Daisypath Vacation tickers

Monday, July 28, 2008

Our Birthday Fun!!

We had a fun filled day of birthday celebration! Michael had a great day and Grandma and Gramps treated him (and us!) to dinner at Fuddruckers where he chowed down on Chicken Tenders and Frenchfries...2 big helpings of them which he is now regretting...hahaha! He also got some great gifts which were money from Daddy Tom and DeeDee, Nerf football and Nerf basketball from Mom and Dad, Money from Emily, a "Harry Potter" wand made by Lauren, dinner out and LOTS of tokens to play games with from Grandma and Gramps! We enjoyed not only celebrating Michael's special day but we also celebrated with Noah as we bought and released a smiley face balloon (his very favorite) up to him! (A tradition we started last year while we were visiting with Aunt Kim and her family!) It is a great way to spend a moment out of the day to celebrate with Noah! Thanks to all of you who helped us celebrate as well! We know that Noah smiled brightly today at the love that was sent his way! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL AND NOAH!!! What a blessing you both are to our family!

Michael with Gramps and Grandma

The kids eating at Fuddruckers

Michael with his cake!

The cupcakes that the girls made for Noah!

Michael with his presents!

Michael with his nerf basketball and goal his dad got him!

Jeff and the kids with the balloon for Noah!

Jean and the kids with Noah's balloon!

Michael sent Noah's balloon to him!

We watched as the balloon went straight up in the sky until it disappeared!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BOYS ON JULY 28TH!!!!!

Monday is a special day, it's the day I get sing Happy Birthday to you! I can hardly believe that Michael is 10 years old and that Noah would be 7! Time has gone by so fast! We will celebrate Mikey's birthday by going to Fuddruckers (his favorite hamburger spot because they have the BEST fries as Mikey says) and we will go purchase a Smiley Face Balloon to send up for Noah! What a special day this is for Mom....I got the best two boys in the world on the same day...aren't I lucky????? HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL....you are a great blessing to me everyday! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH....Mommy misses your smiling face everyday! I LOVE YOU BOTH!!!!


Saturday, July 19, 2008

Mikey's new ride!!!!

Michael loves his new bike car! It is an early birthday present...we decided he needed it to keep up with his sisters and their bikes...too bad he didn't have it when we were on vacation! He has had a ball with it and rides it up and down the street and around the cul-de-sac all the time. His dad and I rode on it and it KILLED us...it is a great work-out. We keep telling Michael that he won't be toting around extra pounds if he keeps riding this thing...hahaha! We thought we would show everyone this cool twist on bike riding! Jeff loves it and thinks he would like to build one now....you know Jeff and anything that has wheels...! Jeff may have to ride this to work if gas keeps going up......hehehe!



Tuesday, July 15, 2008

A fun remembering game...come on everyone!!!

Here's a fun game...



1. As a comment, leave on my blog a memory of you and me (and even if you don't know me that well, you can tell how you know me).



2. If you do, I'll assume you are playing the game and go to your blog and leave a memory...

Ready, Set, Blog!!!!!!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Soup, Anyone????

Today we got together with Teri Hanna and Makayla and put together some Stripling Warrior soup to can in jars. We made enough for one pot a week for 3 months. We all had a good time putting it together and were pretty pleased when we saw all our jars filled and ready for our pantry. It was fun to see the kids all helping and enjoying the process. Thank you, Teri for sharing your wonderful talent with us and helping us all to be more prepared. My pantry is looking better and better and it is a great feeling to be obedient!

Michael putting his ingredients in his bowl
Michael, Emily & Makayla filling up their bowls

Makayla and Teri filling up a jar!

Our finished product...we were so pleased!

Friday, July 04, 2008

ONE YEAR....One very very long year.....



