Christmas 2014

Nash's first Christmas!!! It was a weird one. The Hunts all decided to go up to Utah which we wouldnt be able to do. So we missed them. We were displaced in my parents home. Nash wasnt sleeping well (teething like MAD! got 3 teeth in the 2 weeks from moving out to moving in). Its my sister in laws birthday on Christmas Eve, and my dad had a shoulder replacement. WHAT IN THE CRAZY WORLD?!!? No wonder I had a hard time getting into the holiday spirit. But we did have a good day. Breakfast with my extended Gunnell family, nash's presents (and mine and jace's), talking to my missionary little brother Joe for awhile, and then christmas with my family. 

It was a long day. But good.

Buying a house...

Right after we got back home from the viewing in St. George we started the process of buying a house. It was cute--lots of character and had a great backyard. It was a little smaller than I had hoped for but it was a good starter home (one we could be in easily for 5-8 years). The contract was signed and we were within 10 days of closing. Then we had our home inspection. There was too much, too big wrong with the house (like the 2 HVAC units and the roof...) so we pulled out of the contract. 

However we had already given notice to our apartments and so we started the process of packing up our lives, moving most of it into a storage unit and then moving in with my parents. ON DECEMBER 15TH we moved in. What in the crazy world were were thinking. RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!!! NASH'S FIRST CHRISTMAS TO BOOT. oh well. its done. thank goodness.

Backtracking...just a little

So yeah...its 2015. And i have a few things to say about that.

But I have some stuff that happened in 2014 that I didnt get done here on my blog/journal and so we are gonna back up just a little.

Just before Thanksgiving (literally), Jace's cousin Dallin was pronounced brain dead, but his body was starting to learn to breathe on his own. His family and sweet wife made the decision to let him go. There was going to be a multiple day celebration of Dallin and in respect of his strong family. The first of those was the viewing to be held in St. George, Utah. That was the only part we were going to be able to go to.

So on a few hours notice, we packed up our little family and caravaned with Jace's brothers and their families to meet up with the extended Hunts. It was a bittersweet reunion...happiness and love mixed with sorrow and pain. I personally didnt know Dallin (I met him one time), but I had gotten to know his parents well and had just started to see what a strong and valiant woman he married. Dallin had just turned 24 and married for 2 short years, expecting their first baby in 2 months. His family has such a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They know that Dallin is performing a great work on the other side of the veil and that he is just fine. Its those of us left behind that will be missing Dallin and feeling sorrow.

Their story is incredible--and if you want to read about it, its at www.gofundme.com/dallinandcarissa (you could also donate if you felt so inclined).

I took my camera up...I knew that this was going to be the time for some family pictures. We were all together--lifting each other with just our presence. The love felt that weekend wont soon be forgotten.

I asked while at the viewing if they would like me to take pictures and I was told YES! enthusiastically. I am planning on making a CD and sending it to all family members, but here is a little sampling.

Dallin...we love you. We miss you. We'll take care of one another, but especially your parents, Carissa, and your baby boy. Until we meet again.

At grandma and grandpa hunts house. Mine and Nash's first time.

All Hunt grandkids together!!

Jeff and Mindy and Grace

Jen and Calvin. Ken couldnt make it.

Josh, Jamie, Corbin, Alyssandra, Alaric, and Ryker.

Kara, Jeff, Jeff, Josh, Jennifer, Jace.

Dallin was a hardworking cowboy.

The first thing I saw when I walked in. I started to tear up.

Dallin's dad Brad and wife Carissa. The Hunts will keep a close watch on her Dal.

Dallin's favorite scripture that was the family motto during the 2 week coma he was in. 

"Fight like a dragon."

Dallin was so talented. He was artistic and musical, hardworking and loving. He served an honorable mission and was an eagle scout, and married his sweetheart for eternity in the temple.

Aunt Lisa and 2 of her girls, Shalee and Katie.

Carissa, Brad, and Tammy spent the whole time comforting others. What gems they are.

Saying goodnight to his boy. I was sobbing taking this. So tender.

Grandpa and Grandma with Brad and Tammy Hunt family.

All the Hunts I could round up at the end of the night.

Explaining the plan of salvation to my nephew Corbin. 

Life Lately--short version

Our life lately. One word: INSANE.

In short.

• Dallin passed away and we went up to Utah on 7 hours notice for his viewing in st. george. It was crazy--but so worth it to see our family. 
• Nash got his first cold.
• Nash got his two front teeth.
• Thanksgiving came and went and was delicious. Jeff and Mindy hosted.
• We started the process of buying a home. Super rushed and rash. It was cute and hit most of our wants. We were to close in a month.
• Gave notice to our apartments that we'd be out in 30 days. 
• House inspection found lots of issues...seller wasnt willing to do what we wanted.
• We canceled the contract and were homeless.
• We bought a storage unit and started packing up our lives.
• Nash got worse with his sleep because of all the craziness.
• Nash got his second cold.
• We moved into my parents home in my old bedroom.
• My mom and I spent 2 nights packing and cleaning into the wee hours.
• My inlaws came and helped paint.
• My dad had a shoulder replacement and a bicep reattachment.
• I did the final walk through praying that it would be up to their standards--it was.
• I helped put up my families decorations and our tree and moved it into my moms front room because she didnt want to buy one this year.
• I have spent a good portion of time sorting and organizing our things to make our bedroom livable.
• I bought and wrapped all our presents.
• Nash began teething and popped out another tooth.

We are ready for Christmas to get here and for life to slow down a little. Its been a crazy month.

Heavy Heart

2 weeks ago, Jace's cousin Dallin was in a bad accident.

He is a cowboy and was wrangling a cow...and he fell off his horse and then the horse rolled over him. He was finally life flighted to St. George Utah where he lay in a coma from a brain injury with 2 collapsed lungs, broken ribs, etc.

His wife of 2 years was at her baby shower in Northern Utah for their first baby due in January.

The doctors were able to re inflate the lungs, but the swelling of his brain made them uneasy. We received a text letting us know there was a possibility that he might never wake up. It was better for them to keep him sedated in the coma---hoping to allow the brain to heal.

His levels have been up and down over the last 2 weeks. Finally the neurologist said that he needed an MRI to check on the brain. The news was devastating. Dallin was brain dead. (I've gotten most of my information from my husband so those were his words). Dallin is an organ donor so they were going to take him off his medications and let things take their course while still keeping him on the ventilator (for his organs). The issue that they were concerned with is that his body may try to breathe on his own and then they couldn't do anything. He would be stuck in that vegetative state, not able to wake up.

I just got a text that Dallin's body is in fact trying to breathe, so they are taking him off the ventilator at 2 PM.

My heart aches for Aunt Tammy and Uncle Brad. Their other children Tiffany, Autumn, April, Logan, and Shaina. And mostly for his wife Carissa and their unborn child.

But even with a heavy heart---how grateful I am for the knowledge of eternal families. How wonderful to know that he is with our Heavenly Father---out of pain and away from suffering. Dallin will be a huge asset to Heaven, doing the work of our Lord. And you can bet that he will be his family's guardian angel--and that he will get to spend some time with his son in Heaven before he is born. Dear Hunt family, I love you.

"Peace. Be still."

If anyone would like to contribute to helping with medical costs and funeral costs :( Here is the link to the the gofundme account Dallin and Carissa