Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Trent's Christmas list

Dear Santa,
For Chirstmas this year I want a dell laptop, Ipad, Nintedo 3DS, a TV, train set, Ipod touch, beyblade lightning L'Drago, Iphone, Lego Harry Potter Hogworth's castle, Ihome, headphones, guitar, new blue tooth like the one my dad had, and a drumset.

and I want these things on Christmas day.

from: Trent



Maybe we should send Trent on a mission?
RIGHT AWAY!!!

Monday, November 28, 2011

thankful for my missionary

Last week I got my usual Monday email from missionary Jack.
It was unusual- it was special. I had a hard time reading it through my tears.
Missionaries frequently go through experiences they deem inappropriate (too scary) to tell their mothers- and this email included one of those stories.
I would like to share this story today- as inspiration. It has inspired me. I have trials- just like everyone else. The really hard ones I don't share on this blog. This trial of my son Jack- was a great reminder that it's through trials that we learn the most- something I too easily forget.

My mission has taught me a lot about gratitude and about being thankful. I have learned how much the Lord has given to me. I am going to share a story today that I didn't send last year. I figured it is one of those stories that is much more interesting & better told after it is over. A year ago today, the Monday before thanksgiving, I was packing up my suit cases because I was being transferred from Gurgui. I was transferred to Jatuica right down by the Beach in Maceio. However I was starting to get sick. Now I won't lie in this email, I had been sick fro months with worms & figured the little guys were probably just doing a little bit of rough housing. My companion and I were opening the area so, feeling well or not, we had to go out & work to get to know the area. My health went quickly form bad to worse. I started having paralyzing head aches & by the time we got to the house at night I would walk in , fall on my bed in my clothes, and wouldn't move until morning. Wednesday I ate little at lunch, not being able to stomach much. By Wednesday night I had thrown up everything and was starting to get really, really sick.
We we arrive on thanksgiving 2010. I spent the day lying on my bed soaking threw the sheets with sweat. I had Dengue Fever. I knew I had it. My trainer had told me if you are ever lying on your bed, so sick you think you are going to die, you will know. Those words turned out to be prophetic. I passed the whole day reading until the head ache became too bad, then I would start listing off all the things I was thankful for. It being Thanksgiving, I couldn't let the day pass without a grateful attitude. I couldn't eat. I would sit up & drink a mouth full of water & then lay down & use all the determination in my body to not throw it up, failing many times. I called my mission President's wife but she too thought maybe it was just rowdy worms. There is not much you can do for Dengue Fever after all. Well, the next day turned out to be 'Ground Hog Day' (he is making reference to the movie- one of our family favorites) I went through the same process. Reading a little, drinking a sip of water, lying back down, and trying not to throw up, and the list of blessing continued. I woulds start the list over from the beginning and then try to add a handful of new things every time. After 48 hours, seeing as I couldn't sleep much with the frequent bathroom visits, my list really started to grow.
Saturday came & after 72 hours without food and with about a half-liter of water I started to get worried. Sister Beynon (the mission president's wife) finally told me to go to the emergency room at about lunch time. I arrived there & when I finally was attended to they took me into a back room to hook me up to an IV. I passed out on the way to the bed waking up when the first bag from the IV ran out. I stayed there all day, but had finally reached the exhausted point & kept sleeping. The doctor came in that night & told me I was good to go, though I didn't feel that way. After arguing with him for a while he told me there was nothing more they could do. I left & called Sister Beynon. I remember sitting in that lobby, putting my face in my hands & feeling like it was over. I wasn't going to make it. I threw up in the emergency room bathroom on the way out and we headed home. I walked into our house, and went straight to my bed. My knees hit the ground & I said one of the quickest but most sincere prayers I ever had. I said I was grateful for my list. I said I was grateful that my list of blessings had kept me going. I said I sure hoped to wake up alright in the morning. I closed my prayer & rolled into bed.
I woke up that night. It was about three in the morning. I threw up all the liquid they had pumped me full of but then I just felt so hungry. I had gone well over 80 hours without any food. What happened next was one of the most interesting experiences in my mission. I heard the spirit say  'go to the table, You will find an apple there.' I made my way to the table & sure enough found in the darkness an apple. I went out on our porch and sat in my favorite part in that house where you can look up at the sky and the wind is always strong. That apple is the best thing I have eaten in my whole life. I can still remember the taste. It was the sweetest most delicious thing I had ever eaten. It was as if I had picked the fruit right off the tree of life. I sat there & I went over my list of things that I was grateful for. I realized then & there that I still hadn't finished my list. The lord had blessed me so abundantly that I couldn't finish my list even after days. I remember feeling a deeper sense of gratitude come upon me.... That week was one of the most important weeks in my mission. It was one of the weeks that I learned the most. It was the best lesson on gratitude that I have ever received as I laid on my bed on Thanksgiving making a list of all that I was grateful for. That week has had a powerful impact on my whole mission. Since that moment I have felt many times that I could not keep going. I was tired or sick or frustrated. However, I have always remembered that the lord stayed with me that whole week. He supports me. He knows what we go through . When we stop to count our blessings we can make it through any difficult circumstance.




