Landmines and Gratitude...

My friend Pam recently told me of a quote from Elizabeth Edwards about moving on with life after the landmines explode beneath us. Lucky for me, none of the explosions in my life compare with Elizabeth Edwards. But navigating the mine fields is a challenge for all of us and inevitably, we encounter a few exploding landmines on our journey.

Our most recent landmine exploded last Monday night when David ended up in the ER. He started having pain in his stomach on Sunday night, but he still managed to get up and go dove hunting with the boys and some friends. This was his third hunting trip in five days, and I was sure the stomach ache was a result of eating those birds...I mean really...who eats dove???

He came home from hunting feeling horrible. The pain came and went throughout the day, but he was able to swim and barbecue and eat ribs (and more dove!). By the end of the day he was laying on the bed in misery. When he started feeling feverish, we knew something was wrong. David never goes to the doctor, so when he said he thought he might need to go to the hospital, I knew it was bad.

David drove to the ER. The kids were in bed, so I stayed home and waited for his call. I passed the time googling causes of stomach pain, including parasites and food borne illness. (still on the dove thing.) Several hours later, I got a text telling me that the ER gave him some narcotics for the pain and that he wished he could listen to Sgt. Pepper! Oh boy.....at least he wasn't in pain. He was waiting for a CAT scan. When he finally called, he said that he had diverticulitis, which is infection in small pockets that have developed in the colon. He was being admitted so that a surgeon could look at the CAT scan to see if the colon had perforated. If it had, he would need surgery!

Needless to say, it was a rather sleepless night. I met him at the hospital the next morning to meet with the surgeon. His colon did have a slight perforation, but it was small and in a contained area, and he would not need emergency surgery. The surgeon did however, recommend that he have elective surgery in a few weeks to prevent the problem from recurring. I told David I would get him in to see Dr. Thacker and we would get a second opinion on that!

After a two day hospital stay on IV antibiotics, David came home to recuperate. He is doing much better and we met with Dr. Thacker today. Thankfully, he doesn't think surgery is necessary right now!

This is where the gratitude comes in....I am so grateful that David went to the hospital when he did and got the help that he needed. I am grateful that emergency surgery was not necessary. I am grateful to have a wonderful man like Dr. Thacker to help us navigate the mine field we found ourselves blindly stumbling through. I am grateful for dear friends who called, came by the hospital, watched our children, offered to help and supported us through this past week.

David and I have lived in Arizona for 11 years now and we have no family in the state. Or should I say, we have no relatives in the state. We have an incredible family here who takes care of us when ever the landmines explode...for this I am most grateful.

Too Hot for Blogging!

I keep asking myself why I haven't updated our blog in such a long time...and I realized, it is because it is too hot!!! This is my excuse of choice this time of year for just about anything I would rather not do. But in the case of blogging, it is really true. The bonus room in our house has been turned into a storage room/office of sorts. This room was added on to the house sometime, we think in the past couple of years. We bought the house a year ago and soon noticied some ventilation problems. There is an air conditioning vent into the room, but for some reason, it doesn't cool off. I called the home warranty company, who sent out an air conditioning repairman, who nicely informed me that the duct work that had been installed when the room was added on, was not adequate to cool this room. In order to fix this problem, we would need much larger duct work to be installed...which of course is not covered by the home warranty...we bought a fan! Any way...to make a long story not any longer, we have a hot storage/bonus room!

So today, while it is raining and not so hot, I decided it would be a good time to update our blog with the random happenings of the summer.

Very hot bonus room/storage room/office.

Nick the chick magnet!
Birthday hugs from Jenna and David!

Just "Hangin Out!"

Nick and Chad playing video games.

Nick and Ben on the racket ball court.

Chad and Grant playing racket ball.

Ashton, Nick and Dallin having some fun!

Nick turned 9 years old this summer! We had a family party to celebrate when Jenna and the kids were here and he had a party with primary friends at the Rio Vista Rec Center. It was a great birthday for Nick. Nick is such a great kid and we love having him in our family! Happy Birthday Nick!!

Ben at a swim meet.

Swim team 2009

Family Fun!

Maeve at Beaver Creek in Sedona.
Uncle Nick with Maya, David and Maeve.

Aunt Peggy in Sedona.
Uncle Ben with David

Maeve swims with the dolphin!

Nick rides the aligator!

Maya's happy face.

David in his shark floatie.

We have had such a fun two weeks! Jenna and her adorable children have been visiting us for the past two weeks, and Aunt Peggy has been here for the past week. We have had such a great time swimming, playing and just spending time together!!

We spent a weekend in Sedona for Edward Jones Summer Regional Meetings. While we were there, we enjoyed the scenery, played at Beaver Creek and celebrated Nick's 9th birthday! We have loved getting to know Maeve, Maya and David a little better, and it was fun to see Jenna and Aunt Peggy agian. Family Fun is the best!

Trekkin' Along...

My very handsome pioneer husband....

And me....are you kidding...why does David look like a rough and tumble, getting the work done, 1850's stud...and I look like someone who recently escaped out of Colorado City?

