Old Dan and Little Ann

... or is it Anne with an 'e'? Anyway... Michael's class finished reading "Where the Red Fern Grows" today. When he told me they were reading it I cringed. It is a terrific book, engaging, beautifully written, but SAD!

During dinner Michael said "You know what I hate about books?" and then I saw the tears brimming, ready to spill out onto his cheeks.... and I knew. He hates how so many stories have loss and death. He sat on my lap (he is almost 11... more like I sat under him.) and we both cried. (I'm a wimp, when one of my kids is crying over sadness, I almost always join in... sympathy tears.) He saved his tears at school for home when it was safe and we could talk. Old Dan and Little Ann(e).... how sad that one died and the other was so sad it died too! What a heartbreaking book, and yet, aren't we so glad we form attachments and fall in love and feel sad when we loose someone/something we love? It is important to bond, to love and to loose.

I think he'll read Alvor this weekend, he loves it and NOBODY DIES! :) (Only wish we could read Alvor II.....)

"Normal"

Seven years ago, when Eve was a baby, we had lots of ups and downs. One of our lowest came when she was about 4 months old. She caught a cold. No big deal for most babies, but huge for Evie. I remember sitting with her in the ER on a Monday night, and the doctor telling me, "She has a cold. Babies get them. Go home." She was nice, but condescending. The next morning at a follow up visit with our pediatrician, she turned blue. We left there in a helicopter and spent the following month in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, with a lovely private room, our own personal nurse, a team of doctors who would listen and ask if she always sounded like that (what a cough!!!) and a great view of the princess tower. ;)

During the time Eve was in the hospital, many of the days felt like life and death at any time... she had a machine breathing for her and day by day was getting weaker not stronger. I remember coming home one night while Dave stayed with her for the evening. I did laundry and cleaned the toilets and tucked sweet Michael and precious Janey into bed. Normal. On my way back to the hospital I stopped at the store and bought milk and macaroni and cheese. Normal. As I stood in the line I thought, "I haven't held my baby in weeks, she could die. A machine is breathing for her. My arms ache for her and I'm tired of pumping. I want to hold her. I want normal life again" I wondered how many people in the store that night had big huge things going on in their lives, but had to keep going with the "normal" stuff. It was hard, but Eve is strong and God has a plan for her. We were so blessed at that time to have so many friends and family reach out and carry us through those tough days.

Today we had a joyful playdate with Samuel, Levi and their Dad. I can pronounce his name, but I wont' attempt to spell it. They are visiting their Grandma from NYC, she is a friend of ours and is dying. They came to play, to burn off some energy, get a change of scenery.... and hopefully have some fun during these difficult days. As I dropped them off on our way to swim club after we played for a few hours, I noticed in front of their house the cast off Christmas tree. Normal. I was struck with the thought of how NOT normal the goings- on in that house are... hospice in and out, a hospital bed in the bedroom, medicines and schedules and crying and planning.... It occurred to me how little we know about anything. Anyone driving by that house would think "Life is fine, normal." Anyone seeing me buying milk at the market 7 years ago would have thought "life is fine, normal". We just don't know! I often think that... when standing in a line or watching someone who doesn't seem to be coping very well, I think, "I wonder what else is going on that we just don't see."

Tonight we roasted marshmallows over the fire for Family Home Evening snack. It was fun and normal. But my thoughts were with others. My sweet Uncle Bud is nearing the end of his 9 year battle with cancer. It is my prayer that someone somewhere in Idaho and Utah recognizes how not "normal" life is for his precious family and reaches out to them. I wish I were there to do it.

2009 was Oh, So Fine!

2009 was a good year for our family. Our children have grown up, we've come out on top. I tried to choose a handful of pictures that tell the story of our lives, what I discovered is that I take too many pictures (many of the backs of heads?) and that I can't choose a handful... maybe 7 handfuls?


We've done a lot of schoolwork!

We've done a lot of braids!!!!!
We've loved time with Papa!
And celebrated birthdays with Nana!
We vacationed at the Delaware Beach with cousins and Grandma Hart!
We swam in the Atlantic!
And the Pacific!
And the YMCA! :)
Jane made the important choice to be baptized!

We celebrated 90 years of amazing Grandma Steimle's life!


We've baked!

We've cheered at Jane's swim meet!
Henry has slept!

and slept! (note the ever-present green hat? He loves that hat! One Sunday we sat down at church and during the opening prayer I realized he had it on! He wears it more than he doesn't so he didnt' look funny to me walking into church! oops.)

We've cuddled!
I've been able to field trip, with Michael to see the Nutcracker and Eve to see the Liberty Bell. Cool!
We've been weird.
We've eaten a lot of cake!
We've spent A LOT of time in the car!


We've matched most Sundays. ;)
We love to see the temple!
We've shared our cookies, even with our dollies.
We've picked early spring flowers
We laugh at Dad. Lots!

We loved Thanksgiving with Coburn Grandparents!We've been crafty!
Michael's improved on the trombone with a terrific band teacher and Jane sat on the big man's lap and asked for an etch a sketch! (she got one and is GOOD at it!)



