Twenty-fifth anniversary...the story of us!

For those of you who don't know the story of Brian and Patty....in June of 1984 I was working in Lafayette, IN as a pharmacy technician and living in an apartment complex in town. Brian was getting ready to begin the summer session at Purdue before his senior year and also lived in the same apartment complex. He'd sworn off women for the summer...too much of a distraction and too expensive! One hot summer afternoon Brian and his brother headed to the pool. When Jim asked where Brian wanted to sit his reply was "purple bikini." We talked for awhile...he asked me out...I turned him down...he showed up anyway...and I went out with him. Our first date was to see Ghostbusters and eat at Pizza Hut...with Jim, Jay, Roger, and Chris! That was on a Sunday. On Monday he met mom & dad, and on Tuesday we started tossing around the idea of getting married. On Friday he asked me to marry him...5 days after we met! We were married in December...in between semesters at Purdue. (He jokes that he needed a tax credit!) Five months later he left for Officer's Training School and I headed to the orthodontist to get braces. It's been a crazy journey...many Air Force assignments...lots of moving vans...3 beautiful daughters...etc. Thru it all, God has blessed us abundantly! I'm sure when we decided to get married most of our friends didn't give us much of a chance of making it. The odds were against us. We've worked hard, though, to grow and respect and love each other thru the ups and downs. And I wouldn't trade my guy for anyone in the world. I love you, Brian Keith Anderson! Happy 25th anniversary.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Today marks the 57th anniversary for my parents...no small feat in this day & age. Way to go Mom & Dad! I love you!

All hearts come home for Christmas

Finally, we have a houseful again. Amy arrived yesterday with her friend, Phil, and Laura arrived this morning. There've been lots of laughs and stories shared...hugs galore. it's been wonderful! And I'm quickly learning that having 2 culinary students in the house is a bonus. Today the three of us made not one, but four batches of cut-out cookies (to be iced at a later date.) And afterward we enjoyed the made from scratch apple pie that Amy brought home from her baking/pastry class at JWU. Yeah, the house is a bit chaotic and there's clutter all over the place, but it's a good kind of chaos. We're ahead of the game with the to-do list. We pretty much just get to enjoy one another. And that's the reason I was crazy during the month of November...so I can relax and have fun now. Hope you're having awesome family time, too.

No more braces!!!

update...

These last couple of weeks before the college kids finish up are full of stress on a daily basis for them. Laura and Ian have a LOT of projects and assignments to finish before they can even think of finals. Laura has residents to check out, too, while everything else is going on. Amy is now in lab classes 6 hours a day in addition to working 3 hours several days a week. She has to ice her feet every night but is pleased that she's hanging in there. I know all of the kids would appreciate any and all prayers lifted on their behalf. There's enough normal stress that comes with the holidays, but they all have even more with schoolwork/jobs. Soon they'll be home and able to relax a bit and I know they'll love celebrating the reason for the season!

family update...

It's been a whirlwind few days, and it was so much fun to have the family home. Amy was actually here for almost a week; we accomplished a lot of Christmas shopping and I'm happy to say I'm officially done! Laura & Ian spent Thanksgiving day with his family in Pueblo and then joined us for a couple of days...always a blessing to have them with us. Mom & I decided to do things the easy way this year and we made reservations at Mimi's...turkey and all the trimmings with no dishes afterward. We got more than we bargained for, however. A couple was seated directly in my line of vision who was rather well endowed but scantily dressed. Bethany and I had to stare at our food as we ate. If we looked up, we couldn't miss the entertainment! It was rather hilarious and gross at the same time. I have to say that I've never seen anything quite like it (and hope I never do again!) Beginning Thanksgiving evening the elves and I put up most of our Christmas decorations. They like to be a part of things before heading back to school, and it was wonderful to have so much help. Ian didn't even need a step stool to reach the tops of our trees to put the angel and star on them! All too soon it was time for Laura, Ian, and Amy to head back to school. It's quiet...almost too quiet. But no complaints. Anytime I get to have the kids even for a short time it's something to be thankful for. On a side note, I recently finished the friendship quilt I started back in Tennessee about 16 years ago. The blocks have been signed over the years by very special women who have impacted me over the years, and it was such a joy to think about how much they mean to me.
Time now to head into my favorite time of year...celebrating Christ's birth! I'm so thankful to be done with shopping so I can enjoy the season. My parents bought me a sweet sign that reads "Christmas is not in the presents, but in His presence." I like that. I wish more people would remember that sentiment.

Happy birthday, Laura!

It's hard to believe Laura turned 21 today. I swear she was just off to kindergarten...wasn't she? Hope it was a blessed day. I love you, Laura.

Trans Siberian Orchestra

On Tuesday Brian and I headed to Denver to take Amy to the TSO concert at the Pepsi Center, and what an amazing night it was! We had fabulous seats within spitting distance of the stage. Amy was mesmerized, and it was such fun to see it thru her eyes. If you've never seen TSO you just can't begin to imagine what it's like. You just have to see it to believe it! What I can't understand is how I can sit with a silly grin thru their whole show...no earplugs at all. Yet I don't care for loud rock music under any other circumstance. There's just something about TSO. The talent and energy on their stage is pure poetry, and the lights and pyrotechnics are spectacular. I've seen them twice now and I hope to see them many more times in the future. The highlight of the evening was about 30 minutes after the show. Tables were set up for the performers and we were able to shake hands and get autographs for every single one of them. Amy offered to be their personal chef, and when we got to her favorite performer, the violin stringmaster, she actually proposed to him. My sweet, shy (*cough) little Amy actually proposed to someone! I asked her later what she would have done if he'd said "yes" and she replied, "I'd have married him on the spot!"

An empty nest trial run...

Never a dull moment in the Anderson household! Bethany is on a 2 week fall break. Normally working at the hospital on the weekends prevents her from spending much time with her sisters. But due to the recent swine flu outbreaks, the teen volunteer program has been temporarily suspended. So yesterday I dropped her off at Mines to visit Laura for a couple of days. They were going to do some Christmas shopping and have girl time since Laura is also on her fall break. Tomorrow she'll take Bethany over to Amy's campus to spend a few days. All this to say that Brian and I are getting a small taste of what the "empty nest" thing feels like. He arrived home last night from San Diego and will leave again tomorrow morning for LA, but today we had one glorious day to just enjoy being together. We caught up on some things around the house and did a little bit of shopping ourselves. Mostly, though, we just caught up on all that's been going on with his job and things around home. It was nice to relax and talk. I love spending time with Brian. I think we'll be good at the empty nest thing someday. (Not too soon, though, thankfully!)

