Paint, Proud, Proceedure, Painful, Pink Polka Dots, and Performing

The past several days have been strange. Interesting conversations have taken place and a lot has been accomplished.

I met with some of my old neighborhood friends for a painting party in celebration of my friend, Caisa's birthday. It was a fun and productive way to spend time together and I liked having a project instead of going to lunch or dinner for a change. We worked together to paint her daughter's bedroom and would have completed it if only we'd had a taller ladder.

On Monday night our family helped clean our church building for Family Home Evening. We were the first ones to arrive and chose to clean the Chapel. We dusted, vacuumed, and organized until the room sparkled. Caleb noticed that the cloth on the Sacrament table was stained and asked if we could take it home to wash. After getting permission from the Bishop, we did take it home for a good cleaning. I was proud of Caleb for being proactive and taking a personal interest in something so meaningful.

Last week I was flossing my teeth and ended up breaking a small piece off one of my bottom front teeth (I knew there was a reason I hate flossing!). I went to see our dentist to have it fixed and he was astonished to find how much my jaw has moved and my bite has changed since our visit in late January. I don't know what is going on, but he said my TMJ symptoms are going to continue to get worse and he's afraid of the wear on my teeth. He highly recommends I get braces ASAP. What a decision. Clint and I have made the decision not to go into unnecessary debt and I have to decide if this warrants $4300. Bleh!

We have known a young mother with the same type of brain tumor as Caitlin's for the last five years. Unlike Caitlin though, she has had continual symptoms, tumor growth, surgeries, and treatment. Her extended family has found encouragement and hope as they have watched Caitlin grow and remain unaffected by her cancer. Brain cancer is weird though and depending on the location, grade, and general health of the patient can have varying symptoms and outcomes. A few weeks ago I was told this young mother was in hospice care and wasn't expected to live more than a month. I tried to decide what and how I should tell Caitlin. I didn't say anything though. Earlier this week, I found out Heather had passed away. I waited a day before I said anything to Caitlin. When I finally had my little speech figured out and had enough courage, I told her. Guess what she said? "I already know." One of her little friends had told her a couple of days earlier and she didn't say a word. Now I have to wonder if Caitlin was coming up with her own little speech and working up her courage to tell me. Interesting how we can want open communication and honesty, but we mess it up with the desire to be brave and protect. Again, bleh!

Today I went out for lunch and pedicures with my friend, Jen. It is so nice to have friends in my neighborhood who I enjoy spending time with. We did something a little different with our pedicures this time- hot pink polish with white polka dots. I love polka dots!

Tonight was Caleb's last middle school choir concert. He has loved being involved with the concert choir and has had good experiences performing and competing. His new High School is supposed to have a wonderful choir director and plans are in place for a good music program.

Faces of Hope

Last night our family went to the Faces of Hope Dinner and Auction benefiting Caitlin's cancer support group, Hopekids.

The dinner tables were decorated by the families of some of the children with items that represent their interests and personalities. We chose a Wicked theme and asked my mom to help us. Last weekend while we were visiting my parents, my mom shared her ideas and we shopped around for some of the things we'd need. I think it turned out really cute.

At the last minute, we were asked to decorate a second table. We loved meeting Jon Schmidt again and were absolutely blown away with his talent on the piano. Marti Skold was the MC and was so sweet with the children. All in all, a fun night and a great cause. We love Hopekids!

Our Life in Bullets

• We finished Financial Peace University for the second time. It was a good experience to be around like-minded people working towards a common goal and it was also encouraging to realize how much we've accomplished since last May.
• Caleb got his learners permit and has been practicing his driving skills with Clint.
• I got a night out with my friends, Judy and Jen.
• We spent the weekend at my mom and dad's house and enjoyed time with the extended family. My mom was a good sport helping me with a project, we were able to go see our niece/cousin Kysa's dance recital, and enjoyed a BBQ and Iron Man for the second time.
• Clint helped out with Caitlin's fieldtrip to Biz Town, where the kids get real life experience performing jobs, paying bills, and managing their money. The first words out of Caitlin's mouth when she got home were "Real life is so hard!"
• I was able to go to the temple and lunch with my friends, Tara and Lynette. Nice way to spend a day off.

My Pursuit of Happiness

This is what I'm going to call my goals from now on, if for no other reason, to remind myself there is purpose, direction, and intention in my life, and it's all for the good of my family, myself, and hopefully others too.

This is especially true with our financial goals. We are currently working to pay off our last debt, and it's a big one. If all goes well, it will take the remainder of the year with plenty of hard work and focus. I try not to live with the thought process of "I'll be happy when..." Instead I'm trying hard to find happiness in the journey and it's been surprisingly easy (most days). It's frustrating when unexpected things come up, like my broken tail light (thanks, Caleb), but we've noticed plenty of blessings too, like the job Clint was offered that will work along with what he is currently doing and my raise.

So how did April turn out? We paid taxes, paid cash for our Disneyland vacation, increased what we contribute to our Christmas account each month, and paid $1100 towards debt.

Our Disney trip helped give us a break from the busy schedule we've been keeping and we're ready to get back to work and make some progress in May.

Disneyland

The Happiest (Meeting) Place on Earth!

Our much anticipated getaway to California is now over and we’re happy to be home (Daisy is ecstatic!). We had a great time, made some lasting memories, enjoyed a break from our busy schedules, and used our “Give a day, Get a day” Disneyland passes for the service we completed earlier in the year.

On our first night while we were eating dinner, Clint stopped a family on their way out of the restaurant and as I turned around, realized it was Clint’s brother, Daniel and his family. We had already made plans to meet another brother, Matt and his family at Disneyland the following day, so it turned into an impromptu reunion. For three brothers living in three different states and who are not very good about staying in touch with each other, this turned out to be a memorable time.

We also met Caitlin’s teacher in Disneyland! How many kids can say they rode Space Mountain with their 5th Grade teacher? We love Mrs. Page; she is one of those teachers you remember your whole life because you know she genuinely cares about you. She has been a blessing to Caitlin and to us this school year. Oh the stories to tell when they go back to school later this month, and seriously, if this picture is not proof of Teacher’s Pet, I don’t know what is.

Funny Caitlin-isms from our trip:

As we’re driving to our hotel on the first night, Caleb was acting like a goofball and Caitlin told him he needed one of her pills for ADD. This stops Clint and I dead in our tracks and as we give each other a look of pure panic- we realize in a moment of vacation ruining dread that we left her medication AT HOME! The kids pick up on this and Caitlin says “Well this outta be interesting!”

It was.

When we got into Disneyland on the first day, Caitlin yells out, “Look at those tricked out Monorails!”

And they were. Instead of plain old white Monorails, they are now painted with color changing paint.

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