Tis' The Season To Be Freezin'!!... and So Very Thankful!

Its been awhile since I have blogged! An update on life and everything exciting going on in this crazy beautiful life.... I spent the Thanksgiving Holiday with my family in St. George I loved every minute of it I was able to spend tons of time with my mom shopping, seeing movies, able to attend a temple session, and get into the Christmas Spirit through family traditions it was so fun. I officially finished my first semester at Weber State I am excited for next semester I am taking a couple Social Work courses and a Human Biology class then I will be done with pre reqs and onto applying for admissions into the program I am hoping for the bestest!

The 1st weekend in December my family had our 4th annual Grandpa Doug's Adams Christmas Party a little background on this tradition... My Dad passed away when I was 11 his greatest joy in his life was his children and family watching us accomplish anything our hearts desired. All he wanted more than anything was to be a Grandpa. His last year with us his dream came true when Ashlee Dean his first granddaughter was born. He took such joy being a Grandpa and loved every moment of it. Dads last Christmas with us was Ashlee's first Christmas.

Something powerful and profound my Dad said is that I had 5 people in my family taken away from me in this life his entire family. But he said Heavenly Father has blessed me with 5 Children. Now my dad has been blessed with 5 beautiful Grandchildren: Ashlee Dean, Morgon Douglas, Jayden Michael, Ashton Alan, and Aspen Kaylee. They are beautiful and precious he would have loved every moment with him. These angels will spend their time on this earth without him but forever in their hearts he will be. Our family began this tradition so that we can keep my dads memory alive and have a special time of year for the grandkids to remember their beloved Grandpa Doug. I love this tradition and as the kids get older they will know him better as we share a laugh, a cry, and many memories of our dad and their grandpa.

This year our party was at my sister Kim's house. It was so much fun! It was just the girls this year and the kids. Santa Claus visited us from The North Pole the kids just loved sitting on his lap and each got a present from him! We had a yummy dinner good company and good conversation we then had a white elephant gift exchange it was so funny. I ended up with a tin of pop corn and christmas hot chocolate. The night ended with a Kareoke party I love my family so much I am thankful for the holidays that families can be together and share in wonderful traditions. At this time I am thankful to reflect on my many blessings and the wonderful things in my life. I have the best family I look forward to this tradition again next year!!

Friends

I really like this song... it has a good and true message. Lately I am thankful to know I have truly amazing friends that will always be there no matter what, good or bad...

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare

This is where the rubber meets the road
This is where the cream is gonna rise
This is what you really didn't know
This is where the truth don't lie

{Chorus}
You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think 'what's in it for me?' or 'it's way too far'
They just show on up with their big old heart
You find out who your friends are

Everybody wants to slap your back
wants to shake your hand
when you're up on top of that mountain
But let one of those rocks give way then you slide back down look up
and see who's around then

This ain't where the road comes to an end
This ain't where the bandwagon stops
This is just one of those times when
A lot of folks jump off

{Chorus}

When the water's high
When the weather's not so fair
When the well runs dry
Who's gonna be there?

{Chorus}

You find out who your friends are
(yeah, yeah)
You find out who your friends are

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
(Well man, I've been there)
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare
(Man, I've been there)

Man, I've been there
Oooh yeah.

Today

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall
begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with what might have been instead
embrace the moment with what can be"

*Scatter Sunshine*

I have a pretty great job. I love helping people and the opportunity to make a different in peoples lives through my work. I have always loved working in Social Services and helping people.

Sometimes when your feeling like you are no body special or that how can I alone make a difference... when you least expect it there comes a simple yet profound moment to remind you of the light you are in someones life by a simple act of kindness or by simply a smile.

Its 3 a.m. right now and I am working a night shift like always. I really do enjoy my work, the people I work with, my friends at work and especially the joy I have in the experience of helping new mothers with their newborns.

The veil between heaven and earth is very thin in these precious moments when these babies leave their heavenly homes to their earthly homes it is a humble and magical moment I have felt the spirit so many times and am constantly reminded of a greater power among us of a loving Heavenly Father and his eternal plan it is amazing...

Anyway tonight I had a special thing happen to me that meant a lot to me.. I got a new patient at 2 a.m. and While helping her get settled in and help her do something as use the restroom and get cleaned up she and her husband told me... We really just want to thank you so very much for the kindness that you have shown us.. you have been the only Nurse we have had that has treated us with such kindness, compassion and care. If only more people could be like you. You have no idea how much this kindness has meant to us.

This really touched my heart and I was honored to know that in some small way I could bring some sunshine into their lives in some way. We show our hearts and our countenances through the way we treat others. I know I am not perfect but it is important to me to try and do the best I can to help others alongtheir way the best that I can. I am really thankful for these simple yet wonderful moments that allow you to scatter sunshine!!

