Fun Weekend!!

Sure has been a fun weekend.. It started with not only the weekend but going to a reception for some young friends that I sure love!! Elizabeth and Brady Hibbard. I taught Elizabeth in Beehives. She is my first Beehive to get married and we have known Brady for about 8 yrs. Congrats to them!! I know they will be really happy together!!

On Friday my friend Nancy and I went to go see Mamma Mia! It was so much fun!! I have learned going to plays and musicals are one of my favorite things to do in life. I have been really blessed to go to many. My first one was Phantom of the Opera. I have seen that I think like three times. Then Les Miserable for my 18th birthday from my mom. We had the best seats ever for that 5th row center!! Then Chris one year took me to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor dream Coat for my birthday. Then Last year with a friend I saw Wicked, which Wicked is so WONDERFUL!! and then Mamma Mia. I have seen Les Miserable twice I think. Like I said just been really blessed. For Mamma Mia I found the tickets off Craiglist and I got them. This guy and his wife couldn't go. They were season ticket holders.

On Thurs. I was sitting down with Hannah at lunch and we were just talking and my great visiting teaching companion has been watching Hannah for me the past month for two days a week. She has a little girl name Hannah who is 2 or almost 2 and a cute baby named Elle. She breast feeds her and one day Hannah was curious and she ended up telling her asking Questions. So, back to us eating lunch.. She asked mom did you feed me w/ your boobs? I think that is how she worded it. I said, Hannah do you remember how I told you that you were adopted? She said, yes..because we have the conversation sometimes. Well, I told her I would have loved to but couldn't since I got her from a different mommy. She just said..Ok.. and then I said but I did feed you through a bottle. She didn't want to know more she was done. The sweet innocents of a child and asking about themselves she just wanted to know and she was fine with that. She also one time when she was 4 asked about her birth mom and I just told her that she wanted her to have a better home and a mom and dad that could love her so much than what she was able to and she just said ok. The sweet innocence again as a child of just telling the truth they love you so much.

She looked so pretty today going to church. I don't know where she got this dress she wore, I think from a friend. She has had a wonderful teacher in Primary this year and she is moving. So, I took a picture of her with Hannah. I am posting that on. Next time I write it might be our trip to Alaska!! Can't wait!! less then two weeks away!!!

Alyssa Joy

Thank you so much to Heather and my friend Chuck and Chris for helping me get this up!! I have been working on it for awhile and I just thank you. I hope you enjoy. It is in honor of our Alyssa Joy our sweet Angel. She will always be remembered.

Happy Aniversary Chris!!

I just wanted to write a quick blog and say Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband! I am so grateful for him in my life. He is such a great husband and father. I am grateful for the hard worker he is. He will do anything to keep us going and so blessed to have him.

I have reflected a lot this passed week on Time..How time does go on and makes things a lot better. I remember the week we got married I was so sick. My brother gave me the stomach flu and I had it really bad that whole week. My family kept asking if I need to change the wedding day and I wasn't going to I was going to keep going. I was so grateful the morning I woke up on my wedding day I had stopped throwing up and was able to get ready. That alone should have told Chris to run away from me but he didn't. He and I were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple. My heart surgeon was the temple president at the time and he married us. It was a wonderful day. I remember some of the blessing he blessed us with. I also remember him coming from Alberta,Canada from his family reunion because he promised me and another girl that he would marry us that day. He also made jokes with us saying, he actually touched my heart. He was a wonderful man. I loved Pres. Walker. He passed away last year.

Chris and I have been through so much in the past twelve years and I love him so much more than the first day I met him. I couldn't ever imagine going through what we went through with anyone else. We have become stronger as husband and wife. Time does heal. Time does get things better. I remember going through our hardest times after loosing Alyssa and us being promised if we live faithfully we would be blessed. Blessings do come. They have come even a hundred fold! I am grateful for my sweet husband and my daughters. I am so lucky for the family I have. I love you all.

Our Sweet Alyssa Joy!!

