---
31 October 2009
Not much to say
Every day I've thought about blogging. Nothing. :) I'm sick and sitting around mainly. I cleaned closets a couple of mornings ago and that winded me.
---
---
24 October 2009
This makes me happy
One of my favorite things in all the world is to bake. Like all favorites it's a "favorite thing" because I don't do it that often, and when I come to it I think wow, I like to bake! I wonder if that's important knowledge for anyone. Anyway, today I did. Bake. I have 34 minutes left on Banana Coconut Toasted Walnut Blueberry Bread from For the Love of Cooking blog. While I was putting this together I was thinking about how it happens:
First you have to browse through recipes or fall into one. Either your own stuff rediscovered and happily crowed over, or new stuff. When I get on the For the Love of Cooking blog I print what I like and set the paper on the toaster oven so I'll see it every day. I highlight what ingredient I don't have and write it on my shopping list. It's important to have highlighted the ingredient in the recipe because often when I get home with what I bought I can't remember why I bought it. 'Less the recipe's sitting on the toaster oven or in my binder with a sticky tag on the edge. Bright orange, right? (This has happened and it's nuts to have, say, Havarti cheese or tamarind oil sitting around with no clue what to use it for.)
What happens next is one of my favorite things: I put a paper towel down where I'm baking or cooking, trap it under my mixer over the crack between the stove and the counter. I started doing this about half a year ago, and it makes me way happy. Sifted flour settles everywhere but mostly on the paper towel and certainly not down in the crack. The minute I dirty something I lay it on the paper towel, not on a spoon rest or in a bowl that tips over when I'm hasty. I roll it up at the end and throw it and admire my clean counter and stove. The next thing I do is also a favorite: I put away ingredients as I use them. This is familiar because Grandma Bradford taught me it. She said it - and she did it! I watched her. It's one of my very favorite things to don an apron and lay down a paper towel and think about Grandma while I dirty spoons and spatulas and cups and bowls and get things out and put them away.
I followed the recipe exactly this morning. To my UTTER delight I had every ingredient. I always use vanilla yogurt anymore in place of milk when I bake; it's like putting buttermilk in and makes the thing taste delicious. This bread recipe calls for vanilla yogurt. (Sensible) I scraped out the dregs of one yogurt container and opened another feeling smug. I toasted the pecans. Ooh, I lied about having every ingredient; it's walnut bread and I have pecans and like them and use them. Well I toasted those. Divided the blueberries, folding some into the batter and saving some to sprinkle on top like she instructed. I had coconut (who doesn't! yum) and two extremely black bananas given me by A whose spice cupboard I cleaned a couple of days ago. For these I started this whole process this morning - so, I take it back; I'm thinking maybe FIRST you have to have something ripening on your counter, then you hunt for a recipe, then you don the apron, lay down your paper towel, and soon you're baking.
These pics are from her blog. See?
No picture-taking for me, though now my bread is out and looking and smelling wonderful! I'm supposed to be dusting, one of my NOT favorite things.
----
Grandma and Grandpa Bradford in the 70s
First you have to browse through recipes or fall into one. Either your own stuff rediscovered and happily crowed over, or new stuff. When I get on the For the Love of Cooking blog I print what I like and set the paper on the toaster oven so I'll see it every day. I highlight what ingredient I don't have and write it on my shopping list. It's important to have highlighted the ingredient in the recipe because often when I get home with what I bought I can't remember why I bought it. 'Less the recipe's sitting on the toaster oven or in my binder with a sticky tag on the edge. Bright orange, right? (This has happened and it's nuts to have, say, Havarti cheese or tamarind oil sitting around with no clue what to use it for.)
What happens next is one of my favorite things: I put a paper towel down where I'm baking or cooking, trap it under my mixer over the crack between the stove and the counter. I started doing this about half a year ago, and it makes me way happy. Sifted flour settles everywhere but mostly on the paper towel and certainly not down in the crack. The minute I dirty something I lay it on the paper towel, not on a spoon rest or in a bowl that tips over when I'm hasty. I roll it up at the end and throw it and admire my clean counter and stove. The next thing I do is also a favorite: I put away ingredients as I use them. This is familiar because Grandma Bradford taught me it. She said it - and she did it! I watched her. It's one of my very favorite things to don an apron and lay down a paper towel and think about Grandma while I dirty spoons and spatulas and cups and bowls and get things out and put them away.
I followed the recipe exactly this morning. To my UTTER delight I had every ingredient. I always use vanilla yogurt anymore in place of milk when I bake; it's like putting buttermilk in and makes the thing taste delicious. This bread recipe calls for vanilla yogurt. (Sensible) I scraped out the dregs of one yogurt container and opened another feeling smug. I toasted the pecans. Ooh, I lied about having every ingredient; it's walnut bread and I have pecans and like them and use them. Well I toasted those. Divided the blueberries, folding some into the batter and saving some to sprinkle on top like she instructed. I had coconut (who doesn't! yum) and two extremely black bananas given me by A whose spice cupboard I cleaned a couple of days ago. For these I started this whole process this morning - so, I take it back; I'm thinking maybe FIRST you have to have something ripening on your counter, then you hunt for a recipe, then you don the apron, lay down your paper towel, and soon you're baking.
These pics are from her blog. See?
No picture-taking for me, though now my bread is out and looking and smelling wonderful! I'm supposed to be dusting, one of my NOT favorite things.
----
Grandma and Grandpa Bradford in the 70s
23 October 2009
Big adventures
This week's big adventures:
* Got my feet and legs massaged and toenails painted; a friend whose service I bought at the service auction last month.
* Walked with Regina.
* Finished reading "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas."
* Had a Subway 6-inch with Kent for lunch and endless shrimp at R.L. He bought me Jet-Puffed Mallow Bites for surprise dessert.
* Talked to Sarah and Laura and Karen and Marcia - Hawaii, Utah, Texas and New Zealand.
* Cleaned a kitchen pantry and spice cupboard; for a friend who bought my services at the service auction.
