Guardian Angel

I have been thinking about dad all day.  After the funeral on November 2nd, I kept waiting for the realization of loss of my fathers earthly existence to hit me like a ton of bricks.  The feeling never came, yet I still thought it might happen so I waited.


Then on the day that John was scheduled for surgery, in Bangkok, while I was still in the US helping mom, something changed.  First, let me say that I have never been away from any of my children when they have had to have a major operation or even any kind of medical emergency.  My heart was being pulled apart by miles, 7438.57 miles to be exact!  I could almost feel it being torn apart, it was painful and I could find no comfort.  As I knelt to pray for the second time that night - I plead with my Father in Heaven, with all the tender mercies of a parent, that John would be alright and know that I loved him.  With tears pouring from my eyes and with a shaky voice I humbly asked, " Heavenly Father, if I can not be with my son, John at this critical time -could you please send my dad to be his guardian angel while he is in surgery."  As soon as I said those words the most calming peaceful feeling came over me.  It was as if I was encircled in the arms of not only my Heavenly Father but my earthy father as well.

President Joseph F. Smith once said,

"I believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings. We are not separate from them. … We are closely related to our kindred, to our ancestors … who have preceded us into the spirit world. We can not forget them; we do not cease to love them; we always hold them in our hearts, in memory, and thus we are associated and united to them by ties that we can not break. … If this is the case with us in our finite condition, surrounded by our mortal weaknesses, … how much more certain it is … to believe that those who have been faithful, who have gone beyond … can see us better than we can see them; that they know us better than we know them. … We live in their presence, they see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever. For now they see the dangers that beset us; … their love for us and their desire for our well being must be greater than that which we feel for ourselves."

My dad lives and is watching me and is "soliciting for my welfare".  He is my Guardian Angel.

Good Bye Dad

It is with a very sad heart that I write this blog.  Today I spoke at the funeral of my father.  He was diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago two days before they were to come and visit me in Thailand.  It was a long hard battle that ended on October 24, 2012.

On Saturday October 20 I called and talked to my dad, little did I know that it would be my last conversation with him.  We had a wonderful talk full of laughter and stories.  I told him that I was off to the Philippines with John and Ron the next day so that it might be hard for me to talk to him the next week. He lovingly said no worries he wasn't planning on going anywhere.  We talk about me coming for a visit after Christmas as both John and Ron were scheduled for surgery the middle of November.  John needed to have his right ACL repaired and Ron had to have a hernia repaired.  He told me about his recent doctor's visit and that he had decided to forgo any more treatments.  I said that I was in support of that decision, as for someone who had competed 6 months of chemo treatments, it is about quality of life.  We talked about what that decision  might mean and I told him that I loved him, that he was an amazing father and that I would always be there for mom.  He thanked me and told me to have a great time in the Philippines, we said love you and the call ended.

Wednesday morning on a very remote island in the Philippines i received a urgent email telling me to call home as soon as I could.  I grabbed Ron's blackberry and called my sister immediately.  She told me that dad was not going to last thru the night (it was Tuesday evening in the states) and I didn't understand.  I had just talked to him what happened in a few short days.  She explained to me that my dad had just took a turn for the worst and went down hill with in hours.  He was a home in bed barely getting oxygen and in extreme pain.  She told me Audrey, my oldest daughter, was there and was able to talk to her "Papa" one last time.  My heart was so heavy - it felt like someone was literally sitting on it.  My dad was gone.  I was never going to hear him say, " Carolina, (that is what he called my mom), number one is on the phone!"  Even as I write this the hole in my heart is gapping wide open and the tears flow easily.

I wasn't able to return to Bangkok until Saturday and then turned around and left for the US on Sunday morning.  When I landed in Seattle I had been traveling for almost 32 hours.  It was a crazy few days of trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my father was gone, and still to this day it seems unreal.  I am grateful for the love of family and friends who provided me with strength through their unceasing prayers, through their hugs - both physically and imagined, and through the memories they shared with me about how my father loved and cared for them.  When someone wonderful passes from this mortal existence it is comforting to know that they had touched so many lives.

We had a family viewing Thursday evening which was a tender sacred time for our family.  I felt so much love in that small room and knew that we would be all right because we loved one another.  My mom has been a source of strength as I watch her deal with the loss of her eternal companion, husband and best friend.  They were a team in life and will remain a team still.

