11 years ago...

Well, it is hard for me to believe but it has been 11 years since my sister passed away. It seems like so long ago to me. I can't believe how much has happened since then. I was 15 and she was 16. We were best friends. We had all the same friends, interests, we spent our spare time together. I was getting ready to start High School (10th grade). It was a great time in my life. I was so happy. She got sick one day and never got better. I remember that day so clearly, I don't think I will ever forget it. My brother and I were working together as lifeguards and had been to a meeting that morning. We went straight to the hospital after. She was in a medically induced coma for comfort and had been for a few days. The doctors were working on her. It wasn't looking good. We waited all day long. In the early evening hours the doctors were on their last resort surgery. By this time there were several of our family and close friends there. We filled the waiting room and spilled over into the hall. My uncle offered to buy us all (my siblings) dinner so we went to the cafeteria and felt a little light hearted and hopeful. As soon as we had gotten our food someone came and got us. When we got up stairs my parents were in a seperate room with just an intimate few people. The doctor came in and told us that they had tried everything and she didn't make it. The room closed in around me. I was heartbroken. How could this be? She was so young. She still had so much to do. I still needed her so much. How could I lose my best friend. All I could hear was sorrow and pain. In that little room we all ached together. That is an experience that you never forget.

The next year was the longest year of my life. I started high school 3 days later. I just went through school in a daze. I didn't make many friends. I didn't want to make many friends. I had a few very good, close friends who had been through this with me. How could anyone else understand. I cried a lot. I spent a lot time in my room alone. I didn't talk much. I didn't have much to say.

Since then I have missed her so much. I have done so much that I would have wanted her to share with me. I had my first boyfriend, my first kiss. I graduated from high school. I went to college. I dated a lot. I got into nursing school and then graduated. I met and married the most incredible man I know. I have been happily married for 5 years now. I have a beautiful son that makes me so happy. I have grown and changed and learned so much. I wish I could share my life with her. I wish I could call her up on the phone and just talk to her. I wish we could raise our children together. I wish for time and memories that we missed out on.

I am surprised sometimes how much I am still affected by it. Time does help but the pain never really goes away. It seems that every year, August is a hard month for me and I can never figure out why until it gets to be the 22nd and I realize how sad I am.

There is a moral to the story. Cherish the time you have. Love the people you love and let them know, often. You never know how much time you will have together and there is nothing worse then not getting the chance to say something you wish you could have said. Life is hard sometimes I know. It is also really good sometimes. If you can remember the good things and forget the bad things, you will be happier. Enjoy the little things. The precious hugs and kisses from your little ones. The times when the person you want to share the rest of you life with looks you in the eyes and tells you how much they love you. The funny things that happen. The lessons you learn. The challenging times that make you stronger and better. Remember that we don't get to choose when our time is up. We just have to make the best of the time that we have.

As for me, I LOVE my life. I have the worlds best husband. I can't imagine what I would do without him. He is so loving and understanding. He truly wants me to be happy and he works hard at making that a reality. I have a the cutest little boy in the whole world. Yes, I am totally biased but it's true. He is such a good boy. He makes me laugh so hard. He is so smart and so sweet. He loves me and loves his daddy and loves to get hugs and kisses. He is so sweet and innocent. I am so lucky to have this perfect little family. I have the best parents ever. My brothers and sisters are great, we are close and we love to get together. I have the best in-laws ever. I think all the time about how blessed I am to have been given such a great family and then I married into an equally great family. I have wonderful friends. I love them all so much. Most of all I have the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He loves me and watches over me. I know that because of Him I can see my sister and all of the people that I love again. I know that this life is hard but there is peace and comfort through Him, and a path to eternal happiness.

200 things...

I've italicized the ones I've done.

1. Touched an iceberg

2. Slept under the stars

3. Been a part of a hockey fight

4. Changed a baby’s diaper

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Swam with wild dolphins

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a tarantula

10. Said “I love you” and meant it (Lots)

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise

15. Seen the Northern Lights

16. Gone to a huge sports game

17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables

19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope

20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Bet on a winning horse

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Taken an ice cold bath

28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Ridden a roller coaster

31. Hit a home run

32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking

33. Adopted an accent for fun

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment (most of the time)

36. Loved your job 90% of the time

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Watched wild whales

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach

41. Gone sky diving

42. Visited Ireland

43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited India

45. Bench-pressed your own weight (almost, in High School. I was a lot stronger then)

46. Milked a cow

47. Alphabetized your personal files

48. Ever worn a superhero costume

49. Sung karaoke

50. Lounged around in bed all day

51. Gone scuba diving

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Done something you should regret, but don’t

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Been in a movie (yeah Gangrene Film Festival)

60. Gone without food for 3 days (are you kidding, I can't even go 3 hours)

61. Made cookies from scratch

62. Won first prize in a costume contest

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Been in a combat zone

65. Spoken more than one language fluently

66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone

67. Bounced a check

68. Read - and understood - your credit report

69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy ( do books count?)

