I Did It!

My car kind of resembles the old game where you see how many people you can fit in a VW Bug, only it's not people, it's presents, and it's not a Bug, it's a Camry. There were lots of presents, several of which were on the LARGE size, but I started with the biggest and just kept adding until voila - they were all in! I even managed to leave the driver's seat empty for me. Hmmm....now the trick is getting them back out.

Angels Who Watch Over Me

If I had to pick one word to describe my life, it would have to be "busy". I like everything I'm doing (even my job, I just hate having to be there full time) and busy is good, but I miss having time to do all the other things I used to do. One of the things I just didn't seem to have time for is putting up my Christmas tree. I managed to carry the tree into its room (with only one big bruise to show for it), but the box just sat there. I'm blessed to have some angels in my life who saw my need for help and without my asking - or even my being there - put my tree up for me! These same two angels also saw the multitudinous packages that were waiting to be wrapped and came again and helped me get them done. I'm not the type of person who easily asks for help and I can't begin to say how much it means to me to have angels who watch over me. Thanks H & F!!!

Can it really be 30 years?

Ashlie and I put our heads together and decided to throw a surprise 30th birthday party for Lorien.  It was kind of crazy working out some of the details (especially what time everyone should be there), but we had a lot of fun getting ready for it - Ashlie is great at preparing for a party!  With some secret help from Sam, we had access to their house for several hours to decorate and cook.  We had almost 30 people there before Lorien arrived - 17 of which were children.  The kids were all upstairs playing and when Lorien pulled up we had all of them come downstairs and hide with the adults to help yell surprise.  You didn't realize how many kids there were until they all came down the stairs at once.  Jon couldn't help but ask how many kids everyone had - and I jokingly reminded him that after all, we were all Mormons!  It was unbelievable - the kids were totally quiet waiting for her to come in the door.  Not a sound. I loved seeing her expression when she opened the door and we all jumped out to welcome her.  What great fun.  

It's strange to realize that I have a child who is 30.  I can remember turning 30 and that it was a tough birthday for me.  And it doesn't seem that long ago!  One of my birthday presents to her was a video of some highlights of her 30 years on earth.  It was really hard narrowing down the pictures and there were so many more I wanted to put in, but the music just wasn't long enough.  Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGqaIXX_CGs

Hard day

There hasn't been a day that I haven't yearned to have Charlie back.  It's an ache that stays deep within, never gone, but is made tolerable by the belief that we will be together again.  I know I am a strong person and I don't want pity.  I see others  that have it so much worse than me and I am grateful for the many blessings that I have been given.  But today was one of those days when that ache rises above all and all I can do is cry and plead for Charlie to come back.  Of course the holidays have something to do with it.  But mostly it's because I'm sick.  I miss having him take care of me.  I really want him to give me a blessing.  And a hug.