Word of the day

Phlebitis

reaction: a new IV

result: a more comfortable daughter

Good Bye 2010

With a few exceptions,
it has been a fairly uneventful year.

We saw Lion King in Vegas.
Brian Regan at Abravanel Hall.
Kylee changed her major.
A couple of trips to Lake Powell.
Kylee had her best semester at the U.
Taylor kept busy with 2 choirs.
Taylor was accepted to BYU Idaho.

As for bringing in the New Year…

Kylee is out tonight with friends.
Evan is home alone, keeping Chester company.
I am spending the night with Taylor at a suite at PCMC.
(Her surgery went VERY well!)

I am looking forward a New Year
and all the events it brings.

Elliott’s Prayer

Evan and I are still here in the waiting room…
we just received our first update.
Taylor is stable and doing well.
They just finished removing the hardware from her previous fusion.
They will recycle (re-use) the hooks.
We are keeping the rest for show and tell.

Just a few moments ago,
Evan and I witnessed a most unusual event.
A prayer like no other.
It was given by Elliott.
(Pictured below)

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He even barked a resounding “AMEN” at the conclusion.

Laughter is once again proven, to be the best medicine!

Thank You!!

I just want to thank everyone who has fasted
and/or offered prayers on Taylor’s behalf this past week.

She is calm and at peace.
She is prepared, mentally and spiritually.

Please continue to pray for her, as she is hopeful for a rapid recovery.
We will keep you posted.

Breaking the fast

As a matter of convenience, we met at my mothers house after church.
Several loud grumbly tummies included.
We broke our fast with a prayer and then gave Taylor a Priesthood blessing
preparatory to her surgery later this week.

It was beautiful.

The leftovers from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
were set out and we devoured them in a matter of minutes.
Followed by the remains of dessert.

It was delicious.

An hour or so, gathered around the cleared table, talking and laughing.
(One of my favorite pastimes.)

I am so blessed.

Christmas Highlights

Slept in until 7 AM.
(I am usually too excited to sleep past 4).

Disappointed and worried because the pull-aparts did not raise overnight.
(Started the speed-raise method.)

Showered while waiting for the family to wake up.
(Something I have time to do every year.)

Woke the rest of the family up after 8:30.
(Danced to Christmas music while I waited...)

Put the Christmas Casserole in the oven.
(It bakes while we open gifts.)

Had family prayer near the Christmas Tree.
(Gave thanks for the gift of our Savior.)

Opened gifts.
(Relished in the surprises I was able to pull off.)

Played Ping-Pong.
(Laughed with the family… one of my favorite parts of the day!!!)

Prepared Potato Casserole.
(My Christmas buffet contribution.)

Made a vinyl “No Soliciting” sign for the front door.
(I got what I wanted for Christmas.)

Went to mom and dads.
(Helped set up for the buffet.)

Family gift exchange.
(Including the traditional gag gifts.)

Yummy food & great company!
(I LOVE having so much family around!!!)

Family Prayer with EVERYONE to start the Family Fast.
(The other favorite part of the day!)

Winding down and relaxing at home.
(Another PERFECT Christmas!)

Family Fast

This Sunday, we are having a family fast on Taylor’s behalf.
She will undergo a second spinal fusion on the 30^th of December.
We are grateful for skilled and caring doctors.
We are most grateful for the power of the priesthood
and the strength of faith and prayers.

We felt great peace the first time she had surgery,
and we know we will be comforted again.
Taylor is so strong and full of courage.

We are inviting you to join us in this fast if you would like.
We love each member of our family and all of our dear friends.

Traditions

Some of my favorite traditions of this season are...