Corn Belly's

I had such a great weekend! Saturday we celebrated my nephew Ashton's 4th Birthday! We had a BBQ at my sister Kelly's house in Eagle Mountain its so much fun when all 5 of my nieces and nephews get together we have lots of fun.

This day was also fun because all of my sisters were together. I have always felt so lucky growing up with 3 older sisters we have lots of fun together and always have a good time so it was nice all 4 of us being together.

So Corn Bellys is located at Thanksgiving Point I had never been before it was soo much fun. I was so impressed there were so many fun activities to do. After presents and cupcakes and ice cream all that for the rest of Ashton's Birthday we went to Corn Bellys 2 of my sisters took the little kids to do the "not scary" activities and my Sister Kim, Niece Ashlee and Bro. In Law Chaz and I did the scary stuff for halloween it was soo much fun. There were 3 different haunted things to go through a 3D House, A Haunted Creature you walked in his mouth and walked through his body and ended... yeah you know lol then the scariest and funnest thing was the Haunted Corn Maze...

My sis and niece were fradey cats and made me walk in front during the maze and my brother in law in the back so this was outside in high corn stocks it was sooo scary and I am absolutely petrified of the Chain Saw Man in haunted houses if you have ever seen the Texas Chain Saw Massacure thats why... and chain saw men are always in haunted houses.

So we were walking through the scary maze holding on to each other and out of no where comes this chain saw man my sister and niece were scared they ran in front of me and accidently pushed me well they pushed me out of the way good.. i flew into the corn stock and and landed on the ground on my back.. I tried sitting up but was kinda sorta wrapped up in the corn stocks so during this the chain saw man was in my face scaring me my sister and niece ran off and my brother in law was just sitting there almost crying from laughing so hard at me.

So I got up and ran.. after wards we all laughed so hard my sister said all she saw when she ran off was me falling and my brother in law and the chain saw man were laughing at me. Chaz said he would have helped me but was laughing too hard:)

Anyway that was a blast I love haunted houses and can't wait to go to some more. Our last thing we did all together was a Hay Ride it was a blast I love my fam and love spending time with them!!

Freeze Tag

A fun tag, tag your it if you look at my blog.To participate, just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold and italicize all of the things you have done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland I've been to World Too!
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish Community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (don't we always want what we don't have??)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (Had my own babysitting biz)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (That is my goal someday)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (In January I bought my first brand new car! 2009 Silver Chevy Cobalt)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

Latest and Greatest

Its hard to believe that summer is coming to an end and here we are approaching a new season and new changes in life. I love the passage in the scriptures that talks about there is time and a season for all things under the sun. Every moment in our life serves a purpose for a season and when fulfilled another season will come with the lessons we are meant to learn.... I like fall because with it brings changes the weather becomes cooler, the leaves change, there is a newness upon us that I just love.

Change is a necessary and great thing I look forward to everyday and each new season... In the recent times there have been so many new and exciting changes happening for me I can't wait to see where they take me.... so for now my story is be continued...:) I haven't blogged in awhile but heres the latest and greatest!!!.....

* I started my first semester at Weber State University and absolutely love it.. at times I feel like saying "Toto... I don't think were in BYU-Idaho anymore" The college of course is very different but I am thankful for the beginning and the Journey at BYU-I. Webers campus is amazing and very beautiful reminds me of BYUI somewhat. I am thrilled next semester I can formally apply for admissions into the Social Work Program...

* I have been to the movies alot lately anyone who knows me well knows my love of movies..I am thankful I have my movie buddy hehe I have seen all sorts of good movies lately. *I am thankful for good friends and new friendships. I love my job especially because of the new friends I have made... I have 2 new friends that are becoming my besties I think the world of them....

*I attended a new ward today with my good friend and for the first time in a year felt a instant love and welcomeness that I have been missing I can't wait to go back.

* I am going on a mini vacation this week to St. George I am so excited!!!

* Next month I am going on a girls weekend to Wendover.... watch out Nevada here we come!!! Then Katie and I are taking a trip to Nebraska.. to see Omaha and attend a temple session at the Winter Quarters Temple then We are Going to.... Nauvoo!!! We are going to attend a temple session at the Nauvoo Temple I feel so fortunate and thankful to have this experience we are thrilled!!!


This is life as of now.. couldn't be better

Happy Day!

I feel so blessed beyond measure and thank my dear father in heaven for his blessings and for letting his will be done. I am thankful for the prayers, faith and encouragement of those special people in my life who have truly been there for us in these past few months. Monday I took my mom for a follow up appointment with her Dr. In Salt Lake City. This past week since her thyroid surgery we have been very prayerful and hopeful for the best regarding her situation. The Dr. removed the left side of her thyroid where she was diagnosed with cancer. They then sent the removed thyroid to pathology for diagnostics and testing to see if the cancer had spread or not.

