We've had some pretty awesome adventures lately, and while I have photo-filled posts and stories that I'm dying to share, I just haven't gotten around to it yet... but I will.
So before I forget, here's a [brief] list of some of the things we've been up to lately:
Brans was invited to participate in the National Model Arab League in Washington D.C. this spring through the University of Utah. The competition started the day after my birthday, so we decided to make a little vacation out of it and I went with him. We were there for the a.m.a.z.i.n.g. cherry blossoms, saw so many awesome monuments and museums, and spent a day at Gettysburg. And I may or may not have taken 2000 photos...
My plague of MRSuck was on and off again until the middle of April. I was actually quite miserable up until the first day in D.C., but since then, I've had no signs of it returning. After a few crazy months, some pretty extreme regimens to eradicate the bug, and lots of pain and frustration, I feel much better. I'm still easily worn out, but so, so, so much better. And my voice is back. Isn't it about time?! My voice was pretty much gone from Christmas until just about a week ago when I woke up to a normal voice one day. Super weird, but I'll take it. After our D.C. trip, I saw a few more doctors just as follow ups, and met with a specialist about my voice. The good news: There was nothing medically wrong with me or my voice. The bad news: he wanted me to go to voice therapy for a few months. The great news: my first voice therapy appointment was supposed to be this morning... but I cancelled the appointment. Happy day!
Last weekend, in sort of a last-minute-everything-aligned-so-we-could way, we packed up and drove to San Diego with Chad for a few days to welcome Blake home from his mission in Belgium and the Netherlands. It was such a nice trip. We are so glad everything worked out (between school and work) for it to happen. It was fun to hear his stories, see photos from Harold and Shannon's trip to pick him up and to eat lots of chocolate (obviously) and real German gummy bears. I'm in love with them. We ate more Mexican food than we should have [but seriously, how can you resist?], stayed up way too late every night and had a blast.
Branson was offered an internship in the Special Collections Library up at the U this summer, which is great experience for what he wants to do in the future. This is his first week, and he's super jazzed about it. It's a great opportunity for him. With the internship offer, he decided to defer graduation until the end of the year. The end is in sight! He'll graduate with his Bachelors in History and Middle East Studies. He's worked so hard over the past few years. I'm truly so proud of him. He's one of the smartest people I know.
I've been super busy at work. Are you surprised? I feel like I'm always busy at work... but being so sick for so long and missing so much time has made it even worse. Some days I feel like I'm such a slacker because I basically missed two months this year already, but I'm grateful for my understanding boss and my team not giving me a hard time about it. They're great. So now, I'm still just trying to get my bearings and catch up on everything. Stressful. But fine.
We recently decided to expand the Larson Family Farm and add turkeys and ducks to our flock, bringing the total animal count to two ducks, two turkeys (named Thanksgiving and Christmas), nine baby chicks, fifteen hens and two dogs. Now we just need a goat and an alpaca... And some sheep. [Maybe someday] Ha ha Who knew I was made to be a farm girl?
My baby sis, Pie Face competed in the State Debate Tournament last month... and WON! As a 4th grader. Debating affirmative for Nuclear Power. Amazing. When I was in 4th grade, I'm not sure I even knew what Nuclear Power was... Good grief. She's brilliant. Apparently, after Pie Face and her partner Lena gave their presentation, their teacher congratulated them on a job well done, but told them that they could probably leave and not stay for the awards ceremony at the end of the night. No 4th graders had ever won, and the odds were certainly not in their favor. Lena's family left, but my parents decided to stay... And were so surprised and glad they did! The girls got a trophy that's about as tall as they are. We're super proud of Pie Face. She's the smartest Ashcraft, I'm convinced.
Now we're getting ready for two twentysomething boys to live in our house for the summer. Both Blake and Chad will be staying with us until the fall. So we've been cleaning and reorganizing and making room for them. It's going to be a party. Chad and I have already declared it to be the Summer of Smoothies. I can't wait. Though I'm going to have to figure out how to keep up on their apple juice intake. each of the summers that these boys lived with us before (separately) I swear we went though gallons of apple juice a week! I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with their drinking habits. [grin.]
...So for how crappy and miserable our year started off... This spring and summer are shaping up to make up for it.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Saturday, April 6, 2013
make 'em laugh
I may not have adequately expressed my pride in my boy Tanner in my last post...
So just in case it wasn't clear...
It. Was. Awesome.
I saw the show four times. It was magical.
On Friday night, A-Team and T-Ca$h came down to see it with the rest of the fam, and by intermission, we were all just beaming - "so proud to be an Ashcraft" was uttered more than a few times by more than just me. Now, maybe you think I'm biased. And maybe you think that I have quite a bit of pull with my siblings and that they'll just like what I like. [Ok. Maybe I'm bossy.] But - Tanner totally delivered. And not just Tan. Ben was phenomenal. Diana was adorably perfect. Adam could not have been more like the movie. The whole cast was just so darn amazing.
Obviously, my favorite parts involved Tanner and Ben. So, for those who missed the opportunity, here's a peek [Please forgive the incessant cheering and screaming. I told you it would happen. Even without having a voice.]:
Broadway Melody
Good Mornin'
Singin' In the Rain
Moses
[You're welcome.]
It. Was. Awesome.
I saw the show four times. It was magical.
On Friday night, A-Team and T-Ca$h came down to see it with the rest of the fam, and by intermission, we were all just beaming - "so proud to be an Ashcraft" was uttered more than a few times by more than just me. Now, maybe you think I'm biased. And maybe you think that I have quite a bit of pull with my siblings and that they'll just like what I like. [Ok. Maybe I'm bossy.] But - Tanner totally delivered. And not just Tan. Ben was phenomenal. Diana was adorably perfect. Adam could not have been more like the movie. The whole cast was just so darn amazing.
Obviously, my favorite parts involved Tanner and Ben. So, for those who missed the opportunity, here's a peek [Please forgive the incessant cheering and screaming. I told you it would happen. Even without having a voice.]:
Make 'Em Laugh
[You're welcome.]
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
singin' in the rain
You. Guys.
Whatever plans you have made for this week -- cancel them.
I know you've got jobs, and callings, and families, and friends, and so forth.
But I'm telling you, you need to find a night this week [or the afternoon on Friday] and go see Olympus High School's production of Singin' in the Rain.
Seriously.
There are so many reasons to partake of this spring masterpiece:
First of all, it's the. very. last. thing. ever. to happen on Olympus' legendary stage. [They've rebuilt the school just to the north on the same lot, and it's magnificently, beautifully enormous... and they're tearing down the old school in just a matter of weeks. But, so many incredible things have happened on Olympus' stage. So many talents. So many memories. So. Much. Good.] Go take the two hours, and be able to say that you were there for the last epic production on the Original Olympus High School Stage. Do it. It's totally worth it.
Second, it's SINGIN'. IN. THE. RAIN. A classic. I've recently discovered that there are throngs of people missing out on this fantastic movie. It's shocking, really. So whether you've seen the movie, love the play, or have never even heard of it -- Go. It's awesome.
Third, the show is simply darling. I've had a super rough 2013 so far, but this totally cheered me up. Even more then my new yellow wallet. It's a feel good story, and the music is super fun and catchy. It's impossible for it to not cheer you up - even if you don't need cheering.