* Gave away my box of jars and a set of towels to a homeless lady.
* Made butternut squash cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.
* Made a wall-size chart (with the Sem. kids) of the seven journeys in the Book of Mosiah. Taped it to the wall.
Gee this is tame.
--
* Got my feet and legs massaged and toenails painted; a friend whose service I bought at the service auction last month.
* Walked with Regina.
* Finished reading "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas."
* Had a Subway 6-inch with Kent for lunch and endless shrimp at R.L. He bought me Jet-Puffed Mallow Bites for surprise dessert.
* Talked to Sarah and Laura and Karen and Marcia - Hawaii, Utah, Texas and New Zealand.
* Cleaned a kitchen pantry and spice cupboard; for a friend who bought my services at the service auction.
* Gave away my box of jars and a set of towels to a homeless lady.
* Made butternut squash cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.
* Made a wall-size chart (with the Sem. kids) of the seven journeys in the Book of Mosiah. Taped it to the wall.
Gee this is tame.
--
22 October 2009
Pumpkin cupcakes my way
So you're using Jessica Seinfeld's "Deceptively Delicious" cookbook and pureeing vegetables, right?
Okay, not.
I did and do and have baggies-ful of 1/2-cups of carrot and spinach and squash in my freezer. I found a pumpkin cupcake recipe the other day that I'm trying, and I DO have pumpkin, but - wait! I have puree (waiting for scrambled eggs or macaroni and cheese or chocolate chip cookies to be put into). For this recipe I'm using butternut squash. [Erin groans. She hates this.)
I dumped the ingredients into the mixing bowl. Even, as the recipe calls for, caster sugar (a very fine sugar in Britain called that because the grains are small enough to fit though a sugar "caster" or sprinkler. "Superfine" sugar in the US), making it in my Magic Bullet from granulated. Measured in two teaspoonfuls of pumpkin pie spice, though the recipe clearly doesn't call for it because I'm using pumpkin puree, right? Yes, pumpkin cupcakes. Nope.
Pumpkin Cupcakes
(makes approx 24 standard-sized cakes)
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature (1/2 cup)
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup caster sugar (superfine; make in food processor if need)
2 large eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate (baking) soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
pinch of salt
1/2 cup milk
1 ½ cups pumpkin puree
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a cupcake tray with paper liners.
In a mixing bowl, mix the butter at a high speed until creamy and without any lumps. Add sugars and beat until fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla and mix at a slower speed until the consistency is even.
Add the dry ingredients and the milk in alternation until all incorporated. Add pumpkin and mix until even and relatively light.
Fill cupcake papers halfway for flat-topped cupcakes, two-thirds full for domed cupcakes. Bake for 18 – 22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove immediately from the pan and cool on a wire rack for best results.
When cool, ice with cinnamon cream cheese icing (below) and finish with more cinnamon on top.
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing
(Whoa, this looks like a lot of icing . . . 16 oz. of cream cheese? I converted this whole recipe from grams to cups and teaspoons, etc., yesterday. Had to have a conversion chart, then finally an on-line converter do the job for me. For instance, 115 grams of butter is a 1/2 cup and darn it a 1/2 cup of butter is one stick. Don't be confused - "confusled" Winnie the Pooh says. Metric is a foreign language. I may need to be back in here editing in a while after I've made the frosting and tasted the faux-cupcakes.
16 oz. cream cheese
¾ cup unsalted butter
7/8 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon, plus extra for sprinkling
Soften the cream cheese and butter in a bowl and mix with a spatula or mixer until there are no lumps.
Add remaining ingredients and mix until even in color and texture.
Chill overnight in the fridge to thicken and improve the texture of the sugar (brown sugar is crunchy until it sets).
Pipe or spread over cupcakes.
--
Off to A's to declutter and reorganize her house. We're in it for a year - big house, big job, lotta fun. I'm now a real organizer!
--
Dad's and mom's neighborhood 2009
Okay, not.
I did and do and have baggies-ful of 1/2-cups of carrot and spinach and squash in my freezer. I found a pumpkin cupcake recipe the other day that I'm trying, and I DO have pumpkin, but - wait! I have puree (waiting for scrambled eggs or macaroni and cheese or chocolate chip cookies to be put into). For this recipe I'm using butternut squash. [Erin groans. She hates this.)
I dumped the ingredients into the mixing bowl. Even, as the recipe calls for, caster sugar (a very fine sugar in Britain called that because the grains are small enough to fit though a sugar "caster" or sprinkler. "Superfine" sugar in the US), making it in my Magic Bullet from granulated. Measured in two teaspoonfuls of pumpkin pie spice, though the recipe clearly doesn't call for it because I'm using pumpkin puree, right? Yes, pumpkin cupcakes. Nope.
Pumpkin Cupcakes
(makes approx 24 standard-sized cakes)
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature (1/2 cup)
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup caster sugar (superfine; make in food processor if need)
2 large eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate (baking) soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
pinch of salt
1/2 cup milk
1 ½ cups pumpkin puree
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a cupcake tray with paper liners.
In a mixing bowl, mix the butter at a high speed until creamy and without any lumps. Add sugars and beat until fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla and mix at a slower speed until the consistency is even.
Add the dry ingredients and the milk in alternation until all incorporated. Add pumpkin and mix until even and relatively light.
Fill cupcake papers halfway for flat-topped cupcakes, two-thirds full for domed cupcakes. Bake for 18 – 22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove immediately from the pan and cool on a wire rack for best results.
When cool, ice with cinnamon cream cheese icing (below) and finish with more cinnamon on top.
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing
(Whoa, this looks like a lot of icing . . . 16 oz. of cream cheese? I converted this whole recipe from grams to cups and teaspoons, etc., yesterday. Had to have a conversion chart, then finally an on-line converter do the job for me. For instance, 115 grams of butter is a 1/2 cup and darn it a 1/2 cup of butter is one stick. Don't be confused - "confusled" Winnie the Pooh says. Metric is a foreign language. I may need to be back in here editing in a while after I've made the frosting and tasted the faux-cupcakes.
