Let Them Be Little

THANK YOU

to you, and you, and you.

There are several thank you notes I am working on at present.

They need to get in the mail!

Even though I haven't mailed out the formal thank you notes yet, I wanted to mention a few of the sweet thoughts that I have received from really sweet people!

And the list keeps growing.

Just when I am having a tough moment, or day, or something...a card, an email, friend, flowers, text or voice-mail will come that will completely lift me up! It's as if I get that special something just at the right time.

You are all so good to me. And you have obviously been spiritually guided to send something uplifting just at the right time.

Thank you.

This card was the first to arrive. And it came from a woman I have only met once, briefly. Her daughter lived with Emily last year and we met while the girls were moving in to their dorm.  We could not have known how close Mary and Emily would become through that time together, had I known, I would have tried to have a better conversation with her mother, Becki. Mary is a wonderful girl and I have been so thankful that she and Emily have become so close. In this case, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I suspect that Mary is such a sweet and wonderful girl because she is a lot like her mother.

Her mother read of my recent struggles on this blog and sent me the kindest note. It was such a thoughtful thing to do that I was completely overwhelmed and humbled by her.

You know, it is really interesting, every time I meet someone from Washington (the state), I feel a kinship with them. They too are from the Seattle area. Many of Em's friends from college are from Washington and she agrees with me, the NW holds some real treasures in their people!

Thank you Becki, when I am well and we have finally settled into a home here in Co., please bring your family and play! We'd love to have you!

A few days ago (not sure which day exactly, I was a little out of it), this arrived:

From a very wonderful woman. We have only met once but it was on a really special day, the day her son, Tyler, married my niece, Karen.

Jill is someone I feel that I have known for a long time and feel that I know her better than I do. I read her blog and keep up with her happenings and thoughts on life. She has raised 4 wonderful sons and has helped raise her 2nd husband's children too. She and her husband have a beautiful marriage and wonderful friendship. It's easy to know that by what she shares. She has darling grandkids and is a happy grandma. Her other name is Grandma Honey - now that's the sweetest name, ever!

I love this photo! Taken 3 years ago on May 1st in Fresno, CA.

 Thanks Jill, I have already started reading it and I am enjoying it a lot! You are so thoughtful, I wouldn't have splurged on a book like that right now, but it is one that I would have wanted to get for a fun read.  Thank you for thinking I could use a little lift and something inspiring right now.

 

Jonathan's parents sent me a card with one of my favorite poems on it. Thanks for thinking of me and for sending that beautiful card with the poem; I needed the reminder.  :)

I don't know how they remembered or knew that it was a favorite but somehow they knew. It is one I shared with my Institute class - I like it that much - only the best for them.  :)

They also checked in on Nathan this weekend and saw him face to face. They said he was doing great! I really needed to know that! Thanks for doing that, Ben and Joan! I was a little worried.

 

The Oak Tree by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

 

A mighty wind blew night and day

It stole the oak tree’s leaves away

Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark

Until the oak was tired and stark

 

But still the oak tree held its ground

While other trees fell all around

The weary wind gave up and spoke

How can you still be standing Oak?

 

The oak tree said, I know that you

Can break each branch of mine in two

Carry every leaf away

Shake my limbs, and make me sway

 

But I have roots stretched in the earth

Growing stronger since my birth

You’ll never touch them, for you see

They are the deepest part of me

 

Until today, I wasn’t sure

Of just how much I could endure

But now I’ve found, with thanks to you

I’m stronger than I ever knew

 

THE PROCEDURES

WENT WELL.

A little discomfort afterward and very tired but I was in good hands.

Once we arrived at the hospital, the jitters of the previous days left and I felt completely peaceful.

Several biopsies were taken.

Tomorrow I meet with the hematologist (oncologist and internal medicine) doctor. I don't think the pathology will be back yet from the biopsies last Thursday, but it would be nice!

Next week I have an appointment to meet with the doctor (the boy doctor - he looked like a kid to me! I hope I didn't say that out loud as I was going under...it's the last thing I remember thinking!) who took the biopsies so he can go over the pathology reports with me.

He found scalloping on the walls of my small intestine and the villi were gone. That indicates celiac disease, another auto immune disease.

He feels that I do have that but we will know for sure when the pathology is in.

After doing some research on it, I can see how I would completely overlook the symptoms of that disease, if I do in fact have it - so many symptoms are like Lupus. The things I live with, have been living with for years, that are Lupus in nature, are not things that I talk to anyone about, it is just part of my life.

I am so thankful that we are getting closer to finding out what is happening. The more we know, the more we have found that this has been life threatening and I have been very blessed!

Since the villi in the small intestine are not there now, I am not able to absorb the much needed nutrients from food.  Like IRON! And all of the other necessary nutrients to keep this body running.

So far I have found out that they can come back but it takes a long time, not certain just how long yet but I am hoping to have question answered tomorrow.

Once they come back, I can begin to absorb nutrients again, like IRON! Which in turn will help to build up my blood. (Wouldn't that be great?!)

The question now is, do I wait those many, long months in order to try to get better, or get a transfusion and feel better sooner? How much longer can my organs keep working over time with a lack of blood?

Which would  be more healthy for me now and in the long run? To transfuse...or not to transfuse...

Also questions I hope to have answers for soon.

Still no clear answer on where, why and when on all of the blood loss...not sure if that will be answered with the pathology, or if we will ever have a clear answer.

My hemoglobin and hematocrit have come up a little with all of that iron, I hope I will be able to accept the iron and do it again...I want to be able to feel better (sooner rather than later).

This is a process that we have to go through but I feel like we are getting closer and closer to answers.

Once we get some answers, we can arm ourselves with information and education

and perhaps I can get well.

Oh, today I had to go get my blood drawn again. Emily took me, which meant she got to meet Banana peel girl (Erin). She was so excited to meet her; you would have thought Erin was a celebrity! When I introduced them, Erin said, "Hi! I'm your mom's favorite vampire!" That is true.

Erin took one look at the butcher job the nurse did to my arm last Thursday - yes I have a big huge bruise on my arm from the IV - and said to me, "I want names!" She was appalled that the nurse who gave me the IV would do that to me.

I didn't give her names but loved that she cares for me. She's a friend.

LOOKING BACK

Nathan and Emily at Grandpa and Grandma Rich's home, Spring 1994.

Having little Miss Em back home is a treat. There are many things she still does, or says, or looks she gives that remind me of her from many years ago. Our little Em is still inside our more mature, college Em.

Yesterday there was something that she did that is just SO her.

For my procedures, I cannot eat for a couple of days (and do some other lovely stuff that I won't mention here).

She was making a sandwich in the kitchen and I thought she would join me and eat it. But then she went missing.

I wondered what had happened to her and why she would leave.

Looking out the window, I saw no sign of her and Larry was still parked in his usual spot.

It seemed strange to me.

Where would she go? Especially with her sandwich in her hands?

I decided to check out the front door, as I opened it, there she sat on the concrete steps.

Sandwich, that she was trying to conceal under a napkin, in one hand and a book in the other.

She was acting so funny with that sandwich!

So, I asked her, "Are you trying to not let me see you eat that sandwich?"

Her reply, a sheepish "Yes."

She is such a funny little gal. I love that she is that thoughtful; she doesn't need to be (for me) but it is a wonderful trait of hers. (Next time Em, I can handle it...I'd rather enjoy your company, sandwich and all.)

It was a beautiful day! I thought that she had had a brilliant idea in going outside.

I mentioned to her that she could get the picnic blanket out of the back of Larry if she wanted to really relax for a while.

She declined and said she was fine on the steps.

Then she said, "This is where I sat and waited for Smash and Megan to be born."

"You did?"

"Yep, either here (pointing to the last step, the one she was on) or up there dangling off my legs, even though there wasn't much to dangle."  Ha, ha!

It's true, she and Nathan waited here at this home, with Jeanne, for me to have the younger two.

It was such a sweet thought and memory.

I'm glad she has those wonderful memories of this place where we have returned.

Another memory followed just after. Jeanne's fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, I think she makes the best in the land! She would bring the kids to meet their new sibling and a plate of her specialty for me to eat. (After not being able to hold anything down for 9 months and then giving birth, it was the absolute best meal ever!)

She and Nathan were older than the picture I put at the top of this post when the other two came along but it's such a cute one, I wanted to put it on.

Speaking of Nathan, he had a little accident and I am worried about how hurt he might be.

He hit a parked car while riding his bike. He must have been flying because we are getting word back that it's a $1600.00 repair.

So, in order to cause that much damage to a vehicle, I really wonder what he looks like!

 

 

HAPPY TEXT MESSAGES

ARE THE BEST!

Text messaging is wonderful and amazing and quick and easy and (can be) non-intrusive.

Still, I'm an old-school gal in a lot of ways (I just proved that by putting old-school and gal in the same sentence!) and I think it's important to have real-live conversations with people.

But since I have been sick and it is hard for me to feel up to talking much, I have found a new appreciation for text messaging.

Mainly because of my niece, Karen.

She is a master text-er.

Her texts could not be replaced with a phone call - well, unless it was via Skype.

Because she sends me cute little happy thoughts with messages like these:

Just look at that cute little guy! My first great-nephew, Rich. Aren't they a darling pair?

Finals day for Tyler and Rich's first official campus visit!

See what I mean? Aren't those the best messages?!

I love them; the photos via text and the beautiful people in them!

Oh, and they celebrated their anniversary on the 1st. Happy anniversary!

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS!

Such an exciting day for the Smash-man!

He had a goal:

A new PR (personal record or as I like to call it a new PB - personal best!) of 11 feet which he had no problem making with his new 13' pole.

At first I worried about how he would do with a longer pole, one he had never used before, but he was on! Every vault, up and over, with precision and ease.

He was the last vaulter in the competition. The last man standing flying, so he got to go until he couldn't go anymore.

Everyone waited and watched as he caught his breath and rested for a few minutes and then he went again.

He broke his own PR with a vault of 11 feet 6 inches!

Talk about celebrations! 

Everyone was thrilled for him!

The vaulters are quite the little community of friends; they all root for each other whether they are on opposing teams or not.  The coaches root for the vaulters whether they are from their team or not.

It was so cool to see them all getting more and more excited as Smash raised the bar higher and higher.

 

He went for 12 feet (he could have gone up by the inch since he was the last one in the competition but he decided to raise it a half a foot at a time) but just brushed the bar. He was right there...so close!

Immediately after the competition, with a smile on his face, he made his way over to us and we shared our excitement. He announced right there that he has a new goal - another foot higher - and he would like to get it by next week! This kid is determined!

