Goodbye lovely lady

My beautiful Grandma, Janette Joyce McCurdy, passed away today. She was such an inspiration to me. I loved her sense of humor. I have some very fond memories of visiting her and Grandpa in California. I am so grateful for those memories and that I was privledged to be her grandaughter. She will be truly missed by all who knew her.

Here we go again

I don't even know how to type what I am feeling right now. Neil and I returned from a wonderful cruise to find out that my Grandma McCurdy isn't going to be around much longer. After having to watch Neil's dad fade away slowly, I don't know if I am going to be able to handle watching my Grandma go. She will be the 1st Grandparent that I have lost. And, I really don't know what I will do. To me, this means that my other Grandparents are closer to going and that scares me. The idea of not having them here is just so foreign. I know that I'll make it through it, but right now it's like here we go again.

Welcome to HELL!!

Enjoy my pictures of Hell, Grand Cayman, BWI...

5th annual school is starting tribute

As usual, in honor of my mom, I am posting the Hallelujah Chorus on my blog. Thanks for making this such a fun tradition Mom!

Another loss for July

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary when my sweet brother Mikey passed away. Today my husbands father, Carol (Chris) Christiansen, left this earthly life. He will be truly missed by all of us. He fought a brave (and long) fight with cancer. I will miss the weekly Sunday calls to go over and try to be him at a game of pinocle. He cheated like crazy, but it was always fun to play. I know that he's up there right now just celebrating with his parents and many sibilings who have gone before him. What a sweet renioun that must have been.

My 3rd and 4th grade kiddos

It is getting towards the end of the school year!!! I cannot believe that there are only 10 school days left!!! So in honor of the year I am posting pictures of the kiddos that I had the privledge of working with this year. I had great kids this year and I really hope that I get to work with some of the 3rd graders when they go to 4th grade next school year.

my 3rd grade

my 4th grade

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was wonderful around here today. My children spoiled me with homemade gifts, which if you ask me are the best because they come straight from the heart. Nicholas wrote me the cutest poem, and I will have to scrapbook it of course. Neil gave me the best gift of all, which I cannot share because it really isn't up to me to tell. Today, though I miss my Mom. I miss her getting up in the morning and telling us to come and worship her. She made Mother's Day so fun. It's one of those things that unless you've been through it you really don't understand. It's just an honest truth, that no matter how much time passes I still miss her. Somedays are easy and somedays, like today, are kind of hard. I'm just grateful that I have many Moms in my life that I can turn to, so that makes not having my Mom here a little easier.

Just going day by day

I have had a crazy week this past week. Three people that my family knew passed away last week. Neil's dad started chemo and decided to scare the crap out of us when his blood sugar levels shotup during the treatment. And, my great-aunt, Tante Bea, is in the hosptal with blood clots in her lungs. So, needless to say last week was very trying. But, it also taught me alot. It helped me to be so grateful for the wonderful family and friends that I have. With the scare that we had with Neil's dad we were surround with support and concern. Thankfully everything with him turned out ok.
I am also grateful that I have the next two weeks off from work. Yes, my paycheck will be small because of it, but it'll be worth it just to have this break before all heck starts. We start all of our major end of year testing in a few weeks, so this break will help me rest and get in gear for it.
Like I stated in my title, my family and I are just taking things day by day. Another thing last week taught me was to just enjoy life. I reallys need to stop rushing from one thing to another. Hopefully I can learn to slow down and appreciate all that I have and those that I love the most.

Day 23

So I'm really not doing so well on doing this everyday. It's been hard then I thought. Most of the time I've just been busy and I completly forgot to do this. So, I think I'm going to have to ammend my resolution and try to do this at least twice a week. I'll still number it, so that way I can see how many days I actually did do.
So, for todays grateful thought...I'm so grateful for parents who didn't kill me as a teenager. I know I wasn't perfect by any means. And, I know that I put my parents through some serious stuff. But, through it all they still loved me and tried to teach me as well as they could. And, they never ever gave up on me. That will come in handy trying to raise an emotional teenager who just threw a fit because she can't watch a movie. All because she started yelling at her brothers.

Day 22

I am grateful for porkchops. You can make the most simple, easy meal out of porkchops. And, the kids will usually eat them no matter what.

Day 21

I am grateful that wrestling season is almost over. It's been challenging arranging schedules and pickups around Andy's schedule. But, it has been also been great to see how much Andy has gained from doing this. His self-confidence has improved and he has really enjoyed it.

