Life changes too quickly!

Yesterday I received a horrible call, one I never imagined. My adorable nephew had swelling in his face, shoulder and chest so they started treating him for what they thought was possibly an allergic reaction, His breathing didn't sound right so they tried a second treatment and the doctor decided he needed a chest X-Ray. 

My sister-in-law took him for the x-Ray and instead of being told to go home and wait for results she was told to wait a minute. The x-Ray tech came out and gave her a name for what they saw and minutes later her doctor called an confirmed the worst....CANCER. 

He is now down at Primary Children's waiting for a biopsy they planned for today, but because his airway was so restricted he is being put on steroids for two days and then hoping the airway opens enough to get his biopsy done.

We have seen miracle after miracle the last year, and we know the Lord is capable of anything. We ask that you all may keep our dear Jaxston in your prayers and thoughts. We still don't know what the outcome will be and they have to do the biopsy to be sure they are treating the right kind of cancer.  

Our Jaxston has been the life of the party since he was born, he kept smiling last night even while realizing he had the scary C word. He told us Jesus would be with him and I know he will.  I know there is power in numbers so I ask you all no matter what your faith to pray for our Jaxston Perkins...we love him and will believe the best will come! Keep up thought Jax!

Living Life with Purpose

I am going to post something more personal today, so please forgive me if it isn't worth reading.  I am living life so differently then I did last year.  I still love those around me, and still want many of the same things, but I have put more meaning into the life that I live.  I have a family that gives me purpose, they are my everything.  My family hopefully can forgive me for any wrong I have done, and be more grateful for the chance I now have to make the most of our time together.  Each day I am learning something new from them, and I am making a conscious effort to show them that they are the purpose in life I have been given.

My Father in Heaven has given me the best gift I could ever ask for.  It's called a second chance.  A second chance to spend time with ALL of my family.  A second chance to make memories instead of just living in the moment.  I have been able to eliminate many distractions that could probably limit the amount of time I spend with them.  I have done my best to talk and listen to my children.  I have made more moments where they can relax and enjoy life and what they are accomplishing.  I am more than grateful for the time we spend together, and it puts my heart at ease knowing they will be with me forever. I am enjoying them, not only for their good but I am cherishing the people they are.  Sometimes it is hard, and I may fail miserably, but I am feeling like I am doing my best with the purpose I have.

Each of my kids has had a special experience, much like my own experience I had this last year. They have seen that there is so much more than the life we live in.  They have seen that we have no guarantees for tomorrow. We have to live life the best we can, and that's about all we can do.  If we give all we have then there will never be any regrets.  I have done my best to keep promises I have made, and I am putting all I have into the life I am living.  When you have a person in your life taken from you, even if it's only for a short time you start thinking deeply about life.  I wonder daily if this will be my last breathe, or when my earthly life's journey will be done. I wonder if I will be able to hold my kids in my arms, or if one will be taken from me far too soon.  If these are my final steps I may take, have I done all can do?  I know the Lord and our Father in Heaven are in charge of my time here.  I only hope I can live up to what they have planned for me.  I hope that I can cherish memories being made, to the point that they will never be forgotten. I am trusting in them to keep us all safe, and hoping we have a long time together.  I also know that this life is not the end, and the life we will go to is so much more beautiful and we will be surrounded by so many loved ones that I know I should never worry.  I should just enjoy what I have here now, and know that no matter what happens a farewell to a loved one is never the end.  We have each seen those on the other side, and we know they are there to help us when needed.

It's not easy finding your purpose in life, and I believe that along the journey of life our purpose may become something different.  When you are just newly married all you care about is making your significant other happy, and making enough money to pay the bills.  When you become a new parent you feel the need to provide for that child.  You start devoting time to a job that will pay for their needs, and you start to put yourself further down the line of importance as you put someone so small ahead of yourself.  When your kids start school you may find you now feel like you are back in school because you need to devote afternoon time with that child to do their homework.  Every person has their own goals in life which creates different purposes to live.  I know my purpose has changed many times, but I know that now I need to make more with the purpose I have been given.

I feel like I could have walked my last step, and its given me a better understanding of what life is. I could have lost a child and instead of living in fear I now need to put my life into the hands of my maker.  I have cried many tears about what could be gone.   I have tried my best to know what I needed to be here for.  Was it to help save my father's life when he was slipping from us?  Was it to be there when Katelyn was no longer with us, did she need to hear my voice calling for her to breathe?  My time here isn't just for me.  I am here to do my best, and to strive to live a life like my savior.  I am here to help others along their journeys.  I can help others make better choices, and I know that my story will help at least someone change their life to something better.  I can take each minute to make a better decision.  It doesn't mean we need to be perfect, just that we need to do all we have.  I believe I gave a lot before, but I know now it's with a more unconditional heart.

I am choosing to LIVE LIFE WITH A PURPOSE. I can choose the purpose or I can seek a help from the one who gave me the opportunity to be here.  I know that with a purpose I can put more meaning into what I can accomplish, and I won't just set goals I will do all I can in my power to achieve them.

"Live Life"

Thanks to http://lollyjane.com for the free printable picture

We all know that January brings out the goal sheets, vision boards, resolutions, personal evaluation, and hopes for a better you or a better year. Many would think that after our last year we would be hoping for something so much better. To be honest I can't think of a way to top the amazing miracles we witnessed in 2015. Although our year was the toughest thing I have ever had to go through, those hard times could never compare to the memories and blessings we gained. Each of us either personally or through family members have been given a second chance on life, and although it's a second chance we know it doesn't mean forever.

