As The Door Closes on 2008...

Happy New Year!! WOW--I can't believe it's 2009. We partied the night away at the Aggie basketball game and then came home and tried to watch NBC's New Year's celebration but we didn't make it very far before the lights went out and 2009 arrived while we slept!

Today as I was putting away the Christmas decorations and putting up snowmen and winter decorations, I thought back over the past year and had some thoughts and memories I'd like to share -- probably more for my own good than anyone else's.

January 2, 2008 -- My Grandma Jackson passed away. On Christmas night 2007, my parents and grandma went around to all the children's house and it was so fun to have her at our house interacting with the boys and enjoying the Christmas holiday. The following Saturday, we all went to the Thomas Christmas Party in Ogden. Grandma was there and enjoying herself. She kept telling me "I don't know these people." (This is my mom's side of the family -- so why would grandma know these people?) I told her "Grandma, it's okay -- I don't know some of these people either!!" On the drive home, she became very disoriented and confused. Shalise (as a hospice nurse) called me to let me that Grandma had developed a bad cough and her lungs were starting to fill with fluid. I went to see her on Monday knowing that would probably be one of the last times I saw her alive. Wednesday, which was New Year's Day, Shalise called me and asked if I'd met the pharamist to get some liquid morphine. I took the medicine to Lewiston and said my goodbye's to Grandma. I knew she wasn't doing well and was missing grandpa so badly. On January 2, 2008, early in the morning she passed away. I knew when our phone rang at about 7:00am, it was my mom telling me the news. I was happy for the reunion I knew that grandma was having with grandpa, her sisters, her parents but I felt a very big hole in my life. My grandma was the one who always listened, who always told me how great I was, the one who always wanted the best for me. Grandma was the only grandma I knew, and having 3 brothers before my sisters were born, I spent a lot of time at grandma's. I also had the greatest privilege of spending many summer days and nights with grandma, grandpa and Cap and Chief. Grandpa and Grandma had a way of making you feel like the most important person. I look forward to the day when I can spend hours talking with grandma again.

June 2008 - we bought a above ground pool. I spent $50 on it -- wondering if we'd ever use it. We had hours and hours and hours of fun in the pool this past summer. Except for Sundays - we didn't swim on Sundays, somebody got in it every single day. April and I had our hour of pool time on Tuesdays enjoying the sun and talking. I cherish those chats and look forward to more this coming summer. Tyler and Kody, neighbor kids, cousins, friends, I never knew for sure who I'd find in the pool. We definitely got our $50 worth and then some!!

July 2008 - Camping. Four Wheeling, Bear Lake and Pickleville Playhouse with Randy and Shonie. We spent a weekend up Logan Canyon camping. This was a trip we planned spur of the moment, but had so much fun. Tyler and Kody love to hang with Randy -- of course he is just a BIG boy himself! I think this will be something we try to do every year, next summer Ryan will be home from his mission and will come with us also -- something we will all be looking forward too!!

Fall 2008 - Football Fun. We traveled with Tyler for football. His regular season wasn't the best season but he still enjoyed playing and then he played in some extra tournaments. We enjoy the friendships we've made with other parents and enjoy watching Tyler play.

Fall 2008 - Basketball Fun. Kody was finally old enough to play competitive basketball. His team was young but developed and became a good little team. Hopefully, we'll have several more years with this team.

Christmas 2008- SIMPLE . As I was putting away the decorations, I realized just how simple the decorating had been this year. It kept us focused on the true meaning of Christmas and on enjoying the season and spending time with family. I feel like we've spent more time together this season than we have in a long time -- and there hasn't been too much fighting!! I was a little sad cleaning up today realizing that in a few short days our lives will be back to the KRAZY schedule and relaxed family time will be a thing of the past.