FYI...I'm reading an interesting series by Francine Rivers about women in the lineage of Christ. Although this is a fictional account based on Biblical facts, I found it quite fascinating. Now I'm excited about studying these women whose names I've heard but never really studied before. So far I've read about Tamar, Bathsheba, and Mary. Two more books to go.

whirlwind

What a crazy couple of weeks it's been for our family! My birthday has come and gone, and a week later Bethany turned 16. That one is still hard for me to believe. What a beautiful young lady she is, though. No matter how much I still feel like a teenager myself, when I look at our girls it's pretty obvious they're growing up beautifully despite my denial of the passage of time. Annie is finally feeling better after her many days of vet visits. She's now on prescription dog food (who knew there was such a thing!) She's also on a couple of medications and gets B-12 injections every Friday for several weeks. At one point we thought we might lose her, but other than having to give her really smelly dog food, which she loves, things are much better. In the past 2 weeks we had 3 sick....Laura, Ian, and Bethany, but I think they're all FINALLY feeling better. Ok, Bethany and Ian are. Laura keeps relapsing. The health center at Mines thinks she's had swine flu. We're just not sure. I do know that her dorm is quite cold since the heat hasn't been turned on yet. Her grandparents all came thru, though, and showered her with warm clothes, blankets, slippers, etc. Hopefully this will help. She has 2 windows in her room and she said if she sets a mug of hot cider on her window sill it only takes about 30 seconds to become apple juice. That's cold! Last night Brian drove up to visit with her and they spent the night at a Hampton Inn. She was happy to get a decent meal and a hot shower. Hopefully that will help. And on his way home this morning he'll stop at Amy's campus to bring her home since she has a long weekend! She's bringing at least one friend who wanted to get away...possibly more. Never a dull moment! Culinary school agrees with her and she's loving college life. Other than weekends, Brian will be gone for the next 3 weeks. Hopefully we won't have any health, technology, or home repair emergencies while he's gone. And soon after he gets back we'll be headed to Denver to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra's 2009 Christmas show! It's so hard to believe this year rapidly heading into my favorite time of year...the anticipation and celebration of Christ's birth!!! For now, though, I'm just going to enjoy each day as it comes and continue to pray for health for our family and for several friends who have health concerns. To quote my favorite t-shirt..."life is good!"

"happy birthday to me...happy birthday to me...!"

What a wild adventure turning 50 turned out to be! Things started getting a little bit crazy early last week when Annie got so sick she couldn't keep anything down for days. Our vet was quite puzzled. He did x-rays and blood work and a few other unmentionable tests and could find nothing conclusive. He sent her home on Thursday evening with an IV which we had to monitor all night. On Friday morning I was supposed to head to Denver to pick up Amy for the weekend, so Brian and my dad took Annie to the internal medicine vet. (Who know there was such a person?) After shaving her belly, which embarrassed her greatly, she had an ultrasound. Again, nothing conclusive, but at least a tumor or an obstruction was ruled out. Back to our vet they went. Meanwhile, as I was just about to pull out of town to head north I got a phone call from Bethany who was running a fever. A quick U-turn and I headed back to the high school to pick her up. After tucking her in and putting Mom on alert (thanks, Mom!) I headed to Johnson & Wales to get Amy. As we walked toward each other on campus I was trying to remain cool and calm...didn't want to embarrass my girl. But when we were just a few feet away she yelled "hi, mom!" and flew into my arms and that was one of the best hugs ever!!! We had a quick trip back from Denver...she told stories the whole way and the time just flew by. Ten minutes after we got back, Brian walked in with a silly grin on his face. Right behind him was my sweet friend, Susan, who had flown in from Alabama for my birthday! I was shocked! She's a piece of my heart and I was just thrilled to wrap my arms around her. I know she had to move mountains in order to make the trip happen, and I'm stunned my family kept such a secret from me. I had NO clue she was coming. If it had been just about anyone else I would have been a basket case at being surprised. But this was a no-brainer. She's family! We laughed and told stories and tried to catch up on each other's lives (although there's NEVER enough time to do that.) I was a happy, happy girl. On Saturday, Laura and Ian arrived and my brother, John, also came down with his 2 kids. Could life possibly get any better? Oh yeah. On Sunday we went to church as a family and it was the first time in weeks I was "high on Jesus" on a Sunday morning. The music and the message were awesome, and I couldn't think of a better way to start my actual birthday. We had a wonderful meal of southern bbq afterward and then helped the college kids get on their way. And THEN Susan produced tulip and daffodil bulbs and proceeded to plant them in my flower beds! I couldn't believe she'd brought them all the way from Alabama! For 9 years I've thought, "this is the year I'm going to get bulbs in the ground" but somehow it never happens. ( It's probably no surprise to anyone that the green thumb gene skipped right on by me.) But in the spring I'll have beautifull flowers and I'll smile to be reminded of this very special gift from my sweet friend. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and early this morning I had to take Susan back to the airport. Now it's back to reality for me. Brian is upstairs recovering from steroid injections, Bethany is snuggled up next to him trying to get her strength back after her feverish weekend, and Annie is sleeping in the sun after spitting out her medicine (which I'll get down her soon.) Time to wash sheets and towels and pick up the clutter. But it's ok. I'll do it with a smile. it was such a lovely weekend! Who knew turning 50 could be such a blast?!!

a simple request...

I'm going to depart from my usual newsy family updates to ask for your prayers. In almost 25 years of being married, Brian and I have always been actively involved in churches--no matter where we lived. And in a city with so many conservative Christian organizations you'd think that would be the case here. While we've enjoyed church in the Springs, it's been hard to settle into one ever since Brian resigned from his position at WVC. I think his 2 years as a full-time pastor (vs part-time in Ohio) made us more aware of things that we'd never paid much attention to before. No longer are we able to just enter church with an expectant, worshipful heart. Instead, we tend to over-analyze, I think. We're too critical. Yes, we've prayed about this many times. And yes, we desire to find a place where the three of us who remain at home can worship together. But so far it just hasn't happened. I love music where I know the words and can sing along, and loud drums and electric guitars feel more like a concert to me than worship. Brian and Bethany love loud guitars and drums! We want preaching from the Word...with some life application perhaps. Most of all, we want to surround ourselves with believers who live what they believe, and we want to serve Him alongside other believers. Community! Lately we feel a bit lost on Sundays, and that's a first for us. So if you feel so inclined when you hit your knees, we'd appreciate your prayers as we listen for His leading. We've already noticed how unhealthy it is to not be part of a worshipful church body. We miss having our hearts in tune with His. I know He hears the prayers of those who call on His name, so with a expectant heart, we'll wait on Him.

Our culinary girl...

She's off and running...

