Okay! Okay! A Christmas Note!

Okay! Okay! I know there are a number of families lookin' for our "Christmas letter" since all you got from us this year was a picture card. What can I say? I don't feel like writin' nuttin' and that's just the flat out truth. Let me give an update on the kids and Clint since they are all that is really important anyway. I got the pleasure of seeing Clint speechless for the first time in years last week. He was awarded the honor of ER Provider of the year! (The 1st PA to be awarded the honor over a Physician, 30 providers to choose from). I can honestly say that he deserves it and I am so proud of him. Erika continues to be our straight A animal. She told me last month that she is working on getting a scholarship to Vanderbilt. (She's 10 by the way). She said it was a very good school and not too far from home. (I like the way she thinks!) She still plays soccer, and is still learning how to play the piano. So much has been asked of her this last half of the year, and she has stepped up to the challenges we have all faced with her usual sweet, loving nature, and her typical ability to truly grasp the depth of situations so far above her years. She has never been anything but a blessing to us and I hope to someday deserve the honor of being her Mama. Kail is growing like a mad thing (his 5-year-old-foot is way more than half the length of mine)! His loving, expressive personality is a joyous salve to our hearts day in and day out. He eats, sleeps, and drinks anything Star Wars, and continues to have an imagination unlike anything I have ever seen. He is still the first one to wake up in the morning, and still comes and climbs in our bed and wakes us up with smiles and kisses. He is our resident comedian, and is definately (as he so well puts it) "ilarious!" Jackson has made the most miraculous steps this year. I do not use the word miraculous lightly. We have walked a long, hard road with him and find tremendous joy in watching his spirit heal and progress. Nothing can describe the experience of witnessing the first time he allowed himself to truly love and show it, and to witness him do it more and more frequently. He still has a rough road ahead, but we continue to feel such hope and joy in his progress. His talent for drawing continues to develop and he can build almost anything with legos. All in all, we're making it. I know I have expressed it often this past year to many of you, but I once again find my heart pleading to tell you how much we love and appreciate you. How grateful we are for the tender ways the Lord cares for our hearts, for you who he has put into our lives and who bring us such support and love and friendship. I will even go out on a limb to say that through the trials of this year I have grown to no longer just believe that anything can be achieved/borne/endured/healed with Christ, I know it to be so. I hope that you will each feel His tenderness and mercy during this season that we celebrate Him. May God bless all of you! We love you, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thoughts

I've got to say that as the year is beginning to wind down, I am looking more and more forward to starting a new one. It has been a wild ride and I'm not even sure that encompasses the breadth and depth of our year in review. As most of you know, our Nana, Clint's Mom, passed away on October 25th. The experiences preceeding her passing and those following are too sacred and close to our hearts to share. I will say that I am grateful for the countless prayers and cards and kindnesses extended to us by all of you. As usual, you have encircled our family with love and we have felt your prayers holding us up. Honey, Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Elizabeth, Shannon, Nina, Staci, Heather, I was able to pick up and leave for a month at a moment's notice, and concentrate and focus on what was important without worry because of you. How do I repay that? The last three years have really engraved upon my heart an overwhelming gratitude for close family and true friends. I recognize more clearly than ever how rare it is to be blessed with so many extraodinarily close relationships. I truly love every one of you, and hope you know that I would do ANYTHING for you. Simply put, you continually humble me. And above all, Nana, thank you for the beautiful memories, the sweet experiences, and for EVERYTHING you have taught me. I am a different and much better person because of you.

Moment Of Silence Please...

Yup. I made it. Homemade bread. Please God, don't let Clint bring home a mini-van for me to drive now.

Soccer Season Starts!

Erika's soccer season started off with a bang! Three games on Saturday. Erika had two AWESOME shots on goal!!! Our little Mad-faced animal came out to play and it was so fun to watch. Dad even wore his "Be Kind to Animal" t-shirt for support. Go get 'em Animal!

