This year has definitely been
a most different one for me...........
I've come to truly find myself and know the person deep down in that wild heart of mine.
Changes and Hardships have come
seemingly more than any year I can recall.
BUT
The blessings and tender mercies from a gracious and always loving Heavenly Father
have yet to cease!
And the gifts and opportunities I've been given this year are more than
I could have ever asked for.
My 2009 in a bundle:
* In February I was able to attend The Draper, UT temple open house
HONESTLY
It was one of THE most indescribable, wonderful experiences I've ever had in my life thus far.
(this picture was taken a few months later on my birthday)
*Me, Connor, and Spenc*
As I entered the temple the peace I felt
was almost overwhelming
Walking into the Brides Room I imagined myself dressed in white on my own wedding day....
I couldn't help but picture that perfect day on which I can be there again!
Even more so as I entered the Celestial Room
a feeling like nothing I have ever felt in this life, came over me.
Although it was something I surely know I have never felt here on this earth,
I felt as though I was..... HOME.
Not my earthly home, but a home above that had seemed so far away until that moment in time. These feelings of peace, reassurance, and love have touched my heart forever
and I know my Heavenly Father is patiently waiting for my return.
(So much more patiently than me, I must admit!)
~
* This year God gave me THE most adorable, lovable, cuddleable
(yes i made up that word, so don't even worry about it)
Birthday present/Brother
in the ENTIRE WORLD!
and my most favorite of ALL years past most definitely!!!!
was born on April 6th, 2009
and has brought to a close The Fotu Family DOZEN.
The warmth in his eyes, and chubby little arms
bring all who hold him, a special feeling of LoVe sent straight from Heaven, and a feeling of Joy you will never know until
you hold him in your arms for your self!
It was a gift I will forever remember as one that I truly needed more than anything.
This little bundle of joy has brought me, personally
feelings that only a Father in Heaven
would ever know I needed.
To think that I was special enough to have this little angel as a brother
brings warmth to my heart and tears to my eyes
and I know without a doubt he has blessed
My Life
i Love You TyTy :)
~
Well summers in the Fotu Family household are
CRAZY BUSY
to say the very least!
The Fotu Household could very well be classified as a " Sports Oriented Family"
Indeed! We do LOVE sports, and many of our evening conversations highlight the latest and greatest Sports Highlights.....
BUT
i personally do not feel that is the right description!
I would more so call us a Happy, Funny, sometimes Odd, Goofy, Gorgeous, CRAZY, overwhelming at times, yet always loving oriented Family!
Our summers are filled with long, tedious days on the golf course
Crazy Road Trips, Picnics, Barbeques, Sliding Rock, Long Walks, Many Laughs, and just plain FUN!
I am so very grateful for the AMAZINGLY wonderful family God has blessed me with..... I sometimes wonder what I ever did to deserve such a blessing.
He must just Love me more than I ever thought possible :)
Livi, Connor, Spenc, Jared, And I :)
Mommy & TyTy in Hawaii!
Since I'm such a wonderful daughter and sister ;) Mom, Dad, & Baby Tyler
got to go to Hawaii for a WHOLE WEEK!
and YES! you guessed it, I was mommy for a whole entire week....
Don't ask the kids, But i think i did i pretty good job.
Nothing compared to the mother my sweet Mom is, but hey the house was still standing
and all the children were still alive!
But in all HoNeStY......
I truly am so grateful for such a wonderful mother who has more patience than
ANYONE in the world!
My only wish is to someday be half the mother she is to my own children.
Love you Mommy!
THE MAIN EVENT of The Fotu Family Summer!
in January Benjamin Loser proposed to our oldest sister Jacqueline.
and on August 1st 2009
The ENTIRE Fotu Family
Isaac, Garrett, Olivia, Connor, Kerstin, Mom, Benjamin Loser, Jared,
Spencer, Jacqueline, Dad, Tyler, ME, Lennon, Jacob
Bridesmaids & Groomsmen
A Fotu Family Moment caught on camera ;)
The B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L Bridesmaids
The Whole Crew :)
The Beautiful Bride & i
This year I was blessed with not One but TWO new brothers!
When I was a little girl I always wanted a Big, ok wait take it back OLDER brother :)
because as i'm told i already have "bigger brothers"
But in all honesty I could not have asked for a more wonderful and loving older brother.....
