Tender Mercies

 It never ceases to amaze me how quickly Arizona landscape changes.

 

When I first moved here, three and a half years ago, I wasn't excited about the overwhelming number of cactus, the lack of green grass and the hot summers.  I have learned to see the desert differently.  Today we went on a hike with our friends the Withams.  This is what you saw at the beginning of our adventure.  

As we became immersed in this  beautifully diverse canyon, the landscape began to change and at the end of our path were these really neat pools of water set in stone with natural slides and waterfalls 

The hike was long, almost three miles from where the tram let us off and then we missed the tram going back and so we walked an extra mile and a half, but it was totally worth it.  

When we first arrived at the falls I took Carlee out of the hiking backpack and she played in the sand.  I was so grateful to have a good, vomit free day, to be on such a beautiful hike, and then to relax and just enjoy watching my kids explore.  It was a perfect moment. 

What a blessing it is to have such fun friends.  I am grateful for new memories and a perfect day! (Well, almost perfect, Chad had to work today, so we missed him.)

 

My Sweet Carlee

A good friend of mine told me a story about her son.  After years of struggling with him and his individual challenges, she has said that she needed him as a son, more then he needed her to be his mother; because he was the son who brought her to her knees most often. 

I little while ago I posted about some of the challenges we have faced with Carlee.  Most of them relate to her issues with food and vomiting.  At times I feel completely overwhelmed.  No one seems to have any answers as to why she keeps throwing up, they just know that something isn't right.  I have often prayed in hopes of feeling enlightened and figuring it out, but the answers have yet to come. 

In the past month Carlee has spent at least one day out of every week, and sometimes two days, throwing up.  On the 19th she got sick again and when she was still throwing up the evening of the 20th we took her to the ER.  She was dehydrated and her sodium was incredibly low from all of the vomiting.  This picture was actually taken in between vomiting sessions on the 20th.  She loves bubble baths and if you didn't know how sick she was you would think she is just a cute baby having fun. 

In light of everything we are finally going to meet with a pediatric allergist and I am praying that she will at least be able to guide us in the right direction, when all previous paths have been dead ends.  (Remember how she wasn't supposed to be allergic to anything???) 

I came home from a beautiful hike today and opened the Ensign for the month of March.  In the message from the first presidency it quotes sections of the song, "Master the Tempest is Raging."  The same song I had made mention to earlier this month.  The song expresses even more then I had previously referenced just how I have hope to feel as we go through this trial.

"Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore."

I hope that we will be able to rest from this challenge soon.  I pray that with the help of the Lord, physicians may finally be guided towards the correct solution to Carlee's digestive disorders.  Until then, I am grateful for the peace I have felt in moments (and there have been many) when I have been called to my knees for help and guidance. 

"No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies
They all shall sweetly obey thy will;
Peace, be still."

As my weaknesses are strengthened, maybe one day I too will be strong like the master, who isn't swallowed up by the cares of this world but is instead able to use all things for good.  

Jazz for Fun

I have learned to love Jazz music through the years, 

but even more then the music, I love my cute little jazzy drummer and trumpet player. 

Every year this cute group of 4-8th graders travel around AZ and into CA for Jazz Festivals and performances.  They blow people away when the director has them stand up and he announces how old (or should I say, young) each performer is.  I am so impressed with the amount of hard work and dedication the girls put into learning their instruments and performing.  It is really fun to hear how much they are improving. 

Gotta Dance

 I have three cute ballroom dancing kids who just attended one of the largest ballroom dance competitions in the US.  I don't think any of them expected to see and compete against so many amazing kids, but they loved it and left more inspired then ever to become awesome dancers. 

Here the kids are practicing in the hallways.  I loved this photo of Jake, because he totally had his game face on.  He's only been dancing for 8 months but he really wanted to win.  

 

Sara and her partner Jim were the only ones from our dance team to make it through three rounds in the swing competition.  But, with anywhere from a 125-200 couples competing and a first round elimination of almost half the couples dancing, it was tough.  I think we all learned just how seriously people take ballroom dancing.  I didn't think that the fake tan thing was real, but it TOTALLY IS.  I thought that part was funny.  If you've watched any ballroom dancing movies, you will know what I am talking about.  In the end, the kids all had a great time and danced really well.  I am really proud of all of them. 

It Snowed!!!!!

In October, my kids started praying for snow.  Not snow in AZ, or in the mountains, but snow at our home outside of Tucson, AZ.  I didn't have much hope for an actual snowstorm.  "Oh ye of little faith, right?"  I tried to point out the snow to my children several times when it would appear in the neighboring mountain ranges or on the news in other parts of AZ, but they didn't want snow somewhere else, they wanted snow in their backyard.

Well, miracle of miracles. . . . It snowed!  It actually snowed twice.  I think that is a record for this area.  Never second guess God's ability to hear and answer the sweet prayers of little children. 

Buddies

 It's hard being number 5.  It's even harder when you have a 6 year gap between you and your next oldest sibling.   Then you add the fact that all the people your family does stuff with have kids the same age as your older siblings.  End Result:  Carlee LOVES her cousin TY!  He is her one friend that she plays with weekly (thanks to a babysitting swab Cindy and I have worked out so that I can help at school and she can play volleyball) and she LOVES him.   

 I suppose we should work on establishing friendships with other kiddos Carlee's age, but I am grateful she has a cute cousin to play with only a mile and a half away. 

One Last Hurrah!!

 

Two years ago my mom felt like our family needed some time to heal and regroup.  What better way to do that then go to the "Happiest Place on Earth."  With Season passes in hand we have had a lot of fun vacations, but now our most recent passes have expired so we are taking a break.  

 This trip was our last hurrah! We celebrated Jake's birthday and had a lot of fun going on the new Car's rides.  Going to Disney at the end of January is definitely the way to go.  I don't think we waited more than 5-10 minutes most places. 

 I don't expect Carlee to remember our adventures, but we will go again when she is older.  Until then, it's been a great 2 years.  Thanks grandma for encouraging us to go. 

Peaks and Valleys

I think sometimes that life is a like a majestic landscape carved by our experiences.  Just as you begin to feel the peaceful decent down the mountain rough rapids, rugged terrain and winds that threaten to blow you off course become your companion.  All of course adding depth, and beauty to the expanse, but not without a price. 

This week has been one of those weeks where you feel like Singing, "Master the Tempest is Raging."  I may not be climbing a mountain of sorts, but their have been plenty of challenges.  I began the week teaching seminary for two days and finding out Carlee had ringworm.  On Wednesday Carlee started throwing up, yet again, leading one doctor to recommend going off dairy (again) and the other doctor to contradict the diagnosis but recommend trying it out anyway.  Thursday night I was sick and Sunday night Carlee got a real stomach bug and threw up from 1-5:30am every 15-20 minutes.  Not to mention regular Sunday lessons, a blue and gold banquet I was a part of and all the regular weekly stuff my kids are trying to do.

I'm sure all of you have weeks like mine, full of small disturbances that begin to add up and accumulate into STRESS.  Add feelings of sadness over the son we don't have with us, credit card bills, and an arm that isn't working right and you have all the elements for a perfect storm.

I watched Elder Bednar's CES Broadcast last night and was reminded of the importance of not shrinking.  Of excepting the will of the Lord and allowing that faith to propel you forward.  I asked Carlee today if she knew her life was going to be so hard.  She nodded, "YES."  Then I said, "and you still wanted to come." Smiling she nodded, "YES."