SPRING SOCCER

We finally received Dawson's pictures from spring soccer. This is our luck, so I'm getting used to it quite a bit. The kids were nice, the coach was very encouraging, and I think that he completely enjoyed himself.


On a little side note, this was taken on May 14th. Brandon and I were in Boise for Wicked with Brady and Sondra. Dawson scored his first and only goal that day. Aunt Tracy took him, since she is a sports mom, and cheered for us!!! It was also the day that Grandma Cindy had her bike accident.

GOT THAT WARM & FUZZY FEELING?

Have you got your fuzzy socks ready? Here is an idea to share with your ladies that you visit teach to get them excited about the upcoming conference. I don't know if you are excited, but I sure am!!! 2 different ways to share this handout, but either way, I print them off as photos.

Postcard size.


Print off as a 5x7 for bookmarks ... but beware that depending on where you print them off, it could cut off part of your bookmark.

Just click on the photos to enlarge and save!

WAY BACK WEDNESDAY - KATE LIKES APPLES

I found these pictures, but don't think that I ever shared them with you. Here is our baby that found an apple. So funny!

MY TURN - YAHOO AGAIN!

Kate has been wondering why the other kids get to go to school and she has to stay home. She has cried and cried and cried.

Finally, Kate's school started today and she was SO excited to go and see her old friends from last year. She is so independent and really hates when we have to be home too long (just like her mom.) We are so excited for Kate to go back to school and hopes she has an excellent year!

Kate measured in at 40 inches and 35 Lbs.

Love you monkey bear! I hope you enjoy school this year!

STEP FORWARD - 4 MONTH UPDATE

September 14th marked the 4th month of recovery for Cindy. We recently received Dawson's soccer pictures - I knew they were taken on May 14th and that he scored his first goal that day. I think I might remember that date for a long time.

Here this month's update of information.

August 25th, Kelly and Cindy headed up to Burley to visit with Dr. Crane. He was very pleased with her progress, which at this date was a 110 degree bend on her own, 118 degrees with assistance. Her next doctor's appointment is October 6th.

August 26th she began weight bearing at physical therapy and around the house. She started with 20 lbs., which is just a touch down with her left foot.

Labor Day weekend, she was able to attend all 3 hours of church for the first time since before the accident. This is a huge step forward for her.

At the 4 month recovery mark, she was able to bend 115 degrees on her own, 120 degrees with help. Her physical therapist are confident that she can bend more. They are continuing to work breaking up the adhesions on her knee cap (scar tissue). Her weight is now at 80 lbs, which allows her to stand on each foot equally. Cindy uses crutches in public, but continues to use the walker at home. Very soon, she will begin to use a cane to get around. Physical therapy continues to be hard... it will never be easy. Once she is able to do a certain exercise well, they switch up what they are doing with her to make it more challenging.

I am constantly amazed at the progress that she is making and the fact that she pushes for more everyday. There are so many times that I imagine what I would do in her shoes. I want to say that I would push on, believing that I could do anything. But, I'm not so sure.

I know that she is looking forward to being able to walk without assistance. I hope that I can capture one of these special moments on video.

The Climb

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

Thank you mom for inspiring me and so many others to always look forward, to be positive, and to be courageous enough to do hard things. Love you! Zoey Michelle

OVEREXTENDED

You know you are overextended when a friend has to tell you out in public "Nice shoes." And you still don't get it for 30 more seconds!!! Sigh!

NEVER FORGET

10 years ago.

We remember. Events that others remember. The attack on Pearl Harbor. Assassination of John F. Kennedy. Fall of the Berlin Wall. Events that changed history.

In 2001, we were happily married and living with Brandon's parents. Faith was almost 1 year. I was working at ISU Library part time, and Brandon was going to school full time.

The morning for me started off very routinely. Getting dressed and ready for work, I was watching A Baby Story on the TV. And then I got a call from a dear friend, Kristy, asking if I was watching the TV ... the news ... the horror unfolding. I really didn't know what she was talking about.

Brandon was at the ISU library waiting to get in the building to study for the day. He hears other students talking about a plane crashing into a tower. He didn't realize the impact that this would have. Class schedule that day included history. His teacher said that this was history in the making and sent the class home to watch the news.

We watched the news for days on end, soaking in the new information and really praying. It was all so hard to wrap your head around this tragic event. It truly affected everyone's life.

World Trade Center

Pentagon

Flight 93

The famous picture

For the husband who told his wife I love you one last time before his plane went down in a field, for the wife who stopped in the stairs to call her husband to say I will love you forever, for the mothers and fathers who kissed their kids goodbye the morning they died, for the policemen who rushed in with the firemen to help get others out only to die themselves, for the soldiers who fought back and lost their lives. Today, tomorrow, ten years from now, we will remember♥