So this past week we have been sitting on pins and needles waiting and hoping with great faith for the best news on Monday. So Monday we went to Salt Lake City and spent a wonderful afternoon there and went to the Dr. He reported the news we have been hoping and praying for. The tumor on my moms Thyroid had not spread and was benign. My mom is cancer free! Another blessing is that my mom still has half of her thyroid without that other half it could present other problems down the road. We are so thankful that the cancer was detected in time and that through the blessed hands of a wonderful Dr. who was inspired and blessed to perform the surgery with a success.



My testimony and my faith has been strengthened so much through going through these experiences. I am thankful for the faith and prayers of others upon our behalf. I am thankful to have my angel mother here with me. I have enjoyed having my mom here the past month and a half it has brought us so much closer together and has strengthened our bond and the love we share as mother and daughter. If you can give your mom and dad a hug and tell them you love them. If they are living a world away or far away tell them every chance you get how much you love them and thank them for all they have done for you. Our parents are amazing people I am thankful for my parents.




This week I am driving my mom back to St. George as she continues her recovery. My mom has a new townhome she just bought a couple months ago. She hasn't gotten the chance to live in it much I am so excited to see it and spend some time in St. George with her... Life is good and never fails to amaze me and strengthen me!

July 2009

Here it is coming to the end of July. I had a pretty fabulous month although it had some ups and downs and unexpected turns it was nice!

My mom had her first 2 surgerys on her kidney and they were a success she has been recovering great from them. I have loved having my mom here all month! She gets to stay up here until the middle of August. She goes in for her thyroid surgery next week we are hoping for the best with great faith and trust in our heavenly father all things are possible.

July 17th was the highlight of my year! My family went to George Strait! This is a yearly tradition we look forward to every year! He hasn't been back to Utah in 10 years so it was cool seeing him here. We usually see him in Las Vegas at the MGM. He was absolutely wonderful! He is truly the king none can compare the the King George Strait. The concert was an absolute blast. George Looks better than ever the music was amazing my voice was a little hoarse after from screaming!!!

The concert was fun my friend Katie came with us. There were some entertaining fellow concert goers with us the concert was outside and there were plenty of drunk people... glad it was them not me!! Julianne Hough and Blake Shelton opened for George. It was a blast! I can't wait for next year!

Also this month I was officially accepted to Weber State University! I'm going to be a Wild Cat! I am so excited and nervous its going to be a major change from good ol BYU-Idaho but a good one and I am excited for this new journey! I have 3 Pre reqs. for the Social Work Program then I should be able to apply for admissions into the Social Work Program after fall semester. I am so excited to become a social worker and get the chance to help people in this field. The campus is so nice and its a great environment. Here goes 2 more years of college but will be well worth it in the end!!!

To end this month I am going to Heber Utah for a family reunion it should be fun I am excited for a little getaway!

Los Angeles Temple

My mom sent this to me and It truly touched my heart and again strengthened my testimony and love of the temple and the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I wanted to share this amazing story!:

Saturday, November 15, 2008, 6:16 PM My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders: My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday.

Today, I had the priviledge of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional. She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant.

After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates.

The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patroled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.

On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot.

Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room. Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone elsethought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple. Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced:

" The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!".

I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only addmy own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer.Your sister in Christ, Patricia H. Arnazzi

July 19, 1996

Today is a day filled with so many feelings, memories, a time to remember, and a time to have hope in a brighter day that will come again and a love that will last forever.

July 19th is the day my Wonderful, Loving father passed away. Still today the pain of losing him is as real as it was. Every year I I like to write a memory or something to remember him because this day every year my I remember so clearly my time with him. My dad stood for so much and was and still is one of my heroes. He loved his family more than life itself and was the happiest when he was watching us do those things that we loved doing and fulfilling our dreams.

I talk about him alot and by doing so it keeps his memory alive and I know I can always feel him nearer to me. I miss him more everyday that we are apart and wish he could share these precious moments in time with his family. I am so thankful though to know without a single doubt in my mind that everyday I am closer to being with him forever and my family can share a love that will last forever and never have to say good bye again. I am thankful to have the truth of the everlasting and true gospel in my life. I am thankful for the assurance this gives me to know that families are forever and mine is forever.

Writing is very therupedic for me and something I enjoy very much. I took a writing class while in school and for one assignment we were asked to write a poem using food as the subject. I thought of Peaches and how this related to my dad and his last day with us and a tender precious moment in time that I got to spend with him. My dad loved peach pie and peaches so I wrote this in the memory of our last time together.

My Dad also loved the King George Strait! Every year when I attend a George Strait concert I smile when I think about how much fun my dad had at his concerts and what a fan he was. To quote a George Strait song.... "Let me tell you a secret about a fathers love a secret that my daddy said was just between us.. you see Daddies don't just love their children every now and then.. "Its a Love Without End... Amen"

I love you forever.

