Fun morning

The morning was wonderful except for one thing that I will tell now--before I tell the fun. Devan called and said he wanted me to know before I heard from someone else. Yesterday, at work, while training to hold prisoners in an arm lock, Devan moved his arm at a wrong angle and tore his rotter cuff. (sp?) At any rate, after many steps forward, this is a step backward and I can't help wondering what he and Heather are supposed to learn from this. I feel helpless from Utah, but he is in my prayers.

The fun began with a beautiful, sunshinny day. I just love the brightness and warmth after this past winter. I had a lovely talk with my parents while driving to Michelle's. I was going to give Michelle a surprise visit but she called and asked what we were doing today since she gave me the "day off" yesterday. I told Michelle this was a normal day off and since she took away my surprise of seeing her spontaneously I wasn't sure if I would come. She convinced me to come, however, because she needed milk and Joe is not allowed in public since is close to "0" in his important blood counts for fighting off infections. I think Michelle uses the word "nutriphenic". So, I drove to Michelle's. The instant I walked in the door, Miss Sophie said in her adult tone, "Hi Mamaw!!!" And then laughed with delight. She, Joe, and I played and laughed and giggled and tickled and crawled, and played "Ashes, ashes," for some time. I watched Michelle as she watched us and her face was alight with joy for her children. Now, anyone reading, I tell you, this is payback time. To see joy in your daughter's eyes as she experiences joy for her children has got to be as close to getting a glimpse of heaven while on earth that anyone can get. They are indeed, "Precious Moments."

Michelle and I ran errands mostly so we could get her and the kids out of the house for a moment. We ran to Joey's work to take him his phone, to the bank and then I sat in the car with Joe and Gus while Michelle took Miss Sophie in Target to get some size 1 diapers. Back at Joey's work we parted for the day but I felt so happy and blessed to know that Michelle and Joey are doing so well in spite of life's challenges.

Grandma's Magic Touch!

When it comes to getting Joe to take a nap, no one is better at it than Grandma! With Michelle he plays too much. By himself he worries and pouts that he's not in with everyone else, but with Grandma he falls right to sleep! It was so cute yesterday when Mom and I were watching the kids, while Michelle took Gus to his 2 week check up, to walk in and find the two of them asleep. I don't know what Joe would do without his Grandma sometimes. He's just one more of us that would be lost without her!

Just keeping it real...

In honor of Mom blogging I thought I would share a funny about her from the other day. She was warned that I might do this...I have resisted since Saturday! Saturday, I went upstairs and Mom was watching the movie Minority Report...I had forgotten the movie so I sat down to watch with her since Zak was still asleep and since it was nearly noon I just couldn't sleep any more. It got to the part where the gross doctor guy changes his eyes and leaves him alone in the filthy apartment. Do you all remember the part where he goes to eat the sandwich, but grabs a disgustingly moldy who-knows-what instead and spits it out? Well I did so I turned my head towards Mom who was totally engrossed in the show, which is NOT normal, she typically is playing a little hand held game or doing some Sudoku or reading or sleeping...NOT watching the movie. After watching her instead of the movie for a minute I understood why!!! She was so into the movie that when he spit out the yucky food she suddenly started to spit out saliva until I burst out laughing and she realized what she had done. We laughed so hard that we woke Zak up downstairs and have been laughing about it ever since...even if Mom is completely embarrassed! Mom...I love you!!! Thanks for telling me that I could share your embarrasing moment with the world even when I know you would have prefered it staying between us!

Fear of Disappointing

Rachael has been at me for days to start blogging. I do not see the sense and told her so. I have thought that blogging would be just another time-waster. Rachael knows that one of my weaknesses is "journals." Or at least I think she does. At any rate she told me that blogging is like keeping a journal. To prove it she had me go to my niece's(Nicole) blog spot. I had a good time laughing and feeling what Nicole goes through as a mother and even made the comment that these articles and pictures are priceless. I said to Rachael as we read some of Nicole's stories, that Nicole will treasure these in years to come. So, perhaps I will try to do some blogging. I am not sure I can do the site justice for visiting it; but I will try my hand at it. I will still keep a hand-written journal, however, because I just do not trust that computers will always be available and I would hate to loose anything as precious as what Rachael, Nicole, Michelle, Kim, or all the other have put on their blogs spots that I look forward to reading. Wish me faith. I need it.

My Woes

I have many, many things I am concerned about at this time. But I have read that the more we talk about our troubles, the more the Lord and Satan are convinced that we like them well enough to talk about them so why not give us more to talk about. Therefore, I am not going to say any more about my woes. Instead I will just say, I have many things to be thankful for and I am going to dwell on them and refuse to dwell on things I can't change anyway. God bless all of you who have many woes too, for I believe we all have them.

Fiji!

This is Rachael...I guess I am the official updater for 3 blogs...mine, Michelle's and Mom's and Dad's. I downloaded some pics from mom's camera today and I thought I should put a few up of mom and dad in Fiji a few weeks ago! They went for Mom's birthday and Shaun and Brooke went with them. I can't offer much info on them but I thought you might enjoy the updates if you are following the blogspot. There were hundreds of pics so I just picked a few of them together...it looked like they had a ton of fun!

Easter Egg Hunt!

Please be looking for your invitations soon... All family members are invited to attend. It is important to be on time so that your kids don't miss the egg hunt. Hope you can all make it!

Thanks! Rachael

Relief Society Outing...

I did something I've never done before today. I had the priviledge of going up to the Church's General Relief Society Building to help prepare 72-hour kits for all of the female leadership of the church. It was a wonderful experience. I got to eat lunch with everyone and had the fun experience of talking personally with each President (one on one). Wow!!!! They are wonderful people having a unique experience. I found out that they are just like me--doing the best they can each day to face the challenges of daily living.

Welcome Back!!!

Well...Jeff, Lori, Kari & Kurt all made it back from Florida okay despite the snowy and stormy weather. They had a wonderful time even if it did rain a lot and was the busiest Dad and Mom have ever seen. Zak and Rachael are thrilled to have them back home as are Dad's many "pets". Next time Rachael insists she's going with...even if it's by luggage!

Some Christmas fun!!!!

A few pics from the Christmas Party for everyone to enjoy!!! From all I remember it was fun...but it's a little blurry due to the medicine from my trip on the ice earlier that day!!!

Love you all!
Rachael