Where have I been? Don't ask. I'll attempt to give some highlights, but I could never express just how much our little family has been through in the last month. Let's just say that we haven't been home for approximately 5 weeks.
It all started with my in-laws' upstairs bathroom. The Shower had been leaking for quite some time and the floor was rotting through, so Daniel and my brother-in-law Brent took on the bigger-than-expected job of rebuilding the bathroom. Demolition began around the time Dan started his new job (internship at the church. He has been and still is looking for full time employment). So, Dan would get up at 4:30 am to catch the bus to go to work in Salt Lake so he could get home by 5:30 pm and head over to his Parent's house to tear apart a bathroom (not an easy task) and help his dad get to the bathroom (also not an easy task) since he can no longer walk on his own..... and we'd get home around 10 pm every night. Around this time his mom found out she had to have gal-bladder surgery which ended up going badly (just what they needed). So I would go over with Dan to help with the cooking and cleaning while Mom was in the hospital and recovering. Then we took a short break from the Wrights' to celebrate Krista's birthday :) and to help my sister Anna move to Arkansas :( I can't believe my baby is 4 already! She had a wonderful birthday; although, every time I talk about how exciting it is that she's 4, she talks about how she can't wait to be 5! I just hope it doesn't come too soon!
Then it was time to prepare for the Wright Family Reunion, scheduled for the first week in June. I LOVE being with family and we had a lot of fun, but I gotta say, it was not a stress-free week! On the contrary, it was one of those, "I need a vacation from my vacation" kind of experiences. It began with me scrubbing my own house from top to bottom, and then we had some service days at the in-laws' house and around their yard (meanwhile Dan was still trying to get the bathroom finished), and then there was the baby blessing. We blessed Eisley on the 7th and it was beautiful and wonderful and I prayed that Daniel's dad would be able to be there and he was.... but you ladies know that these things are never without their share of STRESS, especially for someone like me.
So, it was a nice break when my birthday rolled around and to my great surprise my INCREDIBLE husband stayed home from work and spoiled me. He took me and the girls to breakfast (my favorite) and then up to my sister's house where he watched all the kids while she and I went shopping. Then my sister watched our kids while Dan and I went on a MUCH needed date!
However, it was soon back to the "cruel, cruel world," and oh how cruel it became. My father-in-law's health decreased drastically a week ago. We thought he might be gone within a week or two (he still may be) and I went through my own personal you-know-what. The whole family has been gathered the last week, trying to help, but not knowing what to do... about anything. I cannot tell you--and you could never understand unless you have experienced it yourself--how overwhelmingly unbearable it is to watch someone you love SO much....THAT MUCH.... deteriorate right before your eyes. We were--and are--physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually EXHAUSTED! I have felt sadness, loneliness, bitterness, helplessness and the list goes on; I even had my first real anxiety attack. But I have also felt peace, joy, and gratitude for the many blessings and tender mercies of the Lord; we have certainly experienced our fare share! Truly, it has been an emotional roller coaster! I am so grateful for the gospel and the knowledge I have of the plan of salvation, but things like this are NEVER easy. All I can say more is please pray for my family, and thank you to those who already are.
P.S. We had a very nice--albeit slightly stressful (that seems to be my favorite word lately)--father's day yesterday! Did I mention that I have the MOST AMAZING husband in the whole world! He learned from the best, and now has another great example in his father-in-law (i love ya daddy, you're the best)! I hope I was able to honor all of them the way they deserve to be honored.
Some other highlights from the last month:
It all started with my in-laws' upstairs bathroom. The Shower had been leaking for quite some time and the floor was rotting through, so Daniel and my brother-in-law Brent took on the bigger-than-expected job of rebuilding the bathroom. Demolition began around the time Dan started his new job (internship at the church. He has been and still is looking for full time employment). So, Dan would get up at 4:30 am to catch the bus to go to work in Salt Lake so he could get home by 5:30 pm and head over to his Parent's house to tear apart a bathroom (not an easy task) and help his dad get to the bathroom (also not an easy task) since he can no longer walk on his own..... and we'd get home around 10 pm every night. Around this time his mom found out she had to have gal-bladder surgery which ended up going badly (just what they needed). So I would go over with Dan to help with the cooking and cleaning while Mom was in the hospital and recovering. Then we took a short break from the Wrights' to celebrate Krista's birthday :) and to help my sister Anna move to Arkansas :( I can't believe my baby is 4 already! She had a wonderful birthday; although, every time I talk about how exciting it is that she's 4, she talks about how she can't wait to be 5! I just hope it doesn't come too soon!
Then it was time to prepare for the Wright Family Reunion, scheduled for the first week in June. I LOVE being with family and we had a lot of fun, but I gotta say, it was not a stress-free week! On the contrary, it was one of those, "I need a vacation from my vacation" kind of experiences. It began with me scrubbing my own house from top to bottom, and then we had some service days at the in-laws' house and around their yard (meanwhile Dan was still trying to get the bathroom finished), and then there was the baby blessing. We blessed Eisley on the 7th and it was beautiful and wonderful and I prayed that Daniel's dad would be able to be there and he was.... but you ladies know that these things are never without their share of STRESS, especially for someone like me.
