Saturday 6's

This will be a quick one!

6 Things On My Prayer List

1. 1. A dear friend who is trying something new.




2. Myself for many reasons!




3. My Family




4. For my Mom's knee




5. For My Dad's Business




6. Express Gratitude

6 Things I Will Be Doing This Week

1. Taking Dinner to a Family




2. Using my new treadmill




3. Young Women's New beginnings




4. Speaking at an Enrichment night about the tender mercies granted to us during our Trials over the past year.




5. Going to lunch with one of my high school buddies.




6. getting my stitches out
   

6 Things that are really getting on my nerves

1. I am claustrophobic and for that reason, lately the sheets on my bed are driving me CRAZY, don't ask cause I don't know why. It is really bugging Wes though.




2. My Bangs, I got them cut and I can't get them to act like bangs. I feel like a look ridiculous all the time!




3. Someone I know that is just really, whiny, and is always looking for a reason to be mad. This person is always watching to make sure things are fair. I should add to my prayer list to help soften my heart towards this person, hmmm that's a though.




4. The inversion and fog that is going to rolling into the valley next week.




5. My figure...it is blah!




6. Did I mention my bangs?

6 things that are coming up soon that should be very interesting

1. It's the 5th Grade Maturation program Monday....and Hayden is less than pleased. We keep trying to have the "Talk" with him but he covers his ears and screams llalalalalalala really loud. Finally this morning I just said "Hayden, fine I won't talk about it but I want to know where you got your information . Was it the discovery channel? The Animal Planet channel? A friend?.......Mom he said, it was at school during lunch, I over heard it. OK. So I am thinking when Wes gets him alone in the car they will have to compare notes on accuracy! Ha Ha....




2. The super bowl. I think I will root for the Cardinals because they are the underdog.




3. It will be interesting to see just how crazy it is going to be next week, with everything going on.




4. American Idol, I already have some favorites. It seems like the ones you pick in auditions never make it past Hollywood.




5. I really can't think of anything else interesting so I think I will leave it at that!

6 Things that stirred the emotions laugh, cry, whatever....

1. Seeing Wes so sick worried me...it takes alot for him to lay in bed all day and not even think about turning on the TV.




2. My kids grabbing the garbage cans on Friday and bringing them down the lane made me laugh. First because Gracie couldn't even see over the can, and second because Hayden got all mad when he saw me taking pictures.




3. Last night I got the chills and aches and pains. It freaked me out, cause I don't want to be sick! Is Freaked an emotion?




4. Sadness, someone I know is just in such a financial rut. They just can't seem to get out of it and it makes me sad.




5. Gratitude for all the people that have helped us and keep helping us along the way.




6. Scared, really more nervous about how this week will go down!

6 Random Things

• I am addicted to Facebook not doubt about it!




• I can't figure out why I don't like to bake lately




• For some strange outlandish reason I think Simon Cowell is cute..Go Figure




• Wes is so awesome




• I really need to go see my grandparents




• My blog is boring...but I kind of am so what can I expect, ya know?

No. More. Sickness. PLEEEAAAASSSSSE!

After 2 days of body aches, 102 temps, soar throats and shivers, I finally got Wes to agree to the insta-care last night, Gracie also had to be seen too. I am so glad we went.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE..............

STREP THROAT!

Gracie is handling it much better than Wes because she is a kid. But, poor Wes hasn't been able to move, sleep, eat...nothin! As my Sophia would say "Please Pass"... health and wellness." Oh, and for me, please pass a de-germed house! Anyway here is a list of good things that have been quietly happening,

• Sophie has now slept 3 nights in her crib, NOT on my arm. Hallelujah!
• I bought stuff to get my office organized yesterday!
• Hayden has been a huge help. Because I have been up a lot in the middle of the night with sickos, he has been getting up and getting himself ready for school in the morning, breakfast and all, then waking me up just to take him. I love that kid!

So I have a bazillion things to do so I gotta run, hope you all are staying healthy! ~E

Even the Sheep are Happy!

It finally stopped raining! It rained and rained then snowed quick, then rained and rained, get the idea. It was not pretty! Even the sheep were miserable. Finally it started to snow late yesterday afternoon! I love snow when it is fluffy and white, not slimy and gray!

Good News, Sophie is doing better, last week was not fun for her.

Not So Good News, Wes and Gracie are super sick today. Especially Wes, he can't even move. Poor Fella!

