Odds and ends

I don't know what I want to blog about this morning. I'm sitting in the front room with Dean and the boys, watching cartoons. It's a great way to start a weekend.

This past Wednesday, our family went to the memorial of my cousin, Ryan, at Murray Park. He was a few years older then I, lived in Utah all his life, his mom passed away almost two years ago, he was a little "off", but when alone could be a lot of fun and talkative. He committed suicide up in the canyons two weeks ago. Life was just too much for him. It is incredibly sad and everyone in the family was upset. We felt he would be able to find comfort and peace. While at the memorial service, we saw a lot of family that we only see now and then. Wyoming, Washington, Arizona, and varies areas in Utah is were they all came from. We laughed and shared stories of Ryan. Most of us didn't really know him that well, but he was family and we loved him all the same. I think what I take from this experience is to make a better effort to call family and friends. Ryan's brother, Scott, lives in Salt Lake. I have a few other cousins that do as well and we never get together. Well, that is all changing. Next Sunday, everyone is having a "family" dinner. How cool is that? We don't know each other super great, but over time that should improve.

While at the service, I was talking with my great-aunt about Braedon and Reilly and their autism. She commented that it must be incredbily difficult and exhausting to care for them. She's right, but what I told her was I don't have typically developed children, so I don't know the difference. I do have nieces and nephews that are typcial children and I babysit typical children, so I am painfully aware of the differences. I find when I watch typcial children, they are very easy to watch. I can watch two or three times the number of typical children and still be comfortable.

What else have I been thinking about...I have a friend who is set to deliever her first child next week. She's what I would call an excellent friend. One of those that you know you'll be sitting on a porch with when your 80 talking about how life used to be. I am over the moon excited for her to be a mom. Partly because I think she'll make a good mother and partly because it will be fun to watch her suffer. ha ha ha Her daughter will be born with heart complications. How severe those complications are won't be fully known until she is born. Even after that, each year that goes by could spell possible complications and trouble. I have nothing to offer her in ways of comfort. She has tremendous faith in the plan of our Savior, which provides her strength. I think part of being a mom is always worrying about your children. Each day Dean leaves with the boys for school, I worry they will be in an accident. Then I worry about the boys at school and if someone will come in and take them or harm them. Reilly has a mole on his left heal that we have watched since he was born. There are a ton of things to worry about as a mom. Luckily, there are even more things to laugh about and enjoy. I think my friend will discover that over time. She'll still worry everyday for her daughter, but the joy and laughter will far outweigh it.

Wow, I've rambled on this morning. Goes to show when I have time to sit and type...