This past weekend Cory and I celebrated our 16 year wedding anniversary. i love doing something for our anniversary-OK I love doing something fun any time with Cory. That is why I love date night.
We traveled up to Brian Head and stayed in a condo. It was lovely and I would go back in a heartbeat except the bed was as comfortable as the floor. It was a terrible bed.
It was nice and green at Brian Head. I had only been there in the fall and winter, so it was nice to see all of the wildflowers.
I beat him at pool. Ok I'll clarify. I got all of my pool balls in the pockets before he did. Even if I did sink the black ball in the wrong pocket in the end. Sheesh.
We made an amazing dinner. I rarely cook steak. I don't see the excitement in steak. Well if my Dad cooks it I do since he can make it so divine. But I still make them a little...tough. But it was still a very delightful dinner on the mountain.
We rode to the top of the ski lift. It was INSANELY windy. With my weak
feet and the gravel that was difficult for me to balance on, I could
barely stand up at the top! Seriously, I could have blown over. I felt
like a big sail. =)
We rode to the top of the ski lift. It was INSANELY windy. With my weak feet and the gravel that was difficult for me to balance on, I could barely stand up at the top! Seriously, I could have blown over. I felt like a big sail. =)
On the way home we drove through Cedar Breaks and Zion. I love the red rock here in southern Utah.
I have a great time with the love of my life.
Happy Anniversary!
ok don't watch the video, just listen to it while your read. =) I'm not a big fan of this song, but it says a lot of what I've been thinking about.
Its no secret that for the past 4 months my life has been turned upside down and inside out. What was up seemed down and what was left was right. I found my life in a place that I never expected let alone planed on.
I think everyone will have at least one of those moments. I had that moment when I was assaulted back in college. I never expected to find myself with that feeling again.
I was in a car accident that left me with two broken feet. No weight on my feet AT ALL. It was a wheelchair for me for the next six weeks. To say it wasn't fun is an understatement. Cory had his own health problems at the time that he had to deal with, so I felt very alone.
Me and my chair. I don't miss it. At. All.
I was anything but alone. I didn't expect the love and support that I found myself surrounded with. Almost immediately my family was surrounding me. My neighbors and church members came to my aid. For the next six weeks, I was literally never alone. It totally saved me. My family and friends became my angels. They would call me when I was down, visit me, cook for me, clean for me, take care of my kids, bring me flowers, take care of my animals, doing my taxes, celebrating my birthday, even giving money and I could go on and on. From texting all night to the late night chats to the emergency nacho runs. It was the love and support that I needed. It was the hardest thing that I had dealt with since the assault in college and I was so blessed to have amazing women get me through it.
I wanted to share an experience that I had during all of this. I call it my three miracles. It took place about a month after the accident.
I went to church and put on that brave smile. The kind of smile when you don't want everyone to see the pain you really feel. I was so happy to be at church, but my spirits weren't where I wanted them to be. I had that dark cloud smothering me.
I came home after an hour. My kids stayed at church. I was by myself. The cloud won and I became an emotional wreck. I found myself praying until I was able to get a grip on myself. I prayed and begged my Heavenly Father to send me someone to help me get through the day.
Soon after I prayed the phone rang. It was my friend. She often calls when she is "thinking about me." I put on that fake smile and schmoozed my way through the call. When I hung up I started to cry again realizing that I had been sent someone to cheer me up, and I blew it off. I begged my Heavenly Father to give me a second chance and to send someone else.
At Physical Therapy. They were increasing my circulation.
Within an hour my dear friend came over. Then another. Then another. This went on all afternoon and evening. At one point I had 5 people in my room visiting me. And they all brought goodies. My sorrows were forgotten and I felt so much love from my friends and neighbors as well from my Heavenly Father. This was my first miracle.
My second miracle that night came when one of my friends came over to help me with my taxes. We had been send a form from the IRS saying we had received a student pell grant. Umm..nope. No grant money here. Since we're required to file it we had to file it. It affected my refund quite a bit. I had just received the go ahead to file an amendment to my taxes. We went online to start the paperwork and we discovered that the IRS had already found and fixed the problem and were going to send me the correct adjusted refund--which was just what I needed to pay our lawyer.
But then I had my third miracle that day. I found out that someone paid the lawyer fee for us.
With my mom. I loved her visits.
Never have I felt so grateful. I knew that even in my darkest days, I had not been forgotten by my Heavenly Father or my friends and neighbors.
I can not say thank you enough. If you thought of me during this time of trial, THANK YOU. There were mornings that I had to pray myself out of bed. Those days I felt the power of prayers said for me. It kept me going just as much as those lovely ladies.
This year to our delight, we were able to witness this year's Ring of Fire. How lucky are we that we live right in the prime viewing area! I LOVE LOVE LOVE astronomy. One of my favorite classes in high school was astrophysics. I remember seeing a partial solar eclipse in my teen years through my Dad's welding mask. I also remember watching a full lunar eclipse in the mountains in Wyoming at my relatives house. So I was EXTREMELY excited when I found out about the solar eclipse that was happening in our area of Southern Utah.
Check out all of those cars!! I've never seen so many!
Don't look at the sun! Unless you have some styling glasses!
