The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Ok, for some this is sort of old news- like 2 days old, but for others like my big Brother, this is new news. Dustin passed the course work of his last semester in the nursing program!!!!!!! All that is left are seven 12-hour preceptorships (like an internship) with a registered nurse; Graduation in December; the NCLEX board test in February; house hunting in February/March; move out of the apartment not soon enough!!!!!!!!

I am so incredibly proud of Dustin. He has had to carry so many burdens while trying to go to college. Working full time, taking care of the kids, cooking dinners because I couldn't, taking care of a lazy- I mean sick wife. He has had to do so many things and worry about so much, and has done it all without complaining. There were days when he was comforting me when he was the one needing the reassurances. He never ceases to amaze me. I truly am more in love with him now than when we were first married. I know that the Lord has truly strengthened him and has blessed our home so much. I can't even begin to describe or explain some of those blessings, but we have endured with the Lord's help. There were some close calls on some of those tests, but all came out fine, especially with a "B" on the final!!!

The kids are thrilled that Daddy will be able to spend more time with them, although the next 3 weeks will be crazy because he has to fit in his 3 12- hour shifts of work as well as the 3 12- hour preceptorships. His work ones are at night, his school ones are days. That will be crazy, but a walk in the park compared to the course work!! We are celebrating as a family on Monday night, and we are celebrating big for our wedding anniversary in December after graduation!!!

Congratulations Babe!!!

Halloween Fun

Daniel

Noah



We have had a great time with Halloween this year. At first our goal was to win a prize for the best costumes at the Ward Trunk or Treat Party. In reality it turned out that we were just trying to wear some unique costumes. I did some research at the library and found some great ideas. Daniel wanted to be a Knight and we found a cheap and way to accomplish that. Noah wanted to be an octupus, but I was running out of time, growing frustrated that it wasn't turning out, and ran out of energy to get it done. Noah decided he could handle being a knight as well. The boys had fun looking at dragons and coming up with their shield designs. We found the cutest idea for Jodi and went with it- a hot air balloon. She turned out so adorable and YEAH! Jodi won FIRST PLACE at the party. She was so happy even though she was freezing (I know it's AZ) and soooo tired. She even threw her arms in the air and cheered for herself. She was too cute.

The kids had a blast at the party as always. We came home the proud owners of 4 fish! Now we will see how fast it takes me to kill them! We are going to the Pet store tomorrow to get them all set. Where I am going to put a fish bowl/ aquarium is still to be decided.

Noah, Daniel, and Jodi enjoyed themselves so much. Our Activities Committee really knows how to throw a party. It was fun watching the kids have so much fun playing at the carnival games and bouncing on the big Air Jumper.

The best part of this Halloween was the cost. Tin foil and card board from Hobby Lobby and tape- $14 for 2 costumes. A canvas basket at 40% off, a beach ball from Grandma, bows and streamers- $13. This was by far the most economic, creative and fun Halloween. I think we started a new tradition as the kids are already planning what we can do next year like this. So fun!!!

Happy Halloween from the Friers!

Happy Birthday Daniel!

Daniel's birthday was the 23rd. He turned 5. My little kid is growing up so fast! He has made some huge improvements. His behavior is a lot more manageable. He really has gotten easier to talk to. Just when I think he isn't paying attention to me, he surprises me.

Daniel had an awesome birthday. Dustin and I decided Daniel really needed some spoiling. With a little help from the grandparents, he had the time of his life. He has been wanting "Gorilla Island" for so long. We actually found it on the Walmart clearance isle for half off. They were discontinuing it. So we got a really good bargain. We also got him a Spirograph set. They are hard to find, but we got it and he loves it. The grandparents came through with the Batman cave and extras. I have not seen Daniel so happy and content in a long time. He shared his toys all day long with Noan and Jodi. They all had plenty to play with and there were no fights that day. Amazing!!


Daniel wanted me to make him a Batman cake. I don't have the patience or the talent to do it all "professional" with the special tips and things. I don't have the stamina either. But I did the best I could and I think the cake was a success. At least Daniel loved it.

