Goodbye, Jack

Saturday was such a hard day.

Actually, a "hard day" is an understatement.

It was absolutely terrible and gut wrenching for the whole family!

Saturday morning, we all woke up to Jack barely moving.

We always knew he was getting old and could see him having bad days where we knew his body was just starting to slow down?

But those bad days would pass and we would wake up to better days!

Until Saturday.

It all happened so unexpectedly, but I am grateful for 2 things:

That this wonderful dog got to spend nearly 14 years with us, giving us so much joy and so many great memories!

And that when his life was over, it happened on a Saturday when everyone got to be here for him to comfort him and to say our goodbyes.

We will love you forever, Jack.

You knew every family secret and if you could talk, oh the stories you could tell about each of us!

You licked so many tears and were the source of so much laughter here at Tobacco Way.

We will never forget you.

You were the best friend any of us could've ever asked for.

You will be the topic of many dinner conversations and family gatherings for the rest of our lifetimes here!!!

We will miss you so much and will always be thankful for how you touched our lives.

Merry Christmas 2019

I have been feeling so terrible and guilty lately.  It is so difficult to admit why, but I will go ahead and tell you... it's that in the past 27 years I have been married, THIS is the very first year I did not send out Christmas cards!!!

I have been in such a terrible funk lately, it is awful.

I have been feeling so down about life... mainly because my children are all scattered all about and I am wishing way too hard that we could all be together under one roof again, even for just a few hours!!!

(If you didn't know, that hasn't happened in 4 YEARS!!!)

I finally have the opportunity this year and more things happened... 

I have been trying so hard not to be so down about it, but it just hurts a lot.

So hard to shake it!!!

AND THEN.

I was scrolling through some pictures tonight of this year's ward Christmas party?

And now my heart just might burst!!!!

Just look at all of my awesome and wonderful goofballs I still have around me!!!!

I love them all so much!!!!

(As you can see from all the pics above, some things never change... we still can't get a picture with everyone looking at the camera or without someone making a face!!!  LOL)

I have found my gratitude again.

No matter what life's curve balls are thrown at us, I know that we still have it good.

I hope you are feeling the Christmas spirit too!

Merry Christmas, bloggy friends.

OBX in November

When you have a sister who owns a beach house in the Outer Banks...

You get to experience the beach in November when no one is renting out the house!

We are such a lucky family!

As you can see, we had a really great time!!!!

Thank you for more great memories, Uncle Alan and Aunt Mari.

Homecoming 2019

The lovely couple last weekend going to Hylton Homecoming.

And a gangle of kids going to Homecoming as well.

("I swear it's not a date, Mom!  We are going as a group!!!")

*Note:  red flower on the middle guy and matching wrist corsage on Caroline... 

(Our kids think we were born yesterday. Ha.)

I will have you know that Keith and I hid in a corner of a restaurant and ate where they couldn't see us and spied on their table.  It was awesome.

Gratitude

I keep saying I'm gonna start blogging again.

This time it's for reals, I swear!

If I am being honest, it's because life has just gotten harder...

And I don't want to put all the hard stuff out there!  :(

I had a thought today though as I was preparing my lesson for Sunday in Young Women on the subject of gratitude..

I don't have to let all the hard stuff consume me, right?

Every day should be about gratitude!

(There is ALWAYS something to smile about and be grateful for!)

And I can blog about that!!!

Today, I give you THIS:

The girls have rearranged rooms and 2 of them (after 14 and almost 16 years of living) have NEVER HAD THEIR OWN ROOMS.

And now it has happened!!!

(Happy times!!!)

This sign made me laugh so hard because it is not even meant to be funny, but it totally is.

I love my girlies so much!

Today, I am grateful for them.

They make me laugh til I cry sometimes and there is so much joy in that!

I am grateful for the two who now have their own rooms and own personal space.

They waited and dreamed so long for this day!

And I am grateful for the 2 younger ones who will continue to bond as they share a space together.

(Their time is coming too when they will have their own personal space!)

Just wanted to share!!! 

Blogging Again

So much has happened and I really need to start blogging again!

After all, I have been using this blog as a journal and I have missed chronicaling so many happenings!

So here is an update:

In August, we had a really wonderful beach vacation at the Outer Banks.

8 of our 10 children were there with us!

It was very special to me because I am realizing that from here on out it will be more and more rare to have everyone together.
(Makes me terribly sad, but it's true!)

I will cherish those times when all 12 of us are together even more when it happens!

IT WAS A BLAST!!!
Next year, I really hope the entire family can be there!!!

I also ran my 13th marathon last weekend.

It was my first marathon post surgery and it was an amazing experience!
This was by far my favorite marathon course, although not my fastest finish.
(Not all marathons are going to be a Boston Qualifying time, right???)

My heart was so full thinking that just one year ago I was told I could never run again without problems...
AND I JUST RAN ANOTHER FREAKING MARATHON!!!

This comeback was AWESOME and I feel really great!!!

That doctor was very wrong and I am so excited to have a new knee and a second chance at more running!!!
I am already planning marathon #14!!!!

I do hope to see another Boston Qualifying time in my future.
I am going to continue doing the things that scare me and following my dreams!
Even if I don't achieve them, I know I will gain so much from the journey.
That is what living is all about.

#5 Graduates

What a wonderful day this was.

Last weekend, Mark (#5) graduated.

I swear, it doesn't matter how many times I have done this... 

Graduation Day will always feel the same!

We were so proud of Mark.

He graduated from high school with a 3.9 grade point average.

(He slacked a little his senior year. LOL)

He will do such great things from here!

(Mark is now currently in Idaho visiting Cassie and Garrett at BYU and scoping out campus for the week. I am so excited for him!)

We waited his whole life for this moment where he will leave home and his life will take off.

Mark is ready!!!

We love you, Mark.

You have been a great son and we are proud of what you have done with your life so far.

Keep reaching for the moon and you will continue to land among the stars!!!!