16 oz. cream cheese
¾ cup unsalted butter
7/8 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon, plus extra for sprinkling
Soften the cream cheese and butter in a bowl and mix with a spatula or mixer until there are no lumps.
Add remaining ingredients and mix until even in color and texture.
Chill overnight in the fridge to thicken and improve the texture of the sugar (brown sugar is crunchy until it sets).
Pipe or spread over cupcakes.
--
Off to A's to declutter and reorganize her house. We're in it for a year - big house, big job, lotta fun. I'm now a real organizer!
--
Dad's and mom's neighborhood 2009
20 October 2009
Jars
Folks I've had a cupboard full of jars just above my washer and dryer for six solid years. That's right. Over that time I've patiently taken the labels off the odd salsa jar; olive; mayonnaise; pickle; artichoke hearts; jelly; and my favorite - pimiento. Goo-Be-Gone'd the sticky part, and upended each in the dishwasher for sanitizing. Stored it tightly lidded and sanitized in the cupboard for when . . . well, when . . . yeah. No. Never have I used a jar. But wait, I did use one in 2005 for bacon grease. We don't eat bacon grease, so it didn't come in all that handy.
They're fun to look at. A curiosity in my cupboard. Salsa jars are curvy near the top and tall. Artichoke hearts square in your hand. Pimiento jars teensy and perfectly squat and I just can not throw them in the trash. I love olive jars - they're very stately. Narrow from bottom to top. Wish I had their shape, then I could wear straight-leg jeans.
It's ridiculous all these jars hugging space in the laundry room. Once in a blue moon I don't actually put the lid on the jar after I wash it, but wriggle it up into the jar-pile and shut the door fast. I don't know, maybe the jar is slightly wet still from the dishwasher or something; I don't follow through. Kent opens the cupboard and out onto the dryer or down onto his Birkenstock clatters the lid. Or several, and a jar rocks in place. He calls this a booby trap. If it happens in the spice cupboard or on the shelf high up in the coat closet, well - he's booby-trapped. He arranges the long-handled barbecue utensils neatly on the highest shelf in the laundry room. Where they belong. Neatly I stress so they don't fall into an eye-socket or something when I'm rummaging there. He's thoughtful that way. He appreciates the pepper grinder not falling on his head in the kitchen and the feather duster not coming down in his hair from the coat closet and, further, the jars and their lids holding tight in the cupboard above the dryer.
I took a big box a week ago and gathered up the jars. Put them neatly in, sparkling and lidded and snug. They're out of the laundry room, but . . .well . . . usually I go in the dejunking process from CUPBOARD STRAIGHT TO TRASH. I love the trip to the dumpster. Working with Jen last year I had to be gentle and we made a "think about" pile and a "keep for a few more days" pile as we cleaned out her apartment. She went a little shocky on me trying to go CUPBOARD STRAIGHT TO TRASH. So here and now? The jars? Can't part with them. Not yet. They're under a kitchen cabinet. I can see the box. I know they're there. I ought to get up and throw them in the dumpster right now; it's a short walk. I do love the trip to the dumpster, but how I dread the sound of breaking glass.
--
Things I'm throwing out today:
Yellow squash in the crisper that didn't make it through my trip to Dallas
Six months of Ensign magazines
Lemon Lime yucky Crystal Light
Air Tran boarding passes
Kroger coupons two days expired
Lesson plans for Jacob through Mosiah 4 - done
Box of jars
--
Scott, Dan, Brad, Brady 2006
They're fun to look at. A curiosity in my cupboard. Salsa jars are curvy near the top and tall. Artichoke hearts square in your hand. Pimiento jars teensy and perfectly squat and I just can not throw them in the trash. I love olive jars - they're very stately. Narrow from bottom to top. Wish I had their shape, then I could wear straight-leg jeans.
It's ridiculous all these jars hugging space in the laundry room. Once in a blue moon I don't actually put the lid on the jar after I wash it, but wriggle it up into the jar-pile and shut the door fast. I don't know, maybe the jar is slightly wet still from the dishwasher or something; I don't follow through. Kent opens the cupboard and out onto the dryer or down onto his Birkenstock clatters the lid. Or several, and a jar rocks in place. He calls this a booby trap. If it happens in the spice cupboard or on the shelf high up in the coat closet, well - he's booby-trapped. He arranges the long-handled barbecue utensils neatly on the highest shelf in the laundry room. Where they belong. Neatly I stress so they don't fall into an eye-socket or something when I'm rummaging there. He's thoughtful that way. He appreciates the pepper grinder not falling on his head in the kitchen and the feather duster not coming down in his hair from the coat closet and, further, the jars and their lids holding tight in the cupboard above the dryer.
I took a big box a week ago and gathered up the jars. Put them neatly in, sparkling and lidded and snug. They're out of the laundry room, but . . .well . . . usually I go in the dejunking process from CUPBOARD STRAIGHT TO TRASH. I love the trip to the dumpster. Working with Jen last year I had to be gentle and we made a "think about" pile and a "keep for a few more days" pile as we cleaned out her apartment. She went a little shocky on me trying to go CUPBOARD STRAIGHT TO TRASH. So here and now? The jars? Can't part with them. Not yet. They're under a kitchen cabinet. I can see the box. I know they're there. I ought to get up and throw them in the dumpster right now; it's a short walk. I do love the trip to the dumpster, but how I dread the sound of breaking glass.
