Monday, December 31, 2012

Happiness to the New Year.

The expectation of the new year finds itself in every one's mind when they are counting down the seconds till they get a "fresh start" at a new year. I can honestly say that i am sad to see 2012 go. It was absolutely the best year that i have had in my entire life. I made decisions that will affect my life forever...(in the best way possible!) Love was the most active ingredient in my life this past year but i know that will only continue to grow. I am usually so excited for the New Year because it makes you feel like you have a clean slate with an entire year to complete all of your New Year goals (which most of us stop trying after a month, it's okay we are human!) Of course there are things to look forward to for the next year but you never know what is going to come whether it be good or bad there is always going to be some unknown. But that's okay because there is absolutely no way of knowing everything that is going to come our way. But change is eminent in this world we live in. But on the opposite side i welcome new change because this last year has been so great.

Why was 2012 such a great year you ask??

02.02.2012 Chance FINALLY came home from mission.
05.11.2012 I got engaged to my best friend.
06.12.2012 My beautiful first niece Averie was born:].
06.12.2012-08.01.2012 I got to plan my wedding
08.04.2012 I married the love of my life in the Manti Temple & had my (pre planned since I was 10) backyard reception that i loved. That was the happiest day of my life & is defiantly the top reason that i am so sad to part with 2012. Being married has been the best thing i ever did.

But it's not like i am sitting here on the couch crying looking at my wedding pictures building a fort at barricading the door hoping i can stay in the 2012 & not be in the new year. haha There are some things to look forward to in the new year & somethings i know are going to be sad. But that's life.

What 2013 will bring??

Justin Bieber concert with my girls!!
I will turn twenty two years old.
My second niece Harper will be brought into the world.
My brother Taylor will leave on his mission to New York!!
In March Chance & i will have been together for five years:]:]
My niece Averie will turn one! She is getting so big!
The Child, Allred, Bird California Trip!! We are going to DISNEYLAND
My husband & I will celebrate our first year anniversary of our wedding:]

& who else knows what this new year will bring. Like i said it is mostly unknown but whether it's good or bad i know that with out any doubt that I will be surrounded by friends, family, & those i love especially my husband who will be there for me no matter what happened. So as absolutely amazing 2012 was to me i can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for me.  So bring it on!! So you better believe that i will be spending my last few moments of 2012 with Chance's family at his aunts house with his entire extended family & i will be kissing my husband to start off our New Year together. Because i know that no matter what comes our way we will be together.

So here's to hoping you have a great New Years too!!:]


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

I am thankful.

Seeing as it is the month of November we are surrounded by colder weather, beautiful fall leaves, early Christmas music, black Friday shopping preparation, & men who forgot how to use a shaver. The best part about this month is Thanksgiving because that means being surrounded by family & tons of food. Which may not in turn be a good thing for fatten us all up. Oh well i am sure there is a tremendous increase in gym memberships after the new year is introduced to us & we see we have gained ten pounds. Anyways back to November:] On my social media sites i have been doing the 30 days of what your thankful for in your life, & so i can have it too look back on & maybe put into more detail i wanted to do it on my blog.


November 2012
I am thankful for....

1. First & foremost i am thankful for my sweet husband. He does so much for me & he absolutely has no idea how much i love him. We have only been married almost four months but eternity is looking great right now:] Being married has taught me so much & i now know that i could not live without him. I look through out engagement pictures, bridals, & wedding day photos & its all i can do not to smile like it was that day today. I am as happy today if not more than the day we were married. To not have to say goodnight & have him leave...to have him there with me every night next to me & wake up seeing him still gives me butterflies. I have a husband haha. That still makes me smile when i say that. I am the luckiest girl in the world, i know other girls think they are but they obviously have never been married to Chance {thankfully so} because he is all mine!! I am excited to spend these holidays together it will be significantly different than how i am used to spending the holidays but i welcome it, as long as i get to be with him. I want to thank him for everything he does for me each day & tell him i love him so much.

2. I am thankful for my amazing friendships that i have. I have been blessed with some of the worlds greatest friends. No matter how long some of us go without seeing each other due to our grown up, busy lives when we do get together it's like nothing has changed. I still know that at any given moment if i needed them they would be there. Some i have known since grade school, others i met in jr high, & then later in hair school but i don't know where i would be without them. I know they say blood is thicker than water but when your friends honestly become the sisters you never had but always wanted they...the become family. I am extremely grateful that i had them the two years that Chance was gone serving his mission in Michigan. If not for them i would have locked myself in my room & become a recluse until he came back home to me. I have learned so much through having them around & i am blessed to have each of them in my life.

