Life Is Good

It has been awhile since I have blogged. My life has been very busy! A lot has happened since the last time I wrote. Brooke is doing awesome at college. Shortly after I wrote last time, things took a huge turn for the better!!! Brooke and her roommate are very close now:) Her roommate had an adjustment period of about two and half weeks but then pulled herself around and has been absolutely wonderful with her head and heart on the right track. I am very proud that she was able to come back around and is doing great! I am thankful that they have each other for support. We have been able to go down a few times to visit with Brooke. This has been a God send cause she is so busy that she just doesn't seem to find time to come home. This last weekend we were able to be at the University for Family Weekend! It was awesome:) We attended the big game on Saturday against Weber State and helped cheered the Griz to victory! We were able to visit and take Brooke and Joe to dinner a couple of times. He also got to come to the game with us on Saturday. She is doing very well in school. She made it through mid-terms with flying colors. She is going to be a wonderful Special Education Teacher! We also got to be there when she asked Joe to the Sadie Hawkins dance! She came up with the cutest idea all on her own and even did it in front of her dad and I on the way to taking them to dinner. She never ceases to amaze me with how much self confidence she is building:) It is a pleasure to see her smiling and happy all the time. It means so much to me to see her this way! Jerry and I are coping pretty well having an empty nest. We always wonder if she will make it home but never does lol! She will be home for Thanksgiving break and will be bringing Joe. Luke wonders where she is and loves it when she talks on speaker phone to him. He tilts his head, wags his tail and stares at the phone:) Well, I am going to sign off for now, but like I said Life Is Good!!! Hope Life Is Good for you too.

Empty Nesting:(

I have finally come to figure this out again! I have wanted to blog about how life is with Brooke out of our house. I don't really even know where to start. She is off in Missoula and we are here. She has had to learn a lot in these quick three weeks! Yes, that's right, It has been three weeks already. Time has flown by but not uneventful. First, My husband, parents and myself moved her in. It was hard work in more than one way. We met the room mate and her parents. All seemed to be alright. Her mom pulled me out in the hall and asked some of the most normal questions like, Is Brooke easy going, cause she seems to be a sweet girl, to, did Brooke take late classes because she stays out all hours of the night. I had to completely laugh inside at that! I assured her that yes Brooke is sweet, has her head on straight and assured her the late classes were due to scheduling and that she does not even party. She was saying how great this all was cause her daughter doesn't do that and has a boyfriend of one year back home. I was pleased to hear this from her and even her daughter confirmed this to me and Brooke. This all went well until Monday. Yes, I said Monday! Two days after her parents left and one day after we left. The true colors then came out. Piercings happened, nice things the parents bought for her room were over taken by groovy loving things and last but not least the late nights with parying and boys happened. The disrespect that has been shown to my daughter is uncalled for. Since she does not give in to peer pressure and actually has a mind of her own, she has been out casted. Her personal things have been trashed and her time to study interrupted. I just want to say, I know that I am not alone in any of these things happening to their child. I will however speak on behalf of our family and tell you how proud I am of Brooke. Not only has she stuck to all of her morals and values, but she has done it with elegance and class:) She has met some very nice people there, has not faultered to trying illegal substances or doing things to her body she should not do. I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for making her dad and I proud!!!! When we go to Family Fun Weekend, we will be proud to say we are her parents. She studies all the time, takes very good care of herself and all in all is respectful and caring of others. She has had a scare with having her roommate come in at 1,2 & 4 in the morning with one of these times not breathing well. She stayed up the rest of the night to check on her and make sure she was ok, got in the shower around 8 and went to church. My daughter is not at all perfect and does make mistakes but I thank my Heavenly Father everyday that she does not make the ones that are hard to live with, harm her or others and bring herself down. We are very lucky parents, just as there are numbers of lucky parents out there. I look forward in watching her spread her wings and grow as I have already witnessed some outstanding beauty from her actions. She is beautiful in and out :) Thank you honey for being the best daughter we could ask for!!!!! Love you Much

Good morning to all of you! As a mom I am finding out that life is a huge adventure. That adventure brings all kinds of twists & turns in a thing called life. Today my adventure will be a hard one:( My daughter, Brooke, who is the sunshine of my life, will be put through some more tests on a tumor that is in the spinal chord beneath the base of her brain. We discovered this a year ago and we have been on quite the adventure ever since. We will visit with the neurosurgeon on thursday to find out what is going on with it. I will be strong for my daughter and those around me cause I truly believe that God will guide us through this! We have very supporting family and friends. My mom & dad are the greatest parents one can ask for and I only hope to be as good a parents as they:) My friends, well what can I say about them, they are the best! I work with them every day and they support me at work but most importantly in life. I really don't know how I would be without them. They love me and my daughter unconditionally just like family:) As my daughter put in my about me, I am very outgoing & will talk to just about anybody! I like the diversity of people and what I can learn from them. I am always open to soak in all things good. Life really is uncertain and not long enough not to be happy. I have endured some very hard times the past couple of years, but I have also learned so many things along the way!!! I truly believe this has made me a stronger person. New people have come into my life lately & I am very blessed because of this:) They have inspired my daughter to be strong & to believe she is a wonderful, courageous person. I already knew this but sometimes we need to be told from the people who are not in our immediate family. Jerry is busy shooting trap and riding his harley. Luke is a loving dog as always. Another big change that is going to take place in our family life is that we send Brooke off to college in 3 weeks! I am excited for her but at the same time am a little worried for her but mostly me lol I am not quite sure how I will handle her not home and living on her own!! Where has time gone? It seems like I just had her! Well til next time, Live.Love.Dream & may God Bless You All!!!