What a whirlwind week! Brian was in Maui and I headed to Denver to drop Amy off at Johnson & Wales University for her freshmen year of culinary school. On Thursday night she was so hyper I wasn't sure she'd ever be able to sleep, yet I ended up waking her up on Friday morning so we could get on the road. We arrived at the first check-in point only to find out they showed her as being deferred until fall of 2010. (If you'll recall, at one point during her wound healing issues we weren't sure she'd even make it to college at all, let alone culinary school.) But after a chat with the admissions office, things were cleared up and we were ready to unload. I pulled the car up to the dorm and began unloading things into the grassy area while Amy was checking in with her RA. I'd only unloaded a box or two when the "move-in crew" came along and finished the process, including hauling everything up 6 flights of stairs to her room! How amazing was that?!! Out of everything she took, I only had to carry one small box! We discovered at check-in that Amy and Emily had been switched from room 626 to 628 which turned out to be quite a blessing. This room was at the end of the hallway, which meant the girls had a private bathroom instead of having to share it with suitemates...definitely "a Jesus moment," as Amy would say! We quickly shoved things into drawers and closets because the girls had to go to their first scheduled get-together with the other freshmen. By this time it was about 4pm and neither of us had eaten anything since 8:15 that morning. Surprisingly, we were holding up pretty well. Amy headed off to her WIGI group (each freshman was required to sign up for a special interest group. Amy chose the Christianity group.) I headed outside to wait for Ian and Laura to arrive. Ian only had about 1 1/2 hours, so we headed to Famous Dave's for bbq. Our time ended up being shortened as we waited for the 3 police cars that came up suddenly ahead and beside us to put their guns on the driver they pulled over 15 feet away. Soon they handcuffed him and we went on our merry way to deal with Friday afternoon traffic. We made it back to the dorm just in time for Ian to take off for his evening activity. He never did get to see Amy or her dorm room, but I was thankful to spend a little bit of time with him, and it was awesome that he brought Laura over for the evening. Laura and I headed upstairs so she could get Amy's computer/printer set up. Within minutes Amy was back and we set off for a whirlwind trip to Subway (for Amy) and Wal-Mart to pick up a few things we discovered she still needed. You just haven't lived until you've been to Wal-Mart on Quebec Street on a Friday night when you're in a hurry! Amy had to be back for a floor meeting at 7:30, and we got her back by 7:25. We dumped her things and as she left for her meeting, Laura and I headed back to my suite at the Hilton to spend 4 quiet, calm hours before Ian picked her up. It was so wonderful to visit with her and get caught up on how things were going for her at Mines. We laughed and relaxed and unwound and it was just wonderful!!!! All too soon it was morning and time to head to JWU for the ceremony for the freshmen class...sort of like a commencement ceremony in reverse. The students filed in behind a bagpiper and walked thru the gate on campus that is only unlocked twice a year...to welcome the incoming freshmen and to say goodbye to the outgoing graduates. Afterward everyone headed to the outdoor amphitheater to listen to speeches from the President, a couple of Deans, and the student body president. I thought they did a great job, but I think Amy was less than impressed. Every time they talked about the "class of 2013" she was thinking, "but I only plan to get a 2 year degree so I'll be in the class of 2011!" All too soon parents were asked to clear the campus so the students could go to their 7 hour mandatory lab. No tears for us...Amy was quite ready to be there and I was happy for her. We were ok. A quick hug and I was on my way to Golden to spend time at the farmer's market with Laura. I found out later that after I left the freshmen were divided into groups for their lab time. Amy's group ended up working in the meat cutting lab, which meant she was in shorts and a t-shirt in 42 degree temps for 7 hours! She said once the temperature hit 18 degrees they were allowed to put on jackets...how nice. She was frozen! But she now has her knives and her uniforms and her textbooks and she's unpacked and things are beginning to fall into place for her. She already knows everyone on her floor and lots of others as well. She's high-fived with one of the Deans and is ready to get on with things. Classes begin on Tuesday and supposedly she'll start her on-campus job that evening as well. She'll be one very busy girl. For those of you who are eager to sample her homework creations, don't be holding your breath. Her first trimester will be all academics...a disadvantage of having her last name begin with an A. Her roommate, Emily, will be jumping feet first into culinary labs, lucky girl! But in late November it will be Amy's turn to cook, so hopefully by the holidays she'll be ready to practice her newly acquired culinary skills. If anyone is interested in receiving her weekly e-mail updates, just let me know and I'll make sure she adds you to her e-mal list. Meanwhile, please keep her in your prayers. While her pain issues are helped by the medication she's taking, she still deals with pain daily, especially in the morning and late in the evening. And we just don't know yet how she'll do once she starts her 6 hour labs. But my guess is that if her amazing, spunky attitude has anything to do with it, she'll be just fine!

Married to a rocket scientist...

Whenever Brian leaves town we turn off the air conditioner and turn on the attic fan if at all possible. Unless it's sweltering hot, we much prefer having the A/C off. Yesterday it was nice and cool in the house most of the day, but in the afternoon I turned on the attic fan as we were doing some work upstairs. I totally forgot that first we need to equalize the pressure in the house, so the draft of turning on the fan blew out the pilot light on the hot water heater. This has happened many times before. Brian usually just re-lights it and that's that. But I never light it myself. I have a phobia about lighting pilot lights. So I called one of my neighbors who came over to help us out. No luck this time. Every time he lit it, it blew out again. Seems we have a bad sensor or the hot water heater just finally died. We knew this would happen eventually, so no surprise there. But now we're without hot water for the rest of the week while Brian is in Maui. Before you feel sorry for us realize that this is just a minor inconvenience. My parents live a block away, so we can shower there. And we'll just eat out so we won't have to do dishes. I can use cold water for laundry, etc. Really, it's not that big of a deal.
Last night I got comments from well-meaning people who wanted to give me advice on replacing the hot water heater while Brian is gone. They were shocked that I wasn't going to do so. But what people need to understand is that Brian and I have a system that works for us. There are certain things he prefers to take care of, and certain things that are my domain. We know better than to cross over into each other's area. It's ok. For 25 years this system has been a good one and we're happy with it. The point was well made in our first year of marriage when I picked out a stereo system for him. He appreciated the thought and thanked me and then promptly took it back and asked me to not do that again. I wasn't insulted. He was right. He knows electronics and prefers to pick out his own. Communication, people!
So don't feel sorry for us. When Brian comes home he'll probably have already done online research to know what he wants to buy to replace the hot water heater. I respect that. I'm happy to let him do his thing. We'll have hot water again. Meanwhile, I'm thankful my parents are offering free showers all week! Thanks, mom & dad!

Purging...

Yesterday Amy attacked her room like a crazy person. She was determined to get rid of anything she didn't plan on needing in the next few years. She knows that once she leaves for college there's a big possibility she'll never live at home again for more than short spurts. Sad, but very possibly true. So she filled a trash bag with academic medals, girly treasures, a partially completed afghan, files, knick-knacks, etc. We put her precious collection of books on the shelves up high in her room and emptied the shelves in the closet for the most part. She made a pile for trash, a pile for Goodwill, and a pile for a little girl in Arkansas whom we send things to from time to time. Nothing was spared! Posters are off the walls and her desk is emptied. This girl is moving on!

Thankful...

Back in the swing of things again...Laura greeted her residents yesterday and is happy things are finally underway at Mines. Amy is counting down the days till she goes to J & W (less than 2 weeks,) and we're spreading her things out and getting them ready to pack up. And Bethany just finished her third week of school and is busier than ever, which she loves. She picked up another volunteer job at the CSFD headquarters on Friday afternoons working in the office. Add to that 6 hours on Saturdays at the hospital and our girl is getting about 9 hours of volunteer time a week! Brian is getting ready for a quick trip to Ohio followed about 36 hours later with a trip to Maui. And me? It's a full-time job just keeping it all straight. I'm the keeper of the calendar, the baker, the taxi driver, the packer, etc. I often wonder how women who work outside the home are able to do it all. I'm thankful for a husband who supports me in staying home. And I realize how blessed we are that we have a roof over our heads and food on the table when so many people are struggling to make it in this crazy economy.

Transformations...

It's been a whirlwind having Laura home for a few short days. We've been to the farmer's market, shopped for formal dresses, fixed food that she likes, made door decorations for her residents, and laughed...a LOT! Rarely do we get to have her home when she's able to relax. Usually her mind is on classes or her job, but this time she was between jobs and doesn't have any classes to think about for a couple more weeks. We just had fun! On Thursday I'll take her back to the campus for her junior year. And just a couple of weeks later I'll take Amy to her campus to begin her freshmen year. How can this be possible? I swear they were just headed off to kindergarten, and now they're growing up so fast! But I guess this is a good thing. They're excited about the days/years ahead. Brian and I must have done something right, I suppose, if they're so eager to fly. I just hope the next 3 years are a bit slower so we can enjoy having Bethany home awhile longer. She is, after all, still a little girl...isn't she?