 Highlights of the excitement of the day are below:

He started at 9 feet:

 

9 feet 6 inches:

10 feet:

10 feet 6 inches:

Here he goes for his goal. 11 feet!:

Watch the coach in the purple shirt in the photos below (it's a treat!), he has been such a BIG help to Smash and he isn't even his {official} coach. The pole vault coaches are amazing! 

(These are a bit blurry, I was so excited that I was shaking!)

That coach can JUMP! His feet are nearly the height of the seat of his chair. Love it!

Do you see him laying on the mat? His feet and fists in the air?  Love it!

More celebrating!:

(I think this friend asked him to do a back flip if he made 11' 6").

 

 Going for 11 feet 6 inches!:

He missed his first attempt, just nicking the bar.

While he rested up, the kids that were waiting to see his outcome (by this point, the track meet had been finished for a while) played on the mat:

Ready to try again, his second attempt was RIGHT ON!:

And the celebratory back flip:

He went for 12 feet! He was so close but just didn't get it.

Stay tuned...it's his next goal, he'll be working hard to achieve it.

Brushed it with his hip.

 

In support (and celebration) the boys rush to the mat and tackle him. So funny!

SWEET(!) ON TRACK

This is worth reading.

 

We arrived at the track meet around the time we thought Smash would begin vaulting.

Some of the athletes were already vaulting but they were not yet at the height where Smash would begin.

As we were watching the others compete, we saw a group of athletes (from different events) from Fossil (Smash's hs team) talking in a circle. Smash was among them and I assumed they were just shooting the breeze.

While they were huddled together, the men's 200 began.

When the athletes running the 200 were on the other side of the track, the huddle moved to the track and each (random) athlete took their lane.

In lane 1 was a boy with Down Syndrome. He wanted to run the 200 and so these athletes agreed to run it with him.

He was so excited! (The guy in lane 2 kept telling him to place his foot behind the line, he would firmly plant it behind the line and then within a few seconds it would inch up again, he was just so anxious!)

(Smash is in lane 5.)

This was a fun race to watch.  So very sweet.

Here he is leading the pack!

Smash and his buddies lightly jogged about 10 yards or so behind him.

This young man was thrilled at the end of the race when he won! High fives all around for everyone.

It was one of the sweetest parts of my day and one of the sweetest things I have witnessed at a track meet.

Best race of the day!

A BIT OF A HITCH IN MY GIDDY-UP

It's a little set back.

Last Friday evening I had a bad reaction - very red and swollen hands with welts that were beginning to go up my arms.

I took Benadryl and went to bed.

Yesterday I went for my next round of iron (and saline) and had a bit of a rash on my arms, nothing like the Friday evening episode but enough that I thought I should mention it.

My IV pusher, Robyn, (that sounds disrespectful to call her that but my veins and arm are still in pain from the last time!) thought it would still be okay but checked in with my doctor while I was getting prepped.

He said, "STOP!" 

Looks like I have become intolerant to the iron.

No more iron, at least until after I have my other procedures this week and see him next week. And maybe never again...we will see.

This was discouraging news, since I cannot absorb it through iron supplements and food and now I cannot take it through the IV...discouraging and deflating.

The little black cloud of worry was hanging over my head all evening. How will I build my blood supply without the iron?

But as I have thought about it and prayed, I have felt that right now, all is being done that can be done. It's a process, one that I need to go through in order to get well.

It's a set back, not the end.

Just a little hitch in my giddy-up!

So, I will patiently (and light-headed-ly) wait.

 

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Smash is working on a self portrait for an art project at school.

He took a photo of his face in the mirror as a guide and has been sketching as he finds a few minutes here and there.

This is his work - in progress:

(He has already changed one eye since he took the photo, he's very particular).

Smash took a photo of it with my cell phone so he could send it to Nathan; can't wait to hear what Nathan thinks of it.

His nose is pulled off to the side because of what his mouth is doing - he is pulling a face.

Since it was on my cell, I thought it would be fun to share it here (at an early stage).

This is amazing to me!

Portraits are difficult to do. The details matter, a lot; such as, being able to convey a person's expression and unique traits within the strokes.

This is the first time that Smash has been able to find enough time in his school schedule to take an art class.

He has always had an interest in art and seemed to have a natural ability for it as well; it looks to me like his talent is growing!

 

Since I feel like a work in progress, I wish Smash could create a new me with a few particularly placed pencil strokes.

LACROSSE FEVER

Meg has caught it!

She is enjoying this new sport so much.

Team Havoc has had some great games:

Meg is #49.  :)

Havoc won this game by quite a few points. I don't remember the score, truthfully I don't even remember the game but I was glad that I could be there and the girls were happy with another win.

 

I apologize for all of the photos but the grandmas need to SEE the action.  Hope that doesn't scare away the rest of you.  :)

 

Their most recent game was a tough one, the team they played was a very good and really aggressive team: (The Ref inspecting the sticks).

Meg played center in this game.

She seems to prefer Low A. (Attack) but I liked seeing her in the middle of a lot of action. Center plays both on the offense and defense.

As Center, she got to "face off" several times. Funny to see a the shortest girl on the team going up against the opposing (much taller) centers.

 

Team Havoc played a good game; they had to really step up their game. The opposing team, from Denver, was an excellent team with some great plays. They had so many girls on their team that they were able to rotate and sub out every player at each break. (The whole team would go off the field and the new team would come onto the field). Really impressive.

Our girls were able to make it a good game.

The parents of the other team said that usually their girls just crush their opposing team so it isn't much of a game and not much fun to watch.  They were excited to get to see some competition.

In the end, Havoc lost.

But it was great for them to play an excellent team!

They need the opportunity to improve and learn and the best way to improve as a team is to play really good teams.

It was a beautiful day, fun game and great to see Megan with Lacrosse fever.

I'M GOING TO TUCK THIS little update IN HERE

between some other things so that not everyone will have to read it.

Those who want to know how I'm doing will look for the update, so I am certain they will find it.

But this is not my favorite thing to talk about...so it makes me a little uncomfortable to have it front and center.

Friday's iron was really hard. I thought by now it would be getting better.

My veins were not happy to have another IV placed in them again.

And so they rebelled.

That was not nice, not nice at all.

It was so painful trying to get the IV in that I thought I would pass out.

So did Robyn, my IV pusher.

She was really worried, I have her every time and this was the most difficult so far.

Once she was in, getting it to advance further into the vein was nearly impossible and it brought tears to my eyes.

If I wasn't already continually light headed and close to passing out, I think I would have been able to tough it out a little better.

She had me do some deep breathing, asked me to stay with her, and did her best to get it over with as quickly as possible.

She got it done and had me wrapped in a warm blanket asap.

My blood pressure was still too low, so she gave me another 1,000 ml of saline after the iron; which was appreciated.

What worried me most though happened that evening. My hands began to swell and turn bright red, then they got welts on them and the hives/welts began to go up my arms. I took Benadryl and went to bed and that helped a lot.

I hope that I am still able to tolerate the iron and that I will not react adversely tomorrow when I go in for more.

I'm going to check with Robyn and see what she thinks before we get started again tomorrow.

Because of the reaction Friday night, I thought Saturday would be a bad day but I did alright. We went to Megan's game and it was so nice for me to get outside - and enjoy sunshine and my family!

But I overdid it.

This week is a biggie for me. Lots of procedures to get through.

I'm hoping all will go well.

 

 

THE HAPPY NEWS FOR THE WEEK

My most exciting and happy news for the week is Emily made it back to us!

Yes!

She nearly missed her flight  - it was down to the minute - but she made it and we are happy to have her here.

Since BYU doesn't take a spring break, the students get out earlier than other colleges. So, we get to enjoy having her with us until she goes back to school and work in June.

She is the official chauffeur now that I am not able to drive. I think she likes being behind the wheel again.

We will be putting her other skills to use as well - there are quite a few things I could use some help with while she is here.

Monday I went to another iron-pumping session.  :)

It went better than the time before and I am very thankful for that.

When I arrived, my nurse, sorry - I don't have a nickname for her yet, was worried about me. I had had a very rough weekend and I was not well on Monday. My blood pressure was exceptionally low, even for me. She was worried that I might not tolerate the iron again. She asked if I was willing to stay there longer, take the iron more slowly and also get pumped up with saline while I was there. She felt the saline would help me feel a little better.

Absolutely.

It did take a long time. We were there nearly 3 hours. (Emi even started to fall asleep a little, ya, I saw that, Em!)

1,000 ml of saline. I'll bet my organs were wanting to do the happy dance with all of that liquid coursing through my veins.

Jonathan couldn't stay away, even though I assured him that Emily and I would be fine; he came bearing gifts during the middle of the procedure, smoothies. (Really good, btw!) Thanks, Jon!

My nurse was right, the saline did help me. This time was not nearly as bad. It still wiped me out for the rest of Monday. I don't remember Tuesday all that well. Yesterday was a better day, and I may have enjoyed that a little too much.

So, I am hopeful that more iron will help and I think I would like to ask for a side of saline again! (A large side!)

Oh, I did get to go see banana peel girl and get more blood drawn; don't know my stats yet.

She told me that her 70 yr. old aunt came to visit from Hawaii and had a similar scare. When she got to CO, she felt dizzy and was afraid she was going to pass out. She would fall easily and get hurt. She went to the ER and was given 5 units of blood. They never did find the bleed, so her insurance told her she had to stop looking for the cause, they were done paying for her hospital bills. She had come to visit her husband, he lives here and she lives in Hawaii, she ended up spending her entire vacation in the hospital and then went back home not knowing the cause of her blood loss. She told her niece, Erin - aka banana peel girl, that she would probably feel fine once she was in Hawaii again.

Erin told me that her aunt and uncle have the happiest marriage of anyone she knows but they live apart because her aunt prefers Hawaii and her uncle likes Colorado. They do visit each other often.

Separated by an ocean and several states is one way to not have to hear him snoring... :)

Today was a harder day for me and I was really ready for it to be the best day of the week!

Tomorrow is another iron-pumping day...we begin the cycle again.

Smash also has a track meet. I'm so sad! He is scheduled to vault during the middle of my procedure. By the time I finish, I don't think he will still be going and I don't know that I will still be going either. Hoping for the best though.

I found out that several family members fasted and prayed for me last Sunday. That was very humbling to me.  Thank you to those of you who have been praying for me. I believe that Monday's transfusion went better and that the nurse recognized immediately that I needed extra help that day because she was guided.

Your fasting and prayers have been helpful and very much appreciated. I feel it. Your faith and love buoys me up.

Thank you!

Next week: more iron, an endoscopy with biopsy and a colonoscopy with biopsy.

(I think when I drop something, get wobbly or am forgetful next week, I will say "OPSY" instead of "OOPS!" Seems appropriate.)

