Priceless

Dress - $159

Shoes - $28

Necklace & Earrings - $12

Headband - $12

Stylist - Free babysitting

A daughter who knows that

'modest is hottest'. (her words)

PRICELESS! 

A mom who knows her daughter

lives the Young Women values -

Grateful!

Triple Lutz to You!

Being a somewhat random person, I do not know what number this is on my bucket list BUT I know it's on it . . .

 Colorado Springs - October 2008

Bucket List #31 (I made the number up) - 

Watch world class figure skaters skate in person!

Okay, it was only a practice and I missed the top of the 'cream of the crop' but I did have a chance to watch US Nationals mid-range quality skaters practice.  The ice arena is about a mile from the US Figure Skating Headquarters and Museum in Colorado Springs.  When we walked in the building there was no visible security screening.  On our way out I asked the woman at the reception desk about the surprisingly 'open' access to the skaters (especially after the whole Nancy Kerrigan knee-capping attack).  She looked me straight in the eye and said, "I'm the security system!  If you look like you shouldn't be here, you won't get past me!"  And I believed her!

Hmmm, maybe we could clone her and put her in every airport in the world.  I got the distinct feeling that she would be way more effective than the x-ray/puffer/wand/patdown system they're using now.

Just know that our future Olympians are well protected and incredible to watch in person.  Can't wait for February 12th.

Did you know you can play US Figure Skating Fantasy Challenge here?  

Ryan and Jason, you know you want to do this :) 

They have hockey too!

If they would just 'Fancy Nancy' their uniforms . . .

Two Summers and a Winter

 north of our home - 2009

When our three older children were small, the responsibility of motherhood became overwhelming at times (actually, a lot of the time!).  Whenever my father-in-law sensed the 'ship was sinking', he would look me in the eyes and say, "Nancy, you have two summers and a winter ahead of you.  You can do this."

 

across the street from my home - 2009

You have to know that Dad W. was not know for his optimism.  He was a chronic worrier who seemed to always be waiting for and expecting the worst.  So it was completely out of character for him to offer such optimism.  And the thing is - he would start saying this as early as October (September if necessary).  Sometimes it was encouraging and sometimes it just made me mad - especially if we were just heading in to winter.  "We're not headed in to summer - we are just barely headed in to a looonnnnggg winter - with three little children and a husband in school - he doesn't know how hard this is! (and on and on . .  .)", I would think to myself as I struggled to feel confident in my ability to survive one more day let alone one more winter.

 Pumpkin, I know how you feel! - 2009

Looking back, I now appreciate his attempts (some more successful than others) to offer me hope during a time of my life that was filled with seemingly endless dirty diapers, sticky hands and busy children.  You know, he was right.  No matter where we are in the calendar year, I know there will always be two summers and a winter ahead of me if I can just hang on.

 

Miami - October 2009 

And so I bid January a fond farewell!  

I think there's a summer waiting just around the corner!?! 

 

Miami - October 2009

29 Years

 Blessing Day

I just returned from the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.  I went for a follow-up mammogram/ultrasound and received the great news that my cyst is benign.

As I prepared to leave my home this morning, I reflected back on my trip to this same hospital 29 years ago.  The irony was not lost on me.

Twenty-nine years ago I was two days shy of my due date for my second baby.  I had spent the afternoon piano shopping (I obviously was VERY PREGNANT - I had to repeatedly remind my Grandma A. that, no, I was NOT carrying twins! - and there was not a piano bench to be found in the piano store.  The salesman told me the store kept the benches in the back to discourage children from sitting on them and plunking on the pianos.  Heaven forbid that we break one out for the pregnant lady!  Unfortunately, he did not pick up on my pregnant condition and did not offer to go find me a chair, bench, box, overturned garbage can - anything that I could sit down on for a few minutes.

