Weekend Report

For my mom's birthday this year I took her to a concert at the Scera Shell theatre. It was a beautiful night with perfect weather and we were in the front row. We saw John Michael Montgomery. I just love his songs. I never like country until I met Josh. He loved all music and I learned a lot from him. I started liking some country music. In fact loving a lot of it. Right before Josh died he took me to a John Michael Montgomery concert. I remember that night so clearly. I can even remember what I was wearing and how right after we went to Gilley's and Josh bought a black cowboy hat that he looked so good in! During the concert at one point during a song he pulled me up to the front of the stage and danced with me. He held me so close. I felt like it was just us alone. Not us in front of thousands of people. I must have had my eyes closed because when the song was over there were tons of couples that had come up. I never noticed. It was just the two of us in that magical moment. One of my fondest memories. I also discovered at that concert that he played a song I was very familiar with. It was a song that played at my step-dad's funeral. It was my mom's and his special song. I cried a little. So, when I heard he was coming to town, I just had to take my mom. We both shed a few tears, but had an amazing time listening to amazing music and having fond memories of our husband's we miss so much!

Yesterday, Christopher was ordained an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. It was beautiful. Dennis ordained him and a couple of his friends got to participate. They are all growing up so fast. His mission call is due on September 8th. Unless held up to go over medical issues it will be that day. This is such an exciting time for Chris. He starts Temple prep classes this week. I cannot wait to go through the Temple with him. After his ordination, we had people stop by and have some refreshments and chat. It was a nice gathering.

Yesterday was Dennis' birthday also. We had a nice dinner with his kids. I made ribs for the first time and they were so good. I hope he had a Happy Birthday. He has finally gotten our flu from last week. Poor birthday boy. Now, I need to recover from yesterday's parties and do a million more things this week. Whew, I'm tired!

What a month!!!

When I got home from my trip it was my birthday. I had so many birthday wishes it just made my day. It was a very nice birthday, but I only have a few years left in the 30's and I don't know how I feel about being 40. Dennis will be 60 by then so I should still feel pretty young. Ha!A few days later was girl's camp. It was AMAZING!!! I can't tell you how much I LOVE these girls. It was so spiritual and unifying. I think all of our testimonies grew. I cannot wait until next year. We won the award for first place for conoeing. They also wrote humble on our award. I think that fits. Our girls were cheering for everyone!

While I was away girl's camp, Chris passed out again. Emily was home alone with him and had to call 911 because she didn't know what to do. She was so brave. Chris also turned his mission papers in to the bishop. We should be getting a call within a few weeks. This was the picture I took so he could send it with his paper. I guess the prophet might see this one. He also slipped on the bathroom floor and hit his head in the shower. Then he lost his balance backwards and fell through the wall in the hallway. I had to take him to the emergency room for a CT scan at 1 a.m. because he hit his head in the same spot his brain contusion was. Everything looked good and he came home. He has had a headache since and has been trying to rest. Poor boy!

Maybe he should have been wearing his famous watermelon helmet. This is some of the silly things my kids and their friends do for fun. They have been making these helmets for a few years now. Thankfully they have learned that the watermelon that they clean out can be eaten. The first time I came home and Chris and his friend were wearing matching halves and a big pile of watermelon was on the grass. Boys are so silly sometimes!

What has Dennis been up to? This. When he is not at work you can find him in his favorite chair sleeping away. A lot of times when I am still talking to him. Sometimes he won't get up and I have to sleep alone. Then he wakes up in his chair and asks why I let him sleep in the chair again. Let him? He won't budge!

My mom also had some heart problems this month. I had the flu on the same day so rushing up to Salt Lake was a little rough. She had to have emergency heart surgery. They thought her heart could just stop any time so they gave her a pacemaker/defibrillator. I brought her home and she fell and hit her head so I stayed with her all weekend. She tried to go back to work too early so she ended up in the E.R. again. this time Emily had the flu. I rushed up and when she was released I made her come home with me so I could take care of her better. We brought her back home and she seems to be doing better.

Joseph has started football again. It is very exciting because he is playing Jr. High football now. Chris is helping to coach his team. I love football season. This is Joseph on his first day of 7th grade. He was so excited, especially about the girls. He said that there was this "freakin' hot girl" that was in almost all of his classes. Oh boy! He also told me that he saw a girl sitting alone at lunch and so him and his friends went and sat by her. That makes a mom's heart happy to know that her 12 year old would notice and do something about a lonely girl. (Not for looks either, for plain old kindness.) He really is a sweet boy when he isn't mad at me.

Next we have Emily who started her first day of 5th grade today. She was very excited and woke up early. We did her nails and her hair. She was so particular this year. She wanted a peace sign messenger bag, not a backpack. She thought she looked so cool this morning. I think she did too. I hope this year goes well for my little girl. She wants to fit in so badly. She said that she might even try being nice so she can be popular. Being nice? What a new concept. I hope she can pull it off.