MY MOM

Louella Mae Brunner
1939-2007

This week my thoughts have been especially full
of gratitude and love for my Mom.
Today is Mothers Day.

I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father sent me to her loving arms.
She truely is an ANGEL.
My Mom is the GrEaTeSt example of Love, Kindness, and Compassion
She was always right there ready to render whatever service she could offer.
And ALWAYS with a smile on her face! She loved everyone!
My Mom bore 5 beautiful children Donna, Debbie, Bobbie, Rich and Me (Lori)
She was a woman of STRENGTH.
Debbie and Bobbie returned to our Father in Heaven after a short time here on earth,
sadly within just a couple of months of each other.
Debbie was 2 yrs old and Bobbie was 5 months old.
How in the world she got through it, I'll never know.
She was and IS an AMAZING woman!!
Then many years later, she nursed my Dad through cancer for over 10 years.
Not complaining once. She knew what needed to be done and did it!
She is my HERO and my IDOL.
I hope to be half as good as she was/is one day!

I miss her Oh SO MUCH!!
I am grateful that I have the knowledge that she still lives!!
Maybe not in this world at this time,
BUT she still LIVES nevertheless!!
And I know I will be able to HUG HER and tell her that I LOVE HER once again!!

We will be together FOREVER and I'm so THANKFUL for that!!

I LOVE YOU MOMMA-HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

BABY OH BABY!!

I LOVE being a "Nana"!! My babies have babies!! unBELIEVABLE!! My girls are such wonderful loving mommies!! Am I surprised?? Not at all... They are wonderful loving individuals!! I'm SO proud of them!! Selena's baby Jaedyn Marie Hargrove 1 year old

Brittany's baby Kaleb Harrison Patton Arriving abt. August 11, 2011 Aren't they SO BeAuTiFuL !!!

MY LITTLE MAN

HAS BECOME A WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN

The other day I was sitting in Sacrament at church
and Cody was next to me. He reached for my hand and held it.
First of all, that melted my heart!!
As we were holding hands,
I noticed how they were beginning to take the form of a mans hand.
Then memories flooded my mind of when he was born.
I remember looking at his tiny little hands
and thinking of how small they were,
and yet SO different from his sisters hands.
Boys and girls are so different from the 'get-go'
It's truely amazing!!

Dakota Ryan {aka Cody} was born January 24th 1996
He was my smallest of my 5 children.
7lb 4oz
But now...he is by far the tallest.

Cody is my only son, he has 4 sisters.
He 'kinda' has a special spot in my heart...being the only boy.
He is so tender and loving with me,
but...with his sisters...thats a different story...most of the time
He can be SO onry!!!
But he can be so sweet when he wants to !!!

I'm so proud of my Cody
He honors his priesthood,
He is a hard worker, and helps out when ever he sees the need.
When we had the big 12+ inch snow fall a few weeks ago
he not only shoveled our drive but went to the neighbors house and helped them.
We hadn't even met these neighbors yet, Cody reprsesnted our family well!!
Then he went with his cousin and the missionaries to shovel several other drives.
He has such a willing heart, he loves to serve
and he steps up to the plate when needed.

Cody loves playing with little kids.
I know he will be an amazing father one day!!
And a wonderful husband!!
My "little" boy is growing into an awesome Young Man!!
Did I mention...I'm SO proud of him!!

I LOVE YOU BUD!!!!!

"I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE

I'M GOING THERE SOME DAY..."

KC TEMPLE

We're SO excited that KC is getting a Temple!!!
(pictures taken Jan 5th, 2011)

Incredibly Blessed

I love the Holiday Season,

and am so thankful for the birth of my Savior Jesus Christ.

It's so easy to get wrapped up
in the worldly wyles of materialism.

And I must admit that there are times that I do just that.

This has been a hard year for us financially
-with Vic being unemployed.

I woke up this morning in the wee hours, very sad.

Thinking about the things we don't have...
you know, a private pity party.

But thankfully my heart did a flip flop

and my heart turned from the pity party into a rejoicing party.
So I want to jot down the things I AM thankful for.

*First and foremost I'm thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ.
I know He loves me, even when I'm not very lovable.
I know He is always standing next to me
wiping away my tears when they fall.
He is always there rejoicing with me in my triumphs.
He is always protecting me and my loved ones from harm.
I know He died for me
so that I may stand before my Father in Heaven guiltless,
as long as I do my part,
so that I too, may return to my Heavenly Home
and live my 'Happily Ever After'.

*I am thankful for my wonderful husband, Vic.

Just as my Savior is, he is there to wipe away my tears,
rejoice with me, and to protect me.
My husband has an incredible love for me
and the children we've borne together.
He is my best friend and my lover.
He is my soul mate and I am in awe of him
and all he does for me and our family.

*I am thankful for my beautiful children.

I have the BEST kids ever!!
They are what I live for, they bring me great happiness.
They do make me crazy at times, to be totally honest,
but that's what they're supposed to do...right?
They have been awesome this year in all the ups and downs
and NEVER complain.
With the holiday season upon us,
not once have they been the typical whiny kids
with the 'I want, I want, I want' attitude.
They go out of their way to give rather than take.

*I'm thankful that my daughters
have found the love of their lives
and am thankful for my Son-in-Laws,
and the love they have for my daughters.

*I'm thankful for my beautiful granddaughter.
My sweet baby Jaedyn has brought such joy
and laughter into my life this year.
She truly has been a great blessing in our lives.
When everything else seems dark,
all I have to do is look into her beautiful bright eyes
and know all is well and good.

*I'm thankful for good health.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to have a body
that allows me to do 'most' of the things I want.
I would love to lose some poundage,
but overall, I know that I'm healthy and my family is healthy.
That is such a great blessing in itself.
We all have small aches and pains,
but Heavenly Father has watched over us this year
and thankfully we haven't had any major health issues.

*I'm thankful for Vic's new job.

He has just started and it is a commission only type of job.
We haven't seen any monetary blessings from the job itself yet.
But, just having it and knowing the potential it can bring
has brought new life into our home.
I know Vic will do amazing in this new quest.

*I am thankful for good friends.

People have been there for us, and good to us this year.
You know who you are.

I can't wait to be able to bless the lives of others,
just as others have blessed our life this year.
We have a roof over our head and food to eat
by the grace of others,
and soon, I want to be a blessing to those that struggle
and have no hope.

It truly is humbling,
when I think about the many blessings
that have come our way this year.

I know God lives and loves us...
the proof is all around us.

So no more pity parties being held here.
Rejoice..Rejoice..Rejoice!!!

HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THIS BABY GIRL?!

So I went to visit Selena and Baby Jae yesterday.
I walked in the door and heard Jaedyn playing in the other room,
so calling her name out as I always do when I go over
(she ALWAYS comes running when she hears her Nana-she SO loves me!!
--Just as I love LoVe LOVE her!!!)

She comes running around the corner...and this is what I saw!!!

I busted a gut when I saw her!!!
I laughed til I cried!!!

She is SOOO BeAuTiFuL!!!!

She was wearing "doggy ears" and true to her nature, she pulled them out...

This being the result!!
Isn't she the most beautiful baby you have EVER seen!!??

(btw..happy 11 mo. birthday today miss Jae!!
Can't believe how the time slipped by!!)

FALL FUN !!!

Raking leaves is a BIG job at our house!!!
We have several large trees in our yard...and everyone gets to help.

But it's not ALL work-we have FUN too!!!

My Beautiful Children!!
Cody, Amber & Shelby

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Amber and Jordan playing a friendly game of Tug-O-War