Busy, Busy, Busy

I have been trying to post for several days now. The first couple I didn't because of more doctor appointments. The Balance Test I took last Friday was really interesting (definitely not what I was expecting), but drained all of my energy. I slept two and a half hours after it through two naps. I never thought it could tire me out so completely when all I did was sit, follow a dot with my eyes, and get warm and cold water pushed into my ears. It was definitely a strange experience. I have to go back to see them...again...

The past week we've had plenty of snow. I don't mind this snow so much. It never stays on the roads and melts really fast. In fact, it's my favorite type of snow. It's right when everything is turning green, buds are on trees, flowers explode in the ground, and color finally dots the world after a long and cold winter. I love having the snow just kiss the ground with its white softness in a gentle blanket. The cold bites, but it's beautiful from inside of a warm and toasty car or the comfort of a fire in your home. I took some pictures, but it's late and I wanted to post this as soon as I could.

This morning I woke up to no power, and a chirping smoke detector. An electrical pole less than a block south of us was on fire!!! They had a fire truck come and put it out. A couple feet on top of the pole broke and fell down to the ground. The power was out from at least 7 in the morning to about 4 in the afternoon. It was so crazy! I thought it was lightening (as there was a lightening storm last night), but it was actually a blown transformer which is why it affected our underground power lines. It was pretty intense.

Today I only had two class periods, but when I came home I was wiped out. It's ridiculous how this bizarreness with my head sucks the energy out of me faster than slurping up jello through a straw. Since the power was out I "attempted" to study for my Chemistry test tomorrow. I ended up taking about a 40 minute nap. I slept through Hope playing her violin (not hard to miss) and being called for lunch (basically the same room). I was really exhausted.

So today was intense, but it was interesting. I'm grateful for electricity. It's amazing how much our world revolves around electricity. You never think about it until you instinctively go to turn on a bathroom light or open the fridge to darkness. I'm very grateful for modern advances...and a gas fire place that requires no electricity to run on!

[What are you grateful for?]

corgis singing happy birthday

Oh my goodness! I totally cracked up at the end. If this doesn't make you smile...then I feel very sorry for you and you probably just wasted 30 seconds of your life.

Quotables from the Little Mouth

One of my jobs is cleaning for a lady in my ward who has 8 children. I know what you're thinking "Whoa that's a lot of kids!!! Whoa can they handle it? Whoa Whoa Whoa!!!!!" Yes, I thought the very same thing when I first started working but my thought was more along the lines of, "WOW she really needs my help!"

When I first started to work for her (well over a year ago) she just had seven kids. The latest in the bunch was born last September and he is just a cutie pa-tootie!! He's all smiles :P

I do odd jobs for my employer, dishes, defrosting the freezer, laundry ALL the time, mopping the floor (this was the first time I ever used a mop and am proud to say I'm darn good), cleaning their "breeze way" (walkway between the garage and back door), vaccuming windowsills, cleaning her bathroom (thankfully I don't have to clean the boys bathrooms. Did I mention she only has one daughter?) bleaching out a bathroom we suspected had mold, once helped make Valentines, sweep the porch, clean the fridge, clean there craft room, vaccum, wash windows, watch the baby...and those are simply just to name a few.

Sometimes the work isn't my favorite, but I pull through it because she does need the help.
Anyway, her kids crack me up all the time. I just couldn't resist blogging about Minnie today! I wish I had a picture...perhaps I'll get one for you.

So Marintha is five years old. She goes by Minnie. She is sassy, contradictive, and highly intelligent. She has me cracking up all the time. When I first started working for the Hale's she always asked me "why?" to whatever it was I said, example:

"I can't play with you rigth now Minnie."
"Why?"
"Because I have to fold the laundry."
Why?"
"Because it's my job."
"Why?"
"Because your mother told me to."
"Why?"
"Because if I don't you won't have clothes to wear."
"Why?"
"Because I won't have folded them."
"Why?"...

I was rather irritated after a while, but clever old me turned it around on her and was asking her "Why?" with every statement she gave. She REALLY did not like that and eventually gave up doing that as I had outsmarted her!!! Yay for me!!

Now I was proud of that, but a couple weeks ago she outsmarted me! Oh my goodness!!! We were telling jokes to each other and I was doing all of the ones I knew she'd understand. She wanted me to make up a few, which I did, and she cracked up and made up a few of her own. For a while she was quiet while I waxed the cabinets in the kitchen until this conversation played over...

