It IS a miracle...

A family in our ward just gave us their jar of change...$62.00, another friend dropped of another $20 because she heard about what was going on, but was out of town last week, and Clint got a job putting booklets together for a friends construction company...$75.00...That makes well over $1800 and Jeff's Dad has said that he has been so moved by Clint's efforts, He is going to pay the diffrence...Heavenly Father does not always answer our prayers the way we want him to...but sometimes he does.

Who Sent the Gift Card????

So I got a gift card in the mail today with no note, no return address, funny looking postage marks...and everyone is denying that they sent it...I would like to know who sent it. Anyone??? Anyone???

Thank you whoever you are!

First attempt.

Hi Rachel, This is my first attempt at responding to a blog. Hooray for Rex.
Hooray, for all the wonderful people who helped. He is such a wonderful dog. No wonder so many were eager to help. He will be up and running around before you know it.

Hooray for Clint. Even though he did not make it, he was in the running and he is still a champion of his school and his district, and had a wonderful spot in the newspaper of how smart he is.

Let me know if you received this.

Love, Mom (& Dad for helping me)

Just When I thought the Rex story was over...

I ended up charging the rest of Rex's account on a charge card...and today, Clint brought home an envelope full of money home from school that 3 girls in his class collected, because while Clint was gone, Bailey did her class current event on the story. Kelsey, Gwen and Sammy from his class collected over $50 on their own...this story just keeps getting better and better. The Salt Lake Tribune is doing a story on it in 2 weeks...I'll keep you posted!

Happy 40th Birthday Rachel!

Does AnYoNerecognize this house? Something happened in the middle of the night...there's 40 pink balloons EVERYWHERE! Ha ha ha...Lisa and I had soooo much fun last night decorating...we felt like teenagers again...giggeling...watching the shadows in the house move around and hoping no one would catch us in the act. A couple of times we thought we were caught and hid behind the house and car...but we were safe. We had the darndest time untangeling the balloons and forks. We love you Rachel and hope you have a FaBuLoUs 40th BiRtHdAy!! xoxo-Lisa and Miranda

The best thing about Rex's surgery is that I have not thought at all about how I am going to be 40 tomorrow...until now...So to take my mind off of that I got a scattergories tag from my dear friend Laryl...(Thanks Laryl.)

SCATTERGORIES. . .It's harder than it looks! Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following... they have to be real places, names, things...nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

What is your name............................Rachel


4 Letter Word...................................Rock
Vehicle............................................RV
City.................................................Rochester
Boy Name........................................Rocky
Girl Name.........................................Roxanne
Alcoholic Drink..................................Rum
Occupation......................................Race Car Driver
Something you Wear.........................Rubies
Celebrity..........................................Robert Redford
Food................................................Rice
Something found in a bathroom..........Razor
Reason for Being Late....................... Red Light
Cartoon Character.............................Roger Rabbit
Something You Shout.......................Right On!
Animal.............................................Rhino
Body part.........................................Retina
Word to describe you.........................Round :)

So now I tag: Amber, Wendy, Lisa, Miranda, Shelli, Chelsea, Kimm, and any of my other friends who have blogs that I don't know about. (And if you do have one, send me your blog address.)

How did I get to be 40???

Here I am (Above) at age 10, with my brother David and my dog Sheena, who has a real shedding problem. Pontiac, Michigan. Time Flies...

Me at 20, (Maybe 23...) with Jeff----XOXOXO

Me at age 30...with Clint and Jeff at Wheeler Farm...

Me today....

Juuuuust kidding....and a little wishful thinking....

The real me at age 40...

Me at age 40 with the "Save My Dog Pie". Thanks for taking my mind off my Birthday, Rex. I made 26 pies, with the help of Amber and Kimm, and I still have to make 5 more before next Sunday. I don't feel like I look like myself anymore... but I do have on a cute apron...Jeff says the counter makes me look shorter, "It's more like an optical illusion..." (he has learned after 15 years what to say...)

FrankenRex

So, Rex is now going to begin the recovery stage for yes, 8 weeks. He is so sweet and good natured...nothing dampens his spirits. We have to keep him off his leg, so he limps outside a couple of times a day. He spends a lot of time in his crate, because he needs to be confined. He is getting a lot of attention. Jeff is adjusting to having him in the TV Room because he can't take the stairs yet. He also had to sleep with one of those cones on around his head. He really hates that. I think he feels embarrased. At least caring for a dog is much easier than when I had to take care of Clint when he was in that body cast for 8 weeks when he broke his femer when he was 3 years old. This is much, much easier. Like I said, Rex just needs to sleep. He doesn't need me to entertain him. He has 15 ugly staples in the inside of his leg, they are pretty gross looking. I didn't take a picture. The vet said the surgery went great. Now Clint has a lot of Thank You Cards to Write. We are so grateful to everyone who has helped. And Rex is grateful too!

