What would she be like?

So last week I had a couple of "Bailey days".  At our house, Bailey days are what we call the days when we are really missing our sweet Sister/Daughter.  We all have them and we all know that they are normal and "ok" to have.  This "Bailey day", however, was different than most.  Normally they are days of sadness, a few tears, and just feeling down.  This time, however, I wasn't sad.  I didn't shed tears for hours.  I didn't feel sorry for myself.  What I felt this time was different.  Of course I miss my sweet little girl.  I think of her every single day and I miss her like crazy.  But the thoughts that I had during these last few "Bailey days" were more thoughts of questions.  Wondering what she would look like now.  Would she like to dance?  Would she rather play ball with her Brothers?  How much trouble could her and Caleb cause together?  Would she be a "girly girl" who loved the purple that we continue to use to "represent" her in our house?  These aren't new questions.  I wonder these type of things all of the time and I hate that I will never have the answers - at least not on this earth.  But this time was different.  This time, wondering these things didn't make me cry and feel that life is unfair because I will never experience a dance recital, a hug from my sweet little girl, curling her hair and putting cute little bows in it, seeing her and her Daddy head off to a Daddy/Daughter Dance, etc.  No, this time I just thought of what could have been and how lucky I am to have such a sweet little angel watching over me at all times because she was too perfect to stay here with us on Earth.  I am honored that I was chosen to be her Mommy.  I know that there are blessings in store from me somewhere, sometime, for enduring the loss of my beautiful angel.
Yes, I still miss her every day.  Yes, I would much rather have her here.  But every once in awhile I DO make it through a "Bailey day" with happy thoughts and not just tears.
Love you, Bai!

Herriman Mustang Bantam A1 highlights

Love, love, LOVE this highlight reel from Parker's Herriman team this year!  Coach Fife put this together and shared the link and I totally loved every minute of it!
(Thanks, Coach Fife!)
Parker is number 99.  For those of you that aren't familiar with our uniforms, we are sometimes red - aka "cardinal" and sometimes white depending on home or away games but you should be able to determine which by the gold helmets and navy blue pants.
Enjoy!  I know this proud Momma did!  Parker had a GREAT year this year!
Go Mustangs!
http://www.youtube.com/herrimanfootball

Football University (FBU) Team Utah

A month or so ago, Parker got asked to come and "try out" for an "Elite Allstar" football team.  We were just getting ready to go to Mesquite, NV for a football tournament with our awesome Herriman team and just kept putting it off saying "let's get through Mesquite first".  He was contacted by a few different people and asked to come but he kept saying he wasn't sure he wanted to and we just kept putting it off.  The day before we left for Mesquite the Coach of the FBU Utah team talked to Chris and asked him to please at least come to practice that night and "check it out".  Parker agreed but was still a bit "wishy washy".  Well, the cold weather came that night and we were notified that that practice was cancelled.  That was the last I thought about it ... until we were in Mesquite.  After winning our second game in Mesquite, a gentleman came up to Parker and I and asked me if I was his Mom.  I said "Yes" and he asked where his Dad was.  He then proceeded to introduce himself to me as the "FBU Scout" that had been contacting Chris.  He talked to us a little while longer and then told us he was anxious to have Parker come "give the team a try".  Well, when we got home Parker, again, decided that he wanted a bit of a break and decided he would pass on the FBU Team.  Fast forward a few days ... Chris continues to get emails from the Coach so Parker agrees to go to a practice to see what it is like.  That afternoon he comes home from school and tells me that he doesn't want to go (yes, a wishy washy teenager that can't make up his mind).  So .. Mom thinks it is a done deal and it is over.  Little did I know that at 9:30 that night his phone would begin to "blow up" with phone calls and text messages from people asking why he wasn't there and "come on, just come check it out".  Soooo .. we took him up there the next day and Football season was no longer over for the Blake family.
He was able to attend a few practices with the team before loading up on a bus and heading out to Concord, CA to represent the Utah 8th Graders.  They beat Reno in their first round and, despite being the underdog, finished with a win against Sacramento (who was slated 3rd in that regions age bracket).  That means, on to the Regional playoffs for the West next weekend in Sacramento, CA.  We will play Seattle first and then play for the Western region championship.  From there, the winners from the 4 regions meet in San Antonio, TX to play in the Alamodome for the National title. 
It is an awesome opportunity and I am so excited for him to get to be a part of it.  For a team that was together only a few short weeks, I think they rock to be even where they are now.  The tournament started with 48 and we are now in the top 16 playing for a spot in the final four.  Go Team Utah!!!

