Carol

There is a new sister in my ward at church, her name is Carol.  She lives in an assisted living center here in Frisco, her husband lives there too.  I have been arranging for 6 months now, rides for Carol so she can come to church.  Carol is blind.  The 1st time I brought her home I was so impressed with how nice the place was!  It was beautiful, and I told her how nice it was and asked her how she liked living there.  And she said if you have to live in a place like this I guess it is okay.  I got from this comment she probably missed living in her home.  It has been awesome getting to know her.  She is amazing.  Last Sunday as Faren and I  had the opportunity to pick her up, I was walking down the hall with her at the assisted living center, one of the guys working there said to her, say a prayer for us!  She said I always do!  I don't know much about Carol, but I do know she is not bitter or angry about her circumstances.  She is very positive and upbeat.  She loves it when she gets to visit with her grandchildren,  and even though it is difficult for her to attend church, she does.  And she can't thank us enough for helping her get there.  It has been a blessing for all of us to get to know her.

Last Saturday!

So what did you do last Saturday? You won't believe what I was doing, I hardly believe it myself. I was at home being filmed for a documentary! Yes there were 7 film crew here in my home at 8am. Camera people, sound people, a director, lighting people, it was different.

I only had about a week or less to prepare, it was overwhelming at times just thinking about it.
They wanted to tell "Staci's Story", thats the working title. I hope they keep it, I like it.

It's all about Staci and her life with Lupus and Celiac Desease. And more importantly, the help she has gotten from Bryan and her being healthy enough to have a baby.

It was emotionally draining as I thought about the past 13 years since her first symptoms, and all the dr visits and pain and suffering she had to endure. But also the anwered prayers and blessings and tender mercies from our Heavenly Father were all coming back to me.
They started out filming Faren and I, we talked about her birth, her childhood, her first symtoms and all the doctors and diagnoses and hospital and surgerys and tests, etc. We did this for hours. I was suppose to look at just the director as I was speaking, but at one moment I saw the camera man wiping away tears. At that moment I thought I must be doing something right, he gets it. They all said we did great, they were very happy with the way it went, all of them said they were all teary eyed and touched.

After lunch Staci and Andrew came over and they filmed Staci, Faren and I. They wanted to know how she felt, what she remembers, what life was like for her growing up with Lupus and then Celiac's.

Then they filmed, Staci and Andrew out on our front porch, (we got some interesting looks from some of the neighbors). It was cute to watch them together. I was very moved by Andrew and his comments about how he felt when he learned the girl he was dating and falling in love with had Lupus. And then the both of them talking about their future and new baby. It was really really good.

Later on they will film Staci and the baby and thats when they will interview Bryan and the important part he has played in all this. Most of you may not know this, but the medications Staci has been on most of her life, are powerful and dangerous. (once diagonsed with Lupus most people dont die from it they die from the complications due to the medications, and the longer you are on them the more chance of things not being good) Those drs and drugs saved her life and for that I am grateful. She would not of been able to carry a baby without them but would not of had a healthy baby with them. She was in a no win situation. Until Bryan started helping her. I know it is no cooincidence that he decided to be a chiropractor and then studied nutrition and supplements. Huge miracle.

So who is going to see this documentary. A short video with be made for Bryans website. And then a 40 minute video will be on the internet. Bryan is hoping a big tv station will see it and want to air it. Our main goal it to reach out to others who may need help. And hopefully give some hope to those who don't know who or where to turn.

It was a long day, alot of emotion, they wanted emotion and they got it. I am glad it is over, but really happy it went well. Thanks to all of you who prayed for me, I felt your prayers and I was relatively calm and able to recall the things I needed to and was as acurate as I could be with the facts. So thanks. I will let you know when and where you can view the final result.

Just About Me

Hey, thought I'd write a little about whats been going on with me lately, well since the reunion anyway. I have been able to go with Faren on a couple of business trips that were alot of fun. We spent a week in Austin Texas, and a week in AZ. I was home about a week and went to Utah with my parents. We drove out there and stayed 2 weeks. It was a great trip. It was fun to spend time with my parents and I love Utah it is so beautiful. I was home one week and to AZ to help April while Drew went on a 3 day hunting trip. That was alot of fun, spending time with the grandkids is a blessing. We went to a pumpkin patch one day, Christy and I went to the scrapbook store, a tradition we started a long time ago when I come to visit. It was fun to see April's belly growing: Christy's not so much yet. I wasn't home long from that trip that Faren had to go to Alaska for 3 1/2 weeks. I miss him terribly. He will be home Nov. 1st. We have been apart alot lately, he will be home 10 days and then have to go back for another 2 weeks. Yikes!! I have been spending alot of time with the grandkids here, always fun!! And my big kids. The grandkids and I have discovered the golf course is pretty much empty at dusk and they have so much fun running around, rolling down the hill, playing tag and anything else they can think of. Rocky, our dog, loves it too, he runs around like a wild animal, its so cute.