Fall Fun

The kids had Fall break this week. We went to the zoo on Tuesday with some friends, the Caddys. The kids had so much fun being at the zoo with friends. It was so fun watching them chase each other and talk and laugh. It was exactly what my kids needed after so much time couped up in the apartment. The weather was absolutely perfect. This is when iving in AZ is fun.



I decided, totally last minute, to drive to Colorado with the kids to see Grandma and Grandpa. We left Wedensday. We enjoyed a beautiful drive through the mountains. Fall was at it's peak. The colors were so gorgeous. I didn't realize how homesick for the different seasons I was until I could see them again. Fall in my hometown of Craig is so amaxingly beautiful. I can't even describe the gratitude I felt for all of God's creations on this trip. We saw the beautiful trees in all their many colors, llamas, prairie dogs, deer, antelope, sandhill cranes, and buffalo. The kids had a blast looking out the window trying to see all the wildlife and mountains. We had fun traveling together.


We spent Thursday at my parents raking leaves and running and jumping in the piles and climbing the trees in the yard. The kids had fun playing with all of Grandma's stuffed animals. Her giant panda was a police car and the baby was the police man. The kids were spoiled by their grandparents and they soaked up every second of their love.









Friday we went to Dinosaur National Monument and the Dinosaur Field House Museum in Vernal, UT. The monument is under construction so there wasn't much to do there except hike- not exactly what my body needed after the 13 hour drive. But, the kids did get some things to doodle on for the rest of the drive to Vernal. The Field House Museum was the best dinosaur museum I have been to. They had a complete dploducus skeleton. The whole museum was completely hands on for the kids. Everywhere we looked there was something for the kids to touch or do. It was so fun. Not once were the kids bored. They had so much fun learning and remembering all the things they have learned in all the dinosaur books they have read. This museum is in a little town in UT, but it was the best museum ever. So much fun!!!












We had a great drive home on Saturday. The drive along the CO river through western Colorado was so gorgeous. The river and the fall colors was picture perfect- man I miss Colorado. We drove through Moab and stopped at Wilson's Arch just off the highway. I let the kids talk me into hiking to the top. It was fun going up, coming down was an experience. We crab walked our way down in a line so we wouldn't slip down the rocks. Going down with 3 kids was an adventure in itself! We made it down safe and sound.

I am so glad we were able to go on this trip. I learned my limitations, but I would probably do it all over again just to see the joy on my children's faces as they spent time with Grandma and Grandpa and the "other" dinosaurs. (I love you Mom and Dad). Sorry that was too funny.

We now have a couple of busy weeks ahead. We are celebrating Daniel's birthday on Saturday. We are making our Halloween costumes and getting those ready. Halloween will be so much fun this year. All of the costumes are all hand made with the kids' help. So much fun!

Back to School!

Summer is over and school has begun. Noah had a great first week and a half. He loves his 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Vaughan. She is really nice and has gotten Noah super excited about reading. Noah is happy because his favorite pal, Gabby, is in his class again. They sit right across from each other. Noah loves lunch time this year. He gets the school lunch and he loves it. I love it because I don't have to get anything ready in the mornings!

Dustin started classes this week as well. He is going to be BUSY! He has had such a nice summer break, everything seems so daunting right now. I know he will pull through as he always has. The kids will miss their Daddy, but it is the last semester!


Daniel starts his preschool again next week. Everything finally got worked out. There was so much confusion for awhile, but Daniel is back in the Community Ed. program with the same teacher and the same speech teacher as last year. I am really glad. Mrs. Norgren knows how to handle my son and what to do for him to help him. I am pretty sure Daniel will start out on his own carpet square again this year!


I also am introducing piano lessons to Noah. He is super excited and can't wait to start. Actually, we have started some and he is so excited to move on. It is so fun watching him learn. We are also continuing our nightly chapter book reading. I read him some books that are harder for him to read. It is our time together. We read Harry Potter II over the summer. We are now on the last Mouse and the Motorcycle book.

So that is our life in a nutshell- oh except for this: I was released as the Primary chorister a couple of weeks ago. I now get to enjoy my Sunday's. I actually needed to be let go because I am not dealing with my fibro pain well at all. It would take me a good 2-3 days to feel better after all my efforts on Sunday. With how busy Dustin will be this semester, I knew I physically could not continue on. So, now I am taking it easy and reading all the books I can, and keeping my family running as best as I can.

