Kristen is "19"

Kristen & Vanessa
Best Friends & soon to be roommates

I know I am getting old, but time seems to be going so fast. Just three days after Lindsay's birthday we celebrated again. This time it was for Kristen, she turned 19 on the 23th. Where have the days gone?

Kristen is a beautiful young woman, who has the funniest laugh; she is responsible, kind and a great friend. She works hard and just finished her first year at UVU.

You'll have to ask her about her pencil dive. Love it!! Happy Birthday Kristen, sometimes without all the big fanfare and ready or not birthdays come.

Lindsay turns "4"

Lindsay, the princess of our home. Turned 4 on April 20th. She is 4 going on 16, no really. Since most of her "friends" are in High School she thinks she is as big as the rest of them. She is such a joy and blessing to our lives. Love you Lindsay - forever & ever.

Scouts & Soccer & Everything Boy!

After having so many girls, I am still getting into the groove of having boys. Scouts is a place still very new to me. Derek & Devin love it and thank goodness we have AMAZING Scout leaders in our Ward. Every week they are learning something new. They have been learning to whittle with “real” pocket knives. The boys spread apart in their “blood circle” far enough apart from each other so there is no blood.

Soccer has come to an end, another fun year for the boys. The team overall, let’s say, it was a learning year. But they enjoyed it and that is really what it is about anyway. (but winning is fun too). The boys are growing and it's happening all too fast. I am so proud of who they are becoming.

Devin & Derek getting their Bear rank

Devin

Cub Scout Space Derby

Derek

My Boys

UVU Ballroom Concert

(Kristen is the third one over in the back row)

Fly into Spring
UVU Ballroom Dance Company Spring Concert
April 15-18, 2009
Provo, UT

Kristen dances on the UVU Back Up Tour Team. She loves dancing and as I have said before, in this house we DANCE!! Kristen has been given her own pre teen team to coach, way to go Kristen.

Lessons on Love

Our Path More Difficult, Our Journey a Little Longer

We have come so far and but we are not there yet. This has not been easy but we know it has been necessary. This is a follow up (refer to the post Because Sometimes it's Hard....) When dealing with mental illness, in this case extreme anxiety and depression the mind perceives the world so large and scary, to find a place where words and emotions come together to understand what is being felt and why. There are more feelings than just happy, mad and sad and sometimes that is as far we get. This has been a learning experience for all of us, using words to express how and what we are feeling, accepting disappointment, dealing with change, and loving who we are for who we are.

What is normal and who is normal?? We base our opinions and judgments on what, who, and why do we do that? It has been a two steps forward and one step back processes. Also in the learning has been the time involved, at first we thought it would be 6 weeks, a doable number. We are now at 4 months and we will be looking at closer to 6 - 7 months. Wanting a quick fix than soon realizing these things take time, maybe a life time.

One day at a time, where am I at and how well am I doing. The If and Then principle, setting realistic goals, being honest with ourselves, I mean REALLY honest. It is not as easy as you think. To be so exposed it hurts, that is where we had to get to mend and move forward. We cannot always change the things around us but we can learn to change our view of it. I am so proud of my child; she at times has become the teacher. Could I do what she is doing, I don't know. It takes amazing strength to do what she is doing. I love you so much. We are with you on this journey as long as it takes and that might be a life time.

I Love My Family!!

BYU Ballroom Tour Team 2008-2009

BYU Ballroom Dance Tour Team 2008-2009
Directors - Lee & Linda Wakefield
(Alissa is in the purple dress in the front row)
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Donny & Alissa

Viva Espana

BYU Ballroom Dance Company Spring Concert

April 10-11, 2009

Provo, UT

Alissa & Christi (me)

Heather & Alissa

(roommates & best friends)

Alissa & Shannon

Alissa loves dancing on the Ballroom Tour Team, not only are the kids amazing dancers but they are amazing people. Alissa will be leaving in two weeks on an Central and Eastern States Tour. She will be performing at Church History & US History sites in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, New York, Boston, New Jersey, Connecticut, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Washington DC as well as performing at the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC. We are so excited for her and the team. Next year they will be off the Blackpool England, Germany and Austria.

Easter Blessings

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ

One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so.

How do kids do it???

How do kids find the most amazing and the most impossible ways to hurt themselves?

(Warning there are some graphic pictures)

I got a call yesterday from the school "Mrs. Williams, Derek has had a little accident and we think he will need stitches in his leg" Okay I said. I sent Donny to pick up Derek as I called the doctor. By the time I had Derek his leg had been wrapped so I didn't see how bad the injury was. As the Dr opened it up, to our surprise it was good sized opening.

And how did this injury occur you ask, the boys class was in the library at school. Derek was pushing this round step stool so he could reach a book off a higher shelf, the stool tipped over and he hit his leg on the bottom edge of the stool. At first he just though he hit it hard until Devin saw it. He was taken to the office and I was called. (There wasn't even a nurse there; the VP wrapped his leg up.)

Derek was a trooper he received 20 stitches (they removed a loose one) so he has 19 total. I was really proud of him; he received a lot of shots to numb the cut. Who would have ever thought a trip to the library could be so dangerous
.

PS: The stool has been fixed, so hopefully this doesn't happen to anyone else.

Butterfly Flair

There is something inspiring in the butterfly.

The long change they must go through to achieve their beauty and flight.

A "Gift" that is hard to explain... but easy to understand

Happy Birthday Sierra "15"

on Mar 25, 2009

You're are growing into
an amazing person
I Love You.

.
In 1993 we moved to Fairmont, West Virginia from California. Donny was working for Bechtel and working on a project for the FBI. The area was beautiful but the people were not very accepting. The weather always overcast it seemed and not knowing anyone I fell into a very lonely depression. At the time we had four girls with the youngest being very ill (refer to the post Happy "16th" Birthday Katie) we lived on the top of a hill with beautiful views of God's creations and yet the place I found myself was alone beyond understanding. I had a sister come up to me at church and say “You don’t belong here! Don’t be coming here thinking you’re going to change us with your California ideas” Stunned and with tears in my eyes I said “I am a member here”.

The kids seemed to adjust quickly and Donny was busy with work and church callings. Struggling with a sick child and very unhappy I soon found out that I was expecting again #5. Unprepared for such news, I hide it to the best of my ability. (My Dad already thought we had enough kids.) I carry big and out front so hiding it wasn’t going to last too long. I wondered why at that time was I to have another baby.

I knew I had to turn inward, forgetting the chaos of the Ward and world around me. I continue to search to find the help that Katie needed as my body was changing with my expanding waistline. It was soon realized what was happening, as I got bigger it seemed the hearts of those around me softened they were kinder and more loving. We were making lasting friendships, my experiences now different. At first questioning the Lord and yet all along he knew what I needed, what they needed.

Dear Sierra, You were a precious gift to me from our Heavenly Father at a time I needed it more than I realized.
.

Fairmont, WV 1994

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A baby Shower for Sierra

April 7, 1994

Mommy & Sierra

Blessing Day

When God Closes a Door, Somewhere He Opens a Window

I know that things happen for a reason; sometimes we do not or can not understand the why of it all. But in time we can see what we needed to learn or what we were being prepared for.

Life is a journey and we are to find the joy along the way. It’s hard to see the big picture when you’re in the middle of the storm, and just when we do not think we can go forward one more day there it is, the window, an answer, an opportunity, a kind word, a loving hand, peace; not as the world gives it, but peace to your soul. So open that window and let the light rush in.