Wildcat for Life

I can no longer claim I am more educated then Mark. Mark is now a college graduate from the University of Arizona Eller College of business management, with an emphasis in accounting. We are so proud of Mark. He worked very hard in school, with his activity in Beta Alpha Psi, ended with a 3.6 GPA, and made it into the Masters program for the Fall. I’d like to say his school journey is over, but we have one more year of graduate school, and taking the CPA exam and THEN maybe we can be done. Mark also got an internship with a local accounting firm, KLK in the fall, so he is going to be very busy (poor guy). I am going to try to not act like a lonely wife, cause I know we won’t get much time together, but I know in the long run it will be to our families benefit. Mark has always been ambitious, and I know that his hard work will pay off.

The graduation ceremonies were great, U of A really knows how to celebrate. We had a breakfast Friday morning for the accounting graduates, each graduate was represented and shared their accomplishments and future plans. It was amazing to hear all of the students accomplishments! Some graduated with 4 majors, some created their own business and some were accepted into graduate schools like MIT. As I listened to their accomplishments, it made me really regret not doing more with my education. I love and appreciate learning more now than I did when I was younger. I wasted so much time being concerned about dating, appearances and marriage that I completely neglected my education. I completed what I was supposed to, scrapping by with a bachelors, but I could have done so much more. That’s one thing I want my children to know, do what will make you happy, never feel pressed to marry or get a career, but never take for granted the opportunity to gain an education. Marriage\family will come and you have time to meet the right person, but education takes desire and a lot of effort. I think it was Ghandi who said, ‘live like you will die tomorrow, learn like you will live forever’ something like that. I want to return back to school once mark is done with school, possibly for my masters? We shall see.

 

 

 

all the many group selfies

you get a key chain instead of a degree

                                                    celebrating at sullivans

 

It was bittersweet to not have Randy at the graduation, I know mark felt his absence, but I know he was cheering him on in spirit. We threw a surprise breakfast party for Mark on Saturday, invited his friends and those who had an impact on his life. His pediatrician Dr. Smith and his 4^th grade teacher Mr. Tipper attended which was really awesome. He was definitely surprised and we had a good time eating Tinas famous pancakes.

We are exhausted after this weeks celebrations, but we are happy to take down one more life step towards progress. One more year!!!

 

 

50year SURPRISE!

Monday was Tina 50^th Birthday! We threw her a surprise party, invited her friends and had a lot of fun celebrating the old lady big day. Mark took her golfing during the day, I rushed from work to decorate and make the food before they returned home, little did I know Mark was going to take an extra hour getting her home… but we pulled it off.

We were planning this party with Randy before he died, he was going to be responsible for the invites. I know he would have enjoyed seeing her surprised face. She needed to know, she was not forgotten and that we love and appreciate her very much. Happy 50^th Mom!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

motherhood

I LOVE being a mother.
I remember when I was younger, around 14 when a doctor diagnosed me with polycystic ovarian disorder and told me I may not be able to have children. I was heart broken! I prayed constantly that I would some day be a mother, that the doctor was wrong. I even prayed to hear it during my patriarchal blessing, so I would have assurance that I would bare a child. I had such a deep fear of it, that it caused me to get very depressed. As I got older, I decided to tell myself that it may not ever happen, and that was ok with me.
When Mark and I got married, I told him that I may not be able to get pregnant. His response was a caring, 'then we adopt or just be us.' I was relieved to find someone who loved me enough to be ok with not having children of his own, as long as we had each other.
When I found out I was pregnant with lily, there was fear and disbelief. I feared the loss of a child and the pain of loss in the future if anything where to happen to that child both physically and spiritually. I cried very hard when I got pregnant and was scared, not happy.
Now that I have lily, I can not imagine existence without her.my desire for a child in my youth was because deep down I knew it would be spectacular. The lord did listen to my prayers to have a child and be a mother. She brings me more happiness then I could ever imagine. She is such a happy and amazing child! She makes me laugh and is sensitive to others feelings. When she says to me, 'i love you mommy.' I feel complete. I know that life is short, and often fear losing her or only being mother in this life for a short time. But no matter what happens, I will ALWAYS be her mother and she my daughter. She is tied to me eternally. I could think of no greater blessing in my lifetime then to be a mother. To care and nature someone as they grow. To have an impact on her life that will last forever.
My mother was my example. Strong, brave, loving and charitable. I always knew that we were her life and I never wanted to do bad things so I did not dishonor her. She sacrificed everything for us, every decision made was with her children in mind. I want lily to be raised knowing that I love her no matter what, and that I will always be there for her like my mom is for me. My mom did not have it easy and motherhood has been a hard journey. But seeing the joy in her eyes when she sees her kids and grandchildren, tells me it is all worth it. I love my mom.

Mothers day will always be a reminder to me that prayers are answered and we need to have faith because the lord understands our desires.

May 3rd 2014

Not sure what to title this without it sounding depressing. So the date will do.

Today was a hard day. Randy's funeral was today at 10am. It was beautiful, heart felt and humorous. It was great to hear the stories of his life about times I did not know him. Mark did a wonderful job talking about his dad. The many memories and his example as a father and husband. Mark really loved his father and wanted to always make him proud. There is no doubt in my mind that mark made his dad proud everyday. I am grateful for randy and the example he was that helped mark to be who he is today. 

After the service, we headed to Binghamton cemetery to lay his body to rest. We had a procession, traffic cops took care of traffic while we followed the hurst. That was very hard to see. When they carried the casket, It was strange to think that this was all happening. We each got a rose and threw it in the grave and said our goodbyes. We all shed many tears, and even though we all know we will be together again as a family someday, it is still hard to say goodbye. I went to see the headstone for Shane Smith, our friend who died 3 years ago, and there was a poem inscribed which provided a lot of comfort: 

When I come to the end of the road,

And the sun has set for me,

I want no rites in gloom-filled rooms,

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little--but not too long,

And not with your head bowed low;

Remember the love that we once shared

Miss me--but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take,

And each must go alone.

It's all a part of the Master's plan,

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart,

Go to the friends we know,

And busy your sorrows in doing good deeds.

Miss me - but let me go

I am grateful for the chance to know Randy. He always made sure we were taken care of and happy. He made sure I had my baking beans at family dinners, that lily had the back scratcher and that he spoke with mark everyday to see how his day went. He was generous, caring, very intelligent, smart with money and took good care of Tina and Mark. We will miss him terribly, but we WILL see him again with a perfect body in a resurrected state. No longer suffering from the mortal body, ready again to play ball with Mark. Till we meet again Dad. Love you.

the beautiful display in memory of Dad