Disneyland

From June 13-21 we went to Disneyland and to San Diego. My whole family (including my Mom) had planned this vacation back in January/February. My Mom and Dad had really wanted us to all go together as a family and they were excited to see their Grandkids at Disneyland. As you know, my Mom passed away in March. Our family decided we would still go on vacation (that's what my Mom would of wanted us to do). It was sad without her there, but we still had fun. In honor of my Mom, we all bought Mickey Ear hats with our names on them, including one for my Mom, and we had our picture taken with them on. We held up the hat with my Mom's name on it, so it was like she was with us in the picture. It meant a lot to us since she had been so excited for this vacation with her family.
Disneyland was so much fun! We really got into the pin trading. Mike, the girls and I also went to San Diego and Sea World. It was a much needed vacation and it was hard to come home!

Ashley's 9th Birthday

Ashley turned 9 years old on May 14th. My baby girl is growing up! Karrie had a band concert that night, so we let Ashley open her presents and we had a small Cinderella cake for her. That following Saturday, the family all met at Outback Steakhouse (Ashley's request) to celebrate Ashley's birthday. Grandpa Shaw, Grandpa and Grandma Jones, Aunt Amy, Uncle Wes, Katelynn, Elizabeth and Jenny all came to eat and celebrate with us. It was a lot of fun!

Mother's Day

My first Mother's Day without my beautiful Mother. What else do I need to say? It was hard. My sister Amy met me at our Mother's graveside. We brought flowers and spent a little time there. My Dad was in Idaho visiting my sister Debbie and her family. I went over to my parent's house after Amy left. It was so hard to be there and yet so comforting. I feel my Mother there more than anywhere else. She was the heart of our family and our home. I was there for a little while by myself, crying and missing her. But I felt close to her there (at my parent's home) so that's where I wanted to be. I cannot even begin to describe how much I love and miss my Mother. She was my best friend. I feel like a light has gone out of my life. Of course, I am still happy and have the rest of my family, but it will never be the same. I will always have a little sadness in my heart, until I can be with my Mother again. Absolutely no one can take the place of a Mother. I am so thankful that the Lord blessed me with the very best!

"Everybody knows that a good mother gives her children a feeling of trust and stability. She is their earth. She is the one they can count on for the things that matter most of all. She is their food and their bed and the extra blanket when it grows cold in the night; she is their warmth and their health and their shelter; she is the one they want to be near when they cry. She is the only person in the whole world in a whole lifetime who can be these things to her children. There is no substitute for her." -Katharine Butler Hathaway

"A mother laughs our laughter; sheds our tears, returns our love, fears our fears. She lives our joys, cares our cares, and all our hopes and dreams she shares." -Julia Summers

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take." -Cardinal Mermillod

The Eagles

The Eagles

Mike and I went to the Eagles concert on Saturday, May 9th. Our friends (the Pursers) had two extra tickets and invited us to go with them. It was at the Rio Tinto Stadium. It was a blast! The Eagles have always been one of my favorite bands. They are in their 60's now, but wow can they still put on a great show! Don Henley has an amazing voice! It especially meant a lot to me because my Mom loved the Eagles' songs "Heartache Tonight" and "Desperado". They sang both songs. They ended the concert with "Desperado" which was my Mom's favorite. It sounded amazing! I am so glad that we got the opportunity to go and have fun!