And my Amy...

Laura's turn...

just for kicks...

For about a year now we've been looking for a time when all 3 girls were home at the same time and had their hair done the way they like it. We finally realized that might never happen. Either they're not all home or their hair isn't "right." Yesterday 2 of the 3 girls were ready and eager to try on my wedding dress, so we pulled it out and unsealed it. It hadn't been out in almost 25 years! As we pulled it out of the box, it took my breath away. It was just as beautiful as I remembered, and the girls were so excited to finally see it for themselves. First Bethany, and then Laura tried it on. I didn't cry, but it really was touching to see them. And it was bittersweet, of course, to realize that it once fit me and now it fits my girls. I don't know if any of our girls will choose to wear it oneday. I don't want them to feel any pressure to do so. But for a few minutes, they each felt like Cinderella, and it was touching to see how beautiful they looked in something that's so special to me. Today, it's Amy's turn!

The happy couple!

3 August 1975

It's been 34 years since I was at Baptist camp in Indiana and made a simple plea..."Lord, please live in my heart." And life has never been the same since! Thank You, Abba Father!

Summer Heat Firecamp

On Friday, Bethany completed her week as a teen volunteer at Summer Heat Firecamp. This is an awesome camp put on by the Colorado Springs Fire Department for young women ages 14-19. Since Bethany attended as a camper last year, she was allowed to help out this time, and boy, did she ever have a blast! She was there by 7:45 every morning and a couple of times didn't get home until almost 8 at night, but not once did she complain (except when she was bummed that the week was over!) She scurried up the 110' ladder and helped out at the propane fire demo. And she got to be the "dummy" the girls dragged from the smoke filled building! The week was filled with fire-fighting activities and competition and I've never seen her happier. This was the highlight of her summer, by far. The recruiting that Bethany did with the firefighters during the school year paid off. This year they actually had a waiting list for the first time in awhile. I'm blown away by the love and dedication of the firefighters who put on this camp. They're amazing women...very inspirational and dedicated to encouraging young women to follow their dreams...to face challenges and conquer their fears. These women don't do this job for the money. Clearly, they do it because it's a passion for them. So thanks, Stacy, Rachael, Becka, Mindy, Wendy, Ruth, etc, for letting Bethany be a part of this journey. It's an experience she hopes to be a part of for many years to come.

a piece of my heart...

Today I was blessed to spend the day with Laura in Golden and we had so much fun! It's wonderful to be with her when she isn't stressed out from schoolwork. This summer she's working as a summer conference assistant, and although she works a 40 hour week, she still manages to find time for fun, too. And most weekends she gets to see Ian, so that always gives her something to look forward to. Today it was just us, though, and I'm so thankful for days like this. We got to laugh and share stories and just enjoy being together. In a couple of years she'll be off on her own adventures, and for all we know she might be halfway around the world. So for now I'll treasure each moment I get to spend with her. She's a piece of my heart.

Thanks!

Less than 24 hours after my last post Amy finally showed signs of getting acclimated to the new dosage of medicine. We still need to wait a few weeks to see if she'll eventually notice any pain relief, but at least she's back to her old self again. So thanks for your prayer support. Baby steps!

Watch out, world!

For those of you who are following Amy's progress, please continue to keep her in your prayers. We should know in a few weeks whether or not this current medication will give her any pain relief. In the meantime, some of the side effects are less than pleasant. The pharmacist said they should only last 7-10 days and we're already at day 5. Our prayer is that soon she'll be back to her normal self and that she'll (sooner rather than later) finally feel diminished pain in her feet/ankles. If this doesn't work, we're only left with one more option which we're not sure is even going to be an option at all. It's way more invasive than we're comfortable with, and even her Dr said he'd hate to see us go that route on someone her age unless we're absolutely desperate. And honestly, now that Amy is 18 she's ready to be done with it all. She's been positive thru all we've asked of her for the past two years. But she'll be off to college soon and is ready to just "suck it up" and be done with experimenting with treatments. Enough is enough! If this pain is her new normal, she's ready to accept that, and I'm not sure I blame her. She's one brave, awesome girl! And even in pain she can run circles around most of us. Watch out, culinary world!

Laurel and Hardy learn to ride...

Tonight Brian got down our bikes and put air in the tires so Amy and I could ride. You have to realize that Amy never learned to ride a bike till she was 8, and I don't think she ever rode one with a lot of gears and brakes on the handlebars. And then she had painful feet and all the issues associated with them and couldn't ride for a long time, so it had been YEARS for her. I jumped on and took off, but she was a bit wobbly. We headed up the street intending to go around the block, but Amy was struggling as we went slowly uphill. "Switch gears!" I shouted back to her. Her reply was priceless..."What's that mean? What's a gear?" I stopped and waited until she caught up and we tried again. We rounded the corner and suddenly Amy was headed downhill like the wind...and out of control! "Use the brakes!" I yelled. She did, and almost went headfirst over the handlebars! Instead, though, she kept right on flying down the hill, past our turn, and into the next neighborhood. I stopped and waited, fully expecting her to turn around and come back. Instead, she kept on flying downhill with her legs straight out to the sides. The next thing I knew she was falling sideways into some nice, soft grass. Good thing, too. We hadn't worn helmets for our quick ride around the block. She'll have some bruises on her legs tomorrow and her wrist is a bit sore, but thankfully there are no broken bones or heads split open. We walked our bikes to level ground and slowly, very slowly made our way home. We're going to try it again tomorrow. But from now on if we even think of riding, we'll put on our helmets! (That was for you, Gail!) Oh, and did I mention it was one year ago today that she had the injection that caused her open wound issues? We've come a long, long way in 12 months. God is so very good!

A difference of opinion...

Interesting week. Yesterday Amy saw her new pain management Dr for the second time. We really like this guy. Personally, I think he's brilliant and he's wonderful about talking with Amy instead of with me. She is, after all, the patient. Now that she's been on a low dose of the new pain medicine for a month and her system is used to it, he wants to double the dosage to a level that will hopefully give her relief from pain. Time will tell. But in case this doesn't work we have one more thing to try...a neurotransmitter. We can do a trial week at some point to see if it helps her at all, and if it does, one would be surgically implanted in her back near her spine. Yeah, I know...it's invasive. Think of it as a pacemaker only for her nerve endings (it's actually made by the same company that makes pacemakers!) So while it's an option, it's also a last resort. Because of the increased dosage of her medication and in order to do a trial week of the neurotransmitter, she's required to have a consultation with a psychologist before our insurance company will ok the trial. So today that's what she did. For 45 minutes she filled out a questionnaire..."do you feel like your life is worthless...does your pain/injury interfere in your relationship with your spouse or family"...etc. Stupid things which she mostly laughed about, but I guess they have their reasons. After the paperwork was completed she met with the psychologist. She was in a happy, bubbly mood when she went into his office. Fifteen minutes later when she came out she was really ticked off!!! Evidently he was saying things to provoke her...perhaps to see if he could get to her "true" feelings (as if she'd been lying about being positive and upbeat.) He told her no way could she not be depressed and irritated about what she's been thru. He insisted she come up with questions to ask him because he wasn't convinced she really had a handle on what she's gone thru for the past 2 years. He acted like she was just faking...that she had to be angry. When she insisted she just deals with things with a positive attitude he was argumentative. The one that irritated me was when he told her she has only had 3 "real" surgeries and not 8. Perhaps his definition of a surgical procedure is that she has to be cut open with a scalpel. Excuse me?!! Anytime I sign a medical release and turn over my insurance information while my daughter puts on a hospital gown, has an IV, and is wheeled into the OR and put to sleep, I consider it a surgery!!! Just think...our insurance company will have to pay this yahoo for his time today and his "expert opinion." What a rip-off. I asked Amy if she witnessed to him and explained that she has a positive attitude and hope for a bright future because of her relationship with Christ, but honestly, he would have probably argued with her about that, too. She kept her cool, and I'm proud of her. Not likely we'll be going back to this guy, thankfully. He did approve her for the neurotransmitter trial if we decide to go that route. Smart move on his part.
Posted by Patty at 5:27 PM

