Finally Free

After a long and painful battle with cancer, our beloved friend Cory passed away this afternoon and is finally free of the body that has imprisoned him for so many months. I am so grateful to know that he is with our Savior and to know that we will see him again someday. Though we are broken-hearted, I want to take this post to celebrate the life that he shared with us.

We've taken more trips together than we've taken with our families.


We've probably taken more pictures too.


Cory was always one to appreciate a good meal.


And a good laugh.


At the horse races. We didn't have much luck.


But that night we had some great BBQ.


Lagoon - oh ya, walkin the wild side.


Cory was always trying to steal a kiss.


Always!


Sometimes he got lucky.


Little Wild Horse Canyon - We are quite the physical specimens, eh?


Gettin' our dance on - a month before their wedding.


Our favorite thing to do - dining out.


Dining out...


Dining out...


Hmmm, dining out again. We REALLY love it.


Sometimes Craig pops up in their photos.


Sometimes Cory pops up in ours. Just accept it.


Our trip to the Oregon Coast, our last vacation together.




Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated. ~Lamartine
I couldn't have said it better. These pictures are such a small part of the joy and good times we spent together. There is a piece of our lives that is missing and will never be filled. Candace, we love you so much and are so sorry that you have had to endure this trial. Please know that we are here for you and love you.


Cory, we will miss you, more than we can say. Till we meet again.

Tunesday: Back to Reality

After being dealt some seriously depressing news this weekend, I must admit I'm having a hard time keeping it together. Suddenly posting on my blog seems so insignificant, almost inappropriate, but in an attempt to "snap out of it", I am going to try to keep posting as usual. I have a lot to be grateful for and I'm hitting my knees - doubletime. So to kickstart me back into "normal" life, here is the Tunesday Playlist - all pick-me-up songs. I'm keeping it on repeat.

Cheer Up by Reel Big Fish
Let It Go by Kari Kimmel
Love Is A Beautiful Thing by Phil Vassar
Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
Red Umbrella by Faith Hill
New Day's Dawn by The Wilshires
Take Me There by Rascal Flatts
Juliet by LMNT
We Danced Anyway by Deana Carter
Everything Is Alright by Motion City Soundtrack

PLEASE HELP

The Alldredges are an amazing family and our best friends in the world. They have gone through more in the past two years than many of us will experience over a lifetime. Below is a flier for their benefit luncheon today and tomorrow. If you live in Utah and can go, please do. And if you can help in any other way, from finances to prayers, they can use them all. Please send what you can.



JOIN US FOR LUNCH HELP WITH A GREAT CAUSE AT THE SAME TIME!
Cory, Candace & Hayes Alldredge are a
wonderful young family going through an
extremely difficult time. Cory is fighting his
second battle with cancer and, though the
family is showing great courage on the front
lines with this terrible disease, they are losing
the overwhelming financial burden it creates.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE INVITING
YOU TO JOIN US FOR ONE OR
BOTH OF TWO BENEFIT LUNCHES TO BE
HELD ON APRIL 25th & 26th AT MAIN STREET STUDIO
ON 1802 SO MAIN STREET SALT LAKE CITY.
Times are 11:00am to 2:00pm both days.
We are asking for a donation of $8.00 for lunch
and there will be raffle drawings and of course great food.
PLEASE JOIN US IN HELPING THIS FAMILY!
You can call 484-4247 with any questions you have.
SEE YOU THERE!

Donations can also be sent to
Cory & Candace
317 W. Election Road
Draper, UT 84020

or paid at Wells Fargo Bank under a charity account called the Cory B. Alldredge fund.

Life:Beautiful

I picked up this magazine at Barnes and Noble last weekend. LOVE IT! It's sort of Martha Stewart meets Christian Faith. It's full of uplifting stories, beautiful photographs and fun tips and projects for home and family. I am totally subscribing. In fact, I'm a little disappointed that it's only a quartley magazine. Check it out - Life:Beautiful.

Happy Tunesday: Sunshine

Since it's nice and sunny today, here is a playlist to listen to when you're out enjoying the sunshine (or just wishing you were).

The Sun by Maroon 5
Sun Comes Up by John Legend
Music Of The Sun by Rihanna
On The Sunny Side Of The Street by Billie Holiday
Sunny Skies by James Taylor
Pocketful Of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield
What A Wonderful World by Stacey Kent
When The Sun Goes Down by Kenny Chesney
Keep On The Sunny Side by The Whites
Soak Up The Sun by Sheryl Crow

Another Random Crazy Week

We had family in town again this week, so AJ really had more of a "birthweek" party.

Six Flags:


Let's Jump:


Putt-Putt:


This is what she cashed-in her gaming tickets for. The glasses were 5 tickets - what a deal! And only 750 tickets for the little dog.


