Jealous of My Charlie Dog?

Really! Can you believe my husband is jealous of my stuffed dog? I think it's because Charlie sleeps under my neck each night - providing me perfect sleeping comfort. Now I find Charlie hanging on the top of the door, hiding under the bed, sitting on the lights in the bathroom. He almost got hidden and left at Big Rock Candy Mountain last weekend. Poor John - jealous of my Charlie-boy! Poor Charlie boy - he doesn't know where he'll be next. I've warned John that Charlie will get him. Since he won't read this, I'll tell you I'm looking for a paw print stamp. John will wake up some morning with little paw prints all over him!!

Just had to share a silly story!

Summer...

I haven't blogged in a LONG time! I think I need to get back to it as it is very therapeutic. A lot has happened since February and this is also a week of thinking back on a year ago.

These pictures all tell quite a story - I have my daughter and my husband with me. A year ago I had neither. A year ago John was still in Cambridge. I was in my condo planning a wedding. Sarah was at Crisis Residential. It was a year ago this week that she ran away for 2 nights as her addiction was stronger than being able to make smart choices. Those were 2 of the longest days of my life. I pray that no parent will have to feel what I felt as I waited and wondered. We had a prayer on the 3rd day and she came home. I now know that someone told her we were having a prayer and that she needed to come home. So the power that be works in mysterious ways, right?

Sarah finished her rehab at Odyssey House the end of May - not exactly the way we planned - but it was just time for her to come home. She is doing great for the most part. We all have things to learn now that we live in a new home, with a grandma, a step-dad, 3 cats and...yes...Sarah finally got the dog she's dreamed about having since she was a little girl. His name is Henry - he's only 4 months old - but he's getting bigger and bigger every day. He really is a sweetheart! It has been good for Sarah. We are getting her ready to start school at Hillcrest High. She was planning on attending Cottonwood but based on her previous attendance, she has to go to the school where we live - thus Hillcrest. I thought she might freak out - but she is really excited to just get back to school and work for a 4.0 and a scholarship to college. You go Sar!!!!

A year ago was also another hard time for our family - the day before Sarah left my niece, Emily, passed away after 20 years of suffering with Lupus. She was a miracle as we thought she wouldn't live to the age of 18. She was about the start her 10th year of teaching Special Ed classes. Because of the events at home I had to miss the funeral in Phoenix. That was tough for me as I had some very special feelings and memories of Emily. I would have liked to have been there with the rest of my family. I'm sure this is a tough week for my brother as he ponders a year ago. I've heard that a parent never gets over the death of their child. I can only imagine. I know how I felt when mine was missing for those 2+ days.

I feel so blessed and lucky to have the family I have. My brothers are good to us and help us and support us. My nieces and nephews and their spouses have a special place in my heart - no matter what else is going on in my life.

So, I had another funeral this week - yesterday - for my dear friend and co-worker, Linda Crofts. I'm still having a hard time believing she is gone. She didn't want us to come around when she first had surgery in February because she was tired and in pain. We never got to spend time with her because the cancer spread so rapidly and she was in so much pain constantly. I saw her for the last time on July 3rd with Sarah. It was just her body lying there - her spirit was telling me to leave and quit staring at her tattered body. Her hair was barely growing back in after the chemo. She had lost so much weight. It wasn't my Linda-poo! I really kept thinking she was going to pop back into the office laughing and tell us this was all a big joke and she really wasn't sick or dying.

This photo is totally Linda - dance with the bride if there is no groom - dancing was one of her loves. See her camera - Linda the photographer. Her smile and perfectly styled blonde hair. She was by my side all along through the planning of our wedding last year. I know she's better off and having fun in the spirit world. But...I MISS HER!!!! I didn't get a last chat and laugh with her. I'm just glad I was able to be there for her to squeeze my hand when she was in pain. Farewell my friend - until we meet again!

So...then the fun part of this summer has been new babies. Gaylan and Elaine went from having 2 granddaughters to a 3rd granddaughter (Isabella) and twin grandsons (Alexander and Asher). I haven't had a chance to see Bella since the day she got home from the hospital, and of course, it will be a couple months till Sarah and I get to fly to Kansas to see the boys. I'm so thankful for modern technology to at least keep up with all of them. The boys went home last week and are finally over 4 and 5 pounds.

