Little Mari

Many of you know that my brother and his wife Cindy adopted a little baby girl with numerous handicaps when she was months old.  She was born the day before their 5th child Eathyn, so Mariela & Eathyn have always been "the twins."  This was when they were about 2 years old.

This past March Brett & Cindy told us that little Mari was soon leaving us.  We knew she had been having lots of medical problems for a few months, but we also knew that her time on earth was not going to be long.  We were all sad, and waited for the call.  Brett absolutely loved Mari, he loves all his kids, but Mari was special to him.  She always smiled when he walked in the door.  You knew she was happy and good when she was smiling.  This was one last picture I have of Brett & Mari, the day before she passed.

Cindy's parents had already come in, and my sister Holly had already bought her ticket from Utah.  The funeral was going to be Saturday, and Holly was going to speak.  This was already planned before Mari had even left us, but her body was shutting down, and hospice had been brought in.  Just before she died, Cindy called Holly to tell her that it was time, and asked if she wanted to speak to her.  Cindy held the phone up to Mari's ear, and as soon as Holly began to sing a sweet song to her, her eyes lit up.  Holly always loved to hold Mari and would sing sweet songs/coos to her.  She was an angel that had been sent to our family.  

The call came to say she had passed.  Her family was around her as her sweet spirit left her earthly body and earth life.  She was sealed to her family in June 2010, so we all know we will be able to see her again...

running in the daisies!!

Is it winter or spring?

Only in the south and Texas can you ask
that question because...

Eleven days after Lindsey was baptized, and being spring-like weather, it snowed.  The winter had been a very mild one, so a lot of us were shocked when snow was predicted.  But sure enough, we woke up to snow.  Schools all over the area were cancelled except our district.  My kids stayed home.  Shawn was also home from work that day.  That was February 13th.

By February 17th, kids were outside like this:

And the birds were starting to come out and play, and be a bit crazy.  This one flew into our front door, and Jacob heard it.  He went outside to see what it was, 

and there the bird was on our porch.

The bird whisperer.

Lindsey's Baptism Day!

February 2, 2012  I don't know how I forgot to blog about this, but I did.  Her birthday was on a Thursday, and Shawn just so happened to be off that day.  I wrestled in my mind as when it would be the best time and if I needed to tell Shawn way in advance to ask for a Sunday off, but in the end I chose her birthday day.  My Mom came up for it.  Dad was just to busy with work.  Josh was home too.  We always take the baptized child out to eat afterwards of their choice.  Lindsey chose Chick-fil-A.  I tried to get her to go elsewhere, but she insisted.  Lauren took the other kids home, and the 3 of us plus Josh and my Mom all went out.  Afterwards we went home for cake and presents.

A great day to be 8!!