I had the honor and privilege to be able to speak at the funeral.   Gene, my bother, did an amazing job speaking also.  The grandchildren and great grandchildren sang - it was a beautiful service.


 Ron and John were unable to be there due to school and surgery commitments.  David, Mandy and baby Kellan were not there either.  David is in New York working, Mandy and Kellan are in Ohio with her parents. They were all there in spirit and I was uplifted by their prayers and love.

My dad was a source of strength to me, his love for me never faltered - even when I did at times.   My life has been richly blessed because of my dad.   I am a better person for having the support of a wonderful father and an excellent mother.  I am indeed blessed.

Princess Bride

Happy to announce that Laura Irene Gailey is now Laura Irene Gailey Sorensen

She is truly a Princess Bride

Scott and Laura Sorensen

Family is Forever

Backyard Reception in Seattle

Desserts Anyone?

Austin and the refreshments - no need for a plate!

Family, Friends and loved ones!

If a picture says a thousand words then these must describe the day to perfection!

Finding Time for FAMILY

A week before your daughters wedding what do you do?  Well I plan a week of family time at the CABIN!  It is not like my caterer backed out at the last minute and I have to find a new one in less then two weeks,it is not like I just returned home from a quick weekend trip to Rexburg and the graduation of daughter who is getting married and it is certainly not like I am feeling that I need to get my backyard in order for the reception or anything - then why oh why did I plan the family time for now!  It is because when you are an expat family you have limited time to do all that you need to to in the two month summer break and when you have a husband that can only get two weeks off in the summer - you make the most of the time you have.  One week family vacation, one week wedding and reception!

Okay now here is how it really is...while my mind is focused on having some quality time with the family and preparing for Laura and Scott's Wedding.  Here is what all the guys find time for at the cabin!







Kellan was a little young to be hanging out with his cousin, Austin, but that doesn't mean that Austin had any trouble "hanging" out by himself!

  Ron was able to relax from being an executive for Coca Cola and spend some wonderful time with the family...our whole family.  Audrey, Toren, Austin, David, Mandy, Kellan, Laura, Scott and John - oh and of course me his amazing wife!

The Graduate

Each year for the past ten years I have driven to Rexburg Idaho at least twice and sometimes more!  Why - because that is where three of my children went to college. Audrey graduated BYU-Idaho April 2006, David graduated April 2012 after serving a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and now it is Laura's turn to graduate.
One of my dreams was to seem my children graduate from college, especially my girls.

On July 18, 2012 Audrey and I jumped into my truck and drove the much travel route from Seattle to Rexburg via Spokane and Missoula Montana!




It was a fast weekend and we had to get back home so that we could pick up Ron from the airport and we had a wedding plans to finalize!  We helped Laura clean her apartment - well as you can see I helped and Audrey was resting her tired eyes!


We had a great weekend with Laura and Scott, and his parents.  Next week it is family time at the cabin on Whidbey Island and then the big wedding day - August 2.

The BIG Bang Theory

Whidbey Island in the summer is one of greatest places to be.  I grew up celebrating the 4th of July at our cabin almost every year...and I was grateful for the chance to take some of my family over this year!

The Big Bang Theory is just that a theory!  Here is my theory for the BIG fireworks on the 4th of July...it is a MAN/BOY thing.  Now don't get me wrong I am happy to celebrate the birth of our nation - but seriously do men really need a holiday to blow things up!  Apparently they do and I felt a little peer pressure to "buy" into the Big Bang Theory this past July. I am happy to report that I did not give in to that pressure, however some ten boxes of sparklers showed up in my grocery bag...Austin did you put those in Nana's shopping cart?

The Gailey's and the Forsberg's really know how to Celebrate!!

Midwest Memories

One might think that John would have enough time with just me, his wonderful mother, since he is the only baby bird left in the nest!  But to my great astonishment he wanted to take a road trip to the Midwest with me! Okay in all truthfulness I had to bribe him with a few things... the hotels we stayed in had free wi-fi and breakfast, I would let him listen to his music in the car and I promised him that I would not stop at any country cemeteries while driving through small towns.  I do have a propensity to stop an meander though small cemeteries - I find them fascinating!  Pinky promise made..we got a plane in SLC and flew to St. Louis!  We drove up the Mississippi River to a small town called Nauvoo.      

Nauvoo is the area that I am looking at to buy some property and build a bed and breakfast. Someday I might make that dream happen, until then it is just a dream - but a wonderful dream it is!

 Here are some of my favorite photos...