Nate the Great

So, Nathan's self given nick name is "Nate the Great", which actually fits! Hayden's school teacher is named Nate Lamma. One day Nathan was playing video games and he paused it and looked up and me with a really perplexed look on his face and and said to me very sternly and seriously: "Mom, Do you think Mr. Lamma thinks that he is Nate the Great because he's NOT, I am".

So that's what they think of when playing video games :o)

2010

WOW! How time flies when there is so much to do. The holidays were great. We had my brother Brent and his family come visit and then my friend, Joy and her family come visit. Full house...Fun house!

Jan 1, 2010 Jenna and I went at saw Annie at Gammage Theater, here is Phoenix. We had a blast!!! We got 4th row seats in the center so it was perfect seating for her first play in a "real" theater. She has been blasting Annie music since then :O)

Joe is not running for re-election because we all just need a break, so I am running Edward Farrell's Campaign. So much fun .....and so much work!!!! Joe is now the YM President and I am still teaching seminary and am working part time at my kids school. It's weird to be working after so many years but it's time and it's good. Next year I may go full time since we will be losing medical coverage from City Council. So fun having kids that are considered "uninsurable"..haha!

Kids are doing well...Getting ready for Spring Break. 1 more week of school (and Seminary) until the break!

Not much new here, just same 'ol same 'ol!

Goodbye Grandma

I flew out to California a few weeks ago because my Grandma on my mom's side passed away after a few years of being in a home suffering through the late stages of Alzheimer's. It was a very solemn event, as funerals usually are. My uncle David did a great job of taking care of all of the details. Being the only person that was able to go out to help take care of the last few details I was blessed to be able to help with a lot of the final details.

It was neat to be able to help design the headstone and David let me choose the wording and the scripture for it. I chose the scripture in the first chapter of Enos that talks about rejoicing in the day that our mortal shall put on immortality and stand before Him. Well, you can imagine my surprise when I read the words " And I rejoice in the day that my mortal shall put on immorality..." Ok, so that "t" is pretty important....it's funny and ironic to me because, as you all know, I credit my grandmother for my love and attention to words and spelling. Somehow you just have to laugh at it all....I am sure she is just incensed by the whole thing. Actually I am sure she has many more important things to worry about, so I will be incensed for her :o)

I did get to dress her and prepare her body for burial. The RS president and another sweet sister from the ward came to help me. This is not my first experience with this type of preparation, but it is my first for someone that needed to be buried in temple clothes. My uncle David (who is not an active member) called me before I flew out to the funeral and read off the list of items on the receipt of clothes that were sent to him. I noticed a few things missing. Being short of time I just took the needed items from my own bag. It was awesome to take care of her one last time and to dress her in a few things that were mine.

I was always so close to my Grandma and those of you who have followed my posts know that I have posted pictures from her life in earlier posts. I have missed her over these past few years of her deterioration, but I am so happy to know that she is happy again and busy working. She loved working in the temple and was alway an example of this to me. I can only imagine she is just continuing in the work she has always loved!

I love you Grandma and will rejoice in the day that we reunite!!!

Wow! Has it really been 17 years

Here's to the first 17 years of our eternities!!

I can not believe that 17 years has come and gone. We have had some great times! 17 years of living with my best friend. Nothing can be more fun than being with someone everyday that can still make me laugh after all of these years.

Through the years we have lived in:

Midland, TX

Las Vegas, NV twice

Monterey CA

San Angelo, TX

Dover, DE

Anchorage, AK

Maricopa, AZ.

We have had 16 addresses and the infamous approximately 40 cars (Joe can give and exact count of make, model and color).

We lived the Air Force life for nearly 5 years and Law School life for 4 years.

We have had 4 children each born in a different state.

Michael will be 16 in 5 days born in Monterey

Hayden 13 born in Dover

Jenna 9 born in Las Vegas

Nathan 3 1/2 born at home in Maricopa

Joe and I delivered our last baby unassisted in our home and what an unnerving yet incredible experience that was.

We have had 3 of our children baptized and 2 receive the Priesthood. Michael will shortly be ordained a Priest.

We sat and listened as Joe's grandfather gave a beautiful Patriarchal blessing to his 14 year old great grandson, Michael. It was then I realized a little deeper my responsibility as a mother!

We have purchased a car knowing that our 16 year old boy will be behind the wheel...which has caused grey hair on us!

We have been flexible with our children's education and have had them in public schools, charter schools, and even home schooled. We have watched Michael sucessfully finish his first semester at the community college before his 16th birthday as he has set a goal of having his associates by 18.

