San Diego Temple Grounds May 2009
Utah JAZZ Basketball game March 30th 2009
We love watching the Jazz games, so I thought it would be awesome to go to a Jazz game. So we got all decked out in our Jazz gear, and went to a game. It was a great game, and as fun as it was to watch the game, it was even funner to watch the kids enjoying themselves. We got some VIP treatment from the Jazz staff. The kids got hats, basketballs, and noisemakers. Blake was secretly excited that we got our picture taken with some Jazz dancers. Caleb was so disappointed that the Jazz Bear was sick. He had fun anyway, shouting and cheering the Jazz onto a win!
St. Maarten Trip Feb.22-Mar.1 2009
Pictures from our trip
St. Maarten is a small island in the Caribbean. Half of the island is Dutch, the other half French. We stayed on the Dutch side. The ocean was so beautiful and relaxing. We stayed at a villa right on the beach. Dan would drive to a french bakery every morning before I woke up, and purchase the most delicious pastries for breakfast.
Anguilla Island
Two of the days, we took a ferry to a British Island called Anguilla. We went to a beach called Shoal Bay East, which is one of the top rated beaches in the world. The sand was powdery white, the beaches were uncrowded, the water was crystal clear. There was a reef right off the beach, which had amazing coral formations, and thousands of colorful fishes. We even saw a ray! Under the water is a magical, amazing world, and I am so glad I had a chance to experience it. The warm salt water was easy to float in, and Dan swam and towed me around.
Bowling and Mini Golf Jan 19 ,2009
We took the kids to Fat Catz on a day off from school. The kids mini golfed and bowled, and I watched and took pictures. It was so much fun spending time together!
Fun family Activities! Chuck E.Cheese Jan 12.2009
We took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese for a fun family home evening activity. The kids had a great time.
Run 4 Amber pictures, November 1, 2008.
My sister Emily (and her husband Russell with Emily's fabulous camera) took some great pictures at the Run 4 Amber. If you want to see more of Emily's great talent at photography, check out her blog: http://www.emilyharknessphotography.blogspot.com
My sisters Emily and Heather and niece, Brielle!
Here you can see Blake. He ran the 5k with his friend Nick.
Look at all these cute kids running the 1 mile!
Even a goat ran to support the Run 4 Amber
Partway through the race a goat got loose, and followed the runners. It was hilarious! The goat then hung out around me after the race was over. Hopefully he made it home safely!
Ammon "flew" through the race with the help of his aunts!
My 2 year old Ammon "ran" the race with the help of his aunts Krissy and Kellie. Look at that smile!
Abby skipping across the finish line
Even 5 year old Caleb ran the 1 mile!
My little brother Taylor took first place on the 5k! Isn't he pretty in pink?
My little brother Kristofor on the left, and my big Bro. in law David on the right.
My mom with me and Dan. She is the only one who cried more than me that day!
Crossing the finish line!
We received so many sweet notes from supporters. What a treasure!
Bekah made over 50 bracelets with Laura & Maddy Fullmer, and Ashley Allen and earned over $250!!!
I felt like a queen in my heated, massaging recliner. I was so touched by all who came and visited with me, and all of the love and support.
The auction was exciting and overwhelming.
People were so generous in their donations for the auction, and also in their bidding. It was so much fun. This is a picture of a beautiful wreath that was donated for the auction. So many wonderful items were auctioned off; gift certificates to Bay Wash, Maddox, Galactic Bowl, Walker Cinema, beautiful craft items, services, fishing rods, cement, a recliner from Room Loft, a cedar chest, cute vinyl signs, bows and socks for little girls, a vacuum, teddy bears, plus so many more!
So you think you can dance!
Bekah is my right hand gal. I don't know what I would do without her. She is always so willing to help with the little boys, and she is such a sweetheart, and is so caring. So as a reward to show my appreciation to her, I bought tickets to see the live tour of So You Think You Can Dance. This is a dance competition show like American Idol that is on during the summer. We really enjoyed watching it together, plus 3 of the top 20 contestants were from Utah; Gev (my favorite--- he was also a baseball player on High School Musical 2, so Bekah really likes him too), Chelsea, a fabulous gorgeous latin dancer, and Thayne, who has the most fabulous smile, even though I'm not totally into his style of dance. Our absolute favorite is Twitch, and Gev is a close second. He stole the show that night, tell you more about that in a little bit.
Twitch & Kerrington
I loved this waltz. It was so beautiful and touching. The song they danced to was Celine Dion "A New Day Has Come." I fell in love with this song and routine when they performed it on the show. The lyrics fit so appropriately with my life and trials. Here are some parts of the song that I love:
I was waiting for so long
For a miracle to come
Everyone told me to be strong
Hold on and don't shed a tear
Through the darkness and good times
I knew I'd make it through
And the world thought I had it all
But I was waiting for you
I see a light in the sky
Oh, it's almost blinding me
I can't believe
I've been touched by an angel with love
Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun
A new day has...come
Celine Dion: A New Day Has Come
I see a light in the sky
Oh, it's almost blinding me
I can't believe
I've been touched by an angel with love
Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun
A new day has...come
Where it was dark now there's light
Where there was pain now there's joy
Where there was weakness, I found my strength
All in the eyes of a boy.
More Favorite dance routines, and dear old Gev........
Here is a picture from the opening number. It was deafening how loud the screams were for the favorite dancers!!!!
Prison Break
This one was one of Bekah's favorite routines, when Twitch and Kerrington break out of prison. Very fun routine!!!
Cute Bekah enjoying the show!!!!
Bollywood dancing
I loved the music and style of this dance called "Bollywood" a mix of traditional Indian dance with western dance styles.
