Day 65 – { sunshine surprise }

Last Friday I woke up and performed the necessary emotional gymnastics of talking myself into getting up and facing life. I did a pretty good job, I thought, telling myself that everything was going to be okay and that after I taught piano that morning I could rest and look forward to the weekend with my Sweet Ones. I staggered downstairs with vague intentions of making a pot of oatmeal for breakfast.

DC was already in the kitchen and motioned for me to look in the family room. I turned my head and saw. . . . my sister-in-law Lori sitting up and smiling at me from an air mattress! And next to her, my brother Jofus! And in between them, adorable baby Benjamin J!!

 

 

It was a huge surprise. DC knew about it and had welcomed them late the night before. I couldn’t believe it. I was a little nervous about having company with the struggles I had been having, but DC and Lori handled nearly all of the cooking and I just let go mentally of everything else that I would have done and just ENJOYED them.

 

 

We went on to have one of the best weekends ever. . . .

 

 

A trip to the park and Benjamin’s first ride on a swing.

 

Really, really good food.

detail: Homemade ice cream (Lori’s original Key Lime Pie ice cream and Reese’s peanut-butter cup), French toast with tons of buttermilk syrup and fresh strawberries, Biscuits and gravy, Lori’s super yummy chicken enchiladas, Fruit pizza, etc.

Hyrum knit Benjamin this groovy scarf.

A trip to rural Colorado to be with DC’s brother and sister for a late Christmas get-together (already planned before the surprise :).

10 days and about 10 lbs apart! :)

 

Watching The Hobbit and playing Tapple and Ticket to Ride Europe edition

 

Going to church together and visiting the temple site

 

I could not believe how my spirits lifted having these two funny (and may I mention, nice!?) people and one very adorable baby nephew around. It felt like the sun had come back out.

 

Since then, DC has started classes again and we are completely back into the routine. And I am doing better. . .so far (may it continue and increase!).

 

So grateful for modern medicine but even more grateful. . . .

. . .for Family.

Day 19 - { baby brother bookend }

 

I'm the oldest of 8 children. My youngest brother Jofus is still living at home (but not for much longer! sniff sniff). He was born 5 days before my 13th birthday. In fact, he ruined my birthday party by coming a month early. Mom had planned a surprise party for me, had made the invitations and all, but was diagnosed with toxemia and had to deliver right away.

Little Giuseppe may have flattened the birthday party plans, but I still thought he was the best birthday present ever! I loved my tiny new brother! I was like a 2nd mom to him, babysitting, changing diapers (he loves it when I bring that up); I even took notes on his growth and progress.

He has gotten only more adorable as he's grown up, of course. :)

And since we've been in AR, there's been a sort-of tradition that Mom and Dad and whichever children are still living at home come to visit us for Spring Break! WOOHOO! I can't wait till this Sunday, when they get here!

 

 

My Baby Brother is like me in a lot of ways--

born in December, musically inclined,

a little bit cranky in the mornings,

 

passionate about food,

 

and completely--perhaps unhealthily--obsessed with books.

Thus we have acquired the nickname of "The Bookends", being the first and the last in the family.

 

What truly amazed me is how my little brother handled Benjamin's death. He was here for the birth. This almost-17-year-old lovingly held him and cried. He brought us the Sacrament in the hospital the next day. He babysat his other nephews for literally hours so that Mom and Dad could help with funeral arrangements. After I came home from the hospital, he helped me up and down the stairs, offering his arm as if for a dance. :) He led the music for the funeral.

A couple of weeks later when I was crying to him that I wanted another baby boy right away, he said, "I want a niece this time. You've already had 4 boys!" Awesome.

Anyway, I hope he doesn't mind me sharing all this. I just want you all to know how wonderful he is. 

I'm grateful to be his big sister.

 

Two more days!