Family

I just want to brag!

I know it’s been awhile, but I just want to brag! Wednesday, April 27, I got myself dinner…Now, I have gotten myself some “easy” meals, but this was not just any old dinner: I put leftover burger & fries on a plate, reheated it, & gave myself a bib. J I love how much more independent this house allows me to be! (More on that later!)

Concerning my kids (u may be aware of some of this, if u follow me on Facebook &/or Instagram):

Zach opened his mission call 3/31. He leaves June 1 to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He will serve for 2 years in San Diego, CA mission, ASL speaking (the letter said “u will prepare to teach the gospel in ASL” ). In my opinion, Zach has been preparing for his mission since he was 6 years old!

Saturday, April 23, my son, Zach, came home from college (BYU), & as he unpacked, I sat in his room, & held a CONVERSATION with him! I’ve held conversations with family & friends just sitting by me, staring at my mouth, but he was able to walk around & unpack! I’m sure it’s not all me… In fact, I KNOW it’s not!

My youngest daughter, Sophie, competed against several middle & high school show choirs, swing, & jazz choirs in a Show Choir competition on April 1^st, w/ her amazing group, the Ringtones, last They won best vocals & grand champs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-oSBMP-Zy4

This group of girls is so motivated! Around December. They started hanging out here, & learning songs just for fun. In February, the choir & voice teachers heard them, & got involved, realizing something could happen, & since the school had no show/swing choir, they entered this last competition as the LTMS swing choir.

I know they have practiced hard! It was good to see the “fruit of their labors”! & I can’t believe these girls are in 8th grade, & just started seriously practicing a month ago! They usually practice here, & I don’t get tired of hearing them!

As for my oldest daughter, Jessie, is now 16. She has been driving for a while (she had a hardship license–since I’m disabled, but I think the license was more of a hardship for us, cuz it rarely helped us!), & she can now date (heaven help us)! In fact, this weekend, she is going to “Mormon Prom.” Last year was the 1^st time I got to check it out, & it was amazing to see EVERY girl wearing a modest prom dress! It gave a different feel to the evening that was so wonderful! I am glad my daughter can attend such a great event!

Also, since Mark & I have been so focused on Zach’s mission call, & Sophie’s choir competition, my other daughter, Jessica, took it into her own hands to do April Fools on us this year! I thought u’d enjoy seeing what she did…

I’m back!

I haven’t posted in a while, cause so much has been going on: we just moved, went on a Disney Cruise, found & trained another person to help me, & hI ave been recovering from pain that was in my only working limb (I didn’t even know why it hurt…my guess is stress & tightened muscles didn’t mix with the lack of stretching & lack of therapy in the last few weeks, but it severely “crippled” me—I could barely type, sometimes I was unable to feed myself, etc.). But good news: I am doing MUCH better, & even made myself my own bag of popcorn! (Granted, I made a mess too, but it was the 1^st time in almost 12 years that I made popcorn, & poured my own bowl!)

Since my article is being run again in LDS Living magazine again, I thought I’d share some “updates”, & share some things the original LDS Living article got wrong:

My stroke occurred in my Indianapolis, Indiana home – we moved to Austin, Texas to build an accessible home, & be by family.
I used to be the compassionate service leader, & a Young Womens (YW) teacher before that, but now I am the YW Personal Progress Leader (check out this remarkable youth program)–& recently earned my medallion again, along with both of my daughters (who were 13 & 15 at the time)!
“I Love to See the Temple” is one of my favorite primary (children)songs, but not THE favorite! (It’s this.)
I speak a LOT now. As u may be aware, I started horse therapy after this article 1^st came out (which has been AMAZING & strengthened my core so much!), & my therapist jokes that when we 1^st started, I could only say a few words, but “now (she) can’t get me to shut up!” If u get to know my Sophie, she’s so much like me, & she talks all the time, just as I used to do—so my therapist is correct in her explanation!
Our 20^th wedding anniversary was in 2014.

I got MAD skills!

I just took our dog, Cooper, for a WALK. Yep! He was just sitting calmly by the door–I have NEVER seen him so calm (& probably never will again!) so I got his leash on (that’s tricky one-handed, & took like 20 tries!), & went partway down the driveway (so Cooper couldn’t go in the street). The hardest part was keeping the leash untangled while holding the leash – as I drove my w/c!

I have to thank my husband who put the thought in my head in the 1st place, & encouraged me to “not handicap myself!” Best advice ever!

Busy a summer!

I’ve been busy this summer with several family affairs, & other things. It’s been quiet here now though, & I have time to type: All my kids have been in Utah (Soph was at ballroom dance camp, Jess was at EFY, & Zach is at summer school). However, they’ll all be back on Saturday–they fly back tonight, & they’re bringing a dog to join the family!

On Thursday, June 18, Zach left for summer term at college. (Yes, he’s coming home briefly before fall term begins!) When Mark flew with Zach to Utah (to set him up at BYU), I stayed home. Saying goodbye was like ripping off a band-aid, & besides the family being smaller, it seemed like we were fine. But we recently had our 1st family trip w/o him, & it just didn’t feel right w/o Zach, so we made him come out & briefly join us for a few days on our family reunion/50th wedding anniversary celebration in Hawaii!

The trip was a long flight, so I was worried, but the flight there was great: it had been broken up into 2 manageable flights, & for some reason, on the flight out, we had sleeping pods (those are usually for international flights.). It was a blessing that I could experience sleeping pods, cuz I found out I could lay completely flat, making an international flight a possibility! (Those pods are worth every penny to upgrade to 1st class!)

I was nervous about the 8-9 hour return flight not being broken up as well, & not having sleeping pods (Mark couldn’t find any), but we upgraded to 1st class, & since it was so late, I slept most of it, & since my chair was reclined for most of the flight, my butt was fine, & I never had to potty on the plane!

Anyway, these flights to Hawaii were the 1st flights in 11 years that I actually enjoyed. I’ve progressed enough that I can do minor shifts, & I can sorta’ help my ears when they hurt. Also, Mark’s been helping me learn to deal w/my anxiety, so I’m sure that helped me as well!

When Mark was in Utah w/o me (in June), I spoke to Mark on the phone! I’m not so good at it yet, so Sophie was there too, but I did it, & it was so awesome! Recently, my sister accidentally called me to wish me a Happy Birthday, & we actually carried on a short conversation! I was super tired when she called, so my speech wasn’t very clear, but we talked w/o anyone there, & w/o using my version of the morse code on the phone! Lately, I’ve had several good speaking days, & I have held several short conversations, & even introduced myself! It’s exciting!

I have also started to help clean up my house more: Starting in April, I began tidying up the kitchen, so this summer I have tried doing more this time. I have an OCD personality, so this was long over-due, & it feels good to be able to take pride in my home again!

20 Years Ago Today

In the summer of 2004, Mk tried sitting me on the mat (for the 1^st time since my stroke) to balance (u can see it on youtube, in “Jenny’s Story”). When I was sitting on the mat, they gingerly let go of me, not sure if I could balance. These days, when I’m put on the mat, I have Angie’s son, who will push me, crawl all over me, & try everything to knock me over, but I’ve built up my core muscles so much in horse therapy, that I remain firm! It’s amazing!

On Dec. 29th, 20 years ago today I married a wonderful man, who had built a firm testimony in Christ, & was able to stay firm through so much-it’s amazing he is still by my side! I would not be where I am today w/o his constant love & support!