Day 20

I am grateful that I decided to go to church today. I was in a lousy mood and really didn't want to, but I decided that is where I needed to be. And, of course once I got there I just started feeling like everything would be ok.

Day 19

After helping Felicia babysit tonight, I'm so glad that I don't have another little one running around the house. I just don't have the energy for that anymore.

Day 18

I am grateful for people who understand when you need a pity party and for a husband who brings home a pie so you can have one.

Day 17

Today I am grateful for Diet Coke. I'll admit it is my addiction and today was one of those days that I can't live without it.

Day 16

I am grateful for the Cub Scout program. It is so fun to be involved in it and to watch all the boys (including my sons) benefit from it.

Day 15

I am so grateful for my bed today!!

Day 14

I am grateful that it is a start to a new week.

Day 13

Even though I complained about it I am grateful for my new calling in the primary. Sunbeams is so fun and my one sunbeam is so cute, I just love him. I'll miss being in the Relief Society, but I guess this is where I need to be right now.

Day 12

I am so grateful for my ward. They are the best people in the world. I absolutely love my ward.

Day 11

I am grateful that we got out state taxes back because that means that we can finally pay off a few bills!

Day 10

No more Dibels (at least until the end of the school year)! I am so very, very grateful for that!!!

Day 9

I know it sounds weird, but today I am thankful that Young men's and Young women's was canceled. Just one less thing I had to do on an already hectic Wedensday.

Day 8

I am grateful that I finally finished reading the whole Bible. I learned so much reading it. It took almost 4 yrs. but it was worth every minute.

Day 7

I am so grateful that I was able to attend the 100 yr. Seminary celebration at the Conference Center. It was so neat to be there at to feel the spirit. Pres. Packers talk was wonderful, and I am so glad that Felicia and Andy were able to go and here him speak.

Day 6

I am grateful that it finally decided to snow, even if I do have to go to Mt. Green and then to No. Ogden in it.

Day 5

I am grateful for a vehicle that can get me from place to place without breaking down on me.

Day 4

I am grateful for Thursdays because that means that the weekend is only a day away!

Day 3

I am grateful for busy days because that means that I am capable of doing all the things that I have to do.

Day 2

I am grateful that my taxes are done!!! That's one less thing for me to worry about.

My goal for 2012

My stake had their conference over the weekend and our stake challenge is "New Beginnings". One of the things the Stake Pres. talked about was being grateful. So I decided to start my year of being grateful. My goal is to list one thing that I am thankful for each day on my blog. So, hopefully, I can remember to do this everyday. I hope that those who read this will enjoy the normal and, sometimes, weird things that I am grateful for.

Here goes Day 1
I have to start this by being grateful for Neil. He is such a hard worker and I really take that for granted. He does some many things without complaint. He is always there for anyone who needs help fixing something. He is my rock and my life would be so flighty and out of control with out him there to keep my steady.

2011..our year in review

I can't believe how fast 2011 flew by! If you ask me, it should be around August and school starting (that's how I feel). Our family had it shares of ups and downs and I can totally say that 2011 was my own roller-coaster ride (I imagine it feels like that for a lot of people).
My biggest "high" was the cruise that Neil and I were able to go on with his parents. It was so fun and being able to spend a week with Neil was just a dream come true. We haven't been able to do that for a very long time. The best part of the cruise was, without a doubt, the fishing trip. Catching that 250 lb. marlin was the experience of a lifetime. At first I didn't even want to fishing, but I am so glad that I changed my mind and decided to go.
My biggest "low" was losing Mikey. I miss him so much, and it amazes me how weird, almost stupid, things remind me of him. Like at Diane's family dinner..we were all having fun, visiting family and enjoying the company, and the food, when I look over at where my Dad was sitting. I almost started to cry when I saw his plate of food and remembered how he would fill it for him and Mikey. Yes, I almost cried over a plate of food! But, I am so glad for him because I know where he is, I know that he is so much better up there. My only question is..Will I recognize him when I return? I mean, I remember him from here, his little crippled body, him not walking, or talking. What will I do, or say for that matter, when I see him again totally whole and doing things that I never saw him do here? Just a thought that I wonder about sometimes.
After all these things and everything in between, I am amazed just how blessed we have been. There have been so many things that Heavenly Father has blessed us with and I am so truely greatful for each and everyone of them. I hope that 2012 will be a little slower for our family and that we can enjoy it more. We have some fun things planned for this summer if some things work out to enable us to do them. So, I hope that they will because it will bring some great memories if things do work as planned.
I wish all my friends and family the very best for 2012. I love each and everyone of you. And, I am so very blessed to have you all in my life.