PEACHES

Peach Pie was his favorite, In the Summer they were the best. Sweet, Plump, and Tasteful Peaches were perfect for his Pie. He brought a big case of Peaches in the house, the look on his face was as happy as a Child on Christamas Day. He made one last call to Grandma, could you make me 4 Peach Pies please? Just the way I like them!

As he made his order he sat there with a Smile, I could see the simple joy in his eyes and could imagine that in his mind he could almost taste the sweetness of his Peach Pie.He grabbed one last perfect Peach, then without a word left the house, with a smile on his gentle face. He never came back that day, he never tasted his treat, he never tasted the joy of the future with his family and those that were to come.

As Quickly as Peach season came he was chosen as the most beautiful, perfect one of all. He must of been the favored one, that big ripe delicious one, the one who was chosen first from the tree, was it his warm glow or big heart? For whatever reason may be he was picked and taken away.

Now here we are as the Peaches on the tree, the ones who are left behind. People will come and go from our tree for a time and a short season, but in the end we are forgotten and will eventually wilt away and die in others minds.

His memory and his final Peach season will forever shine bright as the sun in our hearts the ones who loved and lost him, but will set as the sunset as others say goodbye and move on. We sit at the table watching and waiting for him to come back and have Peach Pie with us. He would never forget his treat or us, the ones he loved so much.

There are tiny hands that long to hold his and hear him tell the stories of seasons passed. They will know him through pictures, memories and stories told, but won't get the chance to share his season of life during their time here. Those tiny hands will always find him in their dreams never too far away and from the stories and memories that will always live on every time we have a piece of his Peach Pie and share a memory, of his season with us. Reality sinks in time and time again and each year Peach season has come and gone, our season together is at an end. I walk away from his tree and I pick one last Peach for him and leave it near my heart for him just in case he might come back.

Written In Loving Memory Of My Father:

Douglas Kay Adams

July 19, 1996

By: Kamie Dean Adams

Adventures At The Hospital Waiting Room

Well, I am sitting here at LDS Hospital in the family surgery waiting room. My mom is her for a second surgery on her kidney. This second surgery isn't as bad as the first they got her right in this morning and they are great to keep you updated on the progress of the surgery and when they are complete. Then when the surgery is over the Doctor comes in and talks with the family then they let you see the pt they have been so good to us here. My mom has been blessed with an amazing Doctor the Lord has blessed us beyond measure we are so grateful for this.

My mom went and saw a specialist this week for her Thyroid Cancer and he was also absolutely amazing and very optimistic. This gave us great comfort. He will perform the surgery on August 4th so that she can go home for a few weeks and recover from the Kidney Surgery. He explained the procedure very throughly to us and eased our fears. They will make a small incision in her neck and remove the left half of her Thyroid and Pathology will check it to see if the cancer is Benign or Malignant and we are hoping for Benign so that only the left side will be removed.

This past week I have stepped back and have been amazed at the tender mercies of the Lord and how my testimony and my faith has been strengthened through going through this. My mom while in the hospital this past week recieved a beautiful, touching, and faithful blessing in her behalf. There was this sweet and kind service missionary and his angel wife that came by my moms room and gave her an encouraging message and asked if she would like a priesthood blessing.

I was truly humbled by this kind mans faith and the power of the priesthood through his obedience and faith as a missionary of god. What was remarkable was knowing thagt the priesthood is true and the Lord will inspire and bless those whose faith is true and strong. This man did not know anything at all about my mom or her condition or the things she was going through but when he gave her the blessing he said absolutely everything she needed to hear and expressed love and concern for the things that she was going through and facing at this time. He was truly a messenger from the Lord speaking for him and blessing and comforting my angel mother in her time of need. He blessed her with comfort and with faith in the Lord and it was a small miracle for my mom yet everything she needed to know that she was loved unconditionally and there was hope through our faith in the gospel and the atonement of our savior.

I am thankful for those dear missionaries and for their love and faith this was a beautiful thing to experience.

I am thankful for the love and faith of my mom she is truly amazing. She has everlasting faith and courage. I am thankful to have her and thank my father in heaven for sending me an angel mother.

The "C" Word... Life's Lessons... and Most Importantly Family!

Wow, what a week first off!!!! My heart is filled with so many feelings right now. This has been a week completely unexpected but lessons have been taught that the Lord needed to teach us. My mom has been having some health problems in the recent months that finally were diagnosed and planned to be treated. She found out she had a "lump" of growth on her kidney and if it wasn't treated she would lose her kidney. The doctor in St. George didn't even want to take a chance messing with it or trying to remove it its a very dangerous procedure but needed to be taken care of immediately.