How did we earn so many tickets you ask? Mom rocks it on "The Flamin' Finger" - oh ya, you heard me right. The Flamin' Finger!!!!


Cake (not really bragging about this; melting frosting, in a hurry, etc., but here it is nonetheless):


Presents, including a baby stroller (which was an instant hit) and her first set of real golf clubs:



And to round out the week, Medieval Times. Again. And only because Grandma and Grandpa treated.



And I've never seen Craig as excited as when my Dad bought him a cup with flashing lights. Seriously. He filled it up at home and used it at dinner the next day.


Hmmm... maybe I need a birthweek celebration. Craig - guess you better get on it. The clock's ticking...

Happy Birthday Audra Jade

Three years ago today, my life changed forever. I could never have anticipated how different my life would be or how much I could love a little person I didn't even know. The last three years have brought pure bliss through our sweet AJ. She is truly a gift and a blessing in our lives. She brings such joy and laughter into our home and is so sweet and caring. Even at her young age, she shows so much compassion for others - she is genuinely concerned when someone is or even looks sad - and never hesitates to give a hug.

This past year has been a whirlwind. She changes so much everyday, but there are always the "AJ characteristics" that stay the same:

She cannot go out into the sunshine without sunglasses on.


She loves Sonic and can recognize one even if we're on the freeway doing 60mph. Her favorite is to go to the drive-up at night in our jammies and get "flushies" (slushes).


She mothers her baby-dolls like a true "mommy".


She thinks that making puppy-eyes will get her out of anything (which is almost true.)If that doesn't work, she just goes cross-eyed to make us laugh. Then she knows she's free.

She never forgets to say her prayers at night - these are truly tender moments for me. I wish I could hang on to every sweet prayer she's ever said. It's so evident how close children are to Heavenly Father.

She lives for wrestling with Daddy (or any other crazy stunt he's up for.)


She will not go to bed without her ragged Hello Kitty dolls.


She is a bookworm - just like her mom.


She loves music and when she decides on a new favorite, she absolutely WEARS IT OUT! (Tragically, her current fav is "Here I Come" by Fergie - I might be a bad mom, but her last favorite was the Chipmunk's Soundtrack and I had to change it up a bit. A person can only take so much 'munk!)

She will eat almost anything you put in front of her - or at least try it. This is the kid that orders broccoli instead of fries with her lunch. (This is her eating Asian Hot Wings dipped in Blue Cheese.)


She is the love of my life and I can't imagine it without her. I am so grateful for the last three years and anxiously look forward to the years ahead. I wish I could freeze her at this age - I so love it. But since I can't, I just want to soak up every minute while it's here. I love you baby girl!

Isabell's Umbrella

Through the beauty of Goodreads, I reconnected with a long-lost friend Ashley, who has a totally cute Etsy store called Isabell's Umbrella.


Ashley is an amazing graphic designer who makes the cutest stuff. Check out her store next time you're looking for a gift, or a little something for yourself.

Dear Senator's Wife:

I hate you. I hate you for being boring. I hate you for being depressing. I hate you for wasting precious reading moments in my life. Mostly, I hate you for being a book that I KNEW sucked by the time I was halfway through, yet I had to finish because I hate leaving things unfinished, even bad books. And then your ending sucked too. So mostly, I hate you for making me see what an anal-retentive person I've become.

Not sincerely,
Chanda Nielsen


Dear Friday Night Knitting Club:

I love you, do you love me? Check yes or no. You are the best book I've read in a long time. You made me laugh; you made me cry - oh how I cried. You took me on vacation. I devoured you because I couldn't get enough, and then regretted it because it was over so soon. And... I SO wish I could knit. It is now on the top of my "list of things to do". Thank you for the two beautiful days we spent together. I will cherish them forever.

Very truly yours,
Chanda Nielsen

Are You Kidding Me?!

That's right ladies, You Got It! Step by Step, New Kids are back on the scene. I guess when I told them "I'll Be Loving You Forever", they thought, "Hey, Time Is On Our Side." But they've been Hanging Tough and have decided Let's Try Again. Tonight, they may be calling me to be their new Cover Girl, but I'll turn them down - I ain't no Valentine Girl. Call It What You Want, but this is the most exciting thing that's happened in years. Didn't I Just Blow Your Mind? If not, watch this trailer:


Trailer

Here's a little reminder of what we've been missing all these years:

What the crap is Joey doing with his hand? Maybe he's trying to say how many years old he is...


Nothing looks hotter with a leather jacket than a leopard print vest and a "Beaker" haircut...


And yes my friends, Donny is wearing overalls. That's all I have to say about that...


All joking aside, who's going to the concert with me?