Merry Christmas!

I had intentions of composing one of those end-of-year Christmas letters updating all who care (anyone?) on the current age, grade, shoe size and favorite things of each member of our family. Reality has set in...that's not going to happen. As you can tell by my lack of actual updates in recent months, things at our house have been more hectic than I can even keep up with and (to keep what sanity I have left) I've had to let a few things go...like updating the blog. Sorry.
I am happy to report that at this time we are all healthy, relatively happy, employed, and doing well. We have been very blessed this year.

We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Snowball Fight

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Happy Halloween!

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They're Back!

Last Thursday we all gathered at the airport to welcome my parents home. For the last 18 months they have been serving an LDS mission in Kazakhstan as the director of Welfare Services.
Waiting for Grandma & Grandpa's plane to arrive.

Dad enjoyed a cold Fresca after 18 months without his favorite soda.

After giving Taryn a big hug, mom had to take a look at her scar since they were gone when she had surgery. Thank goodness for Skype. Taryn was only six months old when they left but she knew her grandparents and even gave them hugs since she was able to talk to and see them at least once a week!

Grandma & Grandpa Nicholas were so excited to see Mom again. Grandpa really missed her.

Mom and Dad are amazing examples to our family. They have sacrificed to serve others and I am so proud of them and glad to have them home...at least until their next mission!

Another Birthday "Girl"

Grandma Rhoda Welling celebrated her 90th birthday on 27 Apr 2009. Friends and family were invited to celebrate with her on Saturday, April 25 at The Fielding Community Center. She was born 27 Apr 1919 in East Garland, Utah, to Joseph and Mabel Capener Oyler. She married Gale Welling on 20 Sep 1939. They resided in Fielding where they raised four children: Tamra (Kay) Asay, LeRoy (Anne) Welling, Steve (Allyson) Welling, and Debbie (Bill) Overall. She has 26 grandchildren, 80 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Grandma loves parties and really enjoyed seeing so many of her friends and family!

Birthday Girl

Michaela decided that she wanted her ears pierced for her 11th birthday. She was a little nervous but didn't cry. She was excited to spend some of her birthday money on new earrings. She also got new clothes, a Taylor Swift CD, jewelry, and a wallet. Michaela is very easy going and has great sense of humor. She is growing up way too fast!

One year ago...

It's hard to believe that one year ago today Taryn had open heart surgery. Looking back on this day has been difficult for me since hearing the devastating news a few weeks ago that her surgeon is fighting for his own life and has taken an indefinite leave of absence from PCMC.
I don't know if Taryn would be with us today if Dr. Hawkins wasn't her surgeon. What would we have done if this news had come a year sooner? Thinking about it gives me so much anxiety and my heart goes out to those who are currently in that situation. After her first surgery he promised us that he would figure out how to fix her heart, even though he wasn't sure how since he hadn't seen that particular defect occur the way it did in her heart. He saved her life. Twice. I'm not sure how you even begin to thank someone for the gift of being able to raise your child. I pray that he and his family will feel a sense of peace at this time and that somehow they will know just how much we, and so many other heart families, appreciate and love him for dedicating his life to healing those born with imperfect hearts.
Here's Taryn today (well, last week to be exact). Her little scars are a daily reminder to me of how much I have to be thankful for! We will be forever working to pay our gratitude forward.