You can follow the "Road to the Championship" brackets at www.fbunc.com if you are interested.  :)

Team sandwiches for the bus ride

Parker and Karter waiting to go

 

Loading the gear

Loading the bus

After the win against Sacramento .. on to the Regional playoffs

Lots more "Thankfuls"

Well I should have known better before I ventured out, with good intentions, to do the daily "Thankful" blogs.  I am just not that dedicated to blogging and I get tied up in other things.  With that said, I don't want people to think that I am not Thankful, 'cause I certainly am!
So, here is a long list of other things that I THOUGHT about blogging about daily during the "Thankful" month ...
My Sisters - Tammi and Melinda, my Dad, my Mom, my AWESOME Sons - Parker and Caleb, my adorable little angel daughter Bailey, my Friends, my Husband who does so much for our family, my job, peppermint flavored stuff, sugar cookies, my warm house, my Heavenly Father, my cute Sunbeam class that make me smile, my brain, my strong will, my boys friends, warm baths, cute puppies, soft blankets, technology, advancements in the medical field, people who still believe in "good will", etc, etc, etc.
And last, but not least, to show that I actually DID put some thought into this .. I found some old pictures of my nieces and nephews.  I love them all so much.  When they were younger I was the "cool Aunt" and got to spend quite a bit of time with them but now they are all grown up and have lives and families of their own.  I am grateful to each of them for things that they have taught me and for still allowing their "old Aunt" into their lives.  Three of them also have adorable little ones of their own and are awesome to let us share in that fun!  I love all of them so much!  I think about each and everyone one of them often and worry about them and want the best for them just as much as I do my own kiddos.  I love you Heather, Heidi, April, Autumn, Cole, and Jordin (and of course spouses, too!) as well as the "great" nieces and nephews - Stella, Ryan, and Baylee.

 

Thanksgiving - Day Nine

I am thankful for my job.  Am I thankful for it every day?  Nope.  As a matter of fact there are more and more days lately that I wish I could quit my job and have more time to spend cleaning and decorating my house, being the supportive Mom, loving Wife, and good sister, daughter, and friend.  However, I do realize how very lucky I am just to have a job in this time when so many don't.  I also have a good job that pays me well, teaches me a lot, and provides me with opportunities to learn and grow.  I also have such great co-workers and Superiors that are supportive of me at all times.  Yes, I am thankful for my job.  I guess that explains why I have stayed with it for 25+ years even when I have my "unthankful" days.

Thanksgiving - Day Eight

I am thankful for trials.  Trials teach you.  Trials FORCE you to be strong.  Trials make you who you are.  Without the trials I have had in my life, I would not be the person I am today.  I would not have learned the things I have learned.  I would not have been able to serve others through sharing my experiences.  I am thankful for trials to help me remember that there is a greater plan for me and that everything happens for a reason - even though I may not know that reason for a long time to come.

Thanksgiving - Day Seven

Thankful for my sweet kitty, "Lily".  For those of you that know me well .. I am NOT a cat person.  I am a dog person.  However, you probably also know that we have a cat.  The reason is a lonnnnnng story that I will have to tell you another time.  However, she HAS grown on me and I love that darn thing.  I work at home and so she and I are pretty much here together all day long every single day.  She follows me around, rubs up on me, sits right next to my laptop while I am working and has to lay right by my side when I lay down to go to bed at night.  What have I done to deserve being the one she loves so much?  I will never know!  But I will say, when I am having a bad day, her sweet little purrs and her snuggling can always make me smile.