Fourth, [SPOILER ALERT] it rains. Actual water falling from the sky. And don't fret, because if you sit in the first few rows, you are provided with a rain poncho.
Fifth, [I told you there were so many] The talent in the show is great. Ben Smith, whom I adore and have a mini crush on, is a perfect Don Lockwood. He's suave, and charming, and handsome, and I could just listen to him sing all. day. long. The girl who plays Kathy is adorable - and Fun Fact: I work with her dad. She has a gorgeous voice. The girl who plays Lina Lamont is hysterical. She nails the voice from the movie - and her mannerisms made me chuckle through the whole entire show. "Well, I can't make love TO A BUSH!" The dancers are great. The director is hilarious - right out of the movie. It's just so dang good. Go see it!
Sixth, and most importantly... My boy Tanner - Tan the Man, Little T, Number 5 of 8, Tan TT Showbiz - is Cosmo. And he could. not. be. better. He's witty. And clever. And dramatic. And gracefully. And silly. And flexible. And he makes. me. laugh. "Make 'em laugh! Make 'em laugh! Don't you know everyone wants to laugh?!" AND he tap dances like a boss. And not just that, ladies and gents, he actually plays the piano in the show. What a guy!
Now, I know that pride is bad. And that you can get caught in a vicious cycle with said pride... But. I am so proud of Tanner. He has worked so hard. And has totally sacrificed his body (totally sick bruises all over) for this role. He's magnificent. I couldn't stop smiling through the whole show - every time he came on stage. I'm totally overcome with pride - but the good kind. The kind of rejoice-in-the-successes-of-my-brother pride.
Have I convinced you yet?
GO SEE SINGIN' IN THE RAIN!
If you need someone to go with, call me. I'll be there.
If you aren't sure you can make it and need even more reasons to entice you, let me know. [I will neither confirm nor deny whether or not I will make a chocolate cake just to get you there, if that's what it takes. No joke: I bribed a kid sitting behind me to cheer and clap louder during the show with a bag of fruit snacks. So. Let me know.]
If you don't enjoy loud laughter, applause, and cat-calls throughout the show, then maybe we shouldn't sit by each other. But I'll still go with you. And we can talk at intermission. Grin.
If you have a bunch of stuff going on this week, just put it off for one day [ONE DAY!] to come see the show.
You won't regret it.
And it will mean so much to the kids in it who have worked so hard to put on such a fun show. They deserve a great audience [which obviously didn't show up tonight.... I felt like I was the only one laughing and clapping through the whole show. Lame.]
So, click here to buy tickets, and bring your umbrella.
I promise you'll enjoy the show.
GO!
I'm singing in the rain
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I've a smile on my face
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin',
Singin' in the rain
Whatever plans you have made for this week -- cancel them.
I know you've got jobs, and callings, and families, and friends, and so forth.
But I'm telling you, you need to find a night this week [or the afternoon on Friday] and go see Olympus High School's production of Singin' in the Rain.
There are so many reasons to partake of this spring masterpiece:
First of all, it's the. very. last. thing. ever. to happen on Olympus' legendary stage. [They've rebuilt the school just to the north on the same lot, and it's magnificently, beautifully enormous... and they're tearing down the old school in just a matter of weeks. But, so many incredible things have happened on Olympus' stage. So many talents. So many memories. So. Much. Good.] Go take the two hours, and be able to say that you were there for the last epic production on the Original Olympus High School Stage. Do it. It's totally worth it.
Second, it's SINGIN'. IN. THE. RAIN. A classic. I've recently discovered that there are throngs of people missing out on this fantastic movie. It's shocking, really. So whether you've seen the movie, love the play, or have never even heard of it -- Go. It's awesome.
Third, the show is simply darling. I've had a super rough 2013 so far, but this totally cheered me up. Even more then my new yellow wallet. It's a feel good story, and the music is super fun and catchy. It's impossible for it to not cheer you up - even if you don't need cheering.
Fourth, [SPOILER ALERT] it rains. Actual water falling from the sky. And don't fret, because if you sit in the first few rows, you are provided with a rain poncho.
Fifth, [I told you there were so many] The talent in the show is great. Ben Smith, whom I adore and have a mini crush on, is a perfect Don Lockwood. He's suave, and charming, and handsome, and I could just listen to him sing all. day. long. The girl who plays Kathy is adorable - and Fun Fact: I work with her dad. She has a gorgeous voice. The girl who plays Lina Lamont is hysterical. She nails the voice from the movie - and her mannerisms made me chuckle through the whole entire show. "Well, I can't make love TO A BUSH!" The dancers are great. The director is hilarious - right out of the movie. It's just so dang good. Go see it!
Sixth, and most importantly... My boy Tanner - Tan the Man, Little T, Number 5 of 8, Tan TT Showbiz - is Cosmo. And he could. not. be. better. He's witty. And clever. And dramatic. And gracefully. And silly. And flexible. And he makes. me. laugh. "Make 'em laugh! Make 'em laugh! Don't you know everyone wants to laugh?!" AND he tap dances like a boss. And not just that, ladies and gents, he actually plays the piano in the show. What a guy!
Now, I know that pride is bad. And that you can get caught in a vicious cycle with said pride... But. I am so proud of Tanner. He has worked so hard. And has totally sacrificed his body (totally sick bruises all over) for this role. He's magnificent. I couldn't stop smiling through the whole show - every time he came on stage. I'm totally overcome with pride - but the good kind. The kind of rejoice-in-the-successes-of-my-brother pride.
Have I convinced you yet?
GO SEE SINGIN' IN THE RAIN!
If you need someone to go with, call me. I'll be there.
If you aren't sure you can make it and need even more reasons to entice you, let me know. [I will neither confirm nor deny whether or not I will make a chocolate cake just to get you there, if that's what it takes. No joke: I bribed a kid sitting behind me to cheer and clap louder during the show with a bag of fruit snacks. So. Let me know.]
If you don't enjoy loud laughter, applause, and cat-calls throughout the show, then maybe we shouldn't sit by each other. But I'll still go with you. And we can talk at intermission. Grin.
If you have a bunch of stuff going on this week, just put it off for one day [ONE DAY!] to come see the show.
You won't regret it.
And it will mean so much to the kids in it who have worked so hard to put on such a fun show. They deserve a great audience [which obviously didn't show up tonight.... I felt like I was the only one laughing and clapping through the whole show. Lame.]
So, click here to buy tickets, and bring your umbrella.
I promise you'll enjoy the show.
GO!
Just singing in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm ready for love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
Come on with the rain
I've a smile on my face
I walk down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just singin',
Singin' in the rain
Thursday, March 7, 2013
mending
I'm mending. Slowly but surely.
We had dinner at my parents house the other night, and when we walked in the door, Braden said:
Shan! Your face doesn't even look messed up!
I'm choosing to take that as a compliment. (The first go-around with MRSA, he was the one who said: Shan, you look normal from behind! If he weren't such a cute boy and I didn't know he meant well, I'd probably punch him in the throat.)
I bought a new wallet, but I'm mourning my old one. It was the perfect wallet and the perfect shade of green. And it's no longer available for purchase. Sad day. So, instead, I got a yellow one. Hopefully, it's just the right dose of cheery color to compensate.
