Faith and Prayer

Today was a day that I never wanted to come. I have blogged about Baby Gracie before. She was born in March last year. She is the daughter of a good friend of mine, Michele and Tom Gledhill.(Baby Gracie's blog: thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com) My heart is just aching for them. They have to say goodbye to their sweet baby girl today. Last year at this time I would sit at the computer and just ball my eyes out reading about the ups and downs that they were going through with Gracie. Then I would talk with my dad, mom, or family member about the difficult time my dad was having trying to recover from so many health problems. Well, today I have all of those feelings back and I surely wasn't good for much today. I was crying or on the vurge of crying all day. My heart goes out to Michele and Tom and their three other kids. I can't imagine saying goodbye to any of my children---even knowing what I know, and the Faith I have that I know there is life after death. It was hard enough to deal with my dad's death--but he had a good 75 years! I can't imagine the rough road ahead that this sweet family will have. But, I do know that Faith and Prayer is what will get them through the tough times ahead. I think it has been what has gotten them this far. So many people have been praying for sweet Gracie and the Gledhill family. And, sweet baby Gracie has touched so many hearts and homes. It is truly amazing that in her short 11 months, by her sweet spirit she has had the most amazing impact and has truly touched so many. I felt her sweet spirit when I saw her for the first time in her hospital room. I will never forget the feeling I had as I entered the PICU and then her room. She was so sweet just lying there asleep. Here spirit so strong. Baby Gracie was born with a severe heart defect, HLHS. They knew about this before she was born. She had her first sugery about 4 days old. That night they almost lost her. They thought they were going to have to say goodbye then, but she fought to stay here and is a true miracle baby. There have been many ups and downs, and Michele and Tom have spent countless hours at her bedside in the hospital and caring for her at home. It pains me to think of the road ahead for them. Michele has so amazingly taken care of Gracie's medical needs 24/7. She had to constantly be on top of things--like every 1/2 hour doing something for Gracie. I worry for my friend. What is she going to do during those "free" moments of time. I worry for Tom and the kids too. It is going to be so difficult for them all. They loved that baby and were so happy to have her as part of their family. It is hard to think that something so wonderful has to come to an end. But, we know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. The plan for Gracie's earthly experience was unfortunately short, but yet we know---thank goodness---that she is with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. What a comforting feeling to have that testimony and knowledge.
So, I guess I would just like to remind myself that Faith and Prayer is what can get us through our difficult times and that we are all children of our Father in Heaven and he loves us, and he knows each one of us individually. He has a plan for each one of us, our own unique plan. I know it pains him to see us go through difficult times and to watch us suffer. But, he knows what is best for us and knows what we need to be able to learn and grow to become like him.

Please keep the Gledhill family in your thoughts and prayers.

60 something!!

Yes, believe it or not! We have been in the single digits for a while now, and Saturday came with 60+ degrees! (we have crazy swings in temp here) It was great! After Sam and Shelby's B-ball games we were outside washing the cars and playing. It was so nice to be out in the fresh air! It reminded me of a couple good days we had durring the Christmas break. Right before the kids went back to school we had a couple good days to play outside, and without coats! One of those days Sam decided he wanted to get the kids on the street together for a lemonade stand, so they all got together and made signs and hauled the table and such down to the corner. They were really cute about trying to get people's attention as they drove by. They had a blast and made $17 and were so proud. They couldn't believe they made so much--and frankly I couldn't either! They all decided they should give it to charity and decided on one of the local hospitals. So, here are some pictures from that fun filled day.

All I want for Christmas!

The other night Shelby lost another tooth! Now she can sing the song--"All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth!" And, apparently she has really wanted this to happen. I was cleaning up in her room and came across this note she had written to the Tooth Fairy! :) It says: "Dear toth firey, pleys poph (poof) my two front teeth out. Love, Shelby" I thought it was pretty cute!

OUR FIRST SNOW!