Well, I need to get back to bed. I was there earlier but was attacked by a moth - that is now in hiding - this is the 2nd attack this week. Jonathan took care of the 1st moth (which liked diving into my hair) last night. My hair! Isn't that the craziest thing? And my hair is not even fluorescent anymore. :)

But tonight's moth is more cunning, it's better at hiding and it goes for the face.

Just the thought of it diving for me makes me want to avoid sleep tonight. But I am too tired to fight sleep any longer.

Wait - that shouldn't have been included in the happy news. When it is officially gone, it will be happy news - so I will leave it as is.

Night.

NOW THAT THERE IS NO 'PICNIK'

a monkey may be taking over.

PicMonkey!

Another fun online photo editing site.

It does not have collage tools - yet - they say they are working on adding that!

It is a user-friendly site with a lot of the same things you would have found at Picnik.

And it is free!

 

Emily's friend, Mary, suggested fotoflexer. I haven't had a chance to play on there yet but it looks great too.  :)

 

Here are a couple of photos edited in PicMonkey of my own monkey:

 

 

IRON WOMAN

Well, I did it.

My first iron transfusion/infusion on Friday.

The best part? The warm blanket!

Tomorrow (Monday) I go back for more, then again on Friday and then I repeat that again next week.

It has taken me a little while to feel up to getting back on here to report.

The iv iron was a little unpleasant during the procedure. Not sure why other than maybe my veins were finding it difficult to support all of that extra volume(?).

But I did alright.

Jonathan was right there with me to help me try to feel more comfotable. He knew how I was feeling by looking at me, I didn't have to say a word. When I felt faint, the foot rest on my chair was raised instantly.

Afterward, I was completely wiped out.  Not able to wake up. I slept for hours and felt so out of it.

Once I was up, it felt as if the flu had invaded my body while I slept, and that is how I have felt the last couple of days.

I'm hoping for a little more fun with the iron tomorrow.  :)   (It would be nice if it gets easier).

Even though I was told that it would take several infusions before I would begin to feel a little better, I was hoping for more; hoping for instant energy.

But I will take what I can get. And hope for the best.

This is how it is right now and frankly, it could be so much worse.

The iron was the color of root beer extract.

My nurse friend sent me a text telling me of one of her recent patients.  His hemoglobin and hematocrit stats were very close to mine, she said, "After a couple of units of blood he could finally remember his name! You must feel awful!!"

I've been asked why I haven't gone in for a blood transfusion. If I were to end up in the ER for any reason, they would be required to give me one. However, if I have to have one, it would be better to get it from my doctor at his cancer center.

He wants to try to help me build my blood on my own while he hunts down the reasons for loss and why I don't absorb iron.

When he asked me to go in for the iron transfusions, I asked him about the iron and how it would be able to do what it needed to do when my blood volume is so low. (Thinking that iron needs good red blood cells to attach to). There is so much I don't know about our remarkable bodies and how they work! But I am learning more and more each day.

He told me that the iron in the blood is like the bricks and mortar while building a home, it helps to frame and hold the structure together.

So, hopefully, those red blood cells are building a happy home with all of this beautiful new iron.

The next photo is not for the FAINT of heart...don't look if you are squeamish.  (Smash!)

 

Just wanted to show that root beer extract looking liquid filling my veins.

WHAT'S A MOTTO?

NOTHING!  What's a motto with you?!  (ha, ha!)

Remember that funny line from The Lion King?

(During the song Hakuna Matata).

 

Today Jonathan came home during his lunch hour to take me for a drive, so I could get out of the house and see the outdoors. (Not a doctor's office...).

That was such a refresher for me. We drove up by our property; it's so beautiful and peaceful there - still trying to decide what we should do with it...to build or not to build...that I can think about another day.

While we were out the sun was shining and the clouds were fluffy. They were also in abundance but somehow the sun continued to shine brightly. The mountains were sparkling with fresh snow along the peaks.

Many of the trees are still blooming beautifully with spring colors.

Such beauty in this world!

Nathan told me that one of his close friends, Wilson, has decided to serve a mission. He is so excited for Wilson, this is really great news. They were good buddies at church and in high school, but Wilson is about a foot - a foot and a half taller.  :)

Wilson also honored Nathan with something very special today; the mentor pin from when he received the rank of Eagle. It brought tears to my eyes when Nathan told me he gave it to him today. What a sweet and thoughtful tribute.

My friend, Gina, brought Megan home from school today. It was fun to see the two of them come bounding happily through the door together.

I really do appreciate the help that others have offered to us right now.

It began to rain and thunder just before Gina left. It was a good soaking rain, how I love that! We need it, CO has been unusually dry. We could smell the rain and hear the water spray off the tires of cars as they drove by - how I love that too!

Megan and I watched a little Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. I bought the 1st season a little while ago thinking that she would like it. Since she didn't have Lacrosse today and no homework, we decided to pop some popcorn and have a little afternoon/evening movie time.

That was such fun, Megan is now a Dr. Quinn fan so I am sure we will have more movie dates to come.

We were still watching an episode when Smash came home from track, looks like he might also be interested? It happened to be a very 'manly' episode, ha, ha!

Smash is doing great at pole vault. He is right at 11 feet now, I can't wait to see him master that height in competition. He is working really hard to achieve it and improve daily.

Emi comes home in less than 48 hours! Woohoo!! And she is going to be so happy to drive, drive, drive! Since I can't, she will be doing a lot of driving - which I know she has missed while she's been at college. Fun for us both!

Tomorrow I go in for the first of my 5 ordered iron transfusions by my 'Hulk' doctor.

(You may be wondering why I call him that. He is neither green nor very large. But a doctor with specialties in hematology, oncology and internal medicine sounds like a doctor who went to medical school and asked, "Could you super-size me?" 

Although I joke about that, he is more than qualified to really help a lot of people - so I am glad he is on the case.)

As far as tomorrow goes, I am a bit nervous about it yet excited to see if it will help me to feel better while we figure out where my blood has gone (and is going) and why I cannot rebuild it.

Please pray that I will not have an adverse reaction to the mega-iron, which can happen and is brutal if it does.  I would really like this to work.

Now that I put that out there, I won't worry.

I'll keep thinking of the "motto"

Hakuna Matata!

:)

 

GOOD NEWS!

After working (my magic) on Jonathan for a couple of days to obtain permission to share his good news, I finally have it! Thanks, Jon. This is celebratory news and it needs to be shared (as well as written in our history books).   :)

 

Jonathan has been working on getting a promotion. He was a good candidate for it and now that we are in CO, he is considered more valuable (because he can constantly be where the action is), so he threw his hat in the ring. It has been a lot of work for him to vie for the position.

But he did it!

This is a position that he really wanted.

(Last week when I realized the 'powers that be' would be making a decision on whether or not to promote him and he was running all over the place helping me and taking care of the kids, etc., I began to worry that they might wonder if he could do it along with everything else).

So, when he got the word that he was chosen for the promotion I was ecstatic (and relieved).

He gives his heart and soul and brain(!) to all that he does.

The business degree he received from SMU while we were living in TX along with his engineering degrees prepared him for this desired new position.

Really exciting news for him (and all of us)!

Here is a letter he received just after learning of his promotion:

 

Dear Jonathan,

We would like to personally, and on behalf of the HP Corporate Engineering Program Management Career Path Review Board, congratulate you on your recent appointment to the role of Strategist. Strategist is a title reserved for an elite few individuals who have met a rigorous standard within the three performance criteria of the Engineering Program Management Career Path: impact and continuity of contributions, leadership, and breadth and depth of knowledge.

To become a Strategist, an individual’s contributions must have major lasting impact on an HP business, multiple projects or programs, as evidenced in changes in direct revenue, operational processes or strategic direction. Contributing at multiple levels, a Strategist’s impact grows in scope as judgment advances.

Leadership is another important component of the Strategist role. Leadership means not only program management prowess, but also collaboration and sharing of knowledge, within all communities of our organization.

Finally, Strategists demonstrate a unique depth and breadth of knowledge. They possess the ability to identify opportunities in new areas, or opportunities that span multiple disciplines and products/services. At the same time, they are recognized as a lead authority within their area of expertise.

 Your contributions clearly demonstrate all of these characteristics. You have sustained an exceptional level of contribution and impact throughout your career.

Let me congratulate you again on this remarkable achievement. Through hard work, personal initiative and team leadership, you have achieved a significant milestone in your HP career. The leadership team values your partnership and is enthusiastic about your increased scope of influence as a result of this promotion.

 Best regards,

Martin Fink, Vice President

 

Congratulations!

This is a GREAT fit for you!

THE LATEST

Another blood draw yesterday.

Yes, I got to see banana peel girl again, her given name is Erin. And she was once again, very kind.  She even gave me her schedule, so I will always be able to have her.  :)

Got the results today.

My blood is not improving.

(I think it might be hard for me to build blood when I have had some taken out every 3 days - just a thought).  :)

I am not able to absorb iron.

And I have been taking and eating a LOT of it.

They have found antibodies in the blood so on to further testing...

The doc (hematologist, oncologist, internal med -you know the Hulk of doctors) told me today that I will need an iron transfusion, an endoscopy and a colonoscopy.  All asap.

The orders have gone in to the insurance and to each office and they will call me with my appointment times.

He would like it done this week.

So, not all that exciting and not exactly the news I was hoping for but we are on our way to finding out more and the iron transfusion should help me start to feel better in the meantime - although he told me it could be brutal.

The news could be much worse, so I am thankful for what I know and have right now.

And if I were to start feeling better, that would be really an incredible feeling, it's been a long time...

NATHAN STARTED HIS NEW JOB TODAY!

After he had his first official day of work at the MTC, which was a training day, I got to talk with him.

He is super-duper excited!

On cloud nine!

Nathan loves it already.

I am thrilled for him! 

He will be teaching the intermediate and advanced Spanish speaking missionaries.

They are in the MTC for only 3 weeks; so he will have a new group of fresh, young missionaries every 3 weeks!  Fun!

He surprised some of the missionaries with his Spanish, one young man told another (Latin) missionary that Nathan spoke better than he did.  Ha, ha!

Then they found out that he served his mission already - in Argentina...

and they all had a good laugh.

They were among several others who didn't realize that Nathan is a teacher there. (Thought he was a missionary).   :)

When it really matters, when he is very old and still looks really young, he will be grateful for his youthful good looks.  :) 

(I can say that because I am his mom, wink, wink!)

BEAUTIFUL RELEASE

 Last night I received a text from Emily's friend, Mary.

 When I saw it, I wondered what that was in the sky and then it dawned on me - lanterns! Beautiful lanterns in the dark, night sky. 

