Prayers for My Little Tucker

This morning I have had a lot of time to reflect on Tucker. The house is quiet!! I am the only one home. Yesterday I took the two little ones half way to Idaho. Mom picked them up at took them to her house. Boy were they excited!! Since the other alternative was babysitters until mom could get home.

We have had this surgery scheduled for a couple of weeks now. Boy has Tuck been excited to have this also. Over the last year he has been having a lot of bowel trouble!! When he was born we knew this but boy it really has been true this last year. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't which at times has been very embarrassing for him. Especially now that he is 4th grade. So this surgery today is to put a tube into his appendix and he will be able to empty his bowels every evening. This will make it so he doesn't have any accidents. Oh how we are all excited for him. He is so sweet and has never complained even though he has been embarrassed many times!! I have learned so much from him!! He is the sweetest thing!! Of course my feelings are very close to the surface. Mostly because as a mother you always worry about your children. Especially before going into surgery. I have had to have 5 surgeries and oh how I HATE them!! But he is tough. This is his 10th or so surgery. He is a trooper and I feel so blessed to have him teach me so many things all the time.

Because the little ones are gone it has been really quiet and I have had some REAL time to think!! In the car I heard silence for nearly two hours on very slick roads. When I returned home late last night there again was silence and I started cleaning enjoying every minute of not being interrupted 100 times. And again this morning SILENCE as I folded 8 batches of laundry that has been calling my name for 5 days now. I have been reflecting a lot on how much Tucker has grown up lately, he doesn't need me like he use to. Now that he is 10 it is getting even less. It makes my heart sink because I want him to stay little. I love seeing the young man he is turning into but at the same time he needs me less and less and I didn't realize that when I had these special little people that the time would fly by so quickly and before I knew it, they would be on their own!! If I would have I would have figured another way to get more here quickly!! That maybe by the time all of them left I would be so wore out that I would enjoy the break of it all. As life has it I really enjoy every moment with them even the hard ones like today where lessons are learned, like trust in the Lord, in the doctors and greater appreciation for each other!! These moments also cause me to reflect on what kind of a mother I am, where I should be , the things I need to work on, and the things I am learning all the time from these special spirits the Lord sends to you. I don't know what I would be without them to help me learn these life lessons. I think it is rather crazy at times, I remember when I was young I couldn't wait to have children and teach them all that I had learned. Little did I know that it would be the other way around!! They have taught me to love unconditionally, to be happy even if life is hard, to smile at perfect strangers and say hello, to see the many blessings I have in my life, to listen to the still small voice that helps us make better choices and mostly to just have fun to find the joy in even the small things in life.

I feel blessed to have these three sweet boys in my life to help me gain these important life lessons. But as for Tucker it is magnified. Whenever you have someone in your family who has greater life challenges you tend to appreciate the small things. Like getting a drink of water on your own, or being able to walk up and down the stairs, or being able to chase a ball, or thinking about what if feels like to stand after sitting for so long. All these things and many more make me appreciate him. I know that someday when Tuck can come before the Savior to be healed of these imperfections how great a day that will be. What joy will feel my heart to have him walk to me with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes!! I love him so much and feel so blessed to have him in our home to teach me these great lessons!!

I remember when he was 3 or 4 kids would always ask him why he couldn't walk and I overheard his conversation with his friend. She asked him why his legs didn't work and he said that that was the way he was born but that in the resurrection the Savior would fix his legs and he would be able to walk. Oh the faith of little children!! Yesterday as I seen him go through so much bowel prep to be able to be ready for this surgery there was no exception to his faith!! He was still so sweet and gentle and patient!! At times I feel like screaming that this isn't fair!! But he has not once said that and I am blessed by him greatly!!

He is suppose to go in today at 1 for surgery so if you could please keep him in your prayers and that he will be able to heal quickly and that this will be a moment of success for him!! Thank you all for the prayers that have been given in his behalf already!! We love you all and wish a wonderful New Year!!!

We love you Tucker and good luck our hearts are praying for you!!

Real Meaning for Christmas!!

I loved this and thought I would share it with everyone!! I really hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!! We love you!!

Christmas from the past.