Let me just say that he is well now. These pictures are proof of that!
"We must be careful that we don't resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature." Elder Paul V. Johnson

Friday, November 25, 2011

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

so excited for Thanksgiving

Yesterday Wende & I ran to the bakery for a donut & look what we saw!
 Thanksgiving dinner~
and it's only $6.99 a plate!
and these cutie thanksgiving sugar cookies- oh how fun

On the Thanksgiving menu at my house:

Dinner
Turkey- brined & roasted with compound butter & turkey paste
Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes w/pecan praline
Harvest blend stuffing
Green bean casserole
Roasted brussel sprouts & butternut squash with bacon & pine nuts
Relish tray & dip
My favorite cheese ball-- someday I should put the recipe up?
Dessert
PIE!!!
Pumpkin- Apple- Blueberry- Chocolate Cream- Cherry
Whipped cream & ice cream of course!

I feel completely overwhelmed with so many blessings!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Monday, November 21, 2011

last of the nut

Closing night of the 2011 Nutcracker was a BIG night!
We had a big dinner- then drove up to the ballet. Thanks to Brittany for taking these pictures, since I was in the back chaperoning some baby mice... Chloe's age is old enough to go without chaperone's now-- which is FANTASTIC except that now I have to take my turn chaperoning someone elses little dancer. Don't get me wrong--- you know I love kids-- but these little girls can really be loud- I dreaded my assignment all day! Lucky me- I got the cutest little 8 year old mice. They were dolls.

 Brittany & Megan
 Hailey & Laura
 Laura & the bearded Brian
 Brian & Marcus... they must be missing Jack or something here in this photo? Or thinking about how they missed out in life because neither of their mothers put them in ballet lessons- serious envy over men in tights going on here?? hahahahhaaa-- oh that was a good one.
 Marcus & Brittany
 Trent & his DSlite-- you know, just in case he got a little bored. Newsflash: he was NOT bored & sat quietly with hardly any whistling the whole ballet!!!
 Brett & Hailey
And like an idiot...
I forgot to get any pictures with Chloe after the ballet!???
aaaah!?
Oh well- it was a GREAT Nutcracker year.
You were stunning Chloe- we love you.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

back stage








 We snuck backstage after last night's ballet & got some photos.
wow


Thursday, November 17, 2011

it's nutcracker week!

It's here- Nutcracker Week!
Yesterday I tried & tried to write a post... but I just could NOT get any of these pictures to download! AAARGH-- so I'm a day late. Oh well, what else is new?
Chloe is on point this year & is absolutely gorgeous- of course!
I went to the first dress rehearsal Tuesday night & sat in the audience hoping to get some great photos. It's really hard to get any photos with very crabby people (who don't like picture takers) around--- so I didn't get too many. Still- I tried!

 The orchestra is setting up & hasn't been lowered into the pit- so they were in the way of the run through but there's Chloe- 3rd from the left.
 There's my foot.
 I was quite a ways back because non chaperoning parents are discouraged from coming to dress rehearsal & told to sit behind row N. Well--- okay then!?
Waiting around by myself was just a little boring.


 dang- I've got a crooked nose!

 Chloe is dancing in there somewhere...
and now waiting in the middle for her turn.
I love Chloe- she is a beautiful ballerina & is the epitome of what a ballerina should be.

I cherish these ballet moments--- they won't last forever.
sigh
It sure seems like I'm sighing a lot these days, huh?
After this year, Chloe will only be eligible for 2 more Nutcracker performances.
shoot-golly
time flies when you are a mom

Monday, November 14, 2011

november


Is it just me or does it seem impossible to you all that it is now November?
And now...
tomorrow is November 15th?
How is this possible?
The holiday season hasn't even officially started & I already feel behind?
I'm hoping that's all in my head?

For our family, the holiday season always starts with the Nutcracker. I better "get cracking" because this is it-
Nutcracker Week!
Dress rehearsals start tomorrow.
I am so excited for Chloe & can't wait to see it!

Thanksgiving is Brett's favorite holiday- so that makes it extra special for us all. I am planning some really delicious- yet traditional foods for our Thanksgiving Day feast. I asked my kids what they want to eat besides the obvious:
Turkey & Mashed Potatoes
what did they say?
Campbell's soup green bean bake

Really?
that's what you want? more than anything else you can think of?
huh? really?
okey dokey then.

I am finalizing my menu & I will publish it here- soon.
I wish you could all join us for dinner- but then- that would probably kill me.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

loved

I really didn't mean for that last post to stay up so long.
It just got busy...
and ya, it's true. I have been fighting off negative feelings.

