Before TJ's frightening illness last week, I was thinking how sad I was to not have mom here to tell about Jade's early delivery of him. I don't know if that makes sense, but I wanted to have her counsel and comfort. Then when TJ became so sick, I was in a fog. Like on movies when everything zones out and all you see is the main character's tunnel vision, I was in that tunnel but wasn't the main character.
Lacy, Renee, Tammy, Kim, Misty, Lisa, Trish, Jessica, Rosalie, ward members and my co-workers at CVMC helped me to endure such a hard time. Without having Joey right by my side, I was afraid and yet wanted to be strong for Jade, Tim, and TJ. I am so thankful for all the talks of encouragement that I had with each of you. Between that, and Joey's love and concern over the phone, I have made it through one of those awful, rough points of my life. I don't know what hardships will be required of any of us in the time we have left here on earth, but I know we are each better people because of the love our family and friends share with us. I cannot thank-you enough.
Love,
**Wendy
Friday, October 3, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Jade, Tim and TJ!
Here are some pictures of Jade's and Tim's first time holding TJ. We were so happy that they were able to last night. I want to give you more info but need to rush off to the hospital. Jade is still improving and hopefully will go home tomorrow. Her blood platelets are at 58 this morning. Thank you to all of you participating in our fast for Jade and TJ. We love all of you.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Hello, Dear Family
I don't know if things ever actually wind down or if they just change, but I'm feeling as if my summer chores are drawing to a close and the persistant buzz of my distant family is calling to me through this wonderful medium of the internet. Faithfully anxious to read all of your blogs, I find myself, on occasion (wink, wink), neglecting my own. So here I am, family, at your mercy. Will you even notice that I have blogged, and if so, will you bother to read my belated and somewhat rambling thoughts? I do indeed hope that I hear from you.
I know pictures are worth a thousand words...well this is about a thousand.
Pictures I'd post if I had a camera:
**Two days after Youth Conference, and two days before our Annual Missouri Summer Trip***
The Family of Legs...
First photo op: Twelve Legs started the hike...(four belonged to Crowdin, the very little dog with a great big, brave heart and teeny little feet). After leaving one car at the bottom, JB, Charlie, Dad, Mom and Crowdin arrived in the second car at the top of a three mile hike in Bear Canyon for family night. Beautiful, perfect night. It was 8:30 pm at the top of the trail.
Second photo op: Crowdin's legs running back and forth between the boys who were down the trail and mom and dad taking it a little slower because the trail was a bit more rugged than mom realized. (Crowdin, the very little dog with a great big brave heart and teeny little feet, must have walked nine miles in those three).
Third photo op... We believe they were big legs, probably four, belonging to a bear, as evidenced by what bears leave behind on trails.
Fourth photo op... The four legs crossed casually on the Oldsmobile, Achieva when Dad, Crowdin, and Mom made it back down to the car.
Fifth photo op...The 4 seconds in the night that didn't actually involve legs, when J.B. said, "Where are the keys, Dad?"
Sixth photo op... Ok, the other .2 of a second when it dawned on 4 out of 5 of us that the keys were either lost in the dead of night somewhere on the trail involving a bear ... or in the Hyundai, Sonata at the top of the trail that really was more rugged than mom realized. (Either way, the whole "back up the three mile trail" idea didn't seem viable after 10:30 at night.)
Seventh photo op... We're all aware that the Ellison's don't even own a working camera, let alone one that will take good leg pictures in the dark of a forested night but, hey, we may as well think big. This would have to be a whole "compare and contrast" picture of Mom's and Dad's leg's forging forward, focusing in on Mom's and Dad's faces at precisely the moment one of them said "This will be a grand adventure, honey."
Eighth photo op... One mile down the road, twelve legs still walking, three out of five of us singing, "Look at the stars. Look how they shine for you." Well... admittedly it was just Mom singing, but three out of five were still smiling.
Ninth photo op... Another mile down the road, at a public campground, 11:30 at night. Yay!!! the 12 legs were bound to be rescued by the campground host...the 12 legs were waiting to be rescued by the campground host...the 12 legs were willing to be rescued by the campground host... "Hellooo, are you there, Mr. Host?" "What'dya Want!?" Can't think of anything bad enough to say about the campground host's legs that wouldn't get out of bed to help our 12.
Tenth photo op... Two miles down next road. Technically legs were still involved because legs were still moving, although somewhat less skillfully. Whatever is said by cell phone companies about 911 calls making a connection even when normal calls will not... Is a Lie. However, a 911 call will make your phone flash red and beep, beep, beep, beep.