I thought I would share with you some of our Christmas's since Tucker was a little one. It is amazing how time flies!! New ones come and add to the joy in your home and it seems each Christmas is different in some way or another. The feeling is always the same . . . excitement, peace, love, joy, friendship, warmth, family, happiness, spiritual, and closeness.

Here are some pictures of our Christmas's.

When Tucker was little he loved the snow!! He didn't care how cold it was he wanted to be out in it! I had to be careful because he can't feel his legs and he would sit in the snow and the circulations isn't good in his legs so we had to make sure he came in to warm up. He hated coming in!!


Do you happen to see the track behind him?? I wasn't sure if this track that Santa sent him was for Tucker or his daddy!! :) I'll let you be the one to decide on that !

Tucker always wanted to sit on Santa's lap until it was time and then he would get nervous and try to get out of it. I would put him on anyway and he would always tell Santa what he wanted!


Austin on the other hand thought he was the scariest thing to happen!


Reading stories to Tucker Christmas Eve put him to sleep. I thought this was so cute it was even by the tree. He was waiting for Santa and got really tired.

We went to Disneyland for two Christmas's and this was the first one... so fun!!




Christmas of 2004

Tucker's with his loot.

Austin with his loot!!

Christmas 2005.

Christmas 2006 we went to Disneyland again!! We love that place at Christmas time and it is warm and so much fun for the kids!

Christmas 2008We want all of you to know that we have thought of you in some way and you have been in our thoughts and prayers this past year!! We pray for all of you to have a very Merry Chrsitmas!! We are so grateful for all of you and your friendships over the past years!! We feel so blessed to have so many great and wonderful friends and family!!
We also want you to all know that we love the Savior and that He is truly the reason for the season! We have really tried hard each year to make Him the center of our thoughts and gifts each year and each year it gets better and better!! We are humbled by Him and know that He is very aware of each of us in our times of need!! He loves us and gave His life for us! This year I am really going to try to come to KNOW Him more fully!! I want to recognize Him when I see Him again!!

We pray all of you may feel Him this season and remember He is near you!! Merry Chirstmas!!

Christmas Back When! :)

Isn't it crazy when your kids say "what was Christmas like when you were a kid?" WHAT??

I just have to smile because you know I really don't feel that old!! Infact I remember lots of Christmas's like they were yesterday! I can't even believe I am hearing that! I remember thinking these same thoughts about my own parents and I think to myself "is this how they felt!?" Poor things! I love telling my kids about what it was like "back then" BUT it does sure make you realize how quickly time flies! How old you are becoming and soon the next generation comes and goes!! So I thought I would share with you some OLD TIME pictures (as my children call it) of Christmas Back When I was a kid!

As you can tell we would cute our own tree down!! Fun Memories!

My little brother looking in his stocking that is as big as he is!!

I think that was the only time he was excited to get a banana in his stocking!

What better than to push your little brother around on his new bike!Christmas Eve we would get to open one present and it would always be pjs that mom had made for us and they were always matching!! :)

One side note my little one (Bryson) wakes up every morning to see if Santa has come. Then on the way to the school to drop big brother off he says "santa is never going to come." I have explained it to him so many times and he still is not getting it!! Poor thing thinks he is being bad every day so he is not getting his toys yet!! Long two weeks!!

A Soldiers Christmas

I am sure we all have met some pretty amazing people from the blogging world. Today I want to share with you about a family that I have met because of my blog!! They have become dear friends of mine!! I am blessed by them and so grateful to them for allowing me to share their story with you!! I must admit I am very humbled by them and I know that the Lord holds them dear to His heart. The reason for this post are several. I, one, have received a new appreciation for life because of them, 2nd they really could use some prayers right now and I was hoping that all of you, my friends, could add them in your prayers! Third, I have never met two stronger people or more extraordinary, giving, kind hearted people then they are and I would like you to see that there are still amazing people in this crazy world we live in!!


We had closed our blog and made it private for a short time. During that time I had received an email from Christine who asked me to please add her, to allow her to continue reading our blog. She told me she had a son with Spina Bifida and would like to follow Tucker's progress. Her little Andrew was 5 months old at the time.

