Birthday Girl

My dear friend Charese celebrated her 33rd birthday today. What an amazing woman this is. She has been my strength, and my cheerleader, even in the middle of her own chemo treatments. How I love you my sweet friend.

Watch My sweet friends journey through cancer.

part 1

part 2

Part 3

I was thinking all day about the wise man who built his house upon the rock.  The rain came down, and the floods came up.  The wind beat down upon the house, but the house stood strong on the rock that it was planted.

I was listening to some of the ladies talk at chemo today.  They were discussing heart failure, hair loss, bone pain, major nausea, bleeding noses, hearing loss, and all manner of scary topics.  They were talking about these things in the same way that I would talk to my mom about my shopping list.  It was typical conversation, like nothing out of the ordinary.

They have been dealing with so much, that this next little thing was just that...a little thing.  That brings me back to my thought about the wise man.  The man wasn't spared from the storms that came his way just because he followed what he was taught.  He did everything right in building his house.  Those storms still ravaged his home, and probably caused damage.  However, he still did what he was meant to do and his house stood strong.  He learned to fortify his home against further damage, and lived a good life.  He never questioned why God would send the rain, instead he thanked God for keeping his home standing.

These amazing people that I spent the afternoon with, did nothing wrong to end up with the horrible diseases that they have.  They are good people, doing good things.  They have build their houses upon the rock, and they will be blessed with the kind of unbreakable strength that the Lord can provide.  Sometimes that happens in our eternal life, but it always happens.

*I have included a link to Charese's blog.  She has a donation tab at the top right of the page.  Please give what you can, anything would be a major help.

Life Is What Happens When You Are Making Other Plans

I am continually amazed by how time can just fly by.  I remember vividly my first day of kindergarten. I was instantly head over heals for a red headed, freckle faced boy named Cash.  I recall with complete clarity the birthday party that I was invited to when I was 6.  I had to go right after dance, so I had bright red tights on under my pants.  After a red rover injury, it was discovered that I had my tights on under my pants and everyone teased me.  Later, I got passed up when ice cream cones were being passed out.

I remember seventh grade.  Every last rotten day of seventh grade is burned into my memory.  I remember being so proud when in 10th grade, I was named English Scholar.  I remember a phone call at work when I was 21 from a nervous sounding young man named John.  He told me that he was given my number, and wondered if I would do him a favor by going out with him that night.

I remember that same young man, getting down on one knee holding a white box in his hand.  Then later, I remember looking across at him as we were pronounced man and wife.  We hugged for so long that everyone started giving us grief about it.

I remember the stunned look in his eye when I showed him the positive pregnancy test.  We were studying for school tests, and every few minutes he would stop and say, "No...Really???"  Then I remember the absolute gleam that radiated off of him when his son came into this world.  I thought that he was going to be airborne with the amount of joy that was billowing of him.

Now, I look at that same baby boy, who is now a young man himself.  He didn't get to have that amazing man around for too long, but you better believe that he has learned from him every single day since.

Just today, he was getting ready to go to a young mens activity.  It suddenly struck me how much he is like his dad.  Not so much in looks, but more in how his mind works, in the things he says, and the way he moves.

Just yesterday I was holding my newborn baby boy, and now that sweet little boy holds his mom.  I'm going to take a mental picture of this day, and this time, and hold it in my heart forever.

Mama Mia

Moms are the greatest!  I got to spend the afternoon with my mom today.  I love that kind of time.  We have been able to share so much together as adults.  Without sisters, I have relied on my mom for all things girly.  We enjoy going to lunch, getting pedicures, shopping for fabric, and any number of crafty do dads.

Today was the kind of day that we both needed.  She was dealing with some difficult emotional situations, and I was dealing with avoiding house work.

When I dropped her off to her house, we sat in the car for several minutes and just talked.  How wonderful it is to have someone who knows you so well that they can guide you through tough situations and difficult emotions.  I love my mother so much.  She is the reason that I am a mom.  She is my archetype for motherhood.  She is the reason that I sing to my kids to wake them in the morning.  She is the reason that I make breakfast for dinner when everyone is cranky.  She is the reason that the kids get to sleep on the couch with a bottle of Sprite when they are sick.  She is the reason that we pray every night.  She is the reason that I first loved the Savior.

Thank you mom.  I wouldn't be me without you.

Autumn

The crisp air

The smell of a fire burning off in the distance

Warm, soft fleece

Harvesting all the wonderful tasty produce grown to maturity

The beautiful colors on the mountains

Oh how I love fall.

Sunday drive to Snowbasin

Friendship

Last night I had a surprise visit from some of my dearest friends, John and Charese Foster.  Isn't it great when you get a wonderful gift like that?

The Fosters are such an inspiring couple.  They have been through their fair share of adversity, but they are the most fun loving, happy, hard working people you could meet.  Charese was diagnosed with breast cancer last october.  One week after her double mastectomy, doctors found the cancer had spread to her liver, lungs, brain and bones.

Through the last year, the Fosters have gone through highs and lows, but have always stuck together.  I have been uplifted and edified by their examples of strength and faith.  I have shed many tears, but have also shared much laughter.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to share a life with the bravest of the brave.

Please Fight With Charese by clicking the link, and if possible donate.

Priorities

In contemplating what it was that I wanted to write about, I realized that I am dang tired!  Seriously, fall down and can't get up tired with a side of a bad headache.

During my running of the kids this afternoon, I was going over my list in my head...

• Put fourth of July decorations away (I am painfully aware that it is mid September)
•  Put fall\halloween decorations out
• Work on book
• Help Averie with reading
• Help Ashton with spelling
• Help Ethan with art project
• Cook dinner
• Clean up
• Read
• Practice piano

There were about 60 other thoughts flying around in there. After trying to force myself into checking items off the list, I realized that maybe I'm a little sick. That thought kinda made me laugh. How many times had I gotten after one of the kids for being ornery only to find out they were sick. Apperantly, I'm like a two year old in that way.

 I just want to keep going, and I get really bugged when I can't do it all.  I did need to do most of the things on the list, but not all of it. I prioritized, did the most important and took some ibuprofen and headed to bed. 

Days like this can really get me down. I think about all the things that I have to do on my own, and I can get really angry. Tonight though, I chose to think of the things that I am the most grateful for, and I realized that I'm in a pretty great place. The kids are happy, we live in a great neighborhood, we have wonderful friends and family, and we are safe. How lucky are we?

Now, if you'll excuse me...my feather pillow is calling.

The Gardner

Today, this message hit me.  My heart tells me that I have been wondering the same things that the little current bush has.  I know that I am in constant need of protection, correction, and shelter.

Though I am frightened, I prayed for my own divine corrections.  I don't know if I'll be cut back, or staked up to be stronger.  Either way, I'm ready to become what I am meant to become.