Faith, Miracles, A Little Girl and John Wayne

When a woman decides that she wants to get pregnant (and her husband agrees), it's a huge decision.

When a woman decides that she wants to get pregnant for the 5th time (and her husband agrees) after the birth of 3 boys and some not so fun trials along the way, it's a brave decision.

When a woman decides that she wants to get pregnant after 3 boys in a last ditch effort to have a little girl (and her husband agrees), it's a shot in the dark decision.

When a woman decides that she wants to get pregnant, (and her husband agrees) knowing that for the next 9 months she will likely gain back the weight she just spent 2 years losing (and more), also knowing that she will throw up daily (if not hourly) for at least 1/2 of that time, remembering that serious post-partum depression is par for the course with her pregnancies, and keenly aware that her chances of having a girl can't even be measured, it's a leap of faith.

And so, together they took that leap.

As is often the case, faith preceded the miracle and our darling little Kierstyn arrived regaled in pink skin and dark hair..............................but in this case, faith preceded but blood clots followed.

When darling Kierstyn arrived 20+ days early, we were all relieved, surprized and elated.

She was a girl! Pink was now the color of choice! Karynn had a female companion in a house of maleness. Hurray for womankind!

Our combined elation carried us all through the next few weeks until the very scary blood clot caused Karynn's leg to swell to the size of a basketball (her words). After ER trips, meds and watchful family, a final rush to the hospital followed by surgery removed/dissolved the clot and sent Karynn home with a walker.

With the resolve of a Mom who has waited for that little girl since she was my little girl, and the determination of a mother of 3 boys, Karynn walked sooner than expected, leaving the walker behind as soon as she could. She wasn't going to be unable to carry that little girl!

And so, the morals of this story are that miracles happen, faith is powerful, decisions can be risky but can also pay off, dreams come true, little girls can change ornery boys in the blink of a tiny eye and Mom's can pretty much overcome anything if it affects their ability to nurture and take care of their brood.

And that, my friends, is not JUST a story, it's a true story. Maybe even a story worthy of telling to others, certainly a story that merits a country western tune and possibly a great TV movie, but for those who love Karynn and JR and their family of boys and one girl, it was real life and we are very grateful.

John Wayne and Glen Campbell had a fair understanding of True Grit.. but Mom's really get it.

I love my little girl, and her little girl. Pink rules and girls rock!

What beauties! I can't be the only one to see the nearly identical smirks and hand/wrist positions in Mom and Daughter. I love these two girls.

Glen Campbell "True Grit"

Mommy, I sick, I tie-red, I hung-gey.

Kids. You try to get them to sleep enough, eat right, exercise, be smart about exposing themselves to germs, wash their hands, and not do too much.

But, as we all know, kids will be kids, even when they are really BIG kids. Like...almost 24 and living in Washington DC on their own, or kids in far away countries, or in Utah.

Today I had a voice mail from my youngest son, Kyle. It went something like this, (think - sickly voice) "Hi Mom, this is Kyle. Happy Memorial Day. I had to go to Urgent Care today, but I am not going to die. Bye."

Hmmm.

I called, and yes, Kyle was sick and I heard all about it. (Erin was sick too, but I didn't hear as much about that). It sounded like a rough week. I loved talking to him and enjoyed listening to his tales of woe. He finally went to Urgent Care after over a week of misery. He told me it felt like when he was so sick at school and cried because he felt so bad as the nurse called me to pick him up.

This time, rather than picking him up and bringing him home, I gave him the motherly talk over the phone about being more careful, heading to the doctor sooner (not that I practice any of this), drinking fluids and resting. Mostly, I was glad that somewhere in that grown up psyche was a lingering memory that little boys want their Mom's when they are sick.

I am glad he is better.

