Thanksgiving Holiday!

We had a great Thanksgiving day. We were sad to not have my brothers and their families and my Aunt and Uncle. It was still a great day! I love this time of year. I am so thankful for all the many wonderful blessings I have been given from the Lord. I'm thankful for my family and extended family. I'm grateful to live in a free country and for the service men and woman who are fighting for our freedoms. I'm thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm thankful for my testimony of our Lord and Savior. We had the tradtional turkey, ham, yams, green bean casserole, corn, rolls, stuffing, frog eye salad, and jello and of course Pecan and Pumpkin Pie. It was all so yummy! The morning after Thanksgiving starts our holiday traditions. Mom and I get up around 4 am and get dressed and head for the stores. We never really have anything in particular we are looking for, because we are usually done with our Christmas shopping by now. We look for stocking stuffers and any other last minute gifts we might find. It's always so much fun. Then the men meet us for breakfast at Angie's around 9 am, then we kiss them good-bye and finish the rest of the stores in Logan. What a Blast!! We have started putting up the lights on the house for Christmas and this week we hope to get the yard done. I will put some pictures up when I get a chance.

Not So Fun News

So, yesterday I went and had my stitches removed, but was told I need to wear my brace for at least another month. I go back in 4 weeks to see the Dr. and see if I can take the brace off. They just don't want me using that tendon yet, to give it time to heal. It's a little frusterating, but I don't want to have to go through all that again. It does feel a lot better, just a bit sore. The incision looks good, it just needs to seal a bit more. I can start to use my fingers, just can't bend my wrist.

How Old?

So, we celebrated another year of my life on this beautiful world. Yep, 34 years. I had a wonderful day, thanks to Matt and both of our parents and siblings. We went to lunch with Matt's parents and my parents at Olive Garden it was so yummy!! Mom & Dad Funk gave me 3 awesome cartridges for my Cricut machine. I love them. Thanks so much!!! Then later for dinner, mom made me enchiladas and we had a yummy cake. White cake with raspberry filling, it was great! Matt gave me an necklace and earring set in my birthstone, they are gorgeous. He also got me some jewelry cleaner and some lotions. Mom and Dad got me a cute sweater and a couple of slips, which was badly needed. I guess I can finally get rid of the ones that Cassie, my dog from a long time ago, chewed on when I had her. Then they got me a really nice digital camera. I love it. I'm hoping to start trying to do some photography and take family pictures. Aunt Bean and Uncle John sent me a sweet card with some money. And some great phone calls and emails from family. And a great effort and thought from Amy in my digital b-day card, 45 min. of her day spent on me, means so much to me even if it didn't work. I love ya, Amy! My friend Alsiha listed the number of things that has made her, her in the number of years.. I thought it was a great idea, so her is my attempt at coming up with 34 things I have been able to accomplish thus far in my life, or great blessings, or funny things that have happened, to make me, me, in no particular order- 1. I graduated from high school and beauty school. 2. I managed a salon. 3. I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Indianapolis, Indiana mission. 4. I made everlasting friends in Indiana. 5. I've been pee'd on by dogs at least two times in my life.(Our dog when we were fishing, a dog outside an outhouse, while I was inside, it came through the screen on the bottom) 6. I've been pooped on by seagulls while fishing off the Gulf of Mexico. I actually caught some small sharks. 7. I caught my hair on fire while at a Young Women's Camp, during a candlelight fireside. 8. I've worked at a bank as an assistant manager for 5 yrs. 9. I bought a home in Smithfield, while being single. 10. I have met many interesting toads and finally found my Prince. 11. I have held many callings in the church from Primary chorister, to Primary teacher to RS president. 12. Met and married the love of my life in the Logan LDS Temple. 13. We spent our honeymoon in Disney World for a wonderful week. 14. I survived childbirth and was able to be the mother of a beautiful little boy, Colton. 15. We moved two times in our first year of our marriage. 16. I was in the Glee club in high school, I love to sing 17. My first job outside of mom's Avon delivering, was working at a meat packing place, I worked in the deli, but did package meat and learned to trim steaks and roasts. 18. I have discovered that I absolutely love blogging, what a wonderful invention. 19. Wipes are the greatest invention in the world. 20. I like to be creative and enjoy making new things and scrapbook 21. I think I'm a good friend and listener, I enjoy helping others and love to make new friends. 22. My mom taught me how to love and not judge others, which was very helpful on my mission. 23. My mom and dad taught me how to have great faith. 24. My mom and dad have taught me how to work, work first and play later. I hope I can pass that on to my children. 25. My grandma taught me how to be creative and how to really listen and hear things far away. 26. Grandma taught me how to find the good in others and how to notice the beauties of the world. 27. Papa gave me my love of the Christmas holiday and all the magic that comes with it. 28. Aunt Bean taught me how to first start driving and how to flirt. 29. Mike and Chris allowed me the experience of being a mom when I was about 7 yrs. old. 30. I love to laugh and be with my family. 31. As a child we moved every year, my dad was in the Air Force, we finally stopped moving when I was 12. I loved the experience and loved seeing the country. 32.I have a strong testimony of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am who I am for that knowledge. I am so thankful for his gospel and for his power that is here upon the earth. 33. I love being a mom and watching the miracle of a child learn and grow. 34. I am sealed for time and all eternity to my best friend and love of my life and together we have our son forever. I'm so glad that Matt is my husband and that I can be his wife.

