Ten Good Things about SEAN

1. Forgiving-Sean has always been the most forgiving...he can forgive genuinely and move on...he sees the best in those around him and focuses on that...HE is POSITIVE and that makes 11...

2. Flexible-he is willing to bend and sway and accept things and find joy everywhere.

3. Understanding-He will always listen...he always tries to hear what the heart says

4. Fun-yes...he has always been fun. He taught us all about silly and fun...thanks

5. Intelligent-He has a sharp wit and a quick mind...and a wonderful view of things...I love to listen to him talk and share his ideas

6. Dedicated-He works so hard for his family and himself...to better himself and them He gives much

7. Loving, he is a wonderful son, and husband and an incredible daddy

8. Spiritual You have always had a connection with the big picture

9.musical- I love to see him with his guitar

10. KIND so very Kind

Sean's Story...Happy Birthday Sean...I didnt get it posted Yesterday...sorry

March 29th is the 25th anniversary of the entrance of one of the most phenomenal people I know...He came in the late afternoon...I really wanted to have him when I had some help...so I decided to let Dr. Small, who was a huge man...with huge hands, induce labor...the San Bernardino Hospital had just gotten in a new birthing chair and Dr Small was dying to try it out...I was just dying to have it out...so we were the perfect pair. The nurse, the wisest of the three of us, suggested that I might not want to have a baby so early, that it was going to be a much longer labor...and was I sure...I assured her this was the best idea Dr. Small had ever had...I called my mother who made the 2.5 hour drive to baby sit Branden...she came alone, which is not common. Off Bill and I went to the hospital. I was to be induced...when I arrived they asked Bill to sit in the waiting room and that they would come and get him when he could come in. I did not like that idea too much...but it was hospital policy (This hospital had some really strange policies. They had told me earlier that week that they would give me a non smoking room IF one was available. Most of the patients smoked though so I may have a problem. I had battled my way into a private room, if needed...took several chats with several administrators and finally I dealt with the guy in the corner office who complimented me on my persistence, he got me my very own non smoking ward) Anyways, we trundled off to the hospital, I got to ride in the car this time…we only had one car and so I usually walked where I needed to go with Branden and Tanner, our cocker spaniel, When we arrived they sent Bill on his way and I had to don a hospital gown and then they broke my water, and an IV of petosin was inserted in my arm. I asked about my husband…and was assured that a nurse had gone after him. I had about a half an hour before I was really uncomfortable, Bill had not come back yet…I asked again and they said they would go and find him…I was annoyed, but was not in a position to go and get him myself so I had to cooperate. Another 30 minutes passed and I was not able to manage the pain…I was scared and alone and started crying…I had had a baby before and this was different, pain was different…there was a pressure and sharp pain that did not seem right, and I was frightened. I rang the nurse and told her something was wrong and wanted to know where my husband was…she said they would go find him…I said you have said that before…she came in the room to check me and told me all babies were different and I was fine…I didn’t feel fine, I told her I wanted my husband…she said she would see what she could do…I did the try to be brave thing…it didn’t last long…it seemed like an hour but it was probably 5 minutes later I started screaming…For Bill, for a doctor, for anybody…the little graph they allow you to watch that measures contractions…was doubled up and peaking off the chart (Why do they have those little graphs anyway…sorta sadistic if you ask me, but it does justify the screaming in some way..I guess.) When the screaming began…I got better service…someone went and found Bill, and he came in the room..as did several nurses and soon the Big man, Dr. Small arrived on the scene. I was dilated to a 5 and it was time to move to the chair…The Dr. was excited…they wheeled me into the delivery room and had me get into a dentist’s chair…moving from a bed to a dentist’s chair in transition is not a graceful event…I managed it, but not without some humiliation and a lot of squawking… Bill was in charge of keeping me calm…poor man…as I had abandoned calm somewhere in the lonely minutes in the labor room…Bill is talking to me and I am not cooperating, and then suddenly the Big Man pushed some button and the bottom of the chair vanished…That was different, the Dr needs to check to see how things are progressing…he began his exam and I screamed loudly that I didn’t want him touching me…the pain was unmanageable and I was very loud…I remember a nurse telling me there was a first time mom in the next room that I was frightening, and I didn’t care, and told her so…I said she wasn’t my responsibility between clenched teeth…I also remember Bill was smart enough to stay out of the conversation. He was on my team. The Dr. attempted to check me again and I screamed at him not to touch me EVER again …He put his foot up on the chair and pushed way back on his wheeled stool and launched himself into the middle of the room and said fine do it yourself….That seemed the right option to me at the time so I said I would…