I thought it was so cool of Mary to send me a text of what she was seeing:

And then she sent me this next photo:

(Mary and Emily with a purple lantern).

 

They weren't just seeing the lanterns, they were releasing them!

How cool is that?!

150 lanterns!

Emily has been a little stressed over finals week this week. She has a lot to take care of as well: packing, cleaning, checking the girls out of the dorms, readying the dorms for Women's Conference - all during finals week.  Poor girl.

 

Isn't that a wonderful distraction?

Sending lanterns into the night sky?

What a great release!

A beautiful release!

This is something I would LOVE to do one day. Or at least see in person. Hey, Em, want to do it again?

Thank you, Mary, for the photos. More importantly, thank you for being such a great friend to our Bemmer-Bo!

I'm very grateful that Emily has good friends like you in her life - you are a wonderful person.

 Words cannot express how thankful I am that Emily is surrounded by a great support system while she is at college.  Fabulous friends and her big brother - who could ask for more?

AND

SHE comes back to US in 5 DAYS! I am so EXCITED!

Beautiful!

(Thanks again, Mary! We love you!)

 

Just as I was getting ready to post this, Emi sent me a few more photos of the lanterns:

Just awesome.

IT WAS A 'PICNIK' WHILE IT LASTED

Picnik was a fun photo editing site.

Although I didn't use it always, it was a great place to go to from time to time.

And I am going to miss it, especially for the collages.

The site will close for good on April 19; if you have photos stored there, be sure to download them very soon!

I'm looking into other suggestions for photo editing sites online - when I find something I like, I'll share it.

 In honor of Picnik and because I love watching Smash pole vault, here is a little Picnik collage of his meet in Colorado Springs last Saturday.

Click on photo to enlarge:

 

 

 

RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT

I AM DEBATING.

Debating with myself.

On what, you ask?

Whether or not I should share this here.

 

For    d a y s  I have been avoiding the subject - for several reasons -

but tonight I feel like I should explain a few things.

One reason I hesitate is because I know how much people are suffering right now.

Several good folks are in our constant thoughts and prayers.

 

My concern in sharing is that someone may feel that I am complaining and I don't want to come across that way, at all.

The struggles I am dealing with are minimal compared to what they could be.

 

But what I do have going on is serious, serious enough that Jon and I have several concerns.

 

Last week, I went to see the doctor .

My appointment was in the late afternoon so I didn't fast.

Since I wasn't fasting, I was asked to come back in order to get blood drawn.

My week was busy and I had the dry needling procedure done so I couldn't go back in for the lab-work for several days.

I determined that Friday would be the day.

Friday morning came and I woke up feeling terrible. I did not want to fast and go have blood drawn.

Thinking to myself that it could just wait until the next week, I decided to skip it and rest.

Just as soon as I had decided to "skip it" I had a strong impression that I needed to go in and get it done - sooner rather than later.

Long ago - at an early age - I learned to follow those 'feelings' or 'impressions' always, and immediately.

So, that is what I did.

I left right away for the lab.

I didn't even change out of my sweats - that's a big deal for me!

(I always dress as nicely as possible before going out).

 

Side-note: a sweet little encounter happened there.

As I walked in through the 2nd set of double doors to the medical center, I turned slightly and noticed a lady trying to juggle many things in her hands and arms while dangling a banana peel off of one finger.

We've all been there, haven't we?

Knowing it would be hard for her to negotiate the doors and her cumbersome load, I turned, went back outside and opened the doors for her.

She was very thankful and as we entered, I noticed she was wearing scrubs.

So, I asked her if she could tell me where the lab was located, she pointed me in the right direction and off I went.

As I was signing in at the lab (while telling the nice receptionist there how much I liked her hair), in walked the banana peel girl.

We had a little laugh and I opened the door for her once again.

When it was my turn to have my blood drawn, guess who came to get me?

Yes, the banana peel girl.

As I got up to go with her, she opened the door for me and said, "Now it's my turn to open the door for YOU!"

We laughed a little at that. :)

She was the kindest phlebotomist I have ever had.

And my veins were not giving blood easily that day - but she never hurt me!

Side-note moral: It doesn't ever hurt to open doors for people.  :)

 

Pretty soon after I had my blood drawn, I had a call from the doctor. She felt it was urgent that I speak with her.

Not all of my labs were back yet but she had one result that had been sent to her urgently.

She talked to me about my blood level. How dangerously low it is. How worried she is for me, etc.

We determined by my symptoms that I have been seriously low for a long time.

Probably a very long time, I have just adapted to it.

She was concerned about my organs and how they may be damaged by this, she also began talking about transfusion.

She told me what I needed to pick up from the pharmacy immediately.

She gave me her cell phone number and asked me to call her over the weekend if I needed to go to the ER or had any trouble whatsoever.

She said a lot of things to me, some of them were very complimentary, which was really nice given the rest of it was a little scary.

She gave me my stats. Asked me to take extra caution and care; not to get into an accident, not to fall again, etc.

But my head was swimming...transfusion?  Damaged organs? ER?

How low could my blood be?

Apparently very, very low.

My stats were sent via text to my sis, who is my lab genius, and she was very concerned and let me know that if I were in her hospital, I would be getting an immediate transfusion.

That was echoed by my nurse friends in other hospitals as well. 

 

On Monday morning the doc called to tell me she was getting me in to see a specialist.

This specialist is like the HULK of all doctors.

He is a hematologist, oncologist, internal medicine doctor, and has a cancer center.

He told me I am running on half the amount of blood that I should be.

Half.

Oh, that low!

He talked through some of the possible reasons for such a great amount of blood loss.

He did rule out Lupus related blood loss immediately, stating that I would have more blood than I do now if it were Lupus related. 

We went over treatment, depending on the reason for the loss,

and whether or not I will be able to rebuild my blood on my own.

We talked about the pros and cons of a transfusion but he would like to know what is happening to the blood before we do anything else. Of course.

And he decided he needed to run his own tests in order to determine how to best treat me.

Which meant another blood draw.

5 more vials of blood.

Back to banana peel girl.  :)

(So glad we are friends now, I will be seeing a lot of her!)

 

As I wait to find out more, I have to be careful, very careful. 

I haven't been able to drive, and even when I am a little more clear headed and feel that I might be able to drive a little, I am worried.  If I were to pass out or if I were not as alert as I should be and I caused harm to someone else, I would not be able to live with that.

My doctor has also made it clear that I cannot afford to lose more blood, I am already critically low.

And more.

 

With every step I take now, I am so careful.

Jonathan is my chauffeur. He has also taken on all of the running around for the kids. (Which is a lot!)

It makes me feel terrible, and grateful all at the same time.

Grateful that he can and is willing to help, and terrible that I can't do it.

But I can't.

Normally I would will myself to keep going and doing,

I am just not well enough.

The need to stay as well as possible is most important now.

Jon has a lot going on at work right now, it is an important time for him and I hate to cause him more stress.

You should see the stress in his face. I wish it was about work

but I know that look, he is worried about me.

 

Last week he was working through some other bad news: a good friend here with terminal cancer, a dear friend in TX who is not doing well at all, an aunt in CA who is in ICU and currently struggling for life, and then my news.

Megan was asking me about everyone and getting updates when she said, "Dad is not having a very good week, is he?!"

 

As far as the situation with my blood loss goes, you are probably asking the questions that I have been asking of myself?

How in the world did I not know?

How in the world did I let it go so far?

 

I don't have a good answer for that.

 

Complaining of being tired isn't an option for me, everyone feels tired and so I stopped saying that I was tired many years ago. 

When I have felt faint and/or light-headed and dizzy, I chalked it up to overexertion,

or once we came to CO, the high altitude. I also blamed that feeling on waiting too long to eat.

My inability to feel focused and able to make decisions I blamed on feeling a little blue after the move, and lack of sleep, pain from my back, etc.

(The inability to think quickly and make decisions easily has actually been one of the symptoms that has been the hardest for me to deal with.)

We came up with several reasons for the falls I have taken.

Other signs/symptoms have been blamed on Lupus

or my age (perimenopausal), lack of food and/or sleep,

my back issues - pain can make you feel terrible in a lot of ways...

so, that is how I didn't know.

There seemed to be an explanation for everything.

 

Ha! And there is an explanation, just not any that I had thought of.

 The human body is amazing! The way it adapts to terrible circumstances is a wonder.

 

 

HIS NEW PB - {and it's NOT FOOD!}

Smash had a really good meet on Wednesday.

He was super-duper excited to achieve a new personal record (or personal best - pb)!

It is such an exciting thing to watch him soaring through the air. And even more excited when he lands while pumping his fists high above his head!

He loves it!

Warm Up:

After only a couple of vaults the equipment had to be moved to the other side of the track and face the other direction - because of wind.

(I stayed where I was so I ended up quite far from the action, sorry about the photos, just didn't have the energy to move.)

at 9 ' 6":

Up and over!

Here's a look at his take off:

At 10 Feet! Up and over!

Here is the vault her really wanted for the day - a good, clean vault with good form and a 10' 6":

Legs going crazy, he starts celebrating on the way down.

He tried for 11 feet and was just right there.  He is really close to getting that height also.

Word on the street is that his coach is looking for a longer pole for him.  That would be great!  He is running out of pole!

He stuck his pole in perfectly, if you look closely, you can see it standing at attention in all of the photos!

We are really enjoying the sports our kids are involved in at present.

The things our kids do and the places they take us to are really fabulous.

Great job, Smash! 

CONGRATULATIONS TO NATHAN!

(It takes skill to "get" Smash!)

 

Nathan received GREAT news today! 

The best, in fact!

He got the job he has been wanting!

He will be teaching Spanish at the MTC (Missionary Training Center).

Since he returned from Argentina, this has been his goal and wish, to work there by this summer. What a blessing!

Way to go, Nathan!

I am very excited for him - this is a great fit for Nathan!

Not only will it bless his life but he will have an opportunity to impact those precious young missionaries before they head out to parts unknown.

 

He is so, so, so happy!

 

We need to celebrate!

 

LOVE AND GIGGLES!

Tyler and Karen (my niece) took this darling video of their baby, Rich.

(If you are on Reader, you will have to come directly to my site to view it).

Oh, he is so cute, I can hardly stand it!

I have their permission to share it here. (Thanks!)

Karen wanted to show how "loopy" Rich gets when he is over-tired.

She says she also gets "loopy" when she is tired; meaning everything is sillier or more funny than normal.

My children tease me about doing the exact same thing (as do some of my close friends), wonder if it's in the genes?

This video certainly shows how much this little guy is loved by his parents and how much he loves them back!

Watching him look up to Karen and respond to her the way he does just melts my heart.

Love it, love it, love it!

Watch it! It will make your day!