3. I am thankful for strong examples that i have had in my life to teach me the person i need to be. These examples range from family members, to friends, church leaders, ward friends, seminary teachers, you name it i have learned something from them. I am especially grateful to my parents for their parents because without them i would not have been raised like i should have. I am so blessed to have the life i have, the family i have, the lessons i have learned & i hope one day my children will see how blessed they are due to their upbringing all because of these examples in my life.

4. I am thankful for the opportunity i have to work with my family everyday. As much as it is a fun, frustrating, hate you, love you type of roller coaster i realize that i am extremely lucky to be able to spend time with them everyday. I work with my Dad, Mom, & older brother Brennan. We even sometimes have Kimie come & help which in turn means Averie comes too:] It also makes me appreciate all the hard work my Dad did to get this business up & keep it running now for 5 years with the help of my mother of course. {we all know she is really the boss} He had worked for a company for almost 11 years & we had moved to Tennessee for it when they wanted him to manage the warehouse. We eventually moved back after 3 years & they wanted us to go back but my mom said no. Her family was here & so was my Dad's they didn't want to leave again. So the company found someone to move out there, & do it for much less than my dad was making & he was laid off. So when i say i am proud of my Dad i really am. All my life they have taught me about hard work but not just with words but by their actions & have shown me that as parents you will do anything to support your family.

5. I am thankful to live in the United States of America!! I know we have our problems but we are better off than most. I am grateful to those who lost their lives fighting for what they believe in. As a woman I am grateful for the women's right movement so that I can vote today! I am thankful for my freedom where I can say what I want to say, believe in what I choose to believe in, & not be told what believe in. I do not take my freedom for granted. I love this country I live in & will continue to fight like those who came before us, but unlike them I do not have to die to stand up for what I believe in all I have to so is vote!! God Bless America because we know we need it!! I am thankful for the troops past, present, & future who fight to keep our freedom. Without you we would have nothing!!

(pre warning i was a little mad with the outcome of the election when i wrote this one)
6. I am thankful for the knowledge that this life isn't the only one. That when we are done on this earth we have an eternity with our families. That while lying & cheating is the way to get ahead in this world, integrity & honesty is the way to get to heaven. & those who don't get there will surely burn:) I am thankful for the knowledge of God to know he is there for us always. But really in all honesty I have a true, sure knowledge of a life after death. a life filled with love, & family for an eternity. I have dealt with a lot death in my family & the only thing that keeps you going when someone passes is the knowledge that this is not the end, you will see them again.

7. I am thankful for my beautiful niece:) She is the most beautiful baby girl in the whole world!! It has been so fun to see her grow since she was born & I can't wait to continue to watch her grow & spoil her rotten:) I have had my friends daughter Brynlie in my life since we were juniors in high school so she has always been my baby. I did not think any one would even come close to how much i love her but Averie has caught right up. Being the only girl in my family growing up i am welcoming all the girls we can get into our family. I love Averie Elizabeth Wall more than she will ever know! I intend on continuing to spoil her so much & being the favorite aunt (sorry kimies sisters it's going to happen:] hahaha)

8. I am thankful for all my second sets of parents:) I not only lucked out with the most amazing friends but were instantly adopted into their families & treated like their other daughter!! To know that you all would do anything for me & in turn i would do anything for you guys is so amazing. They are all such great examples to me! Thank you for all the memories i have made with your families that i know will continue to grow over the years. I love you all so much!! Thanks for always welcoming me into your homes & your lives! I love you Spoogs & papa Hone, papa Rhett & Ann, & my mommy Brown:)

9. I am thankful for the beautiful state I live in:) It may be in the Utah bubble but this is home to me. i can't imagine living permanently somewhere else. This is where I want my family to grow up surround by both mine & Chances' families:) The weather & seasons we have spring, summer, fall, winter what a beautiful place we live in!!! I am so blessed to have grown up here!!

10. I am thankful for the past, present, & future troops that have served & fought for Americas freedoms!! I can't thank you enough for your sacrifice & the sacrifice of your family. My amazing Grandpa Shepherd served in the Army during Korean War so I have always looked at our troops as American heroes. So thank you so much for your service. America would be nothing without you!! God Bless the Troops!!

