My Dad is inside there somewhere.... I know it

Saving my last dance for you.

I ache to be hugged by you,

my heart begs you to remember,

my soul knows beyond doubt,

you are my Dad forever.

I honor you today,

and love you beyond any words

can express,

but perhaps a picture can.

Happy Fathers Day

Chocolate cake, no coconut.

Please pass the couch....

Hey Ryan.... I fixed up your couch for you.  I think Katie will LOVE it!  Sorry your elbow doesn't bend.  I really like your new purchases.  A nice couch for being a potato on... and a love seat for... well - BYU newlyweds.  I also installed cup holders, popcorn holders and a remote holder - that way you won't be arguing about who will be in charge of refreshments and control of the remote.  I love that you are gathering things to make a home.  There will be plenty of love and joy in that home.  I am getting excited that you will be marrying your sweetheart soon!  Even more excited to have all of my living room back from storing things   I'm excited that in 24 hours you will be together again.   I love you both just a bunch.  Oh, I also installed electrical shock units just to automatically go off now and then so you will remember and kinda miss your mom.     (creeeeeeepy!)

Ulaine Pitbull... Superstar

Seriously folks - this is my twin - no no no not the one on the left, that one on the right!  (Gosh - do I LOOK like I have a mustache?) These two together (are not really right and normal..... but.... ) are my buddies.  I never fail to laugh when I'm around Elaine, we bring out the absolute crazy in each other.  My kids love her - my husband loves her... well... you know - when Rich isn't.... you know.... (wow - he must have heard my comment by the look on his face!)  I remember the first time I met Elaine - I had just moved into our home and she came to the front door - not even knowing who I was and said, "Come on - get the kids - we've got a basketball game to play!"  I'm all.... um.... ok and you are???  Elaine!  Now Hurry!  Off we went (you know you should NEVER ride with strangers - she could have kidnapped us and taken us to Vegas, where we would have instantly SOLD those children and gambled ALL our money away)  I came home that day and realized that I must have done something extremely amazing in heaven to get to have a friend like her.  Over the 22 years we've known each other we've watched our kids grow, talked over a million hours on front door steps, exchanged jokes that might upset any Bishop, laughed so hard things came out of our noses, and cried until we had no more tears - oh wait - I still have that Elvis picture of you at Halloween - you glued hair on your chest and came to the door in a yellow tux.... priceless (and probably illegal).  Isn't that what life is about?  We can go a year or so without even contact and then BINGO - we're off to the races with whatever is happening and we've never left each others lives.  I stole her U of U flag (brand new) off of her house one day... then called and said, "Some idiot just left a new U of U flag on my doorstep...."  She's all... "Crap - someone just took mine!"   One Christmas she let me have the target shooting cardboard dear, dressed as Rudolph - I put it on my house with arrows through it blood everywhere - scared the neighborhood kids to death.  My ever most fave in the world.... The plastic Nun and Firer... complete with light bulbs.  I see more shenanigans in our future.... I know she would give me the shirt off her back (and has actually - I have several lovely blouses in my closet.... oh - did you want those back?)  She's the one I call when the world crumbles.  She's the one I know will understand.  She's the one that her heart is SO FREAKING big.... that her chest (although sagging onto her stomach now) is larger than life.  Rich is my buddy too - I'm still waiting to grill up a burger on that new deck.... could you hurry that along Rich?  I was in a meeting at work today and Elaine came into the store - I waved and my boss asked me if I knew her.  I asked if she was identified on any store videos for any reason.... he said not yet...  and then I told him I was her twin.  Can't you see the resemblance?  Dear Elaine you are always going to be Thelma, I promise to be Louise.... I love you - I love that my life has had purpose - because you were in it.  Remind me to give you those Christmas Ornaments.... with the two chestnuts.... I have a few left over.  xoxox Pitbull forever...

Let me check my list...

