yesterday PLUS an announcement

I got up & got a bunch of chores done yesterday morning...

lots & lots

and

it felt good.

(the hallway inside the garage door)

As I walked through my house in the morning light, I was struck by how much I love this house. It's far from perfect & needs a lot of work- in so many areas...

But it is my dream home. It looks like me & Brett, it's has my personality all over it.

It says family to me.

 Ya- I like it here.

***

I headed down to the hospital to pick up Chloe.

I had permission to take her off grounds for the whole day 12-8:00 PM- Woo Hoo!

We headed straight to lunch at Stan's! 

Gyros & Cheeseburgers with onion ring & fries.

 Oh man- that beats hospital food any day.

(Wende sent Chloe a big pack of sharpies because she knows how much she loves them, she isn't allowed to keep them there so I put them in her room when I got home.)

I had a package for Chloe 

(I usually do)

Full of little things she needed from home AND gifts from kind people-

 kind people that I love more than anything in the world.

 So many people have sent me down with little things for her!

I have never once asked- they just do.

I appreciate them & hope that angels bless them & their posterity forever more.

Is there anything better in the world than someone doing something kind?

Not something huge - just something kind.

Something thoughtful and kind and- for my sick child?

(tears)

People are so good.

A sweet family in our congregation -Hi Jennifer- sent a big envelope full of art work from everyone (she has six beautiful children) for her room! Each child & both parents made all these darling things for her.

 Pictures & jewelry... SHE LOVED THEM! Just loved them! She can't keep the jewelry but it is here for when she gets home. People send her quotes & letters & things to hang up in her room- nice.

We had so much fun eating lunch & going through these things and- just being together.

When Megan was just a tiny baby- we lived less than a block from this little drive in, Stan's. We were very poor college students. Every Monday Brett would head over there with our leftover change and wait in a very long line. Monday nights they had 1/2 price ice cream... good memories.

We headed to Target- then the mall

And found lots of cute things on sale for school etc. 

It was such a GREAT day. Really, really good day.

Brett & Trent came down & met us- Plus these two cuties for dinner!

Are they cute or what?!

This is Jack's sweetheart Emily. 

THEN

it happened.

All Hell Broke Loose

-oh boy-

The restaurant was crowded, Trent was overly excited, there were so many choices on the menu, he started throwing baby fits. Then the baby fits got bigger.

 Chloe started to tic. I started getting upset, Brett was calm.

I was so very embarrassed with Jack's girlfriend there. (So embarrassed, really.)

 Then it escalated to the point Brett had to take him out to the car and go home.

 sigh- it's been a long time- since we've had an episode like this. 

I apologized to the waitress & servers & Emily & tried to blame the autism, teenage hormones, whatever? 

It was rough.

(we both got new shoes)

We finished up our dinner & headed to a different mall- crazy I know!?

We only had one hour - so we had to make it quick.

While Chloe was mesmerized by the make up counter, I headed upstairs in JCPenney.

I went up the escalator & gasped out loud (for real) as I walked in on this display!

It's been YEARS since I've been in a JCPenneys- I was so impressed!

Chloe tried on lots of make up- she loves it & for sure doesn't need it.

 Isn't that how it goes, when your young & don't need it you always want to wear it... now I need it & I sometimes forget to even put it on! I don't want to - but now & then I go out in public & there I am-

 one eye with mascara on the other forgotten-- and I think Trent can be embarrassing!?

Then it was time.

 I dropped her off. Again.

And started my long, one hour, cry fest-- home.

Back to the house that I love.

I love it much more with my sweet Chloe in it.

It's really not the house, but the people who live in it & have grown up in it.

I don't write much about her illness because it is intensely private. I don't want to make anything harder for her than it already is. I love her. I love all of my children & never want them to suffer.

Thank you for praying for her & us.

I love it when people tell me their children pray for her.

 Those are my happiest moments, knowing that children pray for her. 