 

Emily and Nathan got to see him (and his parents!) a couple of weeks ago when Tyler and Karen were in Provo for the weekend! Seriously, he is so cute! (Emily is too, of course!)

MEGAN AND HAVOC

Never thought Megan and havoc would exist in the same sentence, she is too sweet for that!

But havoc it is, Team Havoc!

Megaroo is # 49!  (49 is FINE!)

The girls had their first Lacrosse game on Saturday and they were incredible!  They worked very well as a new team.

In fact, they worked a little too well for the other team.

At one of the breaks, Megan's coach asked them to stop shooting goals for a while and let the other team get an opportunity to score.

Throughout the game, she also asked them to switch to their weaker hands and pass the ball at least 4 times between each other in order to allow the team an opportunity to intercept.

She had the girls work on skills throughout the game - as they would in practice.

A lot of the girls on Team Havoc are new to the game but some of the girls are returning players and are really good.

The team they played on Saturday (in red) seemed like a fairly new team also.

The referees were so great at this game; recognizing the girls are new to the sport, when they had to make a call, they would stop play and explain (in the kindest way) why the call was made and how to avoid it in the future.  I was so impressed by this! What great people!

The referees also helped me to understand the game better by explaining the calls to the girls. I have a lot to learn about this game.

Right now all I know of the game is that it is FAST moving, intense, and these girls love it! Such a fun game to watch.

Once Team Havoc had allowed the other team to score several times, they asked their coach if they could try to score a couple of times before the end of the game. They really wanted to get to 20 points.

She told them when it was okay for them to try again she would yell "popcorn!"

Once "popcorn!" was out there, the girls worked quickly to make their desired goals.

The final score was 20 - 5.

 

 

Victory!

ONE OF THE PERKS OF HAVING AN OLDER BROTHER

especially an older brother with lots of friends (nice friends),

is they can become your friends (and will treat you nicely too) because you are his little sis.

 

Megan is finding out how valuable this can be!

Smash told one of his friends, Larissa, that Megan was just learning Lacrosse. 

Larissa, a very good Lacrosse player, volunteered to help Megan learn the game!

She has been voluntarily giving up her time once a week to coach Meg and work out with her on a day that Meg does not have a scheduled work-out with the team. Larissa leaves for volleyball practice right after she coaches Megan.

She has helped Meg not only learn the game, she has also been boosting her confidence!

 

We are grateful to Larissa, the awesome Lacrosse star!

Look at how happy Megan looks! 

 

(And while they were practicing, I was laying down on a picnic blanket - reading and snapping a few photos when possible. I know, I know, what a life!)

 

OUR FLYER

I love the look of the track and field ready for action!  Don't you?  So colorful!

 

Smash has been competing about twice a week with the varsity track team.

He loves the pole vault.

Watching him is such a thrill.

It's exciting to see him take off with pole in hand, plant that pole firmly in the ground and have it hoist his body high in the air towards the target - a bar well beyond his reach. 

There is such great anticipation as we watch his body shoot up and over the bar. Breathing isn't even  an option for me until he is on the other side of that high bar and on his way down to the mat below.

Some competition days are tougher than others. Not all end the way he hopes.

But I am amazed every time, no matter the outcome, at how athletic, agile and fearless he is; it is just plain cool to see!

Last Saturday he didn't vault quite as high as he had hoped he would, so he seemed a little disappointed.

I thought he did great and I loved each minute of it.

Check out on of his warm-up exercises:

On his right side is a tiny pole, can you see the tip of it coming up between his thumb and fingers? He moves that pole from side to side as he goes from a sitting position (shown in photo below) to the position (above) on his shoulders.  Great abdominal work out, don't you think?

HOPPY EASTER

FROM a darling little bunny!

Clover's mom always sends a little photo greeting via text.

I love these little text surprises!  They always make my day.

Isn't Clover the most darling little baby?!  I just love her!

BECAUSE OF HIM

 

I know He Lives!

I am so very thankful to have a Savior.

We have every needful thing available to us - through Him.

He lives and He loves us.

 

Happy Easter! 

 

This address, given a few years ago, is still very much a favorite of mine. It is powerful.

DRY NEEDLING

A new craft.

Ha, ha! 

Just kidding. 

Hope that didn't disappoint anyone.

It is the latest procedure that I am trying for my back.

A physical therapy approach where the needles are inserted into the muscle next to my spine in the areas of injury.

 

Here is an explanation of this method:

"One of the theories behind TDN {dry needling} is that trigger points are known to have abnormal electrical activity and are surrounded by numerous chemicals known to cause inflammation. Research has shown that when a needle is successfully inserted into a trigger point and causes a local twitch response, it can return the electrical and chemical environment within the muscle to its normal state and the muscle “lets go.” Deactivated trigger points draw white blood cells and plasma cells into the area and create a healing response. In addition, trigger points are known to exhibit an altered PH and altered rate of neuro transmitters."

 

 And another explanation from another source:

 "A healthy muscle feels very little discomfort with insertion of this needle. However if the muscle is sensitive and shortened or has active trigger points within it, the subject will feel a sensation like a muscle cramp –‘the twitch response’. The patient also may feel a reproduction of “their” pain which is a helpful diagnostic indicator for the practitioner attempting to diagnose the cause of the person’s symptoms. People soon learn to recognize and even welcome this sensation as it results in deactivating the trigger point, reducing pain and restoring normal length function to the involved muscle."

 

This is not an easy procedure, and according to my PT, since my injury is severe, the muscles along there have clamped down around the spine and discs like a vise - in order to protect the injury. (Puts a whole new understanding to the phrase "...like a vise grip" for me!)

The dry needling procedure shocks those muscles or resets them so I can get some relief and try to get blood and healing to the injured discs. 

Just after I have it done, it feels like I have injured it all over again but by day 3 it seems to give some relief.

As my back begins to heal, the dry needling will hurt less.  And continue to help more.

I am ALL for that!

Even though I do not enjoy the procedure at all and it sends me through the roof (really!), I am willing to do anything to help my back to heal.

The procedure puts me down for a couple of days at a time, so I am trying to do a little catching up on blog entries.  :)

MY FITNESS PAL

Have you heard of it?

With my current (and past year) back issues, I have had a lot of trouble keeping physically fit and healthy.

One of the struggles with that has been weight gain. And for me, the recent gain is significant.

That is definitely something I do not like to deal with - at all.

Any weight gain will not help my back, so I need to try to find ways to keep on top of this.

When I saw my doctor this week, she suggested I try the 'my fitness pal' app that I can put on my iPhone.  It is a FREE app.

If you are trying to get healthier, i.e. track your fitness, gain weight, lose weight, track workouts, water intake, etc., this is a great place to do it.

According to the app, I have been under-eating. I tend to eat a lot of veggies, beans, etc., which you think would be great and fine but the app is telling me too little could be sending my body into a starvation mode and therefore is holding on to everything...

So, I have been trying to eat the right amount of calories and I hope it will help me.  We will see.

The app has already been helpful because it serves as a reminder to eat on time and not skip meals.

My fitness pal is also offered online, it is a free service. 

In the hope that someone else might be able to benefit from this, I am sharing the info here.

 

SUNDAY WAS A SAD DAY

FOR the Rich family.

Sunday morning we received word that my cousin, Tim, had passed away.

Tim is the son of my dad's sister, Bernice. She is the one who found him.

He is my age. We played together when we were kids.

Aunt Bernice and Uncle Bert are absolutely the sweetest people on the earth.  They have lived through a lot of sadness throughout their lives. They have the most tender hearts of any one I know.

(I took this photo of my aunt and uncle in May, 2008, aren't they a beautiful couple?)

This week is also the anniversary of the death of their oldest daughter, Sherry, who passed away after a very difficult battle with cancer.

Two of their children have now been buried in the first week of April.

My heart goes out to the entire family.

Tim was a father, husband, grandfather, uncle and brother (and cousin).

He had a difficult life. Some of the hardships arose from his own choices. He had chosen a destructive path from an early age and suffered the consequences of those actions throughout his life.

His drug abuse and other choices led him to a failing physical body; a failing heart, COPD, and other physical struggles.

But he had turned this type of life around in the last couple of years.  Reaching out for help from his family and from our church.

He had accepted the Savior into his life and was using the power of the Atonement to become a new man.

Before he died, he enjoyed a day with one of his daughters and her children at a BBQ they were having for him.  He was feeling pretty well.

No one knew he was near death, it was a complete shock to all when he passed away.

It is believed that his physical heart just gave out.

His family, especially his sweet parents, continually showed forth unconditional love to him, no matter what. They were always a great support and I believe he initially felt hope again because of their great love for him.

 

As I listened to the wonderful words that were spoken through the general conference addresses on Sunday, I was overcome with the many, many comforting words that will surely be helpful to my aunt and uncle and the family in the coming weeks and months as they grieve.

They were truly such beautiful and comforting messages.

In Elder Russell M. Nelson's address he stated, "Under God’s great plan of happiness, families can be sealed in temples and be prepared to return to dwell in His holy presence forever. That is eternal life! It fulfills the deepest longings of the human soul—the natural yearning for endless association with beloved members of one’s family."

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That act was a supernal manifestation of God’s love. “For [He] sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Because of the Atonement, eternal life became a possibility for all who would qualify. Jesus so explained:

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

“And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

For the Atonement of the Lord and His gift of resurrection—for this sublime message of Easter—thanks be to God!

 All of this is familiar to us but it is wonderful to be reminded once again.

And there was a lot more too!

One address was that of President Monson who also taught beautifully about life and death and eternal life and the Savior.

As I have gone through his address to put quotes here, I am finding it hard to narrow it down enough...

please read his entire address, it is wonderful!

 

Right now, with the many things that are happening around us, I am clinging to three little words that mean a lot:

There is HOPE!

I hope and pray that those of you who are struggling now with illness or loss or any other hurt,

(especially during this Easter week), you too will feel that there is hope.

 

THE LORD KNOWS

what we need to hear

and He is mindful of us individually.

Tonight I need to take a moment and say how grateful I am for this blessing.

 

Last night I went to bed with a very heavy heart.

My thoughts were on my youngest and her little broken heart.

She is struggling to try and save a friendship with her best friend and she has never before been placed in this position with a dear friend.

The problem is religion, unfortunately.

Meg has shared our beliefs with this friend of hers many times over the past several months as questions have come up from her friend. They have had an open dialogue about their beliefs, some of those happen to be similar and others a little different. And never during the past several months has there been a problem.

Until now.

Some people (adults) have been talking to her friend and have been sharing their version of what we believe with her.  No, they are not of our faith. But she is young and passionate about her own beliefs and so she has decided to listen to them and she has shut Megan out.