"Savannah?"
"Yes Minnie?"
"Will you remember me in...half a day?" very innocent voice, I should have known she was spinning a web to trap me! But no...she got me good.
"Yes Minnie."
"Savannah?"
"Yes Minnie?"
"Will you remember me in...a day?" once again she had the sweetest and most beseeching voice.
"Of course Minnie!" I say not paying too much attention to what she's getting at.
"Savannah?" she asked again!
"What Minnie?" by now I was smiling because this was rather cute.
"Will you remember me in 2 days?"
"Minnie," I turned to look at her by this point where she sat on her stool. "I promise I will remember you until I'm old." And it's true, Minnie isn't the type of girl you forget.
For a while it was quiet until she perked up again.
"Knock knock!"
"Who's there?" oh how didn't I see this coming?
"You forgot me ALREADY?" Oh sassy clever girl! It still makes me smile and chuckle. She is one smart cookie and she definitely keeps things interesting.

On to what happened today (I ramble too much sometimes) I was cleaning out the craft room for the second time, and it was honestly worse than the first time. I can happily say that we made HUGE progress and a considerable dent. It is rather frightening to go through other people's forgotten projects and, to be honest, junk, but there were some upsides to it. Minnie was really contradictive today and it was just a tich annoying.

Yesterday I had gone to Wal-mart to pick up cat food and litter after spending a fun afternoon with my sister Abby, whose birthday it was, and took Faith with me. I found a cute purse, but at the check-out I didn't have money. When I was home last night watching TV I realized I had change in my pocket I hadn't counted at the store and decided to count it to see. I DID have the money for the purse Argh! I'm so peeved with myself. The reason this adventure comes to play today is because I was telling Sister Hale about it. Minnie was with us and this is what happened.

"How much money did you have?" she's a curious one.
"I don't know."
"How much?" she is also persistence.
The total was around $42.87 and after taking off two items that I could live without, it was $37.42ish. I was being lazy and just didn't feel like explaining it to Minnie.
"I can't remember." I shrugged my shoulders.
"Savannah you should remember things better!" she exclaimed as if suggesting it would cure my forgetfulness.

Isn't she a doll? After that there were a couple more instances, but I only remember two more. I had found a bag of new and WHITE socks which are like gold at their house considering all the boys they have. They were of medium size and I was holding them in my hands.

"I could fit those!" Minnie spots them almost instantly.
"No they won't Minnie." I responded.
"Yes they will!" she's stubborn too.
"Here, I'll prove you wrong!" and I knew I was right.
"No, you'll prove I'm right!" what a silly girl.
I held the sock next to her foot and stretched it slightly so she could really see the difference.
"See! It will fit me!" by this point I was aggravated.
"No they won't." I told her blandly, "this part is supposed to be where your heel goes, but it doesn't fit."
"Put it on!" she demanded and sat down before sticking her foot in the air. Of course I knew I was right and humored her.
"See Minnie, I was right, you were wrong." Okay so maybe I shouldn't have been so blunt about it, but I wasn't in the mood for her to be so contradictive!

The other silly part I remember still has me giggling. Minnie came down with one of those ice-cream sample spoons.
"Mom I found this in Joshua's seat, can I have it?" Joshua is the baby. Sister Hale really dislikes her kids holding onto useless garbage, especially when we're trying to dejunk. She was about to say something, but I stepped in in hopes of getting Minnie to not want it.
"You do realize someone ate from that spoon and then Joshua sat on it, don't you?" I thought I had her good. I will never forget this part. She stepped further into the room and had a very manner-of-fact air about her and looked me dead straight in the eye with the most serious tone she's ever used.
"Savannah," she enounciated very acutely, "this is for an invention I'm having." She was rather snippy before she turned around and walked out of the room with her head held high as if I had insulted the spoon in a forbidden manner. I was taken aback but was starting to laugh.
Sister Hale and I looked at each other and quoted her at the same time right then and there.

Oh I love that family to bits! They're all so different and make my day (even if I sometimes dred going right after school).

I also want to give a shout out to my cousin whose birthday it is today! Happy Birthday Chris! He is on his mission in Latvia. He was going to BYU before and came over nearly every Sunday for dinner. He's such a wonderful guy and has the ability to get you giggling with a smile no matter what. He's truly one of a kind and I hope today was good for him!

Both of these good lookin' fellers are my cousins. The one of the left ISN'T Chris. That's Dan, he's been back for a while. The silly boy on the left in the green shirt is Chris and he's amazing.




