Brenna is 6 and sassy!

Happy Birthday to my little Brenna Elizabeth who turned 6 on Feb. 7th!

This little child of mine keeps me on my toes constantly.
She's full of humor, love, spunk and attitude...
and I love her for those reasons and SO much more!!!

This year, Brenna got to have her first "friend" party which was a HUGE success! She chose to have it Pinkalicious style and requested that all who attended wore pink, to go along with the pink pepto-bismol decor all over the house.

All decked out in pink!
with pink rosey cheeks, just like Pinkalicious
and a wand, just like Pinkalicious
and crown, just like Pinkalicious!

Here's the picture-perfect Pinkalicious cupcakes Aunt Janna decorated for me
(THANKS Mohanna!)

and the birthday girl and a few friends, having some fun!

side note: her b-day fell on Saturday, which meant celebrating @ school on Friday. These are the treat bags I made for her class filled with Brenna's favorite treats! I'm obsessed with making these- they're SO easy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRENNA-BOO!!!
I love you SOOOO much!!!

Notes to Heaven

A few years ago, I heard of this darling idea to attach notes to balloons and release them in remembrance of loved ones who have passed.
Because of how difficult the five-year milestone was for us, I think we started a new tradition at a perfect time! Janna and I got the balloons (with hi-float mind you) and after dinner, we all took a piece of paper and wrote a little something to Dad. We each took a balloon and attached our notes, then let them go and stared into the night sky as our notes to heaven went straight up... wishing it were truly possible that they really did get to Dad...

Even a few days later, Abby & Brenna commented that they hope Papa liked their letters.

5 years isn't long enough...

... to make the pain go away.
It's hard to imagine that it's been 5 years today since my dad passed away. As with most things, some days it seems like it's been longer, and other days- it seems like it just happened.

I still remember that Monday morning when my mom came home after her morning visits with him. She typically went straight to work and called me from the road. When she walked in the door and told me, I thought it was a joke and was in complete shock.
I cried and cried and cried...

Sunday (yesterday) was a hard day realizing that 5 years ago that day, was the last day my siblings and myself spoke with dad. That day seemed like it was just yesterday to me. I remember going to visit him after church, alone. We talked and everything seemed normal. Dad always told me how much he loved me and what a good job I was doing raising my girls. I didn't think anything of it. I always, ALWAYS knew that my dad loved me.

I was there when the boys from the ward came and brought the sacrament to him, which I loved, and know dad did too. Dad had SO many people who loved him. He was a lucky man.

That same Sunday, after the family had gone to see him throughout the day, the Stake Presidency had gone to visit him. We learned this the next day, but it's a memory that always helps me remember that my dads life was truly in the Lords hands. Pres. Roberts later told my mom that he administered the blessing. He said that he blessed my dad that he'd be able to go home. When he shared this with my mom, he apologized because he said his intentions were that my dad would go home... to my mom, not to his eternal home.
My testimony of the Gospel is strengthened every time I think of this experience.
My dad was called home by our Heavenly Father.
How lucky is he?

As sad as I may feel, and as much as I miss him,
I know that he was needed more on the other side.
It's hard to imagine because I could totally use him here,
but I am okay with that.

A day doesn't go by when I don't think of him. I feel lucky to have been his daughter. He was an amazingly patient, loving, giving, family oriented man who would truly do anything for anyone.
Sometimes I think he was too good to be on the earth, and that's why he was needed on the other side... to help prepare the way for the rest of us that are still here.

Thank you dad for being the most humble, righteous and loving dad anyone could ask for!
I love you more than I can begin to express!

Love,
DRC