Halloween Visit

Today after getting the kids off to school I felt a strong prompting to go see my Grandma Rhea in the hospital and take my daughter and Granddaughter with me. It is Halloween and I was thinking  back over the many Halloweens that Grandma had dressed up like a ghost and Grandpa had dressed up like Charlie Chaplin and awaited our visits with homemade pumpkin sugar cookies. I loved these memories and knew Grandma would be disappointed being in a hospital for this holiday so we decided to take Halloween to her. So all three of us dressed up and away we went. I went as a scarecrow, Kaylee as the Grandma of Little Red Riding Hood, and the Ireland as Little Red Riding Hood. I know this completely brightened Grandma's day. She hugged me and told me how much she loved me and just how happy this simple little visit made her.  Grandma was so happy that she would not stop talking about it for the rest of the day How grateful I am to have the time in order to follow through on the prompting. Apart from having this disease I am really starting to see the tender mercies that I am allowed to help me make it through difficult times. I know that service is the best medicine when your not feeling well. I have learned that it is through the simplest of things that brings the best results.

We Love You Grandma!

Listen, Love, and Laugh More.

Today I received a call at 7 a.m. by my sweet daughter who recently had her baby. She was in need of some help today. I knew there was a reason I had felt good this morning and had myself up and ready by this time. I did not realize it at the time, but later pondered the fact that I am never normally up  and ready that early due to my illness. I was grateful for the good morning that I had so that I was able to help out when I received the call.  I am so thankful for good days and grateful for the energy and good health on those days. My family means everything to me and I am grateful for the tender mercies that the Lord allows me in order to help them. I am truly grateful for the blessing of not busying my life with things that do not really matter, which in part has been forced by this illness. I am finding joy each day as I am able to be a better mother to my children. I am able to listen more, love often, and laugh at the simple things. I love to always be there for them. I am realizing just how much it means to my kids to always be available for them. I truly find happiness and peace in being a granddaughter, daughter, mother, wife, and grandmother each day.

Strength Beyond My Own

Today my Grandma was taken to the ER. She was very sick. She had an infection and fluid in her lungs and her kidneys were only functioning 5%. I met my mom at the ER and stayed with them until she was admitted. I prayed so hard that I would be well enough to be able to be there for my grandma and be a support to my mom. I felt the strengthening power of the Savior's atonement throughout the day and I knew that my Heavenly Father was answering my prayers and giving me the strength I needed to be there for both my mom and grandma. I know they were worried about my health but I knew that I needed to be strong for them and the Lord made it possible for me. I am grateful for the strength that I felt beyond my own today.

Forever Families

Today we went to see my Grandma Rhea in the rehab center. She was supposed to be coming home in two days but her health has been declining. I took Kaylee and Ireland with me and wanted to cheer Grandma up. When we arrived she was was very weak and sick and I was concerned that she would need to go back to the hospital. I sat next to Grandma in her bed and she told me that Grandpa (who passed away 6 years ago) came to snuggle her in her bed last night. She said they talked about who she was going to see first. She said she saw other family members and that Grandpa always knew what she should do. Grandma said that she was let-down when Grandpa wasn't there in the morning when she woke up. This special conversation that I had with Grandma really touched my heart and I realized just how close we are to our loved ones on the other side. I could feel such a special spirit in the room as Grandma was sharing. It made me think how much Grandpa wanted her up in heaven and how all of her family is waiting for her. Grandma's son, Clint and my brother Kevin also passed away 7 years ago and I know that they are anxiously awaiting her return. I know we would be very sad to loose Grandma but it would make many others in the spirit world very happy to have her.  I am so thankful  that families can be forever and that our loved ones are waiting for us on the other side. Knowing this brings me peace.

Family Fun

I was able to make it the entire three hours of church today. I was really excited to be there with my family. It was so wonderful just to be there. I took a pillow and used it for the back of my chair, the pressure from the back of chairs push on my lungs and cause additional pain and pressure. My hope is to be able to try and not overdo on Friday or Saturday so that Sunday I am not in a severe flare-up. Having this condition has really made me aware of my limits. I am learning what I need to do and not do in order to not cause additional flares. My biggest problem is that I still try to push it when I have good days which then causes bad days. It is a work in progress.

After church all my children came over. It was so fun to watch my kids have fun with each other. It was getting dark and they all decided it would be fun to race one another. Our oldest son, C'Jay, age 23 challenged Shaniah, our youngest, (age 15) that he could win her any day in a race. Niah has been playing lacrosse and has been working out 2 times a day for swim team. It was funny to watch them challenge each other in a race. It wasn't long before Kaylee (age 22, who recently had a baby 5 weeks ago), and J'Dee (age 18), and Bubba (Kay's hubby, age 23) all decided to join in on the fun and join this race. It was dark and I got out the video camera and turned on night vision just to record the fun. We teased and laughed as we watched everyone literally try to kill themselves just to win a race. There was tripping over dogs, racing around trees, and taking shortcuts just to win the races. Amazingly no one was injured during these nighttime races! It wasn't until after the racing that J'Dee did not watch where he was walking and stepped off of the porch and sprained his ankle. All in all is was a fun night even though it ended with a minor injury we still made some really Family Fun memories.

C'Jay doing squats to keep Ireland happy!

Uncle C'Jay

Taking A Time Out!

Today I enjoyed a girls day out with my mom, my two daughters and my sweet granddaughter. Each of us have had our own struggles to deal with lately and we all needed to get away. We all decided it was time to have a fun day with just the girls. We all decided to go to the Pinterest Expo. I knew I would have a difficult time walking that far, so I swallowed my pride and got in a transport wheelchair and totally enjoyed my time with my family. We all had a great day getting away and just enjoyed being together. Being in the wheelchair had it perks. I had a good reason to hold and feed the baby her bottle during the expo. Also, not being in pain and short of breath helped make this experience much more pleasurable. That made being in the wheelchair all worth it. Taking a time out just for me was totally needed and worth it today! Thanks to my mom and daughters who forced me into the wheelchair and pushed me all around today! Love you girls! So lucky to have all of you in my life! You are the best!

5 Generations of Girls

My Grandma Rhea has been in the hospital for the past 7 weeks. She has had some very difficult health challenges. She was in the Heart ICU for 4 weeks. She was very sick. The week before Ireland was born she fell and was transported to the hospital. I remember visiting her in the ICU and was with her right before she went into surgery. A blessing was given to her and as I hugged her she looked me right in the eye and said "Don't let anything happen to me, I have to be here to see my Great, Great, Granddaughter be born." This was grandma's first great great grandchild. Actually it was the first for all five generations of girls. We were so excited for this little one to be born and wanted Grandma to be around for her birth. I am so grateful that Ireland came a little early and Grandma was able to see her first great great grandchild for the first time. We took 5 generation pictures. This was a very special moment for all of us to have 5 generations of girls in our family! We are so blessed to have Grandma feeling better and coming home next week! We love you!

Five Generations

Me (Stacie), My Mom (Cheryl), My daughter (Kaylee),

My Grandma (Lajuana), & My Granddaughter (Ireland)

I am so blessed to have an amazing mother and grandmother who have taught me how to love and serve other unconditionally. I am also so fortunate to have such a special daughter and granddaughter who bless my live each day!