For the Love of NieNie!!

For almost a year I have been following the blog of Stephanie Nielson. She is a young mother of four adorable children from Mesa, AZ. Stephanie, along with her husband, Christian and their friend, Doug, who was the pilot, were in a horrible plane crash last August 16th. Doug died as a result of the crash and Stephanie and Christian were taken to Phoenix to the burn center where they were treated. Stephanie was burned over 80% of her body and was kept in a coma for several months. The time finally came when she was slowly allowed to gain consciousness and be reunited with her husband and children. Shortly after this reunion, the Clark family (Stephanie's parents) moved Stephanie and her family to Provo where they could continue to take care of them.

My heart totally went out to them and honestly it was hard for me not to read and follow Stephanie's blog. I developed a love for her and her family that was beyond my comprehension of loving someone that I did not know nor had ever met. I was captivated by her and needed to know several times a week of her progress and how the children were fairing without their mother to take care of them. I became obsessed by her blog and needing to know more and more about this amazing woman. I prayed that one day I would be able to meet her and talk with her face to face. She was so totally awesome in my eyes and I knew that she would be the closest person to Christ I would ever meet next to President Monson.

Over the 4th of July, I had an event at the American Freedom Festival in Provo. I pleaded with the Lord before we left that if I was to meet this extraordinary woman to please let her come to my booth during the celebration. I waited and waited for this prayer to be answered and nothing happened. I felt despair in my heart and an emptiness that I couldn't comprehend. I watched as the people milled about the celebration and wondered if the Lord had even heard my prayers.

I was frying a funnel cake and heard a soft, gentle male voice ask what a funnel cake was. I looked at the gentleman that was talking with Meghan and listened as she explained to him "a funnel cake is made of a sweet batter that is put into a funnel and dropped into hot oil to fry. After frying, it is then dusted with powdered sugar and topped with your choice of toppings". I was thinking to myself that she is so good with customers and her soft gentle voice is music to my ears. I watched the gentleman as he listened to her explanation and something about him caught my attention. On his face I noticed that he had burn scars that looked fairly recent. I remember thinking to myself of the pain he must have been in at the time of his burn and quickly thought about my mother who had been badly burned in a house fire.

This gentleman stepped back and my eyes caught a glimpse of a woman that was with him and standing a little behind him. I immediately asked Ta'Mera if that couple was Stephanie and Christian Nielson that were in the plane crash. She ran to the front of the booth and asked if they were them. The answer was yes and my heart almost leaped out of my chest. Yes, they were at my booth and I almost missed them. I ran to the front and told them my prayers had been answered and that the Lord had brought them to see me.

We talked for about 20 minutes in the quiet moments of time. I told them of my love for them and their family and also got to meet Claire, Jane, Ollie and Giggs. As I talked with Stephanie, we both shared things in our lives with each other that were extremely spiritual and I knew that I was as close to heaven as I could be at that moment.

This past weekend Stephanie posted pictures of herself on her blog, see here, and she is more beautiful than before the accident. She radiates pure love of Christ in everything that she does and says. She has taken an unfortunate accident and has found good in its outcome. The love that both Christian and Stephanie have for each other is beyond any I have ever witnessed among couples. I love the picture that she posted of them looking into each other's eyes. How they love each other and this love radiates to all that know them.

I am thankful that I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to meet Stephanie and Christian Nielson, that God does hear and answers prayers, and He opens the doors for answered prayers but you have to be aware of what is going on or you will miss His voice.

Thanks Stephanie for letting me be part of your life for 20 blessed minutes but in my heart for eternity.

Taking time off!!

Today is the first week since June 6th that I have not had to prepare for an event for the weekend. It will be strange but good to have almost three weeks off before I have to go to another event.
During this time I will get caught up on my postings. I missed Nolan's birthday and am sorry that I did not get the blog done for him. I did have the pictures ready, but never had the time to get it posted. Nolan, please forgive your busy grandmother. You were in my thoughts but the work just would not let up for me to do the things that were important. I love you and will get your blog on this week. We do miss you very much.
I do have to make many superhero capes for Quilted Bear this week as the booth sure does look bear with the empty pegs. Dick got a new planer today and will be making those cute doll beds this week to put in the booth. He is so excited to have a new toy.
We are planning on leaving for a few days to wind down. Don't know where we are going right now or what days. Maybe we will take the camper into the mountains for a few days.
I will let you know.
Thanks to everyone that has helped us at the events. We would not have been able to do it without you. You all have been a God sent to us. We love you very much.
Be posting later this week.