So, it was a nice break when my birthday rolled around and to my great surprise my INCREDIBLE husband stayed home from work and spoiled me. He took me and the girls to breakfast (my favorite) and then up to my sister's house where he watched all the kids while she and I went shopping. Then my sister watched our kids while Dan and I went on a MUCH needed date!
However, it was soon back to the "cruel, cruel world," and oh how cruel it became. My father-in-law's health decreased drastically a week ago. We thought he might be gone within a week or two (he still may be) and I went through my own personal you-know-what. The whole family has been gathered the last week, trying to help, but not knowing what to do... about anything. I cannot tell you--and you could never understand unless you have experienced it yourself--how overwhelmingly unbearable it is to watch someone you love SO much....THAT MUCH.... deteriorate right before your eyes. We were--and are--physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually EXHAUSTED! I have felt sadness, loneliness, bitterness, helplessness and the list goes on; I even had my first real anxiety attack. But I have also felt peace, joy, and gratitude for the many blessings and tender mercies of the Lord; we have certainly experienced our fare share! Truly, it has been an emotional roller coaster! I am so grateful for the gospel and the knowledge I have of the plan of salvation, but things like this are NEVER easy. All I can say more is please pray for my family, and thank you to those who already are.
P.S. We had a very nice--albeit slightly stressful (that seems to be my favorite word lately)--father's day yesterday! Did I mention that I have the MOST AMAZING husband in the whole world! He learned from the best, and now has another great example in his father-in-law (i love ya daddy, you're the best)! I hope I was able to honor all of them the way they deserve to be honored.
Some other highlights from the last month:
-We got to attend the temple with Dan's entire family, minus Spencer who's serving a mission and the kids including Dan's 11 yr old brother, Chad.
-Dan's car broke down and we had to buy a new radiator (ouch).
-We got to attend the Yanni voices concert in Salt Lake City. Apparently Nathan, one of the amazing vocalists Yanni chose to tour with, was in my father-in-law's ward when he was a bishop at BYU. Nathan sent the family some tickets. It was amazing!
-Dan's softball team has won like 8 straight! They could... go... all... the... way!
-Krista got accepted to a preschool and she'll start in August. She is SO excited!
-I finally pushed Eisley to eating every 3 hours instead of every 2 1/2! I cannot tell you what a struggle it's been; I've never had this problem before!
-Emma got her first black eye, and actually the first in our family. And Krista cut her head open. Don't worry, it was only a small cut, but for how many times that girl has conked her head--and she's had some doosies--this is the first time it's bled.
-Dan's car broke down and we had to buy a new radiator (ouch).
-We got to attend the Yanni voices concert in Salt Lake City. Apparently Nathan, one of the amazing vocalists Yanni chose to tour with, was in my father-in-law's ward when he was a bishop at BYU. Nathan sent the family some tickets. It was amazing!
-Dan's softball team has won like 8 straight! They could... go... all... the... way!
-Krista got accepted to a preschool and she'll start in August. She is SO excited!
-I finally pushed Eisley to eating every 3 hours instead of every 2 1/2! I cannot tell you what a struggle it's been; I've never had this problem before!
-Emma got her first black eye, and actually the first in our family. And Krista cut her head open. Don't worry, it was only a small cut, but for how many times that girl has conked her head--and she's had some doosies--this is the first time it's bled.
9 comments:
Ashley you guys have had a crazy month! I will pray for you and your family. Krista is 4! That means Wesley is soon to follow. I can't believe how big they are! She is so cute and I love her hair. I will never forget how good of friends her and Wesley were when we lived there. I miss you guys. Eisley and Emma are so cute to and Emma looks just like Krista did. Those were fun times!
Tiffany
We will definitely keep you all in our prayers. Hang in, there, Ashley!
Wow, that is definitely a crazy time! You and your family will be in my prayers! If any one can handle this it's you. :)
Well I would say those are good enough reasons to not post on your blog for so long! Sorry life is so stressful right now. We hope and pray everything works out for Dan's dad! Keep us posted...
I love you guys soooo much!
We all love you so much. You and Daniel and the girls are constantly in my prayers, as well as all of his family. You are stronger than you think you are. Give everyone my love.
XOXOXO
You are amazing, Ashley! I hope things start to calm down for you and I'll keep your beautiful family in my prayers.
I am sorry to hear about Daniel's father! It is sad to lose a parent, life just isn' the same. It is comforting to know that we will see them again someday. I am in Washington right now for a family reunion, sorry we will be missing the funeral.
We miss you guys! I now have two neighbors named Ashley, but they don't have any kids. I want to keep in touch. We need to do a playdate with our kids. My kids miss your kids. Give me a call sometime soon or email me iemdani@hotmail.com.
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