Out of Service

So I have been trying to upload pictures of our wonderful Christmas and fun trip to Florida, but for some reason it doesnt work so for now I will just say we had an awesome Christmas and a whirlwind of a vacation. My birthday was fun and only one more year to the big 3-0. I am actually really excited about it. Most people that I talk to are not excited to turn 30, but I say bring it on. I am just thankful that I am going to be able to turn 30. My whole life I have always been told I would live to be in my teens or maybe my 20s. This is exciting and I pray there are at least 30 more to come. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and pray that you all have a wonderful year! I will try to post pics later.

5 year plan

I am sure we have all heard it, where do you plan to be in 5 years. Of course we always expect the best for ourselves and never include any type of heartache or difficulty along the way. It all looks so clear as we trudge ahead. Little do we know what lies in wait for us. It was 5 years ago to the very day actually that I found myself in an empty living room with boxes all around crying. I knew this was it, I was going home, something I neither planned nor wanted. I was devastated. I had quit a job I loved, said good bye to dear friends and watched as the first 1 1/2 year of our marriage got put into a trailor. We were going to live with my mom and dad, (kathy and jim, something I swore I would never do while married) back in Fairview a place I thought was nice to visit (but promised myself I would never live there again). Little did I know the plans that our Heavenly Father had in store for us. I was expecting Cambree and had gone in the hospital right before thanksgiving that year. I had already been in the hospital 3 times that year and Ben had made me promise after the 2nd time if I went in again I would quit my job. Well pride got the better of me and it wasnt until I was pregnant that I realized this job was literally killing me and a baby would not survive under these conditions with my body and the stress of it all. I knew the minute I went in the hospital that I was going to have to quit, but it wasnt until 3 people said I should move home that it actually entered my mind. It took me 2 weeks to finally say it out loud and admit that somethings got to give. I called my boss and told her sobbing hysterically. Ben and I had prayed and fasted and new this was best. Come Dec. 12, 2003 our lives were changing drastically. We had no jobs, no income and no home with a baby on the way. All things pointed to... this will never work, what are you thinking? We new in our hearts that this is what the Lord wanted for us. We put our faith in him and with a leap of faith we left Provo with not much to show for ourselves. For 2 weeks Ben searched for a job, to no avail. My insurance had a year left and we were needing a job that would have good benefits. Then it happened. My dad (Eddie) told Ben on Christmas day that there was a position opening up at the telephone company. He went to the interview and was hired. Miracles were beginning to happen. You had to work for the company for 3 months for insurance to kick in. On April 1, 2004 our insurance started. Cambree was born 26 days later and came with a hospital bill of 150,000. We paid absolutely nothing and due to Afflac actually began a nice little savings account. It was while I was in the hospital that I also found out that I qualified for disability which would give us money each month. The gratitude we felt at that time for what the Lord had done for us and continues to do is something that cannot be put into words. Under all accounts I probably should not have made it through having Cambree, but thankfully the Lord had a plan for me that included being here to raise my child. I was told when she was a few months old that I had a 50% chance that I would live 5 years. Wow, what kind of a five year plan is that? But again the lord has placed wonderful things ahead of me that have led me to where I am and the health that I am in. I could not ask for more. I am so grateful for how well our beautiful daughter did in the hospital I never thought I would get off oxygen, but it came with yet again a miraculous story behind it. Having a beautiful home at our age was nothing I ever even considered. We are blessed beyond belief. It took me nearly 2 years to finally be okay with living in Fairview and now you couldnt pay me to leave.

Dealing with my husbands broken leg is nothing I ever want to do again, he is still dealing with the repurcussions. But this is something that led him to the position he has at work which has led us to very good opportunities. He is happy at work and that is something that everyone wants and I am especially grateful for. I always feared that I had ruined Bens dreams by us having to move here, but yet again the Lord knows best.

We would have never met these fabulous people had we not gone through what we have gone through. I know that the Lord led us to them and although it came through some terrible measures we are so grateful to have them in our lives. This is Ben's dads brother and his family. They are absolutley amazing and it feels like we have always known them.

So all in all we never really know where we will be in 5 years, but as I look back I can see the Lords hand in every step of the way. I am so grateful for His plan for me and thankful that he deems me worthy enough to receive the spirit to lead the way. I would have never chosen this path,the path I had in store would not have led to all the wonderful blessings we have. That I am sure of. I am so thankful that we listened and only pray that I can continue to be led by a loving Heavenly Father that sees the whole picture.

No more tonsils

It has been two weeks since Cambree had her tonsils out. I thought that I would give a little update and let you all know how well she did and how brave she is. What an amazing little girl I have. We had to leave our house at 5:45 in the morning to get paperwork filled out by 7:00. Cambree didnt seem nervous at all. They gave her some versed to relax her and oh boy did she put on a show. I wish I knew how to download videos on here because it was hilarious. We were laughing so hard at our poor little girls expense. But really people what do you expect, its Ben and Emilee we are talking about. We always get a kick out of stuff like this. Anyway, everything went smooth. She did so good, so much better than I expected. The first night home I thought for sure we would be up with her, but she slept through the night soundly. I think it is the best nights sleep she has had in over a year. Yeah for no tonsils!

Cambree playing with her dad before they called us back, I wish we could all be this happy at 7:00 a.m.

