All The King's Horses

Lori is my gorgeous friend...her hubby Kelly is gorgeous too, and so are their boys! Lori and I have been friends since I was a little girl moving into the town of Taylor...just down the hill from her.

Genuine, kind, and soulful...her thoughts are always about others. When you talk to Lori, she is a listening friend...not just a hearing friend. I constantly remind my dear girlfriend that I love her... but she IS the one who revealed the truth to me about Santa Claus when I was in third grade. 

When I took these pictures...she made me promise no blogging...well this is payback for Santa Claus.

A planned gathering albeit reuinon brought us to her dad Vaughn's house last Sunday evening...back to my home town of Taylor where we both grew up. Vaughn was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last Fall...he's been fighting back ever since. 

My brother Blair and Lori's brother Dave were always getting into trouble as teenagers...Dave was the only one who ever got caught though. Dave has been gone for 17 years now.

 A walk to the farm and the horse stables. Blair told us secret stories about the adventures of he and Dave.

I don't think the little town of Taylor has been the same since. The gossip still runs amuck at their antics!

Blair and Vaughn shared conversations about horses, teenage Dave, the price of hay...

politics, and just about everything else.

Vaughn recently converted his dairy farm into Allen Horseplay Stables...a place to board horses and ride them too.

Vaughn made this king size headboard and is now storing it in the hay shed. Don't you wish you had a hay shed you could store stuff in?

The Allens love all the horses that board here and treat the owners just like family.

Lori ADORES horses...me...not so much! It's a terrifying tale...why horses and I aren't friends, at least the way I remember. Zion the terrier seems interested in this one though.

Maybe this is where Lori gets her gentle spirit...

As a little girl, I remember staring up at Vaughn thinking he was a giant of a man...now I look up to Vaughn and know he has a giant of a heart.

World peace was solved in this horse arena when these two were finished.

Locking up for the night and another day tomorrow.

It was an incredible evening to reminisce about simpler times, remember those we've lost, and laugh sweetly with one another. Bless you Allen family...and thanks for the hospitality. But I'm still not getting on a horse!

A final swing in her favorite spot...content for this moment and not fearing tomorrow.

Lori told me once that I 'd most likely live a deeper life after my tragedy...she was right. I've never had a sister, but I imagine if I did she would be just like Lori.

Adorable March

A few things to adore in the month of March...

• The miracle of birth 
• A new grandson...miracle baby #2.

• Henry Carter finally comes home.
• Watching my daughter care for 2 babies just 6 months apart in age...she's incredible.
• Adoption day

• The antics of lawyer girl 
• Thai Basil Chicken she makes whenever she visits.

• My Dad in a fedora.

• Skiing Lone Tree and Middlebowl Cirque with Chet and Dean. See that top peak next to the sky...to the left is the Lone Tree chute and to the right is the Middlebowl Cirque. Awesome skiing runs.
• Snow on Jocies's angel day...the powder princess has sent us snow on all 3 so far.

• Olivia...baby extraordinaire
• Missionary name badge that a special recently returned missionary left at the cemetery...touched my heart.

• Watching Dean do the macerana.

• Snow at the top of Beaver Mountain...with almost 14 feet of  snow, Jocie's monument is nearly buried.
• Purple crocus that popped out of the snow to bloom this week.

• Fine Italian leather boots on a pooch...plus aviator glasses.

• Olivia trying to eat a Lindor truffle ball
• Chickens for dummies...

• Watching Uncle Chet and Olivia become good friends.

Maddie's T's

Her room screamed teenage girl just like any other 15 year old girl's room. A closet stuffed with today's hottest fashion, a white board with notes from girlfriends, trophies from grade school, flowers from special occasions, everything except the table full of green plants left over from her funeral last August.

Madison's story is Jocie's story. At age 15 her life ended in a tragic accident. Her mother and I are emotionally connected even though we had never previously met until after Madison's angel day.

