Seminary Graduation!

The Decatur Ward Seminary Grads! Chris Ferris, Sara's friend and non-member received a 1 year certificate of acheivement, we are sooo proud of him!

The graduate names are: Chris Ferris, Sara Trigg, Adam Holden, Monica and Ashley Jenness, and Sister Debbie Fredrickson, the instructor!

The Big Weekend Slide Show

The Big Weekend!

Friday, May 1, 2009, started off with a bang! Stephanie Willis came up from Birmingham to go with us to the hospital for Phil's big brain surgery! Thanks Steph for your support! We had to be at the hospital by 6:00 am and had to fight the weather all the way. Phil was very nervous, but thanks to the priesthood and those who magnify it, he was pretty calm, and all went well with surgery. The surgeon was very confident that he would go home the next morning and that we would see significant results in less than 24 hours. He was right! We are thrilled. Now Phil just has to recover from the procedure. Today is that magical day 3, so he is really feeling lousy.

Saturday, we came home from the hospital and watched Sara get ready for her big evening at the Senior Prom for Austin High School. Julieanne Lowman, in our ward and one of our best friends, helped Sara get ready as I was busy with Phil. We were able to go to her house and take a few pictures as they were heading out. Then we ran home to get Phil back in the recliner. She looked great and was excited!

We are tired today, but so happy that all went well with Phil's surgery, and yes, he has seen major improvement just over the last 24 hours and hope to have continued improvement as the shunt does it's job. Thanks to everyone who has prayed, loved, supported, and physically been able to help! We love you!

A Very Happy Surprise!

Saturday Jessica and Papa drove away for the great wild west! We did pretty good keeping it together emotionally, but still shed a few tears! My sister and kindred spirit felt my pain and very sweetly sent these beautiful flowers to cheer me up! I think they did more cheering for Phil because he truly had the hardest time! It has been so soothing to come in and see this big beautiful arrangement sitting on the table! The See's candy is from Mom, and might I say with all of our favorites! Thanks for helping to cheer us up!

Leaving Home . . . .

Here I sit . . . .

We have been busy trying to get Jessica outfitted and physically ready to leave our home to start her new adventure out in the wild west. Some days have been filled with emotion, and other days excitement. Do you remember days like this? I do!!

Yesterday was a crazy day. Storms everywhere! Really bad weather! But that did not stop us from meeting up in the afternoon at Sam's club to buy some new tires for Jessica's little Kia Sportage. We then ventured to the mall in Huntsville to outfit Jessica with some new blue jeans that don't smell like Big Bob Gibson's! (our dogs love her when she comes home from work!) We stopped at Macaroni Grill for what the girls are calling "The Last Supper" and enjoyed each other's company! We raced home to Decatur all exhausted and ready for bed!

Today, the new tires are going on the vehicle and chores must be done for the new week. I am not ready for Easter, but will be ready by this afternoon. Coaching Jessica to get packed and staying happy will be a chore, but one that can be done! Papa better gear up, he will have a very eventful trip across country with Jessica! We will send him home with a door prize for his willingness to help! I think Peach Nehi will do the trick! Sometimes just thinking about all that needs to be done is a little overwhelming! Oh well, just get started and the rest will take care of itself!

Eric is off at the Rodeo in Salina, Utah this weekend. I know he loves this and enjoys being there and working hard! I wish I could see him in action! He wrote the girls a letter this week and a short note to Phil and I which we really loved! I know he is a crazy mess, but we love him!

Well, the day has started and I haven't. I guess I better get busy! Wal-Mart is waiting!

Thank You Jen!

Great video that Jennifer McCleod shared on her blog! How touching and inspiring!

What's going on the . . . . in here!

Not too long ago, (a few months) Phil started feeling, not quite himself. I encouraged him to go see our family doctor. He really did not want to go, but eventually he did. He told me that he felt like an old man in a young man's body and couldn't quite put his finger on it. The doctor ran all kinds of tests. We did find out that he has arthritis in his knees and he takes meds for that now and we also found out that he has a Chiari Malformation and hydrocephalus. This little thing is at the base of his skull and is causing quite the stir. We are now pursuing treatment options with a Neurosurgeon. He has had 1 CT, 2 MRI's, and has seen an ophthalmologist. We also found out that he has some macular degeneration in one of his eyes. I guess he was right. He is an old man in a young mans body! We have always joked about him being the old man, but now I guess it's really true.

One of the things the neuro doc has talked about doing is a shunt to releave pressure and driain fluid from his brain, the other thing is the decompression at the back of the skull. As a matter of fact, Stephanie Willis (Hatch) had this very thing done about 4 years ago. Very interesting! Her experience, which turned out good, is what we are looking forward to. So, right now, we are waiting on the ophthalmologist to send her report back to the neuro and we will see what happens after that.

We have had the opportunity to fast and pray and exercise our faith so that we might have the best outcome. Lisa, here is another story of the "works" part of the faith factor!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold-Chiari_malformation

Here is a link that gives a pretty good explanation of what it is and how to treat it! So, basically, Phil's brain is bigger than his skull! We always knew he was smart, but really!!

RELIEF SOCIETY! YEAH!

Click on the short video! I love this!

www.reliefsocity.lds.org

Life is like a box of chocolates . . . .

