Tender mercies!!

Today I have been feeling down.  I can't put my finger on it but I feel down about myself.  I won't share exactly why I feel this way, because there are several reasons.  I will share however, that I have to go back to work on Wednesday and I am anxious about it.  I haven't worked since December.  They said I had to come back full time or quit.  So I guess I am going back.  Also today it hit me I can't pick up the phone and call my mom to talk about things.  That was a sad realization for me.  I am still trying to get her house cleaned and fixed and ready to sell.  Things that aren't easy. 

Anyways, God is always there for you.  I received a phone call later in the day from a lady from my church inviting me to go to the temple with her tomorrow.  She is an older lady and I love her to pieces.  She has 9 grown children that are married with kids.  So I am always asking her for advice.  Unfortunately I can't go to the Temple with her because I get to go sit at my mom's house for 3 hours and wait for a Salvation Army truck to pick up all the junk that didn't sale.  But I just have to say her conversation lifted me up.  Out of the blue she told me that I am a good person and a good example.  She said many positive things about my family and my husband.  It was just what I needed to hear right then. Sometimes we need a little pick me up.  Thank you Heavenly Father for surrounding me with angels and giving me tender mercies when I need them!!!  

Happy Birthday to Me!/Thankful Thursday

Well today is my 45th birthday.  Yeah I will admit it.  I am not thrilled about getting old but trying to do the best I can to stay young physically and emotionally. Since today is Thursday I thought I would combine my birthday with Thankful Thursday, so here it is:

1) Thankful I got new carpet!! (Love it and love that it doesn't smell like dog pee upstairs!!!!)
2) Thankful for my children and how thoughtful they were in their gifts to me this year.
3) Thankful that I live near the beach and that Chelsea and I took a drive along PCH just to see the beautiful ocean.
4) Thankful for getting organized.  (Had to move everything downstairs to get new carpet, so cleaned, threw out and just plain got organized upstairs!)
5) Thankful I can read and love reading books. (Got a new book for my birthday that I requested, "Look 20 years younger"! HaHa)
6) Thankful for my husband who is always thoughtful, helpful, loving and I could go on and on. Thankful that we could spend time together just the two of us in Palm Springs this last weekend!!!!
7) Thankful that Nicole is fixing dinner tonight for my birthday.
8) Thankful for friends who remembered my birthday and are so thoughtful.
9) Thankful for California weather!!!
10) Last, but most important, thankful for the Savior that he atoned for our sins and was resurrected and that someday I will see my mom again!!!

BitterSweet Moment in Life!!

It is with great sadness that I announce that my mom passed away.  She passed away on April 6, 2011.  We are sad to see her go and will miss her greatly however, we know she is in a much better place with my dad and no longer suffering.  It was hard to see her clinging to life her last 7days.  Everyday Hospice would come and say she is most likely going today and everyday she would cling to life.  Finally on April 6, 2011 the Hospice nurse said, "there must be a reason she is hanging on.  Call your siblings and put them on speakerphone and have them say their goodbyes and tell her they will be ok". So I did with much sadness.  She passed away later that day around 9:30pm.  We also found out later after reading her journals that April 6th was a very special day to my mom.  That day is when she got her first Temple Recommend.  I am so grateful I was able to take care of her in her last days and to be there in her room when she took her last breath, no matter how hard it was.  I owe my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ to my mother and am grateful for example of service she has been to me her whole life.  Thank you mom, I love you!!!!!

Thankful Thursday a day late!!

Once again it is Thankful Thursday, I am just a day late due to Hospice being in and out of my house yesterday.  My poor mom is going downhill fast, so we had the doctor, nurse, nursing assistant all come yesterday.  Well here is my list of what I am thankful for:



1) Thankful that Hospice is so wonderful and helpful.
2) Thankful I know my mom will be in a better place when she goes and that I will get to see her again someday.
3) Thankful for my husband whom I love love love so much and that he adores me also.
4) Thankful I got to get out and eat breakfast with some good friends.  (Thanks Lauren and Nicole)
5) Thankful for the beautiful weather we are having in CA, just wish I could be at the beach enjoying it.

Well thats it for today.  I have a lot on my mind and it is very hard to watch your mother die.  So been a little emotional and teary eyed lately.

Tyler is driving!!!

Tyler got his license today!!! Yeah! He is a little spoiled in that he will get to drive the Toyota 4 Runner Ben just got for a smokin deal. He is driving this car since it seems to be our gas guzzler, (Since gas at its cheapest is $3.89/gallon) and Tyler has the shortest distance to go to school.  Of course the girls don't think its fair that he didn't have to drive an embarrasing cheap car. But we always like to say to our kids, "Well life isn't fair, get use to it!"  He is our only boy!! He just better have the same driving record as the girls with no tickets and no accidents thus far or his driving days will be over. 

Mission Call!!

Nicole has been dating Chris now for almost a year.  He just got his mission call to Colorado Denver South Mission to serve for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He reports May 25, 2011.  He is real excited and so are we.  Chris joined the church 2 years ago and is the only member in his family.  He has a strong testimony and we know he will be a great missionary.  He is reporting sooner than he thought, so I am guessing there will be some tears shed when he leaves.  The Colorado people will be lucky to get him!!!

Thankful Thursday!!

So I decided I would write what I am thankful for every Thursday, hence the "Thankful Thursday" So here it goes:

1) I am thankful it hasn't been to bad taking care of my mom thus far.
2) I am thankful I am a nurse so I can take care of my mom.
3) I am thankful  while staying home I can see how good Lauren and Nicole are at reading their scriptures daily. (They never miss a day, they didn't get that from me. Thank you seminary teachers!!!)
4) I am grateful to my girls who help watch my mom so I could go to RS presidency meeting today.
5) I am thankful Ben has a good job so I can stay home to take care of my mom.
6) I am grateful for the rain.
7) I am grateful to be able to walk in the morning with Carolee who is also taking care of a parent, so we can commiserate together.
8) I am grateful I finished one of my goals of not shopping for me for 3 months.

Well that is enough for today.  I have many things to be grateful for!!!!