So...that is a very quick summery of my thoughts tonight. We are in our new home - working on fixing things up and getting flowers to bloom. We love our ward and neighbors. We feel very blessed. I am learning a lot about myself as I try to manage a home, a husband, a 17-year old, an 82-year old mother-in-law. Our home feels a bit crazy, and I'm not the patient person I thought I would be. Maybe if I blog all my feelings instead of throwing them in the face of my family we'll all get along better.

Looking forward to living each day to it's fullest and feeling JOY!

"Mom...I've done something I've never done before"

And we rejoice in this special something....Sarah got Straight A's. She was sad 3 grades are A-!!! I am so proud of Sarah. Most importantly, she is proud of herself and knows now what she is capable of accomplishing. She is working so hard and learning so much about life. She loves her family and cannot wait to spend more time with everyone. She wants to attend Beauty College and be working in a salon or something while she goes to college - maybe to become a veterinarian. She has dreams and goals again! Yahoo! It is wonderful to see our children having hope and vision for their future. Loves my Sar!!!

More on our home...

First, I forgot an address didn't I? It's about 1500 East and 6700 South in Cottonwood Heights. Here a few more pictures.

Who's Afraid of Friday the 13th

Not the Conways anymore! We looked at a house the 2nd time yesterday, put in an offer, got a counter offer that actually gave us BACK $10,000 and then got our counter accepted. Yes, we are under contract to buy our first HOME. It needs a few things fixed up, but we have the cash back to help with those. We actually hope to take possession on Friday, March 13th. WooHoo!!!

We are very excited to have a place for John and me, Mum will have her own bedroom suite in the basement, and Sarah and and office get rooms upstairs. More than twice the space of my condo. Woohoo!!!! 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, laundry, food storage, double car garage, living room, family room. We just hope everything falls in place now.

Learning and Growing

Look at this smile! Look at the shine in her eyes! No longer is it a blank stare looking at you like you are crazy! I love this girl to pieces and feel so absolutely blessed to have her in a program that is making such a huge difference in her life. She keeps her space in her room spotless (yes, this same Sarah the former slob!) She washes dishes after feeding 30+ kids and staff. She is now even learning to do the cooking for everyone. She just got her mid-term grades: hold your breath! All A's!!! Yahoo! We got to have a family therapy session tonight with mom and her new stepdad (who happens to be in town for 2 weeks) I am so thankful for the blessing of getting a spot at Odyssey House for my girl. I'm so thankful for staff who love these kids and help them learn the differences between healthy and unhealthy choices, and consequential thinking (yes I just got all the exact words in session tonight). Keep growing sis! I sure miss you at home!

A New Baby Nielson...

Look at my newest great nephew! I have to admit it is truly a new age when my first view of him was on Facebook. Evidently Heidi was online at the hospital and updating the rest of the family. This little "big" boy belongs to Bud and Kelli Nielson - Eli has his baby brother and he is going to be very nice to his baby and share his toys and change his diapers. That's a helpful 3-year old. Can't wait to see pics of Eli with whatever this little guy's name is going to be.

It's amazing how excited I still get with every new baby. I am just as thrilled as when I first became an aunt. Okay, Kyle, that was just a few years ago. 8 nieces, 4 nephews, and how many greats do we have now? Josh, Andre, Branden, Grace, Lacy, Eliza, Roxanne, Hannah, Shelby, Ben, Sasha, Olivia, Lily, Erik, Eli, Stella and now this little one. And...3 more on the way in May/June. I LOVE my family!!!! Woohoo!!!!

One Giant Step for Sarah...

Okay, the pictures below should have been posted at Christmas. I'm still learning about all this stuff and trying to get things posted. Anyway, I have to share pics of my Sarah at Christmas. She had been very sick for about 5 days before Christmas so she looks a bit pale. But she is so happy and has some expression in her face. And let me tell you, a month later, she just glows. I was on the phone with her earlier this evening and she had the giggles. It has been so long since I heard that true giggle from my girl. Her eyes shine! She is here with mom, Granny & Gramps, her new blankie thanks to Kassie & Aunt Becky, and hash browns from Grandpa's Christmas breakfast.

Tonight I learned that Sarah has advanced to the next level in her treatment program. She is so excited because she has had lots of little steps forward with steps back and then forward again. But she said herself, this is a giant step forward. She is doing so great in school - she's determined to be on the honor roll this term. What a change!

Thank you for the love, support and prayers.

Look at the smile...