Christmas Eve

 We had our Christmas Eve nativity play at my parent's where Megan played Mary and Jordan, the angel.  Of course, Megan wanted to play the part of Mary because that meant she could take care of "baby Jesus" and so the whole day she practiced her part, with a towel over her head while she rocked her baby.  She even made sure to put her baby down for a nap so it would be well-rested for the play.  As soon as I put the costume on, she acted the part with a very serious, yet sweet expression on her face.  She rocked and kissed her baby while we sang "Away in a Manger".....such a sweet moment on such a special night. 

 Jordan was thrilled to play the part of the angel, although he and Megan kept arguing throughout the day whether angels are boys or girls.   He also took his role very seriously and I loved watching him as he listened so intently to the words to know what he should be doing. 

Christmas Eve is never complete without some string serenading. 

 Matching jammies from Grandma Sally

 We had forgotten our camera, but luckily Uncle Adam brought along his camera to get some great shots.  He loves taking pictures of our Megpie because she loves to pose for pictures and really hams it up, as you can see......

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Ta da!!  The finished product...well kind of.  The top of the tree was very bare when they were finished and we had to do some rearranging.  We laughed as we found branches that had 4 or 5 ornaments all clustered together and found ornaments that were hanging off of other ornaments. 

We put our Christmas books under the tree and I've been reading to the kids every day by the Christmas tree.  Megan loves it and decided to delight her babies with the same experience. 

It won't be the same this year.....

I've been struggling with getting into the Christmas spirit this year because everything about Christmas reminds me of Marianne. Ever since I was 8 years old and she went away to college I was always so excited for Christmas because it meant that I could be with her again. Every Christmas of my life, other than the one when I was on my mission in New York, I have spent with my sister. The other day I was making dinner and decided to put on a Christmas CD that Marianne used to listen to. I always thought everything Marianne had was just the best and coolest thing, so of course I went and bought a copy also. Everything was going along fine until the last song came on. I never had really listened to the words before, but as I listened, it totally summed up how I've been feeling. It's called "It won't be the same this year" and talks about how difficult Christmas can be when you miss the ones who have passed away. As I listened to the chorus..."All the stockings are hung, Silent Night has been sung, Christmas is finally here....it won't be the same this year," the floodgates opened because it was exactly how I was feeling.

This advent calendar is so special to me because Marianne and I made it together.  We spent so many fun weekends together while I was at BYU making the little ornaments.  When it came time to make the actual wall hanging, Marianne guided me through each step, showing me where to cut the fabric and what pieces to sew together.  When it was all pieced together, I held it up, so excited to see the finished masterpiece only to discover that for some reason it was crooked and looked horrible.  In frustration, I wadded it up in a ball and said there was no way I was going to take all the stitches out and redo it.  I never really thought about it again, but how surprised I was the Christmas I got home from my mission, to see that Marianne had done just that.  She's taken it all apart and redone it and finished it for me.  Usually this is the very first thing that goes on my wall once December hits, but this year I just couldn't bear to bring it out...too many memories that would just make me sad.  Finally, into the second week of December I realized that Marianne wouldn't want me to leave it in the closet.  She would want me to enjoy it, so on the wall it went even though it opened the floodgates once again.

People say this gets easier, and I'm sure it will.  I'm so grateful for my precious little ones, for my family and everyone who I hold dear that I hold to a little tighter now, knowing just how precious life truly is.  The birth of the Savior has added significance in my life this year also, for it is through Him that I know I will be with my dear sister again. 

Getting Ready for Church

Megan was spending quite a while getting "ready" for church last Sunday and I couldn't figure out what was taking her so long because I had already gotten her dressed and done her hair.  It wasn't until I heard her walking ever so carefully and slowly down the stairs in her high heel shoes that I realized just what she'd been up to.  I convinced her to wear different shoes and that sunglasses aren't really necessary for church, but she was very pleased with herself when she walked into church adorned with ALL of her beautiful jewelry.  

