26 Truths

I've read this several times on the internet- 

in different places and love it!

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be 

to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing is worse than that moment during 

an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't 

want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. 

I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting 

if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't 

at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there

 comes a moment at work when you know that

 you just aren't going to do anything productive 

for the rest of the day. (usually the moment you open Facebook, Flickr,or any other social media site.)

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes 

after Blue Ray discs? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it 

asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page 

technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never 

wash this - ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last 

ring (Hello? Hello?), but when I immediately call back, 

it rings nine times and goes to voice mail. 

What did you do after I didn't answer? 

Drop the phone and run

away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good 

and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. 

What a waste.

17. I have a hard time deciphering the 

fine line between 

boredom and hunger.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would 

bet on any given Friday or Saturday night 

more kisses begin with Miller Lite 

than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" 

routing option.

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I 

watched when I was younger and suddenly

 realize I had no idea what the heck 

was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in 

each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. How many times is it appropriate to say 

"What?" before you just nod and smile because

 you still didn't hear or understand a 

word they said?

24. I love the sense of camaraderie when an 

entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from 

cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

25. Is it just me or do high school kids get 

dumber and dumber every year?

26. Even under ideal conditions people have 

trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their 

cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - 

but I bet everyone can find and push the

 snooze button from 4 feet away, 

in about 1.9 seconds, eyes 

closed, first time, every time!

Lessons from a Stroke- Part 2

Heavenly Father blessed me with a very stubborn streak.  I have loved it, and my daughter has the same stubborn streak to which I am very very grateful.
There are many things in my life that I could just accept- but instead I choose to push and make things what I want them to be.  I wanted to do everything in my power to get well and recover from my stroke.  I had a deadline in mind- our health benefits would be cancelled if I didn't return to work within 6 weeks.  I was going to the doctor's office frequently to get my blood checked to determine if the blood thinners were working.  I had been in the hospital only a couple weeks previous to my stroke because of a flare-up for my Crohn's Disease- leaving us with a larger than usual pharmacy bill each month to help me come out of the flare.

I returned to work on the last day of the 6 week period.  I was truly a miracle.  It would be easy for someone on the outside to say that my recovery was from all of my hard work, my stubborn streak, and my young age.  I know however that my complete recovery is actually a gift from a loving Heavenly Father.  For whatever reason, I do have my sight back and I can walk.  I am eternally grateful that I am able to do so many things.  I am so grateful that he listened to my prayers and granted me more time on Earth.  Life has been so amazing since then!  I'm so grateful for my stroke and for that horribly hard time.  Had I not been tried so hard- I would not have seen the love of my Heavenly Father- the grace that he gave to me.  I would not have know really what it feels like to feel people's prayers for me.  I would not appreciate my sight the way I do.  I would not appreciate my life with Joel the way I do.


In the 8 1/2 years that we've been married there have been several things that have really thrown us for a loop, but each of them have made us stronger.  I see life a little bit differently than most- I am so grateful for the perspective.

                 Most people are pleased when they run 5 miles- 

I am just grateful when I can exercise without passing out!  

I'm grateful when I maintain my weight.             

I am grateful for every single day that I get to be a mom and a wife.                 

I am grateful for the love that I have for everyone I meet- I am thankful that I see the good in people.  

I am grateful for an amazing dog that has blessed my life so much.                      

I am grateful to be married for eternity to such a choice and incredible man.                     

I am grateful that Joel is able to go to Medical School- to be a doctor- to become what he wants to become.                   I am grateful that not only do I get to be a stay-at-home mom, but that I have the knowledge that this is the most important work that I can do at this time.           

 I am so grateful for my stroke.                      

I am so grateful that I have Crohn's Disease.  

I'm grateful for our families.                       

I'm grateful for all of the experiences and people that we have met because of our time in West Virginia.                         I'm grateful that I was born at this time.  

I'm grateful for my testimony.

I'm grateful that I know that my life is in God's hands.

Lessons from a Stroke

The last few months have been very monumental in shaping and refining who I am.  I, whom is not a stranger to hard times :o), have really been reflecting on what I have learned through my difficulties.

