Grateful

I've been thinking about this post for some time now. I'm feeling so blessed and so full of gratitude for the many wonderful things in my life. A few things have happened lately that have really made me step back and look at our little family and it is overwhelming to see all the Lord has given us. I figure with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I would take the time to record some of the thoughts and feelings I've had lately.

One of the biggest things that I am so grateful for lately is our health. It breaks my heart to watch 2 different families that I love so much, having to fight the battle with Cancer. Leo and Amy were one of the first couples that Dave and I met when we moved into a new ward right after we got married. I was privileged to work with Amy in the Young Women's program and she became a dear and wonderful friend. They have 3 adorable children and they have been such a amazing examples to Dave and I. Leo was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma in August. The average life expectancy with this type of cancer is 9 months. My heart just aches for them. So far the Chemo seems to be working and the tumors are shrinking, but with the Chemo comes a lot of sickness which puts him out of commission for about a week after each treatment.

One of my best friends from home, Christy, and her family is also having to deal with this horrible disease. Christy's second daughter Brynn is just 10 years old. In July, Brynn was complaining about a lump in her foot. They took her to the Doctor and just 4 days later they received a call from the Calgary doctor and learned that the tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma, would need immediate treatment. Christy and Kevin have 3 other children and are living their lives split between the hospital in Calgary and home with the other children 2 1/2 hours away. Brynn is a fighter and an amazing little girl but she has been very sick recently with the Chemo treatment, she hasn't been able to eat or talk since the sores in her mouth have been so painful.

Watching these 2 families go through these challenges has changed my life forever. Too many times in my life I have taken things for granted and you just never know when your entire world could be turned upside-down. I don't ever want to focus on the negative. I don't ever want to look past all the great things I'm blessed with and focus on the challenges of life. I've thought a lot about the challenges and the trials that the Lord gives us and I've come to realize that some of the greatest blessings sometimes surround the greatest challenges. I've realized that having faith in the Lord's plan means knowing that even though there is unbelievable heartache at times, we would still choose to come to this earth and that the blessings and the joy that we can find is worth the pain we sometimes feel.

I'm grateful for the joy that comes from service. We are told to 'Bare one another's burdens' and I am so thankful that Leo and Amy have allowed me to serve them in small ways. It has made our home a better place as I am able to spend a little time serving outside of our home. I have felt a greater love and bond to Amy and Leo as they have let me in and have been willing to accept my small acts of service. I wish I lived closer to Christy and Kevin, so I could do more for their family, it makes me sad that I am too far away to even just take an occasional meal to them.

I am so grateful for my 2 beautiful daughters. They have helped me learn and grow and I love them so, so much. It's amazing to have 2 pieces of my heart just walking around outside of my body. I love having a small taste of the love that our Heavenly Father has for us. When I look at them, I can't even believe that they are mine. They honestly amaze me.

I am beyond blessed to have such a wonderful husband. I am grateful for his unconditional love, despite all my weaknesses. I am grateful that he makes me feel beautiful no matter what the scale might say, and that he doesn't even bat an eye when we have cereal for dinner twice in one week, and that he gets as excited as I do if I get to have a 'girl's night out' and he will do all he can to get me out of the house, and that he works so hard to provide for our family and even though he has a Master's degree, he is not too proud to work at a call center doing customer service to make us a little money. I'm extremely grateful for what an amazing Father he is to our girls. I seriously could not ask for more. I am one incredibly lucky girl.

I am so grateful for our extended family. Dave and I have great parents, both sets of parents have helped and supported us greatly, and we are so thankful for all that they do for us. We love and appreciate them with all our hearts. We are also blessed with great siblings and in-laws, who are our 'family', but also our 'friends'.

I am grateful for my friends. I am so blessed to be close to friends from all stages of my life. Many I have known since Kindergarten, roommates from college and my single life, mission companions, and those from the ward that Dave and I were in after we were married. All of these women are beautiful, talented, fun, amazing people, and they inspire me and make me want to be better. I am so grateful for the wonderful examples I have around me.

I am truly blessed and even though we don't have our dream job or dream house as I take inventory of all the things I 'do' have, I realize that all my dreams are coming true. Of course I have days when the challenges of life get overwhelming, but I am happy. Dave is my best friend and I am so excited for him to get home every day. My girls are hilarious and make me laugh every day. I am supported by my family and friends in everything I do. I am very blessed and very grateful.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Happy Halloween

We had a fun Halloween. I'm pretty proud of the costumes I put together for the girls. They looked pretty darn cute (if I do say so myself).

Chloe was obsessed with her cousin's hard-hat.

We got to go see cute little Mary in her Witch costume.

Mary and Maggie are best friends, they are so cute together.

Sharing candy at the end of the night.

'I can Fwy!'

Celebrity Endorsement

Anyone who lives in Utah (or many places in the U.S. and Canada) knows the amazing story of Stephanie Nielson, aka Nienie. Her blog is read by hundreds (if not thousands) and she is absolutely brilliant and beautiful, inside and out.

