Good-bye My Old Friend

Yesterday I went to the funeral of my long time friend Andrew Kneib. He fought cancer for 15 years and was one of the strongest persons I have ever known. He was one of my heroes.
As kids, and teens we both had brain tumors/cancer. We even were in the Make A Wish program together. It always seemed that when I got better that Andrew got better. But then our old enemy, cancer struck him once more.

I am so blessed that I was able to know him in this life. He is such a great person and friend. I have no doubt where he is going and that he is doing many great and wonderful things on the other side.

What was said at his funeral is such a wake up call to me because he did not let his cancer stop him from doing anything! The following are some of what was said at the funeral:

"He got his eagle scout when he was only 14....., He worked in high school even had two jobs in his Senior year....., always did his school work even when he was under going his chemo treatments he was even able to graduate form high school in 2005 on time.
Andrew was always willing to serve in the church. He started doing home teaching at 12 and did it regularly. After high school he taught primary for 3 years. He loved the kids he taught and they loved him." He always made a big deal about celebrating their birthdays, and they always enjoyed taking turns pushing him in his wheelchair from class to sharing time.He always wanted to be a missionary, but that wasn’t possible. Instead, he served a mini-mission with Moises Echeverria. They would get together and study scriptures and then go out with the missionaries.
"When he was originally told that he would only have 2-3 months to live, it was arranged for him to go to the temple to receive his endowments. During that time period, he and Arlana(his mom) did a lot of traveling around the country, and he got to visit 16 temples. He greatly enjoyed going to the temple and went every month. He truly understood the plan of salvation, and the gospel, and he had a strong testimony that families can be together forever."

There was so much more said, he went to New York to see a Yankees game (with his dad) on their home field and many more things. He lived his life to the fullest! How many of us really do that, live our lives to the fullest? All of us need to start doing that. We all really need to enjoy our lives, see and know what is really important and what really matters. We should NOT have any regrets in our lives; our mortal lives are so short.

I will never forget you Andrew. You will be greatly missed and I love you.

I am so blessed to have known Andrew in my life.

Tae Kwon Do

Some of you know that I did Tae Kwon Do for 6 years.


Yesterday was Master Beers last class. I went for the first time in 6 years(I don't have great equalibrium anymore since I hit my head on the corner of my closet door when I was getting out my uniform and the pain went to my surgical area. then got a huge migraine, when trying to do the spinning got dizzy and got a bigger headache every time and I still have that problem).
He was totally surprised when he saw me well he was surprised to see me and a bunch of his former students that came as well.




It was so crowded that we were squeezing in so we all can have some room and figure out who goes where since we were all black belts( see who has seniority over who.)



He went around introducing everyone telling some things about each student at one point that he was introduction everyone that he stopped and said, "I do not deserve this." then I spoke up out loud and said, "yes you do" and clapped then everyone else joined me.





When he got to me he toiled about "How remarkable I am and how it took me longer to get to black belt cause of my brain tumor.That when I gave my report there was not a single dry tear in the room and and that I am a mother now."


After he was done telling everyone who is who the class began. It was a very short class cause of how BIG the class was.




At the end we all said KAM SA HAM NED DA which meas thank you in Koren which is that is what we say at the end of each class. Then we all clapped for a good 2-3 min for the job well done that he had done well and it is obvious all of us that came are black belts and it was just not us who got the black belt we had great inspiration to make it to the black.



Then it was time for the little party.







Little bit later on my mom brought Zack. He at first was a little shy and clung on to me.






But when he realized that there were other babies he was on the go and playing with them he was a little party animal he was all over the do-jang. Of cores I was taking him to all of my TKD buddies and they all loved him.



It was so nice to see everyone again and to be able to do one last class and to be able to bow to master beers and the flags one last time. I am grateful that I was able to do Tae-Kwon-Do and do this one last time.

Elmo!!!

What can I say Zack loves Elmo!

It all started when he was 6-7 months old. when i was nursing him one morning and trying to find something good to watch on t.v.(we only have basic t.v. :P) I surfed into Elmo's World and when Zack heard Elmo's cute little voice he sat up and looked at the t.v. and grinned from ear to ear and started to cooed. YES!!! My Monkey loves Elmo!!! that was the start of it all; of loving Elmo.

For Christmas he got a little stuff Elmo and a Kiss me Elmo that his aunt Becky gave him which he loves very much.