I am guilty - yes - so extremely guilty - of A.D.D. list making.  I make a list for EVERYTHING under the sun - including writing a blog post today - yep on the list.  There is the daily list, the never ending - never completable list.  It would take 5 people to do what I put on that list.  At the end of the day I am SO frustrated because I didn't finish that stupid list!  So I make a new list and put the unfinished items at the top of the never ending list for the next day.  I then have a week list - which I swear I must be on some unknown medication to think that ANYONE could do what's on that list.  Freakishly true, at the end of the week, each list is complete because I beat myself up inside if I don't accomplish them.  There is the List of Supernatural Things that ABSOLUTELY need to be done - I haven't started that list yet - there isn't enough pens in the world to check off those items.  At work I make lists to remind myself which list I need to get things done from.  Shopping lists are the death of me.  If I lose a list, I panic - so I make 2 lists sometime - one to take with me so I can make more lists - and the one I leave home in case I lose the list during the day.  Tonight - I'm exhausted - I am too tired to list the reasons why - so I think I'll just post my fantasy list - and then list what I need to do before I sleep tonight.  Enjoy.

1.  Find someone to just comb my hair for an hour.

2.  If someone could just scratch my back right in the middle.

3.  Soak my tired bones in the tub

4.  Try NOT to think about this week, and the lists of lists...

5.  Figure out how to get the maraschino cherries out of the bottom of the glass without spilling all of the ice into my face.

6.  Explain to the 94 year old man from my mission that telling the young mother in front of us in church that her child is a slow thinker and will be his entire life and that she needs to do something about it....  never mind - Missionary Experiences - has it's own list...

7.  Call my mom - and not have to repeat repeat repeat repeat everything.

8.  Make a doctor appointment for my list obsession

9.... oh great I said list - I know I've forgotten something - I gotta make a list.

10... Make a list

Insert Seatbelt Here.....

I remember blogging about fun stuff - a long time ago.... so after this blog post I'm going to head back to the funny farm, perhaps cheer things up a bit. 

This is my beautiful niece Katie....

... and this is Katie's back

after breaking it in a rollover accident in a truck

on a dark road in the middle of the night

So when the phone rang at 5 am on Tuesday morning

and the caller was my brother - the first things I said was,

"Is it Mom?"

"Is it Dad?"

Through his tears he said - "It's my Kate"

But she was alive.

And you see, that's where the miracles started.

Tonight she's just come out of surgery where the surgeons inserted nuts, bolts,

rods, and a few other random parts to give her her life back.

Her fingers and toes are moving.

It really doesn't matter to me what or how this happened,

what matters to me is that my brother

didn't have to bury is daughter,

I didn't lose my niece.

Because in our family

EVERYBODY MATTERS

EVERYONE IS LOVED

Her recovery is going to be hopefully one of those

prayed for,

needed,

timely

"COME TO JESUS"

moments.

Because HE let her stay,

and make a DIFFERENCE in life.

What would you do with a second chance in life?

I had that chance

I chose wisely.

Thank you for miracles,

for family, for prayers, faith larger than life,

men on top of a roof in the dark laying tar paper,

dinners delivered to the house,

the opportunity to tell each of my children

that I loved them, and then asked

them for their prayers and faith to

be put to work, knowing that they did,

for skilled doctors, a Father's Blessing,

and for Katie's life.

I'm super glad she lived,

because now I'm going to kill her.

Hug your kids today folks.

Matt Bethany

Dbug, Emster

Ashley, Mike

Mandy, Ryan

Jbug

Ryan and Katie

(no not the same Katie)

You are loved

Wear your seatbelt people



Gettin' down to business....

Headed to Mendon this weekend - there were several hundred things on the list of things that needed done so we made sure we took a hard working troupe with us.  Del, myself, Mandy, Baby Jake and Katie piled up in the car - with only one stop for a McDonalds Coke (for the co-pilot) and off we went. It was a beautiful day in the Valley - it was perfect company in the car.  This was Katie's first trip to Cache Valley - and meeting Ryan's extended family there - including Grandma - who was excited all 10 times we introduced Katie to her during the day.... (: 

There was a roof to take off... because the new one is excited to get put on....