Gev was HILARIOUS!!!!
So, Gev comes out in costume to show different traditiona dresses for different dance styles around the world. He wanted to know why the girls costumes were always better than the boys. So he begged to trade head dresses with Comfort----------------->
Detention
Another favorite of Bekah's. Detention with Mark and Comfort. Mark is another one of my favorite dancers. I loved his solo to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. Mark is so funky and cool. It was so fun to watch him live!
Hot Tamale dance with Thayne and Chelsea
Local utah boy dancing with Chelsea, definitely a "hot tamale" number, as Mary Murphy a judge on the show would say!!!!
Joshua & Twitch: Love these guys!!!!
Gev in traditional Russian Formal wear..... We laughed so hard!
So then next, Gev (on the right) came out dressed in the "girls" outfit because it was prettier than the boys... Oh we laughed so hard, my sides hurt. It feels so good to have a night out without worry, and just laugh and enjoy myself!!! And then when I thought I couldn't laugh any harder, in between the next numbers Gev dressed up in this big hoop skirt, and sat down, and the hoop went up by his head, you just had to be there, and I am so glad we were!!!!
Gamma Knife brain radiation pictures
I am going to share some pictures here from my gamma knife procedure. Some of the pictures just make me laugh, and some make me cry. I really felt like I was part of some medieval torture chamber device. Kind of like the man in the iron mask. The doctors were really kind, but the whole thing just felt so inhumane. Words are hard to find to express the way I felt. Just like my life was out of my hands, and I had to trust that what these men were doing is going to zap cancer, and not me as a person. My brain is so much a part of what makes me who I am, when you have radiation beamed in there, you wonder if it is going to change you, your personality, your memories. Scary stuff. I'll be working on adding more pictures, so check back soon!!!!! I also will be doing a blog post that goes into details what my day of gamma knife was like.
St. George Utah vacation August 2008
We had our own olympic pool games at St. George. We did diving, swimming, handstands, "hot dog" underwater turns, and it was so much fun!!!!
St. George Temple
~Families are Forever!!!
St. George Temple
Faith in Christ
I found so much comfort while gazing at this beautiful statue of Christ. I am truly in awe at all that He did for me. He suffered and died for each of us. All we need to do is turn to Him, and He WILL help us in our afflictions and trials, whatever they may be.
Beautiful Red Rock Desert landscapes at St. George, Utah
Tuachan- Broadway in the Desert
This outdoor theater, Tuachan, is absolutely gorgeous. They put on wonderful Musical productions. We saw "The Sound of Music" this time, but other years we have seen "Beauty and the Beast" and "joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." I love theater and would love to go to broadway someday and see some plays and musicals there.
Extreme Home makeover
We have lived in our home for almost 9 years, and the carpet was almost worn out coming down the stairs and through the living room. So Dan and his dad, Jeremy from work, and Ben and Herman, and our hometeacher, Don, helped us rip out carpet and put down the most beautiful wood laminate floor. Then, we painted (with help again) and got 2 new leather sofas that are ultra comfy. See, there are good things happening even when bad happens!!!! So now when people come over to visit sick little ol me, they will get to see our nice new living room!!!!
Miley Amber Harkness born Valentines Day 2008
This is me holding my precious niece, Miley Amber, who is named after me and my sister. My sisters name is Emily, so she rearranged the letters of her name to Miley, and then they gave her my name for a middle name to bring me some joy while I was going through chemo, surgery, and just plain cancer in general. Miley was something that brought our family a lot of joy and happy anticipation during a difficult time. She is such a blessing for our family.
Yellowstone pictures, summer 2008
We went on vacation to beautiful Yellowstone National Park. Seeing nature and geysers, and hot springs, was so amazing. I was able to walk the boardwalks, and enjoy all of the cool geological and thermal wonders there.
Bloom where you are planted
When I saw these beautiful wildflowers growing in the barren desolate ground around the hot springs, I was amazed. How could such tender beautiful flowers bloom in such harsh conditions? How could they thrive in such hard ground, with the scalding, steaming geysers and springs all around? They were truly amazing to me, and I couldn't help but think that sometimes the most beautiful things when least expected. One can thrivein adversity, and bloom even though the ground is hard and rough.
Christmas 2007
Dan & Me with Abby (7) and Caleb (5).
Temple Square November 2007
A favorite Christmas tradition. Pizza with the Monson Family at Litzas pizza, and then going to see the lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake. Wh
at was great this year was being around everyone else wearing hats!!!! I fit right in for once!
September 2007
This picture was taken at Dan's sisters wedding reception. Yes, I am wearing a wig. Dan is not.
Amber and Ammon Labor Day 2007
10 Year Wedding Anniversary
Dan took me to California for our 10th anniversary. We went to the broadway musical "Wicked". We spent a day at the beach, and took a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. It was wonderful to spend time together and celebrate being married 10 more years. Time is so precious and life is too short. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband, and I pray that we will have at least another 10 years together!
Yard Makeover.
This is a before picture when our friends and neighboors came and did our yard makeover. There were cars lining clear down the street.
"Heart Attack" the good kind.....
This is the yard after my "Heart Attack" There were hundreds of hearts with kind words on them all over the yard. The flowers have blossomed so beautifully and my flower beds are more gorgeous than they have ever been. It brings me so much joy to go out in the yard and see and smell them. It has made our home so bright!
Happy Fourth of July!
This picture was taken on the Fourth of July. The flowers are even bigger and more beautiful now!
Our Family 2007
This is our family picture we had taken right after I was diagnosed with cancer. I LOVE IT!!
