Sunshine

What is it about sunshine?  Is it the bright light that reminds us of our Heavenly Father and Jesus?  And that our feelings of despair can be diminished?  Well, I think so... at least for me.  I love sunshine!  I know we're still in February... but I know that spring is just around the corner!  I appreciate the snow because that quenches our thirst in summer months and the snow is truly beautiful laying so gracefully on the branches of the trees.  So I am ok with winter.  I look forward to spring... for more sun-shiny days and for plants that want to be new again and bloom and grow a little bit more.  I enjoy gardening and enjoy watching the progress of my bushes and trees as they mature each year.

The wedding is over.... and the newlywed couple is almost settled in their new place.  They are so happy!  And Ashley is especially happy since she will start competing with the Track team.  She is done red-shirting.  She will run this coming weekend down at the UNLV Classic in Las Vegas.  Hayden will redshirt one more season.  I think he's getting ansy about getting to compete again, too.

Erik is doing well.  This break has been good.  His strength is returning more and more each week.  He is able to get out and do things.... not as much as he normally would.  He goes into the office for a couple of hours a day and couple of days a week to help out earn a paycheck.  Precision is getting quite busy.  We are so blessed with work.  The Beryl Fire Station is underway as well as Thunderbird Landing (college apts) And also a custom home.  So things are good.  We are blessed.

Justin is busy earning money for his summer activities.  He will be going on a Smithsonian Student Travel Tour to Washington DC with his 8th grade Honor Core Class the end of May.  Looking at his itinerary.. it looks like a neat trip.  Erik went on this trip when he was in 8th grade and loved it!  Justin gets to help pay for half of it, so he's busy.  Various neighbors hire him to help do yardwork and care for their animals and plants when they travel.  He is also registered for a week in Provo at EFY.  AND there's scout camp, too!  Oh, boy!  He'll have a fun and exciting summer!

I am trying to motivate myself to organize our home and spring clean and de-clutter, etc.  It is hard at times because I think too much about Erik's upcoming appointment.  I want everything to be just right and to be easy and the reconstruction surgery to be short and the recovery time easy... but it is what it is.  I just have to continue my trust in my Heavenly Father that all will be well and that it is all part of the plan for Erik.  His appointment is March 8th up at Huntsman.  He will have his health checkup and we'll also discuss and plan what and where and when is to happen next.  It was nice having the wedding... I work best under pressure, I guess.  But it's not my idea of a good activity to work that way all the time.  haha  There are walls to be painted and to be touched up and I love doing that sort of thing anyway.  Ashley's room is somewhat vacant now and her sweet orange walls will be painted an earth toned color in the next few days.  I must hurry though... because when the weather is warm, I like to be outside... so maybe that's my motivation? my pressure?  haha

When we are up north on the 8th, Erik has been invited up to visit the moregoodfoundation.org in Orem.  It sounds like a really neat thing.  One of Erik's friends recommended it and it has spurred some more interest in sharing his story and his faith on other sites besides his own inspirational blog. 

His testimony was posted on mormonyouth.org. 
Here is the link:  http://mormonyouth.org/1914/trials-can-increase-our-faith

I am grateful for my life, my family and my friends.  I had so much help and so many offers of help for Ashley's wedding.  It was amazing to me that we are surrounded by so many loving people.  I am grateful for my talents, too.  They really are therapy to me.  God knows us more than we know ourselves.  I have really really really enjoyed crafting things with my hands for the wedding and for my home and for gifts.  Doing things like that help give me purpose and help take my mind off of cancer and give me a sense of accomplishment, too.    I am grateful for that.