Thankful but sad

This house no longer has a roof and is 2 doors down from our old house.

Our friends house. They just moved in 1 months ago.

This looks so scary.

Our other good friends house..took her 3 hours to get her kids to come out of the bathtub where they were taking shelter during the tornado.

Wow...what a mess!

Thankfully no one was living in this one.

Melissa's friend from cheer lives in this one..or DID live here.

It's 7:30 a.m. and I can hear helicopters over our neighborhood surveying the scene of yesterdays terrible act of mother nature. It had been stormy all day Tues. and all through the night as winds, hail, and rain just beat all the houses for hour upon hour. I woke up many times during the night just listening to the storm and wondering when it would let up. Then at 5:15 or so the house just started shaking and the winds were crazy, stronger than any we had experienced before. Brian and I were sitting straight up in bed ready to run down the hall and gather the kids at any moment. The windows seemed to be ready to shatter at any moment and so we took off down the hall with our cell phones as flash lights. I do keep one in my nightstand drawer but didn't think about it at the moment. Our kids were already up and scared as the house was shaking as if in an earthquake.....little did I know that just across the park on the other side of the lake many of my friends and neighbors houses were being torn a part and glass, wind and debris were flying all around inside their houses. One friends kids were screaming upstairs as their dad was trying to get up the stairs to help them. Their house has been condemned as it is literally falling apart at the seams. One whole wall has come away from the frame of the house. They had just moved in there a month ago. Some houses lost their roof and another lost half of their house that is out behind them somewhere in the forrest. One friend even had a boat lodged in their roof right above their sons head. I spent all day with friends and their children over, running back and forth to their house trying to get items that might get ruined with their roofs leaking and caving in. Brian, along with church members worked all through the day putting up plywood on windows, doors and even garages that were completely gone. One sister in our ward brought out pizzas to all the men working so diligently in the horrible weather. Without power, our bishop and stake president came over to check on us and let everyone know that dinner would be out here for all as our wonderful Relief Society and my Young women president arranged the food. I probably had 75 people over eating dinner that night which was a lot even for my house. I am so thankful that as my house only got a couple broken windows and shingles, that my friends who have no home at the moment had somewhere to go. I am thankful that I belong to a church that is always there to help any and all in an emergency. I am also thankful that we were sparred but sad that my friends don't have a place to call home for awhile. It was a day I will not soon forget..actually, never forget.

Cheer and Soccer...here we come!!!

Is this what I'm paying for? Trenton goofing around during a quarter.

Playing the U-9 girls...was a fun scrimmage.

Melissa and Emily cheering their last year.

Football players running through poster.

Melissa had her 1st football game last friday night.. After a CRAZY summer with a high school closing and combining with Flagstaff High there wasn't even tryouts till 2 weeks ago. So now they have a cheer squad and even put together a half time show in under a week. They did great but their team got whipped by Williams field HS( 61 to 0) Embarrassing I know! Melissa had fun anyways and I enjoyed watching her start off her senior year.

Then there is Trenton, who has joined "Flagstaff United" club soccer. It is a big time commitment and lots of hard work for Trenton with 1.5 hrs "skills" on Monday and 1.5 hour practice every Thurs. and Tournaments on weekends. We have to volunteer this weekend at a tournament and work the snack bar and then run over to another place and do "field marshaling" for 2 hours. (why did we do this again?) oh yeah, because Trenton loves soccer and is pretty darn good at it. Now, if I can just get through this it'll be Natalie's turn for cheer and Zane in gymnastics. Claire is just gonna have to wait a few years!!

Preparing my talk

So, last week our friend who happens to be a counselor in the bishopric at church called Brian on his cell phone and asked us to give talks this Sunday. If i would've seen his name on our caller ID, believe me I wouldn't have answered! Melissa,Brian, and myself all have a talk to prepare. Today has been a little stressful to say the least. I have the topic of how the scriptures are a guidance in our lives. Brian's has something to do with Jesus Christ and the Nephites, and Melissa is speaking on "choosing good friends". I have completed my talk and hopefully it fulfills the time requirement. I really hate standing up there and having all those people stare at me but I know that more than have this message delivered to those out there wrestling with a child or falling asleep, this message is for me and definitely one I needed to study, ponder and deliver. I hope it goes well and I won't be too emotional. I think that is what I am afraid of most. Just recently we (the YW) had to sing during sacrament meeting and it was so emotional hearing all these sweet YW that I have grown to love sing such tender words. The song was "Valiant Faith" one verse went:

I want to live my life with honor and faith

I want to return to His arms unashamed

It's not enough for me to live it half way

I'll follow him fearlessly all of my days

I will live with valiant faith

makes me cry just writing the words so you can imagine how emotional I was singing it. Well, hopefully tomorrow I will be able to deliver my talk without crying through the whole thing! Wish me luck!!!

back to SCHOOL 2010

Natalie took these of the boys...

1st day of Kindergarten and 3rd grade.

Doesn't he look so happy to be there?