Hoosiers in Colorado

My brother, Joe, and some of his family were in Colorado this week. On their last full day in the Springs, they took Bethany with them to the Royal Gorge. Personally, I think they're nuts, but they were eager to do the Skycoaster out over the Gorge. Bethany and Emily loved it and said it was a blast. I'll just take their word for it. I just don't see myself doing this anytime soon. But I'm glad they had a good time and the Hoosiers will have some great memories of their time in Colorado!

Two daughters in college...

We finally have hot, sticky summer weather and instead of turning on the air conditioning at home and staying inside we're in Denver walking around Johnson & Wales University with Amy for summer orientation. But this is actually a good thing. She's so excited about being here! Today she took a capstone class called "making homemade pasta" and she said it was a blast. And she and her roommate, Emily, were happy to find out their room on campus for the school year will be on the courtyard side of the dorm instead of the noisy street side. After lunch Brian and I picked Laura up in Golden and brought her back to stay with us at the Hilton. She'll get a break from the non-air conditioned dorm, and we get the joy of having her to ourselves for a night. We showed her Amy's campus for the first time. (The girls have been scheming for awhile on how to get to each other's campuses in the fall.) Laura & Ian bribed Amy..."if we buy the ingredients, will you come and cook for us and for Ian's roommates? We'll even do the dishes!" Our culinary daughter is only too happy about the arrangement. And it's practically a straight shot thru Denver on I-70 from one campus to another. If only either of them had a car...!

Cinderella needs to come home!

Brian and Bethany come back from San Diego tomorrow night and we're ready to have them home. It's been a calm, peaceful week, but we're ready for some noise and hugs! Rumor has it Bethany has become quite a California girl and she's not too eager to leave that beautiful state. I hear she's had a pedicure, a spray tan, highlights in her hair, and she's eaten shrimp, lobster, and king crab legs all in the same meal! Gina and Andy have spoiled her rotten and have been absolutely awesome about sharing their time/resources. I can see why she loves it there. Time for Cinderella to come back to reality!

Family updates...

Well, the Dr was right. Amy's extreme nausea only lasted about 1 1/2 weeks for the most part. She's still a bit queasy until about 10 am but otherwise is finally able to eat and carry on a somewhat normal existence. Now if only she'd begin getting some pain relief. But the Dr thinks it might be a month or so before she'll be able to tell if this medicine is working, so I guess we'd better be patient awhile longer. We ran into Amy's wound care Dr today at lunch and he was so impressed by how well she's bouncing around and how great her scar looks. He filled us in on how the staff is doing, too. They were like family to us for almost 7 months, so it was nice to get caught up. They were awesome friends at a time when we really needed them.
On a lighter note, Brian and Bethany are in San Diego this week and Bethany has decided she was born to be a California girl. She's having a blast with her Aunt Gina doing "girly" things like getting highlights in her hair and a pedicure. It might be a bit hard for her to come back to reality at the end of the week! My little Cinderella will come back to the home where she empties the trash and takes the dog out instead of being pampered. But for 5 days, I'm glad she's having a blast!
On Wednesday,. Amy and I are headed to Golden to see Laura for a few hours and it will be great to see her smile. She's had a rather interesting summer so far and I know she enjoys what she's doing. But a visit from home is kinda nice, too. She didn't get to see Ian this weekend since he was at a cousin's wedding in Virginia, so I'm sure she's missing him, too. Maybe we'll be a good distraction till she sees him next weekend.
Thanks for your continued prayers. Keep checking for updates!

morning sickness

This medication they're trying on Amy has one side effect that she's not loving. It seems that about 22 of 24 hours a day she has "morning sickness" that lasts and lasts. She doesn't even get to look forward to a baby at the end! Hopefully this will only last for a week or two, and it'll be a month or more before we know if it's going to help with her nerve injury pain. She's a trooper, though. About 3pm every afternoon she's ready to eat cheeseburgers or anything else that sounds good to her. And then by 5 she's taken her next dose and by 5:30 she's sick again. I remember that feeling...thinking if I could only throw up I'd feel better. But I never did, and I was queasy for weeks at a time with each pregnancy. It's awful! I know I complained, so it amazes me that she's trying to talk herself out of it and pressing on with life. That's one strong, determined girl we have!

Thanks to my resident genius!

What a week this has been! I did an update on my computer last week and began having trouble with it afterward. Usually such things are user error...I'm just not as geeky as the rest of my family and computers are still a mystery to me at times. Since Brian was out of town he suggested I take it to the Mac Superstore so they could troubleshoot for me. Never in a million years did I think it was going to be a big deal, so of course I didn't back up my files. Big mistake. Huge. Turns out my hard drive was "failing" and needed to be replaced. So after paying for data recovery (with no guarantees) and a new hard drive I now have my lovely blue Macbook home again. Brian spent most of the weekend working on it....trying to recover and reorganize my files. And yes, he backed it all up to our Time Machine. So far he's recovered everything up to January 2009, and now he'll begin searching for things from January till now. I'm mostly concerned about pictures (i.e. Amy's graduation, Laura's trip to Ian's home, etc) that hopefully are in there somewhere just waiting to be found. I have most of the girls' writing, and that was a top priority. So while this whole experience has been a major headache, my silver lining is that much has been recovered and my resident genius is willing to keep searching for even more. AND I know now to be diligent about backing up my files! Learn from my mistake, people!!!

It was kind of a crazy morning in the OR. We'd never actually met this Dr before our procedure today, so they scheduled a consultation in the procedure room before things were underway. He had a chance to review Amy's history beforehand and we wanted to be on the same page regarding her care. I have to say that this man was amazing...spent all kinds of time with us reviewing things and making sure he was clear on what she's currently dealing with on a daily basis. He doesn't feel she actually has RSD, so now we've been told yes and no by several different doctors. He feels she has a nerve injury instead and when he explained his thinking, it made a lot of sense. There are a couple more things he'd like to try which are more conservative...always a good thing. He said he'd be happy to do the lumbar injection but honestly didn't think it would help. That sounded good to us! He's very cautious in his treatment and while he feels there are some aggressive things we can try as a last resort later on, he wants to start with simple, mild therapy. He feels that at age 18, there's no point in being too invasive if we can avoid it. Yes! Amy really would like to say "no" to everything, but for now she's going to humor me and at least try one or two more things. I still think that miracle for pain relief is just around the corner. But I'm also thankful for the miracle of a Dr who wanted to spare Amy any unnecessary procedures. And did I mention he loves it that she's going to study culinary arts? yeah, I think he'd love some samples :-)

I still believe in miracles!