Halloween Catch Up

With Marianne passing away on October 29, Halloween was a difficult holiday this year.  We went through  the motions...carving pumpkins, costumes, trick or treating and candy.  The good thing about children is they force you to just keep going even when you don't feel like it.  Life just has to go on and for that I am grateful.  I didn't take any pictures on Halloween night, but luckily we had gone to a Halloween party at church the weekend before and got some cute pictures of our fearsome dragon trainer and our darling princess.

Celebrating My Dear Sister's Life

I sit here at my computer, just wondering where to even begin.   It's hard to put such deep and tender emotions and feelings into words, but I will do my best.  I don't have any pictures from the weekend.  We brought our camera, but taking pictures was the farthest thing from my mind.  Luckily, a photographer was taking pictures and someday I will get those pictures I'm sure, although I have some pictures in my mind that I know will never be erased.  Here are a few of them....

• Watching my mom and Marianne's husband, Mike walk arm in arm behind Marianne's casket as we walked into the chapel and thinking how fitting that was since they were the two who so lovingly cared for her during her final months.
• Standing in the bitter cold wind at the graveside service, wrapping my arms around my nephew Brigham so tightly to not only keep him warm, but let him now how much I loved him.  I wiped his tears from his cold face as we listened to the bagpiper play "Come Thou Fount of every Blessing" as Marianne's casket was carried to her final resting place.
• Feeling my sister's arms clutched so tightly around me as we watched my mom make the final adjustments and tell Marianne goodbye before they closed the casket.  Feeling so much love for my sister, Alison as we cried so hard together at that moment and  how comforting it was knowing that  someone else knew exactly what I was feeling.  Also, looking over at my brothers at that moment and seeing they were doing the same thing. 
• Riding in the limo to the cemetery with Mike, my siblings, their spouses and the handful of nieces and nephews who were old enough to attend the funeral and feeling such an overwhelming feeling of love for my family.  We talked about the funeral, the special words that were spoken and even managed to find a few things to laugh about, which is never hard to do when we're all together.   Amidst the sadness, we still found joy in being together and it felt really good...like maybe life could really go on, somehow.
• Playing "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" with my siblings at the funeral and feeling so much comfort as we blended our instruments together as a testimony that...Yes, our Redeemer does live and we know that Marianne lives too.  As we played this song together I felt such a sweet feeling of peace. 
• Speaking at Marianne's funeral and seeing the chapel full of people who shared my love for Marianne and being able to read Marianne's testimony of the Savior to them. It felt good being able to read Marianne's own words and sharing with people what I knew she would want to say to them if she were still alive.  Here is the excerpt from my talk that was such a priviledge to share, even though it was difficult....

"Marianne and I sent each other daily e-mails during the past two years and I was always amazed at her incredible attitude as she faced this tremendous trial.  I would like to share with you an excerpt from an e-mail Marianne sent to me in August of 2009, as she was just beginning her chemo treatments again and had just learned of her terminal diagnosis 2 months prior….

"Here it is 12:24 a.m. my time. Everyone is asleep and I have been feeling sick all day and now I am hungry. So I am eating cottage cheese, applesauce and a glass of milk, just hoping it will stay down. Chemo is so awful. I felt great yesterday and today I cried when I left chemo because I already felt so lousy. Mike and Mom just keep reminding me that I will feel better again soon and Dad says he would trade places with me in a heartbeat.

 I have some great talks with my Heavenly Father during these late night times. He is always awake and knows what I am feeling. I sometimes have mini melt-downs about what I have to endure and also the fact that I don't want to die. He is always there to comfort me with peace and let me know that it is His plan for me and it will be OK. I am so grateful to have the knowledge of the Atonement in my life. It has only been in the past few years, since my knee injury, that it has come to mean so much more than just repentance and correcting mistakes. Before that I felt so much mercy, forgiveness and love when repenting. I still feel that when I repent, but I also feel so much comfort, peace, understanding, and incredible love when I lean to my Savior and the Atonement through my physical trials. He knows how yucky I feel, the sadness of leaving loved ones, and all the emotions that hit me each day. I believe He also feels the incredible joys I feel when I have a good day, when I get to see my family, and when I spend good quality time doing something for me or for others. We are so truly blessed.” 

