Today was a good day.

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Today I got to go and hang this sign.

Hallelujah!

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And I must say....

Thanks to Hank.

For being the toughest 5 year old I know.

For getting better.

For being OK.

And for reminding us all how precious every single day is.

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Oh....and for letting me act like I'm your mom when I'm really just your overly obsessed aunt.

.Welcome Home, Buddy!

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I am so incredibly happy to have them all home.

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No more Primary Children's....ok family?

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Having Hank released from the hospital made today just about as good as it could get.

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And the fact that I picked this little gem up didn't hurt....

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...Iphone 4

Call me.

Heeeeyyy!

It makes me giggle when...

I go to get myself some unders for the day...and tangled up in my drawer are these....

I'll have you know that these are, in fact, Jack's....and not Brett's.

Ultra tight, tiger striped boxer shorts and all...

this little bum has officially taken over our house.

Which, is really pretty awesome.

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And...

Playing Photo Booth with Hank is always a guaranteed giggle.

Unfortunately, this little mug is still in the hospital. They are still working to get his kidneys back to fully functioning from the HUS.

These picts were taken in the hospital yesterday...and as you can see, he is such a good little sport.

Poor little thing-- still not completely out of the woods.

But, we're thankful every minute it's not what we first thought it was.

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Hang in there Hank my little pal!

See you tomorrow!

The Most Amazing News

See Annie's latest post.

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A miracle.

A Prayer for Hank

I am still mourning the fact that this post is a reality.

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I will keep the details minimal.... but ask for your prayers at this time.

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My sweet nephew Hank received a diagnosis yesterday after a bout with what we though was the stomach flu that none of us would have ever thought possible.

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The news that my sister Annie received was that Hank has leukemia.

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Our worlds, especially theirs, turned completely upside down in minutes flat.

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Not our Hank.

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They were rushed to Primary Children's last night...where they are now doing more intensive tests to find out more details and to see if, in fact, it's 100% that he does have leukemia.

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My sister Annie's blog has much more information and details from just this morning.

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As I watched Hank in the hospital last night, my heart ached for him and all that he has been thrust into in such a short period of time. He dealt with it all so bravely. Already teaching us all so many lessons. The whole time I kept wish that I could just take it for him. But, by the time I left the hospital, I'm not so sure I could handle it any better than he was.

Can he really only be 5?

Please pray for him.

He's my best little buddy.

Please pray.

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And, if you could, please pray for his parents.

Annie and Randy have always been two of my very best friends in this world. They are amazing parents- amazing people. I hate that they have to go through this, and wish with all my heart I could take it from them. No one should ever have to witness their children sick. Annie calling to tell me just minutes after getting the news is a phone call I will never be able to erase from my memory. But, oh, how I wish I could.

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I know Annie will try and keep her blog up-to-date as they find more out...but I also know it can be hard in the midst of it all. I, too, will try and keep an update here as best as I can...because already so many of you are in the wings waiting.

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Thank you for any prayers, well wishing, and good thoughts for the Griffin family.

There has already been an amazing outpouring of love for my entire family, and we thank you for that.

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More to come soon.

An Afternoon Drive to Silver Lake

How beautiful was this weekend?

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On a whim, we decided to go on a little afternoon drive up the canyon to Silver Lake.

The drive was lovely...good tunes & even better company.

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Once we stopped at the lake, Jack immediately bolted for the water.

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Let's just pretend for a minute that I am a totally carefree mom, and didn't care at all when Brett let Jack walk right in...shoes and all.

I quickly lightened up, however, when I saw the extreme amount of happiness it brought to Jack's soul.

I didn't think we'd ever get him out... but Brett cleverly lured him away with some rocks and mud.

He was in complete heaven.

And the weather and scenery could not have been more gorgeous.

The only thing to make it more perfect would have been for a family of ducks to join us.

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Lucky for us...they did....

They were quite a friendly brood.

Jack shared some Teddy Grahams and Scooby Snacks.

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What more could you want?

When Thank You Isn't Enough.

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100th post coming at you!

And for such an occasion... a heartfelt message...

to a very deserving recipient (or 2).

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For weeks I've been trying to think of a way to repay/thank my mom for the billions of things she does for me. I'm serious...between helping with Jack, tending to sickness, hanging out with my neediness, spending late nights with me while Brett was away, hand delivering random grocery store items to spare me from a trip myself, helping in my classroom, etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc.,... I have a nearly impossible time reciprocating.

I ended up buying her a ticket to come with me to see

John Mayer at USANA last week.

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And...here we were:

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...(first picture we snapped....and then....dead camera)

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I thought the gesture might finally make me feel a little less indebted to her...

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But... I quickly came to a realization that there is absolutely nothing in this world I can ever do to repay her.

No one else in this world is my mama.... and because of this, she and her overwhelming ability to serve me... are untouchable.

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So...publicly (not to be confused with pubic-ly), I will use my blog to try my best to say....

Thank you, mom.

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For every single thing you do for me and my little family.

Thank you for being just the way you are....stylish, hilarious, selfless, and easy going.

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I love you.

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(and in honor of her own favorite adjective...)

She really is "tits."

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And... another fitting dedication to her this week....

for saving my sweet grandma 20+ years ago...when she so selflessly donated her kidney to keep her own mother alive.

(see what I mean by untouchable!)

Because of my mom, we get to celebrate that same grandma and her 80th birthday this weekend.

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Thank you, grandma, for giving me my mom who

I totally worship.

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And, thank you mom...for giving me time that I would not have otherwise been able to have with a grandma who I utterly love and adore.

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Happy Birthday, Sweet Grandma. I love you!...