Idaho, Family, and 4th of July

I remember the first time Clint ever took me to see the 4th of July fireworks show in Idaho Falls, Idaho. It was July, 1997. I distinctly remember thinking, sure, why not, it'll be alright. We drove down and backed the truck up, tuned the radio to the station broadcasting the orchestra, crawled into the back and waited for the show to start. He had told me it was good, but I just assumed it was your run of the mill fifteen minute a few good explosions here and there and done kinda show. Boy was I shocked when it started! I literally felt the concussion from every explosion of every firework shot. The entire show was synchronized with the orchestra which played patriotic hymns throughout the 45 minute long jaw-dropping display. I sat like a little kid with my mouth hanging open and a goofy grin plastered on my face and giggled every time an explosion reverberated through my chest. It was in every sense of the word incredible and moving. Since then I have wanted to experience it again, but year after year we have ended up here or there, anywhere other than IF for the 4th. Knowing that we would be making our annual trip to visit family we planned to be there for the fourth this year, and I was not disappointed nor did I react any differently than the first time I saw it. I'm not sure who enjoyed the show more, me or my kids and nieces and nephews. Just hanging out with the family beforehand was a treat. Corinne was sweet enough to paint all the little nieces and nephews faces. They thought she was she best thing since sliced bread! It was a great way to jump start our hard core, cram it into a few days, catch up and make a memory or two visit. I still have the bruises to prove we had a good time too! All I know is that I'm looking forward to a soccer rematch with Melvin, Dillon, Corinne, William, Alison, James, Erika, and Clint. (Please Melvin? The soccer ball is your friend.) We even managed to make time for a "little" hike with Papa. That cave didn't look that far away and the trail definately didn't look that steep. We know for sure that Papa's bionic knees are built to last, Kail can climb at a 30 degree angle without gasping for air and keepin' up a steady commentary with every step, Erika has her D's eagle eye for the coolest fossils, and Jackson's little egg beaters can make it, can make it, can make it one step at a time. You can see from the pictures that the "cool lookin' cave" was really GIANT and way in the heck up that thar mountainside. Beautiful views, cool lava formed rocks, stinging mint, and the fresh smell of sage (I made sure to grab a handful and put it in a bag for later sniffage too). We never found the indian writings we were looking for, but exploring was soul-expanding. Being out in Skull Canyon with nothing but the sound of the wind, the smell of the wildflowers blooming, and views to take your breath away at every turn...it was easy for the sense of time to slip away and feel like you were standing and seeing and smelling and feeling what any human had experienced in the same spot for 1000's of years. It was definately good for my inner-Kelly. But above the fireworks and hiking and breathing the wide open air, the best part of our vacation was definately the essence of sitting and playing cards with the family and laughing and reminiscing, of being in the same room watching our children make memories with each other, of making inside jokes and talking in monotone, snapping photos of family, choking up at tender moments between Nana and Papa, Nana or Papa and a grandchild, or any of the rest of us that make up the Blaine family. We came home feeling a renewed love and appreciation for all our family that has only magnified over the last few days as we have learned of Nana's new struggle with cancer. The memories are honed and clarified and cherished and precious. Every moment we are blessed to spend with those we belong to, those we are bound to, those who we love beyond words are just that...a blessing. Beyond words. I am grateful for the new memories, the old memories, and the ones yet to be made. I am grateful to not only be a Sutton, but to also be a Blaine.

Dam Fun

In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson (whom I consider to be a genius) "It is one of the blessings of friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." That is one of the things we love about hanging out with Sherman and Missy and their adorable boys! We got to go see their gorgeous new house (Sherman built it, what do you expect?) and watch Missy shake up the salad dressing. Kail and Kolby had a blast, and Erika wanted to stow Kevin in her suitcase and take him with her. We got to top off the trip with a beautiful drive through Flaming Gorge and a tour of the dam where at least one of the kids nearly got to sleep with the fishes but ended up feeding them with everyone else instead. Nothing can replace friends that are family, or being able to be apart for a year and pick up right where you left off. It is good to know that some things never change...like how little time it takes to... well, I guess you just had to be there. We love you guys!