We got acquainted and began writing back and forth. To which shortly after she told me they were in the hospital with their little one. They were in the process of adopting him and he was born with several complications. One being his heart and the other his lungs were underdeveloped. All through the summer they were in and out of the hospital. During which Christine went into liver failure. Her husband had been serving our Country as a Marine and was able to come home and he gave her part of his liver. Shortly thereafter they ultimately lost their little Andrew on September 16th. Jermie eventually had to return to Iraq to finish his 6 months tour of duty.


Christine and Jermie have been foster care parents for 14 years. Christine was abused while she was a child and has had seizures ever since and been on seizure medication. They have cared for 45 some children and have raised most of them. I am amazed by her strength!! She truly is a saint!! Shortly after they lost Andrew she took in another child that has Spina bifida and his name is Cavery. He is now 10 or so months, a cute little thing!


Shortly after he returned to the field Jermie was hurt and was transferred to Walter Reed. She didn't know the extend of his injuries but was still hopeful. Later they transferred him closer to his home. A bomb exploded and he lost his legs and right hand. He has third degree burns and is still going through some skin grafts. I asked him to share his story.




I don't mind telling my story. Nobody has really ever asked what happened. I can remember like it happen yesterday. My platoon and I were out on routine patrol something I have done several times before. When we came upon a group of people with camels. We were required to stop and ask them questions and search their packages to make sure they had no bombs. Well that day I was required to be the one to do the search and I volunteered to do it. The other guys didn't like doing it because they didn't like talking to the people. Something I don't mind. But as I was searching their packages. I got to the very last one when I looked in the bottom of the bag and there was a bomb. I gave warning to my platoon to move back and start running. I tried to do the same but I had little time to react. Because once you take the weight off the bomb it will explode in about a 30 seconds. So all I knew to do was to protect my face. I had enough time to get my helmet off and put it in front of my face. I sustained only 1st degree burns on my face because of my reaction doctors say. Right now you can tell if you are really close, but in pictures you can not. I sustained 3rd degree burns mainly on the lower half of my body and I knew instantly that my back was broke too. The next thing I really remember is waking up in Germany with them telling me there was no hope for my right leg. That I would soon be transferred to Walter Reed and then probably to hospital closer to home. But the first week or so after it is still very foggy. What I can say, is nobody else in my platoon was hurt that day. I did the Marine job I protected my fellow soldiers. Would I do it again, yes I would. Like they say once a Marine always a Marine. Now I have first degree burns on my chest, back, and upper part of my right arm. I lost my right leg above the knee and left at the hip. I also lost the right hand. I still have skin grafts to go through. But I consider myself a lucky one, I didn't lose my life. I figure this job I choose to do from the time I was 18 years old and a job that I loved to do. We are one proud family of Marines.

The following poem is dear to the heart of Jermie, and so I thought I would share it with you.

For all the free people that still protest, you're welecome

We protect you and you are protected by the best.

Your voice is strong and loud, but who will fight for you.

No one standing in your crowd.

We are your fathers, brothers, and sons,

wearing the boots and carrying the guns.

We are the ones that leave all we own,

to make sure your future is carved in stone.

We are the one's who fight and die.

We might not be able to save the world, well at least we try.

We walked the paths to where we are at

and we want no choice other than that.

So when you rally your group to complain,

take a look in the back of your brain.

In order for that flag you love to fly,

wars must be fought and young men must die.

We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear.

If that's not respected, we would rather stay here.

So please stop yelling and put down your signs,

and pray for those behind enemy lines.

When the conflict is over and all is well, be thankful that

we chose to go through hell.

