A Family Gathering

Today our family gathered for a celebration of eternal families.  It was a chance for us all to grieve and laugh together. I am just so grateful for the restored gospel and the knowledge that no matter what hardships this life brings, my family can be together in the next life.  While today was our 34th anniversary, I found that I was thinking less about our wedding day and more about the day when we were sealed.  That day when my Sweetie and I knelt together in the temple and baby Bossy's hands were placed on ours, I knew that she and all my other sweet babies would be sealed with us.  My dear children have so far all chosen that same beautiful covenant, and because of that, I know my grandbabies are also protected under those wonderful blessings.  Tomorrow morning will be a hard day, especially for my dear Bossy and her husband.  Somedays it feels like it wasn't so long ago that she was the same age as Little Warrior or Twizlet.  Please continue to pray for them and their children that they can feel the comfort of the Atonement and eternal families.  

Sweetie's Work Party at Lagoon

It's been a rough few days.  My sweetie's work party at Lagoon was on Friday and since Bossy was still in the hospital, we sought permission to take Taco and Burrito with us. They really needed a break from all the sorrow and since the rest of us got in free, including dinner, it seemed like the perfect solution.

The Dog Walker even had the night off and he invited Cat Lover to come with him since we hadn't heard from Prima Donna and we didn't want the ticket to be wasted. We had so much fun! Our favorite ride for everyone was the bumper cars as we laughed and bumped and bashed into each other.

The Dog Walker rang the bell to win his sweetie a prize.

The Dog Walker and Cat Lover had a different favorite. They had been planning all week to share their first kiss on the Sky Ride. They even made sure I was in the car behind them so I could see everything. Not that I was expecting to witness that first kiss, so my camera was stowed safely in my pocket. This is a picture of the SECOND kiss!

They seemed to enjoy it...

We played until we were exhausted which came much sooner for some of us and by 10:00 we were walking to the van for our long ride home.  It was all a nice sort of reset to help us through the next couple of days.

Tonight I've been working on a little quilt to wrap our sweet Calder in. Bossy is making him a tiny gown. It's so difficult to say goodbye. I'm so grateful to know that families are forever.

A Celestial Son is Still Born

Have you ever seen a picture like this one?

They typically show up on doors way back in the corner of Labor and Delivery. Those in the front don't want to know that losing their child to a stillborn birth is even a possibility. I wish I didn't know.

On Wednesday while we were still in Philly, Bossy went in for a routine doctor's appointment. After 30 minutes of trying to find the heartbeat, they sent her to the hospital where an ultrasound confirmed what she had already feared.

Our little Calder Mathias would never take his first breath.

On Thursday they brought her in for an induction and the tiny leaf with the teardrop was placed on her door. After many hours, late last night she finally delivered. My sweetie, Drama Queen, Teach, Dog Walker, and I traveled across the valley so we could meet our sweet boy before he is laid to rest.

He is tiny, only 12 ounces, but 10 inches long. He has long slender fingers and long legs. A beautiful boy in every way. This morning he was given his name and a blessing by his grandfather. Such a valiant little spirit that only needed to gain his body. It's a privilege to be his grandmother.

Graveside Service on Monday.

Guest Blog: Busy, Busy, Busy by Drama Queen

Hey blogworld,

Just a quick note from us dozen.  We have been very busy this week trying to make it through while Momma and Daddy are off on their anniversery trip.  DogWalker and I both work evenings now so it's been a bit tricky getting the kids all off in their different directions.  Tonight, at least, was the last night of it and the parents are now home.  I know you are all excited to hear from Momma now that they are back, but they are both totally zonked out from the jet lag.  So let me just tell you about the kids' Labor Day adventure.

It started early with Sport heading out to help put up the neighborhood flags.  Then once the other kids were up, I got them to do a spot of cleaning before having an official vote on how to spend our day.  After weighing the pros and cons and counting ballots we decided to go to the Seven Peaks Fun Center in Lehi.  On the way down we used our month coupon from the awesome Chik-fil-A calenders Baby Doll gave us for Christmas.  Tummies full, we powered through glow-in-the-dark mini golf, two rounds of laser tag, a few rides, and another round of mini-golf.  I won the first round of mini-golf, and Sport smoked us on laser-tag.  Baby Doll was so super fierce with her defensive tactics there: if we hadn't been on the same team, I bet she would have destroyed me.  On our second go at mini-golf we were on the outside course, and it wasn't until we were starting to lose our energy at hole nine did we realize this was a full 18-hole course.     So I did the grown-up thing and walked us down the wrong path and straight to hole 17.

The way home we grabbed some soft-serve ice cream, but we had to hurry because not 30 minutes after we got home, we were serving Grandpa dinner.  Sadly, most of the family couldn't make it, but we did talk Bossy's family around awhile later and we all enjoyed sticky Hawaaiian meatballs and fresh pineapple.  And just in case you were worried, yes, we did watch Newsies.