We have sat on the side lines of probably thousands of football, baseball, basketball, soccer and dance practices and games. And have spent many hours listening to the "music" learned in piano and guitar lessons!

We have made friends (and family) all over the country.

We have gone on cruises together, Grand Canyon, Disneyland and Disney World, trips to New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, San Diego, Sea World, Knotts Berry Farm, Colorado, Zion National Park, Mexico , and about every state in between and many other places that Joe and I have enjoyed without kids..... but we are just as happy with a spontaneous night away in Scottsdale or Prescott.

Joe loves movies and I HATE them.....I love the Theater and Joe will tolerate them....

I love taking the kids hiking and being outside and Joe looks forward to being able to do them once again. (hopefully this next back surgery will help him enjoy them once again)

We have endured medical difficulties:

Joe's back surgery...with one more to go in Dec.

Nathan's surgery at 6 weeks

Hayden's diagnosis of Diabetes

Hayden's appendectomy

Hayden's trips to ICU every 6 months :o)

We have served in about every calling we can think of (and many of them more than once :)

We have both served in YM/YW

Joe has been EQ Pres.

High Council

Ward Clerk

Sunday School Pres.

We have both taught Sunday School

I have been primary chorister

Education Counselor in Relief Society

Activity Chairman

Nursery Leader

Stake Camp

and my new favorite calling: teaching early morning seminary

I am sure I have forgotten some but most of those we have done 2 or more times :o)

We have run a successful campaign and Joe has served well as a City Councilman in Maricopa. We have experienced the fun and frustration of political life.

We laugh and we cry and take life one day at a time. We have celebrated over life and we have mourned over life both with our family and with other's families!

This has been a cram packed 17 years of moving, traveling, schooling, changing, growing, looking back and questioning things we have done ;o) But mostly I look over the past 17 years and realize above all things that I have been incredible BLESSED and I very much see the Lord's hand guiding our lives to where we are now. Nothing can be worth more to me than this!

A picture's worth a thousandwords...

I HAVE GOT TO GET A CAMERA FOR MY SEMINARY CLASSROOM. I had this thought to play scripture mastery Twister...how fun does that sound. It was fun!!! I assigned a scripture reference to a color on the Twister floor and a matching reference to the spinner. So I had a student spin and say, for example "right foot If you lack wisdom" and the kids then had to put their right foot on the circle that had James 1:5 on it. We even had Danny Hunsaker of our bishopric attending today that got down and gave it a try!!! I wish I could describe how funny it really was:o)

Happy Easter

Easter was extra special this year as we shared it with Jenna's 9th birthday. What a beautiful day. Grandma and Grandpa found her a darling brown dress with White polka dots and bright blue ribbon trim. She was darling!!!

We took the kids to the Easter Pageant at the Mesa temple the thursday night before Easter and what a great reminder of what this holiday celebrates. I loved watching the re-enactment of the Saviors life, death and resurrection and it filled me with a spirit of love!!! I think having spent the last several months teaching the life of Christ in seminary I was touched me a little more deeply than in years past. I walked away realizing the peace that comes from not just reading, but studying and teaching the words of God and the prophets. I feel like I have missed many years of studying and teaching to my family. With or without a seminary calling I hope I take more time to really study and teach the scriptures... to my kids.

What a glorious gift. I have heard the saying that without Easter, Christmas would be useless. How true it is. Our Savior was born just as promised and prophesied from the begining of time. Starting with Adam and through every prophet until His birth all awaited His arrival. It was then that He made sure that all was done to fulfill every prophesy of His life. Jesus chose to endure all that He endure.

I don't know when the day will come that I will fully understand all that He did for me or how He did it; butI can't wait until the day that I can kneel before him and with a full, humble heart thank Him for doing it.

Joe's back surgery

Joe's back surgery went well. He was only able to get one disk fixed and in 6-8 weeks the dr. will look at the second herniated disk and see if Joe is ready to have that one fixed. Joe is home and doing well. He will be out of work for a week or so, which will be fun to have him around the house a little bit this week. He feels well and is looking forward to being able to be more active and play more basketball again. He is on crutches for a couple of days as his right let gains some strength because of the surgery. He is in good spirits and has good drugs...so all is well. Joe is a trooper....which I love about him!

Just when I thought life could get no crazier...