Good News, the floors are mopped and vacuumed and the dishes are done!

Good News, we have someone seriously interested in our lot that is for sale in Iowa.

Not So, It will be hard to let it go.

Good News, Wes and I are going to visit Iowa when it sells. We want to go see the lot as just a lot. We never got to see it completely cleaned up.

Good News, my tires do fabulous in the snow!

Not so, I still can't believe that they cost 1000.00!

Good News, I am over all the Not So!

We had a "Moment" this weekend. Wes and I were talking about how much we missed certain things about our house in Iowa. We both agreed that it breaks our hearts to know it is not there anymore. We were naming what we missed, and i happened to look over at Hayden. He had tears in his eyes and rolling down his cheeks. When I asked him what was wrong, he couldn't speak. he kept saying just a minute. He doesn't like us to hear him cry so He was trying to collect himself. Finally he said he just missed the house and he missed Iowa. He said it felt like home. He missed us as a family out there.

This is a moment I will keep on the surface of my memory for a while, and think about and use as a reminder. The significance of Hayden crying, and sharing his feelings is a big deal because he has been very quiet about the hurt. He has bottled up his feelings and tried to move on.

He did open up one other time. We were driving in the car. Out of the clear blue he said "you know at the end of Lord of the Rings, when Frodo goes back to the Shire." "Yes, I remember" I said. "Well I feel like frodo felt,because of the tornado." OK, if you haven't seen LOTR's, Frodo saw everyone laughing, dancing and celebrating the end to saron. People tried to get Frodo to join in the celebration. But because of the part that Frodo played in the story, baring such a huge burden he found it hard to identify with all the celebrating. Because of the battle Frodo fought, he was changed forever. It took a big tole on him to destroy the ring. And all though it was a great thing to have made it through the battle successfully and still alive he was a changed person. Anyway, that is Hayden's interpretation of the movie. And that is how he was trying to express to us how he feels. He is bright. He is sensitive and he thinks and ponders things. As his Mother I just hope and pray that I can help him heal the right way so that there isn't any long term damage of hurt. I am so grateful when he chooses to open up and share his feelings with us.

I mentioned that he missed the way our family was in Iowa. For those of you who don't know, We really only had each other out there. We didn't have all kinds of family there like we do here. So we depended on each other for everything. He misses that, and I need to keep in mind ways for us as a family to share that same closeness here. It's difficult because we do have so much family and friends. We don't depend enough on each other. I don't know if any of this makes any sense at all to any of you, but it is of huge importance for me to remember this little moment that Hayden allowed Wes and I to share with him.

There is my blog for the day. I Can't believe what I have ended up blogging, I had no intention of going on and on about any of this. Funny sometimes the thoughts just take over with no direction at all.

Hope you all have a great day! ~E

The Hardest Meme

Just a Meme today friends, I thought that was better than me blogging about all my DIRTY LAUNDRY! Literally......


The Hardest Meme

1. What is the bravest thing that you feel you've ever done physically? I think hands down it was being pregnant and giving birth to my oldest Hayden. It was a disaster pregnancy and the labor and birth were horrendous. We both nearly died. It was worth it though cause he is one special kid!
2. What one talent do you wish you had but don't? I would love to be funny. I can be funny at times especially when I am not trying to be funny...but I'd like to be funny all the time.
3. If you had that talent what would you be doing with it? Be making a lot more people laugh, and I think I would have more friends cause I would be much more likable.
4. What is the bravest thing you have ever done emotionally? Coped with my parents rocky marriage and divorce, from the time I was 9 to the present.
5. We all have our reasons for blogging, what would be your ultimate goal for your blog or as a blogger? Mostly it is a record for me, my journal, so that I can go back and read my thoughts, or if I was to die, it is what I would leave for my kids.
6. What advise would you give to a new blogger? Don't be afraid to write what you feel.
7. Who are your three favorite blogs to visit? There are to many to decide from.
8. If you could trade lives with any one person for a month who would it be? Sophie for sure, eating sleeping and pooping sounds like a wonderful break!
9. There is a fire and your family is safe and you can go back in and grab one thing what would it be? This situation is a little bit familiar, I would grab the photograph container.
10. You have the chance to go back in time and redo a choice that you made, what would it be and how would you tell yourself? I wouldn't take that chance, I believe, no, I know that the choices we have made good or bad, make us who we are. Sometimes the bad choices can have bad consequences, but we can learn and grow from them. The good choices, well they make life a little sweeter.

