Pray for the Mattices

Just yesterday a friend of mine had a graveside for her six month old child. As I sit here feeding and looking into the eyes of my healthy very much alive little baby girl it just makes me want to cry. I can only imagine the pain that must of come from her little boys death and will come for a long time yet.

Let me tell you a little bit about the events of this boys life. Allan was born in April about three months earlier than he should have been. But before he was ever born they knew he was going to have to be a fighter to survive. Allan was born with his intestines growing outside of his body. That wouldn't have been too major of a complication if he had been a little older when he was born. Being that he was so young it added other complications. Many of the doctors were surprised as he survived first one week, then two weeks, then a month, then two months and even 6 months. He was a fighter surgery after surgery and complication after complication he kept hanging in there. With each day there was a little more hope that he would survive. At one point there was even talk about how maybe in a month they would be able to bring him home.

Home, something they longed for. They spent their time back and forth between Tucson and here trying to be with him as much as possible but also having other responsibilities. Thank goodness for the Ronald McDonald house. It was a place for them to stay and have food anytime of the day they needed. This was a practically free service provided to those who have children in the hospital for long stays. If they had to rack up hotel bills while there they wouldn't have survived financially.

Allan, after surviving through all of the other complications, contracted pneumonia which was the last thing his little body could handle.

As my husband and I talked about all that had happened to this little family and this little boys life, my first thought was that it would have been easier for his parents if he had passed on shortly after birth than to survive this long and get their hopes up just to have him die of pneumonia. I quickly changed my mind as my husband expressed his feelings. He said if it was him he would look at each day with the child as a treasure or a gift, even though it would be hard. We have to be grateful for each day we have. After the hurt is healed or at least lessened the memories of the moments they had together will still be there.

Say a little prayer for the Mattices and live each day to the fullest.

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The Fair

Last Friday Jeremy and Kelsi both had the day off. It was Fair Day. I guess it is such a big deal around here that the schools get out, so Jeremy decided to take the day off and we made a day of it. There was a parade in the morning that we didn't go to because we thought we would beat the crowds at the fair ground. But when we got there nothing was open but the animal exhibit so we decide to go get an early lunch at McDonald's. We wished we would have gone to the fair. After that we headed back to the fair grounds where we wondered the animal exhibits and then the other exhibits which had opened by then. Kelsi's class put an art project in that we got to see. We had a really fun day but were worn out by the time we headed home around 2:30. All three girls feel asleep in the car. Here are a few picture highlighting the event. I would have gotten more but I hadn't empty the memory card so we were limited to a few.

Enjoying our strawberry cheesecake flavored shaved ice with cream on top and a scope of ice cream on the bottom. Yum!

Kelsi's class art project. She is pointing to her hand.

Riding the Merry Go Round.

Cute little train that they rode on.

Here they are!

Up, Up and away on the Ferris Wheel.

Courtney was such a good girl that day. It made it lots of fun for everyone.

Sorry, no pictures of me. I was the one behind the camera.

Vote Yes on 102

Found this on a friends blog. Very touchy proposition but very important. We could go into a whole debate on same sex marriage and there would be many views on the subject. For a person who believes in God and has an understanding of Gods purpose and plan for us I understand why such a choose is not best for each of us as individuals or for society as a whole. But how do you help someone understand that when they don't believe the way you do? We can argue until we are blue in the face but that would solve nothing. First people need to know that it is not about hate. Just because you don't believe a certain behavior is acceptable doesn't mean you hate the person or group of people involved. I don't feel that smoking or drinking is okay but if a person chooses to do so it doesn't make me hate them. But should I back down and say smoking and drinking is okay to make them feel better? No. We can except people as individuals but we in no way have to agree with certain behavior choices or allow them to be taught to our children as acceptable behavior. My mother was telling me about how in California they are talking about teaching kindergartners sex education and telling them that there are certain parts of our body that are made to bring us pleasure and that it is okay to be involved in certain behaviors that I personally feel are unacceptable, to induce that pleasure. Where do we draw the line? I am grateful to live in a small town where my children are not exposed to such teachings. I will teach my children about sex and homosexual behavior, but it will be in a way I fill best. I will teach them to treat all people with respect and try to help my children understand that respecting someone doesn't mean excepting inappropriate behavior.

Red Box

If you have seen those big red movie renting machines in places like Walmart but have never tried it now is your chance. I received this e-mail with a promo code for a free rental. It only works if you have never rented from them but here it goes.

I've Been Tagged!

So I have been tagged by two different people, Amy Richardson and Jennifer Howe . They are not exactly the same but very similar so I am going to combine the two into one following the rules of both the best I can.

Jennifer's: Taggin‘ It Up Rules 1: Each player starts with 8 random habits/facts about themselves. 2: People who are tagged need to write a post on their blog about their eight things and post these rules. 3: At the end of the post you need to choose 8 people to get tagged and list their names.

Amy's:

1. Some of you already know this but I used to go skinny-dipping in a bucket when I was two years old. I would fill five-gallon bucket with water strip down and hop in and that is where my mom would find me. When I was younger I actually was embarrassed about this like if I had done something horrible wrong. In a way it is a wonder I never drowned.

2. I would love to travel the world. There are so many places in this world that I would love to see. Just even to go back east would be quite the adventure.

3. My fingernails feel very claustrophobic at times. When I got married a dear friend of mine did my nails for me. I had on beautiful, long, painted fingernails. At to luncheon after my sealing in the Mesa Temple I was tearing them off because I was literally feeling claustrophobic. Just the other night I had a band aid on one of my finger tips that I had cut on a piece of card stock and I started to freak because my finger was feeling claustrophobic and I couldn't get the band aid off. Instant relief though once I did.

4. I broke my collar bone playing basketball in High School. I was hit just right by a San Carlos girl in the shoulder and that was enough to do it.

5. I collect unique salt and pepper shakers. I have one set that I got when I was a little girl. It is of two mice. One dressed like a cowboy and another dressed like an Indian.

6. I like surprises. My husband often wants me to pick out my own gifts because he doesn't know what to get me but I like surprises. I rather wait until my birthday or special occasion to open my gift then to get it sooner.

7. My birthday this year is on Election Day. I was also born on the day that the Iran Hostage crisis took place. For 444 days after I was born my parents knew exactly how old I was because they would announce on the TV how many days it had been since the hostages were taken. For my birthday present go and vote.

8. I hate deciding what to make for dinner. I don't mind making it I just hate deciding. Particularly if I am cooking for people other then myself.

Now for those of you I tag. No pressure only play along if you feel like it and you don't have to follow both sets of rules. You can take your pick. Anyone not included that would like to play I tag you also. Go forth and have fun!

1. Amy Evans

2. Amy Hunter

3. Jennie Sholley ( If your blog is up and running now)

4. Sara Price

5. Jennifer Garcia

6. Jennie Witt

7. Christina King

8. Marisa Rasmussen