I was expecting the grief.  I knew there would be tears and heartache, but what I wasn't expecting was the overwhelming LOVE I felt...love from Heavenly Father, love from Marianne and so much love poured out from everyone around me.

The grief is still present and hits me at random times.  Alison and I found ourselves at symphony practice on Monday night, crying our eyes out in the hallway as we were rehearsing the slow movement of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony.  The melody was just too sad to hear, let alone play.  I feel like Marianne took a little piece of my heart with her because there's a little hole there now.  I  know it will fade as the days and years go by, but will never entirely go away...but I wouldn't want it to, because that would mean I had forgotten her and the special place she had in my life.

Marianne gave me this little angel last Christmas when I went to visit her.  The little tag says, "No matter where I am, I will love you forever.  Love, Marianne."  I cried so hard when I opened it, but I cried even harder when I read it 3 nights ago when I came home from Utah.  I know my sister does still love me, because I felt her love all weekend.  I know that she is still involved in my life even though I can no longer see her and I know that someday I will be able to see her again...and what a sweet reunion it will be!!!

September Fun

A few weeks ago we took the kids to Northwest Trek.  It's a natural wildlife park where we got to see lots of animals and ride on a cool tram ride that the kids absolutely loved.   Megan's favorite part was there were 2 brand new baby deer right next to the road and Jordan liked the herd of elk we watched swimming in the lake. 

We watched this beaver for a long time as he was building his den.  The little guy was camera happy and every time the camera would flash he would do a little trick and come back to the glass, waiting to do it again. 

We finished off the outing with sundaes at McDonald's...or as Megan says...IcDondald's.  I love this picture of Megan with her favorite things, ice cream and Daddy!!!

Andrew's birthday cake this year was a simple jello cheesecake. The kids helped me make it and put on the candles and were squealing with delight when he walked in the door from work, so excited to show it to him. 

I wanted to put down some funny things the kids said this week so I don't forget them.  The other day we were in the car and totally out of the blue Jordan said, "Mommy, Megan's a little too weird for me,  let's just give her back to Jesus."  Megan's funny thing lately is every time I tell her I love her she says, "Well.....I love daddy." 

Video for Grandma Sally

I took this video of the girls so I could send it to my mom, since she is missing everybody while she's caring for Marianne in Utah.  For some reason, I couldn't get my e-mail to send it, so here it is Mom (and for anyone else who wants to take a peek.)  We love you Mom, and are thinking of you and Marianne all the time!!!!

Jordan's first day of kindergarten

We just put Jordan on the bus for his first day of kindergarten.  I think he was a little excited because he woke up at 3 and had a hard time going back to sleep.  He helped me make his lunch, we packed up his backpack and off we headed to the bus.

 Our neighbor Colton said he would watch out for him and help him on his first day.

A little part of me wanted to shed a tear, but how could I when this is the last thing I saw?  Does he look excited or what?

Our "Marianne" day

When Jordan saw these pictures he asked if they were from our special Marianne day, so that's what I'm going to call them, but as you can see from the pictures, Marianne is the only one missing from them.  As her health is declining, we wanted to get together to have one last hurrah to take pictures and just be together.  At the last minute, she was unable to come after all.  It was a very bittersweet day.  On the one hand, it was fun to be with family and watch the cousins play together, but on the other hand, Marianne's absence was a huge void and we all missed her so much.  I guess we just got a taste of what our future gatherings will be like when she is no longer with us....at least for a little while, because this I know...       

 OUR FAMILY WILL BE TOGETHER FOREVER!!!! 

Grandma Sally's Teddy Bear Picnic

As you can see, this year's picnic had a western theme.

Discovering the teddy bear's picnic after our walk through the woods

"Mother Goose" came to read stories to the kids.  As you can tell from Megan's face she was very confused by the costume and actually burst into tears a few minutes later.  She then promptly stood up, gathered her lunch and continued eating elsewhere. 

Waiting for the puppet show to begin

This picture basically sums up a perfect day...a little girl completely worn out from a day of laughing and playing, with a smidge of chocolate on her chin, clutching her new pink teddy bear!!