Life, Insecurities, and friends

This is my former neighbor, Monica.  She and Clyde were good neighbors.  Monica was polite, kind, helpful, and always willing to lend a hand in projects she saw us doing in the yard.  Several times a week Clyde would jump the fence and come see us/our dogs/kids/etc.  Clyde loved to run around the neighborhood.  No one seemed to care, he is a very good dog and just likes to prove he can get out of his yard at will.

There were many opportunities I could have taken to share information with Monica.  Many times I felt compelled to "come out" to her that we are "Mormons".  Monica was dating a strict Christian when we first moved in and I often heard her mention that his beliefs were "too extreme" for her or that his Mom was too proper for her.  Hearing this originally made me apprehensive to share my beliefs and chose to avoid talking about church or the gospel.  I am sure Monica was not blind to our beliefs.  We had the missionaries over weekly- I'm sure she saw them coming and going.   I assumed as our relationship with Monica grew stronger that I would have the right moment to share with her my beliefs and that when the time was right the conversation would be well received.   Well, much to our shock and disbelief, Monica died suddenly a few months back.  She had just turned 32.  She spent her life single, enjoyed hunting, fishing, and being a good neighbor.  I will never have the "right" moment to talk with her; the opportunity is gone.  I only hope that she knew how much we enjoyed having her as our neighbor and friend.  We miss Clyde, too.  He is living with her family.  Here's to you dear friend, may your memory continue to make people happy.

We were honored recently by WWMT covering Emma's story on our local news.   Emma did a great job in her video and we are proud of her for speaking out.  (pun intended).  Josh the news anchor man wanted old photos of the kids for the story.  I found these and thought I would share.  Here is my trio on Easter of 2003.  They are not walking or crawling at this point and are trying hard to catch up with their milestones.

I love this one of Emma, her bubbly personality is showing here.  She was cruising the furniture at this point.  She still had her trach.

This was a tough day for us.  We were walking in the "DooDah" parade, the theme was angels and devils.  It was very fitting for the multiples group.  It was hard for us as the day before we discovered my Grandma had died unexpectedly.  I was waving and smiling while parading downtown and feeling such grief inside that it makes this memory fuzzy.  My angel Emma is being held by Bumpa.

Who can't help but post a classic "spaghetti kid" shot.  The three of them were often lined up making
quite a mess....

I miss having little kids.

Okay, not that little, but you get my point.  On top is Emma, Ryan with Mike's wedding ring on his arm, and Sarah with blinders on to protect her eyes from her bilirubin light treatments.  I wish having micro preemies on no one.  It is easy to understand why some post-NICU parents suffer from post traumatic stress. 

On to happier memories... This is Emma at a church in Grand Rapids practicing to be a flower girl at Aunt Brenda's wedding.  My Mom made the dresses, they remain in my favorites file.  I loved them.

In February of 2004 Emma was successfully decannulated (trach out) for her birthday.  She was able to go a month without her trach, then needed to have it put back in as she continued to struggle with breathing.  I have never met a kids as tough and resilient as she is.

My "beaners" is already civilly conscious at a young age, preparing the ERV to go on a response.

This was at a photo shoot for March of Dimes one of the years we served as the Ambassador Family.

Holding our "baby" Great Dane in 2005.  She stayed that small for two days.  

I think they were dancing better than the adults behind them!  This is at Big Sara's wedding.

I enjoy having friends come over to hang out.  We had a nice time with another family last night who came over for dinner.  I never seem to think to ask folks over, but enjoy it when we have company.  I feel like we can't always come over to your place, we either have to bring Miss Ellie along (and many of you don't have wheelchair access) or have to leave her with family or a sitter.  If you want to hang out with us, please call and make plans!  I am very bad about getting into my routine, stuck in a rut, not willing to stick my neck out and ask.   I feel like a recluse at times, a content homebody who may be interpreted as anti-social.  The opposite is true.  I love to entertain (not sure how good I am at it) and have others' enjoy our home.   Come over, please!?

I am up to 7 followers.  It may actually be worthwhile to post more often if I have a few of you reading my posts.  I recently was sent a link to an article about blog readers who intentionally read Mormon housewives blogs; stating they were entertaining and insightful.  Not sure if mine is either, but if you want to see into my world without an actual visit, this is where to do it.

I have been trying to perfect the art of bread making.  It's sad that I struggle with bread.  I am embarrassed to admit that I own (and underutilize) the following mixers: Kitchenaid 5 Quart, Kitchenaid 6 Quart, Hobart 20 Quart, and a Bosch.  Here's how my mixer habit developed.... I burned out the motor on my 6 quart (making buttercream frosting in large batches) and was desperate for a stand by mixer- found a used 5 qt on Ebay for $30 delivered.  My mixer collection grew by one as my 6 qt went for repair.  I had been eyeballing a 20 qt Hobart for some time, stalking them on EBay waiting for the right deal. Well, the right deal came along and I added it to my collection.  My MIL Linda owns a Bosch which she never used.  She mentioned she had a Bosch and green with envy said "bring it down for me to try!".  Added it to my collection.  If you want to support my habit (some of you are good enablers!) I really want to add one of these to my kitchen:

It is a Nutrimill wheat grinder.  I have a friend at church that owns one and has never used it.  Isn't that sacrilegious?  Buy me one and I will give you all my bread (even the flops) as I teach myself how to make the perfect loaf.   Who can pass on that offer?!

Off to try adding white vinegar to my bread.  Supposedly if you add the same amount as your yeast it makes it lighter and fluffier.  All I want is fluffy bread.  Anyone want to come over and teach me your secrets?