Thanksgiving in Arizona

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with the family yesterday.  We kept it to the four of us which under the current status of the knee, I think was an excellent idea.  Kent cooked the Turkey on the grill again this year and it was yummy.  We had more than enough food for the fam, but that just means more leftovers today.  We started the holiday season off nicely.  Some Christmas music, a fire in the fireplace(it is not real of course) some EggNog and a holiday movie, Fred Claus.  Nothing could have been better then maybe some snow!!  But wait what is that I hear? The pitter patter of rain on the roof?  It is raining really hard and loud is all I could think.  So what is the natural thing to do, go check it out.  And what to my eyes see, why miniature little pellets of frozen ice I see.  Yes, we have snow.  Well the closet thing to it in Arizona.  What a memory for us native Coloradoans turned Arizonians, it hails on Thanksgiving.  And that is the best kick off to my favorite time of the year!!!  Merry Christmas

Filling the Box

There are people who pass through you life sometimes that I like to say, Fill you up.  They can fill you up with anything from useless knowledge to spiritual insight and wisdom.  Dan and Melana are the couple who fills you up with everything.  They were a couple who we were in a small group with for a little over 4 years.  I think.  It gets a little fuzzy trying to remember when we started.  We took this picture the night before they left for a new chapter in their life in a totally different world, Rolla MS.  Words can never express what this couple did for our small group and how they changed the dynamic.  We were all fairly young families with little ones still around and Dan and Melana's children were grown.  They are truly missed already in our group with what they gave but I do know that God has wonderful plans for them and He will use them in a mighty way.  That I am sure of.  The only prayer I have is that in our families life, Dan and Melana's goodbye wouldn't be forever, but a until we see each other again.  You will be missed Dan and Melana.

Well here we are again, another Halloween.  This was the first year we weren't together as a family.  Bryttany was invited to a friends house for a little party and trick or treating.  Aubrey had the joy of staying with us.  Every year we go to our neighbors house for a wonderful bowl of Chili and some homemade salsa.  It is a great time because there is always four or five families who sit together and talk about the past year, what we are doing in church and of course this year politics.  We all banned together with our conservative views and enjoyed the costumes.  We only saw one, Sarah Palin, one John McCain and one Barrack Obama(this one I never would have guessed since he was wearing a monster mask, who knew?)  As you can see we live in a red neighborhood.    Aubrey missed her sister which always makes us smile because you would never know how much she loves her big sister if God didn't give us these little glimpses into her heart to remind us how much of a softy she truly is.  So Halloween is over and we are off to bigger and better things, namely Thanksgiving and then my favorite time of the year, Christmas.  And it will be about time to cycle the girls closets from summer to winter clothes,  it is like the changing of the leaves for us.  When we do that we know that Fall is truly here. 

What I have learned...

Well the list is long, but I need to pick a few.  I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I have no idea why anyone chooses to have elective surgery, it just doesn't feel good.  I have  a new respect for people who have gone through physical therapy, it is hard. My dr. said my knee will bend, he tried it himself right after the surgery.(Kuddos Dr. Weinstein job well done).  Everyone needs their mom when they don't feel good.  Husbands aren't meant to be both mom and dad, they have too much on their plates from work.  Kids don't like it when mom is sick(and neither do dogs)  Crazy people think they can do bootcamp in six weeks when in reality it is six months.  Get a good relationship with your physical therapist, he is going to be your new best friend.  And again, I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am...

Pre Surgery Pictures

As you can tell, these are pre-op pictures and look at my scar free knee...

Pictures from my surgery!!

To the left is me hours after the surgery probably minutes before the puking started.




Okay so here are the pictures of my ACL surgery.  They are pre-post and the stitches pictures.  They are not for the faint of heart....  Did anyone notice the yes on my leg?  We wanted to be sure the correct knee was done.

Surgery, the days after...

Well it has been seven days since my surgery and I feel good enough to write a short little story.  My Mom left today and I cried like I was ten.  What is it about always wanting your mom when you are feeling down?  She was a tremendous help while she was here, more than I think I could express to her.  She took care of the kids, the house and taught me how to be self sufficient for when she left.  I guess that part of motherhood never changes, you always have to teach  your kids how to be self sufficient no mater how old.  I am truly blessed by having a mother who has, how do you say it, "cut the cord" and shown me I have two feet that are quite able to hold me.  At a time when it is  a struggle to get dressed on my own,  it seems that all you need is an encouraging word from your mom and it makes everything seem like it is doable and I can handle it.  Nobody could prepare me for the despair that you feel when you can do absolutely nothing and the little thing that would normally take 10 seconds takes minutes of planning and even more minutes to execute.  For a mom to be laid up is more of a struggle emotionally than physically.  God gave me a body that will heal, but it is the recognition that I am not supermom and the world still turns without me not doing my everyday things.  The stuff I enjoy doing being a wife and a mother that can not physically be done.  I would trade anyone right now where they are to be able to scrub the bathrooms, carry a cup of coffee, even tucking my kids into bed.  I am grateful God allowed my ACL to be ripped to shreds because I have a new found love of my role as a wife and a mother.  There is my good in ALL things...

How I love the images God gives to us everyday.  The closer to my surgery that we get the more worried I get everyday.  I try to keep His word in  my heart and on my mind, but the struggle of life sometimes prevail.  Everyday I hear Him say, "Be still and know that I am your God."  And sometimes I listen and other days I think I should do it my way.  Bryttany is worried about the surgery and what do you say?  It is routine, its no big deal, I'll be fine.  Aubrey, well she just wants to see the stitches.  How I love both the gifts God has given us.  Who am I most worried about?  It is Kent.  He has to take both roles over for a time.  Awe my poor honey, he never did look good in a dress.  His legs are too hairy.  We all just have to remember, God will never give us more than we can handle.  Praise God.

The joys of Motherhood.

Kent was cooking us a wonderful dinner last night, Steak.  The closer to mooing it is the better.  Kent cuts off a piece and puts it on Aubrey's plate.  The next thing I know I have an 8 yr old on my lap in tears telling me she doesn't want to eat an animal.  Hmmm, we try the route "But God gave us this to eat and it is good." Yea went over like a lead brick.  So she doesn't eat meat but we tell her she has to eat more veggies then(which are not her favorite) so what does she do?  Has two helpings, she is killing me here.  Next Kent tries the, you will have to drink protein shakes and what does she say?  "Mom has let me try hers and I like it."  So back to square one.  An 8 year old daughter who loves animals and refuses to eat meat.  I try the "you can't eat eggs they come from chickens, so no cookies, cakes, cupcakes, yummy, yummy."  Oh I see the look cross her face, yes folks I think this might be the deal breaker.. Next day Bryttany's friend proceeds to tell Aubrey that the eggs are not fertilized so technically there is no baby chick being hurt in the process of eating eggs.  So here we are again, I have an 8 year old daughter who won't eat meat.

Vacation 2008

Okay so we did our annual vacation to California again this fall and as always loved it.  I saw an old friend  I have known since elementary school and realized how much I have missed her.  We went to the beach and I always feel so at home.  Of course we went to Disneyland and won part of the Year of a Million Dreams and got to stay in the park an hour after it closed.  It was a nice break before I have knee surgery in 5 days.

Kristi.....

Okay so Kristi told me I had to get a blog and would totally love it.  We will have to see, so far I am way lost and just tying to figure everything out, hmmmm