Don Henley and Glenn Frey

Mother, I Love You

It has been a very long time since I posted on my blog. As most of you know my Mother passed away on March 27, 2009. It has been the hardest thing that I have ever gone through. I have not even felt like writing on my blog, but now that two months have passed, I thought that I better catch up.
Words cannot express the love that I have for her or the pain of losing her. To have her as my Mother and my best friend is one of the greatest blessings the Lord has given me. I know why the Lord took her from us, she was a very special spirit, full of love and charity. Truly, she was one of the most loving and loyal of Mothers. Because of her valiant spirit, she really must of been needed on the other side. How happy the reunion with her parents must have been. She was blessed to only have been without her Mother (my Grandmother) for 1 year. My Mother had sacrificed so much (especially her health) to take care of her parents since 2002. But she was happy to have them in her home. It shows what kind of person my Mother was. She loved her parents deeply and by serving them, I truly believe that it sanctified her. I know because of her much love and service that the Lord will reward her. I can imagine how happy her parents were to come and get her. They grew even closer as she took care of them in their last years. My Grandmother was worried about my Mother's health. The day she broke her ankle and was in the emergency room(a week before she died) she expressed to me how worried she was about my Mother. They became especially close after Granddaddy died. It comforts me to know that she is with them surrounded by their love.
My life will never be the same without her. Part of my heart has gone with her. I have relied on my Savior for comfort and peace, and in moments of deep sorrow and despair, I have felt His love and comfort so strongly. I am thankful for my testimony and the knowledge that I can be with her again if I live worthy.
My girls have taken this very hard, especially Karrie. They were so close to my Mother. It breaks my heart to see and hear them crying for her. But they both know that this is a temporary separation.
Cherish your loved ones. Tell them daily that you love them, for you do not know when their time on earth is up. My Mother and I had talked almost every day (except one) the week leading up to her death. How thankful I am that in my last conversation with her (the day before she died) that I told her that I loved her (and she told me that she loved me).
Mother, I love you so much! Oh, how I miss you! I will continue to live my life, but I will always be yearning to talk to you, to see you and to be with you again. I look forward to the day that I can hug and kiss you and tell you how much I love you!

Some scriptures and quotes that have brought me comfort:

"Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for them that die......"
- D&C 42:45

"The separation imposed by the departure of a loved one evokes pangs of sorrow and shock among those left behind. The hurt is real....Even though we understand the doctrine-even though we dearly love God and his eternal plan-mourning remains. It is not only normal; it is a healthy reaction. Mourning is one of the purest expressions of deep love....The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take the love out of life."
-Elder Russell M. Nelson

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." -Psalm 116:15

"A mortal life may need to be 'shortened' by twenty years as we might view it, but if so, it may be done in order for special services that will be rendered by that individual in the spirit world, services that will benefit thousands of new neighbors with whom that individual will live in all of eternity.....Our omniloving and omniscient Father will release us when it is best for us to be released. But each such release of a righteous person is also a call to new labors!"
-Elder Neal A. Maxwell

"All of us have to deal with death at one time or another, but to have in one's heart a solid conviction concerning the reality of eternal life is to bring a sense of peace in an hour of tragedy and loss that can come from no other source under the heavens." -President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." -John 14:27

In Loving Memory of My Grandmother

My sweet Grandmother Wilkerson passed away one year ago today. She was the best Grandmother! If only everyone could have a Grandmother like her. She gave so much love to her family. She had such a strong testimony of the gospel, and was a great example to all of her family. Born and raised in South Carolina, she had a sweet southern accent and was the best example of a true lady. I miss kissing her soft cheeks, I miss talking to her, for her mind was sharp right up until she passed on. She was always there for me and my family, through good and hard times. I am thankful to have so many memories of times spent with her and Granddaddy. I loved visiting them in their home in Columbia, South Carolina. Before she died, she told me and my cousin Jenny to never forget South Carolina. I was lucky enough to be born there and even though I did not live there long I will always consider it home. South Carolina has a special place in my heart because of my Grandparents.
I want to thank my Mother and Father for all the sacrifices they made by taking care of her in her last 6 years. I know how happy my Grandmother is now to be with my Granddaddy. I love you so much Grandmother! There is rarely a day that goes by that I don't think of you. Until we meet again.....
Love Your Bonnie Blue

Walking With The Dinosaurs

Friday night, January 16, our family went to see "Walking With the Dinosaurs". (www.dinosaurlive.com). It was at the Energy Solutions Arena (where Mike works), and we were lucky to be able to be in one of the suites. It was an amazing show! Great sound effects, and the dinosaurs were realistic and big!

Karrie and Ashley waiting for the show to start.