Family History

So on our vacation this year we were able to sneak in a bunch of learning and some pretty awesome family history.  Beyond the family history that we were making by going on vacation.(:  We got to visit with my grandma and the kids that don't remember her got to meet her and will probably remember her for at least 6 months.  On that note I have to admit something.  Part of the reason I consistently want to see or be with family on our family vacations is the genuine desire to be with them.  Family is the most important thing in this life and I miss my parents and brothers and sisters dreadfully after a while of not seeing them.  So, yes, I would rather see them then the Statue of Liberty or Boston, etc.(of course the best thing when possible is to spend time with family in a cool place)  I have an ulterior motive as well though.  I want my kids to know how important it is to put family first and go and see them often so that when they are grown up and married they will (hopefully) keep that attitude and if they happen to move far away for jobs they will come and bring my grand kids often so that I can see them.  And even later, when I am old, if they have to put me in a home they and my grand kids will either come and see me often or feel intensely guilty about not doing it, knowing how important family has always been to me and how I went out of my way to show it.  So, now you know, I am even now preparing my children to be guilt tripped into spending as much time as possible with me.

 We also drove through Spring City, UT on our vacation and saw some of the buildings that my great great grandpa built.  Here are some pics.

 This is the spring city church that he helped to build.  He was a stonemason.

The front with our family.

Getu, James, Alayna, Mezi, Joseph, Evelyn, and Noah in front of the church.

 He also helped to build the Manti Temple.

We went to the pageant, and it was really good.  I would advise anyone who wants to go to go when you have slept more then 4-5 hours a night for the nights before.  Towards the end I had a hard time staying awake, which was especially annoying, because when I was awake I was enjoying it so much!  But then i would wake up again to find that I had missed a bunch.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Joseph and I got to go through a session.  This was triply cool because-
1. We love the temple and rarely get to go together
2. My grandpa helped to build it
3. Josephs parents were sealed here ( at the time they lived in New Jersey they were in this temple district!)
4. We have never been to a live session before and here the sessions are live.
5. The architecture was absolutely breathtaking!
OK, so that list got longer and guess it was Quintuply cool?  Hmmmm. In any case we were very grateful for the opportunity.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

Anniversary

For our fifteenth anniversary Joseph and I finally were able to celebrate on this last Wednesday.  We had a ton of fun.  We used three groupons and got a couples massage, ate linner at an Italian restaurant and went to a Kelly Clarkson concert.  I have never been to a concert with someone that i really like before, and it was wonderful to hear her sing in person.  She has such a great voice!

For those of you that have never had linner you really must try it sometime!  It is truly a wonderful thing.  You see, there are two reasons that I don't go to restaurants often.  To be honest the first reason is cost.  Yes, it's nice to be waited upon and to have someone else do the cooking and the clean up, but I still can't use that to justify an expense that we don't need.  The second thing is that restaurant food is fattening, and I always eat too much, because if I'm going to spend the money on a meal out, I'm not going to order something bland, or "diet friendly" after all, this is supposed to be enjoyable.  So our family has found a way to combat both of these issues and go at a less busy time with no waiting to boot.  Linner.  It's similar to brunch, but Lunch and dinner combined instead.  We go to the restaurant around 2:30 so that we can still order off the Lunch menu (in this case the cost was less then half of dinner prices).  Then we eat to our hearts content knowing that the calories we are consuming will count for lunch and dinner, and sure enough, we aren't hungry for any dinner.


Today's lesson was about Faith.  One of the main points was that you build faith by keeping the commandments.  When you follow what the Lord has told us to do you can see by the results that it was right and you can trust Him.  It's like following advice from someone.  You don't know for sure if the person knows what they are talking about until you try it.  In thinking about this I realized that through the years I have developed a strong testimony of the importance of getting married in the temple to the right person at the right time.  It sounds so simple and it's amazing what a difference it has made in my life to do this so called simple thing.  Of all the choices I have ever made in my life the number one best one was made fifteen years ago when I said yes to the love of my life, my companion, my rock and soft place to fall.  Thank you sweetie for asking me.