--
Things I'm throwing out today:
Yellow squash in the crisper that didn't make it through my trip to Dallas
Six months of Ensign magazines
Lemon Lime yucky Crystal Light
Air Tran boarding passes
Kroger coupons two days expired
Lesson plans for Jacob through Mosiah 4 - done
Box of jars
--
Scott, Dan, Brad, Brady 2006
19 October 2009
What a Trip
Thursday last week, breakfast with some of the kids at IHOP. (Already it's too long ago ago and the days are blending together . . . but I'll try. ) Erin due in, flying from Minnesota; Brad due in, driving from Arkansas. Hung out at C & K's house til about 4:00, then C drove me to J's house in Rowlett. J is my niece. (Ex-niece. Ugh, what a term.) When I allude to my ex's family, I'm talking about family! We love each other. M's sister and brother are like sister and brother to me. His sister, N, was my Young Women leader; taught me to wear my first make up and helped me get ready for my first formal dance. She's mentored me most of my young adult life as I've had the kids, and we've stayed in touch. S, M's brother, was my Seminary teacher for a couple of years. Went on his mission when I was pretty young, then came back to Texas where he married and had his first child, D - who I often babysat! Who along with all the others born in the years after 1970 to M's brother and sisters are my nieces and nephews, no matter that M and I have divorced. Who I am SO interested in, and whose own babies I adore. J (again, my niece) was born in 70 too, and I babysat her as often as I did D. You see these are my family: from their grandparents who were my in-laws, to their fathers and mothers who were my sisters and brothers-in-law and best friends, right to down to them, who are my children's cousins and the most wonderful, wonderful grownups and who have house-fulls of beautiful, breathtaking children. Love S in Twin! S in Provo! C in Omaha and D in Keller; J in Rowlett, L in Castle Rock, A in (oh my goodness, Austin?) and T in San Antonio. B in (don't remember where she's ended up; kind of mobile), M in Meridian, T and J and Omaha. Love 'em like my own kids. They shine!
C took me to J's house where all the clamor was. About this hour of the afternoon N was returning there from the funeral home where she'd been with the guys as they did the work of dressing Grandad to prepare him for burial. I'm so happy two of my boys were able to help with it. I've seen it done in our families always; even I have helped dressing to prepare for the casket: M's grandmother when she died many years ago. I was in my twenties. Like I said, Brad was driving in during the afternoon and arrived only about dinner time, so Scott and Dan were the two able to participate with their uncle. Each has said it was amazing! I suggested to them that this act of service would change them. I think so. They think so too.
All the clamor was at J's house. Three generations, from under one year to upwards of 65. Family and friends. There has been food brought over, so the fridge and table were loaded. There's a park across the street from the house so the little kids were in and out. It's cooled off in Dallas the last couple of days and their cheeks were ruddy. I got to the house just after N and the guys arrived and were beginning to look through boxes of pictures and Granddad's journals. Erin had called Jen earlier and said her plane schedule was way off - she wouldn't be getting in until 9:30; S, M's brother, left to pick up his family and take them to Keller, miles and miles away, so the rest of us carpooled to Big Daddy's in Wiley, a barbecue pit. Brad drove in and met us there - a great reunion and a lot of work for the Big Daddy's crew.
Erin's plane arrived at 9:30, but her luggage didn't. The kids' bag did, but by midnight Jen had brought Erin from the airport to K's house (where I was hanging out talking, up late) luggage-less. We made plans for her to wear my clothes to the funeral in the morning, put on my make up, borrow contact lens solution from her cousin, then we put the kids to bed. And hit the sack.
Friday. We had to be at the funeral home about 8:30 to practice Amazing Grace. Some of us practiced it at J's house late last night, most of us. All but Erin. It sounds good. We decided Dan would sing the first verse solo then all of us on melody for the second verse, then two more verses in parts. It's for me an exceptional experience singing with my kids. We used to do it all the time, but that's gone away as we've grown up and moved out. Coming together is one thing. Singing together is amazing. We got to the funeral home late, umph; not grumpy or out of sorts, thank heaven. The boys (in their own car coming from their hotel) were on time. The rest of us, not.
We stepped right into the viewing for the family, private and very moving. The funeral started at 10:30; relatively few other people, friends or public, came. It was expected, given that Dad's friends are all over the country. It's amazing that as much family assembled as has, coming from a handful of states. Jen was asked days ago to be one of the grandchildren standing to give memories of Grandad. She was last of four who spoke one after the other early in the program (and it was beautifully given), then our song. Oh, we were helped as we sang together! Dan started with the solo, a capella, and looking at the audience I saw tears. We joined in, sang the entire song a capella as we'd had a minute to practice; N said later that Dad would have loved it as it harks back to his Protestant days. Old time religion . . . we haven't been raised on Amazing Grace; only know it from listening to it, but it has come naturally to us as we know Grandad loved it and wanted it for this day.We were blessed as we sang and feel he heard us. The remainder of the funeral was stirring. More memories from additional grandchildren. (All these wonderful grown ups I talked about that used to be babies running under my feet with my own kids), then the Primary song Families Can Be Together Forever by the grandchildren. They hadn't practiced, they didn't need to. They came to the front, fifteen adults, some with their hands and arms upon each other, all looking at us, knowing the song inside out and most all living it truly. "I have a family here on earth; they are so good to me. I want to share my life with them through all eternity. Families can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan. I always want to be with my own family - and the Lord has shown me how I can. The Lord has shown me how I can!" Some looked steadily forward while they sang. Some began to cry. Erin did. Brad soldiered through. Dan lifted his chin and closed his eyes and sang. Scott got through the first verse, then put his head down and wept. Jen kept going, looking above our heads at the EXIT sign at the back of the chapel. I cried listening. The kids' dad did. They couldn't look at us. We all adults wept, watching our children and thinking of Grandad and Grandma, our own lives, these children's lives, and their children's. "While I am in my early years, I'll prepare most carefully, so I can marry in God's temple for eternity! Families can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan. I always want to be with my own family - and the Lord has shown me how I can. The Lord has shown me how I can!"
The funeral ended a few minutes after with remarks by Bishop Villareal. Then we exited the funeral home, driving to the cemetery and spending the next about forty-five minutes near the gravesite. Afterward, in full sunshine and tired and hungry, we drove to J's church where lunch was waiting. It was heavenly! The children ran and played in the gym and we adults visited like we've never seen each, and never will again.
