First Day of School

 Today is the first day of Brady's Senior year. I can't believe it is his last year in public school. 

Again this year, Brady is a Link Crew leader for the incoming Freshman. They wear these t-shirts the first day of school. It is a symbol for the freshman to identify these mentors when they need help. Below is a description of our schools link crew. 

 As a leader he will be given the responsibility of managing and instructing a small group of 8 - 10 Freshman on Orientation Day; these are done in effort for the Leaders and Freshman to get to know each other better as well as allow the Leaders the opportunity to pass on some valuable information about being successful in high school.

In addition to orientation day and the events related to that, they will also be called upon to support Freshmen throughout the year in a variety of ways including calling their Freshman group to check in, connecting with them during the school day, attending a variety of social events specifically designed for Freshmen and Link Leaders as well as being available as a mentor for the Freshmen should the situation arise.

Here is a link to last years shirt and post: They couldn't do any type of glasses or team symbol this year because they said it was a form of hazing. I can't believe they call that hazing. These kids can't do anything fun anymore. 

Brady was able to change his schedule after registration. He had to drop newspaper this year. I hope they will be able to get by without him (He was the Business Manger). However, he was able to get into a French II class. He will also be taking choir all year. His scheduled classes with 4 AP classes and 2 math classes:

AP Micro Economics

American Government

 French II

AP Statistics

 AP English
AP Calculus
 Seminary
 A Capella Choir

Last year Brady had 2 regular binders for his classes. One for "A" days and one for "B" days. His binders were getting pretty shabby looking near the end of the year and being held together with duct tape. So, I purchased new binders for him which he didn't use. I found out he didn't "like" the binders because they were 2 toned (one color in the inside and another on the outside). 

I told him he had to use those binders this year because I wasn't going to purchase new ones when we had perfectly good ones available. I told him to get some scrap book paper and decorate them. (When they were finished he said it was his idea - LOL!). 

His creativity kicked in and he made some awesome binders. He spent all day on them Saturday and a little bit on Sunday. (I blocked out his last name).  

 These cartoons are from a YouTube video about a Survivor Man (or makes fun of the Survivor Man). I need to find the video and link it - it's pretty funny.

He copied each frame and wrote the dialogue for one of the binders (above). 

On this binder, he just put random pictures. He was very pleased with his designs. He was really happy and loved them. I'm glad we didn't have to spend more money on other binders and he was able to make do with what we had. They are very unique and he is proud of what he came up with. I hope they will make him smile each day. 

If he gets tired of these pictures he can change it out and make it fresh. I love that he is very creative and enjoys doing fun things like this. 

Just a reminder:

DON'T FORGET 

to give your children a "back to school Priesthood Blessing". 

Our home teacher Brother Newby stopped by Sunday and gave Brady a wonderful back to school blessing. I know there is power in these blessings and we wouldn't dare start school without one. I'm thankful for the Priesthood and Brother Newby. Now Brady is ready for school and will be able to conquer his Senior year with honor.

One more exciting news!!!!!

Sunday morning Brady was called into our Stake Presidency's office and issued a calling to serve on the Seminary Council this year. 

The council will be in charge of seminary activities throughout the year, help with the teachers and put their arms around and encourage those students that need it. 

I am happy that he has the opportunity to serve and be associated with a group of great kids. Brady is a great, spiritual young man, with an "I want to be good" attitude. I am thankful for his willingness to be an example for what is good and help others along the path. 

The Joy of Brady's Driving

It is wonderful that Brady is Driving.

I think I am getting old and tired after all these years of juggling my busy schedule to drive my children to their activities. Counting Jason, I've been driving them around for 21 years. I'm tired. 

This month, Brady has been able to drive himself to all the many activities he is involved with. I am LOVING it!

I didn't have to change my schedule to get him registered for his Senior year. He did it on his own. 

He did call me with his frustration on his schedule because he didn't get all the classes he wanted. 

Unfortunately he did not get French II because it was only available during his AP classes. From what we understand, colleges like 2 consecutive years of a foreign language. Brady has a year of Spanish and a year of French. He switched to French because he didn't care for the Spanish teacher. Now, he will not have 2 years of one language. I told him not to fret about it, because with his grades, it shouldn't matter that much. At least I hope that shouldn't be a reason he will NOT get into college. 

