18 and 21 years

Today is the day 18 years ago that Sharon passed away. She was diagnosed with renal cancer the Summer after Matt and I were married. We had just visited Seattle, which Matt wasn't stoked about, but so glad we did. We didn't know how bad it was till very close to the end. I remember talking to a friend from Seattle who was a nurse and she laid it out for me, that because of the metastasizing there would be no recovery. I don't think Jim had accepted that yet, so that was hard. We had made plans to gather for Christmas, had rented a big house in the snow and had plane tickets ready. 

I was teaching 3rd grade at the Arts Academy and got a call at school, they called me over the intercom to come up to the office for a phone call and my heart sank. My partner teachers were outside their doors with hugs and offers to keep an eye on my class. I went into the office and talked to Matt. Mike had called him and said Sharon didn't have long and asked if we could come early. 

After that was a whirlwind. I was able to leave school immediately and he left work and we went through all our options. We decided Matt and I would leave that day and my mom was going to drive up to be with the kids and then get them on a plane after school got out for Christmas break. But as soon as the kids came home they really wanted to come with us, and we really wanted them to also. So we packed in an hour and drove the 3 1/2 hours to Albuquerque to fly to Seattle. I was 3 months pregnant with Adi and not feeling great on the flight but everyone was very kind and patient with us. We unknowingly met up with James at the Denver airport and we all flew into Seattle together.

And then we waited. When we first arrived she was still talking a little so we got to hug her and talk to her, She slipped into a coma a few days later. We spent time at the hospital and together and did activities with all the kids. Ken came from Chicago and Dan and Chantell from Ellensburg. The day she passed away Dan and Chantell had decided to drive home to check things and pick up some things they felt they needed and Cami and I were going to take the kids to the Science Center. Matt, Jim, and Ken were at the hospital, and Matt called to tell me she had passed away. I called Dan and Cami called Mike. We left the kids with Cami's bestie and met at the hospital to be with her and together. I'll never forget walking into the hospital and Matt walking out to meet me and just crumbling. Losing our parents is so hard and she was only 65, too young.

I remember their ward taking such good care of us. They brought dinners and someone brought a big thing of toilet paper, paper plates, napkins, etc to help make it easy with all the visitors. That was so helpful and I've copied that a time or two.

I only had my mother-in-law for a year, plus the year and a half Matt and I dated. She never got to meet our little girls, but Matt was grateful she got to know Alexis and Christian so she did get to see him as a dad. Jim wrote a book about her life, and every few years we read it with the girls. I miss her and wish she could have stayed longer, but am grateful to know of the Plan of Salvation.

And then, as life is so often bittersweet, today is also the day 21 years ago that Matt and I went out on our first date. We had met at a dance on the 10th and had planned a big group ice skating night on the 17th, but Matt called a few days before that and we made plans to go to dinner before. And the rest is history. 💗

 From the birth of our Savior, to the sting of death, to the promise of eternal life together, December holds multitudes.

So how about some Rainbow Ellie Sparkles after all that? 😝 

My toast broke when I tried to cut the arm holes and I like doing the elf stuff but not that much.

Yesterday they drank orange juice, but Delaney asked what the heck was going on, which I thought was obviously 2 straws in an orange, but I guess not?

Yesterday I had Inklings (love), a doctors appt (meh), D's counseling appt (she likes it), Matt volunteered at the Festival of lights (he loves to serve), and the missionaries for dinner (yay).

During D's appointment I ran to BJ's for some things we need this week and then realized after I left that I haven't thought about Christmas dinner yet, so I guess I get to go back. Then after we stopped at Target for some gift exchange gifts for Frankie, and D spent some Grandpa money on mini brands. I will keep this girl little for as long as I possibly can, even if it means mini brand clutter.

We enjoyed girls night with the sister missionaries. We love having sisters! We had grilled cheese and tomato bisque and brownies and ice cream and it was a lovely evening. 

Frankie and Adi went to check the mail after and they were cracking themselves up getting ready to go. I came over to find that they had each taken a roller blade to wear for their trip up. I never did get a report on how that went because I had a Women of Light meeting, but I'm assuming not great.

There are so many little things that have cropped up - now suddenly the ballroom will take 2 hours to transform from the classes we have scheduled in the morning to the large ballroom we'll have our keynote speakers in and EventBrite is being kind of annoying. We've got technology stuff and interpretation stuff and 5 strong women with lots of opinions and it's December and busy and this is happening so soon, so it was a long meeting and we all left with another long list of to do's. It will be soooo good and worth it, I just pray we are thinking through everything and are ready!

And finally, on this long and meandering journey this post has been, Emmett won an award for having the most growth of his reading assessments from fall to winter. He was already a good reader, so this is very exciting! And we love a pajama day!