Scavenger update!

Ashley and her family came in first. They were super fast at finding, I thought, unusual and interesting items. Congradulations to them!! And congradulations to everyone else, it was fun watching you fly around the campsite and tents with your red and blue buckets, yes since it was the 4th of July I found red and blue buckets for everyone to put their scavenger hunt items in and take home with them. Which later on proved to be valuable in catching squirrels. The kids were so cute as they baited and trapped the little critters. By the way they always let them go!! But the thrill of the hunt was fun! The whole camp would come running to experience the thrill of the capture!! And the excited little critter as he scrambled out of the bucket! Fun times!! As for the scavenger hunt, Tanya, Adam and Abby came in 2nd and Staci and Andrew came in 3rd for the fastest time. But Christy got a prize for being the most spastic as she raced from her tent to her car to the campground, back to the car, camping items flying in her tent as she looked for the items. It was funny! Everyone did a great job and I think had fun. It sure was fun to watch. The whole time we were there was really great!! It was amazing to see how much the kids had all grown and what has been going on with our famiies. Camping was a great idea, KMarie was such a good sport and we had a lot of fun challenging each other on the hikes and whatever we did. It was awesome, I would do it all over again.

Thanks Chris and Tanya, for the memories it was amazing. And Amee I am so glad you were able to join us for as much as you did, even though you had just had surgery, you were a real trooper too!!

Cindy,Faren and Family

Scavenger Hunt

Bring your running shoes and camping items!! At the reunion I am in charge of a scavenger hunt. You don't want to miss this!! It'll be fun for the whole family and great prizes. (Well the best you can get at the dollar store!) Who will be scavenger hunt champion? We will have to wait and see.

Happy Anniversary

Today is my anniversary. Faren and I have been married 35 years. That sounds crazy!! We have had a wonderful life. I have truly been blessed. Faren has been a wonderful husband and father. We have great kids and grandkids. We love each other and have so much fun together.

The Family Reunion vs Survivor

I was thinking last night about the reunion and how some people may not be into camping all that much. So I thought I'd cheer you up!

Most of you have seen the tv series Survivor, I know some of you have Survivor parties. (you know who you are) Anyway, think of the reunion as being a contestant on survivor with a few exceptions:

1) You don't have to walk around half naked. You can bring more than one outfit.
2) You don't have to go to the bathroom in the woods, there are bathrooms.
3) You don't have 1/2 cup of rice and few bugs to eat, Chris has planned 3 gourmet meals a day.
4) You don't have to sleep on the ground, you can bring an air mattress or cot to sleep on.
5) You won't have to worry about earning amunity, noone is going to get kicked out of the camp.
6) You won't have to worry about not winning 1,000,000 dollars.

Okay it's nothing like survivor!! In fact compared to survivor it's like going to the "Four Seasons" a 5 diamond resort.

Don't you feel better. Just so you know Chris had nothing to do with this message I take full responsability.

Love you all, Cindy

I Got A Ding Dong

Wow, what a game. I wanted to cry I was so happy. We had great food for our Superbowl Party. Crawfish, shrimp, jambalaya, king cake, zapp's chips and ding dongs!!! (If you don't get the ding dong check out my last blog). Faren is out of town this week so when he gets back Friday I will post some pictures, including Bryan scarfing down a few ding dongs himself. I still don't know how to put pictures into the computer. I know it's sad.

Besides Bryan just being beside himself, talking to my dad was awesome. He was so happy and excited. It was really fun hearing him say that the saints are the best in the world!! You could just hear the proudness in his voice. Oh my gosh, it was the perfect moment.

That game brought so much joy to so many people for so many reasons. Geaux Saints!!!

Cindy

Our "Saints" Moment

The first thing I thought of when I woke up Monday morning was "I can't believe the Saints are going to the Superbowl!!

