Tyler's 26th Birthday

It's a strange feeling to realize that yet another year has passed. Tyler Scott Elder would have been 26 years old today. I've always got the "What ifs..." and the "If onlys..." running through the back of my mind, and today is one of those days where they take up most of my brain power.
I was asked once what I fear the most. My answer to that question remains the same as it was a few years ago... forgetting. Whether it's me forgetting or me being forgotten. I never realized that fear until I lost my Tyler. I don't want to forget him. I don't want to forget the way he made me feel. I don't want to forget anything about him, even the things that drove me crazy. I also don't want him to forget me. After the accident people often made comments that he is happier where he is now, that he's got an important work ahead of him in the Spirit World. While I hope and pray for his comfort and happiness, I'm also quite selfish. He really was quite happy here on Earth with me. I don't want him to get so busy that he'll forget me. There are things in life that are so much bigger and more important than that, and yet I spend my time fretting that he's forgotten me. That he's forgotten the promises he's made to me.
I have gained a testimony of many things over the last 4 years and 4 months, but the testimony I hold the most dear is that we take our emotions and our memories with us when we leave this life. We still feel things as we felt them here. I try to believe that Tyler's love for me remains. I believe that Heavenly Father loves me and because of that He recognizes what is most important to me and He values my relationship with Tyler as much as I do.
If all else fails, my love for Tyler remains forever, just like I promised.

Merry Christmas 2010

The reason I love Christmas is because of the family traditions that we continue to follow year after year. This year didn't let me down. We spent Christmas Eve with the White Family at Kathy's house. I then slept at my parents' house that night, as did Mason and Taylor. Christmas morning we woke up and did presents with our immediate family before spending the rest of the day at Grandma and Grandpa Grovers' house. It was a beautiful day and I love my family.

My gift to my parents is a family picture. My cousin Celeste will be taking our picture Monday morning. A couple weeks ago I overheard my dad tell Grandma Syme that he'd rather have a gun held to his head than have his picture taken. So, he got a plastic nightstick, handcuffs, and a gun for Christmas....

Can you tell how thrilled he was???

My gift to Taylor was almost as fun. Taylor loves getting presents. I had gotten her a gift card and didn't want her to ruin it with her usual shake of the box and, "This is a gift card." So 7 boxes and 14 pounds later her gift was wrapped. She was given stern instructions not to shake the box (I was concerned the bottom would burst) and it nearly drove her crazy. Box #1

My weights

Box #2, all the boxes were individually wrapped.

Box #3

Box #4

Box #5

Box #6

Box #7 with the gift card!

This is the newest member of our family, Toby. My dad has always been anti-pet, which is probably why Mason and I both got pets as soon as we could after moving out. The best part is, my cats and this dog absolutely LOVE my dad. Toby spent a good part of Christmas morning on my dad's lap.

Our parents always get us a book for Christmas. This year my mom wasn't sure Mason would read a book, so he got "How to Play a Harmonica." Good luck with that Taylor.

This is most of the crew at Grovers'. The only person missing was Elder Bryan Grover. He's currently serving in Argentina.

Grandpa George. He is one of my very favorite people! I'm surprised he could see what was going on with all these boxes on his lap.

It was a wonderful day. I am a very blessed individual.

Let The Celebrations Continue

Every incredible victory deserves a celebration. Our boys got that today. During advisory our students and teachers lined the halls in preparation for the Victory Run. The basketball team, led by Coach Freeman started out in the Science Building and then ran through the main building greeted by their adoring fans while "We Are The Champions" was played on the intercom. It was so much fun to see!

Here are the classes in the gym hall waiting for the team to come through.

Here they come!

Jeremy, MJ, and Cody

Eduardo, and right behind his are Magdi and Israel.

Here they come again, this time from the center hall.

Our Liger, who has been named Jeff this year (I don't know why the SBOs chose Jeff, but there you go).

