One Year Later...

It was one year ago yesterday that we lost sweet Jessica. It is still pretty tender and extremely bittersweet in the fact that while we no longer have her here on this earth with us, part of her lives on with others who, I am sure, are so grateful to her gifts through organ donation. I am so thankful for the plan of salvation and the life, example and atonement of Jesus Christ that makes it possible to be with our family members again once this mortal phase of life is complete.

Ten Years...

As the world remembers 9/11 today, I thought I would reflect back on my memories of that day, too. Everett and I were up early that morning getting ready to be to work by 8 a.m. Ethan was not quite 2 years old yet. I turned on the news, like I do every single morning, and saw the images of the first tower with smoke billowing out of it. At this point, the news commentators were still speculating as to what had actually happened. Witnesses saw a plane, but it wasn't really clear at this point if it had crashed into the World Trade Center tower on accident or what. Everett and I watched as we got ready that morning and saw as the second tower was struck by another plane. Wow! At that point, it couldn't be coincidence that both towers were hit by planes. What was happening? As we sat there that morning, watching people make their way down the Manhattan streets, even some jumping from the burning buildings knowing full well that they were too high up to survive, we could hardly find words to describe the stunned feelings we were experiencing. I remember stepping out of the bathroom after drying my hair to check on the status of the news and watched as the first tower began to crumble. "There it goes, there it goes, there it goes!" was all that I remember saying. All through the day I kept close to the news. Joann, the receptionist at the office, kept her radio on all day and the entire mood of the day took on a somber, melancholy feel. I felt bad because my friend, Paula's birthday is September 11th and it should have been a joyous day and here we all were, scared and sad and sick about what was happening 3,000 miles away. News began to come in about the Pentagon and yet another plane that had gone down in a field in Pennsylvania, I believe. Would they attack us out west? Which target was next on their list? That day is still vivid to me. It is tender and evokes many emotions, both sad ones and also ones of great pride and patriotism in our country and its men and women who are willing to defend our freedoms and those around the world, the brave firemen, the brave individuals on the fourth plane that wouldn't allow it to be used as a weapon and died fighting the hijackers on that Pennsylvania field. I don't think we will ever fully understand what happened or why that day ten years ago, but it has fundamentally changed this country. Will we, as a country, be able to forget what happened on our home soil? Never. Will we be able to move on and overcome? Definately, although we may do so through great tribulation. After all, that is the spirit with which this country was first founded.

Ethan, Lisa and Me

Just a couple of old pics that I came across that I love...



Lisa and I are waiting ever so patiently for the Lady Antebellum/Tim McGraw concert in Boise.



Goofy ol' Ethan.

New Toy

Everett surprised me with a new Canon 60D camera which I have been playing around with some. Here are a few of the photos I've been experimenting with:

Just Keep Swimming...

This my favorite quote from Finding Nemo when I think of enduring things in life. I am trying to employ this quote in my life right now. The end of summer is in sight and there are 17 days left until school starts. We will make it! Also, I am now up to 1.8 miles running non-stop (two loops around McCowin Park in Ammon) and am going to attempt to make it 2.7 miles this weekend. The St. Luke's 5K is September 24th in Boise and I just might be able to run the whole thing if I just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

The First Step is the Hardest (sigh)

Okay, I must preface this post by stating the obvious. I am not, nor have I ever been, a runner. I don't enjoy it and don't do it gracefully. My face flushes at the slightest physical exertion and sweat begins rolling. Not pretty.

BUT...running just may offer the best "bang for the buck" that I need when it comes to exercise. Doc Hodges wants me to do an hour of "vigorous" exercise a day. One. Hour. A. Day?! That will kill me in my present state, so I am attempting to get moving more by running a little at a time and gradually building up my endurance. I've done two days of running now. The first day I ran 1/2 mile without stopping and walked 1/2 mile. I must say I was proud of myself because I didn't think I could make it a full lap before having to walk. Last night I ran a lap, then walked 1/2 lap on and off so that I ran a total of 1 mile and walked 1/2 mile before I was done in. In my defense, it was rather hot and humid last night. I may need to switch to early morning runs.

My friend, Marcy is getting started, too. Hopefully we can inspire and motivate each other into fitness. Heaven knows, I really need it!

New Blog

I have decided to branch off my blogging into a second blog devoted mainly to crafts, cooking and other creative outlets. I cannot promise that life and its little faces won't make an appearance now and again. Stop by Blue Rosie's Corner and see what's happening: http://bluerosiescorner.blogspot.com/

*Edit* For those who may not know Braelyn very well, Blue Rosie is my daughter's imaginary dalmation pet, thus the photo.

One Year Older...

Yes, I reached 36 years of age this week. I feel like I was celebrating my 35th birthday just a short while ago. This year has flown by! I've been reflecting on myself lately and thought that I would share some of me with you. I am borrowing the list idea from here .

