Salem the fat cat

Argh, those are my words.  We have four cats (that I thought would be dead by now) and I had the chance to make it 3 this week.  Will and I noticed some drops of blood Thursday evening in the office as we were cleaning some.  Later that evening, I realized it was coming from Salem and about 9:30pm after Jake was home from bishoping and calls, I told him I thought something was wrong with Salem.  Jake began to look up things online and called a vet. He was encouraged to bring him in. The initial ER visit and treatment were estimated to be $2700-$3500 max but we received a call the following morning stating he needed surgery, which would be an additional $3500-$4500 to remove the bladder stones causing the obstruction. Now, please know we already thought $2700-$3500 was too high for a cat but we know the love Aubree has for that cat, so we paid....needless to say we did the same for the surgery. In the past, I would say people were crazy to do those things and to just put them to sleep but we were in the situation....and it was not about the cat per say but our daughter's feelings, so we saved the cat. I have mixed feelings about it but here we are.  We did decide in the future, we will put the animal down if it arises again. That is a lot of money!

Dad’s finger

 Tuesday evening dad called to let us know he got his finger caught between a compressor grate and his tractor mast. He went to an urgent care and they sent him to the emergency room. Mom was out of town, so I headed down to meet him at the ER. He was so busy being friendly he had missed the two times they called his name. When we were finally called back, they had him soak his hand in a solution, took a few pictures, and called hand doctor. The decision was made to to put 2 stitches in, wrap it, and see hand doctor the next day. I decided to spend the night and take the next day off work so I can carry him to the doctor's appointment.

We went to lunch and doctor the next day. He (doctor) was amazed it was still alive because could not see where blood flow come be coming from. They decided to see if it would live by removing stitches and wrapping it. The body is a miraculous thing. I was concerned about dad trying to clean and wrap it alone so suggested maybe his sister coming the next day to help. He was persist he didn’t need help and told me something to the effect “you do you and I’ll do me”. I chuckle thinking about it. 

Time hiccups led to blessings

Jake excels at being a bishop.  He tries to make visits regularly, especially on Sunday evenings, and helps those in need whenever he can. He could easily delegate having the sacrament administered by others but he does some of them himself still, especially to the elderly and widowed.

  We are working hard to help our boys learn, no only the importance of work but more importantly serving others.  At times, I feel that we have not taught that enough to our boys.  We had the opportunity to assist a family moving in to the ward this week. The original scheduled time was 10:00am and Jake was concerned that very few people would be able to assist as it was a Monday and people worked.  Then the arrival time kept getting pushed back. It was moved to 3:00pm and then 5:00pm, which seemed better that maybe more could come.  However it was then moved to 7:00pm which is late to unload a truck at dark.  This was a family that gave the impression when they reached out that they were not active but that information was not shared. The ward members exceeded expectations with over 40 showing up to help the 26ft truck loaded for a family of 6 was unloaded within 35 minutes.  Cookies were brought and the beginnings of friendships made. What a great opportunity for my boys to see people work together and learn firsthand that many hands make light work.  What a testament of faith that the Lord moves in mysterious ways and what seemed to be an inconvenience on times brought out dozens to support and lift. The new family could feel nothing by love and welcome. 

Watching Jake lead by example.

The ward shows up to assist when there is a need.

Answered Prayers

This past week has been a week where I have seen the Lord answer my prayers. Christopher lost a ring he got for Christmas while playing in the snow about two weeks ago and the following week we had rain almost daily.  I had prayed when the snow melted that we could find his ring. It rained hard and the ring may have moved but Christopher found it, in a flower bed that already been checked.  It was not an immediate answer to my prayer as it was found a few days later but it was found.   

I have been trying really hard not to lose my cool with our boy lately as well. One night last week, he had a really rough night and I stayed calm. I know it was intervention from above reminding me to be calm and intervening that I do stay calm.  I worry for all my children but at times worry for him a little extra.

Friday evening (1/26), Aubree sent a picture of a large open cute with the caption "ski".  She had tripped over someone who had fallen off the ski lift causing her to fall on their ski. The ski went through her pants and into her knee.  She did not realize the extent of the injury ad proceeded to ski down the hill and then to ski patrol to get a band-aid.  Ski patrol guesstimated that she lost about a pint of blood as they emptied her boot and the trail of blood down the mountain.  Fortunately, the Lord hears our prayers and she was kept safe.  She received 4 internal stitches and 16 external stitches.  Her leg is swollen, bruised, and sore but it could have been much worse. 

Snowy Days

 Aubree was initially scheduled to fly back to Utah on Monday, January 15th but her flight was cancelled due to weather conditions.  She was able to fly back yesterday after her flight being changed and delayed a few times.  It began to snow Sunday afternoon and through Sunday-Monday, we received about 7 inches.  Schools closed Tuesday and today thus far but I anticipate they will be out the remainder of the week.  Temperatures are getting as low as the low single digits with wind chills in the negatives.

Aubree and the temple

Aubree flew home yesterday to attend the temple today and take her endowment.  Her dad and I could not be more proud. Although we ideally wanted her to wait until March or this summer so all grandparents could attend and we could have more time with her, her decision to go through makes us happy.  We love to see our children making righteous decisions and growing their relationship with our Savior.  She was surrounded by many friends and family: my parents (John Eaton-Rochelle & Diane Eaton), my sisters (Sandra Adamson, Charity Hughes, and Rebekah Dickey (and Adam)), Marcia and Tony Taylor, Jason and Rebecca Bates, Sarah and Bobby Jenson, Dave and Eileen Seaman, Travis and Debbie Donald, Sherri Nelson, and Jim Ritter. It was a beautiful thing to see so many people we love there and to be in the temple with my husband, parents, sisters, and daughter.  I felt overjoyed in the celestial room as I watched people I care for enter in and most when Aubree came through the door. I can only imagine it is a glimpse of what heaven will be like.  

We are proud of her decision and love that so many love her to support her.

Welcome 2024

 2023 was filled with growth and development for our family, a year that I would not change.  It brought a closeness and learning more to rely on one another for the boys, Jake, and I. The girls learned a little more self-reliance and our family re-discovered the joy of all being together.  I anticipate that discovery will grow and become sweeter as our children continue to become adults.  Our house is still not 100% complete but it is so close. Jake has worked diligently on it and it is better than before. 

Aubree flew out this morning and Ginny leaves in the morning. It will soon be my boys (including Jake) and I. It does not seem so far distant in the past when it was a struggle to get my littles where they needed to be and now I yearn for that time again. What I would give to have kept them small and dependent upon me but I know the necessity of letting them grow and experience life.  I had a fond childhood memories but my greatest joy has come from being a wife and mother, so I want my babies to experience that same joy and development...if only, I could shield them from the occasional heartbreak though. So here is to 2024, a year of upcoming joys, disappointments, opportunities, and love.