my girl Tori :)

SOOO proud of this girl, and SOOO happy and excited for her!!!

I've written about Tori before - she's beyond awesome - but this time tops them all :)

Tori made the decision to serve as a sister missionary for our church!

This is no small decision - it means 24/7 hard work and dedication for 18 months.

But it also means the experience of a lifetime through serving others in the name of Christ.

And a lot of fun :)

Her call came in December - we were all DYING to see where it would be!

I knew it had to be someplace fabulous, because Tori will make such a wonderful missionary!

And I was right - she was called to serve in the ROME, ITALY mission!!!!!

Could that be any more fabulous?!?!

I absolutely treasure this photo of me with Tori and Tori's mom Tina :)

So last week a handful of us went with Tori to the LDS Temple in Santa Monica

Is she too adorable or WHAT! She was so excited - what a WONDERFUL day in her life!

Tori is the daughter I never had and such a blessing in my life... I hardly have words for it.

I just love her so much. I was her escort through the temple and it was a such an honor for me.

It meant more to me than I can express... it was one of the best days of my life :)

Here she is afterwards with her dad - he pinched her right before I took this pic :D

What a darling father/daughter picture - I just love it :)

And I think this may be one of my favorite photos of all time -

Kerrie Edwards (Tori's amazing Young Women's leader), Tori and I afterwards :)

~

TI VOGLIO BENE SORELLA ROST!!!!!

the funeral singer

You know that Adam Sandler movie "the Wedding Singer"? (I love that movie)

I'm the Funeral Singer.

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that here on my blog somewhere in the past, but if not, just take my word for it - I really am the Funeral Singer. You may think that's a really odd thing to be. You may even think it's a really depressing thing to be. Which I guess it could be. But I don't see it that way at all. I see it as a huge blessing in my life. I'm not sure I always felt that way. But after some 30 years of singing at funerals now and then, and some 16 or so funerals later (not including my own family members), I think of it much differently than I did back when I sang at that very first funeral during college. One good thing about getting older, is you have a much different perspective about things. I'm grateful for that.

There are some situations that are, of course, easier than others. That never takes the sadness out of them - no matter what the situation is, any loved one that passes away is mourned and will always be missed. But I find great comfort in the fact that perhaps a person had lived a long, fulfilling life, and was now set free from the cares of this world... uniting once again with friends and family members already on the other side. I know not everyone shares this belief. But that belief has come as natural to me from the time I was a little girl, as the sun coming up every morning. The belief that as sad or afraid as we may be to leave this life, the beginning of a new phase of an even greater life waits on the other side for us. So in a very real sense, a funeral is not only a celebration of that person's life, but of their going home again, if you will.

Just as there are situations that are perhaps easier for us to participate in, there are also just as many - if not more - situations that can test not only our emotional state, our belief system, and our faith as a whole. Part of this life is death, and death comes to all at different times and in different ways. When a dear friend dies of cancer, when a friend's sweet baby is taken so unexpectedly, when a friend's teenager dies in a terrible accident, when a soldier's life is taken... these situations and many others like them, are considered tragedies to us all. We may find ourselves begging God for a reason. We may find ourselves questioning what we always thought we believed. We may find ourselves not even wanting to face life anymore. We may find ourselves cursing God for letting such a thing happen. These are all normal reactions to losing loved ones unexpectedly and in ways that seem so unfair and tragic. These are the funerals that are not only heartbreaking to attend, but incredibly difficult to sing for. But strangely, I still love to sing for them.

Over the years, I have seen so many different instances - each one as unique as the person who has passed. In the beginning, it was very hard for me to contain my emotions..... and that's a near-panic situation for someone who needs to do a good job singing in front of hundreds of mourning people. I quickly learned to NEVER look down at the family members or even out at the congregation very much. I tried my best to keep a calm, serene smile on my face and sing to the back wall of the room. There were times, especially if I was singing for someone I actually knew, when singing to that back wall was the only thing between keeping my composure and ruining a beautiful service by melting into a blob of tears and goo. I'm not proud that on a few occasions I wavered between the two extremes. But I'm relieved to say I never melted into a blob of tears and goo.

As I got a bit older and had sung at several funeral services, my views started forming into what eventually became my love for singing for the beloved person who had passed, and most especially, for their family members left behind to mourn them. I started to see things in a very different light. First of all, I enjoyed learning about and celebrating their lives. It never ceases to amaze me that even those I thought I knew well, had things about them I never knew. It has always made me appreciate them even more. Many times it has inspired me and made me want to be a better person. I've always loved the saying "everyone has a story". I have found that to be true over and over again. Everyone does have a story. And everyone is special in their own way. Those things are even reflected in the songs they requested before their passing, or their family requests for them. I've sung everything from Amazing Grace, to Sunshine On My Shoulders, and everything in between. Each song or hymn has fit the person perfectly.

