Breakfast in Bed

Today my baby turned 7. Where has the time gone? I miss the snuggly baby that I once had.


Sydney is a very thoughtful young lady.
She is sensitive to other people and feels bad if she hurts their feelings.
Sydney is a good friend.
Sydney loves to tease (she gets that from her dad)
Sydney loves to dance.
Sydney loves to sing.
Sydney is one of my best friends. I hope I can always say that.

For her birthday, she only had one request.

Breakfast in bed.

How much do you laugh?

Our garden

When the weather begins to get cold around here, it is not uncommon to wake up to the phrase "It snowed!"

It's almost like crying wolf, only it's funny.

This morning Brett looked out our bedroom window at our garden. We planted corn this year and it is growing like crazy. He turned to me and said "The corn is this tall, holding his hand up to just over waist high." I said "Yeah right." Then he said, "It snowed!" (It has been unseasonably cold around here)

And I did just what I always do.

I laughed.

How much do you laugh?

With Brett around, I laugh every day.

Catching UP

I took a month off, what can I say?

I feel like I have to be witty when I post, and sometimes I'm plum out of wit.

And sometimes, I'm out of wisdom too.

Here are a few things we've been up to.

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Pinewood Derby Entertainment

Mid-Evening Poses

When I say "16" - WRESTLE




Sydney Shark - Leaving Her Mark

End of Year Portfolio

Sacred Days, Sacred Moments

When you experience the loss of a loved one, many days, and moments become sacred.

I remember the exact location I was sitting when I received the phone call that Azure had been in an accident. I also remember the thoughts I had leading up to her death. Many of which are sacred to me.

Today is no different.

Azure would have been 27 years old today. There are days that I miss her more than I can say. There are other days that I recognize that her mortal plan has been fulfilled and she has gone on ahead.

Azure was a lot of fun.

Recently we reminisced about a time when she lived with us. She had just gotten a job at Wendy's and had come home to get something. While at the house, she locked her keys in the car. We had to call a police officer to come and help us get the door unlocked.

There were two keys to the car. One key unlocked the doors, the other started the car.

She ran in the house and Brett thought it would be funny to lock the key in the car that drove the car and pretend that he had locked the wrong key in the car. We sat back with anticipation as she walked out of the house to leave. She went to open the door and it was locked, and the key was sitting on the driver's seat. She was LIVID. We had a good laugh, and then she called Brett a few choice words (which will be left off this post), and then she said "That key is the key that unlocks the doors." Oops....we locked the wrong key in the car. We had to call the police officer back. He was irritated, Azure was irritated, and WE couldn't stop laughing. It still makes me laugh. I don't know that I have ever seen someone so mad.

Azure could get out of every ticket. I don't know how she did it. She was pulled over more than once, and I don't think she ever got a ticket. She was lucky that way.

I look forward to the day that I can wrap my arms around my sister.

I honor her memory today, on a sacred day, in a sacred moment.

Inspirations

There are few people in life that I can actually say have been a true inspiration to me. Sure I've read stories that have touched me, and I have learned MANY lessons from people I have come in contact with, but my list of people who have actually changed me is not that long.

I'd like to introduce you to a young lady who has been an inspiration to me. Her name is Desmon. She was diagnosed with Chrohn's Disease when she was 7-years old, and as if that isn't bad enough, this past December, she was diagnosed with Leukemia, at the tender age of 11.

Desmon is a beautiful young lady with a lot of spunk. She has taught me that you can laugh, and have fun even in the worst of situations.

Desmon has taught me that it is important to give credit where credit is due. While spending time in the hospital, she threw a surprise birthday party for her mother, who spends countless hours serving her. She gave the credit where it was due.

She has taught me that it isn't about the outcome, but it's about the "climb". She knows that it's the climb, the part of the trial that is the hardest, that makes you YOU.

I look to Desmon, and her mother, and resolve to do better. To be better.

Next weekend, a fundraiser is going to be held in honor of Desmon and her brother McCoy, who was also diagnosed with Chrohn's disease while Desmon was spending time in the hospital battling leukemia.

This family needs your help! You can help by going here.

