April Showers Bring Blessings
 or...
surviving on a 'gratitude attitude'!

Easter brought our entire family together and we packed every minute full to the brim!  Bob, Sara and their darling boys Duncan and Charlie, joined us from Sacramento, yeah!

And the following is how we 'might have'.......over-done it!

Friday night:  Family 'round up' dinner/wedding shower at our home for our nephew Dave Patterson and his adorable new wife Meg

Saturday morning sealings in the Jordan River Temple with all five of our children and their spouses (Jim was able to be a witness)

Saturday afternoon egg dying with all the grand kids and a visit from the Easter Bunny!

Saturday 'boys night out' (movie night with Dad) 

Easter Sunday family gathering and Easter egg hunt!

Monday evening dinner 'out' with all 24 of us at Tres Hombres! 

As April began 'showering', we had a few 'cloudbursts' of our own!

Jim has had new difficulty swallowing and we've had some scary bouts with choking!  Fortunately, we have a 'cough assist' machine and a 'suction' device to assist in these times of panic.  So, we've had to alter our eating habits a bit doing more smoothies and pure aid food.  Mornings seem to be the hardest while later in the day he can handle solids a little better.
We also had another 'neurology clinic' this week; the dreaded five hour endurance test.  We are always faced with the 'haunting' decision of whether or not to do a trache - and each appointment brings us closer to that.  Our son Ben had some extra time and was able to be with us at the appointment.  After hearing the 'trache-spill' from the Doctor.... again, Ben, Jim and I all agreed that what we're doing right now is best! 
 And that is.....

we remain on the Triology air pressurization device for his air supply (which the Pulmonologist at the U thinks Jim is doing well on). We will also probably consider a feeding tube surgically fitted  into his stomach sometime soon.  He could still eat and taste solids when able, but be able to put away more calories without all the extra effort of 'eating'!  He is down another 10 pounds but you would never know to look at that 'still' so handsome face!  That he can manage his fabulous smile and a little humor, even with a body that is completely motionless from the neck down is completely inspirational!  

So, with the many 'showers' we've experienced these past months, we can't help but feel grateful!  We were told in our pre-marriage stake interview 36 years ago, that we had no idea how much we really loved each other at that point!  How true President Poulten, how true!

Our love has evolved into something neither of us could have imagined at that time; one that has grown even more dear these last few months.  Add to that the blessing of children who can be with us in the temple; whose families will all be sealed to us through the eternities...well, we can't help having a 
 'gratitude attitude'!