Do you have anyone that just cracks you up and makes your day?

Cookies and Paint

This is a Smart Cookie. No, it doesn't make you smart, or at least I don't think it does, but if it did then AWESOME!!! Smart Cookie is just what the business is called, and I'll tell you right now that they are to die for! This specific cookie is their specialty and my most favorite cookie in THE WORLD! It's a Lemon Drop cookie. I suppose they melt down lemon candy and put it in the dough, or it melt in the oven as the cookie bakes...either way it's fabulous. The frosting is lemon, and it has lemon candy pieces in it. I bout 4 of these cookies for $5. Totally worth it. Whenever I'm with Holly and we're out around American Fork I always ask to go to Smart Cookie because these cookies are addictive. I suppose it is a good thing they are in American Fork and not very readily available to me, because if they were I'd have lemony love handles :)

Saturday I went to work in the morning and planted up two trays of Gaura and one tray of Bacopa <--- yuck! I seriously don't like the smell of Bacopa. It makes me feel ill. Anywho! Holly and Mitch came out and picked me up to spend the afternoon with them. We ate at this wonderful place in Pleasant Grove called Dickies! They specialize in barbecued foods and I had the most mouth watering pulled pork sandwich EVA!! Then we got Smart Cookies and went to their house. I spent some time painting Holly's office this amazing blue color that totally makes the room so much better. If you will take a moment to notice the old color... plech

I also received my early Birthday present from them. *drumroll* A CAMERA!!! Yes!! Now I can post pictures with my wordsiness!! So this picture of the gorgeous paint and roller was just toying around with the camera. I had so much fun! Thank you Holly and Mitch! I love spending my time with you two...and those unruly dogs of your's =]

This is more or less how the finished walls look. There are still some wet spots against the dry so it doesn't do it full justice, but it is fabulous. I totally want to have a room like that now. I told Holly that when I own a house every room will be painted completely different with hot reds, cool blues, happy yellows, misty lavenders, rosy pinks, flush greens, and other colors inbetween!! My front door will either be bright yellow, royal purple...or maybe fiery red!!!

Round Two at the Doctors

Yesterday my wonderful mommy took me to see Doctor Ogden again as the symptoms have not gone away. Dr. Ogden was extremely puzzled as my bronchitis and the fluid in my ear have cleared up. She said the cured infection should've cured my dizziness. She had me do several tests: neurological, balance, and a hearing test. The neurological test went just fine, but there were two parts I failed with the others. With the balance one I could walk fine in the ways she asked me to, but when I had to stand still with my eyes closed I kept swaying and losing my balance. With the hearing test she used a tuning fork to see how well I could hear. The only part that was strange was when she placed it against the middle of my forehead and I could hear it much better in my right ear than in the second.

We talked to her and I explained all of my symptoms. She says she is completely lost and gave us a list of referals to ENT doctors (Ear, nose, and throat) to see if they can figure out what is wrong with me. She said if they send me back to her than we'll have to schedule and MRI and see if the problem lies in my brain. ...oh that makes me nervous...

On a much happier note I was able to go to work!!! It was so theraputic going and being around all of the happy flowers and the wonderful smell of a Cattaleya Orchid!! Oh how I needed that. I spent the afternoon banging trays before filling them with pots. I did so much!!! The perscription Dr. Ogden gave me seemed to help through the afternoon, but by the time we were leaving the dizziness was creeping back into my brain.

One of the side affects of Meclizine is being very tired or even dizzy. Wait! A side affect is being dizzy? Isn't that counter productive? >:[  I was rather bugged to see that, but so far it's lessened the dizziness. I can tell you right now that I've never been so exhausted in my life (at least not in the way I felt last night). I was practically asleep trying to eat my dinner. My mom finally told me to go take a nap and then finish dinner. I was out rather fast. Unfortunately my older sister Abby came home with Vanessa and Hope and decided to wake me up. :(

Let's hope today proves to be happier and more wonderful!

My most Favorite month!!!

First off all I'm going to say is I've got so much to blog about...yet I don't really feel much like it. If my laptop wasn't the old dinosaur it is, and if I had my own camera, then I would have loads of pictures to accompany my posts. Until I do get a camera, and hopefully a new laptop...you'll just have to read about my life. I really do want to post pictures, but I don't have much readily available for myself.

