The Rest of the Story...

So Wednesday, Manti left Albuquerque New Mexico and flew to Atlanta. We arrived at the airport and had about 45 minutes to anticipate his trip up the escalator to us. I couldn't sit... no way! I stood at the rope in front of "the line".... ok I stood in FRONT of the rope.... and I bounced on my heels the whole time as if my bladder were overfull. I kept crying too...the entire 45 minutes. I don't know why,...really I don't!
As I wait, a lady comes up to me and says "I'm a church member too, so I understand your excitement and anxiety. May I take pictures for you?" I told her yes but it really didn't sink in what she was saying and I didn't care. All that mattered to me at that moment was that nobody prevented me from my first glimpse of Manti on that escalator. That was the LONGEST 45 minutes ever!! I stood the whole time, bouncing and crying. Finally he appeared and Mesa saw him first. She said "there he is!" and I looked where she pointed and yep, it was him! I couldn't help it,...I screamed and ran to him. I was aware of the DO NOT CROSS line and stopped at it. He stopped too because of the commotion and my screaming. I called to him and told him GET OVER HERE! so he came. I hugged him. He let me. He didn't say a word and didn't try to rush me, just let me hug him. He hugged back and his arms around me were so solid and sure. I don't have better words to describe it.... heavenly!

I had a stroke of conscience I guess, and remembered the rest of my family. So I walked him over to the others and shared. I couldn't even talk really. It was just joy....pure and absolute joy.

And then the lady who took the pictures came back up to me and asked me to gather all the family together so she could take a group picture of us. I did, and she handed me a slip of paper with her email address on it. She said to send her an email and she would send me the pictures. That's about the time I realized what this lady had done for me. Mesa had my phone, and the camera in my phone is a really good one, but you DO need to know how to use it to get the best pics out of it. She got a video, and I did post that....but she just got her brother and close friend back and her emotions wouldn't let her think as clearly and focus on photos either. I didn't expect that of her because I was so caught up in having my child in my arms the first second I could get him there. This lady gave me a treasure. She told me a little about herself and then we left after I thanked her. I emailed her, she flew back home to Colorado, and she emailed me the pictures. They are SO good! Here they are in order as they took place.

Manti Came Home!

I'll have more to show on this and tell you after tomorrow. (It's a really really neat story, but it has to wait till I have the pictures to go with it.)

So it took 45 minutes from the time we arrived inside the airport until he came up the escalator. I didn't think I was going to make it! I stood right in front of those escalators the whole time, bouncing up and down and crying. The pictures look like I'm chewing my fingernails, but really...I wasn't. We had some New Mexico flags and a small banner I had made that said Welcome Home Elder Bailey, but he didn't even see those at first...thanks to me :D

So here's the video of the first hugs....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NpKoZoiGKQ&feature=youtu.be

As Promised...

After talking to Mama on the phone, I promised her I would get another blog entry posted. So as I promised, here it is....and it's a mish-mash of stuff, so you might want to put a seatbelt on for this ride!
First: This morning I saw a link on facebook that made me stop and think. So I'm sharing the content of that link.

The Weight & Burdens of Life's Stresses

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. 

As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the 

“half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, 

she inquired: ”How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. 

If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, 

I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb 

and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, 

but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. 

Think about them for a while and nothing happens. 

Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. 

And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. 

As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. 

Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. 

Remember to put the glass down!

Second: Jared lost a tooth. Tell me this isn't a funny look for him!

And for now, THIRD: My nosebleeds.
It's ok if you want to be concerned about them, I am too. But please don't be "worried" about them. My blood pressure is not the cause and that's the worst scenario from what I understand. I saw my doctor and he said it was probably the weather causing the problem. When it rains this much, mold is bound to be an issue in a lot of places. I already know I have it to deal with in parts of my house. I'm sure it is somewhere in the building the shop is located in also. We live under a LOT of trees which means a LOT of leaves. There is bound to be stuff in those leaves bothering me too. They tell me that all the barometric pressure changes and the stress to my immune system and the weather encouraging mold growth is probably what has irritated my mucous membranes. The extra burden of preparing for Manti's return home has meant lifting and bending and irritability beyond what is normal for me, so there is my trigger. I've figured out that if I depend on other people to help me (which I hate doing VERY much) and if I prioritize things better (to include my own health) and if I  refrain from rubbing, blowing, bumping or otherwise moving my nose in anyway, I can keep the bleeds under control. I have a scab that has formed and it itches like crazy as it heals,....but I'm not rubbing! I put some of my salve on there and it sped up the skin closing and it hasn't reopened since. So truly, I'm ok. Life is hard on everybody, but it isn't impossible :)

Pioneer Day

Our church commemorates July 24th each year in recognition of the pioneers who traveled west and suffered much affliction for their religious freedom. Much happened over that period of time, but that's not the point of this post.

