Santa Clause came last night!!

So guess what? Santa Clause came to our house last night!!

It was a total shock and surprise!! It was our bishop and his wife. I guess because they're the only ones that know our entire situation, despite what I write on here, they knew what we needed. They delivered two HUGE bags of wrapped gifts for the girls! They labeled everything, which is GREAT. The girls got 2 toys each and dresses, pajamas, socks and underwear and gift cards to Payless. PERFECT!! Just what we needed!

And, they also brought a big, round laundry basket full of food for Christmas!! YUMMY!!! Of course when people help us like this we feel guilty. It's hard not to, ya know? We didn't ask for it... but we DO appreciate it!

Anyway, I'm so grateful for that help and surprise! It was SO NICE!!

A Personal Update... & Daniel's HOME!!!!!

He’s Home!!!!! among other things....

So my little brother, Daniel, just got back from his mission that he served faithfully and successfully in Milan, Italy!!! YAY!!!!

We all drove to the airport at 12:30am and waiting not too long for Dannerdeem to get off the plain! It was so cute cuz Lacie could remember him and just smiled and smiled at him! Sophie recognized him but she was SO SHY! She kept hiding her face. It was so cute!

As soon as I saw him I started to cry!!! AAAHH!!!! My mom ran up to him like a crazy-lady and threw herself on him crying. It was so sweet and special and exciting. Then my sister was right behind her and my dad then me. I was carrying my darling fire-ball niece, Maddison, Erik's 1 yr old, and had both my beautiful girls with me, too. They saw him next.

We all took some pics at the airport with other families and of returned missionaries from Daniel's mission and around there.

Now get this, their flight WAS supposed to come in at 7:30 pm!! Wow so we waited forever!!! We helped clean and decorate mom's house for him, too.

Also, we've reheared (for like 10 minutes TOPS, as usual) to play in Andrea's single's ward Christmas program. Me violin, Andrea viola, Erik cello, mom cello, and Dad, Tyler, Glenn, Daniel, Michael & Joshua all singing. Our rehearsals are VERY INTERESTING. There is a lot of major goofing off that goes on and yelling, too!! hahaha. We have a blast. And we're all LOUD! haha. And we usually sound really super crappy when we rehearse, but then when it comes time to perform we all do pretty good, I think. I mean, people in Lehi always ask us to play for church and wedding stuff, so we must not suck, right? I'm just so glad Tyler is going to sing this time!! He has a GREAT voice, but he's so shy with it! LOL

Okay, so we've been sooooo busy getting ready for Daniel and now we're having parties for him. It's so exciting!! We haven't seen him for TWO YEARS!!! So if any of you feel like we've deserted you for this very special occassion, we're sorry. Tyler and I both decided this took priority over other events and what-not.... but family and friends are not forgotten.
Okay, back to "other things" lol.

So I'm having "health issues" AGAIN. Actually have been for a little while, just been trying to ignore them. Though, when it comes down to it all, after seeing a doc, I'm thinking my "issues" are just something like Irritable Bowel Syndrome or my Gastritis (which I know I have already) flaring up with my Endometriosis and my Thyroid hormone levels changing again. BLAH. I hate this. It's so annoying. I take 5 pills a day now, and will be taking 1-2 more a day now. I'm 30! Not 50 or 60!! Sheeeesh!! lol

So I had MAJOR stomach cramping the other day. Every time I eat my stomach bloats up HUGE and I look very super pregnant. It's so uncomfortable! I find it funny when people look at me thinking I'm pregnant and smile. It's hilarious. They think, "aww, a pregnant lady!!" and I think, "aw, they think I'm pregnant! hahahaha".

We went to see A Christmas Carol put on by the Grooms family that used to own and run CEnter Street mUscial Theater that we used to play in the orchestra pit for and act in's last performance EVER. It was sad!! I mean, it was GOOD, but we were all sad that it's all over now! Anyway, afterward Sharalyn Grooms, the mommy, thought I was preggo and poked my belly. hahahahahaha!!!!! I thought it was so funny!! I should've said, "ooh! ooh!" like the PIllsbury Dough Boy but I didn't want to embarrass her further when I said, "nope, I'm not!". She's had 7 kids and had a tummy tuck a couple years back she told me. That'll probably be me, too. My mom HAS to have one cuz her belly's herniated severely!!! She's SUPER skinny, but has that poky-outy-belly. poor mom!! She's in her 50's and people STILL ask if she's pregnant!!! lol
Okay, anyway, back to my tummy pain.

