A Warrior Amidst Adversity

Mothers are warriors. They fight the worst most intense war imaginable. They fight for their children's lives every single day in some way or another. They have casualties again, and again, and are expected to keep fighting. Their lives are bloody, literally. They are not only emotionally connected to everything, but literally, physically connected, and any loss is a loss of part of themselves.

The past month has been a battle. I must fight the fight amidst every kind of push back and adversity. I have renewed strength from the spiritual nourishment I received from General Conference this past week. I love the messages I heard... I believe they were all for me. I am grateful the our church leaders, prophets, seers and revelators. They are truly inspired from our Heavenly Father.

I can appreciate the love our Father in Heaven has for each of us despite our shortcomings and failures. I love my son, despite his shortcomings and failures. He saved my life, now it is my turn to save his!

My Sister Diane

This is for my youngest sister Diane! Today is her 30th birthday. She had a rough beginning into the world, a twinless twin, very premature (3 lbs. 11 oz.), a month in the hospital, never knowing her dad and having 5 moms (1 mom and 4 older sisters).

Today she is a beautiful daughter, sister, mother and wife. She is also a Great Friend, who I love so very much! She makes me laugh, listens, and loves. She is Kind, Generous, Fiesty, Strong willed, Super Smart and Beautiful.

I am 13 1/2 years older than Diane, me being the oldest and she the youngest. Once when Diane was in high school, someone asked me if I was her mom! I didn't know what to think. Looking back on that, I laugh.

Happy, Happy Birthday to you my sweet Diane!

Sibling Rivalry

Will someone please play with me?

Panther sees his shadow, confirming six more weeks of winter!

Sadee telling Panther to stay away from the house!

Sadee is still not a fan of the new addition, Panther. We spent the day at Diane's house on Saturday and Sadee and Panther came along. Panther was locked in the kitchen to prevent any accidents on Diane's carpet and Sadee was allowed in the living area with the rest of us. Panther thought he was in jail. We let them both outside to play and Sadee would not let him up on the patio. She was "yelling" at him and I can only image the lecture she was barking to him. It might have gone something like this: "who invited you here, this is not where you belong, nobody wants you here, please go back to where you came from". She growls at him at "Grandma's Daycare" and won't let him come near the couch if she is sitting next to her grandma. At home if they have both been outside for a potty break, she stands by the front door and won't let him come in. All he wants to do is play with her and she wants NOTHING to do with him. He is definately a PUPPY and wants to play, chew, chew some more, play and run. I thought he would help her be more playful, but all he has done is put her in a BAD mood. Oh the joys of SIBLING RIVALRY!

A New Addition

Well, I never thought I would be writing a post about a new family member. Panther joined us on Monday, February 2nd. Tyler's friend Stephanie from school had a friend who had these puppies for $25. He promised that this was his dog, since Sadee was originally purchased for him, but became my dog. He is a boxer/shih tzu mix. His mom is the boxer and his dad is the shih tzu - a very strange combination! He is 10 weeks old and is almost as big as my princess Sadee girl. It's like having a new born. Tyler has promised me that he will take great care of him and I told him he is on a two week trial. I have never been a fan of bigger dogs since I was bitten when I was 8 and had to have rabies shots. I am sure we will be having many new adventures with new brother dog.

Greetings from Sunny Florida!!!

Well, I have been in sunny Orlando now for 24 hours at our business conference. By no means is this a vacation, but a true working environment away from the office.

A few months ago, my boss approached me as being selected from a few administrative assistants across the country to go and be one of the administrative support staff for our company's annual business conference. What an honor as only the best of the best are chosen to do this. How could I decline such an offer?

I left Denver at on Saturday just after noon and arrived in Orlando at 7:50 last night after a layover in Charlotte, NC. I have writing this post at 11:40 EST and began my day at 8:30 a.m. I got back to my room about 20 minutes ago. The rest of the week, my day will begin at 6:45 a.m. and end about 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. each evening, with just a couple of short breaks. I guess that is the benefits of being chosen - alot of hard work, but I get to meet other admins across the company, network, share ideas, and get away from the office.

The weather forecast for the week is supposed to be phenonemol; however the only time I have been outside is from the airport to the car and the car to the hotel. Maybe once this week I will be able to sneak out and enjoy the Florida sunshine. The resort here is gorgeous. Hopefully I can take some photos and post them when I get back home. The name of the resort is Gaylord Palms. You can check it out at http://www.gaylordpalms.com/.

I will post more if I get the opportunity while I am still here.

Maybe

I received this from a very special friend on Christmas Day and thought I would share it...

1. Maybe... We were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

2. Maybe... when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one which has been opened for us.

3. Maybe... it is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.

4. Maybe... the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

5. Maybe... the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.

6. Maybe... you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.

7. Maybe... there are moments in life when you miss someone - a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child - so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.

8. Maybe... The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a work, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

9. Maybe... you should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person too.

10. Maybe... you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.

11. Maybe... giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.

12. Maybe... happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.

13. Maybe... you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

14. Maybe... you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.

15. Maybe... you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one whi is smiling and everyone around you crying.

Thanks to my awesome friend for sharing this with me.

Happy New Year - 2009

What a wonderful Christmas season we enjoyed. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Diane, Dan and their 2 boys Ty and Blake. It was very fun to be with little kids who are so very excited for Christmas.


Tyler got Rock Band for his WII and an XBox 360 (thanks Santa)! Every year there is a great Santa who brings Tyler his one wish. He got to go shopping with an American Eagle gift card from Grandpa Bill and Grandma Jean and got two new shirts and some new jeans, which are now his new favorite jeans. AE had some great deals after Christmas and so his gift card was well spent.


Tyler is very independent and wants to be with his friends. He is learning to drive and is doing very well. I am not nervous riding with him. He is very cautious and takes my driving tidbits to heart. He usually asks after driving how he did and is open to suggestions.


I am not ready for Tyler to grow up regarding girls. He likes a girl from school that he met last year in his German class. She is in his German class again this year. Tyler spent New Year's Eve at Danielle's house. He also met a girl at his friend Brian's birthday party. Amber came over the Friday after Christmas and had a movie day with Tyler. She had her gall bladder out the week before Christmas and was moving rather slow. He spent part of a day at her house last week.


Tyler will be 16 in 6 months. Luckily he won't have his license for another year, since he just got his permit. I have a little time to prepare for this new chapter in our lives.


I'm looking forward to a new year, new goals and new opportunities.