March is by far my most FAVORITE month of the year. It has been for the past couple years, but this year it is especially my favorite. I will be so sad when March is over. I used to not like it (like how I didn't like Fridays as a child), but it's grown to be the month I'm most affectionate about. This past winter has been really tough on me, what with my car out of commission and it being too cold to do much work for my grandpa. January was tough, and February almost seemed worse. As soon as March 1st rolled around I knew I was okay. As it is, my car is fixed, I finally have my savings account WITH money in it, my bills are paid, and I have a steady income. I can just feel the stress melt from my bones like wax on a hot summer day.

Another thing with March is spring. The first flowers I see are crocus. They aren't my particular favorite, but after that awful winter it was very delightful to see their colorful faces. My most favorite spring flower is the daffodil!!! It's a happy yellow and brings so much color to the brown world. I'm very put out that my mother's daffodils haven't bloomed yet when I've seen quite a few around the city. I really REALLY!!!! want to have daffodils right out the window.

Today has been rather overcast, but that's how I like it. It's fun soaking in the sun, but an overcast/rainy day in March is so nostalgic for me and I love love love LOVE!!! dark and gloomy days. There's just something about them that makes me happy. I suppose that's because I live in Utah, and we don't get loads of rain in the first place, but I feel a special connection whenever it's rainy. Is that weird for me to say? Well if it is, too bad. There's just something magical about the rain that I feel addicted to.

My strange bout of dizziness has taken a strange turn, but it has been for the better. I was able to drive yesterday and get myself to school today. It was rather strange and I'm not sure if I'm up for driving around much further than my school and local hot spots. I'm not dizzy so much anymore, though it's still there, but I feel strange...I can't even describe it.

Well I expect to be writing again soon!

Riddle: the maker doesn't want it, the buyer doesn't need it, and the user never sees it...what is it?

Sunshine and Daffodils

My goodness today has been unique! Dr. Ogden advised I stay home for two days and so I had to miss two tests and a project at school. I also have been dealing with the dizziness and today has been rather utterly boring. I've been home with nothing to do. I wrote a little and I read the ending in two books. I had a bowl of steamed broccoli for lunch and have eaten two apples.
I really have been trying to deal with this dizziness but it seems stubborn in its assault on my brain. I cleaned my room up a little and started some laundry.
It was such a beautiful day today with the sunshine and the warmth!!! I opened up almost all of the windows in the house and it was amazing. I completely loved it and I'm very glad that it was so wonderful despite me being so home bound. I also found one of the screens for our basement windows and fitted it in (except one stubborn corner). It has been positively LOVELY having the window open downstairs as it never really gets properly aired out.
Guess what else I did today? I saved a spider's life. As I was going to open the windows I pulled the blinds up really hard. Something black fell out. Ack!! Spider!!! Freaked me out!!! I stared at it as it just huddled on its spot on the floor. I thought "I need something big to squish it!" but after a moment I realized I just couldn't kill it. The guilt would've been too overwhelming. So I called Hope and she placed a jar over it (I had this horrible image of it jumping towards me in my head) and then I took it outside and set it free. I just can't kill things deliberately. It's just not my nature.
Later Dad had me get up and go to the store with him and the two little girls as a chance to breathe outside. It was good, except the part where it made my episodes worse and it was uncomfortable trying to not fall over.
I saw DAFFODILS!!! Oh how my soul was fed! It was such a wonderful sight and it made my day. The daffodils my mom planted haven't bloomed yet and I've really been wanting to see them show their glorious faces.
So today wasn't really a bad day, but it looks like I'm missing more school tomorrow. It's one thing to not have a car to use, but it's entirely different when you CAN'T drive. It's so hard having my wings clipped over this couple days.

Thank you God for the warm sun, green grass, and brilliantly yellow daffodils!!!

