Tyler has an obsession - and this is a huge obsession. He is obsessed with the hot lunch calendar. He reads it at least 10 minutes a day - every day. He reads it, rereads it, discusses it with me and Derek - every day. He can tell you what is for lunch every day of the month because he certainly has it memorized by now. My mom was over once and he read the entire calendar to her - captivating reading eh? His school lunch gives the kids a choice of 2 entrees and then they get to pick 2 out of 3 sides. He can pour over his decision on what to get endlessly. We haven't eaten dinner without Tyler getting up to check something on the calendar since school started. You'd think by November the thrill would have worn off - but no dice. And the killer for Derek and I is that he has only had cold maybe 5 times this school year. We thought that would be so out of his comfort zone that he'd never have hot. I thought I would end up bribing him to eat hot just once this whole year! And now I'm begging him to have cold. His hot lunch love is hilarious.
Tyler had Derek come to lunch a few weeks ago and eat with him. Derek met him there for teriyaki chicken. They were going through the line each getting their lunch - with Tyler explaining the 'how to's' of the cafeteria. Derek saw someone he knew and stopped to talk for a second - while he was talking Tyler left Derek and went and sat down. Derek couldn't find Tyler anywhere - Tyler totally ditched him! Derek totally had to search the cafeteria for him! And then once he found him, there was Tyler sitting there with no seat for Derek. Derek had to ask kids to move down to make room for him. Then Derek and Tyler ate their lunch. Derek was yakking to all the kids and all of the sudden Tyler raised his hand. Derek asked him what was going on and Tyler said he was done and ready to go to recess. Derek had to talk him into waiting for him to finish! Afterwards Derek went out to recess with Tyler and the two had a great time.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Monday, November 05, 2007
Ghosts & Goblins
Halloween is so fun - I never really liked it before I had kids, but now I love it. I look forward to it as much as the kids. This year the kids were pretty firm in what they wanted to be - no more talking them into what I want them to be (well, except for ol' Bay - she didn't really get consulted). Tyler knew he wanted to be something from Star Wars - he debated for a while on who to be and finally decided on Darth Vader. Emily knew she wanted to be a cheerleader for months - pretty easy since I decided there was no way I was going to sew a cheerleader outfit. Then to Bay - Emmy's hand-me-down Tinkerbell costume was perfect. She loved wearing it - and insisted on wearing it most of the day (probably because Emily was a cheerleader all day too). They went dressed up to Tyler's class party and had lots of fuss made over them.
We did the ward trunk-or-treat and then we came home. The plan was for me to stay home with Bay to pass out candy while Derek took the bigs out to some houses. But Bailey caught on to trick-or-treating pretty fast - just go up to an adult and hold out your bag - they'll put candy in it for you! So she was off with all the big kids and hit the neighborhood. When it got too cold Bay came home and Derek was off again hitting more of the neighborhood. The kids finally trudged in after 8:00 and went to bed completely exhausted. The kids are already planning next year's costumes so it must have been a hit at our house.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Baby Luke
We lost our Little Luke on Oct. 20th after 4 months of having him here with us. There have been so many lessons learned through this tiny little baby. Words can't begin to describe what going through this experience has been like - and for the most part I've only been on the side lines looking in. I've struggled with how to journal this - it has to be done because this is such a significant event, but it's so hard to let the emotions flow. But, since the tears have already begun, I'll jump in.
Jen and Toby spoke at his funeral. I don't know how on earth they were able to do that - but they felt no one else could speak. Here's their tiny baby who lived in Salt Lake his entire life, while 'home' was 400 miles away in Idaho. So they spoke - and was it powerful. It was truly amazing - what they said, and with what power was amazing. Afterwards I was talking to Megan who came to the funeral and she and I were talking about how Jen and Toby's talks focused on blessings and miracles - at a time of such sadness they showed such faith and gratitude. Truly amazing. So in that vein, I wanted to write down things I was grateful for through this experience.
One of the biggest blessings I saw was that on the weekend he died Toby was already in Salt Lake with Jen. I'm so grateful he was already there and we avoided a middle of the night frantic drive down trying to get there in time. I'm so glad that he and Jen were there together once they knew he had suffered a heart attack. It sounds like they were able to have as peaceful of a day as possible and were granted more time with him than the doctors had predicted. Toby said in his talk that he was grateful for the peaceful circumstances they had. They were together as a family, listened to Primary music, and were able to soak in every minute of their tiny baby. I thought of the Pioneers as Toby talked and how they were forced to leave loved ones in terrible conditions. I'm so grateful that our Little Luke was able to return to Heavenly Father peacefully.
I'm so thankful for how much support Jen and Toby have received - it has been overwhelming. They got over 10,000 hits on their care pages website with people who were, and still are, praying for their family. Their blog was a huge source of comfort and a piece of home when they weren't able to be home. Their support is still there - friends and family are filling needs before they're even realized. So much family came from both their families for the funeral. I just pray they will be able to rely on all these people through the hard days that are coming.