And I feel like a real person again. I have new bank and insurance cards, a new drivers license, and everything is starting to get back to normal.
I've been advised to take it easy, and not jump back into my normal routine too soon. Everyone is pretty sure that this time around, stress induced MRSA to come back. (Or as Chad calls it, MRSuckiness. Clever boy. And totally appropriate.) Needless to say, I've had a stressful couple of years. And as part of my mending, I'm trying to figure out how to manage that better.
I have a stressful job, and it doesn't ever really slow down.
I'm like my mother, and I like to help as many people as I can
and just don't like to tell people no.
I put a lot of pressure on myself -
I'm a perfectionist, and just hate not giving something my all.
I've also been blessed with many talents, and sometimes I feel like if I don't use them and keep developing them, I'm taking these gifts for granted, and they will be lost. Again, with the perfectionism.
But I'm learning that I can't do everything.
I'm trying to learn how to balance well.
And I'm learning that sometimes I need to let people help me,
instead of always doing the helping.
I'm learning that I can't do everything all the time, as much as I'd like to.
And I'm learning how truly great it is
to have so many people love you and care about you.
And I'm continually amazed at how wonderful my husband is.
He takes such good care of me. He's quite the find, you know.
I've so appreciate prayers and healing thoughts on my behalf.
I feel so supported and so loved by so many. So thank you.
I am feeling better. But still not whole.
I have a constant migraine. And I get tired quickly.
(Confession: I am enjoying having to take my daily nap.
If only there were a way to implement that into my life. For the rest of my days. Hm...)
I have scars on my head from the MRSuck. A constant reminder,
along with the pain I still feel.
But I know they will fade. And I'll be completely better.
So I'm declaring that March is for Mending.
...And college basketball. March Madness is so close. It always makes me so happy.
Go Hoosiers! We're pulling for Indiana to take it all.
We had dinner at my parents house the other night, and when we walked in the door, Braden said:
Shan! Your face doesn't even look messed up!
I'm choosing to take that as a compliment. (The first go-around with MRSA, he was the one who said: Shan, you look normal from behind! If he weren't such a cute boy and I didn't know he meant well, I'd probably punch him in the throat.)
I bought a new wallet, but I'm mourning my old one. It was the perfect wallet and the perfect shade of green. And it's no longer available for purchase. Sad day. So, instead, I got a yellow one. Hopefully, it's just the right dose of cheery color to compensate.
And I feel like a real person again. I have new bank and insurance cards, a new drivers license, and everything is starting to get back to normal.
I've been advised to take it easy, and not jump back into my normal routine too soon. Everyone is pretty sure that this time around, stress induced MRSA to come back. (Or as Chad calls it, MRSuckiness. Clever boy. And totally appropriate.) Needless to say, I've had a stressful couple of years. And as part of my mending, I'm trying to figure out how to manage that better.
I have a stressful job, and it doesn't ever really slow down.
I'm like my mother, and I like to help as many people as I can
and just don't like to tell people no.
I put a lot of pressure on myself -
I'm a perfectionist, and just hate not giving something my all.
I've also been blessed with many talents, and sometimes I feel like if I don't use them and keep developing them, I'm taking these gifts for granted, and they will be lost. Again, with the perfectionism.
But I'm learning that I can't do everything.
I'm trying to learn how to balance well.
And I'm learning that sometimes I need to let people help me,
instead of always doing the helping.
I'm learning that I can't do everything all the time, as much as I'd like to.
And I'm learning how truly great it is
to have so many people love you and care about you.
And I'm continually amazed at how wonderful my husband is.
He takes such good care of me. He's quite the find, you know.
I've so appreciate prayers and healing thoughts on my behalf.
I feel so supported and so loved by so many. So thank you.
I am feeling better. But still not whole.
I have a constant migraine. And I get tired quickly.
(Confession: I am enjoying having to take my daily nap.
If only there were a way to implement that into my life. For the rest of my days. Hm...)
I have scars on my head from the MRSuck. A constant reminder,
along with the pain I still feel.
But I know they will fade. And I'll be completely better.
So I'm declaring that March is for Mending.
...And college basketball. March Madness is so close. It always makes me so happy.
Go Hoosiers! We're pulling for Indiana to take it all.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
rough week
This hasn't been my week.
Now, I have lots to be grateful for, and things can always be worse, but... it's been a rough few days around our house.
Guesswho's what's back... back again... MRSA. Ick.
The good news: my eyes can both open.
The bad news: super painful.
The good news: last time I was on the wrong antibiotics for a week. this time, I'm starting on the rights ones so it should be more manageable and go away soon(er). At least, I'm hoping so.
The bad news: I also have a cold, and every time I cough or sniffle, I feel like my head is (once again) being hit by a metal bat.
Ilost someone stole my wallet.
The good news: no one has tried to use our credit/debit cards.
The bad news: I had $200 cash in my wallet.
The good news: ... ok, so there's not a lot of good news when your wallet falls out of your purse after you pay for dinner with your friends, and you don't notice for a day and then you go back and it's disappeared, and no one has turned it in and you think some punk kid probably picked it up, stole the cash and then trashed your wallet with all of your belongings in it making you have to get new ones and wrack your swollen brain to remember everything you had saved in your wallet.
The bad news: I have to get a new drivers license. And my head is swollen with MRSA. And I refuse to get a new picture taken while my ethnicity isn't clear. (Seriously, almost unrecognizable.) So... I'm ID-less.
I lit ourkitchen stove on fire.
The good news: I put out the fire.
The bad news: I started a fire.
The good news: no hair was singed. And it was only a little fire. And there was no damage done.
The bad news: I lost my voice again, so when I yelled for Brans to come help, he couldn't hear me and I panicked while putting out the fire by myself. (He came up about 5 minutes later and said, "Did you burn something?" Ha.)
So... I'm totally ready to be done with this. I'm hoping March ushers in better things for us. Because so far, 2013 has not been very nice to me. And I'd really like to enjoy more than a couple weeks of being healthy before I'm knocked down again. Too much to ask? I don't think so.
Now, I have lots to be grateful for, and things can always be worse, but... it's been a rough few days around our house.
Guess
The good news: my eyes can both open.
The bad news: super painful.
The good news: last time I was on the wrong antibiotics for a week. this time, I'm starting on the rights ones so it should be more manageable and go away soon(er). At least, I'm hoping so.
The bad news: I also have a cold, and every time I cough or sniffle, I feel like my head is (once again) being hit by a metal bat.
I
The good news: no one has tried to use our credit/debit cards.
The bad news: I had $200 cash in my wallet.
The good news: ... ok, so there's not a lot of good news when your wallet falls out of your purse after you pay for dinner with your friends, and you don't notice for a day and then you go back and it's disappeared, and no one has turned it in and you think some punk kid probably picked it up, stole the cash and then trashed your wallet with all of your belongings in it making you have to get new ones and wrack your swollen brain to remember everything you had saved in your wallet.
The bad news: I have to get a new drivers license. And my head is swollen with MRSA. And I refuse to get a new picture taken while my ethnicity isn't clear. (Seriously, almost unrecognizable.) So... I'm ID-less.
I lit our
The good news: I put out the fire.
The bad news: I started a fire.
The good news: no hair was singed. And it was only a little fire. And there was no damage done.
