Race for the Cure 2009

On Saturday, May 9, 2009, we participated in the Race for The Cure in Salt Lake. Members of our family have been doing the race for the past nine years to honor our mom, Becky Callister, who died of breast cancer on November 24, 1987. It’s always the day before Mothers’ Day, and it’s become a special tradition for us to do this every May.

When we first started, just my sister Tami and I did the race. The race was up on Capitol Hill that year, around Memory Grove, and it was really gorgeous . The Salt Lake City Hoop -it -Up basketball tournament was always on the same weekend as the race, so we’d do the race then watch Kurt play basketball.

Eventually our daughters started doing the race with us, and we either walked or ran the 5K, depending on what kind of shape we were in that year. The year Ashli had rheumatic fever, we all took turns pushing her in her wheelchair, in a pouring rainstorm.

And slowly over the years, the rest of our families have started joining us, until this year we had 19 family members and 2 friends on our team “Becky’s Bunch”.

I try so hard to not get emotional about my Mom. She’s been gone almost 22 years and I’ve lived longer without her now than I did with her. But she never leaves me. I wish my younger brothers and sisters had known her better. I can’t even imagine how it must be for Tawni to not have known her much at all in the short nine years she had her. My Mom was there for my baptism, my first high school volleyball game, my last high school volleyball game, every Prom I went to, moving into my dorm at college, just everything. And my little sisters Tara and Tawni had none of that with her.

Yet, in spite of the fact that they basically grew up without a Mom, they are the most amazing Moms themselves! I am so proud of my brothers and sisters and the lives they lead. As we all got together last weekend and as I looked at the pictures afterward, I was struck by the thought that my Mom would be so proud of us all. We’re all so completely different from each other yet somehow over the years we’ve all managed to mesh our lives and become a strong team, there for each other. When somebody needs money, we manage to scrape up a few hundred dollars and help each other through a rough Christmas or pay a couple bills, or yes, even post bail once in a while;)

They roll their eyes and accept the fact that I pretend to be a good Mormon even though they all know I stop at Wal-Mart on my way out there for Sunday dutch ovens or barbecues. I roll my eyes and ask them to smoke on my back porch instead of my front porch, but the truth is, the older we get, our differences matter a lot less.

WOW! JADE AND HER DAD STAND EXACTLY THE SAME WAY!

..and then there's Ted....

What matters now is that we’re living past the age of 39, and every single day one of us outlives our Mom, it’s a bonus. A whole new chance to spend time with the people we love. I think somewhere in the back of our minds, we all kind of thought life ends at 39. And it’s so great to discover that it’s only just beginning- with weddings and grandkids and so much more in our futures, we have a lot ahead of us. Now if we could just get Hig to join us once in a while, life would be complete.

Bowie's Dedication

On April 5, 2009, Ted and Joey's families gathered for the Dedication of Bowie Paul Thomas Callister, Ted and Joey's six week old baby boy. It was Palm Sunday and also my Grandpa Noel's birthday. He passed away in 1989 and would have been 99 years old today! I wasn't sure what to expect when Ted invited us to the Dedication. Babies in our church are given a name and a blessing in a church service, and we thought Bowie's Dedication would be somewhat similar to that or like a Catholic baptism of infants. The first noticeable difference in our church and theirs was that we wore jeans to the service. This was wonderful for us. It was General Conference Sunday in our religion, so we didn't have organized church service that day, and it was was great to not have to get dressed up in dresses, suits and ties. We had a relaxing, enjoyable trip out to Tooele, where we saw people of all kinds entering the Church building. We waited outside for Ted and Joey, and as we walked in the back door of the Church, we were immediately greeted by lovely women who seemed sincerely happy to meet us. They wanted to know our names, and one of them even hugged Kurt:)

The pastor called Ted and Joey up to the front of the room, and then asked all of their families to come up to the front, too. There were SO many of us there.. it was amazing to see how we filled the room. A bunch of Mormons crowding into this little church building to support Ted and Joey. The pastor talked about bringing Bowie up in Christ and dedicating his life to the Lord. He said some really great things that we should all ponder every day, and even though it was different than the Church I attend, I enjoyed being with people who believe in, love and honor Jesus Christ. We all had common ground in our love for the Savior and it was a really pleasant experience going to the New Life Christian Fellowship church with my brother's family.