Forget-me-not

For anyone who didn't have a chance to watch Elder Uchtdorf's talk this last Relief Society General Conference.  You must watch it.  It has been a huge inspiration to me and I was blessed to watch and read it many times preparing for my lesson this Sunday.  Here is the video.



Wow!  What a powerful message.  I don't usually like showing the video while we are learning about certain talks, but on this one I had to show that part at the end.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the building the night this was broadcast.  It is truly powerful.

I found as I was studying and preparing I would try to remember the five things that we weren't supposed to forget and would only remember about 2-3 of them.  And so I came up with and appropriate acronym to help myself.  Cap and Shawl.  Cap is for compassion and patience for ourselves.  I like that if we are having a bad day, or figuratively having a bad hair day, we can put on our Cap of compassion and patience for ourselves and be OK.  Also Cap is another word for the bonnets that the pioneers would put on to go and serve others compassionately.  We should learn to look at ourselves with as much patience.
S- in Shawl is for sacrifice.  We should make good sacrifices, the good for the better thing of eternal worth.
Ha- for happy.  I gave the sisters chocolate and asked them to really take the time to taste it and enjoy it.  Too often we move too fast and don't savour the moments and recognize that we are happy Right now, we don't Need anything else.
W- for the why of the gospel.  If we focus on why we are following, that this is the path to happiness and eternal life instead of just the drudgery, we can have the mundane sanctified.  We must keep our eyes up.
L- is for love.  The Father and His Son have soo soo much love for us.  They have not forgotten us.  He is aware of everything and loves us even so.  This is the quote that you must listen too even if you don't hear anything else.

I made handouts only because I felt they were crucial to having the sisters remember.  Here is a link to the blog, the front is page four, the back page one, but I put with the quote on  love and "You are not forgotten" on it.http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2011/09/forget-not.html

I laminated them, then punched a hole at the top and tied a string with a single forget-me-not bead tied to it.  The kids were a great help.

Children's book to raise money for therapy

I just had the idea of doing this and thought I'd sit down and put something on paper.  I was hoping to get some feedback, so if you read this please let me know what you think.  Thank you for your input.

When she’s big like me

I have a brand new baby sister, and you’ll be glad to know,

I know just how to love her and how to help her to grow.

Right now she is just little, but soon you will see,

 She’ll grow up and up and she‘ll be big like me!

I’ll teach her to walk and I’ll teach her to run,

We’ll play and we’ll swing and have lots of fun.

Months have gone by but Sissy won’t grow at all,

What’s wrong mom? Won’t sissy ever be tall?

(picture of the hospital)Now sister is going and my mommy too,

 I stay with grandma and think what to do.

The doctors will look at her and help us to know

What things we can do to help her to grow

My mom says that sister’s not growing quite right,

 We have to be careful to feed her just right.

Mom burps her and feeds her; she needs LOTS of care,

 I play right where she sees me and knows that I’m there.

I give her love, and hugs, and kisses,

Someday I know she’ll get what she wishes.

We’ll run through the fields and we’ll dance hand in hand,

Having a sister is grander then grand.

More months go by, sister is sick again,

This time, as they leave, I try to give her a grin.

Mom says she can’t breathe right, I wonder why not? 

Breathing is easy just suck in a lot!

When she comes home there’s something quite new,

She has a Mickey belly button for food to go through. 

Now sister can eat only the good stuff, she’s lucky

She gets her vegetables by tube with no taste that’s yucky

It helps her to grow and I say to my mom,

“Now she’ll get big and we can all play along!”

She does get bigger and grow quite a bit,

but she can still only roll, not stand, crawl, or sit.

When will she play with me mom?  I ask,

 I try to be patient but it’s a really hard task.

Mom helps me to see some games we can play

So that I can play with her right now, today.

