Christmas Tree fun

It was so fun this year going and picking out a tree with Jayden . He loved it he kept saying tree every five minutes ,and then pointing and then saying pretty .He is so cute I just love him .
But I hate how he wont take pictures any more we have to bribe him and even that doesn't work half the time . OR he will put his finger in his nose or cover his face UGH! He does pretty good about not touching the tree he just loves to hide under it ! This year he is more aware of what Santa is and can even say Marry Christmas .The other day he was walking around saying SANTA SANTA SANTA So I said Jayden where is Santa and he replys with AT WORK ............to funny !

Beautiful young People are acts of nature BUT Beautiful OLD people are works of ART

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Thanksgiving is already a thing of the past . Life seems to go by so fast ,and before you know your old with a life time of memories . Lauren had to work this year ,so naturally my mother lives by the saying nobody gets left behind ,so we joined Lauren at her work,and she takes care of the old folks at a nursing home. So we just joined them and all the old folks for dinner . It doesn't sound all that exciting but when your with the Merrill's your family .I am sure they truly enjoyed having us there. Jayden however was into everything so ASHLEE & I took him to the park down the street .He loved it and Ashlee and I were enjoying the nice weather and had a blast taking pictures of course . Every year on thanksgiving we go see a movie FRANKLY I love this tradition !! WE went to see Blind Side ,it was a really good movie and a great movie to see on Thanksgiving Day . We had Jayden with us and ED and I were really scared that we were going to have to miss out and we both were not wanting to have to resort to that . So we bribed him the whole time and he loves Popcorn and he ate the whole bag !!! It gave him diarrhea and I feel like a bad Mom but it was worth it !!! I love my family HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY ! Enjoy your life, Live each day with eternity in mind !!!

Update

So I went home Sunday the 15Th and I was feeling much better as far as the pains go .....And sense I had NO fever and I was not throwing up they gave the OK and sent me home with some antibiotics .We still really had no answers as to what the heck was wrong........ Regardless I was feeling better and glad to be home... But Wednesday the pains were back , so I called the doctor and set up an apt so he can see me .He ordered more tests and told me that he really had no clue whats wrong and that he was OK with that ......So I left feeling discouraged. He gave me some pain medications to last me over the weekend .SO yesterday was one of the first tests he ordered .I was feeling pretty nervous but excited. This time they were going to go down with a camera though the front to look at my stomach & they found a pretty big Ulcer ( an open sore ) in the beginning of my small intestine. And then he found some stuff on my stomach that he didn't know what they were so he took a biopsy of that...... and we wont get results of that for like two weeks ........But everywhere in my abdomen was infected and inflamed so hopefully the medications I am on will clear it all up like new !But geez They really went to the extreme to tell me I had cancer !!! lol all in all I am feeling better and is grateful for everyone's LOVE AND SUPPORT .....So now its recovery time !!!!! And I cant Wait till food tastes good again and I feel good again !!!

Cancer ....really ?