David and Kristen go pioneering.



Okay, so we didn't actually "trek", but David and I spent the weekend at our Stake Pioneer Trek. We are the fireside committee, which included a pre-trek fireside in February, the Family Home Evening during the trek and a post-trek fireside at the end of the month. It was wonderful to see the trek in action and see all of the hard work on the part of so many people pay off. And the best part...we were able to experience the wonderful trek, without having to actually walk the trek.


It really was a long and difficult ordeal (I hear), but with difficultly comes growth and wonderful experiences. It was fun to see the kids I know and hear their reactions. We have such a terrific group of young women in our ward and I am so blessed to work with them. I loved seeing them in their pioneer clothes, with dirt from stem to stern, some of them limping from blisters and all of them tired beyond description, but for the most part, they were smiling and pushing on, taking in every activity and the lessons each day brought.



I am looking forward to hearing reports from each of them after the experience is over and they are clean and well fed and well rested. I know they will return with a new appreciation for the legacy of our pioneer ancestors and with a stronger testimony of the gospel.

Missing My Dad

I can't believe it has been a year since I lost my sweet Dad. The year has certainly brought healing and closure, but I don't think I will ever get over missing him. When ever something wonderful or something terrible happens in my life, I still wish I could tell him. I want him to cheer when Nick scores five baskets in his game. I want him to celebrate when Ben wins a blue ribbon at his swim meet. I want him to hear about our new home and our pool and how happy we are here.

My Dad was always my biggest supporter. Whether it was celebrating the successes in life, or consoling me during the failures, my Dad was always there. I remember during my senior year in high school, I had the lead in "Heaven Can Wait". We did a special dress rehearsal the day before our opening just for the parents of the cast. About five minutes before the show was to start, the drama teacher sent one of the kids to see how the crowd looked. He came back with a perplexed look on his face. "There's just one guy out there...he's sitting on the front row." I didn't have to look to know who it was. It was my Dad, front and center, ready to see the show.

My Dad always seemed to know what was best for me. It was almost like a sixth sense. I had a curfew of 11:00 p.m. during high school. If I wasn't home by that time, I had to call. When ever I would call, Dad would ask where I was and who I was with. There were some houses that were automatically o.k. because he knew the kids, knew the parents and knew I was safe. If I was somewhere that I probably shouldn't be, he always knew. If I was at a friends house who happened to have an older brother with older friends who were having a party, he knew. If I was at a friends house whose parents were out of town, he knew. And he would say, "Be out in front of the house in 10 minutes. I will be there to pick you up." It was a gift.

I will forever be grateful for a wonderful father who blessed my life. I treasure the memories I have of him and I know I will be with him again. And although my world was just a little better place when he was here, I know that my world is a far better place because he was in it.

One Boy, Whole Brain, Two Boys, Half a Brain, Three Boys...No Brain at All!

Look out...THREE boys!


My friend Daniece comes from a family of eight children and five of them are boys! Her Dad, with his "five boy" wisdom likes to say, "One boy, a whole brain, two boys, a half a brain, and three boys, no brain at all." Anyone who has had three boys around for any length of time, can relate to the truth behind this statement.

Daniece and I have three boys between us, but they are together so often, that we each feel comfortable claiming all three! They are such fun and they certainly keep us on our toes. Recently, Ben turned 11 and we have started letting him be the babysitter at home for short periods of time. He has a phone with him, and I have a phone with me and he is carefully instructed to call me if he needs to. I try not to be too specific about the reasons he should call, because I don't want him to spend time deciding if the reason for calling is a good one, if there truly is something he needs. Of course, this leads to some unnecessary calls to say the least. For example, when David and I are sitting in the adult session of Stake Conference, listening to Russell M. Nelson speak, and Ben calls to ask if it is o.k. if he and Nick eat the Three Musketeer Bar they found in the freezer! Isn't he a good boy to ask?!

Saturday night, we had a business dinner to attend. We were going with Kyle and Daniece and the boys (yes the THREE boys) wanted to stay together while we were gone. We have never "gone there" in the three boy arena...leaving just the three of them together. We were close by, and would only be gone a couple of hours, so Daniece and I decided that would be o.k. Again with the phones and the instructions to call for any reason if you need us. We are in a nice restaurant, appetizers are served, the table is deep in business discussion when I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I oh so subtly look to see who is calling, and of course...it is a call from home. I quietly excuse myself out of the restaurant and anxiously answer the phone thinking surely there has been some terrible problem come up...."Hello."

"Mom...can we go t.p.ing?"

"What?...did you really just call me in the middle of dinner to ask me this???? You have never been toilet papering in your life...why would you go now??"

At least they called to ask...right? But instead, I calmly said, "No, remember the instructions to stay IN the house while we are gone? You may not go t.p.ing tonight. Call me if you need to."

"OK Mom," the voice of disappointment.



We arrived home at around 9:00 that night. Everyone was fine, no one had gone t.p.ing and the boys and I were standing at the door saying good-bye, when I hear..."Oh yeah, Mom, the police came to the house tonight."