FYI...Amy is having another lumbar injection procedure tomorrow morning. She's rather tired of such things...feels they're a waste of time. But I keep hoping our miracle is just around the corner and after one of these she's going to be home free. And what a blessing that would be! This Dr is pretty much our last hope in the Springs. If he's not able to provide much relief from her ever-present pain, we'll call it quits. She'll be off to culinary school soon anyway. The pain she lives with on a daily basis has been with her for so long that she probably forgets it's not normal...at least it wouldn't be for most of us. Perhaps it's HER normal...who knows? I'm still going to pray for that miracle.

Too much peace and quiet...

Quiet, too quiet. Brian spent the day traveling to Salt Lake City by way of a tornado in Denver. He arrived safely, but he's still waiting for the airline to find and deliver his suitcase. Laura and Ian are in Golden, and Amy & Bethany are on computers in their rooms. Even Annie, the wonder beagle, is sound asleep. I'm missing the crazy commotion we had during the graduation celebration. It was fast paced and crazy, but I loved it. This "calm after the storm" is just too darn quiet.

Real Men Can Cook!

When Laura and Ian arrived to celebrate Amy's graduation and birthday with us and asked what they could do to help, I put them to work. I happened to know that Ian is great in the kitchen, and since I still had a couple of things to do I asked if he could help. He jumped right in and tackled a recipe he'd never set eyes on before, and the finished product was wonderful! (Laura's really thankful that Ian is a good cook. He spoils her often with wonderful baked goodies.) This time we were the recipients with his yummy Texas sheet cake. I love it when guys can bake!!! Thanks, Ian!

Joined in heart

In 2006 one of my dearest friends in the whole world came out for a visit with her family and we had such an awesome time. Little did I know 3 years would pass before we would hug each other again. We made up for the lost time, however, when Susan and her daughter, Shailyn, came out to celebrate Amy's graduation with us. We laughed and cried and hugged and had the most amazing time. Susan is such a joy to me in so many ways. We lift each other up, we pray for each other, we take time to listen...really listen...we love unconditionally. I adore this woman! She's one of the greatest gifts God has ever given me, and I'm so very thankful to call her my friend.

Time to get on with life!

As Amy says, "this took 12 years too long!" The big day has come and gone, and finally our girl is a graduate! To Amy it feels like it took way too long, but I still remember clearly following the big yellow school bus that took my little girl away to kindergarten many, many years ago. The in-between years are pretty much a blur! I'm so proud of our girl. She not only made it thru, she thrived! And now she can get on with culinary school and the rest of her dreams. Way to go, Sunny!!!

Let's Party!!!!

There was so much to do with so little time....and now we get to celebrate and enjoy a full house. ( I have to say that being seriously organized worked to my advantage. Getting so much done ahead of time allows me to relax and enjoy my time with everyone.) Laura, George, and Vera arrived yesterday, and tomorrow will bring Brian, Ian, Susan, and Shailyn. It'll be a whirlwind, but a sweet time of celebration and joy. Amy turns 18 tomorrow, and on Saturday she'll go thru that wonderfully long and exciting ("cough") graduation ceremony. Today she finished up her candy striping, too. Our girl is excited about what God has in store for her in the months/years ahead. And when you stop to consider how far she's come, it really is a miracle. (Just a few short months ago we wondered if she'd be on crutches or a wheelchair at graduation!) Time to give thanks for God's richest blessings...and time to celebrate!!!! Congratulations, Sunny!! ILY!!!

Way to go, Helio!

So my favorite driver, Helio Castroneves won the Indy 500 and my second favorite driver, Danica Patrick, came in third. It was a good day at the brickyard!

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing!!!

Tonight Brian asked me to read my to-do list so he'd know what our priorities are for the weekend. Amy loved it that watching the Indy 500 was on the list! Yep, I'll admit that it's something I look forward to all year. Seriously! When I was growing up in Indiana we used to pick up a bucket of chicken and have a picnic in the stands during qualifications in May. I grew up loving the sound of the cars racing around the track and the sights and smells of the Speedway. Oh, you probably couldn't pay me to go to any other car race in the world; there's just something about Indy. When the drivers broke the 200 mph mark I couldn't believe it! And now the pole sitter usually averages close to 225 mph. Hard to believe. On race day mom and I would sit close to the radio to listen because TV coverage was blacked out in Indiana. These days we get to actually watch it, and it's beautiful! My girls have grown up loving the race as well, and it's so much fun to share it with them. Admittedly, Laura only stays close for the finger food we nibble on absentmindedly as we watch with fascination. She kind of drifts in and out of the room. Brian doesn't usually watch it, either, because he knows I'll run outside or to the basement or wherever he is to shout out the highlights. I love instant replay and the human interest stories and the symbolic bottle of milk at the end, etc. I love it when Jim Nabors sings "Back Home Again in Indiana", and I especially love it when I hear "Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines!" Don't bother calling me on Sunday while the race is on...I won't be answering the phone.

It's been a fun 24 hours filled with laughter and even a few tears. My ex sister-in-law ( who really isn't an ex since we kept her in the family,) retired today after 30 amazing years in the Air Force. Last night was a fabulous dinner/party at the Officer's Club which was really light-hearted and fun. The food was incredible, and the whole evening was quite entertaining. There were lots of funny stories and pictures of Liz, and she was a great sport about laughing along with everyone else. Friends & family came from all over the country, and there were even friends from Canada. Today was the actual ceremony, and it was quite impressive. There were so many wonderful things said about Liz; she's had quite a ride in her 30 years! What touched me the most is how humble she is. She made it a point to focus on what others have meant to her along the way...their influence, their kindness, and their support. This was a day she's worked toward for 30 years, yet she chose to recognize others. That's what I love about Liz. She gives of herself 100% to others--ALWAYS. She's humble...she shares...she cares...she loves unconditionally...she always looks for the best in everyone she meets. I'm blessed to know Liz and look forward to many more incredible days of friendship ahead. Maybe one day you'll know her, too.

Never thought I'd hear this...

I keep my cell phone close by...you just never know when Brian or the girls will need me. So today when the caller ID said "Bethany" and it was during school hours, I could tell something was up. Was I ever in for a surprise when she was hyper with excitement over the honors biology lab she'd just completed. "Mom..I just dissected a rat and it was SO COOL!!" Yes, my sweet baby was thrilled over smashing in the skull and cutting out the brain of a rat she'd nicknamed "Claudia." How gross is that? It's bad enough that she was enjoying the lab and was giddy with joy. Then she mentioned that she and her partner had taken lots of pictures and she could hardly wait to show them to me! I'll spare you the visuals.
Part of me wonders how in the world I ever birthed two daughters who get so excited about such things. Another part of me is thankful that one of my girls is a "mini-me" and wouldn't do that lab even if it meant failing the class. But I'm so very proud of my girl for doing something I could never do in a million years...even if I wanted to, which I don't. How cool is it that my girl isn't afraid or grossed out by a biology lab? Maybe I couldn't do what she did, but I'm sure proud of her for being able to. You're one tough girl, Bethany Rose!

playtime is almost over...

