A+

Little Brian came running in the house and said I have something to show you, I just can't wait! And he proudly ripped open his backpack and showed me his  A+ spelling test! Man I am proud of that boy!! He went from a 47% the week before that to 100%!! He's amazing

Jacob wanted to show me his picture he colored too-

The BEST part of having a family that eats FAST is you can invited them over for dinner from 4:30-5 and not worry about hurting feelings or being late (to Spanish class) . Love it!

Avacado Seeds

I don't even eat Avacados, but when my friend, Donna showed me the Avacado tree she was growing I of course wanted to do it too! This is her plant about 5 weeks in: 

You soak the pit in water (here is a good set of instructions ) for about 3 weeks and then it will sprout! 

We have started our own little grove in our cubicles at work : ) 

Cactus Garden

The only plants my dogs will allow in our back yard are cactus! 

I planted some replacements for the ones that died (yes I kill cactus). 

The one in the blue pot is called Lizard Lips! 

 The extra large pot was my dads. I planted an 'old man' cactus in it. My dad really liked those ones so it seemed fitting  

The one in the copper pot is an Elephant Ear. My dad and I started it together from his best friend/neighbor, Bill's plant. I am glad I have it and I hope I can keep it alive.

Wist Celebration of Life Event

Tonight my the company my dad worked for, Wist hosted a 'Celebration of Life party for my dad at Macayos downtown. It was an opportunity for his co-workers who weren't able to come to his funeral service to say good-bye to him. 

It was really touching how much this company and the people valued my dad. I wish he would have known that more when he was alive.

All the employees signed one of his shirts (my brother kept that) 

Flowers from EMC 

A beautiful letter from the owner of the company 

Our friends Jereme and Melodi showed up as well and so did Kelly and her daugher (my cousin Jake's wife). It was really wonderful for me to see all the people who cared about my dad and hear their stories and their perspective of him. Some said he was called , Martha (as in Martha Stewart) because he was always cleaning the break room, another women remember how he would stop everything and help her carry in the donuts on Fridays, some people talked about how he likes to scare (startle) people for laughs , but they all said he was a HARD HARD worker and never gave up. Some could see he was sick in the last days and encouraged him to take some time and rest and see a doctor (ha my dad doesn't do those things!).

Anyway, it was just a good night all things considered. Sort of like a good cry.

All my cards from friends, co workers and some family

My Dad's Funeral

Kenny, Me, My brother and my mom 

These are the tables we set up displaying photos of my dad. My mom and I made Sunflower seed packets with my dad's picture on them. He planted sunflowers ever year... we thought it would be cool if everyone planted them next year for him.

More pictures, my dad and a photo album.

As we were going through my parents pictures preparing for the funeral it because very apparent that we didn't have any pictures of my dad before he met my mom!! Crazy! I asked around and My Great Aunt Joyce found a wallet sized photo of my Dad in his Marine uniform! Isn't he handsome? We also got some pictures from my Aunt Barbara of my dad as a kid.

The Flag : /

The service was beautiful. The military honors were beautiful. The gun shot solute. Taps. Folding of the Flag.
It was extremely hot, but I barely noticed.  We brought lots of bottled water for our guests (since I am sure they noticed the heat)

After my parent's neighbor Drew said a few words, my brother gave his speech. He found the poems on his own (the second one I would sweat he wrote if I didn't know better) and we wrote the Eulogy as a family.

You never said “I’m leaving”

You never said “Good bye”

You were gone before I knew it

And only God knew why

There are no words to tell you

Just what I feel inside

The shock, the hurt, the anger

Might gradually subside

A million times I’ll need you

A million times I’ll cry

If Love alone could have saved you

You never would have died

In life I loved you dearly

In death I love you still

In my heart you hold a place

That no one could ever fill

It broke my heart to lose you

But you didn’t go alone

For part of me went with you

The day God took you home

Things will never be the same

And although it hurts so bad

I will smile whenever I hear your name

And be so very proud that you were my Dad

My dad was born Mark Lee Garrett on June 20, 1957 in Grand Rapids MI

He moved to Arizona when he was 5 years old

After his mom met and married Douglas Taylor SR. Mark was adopted by his step-dad and renamed Douglas Edwin Taylor Jr at the age of 12. His love for outdoor adventure was born as they spent most weekends out at Roosevelt Lake camping, fishing and riding dirt bikes.  

My dad spent his teenage years in a quiet home in Phoenix and according to neighbors and local authorities he liked to rock the boat.  

By some miracle, he graduated from Washington High School in 1975. While academics weren’t the issue, it was difficult to pass his classes from under the bleachers… Shortly after graduation it was strongly suggested that he enlist in the military. In 1976 joined the US Marine Corp and served for 3 years.

In 1978 his boss, Max Lang fixed him up on a blind date where he met and fell in love with my mom. They were married in March 1979 and they were blessed with me in December… you do the math.

Our family was complete when my sister entered this world in March 1983.

My dad worked very hard to support our family sometimes working 2 jobs and doing odd jobs on the weekends to make sure we had everything we needed.

He coached my soccer teams, my sister’s softball teams and was at every school event.

He enjoyed going out to the dessert and getting injured out on the quads, loved hitting houses while golfing… his specialty was the roofs. He had a hunger for adventure with no regard for safety.

He had a big heart for dogs and would always try to find a home for strays even if even it meant our house.

We was a great neighbor and was constantly helping out. At one point maintained most of the ½ acre lots on our block. My dad wasn’t the type to ask for help, but would always help others who needed it.