The rest of the day was as Thursday afternoon - all together at J's house. A jillion parked cars, kids in and out, people all over the living room resting or talking in groups or eating. About 5:00 N's husband whispered into her ear and she said to us all I guess we're leaving to change clothes. Be back soon. They left. Her daughters jetted into action: this had been planned - a surprise 60th birthday party! Birthday decorations were brought out of hiding and taped to the walls. We all received party hats and whistles (blowers) (just what the little children needed to make the day perfect) and instructions about when and how to yell "surprise" when she came in. It was perfect, gangbusters, fireworks!!! She WAS surprised. She took a chair in the center of us, giving her husband a look like well you got me! and became our birthday princess. She had the purple wish fairy (her best friend a little younger gotten up in purple gauzy wings and a boa) prancing around her granting her three wishes; then had a skit-dance-thing done for her by her four son-in-laws. The funniest thing you EVER saw in your whole life. I couldn't quit laughing. Then another friend went down on one knee to present her with his gift - a box labeled Fleet, to put it mildly. Hilarity, and she was the best sport ever. After all the days she's spent caring for her dad as he was dying, missing her birthday to boot, this made her feel like more than a princess. We ate cake, then half the crew left to pick up Whataburgers (the dads) while the other half (the moms) put the kids to bed, and we hung out more. I was beyond exhausted finally and Dana rescued me about 10:30, driving herself and me to our beds at our various houses. The others stayed til, well, tomorrow!
Saturday one whole family and even more had left for the airport. My family was intact; Erin's bags had been delivered during the funeral to the funeral home so she had accoutrements finally, and we dressed and got together for breakfast at Mimi's in Allen. C & K and their kids came, so the waitress managed 14. What a riot! Pictures (like there hasn't been enough, right?) and talking and children and food - the stuff of vacation. I said goodbye Brad and Dana who were driving right on home from there; don't know when I'll see them next. Dan drove his car with him and Scott and M to C & K's house and we watched football a while. Jenny and Erin went shopping with their cousins, and I took care of Noah, Erin's baby. Most of the day yesterday I chilled, watching the baby, saying goodbye to the kids one at a time, then going to bed about 10:30 after more heart talk with C. What a brother I have! Love him. Airplane to leave at 5:45 in the morning, Sunday.
Jen drove me at 3:30 a.m. from C & K's house (after hugs and kisses to everyone finally) and I flew away from Dallas.
A let-down day, is traveling home. I've written about it - it's part of the works. I've missed Kent awfully; loved, LOVED being with the kids, and felt a little out of my element and right at home, too. Strange. The trip home was uneventful except for the underground train at the Atlanta airport being out of service as I arrived and having to walk to Baggage Claim from Concourse C. Not stressing, not too far (thousands of feet, part of a mile or more), grateful to have my muscles on board and in gear, nothing hurting. Just everyone, EVERYONE who was off planes with me or trying to board them were underground too. Ah . . . stressing. Running. Worrying. Going slow and steady in front me when I needed to shoot the gap! A complete riot. Made it onto the 9:30 Groome shuttle after retrieving my bag (beat me to Baggage by a mile) and was home by about 11:15. SO so glad to be home and to Kent and out of public transit.
My bed! I'm in my own bed! Thank you C & K for the most wonderful guest room. Glad I roomed with Erin and Abbie and Noah three nights. And oh goodness, my own bed! Love it.
I've skipped a thousand things. I'm changed since going to Dallas. Since seeing my children laugh and cry, being with them. Singing with them. Bonding with the cousins and in-laws. Eating barbecue in Texas! Shopping with my sister-in-law, K and talking into the night, deep, with my good brother. It's way okay. Enough said.
C took me to J's house where all the clamor was. About this hour of the afternoon N was returning there from the funeral home where she'd been with the guys as they did the work of dressing Grandad to prepare him for burial. I'm so happy two of my boys were able to help with it. I've seen it done in our families always; even I have helped dressing to prepare for the casket: M's grandmother when she died many years ago. I was in my twenties. Like I said, Brad was driving in during the afternoon and arrived only about dinner time, so Scott and Dan were the two able to participate with their uncle. Each has said it was amazing! I suggested to them that this act of service would change them. I think so. They think so too.
All the clamor was at J's house. Three generations, from under one year to upwards of 65. Family and friends. There has been food brought over, so the fridge and table were loaded. There's a park across the street from the house so the little kids were in and out. It's cooled off in Dallas the last couple of days and their cheeks were ruddy. I got to the house just after N and the guys arrived and were beginning to look through boxes of pictures and Granddad's journals. Erin had called Jen earlier and said her plane schedule was way off - she wouldn't be getting in until 9:30; S, M's brother, left to pick up his family and take them to Keller, miles and miles away, so the rest of us carpooled to Big Daddy's in Wiley, a barbecue pit. Brad drove in and met us there - a great reunion and a lot of work for the Big Daddy's crew.
Erin's plane arrived at 9:30, but her luggage didn't. The kids' bag did, but by midnight Jen had brought Erin from the airport to K's house (where I was hanging out talking, up late) luggage-less. We made plans for her to wear my clothes to the funeral in the morning, put on my make up, borrow contact lens solution from her cousin, then we put the kids to bed. And hit the sack.
Friday. We had to be at the funeral home about 8:30 to practice Amazing Grace. Some of us practiced it at J's house late last night, most of us. All but Erin. It sounds good. We decided Dan would sing the first verse solo then all of us on melody for the second verse, then two more verses in parts. It's for me an exceptional experience singing with my kids. We used to do it all the time, but that's gone away as we've grown up and moved out. Coming together is one thing. Singing together is amazing. We got to the funeral home late, umph; not grumpy or out of sorts, thank heaven. The boys (in their own car coming from their hotel) were on time. The rest of us, not.
