Freebie-- Pie boxes

Free online tutorial can be found at http://www.mymemories.com/craftables/pie Available free until January 14th.

	Click Here for Freebie 1		Click Here for  Freebie 2		Click Here for Freebie 3

I thought this was a super fun freebie...

cuz i LOVE treats...pie, cake, cookies, cinnamon rolls whatever, so I always want to give someone a treat for their birthday. It's the first thing that comes to mind but of course you want it to look cute. So what a perfect idea!

So enjoy for those who have the My Memories software.

Remember if you don't have the software and want it, use the code STMMMS234 at checkout to get $10 off.

Someone who UNDERSTANDS

Every once in awhile we will meet someone that understands a little bit about what we are going through. Often times it is another person with a special needs kid...somewhat similar to Dakota. I love when they stop to ask about Dakota and share their life with me. I love to hear about their journey and how it has gone...the good the bad...anything they would like to share. It has happened at Sam's Club, at Wendy's, at horse therapy, or just through email.

Often times although their story may be similar, it is not quite the same. Most of these people I meet, their child was born with the brain injury. It is rare to meet someone that had a healthy child and through an unimaginable accident or illness their life was then changed like ours.

The other day we were in the DMV and had the chance to meet someone even more like us...someone that every word that came out of their mouth I had experienced in my mind and heart. We could have finished each others sentences because we knew EXACTLY what the other person meant as they spoke each word.

This lady was in her late 40's (is my guess). She didn't say anything at first as she watched Zach and I exchange Dakota back and forth in our arms awkwardly as we often do. :) It wasn't until we were almost done she asked how old Dakota was. Then Zach (who normally doesn't open up much...especially to strangers) told her that Dakota had an accident when he was two. That is when she told us she had backed over her 2 year old a long time ago which left him with serious brain damage and she cared for him for 4 years before he died of pneumonia.

Then she spoke the words that I have felt but have a hard time describing to people who have never gone through what we have (which is majority of people)..."you fall in love with them all over again!" YES..YES...it's like your child is taken from you and you are given another. You mourn your loss BUT yet you fall in love with this new child.

And then she spoke words I fortunately have not yet had to experience..."and then when they pass you have to mourn all over again." Although she explained it was a blessing in her life the timing of her sons passing. He was getting too big for her to be able to care for him anymore and she was facing the decision of putting him in a care facility. That is when he got pneumonia and died. She didn't want to face the decision of placing him in a care facility and Heavenly Father blessed her by taking him home with him.

I don't know what the future holds for us...I literally can't imagine EVER having to put Dakota in a care facility and letting someone else take care of him. I am his mom!! I love him!! Every situation is different and I would never judge someone at all who has to...but I hope that day will never come where Zach and I couldn't do it on our own.

For now...I won't worry about it. I live each day for the day...focusing on the future is WAY too stressful. I love this quote, "Inch by inch life's a cinch, yard by yard life is hard!" AMEN!! Instead I will focus on loving this little BOY (he is a boy now, no longer my baby) that I have fallen SO much in love with!!!

Thanksgiving/AZ Trip

So...I need time to freeze real quick so I can catch up with blogging!! I haven't even blogged about our Thanksgiving trip to AZ so how in the world can I blog about Christmas and it is already 2013 and more and more just keeps happening and I just am falling farther and farther behind.

So here it goes...mostly in pictures since my brain is gone because it was TOO long ago already. Luckily pictures tell great stories! ;)

First...Dakota got to ride his first airplane since his accident...the helicopter ride and private medical airplane don't count!!

Medical plane headed back to UT to go to Primary Children's after 3 weeks at Maricopa County Hospital

Any time I get to go to AZ I have to spend AT LEAST a week to fit everything in and to enjoy it. Zach doesn't like to go that long. Can't blame the guy since I am usually spending lots of girl time with friends and sisters. He kinda runs out of things to do. He is a homebody too so he likes to be home and have his space so it works out for both of us for me to go early and him to come a little later.

The problem with this was, I had to fly all by my big girl self with Dakota on the way down to AZ for this first plane ride. I'm not gonna lie...I was a little nervous about how this was gonna go down. When it was time to board...was I gonna hand my child to a stranger while I took the blue chair out of his stroller, strapped it to the plane seat, unloaded his food bag, suction, cooler bag, and diaper bag...then fold up the stroller and take my kid back. I literally didn't have enough hands to do it all?!

Luckily for me after getting through security with Dakota only screaming for a short while while they checked out his pimpin ride...I asked the check in desk if their was any help available. Southwest was SOOO accommodating. They let us on VERY first and we had like 3 people helping us get all of our stuff on board, strap his chair in for me, and everything was a breeze.