So my mom was referred to the best specialist in Utah and traveled to Salt Lake City to have surgery this week. July 8th was surgery day and the surgery was at LDS Hospital. My grandma arrived with me and we were able to stay with my mom right up until they took her back for surgery. Many tears of fear and sadness were shed as we have feared the unknown of what would be happening with my mom but faith in a loving all knowing father in heaven that whatever trial or lesson it may be that his will always will be done.
Mom was scheduled for surgery at 12:30 but didn't get into the actual operation until 2:00 when they took her from us I told her I loved her and she squeezed my hand. I knew she was in the loving arms of our father in heaven now.
Patiently and worried we waited and waited the surgery was only suppose to take 2-3 hours well after 4 hours the doctors nurse called me and said they were making slow progress and there was bleeding making it difficult so after 5 hours the doctor came in and talked with my grandma and I and said they finished the surgery and my mom was fine it was a blessing and a relief. Because of the bleeding they will have to go back in on Friday and finish removing the lump on the bottom of the kidney.

My mother is an amazing woman full of strength and faith. I have been by her side and through this pain and suffering she has taught me endurance and strength through this trial and I love her even more.

Along with these health scares my mom had a biopsy on her thyroid a couple of weeks ago and the day before her surgery we were together and got an unexpected call from her Doctor in St. George... And in a single moment my mom recieved the news that many ponder what they would do if they ever recieved that news... They told her Diane there has been some growth on your thyroid and there is a 1 and 7 chance that it is Cancer..the C word..... Basically you have cancer. My heart sank when I heard this my mom grandma and I were together and tears flowed from our eyes and we thought about life and all this and had to have the faith to put this in the lords hands and trust with all of our hearts in him and what he can do not on what we can do alone....

So my mom is suppose to have an emergency surgery to have her thyroid removed hopefully in the next week before it spreads to any where else in her body... Ironically within hours of hearing this news we went with my aunt and cousins to see the film "My Sisters Keeper" and how close it hit home to us in a single moment. This caused me to reflect on this situation with my mom and at this time I will be her keeper and love her and trust in the lord through faith that he will be there for my mom. We don't have all the answers right now and probably won't but being hit with these trials all at once has been overwhelming but at the same time a test of our faith and has caused us to remember that we will never be given a trial that we cannot overcome.

I have a true testimony that Our father in heaven loves us and knows us. He wants us to be happy I have felt the closest to him when I have turned to him in my joys, my sorrows, my fears, my successes and my failures. He knows my mom and her struggles personally and he will help her overcome these and through her faith great miracles can come to pass.

During this difficult time my Uncle gave my mom a priesthood blessing and it has been a great comfort to us. He reminded my mom in the blessing that the savior has atoned for every pain and sorrow that we have ever gone through and he will take our burdens if we will allow him to. He reminded us of the unconditional love that our Heavenly Father and Savior have for us. We are so blessed to know that our family is sealed in the house of the Lord for Time and All Eternity and love lasts forever.

Sitting here at the hospital with my mom I love her and I see a beauty in her. She is an amazing woman full of love and strength and everlasting endurance. She is the rock in my life and everyday of my life I will be grateful to her for her love and example in my life.

On a happier note this week on July 8th we celebrated the 1st Birthday of my Beautiful Niece Aspen Kaylee Morgan. It has been a celebration of life and what a joy she has brought into our lives. I am so honored to have been taking care of her since she was 2 months old and to be a part of her life everyday I love you so much Aspen! You have been such a joy in our family we are so blessed to have you in our family!

This will be a long journey ahead of us filled with uncertainty sometimes but always if we have faith and hope everything that is meant to be will happen and no matter what love will go on forever. I want my angel mother to know how much I love her and how thankful I am for her in my life. I'll keep an update!

It's 2 A.M.... And I am Random!!!

So its 2:30 in the morning I am working at the Hospital. It has been a crazy busy night and I am wired probably because my nerves are shot lol from working so much. I picked up some extra shifts and have been working everyday since I am taking a much needed, long awaited vacation for a week and a half!

Things have been good lately, all things considered I am pretty happy and looking forward to each new day as it comes! I am feeling pretty random and wanted to blog so I guess I'll blog whats on my mind lol!

Next week I was suppose to go down to St. George and Vegas for the week just to get away and do absolutely nothing while enjoying a nice break with my Mom. Well things and plans change and my mom has unexepectadely found out she is having a serious major surgery. She has been having pain in her stomach and they couldn't find anything wrong so they did tests and tests and sent her to different doctors. Finally they sent her to a Urologist and found something wrong with her Kidney. Pretty bad because if they didn't find what was wrong she could have lost her kidney. So her Doctor said he didn't want to even mess with it because of how serious it was so he is sending her here to Salt Lake City for surgery at LDS Hospital with the best specialist in Utah. She has some kind of lump on her kidney and it is affecting her liver so they are going to do the surgery as soon as possible next week.. not sure the exact diagnosis its complicated and confusing will have to have my mom run it by me again lol...

So this works out well I guess because I have 2 weeks off work and my mom will come up to SLC for the surgery and will be in the hospital for a couple of days then I will take care of her when she recovers. So we will spend some time together while in Salt Lake then after her surgery.

