Book of Mormon - Messiah in America

That's me singing in the choir :)

Brain MRI

I had my brain MRI yesterday. It's kind of like being loaded on a platform and being raised as an offering for alien abductors. You receive earplugs, fitted face mask, and are rolled into a narrow tube just like in the movies. What I didn't get from the movies are the series of VERY loud noises. First the jack hammer, then the wood pecker. Then it's like you are lying very still on the floor of a dance club - not that I would actually know what that feels like, but I have an imagination. The ground beneath you is vibrating and rumbling. The bass drum is pulsing. You are wondering if the machine is TRYING to give you a headache. There's the far away wrapping at a door - is this a test?? Am I supposed to get up and get that? Am I asleep? Then the resounding reverb BOOM BOOM BOOM. Again far away - tap tap tap tap. Calm paaaaaause. BOOOM BOOOM BOOOOM BOOOM.

I am supposed to be very still. Don't smile. Is that a test too? Are they testing to see if I have any sense of humor? Because it's kind of funny. Who made this magnetic NOISY machine? I remain still. I am a good patient. I keep my eyes close because I told them I'm not claustrophobic, but I could probably get rather irritated by the close quarters if I allowed myself to see how confined I was. Instead I'm lying under an open sky. There are color fireworks. I breathe in and out. I should have put a pillow under my back. I am not a back sleeper. I would never just lie on my back on a hard slab for 15 minutes. Be still relax you shoulders, but don't move. Is this almost over? It's got to be almost over. I'm so thirsty. I keep swallowing. The picture is going to be blurry because I keep swallowing. BEEP BEEP Is a big truck backing up? I hope it sees me here lying very still. Did those earplugs pop out of my ears? I hate things in my ears. I'll probably have a headache from the earplugs. The swooshing sound is constant. It's been there the whole time. It makes me think of a baby in the womb listening to it's mother's heart.

I finished the test. They didn't make me do it over. I have the images on a disk to bring to my neurologist. I'm not scheduled to see him for 3 weeks. I should probably see if I can change the appointment.

ARE YOU GETTING EXCITED FOR GAME DAY

Includes video. Let's get fired up. Semi Finals tomorrow.

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She's Still Got IT

Mother of Four. My Dearest Friend. Amazing Woman.

It felt like torture when I insisted that we do a photo shoot together when we were child free for a couple hours. We are tired, wrinkled, and have stretch marks to prove that we are NOT spring chickens any more. We are full time mother hens that still have those blasted other pounds despite our best efforts.

I can't think of anyone more beautiful. Love you.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

One Year Older & Wiser Too....

Happy 39th Birthday to My Sweetie!!!! The week before the big event Jon was packing for a surprise business trip to New Jersey. We didn't know how long he would be gone. So we took the family out to Island's Restaurant to celebrate Dad's birthday. Wow were we able to down a couple Chocolate Lava desserts in a heartbeat.

Thankfully Jon was only gone a few days and not a few weeks. He returned for his actual birthday on August 24th which meant that we need to have an actual homemade birthday cake for him. His request was an ice cream cake. Mom's creations: a Snicker's Ice Cream Cake. He got to have FIVE candles - one from each of us :)

Jessica in her sweet style was the only one with a prepared gift. Wish I could find the video clip. She thought of EVERYTHING.

BASKETBALL MANIA

I am one PROUD Mom. We attended FOUR games on Saturday. Each team had to keep on winning to make it to the semi-finals. James and Jacob have each shown AMAZING improvement. I can't wait to share some of the video clips. Here's a teaser for now. Enjoy!!!

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The Root 66 Garden

Our church is supporting the Root 66 Community Garden. We are currently in the running for a $50,000 grant from Pepsi. The money would be used to fix a well so the plants can be watered.

Will you help us win by texting a vote? It only takes a minute - even faster if you are a whiz a texting.

Send to: 73744 (that's the whole phone number)

Message: 109075

If it went through you will immediately get a text back saying, "thank you for your vote."

You can text vote ONCE per day in September.

We have to make it to the 10 ten. We are in the sixties. We've got to get LOTS more votes.