Brady HAS sold his life to school this year. He has 4 AP classes. Did I mention that his report card GPA from last year was 4.14?? He is such a brilliant student! One disappointment though - he didn't take the college course exam on the AP classes he took last year. When I asked about it, he said it was $80 and nobody passes it - he didn't even tell me the test was happening until it was over. I was mad - that is the purpose of  AP classes - to get college credit. This year he WILL take those tests!

This year the fees are bigger because we have to pay extra for sports. For each sport your child is involved with you have to pay $110 for the first 2 sports . . . . AND you have to pay $75 for band and choir. Since Brady didn't get into French II his alternate class was Choir - another $75 .... 

I still feel like paying these fees is better then another tax hike (which the voters voted down). I am in support of NOT raising more taxes - it is NEVER enough! Let the children fund their own extra activities by doing fund raisers. That is what we had to do - car washes and such. It made me laugh that there was a news story on our local TV station about kids having to earn money the old fashion way - car washes. 

I worked from 16 years on and paid for my own drill team, flag team, pep club, all other activities and uniforms by myself. What's wrong with doing that? I don't like TAX INCREASES. (I'll get off my soap box)

It's been heaven that Brady can drive himself to Cross Country practice each morning and each evening. During the past few years, I've had to go to work late and work like mad to get off work in time to drive him to the afternoon practice. Now I don't have to stress about that either. When I get off work, I get to stay home!!! 

It IS a different world when you are a single mom and having the full responsibility of everything. I'm not complaining because I have managed to do it. But I am relishing in the joy of NOT having to do it this year.

It's pure JOY!

GIVE IT ALL YOU'VE GOT - Cindy's 3 Month Update

My niece, Zoey Michelle followed around her mom (my sister) during her therapy session, so that she could record it in her journal/blog. This is a long blog/record of the hard work she is doing to recover and to be able to walk again. Zoey Michelle blogged this and has allowed me to copy it for my journal also. Since I don't live in Pocatello, it's been wonderful that Zoey Michelle keeps us updated on her progress. 

Sunday the 14th was my sister, Cindy's 3 month mark for her recovery from the horrific biking accident she was in (blogged about it here and here). It's interesting to see how fast and slow the time has gone.

When Cindy was asked about the approaching 3 month mark, she said that she was going forward. Progress is not measured inch by inch, but by the smallest, tiniest bits. She looks at where she's come from and what she has accomplished.

When she started therapy, she was able to bend her leg 80 degrees. On Monday the 8th, she bent her leg at 115 degrees. Cindy consistently bends at 110 degrees. A normal bend is 140-145 degrees. If she can get a bend of 120 degrees, she will be able to do stairs normally and no one will ever have to know what happened. Her therapists are amazed and very happy with her progress. The next benchmark will come when she can put weight on her leg. They are hoping that August 25th will be the day that Dr. Crane gives the 'ok'.

Since therapy is so much of her life right now, Zoey Michelle thought that it would be great to document a typically therapy day for everyone to see.

Her therapy begins with an ultrasound massage.

Electrodes next. All of these next exercises are timed on a timer for 5 minutes.

Electrode leg lifts with ankle weights. Oh joy!!!

Electrode leg lifts with weight and ball. This is getting better by the minute!!!

Electrode leg extensions.

Still smiling

Next ...... from what Zoey Michelle could tell, this part looked the most painful. It is called scraping.

Here is some information on scraping. The theory behind scraping is to scrape the muscle or tendon so hard that it turns bright red --- actually re-injuring your injury. Scraping has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years and was called Gua Sha. In layman's terms, the blood's congested, so you want to move the congested blood out and bring fresh blood in. This also breaks up scar tissue that is trying to build up. Localized and controlled injury can actually bring more healing to the sight.

These are the tools that they use to do the scraping.

Shea butter is apply and the bigger tool is used first.

Second tool.

By the end of this, Kelly (Cindy's husband) and Zoey Michelle were both wondering what it feels like and how it would feel on their legs and such.

Wall slides with a pillowcase.