1. Starting with Thanksgiving...
I host.

2. A new, and hopefully long lived tradition...
The Christmas Orange Benefit Concert.
(Benefiting the Utah Food Bank)

3. Puzzles in the living room...
holiday themed, of course.

4. Soup bar and caroling
with friends in the Stake Presidency.

5. Christmas lights
the Temple Square variety.

6. A new batch of hot chocolate mix...
**homemade**

7. Cheeseballs...
again, homemade.

8. A Christmas Carol...
at Hale Center Theater.

9. Christmas Eve Candelite Dinner...
thanks Tamra!!
(with a Year-end slideshow presentation...
featuring the events of each family's year.)

10. Christmas Day luncheon at moms...
where EVERYONE is invited.

Merry Christmas.
(I hope I can pull it all together by the end of the week... I am so unprepared this year.)

Swimming in soup

Taylor is finally done with choir.
Until next year, that is.

To celebrate,
she hosted a party.

A soup bar for 28.

We moved furniture.
We borrowed chairs.
We made 3 kinds of soup.
(Triple batches of each.)

Less than half showed up.
So, we are swimming in soup.

Thank goodness for family
close enough to join us for Sunday dinner.
No doubt, soup is on the menu.

Aging

Every year I get older
and so do my appliances.

First it was the microwave oven.

Twice it was the dishwasher
(the first time, it was the day before Thanksgiving. )

This summer, it was the hot water heater.
Autumn... the garage door opener.

Today, it is the furnace...
(the day before a predicted storm.)

I hope I hold up better.
I do not want to be replaced, repaired, or rebuilt.

Temple Square - A Three Day Tour

Bright and early Tuesday morning,
Taylor and her HS Choir
sang for him...

then, on Wednesday they sang here

 

then here
(I was lucky enough to join them as a chaperone.)

 

Tonight, they sang here
(Date night with Evan!)

It has been a fantastic week.

Thanksgiving in December…

Sometimes, the stress of life can be overwhelming.

The responsibilities of the day,
mingled with unexpected obstacles,
every once in a while, will bring me to the edge
and I snap.

I am irrational.
I over react.
I lack patience.
I am emotional.

I am blessed to have a family
who loves me in spite of my weaknesses,
and support me though my challenges.

I am grateful for the Christmas season.
For the opportunities to give to others.
For the birth of my Savior.
For His perfect example.
For His ultimate sacrifice.

I am thankful that He is aware.

Good

December brings with it the season of giving.
I like to think giving as more than what is placed under the tree.
It is the time we can share,
the kindnesses we can extend,
the thanks that we express,
the smiles we place on our face,
the helping hand that we offer.

As the end of the year falls us upon us,
I find myself reflecting on the resolutions of this year.
My decision to do a good deed daily was by far the easiest resolution I have made.
In fact, it may be the only one I have kept.

What this resolution has done for me
surpasses anything that I have done for others.
I have been reassured that there IS good in this world.
There are many opportunities EACH and every day for us to do good.
Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.
It puts a smile on my face when I witness the good deeds performed by others.
The BEST good deeds are the quiet, unannounced good deeds.

A hymn from the LDS Hymnbook sums it up perfectly:

“Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.”

“There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.”
(Hymn #223)

I have come to the conclusion that
I do not need a resolution,  it is quite natural and effortless.
It is almost shameless to say, it is rewarding.

I want to be selfish and feel this good every day.
Join me.

Christmas Lights

Tonight, we took some time to enjoy the Christmas Lights.
This time, with a little twist...

Festive lights,
Christmas music,
Reptiles & Wild Cats

Hot Chocolate & McDonalds french fries.
A pretty great evening with family and friends.

Disappointment

"If I am to meet with a disappointment,
the sooner I know it,
the more of life I shall have to wear it off."
THOMAS JEFFERSON

Unfortunately, disappointments are a part of life.
We all face them at one time or another.

The greater challenge?
Allowing these let-downs to help us
be stronger and wiser,
to develop our character,
to become better people.

As a family,
we have recently made some difficult
(yielding disappointment) decisions.
My greatest hope is
that when we look back we will know,
without a doubt,
that they were the right decisions.