In Jen's talk she said the something that hit me pretty powerfully. Luke's doctor on the day he died is also a bishop. He told Jen and Toby some very insightful things on how to have the proper perspective through all of this. The thing that hit me like a rock was when he told them to "live your life so you can claim your son and raise him". That is amazing - and exactly what we all need to do - I need to live my life so I'm worthy to be around this amazing spirit, who only needed to come and get a body - he was that valiant - just go, get a body, and come home. He'd already proven himself that much.
Jen and Tobe are doing so great as I've watched them the week since the funeral. They are relying on the gospel and the peace that brings, and on each other. Their family has had to face the hardest of trials, and has done so beautifully. What examples they are to me.
Here's a copy of his obituary:
Luke Joseph Gozart, after four short months on earth, returned to his Heavenly Father on October 20, 2007, at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, following complications from heart surgery. Although he was with us for only a moment, Luke’s courage and determination were an inspiration to everyone around him. May it be said of Little Luke that he lifted his family and friends to a higher place by helping us look heavenward for strength and peace. Countless people offered him their love and their most sincere prayers. Luke’s parents would like to express their gratitude for all those family, friends, and medical personnel, who have surrounded and supported us—providing peace and love amidst the storm. Luke is survived by his parents, Toby and Jennifer Gozart, of Nampa, and brothers Benjamin,10, Samuel, 8, and Hannah, 3; grandparents Gary and Diane Gozart, and Steve and Gayle Menlove; great-grandparents, aunts and uncles; and many cousins who prayed for him daily. A funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at the Greenhurst Stake Center located at 3904 E. Greenhurst Rd., Nampa, ID. A viewing will be held 90 minutes prior to the services. We’ll always love you Little Luke!
Jen and Toby spoke at his funeral. I don't know how on earth they were able to do that - but they felt no one else could speak. Here's their tiny baby who lived in Salt Lake his entire life, while 'home' was 400 miles away in Idaho. So they spoke - and was it powerful. It was truly amazing - what they said, and with what power was amazing. Afterwards I was talking to Megan who came to the funeral and she and I were talking about how Jen and Toby's talks focused on blessings and miracles - at a time of such sadness they showed such faith and gratitude. Truly amazing. So in that vein, I wanted to write down things I was grateful for through this experience.
One of the biggest blessings I saw was that on the weekend he died Toby was already in Salt Lake with Jen. I'm so grateful he was already there and we avoided a middle of the night frantic drive down trying to get there in time. I'm so glad that he and Jen were there together once they knew he had suffered a heart attack. It sounds like they were able to have as peaceful of a day as possible and were granted more time with him than the doctors had predicted. Toby said in his talk that he was grateful for the peaceful circumstances they had. They were together as a family, listened to Primary music, and were able to soak in every minute of their tiny baby. I thought of the Pioneers as Toby talked and how they were forced to leave loved ones in terrible conditions. I'm so grateful that our Little Luke was able to return to Heavenly Father peacefully.
I'm so thankful for how much support Jen and Toby have received - it has been overwhelming. They got over 10,000 hits on their care pages website with people who were, and still are, praying for their family. Their blog was a huge source of comfort and a piece of home when they weren't able to be home. Their support is still there - friends and family are filling needs before they're even realized. So much family came from both their families for the funeral. I just pray they will be able to rely on all these people through the hard days that are coming.
In Jen's talk she said the something that hit me pretty powerfully. Luke's doctor on the day he died is also a bishop. He told Jen and Toby some very insightful things on how to have the proper perspective through all of this. The thing that hit me like a rock was when he told them to "live your life so you can claim your son and raise him". That is amazing - and exactly what we all need to do - I need to live my life so I'm worthy to be around this amazing spirit, who only needed to come and get a body - he was that valiant - just go, get a body, and come home. He'd already proven himself that much.
Jen and Tobe are doing so great as I've watched them the week since the funeral. They are relying on the gospel and the peace that brings, and on each other. Their family has had to face the hardest of trials, and has done so beautifully. What examples they are to me.
Here's a copy of his obituary:
Luke Joseph Gozart, after four short months on earth, returned to his Heavenly Father on October 20, 2007, at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, following complications from heart surgery. Although he was with us for only a moment, Luke’s courage and determination were an inspiration to everyone around him. May it be said of Little Luke that he lifted his family and friends to a higher place by helping us look heavenward for strength and peace. Countless people offered him their love and their most sincere prayers. Luke’s parents would like to express their gratitude for all those family, friends, and medical personnel, who have surrounded and supported us—providing peace and love amidst the storm. Luke is survived by his parents, Toby and Jennifer Gozart, of Nampa, and brothers Benjamin,10, Samuel, 8, and Hannah, 3; grandparents Gary and Diane Gozart, and Steve and Gayle Menlove; great-grandparents, aunts and uncles; and many cousins who prayed for him daily. A funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at the Greenhurst Stake Center located at 3904 E. Greenhurst Rd., Nampa, ID. A viewing will be held 90 minutes prior to the services. We’ll always love you Little Luke!
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