I still get to go to St. George though! a few days after the surgery I'm taking my mom home and will spend some R and R in St. George I can't wait!!!!! I am excited to attend the temple, get a hair cut and go back totally blonde! Its sad the only lady I trust to do my hair and color my hair lives in St. George so sometimes its long and few in between to wait for Tamara to do my hair she is amazing and I can't wait to be a blonde again!

Hmm... another random thought.. we bought a slip and slide and I was totally stoked! I haven't slip and slided for years so I was totally there! Well it was fun and I forgot you should probably be wet before sliding I slid dry the first time down and didn't get too far lol. Today the day after I am sore! I My muscles in my side hurt just a wee bit! but it was fun! I love the water and love being out in the sun I love summer!

I can't believe how true it is that people die in 3's. Working in Long Term care and with eldery people for quite a long time this was so true! When one person would die 2 more would follow sometimes within days sometimes within weeks but it would always usually happen in 3's I have been thinking about this a lot this past week with the 3 celebrities deaths. Everytime I turn on the T.V. its all about Michael Jackson and yes as shocking as it was its getting a little old over and over again.... I'm a little dissapointed that there hasn't been anywhere near the coverage of the other 2 celebrities ... Farrah Facet and Ed McMann. I feel these 2 people were respectable and just as well known as the other they deserve a little credit and recogntion too! I don't think their lives were filled as with much controversy and drama as Michael Jackson's they weren't perfect people but were in my book pretty decent people and good celebs. All 3 had their own legends....Farrah was an Icon and a legend in her own respect she fought a couragious and strong battle and I respect her for that... Ed McMann.. I think this old man was pretty great lol. I remember as a kid always hoping he would come to my house with that Million Dollar check after the Super Bowl from Publishers Clearing house. Thats How I remember him and that memory of always hoping for the Million makes me laugh. When I think about Michael Jackson I think alot of things was he misunderstood? maybe he was maybe not. I think he was wacko.....He definitely left his mark and his legend behind but it he was still here and alive today would he be the newsmaker like he is after his death or just some celebrity we laugh at and joke about...

That was a bit long and everyone is entitled to their own opinion!!! this is just mine and my blog! lol.

Tonight I read that Billy Mayes died! that was pretty sad and his death a random one and the beginning of the next 3 deaths in 3 maybe? He was kind of annoying but I'll miss his loud voice and enthusiasm about Oxy Clean and KaBoom etc... I'll miss his infomercials and hearty voice on T.V. lol:)

This past week I have definitely thought of these celebs and looked at my life. I have thought If I were gone what would people say about me? What is my legend I am making and leaving behind? I hope its a good one and the best one I can make. Who I am and who I am becoming is the most important thing in the world to me. Everything that I do is making a mark in my life or influencing someone somewhere and I want to make the most of every day and every single moment I am given....

I love this quote: My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet." Gandhi

Well there ya go kids! My random thoughts in the middle of the night. Maybe I am not thinking too cleary but one thing I know is that everything is funnier and a little more light hearted in the middle of the night I love those nights at work when we have fun and laugh at the silliest things it makes for a wonderful night! Good Night in 2 HOURS!!!!

"A Love Without End -Amen"

This song has such a special meaning to my family and I. This song is by George Strait. A little background. Being Fathers day this song brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it or read the words. This song has meant so much to me. My Dads all time favorite singer was George Strait he loved seeing him in concert every year and this song was a special one to us. After losing my Dad as a family we listened to this song and it meant more to us than ever before the words were so true and so comforting and brought us a peace and a realization that a fathers love is forever and ever without end. I wanted to share the lyrics and on this Fathers Day Honor my Dad.

"Love Without End"
I got sent home from school one day with a shiner on my eye. Fightin' was against the rules and it didn't matter why. When dad got home I told that story just like I'd rehearsed. And then stood there on those tremblin' knees and waited for the worst.

And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love, A secret that my daddy said was just between us." He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then. It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

When I became a father in the spring of '81 There was no doubt that stubborn boy was just like my father's son. And when I thought my patience had been tested to the end, I took my daddy's secret and I passed it on to him. And I said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love, A secret that my daddy said was just between us." He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then. It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."

Last night I dreamed I died and stood outside those pearly gates. When suddenly I realized there must be some mistake. If they know half the things I've done, they'll never let me in. And then somewhere from the other side I heard these words again. And he said, "Let me tell you a secret about a father's love, A secret that my daddy said was just between us." He said, "Daddies don't just love their children every now and then. It's a love without end, amen, it's a love without end, amen."


