Cute Happenings! Made me Laugh!

This week has been a little stressful, not only getting my daughter Danielle ready for her trip to Maryland but my oldest daughter Brenna and her two daughters, Kaitlyn and Kyla were off on a trip of there own to California to visit Brenna's dad for a week. My children are everything to me, that includes my granddaughters. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't either talk to one of them, (mainly the out of state daughters) or see them. I can honestly say that I am addicted to my grandchildren. I know that sounds terrible, but they bring me such innocent and wonderful joy!

But anyway, last night (Thursday night) I had made up little bags for KD and Kyla with coloring books, crayons, cookies, my little ponies, juice, etc. And I made up one for Brenna too of course. This is something I did for my kids when they flew to California to visit my dad. Anyway, KD told me thank you but Kyla was asleep. Kyla (19 months old) called me this morning doing her jabbering to say I am sure, thank you grandma. Then Kaitlyn called me later in the morning, from the airport. She told me she was on the plane and she was excited. When I talked to Brenna she said they were waiting in line but KD called it the "plane port". I was tickled that she called me. Then later in the day after 2:30pm Kaitlyn called me again to make sure I knew she was there and safe. Those little calls and thoughts just warm my heart.

Then my sweet daughter Danielle. She is so excited to be going on her trip, she came home, got my big suit case, and piled her clothes in and zippered it...she was ready to go. So tonight I sat down with her in the livingroom and we went through what she had. Actually, she didn't do so bad. But in her backpack, she was trying to take too much with her. So we downsized, got her outfit together for her trip, went over basics, made sure I had her important documents together and I think we are ready. I did get a message from her sister Raelyn, in Maryland that they have reservations for the White House on Thursday. How exciting is that? But I worry about all this over loading her, but I have complete confidence in her sister (Raelyn) that she will be just fine. I am so excited for them both, to spend time together, do some fun things, etc. I am real jealous now.

A Week from Hell...

If there ever could be a week from hell...it was this week. I think the long weekends are harder to deal with sometimes than a regular work week. At least in our family. Not only does it upset the balance of Danielle here at home but it doesn't set a good tone at work for me, because I am thinking of the good times I had over the weekend or just wish I was at home lounging on the couch or actually taking a mid-day nap. Only in my dreams. It's Friday night and I am sitting here at my computer almost falling asleep, but felt I needed to put some words down. I am grateful for my family and for the slack they pick up for me when I am at my lowest. I don't know what I would do without them. Especially when it comes to the care of Danielle.

This is going to be short because I am falling asleep. Love to you all!

My FAS Angel/Danielle

I have to say a few words about my daughter Danielle. What an exceptional young lady she is. Having been choose to be her mother here on earth and for eternity has been a challenge. I knew from the day I grabbed her out of her birth mother's arms that I was in for the journey of my life. Even though my family felt otherwise, I knew. It was testified to me the weekend I was down in Texas for my sister in laws funeral. I was sitting in sacrament, holding this 4 week old angel and the spirit spoke to me so loudly that she was to be my daughter. I also knew then that there would be challenges, but I never imagined how many challenges. Her disabilities became apparent when she was around 3 years of age. We have been involved with counselors and doctors since that age. We have been up and down with so many emotional problems, different medications, even 8 months in the State Hospital in Provo. But as I look at this incredible young lady, I see a different kind of spirit from her. Not one of despair but one of hope. Even though the chips are no in her favor for her future, she has a dream, and as her mother it is my God given job to direct this special spirit daughter.

In the meeting I had with her psychiatrist today, I was told she should even try driving, mainly because of her learning disabilities. But there is a future for college. There are accomodations that the colleges give for kids like her. There is also training that she can start receiving when she is 16 to help her prepare to be on her own someday, how to ride the bus, how to organize her life. She already knows how to take care of herself, she is a great cook, she cooks me breakfast sometimes. So...if anyone who reads this and knows my Danielle, you definately know how special she is. There are so many organizations that educate not only the passerby but mainly for those women who are of conceiving age, do not drink alcohol beverages during pregnancy. One drink can destroy so many brain cells creating Fetal Alcohol Syndrome kids. I ask that we all educate ourselfs and pass the information on. Also we educate ourselfs how to help these special kids and adults with this terrible life disorder. Another organization to get familier with is NAMI. There is a chapter here in Salt Lake.

Danielle and I believe that knowledge is power and the power is in each one of us.

Faith...