She has been told that we are not Christian.

After several failed attempts to reassure her friend that she is in fact a Christian and that she believes and follows His teachings, she feels completely at a loss.

This has been so incredibly painful for Megan.  She loves her and doesn't want their friendship to suffer. Ever.

Meg said to me, "She is the friend I wanted to always have in my life.  You know, I wanted to call her from college, go to each others weddings, talk when we are married and have kids.  I thought she was that friend for me!"

 

As I listened to her concerns, fears, and sadness and as we talked, my heart ached for her. These emotional and spiritual struggles that our children have to suffer through are so hard! They are among the most difficult for my mother heart to handle.

And although I know it wouldn't help her grow and learn how to navigate through difficult circumstances, I wish I could take away her pain.

Sadly, the days of being able to put a cute bandage over the hurt and adding a magical kiss for good measure are long gone.

 So, late last night after we finished talking and retired to bed, I prayed that Megan would be able to find and feel peace somehow and that she would be able to learn through this experience and feel okay with any outcome.

Since this is general conference weekend (yay!), I asked the Lord to also help her find answers through the words which were to be spoken (and that we would all be able to be spiritually fed and renewed).

After a rough night, we got up early to go to a track meet for Smash (and team) and then came home as soon as Smash had finished in order to catch some of conference.

The talks we heard just after we arrived home were absolutely right on target for Megan. It was as if they were written for her.

I have witnessed this type of miracle (or tender mercy) before, usually for myself - sometimes for the children.

But the words and spirit from the talks this morning were so "spot-on" that I know they will help her for many days, weeks and months ahead.

Knowing that the Lord is mindful of her is such a great blessing; I hope this will help her.

I am so very thankful.

 

A FEW DAYS AFTER THE BOYS RETURNED

from their quick and awesome trip to TX.,

a package came.

For ME!

What was in the package? Several bottles of THIS:

A favorite olive oil! 

Not all olive oil is created equally, in my opinion. I will use different types of olive oil depending on what I am making. 

But this olive oil - made for Central Market - is so absolutely delicious!

Once I found it in TX, I would drive the 30 minutes or so to buy it.

30 minutes doesn't seem like a terribly long drive but we had so many choices within a two mile radius from us that it seemed a little funny to drive that far for a grocery store. (For most weekly groceries I did shop close to home).

Central Market is so wonderful, it is more than a grocery store.  I would take advantage of all that they have to offer there, often bringing a friend along to shop with and lunch with while we were there. The fresh veggies and fruit there were to die for, always.  If there was ever anything that I wouldn't be able to find in a grocery store, I could always find it there.  Everything is beautiful there...I am totally reminiscing now....

Anyway, back to the package.

A few weeks ago I ran out of this olive oil that I had been VERY careful with and only used when no other olive oil would do, and I was a little sad. I knew it would be hard to replace.

Now, I don't have to look for a substitute, at least for a while.

Jonathan really supplied me with some good stuff form Central Market while he was there!

Great popcorn, salsas, lots of olive oil and some balsamic...he even sent the grocery BAG!

Such a fun surprise!

ASPARAGUS - YUM, YUM!

A great, great spring veggie!  We love asparagus around here. I love, love, love it!

It's a favorite of mine in an omelet, as a vegetable on the side, love it in salads, we even like it in soup!

Grilled is definitely a favorite way to prepare, followed by roasted - well, it really doesn't follow behind by a lot! It's fabulous roasted! And then steamed. Steamed is good and we do a lot of steaming asparagus throughout the winter as it is available and looks decent.

I personally do not like the canned stuff.  I had it when I was very young and thought - "YUK!"

But in my teen years, I prepared some wild asparagus I found growing in the yard; I steamed it for the family and realized I had been wrong to judge the little spears too quickly.  :)

Right now asparagus is offered in abundance! And it is inexpensive. (So, go, go, go...grab a bundle!)

When picking it out.  Look at the tops, make certain they are intact and look fresh but then look at the bottoms of the spears as well.  The bottoms that look the least "dried out" are the freshest.

Now, take a little look at the photos and you will notice that not all of the spears are the same length.  That is because I never cut the ends off. While washing them (with water and FIT), I bend the bottoms until they naturally break. That does mean that I end up with all different lengths but the woody, tough end will be completely gone.  Asparagus will naturally break at the point where the good part meets with the not so good end. Try it, you will see what I mean.

 The pan above has 2 lbs of washed and dried (and ends snapped off) asparagus.

I prepared this batch 2 ways, we were having some extra folks for dinner and I wasn't sure how they would prefer it, so I played it safe.

To roast the asparagus, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Drizzle with a little olive oil. (Doesn't take much, just enough to coat spears).

Roll the asparagus in the olive oil to coat.

Sprinkle with freshly grated sea salt (or kosher salt) and freshly grated pepper. (Freshly grated does make it taste better, I promise).

Bake 8-10 minutes. 

Note: These spears were done in about 8 but they are fairly thin.  Very thin spears will not take long at all, thick spears will need a little longer, maybe 12 min. or so.  Just watch them. You don't want them to get too done.  I like them roasted but with a little crunch to them still. You can test them by piercing one with a fork.

During the cooking time, give the pan a little shake to rotate the spears.

So, half of the pan I roasted just this way and then sprinkled a little fresh lemon juice on them to brighten them up at the end.

The other half I sprinkled with freshly grated parmesan just before they finished roasting. (Maybe a minute or two).

Then drizzle with reduced balsamic (a good balsamic) vinegar.  Mmmmmm........

Asparagus roasted this way is delectable!

To reduce balsamic:

Bring a little balsamic 1/4 - 1/2 c. to a simmer and let reduce by half. This happens quickly so pay attention.

Reducing it will sweeten it up a bit and thicken it, of course. It is great drizzled on veggies or cheese, even fish.  Or as a dip for veggies.

I'll be making this again and again, so when I have the chance, I will take a photo of the finished asparagus and add it here.

The parmesan and balsamic asparagus was a hit with our guests... yay!  No leftovers for me...shucks.

Buon Appetito!

COACH SMASH!

And a day in {his} paradise!  :)

What a spectacular time for Smash. (Photos from Jonathan's cell phone).

When we left TX there was a rather tear-filled goodbye between our family and our gymnastics family.

Coach Mark really surprised me with his tears.  He has been not only a coach and influential boss for Smash, he has also been a great mentor. But as he said his goodbyes, he was unusually emotional.

And that is when he asked me if Smash could come back and coach the boys for their State Meet.

Of course I said we would definitely try to get him there if at all possible...

although the dates were a little difficult to work around and we could only get Smash there for the day of competition (he would have loved to have spent a LOT more time there), we were able to do it and it meant a lot to all of them!

I got a nice thank you note for Coach Mark just after Smash was there.

He loved having Smash there and so did the other coaches and he said it meant the world to the boys.

I know it was just as wonderful for Smash.

 Jonathan was able to travel with him and see some of the competition. (He had an emergency come up at work and had to go in to work for a few hours (on a Saturday!) while he was in Dallas but he tried to be there for most of the competition).

And in true Eagle fashion, they soared through a great meet and were victorious.  :)

 

 

COLOR!

While we were visiting "the kids" a couple of weeks ago, Nathan needed a ride to Spanish Fork because he and some friends were helping prepare the color bags for the upcoming "Festival of Color."

This display of color takes place at the Lotus temple in Spanish Fork; home to the largest Holi celebration in the Western Hemisphere.

The Holi fest is a Hindu tradition celebrating the arrival of spring and bidding farewell to winter.

"It commemorates an array of events in Hindu mythology, but in short, the festival is a celebration of life and color."  ~UVU newspaper.

When we arrived at the Lotus temple, I was a little mesmerized by all of the color! Jon and the kids got worried that I wouldn't want to leave, that I would want to stay and prepare the bags.

They were right.

We had to check out of our hotel though, so I had no choice in the matter. But the kids and I did take a few minutes to put together some color bags before we left.

Each bag contained 6 different, very vibrant colors and a color medium.  The woman in charge wanted pink in every bag we put together. Pink must be important in the final display of color!

 

Em is holding up a color packet:

The Lotus temple is in a BEAUTIFUL spot!  I wish I would have taken out my camera and gotten some nice pics of the area...but again, there was no time.

What an interesting and fun (although messy) way to welcome Spring!

Here are a couple of my former Institute students after the color launch:

DO YOU SEE NATHAN?

AND what are your thoughts?

 

My sister sent this to me a few weeks ago, she saw it on the news and she and her husband thought one of the young men in it looked like Nathan. They thought Nathan was the guy (outside) in the ivory sweatshirt and wearing gloves.

He does resemble Nate a bit. 

But it isn't Nathan.

However, he reacts like Nathan would in this situation.

When I watched the video on the news site, I laughed! 

I thought it was funny and I felt the kids all handled it really well.

If this happened to me it wouldn't bother me at all.  In fact, at the end I thought that had I been there, I might have turned right around and "punked" the "punkers" in return. Just to see if I could...and for a little laugh...

Then I read some of the comments that were left and people were offended. Some were very offended.

(I really don't think the Spanish Club at BYU had intended this to be offensive in any way. And it didn't seem that any of the kids who were on the other end of the practical joke were offended).

I wondered if I am not careful enough with people and their feelings. I never saw the harm in it, only some humor and some really nice kids with great reactions. I especially liked the girl at the end who stood there and waited for her hug, what a cutie!

Obviously, this isn't something that I would go around and do (or anything like it for that matter) but after reading the comments it has caused me to think - and wonder if I am not sensitive enough.

Hurting others just isn't an option - intentionally or unintentionally. It makes me sad.

 

On the other side of it, I do feel that some of us become offended too easily and there is little that others can do about that, usually...

and I fear that our society shares complaints quite easily.

 

But I would love to know how YOU view this sort of thing.

If you have a couple of minutes, please watch it.

And if you feel you can, please tell me honestly what you think of the video and the jokes played on others.

WHY MY RINGTONE FOR HER IS "POCKETFUL OF SUNSHINE"

BY Natasha Bedingfield

Download 02 Pocketful of Sunshine

Because she is pure sunshine to me!

I've got a 'pocketful of sunshine' and her name is Emily.  :)

She is so very kind and happy!!

When we visited her dorm, I noticed lots of little things (beyond the "stuff") that made me feel so thankful for the kind of person our daughter has become and who she is - even while she is away from us.

Several notes around her room from students she has helped. Girls who were thankful for her treating them kindly when they needed her help as an RA. Thank you's from roommates for something she had done to help them or lift them up.

People light up when they see her!

Little Miss Em sent this card to me in the mail - which means she had to purchase the card on her very fixed income and then pay for a stamp too!  Such a thoughtful thing to do for me!  And I needed a little pick me up right when I got it!