Now I just had to get through the hour and a half plane ride. ;) I had NO idea how Dakota would handle this ride. I didn't wanna sit next to a screaming 4 year old just as much as anyone else...I had no idea what I was getting into. BUT he was such a trooper!! He was SOOO good it was surprising. He smiled at take off and landing.

Take off!!

Half way through I turned his IPAD Toy Story movie on just because he was being so good.

My cute dad met me at the baggage claim and all was well.


We had the SOO much fun down there with cousins, nana and papa, aunts and uncles, friends, and horses I didn't want to leave!!! I really wouldn't mind living there all winter long! ;) Zach and I dream about it...one day when we are loaded! ;) Dakota was SUCH a good kid and was so happy too it made for an overall great trip! The weather was of course beautiful so that made it all the better...fun outside!!

One awesome thing we got to do while we were there was go to my cousin Gary's wedding reception. I lucked out that it was during my trip. We drove the 2 hours down with my parents and danced the freaking night away!! It was a blast!

Being a trooper...

while mommy sleeps. :)

I NEVER get to be the passenger in a car any more since Zach can't drive and it is SOOO hard! I have always slept so easily in cars and now I have to try so hard to stay awake at the wheel. I enjoyed this ride...if you can't tell! ;)

Me and my date since Zach wasn't there yet! :) He is a cute one!

(Funny story side note: as we were sitting at this table a little boy about 5 or 6 runs up to me and says, "you look like an Indian!" and then runs away. SOO hilarious. I love kids honesty. Thanks little boy...I always wanted to be an Indian!! ;) )

Can't tell but we are tearing it up on the dance floor! :)

My nephew Peyton and sisters Dawn and Annie

(Peyton had a little too much to drink ;) )

Me and my niece Trai cuttin a rug!!

My cousins sweet girl Niva and Trai...they were great dancers with me and Dakota...got me sweating out there!!

After the wedding we stayed the night in a hotel...also a first for Dakota since the accident. He did ok. :)

The next day we drove to my grandpa's before heading home. That is ALWAYS a special treat since he lives a couple of hours away from my parents. Does my heart SO good to see him and he just LOVES Dakota to pieces. He is so witty and so sweet. I love him dearly and wish we were closer so we could swing in and give him a hug and kiss more often!

Dakota and Papa Goodman

Both Papas!!

We had lots of family time which I LOVE!!! We had a Family Home Evening night that EVERYONE came over for. Kids all rode the magic carpet ride (4-wheeler with a carpet attached) in the arena.

Kids wrestled Uncle Riley

Girls sittin around the fire!

Papa reading a story to everyone.

One of our favorite things to do when we stay with Nana and Papa is to walk, ride bikes or the 4 wheeler to the park right by their house. When I grew up there it was ALL fields around the house. No parks, no stores. My friends all said I lived out in the boonies. Now it looks MUCH different!! Huge park, mall, stores, houses, and even the LDS temple going up ALL around!

We love the park though and Dakota especially loves the swing!!

Sutton and Evan

Zach winning Uncle of the year award with Sutton!

We climbed up the big rock...well I did and Zach handed him to me! ;) SCARY!! Not sure how the kids do it so calmly.

We got to go watch my niece Paige play softball...

and Shea and I decided to do the worm on the sidelines! I know I'm still such a kid!! ;)

Thanksgiving day was of course a blast! So thankful for my AMAZING family and the time we get to spend together!!

The kids rode this ramp like it was nobodies business....

So of course us adults had to get in on the action too! ;) 

Go Mom!! She didn't even fall off!

GO Dawn!!

Go Ty!

(They didn't capture my sweet jump but I probably got at least an inch off the ground! ;) )

We played a mean game of football...and yes tears were involved! ;)

Peyton and Evan

Even had some cheerleaders that showed up!

Not sure why but it keeps putting my pic upside down...I hate computers!!

Our little fam!

All the cousins play so good together and have so much fun.

Letting the steer (or Case) out of the shoot. He did a great job playing the part. Don't you love how it is all the girls running the chute and the boys have to be the steers?! Smart girls!! :)

(Just wish Dakota got to be a steer too :( )

The big boys trying to fix the 4 wheeler that the little boys tipped. Luckily no one got hurt!!

Dakota snuggling Aunt Katie

We had some fun sister time too of course...talking, eating, shopping, pedicures, movies! ;)

Shana and sister-in law Heather...this was Heather's very first...crazy girl...now she knows what she has been missing! ;)

Dawn and Katie

(annie and I are behind the scenes ;) )

Twighlight baby!!! LOVED! At the end of the movie someone in the theater shouted...Now what are we going to do with our lives?! I'm really not sure! ;) I will miss you sexy Jacob!

