The Hawk

Dawson loves playing baseball!

Sadly his team is...well,

very much like the "Bad News Bears".

So I thought he needed some new energy.

He got it in the form of a MOHAWK!

My sweet boy liked his hair, but he didn't think it was appropriate for church. He begged me to shave it off. And well I just couldn't do it. I combed over and flattened it out and he wore a Mohawk to church the very next day. I was SO proud.

Dear Dawson,

I like your new attitude

that comes with your new

hair, I think you should

keep it. Thanks for making

me proud.

Love,

CoRi dAwN

Alyson and Emilee

Last night my little Emilee had a rough night!

She had an experience that I wish she didn't.

She handled it amazingly and I am very proud of her.

She came home to where she feels safe and she was

loved and comforted by her big sister Alyson.

I am so grateful that they have each other.

Everyone needs a sister....

To be silly with...

To act like a monkey with...

To celebrate with...

To sing with...

To dance with...


And most importantly to
have someone who understands
and loves them when they
need it most.

                               

Dear Alyson and Emilee,

You guys are great! You are lucky

to have each other! Keep loving

one another. And keep making me

laugh.

Love,

CoRi dAwN

Missing Virginia!

I am here, but should be in Virginia!

 I am missing Ole' Va Like crazy.

And I am being tortured by the amazing photos that are
making their way to Facebook.

Photo taken by my adorable cousin Mallory and published by my other adorable cousin Chelsea. Stolen and edited by me. (minor editing)

This is my Grandpa' and his sister Aunt Bee.
They are the last of ten children who
loved their parents and each other.
They are sweet.... Oh so very sweet.
I love them.

Dear Mallory and Chelsea,
THANK YOU! For taking such
amazing pictures! I love pictures.
I wish I was there. And Chelsea
WAY TO GO on the musical chairs.
M-Ann is a hard one to beat.
Love ya!
Love,
CoRi dAwN

I love Sundays!

I love Sundays when one of my children talks in church!

Alyson had the opportunity to talk in front of the congregation

today about her four years of early morning seminary.

She made me proud. She looked great and she held herself together

and didn't say umm a bunch of times.

This is an old picture and not at all what she looked liked today but it is a picture of her "preaching". I'm sure she's telling everyone to go home and think about all the nice things people do for them ;)

Also in RS we had a fabulous lesson on Quentin L. Cook's talk titled,

LDS Women Are Incredible

Our women are not incredible because they have managed to avoid the difficulties of life—quite the opposite. They are incredible because of the way they face the trials of life. Despite the challenges and tests life has to offer—from marriage or lack of marriage, children’s choices, poor health, lack of opportunities, and many other problems—they remain remarkably strong and immovable and true to the faith. Our sisters throughout the Church consistently “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.”

^{Dear Alyson,}

^{Thanks for being such a great}

^{example! I am super proud of}

^{you for working hard and attending}

^{all four years of seminary. You}

^{are incredible!}

^Love,

^{CoRi dAwN}

June 25th, Half way to Christmas!

It's hot and sunny outside, but since today

is Christmas' half birthday I thought we'd celebrate by reminiscing.

Here are some snapshots of Christmas 2010.

Santa (AKA uncle Marc) lost his pants. Pretty much my FAVORITE memory of last Christmas. Hilarious.

I mean just look at Bryant and Dawson's faces. 

 All of my kids happy.
I love it when that happens.

Our annual Christmas Eve drive past the

Denver's City and County Building.

Dear Family and Friends,

I love celebrating Christmas with you.

Some of my fondest memories are

Christmas celebrations. Let's do

it again in six months!

Love,

CoRi dAwN

The best part of my week.

My favorite part of my week was singing
this song...
in the car...
with Emilee...

as loud as we could.

Dear Emilee,

Keep singing. I love to hear you sing.

It's been one of my favorite things

for years. And keep being beautiful

YOU.

Love,

CoRi dAwN

I feel so VIOLATED!

I've been robbed! SERIOUSLY! My debit card number and PIN number were stolen when I shopped at Micheals craft store. Someone then took $500.00 out of my account. That is just so dang rude! Anyway my dear husband noticed the problem when I was asleep during the day and well he did a fantastic job taking care of it. He spent hours at the police station and at the bank, and by the time I knew about it, it was fixed. AHHH love him! But now I don't really want to shop at Michaels. And I'm kinda scared to use my PIN at any store.

You can read about it here.

Dear FREAKIN IDIOTS that stole my money,
I hate you. I really hope that your kids were staving or your dying mother needed medication and that's what used my money for. But I doubt it. I think you suck. I hope you go to jail.  
Unlove,
CoRi dAwN

Because I'm a nurse I can talk about "these things".....

"These things" being BLOAT.

It's a real problem, trust me, I know!

So the other day I bought some Fiber One bars,

everyone needs fiber.

I love and respect fiber.

I am often found saying,

"FIBER~ it's the body's scrub brush".

So people, eat your fiber. But dare I say,

Do it with caution! Because as I have recently re-learned.

=

Dear Fiber One,

Thank you for.. for...well you know what.