I am called to teach seminary and also called to be a stake YCL leader for girls camp this summer. I am super excited about it, I just hope that I can juggle 3 callings (yes, I am still the nursery leader for the ward) homeschooling and being a mom. So far I feel very much at peace with it all and have LOVED the chance to read and study for 2-3 hours a day out of the scriptures. I have very much felt the Lord's love through this calling like never before. I feel so blessed to be learning the things that I am learning in the detail that I am learning. We spent 6 weeks as a class studying just the last week of Jesus' life. What an awesome experience it has been to dive so deeply into the details of his ministry, life and love for us.

Camp meetings start next month and I will be over the YCL's that are over the 2nd year girls. They let me choose which year I wanted to be over so I chose the 2nd year girls . We have really good friends who have a daughter with type 1 diabetes that will be a 2nd year so I am hoping to be of some help since I know the disease so well. I always love when there is someone with Hayden to help and give me a little peace while he is away. I have a lot of the YCL girls in my seminary class so it will be fun!!

I'M BAAACK!

WOW! It's been a while since I have been on my blog. I was having problems getting my background changed and have just been busy...but I'M BACK!

What have the Estes' been up to lately?

I have discoverd Facebook (thanks Kasey!!!! I REALLY don't have time for it, but it's so fun.) I have down loaded a lot of pix there.

I have LOVED homeschooling this year. What a great experience it has been on so many levels for me and my family. I have never felt this at ease with my day to day schedlue, which I truly expected the opposite:o) We have done a lot of field trips. We have done a lot of hiking, took an extra last minute trip to Texas to see my brother, Brent for his 30th birthday in November, found some snow to play in up in Northern Arizona, cut my hair short, then a month later cut i really short, went to the chocolate factory north of Phoenix where the kids got to make chocolate "pizzas" and see things like chocolate covered jalapenos (yes, Hayden was curious) a 3oo lb. chocolate Santa and an equally big chocolate football....you know we all loved that one. We have played a lot and learned a lot....there are a lot of things that I either never knew or have just forgotten through the years, but I learn new things everyday.

Hayden played flag football this year and made the cover of the local PRL magazine, which was a fun surprise. Michael didn't play this year...he can't wait until next year, though.

Christmas was awesome this year. One of my favorites so far. Very quiet and laid back. My brother, Brent and his family came out for Christmas...waaay fun. We had a great Christmas and I am happy to have all of the decorations put away....I can only handle the extra clutter for so long, a month is just enough time for me...

We brought in the New Year with a group of Michael's friends...I forgot how late teenagers are willing to stay up! Ikicked the last couple out after 2:30 am and felt really old:o)

I have been called to teach Seminary this last semester. That has been awesome! We are learning the New Testiment and daily I say to Joe, "how did I not know this?". The kids are awesome and teach me more than I could ever teach them....I have totally fallen in love with these kids:o) I have a mixture of all ages...they don't divide by grade here, which I didn't think I would like but I do.

I got a new treadmill last week, which has been the hilight of my month...after waiting a few weeks for it I was so excited to finally get it.

I just signed Michael up for 9 credit hours at the community college. He has not loved high school so we tested at the local college and he did great so we withdrew him completely from high school and I think this will be a great fit for him. Next semester we will add more credits to his schedule and hs goal is to get as much school under his belt as he can before his mission.

We are busy, but life is good and we are looking forward to a great New Year!

Merry Christmas

Jeep, Acura, Jetta (Some things never change)
Over scheduled but juggles his responsibilities well
Serving in the Young Men’s Presidency, sad to leave High Council.
Enduring 75 mile round trip commute to downtown Phoenix
Paintball with Michael and Hayden
Has 1-½ years left on City Council

Triathlon training
Really enjoying nursery calling
Eighteen day Georgia, Florida and Caribbean vacation with Joe
Cake decorating class with Jenna
Involved in local and national campaigns
Amarillo, TX. all July to see Joy and kids

Makes it hard to keep food in the house (6ft~ 225 lb, 15 yrs old)
Incredible summer: EFY, scout camp & youth confs. in AZ & TX
Called as 1st counselor in Teacher’s Quorum
High school golf team
Awesome big brother
Eager to start Community College classes in January
Loves football as much as ever



Home schooled 7th grade, 12 yrs old
Awesome flag football, basketball player & pianist
Yaks on the phone with friends, spent summer with Joey Perez
Diabetes is doing well, 3rd JDRF walk for a cure November 2008
Eating me out of house and home (like a good 12 yr. old boy)
Not in primary anymore

