Christmas a time for miracles

As a parent, we do not what we want for ourselves, but rather, what is best for our children.

This was the year for Conner and Sara to be with their dad, however tragedy struck. Darryl's father had a failing Liver and was in and out the hospital for months. The week before Christmas break, his father landed up in the ICU with complete liver failure. His Kidney's were also failing. Without a transplant, Paul wouldn't make it through the holidays.
As a family unit, we decided to remove the children from the sadness their father was facing. Christmas would be around the corner, and it wasn't a time to be cheerful.

The rains slowed our drive back up to Tracy from Southern California. Making what would normally be a six hour drive into a ten hour drive and an accidental turn onto a wrong freeway. Once home, the merriment of first seeing the family faded and Conner and Sara's thoughts immediately went back to their ailing grandfather.

Knowing what sadness held ahead for Conner and Sara, we tried our hardest to divert their attentions towards the spirit of Christmas and knowing it was a time for miracles... and it was!!

Not a moment too soon (nearly two days after being on the top of the transplant list), a kidney had come through to Paul... a week before christmas!! The road ahead was still tough and we were not out of the darkness yet.

Paul's body accepted the Kidney almost immediately, and within a week, he was chipper and full of life, as he once had been.

Now, I'm not sure if he was able to be at home for Christmas, but I do know that he was to be released either the Friday before Christmas or the Monday after... but close enough to Christmas as we could get.

Now, another miracle... a smaller miracle happened the weekend I was down in Southern California. I met my mother's brother and his children and wife. I don't remember them, but when I hugged them, the wholesome family feeling was there and it was OVERWHELMING!!

During my visit to my Uncle's home in San Bernadino, I was able to see old family photos and also the death annoucements for my grandmother and grandfather, who sadly, passed within a month of each other. As I read my Grandfathers announcement, I had electricity run through my veins. As I looked at the announcement I couldn't beleive my eyes... my grandfather was given an LDS burial. He was LDS and I never knew it!

There are reasons we choose the paths we take. There are reasons that god knows have to happen to give another person a chance to live.

Everyday we are thankful for these gifts and although sometimes they may hurt us, that which makes us weaker makes us stronger.

Cheering with Roo

Julie recently decided that she wanted to join cheerleading. With no money in the budget to do so, I thought to see if someone/several people, would be willing to sponsor Julie. Well, several people came through and now Julie is on the Panthers Cheer Squad. I don't know how it happened, but I was somehow roped into being a coach for the cheer squad. I am now officially a Junior Novice coach.

Joining the Tracy Panthers Cheerleading squad, has been a great blessing for me. I hesitate every day when I have to go, as I made the commitment, with a little push from Chris, I go and when I get there, I enjoy it!! I enjoy my small squad of three girls with one mascot. A mascot is the smallest division on our team, consisting of five to six year old. So, my little squad is perfect for me, and the girls are just awesome! They know what they are doing and amazingly can remember cheers that I still can't remember... their mind memory capacity is just incredible.

Well, with coaching of course, comes exercise... yep... I have lost a significant amount of weight! Its actually visible in photos...yeah!!! Several people have complimented on the weight loss as well as the incredible tan I have received. I am not sure of the actual pounds I've lost, but I know my muscles have increased too. I find myself with lots of energy and a great amount of spirit at games, camps and Jamborees...

Let me start first with Camp Jamz. My first official initiation to Cheer. One word sums it up... OUCH!!! Dancing in 100 degree heat from 8am to 3pm... wow. I came home and nearly collapsed!!! It was a lot of fun learning dance routines, learning more about cheering and stunting (which we don't have enough girls per squad to stunt this year). It was a great experience and the best part, is that my friend, Becki came out with her kids and cheered us!

Onto Jamboree, which was the following weekend. Let me first say that we had five days a week practice. Camp was on Sunday, Mon-Fri we had practice and Saturday we had Jamboree... I was BEAT!!! Jamboree was great, my friend Becki came to help me out with Grace since Chris had to work. Not knowing where to go once we got to the field in some little city in the middle of nowhere... was just a load of fun. Again 100 degree heat and walking around several fields whipped me into shape and out of energy.

Our football teams, all levels, have won each game, although our level of Junior Novice is not competitive. We are great teams and the boys work very hard, and the girls are cheering them on.

Our first game, which was an hour way, again in 100 degree heat, was pretty good for only have three girls make it! One was out sick, one was complaining of the heat and poor Julie had a bout with her allergies.

Julie is very great at cheer and always has spirit. She seldom complains (only when she cant breathe or is dire need of liquid), and it has been great for her to work on a team. She loves cheering, and loves the dancing at halftime. She catches on quick and is LOVING the tumbling. She is learning handstands, cartwheels, round offs, front walkovers and back walkovers. Our league, TVYFL, does not allow flips or stunting above shoulders, so its perfect for Julie and I who are just starting this and its all new to us.