I finally came to understand, that singing for someone - singing for their family and friends - was the very last gift I could give this person. One of the very last gifts they'll be given here on earth before they're put to rest. It's not something that everyone can do. But I'm so grateful I can do it, because more and more, I have come to greatly love the ability to give that final gift of comfort and celebration. I find it a strange and unique opportunity, yet a great blessing to be able to impart that upon others. It's still heartbreaking at times. A few specific times in my life, it has taken everything I had in me to do it. But what an honor and a privilege it has been! To sing my gift of love for them. I thank God above that he has given me this great blessing I can share with others, and I know it is through him and him only, that I've been able to fulfill this calling.

giving thanks... friends

*Shell*

~

I can't even imagine life without the love of dear friends,

and I have been blessed beyond measure in that regard.

I am eternally grateful to each and every one -

from some of you loyal readers whom I have never met,

to online friends and bloggers I've come to know,

to friends who have come and gone throughout the years,

and even those I have recently become friends with -

Each and every one of you have touched my life.

~

This post is dedicated to my nearest and dearest friends,

starting with my cousin and friend Shell, above, 

and continuing in chronological order.

Some friends' photos are not present -

Hallie, Sandee, Mindi, Holly, Ruth, Dawn, LeAnn, Lisa, 

Jennie, Julie, Cheryl, Maria, J'Nette, Anna, Bev, ... 

a pretty endless list actually, and I apologize.

But you know who you are, and you know you have my love.

xoxoxoxo

*Annie*

9th grade - still in touch with

*Lauren, Renee, Liz & John*

9th grade again - still in touch with

*Tracy (center) and Susan*

9th grade once more - still in touch with

*Lucy, Lauren, and Van*

*Lauren*

(yep, the same Lauren as above)

 *Karen*

*Karen*

*Cheryl*

 *Susie, Marilyn and Leslie (LeAnn is missing)*

*Wendy* 

 *Diana*

*Joan*

*Jamie*

*Rochelle*

*Wendy*

*Shauna*

*Kim*

*Tami and Chris*

*Shannon*

*Traci*

*Vanessa, Rebecca, Robin, Kerrie, and Meghan*

the greatest young women on earth -

and I'm proud to call them my friends :)

~

I could go on and on about my friends and how I love them.

They have touched and blessed my life more than I can say.

Not a day goes by where I don't give thanks for them.

I consider friends one of the greatest gifts in life :)

xoxoxoxo

DC IV

 So this is what it's finally come to... a diet Coke IV... intravenous diet Coke fed smack dab directly into my veins! :/ HAH! MADE YA LOOK! :D This is NOT diet Coke - this is IRON! Which happens to be - ironically - the same brown color as diet Coke! And that was highly amusing to me :D  

Yesterday was my last iron infusion (I hope!) - WAHOOOOO!!! My hemoglobin count is almost within normal ranges now. I have teeny tiny, extremely naughty veins that do not like to cooperate. So I will not miss the aftermath of all that poking! It hurts, it swells, it's lumpy, and it looks hideous :/

Funny though... I will miss the nurses and the peace I felt at the infusion center. I'll never get over the first time I walked in there and saw all those patients hooked up to their IV's receiving chemotherapy. Some without their hair, some very cheerful, some so ill. It has been a humbling experience and a faith building one as well. Not a day goes by that I don't stop to express my gratitude for my blessings AND my trials. So... I continue trying to find the right meds for my EXTREMELY ANNOYING lupus. And starting from square one with a new rheumatologist :/ But it's all good my friends - IT'S ALL GOOD!!!

HAPPY FRIDAY! AND 4th of JULY WEEKEND!

Stay tuned for more blog posts throughout the weekend!

wild child Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day! Brought to you by Dazzled Tarts' Sweethearts Candy in the fun Wild Child themed box. Hah! Can you even stand it? It says Wild Child right on there. As if it were custom made for my little blog. Heaven almighty and mercy me! My blog must be famous and I didn't even know! Ok, not. But it made my day.

I first found out about these little gems from my dear friend Cindy in NY, whos head nearly exploded when she first saw them. My knees almost buckled when she showed me. And the day I unsuspectingly happened upon them here in CA, I seriously thought I would crease four ways. Right in the middle of World Market. In public.

It really is the little things that bring us the most happiness sometimes. All the little things add up to big things :)   

So count your blessings today my friends. Add up all those little things because they're bigger than you think.

❤ ❤ ❤

heartache

We had a rough weekend. There's really no other way to say it. Watching some dear friends go through tragedy and loss as the result of a terrible car accident. No one's fault, just a fluke at the end of an amazing day. And then feeling helpless, our hearts breaking for our friends. And yet... and yet... witnessing a miracle as a sweet, special girl visiting from all the way across the pond, who should not have survived that accident... did. And as seriously injured as she is... continues to improve. Someone is watching over these good people. Someone is sending their blessings of comfort and peace. Our love and prayers are constantly with you, our dear friends - you know who you are  ❤  

I know when you see this posted here, you may think it strange after what I have just explained. But I received this from my friend Wendy over the weekend and it was the first thing that made me smile and warmed my heart. It's silly and funny, yes, but most of all it's heartwarming and sweet. And besides, the orangutan reminds me of Davy :)   

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