Sign up for the 1 mile or 5k fun run.

It is only $15 per person - you have that, right?

Can't Run?

Ok.

Sign up to be a Phantom Runner. Haven't you always wanted to be a Phantom? Ooohh, sounds so invisible.

Want to just be nice and donate? You can do that too.

Go ahead - Go here.

Make a difference for this family.

Time Away

While many of our neighbors were experiencing frigid temperatures, and snow, our family was experiencing the beautiful Phoenix, AZ spring. Here are a few highlights.

The Easter Pageant

Babies - Super Cute Babies

Chuck E. Cheese's

The Zoo


We had such a great time. It just wasn't quite long enough.

Out on a Limb

I'm going to go out on a limb.

I may be out here alone when I'm done, but that's alright.

The limb I choose to follow today is the limb of integrity.

As a youth I didn't believe it when I was told that a person of integrity was of high value. Rather my thoughts steered more toward stealth. If I could do something without getting caught, what would it matter? Why would anyone or anything change if I could go on in the darkness and satiate my desires. My actions would after all, only affect me.

Through the months and years, and lessons learned, my view and conviction has changed regarding the subject.

Integrity is the foundation of trust.

There is a song that I would sing as a child that began with a young child stating that he had asked his mother what integrity meant. She answered by saying "It means to be honest and fair, and sincere at all times. Never take advantage of someone else and get something for myself...it's having firm set of rules."

What is being honest and fair?

In a world where integrity is declining at a rapid rate. We see it in the headlines, and we experience within our own families and our own circle of friends.

Is it ok to take more than one newspaper when putting your quarters in the stand? Maybe you take towels from the motel, or perhaps mislead the merchant taking your money for any given service because you think you aren't going to use what they think you will? Is it ok to copy music and share it with your friends, or even copy DVDs that have a copyright?

I would like to think that I have integrity to the core. That all of your dealings with me will be handled with integrity - fairness, honesty, ultimate truth...the golden rule.

Where do you stand?

Want to read more on the subject? Go here or another article that will get you thinking... go here.

A Day Out with Dad

Between busy schedules, and the miles that separate us, it is rare that we can all get together for lunch. Matter of fact, I don't think we've ever done anything like this so being able to go out with Dad was a special treat.

We all met at the Olive Garden and enjoyed a meal of soups, salads, and pasta.

Thanks Dad. We love you.

Handsome in a Suit

Brett and Ryan were recently outfitted in new suits.

Aren't they handsome.

Berger's Burgers

The Cub scouts had their blue and gold banquet last month and we were all in charge of decorating a cake. I wanted ours to be unique so I did something a little different, and thanks to bakerella, I was able to pull off unique. We won a prize and the kids loved being able to decorate their little 'burgers'.

One of the kids at the banquet said "Oh, I get it...Berger's Burgers." We thought that was pretty funny.


Not sure how I'm going to top this next year...

Flattered

Today I took our van in to have the windshield looked at. It had a leak at the top, so every time we went to the car wash the water would trickle in on the inside.

I handed the keys over to the man working the counter and I took a seat. There was an older man, sitting across from me. He had humongous glasses on, and he too was waiting for his vehicle to receive a new windshield.

He kept looking at me funny, which made me feel funny. After a few awkward minutes, he finally said "Do you have your picture taken for these people?" I kinda laughed and said "No." Then he said, "Look behind you." I looked behind me and there was a picture of a girl that looked similar to me. He said "You are model worthy, are you sure that isn't you?" Then another customer chimed in and agreed (A young woman with a little boy).

I assured them that the picture was NOT of me, and that I had never had anyone pay me to take my picture.

While I don't believe I am "model worthy", as he put it, it felt good that he thought that I looked like the beautiful girl up on the wall.

Made my day actually.

Thanks man with the humongous glasses. That was very kind of you. I'm flattered.

Open Letter Series - Part One

I have a few beefs. As such, I figure I might as well address them, and what better place than a blog for the world to read?

This one is for the motorist(s) that I pass on the road when I am riding my bike.