Well, in the photo above, you can see the weight loss, :) and you can see the tan I've been getting :)

If I wasn't sweating a pound a minute, I would have worn makeup, but I knew it would melt off. Once the cooler weather hits, makeup will be out. I did Julies make up last game, but it melted off, so I thought just sunblock and dusting of shadow on eyes and lip gloss with SPF. I have to protect my little girl!!

Well, its off to bed... or rather back to bed... as I've been having insomnia lately, and only get a few hours of sleep throughout the night.

Up next... my interview and outcome for working at America's Department Store, MACY's!!

Reality TV can be knowledgable!

During my Insomnia bouts at night, I turn on my cell or tv to find something boring to watch to lull me back to sleep. As I was flipping through my television guide, I found a show... Kimora, Life in the Fab Lane. I chose this show out of sheer boredom. I actually learned something from this show. Did you know that you cannot have a 53 ft. trailer in Beverly Hills without a permit?? Neither did they! So, I got to thinking... I wonder if I can something knowledgable in all Reality Television. So, I decided to take on this challenge. To find a bit of knowledge in things I watch throughtout my week. Maybe even tune into a different Reality Show and find something educational. So, this week was Kimora. She was kind hearted and gave to charity. Some people think she can be demanding... and yes, she can be, but then again, how can you not be when you are CEO of a multi million dollar company, have a family of 5 (containing two girls who are 7 & 8, a newborn baby boy and a movie star husband). She is self proclaimed Fabulous, and why not. She came from nothing and worked her way to where to she is. We all have some OCD issues, and we all certain likes and dislikes... it just most of us were not raised in a city where you are taught to take off your earrings when you fight... another piece of knowledge I learned in case I am to ever be in a fight!

Well, Tonights tv includes Ghost Hunters International, where I learned that the book, movie and musical of Sweeney Todd was based off an actual Inn in England! In the Hollywood version its a barber who kills people for meat pies. He kills them and the chair opens up to a shute to the lower floor where they "butchered" for meat pies. In the live version, an Inn Keeper would get rich patrons drunk and lure them to a bedroom upstairs where the bed would have a sliding bottom and the bodies would drop down to a hot oil vat. The Inn Keeper would keep all the money and riches the patron had on them. This Inn Keeper had killed they say about 60 people. Evidence of Paranormal activity was inconclusive, as there were personal experiences but nothing on camera... except a few EVP's. The ghost hunters don't like to say a place is haunted unless they have absolute evidence to proove it. So, its quite interesting.

So... off till tomorrow! If anyone has any information on some reality shows, please email me, or message me and I can watch them and list what knowledgable information we can get! Its all about the educational aspect of Reality TV.

Time to Move On

Well, its just been announced... its time to move on!

Chris and are sad to go, but we will be moving from our beloved home here on Hickory in the next 2 to 6 months. Circumstances have come up and now our days here are limited.

We are not moving far. We are looking for houses in our area... more square footage is needed and we are hoping to find a place within the George Kelly Elementary area. This way we can be close to our friends.

Also on the horizon *very near* we are going to get a four door box on wheels. We are not sure if we are going to fix up the Ghetto Mobile or if we are going to go with a newer addition. We are not sure what the plans are exactly, but we will keep you posted.

Also, on the fore front we are planning a possible get away. Not sure where yet, we're thinking a visit to play with Jayden... ie...Disneyland! Not sure yet if we are going to be able to work it... but, we will see.

Oh, and lets not forget the dreaded Bday is drawing close. I am begining to dread that darned Groundhog! Six more weeks of winter, thats not the concern,... its the fact that I am another year older and I have to remember I'm not in my 20's anylonger!!

Well, I know its been a while since i've blogged, but lately I've been so busy with work!! I'll try to update my blogs sooner....

Je' taime.

Songs selections

As favors to some of our guests, we are creating cd's. Asides from the titles and who chose it, there will also be little messages, so we can save them and look back and remember the day.

So, here are a few songs, and written clips of what was chosen.

The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra
Our original wedding song from February 16th, 2002.

Its Your love by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
This song was selected as Our Song for our sealing. It describes exactly how we feel about each other, even after all of these years.

Broken Road by Raskal Flatts
To Christopher from Kellie. I had a broken road but god knew what he had planned.

My Everything by Michael Buble
To Kellie from Chris. (Clip insert has not been given to me, so like me, you will have to wait)!

Just Another Day In Paradise by Phil Vassar
This song marked our 5 years together. It describes our life to a "T" and it fits our family.

I'm Already There by Lonestar
To Conner and Sara from Mommy and Daddy Chris.

Front Porch Looking In by Raskal Flatts
To Julie and Gracie from Mommy and Daddy.

The Climb by Miley Cirus
To our beautiful children.


Well, thats just a few of the songs, and the excerpts will have detailed writting.

