Scars

I've been meaning to do this one for awhile now but I was without my computer for about 4 weeks and also was trying to decide if I would continue to blog or not. But here it goes:


Skyler's back from scoliosis, fused ribs, and chest wall deformities. This picture shows his scars from all his back surgeries that he has had and will continue to have.



Amazing medicine at it's best. The devices that saved his life. I am so proud of him that he would allow me to take these pictures. For those for didn't know him when he was littlier he would never have allowed me to take these pictures. But now he is not shy or ashamed of who or how he is. I hope this lasts forever.
This is another picture of Skyler where he had his abdominal hernia removed when he was just 10 days old and his drain tube from his first spine surgery at 10 months.



This is just a picture of John and one of the many scars he has gotten from working. Many of the pictures didn't turn out like I wish they would have or they were to gruesome to post. Like the memories of the scars when he was assaulted and left helpless at the side of the road. But we've moved on and learned a lot but haven't forgot.



These are pictures of the adventure I underwent last year with 5 surgeries and the reminder that I am very lucky to have made it out of one of them. But I don't regret trying it. I'm just saddened that it didn't work out like we all wished, dreamed, and hoped it would.




Scars are a part of life. They are who makes us who we are. I look at the scars on my body and can tell you about most of them. I have a scar on my arm that reminds me not to talk on the phone and straighten your hair at the same time. The lessons that we have gained from these scars. I look at the scars on my children especially Skyler and how proud I am of those scars and who he's become. If you think of scars really they can tell a story. We should not be ashamed of our scars. For instance, look at the scars that our on Jesus' hands. They are for us and they paved a path for us. I guess what I'm saying is these are only scars that you can see but I know that at least I have inner scars as well but as they've healed they have strengthened me. I'm not ashamed of them for without them I would not be who I am today and without my Savior's scars I could not return home to dwell with him and my Father in Heaven. So in closing I am so thankful for ALL of my scars and you should be too.

Precious Moments...but left a lasting impression

As many of you are aware, we put our kids in a new charter school this year and it's been kind of rough. We had mostly downs but a few positives. John and I have been going back and forth about if we made the right decision or what to do next.

My life has been a rollercoaster ride lately and yesterday I was sitting on the couch and Jordan said to me, "Mom not that this person is not a good mom because I don't want you to think that but," he said something like I'm glad your my mom because you make us better and more responsible. You make us do chores, scrub toilets, do dishes, laundry, clean our rooms, take out trash and you should have us vaccuum and do something else. You ground us. I ask him if he knew why and I told him it was because I loved him.

He of course, asked me to never tell this person. But this made a lasting impression on me. That I'm raising my children with values and a brand if you will. More to come about what I mean by brand from our adult session of Stake Conference. I hugged him and told him I loved him and that just made my whole day.

Jordan, thank you for teaching me along the way. I love you.

Six Things that Make ME Happy...

I was tagged by Amanda.Six things that make me happy!

I suppose to write six things that make me happy. When Amanda tagged me, I said to myself I better hurry and think because I know if I don't then I won't have anyone else left to tag after someone else was also tagged because we have a lot of the same friends. But I also realized that it was okay and that I needed some time to think about what truly makes me happy. Right now I've been struggling with a lot of different things and I needed to take some time and truly think about what makes me happy and this is what I came up with.

1. The Atonement of Jesus Christ
2. My Family
3. My Amazing Friends (just hangin' out or talking on the phone)
4. Music
5. Ocean or rivers (the sense of calm and peace)
6. Last but not least SLEEP!

*Link to the person who has tagged you. Write down six things that make you happy. Post the rules, tag six others and let them know you did it. Then tell the person when your entry is complete. I tag Steph, Jessie, Vida, Candace, and whoever else who wants to do this because all the others have been taken that I would have chosen but you know what it's okay. Also, Rachel, Jen, Brianna, and Leah I still want to see your responses even though you were already tagged by someone else.