New Blog...

Well, I finally sat down and created a blog specifically for my photography and other creative interests.  You can find it under my profile on blogger, or, here's the address: http://creativejuiceflows.blogspot.com/.  Check it out.

My Mimo...

At the beginning of October I drove out to California with my sis, Cortney (C-Dog). We were going to see my grandmother, who I have always called Mimo, who was in the Oroville Hospital. I had gone to school that morning (I leave at 530 a.m.) and after two classes Mom called and said we should come, so I drove all the way back home to pack (1 1/2 hours), packed and gave my girlies loves, then drove to Provo (4 1/2 hours) to pick Cortney up. We then drove all night to Gridley, CA. We went to the hospital and spent the day with Mom and Mimo. By the time I got back to my parents' house and into bed, it was about 1130 p.m. So, I'd been up 46 hours. It was a good thing Cort introduced me to RockStar energy drinks (I usually avoid them).
When I saw Mimo for the first time I was shocked. She looked nothing like her normal self. Two days before she had woken up swollen. Apparently her entire body was swollen, including her face. It really freaked Mom out, so she took her to the ER. They admitted her with Congestive Heart Failure. I guess that if Mom had kept her home she would have died. Her kidneys were also failing. As I sat with her she kept seeing people who weren't really there. We felt that the veil must have been really thin for her at that point. She kept saying how scared she was, and that broke my heart every time. I think the thing she asked that stood out most was, "Does God love me?" I couldn't help but tear up and struggle to speak. I told her that of course He does. I got to thinking about challenges we each face and how we seem to go through a cycle. At our low points we feel alone and wonder if God truly loves us, and if so, why are we suffering. After we make it through the low point we are able to feel His love and recognize the lesson (most of the time) He wanted us to learn.
I was thankful that Mimo accepted several priesthood blessings. After being there for a week, she was able to go home. CHF is a permanent condition, so in reality her heart could fail at any time, but her kidneys returned to functioning normally, so that was good. She is doing better, and I'm so thankful to have a little more time with her.

*Oh, the photo is of Mom's hands holding Mimo's hands.

Halloween...

Laura was Sleeping Beauty.

Kaitlyn was Belle.

(Aaron's mom made both of their dresses and did an awesome job!)

Avery was tired of Halloween. She was Pooh Bear.

Laura throwing a ring.

Kaitlyn's turn.

Carving pumpkins a few days before Halloween.

Laura's cat pumpkin.

Kaitlyn's skeleton pumpkin (her's HAD to be scary).

Aaron did the happy pumpkin.

Halloween was a fun event for us, especially learning how things are done in our new community. Our ward didn't have a trunk-or-treat, which was kinda strange. There was a carnival at the elementary school from 430-630 p.m. that the entire town went to, then everyone goes trick-or-treating. Laura and Kaitlyn had a blast going door to door. One house had a tunnel full of spooky things that led to their porch. A guy was dressed as Frankenstein (the most convincing mask I'd ever seen) and walked towards the girlies, moaning. Laura was practical... she asked if it was a costume and since it was he didn't bother her. Kaitlyn was terrified. She kept asking about Frankenstein throughout the night. As we pulled up to our house when we were finished for the night, she asked, "Mommy? Does Frankenstein know where our house is?" I snickered, then replied, "No. Mommy and Daddy do not tell monsters where we live, so you're fine." She never mentioned him after that. I was worried about nightmares, but thank goodness there weren't any.