Family Gala 2009

The family:







The Guests:
Spencer and Lindsay Jones and Ms. Jamiee Rose


The Food:

The entertainment:
Mindy Gledhill and Spencer

**all photo's courtesy of Cjane**

The 4th July, Two-Thousand and Nine.

It all begins with the morning parade.

Then the family lunch at Page's mountain side home.

And marshmallow fights
ps...you haven't seen a marshmallow unless you have been to food city in mesa, az.

Then dinner on the Provo mountains waiting for the stadium to light up with fireworks and the classic American tradition of the jets flying across the city.

****PS...all the family wore 'Steve Clark (my pops) for mayor' shirts at the parade.
If you are in Provo, please join us in supporting him. More on that later...

Ghost in this house.

All my guest are gone.
I had been looking forward to the forth of July weekend for months. Friends and family flew in from Arizona-some I hadn't seen since the accident 11 months ago.
My best friends.
It was amazing to see them. Now they are gone. I feel somewhat depressed.
Yesterday was a day of mourning. I lay in bed most of the day except for once when I checked my e-mail and stumbled across this photo of me.

I broke down.
My face no longer looks like her, and her is me. But I don't look like her.
(yes, I am so feeling sorry for myself)
I thought about the song Alison Krauss sings called 'Ghost in this house'.
The lyrics go like this:

I'm just a ghost in this house
I'm just a shadow upon these walls
As quietly as a mouse I haunt these halls
I'm just a whisper of smoke
I'm all that's left of two hearts on fire
That once burned out of control
You took my body and soul
I'm just a ghost in this house

I feel like that Ghost.
I miss my old self so much it hurts everyday and just when I think I have accepted the
"new me" I remember her, and it hurts.
But I am marching onward, I know I am loved and love is what gets me through.

Summer birthday brunch

100 balloons for my 28th birthday brunch.

Sparklers for party favors and Lucy and Andrew share a glance

Andrew holding the chief and Topher holding cute-as-a-doll Margaret

Mr. Nielson makes his honey-whole wheat waffles for the brunch.
My cake created by Megan at the Sweet-tooth fairy. DELICIOUS!

Megan, Courtney, Topher and Margaret

Party girls surround the cake (Jane, Claire and Hariett)
Cjane and the Chief (below)

Jed and Julian



Dad poses for a photo


The balloon launch

Nic enjoys his pink lemonade cake

Lindsay protects baby Betsy while Liv pushed Claire and Lydia on the swing.

28 years

Today I turn 28.
I am blessed to have this birthday since I was this close to not getting there.
My dear friends at the Sweet Tooth Fairy are celebrating with me, and you can too!

Also Brooke is joining the fun. Go here for her tasty idea.



I love you all.

Kisses,
Nie.

Denali and mail.

My handsome brother-in-law Vance
(who I SWORE I was going to marry when I was 7) climbed Denali.
He did it.

(Vance & climber Dave on the top)

Thanks to Yvonne in Alaska and Vance, I was there in spirit.

* * * *

I am doing just fine, thank you.
I am going to be back into blogging here soon. My goal is to blog every other day until I can return my regular daily posting. Boy am I feeling good or what!
Plus, I have been super busy.
Some of my major accomplishments include:

*Opening jam jar lids (and pen lids and chap stick lids)
*Running
*Touching my toes
*Not crying in the shower

and the biggie:

*Riding my cruiser!

Blessed days!

My sincere thanks to all of you for the delightful e-mails, pretty letters of love & support, packages, OH the packages!! I only wish I could personally thank you all, I will someday. I just want you to know I love your support and prayers.
I really do.
The mailbox and my inbox are two of my favorite spots!

Kisses!

Mud Cake Caper

One hundred and thirteen said the scale today I was beyond happy.
But I still need to gain.
Brooke from Conversations with a cupcake offered to create me the most delicious chocolate masterpiece to help the numbers rise and my behind to bubble.
How on this good green earth could I refuse?
Brace yourself, here it is:

It looks mouth-watering I know.
Go here for the recipe.