But today is a new day & I have been thinking. A Lot of thinking.
Thinking about all of you wonderful, kind commenter's & more who have sent prayers our way!
~THANK YOU~
 I feel loved and-
Loved is --- my favorite feeling.

Loved because of kind comments here.
Loved because some amazing, anonymous person sent me flowers Friday- I wish I knew who you were?!
Loved because of Trent's scout leaders who took him camping Friday night & made sure he had a GREAT time. (thank you- thank you- how can I ever express my thanks!? You guys are so wonderful)
Loved because we all (every person in this family) has such wonderful friends.
Loved because I dreamt Jack was home & he gave me a big hug.
Loved because Trent's teacher now eats lunch in the lunch room at his table & Trent thinks it's the bomb.
Loved because Trent has the world's best brothers & sisters who were specially sent from heaven above, before him to lead the way.
Loved because on my way to work yesterday I prayed
hard
and I received a strong impression- some may call it intuition- I call it an answer from a loving Heavenly Father who knows me & you & wants to bless us.
It came in my thoughts & in my heart.

my answer
It's okay.
We all get bullied at one point or another in this life- all of us. Love him. Tell him what you told the other kids when they had these problems at his age- "now you know what it feels like to be treated badly. Whenever you see someone being talked to or treated that way YOU can stand up for them YOU know how it feels. Because, YOU know what it feels like to be bullied- You must always be careful not to bully others. Look for the kid alone who needs a friend and be one. That is the covenant you took upon yourself at baptism- this is what it means to be a true disciple of Christ."

Parenting a child is not easy- but it is worth it. I wonder if my other children remember conversations like the one above? I need to have the faith that Trent can do this!
Yes- I would take this trial away from him if I could (and you better believe I WILL try to make it easier) but he will learn & be a better person in the long run.
Faith- sigh.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

broken hearted

It's been a hard week on the aspergers/autism front.
More than one kid at school this week has picked on my favorite guy.

Yesterday...
Even the typical supportive kids were involved in a challenge to get him to suck down ketchup packets in the lunch table. T- he doesn't get it. He knows something is not right - but he doesn't "get" it. I was angry. Then I was really angry. Then I wrote some emails. Now I am heart broken.

It's not just autism/aspergers we are dealing with.
It's hard to write this.
I just admitted it fully to myself recently.
But he is you know, slow.
His IQ tests are very low.
(Gosh- I can't believe I am writing this? Why does it make me feel better? Like I'm unloading a burden on a close friend? Am I trying to get sympathy, do I crave attention?)
He is more than a kid with ADHD- Tourettes- OCD- anxiety... he is special. He can't help it. He doesn't understand. Most things are more difficult for him than other kids. He just wants to play & have friends, & be liked--- you know, just like all of us.

My heart hurts.
Thanks for listening.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

less than 5 months away

This week we got some exciting news!
Monday-- just before I walked into work to prep & teach the class (see post below) I got a phone call from Brett. Missionary Jack had just written us his weekly email & announced (drum roll please)

HIS RETURN HOME DATE!

Yes-- someday soon our missionary will be headed home. sigh
144 days to be exact.

Jack will be flying home starting on April 3- arriving in Salt Lake City- April 4, 2012.
My heart is swelling & I cannot wait to wrap my arms around him & hug him & kiss him right on the face.

Mother joy.


Jack doing the-- "baptism kick," some sort of celebratory kick they do before a baptism. whatever? At least he hasn't lost his sense of humor?

Monday, November 7, 2011

intimidation

(picture courtesy of betty crocker.com)

Today was a big intimidating day for me...
I taught a class at work. I've taught several classes, but this time it was much more intimidating. This time I was almost scared. I taught how to roast the perfect turkey.
Roasting a turkey for Thanksgiving is so personal- so important! I have made Thanksgiving dinner for our family at least 20 times-- (I've tried to count, but I'm not sure.) Everyone seems to have a secret for roasting a turkey- that's what I mean by personal. Thanksgiving is special (it's Brett's favorite holiday) it only comes once a year-- and like one of the attendees at my class said, "It only comes once a year, so if your turkey's not right you have to wait until next year to do it again!" So true. Sure you can make a turkey any ol' day of the year, but Thanksgiving - it's important!
Before the class started I found myself just pinging about... trying to be as best prepared as possible. WEll-- it's over.
It went great! I taught how to pick out & buya roaster & a turkey. How to clean, brine, truss, stuff, roast, glaze, and baste a turkey breast (I hate cooking turkey breast alone.) I made pan gravy & gravy from our store's gravy base so they could taste the difference. I made mashed potatoes, stuffing &served them all (small bites) with cranberry relish. It was so satisfying that everything turned out. AND.. YEs I was so very intimidated & nervous, but hurray it is over & I am breathing a bit easier.

Now-- I only have to think of something to make for dinner tonight?

For more information about getting ready for Thanksgiving go here-- or here!