We have people

Sometime during all the Christmas driving Zac began to complain about his back hurting. Truthfully we didn't pay him much attention. As January wore on and he continued to let us know about the pain we started to look into taking him to a Chiropractor. Our every effort was thwarted. Then at a Dr's visit Gar decided to just get our Dr's thought on it. It was his last appointment on a Friday.  We were able to schedule an appointment for Zac on Monday. That just doesn't happen here. He was concerned enough after seeing the X-ray to suggest an MRI. Once again we'd been his last appointment of the day.

The next morning before 9 am I received a call letting me know they'd scheduled an MRI for that evening. All day the spirit whispered me that this was serious, but that he would be ok. Fast forward to the MRI results...no tumor. I started breathing again. We were then scheduled to see an Neurosurgeon. I should have realized that was a clue to how serious it was but everyone kept saying...rehab...14 year olds don't' have back surgery. So, I thought that was what the warning was about...so he didn't start track practice and we could limit what he did so he didn't make his back worse.

Fast forward to a week later. Tuesday afternoon Zac and I sat in shock as the surgeon showed us his MRI and explained that he was amazed Zac hadn't already experienced nerve damage due to the ruptured disc pressing on his spinal nerves. The risk of paralysis, permanent nerve damage etc was so great that surgery was really our only option. I felt like I was in a tunnel I could hear and see the dr talking but it seemed far away...

How can my healthy, active, skin and bones 14 year old baby need back surgery? How can I say, Yes? What do I do? My mind was reeling...and then I knew. I knew why I'd received such a clear warning. I knew why we had been moved through dr's and tests so quickly and I knew Heavenly Father had placed us exactly where we should be. I had the ultimate second opinion! So while I was still freaking out inside, I did have peace, as opposite as those sound.

As we were waiting to meet with the surgery nurse I was texting Gary, Mychel and Helena and Steve...my people. From there they reached out to their people and within a couple of hours Gar and I had 3rd, 4th and 5th opinions. It was such a tender mercy to know that surgeons who work with him say he's the best man for the job, to have our Dr say if it were his son he'd do what we are doing, to know that our friend's company will have their best man monitoring Zac's nerve functions in his legs. The list goes on and on.

It is humbling to see the love, time and care those around of have shown as they've done all they can to use their resources to reassure, get us info and comfort us as we prepare for tomorrow morning. No matter when you read this please keep us in your prayers. It's going to be a long recovery and it's vital that he is able to heal completely so he doesn't have life long complications...gratefully he's not a toddler I have to keep still, but I'm not sure how much easier it's going to be for an active teenage boy...

I've had a testimony that our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, know us individually. I know they hear our prayers, but each time I see their hands in our lives I am always humbled and my knowledge is strengthened. As with Nathan, I say, if it is not to have the cup removed then we will submit and hold on to thee with both hands. We will look for the blessings and miracle and have faith when it seems dark and we feel lost and alone. I know He has people watching over us, on both side of the veil.

Short version

Once again I haven't made time to update our family blog. It seems we are either too busy living our lives or life is too boring and I've got nothing to say. Quick catch up:

Fall/Halloween: 

we had great fun with pumpkins-

getting them on our traditional day Oct 10th, 

decorating them and then making our pumpkin puree for the first time.

Thanksgiving: 

delicious food with great friends.

much to be grateful for.

Christmas:

drive to NYC to meet up with Mychel

visit with Gary's family

Philly

DC and then

Savannah the first week of January

If the stars align I'll add pictures...

I want my missing muffin!

I love when I use a coupon on a sale item...it makes my day. What does not make my day is when I discover sneaky manufacturers trying to deceive/trick their customers.  So after getting a great deal, I was excited to try this new muffin mix until I read down to the yield!

11....11...seriously 11 muffins? 

Did they start making muffin pans with 11 cups?

Are we changing the number in a dozen?

Did they really think we wouldn't notice?

I want my missing muffin!

Needless to say we will no longer be buying this brand...no matter the sale and/or coupon!

