I'm Honored

  This past month  I have reflected on my choices that I do on a daily basis... The month of September was an emotional roller coaster for me. As it was getting closer to take my oldest son to college at BYU-Idaho, news came that my dad was not doing well at the same time. Lucky for me my parents live in the same town as where BYU-Idaho is. On August 26th, 2013 my father was ambulanced from his home to Madison Memorial Hospital. The past two months he was having trouble with his lungs and has been on oxygen 24/7. Two weeks prior to this date he went to see a doctor in Salt Lake City and the doctor gave him no hope. He was up front and told my dad that he had ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). On a level from 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest the doc said he was at a 7. The news let the wind out of my dads sails. He was placed with a feeding tube and found that he had pneumonia. When dad was in the hospital his lungs cleared up with pneumonia, but found himself slipping and he knew that he wasn't going to make it alive out of the hospital. With much care, love, and concern from his children we stayed with him 24/7 until September 6th, 2013, when he left this earth and met his parents and sister on the other side. I think of that precious time I was able to visit with him and how I cherish it day by day. During this time, I not only had to say goodbye to my dad but goodbye to Brock for a little while.

  I have not spoken this to hardly anyone but have held it dear to my heart. The most tender mercy moment for me, when I knew that the Holy Ghost was comforting me was through this whole month but especially the day my father left this earth. I dropped my daughter off to school and as I was heading to work I was thinking about my dad and knowing that he would soon meet his parents and sister soon. The feeling in the car, came to me letting me know that they were coming to get him that day. I cried like I had never cried before... for joy and sadness at the same time. Another time during that day is while I'm at work, I was in my co-taught math class. I never text during class but I felt prompted to text Brock (while he was there helping my mother out the whole time and experiencing the intense emotions going on). There is an hour difference and at 1:21 pm I texted saying, "I just heard the news. How you holding up?" (I hadn't heard any news at all except for that morning with my brother texting, "someone be with mother"). Brock texted me at 1:22 pm back and said, "He's gone mom. I'm so sorry."  The death certificate said that the official time of death was 2:22pm (remember we were an hour difference and I'm 1000 miles away). You can't tell me that the Holy Ghost is not real, for it is! The comforter has been by my side the whole time as I have felt God's love during this difficult time.

On a high note: The latest great grandchild was born the same time my dad was in the hospital on August 31st. She was such a joy and a high to welcome into the world! My neice brought her down to have dad see her and he said, "Our pathways are crossing".... what a tender mercy moment!

On September 27th 2013, my sons mission call came into the mail in Arizona. We mailed it to him overnight and on October 1, 2013 at my mom's home with some friends at college he opened up the mail while we were on the phone, and he is going to South Carolina, Columbia mission! He will report to the MTC on February 4th! My heart is full of gratitude and love!

The title of why I'm honored... I'm honored to have had a wonderful dad be a huge example in my life as I looked up to him. He loved serving the Lord, he loved his family, he loved working as a masonry, and was an excellent green thumb! There are many talents about him. Makes me wonder, what would my kids say about me when I pass away?

I'm also honored to be a mother to a great son, who has made the right choice in serving a mission, and being an obedient son! I almost lost him when he was two and the house does feel a little empty without him. We miss him but looking forward to spending Christmas before he goes on his mission! I'm in a new stage of life. I never thought the day would come, and I think of how time goes by so quickly!  Here are pictures of my loved ones.

 Dropping Brock off at BYU-Idaho

 Saying goodbye to Grandpa before we head back and to Brock

 Sweet Alexis! Welcoming her into the world

 Brock's mission call!

 My dad! I love you!

 My sisters and brothers with my mom after the funeral

The pennant that says it all about my dad!

Christmas lights

One of my favorites this holiday season is seeing the variety of Christmas lights... There is just something magical in the air and brings out the Christmas spirit. We enjoyed going to two events that were outside with lights. The first was in Verrado (our little community) to turn on the lights and light up the big ol'e Christmas tree... They make a huge event on this by bringing in snow for kids to play in, serving hot chocolate, decorating sugar cookies, and going on a wagon ride around the block.

Drake and Pica chilling out

 

 Up close and personal by the big tree...

 

 Madie and me

 

Check out the snow in her hand! Yeah baby!!!

 Posing by the Christmas tree

Our last trip was heading to the Mesa temple lights. It is absolutely gorgeous and my camera decided to run low on batteries. This is the only picture that I got, besides its better in person anyway.

Merry Christmas everyone!



Record bowls

We made these record bowls for a  young women activity.  I think they are so cool looking and what  a fun art!