How could Heavenly Father not hear the prayer of a child? 

Speaking of children 

Here are a couple of cuties and an announcement - if you haven't already heard.

 (Finn in front- Crew in back)

Dear Heavenly Father -

Please bless the children & the grandchildren- all five of them!

our first ice storm

Where Megan lives- Ice Storms are not uncommon.

But--- at our house-- They Are!

It's been a frigid winter & here is more proof

(up close-- ice covered car)

On this morning- Brett needed to be at the airport for a day trip to Vegas. I took him at about 5:45 AM. On my drive home from the airport-- about 6:15 AM- the ice storm hit. 

It was white knuckle driving, to say the least. The freeway speeds slowed to 30 MPH. Cars were off the road & I was just a little nervous. I MADE it home & then-- 

I was determined to pick up Chloe. 

She was to be discharged at 10:00.

 I didn't care if I had to crawl all the way to the University of Utah- I was picking her up & bringing her home! It only took me an extra 1/2 hour to get there. The ice wasn't as bad.

 

We got home alright-

but then I couldn't get the car up the ice covered driveway-

then we couldn't get ourselves up the ice covered driveway!!

Chloe finally decided to climb through the snow.

The soft snow was covered with crunchy ice. It was like creme brulee- that's what we called it.

A crunchy coating on the soft snow.

Thank you so much to all of you who have been praying for Chloe. 

And double thanks for those who have fasted & put her name into the temple.

Thanks for the good mail packages & cards. 

Thanks for the anonymous packages dropped on our door.

Everyone around us has been so kind & generous to our family.

Chloe has had an extreme increase in Tourettes tics which has increased her OCD & affected her mood & overall anxiety. She spent 10 days in a treatment program in the hospital. She is now in an out patient program & working with new meds & a lot of therapy. It's been a very emotional month for all of us. I can't even imagine how much for her!? Through it all she remains our sweet Chloe. I adore her. She is amazing. She has decided to beat this- and someday-- become a motivational speaker.

 If anyone can do it- she can!

Sunday Morning Walk

Fall- the perfect time for a morning walk.

This morning before Conference- Brett, Trent, Max & I took a little walk.

These are some of the beautiful sights along the way.

My heart is full with gratitude this General Conference Weekend,

for all the many blessings in my life.

For family, health & strength, knowledge of God & His Son Jesus Christ.

For the grand opportunity of life, of living.

Blogging these past few months has given me the ability to appreciate

the little things, and live my life more fully.

I'm sure that would sound silly to most.

But journaling my life is now of great importance to me.

For I know that as said today in conference...

young or old no one is guaranteed a tomorrow.

So for today I want to say thank you, Father for the opportunity of life.

For love in my home.

For giving me the awesome responsibility of being a wife & mother.

I know that there is a prophet on the earth today.

I know that God lives and loves us.

I know that I am His daughter a child of God.

So Grateful For My Faith & Family

Brian & friends at graduation June 07

Jack & Friends at his birthday BBQ in March

(These boys are so great for Mother's day jack go them together & painted the deck for me this year-is that amazing or what?Of course I ordered them pizza & bought tons of soda)

Today I am feeling so overwhelmed with sadness for the family who lost their son yesterday in a drowning accident at Bear Lake. I can't even imagine losing anyone in my family in such a tragic way especially not one of my sons around the same age.

I couldn't sleep very well last night- just found myself praying for the family & the boys who were swimming with him at the time. Those are good kids & a good family. Even though we are just acquaintances ~I know that.
It's times like this that make me grateful for my faith & family.I am grateful to know of a Father in Heaven who loves us all & has a plan for each & every one of us. It is my knowledge of Jesus Christ- His sacrifice that overwhelms me with gratitude. I don't know the family well- certainly don't know God's detailed plan for them or my own family, but I do know they must be feeling so much grief & shock. I am thankful for my boys. For all my children. I love them, glad they are here with me today.