11th photo op...Two miles further, though smiles and conversation were still portraying a semblance of cheer, legs would have stomped on any camera in the vicinity... besides those useless cameras, in the useless phones, sending out useless beeps... Hope is sometimes merely a tragic misconception.
12th photo op... New road, new opportunities. Some traffic on this road. For instance, the car travelling the opposite direction that honked a friendly honk as it passed the family of legs and waving arms walking their dog with no more teeny little feet on a mountain highway at 1:00 in the a.m..
13th photo op... Less than a mile, a truck coming around the bend in the right direction and headed right at the family of legs and waving arms. Best ridiculous photo award... Mom's renewed vigor as her legs jump out of the way of the truck as it comes to a stop by the family.
14th photo op... Work truck's entire back is a tool box, so what's with the big box taking up the middle seat next to his gear shift? He offers to carry one set of legs back into town.
15th photo op... Look on dad's face when mom says, "I guess that will have to be you, honey."
16th photo op... Has something to do with honking loud and long at 1:30 in the morning and a campground host's legs who wouldn't get out of bed to help a dozen stranded legs on family night.
HeeHeeHee... Love You Guys
I know pictures are worth a thousand words...well this is about a thousand.
Pictures I'd post if I had a camera:
**Two days after Youth Conference, and two days before our Annual Missouri Summer Trip***
The Family of Legs...
First photo op: Twelve Legs started the hike...(four belonged to Crowdin, the very little dog with a great big, brave heart and teeny little feet). After leaving one car at the bottom, JB, Charlie, Dad, Mom and Crowdin arrived in the second car at the top of a three mile hike in Bear Canyon for family night. Beautiful, perfect night. It was 8:30 pm at the top of the trail.
Second photo op: Crowdin's legs running back and forth between the boys who were down the trail and mom and dad taking it a little slower because the trail was a bit more rugged than mom realized. (Crowdin, the very little dog with a great big brave heart and teeny little feet, must have walked nine miles in those three).
Third photo op... We believe they were big legs, probably four, belonging to a bear, as evidenced by what bears leave behind on trails.
Fourth photo op... The four legs crossed casually on the Oldsmobile, Achieva when Dad, Crowdin, and Mom made it back down to the car.
Fifth photo op...The 4 seconds in the night that didn't actually involve legs, when J.B. said, "Where are the keys, Dad?"
Sixth photo op... Ok, the other .2 of a second when it dawned on 4 out of 5 of us that the keys were either lost in the dead of night somewhere on the trail involving a bear ... or in the Hyundai, Sonata at the top of the trail that really was more rugged than mom realized. (Either way, the whole "back up the three mile trail" idea didn't seem viable after 10:30 at night.)
Seventh photo op... We're all aware that the Ellison's don't even own a working camera, let alone one that will take good leg pictures in the dark of a forested night but, hey, we may as well think big. This would have to be a whole "compare and contrast" picture of Mom's and Dad's leg's forging forward, focusing in on Mom's and Dad's faces at precisely the moment one of them said "This will be a grand adventure, honey."
Eighth photo op... One mile down the road, twelve legs still walking, three out of five of us singing, "Look at the stars. Look how they shine for you." Well... admittedly it was just Mom singing, but three out of five were still smiling.
Ninth photo op... Another mile down the road, at a public campground, 11:30 at night. Yay!!! the 12 legs were bound to be rescued by the campground host...the 12 legs were waiting to be rescued by the campground host...the 12 legs were willing to be rescued by the campground host... "Hellooo, are you there, Mr. Host?" "What'dya Want!?" Can't think of anything bad enough to say about the campground host's legs that wouldn't get out of bed to help our 12.
Tenth photo op... Two miles down next road. Technically legs were still involved because legs were still moving, although somewhat less skillfully. Whatever is said by cell phone companies about 911 calls making a connection even when normal calls will not... Is a Lie. However, a 911 call will make your phone flash red and beep, beep, beep, beep.
11th photo op...Two miles further, though smiles and conversation were still portraying a semblance of cheer, legs would have stomped on any camera in the vicinity... besides those useless cameras, in the useless phones, sending out useless beeps... Hope is sometimes merely a tragic misconception.
12th photo op... New road, new opportunities. Some traffic on this road. For instance, the car travelling the opposite direction that honked a friendly honk as it passed the family of legs and waving arms walking their dog with no more teeny little feet on a mountain highway at 1:00 in the a.m..
