Baby Birds

I have a lot of bird nests around my house and shed. They have always been fun to watch but this spring a momma bird built a nest on the lights hanging from our awning just outside my living room window. I have got to watch the mommy bird raise one batch of birds and was surprised to see a second set born this week. But this time she laid too many eggs and as the birds got bigger they kept falling out of the nest.

Below is the first bird I rescued and placed back in the nest. I got a chair and put a box on top of it and lined it with a cushy jacket (thanks Royal) so they would have a shorter fall and a much softer landing. But this morning I found a dead bird on the jacket. Now I'm just to tender hearted about things. I know mother nature takes care of her own, survival of the fittest...blah blah blah. Teele loves watching nature shows where the lion eats the cute little bunny or a snake swallowing some little mouse. NOT ME! I cry and think it's sad and disgusting. I hate nature shows when they show them killing their prey. I could not be the camera man because I would get myself killed trying to save fluffly bunny from the jaws of the lion!

So here is my week of trying to save a few birds from a nest that's too small!

Poor little bird... Mommy bird feeding her babies

Then this morning the poor little guy, or lucky little guy, had fallen but was hanging by one leg from the nest. So I climbed the ladder and put him back in his nest.
Here he is all safe and sound.
Then he's looking around a little bit later.
Now he stares down at me when I go outside to check on him!
Geez I have enjoyed these birds but I'm getting way to emotionally attached to the little boogers! I'll have to take some pictures of them learning to fly in a couple of days...if they survive! I'm keeping my fingers crossed and saying little prayers for these little friends of mine.

Amanda and Crystal

Amanda called me Monday evening to tell me her tongue was numb and she wanted to know if I new what it could be. We wondered if it was Bells Palsy, Jessica had it 6 years ago, but we decided she didn't have enough of the symptoms. We also discussed the possibility of some sort of bug bite since her tongue was red and swollen. Then Tuesday night she noticed her speech was starting to slur so she decided to make an appointment first thing Wednesday morning.
By Wednesday morning she couldn't blink her left eye or smile on the left side. In fact the entire left side of her face was paralyzed. Because she had so much numbness they wondered if she had suffered a stroke. But we were relieved that it was indeed Bells Palsy.
She is on Prednisone and she could regain movement anywhere from two weeks to 6 months. We are praying for a FULL recovery and would appreciate it if you would remember her in your prayers. She has to tape her eye shut when she sleeps so it won't dry out and wear an eye patch for the times that she is really uncomfortable especially in the sun.
She was a real trooper to let me take a picture so you can see what she is up against. I wish we had taken one of Jessica so I can compare the two. Jessica had a complete recovery so we are praying Amanda will too.

UPDATE ON CRYSTAL
I have been staying with Crystal since Monday to help her with the children and house when Spencer is working. He works the night shift so I just move in since he works all night and sleeps all day. I have noticed that she sleeps when I stay over. She hasn't been able to sleep since Sage passed away so if nothing else she gets some much needed rest when I stay with her.
She had a check up with her foot doctor yesteday and we got to see her stitches. She was a little sad that she would have a scar now but is looking forward to wearing shoes without the pain.

She has lots of bruising and is still very sore but it's healing nicely. She will wear her boot for 1-3 months depending on her level of pain.

So that's it for us. I'm not even going to speculate when our family is going to get a much needed break in this storm that seems to be surrounding us. We feel like we have been tossed out into the oceon in a little raft in the middle of a hurricane! Crystal and I were laughing about that today and we decided that we are holding on to that life jacket(the Gospel) with all our might!

Mothers Day

This is my Mom's Mother with her 11 day old baby Kathryn Louise

Dorothy Mortensen Henderson-my grandma

This Mothers Day has an even deeper meaning to me. It's funny how your view and feelings about this day changes as time passes. When I was little it was all about mommy and drawing her a picture or making her a necklace.

My Mother and I on Easter Sunday 1964 in matching dresses

Then when you become a Mother it becomes something more to you. You are greatful for your own Motherhood and your heart turns toward your children and you hope you can prove yourself worthy of the title and that you are able to bring them up in a pleasing manner to our Heavenly Father.

Then those children become teenagers and Mothers Day takes on a whole new meaning. Sometimes it's all about enduring to the end and endless prayers!

Then your own mother passes away and suddenly Mothers Day has a sadness attached to it and you are no longer counted as one of the "Lucky Ones" that are crowded around the card section trying to pick out the perfect card for your Mother. Instead you are saddened and draw on your memories to comfort you. You send a prayer up to her and thank her for being your Mother.

Then the children that made you a mom grow up, marry and become mother's themselves and the day takes on an even deeper meaning. Now you are a "Grand" Mother and what pure joy that is. It's so wonderful watching your daughter's become mother's and now they are receiving home made crayola pictures and macaroni necklaces and the cycle continues.

I have watched Jessica become a mom with a blended family. I watched as my daughter fell completely in love with  her husbands daughter from his first marraige. I am so impressed with her and how much she loves Haven as her own and of course I love Haven as much as any of my grandchildren. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. Mother's Day has again taken on new meaning.

Seeing Amanda struggle to become a mother and all of the blessings and prayers that were offered up on her behalf yet again made Mothers Day even more special. Last year she was broken hearted and praying for the chance to become a mother. Watching her go to all of her fertility appointments, injections, medicine, testing and surgeries and still not know if they were going to be successful was quite a rocky road. Then the pure joy of a positive pregnancy test and even more joy watching your daughter carry a child and become a mother to a beautiful daughter of her very own. How exciting that was and another learning experience.

Then I have had the privilege of watching Crystal become a mother to five beautiful children...

...and just when you thought you understood the meaning of the day you watch your daughter suffer the loss of a child and become the mother of a "Celestial Son" and once again we grow and Mothers Day becomes even more meaningful. As Crystal and I have greived together over the past 2 months our hearts have turned to Mary- Christs mother. How horrible it must have been for her to witness her son's death. We always felt that way but now we feel and understand her pain even more. Who knew an 8 month old little boy could teach us so much?

This Mother's Day is bittersweet. Feeling joy and happiness for my daughter Amanda who now has a child of her own. Then deep sorrow for another daughter who's arms ache for the child she has lost. This Mother's Day I'm thankful for all the things my daughters have taught me about being a mother when not so long ago I thought being a mother was all about the things I could teach them. These mom's, my three daughters, are my heroe's and I'm so proud to be their mother.