THE MONTH OF LOVE

Things I Love:

Rick

My babies

My beliefs

My BFFs 

My home

Watching my children succeed

Riding my bicycle

Watching my kids play sports or listening to them play thier musical instruments

Candy and treats

Sunny days

The mountains - especially during the Fall

The Bachelor

Going to the movies

Mexico

Vacations

Cooking and baking

New exercise clothes

Creating

Christmas

The Beach

Snuggling

Country music

THE MONTH OF LOVE - MY KNOWLEDGE

A couple of weeks before my dad passed away, a man from his ward came and gave him a blessing.  In this blessing my dad was promised many things, one being that he would live.  I had faith.  I hung onto the words believing that there would be a miracle.  Many miracles happened, but my dad living to see his grand kids grow old wasn't one of them.

I remember sitting in Smiths parking lot with Rick a few weeks after my dad died, and telling him that I didn't know what I believed any more.  I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me.  I was shook, my world was rocked.  Rick started asking me a few basic questions to see what I did still know.  He asked if I believed in God, if I believed in Jesus Christ, if I knew President Monson was a prophet, and if I knew I would see my dad again.  After answering yes to all of his questions, he simply said, "Then you know...you know what you believe.  Forget all of your other doubts and just rely on what you know."

I feel like I have gotten of my shaky ground, but in times of doubt, I love to remember that conversation, and remind myself of the things I KNOW.

One thing I love...my knowledge.

I know families are forever.

I know Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers.

I know President Monson in a true prophet of God.

I know Jesus  lives.

THE MONTH OF LOVE - MY DAD

Two years ago today, my amazing father passed away.  

We were getting ready to come home from Mexico two Christmas ago, when my parents called.  My dad hadn't been feeling well for months, and finally they had some answers...it was cancer.  No big deal, I thought, my mom had breast cancer and beat it...we will beat it again.  Every doctor appointment brought horrible news, every result from every test was like a kick in the gut.  Chemo was a nightmare, and very quickly I realized that we may not beat cancer this time.  When I look back on those short 51 days though, I treasure every moment.  I treasure when he asked me if I knew how beautiful I was.  I treasure when he hugged my Brittani and told her she was perfect.  I treasure our trip to Kentucky to see his parents.  I treasure the memory of him sitting on the side of the BYU pool when Brittani took state.  I treasure being able to feed him the last food he would ever eat, and sitting on his bed as he took his last breath.

My dad was kind, gentle, loving, honest, quiet, and strong.  He loved the sun, convertibles, Santa Cruz, his family, and the Lord.  He was an amazing man.  One of the things I loved the very most about my dad was the way he loved my mom.  He always put her first, and she was his princess.  I'm very thankful for the wonderful example he set for me.  I knew always that he would do anything for me, and I never doubted his love for me.

Last night I asked my sweet children what they loved about Grandpa Gary, and these were their replies:

Connor

I loved his hair.

I loved that he was always nice to everyone.

Nathan

I loved how much he loved Grandma.

He was always positive.

I loved when he would sing "I love Nathan" to the doorbell.

Brittani

I loved how he liked adventure, how he loved the beach. 

I loved how he was pretty quiet, but you knew he loved you.

I loved how he would cheer really loud at the TV and make those squeezing noises with his hands.

I loved how he sang funny songs to the grand kids that I can still hear so clearly in my head.

I loved his Hawaiian shirts.

I loved how he was real and honest.

I loved how he genuinely loved people.

I loved how he was a fighter through the end; he always had so much faith.

He was so optimistic about life.

He wouldn't ever go back on what he believed in, and if anyone asked, he would tell them proudly.

He was as firm as a rock.

He was a pretty cool guy, Grandpa Gary.

One of my loves...my dad.

THE MONTH OF LOVE - MY BABIES

These three right here...

The Loves Of My Life

I asked them a few days ago what the 5 LOVES of their life were:

Brittani: (always a little different, listed 7!)