Aruthor Unknown

Jermie's grandfather, father and him and his brother have all served our country!! This makes me sooo very proud to be an American!! I love this country we live in and feel so blessed to be able to have the freedoms we all enjoy every day!! I am so thankful for all the men and women who give their lives for our safety and freedom!! THANK YOU!!
Anyway my heart is heavy as I write this post because over thanksgiving I received word that Christine had been admitted to the hospital because of her seizures. They had been increasing and so the doctors continued to up her medications. It didn't work and so they took her in. They discovered she has Level IV Glioblastoma. It is a brain tumor in the brain and it is inoperable. They have chosen to do chemo and radiation. They have given her 14 to 36 weeks. She is really sick right now and really could use some prayers!! My heart aches for them and I wish I could do something to make it better!!
I was hoping all of you could remember them this Christmas season in your prayers!! Jermie has given me a website you can go to help adopt a soldier. I was talking to Christine the other night and she said that these soldiers are not being taken care of. Where she lives, the VA is full of soldiers and their families can't afford to come and stay there and visit them. So Christine said she was getting a bunch of gift cards together to take to the VA so they could hand them out to soldiers. So if families needed a place to stay they would have the money to do so and restaurant gift cards to be able to eat. I was so touched by this that I thought I have to do something!! So if anyone is looking for someone to give to this Christmas season. PLEASE think about adopting a soldier. Jermie said he loved getting packages that had the comforts of home in it. Like toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and candy. You can find out more on that website. But please take a minute and pray for our soldiers and for this little family!! They could really use an extra prayer!!
Things that bring me comfort when I hear this story is that I know no matter what the Lord will bless them!! They have served so well here. I know that we don't always understand why these kinds of things happen to such incredible people but this I do know that the Lord is very aware of each of us and will comfort each of us in our times of need! He is waiting for us to seek Him!!
This Christmas it is my hope that we will SEEK HIM!! My favorite saying at Christmas time is
"Wise Men Still Seek Him!" This amazing couple have put life into perspective for me and it has forever changed my life!! I am grateful to them for sharing their lives with me!! I have learned so much over the last 6 months and I pray that this story will strike a new meaning for all of you!! Hold your loved ones closer, look for ways to strengthen those around you and stay close to the Lord and always and forever give thanks for the bounteous blessings we have to live in this beautiful free country because of those who gave their lives for us to receive!!
Merry Christmas and I love you all!!

Looking forward to Christmas!!

I was reading the Church News this morning and read this really good article called "The light of Thy Childhood Again."

Years past I have really struggled to get that feeling of "Christmas" in our home among the long wish lists and holiday hussle and bussle I have really been disappointed. This article talks about that. Infact one of the quotes in there was "if there is a feeling of disappointment in you at Christmastime. . . it means you never really discovered Christmas at all." OUCH! :) So I am going to try to do better at this!! It also said this time of year we ought to be Most Joyful, we ought to enjoy the Christmas tree, the holly wreath, the stockings, the gifts, and even reindeer flying! "When you accept the true account of the birth of Christ, it will indeed Bring thee the light of thy childhood again."

Last year we changed things up a bit and it was really nice!! The feeling I had was incredible and it was a Christmas I won't forget!! We hung Jesus' stocking and wrote on pieces of paper things that we would catch each other doing that were good and put them in His stocking and every family home evening we talked about kindness is how we could give a gift to our Savior. The kids loved it and went about watching each other. Then on Christmas Eve we read what we had given to Jesus. Remembering back on them was even better. We also attended the Nativity at Temple Square and that has become a tradition on Christmas Eve. Then come home to Hot Chocolate and sitting by the fire. We always let the kids open one present that night which is always pjs. They get excited to get into their new pjs. Then we sit and read a christmas story and off to bed they go.

Another thing we changed is, each child is to shop for the other child and then one gift from mom and dad and then there Santa gift. Oh this was sooooo nice. We cut back to three presents each and I can not tell you how much better this was. They know what to expect every year now and it is more fun to shop for the things they really would like or want instead of this long list!!

The feeling of christmas was oh so much better last year. So we are going to continue that this year! I am excited to do this!

I have been talking to the kids and asking them to see if there is a friend or someone around them that they have noticed if they need anything. Maybe it is pair of gloves or a new shirt or shoes or a haircut (they thought this was funny) But I wanted them to be watching for someone who needed something. I really am just trying to make them more aware of others instead of themselves. I am interested to see how this goes. I know nowadays we don't need for very much but I hope they will be able to find something they can give!!

So if any of you have ideas on how to make this Christmas more meaningful please share!! Love any ideas! I am excited to try new things and make it better!!

A few have asked about the pictures hanging on my wall that were chosen and so I thought I would show you how the final product turned out!! Thanks for all your help!!