My Big Brother Mitch

Mitch is definitely the comedian in my family. He makes every situation he's faced with into a comedy routine. I think that is one of his biggest assets. No matter how serious things are you can't help but smile and laugh when he's around.

When he told me he had been diagnosed with leukemia over a year ago I was scared to death. I had already lost my sister Jeanette at 38 years old to that disease and have another sister (Shelly) that is in remission for the second time.

He has remained the funny lighthearted guy we all love through out his battle. He has been lucky enough to have not felt ill so far, but it has progressed to the point of him needing a stem cell transplant now and he will be stuck in the hospital for several months. I have had a cold so I have not been able to go down to the Huntsman Center to see him yet but I have talked to him on the phone a few times. He is still as funny as ever. I want to send him all my love and good thoughts as he continues his battle.

LOVE YOU MITCH!!

Well, we are settling into our little house and turning it into a home. The more we get it put together the more homey it feels. I didn't really like it because it is sooooo small but, it's growing on me. It's so cozy and I'm starting to change my mind about it now. I love sitting on our covered patio during the rain with a piping hot cup of coffee. There must be a lot of crickets around because when the sun is setting they are so loud. I find their chirpping very relaxing. On a totally different note, I want to send love and light to my family who have been dealing with a few medical issues lately. I decided that if I made a small prayer request maybe they would see a little silver lining or get some pain relief. I am a true believer of the power of prayer. I am asking you to say a little prayer for my nieces Amanda and Tiffanie in regards to their pregnancies. My sisters father in law who has been ill, and my brother Mitch who was admitted to the hospital yesterday because he is having complications due to leukemia. ~Thanks

A letter to Aubrey ~

You were my first sweet little girl and it took what seemed like FOREVER to get you here. I married your dad when I was 18 and I knew I wanted a baby right away. We tried and tried and after 2 years and 2 miscarriages I finally got my wish! I remember your birth like it was yesterday. I was due on October 18th which was the day before the opening of the deer hunt. Your funny dad was determined you would be born either on or before the due date because he wanted to go hunting. I woke up on Friday the 18th and wasn't feeling very well. I just felt strange and was having a few little cramps. Well... Dad was determined like I said and insisted on taking me to the hospital so I took a shower, got dressed and off we went to the hospital. We got there and they put all the monitors on me. Sure enough I was having contractions. It was a long day to say the least. the contractions got closer and closer together and were really starting to hurt but I wasn't really dilating very fast. They kept saying I had to be dilated to a 5 before I could get the epidural. UGHH was all I could think. Finally about midnight they gave me a shot to help me relax and told me to try and get some sleep. It didn't work. Saturday morning dad left to run up the mountain for a bit of hunting. He would run between the hospital and the mountain for the entire morning. at about 11:30 am your heartbeat dropped drastically and they did a PH test on you to find out how much oxygen you were getting. You weren't getting enough and they said they needed to do an emergency C-Section. I was so freakin' scared and dad was not there. My mom called and found dad. He barely made back to the hospital in time. Back then they didn't tell you what you were having but I wanted a little girl and once again my wish was granted!! I remember the first time I held you in my arms. I really didn't imagine the immense joy I would feel. I had no idea I could love anyone that much until that moment. I just stared at you constantly, not believing you could possibly be mine. You were an absolutely beautiful baby. As you've grown my love for you has also grown. You have become an exceptional young woman and are a fabulous mother. I am so proud of you and I love you more than words could say. It's been hard for me to let go but I'm working really hard at it. I miss having you just be there when ever I wanted you to be. Be good to yourself and remember I am ALWAYS just a phone call away. Take care of your family they are the most precious gift you will ever recieve. I thank God for giving me such a wonderful family every day!! Sending all my love, huggs and kisses to you, Mom P.S. ummm I hate to complain but I haven't seen any pictures of our sweet Dillybop for awhile (hint- hint)

MOVING! MOVING!! MOVING!!!~~~

I swear I truly HATE moving.

We started moving Tuesday evening and are still trying to get finished up. I think we will be done tonight (or I really really hope to be anyway). Barney and I are old and I really have to have lots of breaks but we have kept plugging away each day and by golly I can see a light at the end of the tunnel now. Saturday we had a huge yard sale and moved at the same time. We are going from a three bedroom house with a family room to a TINY one bedroom cottage with no family room soooo we had a lot of extra furniture and clutter that just had to go. The yard sale was a success and we got rid of tons of stuff (thank God!!) Sunday it rained and rained which slowed us down quite a bit. It was also my sweet niece Tiffanie's baby shower and there was NO WAY I was going to miss that. We were supposed to be finished yesterday. Oh well you can only do so much.

I have been doing a lot of moping, whining and, complaining about this move but I know it was the right move for us right now. One of the many things making me mope around was the fact that I had got the sweetest little chihuahua puppy named Lizzy and I was forced to give her up. My sister Kari gave her to me and I was so freakin' happy about it. Kari was going to take her back but I wasn't going to be able to see her much. Well it all turned out, my sister in law Diane has been aching for a puppy for... Oh...hmmm... well, for a very long time. She fell in love with Lizzy (of course, who wouldn't) She started working on Alan immediately. He said no many many times but she must have been pretty persistent because Saturday night as we were packing and moving, Diane and Alan came down. Diane came in scooped Lizzy up and said "I'm really your mom now!!" Earlier in the day she had come down to our yard sale and as she and Lizzy gave kisses to each other, she told my daughter Carson that she was pretending to be Lizzy's new mom....LOL It was so sweet and it melted my heart to see Diane sooooooooooo happy. Thanks for letting Lizzy become part of your family Alan and Diane it will be so great to be able to see her regularly still and know that she is in such a great loving home. Love you guys!!

We found us a house!!

It's a cute little tiny 1 bedroom house just up around the corner from where we are now. It's just right for Barney and I. We're going to start moving ASAP and our plan is to be done by Sunday night. We have a lot to get rid of so we plan on having a huge yard sale Friday and Saturday. Hopefully everything will go!! I really don't want to have to haul it off. Come on over and buy buy buy!! lol