My Baby Boy

My baby is now a 2 year old! But he's so handsome.

Pieces of Heaven

Sometimes life comes along and leaves an unexpected gift on your front step. You look at it unbelieving and afraid to open it. With out any explanation it opens itself and presents itself to you. Whether you wanted the gift, or not, it's there. But being ungrateful to something that seems so awful in the beginning, is sad.
Why do we push ourselves away from the horrible things in life?
Why do we try to ignore it, cover it up, or imagine it's not really there?
Are we coping?
Are we dealing?
Or are we trying to forget and move on?

What would happen if when we saw this gift, we squealed with delight.
Quickly scooped it up into our arms and held onto it so tightly that we didn't want to let go.
Knowing that it was from Heavenly Father.
Every experience we have is a sweet and beautiful gift from God.
If we will but take it, accept it, and USE it.
Life would be so beautiful.
Amazing.
Hopeful.
Breathe taking.
Awe inspiring.
Charitable.
Spectacular.

One day I hope to look back and find that my gifts that were left on my front step were not rejected at first sight.

But taken up fully into loving arms.

Trick-or-Treat

It has taken us all summer long to grow our little pumpkins! We have been so excited over them because we were lucky and got 3 Pumpkins off of 1 plant!! Just enough for each one of us to have our own.

Ben already picked his out and has been very attentive of it's changes through the seasons. Every time he goes outside he'll quickly go and check out "His Pumpkin". He has just been so cute!

Well today was a bad day. This morning when Dane got home around 3:30 am he said that all of our pumpkins were here. When I put Ben's diaper outside at 7:00 am I noticed that they were gone!? I thought maybe Dane had picked them and put them in the shed because we had a heavy frost last night. I went grocery shopping and came back home to find Dane upset. He asked me what I did with the pumpkins. I told him I did nothing, and thought Dane had done something with them.

Well we have concluded that they were . . . . . STOLEN!!!
How rude can you be!!! If Dane ever finds out who took them, the "Punks" will have to face an "Angry Father".

We were hoping that Ben wouldn't notice. Well he did. We are going to have to "BUY" pumpkins this year instead of enjoying our own home grown.

(If you have any information about this case please call 1-800-GIVE-IT-BACK!!!)

5 1/2 weeks

My mind has been racing these last few weeks.
Many concerns weigh on my mind.
What if . . . doesn't seem to go away.
Reality is hard to face.

What does life have in store?
What does Heavenly Father want me to learn?
What will the outcome be?
How much will I cry when I learn the truth?
Tears of Joy?
Of Sorrow?
Of Pain?
Of Heartache?
Of Happiness?
We'll know by Friday.

BLANKETS!

A friend of mine has a goal of making a lot of blankets to deliver to Primary Children's Hospital down in Salt Lake City. She is looking for anyone that is willing to donate, make, or help with the creation of blankets!! She is getting some more information about regulations (if there are any) and is trying to get them all before Christmas. She wants to be able to deliver them about Christmas Day. So if you would like to help please email me at brittysue2@gmail.com and I will keep you updated on information as it comes in.

Let me know if you are willing or able to help out!
Thanks!

Dr. Appointments

Ben was stung by a wasp of some sort and it was just fine for days. But about 6 days later he woke up that morning and his little hand was SOO swollen that he couldn't grasp or close his hand!? So we headed to the Dr's office for some advice and left with some advice and antibiotics because it was infected. We also discussed how Ben's health has been doing. So far we've upped his medication dose for the second time this year. Our Dr was concerned that maybe we were just putting a "big bandage" on something that could be more serious. So he suggested that we see another Dr in that clinic and if he doesn't have anymore ideas we were back to Salt Lake City for some more testing. (Oh boy! I personally thought we had this all figured out!?)