(Thanks to Eric and some wonderful townspeople, it went pretty fast)

I love this little house on the corner

There were flowers to plant - everywhere possible,

and great help to do just that - (chick power)

Del was stuck - er - had the opportunity to fix everything

that had an engine on it... and then some...

Jake was busy moving all the toys around

and making sure everyone kept busy...

Then the garden had to be planted...

This year we decided to plant Grandma

to see if she would grow a foot or two....

(yes I frightened Katie in my

shorts and tank top sorry...)

They had to step off the spacing for the seeds,

I thought they were actually the prettiest

things I've seen in the garden in long time!

Mandy and Katie each got to plant their own row

of corn... but it also meant using Great Grandpa Hill's

'culivator' as Grandpa Fred called it.... This was a riot to watch.

Of course we had to start up the fire pit and

feast on serious hot dogs...

Mom and Eric were waiting in line for

their hot dog sticks - we are SO civilized...

Jake made sure there was plenty of wood for

the fire, such great help is so hard to find.

Everyone loved Katie - she worked so hard and the flowers

she planted were beautiful.  I personally am concerned about

just one little tiny issue... she likes tomatoes.... eh...

that's an entirely different blog TBA.

(other than that - she's obviously perfect!)

This day was about helping my mom - but it meant so much more to me than that.  Ryan is staying with Katie's parents in California during his internship - they are amazing and so full of love and support for him - it's appreciated more than they'll ever know.  Today - we got to have Katie, and enjoy her spirit and watch her kind heart doing service.  I didn't want her to be alone - and I was being kind of selfish wanting her for the day to meet the Northern Utah Family.  I loved that Mandy and Jake were there - they already know of Mendon's magic, and you've never seen harder workers than were there today.  Jake LOVED playing in the yard, and eating dirt, and just being excessively cute.  Mandy never ever stopped - she was crazy busy all day.  It was great to have Del there - he doesn't get there very often - and he put my mom's heart to ease about a few mechanical issues that bugged her.  I was grateful for my brother Eric for working so hard to take care of the roof and the car and being so cute to Mandy, Katie and Jake.  I appreciated Terri, my sister in law - who throughout the day fed us and made sure that we didn't plant too many crookneck squash.  We rewarded her by planting a Banana Squash just for her and Mike.  The ride home was my favorite - we all talked and laughed and giggled with Baby Jake (who was perfect the entire day and LOVED his Grandma)(duh of course).  It was a day of service - for each other and for our souls.  A good day to blog about - we'll keep you updated on whether Katie's corn comes up better than Mandy's or the other way around... Terri will watch the squash.  Grandma will forget we planted the garden.

Thanks everyone - you made my life sweeter today with your time - and your love.

Del - Mandy - Jake - Katie

Eric n Terri

Here's to many more fire pit moments

Please do not pass the tomatoes

Bob loves Lee Lee

Seriously - could I ever be so lucky?  This is my daughter - and I love her heart and soul.  Today is her birthday - and sometimes I dream of the fun parties we had when she was a little girl.  We would plan a party on their even birthdays - and then have a family party on their odd years.  I have learned many many things from this beautiful person.  She has brought light into my world, and has lifted my soul many times.  I watched her accomplish her goals, stand by her man, and shape up the world.  When I held her for the first time - I looked into those dark blue eyes and only dreamed of all that she would become.  She has exceeded those dreams in many ways.  She brought Mike into our world - our family would never be the same without his kind heart.  Together they make the room light up when they walk into it.  I have appreciated her courage, and her strength.  I can't wait to see what the next year will bring for her - I know, that with all she's made of, the sky is the limit.  Never forget how much you are loved by your mom.  I carry your heart....

Oh Happy Day Ashley - may all your dreams continue to come true.