I Love You Because...

After teaching pilates I came out of class on our 15th Anniversary to find a single red rose with this note...

Happy Anniversary! I hope you have as much fun with this little adventure as I have had. You need to follow the clues throughtout the day and collect a small token of my love from each stop. Enjoy, have fun and know how much I love you!!!

Clue #1: I love you because you make us all feel "Safe" in the "way" that only the best wife and mother could. (Especially when you have to get a little feisty!)

(Safeway for the next clue)

Clue #2: I love you because you keep things hot and spicy, just like this "challenging" place.

(Carmen's Burrittos where Carl & Tanner did the spicy burritto challenge)

Clue #3: I love you because you make me feel like a VIP and you don't even have to bribe me with good ice!

(Sonic- I love my Diet Cokes)

Clue #4: I love you because you are always encouraging me to develop my talents. Maybe someday they'll hang one of my pictures here along side Bill's.

(Western Nebraska Art Gallery)

Clue #5: I love you because you know me so well that you wouldn't dream of putting ketchup on my Philly cheese steak.

(The Woodshed - um, they don't know Carl and put ketchup on his Philly)

Clue #6: I love you because you are my best friend and you are always there for me. Good friends are priceless.

(Vlcek's - Good friends)

Clue #7: I love you because when it comes to finding the right deals you are right on "target".

(Target - love that place)

Clue #8: I love you because you never complain about me having to spend so much time and energy here.

(The church)

Clue #9: I love you because you encouraged me to follow my dream and go to work in a career that I love. I recognize the sacrifice that was for you, thank you!

(The hospital)

Clue #10: I love you because of your inner beauty, but sure so like the way they help you look on the outside!

(The Spa - where I get my hair and pedicures done)

Clue #11: I love you because you are sweeter than the treats at this Saturday morning stop.

(Gering Bakery)

Clue #12: I love you because you are my ROCK! My love for you is "MONUMENTal"!

(Scottsbluff Momument)

Clue #13: I love you because you are an incredible mom. Our children are lucky to have such an involoved parent in their educational endeavors.

(Geil Elementary)

Clue #14: I love you because you make four walls and a roof a HOME! See you there!

(Home)

Throughout my little adventure I collected 15 roses and came home to find out that I was going away for the weekend...

Happy 15th Anniversary!

I know it has been over a month since I was last seen but we have been really busy. Crazy busy! It's a long story and hopefully I will be able to catch everyone up but I couldn't let this day pass without putting it out there that today Carl and I are celebrating our 15th Wedding Anniversary. It has been a wonderful day and it seems that more surprises await me tomorrow.
I will post more details later but suffice it to say that I am one lucky girl and I KNOW it!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Four generations picture 2005 Today is my Nana's birthday. This past Fall she suffered a stroke and we are very grateful that she is still with us. I have been thinking about her all day and thought I would share some favorite Nana memories...

1. She has the softest skin ever! When I was a kid I would sit next to her and rub the skin under her arms.

2. The smell of chalk to this day brings me back to her classroom where she taught 5th grade. I would spend afternoons cleaning her chalkboards and watching Days of Our Lives.

3. McDonalds dates for a fillet of fish - back when they came in the Styrofoam packaging.

4. People watching

5. We went for a walk together one afternoon and the twirly seeds were floating down off of a tree. She picked one up and then went on to talk to me about how Heavenly Father has created such an amazing world - how the wind takes the seeds and they find ground and a new tree is planted. I was just a little girl and it has stayed with me.

Happy Birthday Nana! We love you!

Star Employee of the Year 2008

Carl was one of twelve nominated for the employee of the year at Regional West Medical Center for 2008. Tonight was the dinner and award presentations. Drum roll please...

Carl D. Baird PT, DPT STAR of the Year!

This honor includes an all expense paid trip for two anywhere in the Continental United States.

This just affirmed what all of those who know and love Carl already know...

He is AMAZING!

Group A Streptococcus

Before you begin to question if I did my token blogging and you won't be seeing or hearing from the Bairds for sometime again... Strep throat found its way to our house. Savannah was the first and then she was kind enough to share with her mommy. Allie and Morgan both came home from school today complaining that they don't feel good but so far no sore throats. Chances are that nasty Streptococcus decided he really liked it here - we treat him well with yogurt, ice cream, Sprite, hot tea, etc. If you have never been unfortunate enough to meet him thank your lucky stars! Carl asked me what he could get me Saturday night and I started crying and said, "A gun!" Thank goodness for antibiotics! So if there isn't any new posts for a while don't be mad just say a prayer for me that Carl doesn't get it too (he makes a far better doctor than he does patient)!

Up On The House Top

I was looking through our December pics and came across these...

The first of December was an unseasonally warm day and Carl had the day off so he decided to put the Christmas lights up. I was gone and came home to find not only my husband on the roof but all four of my children having a little party several feet off of the ground. They reminded me of the chimney sweeps in Mary Poppins. Was this the safest place to play? No, but they made some fun memories and I'm sure will talk about it for years to come...

"Remember when Dad let us play on the roof when he was putting up the Christmas lights?" "Ya, that was fun and we're so lucky we didn't fall off and break our necks!"

Luke's Heart

Our lives have been blessed to have had a glimpse into the short life of Luke. Luke is the nephew of our very good friends. (our friends from Omaha that couldn't live without us and followed us out West :) He was born with a congenital heart disease February 9, 2006. Luke had a heart transplant in November. In this picture he is just days out from his transplant excited to finally eat real food after having been on a feeding tube for so long. The past two months have been full of ups and downs for this guy and his sweet family. Yesterday Luke passed away. The strength and testimony of his parents has been amazing.

Here is an excerpt from their care page...

"I put on some hymn music in the background. John annointed Luke's head for a blessing and Troy gave him the blessing with John and Ryan. The blessing said that he fulfilled his mission and has touched many peoples lives and released him unto our Father in Heaven. They had been clamping the ecmo, took out his breathing tube, gave him more sedation meds, and put him into my arms. I held him in my arms for a couple of hours visiting with doctors and nurses and those I mentioned before. We also got hand prints, foot prints, molds of his hand and foot, and locks of hair. As he left this mortal life I believe in Christ was playing followed by I know that my Redeemer lives. My faith and testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ reassures me that I will see Luke again. Families can be together forever and this brings me the peace to carry on."

I know that our family is one of many who have been deeply effected by Luke's story. I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to truly know that families can be together forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sulley family.

Luke's heart has touched ours forever!