Remembering

Remembering what we were going through a year ago--- hardly seems like it happened at all.  But it was sure traumatic when it did. 

http://mconser.blogspot.com/2010/10/bilateral-ureteral-reimplantation.html

http://mconser.blogspot.com/2010/10/kathryn-surgery-pics.html

We have an ultra sound set up for the end of November.  Since Kathryn has had no issues, I fully expect them telling us how amazing she is and that we never have to see Dr. Lashly again.

Happy 10th!

Happy 10th Anniversary Sweetheart! 
It hasn't always been easy, but it has always been interesting. 
I am grateful for our committment to eachother.  You have been a sweet companion and a good friend.  I am glad we are hanging on to eachother, even when there have been times it would have been easier to let go. 
I love you.

Random Thankfulness

* dimples

     *laughter with good friends

          *funny memories

                *late nights at winco

      *excuses for dressy dresses & new shoes

*snuggles

     *warm, sheet only nights

          *pandora

               *chocolate

                    *morning birds singing

*automated prescription refills

     *safe home

          *happy hearts

                *a beautiful, God-given, God-created world

First Day of SUMMER!

Happy First Day of SUMMER! 

Imagine that!  We had a day with temps over 80*!  Almost unheard of for a June Oregon Day, let alone the 1st day of summer!!

Can you spot all three?

This is JOY!

This is PURE JOY!

You may remember my post from last year:

http://mconser.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-lovin.html

Or the year before that:

http://mconser.blogspot.com/2009/07/summer-fun.html

Looks like I am making a tradition!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

I love being a mom and torturing my children!  I have been speaking to them in an Irish Accent all day and they are so annoyed!  HAHA!  Who knew this part of parenting would be this much FUN?  I splurged this year and got the kids St. Patty's Day Shirts(Nathan doesn't like it when I say St. Patty- "Its St. Patrick Mom!"

My kids donned GREEN today in honor of St. Patrick being from Ireland.  Nathan wanted to know what the story was behind it... and I guess I needed to look it up, since I couldn't seem to tell him off the top of my head(even though I know I KNOW the story...).  He was basically a good guy- a Christian who stuck to his beliefs when it wasn't easy to do so.  After a very hard experience being held captive by those who didn't share his beliefs he was able to use that experience to reach out to others for good.  Good Job Patty!

St. Patrick died on March 17 in the 5th Century- which is why we celebrate on this date.

I personally have always felt a kinship with St. Patrick.  My Birthday, being the 19th of March, often fell in during Spring Break.  But St. Patricks Day was usually on a school day, or at least celebrated on a school day.  So we partied!  And I felt the party was in my honor! 

Plus, green is a fun color and LUCK is something I feel almost every day!  So, for me, St. Patricks Day has special feelings.  I LOVE IT!  

Plus spring is always an exciting time of year with new growth and new possibility popping around everywhere!

St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic.

Adrienne Cook

(OR NOT!  This Picture is after yesterdays Hail Storm!)

Grandparents

Over the past few weeks I have found myself watching the grandparents in the world.  I assume they are grandparents, I don't really know.  But their age is an indicator.  They look grand-parent-ish, so I feel safe to assume they are what I think they are.  I don't call them that, so I am not offending them just in case they aren't(except Kathryn will sometimes call out "Grandma" to a grandma-looking lady).  I lost my both of my Grandmothers the same year, and I remember grieving them in silly places, like the post office or grocery store, when I would see sweet old women at the checkout stand.  Now its old women, old men, and especially these grandparents with their grandchildren or great grandchildren.  I miss my parents parents.

Grandma Schouten (the "ch" in Schouten is pronounced like a "k") passed away 15 years ago.  When we lived in SLC, UT, she lived in Springville, which was around 45 mins away, so we were able to see her quite a bit.  Grandma was independent and fun. She chuckled and laughed and was always wanting to come up with something to bake or cook or make in the kitchen that would put meat on our bones.  She enjoyed playing games with us and liked to spend time with us.  She was beautiful, wrinkly, but beautiful.  I only knew her with white hair, but she had red hair that she passed onto me and now my children.  There is a picture of a very young, non-wrinkly her and my grandfather and I always thought she should have been a movie star. 

In my later teen years she gave me an envelope with some family keepsake pictures.  I didn't appreciate it at the time and have no idea how I managed to keep it in my possession all these years, but I came across it last year when moving some documents down to a newer filing cabinet in our garage.  I then put in my kitchen, which I recently unearthed in an organizing fit.  I have since decided they belong perfectly in my scripture bag-- you know with the spirit of Elijah and all that.  Thanks Grandma for this gift.

Yes- that is me- looks like Kathryn doesn't it? 

Good Bye 2010

I am happy to say good-bye to the year we just endured.