And it SINGS!  "Simply the Best" by Tina Turner!

Makes me feel like dancing!

Download 01 The Best

 

FROM LEO'S AND SEQUINS TO EYE GEAR, MOUTH GUARD AND A STICK! (And believe in yourself!)

From gymnastics to Lacrosse.

That's quite a leap!  ;)

(We still get to tell her to "stick it" though, ha, ha!)

 

She still LOVES gymnastics and if she could, she would go back to it.  But since it really isn't in the cards for her, she wants to remain active and athletic.

She has been searching for the right fit, she has tried track (and hasn't completely ruled that out yet) and although she liked parts of it, she didn't love it.

Here in Colorado, she has been introduced to a sport she has never SEEN before, let alone played.

Without knowing anything about the sport, i.e. the rules, the way the game is played, the commitment, the brutality (although we have been told that girls Lacrosse is not as brutal as boys), etc., she decided to go for it and give it her all.

She is working hard.  After practice she practices on her own. 

Someone on the team told her, "You're not bad, especially for having never touched a stick before...you're not good but you're not bad either!"

Megan was thrilled with that feedback.  She, of course, wants to play well but she understands that it takes time to learn a new sport - so she was happy with the "You're not bad" feedback.  Ha, ha!

Such a positive soul!

Megan is brave. It takes some belief in yourself and your abilities to feel confident enough to go out and try something new, especially something so far from what you have always known.

At age 14 that is especially difficult.

But Megan shows that although it may be uncomfortable to discover new territory, you wouldn't think it is scary for her because of the attitude she brings to new situations.

 

The video below is fabulous! Emily and her friends love this and it is a must see! (Thanks for sharing it).

I love this little guy and his words of wisdom (and his enthusiasm!):

"I feel happy of myself!"

"I know you can believe in yourself..."

 

Isn't it cute how he walks over and stands on the median in the road when his dad asks if he has any words of wisdom for other kids out there who may be learning to ride a bike?!

"Thumbs up everybody - for rock and roll!"

 

 This video below is a fun tune that some guys put together from the words of the cute little bike rider:

NATHAN'S WORLD

OF ART.

 Sorry about the quality of these photos, they were all taken with my phone.

 

Nathan has always had an interest in art and in drawing in particular. But he never has had time  in his schedule throughout middle school, high school or even before his mission for an art class.

Here is a sketch he did for his friend (and his friend's mom, my friend) last Christmas:

(This is a photo of a copy of his sketch - so not the best quality but you can see what a talent he has, especially if you know this cute family).

He decided to take his first art class this semester!

He loves it! His class is once a week - for FOUR hours at a time. Each week he has a project due.

When we visited him last weekend, we got to see some of his projects from his class.

This was a favorite of mine: (I love the world!)

 His assignment was "patterns." He drew the world with patterns of little people throughout the world, larger people in the water - that I think make really cool currents, and then little, cute penguins in Antarctica.

Throughout his drawing, there are little surprises, look at the little penguin in the southern tip of South America:

Inside Africa there is a surprise lion, can you see him?

There was a moose in Alaska - wish I would have gotten a close up of that!

Here is a Sprite can:

 

This next drawing was an interesting assignment - he had to listen to one song (over and over) and each time a particular word was said, he had to make a particular mark on the paper. (And then make something of that).

So, the song was Don't Worry, Be Happy and each time the word "worry" was sung, he wrote a "W" and this was his end result. Bob Marley! There are a lot of fans here who would love something like this! (This is as large as the world drawing he is holding in the first photo).

He said he thought he wouldn't like abstract art but while he has been studying it in class, he is learning to like it and appreciate it in a new way.

I love all of his artwork!

LESSONS FROM OUR CHILDREN

THIS MAY need to be part one in a series

because after I decided to write this down and share it here,

I began to think of other lessons learned from my children.

That is one of the great miracles and blessings that comes from choosing to have a family. 

Children can be wise and insightful at times

and they are not usually inhibited when it comes to sharing their feelings. :)

So if (and when) we are open,

we learn.

 

Sunday evening, the kids and I were discussing the importance of keeping the Sabbath Day holy.

Meg chose the topic for the evening and it is a topic I happen to love.

She had read some important insights from the new For the Strength of Youth pamphlet and after discussing what was written in there we began to apply it to our family.

We talked of things we do well and also things we could improve on in order to get the most out of our worship on the Sabbath.

When I taught a lesson in Institute last year on the importance of keeping the Sabbath Day Holy, I shared this slide:



Over the years, how society refers to this day has changed quite a bit.

What are your thoughts on how and why the title of the Lord's Day has changed over the years?

 

As the kids and I talked with each other the other night, this slide came to my mind.

The thought occurred to me that HOW we prepare (spiritually) throughout the week can change our experience on the Sabbath.

As we work through difficulties, adversities, challenges, obstacles or shortcomings throughout the week, we can make note of what we may need to work on, change, or think of while partaking of the sacrament during our Sabbath Day worship.

Likewise, acknowledging those things for which we are most grateful and for the daily witness of the Lord's hand in our lives.

These are all things we could offer up to the Lord as we partake of the Sacrament and while we think of Him and consider all that He has done for us.

I asked the kids if they could try to prepare to partake of the sacrament well before we arrive at church (or at least sometime before we are partaking of it) because I feel it would change how they partake of the sacrament, how they think of Christ and his sacrifices for us, and it would elevate their Sabbath Day experience.

I have many thoughts on this wonderful subject but I am not sure how much I should say here.

We are all busy people, trying to do lots of good things throughout each week. Our wise Heavenly Father gave us a day built in to our week to not only rest from our labors but center our lives on our Savior. It is a gift.

 

One question I posed to the kids: "What more can we do on the Sabbath that would make it even better for us?"

As we talked through some things that may be good additions or substitutions,

Smash asked me, "What LESS can YOU do?"

HUH?

Well, that was a strange question! I looked at him as if he possibly had two heads...what did he mean?  What was he saying?

I am a DOER. I like to DO. GO. Busy myself...I have always been that way.

Smash began to explain that he worries about me wearing myself out. He explained that he would like to see me take better care of myself and rest more. (He told me he worries I will die too early, I don't want him to feel that way!) He thought I could start by taking time to truly REST on the Sabbath.

The Sabbath Day is a good place to start.

 It has not been easy for me to feel content during down time or "alone" time so when I have that, I typically reach out to someone else or volunteer or work on something that I can take to someone.

It is something that I have been consciously working on for years...finding happiness and contentment when I am alone; when I have moments of complete stillness.

That probably sounds strange to some of you but it has not been easy for me to learn to love those moments. I have learned though. I do enjoy time alone now. It has taken me quite a few years to get there but I have arrived.  I love to feel moments of complete peace throughout the day. For the most part, I still listen to my music too loudly, reach out to others and spend plenty of time on the go. But I finally am able to truly embrace absolute quiet. (Not for long periods though...).

But after listening to Smash on Sunday and his concerns, it is apparent that I have more work to do, in order to do LESS, so I can be a better mom.  :)

I hope I can find a better balance.  I have really been working on striking a more healthy balance - especially since we have been here in Colorado but the move took a toll on my body and I have been trying to fully recover for months.

I will work hard on "doing less." (For those of you who are moms, you know doing LESS is a lot of hard work!)

 When the kids have a suggestion or request for me, I really try to listen and understand where they are coming from and what they need. 

They have great insights and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them.

 So, in keeping with the Sabbath Day and REST theme of this entry, I want to share one more thing:

What does it really mean to REST from our labors?

Here is something I learned while studying more about the Holy Sabbath,

“rested” translated from the Hebrew “nefesh” means: 

To re-create or remake oneself.

Beautiful, isn't it?

By Him the world was created, through Him we are re-created.

 

A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE GET TOGETHER

 An impromptu visit -

 (and oo-wee, is it ever hard to get a photo of them together).

Happy St. Patty's Day!

 

 These goofy kids really love each other.

They tease and joke and get crazy (sometimes until it hurts!) but there is definitely a lot of love between them!

We had hoped to go see "the kids" (meaning the big kids) during spring break but Smash became really sick after his track meet.  He had a sinus infection and I believe he also had heat stroke. He was one sick kid for nearly the whole break.

As soon as he was well enough to get out of the house, and after he and Meg went skiing with their dad, (and I of course fit in my two physical therapy sessions) we decided to head out for a quick road trip.

I had several things I wanted to deliver and other things I hoped to take care of for them.

All things were accomplished, yay!

What a nice couple of days!

They (the big kids) are busy in their lives at school, which is great to see.  They seem to love life right now; what a blessing.

Meg went to classes with Em, and Smash went to a 4 hour art class with Nathan. Cool, huh?

 

So, why do we call them "the kids?"  Well, it all began way back when...

Meg was a baby and Smash a little tot.

When the school day was nearly over and it was time to pick up Nathan and Emily from school, I would let the 'littles' know it was time to prepare to leave.

One day they started asking me if it was time to pick up "the kids" and then they would refer to "the kids" throughout the day while they were away from us.

We would visit "the kids" during lunch and often see "the kids" while volunteering at their school.

It was so sweet that these two littlest of ours were calling their older siblings 'the kids' that it stuck!

I sure do love those kids, all of them!

SPRING SLOPES

Spring break - the kids and Jonathan were able to enjoy warm spring skiing. Fun! Fun! Fun!

I'm so happy the kids get to have such great fun with their dad. The slopes were really good to them!

The kids came home with exciting news that they couldn't wait to share with me:

Smash can now out-ski his dad; by that I mean he goes REALLY fast on the slopes and Jon can no longer catch him. 

Meg is now doing black diamond runs (!)  and is looking like a "real" skier - which according to her - means she doesn't have to snow plow...she can swish back and forth.

AND a fun story and great ending of the day:

On what would have been the last run of the day, the kids wanted to make it the second to the last run of the day and asked the attendant at the lift if they could make it back in time to have one more run.  He told them that the lift would close in 15 min. and there was no way they could make it up the mountain and back down in time to catch the lift again.  They were worried when the lift ride up took 10 min. but they made it down the hill and to the lift with 3 minutes to spare! The attendant was very surprised to see them and he happily put them on the lift for their last run of the day.

 

While they were gone, I treated myself to another physical therapy appointment. (A touch of sarcasm, sorry).

When I told my PT that my kids and Jonathan were skiing and that I would have loved a day out with them and that maybe by the time I am 50 I will be healthy enough to ski with them. (Hint, hint)...

my PT just laughed and said, "I bet you FEEL 50!"

(I really chuckled at that one...silently and internally, but it was still chuckling!)

