Cailyn forbade me from planning anything with friends. She just wanted to celebrate and hang out with the family for her 18th Birthday. We had her favorite dinner...drum roll please...ravioli. No surprise there. We have that for every one of her birthdays!
Then we went goofy golfing and the kids were definitely goofy. I got the best score.



I collect the kids' shirts as they grow out of them if they have special significance. I have seen these t-shirt quilts before but this is the first one I have made. I started on it months ago, back in the early part of the year. It was a total surprise for Cailyn. She loved it! She said that beginning to end, this was just as she wanted the day to be. It was perfect. She got some great service coupons from Jeff and Bryce, a new laptop computer from us and a framed Fatali print and quilt from me. It was a fun day for everyone. Now there are more adults in the family than kids!

Bryce - National Court of Honor Heroism Award

Since my last post, we have come full circle. A year has passed, Barry's leg is healed, he has very little swelling (it was a daily battle for a long time) and there are just some things that are not going to get better in this life. We accept that. Parts of his leg still don't have feeling, but it does not affect him in any way except he feels like there is a rope in his shoe when he walks.

Looking back, it is so very apparent that the Lord had a reason for allowing us to go through this. Barry did not die, no bones were broken, he got help in time to save his legs and save his life and I had the fortitude to dress his wounds and the strength to lift/push/support him through it all. Yes, we have been so blessed.

First Bryce was with Barry. Bryce had been hiking with the cub scouts on a hot day, yet he still wanted to go to the property. Bryce got off of the tractor just before the accident. He went to Barry and tried to turn the tractor off. He went and got the cell phone and called 911 and called me. He kept Barry from going into shock and went for help, leaving Barry with the cell phone, talking to 911 operators. Bryce found a neighbor and brought them back, and prayed the whole time, knowing that the Lord was aware and would be there through it all.

Bryce was just awarded the National Court of Honor Heroism Award for his quick thinking after the accident.

There are many people to thank: teachers, den leaders, scout leaders, emergency responders, doctors, ward family, family, friends and the dozens of people whose prayers ascended to heaven on our behalf. Thank you Bryce for being there, for risking your life by climbing under the tractor engine while it was still chugging away, spewing fuel and billowing with smoke and for doing what needed to be done even though you were very scared.

Summary of Barry's Injury and Recovery

The clinic that treated Barry's injuries is also a training facility for doctors from all over the area where they can look at severe injuries and wounds that are not healing properly. Barry's was just severe and did heal as hoped, but I put together photos that I took to document the healing process for when Barry had the stomach to look at them. These are the actual factual photos of the wound when the bandages were changed every couple of days. This is the ppt. I created for the doctor.

Snow!

What a FUN snow day! We don't usually get much snow, and this will break records for this area. No one in this house is complaining though!

Cooking with cailyn

Cailyn had fun making cinnamon rolls!

A Look Back at 2010

The Wall Family DVD of 2010

This is our DVD of the year 2010. A lot happened, we grew as a family and have some great experiences to draw on for strength. We were blessed greatly and thank the Lord for his tender mercies on our behalf.

We know the gospel is true, the Savior lives and our Heavenly Father's promises are sure. Our family is a forever family!

Being Served

So many have come and offered to help and asked what they could to to serve our family. The 11 year old scouts showed up on Tuesday to mow our lawn. Justin does a great job, but a blade of the mower had gotten bent and cut some funky patterns in the grass. This was something that needed to be done, so they did it. We have been so blessed by the prayers, kindness and outpouring of love from so many. It is humbling.