70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did

71. Called or written your Congress person

72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over

73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

74. Helped an animal give birth

75. Been fired or laid off from a job

76. Won money

77. Broken a bone (my pinky toe)

78. Ridden a motorcycle

79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph

80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing

82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days

83. Eaten Sushi(regularly)

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read The Bible cover to cover

86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about

87. Gotten someone fired for their actions

88. Gone back to school

89. Changed your name

90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands

91. Eaten fried green tomatoes

92. Read The Iliad

93. Taught yourself an art from scratch

94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt

96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language

97. Been elected to public office

98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream

99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care

100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you

101. Had a booth at a street fair

102. Dyed your hair

103. Been a DJ

104. Rocked a baby to sleep

105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four

106. Raked your carpet

107. Brought out the best in people

108. Brought out the worst in people

109. Worn a mood ring

110. Ridden a horse

111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap (I've always wanted too)

112. Cooked a dish where four or more people asked for the recipe

113. Buried a child

114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play

115. Been inside the pyramids

116. Shot a basketball into a basket

117. Danced at a disco

118. Played in a band

119. Shot a bird

120. Gone to an arboretum

121. Tutored someone

122. Ridden a train

123. Brought an old fad back into style

124. Eaten caviar

125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need

126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant

127. Published a book

128. Pieced a quilt

129. Lived in an historic place

130. Acted in a play or on stage (kind of)

131. Asked for a raise

132. Made a hole-in-one

133. Gone deep sea fishing

134. Gone roller skating

135. Run a marathon

136. Learned to surf

137. Invented something

138. Flown first class (Its GREAT)

139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite

140. Flown in a helicopter

141. Visited Africa

142. Sang a solo

143. Gone spelunking

144. Learned how to take a compliment

145. Written a love-story

146. Seen Michelangelo’s David

147. Had your portrait painted

148. Written a fan letter

149. Spent the night in something haunted

150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane

151. Run away

152. Learned to juggle

153. Been a boss

154. Sat on a jury

155. Lied about your weight

156. Gone on a diet (see #60)

157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget

158. Written a poem

159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox

160. Gotten food poisoning

161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission

162. Hiked

163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks

164. Gone to the opera

165. Gotten a letter from someone famous

166. Worn knickers

167. Ridden in a limousine

168. Attended the Olympics (SLC 2002)

169. Can hula or waltz

170. Read Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books

171. Been stuck in an elevator

172. Had a revelatory dream

173. Thought you might crash in an airplane

174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert

175. Saved someone’s life

176. Eaten raw whale

177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint

178. Laughed till your side hurt

179. Straddled the equator

180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing

181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival

182. Sent a message in a bottle

183. Spent the night in a hostel

184. Been a cashier

185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

186. Joined a union

187. Donated blood or plasma

188. Built a campfire

189. Kept a blog

190. Had hives

191. Worn custom made shoes or boots

192. Made a PowerPoint presentation

193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course

194. Served at a soup kitchen

195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube

196. Know CPR

197. Ridden in or owned a convertible

198. Found a long lost friend

199. Helped solve a crime

200. Worked as a dog catcher

Brian Regan

We went to see Brian Regan last night. It was hilarious. We went with Nate's brother Wayne and his wife Yvette, thanks again guys! It was at Thanksgiving Point. It was beautiful. We got there early and put our blankets out on the lawn and then walked around the gardens. I had never been there before, it was gorgeous. I would love to go there again. Anyway, if you don't know who he is he's very funny and very clean. It was a great show, we laughed really hard all night. He had a guy named Kermet Apio open for him. He was really funny too. We had a great time. Here are a few clips for your enjoyment.



This is one is a promo video but it has some pretty funny bits in it if you can get through the cheesy quotes.Here are some pictures of the gardens. They are so pretty.
Brothers

Waiting for the show to start
Wayne and Yvette
Our View of the stage
Pictures of the gardens