It's a Small World After All

One year ago today I started blogging.

My sister in law had a blog and it was so fun to see their cute family and read about the things that might not get told in a phone conversation. Like for example the pet frog that Gracee found and "adopted", the bucket of snails all the kids gathered and tried to sell to raise money for sick children in the hospital, a video of Emma singing a solo at their church talent show... I gobbled up each post.

I was hesitant to start a blog... just the two of us... no kids to write about... But I loved the idea on keeping in touch with family. Soon my mom and sister joined in the fun, followed by Patrick's sister. We now have several other family members including many nieces and nephews.

This was awesome!

Shortly after I got a comment from a childhood friend which introduced me to several other friends from yester-year. I loved seeing their families and all that they were up to.

Several of my past students keep in touch- they are more like little sisters and they make me smile!

Even neighbor friends became closer as they shared their lives through their blog.

Blogging became all I had hoped it would be... a connection to family near and far, catching up with friends, and a type of journal for me and Patrick. It was perfect!

One thing that I did not expect was to make new friends. I'm not really sure how it happened, but new friends began popping up. Even though we had never met they made me smile, they inspired me to be better, they even brought me to tears. It didn't matter if they lived in North Carolina or Virgina, England or Greece we had so much in common. The world felt like a smaller place.

One of our new friends was Marie from A Year From Oak Cottage. Her daily posts offer inspiration and always ended with a fantastic recipe. She lives in England and yet we (my mom and my sister) all felt like we had been friends with Marie for years. She is incredible! You should check out her blog.

Marie's daughter would be competing in the Winter Special Olympics and luckily for us, the competition was in Idaho. This brought Marie over to the States and we could not have been more thrilled. It was amazing to finally "meet" her. But really we already knew her and loved her to pieces.

While she was here we got to do some Utah sight seeing. In this picture we were waiting to hear the Mormon Tabernacle do their weekly performance of Music and the Spoken Word. It was amazing!

Marie has since returned home, but she is now one of the family and we love her to pieces.

It has been a great year and I am thankful for this opportunity to make this whole wide world seem like a smaller place.

It really is a small world after all.

I've got a crush...

His name is Ethan and he is about the cutest 6 year old I've ever met.

We have been buddies for a couple years. He comes over to my house occasionally to make cookies, do crafts and just hang out. One time he came over and Patrick had come home early from work... with the cock of his head and a look of concern on his face he asked, "Is he going to be here the entire time?" All kids LOVE to play with Patrick, but Ethan is my special friend.

Ethan is the best big brother.

His 4 year old brother was born with several challenges. Mason is blind, deaf, has a feeding tube, is unable to use his legs... among several other complications. Ethan's mom is amazing and cares for Mason and all of his many needs... until he gets sick and needs to be hospitalized. That's been happening a lot lately. But even then she is by his side to ensure that he is getting the very best care possible. Seriously, she is amazing.

I have had the chance to spend more time with Ethan the last few weeks. Today he come over with his baby brother. When I asked him what he wanted to do, with the same cock of the head and adorable facial expression he often possesses, he announced,

"I need to make a medal for Mason".

"A medal? How about another get well card like we made him last time?"

"No way," with a shake of his head, "today he totally deserves a medal."

"And what would the medal be for?"

With a look of pure pride he announced, "Mason is amazing at going to the hospital. Pretty much the best that I know. He has been so many times and he never complains. He's so patient with the doctors checkin' him all the time. Yeah, he totally deserves a medal."

So, a medal we made...




I watched as this big brother chose carefully everything he wanted to put on that medal. This little boy sees the very best in his brother who cannot talk or walk and loves him deeply.

What an example to me.

Am I looking daily for the good in others? Am I "giving medals" to those around me in the things I say and how I treat them? A sincere compliment or a genuine smile, even from a stranger, can totally brighten someones day.

Thanks little buddy. I'm so glad you are my special friend.

Thankful to "Have Not"

Early yesterday morning I woke up to a loud "poof" sound.

Honestly, I thought someone broke into our house. I listened intently for a few more minutes, snuggled up to my honey and drifted back to sleep.

We got up about an hour later and the house was cold, very cold. Patrick headed to the basement to investigate. You guessed it, our furnace had kaputt, nada, adios baby.

He called the repair man hoping to get some semi- good news such as we just needed a new little this or that to get it going again, but oh no... it would need to be replaced, completely. He could not fit us into his schedule that day but promised to be at our house early the next morning. What?? No heat?? It's 35 degrees outside!!

At 8am this morning we were thankful to hear the knock at our door. Right on time. They got right to work.

I headed to the gym this morning where it was nice and warm. I stayed longer than usual. Came home, took the HOTTEST shower possible and left again to some appointments I had scheduled. By the time I got home at 2pm it was snowing like CRAZY. I found Patrick bundled up in the office working. I turned on the space heater and this was the temperature of our house...

