Happy Birthday to . . . Me :) !

First of all, thanks for all your love over the past week. Your sweet notes and prayers have made a huge difference. I felt buoyed up by your support. We got our first letter from Kade and he's doing great!

Today has started off great! Breakfast in bed (whole wheat Belgium waffles with homemade strawberry syrup), omelet, bacon and orange juice. Marta then brought by a luscious chocolate cake and Nani brought chocolate chip cookies. Yes--I ate cake and cookies before 10:00 a.m.! I then went with my friend, Dana, to one of our religious buildings together (for those of you of my faith, the Mount Timp Temple). In a few minutes, my pal, Kristy Banks, is taking me out for my annual birthday massage and lunch, and tonight it will be dinner at Park City with my family. Plus my hubby's been doing laundry all morning so--great day!

Last Friday night, several of my friends knew I'd need a little cheering up with Kade just leaving, so they threw a fun birthday bash at a beautiful Sundance cabin. Here are the girls:

And here are the guys:

We played the game, Signs--really a fun group game! My friend, Allison Norton, always makes me my favorite carrot cake. Remember last year's cake--a big chunk was taken away where her little five year old had sampled it? Well--this is this year's cake. It's simply to die for!

Here is the recipe:

Lisa Bearnson's Favorite Carrot Cake

from Allison Norton

2 1/2 c. flour

2 t. baking soda

2 t. cinnamon

1 t. salt

2 c. sugar

2 c. vegetable oil

1/2 c. crushed pineapple

4 eggs

3 c. finely grated carrots

1/4 c. cherry Craisins

1/4 c. coconut

Beat sugar and oil in bowl. Add the eggs and mix again until light and fluffy. Stir in carrots and pineapple. Stir in all the dry ingredients adding the coconut and Craisins last. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. This mix will make three layers of cake. Wait for the cakes to cool, then you can take them out of the pans.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 c. butter

1 8 oz. cream cheese

3 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix and spread on cake. You'll need to double the recipe for all three layers.

Go ahead and make it and eat a piece for me! On my birthday, there are no calories!

Love ya,

Lisa

I Need A Hug!

My boy left yesterday and it will be two years before I'll see him.

No, I wouldn't choose winter for Kade to leave. Think of all he'll miss: building snow forts, decorating the Christmas tree, hanging lights, sledding down hills, late nights reading books under a cozy blanket, family dinners, Sage's birthday, Steve's birthday, my birthday. And what about Kade's birthday? No--I wouldn't choose Winter.

No, I wouldn't choose spring for Kade to leave. Think of all he'll miss: Easter Egg hunts, planting flowers, flying kites, watching our trees blossom, cleaning up the yard, birds hatching in the nest in our big tree, Brecken's birthday, Lagoon trip on Memorial Day, putting flowers on graves at the cemetery. No--I wouldn't choose Spring.

No, I wouldn't choose summer for Kade to leave. Think of all he'll miss: Our annual Lake Powell trip, lifeguarding at the pool, gazing at the stars, Stadium of Fire on the 4th of July, trampoline marathons, backyard campouts, bon fires. No--I wouldn't choose Summer.

No, I wouldn't choose fall for Kade to leave. Think of all he'll miss: the first football game of the season, carving pumpkins, hay rides, corn mazes, shopping for back to school clothes, dodgeball games, blockbuster movie on Thanksgiving, Collin's birthday. No--I wouldn't choose Fall.

Kade did leave us on a cold, smoggy winter day--January 20, 2010.

I thought I'd be an absolute wreck and would spend the next few weeks crying. I'm surprised at the peace and joy I feel. Yes--he's missing out on all the fun winter activities we will be having. But--he's spreading his wings and flying and there's nowhere I'd rather him be. I'm sure you all can relate when your children go off to school or away in the military or on a mission.

This past week I panicked. I was ironing all his white shirts when I had this weird thought . . .

Yikes--have I really taught my boy how to iron? So--quick lesson at the ironing board. (He did pretty good!)

Next it was doing everything we could as a family before he left. (The cute blond in front of Kade is our neighbor, Taylor, who has been a great "friend" to Kade.)

These were the last photos I took of my boy.

There were two missionaries waiting for Kade as we entered the missionary training center. We took his luggage out of the car, hugged him one last time and said goodbye.

He turned for one last look. And then he was gone . . .

Be strong and brave and cheerful, my boy. God be with you 'til we meet again--in the winter of 2012.

Just had to tell you about a big miracle. Saturday night Kade backed into Collin's date's car (the Preference dance I wrote about in my last post) while taking Taylor home (did I mention she only lives two doors down--it was too cold to walk!). I felt horrible and was sure it was at least $1,000.00 of damage. I called her mother the next day and she called back a few days later with amazing news. The dent was the size of a large grapefruit and was there when she went into church on Sunday. When she walked out of church a few hours later, the cold air had forced the dent out and the car looked perfect. Can you believe it!!! Wow! I've never heard of this before!

And--one more thing. Happy birthday to this sweet girl today. Sage is nine!

Thanks for all your love and support. I've felt so blessed to have your prayers on my behalf.

Sincerely,

Lisa

The Sunny Side of Life!

