Where's Ruby?

Oh there she is! It's so nice of her to share her bed with Grizz. They are so cute!

PC to Tiff

Winter...

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”

~Hal Borland

Another granddog...

 

I met our newest granddog today. Ruby is a adorable. She's a Cavapoo, a crossbreed of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle. Ruby seems to be adjusting to her new home very well. She and Grizzly fight over toys and act like typical siblings! It's actually very cute to watch. Grizzly climbed into her bed even though it's a little small for him. Grizzly will have someone to play with when the boys are at school. Welcome to the family Ruby! 

Mark and Grey were in the middle of a serious game of Magic! It seemed like a great way to spend a snowy and cold day.

Love this family...

But, wait...

But, wait wasn't this just yesterday that Colby was holding his toddler brother in his arms? 

I watched Colby and Grahm as we made pizza and played games, and thought again of how fast they are growing up. But I can honestly say I have enjoyed more than words can express, every moment we have together. They fill my heart to overflowing with love and gratitude. I love them fiercely, they are my forever Valentine's. Cash comes over about three times a week and he and Grandpa go to the gym. I always try to have something good for Cash to eat when they get back. We sit and talk, and I have come to cherish those days. My sweet Grey wasn't feeling good and I always miss him so much.

We had a simple but enjoyable evening. We made pizza and Colby's turned out perfect. It tasted especially good. Then strawberries and shortcake for dessert, and a few games. We always end with a movie. I actually love that becase I get to sit by the boys and hold their hands. 

I think it's safe to say Grahm loved his Valentine bear. One of his nicknames is Grahmy Bear so I couldn't resist getting a big soft bear for him to snuggle with.

Grahm always wants me take a few silly pictures!

Colby and Grey were sick last week and I was missing them. So a few days ago we had a late lunch and I was so happy to be with them again. Grahm came along too!

Someone tried to photo bomb the picture. 

Everytime we go to Kneaders the boys take a few containers of creme. I guess they think it taste good!

So blessed...

ThrowBack Thursday ~ Bench picture...

Just a few short years ago... Cash, Colby, Grey, and Grahm have grown so much. 

Love them so...

You are in the hands of the Lord...

Never forget: you are in the hands of the Lord.

In my professional career and service in the Church, I know I have been guided by the Holy Ghost to where the Lord wants me to be.

This applies to all of us. Heavenly Father loves each of you and wants to guide you on the right path. Leave it the hands of the Lord.

Elder Rasband | Facebook
January 2025

Cozy...

I wanted to post these cute pictures of Grizzly that Mark sent today. He asked Grizzly if he wanted to go for walk. He didn't move a muscle. I think his happy place is right at the top of the couch!

Reminders...

The past few months I was reminded once again how life can change so quickly. I have been sitting at my desk, and thinking how important it is to live each day to the fullest, and never take for granted how blessed I have been.

The Thursday before Christmas I had a wonderful visit with my neighbor Linda. She had been having some health problems but had fought her way back and was feeling good. She had AFib and a very rare spiral break in her arm. Linda is a classy and humble woman. She had grown older gracefully and is so beautiful at the age of 85. She and her husband Jay served three mission together. A few days after our visit she had a hemorrhagic stroke. Once again she fought to get better but passed away Tuesday. Even though she had lived a long life it made me sad. I know Jay will miss her and had held out hope she would have more time. But Linda got her ticket home and Heaven got the sweetest angel.

I have mentioned before that a teacher at my school has a son that is fighting kidney cancer. Mikey was diagnosed at 4 months of age. With treatments the cancer was is remission. But a few months ago a tumor was found again.

Many of us wore orange last week for kidney cancer awareness and to show our support for Mr. Corless.

The doctor recommended Mikey have immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer. It works by activating or enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. One treatment costs $32,000 dollars. Mikey has had one treatment and was scheduled to have a second but was denied until a complete payment was made. I’m not sure why insurance would not cover this. 

