Lemonade with Livi: my best cousin

In my family, I've never really had a certain cousin that I was really close with. You see, my cousins ages range from late 40's to 2 years old. I don't have any cousins my exact age. I mean I always got a long with my cousins, we just weren't very close. Yes, we do see each other every first Sunday of the month, but that is about it.

That was until the summer before my junior year.

My cousin Clare and I were talking about this very thing when we decided that WE would be come close cousins.

And we did!

We had sleepover after sleepover, she went to my high school's homecoming, and we talked ALL the time. Well she graduated at the end of that school year and went to SUU so we didn't really see much of each other the next 2 years, but we still made sure to catch up with each other at least every 2 or so weeks.

Last October I received a picture text of a diamond ring on her very important ring finger, announcing that she was ENGAGED! I was SO excited for her! January 2011 she got married to Kris and became Clarissa Olcott. She had a BEAUTIFUL wedding, even though it was 10 degree's outside. ha ha, brrrr.

Well after she got married, she and her husband moved to Meadow UT. Where all of the sudden, Clare became a farm girl. And she LOVES it! She has chickens, dogs, a rooster, and as of Tuesday this week,

a Llama! Ha ha.

We haven't really talked for a while, but a couple weeks ago she texted me, and we started to make plans for me to go down and stay a weekend at her house and teach her how to sew and do crafts and things together. I got SO excited thinking about doing stuff with her again. This week we were trying to put schedules together to figure when the best day would be that I could go down. I seriously can not wait.

Yesterday, I was watching a movie with my Dad, Mom, and Kristy, when my Granny called.

(In our house, when Granny calls and doesn't ask to talk to my Dad, you know that something has happened to one of our family members)

I walked over to my mom and tried to get her to tell me who it was but she was listening too closely. From what I could get from the conversation on my mom's end was that someone was life flighted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and that it was someone that didn't live very close by. I decided to be patient so I went and sat down to continue watching the movie. When my mom hung up the phone, the last person I thought she would say, was the name that came out of her mouth. It was Clare & Kris. All Granny knew was that they were in a car accident and in serious condition. Kris had been life flighted to the hospital immediately, and they kept Clare and tried to get her to regain consciousness. But after trying for a while, they decided to life flight her too. Kris that night finally regained consciousness, but Clare still hadn't.

This morning Granny called with more information on their condition. Clare has a broken pelvis in three places, a broken arm, broken ribs, and head injuries. Kris has broken ribs, lots of cuts on his face, bruised lungs and heart. They are still in VERY serious condition. Turns out it wasn't a car accident. They were on an ATV ride and fell of a 45 foot cliff and hit a tree at the bottom. It is a MIRACLE they are still here at this very moment. I guess it didn't really hit me last night that it was her, but now it has. They are in InstaCare so I can't go see her, but I have been praying for her every minute possible.

"I know not by what method rare,

But this I know, God answers prayer.

I know that He has given His word

That tells me prayer is always heard

And will be answered, soon or late,

And so I pray and calmly wait.

I know not if the blessing sought

Will come just in the way I thought,

But leave my prayers with Him alone,

Whose ways are wiser than my own—

Assured that He will grant my quest,

Or send some answer far more blessed."

(Eliza M. Hickock)

Any prayers in their behalf would be greatly appreciated.

I'm praying for you Clare and Kris, and as soon as your out of InstaCare you better know, I will come and visit you for how ever long you will be there for. Stay strong. I love you.

.................and THAT'S a sip of Livi's Lemonade

"A man stands tallest when upon his knees."

~ President Thomas S. Monson