Have a good weekend, ~E

A Not-So-Great Friday

It is a dreary day here in Cache Valley. We have been barried in smog all week, it is very depressing. It is amazing how weather can affect your mood. It's been a week of up and some downs. Which is typical for anyone, right?

I had a great time at Bunco on Wednesday. I was kind of out of character, loud and obnoxious to be exact. I don't know if I like myself that way, but it was a good time and I won high score! YAY ME!

Sophia, Natalie and I hit the movie Bride Wars. It was funny. I am not a huge fan of chick flix, but this one had enough humor and wasn't too sappy that I enjoyed it. I think Anne Hathaway has gotten too skinny though.

Thursday I had to go in for a biopsy and had to have stitches. If a biopsy is not enough just add this complication. I don't get numb anymore. It is so weird, when I go to the dentist I always feel everything. Well, guess what, it is the same for biopsy's. The doc went through 2 syringes and I finally just said get it over I will grit my teeth. the Novocain worked to take the edge of for 5 minutes but by the time it was stitches time I felt it all. Not fun.

Today has been a lazy day. Sophie has a terrible cold so I have just been taking care of her, playing on my computer and itching my stitches! What a riot! Hope you all are having a much more productive day! ~E

WOW

Wow Is The Word for Today....

Wow 5 days out of school made for a painful morning. My kiddos were trying to think of any reason to not go to school. I was so ready when I finally got them loaded up into the Yukon. I love them both immensely, but, It. Was. Time.

Wow There are a lot of people in Washington DC. Yes, I am watching the Presidential Inauguration. How could I not? My love for politics mixed with my love for watching people, too big of a temptation. My mess of a house will just have to wait.

Wow Michelle Obama is very pretty when you see her up close, and the Obama children are beautiful girls.

Wow today is a huge day in the history of our country. It is a bit surreal for me. I did not think President Obama would get elected a year ago today. I really hope he lives up to the peoples perception of him. Politics aside it is a beautiful day for African Americans, and all minorities. It shows a great progression towards equality in our county.

Wow the next three weeks are super busy for us! I always tend to get a bit wound up when i feel like I am under pressure. Hopefully I can stay calm! Wes and I have a couple of speaking engagements. We have been asked to tell our story for a couple of different church groups. This makes me so nervous for a plethora of reasons! Last night as Wes and I were talking in bed about it, and about my apprehension he quietly and firmly said "Erin, pray about it and you will know what to say." It took me back a bit because I am usually the one to say "did you pray" or "You need to pray"....it was sweet, and I think he is right.

Wow we dropped a 1000.00 dollars on tires for my Yukon yesterday! Isn't is funny how as soon as tax return money is on the horizon, bills and expenses come out of the blue!!! Oh well, we are blessed they come at a time when we have the money to pay for them=)

Wow it's done, we have a new Commander and Chief.

~E

On The Mind...

I have several things on my mind today! None of it all that important....just thoughts.

I am so glad I have this blog because I can just write random things. Wes makes fun of me because of some of the things that I think about and how I can go from one subject to another within seconds and they will have nothing to do with each other, but, they are both equally random.

So yesterday was a waste of a Saturday for the most part. We had planned to get up and hit an early showing of Mall Cop, then we were going to do some shopping for office stuff and a treadmill. We just couldn't pull it together to get out of the house until 4:30. I really can't pin point what our problem was....just wasn't happening. Anyway, we went to the movie. It was pretty clean, I got bored, but Wes and the kids loved it. We had to sit on the second row to the front because the theatre was so full! Sophie was a skunk, she was not happy to be at the movies. She and I walked the halls and read posters for upcoming movies. That was OK with me. I only wished that I hadn't have worn my "sexy boots". Now these boots are sexy because the heel is 2 and 1/2 inches. which for me is high. They are super adorable as long as I am sitting when I am wearing them! After walking the halls my feet and back were history.

So there is a HUGE recall on peanut butter! Holy smokes tons of people have gotten salmonella poisoning from this. You can go HERE to read about it. Why is it that I hear this, and I hear that everyone should avoid eating peanut butter until there is more info, and all of the sudden I want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! It's like a reflex..don't to it...oh but I want too! hmm something that's got me thinking.

Charity has been on my mind. Here are some scriptures from the Book of Mormon.