In Memory of Joan Frier

29 January 1939- 5 July 2009

We had the great honor to see Joan Frier, Dustin's mom, one last time before she passed away quite suddenly- for us. Joan had been fighting mouth cancer this last year and a half. She was going through chemo and radiation. In December, she told us it was pretty well gone. She had one last round of chemo but it kept being delayed because her white blood cell count was low. The doctors kept waiting for the numbers to go up. We kept planning trips to Kingman and would have to cancel the last minute because Jodi would keeo getting sick. We didn't want Jodi getting Joan sick. We kept in touch with Joan. Our last few conversations were really short. She told Dustin her chin was swelling and had an indection in it. We didn't realize the severity of it, nor did she want any of her children to know.

We finally managed a trip to Kingman to celebrate my birthday and the 4th of July. We had a wonderful time, and were in a little shock at how old and sick Joan looked. Her chin was so swollen; it was like there was a tennis ball stuffed into her chin. She also was suffering from congestive heart failure- her legs were swollen as well. She was all wrinkles on top and smooth on the bottom.

Despite her looks, Joan still had plenty of laughs. She enjoyed the little firecrackers we brought- my children as well as the real ones. The kids made her laugh. She enjoyed watching them play in her fountain, Daniel play with her stuffed bird, Jodi sing and twirl around her house, Noah playing GI Joe on the floor, me yelling at the kids and chasing them around, and fun conversation with her baby, Dustin.

We had a wonderful babrbecue with Dustin's brother Scott and his family and then enjoyed the fireworks display. We said our goodbyes and drove back to Phoenix after the fireworks. We got the phone call the next evening that Joan passed away.

We had the great honor to see her one last time and to see her smile with the joy that she always had. We are grateful that she was able to see her grandchildren and her son one last time. The funeral was this last Sunday. Dustin officiated at his mother's funeral and did a beautiful job. He was the calming hand, the rock of faith his brothers needed.

I will miss Joan's singing and laugh and tickles. My children will miss their grandmother very much. Dustin is now an adult orphan, but he is happy knowing that his parents are together again in the Spirit World. I am grateful for the knowledge that I have that families can be together forever. We loved Joan and will miss her dearly.

A Little While

OK, So I think it has been long enough since I last wrote an update. The end of the school year became quite busy for us. Dustin was plowing through another semester- he passed and we are on to the last semester in August. Noah had so many end of the year programs, parties, and a try at T-Ball. Noah liked TBall when it was his turn to hit, or when he was the catcher. He did not like playing the outfield. He did not like TBall when the temperature reached 100 degrees either. It was good fir him. Daniel and Jodi enjoyed playing in the dirt each game. Bath, dinner, books, bed was our moto for the month of April and May.


I spent the last weekend of May at Flute camp. I went to it all excited and left quite deflated. I have not practiced my flute once in a month. I lost the drive for some reason. I have gotten back into my summer reading and have read many books with more on my to-read-list.

I honestly have no idea where the month of June went. It was here and now it is gone. I feel like I don't have much to show for it. The kids have taken awhile to learn how to play with each other all day long again. The days seem longer to me. I understand how parents are very much ready for their children to be in school again. I wish that at times as they are pestering, fighting, or yelling at each other. Where did the love go?

We have had to take Jodi into an immunologist. She gets every little infection and it always ends in her chest and on antibiotics and breathing treatments. Her blood work turned out normal, but they are keeping her on the breathing treatments twice a day for the next 6 months. It is really hard to keep up with it, but hopefully the infections will stay away because of it.

We are going to Kingman for the 4th of July to spend a few days with Grandma Joan- Dustin's mom. It will be good to see her again. It has been too long since our last visit and the kids miss their Grandma. I love going to smaller towns to watch the fireworks as well. Craig, CO or Kingman, AZ sure is a lot cooler than here and less crowded as well!

So, Happy 4th of July to everyone. I love this country and the liberty and freedom we enjoy. I love the spirit of those founding fathers and hope we can all find that spirit again. Happy Birthday USA!