Jumps at any chance to play with friends…. little miss social
Enjoying 3rd grade at home and loves piano
Neat to have her baptized by her dad on her birthday
Never sleeps past 6 am
Always gets me up to run so she can ride her bike

Never stops making us laugh
Always talking about Indiana Jones and super heroes
Turned 3 in October
Happy when he can play video games with brothers
Always being asked “who’s your favorite brother?” by brothers
Never passes up a chance to play at the park

We love and miss you all and hope that this holiday season finds you all well. How blessed we are for this season to celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord. It is our prayer that this celebration is taken into and through the New Year.
Love,
Joe, Trecia, Michael, Hayden, Jenna and Nathan Estes
Mama4x@gmail.com Estesfamilyfun.blogspot.com Joeestes@juno.com

Hayden in ICU

"Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a state of inadequate insulin levels resulting in high blood sugar and accumulation of organic acids and ketones in the blood. It is also common in DKA to have severe dehydration and significant alterations of the body’s blood chemistry. "

This is an online definition. Basically, his body, for whatever reason doesn't get enough insulin. This is usually onset by an upcoming illness which is what makes it so hard because his body will fight an illness before we see the symptoms of him getting sick. When he is sick he needs more insulin but sometimes by the time he gets the flu or whatever it is too late so his body is already short insulin. He then gets really sick and has high ketones. This causes swelling of the brain which makes him nauseous and then the vomiting starts. At that point it's all over. He gets dehydrated, causing higher blood sugars, causing higher ketones and the cycle spins out of control. This is usually the state a person is in when first diagnosed if waiting to long to see a dr.

Then all of his electrolytes are bouncing all over and out of control. So he requires an IV to flush his body. The ketones are basically an over spilling of acids from the kidneys because the kidneys are over worked at this point. Ketones are released through urine so he went through a total of 12 bags of IV fluids just for his ketones. In ICU he had 5 different bags of 5 different things being pumped into him.


The high blood sugar then causes his body to start "eating" it's own fat and then muscle (the reason to NEVER do the Atkins diet) because there is no sugar going to any of his cells outside of his blood. He lost almost 5 pounds. (Not my kid who needs to lose any weight:o)

Once we got his blood sugars under control we then had to wait until his body was free of all ketones. 48 hours later he was finally negative the ketones. His electrolytes were still all "funky" (which is evidently a technical medical term because I heard it a lot:o) He is on medicine for a week to even out his potassium and and couple of other electrolytes.

The last thing they were watching was his thyroid. This is where diabetics can get problems with thyroid. So far, he has been fine with that, thank goodness.

I came home feeling like I know NOTHING about diabetes, except I can neverlet Hayden get sick:o) I am looking into a bubble today.


Anyhow, that's it in a nutshell. He spent 24hours ICU and then 24 hours on the diabetic floor at Phoenix Children's Hospital. We LOVE that hospital.

My elves

I was playing on Joe's computer when I found the Elves. He only has 2 pix on his computer and they are OLD. Nathan was5 months old and sorry, Jenna....she is so photogenic and this is not her best picture, but it's way cute, anyways:o)

You may need to mute the Christmas music (scroll down on right hand side) before you play the elves.

I leave them alone and they party:o)

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Dear Santa,

Jenna has been learning and perfecting writing letters in "school". Professional, business, friendly etc...... and so as part of the kids' journaling time today I had them write letters to Santa. I have to share...

JENNA'S LETTER: (age8)


Dear Santa,

How are you doing? I am doing really well. I can't wait until Christmas. I am happy that you are coming. We still live in the same house we did last year.

I want so many things this year. You can pick what ever you want to bring me. I want:

• a scooter
• soccer ball
• $20.00
• a barbie house
• make-up
• hairbands
• bracelets
• a door that leads from my bedroom to the bathroom
• a DS

I really want a DS because my brothers NEVER let me play with theirs. I hope you have a safe trip around the world.

Love,

Jenna

HAYDEN'S LETTER: (age 12)

Dear Santa,

How are you? I am just fine. What is it like at the North Pole? It is hot down here in Maricopa. I have a few questions for you. What is it like being so loved? How have you lived for so long? Will you tell me the secret to living so long? Is it all that fresh air you get on Christmas Eve?

From

Hayden Estes

MICHAEL'S LETTER: (age 15)

Dear Santa,

Hello, how are you today? I just thought I'd write to you and say that you are my favorite gift giving entity. While we're on the subject of gift giving I'd like to remind you that Christmas is only a little while away and I have been a VERY good boy. Always obedient to my parents and loving to my siblings (especially my sweet little sister). With this in mind I have compiled a list of objects that would bring me great joy on Christmas morning:

• A pair of black Oakleys (you know the ones)
• A Storm Trooper hoodie
• A projector for my bedroom.

