HOPE

Yesterday we met with the "high risk doctor" at our hospital for an ultrasound that every woman (35 and older) has to have, apparently. After seeing her cute little profile and measuring all of her bones and organs and stuff....... the Dr. said, "You'll notice here on the babies brain there is a little mark, it's called a (I can't remember the name....it was long) and it is a marker for a chromosomal disorder. The particular disorder affects motor skills and is found in 1 in every 400 babies born...." He continued talking and my brain continued spinning and worrying and then......my tender mercy came..........the doctor moved the ultra sound wand and stopped on her hand (she appeared to be waving to us!) He froze the screen and said, "Well.......I can tell you this, a baby that actually has (this particular) disorder could never do that with their hand. Their hands are always in a fist and they don't open! That should put you at ease!"

So......thank you baby HOPE for waving to us yesterday and putting my mind at ease! You appear to be growing beautifully and your little profile melted my heart and made me cry! I can't wait to see you and hold you and kiss you!!! Every day as Gabby (that's one of your big sisters') leaves for school she gives my tummy a little kiss and says......."OH MOM.....I JUST CANT WAIT TO HAVE HER HERE! Goodbye HOPE......I love you!" I feel the same way.....but......you stay in my little oven for as long as you possibly can! By June 16th....it should be nice and warm here in Redmond and the sun will be just days away from shining for an entire MONTH!!!!

We love you already!

And now......a word from the Whitmore's!!!

The Swing Set

Last year.....about this time....a group of amazing people came over and helped beautify the yard AND installed a swing set. My little family was going through so much and the swing set was a welcome and perfect "FUN ESCAPE" for them.

At least once a week, someone will ask me if the kids ever play on the swing set! I wanted to help spread the word that THEY DO! And they LOVE IT.....especially Alexis and Gabby! They would swing all day if I wouldn't remind them of things that have to get done every now and then! To any of you that may have contributed in anyway to this thoughtful and loving gift.........Thank you! Thank you for loving and serving the Whitmores in their greatest hour of need! Lots of Love! -------Amy


I took this picture of Gabby and Alexis today! They had no idea I was watching them......as I often do! I love seeing (and hearing) the absolute JOY on their faces as they swing so high!

"End of the Year" Piano Recital

Gabby's Baptism

This is the video that I made for Gabby's Baptism. It's my best attempt to recreate the first seven years of her life in pictures. Gabby was baptized with her dear friend Ginny so you'll see lots of pictures of her as well.

California

Flying Home

As I prepared to head for home this evening (I started this document while in flight), we weren’t confident of my father’s condition. He had showed signs of improvement every day, but from what we were told there was only mild confidence that he would recover. And here I am, a husband and father with my own familial responsibilities, but I am also a son who loves his dad. Deciding to go home to Seattle or to stay in Dallas was a decision I had to make, but also wanted to avoid making.

Just as I was leaving dad’s room Katherine and her sister, Nancy, met me at the nurse’s station. We conversed with one of dad’s physicians and the doctor was surprised to learn that we hadn’t been updated - Dad didn’t need a liver! In fact, his liver and kidney numbers were improving and he will likely have no long-term physical impacts from this!

Should I be amazed? Gabby had prayed for a miracle as had so many of us . . . and here it was.

So I left Dallas confident in my dad’s improvement and recovery. Still, a mixed heart for me though, as leaving beloved relations always excercises the emotions. And yet, I could not be more pleased to head home to Amy and the children.

And isn’t it interesting that I should have the privlige of being unemployed during this time? This period has allowed me the time to be with my beloved Amy, to be rethinking my career and motivations and desires, and to put my energies into other interests. Rather than a time to be agitated it has become a cherished time of reflection and recharge.

I’m more content than I’ve been in months. There is an excitement about every day that I haven’t felt in a long while. There is also an excitement about creating something new and changing the world growing within me.

So tonight I’m on a plane, thinking and reflecting on what lies ahead and feeling that something great and profound is just over the horizon. And, sure enough, it is - I’m going home to my family.

Love to all,

Mike

An Update on Mike's Dad (Grandpa Frank)

Last Friday afternoon, Mike received a call from Grandma Katherine that his dad was in the hospital in critical condition. Saturday morning, things seemed to be improving until about 2pm when Katherine called, letting us know that his condition had actually gone from bad to worse. At 5pm, Mike was boarding a plane for Texas and by midnight, he was sitting at his fathers side in the hospital.

I shouldn't be amazed anymore by the incredible, heart felt prayers that seem to just run from the little mouths of Alexis, James and Gabby as they plead with God to work His miracles! Tonight, Gabby offered the prayer before dinner and prayed "that Grandpa Frank would get a miracle and that he would just be healed!" I am touched by their faith and their hope and feel so honored, grateful and blessed to be thier second mom!