This past week a few parents organized a fundraiser to help pay for the treatments Mikey needs. Over $5,000.00 was donated and a parent at the school made up the difference, so Mikey went in for a second immunotherapy treatment on Tuesday. Unfortunately it didn’t go well because he kept pulling the IV out. Hopefully it still did some good. He needs two more treatments then it’s expected he will have surgery to remove a section of his kidney where the tumor is. It feels heavy sometimes but we all have prayed, and tried to support this beautiful family. I was grateful that I could along with several other Lincoln staff help Mr. Corless move into a larger home a few weeks ago. They have been living in a small condo with no yard so this change will make a difference.

Then another example of how quick life can change came last night. I had picked up Grahm for Grandma Day, the other boys were not feeling well. 

"Pickleball" game, it's so fun!

I have had these diapers in my emergency tote that I keep in the trunk for many year now. I finally decided to take them out. I have enjoyed every stage of the Grands lives but they sure are growing so fast.

I got Grahm an early Valentine's gift, his favorite animal is a snake!

Tiffani called me later that night to tell me that a father on the basketball team that Grahm’s team would be playing today was killed in a roller over crash two days ago. He was only 46 years old. Tiffani asked me to tell Grahm what happened to prepare for the game. Grahm put his hands on his face and said he felt sad. We hugged and I said a prayer for the family. 

Grahm and Grandpa holding hands as they walked into the school for basketball game.

Jake Shoff played basketball at BYU and always wore a white sweatband during the games.

The Schoff family

To show support for his son Max, all the boys on both teams wore white headbands. There was a moment of silence before the game began. 

Grahm is such a gift to us, as are all our grandsons.

I felt emotional several times as I watch Max play. He’s a good athlete and got several baskets. Grahm said he hoped the other team would win because it would make Max feel better. I fought back tears thinking of this family now coping with such a huge loss, and the overwhelming task of moving on.

How does one fight the good fight, and stay positive, and maintain some control, when so much is out of your control? I will never fully understand why bad things happen to good people. But I always look the scriptures and words from our leaders of our church for more understanding.

Elder Holland, put it this way:

“For every infirm man healed instantly as he waits to enter the Pool of Bethesda, someone else will spend 40 years in the desert waiting to enter the promised land. For every Nephi and Lehi divinely protected by an encircling flame of fire for their faith, we have an Abinadi burned at a stake of flaming fire for his. …

“The point? The point is that faith means trusting God in good times and bad, even if that includes some suffering until we see His arm revealed in our behalf.”

Sometimes we just need to hang in there a little longer!

And then from Elder Renlund, “Some unfairness cannot be explained; inexplicable unfairness is infuriating.” “Even so, there is always hope! Jesus Christ overcame the world and ‘absorbed’ all unfairness. Because of Him, we can have peace in this world and be of good cheer. If we let Him, Jesus Christ will consecrate the unfairness for our gain.”

No matter what situation we find ourselves in, Jesus Christ is the strength—and the source of peace—for us all.

What I have seen these past months is the goodness of others who come together to offer service, to mourn with those that mourn, and to help bear one another’s burdens.

And so I will keep trying to live each to the fullest, to offer service, and to have more faith.

All is right in the world...

I really did feel like all was right in world again when Tiffani, Cash, Colby, Grey, and Grahm arrived home from the cruise, and then when Mark made it home safey from a business trip in Atlanta. 

I made some soup for them and got a few welcome home gifts. 

Grahm is kind and I'm so grateful for my family.

A grandmother knows...

A grandmother knows that children grow too quickly and the time will soon come when they will no longer ask you to play with them.
A grandmother knows that it is more important to dedicate your time to them instead of taking care of the house.
A grandmother knows that listening to them without haste is for them the best gift.
A grandmother knows that their tantrums are sometimes requests for help.
A grandmother knows that you never go back
I really miss their little hands around my neck.
A grandmother knows that sometimes a day never passes and the years fly by...

A grandmother knows...