Good news...bad news

Let us start out with something happy for a change...My son, my firstborn, my first baby has arrived home. It's funny because he really has not been gone long enough to "change," however, he has!! I think he grew an inch and gained some life experiences. What a wonderful joy to see him again. He leaves on Sunday, 11/30, but then comes back on 12/13. So we get just a small break. I am glad he is home and I am glad to have the whole family together again.

I guess they say bad things happen in threes. First Garrick left, then Cookie, and now my friend Frannie is leaving California. I have not known her very long but a church calling, a very busy, very active, totally involved church calling, brought us together. Being in the Young Woman's Stake Presidency is not an easy job and every one in the presidency has to work together, trust each other, and get along. This one worked. From the very beginning when we all four got together, it just worked. Everyone takes on their job (I am usually the slacker!!) and we do it. Things get done, things that once were thought impossible, get done. Through laughing and crying, things got done. As much is Fran is going to be missed in our callings, I will miss her that much more as a friend.

Rest in Peace

Goodbye sweet, sweet Cookie girl. We will miss you more than you know.



I will tell this story when I can, but I cannot right now. My heart is breaking, my tears are flowing, my life is emptier.

Mama's Little Fortune Cookie
aka Cookie Louise Wood
07/03/1997 - 11/15/2008

Two things...

I just wanted to post two real quick things. They are just things that people said recently that made me happy and made me think.

The first thing was said by a really good friend. Natalie and I went to a Young Woman In Excellent program for a ward not our own. I am in the Stake YW presidency and so I get the wonderful privilege of attending these functions. Natalie came with me because Trent was working and she did not want to stay by herself. My friend looked over at Natalie and I and said something about how wonderful my relationship is with my daughter. I lied and said it was fake. She laughed and said there was no way this kind of relationship could be fake. Natalie and I are always laughing, joking, even making snide remarks about eachother all of the time, but I seriously consider Natalie to be my best friend. I know she will always tell me the truth when I ask her if I look fat in something - lol - and I know, at least I think, she can and will come to me about anything. I love her and am so very grateful that Heavenly Father let me have her!

The second thing is just a thought. In RS yesterday our lesson was, round-aboutly, about why bad things happen to good people. Do we murmur, do we take it, do we pray, do we ask for help, do we move on, do we harbor bad feelings, etc. One sister spoke about a time she went to her bishop years ago about a bad time she was having and how maybe she coulda, shoulda, woulda made it different. That bishop asked her if she remembered the Primary song about the wise man and the foolish man. He told her, "They both got rained on." This statement just made me stop and think...we are all given things to bear, some good, some bad, it is how we manage it that matters.

Quiet...Testing

I went to my daughter's school today to have a meeting with her and her counselor. It was a typical meeting making sure that my high school student is on the right track and will graduate when she is suppose to. Blah, blah, blah. Anyway, while I was sitting there waiting for the counselor, there was a door with a sign on it that read, "Quiet...Testing." This brought back memories from grade school. I'm not really sure why, but it did. I guess that was probably the last time I saw a sign that said that, I dunno. This made me wonder whether a sign like this helps. I wonder if people walking by look at the sign and start to whisper. I imagine some people would be quiet, some would not. It is like if you see a yellow light, some hit the brake, some hit the gas. If there is something on sale at the store and there is only one item left, some will take it, some will leave it. If there is a piece of trash on the ground, some will pick it up, some will step over it. If someone falls, some will help, some will laugh. But, it is the mere suggestion of "Quiet...Testing" that makes us who we are.

PS - Cookie is having a pretty good day today. No rain, so the air is a little drier and it makes it easier for her to breath. She seems to be a little happier today. YAY!!!!!! :-)

I may never feel happy again

Okay, the blues just keep on coming. First Garrick and now my sweet, sweet baby Cookie. Cookie has been sick for a few weeks, really bad the last two days. We took her to the vet yesterday and her breast cancer (which was removed in 2006) has metastasized to her lung. The tumor has almost filled the entire lung and is probably pushing on the other one and limiting the intake of air on the good lung.

We have to put her down. Neither Trent or I can do this. I cannot stand to see her suffer but my heavens, I cannot let the vet put stuff into her veins to kill her. I know the right thing and I will eventually do this, but I am so afraid to do it too soon or to wait too long.

We have had her since she was just a little, bitty puppy and she is now 11-1/2 years old. She sleeps with me and keeps my company when I am alone. I already miss her so much. I hope she finds kitties to chase and fields to run in.