I think these are all reasonable items. After all we don't want everyone to see those pictures from last year's Christmas party.... do we? So bring me my demand list and the pictures will be on your doorstep for you to do what you want with.

Sincerely,

Michael Estes

WET WILLIES

Joe's brother, Ronnie, was down visiting for Thanksgiving and my kids had so much fun with him because he is just a big kid.

Nathan was introduced to wet willies while playing with Joe and Ronnie one night. I am not sure which one of them introduced it to him but he caught on quickly. Three year olds are so literal it is funny. So, Joe would lick his finger and stick it in Nathan's ear.

This is Nathan's version of what he learned that day:

Nathan licks his own finger

then he sticks his finger in his own ear

then he runs over to you and tries to touch you with his finger.

It is the funniest video we have taken in a while! I had to have pictures of it.....(yes, he is once again finding clothes optional. This is the real reason we must live in the desert.)

Kids do the funniest things.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

I can't wait. I am not sure why but I am so excited for Christmas this year...more so than normal. I got my tree decorated and house all "festified"and I am counting down. I am so excited for this season.

Watching the kids open gifts, Seeing Nathan's eye's light up over every little detail because it is all new to his 3 year old mind, listening to and singing Christmas music, baking, parties, gift exchanges, piano recitals, good friends, the December Ensign, my brother's family coming Christmas day, and reading the Christmas story while hoping that my kids really appreciate the magnitude of it all.

These are all things I am excited about, but mostly I can't wait for, and hope that this season brings a spirit of humility, giving and thanks for our family.

Happy (late) Thanksgiving

Happy (late) Thanksgiving

I have so much to be thankful for and I would be sad if I didn't take the time to share my top 10.

1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and our membership in the church
2. Joe, Michael, Hayden, Jenna and Nathan
3. My extended family
4. A living Prohet
5. Good friends
6. This country and the privilege of voting(even if others did it wrong this year:o)
7. Health
8. Always having food on the table.
9. Always having all that we need and so much of what we want
10. Being able to stay home and be such a big part of my kids every day life

Hope your Thanksgiving was fruitful!

Elections 2008--I may have to go back to Canada :o)

I am sure it is no big surprise that I spent a lot of time helping with the 2008 campaigns. Jenna and I spent the day at the polls yesterday. She spent about 6 hours with me campaigning and it was so fun to have her there. I wish I had a picture. What a rush for me. I have to say it's a little scary that they let anyone vote. I just have to share some of the highlights of my experiences....


While out knocking on doors with a candidate for Senate I came across some interesting folks. My favorite was a lady that I met by the name of "Sally" ( I will not use real names out of respect and fear that I may humiliate these people):

*knock * knock * knock*

ME: "Hi Sally, I am out walking with my friend, Andre Campos, who is running in this year's election for state Senate."

SALLY: "Oh, how nice...are you going door to door?"

ME: "No, ma'am. He is running on the Republican ticket so we are only hitting the houses of the registered Republicans, Independents and those who are undecided."

SALLY: "Oh, so which one am I registered as?"

ME: "Excuse me?"

SALLY: "How am I registered?"

ME: "You are registered as a Republican."

SALLY: "Oh, that's good to know. Do I need to vote as a Republican, then?"

ME: "Yes, you do!"

(Hey, if she's dumb enough to believe it, just be glad she is voting republican.)

Experience #2:

I am a PC with the Republican club here so I worked all day at the polls yesterday campaigning outside. There are so many funny things that I saw yesterday, but this is my favorite. It made me come home today and re-teach my kids how the house and senate are set up....

There was a guy "STAN" that was sent out by the Fillmore camp wearing a John Fillmore shirt to help me out for a couple of hours . He was way pro Fillmore, for whatever reason, but didn't seem to know much on where John stood on things, so I helped him out and between the two of us we figured it out. PLEASE KNOW THAT I AM IN NO WAY SAYING THAT I AM THE EXPERT ON POLITICS. I have spent a lot of time with the candidates and have a pretty good feel for them, however.

So this guy "VOTER" about 25 comes bouncing up to the parking lot yelling "Obama...Obama". I love seeing people so excited to vote! He voted and came out yelling some more.