Doctor Visit

Last week I had a horrible infection in my throat but didn't think a whole lot about it. Last Tuesday I had taken some nasty cough syrup before I had to go to school. I was sitting in class and was fine until the end of first period. I started to get really dizzy. Second period rolled around and I was feeling really weird. It ended up fading away and I didn't think anything about it. I had to stay home from school both Thursday and Friday. Then on Saturday I pushed myself a little too much and had to stay home from church Sunday. Monday rolled around and around 3 o' clock I started to get dizzy again. It was bizarre. I was dizzy for 5 hours and then it faded away. Yesterday I woke up and around 9 o' clock I was dizzy and then it lasted all day.
My parents have wanted me to get some routine check-ups done before my insurance runs out and I'm glad the appointment was so close to these dizzy spells. Today I went to a place in Orem and Dr. Ogden asked a lot of questions that I can't even remember. She said my blood pressure is just fine but I have Bronchitis settling in my chest from last week. After a few tests (and being extremely dizzy) to see my response she said it was probably a middle ear problem. She said there was some fluid in my right ear that is probably contributing to the problem. I got some antibiotics for my Bronchitis.
Apparently I'm on house arrest for today and tomorrow to monitor me. Dr. Ogden said it's not normal for a 17 year old to have the symptoms I have. I agree with her. It's been really strange the past three days. I have the bouts of dizziness and after a really strong spell I'm plum exhausted and it's rather difficult to hold a conversation because I'm mentally winded.
When we got home (Dad, Hope, and I) I ate some lunch and then at 1 Mom, Dad, and Faith left before they told me to take a nap. I did. It was a wonderful 3 hour nap and I feel a little better even though the dizziness is attacking even as I type this.
So the upside of today: it's sunny, it's March, and I'm getting new lenses for my glasses!! I could never see properly with the perscription I had gotten about a year ago. Dad also rented Life as we Know it for me.
The downside of today: I love being home, but being specifically told to stay home is hard. I also will most likely not be able to go to school tomorrow and I can't afford to miss tomorrow as I have 2 tests and a project to finish for Monday. I also can't drive until I've had 24 hours free of being dizzy. My tummy hurts :(

So that was my weekend and today. I hope you are doing better than I am :)

Is that a... goat???

Meet Meelee!! She is by far the cutest little creature I have ever met with four legs. Friday Lupita, one of the Spanish workers, had brought her in and I totally missed out! I saw some pictures that Abby had posted and thought "she's cute!", but that is nothing compared to actually seeing the little goaty and holding her. (I'm very grateful my mummy asked Lupita if she would bring Meelee during lunch) I hadn't thought she was that small, but when I saw her I was completely smitten! She has white spots on her back, much like Bambi, and her ears fold up at the end. She is absolutely adorable and was so theraputic yesterday.

Even as I type right now I'm still not feeling my best, but yesterday was worth the long hours and the eventual detraction I would have with my recovery. Meelee is a sweet heart and I wish I had more time to be with her. Unfortunately work was required and I couldn't afford to clock out for a little while to be with the sweet baby goat.

The story behind Meelee? Well she was born a few weeks ago to a mother who, sadly, did not want her. Meelee is apart of triplets and was the runt in the group. Her poor mother rejected her. Luckily for Meelee she's just so darn cute that her owner's began to bottle feed her. They're obviously doing something right as she is just like any other baby; making her messes and sleeping all the time. It's at moments like this when you have a cute baby animal in your arms that you realize you really want one of your own in the backyard. Naturally my parents would never go for it (and we don't have the necessary space anyway) so I'll just wait out the time by looking at cute pictures of Meelee!

Even though I'm sad I won't see her nearly as much as I'd love to, our own goat (at work) is pregnant and due soon! I hope she has cute babies and she's willing to share. I feel terrible admitting this, but I almost wish that our own mommy goat will reject one of her own babies so we can take care of it.

That actually happened several years ago when I was a really small child. My grandpa's goat did have a baby and didn't want him. We named him Sammy and he lived in our side yard while we bottle fed him. He died a few years ago and I was really sad. He was so cute and so much fun. I also remember the time that our neighbors (the Richards who basically had a mini-farm backyard) invited us over to watch the birth of their baby goat twins. It was really cool, and I love goats! Some people seriously dislike goat milk, but I think they're crazy, or perhaps I'm the crazy one for liking it! Now that I think about it and have had time to shpiel on goats, I really love them!! So cheers to goats and their wonderful personalities and uses!!

Oh, here's a thought: My grandpa has pidgeons and his pidgeons had a pidgeon. Still rather awkward looking and it lives on the ground considering there wasn't a natural nesting ground. Now, birds teach their babies to fly when they are big enough by jumping OUT of the nest. ... This baby is all ready bound on the ground, so how will he/she learn to fly? Just a thought.

Who I am

My name is Savannah Michelle, I was born on Easter Sunday almost 18 years ago and I can't hold off creating a blog any longer. I have two sisters who blog and I was originally going to start my own blog the day I graduated as sort of a kick off to my life... Right now I'm sick with a fluey cold and am stinkin' bored. So I've decided I won't put it off any longer as my fingers are itching to share my life!