After the Pastor spoke and the congregation reached their hands towards Bowie while the Pastor said a prayer for him, the family sat back down and Paul played "Amazing Grace"on his bagpipes. Joey and I were both crying like babies while he played. Man, I love my brother. When Paul was done, Joey asked for a moment of silence for our Mom who died 21 years ago of breast cancer. She said, and I wish I could remember it word for word, but as she was crying, she said something to the effect "I never met Ted's Mom, but I'd like to ask for a moment of silence for her. I married the most amazing family". It was so awesome. So the Pastor asked the congregation for a moment of silence for Grandma Becky, who never met a single one of her 17 grandchildren.

I was so glad I was able to be there with Ted and Joey and Bowie and I'm so happy for Ted that he has a son. He's always wanted to be a Father, and I know he'll be an amazing Dad to Bowie. I'm glad they have religion in their home, and I hope they have many years full of peace, love and harmony as they raise their son, along with gorgeous Mikayla, who was part of the family before Ted was. I'm honored that I was a part of this special day for Ted's family.

Ashli

OK So I guess my daughter really is going to get married and move away to Arizona.. I've been in denial for a long time. I love Kenz. I especially love that he loves Ashli so much. The moment I really took him into my heart was the night she wrecked his car between Mt Pleasant and Moroni. She and Tyler were following me home from Ephraim and all of a sudden I couldn't see their headlights anymore. So I called Ty's cell phone and he said,"Can you just come back here?" He wouldn't tell me why and I was freaking out. Finally he said, "We hit a fence. Can you come back here?" Well, when I got back to them, it was a LOT worse than hitting a fence. Ashli had driven off the road, slid down the snowy embankment, and torn out a barbed wire fence. The car was in the middle of a snow-covered field, and it looked horrible. Tony and Zetta Olsen were there with Ash and Ty, and two really amazing guys stuck around to help. I wish I could remember their names. Well, we called Kenz and when he got there, he parked across the road, hurried over and just held Ashli in his arms. He didn't even glance at his car. He's a 19 year old kid whose car just got nearly totaled, and he didn't care at all about the car. All that mattered to him in that moment was my daughter. And I knew then that they belong together. And as much as I want her to live right down the street from me so I can see my grandkids every day, as much as I want her to live in Nephi so I can see HER every day, I know she has to go where Kenz takes her. So, even though I'm ready to share her, I'm glad Kenz knows just how blessed he is to be sharing his life with this girl.

I was so scared I wouldn't be able to have children as I was growing up. So when God saw fit to send us a gorgeous, perfect, amazing daughter, I was in awe. She was everything I had ever dreamed my daughter would be, and more. She was prettier than I thought she would be, smarter than I thought she would be, kinder, more spiritual, more athletic, and so compassionate. I would love to care about others the way Ashli does.

She doesn't even have a clue how amazing she is. When she moved to college, I was cleaning her room and found probably 20 unfinished paintings and drawings. She thinks they're not good enough to finish, and I absolutely love them all. She is the light of her Dad's life and our home is always brighter when Ashli comes home for the weekend.

We have loved every dance revue, every volleyball trip, the freshmen softball games, the sophomore track meets and cheerleader trips, the months of Provita competition season and even the boring Honors banquet.

We've enjoyed the friends Ashli has brought around and the example she has always been to her brothers.

I insisted that she have sleeves in her Prom dress, Senior ball dress, etc. So she always did.

We'd spend hours looking for dresses, passing up lots of dresses she loved because they had straps instead of sleeves.

Until one day one of my visiting teachers was sitting at my house talking about her daughter's custom made Prom dress. And it had wide straps instead of sleeves. I was shocked! My visiting teacher laughed and said she was a lot more worried about cleavage, bare backs and midriffs than she was about shoulders. So we let Ashli borrow the dress with straps when she went to the junior prom her senior year.