The bad news: I lost my voice again, so when I yelled for Brans to come help, he couldn't hear me and I panicked while putting out the fire by myself. (He came up about 5 minutes later and said, "Did you burn something?" Ha.)
So... I'm totally ready to be done with this. I'm hoping March ushers in better things for us. Because so far, 2013 has not been very nice to me. And I'd really like to enjoy more than a couple weeks of being healthy before I'm knocked down again. Too much to ask? I don't think so.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
healthy new year
We have had a rough start to the New Year...
2012 was a stressful, fun, busy year... particularly in December. I think that it all caught up with me the day after Christmas with quite a nasty cold. Coughing, sneezing, losing my voice...
Each day, I woke up feeling worse... but it was just a cold.
ENTER VICIOUS SUPER BACTERIA THAT MADE MY HEAD EXPLODE.
Between my compromised immune system from the cold, and some icky bug, I woke up one morning and noticed my eye was a little swollen. At first I thought maybe it was just sleepy morning eyes from cold-inflicted-not-much-sleep-because-I-couldn't-stop-coughing. I took a shower, got ready for the day and then noticed the swelling was getting worse. (Always a bad sign when you can see the outside of your eyelid when you're not looking in a mirror...) We went to go play games with my family, but by noon, my eye was super swollen.
No, I will not post photos. And I will neither confirm nor deny whether or not I looked like some creepy mix of Quasimodo, a child with a terrible allergy to bee stings who got stung on the eye, Gothmog - Lieutenant of Morgul, and Will Smith in the movie Hitch when he eats shellfish and discovers he's allergic and his face swells up like a balloon. I will neither confirm nor deny.
So, after my brother said, "Shan, I'm worried about your face. You look like a beluga whale," we went to the Instacare.
Now, I've always had great experiences at the Instacare. When I sliced my finger almost right off, when Brans hurt his back so bad and couldn't move - every time we've gone, we have gotten right in and seen a doctor. No more than 5-10 minute waits. Very friendly but professional staff. Like I said - great experiences.
So, I digress - we went to the Instacare. On New Year's Eve. [I should have known better than to get an infection that required a doctor's attention on a holiday. Remind me - never get sick on a holiday again.] We went to the Instacare closest to my parents house, only to find out they had a 3+ hour wait. Uh... I don't think so. So we drove to the place-formerly-known-as-the-Instacare-closest-to-our-house, only to find out they had moved, and the Urgent Care that took it's place didn't accept our insurance. So, frustrated and now in quite a bit of pain, we went to a third location. They told me the wait was about an hour and apologized that I had to wait. So I found a chair in a corner and sat. And sat. And waited. And sat.
Three and a half hours later, the nurse finally read my name. Yes, it was ridiculous. Yes, I was frustrated. And yes, I would have left and just taken a page out of Will Smith's book and stuck a bendy straw in a bottle of Benadryl and drunk myself to sleep... but while sitting in the waiting room, I could feel my eye getting more and more swollen. So I stayed.
The nurse took me back, got my vitals and then the doctor escorted me to an exam room, where he proceeded to verbally examine me, but didn't ever actually touch my face. He asked me some questions, diagnosed me with just a typical skin infection, noting some sores that appeared on my forehead, and recommended I start taking an antibiotic and gave me a prescription for one and some painkillers, (And a note excusing me from work for a few days. You know you look bad when your doctor basically says, "Yeah, I wouldn't want to go to work either if I looked like that.") as well as a shot of antibiotics to get them in my system. They told me to come back the next day to get another shot just to get on top of the infection.
After waiting so patiently with me, Brans took me home, put a heat press on my head, and went to go pick up my prescription. He's such a great caretaker. Later, my family came over for a low-key New Year's Eve celebration. I mostly sat on the couch all night, watching my family play games, alternating a hot rice bag and a pack of ice on my head.
I hurt all over. My head was pounding. I couldn't breathe from my cold. My throat was sore. I couldn't talk. Every time someone would say something funny, I'd laugh, then cough, then choke, then panic, then cough, then cry, then cough some more.
[This happened several times... My family is funny! At one point, my brothers were talking about all of the fictional characters I resembled in my current state, and Brady chimed in and said, "But Shan, you look normal from behind." And for some reason, it was hilarious. But it sent me into a tailspin. Laugh. Cough. Choke. Cough. Cry. Cough. Laugh. Choke. I actually collapsed on the floor, at one point. Totally and completely miserable.]
An hour or two before midnight, I asked for a priesthood blessing. My family gathered round, and with six worthy priesthood holders in the room, my dad and Brans laid their hands on my head and gave me a blessing. I can't tell you how comforting and peaceful I felt during that minute. Surrounded by my family- our testimonies and faith strong, all of them praying for me. Humbling. And so amazing.
I resumed my spot on the couch, and just tried to take it easy. And told my family to stop being funny so I didn't die. Over the next few hours, the swelling started to decrease. I could open my eye, and the pain meds had kicked in, so I didn't hurt as much. When my family left for the night, I was looking very much improved. I opted to sleep on the couch in an upright position - after several nights of coughing fits, neither Brans or myself had slept well. I decided if he could at least sleep, that would be better. So I found a comfy position on the couch, Brans and Alyna tucked me in with about 15 pillows so I could stay upright all night, and I fell asleep. I had a lot of medication in me, and it knocked me right out, and [from what I can remember] slept quite soundly for a good five hour chunk. [Five hours seems like all night when you've only been sleeping for one or two hours at a time for a week.]
When I woke up, the improved decrease of swelling from the night before had returned, and my eye and side of my face was super swollen, but I could still see a little through my right eye. Alyna gave me some more medicine, and I went back to sleep for a few hours. When I woke up the second time, Brans took me back to the Instacare for the second shot. I hoped our wait wouldn't be as long... And when I checked in at the desk, they told me the wait was an hour. "Even though I'm just here for a follow-up shot?" I was told to be patient and find a seat like the other sick people. Dumb.
So we waited ... again... and almost three hours later they called my name. [Becoming disenchanted with the Instacare? Yes.] And yes, the swelling increased while I waited. [Maybe I'm allergic to waiting at the Instacare.] We went back to another exam room, and a new doctor came in shortly after. He asked me some more questions, said I might have to go to the ER, and then said, "Now, I'm going to just examine this little sore on your head. So why don't you lie down-- Husband, do you want to come hold her hand? This is probably going to be pretty painful for her-- Just remember, I'm not trying to hurt you, just trying to make you better."
Famous last words. Ok, not last. But IT HURT. SOOO badly. I felt like he was hitting my head with a metal baseball bat, over and over and over again. Blinding pain. But I'm tough. I have a high tolerance for [most] pain. He picked, and pushed, and squeezed and picked some more. He kept saying, "I'm not trying to hurt you. Are you ok?" I would grit my teeth and whisper a weak, sickly, "mmhm" as he hit me with another bat. He eventually got some sort of something to come out of the sore and took a swab to run a culture to figure out what it was that was infecting me. He apologized for the pain, [Did I mention that in the long wait, all of the pain meds I had taken that morning had worn off? Bad timing.] told me he would run the culture and then call me when the lab results came in. He said if it got any worse, to got directly to the ER, and he left. Not scary at all, thank you Doctor.