Our big Saints moment was on Sunday night, like most of you glued to the TV watching the game. Faren and I went over to Bryan's to watch the game with him, in his Saints media room. Bryan had on his jersy and saints beads. A couple of times I thought I need to leave they are not going to win and I just couldn't stand the sight of Bryan's dissappointment, that was sure to come!! But I am glad I hung in there.

Heather put the boys to bed, dispite their protest; they are big Saints fans too. During overtime as the Saints slowly, marched their way down the field, Bryan said go get the boys up, so heather did and we all sat on the couch watching intentively. Bryan by this time had gotten off his chair and was kneeling on the floor. When he saw they were getting ready to kick a field goal he yelled no, try for the touchdown, do you know how many games have been lost by attempting a fieldgoal!!! He was beside himself. He put his hand over his head and layed his head on the floor. As he slowly came up, Heather was sitting beside me wispering make it, make it. And then the kick, and oh my gosh if that ball didn't soar right through the middle of the uprights. Bryan jumps to his feet, the boys run over to him jumping and screaming, we are all on feet hugging each other and Bryan says, I have been waiting all my life for this!!! That was our "Saints" moment. It was awesome!!

I was so happy for Bryan, although he has never lived in New Orleans he has been a true blue saints fan all his life. I have seen him cry over many a lost game, when he was younger. Someone asked him why he was a fan and he said I guess it's because my mom is from there and all my uncles have been saints fans.

The next big moment came when Heather and Bryan said they were going to have a huge superbowl party. Bryan was so excited he said I want, Shrimp, Crawfish and Ding Dongs and a King Cake!! All of you who know Bryan know, he doesn't eat sugar, so that was huge!! See what the Saints winning did to him!! He lost all sense of right and wrong. It was fun to see him so caught up in the moment, that was my "Saints" moment. Thanks Saints!!! I might get some ding dongs out of this!!

Alaska!! Top 10 things I loved about it!

These are just a few of the things I loved about Alaska. In fact there wasn't anything I was disappointed in or didn't like. I never really thought about visiting Alaska until Faren had a business trip there. He was there for 5 weeks helping the Sheraton Anchorage install a laundry facility. I joined him the last 9 days he was there. The flight I had was a straight flight, no layovers from Dallas. It was 7 hours of flying time. Like I said I never really thought about going to Alaska, but I would of missed out on a trip of a lifetime. So to Faren's job I am very grateful.
I have lots of beautiful pictures and tried to capture the awesomeness of it all. I will post them later. Here it goes, I will try to describe it to you.

1) The air smelled amazing, and was cool and clean. My lungs have never experienced such a thing. I couldn't get enough of it!!
2) The water tasted amazingly good, right out of the tap or faucet. It was better than any water I have drank from a bottle or otherwise. If the airline would of allowed me to bring it on the plane I would have brought it home by the gallons.
3) The scenery and landscape. We took alot of pictures but nothing compares to the magnitude of the seeing it and being there. It was majestic and well, God did good. It was breath taking.
4) I never knew there were so many shades of green. The mountains, were a colorful rainbow of green and shades of green.
5) Glaciers are blue. We took a day cruise and saw many wonderful and amazing glaciers. They were beautiful. The boat stopped by one of them and we could hear the glacier. It cracked and creeked as we all just stood and listened in awe. Then all of a sudden a big chunk of ice would fall and drop to the ocean, sounding like thunder.
6) We hiked to a glacier that was in the crevous of a mountain. It was really cool to be able to see one that close up, we could of touched it, and to see the amazing formations the wind or rain
had caused.
7) There are moose crossing signs everywhere. I wanted to see a moose so bad, everywhere we drove I looked, but it was moose hunting season, and I guess they knew it. One of Faren's co workers saw one in the Wal-mart parking lot. I guess I should of looked there, I knew Wal-mart had everything but really, a MOOSE! We went to a wildlife conservation place and saw moose and bison and brown and black bear and other wildlife associated with alaska. It was amazing to look into the eyes of the moose and be that close to them.
8) There are only about 470,000 people that live in the whole state. They are very friendly and everyone that lives there loves it. The goverment will pay you $2,000 a year to live there. It is expensive to live there, groceries were high and so was housing. But not so far out of reach that it would be outrageous to consider living there. No I am not planning on living there.
9) There are hundreds of campgrounds and hiking triails. Motor homes were everywhere. There are great places to stop off the road and see. We hiked to a waterfall. It was fun, we waded in the creek to get better pictures. I was very adventerous. I started to cry as I could feel the spray of the waterfall on my face. It was beautiful and worth getting my white pants dirty and having wet cold feet.
10) Salmon do swim up stream! We saw them!!! We stopped at this off road look out and went over to this stream and there were red and gray salmon swimming against a current that seemed impossible. They would swim and inch and be pushed back two. I wanted to help them. I have pictures, it was an act of nature that was amazing to witness.