Dakota had A LOT of outside time riding horses, going for walks and riding the tractor. He loved every minute of it!!

Ridin the lawn mower...crazy daredevils I know!

Most of the cousins came to tell Dakota goodbye when it was time to leave. :( They are all so sweet to him and love him so much!! We miss them so much already!!!

Crazy bunch if I say so myself!

2012 Thankful list (in no particular order):

1. My boys!!!!

2. My testimony

3. My Savior!

4. AMAZING family and friends

5. Good health!!

6. A temple SO close!!

7. Words of prophets and apostles both old and new

8. Running and working out

9. Shopping ;)

10. Good music to sing and dance to...when I'm alone or at least at home! ;)

11. Dakota's AMAZING teachers, nurses, and of course friends that love him and help him

12. Respite hours and grammy and poppy times for Dakota

13. Sunday dinners with the Friedlis

14. GOOD food

15. Dakota's smile

16. Roof over my head and food on the table

17. Teaching Relief Society (teaches me more then anyone else)

18. and of course blogging...the good, the bad, and the ugly..and for all those that read and don't judge me for my insanity but pray for me to make it through another day! ;)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING...only a month and a half late!!

GIVEAWAY WINNER

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Did you live it up all night or did you throw in the towel with the east coast like we did?! We are so lame and old! ;) We really were gonna go out and live it up but we couldn't get a nurse for Dakota. Zach's parents offered but it was his dad's birthday and Dakota was having an ornery day so we decided that wasn't the best birthday present to give! ;)

So we got ourselves some yummy Papa Johns and sat on the Luv Sac to watch a movie to bring in the New Year and before it was even half way through we were too tired. LAMOS!!! But lucky for me Dakota decided to stay up and ring in the New Year in his bed and not go to sleep until about 1:00 A.M. so I still celebrated...does that count?!

Anyways...back to the real reason you are here!! Who are the 2 lucky winners. So in case you don't know...I didn't pick these winners off of there amazing answers to their resolutions or because they are awesome people...otherwise everyone would be a winner in my book! I plug in the number of entries into random.org and bam they give me the 2 lucky winners.

So what better way to start off the New Year then to win something right?! These 2 winners I am predicting are gonna have a pretty dang good year if they are winning already! ;)

And the winners are JENELL and JEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucky for you both I have both of your emails...so I will email you the promo code and instructions as soon as I receive them from My Memories!! Congratulations you beautiful ladies!!

SO SORRY if you didn't win. But remember if you still want the software...use the promo code STMMMS234  to get $10 off of your order and get all of the freebies to use with it that I post!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! Here is hoping better days are coming our way! ;)

GIVEAWAY...2 WINNERS...IN 2 DAYS...HURRY!

So I'm a little slow but I have 2...yes 2 My Memories AMAZING software to giveaway in a jiffy!! If you have missed the last couple giveaways then read here all about what you an do with this awesome software!

So how do you win? Leave a quick comment with only 1...I have many but you only have to share 1...new years resolutions or something you want to improve or just accomplish in this brand spanking new year! And since there will be 2 winners, I thought I will give you 2 chances to win. If you aren't a follower of my blog start following...and if you already are a rock star follower just leave a comment saying that you are or that you are now following! That will put your name in for 2 chances in this random drawing. GOT IT!

You want this software so you can download all the fun freebies that I post to use with your software. Remember...If you aren't the winner remember there is a coupon code STMMMS234 to get $10 off that you can use at checkout to buy the software ANY time and get it for a whopping $30 instead of $40.

Do it fast cuz I will pick the 2 lucky winners bright and early on the NEW YEARS DAY...only 2 days...Where in the world has time gone?! SERIOUSLY!

Because HE came...Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!

Our Christmas looks VERY different I'm sure then any other family out there with a 4 year old. We tried out best to make it feel like it should be...but it didn't work. Dakota had more of a sad day then he has in awhile so that was hard BUT even though for a split second I wanted to feel bad for myself I didn't.

I truly enjoyed and focused my thoughts on what Christmas is all about...Christ! And that is ALL that mattered today. It didn't matter that I woke up at 6:45 to a screaming 4 year old instead of a super excited and anxious kid wondering what Santa brought. It didn't matter that Dakota cared less about what was in his stocking.

Christ came into the world today to bring us PEACE, HOPE, and JOY and that is what made me happy today!!!

My sister Shana teaches the Young Woman of her ward and she asked me to write a brief little something on how Christ has helped me through my journey that she could share with them last Sunday. I appreciated this opportunity especially at this time because it allowed me to reflect on my Savior and his love for me.

