10 Months of normal life goes fast.

I got onto this blog a couple weeks ago and was surprised to see that it has been nearly 10 months since I have posted.  I can't believe how fast time goes.  I hear that the older you get the faster time goes.  I believe that...also the busier you get the faster time goes.

I love being busy, but I still think there is a balance.  I've been trying very hard to make it a priority to have dinner around the table as a family as often as possible.  This year Matthew is not playing competitive basketball and Blair is not in Jr. Jazz, which helps with the dinner hour.  Although, we decided to take advantage of the 5th and 6th grade ski passes through Ski Utah, so it's going to be a ski year for us.  Mostly a Saturday sport.
So far, Natalie, Matthew, and Blair love skiing.  Matthew and Blair think they've found their new favorite sport.  I guess the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree(s).
So anyway I wouldn't trade family dinner time for anything.  Already 2 nights, sometimes 3 nights a week are too buys for the dinner hour. So had we continued with all the other sports there would be no available nights in a week for family dinner time.  My kids are much better behaved when we have that time to eat a healthy home cooked meal and talk about what is going on in each of our lives. It really helps with communication between all of us and we as parents feel more informed about what is "really" happening in their lives.  But as long as we live in this society, making way for "Family Dinner Time" will always be a fight to protect.  I definitely love how our young people have so many opportunities and how talented they are, but I still feel that nothing can replace the learning and uniting that comes from the time spent together at home...I guess it's easier to see this benefit in a more eternal or big picture way.

Speaking of the big picture, my sweet and amazingly talented Mother created this fabric wall hanging, called the Plan of Salvation or Plan of Happiness.  She made one for each of her children.
We love to use this for Family Home Evening lessons.  It truly shares a great message of where we were before we came to this earth and what happens when we pass from this life.  You can't see the back but there is a list of scriptures that explain the beautiful artwork message on the front.

Next week Natalie and Alice have there 1 year Bone Marrow Follow-up visit.  It's a big deal, they had to do a bazillion labs, etc.  We are anxious to see what the doctors/labs say.  We can't imagine that we will hear unfavorable news as they have appeared to be so healthy.  I will post in detail about this visit soon.  Also I would like to recap this past year.  We have done some great things and I want to record it all.  Stay tuned.

We can't believe it has been 5 years since Natalie's transplant and Alice's first transplant???

WOW!!!!

Lisy