I guess you can tell I was excited about everything. I hope you enjoyed hearing about it. I will send pictures soon, when I get them on my computer.
Love ya, Cindy

More of Disneyland!

These our good friends Robyn and Richard, we are standing in front of a horse drawn hurse, in front of the Haunted Mansion!!

Eyeore is one of my favorite winnie the pooh characters, when Staci was little she use to watch the show and I asked her one day why eyeore was so sad all the time, she said, "He's not sad he's depressed." It was hillarious.

I put this picture up for my granddaughter Autumn. She loves Winnie the Pooh! Well who doesn't!

Here's Mickey. Yes that's my autograph book in my hand. We got to walk through his house in Toon Town. It was such a cute house. Everything was big and oversized and colorful.

Richard and Robyn with Gipetto. They love Disneyland they live in Huntington Beach and go there all the time. They are so lucky. Thanks again for a wonder time.

The Happiest Place on Earth is Pretty Happy!!

Me and Cinderella, it's hard to tell the difference between me and Cinderella, but I'm holding the green autograph book, yes I got her autograph, along with Mulon and Sleeping Beauty.

Don't we look happy!! This was our first trip to Disneyland. It was so amazing. Our friends Robyn and Richard Coyle have been trying to get us to go with them for years. We finally made it. They were great tour guides and showed us a great time.

Faren getting hugs from Tigger and Dale they were such friendly characters.

Cinderella's castle was beautiful, there was a fireworks show their at night, that was awesome. We saw Tinkerbell flying high above the castle and Dumbo too.

Us with Minnie, we had breakfast with our friends the Coyle's at this restaurant in the park where we got to meet alot of the characters. We road alot of fun rides, Space Mountain, Star Wars, all sorts of fun rides. I loved this place in the park called toon town. It was like walking around in a cartoon. We got to meet Mickey there. It was a great day, we spent 15 hours there. We thought we were going to die, we were so tired but I would do it again.

Noelle and Ryan's Bundle of Joy

Proud great-grandparent of Mason. He's 5 weeks old and such a good baby. I'm so glad we got to see him. He's tiny and cute and weighs only 8lbs. (He was only 6lbs at birth)

Mason sleeping like an angel on his daddy. I didn't get any pictures with Noelle, sorry. I guess because when she was holding him she was feeding him, that would not of been appropriate.

I think he looks like Noelle, but he has blonde hair and blue eyes like his dad. He's just cute, and grown alot since Amee's adorable pictures after he was born.

How to eat a New Orleans Po-Boy!!

You have to smile, it's the best food on the planet. I know my dad has eaten a million, but he said this is the best he's had.

You have to take a picture of it, it's a work of art. This is a roast beef, ham and swiss po-boy! My dad's new favorite.

Open your eyes really big and take it all in!! My mom would close her eyes everytime I took a picture of her trying to take a bite, that's how good it is, but I asked her to open them wide for this one.

Open wide and let the gravy run down your arms to your elbows!!

Wash it down with a cold Barq's rootbeer!! When we decided to go to New Orleans last weekend my parents asked me what we wanted to do. I said what else EAT!! And eat we did!!

Just Random Stuff

Thought I'd share these beautiful orange and yellow roses Faren gave me last week when I wasn't feeling well. They were just little buds and bloomed into these gorgeous flower.

This Brayden and his great invention. When ever the grandkids come over to play, Brayden likes me to take pictures of his creativity. He's a cutie isn't he!

This is Adam and Marilyn in our backyard sitting under the willow tree. It's one of my favorite spots in our backyard. Don't they look happy!!

This is Autumn and me sharing a bag of Zapp's chips. A few seconds after this picture the bag ended up in her lap. Yep she's got that New Orleans gene. Those chips are pretty spicy too!

Stone Mountain Georgia

Faren and I went to Atlanta and got to visit Stone Mountain. It brought back alot of memories, when we use to take kids and family there. We just brought blankets and sat on the ground and at dark they have a laser light show that is spectacular on the mountain. It's really cool.

I wish I could remember more of the history, but someone carved this right out of the side of this huge rock. I think he died before he could finish the legs on the horses. It's pretty awesome the way that it is though. It is so pretty in Atlanta so many trees and lots of green.