11. & 12. I am so thankful for my sweet, amazing, parents which go hand in hand but they each deserve their own praises so i will combine them both. They are the greatest parents in the world. They have taught me everything I know in life, how to treat others, how to work hard, how to love, how to be a good person, & I know I am so blessed to have them. I get to work with my parents each day & although sometimes we get frustrated with another we all come back the next day & it's so much fun. They have taught me how to live my life & how to raise my own children when the time comes. They have truly become some of my best friends. I remember being sixteen & thinking they were the two worst people in the world always wanting to ruin my life & i am sure when my kids are 16 they will fell the way i did but i know they will mature & find out that your parents are always there for you no matter what. AlI they want in life is what is best for you. I am again blessed to have gotten them as my parents. I love them so much & I would not be who I am today if it wasn't for my parents:)

13. I am thankful for missionaries:] This week i have had a friend return home from their missions on Tuesday, yesterday, & had my cousin Aliza receive her mission call last night!! I am so grateful to my husband for serving a mission & blessing us & our future family for sacrificing two years to serve the Lord. I have had a great opportunity to watch my older brother & all his friends leave on mission, come home & jump right back into life &get married:] They all were my first look into what missionaries do when they are gone & how bitter-sweet it is to have them there. My brother-in-law Taylor should be getting his call in the next few weeks & i am so excited for him!! I will miss him so much but i know how amazing it will be & that he will come back!! Missions are an amazing thing that changes lives. Not only those you teach but yours & your families also. I am grateful for the missionaries & all the do to bring the children of God the gospel!!

14. Today i am thankful for modern technology. Without it i don't know what i would do. Especially here at work. The fact that you can talk to someone through a text message or computer is amazing. I am around technology all day at work & sometimes we don't stop & think how amazing it all is. Even though i have been without a phone for a few days which is sometimes nice, i can honestly say i couldn't live without it i rely on technology maybe a little too much.

15. Tonight I had such a time going out with my husband & my parents!! We went to a friends wedding reception & then out to dinner!! Who knew when you got married you got to date your parents:) Then if that's not enough they drop off my car with $20 bucks of gas in it because my gas light was on. I know I already said I was thankful for my parents so I am thankful today for the friendship I have with my parents. Growing up you find out your family end up being your best friends & it's so true! I love them so much!!:)

16. Today I am very thankful for medicine, cough drops, naps, & warm blankets!! Being sick is no fun & I hope it goes away soon!! But really when you think about it we have all these things that are at our reach to try & make us get feeling better or heal if we have broken them. While doctor bills are no fun we have all these resources to try & heal diseases. We are living in a great time of modern medicine.

17.I am thankful for my amazing family:) We may not be perfect but what family is?? We love each other, we irritate one another, but at the end of the day we are always there for one another. I grew up being the only girl in the family with three brothers. I always felt i had a great relationship with my mom & that i was my daddy's little angel. I still feel that way being 21 years old & married. They are turning into one of my best friends. Blood is thicker than water & i can always count on them. I am so blessed to have then as my family:):)

18. I am so thankful tonight to come home & be with my husband:) After two really long days manning our Christmas booth at the mall I am looking forward to getting to spend the day with him tomorrow!! Sometimes when you are married you get so busy that a kiss goodbye in the morning & a kiss goodnight is all you get with each other some days!! I love being married & I love my husband so much!!

19. I am thankful that i can say that i have a job & have been over worked the whole weekend!! But hey i am bound to receive a great check come pay day. Hard work pays off in the end!! Especially in this economy but i am grateful to have such an amazing job that pays my bills. Now to just figure out what i am going to get Chance for Christmas with my big paycheck & my Christmas tree decorations:] (which i totally bought the cutest tree decorations)

20. I am thankful for the opportunity to be married in the temple. When i think back on my wedding i reminded of what a beautiful day it was. Not only was i married to the love of my life but i was able to have the most powerful spiritual experience with my Grandpa who passed away five years ago. I really can't explain in words how my heart felt like it was going to burst in the sealing room. This year it was the best thing to ever happen to me because it later helped me to have a full knowledge that i will see my loved ones again. Especially when i learned that one of my best friends Sean Halladay passed away. I know i will see him again & that he is watching over us. I always knew that but the experience i had in the temple just made it so real.

