It's About Time--

What an eventful last few weeks. Easter flew into Mother's Day, which was a whirl to Rilee's birthday the end of May, then, sadly, last week ended in a baby's funeral for a dear friend in our ward. Interestingly enough, watching faithful people endure life's difficulties is actually inspiring and gives a fresh perspective in life.

This was the first funeral I encountered as RS President, but it was softened, somewhat, because of the amazing faith building experience it was, and going through it with a good friend. The coolest, most positive part of it all, apart from understanding this is NOT the end and this family will see Katelynn again, was knowing that a 7 week old baby had affected hundreds of lives in such a short time. Realizing that many who live full lives may not affect the good, the change, the desire to do better, as this tiny baby has.

My friend, Leta Greene, who has two "miracle" children and endured 7 miscarriages, felt she was supposed to get pregnant again last year. Leta has Epstein-Barr Syndrome, has chronic arthritis already, and getting pregnant debilitates her body/back/and hip so severely, she ends up on bedrest and a wheelchair for a good part of it. Despite this, she did get pregnant, and two weeks later, her husband (a young, healthy, triathlete) had an unexpected heart attack and she almost lost him. (This was also following him getting hit by a UTA bus the year previous and almost dying!)

During the pregnancy, they found the baby's heart, brain, and kidneys had some abnormalities and may not survive the pregnancy, and if she did, she may be severely handicapped. The Greene's perservered. They had faith. They prayed. Katelynn Faith (meaning "pure faith"), spent her whole little life in Primary Children's NICU/PICU. She needed heart surgery to survive, but her kidneys began to fail, and she couldn't breathe on her own. Her parents did what they could, and after trying two smaller heart surgeries to help her get by until the "real" one, they knew they needed to let her go and stop her pain, even knowing theirs would continue.

They greeted each set back, each test, each negative possibility, with faith, hope, determination, and positivity. So many have been touched by their trial, their reliance on God, and their sweet Katelynn. Stories were gathered from many, many people from all over, and compiled into a book, as a tribute to Katelynn and her parents. They are amazing, inspiring, thought-provoking. I was honored to contribute the following:

"Katelynn was here for us--anyone who was lucky enough to be around her and have felt of her HUGE spirit knows this. There was so much I learned and felt, more than could be put in words, during the brief encounters I had with her. She taught me so much, so quickly. Like Leta always testifies, this was supposed to be, no matter what it took to get her here, no matter the painful moments of missing her, or the physical pain as a result.
As soon as I walked into Katelynn's little room in the NICU, I was overcome with the Spirit, and felt I was on hallowed ground. I felt her spirit was larger than life. I tried hard not to overstep my bounds and not ask to be able to touch her, be close to her, but it seems I couldn't help it. My spirit desired to, hoped to be near her, so I gingerly touched her hand, and cupped her knee/foot. Instant peace. Aching at the reality of the situation, but Joy.
Paul's words now come to mind when thinking of Katelynn, "I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith." Leta and Nathan have allowed Katelynn's life to do such good, by sharing her and her fight with us all. Thank you. Watching them in their "extremeties" has turned hearts to God. Testimonies have been strengthened. Desire to do better has increased. Appreciation for blessings has grown. Faith has overcome despair. We have all been changed, for good, from this tiny, valuable life.
The Savior promises, "I will not leave you comfortless", even when at times it feels we are. In those times, our spirits may ache, but they also are being sheltered, and comforted, by unseen hands. He reminds us that "in the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world". And now, Katelynn has, too."

It's hard not to be grateful for the lives we live, the air we breathe effortlessly, the health we enjoy, the freedom we are granted. It's hard not to want to "improve our time" we are given on earth. To stop complaining, to start appreciating, serving, loving, and living as our perfect Examplar, our Savior. Here's to doing more, reaching out, reaching up, doing our best. So many would give anything to have that chance at life again! Thanks, Katelynn, because you have forever changed me, and so many, "for the better". Ah, perspective IS everything...

Adios, Arizona

So, the girls and I were able to go join Scott the last 2 1/2 weeks of his golf tournaments in Arizona the last of February and first of March. They were off track and we were itching to get out of the snow and be a family again.

Scott flew home so he could drive down with us, thank heavens, as driving 11 hrs with 4 kids and a baby to feed, didn't sound too fun on my own! We broke up the trip with a quick stop in Vegas for rest and swimming, and were happy to end in warm, beautiful Arizona the next day. We were spoiled with 70-85 degree weather the whole time, and I got so used to it, I began to assume everyone had that sunny climate, until we got home to snow on the ground and freezing cold wind to shock us back into reality.

