Grandma

I was with my great grandma when she died. We were very close, in fact she lived in our home while I was in college, and before that she came over to our house at least once a week for dinner after Grandpa passed. Before that we spent every Sunday dinner there since before I can remember!
I remember that night so clearly, yet I've never written about it.  I was in Logan at the time, it was the weekly baseball activity for the stake down there. My ex husband got invited by a coworker who lived there, and so I went with to watch each week.  It was the "championship" game, the last of the year.  Gran hadn't been doing so good lately, and had been in and out of the hospital and assisted living.  I was pregnant with my 2nd baby, due in just a few more weeks.  I got the phone call in the middle of the game, saying that Grandma was in the hospital and this time would be the last.

"Her heart is slowing... It's slowly stopping. You need to hurry, I don't know how long she will last."
I told my Ex--but he didn't want to leave yet.  Right in the middle of the game--he told me we could wait until it was over.  I insisted. If I missed my last chance to say goodbye, I would never forgive myself.

When I got to the hospital there were several family members already there--grandkids, great grandkids and a few others.  She called for me, though I'm not sure she really knew I was there, and she reached out. I went to her side. I wish I had been braver. I wish I had known what to say.

We knew that Grandma didn't want to live her last moments in the hospital, so we were able to get her released and take her home.  They put her in her own bed, tucked in like she was ready to sleep. The light from her bedroom lamp felt gentle.  It was quiet, and peaceful.  I sat close to her and watched as she took her last breaths, long and deep, then still. Death can be such a spiritual thing to witness, there is no way to put it into words.

She was gone. The person who had helped raise me, taken me to the Lincoln School to play, on countless walks around the circle, always knew when something was bothering me, and loved me no matter what. Memories of her nightly ice cream ritual, singing hymns, watching for the spring violets to appear, her story time voice, sleepovers and gummy bears in my shoes all flooded my mind. "Are you loving me and leaving me? " she'd say. She knew so many people,and so many loved her.

My favorite gift I received this year was from Momma, a silver snowflake ornament with a poem about Grandma that meant so much to me. I wish Grandma would have been able to meet Momma--I know she would have loved her as I do. 

Words just can't describe who she was to me...How I miss her. How I long for just one more of her hugs, and to tell her I love her.

Summer day...a year ago!

This is a post from July 2014 (ish) that I started and never finished. Sad haha!

It's been a very interesting several weeks, from ice buckets and races, to kids throwing shoes on Grandma Jody & Grandpa Doran's roof (and throwing up in their kitchen), finding out K likes touching ears when they are cold (what?!), to changing schools and daycares!  

Today was very relaxing, something that doesn't happen often anymore and especially because starting tomorrow schedules are going to be crazy to say the least! The girls got out the water rocket shooters (don't judge, that's what I have decided to name them!) Can I just say--watch out ? ;)

I was huddled in a warm blanket, yep, on this nice WARM summer day.  I was freezing since this morning and wrapped up burrito style. Too bad the blankie wasn't bigger. Here you can also see Zoie trying to hide from the girls who were relentlessly chasing and squirting her (quite entertaining, poor dog!)

Not that I have a picture of this, but while Momma and Daddy were gone on vacation we stopped by their house to make sure everything was in tip top shape! Unnnnfortunately, Alissa started feeling sick and she frew up all over the kitchen floor! (Carpet...eek)  Of course I called Chelsea, because I have no idea what's the best way to clean it, my kids have never thrown up on the floor before (knock on wood!)  So I used baking soda and water and scrubbed, and vacuumed, repeat.  I thought it looked good. Until they got home a day or so later and Momma asked if I had used the KitchenAid for cookies and got flour all over the floor! Guess that wet baking soda showed back up when it dried... oops!