This year, we did the day up big....bigger than in the past. This time, it incorporated several units in the region (known by LDS as wards in the stake). Volunteers came together to present examples of things done in the past to give children and others a touch of history in the present day. There were non-member participants too....it was a big thing.

It was staged at a park in Douglas County. Friday night, anyone who wanted to was invited to camp together and share dinner and campfires and whatever else. There was dutch oven cobblers and much more. The next morning, we awoke to set up storefronts and such. This was my part in it. Tommy and I ran the Apothecary. We had lots of fresh herbs, lots of dried herbs, lots of preserved herbs, and some that were in the process of drying. We dressed in pioneer style clothing (except for my hot pink shoes) and shared things we knew with others. The kids ran off to experience other activities like a tug of war game, walking across a rope bridge built by scouts, peek inside of tipis, watch their daddy use a huge saw on a log, see what old time undertaker might have used in his work, .... there were beekeepers, covered wagons, handcarts, old-time dentists, an old school room, goats and chickens and horses, spinning wheels, pottery, food preservation,..... it was a cool experience. Here are a few pictures....

New Cub Scout in the Family!

Right now, I could care less what the stupid decisions that got made recently about BSA guidelines. They don't currently affect ME or my kids, so I'm ignoring it and taking the time to utilize what resources are not affected and teach my kids to be survivors, to be comfortable in their world and to be proud of their heritage. For now,... that's how it is.

So moving along,....

I am currently the Wolf den leader. In LDS scouting, that is very first rank you work towards and you start at age 8. I did have 8 AND 9 year olds, but recently we split them up. Right after that happened, I had 9 year olds turn 10 and move up to Webelos, and I had 8 year olds turn 9 and move up to Bears. That left me with ONE LONE WOLF! Well that's not fun for the kid, not enjoyable for me, and not abiding by scouting rules (youth protection says I shouldn't be alone, one on one, with any kid not my own. Not good. Jared turns 8 in October. It is too early for him to join scouts in our pack and be awarded for his efforts. BUT....special circumstances exist! I need at least 2 scouts,... Jared would have been the next new scout to move into my den anyway....he's my kid, so chances are he'll be coming with me anyway.....he's INTERESTED and willing to work....he needs the social interaction badly, .......plus he got registered already so he could attend twilight camp this summer. We got special permission and now Jared is my newest Wolf Cub Scout. He has been with me for so many years now, that he has already earned his first rank....Bobcat! It can take a boy a few weeks to memorize all that stuff, but Jared had it memorized in just a couple days. He passed it all off to the cubmaster instead of just to me, and he gets his first awards ever this coming Wednesday.

He's my tiniest kid too! I think he's even smaller than Mesa was, and she was a micro-kid! So he just can't keep the shirt Manti and Morgan wore on his little body. The shirt tail tucked in goes to his knees! I gave in and bought him his own uniform shirt brand new (and said "ouch" because they are costly!)

We haven't gotten all his numbers and identifying patches stitched on the shirt yet, but he did get to wear to go on his first field trip with his den to "an important place in our community".....the hospital. We had a tour given by one of the anesthesiologists (which is the dad of my other wolf scout).  I couldn't believe it,... the boys favorite part of the hospital was THE NURSERY! Tanner has this neat thing that they play a lullaby over the speaker system all over the 2nd floor when a baby is born. We heard it play....a baby came into the world while my little guys were looking at the older babies in the nursery window. What an experience that was for ME even! No mommy urgings here...honest!

Anyway, here are some pictures for you to smile over :)

 

The finished beadwork

I'm posting this because I'm mad and I need a way to let my temper cool. If you can dream up something positive to say and respond here, please do. It just might be helpful in soothing a vicious mama bear.

So Mesa's birthday came. She's 21. I gave her beadwork with a total sale value of $450.00 and her eyes bugged out. I was thrilled watching her. You've seen the necklace already, but there is a headband, earrings and bracelet that go with it, all matching. So take a look at the pictures and tell me what you think!

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, her red eyes are inherited :)

Can you keep a secret?

Mesa's birthday is July 10th and this year I told her I would bead her a birthday present. She has no idea what it will be, but she probably expects it to be something small like a barrette or earrings or something. Well..... she'll be surprised for sure! It's the biggest set I've ever ever done! I've just finished the necklace (well, except for a clasp because I'll have to have her neck to get it the perfect size) and now I'm working on a matching headband,....then I'll make earrings, and then I'll make a barrette type thing she can wear to powwows. Want a sneak preview? Don't tell HER! She never reads my blog and I think she forgot she has one herself,... so I thought I'd put it here since I'm super proud of it :)

 

This is not the typical jewelry you would wear to church or out on a date ... it's something you would wear with regalia to a powwow or demonstration.... it's a native thing. BUT... I know Mesa, so there is quite the possibility she will wear this anywhere she goes :)

If I were selling this one piece, I would ask for $180. It's stitched one bead at a time.