Merry Christmas!!

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Tender Mercies

Megan Kitchen
October 14, 1991 - December 12, 2008

This is the phrase that has continued to pass through my thoughts since I received that horrible phone call Friday night. Most of you know that I am the Young Women's president in my ward (church) here in Missouri. Friday night the Bishop called to tell me that one of our young women was killed in a car accident. I can't remember all the feelings that went through me but shock and concern for the other girls in the ward was foremost in my thoughts. Every time one of the girls cried, it just hurt me to see their hurt. Despite all of the grief and sorrow, I have truly seen the hand of the Lord in my life and in the lives of those around me.
Here are a few "Tender Mercies":
1. The youth were already scheduled to attend the temple in the morning. We went and truly felt peace.
2. When I got up to welcome the girls to YW's on Sunday I broke down. During the song and prayer I silently pleaded for help and the Spirit, so the girls could find comfort and peace. My prayers were answered and the girls left without tears. We even smiled! I also realized that our last lesson before Megan's passing was entitled "Preparing for Change".
3. When I went to visit Megan's mom, Lori, I saw how so many things had recently happened that brings comfort to us now.
4. Megan was a junior in high school so she had not had her senior pictures taken yet. Just weeks before her brother had come and taken absolutely beautiful pictures of her. Including the one above. This is how she would want to be remembered. With a huge smile!
5. Megan had just been to get her Patriarchal blessing and they had just received the hard copy in the mail and read it over together. The Lord's promises are sure!
6. I got sick, but was able to find the strength to get out of bed and make it to the viewing where I saw smiles on the girls faces. They realized that Megan was happy now and that she would want us to be happy.
7. I was able to know what to say, and able to say it, at the funeral. I had to read over my notes later to even remember what I had said. I know that we are all children of God and that while Megan is home now, He knows that we have sorrow and loves us too. He does send help and comfort to all who seek it.
8. As hard as it is to not have her here with us now, we have all been blessed to know her and love her.
At the funeral the Bishop read a poem that Megan had written on December 1, 2008 entitiled "Some day this will all make sense".
As I look at Lori and Tom and everyone around us, I see a trial of faith. We preach of forgiveness, Lori and Tom have shown forgiveness in the hardest of circumstances. We preach to the youth and in our families about the power of the Atonement and that the Ressurection is real. Now we see it and are filled with promise and understanding.
I know that there are more but these are the ones that stand out in my mind. I know that we will continue to see "tender mercies" in all our lives as we see how the Lord shapes our lives in His own perfect way.

About my husband TAG

1.His full name: Jason Wade Furnell
2.How long have you been married: 12+ years (August 3, 1996)
3.How long did we date: For about 6 months when I was 16 and 6 months when I was 18/19.
4.Who eats sweets: I do.
5.Who said I love you first: Jason
6.Who's taller: Him
7.Who sings better: Since he won't sing out loud I would have to say me but that is not saying much!
8.Who is smarter: It depends, are you trying to build a building or solve a math problem:)
9.Who does the laundry: ME and if there is laundry in the next life I am protesting.
10.Who pays the bills: Me
11.Who sleeps on the right side of the bed: Jason
12.Who mows the lawn: Mostly me because he travels and I need to burn the calories
13.Who cooks dinner: Me.
14.Who drives: If we are all together, he drives.
15.Who admits when they're wrong first: Jason says me
16.Who kissed who first: Jason at his house by the pantry door. I was 16 he was 18!
17.Who asked who out first: It depends who you ask! We were dancing at a church dance and I was joking with him saying "when are you going to ask me out?" I thought he was dating my friend but I didn't know that she had literally just broke up with him. He then said "How about Thursday?" (it was summer) So you decide:)
18.Who wears the pants: I do. It is an inherited trait.
I'm supposed to tag 4 other people. Ok I am going to tag some of my family: Chrissy, Christina, Cheryl, Meghann and Steph if you look at my blog

Code Yellow

I found out what a Code Yellow is on Tuesday at Target. That would be a missing child. I took Dylan (18mo old I am babysitting til Feb), Sydney, and Luke into Target to buy new binkie's. I know that I should just get rid of them, but that is another story. Dylan got buckled into the cart without a fuss and sits there totally mellow. Sydney is another story. She hates being restrained in any form. Shopping carts are just a game to see how fast she can get out. While I am struggling trying to get her buckled up Luke had disappeared. I call for him with no answer. I figured he had went in search of toys but they were on the other side of the store from where we were. To make a long story short an employee walked up behind me and I told her I lost my child. She got on her radio, called a Code Yellow, and gave the description. It only took a minute because everyone dropped what they were doing and walked their area's. Another employee walked me to where he was (toys of course!). He was surrounded by about 7 employees. Needless to say no one got out of the cart again. When I left the store I called Jason and told him that we would be living on bread and butter before I went shopping with Sydney and Luke again!

Sydney turns 2

Sydney is wearing her Christmas dress. There is a gold sweater that goes with it but we took it off for the cake. I think she shed the hair bow too!

This is her cake. Nobody had better be laughing at my decorating skills. I had never used this bear mold before and apparently you should us a dense cake and not yellow. At least frosting does wonders to cover how I had to glue (with frosting) the entire face back on and there was a huge crack on his whole head. It did taste very good:)
Sydney and grandma have the same birthday. I'm sure that in a few years it will be an excuse to have a day with grandma and skip school!