Oh Kenny…

Today I seen on facebook that it is Kenny’s 39th birthday. Kenny is my cousin. He is the most adorable boy ever. A full head of brown hair, cut with a bowl as a measuring tool I am sure. Big round brown eyes. His laugh, open mouth, head back, fun and love flowing with the sound. How I love Kenny.

Kenny died suddenly when I was 8, so he was 10 I believe. It has been 29 years (I think) and he is immortalized in my mind, he has stayed 10. My fun loving older cousin, who I probably drove nuts. I cannot believe so many years have passed, I am old, and he is like peter pan to me. A little boy forever.

I remember the day, we were on our way home from our first day of school, driving down the dirt road. Grampa suddenly stopped his tractor in the field, and jumped out, gramma barreling down the road towards us.

I was so young, I didn’t’ understand, I just knew something hurt in my heart. My mom was sobbing, my sister Kat ran into the woods to hide. I tried to follow, I didn’t know what to do, how does a 8 year old understand?

We went to Edmonton, he had been taken to the hospital there, where they could do nothing and he passed away. My understanding is that he had an aneurysm in his brain. At school, in front of his friends.

When we seen Aunty Judy, I remember she just grabbed me and held me close, you could feel her grieve and pain, it was in the air. I remember the sadness we all felt.

I will admit, I have some fears and anxiety over Kenny’s death. I guess if I was smart, I would phone Aunty and find out exactly what happened… Rather I just panic inside every time one of my kids has sore legs or headaches (the only symptoms if I remember correctly). I have to fight the urge to freak out over those two common things.

I am however very grateful for the knowledge I have now. I know without a doubt that Kenny is going to live again, that he will be in the highest level of Heaven. I know that he is help mate or guardian for me and my family (not in a creepy way, I just believe my deceased relatives directly help us, protect us). I know that Kenny will be with his family again. I know that he is Happy and healthy!

I love you Kenny, and have never and will never forget you! See you soon!

H.

PS My boys drive now, you might want to stay close!

Need Cards? Invites?

I know all you birthing, marrying celebrating people must need some cards. A awesome friend of mine is having a giveaway, check it out…

Awesome Giveaway from Yaya

If you don’t need the cards, then you can opt for a Target gift card

The Hard Parts…

So I LOVE Utah.

I love the friends we have made here, we have so many people that we truly love.

The cheese and milk is SOOOO cheap! I really don’t know how we can ever go back to regular pricing on dairy.

You can get way more car and house for your dollar, not to mention entertainment is far more affordable.

The schools are great… Well the high schools, not 100% sold on the elementary schools… But the options at Jr and High School are amazing.

The church, it is kind of nice not being the minority sometimes. We are practically normal here…

But it is so hard to be away from my family.

Is it weird that it took me two years to decide that?

It makes me so very sad that I cannot help Kat take care of the babies. It makes me so sad that I rarely see my Eli and Ava. Only Will will (that sounds off) give me unlimited hugs, Charlie, Elena and Lincoln think it is far more fun to hide from Auntie… Josie just pretends I am not there, and Sam well he has no choice.

I am 99% sure I will never see either of my remaining grandparents again, Grande Prairie is so far away 

I miss my cousins! All them Morrow’s and Doris’s, I have so many memories of growing up with them, and now I don’t know anything that is going on in their lives - except Chriss, she tells me on Facebook

On one hand I cannot imagine leaving Utah, on the other hand I cry thinking of what I am missing.

Am I sacrificing the most important thing in the world for cheap cheese…

Why cannot I have cheap cheese, great schools, free health care and my family? Boo

Pity party should be over by morning…

I am kind of mad…

So why is it that I can make:

Beautiful Delicious Cakes,

Mouth watering Cheesecakes,

 

Adorable (and Delicious cake pops)

Crème Brulee to die for,

Rich and wonderful Chocolate Mousse,

Cupcakes to beg for,

I can make every yummy dessert to imagine,

I can leave them all alone,

Until I make Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins…

Seriously, I ate 2… Today. I think it was 6 yesterday.

Why cannot I resist these temptations!!!

(Don’t tell Keyyan, he might make me do more pull ups!)

