100 Years

100 years ago a woman who impacted my life greatly was born.  Her name was Nellie Blanche Dodson.  She was not born into luxury or wealth, but she became one of the most influential women in my life.  She was my Great-Grandmother and as the oldest Great-Grandchild, I got to know her really well.  She was a really private person, so she didn't really share many details about her life publicly with people.  She had 4 children, was a nurse and was a great example of strength to me.
To me she was Nana.
To me she was MY Nana.
To me she was the woman who was always telling me that I needed to pull my hair back and get it out of my face.  She was the woman who called me out on things when she thought I was being rotten to my parents.  She was the woman who had endured some tough trials, but didn't complain about them.  She was strong.  She made choices and stuck through the consequences.  She endured and she learned.
I remember her telling me that she loved my singing.  I remember her telling me that my parents worked me too hard.  I remember visiting her with my many boyfriends in high school and having her grill the heck out of them.  I remember that she did whatever it took for her to come and see me get married.  I remember our visits after my doctor's appointments.  I remember watching her grow older and feeling helpless watching her lose strength in her body.  I remember how straightforward she used to be no matter what the cost.  I remember her counting my contractions with me when I was in labour with Abby.  I remember her love of gardening, flowers, birds and squirrels.  I remember how she always seemed to have a bird that liked to live outside of her window.  I remember helping to take care of her when she got weak.  I remember staying in the hospice with her on the night of her grandson's funeral so that she would have someone by her side while everyone else went to his funeral.
That night, I remember talking to her because I was pregnant with Anne and no one wanted to tell her because they all knew that she would be mad.  Somehow the old girl found out and it wasn't long before she said to me, "I hear that you're pregnant again.  I can't say that I am happy about it."  (Abby was less than 4 months old) So I told her, "Yep, you're right, I am. . . . and I'm going to name her after you."  Well, that really set her off.  In her old Nana stern voice she replied, "What!?!?!?  Why would you curse your child with a horrible name like that?"  So I told her, "Well, because I wanted to name her after you because I love you."  She thought that wasn't good enough and kept on telling me so. . . . so I finally told her "Well, you will probably be dead by the time she is born, so there isn't really anything you can do about it."  And then I saw the glimmer in her eyes telling me that she loved that response.  So finally we agreed that I could use the name Nellie, but that I couldn't give her the middle name Blanche. . . . and I couldn't actually CALL her Nellie, I would have to call her by her middle name. . . . thus my daughter is named Nellie Anne Comin, but she goes by Anne.
After our conversation about Anne's name, my Nana softened and told me that she didn't mean to be so hard on me but that she was worried about me because she had 4 kids in 6 years and it was really hard for her.  I told her that I knew that and that I loved that she was so concerned for me and that I knew that she loved me and only wanted the best for me.  The rest of the evening was very nice and I am so grateful for that because it ended up being the last time that I would see her alive.
I loved my Nana.  I can't believe that she has been gone for almost 10 years!  I REALLY can't believe that 100 years ago she was born.
So, happy 100th birthday Nana.  I love you and miss you a TON!!!

I have started

Today was Day 1!  Check it out on my other blog!

San Diego

My little sister has decided to serve a mission for our church.  We are so proud of her!!!  We are even more excited that the church has decided to send her to San Diego!  It will be the perfect mission for her.  I know that she will be able to help people out and serve for the church.
I have a special spot in my heart for my baby sister because when she was born and until I got married when she was 8, I used to feel as though she was MY baby.  I used to hold her all of the time, change her diapers, and do a lot more.  I am so excited that she won't be leaving until the spring so that I can spend more time with her!!
WAY TO GO KRISTIN!!!!

It's Going to Happen!

Okay, so I am going to try another fitness thing. . . . that means that I will be posting on my "Don't Mind Me" blog again. . . . so head over there and check it out!

Our Walk to the Bus

Every day that the weather is good, Dustin, Lee and I walk Dustin to his bus stop which is about 2 blocks away.  We have many adventures on our way to the bus stop, and today was no different.
Today, I started off walking to the bus with Dustin and Lee.
Then, Darth Vader decided to join Dustin and I.
Soon Dustin and I were visited by Yoda as Dustin and Yoda raced to the sign.
We then had Buzz Lightyear show us the rocks that he had picked up along our route.
Slinky Dog tried to beat Dustin in another foot race to the corner.
Finally, Woody found a lava rock which he brought the rest of the way to Dustin's bus stop.
While waiting for the bus, I was attacked by two pirates who keep on saying "Arrrrr, yo ho yo ho" over and over!
The great thing about having so many characters accompany us on our walk is that they all come with their own theme music and action sounds.
I should really video tape these walks. . . . they are hilarious!!!  No two walks are ever the same!

A New Look on Life

Some of you may know that I have a daughter with a cognitive disorder.  Because of this, she has been severely delayed in her speech, slightly delayed in her gross motor skills and I am always worrying about her education.  I am at the school every September talking to her teachers and coming up with some game plans to get her through the year.  The thing I love about Caroline (my daughter) is that she tries harder than everyone else so that she can understand what is going on, and I admire that about her.
Last year, just to rule it out, I took this Monkey to the optometrist to get her eyes checked because we noticed that she was having trouble copying items off of the board at school.  The Optometrist told us that Caroline was just on the border of needing glasses, but that she was fine.  I was relieved and her teacher and I decided to move her up to the front of the classroom to help things along.
Throughout the year, Caroline would complain, ever so slightly, that she was still having a hard time seeing the board.  Because of her disorder, the teacher and I figured that it was just because of her delay developmentally.  I decided to take Caroline to see the optometrist yesterday, because she was so borderline last year and she DEFINITELY needs glasses!  Her prescription in one eye is the same as mine and I have had glasses since grade 4!
I felt terrible, happy, relieved and guilty all at the same time!  You see, Caroline doesn't usually complain, especially when it comes to school, and so I feel as though I should have listened better.  I feel guilty that she had to go through most of last year and the entire summer basically not being able to see.  I feel terrible because Caroline already feels as though she is different than everyone else in our family and being the only child with glasses made her feel sad because she will stand out even more.  I told her I was excited because she is now the only one of my children who needs glasses, like me, and I think that that has helped her to accept the change that the new glasses will bring.
I felt happy because her world is about to change.  She will be able to see the letters on signs!  She will be able to read the notes on her piano music without having to constantly stand up.  She will be able to see things from a distance and not guess at them.  I feel relieved because I had a nagging feeling that I needed to take her into see the doctor and even he had second guessed that. . . . until he did his tests.
Whenever people ask me for advice about raising children, my advice has always been the same. . . . listen to them. . . . they will tell you what they need.  I feel like I may have dropped the ball a little bit with Caroline, but I am so happy that her life is about to get so much easier!!