Zane age 5

I was a little teary eyed here.

in his first assembly with all his new friends

Natalie's first day of 8th grade

Melissa's first day of her Senior year

MY kids are all officially back in school. This is a year of firsts and lasts. Zane started his first day of Kindergarten on the 18th and I have to say it was a little emotional for me. He is my youngest boy and so little. Even though he is five many people mistake him for a 3 year old. I am a little worried how he will adjust and that his teacher, the same one Trenton had, might be too strict for him. I guess time will tell. I have to admit though it is nice only serving 1 child all day instead of 2. Claire has been missing her play buddy though and is my new little shadow.

Melissa started her 1st day of her LAST year of high school. This too had been emotional for me. Why do I feel so scared about all this new stuff happening in her life. I know I'm not losing her but I feel anxious about her taking flight and leaving the nest. I know I can't always protect her and that is scary. I am glad she is documenting her senior year on her own blog and it is fascinating to read. You can see her link on my "family and friends" bar on the left side of my blog. Natalie and Trenton started 8th grade and 3rd. Natalie has a new school since hers was shut down and because of budget cuts some Jr highs were combined. She was worried about not having her BFF's there but I think she is fine. Although, Natalie doesn't really enjoy going to school. Trenton has already realized in his first few days of school that 3rd grade is WAY harder than 2nd. Time to buckle down and get his homework done. None of this "I can do it in the morning before school!" He is in for a rude awakening! I am thankful that we live in a place where school is expected and not a luxury and that my family lives in a beautiful country with limitless freedoms. I am proud to be an American and to be a mother to our 5 beautiful children. I hope they all have a great year of school and that I don't go completely crazy here with Claire. (as she sits here at the computer with me throwing my sorted pile of papers over head ) Breathe in...breathe out...breathe in....Patience is what I will work on this year.

Emmie's funeral and luncheon

Emmie's sisters looking in...such a sweet picture.

Jason, Tiffany, and girls.

Displays at the funeral.

Special things of Emmie's

A candy bar at the luncheon.

Brian's sister Carrie and mother Debbie.

Amazing flowers

The dessert table, everything strawberry!

Emmie's cake and other goodies.

Melissa and Natalie

Brian and Claire

So amazing.... all that everyone did

Last Monday evening was a beautiful viewing at Emmie's home in Gilbert, Arizona. It was absolutely amazing to see so many people come pay their respects. There was a line out the door for hours and hours and it was 110 outside! These people were determined to come and support Tiffany and Jason during this difficult time. Everything was so beautiful and the flowers everywhere from so many people were so beautiful but the most beautiful part was seeing sweet Emmie in her casket all dressed in white from her long brown flowing hair to her painted pink toes. My other sister in law spent every moment for 3 days working on a video of Emmie's life and it was unbelievable. I'm sure it will forever be a treasured memento to everyone who was in her life. The funeral the next day was so amazing and the Spirit there was so strong. Melissa and Natalie sang with the other girl cousins "A Childs Prayer" and it was very touching. Lacey and Ashlyn also sang a duet "In This Very Room" which would make even the strongest teary eyed. Audra and her sisters played the piano for all of it and played violin for prelude music. Prayers were given by Tiffany's mother Debbie and by her sister Tracey. Grandpa Lonnie spoke and Tiffany and Jason did her life sketch together, which I thought was great that they did it that way. She was then laid to rest in Mesa cemetery an that was pretty quick since it was so hot outside but Jason gave a beautiful dedicatory prayer for his sweet innocent daughter. The luncheon was like a sweet sixteen and wedding reception all rolled into one with Emmie's favorite Strawberry Shortcake theme. Everything was so perfect and beautiful. Their ward did the food and served everyone and decorated the place to the T! It was a perfect day and one that I will forever remember.... just like her.

Goodbye Sweet Emmie

Yesterday at 3:50 p.m. sweet Emmie Rae Check left her earthly life and crossed over to the other side to join her Heavenly Father. She was surrounded by her loving family and relatives who slept at the foot of her bed and waited. She brought so much joy and understanding to so many people and her incredibly sweet spirit will forever be remembered. I can picture her in heaven running and twirling around singing and laughing, doing the things she was never able to do here on earth with her body she had. I grieve so much for Tiffany and Jason, and little sisters Ava and Elsie too. I know it has been so difficult for them and letting her go has been hard to say the least. I hope that the faith they have will buoy them up and their knowledge of the plan of salvation assures them that their family will someday be reunited in the most beautiful of places and they shall be with Emmie once again. I will forever remember this sweet child and her amazing spirit. Goodbye sweet Emmie, I will truly miss you.

Prayers Needed

Our sweet niece Emmie is in need of prayers. She rolled over onto a pillow on friday evening and went without air for 20 min. She is in ICU at Banner Desert at the pediatric hospital deciding if she wants to stay here on Earth with her loving family or return to her Heavenly Father. She has brought so much joy to her family for 8 1/2 years and has an amazing sweet pure spirit. We are sad for her family and this trial they are enduring and hope that they may feel comforted by so many prayers on their behalf. We went to visit her on Sunday and she looked very peaceful and sweet and hope that her choice will be to stay and if not we know that she was needed for important things on the other side. We love you Check Family and hope for a wondrous miracle.