I have tried and tried for the past day to get a video that my friend made for me on my blog and I can't do it for some reason. So, I am just going to take a moment and write about my little fighter. She fought and fought for two and a half years. She is my strength and my example. I am so grateful she was apart of our life and our daughter. I am grateful for her and wanting to be our daughter.

Alyssa loved many things in her little life. She loved Elmo and Ernie!! She watched them all the time. When she was in the hospital she would always watch a video over and over again and it would keep her happy. She would also had some peg letters for a board and for some reason she loved the letter E and I. She would carry them around in her sweet little hands.We would have to pry them from her when she would go to sleep.

She loved her pacifier. She was always a pacifier baby. She also was such a wonderful sleeper. I have been really blessed with my girls because I thought it was just Alyssa because she was sick but Hannah is also a great sleeper. I am so lucky!

I just remember one time after her heart surgeries I wanted to see her so bad and we had just gotten the word that she was out and going to be wheeled into her room. So, we waited and waited. Finally I went to the nurses station and I asked about her and I somehow missed her and she was already in her room sleeping soundly. So, I wanted to go see her but suggested we wait. She heard my voice I saw in the corner of my eye and she opened her eyes. She wanted me to be by. So, I told the nurse I could see she was already awake if I could go in there and she said yes. It was a special memory because at that little age she could tell I was near.

We sure love her and miss her but know how grateful we are for her to be apart of our life and daughter!!

Happy Birthday to my Hannah!!

My sweet Hannah!! I sure love you!! It is hard to believe you are 6 yrs old!! You are mine and your daddies light!! I wish sometime I middle named you Joy because you are that too to us also. But Christine is so perfect for you so both of our girls could be named after me and your dad. He wouldn't have done it any other way and now it is nice because you are named after him and your birth mom. I have thought a lot of her today. Keeping her in my prayers. I hear her life is really good right now. I am so grateful for that because ours is and I want what is best for her! She has blessed our life in so many ways because of you.

Thank you for being such a sweet girl. I know we can be hard on you but I have always known since you were little you will be a leader. Kids love you and you are loved wherever you go! You make friends so easily!! I just want you to do what is right always and you will be protected!!

This passed week we had a fun full week since your birthday was on a Sunday, and Fast Sunday. So, we went to dinner with the Wheelock's on Wed. and you were set to go to Souper Salad!! You didn't want Chuck E cheese or Cici's you wanted Souper Salad!! Then we went swimming. I am bummed I couldn't find my camera all week sorry. Sister Cyiera and her daughter Hannah made you a cute barbie cake. It was really adorable! Then we went swimming. It was really a fun day for you.

Then on Friday we had your party with Faith. I haven't received the pictures yet because Deanna took them. Her camera is better anyway. I will add them next post. You had so many friends there with school. You both are in the same class and have known each other since 1 so that is why we decided to do it. We were going to have a bike party but it has rained all week long so we changed it to the McDonald play land and you had fun anyway! You did learn how to ride a two wheeler bike from Brianna though and I need to get pictures from that too. Sorry, I have been a bad mom this week with my camera!!

Then on Sat. we went to go see Up!! It is the new Disney movie for the summer. It is good. Very sweet movie. Really for adults. There are some really sensitive parts in it and it made you just cry. You have such a sweet sensitive soul! Even though it was really an older theme you understood and took it so to heart. I sure love that side of you your sweet spirit.

Then this morning!! On your birthday!! I woke up about 8:30. You hadn't come in yet and woke me up so I was just laying there waiting. Finally I could hear you singing. I wanted to go listen and it was so sweet. I can't even remember what you were singing about just playing with your barbies and one of them were singing. I then peeked in and said..Did you forget it was your birthday? You said YES!! It was sweet. I think you loved what we got you, a Repunzul Barbie doll and an Anne Of Green Gable book which I hope to read with you this summer and some fun jewelry. You had a fun full week and again Hannah we sure love you and proud you wanted us to be your parents! So, grateful for the two ways I have been able to be blessed with my children. One, through Natural birth which was a great and sweet and wonderful experience and through adoption!! Both are so special. So grateful to Christine and for having the courage to bless our lives! I will never forget when you were put into my arms and the hospital bracelet put on me and your dad was like I had given birth to you at that moment then when we were sealed for time and all eternity just sealed the deal. I love you so much my sweet precious Hannah. You are my Joy, my Light and my everything. I have been blessed with the greatest family husband and two daughters who are angels!! Until later Love you!! and Happy 6th Birthday!

