Things I should be posting on the blog, but haven't been

For those of you who faithfully follow my blog, I am so sorry to have been deliquent lately. I wish I had a great excuse for my neglect, but I don't. On the days when I think to myself, I should update the blog--sometimes I can't even get through the thought without pushing it aside. For some reason, the blog just isn't calling out to me. I feel like I am just wanting to move on or something and the blog just reminds me of cancer.

I am forcing myself to post today because I fear that some people take my absense to mean that something is wrong. I am happy to report that life is great. Steven is doing so well. This week he got his new leg and has been amazing us every day with his new physical feats. Yesterday he spent over an hour on his scooter. He had tried it once with his old leg and it didn't work--he just didn't have the strength. When he tried it yesterday, he was up and going--just like the old Steven. After scootering around, he went to a friend's birthday party where he walked all around, hiked up steep hills, and walked the quarter of a mile from the park to his friend's house without crutches or complaining. He is getting stronger every day--he hardly uses his crutches at all anymore, and while he still limps significantly, it gets better every day. He loves to show me his tricks on the playground, like scaling the climbing wall or sliding down the fireman's pole. It is like he is one again and so proud of himself. When he gets home from school, he usually has a new accomplishment to report--like playing foursquare without crutches, or climing the steps to the upper playground.

As has been the case for the last few months, Steven continues with his happy and positive outlook on life. Everything is a new adventure and he rarely says "no" to any suggestions for fun. He looks forward to school every day and (as has always been the case) he does whatever he can to get us out the door on time. Being late to school just won't do.

And life around here is going by fast. We are finally feeling like we can buy a house, and so the search is on. I want nothing more than to start packing, but I guess since we haven't even seen a house that we would buy, it might be a little premature. We should hear about when we go to Hawaii sometime this week. On Friday Steven competes in the state geography bee. He hasn't been studying too hard, so we'll see how it goes, but it should be a fun break from routine anyway.

I've been obsessing about getting a family photo done--if I've learned one thing this year its that life is too short. We finally got them taken on Thursday. I tried to upload some, but I think my blogger account is full and I need to add some memory. Here is one of just Steven--you can see that his hair is looking great these days.

I really need to post a picture of his new leg--I promise I will very soon. He has gone to bed for the night as I finish up this post and I don't have one taken already. See? I told you something was wrong--me who has documented every stage of this and I have failed in a week's time to get a picture of the new leg. He went with a Hawaiian theme for the pattern on the leg--kind of fun. P.S. Sorry there are no paragraphs! I guess I need to figure out this new format--or maybe use a diffrent browser. Either way, I'm going to bed now, but I do apologize--I put them in there!

Hawaii, here we come!

I've mentioned before that Steven has been waiting, maybe a bit impatiently, to hear from Make-a-Wish. He has expected them to show up at our door any night with information on his wish. Sometimes, he would even wait by the window, and watch for his wish granters. He would ask me constantly if they had called and when they were coming. I started answering that they would come when he least expected it.

Well, I was right! They surprised him on Thursday at the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet, which was already planned as a luau. Our wish granters had some Polynesian dancers from BYU come to entertain us. After their first number, a hula, they called Steven up on stage to tell him that his wish to Hawaii would be granted! I was amazed that he didn't figure it out before it happened--he told me that he didn't realize that it was Make-a-Wish until he got up on the stage and saw his wish granters. They went all out for him--there were several people there with gifts for him--shirts, sandals, snorkeling gear, leis, chocolates, balloons, and his favorite--a big book about Hawaii. After the presentation, they performed a Haka dance and then taught the scouts to do it as well--it was darling.

One of these days, I need to make a video of all the fun. For now, here is a clip that I love--all of it together made me cry. I love when Steven hops up on the stage--this is my Steven who has been on crutches since May, essentially.



When they read his wish, I was just filled with emotion--gratitude and joy and humility. After it was all over, I asked if he was okay with such a public announcement. He once made me tell the granters that he didn't want something like that. He said, "Well, no one said, 'No fair! You get to go to Hawaii!', so I guess it was okay." It finally dawned on me that he just didn't want to rub his good fortune in to others. I must admit that I get it--it feels strange to be in the spotlight and receiving such a grand gift.

And grand it is, I must say. Just the thought of Hawaii makes me smile and when times feel tough, there is nothing like the thought of sunshine at the beach to lift me up. We don't know when we are going yet, but we do know that we will stay in Hawaii for 5 nights and are going to the big island, Hawaii, where the volcano is. And yes, it is for the whole family, so even the little girls will be coming along this time. In some ways I can't wait, but I also love having something to anticipate, so however long we wait, that is okay with me.

Thank you, thank you Make-a-Wish. How do I even begin to express my gratitude?


Steven and his awesome haka face.


The dancers were so nice. As we were visiting afterward, it dawned on Steven that Make-a-Wish had invited them and not the scout leaders.


Here we are with the dancers and his wish granters, Gloria and Tiffany. Thanks everyone!