Moro. 7: 1, 44-47

1 And now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my father Mormon, which he spake concerning afaith, hope, and charity; for after this manner did he speak unto the people, as he taught them in the bsynagogue which they had built for the place of worship.
• • •

44 If so, his afaith and hope is vain, for none is bacceptable before God, save the cmeek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and dconfesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

45 And acharity suffereth long, and is bkind, and cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But acharity is the pure blove of Christ, and it endureth cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Do I have Charity, I am asking myself this. I know I love my family selflessly. No question there. What about my neighbor, a stranger, or someone who doesn't like me or my family. I am not there yet, I know this. But essentially isn't that what we are striving for, isn't that what life is about? Ya know what, there are people out there that I wish would learn just a little bit about the concept of Charity. I am tired of the kind of people that are hateful, that no matter what you do, you can't please them. People who just have to be mad at people for the sake of being mad. Just bugs me. Life is so short...more people just need to enjoy the ride.....In turn though I must have charity toward them....my trial I guess.

OK so I am conflicted. tomorrow night I have been invited to go with some gals to a late show. Well when I mentioned it to Wes, he was like but don't you know what tomorrow night is? I was like ...no...and he said 24 is on. People this is our favorite show. We DVR it then when the kids go to bed it's like our little date. Not sure what to do. Jack Bauer is calling my name though.....

I have been thinking so much and now I am tired. Time for my Sunday nap...here is a quick list of other things on my mind, I hope it amuses you.

• I think I am getting sick my sinuses are killing me
• So glad there is no school tomorrow
• did i really just write this post...yikes...should i hit the publish button?
• The Bird Flu...it's back in China again
• I wonder if it will really snow next weekend
• Who really reads my blog...
• I need to call amber
• I really need to go visit my grandparents, they have been on my mind a lot lately.
• I am a daughter of God, and he knows me, and loves me.

So how was it, you just got a glimpse into my mind. I am sure it was fabulous! Just kidding. Oh well that's what blogs are for. ~E

Yippee!

It's Friday and I love Friday's, I know I've mentioned that a time or two**wink**! Today is especially nice because the kids are home! They have a 4 day weekend. I am sure it will fly right by. I have a few things that I would like to get done, so today is all about making a list!

• As you can see from the pics I am posting, I have a new desk for my office. I really like it. However, that means I must finally do some organizing. I took a pic of the closet as to have a record for before, and maybe since I've let you all see it, I will feel some sort of accountability to get it done and post after pics. To do my organizing there are a few things I need. I really need to pick up a file cabinet, hanging file folders and some other organizational tools for the desk.




• Wes and I have decided it is time for a Treadmill so that has got to get done this weekend. I have been doing my videos in the morning, but I need to add the treadmill at night.




• It's my week to teach in Young Women so I need to take another look at the lesson




• I really want some more decor for my house, I plan on going to Hobby Lobby to see if I can find some picture frames. I have nothing on my walls, they are a bit boring.




• It's tax time. I am going to start my taxes. I just do them as I receive things in the mail, then it doesn't take a whole day to do them. uggh I'll be glad when they are done.




• My kids and hubby really want to see that Blart movie whatever it is called Mall Cop, anyway I would love to see a grown up movie, hmm maybe we can all go together and me and Sophie can go to a different movie, that's a thought...doubt anyone will go for that!

I have no idea how much I will really get done, but as my friend Myra would say "It's all good".

Hope everyone has a great weekend ~E

The Day After

I made it through the hardest night I can ever imagine. I never went to sleep. Me, Wes, Hayden and Gracie all snuggled in tight on the bed. I went from docile, to praying, to crying and just kept that cycle up all night. The thoughts of "what now?" Just kept running through my head. All I wanted to do was sleep, and hope that when I woke up it would all just be a bad dream.

Morning came. It was Memorial Day. A dear friend of mine brought over all kinds of breakfast items for us. And she gave me a message (she is a message therapist) it helped get me through. The Bishop came over and he and Wes planned out what they were going to do. They and several men in our church ward were headed out to our house to see if there was anything to salvage. My only request to them was...Please find our Wedding rings, a journal from Wes' childhood and a few other things. We had a prayer, and they were off.

When they got out to New Hartford the road was blocked off by the highway patrol and national guard. Nobody was getting through unless they had ID proving they lived in the disaster area. Well guess what? Our ID was somewhere in the rubble along with checks, credit cards, debit cards....everything. Wes remembered that he had the insurance policy, thank heavens, and that got him and the other men through the barricade.