So today we saw the other Dr in the clinic and got his advice. We are now monitoring Ben's eating habits along with the medication. We are no longer suppose to force feed him but let him decide if he wants to eat. So we are suppose to provide 6 meals(breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack) a day and let him choose if he eats or not. If he gains weight then we just keep going. If he doesn't and starts to loose weight then we are back to Salt Lake for further instructions.

Just thought that all of you who are wondering how Ben is doing would like an update!

Unkown

My heart aches.
I wish, I want, I desire.
I hope, I dream, I believe.
But something keeps nagging at me.

Will another one ever come?
Or am I done.

You made what?!

Ben: Mom I makin cake!

Mom: Oh what kind?

Ben: Green Corn! Mmmm so good!

Mom: Really?!?(I was a little disturbed.)

Mom: Is it hot?

Ben: Yep. Careful!! (Two little hands in the air waving.)

Mom: Ok, I will.

Ben: Ok.

This is what Ben made me for breakfast today! I just couldn't resist taking a huge bite!? (or maybe just pretending to bite.)

Of course we had to sing "Happy Birthday" to a little boy before we could even cut the cake to eat it!

School

Spring has sprung, Autumn is about to come and Dane is back to school!

So our lives are changing quickly with a new school year. I said I was going to watch twins for the year, but things aren't working out. So they are going to be babysat by someone else. They are such cute little buggers, but I'm admitting that it's just too much for me to handle right now.

We are excited about going to SV in 9 months and being able to have Dane "Student Teach" in the High School that we both went to. Plans have changed a little bit and things are working out so well that we can only call them "Tender Mercies" from the Lord. We are blessed.

p.s. We will be posting some more pictures soon! (Say tuned)

Our Days

So our lives have been so overwhelmingly crazy at times, beautiful at others, tearful and sorrowful, but yet full of laugher during others.

These last few weeks have been so new and somethings that we as a small family have never really experienced before. Dane's Grandmother Maxine Hepworth passed away a little over a week ago. She was diagnosed with cancer while I was attending Girls Camp with our ward. She was told that she would have only a year left. Three weeks after her diagnosis she passed peacefully away after a family prayer with all of her children around her. Some mourned deeply while other's rejoiced that she was no longer in so much pain.

She was an amazing person that had so much love and compassion. Whenever she was aching for her husband that she lost when she was 41, she would make dozens of pies, cakes, cookies, or pots of soup, meals, casseroles. Then she would deliver them to someone else. As each food item left her hands and entered into someone else's, her sorrow would melt away to eternal joy knowing that she would be with him again. This is how she coped and dealt with this worlds sorrow and joys. She always shared.

Ben has been struggling trying to let Mom and Dad go while we've attended Girls Camp, Youth Conference, Young Men High Adventure, and our various meetings. The cherry on the top has been that in July we changed our church time to the mornings. He still is trying to figure out if we are abandoning him for several over nights and long days. So needless to say his enthusiasm that he once had for nursery is quickly fading!? But I have to admit that he is doing so much better, and he now knows that we are coming back for him in a few hours. This helps Dane and I to fulfill our callings on Sundays without a crying 2 year old hanging onto our side.

We are excited to know that we are going to have twins in our home starting next week. No we aren't expecting or adopting. We, I mean "I" am going to start babysitting them. Ben is thrilled as we are preparing our little home to support 2 more little ones. He's so excited to have new baby's in our home! We are painting the "Family" toddler bed bright blue and just purchased a sale item of "Go Diego, Go!" toddler bed set to go with his new bed. We are also pulling out our baby stuff again. He has been very occupied playing with all his old toys and will chant over and over, "Toys. Babies. Comin'. My house.Shh, quiet. Sleepin. No cry. it's ok." I don't know where he got some of those words because I haven't even told him that he has to be quiet when babies sleep. He's just too smart?!

Well enough of my rambling. I'm so happy and blessed to be alive and to be healthy. We are all doing well and couldn't ask for life to be more beautiful. May your life be wonderfully beautiful as well.

Peanut Butter!?