In Honor of my wonderful Dad who I forever love and miss with all of my heart. Dad, you are my hero for all you stood for and believed in and for your everlasting courage and enduring strength during your time here with us. I wish you were here to share one moment more or another day. Your memory lives forever in our hearts especially this day as we honor you and feel you nearer to us.
I know you are in a glorious place now surrounded in the loving arms of our father in Heaven. I know you are fulfilling your eternal mission teaching and sharing with those who seek the truth and light. You are also with those who love you as much as we do and that gives me comfort knowing you are all together.
I have hope of tomorrow and the love we will once share again forever. I miss your hugs and your gentle smile. Those memories of you are printed in my mind and my heart and everyday I know I am closer to seeing you again and sharing a love that will last until forever.
Thankyou for being my Dad. I am so blessed to have a fathers love that only you could give me. This day and everyday I love you and honor you. I will always remember you. A fathers love is a love without end, Amen.
I love you Dad, Happy Fathers Day.

1 Year

So life is pretty good right now. I absolutely love my job at Mckay-Dee Hospital. I could not ask for more my job has been such a blessing I love the hospital and the people I work with I have made new friends and learned so much already!
I am still the Nanny and loving it its been another blessing and I have loved using some of what I learned as a Child Development major to help the two precious kids I get to be a part of their lives.
So the past year my plans have been rearranged many times and haven't quite worked out how I wanted them to or expected them to but have always worked out how the Lord knew they would be the best for me and I would be the happiest and looking back on this year I see how right he always is and things have been paved in the right road that was right for me at this time in my life!
During my 5 years at BYU-Idaho I dreamed of being a Child Life Specialist at Primary Childrens Hospital in SLC. I was accepted into the program at the U of U. They have a weird/unique class schedule and I had to start in the summer in order to take the classes because certain ones are only taught in the fall only and others in the spring only so I had to start in the Summer. Well due to the blood clot and recovering from that and everything else I wasn't able to attend my classes last summer I was devastated.
So I am again reminded that things happen in the Lords time and the Lords way so here I am again sitting back and amazed at how well things work out for the best! Through much prayer and careful consideration and much pondering I am on a new and exciting course! In the fall I will be attending Weber State University in Ogden Utah. I will be studying Social Work! This is another blessing because there are 6 pre reqs. for the program and because I was a Sociology/Family Studies Minor at BYU-Idaho 3 of the classes will transfer saving me more time and the program will only take me 2 years since I already have my Bachelors Degree in Child Development.
I am really excited about this new opportunity and have reconsidered my options and goals and where I see myself going career wise. I love working in the medical field and love helping people and making a difference in their lives somehow. I have worked for Intermountain Healthcare for a little over a year now and would love to continue working here so there are many opportunities that await me here. I would love to be a Medical Social Worker and be a Crisis Worker or anything helping people. So we'll see where this takes me!
Along with changes in life I have been reflecting on lots of other things at this time.
Tomorrow June 14th should have been a great celebration of the day that my dreams of time and all eternity came true and the beginning of forever. I'm not going to dwell or go into detail but this has been on my mind alot lately this past week as I reflect on one year ago and where I am today because of it.June 14th last year was the happiest day of my life. It was beautiful and perfect and though many trials faced me to make it to that day I did make it and was able to enter the house of the Lord something I had prepared my entire life for. Here it is the eve of that amazing day one year later and I am no where near I ever imagined I would be a year ago. But looking back I have taken many great lessons with the falls and heartaches and I have been given my life back and learned lessons the hard way but the right way and my life is richly blessed for understanding why I have gone through everything and the purpose for it and who it has made me.I have experienced the greatest heartache imaginable but am amazed as I look at my life today and through much prayer in my behalf and much faith and trust in the Lord I can truly say I am happy and have great hope of what the future will bring for me. Yes there is much sadness there still and much regret but I don't dwell on it I learn from it and take each moment step by step and a moment at a time.I love the saying life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass it is about learning to dance in the rain. The rain has fallen many times this past year and I have danced in the pouring rain and at the end of the day the sun has always shined again and a rainbow has always shown me hope of a promise of a better day.
June 12th last year was a very significant day in my life and one I will never forget. I have never felt so close to my father in heaven as I did at that time. I remember it as clear as yesterday being taken to the Emergency Room in the middle of the night and being told that I had a blood clot that had within 12 hours had spread from my foot to my thigh and being told that if I hadn't come in when I did I might not have waken up the next morning. I still was in grave danger they watched me closely and there was the possibility that the clot could still break off and could have taken my life.I remember sitting there in the room at the ER. It was very quiet, the middle of the night there with my angel mother. We both cried and as the tears fell I was overcome with the spirit confirming to me that I was a daughter of God, he loved me and no matter what he would always take care of me, no matter what I was going through from the best days to the absolute worst which I was facing at that time. I knew there would be a chance that I would be taken from this life and I wasn't out of the woods yet.I remember telling my mom that it was okay and that I knew with all of my heart where I came from and why I was here and where I was going and that no matter what happened to me I would be okay. I knew if my mission at this time was complete that I would be in the arms of my loving Heavenly Father and my Dad again. I have never been more sure of something or felt more love than I did in those quiet early hours. I knew my parents loved me and I knew my family and friends loved me. I had recieved the blessings of the Temple and knew my life and mission are in the Lords Hands.
Having the blood clot and the problems it has caused after has all been part of a greater lesson to teach me and has humbled me. Luckily, I have made great progress in recovering from this blood clot. It still is a burden in my life today and will be for a long time. It is still painful and a constant reminder of what happened. I am thankful that my mission is to be here and to teach others and be an example to others. I am thankful for those hands who were blessed and inspired to take care of me and knew what care I needed and helped me to overcome this trial. I know everyday is a gift from God and each of our lives has a meaning and a purpose to do during our time here.
Last night at work I had a unique opportunity. I was floated to work in the Emergency Department. I thought it was an ironic thing as I realized it was exactly one year since the last time I was in the ER except this time I wasn't a Patient I was working there. It again brought back a lot of memories and made me smile a little.
I am sitting here writing this and memories of this past year are flooding my memory and my mind and though there is still sadness in a way there is also a calm, comforting feeling in my heart. I have a feeling of hope and of love and feel blessed for all that I have been given and for the amazing life I have lived. I wouldn't trade anything for the world.
What would life be without change and without another path that was better suited for us? We may not know all the answers and may have to ask why? many times and may not know the answers to all of our questions at the time or even in this life but I know without a doubt that things always work out the way it is suppose to. I am thankful for my life and for the love of others and for every single day I get to be me and become a little better than yesterday. Here is to another year and I hope to look back June 14, 2010 and reflect on this past year and again be reminded of the blessings and opportunities I have had in my life and where they have taken me.

