His name is Jim...

...and my Daddy saved his life.

I will never forget the shock of the day we got the call...and how confused we all were. Sadly when I talked to Dr. Glass on the phone he asked me the strangest question..."Would you like to donate your Daddy's organs?". So many emotions flooded my body. I couldn't even speak...he told me I could take some time, but that they needed to know quickly. I felt as if he was almost being rude and crass...the thoughts in my head went from anger to are you sure my Daddy has passed? Did you try everything? Then the thought went right to knowing. Not a day or so before we learned my Daddy had been put on the kidney transplant list. Knowing, that we would have relied on another family's sadness to help us made the answer all so clear. It took some convincing for my mother to be ok with it...but once she did, I told Dr. Glass that we would do it and I answered yes to every donation type possible he was eligble for. It was the hardest thing to do and almost unfair, my Daddy should have been the one on the receiving end. :o(


Jim wrote the sweetest letter to my mother about who he is and what he does for a living and how much our sacrifice has meant to him. He spends his life as a coach and karate instructor and helps children and adults to find hope and light in their lives. Jim wanted us to know that not only did my Daddy's gift of organ donation improve the quality of his life, but of countless others that he comes in contact with each day.

On April 4th I will go to a tree planting ceremony in honor of my Daddy...

My Daddy is alive in someone else and somehow through all this pain, I find peace in knowing that part of him lives on. I can't believe he's been gone for 8 months. I love him so much and miss him more than anything each day...but through his death he has gone on to continue doing the good he's always done. I love you Daddy.

December in a nutshell

Wow, its been an absolute whirlwind. Birthdays, birthdays and more birthdays, of course the holidays and traveling and there was also a wedding! I don't think we have yet to recoop. I just went through some pictures and decided I'd share them with you all. :o)

We started out December by asking Santa to send his helper Barclay back to visit Little Jon! This year he brought his sister Ricki to play with Cadi. The first night they arrived, they got themselves into trouble...



and the next night...



and again...we had many adventures with these two!



They helped Cadi and Little Jon try to be good even though they themselves were both very naughty!

My sweet little boy turned FOUR on December 10th. I still have a hard time believing he is getting so big...Four just sounds so big. :o( I adopted a tradition from Shannon, a dear friend of mine, and on the kids birthdays they wake up to the number of years in balloons on their door.



At school he had his walk around the sun. It was so very emotional for me to be there. He was so proud as he showed his little classmates the pictures of him through the years. I am so proud of my little boy, words can't even describe.

**sorry these are blurry, they are from my cell phone...my mind was so flustered I forgot my camera at home. :o(





Then we celebrated his birthday with friends and family at Pump It Up a few days later! It was a hopping good time!



As well as slip sliding fun!



Checking out the Scooby Doo cake Aunt Kristen made. :o)



We appreciate all of our sweet friend's who came! Thank you for being a part of little Jon's special day.





The following Sunday was our Christmas program at Church. It was so sweet! Even though my son was the 'real' entertainment.



We then had our annual visit to see Santa...this year the big request was bubble gum and candy canes! Santa was quite happy. LOL!



My little sister came up for a visit and we went to ICE! An awesome ice land at the Gaylord Texan. It was so C-C-C-Cold!







We then drove to the ranch to spend Christmas with my Mom and Boots. The kids had a lot of fun! Here they are decorating the tree with snow...



And then we said good bye to Ricki and Barclay as they lay in their sacks to wait to go home with Santa...



And the babies were obviously good this past year. :o)



And then we drove home to make it for a wedding my lil ones were a part of...



So there you have it...a crazy month and holiday season over again. 2008 was full of happiness and pain. I have been blessed beyond measure and I want to thank my family and friends for always being there for us. I can't wait to see what 2009 holds...Thank you for reading as always!