I thought I would share it on this special day and encourage anyone that reads this to think about how Christ has helped you as well through your life's journey. ;)

HOW CHRIST HAS HELPED ME THROUGH MY JOURNEY

It's hard to pinpoint just 1 exact thing how Christ has helped me. It has been a long process and I continually lean on him still EVERY day to help me get through each day. One of the most significant times when I needed it the most and when I can remember is the few days after Dakota's accident. While he laid on the hospital bed looking not much like his active self, that I had just held that same day...with the unknown answer of whether or not he was going to live or die...I found myself in a VERY dark hole. It is hard to describe the anguish I felt at the thought of losing my ONLY child! I wondered who I would be if I wasn't a mother anymore! The thought of it tore me apart and I literally felt darkness around me. I couldn't feel or see any light at all. It was a very depressing moment in my life. I don't know at what point it came exactly but over the next couple days...even though the situation with Dakota hadn't changed much at all, through the help of my Savior I began even through the tears to feel a little sense of peace that no matter what happens it will be okay. I prayed for Dakota's happiness in the end...whether it be in my arms or the Saviors I wasn't sure...but as my prayers turned to Dakota and his well being, my Savior pulled me out of that dark hole and assured me that it would be okay. I was able to feel peace amongst the turmoil and I was even able to bring a smile back to my face at times. Even those around me could see the change in my countenance.

Even though things haven't turned out exactly as I had hoped they would and every day I still miss my active little boy...through Christ I am able to continue on with HOPE that one day all will be well. Dakota will run, talk, and play again and my husband will be able to see again. One day because Christ came and suffered for me I will feel joy and all the pain and heartache will be gone. He didn't take away all of my problems and make everything perfect YET but he is there to help me carry the heavy load that I feel each day when I LET HIM! On my hardest days when I am in tears and I know there is no one that can understand how hard things are and how much I want to give up...I know that I can kneel and pray and that my Savior knows. He knows how hard it is for me. He knows how much it hurts to see your child not be the way he used to be. He knows how hard it is to have to miss out on what could have been. HE is the ONLY one that knows me and the way I feel and most importantly how to help me BECAUSE he came, he suffered, and he lives for me and each one of you!

 

May you feel the light of Christ in your life today and EVERY day!!

 

 

Facing my fear...THE FENCE

It's hard to describe Dakota's accident to people...how do you explain that "a fence" SOMEHOW...still not sure how...fell on top of my child and didn't allow him to breathe. When you think about this accident it is truly incomprehensible. How could a fence fall so perfectly on top of a little 2 year old that he couldn't breathe and cry out for help. It could have fallen a million different ways and different spots. It didn't even leave a cut, scratch, or mark on him...he just couldn't breathe.

It's hard for me to still wrap my mind around how this could have happened. The most logical explanation was that he tried to climb it and it fell back on him BUT I don't believe that is what happened either. Dakota was one of the most cautious and careful kids. He wasn't daring or crazy or adventurous. He liked to hold your hand when going down the stairs. He would say "I got you" and grab your arm when we held him over the sink to wash his hands. It just wasn't his nature to  do crazy things so climbing that fence just doesn't make sense.

Because of the craziness of how it all happened that turned my perfectly healthy 2 year old into a child with a traumatic brain injury...I know that it was supposed to happen. It was part of our Heavenly Father's plan for him...for us. This knowledge brings me some comfort but I look forward to the day where I can understand it all perfectly. I have a lot of questions for the man upstairs...hope He has time! ;)

We have gone back to my parents several times since the accident and it hasn't bothered me much. They live on 5 acres and we have been out back around where the accident happened a lot to ride horses and play.

BUT...it wasn't until this last trip down there for Thanksgiving that I realized I have NEVER actually looked at that exact spot where I found my sweet boy lying. I don't think consciously I ever realized this or did it on purpose...I just think I wasn't ready...even without ever thinking about it.

Well, one of the days we were there Dakota and I were riding horses with my dad out along the back of their property...and I did it. I looked over at that spot...I felt the need to. When I looked and saw that same fence rail that had fallen on him leaning against the fence I felt a rush of anger come over me. I was a little shocked it was still there. I wasn't mad at my parents I was just mad at that fence! I wanted to go cut it up in little pieces and throw it in a fire. Not that the fire would have done anything to it but I was just plain mad at that stupid fence!! WHY did it have to ruin my life?!

It took me a few minutes to come back to my senses and remember that if it wasn't that fence it would have been something else. It was all part of Heavenly Father's plan and it was going to happen with or without the fence. It could have been anything. (I still hate that fence though)

 

Many people...especially little kids wonder...what kind of fence fell on him. I think that is the #1 question that little kids ask me when they hear about Dakota. So now you can see...it's just a stupid little fence. Who would have known it had that much power to do such a horrible thing?! Not me!