But seriously I can do without the

BLOAT!

Love,

CoRi dAwN

I love Sundays! Especially when it's Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

Today I reflect on the men in my life.

And I feel so blessed.

How beautiful is that home where lives a man of godly manner,
who loves those for whose nurture he is responsible,
who stands before them as an example of integrity and goodness,
who teaches industry and loyalty,
not spoiling his children by indulging their every wish,
but rather setting before them a pattern of work
and service which will underpin their lives forever.
~Gordon B. Hinckley

Let me introduce you...

This is MY Mike. He is the father of my children. He adores them and they adore him. He is kind and gentle, generous and loving. And he is mine.

This is Don, my father-in-law. This is where My Mike
gets his generosity from.

This is Gary. He is my step-father. He has worked hard for me.
I am grateful for that.

This is LaMont, my Grandpa'. When I think of him I have an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude. This man is the most Christ-like man in the whole wide world. I am SO blessed to call him mine. Words cannot express the feelings I have for him. Love is simply not a strong enough word.

When I hear this song I ALWAYS think of him.

This is MY DAD Mike. He is strong, and funny, he can fix ANYTHING. He works hard to serve Jesus and others. He is a great example to me and my children. He has the best laugh ever and EVERYONE loves him. He also has had just about the coolest cars EVER. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to share him with my siblings.

When I hear this song I think growing up with him as a father.

Dear Mike (my husband), Don, Gary, LaMont, and Mike (my dad),

I will NEVER be able to truly express how grateful I am to you. I am in large part who I am because of you. The lessons I have learned from you I will pass along to my children and grandchildren. I am most grateful to part of your legacy.

Thank you and I love you.

Love,

CoRi dAwN

Hiking

Hiked Devil's Head.

Sort of.

Dana, Staci,  and I took most of our kids (7 out of 12)

on a little adventure. I love to hike Devil's Head, it's a fun hike

and the view is simply AMAZING!

We got started and everyone was happy and energetic.

I actually think they were more excited about all of the trail food we brought.

But they were happy all the same.

Jarret. Yep he's got some guns.

Isabelle, Adam, Emilee, and Kyle.

Emilee, Isabelle, Owen, and Jarret.

So we were hiking along having a grand ol' time. Yelling

"STAY ON THE TRAIL", and eating all those yummy snacks.

And then...

See that BIG NASTY BLACK cloud behind Jarret?

That's what happened.

Someone must of thought our little rag muffins needed a shower

because that is what they got.

Dylan

And then it hailed.

And so we only made it half way.

Sad.

But fear not, we will try it again.

Dear Dana, Staci, and kids,

I had so much fun.

Let's do it again, and get to the top.

Even though I gotta clean mud

out of my car it was still worth it.

Love,

CoRi dAwN

I feel it a privilege

I feel it a privilege to have a body.

 To know who I am,

where I came from, and why I'm here.

I feel it a privilege to be a nurse,

to serve people when their bodies fail them.

I feel it a privilege to be at a bedside

when a person leaves their body behind

and goes to their "Father's house".

I feel it a privilege to clean and

care for that body

and prepare it for a grieving family.

I feel it a privilege to wrap up that earthly

body and deliver it to it's next destination.

I feel it a privilege to have

a clear understanding of life and

it's purpose, and to know that life does indeed go on.

When it is my turn to go to my "Father's house"
I will feel it a privilege.

Dear Patient,

Thank you for allowing me to

be part of your life and death.

It was my PRIVILEGE.

Love,

CoRi dAwN

Dear SL,     

Thank you for

the phrase,

"Father's house"

Love,

CoRi dAwN

I heart Lauren.

I heart Lauren!

Lauren is a super dee dooper cute girl

I worked with on 8N/S.

She is an amazing nurse and WAY SMART.

I wanna be a nurse just like her someday.

I get to see her once in a while but I miss her like CrAzY!

This picture was taken at a celebration for Lauren's

Birthday. I'm pretty sure she'll always be 21.

Arienne, Jen, Kim, CoRi dAwN, Lauren, and Patty.

Dear Lauren,

I love pulling into the parking lot

and seeing your car, "Ralph".

I know that if I am having a bad night

you'll make me laugh. When I'm around you

I forget that it's 0300 and I stop missing 

my bed. Always laugh Lauren, ALWAYS!

Life is much easier when you're laughing.

Love,

CoRi dAwN



FaMiLy NiGhT

Last night was Monday night.

And that means it's family night.

Or it means it should be family night.

I won't ever pretend my family is perfect at it, we're NOT.

I would like to be and hope to be someday.

Last night I invited a family (The Mathews) to help us pull some weeds that are along a pathway in our neighborhood.

It was so much fun. Not really. But it felt good to go on a walk this morning and see how much nicer it looked.

 Not sure if we're working or
playing. But it doesn't really matter.

Dear All Five of my Children,

LOVE family night. Have it every week

with your family. You will be blessed

and your children will be happier.

Also be on the lookout for opportunities

to serve your family and your community.

I love you and thanks for your help.

Love,

CoRi dAwN