She was thrilled, and she looked beautiful.

Her year at Snow College has been a blast for all of us. She got a scholarship to CEU, but we were all SO glad she made the Badgerettes drill team and went to Snow College instead. It's been nice to see her a few times a week, and has made the transition from high school to the real world a little easier for her Mom. I love this girl. I love that a girl so together, so gorgeous and smart and talented can be so irresponsible at the same time!!! Her bedroom and bathroom were a health hazard her entire life. Her car is like the junk drawer in the kitchen. Anything you need you could probably find in her car, except a spot to sit down and ride with her. She loses everything from her keys to her checkbook, and it's a good thing she has Kenz to look out for her. I don't even think she and Kurt told me how many times she locked her keys in her car or left the lights on and had a dead battery during high school. And I'm sure Kenz has made a few trips from Moroni to Ephraim for the same kind of emergencies. She makes us laugh and smile and cry and lay awake at night worrying. She is a blessing in our lives and we wouldn't trade any minute of the 19 years we've had with her, and look forward to the next phase of life with her and Kenz and anyone else they eventually bring into our family.... in a few years, when they're both done with school and well established financially and secure and living back in Utah so that we can see them every day!

I talk a good game, but I'll always hope they eventually settle right here in Nephi where we can play Yahtzee for who does the dishes, throw a softball the minute the snow is off the ground, follow Kurt around the golf course, hike to the gorgeous waterfall in Payson, make gingerbread houses, open pajamas on Christmas Eve and fight over whether they eat with the Nunleys or the Searles on Thanksgiving!

I would love it if Ashli and Mackenzie could afford to have all of the things they dream of... Kenz's dream truck and Ashli's dream house, trips to Hawaii and Mexico and wherever they want to go every summer. I'd love it if they wear new socks every day just because they can afford to. I'd love it if they never argue, never get sick, never have to worry about the little stresses that life brings our way. But whatever comes their way, whatever mountains they climb together throughout their marriage, I could ask for nothing more than this.... Our only daughter will spend her life with a man who loves her as much as we do.

Happy Birthday Zack and Landen

Happy Birthday Zack and Landen!

Wow... Zack will be 17 in two days. When Ashli was a baby, our friends Dave and Monica had a gorgeous baby boy named Travis. He had dark hair and dark eyes, and we thought "We want one of those!" 9 months and one week after Travis was born, we had our own little dark haired baby boy. Zack was born four hours after we got to the hospital. My brother Ted and my sister Tami were there with us. My sisters Tawni and Tara were tending Ashli for us at our house in Salt Lake. When Kurt went down to the nursery to get Zack, his little bed was surrounded by doctors. They wouldn't tell Kurt anything, but the look on his face when he came back to my hospital room is something I'll never forget. I knew immediately something was wrong. Zack was rushed to Primary Childrens' Medical Center on a Life Flight chopper. They wheeled him into my room before they left and I got to touch his hand through the incubator he was in. It would be a week before I would hold my baby again. Kurt's sister Stephanie met him at Primary Childrens' and my sister Tami stayed with me at Pioneer Valley Hospital for the 12 hours they made me stay. When they wheeled me out to her car, with a diaper bag on my lap instead of a baby, it was so awful. Zack was eventually diagnosed with idiopathic cardiopulmonary hypertension, which basically meant that he had high pressure in his heart and lungs for unknown reasons. They kept him in the Newborn ICU for 21 days and basically just treated his symptoms, since they couldn't find a cause for it. Kurt and I spent every single day by his side. Our family, friends from Grantsville and friends from Salt Lake were wonderful. Dixie took Ashli down to Spring City and made her a bunch of new clothes. Ken fed her spaghettios and mashed potatoes and they spoiled her rotten. Teri came to the hospital every day, and always brought something for Ashli or medical supplies for us to use when we eventually got Zack home. It was such a roller coaster. The doctors told us on three different occasions that we could take Zack home the next day, so we'd arrive at the hospital with his clothes, car seat and baby quilts, and they'd have decided he needed to stay longer. We met some amazing people that we'll never forget during our time. Bill and Kristy were waiting for a heart for their son Colby and we saw the helicopter land outside Zack's window when it arrived. They really do carry them in Igloo coolers! Kurt looked forward to the "Hospitality Cart" daily, and he and Bill bought basketball cards by the dozens from the gift shop. Troy, Bill and Kurt gave Zack a blessing before his heart cath and even Uncle Matt came to the hospital the day of the procedure. Grandma Becca had the whole family fast and pray for little Zack that morning, and all went well, so we finally got to take him home on March 1. He was on oxygen for six months at home, but we took him everywhere with his little oxygen tank. He went to the zoo, to ball games, just everywhere we went. Ashli adored him and called him her "biddy budder". He brought something very special to our family. Every day when we arrived at Primary Childrens, it seemed like one of the preemies or RSV babies had died during the night. We were grateful for every day that Zack was screaming and mad at the world. And, boy, was he mad! He'd had IV's in every vein you can imagine and has a cowlick where they finally had to place his first IV in his head. From the beginning, you knew Zack was in the room. And still do! He can't stand silence. From the first day of his life, he was surrouned by beeps and buzzers and nurses talking all around him, so he makes sure there's always background noise in our house now. We are still grateful every day that Zack is here. And we can't believe it's been 17 years since he was born. We are so blessed to have this amazing son. He's funny, gorgeous, he has integrity and a heart of gold. He'll spend his last dollar to get someone else a drink at 7-11 and we just love being around him.