August brought a birthday and a new driver

Will was very excited to turn 15 but I think his dad was just as excited. It fell to me to take him to the drivers license bureau. I'd forgotten about having to take two test so I wasn't stressed until he'd gone off to take them...I knew he'd been studying the drivers handbook but Will and tests don't go that well together. Needless to say when they told him he'd passed we were both ready to do a happy dance!

All those years of mowing the lawn with the riding lawn mower have paid off....he was a good driver from the get go!

And now nearly two months later I've got to admit I like having a personal driver!

I'm loving Pinterest and my family is benefitting

So far we've had some yummy new dinners.

I've organized all my craft stuff so I can get creative.

I've decorated for fall.

I've saved money by getting ideas for using things I already have.

and 

I made this:

with the twins and Mr C for their parents...so they think I rock!

Yes, dolly I made you one too but you have to come home to pick it up ;D

Sorry the picture is so crappy...Gary took the camera to work so all I had was my iPhone.

Whew...that was a much longer break than expected!

Life got crazy here for awhile.

We had so many wonderful experiences the end of April/first of May with the rededication activities for the Atlanta Temple. Our stake was assigned to work the last day of the open house. We waited for Mychel to come home so we could all go through the open house together. It was a day I will always treasure.

         
     After months of practice it was finally time for the cultural celebration the night before the re-dedication. After practicing for hours the day before and another long hot Georgia day of practicing, waiting and finally performing the day of....Will summed up the experience when he said, "I wish we could practice for just one more day!" The blessing of having all of the youth together was immeasurable and then add the opportunity to perform for the prophet. Will took the above picture with his iPod touch....he was that close!

Tornados had ripped through the south just before the re-dedication affecting many in our temple district. Just a day after the dedication we got word that we were needed go to the rescue and help in affected areas. It would be over Mother's day weekend. After having the spirit and blessings poured out so abundantly of course the answer was a quick and resounding YES! The devastation was unimaginable.

Then we had an end of the year band concert....











and a Court of Honor where I became the mom of two life scouts!

Then the arrival of  The Coates twins.

And that was all just the month of May....I didn't even mention the weekly knife making classes and track.

Then the boys first EFY, Youth Conference and LDS/BSA encampment kept us on the go this summer.

 

Before we knew it summer was over and school was starting. I'm so grateful they had a summer full of experiences that helped them put on their spiritual armor in preparation for HIGH SCHOOL! Holy cow...ready or not...here it comes!

In March the date for the rededication of the Atlanta Temple and cultural celebration was announced and the craziness began. It goes without saying we were thrilled. It's been nearly two years, about a year longer than they originally estimated, not to mention the opportunity for our boys and the youth of all the stakes in our temple district. At times we wondered how we get everything done we needed to, how everything would come together, how we could afford all the travel and accompanying expenses.
 Then add:

 Stake scouting training I was in charge of putting together

  Zac and his track practices and meets,

 fund raising for boy scout camp, 

Gary still working out of town, 

attending a different unit in the stake each Sunday as part of my stake calling, 

Gary helping with BSA training,

a baby shower to put on for two dear friends

RS dutch oven evening activity at our home

Gary getting an terrible bacterial infection that put him down for over a week...it was BAD!

supporting the boys with their egg and yard businesses

all while working around weekly practices as well as stake practices for the cultural celebration

training for working the openhouse

oh and making the costumes...

I admit it was hard, at time, to keep perspective. I began to only focus on the next event. That was a blessing when we found out we have roots that have compromised a pipe in the slab under our house (oh and also the main pipe leading to the septic tank, out back.) When the plumber hands you an estimate with that many digits it pretty much sends you into shock! I had to make a choice to let the news overshadow all the joy and excitement or make the choice to schedule my breakdown until after the temple dedication.

I know our sacrifices and trial are nothing compared to the pioneers but it has tested our faith, our strength and our focus and given us the opportunity to see the Lord's hand in our lives, draw closer together and put the Lord first!