***Clint went to the BYU regional science fair today. He was excited to miss school, but he didn't place this time. He felt like he didn't do very good in the interview, but there were over 600 students there, and some of those projects were absolutly amazing. There were about 150 trophies. Clint was dissapointed, but he is talking about next year now. I am hoping to get some feedback from the judges to see what we can do better in the future. I think Clint may have been really tired and preoccupied. Plus this is the third science fair that he has had to do the same presentation over agian, I think some of his excitement was gone. He still said that he had a nice time. And we have learned a lot this year. Next year will be exciting too!

When I read the first few lines of your entry today I just started crying out loud (and I can do that because I'm home alone and nobody would have seen me anyway)
This story is really remarkable! What a wonderful illustration about true friendship, sacrifice, faith in the compassion and kindness of good neighbors and the selfless love of a boy for his dog. It reminds me of something you would read about in the"Trying To Be Like Jesus" section of The Friend... Hey, That's a great idea. It would be sweet to hear about it written from Clint's point of view and you can send it along with some of these great photos that you've taken of Clint and his friends so willing to help.
...and just so Corbin can know you were telling the truth about your beautiful niece.... She absolutely is! And she's an animal lover, too! Much Love, Aunt Wendy

Lemonade Sale for Rex

I dropped Rex off at the Vet's this morning at 7:00. He will have his surgery today, and I will pick him up tomorrow. Clint and his friends have worked hard to save him. Clint has found out that he has a lot of really good friends, an amazing extended family, and a wonderful neighborhood full of sweet, kind people who love him and love the opportunity to do something good if they have the chance. What this entire experience has taught Clint is priceless. We have just felt such an outpouring of love and kindness from so many people. During a time of crisis when I could have easily slipped into a full on depression, I have felt such an overwhelming amount of love towards so many people. I want to be a better person and do more to help others, and just be better in every way. Thanks Rex. We love you!

Matthew, Clint, and Bailey getting ready for the big lemonade sale. Matthew is Clint's true blue friend. They have been best friends since Clint was 21/2 years old. Matthew has stood by Clint through some of his roughest times. Bailey and Corbin have also proven to be some of the best friends anyone could ever hope for. Corbin is Bailey's big brother. He is wonderful.
Matt got the worst sunburn of the group. Corbin came in second. The air was cool, but that sun was hot.

Derek helped a little to bring in some customers as Darth Vader. He didn't last for too long. But Corbin, Bailey, Matthew, and Clint worked hard all day. They are true friends, who were, and usually are "anxiously engaged in a good cause". I love those kids!

Corbin is a fearless salesman. He put on his ipod and danced around and drew in a lot of customers. He is one of those unbelievable eagle scouts who everyone is always in awe of because he is just so genuinely good and sweet and brave...hmmm...how old is Hannah?!!!(She's my beautiful niece who is just about his age...)

Lemonade stand with Bailey and Clint. The kids stayed in the cold sun and froze, and got super sun-burned! But they didn't give up...they raised over $185. They stayed open from 12-5pm. Bailey is a real sweetie too. She is so polite and intelligent and articulate... most of the cars who stopped felt like they were interacting with an adult. She is sweet and beautiful, inside and out.

What Matters Most

We worried when my car died on Sunday night, and I went in to a full on depression when our furnace blew out on Monday...and I still hadn't decided what to do about Rex...he is just a dog after all...I was in a fog all day Monday. Then, after a good talk with my sister, I felt a ray of hope that everything would work out. My sweet family was going to be there for us, like they always have been. Then friends came to our aid in more ways then one. I feel a little like Jimmy Stewart in "It's A Wonderful Life"...(maybe I watch too many movies.) My friend suggested having a pie sale. Clint went door to door and I cannot believe the response. 80% were more than willing to help and were so sweet, supportive and generous. 20% were just really interested in getting pies, or so they said:) We have raised over $500 in pie sales, Clint has forfeited his allowance for the next year,($250), I took back spring birthday clothes I bought for myself last week ($140) My amazing sisters, brother and parents, and Jeff's family have come up with $400, Jeff sold a gun, ($350) yes, hard to believe he cares, but it's true. I have sweet friends and family members who are helping to make pies, I am selling a dresser that has always been too big for my bedroom. I'm hopeing for $200, I am also selling DVD's, Derek's train sets (I'm keeping one), books, toys, scrapbooking supplies and stamps, I'm planning on hopefully another $500. I think I have enough junk to get it...I love ebay. So we are almost there. As for the furnace and the car...Jeff can probably handle the car repairs himself...cars are his thing, and as for the furnace...summer is almost here and we all have fleece jackets and warm socks and blankets. We will worry about it next year. I am grateful that it happened in march instead of January. There is always something to be grateful for. Most of all I am grateful for family and friends who really do understand that the only things that really matter are life, and love. Rex will go straight to the Celestial Kingdom...and maybe he can be one of the reasons that we can all get a little closer to getting there ourselves, for being so unselfish and sacrificing so much, for a dog.