Updating Address Book

Today I was trying to enter my Grandma's new address at LuRee's Legacy so I can find it easily when I send her notes. But I got all upset when I had to delete "Grandpa" off the listing on Belmont Drive. I should have just made a whole new contact card.

I went to his funeral and everything, but I've been in complete denial that he's actually passed on. I only see him once maybe twice a year anyway. I guess I keep figuring that I'll just see him next visit. I don't plan on visiting the Spirit World anytime soon. I worry about my Grandma. I worry about my Dad who always looked to his father for advice. It's kind of surreal.

Here's the slideshow I put together of our day to Honor Grandpa:

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My Grandpa Graduated

For those of you who don't know, my Grandpa Ottley graduated from this life to the next late Wednesday night. After a wonderful time in Pinto Utah with Grandma and extended family celebrating his 89th birthday, he had a bad fall and sustained injuries to his brain. Surrounded by music, family, love, tears, and support - even the urgings of an eternal spouse to go along - "I'll be there soon" he continued his journey to be greeted by our cousin Jody, his brothers Glen & Warren, his parents, and many others.

This was the image I was losing sleep over. I couldn't find it. These are hands of service - service to God, to country, to family, to friends. These hands scooped ice cream, tended to plants, pleated draperies, held babies, administered priesthood blessings, built gazebos, sheds, greenhouses, and playhouses, and navigated keyboards to create beautiful writings. I cherish that I've felt his arms encircle me and his hands on my head to bless me. I can finally catch my breath because I found the image that symbolizes all that you are, all that you inspire me to be, and all that you carry on with you. I love you Grandpa!

Others we Love:

Lunches on the Patio at the Millcreek Canyon House (LuAyne Heights)

Sitting in Kaysville Home & Family Tree Wall:

Grandma & Grandpa Great came to Jacob's baptism in Utah

Eight on Wednesday Morning

1. I like that my boys are working on the cooking merit badge. I've had help in the kitchen for the last couple days. This morning they are making Danish aebleskivers. Jacob basically sent me packing from the kitchen which was nice. James takes his turn like a champ too. About a dozen of them still had batter in the center, but they laughed about them being cream filled.

2. I had to MAKE Jessica go back to school shopping with me. "Can't you just go buy it and if it doesn't fit you can get your money back?" I gave her a two hour time limit and bribed her with treats. We did find some jeans and a pair of bermudas. I was hoping to find more shorts since it's so hot. She has a hard time with all the button closures so we are on the hunt for longer shorts that fit a curvy figure with snaps :) It's a painful process. I think she is going to have to embrace her feminine side and wear more skirts until it cools off.

****interrupted. My photo frames were just shattered by kids throwing things at each other**

3. I purchased my ticket to Utah for my 20th High School reunion and planned to return LATE Sunday night so I could spend the day with my Grandparents. I haven't seen them since last year. Now it seems that Grandpa will pass before I get there. That makes me feel sad. I've been thinking about all the years I've known him and how much I love him. I guess grandma might need my visit now even more.

4. Summer has been very hard. The constant headaches, changing medications, dealing with side effects, detoxing my system.... just so draining. It's been very difficult to feel like myself and to be a good mom. I had hoped to do so much more with my kids. I need them back in school so there are some hours without chaos swirling around me. It's very pathetic, but true.

5. On pasta nights I drink green fruit smoothies instead. I just really hate pasta.

6. I've been re-reading the Children of the Promise Series. I'm just finishing book 5 now. It's historical fiction set during World War 2. If I retain any facts about the war, it's because I've followed fictional characters - a soldier, a prisoner of war, a nurse in Pearl Harbor, a German family that resisted the Nazis - each telling his or her story. I can't imagine living during that time, but both sets of my grandparents did. It's really humbling.

7. Our boys are playing basketball again this summer. They both are on very good teams. It is so fun for me to see them play. They are the tall guys on their teams - the rebounders. It's been fun watching them play with my brothers and dad over the summer.

8. I've been helping with the music with the Primary children at church for the last two weeks. It's been a lot of fun - especially working with the older children. I love music. We were working on a tricky song and they sang with all their hearts and it made me feel so proud of them.