Six years young!!

(Paige is my 5th wonderful grandchild and 3rd beautiful granddaughter...)

Her birthday is today...January 9th!  I remember the day she was born.  Although her parents lived in California, her mommy was going to be living here with us in Rexburg while Paige's daddy was in training for the Coast Guard.  So she was born at Madison Memorial Hospital.  I was standing just about as close as one could get when she arrived into this world.   Boy was she a beautiful baby!

Last week during church Paige looked up at her mom and said, "Mommy, I think Papa is happy in heaven!                                    



P retty as a princess
A lways thoughtful and loving
I s the most sweet and tender little girl
G ets along with everyone
E xtra, extra special

Love you Paigie Waigie Puddin n' Pie!

Happy Birthday Brandon B!

B  rave

R  unner

A  wesome cook

N  ot a nerd

D  iligent

O  wner of three beautiful dogs

N   ice to everyone

Brandon & Alain

365 more days to work on this one....

This... is something that has come across my mind

several times for the past couple of weeks.

therefore...

I think  2012 is going to be my year to work on the following...

having more

Charity.

I will follow up on my blog throughout the year,

and let you know how I'm doing.

 I have the most awesome family and friends,

so I will tell you all...

I expect only the best from you!

We can do hard thing!!!

Happy New Year!

Can I just say that I love this.  

I have had this quote hanging in my office on a tiny piece of paper 

( I think it's time to blow it up big),

for about three years.... 

Imagine a world if we all tried to do these things, even just a "little bit" better!

Sorry Nana!

What do you get when you add holiday packaging peanuts and kids?

"Oops.... a few got away from me Nana ....sorry!"

Carter Wayne.... love that little boy "too" much!

Don't believe everything you hear...

I was told by someone that Christmas Day was the best day to fly.

("So quite....hardly anyone in the airports.")

So...I booked my Christmas trip and decided to fly home on Christmas Day.

Wrong... it was nuts!

Crying children, loud people that want you to overhear how wonderful their life is,

cranky flight attendants, long lines and not so "Merry" travelers.

OK.... now the blessings of my trip.

I wasn't home alone this Christmas without my sweetheart.

My friend Sherral took me to the airport, babysat my car, and picked me up again.

I got to see eight of my sweet grandchildren that live in California!

I stayed with Angela & John.

Took John to lunch for his birthday.

Sat at the beach and soaked up sunshine and Vitamin D, 

while watching grandchildren run and play and discover a half eaten shark...

We traveled to see new sweet baby Ellery.  (One week old)

We visited with Amanda's parents in El Centro.

Ate our traditional Christmas Eve Dinner...

ham, twice baked potatoes, Aunt Shawna's Yummy Salad, peas & rolls!

Witnessed the magic of Christmas through a child's eyes...

Was spoiled by my daughters...

Visited with my friend Kelly at her home after landing.

Michelle and Judson drove from Park City to see me at Kelly's.

Talked or heard from all our kids!

Drove home safely.

(Sleep in my own bed!)

Once again, the blessings outweighed the craziness!

My feelings about the loss of Alain 

have begun to feel very personal.

I'm not sure how much I will blog of my struggles, heartaches, triumphs,

challenges, fears, hopes and disbelief in the upcoming year.

I will continue to move forward, but again,

grief  is an individual and private struggle in so many ways.

 

I don't know if I will ever feel whole again.

Maybe....

but I don't know.

Alain was a wonderful, wonderful person.

So loving and giving and kind.

So humble and willing to do whatever he could to bless my life.

Wish I could be as strong as he would want me to be.

Very, very grateful for friends and family who have hung in there with me

and touched and blessed my life in ways that I am still astonished by.

May you feel his tremendous love....

What will you give for Christmas this year?

The Saviors life provides a perfect pattern for each of us to follow.

He gave freely, lovingly, and without any expectation of receiving.

As a result, the lame could walk, the deaf could hear, the blind could see, 

the infirm were made whole,

and even the lifeless were given breath.

But ultimately, Jesus Christ gave his life for each of us.

 In return for the redeemers thremendous love,
let us give to him the only gifts that are truly ours to give,
lives of service, obedience, love, forgiveness, faith, and gratitude.
In doing so we will be blessed, receiving yet another gift from the Lord. 
                                                                                          (Rolling Hills Ward Bishopric 2010)

Merry Christmas 2011

Thanks to all of you who truly have touched my life for good!

Announcing 11 in 11...

This is our newest granddaughter Ellery Christine.
She is number 11 in 2011! 

She is the sweet little daughter of Amanda & Brandon.  

She makes #5 in their family!  

Looks like heaven ran out of baby eyes again, and she got those beautiful, 

big brown eyes like her brother Joshua!  

What a sweetheart.  

(Perhaps her Papa got to send her off from heaven with a big hug and kiss!)

Welcome Ellery!

I'm coming to see you next week...

 Christmastime has been a little difficult for me...

Everything about this season represent family and love.

I  don't know of a better person than Alain, who cared so much about both.

I am so grateful he touched my life with all that is good.

(And I'm trusting that he knows how much I love and miss him!)