The Strength of a Baby

Last month a child was born. He was given the name Timothy James "TJ" Ranagan. He was born 3 lbs. 13 oz. and 16 inches long. I can't believe all that he has been through in the past month. He has been proded and poked, tested over and over, been through so much pain, and through it all he has been such a fighter! He has more strength than anyone I have ever met! He was born 10 weeks early. He has been diagnosed with a handful of different things and being tested for each of them. He was born at Utah Valley Medical Center and later transfered to Primary Children's where is currently is. Through all of the craziness going on around him he has overcome so much. It's amazing to me how a baby can have so much strength! Much more strength than I ever have had! He truly is a miracle! He is doing so good right now! The swelling in his brain has gone down and the blot clot is diminishing. He has gained weight again and the color in his skin is back. He is now off the ventilator and breathing on his own with just a little bit of oxygen to help. From what I have been told he is happy and smiling! What great news! I am amazed every day I hear news about this wonderful amazing little boy who has such a strength it is unbelievable! I can't wait to watch him grow up and become such a wonderful man I know he will be! Here are some pictures of cute baby TJ!

Patience and Love

Everyone says that the best things in life are worth waiting for. When I think about that I agree but than I wonder if something does come a long how do you know if that is what you were waiting for and not just another test.... Life is full of challenges and I love that fact! Life wouldn't be as enjoyable if we just went through everything with no problems. We wouldn't learn, we wouldn't enjoy things as much, we wouldn't understand the true value of what we have in our lives. Already in life there is so much to be taken for granted. I know I take way to much for granted! I just wanted to write this and thank everyone for your patience with me. I have so much going in my life right now that I don't stop and smell the roses as much as I would like and I know that it doesn't only effect me. Today would have been the one year birthday for my sisters dog Nala. She was such a sweet loving little dog! She was so curious about everything. She accidently got into something she shouldn't have and passed away in August. Than two weeks ago my great grandmother passed away after living a long and wonderful life. I don't remember much about her but what I do makes me wish I took the time to get to know her better. Even though she lived in Peru we have many things in our lives that make communication so easy! Even though Nala was just a dog and I didn't know Mamita Cata very much they both made me realize that I need to take time to let those I love know that I do love them and how much I appreciate them. We also need to take the time appreciate the little things is life. Some of my favorite things in life: Family, Movies, Silly Faces, Friends, Blogs, Shoes (lol), Flowers, Memories, Birds, New and Old Traditions, Sunrises, Nephews, Rainbows, Sunsets, Kisses, Rain Dancing, Music, Hugs, Different Cultures, Oceans, One on One Moments, Baking, Reading, Holidays, Cloud watching, Drives, Calls to just say hello, Laying on the ground, Pictures, Mornings, Conversations, Love, Evenings, Missing someone, Rain, The Sun and Moon, New Beginnings, Dancing, Laughing, Scrapbooks, Culture, Smiles, New Babies, Pets, Children, Laughing, Stars, Silly Laughs, and Children's LOVES!!!! I have many more but here are just a few that I have been enjoying recently. Here are also a few pictures of the ones that mean the most to me!

How far is to far??

I recently have been thinking a lot about when you should put your foot down and say things have gone far enough. When is it an appropriate time to say that is far enough! I have always had the hardest time when it comes to this. If I can help someone I always have even if I think it is a bad idea. I always give people another chance or the benefit of the doubt and most of the time it is me in the end who gets screwed. Either financially or emotionally. How do you tell that person it isn't working or that you just can't help them anymore? Or is it worth all the pain and struggling to just help that person in the end?? My whole life people have told me that family comes first. So is it okay just to help your family even if they are doing something that isn't good for them? My fear is that if I even just tell them that they are better than this sillyness than they will get angry with me and not even let me be a part of their life. Do I take that risk of telling them knowing very well that there is a possibility of never speaking to them again??

Fairy Tales???

This past weekend was one of my best friends wedding. It really got me thinking about a few things... first off, how much we have been through! She knows everything there is to know about me and has helped me get through some pretty hard times. I don't know where I would be if it wasn't for her!! She looked so beautiful in her wedding dress! I still can't believe she is married! It then got me thinking... does everygirl get her "fairy tale"? Is there just one prince charming out there for each girl? In my case I sometimes think it is true. All my thoughts come back to one. Well for all of you know who know me I am sure you can all guess who that one is, and know that I am a very shy girl and just hope that if I just wait it will all come into place on it's own. Well in my case that is not so true. I finally stepped out of my "comfort zone" and finally told him! Yay me! Even if nothing happens I am happy I did. As of right now that is all the news I have to share but if anything else happens I will let you know! Even if we are just friends I couldn't be happier about it! I truly believe life is to short to not let the people you love know how much you truly love them! Who knows in the end the outcome could suprise you! I sure how it does me! :D

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much!!

