Where have you been??

I can remember lots of things about my childhood growing up here in Nebraska.
Catching fireflies in the summer and keeping them in mason jars hoping they would be my nightlight.
Snow drifts taller than me.
Bundling up in all my snow gear to head to the hill to sled on "Snow days" off from school.
Decorating bikes for the 4th of July parade.
Staying out from dawn 'til dusk on my rad banana seat bike heading up to the cul-de-sac to hang out with all the neighborhood kids and play kick the can and jailbreak.

And of course, the sweet, sweet taste of Jello Pudding Pops. My favorite was the chocolate/vanilla swirl. Then sometime in the 80's they were snatched from existence. Where have you gone sweet, sweet pudding pops?? I wondered day after day. Once in a while as my kids and I snacked on Jello pudding I would excite them with stories of a wonderful concoction of frozen pudding with their eyes all aglow!! We even tried to make our own sad version by putting popsicle sticks into the pudding cups and freezing them. Yuck. Not even close!! Well, last night I was already heading to sleep (I've got a nasty cold) when my babe came home from a meeting and from stopping at the store to pick up formula for Miss Whitney. He said, "Close your eyes. . . " Dear Pudding Pops, where have you been??? I've missed you so.

Name them one by one. . .

Friday afternoon I received a disturbing phone call. The husband of a gal I grew up with here in Lincoln (she was just a couple years ahead of me in YW) had died. She is now a widow at the age of 33, with 6 kids. The details of what happened are still unknown. The autopsy was supposed to be happening today. The initial guess was perhaps a staph infection from a surgery he had on Tuesday to amputate a finger he had injured. My heart aches for her. Of course I tried to imagine myself in that situation. Her oldest is 13 I think. He is in a wheelchair from having cerebral palsy due to a premature birth. Her youngest is a girl just a few months older than my Whitney. Most of the day on Saturday as I played with my kids and watched Matt play with them, I was thinking of this poor family, completely broken apart.

As I pulled into the parking lot for 9am church, I noticed her getting out of her van. She's not in our ward, but her mother is, and I guess they all had stayed at her mom and dad's for the weekend. I don't know her very well, except for hellos here and there if we see each other, but as a mother and a wife I knew I had to try to do something. I had gone over in my head anything I could do for her. . . groceries, a meal, a package of diapers, babysitting, but it all just seemed useless. I needed to get inside to get some things done with my new calling, but that all would have to wait. I rushed over to her van, as she was helping unload her oldest son with his wheelchair. As I approached she asked how I was. Me?? I said I certainly didn't care how I was, how was she??? I hugged her for some time and told her to please tell me if there was anything I could do. She said "well, I don't even know what I'm doing." I hugged her again, and said it would probably be a while and that was ok. I picked up her sleeping baby from her carseat, grabbed a bag and headed inside with her, and her other children. I have no idea how she was even there that morning, or how she will make it through the funeral on Saturday, except for her relying on the strength and prayers of others.

All weekend I've been counting up my blesssings and I am loaded full, how about you?

Rocker babes and a princess

Ok, I'm way late, but here's some photos of the girls from Halloween. They all were so cute, but Whitney definitely stole the show as our little punk rocker (earring and all). She just looks like she's defying against everything doesn't she??

Whooooo are you? Who? Who? Who? Who?

At my job I usually have a different perspective of people. Usually upside down. Ok. Confused? Let me explain. I'm a dental hygienist, so through most of the appointment I'm looking at the patient as if they're upside down, or at least sideways. I also, thankfully, am usually looking at their mouth instead of their face so I usually just see this with my peripheral vision. To make a long story short (too late) people look much different when seen with just peripheral vision. Here's a list of the people I've seen in my office lately. Of course, when they really stand up and I get a face to face look at them, they usually look nothing like this person. . .


The head guy from CSI (the original) that plays Gil Grissom. I think his real name is William Anderson??
Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty
Shirley Jones---the Partridge Family Mom
An older version of my mom
My brother in law Sterlings twin (they say everyone has one.)
The red head Dr. from ER actor Scott Grimes, he plays Dr. Morris on the show.
Ewan McGregor--without the beard (ok, now I know you're jealous.)

I'll keep you posted on which actor/rock star/family member shows up next.