Our motto this year is "LIVE LIFE". We want everything we do to be to the best we can offer. Each of us know we have a purpose and we want to accomplish whatever it is. We all want to get back on top of our old goals but we have regenerated a different zest for life. It's enabled us to focus on the bigger things in life that really matter. We want to eliminate areas that are holding us back from spending time as a family or taking the time to reach our spiritual goals.

What does it mean to "LIVE LIFE"? It's just as it states. We are going to live our life! We aren't going to wait for something bad to happen or only plan for a rainy day. We are going to jump in with both feet and dance in the rain along the way. We know nothing can keep us from emergencies that will arise, but we want to live with no regrets. We want to say, "I love you!" to all of the individuals in our life that matter. We want them to know and feel of our concern. We want to serve others and try our best to give back to as many as we can because we know it took large amounts of service in our behalf this year. We want to cherish what we have today so if it's not here tomorrow we never think to ourselves, "I should have, I wish I had, if I could have?" We want to be a stronger family who strives to spend extra moments together making irreplaceable memories. 

We are so excited for all the changes we are hoping for this year! We know the Lord loves us and has opened doors for us that will change our lives. We know we are loved, needed, and will do our best to do what we have been saved for. 

This weekend we will get to put together our vision boards, and I can only imagine all the "best" things we will see on them, as we have come to realize some of our good we wanted before can always become something better! Wishing you all a great New Year full of good health, prosperity, and the best life can offer! We love you all!!!

Christmas is the season for giving

Christmas has always been a magical time of year for me. I can remember all the excitement as a child: the smells, the foods, Santa Claus, gift giving, family , friends, shoveling snow for neighbors, you name it. This year we have had many trials come our way which completely changed our outlook on the season. With the near death experiences of family members we easily focused on a gratitude Christmas. We didn't think to much about purchasing gifts, for many reasons some financial, others because the need for materialism had left.

We knew we wouldn't be able to give much to our kids this year, but that didn't stop us from enjoying the same traditions this season holds. We still cooked a few goodies, enjoyed company of family we love, shoveled some driveways, and focused on our Savior and how the real reason of Christmas is giving more to others in need then expecting for ourselves. The month quickly flew by and that sad feeling of worry set in a bit knowing our kids would feel a little let down Christmas morning. This is when we received a call from our local Police department asking if the kids could participate in the Shop with a Cop program. They offered to take our kids on the second Saturday of the month and allowed them $145 to get whatever they wanted.

The kids were escorted by law enforcement from the Eagle's Lodge to Walmart. After there arrival Santa flew in on a helicopter. It was overwhelming and exciting all at once. They allowed each child to be taken around in the store by 1 officer. The officer would keep track of the dollar amount being purchased and they were there to offer service to those in need. My husband and I walked around enjoying the excitement coming from our children as they were able to purchase their own gifts. We got to the end of putting their gifts in the cart and our second child, Kolton hadn't quite hit the total so he ran to grab a small gift for Jason and I. He has a selfless attitude and felt bad we didn't get to buy anything for us.

The kids got to have their pictures taken with Santa then have their gifts wrapped by a group of kids from Box Elder school. We were greeted by many people who had heard about our daughters accident and they were all eager to see how she was doing and wish her well. I couldn't help but be overcome with emotion. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I saw all three carts completely full of gifts. Other law enforcement members would want to know Katelyn's story and they were amazed at her progress. As we were discussing it with a few officer we witnessed our children become teachers to all of us. Our children took out one of their gifts and opened them and walked then over to the boxes collecting presents for children who would receive no gifts for Christmas. One officer in particular shed some tears as he heard Kolton, Karson and Katelyn tell us they felt they should give one of their gifts to those kids who wouldn't have Christmas.

We went home with a car full of wrapped gifts and we knew Christmas was more than enough. Throughout the month we would do what we could to help others around us by helping them with small purchases when they didn't have enough to cover their bills. We quickly realized the more help we offered the more we were blessed. We had many friends give us money that helped us pay our small bills and cover those we helped out. We felt so much love for our Savior has his tender mercies that allowed us to give at a time when we felt in need. We had a few extra special friends who purchased some gifts for our children and made the last of the Christmas possible.

We watched those around us turn to giving and putting others ahead of themselves. It was such an uplifting experience to witness prayers being answered by others and their willingness to serve. When Christmas Eve had arrived and we had many groceries because of my awesome employer Kents market and their service. We had the opportunity to have spent much of the week with loved ones and we knew we once again had witnessed another miracle that blessed our lives

Jason and I went to grab the piles of gifts the kids had from others and the two gifts we purchased. By the time we put them out we noticed there were  more gifts under the Christmas tree then the kids had ever received. As I took a picture of the amazing sight I quickly thanked my Heavenly Father for knowing our needs and filling in the areas where we felt inadequate. I couldn't help but think of how lucky we were to live in a community where neighbors, friends and family went over and beyond to help us out with so much. We knew this was a Christmas where we were able to feel the Christmas spirit of giving through others. We felt loved and felt our kids were able to receive something they never expected, and they were able to all thank their Heavenly Father for all those who made it possible to have the many gifts they had received!

Start of something new

 So this is the start of something new, but also something old. Are you still blog Wayback win our family was younger. I got caught up in the new social media and blogging. I have decided it's a lot easier to blog,  where I can write our family's experiences and who hopefully gain better writing abilities, and learn to better express myself through words.  I am also hoping to inspire others to live their life to the fullest, one day at a time, while holding nothing back. Thanks to all if you willing to follow my blog to stay in contact with!