I just got off the phone with Mike and he shared with me that his dads condition seems to be improving. He is aware of his surroundings and is able to respond.....Mike even had the chance to speak with him briefly today. Although he is still in intensive care and very critical condition, we are hopeful and prayerful that he will recover. Thank you for your happy thoughts and prayers. Lots of love! -----Amy




James, Gabby and Alexis wrote notes yesterday to Grandpa Frank, Grandma Katherine and to Dad. I'm posting their sweet notes here so that they will see them sooner rather than later.

Luckiest

Whenever I run into friends these days they ask, invariably, how we're doing. Months ago when I was asked the same question I replied that we were simply, "Okay." But that was last summer when life was anything but normal. A lot has happened since then, as you well know, and I have to say that life is nothing short of miraculous!

Also, without exception, invariably, no holds barred - every person I ever met who knows Amy said to me, "You're the luckiest man alive!"

I've always known I'm a lucky guy. I've used that term often throughout my life. Luck? According to Ben Kenobi, there's no such thing as luck. He may be on to something there. In fact, let me just say outright - I'm a blessed guy and I'm grateful that I can recognize the Lord's hand in my life. Now, I'm not insinuating that I'm "special" or that I'm better than anyone or . . . ? What I AM saying is that I often think to myself, "Is this really my life? Is this happening to me?" when I've had the high and low points over the last several months.

To Amy's friends - I owe you much credit. For not only were you right about her, this new life together with her is better than I could have imagined! We're gelling together as a new family, the kids are warm and welcoming to her, Amy is amazingly patient and jumping into the role of mom like a pro. And she treats me like a king and I only hope I can treat her with all the gentileness and kindness shown to my queen. How inexplicable is this? That she could be so perfect as a spouse to me AND as a mother to three children in so short a time? Is this really my life? Is this happening to me?

On a VERY personal note - we are doing great! There are times when I feel like I'm living a new life. Like I'm a new Mike. So much is new and different, and yet there is so much that is retained from before and I'm thankful for all of it. I'm doing a lousy job of expressing these thoughts - sorry about that.

Amy and I are enjoying every day together. Funny, but I left my job in December (my whole division was cut actually from the top-tier executive management down to the rank and file.) The job gave me the opportunity to be home to take care of Deb and the kids then. And now . . . I have the opportunity to be with Amy and look for new work. How fortuitous is this? I could not ask for a better support than Amy at this time. And frankly, after all I've been through, the loss of work is a nit in comparison.

When we've been together as a family on vacation or in public somewhere it just feels right. Feels natural. When we're in church together there is a bond that is quite comfortable. We're watching a movie as I write this and James and Gabby are sitting close with Amy and lounging with her.

Amy's friends were right. I am THE luckiest guy in the world. Thanks be to God and all his tender mercies to me.

Sincerely,

Mike

Pictures from our trip!

"Beach Hut" dinner at Sunset (Saturday









































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Christmas Morning With the Whitmore's

Breakfast in bed.....only on vacation! So yummy and so much fun!

Waimea Canyon------"The Grand Canyon of Hawaii"

Meli Kalikimaka!

Making Mommy's Famous Orange Cookies for Christmas!

One of the many special family traditions that the Whitmore family has enjoyed for years is making Christmas cookies. Especially Mommy's (Deborah's) yummy Orange Cookies. James and Gabby taught me the ropes this year and the cookies were delicious! I had SO MUCH FUN cooking with the kids this December!

SNOW-ed IN!

Today was the THIRD day of NO SCHOOL for the kids! We've had lots and lots of fun! The first "Snow Day" (Wednesday)no snow actually even fell! ....Thursday we woke up to about six inches and about another three or four had piled up before the day was over. Today (Friday)......we've had clear skies and lots of fun snow to play in!

After two and a half days in the house......Alexis, Gabby and I (by the way....this is me, Amy writing) decided to go on an adventure. Since we couldn't get our cars our of the drive way (ice is pretty tough to drive on) we decided to walk down to the local shopping areas and get a little last minute shopping done. We had so much fun! The girls did awesome in the 15 degree weather! Thank goodness for warm scarves, hats, gloves and other cool stuff that keeps us cozy! Hey......how come nobody ever told me it snowed in Seattle?

Merry Christmas! From our family to yours!

WOW! Thank you Aunt Vanessa and Uncle Scott!!!!

Thank you Aunt Vanessa and Uncle Scott for making our Pre-Christmas, Christmas so special! We all loved our fun gifts! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! We miss you and wish you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Love ALL OF US!

Thank You Grandpa and Grandpa Motto!

