Kloower

My friend Alysson celebrated her "Golden" 25th Birthday on November 25th! Wahoo Kloower! Alysson and I have been friends litterally for forever. We are two very different people, but we are kindred spirits in every sense of the phrase. She understands me, and I understand her. Alysson has stood by me in so many ways. She has an amazing heart. She is beautiful inside and out. She's not afraid to be different! And the best is that she's not afraid to have fun! I love being with her! She is an amazing friend and a true sister! I love you Kloower! PS Your birthday party rocked!

My "Other" Dad...

Nic's dad, Drew, celebrated his birthday on the 24th of November. Can I just say that I have the CUTEST Father-in-Law?! Seriously! Here are some things I absolutely LOVE about Dad... ONE: He has the cutest laugh! The best is when he REALLY gets going! It's so awesome! He can barely breathe! So, here's this cute man with a HUGE smile on his bright red face! It's so contagious! He makes me laugh! TWO: He is a reader, through and through. Drew always has a book in his hands, and most of the time it's gospel related. He is so knowledgeable. I love talking with him. THREE: He is so willing to offer service. He is more than happy to drive Mercydez and I to the doctor (someone has to sit in the back with Mercydez incase she needs some help from her best friend, the suction). He is happy to help us move, happy to hold and love Mercydez, happy to GIVE the shirt off his back. Nic grew up with a great example. FOUR: Drew plays the harmonica, and he plays it beautifully. I've been told he is a self-taught expert. He plays by ear and he does it so well. One of my most favorite things is when he sits down and just plays away. I love to just sit and listen. It's one of those moments that you hold in your heart for forever. FIVE: Drew loves to play guessing games... but not the "I spy" type. He loves you to GUESS the song he's JUST ABOUT to sing. He is so funny! One time he told us he'd give a dollar to anyone who could guess the song he was just about to perform for us. Seriously, he is so cute! SIX: Drew has this awesome golf cart he rides around the Haws' HUGE backyard. He puts a trailor on it and he gives rides to the grandkids. I love it. It's fun to see who is sitting in the seat next to Drew each time he's out and about. That passenger seat never seems to be empty. Drew is good company. SEVEN: He saves EVERYTHING. Litterally. If you need it, he has it. And if it's not in the house, it's probably in the shed. And if it's not in shed number one, look in shed number two. If it's not in shed number two, look in shed number three.... you get the idea. EIGHT: He hates the doctor. He hates the dentist. Even when his kids BEG him, he won't give in. Okay, maybe if it's painful enough, he will. NINE: Drew loves babies. He loves to hold them and love them. I remember a while back I was asking him his favorite age group. He told me he loves them all, but he starts to question his love when they start walking! Ha! NINE: Drew loves to talk and share his newly-found knowledge from his latest book. Often time when the family is together he will ask if he can share something. Everyone knows whats about to come! TEN: He is a righteous man who is determined to make it back to his Heavenly Father. Drew is a wonderful father, grandfather, husband to Millie, brother to his two beautiful sisters, and an all around one-in-a-million type guy! Happy (late) birthday!

My Mom

My mom celebrated her birthday on November 21st. It was so fun to spend time with her! We had take-out breakfast from Mimi's Cafe... their pumpkin pancakes are to DIE for! Then we had lunch with family at my moms ever-favorite, Bajios. Followed by a late-matinee of Twilight... which, my mom perfectly stated as being the CHEESIEST movie she has ever seen. Then, we came home for some pizza and some yummy icecream cake from Baskin Robins. It was really good. Then, off to bed we went! It was a fun day, if I do say so myself!

Now, let me brag for a minute.... I have the most amazing mom in the whole world. I haven't met a better woman. She is so strong and so dedicated to doing what is right. My mom has never had the "easy" road. It seems like she has always had to endure difficulty in one form or another. She is constantly overcoming. Despite the challenges she faces, she is eager to help. She is eager to love. My mom is so amazing. She has taught me so much, sometimes with words, but mostly by example. She LIVES righteously. I'm so greatful Mercydez has the Ahma she has. We are better and stronger because of her.

So, although this post comes a little late, okay, a lot late, know that we love you and we hope your birthday was all you wanted it to be!

My Hubby

Today is my hubby's birthday! I'd like to take a moment and just write down a few of the MANY MANY MANY reasons I love him:

1. He is a Mr. Fix-It. He knows something about everything! Be it electronics, appliances, computers, cars, cribs, etc. etc. etc. The list goes on and on! I love being married to a man of many skills!