Anyway, I ended up standing way too long for my condition and finally retreated to my car to head to my doctor's appointment.  When I got there the doctor was out on a delivery call and I was given the option of having a nurse check me or returning in an hour or two.  Since I was so close to my due date, I decided to go over to the mall (it didn't make sense to drive all the way back to Pleasant Grove and then drive all the way back) while I waited for the doctor's return.  I ended up in JC Penney's and took my sweet time wandering around the store.  After about an hour and a half, I drove back to the doctor's office and signed in.

I had delivered my first baby two days before my due date and I was curious as to my 'readiness' with this baby.  I had been experiencing a lot of false labor and so I was feeling optimistic about my situation.  After exchanging greetings, Dr. Judd got down to the business of checking me for any dilation.  The only way I can explain it is to tell you it felt like he was checking my heart (but not with a stethoscope)!  After I regained my ability to talk I asked him just exactly what was that all about!  He casually replied that my baby was posterior and he had attempted to turn it right there in the exam room.  I suggested that next time I would appreciate being knocked out or numb before he tried that move.  He told me that unfortunately he hadn't been able to turn the baby but the good news was I was dilated to 4 cm and he would see me later that night.  The impact of what felt like him trying to rotate my whole insides was that he had 'stripped my membranes' (felt more like 'ripped out my heart') and that would induce labor sometime that evening.

FOUR centimeters!  I remember thinking, "I could have had that baby looking at fabric remnants in JC Penney's!"  I was lucky he/she didn't drop out at the piano store between the uprights and baby grands for the lack of a piano bench!  Four centimeters - it took me 10 hours to get to 2 centimeters with my first baby.  This was great/terrifying news!

I drove home praying that I would not start having serious labor pains until I arrived home and, as I walked in the door, sure enough - intense labor began.  We quickly packed up Elizabeth, dropped her off at my parents and headed to the hospital.  We arrived about 6 p.m. and Ryan was born at 9 p.m. the day the US hostages were released from Iran and the night before Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president of the United States.  After four blessed short hours of labor - a beautiful baby boy!

The rest of our winter was spent in a dense fog (literally and figuratively) as we tried to find ways to deal with a colicky, sleepless, screaming baby.  That January was so foggy that my mom got lost coming to see me at the hospital.  Those were LLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOGGGG months.  We saw very little of this . . .

and A LOT of THIS . . . (at 4 months the longest Ryan had slept at any given time was 1 1/2 hours)

But we survived and were rewarded with this . . .

So on the 19th of January today and 29 years ago, I received great news at Utah Valley Hospital.
Today, a clean bill of health and 29 years ago, a healthy baby boy.
 Happy Birthday to our firstborn son.  Love, Mom

Dream

Martin Luther King, Jr.

'I Have a Dream'

 

Seen here in Chicago

I love people who have

the imagination

to dream

and

the courage

to act.

Dreams can be far-reaching

or deeply personal.

The goal is to

never stop thinking

that we can make things

a little better along the way -

for ourselves and for others.

One remarkable woman's dream-

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

 - Marjorie Pay Hinckley -

Remembering Sarah On Her Birthday

Sarah's '4th Birthday'

From her mother's heart.

"One afternoon after her diagnosis, Sarah requested that I make her a birthday cake. Although it was not her birthday, we decorated the cake with candles and sang the Happy Birthday song. Her request for cakes continued. Each Monday became the day to celebrate another birthday.  Notice Sarah's bright smile and the twinkle in her eye as she anticipates blowing out the candles."

Sadly, Sarah lost her battle with brain cancer but her sweet innocence and joy in the simple things of life - like blowing out your candles - taught lessons to be remembered for a lifetime.

Watch Sarah celebrating her '5th Birthday' here.

Call Back

I got a 'call-back'

on my mammogram
this past Friday.

I think the only time

you are excited

for a 'call-back'

is when you've applied

for your dream job

or auditioned for

a part in this

or maybe this

possibly this

or this.

It may be nothing.

We'll see.
Four months ago the
results were benign.
We're hoping for
continued good news
and praying for calm.