Happy Birthday Chelly!

This year I was trying so hard not to be sad I wanted to have a nice day and think about what a good life Chelsie had. I had a few moments I will admit but overall it was a really good day. I got to go to Wicked for the first time. Chelsie and I stayed up many a night talking about Wicked I felt like I already knew every line to the play but I noticed a few things that she convinenly left out so I could be surprised :) I felt so close to her and cried through a lot of it. It was amazing I will never forget it!!! You will always be my Elphaba! Thank you Chel for being so passionate. I love you Happy Birthday!!!

Thanksgiving memories

I was just thinking about the time when everyone came to Everett to visit us for Thanksgiving. It was really foggy, cold and rainy (typical for Washington in Nov.) but they were camping in their RV:) Chelsie stayed at our apt. most of the time. I hadn't seen everyone for so long so I was so excited and me and Chel would stay up late talking about her love intrests and friends. I loved spending time with her. The night before Thanksgiving I had her and Whitney stay and we were talking about how Whitney loved Pumpkin Pie but no one else did so we never had it for Thanksgiving so we decided to make a pumpkin roll instead. So we went to the grocery store really late I didn't even have a jelly roll pan so we had to get everything and we stayed up pretty late trying to figure out how to make the pumpkin roll I think Whitney fell asleep or got bored even though this was for her and Chelsie just talked while I did most of it :) Ahhh the teen years! It was so fun to do it though and I have made one every year since that is kind of my Thanksgiving tradition I always remember that year my first pumpkin roll :) That was a really fun Thanksgiving for me to see my sweet family :)

Miss You

We miss you Chel! You have blessed our lives and taught us so much in the short time we were given with you. You are still here with us and this is your time to watch out for your family in a different way. We love you and will continue to miss you until that wonderful day when we meet again.

All in the Lord's Time

I just read this in a journal written by an amazing woman with five kids who just lost her husband from cancer a couple of weeks ago. I loved it and it helped me understand a little better why this happened to Chelsie and how I can handle it. I thought I would share it. Love ya- Teasha

This quote from Elder Scott I think really answers how I am feeling and processing this trial. I hope everyone can find peace in this quote:

True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you center your life in Jesus Christ. Obedience to His teachings provides a secure ascent in the journey of life. That takes effort. While there is no guarantee of overnight results, there is the assurance that, in the Lord's time, solutions will come, peace will prevail, and happiness will be yours. The challenges you face, the growth experiences you encounter, are intended to be temporary scenes played out on the stage of a life of continuing peace and happiness. Sadness, heartache, and disappointment are events in life. It is not intended that they be the substance of life. I do not minimize how hard some of these events can be. When the lesson you are to learn is very important, trials can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining focus of everything you do. Your life can and should be wondrously rewarding. It is your understanding and application of the laws of God that will give your life glorious purpose as you ascend and conquer the difficulties of life. That perspective keeps challenges confined to their proper place—stepping-stones to further growth and attainment.

Cravings

For Chels birthday I was trying to think about her and what she liked just to kind of have her in my heart the whole day. So I wanted to eat all her favorite foods so I was trying to remember her favorites I think it was sushi, artichokes and homemade chicken noodle soup and then I was remembering when we came to visit last April and we went to Millhollow for frozen yogurt for FHE. Chel rode home with us and she was so happy to finally be eating again so she was telling us all her cravings. We were driving her all around to figure out what she wanted first it was pizza we kind of talked her out of that one because we thought it would really upset her stomach then she wanted a hot dog so we got up to the drive in and she changed her mind again. She finally decided on a Soft taco from Taco Time. She just really wanted it so bad so we didn't try to stop her we got it and they forgot the ranch and she couldn't have her taco without ranch so we turned around to get the ranch. She really enjoyed that taco the whole way home she only could eat half of it. She actually threw it up that night but even after she did she said that was the best taco she ever had. It was her last taco she ever had. That was a fun memory of Chel.

Man this is hard! I really miss her it seems like I am thinking about her more now that time is passing. I can't believe it has been six months. It just doesn't seem real. Sorry this isn't a memory I am just writing my feelings. I can't belive that other people who have lost loved ones were grieving like this and I had no idea how painful it was. I just really miss her. Sorry this is sad :(

Spook Alley

I was talking to Whitney about this the other day and this memory is very vauge so bear with me. I remember my first year at college it was Halloween night we came by the house and Chelsie and Whitney had done this really extravagent Spook Alley in the back yard through the Forest. It was really Creative you walking through a tunnel and followed the trail in the dark and she had some of her friends scaring people it was so funny. Chelsie was so creative and I just remember thinking that really cool!!!

Surgery Girls

We came out while Chelsie was in the hospital after her surgery in September. We were outside eating dinner and Chelsie and I were just talking about our surgerys. She was saying how it is nice to have someone who could relate to her so we would take turns telling our stories. For example things like, How long we counted until we fell asleep from the medication. Where we were when we woke up. What hurt the most. Which nurse was the most annoying. Stuff like that. I remember I said you know surgery is bad but having a baby is so much worse. She was like, "Really?" So she made me tell her all about my births. It was like she was hanging on to my every word. I tried to explain the pain so I said, "Well It's like someone just comes up to you with a sword and cuts off your arm, that is how it feels to have a baby." She was just staring at me with her mouth wide open. Finally she said, "okay I am never having a baby without an epidural, You are crazy." We talked alot about that and about our surgerys it was fun to have someone to tell and listen too and we could understand eachother. Teasha

California Trip

I remember my last family trip was to California to watch Chelsie and Whitney dance for ballroom at Disney Land. This was five years ago right before I got married. It was so much fun and I was really enjoying every moment with the family. I was really proud of Chelsie and Whitney dancing I remember thinking how grown up they were getting. Chelsie stayed with me a lot we had fun together she was just so much fun and up for anything I wanted to do. I will always remember that fun trip I am so glad I got to go. Teasha

Haunted House

Her spooky haunted house outside in the forest.