So it was sooooo bad I couldn't move at all. I was extremely nauseated. Here's the deal. I CANNOT throw up. You think lucky me? NO WAY!!!! Not being able to throw up is WORSE than throwing up. I know, cuz I've done both! lol. My stomach hurts and cramps seriously and severely because I cannot throwup to relieve the crampiness or nausea like most people do. I'm sure I had the stomach flu, but it was soooo amplified by my Acid Reflux and my Gastritis.

Anyway, by the end of that one day I coudln't move, I hadn't eaten ANYTHING or drank ANYTHIGN. I could not. I was soooo sick. Wow yeah. So I went into the InstaCare cuz I just couldn't function. They did blood work on me to see if it's a Peptic Ulcer. I would not be surprised.... but I haven't heard back from them, so I'm guessing it's not. The doc said I have to see my regular doc to get an Endoscopy to see if I have stomach cancer or pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer is more likely he said because of having my gall bladder removed at a young age for being DISEASED and not contaminated like most people's are. I was skinny, young, and female, which made my gall bladder disease very very rare. And a lot more serious. They warned me that having it removed will increase my chances for having stomach or pancreatic cancer by like 20-30% more likely. Plus my acid reflux doesn't help that much, either. And all the meds I take. And the endometriosis.

BUT, I think I'm okay. I can feel something's wrong... but I'm sure it's not serious, just annoying. It's probably Irritable Bowel Syndrome or just all my other illnesses really acting up due to the stress I've been under. That's very likely.

Oh, and still not pregnant. BUMMER. I'll be starting Clomid soon to hopefully induce pregnancy, which will increase my chances of having twins, which I DO hope I have! I want more than 2 kids! 2 kids are not enough!! I want at least 4 kids!!

Let's see, what else.

Oh, Lacie gets to start piano lessons soon! I'm sooooooo excited!!!!! I think she'll do great! I did teach her violin lessons when she was 3 for a few months or a year and she did really well for her age. I am almost Suzuki Instructor Certified (have to finish some practice hours training then I'll be ligit) but it was fun practicing with Lacie. I'm sure we'll get her started up when we can afford the violin rental again. Or cello. Or whatever else she'd like to play.

Ummm..... what else.

OH! I now am a Mary Kay Constultant!!! I'm dead serious about this now because I tried doing it YEARS ago but had horrible team members and NO training or anyting!! Plus, I was just getting engaged then married and having LOTS of family problems and trials, a very sick pregnancy that was high-risk, and many, many other problems, so I could not do it. Anyway, I wanna let any of you know that like Mary Kay products or want to try any that you can contact me. For family I'll give a discount. OKAY OKAY for some friends I might, too . But if anyone wants to host a party for me to practice with I'd LOVE it!! I'll give you a prize, do all the inviting, and set the whole darned thing up!!! So let me know, ? And you won't have to buy anything and I won't expect you to, either. (though that WOULD be nice cuz it'll help us out, but that's okay if not!!).

And, I'm seriously considering going to dental school... or at least getting a certificate to be a Dental ASsistent. Cool, eh? I'd be working with my cousin from my mom's side and with my cousin from my dad's side's girlfriend!! WEird, eh? Tyler's excited for me.

OH!!! AND, I get to be on a website for Jed Knudsen being a Website "celebrity" by working for clients... go to http://www.websitetalkingheads.com to see what it is exactly that I'll be doing. Jed called me personally to ask me to work for him!! YIPEEEE!!! It really pays to have connections!! I will make upwards of 1500.00 to 2000.00 or more a month!! YAY!!!!! And that's doing very, very little. I'm so stoked! So excited!!

Oh, Jed's kinda a famous guy. First, he did my photos for Mrs Utah United States Pageant, our temple sealing day photos, and several LDS themed movies. Just look him up. Jed Knudsen. He did "People Say The Darndest Things About Mormon's", among other things. And a Craig Swapp ad like I did. And other movies. Anyway, he and I swear we know each other from some other time but cannot remember for the life of us!!! hahaha. I don't know if he realizes I've gained so much weight since he saw me last, BUT, maybe he saw me on TV and thought I'd be okay anyway. So yeah, I think i t'll be really fun.

Okay, what else. (I know, that's getting redundant!!)