A week ago I started experiencing abdominal pain , burning , dizziness , light headiness, nausea, basically feeling like crap . And so I went to the doctors to try and find out what was going on and she told me that I am just constipated and wanted me to do like a ten day colon cleanse and then come back and see her . So I went home and got like a 10 day colon cleanse over the counter stuff. But my symptoms were not getting any better and I knew that is was more then just constipation . So I called the doctor back and said look these pains have not gone away WHAT SHOULD I DO ? So the nurse told me over the phone that I needed to go to Urgent Care So I packed up and took my little guy with me and off to an Urgent Care WE go . So I get there and the lady could barely touch my abdomen, and she says I am SENDING YOU TO THE Hospital Emergency Room . But before I went she gave me a numbing cocktail she called it . I put Jayden in the car and drove 10 minutes to the nearest Hospital.The whole time I am driving there I was thinking man I have Jayden I don't want to get him sick I really should not have him with me .And sure enough there were huge signs telling us that Due to the flu children 13 and under aren't allowed to visit unless they are patients themselves . So I called my Mom and had here come and watch jayden out in the car and thankfully he fell asleep because AS soon as I parked I crashed fast feeling really tired and really dizzy the medicine they gave me had really kicked in .I was thinking of how grateful I was that I had gotten there in time and I was not driving feeling that way , and on the other hand thinking I CANT BELIEVE THEY MADE ME DRIVE TO THE HOSPITAL I could have easily crashed . When my Mom came to my aid I went in and they took me to a room like 15 min later . They started to run a bunch of tests .They all came back fine and we were still waiting on the Cat -scan results .I was thinking to myself that my Husband is not going to be happy to get the bill if its just constipation !!!!And I wasn't feeling good and I know something is wrong but I don't want to leave with that answer . So I waited and then like a couple hours later the news came and I could not believe it.... I was in shock thinking is this really happening ,is this a really bad dream WAKE UP!!!!!!! The Doctor sat on my bed and put his hands on my leg and says We found something that kind of surprised us. You have a Mass on your colon ,and I am sorry to tell you BUT I have to use the "C" word ..............................what we call CANCER! YOU HAVE...................................................................... CANCER..................................................................................................................................................
I was immediately over come with emotion crying , feeling so wussy , just wanting this to all go away . Later that night they took me up to a bedroom and I got a priesthood blessing and off my family went . I could not sleep that night doctors and nurses coming in every hour .Telling me THAT I will probably have chemo- and radiation and surgery to get the mass out , And I would be getting a colonoscopy in the morning to get samples of the Mass to get it tested . Oh man I was praying in my heart and out loud that I didn't have Cancer .That was a road I was not willing to take . The morning came and I was feeling ready for my prayers to me answered . The transporter guy came in and say ed " I am here to take you down for your procedure and I said LETS DO THIS !!!!!!!! And the guy laughed and say ed wow your so enthusiastic ! And at that moment I was, mainly because I wanted answers and what I was about to go do was going to give me them .I don't really remember anything after that .I was in and out of it all day .My poor mother waited along with my Husband all day by my bed side ,and I could tell that they were wanting to go home .It was 5pm surely they have answers. The Doctor called and gave us bitter sweet news that I DON'T HAVE CANCER , but I either have an infection in my colon ,or I have a tumor in my appendix or , I have a disease called chromes disease or, I am having the Beginning stages of appendicitis !!!!! Talk about being on an episode of house ! So my family left with my blessing and here I lay feeling Hopeless , on top of FEELING more sick . These symptoms are not going away . Do these doctors CARE ABOUT ME AT ALL .....Lets get this show on the road do more tests whatever it takes to get me feeling myself again so I can get the HECK OUT OF HERE .........You know It is bad when you cant wait to go home to do the dishes ,Or even eat for that matter . So here I wait, wait for answers ,wait for surgery ,wait for anything ...............So for Now To Be Continued !

A quick trip up to Utah !

So we took a little mid week tiny vacation up to Utah ! It was so nice to see the leaves fall and Eddie and I sure enjoyed our date eating by the river in Provo .And we went for a little R&R ALSO what I like to call shopping ! We are always spoiled when we go up there Hooray for GRANDPARENTS !

Halloween

Halloween this year was a lot of fun ! Jayden was really in to it going up to everyone saying Trick or Treat !It was as if he had done this before ! When we got home he did not want to give us his bag of candy so when he fell asleep we hid it from him . The next day we had kept seeing him eating candy and we could not figure out were he kept getting it from ! Later on I had found his stash of candy he had set aside for himself ! I love this kid he is so funny !He loved being a lion & We love Halloween !

Schnepf Farm

We went to Schnepf Farms yesterday ! We had a blast ! The weather was so perfect & the sky was clear .We could not have ask for more ! We went with our friends down the street THE BURKE FAMILY .They have a little girl that is Jaydens age .And they are so cute together holding hands and kissing ! I love this farm and am so glad its only down the street from me !

DON'T WE ALL

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come
from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work.
Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would
consider a bum.
From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no
money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times
that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "don't
want to be bothered times."
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought.
He didn't.
He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look
like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.
After a few minutes he spoke.
"That's a very pretty car," he said.
He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly
blond beard keep more than his face warm.
I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never
came.
As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if
he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true
to the inner voice.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget.
We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from
those of higher learning and accomplishments.

I expected nothing but an
outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me.
"Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum
in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge
shotgun.
Don't we all?
I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I
needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus
fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those
three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter
how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you
have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or
a place to sleep, you can give help.

Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that.
You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all.
They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different
perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from
daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.
Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe
he was more than that.

Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and
wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."
Don't we all?