I think it's pretty cool that she lives right here in little ol' Provo. I read her blog all the time and she truly inspires me.

I am thrilled that she has put the information about the run for Leo and Amy on her blog. The race is going to be so great, and I am honored to be involved in such an amazing event.

Check it out.... http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

Princess and the Pea

A pea up her nose that is. Chloe is such a little stinker. She is obsessed with sticking things up her nose. I've gotten really good at retrieving most things....a series of plugging one nostril and making her mad enough to snort it out, covering one nostril and puffing air into her mouth, or just pinning her down and getting the old tweezers. Last week none of my tricks worked. She had shoved 2 peas up and was attempting a third when I caught her. I was able to get one out, but the second one was so far up in her sinus that I could barely see it with my flashlight.

I first turned to my good friend 'Google' and I was told that she needed medical attention. I called the E.R. and yes, I needed to bring her in....oh great. Apparently there is a risk of it going into her lungs and aspirating....definitely didn't want that.

Of course it was on a day when Dave teaches a night class, so again I packed the girls in the stroller and off we went to the E.R.

It was horrible! The E.R. was crowded and my girls were tired and cranky. I had left a note on our door for Dave to hurry over as soon as he got home. It was 7pm and he got there at 8:30...longest hour and a half of my life.

Dave took Maggie home which saved my sanity and Chloe and I continued to wait for the Doctor. By this time I couldn't see the pea anymore and I thought there was a good chance that she either snorted it out when I wasn't watching or it made it's way down her throat. I told the nurse that I thought it was gone, but she still wanted me to see the Doctor.

Finally at 9:30 we were taken back. The Doctor came in a looked up her nose (which Chloe thought was absolutely the end of her world, oh man she screamed!). He of course couldn't see anything so we were sent home about 3 minutes later.

Another stupid trip to the E.R. I have never been to the E.R. in my life and now twice in one month over weird things that my kids do. I guess I should be grateful that both of trips have been totally fine in the end.

Fast-forward to today....

Chloe was doing her funny little snort that indicates that she has something in her nose. I press on her nostril and pin her down so it makes her mad enough to snort at me and out pops a shriveled up pea. I guess it was just hiding up there somewhere all week. Sick, I know....

I'm not sure what to do with my little snorter. I watch her pretty carefully now when she is eating, but she tries to stuff anything she can up her nose....I don't know why she thinks it's so fun. One thing I've learned is that I'm not taking her back to the E.R. for it, things will work themselves out....and no more peas (or nostril sized food) for Coco.

So Proud of Myself

My Brother-in-law is the CEO of Kodiak Mountain Stone. We are always excited when we get new shirts (these latest ones are my favourite). He sent 2 for Dave and I, and 2 for the girls. Unfortunately the 'Child's Small' was huge for my 1 and 2 year olds, I don't think they would have fit for a quite a few years.

I'm not much of a seamstress, but I wanted to see if there was a way to make the shirts fit my girls. I looked on-line and I found a way.

Here is the before and after. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Mags rockin' her new KMS shirt

For all your stone needs visit www.kodiakmountain.com

5K For An Amazing Family

The Teemants are absolutely wonderful. Amy is one of my best friends here in Provo, and it breaks my heart that they are having to go through this trial in their lives right now.

This is Their Story:

In August of this year, Leo Teemant had a lot to celebrate. He and his wife, Amy, had just welcomed a new baby to their family of four, and Leo, having returned to school after working for several years, had graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in economics and mathematics from Brigham Young University. Life seemed full of possibilities. Amidst all those possibilities, news of cancer was like lightning from a blue sky. Just one week after graduation and while searching for employment, Leo received a diagnosis of stage IV melanoma, a cancer known for its resistance to treatment. The average life expectancy with this diagnosis is nine months.

This is not the Teemants’ first brush with cancer. Just after Leo and Amy became engaged in 2002, Leo was diagnosed with stage III melanoma. Treatment was successful, and Leo made a full recovery. Now, with a more threatening diagnosis and so much to live for, Leo will need all the help he can get. The diagnosis and treatments are impeding Leo’s job search so that leaves them with a costly and inadequate insurance situation. Leo qualifies for several treatments and is currently doing chemotherapy. He is also pursuing options still in the clinical trial stage.

The Teemants don’t have to struggle alone. You can help. Proceeds from the Five to Fight Cancer 5K on November 13 will go to support their battle against cancer. We hope you will consider registering for the race, or sponsoring someone else who will participate. Donations are greatly appreciated. On behalf of Leo, Amy, and their family... thank you.

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I know that almost everyone that reads my blog are friends and family in Canada, but if you have any Utah connections, please pass this information on. The 5K is going to be a fun event and we really want to get the word out.

Please visit the website at www.fivetofightcancer.com

Graduation

August 2010 - Dave and Leo Graduated on the same day.

Photo Shoot

My friend Kylie from Secondstar Photography took some really cute pictures of the girls this morning. She is going to do some touch ups on them, but I am too excited wait. Here are a few of my favourites.