What a special gift we received from Grandma and Grandpa Motto! We had so much fun reading it and looking at all of the pictures! THANK YOU so much for all of the time and effort you put in to making that for us! We absolutely LOVED it! xoxoxoxo Mike, Amy, James, Alexis and Gabby Girl!!!!

We're Married!

Presenting.......Mr. and Mrs. Michael Whitmore!

















Just outside the doors of the Salt Lake temple.

Molasses

When someone or something moves slowly my cousin had a favorite saying - "It's like molasses moving uphill. In January." Quite often in dreams when I need to run I feel like I'm stuck in slow motion or molasses.

In music the drummer keeps the time, sets the pace, keeps the tempo steady as it were. When I first played in live bands we could get into a fantastic groove that flowed and time was liquid because, and this may come as a surprise, drummers do more than keep the time - they can push or pull the tempo to give the music a different feel. Usually we keep within certain bounds, but we can rush the beat slightly to give the music a sense of urgency. Or we can pull back the tempo slightly to change the feel of the piece.

Back when I was with London Bridge in Utah we had to play to a click track as the extra instruments and percussion were automated via Midi - and while we were the top dance band in the state and played huge shows I missed the fluidity of time and the freedom of pushing or pulling the beats because we were keeping PERFECT, computerized time. Most audiences will not realize this sense of time, but if you listen carefully you'll "feel" what I'm talking about when you hear music.

I'm wishing I could speed time even a little at this moment as you all know that Amy and I will be married next Saturday. But all my attempts to push the tempo, even slightly, are failing and I'm stuck in perfect time. UUUGGGGGHHHHH! So, rather than give in to time as it stands I'm finding all sorts of creative things to do.

- Played Risk for the first time with James today.
- Made my first blog entry in a month (you're reading it).
- Cleaned a closet. (Remember, I'm a guy and proud of it.)
- Cleaned ALL the laundry in the house. (Until today, now it's piling up already.)
- Got the kids all packed for our trip to Utah on Wednesday.
- Accomplished everything on my task list on Saturday and that hasn't happened EVER.

You get the point. Time is my enemy as it's the only thing standing between me and Miss Amy H. But there's no getting around it. Time stands still when Amy's not around and it rushes by like the wind when we're together.

However, Time has also been a friend I suppose. We've had time to get to know each other a bit more over the last four weeks and in ways that are very deep and poignant. And time has deepened our love and increased my love for Amy. She is (for lack of a better adjective) amazing. Even the children are begging for the time to pass more quickly. Isn't that wonderful?

So, as with listening to music, Time's tempo seems to be rushed at times and pulled back at others, yet we all know that it's pace is steady.

For more on time listen to Rush's song, Time Stand Still off of the Hold Your Fire album from 1987.

Well, that's it for now as I'm out of Time.

Sincerely,

Mike

Reminders

Gabby and James just came in from school this afternoon and as I was standing in my kitchen with Gabby a thought came to me . . . though Amy is not here in Redmond with me right now there are reminders of her all around.

To wit:

- Amy’s favorite store is . . . Costco. I made cookies for the kids from Otis Spunkmeier and those come from Amy’s store. As Gabby and I were chowing down on chocolate chip cookies I thought of Amy.

- Amy loves thick, white towels. When she visited last time I came home to find all new white towels and rugs in the bathroom. Oh, these were also from . . . Costco.

- Amy loves holidays and the house is decked out for Halloween. I’ve no idea where the decorations came from, but I might venture a guess.

There are several other reminders, but wow – first I can’t think of anything but Amy 24x7 and then there are reminders throughout the house. How fun!

I could not be happier except that rather than reminders of Amy I just wish she were here in person.

Mike

True Love!

I love you guys! I miss you like crazy! (ONLY 41 MORE DAYS!) Thanks for letting me play with you the past week! xooxoxoAim

A Beautiful Fall Day at Remlimger Farms

FOREVER CHANGE MY WORLD

Mike's sweet mom "Grandma Mary" sent me a really neat email today. Included in her email was a poem that she wrote. I loved it and wanted to post it here!

Last Weekend in Utah

Weekend in Midway

Dreams......

Hello there! I’m Amy…..the girl Mike may have mentioned a time or two. I’m the girl that can’t believe she’s finally found the man of her dreams and didn’t have to settle on one thing. I’m the girl that at 34 years old, wondered if a man, with all of the qualities that I’d had hoped for, dreamed about and tried so hard live worthy of and to be ready for, could possibly exist. I’m the girl who…. at the beginning of this new year, prayed for contentment and more patience…. in a plan I couldn’t begin to understand but knew existed for my life. I am a girl that is profoundly honored to be the future wife of Mike Whitmore and absolutely humbled at the opportunity to be a mother to three beautiful, loving, trusting, kind, and fun children! My heart is over flowing with excitement and joy as I live each day, getting to know my future family better and better.