She doesn’t laugh when we play peek-a-boo

But that’s OK, I can laugh for two

She pulls my fingers and squeezes my face

I like to surprise her from my hiding place

We dance to the music together and sing

I take a turn in her blanket swing

Even though she needs a lot of help

And plays much better when she is held

I like to be with her to do what I do

Cause we are friends now through and through

Then a man comes to our door and brings a pink chair,

 it has wheels and it moves, spins right through the air! 

They put sister in it and fix it just right,

 Then mom adjusts it so she’s right at my height!

We play with her light box and she watches me color,

I build up some blocks, She watches them all fall over.

Then I ask moms permission and there’s a smile on her face,

I bring her in the kitchen where there’s plenty of space.

I turn to my sister and ask with a grin,

 How would you like to play and to spin?

She giggles and laughs and I say, “That’s a yes!”

She and I spin around till I fall with dizziness!

My sister is special but her tubes aren’t why,

She’s just my sister and we’re friends, she and I

We spin and we play and we laugh and we share,

I know my sister loves that I’m there. 

She gets stronger and learns more every day

My mom says I help her a lot with my play

She’s growing up fast and I know it won’t be,

 Very long until- She‘s big just like me!

Here are some photos I might include as well as a video of one of the things that inspired the book.

Also, I was thinking that I wouldn't charge for the e-book version just include something at the end that would say: If you want to contribute to helping Izy walk and play please visit this website.  We would have a printed version available for a donation of a certain amount.

We are coming up with ideas to raise money to be able to do a year of Anat Baniel therapy since almost all of Izy's progress has been seen through this type of therapy, but it is very expensive on top of travel expenses.  Of course Insurance won't cover any of it.

Some of the other ideas that we have are to ask families to do fundraisers.  We would come up with a bunch of ideas and ask if each family could raise $75 enough for one 1 hour session.  Here are some of the ideas that we have come up with already:



Sell items on criagslist or ebay and donate the proceeds- put "These items are being sold to benefit a special needs child whose smile touched my heart.  Consider being part of making a better life for this special little girl, and "Be the change you want to see in the world"  For details see. . ."
Sell baked items, or dough, or mixes
Make and sell Candles
Fundraising dinner
Donated ticket sales
Hold a "how to" class and donate the proceeds.
Donate one of your sick days
Hold a read-a-thon
Make your own "restuarant meals" from this website 3-4 times and donate the money saved
By your herbs from iherb using this code 5% of your purchase will go to Izy
Mow lawns or shovel driveways and donate the proceeds
Order bulbs "here" then sell them for mothers day and donate the proceeds
Hold a car wash, put up posters and accept donations
Pizza for Izy. Sell make your own pizza kits.  Get the orders up frount and then hand them out on a specified day.   (Crust, sauce, pepperoni, cheese) 3 for $20
Sell or buy Lifebeacons. A portion will go to Izys therapies

More ideas or critiques are welcome at this point.  We also were going to sell cards, and tote bags with Izy's fingerpaintings on them, as well as hard copies of the book.

Evies Baptism

Evelyn was baptized on Saturday the 21st.  It was a wonderful day.  Grandma and Grandpa Chandler came out from Idaho to celebrate this special day with our little girl who is growing far to fast. 
The Grandmas each gave a prayer, Her dad baptized her and did the Bishopric welcome,  Evelyn Alayna and Joseph sang "I like to look for Rainbows", Aunt Amanda led the music, the sister missionaries did a presentation while Evelyn and her dad were changing, and sister Hugh played the piano. 

We were so excited that some of Evelyn's non-member friends came to support her as well.  It was wonderful to know that we were supported by so many family and friends.

Evelyn wanted to make sure that everyon in our family had a part, so she asked Noah and I to give the talk.  Noah had been sick and so I just had him tell us the Fourth article of faith.  His Cute little voice kept cracking but he did a great job especially since we hadn't had a chance to practice.

If those who weren't there are interested, here is a copy of my talk:

Evelyn,

You came to join our family 8 years and 3 days ago.  Your body had been growing getting ready for your spirit to come down and live with us and we where all getting ready for the exciting day.

