Life, and everything else

So, another night of no sleep, 3:30 am and insomnia has me laying in my "insomnia bed" (a pullout couch so i dont make Melinda stay up with my tossing and turning on the nights its bad). I decided to post, I am not sure what about yet, but I'll post anyway. The lat few months and especially the last few weeks have been stressfull, another cut in hours leaves me with barely enough to scrape by, and thats if my customers tip ok. but, life goes on and its wierd, the more stressed i get, the more i seem to appreciate my family and the things that matter, so, even tho im really stressed out, I'm Extremely happy as well.

Clara is as cute as ever, and if i weren't so lazy, id put newer pictures of her up, so if you want to see how shes growing up, just come over and see us, much easier. (for me anyways) She has started saying Dada, and is now saying it and looking at me, so i think she knows what it means. She is also teething, but it hasnt been as bad as we were expecting, shes so cute with the one tooth on bottom that is further along than the rest, thats the only one you can see, unless your real close.

Melinda is working really hard to get her own business off the ground, im so proud of her, she is showing so much dedication and drive, SHE IS AMAZING. She makes her own line of skin care products, and they work SO WELL!! shes working on new products now, so DeeVoo fans: look for the new stuff real soon.

well thats all for now

Letter to Gramma

Dear Grandma,

Its now been two months since I saw you last. But I think about you every day. You have been there through my whole life, and now im finally begining to realize that, although you are here, I wont see you for the rest of my life. I can barely think of a single birthday party, Christmas, or special event that you werent there for, you have always been here.

My brain keeps saying things like: Shes in a better place, I'll see her again and things like that, and although i Know thats true; I cant get my heart to latch on to them.

I went to the temple with grandpa the other day, you can really see how much he misses you. It sure looks strange to not see you by his side. He is organizing the family to try to go to the temple weekly in memory of you. I cant think of a better way to remember you by. I know you loved the work on this side, and am sure you are enjoying it on that side.

I love you Grandma, as I look back on my life so far, i wish I could have told you that more. You and Grandpa have been two of my favorite people since i can remember, since i was so lucky to live next door to you. I Really do love you, and I know you love me too.

I will never forget you Grandma, or the example you have been to me. I will try to give that example to my posterity, as you did. When I get to the other side, you will be one of the first people I look for.

I love you and miss you grandma, and i will try to say it again, once more through teary eyes, Goodbye, I will see you again, Goodbye

Powell, a little late, pt 1

So, sitting here at 4:30 am not being able to sleep (dang insomnia) I decided it was the perfect time to update my blog with our vacation. On saturday, the day before fathers day, we went and spent the evening with my Inlaws so we could be with Kent, my father in law for at least a little bit for fathers day. We had a good time with them (as always) and went to church with them. Right after church, we shot down to my parents to head to lake powell.

Now before I talk about the trip itself, let me fill you in on what powell means to me. I look forward to Powell all year round. All the dreams i remember either have to do with Mlinda and Clara, or Powell, and often both. Powell is the only place my entire family has got together in the last few years. So lets just say Powell is literally my favorite place on Earth. For those of you who have never been there, Go. I mean now, Stop reading my post, and go to Lake Powell.

We got down there at the Marina in the evening and prepared the Houseboat for the week. My Brothers Bryce, Btett, and Mark were down there already saving our beach for us, with Amanda and Haylee. My Sister Allie and her husband Tom met us there with their two kids Alexis and David, and We brought My brother Justons kids Brighton, Jakob, and Hannah with us, and Juston came late that night from Cali. My sister Deanna and her husband Wes also showed up with their Army of Children Madi, Abi, Gracie, Rubi, Zeke, and Eli. Eli is only a few days younger than clara and they love each other so much. We were only missing Tara, Marks wife, and Lias family. It was quite a group. We also had Caden, my sister-in-law Amandas little brother who is the same age as David.

Monday we pulled out of the marina and made our way to Navaho Canyon to a beach that we call "our beach". We camp here almost every time we go to Powell, it is this little cove, with an amazing hilly beach and even though tons of houseboats camp along the beach, when we get in the little cove you cant see or hear them, its awesome. When we got there, we anchored down and set up. Bryce, Juston, Mark, and Brett worked really hard on building a Waterslide on the beach, they finally got it to work, and we know how to make it better for next time. It was really cool because there is a fairly steep hill that leads right into the lake and so the slide, made from 100 foot of pond lining, moved you pretty quick. Monday night the ski-boat died, but we had fun throughout the week without it.