You really never know what life may bring. You do all that you can and all that you have been taught to stay sane in a world full of turmoil and trials. It is because of the these teachings that we stay on course and rely on our Heavenly Father to help us muddle through! Sometimes even small things seem huge! But no matter what, we have been carried and the trials seem smaller, more manageable.

Our lives have taken quite a shift lately. Of course, Eric has been gone from our home, but not our hearts for 3 years. We miss him and love him, but really it is a good miss! Jessica is preparing to move west. We are proud of her decision and grateful for the support that we receive from family and friends in this endeavor. I am already getting my mind in the mode for "loosing" more child to adulthood! Just thinking about all that needs to be done and following through is very overwhelming. I know she feels that way too. She is her mother's child in that her heart is directly linked to her tear ducts, so needless to say, this has been a very emotional week for us. You never really think when they are small that this time will come so fast! Mom told me once when I was very frustrated with the kids when they were little, "Don't wish this time away." What great advice because I know I have done just that from time to time without really realizing it!

We have been having "do you remember when" sessions lately. How did we ever get through all those years! Have we been good enough parents? Did we teach them all the important things they need to know? Thanks to a wonderful family, they were always surrounded by examples of love, kindess, and charity. Will they reflect that example in their lives?

Not too long ago at church, one of the member of our ward came up to us and said, "Hey, you guys are almost empty nesters!" That was kind of a reality check. I guess that is inevitable. We are fastly becoming accustomed to the idea! What am I crying about! Life really is like a box of chocolates . . . .

One Of My Heroes!

I have the great priviledge of teaching the 15, 16, and 17 year old Sunday School class at church! What a great group of youth! I love it and them! I am also grateful for the opportunity to study the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History this year! I love the prophet, Joseph, and this little video really hits the mark!

Super Bowl Sunday Again!

I think this is where I started my blog last year! On Super Bowl Sunday! Again, I find myself chronically my experiences for the last few weeks and realized this momentous event! I have enjoyed reading and keeping up with other blogs this past year, and I am continually inspired by them! I am grateful for friends and family! So this would be a good time to add yet another silly posting!

Yesterday when I got home from the mall with Sara, a package had arrived from Utah. My friend and kindred spirit sister had sent me a package! What could it be! T-shirts! Not just any t-shirts, but ones that attest to the victory for the Utah Utes in the historic Sugar Bowl where they whooped Alabama's can! As you can see, we gladly put them on. Not only did we get t-shirts, but one of my favorite candy bars, the Big Hunk, which you cannot get here in Alabama. Yes, she does know my weakness! I had a really hard time wanting to share this treat, but alas, I did! As you can tell by Phil's fashionable eye wear, we did watch the 3-D halftime show during the Super Bowl!

KIDS DO SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS IN SACRAMENT MEETING!

Today during sacrament meeting, the Hight family was sitting in front of us. They have three children, with the two oldest being girls. These girls are like bulls! They are stout and loud, but very cute! Audrey, who is three, turned around and said very loudly while pointing to Phil's head, "You're pink!" (I think because he has no hair and the top of his head shows!) Her mother giggled and so did we! We have pointed to his head all day today mimicking Audrey's revelation! I don't care who you are, this was funny! He thought this was very funny too!

Phil was released from teaching primary and today was returning all of his books and picture packets and lesson "helps." All of this was stacked on the bench next to him. On this stack was a yellow bean bag. Katie, Audrey's sister spotted it and very quietly asked Phil for it. He gave it to her and she very quietly said, "We'll keep an eye on it." And then very matter of factly turned around with her treasure.

Santa Brought a Wii for Christmas

We have had more fun with the Wii! I think Phil and I have had more fun that we thought! We love the bowling and here we are demonstrating our "professional" bowling skills!

The Sugar Bowl

Nana and Papa are proud owners of Alabama football apparel. They are shown here sporting their new fleece coverings while watching Alabama get their socks knocked off by Utah! As you can see, they are posing in front of the TV showing stats from the game!

Don't you know there were a lot of Alabama fans who were not so happy about the final score of this game! Oh well, as we say in Alabama, "Roll Tide!" Maybe next year!

New Year's and Bunco

Fireworks

Phil and I went out on New Year's eve and had a wonderful time with friends in the ward. First we went to Mike and Peggy Messervy's for social time and some great hors' de vours (or as Phil would say, "some snacks!")

After the Messervey's, we went down to Jared and Sheila McLaughlin's for more "snacks," fireworks, and some football on the big screen. Here you will see some pictures of the fun! We did not get home until after midnight. The girls were at home with their friends and some "snacks" and called every once in a while to check on us. At one time Jessica asked what time we were going to get home! I found this very ironic!

Every year one of my closest friends, Philomena Jones throws a "Friends and Family Bunco" day on New Year's Day! It is awesome! we have sooo much fun! We eat some great food, hamburgers and hotdogs, homemade mac'n cheese, and we all bring a dessert! I took that wonderful banana pudding that we love so much! It was personally requested as the "Banana Fluffy Stuff" pictured here!

Afterwards, we have cocoa! Philomena is a mean cocoa maker!! We all put a few bucks in the pot and the winners are chosen at the end of the game! All the little kids play and we have a great time! We look forward to it every year! This was our 4th year to attend! As usual, the Trigg's won all the money! This is a running joke! What a great way to start a new year. We are truly blessed with great family and wonderful friends!

Trans Siberian Orchestra!