Each Life That Touches Ours For Good

After I lost my dad I was given this picture Journeys End I love this and it is one of my favorites I love the message with it...
“Come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest"

Lets all try and live each day with more meaning and purpose and live, laugh and love and be grateful for those who have touched our lives for good.

My heart has been very full today. I learned news that two people my Aunt and a friend from college both passed away today. Both of their passings though difficult for those who loved them and lost them are glorious reunions on the other side as they are now free from their earthly pain and fulfilled their missions and did all that they were required to do in this life and are now safe in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.

This has just caused me to reflect on my own life and the relationships in my life. I am so blessed to have associations in my life with people who love me and that will always love me and be there for me.

There comes a time in each of our lives that we all must pass through the valley of sorrow and unbearable pain but we are blessed with the hope of knowing that the sun will always shine again and every day little by little things always have a way of working out how they are suppose to.

I just want to say I am grateful for those in my life who have touched my life for good and have left a piece of themselves forever in my heart. I look forward to the future and the glorious day when I can be forever with those I love the most.

"Everything That Is Meant To Be Will Find A Way"

I am so grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord in my life and when I am down I am reminded once again of the perfect, unconditional love that my Father In Heaven has for me when the world would have you believe otherwise.

Those who know me the best and know me the closest know the circumstances that have gone on this past year and it has been a very unexpected and difficult year but I am a survivor and have lifted above and beyond and am better from it.

I had the opportunity to talk with my Bishop tonight and open my heart out and I felt the Lords hand touch me through the words and feelings there. Maybe I am being to personal here but I am so grateful to have the truth in my life and be enveloped by it when I need it the most and feel I have no where else to go.

I love the quote "Everything that is meant to be will find a way". Often times more so than often things don't always turn out the way we expect or hope they will turn out or in an unexpected way when the odds were against us in every way imaginable they do work out.

I am thankful to know that everything under the sun has a reason a purpose and a destiny. Nothing happens by chance or by luck rather because it is meant to happen always to teach us and in someway make us a little better than before.

Looking back on this past year there are many feelings that are on the surface and I do not have the answers to everything at this time and may not in this life. I cannot regret yesterday and can't blame myself for what I said or did or should have done all I can do is learn from the choices I have made and learn to forgive myself and others and look forward to the future with great hope and never ever, ever, give up.

I can take with with me knowing all things are meant to happen for a reason and will always teach utyou a lesson whether great our small. It is up to us to open our hearts and our minds to be taught.

I have so very much to be thankful for. First and foremost I am thankful to my family they are perfect to me in every way.. "We may not have it all together but together we have it all" They are the ones that have always been there and will always be there with an unconditional love and understanding for me.

I am thankful for my TRUE friends. Those who have been there for me through thick and thin the good times and the bad times and who without question have loved and appreciated me for me and who I am no questions asked!

I am thankful for the Love I have from my Father in Heaven. His hand is in my life in every single aspect he knows me and loves me I am grateful for all that he has given me and know he is always there for me.

I am thankful for my goodly parents. My Angel Mother, I owe my life to her for her love and strength and for her always being there for me and most of all just being a listening ear. My Dad, he is and will always be my hero and my strength. Each day without him is one too many but one day closer to being with him forever. I hope I can live my life in a way to be worthy of those blessings.

I have been given so much and am grateful for all those things I have learned. Everything that is meant to be truly will find a way............
Love -Me