In January Zack was playing with his smaller Elmo and he confused it with his big Kiss Me Elmo. It just made me laugh watching him trying to get his little Elmo to perform. Finally, I had to explain to Zack that his little Elmo does not do that only his big Kiss Me Elmo did.


What can I say my monkey loves Elmo,Monkeys,his blanket, chuck trucks, books, balls,passies etc... My monkey just likes a myriad of things -- he is a well rounded kid.

It's a Nubbin!!!!

As long as I can remember I have not been to eat the end of most foods. In my family it's called "the nubbin." You know, that last bite of a french fry, etc. When I was very small instead of popping that last bit of fry into my mouth, I would lay it on my plate/wrapper. Mom asked me why I wasn't eating it and I replied, "I don't like the nubbins." It's stuck.

My little Zack is much like his Daddy, he LOVES all things potatoes. Most of the time when Mom and I are in the car together he starts communicating he wants french fries. He'll make the sign for "more" and start blowing. (mommy always blows on then before giving it to him) Well, the other day I was getting him out of the carseat, I spotted . . . NUBBINS! Zackary is becomimg like his mommy and does not like eating the very last bite of his foods. Oh no, what have I created???

I love being Zacky's Mom!

Being so cute

On Monday, April 26th I was preparing for Zack's bath -- turning the water on, gather toys, towels and soaps when I heard some noises on the stairs. I turned and saw him struggling as he was climbing up the stairs bringing his little Elmo and one of his monkeys to join him for bath time! Elmo and Monkeys -- the best of 2 worlds. That boy worked very hard, but he made it up the stairs with no assistance from me. Needless to say he was very pleased with himself.

On Tuesday, April 27 while I was giving Zack his bath he was doing his usual splashing and playing with his bath toys. At one point he picked up his walrus bath toy and held it like a baby. Zack rocked it from side to side and kept saying baby over and over. It was so cute but, Zack IS cute so why wouldn't he be doing cute things?

I love being Zack's Mommy

I Did It!

I did it!!! Yesterday, I finally took my drivers test and I passed . . . I am an official licensed driver! At age 16 when everyone else was learning to drive, I was fighting for my life. Well, now I have a beautiful life AND a drivers license!

At the age of 16 when all of humanity is thinking of nothing but driving and dating, I was waging a battle for my life. I had a malignant brain tumor. Surgeries, meds, and other procedures left me drugged and with blind spots. I lost all confidence in myself regarding driving and for many years, I just was too afraid to attempt driving . . . then, I married my Ben. Ben has always believed I could do anything, including driving. He bought me a car and I started practicing. Everywhere we went, he had me drive. He never gave up on me! So yesterday, with the threat of my permit expiring at the end of the month and with a blessing from my husband I took my driver's test -- I passed! I couldn't believe it, I passed.

Terrible picture, but had to prove I am a proud owner of a driver's license. To celebrate the great event, my husband and baby boy went out and bought me a charm for my bracelet.
I truly am blessed and have a beautiful life!

Historic Event in the Durney Family!

In February my sweet family, Ben, Zack and I flew out to Utah for a historic Durney Family moment! We drove up to Blackfoot, Idaho with Ben's parents and his little brother Danny to celebrate along with most of the descendant's of Gordon Durney (Ben's Great Grandpa) his 100th Birthday -- Yes, you read that right, 100th!!! It was so exciting to see that happen in your very own family, since it is so rare!

It was so nice to see that sweet man again and this time Zack was more aware. When we were getting our picture taken Zack would not even look at the camera ( normally he poses) he just couldn't keep his eyes off of his Great Great Grandpa Durney!!!






It was such a joyous occasion I am so happy that so many family members came for this celebration. It's amazing that so many people can descend from just one person in 100 years and that he actually had the chance to see it for himself!



We all chatted and mingled getting to know more of the extended family.We sang happy birthday to him it was just such a nice day to be able to see this mark in history!

I wanted to be able to take pictures of family with him but towards the end his energy was just getting depleted. But, I was able to snap a few of him with his children and then with their spouses.


We unsuccessfully tried one last time before we left to get a picture of him with Zack looking at the camera but Zack was true to form . . . he was fascinated with his Great Great Grandpa Durney.



In my opinion, the most precious moment of all (depicted in the following picture) Ben's Uncle Brian and Aunt Kristy's son Alex announced to his great grandpa "Grandpa I am going on a mission" Wouldn't that be so incredible to hear that from one of your great grand children?


What a truly blessed live he has lived!