2. He makes incredible omlets. Mmmm, if you haven't had one of his omlets, you are totally missing out.

3. He looks hot with AND without facial hair. Yeah, he's an attractive one. And yes, I know I'm lucky!

4. He is an amazing Daddy! I love to watch him with Mercydez. It's so tender. He loves to hold her and snuggle with her. It will be amazing in the next life when he will be able to put her on his shoulders, wrestle with her, and toss her up in the air and catch her again! Nic loves his little girl!

5. He is EXTREMELY service oriented! I have NEVER seen him refuse help, nor have I EVER seen him question a persons need for help. This was one of the first things that made me fall in love with him!

6. He's a nerd-jock! He is sooooo good at EVERY sport he plays! I LOVE to watch him play! He's great at football, basketball, baseball/softball (city league), etc. etc. etc.! ... but give him a computer and he will be entertained for hours! Give him a printer, an IPOD, a digital camera, a camcorder, etc... he'll love it!

7. He is such a hard worker! I'm so grateful that he values, TRULY values, a mother being at home. He is so supportive! He works so hard to provide for Mercydez and me. He truly is a good husband and a good father!

8. He is a fun-loving guy! I often find myself pondering him and I think... he's such a kid at heart! I don't know if he has ever really grown up! He's such a little boy! He loves radio-controlled cars, he loves to wrestle with my brother, he loves to play with kids! He's such a fun kid... I mean, guy!

9. He has a wonderful testimony and he's a worthy Priesthood holder. I don't normally like to expound too much on sacred things because, well, they are sacred. But, this is something I value. I am grateful for a strong man: physically and spiritually.

10. Nic is so patient with me and my crazy emotions. He allows me to be me. In the words of President Hinckley, he allows me to "fly".

I love you Sweetie! I know your little Mercy loves you too! Happy birthday!

PS Moving is chaotic, but we're getting there.
PSS Doesn't Mercydez look soooo cute? She helped Daddy open his birthday present!

Yippeeeee! Wahoo! Hip, Hip, Hooray! Eeeeoooww!

A few things worth celebrating over........

We have been working like CRAZY to prepare for our move next week! It's sad to leave and move on... but I'm soooo EXCITED! We are moving into my parents basement! They have completely updated everything (well, almost everything)! Carpet, paint, bigger windows, etc. etc. I'm excited to be with my family again. Of course, I'm a little nervous because I know I've changed and become more independent and opinionated. But, I'm going to do my best, every day, to be an "ideal" roommate. I'm excited to hang with my mom and dad. And, they're excited to hang with Mercy (yeah, they're more excited to have her then they are me. That's okay though. I would feel the same way if I were in their spot). YIPPEEEEEE! WAHOO! HIP, HIP, HOORAY! EEEEEOOOOWWW US! I'm excited for where we are going, but I HATE the moving part of it all. So, wish us luck!





My little sister, Auriel, CHOPPED OFF HER HAIR yesterday! I LOVE IT! (Yes, I know she looks WAY cuter than me... but in my defense... I had been SCRUBBING my life away in the bathroom!) So, there's my excuse!I have always been a lover of short hair! It seems like most men are very against the idea of girls having short hair. I guess it's how I rebel and show the world that I can do as I want. I know Auriel has been thinking about this for a long time, but fear has held her back... but she has now conquered her fear! YIPPEEEEEE! WAHOO! HIP, HIP, HOORAY! EEEEEOOOOWWW AURIEL!



And, I have to brag about my older brother. Kade completed his Helicopter Pilot school! He's all done! Now he's teaching for Utah Helicopters. He is so detailed. He is so great. I don't doubt that he will be successful with whatever he pursues! I'm so proud of him! I'm sending him my love and best wishes! YIPPEEEEEE! WAHOO! HIP, HIP, HOORAY! EEEEEOOOOWWW KADE! We miss you!

Update on the Li'l Sweetie

Mercydez is doing surprisingly well. She is completely off her oxygen and sat-ing right where she's supposed to. A baby with heart disease should sat between 75 - 85, and she's doing it. We've wondered to ourselves how long she hasn't needed her oxygen. We're grateful she's doing so well.

She's returning back to her normal self, for the most part. She's still weak and she sleeps a lot. We've been feeding her through the night again and she's tolerating that pretty good. We are just completely amazed by her. Everytime I look at her I am just blown away. She truly is PROOF that God is incharge. Heavenly Father DOES work miracles. He's so involved. We have had proof of this. You know those miracles and the big moments in the scriptures where huge conversions happen? Well, we have experienced that. The details are sacred, but know that we know, without a doubt, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are involved. They are real. They are watching our little miracle girl.

Nic and I are doing well. We are exhausted... physically, mentally, emotionally. You name it. We are getting back into our "normal" routine, whatever that is. But, things are starting to normalize again. It's surreal. I am a bit fearful for the future and what it holds. But I am trying to live faithfully. Nic is a rock. He is such a source of strength to me. I see where Mercydez gets her strength from. It's definitely from Daddy.