21. I am thankful for the new family i got through marriage:] From my amazing in-laws to my adorable brother, including their entire extended family i love each & every one of them. I really scored on the best in laws ever & since i am destined to never have a sister (love you my sister in-laws) i have two more brother added on to my list. They go over to their grandma Connie's house ever Sunday & while sometimes they are crazy i love them.

22. I can't say i am thankful for Chance's side of the family without telling my extended family how much i love all of them. I was blessed with the greatest families on both sides. Where i am one of the oldest on one side & one of the youngest on the other. At times my cousin were my best & sometimes my only friends. They can be crazy too but who's family isn't at times:]

23. I am thankful for mistakes i have made & what i have learned from them. The mistakes i have made in my life have made me who i am today. I may only be twenty one years old but i feel like i have lived & learned so much. I still continue to make mistakes & learn today but i always welcome it.

24.I am thankful for my home:] Even though it is just a little basement apartment it is our first married home!! I am blessed to live about a minute away from my parents & about ten from Chance's. I am blessed to be surrounded by family all over. I am also blessed to have the best landlord ever.

25. I am thankful for laughter. It helps me through my daily life. Honestly without it life would be so boring. If i laugh at least once everyday i will be doing pretty good. The person who probably makes me laugh the most every single day is my husband. I am glad we share the same sense of humor. You can never laugh too much!!

26. I am thankful for the power of love. Hand in hand with laughter love gets me through everything. Love is the only thing powerful in the world. I am blessed with enormous amounts of love. Love from my husband, from our families, from our friends.....there is no end. My love for them has no end either:]

27. I am thankful for my health. I have been working on it more lately trying to take better care of my self just by eating better & exercising. i have successfully lost twenty pounds & though i am not done i just want to continue to be healthy & be able to have energy to work & to be a wife (& hopefully in the next few years) a mother.

28. I am thankful for the ring on my left hand:] What it means & represents at times take my breathe away. It reminds me that i have a loving husband to come home to everyday. One who truly loves me including every flaw i have. I love knowing that i am bound to my husband for eternity. I love being reminded of the beautiful day when i became what i have always wanted to be...a wife!!

29. I am thankful for forgiveness. I am not perfect & i know everyone else is not either. I myself have to be better at forgiving others & my self. But i am also grateful for those who i have wronged or hurt who have forgiven me. Like i said i am not perfect & i never will be but the feeling you get when you truly & sincerely forgive someone that feeling is unforgettable.

30. I am thankful for all of my blessings. I know everything i have listed falls under the category of "blessings" I sometimes get lost in looking at other people's life & wishing my life was more like someone else because they seem to have it easier than i do. Whether it's more established financially, or whatever i choose to dwell on i am reminded how much worse i could have it. I am truly so blessed. I have endless blessings in my life everyday. Sometimes i may over look them but now i have something to look back on when i am having one of those days i can read this & be reminded all the blessings i have. From things, to family, to friends, to my husband i am so blessed.

 

“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.”

