I have very different feelings this Christmas Eve. I learned this morning that my dear friend Christy Barnard has returned home to our Heavenly Father. My heart aches for her beautiful kids and her kind husband. I will miss her and her amazing attitude, faith, and kindess. She was truly an angel and has forever changed how I look at life and my loved ones.
She left a legacy to those who knew her. She was an example to me of how to put the Savior first, then others, then herself. I will dedicate
all of my races that I run to her and to all of those who fight the battle of cancer. I will run in memory of her and with a goal to be a little more loving and a little more thoughtful with each step I take.
I am blessed this Christmas to have a reason to look at my blessings a little clearer, to love a little stronger, and to feel the true meaning of Christmas like I never have before. How grateful I am to have many friends and family members that are angels. Angels that bless my life and many others.
Thank you to Christy, for how she lived, and thank you to all of you that I can joyfully call my friends.
After realizing that blogging isn't just for everyone out there to keep up with what my little family is up to, but it's also for me to keep a type of a journal. . .I want to try to post more often. You are welcome to read up on us if you like, but I have decided that I need keep up if I want to be a better journal writer.
SOOOOO, here goes.
November 2nd I had my heart surgery to close up my "5+" hole. It went great and I'm living migraine free! I was awake (not totally aware) for the procedure. It was painless and my stay at the Murray IHC hospital was WONDERFUL. I wish that I could've stayed one night longer. I regret not finding and fixing this thing earlier.
Benson is starting to say all kinds of sweet things. He currently has an obsession with babies and will pat my front and sweetly say "baby, baby, baby." Oh, how I wish little man, I have to be cleared by the heart doctor before I can work on getting you a sibling. He also will carry around a little doll in a basket at Grandma and Grandpa Young's and cook food for the "babies" in their toy kitchen. His obsession, I'm certain, comes from the fact that his Aunt Shanna is going to have a baby THIS FRIDAY! We are so excited to meet little Breymen!
Mitch is as wonderful as ever. He fought the snowy mess on the roof to hang our Christmas lights and is a darling daddy to Benson, getting him ready for school everyday. He has started working on his resume to apply for another job. He's done great at his current place, but driving to Murray everyday can make just about anyone stressed out and tired.
This past Sunday, I had a solemn opportunity to visit a friend that is losing her battle with cancer. She is absolutely amazing and has more faith than I can ever imagine! Her attitude about the battle she and her family are fighting made me look at my focus in life.
Life is fragile, life here is temporary. My fight is going to be for things that matter. My dear friend taught me that even when you are fighting, you smile; when you do things that matter, you matter; when you truly care about others, others will care about you. A school full of teachers and students wore pink and shouted their love for this beautiful lady.
As a teacher, I will teach acceptance and kindness. As a mother I will love endlessly and teach what matters. As a wife, I will support with all my heart and be a strong partner to my love. As a sister, a daughter, and family member, I will give as much time and care that I can.As a friend, I will be there as often as possible. As a runner, I will now run with a purpose and with an understanding that I have more to be thankful for than just my physical life. I have a purpose and I have many reasons to feel blessed.
As Christmas approaches, I will not forget my blessings, my purpose, and the many many people that I love. This life is too temporary to take advantage of any moment.
I just feel like I need to post. Although, I don't feel like I have much to say. I'll list a few updates.
Benson is getting over a nasty cold
I caught Benson's nasty cold, that's how I know that it was nasty
Mitch will be riding Lotaja in ONE week-YAY!!!
Have a new calling teaching Relief Society-how fun/intimidating
I learned that I have a hole between the chambers of my heart, surgery will be coming soon
School started-it will be an interesting year (already had to have a "please shower before you come to school" discussion)
I signed up to run Ragnar-what was I thinking?
Held another pants party, my last (got a WAY CUTE purse)
My sister-in-law is expecting and my little sister is due in only a couple months-JEALOUS (I may or may not have shared my wish for another baby with the entire ward. Sorry Mitch)
I've learned that I really like that I have a simple life. Anything more may be unmanageable. We stay SO busy here just doing the basics. We are simple, but simply happy.
Benson eating his super cool treat at Gardner Village
Benson just hanging out by the stream waiting for Mitch to be done with his bike race.
Mitch, done with the bike race. Good job!
Benson has found his nose, the holes in his nose. He also found a girlfriend. She lives next door, owns a car, and a really big bottle of bubbles. What could be better!?
Recently Benson has been picking up on everything. No, not quite everything, but we need to be careful. He's now says "no, no" "me" "mine" and can point out any photo or statue of Jesus. If I don't watch myself he may start throwing toilet paper into the toilet, or trying to put on mommy's makeup, or use a cheese grater on the new kitchen rug. (Although, I've never used a cheese grater in that way) Oh, wait. . .that was today
After renewing our efforts to keep prayer a common and visible practice, Benson quickly caught on. In the middle of dinner (after dinner prayer) he will be found squinting his eyes and folding his arms. After the bath, and before I can tackle him down and don some clothes on his cute little self, he willpeek around his rocking horse and have his arms folded and coax me to pray. Sorry buddy, I just don't feel right praying with nakedness present
We now pray over breakfast; the beginning, middle and sometimes the end of it. The same goes with the other meals.
