My Mom's Surpsie

Brad and I sneaked down to sunny California for President's Day weekend this year with sweet little Lizzy. My parent's had no idea we were coming. I knew my mother would be thrilled and cry when she saw us. Thank you Susie for capturing that moment on video and posting it on YouTube!

SURPRISE!

I'm off to Long Beach to surprise my parents today. They don't know I'm coming for President's Day weekend. Sunny California, here I come!!!

New Rooms and Ice Cream

Scott and Emma officially switched rooms last week. We had a family discussion on Monday night for Family Home Evening and announced that we wanted Scott and Emma to switch rooms before 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 30th. They had four days to get it done. Brad told them if they got it done by that time he would take them to Leatherby's for a yummy ice cream treat. Needless to say they were highly motivated and worked really hard every day to get it done, especially since they were not allowed to watch movies or play video games until the job was complete (I know, we're mean parents). By the time noon came around on Saturday their rooms were completely switched and looked fantastic, so we kept our end of the deal and went to Leatherby's as a family for some amazingly delicious ice cream.

The Highlight of My Day: January 2010

Something good happens each day. Here's what happened in January:

Fri 1/1/10: Today was our annual bowling on New Years Day with the Harmans! We bowled, ate yummy food, played Nerts and other games, and visited with Brad's extended family.

Sat 1/2/10: We had 7 of Bruce and Loralee's kids over for a sleepover last night. Today we had a great time looking at old pictures with Bruce and Loralee.

Sun 1/3/10: Lizzy made Mama and Papa so happy today! She is just a huge bundle of joy! She had a great time playing mouth games with Papa and making Mama laugh. She is so cute!

Mon 1/4/10: I introduced finger foods to Lizzy today. She really wanted my cookie so I gave her half. She sucked and sucked. Tonight during dinner I sliced some toast for her and she loved sucking on that as well. Rosie liked it, too. Rosie got to eat the stuff that ended up on the floor.

Tue 1/5/10: Lizzy keeps being the highlight of my day lately... she's just so much fun! Tonight Brad and I tried to go to bed by 11:00, but Lizzy had other ideas. So Brad and I took her out of the crib and began playing with her. She got a kick out of Brad's mini flashlight. Lots and lots of laughter in our room tonight!

Wed 1/6/10: It was funny watching Rosie be Lizzy's shadow today. Lizzy just started learning how to eat Cheerios, and most of the Cheerios end up on the floor. Rosie gets about 1 out of every 3.

Thu 1/7/10: I relieved a lot of tension and sadness today by writing in my journal. Things have not been easy lately, and it was great having an outlet to sort out my thoughts and release some repressed emotions.

Fri 1/8/10: Amanda is here in town! She came to visit Margaret, who's in the hospital. Tonight Brad's dad took Brad, me, and Amanda out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Lizzy came, too.

Sat 1/9/10: We bought a crib for Lizzy today from KSL.com. We'll be switching Emma's and Scott's room so Lizzy can share a room with Emma.

Sun 1/10/10: We had a family gathering tonight. All of Brad's siblings were able to make it. We talked, laughed, and cried. All of us miss Margaret.

Mon 1/11/10: I had a cheerful moment early this morning-- I had all three kids in bed with me, plus one large standard poodle spread out across our legs. It was a great way to start out the day.

Tue 1/12/10: Scott and Emma were able to go to their activities tonight. Emma made a jar of cookie dough mix, and Scott went swimming to get a merit badge. Both were happy they were able to go.

Wed 1/13/10: I am grateful for my wonderful husband. He is so strong and courageous. He has gone through so many difficult times but he always comes out standing taller than before. I love him and admire him very much.

Thu 1/14/10: I finally got to see Margaret in the hospital tonight. She is so very ill, it breaks my heart. But I am grateful that I went to visit her and tell her I love her.

Fri 1/15/10: Today was preparation day. Margaret will be passing away either tomorrow or Sunday. I am so thankful for Brad's family to lean on during hard times.

Sat 1/16/10: We said our last goodbyes and took Margaret off of life-support. She passed away at around 10:25 pm. While it was a sad experience overall, it was also special being there with Margaret as she slipped away from this life into the next. I am happy that all of her children were able to be there and most of her siblings.

Sun 1/17/10: I was searching through photographs of Margaret today. I want to have a display of pictures for her funeral on Wednesday.

Mon 1/18/10: Tonight we had a HUGE combined family home evening with Brad's extended family. It was truly a wonderful experience. We took turns telling stories and memories of our beloved Margaret. She was such an amazing lady!

