OOPS! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMERON!

Okay, I forgot to wish Cameron a happy birthday on my blog. So, here is a late Happy Birthday. He turned 14 on Feb 7th. He is totally into basketball and his deacon's team were undefeated and they are headed to region. He is pretty excited about that. For his birthday we went to Olive Garden for dinner and then we had homemade cheesecake for his birthday cake. He wanted it homemade from his Dad. It was a fun day for him.

TAGGED BY BROOKE! 7 Things you may not know about me.

Okay Brooke, THANKS A LOT!!! I don't really know much about this but I will try. It is really going to be hard to come up with 7 things about myself that people don't already know. So, here it goes.

1. I met my husband when I was a senior in high school. I waited (and dated) while he served his mission in Brazil, Rio De Janiero. While he was gone, I went up to college at Ricks (now BYU Idaho). After attending college for a year, I moved back home and got a job as a receptionist and then a secretary at Won-Door Corporation. After Troy came home from his mission, we were married 5 months later in the Salt Lake Temple. I was a young bride (19) This August, we will be married for 24 years! Wow!

2. I have 3 children. My oldest son is 21, daughter 19, son 14. They keep life interesting, frustrating, and laughable. I love being a mom in spite of all the ups and downs and crazy in between.

3. When I was 25 years old, my kids were 3 and 1, I found out I had a tumor inside my spinal cord. It needed to be removed immediately before it ruptured my spinal cord. So, I was told there was a 10 percent chance of being paralyzed from the surgery so I thought it would be no big deal. But if I didn't have the surgery I would be a paraplegic the rest of my life. So, I opted for the surgery. Well, the tumor ended up being larger than they predicted and I was left paralyzed from the waist down. I was in the hospital for 2 months learning to walk again and getting out of a wheel chair. It was a miracle that I am walking again. However, I am walking with a brace and a cane. But to me these are blessings. At least I am able to walk. I may be a little slow wherever I go, but I get there. I do need to use a wheelchair occasionally but I won't complain. I know how much worse it could be. I am truly blessed to be able to do what I do.

4. I love to read. In my spare time I will be reading my favorite romance/mystery/suspense novels. They are mostly from LDS authors. This really drives my brother nuts because he works for Deseret Book and thinks those are just silly novels. But it is a release from reality for me and I find it relaxing. I read when I should be cleaning the house or doing laundry. Oops!

5. I am from a large family. I have 5 sisters and 2 brothers. I am the 7th of the 8 kids. My older siblings would say that I was spoiled as a child, but I say NOT!!! And they know why! I won't get it into because I might need therapy. Lets just say, I have issues that I am having a little trouble getting rid of. (Hopkins Elem. School) just to name 1. Anyway....moving on to number 6. I do love my bros and sisters though. Don't get me wrong....

6. Okay, this is a little embarrassing but here it goes. When I was 5 years old and living in South Carolina, my friends and I decided to make a sliding board out of a
2 x 4 board. It might have been a little bigger like a 2 x 8. Anyway, I remember sliding down that board and getting the biggest splinter in my behind. I ran screaming into my Nannie's apartment because she was closest and I think I scared her to death. Anyway, my parents had to drive me to the hospital to have it surgically removed. The most embarrassing part about this was I had to lean over the front seat with my pants down all the way to hospital because I couldn't sit. I don't know why my parents just didn't have me lay face down on the back seat. The hospital was probably 20 minutes away too. Good thing I was only 5 years old. I still have the scar from the ordeal but I won't be showing and telling! :)

7. When I was 11 years old living in South Carolina, I wrote a letter to President Kimball telling him that my family was driving out to Utah and I asked him if it would be possible for me and my family to come and visit him while we were there. I got a letter a few weeks later from his secretary telling us that he would love to see us. Just to call when we got to town and we would make the appointment. Well, I made him chocolate chip cookies and my whole family went to the Church Office Building to meet President Kimball. It was so awesome. We were waiting for him in the little waiting area outside his office. When he came out of his office the first thing he said was, "Where's Wendy?" It was so awesome. We were able to take pictures with him and I have a picture of me giving him the cannister of cookies. That is a memory that I will cherish forever. Pres. Kimball was the prophet of my youth and I was devastated when he died. Just as we were all saddened when Pres. Hinckley died.

Okay, now I am going to tag Lynn Ann, Annette, Natalie, Mallory, and Belinda! Good luck!

NEW WALLPAPER!!

I just want to thank Brookie for fixing up my blog. She put this cool wallpaper on here for me. She has done such a great job with hers and her Mom's and her sisters blogs so I had to take advantage of her talent. So thank you Brooke. I hope you know how much I love you. Give Boston hugs and kisses for me.

Thanks again,

Wendy

Bronchitis!