Dear Motorist,

Yeah, you in the four-wheeled car that has a dash and a windshield. You who are sitting on a cushioned seat, and being shielded by the body of your precious vehicle. I want to talk to you today.

Did you know that you share the road? Did you know that the right shoulder of the road might possibly have a cyclist on it? Of course we ride the shoulder so that you can zoom around us, leaving us to brace our bikes so as to not fall over.

Did you know that when you pull up to an intersection, say with a STOP sign that you just MIGHT want to look BOTH WAYS? Maybe your intersection doesn't have a stop sign. Maybe you are on a side street that connects with a straightaway. Do you think you could possibly SLOW DOWN and look to see if there is someone coming? Say a bicyclist?

Is your "I'm bigger" mentality such that when you do look to the left you think you can pull out in front of said cyclist? Maybe you think your 5 mph pull-out will be faster than the 20 mph that I am riding on the shoulder. Let me tell you, it isn't faster. You'd be right to hang out for the extra 30 seconds that it takes me/us to pass your vehicle. It would save your heart rate, and mine/ours. Slamming on the brakes on a skinny-tired, fast-moving bicycle is not only uncomfortable, is sometimes causes a crash, and let me tell you - that not only hurts, it takes a LONG time to heal - physically and emotionally.

So, Mr./Mrs. Motorist (Avon Lady), next time you take to the road, remember you're not the only one on it.

Be considerate.
Stop at the stop sign.
AND

LOOK BOTH WAYS!

Slow down in the residential areas.

Not only are there children at play, there are folks like me getting a ride in.

Thanks for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Bicylist

Coach

(This picture has nothing to do with this post)

Last night we took the kids swimming.

Sydney has been BEGGING us to go swimming for months. We finally got our passes so we went for Family Home Evening.

Sydney is fearless. She'll do anything in the water.

Ryan on the other hand is petrified of the deep end. I think he must think that the Loch Ness Monster is down there just waiting to grab his foot an pull him under.

I spent a little while holding Ryan close to the deep end. I whispered in his ear and tried to get him to relax a little bit.

Brett convinced Ryan to swim to the opposite end of the pool, where he could stand. Shortly after, Sydney and I joined them.

Then the coaching began.

Ryan began telling Sydney, the fearless one, how to swim. He would say "Sydney, you move your arms like this, or you kick like this." I stood there and listened, and laughed. Where did he get this from? Mr. Coach who can tell someone what to do, but doesn't do it himself.

Then, this morning I was wakened at 1:27am. I didn't get back to sleep until after 5am, so a I had a long time to think. It was sometime in the wee hours of the morning that it came to me.

He gets the coaching from ME!

I can tell you how to prevent injury while running. I can tell you how to have a better stroke swimming, and how to fuel your body for endurance events. I can tell you how to rehabilitate after being injured (I've paid a few house payments for some physical therapists). I KNOW all of the stuff. I just don't do it all. Who knew I could have such an influence on him?

Made me realize that I need to do a lot less coaching and a lot more doing.

A Dash of Perspective

This morning was a stereotypical Monday morning.

It started out well.

Sydney climbed in bed with me to snuggle for a bit before it was time to get ready for school.

She read a book to me.

I got up and we started getting ready for the day.

Then the powers that be, whomever they are, decided that our Monday was starting on the RIGHT foot.

The tears came.

My frustration level began to rise, and I couldn't wait to get them out the door.

I told Syd that I was NOT going to help in her classroom because her behavior was such that it didn't merit me coming. (more crying) I don't like being treated like all I do is try to make my family's lives miserable. It's not a fun feeling.

Once the kids left for school I did my ritual site checking. I checked our family site, read the blogs I follow, etc.

It was then that I got a little dash of perspective.

My cousin's daughter, who is in the hospital, threw a surprise party for her mom.

Then my tears came.

I sometimes forget how wonderful my life is. We all sleep in the same house. We get up every morning, have breakfast, get ready for the day, all as a family.

So, I got myself ready, and went to the school. Syd didn't see me enter the classroom for quite some time and I didn't say anything for a while.

Then she heard my voice and smiled.

As I left, she blew me a kiss.