"EXCUSE ME... did you just say the police came to the house???"

"Yeah, they asked us if we called 911."

"Did you call 911?"

"Well, I was looking for the cell phone, and I was calling it (910 prefix) and someone answered. So I hung up, because I knew no one had my phone."

"So then, did someone call back."

"Yes, but I didn't answer, because I didn't recognize the number." (more instructions from a nervous Mom.)

"So what did the police say?"

"They asked us if our parents were home, and I said no." I am now picturing Child Protective Services showing up at my house.

"They said they were o.k. with us being here alone, but that we should stop playing with the phone."

Apparently the police stayed in the car in front of the house for a while. I'm sure the neighbors' minds are spinning! "So, why are the police at the Dorsey's house...and I think those boys were home alone when they came!!!"


Luckily, there was no fall out from the incident. No CPS, no calls from the Peoria Police Dept., not even a call from a neighbor. The boys are all fine, and looking forward to the next time they get to be on their own. My question is, which brains thought it was o.k. NOT to call Mom when the police show up at the house???

I guess those calls are reserved for toilet paper and Three Musketeers!

Let the Summer Fun Begin!

Memorial day marks the beginning of the summer! We enjoyed a day of swimming, playing and soaking up the Arizona sun. We have to enjoy the sun before it becomes too unbearably hot to soak up! The boys enjoyed playing pool hoops, doing back flips and getting airborne off the diving board! It was a fun day with good friends, good food and of course some crazy dogs. It was a great kick-off for the summer!

Kickin back!

Now this is the life!

Catching some air!!!!

Gotta love a day off!

Memorial Day was full of fun and sun as usual!

Nick's Play

Nick plays it cool in the 3rd grade play!

Happy Birthday Ben!

Today is Ben's 11th birthday. We love birthday celebrations at our house and Ben REALLY likes to celebrate! The morning started bright and early with a Dorsey family tradition...breakfast in bed for the birthday boy! Can you think of a better way to start the day? Next stop...presents of course. Ben got a mini video camera that connects directly to the computer to download his cinematic creations. Our young Spielberg is quite the little cinematographer and loves to document his domino tracks, his marble runs and his latest scientific experiments! He is already loving his new gadget! We went to dinner tonight at Texas Road House where Ben ordered an 11 ounce steak, which sounds crazy, but the crazy thing is that he almost finished it! It was a wonderful day and Ben is one happy 11 year old boy!

Happy Birthday Benjamin....you are an awesome kid and we love you!

Breakfast in bed...a Dorsey family tradition.

Romo getting in on the birthday action...he is eating the noise maker!

A new marble run from Nick!!! Check back for the marble run in action!

Ben is excited to open his presents!

16 color weave design

The annual Peoria Unified School Dist. Arts Festival was held last Saturday at the Peoria sports complex. Ben had a project that was chosen to be displayed in the festival. It was a 16 color weave project he completed in art class at school. We also saw art displays by Charly Hall, Kendall Bosen, Michael Strieby, Becci Walsh, and Trent Austin. Congratulations to our very talented young friends.

Ben's art project

The Domino King

Ben has a new obsession. He loves building domino towers and domino tracks. After he builds them, he must video the creation being destroyed in some new and original manner. Once the destruction has been duly documented, it is posted on You Tube for the rest of the domino lovers of the world to enjoy. This picture of his recent creation was almost as tall as Ben was while standing on a kitchen stool! This one came down with a karate kick:)

Easter Morning

Hunting for Easter eggs!

Ben and Nick with their Easter treats.

As you can see, the Dallas Cowboys have even worked their way into Easter at the Dorsey house. It seems like something "Cowboy" turns up in just about every activity!

We had a wonderful Easter, complete with hunting eggs, plenty of chocolate and a wonderful Easter dinner with our good friends the Crumps. We had a beautiful Easter program at church and really felt the spirit of the day. We forgot to take a picture in our Easter clothes though...oh well...in a house full of boys, it is really just new ties for Easter. No one has a new Easter bonnet or anything. I am just happy that the boys still enjoy hunting for eggs and getting an Easter basket, because I LOVE IT!

To the victors go the spoils!

Nick and his good friend Grant Smith have just defeated their opponants 18 to 6.

Time for a fruit roll-up and a juice box.

(Nick, looking tough with his mouth guard still in.)

Nick plays for the Blue Bombers

Nick is very aggressive...and he takes football

very seriously!

Move out of the way I'm coming through

Nick is playing city flag football.

Here he is running for his life before three defenders converge on him.

Walking into eternity together.

Mom is proud of her speech writer.

Ben Wins Class Speech Contest

Ben wrote a patriotic speech for his fifth grade class and he was chosen to represent his class in the school speech contest. Ben wrote every word himself and delivered a great speech. Way to go Ben!!

Put me in coach!

Romo wearing Romo

And the winner is...

You gotta love a cub scout!

Ben's Pizza Delivery Hot Rod

Nick's Football Racer