Stu the poo happy birthday to you!

I'm a bad bad blogger....Stu's birthday was the 11th of January! Yep he's 33! I feel like I have a couple good excuses for not getting a tribute to my best pal posted, but I won't bore you with details.

Fact is that his birthday probably wasn't the funnest ever this year. We did get to have some good times on the Saturday before his birthday with some of our friends. We went to Mesquite to shoot at the shooting range (Stu's idea of a GREAT time) and actually it was pretty fun. Then we ate at the Eureka buffet (Stu's other idea of Great food) most of it was good and thankfully no one got sick!

The thing was that our cell phones weren't working in Mesquite and right when we got out of the canyon back towards St. George both of our phones had a million urgent messages. Come to find out that one of the boys that Stu counsels had died! This is always a TERRIFYING prospect for a therapist. The first thought that crosses your mind is suicide. Luckily this wasn't the case, but there were unanswered questions, upset parents, and hundreds of other kids wanting to know why it happened and if it was going to happen to them.

For the next three days and nights (including his birthday) Stu counseled the parents and the siblings of the boy, spoke in front of his whole company, ran group therapies to help the friends of the boy that passed away, made arrangements, and took care of all the legal aspects. He was so worn out....not to mention that he was grieving himself. He puts a lot of himself into helping these kids and ends up loving them. It was really hard. He watched this cute kid make positive changes and it was hard to see him go.

The parents ended up asking Stu to speak in their childs funeral the following Saturday. He flew out and spoke in a HUGE church in front of pastors and friends and family of the boy. He always second guesses everything he says, but I know it was just right. I'm humbled and amazed at Stu's abilities when it comes to counseling...he thinks of it as a job, but I think of it as a calling!

So it wasn't a super fun birthday, but we did learn and grow a lot. I love Stu more than I probably can express in corny words. He's my best pal and I hope there are lots and lots of more birthdays... fun or not!

Mitch is Six!

Okay so my kids just continue to get older, why is that? Sometimes I just wanna freeze time!

So the festivities included going to Fiesta fun with some of his neighborhood buddies, and then playing video games with pizza and cupcakes.

Mitch is such a good kid. He fits perfectly into his spot in our family! He is intense about life, and is loyal to his friends and family! He LOVES sports and he could hold a baby for hours. He just loves babies (real babies of course, not dolls). He keeps asking for more brothers and sisters! I love his toothless smile and his "cool" walk.

The favorite part of the day for me was when we put the kids to bed and I could overhear Stu telling Mitch about the day that he was born. I was surprised at the details that Stu remembers, sometimes it feels like I'm the only one having a baby, but Stu was definitely a part of it too! Mitch's birth was the biggest party I've ever had in the delivery room. Everyone was there!!! (Yes they were all there while I delivered...I'm crazy I know.)Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, Everyone! It was so fun to share it with all those people and I'm super grateful for this kid!

New President

I am full of many emotions today! I just finished watching the inauguration of President Obama. I won't pretend that I am excited to welcome this new President. I have many concerns about what is to come, and I wish I had more faith in him. I do however, plan on praying for him and I will give him the clean slate that he deserves.

I'm tired of negativity though. I was appalled today when President Bush walked out onto the inaugural stage, and the crowd boo'd and sang "hey hey hey Good bye"! What?! HE DESERVES MORE THAN THAT! How embarassing for us as citizens. I don't care how much you dislike someone's policies, that man served this country the best he knew how for 8 years!

We live in the best country in the world and I am so grateful for the freedom to express my opinion. God bless us all!