A last look at her tonsils before they are gone. Yes, those two giant things that look like tiny brains, those are her tonsils

Don't I look lovely, ugh morning did not agree with me.

Cambree contemplating what is about to happen.

She is rearing to go

I have the craziest girl. who is this happy before surgery?

After surgery. My poor baby. She was not happy now.

They gave her a crown and a purse. They were so sweet with her.

Jealous?

The three of us enjoying the concert. Cambree is getting her tonsils out tomorrow, (I know yuck.) Anyway, we decided to get her a build a bear (bunny). She had so much fun and was so surprised. I thought that this would be fun for her and get her excited rather than scared. I told her we would have her bunny for her as soon as she got out of surgery. I just pray it all goes well. As for the are you jealous part? Well I found on my email Wednesday night that I had gotten an email from the CFF (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) telling me I could receive up to 6 free tickets for the New Kids on the Block concert or as they are now referred to NKOTB. I know how crazy right? Well I looked at the website and saw that Natasha Beddingfield was opening for them, along with Lady Gaga. Okay, Lady Gaga is crazy, but we love Natasha Beddingfield and she was awesome! Even Ben enjoyed her. As the concert started Cambree looked at me and said, "Mom, Im kind of scared." She really was scared through the whole thing. I think all the people screaming and how loud it was was a bit too much for her. Ben said we were leaving as soon as Natasha was over, but I made him stay for the opening song of NKOTB. It was a little ridiculous how old they are trying to be a boy band again, but whatever they can still get a crowd. Anyway, I know you are all jealous;) Cambree washing her bunny Cambree dressing her bunny Cambree loving her bunny! (oh and don't you just love her hair, I didnt really post pics of it when we got it done in August. I did however have a man tell me that her hair is much cuter than my hair. Thank you, I think.)

Cambree hasnt put her bunny down since she got it.

Cambree and Ben rockin out at the concert. Cambree really was swinging her arm in the air with the rest of them.

Oh so cute.

The stage, Not a great pic, but I had to try. We were on the floor on the 32nd row, not to shabby for free.

Cambree and mom

Trick or Treat!

Since its rare that I post pictures on here right after the fact, I thought I would try to get on the ball. Here are some Halloween pictures from my YW halloween party and from trunk or treating yesterday. I let Cambree choose what she wanted to be this year and she said, "a superhero." I think its from playing with all her boy friends that started it, but I must say she makes a lovely batgirl. Also for your enjoyment there are some lovely pictures of my husband who stole my costume while also stealing my thunder. Its just not the same after he's paraded around town in it. Pink batgirl with her right hand man. The Spartan cheerleaders from SNL, AKA, my husband, and brother Spencer. Their goal: to win Jazz tickets from the company. I sure hope they succeeded because that may be the only thing worth the horror.

My nieces and nephews at the parade. Adorable!

Pink Batgirl in all her superpower glory

Pics from our Halloween party with the Young Men and Young Women. I am on the front in the cheerleading costume that my husband so proudly wore. If you are in for a good gut wrenching, side grabbing laugh click on this link and watch in horror. Turn off the music on the side and turn up the volume, you will want to hear this.

http://www.centracom.com/halloween/cheers.html

So now we are on to the next holidays. We have already started watching Christmas movies this morning.

My Quiz

So for those that havent taken my quiz it is right there on the right hand side. I do have to say that question 5 is wrong. It is supposed to read, What was my job after I was married? So answer it as though that is what it said. So Amelia you actually got that question right. Good job:) And for Liz that got 100% who knew you would know me best! Anyway, just wanted to clarify.

Where Ive Been

Well I have been out of the hospital nearly one month and it only seems like it has been a couple of weeks. The first two weeks home were not great. It takes a lot to come out of a bed for a month. I lost a lot of muscle mass and was a bit frustrated. I am still not back to where I want to be but at least I have energy back. We decided that we needed to take a little break and get away from everything so we thought we would go spend a few days in St. George. We had some friends meet us down there and we had a good time. Happy Birthday to Jacob by the way, I am glad we were able to spend it with you. It was fun being with you guys for a bit. Then our family stayed down from Fri. the 3rd until Tues. the 7th. We then headed on down to California. We decided that we would go to California on the Thurs. before we left. I still can't believe we did it. We spent the first night at Bens aunt and uncle Kizerians. It was so much fun to spend time with them and get to know them better. We learned a lot about Bens heritage and wow, what amazing people he comes from. His ancestors came over from Armania and it is a pretty remarkable story. We also learned more about his dad and the circumstances that occurred. We found out that it was within minutes that his obituary was almost not in the paper and we would have never found these people. I know the Lord truly had a hand in it and how grateful we are that He did. It has truly been a blessing in our lives. Then it was on to fun fun and more fun. We went to Disneyland for 3 days straight. We went with Bens aunt Kathi and uncle Bull and his cousin and her family. They also had some friends down there. We had such a good time. It went way to fast and we were exhausted when we got home on Saturday, but it was well worth it. I am so happy we got away. Here are a few pics of Disneyland. Micky Jack O'Lantern All the kids with Kathi and Bull One of the floats in the parade, Ursula scared all of the kids. Cambree with Minnie Just the three of us Cambree showing off her face paint After our second night at Disney, she was out. Standing in front of the big candycorn. It was decorated so cute for Halloween. Getting the car cleaned for our trip 2 peas in a pod Some of the decorations Dancing with Chip The picture you have to get because you are there.