For me family is just about everything in the world to me. They are my comfort and they make me laugh. My closest and most dearest friend is actually my oldest sister Holly. I love her dearly and it's rather ironic with our friendship. We had shared a room sporadically over the years and she was always wronchy. We didn't get along some of the time and she was always so bossy. I resented her greatly for that. It's funny though, the day she moved out (to our basement with some friends) it was like things were cool between us. At first it was rather slow through the years, but the past three years our friendship/sistership seemed to explode. We are as close as can be and even though we live 40 minutes apart it practically kills us not seeing each other as often as we'd like. Last year she and her husband (who's just such an amazing brother!!) invited me on a cruise. That. Was. Amazing!

Yes, we're pretty strange when we get together and eyebrows are always raised at us with the silly inside jokes we have going. She's completely my best friend and I'm so glad that we're sisters. I can just see us up in heaven, arms linked firmly, standing in front of Heavenly Father and adamently stating we've got to go down to earth as sisters!! The kicker part? We're 6 years apart. A little while ago Holly pointed out something rather unique about our birth years/birthdays. She was born in '87 and I was born in '93. Each time I hit a birthday with 7 in it, that same year she turns with a 3 in her age. It's pretty cool. Like last year I turned 17 and she turned 23. I hope that makes sense.

This isn't to say I don't love the rest of my family as much. No! I love them all dearly. My older brother (so glad my only brother wasn't younger than me!) is always a hoot. He has such an infectious laugh that really makes you laugh. It's always the best watching a movie with him because he makes the movie a gazillion times better! He also is a wonderful guy and I love having him come over on Sunday's.

My other older sister, Abby, is very interesting but I love her to bits all the same. She has become extremely...passionate (though that is an understatment) about how screwed up our government is. It's tiring at times, but now that I'm in a government class I can sort of see where she comes from. She also has developed a passion for guns and killing things, which I could never do, but I'm glad she's found some outlet for her anger ;) I just hope she never has a gun in hand when I tease her. Abby has always been the sister who has pushed me and encouraged me to reach my best and do what I love. She's such an amazing supporter and I love her dearly for that. We also have quirky moments that you just can't explain. We both have our faults and can easily get annoyed with one another fast, but we forgive the other even faster...usually.

Faith is a phenomenon all in herself. She's my kid sister right below me at 13. Oh. My. Flippin'. Goodness!!! She dances and moves like none other! I swear she got ALL the talent in the family. We are the most alike and I honestly love cuddling up next to her. Right now I'm blaming her for my reason for being sick as I'm sure it is her fault. My mom thinks it's because I empathize with her. Anyway, we hadn't shared a room at all until last year. She's a very tidy child, and I can be, but I knew if I didn't clean up my small corner than she'd take care of it for me. I really love having her around and I love being a big sister to her!

The last, but certainly not least, is Hopey-Dopey. No, she's not Dopey. She's the reason my name has turned into Nanna. For some reason she gets under my skin the most and I'll admit I know how to get under her skin too. Lately it's started to calm down and we've began to get along well, but there's a certain time of the month where I just can't stand her for some reason. According to my parents I don't hardly give her as much credit as she deserves, and they're probably right. She's extremely intelligent and she handles her crowds of friends so well. She has taken up the violin and also plays the piano. I'm rather jealous of that fact. She's very sweet though and now we're starting to understand each other a little more.

Mitch!! He's my my B.I.L!! He married my sister nearly a year and a half ago and he's quite the "stud". He actually put hit name in my phone as "TheStud:)" what a peanut! I never thought I'd be such good friends with whomever my sister married, but I'm nearly as tight with Mitch as I am with Holly, considering how much Holly is attached to Mitch at the hip. He's such a wonderful guy and I love having him around. It's like he was meant to be a part of our family all along. I truly hope that everyone else who joins the family will feel as comfortable as Mitch does with us.

Can you tell I love my family? I love my parents so much as well, but I'll save that for another post. My family truly is my world. Without them I'm not sure how I would be or live. I don't know what I did to deserve them, but they hold me together most of the time. I'm sure glad we're all together here in this icky world. Hopefully we can make our own changes to the world.

From the left: Hope, Abby, Holly, Mitch, Peter, Faith, and Me!! My parents are in the front...my dad always wants to show just a tinsy bit of affection and Mom usually gives him a no. Check out her face!!