Too easy this time, so let's make it more challenging.

Next, it is on to Gold's Gym where Superior Therapy takes all of their clients to use these wonderful machines.

First up here is the bike. Interestingly, the rotation of the biking movement is one of the most critical and is used a lot in leg injuries. At this point, things were not going as well as it had the previous week. 10 minutes here.

10 minutes on the rowing machine, though we stayed longer.

Doing a measurement of the degree of bend.

Next to the Max Vibe machine that vibrates back and forth. This is her heaven. She kneels and then tries to sit on the bench behind her.

Then Rego, a tech, helps to bring her leg straight while vibrating.

Next, it's back downstairs to do 2 different hip abductor machines.

(Cindy's husband Kelly in the back ground - encouraging her on)

With weight on this machine, it is wrapped around her leg. She brings it forward, and then back to standing position.

Calf curl on the machine. Concentration.

Leg extension machine.

Using this machine to lock back into place. Very painful.

Trying to get a final measurement for the day.

Electrodes again!

From Cindy's view point. This is a super-duper ice wrap on her leg to help with swelling.

She says that you can never do enough ... but it's all she can do! I say, "Give it all you've got!" Then you can have no regrets in the future. Cindy is incredibly strong and one of the bravest woman that I've known. I am proud to call her my sister!

Her team of therapists:

Bart, Cindy, Rego, and Mike


Cindy still can't walk and is non-weight baring on her leg until 6 months (or another 3 months since she is 3 months down). This journey has been very hard on her. She has been able to drive a little and she is working a couple of days a week taking phone calls for the doctor she works for. She is normally his nurse, but can't do that job until she can walk around.


Since she is non-weight baring .... she has a difficult time cooking. If she does spend time in the kitchen, her leg turns purple and she pays for it. She can't clean her house.

Cindy is a person who does everything for everyone. This is the biggest challenge for her to let other's do for her. It kind of makes her depressed and she feels like a burden. This may be the "trial" part of this injury ... letting others serve her. It's really hard for her not to be out in the yard working in her flower beds or garden, which she takes a lot of pride in.

Thankfully our mom and her daughters are there to help do the things she needs done and support her. She has been very blessed through this accident .... but the healing process takes time and it is hard to be patient and endure the pain of therapy and recovery.

We love you Cindy and pray that you'll have the perseverance and strength to recover from this injury. We pray that your leg will heal and you'll be walking again soon. Love you!

(Thanks Michelle for letting me add this to my blog - I love you!)

Way Back Wednesday: Kindergarten

The beginning of Brady's school years 12 years ago. It goes fast. I also can't believe Y2K was 12 years ago and that is when Brady started school. 

The first day in Kindergarten. It was our tradition to take a picture by the Meridian rock on the first day of school during grade school. That way we could measure how much he grew through the years. 

 I love the smiles that show all your teeth. Children are great!

Back to school humor: Which month has 28 days?      All of them. 

New Window

Sometimes I am really slow at fixing things around the house.

Like a window you can't see through because there is moisture between the panels.

I've hated not having a clear window and it's been a few years since I've been looking out a fogged covered window. 

I think I'm slow to get some repairs, because I'm not quite sure what to do or the cost. Plus, it wasn't something urgent and I could live with it (frugal ways).

But then I just decide to do it and I'm ecstatic. 

Yesterday my new front window was replaced and I'm in heaven.

Oh, what a difference it makes. There will be NO blinds covering up those beautiful sights. That's what windows are for - right?? to see through - LOL!

Back to school humor: What rock group has four men who don't sing?    Mount Rushmore.

Jason and Sharon's Wedding Announcement

Jason's friend who is a tattoo artist did the calligraphy for their wedding invitation. This is definitely a unique wedding invitation.

The front of the invitation on vellum.  

Then the picture - which I absolutely LOVE. I need an 8 x 10 for my wall. Another friend of Jason and Sharon's with a expensive camera took this picture of them. Lots better then the shots I tried to take. 

This is the back of the invitation printed on white card stock. 

I had to take out their full names for protection and our address. 

They were all tied together with a red and black ribbon bow. 

A beautiful, homemade wedding invitation on a budget.