We stepped right into the viewing for the family, private and very moving. The funeral started at 10:30; relatively few other people, friends or public, came. It was expected, given that Dad's friends are all over the country. It's amazing that as much family assembled as has, coming from a handful of states. Jen was asked days ago to be one of the grandchildren standing to give memories of Grandad. She was last of four who spoke one after the other early in the program (and it was beautifully given), then our song. Oh, we were helped as we sang together! Dan started with the solo, a capella, and looking at the audience I saw tears. We joined in, sang the entire song a capella as we'd had a minute to practice; N said later that Dad would have loved it as it harks back to his Protestant days. Old time religion . . . we haven't been raised on Amazing Grace; only know it from listening to it, but it has come naturally to us as we know Grandad loved it and wanted it for this day.We were blessed as we sang and feel he heard us. The remainder of the funeral was stirring. More memories from additional grandchildren. (All these wonderful grown ups I talked about that used to be babies running under my feet with my own kids), then the Primary song Families Can Be Together Forever by the grandchildren. They hadn't practiced, they didn't need to. They came to the front, fifteen adults, some with their hands and arms upon each other, all looking at us, knowing the song inside out and most all living it truly. "I have a family here on earth; they are so good to me. I want to share my life with them through all eternity. Families can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan. I always want to be with my own family - and the Lord has shown me how I can. The Lord has shown me how I can!" Some looked steadily forward while they sang. Some began to cry. Erin did. Brad soldiered through. Dan lifted his chin and closed his eyes and sang. Scott got through the first verse, then put his head down and wept. Jen kept going, looking above our heads at the EXIT sign at the back of the chapel. I cried listening. The kids' dad did. They couldn't look at us. We all adults wept, watching our children and thinking of Grandad and Grandma, our own lives, these children's lives, and their children's. "While I am in my early years, I'll prepare most carefully, so I can marry in God's temple for eternity! Families can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan. I always want to be with my own family - and the Lord has shown me how I can. The Lord has shown me how I can!"
The funeral ended a few minutes after with remarks by Bishop Villareal. Then we exited the funeral home, driving to the cemetery and spending the next about forty-five minutes near the gravesite. Afterward, in full sunshine and tired and hungry, we drove to J's church where lunch was waiting. It was heavenly! The children ran and played in the gym and we adults visited like we've never seen each, and never will again.
The rest of the day was as Thursday afternoon - all together at J's house. A jillion parked cars, kids in and out, people all over the living room resting or talking in groups or eating. About 5:00 N's husband whispered into her ear and she said to us all I guess we're leaving to change clothes. Be back soon. They left. Her daughters jetted into action: this had been planned - a surprise 60th birthday party! Birthday decorations were brought out of hiding and taped to the walls. We all received party hats and whistles (blowers) (just what the little children needed to make the day perfect) and instructions about when and how to yell "surprise" when she came in. It was perfect, gangbusters, fireworks!!! She WAS surprised. She took a chair in the center of us, giving her husband a look like well you got me! and became our birthday princess. She had the purple wish fairy (her best friend a little younger gotten up in purple gauzy wings and a boa) prancing around her granting her three wishes; then had a skit-dance-thing done for her by her four son-in-laws. The funniest thing you EVER saw in your whole life. I couldn't quit laughing. Then another friend went down on one knee to present her with his gift - a box labeled Fleet, to put it mildly. Hilarity, and she was the best sport ever. After all the days she's spent caring for her dad as he was dying, missing her birthday to boot, this made her feel like more than a princess. We ate cake, then half the crew left to pick up Whataburgers (the dads) while the other half (the moms) put the kids to bed, and we hung out more. I was beyond exhausted finally and Dana rescued me about 10:30, driving herself and me to our beds at our various houses. The others stayed til, well, tomorrow!
Saturday one whole family and even more had left for the airport. My family was intact; Erin's bags had been delivered during the funeral to the funeral home so she had accoutrements finally, and we dressed and got together for breakfast at Mimi's in Allen. C & K and their kids came, so the waitress managed 14. What a riot! Pictures (like there hasn't been enough, right?) and talking and children and food - the stuff of vacation. I said goodbye Brad and Dana who were driving right on home from there; don't know when I'll see them next. Dan drove his car with him and Scott and M to C & K's house and we watched football a while. Jenny and Erin went shopping with their cousins, and I took care of Noah, Erin's baby. Most of the day yesterday I chilled, watching the baby, saying goodbye to the kids one at a time, then going to bed about 10:30 after more heart talk with C. What a brother I have! Love him. Airplane to leave at 5:45 in the morning, Sunday.
Jen drove me at 3:30 a.m. from C & K's house (after hugs and kisses to everyone finally) and I flew away from Dallas.
A let-down day, is traveling home. I've written about it - it's part of the works. I've missed Kent awfully; loved, LOVED being with the kids, and felt a little out of my element and right at home, too. Strange. The trip home was uneventful except for the underground train at the Atlanta airport being out of service as I arrived and having to walk to Baggage Claim from Concourse C. Not stressing, not too far (thousands of feet, part of a mile or more), grateful to have my muscles on board and in gear, nothing hurting. Just everyone, EVERYONE who was off planes with me or trying to board them were underground too. Ah . . . stressing. Running. Worrying. Going slow and steady in front me when I needed to shoot the gap! A complete riot. Made it onto the 9:30 Groome shuttle after retrieving my bag (beat me to Baggage by a mile) and was home by about 11:15. SO so glad to be home and to Kent and out of public transit.
My bed! I'm in my own bed! Thank you C & K for the most wonderful guest room. Glad I roomed with Erin and Abbie and Noah three nights. And oh goodness, my own bed! Love it.
I've skipped a thousand things. I'm changed since going to Dallas. Since seeing my children laugh and cry, being with them. Singing with them. Bonding with the cousins and in-laws. Eating barbecue in Texas! Shopping with my sister-in-law, K and talking into the night, deep, with my good brother. It's way okay. Enough said.
15 October 2009
Another day
My hair is damp and askew and I'm under the fan here at the computer so I better make this quick. A good day yesterday, a couple of pretty blouses procured, and a skirt to boot. Good lunch with Jen at Which Wich and then down time with just Chris and me toward bedtime. It's good to hang with my brother. All others asleep or getting there.