What is it about "Faith" that has us as a society constantly questioning ourselfs, our abilities and especially where we are going? I should think that if we were to use our faith the worries would be less, at least my stomach wouldn't be in a constant knot. But as my youngest daughter grows up and is going through her own turmoiled times, I find that my faith is constantly shaken. I want to use my faith to know that Danielle will be fine, that she will have a long and productive life, that she will be able to make good choices. A part of me questions all that, especially when she doesn't use her common sense. But to use my faith, I need to rely on my Father in Heaven to direct not only myself, but Danielle on her journey. And I need to let go and let Jesus take the wheel (as the song goes). My newest worry is having Danielle take a four hour plane trip to Maryland to my daughter's house for two weeks. The four hours on the plane concerns me, will she be okay, will she be able to keep herself entertained, etc. I have talked to her counselor, her psychiatric doctor and it seems to me it is me that has the problem, not Danielle. That should tell me something...it's not her...it's me! So, this is where faith comes in. I just have to know that God in Heaven has a plan and I am not in control, I never was. I need to give up the reins and let someone else drive for me. That should go in every aspect of my life. With my husband, family, work, finances, etc. I know the Lord will NEVER give me anything that I can't handle. I know that Danielle is an amazing young lady. She has overcome so much in her life, all the challenges, her disabilities and especially living with her mom. She has this wonderful talent with art. She can imagine anything, close her eyes, think it, then draw it. Another gift is her song/poem writing. I am amazed at what comes from her. I consider myself the luckiest mom to have raised her.

Spring time and new beginnings!

There is nothing like springtime, where the winter finally wears off, the snow starts to melt and it is a joy to be outside, listening to the birds first thing in the morning when I wake up. It's a gift from God. There are other gifts of God that surround us each day. My family is one of them. I am blessed to have four beautiful daughters and two extra beautiful granddaughters. Just recently, during General Conference weekend, we took a trip out to the Knolls, out by Wendover to camp, eat, ride our ATV's and be together as a family. Mike and I have always had out big ATV and felt it was time for Danielle to have her own. So we found a 125cc 4-wheeler and we named it "shortie". At first Danielle was afraid to even get on our monster (we have a Polaris 800 Touring) but she got her gear on and mastered the beast. Then she got on shortie and she never looked back. That coming from a girl with hardly any self confidence. That trip we took our oldest grandaughter, Kaitlyn, with us. She was afraid to get on with grandma but by Sunday she was strapped to me, sitting in front of me with her helmet and gear on having the time of her life. Those moments are so much more cherished than sitting in front of a TV and not enjoying life. The following weekend we decided that Danielle needed more practice time on "Shortie" so we went up to Farmington Canyon with my husband, his brother and Danielle's cousin Shaun. She was doing great until she decided to follow her cousin up a steep hill, she hit a boulder and lost control, toppled over, and her 4-wheeler landed on top of her. I was scared half to death. I drove back to the parking lot to get my car, picked her up and took her to McKay-Dee in Ogden. Nothing bad, she just sprained her knee...doing great and ready to get back up on "Shortie".

When something like that happens it jerks us back to reality about how precious our family is and what they mean to us. I thank God everyday it wasn't anything serious, I actually thought she might have broken her leg, but luckily no. It's also a good reminder to slow down. That's what I love about riding our ATV. Freedom to feel the wind through my hair, to have my husband in front of me, it's special time for him and I. When our daughter Danielle was in the hospital last summer, we bought the ATV to give us something to do, and that machine has brought our marriage together even more. We have always been close, we have been through so many hard times and trials, but we have always been able to stay close to each other. Yes, it's hard being married to a truck driver, especially when he can be gone for up to two weeks at a time but somehow, through everything, we remain true to each other.

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Let the Good Times Roll!

Family...it's that group of people you love to hang around with. It's the people who love you for who and what you are. It's where we feel secure when we are away from the everyday stresses and worries. It's that group of people you call at the last minute and say "what are you doing for dinner" or "hey, let's go four wheeling." That is what we did yesterday. Mike and I got together with our favorite family members and went down to "Five Mile Pass" and drove those trails. It was a gorgeous day, started out cold but within a couple of hours we were taking off our snow gear and just enjoyed the sun, the breeze and family. This one of the things we love to do together, whenever my husband is home we all get together and hit the trails. There is nothing more freeing and exilerating than riding the trails on a mountain side. Mike and I have a wedding anniversary tradition, we take three days off during our annivesary week and go camping up Logan Canyon, Left hand fork, and ride all through those trails, dutch oven cook, spend time alone, then on friday night comes Don and Irene (Mike's brother and my sister in law) and we do a big trail trip on Saturday. We have that set again this year. Then in August is our big family campout where my side of the family and Mike's side get together for the weekend and have lots of fun.

Family...that is where peace comes from, it's that little bit of heaven.