Making : myself feel guilty because I feel spread a little too thin all the time.
Cooking : chocolate chip cookies for the kids' lunches this week
Drinking : what else, Diet Coke
Reading: right now I'm floating between "The Help", "6 Rainier Drive" by Debbie Macomber on my Nook and Real Simple magazine.
Wanting: a kitchen remodel so bad I can taste it.
Looking: at the basket of laundry that didn't get folded this weekend
Playing: Michael Buble
Wasting: money on two gym memberships because I always forget to cancel the one I don't want until the office is closed
Sewing: myself the next quilt. I usually give away my quilt projects but the next one is for me - lime green, black and white
Wishing: I could smell the ocean right now. I love that smell and it's been 6 years since I last smelled it.
Enjoying: watching my husband and kids dance to Katy Perry on the Wii Just Dance
Waiting: for Baby Ava, my niece, to be born any day now.
Liking: the fact that my kids are growing up so close to their grandparents. I didn't get that opportunity until I was much older.
Wondering: whether to grow my hair out some.
Loving: my calling as YW second counsellor. I absolutely love it and the ladies I work with.
Hoping: that someday we can get all the remodeling done in the house.
Marvelling: that I am 36 years old, have been married for 15 years, my oldest will be 12 and getting the priesthood this year and my youngest is going into kindergarten soon.
Needing: an hour to myself
Smelling: chocolate chip cookies just out of the oven.
Wearing: jeans and a polo shirt - standard weekend attire.
Following: season 12 of Biggest Loser. Cheering for the father/daughter team from Idaho.
Noticing: how my family seems to be migrating to Boise one by one and how much I miss them.
Knowing: that someday I will sew something that does not require use of a seam ripper to pick out and redo stitches.
Thinking: about how I am not ready to start the work week tomorrow. There are too many things still left for me to do.
Bookmarking: so many fun, creative blogs with quilting, embroidery and crafty ideas.
Opening: the special issue of the Ensign that focuses on Christ that was given as a handout in Young Women today.
Giggling: about the Halloween pictures I finally downloaded from my camera.
Feeling: grateful, blessed, loved, amazed and humbled.

What My Weekend Consisted Of...

Time is Going By So Very Fast

Wow! Two weeks left until summer vacation for my kids ... and they're growing like weeds. I have pretty much given up on taking any "perfect pictures" of the kids where all of three of them are smiling and not blinking or pulling faces. I guess this is pretty much how my life really is :)

And one of Mr. Skippy. I must admit that he has wiggled his way into my heart with those puppy dog eyes, one green and one blue.

Isn't She a Beauty?

"She" is my new beach-cruiser bicycle that Everett gave me for Mother's Day. I actually got it several days before Mother's Day and have been having a BLAST riding it around the neighborhood.

Cross One Off

I finally finished Kirsche's birthday quilt. For some reason, this quilt had it in for me. I ended up unpicking 3 bobbins worth of thread that looped up on the back side during quilting, but I finished it this weekend with little hang ups on the binding.
Here's the front of the quilt:


And the back:


Here is the lone picture from her 7th birthday. I swear there were more photos on my camera...maybe a gremlin?

On the Bandwagon

Okay, okay. I have heard everyone out there raving about Glee. I haven't had a chance to watch it during the regular times on television, so I finally decided to put it in my Netflix queue. Netflix told me I would have a "really long wait" for disc 1 of season 1, but it arrived yesterday. After the little people were put to bed I watched the first three episodes and LOVED it!! The music is fun and, even though the show brings back horrific memories of trying to navigate high school, I really enjoyed it and can't wait for disc 2 to arrive.

The Next Girls' Retreat

Last summer it was George Strait (no. 1 on the bucket list!). This summer it's Tim McGraw. This time around it will be easier to manage since the concert is in Boise and I will be the only one who has to travel... unless Mom and sister, Debbie, decides to join us this time around. Can't wait! It's good to have something to look forward to.

What I Want to Try...

I would love to try ThIs... if I had the TiMe, not to mention the KiTcHeN set-up. I have a longing to just cook. Is it the time of year? I know it's not nesting, but this is my desire.

Wide World of Sports

Well, we couldn't hold off any longer. Ethan is now enrolled in wrestling, the first sports activity any of the kids have participated in. I think it will be good for him to learn something new with the discipline, not to mention the physical activity, that goes along with it.

You Know Your Child Needs a Pet When...

This weekend the kids and I stopped by the home of some friends. They have a retriever who is laid back and LOVED the attention Braelyn lavished on her. After we left their home, Braelyn informed me that she was getting a Dalmation. "Oh, really," I said. " And what is your Dalmation going to be called?" Without skipping a beat, she answered in the exasperated voice that only a three-year-old can do, "Blue Rosie." I then proceeded to quiz her about who would feed Blue Rosie. "I will," was the reply. I then asked the big question, "Who is going to take care of Blue Rosie's poop?" Again, the exasperated voice answered, "I will. I will flush the toilet for her when she's done." How do you follow that one?

The Kids

Here are some recent pics of the kids. Ethan is getting so big - 4th grade this year. Kirsche is still girly-girl through and through. Braelyn chose the beenie hat at the farmers market a couple of weeks ago and really wears it. I didn't think she would. The girls got their hair fixed at a salon for the "Princess Tea Party" at the Snake River Roaring Youth Jam. (We didn't make it to the party, but the girls were thrilled to be dressed up.)

Braelyn's Dress

I finally finished Braelyn's dress. I picked up the fabric and pattern from The Quilt Shoppe in Rigby. I'm really happy with how it turned out - especially after picking and redoing the shirring twice!

So Sweet...

I dug up this photo of Ethan and Kirsche at my sister, Lisa's wedding from nearly 2 years ago. It makes me smile to see them holding hands. There was a point in the procession where they had to go down a few steps and Ethan assisted Kirsche with her dress to make sure she didn't step on it and trip. Love it!