Now i was planning on posting the whole trip now, but im actually getting tired, and so im off to bed, maybe ill finish tomorrow at 4 am when im awake after work again

Till We Meet Again

I am writing this because I have feelings pent up, and i need to express them or i may explode. As many of you know, on tuesday morning, One of my true Heroes, My Gramma, Clara Dodge, Returned to her heavenly home. She fortunately had a very quick passing. She died at home, with family near after having a series of strokes following a surgery. I was lucky enough to sit with her a couple of times in the days preceeding her passing. There will be a hole in our family that can't be filled until that amazing day of ressurection. My Gramma has always been a Huge part of my life, starting with birth. I was born shortly after My grandparents returned from a mission and we lived next door to them for the first few years of my life.

She always told a story about me coming over to eat breakfast with them after eating at home. She told that story as a jest, making light of it, but I don't know if she knew how much those mornings meant to me, I was only three and four years old, but I still Remember kneeling with them for prayer and then eating cereal. They would tell me stories about themselves growing up, and I will cherish those stories forever.

I remember when we outgrew the little farmhouse next to Grammas house, and being so upset that they werent moving in with us, I tried to convince my parents to buy a large constuction property so that they could move in with us. After we moved, I rode my bike to their house regularly.

My Gramma has never missed a birthday, special event, and even came to alot of my high school theatre productions. She was there when I entered the MTC, there when I came home, There at my wedding, and all the events in between. The last memory I have of her is at the Salt Lake temple, where She and Grandpa came to be with us as we were sealed. That was only a couple of weeks before she passed. I am so thankfull that she was able to be there as her testimony of the gospel and the binding powers of themple were one of the main reasons I Seeked my own testimony.

She will be missed by many and I will never forget the things she taught me, and hopefully pass those things on to my posterity. I will be reminded of her every time i see my daughter as I named her Clara after her great Grandma, and am glad I did so.

I love you Gramma, and look forward to the day I See you again

Life, So far

So, I know its been a very long time since ive posted on here, since the last post was on the day Clara was born, (three months ago), but, ive been busy enjoying her, so im sorry. Lets try to recap all thats happened since then, Ill start with the most recent, and most important,
A few days ago on May 20th, Melinda, Clara, and I entered the Salt Lake Temple and left an Eternal family. We were sealed surrounded by our parents, all four of our living grandparents, Melindas aunt and uncle (thank you for bringing Grandma), My sister Lia and her husband Mark, My good friend James, Brother Pearson who tought us the Temple Prep course, and My sister Deanna and her Husband Wes. Dee and Wes surprised us by flying in from Missouri on tuesday, We had no idea they were here until we were inside the temple on tuesday for Melindas Endowment, I walked in the Chapell and saw my sister and literally burst into tears. Thank you Deanna for making the sacrifices to be there on the most important day of our lives. I am so glad you could share that with us, you have been a huge inspiration in my life.
I am so grateful for the blessings of the Temple and am so happy that Melinda and I are Sealed together as husband and wife FOREVER, and that Clara and all the little ones to come in the future will be ours forever, the most important thing to me is my family, and i can't imagine not having them for all Eternity. (i will have pictures of that day up later)

Ok, next item, Clara is growing up way too fast. I look at that little one, then at pictures of her at birth, and can't believe she has grown that much. I know time is not going to slow down for us, so I hope i take full advantage of every minute I can with her, i don't want to miss a thing, I don't want to have to work, i wish i could just stay home with her.

well thats all for now, maybe ill post again in three months ;)

CLARAS HERE!!!

At 10:07 am today our little family got the addition we've been waiting for. Clara Dee Dodge was born today at 10 lbs 3 oz. she is 21 in long and the cutest thing this humble daddy has ever seen. We did the birth by C-section, so it was extremely fast. Mom and baby are doing wonderfull, just resting. we are at the St marks hospital in Salt lake and would love visitors (not tonight please). I don't think i have to say this is the best Valentines day gift EVER!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

well, I doubt she'll read this until she gets home,(lucky her shes on a cruise) but I wanted to wish my mom a happy birthday! I don't tell her often enough that I love her and how much she means to me. so Happy birthday to one of the most amazing people in the world!!!