A couple minutes later the Dr decided to help me out, which was good since I hadn’t ever had a baby in a dentist’s chair before. As My sweet baby tried to crown, the Dr. realized that there was a problem…there had been an error made during my last delivery that was causing the pain and not allowing him to come easily…Once discovered he was able to help me more, my son was born and he was a healthy boy….he cried just a little…they swept him away to check him…and he got two perfect tens on his apgar scores…and he was a big healthy boy…9 lbs 6 ozs. They took me to my private ward after allowing me to hold that precious boy for a few minutes… He was a big boy, he had a very large head, which accounts for his brilliant mind, and clear hair, it lloked like fish line...he was so blond. I remember being surprised at how different he looked from his brother and that somehow I thought they would be like cookie cutters. My heart went out to my small boy, he was very bruised on his head and face from not being able to get through to his new world...it was a very hard day for my son...I cried at how much it must have hurt him to come to the world and be with us...he was very tired. I was worried about him recovering as he looked like a prize fighter who had fought all 10 rounds...

After the birth, Bill went home to Branden and I was alone in my private ward…four beds in it…but no roommates cause everyone did smoke who had babies…weird place, San Bernardino. Anyway…I wanted my baby…I walked to the nursery and looked through the window at my baby…he was wrapped up all snug…perfect…then he started coughing…and he seemed distressed…there was no nurse in the nursery and I was frantic…I banged on the window…and ran to the next window where two nurses were chatting…I banged and pointed…somehow this communicated what was needed and one nurse returned to my boy’s nursery and checked on him, turns out he was fine by then…but I demanded that they bring him to my room…(also not the hospital policy) but they brought him and maybe it was us two who invented rooming in.. I loved the time I had to spend with him and that he was near me. He was a good sleeper and calm. An amazingly easy baby.

Bill and my mom brought Branden to visit me…Guess what…this was against their policy too…so Branden didn’t get to see his baby brother, that day…but I went out and saw my big boy…and the nurse caught me…and they scolded me and made me wash with bedadine soap before they would let me hold Sean again, they took away his isolette until I obeyed…I told them I thought that my infant was at far greater risk in a smoke filled hospital than being touched by his mother who had held his big brother…They didn’t see my point…so I had a kinda funny tan, but I got my baby back.

The next morning I was to go home…and they said I could…but Sean had to stay, it was..uh huh policy for them to stay 48 hours…I cried again ( I , I had to go home, we had very limited insurance and couldn't afford to be in the hospital any longer, and I did not want to leave my baby, I would have no way to visit him unless I walked and I had Branden at home, Bill had no time off and my mother was needed at home...Jon was only 18 months old…I called my dad and he told me that they could not keep my baby, without a health reason…I told him they said I couldn’t take him out of the hospital. He told me to call the business office and tell them that they could keep the baby as long as they understood that we would not be paying a penny after that moment…I did it…and guess what…they let me take him home that very hour…amazing huh? My dad seemed to better grasp that policy than I did. :)

Sean was the most peaceful baby…when you held him you could feel peace. As an infant he slept easily and he woke pleasant and he was patient and so happy…he is a blessing to all of us…and it started early on. He still is a calming influence in the lives of those that know and love him. He is probably a calming influence on those that don’t know him too.

This is Sean’s beginning story…he has a most wonderful bunch of stories , he was a wonderful baby, a tender toddler, a fun child, a supportive teenager and is a wonderful man…

I love you Sean!!

What is that hiding in our egg hunt...who can guess??

ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

BRACES BE GONE

BEFORE DURING AND AFTER...WHAT A PRETTY GIRL!

Today

"Sometimes as parents we feel we have failed when our children make mistakes or stray. Parents are never failures when they do their best to love, teach, pray, and care for their children. Their faith, prayers, and efforts will be consecrated to the good of their children. . . . No family has reached perfection. All families are subject to the conditions of mortality. All of us are given the gift of agency--to choose for ourselves and to learn from the consequences of our choices

R. Hales

“It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. ”
—Franklin D Roosevelt