-Oprah Winfrey

Saturday, October 13, 2012

the darkness that takes over, & the light that saves us

I sit here wondering where i go from here. I have sat here & put on such a brave face in the midst of a horrible, horrible situation that i am afraid to face. But with joy comes pain, where there is happiness there is sadness. Good things happen to good people & bad things happen to good people. I was laying on the couch watching one of my favorite tv shows & it just registered to me life isn't fair. It never has been, & it never will be. Things will happen that we can't control & we are told that all our lives but they really never told us how we are supposed to handle these things. Do we hide? Run away? Cry? Laugh? Get drunk? Try & just forget? Move on with your life? The harsh reality of life is they don't tell you how you are supposed to deal with situations in life. There are only so many self help books out there (not that I've read any. Ask anyone i don't hardly read at all let alone self help books) but sometimes i feel like I'm a self help book to everyone around me. How is it that we are so quick to try & fix everyone else around us but are so slow to fix our own emptiness in our life. I'm really bad at asking for help when i need it. I feel that if i ask for help it makes me weak. I always try to be strong for everyone else, in that way i am so guarded. To see me crying or in a vulnerable circumstance is very rare. I don't know how i became so guarded but then i remember i was brought up to be strong. But does that mean I'm a failure when I'm not always strong??? No, it only means I'm human. I've dealt with a lot of loss in my life but the loss of my best friend Sean I've felt so empty but no one but my husband would really know about that. It even takes me a while to break down in front of him & tell him how i am feeling about everything. This is when i miss Sean's sweet uplifting words of advice. But who am i to be grieving when i know his family & Paige's life have been ripped from them? Lately i have thought about what i would do if i ever lost my sweet husband Chance. Life is all about learning, we never know why certain things happen in our lives but slowly i think how we handle things start to define us. I can't say how everyone handles things because i am almost certain i am not a role model of how to handle difficult situations in life. The truth is life is beautiful, hard, full of joy, filled with sadness, trials, & hard times but that is life. I believe everything happens for a reason. It doesn't mean it makes life easier or makes it easier to accept. Life is hard but it's so wonderful. People get lost when we think that happiness is a destination, but happiness is a mood not a destination it comes & goes. But we all struggle sometimes. So it's okay to be happy or sad, devastated, over joyed, broken, empty, & loved. You just need to breathe & know that eventually everything will be alright. I will be happy & i will be sad. I will smile & i will cry. But someday i will be okay but not because i am concurring everything by myself.......but for those who are around me who help me even when i don't ask or when they have no idea they are helping. It's okay to be bitter about life sometimes but don't let it define you. You are better than that. I am better than that. I am not perfect & neither are you. I am lucky enough to have been blessed with some amazing people in my life & they will never know how truly grateful i am for each & everyone of them. Especially my sweet husband who takes more crap from me than he deserves:] I can't speak for anyone else but i have an amazing life. That sometimes gets clouded but i always know i am blessed. No matter what hard times i am going through. So right now i will laugh & i will cry. I am going to smile & i will break. But i will be okay even when i need to ask for help:] That's something i need to work on. I know i feel so empty & broken right now but i will eventually not feel that way. But for tonight right now i am going to keep watching the tv & anxiously await my sweet husbands return from work & a hug that makes everything better. Just remember happiness is not a destination its a mood.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Sean Michael Halladay

Tuesday was undoubtedly the most heart breaking day in my life. I feel like right now i am not even capable of comprehending what just happened this morning. I lay here anxiously awaiting his unannounced visit at Paige's house like he always did while we were sitting here in her room. I can't decide if it has fully hit me yet it seems to come in waves but in that tender moment when I'm reminded he is gone i can't help to shed a few tears. The funeral was beautiful, so much was shared. I never really knew his family before this but after we have gone through this i feel like i have known them forever. I grew such a great love for his mom, step dad, sisters, & brother. They are so welcoming & sweet for the past few days i have felt right at home with them. The first day i met his mom i was over at Paige's house because she had called me that morning & told me the news so i quickly rushed over & stayed by her side all day. Heather & Scott stopped by & Paige introduced me. Heather with a tear in her eye & a smile hugged me like she knew who i was & said "I know exactly who you are, Sean talked about you all the time." This was such a sweet tender moment & i surely won't soon forget it. Aside from the horrible reason we came together i feel truly blessed to have spent the time i have with them & really grown to love them so quickly.


Paige took me took me to the tree where you crashed & i couldn't help but think of every why question in my head. Not knowing exactly what happened spikes my curiosity & i can't help but wonder what happened. I know everything happens for a reason but it doesn't make it easier to accept. But knowing i will see you again is such a huge comfort to me. I don't know how i would be able to handle this without the knowledge that i do know. It won't stop my tears but it will defiantly bring a smile to my face. Just like Sean always could:]

I had so many great memories with Sean. How could i not? He was one of my best friends & he was like a glowing ball of happiness. You could not hold a straight face when he was around. He lit up a room with out even trying with those big brown eyes, & that infectious smile. I became really good friends with him in tenth grade when he started dating my best friend Paige Seat. We were instantly best friends & that bond will never be broken. When Paige was pregnant with baby b Sean was there every step of the way but biologically Brynlie wasn't his daughter. But to me Sean will always be Brynlie's daddy. He went to every doctors appointment, was there in the hospital when she was born, he took care of the dad role & he was absolutely amazing at it. I remember him being so excited to take Paige to prom that year before bryn was born. I was at school & it was "T-Bone Tuesday" which was something Brady, Sean, & I would do all the time. I honestly don't hardly recall a time when Paige came with. Some times a random friend would come but i always wondered why i was allowed to go:] We got back to school & I'm walking to my fourth period class & low & behold Brady & Sean pull up next to me & tell me they need my help to go pick out their tuxes for prom. So me being the honor student that i was said no. HAHA that's a lie. I would take any excuse to leave school. So i hoped in the car & off we went to go get their prom attire. That memory for some reason stands out in my mind. I don't know why but it is one of my fondest memories of him.

