Welcome Fall!

I  realize it has been awhile since I've posted. However, in my defense, I have been working, upkeeping a class blog, oh and trying to manage life.  Last April, Angela and I were diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I considered keeping a blog of this experience, but there are millions. Or I could keep everyone  updated on life with a Fibromyalgia child, or how about an Asperger husband? And then I thought, well who the heck doesn't have issues in life?And don't forget my total disgust with the judicial system and cps.But I digress.
   No worries, we are all alive and well. We are learning to adjust to all of our inadequacies. We are learning patience. We are learning to trust in the Lord. Always learning.
   As we reach the year mark of Braydon being taken from Tab, I look back and feel much pain. But I also can see that life has been forced to slow down around  us.  Because of this, we can observe more things that are happening and make better judgements on how we will react to them in our lives. Reactions are a choice. Just as we have agency to choose between right and wrong. We have been given the agency to choose how will react to things that happen to us. It makes a difference. A difference between that horrible pain in your gut or the ability to just breathe.
   And so I choose to be appreciative of my issues. They will help me grow. And as I age, maybe I will have the wisdom and experience to be able to be that listening ear that my children and grandchildren will need in the coming years.It's all about acceptance, i guess.
    

Starkle, Starkle, Little Tink

    My dad was always singing a song I had never heard before or reciting funny stuff that I thought he had invented himself for most of my life. I think he took some creative license and changed things up or edited a few for me. He used to say to me(to the meter of twinkle twinkle little star):

              Starkle, starkle little twink

              Who the heck you are I think

              Way up in the high so sky

              Yous look big, huh?

   So, of course, I have recited it as such to my children. Well Google, being the infinite source of all knowledge(within reason), has led me to a poem that must have influenced my father's adaptation. It's a drinking poem.

Ha.ha. So here it is for my kids. Edit it as you wish or keep the Sam Hill version. Oh! And Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Starkle starkle little twink
who the heck you are I think
I'm not under what you call
the alcofluence of incohol
I'm just a little slort of sheep
I'm not drunk like tinkle peep
I don't know who is me yet
but the drunker I stand here the longer I get
Just give me one more drink to fill me cup
'cuz I got all day sober to Sunday up.

I wasn't expected, I was selected!!

     So today is my birthday. When I was younger, birthdays meant presents, maybe a party and usually a special day all around. When I started having children, I started thinking about the sacrifices that were made by others to make sure I could have a multitude of  Happy Birthdays. Each year of my life I realize the sacrifice and love of two beautiful women whom, for whatever reason, decided to exhibit the greatest love upon my entrance into the world. One mother gave me up and one mother took me home.I really can't think of anything more self-less than these two actions. As I ponder on the experiences of each of these women on my birthday, I am ever grateful for the choices made, painful and joyful, and for the sincere desire by each to choose the best for me when I was not yet old enough to make the choice myself. Sure, it's my birthday-but not really mine alone. It is a day to celebrate the love I hold in my heart for my two beautiful mothers. Thanks moms!

.....and I'm a Mormon.

    In light of all that goes on in life, including rumors of the Savior appearing any day now, I thought it timely to do something I've been meaning to do.
    I believe in Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. I believe that Christ atoned for our sins. He balanced the scales of justice. He made it possible that we would return to our Father if we so choose. Which brings me to the topic of agency. I believe that we chose to come to this earth to receive a body and to choose whom we would serve.I know that each of is a divine child of our Heavenly Father. I know there is a plan for each of us on this earth. We were not thrown down here out of the blue to struggle for no apparent reason.We are here to learn and grow.  I believe that families can be together forever through the sealing ordinances in the Holy Temple. These ordinances and others are done through the holy power of the priesthood, once taken from the earth through the deaths of the apostles and through Joseph Smith, a young, curious and prayerful teenage boy, these priesthood powers were restored to the earth. I believe that no ordinance is sealed both in heaven and earth unless done through this priesthood power. I know that personal revelation exists as well as revelation through a living prophet on the earth today. That through this prophet and previous prophets we can find the wisdom and the faith to be strong and continue in the difficult times on earth. I believe the Book of Mormon to be a true record of a people who saw the Savior and learned at his feet as did the apostles.And yes, I believe that Sunday is a holy day. The day of rest. I try to attend my meetings because I want to, not because I have to. I need the spiritual uplift for the week to come. So quite frankly, it's a bit selfish on my part. Should I repent? That's an option through the atonement. So there it is. These are some things that I believe. Why and How? Because I have read the scriptures, studied and prayed. I have felt the Holy Spirit witness to me that these things are true. It is the only way to truly know. Now you know. :)
P.S. It's true. I don't drink coffee or tea.

My Mommy really did hang the moon!

  Moms are awesome. You may disagree, but my mom is the very best. She is the perfect combination of wisdom, patience, tolerance and very non-dramatic. Quite the opposite of myself. Ha.Ha. I can't even count how many times I've arrived at her door in tears only to have her calmly declare that everything will be okay.How does she do that? Oh yeah, she's been through just about all of it and has learned that there is no use stressing over something out of your control. Duh.So she is super resilient or Germans really are tough as nails. Probably both. Just like winter wheat in Kansas! Enough with analogies. I love my mom.I want to be her when I grow up. Most people ask "what would Jesus do?". I do that , but usually I ask, "what would mommy do?". Happy Mother's Day, mom!

mom and me aprons!

Check out this blog for the cutest apron giveaway~Hurry!

Simplee Darling: Giveaway!!!!!!

http://simplee-darling.blogspot.com/2011..

Ain't nothin normal bout this family!

Parting is such sweet sorrow........