Most particularly I have been thinking about the time just after I had my stroke.  I was well accustomed to being a hospital guest- always before it was with the hope that I would leave the hospital with more health then I had before admittance.  Joel was my constant support and was always by my side despite the demanding schedule he had preparing to get into Medical School, and with his Tissue procurement job.  I wish everyone had such a supportive spouse in their life as I do.
As they were rushing my to the hospital in the ambulance I had the knowledge that it was very possible that I was on my way out from this life.  I could not see, I was disoriented in mind and body function, my left side was completely paralyzed.  At the hospital I was diagnosed with a "migraine" thus missing the very significant window after a stroke that treatment should be administered.  While I was receiving an CAT-scan/ or MRI, or whatever tests they submitted me for I could not see and had to trust that whomever was talking to me had my best interest in mind.  Words that were spoken would float past my brain with no meaning, it was hard for me to grasp what was going on.
I was not afraid to die.  My knowledge of Jesus Christ and his plan provide a firm knowledge of what happens after our lives are over.
The only words that I remember were those from my constant prayer, "Please, let me have more time.  I am not ready to go.  I love Joel so much and haven't had enough time with him.  I haven't had the chance to be a mom yet.  Please let me have more time.  Please let me have more time with Joel"  Over and over, the same words.

I was transfered to the University of Utah hospital when they found they yes, it was indeed a stroke and not a migraine.  Lying in my bed, with my parents and Joel surrounding my bed I was so grateful that I was alive.  It was my first experience of feeling the strength of people's prayers for me.  I felt wave after wave of peace.  I knew that it came from all the prayers people were saying in my behalf.

For a couple weeks after the stroke I was completely disoriented.  I had no idea where I was. It terrified me.  I would be driving with Joel on our street, and I felt lost.  We would pull up to our house and it would seem to pop up out of nowhere.  Life took on a difficult future.  

Up to that point I was our main financial backer.  I was worried that Joel would have to give up his dream of being a doctor.  I didn't think I would ever be able to drive anywhere again.  I had to face the reality that chores would have to be done partially blind, and if we were blessed with a child- I would be a different mom that I had ever planned.

My vision came back- but it was fuzzy.  I couldn't see enough to get around or do things for myself.  I would try to read and the words would float away.  I couldn't get anything to come into focus long enough to figure out what the letters were let alone what word they made up.  I spent HOURS reading simple chapter books to get my vision back.  It was very tedious and arduous.  Outside of the page I saw flashing lights that were very distracting.  I would get horrendous headaches from my efforts, but it seemed to make an improvement.
I read several books before even the meaning of what I was reading sank in.  I was merely retraining my eyes and brain to work together.


I was no longer paralyzed, but walking was difficult- in fact it would be a couple months before I could walk well without stumbling.  Jesse was just a puppy at this time and we would go to a park close to our house and spend hours going around the track.  I would try to run and fall down.  My side vision was still mostly gone and it was hard to see anything that wasn't directly in front of me.  I didn't give up though.  We walked and we walked, and walked.... He was the perfect therapy dog.  He would lean into me when I stumbled, lick my hand when I was discouraged.  Pull me along when I felt like stopping.  Lay on my lap when I was crying.

It was hard, hard work and I didn't know if I would ever be the same person that I was before.




There is a lot more to this story- but I will have to finish it later.  We are on our way to the park!

Morning mist

Fall Pictures

I thought it would be fun to take the pictures at Marshall, where Joel goes to school. His classes aren't actually at this campus, but I love the old feel of it.

Fall pictures

Cinderella!!!

My sweet little girl is growing up!!  Here she is two years ago when she was 15 months.

Trunk or Treat

                                                                      

The cake walk!  Emma and Lydia hadn't seen each other for a couple weeks and wouldn't stop holding each other's hands.  They were even holding hands for awhile on the cake walk.

At the end of the night all of the little kids were running together.  Lydia was having a ball and really didn't want to leave!

Everyone needs a dog like this

I love my Jesse dog.  Really.

no words.......