9/11 a mixed bag again!

I remember the original 9/11. The one that burned its date into all our minds forever.

I was putzing around the house, you know the way a lazy home maker does. My girl friend called me, and told me to turn on the t.v. we watched together.

The second plane crashed.

The Towers fell.

Our hearts stopped.

Even in Canada so far away, the fear and sadness was in the air. Nothing had provoked the attack. It just happened.

The air was cool on that Autumn day (it was Canada remember) and the air was thick with sadness. Our little town practically shut down. Our youth activities turned into counseling and prayer.

Were we safe? How many would die?

The heart break we watch on the TV screen was unforgettable. So many dead. So many missing.

A country violated.

BUT then the people pulled together, the charity, service and kindness took over.

As horrible and sad as it was, as the stories of Christlike love and service came forward, you could feel the humanity left in the world. America would pick themselves up, dust themselves off and move forward. Together.

Push forward 10 years and you have today.

For the past 5 days all of Canada and people from around the world have been praying for a 3 year old boy Kienan. Kienan was abducted from his home in a sleepy small town. He was taken while he slept.

They believe the abductor to be a 46 year old man with a past history of sexual abuse against boys. A couple years ago this man had found a empty cabin, and 9 months later had turned it into a sex prison for a young boy. Luckily the boy he had targetted got away, and his deviant lair was never used.

Knowing this sexual deviant had little Kienan was heart breaking to watch. Where was he hiding him? Was he still alive? We all prayed and hoped, but faith was being lost by me that he would be found alive.

Today I woke up to the news “Kienan returned home alive”

The creeper had taken Kienan back to his home, left him there and called police to tell them where to find him. (the family was staying across the street because their home was a crime scene). The dad seen lights outside and police cars, he went out to see what the commotion was, and there was his little boy, sitting on the couch with the blanket he was abducted with!

A 9/11 miracle.

A sign that even those that evil whose hearts have been taken over by the dark side, can find humanity! They can still do good.

So for me, 9/11 is a mixed bag of sorrow and miracles. Surrounded by evil, yet good finds a way to break free every time.

Welcome home Kienan!

Nurture your children…

AS a Latter Day Saint, it is my belief that it is my sacred duty to bear children, and then to nurture them.

It is my duty as a mother, to teach my children

• Faith
• Compassion
• Charity
• Love
• Laughter
• Individual Worth
• Virtue

At times it seems like a over whelming responsibility!

I wish I could say that every Monday at 7pm we have family night. Every night at 8 we have family scripture. Each morning I arise at 6am to have prayer with my children.

I could tell you all that, but it would be a big fat lie!

I am not sure why our family struggles so much to keep those simple things in our lives, but we do.

I truly believe to teach all my children these roles, I need to exercise them in my life. I need to act with Faith, Charity and Compassion. I need to show my love, keep my virtue. I need to show my children that like them, I am a daughter of God. I am of great worth!

And I must sometimes just laugh, laugh at my failures at our struggles! Laugh because, darn it feels good!

I guess my point is not so much that you I need to be perfect to raise your children to be righteous, confident Latter Day Saints, I just need to never give up! I need to be all the things I am trying to teach them.

Putting my best foot forward, with each step I take!

The facts of life…

Some things in life are just facts.

No matter what, they don’t change.

1) Sandwiches always taste better cut in 4.

2) If you can sleep in, you never do.

3) If you cannot sleep in, you really could.

4) If you broke, all things break or need repair.

5) NAFTA free trade work permits, are silly. You cannot obtain one if you have any intention of staying. Unfortunately once you live in the US, it hurts to think of leaving. And not just because of the dairy prices. Or the housing prices. I really like the people! (I know Kat who would have thought)

6) If you don’t buy something because the price is high, when you go back next time, it will be even higher. Hello no Bacon.

7) Teenagers are crazy. They can love you and they can hate you. And sometimes all in the same day.

8) Men and women are polar opposites… Men have hardly anything floating through their heads, and we have millions of things swirling and festering.

9) My children destroy all my vacuum cleaners. Pick up the paper and sequence please.

10) Red heads are far more stubborn than any other head.