Get Well, soon, Rex!

We're all wishin' the best for you back here at the Stebar Studio. Hope all goes well with your surgery and that you make a quick recovery so you can be back to your old happy, playful self soon. this Twilight Bark is for you! "RRRRRUFF, RRRRUFF! RUFF! RUFF! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! OOOOOWWW! OOOOOOWWW! SNFKK! BARK!
GOOOOO, REX!

Why we love Rex

Clint has decided that he wants to try to convince 50 people to donate or hire him for $10. I convinced Jeff to agree to $500 dollars, and between my family and Jeff's parents and sister , we have come up with another $500...I love my family...It's not so much for Rex, but for Clint. So, we found a Vet who would be willing to help us out if we come up with $1800. It's going to be a lot of work for Clint. He is going to have a Hot Chocolate Sale on Wednesday, and he wants to distribute flyers to friends and neighbors...We will see how it goes. Please contact Cottonwood Animal Hospital if you would be willing to help...and if you could pass the word along...It would really be amazing if enough people cared. Rex is Clint's best friend. I know it's a lot to ask...some people will think it's ridiculous...but I think some people will really understand. I hope so. He is one of the best dogs in the world. I can't stop thinking about the movie Homeward Bound when Shadow comes limping up at the end. So loyal and sweet. Dogs can teach us a lot.

Cottonwood Animal Hospital
6360 Highland Dr Salt Lake City, UT 84121 Map

(801) 278-0505

You can use a bank card or credit card over the phone. The account is listed under Clint Bingham

Pray for sweet Rex

I am having a very difficult time trying to figure out what to do for Rex. I am very emotional while I write this because for the past 6 1/2 years, Rex has been the very best family dog I have ever known. He never barks or drives the neighbors crazy, he is sweet and patient with all the kids in the neighborhood, he is a best friend to Clint and Derek when it seems like the rest of the world is against them. At 103 lbs. he is an intimidating figure to strangers, and his presence makes me feel safe from potential seen and unseen dangers. He is always available to be a friend, go for a walk, or take a dive in the kiddie pool if anyone in our family ever needs some company.... Sunday he tore a ligament in his back leg that will require surgery. The cost is $2200. Needless to say that this would put a huge strain on our finances, and on my relationship with Jeff who has never really warmed up to Rex. Rex is not in pain, but he has no use of his back left leg. With his size and weight, it won't be long before his other back leg starts to have problems from overuse. I have been trying to get him to slow down, but he loves to play and hop around on those three legs. I don't know what to do. I have contacted Animal Sanctuary to see if they could take him, or help us out. I am ashamed as a dog owner to not be able to take care of him the way he deservers to be taken care of. I spent $170 at the Vet yesterday for his diagnosis and anti-inflamtory medication. We just are barely getting by as it is and we have spent the last 2 years finally paying off credit cards. I don't want to go back there again. Is that selfish? I know some people would say that he is only a dog...but he is also part of our family. So do I let him just hobble around until his other leg goes out...do I take out another credit card to pay for it and then in a year or so come up with another $2200 for when his other leg goes out?(Which 2 diffrent vets have told me that there is a 90% chance of this being the case). What do I do?

For what it's worth...I get addicted to these stupid personality tests!

What Your Favorite Color Pink Says About You:

Blissful --- Content --- Romantic Idealistic --- Expressive --- Artistic Funny --- Quirky --- Individualistic

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

Come on, People!!!

I wish all the people who I know read my blogs would start their own blogs so I could read more of them...Lisa, Miranda, Laryl, Jill, At least Miranda has a nice start to her blog. Lets get it finished so I can see Megan any time I want. Thanks Amber for having at least one blog that I can turn to to see some cute pics and dream about someday taking my own vacation to someplace tropical and warm and beautiful...Maybe some day...at least the weather was actually pleasant today. We got out the bubbles and chalk for the first time today and had a blast. (Notice the bubbles) Unfortunately I didn't remember to take pictures until we were almost done, and none of the pictures turned out very good...We still had fun.

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Clint and Derek stood in line for 1 &1/2 hrs. to hold a baby bear at the Sportsmans Warehouse yesterday, (Saturday). By the time we finially got to the bears, Derek just wanted to lay on the ground and scream about how much he just wanted chicken nuggets. He didn't even want to touch the baby bear because it just looked like another puppy. The bear was really darling. It kept sticking it's tounge out...I don't know where it's mother was. There were 6 cubs altogether. Their hands and feet were really cute. Derek was upset after we left because he regretted that he didn't even touch the bear. Clint said that holding the bear was worth the wait. At least he was happy. It was a long time for Derek to have to wait. Poor little guy. At least he got his picture taken with the bear and hopefully we can all just remember that it was fun???

I love this picture too. There is just something about mommie and baby bears...

I love this picture of the Mommie bear and her baby cub. All Mommies love their babies! And don't mess with their babies...you'll be sorry!