Love and Blessings,

Census Smensus

So, news on the homefront?

Well, tonight I learned about indexing! I am a huge history buff, and love to learn as much about people of the past as I can. Which is probably why I am so much into the paranormal. I often times wonder what a person went through to become a ghost, and often times, it was when they were hit by tuberculosis and were left to die in a santarium, or they went off to war but never returned, or they were in the wrong place at the wrong time... but none the less, in the words of Ghost Hunters, "Ghosts were people too."

So, tonight I listened as my friend Leslie gave a demonstration of how to index. After paying half attention to her demo while the other half texting another girl in the room, posting on facebook, checking my emails and chatting with a friend (sorry Leslie :( ) I decided to try this out. Why not, I mean, we have a ward goal of indexing 5,000 names by the end of the year, with a STAKE goal of 50,000 names! I do data entry at work, and this would allow me to look at "Historical Documents".

So, tonight at home, I tucked the girls into bed, gave chris a kiss goodnight, and began to google search the site, because while I wasn't paying attention, she mentioned the site to go to... see, it pays to listen! I saw several googles, but one site stuck out... Family search indexing... something something... LDS. So, I clicked on it to check it out and recognized the family tree in the upper right hand corner. So, I went and enrolled.

I got my first document and worked on it. Since I am a fast typer and really fast at Data entry, I finished the first page up in no time... but also paying attention to the person, their spouses and their children, seeing if anything rang a bell. Nothing did, but I did find several young wives who were about my age with 15 and 16 year old children, whose husbands were in their 40's... can we say, GROSS!

So, I finished 101 names and then decided to set my quota. Since my ward has chosen a goal of 5,000 names, I have decided to make that my personal goal! By the end of this year, I will index 5,000 names... and I am determined to do it! After I entered in the information, it said that to obtain this goal, I would have to complete 37 names a day... I can WAY DO THAT. If I did 101 in less than 30 minutes, I can do way more! So, I am thinking, if I do the WARD goal of 5,000 by the end of this year, I will make the STAKE goal of 50,000 by the end of the year! I don't know if I can do that goal, but I will first work on the ward goal, and go from there!

So, you are asking yourself, "What is indexing?" or, if your self centered you are asking yourself, "I can beat her at whatever this indexing is!" Well, indexing is helping volunteer to transfer the Census handwritten copies (Like the ones on Ellis Island) and converting them to typed ledgers. The system is so easy to manuever and its all about entering in what you see, and tabbing... very simple... but so rewarding.

You can help the government transfer these records and view pieces of history while doing it... think, "What would Nick Cage be doing with this in National Treasure?" Well, he would be sitting at his laptop, entering in the information while trying to see if there is a secred code mixed up in the form... Psha!

Well, Thats about it, however, I am super excited, because my dear friend whom I haven't seen in years, is flying into San Fran for just one day next week, and I am going to see her! I miss her so much, and she hasn't met Gracie yet! Julie (Who is Juju to her Auntie Christa), is super excited to see Auntie Christa again. My dear friend is up for a role in an indy film being filmed over sea's in India. This is a HUGE opportunity for her, and on Wednesday she is meeting with the production team. I have offered her our place to crash at, so she won't have to stay with the producers that she doesnt' know. She is bringing her hubby, whom I haven't met, so it will be a great time to visit with her... and pray that she gets the role! It would be her foot in the door... and of course, me to get to go to a premiere or, GULP, the red carpets! :)

So, thats about it for now... its 11:31pm, and I am just tired!

Night all, and have a blessed day.

Love and Blessings,

Gold Canyon Candles

Well, its that time of year again... the holidays are coming upon us!

Just imagine... the kids are in school or bed... and you are having some quiet time. What do you do??? Here's my answer... and it brightens my day... which is why I am so cheerful... but tell NO ONE!

First... when the hubby is gone, because if he was home, he would laugh at me, and the kids are either off to school or in bed, I grab White Christmas, Holiday Inn, Miracle on 34th Street, or its a wonderful life. Or, if I am in a laughing mood, I grab Scrooged or Jim Careys GRINCH! I grab myself a nice cup of warm cider, and light up some candles on the coffee table in the scent of Christmas or Fall. This gets me chipper every time... and now you too can have the experience.

And what makes this perfect is the use of Gold Canyon Candles! We have our new holiday candles out, and our holiday scents! We also have those collectable Halloween and Thanksgiving holders... not to mention our Christmas themed ones!

Whats better than that, is you can earn free candles and products. I have some great deals going on right now that I would be happy to share with you!

So, give me a ring, and we can set up a party or catalog party!

We also have some wonderful discounted items already, so give me a call, comment, text, facebook, or email... I have the candle samples here for you to whiff!!!

Now, I think I'm going to put my ham in the oven and rest a bit....

Oh, and I can email you the catalog if you want!

Love and blessings,

Kell