13th photo op... Less than a mile, a truck coming around the bend in the right direction and headed right at the family of legs and waving arms. Best ridiculous photo award... Mom's renewed vigor as her legs jump out of the way of the truck as it comes to a stop by the family.
14th photo op... Work truck's entire back is a tool box, so what's with the big box taking up the middle seat next to his gear shift? He offers to carry one set of legs back into town.
15th photo op... Look on dad's face when mom says, "I guess that will have to be you, honey."
16th photo op... Has something to do with honking loud and long at 1:30 in the morning and a campground host's legs who wouldn't get out of bed to help a dozen stranded legs on family night.
HeeHeeHee... Love You Guys
Monday, June 9, 2008
Delila is Graduated! AHH!
My youngest girl has officially finished high school! Delila graduated on May 28 and I cannot believe she is acutally done...She was so excited! Joey and I decided to get her a car for graduation...I think she liked it...
We were so excited to have our family there to support us...Lacy and Luke even came up for the graduation from California! Snook and Papa Joe were there as well. We really appreciated all the support...
I was really excited to have Lacy...I even took a ton of pictures with her...We looked so cute!
Just wanted to show everyone how incredibly LONG the graduation ceremony was...The program:
Friday, April 11, 2008
My Fortune Cookie...
(This picture is a repeat, but I thought it was kind of appropriate.)
So yesterday was a rough day for me as I'm sure my sisters also experienced. I asked Joey to take me out to do something when he got home, just so I could mark Mom's birthday in some way. Uncle Al called me, and I was so touched by his call. I didn't get to sound very friendly to him because I was sure that I would start crying. Almost instantly when I hung up from talking to him, my R.S. president called to see if I had any plans for the night. I think she was looking for someone to feed the missionaries, but we didn't actually get that far in our conversation. Unfortunately, I kind of fell apart. Great timing. I was so embarrassed.
Then an even more random thing happened. About two seconds before Joey walked in the door, I started listening to a message from our Scout Master. Take my advice... Don't ever do that. I thought this was too crazy.
He said, "Brother Ellison, I was just wondering if you could go to Round Table for me tonight. It's my birthday today and I wanted to go see my mom but there was (some kind of important information they were going to announce tonight). Would you mind going for me, because I don't think I can make it. I'll just plan on you going if I don't hear back." This from the guy who doesn't miss meetings and even scheduled a meeting on General Conference Sunday. (I didn't think that was done; is nothing sacred?!) As Joey walked in, I gave him the look. He said, "What? I don't have anything tonight." I shook my head and said, "Just wait till you hear this."
Joey thinks Scout Master is the hardest calling in the church, no holds barred. (You have my permission to debate it with him. He's not much of a debater, so you might win.) We decided he'd go to opening exercises to get the information for Brother Settle. Afterwards, we drove up to Provo and walked around the mall for the twenty minutes before it closed. Then we drove home. Woohoo. At least we were together.
Yesterday was one of those Murphy's law kind of days, and I was not particularly in the mood for it in the first place. Today I was much happier which is typical after a sad day. I took JB to physical therapy because he hurt his back in weight lifting. He always makes me laugh. He insisted that I take him out for Chinese food before dropping him back at school. I tried to deny, but he assured me that he would jerk the steering wheel into China Town's parking lot. Like he'd dare. We really enjoyed ourselves. His fortune cookie said something about him being nothing more than full of ideas. He said just when he starts feeling good about himself he goes to a chinese restaurant to be deflated. My fortune cookie said, "Face facts with dignity." How simple is that?...
Friday, April 4, 2008
Looking Through Old Pics
I know it's way after the New Year, and Jade probably showed this on her blog, but I was amazed at the light display in Nephi this year. They had 80,000 lights at the Old Mill Park. The pictures don't really show it well, but this one is the best. For little old Nephi, it was something to behold . (Hmmm..... I hate not having a camera)
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
My Other Self... April Fools
Hi All...Ok, I'm here...and I'm not here ...but somehow my words still appear. "Crazy hacker blogger". I can't quite find the words to say how my life is going because...well someone already kinda did that for me. I surely do thank them. More than they can know.
Life is so full of good and special times. One thing I did forget to mention, however, the last time I wrote when I wasn't here was that Saturday, Delila and I were able to go to the General Young Women's meeting and listen to wonderful talks by all the General Young Women's Presidency and President Eyring. We were able to see President Monson, President Eyring, and President... (Ya right...you thought I was really going to attempt to spell it. So, I pronounce it "Ookdorf". I'll have to look it up, but I'm pretty certain that's not the right spelling.) .