The lord has blessed me and my family with the addition of Benj to our family.
And He has taught us things that will be in our hearts forever,
the example he sets for each of us continues to strengthen our family each and everyday!
And I know without a doubt our Father in Heaven sent him here just for us!!!
......................
As I sat in their wedding luncheon the shock of realizing
MY sister
was married finally sunk in...
I thought back to the days we played house and she ALWAYS won the part of the Mom
mainly because I was to scared to fight her...
The days when we would talk about all the cute boys at school
And laugh because they were all too scared of Dad to even day hello to us!
But most of all I thought about all the special moments, the times she showed her love for me without ever having to say a word.
I looked at her and her new husband with tears in my eyes...
tears of joy, tears of love, and tears that seemed to express the many moments we have shared ToGeThEr!
Jack you have always been and always will be my Best Friend!
I love you more than you will ever know xoxo
....................
~
Well in September to recover from the SHOCK of my wedding, OOPS i mean my sisters wedding ;)
(it really felt like mine at times except for a few major moments!)
I took a well deserved, if you ask me, VACATION.
to..........
SAN DIEGO!
My Aunt Kerstin whom now lives on Maui
(and whom I NEVER get to see, Kerst make sure Mikey reads this)
and I flew into San Diego on the same day and spent some time with
Grandma So-So and Grandpa Jack.
Not only do i
LALALALALALALALOVE San Diego.
But my favorite place in THE ENTIRE WORLD to visit is Grandmas House.
As a little girl I remember climbing into Grandmas bed at night and running my tiny hands over her beautiful finger nails....
I loved the feeling of safety and warmth I felt there and It has truly never left me!
My grandparents have been a major part of my life since i was a little girl
and the Love I have for them is almost impossible to put into words....
But simply put my Grandma So-So is the special Angel God sent here to earth for me.
And my grandpa Jack brings strength to my heart each time i look into his eyes.
I love them with all my Heart and I now see where my own mother was taught how to love
Can't tell which one is mine can you?!? ;)
I am SO lucky to have been blessed with wonderful parents and siblings!But my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins
have touched my life in more ways than I can count.
I am eternally grateful for 2 sets of grandparents who raised amazingly wonderful children
who have become my parents and my heroes......
The blessings I have received because of their choices have always boggled
my mind and I truly hope and pray that one day I too can carry on this love and strength.
Growing up my Aunt Kerstin was like a sister to me.
and to this day her children seem more like my neices and nephews than cousins.
As a little girl i always wanted to be EXACTLY like her, looks, dress, speech, you name it!
I admired her in so many ways and have looked to her example throughout my life.
Her love and light brighten my life every day and I hope to be a sweet mother like her someday.
As I spent the week with her in San Diego at my grandparents house
REALIZATION
hit me and I suddenly realized I wasn't that 5 yr. old little girl anymore..........
SO much time has passed yet the love I feel for my family has only become stronger.
I TRULY TRULY TRULY am the luckiest girl in the world!
and never will I forget it.
~
I'm ALMOST done i PROMISE! as you can tell this year has been full of blessings and love
In November Garret (17) officially signed his National Letter of Intent
to play Golf for the Univeristy of Minnesota!
My mother tells me I'm biased but honestly, how can i not be???
I have grown up in the most wonderful family in the world!
My little brothers have helped me become what I am today and truly they are
THE BEST out there!
Golfers and Brothers :)
To be quite honest, growing up Garrett and I were never close.
He got along really well with Jacqueline, while Jake and I were inseparable.
We fought constantly and I can recall vividly a night when my parents had simply had enough...
I had snapped at him for something silly, and ridiculous
and in return he was fed up with me!
Our parents called both of us into their bedroom, and being the stubborn person that I am
I was a few minutes delayed....
But as I entered my parents bedroom that night I found a sight I will never forget.
Garrett was crouched in my Moms lap crying,
not just crying but
BAWLING.
I had never seen him cry for any reason except for a few times that included stitches and blood,
but THIS was different...
the hurt I felt at that moment hurts my heart to think about even now.
I had been ruthless
I nagged him with little things that I thought didn't matter
but had meant the world to him.
He and I were different yes, but at this moment in time I would have done anything to take it all
BACK......