Your Spirit was still in heaven with Heavenly Father.  You came to our family at this time for a reason- Your Heavenly Father has a plan Just for you. He knows who you are, Evie.  You are His Daughter and he loves you very much just because you are you.

When you finally came we were so happy to see you and hold you in our arms.  As I looked down into your eyes, I could feel your little spirit and I was so thankful to be in the presence of such a pure and beautiful girl.  I remember, you looked around so clearly and calmly at your new home here on earth.  You were already showing some of your abundant curiosity and joy.  I fell in love with you right then.

-         Noah: We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are First faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

     Mom: The first step you’ve taken was to have faith in Jesus Christ.  You have been interviewed and expressed that you have faith in Him.  You know that He loves you and that He is your older brother.  You know that He suffered for the sins of the world so that if we repent and follow Him we can return to live with Heavenly Father again. 

-         Noah: Second Repentance

     Mom: Repentance is knowing when you have done something wrong and saying you are sorry- then trying to do what you can to make it better.  This is something that you have already learned how to do and will need to continue throughout your life whenever you make mistakes. 

-        Noah:Third, baptism by immersion

      Mom: Today you will complete the third step.  This is a special step because it is your very first saving ordinance and your first big promise that you will make to your Heavenly Father. 

-         You will promise that you will always remember Jesus Christ and follow His commandments.  Did you know that Heavenly Father loves you so much that He is making a promise right back at you? 

-         He promises that He will forgive you when you repent, that you can have the Holy Ghost to be with you and that you can someday return to live with Him.  When you make a promise and then Heavenly Father Promises right back at you it’s called a covenant.  We know Heavenly Father will never break His promises and we need to try every day to keep ours.

-         The scriptures tell us that being baptized means:

o       1. To take upon you the name of Christ (D&C 18:21-25)
2. To bear one another’s burdens that they might be light (Mosiah 18:8)
3. To stand as a witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places even until death. (Mosiah 18:9)
4. To obey the commandments of God and to serve him (Mosiah 18:10)

When you were born you left your Heavenly Father’s presence.  Today you are opening the gate and starting back on the path towards Him.

He knows that staying on that path isn’t always easy.  Sometimes you may not know which is the way to go, or you may just be feeing really grouchy or even just sad.  One of your Heavenly Fathers promises can help you then.  Do you know what it might be?

Yep the Holy Ghost.  After you are baptized you can receive the Holy Ghost as a gift to stay with you not just sometimes but all of the time.

You know, when I was your age, I couldn’t understand what that meant. I knew that the holy ghost make your heart tingle when you heard something true, and sometimes when you bore your testimony it would make you cry, and I didn’t want to cry all of the time, so I was confused.

Then I found out that that’s not how it always feels.  One of the things the Holy Ghost does is to give you peace.  This peace can help you to be happy even when it seems like everything is going wrong.  When I was in labor with you, your face was turned the wrong way and so the labor was very painful.  I didn’t know if I could do it.  Then I prayed to Heavenly Father and He sent the Spirit to comfort me.  The pain was still at the same level, but all of the sudden I could handle it better and I had peace that everything would be all right.  The same thing happened after you fell off of the couch on to the concrete downstairs.  At first I was panicking and about to flip out, but after your blessing I felt the spirit come and comfort me and I knew that everything would be all right.  

Now I try to make sure to read my scriptures in the morning so that I can get that peace and happiness and hopefully carry it with me through the day.  I hope that you will do your best to keep the spirit with you always so that you can live a good and happy life.

Evelyn, you are named after Eve our first Mother, and just like the Lord had a plan for her life and she was baptized and had the Holy Ghost, he has a plan for your life too.

Even Jesus was baptized so that we could all understand what we need to do to follow Heavenly Father’s plan.

The Lord has a plan for everyone who has come to the earth

I am so happy for you that you are taking this important step in your journey back to live with our Heavenly Father. I know that if you will stay on the path you are entering today that we can live with our Heavenly Father as a family forever.

