Just gotta love her....

I love my Mother in law to death. She is just the funniest person, 2 years ago I took a trip to Florida with her. It was a riot! Anyways....She has started taking piano lessons and she was like a kid in the candy store when she was showing me what she had learned. I have told her after she is done, she will have to teach me! I am so proud of her.............

Playing with Madison

Chloe had the funniest time playing with Madison. Chloe was in her saucer and Madison was laying down below her, Madison would tickle Chloe's foot and say her name. Chloe would lean over to find Madison and just laugh! It was the cutest thing......

Luncheon Time Fun!

Last Friday Brittany and I went to the annual get together luncheon that my mother puts on, anytime a relative comes into town. This time it was for Aunt Kay...So we all met at Garica's in Mesa. It was really nice to see everyone, it is hard when you live on the opposite end of the valley to see them as much as you would like too. Aunt Kay came in from Minnesota. We had a good time talking and catching up on family!

My Nephew Lorin

Written by LeAnn , Lorin's Mom. (this was Saturday 10/18)

Another tough day for Lorin, can't seem to get the pain under control so he hadn't gotten much sleep and was very agitated. Dr. Beck has been wonderful at trying to relieve Lorin's pain so he came in again this evening and made some changes. Finally around 10:00 this evening he started to settle down and seems to be comfortable, sleeping right now. It is such a relief to see him calm and at peace. I wish I had a magic wand to make it go away, but I know that's not the plan so I put my total trust in the Lord and have faith that it will all work out the way it's suppose to. Then I feel His love and comfort and know that it's going to be ok. "But it still hurts to watch."

(10/19)

I talked to LeAnn tonight and Lorin isn't doing to well...It seems no matter what they do, Chemo or Radiation the tumors are growing. Please keep their family in your thoughts and prayers.

Flashback Friday ~ 2004

Today's flashback brings back good memories! My best friend in the world Bev, I have talked about her alot, was coming to Arizona on vacation. I hadn't seen her in like 10 yrs. They were going to take her boys to see the Grand Canyon. So we all met up there and had a really good time. IT was the first time I had been to the Canyon myself, what a beautiful site. On the way home we stopped at the Beddrock Park (Flintstones) Madison and Brittany had fun, it is a cute little place.

Activity Day

Last week Madison went to her activity day and then painted these pots. Then they planted grass in it to look like hair (like a Che pet). Madison's has really taken off, it seems like every time I look at the thing it has grown more. It is a really cute idea for Halloween. Hers is suppose to look like Frankenstein~Ewwww Scary!!!

Happy Birthday Teppo!

Today is my grandson Teppo Maximus turned 4. He lives in Alaska with his Mom and 2 brothers, while his dad is in Iraq. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY 4th TEPPO ~ Grandma misses you!!!

I know I have

Ok I know I have already done this on here, but I found a picture of my Mother, her Senior picture and I just had to try and see what she would look like.

Mom you are beautiful to me!

Power of Prayer

I know without a shadow of a doubt, that prayer truly works in many ways. If you could keep me in your prayers I would greatly appreciate it...have ran into some new health problems and could use some thoughts coming my way. Thank you, Charilla

Flashback Friday:

Well this weeks flashback is in April of 1986. I was very much so pregnant with my 3rd son, Zane. He was 2 weeks over due and I was miserable!!! My mother in law flew down to Tennessee for the delivery. In this picture I am sitting behind a table and that's my large tummy sticking over the top, we just couldn't believe how big I was. So glad when that day came and he was here. When I found out I was pregnant, I weighed 110 pds, then just before I had him they weighed me and I was 210 pds. Yes, honestly I gained 100 pds,(that's military for you, 22 yrs ago). So on April 21, 1986; Zane Preston came into this world : 9 pds 9 oz 21 1/2 inches long....Now is 6ft. 4 inches tall !

Keep in Prayers

Written by my Sister in law LeAnn, Lorin's mother...

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2008 12:29 PM
We just got the results of the MRI and now things are making more sense. The tumor on Lorin's spine has grown and is compressing on the spinal cord, which explains the reason for the weakness, numbness in the lower body, not being able to walk and trouble urinating. They are sending him immediately over to Good Samaritan hospital for radiation to start shrinking the tumor. He will be doing this everyday for a while until there is relief. They will bring him back here to PCH.

Happy Anniversary

Today is Zane and Diana's 3rd Wedding Anniversary! Wow I can't believe it has been 3 years...They have been in different jobs and towns. They are living in Lake Havasu City, Az. right now and have a beautiful girl named Zoe Jane. So I wish them Happy 3rd Anniversary!

Back in the Hospital

For those of you that don't know, my nephew Lorin was diagnosed with cancer in May. He has been on Chemo,he has had 2 rounds and was on a break for 2 weeks, but today he was running a high fever and had to have a blood transfusion and was admitted to the hospital again. He has lost most of the strength in his legs and is bed ridden mostly. He did go to General Priesthood meeting this last Saturday and was able to lye on the cough in the entry way and listen. Please keep him in your thoughts and Prayers. Thank you, Charilla

Looking Around

Today I was looking through at my senior picture and I kept thinking I had seen it somewhere else just recently...I started laughing. The colored picture is my real senior photo, the other is from www.yearbookyourself.com
I'm not sure what was up with the hair!...hee hee

Fall Break

Today here in Arizona we started Fall Break, which last a week long!!! Not sure what we are going to do this whole week. This weekend we are going out of town to visit Chris and his family and go to the Good Ole` Safford Fair, (good times) I go for the cotton candy and the rest of the family goes for the rides, I get sick just thinking of a ride, so I won't be on any. Today for our first day, us girls went out to eat at Olive Garden. Madison had never been and she was so excited! Of coarse headed out the door forgot camera, so we just got this one with her standing by the bag. The twins weren't very excited so it was a short rushed lunch...next time we will go without the little ones.

Flashback Friday

Usually today I do a Flashback Friday: This week I decided to do a tribute to a wonderful young man, my nephew Lorin, who has shown me that strength and courage comes from within ourselves, but with prayer and faith we can over come all. It my take a little bit of time,trial and our faith tested,but if we believe in him all things are possible. I heard this quote once
"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."
Indomitable means: that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable: an indomitable warrior.

Lorin to me is a warrior fighting a battle with great strength and courage and Stripling Warrior, I have never seen a person so willing to try his hardest to over come a battle that has been placed in his hands and to say, " I will beat this!" I love you Lorin......

YEARBOOK

I went to this site that Julie told me about, thanks!

It is really fun....Here is my family! It's ok to laugh.....

http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

Pictures and Up-date

There are now pictures and up-dates on my nephew Lorin that has been put on the website. Thank you to all of you that have been keeping him and his family in your prayers. He is an awesome young man and the strength he has shown is amazing...thank you Cheryl for your kind words to him, you're awesome!
www.caringbridges.org/visit/lorinmerkley

I won 2 Tickets!

I am sooooo excited, I actually won something. I have never ever won anything in my life. Bill and the kids are the lucky ones, all the time they are telling me..."Hey Mom, guess what I just won?" So I was on Facebook the like last week and in a group I belong to, they where having a contest to whoever got the most people to join this group I won tickets....Well the group I belong to is Jesterz. It is a comedy club here in the Scottsdale area. For theses who are in our Ward they know of it, our 1st Councilor is a comedian there.

So I am so stoked to go!!! The lucky person going with me is.....Brittany! Us moms deserve a night out and a good laugh without kids!