I managed to hold in my tears until he left the room, but the second the door shut, I lost it. I cried and cried into Branson's shoulder for five minutes. [He has such good, broad, manly, comfort-you-when-you-cry shoulders.] The nurse came in to give me another shot, and then we went home. Again, I found my spot on the couch, and rested there the rest of the day. I was so weak, I could barely move. My head felt like it was exploding. My lungs were on fire, and every time I coughed I wanted to rip open my rib cage and take my lungs out, because that would probably have hurt less. Brans and Alyna kept me on a schedule with pain meds, making sure I ate something (though it usually was just saltine crackers. Food just wasn't good. And it's hard to chew when, with each single jaw movement, you feel like you're getting smacked with a 2x4.) and just let me nap on and off all day.
Again, the swelling went down. Significantly. And my spirits improved at the end of the night before I went to bed. But, I woke up with a completely swollen shut eye. The worst it had been. I couldn't open it if I tried prying it open with my fingers. So swollen. I didn't want to go back to the Instacare, because they would send me to the ER. But in some ways, I was feeling better. Brans and Alyna had helped me keep heat on the sore all day and night, so it started drawing out the infection. It was icky. But I could tell progress was being made. I still felt miserable, but now it was more manageable miserable, rather than wanting-to-die miserable.
So again, I spent the day on the couch. So boring. [Pretty sure some of my muscles were thinking about atrophy because I had basically not moved other than to go to the bathroom or the Instacare for multiple days.] But so necessary. During the day, the swelling improved. [Sound familiar?] I slept relatively well. And work up the next day still swollen, but not any more than when I went to bed. Still in pain, but I was coughing less, and could almost breathe. Things were looking up.
Same story the next day - swelling improved, feeling a little better, though it didn't look like it. Then, at 9am on Saturday morning, a nurse from the Instacare called me and said, "Hi Shanna, this is Ashley from the Instacare. We got your lab results back, and it looks like you have MRSA. Please stop taking the antibiotic we gave you immediately and we've called in a new one to your pharmacy for you to take instead. The previous one isn't doing you any good. The infection is resistant to the one you've been taking..." I thanked her for calling, and immediately looked up MRSA on my phone.
MRSA is a "super bacteria" that has mutated and become resistant to several antibiotics that once used to treat it. Somewhere, I picked it up. And we think that because my immune system was so weak already with a terrible cold, my body just shut down when the infection started.
[When I told my mom, she was worried. She's heard horror stories of people who've had MRSA - almost dying, extended stays in the hospital, etc. I've heard a few myself. But, I've also heard from some people that it's now just so common that it's not such a big deal anymore. I BEG TO DIFFER. Kind of a big deal to me. Either way, it's not fun. It's miserable. And painful. But I think I was lucky that it infected me like it did, only spending 10 hours at the Instacare, instead of actually putting me in the hospital.]
And then, my family and I remembered the priesthood blessing I'd been given. And how significantly improved I was from that moment. And how my body had been healing itself, since the infection was resistant to the antibiotics I was taking. And our testimonies of the healing power of the priesthood increased just a little. It's not like I was instantly healed, and we witnessed a great miracle. And it might not be obvious to the doctors at the Instacare. But I firmly believe that the best medicine for me that week was the priesthood blessing I received. I was blessed that my body would heal. That I would be strong enough to heal. And I was.
At the risk of spreading the infection, I've completely sanitized my house, and spent this week working from home. But, Brans and Alyna haven't seem to be infected, so I think I'm in the clear. But, I've been quite wary of going into work. People in my building at work are notorious for coming to work with with all manner of diseases. [A guy I work with showed up the day he was diagnosed with Whooping Cough. DIAGNOSED with WHOOPING COUGH, and he came in to work, coughing, and spreading germs. Ridiculous.] So, I've tried to catch up from home. It's nice that a good portion of my job is done through email, so I've been able to be connected, but safe in my sanitized haven. [Confession: I'm a little nervous to go in on Monday. I'm going to have Lysol and hand sanitzer in my pocket.]
It's been a long couple of weeks. I still don't feel 100%. I still feel a little weak. I don't have all of my energy back, and my voice still sounds ridiculous. But I'm healing. And I "look normal from behind" and from the front [Thanks, Brade. Ha ha].
But, we truly wish everyone a very healthy 2013. Ours didn't start so well, but I'm hoping the rest of the year is filled with health and strength, and this is just getting it out of our system. We're hoping for great things this year. And now, health is at the very top of our list.
So, have a very Healthy New Year.
[I've already been sick enough for the rest of us this year.]
2012 was a stressful, fun, busy year... particularly in December. I think that it all caught up with me the day after Christmas with quite a nasty cold. Coughing, sneezing, losing my voice...
[My family laughed because I sounded like Marcel the Shell... Watch it. Hilarious.]
Each day, I woke up feeling worse... but it was just a cold.
ENTER VICIOUS SUPER BACTERIA THAT MADE MY HEAD EXPLODE.
Between my compromised immune system from the cold, and some icky bug, I woke up one morning and noticed my eye was a little swollen. At first I thought maybe it was just sleepy morning eyes from cold-inflicted-not-much-sleep-because-I-couldn't-stop-coughing. I took a shower, got ready for the day and then noticed the swelling was getting worse. (Always a bad sign when you can see the outside of your eyelid when you're not looking in a mirror...) We went to go play games with my family, but by noon, my eye was super swollen.
No, I will not post photos. And I will neither confirm nor deny whether or not I looked like some creepy mix of Quasimodo, a child with a terrible allergy to bee stings who got stung on the eye, Gothmog - Lieutenant of Morgul, and Will Smith in the movie Hitch when he eats shellfish and discovers he's allergic and his face swells up like a balloon. I will neither confirm nor deny.
So, after my brother said, "Shan, I'm worried about your face. You look like a beluga whale," we went to the Instacare.
Now, I've always had great experiences at the Instacare. When I sliced my finger almost right off, when Brans hurt his back so bad and couldn't move - every time we've gone, we have gotten right in and seen a doctor. No more than 5-10 minute waits. Very friendly but professional staff. Like I said - great experiences.
So, I digress - we went to the Instacare. On New Year's Eve. [I should have known better than to get an infection that required a doctor's attention on a holiday. Remind me - never get sick on a holiday again.] We went to the Instacare closest to my parents house, only to find out they had a 3+ hour wait. Uh... I don't think so. So we drove to the place-formerly-known-as-the-Instacare-closest-to-our-house, only to find out they had moved, and the Urgent Care that took it's place didn't accept our insurance. So, frustrated and now in quite a bit of pain, we went to a third location. They told me the wait was about an hour and apologized that I had to wait. So I found a chair in a corner and sat. And sat. And waited. And sat.
Three and a half hours later, the nurse finally read my name. Yes, it was ridiculous. Yes, I was frustrated. And yes, I would have left and just taken a page out of Will Smith's book and stuck a bendy straw in a bottle of Benadryl and drunk myself to sleep... but while sitting in the waiting room, I could feel my eye getting more and more swollen. So I stayed.