And the day after Zack's birthday will be my nephew Landen's. Tawni tried SO long to have her babies. We all knew she'd be an amazing Mom, and it was heartbreaking when it just didn't happen for her and Mark for so many years. When Logan was born, it was a miracle and we were so thrilled. He was an adorable baby (even though he looked just like his Dad!) And it was amazing that Landen came along so soon after Logan. They were worth the wait and we love them both so much.

Happy Birthday to Colton and Jordan on the 1st, Aunt Suzie on the 4th, Mom who would have been 61 on the 7th, Zack on the 8th, Landen on the 9th, Kurt on the 14th, Ted and Joey's as yet unborn son on the 19th, Paul and Tawni on the 26th.

REGION CHAMP!!

REGION CHAMP!!!

Tyler worked really hard and dropped a weight class for the Region wrestling tournament on January 14. He pinned two guys and came away with the gold medal!

We had a really amazing Christmas in our home this year. Ashli got engaged to Mackenzie Brown of Moroni, originally from Grantsville. I actually went to high school with his Dad, and then we all ended up in this area eventually. Kenz is really good to Ashli and we're thrilled to welcome him into our family. As of today, the wedding is set for September 12, but we'll see what the summer brings.
And I've decided to feature this lovely picture of my husband, Kurt, as my first blog post. This is him wearing his Dad's hat and reading glasses on Christmas Day. His dad, Ken, always wears a red shirt, too, so looking at this picture of Kurt is like looking into my future as he gets more and more like his Dad!
We're all praying daily and sending positive thoughts to Kurt's brother, Mark, as he battles multiple myeloma at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. I've known Strapper longer than I've known Kurt even, so I consider him a friend as well as my brother-in-law. I never could tell him and Wes apart when Teri ( my sister Tami's best friend) was dating Wes, but they both just answered to whatever I called them as we roamed the hills above Grantsville either in Mark's old Bronco or on the snowmobiles or four-wheelers. Little did I know then that there were even more boys to choose from in their family! Once I met their little brother, Kurt, I was hooked. We got married four months after we met, and here we are twenty years later.
Teri married Wes and she used to ask us every year to go on the family campout the end of July. We were always just too busy, with sports or work or something, or Kurt was out fighting fires, and we never did make it. When we lost Teri two years ago, my biggest regret was missing those camping trips. I'm so grateful for my memories of Teri's amazing Christmas parties, though. Somehow Santa always knew exactly what the kids wanted, and he'd bring the perfect gift to Aunt Teri's Christmas party.