It's been a wonderful, casual and relaxing week with Laura home. We played and laughed and talked and just enjoyed having her here. I let a lot of things go this week in order to spend time with the girls. And now it's crunch time! Amy graduates in just 2 weeks and we have family/friends rolling in before that. Suddenly I have a million and one things on my to-do list and instead of growing shorter, it gets longer every time I sit down to prioritize! We'll have every bed filled and even a couple of girls sleeping on the floor. So much to do...so little time! So if you pass me on the street and I seem a bit focused, just smile and remind me it will all get done. This will be a time to celebrate Amy's accomplishments...not stress out if I missed a dust bunny. Meanwhile, I'm going to put things off just a little bit longer until we take Laura back to Golden to work on campus for the summer. Surely 2 more days won't matter in the grand scheme of things...will it?!!

Laughter is good for the soul...

In 1988 when Laura was born I used to shop for adorable little outfits for her at Target. This November she'll turn 21 and guess what? We're still shopping for her in the girls department at Target!!! After trying unsuccessfully at Kohl's, Penney's, and Old Navy today to find khaki skirts, capris, and pants for her summer job, we were hugely successful when we discovered girls size 12's with adjustable waists at Target! Laugh if you will, but there's nothing like the price of children's clothing for a 20 year old! And shoes...oh yeah, size 2's! What a deal!!! The best part of all is that Laura and I always laugh A LOT when we shop. Did I mention how much I love having her home for a few days?

Guess who's almost home?

We received a call today from Golden..."will you please come up and pick up some of my things?" Laura had been trying to work it out so that she could move from one dorm to the the next without having to bring everything home for a week, but things just didn't work out. So Brian and I headed up and loaded up the car with Laura & Ian's help. Tonight she has lots of loose ends to wrap up..paperwork to fill out...etc. And tomorrow she comes home for a week before going back to start her summer job on campus. I suspect it will take her all week just to sort thru things! Surely we don't have to load all of this back up next weekend to go back!

"smokey"

Bethany (or "Smokey, as I like to call her these days) has had an incredible time working with the female firefighters this week as they recruit new campers for Summer Heat. She's more confident with each passing day. Speaking in front of high school kids she doesn't even know has been a really great experience, and I'm so proud of her for stepping out of her comfort zone. At her age (or even now), I seriously doubt I could have been so bold even if I'd tried. I'm in awe of what an amazing girl she is! I don't know what her future holds...only God does. But I know He's holding her in the palm of His hand. For today, that's enough. And if one day she decides to become a firefighter or a paramedic, He'll still be holding her!

yes, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks...

Although I fought it for a LONG time, Laura set up a facebook page for me awhile back. I resisted and refused at first, but curiosity got the best of me and soon I was checking it out more often than I'd like to admit. It is rather amusing, but I always feel guilty when I'm on it...as if my girls will feel they've lost their privacy. They've assured me that isn't so. Tonight I decided it's worth it after all...no guilt. I found my sweet niece, Alivia, and she seemed happy to hear from me. Knowing Alivia, that's not an act. She's one of the sweetest young women I know! So thanks, Laura, for teaching me a thing or two that I didn't think I'd need to know. I'm actually kind or enjoying this!

Summer Heat Firecamp

Last summer Bethany had the amazing opportunity to attend Summer Heat Firecamp thru the Colorado Springs Fire Department. This summer, she gets to be one of their teen volunteers. (She's really excited about helping out but NOT having to wear the heavy gear in the blistering heat!) Meanwhile, she was asked to go with a couple of the female firefighters to visit area high schools to talk about the program and generate interest among teenage girls. It's really great to see how she "comes alive" when she talks about all she learned and experienced at camp. Unless she has a much needed growth spurt, she'll probably never be a firefighter. But she's learning that there are other opportunities for her out there if she's interested. Rachael, a gorgeous firefighter she knows, suggested with her small size she'd be perfect as a paramedic on the life flight helicopter. While she has many years before she has to choose a career path, it's great to see people take the time to mentor young women her age.

slam dunked!

After losing the weekend due to being sick, it seems like both Laura and Ian have been slam dunked with one thing after another. They were both run down after not eating or sleeping well, so that didn't help much. Ian had a slight bug but thankfully was over it quickly. They've had tests, projects, and homework galore...one thing after another with barely a chance to catch their breath. I ache for them. The semester is rapidly coming to a close and it's definitely crunch time. I just want to yell at Satan to leave them alone!!! But instead I'll step up the prayers and accept that's all I can do for now. It's enough. God has control of their situations as He always does, thankfully. But if anyone else feels like adding their prayers for Laura and Ian, I know they'd be appreciated!

the festivities begin...

It seems like Amy has been counting down the days till graduation for a long time, and suddenly it's right around the corner! Today was the first of many end of the year festivities for the class of 2009...the senior breakfast and capping ceremony. This is the time when each senior chooses an individual to "cap them" as words are read that the senior wrote about that person and why they were chosen. My guess is that some of the seniors have never told the person (usually a parent) how they feel about them before. Those are the parents who have teary eyes. And when the senior tells of a parent being deployed and usually missing such events, there are tears in the audience. My tears today were for the daughter who thanked her dad (who was in uniform) for being there today since he would be in Afghanistan when she graduated, and she asked him to be safe. But my proudest moment was seeing my Amy with that cap on her head as her kind words were read. Next up is the 3.75 dessert for the graduating seniors who maintained a 3.75 or above all thru high school. After that are end of the year academic awards and then graduation!!! By the way, Amy's comment today was "why couldn't they just give us our diplomas today and be done with it?" After sitting for 4 hours, I wonder the same thing!

A hard lesson to learn...

Normally I do really well with Laura being away at school, but today it's been especially hard. Remember that "snow globe" blizzard we had yesterday? Evidently it was even worse in Golden. On Laura's last trip home she brought most of her winter clothes, boots, extra blankets, etc. So yesterday she trudged to class in tennis shoes thru slushy water and stayed in soaking wet shoes & clothes for hours on campus. By last night she was chilled thru and thru, and today has been especially rough. I'm thankful that Ian is close by and is taking such good care of her. We offered to come up, but he assured us there isn't really anything we could do that isn't already being done. This is when it's hard to be a mom...when my girl needs hot soup and aspirin and a warm hug. I guess we'll all learn a lesson from this...that winter isn't really over in Colorado until closer to May and that warm clothes need to stay in the closet in Golden and not the one in the Springs. Most of all, next year I'll send along a heating pad and an extra blanket! For now, a huge thank you to Ian, my hero!

going public...

Since Laura has gone public on her blog, I decided I might as well do the same. Laura and Ian have a very special relationship and we've enjoyed seeing their friendship grow. Everything they do is centered on Christ's will for their lives. It's beautiful to see and wonderful to be around. Their joy is contagious! And even I have to admit I've never seen Laura as happy as she is with Ian. My prayer is that they'll continue to be obedient to God and His plans for their lives...whatever the outcome. For now I'm enjoying watching their love unfold as they share their hearts with one another. And yes, our family adores Ian!

All good things must come to an end...