Tue 1/19/10: I put about 30 various photos of Mom together for a display at the church tonight for the viewing. Brad and I also finished the programs for the funeral as well. It was neat seeing so many family and friends at the viewing.

Wed 1/20/10: Today was Mom's funeral. It turned out beautifully. We had a good size number in the chapel. Marian, Brad, Bruce, Sandy DeGraw, and Dad spoke at the funeral. Ruby White sang "Be Still My Soul," Loralee played a primary melody, and Marilyn played "O Divine Redeemer" on the violin.

Thu 1/21/10: Zach and Amanda took us out to lunch today at Applebees. It reminded me of all the fun times we had at our Wednesday lunches with Mom. Afterwards Zach and Amanda played "Nerts" with us at our home. I won. Later in the evening we had dinner at Marian's house and played "Nerts" there, too. I won again. When did I become so good at "Nerts"?

Fri 1/22/10: It was nice having a little bit of normality in our lives again, but I found myself missing Margaret quite often. Life isn't normal without her. I went through pictures again, trying to find more photos and videos of Mom so I can make a CD.

Sat 1/23/10: Brad and I watched "I Remember Mama" together. Such a sweet movie! I made breakfast for dinner tonight, which the kids loved. We had ham, eggs, and pancakes. Scott was thrilled that I didn't make any vegetables. I guess it doesn't happen too often.

Sun 1/24/10: Emma gave her talk in Primary today on the first Article of Faith. After church we watched a Janice Kapp Perry special on the BYU channel, then we watched "The Five Children and It" I got from the library. Bruce and Loralee's family came in the evening.

Mon 1/25/10: Scott and Emma are enthusiastically cleaning their rooms tonight. Brad gave them a highly motivated speech during FHE about switching bedrooms and what they would get as a reward if they finish by Saturday afternoon. They got so excited they couldn't contain themselves and begged their dad to finish FHE early so they could start working on their rooms early.

Tue 1/26/10: Emma found out during her Achievement Day activity that I would be going to a YW pajama party tonight. She begged and begged to let her go too so I agreed and we went together. She had a very fun time and can't wait until she's old enough to go every week.

Wed 1/27/10: I bought airline tickets to go to Long Beach! I am keeping it a secret from my parents, so hopefully no one spills the beans.

Thu 1/28/10: Marian, Natalie, and Travis showed up at our house tonight to celebrate John's birthday. They brought a yummy German Chocolate cake and ice cream.

Fri 1/29/10: Watched "The Mary Tyler Moore" show with Brad before going to bed. It's been a while since we've watched TV alone together-- so busy!

Sat 1/30/10: Scott and Emma finished switching their rooms today! YAY! In the afternoon we headed to Leatherbys and had delicious ice cream sundaes. In the evening we went to the Harman's and had dinner and played games with them.

Sun 1/31/10: We had dinner at Bruce & Loralee's house tonight. Loralee made delicious beef stew and homemade bread. Lindsey made us brownies.

Finding Joy in Lizzy

It's hard to be melancholy with this little face around.

She's just too cute and funny!

Elizabeth at 7 1/2 months old.
She reminds us daily of what true joy is.

Tender Mercies

"We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord’s tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live. When words cannot provide the solace we need or express the joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (Elder David Bednar, April 2005, "The Tender Mercies of the Lord").

The past year has been a rough one for our family. We've experienced grief, ex-drama, health challenges, unplanned expenses, and other trials that were out of our control. These challenges were hard on us as a family, but now that I look back on it and reevaluate the year, I can see the "tender mercies of the Lord" throughout all our woes and sorrows. He obviously knew what the big picture was even though we hadn't a clue at the time. It's amazing to see how He lined everything up for us.


Our New Van
All of a sudden everything fell into place for us to get a van. We had the money, we knew what we wanted, we searched and found the perfect van for our family at a perfect price. We purchased it on my birthday, just a little over a month before our baby was born. What a blessing! It helped me so much having my own transportation while Margaret was so ill.

Our Baby
Brad and I had been trying to have a baby since April 2007. We tried and tried but things did not work out. I finally got pregnant in September 2008, which turned out to be perfect timing for our family. Scott's and Emma's mother moved to Eagle Mountain in August and was planning on spending more parent-time with the kids. Getting pregnant at that time made the transition easier for me, knowing that I would shortly have a baby in my arms to care for when the kids were away. Lizzy was born on June 9th, 2009. Margaret got to see her 13th grandchild before passing away 7 months later. Lizzy helped us cope during Margaret's ordeal. Lizzy brought laughter and joy into our household, even during the dark days leading up to Margaret's death.