1. My Family

2. The Church

3. Swimming

4. The great outdoors

5. Wedding videos

6. Nail Polish

7. Victoria's Secret 

Nathan:

1. Family

2. Food

3. Our home

4. Lacrosse

5. My truck

Connor: (he had time to think, and this was honestly the order of his loves...)

1. Food

2. Water

3. Sleep

4. Family

5. Football

Although these lists are very accurate, there are a few more loves I would like to add:

Brittani:

The Piano -throughout her life, whenever she is stressed, she plays the piano.

Baking - she just hates to clean up the mess.

Boys - she has loved boys since the 4th grade and Brody Berry!

Nathan:

Music - Nathan has always loved music, whether it is listening to it or playing it, he loves it.

His Faith - although he is quiet about what he believes, it is VERY important to him.

Animals 

Connor:

Video games - if he thought much more about the question, family may have been replaced by video games    on his list - seriously though!

T.V. - another one I think he forgot about!

"While we try to

teach our children 

all about life,

our children teach us

what life is all about."

Angela Schwindt

FEBRUARY - THE MONTH OF LOVE

Since the first thing I think of when I hear the word "February" is LOVE, I thought that I would write throughout the month about the things I adore.

MY MAN

I was 15 years old, working hard (not really!) at The Villa movie theater, wearing gray polyester pants and a black bow tie when he walked in.  It had been around a year since I had seen him last.  To him I was just his friend's shy little sister, but to me he was older, SO good looking, carefree and WILD.

We started talking.  He told me that he had straightened up and given up his old habits.  He had better friends, he was living with his grandma, and things in his life were good.  I remember how his eyes were so honest.

That's it...the day I found the love of my life.

We fought like crazy, loved each other madly, married young, and had a baby on the way before we even knew what we were doing!  Every day after work, we would walk around Sugar House Park together, and I will cherish those talks and that time of our life forever.

And now, 23 years later, he is still the love of my life.  I'm more in love with him than I ever imagined possible.

We fight a lot less, love each other a lot deeper, and I wonder every day how I got so lucky.  He puts my bike by the front door because he knows I have a hard time taking it off the trainer.  He grabs me a blanket when I'm laying down watching TV.  He laughs at my singing, sends me love texts, holds me when I'm sad, and takes care of me when I'm sick.  He is my everything.

I'm excited to see what the next 23 years with him will bring...

I love you Rick.
  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!

One of the very first times I ever "hung out" with Rick, he brought along his little brother Ryan.  Rick wasn't living with his family at the time and so Ryan was the only member of Rick's family that I met for a long time. Ever since that first time meeting Ryan, I have had a soft spot in my heart for him.  He is kind and funny, smart and confident, and one of the best people I have ever met in my life.  I can't thank him enough for the example that he is to me.  He is an amazing dad and father and it melts my heart to watch him with his girls. The biggest thing I am thankful for though, is the friend he is to Rick.  He has loved Rick, and stood by his side through the good, bad and the ugly.  He is Rick's sounding board, the person Rick goes to for advice, and Rick's best friend.

Thank you Ryan, for the amazing person you are.  Thank you for your friendship.  Thank you for the example you are to me and my family.

We Love You!  Happy Happy Birthday!

SIXTEEN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN!

I have thought about what to write about Nathan, and I don't even know where to start.  He is one of the most amazing people on this earth and I'm so thankful that I am lucky enough to be his mom.  This is Brittani's Facebook post on Nathan's wall:

"Happy birthday to my best friend in the entire world!  You are the sweetest, kindest, most loving boy I have ever met and I am so proud and thankful to call you my brother.  Thank you for being such an amazing example to me and those around you.  You're truly the most incredible person I have ever met.  I love you so much, to infinity and beyond.  Thank you for being the best friend and brother a girl could ever wish for.  Happy 16 years, Nathan.  I love you with my whole heart!" 

Anyone who is lucky enough to really know Nathan, knows that Brittani did a pretty dang good job summing it up.

Nathan...I love you SO much.  Thank you for bringing me so much happiness every day for the past 16 years.  

I love you to infinity and beyond...