As they pulled up to the house, Wes saw a man going through our rubble and instantly ran over and said what are you doing. There had already been trouble of looters, so naturally he was not pleased. The man turned around and it was a person from our church who had heard the news and was there to help. How amazing all these men were to give up a beautiful Memorial Day to come and help us. Again we were so blessed.

Shortly after they got working, my wedding ring was found in the grass, then soon after that Wes' was found. Everything I had asked for that day was found. All of the precious things that I had asked God for, I got back. ...Tender Mercies....that's what they were. A little bit of light in a dark time. ~E

Picking Up Where I Left Off

I can't tell this story without recognizing the people who rescued us that day.

So we were standing outside staring at the rubble. Definitely in shock. Then it kind of settles in that we need to get out of there. Automatically you think lets jump in the car! Looking over at the cars, we realize they are totaled. We weren't going anywhere. Wes says he is going to call the Bishop of our Ward, but, of course he goes to grab his phone out of his pocket and remembers he doesn't have it. Gracie reaches in her purse and says mom here's your phone! Thank goodness. I had one phone number stored, it was our home teachers from our ward. Wes called him and he didn't hesitate, he was on his way. He also called our current Ward Emergency specialist, and the past Emergency specialist and his son. They loaded up in a van and a truck and headed out to get us.

These men put their lives at risk for us without even hesitating. They were also under Tornado Warning. Getting to us was not easy. The Tornado went practically straight down the road that was needed to get to our house. There was down power lines, trees, smashed cars and debris all over. It was kind of like a battlefield if you will. Not knowing how to get to us, they allowed the Spirit to guide them. They drove on dirt roads, and through fields. And, they made it to us, thankfully safe.

We were taken to the Relief Society Presidents house ( this is a ward member). By the time we got there , an army of people had already dropped off things that we might need such as clothes and even money. We were so blessed. Sister Decker, who's house we were at, got out some emergency preparedness kits and we were all able to take showers and brush our teeth. This all seems so simple, I know. Just take a moment though and think about our situation right then. We were all in our Sunday lounge clothes when the tornado hit. We did not think to even put on shoes. Then when we walked outside, it was raining, muddy and there was glass and wood all over. We were filthy and helpless. My foot had a piece of glass in it and it was bleeding. So when we got to take a shower and put on clean clothes....literally I wept.

I am going to end there, I will pick it up another day. ~E

Girls Weekend

I can't remember the last time I had so much fun at a slumber party! Over the weekend I went with 3 of my good friends to a beautiful ranch in Idaho. We had lots of treats, lots of cards, and some fun movies. We told some pretty funny stories, laughed A LOT and believe it or not we got serious for a bit.

I Know, I know....

I still haven't posted the other half of 2008. I will, I just have to wait until I have it in me. It will be soon.

I am off for a weekend with the girls! We are heading up to my friends Family Ranch! Hopefully Wes can hold down the fort! I know he can, I just don't know if HE knows he can!
Hope everyone has a fun, safe weekend! ~E

2008 by th Month

January:
2- We got to participate in the Iowa Republican Caucuses! It was a freezing cold night, I think with the wind chill it was -20. Having never participated in anything like this, We had no idea how many people there would be. It was a circus! But one of the best political experiences we have ever had. We brushed passed Gov. Huckabee, and I just about ran over Canidate Ron Paul!
4- We lost Pepper, our little mini schnauzer. By far this was out hardest day in Iowa believe it or not. If you can picture a pregnant Erin at the edge of an Ice covered river screaming at hayden and Gracie to turn and walk away so they didn't have to watch pepper drown. Heart breaking.
8- We became the Owners of our 4200 sq ft home in New Hartford, IA.

February:
2- My dad helped us move into our House. We built a roaring fire and just stared at the beauty.
5- We found out we were having a Sophie not a Vance.
14- Wes cooked dinner and brought home flowers!

March:
8- the Apartment that we had just moved out of completely flooded do to the River. We were so greatful we had moved, because we would have lost everything. Little did we know we were destined to loose everything! LOL
9- My Birthday! It was a Sunday. Wes made a fabulous dinner.
18- My Mom came to visit. She cooked, Cleaned and played with the kids. I realized just how much I missed her when I watched her board her plane to leave, I cried like a baby.
26- Wes came home and said we need to move back to Utah. He was dead serious, and I felt a little nudge inside of me say "He is right" the next day he called his superior and asked if it was possible to transfer back. 4 weeks later they created a position for Wes in Utah. If Wes had not come home that day in March, he would not have had a job to come back to utah to after the Tornado, a Miracle.