Karen and I walked an hour yesterday morning in what for Dallas has become the two-week lock in of fog and mists and not-quite-rain. I slipped and fell on a painted section of sidewalk going full tilt, the little ramp part that leads gently onto the street at the intersection; fell right on my hands and one knee, then sat hard on my bottom - not a big deal after the sting of my scraped knee quit and the bump there receded. It got purple in the afternoon. No biggie - until last night going to bed; the muscles along my rib cage in the back and in my neck on the left side are SO sore. I went to bed on ice. Really okay though this morning - kind of weird to fall down when you're thinking you're going forward. I'm moving gently and hope Karen'll stretch me before we leave the house. She's a yoga instructor, and besides me being treated to host of things around here like lemon cake with strawberries and whip cream for dessert at dinner and a spa-like amenities in my guest bathroom, I'm treated when I'm in her house to intervention on my poor little body. Power stretches only another person can apply. She sits on me, in effect - really, and elongates the back and flexes the hips - well, anyway. That. I need that today and I'll be good to go.
Regina, don't forget the bell peppers in my crisper if you want them. They'll last til I get home, but they'll be wimpy if someone doesn't use them. I'm off to straighten my hair and go to IHOP with Scott and Jen and Karen and maybe even Dan who, I heard from Scott already this morning, snored last night.
Karen and I walked an hour yesterday morning in what for Dallas has become the two-week lock in of fog and mists and not-quite-rain. I slipped and fell on a painted section of sidewalk going full tilt, the little ramp part that leads gently onto the street at the intersection; fell right on my hands and one knee, then sat hard on my bottom - not a big deal after the sting of my scraped knee quit and the bump there receded. It got purple in the afternoon. No biggie - until last night going to bed; the muscles along my rib cage in the back and in my neck on the left side are SO sore. I went to bed on ice. Really okay though this morning - kind of weird to fall down when you're thinking you're going forward. I'm moving gently and hope Karen'll stretch me before we leave the house. She's a yoga instructor, and besides me being treated to host of things around here like lemon cake with strawberries and whip cream for dessert at dinner and a spa-like amenities in my guest bathroom, I'm treated when I'm in her house to intervention on my poor little body. Power stretches only another person can apply. She sits on me, in effect - really, and elongates the back and flexes the hips - well, anyway. That. I need that today and I'll be good to go.
Regina, don't forget the bell peppers in my crisper if you want them. They'll last til I get home, but they'll be wimpy if someone doesn't use them. I'm off to straighten my hair and go to IHOP with Scott and Jen and Karen and maybe even Dan who, I heard from Scott already this morning, snored last night.
14 October 2009
In Dallas
Tuesday is past, used up scrambling to prepare for and then get to Dallas. A smooth sail, albeit long. It's Wednesday and I'm up pretty darn early at C & K's house and on the computer, with the help of C himself who has risen and dressed and is out the door to work at an unthinkable hour. Work may swallow him whole this week he says, and this morning he's getting a jump on it. Taking it by the neck. Must have a key to the office door (he he). . . anyway, he pushed the buttons to wake the computer up on his way out and we're all up together.
I don't really dislike traveling a couple of hours on a plane. I dozed a bit yesterday and all in all the time passed just fine. I do not so much like:
packing
worrying
shuttling
waiting
boarding
unboarding
sitting
The couple of hours it is from home to here is in real time, factoring in the above, about six. Better though than the 20 plus the boys and their dad are doing from Utah here by car. I guess just after noon today they'll be in town. I'm grateful for my paltry little six, compared.
The dogs are up with me. They've been out and now they're in. S got up a while ago too to go to Seminary. We chatted briefly as he left. The house is quiet but for the fish tank noises and the dog's tags clinking. I've been awake for two hours and it'll be an hour more until anyone else here stirs. I'm a little out of my element. I'm missing my walk with Regina, and Seminary has happened in the dining room at home, with L teaching. I know it's raining there so the garage door'll have been thrown open for the kids and L. Kent would do that. He's been up earlier than normal for him. He's out of his element too, and probably took off for work early. Doubt he cooked eggs and toast for breakfast - pro'ly an Eggo.
K and I are going walking after breakfast, then off shopping. I have to find a pretty blouse to wear for the funeral. N asked me and the five kids to sing Amazing Grace at the funeral; it's one thing to attend and sit quietly in the pew; another to go to the front and sing. As far as what I'm wearing. I'm worrying. Shopping will be nice with K, and just before noon we'll meet Jenny at her school. She said she can give me a little tour while school's in session, show me her classroom and students, etc. - then we'll have lunch. After that, like I said, the guys should roll in and also N and her husband and some of their children and grandchildren should be getting here. It's the day to come - Dad M. passed away yesterday about noon. I heard from Erin while I was waiting at the gate to board the plane. So N and her family will be coming very soon, accompanied by her father's body for burial. The events of the day will turn.
I'm so lucky to be here.
I don't really dislike traveling a couple of hours on a plane. I dozed a bit yesterday and all in all the time passed just fine. I do not so much like:
packing
worrying
shuttling
waiting
boarding
unboarding
sitting
The couple of hours it is from home to here is in real time, factoring in the above, about six. Better though than the 20 plus the boys and their dad are doing from Utah here by car. I guess just after noon today they'll be in town. I'm grateful for my paltry little six, compared.
The dogs are up with me. They've been out and now they're in. S got up a while ago too to go to Seminary. We chatted briefly as he left. The house is quiet but for the fish tank noises and the dog's tags clinking. I've been awake for two hours and it'll be an hour more until anyone else here stirs. I'm a little out of my element. I'm missing my walk with Regina, and Seminary has happened in the dining room at home, with L teaching. I know it's raining there so the garage door'll have been thrown open for the kids and L. Kent would do that. He's been up earlier than normal for him. He's out of his element too, and probably took off for work early. Doubt he cooked eggs and toast for breakfast - pro'ly an Eggo.