Okay, so in the last month we have discovered that Norm has Asberger's and I have Celiac Disease. So I lovingly call him my Ass Berger and he calls me his Silly Ass.. Ha!Ha!Ha! The kids think we've lost our minds. One might think that discovering such diagnosis' might bring on a bit of depression and discouragement. In fact, it is the complete opposite! We have explanations for why we have lost our minds!
    I won't bore you with details of the said afflictions. You can google them yourselves as I am not competent enough to create a link for you to Wikipedia. Sorry. My sister, Paula, can teach me how after she reads this!  I will tell you that much like admitting you have a problem is the first step in fixing it, so is knowing your body has had a problem that has contributed to your life long search for feeling well both emotionally and physically.
    I remember the day that my daughter was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Well, she diagnosed it and the doctor confirmed it. It was like the door finally opened and we could all breathe again. Great! We know the name of it . Now,  how do we live with it? Much easier to have the knowledge than not.
    So, good-bye gluten containing food items, good-bye thinking I've lost my mind because I didn't know the diswasher had only one way to be loaded.(In his asberger mind this makes sense).There are some explanations for the nutty things that go on around here!

     Even better, they are hereditary. Our gift to you, my children! Better to be prepared than spend a lifetime wondering what's wrong with you! So goodbye pastries, Golden Corral rolls, and otherwise wheat filled food. Goodbye believing that one day my lack of organization will seem charming to my husband. Hello, new adventure with plausible solutions all around!
Kathy

  


           

1st Annual Nye Lady's Tea party!!,

    What's better than planning something spectacular and then making it happen?! Not much. Congratulations to Stephanie for making a dream come true by throwing a fabulous tea party.  We had an awesome time. Even though most of us don't drink tea, we managed to fill up on juice and brunch fare. 

     Sun dresses and floppy hats all around! Babies and mommies alike were decked out. What a great day. But the most fun was being with friends, family and enjoying the relationships that make us who we are. Thanks, Stephanie, for making little girl dreams come true for big girls too!  This tradition will go on.  Someday instead of family reunions, we will have tea parties!!

   Kathy

 

   

Payday!

    Today, I've had lots of grandbabies in the house. Today, I am enjoying fertility, not just surviving!
    Steph, Justin and the kids arrived from Utah today and it was fabulous to see them! I so enjoyed it! I can't believe I have two more days of fun to spend with them. I could just sit on the couch and watch them play all day. It is truly a pay day for Grandma and Grandpa! All the grand babies at once!
    And then over in the corner of the dining area  sits a young lady of 70+ years. She must be in heaven more than I am. 4 of her great-grandchildren, an assortment of grandchildren, and some kid she raised that I was lucky enough to marry. The only thing missing is her awesome husband. But he's hers, eternally. Blessings abound this weekend. Well, I guess they always do. Somehow, it's more noticeable. Maybe I'm paying attention.
    

Squirrel!

  Did you see the movie "UP!" ? If you did, then you know about the loyal dog who is easily distracted by anything and everything. Yet, he never waiver's in his love for his master and always tries to do better. Well, this is pretty much an analogy for my life. I must see a squirrel 10 or 20 times a day.  This is why I forget to post to my blog. Thank goodness for good friends who remind me about by expressing an interest in it. So for all 5 of my followers, ha!ha!ha!(no, really.) I'm posting!
   So life is moving along as it does and I am getting old. I have to do things like stop computing an hour before bed so I can sleep well.  I have to eat more fiber and less junk. I have to sit still once in awhile. I have to let my husband help me. Oh, I have to choose my television viewing wisely. I can't watch legal shows because they remind me of the legal system that has failed us in the past year.This creates some anger issues. Mostly, I must rely on the Lord more and more. Faith is the only means of survival nowadays. That's the way it should be.
   I'm happy it's Easter time. This reminds me of the atoning sacrifice of the Savior. I am so glad He loves me and gives me second chances. I hope you know how much He loves you. Have a Happy Easter! Squirrel!!!

New year! New growing pains!

If January is a sign of what is to come in the year, then i think we will survive it. I know we will survive it, I just am not sure how comfortable it will be. But, such is life. Although 2010 has proven to be the most heartbreaking year of our lives, it has also proven to be the year for the most emotional and personal growth for all of us.
I have learned that I can't make the pain go away that life brings my children. I can, however, walk beside them and catch them when they fall.
I have learned that age does not equal wisdom. Sometimes a younger daughter's example of strength can far out weigh the strength and experience of her mother.
I have learned the difference between forgiveness and trusting again. They are not the same. We must forgive. But we do not have to subject ourselves to being hurt again. We do have to be patient and take the higher road as we walk away from the ones who might wrong us.
The biggest lesson I have learn and still continue to be dumbfounded by is how little the average citizen of this country knows about their rights in our legal system. How little does the innocent, loving parent know about their rights regarding their babies and the authority of the government over them. Unknown to parents who find their child hurt, with no explanation, is that they could lose that child in a heartbeat. CPS in Arizona can take a child without any proof or reason for 72 hours. And in that 72 hours they can confuse and dismay you so much that you will find yourself at their mercy without any knowledge of your rights or the lack there of. Worse than that, there are felony laws on our books that will put you in prison for turning your eye for a second if it results in your child being hurt. You can be charged with child abuse if your babysitter hurts your child. Afterall, you didn't protect them.
These are some things I learned last year.
What will I learn this year? I couldn't begin to guess. I know whatever happens it will only enrich our experience and growth so that as more challenges come we will be better prepared.
And mostly, I've learned, that the Savior walks beside us, always.
Hug your babies and watch over them.
Kathy