Defining Moments

For weeks I have gone over this post in my mind.

I've picked up the pieces of people with a lack of commitment.

I've taken a good hard look at my own life and what I can change to make myself a better person.

I've read nutrition books, scoured web sites over and over.

I've made a plan in my mind. It is ready to be put on paper and followed.

I've attempted to pin point the moments in my life that have shaped me into who I am today.

I am still learning.

Today my thoughts and actions bringing me to this point hardly matter.

This morning, Ryan climbed in bed with me. He was awaiting the celebration that he knew I had planned for him. I hadn't planned anything. A gift awaited him in my closet, but a celebration, I had none.

As I lay in bed with his head snuggled against my chest, I realized that a defining moment in my life had come 9 years earlier on this day.

Nine years ago, I lay in a hospital bed, in pain and anemic. My own blood was being transfused back into my body to make up for the 36 oz of marrow that had been taken from my hip. I hadn't slept well. There were problems with the processing of the marrow and we were praying for a miracle.

Early in the morning of March 2, we received the good news. The transplant was going forward, and a chance at life was about to be given to our family.


(Here it is. What was left of 36 oz of marrow - 3 coke cans worth - it is a miracle. It sustains life.)


We didn't know what the future held. We just knew that for this small moment our lives were being defined. A shape was beginning to form.

I hope that I never come to a point in my life where I have a loss of gratitude for the blessing my Heavenly Father has given me. I look back to the time we spent at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and it seems like a world away, yet there are moments when it enters my mind and my heart with clarity.

So today as I observe the world around me, I again thank God for the many defining moments in my life. Especially this one.

Tooth Fairy Surprise

For a while now Sydney has been wiggling a loose tooth.

This morning she told me that she lost her tooth.

I was a little surprised, and a bit excited for her.

I turned around and she showed me how she has lost a LOT of teeth.

She wants to put these "teeth" under her pillow tonight to see if the tooth fairy takes the bait.

Needless to say, her 'real' tooth is still in her mouth.

I'm back

The cool air moved slowly through my lungs

It was a perfect day to be back

The bike is light

It is made especially for me

One day it will become a part of me

One day the bruises on my legs will be gone

Each day is a new day

And today...

I'm back

35 Ways

(I love this picture of Brett and Sydney. It says SO much about what goes on around here.)

Today is Brett's Birthday. He is one of the hardest people to buy for, so we stuck to things that are simple...junior mints, and a card. The t-shirt that he asked for was out of stock, so that will have to come at a later date.

Since Brett is 35, I thought I'd jot down 35 things that I love about him.

1. He is considerate of me
2. He likes to have fun
3. He teases
4. He is a hard worker
5. He is very smart
6. He plays with the kids
7. He is a great father
8. He takes time for ME
9. He honors his Priesthood
10. He is great with youth
11. He makes me laugh...DAILY
12. He loves his family
13. He is always looking out for someone else
14. He cares about his health
15. He looks great in spandex
16. He wants me to be healthy too
17. He has goals, and dreams
18. He is a great listener
19. He never complains about the things I do to irritate him.
20. He puts our family first
21. He is honest
22. A man of integrity
23. He respects women, and especially me
24. He serves honorably in everything he does
25. He is a great friend
26. He is MY BEST FRIEND
27. He knows how to calm me
28. He enjoys the outdoors
29. He wants the best for our family
30. He is TRUE
31. He is always finding ways to make our lives a little more comfortable
32. He is patient
33. He is a good employee
34. He is sexy
35. Best of all - HE IS MINE.

Happy Birthday Brett. I couldn't think of another man I would want to spend my life with.

I did it!

Tonight I earned the Mom of the Year award! I swore in front of my kids. I think it may be the first time they have ever heard the 'D' word come out of my mouth.

You know what they did?

They laughed.

I'm SO awesome!

It's Classified

This morning we went in to talk to the Principal at Ryan's school.

Some of the kids in his class saw us in there and they asked Ryan what it was all about.

His response:

"It's Classified."

I will neither confirm nor deny that I know who is behind the glasses.
It's classified too.
And, yes I know - my counter is a mess...I was COOKING!