we forgot…

Forgetting is a natural side effect of aging.
At least, that is what I am blaming my recent and shameful forgetfulness.
I might add my husband to this statement, because we forgot to remind each other.

Under normal circumstances, this is not a big deal.
Usually, we can overcome these oversights.
But, when it effects a third party, recovery is not as simple.

Ever since their first birthday, each of our daughters received roses from their father.
One, for every age.
A single on on their first birthday. A dozen for #12, Sixteen for sweet 16.
Well, you get the picture.

This year would have been 26 for our eldest.
But is wasn’t. We forgot.
But this is not the only forgotten tradition.
All of the usual pomp and circumstance of birthday week (as we affectionately call it)
were also downgraded. No wrapped presents. No birthday cake.

In our defense, we did not forget to eat.
That is something we hardly every forget to do.
And, Kylee did get to choose.

So, as I try to sort through my guilt,
I have to remind myself that we did do something good.
We raised a daughter that is easy going.
We raised a daughter that has never been overly dramatic, self centered or demanding.
We raised a daughter that faithfully served a mission and returned with honor.
This birthday came and went with hardly a peep.

As I prepare now for the birthday (week) of my youngest.
I laughed a little when I though to myself…
The first born has to deal with our mistakes.
The second born has to deal with our over-corrections.

Again, I remind myself that we did do something good…
TWICE!

22

It started with an order from the doctor to stay in bed.
I was to follow up a week later.
I obeyed, knowing that a week in bed would drive me crazy.

Hardly no time at all passed before the doctor called me at home.
He told me that he consulted with a colleague and they both agreed…
We should not wait any longer.
Delivery was scheduled for the next morning.

We had to deliver Taylor one week early to save her life.
I think, however, she just couldn’t wait any longer.
We have felt the power of her unconditional and powerful love for us ever since!

             

Happy Birthday to our sweet Taylor.
You complete our little family!!

I became a mother…

Today is the anniversary of the day I became a mother.
25 years ago today, to be exact.
I remember it as if it were yesterday.
I’m pretty sure it was.

She arrived…wide eyed and curious.
She has always been open and honest.
She is adventurous.
She is head strong but obedient.
She makes me proud.

She is a dancer.
She is a photographer.
She is a blogger.
She is a returned missionary.
She is one of my most precious treasures.
She is my daughter.

Happy Birthday Kylee!

 

coming home

Yesterday, our Sister Missionary came home.
I have been anxious about this moment for weeks!
It was all that I hoped for.
The best part, was being able to hug her!!!

For 18 months, we have emailed weekly.
Skyped 3 1/2 times
(2 Christmases, 1 mothers day, and during a surprise visit from Uncle Eric and family)
Seen photos on Facebook and even in the newspaper.
She was near, visually and vocally,
but she was missed physically.

Last night at the airport, I got a taste of what our Heavenly Father wants most…
for us to return home

While we are here on Earth
we worship Him weekly on the Sabbath.
We communicate with Him daily trough prayer.
He guides us through the Holy Ghost and his living prophets.
He is anxiously awaiting our return. It is all that He hopes for.
I suspect His arms will be open for a hug too!

t-i-m-e

I remember a vacation Evan and I took 15 years ago.
We left our daughters at home and cruised the Caribbean for 7 days.
We had a great time together. We met some wonderful people. We missed our girls!
Halfway into the trip we vowed to never take an extended vacation without them.
We have kept that promise and have had the time of our lives.

We have traveled, served, laughed, prayed, worshiped and cried together.
We have grown in our relationship with each other.
We have bonded with our daughters.
We have strengthened our family.

"In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. We establish a divine bond with each other as we approach God together through family prayer, gospel study, and Sunday worship."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Things That Matter Most"

Father’s Day Surprise

My brother and his family are on vacation. They are in Washington DC. They paid a visit to someone I know…

becoming the best

It has been said by most that their mom is the best ever.
Those words are no exception to my daughters.
I accept their statements in great humility
not because I am the best, but because I have been influenced by the best.

My mother is the first influence I ever had.
She is the most selfless woman I know.
Always looking outward.

My two daughters… so very different from each other
but equally as important to me.
They have taught me more than I ever would have learned on my own.

Denise became my fist sister when I married her brother.
She was the first Aunt to my daughters
and is full of energy and love.

Tamra, married my brother
and was the first to make me an Aunt.
She has a passion for learning and is one of the smartest people I know.

Emily, my third sister by marriage.
She has taken on the role of motherhood and has not looked back.
She is courageous and nurturing.

Many friends and neighbors… the mothers and the childless.
All of them honoring womanhood with their actions,
caring for their families and for each other.

I have no doubt that all of these women will also claim
that their greatness comes from influences as well.
But, isn’t that something we as women do so very well…
helping others become their best.

2’s and 3’s

Three times in two weeks =  the number of times I have listened to my missionary speak in church.
Two of those three times was just this morning.
My two daughters have been home together this weekend as we
prepare to take Kylee to the MTC in three days.
In just two days, she will be set apart as a missionary through Priesthood Authority.
Soon, it will be just the two of us…Evan and I.
Well, three, if you count the dog!
My heart is full of gratitude for my two daughters.
Together, with my loving husband, I have the three best friends I will ever need.
Before we know it, the four of us will be in three different states
but in less than two years we will all be reunited.
I think the two of us can handle that!
Well, three, if you count the dog!