Mothers Day/Time Out for Women!!

Yes, it has been about 3 weeks but I promise I have tried and tried to write this but every time I am almost done it messes up somehow even if I save these post I don't know where to find it..So, I am going to do this short and sweet and catch up!!

My mother's day weekend was very nice!! I was lucky to get to go to Time out for Women thanks to my friend in my ward Jolin and she and her mom couldn't go so I went and I asked if Tammie Causey my good friend wanted to go with me. We had so much fun! My first time away from Hannah and dad stayed home with her and he did a great job. We heard from so many great speakers and were so uplifted. We heard from Micheal McClain and Kenneth Cope whom I have never heard in person and he was great so was Micheal then we also heard from Sister Chieko Ozazki, and a few other people. It was all just really great and I had a great time with Tammie.

Then that Sunday was Mother's Day and Chris sure spoiled me. He cooked me breakfast in bed and I also got dinner that night from him too. He is great and him and Hannah just let me be lazy that day. Another blessing I get on Mother's day which is really special to me that I am just sharing with people but ever since my Alyssa passed away each Mother's day in church we sing Teach me to walk in the Light. It was my song to her. I sang it all the time to her when I would rock her or try and comfort her. This Mother's day we sang it again and it was such a special treat it always is and grateful for that tender mercy and blessing he gives me from him and her!!

One last thing since I am writing in this tonight.. Hannah learned to ride a bike today!! We went over to Dawn and Chris' tonight and Brianna taught her how. I have tried one other day so she really did pick it up in about 30 min!! We were so excited and proud of her!!

Teacher Appreciation Night!!

Last night we had our ward Annual Teacher Appreciation night. We have tried to invite Hannah's pre-school teachers in the past but they were always busy which is common everyone has families and busy with there life but last night we were so excited because Hannah's kindergarten teacher Mrs. Hughes and her daughter, Amber was able to attend. It was so neat to be able to sit with her on a one one one causal setting. She says Hannah is doing great in school and loves having her in her class. I am just grateful for Mrs. Hughes for having patients because I know how Hannah can be. She is excited about life and loves learning but it is really hard for her to sit still and she loves to hum while she is learning. She is such a happy girl and doing really great in school! We just got her I think it would be her 3rd quarter report card and she is excelling in Reading and doing great in all areas she has all S--which means Satisfactory. Her teacher loved last night. Loved the music that we sang and was happy to be there. It was really nice because she lives right across the street from the church and always saw our traffic and wondered what our building look like inside. Amber and Hannah got a long great together and grateful she came also. Thank you for all those who helped that night be a huge success!! Hannah didn't want to go up to give her teacher a rose or the certificate. She just cried. She just doesn't like to be in public and have a lot of attention but she makes so many friends so easily! We sure love her teacher Mrs. Hughes and so blessed to have had a great experience in Kindergarten!!

Yes..It has been awhile..yet again..

I guess to say I am not the best at blogging! I didn't think I would be but I will keep trying. It is a great journal and hopefully with work I can get better at it! Hannah has been really fun lately but also just so much energy!! I sure wish I had her energy!! She loves to be outside!! Whenever she gets a chance as soon as she gets home from school she goes outside!! She could be there until 7 p.m if it wasn't to come in for dinner and bugs!! We have had so much rain this year which is nice because everything is green again but bugs we do have!! Well, flying bugs. She thinks everything is a bee and she has never been stung by a bee but she hates them!! So, if she does see one of those or thinks they are one she will come in and not go back out!! I tell her Hannah, that is what we get for springtime is Bees which are good and they wont bug you unless you bug them.. She still doesn't get it. Hopefully one day.

