Memories of Brittney!

Sweet Brittney Drakulich passed away one week ago today after a 5 1/2 year battle with bone cancer at the age of 29. She was so amazing in all that she did and we will miss her so much. I am so glad that she was part of my life. She is a great example and I will never forget her.

I first met Brittney when she moved into Harvest Hills a few years ago. I was called to be her visiting teacher in May 2007. At the time she had found out that there were more cancer spots on her lungs that were to be surgically removed in the fall. I remember she said that she was going to have the surgery and then be done with cancer for the rest of her life. Little did I know the road she was headed for. Brittney was the strongest, most courageous person that I have ever met. She was determined not to let cancer get the best of her. She amazed me the way she kept going with her beautiful kids (participating in their classrooms, taking them on fun activities, going to church, etc.) even when she was so frail she could hardly move. She had a strong soul and sweet spirit. I love the way she loved the Red Sox. I’ve never seen any woman look as good as Brittney did without hair and I told her so. She had a great shaped head! I love how her eyes lit up when she talked about Steven and her children. She loved the gospel so much and instilled her love and passion for it in her family. When I would visit teach her I was the one who came out spiritually fed. She taught me more than I ever taught her. She knew the scriptures so well and always had such wonderful things to say. She was always so positive, even under the worst of circumstances, and it just blew me away. She was a fighter! I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to have Brittney in my life for a short while. I will never forget her and I look forward to the day when I will see her again. She was a beautiful person inside and out and she has touched my life in so many ways. I keep thinking about the hymn “Each Life That Touches Ours For Good”. That is Brittney. Brittney was a wonderful example to me and she touched the life of every person she met. My thoughts and prayers will always be with her family. I love you Brittney!!!

In Memory of Grandpa Lu

Our sweet Grandpa Lu died last Thursday night, September 3, 2009 of natural causes. He would have turned 87 on September 5th. He was a great man and I considered him to be my own grandpa. He died the way he always wanted to go - in his own home. He was still living on his own, mowing his lawn and taking care of himself. We already miss him so much and many tears have been shed over the last week but we are so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel and of eternal life. We will be able to see him again someday. He is with his beloved Edna now and we know he is watching over us and will continue to take care of us from above. He lived a great, selfless life, full of service to others and he was loved by so many. Things I will miss most about him:

-the way he always said "judas priest", and how he called the girls "chic" or "chicadee"
-hearing the same story for the hundreth time and pretending you had never heard it before because his eyes lit up every time he told it
-his cute laugh that sounded like "hee-hee, hee-hee"
-his smile (especially the times he forgot to put in his dentures:))
-his special love for his great-grandchildren

We feel so blessed to have had him in our life. Kaycee and Luke were so close to him and it makes me so happy that they will have wonderful memories of him. We look forward to the day we will see him again. WE LOVE YOU GRANDPA LU!!!!

First Day of School, Preschool and Nat's 32 Birthday!

It's always that sweet sorrow when school starts. This has been an especially crazy time of year for us with the move and all. Luckily Kayc and Luke are going to the same school they went to last year. However this year they are early birds (8:00-2:15) instead of their usual later gators (9:15-3:30). They are so used to waking up at 8:00 or 8:30 that waking up at 6:00-6:30 has been a challenge. I didn't think poor Luke was going to make it through his first day because he had a really hard time waking up that morning. The reason we switched is because I am teaching preschool every MWF morning this year. My first two days of teaching have been great and I am looking forward to the rest of the school year. We just need to get settled into a good routine. Like I said this is a crazy time full of changes for my family. Come middle of September - we'll be good.

Look at my kids - they are the cutest!
Can you believe my baby is in the first grade? I think I'm still in shock.
Kaycee looking like the bright student that she is.
My first official day of teaching preschool!

On Monday, the 24th, I turned 32 years young. It was a nice day. I taught and then John and I went to lunch at yummy Brick Oven with my parents. It was very relaxing and delicious. They served me a free slice of my favorite chocolate mousse pie and I was sung to twice (once in English, once in Portugese). Then I got my very much needed haircut. When I came home the kids had made this sign (see below) for me and showered me (literally) with smarties (a favorite treat of mine).

John was sweet enough to bake this yummy cake for me. If you know John at all you know how truly impressive it is for him to even touch a mixer. He did a wonderful job and the cake and ice cream tasted great (as you can see on Luke's face below).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY #32 TO ME!!!