I know I need to post more I'm getting on it

Okay so I will post on Tip and Liney's birthday in a few days. But I just had to share the best somewhat compliment I have.

One of my YCL's from camp has chosen a new life. She has decided to keep that spiritual high she had at camp. She then went to Youth Conference and was uplifted in her choice. Since then, she has changed who she is hanging out with. Her countenance is so strong! Her spirit radiates from her. Her smile is true and not forced.

She told me that it all started with the planning of camp, and the week of camp, really changed her outlook on life. I am so proud of her! She has started a blog about how she is changing. I am so encouraged that one life was touched by camp. I will post later about camp as well, but just know that it was everything I had hoped it would be and beat it out of the park by a mile as well.

Love, one proud serrogate mother!

My famous words of wisdom

Well they really aren't mine, but I have had to learn to say and live by them the last little bit of my life. Whether it is to cope with something, or to just calm myself down. Two little phrases come to my mind

"It is what it is"

"Just Roll with It"

I have had many times in the last couple of months to learn to do the above stated sayings.

Girls camp is not what it should be here in Pensacola and I am having to learn that the hard way. Luckily I am surrounded with people who think the same way I do on the matter and once July has rolled by, I will be done with it.
Don't take me wrong though, I love girls camp. It is my all time favorite part of the YW program. I am very blessed to work with some awesome adults and YW. But the politics of being a stake camp director can be testing to me. I know I am very headstrong, I know that I like things done my way, but somethings I am actually right on. I followed the book to the letter and I am some how wrong. But oh well. Next year they can do it themselves, then we will see how much Katie Craig actually knows about camp.

Just roll with it. Right?

Then this week we had just what no parent ever wants to hear

I am so sorry, you have had a miscarriage.

It is what it is.

Well right now, you are probably thinking "why is she posting this?" but for me this is my journal and I am getting it out. If you don't want to read this part I am ok and will not be offended. But it is something I need to do.

We waited to tell everyone we were pregnant with a few exceptions. (close friends, and family) We misscarried in 07 with a blighted ovum. This was sad, I had to have a D and C and everything was ok. Yes I mourned not being pregnant but there wasn't an actual baby in there so it for me anyway was a pretty quick recovery period.

This time however, I was 11 weeks pregnant excited for JJ to have a buddy to play with. I guess you could say that this one was somewhat planned. I know that we get prego really fast and all but this was just one that we were hoping for.

We went to the doctor on Monday, Liney's birthday (post to follow soon I promise for both Tip and Liney) we had an ultrasound. When we went into the room and saw no heartbeat we both just knew. The cute little lab tech said, "the doctor will come in and speak with you about the ultrasound" (code for: oh crap I don't want to tell them) and our fears were confirmed.

So the doctor came in and we talked, scheduled another D and C for Tues. Can I just take a moment to tell you how happy I am that I am surrounded by some amazing people? Thank you to all who keep babysitting me during this time! My surgery went well, except for a horrible sore throat. The tubes aggrivated something bad in my throat for sure. Anyway, we came home and Stacey, Missy, Liz and Mark and Maria were all here for us the whole way. From taking my kids, to cooking dinners, to offering to babysit me. They were all here. Then comes the next wave of people who are so close to us, Carrie, Carla, the Alvarez girls, Sarah Lazane, Dene, and April, even Natalia who I do not know very close yet, they were all here showing support. I do need to mention My family and Brents as well. I know you are not close to us but thank you for all you do and show your support.

The kids have taken this all on them. I have to apologize to them for seeing their mom spontaneously burst into tears all day. That is not something I want them to see. But we have had a few talks and they just want to make sure I am not in pain. Brent is the best too! He has said to me so many times "I just want to make you better. I know that we are not having a baby right now, but my priority is you" WOW. That is so what I want to hear. MY husband loves me so much that he even gets mushy with me. I love you moneymaker!