Never just assume that your 2 year old child has recently been in the peanut butter.

Assume the worst! Think how did he get into the peanut butter . . .or worse what is that!?!? EWE!

Yes, Ben just finger painted my arm with his fecal matter because we've been asking him to tell us when he's pooped. I have to say that I was grossed out, but had to quickly pull myself together because he was doing what he was told, in a way?!??

Parenting 101, any tips!

Like Son . . . Like Father

Where did he go?

There he is!!

Where did he go?

No really where is he!?

I guess that's one way to use the decoration pillows?!

Happy Father's Day!

Dear Dad,

I just wanted to tell you how much I love you. You have always been so good to me. You have always been quick to correct me and to teach me the right way. You have also been firm when I've done something wrong, but also just as soft and kind when I've needed to know that you love me.

Thanks for all the hard work that you do at school, work, and most importantly at home. You make my life wonderful! I hope that you like your new apron! Know that I love you and that I always will.

Love always & forever,
Ben

8 Random Facts

So Tiff tagged me for this. So here I go . . .

1) I love tulips! I can't seem to get enough of them and they never last long enough! I've told Dane that when we get our "Mansions in Heaven" we will plant Tulips everywhere and command them to bloom all the time! But that might not happen so for this lifetime I just take them in completely during Spring Time.

2)I also love Cherry's! It's funny that I think they are so cute and love products or "things" that have cherry's on them. But on the flip side. I dislike getting gifts with either Cherry's or tulips on them because I don't want to be known as the old lady with Cherry everything. I like them but just don't want them!? Strange I know.

3)I cannot stand to do dishes!! It's so hard on my sensitive hands and everywhere we've been we've had to hand wash!? We had a dishwasher in 1 apartment but it never drained well and so we always had yucky stuff stuck to our "clean" dishes. I will leave the dishes until we start to eat burritos with paper plates and plastic wear because there is nothing left to eat off of or cook with. I know this is a weakness and I am working on it. It's sad that i have to be the one that works on it!? Isn't this a family effort?!

4)I love to do laundry! I don't know why but it's relaxing to me to pull out clean laundry from the dryer and fold the warm clothes and put them away. I love to do it?! I don't know why but it has never bothered me. I'm always wishing I had more laundry to do.

5)Cheesecake! Is my ultimate weakness! I love the rich and creamy texture that just melts in my mouth! All kinds fruity, chocolaty, plain. You name it and I'm there. Other than the fake fast cheesecakes that aren't baked!? I hate those!?

6)I wish that I could get the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night. Period. But I guess that comes with being a Mother to a child with health problems. Sleep becomes a coveted luxury around our house! Those who have to stay awake and watch a little boy allow the "sleeping" to be awoken after a short period. Why? I don't know.

7)I wish that I could have better health. I've never been blessed with it and I guess that's my trial in this life. I can control myself in just about anything, but my health has had moments where is was out of my control. It's kind of scary, but I've realized that if I "Just keep swimming" through life I'll make it in the end.

8)I'm allergic to the metal in razors!? So shaving my legs has always been a dreaded and PAINFUL experience. I would go all week in High School without shaving my legs. But once Sunday came I would dread having to get ready because I knew I had to shave!? I've found that electric razors are my friend. I no longer dread shaving my legs. Someday maybe I'll try that Laser Hair Removal! I'll let you know how that goes!
I tag Mindy, Meg, Emily M., and Rogue!

Sleep for Lunch

Ben has never really slept in anything. . . but his crib. In Ben's entire life he has only fallen asleep in church twice! That was since he's been born. But we now have captured a moment in Ben's life that may never happen again!
We came home from church after the 3 hour block and several meetings. He ate one sandwich and asked for another one. Dane and I were discussing the event's for the week and looked over at Ben to find this.


Yes he was sleeping so hard he was snoring! May he rest in peace.