More strength

Isabelle is doing beautifully.  She has so much more strength and is sitting up much better.  We are not sure if there is something is particular causing this but we have several possibilities.

#1 She isn't seizing as much - She maxed out on her seizure medication in September, but was still having seizures almost every day.  On the advice of her neurologist we started her on high doses of B6 and after about 5-6 days we stopped seeing seizures.  This would mean that as far as we know she has been seizure free for three months now allowing more development to occur as seizures are exhausting and without them she can focus on others things.

#2 About a week before the change we started her on 800mcg of Folic acid a day. 

#3 About 2 months before we started being strict about no gluten.  This seems like a long time, but I've been told it usually takes this long or longer to see results if gluten is the problem.

#4 for Christmas she got Rody.  Rody is an inflatalbe horse used for therapy and she loves him.  Her favorite thing to do is to chew on his ears and so she will really work to stay up so that she can reach them to chomp.  Lately she is also enjoying rocking and even bouncing on him sometimes.

Some of the things that have changed are that she is now rolling onto her elbows and staying there for a while even sometimes reaching for toys in this position.  Yesterday she pushed up from her elbows onto her hands and even started pulling a leg up like she was going to crawl.  She fed her mama breakfast this morning, making sure I got the first spoonful and then trying to get some for herself.  A week or so ago I was rocking her on Rody and singing Old Mcdonald, then I stopped to talk to one of my other kids, she started rocking on her own and said to me E-I-E-I!

We are so excited for our little girl and hope to be able to help her continue regardless of the reason.

Losing my mind!

I used to remember things better.  I remember remembering things.  Surely that means I really did, although the memories are getting a little vague and fuzzy around the edges so that I'm not completely sure that I'm actually remembering them or remembering thinking about them afterwards.  So I guess it is completely possible that I have always been forgetful and that I just forgot.

Be that as it may, life has gotten more complicated for me.  I have much much more to be in charge of and it is much more important that I remember.  Remembering to do my homework for high school does not carry the same weight as remembering to give my daughter her seizure medication.

I have resorted to lists.  Daily lists and habits, almost rituals that I have to do every day.  I have some for the morning, some for school time, some for the afternoon and I need to get better at my bedtime ones (especially at doing them at the right time).  *sigh*

This should have solved the problem, except that I forget.  I am in the middle of a morning routine, someone spills, milk, someone else throws a tantrum, every time I turn around there is something more to do and all of the sudden it's the middle of the day and I realize medication hasn't been given.  Or it's the next day and laundry hasn't been done.  It's seven at night and dinner is just making it to the table, or midnight and I'm stumbling to bed.

I've tried writing it all in easy to read format and printing it.  I've organized notebooks and set reminders on my phone.  All to no avail.  There are too many important things, both planned and unplanned and I can't have my phone beeping constantly.  The lists don't help, because you have to remember to look at them.  And that is one more thing to do.

I think I may have found an answer.  I pray it will work.  It has in a different way already.  After Izy it became very important for me to remember to bring everything when we left the house.  If I didn't bring everything to feed her, etc then we were in big trouble and usually had to go straight home because her food and method of feeding are individual.  So I came up with a number system.  My kids and husband laugh at me because before we go anywhere I always sit and count on my fingers to make sure that we have everything that we need.  Let them laugh!  It works.

So now I am using mnemonics to remember my morning routine.  I have a phrase that is uplifting and in and of itself is a reminder to do good, but the first letter of each word reminds me of a task to perform and in the order that I'm supposed to do it.  I plan on printing this phrase and taping it to my bathroom mirror for extra help, but the point is I should be able to go through it in my head and remember what comes next, even after 40 interruptions.  My morning phrase if you are interested is To Be Sincerely, Truly, Diligent: Love, Be Faithful, Search the Scriptures Feasting, Fervently Pray and be Readily Cheerful.  These are all things that should help me to have a better morning in and of themselves even without knowing that Love can also = Laundry!

I'm working on methods for my other ones, but I have hope again that I can get through a morning and do everything that needs to be done without forgetting.