Lennon & Maisy

                         Such talented little gals.

Just Kidding...

No trek for the Free's.

Brandon took me to the instacare on Sunday for what we thought was heat stroke and dehydration that we wanted to get under control before trek the next day. Left with an IV needle in my arm and possible pneumonia that I was ordered to follow up on the next day before even thinking about heading off to trek.

Seriously? pneumonia?! And here all I'd wanted was IV of water...
The night before trek I spent several hours with a dry cough and had a fever of 102. I knew there was no way I could have left for trek the next morning, even if I'd wanted to.

I dropped Brandon and some of my young women off early that morning- Brandon and I were hopeful (and possibly crazy to think) that the pneumonia diagnoses was a fluke and that I'd be heading up to meet them on the trail later that day. Unfortunately that wasn't the case.

I've been pretty sad over the whole thing. I've spent many, many months preparing for trek, I've given two talks on trek, given guys and gals many trek pep talks, planned several trek centered activities, gathered gear for the event, said many prayers for my trek kids, praying that they all would be there, and they all were- it was just me who wasn't. Who knew I should have been praying that I would be there?

After 3 days of IV treatments and two and a half days of antibiotics I'm starting to feel a little better and hopefully won't have to deal with a fever of any kind tonight. I'm still sad and trying to make sense of it all but as my mom reminded me, many pioneers prepared for the journey, but not all were able to go, not all made it to their destination. That's true of life in general, there are things we prepare for and not all of our preperation take us to the place we think it will. I guess that's half the adventure of life, not quite knowing how things will pan out but living and thriving through whatever is thrown at us.





All I know is I hope those youth are having an amazing time and I hope they're taking tons of photos for me to see!

I also hope that I can take a break from being a medical disaster for the rest of the year! Fingers crossed! (Thank you to Brandon, Rebecca Gibb and Kathy Free for all your help these last few days. I am so lucky to have such amazing family)

Kind of crazy...

How fast this year is flying by!

This time next week I'll be outdoors, hopefully blister free, pulling a handcart and being the "ma" of 10 teenagers. Yikes. Trek always seemed so far away and suddenly it's here!

Many, many, many thanks to everyone who donated clothes, money and time to the Jordan 1st Ward. Thanks especially to the wonderful and amazing ,Kathy Free, who helped Brandon and I sew our family flag (we could not have done it without you!) and helped us round up pioneer clothes:

Truth be told, I am not a camping kind of girl (much to Brandon's dismay). Hiking? Yes. Mountain biking? Sure. But sleeping outside in a tent on the ground? No thank you! When the sun goes down I prefer to sleep indoors in my comfortable bed. So this next week will be full of all kinds of adventures. I'm excited though-excited, stressed and slightly nervous- but mostly excited.

Wish us luck!

Nobody likes you when you're...

via

?

Sorry Blink 182, but I must disagree.

 

 

23's been pretty great for me so far. Thanks to my wonderful co-workers, friends, family and husband! I'm one lucky gal.

27

Happy Birthday (on the 21st), to this wonderful man...

I so love him.

Happy 27th birthday, best friend! So thankful for the birthdays we've shared together, here's to many, many more! 

Oh Mother,

Well, despite my doubts, I made it through last week alive and happy. I could not have made it through without the love and support of my amazing friends and family. Especially my mother (& Brandon, always Brandon).

On Thursday I went in for surgery and she was there bright and early to see me and help calm my nerves, which, given my fear of needles and hospitals is no small task. But her presence calmed me down, her positive attitude and quickness to laugh were just the medicine I needed. She stayed at the hospital through the whole operation and was there to calm my tears and answer my questions when I was wheeled into a hospital room I didn't recognize, confirming to me that what was supposed to be an outpatient visit had become inpatient. In the days that followed she was always there when I needed her, just a text or call away when I was feeling sick or blue and always came to visit me with a cheerful smile and a million goodies when I couldn't make up my mind about what food sounded good to eat. I could not have survived this weekend without my mother who is always so strong and amazing. Always living her life to comfort and serve those that she loves and always being a rock and example to those around her.

When things get hard I know she'll be there and for that I am eternally grateful for the gift of mothers. Of all the many things my mother gave me the strongest thing I gained from her is the desire to be a mother and to raise a family. Without the surgery this last week it would have been difficult for me to be a mother and without my mother there to hold my hand it would have been difficult to have the surgery. So interesting, the many aspects of motherhood this mother's day weekend encompassed for me. I am so thankful to be a woman and to know so many beautiful and amazing mothers that are perfect examples to me of everything I hope to one day be.

Instagram & Bangs...

It's what we've been up to lately!

My self titled, Instagrump. :)
Though honestly, he has been grumpy twice in the 5 years we've been together.

Love bendy straws

Well, I am back on the bang bandwagon. I'm not sure how/why I ever fell off that wagon.
Happy to be back. & happy to be on the Instagram wagon.

Maybe Instagram will help me get back on the blog bandwagon?
We'll see.

Wise words...

from a wise and wonderful man.

Happy Sunday!

Next week....

I work literally 24 floors above the new City Creek Center. I am beyond excited for the grand opening.
If you don't watch this show, you should. On Monday 'A' will be revealed!

It arrives! H&M, Forever 21 and Sephora all at one place? Perfect.

Obsessed. I've been waiting for this movie forever.

I still think House would have made the best Haymitch.

& it's spring break!

It's going to be a great week.

A few days late, but true nonetheless...

Phrases you will almost never hear....

I just barely learned how to post videos to my blog. Clearly, I am just a little giddy about it. This video is too funny and the guy in it completely reminds me of my cousin-in-law, Preston. Enjoy!

What's being quoted in the Free house lately?

When we're not quoting Kid History this is the YouTube video we're quoting this week...





Honestly this video terrifies me, as I have a wisdom tooth surgery coming my way in the near future. Brandon now fully plans on filming every glorious, post surgery moment. I doubt I'll be nearly as hilarious as this kid. But I am positive that I will share his same craving for a "Normal Diet Coke".

Happy Friday!