The nurse took me back, got my vitals and then the doctor escorted me to an exam room, where he proceeded to verbally examine me, but didn't ever actually touch my face. He asked me some questions, diagnosed me with just a typical skin infection, noting some sores that appeared on my forehead, and recommended I start taking an antibiotic and gave me a prescription for one and some painkillers, (And a note excusing me from work for a few days. You know you look bad when your doctor basically says, "Yeah, I wouldn't want to go to work either if I looked like that.") as well as a shot of antibiotics to get them in my system. They told me to come back the next day to get another shot just to get on top of the infection.
After waiting so patiently with me, Brans took me home, put a heat press on my head, and went to go pick up my prescription. He's such a great caretaker. Later, my family came over for a low-key New Year's Eve celebration. I mostly sat on the couch all night, watching my family play games, alternating a hot rice bag and a pack of ice on my head.
I hurt all over. My head was pounding. I couldn't breathe from my cold. My throat was sore. I couldn't talk. Every time someone would say something funny, I'd laugh, then cough, then choke, then panic, then cough, then cry, then cough some more.
[This happened several times... My family is funny! At one point, my brothers were talking about all of the fictional characters I resembled in my current state, and Brady chimed in and said, "But Shan, you look normal from behind." And for some reason, it was hilarious. But it sent me into a tailspin. Laugh. Cough. Choke. Cough. Cry. Cough. Laugh. Choke. I actually collapsed on the floor, at one point. Totally and completely miserable.]
An hour or two before midnight, I asked for a priesthood blessing. My family gathered round, and with six worthy priesthood holders in the room, my dad and Brans laid their hands on my head and gave me a blessing. I can't tell you how comforting and peaceful I felt during that minute. Surrounded by my family- our testimonies and faith strong, all of them praying for me. Humbling. And so amazing.
I resumed my spot on the couch, and just tried to take it easy. And told my family to stop being funny so I didn't die. Over the next few hours, the swelling started to decrease. I could open my eye, and the pain meds had kicked in, so I didn't hurt as much. When my family left for the night, I was looking very much improved. I opted to sleep on the couch in an upright position - after several nights of coughing fits, neither Brans or myself had slept well. I decided if he could at least sleep, that would be better. So I found a comfy position on the couch, Brans and Alyna tucked me in with about 15 pillows so I could stay upright all night, and I fell asleep. I had a lot of medication in me, and it knocked me right out, and [from what I can remember] slept quite soundly for a good five hour chunk. [Five hours seems like all night when you've only been sleeping for one or two hours at a time for a week.]
When I woke up, the improved decrease of swelling from the night before had returned, and my eye and side of my face was super swollen, but I could still see a little through my right eye. Alyna gave me some more medicine, and I went back to sleep for a few hours. When I woke up the second time, Brans took me back to the Instacare for the second shot. I hoped our wait wouldn't be as long... And when I checked in at the desk, they told me the wait was an hour. "Even though I'm just here for a follow-up shot?" I was told to be patient and find a seat like the other sick people. Dumb.
So we waited ... again... and almost three hours later they called my name. [Becoming disenchanted with the Instacare? Yes.] And yes, the swelling increased while I waited. [Maybe I'm allergic to waiting at the Instacare.] We went back to another exam room, and a new doctor came in shortly after. He asked me some more questions, said I might have to go to the ER, and then said, "Now, I'm going to just examine this little sore on your head. So why don't you lie down-- Husband, do you want to come hold her hand? This is probably going to be pretty painful for her-- Just remember, I'm not trying to hurt you, just trying to make you better."
Famous last words. Ok, not last. But IT HURT. SOOO badly. I felt like he was hitting my head with a metal baseball bat, over and over and over again. Blinding pain. But I'm tough. I have a high tolerance for [most] pain. He picked, and pushed, and squeezed and picked some more. He kept saying, "I'm not trying to hurt you. Are you ok?" I would grit my teeth and whisper a weak, sickly, "mmhm" as he hit me with another bat. He eventually got some sort of something to come out of the sore and took a swab to run a culture to figure out what it was that was infecting me. He apologized for the pain, [Did I mention that in the long wait, all of the pain meds I had taken that morning had worn off? Bad timing.] told me he would run the culture and then call me when the lab results came in. He said if it got any worse, to got directly to the ER, and he left. Not scary at all, thank you Doctor.
I managed to hold in my tears until he left the room, but the second the door shut, I lost it. I cried and cried into Branson's shoulder for five minutes. [He has such good, broad, manly, comfort-you-when-you-cry shoulders.] The nurse came in to give me another shot, and then we went home. Again, I found my spot on the couch, and rested there the rest of the day. I was so weak, I could barely move. My head felt like it was exploding. My lungs were on fire, and every time I coughed I wanted to rip open my rib cage and take my lungs out, because that would probably have hurt less. Brans and Alyna kept me on a schedule with pain meds, making sure I ate something (though it usually was just saltine crackers. Food just wasn't good. And it's hard to chew when, with each single jaw movement, you feel like you're getting smacked with a 2x4.) and just let me nap on and off all day.
Again, the swelling went down. Significantly. And my spirits improved at the end of the night before I went to bed. But, I woke up with a completely swollen shut eye. The worst it had been. I couldn't open it if I tried prying it open with my fingers. So swollen. I didn't want to go back to the Instacare, because they would send me to the ER. But in some ways, I was feeling better. Brans and Alyna had helped me keep heat on the sore all day and night, so it started drawing out the infection. It was icky. But I could tell progress was being made. I still felt miserable, but now it was more manageable miserable, rather than wanting-to-die miserable.
So again, I spent the day on the couch. So boring. [Pretty sure some of my muscles were thinking about atrophy because I had basically not moved other than to go to the bathroom or the Instacare for multiple days.] But so necessary. During the day, the swelling improved. [Sound familiar?] I slept relatively well. And work up the next day still swollen, but not any more than when I went to bed. Still in pain, but I was coughing less, and could almost breathe. Things were looking up.
Same story the next day - swelling improved, feeling a little better, though it didn't look like it. Then, at 9am on Saturday morning, a nurse from the Instacare called me and said, "Hi Shanna, this is Ashley from the Instacare. We got your lab results back, and it looks like you have MRSA. Please stop taking the antibiotic we gave you immediately and we've called in a new one to your pharmacy for you to take instead. The previous one isn't doing you any good. The infection is resistant to the one you've been taking..." I thanked her for calling, and immediately looked up MRSA on my phone.
MRSA is a "super bacteria" that has mutated and become resistant to several antibiotics that once used to treat it. Somewhere, I picked it up. And we think that because my immune system was so weak already with a terrible cold, my body just shut down when the infection started.
[When I told my mom, she was worried. She's heard horror stories of people who've had MRSA - almost dying, extended stays in the hospital, etc. I've heard a few myself. But, I've also heard from some people that it's now just so common that it's not such a big deal anymore. I BEG TO DIFFER. Kind of a big deal to me. Either way, it's not fun. It's miserable. And painful. But I think I was lucky that it infected me like it did, only spending 10 hours at the Instacare, instead of actually putting me in the hospital.]
And then, my family and I remembered the priesthood blessing I'd been given. And how significantly improved I was from that moment. And how my body had been healing itself, since the infection was resistant to the antibiotics I was taking. And our testimonies of the healing power of the priesthood increased just a little. It's not like I was instantly healed, and we witnessed a great miracle. And it might not be obvious to the doctors at the Instacare. But I firmly believe that the best medicine for me that week was the priesthood blessing I received. I was blessed that my body would heal. That I would be strong enough to heal. And I was.
