Gift of Love

I started this quilt 2 1/2 years ago.  My intensions were to get it done for my sisters birthday.  Then life happened.  I got busy, I stopped going to quilting class and never finished it.  I started school only to find out that school isn't where I needed to be.  So about 3 months ago, I pulled out the quilt blocks, went back to class and finally finished something that I started.  It was a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to starting another one!

Incidentally, this quilt is for my sisters birthday this year!  Hearts are a sign of love, and I love her so much!

Sons

It's hard to believe that these boys have grown up so fast!  Garrett will be graduating this year from high school, and will be going on his mission in 14 months.  He has become very talented in his music.  The bishop told him and us, that if he didn't go into music as a profession that it would be a shame.  He told us that Garrett was given a gift not a talent. He is very amazing on the piano, and has composed many songs.  Hopefully he will be recorded after he graduates.  We are very proud of him.

Gavin also has a talent, and that is physical activity.  He is very athletic, and loves the competition .  He also has a very strong testimony of which I'm so thankful for.  He is very close to the Lord and loves people.  He is very kind to everyone and shows his manners quite frequently.  I'm very proud of my sons, and pray that the Lord will continue to bless them.

Senior Prom

It's hard to believe that this is Garrett's last year of high school, and his last prom.  The girl he took was a doll.  The only problem is she was hit in the head with a golf club the day before, and was suffering from a concussion.  She felt fine through dinner, and as they got to the dance she became sick, and was taken to the hospital.  Garrett was left at the dance to watch others enjoying themselves with their dates.  As you can see the other kids that he went with are all good kids, and they did have a great time.  We have not heard how Garrett's date is, but hopefully she is recovering well.

Track and Field

Gavin tried his hand at a new sport this season.  Normally Gavin is in soccer, but this season he decided to try track.  (Due to the fact his mom didn't get him signed up for soccer in time)  He seems to really enjoy it, and has done remarkably well.  His talent is the high jump.  He jumped 4'10".  I can't even jump 6 "!  There were 4 schools that were in the finals, and Gavin was the finalist for his school.  

Gavin is our miracle child as well.  At the beginning of track season, he had to have a physical and permission to play in sports.  The chiropractor took his blood pressure and found it to be elevated.  He thought that perhaps it was because Gavin was nervous.  When I took him home, the next day I took it again, and again it was high.  I called the regular Dr. and took him in to be checked out.  His EKG was abnormal, and the pressure again was high.  They suggested that we have an ultrasound performed.  The cardiologist thought that perhaps it was a coarctation or kink in his aorta, but they couldn't see the aorta very well.  Then he suggested an MRI.  Last Wednesday his Dad gave him a blessing, and we fasted for him.  On the day of his test, they took his pressure and it was totally normal.  The MRI was normal as well, and there was no abnormality with his aorta.  I truly believe that the Lord blessed Gavin, and will continue to bless him.  I'm grateful for the priesthood.  I honestly don't know what I would do without it.  It was a testimony for Gavin as well! 

Lucy

After our last dog passed away, Ron said absolutely no more animals besides the birds will come into this house.  My old saying is never say never!  

I recently decided that school right now in my life was a bit much with trying to raise and family and keep a house clean.  I prayed about dropping out, and my answer came that I needed to take care of my family right now.  Garrett will be on his mission in a little over a year, and I didn't want to miss any of their lives.  So I found myself alone at home.  

We (Paige and I) have been begging Ron to allow us to get a dog.  He finally gave in, but the way he did was because a lady in our ward had a female dog that had 10 puppies!  We went to look at them on Thursday night, and Ron knew then he was had.   Both Paige and I fell head over heals for the runt of the litter.  She is only 5 weeks old, and the mom had  stopped nursing them so we picked her out and brought her home.  She is Australian Shepherd mix.  She doesn't even weigh 2 lbs, but since we have had her she has gotten a belly, and is so much fun!  At night is a different story.  She hates her kennel, and we have to lock her up in a room away from everyone so that we can sleep.  Life isn't going to be at all boring in the next couple of weeks as we will be training her to mind and be good, plus I'll have good company!

Paige's Sweet 16 Party

This is Paige's sweet 16 party.  There were 30 kids here!  Luckily our house is big enough to hold all of them without any problems.  We went through 3- 24 inch pizzas, 8 bottles of soda and snacks.  It was the blow out party of the year!  Almost everyone that she invited came.  They played all kinds of games including hide and seek in the dark.  The person that is it carries a flashlight, and tries to find everyone.  It is a bit hard when you have kids hiding in the dryer.  You read this right the dryer.  I wish I had known she was in there I would have taken her picture.  Apparently she was texting her sister that she was stuck and couldn't get out of the dryer.  Paige had a wonderful day.  We had gone shopping previously that day for her birthday presents and had lunch so it was a great day.  I so enjoy being with my sweet 16 year old daughter.  There is nothing in the world like have great kids to spend time with.

Happy Birthday Paige!

Cassie

My friend in Math needed to take her other Great Dane to the vet in Seattle.  She needed to leave her dog with someone and I volunteered.  She is a real sweet dog, but it is kind of funny that she is on Prozac to keep her calm.  

My Paige is such a dog person.  I feel for the man that marries her because she will have a farm at her house.  I guess she sort of takes after her mom.  :0)

At any rate it is so nice to have a dog in the house again even though she is as big as some of the dear outside.  I only wish that I could talk my husband into getting another pet.  He wants to rest for a while from dogs, so I will be patient.