Thought for the day

Do you want your donut?There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending Seminary . In this Seminary, classes are held during school hours. Brother Christianson taught Seminary at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson's Seminary class.Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was over.One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, "You think you're pretty tough, don't you?"Steve's answer was, "Yeah, I do."Then Brother Christianson asked, "How many push-ups can you do?"Steve said, "I do about 200 every night.""200? That's pretty good, Steve," Brother Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time.""Do you think you could?" Again asked Brother Christianson."Well, I can try," said Steve."Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," Brother Christianson said. Steve said, "Well... I think I can... yeah, I can do it."Brother Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday."Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited-it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend.Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want a donut?"Cynthia said, "Yes."Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Bro. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe do you want a donut?"Joe said, "Yes." Bro. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push ups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Bro. Christianson came to Scott.Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. Then Bro. Christianson asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"Bro. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"Steve started to do ten pushups. Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"Bro. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Bro. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"Jenny said, "No."Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten push ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.By now, the students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these push ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely. Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row.During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters along the sides of the room. When Bro. Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.Steve asked Bro. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"Bro. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push ups. You can do them any way that you want." And Bro. Christianson went on.A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."Bro. Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push ups for him."Steve said, "Yes, let him come in."Bro. Christianson said, "Okay, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?""Yes.""Steve, will you do ten push ups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten push ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those seated on the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room.The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a donut?Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten push ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push ups for Linda. Then Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, "Bro. Christianson , can I helphim?"Bro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten push ups so Susan can have a donut?"As Steve very slowly finished his last push up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.Brother Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit." With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten." .When everyone in the classroom heard what the teacher meant by it and realized everything. Steve smiled on the ground where he laid in his own sweat and began to cry.Don't be like those who didn't eat the donut.
--

There are souls in this world which have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go

Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish

Saturday

We had 5 basketball games 3 in Hurricane and 2 in Cedar...so I was not there for all of them. I was happy to make it to see KiKi and Melissa win their last game...

Christian was hurt during his game and is on the sofa not moving his knee for the next 30 hours and i am playing Nancy nurse...he is an easy patient...this morning he was in terrible pain, I should have gotten up in the night and given him anti inflamatory...but failed to set the alarm before falling asleep...he was in bad shape, Ryan taught me never to let the pain get ahead...I made that same mistake with him and he suffered for it...you would think when you learn a lesson you would never have to learn it again...but that is not the way it works. He is comfprtable again for the moment...1.5 hours till meds. He has his foot elevated and has frozen peas on his knee.

We are missing church so we will be watching a conference talk or something to make up for it. I was home with Kirsten last week, sick. She was very uncomfortable this week...but she went anyway. Her softball coach asked for 20 push ups...she was on 18 and he told her she was doing it wrong so she had to start over...she got to 20 and he said she couldnt have done 20 and told her to do it again...so she ended up at 58 which was a lot for her...she cant move her arm too freely. She was so sore she couldnt practice pitching and then she played three games yesterday she had a dehydration head ache and was exhausted...it will be nap time when she gets home...and it is the perfect day for a nap...it is gray and rainy out there today...

Work continues to be a mixed blessing...I enjoy being home working as I am more available to my family...but the pay is very low for the hours I work...and there are no benefits and the cost of healthcare continues to rise...and rise. I am thinking of looking into a state job with benefits and retirement. I probably would not make the change until the kids are a bit older...I want to be there for them...hope the health thing is willing to cooperate, as well as my car :)

No word on Lauren's loan...Steve leaves Iraq on the first of April.

Ryan and I had a conversation...I had a sad time, remembering a day in his babyhood I let him down...I wanted him to know i was sorry...and he didnt understand why I felt I needed to do that...but I do...I need my kids to know that I was not perfect and that if I could hit rewind there are things I would change..He is such a loving generous man...I am blessed with him in my life.

I got to talk with Sean too...he told me about life there in his neck of the woods...about their dreasm and goals...I love talking with him...knowing what is going on in his life...and knowing he is happy...ask them aobut the dream house...it sounds wonderful to me. He also had an exciting basketball tournament...wow!

Branden went home and got Kaden for the weekend he is staying with them every other weekend with the goal being he will eventually be there at least more...Ilia is very uncolfortable and is still working...hard on both she and Branden...she is exhausted and he feels like he isnt doing as well as he should...the truth is that life is hard and challenging and even the best of us are asked to stretch and be challenged and sacrifice...it is part of the cirriculum of life...and it is a required course.