This call reminded me of a call I received several years ago from my middle daughter, Kelly. She was in her first year at college, in Utah. I lived in Washington state. One day I received a call from her - (imagine - sickly voice) "Mom, I am sick. I can't even get out of bed. Could you please bring me a glass of water?" (Being a Mom means being creative and so I called my older daughter Karynn who lived in the same town and asked her to please check on Kelly - and take her a glass of water. She did. :) )

And then, just recently, when Kalen "Skyped" (is that a new verb?) me from Brazil, complaining (imagine - yep, sickly voice) of a sore throat and white dots. She, without hesitation, opened her mouth as wide as she could and leaned nearer to the camera, upon which I grabbed my handy dandy mini-flashlight and (pretended) to shine it into her mouth, pointing it at the computer screen. :) See picture above for verification of mutual insanity.

Sometimes Moms just have to play along, no matter how absurd.

And kids. Ya gotta love em. If not, who would they call when they are sick?

Julie Andrews "A Spoonful of Sugar"/Mary Poppins

Some Days Shine Brighter than Others

It's been a roller coaster week, month...well, year. Life has taken unexpected turns and leaps, almost with a whispered message "Be careful, curves ahead" or "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it." or "Be careful." (period!).

From Kierstyn's early arrival and Karynn's troublesome recovery (blood clots are dang scary) to Kalen's early return from Brazil (OIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Kalers!!!) to Kelly's graduation from SUU (you rock, Kellers, couldn't be a prouder Mom!), to Logan and Kelly's engagement (talk about shining brighter!)....this has been one loo loo of a month.

I am so proud of my kids and their partners -they take life with a grain of salt, honor their commitments, treat others with respect, practice patience, choose tolerance over judgement (with appropriate exceptions), love purely, behave honorably and act with compassion.

In the past week I have listened to an inspiring Valedictorian, felt the confusing sting of mistrust, celebrated a rite of passage at a graduation party and shared life with friends.

Four nights beneath the star-filled skies of NM, circled around a roaring fire on camp chairs with good friends - what could have been a better way to spend Memorial Day weekend? We laughed so hard we cried, we talked about life's shining and duller moments, we strengthened our resolve to be good people and we learned from each other.

Most importantly, we enjoyed the moment.

I am living in the Land of Enchantment...and I am enchanted.

Shine on.

Shine Bright Morning Light

Milestones and Miracles

It was a busy 4 days last month. Kalen returned from Brazil, Kelly graduated from college, Karynn gave birth to Kierstyn, Logan asked Kelly to marry her - and she said YES!

Life doesn't get much better, or much more hectic than that....unless of course, someone gets a blood clot in their leg, another receives a proposal at the age of 17, and best friends suddenly become foreign to you.

Then...life gets even more hectic.

Thankfully miracles happen, blood clots can be dissolved, heads overcome hearts, reality hits - but with compassion, and other hearts heal.

I am grateful for the vicissitudes of life and the lessons that are learned. I hope they make me a better person.

Miles Davis "Milestones"

What It's All About

Family. That's what it's all about, and this is "my bunch".

What a brood! Aren't they grand?!?!

This picture was taken at Kelly's SUU graduation weekend, but the weekend became a mega-4-days of stuff coming out of nowhere.

Karynn had just delivered Kierstyn (very early), Kalen had just returned from Brazil (very early), Kyle and Kurt had flown out from NY and DC (right on time) and Kollin* had just started his Kenpo studio in SLC (way overdue!)... (and Kelly was about to get engaged (eternal), but none of us knew that, including Kellers). Woohooo!

What more can I say? Life just keeps on comin' and I couldn't be prouder of my kids.

Just FYI - (*tag on Kollin's shirt: "Hello, my name is Indigo Montoyo. You killed my father. Prepare to die.") I have no explanation. A mother's love is unconditional.

Simon Collins "Unconditional"

Celine Dion "A Mother's Prayer"

My Bunch Dec 2007

One of my favorite pics...what a great lookin bunch of kids! Lucky me!

Families Can Be Forever