In what little spare time he had he loved to garden and grow different plants and flowers especially sunflowers. He also loved to play cards and was slightly competitive in nature…. He also loved to have his family together on Sundays for a steak dinner and was the worlds best BBQer.

My dad had two families his biological family and his Wist family. At home he was a loving grandpa, dad and husband. At work he was a hard working, human GPS who loved to joke around and make his coworkers smile. His nick name was ‘short brakes’ because his truck went through brakes faster than a NASCAR driver!

He touched many lives and will be greatly missed by all who knew him in his short 55 years on this earth.

As I looked upon your face

I saw the wonder of God’s grace

Once again, whole at last

No more suffering,  your life raced past

Then all was quite, completely still

Peace at last, no longer ill

I remembered the memories that we shared

Deep and meaningful, and how much you cared

I came to visit, though it was hard

I watched you slip away, my Dad almost lost

Watching glints of recognition in your eyes

Crying in pain as it took me by surprise

You didn’t deserve that cruel disease

It brought us all completely to our knees

The years were robbed it wasn’t right

Up to the end I watched you fight

Dad I smile when I think of you

You made mistakes, but me to

Dad it doesn’t matter about the past

I’m just happy you are free at last


I was blessed to have him in my life for 29 years. I feel numb... I am able to just keep going and I don't feel the pain I did when my grandma passed. Its different. Maybe I am just ignoring it. Its hard to ignore on the day of the funeral. Today I was a complete mess. I am thankful for the amazing support of our friends. I was so surprised how many people showed up for my benefit. People that didn't even know my dad came for our support. So many of my friends (Jereme,Janesse), coworkers (Becky, Bill, Candace, Jeff), old church friends (Keri, Sister Turley, Stargrett & Jeff), Kenny's family (Michelle, Kim and Nanette) and of course my BFFs (Blair and Allan, Bev & Lloyd). I am sure there were more that I am not remembering... the whole thing was such a blur. I was hurt that the only on of my dad's relatives came to the funeral (my Aunt Barbara and Uncle Ray). I know they care. Most of them are out of state, but it still hurt. 

After the service a few of us (some of my parents neighbors, my mom's friends, Brian, Kenny, Stargret & Jeff and I) went to Cracker Barrel for lunch. It was actually a nice lunch. 

Bartlett- Boat Rental of the Summer

We decided to rent some jet skis this summer. We waited for the right groupon and snagged up a deal for $90 per jet ski for 4 hours. It seems pricing, but again when you weigh out the cost of maintaining, storing and owning your own equipment it is much better for us just to take a day and rent someone else;s stuff!! What I didn't know is that we had to pay for fuel on top of that cost!! We burned $105 in gas in just 4 hours!! Luckily my brother, Blair and Allan chipped in some cash towards the expenses. Other than the gasoline ordeal it was a PERFECT day!! 

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day at the lake! The temperatures were perfect for being in the water or on the beach. 

Bartlett is such a beautiful Lake!! 

After signing our lives away and learning all the rules, dos and don'ts Kenny and I took off on one Jet Ski and Brian on the other while Blair and Allan set up our day camp.

Hearing all the instruction was pretty over whelming and neither Blair or I wanted to take the ski out on our own, so our men took us out for a ride.

Allan and Blair 

Kenny is a great teacher. He was patient and let me get the hang of the jet ski and even rode with me while I drove (which he hated every minute of!) Once I gained my confidence I went out on my own. It was SO much less scary on my own!! I felt like I had more control and wasn't so worried about tipping or falling off.

Allan

The storm rolling in

When it wasn't our turn to ride we just swam or sat and talked. 

Kenny 

Me and Kenny 

This girl is one of the very best friends I could ever ask for. She is always there, thick and thin. No matter what I am going through she can make me laugh and forget my worries... even for an afternoon.

Me and Blair 

We went out for another couples ride while Brian took a break and held down the fort (literally the storm was kicking up and kept trying to take Blair's easy up away!!


Blair and Allan got to experience falling off their jet ski... They were at a stand still and somehow both got dumped off... of course it was hilarious.

Kenny and I 

My hubby and I 

Us again 

More of us- love the beautiful background 

Blair and Allan 

Brian 

 Brian 

Brian 

Brian 

Everyone agreed that Brian did the best tricks on the jet ski... he is fearless! Allan told Brian that he thought his donut was so awesome until he say Brian's and then he thought his own donut was just a little baby one. By the end of the afternoon I was giving Brian a run for his money!!

Me

Me

Me

It started to rain (which felt like getting shot with a BB gun!) by the time Kenny came out for me to take pictures of! Most of his pictures came out blurry or had a giant water drop on the lens.. I told him we will just have to rent them again so I can get better pictures of him.

Kenny 

Kenny

Kenny 

Kenny 

Kenny 

We were exhausted by the time our 4 hours were up and ready to make the hour plus drive home. It was such a fun day out with friends and like I said the weather was just perfect, over cast and cool. I really enjoyed the jet skis and wish we could own some! They aren't near as ruff on your body as tubing on the boat was last year (although I was sore for 3 days afterwards!) .

We ended the day with a double rainbow! I don't think I have ever seen such a beautiful rainbow in person. You could see it down to both ends, but I couldn't get the whole thing in a picture.

The sky was just beautiful as we headed home. The guys were annoyed that I kept taking so many pictures, but I just think the sunsets, clouds etc are so beautiful and love to take pictures of them... even though they are never as pretty as the real thing.

Blair and Allan got pulled over on the way home! We were nervous for them, but luckily they just got a warning for mud flaps! Sigh of relief!