Well I have had a crazy past couple of months! Most of it has been a blast! It all has really got me thinking! I am def. living my life to the fullest. Life is def. to short to just let the days pass you by. Enjoy and learn from each day! Here is just a little preview of what I have been up to... In May I took a CNA class and am one test away from getting my CNA!! Yay me! I would have been done sooner but during my move lost some of my papers... :s but I have found them and now I am just waiting for the voucher to schedule the test date! I can't wait to be done and to get a job! Than it was just time for work... I am still working for my dad. I hit the 4 year mark this past June and am loving every minute of it! Although it is really stressful it is always full adventures and keeps me on my toes! School was out and I loved spending time with my sisters! Wether catching a movie, going to Lagoon or just chilling at home we have had a lot of fun!! Since April I had a ton of fun living with Anzana... well with her wedding coming up it was time for me to get a place of my own. Luckily my mom and step dad have an extra house in AF and they let me move in. I LOVE IT! It's such a cute little cozy house! It took a few weeks to get everything installed... ie a kitchen sink lol... but now everything is done and The only thing I would change would be the front yard... It is all full of weeds :( but with winter coming... not much I can do right now. I lived in the house alone for a little less than a month and than my brother moved in. It has been nice having someone else around! The next adventure came in August. Some of my family went to Hawaii and flew out to Cali where I was able to fly out and meet them. It was such a BLAST!! We stayed in the nicest hotel! and went to Disneyland all 3 days we were there! I have not had the chance to go there in about 5 years and had the best time ever!!... Most exciting is I get to go again in OCTOBER! Yay me! Other than all that exciting stuff in my life... My best friend is getting married this Saturday!! I can't believe it! I have the opportunity to watch them plan it all and be part of it. I wish you 2 the best and all the love in the world!! For your enjoyment... here are a few pics of my disneyland trip! Enjoy! :D

RIP mamita cata... Te amo mucho!!

Some pics of me.

Well here ya go... Just a few pics of me.

My and my 3 Sisters!!

Last christmas for my mom's christmas present my sisters and I decide we would go out and take some pictures of her girls. We had so much fun and we can't wait to do it again this year! Maybe this year we can get an early start and have more than just one days worth of pictures :) Here are some of my favs!

Cedar City Baby!!!

So last week was sooo much fun! Anzana and I left for Cedar City late Wednesday afternoon and arrived shortly after 7 where we met up with Amanda and her brother Thomas after we checked into our hotel. We ate dinner at Winger's (no suprise there right? lol) Where we spent the whole time laughing and than ended the night swimming in the hotel pool! The next day as we waited for Thomas to get off work we went to the Shakespeare festival where we found some fun souveniers! Then being us... we went to St. George for some shopping!! Don't worry we all spent more money that we should have but it was well worth it!!! After dinner we met up with Thomas at Harmony's firestation where he works and got a tour and had fun watching Amanda play on the firetrucks. Although our trip was only one night... it was so much fun!!! Def a trip for the books!! :D

My amazing sister!

Well as most of you know my sister Amanda is an amazing singer! Music is her life! She is always playing her guitar, singing songs, or writing lyrics to her new songs! Well something happened yesterday that was pretty cool. She was sitting on the porch at my moms house singing and playing on her guitar when she looked up and saw this guy watching her. Well she started talking to him and he began telling her how good she was and told her that she was exactly what they were looking for. He said she should come and sing at their open mic night! He gave her his card and said if she was interested to give him a call! I have been trying her to get her to go try out for American Idol and so maybe this will be the push she needs. I will keep you posted on when she is going to perform and would love for all of you to come out and cheer her on!! Yay Amanda! You can check her out at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=385141606&MyToken=f92b9353-4b49-4c6d-9a5b-f9dc3f03adf8

Independence Day!!

I would have to say this past 4th of July for me was one for the books! It started out with my two sisters Amanda, Vanessa and I heading to Provo's freedom festival. There we meet up with our cousins Iris and Sandra where we all had fun going through the booths and spending a little bit of money. Afterwards the girls had fun helping out at our family booth selling food from our grandmas restaurant La Carretta!



After that Vanessa and I headed to The Stadium of Fire! We had gone early to get a good parking spot and as my sister Amanda was about to drop us off we realized our car was not where we had left it. Well what had happened was that the security officers who we and many other cars had asked where we could park gave us the wrong information. Thus they had moved my car! My first reaction was that they had towed my car and I had no idea how I was going to pay to get it out!! Well I was finally able to get an answer regarding my car.... they had moved it to a different parking lot and since the officer said that he had given people permission to park in that lot the cars were not towed to a tow lot. They were just moved. You can imagine how happy I was to find out that I didn't have to pay ANYTHING!! Yay!! After that scary moment Vanessa and I went and found our seats for the show! We had some time before the show started so we went and bought Vanessa a Miley Cyrus shirt which she LOVES! :D As you can see the picture. Shortly after that the show began!! Blue Man Group of course was awesome!!! and Miley was very good as well!! Of course watching Vanessa's excitement for the Miley made the show 10 times better!! We had fun singing and dancing and screaming all night long! The night ended with an amazing firework show of course!!! I would not have spent my day any other way! Here are a few pictures of the concert. ENJOY!!!