Hooray!

Today I got the best gift!

I've been waiting for it for about 9 months and 6 weeks.

An unsolicited smile on the sweet face of my littlest guy.

Swoon!!

I swear it makes ALL the sleepless nights WORTHWHILE.

p.s. I will attempt to capture a picture of his sweet smile and post it here.

Looking Up!

We spent yesterday evening at Aunt Joann’s funeral. What an amazing woman! She had really lived and left a tremendous legacy of compassion and love for her family. She died of Lyme disease so she generously donated her body for Lyme disease research so there was no casket or trip to a cemetery. Just a lovely service to remember her and what she did with her life.

My mom had a couple of really good appointments at the Huntsman Cancer Center and is feeling really optimistic about the treatments and her prognosis.

My aunt Betty also was given some encouraging information from her doctors about her condition.

Sweet baby boy is gaining weight. I can see it in his face and his legs are finally starting to get some chub on them. That's a relief. I think a real smile is just around the corner and I'm anxiously waiting for it.

And finally, I have a new niece, Ane.  Born last night, to a mother who thought she'd never have a chance to experience pregnancy and childbirth. Priceless.

Just when things seem to be so dark and hopeless, a little light shines through. Miracles happen.

In Need of Hope...

This has been a very hard week for me and my family. It seems that trouble has found us and is loathe to leave. When I was growing up in my very small hometown, it seemed like serious illness and death occurred in groups of 3. (Maybe we're just pattern-noticers or superstitious!) And it's happened again. Two people who I love dearly have been diagnosed with that big nasty C-word.

CANCER!!

One is a first diagnosis and hopefully it has been caught soon enough to take care of. The other is someone who has fought this battle before, and it's come back again. This time it looks like it might be the last fight. Then we received word that Aunt Joann passed away last night after a long fight with Lyme disease. It was so painful watching a lovely, vibrant woman wither away. As always, I feel so thankful that she is released from the pain and physical suffering she endured, but I ache for her children and for Uncle Keith. This is the second wife he has attended through a long illness and death. I'm finding it really hard right now to have a happy countenance or a cheerful outlook. I can only imagine how I would be feeling if I did not have the knowledge of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ to give me hope. I can see how things like this would make life seem truly hopeless. I know that He is aware of all that we go through and can succor us in our times of need, and that through His love I will be able to feel hope and peace again and put on a smile for my family.