The Kissing Hand

"...Chester wiped away his tears and looked interested. “A secret? What kind of secret?”

“It’s called the Kissing hand”, she said.

“The Kissing Hand?”, asked Chester. “What’s that?”

“I’ll show you”. Mrs Raccoon took Chester’s hand and kissed right in the middle of his palm.

Chester felt his mother’s kiss rush from his hand, up his arm and into his heart.


Mrs Raccoon smiled.

 “Now whenever you feel lonely and need a little loving from home, just press your hand to your cheek and think. “Mommy loves you” and that very kiss will jump to your face and fill you with toasty warm thoughts”.

Chester loved The Kissing Hand.

Now he knew his mother’s love would go with him wherever he went...."

(From "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn)

Thanks Amy, for leaving us all with a gentle reminder that you love us, and that you are always nearby.
We love and miss you!
Happy Birthday!

A Little Family Outing

Amy was able to enjoy a day out with her family on Friday. 
This is how Gary described it:

"Amy has been talking for weeks about how much she wanted to see Toy Story 3. The other day, she said that she would just have to hope to live long enough for it to come out on DVD. Not so... Her nurse suggested that we make one more attempt to get her out of the house.
She suggested that though it may not be easy, she thought if we were careful, it could be done.

Well... it was definitely possible. This afternoon we were able to get Amy out of the house to go see the movie. It wasn't easy especially on Amy, but we did it. Amy got to see the movie she has been looking so forward to. She did really well though it was very painful to move her and she said she will probably not want to leave the house again, she said it was worth it. As for the movie, it was GREAT. We laughed and cried, Well of course I didn't cry. (what do you think I am a bawl baby?). It was a very good movie.

Now you might think that going to the movie was enough... you would be wrong... Amy said if I am going to have to go through all this trouble... I am going to make it worth my while. So... we went to dinner at Prestwich Farms. Yumm!! I ate way too much. But, we weren't done yet. Next, Amy decided she wanted to go to my softball game. So she did. She spent several hours out of the house, enjoyed some sun, and got some fresh air. It was not easy getting her back in her bed... and it was painful, but we finally got her comfortable and she is sleeping peacefully now.


What an amazing day, what an amazing woman. With two broken hips, and cancer throughout her whole body, she is still going strong and determined to enjoy life. I'm sure it was good for her to get out at least one more time, but it was soooo wonderful for me to see her out and enjoying time away from her bed. I think it was so good for her spirits. I know it was good for mine. I hope she may feel up to trying to get out again... but... time will tell.

She is an amazing person. What has been the neatest thing for me to watch has been how she has been so blessed when she has needed it. I know that she has had Angels with her, strengthening her and helping her in times of need. I have witnessed one miracle after another throughout this whole ordeal. Amy has spent her life in service. And now I know that the Lord will grant her all the strength and comfort she needs through this trial. If we could all be like Amy, the world would be so much more an amazing place to dwell on."

When You Wish Upon A Star

When you wish upon a star...

Makes no difference who you are...

Anything your heart desires will come to you!

If your heart is in your dream...

No request is too extreme...

When you wish upon a star, as dreamers do!

Like a bolt out of the blue...

Fate steps in and sees you through...

When you wish upon a star...

Your dreams come true...

When you wish upon a star, as dreamers do!

Special thanks to A Life's Wish and

Disneyland for truly making dreams come true.

To family and friends for making the trip a reality.

To Mel and Leslie for their help before and on the trip.

A Mother's Love

A Kiss from mom

 

"A woman with a mother heart has a testimony of the restored gospel, and she teaches the principles of the gospel without equivocation.  She is keeping sacred covenants made in holy temples.  Her talents and skills are shared unselfishly.  She gains as much education as her circumstances will allow, improving her mind and spirit with the desire to teach what she learns to the generations who follow her."

Julie B. Beck, "A 'Mother Heart,' " Ensign, May 2004, 75

Surrounded with love