Today I woke up with a screaming headache. You know, the kind where you just want to pull the covers over your head and go back to sleep for the day. I then started thinking about only four more days to spend with my Kade before it's goodbye for two years. I got up, looked outside at the non-sunny, smoggy day, took some Exedrin Migraine medicine (works wonders!) and decided I must seize the day. I got involved in laundry, keeping Sage and her friends busy playing school and helping Kade pack. Collin got asked to Preference a few weeks ago and the big night was tonight. Here in Utah, they not only go to the dance but they do a "day" date also. So--Collin was waiting for his date to pick him up for the day date (paint balling) when I looked down at his fingernails. Sage and her friend, Krisha, had pulled a prank on him the night before while he was sleeping and painted one hand of his fingernails.

He hadn't even noticed and was about ready to walk out the door looking like this!

Then it was a mad rush to find fingernail polish remover and get it off before his date showed up. This gave me a good laugh all day! Can you imagine Collin on his date with purple fingernail polish on?!

Tonight I got another good laugh. Collin was getting ready and Kade was in the bathroom helping him with his hair. They were trying all sorts of products and one of the hairsprays burned Collin's head! We all were laughing so hard! I've never heard of a boy doing another boy's hair for a dance!

The evening was a big success! Collin had fun and his date was adorable.

Another tradition is all the parents meet so we all can get a group picture! What cute kids.

So what started as a "sunny-side down" day became a "sunny-side up" one. It has felt good to laugh!

I'll write again soon!

Lisa

Just Had to Make You Laugh! Kade's Farewell. Plus, a Note from Annette Mortensen.

Hey Everyone!

Just had to make you smile! Here are a couple more photos from our Mexico trip that are sure to add a little joy to your face.

Big changes are on the horizon for Kade.

This Sunday is the day we've all anticipated his entire life. It's the week he gives a "farewell" talk to our congregation at church.

It is with mixed feelings that we say goodbye to this guy for two years. He's so excited to go to North Carolina and looks forward to meeting all the wonderful people there. I'm so happy about all the many amazing experiences that await him. However, I'm not looking forward to the loneliness we'll feel without his presence in our home--he has been a bright spot in our family and such a good example for his siblings to follow. I already plan to sleep in his bed the night he leaves :) ! Although there might be four other people fighting me to get there first!

Kade leaves on January 20th (one day before Sage's birthday and six days before mine! But he is here today for Steve's birthday! (Happy Birthday, SRB.) I'll keep you posted on the countdown to his leaving and his journey in North Carolina.

Have a great weekend and stay warm.

Lisa

P.S. This note just came from my friend, Annette Mortensen, who lost her son in November. She is so appreciative to all your support.

"To my dear, precious friend Lisa and all of you--her blogging friends... Thank you from the depths of my heart for your empathy, faith, prayers and the outpouring of love you have expressed to me and my family. We have been strengthened because of you! We are so thankful for our belief in Eternal Life, made possible by our Savior, Jesus Crist and a loving Heavenly Father. We miss McKay terribly . . . the pain is overwhelming and unbearable at times. But we experience moments, even hours (every so often) of peace and joy and HOPE! We look forward with great anticipation to the time we will be reunited with our "sunshine boy." Until then, we will strive to learn what we can from this and other experiences. And, we will do our best to share the richness and blessings of what we learn with others. Thank you! Thank you! You have touched me and my family forever!"

Annette Mortensen

Missouri

Happy 2010! My Top 10 of Our Cruise!

Our family just returned late last night from a Mexican Rivera cruise on Royal Caribbean and we had the time of our lives! I'd highly recommend this cruise. It is very kid friendly and there was something for everyone. It departs from Los Angeles and goes to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. There were so many incredible things about the cruise. Here are my top 10:

1. The beautiful sunsets! Simply breathtaking.

2. The wild ride in one of these Jeeps! We were heading up to the rain forest terrain for our exciting adventure. Well--this ended up being a REALLY exciting adventure. It was exactly like being on the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland except it was for REAL!

3. The amazing ziplines at this place:

Ziplining down the mountainside over rain forests and waterfalls was simply the most exciting and scariest adventures I've ever been on!

I was very grateful for these triple carabiners.

4. Repelling down a waterfall:

This is where you ended up!

Kade loved it!

I thought Brecken was enjoying it:

All the sudden she got really scared and started yelling "Mom!" I was at the top and was trying to give her advice. Luckily we had some great guides who got us all down safely.

5. Riding mules up the mountain to get to the ziplines.

The dogs in Mexico are very relaxed (really nice) and hilarious!

6. Visiting an orphanage in Mazatlan was an experience our family will never forget.

We took stuffed animals, picture books written in Spanish and these adorable Shake and Find bottles:

A church youth group in Washington sent several of these to give the kids. I was touched at how much work and effort they went to. They carefully washed out water bottles, filled them with rice and small objects, then labeled them with a list of things to find--of course written in Spanish. Very clever.

Each of my children had a child they wanted to take home. I would have gladly taken any or all of them! They were all so adorable and our hearts went out to their circumstances.

7. Hooking up with our dear friends, the Palmers. (Paula and I have been friends since we were three.) They showed us the ropes of Mazatlan (they go almost every Christmas).

8. Having the chance to be with our entire family one last time before Kade leaves on his mission. The "boat" in the background was our stomping grounds for a week.

9. Playing on the beautiful beaches. Sage and I were lounging on the beach when Steve snapped this shot.

And then this one:

10. Meeting fellow scrapbookers onboard the ship. This is Missy from Iowa and her cute family.

Really a great time. I highly recommend it.

Hope you're having a great week and are getting back into the swing of things.

Happy 2010!

Lisa