Colton's 1 yr Photos

Finally, I got them taken. He is such a joy!! His newest things are stomping his feet like he's a tap dancer. It's really cute. He has found his tongue and belly among other things. He loves to hide from you, but his hiding is pushing himself as far as he can against something and turning his head, he figures if he can't see you, then you can't see him. It's pretty funny. And we haven't figured it out yet, but when the T.V. is on he will just start laughing this fake laugh at it. Anywho, here are his pictures for 1 yr. I will try to capture pictures and video of his other tricks later.

De Quervain's disease

This is the surgery that I had done. I will write more when I can actually type.

De Quervain's disease — Pain at the back of the wrist, near the base of the thumb.

The two tendons concerned are the tendons of the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus muscles. These two muscles, which run side by side, have almost the same function: the movement of the thumb away from the hand in the plane of the hand--so called radial abduction (as opposed to movement of the thumb away from the hand, out of the plane of the hand (palmar abduction)). The tendons run, as do all of the tendons passing the wrist, in synovial sheaths, which contain them and allow them to exercise their function whatever the position of the wrist. While de Quervain syndrome is commonly believed to be an inflammatory condition or tendosynovitis, evaluation of histological specimens shows no inflammatory changes--rather a thickening and myxoid degeneration consistent with a chronic degenerative process are seen.The cause of de Quervain is not known.

They went in and released the tendons and cleaned out all the inflamation and gook. It's really sore now. I'm all bandaged up and have to keep my hand elevated at all times. I get my stitches out on the 24th. Until then, no using it. I can't wait to see if this worked.

Just Some Thoughts....

As I've been reflecting the last few days on the events that have happened in the United States. With the election of Barrack Obama, which has been an historical event, comes feelings of uncertainty, but trust in the Lord. I don't agree with everything Obama stands for, but the people have spoken and I do believe in democracy and uphold it. And with the outcomes on Proposition 8 come some mixed feelings, and a stronger desire to fight and stand up for my beliefs. Thankfully Proposition 8 was passed in 3 states, stating that a marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. Which I'm so grateful for. I strongly believe that God has instituted the family unit and in doing so, has set laws to govern and protect the family unit, meaning a mother, father and if so lucky children. I never would have dreamed or even thought, when I was younger that I would deal with such moral issues as same sex attraction, let alone marriage. I believe that everyone has temptations in some form, whether it be food, or alcohol, or drug abuse, etc. But, just because we have such temptations does not mean that we entertain the thought or action. The Lord has given us a commandment to love all. Which we can and should do. But to love someone does not mean we have to condone or support the actions of an individual. We have been told to stand for truth and righteousness. The Lord has given us commandments to follow, just because Satan has taken a hit on the family unit and made it not so called politically correct and not accepting individuals with same sex attraction, or treating them differently a wrong thing, it's crazy to me. I know and have some friends who are gay, doesn't mean I don't love them, just means as they know I don't agree with how they are living their life. It saddens me, to know that people within our church do not feel the same way and want the church leadership to change their stand. We have a very loving Heavenly Father who is the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who is the Creator of all and it is His design and His commandments that we follow and uphold. We can't change Heavenly Father's stand on such issues. It just boils down to what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong. Doesn't matter in what form the indulgence is in, it's still wrong. I pray that people won't take this offensive, but I needed to tell my feelings and stand for what I believe in. I don't know how much longer, we will be able to keep passing laws to protect the family unit, but you can count on me fighting and standing for what is right, no matter what. I know that God lives and loves everyone of us know matter our circumstances. He has a plan, an eternal plan for families, of which I'm so very blessed to know and be a part of. I love my family and pray that we may be protected from the world. I love you!

Grandad's Socks!

So, yesterday morning after Colton got up and had his milk and cereal just as soon as he woke. He noticed a pair of Grandad's socks on the couch. He walked over picked them up and tried putting them on as a 13 month old does, and started pitching a fit because he couldn't get them on. So, I picked him up and put them on, he was so happy and wore them all morning. He was very proud of himself.... Silly boy!

Colton the Elephant

If you notice he has Twizzlers in each hand. He wouldn't let them go. They were his!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!!! We had a Trunk or Treat at the church. We decorated our van, and Matt and Dad handed out a lot of candy. It was pretty fun. Grammie and I took Colton around for "treating", he liked getting candy, just didn't like carrying his pail to well. Matt went as a night, I was a confused M&M and Colton was the cutest Elephant ever. After the Trunk or Treat, we came home and played marbles a board game, and handed out some candy. We had a lot of fun. We were glad Grandad and Grammie Parker made it home in time.

The Night Before Halloween

The night before halloween, we carved our pumpkin. I scooped and Matt carved. Colton didn't like the inside, you can tell by his face.