So thank you to all that are standing by us, by me, by my kids. You don't know how much we love you. I don't know if we will try right away for another baby, but we are not out of the mix just yet.

The great thing that I think about is very simple. It makes me cry to think of it. I have a beautiful family. I can have babies. I have a forever family. My marriage is eternal. I have a Heavenly Father that knows my needs and knows my weaknesses. I am supposed to learn from this and I will. I know that Heavenly Father knows what is best for our family. I am so blessed to know for sure that he has my best intrest at heart.

Sorry for the long post, but like we say "It is what it is"

Happy Anniversary

So this last week Brent and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. Our original plan years ago included a wedding ring that didn't turn my finger green but only "if" we made it to this anniversary. It has been our little joke for a long time. However, on year 8 Brent found a screamin' deal at a jeweler going out of business, so I got that ring 2 years ago.

Or other plan was to go on our first cruise for our 10 year anniversary. Well, we had a beautiful baby named Jackson at the end of year 9 and I just can't leave him so young for our anniversary.

Year 1:

A night at home with a newborn Abbey.

Year 2:

A night at Anniversary Inn 8 months pregnant with Hunter in a bed shaped like an octopus and only I fit in it. Good times

Year 3:

Another night at Anniversary in pregnant with Caroline. This however was a huge bed! we made sure

Year 4:

A night at home once again

Year 5:

Spent apart. Brent helped Nate move

Year 6:

Once again spent apart. He moved to South Bend and I joined him 6 weeks later

Year 7:

Spent at home. lovely night

Year 8:

Spent in an apartment on the West side of Pensacola (New Wedding Ring Year)

Year 9:

Went to Crabs on the beach with Brents Parents! It was so much fun.

So what did we do then you ask?

Well, May, 13th this year fell on a Thursday. So the kids were at school, we dropped off J.J. to a friend and we went to lunch on the beach and shopped for the kids. WOW what a day. However, I got to spend the whole day with Brent. We really don't get much of that. Baseball, work, piano, church, life in general makes being a husband and wife a trial to spend an entire day together, but we enjoy every minute we get to be together.

So although we just got to hang out. It was a great day. I love you money maker. You make my life a blast. I truly am married to my Best Friend.

Love ya

Happy Mommy Day to me!

So this post is just one for the books of Katie Craig.

So Liz asked a few months ago if Abbey, Anny, Liz and myself could sing a song for Mothers day. Sure Liz no prob. Well there was a problem it is a beautiful song. When I first heard it, I couldn't stop sobbing! I am such a baby since I have had kids.

Anyway, you would think months of practice would desensitize you of the whole beautiful song right? Hey Liz and I even did a practice run through on Mothers Day right before sacrament. No problem we say to ourselves. Then the water works began.

Abbey started the song solo. It was beautiful! I just love it when she sings. (Not like other kids that sing and you think aww thats nice) But she can actually really sing! I love it! Anyway I was looking around and a few people started to get teary eyed. I was fine.

Then Anny sang her part. Still doing okay.

Then the girls sing the chorus together. I look to the back of the room to see a sister BALLING in the back. Thats it for me. I start balling too!

So I try to sing my part. Try being the operative word. I struggle through but it wasn't horrible.

Then Liz sings her part and she is balling too! Oh my, could we have started the whole chapel balling? Yep we did. Anyway we finish strong by singing with the girls the chorus. It was a great song. I am posting the lyrics at the end just so you can cry too.

It is in the Childrens songbook, but I had never heard it. Thank you Liz for bringing such a beautiful song into the Craig family!

Teacher, do you love me

(we substituted Teacher with Mother)

Abbey

Mother, do you love me?

Mother, will you care for me?

Even if I turn away, or disobey, or go astray?

Then will you love me still?

Anny

Mother, will you teach me?