At the risk of spreading the infection, I've completely sanitized my house, and spent this week working from home. But, Brans and Alyna haven't seem to be infected, so I think I'm in the clear. But, I've been quite wary of going into work. People in my building at work are notorious for coming to work with with all manner of diseases. [A guy I work with showed up the day he was diagnosed with Whooping Cough. DIAGNOSED with WHOOPING COUGH, and he came in to work, coughing, and spreading germs. Ridiculous.] So, I've tried to catch up from home. It's nice that a good portion of my job is done through email, so I've been able to be connected, but safe in my sanitized haven. [Confession: I'm a little nervous to go in on Monday. I'm going to have Lysol and hand sanitzer in my pocket.]
It's been a long couple of weeks. I still don't feel 100%. I still feel a little weak. I don't have all of my energy back, and my voice still sounds ridiculous. But I'm healing. And I "look normal from behind" and from the front [Thanks, Brade. Ha ha].
But, we truly wish everyone a very healthy 2013. Ours didn't start so well, but I'm hoping the rest of the year is filled with health and strength, and this is just getting it out of our system. We're hoping for great things this year. And now, health is at the very top of our list.
[I've already been sick enough for the rest of us this year.]
Monday, December 24, 2012
Christmas
This Christmas season has been even busier than normal.
(How is that possible, you ask? I. Don't. Know. It's hard to believe. But with The Forgotten Carols, various family parties, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert - where Brans and I got to manage the signing, and stood next to Tom Brokaw and Alfie Bow all night - yes... We're super cool. And yes we got their autographs. And yes we got our picture taken with them. See? Proof. Not super flattering proof, but proof nonetheless - it's been a super busy month.)
But, the Holiday season is my favorite time of year - even with all the hustle and bustle.
I love our house at Christmas time.
I love the smell of a fresh cut tree.
I love the roar of the fireplace.
I love the sound of Christmas music playing nonstop.
I love the lights.
I love the colors.
I love the decorations.
This year, I decided to be ambitious, and I made our stockings. Aren't they cute?
(After all, this is our fifth Christmas since we've been married. You'd think I would have been more on the ball by now. But I've been busy. So I f i n a l l y just dedicated two hours and got it done. And Now our fireplace feels even more Christmasy.)
As part of our ward Christmas program, our choir director asked me to perform the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah.
Now, I'm not bragging when I say I rarely have to practice to play in church. Not that I'm amazing, but I've been playing the piano and the organ in church since I was 11 and 13, respectively.
But this - the HALLELUJAH CHORUS - was hard. SO hard. I had a solid 4 hour practice session the day before the program, and got it down to an acceptable level. (read: not perfect, but good enough.)
I joked with our choir director - who just so happens to also be the surgeon who fixed my hands last year - that he was so willing to do my surgery so that this year, he could throw the Hallelujah Chorus at me. He just laughed. A little too hard, if you ask me.
But in all honesty, I was grateful for the challenge and super grateful for the support from an awesome family. Brans is the best organ-stop-determining-page-turning-husband of all. And Gram has been telling me for months that she has faith in me - which means a lot coming from your piano teacher. My parents and siblings came to show their love and support, and stood to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with the rest of the choir and congregation. If you know my family, you're aware at the heavy, heavy musical talent that runs through the whole fam. So, of course, they knew the parts and every word. And people in our ward keep turning and looking at them, jaws dropped, like "Who are these people?" So awesome.
So, Merry Christmas.
And we wish you a truly joyous season, with a greater focus on our Savior, and a renewed conviction to be more like him.
My family has a traditional Christmas song that we sing every year. It was written by my great-great-great grandfather, George Eyre. Every Christmas morning, back in his time, the whole family would get on a party line and sing this song to each other first thing.
So from my family to yours:
(How is that possible, you ask? I. Don't. Know. It's hard to believe. But with The Forgotten Carols, various family parties, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert - where Brans and I got to manage the signing, and stood next to Tom Brokaw and Alfie Bow all night - yes... We're super cool. And yes we got their autographs. And yes we got our picture taken with them. See? Proof. Not super flattering proof, but proof nonetheless - it's been a super busy month.)
But, the Holiday season is my favorite time of year - even with all the hustle and bustle.
I love our house at Christmas time.
I love the smell of a fresh cut tree.
I love the roar of the fireplace.
I love the sound of Christmas music playing nonstop.
I love the lights.
I love the colors.
I love the decorations.
This year, I decided to be ambitious, and I made our stockings. Aren't they cute?
(After all, this is our fifth Christmas since we've been married. You'd think I would have been more on the ball by now. But I've been busy. So I f i n a l l y just dedicated two hours and got it done. And Now our fireplace feels even more Christmasy.)
As part of our ward Christmas program, our choir director asked me to perform the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah.
Now, I'm not bragging when I say I rarely have to practice to play in church. Not that I'm amazing, but I've been playing the piano and the organ in church since I was 11 and 13, respectively.
But this - the HALLELUJAH CHORUS - was hard. SO hard. I had a solid 4 hour practice session the day before the program, and got it down to an acceptable level. (read: not perfect, but good enough.)
I joked with our choir director - who just so happens to also be the surgeon who fixed my hands last year - that he was so willing to do my surgery so that this year, he could throw the Hallelujah Chorus at me. He just laughed. A little too hard, if you ask me.
But in all honesty, I was grateful for the challenge and super grateful for the support from an awesome family. Brans is the best organ-stop-determining-page-turning-husband of all. And Gram has been telling me for months that she has faith in me - which means a lot coming from your piano teacher. My parents and siblings came to show their love and support, and stood to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with the rest of the choir and congregation. If you know my family, you're aware at the heavy, heavy musical talent that runs through the whole fam. So, of course, they knew the parts and every word. And people in our ward keep turning and looking at them, jaws dropped, like "Who are these people?" So awesome.
And every year, I dream and wish and hope for a white Christmas. There's just something so magical about fresh snow on Christmas. It's so clean and beautiful. It's the cherry on top of Christmas Spirit for me. I love it. So, today, Christmas Eve, I woke up to wet, muddy brown grass. But by about 3pm, we had about 5 inches of snow. Heaven. Merry Christmas to me!
I love Christmastime. I love celebrating the birth of our Savior. That's what it's really about. It's about Mary and Joseph, and that perfect little baby.
Christmas is about Christ.
More Christ in our lives.
More Christ in our homes.
More Christ in all that we do.
And we wish you a truly joyous season, with a greater focus on our Savior, and a renewed conviction to be more like him.
My family has a traditional Christmas song that we sing every year. It was written by my great-great-great grandfather, George Eyre. Every Christmas morning, back in his time, the whole family would get on a party line and sing this song to each other first thing.
So from my family to yours:
We wish you Merry Christmas
A Merry Christmas all.
May the richest blessings
Ever on ye fall.
May each year be brighter
Than the year before--
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas morn!
M'ry m'ry m'ry m'ry
M'ry m'ry m'ry m'ry
M'ry Merry Christmas all!
M'ry m'ry m'ry m'ry
M'ry m'ry m'ry m'ry
M'ry Merry Christmas all!
Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
thanks
It's my favorite time of year.