Oh Me, Oh My....

Oh me, oh my!!!

What happened to my girl?

I know it is Evie
because of the blue, blue eyes but

the teeth are a fright.

Maybe Uncle Dennis, the dentist,

can make them pretty.

Then our Evie will look like this again.

Canyon Is Seven On Aug 1st

MY BOY IS SEVEN!!!!

I remember the day you were born and how excited Grandpa and I were to get the phone call that you had finally arrived from heaven. Tears of joy were shed, as we had waited a very long time for you to come to our family. How exciting it was to have a new grandson to love and spoil. The only sad thing is you were born in Alaska and we lived in Utah and so we could not come immediately to see you. We knew that you would be a very handsome baby because you have the best looking parents and grandparents.

1 hour old

Canyon age 1 month in blessing outfit made by Granny

Your Mom and Dad brought you to Utah to be blessed by your Dad. The priesthood circle was very large as all your uncles, grandfathers and cousins stood there holding you in their hands as your Dad gave you a most beautiful blessing after giving you the name of Canyon Harrell Madsen.

1 year old

You have been such a joy to our family and I just love you so much. My greatest dream came true when your Dad got orders to Hill AFB and you would get to move to Utah. You lived with us for six months while your home was being built in Clinton. Oh how much fun we had with you while living with us. Every night before you went to bed, you and I had to go into my bedroom because you needed a snoozer before going downstairs to bed. What that meant was you wanted to watch cartoons for a few minutes and that was our lone time together. I really did miss our snoozer time after you moved to Clinton. Nearly every weekend though, you came to spend time with us.

You and Grandpa are best buds and love to do things together all the time. Remember when you went to Lowe's and built a car and the trip on the train to Salt Lake to watch a Utah Ute's game? Those were fun days for you weren't they? Your most favorite time is when you come to visit and you and Gramps goes out in the workshop and he lets you make cars and trucks out of wood to take home. I am so glad that you and Gramps are best friends.

One day Grandma did something very bad and left the white spray paint can where you could reach it. I knew better than to not take it into the garage and put it up high on the shelf, but instead left it in the wrong place. You had been outside playing and came into the house with paint on your hands and was headed to the bathroom to wash it off. I had you take me outside to show me what you had painted. Well to our surprise!! you had painted Grandpa's tailgate to his truck, his tires, his hitch, the plants, the locks on the garage and cellar doors, the water meter cover and the rocks. My you were a fast painter because you were not outside for very long. We had a good laugh because Gramps was the only grandpa on the block with a unique paint job on his truck.

You came back a week later and ran to show your cousin, Alex, what you had done to Gramps tires and was so disappointed because the painted tires were gone and new ones in their place. You asked Gramps what happened to the tires. He told you he had to get new tires because you painted them. You looked at him so serious and said "but I only painted just one."

Another time Grandma did something bad and left the scissors on the table. Well this picture tells the rest of the story. Can you believe that you cut your own hair the night before school pictures were to be taken. Your Dad tried to fix it the best he could, but you just cut it way to close to your scalp.
The best parts to your visits are the cookies you make. I think the best part for you is eating the cookie dough. We love chocolate chip cookies the best. You are a good cookie maker.

Canyon, I am so thankful that you wanted to come to our family. You have been such a special little boy and we love you so very much. Thanks for bringing so much joy into our lives. We hope that you have a very special birthday and that everyday is as perfect as you are.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CANYON!!!!!

Farewell My Friend....

