Close to My Heart...

My emotions have been incredibly close to the surface this week. On Sunday we lost our cousin, on Monday one of our student's fathers attempted suicide, the Tooele Transcript photographed our nursery-which I was mortified about, on Tuesday we prepared for an extensive surgery, on Wednesday we thankfully endured a less-than-extensive surgery, Thursday we dealt with a lot of pain and frustration and I wasn't quite sure how to help, Friday I felt guilty for going back to work, and tomorrow we have a funeral. Coupled with all of the hard things, on Monday I took a group of wonderful kids to the U to see an awesome play for FREE, on Tuesday our colleague had beautiful twins, on Wednesday Shawn had an amazing surgery and the blizzard wasn't so much a factor after 30 minutes of driving, Thursday the power went out but thankfully turned back on and we were both able to sleep for a few hours in the morning and my friend told me that she has a hot date with her hubby tonight, on Friday the majority of our students were gone on a field trip and I was able to teach fundamentals and make some of the students' day, and tomorrow I get to spend three hours driving with my dad and partaking of his wisdom, love and concern for us on the way to attend a funeral where we will celebrate the life of an amazing man.

Apart from the rambling-here is the link to the Tooele Transcript article. Let's just say that I want to prepare for a baby like we know its coming-because it will one day-and it helps me feel like we are working toward a goal and acting in faith for that miracle. I haven't wanted anyone to know for fear that I would be looked at like the girl who buys her prom dress in anticipation for a date and everyone knows it, but she doesn't get asked. Please don't criticize me for preparing...you weren't supposed to know!

Yay!

It is National Adoption Month!

Let's celebrate how much we love adoption!

We've had the opportunity to be interviewed and photographed for an article about adoption in the Tooele Transcript. I will give you the link when we know more!

I wish we were doing the following on Saturday:

"Walk With Me"

5k to celebrate adoption

Liberty Park

November 8th

Register by 9:30

*It won't be so much fun if I have to push Shawn in a wheelchair-we'll avoid that*

Please talk to everyone you know about adoption. It is miraculous and powerful!

Good News

Shawn's surgery was a success!

The doctor was happy to find that there wasn't as much damage to the ligaments as he has expected. He was able to easily repair the LCL and meniscus and send us on our way. Shawn has been in some pain but he has a painkiller in him and a desire to have a Pirates of the Carribean marathon. I will indulge him!

Called Home

My heart is heavy today because we just found out that our cousin passed away this morning from an arduous battle with cancer. I ache for his wife and children who will miss him tremendously. So many people will miss him. He was a big Samoan teddy bear. His culture was always so fascinating to me and his complete ability to love and welcome people is something that astounds me. Today, as I have thought about his life, I feel very lucky that I got to be related to him. I am lucky to know his children who carry on pieces of his culture and his warm personality.
My heart is also light today. I am so happy that he has been released from the heavy suffering that he has been enduring the past several weeks. The reunion with family and loved ones on the other side today was probably spectacular. I'm sure my mom was there. His spirit will continue to live without the mortal restriction of his imperfect body, he will continue to look over his family and he will wait for them to join him, and one day in the future, his spirit and body will be reunited in a perfect form. Can you imagine that sweet reunion with his wife and children?

I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of our Heavenly Father's plan. We have existed a long time before this life and will continue to exist and progress after this life with our families. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, lived a life that we are to emulate and died so that we will live again.

Things I LOVE...

Fall Nights. Going on dates with my husband. A particular Fall night... while on a date with my husband... attending the temple and basking in two hours of much needed peace.

Peace. Strength. Love. Knowledge. Grace. Love. Gratitude. Joy. Love.

Cute bulletin boards created by my sister. Good friends. Writers. (Have I ever mentioned that I love to read?) My students. My students who recognize that I am human and I need them to be good so I don't fall apart, they then sense that and are AMAZINGLY well-behaved.

Terrific. Radiant. Humble.

It is official...

After a tumultuous day one of unsurety on Thursday, we found answers on a direct Friday. The orthopedic doctor told me that I had completely torn my lcl (lateral cruciate ligament) which is on the outside of my knee, meniscus, and a possible partial tear of my acl. He suggested surgery and we are going to have it done in November. I wanted to get it done sooner, but between his surgical schedule and my teaching/coaching schedule, we decided that Nov. would be the best time. This is my first tear/breakage of any sort. On one hand this is a monumental occasion that I kind of want to celebrate. But on the other hand, this is by far the scariest thing I have done since dressing up as the Red Power Ranger for Halloween. I still get the heebie-Jeebies from that. I know that everything will be okay and that I will be able to regain the use of my knee again. The hardest part about this whole ordeal is that I will not be able to play any sport for 7-8 months. Thank goodness we didn't buy those ski passes. It is weird to think about, but I am glad that this happened. My knee had been bothering me for awhile, but my regular doctor said that I just needed to ice it and take some ibuprofen before engaging in any athletic activity. That advice was taken and put into practice but I was in constant pain. At least with this surgery, I will hopefully have the pain gone. I am so grateful for Sara and how she is helping me so much with even the tiniest, most mundane tasks that I am quickly realizing that I cannot quickly do or even do at all right now.

What a Day!

I am sitting here blogging while Shawn is playing NCAA football on his playstation. You see, it isn't what we are doing that is interesting but how. I am sitting on the loveseat with both legs dangling casually over the edge and typing on the laptop. Shawn, however, is sprawled out on the sofa with his right knee carefully supported by a pillow. He is on many milligrams of ibuprofen while I am drug-free (Happy Red Ribbon Week!). For the first time all day, his knee is out of a brace and I will shortly be putting ice on it.

We have spent the entire day driving around the Salt Lake Valley going to doctors visits and getting tests done. Shawn may have torn is LCL. Results tomorrow!