We use to bring picnics, like most of the people here and the kids would run and play. Faren and I had fun just watching and reminising about old times with the kids and family visits on that hill. By the time the show started the place was packed and it was a Tuesday night. We tried to take pictures of the laser show but they didn't turn out, it was too dark.

Trip to Florida Postponed

Kay Marie and I were planning a trip to see Kevin and Kelly and spend a few days at the beach in Pensacola, but we had to cancel. Kerrie and her family are moving to Nebraska and guess what, they picked the week Kay and I were suppose to be in Florida to move. So to make things easier on Kerrie and Kay Marie we decided to go another time. Oh well, it was fun thinking about and planning it. It's all good though, Kay Marie has the whole week off work now, and can now spend as much time with Kerrie and kids their last week before they move. So that's a blessing. I know I would of wanted to do the same thing myself.

Not to be out shopped by my girls!!!

Okay, you've seen April's great savings; and now Staci is on the coupon and saving path.
Here is what I saved today at Kroger: I spent $26.74 on 18 items and saved $29.96, with coupons and store savings. I wish I knew how to load pictures on my computer, but I don't so you can't see it but I bought :
4 yogurts (not on sale--I'm trying a new smoothie recipe)
4 containters of Wisk laundry soap (32 load size)
4 boxes of Betty Crocker (low fat) brownie mixes
1-6 pack of scott paper towels
2 Hormel complete meals
1 bag of spinach
1 bag of mixed broccoli and carrots
1 Healthy Choice frozen pizza (my lunch)

I'm not quite as good at April, her and her spending $7.00 on a grocery cart of food. But it's all good. Staci keep it up.

The Latest

Wow, since my last blog this is what has been going on in my world.

Faren and I took an RV trip to Arizona.
I made plans with my sister Kay Marie, we are taking an RV trip to Pensacola, Fl. in June.
I get to spend lots of time with the grandkids while Heather helps Bryan.
Bryan opened his new Chiropractic office here in Frisco.
Heather enrolled Brayden and Savanah in public school for next fall.
Adam got a new car, has had a girlfriend now for several months and is now full time at his job.
April and Drew and Autumn and Weston came to visit us in Texas.
Autumn turned two. Weston rolled over for the first time.
Christy and Mark had a fun water party for Parker's first birthday.
Mark graduated from ASU, got to hear Pres. Obama speak at commencment excercises.
Christy and family are in Hawaii with Mark's parents.
Staci graduated from college. Andrew made it threw a sememster.
Staci and Andrew are looking for places to live when they move here in August.
I have lots of pictures and will try to get them posted soon!!

Easter Miracle

Early Saturday Morning, Easter Eve, Adam was in a terrible car accident. He was stopped at a red light, behind one other car. He heard tires squeal, and just as he looked into his rear view mirror a car was coming at him fast and in an instant hit him going about 50 miles per hour, slamming Adam's car into the car in front of him and both of them ending up in the middle of the intersection. Adam being stunned just sat there, he said when he saw the car coming up behind him he thought he was going to die. The other drivers got out of their cars and came to check on Adam. He got out of his car and couldn't believe he wasn't bleeding or broken. It was truly a micacle. None of us can believe how he came away only sore and a headache. Of course it was tramatic and he was pretty shook up, and what made it worse, Faren and I were in Florida for the weekend and Bryan had gone to his in-laws for the weekend. So Adam called my brother Howard and Howard and Burke came and got Adam and took him home. Adam said it weird having to come home and be by himself. Bryan and Heather left Gilmer early on Saturday to check on Adam. I'm so glad they were able to that. I felt like Adam should of gone to the emergency room, just because he looked fine on the outside didn't mean everything was okay on the inside. But Bryan didn't take any chances he checked out everything and bone and he said if any thing looked suspiscious he wasn't taking any chances and would take Adam to the ER. By the time we got home on Sunday, Adam was feeling alittle better, and his headache wasn't to bad. Bryan checked him again and he could tell Adam's symptoms were improving. Adam went to work on Monday and came home looking like he does every other day, maybe just a little more tired, but I can't believe he was able to go to work all day. His car was totalled, smashed in the rear and front. I don't know if i even want to see it. But I'm so thankful he wasn't hurt any worse, none of us can believe that, and I'm so thankful Howard was home and able to help Adam get home. and that Bryan and Heather came home to help Adam. Having a family is wonderful.