thing they do is surfing on the wake just behind the boat and Jared did a fabulous job. Of course I was a pansey and didn't want to try, but I am very proud to announce that after almost all day in the boat, I asked Jared for his lifejacket and jumped in the lake. Jared and Randy did a great job coaching me and saving me from the attack of the killer lake-weeds and yes, the rumors are true. I did in fact get up on the surf board. I know. I know. Everyone else was surprised too. but I did it! That night we had a beautiful open house that Karla and Reba put so much into. Thanks moms!!! => We were also able to attend the Twin Falls Temple open house. What a beautiful temple that is. Even the detailing in the framing is reminiscent of the canyon that runs through the middle of the valley. It was absolutely exquisite! Jared also took me to see an up-close waterfall. And of course there was a behind-the-waterfall kiss! Sunday afternoon, Jared took us to see Sho-Shone Falls, which, from what I hear, are the tallest falls in the United States. We added just a few pictures of our trip. Hope you enjoy them.

newlyweds

2008-08-04T16:44:00.000-06:00

yay!!! we're newlyweds!

the wedding day

2008-07-20T16:19:00.000-06:00

Well, as promised, Jared went climbing the morning of the wedding with his brother Randy and his nephew Parker, and his friends, Craig and Sarah. I on the other hand was grateful for a slower morning as everyone who knows me knows that I like to take my own sweet time getting ready, especially on my wedding day! Junae was my helper all morning, and she talked to me and tried to calm my nerves a little as I dried my hair and applied my make-up. We had forgotten to purchase my temple clothes and so we pulled out of the driveway a little later than we had wanted and poor Jared was waiting in the foyer for a good hour. And to think, I was the one who was worried about HIM getting to the temple on time! ;) But I made it, and even though I was shaking, somehow I made it to the dressing room. However, just as we were entering the records verification office, a friend from my high school years was walking out with her husband. She was being sealed to her wife and son that afternoon as well, and their sealing room was scheduled right next to ours, so I was able to see many friends from our old ward. It was so good to see them. I was escorted by my mother and by Edy McGee, who is the mother of a wonderful friend of mine from my high school days at Deseret Academy. I waited in the Celestial Room where I was able to meet Jared's sister, Becky, and her husband Paul, while Jared was momentarily "lost" by the temple workers! ;) But then there he was, walking towards me in the Celestial Room, and after a few moments, we were taken into the sealing room, where our families and friends were waiting for us. We were sealed by Elder Hess and his words of council were inspiring. Then Jared took my hand and knelt together at the altar and were sealed for time and all eternity. There is no more exquisite feeling in the world than to be surrounded by your family and friends, and holding the hand and looking into the eyes of the one who will become your eternal companion. When the ceremony was over, we were able to spend some time with our family and friends and then we hurried and changed our clothes. We walked up the stairs and looked at each other just before the doors opened and i realized I was looking at my husband! Man alive...what a cool feeling! :> Then we took a million and a half pictures and had dinner at the Garden Restaurant on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and it was beautiful! Jared of course hid the MINI so as to make it impossible to give a good whip cream paint job and after getting the car, we headed off to Park City(thanks to Randy and Tara) in our MINI Cooper...the car that started it all! And they all lived happily ever after!

the reception

2008-07-20T16:17:00.000-06:00

What a beautiful night it was!!! Our wedding reception was held in the Adams' backyard the night before we were married. The food was delicious, the flowers were exquisite, and the weather, for the most part, agreeable. Thank you to the many wonderful people who made the night beautiful for Jared and I. Thank you to our parents, Michael and Patti, David and Martha, Ben and Karla, and Lawrence and Reba. Thank you to the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and of course to the flower girls for decorating and and setting up tables and chairs, and making everything beautiful and working so hard. Thanks to all of family members and friends who gave so much of their time and thanks to many of the members of the Manti 8th Ward. We couldn't have done it without each and every one of you! The dancing was wonderful, and the wedding cake was absolutely wonderful, and the pictures were perfect, and the video and videography was amazing! Thanks everyone!!!!

wedding plans and itinerary

2008-06-27T14:42:00.000-06:00

We think we finally have a tentative itinerary for the wedding schedule and the names of those in the wedding party... so we thought we would share this information with all of you so that y'all would know who to be, and where to be, and when to be!