One year, 52 weeks, 365 days...I can hardly believe that a whole year has gone by and I haven't seen, touched, or felt the sweet smell of my precious little Noah. As I write this the tears begin to fall. I have learned a lot about grief in this past year. I have learned that you don't go thru these neat little stages one at a time. Grief comes in waves and it comes when you least expect it. It has come when I have been walking in Wal-Mart and seen a monster truck that Noah didn't have yet, anything with Cars on it, pajamas I would have picked out for him. It has come in the Dollar Tree when I have seen the smiley face balloons and remembered how I could never go in there without coming out with one because Noah just had to have one. It has come when I have been riding down the road and seen the "oreo" cows that Noah loved so much on the side of the road or turned on my 80's cd and I could hear Noah saying to "turn on the new radio Momma, turn on the new radio". It has come at 3:00 in the morning when I just opened my eyes and sleep left me and I would cry the rest of the night. It has come at church when I have seen other mothers sitting with their children Noah's age and trying to get them to be still. It has come during the day when I am cleaning the house and I run across a stray toy, a stray sock, a little cup or spoon. It has come when I have been at family gatherings and knew that there was one missing from the chaos. It has come when I walked on the beach at Lakewood Campground or rode in the golf cart and knew how much Noah loved being there. It has come at all different times and sometimes it is so overwhelming I can hardly speak or catch my breath. Other times it comes softly and tears gently fall. It has never left me for 365 days. It has been my constant and most unwelcome companion. Then in this last year I have found my faith...it has plunged me forward, it has gotten me up in the mornings, helped me make it thru the days, been my constant source of strength and my most welcome friend. I have found solace and peace as I have sat in the Celestial Room of the temple and asked for strength. I have found comfort and peace in Jeff's arms and in his unwavering faith. I have found bits of joy in my other children as I have watched them progress this year as they have found their faith and had their testimonies strengthened. I have found what the meaning of true friendship is as there have been those that have walked with me every step...have held my hand, cried with me, rejoiced with me, held me up when I couldn't stand, sat in the temple with me, and run to my defense at every turn. To you who have walked with me, cried with me, listened to me, called when I so desperately needed you, and gone as far on this road as you could go with me...thank you...you have made this year easier to bear because you were here no matter what and I love you with all my heart. This year has been full of seemingly overwhelming challenges and yet there have been moments when I could truly feel the Savior very near. I have cried on my knees for help, for comfort and told the Lord I could go no further and He has answered me with comforting peace. I have put my hand in Jeff's and together we have walked with faith, with hope and with the knowledge that we KNOW we will see our precious little boy again and we will raise him. I have learned to go forward and put my trust in the Lord even though I can't see what is ahead. I have learned that all the hurting has not overwhelmed all the joy I have had of having Noah. I have learned that faith is more than just believing, that it takes action, it takes courage and it has required me to keep going even when I just wanted to stop. I have learned that strength comes from within and it takes a lot of praying, fasting, and getting up and doing to find it. I have learned that the most precious things I have on this earth is my family and no matter what we will always be together. I have learned to trust in the Lord's will and accept it no matter how hard. Most of all I have found that my memories have sustained me and helped me to keep going. My beloved Noah will always be with us whereever we go. I feel his presence so often with me. I can close my eyes and see his beautiful smile. I can stop and feel his hand in mine sometimes and it makes me smile! I know in my heart that each step I take in doing what is right is one step closer I am coming to Noah. I miss him more than I can put into words and this past year I have found that the closer I am to the Lord, the closer I am to Noah. He will always be my baby and I will always be able to close my eyes and see his beautiful brown eyes and his great big smile. I hope no one will ever forget my rambunctious, beaming, beautiful, and oft times screaming meemee, precious little boy. He is moving forward and I know he wants us to do the same. I love you, Noah....you are forevermore my baby and you are always in my heart.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

THE TREK!!!!!

We went today and picked up the kids that went on the pioneer trek! The stake asked all the families of the kids that went to come and bring white handkerchiefs to wave the kids in as they came into the "Salt Lake Valley"! As they came walking thru the lines that we had formed we all sang "Come Come Ye Saints" and waved our handkerchiefs. They cheered and smiled as they walked and pushed their handcarts along. The kids were dirty but beaming! They had a great time and we were glad that Emily had the experience. She said it was hot, dirty and at times really hard but she would do it all again in a minute! We were so happy to hear about her experience and know that she grew closer to the Lord thru it! Way to go Emily....you made it! She drank nasty water, ate stuff that she didn't know what was and even had some grasshoppers to eat along the way, got sick on the first night and kept going...she proved to her dad and I that she is one tough cookie who rises to the challenge! We are very proud of her!!! The first thing she did when she got home was hit the shower...then the bed! Ahhh...aren't we grateful for those wonderful modern conveniences????

Emily walking into the "Salt Lake Valley" among the cheering crowd!

The Zebulon Ward Youth who went on the trek with some of their leaders!

Emily and Aunt Jewel who came along to welcome her back!

Michael and Emily with Bro. Duncan who played Brigham Young!!!

All the youth and leaders from Zebulon and Knightdale who participated in the trek!