Homecoming

Sorry this has taken me forever! I love photography and you'd think I'd remember my camera at a time when it's most crucial! But I misplaced my camera when we picked Zach up from the airport! The only thing I can do now is write about it and hope that someone will send a picture or 2 so that I can post them on my blog!

So anyways, Zach came home and we were all so happy to greet him! He was a little emotional when he hugged us all. It seemed at times that he just didn't want to let us go. It was a bittersweet moment for Zach I think. He loved his mission and serving the people of Tampa, Florida. But we all had a wonderful time with Zach for the rest of the week.


Mom, Dad, Dane, Me, Ben, Meg, Breck, and Zach all went to Jackson Hole to go swimming! It started our VERY miserable!?. Ben doesn't like showers! Before you swim you are asked to shower. So Ben and I went into a cold shower and walked through the cold air wet until we could get to the pool. He bawled the whole time and wanted out! Dane was about ready to just dunk him under the water a few times just to see if that would change his mind! I was about ready to let him! But instead I suggested that Dane take Ben down one of the slides! So he did and it was like magic! The tears turned to joy and Ben wouldn't let us do anything else except take him down all the slides! He kept resting his head on shoulders and saying, "Pweese, swide!" followed by the name of whomever was holding him. He had a blast!


Then on Saturday we went to a 3-D archery shoot! Dane, Dad, Meg, Zach, and I all went and really had a great time. I felt like a slow poke because of my bad knee. But thanks to my wonderful family who were so understanding! I wish that I could have had something to help support myself and guess what I got for Mother's Day! A new hiking stick! It's awesome and I'm so excited to get to use it! Anyways, about the archery shoot. We had a blast and some of us got what you might call a "Red Neck" Tattoo where are arm guards were. Other than that I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed myself! Mom stayed home with the 2 boys and they had a wonderful time together too!

Ben loved playing with Breck! He finally got to really play with him! Last time Meg came to visit Ben was so sick with his health problems that he really didn't want to play with anyone. He was pretty grumpy the last trip!?
I must say that I really enjoyed the trip!It was so gratifying to spend several days with my family! I look forward to the next one, because Tom will get to come and be with us too!

Sorry so slow!

Just so that you all know we are still alive and well. I've been busy with family and new calling that I haven't had a lot of time to blog. I will get back and post pictures and story's from the last few months very soon.

Coming soon to a blog spot near you:
"A Homecoming", "Sleep for Lunch", "Flying Tigger", and of course "Favorite Cousins".

Return Missionary!

WELCOME HOME!!
Well I know it's a little early but I'm so excited to have Zach come home this coming Wednesday. We are very excited to say that he's served an honorable full-time mission in Tamp, Florida! Home of the Sun!
We are planning on meeting him at the Air Port in Idaho Falls and then spend a long weekend at my parent's house in SV. It will be so much fun to see everyone and spend time together with my family!
Meg is flying in on Sunday and I want to go early to be with her. But we get to stay here and be responsible for a few days and then we'll have a good ole' time! We'll keep you posted with pictures and of course story's!

Horray!

I am happy to annouce that I have officially finished my online courses and am now done!! Yeah!

Now the next step will be to complete me internship hours (180 hrs.) and than sit for the State Exam! We will have to see what our future brings to see if I am able to finish it soon or wait for a time before we know where we are going to settle down before I finish.

But I am very excited to be done and am grateful for all the support from Family and Friends! You guys are great Thank you!

We have Good News!

We are proud to announce that Dane is an official "Student Teacher" for the CES Program! We are so excited and happy for him! This is one step closer to becoming a Seminary teacher.

He will start teaching next year and is happy to start his new job. He may still work at nights but he will mostly be working for the CES program. Dane can't wait to start! But he doesn't have to wait long because there is Teacher training this summer during the mornings. It will be good for him to start head first and really to get into this!

We will keep you posted if we make it he makes it to become an official CES Teacher! Stay tuned . . . it will be announced next year at this time.