Fighting for me

I went into 7th grade like a lion (roar!), ready to achieve anything! I wanted to write and sing and act and I believed that I could.  But, as often happens, reality hit hard.  I learned real quick that my dream of becoming a writer was not a secure choice, it was a "hobby," and not something that should be pursued.  During auditions for a school play I learned that if you don't look the part it doesn't matter how much heart you put into the acting. I realized just loving to sing isn't enough.  I learned that kids can be cruel, and the desire to be accepted can sometimes destroy who you are.  That was a hard year, my "friends" were rarely kind and often said cruel things, or left me out. And I let them.

So often we allow experiences like these affect our whole lives, unless we choose to learn from them. Really the thing that we should have learned is that sometimes we have to stand alone to fight for ourselves.

So what have YOU learned on your journey?  I have learned that hard work and desire can take you a long way, that dreams can be realized in surprising ways, and that sometimes you need to leave people.  More importantly I learned that the only thing that ensures failure is quitting, even if I feel last place.

Meet Dave

This is Dave. He is the newest member of the family! He likes long naps, chick flicks, and cuddling.  Oh, he makes a great shoulder to cry on if you're lonely, and let's you hug him as often as you like. And he's mine! Don't even think about taking him! Not that I actually do all those things with him,or....tell him good night and good morning or anything...

My big sis, Chels gave Dave to me for my birthday and told me it was so I would think of her every time I see him--greedy! But I still love her! Momma says I need to lose him, because he doesn't have a job,a car,OR car insurance. Psha! I think she's just upset that she didn't get to meet Dave yet to screen him!
Sweet dreams all, my minion awaits.

On the road again

Wow it's been 9 months since I did a post on running. Bet you thought by now I'd be running half marathons huh? (Snort.) Wellll I got off track for several months, and then more off track and now I'm back to one mile ability instead of 3. :( Sad day. But tonight I made myself go, even though it was late, and I turned my iPod on, and forward ho!
A song by Martina McBride came on that was really keeping me going, so I played it twice.There was a line that said "I don't think I can do this anymore," and went on to describe that whenever she felt weak, there'd be someone to be strong for her, someone that had her back.  "Just take my hand, together we can do it I’m gonna love you through it."

And I just got to thinking how blessed I am in my life, for family and for beautiful friends who became family.For the people in my life who are constantly loving me even when I want to give up.  For the few who have continually chosen to stay with me, even after all the times I wasn't easy to love.  Those are the thoughts that keep me going. I felt the breeze on my face as I ran, and I looked upon the stars and the mountain side, and I felt watched over.

Birthday Memories

When I was probably 6 years old I got a baby doll for my birthday--she looked like a newborn with her eyes shut and I kept her with me all the time. I still remember what the doll looked like and I wish I still had it!  Anyway, back then I couldn't speak as eloquently as I do now (ha!), so birthday sounded more like bertday. Guess what I named that doll? "Bertday doll." And that is what I called her for the rest of her toy life! 

So fast forward a few--okay several--years to today, which so happens to be my birthday! Let's break down the festivities!

My sister Ty texted me just after midnight so she gets the award for being the first to wish me happy birthday--even though she did wake me up! Momma came in 2nd just before 7, making sure to clear her throat to sing me the birthday song.  One of my cute piano students made me a little sparkly picture frame, and as the day went on I got dozens of Facebook birthday wishes from friends and family!

At work my boss brought in birthday bagels--yum! And the finance department got me this cute gift!

By lunchtime I was completely famished, so of course Momma & Daddy came to take me for food. (I won't lie, when Momma sent me a text last night asking if I could go to work early I had an inkling, and an embarassingly huge grin!) If you know me at all, you know I love food, but not so much making decisions.  So I finally chose a place, and Momma--err I mean WE--took 30 minutes to pick what to order. But the best part was dessert---mmmm my mouth is watering just looking at this picture! 

My parents had already taken me out for birthday dinner last weekend--Olive Garden! It was Ty's birthday last month and they hadn't taken her out yet so she, Steven, and little Kaia came as well. And for the record, if Kaia offers you a bite of her mac n cheese and you pretend to take the bite, she knows. And she will make sure you take a real bite. When I got home there was a birthday cake waiting...ahem Mom Bear I told you not to do it! Plus donuts and more ice cream, I'm set for the day...I mean week!