Mother, help me choose the right

When I do not understand the Lords command, please take my hand

And lead me safely with his light

Girls together

I need you love, I need you light

To show me how to be like Jesus

The Saviors love will light the path

To lead me safely home

Me

Oh yes, my child I love you

My child I'll always care for you

And with the savior as our guide, I'll share the light I feel inside

And you will feel his love for you

Liz

Oh yes, my child I'll teach you

My child I'll help you choose the right

And when you do not understand, the Lords command, I'll take your hand

And he will lead us with his light

All of us together

I need your love, I need your light

To show me how to be like Jesus

The saviors love will light the path

To lead us safely home.

Anyway, I just thought I would share my mothers day blubber with everyone. I hope it touches you the way it did to me

Found a pic I took!!!!

A birthday wish come true

I know it is almost a month since her birthday. I know I didn't take any pictures at all. I know, I know, I know. And that is what makes this post suck that much more. However, Abbey said it was the best one yet!

We decided to take our ENTIRE tax return, and go to Utah for Abbey's birthday. We went for a week. We saw all of the family out west including driving up to Idaho to see Bryon and his family. It was a world wind trip. Brent and I even saw Grandad for a whole 3 hours! (He flew in to ordain Will to a high priest). Wow it was a great trip but back to the birthday girl

Abbey is now 9! WOW I have really mixed feelings about it too. On one hand, I am so glad she is growing up. She helps me out so much with Jackson. She is so smart and it shows, and she is one of the most compassionate 9 year old I know. She is always willing to help out with the kids, and is now dabbling in the art of cooking with me at dinner. I have had to hand over the reins a little bit too. I know she is still a little young, but I want to encourage her learning to cook. Last night in fact, she helped me make spagetti. I wish I took some pics while we were in Utah, but I didn't bring my camera. We went to church and then had spagetti at Pennie's. Then that evening the Oakesons came out for brownies and ice cream. It was great to see everyone.

So for now, big girl, I love you. Dad loves you too. We know that you will become a beautiful daughter of your Heavenly Father. While we get to raise you, you will be in our hearts and prayers everyday. You are on your way to be a great young woman with a personality that everyone will crave to be around. You are such a great girl already!

Love you

Mom

Just because she so knows me

Okay so this is an email I got from an awesome friend who just knows how to brighten my day. I love you Dene.

This just goes to show how much I really don't have any secrets! Especially about being messy!

I was a little bored today so I Googled myself - yes, that's right, I Googled "Dene Brooke." I like to see what other people see if they were to ever Google me.

Well, imagine my surprise when I saw something about Dene Brooke recipes. You are so funny. You do know that I don't make them up, right. I just change

the names (sometimes) and then make it so often that everyone thinks it's mine.

There's a new one I tried called Cake Balls. So easy and the kids would have fun making them. Found it on a blog called Bakerella.

I used a box Red Velvet cake. Bake it according to the instructions on the box. Don't get fancy and make layers - just a regular

cake pan. After the cake has completely cooled, crumble it up (yes, Katie, with your hands) into a big bowl. Then take a can of

cream cheese frosting - see, I didn't even have to get anything dirty making the frosting because I used the ready made kind.

Anyway, mix that can of frosting in with the crumbled cake. Come on, Katie, let the kids do it with their hands. You might even

need to get your hands dirty too.

After the frosting and cake are completely combined then roll it into small balls and place on a cookie sheet that has been lined with

wax paper. Put the cookie sheet with the cake balls on them in the fridge - or the freezer to speed up the process. When they are

cooled and set enough - melt some Almond Bark - the same stuff you use for the Elk Droppings. Roll the cake balls in the melted

Almond Bark so they are completely covered.

Depending on the season you could melt some white Almond Bark and put food coloring in it and drizzle it over the chocolate covered cake ball,

Like pink and red for Valentine's day, green for St. Patrick's day, Red, white and blue for 4th of July, or red and green for Christmas.

Whitney is make this for her Book Club in Columbia. They are reading Twilight - again. Whitney is going to call them "Blood Balls."

Can you believe she sent that? Well I can. I love you Dene!