HONEST ABE

Here's Megan dressed up like Abraham Lincoln. She had to do a biography in school and she chose to do it on Abe. After the biography, she did an oral presentation on him and had to dress up for it. Luckily, we borrowed this cool beard and hat from our friend. The good news is that she ended up getting an A+ on the biography and the presentation. Yeah!

Too Hard to Say Good-bye

Well, this is not the greatest picture of my Grandma but it was a recent one I had. Grandma got into a car accident a few days before Christmas and unfortunately never was able to fully recover and return home. She was 91 and lived a great life yet I still few she was "robbed" of years. I was already making plans for her 100th birthday. Although the past 2 months of watching her in the hosptial and going through lots of ups and downs was difficult, I feel it was a blessing for us to be able to be with her so much during the end of her life. My family decided it was time for her to come home and stop trying to make a body stay alive that was ready to die. She came home on a Friday under hospice care and died early Monday morning. I was lucky enough to be with her that weekend and was able to see how peaceful and calm she looked that Sunday prior to her death. The one thing I learned through this process is hospitals are great at keeping people alive and we just don't let people die anymore. Medical help has come so far that it is now easy to keep a body living, but the question comes is it really living? I guess because I believe I will see her again it doesn't seem as sad to let someone go. Although I say this, I admit this has been the hardest death I've yet to bear. I cried my eyes out and still whenever I pass by the funeral announcement that says "Passed Away on Feb 25, 2007" I tear up.

Having said this, I do like to remember all the good times we shared. I had the unique opportunity of living within minutes of her. I went to her house every Sunday after church. During those years, we would make up dances to "Skip to my lou" while Bob played his harmonica. She also helped me learn to cook and to draw (although I can't really draw anymore). She was the one I would call when I was running away from home (yes, that happened more than once and I even had a suitcase packed). I also remember her taking me to the Pasadena Mall to go shopping and going to Twohey's for hot fudge sundaes. Its hard to write down a lifetime of memories but seriously she never missed an event in our lives; graduation, birthday's, blessings, baptisms, holidays, baby showers-- it really didn't matter how big or small the event she was always there. That is what will seem the hardest, going to a family party without her. I am happy for her and the reunion I know she is having with other loved ones passed on. I'm sure as much as we wanted her to stay they wanted her there more!

She was such a great example of living life to the fullest! She loved life and loved her family and friends. She was always ready to go and enjoy. I guess what I want to say is I truly loved her and am forever grateful to have had her in my life and in my children's lives.

R.I.P. Darth Vadar

We had to say good bye to our black goldfish, Darth Vadar on Sunday morning. We woke up to him floating around on the bottom of his bowl. I think good 'ole Darth Vadar was the longest pet we were able to keep around. Sadly, I can't even remember when we got him but he did have a friend named Goldie who died about 3 days after we got her. So we are now officially pet-free (just the way Alex likes it). I'm sure the kids will talk him into some kind of pet again...but thats the big question what kind of pet to get? Anyone think they have the perfect idea for a pet, let us know.

Happy Birthday Megan!

Megan turned 9 on Saturday--Feb. 2nd (she likes to say on Groundhog Day). Anyway, I can't believe I have a 9 year old and that she has been baptized for a whole year already. Megan is such a joy to have as a daughter and I wanted to write down a few of the reasons why I love her so much:

• Being the first born, it is because of Megan that I became a mother. After holding her for the first time, I truly understood the meaning of unconditional love.
• She always tries her best! Whether at school, sports, church assignments, whatever it is she has this desire to always try her best.
• She is a very loyal friend. If you're a friend of Megan's, you will be for life!
• She is very obedient. This quality mixed with the one about doing her best makes her a teacher's dream to have in class. Every teacher she has had this far in her young life has made it a point to either tell me or write me how much they love having Megan in their class.
• She somehow tolerates her brothers--trust me its not always easy but I can tell you they do love her.

So here's to our little "meggy moo-moo" -- Happy Birthday, I love you!

Thank You, Kari

As you can see, I have a fun new header for my blog. This is from my talented and beautiful cousin Kari! Thanks so much...I told her I'd start blogging more once I had a cute header so now I'm ready to go! More posts to come...

ONE OF MY FAVORITE'S

I had seen this quote years ago and loved it and just came across it the other night looking through some old Christmas books of mine. I thought I'd share it with you.

This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.
-President Howard W. Hunter

San Fransico Trip

Alex and I went away for the weekend to San Fransico. We left the kids with my parents and we had such a great time! It was great to be together--just the two of us! We were able to meet up with some old friends while there. We went to Tiffany and John's to meet their twins and remember old times and then we were off to see Brett and Kathryn for dinner. We had such a great time, laughing and remembering our days in Glendale together. We rented bikes and biked all around the city, across the Golden Gate Bridge and into the city of Sausalito. What a great city! Then we were off to Alcatraz, which was the favorite of Alex's. It was super interesting and there are a couple inmates still missing (which made it all the more creepy and exciting). We had fun doing some shopping in that great city of shopping. I've never seen such a HUGE Old Navy! It was fun to have all the high fashion stores together with chain stores so we could mingle in and out of whatever. Our last dinner was a recommendation from Alex's sister Courtney. She said we HAD to go to Tomasos's. This is a little restaurant in the strip-club area of town ( a little sketchy). It ended up being the most fun ever. We were told by the hostess that you have to try their pizza and lasagna (what they are famous for)--she was right...the best pizza we have ever had. We even met some people there and we ended up sharing food with them. Too funny! It was a great trip. We loved every bit of it and can't wait to get back.