The Republican Club had some ice water (it's still warm here in AZ) for voters to take. On our ice chest was a sticker that said John Fillmore on it. The following conversation went something like this (I kid you not!):

VOTER: Who's John Fillmore? (pointing to the sticker on the cooler then to the shirt that "STAN" was wearing.)


"STAN": "He is running for Senator."

ME: (quietly to "Stan") "He is running for representative".

VOTER: "Is that the job that McCain is doing?"

STAN: "No, McCain is running for President."

ME: "McCain is an AZ Senator."

STAN: "Fillmore is running for Senate."

ME: "He is running for representative." (while showing them the voter's guide and wondering who the Fillmore camp sent me.)

VOTER: "Then who is the big guy?"

STAN: "You mean, the president?"

VOTER: "No, in AZ?"

STAN: "You mean McCain?"

VOTER: "No, who is running for the big position?"

STAN: "Fillmore is running for Senate."

VOTER: "Then who is the CAMPOS guy?" (pointing to the Andre Campos for Senate sign)

ME: "Fillmore is running for Congress, Campos is running for Senate. There are more than one of each per state."

VOTE: "Then who is running for the big office for AZ...the one who is in charge of Arizona?" (at this point"Voter" is getting a little flustered...but remember he has already voted and is just now asking these questions of the party he had no intention of voting for :o)

ME: "You mean the Governor?"

VOTER: "yea, yea, the governor!"

ME: "The governor is not up for election this time...there is no one running for governor."

VOTER: "Then who did I vote for?"

ME: "I have no idea, sir."


Experience 3:

You really had to be there for this one, but I laughed all night whenever I thought of it.

There was a couple out with me. He was running for a school board position and we had a great time talking through the day. They were handing out fliers, I had voting guides and on the other side of the parking lot entry were a few democrats handing out fliers. Every once in a while you would get one that pretended to be on a phone or just acted like they did not see the sea of fliers being waved at them. It's kinda' like when you go to a car lot and the salesmen all start closing in.

Well, this one guy was walking towards us, a little funny. I could tell early on he was going to ignore us, which is fine. Then he started walking a little faster. About 50 yards out he started trotting...kinda' like a bunny where the whole body bounces up and down. Then a few feet before he hit the parking lot he full on sprinted past us. I am not sure if he thought we were going to jump him or what, but something tells me that he has had a traumatic experience somewhere in the past with polls. I am surprised he even ventured out to vote. As long as I live I will never forget this guy running past us as fast as he could to get to the building without a flier in hand.


One last story.

Yesterday while out I received a text message from a friend that said: "due to the long lines all Democrats are asked to vote on Wednesday."

I laughed and told Jenna about it. This morning we were eating breakfast and Jenna asked if we were going to the polls again. I told her no it was all done yesterday. She said "well, it's gonna' be another busy day since all of the democrats have to go vote today." I forget how literally they take things at that age....or maybe she knows more about democrats than I give her credit for :o)

Life is so short

Today I visited with a family that lost a son, a grandson and a brother in a car accident due to a drunk driver. I just can't stop thinking of this family and the sweet 16 year old girl who held onto my hug for a long time and just sobbed. What a sad day and such a hard thing to explain. He was only 25 years old and had been married just under 2 years with a 3 month old little girl that will never know him. As I think of the perplexities and complexities of it all I am angry, sad and yet at the same time comforted and so grateful for the knowlege that I have in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I try to wrap my brain around what the plan could possibly be for this young widow and baby girl. I know that the Lord is in control and that there was no doubt a great reunion on the other side of the veil. How can such a great reunion on one side bring such pain on this side. Please, understand that I do not doubt, but greive with every mother that loses a child of any age. I have seen mothers lose children and children lose mothers. It is so sad to say goodbye for what is no doubt a short time in the eternal perspective yet seems like eternity in the earthly perspective.

How does a mom, dad, spouse, sibling or child gain the strength to continue on when it seems like all has been taken from them? I have been so sad all day and yet gently reminded that the Plan of Salvation is real and in progress.

I have not lost a child, and yet as a mom my heart breaks and aches for my dear friends who have passed through this trial. I have helped a mom dress her 3 year old for the last time and I have felt the pain that this loss brings. I have also seen an unbelievable strength in average people that I know can only come from our Father and Savior.

I know that life is short and for some it is even shorter. I am reminded through sad days such as today that I have been given so much and I need to cherish every moment with my family.

My heart felt prayers go out today to my friends who have lost so much for a time.

Nathan's first 3 years