Our incredible friends, Caroline and Emil stopped in today for a visit. They came up to Primary's to offer love and support to us. Their story is one of hardship. But they are so determined to "bear one anothers burdens". They amaze me. Truly. Caroline has had her heart broken and hasn't been able to hold a little baby for a long time, but she wanted to hold Mercydez today. I was moved. We love you guys.

Tomorrow is Mercy's TEN MONTH BIRTHDAY! I am in awe. She has fought for so long. I wish I could bless her with every ability, every joy, every opportunity available. I'm grateful we have all eternity together because I will spend all of eternity giving her every "good gift". She is my forever princess.

So, we are doing well. Still a bit unsure, but overall, we're good. We love our little baby girl and truly only want what is best for her. We're so grateful she's with us still. We will do all we can to ensure she has every happiness possible. Thanks so much to the many, many, many, many who have offered their love and support. We have had an extremely difficult month and we are glad for the beginning of a new month. We have a lot coming up, so we will be very busy, but that's good.


On a side note, Mercy's good friend, Corbin Kirkham WENT HOME TODAY! Corbin has also had a rough start, but continues to fight! He celebrated his first birthday in the NICU in St. George, but now he's home! Mercy and Corbin were roommates up at Primary's NICU. We have gained a love and admiration for Corbins ever-so-patient parents, Chance and Stacy. We are so happy for you guys! We hope your first night home is AMAZING and we hope the monitors don't bug you too much (yeah, right).

Benefit Concert for Little Miss

American Fork Junior High School has had a tradition, since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, of doing an annual benefit concert. My ever-so-thoughtful cousin, Skyler, nominated Mercydez to be the beneficiary of this concert. He wrote a paper on her, presented it to his fellow students, and Mercydez received the most votes. To say the least, we have been greatly touched. The concert took place on the evening of October 22nd. Nic and I had the great honor of being able to attend. We weren't sure if we'd be able to because of Mercy's fragile condition, but she was stable enough that we could leave her with some family while the rest of our family attended. The concert was absolutely beautiful. The Choir Teacher/Director did a fabulous job. The music was stunning and truly touched my heart. The ending number was "One Small Voice" and it was accompanied by a slide show of Mercydez. Of course, I cried and cried and cried. I even cried before the number started! I just love my little girl! After the number was over, Nic and I stood and offered our thanks. I think I just rambled, but I was so overwhelmed with gratitude. I hope the audience and the students heard our "thanks" through my sobbing. :) It was such a wonderful experience. I have learned the goodness of strangers. I have learned to put aside general prejudices. I have learned that mankind truly is good, if we just allow ourselves to be.

Thank you so much AFJH Choirs. I can't thank you enough for loving and caring for such a sweet little girl. She has changed my life, and I hope through knowing her, even just a little, that she has touched your heart. Thank you for accepting her. Thank you! Thank you!

PS We took our camera to take some pictures but the program specifically asked that we not take pictures because the flash is distracting. :( From years of being involved with choirs and performing, I totally understand. It's just a bummer that we couldn't get any picture for journaling.

Wanda

She turned 25 on October 25th. My thoughts have been on her a lot. I haven't been able to really write my thoughts down because my attention has been needed elsewhere... but I wanted to journal a little about my good friend, one of my very best friends, Angel... whom I refer to as Wanda.

I have known Wanda since elementary school. Wow. It doesn't seem like that long ago, but time sure flies. Wanda, to me, is amazing. She has got to be one of the sweetest, most thoughtful and caring friends I have. She is always there to offer her love. She is so selfless. I am constantly amazed by her. I have often felt like I don't deserve her friendship because she is so good. She married a great guy and it's inspiring to watch them. They are so in love. Bryan treats Wanda so great, and vise versa. They are an incredible couple who doesn't let any type of trial slow them down. Even through great difficulty, they remain faithful to Heavenly Father. Wanda has had her fair share of difficulty too. Her heart has ached many times, and for many different reasons. She is the type of friend who will allow her heart to ache along side another. She has the gift of empathy. Not many have that. I love Wanda. She is a forever friend.

So, although this comes a bit late (like, a week and a day late), know that I love you Wanda. Happy belated birthday. You're my BFF. :)

Thanks for always being there for me.

October Harvesting

With everything that happened last month, I didn't get the chance to journal about something I find pretty exciting! My wonderful Grandma Evans taught me how to make her yummy chili sauce... and how to can it! I've never learned how to can before, so I was pretty pumped! Now I want to can, can, can! I want to can-can! Ha! Lame joke, I know.