Tonight, at Olive Garden, Benson made sure our food was blessed before it was even ordered. Bless you my child, bless you.
I recently took a class through the school district. It was by far the most fun class I've attended. Now, I just need to find the money to buy for the new Photoshop Elements program. This stuff is SWEET!!! Please call if you would like to donate to my cause. . . Now for my assignment. This one is school related and I hope to have it printed as a poster to hang in my classroom.
Here are the updated photos of our kitchen. These projects take a bit longer to complete when you have a little one running loose. Thanks to wonderful family for watching him during the messy parts of the project. Benson's all together TOO helpful!Let me know what you think of the (semi) finished kitchen. Oh, and imagine it with dark gray or black granite counter tops and whitesubway tile back splash.That's what the "for now" is about. Those tax rebates should come more than one time per year. Don't you think?For now. . .don't you think it looks awesome? I love it and I'm so glad that Mitchell is amazing at almost everything!!!
The title of this post could mean a lot of things:
Not to my ideal PERFECT weight
Not yet made it back to my pre-pregnancy fitness level (yes, I know it's been 1.5 years)
Not yet ready to have another child (It's only been 1.5 years)
Not yet the wife/mother/teacher/friend/daughter/sister that I'd like to be
I've not yet figured out how to fit a full day of laundry, dishes, dinner prep, lesson planning, discipline, cleaning, mommy-ing, reading, praying, running, teaching, and sleeping into 24 hours.
But what i really wanted to let you all know that's "not there yet" is our home remodel. I didn't forget to update the status of our kitchen. It's really great. I'm loving it, but I admit, it's not quite there yet. Once it's painted the pictures will be up. . .
I have the MOST FABULOUS husband who has been working endlessly on our kitchen (more like HOME) remodel. It's looking great, but still not 100% finished. The "after" photos will be coming soon.
Please address any comments to Mitch and don't forget to mention how absolutely, amazingly wonderful (and/or talented) he is!
After years of planning and research (Mitch's researching) we finally started our kitchen renovation. How it ended up invading our front room and spilling into the hallway, I'm not sure. It's been more work than we knew it would be. I have to give tons and gobs of thanks to our parents! Thank you Dave for working far too late into the night. Benson thanks his Grandma's for playing with him and loving him!
You may want to check out the pictures, just in case you might be considering to attempt this craziness.BEFORE
This is when everything started feeling a little chaotic.
Mitch worked so hard that first day while I was at work! So much filling and sanding and filling and sanding and . . .
The amazing stuff that filled in the ugly oak grain.
Taping off the inside of the cabinets was one of the hardest parts.
Benson's contribution.
Halfway painted. The smell wasn't as bad as we expected.
All white, all right?
Taking a break.
Now on to the floor
We figured that the linoleum installer thought he was a shoot 'em up cowboy with the nail gun. Is it really necessary to have 25 nails per square foot?
By this point Mitchell's knees were bright red and sore from all of the kneeling and nailing.
What do you think?
Now if we can only muster up the energy and motivation to finish down the hall. . .
I really don't like to host parties of any kind, but I have to admit, I'm excited for Tuesday! Yes folks, I buckled and I'm hosting a party. I blame designer jeans. I love them and I love how they make me feel when I wear them. Vain, I know. What I don't love is the cost. (Have you ever visited Buckle or tried on a pair of True Religion jeans then checked the tag? DEPRESSING) So, I'll be cleaning my house and making a treat to share with any guest that would like to join me. (There will be shirts, jewelry, hats, purses and other stuff too.)
If you didn't get an invite in the mail or via Facebook and would like to come, please do. Plus, as a bonus you can laugh at my new "BRACE FACE." Yet another thing I've decided to break down and do. It'll all be worth it right? Even more of a reason to have hot jeans, it distracts from the braces.
Since I don't post very often I thought I would share some family randomness. By family, I mean, Benson. Mitch doesn't let me take too many photos of him. We really have a fairly uneventful life full of littlefun and happy moments. Here is a sample of moments that make me smile!
This is just a few days after his birthday. This is one of his most common facial expressions. "Guilty, but lovable" is what I would call it!
Those teeth! Aunt Shanna calls them "Sponge Bob" teeth.
This is a baby head stand. Don't know the reason behind it. . . but it makes us laugh.
That one little finger is adorable. More people comment on him using that little pointer finger than anything else about him.
This photo has to be my favorite! First of all the mess those biter biscuits leave is atrocious. Second, that mass on his head is the sticky remainder of his biscuit. Third, that squinty face melts me and makes me grin. I absolutely LOVE it!
Trying to find his ball or binkie or whatever else he stashed under there.
Classic. Every kid needs the tupperware cupboard photo.
It wasn't the costume that scared him, just the hat.
Benson is a natural at getting attention from theladies!
His favorite blankie and my favorite smile.
How do you fold laundry that looks like that?
This is after a mere 2 hours of shopping. Benson needs a little more endurance to survive his dad and myself!
This is how Benson likes to watch Jazz games.
If you want to see this boy MOVE, open the dryer door! That little button turns the light off if you push it. COOL!
There's that squint again! He plays cute when he knows he's in trouble.
Last, but not least, he can say and sign "more." He knows EXACTLY what it means too! He's smart like his dad.