Vacations and Family Outings
Due to the timing of the baby's birth, we were able to go on three vacations in 2009. We drove to Oregon in late July to spend time with my family. That was the last Family Camp we shared with Uncle David before he unexpectedly passed away in September. In August we went camping at the Sand Dunes with three-month-old Lizzy. Scott and Emma love going to the Sand Dunes every year and they were thrilled when they found out we would still go, even though Lizzy was such a tiny little infant. In October, Brad and I went to the U2 concert in Las Vegas. We had been planning all summer on leaving Lizzy with Margaret, expecting her to be well by then, but amazingly we switched our plans in early October when we found out that my sister, Rachel, and her husband Craig would be in Vegas on that same weekend. Coincidence? I think not. We arranged for them to take care of Lizzy at our hotel, which worked out perfectly because Margaret became so ill and couldn't have watched Lizzy anyway. When we got to the hotel in Hendersen we discovered that Rachel & Craig's room was conjoined with ours completely unplanned for. The staff at the hotel said it gave them goosebumps when we told them our circumstances. It made it much easier for Rachel & Craig to watch the baby for us.


Not Moving-- A Blessing in Disguise
Brad became debt-free in 2007. Since then, our goal has been to save money so we can have enough for a down payment and move out of his parents' house. Unfortunately, unexpected expenses prevented us from reaching our goal, especially during the last year. At first we did not understand why everything felt "on hold," until now. I feel we were needed here to help Margaret and David. I know it meant a lot to both of them that we were here for Margaret while she was so sick, and I know it means a lot to David to have us here now that Margaret is gone. We will keep saving our money until the time is right for us to leave, but it will be on the Lord's timetable.

These and other "tender mercies" have helped make 2009 a much better year for us. We are so grateful for the blessings our Heavenly Father gives us, even if we may not know they are blessings at the time. I know that He knows and loves our family. He will not give us any trial that we cannot handle. We must put our faith and trust in Him.

Margaret Louise White North 1945-2010

Margaret passed away on Saturday, January 16th at around 10:25 p.m.. All of her children and their spouses, minus Zach, were present with her before she died. Aunt Marian was there, too, as well as Ken and Donna, and Uncle Bob, and of course David. A lot of tears were shed as we said our goodbyes and stroked her head and hands. We will miss having her here with us.

I am so thankful for this wonderful woman who blessed my life so tremendously in the last four years. She truly was a second mom to me, and I am so grateful for the lessons she taught me while she was here with us. I am going to miss her dearly.

A Hard Week

It's been a hard week. My mother-in-law is doing very poorly. Her health has been rapidly declining over the past few weeks. She was diagnosed with a rare lung disease called bronciolitis obliterans over two months ago, but the doctors are now testing her to see if she has cancer since she hasn't been responding to the lung treatment. We are hoping and praying that her doctors will find a way to cure her, but the outlook is looking pretty grim now. My father-in-law came home from the hospital a few minutes ago and told me that Margaret had a few minor heart attacks during the night. It seems as if Margaret's body is giving up.

It's hard trying to stay focused on the positive at this time. There's so much sadness involved. But I'm also grateful for the happy little moments mixed in with the hard times. I am very thankful that Lizzy is here with us. She balances out the difficult times by adding some cuteness and sweetness to cheer us up. She truly is a little bundle of joy. I am also thankful for Brad's family. There's so much comfort knowing that we can rely on each other and lean on each other when we need to. I feel very blessed to be a part of this family. I am also very thankful for all the support we've received from neighbors, friends, and fellow church members. My heart is filled with gratitude for all of the prayers given in Margaret's behalf.

I know that Heavenly Father hears our prayers. I know that He will comfort us during this difficult time. I know that He wants us to put our trust in Him no matter what happens. We need to have faith that He knows what's best for us and that He knows what's best for Margaret.

Remembering Christmas 2009

Here are a few snapshots of Christmas this year. We had a very fun time together as a family. It was very enjoyable watching Lizzy play with wrapping paper and wear her cute little reindeer hat. We received so many presents and treats from loved ones and friends. Santa brought us nice gifts, too, our favorite being a brand new 42 inch screen TV. The only thing that could have made Christmas better was having Margaret home with us. We missed her very much.

The Highlight of My Day: December 2009

Something good happens each day. Here's what happened in December:

Tue 12/1/09: I got some visiting teaching done on the first day of the month! Yay me!

Wed 12/2/09: I talked to an old acquaintance from Long Beach today. He's now the Walmart greeter at the superstore near my home.

