Have You Seen Grace

So Pingy calls me last night at 7:47 pm and says Scotty wants to talk to you ( code for Baby's here) Scotty says Amy had the baby and Grace is here. WEll I was pretty proud. After all my choice of name stuck and so she is my Grace. Turns out she is everones Grace. She even entered via the Grace of God. It is no coincidence that Scotty called to get help driving to the hospital, its no small thing that he just happened to choose a good friend who they trusted with their kids but would end up trusting with their lives. I dont know this man but today he is my hero. His professional wisdom is the reason we are joyful and not mournful this day. "there but for the grace of God go I" Amy and Scotty love their neighbors today so do I. Grace is a miracle and looking at her she looks like an angel almost as much as my sister did to me last night. While in tremendous pain and great confussion had only one thought how is Grace. We were definately in Gods favor last night and Gods favor is Grace. And I know Im pushing this prophetic name because after all did I tell ya ( I chose it!) Now why did I love it so much may be obvious. It is simpe elegance and who loves simple elegance ?....Amy but also because she is symbolic of the tender mercy's of a loving Heavenly Father. Amy always wanted another child we spoke of it often and she talked about Chloe and what a wonderful big sister she would be. Well here she is Chloe the most elegant and lovely GRACE. And the nurse in Pink well she is fabulous and guess what her name is?? She's nurse Terri. ( Im sure the good pictures taken by Aunt Ginger are shortly to come)

Do Bad Things Really Happen In 3's?

If bed things happen in 3's Im there. When the Orem house sale fell through on Nov 27th I was certain I had filled my quota of bad luck after all that was the 3rd person to leave earnest money and commit to buy the house. On the bright side we have made $ 1,800 in earnest money thats almost 2 of the 17 house payments I have made while it has sat empty. On Dec 9th I discovered my streak of bad luck was still in progress. This happened when the woman in front of me stopped to make a left hand turn and I failerd to recognize that her car was no longer in motion. I swerved but caught the back corner of her van and the left corner of mine. I heard my light shatter and my hope that I had cleared her all at the same time. She got out and I knew it was my fault ( but I wish she had signaled still my fault) So I asked if she was ok called 911 and she asked if she could borrow my phone to call her husband. I said sure Im certainly not calling mine. That sounded bad but I knew Shawn was headed for his first ever bishopric meeting and I did not want to dump this on him. Later that night when I told him he was just glad no one got hurt and said now we can replace that side mirror thats been broke for 4 years. Good attitude, and I do appreciate it but its my fault!

This morning I got up, Immediately invitied the Christmas spirit by plugging in the Christmas tree lights and starting the christmas candle, a load of laundry and off to the shower. Then I heard it ...as I was stepping out of the shower. Every fire detector in the house was blareing Shawn sat up dazed I ran yelling, this is my fault. I knew immediately what happened I walked away from the candle. Thats not usually a big deal unless you turned on the stove to help it melt a little. Ive done it before. Tempted fate many times. Turn it on for 30 seconds and then light the candle and take it off the burner. Im my mothers daughter impatient I want to get to the smell right away. But this time I forgot I had turned on the stove and walked away to let Sam out. Then I just headed for the shower completely oblivious of my actions. Ive cried my share of sorrowful tears this morning. I could have burned our house down, or worse hurt or killed my family which still makes me cry to think what could have happened. Im just sick at my stupidity and added to the problem when I tried to smother it and flames redirected out the side of the lid and up the microwave to the ceiling. Shawn got a big towel and pushed the glass off the burner and it quickly died down . There was my melted microwave charred cabinet and my husband telling me it was our Christmas miracle. I know what he means but it was my fault!! When the adrenal dies away and I sit and ponder it doesnt take long to recognize the difference between a fender bender and needing a new car, or the difference between a small kitchen fire and loosing your home or worse. So have I been 3 times cursed or 3 times blessed. I have recoverd from every misfortune and learned valueable lessons. I would have to say thats a blessing. My microwave disagrees, it paid with its life. But if you ask Shawn he would say "that turn table wasnt working anyway and my cereal was always cooked on one side of the bowl" Isnt he nice to make it sound like I did us some favor. But I know...... its my fault.