There is a place in my heart however that aches at times. It aches for the girl who once dreamed about marrying a man like Mike Whitmore. I’m sure she dreamed of one day having children like Alexis, James and Gabby. I can’t help but think she dreamed of kneeling at the alter of the temple…across from her “dream man” to be married for time and all eternity. Over a period of about 18 years, her dreams came true…. one by one, just like mine (only mine seemed to appear all at once!) For some reason, that girl---who grew up to be Mrs. Deborah Whitmore, was chosen to give her dreams up, for a time, and by doing so, allowed all mine to come true. I can’t begin to understand the how’s and why’s, but I am beginning to realize the magnitude of the responsibility that I have to ensure that she gets those precious dreams returned back to her someday!

Although I have never been blessed with the opportunity to meet Deborah in this life….I have come to admire, respect, appreciate and love her a great deal! I love her for many reasons and they seem to multiply each day as I have more and more to be grateful for! I recognize that Mike would not be the man that he is today, quite literally….the man of my dreams…. without a strong, loving, woman by his side. I owe her so much and I look forward to the day (hopefully many, many, many years from now) when I get to see her and thank her personally for the priceless gifts that her life…blessed mine with! I pray that I live each day with the gratitude I feel this day for Deborah and for her life.

My heart aches in another place as I think about Deborah’s family. Having been blessed with two AMAZING sisters of my own, I don’t know what I would do if anything ever happened to them. I literally cry my eyes out at the very thought of it. I can’t imagine how I would feel about meeting the woman one of my brother-in-laws had chosen to marry, after being married to MY sister. Knowing how much my sisters love being mother’s…..how much they love their husbands and adore their children….I know that nobody could love their families more than they do! (Second in line would for sure be me!) How could I trust some “new woman” to honor the sacred roll of motherhood the way my sister does? I would have a LONG checklist and for sure some kind of background check, possibly drug screening and of course there would be lots of prayer. One might begin to understand why I am anxious and nervous and excited to meet Deborah’s family! If any of you happen to be reading this, I hope you understand why I might have tears in my eyes when we meet! (Although, I’m sure I will be trying my hardest to contain my emotions…. as I look terrible when I cry!) I will understand if takes you a while to get used to the idea of me living in the same home as the Whitmore’s. I’ll understand if you ask me to slow down when I drive, or ask me to demonstrate that I can safely put Gabby’s booster seat in place. If you want to know about my family or my friends, my health history….what ever it is…..I’m happy to share…..because I would want to know everything I could about anyone who thought they had what it took to be a second mom to my sisters children. I would also want to know that my sister would not be forgotten and that her name would always be reverenced! Of that…..you have my word!




This is a picture of Deborah with Alexis, taken almost 12 years ago. I love the smile on her face as she holds her first baby, her little girl....Alexis. In some small way, I think I understand her smile! A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend time with Alexis, just the two of us. I asked her if she was OK with me joining their family. She shared some incredible things with me about her feelings on that subject. I told her that I had never been a mom before and that I was sort of clueless on how to be a mom to three children all at once. I told her that I had one thing.... "LOVE……I HAVE A LOT of LOVE in my heart to give.” Alexis looked at me with her big, beautiful brown eyes and said, “that’s good…because that’s all you need!” My eyes welled with tears and I smiled......according to Alexis……(and confirmed by a feeling that made my heart beat faster,) I have all I need to be qualified. I am confident that the Lord will take care of the rest!

Dreams do come true!

"But I Don't Want to be a Blogger!"

Who would read anything written by me UNLESS it was emailed directly to your inbox and I fooled you into thinking it was something from your boss? I mean c'mon, really? I can think of many other things I'd rather be doing than reading (or writing, quite frankly) someone's blog. I've never done it. Nope not once. I'm a virgin when it comes to blogging.

Well, I guess that's shot now, isn't it? (And everyone said it would be so memorable . . .)

And when I write I sound like Eyore. That can't be good for readers either. Who wants to read dribble authored by a stuffed donkey or your average-Joe Seattalite? But, since you're here and there's nothing on the 500 cable channels you pay for, your dishes and laundry are done, grocery shopping is completed and your cars are washed and topped off with gas, your children are all in bed with their schoolwork completed, you have no friends or family to call on the phone or to visit, you're showered, shaved and your fridge was recently cleaned out and the vacuuming is done . . . I guess you have time to read this.

Okay then. I get it. Now I need to write something worth reading. Something insightful. Something whitty. Perhaps something that will surprise or make you laugh or whatever. Okay then. I get it.

Here you go then - I love Amy Hutchins. In fact, I adore her. No, more than that - I want to be married to her forever. She is the epitome of the perfect woman and I am the LUCKIEST man alive.

That right there should cure my Eyore-syndrome.