My cousin has flown back to Indiana, Brian is in LA, Laura and Ian are on their way back to school, and Amy and Bethany have school tomorrow. It's been a good week, but now reality kicks in. This week I guess I'll be taking Bethany to school at 6:30 since Brian isn't here and he's usually the one who drops her off on his way to work. No sleeping in for me. My coach has turned back into a pumpkin!

the ultimate experience

My cousin, Barbie, leaves tomorrow morning and I'm so sad that she has to go. We've had such fun together! In 2 weeks she turns 50, and 5 months to the day later I'll do the same. To celebrate, Mom & Dad took us to lunch at The Broadmoor. Barbie had never been there and it was fun to see it thru her eyes. It really is spectacular. Mom told us to not look at the prices but to order anything we wanted, so we did. We ended up being "cheap dates" (relatively speaking) since we both had soup and salad. For dessert the Seniors shared creme brulee, Barbie had a berries & cream concoction, and I had vanilla ice cream. (Don't laugh...I love vanilla ice cream!) The creme brulee ended up becoming a 4-way dessert since it was so large, and Barbie's eyes glazed over as she commented that it tasted like Heaven! What fun! Afterward we walked around and enjoyed feeling like royalty for a little while. Thanks, Mom & Dad, for such a treat. How about we do it again when I REALLY turn 50?!!

What I failed to mention...

In my previous blog I forgot to mention that the reason Barbie is so excited about all things pink is that she's going to be a grandmother in August of a beautiful baby girl! (And what a beautiful, wonderful grandma she'll be, too!)

reminiscing...

Barbie, Dad, Mom and I have been laughing this week as we recall memories from years past. Since I never had sisters, Barbie was the next best thing. She and I used to meet at our Nanny & Grandpapa's house for a week every summer to get away from those pesky brothers. She ended up with 2 sons and of course I had 3 girls. So I cracked up today when she said, "but I've never changed a girls diaper" and "how do you keep little girls from falling in when they go to the potty?" What a hoot! She's so excited about buying pink, girly things. Just my luck I'll end up with grandsons someday and then it will be my turn to be clueless. And then she can have a laugh on me!

Whirlwind!

Laura said I don't update my blog much anymore, and she's probably right. Brian started a new job last month and things have been a whirlwind ever since! He's still working at the same location here in the Springs, but now he'll be traveling about 2 weeks out of every month. It seems like I'm constantly packing him up, unpacking, doing laundry, etc in addition to the "normal" activities around here. I made 2 trips to Denver last week in 3 days and was so grateful they were both on sunny days (sandwiched in between the blizzards we had.) I've been trying for a month to get Amy set up again with her pain mgmt Dr, but the office where he'll be working part-time locally isn't ready yet to make appointments. Evidently there are still details to work out. So while I'm sorry I've neglected the blog lately, it isn't like I've been sitting around watching soap operas and eating bon bons! There are days I'm on the go from the minute my feet hit the floor until I finally get a chance to sit down at night, exhausted. I only wish there were more tangible things to show for my busy-ness! This week I'm going to relax a bit. My wonderful cousin, Barbie, is flying in this afternoon for a few days. I haven't seen her in several years, but we always mange to pick right up where we left off. It's going to be a blast, and I plan to enjoy every minute of it! On top of that, Laura and Ian will probably be here for the night on Friday, so that's something to look forward to as well. Life is very, very busy, but yes, it's also quite good!

Happy Birthday, John!

Happy birthday to my brother, John! I hope he gets to celebrate in style with those he loves close by. He's on the left in this picture taken in November with two of my other siblings, Tom & Joe. The best looking Puterbaugh kids aren't in the picture :) No offense, John.

more California fun...

a kid in a candy store!

This week has been a wild and crazy ride for Amy. She's having the time of her life in California! Brian is there on business and since she's a soon to be graduate on spring break, he took her along. Believe it or not, she'd never flown, so the fun began almost immediately! She loved running on the moving sidewalk thru the Denver airport...she spent hours looking out the window on the airplane...and she was thrilled to land in San Diego early enough in the day to go to the beach. With Brian gone for hours each day the potential was there for her to get lonely really fast, but thanks to my sweet sister-in-law, Gina, she's been busy doing the touristy things for hours each day! Honestly, it's a good thing Gina has the energy of a teenager...they've been all over the place! The daily recaps are priceless, the pictures are amazing, and I know Amy will come home with lots of awesome stories to tell. Being the creative genius that she is, I can't wait to see how it pours out of her!

"Puppy Prozac"

The last time we took Annie to the vet we talked about the fact that she gets upset when there are lots of extra people in the house or the suitcases come out. Dr Hyden gave us "puppy prozac" and told me to try it out on her when we'll be home to see how she reacts...she could be dopey for 20 minutes or up to 7 hours. So today as I packed up Brian & Amy for their trip to San Diego tomorrow we tried it out on her...just 1/2 dose. It kicked in about an hour later, and she's been drugged ever since to the point where she can barely hold her head up! I don't think she even noticed the suitcases. That girl is in la-la land!

Thanks, God!

Mom, Dad and I decided to drive up to Golden today to take Laura & Ian to lunch. Laura reminded me that she has 2 tests and a project due this week, but when I reminded her that she has to eat anyway she laughed and was a good sport about taking a study break. What a beautiful day! It was sunny, blue skies, and 73 degrees. And it's always nice to wrap my arms around my girl and look her in the eyes just to see for myself that she's doing ok. And believe me when I say she's full of smiles these days! I think she's happier at this stage of her life than I've ever seen her, and that's awesome to see. She loves being an RA, loves most of her classes, loves her church, and has absolutely wonderful friends who truly care for her and bless her in so many ways. I wish we could all learn to be so content with what we have instead of always wanting more. Laura is happy on the inside, and that shows on the outside.

therapy

Just the therapy of actually baking for the first time in months was worth it. And I only ate one.

"the freshman 15"

I was really craving oatmeal cookies yesterday while Amy and I were making a Target run. Now, I'm not stupid. I know if I have junk food in the house I'll want to eat it. But once in awhile I just want a little something sweet. Normally I can talk myself out of it, but come on! Would it really be so terrible to have a cookie now and then? I'm not asking for brownies or fudge or really decadent things. Just a simple little cookie. But Amy said one little thing now will lead to one little thing later, and then I'll be irritated with myself. Better to just not have any. I told her if she keeps being the dessert police I'll gain her "freshman 15" for her when she leaves for college since I'll have to make up for lost time. She didn't laugh. She just gave me that "you'll thank me later" look that I love to hate. This afternoon she's candystriping. I'm making cookies, and they smell awesome!!!! How bad can they be, anyway...oatmeal, rice krispies, coconut (ok, so that's not so great), eggs, flour, etc. And did I mention the batter tastes yummy?!!! No regrets. At least not till later anyway.

My apologies...

Brian, Amy and I returned this afternoon from Wildcat Weekend at Johnson & Wales University's Denver campus. When we sent in our registration and deposit, I was a bit annoyed that we had to pay what I thought was a lot of money just for what typically is a boring time on campus. Wow, was I ever wrong! Although we're suffering from "information overload," it was well worth the money we spent and I'm certain there was no profit for the school. Our expenses were covered all weekend from two nights stay in the Doubletree Hilton to fabulous meals in restaurants operated by J & W graduates...Italian (Cinzetti's) the first night and French (Le Central) last night. Talk about fabulous! I was a bit leery about both places and ended up a huge fan. The food was outstanding both nights. It was fun for the potential students to see what they can achieve with a degree from J & W if they work hard. We met current students and administrators and every single one of them clearly love the school. Their enthusiasm was contagious and even Brian remarked that he wishes he could enroll! Amy can hardly wait for fall to arrive so she can move onto the campus. She came away excited and eager about her future at J & W...no hesitation at all, and that's exciting for all of us. Yep, we'll soon be saying "Yes Chef!!" when she comes home and orders us out of her kitchen!