We've read and read and read and read and read.........


I've LOVED my calling as Primary Chorister. I mean LOVED it. So Much Fun!

We loved having G&G Hart spend Christmas with us (stay tuned for a Christmas blog just as soon as I can get the pictures off my new camera... )

7 is Heaven.

This morning my mom called and told her what a miracle she is, her response? "I know!"

Love this girl. Happy Birthday Sweet Genevieve Noelle!

They said we might get some snow...

This is the bread aisle at Food Lion last night.

People out here freak out when they think it might snow!

We did get snow though and have had a wonderful day watching it fall. Tomorrow we get to conduct our own church because it has been cancelled! We are such wusses. I love it. :)



I think Michael was pouting because he accidently face planted. He was being silly, no worries. I think Eve came in once crying because she'd thrown a snowball at her own face.... We need snow more often so they get the hang of it!

Mary? Is that you?

Yesterday the kids and I were running (literally- we move fast so Henry doesn't' scream and climb out of the cart) through K-Mart. We walked past a woman wearing a lovely head covering and a flowing outfit... I wish I knew more about the names of these garments, but I don't and I have to go make cookies so I can't google. Anyway, Lily stopped running and turned to her, looked at her and said "MOMMY! Is that Mary? She is soooo beautiful."

:) The sweet young woman was totally flattered. Thank goodness. You never know what your 4 year old will say. At the drive through she commented on the beautiful brown skin the girl had. I don't think that was offensive. I hope not!

Two very different attempts at getting the Christmas spirit.

First: Laughter! My sweet friend with 5 little ones posted this on her blog last year. I found it really really funny. Enjoy.



Second: My mom posted this on facebook and it struck me how important it is to not only get ready for Christmas (physically-- decorations, food, gifts bought, errands run) but to get ready for Christmas Spiritually. I love this. I love the look on Mary's face as she kisses the newborn babe-- so much tenderness. Enjoy.

Christmas Prank Gone Wrong.

Everybody I know needs to laugh more. Please click this and laugh. It is worth it. Happy December~

http://wtfcalls.net/reddit/xmas_light_wtf.php

Christmas Wisdom

CHRISTMAS TIP #1
First of all, picture in your minds a darling picture of me, hair and makeup perfect, Christmas apron on, kneeling in front of the tree, lights from hell to breakfast, half the tree webbed in lights, suddenly gone dark for no apparent reason and a GIANT scowl on my face. This is the picture I wouldn't let my mom take because somewhere in the mess of those lights I'd lost my sense of humor.

I hopped up, made a batch of rolls and found my Christmas spirit again and set to work fixing all the lights by changing fuses... and then I thought "I SHOULD SHARE THIS KNOWLEDGE WITH THE WORLD!" So here it goes:

I'm guessing I'm not the only one who battles with the lights. Here is what you do: You know that little plastic bag attatched to the string of lights that is annoying? It has two little fuses in it and a light bulb or two. Save those fuses. On the green plug is a little arrow that says Open or something like that. It slides open so the "door" is right next to the prongs you stick in the outlet... sometimes you have to use the tip of a knife to get it to open, but it is worth the effort. Tip it over and dump out the old fuses. Drop the 2 new fuses in. (You might be able to only replace 1 fuse, I think you can tell if it is blown...) Then slide it closed and plug them in again. It almost always works for me! HOORAY! :) This is much easier than undecorating the tree or living with a "dark spot" till January.


CHRISTMAS TIP #2

You know how your mom always told you Satan works hardest on Sunday mornings and times when you are about to make a really great big choice in your life? (Baptism, marriage, going to the temple... getting family pictures taken! lol ok, maybe not that last one, but it sure feels like it) Anyway, I think the same goes for Christmas. At the rate the adversary is working in my life, this Christmas must have the potential to be AMAZING. I feel distracted, annoyed, quick to frustration and so amazingly overwhelmed. I don't really have the "Tip" part of this figured out, but at least I recognized the problem! I am listening to good music, seeking out minutes to read scriptures and uplifting Christmas stories, praying a whole lot and trying to find time for the important things... I bet You all have it figured out. Please feel free to impart your wisdom in a comment. :)

One week ago this morning...

July 2006

We were all sitting around the breakfast table, planning our schedule of when to bake what so thanksgiving dinner would be done on time and all warm at the same time. Then the phone rang.

It has struck me how much your perspective can change in one minute. Dave's dad, David W. Austin, passed away early on Thanksgiving morning. Our week has continued on,; days full of laughter and fun and happiness, decorating for Christmas, sharing thoughts about Grandpa and immense gratitude for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our understanding of the Plan of Salvation.

Today David S. and David M. (Michael) will head out to pay their respects to David W. What a great man he was. Kristen and Robin have written beautiful posts about their dad, they are more eloquent than me, you should read them. (http://tangerinetulips.blogspot.com/ and http://robinblogz.blogspot.com/) I feel blessed to have known Dave and had his influence in my life and the lives of my husband and children.