April:
5th and 6th Our first General Confrence in Iowa. We watched it on TV, while all of our ward members watched it at the church house.
26- Gracies Birthday!

May:
2- We listed our house hoping we were doing the right thing. We were operating on blind faith.
10- Wes decides to take all of our photo snap shots down stairs to the storm room. I didn't even have to ask him. He just wanted to get them out of the way.
15- We bought our first riding lawn mower! It took wes 8 hours to mow the 2.5 acres though.
19 through 23- Wes was in Labor Union negotiations and hated every second of it. He would come home from work and we sat on the deck until it got dark talking about it as we watched hayden hit golf balls with his clubs.
24- Wes took Hayden to a baseball practice and I slept in. My dad called and woke me up. He asked me if I was watching the weather cause there was a huge super cell to the west of us that had produced and ef3 tornado in colorado. He said he flew over the storm the day before on his way from Seattle to Florida. He wanted me to keep an eye out for it. I had been watching the weather and so far the storm was supposed to stay to the south of us. The weather models weren't prediciting anything.We had a promising showing so we cleaned ALL day! By the time we were done, we were seriously thinking about calling off the whole move. We just loved our house too much to sell it! We took the kids to the Narnia Movie then went shopping because we were going to host a bbq on memorial day so we needed to by 10 lbs of hamburgers!
25- I woke up and I could barely move. I was 36 weeks pregnant, supposed to be on bed rest because I was in Labor. Remember all the cleaning we did the day before? I did something to my back and could hardly get out of bed. Wes called the Bishop and told him he wouldn't be at church that day because I was hardly moving. I couldn't do much that day, but I could watch the weather models on the computer. And that is what I did all day. At about noon, super cells started popping up to the south west and west of us. The air was humid! And it was 80 degrees the hottest it had been all spring. I was pretty much glued to the computer screen. At 2:30 I started getting really tired, Wes was asleep on the couch with a baseball game on. I thought about going and having a nap, but all the sudden I had a craving for oatmeal cookies! Of all things, first I had no recipie for them, and I was diabetic, I can't have cookies, I didn't even know if I had sugar to bake with. Anyway, because of my weird craving my nap was averted.The next 2 hours I had one window open looking for Oatmeal cookie recipies, one window open watching the NOAA weather models and advisories, one window open watching the Weather Channel models and warnings and one window watching our local weather channel weather blog. At 4:30 we were under tornado watch. I yelled into a snoring Wes, who didn't believe me untill he turned his beloved Cardinals game to the news. Sure enough, with in five more minutes we were under a tornado warning. Then another 10 min went by and there was a tornado on the ground. During all this news watching Hayden and Gracie were quietly gathering blankets and flash lights and putting them in our storm room. The next 45 minutes we video'd and watched an ef5 tornado barrel strate at us. at 5:05 pm it leveled our home. It left us with only the clothes on our backs. We had no cars, no house, no shoes. I had no diabetic medicine, none of my medicine to stop my contractions. All we could do was stand out in the rain and hail stunned, until our home teachers from our ward came and rescued us about an hour later. As we were standing there another funnel cloud started to drop right above us and all I could do was pray please no. Help came. Our house was in shambles, lot's of it flying away to Wisconsin. But, one of our rescuers had a feeling to lift up one of the walls, and there in plain sight was our crumpled up home owners insurance policy. If you would have asked me where that was the day before when our house was so perfectly clean, I would have laughed and said I have no IDEA. Finding that piece of paper was just one of the many tender mercies we recieved through out the ordeal.