Today my friend of 31 years has passed on to the great beyond. I will miss my friend immensely and nothing will ever replace the hours of joy that was brought into my life by its usage. There was not a day during these past 31 years that this friend was not touched by either myself or a member of my family. My friend, "Magna Wonder Knife" was purchased from the DI store in Provo, Utah during the spring of 1978 for $1.00. I thought I had found the best bargain of a lifetime. The handle was so white and the blade untarnished. We took our new knife home to La Sal, Utah and it has made every move that we have made and was our constant companion through thick or thin. Now its handle is yellowed from age, broken, chipped and the blade will not stay where it belongs. Our beloved friend is not safe to use anymore. Now when I open my utensil draw, my friend's memories will only be there. We will remember well the thousands of loaves of bread that was cut with it. There is not a knife on the face of the earth that could cut hot bread fresh from the oven like my friend and each slice was uniform in shape and size. Cutting a roast was a treat with using this knife as each slice was exactly the same in serving size. My life sure was made easier with this knife and it will be hard to not have you.
May your life be full in "knife heaven" and that you will be able to fullfil all your wishes there. Until we meet again, old friend, thanks for all the joy that you brought into our family. We will miss you very much.

Brooklei Ann Madsen Curry

Our sweet, precious baby was born on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, during the parade, in a little country hospital in Monticello, Utah, on July 24, 1976. You were loved and your arrival was most anticipated. Great grandma, Louise Harvey was standing in the delivery room as you made your grand entrance into the world. Tears of joy rolled down grandma's face as she witnessed your birth.
You were so beautiful and had deep creases in her arms and legs. You were given the name of Brooklei Ann, a most beautiful name to go with a beautiful little angel. Brook was chosen because of two very dear friends that I loved. I took their last name to be your first name. Lei Ann was also one of my most favorite names but not wanting to have four capital letters in your full name, added the Lei to Brook making your name "Brooklei Ann". You brought tons of joy into the family and was loved immediately by your brother and sister. Of course as each of you grew older things changed and as all children, the bickering began, but in the end you all knew that you loved each other and that as siblings, would always be there for each other in hard and good times.

You were a very active girl and always wanted to be outside. Inside was not for you and Derek, so you would hurry and do your chores then spend the rest of the day playing outside. You were such a brown skinned little girl and your hair was sun bleached all summer long. We laughed at you and your funny ways. Seems like the dinner table was our favorite family talk time. You would make us laugh each time a meal was served and our home sure got quiet after you left the nest.

One summer when you were five, Uncle Lane put you on a sheep at the Little Buckaroo Rodeo in Monticello and my heart nearly stopped beating as I watched you ride that sheep around the arena. You held on tight as could be and won first place in the end. You were one proud little girl as you received your trophy with all the boys that night.

I had the hardest time keeping you clean as a little girl. Sometimes I would find you in the pig pen playing with the pigs or in the horse pasture running after the horses. Sometimes you would be in the chicken coop chasing the chicken or in the goat pen trying to feed the goat. One thing for sure though, if there was a mud hole anywhere to be found that is where I could locate you. One Sunday, we got home from church and I was busy fixing dinner when I looked out the window and seen this little spot of white in the mud puddle. Lo and behold!!!! you had stripped down to your undies and t-shirt and was enjoying the mud more than the pigs ever could. Needless to say, it was very hard keeping your whites white.

Your Dad has always been your very best buddy and he taught you very many things, like the flop, singing, dancing, shooting guns, hunting for sea shells, driving, playing hard, being funny, etc. I could go on forever of the many things that he has be instrumental in teaching you. The love that you both have for each other is something that most children could only wish for. One thing for sure is Dad sure does love each of his children and is extremely proud of each of their accomplishments.

Remember your 16th birthday.....roses for a queen from your Dad and a diamond ring. Then you both watched "Sixteen Candles". What a hoot you both were. Birthdays were the most fun in our home. Remember the blowing glass, the bottle of aspirins, the new bike and many, many other gifts that were given to you by your Dad. Didn't he make having birthdays more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

I am so proud to be your mother and want to thank you for all the joy that you have brought into my life. Heavenly Father send me the best gift of all the day that you were born. I was struggling with situations in life and because of you, my life immediately made a turn for the good. Thanks for coming into my life when I needed you the most. I love you dearly and laugh when you laugh and cry when you cry. You are more precious than gold to me.

Thanks for giving me five beautiful grandchildren and a son in law that are all loved very much. We love you dearly and hope that your day was one filled with happiness, love and joy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY GIRL!!!!

Cory Michael Bishop

Today is your birthday and you have grown into a very handsome young man. It is hard to believe that you are married. You have been such a blessing in our family and we are so grateful that you selected us as grandparents when you left heaven.

Have a wonderful day today and all year long. Hope your day is as special as you are.