The girls swam all day long!! Even little Avery loves the water and we all had a great time! (Check out the photos--you've gotta flaunt the cottage cheese while it's still considered cute--which is why there are no photos of me...dimples are NOT in!) We did daily walks through the trails and beautiful desert/golf landscape everywhere. We also had some family time at the tennis courts and some biking. All in all, it was just great to be together again, especially in such a gorgeous place (thanks to Mom and Dad's "winter home"!).

Long story, short, Scott came home with us with a new resolve to give up the full time golf life. This, of course, has been a very difficult decision, but without going into too much detail, short of having the answers to prayer and many other things with bad timing, he would still be going full force. He feels at peace, however, and feels lucky he was able to "live the dream", even if for a short while. Reality of moving the family down there, especially after my calling of RS Pres, just didn't add up and he's currently on the job hunt, so let us know if you have any leads. (Not the best time for that, either!)

We count ourselves lucky and know the Lord is in charge and guiding our lives and can make them better than we could imagine...now, if we could just figure out when...! Ha ha. I just keep reminding myself, "man cannot comprehend all that God doth comprehend". His perspective is all that really matters.


THE END...!!!!!!! (I couldn't resist!)

"You like skinny jeans??!"

Today Eden made me do a huge, BELLY laugh out loud, and I HAD to write, so I wouldn't forget why...

I finally pulled out a pair of skinny jeans I bought while on a Girls' Trip, (egged on by my much more stylish and "up to date" sisters-- and the fact that they were only $6 from Gap). It has been well over a year since I've worn them, and I was curious if they finally fit again. Once I put them on, Eden asked, "You like skinny jeans??!" I was not daunted by the question, thinking how stylish I must look, and answered that yes, I did indeed. Her eyebrows went up, with a shrug of her shoulders. Then I asked, "Don't you like skinny jeans?" Her reply was immediate, uncensored, and completely blunt, "No, I think they look like tights!"

Pause, pause, I wasn't sure if that was a general observation, or one aimed at what she was seeing right then. I decided there are only 3 possible conclusions to be drawn from this event: 1) She was reinforcing her argument why SHE won't wear the oh-so-cute-and-stylish skinny jeans I bought her. 2) She remembers seeing her friend just last week in skinny jeans, she told me, and said "it looked like she had tights on with a shirt" (As I listened, I was secretely hoping this to be what spawned the comment), or 3) (and most likely) Maybe this is a good indication that I'm not quite back to normal and this is a 6 yr old's sweet way to say so... Oh well, it's back to the gym I go!!!!!!! (No worries, I'm STILL wearing them--just to try and believe it wasn't #3! In fact, if I get brave enough, I will even take a picture of the forementioned skinny jeans...if I do this, then I'm either crazy, hoping for a laugh, or truly in denial) Oh, if we could only be so honest with everyone we meet!!

Top 10, no, 11 reasons I love Life!

I FINALLY changed my layout!! Not that it's important, but change is always good. (At least Avery's excited and cheering me on...)
I thought I'd write a few things I'm grateful for...