bridal party

bride: Jessica Kinzie
groom: Jared Tolman
mother of the bride: Patti Adams
mother of the bride: Martha Kinzie
mother of the groom: Karla Tolley
mother of the groom: Reba Tolman
father of the bride: David Kinzie
father of the bride: Michael Adams
father of the groom: Lawrence Tolman
father of the groom: Ben Tolley
bridesmaid: Holly Charlesworth
bridesmaid: Natalie Shirley
bridesmaid: Katelyn Adams
bridesmaid: Courtney Chappel
bridesmaid: Jenn Beers
bridesmaid: Sabra Martinsen
bridesmaid: Jill Cassinat
bridesmaid: Sarah Wills
bridesmaid: Aline Memmott
groomsman: Ryan Tolman
groomsman: Randy Tolman
groomsman: Paul Kearsely
groomsman: Daniel Kinzie
groomsman: Jordan Kinzie
groomsman: Bryan Rawson
groomsman: Justin Clayson
groomsman: Corey King
groomsman: Craig Hurst
flower girl: Junae Adams
flower girl: Lauryn Kinzie
cute girls: Brooklyn Krosta, Kaitlin Sangl
cute boys: Jack Charlesworth, Noah Charlesworth

wedding itinerary

FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2008:
reception
7:00-10:00 PM
The Adams Residence
691 South Main St.
Manti, UT

SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008
wedding
3:40 PM
Salt Lake Temple
(for those attending the ceremony, please arrive at the temple by 3:10 in the afternoon)

family dinner
7:00 PM
The Garden Restaurant
(on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building)
15 East South Temple
Salt Lake City, UT

SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2008
open house
8:00-10:00 PM
The Kinzie Residence
544 North 260 West Cir.
St. George, UT

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2008
open house
6:00-8:00 PM
Ameritel Inn
539 Pole Line Rd.
Twin Falls, ID

We hope this helps alleviate some confusion....and to all those who will be climbing in Maple Canyon with Jared the morning of the wedding...i love him dearly and i would greatly appreciate it if y'all would not let him die and make sure he gets back to me in one piece and to the temple on time.....with sincere gratitude....Jess ;)

enagagement pictures

2008-06-12T09:19:00.001-06:00

the proposal

2008-06-12T08:04:00.001-06:00

Even though we've been engaged for almost three weeks now...it wasn't technically official until last Saturday night when Jared proposed to Jess! We'll start out with the story of the ring... Jessica is(and those of you who know her can attest to this) sometimes a little quirky and does things like tries to get out of the car but forgetting to put it in park, or putting the leftovers under the sink instead of in the fridge, so she has always been a little nervous about wearing $3.000 on her hand and therefore asked for something simple. We searched and searched and went to every jewelry store in the mall and found some great choices but nothing that really caught our eye. We then went to a store that we had heard about on the radio and walked in and found a beautiful setting that we loved, but we asked the sales associate about the cost....NO WAY!!! The setting alone was twice as much as any of the rings we had found earlier that day. So while the very nice lady went to get the diamond, we looked at each other other and said, "This may be our only chance..." so we walked out the door, trying desperately not to lose it in hysterics. There was one more store that we had actually been putting off all day...honestly because of the name....we went to Jared's! That's right folks! Jared went to Jared's! But there it was...the ring of my dreams! Our favorite part of the day was when we were purchasing the ring and sizing my finger and so on and so forth...and lo and behold, our song started to play over the radio. "Something" by the Beatles(covered by Jim Sturgess)! So sweet! The ring had to be resized and we were told that it would be ready on Saturday night. Saturday night came and Jared's mom and stepdad were coming that night to take us to dinner. As I was getting ready to go, Jared came downstairs and said that his parents were lost and that he had to go and pick them up, which made total sense to me at first....anyone can get lost even if they've been somewhere a hundred times! He came back and asked me if I would be terribley disappointed if I received the ring after he got home from work the next week...and I said something like "Jared, i would really like the ring for the pictures but if that's what you need to do then that's what we'll do." Jared had said that we just didn't have enough time and he didn't want to make everyone wait for dinner! But secretly I was devastated or maybe not so secretly..... manifested by the fact that I didn't talk to him for the rest of the night! (totally not true!!!) Then as we were leaving dinner, he asked if we could go to Temple Square that night and take a walk together. I didn't think anything of that either because we took a walk there the night he got home as well. So we drove downtown, parked the car, and got out of the car, but not before Jared went back for his "sweater!" We walked to the temple and walked up the stairs to the front doors and I'm sure I was talking about something that had nothing to do with anything, he took my hand and pulled me close and whispered in my ear..."Do you love me?" "Of course I do," I said. " Can I ask you one more question?" he said. "Will you marry me?" as he got down on one knee and presented the ring. Of course I was crying and laughing all at the same time and barely even looked at the ring because I was too busy saying "yes, yes, yes" over and over again and not wanting to let go of him! There was a man taking pictures of the temple that night and he came up to us and said, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to intrude but did you just propose?" "Would you mind if I take your picture and I can email it to you?" We have yet to see that email but somewhere out there is a picture of the future Jared and Jessica Tolman just after getting engaged! We'll post it when it finally gets here! So there you have it! It's official! We're engaged!!!