I listened through my streaming tears as Maddie's mom carefully placed each treasured T-shirt on the pile. Each one has a story and I easily memorized them all. This one from soccer, this one her favorite brand of clothing, this one because her sweet cousin was a Bobcat, and this one because Maddie was a rival Mustang. And this one has her own handwriting...priceless!

The first cut I make into Maddie's t-shirts humbles me, heals, me and shakes me with grief. A comforting arm from Dean and I carefully stitch together a memory of a beautiful teenage girl in her favorite shade of blue.

 Who would guess that the sweet quilter I call at the last minute to machine stitch the quilt would have a close connection to Maddie. Her younger sister was Maddie's best friend all through Elementary. Of course she insisted the quilting was her gift to the family.

"Where did you go? I miss you so...it seems like forever since you've been gone." A haunting note Maddie had taped to her wall...I added it to the label on the quilt.

Today would be Maddie's 16th birthday. Her Mom misses her completely...I know exactly how she feels.

The Advocate Breaks for Spring

While Henry was resting in the NICU and learning how to eat properly...Lawyer girl flew in from LA for a quick Spring Break visit and spent some quality time with "niece baby".

Niece baby learned many things from her Auntie Didi...including but not limited to...

• The current economic climate of our country.

• Izzy is the Princess of the house...you might as well get used to it.

• If you want to capture everyone's attention...just sit and look cute and squishy all day.

•  Remember...Izzy equals princess.

•  Papa is a sucker for chubby, pink baby girls.

•  It's a rough job having all these people doting on you, so you might as well make the most of it. 

•  Instead of just drinking bottles of formula Olivia, you should start demanding tastier things...like steak, pasta, brownies, etc.

• Uncle Chet is a chick magnet with his mad guitar skills..."Carry on my wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done. Lay your weary head to rest...don't you cry no more."

•  Auntie Didi is the best Aunt in the whole world.

•  Auntie Didi knows all about your Mamma...even some secrets she's willing to share.

•  If you can't go for a stroller ride outside, strolling around the house can be a great adventure.

• Piano playing is in your future...and you're going to love it!

And Olivia taught Auntie Didi something new... tilt your head to the side and everyone will clap and laugh! Clever girl.

We miss you already Auntie Didi!

Plus One Makes Four

The big day is finally here...coming home day for Henry...an entire week after he arrived in this world..

Olivia and I had lots to do, like practicing her reading skills. Henry will love having stories read to him.

We had to test out the bassinet to see if it was ready for Henry. "It seems like just yesterday that I slept in the bassinet Nana."

Oh wait it was...

Diapers are ready...Olivia's are on the left, Henry's on the right. You should see the stacks they have in the closet. Diaper subscription from Amazon Mom...Cass swears by it!

Cribs are set up..."Nana, when are you going to finish Henry's bumper pads and quilt?"

Baby brother's chair is all put together.

Olivia and Nana test out the self-timer feature on her new camera. We had some time to play while waiting for Henry to come home. Until finally...

Welcome home Henry!

Big sister and baby brother meet for the very first time.

"Henry, come and play with me OK?"

"Ummm...Aunt Anna, Henry doesn't seem to do too much does he...seems a bit boring."

A little glimpse at life in 1 week old Henry and  6 1/2 month old Olivia's house for a little while...

Time to feed baby.

Time to feed newborn baby.

Time to play "blastoff" with baby.

Time to snuggle with newborn baby.

Trying to capture a family photo...Olivia wants to pull Mom's hair.

Olivia wants to pull Dad's hair.

Their lives are full...and happy...did I mention their lives are full! Momma Cass... you like marvelous!

And one more...then it's time for tubs...and bottles...and stories...and bedtime...and...and...and...

As for me...March has been a hurricane of emotions. The gift of new life and the reminder of lost life. I'm quite certain the timing of this newborn babe is not coincidental, but intentional. A blessing from heaven, a hint that a joyful life continues to swirl around us. Our angel Jocie surely kissed Henry on his tiny head, you can almost see the imprint she left.

The Garlick Press is simply giddy at the birth of Olivia's little brother Henry.