Okay, I have been sick with Bronchitis and a Sinus Infection for about 10 days now. I went to Insta-Care on Saturday and they diagnosed me with that. So I have been on antibiotics since Saturday the 16th and I thought I would be feeling better but I'm not. I still cough all night and a lot during the day. Poor Troy has moved into Cameron's room just so he can sleep. I did sleep on the couch for a couple of nights but I didn't sleep good then either. So, Troy is making the sacrifice to change beds so I can cough freely all night without having to worry about waking him. I am so tired of being in this house so please pray for me to get better soon. My family needs me too. (However, I have enjoyed a small break from laundry and kitchen duties.) It is time for my family to step up and HELP MOM!!!! I hope that everyone else is doing well and will avoid this gunk! :) Wendy

SUNDAY AT DAD'S (Feb. 3, 2008)

We went to Church with Dad and Mona at their Blythewood ward. It was so nice. I didn't really recognize many people but of course Lorna did. (After all she is much older than me). After church Dad gave Lorna and I each a beautiful blessing. We were saddened at the thought of having to go home the following day. Mona prepared a wonderful dinner (of course), and her son Mark came and had dinner with us. Lorre was invited but wasn't able to stay for dinner but she brought us some gifts to take home representing the south. It was a cookbook, a Paula Deen Planner, and a little bag with Magnolia lotion in it. She is so sweet. She sent a gift home from Cookie and Annette too. Our dinner conversation with Mark Meadows was wonderful. That man is hilarious and he had us cracking up. We ate dinner at 6:00 p.m. and he didn't go home until after 11:00. We really enjoyed his sense of humor and the stories he shared with us regarding his neighbors. Overall, it was a great trip and I look forward to going again next year to celebrate Dad's 86th birthday. I hope that as many family as possible will be able to go. It meant so much to Dad. So, the south survived our visit, but I'm not quite sure it will ever be the same. Thanks Dad and Mona for all you did for us. I love you so much! We hope you got your recliner.

Maurices Piggy Park!

Well, we can't go all the way to South Carolina and not go to Maurices Piggy Park. My favorite is the shredded pork sandwich (or the Li'l Joe. If you want a BIG sandwich then it is called --- you guessed it... the BIG Joe!) We even had hush puppies which is something you can't find in Utah. (At least I haven't seen any). So it's tradition to go to Maurices for the famous BBQ. I brought home a few bottles and Michael has already opened a bottle to put on his Roast Beef. (He preferred that over gravy). Now tell me, how can he deny that he is part southern? I love it! They all love the boiled peanuts too and GRITS!!! I know Mom would be so proud to know that they do love some southern food.

Nephi's Books

This is the South version of "Deseret Book". It is across the street from the Temple on Caughman Road.

Columbia, SC Temple

Our Home on the famous Rawlinson Road!

How awesome it is that now the the Columbia, SC Temple is on the corner of our street. Our former home is right next door. When I was a child, my brother David and my younger sister Jennifer and myself would play in the "woods" which is now the Temple grounds. The Temple is to the right when facing the house. Who knew when we were young that those woods would someday be sacred ground. I love it there and a part myself will always be there.

Our Home on Downing Street

It certainly looked a lot better when we lived there. I think this home has been turned into a duplex. Sad. I have so many wonderful memories of this home. The church was across the street to the side.

My School Days in South Carolina

This is Brennen Elementary. I walked to school from our home on Downing Street.



This is Coughman Middle School (It is now an Elementary school) I was going to this school when we moved to Utah. I don't have pictures of Hopkins Elementary. We didn't make it over there. But I have enough mental images of the place to last me.

Mom's House (Grandaddy Graham)

Daddy would walk from Fort Jackson to this home (about 2 miles) and then he and Mom would take the bus somewhere. Then he would take her back home and then walk back the same two miles to Fort Jackson. That is what I call true love.

This is Grandaddy Graham's Home Where Mom and Dad had their Wedding Reception

Remember Piggly Wiggly?

ZESTO'S FOR ICE CREAM

We had lunch and an ice cream cone at the famous "Zestos". Dad loves to get the brown topper!

Mom and Dad's First Home in South Carolina

This is the first home that Dad built for Mom. They have a lot of memories of this home. It was nice to see it. Dad is very proud of the homes he built back there. We are so proud of him too.

Cromers for Peanuts

Of course we had to make a trip to Cromers to buy the peanuts. We bought some raw peanuts and had them shipped home for us boil later. We also bought some that were already boiled. They are AWESOME! My kids LOVE them.

Down by the Pond

One afternoon we were sitting down by the pond and enjoying the nice cool afternoon. Lorna read to us from this book she is reading and we ate Boiled Peanuts. It was nice and relaxing. Mona wasn't with us at the pond because she was sick in bed. She was suffering from a sinus infection and she lost her voice and she just needed to rest.

THE SOUTH WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!!!

As you all know, Lorna and I went to South Carolina last week for Daddy's 85th birthday. The reason for the title for this post is because Daddy wrote a poem for Lorna and I regarding our visit. It was sweet. Anyway, we had so much fun. However, I think that Daddy and Mona are going to need a few weeks to recover from having us there. We loved being there with Daddy and Mona and me and Lorna had a great time too re-visiting our old stomping grounds. It was fun to see all our old houses and schools etc. And I had to get a picture of the house on Rawlinson Road because the subject brings my children and Troy so much joy. They just love to hear all of our memories of that place. I hope you all enjoy these pictures and get a good idea of how much fun we had. By the way, when you see Lorna, be sure and mention her issues with finding the correct car. She is still having problems in that area. I think she always will. She made me laugh too many times to count.

THE LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE FOR DAD'S BIRTHDAY