FORTY-NINE degrees!!! Now that's cold... much too cold for our little home.

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After 33 hours from the time it broke, repairs are complete and our house is returning to a comfortable heat.

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You know- every night, during the cold season, we thank Heavenly Father for a warm home to keep us safe from the cold. I am a little embarrassed to say that at times the words became trite. Tonight, however, we will feel an extra sense of gratitude... because for a while we "had not".

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When I am in Ghana and have the opportunity to eat dinner with native families I am humbled by the prayers they offer on the food and for their families. "Our kind Heavenly Father, we are indeed thankful for thy goodness and providing us this food"... It is spoken with such sincerity, such respect, because they have had days that they have "had not".

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A dear friend of mine in Ghana tells me stories about how his family could only afford to eat one meal a day. Or how when he was young his family could not afford to take him to the hospital when he had spinal meningitis... the illness that stole his hearing and left him completely deaf.

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I have to admit, even though my family had very little as I was growing up... we rarely "had not".

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I am incredibly thankful that we have heat in our home right now. And tonight, I will give my Heavenly Father a proper thanking for that. I am so thankful for all that we have.

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It was very brief... but I am also thankful to have had a moment to "have not".

Just Holding Your Hand...

Valentine's Day...

It comes with so many emotions.

Valentine's day is a celebration of love. But for 12 years of my adult life it was a reminder of what I deeply longed for. Sure, I dated, but it just wasn't the same. My roommates and I affectionately referred to it as "Single Awareness Day". I was by no means a bitter single person, but a day devoted to LOVE seemed to tug on the heart strings in a painful way.

Well, now I have a Valentine and I love celebrating this day of LOVE with him. I feel so blessed to have such a thoughtful husband. He surprised me with flowers and booked a stay at an incredible hotel Friday night. He planned reservations at a delicious restaurant. It was amazing!

I used to dream of having a Valentine's Day such as this one with the man I love. But I never knew that my favorite part of this day would simple be having him to love.

As we walked from our hotel to our restaurant in the brisk air I snuggled up close to him and squeezed his hand so tight. I LOVE his hands. They are big and strong. They engulf my hand and I feel so taken care of. They are always warm and keep me warm. He keeps me warm and fills my heart with deep inner peace and love.

The flowers are beautiful and the dinner, scrumptious- but Valentine's Day is over.

Patrick, however, is mine forever and that is the best Valentine's Day gift I could ever hope for.

That's My Man...

Patrick is amazing... for those of you that know him, know that he is incredible with dates and remembering special events. Often people joke that it is the man that forgets anniversaries and birthdays- but not my guy. In fact, I have to ask him to help me remember certain things. He knows the date we first met, the date of our first kiss, the list goes on.

Today is a very important date and I have to admit, I totally forgot. On this day, three years ago, the appearance of my left hand changed forever. That's right, February 2, 2006 Patrick asked me to be his wife.

We had looked at rings and even picked one out, but they told us that it would take 2 weeks to have it sized. So I knew that our 'official' engagement would have to wait a bit... at least I thought.

Patrick is an amazing photographer and has taken seasonal pictures of the same waterfall... Spring, Summer, Fall... only the Winter season was missing. SO, on February 2nd he invited me to join him up the canyon to get the shot.

It was freezing and there was tons of snow but it was perfect conditions. We carried up the tri-pod and his camera bag was on his back. He got it all set up and then asked me if I could get him a different lens from the bag. As I opened the bag I saw a box from the jewelery store. I couldn't believe it. As I turned around, there he was on one knee, in the snow. "Erin, I love you, will you marry me?" He then pulled out a beautiful rose he had been hiding in his jacket.

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There was lots of kissing and several giggles. He gave me a piggy back ride back down the snowy path. All I could do is squeeze his neck and stare at my beautiful ring. We made some phone calls to family, but then headed to Sundance for dinner at the Foundry Grill. There is no cell phone coverage there, so it was our own private time. We talked and talked and he told me how when he first moved to Utah he only had a bike and several times a week he would ride up to this waterfall. He thought it was so beautiful and would be the perfect place to someday propose. Today was that someday.

This afternoon, Patrick asked me what I had in mind for dinner. When I gave him my planned menu he asked if I would be ok with something a little bit different... he knows me so well... I love surprises. He had made reservations at the Foundry Grill in Sundance. How Romantic!

The food was incredible and we enjoyed our table by the fire place.

The night we got engaged one of my students was working the deli counter right out the restaurant. I introduced her to Patrick and showed her my ring. She gave us hugs and then gave us a free sucker. So now it is a tradition... every time we eat there we have to get a sucker. Yum!

I love you so much Patrick. Thank you for all you do and for being so thoughtful. You make life fun and meaningful. How blessed I am to have you as my man!