Author Unknown

OUR LOVE STORY

Where it ALL began , or First KISS on the Youth Trek
Eddie & I at his Farewell
Getting Set Apart to be a missionary
Back from his Mission of 2 years
Dating
Engagement pictures

Eddie asked me to take his hand in marriage

10 . 20 . 06
We meet at a church dance way back in the DAY, I was 15 going on 16 years old vary soon ! My first thought of him was that he was attractive and I just loved his smile ! For him it was love at first sight , thinking I was way out of his league, but that didn't stop him . We soon became friends he asked me for my number and he called, and called, and called me all the time , he loved to talk on the phone ! I will admit however that I didn't like him in that way at first , and him calling me all the time annoyed me .I knew he liked me ,but I really liked this one guy who was unavailable which seemed to be a theme for me .I liked the guys who didn't like me, and the guys who did I didn't give the time of day too, but I guess there was something about him because I soon found myself excited to see him , couldn't wait to talk to him ! We flirted with each other every chance we got ! It became a game, both of us UN willing to admit we liked each other . Although he would give me hints at stake activity's for example ( he would come up to me and say I saw this really pretty girl tonight , and I would answer 'OH REALLY , and who is this girl you talk about ,HE would describe what I was wearing that evening and I would smile and point to another girl close to what I was wearing but was not the most attractive , and we both would laugh ") AND finally that day I was waiting for had finally come . I remember it like it was yesterday ,it was about 7 in the evening or so and the phone rang and it was Eddie asking for me. He told me that he had received his mission call to TEMPE , ARIZONA ! Which was really exciting for me because I was born in AZ , and both sides of my family lived in AZ , So we talked about Arizona for a bit , and before the phone conversation came to an end he says I need to tell you something and with a dry, crackly, nervous voice he says " I really like you " ! And ahhhhhhh there it was those sweet for letter words , I had been waiting to hear from him it was silent for a Little bit I wanted to let him sweat it out a bit , and then I pro ceded to tell him that I do to feel the same way ! From then we talked more and more and we finally saw each other at the Youth trek for the first time after or confession ! We both we smiling from ear to ear , both red in the face , nervous , excited , butterflies , did not want to be a way from each other for a second , It was love .......... But sadden by the fact that his mission was soon around the corner and he would be gone for two years , TWO YEARS IS A LONG TIME ........... We had or first kiss under the stars in the middle of no where , He asked me out like 5 -7 times that week to be his girlfriend , and even though I wanted to say YES, I kept telling him NO . I was afraid , I had just turned 16, he was leaving on his mission , He is a total player , I finally just had to let it go, and follow my Heart , and let my guard down and be his girlfriend, but I told him that I would write him , but I would still date other boys while he was on his mission ( He didn't like it but , what can he really do I made up my mind ) ! After the trek he took me on our first date. We went to a Movie and kissed until or lips were sore, and man was he a good kisser, then we drove to the temple and walked around the temple grounds . We talked about everything and I told him I was going to Marry him him at the temple one day ! Truthfully that never crossed my mind but I said it and I couldn't take it back !!!!!! And so he went on a mission and we wrote to each other It was like Christmas every week to get a letter from him .I would read them over and over again ,he even sprayed his ca lone on them so it would smell like him ,and I would color the outside of the letter so he would know that it was from me .We both really got to know each other though our letters and grew more in love .Two years didn't come fast enough !! He came home Aug 17 , o4 . It was a beautiful day ,or eyes meet with butterflies in our stomachs and we truly pick up right were we left off ! We spent every waking second with each other because we only had two weeks and then I was gone .My PARENTS were moving us back to Arizona because of our grandparents getting old and we needed to be near family ! So Eddie and I spent 2 years of late night talks on the phone , date nights on the phone , and we would both take turns visiting each other . It was hard being away but we both needed to be on solid ground before we could take a big step and get married . I needed to finish school and have an opportunity to live on my own .He needed to get a job and kinda settle in ,building his credit, saving money all of those wonderful things !And so it was two years of us dating and then finally he popped the question in July of 06 ,and we were married on October 20,2006 !I love him dearly, AND we are enjoying our journey in life together learning and growing . HAPPY 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY BABE I LOVE YOU !

Lauren & Steven invited us to go to Vegas with them for the weekend , & we were really excited because we were planning on getting away for our anniversary anyway just was UN- sure of where & when, & this just sealed the deal ! We left on Friday @ 3 in the afternoon when Eddie got out of work but do to navigation complications we didn't get to Vegas until like 12-1 am so or night got started late and we did not get back to bed until 4 am . We woke up in the morning at 8 am and got started for the day went out to eat & swimming &walked the strip ,REALLY it feels like we were there for 3 days ! We did a lot and had so much fun ! I cant wait to go again so much more we didn't get to do ,that it left us super excited to go again !