One Year ago... Today

 

“I have learned that real angels don't have gossamer white robes and Cherubic skin, they have calloused hands and smell of the days' sweat.”  -Richard Paul Evans, "Lost December"

There are so many great people in our lives.  Earthly angels - Family and Friends are what help us along life's journey.  And there are Heavenly Angels - those that have passed on before us.  Have you ever felt a closeness to a someone that has died?  I have.  Have you felt comfort and love at times of despair?  I have.  I believe in a Savior and a Heavenly Father who knows each one of us and our desires.

It was a year ago today, that Erik had his 13 hour surgery.  13 is an interesting number.  Erik writes about it here.

His cancer infected jawbone was replaced with another bone.  His own.  From his leg.  His fibula.  Who coulda thought?  Wow... miracles.  And he's back to running?  Yes, he is.

 

Not only is he running... he's going to school full time, lives in an apartment with friends, works part time and still finds time to spend dating, hanging out and being with family.  This last minor outpatient surgery was a set back for his LDS mission papers... but not a set back for continuing on with life.  He's set to graduate this spring with his associates and will then transfer to Logan to go to Utah State next fall.

Last week Erik mentioned that we needed to go to Winger's to celebrate ONE year ago today.  With it being finals week and everyone's schedules, we were able to pull off going out to dinner last night, on the 12th, and not exactly Winger's, but Chili's.  Winger's is Erik's favorite, but the wait was absolutely too long to pacify our hungriness.  Chili's was good.  What was good about it was not especially the food... but the togetherness and unity we have as a family.  I love my children and I love my married childrens' spouses... Oh, they did good picking!!! 

It was a good night.  We talked about how Hayden proposed to Ashley just a year ago, too!  At Temple Square on a carriage ride.  They came up to the hospital and shared the good news.  It was good news to lighten up the situation with Erik's recovery.  He had a trachea and a feeding tube and whoa... it was a rough week... so with the news of Hayden joining our family and marrying Ashley... well, ya, it was GREAT!

All the college kiddos are doing great in their classes.  Getting good grades and doing well on finals!  They are ready for a break.  

There is a good feeling in the air at Christmastime.  I am loving listening to Pandora and all the Christmas music.  I enjoy YouTube and letting the Tabernacle Choir and LDS music play through it's list.  The tree is up and beautiful. 

We had a nice family gathering on Sunday, complete with food and white elephant gifts.  There was time to watch the LDS Christmas Devotional Broadcast, make gingerbread houses and do a writing activity.  The writing activity was to jot down a few things that you admire and like in that person and drop the slip of paper into their assigned paper cup.  Each person took a turn taking two or three slips out and reading them out loud and guessed which person wrote it.  It was special and meaningful.   We also planned an upcoming getaway that we're taking as a family and talked about some of the activities we would to do.

Come on, let's snuggle!

Sour Crybaby Contest... and they weren't really that sour.  Fail.  boo hah

Baby Unicorn

Airplane rides with Grandpa

***SNOW!!***

Replacing the tiles to new ones... in preparation for fireplace mantles!  yay!

 

Justin is keeping busy with Wrestling at the high school.  He goes at 5:45 am and I don't see him until 6pm or so.  Lot's of conditioning and practice.  It's a first for him and "he's trying it on for size."   So far, so good.  Not exceptional, but good.  He's dropped some weight to where he wants and is going down a little more.  It's not hard to drop weight when you condition that much.  He's learning a lot and making more friends.  It's a good sport for him because he's a hard worker.  He's excited about his developing six pack!  It's a different life for him being the only child left at home with Erik in college and living in town this past fall.  Justin will often ask, "Is anyone coming out tonight?"  He loves his brothers and sisters.  We have to laugh, though, because a few times when someone has come out, Justin goes and does his own thing anyway without a bunch of interaction.  Maybe it's the feeling having more excitement going on in the home.

Christmas, this year, is surely a different one.  Much better than last year... by far.  At least the December part of it all.  Last year we were up north for a good week living at the hospital and then home again, but very occupied with caring for Erik.  This year there's a lot more time to think and ponder about life and all of it's good and bad for the present and for the unknown future.  It's helpful to keep occupied with good things and doing things for others, like helping my mom with her Christmas gifts.  I enjoy buying gifts and making gifts for Christmas.  I am so excited for the gift giving part of Christmas.  I can't wait to see happy faces of the recipients of my gifts!!!  I know they will like them.  Well, if you're reading this... just pretend that you're happy when you get my gift.  Haha  I am grateful for the gift that Jesus has given to us of the Atonement and of Resurrection.  I am grateful for the gift that Heavenly Father has given us... the gift of His Son and the gift of love and comfort.  This Christmas... I am excited to spend time with family, too.  It's a good thing.

Congrats Erik... on a successful year of recovering and continuing the fight to battle cancer!