buying the dress

2008-06-04T08:36:00.001-06:00

Jessica went wedding dress shopping yesterday with her little sister Junae, her fabulous mission companion, Jill Cassinat, and her wonderful mother! Although the girls may have had a little too much fun, Jessica found the dress of her dreams, and it is stunning! Even though the finished product will not be revealed until the wedding day....we hope you enjoy these pictures of the dresses that were close but didn't quite make the cut!

What would she have done without Junae's savvy bridal gown knowledge? Thanks Junae!!!

our story

2008-06-02T12:01:00.000-06:00

so many people have asked how we met and we both cringe when we have to retell the story, so we thought we would make it easier on ourselves by publishing it to the world! ;) in all reality of course, we love the story of how we met...but it certainly wasn't typical! jared and i were both rather lovingly encouraged to join the sweet little ldssingles website in order to "broaden our horizons" or at least "practice dating" and after I think only one message and a short chat session, Jared said he would like to meet me and of course I was terrified because this guy was too good to be true! ;) We met halfway between Provo and Manti in Nephi for lunch the next day, although at the last minute I went to text him to say that I wasn't going to be able to make it, but somehow instead, I found myself saying, "I'll see you in 30 minutes!" I pulled into the parking lot where he was waiting for me and he was sitting on the curb between an old beat up pickup truck and the most beautiful yellow mini cooper that i had ever seen! Of course, the thought that the beauty of a car could actually be his quickly left my mind, but when I stepped out of the car and asked with a grin on my face..."is this your car?" "yes it is!" he said. "Would you like to go for a ride in it?" that was it! it was over! it was love at first drive...oops...sight! ;) we ate lunch at J.C. Mickelsons and then he drove me back to my car. As soon as I pulled away I called my family and said, "guys, he is the most amazing guy I've ever met, but there's no way he'll call back!" He was too good to be true! But he DID call, while driving home and then again that night, when we talked for over two hours. We talked several times that week while he was working, and then came to visit just after he got home. He spent the weekend through Memorial Day with my family and I during my brother's high school graduation so needless to say, he was initiated rather quickly! ;) We fell for each other pretty hard, even after the VW door incident, me getting out of the car while it was still in drive, hours of scraping windows together, and me rockclimbing for the first time in a long time, and getting farther than I thought I would! (that's right....a whole 15 feet off the ground)! But jared rescued me as I know he always will. The day after memorial day, as we sat on my little sister's bedroom floor talking about anything and everything(I was wearing very attractive sweats by the way;), he asked me to marry him! Poor guy...I didn't answer for a few minutes because I kept asking if he was really asking me and if he was sure and probably not quite the answer he was looking for! but I said YES! He asked my dad and stepdad that night for permission to ask me to marry him and on July 19 2008, we will become a family! Jared and Jessica Tolman! Heavenly Father sees the end from the beginning! And he knows exactly what His children need. He is always willing to bless if we will only allow those blessings to come to us! Men are that they might have joy! We love you all!!!
-Jared and Jessica

getting married!!!!!!!

2008-05-31T23:15:00.001-06:00

so...jared tolman and jessica kinzie are getting married on July 19, 2008 and we can hardly wait!!! => for all those wanting to know the preliminary wedding plans, we will have a reception on Friday, July 18, 2008, from 7 till 10 in the evening at Jessica's parents' home in Manti. Then the next day we will be sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 3:40 in the afternoon. We are both so excited to start our new family! Thank you for your support, love, and good wishes!
-Jared and Jessica