The True Meaning of Christmas

If you are struggling to feel the true Spirit of Christmas… I challenge you to watch this video and not feel the emotion of Mary as she holds the Son of God in her arms.  I cannot imagine the overwhelming magnitude of being called to be the earthly parents of the Savior of the World.  

"Christmas is about Love"

 I am so thankful for the gift of the Savior Jesus Christ and His life, and the gift He is in my life

                                                 Merry Christmas

Ten Years...goes by in a blink...and in a snails pace...

"They are with us and round about us, watch over us, and take care of us, and lead us, and guide us, and administer to our wants in their ministry"

                                                                                                         -Heber C. Kimball

 

Today marks 10 years ago that you left us.  It is hard to wrap my head around the fact that for 10 years we have missed your smile, your laughter, your beautiful countenance.  Some day's it seems like it has been longer than 10 years...other day's it seems like it is new.  All I know is that not. one. single. day goes by that I don't think of you and whisper..I love you Natalie.  I know that you are near, that you watch over us....you watch over Noah.  I know you are so proud of him,  of the incredible young man he is turning out to be.  I look at him and I see you.  How thankful I am for the plan of salvation, Heavenly Fathers perfect plan of happiness.  How thankful I am for you Natalie...for watching over us, taking care of us, leading us, guiding us and administering to us.  Be patient with us...we fall short so many times and yet you are what keeps us going forward....always with the goal in mind that each day that passes, year week, month and yes...years that pass, is one less that we have to wait to be with you again.

Happy Birthday Nat!

 This beauty (3 years old)....grew into 

this beauty...

Happy Birthday Natalie!

33 years ago today you brought so much joy into our lives

and you still do today

We love you!

Beautiful flowers on a Beautiful day

9 years have not dimmed the loss we feel for you each and every day

You are missed, loved and remembered more than you know

 by so many

memories of you bring me joy

each and every day...

I love you Natalie

It's been a while since I updated Noah's sidebar picture
 could this kid get any more handsome?

this is one smart.athletic.tenderhearted.wise.admired.loved more than you know kid!
Noah you are not only tall in stature like your Dad..
but you are the perfect example for all your cousins to look up too!

ZUCCHINI...and memories = happy

I have a great neighbor who shares the abundance of his garden with me.

He invited me to come and get all the zucchini I wanted...not wanting to be greedy, I selected 3 pretty good sized zucchini's..

I sliced and sauted one Zucchini with dinner today..

it.was.yummy!

Then I decided to make some Zucchini bread with the remaining 2 giant zucchini that were left.

I can't remember the last time I made zucchini bread, it's been years for sure.

I searched through my recipe box

and found this recipe...

Natalie's recipe ..written in her hand :)

Not only did it excite me and make me feel a little sentimental

But I immediately ceased looking for any other recipe..

THIS was it..the only one that would do.

written on a simple 3X5 card..

it's tattered...stained..and it's beautiful to me

And it made some pretty yummy zucchini bread... 

because that is how Natalie rolled

she could cook and bake like no other.  It's one of the many things I loved so much about her!

(the choc. chips in the muffins were my idea because chocolate added to anything is better...right?)

Thanks to my neighbor for the zucchini

that brought about happy memories

Got Zucchini?... Enjoy!

Who knew?  I haven't blogged for so long...that blogger is totally different!

I'm actually ashamed at how long it's been since I've posted...

could life get any busier?  ...I think not.

Since my last post in March...life has been...well...full of life!

My older brother Noel was given a second chance at life when he recieved the gift of a liver... This picture was taken a week before his transplant... although he is smiling, (he alway's is) he is one very sick man in this picture.  One week after snapping this picture, the call came and he was the recipient of the most selfless gift...

Funny how something so very wonderful for our family can be so very sorrowfull for another family.  Unfortunately my brother (and I)  both understand what it is like to be on the other end of this story also.   Noel's son Chad at the young age of 18 passed away only 9 months before Natalie.   Chad, like Natalie could not donate organs because of too much time passing without enough oxygen to sustain them.  It is surreal for us to think of the family that during the pain and sorrow of loss, gave the gift of life so my brother could have a second chance.
An amazing definition of love.. I pray that they are finding comfort during their trail of faith.  Our family loves them...even though we don't know who they are.  How very thankful we are for their amazing gift.

Then our family grew by one!   Melanie brought sweet, tiny, handsome and totally perfect Cade Bryan Heath into our family  

Monday June 4th at 7:06 a.m. 

weighing 7lbs 13 oz  20" long

Words can't even describe how much I loved him the very second I met him.. so I'll let the pictures tell the story...

There is nothing like a tiny new spirit fresh from Heaven

to remind you of the amazing miracle of life 

each

and 

every 

time..

I am in awe.

I have to admit that there is a added element of nerves each time this beautiful Mommy unselfishly brings a life into this world....Melanie carries the same gene Natalie did for bloodclotting.  From the day she finds out that she is expecting, she does everything she can to make sure that she and the tiny life growing inside her are safe from blood clots...by injecting heparin into her stomach twice every day.  (Natalie did this too) Becoming a mother hasn't been easy for her..and yet...it is the one thing that she wants more than anything.  

I know that Natalie watches over her always..

Let's say I was literally in Heaven this past week.. 

Stefanie came from Dallas to be here for her sister...and to meet Baby Cade... 

Stefanie was able to be in the delivery room and took the amazing first 

pictures of Cade as he was born...

How lucky am I... words can't even describe