Memorial Day

To all those who have risked their lives for our freedom, thank you! We honor you today, and remember those who didn't make it home. My father was in the armed forces in the Korean War, my brother-in-law in the Gulf War, and my nephew is currently in Afghanistan. When I was in France, I was able to visit Normandy. I have also visited Arlington Cemetery. These places have a sacred and solemn spirit about them. So many lives have been given in battle for us. I hope that we will be better citizens as we remember the sacrifices they have made for us.

In my family, Memorial Day is also the day when we remember all those who have gone before us. We usually decorate the graves of our loved ones and ancestors. Since I now live far away from where they are buried, I'd like to thank the family that is still close by, for continuing that tradition, and placing beautiful flowers on their graves. They are not forgotten.

Two months old and smiling

My older brother is spending more time with me. I think all the practice with the fake baby helped. My sister is excited that I am starting to say vowel sounds, and smiling at her. I love all the attention from everyone! I also love listening to whistling and songs like popcorn popping and itsy bitsy spider. I love to play this little piggy, too. I also like to sleep to Hawaiian music. I like to listen to Irish Celtic music when I'm awake.

back to work

Hi ho, hi ho, it's back to work I go...

I went back to work Monday, May 11. I am glad I did, because May is a slow month for the airlines. Because it is the final month at school, people stay home, so we have fewer flights. It's been nice to ease my way back into the routine at the gates. I know next month it will be crazy again. I also wanted to go back so I could keep some of my vacation next month. I am working nights, so the baby is home with the rest of the family. I think it's good for daddy to have some tending time, too.

It is hard to explain how nice it is to be able to walk again. I have been walking for about 15-30 minutes each day with the baby. It was so difficult for me to walk around while I was on bed-rest. I was so tired all the time. At first, I stopped myself from walking, but after a few months of bed-rest, I literally couldn't do it. It's nice to feel almost normal again. Why do some people choose to be in a chair? I want to move, walk, dance, skip, run ( ok- maybe not run)- to feel alive. I like working at the gates because it is surrounded by windows and I love to see the sun, rain, and watch the sunset. Again, it makes me feel alive and I enjoy seeing more of this beautiful world we live in. It is better than being in the office with no windows, but I am so grateful that all those months of darkness and weakness helped bring me my beautiful son.

Sunday was Stake Conference, and our Stake President, who is an OB/GYN, shared a quote with us that in the last days only the saints will be willing to bear children. When I was on hospital bed-rest with Anakin, the nurses told me that some of the women would get late-term abortions because they couldn't stand being on bed-rest. They were too busy and couldn't slow down. Bed-rest is hard, but temporary. At stake conference, I saw several of my friends from my old ward where I lived when we had Anakin. They were all so happy to see Nikolas. One of my friends just cried as she held him, knowing all that we had been through with Anakin and to get Nikolas here safely. I am grateful for good friends at work, who also see Nikolas as a miracle and are happy for our family. Much of my time at work this week has been spent showing off pictures of the baby.

Happy Birthday sweetie!

Happy Birthday to my sweet daughter! She's 14 today. She has always been independent and is looking forward to going to High School next year. She loves music and is always singing, dancing or playing flute, piccolo, or piano. We love you!

fun weekend

The babysitters. Rick and I went to see Star Trek ( great btw) while the kids tended babies- real & robot.

One of these babies is not like the others...

Went to the beach with YW/YM and tried to surf. I think I'll stick to boogie boarding for now, even though it was fun to try.

Niko dipped his feet in the cold water with his buddy from church. He didn't like it. We all got sunburned, even from reflective sun.

Happy Mother's Day! I spoke in church. Thanks for everything , mom!

A name and a blessing

Little Niko was blessed on Sunday by my brother, Karl. He came from St George for the occasion. My niece, Tammy, and nephew, Kurt and nephews fiance, Brooke, were also here and Sam & Ilanna & family came as well. It was really a nice blessing and fast and testimony meeting, and afterward we had a taco feast. Nikolas knew it was his big day and behaved exceptionally. Of course, all the extra hands to hold him made him happy, too.
I bore my testimony about how healing it has been for our family to be able to have a little baby again in our home after sending Anakin back to heaven. I am so thankful for the opportunity from the Lord to raise another child. It isn't easy to be a mother. One of my co-workers, after meeting Nikolas, said "I don't know how you went though the pain of having a baby, I think I'll just get another cat." All I can respond is: It is so worth it- and so not like a cat.