Thu 12/3/09: Scott and I went to a combined YM/YW activity tonight. I'm happy he's 12 and can come with me to activities.

Fri 12/4/09: Brad and I went to Del Sol's Christmas party at the "Energy Solutions Center." I saw my very first Jazz Game, and Brad got to go down on the floor at Half-time and low-five all the Jazz players while they entered the court.

Sat 12/5/09: Brad treated me to In-N-Out for lunch today. 'Twas yummy! It's neat finally having In-N-Out in Utah now.

Sun 12/6/09: Lizzy wore her pretty formal dress from Aunt Rachel to church today. It was her first time. She looked so adorable!

Mon 12/7/09: Hot chocolate, marshmellows, a glowing fire, and good company make a great Family Home Evening night!

Tue 12/8/09: Today we had a huge snowstorm! It's very, very cold outside-- in the single digits.

Wed 12/9/09: Lizzy is six months old today! Tonight we took her to Walmart to get her picture taken.

Thu 12/10/09: We got a large sum of past due money in our bank account this morning. Thank you ORS.

Fri 12/11/09: Organized the house for my Mommy! She arrived at the SLC airport after midnight. I went to the airport with Brad to pick her up.

Sat 12/12/09: Spent the day with my mother. She had so much fun with little Lizzy, and Lizzy loved her, too. Brad and I took her out to lunch at Applebees.

Sun 12/13/09: Mom came with us to church today. She held Lizzy the entire time. I am going to miss having her here.

Mon 12/14/09: I picked up Susie today from the airport! Tonight for FHE we went to the library then over to Bruce and Loralee's house to visit. I love having my sister here!

Tue 12/15/09: Susie and I drove over to Brad's work and had lunch with him. In the evening we took Susie and the kids to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. Susie's friend Michelle was there with her family.

Wed 12/16/09: Susie went to her interview at the University of Utah. I hope they accept her! It would be great if she could go to medical school in Utah.

Thu 12/17/09: I went to Scott's and Emma's Christmas Program at their school this afternoon. Lizzy came, too. In the evening, Scott and I went to the YM/YW Christmas dinner and etiquette night activity.

Fri 12/18/09: Made "lemons out of lemonade" and got done a whole bunch of Christmas shopping this morning! It was nice to finally have some time to do it.

Sat 12/19/09: Finally got to see New Moon tonight! Thanks Marilyn and James for watching the sleeping baby.

Sun 12/20/09: Today we had our annual Christmas story reading during Young Womens.

Mon 12/21/09: I got done a LOT of shopping today-- both Christmas shopping and practical every-day shopping. In the evening Brad and I went to Sam's Club and stocked up on lots of food.

Tue 12/22/09: Lizzy is starting to sit up without help! She's getting so big! Tonight I made cookies for Brad to deliver to his home teaching families. We also talked to Scott and Emma on the phone, which was nice. We miss them and love them.

Wed 12/23/09: We finally got around to passing out Christmas cards to some of our neighbors. It's nice not having to worry about that anymore.

Thu 12/24/09: Today was Christmas Eve. Brad only went to work for a couple hours, then he came home and spent the afternoon with me and Lizzy. Neighbors brought us goodies all day long, and we got packages in the mail, too, which was very nice. I made a big ham dinner and Marilyn brought the traditional Christmas cake.

Fri 12/25/09: Brad and I made a big breakfast today, then we had a quiet morning waiting for the kids to come home. When the kids arrived we opened up presents and emptied our Christmas stockings. In the mid afternoon the cousins came over and we spent the rest of the holiday with them.

Sat 12/26/09: Tonight we went over to Bruce and Loralee's house and had an enjoyable time playing Loralee's homemade game called "Realitivity."

Sun 12/27/09: I dressed up Lizzy today in green and purple-- my two favorite colors-- and she looked adorable! She is such a beautiful, happy baby.

Mon 12/28/09: Brad and I watched Avatar tonight. It was an amazing movie! LOVED IT!

Tue 12/29/09: We took Brandon, Ryan, and Scott to Burger King for lunch today. Then we stopped and hung out with Bruce and Loralee while swapping kids.

Wed 12/30/09: I had an enjoyable evening with Brad tonight. We discussed his meeting and talked about finances. He got paid a day early, which was nice.

Thu 12/31/09: I took Emma and Scott to see "Princess and the Frog" for New Years Eve. Later in the evening we ate French toast and bacon, then we played Tomb Raider on the PS2 until it got late. We were awake for the countdown! It was the first time Scott and Emma stayed up until midnight to welcome The New Year.