Oh, Tyler's stressed super super super bad!!!! well, me too obviously or my body wouldn't be freaking out like it is LOL. We apparently owe MORE than $10,000.00 in medical debt. Oh sure, that might sound like a small or reasonable amount of money, nothing big, to lots of people, but to US, it's HUGE and impossible to pay off. That's not our only debt, either. Credit cards were a NECESSITY to pay for gasoline, food, clothing, etc.
And then there were some stupid debts we accrued, but nothing huge, just little things here and there. We've been harshly judged in the past and people think we've spent our money foolishly and are not paying for it. Um, look at our medical debt. That's not our fault at all. Come to our house and see what we own. OLD and used furniture, and PAID for table & chairs, etc. We aren't as foolish as many of you think, honestly.
Okay, enough of that!!

Right now we feel soooooo bad that we can't help others with their Christmas!! If any of you need or would like to know some who NEED help this year here are a few:
Kristen & Kevin Lanier (just had a new baby). Tau & Mollee Suafo'a (having a new baby any day or already did). Joe & Regina Pearson. My parents & siblings. Michelle Wolfert's and her girls.

And I'm sure there are more that I just can't think of at this time. hee hee. I'm sure this'll embarrass them, but they need help.
Normally we'd be buying more for others than for ourselves. We've needed food and other necesities, but this year Christmas is good. It's worked out. We're really excited!! I wish we could get stuff for all the people I mentioned above!! I wish that the wealthy people we know would have some charity to help, too. It's sad. I know soooooo many WEALTHY people who pretend they aren't wealthy or cry they're poor or think they make "normal" amounts of money but in reality they're very wealthy and won't help anyone cuz they blame everyone for their own circumstances and blah blah blah.
Wow I have a really tender and sore spot there about that. AFter all, my parents and us have been GREATLY misjudged by friends and family alike where the finances are concerned.

You know we went to a special place to see if we could consolidate our debt and after reviewing everything three times they said "the only hope for you guys is to either stop paying your tithing and eventually get your debt paid down until we can help you or file bankruptcy". Wow, that was a kick in the gut. So we feel kinda helpless about our situation, but we are not losing hope!! No way Jose!!!! We believe we can get ourselves out of this!! We're both going to do our very best to do that. Even if we end up losing everything while getting there!!!

Okay, I want you all to know that I love Tyler will alllll of my heart, soul and mind. I love my beautiful girls as much but in different and in some similar ways. I love all my family, even if some of them hate me (which some of said they do, immature jerks), and I love all my friends. I have a testimony of God's love for me and my family and of everyone. I have a testimony of God's church & kingdom. I love Christmas and am very excited for it. It's a beautiful time of year for so many reasons! I used to be a true-blue Scrooge!! But thank you Tyler, you saved me!

LOL. I am happy, and doing my best, and growing and learning and trying to be my best. If you are offended by anything I say or do, well, that's your problem for being offended (hee hee hee). I cannot please everyone and I've wasted too much of my life trying to do so to the extent that I was trying at. Of course I'll always be a people-pleaser. God made me that way for a reason, and a good one at that I am sure, but I'm not going to kill myself trying to please EVERYONE, especially those that just can never be satisfied.

WOW am I long-winded this morning!!! It's probably cuz I'm taking an Oxycodone thanks to my arthritis and cramps and BAD tummy pains, but eh, whatever!!!

Oh, guess what I ate today? I had 1/2 of an Arby's melt and like 3 curly fries before I felt like I was going to die and puke while doing so, then later finished the rest. That's it. Yeps. All I could handle today. Food is gross. YUCK!!! hahaha.

okay, this is soooo long I highly doubt anybody read this!!! Maybe Kathy & Kimberley did... Amy MIGHT, but I'm sure she's going to be SUPER SUPER busy thanks to coming to Utah to visit (HALLELUIA!!) and Aunt Kay might, if she checks this.... but otherwise, eh, oh well. This was mostly for me, anyway. But I love you all!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

CHRISTmas? Or Happy Holiday's??

*Twas the month before Christmas*

*When all through our land,*

*Not a Christian was praying*

*Nor taking a stand.*

*See the PC Police had taken away,*

*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*

*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*

*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*

* December 25th is just a 'Holiday'.*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*

*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*

*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*

*Something was changing, something quite odd! *

*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*

*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*

*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*

* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*

*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*

*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*

*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*

*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*

*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*

*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*

*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*

*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*

* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*

*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*

*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*

*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS , not Happy Holiday!*

Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is "The Reason" for the Christ-mas Season!

-author unknown