My dad is 70

Heirlooms

Today,

Hey my parents brought me some things from my childhood...my quilt and my baptism dress...and baby shoes...YEAH!! A bunch of shoes from me and my brithers and sisters...my tree will be happier next year :)

They also brought me a patio arbor that Branden helped my dad set up on the patio, we are looking forward to spending time out in the yard this Spring and Summer...come out and join us...hopefully Rich will have the pond up and running again...or if any of you want to come help me line a pond and shovel dirt...I am sure we will learn tons from the experience :)

“It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.”
—Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliere

So this is about our day

Today I had a great visit from Branden, he is here to work on website ideas for a self employment opportunity. Ilia is ready to have her baby so soon that I am surprised Branden can be away, she called last night and thought that she had broken her rib sneezing...the baby is very big and she is really uncomfortable...wish there was something I could tell her that would help...but I cant think what it is...ugh.

Sean and Marci are now on T mobile so if any of you need to talk to them you can if you are t-mobile customers...they also have free texts...so if you don't you can get word to them with your fingers. I got to talk with Eliza a couple of times...I miss that cute girl...we don't see her enough...Probably the hardest thing for me about this stage in my life is that I am not near to all those that I would like to me near to...I sometimes wish we had a house in Spanish Fork again so I could play and be with my grandchildren...if they were going to be there always I probably would do it...but they are at a place in life where they have their whole future ahead of them...and they will spread their wings and go where they need to...and I will adjust. I hope.

Ryan is up in Oregon...he has had some trouble with teeth and is hoping to get on with his company to be eligible for benefits...I need to call and see where he is in that process...

Kirsten finished one of her 10 hour projects, she started it awhile ago, making pillows for her room, on Sunday she created a scaled down version of her room. She measured her room and all the furniture and created a model and explored all the options for her furniture, we then refinished a desk for her room....Sean and Marci gave us a computer that she has wanted for homework and she needed a place for it...we sanded and cleaned and painted and then we rearranged some furniture to make room for her new desk...I will take a picture and add it...she did a great job. She continues to be a model student with perfect grades...she is also really enjoying her yearbook class....her pages for this years year book are done..Mr. Pfeunder is a great resource...Kirsti is half way through her next value project which is creating a web site for her Softball team...you can watch it progress...is is pegasussoftball.org Mr Pfeunder is helping her with a template to jazz it up a bit and Joe at my office is helping her load it in..it is way harder than I ever imagined.

Christian is so busy now...he is still trying to get the Eagle project underway, building a basketball court for Sandstone Elementary School, and he has both Basketball and Baseball that he is playing himself...he is a busy guy...he has made honor roll with 4.0 three quarters in a row and has grown an inch... he is starting to eat more too...I am keeping my fridge stocked with Baked Potatoes for him, Branden grew on milk, Sean on Rice, Ryan in hard boiled eggs...I think with Christian it will be potatoes. Oh, Christian's coach for baseball this year is Christian Holbert's dad...he is so happy about that...it is more fun to play with your Friends than to play against them.

Lauren continues to wait...for Steve and their mortgage loan to be approved...we will get pictures of the condo too...Lauren is now working at Target, thanks to a good friend, Kevin McFarland, who is in our ward and also one of Christian's good friend's dad. Thanks Kevin...

Lauren is so helpful...I don't want her to go...and I know she needs to...yuck :) We went plant shopping and we got things for the yard this week, She was also really helpful in getting me a new bathtub through Roger Leavitt....the price was perfect...free. I have the plumber coming over to bid the install and the marble wrap guys coming to bid that...and then I will have to look at floors and sinks and such...paint and sweat...the plumbing is breaking behind the wall and needs updated and repaired...Sure you want to own a home Lauren???

today

"Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be."-Fannie Brice

today

Life's a voyage that's homeward bound.

Herman Melville

What candidate voted your way the most

Hey,

Here is a really interesting site...

http://www.electoralcompass.com/

Take the survey and see who you are most aligned with. I like that all the spin is out of it

Let me know what you think

For today

“First thing every morning before you arise say out loud, 'I believe,' three times. ”

Border LEague begins for KiKi

Although the girls did not look ready to be playing games they were able to pull off a victory against Page. Snow Canyon ran away with their game against the Panthers...the focus on the Panther team appears to be a bit more like city league where every girl gets equal playing time, and other schools are more competitive in nature. Kirsti and Melissa were clearly starters and had they been able to play more often...I think they would have had a better showing

This was given to me years ago...and I just now found it on line

"The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father's heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God."Author: Orson F. Whitney, Source: http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-439-30

perhaps...

The answer may be “Not now—be patient and wait.” David O McKay