I remember every time i would go eat a Joe bandidos & I was never sat in his area but he ALWAYS would come fill up my drink if he was there. always, always. It's the little things like that, that truly meant the most to me. Now everyone who knows him enough knows how much he loved music. Techno/dubstep included. So obviously raves were one of his favorite things to go to! Me & Paige were always on board because we also shared the same interest in them as he did! I can't even name all the ones we have been to but my absolute favorite one was a almost four years ago to one called Get Lucky. Only him, Paige, & I went together. But honestly that was all we needed. Anyways we were driving up to Salt Lake in Sean's car & they were doing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. Holding hand, laughing, giving each other a kiss on the cheek & i just busted out in tears. My now husband at the time was on his mission in Michigan & hadn't been gone more than maybe 3 weeks & i was heart broken. Seeing them together made me miss him so much. To cheer me up Sean played on repeat my favorite benny bennassi song for literally 20 minutes over & over until he could get me smiling & dancing in the back of the car. That night to date was the funnest time I've ever had. Just dancing with each other listening to the music being with the only two people that could make me that happy in that moment in time. Nothing has ever topped that. We never needed anyone else around when it was just us & i loved that so much. He would sit & cuddle with me when i was sad he always knew how to make me laugh. He has helped me with so many things that i don't think i ever truly expressed how much it meant to me. He always thought the best of everyone, no matter you story. He believed full hearted in people & their dreams. He was seriously unlike anyone i had ever been friends with. I opened up to him about things i didn't dare tell anyone else for fear of being judged. I knew he would never act that way towards me. Even when i was at the lowest points in my life he knew how to lift me back up. He always believed in me & that never wavered.

When i got home from the funeral i was just messing on facebook & found this.


It just goes to show how truly appreciative he was of the little things. Everything that seems like little tiny things that most of us would over look he took into his heart. What was so special about our relationship was it didn't end just because him & Paige did. Maybe it was because they never really ended on a bad note things would just get complicated. But he always wanted to stay friends. Whether it was a text or a fb comment or a ride to talk & get a drink he always wanted to keep in touch. Then when they would get back together it was like BAM connected at the hip all three of us. We seriously had the best times together just sitting in Paige's room talking.
 
He was the absolute sweetest person i have ever met. There is absolutely no one like him. I've never seen someone who could just make friends with an absolute stranger like he could. He was constantly, without fail so good at reading people & he always knew what they needed. Through all his kind acts & words he never expected it back. He was truly out to do good no matter what was going on in his life, no matter what hard times he was going through. Sean Michael Halladay is the sweetest, most amazing person i have ever come in contact with. & i can't wait till the day when i will get to see him again. See that sweet smile:] Sean you will always hold a special place in my heart. So only to be able to share memories about him would & not say he was one of the most influential people I've ever met would be untrue. The things he wanted to do, the dreams he had. He wanted to open up a home to help troubled youth because at a young age he was dealt a hard life. All he seriously wanted from his life was to help everyone some how big or small he wanted to help each & every person he met to either smile or just have a bit of a better day. He just wanted to help. Anyone. Everyone. He just wanted to help.

My sweet Sean i will never forget everything you have taught me. I will miss you so much but i swear to be by Paige's side through all of this like i have been already. I will take your place & be her foundation when she doesn't have one. She is so lost without you but with our help we will help her find her way. She loves you so much, same as i, & brynlie. I love you so much i am blessed to have known you as long as i have. You have the most infectious attitude that will live on even now that you have passed. Prepare our way up there & have fun reaching even those unimaginable dreams you have because now nothing can hold you back. Your life has no limits in heaven where you are now watching over your loved ones. I cannot wait to be greeted with those big brown eyes & that sweet smile when i pass on. You have truly changed my life for the better. In honor of you i promise to try & be more like you. Having a more positive outlook on life & just love everyone, literally everyone like you did. I love you so much, forever & always you will never leave my heart you are an inspiration to so many & mostly to me. Memories forever, never forgotten best friends to the end. Love you Sean Michael Halladay:]


We put a smile on our faces because despite all "it was a beautiful day."