Emptying the nest

First, Taylor leaves for another semester at BYU-Idaho.
Then Kylee leaves for the MTC.
By the end of the month, Evan and I will be (temporarily) empty nesters.

I am not sure what that means for us.
I do know that it is bitter sweet.

I knew I loved Evan before we were married.
I loved him even more on our wedding day.
Each day after, even more.
We loved our time together, and we spent it well.

Then children came.
I loved him even more.

We raised our daughters together.
We were lucky with them.
They never gave us much trouble.
They were as patient with us as we were with them.

All four of us, built our strong family together.
We love spending time with each other.
We love being at home together.
We love laughing and playing together.

Now, one by one, our daughters are leaving us.
Evan and I get to practice being just the two of us again.
That is, until they come home.
And, we will always welcome that!

What my ears heard, opened my eyes

Even though I am the mother of adult daughters,
and they don’t “need” me as much as they used to,
they are still a very important part of my life.
In fact, they are two of my best friends.

I never want to loose that.

Yesterday,
as I was sitting on the couch,
winding down for the day
finishing up some work I brought home from the office,
Taylor said: “mom, you are always working.”
She continued: ”working your job, working to take care of us”

She was merely being observant.
I was immediately full of gratitude.

First and foremost, because I get to take care of my family.
I love being around them
I love spending time with them.
I love being at home, with them.
I love taking care of them.
It is my favorite job.

Second, I am blessed to work for individuals
who support “family”
They are a close family, and in a sense,
they are a part of my family.
They enable me to encourage others at work to
place their family over their job.
I get tell the employees “yes, it is OK”
to come in late for work to support their children and grandchildren
at school and other events.

Today,
I left the office, empty handed.
I am not going to work this weekend,
unless it is for my family!

3 girls and a city

Taylor went back to school today.
But not before a girls trip to New York City.

We took the redeye Wednesday,
slept as much as we could on the plane,
took a wild taxi ride to the hotel,
was lucky enough to check into a room at 7:30AM,
took a nap for a couple of hours,
then hit the ground, running.

We DID NOT STOP for 4 whole days.

We toured, shopped, ate, theatered, subwayed, museumed, walked,
walked, walked, walked, walked and walked.

We learned a lot about the city and ourselves.
We decided how to best approach our next trip.
We  discovered so many new loves.

Be sure to check Kylee’s blog for details and awesome photos!
Check back here too…. I may be able to muster up a post or two.

Arrival

Kylee has sent me another brief email, with a promise of more details to follow.
I don’t want to share too much, as she will be certain to blog once she returns!

I do, however, feel that I need to share a little…
She has arrived to her final destination: Chamba.

Her duffle bag, and the bag belonging to one other girl, were the ONLY two bags
to get DRENCHED during their adventurous travels.
Her entire wardrobe is hanging out to dry…I hope the humidity does not impede the progress.

Finally… A photo of the orphanage.

Chamba, India is where she will be spending her days for the next week. Teaching and loving 20+ girls.

LOVING email!

Kylee finally has internet and we received her first email. She is tired and her thoughts are jumbled, but she is safe and enjoying her experience so far. Here are a few excerpts...

the traveling has been loooonnnggg, three days worth of it. i have no sense of time here and forget what day it is constantly. we head to chamba today (6 hour jeep ride)

we flew into qatar … and got there around 3AM (india time) and then we waited for about an hour for our bus to show up. we then traveled 12-14 hours on a bus. it was nice, had AC and we all had our own rows. i had taken dramamine and was doing well. there was a point later on the bus ride that i got sick, real sick. throwing up and everything. thank goodness for those airplane barf bags (saved me entirely). i didn't necessarily feel nauseous but i could not stop throwing up.

my first indian meal was sort of awful. i hated it. it was like this bread thing filled with potatoes and onions that was meant to be dipped in either those nasty curd stuff or some pickle spice thing. i seriously had to force myself to eat it and i definitely ate less than half. that first meal had me seriously worried about the food i would be eating for the next two weeks (but things have been better since, not my favorite but i do eat). the nam is the best - crisp bread (we always get garlic).

the weather & smells have been less shocking than i anticipated. not as hot and not as smelly. despite the poverty, india is GORGEOUS. the himalayas are unreal. i have taken over 300 pictures and we are only on what, day four? five? see i have no concept of time. i think going to chamba is where the shock will hit because the places we have stayed so far are so nice. our first hotel was good (minus the mouse we discovered in our room) but the one we are at now..... soooo nice. i definitely did not expect such nice places to stay while here.

i miss you guys. i especially missed mom when i was sick on the bus. sure am grateful for all you guys do… i have been near tears and cried to myself many times already. when we first arrived and were taking our early morning bus ride was when it first hit me. we are so blessed and i take so much of it for granted. the people here are so beautiful (inside & out). they find happiness in family, friends & work, not material things or money. i really feel so blessed to be here right now, to be experiencing these feelings (totally crying again as i write this).

All three of us at home were quite the site as we were reading her email. We were all in tears too.
I am so grateful, first of all for her safe arrival. Secondly, for this life changing experience. I am looking forward to meeting the changed person that will come home in a couple of weeks.

THANK YOU to everyone who has helped make this possible for Kylee. So many of you have donated time, money, laptops, and most importantly… encouragement, love and support. We are blessed to know so many wonderful people!