Also, Hannah has a love for animals!! I don't know if I wrote awhile back we were watching My Dog Skip one day together it is a cute movie and some tender moments in it. Skip got lost and Hannah was so sad. She cried and cried, I finally saw her sensitive side as a child. I said, Hannah Skip will probably be ok let's just see what happens and she says, I know because I want to be a veterinarian and take care of animals one day and I don't like any animal lost or hurt. It was so sweet. Well, the reason why I brought this up, is the other day she was outside on her swing set and just playing and she comes running in, she said, can I have a band aid? I said why are you hurt? She said, no but I caught a grasshopper and it has a cut on it and it isn't moving.So, I decide to go outside and inspect what she was talking about and it wasn't a grasshopper it was a cricket!! It was dead but she wanted to still put a band aid on it. Then once I told her it was a cricket she came inside and I asked her if she was done playing outside? She said no, I am going to get my cricket book so my cricket wont be lonely. She is so funny so she got her book which makes cricket noises at the end set it outside with it open so the cricket could hear. It was REALLY cute and funny. I forgot about it then the next day the book was still out there.. It was funny. She is so cute. She just loves animals and I am so glad she does and grateful we have ours even though out dog Dakota is sometimes a pain in the neck..well really all the time. Pretty scary to think if we decide to give Dakota away to a good home what Hannah would do. She did say she would run away with him. So, we really have to pray and think about it..Even though I know she wont do that.. Until next time..

Oh..also last week Hannah lost her first upper front tooth!! It is sure fun. I remember loving to get my teeth out now her other one is loose. She is just getting so big. We are just so grateful for her happy personality and the fun she brings into our live!! We love you Hannah!!

Snowy Day!!

I am finally writing yet again and it has been about a week, or more. It is just hard for me I guess to write weekly. I never wrote about Christmas because Alyssa's birthday just came upon us so fast. We spent it in Wisconsin and it was REALLY cold most of the time we were there. I have been lucky as long as Chris and I have been married we have been lucky and each Christmas we have been there it hasn't been to cold. Well this year we broke our luck! They had broke records on how much snowfall they had received before Christmas and they have been dumped 45 inches of snow and Winter had just began and they were already sick of it. Hannah had fun playing in it just for a day with her cousins. It rained a couple of days later so it turned into slush! On Christmas day 5 degree's and low of -18. Here in NC on Christmas I was told it was 70. Now go figure we would choose the 5 degree place to spend Christmas.

Then about a week later we flew to Colorado. Finally getting to see my family my sister and her family who I hadn't seen in 2-3 yrs and my mom came with my dad. It was so nice to see everyone again! When we arrived there, there was No SNOW!! Then a couple of days later we woke up to 4 to 5 inches of snow! Hannah had fun in it again playing with her cousin Mia while the older kids had to go to school. Going to CO was a short trip so Hannah wouldn't miss much school.

Then today here in Charlotte, NC we wake up to SNOW!! Every where we have been this winter we have received snow. It has really been fun for Hannah getting a feel for what all of her cousins get each winter. It is so pretty and white and clean looking. It is nice to just relax and enjoy this snowy day inside!

Happy Birthday to our Sweet Alyssa

It is hard to believe our daughter Alyssa would be 10 years old today. I would have a daughter in double digits!! Wow!! We are getting old! We are so grateful she blessed our lives as long as she did and was a great strength and joy to have in our family! She was always happy and she loved Elmo and Ernie. When her blood disorder started she just held her little arm out because she new what to do it and she did it without flinching and she was a fighter! She brought us so much Joy in our life and we miss her so much. When she died we were told that great blessings would come as long as we were faithful. I am going to share a few that I can think of that are some of the greatest blessings!

1. Chris doesn't have to work Sunday's and is able to go to church with us.

2. HANNAH! She is our Joy and the one who keeps us going daily and helps me be a better mom and person.

3. Also the tender mercy's we get from Heavenly Father and Alyssa that are such a comfort to me and her dad.

4. To also know she is saved and that she is one of his choicest daughters and we will be with her again one day!

We sure love and and look forward to that reunion. We sure love you and grateful to be your parents and your sister.

Love you,

Mom,Dad and Hannah