Neat Song and Video

Pack Meeting 8/25/10

I went to Austin's pack meeting last Wednesday. He received his Wolf advancement. He doesn't look it in this picture, but he was pretty excited to get it.

Preschool Graduation 5-25-10

It's so fun being a grandma! I'm glad I was able to go to the preschool graduation. Seeing these preschoolers in their caps and gowns made me feel proud. Aaron is on the top right in the picture below.

Here he is receiving his "diploma."

Jessica's Dance Festival 5-21-10

It was so fun being able to take some time off work and go to Jessica's 2nd grade dance festival. She looked so pretty and did a terrific job!

Samantha would do her own dance every time the music began. So cute!

Mothers

When You Thought I Wasn’t Looking

When you thought I wasn’t looking
You hung my first painting on the refrigerator
And I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking
You fed a stray cat
And I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking
You baked a birthday cake just for me
And I knew that little things were special things.

When you thought I wasn’t looking
You said a prayer
And I believed there was a God that I could always talk to.

When you thought I wasn’t looking
You kissed me good-night
And I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn’t looking
I saw tears come from your eyes
And I learned that sometimes things hurt -
But that it’s alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking
You smiled
And it made me want to look that pretty too.

When you thought I wasn’t looking
You cared
And I wanted to be everything I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking -
I looked…
And wanted to say thanks
For all those things you did
When you thought I wasn’t looking.

Mary Rita Schilke Koran

Miscellaneous Thoughts for St. Patrick's Day

For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day. ~Author Unknown

Why should you never iron a 4-leaf clover?
You don't want to press your luck.

A merry heart lives long.

May you get all your wishes but one so you always have something to strive for!

Many an opportunity is lost because a man is out looking for four-leaf clovers.

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. ~Unknown

Merry Christmas

Yellowstone Trip

We went to Yellowstone this past weekend. We saw an eagle in its nest, bison, elk, big horn sheep and a wolf. We also saw a bear, but it was a great distance away in the river. We had a great time. It is always nice to get away for a few days.

Happy 32nd Birthday, Mark! We love you so much and are so glad you are part of our family! Have a great day!!

Happy Father's Day!

Mother is the blossom: radiant, complete.
Children are the tiny buds, delicate and sweet.
Father is the sturdy stem that holds them straight and tall.
Love's the root that gives them life and nourishes them all.

Happy Father's Day to all fathers!

Happy 33rd Kimberly!

You're a very special part of our family and I hope you have a fantastic birthday! Love, Mom

Where Does the Time Go?

Happy birthday, Stacie! I hope you have a great day and get feeling better.

I Love you!

Mom

Random Thoughts - Happy New Year

1. Compliment three people everyday.
2. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
3. Be the first to say hello.
4. Live beneath your means.
5. Treat everyone like you would want to be treated.
6. Never give up on anybody; miracles happen.
7. Never deprive someone of hope; it may be all they have.
8. Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage.
9. Be tough-minded, but tenderhearted.
10. Be kinder than necessary.
11. Keep your promises.
12. Learn to show cheerfulness, even when you don't feel like it.
13. Remember that overnight success usually takes about 15 years.
14. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

Merry Christmas to All of You

I hope each one of us can reflect on the reason we celebrate Christmas - the birth of our Savior. I was reading "Shining Moments" in the Church News this last Saturday about a talk given by Elder Bednar. He said that at this time of year people often ask, "Are you ready for Christmas?" He added, "I don't think the question is, 'Are you ready for Christmas?' The question is 'Are you and I ready for Christ?' . . . "The Father's gift to us was His Son. The gift from the Son to us is His Atonement. Perhaps the only thing that we could give Them is a growing conviction, a deepening conversion of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what it means in our lives. Perhaps the only thing we could give would be a more diligent desire and commensurate study, to not just know about the Atonement, but to know Him who brought the Atonement and to more fully understand the blessings of the Atonement in our lives."
Elder Bednar closed by saying in this Christmas season there isn't anything he loves more than declaring his witness — even a special witness — of Jesus Christ. "He lived, He walked the earth. He taught His doctrine. He organized His Church. He is the Son of God. I witness that He was crucified, and more important, that He is resurrected, that He lives, that He speaks, that He stands at the head of His Church in this very day." I want to add my witness to that of Elder Bedar and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Here's a fun card:

http://www.123greetings.com/events/christmas/merry_christmas/christmas58.html

Good News! - Update on Yesterday's Surgery

I went to my follow-up appointment today. Apparently my doctor has been dancing the jig all day and telling everyone about my surgery yesterday. He's very happy with the results. And, of course, so am I. I even got a hug from Dr. Palmer at my appointment! I was awake again for this surgery much to my dismay, but I was kept comfortable. It was good I suppose to hear his good comments during the surgery. Before I went to surgery my "phonation" holding the ahhhhhhhhh and eeeeeeeeee was 5 1/2 seconds. During surgery it was at 13. That's a terrific improvement. I am again on 3-day voice restriction and then having to be a little careful after that. But I am glad I will have a better voice!

Tomorrow I go in for another scan test for my parathyroid problem. I go back to my Endocrinologist in January (I was there on Dec. 12) for the results of that and my blood tests. He says there is now a CT Scan they can do if they don't see the bad parathyroid in this scan. We'll see about that. I don't want osteoporosis or other bad things, but I'm not so sure I want them messing around in my neck again. That's what caused this whole vocal cord problem!

Enough about medical - everyone have a Merry Christmas!! Oh, and Happy Birthday Amy and Happy Anniversary Teri and Jeff!!

Garage has been Started!

Here are a few pictures I took yesterday morning of the progress on the new garage construction. The contractor finished a little bit more during the day but this will give you an idea. The addition on the other side is almost ready for the inspector again. Then I think the next step is insulation and sheetrock. I'll have to get some pictures of the inside soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. We have much to be thankful for. Enjoy your day!

Halloween Pictures

I wanted to post some Halloween pictures of my 7 cuties. Austin, Cameron, Benjamin, Jessica, Aaron and Samantha all came to our Ward's Trunk or Treat last Tuesday, October 28. They had a fun time. We got to see our Karlee on Halloween night. Mark also dressed up in costume, but I am not going to include that one. I've emailed the pictures to him and hopefully he will update his blog, too.

Slideshow Added

I've added a slideshow of the pictures from our Church History Tour a year ago. I believe that if you click on the slideshow itself, it will take you into the album to view the pictures from there. Captions have been added to each picture in the Picasa web album. I figured it was time to share! I hope you enjoy.

Update on Vocal Cord Surgery

I went to the doctor today for a follow-up to my surgery yesterday. He was not happy with the results and asked for a second chance. He was thinking he wanted to go back in and add another prosthesis to the other side but changed his mind. I will have more surgery next Wednesday. He is going to go in and take the prosthesis out that he just put in yesterday. Then he is going to take some fat out of my stomach (there's plenty there for that - I'll let him have as much as he wants) and inject that into my vocal cords to puff them up. The vocal cords should then be better able to close completely and I should be able to talk better. I will be put out completely for this one thank goodness. And he said he would ask for a different anesthesiologist. I was totally awake for this surgery yesterday. The anestheiologist was supposed to keep me asleep until the very end when I needed to respond to the surgeon, but I think he gave me just barely enough to take some of the edge off. I did feel pain when the doctor couldn't deaden a certain area. And at one point I was unable to breathe for awhile. The prosthesis was a little too big so he had to take it back out and carve some more of it away. But it was cutting off my airway. That was pretty scary. That's always been a nightmare of mine that I would wake up during the middle of surgery on the operating table. But being completely awake during the whole thing - I don't think I care to repeat that experience.