Anyway, what I was going to say was that it was such a wonderful experience. The girls' choir from "Cache Valley" (Renee's area) was outstanding. Delila and I were especially amazed by the young woman who played the flute during one of their numbers. She played during the entire song flawlessly even while a huge camera was right up in her face. I said to Delila, "She must have had a lot of experience playing in front of a crowd." DeDe said, "I bet she hasn't played in front of the whole world before." It was so impressive to see in person.
Delila was also particularly touched by the people who were hearing impaired sitting just a few rows in front of us. Actually, instead of having someone do American Sign Language live, they were on a big screen TV. Another one was set up right next to it, also a big screen, with the closed caption turned on. I'm always touched to realize the thoughtfulness and precision that must be involved in presenting general conferences; not only are they thinking of broadcasting by satallite to millions of young women, mothers and leaders around the world, but also they're concerned about the 10 or 15 hearing impaired who come to the conference center to listen. Wow. So many things I could share, because I really was moved by it all. Delila pointed out to me after about half an hour into conference how the whole center was completely filled...it was something I can't even describe...to know that so many had come... and yet so many more were listening from other places all around our great big world. Wow.
And then, to top it all off, we parked across the street from the first apartment that mom lived in while she was in Salt Lake and walked right past it to the conference center. I was flooded with so many fond memories of mom on her mission. I was so thankful to have had mom here for that short time. It meant the world to me. She was my example of living the gospel to the fullest extent, of serving, giving of herself, loving others, and of continuing to learn new things through her entire life. Oh, how I do miss her!
It was a very special night and I thank Delila for her willingness to be with me. She has been my dear other female this last year. I can't imagine how it will all roll out next year with all three of my girls moved away. Life has a way of changing so drastically right in the middle of all the same old stuff. Crazy how that is.
So to end this current blog...that I'm pretty certain is my real true self... I have a little thought to share with you all. I was listening to this commercial the other day and I realized something of great value... One should probably never use the phrase "its the cutting edge" to describe advances in the medical world or dentistry... iiickkk ....
I don't know. Is it just me or what?
Love You All---
Life is so full of good and special times. One thing I did forget to mention, however, the last time I wrote when I wasn't here was that Saturday, Delila and I were able to go to the General Young Women's meeting and listen to wonderful talks by all the General Young Women's Presidency and President Eyring. We were able to see President Monson, President Eyring, and President... (Ya right...you thought I was really going to attempt to spell it. So, I pronounce it "Ookdorf". I'll have to look it up, but I'm pretty certain that's not the right spelling.) .
Anyway, what I was going to say was that it was such a wonderful experience. The girls' choir from "Cache Valley" (Renee's area) was outstanding. Delila and I were especially amazed by the young woman who played the flute during one of their numbers. She played during the entire song flawlessly even while a huge camera was right up in her face. I said to Delila, "She must have had a lot of experience playing in front of a crowd." DeDe said, "I bet she hasn't played in front of the whole world before." It was so impressive to see in person.
Delila was also particularly touched by the people who were hearing impaired sitting just a few rows in front of us. Actually, instead of having someone do American Sign Language live, they were on a big screen TV. Another one was set up right next to it, also a big screen, with the closed caption turned on. I'm always touched to realize the thoughtfulness and precision that must be involved in presenting general conferences; not only are they thinking of broadcasting by satallite to millions of young women, mothers and leaders around the world, but also they're concerned about the 10 or 15 hearing impaired who come to the conference center to listen. Wow. So many things I could share, because I really was moved by it all. Delila pointed out to me after about half an hour into conference how the whole center was completely filled...it was something I can't even describe...to know that so many had come... and yet so many more were listening from other places all around our great big world. Wow.
And then, to top it all off, we parked across the street from the first apartment that mom lived in while she was in Salt Lake and walked right past it to the conference center. I was flooded with so many fond memories of mom on her mission. I was so thankful to have had mom here for that short time. It meant the world to me. She was my example of living the gospel to the fullest extent, of serving, giving of herself, loving others, and of continuing to learn new things through her entire life. Oh, how I do miss her!
It was a very special night and I thank Delila for her willingness to be with me. She has been my dear other female this last year. I can't imagine how it will all roll out next year with all three of my girls moved away. Life has a way of changing so drastically right in the middle of all the same old stuff. Crazy how that is.
So to end this current blog...that I'm pretty certain is my real true self... I have a little thought to share with you all. I was listening to this commercial the other day and I realized something of great value... One should probably never use the phrase "its the cutting edge" to describe advances in the medical world or dentistry... iiickkk ....
I don't know. Is it just me or what?
Love You All---
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