And we have so very much to be thankful for.
We're so lucky to have incredible family and amazing friends that support us and love us and help us all the time.
We're blessed to have so many opportunities in our lives - a good job, insurance, the opportunity to go to school and learn.
We're so thankful for all of the wonderful blessings we've been given.
We're so blessed.
And we are so grateful.
Here's to a week of kicking off the holidays by spending time with family and friends, eating a bounteous feast, and remembering all of the good in your life.
Each of us has so much to be thankful for.
I love having a day completely devoted to remembering that.
Happy Thanksgiving!
And we have so very much to be thankful for.
We're so lucky to have incredible family and amazing friends that support us and love us and help us all the time.
We're blessed to have so many opportunities in our lives - a good job, insurance, the opportunity to go to school and learn.
We're so thankful for all of the wonderful blessings we've been given.
We're so blessed.
And we are so grateful.
Here's to a week of kicking off the holidays by spending time with family and friends, eating a bounteous feast, and remembering all of the good in your life.
Each of us has so much to be thankful for.
I love having a day completely devoted to remembering that.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
hope
I woke up disappointed and discouraged this morning.
Though, not for the reason you might first think.
- - - - - -
I voted yesterday. (technically I voted early... but...)
My vote counted yesterday.
And just like four years ago, my candidate of choice was not the winner.
And like almost half of America, I found myself a little saddened that Mr. Romney did not win.
But...
I stand by what I said four years ago here, when President Barack Obama was elected for his first term as President of the United States of America.
And as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I still believe - perhaps with an even stronger conviction...
in being subject to kings,
presidents,
rulers, and magistrates,
in obeying,
honoring,
and sustaining the law.
I also stand by an official statement released by the First Presidency of the Church,
men who I also sustain, honor and obey...
as they declared:
We congratulate President Obama on winning a second term as President of the United States.
After a long campaign, this is now a time for Americans to come together. It is a long tradition among Latter-day Saints to pray for our national leaders in our personal prayers and in our congregations. We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times. May our national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people.
We also commend Governor Romney for engaging at the highest level of our democratic process which, by its nature, demands so much of those who offer themselves for public service. We wish him and his family every success in their future endeavors.
President Obama's message has always been about hope. In the spirit of truth, I have to admit that I have not been as hopeful under the President's first term as many of his supporters. I've watched people I love lose their jobs, their homes, everything they own. I've witnesses such economic devastation in my own family. I've seen hatred and arrogance, and vindictive decisions steering people, and at times our nation in the wrong direction. Outside of my relationships and my faith, my outward, temporal/economic life hasn't seemed to get any better over the last four years. (With the exception of our new puppy, of course. How can you not love life when you have a puppy? [grin]). But...
But, I believe President Obama really does believe in hope. I think he believes that things can get better, and he's trying his best to make it happen. I think he, like any leader of our country, will be guided in decisions and will, hopefully, listen to that guidance. I think he is a good man, a good father and I join with countless citizens in America and throughout the world, in prayer that the leader of the Free World, the President of the United States will make choices and strategies that he honestly believes will make America a better place. I won't always agree with the choices he makes. [But I'm positive I could say the same thing had Mr. Romney won instead.]
I made the mistake of reading blogs, and logging in to Facebook today, and much to my dismay, I've seen some nasty, vicious, awful things said about our President, and about the people who voted for him.
We live in a country that grants us the right to elect our leaders by casting our vote.
We live in a country that grants us the freedom of speech.
And I belong to a Church, a culture, and a steadfast belief to stand firm in the truths I was taught in my youth.
Things like:
We are all children of God, our Heavenly Father
If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all
Happiness is by choice, not chance
Love one another
Kindness begins with me
and I'm trying to be like Jesus
But the things I read and heard and watched did not follow any of those principles that I hold so dear.
People who I grew up with, went to school with, work with, see at church every Sunday, were blasting hatred and insults to the world like they had never even heard of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
So many Christians [in particular] saying so many un-Christian things.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It's part of being alive, part of living on this earth. Our agency. It's how we all received the opportunity to come to earth in the first place. We chose to make choices for ourselves - whether good or bad. And fortunately we live in a country that allows us to make those choices openly without a general fear of retribution from our government, or attacks from extremist neighbors, or sometimes, even without obvious consequences.
But, I was so discouraged and disappointed in those things I read, by people who are usually so good and such good examples to those around them. How hypocritical to openly campaign for Mitt Romney and what he stands for as an economist, a former Governor, the rescuer of the Olympics, a good Mormon man and a child of God - and then slander and hate and spit upon the opponent.
President Obama may not have been your choice.
But as a citizen of the United States of America, he is your president
[until you move and become subject to a king or other ruler that doesn't allow you as much freedom as America does.]
and he deserves our respect and our support.
And so do the people that voted him into office. They are our brothers and sisters. Have you forgotten? God loves them just as much as he loves you. God also granted them the same agency He gave you and me. Just because they voted differently than you did, or because they think differently than you do doesn't mean they aren't as smart as you. It doesn't make them idiots. It doesn't mean they aren't as righteous as you. It doesn't mean any of that. It means you disagree. It means maybe you have to work a little harder to find common ground. But you have it. Most people love their families - whether connected by blood or by choice - more than anything. Most people believe in working hard for what you get. Most people believe that there is good in the world. Most people just want what's best for them and the people they love. You might disagree on politics. You might disagree on whether your little section of city should be incorporated or not. You might even disagree on big, controversial things like abortion, immigration and guns. But you have something in common.
Try to find it.
- - - - - -
I hope the next four years do get better. Yes, I'm skeptical that our nation will see drastic improvements in such a short amount of time. But I believe it's possible. I hope it's possible.
I hope that America continues to be strong and revered as the greatest country on the earth.
I hope that I can raise my children to love our country like I do.
I hope my children take pride in pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America as one nation, under God.
I hope that when my children turn 18 and are give the incredible opportunity to vote for the leaders of this country, that they will do so with pride,
I hope that my children will learn to be gracious when things don't go their way.
I hope that my children will have infinite opportunities to learn and serve and grow in our community as well as our church.
I hope that God will continue to watch over our country.
I hope He will bless all of our leaders, both locally and nationally and throughout the world, with the presence of mind, sound judgment and character of integrity they need to do their jobs.
I have
h o p e.
God bless our nation.
God bless President Obama.
And please, God, bless us to be kinder to one another.
Monday, October 29, 2012
red
[no, not the new Taylor Swift album.]
Meet our new puppy:
RED
She's beautiful
and smart
and playful
and energetic
and just the perfect dog.
She's an 8 week old Border Collie.
And if she weren't a dog, I might have some serious jealousy problems, considering how in love with her Branson is. [but secretly, I adore how much Branson loves her. It makes my heart happy.]
But seriously - cutest puppy ever, right?
Yes, we love her.
No, she's hasn't attacked out chickens. She actually seems to like them and want to play with them all day. But they are terrified of her, even though they are bigger than her. She'll kind of jog towards them and then they'll scatter. Then she'll stop and watch them run away and wait for them to congregate again. Than she'll jog towards them again. Chickens scatter. Repeat. It's funny. But no casualties yet. And we've already seen the chickens get a little braver and come closer to her, so I think it will turn out just fine.
We're so happy.
Come play with us!
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