Bryn's flowers to Sean.
When I Get Where I'm Going

When I get where I'm going,
On the far side of the sky,
The first thing I'm gonna do
Is spread my wing and fly.

 Im gonna land beside a lion,
And run my fingers through his mane.
Or I might find out what its like,
To ride a drop of rain

Yeah when I get where I'm goin,
There'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I'm goin,
Don't cry for me down here

 I'm gonna walk with my grand daddy.
Then I'll hug his neck.


Brynlie without being told wore this
watch that Sean had given her.
She will forever love, & miss

her daddy.
her daddy.

Yeah when I get where I'm goin,
There'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.

Yeah when I get where I'm goin,
Don't cry for me down here

So much pain and so much darkness,
In this world we stumble through.
All these questions I can't answer,
And so much work to do

But when I get where I'm goin,
And I see my maker's face,
I'll stand forever in the light,
Of his amazing Grace.

Yeah when I get where I'm goin,

There'll be only happy tears.
I will love and have no fear.
When I get where I'm going
Yeah when I get where I'm going

Every minute sence he left,

And I'll tell him how I missed him

And he'll match me step for step.


 
A Letter From Heaven
To my dearest family, some things Id like to say.
But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven.
Here I dwell with God above.
Here, theres no more tears of sadness;
Here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because
I'm out of sight.Remember that I am with
 you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life
on earth was through.God picked me up
and hugged me and He said, I welcome you.
Its good to have you back again, you were
missed while you were gone.As for your
dearest family, They'll be here later on. 

I need you here so badly, you are part of my
plan.There is so much that we can do, to help
our mortal man.God gave me a list of things,
that he wished for me to do.And foremost on
the list, was to watch and care for you.And
whenyou lie in bed at night the days chores
put to flight.God and I are closest to you....
in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on earth, and all
those loving years. Because you are only
human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the
pain.Remember there would be no flowers,
unless there was some rain. I wish that I could
tell you all that God has planned. If I were to
tell you, you wouldn't understand.

But one thing is for certain, though my life on
earth is over.I'm closer to you now, than I ever
was before.There are rocky roads ahead of you
and many hills to climb; But together we can do
it by taking one day at a time.It was always my
philosophy and Id like it for you too;That as you
give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who is in sorrow
and pain; Then you can say to God at night
....My day was not in vain. And now I am
contented... that my life was worthwhile.
Knowing as I passed along the way I made
somebody smile. So if you meet somebody
who is sad  and feeling low; Just lend a hand
to pick them up, as on your way you go.

When you're walking down the street and
you've got me on your mind; I'm walking in
your footsteps only half a step behind. And
when its time for you to go...from that body
to be free. Remember you're not going...
you're coming here to me.



 
                          
We all love & miss you so much Sean.


Families are forever. He will always be in your heart &
he is up in heaven watching over you all.
Scott, Heather, Britni, Sadie, David, & Paige i love
you all more than you will ever know & so does Sean

"Be Fearless If you make only one resolution this year, let it be to live boldly.
You control this moment: Rather than cautiously test the water, dive straight into
life with freeing abandon. Imagine the person you want to be and the life you want
to live, then simply commit to them. Believe in yourself. Embrace your beauty.
Discover a new passion. And whatever you do, wherever you go,
don't be afraid to make a splash."
♥ Sean Michael Halladay ♥



 


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

My 9/11 Story.

September 11th, 2001 is a bitter day for most, but for me there is a little tenderness to it. I remember the day it happened, i was in fifth grade. We were in our class & my teacher let us out for morning recess & when we came back she was watching the TV, crying. I remember her having us write in our journal about what it meant to us. She tried to explain the best she could about the devastating events of what just happened. We were young & we knew something was wrong but she tried to explain it in a calm, non scary way. Half way through the day my mom checked me & my two brothers out of school. I never really understood why she had wanted to be with her kids that day until a couple of years ago.

My dad worked for a company called Achieve Global up in draper. He had worked there for about 9 years at the time. Being so young i never really understood what his job was but i knew they had moved us to Tennessee & back & that they had the best Halloween parties ever!! My dad had a big office to himself & being so young i thought that was so cool. He traveled a lot for his job & that was exciting because he always brought us a present from where he had traveled to. On the really cool trips that he would go on my mom would tag along & have a mini vacation with my dad after all his meetings were done.

