An Angel touched our Family

On Christmas eve, my son's "best girl friend" (as he calls her) passed away. She was skiing with her mother and they were both hit by a snowboarder. It killed her instantly. The snowboarder died as well. The mother is still in the ICU and no one is sure as to the extent of her injuries. There are more details, but I feel it's not my place to post them on my blog. The story has been on national news, and I'm sure it's been hard on both families.

The little girl was, like I mentioned previously, our son's dearest friend in kindergarten. They are in the same class and are both half day kindergartners together. She came over to our house at least once a week, if not twice. The picture posted above is of my son and Elise making Christmas cookies, just about three weeks before she passed away.

Our son, and our entire family have been so sad from this accident and for the family. She was such a sweet, beautiful girl, and she will be missed greatly.

Even in the middle of such a sad tragedy, I am amazed at the miracles that Heavenly Father puts in our lives. My husband was the one who received the call about the accident. When he told me, we just cried together. After awhile, I remembered that the day before Christmas vacation (three days before she passed away) Elise had given my son a picture that she had drawn and signed her name to. I told my husband, "I have to find that picture." I knew I had thrown it away, and was afraid I wouldn't be able to find it, or that it would be ruined from food stains.

I went out to our garbage and after digging through four sacks finally found the picture. Tears filled my eyes as I looked at the picture. There was not one wrinkle, and not one stain from being in the garbage for three days. More touching than that was that it was a picture of an angel. Elise had colored so beautifully a picture of an angel for my son.

That picture hangs above my son's bed. It's a reminder to all of us that miracles do happen and that there are angels all around us.

Elise, we love you and will miss you more than you will ever know. Thank you for sending us a note from heaven and for being our angel.

Praise to the Man

On this, Joseph Smith's birthday, I feel it's only appropriate to express appreciation for this great man, his faith, his family and all he stood for. How grateful I am for the modern day prophet Joseph Smith. I know that he truly saw God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and he indeed did restore their church to the earth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is still here today and it's penetrating every climb. How grateful I am to be a member of Christ's church. I will be eternally grateful for the prophet, Brother Joseph and all he did to help the work of the Lord go forth. May his name be praised forever! How wonderful the day when "millions shall know Brother Joseph again."

Caroling Fun

Caroling with the Bennions

We had a Bennion Christmas at our home last night (Bennion is my maiden name.) It was so fun. And I thought it only appropriate to post a video of my great family singing the holiday hits! Take it away.....

Disney Said WHAT??

So, I am still rolling about what happened today. Disney was about to feel of the wrath of "Erin the Mother"....but let's start at the beginning, shall we?

My daughter loves to play on disneyprincess.com which is a cute site for little girls. It's basically paper dolls on the computer. You pick your princess, she talks briefly to you about what "event" she is needing to get dressed for, and then you are taken to her palace to help her pick out her outfit. Innocent enough right?

Well...YOU'D THINK SO!!! Today, I was walking passed our computer and over heard Jasmine say, "We are going to a booze first tea party." I whipped around, and thought.."Surely, that's not what she said!" I couldn't believe it! What is a Disney princess doing talking about booze???!!! Has our world gone completely idiotic????!!! I didn't even take the time to hear the rest of the story. I was all a huff trying to figure out what the heck I was suppose to say when I called the Disney company and chastised them for the lack of respect for childhood innocence! Have you no decency?! Where are your values, Man?!

My husband came home for lunch shortly afterward, and I told him of the devastating tale. "She said, 'A BOOZE first tea party!!' What in the world is a booze first tea party anyway??!! I mean, you drink shots or something before tea??" He was a bit skeptical and said, "There's no way she said that." I threw back at him, "Oh yes she did! I heard it! You check it out! You'll see."

My husband left from lunch and shortly after I got a call from him, in the which he laughingly said..."Erin....it's ABU's first tea party! You know! Aladdin's monkey?! It's ABU with an apostrophe 's'! ABU's!!"

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA Again, I am still laughing! Honest, I was about to bring Disney down! How funny!!! I guess it just goes to show, you never know what someone got out of what you said. Perception......

HA HA HA HA I'm happy to report that after investigation, the Disney princesses are not sneaking down to the local pub.

And once again, we can all live happily ever after.