I told him, "Actually, I feel more like 80 , no today is a better day, so I'll say 70." 

(I'm guessing he isn't great at math...if he had "done" the math, he would know that I am closer to 50 than I am 40 or any other __ty age).

As far as the therapy is going, we have had to adjust it and back off quite a bit. The therapy was too aggressive for my injuries at this point.  Hopefully we will find the magic combination soon and I can heal!

There is nothing I would love more than to spring into Spring with a spring in my step!

FLYING THROUGH THE AIR WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE

 (His first vault of the day, look for the yellow bar about 2 feet below his body).

 

Last Saturday was the first track meet of the season.

It was such a fun track meet for us; such excitement!

Smash was fantastic on pole vault; battling down to the end with a senior from the other team.

Smash LOVES to pole vault.  And his coach loves and wants Smash to pole vault.

After watching him vault on Saturday I totally understand why!

I have to admit, I didn't have any idea that he was THAT good at pole vault.

He has greatly improved since last year.

He is fun to watch and has the best form.  His vaults are beautiful, he may not want me to call them that but they really are beautiful! He has great form. 

 

 

Getting higher:

 

 

Higher still: 

Look at the coach in the far right corner, arching his back.  :)

 

As the bar was raised, I stopped taking photos, it was too exciting...had to just watch.

 

Great meet!

 

Happy coach:

 (and a very happy athlete and fans!)

 

#1 RA!

HOORAY for the number one R.A.!

 

 

Emily has had some really wonderful feedback lately and I want to share it!

Not sure what is happening in the photo I stole from found on FB but it appears to be a birthday party for Justin Bieber.  Emily is in her RA uniform (shirt and badge) so that is why I chose to post this photo.  Well, that, and she looks cute. :)

Back to her news!

With the upcoming transitions, i. e. spring and summer terms and the fall semester just around the corner, Emily has had to make some decisions. 

She decided to return to us during the spring term (yay for us!), isn't quite sure where to be during summer term yet (neither are we, ha!) and she decided she definitely wants to continue working as an RA during fall and winter semesters.

Recently during the middle of the night, she called to tell me how excited she was because she had gotten some really happy news. (Why is it that college kids are always so eager to chat in the middle of the night?!  Ha, ha!).

She had met with her boss and found out that the hall advisers were asked to fill out some feedback forms or surveys. One of the questions on that form asked if they could choose from any of the returning RA's, which one would they want to have as their RA?

Emily was told that she had been doing a wonderful job and that she was voted as the top RA!

She was so surprised and thankful!

A week or so later, she called to let me know that she had gotten her hall assignment for the fall semester and she was super-duper excited about it.

She has been assigned to the NEW Heritage Halls that have recently opened. We have seen them and they are gorgeous! Really nice! They resemble a hotel!

I said to her, "Well, I guess that's what you get for being the top RA!"

She then told me some more exciting news.

Originally she was placed somewhere else but the Hall Adviser for these beautiful new apartments really wanted Emily for her RA, so she traded RA's around, begged, pleaded and fought tooth and nail for Emily.

Emi was thrilled and very surprised!

When she found out this news, she was told that building assignments are subject to change but that since her hall adviser had fought so hard for her, she should feel pretty confident that her assignment will remain the same.

Isn't that the best?!

It's so great when there are little (and big) rewards for doing your best at your job.

Now I am thinking of putting her RA skills to good use while she is at home, let's see if Emily can get the lights out here on time! :)

THIS IS FASCINATING TO ME

WOW! Those images of the sun are amazing to me.

Solar storms.

Storms that could interrupt our daily life here on earth and that our top scientsists are keeping an eye on?  Our technology is amazing to me!  Amazing that we can see images such as these.

And if it is truly on an 11 year cycle, the sun should have some more storm acitivity directed at us in 2023.

Where will we be in 2023? (That's fun to say out loud!)

And how will our life be different then? 

I know it will most definitely be completely different for Jon and me.

JUMPING RIGHT IN TO TRACK SEASON

If you are jumping or running or doing any of those fun things this season, here are a few healthy foods and tips to consider while competing.  These came from the Smash's track coaches; good things to consider for all of us before and after we exercise OR if we are trying to live a healthier life.  :)

(Sorry about the quality of the picture, took it with my phone because it was faster).

 A couple of surprises for me:

Energy gel.  I didn't know what it was so I had to do a little research. It's an electrolyte replacement but without the sugar and the other undesirables that are found in energy drinks or sports drinks, etc. It comes in all forms!

Chocolate milk.  It is listed under "power foods" and they also mentioned to drink chocolate milk as a recovery drink after a workout!  I don't know about you but that makes me want to go work out!

Smash has been working out and preparing for track season since December and now it is the season for him.

He is pumped and ready to pole vault.

Smash-man is so fast though,  it's a shame that he has to compete only pole vault.  But that is where the coach wants him, even though he has Smash run with the seniors on the team during practice - and Smash breezes past most of them! (There is one kid who is super-duper fast!)

Smash is happiest when his body is busy and engaged athletically. 

I recently enrolled him in a BYU pole vault/track sports camp and I know he is so excited to get to attend.  

 

With his camp at BYU and an AFY (Adventures for Youth) in Logan (Karen, we will get to see you!!), both in July, we will probably be in UT for the month of July.  I'm very excited! 

 

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN

YOU PUT TOGETHER

4 funny women,

1 celebrating a birthday,

and PF Chang's?

 

A night filled with laughter!

Really.

So much laughter that it hurt!

Literally.

 

And a restaurant that cleared out around us a little too quickly...

not sure if that was entirely OUR fault

but there's definitely a possibility.

 

Although it may have been (unintentionally) at the expense of others, we sure did have a great time!

Happy birthday, Kim.  Glad we got to spend a happy evening together!

 (Thanks to Lori and Kim for the photos!)

Kim, her mouth, and the "Great Wall of Chocolate!" 

Thanks for letting us climb that wall with you! YUM!

MY EMERGENCY CONTACT

The other day, as I was filling out more new patient forms, I got to the emergency contact portion of the form and as I began to fill in the blanks, there was a feeling of relief to know that I could fill out the answers to those questions easily and automatically.

There was no question in my mind about whether or not my emergency contact would accept that responsibility and/or title.

Isn't that a wonderful feeling?!  It was for me.

While I was smack dab in the middle of filling out paperwork (which needed TOO much information) for another medical office that I may or may not return to, I felt a surge of happiness.

And then a thought came to me that I shouldn't take that gift and blessing for granted.

So, after having many grateful thoughts for my EC, I feel I need to say a public thank you.

My built-in emergency contact would do anything for me and I know that.

Thank you, Jonathan, my EC of (going on) 24 years.

I do appreciate what you do for me and how willing you are to help me - no matter what.

And although I have not had an emergency where a stranger has had to call and request your services as the EC, I have been able to count on you many times.

I really do feel happy and very blessed to have my EC "built in" and I'm thankful that you are so willing to jump in wherever needed.

 

Oh, and in case of an emergency or in case you are wondering...

on any of your paperwork that I fill out for you, I have appointed myself as your EC - hope that's okay!  :)

MARRIAGE HOMEWORK

"YOU have homework!"

3 words I didn't really want to hear.

It's been a long time since I have had a real homework assignment.

When the kids have paperwork for me to fill out for them, or forms to sign and funds needed for something at school, they often come to me and tell me that I have 'homework'.

That's not exactly the kind of homework I like.

So, this time when Smash came to me and told me I had homework, I assumed I knew exactly what kind of homework I would be doing; a few grunts and groans escaped me.

However, when I picked up the paper and saw the homework, I was very surprised!

Not at all what I expected, it was (actual) homework for his English class.

 The class had been studying Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and his teacher asked that we fill out a brief survey.

The assignment was titled "The Perfect Mate" and she asked the students to list the traits (physical, personality, etc.) of their perfect mate and then try to figure out what traits their parents would list and write those down in detail.

Likewise, I was asked to write down the traits that I thought my son would look for if he was searching for the perfect mate and then list the traits I would consider most important if I were choosing the perfect mate for him.

We were to make these lists without consulting each other at all or looking at what the other had written.

A couple of thoughts came to me immediately when I read the assignment:

1.  In my children's (real) lives, I do not want the task of choosing their perfect mate; I just want to love their choice!

2.  The traits of the perfect spouse for Smash now will surely be somewhat different when he is an adult and is making this most important decision.  :)

 

On the day he turned in this assignment, he came home from school and told me,

"The class liked what you had to say on the assignment!" 

I was somewhat shocked and asked, "You had to share that with the entire class? I thought it was just for your teacher!"

He replied, "It was for my teacher but I thought I would read it to everyone!" "I told them when I walked in to class, "Well, my mom knows me better than I know myself!"

 So, what did I have to say?

What traits would my son look for in the perfect mate?

Here are some of the things I wrote down for the assignment:

Adventurous!

Someone who is kind and thoughtful, open-minded, a deep thinker but also FUN!

She would need to be attractive with an infectious smile!  (Apparently the kids really liked that I said infectious...).

Somewhat easy-going but able to be organized and on time.  Ha, ha! (He would appreciate an opposite in that area!)  :)

He will want her to be physically fit and able to play sports, an athlete.

He will want a wife who can COOK - and is a GOOD cook!

Loves kids.

He will also want her to have a spiritual side and love his family, because he does!

 

Next I had to write down what traits I would consider most important.

Here is a bit of what I wrote:

I would want her to ADORE him!

I want him to find a someone with the traits he thinks are important. I hope by the time he chooses a mate he will think very carefully about what he wants and needs from a wife. 

I hope he will choose one who is: Happy, spiritual, kind, generous, thoughtful, well-grounded, dependable, on time :), patient, smart, able to keep up with him, likes children, wants a good relationship with his parents :), and is beautiful to him.

 

 His lists were, of course, shorter than mine. But we are in pretty much in sync, as usual.

His perfect traits?

Athletic, strong, coordinated, probably blond, loves sports, would do activities with him.

Smart, loving, loves little kids, kind, caring, funny, enjoys being around him, loves to play games.

Someone he loves being with!

Loves to be with family - hanging out.

Good, Great, Fantastic COOK!

Willing to take risks.

Fun, fun, fun!

 (As you can see, he is an active, fun-loving and very hungry young man!)

 

Now, what did he think I would write?

Member of our church, spiritual, likes being with his parents, sweet, good cook, able to keep him in line and cares about family.

 

You know Smash, what traits do you think will be important for him to look for in a future spouse? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

 

One day his wife may actually read these lists and I want to tell her that I am sure she is much better than either (or both) of these lists.  She will be a truly wonderful person, I just know it!

A real person is better than a list of requirements, any day.

She will be his choice and he will be hers. I love her for that already!