We decided to have a picnic on top of the overlook of town. The hills to the east of town provided a great place to watch. Apparently many other people thought so too since I counted 67 cars on the overlook! (In the 11 years we've lived here, I have only encountered one other car on the dirt roads of the overlook.) There were so many people! It was crazy!
Side note...Luke got a haircut. I will try not to show my jubilation lest it encourages him to grow it out again. Seriously, it makes him look a lot older. Yikes.
Cory taught the boys how to see the eclipse with the pin hole and through the shadows of crossed fingers.
Doing the pin hole experiment. They even walked around and showed other people how to do it. I was surprised how many people didn't have any eye protection.
Ring of Fire shadow!! It only lasted about 3 minutes.
He wore more cookies then glasses.
We also had the sunglasses. They are an amazing fashion statement as
well--probably the same designers that made those lovely boots. However
Mark was more interested in the cookies that came with the picnic.
It really was an amazing experience. It gave me chills watching the power of the heavens manifest itself to us. I really don't think the kids will forget this experience. --ok Mark might only remember the cookies.
As you know, I have been unable to wear MY OWN shoes for the past 3 months. All I have been allowed to wear is the big, black boots that were prescribed by my doctor. Apparently, shoe designers were not involved in the process of making these boots attractive and comfortable. If you know a shoe designer, please make them aware of this huge market that is available.
These boots were not enjoyable (granted, they were much more enjoyable then when I was stuck in a wheelchair) and more fashionable, comfortable boots would be greatly appreciated!!
The doctor has finally given me the green light to start wearing shoes. When the date came to finally put on the shoes. I honestly thought that the transition would be easier. I didn't expect how weak my ankles and feet would feel. After all, I have been walking now for a month and I thought that I had made a lot of progress. Ok I'm sure I've made a lot of progress, but it became apparent very quickly that I was not ready for THESE babies. They were fun to look at though.
No. No cute shoes yet. I guess I still need the ultra-supportive-secure-those-ankles-shoes. They look like these. My feel are still so swollen that I can't even fit my feet into regular shoes yet! But hey, its not the boots!!!
So now I am wearing the shoes a few hours of the day while my ankles get stronger. Each day I am able to wear the shoes a little longer.
Although, I am very slow when I walk and my ankles feel like they could roll at any time. It is so nice to be in shoes that don't feel like cement blocks. Even if they aren't the cutest shoes out there.
His first bow tie was part of a small local singing group that he was part of. They sang a lot of fun folk songs and Broadway songs. Luke has a lot of fond memories of those days and is still friends with many of the kids that were in the group.
His next bow tie adventure was when he was 11 years old. He was in the summer production of The Music Man jr. He joined late in the play, but still had a great time. He was part of the quartet that sang barbershop wherever they went. It was his first introduction to the theater and he has loved it ever since.
Last week Luke wore a bow-tie again! This time to the Spring Commonwealth Ball.
He looks rather dashing I think! He borrowed the vest and tie from his
cousin (who just got his mission call to South Korea! Yeah Tim!) and it
was made from his other very talented cousin. He had a great time with his commonwealth friends. Another school year is coming to an end. Let the summer fun begin!
To assist me around the house and when I'm out, I have been using a very helpful tool. A walker. It is great for helping me maintain my balance and stability. It can also double as a chair if I am feeling week in the ankles and need to sit down in a random place (which I totally have).
Ben has become good friends with the "walker". It has become a new place to experience what his body is capable of doing.
Let me explain...if I can.
Sitting comfortably on the handle bars..I seem to remember riding on my sisters bike like this while she drove. Once.
Almost a hand-stand. I was never good at them either. No worries Ben, I still love ya.
Planking of course. Makes me miss my days at Phazes!! Someday I will return for good!!
The dare devil. Show-off.
Just chillin.
Look Mom! One handle!
I love this kind of entertainment.
On a side note, tomorrow I start physical therapy. I am super-duper nervous. I have very little range of motion in my feet/ankles so I KNOW its going to be a slightly painful experience. Woo! Lets do it and get it over with!!! Hopefully, within a month, I will be wearing my own shoes again.
This week was my 6 week checkup with my foot surgeon. I have been looking forward to this visit because of the prospect of beginning to walk again. It has been a frustrating 6 weeks as I have been confined to a wheelchair or my bed. As grateful as I am for all of the help from my neighbors and friends, there is just a sense of accomplishment when you are able to do your own dishes and refill your own water glass.
This is the x-ray right after surgery. You can even see some fractures in it. They removed several bones that were shattered, but I don't know where they were suppose to be or what their names are. But its still interesting to look at.
Update on my scars. I really feel the scars are looking so much better.
Left Foot
Right Foot
Dr.Reber did a great job on my feet. I am very pleased with all of the care that he has given. All of the nurses and care givers at the Foot and Ankle institute in St.George have been great. No complaints at all! When Dr. Reber saw me this week, he looked at the new x-rays, examined my feet and then told me that it was time to start walking. YES! I was praying for those words!! My feet are healing right on schedule. Time to walk!!
Let the walking begin!!!
No joke...this walking thing is HARD. I literally feel like I am taking baby steps around the house. I walk to the kitchen..I take a break. Walk to the living room..whew!..take a break! I have a huge boot on each leg (that I get to wear for at least for another month) and that makes it awkward to move very gracefully. So I plunk along. I really don't care. I am just happy that we have made it this far. :)