Well, we woke up yesterday, Sunday, to our first snow! The kids were super excited. So, of course they threw on their snow clothes and played for a bit before church and then again after church when they were able to make their snowman. Sam was determined to make the snowman, eventhough we only got an inch or two. It was pretty cold and windy, but the snowman got built and Sam was a happy boy! :) Then, or course, they came in for hot chocolate---made with Shelby's Cocoa Motion! It's great! You just put cocoa and milk in and turn it on and in minutes you have frothy, hot chocolate! Great present! (Walmart)


It seems funny that it is just instantly cold and we have snow. Just last week for Thanksgiving it was beautiful and warm. The kids were able to play outside on Thanksgiving day and we had a fun holiday. We were able to celebrate it with my cousin's family and two families from the ward. I was worried because I haven't cooked turkey very much, but my turkey turned out awesome! We couldn't even cut it because it was just falling off the bone! So yummy!
Can't let this holiday go by without thinking about what we are so grateful for. I think the biggest thing Tom and I have talked about lately is that we are so grateful for Tom's great job. You never know when that can be gone. It seems so many around us are losing their jobs. Another thing we are so grateful for is our little family. They were definitely worth waiting for! How lost we would be without them. Each one has their place and things they add to the family. And, we are so very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the happiness it brings!

Sidenote--yes, Sam is growing his hair out again! Needless to say, my favorite Christmas present this year will definitely be the haircut I get to give on Christmas day! :) Tom and Sam want to grow "the bush" until Christmas when Troy's family will be here to check it out! :)

POWER!!! Pilates!

Ok, I am not a "class" exerciser---I kind of like to do my own thing. But, as I was on the elliptical the other day, I saw a friend doing this class. It looked very interesting and I could tell they were working lots of different muscle groups. So, after class my friend convinced me to try it yesterday. Well, I was a little skeptical because if I took an hour to exercise, I wanted to make sure I got my heart rate up and sweat enough. Well, let me tell you! I definitely got my heart beat up and even had to concentrate a couple times to make sure I was breathing! And, yes--I was dripping with sweat. I wasn't even able to keep up the whole time because I was DYING! I think I worked some muscles that maybe I didn't know I had!!! :) And today, yep! I am feeling the pain! But, it is good pain, right?! :) So, if you are looking for a great workout, try Power (cardio) Pilates! I'm sold! :)

P.S. I hope to someday get caught up with the blogging I haven't done. So not good at the whole blogging thing, however--it has gotten me to take a lot more pictures! :)

Goin' Private!!

Just to let who ever might read this---I have decided to do the very thing I should have done from the beginning! I'm taking the blog private. So, let me know your email if you're interested in getting an invite. :) I will go private in a couple of weeks. Thanks for all your fun comments. It always brightens our day to get a new comment! Hope all is well with everyone! I hope to have some delayed posts up soon---just too busy right now!

We've got a Chirper!!

Ok, I just have to say that I hate the chirping sound of a smoke alarm! And, how come it always happens for the first time in the middle of the night??!!! And, when your husband is out of town!!! :) I had just been woken up by the sound of our sprinklers going on---oops, we forgot to shut them off! And with all the rain we've had, the sump pump had already been going on. So I was the lucky one to get up and go down to the garage to turn them off. Then I just get back to sleep and I hear "the CHIRP!" So I get up walk around the house and can't figure out which one is making that annoying noise. (I have never been able to tell direction of sound well) Finally I decide to just shut everyone's doors and try to go back to sleep. Well, then Shelby wakes up and asks if there is a fire. I get her back in bed, go to my room and shut the door. I lay down and realize that it could be the CO2 detectors because that has happened to me before. And, I knew I would be so bugged if that was the case and I just tried to sleep through it. I checked those, but they were fine, but I decided to take out the battery anyway. So, I go back to bed and finally get back to sleep. Then about an hour later the boys wake up and come into bed with me and they can't sleep because of "the CHIRP!" and neither can I!!! What a crazy night! I was thinking though, that I was lucky that I wasn't up with a little baby, trying to feed-change and such while being half asleep and wondering if the baby would go back to sleep and for how long! So glad those days are over!!! I need sleep--so not sure how I made it some nights. I still remember walking with my friend Wendy in CO and some mornings telling her the many times I had gotten up with Matt and not sure I even got any sleep. With Sam it was easy--he slept through the night at 6 weeks--until night tares came at 2 years old. And, Shelby---well, I just remember nursing and falling asleep and then changing her from her bed-to swing-to car seat-to bouncy chair. (anything to have her sleep!) :)
And, of course the "CHIRP!" is in the boys bedroom---with vaulted ceilings!!! And, yes, Tom is still out of town until about 10:00 tonight!!! So, yes---it is me who gets to get the big ladder and haul it up and down the stairs!! Oh, well, maybe I can count that as my exercise today!!! :)