There was a lot of loss.  A lot of pain and heartache.  A lot of stress and worry.  I have watched friends and dear family members struggle with just yucky stuff.  I have felt distance develop between certain friends and family that I never thought would have.  I have developed anxiety over things I would never have thought I would have a year or two ago.

There were positives too.  My baby had a successful surgery and is healthy and happy.  I participated in three sprint tri-athlons.  I have gained and recognized some very dear friends.  I felt the arms and support of many loved ones who rose to care for me and my family in our down times.  And of course, my children continue to grow and learn and amaze me daily on the capacity of their minds and the beauty of their spirits.

Overall, this wasn't my favorite year, yet it was an important year.  It tested me and made me uncomfortable.  Through these tests and discomfort I am learning and growing more as a person.  I may not always make the right decisions, but these opportunities are allowing me to know myself more than I thought possible.

I want my children to know when life gets hard, you will learn something from it.  What you learn will allow you to become a better person- a wiser person.  It will allow you to someday help someone else as they suffer and hurt as you  may have.  So, hang in there.  When you feel hope is lost, it isn't.  When you are sad and feel lonely, you aren't.  When you are so frustrated and do not want to do a single thing, don't- take a short break- then get back to it.  Your Mom says its OK. 
And your Mom loves you more than anything.

Now, lets move forward and see what is next?

Losses

We lost Travis on Dec. 3rd.  He is our beautiful niece Carina's Papa.  His passing didn't make sense to us because he was young and had a life with a lot of beauty and good in it.  We will miss Travis.  I loved Travis because he seemed to be the only person in the world that saw and called my giant babies(all over 9 pounds at birth) little and tiny.  When he held them, they looked little and tiny too.  He loved to hold them and wander around when they needed to be walked.  At family events he could often sense when I needed to get my babies back in my arms and would just pluck them from wherever they were and deliver them to me.  As my children started to growing, he talked to them like equals and shared his knowledge with them.  He always seemed very happy with babies and children nearby.  Having his own child was a natural fit and the new title of Dad suited him perfectly.  He always seemed happy with snow and water nearby too.  He loved the outdoors and I was anxious to go kayaking with him, but the last time he finally talked me into it, pregnancy hit and we had to put it off.  Travis knew just about everything about everything.  The plus side of that is I could always ask him a random question and usually get an answer.  I always appreciated him as another non-Conser at Conser family events.  He was a member of the Conser family when I joined it, however we had the bond of both being outsiders in this family and could appreciate each other in that respect.  A funny memory I have of Travis is at our wedding he saved us a huge plate of shrimp to make up for his not getting much shrimp on his own wedding day.  We will join in Travis' memorial on Dec. 22nd. 

On Leila's Blessing Day Nov. 2003

Enjoying snuggles from Leila and Sadie(but espeically Leila) Nov. 2004

Here is Uncle Travis and Aunt Tamra holding our two crazy kids.  Carina is in the photo too, she just wasn't quite ready to be seen yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We lost Grandpa Frederick on Dec. 17th.  Grandpa's passing made more sense.  He was 95.  He and Grandma had been apart for almost 14 years and I know their reunion is sweet.  His funeral will be held on Dec. 23rd.  This date is significant because this is his and Grandma's wedding anniversary- 75 years this year- and also the anniversary of Grandma's funeral 14 years ago.  Grandpa always called me Miss Megan.  He had a twinkle in his eye and liked to tease us.  He could be a grump at times, but we knew Grandpa loved us.  He had a pretty big sweet tooth.  While he and Grandma were touring the US our family would go to their home in Forest Grove and check on everything.  Once we came across a huge stash of chocolate in his frig.  I, being around 11 and very sure of right and wrong, refused to allow my family to take any.  This was Grandpa's after all, we shouldn't steal it.  Upon their return my Dad told him how I guarded his stash and Grandpa rewarded me with my very own chocolate bar.  Which someone else ended up eating at home(I was very annoyed).  As I have visited Grandpa with my children over the past few years I have appreciated his knowledge and memories and experiences.  He has always worked hard for a good life.  In our last few visits Leila and Nathan seemed to recognize and respect my Grandpa as something unique- its not every kid who has a Great Grandfather.  They really liked looking at his trinkets and belongings while we visited and listened to his stories.  Our last visit with Grandpa was at my Aunt Renetta's Home in Monmouth in October while my Aunts Linda and LaDonna were visiting.  I sat with Grandpa at the dinning table and he played with Kathryn.  He would put his had on the table, she would put her hand on the table, he would move his closer to hers, she would move hers closer to his over and over.  They both played and laughed and genuinely enjoyed each others company.  I am grateful to have these memories in my heart.

Leila's Blessing Day Nov. 2003



Grandpa's 90th Birthday- Jan 2005



Visiting Grandpa Dec. 2008

Grandpa's 95th Birthday Bash - Jan 2010- He LOVED Kathryn's red curls

Visit to Grandpa- August 2010