I am going to break, and I will post the rest of the year in my next post. I can't believe how just thinking about all this, now 7 months later, still sucks the life out of me. I promise though, for my own record I will finish this soon. Night ~E

ABC's of 2008

My friend Sophia did this MEME on her blog, so I decided to also do it. Thanks Sophia ; )

The ABC's of 2008

A- Attitude plays a big part of how I decide to view 2008. Many words run through my head when I reflect. I plan on calling 2008 "The Year of Growth ".
B- Blessed, beyond words.
C- Coldest winter we have ever been through, no kidding. I have never, ever felt real brutal cold, until living in the Midwest. Yes, I know you might think Utah is cold and it is, but nothing compares to the Midwest!
D- Dream House, We bought it on January 8, 2008. I read the secret a couple years ago. It said to visualize what you want. I visualized my dream house with all wood floors, not a stitch of carpet. Central vacuum. A Bonus room for the kids. Double Ovens. A four Car garage. So 18 mos later, when we walked into it after looking at 30 homes, we were speechless. I loved my house. It had everything I had ever wanted in a house.
E- Early mornings. We all had to wake up early because we lived 17 miles from school. So we had to leave extra early. I love that the kids just go a few blocks now!
F- Fast Friends. I made some dear friends in a very short amount of time. Friends that I will have for a lifetime.
G- Gratitude has got to be the Emotion of the year. Never in my life have I felt so many prayers from family, friends and strangers. Christmas Eve, as we sat around the table. I said a prayer on the food. In my prayer I asked that heavenly Father please watch over and bless those who were less fortunate than us, who might be cold, hungry, or alone. After the prayer, Hayden looked up and said," I just realized that during the tornado, and right after when we had nothing left, there were people praying for us, strangers we didn't know. Can you believe how many people prayed for us? I don't think we will ever know how many." This choked Wes and I up, with Gratitude for the prayers, and the invaluable lesson that Hayden learned that night.
H- Happiness, finding it in the little things. Something we learned because of the circumstance we were in.
I- Insulin, made my pregnancy with Sophie go much smoother. Six shots a day beats almost dying from pregnancy complications any day!
J- June 12 , the day we got our little Sophie.
K-
L- Lot's of early morning Bishopric Meetings for Wes.
M- Miracles, every other day. We had big ones and small ones.
N- New, House, Baby, Friends, Furniture, Cars...
O- Obstetrics appointments once a week for 30 weeks!
P- Picketing writers, no new TV shows! This was ridiculous, it was the year of reality television!
Q-
R- Relocation, we moved 3 times!
S- Mrs. Sartorious, the best teacher Hayden will ever have. He adored her as did Wes and I. She cared so much about Hayden.
T- Testimony, the Growth that took place this year was like nothing compared to any other year.
U- Uno attack, we Played this almost every night from Dec 25'07- May 25'08. It was our fave family activity!
V- Valuables(material items) mean nothing to you, as long as you and your children are breathing, that is all that matters.
W- Wealth is all in your head. You can be the most Wealthy person in the world, and not own a pair of shoes. I learned this from experience.
X- treme WEATHER, enough said!
Y- Yelling, Screaming and crying for our little Puppy Pepper who fell through the Icy River and drowned right before our eyes. Love you Pepper.
Z- I got nothing for Z.

Christmas 2008

Christmas has come and gone. It was a beautiful time of year for me. The season was full of wonderful music, nice decorations, way to many treats, lots of cooking, more parties than I can count, more shopping than I like (none would be fine with me) but, the best part by leaps and bounds, would have to be Reflecting.
Reflecting on season's past, on charity, and lastly , most important, the Birth of Jesus Christ. The Savior of the world, Only begotten of the Father , Prince of Peace, Messiah, Mediator, Redeemer, Jehovah, The carpenter’s son, The Lamb of God, My Friend, My Brother.
Every Christmas as long as I can remember back, Christ has always been the center of our Celebrations. I have many memories of being dressed up as Mary, and sitting on my dads back (he was the donkey) and reenacting the Nativity. They are some of my fondest.
This year we opted to stay home as a little family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Wes and I want to start creating memories for our kids and starting our own traditions. Last year we had no choice because we were all alone in Iowa. Looking back, it was my favorite Christmas since being Married. We had other plans this year originally. But Hayden and Gracie started asking if we just couldn't do it the way we did last year. Candle light dinner, sparkling cider, Christmas carols, Christmas Stories, and just talking. Of course the kids got to open a couple presents. Their new PJ's. It was a fun night and a new tradition. When the kids finally got to sleep, Gracie was up until 11:30, Santa came and got to work. He finally left around 1:15. At 2 am Hayden and Gracie were up! They came in every 15 minutes and asked me if it was time! At 4 am I finally gave in. Wes and I drug ourselves out of our warm bed, and by 6:30 we were back in bed. We woke up later in the morning and as Wes put gifts together, I made breakfast. The rest of the day, we just hung out. It was all very nice.