Jenny and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary yesterday. We had a wonderful time going out and seeing the new Phantom of the Opera movie (we saw the broadway version on our honeymoon). We went to one of our favorite places to eat and had a nice dinner together and went home and shared chocolate fondue with our kids. My favorite part was at speech therapy earlier during the day when Jenny was able to verbalize an recognizable, “I love you”. It was truely her first real words. It was not perfect, but it was real and udible. She struggles with making the words in her head come to her mouth, so this was something huge. She was able to do it again later that evening, but not as easy to discern. I am so proud of her!
Jenny also got her power chair! She is so proud and loves the extra little bits of independence that it affords. At first, I found her occassionally staring at an empty chair where a child once sat. She admitted that she has been unable to move independently for so long that she forgets that she can move. She was always complaining that I stick her in front of the tv too much (she is not much of a tv watcher). Howerever, I felt vindicated because the first thing she did was drive to the tv and flip through the channels. I made sure to tease her about it. ALSO, she got a new arm support which aids her own strength in her right hand by helping her do things like feed herself and some personal grooming. We tried things out by letting her be in control of her own bowl of popcorn. It was not pretty, but she worked until all that was in the bowl was in, or made an attempt to get in, her mouth. Things have truley been wonderful for Jenny and the family. Of course, we have all had a turn on the power chair (except Sophia- because it is her incentive for potty training, and she has not done too well).
JENNY LYNN'S NEWS 
So Mark, did you play the song?
I can almost picture the popcorn in my mind. It paints a funny picture.
Happy, Happy New Year to you all!! So wonderful to read that you had a great Christmas and anniversary, and now have the power wheel chair! It is hard to believe that I am actually writing this from Luxor, EGYPT!! But here I am–enjoying this incredibly awesome trip with my sweet daughter Ranell! We have seen so much already, and have so many more wonderful adventures ahead!! We set sail tomorrow on our beautiful cruise ship, the Sonesta Moon Goddess, for points north, with many more stops along the way back to Cairo…we arrive back in USA on Jan. 4th…Love always, to all–Tami 🙂 🙂
Hi Jenny, Mark and family: Jenny, you might not remember me, but I’m your second cousin and your mom’s cousin on Irene’s side. I have been viewing Christmas cards of you and your cute family since you were a little girl. We also met at the reunion years ago with the Weeks family in the mountains of Utah. My dad is Irene’s brother by James and Bertha Fitzgerald.I heard of your stroke in your parents’ Christmas letter and want you to know our fasting, thoughts, and prayers are with you as you recover. We are so grateful that you are making such good progress and have a power chair to now get around. You have a beautiful family, and obviously, a very loving and supportive husband. You also have wonderful parents. We love them and I have always felt a special bond with your mom. We will continue to follow your recovery and progress onward and upward. Love, Kathy and Family
Hi Jenny, Mark and family: Jenny, you might not remember me, but I’m your second cousin and your mom’s cousin on Irene’s side. I have been viewing Christmas cards of you and your cute family since you were a little girl. We also met at the reunion years ago with the Weeks family in the mountains of Utah. My dad is Irene’s brother by James and Bertha Fitzgerald.I heard of your stroke in your parents’ Christmas letter and want you to know our fasting, thoughts, and prayers are with you as you recover. We are so grateful that you are making such good progress and have a power chair to now get around. You have a beautiful family, and obviously, a very loving and supportive husband. You also have wonderful parents. We love them and I have always felt a special bond with your mom. We will continue to follow your recovery and progress onward and upward. Love, Kathy and Family
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What an exciting time of year!!!!Chairs and words!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What great gifts….Keep up the GREAT work..
Happy anniversary..what a wonderful ability to do dinner and a movie, sometimes it feels like there is no time for anything like that, but I am so glad that you are taking that special time together.
God Bless You All!
In Love and Faith
Janet
And I am amazed and proud of you all. What an accomplishment and progress! “The Phantom of the Opera” is one of our all-time favorites, also. I think it teaches many fundamental Gospel principles, i.e. forgiveness, unconditional love, redemption and hope. Wonderful that you could enjoy it. We hope to see it soon.
Best wishes and our prayers are with you for 2005.
Richard Reiser,