My dad was in charge of a conference in New York City. It was a really big deal for my dad to be spear heading this conference. My mom of course wanted to go!! Who says no to a free trip to New York!! At the time she was pregnant with my younger brother Austin. All the plans were made from the flights, to the hotel bookings, the meetings, a few activities, & the dinners. But then a week before my mom was admitted into the hospital because she was bleeding. She begged the doctor to let her go to New York with my dad but the doctor said it was too much of a risk. She told me today she remembers being so bummed that she couldn't go but my dad was still planning on it. He didn't want to let them all down I'm sure. But he just didn't feel right about it. So after a lot of prayers & a hard decision made my dad had to tell his boss he had to cancel due to his wife's condition. Because my dad was in charge of it they bagged the whole trip. My little brother Austin was born a few days later on September 9th. They changed the conference to their offices in Draper & some of the people in Florida flew in & some just had a conference call with everyone. Now why does this even matter? I will tell you.

On the itinerary for this business trip they were scheduled to have a meeting, a morning tour, & then a lunch. Where at you might ask?? On September 11, 2001 they were supposed to be at the world trade centers at 8:00 a.m for a tour & then they would have a meeting over lunch in a top room in the tower. The people from Florida started calling in when they heard about the World Trade Centers saying "Can you imagine what this would have done. We would have all died." Knowing they were all so close to death shocked everyone to the core.

Now this didn't really hit me for quite a few years because again i was in fifth grade. My parents weren't going to scare us with that news. But last year my mom, dad, & Austin were driving in the car when he asked what happened to the twin towers. My mom explained terrorism to him & then asked him if he knew that they were supposed to be touring one of the towers for a business trip that day. She told him that a week before she was hospitalized so they canceled the trip & he was born on the ninth. Austin went quite for about a minute or so & then said "so i was i gift? I saved your life." My mom replies "yes you are my hero, you saved my life." Today is so bitter sweet to me because even though it was filled with absolute terror I see God's hand in saving my family. Something I will never be able to explain why it happened. I just know I am very blessed. 

My mom could have been fine & her along with my dad could have left on the trip & been in that tower when it went down & i could have lost both my parents & my unborn brother.

They could have went on the trip & my mom go into labor a few days into the trip & had Austin in a New York hospital. Then most likely my dad still would have went that to the Trade Center that day & we could have lost him.

Realizing this every year, being reminded of it brings me to tears. But it also makes me ask why us?

Why was my family & those my dad worked with spared from this devastating heart break. They didn't have to cancel the whole trip just because my dad couldn't go but they did. My heart deeply, & truly goes out to those who lost a loved on that day. I didn't realize it then, but i was so close to being one of them. I would have grown up with out my loving parents & never met my little brother. I would have missed out on so many things. I would have never gotten to dance with my dad at my wedding, or go pick out my first bra with my mom, or my wedding dress. All these little things that i know i take for granted everyday i could have been without. I know a lot of people have a hard time seeing God in this day but i do. My family was blessed probably with more than we deserve. Today i am grateful for my loving family i have been blessed with, the love that i have for them is endless. I am grateful for this wonderful country who rose up from the ashes of that day. This is a day that i will never forget. In honor of those who we lost God bless you & your families. You will never be forgotten.


I hear people saying we don't need this war
But, I say there's some things worth fighting for
What about our freedom and this piece of ground
We didn't get to keep 'em by backing down
They say we don't realize the mess we're getting in
Before you
start
your preaching let me ask you this my friend

Have you forgotten how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside going thru a living hell
And you say we shouldn't worry 'bout bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

They took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it's too disturbing for you and me
It'll just breed anger that's what the experts say
If it was up to me I'd show it everyday
Some say this country's just out looking for a fight
Well, after 9/11 man I'd have to say that's right

Have you forgotten how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside going thru a living hell
And we vowed to get the one’s behind bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

I've been there with the soldiers
Who've gone away to war
And you can bet
that they remember
Just what they're fighting for

Have you forgotten all the people killed?
Yeah, some went down like heroes in that Pennsylvania
field Have you forgotten about our Pentagon?
All the loved ones that we lost and those left to carry on
Don't you tell me not to worry about bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten?

I will never forget.