MJ (wearing one of the game nets around his neck), Tani (isn't he charming??), and Eduardo

Israel (waving the other net. This kid is another one of my favorites.), behind him are E, Kylon, and Cody.

When the boys were done with their run the band met them playing our school song. Mr. Moomaw is a great conductor and these kids sounded fantastic today and yesterday at the game.

I had to bribe them with chocolate, but I got the team to pose for a picture.

We're NUMBER 1!! I just can't say enough how proud I am of all of these boys.

MJ saw that I had a picture taken with Tani and Magdi yesterday and complained today that I didn't take a picture with him (he was too busy being popular with the crowd yesterday). So, here we are. Once again, this kid is WAY taller than I am. He's amazing! He ran our 5k in about 9 minutes earlier in the year, he rebounds the basketball like a pro, and he can jump higher than anyone I've ever seen. He has so much potential, but he relaly needs to be more focused. I've got to figure out how to knock it into his head.

We Are The Champions!

This afternoon Valley Jr. High's boys' basketball team faced Churchill Jr. High in a battle for the Granite School District Championship. Our boys went in undefeated and have played some amazing games. We all believed they could do this, and our school needed this win so badly! If there ever was a school that needed to be united by good it is Valley Jr. High. We spend our days in a run down over 60 year old school surrounded by a poor reputation. It has been time for a while now for something good to happen for our school. This opportunity brought our student body together in a way I've never seen before. Let's go Ligers!
It was a hard game with mistakes made, but our boys did it! They won! They beat Churchill 57 to 56. I seriously almost cried. I am so proud of all of these boys and I have gotten to know several of them this year really well. I hope they all know how much I care about them (even though they often drive me crazy). If I've ever been close to knowing what it feels like to be a proud parent today was the day.

Our team just after the final buzzer sounded.

We got to take a bus load of kids with us to the game. It was so fun to sit across the gym and watch them cheer and show Liger Pride.

When the game was over the boys were each given a chance to cut down a piece of the net from the basket. It was so much fun to watch. They took this very seriously, and several of them separated themselves from the group and sat quietly watching what was going on around them. They are just such great boys!

I took as many pictures of this moment as I could. This is Nick, an amazing player.

These are 2 of my boys, Magdi and Tani. Yes, I said, MY boys. They are Counseling Center aides during 4A and I just love them. They have caused me a lot of embarrassment in the last 2 weeks with a certain guy who comes to our school because they have decided he and I will be getting married. They have designated themselves as his wingmen, and spend a lot of time quizzing me about myself. As obnoxious as they can be I just think the world of them. Tani came over to me after the game and gave me a little hug. I just want the very best things for both of them.

Here's a picture with Tani actually smiling. It took us 4 or 5 tries, but I got it! And, yes, they really are that much bigger than me. I am pretty much smaller than most of the students at my school.

Starting on the left and working your way around the circle: Kylon (another favorite), E, Magdi, and dear old Tani.

And, here's the winning team. Coach Freeman is on the far right. I'm sure he's feeling very proud tonight. He certainly deserves it!

A Favorite Christmas Tradition

One of my very favorite Christmas traditions is attending the Kurt Bestor Christmas Concert every year with my family. We have done this for a very long time and I always look forward to it. As usual, we made the trek downtown to Abravanel Hall for the Saturday matinee. We've never taken pictures to record this tradition, so I felt this year was the year that should happen (much to the chagrin of my father who, in his own words, would rather have a gun held to his head).

Emma and I in front of the blown glass sculpture. This piece was done for the Olympics and has been at Abravanel Hall ever since. It's beautiful and it never gets old to look at.

We actually got Dad to stand for a picture. It's a very nice picture of him, Emma's face is a little questionable.

The view of the temple.

The parentals, who actually smiled!

The stage

This was before the concert started. Use your imagination and pretend this is Kurt Bestor standing at the piano (even though it looks nothing like him).

Thanks Mom and Dad for buying my ticket. They let me tag along even though I supposedly an independent adult. The joys of still being single and living so close to them. :)