All of this.... kind of in a Christmas way, reminds me of the purpose of the Savior in my life. I make mistakes, hopefully I learn from them some are pretty costly, some I try to clean up and make a bigger mess. While the insurance company did nothing wrong they will carry the greater burden . They will advocate for me with the other driver, estimate the cost and pay the largest portion. I dont have to do anything after I pay my share. And it is all my fault. At this moment I think I understand Godly sorrow better than I ever have. Iam so terribly sorry for my actions and so highly aware of the cost distribution which leaves me deeply greatful that I do not bare all the weight of my burdens alone.

What a great weekend

What a great weekend

So we had a big family day planned Saturday. it was suppose to be "our house sold!" celebration. as we all know the buyer didnt show up for closing.Well I had already paid for the tickets to see A Christmas Carol at the Hale Center Theatre so we decided to make it our Christmas Celebration. The Play is amazing it made Kate cry out loud and I tried to shed some tears quietly as some of my children actually look at me during sappy or touching moments just to see if Im crying. The theatre is very intimate and the play occurs in the round at your feet in and among you. Really wonderful ! Then we had lunch at Chuck a Rama not because its the best but because they can all agree and find food they will eat. Much to my surprise Taylor had chicken with his usual ice cream and bread pudding meal. Then we went to Home Depot to get our tree. Another less romantic option but they have trees everyone likes. My sparce limbs trees have been voted off the Christmas Island. We went home , I put on Kenny Loggins Christmas CD just so Becca could moan and tease me about it. Then we all decorated the tree turned off the lights and sat looking at it sparkle while the snow fell outside. It was a perfect day.

Then Sunday morning Dec 14, 2008 at 8:30 AM Shawn was set apart as the first councilor in the Bishopric of the 210 Ward at BYU. All of my sleepy children made it there and after we hugged him we followed him to the Tanner Building for sacrament meeting. The program was really inspiring. The choir was awesome and they had a flute and violin to accompany them. 2 young ladies talked about their semester abroad in Jeruselum and Shawn bore a heart felt testimony . Sunday school and Relief Society were well done, and I met some really wonderful dare I say young people. One of which remembered me from our Social Work Program so we talked school and what books I could loan her . Shawn stayed for Bishops council and I walked through the PE building thinking what a wonderful opportunity this will be for my family . I feel blessed that my life allows me the peace to enjoy such a weekend. We have employment, family who love us, a home where the heat is on and the cupboard full, We are all well and when we are not we can go to see any number of specialists. It is a wonderful life.

Rub a dub dub

"Hot Tub Folliculitis is a common type of folliculitis, a condition which causes inflammation of the hair follicle.
This condition is caused by an infection of hair follicles due to the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The bacteria is commonly found in hot tubs, water slides, whirlpools, and such places. Children are more prone to this because they usually stay in the water longer than adults."

So if I had to think of one negative thing to say about our weekend with the BIG family in Heber this would be all ya get. A $25 trip to the doctor. " Oh Gabber you cant sit 3 hours in a stinky hot tub!!! " Otherwise it was a really relaxing and fun time. I like Amy loved the moose mouse tickle club, late night games ,the excessive delicious and creative food, ( we should hace a reunion cook book). Things I discovered... that no one knows that Chevrolet makes the Corvette, M&M's are a staple food after dark, at a reunion its ok to not change from your PJ's for 3 days, little boys are easily entertained if they have lots of hot wheels and a Kung Fu Panda movie. Girls are unhappy if there are no other girl cousins to play with. So we must have everyone there for complete cousin balance. I left so thankful for my family. I like them they are funny, generous,talented, frustrated, grumpy, need a nap! Loving people.