I sat down as he continued to sob.
No one spoke, we all just sat.
My mind raced with thoughts of everything I had ever said to him
and I truly ached with everything in me to make it better.
He didn't have to say anything, and neither did my parents. His tears and heartache said
enough
Well to say the least, much has changed.
As the years have passed he has truly become my best friend.
Actually i take that back.
He has ALWAYS been my best friend, i just never knew it!
After golf tournaments that hadn't ended so well.... he always made Dad's long lectures bearable.
He wiped my tears when the frustration was just too much for me.
He carried my bag to the driving Range when my arms just wouldn't make it.
He hit half my golf balls when he knew I wouldn't finish in time to go home with Dad.
He pushed me to become what I am today, on the course and off.
He listened to my each and every problem, and beat up anyone who bothered to mess with me.
He has been there all along the way,
and without him......
I simply wouldn't have made it.... and I wouldn't be who I am today!
I love you Garret and I am so very proud of you.
Never stop being the wonderful, caring, smiling, person that you are!
i love you m0re than words can say
xoxo Selu
As stated earlier, I do have a big brother :)
We sure are gonna miss him :(...........................
~
This year was Jacquelines LAST year playing volleyball!
And her only wish was to have the ENTIRE family out to see her play her last home game!
Come to find out her senior night was to be held the nigth before Thanksgiving.
So........
You guessed it ;)
ALL THIRTEEN of us piled into a 15 passenger van and set out on
The Adventure of a Lifetime!
With Dad at the wheel our journey began and what was SUPPOSED to be 18 hours turned into 27
yes you read right!
TWENTY SEVEN HOURS
Now imagine this 11 children all crammed in a tiny space, no stopping for 27 hours straight!
little to say it WAS GREAT :)
I personally did not tear anyones head off and Olivia and Tyler hardly cried at all.
We arrived in Oklahoma more than a DAY since our car ride began
and never have I seen my siblings more excited to sleep in a bed!
The Wonderful and Amazing Tucker Family
lent us their Home.
Not to mention all inclusive 4-wheelers, HUGE yard, and wonderful food!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
As some of you may attest to it is not the best feeling to have to be in a hotel over the Holidays,
and ESPECIALLY with a family of 13.
Our family soon fell in LoVe with the town of Oklahoma
and to be quite honest when the time came to leave I think deep down we all wanted to stay.
About half way through the trip, and we are Still Smiling :)
We are still Alive!
Olivia, Kerstin, and I on OU campus.....
A few of Us, walking around Norman!
sMiLe :) :) :)
Lennon, Garrett, Tyler, Kerstin, Benj, Jax, ME, Isaac, Livi, Jakers in front of the OU Library.....
The Old Architecture makes me SMILE from the inside out :)
and again, sMiLe :)
Jake and Livia
Isaac! notice another BeAuTiFuL building ( smile :) )
OU Library (supposedly it's "HAUNTED") but it really reminded me of the Great Hall in Harry Potter movies :)
A classic "Lennon Moment"
And yet Another!
Cutest little Munchkins you'll ever see! They really are BFF's
Lennon, Dad, Tyler, and Jake
My Bubba Boy!
One big Boomer Sooner Family!
Sisters, Best Friends
the VERY proud parents!
and the precious couple :)
We had the most wonderful time in Oklahoma and to top it all off
The Wonderfully gracious and loving Freudenrich Family
hosted us to and Oklahoma Thanksgiving Dinner at the Oklahoma City Country Club.
We truly felt an outpouring of love from so many!
And our entire year, including our Oklahoma Thanksgiving was TRULY much to be thankful for!
............................................................................................................Well this could probably pass as THE longest post EVER recorded BUT,
if you hung in there I sure hope you enjoyed the recap of my year....
As I said in the beginning this year was full of soooo many wonderful blessings
from a kind and loving
Heavenly Father!
Although there have been many times over the year that I wanted to just sit down and cry.
There have been MANY, MANY more in which I have wanted to stay in FoReVeR!
He has blessed me with more than anyone could ever need and more,
and somehow he continues to do so.
I love him with all my heart and know that he is by my side each and every day.
He knows my heart,
as he does yours!
I hope that through this little blog of mine you can feel of that love too....
Thanks for stopping by.
Hope you've enjoyed the ride!
