Blessing #23

After being in the hospital for four days with my husband (Please don't be alarmed...he's fine)....There couldn't be a better blessing than my sister's blog with her recent posts about Bertha. Here's the link so that you all call be blessed. http://www.saraslivinthedream.blogspot.com/

Blessing #23..A Humorous Sister to give me a good belly laugh
I guess maybe I am happy that I am sitting in the hospital instead of being pregnant.

Blessing #22

Modern Medicine is a wonderful blessing. Modern Medicine gives people a new lease on life everyday! They are continually coming up with new and improved things and curing diseases and vaccinations to prevent, etc etc. Jeff has really been struggling with his health the last few years and although there have been sometimes when the doctors are as frustrated as we are and throw their hands up as well, most of them have given it their all and have tried to help Jeff. Through our frustrations with it, and them not always knowing how to "heal" him, I am often reminded of something my dad said when he told me one time that that is why they call it a medical "practice". Modern Medicine was able to remove Jeff's Gall Bladder a couple of weeks ago without having to cut across his belly! Modern Medicine helped to prolong my dad's life so that we could be with him a few years longer. I was watching a segment about cancer the other day and they were mentioning that there are some vaccines for some cancers now. It is amazing! What developing minds there are out there. I am grateful for Modern Medicine in my life and that there are people out there with this desire and passion to heal, help and to protect.

Blessing #22...Modern Medicine

Blessing #21

It seems as if I have been able to spend a little more time with all of my brothers a lot this summer and it has been really nice. The older I get, the more that I appreciate the relationships that I have with each of them. None of them are guys that I call every week, or even once a month for that matter, but when we see each other, we have so much fun with one another. I was thinking about all of them other day and each one of them are sooo different. They all have different personalities and bring something unique to the mix, but then there are some similarities as well. We are like a little family "melting pot". It is so much fun to be able to see them all together and to see them interact with one another.

Jon is the oldest and plays that role really well. He is great at being in charge and yet being concerned about what everyone is interested in and about every one's well being. He has always been an active guy that knows how to have a good time. Everyone is drawn to him and wants to be around him. Michael helps me remember what it was like to be a child in our family. He is still a kid at heart and still does and says things that just makes us laugh. I have a lot of great memories of Michael and with Michael and it is fun to joke about those "good ol' days!" Tim is just Tim. He has always been someone who knows who he is and doesn't define himself by what others would think of him or what others would expect of him. I have always loved that about him. He has the greatest laugh too. More like a giggle. Joe is gentle, yet firm in everything that he believes in. There is no arguing with Joe. He loves to talk about things that are a little controversial and hear what others think and feel. Plus he lets you know how HE feels. He is dang adorable with his kids and with his wife Bethany. Ben, Ah Ben. Poor Ben. He seems to be the brunt of a lot of our jokes and will forever be the perpetual youngest child in the family. However, he has one of the kindest hearts that I know and is probably the most sensitive of my brothers. Even though he is focused on himself right now, one day when the time is right, he will idolize his wife and do anything for her within his control because he will love her so much. I also have a brother that I knew here on the Earth for a short time when he was a baby. Christopher only lived short of a couple of months but probably touched my life and continues to do so just as much as all of my other brothers. He was the first experience that I ever had with death and with my own feelings on mortality and of what is to come in the afterlife. Knowing I have a sibling on the other side has always helped me to live a little bit better so that I can be with him again someday.

I am super proud to be a sister to all of these great men! Those who are fathers and spouses are incredible ones and all of them conduct their lives in the way which any sister would be proud. They are all so good at what they do for professions and enjoy many other aspects of their lives (Two of my bros are Professors at BYU)!

Thanks Boys for being such a marvelous blessing in my life!

Blessing # 21...SIX BROTHERS

Teenager!

On August 29th, Jeff and I officially became the proud parents of a TEENAGER!!! Quentin turned thirteen on his birthday and I am full of mixed emotions! First of all, Jeff is getting old!, second....I only have about a third of his time at home with us left! I spent a lot of time reflecting on his birth this year. Probably because we drove by the High School after we registered him for Middle School again this year and realized that he will be going there next year!!! Yikes! Time has flown by! All he wanted for his birthday was a laptop just like his sister, but after the total "Geek Squad" guys explained to me all about video cards on laptops, or lack thereof, he decided that he just wanted to purchase a bunch of Lego Star Wars ships! It was fun to take him shopping. He's adorable! I had also redone his bedroom as part of his birthday and as a surprise to him while he was at Scout camp this summer ( watch for future post).

Words really cannot describe what joy Quentin has brought to our home. I know that all of you know, but he is just plain incredible! I am impressed by him at least once a day! The other day, he told me that he was writing in his journal while he was watching a spider crawl around up his wall and I was like-what what what?? you write in a journal!??? If a mother had the right to read a journal...I would go and snatch it right up and read it while eating some ice cream! He also informed us that he was running for Vice President the other day! What what what? Our shy little Q!?? We helped him make some posters to hang up at school with the photos below. He just keeps surprising us and we love each new corner that we are privileged to turn with our first son and oldest child. Thanks for allowing us to "grow up" with you Quentin!

I don't really freak out about my kids getting older because I enjoy each new stage better than the last! It just keeps getting better! What more could a mother want than a 13 year old that is an amazing example to everyone around him (even his parents), a 10 year old daughter that loves to do everything that I do and wants to do it WITH me, and a small but mighty 6 year old that still wants to give me kisses on the lips and gives a hug that will rock your world! I love these ages and I hope that it just keeps going that way with each new stage!