1. Nights I can SLEEP more than 5 hours at a time!! (It's starting to happen more regularly!)
2. Girls who love to play in the snow. It may take 20 minutes to get all the "gear" on, but they can spend hours out there if they wear all the right stuff!
3. Girls who remember to use the bathroom before they start the 20 min ritual to get on the snow gear...
4. Childlike confidence: Rilee got a guitar for Christmas, and after just a few strums, she thought she was a superstar!! She had it strapped to her constantly for a few days (slinging it over her shoulder if she wasn't using it). She just knew she was good!!
5. Times when I get a "yeah!" instead of hunched shoulders and chin sticking out while saying "ahhh", when my kids ask, "What's for dinner?!"
6. Days, weeks, or months without sickness!!! We've just gone through 2 bouts of strep throat, coughs, colds, and even a small bout of RSV with Avery. Luckily, it was mild, and although I've felt like I'd never get to go out again as we've kept isolated, I think we're finally through!
7. Family--who loves you even when you lose your mind! It is nice to know that no matter how bad I look, how little sleep I got, how grumpy I am, or how much I vent, my family stillloves me and knows who I really am, even when I don't act like it!
8. Fat Burning Yoga and days I actually get to exercise...I know this sounds cheesy, but I have really come to rely on the stress reliever that exercise is for me. Since the sick girls, I haven't been able to go to the gym and MISS IT! (I never thought I'd say that and really mean it!) So, Denise Austin's Fat Burning Yoga has to do it for now! I especially love it when Eden joins me, then tells me how sore she is the next day holding all the poses!!
9. 1Week Husband--I can't tell you how great it was to have a husband around for a whole week!! Especially since he told the girls, "Hey, run everything through Dad...Mom is off limits for the next few days!" He let me go to lunch, go to the gym, read, or just do anything that was impossible without help. Love that!
10. Friends, Life lessons, and Prayer--I am constantly inspired by the people around me. There are those who are facing true difficulty with grace, humility, and perspective. There are great people I see that serve because that's who they are and want to be, and it makes me want to do even better. I love lessons life teaches if we are humble enough to surrender to the Lord, knowing that is the only way we'll get through it. And, what would life be without a lifeline to Heaven?! We can gain peace, understanding, strength, feel true Love, whenever we want/need it, from the God of the Universe. And, as busy as He is, He constantly calls for us to "come unto [Him]", let Him take our burdens, and make us equal to every challenge we face. Amazing Grace.
11. Oh, and Exclamation Points!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My brother, Jeremy, just made fun of all of us sisters/Mom with our back and forth emails planning a Girls' Retreat, because he noticed that every sentence ended with an exclamation point. He pointed out that not all sentences need to end with one, two, or three exclamation points, unless we are shouting each one. Well, here's to being excited, and LOVING life so much, we have to end each expression with !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I win--we now have a contest of who can use them more often)
    

I'm not that popular, so...

I hadn't updated my blog in forever, and then realized, why even do it, since I have no readers anyway?!! Ever since I went private, well, no one can get on, and since I went private after only my 2 or 3 postings, I hardly had any who checked in anyway! I DO want to be safe, but, since no one knows to even look, it would be hard to cause problems from this blog! Maybe when I get popular...ha ha

Grandma Judy, Scott's mom (yes, we distinguish by first names since they are both Grandma Clark...!) always goes ALL out for Christmas! It was so fun for the girls, especially. She makes you feel like a million bucks, and always so loved. We thank her for her huge effort every year to make Christmas unforgettable!

Life is going great. Scott has been in Arizona for the mini golf tour he is doing tthere. It has been hard to not have dad around, but the Lord makes up for things and has blessed us. Ever since I was called as Relief Society President, I feel so busy anyway, by the end of the day, I just crash! The girls have been awesome. They try and "surprise" me every now and then with a clean kitchen, set table, or straight house. Boy, it's nice to have older helpers and more mature kids!!

When I put the phone to Avery's ear to "talk" to dad, it's funny to see the look on her face. At first, she listens intently, with a "this sounds familiar" dazed look on her face. Then, recognition comes and a huge smile spreads across her face, and she starts pumping her arms up and down, as if she were going to take flight! Pretty soon, screams and shrills fill the air, as her pent up energy and excitement have no other escape. Now, she takes the phone in her hands looking at it intently, as if she were checking to see where dad is hiding inside! She is changing and growing so fast, it has been so fun to see!

I have also loved watching the developing talents of my crew. Each complain to have to practice piano, but can't seem to pass the it without stopping and playing something! I think I've heard that famous duet, bum bum, babum chord thing...a ZILLION times! (Notice the over exaggeration to make a point, which I have learned well from my girls!) The funnest thing to watch are all the "original" compositions they all seem to come up with, especially Rilee. She entered the Reflections "Wow" contest this year, and submitted a musical number and WON 1st Place! Now, she thinks she IS the next Mozart, constantly composing something...some better than others, but entertaining just the same!

Shailee is always excited to push herself to learn more in Ballet and get it "right". She also LOVES math and friends! She is becoming so responsible and mature...bitter sweet, as my "little" Shailee is no longer! Eden is so fun to have around in the mornings before school. She is a great reader, and keeps telling me that soon, she'll be bringing home all the chapter books with NO pictures! She also LOVES paint polish, makeup, and jewelry, and has the most catchy LAUGH, ever!

We are doing well, and trying to stay afloat, loving the challenge of each day! I realize this blog is for me, by the way, so no pressure to read this...but I will do better to update soon! Drop us a line sometime!