Momma sent a text not long after letting me know her and Daddy were coming to take me for an ice cream--lemon custard at Peach City yum! They hitched up the trailer on the way home and fought over who had the strongest muscles.  Oh I love them! And I forgot to get a picture,pah!

Good old yard work

Growing up our yard was fairly simple--plants bordering the front, cherry and apple trees in the back. I hated that apple tree because we had to pick up the millions of apples that fell.And for the record we never made pies with them,I don't even remember eating them! I'm convinced my parents left it there as a way to torture,I mean teach us responsibility.

My brother and I took turns mowing the lawn every weekend. If you got the front it was super fast, but the back was ginormous (is that not a word?!) Then there were the times my parents got in that "mood..." you know, where they want to do yard work and WEED and stuff. Outside. In the sun. I hated that, but lucky for me since I would rather deep clean the entire house, including doing laundry, I always struck a deal! Crazy how strong my disdain for the outdoors was...Slurpees after for all!

Tiny Miracles

It's been a while since I blogged and of course I had all these amazing ideas and now they are all gone, fell out of my brain already. So in an effort to seem like I'm keeping up...

These pictures are from several weeks ago, when it seemed like everyday there were such beautiful skies. I was really grateful for these, and even though the picture can't capture how cool they were, here ya go

Have you ever stopped to think about what a large impact small things have had in your life? It really is true that the little things often mean the most, or play the larger role in your life.  Often there have been days in the past few months when I have felt really down and didn't know how to fight my way back up, and do you know what kept coming to mind?  Simple words that I've heard from people who care about me.  "When you want to give up, remember your worth, and that you are loved."  "You can DO this!" "It will work out."  We don't need some grand miracle to encourage us to keep going.  Realizing I have the love and support of those who choose to stay in my life--even when I am not perfect--is the blessing that helps push me forward. 

Party time-hope you're not claustrophobic

Kaylee turned 6 this past week so it was time to party plan! Sure I didn't actually think about it until a week before the party... ;) According to Momma, I should teeeechnically have not procrastinated on this one. Fine, logged!  The theme was Fairy/Pirate, and so it began!

Isn't this so stinkin' cute? Told ya that you would want my assistants! So...there's this rule according to K's teacher at school that if you take invitations you either invite all girls, all boys, or everyone. Of course I chose to actually follow the rules and went for everyone--I will NOT make that mistake again! Chels has assured me she won't let me forget! There were 25 children in my house. 25! Crowd control doesn't begin to describe...I was in such shock that I didn't even know what to say to delegate...it was wall to wall kids.

Highlights

Chels and I stayed up late making these cute pixie pouches--magical! Word to the wise, should you cook the sugar too long and it melts then hardens, it does not taste good.

Lexi shoved against the window in the car because 16 balloons were cramping her style--that peach color on the right is her shirt (her face is in the middle somewhere!)

 I forgot to retake a picture once the drink was inside the dispenser and we switched to a cute yellow basket for the pixie dust. Each girl got her own fairy wings and boys got eye patches and red pirate forehead bands (what?! Just like it sounds!)

 Bean bag throw and pin the wings on the fairy!

 

 Line of fairies and pirates! A kid actually wandered off during this and was found outside later :/ No, I didn't know until then that she was missing (25 kids!) Who was it? I.Not. Talkin'!

The very glittered table of fairy wand making! So wish I had taken a picture showing the balloons tied to each chair too! Boys made swords, sorry, forgot to photograph that one. They loved beating each other with them.

 Super cute sign Chels made for K!

 Awe! My knight in shining armor helped hold the fairy wands ;)

 

Aside from slightly too many guests, it turned out so cute and I couldn't have done it without help!

 Happy Birthday K!