What you need: Old record albums, tissue paper, card stock, Mogpog glue, oven, and two different bowls.
1. Design bowls with tissue paper and glue it down first.
2. Heat oven to 475 degrees
3. With another bowl on cookie sheet place the record on top of the bowl (the bowl is facing down)
4. Put in oven and watch. Once the record starts to melt and bend down to form like the bowl, take it out.
5. With hot pads put the record on a smaller frame bowl upside down and start to form by applying pressure (need to use hot pads or you will burn finger). It cools very quickly and glue is all dry.
These bowls can be used to hold candy, junk, keys, or whatever you need. If you don't like them, great target practice for shooting :) ... Those are for the hunters...

Big B in action

 

So Verrado Boys Basketball team has not been on a winning streak in awhile. Friday night the boys seemed to be on fire! It was a fun game to watch and have all the boys on the team be on top of their game! They played against Liberty High School and won by 67-45. Here are some pictures of Brock being in the heat of things...

 

 Getting the rebound...

 Going up for the lay up.

Foul shot time!

 

They grow up too quick!

Rockin' R Ranch...

 

Instead of going out of town during fall break our family chose to hang out in the valley and take care of business that needed to be done. One night we splurged and got tickets to the Rockin' R Ranch that is held in Mesa, AZ. At first the boys weren't too excited because it was all country/western theme based but once the entertainment started, there attitude was much different. We had a great time! Here are some highlights of what we did....

 

 

 

Enjoying the scenery...

 The kids couldn't get enough of the outhouse...

 

 Our seat... close to the entertainment! I highly recommend you to go!

 

 Madie posing

 

 Two of the kids crashed after the fun... Heading home.

 

Jay and I... My computer wouldn't rotate the dang picture!...

 

District Champs...

Lately our lives have been revolving around what our teens do with their lives to support them... This is just a season of our lives of parenting, I remind myself to not get bitter, or complain because in a blink of an eye it will quickly go away.

Drake did amazing this year on his swim team. Verrado High School Team normally is not known for swimming (at least the boys... the girls are a different story).  This year Oct. 2012, Verrado took District for boys and girls in there division. They get to go to STATE!  Drake placed 1st in the 50 free style and in the 100 breast stroke.

Two weeks later he went to state and placed 11th in the 50 free style and 8th place in the medley relay as well as the free style relay for the state of AZ... So Verrado is getting better with the big wig schools down here in the valley. Our next step is to have Drake join the club swim team for him to improve on his technique so that he can receive a scholarship in college.

 

 

                                Well done Verrado Vipers! A picture of them winning District.

Cali here we come!

Normally we take our annual trip to Idaho to see my family however, with our high expenses with Jay's medical bills we decided to go to San Diego for 3 days. The cool weather was so wonderful that it was very difficult to come home! We didn't do the theme parks this time around instead we just saw some of our favorite spots to enjoy and get as much beach/ocean as we could for the two days! Here are some pictures of our trip... just click on the picture to get a full view.

 Checking out the USS Middway Aircraft Career Museum.

All I can say is that these men had to be as tall as 5'9 to work on this ship otherwise life would be a nightmare!

 Drake and Madie in the captains chair in the tower to let the planes land on the ship.

 La Jolla Cove beach baby! This is a real fun area to explore and known to be "Romantic" but with kids that can never happen...

 Catching some sun rays and also getting his feet wet in the cool ocean.

Where Brock is at on the right hand side is this cove that Drake and I went into. Don't want to get stuck in here on the high tide.

Feeling the cool breeze!

 He killed three of these guys by wanting a picture with them!

 The Sea Lions at La Jolla Cove... Basking in the sun on the big rock.

 We went up to Torrey Pines State Park and  hiked... Holy mother was it a steep hike! I can now see how Californians are so fit! All I can say is I am way fat and out of shape!

Jay getting frisky with this big mama...

 Our favorite place to eat in Old Town San Diego... Fred's

 The castle right off of the freeway! Gorgeous Temple!

 My forever family!

TREK 2012

On June 6th I sent my sons off on Trek at 4:00 am. As a parent I was nervous and excited for them, hoping that they would have a memorable experience as well as a spiritual. On Saturday when we arrived to pick them up at the camp site we were able to welcome them into the "Salt Lake Valley". I can not express in words how my heart is full! Pictures do not describe my feelings... However I did take some and to see smiles, some crying when we cheered them in was very heart felt. Having my big boys come running to me and giving me big hugs meant the world to me! I can see a change in them and I hope it stays like that for longer than two weeks.

 Coming into "Salt Lake Valley" We as parents were suppose to sing "Come, Come Ye Saints" but we couldn't do it. We were so excited to see them that we hooped and hollered them in!

 Brock pulling the hardest part of the handcart... Drake did as well all day everyday!

 After it was said and done.

 The sisters they had in their families and enjoyed.

 Friends from the ward.

 Drake and his "new" brother from Trek.

 More friends from our Waddell ward.

From what I have heard it was the most strenuous physical labor job many people have ever done before. The women's pull was awful. Brock stepped in to help and he got yelled at. It was hard for him to see them struggle. As I asked them what was their favorite part they said Testimony meeting and the Hoedown dance.