K and I are going walking after breakfast, then off shopping. I have to find a pretty blouse to wear for the funeral. N asked me and the five kids to sing Amazing Grace at the funeral; it's one thing to attend and sit quietly in the pew; another to go to the front and sing. As far as what I'm wearing. I'm worrying. Shopping will be nice with K, and just before noon we'll meet Jenny at her school. She said she can give me a little tour while school's in session, show me her classroom and students, etc. - then we'll have lunch. After that, like I said, the guys should roll in and also N and her husband and some of their children and grandchildren should be getting here. It's the day to come - Dad M. passed away yesterday about noon. I heard from Erin while I was waiting at the gate to board the plane. So N and her family will be coming very soon, accompanied by her father's body for burial. The events of the day will turn.
I'm so lucky to be here.
11 October 2009
Far gone
We're within four days of the middle of the month, and then there's Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas and it seems like yesterday that it was just that. YESTERDAY! I can remember watching Wall-E on DVD on Christmas day last year thinking this is so weird. How'd it get to be Christmas again . . . ?
How CAN the year be this far gone? Kent mowed leaves and nuts off the yard for the third Saturday in a row - dead things, not pretty, nothing sentimental, just trash.
The trees lining Georgetown St. on the way to Kroger have been turning for a few days now, sort of bronzing.
We're five weeks into college football. Geese fly over the house most every day sounding like a major traffic jam with their honking but truly in the most efficient traveling formation I know. Beats big-city traffic bedlam (shout it: BEDLAM!) by a long shot. I called Chris B. today to see about staying with them when I come to Dallas and he says they ran the fireplace (what?) this past week. C'mon, I said, it's 90 degrees here. . . C'mon. No kidding, he says in not his big joking voice but in soft syllables. Sweater weather in Dallas? Yeah, Erin says 36 degrees in MN and Scott 51 in UT Saturday. It's altogether too trite a thing to be weird about, but two houses down there are Halloween lights in the windows and a ghost on the porch.
----
Andrew
How CAN the year be this far gone? Kent mowed leaves and nuts off the yard for the third Saturday in a row - dead things, not pretty, nothing sentimental, just trash.
The trees lining Georgetown St. on the way to Kroger have been turning for a few days now, sort of bronzing.
We're five weeks into college football. Geese fly over the house most every day sounding like a major traffic jam with their honking but truly in the most efficient traveling formation I know. Beats big-city traffic bedlam (shout it: BEDLAM!) by a long shot. I called Chris B. today to see about staying with them when I come to Dallas and he says they ran the fireplace (what?) this past week. C'mon, I said, it's 90 degrees here. . . C'mon. No kidding, he says in not his big joking voice but in soft syllables. Sweater weather in Dallas? Yeah, Erin says 36 degrees in MN and Scott 51 in UT Saturday. It's altogether too trite a thing to be weird about, but two houses down there are Halloween lights in the windows and a ghost on the porch.
----
Andrew
10 October 2009
Mama, buy me chocolate
Oh my gosh last night Kent and I went to our stake High Priest social. About a hundred people there - not that many really but it seemed like it, enjoying spaghetti and salad and sherbet of which I had absolutely none because I was (hmm) singing.
Three reasons for not eating before singing.
It makes you hot.
It makes you burp.
It makes you fat.
Four - you might get some on your shirt, which my friend M did.
E asked me and three other ladies about 10 days ago to perform a little ditty in front of the stake group. (You know I ran right to the mall and bought new pants.) In the whole song I had one line: Mama, buy me cho-co-late. So yeah, I had one whine. The whole song's a whine - four little girls and their mama walking to town (a lady down in Santa Fe, took a walk to town one day) and they're begging her for sweets. L sang Mama, buy me some lem-on-ade. R, Mama, buy me coo-kies! and E, Buy me some pee-nuts.
I started out, then L came in and the others one by one, and we're singing against each other and with each other, all trying to sing loudest - now remember I'm a broken record here, same line - and then the fifth lady, M, with a little spaghetti on her shirt starts up Children! You're driving me crazy! Children - we have no money . . . children, you're papa is working . . . well, and THEN some. Insert one of my favorites: spawn of Hale! (with the look, don't forget the look, emphasis on Hale). By of course one of my very favorites, Sandra.
Through the first verse, then the second (at last she took them home again, put them all to bed and then, not a one would close an eye; soon all those kids began to cry). Mama, bring me chocolate! At the end we're exhausted, the audience is hysterical. We start up again, making them sing it with us. Kent had to hold a finger in one ear. He's a good sport, so only one finger.
Pretty fun and I am up this morning Hungry! You'll have no doubt I got up at 5:16. But it's Saturday - hey. Got to sleep in.
Shayla and Will
Three reasons for not eating before singing.
It makes you hot.
It makes you burp.
It makes you fat.
Four - you might get some on your shirt, which my friend M did.
E asked me and three other ladies about 10 days ago to perform a little ditty in front of the stake group. (You know I ran right to the mall and bought new pants.) In the whole song I had one line: Mama, buy me cho-co-late. So yeah, I had one whine. The whole song's a whine - four little girls and their mama walking to town (a lady down in Santa Fe, took a walk to town one day) and they're begging her for sweets. L sang Mama, buy me some lem-on-ade. R, Mama, buy me coo-kies! and E, Buy me some pee-nuts.
I started out, then L came in and the others one by one, and we're singing against each other and with each other, all trying to sing loudest - now remember I'm a broken record here, same line - and then the fifth lady, M, with a little spaghetti on her shirt starts up Children! You're driving me crazy! Children - we have no money . . . children, you're papa is working . . . well, and THEN some. Insert one of my favorites: spawn of Hale! (with the look, don't forget the look, emphasis on Hale). By of course one of my very favorites, Sandra.
Through the first verse, then the second (at last she took them home again, put them all to bed and then, not a one would close an eye; soon all those kids began to cry). Mama, bring me chocolate! At the end we're exhausted, the audience is hysterical. We start up again, making them sing it with us. Kent had to hold a finger in one ear. He's a good sport, so only one finger.
Pretty fun and I am up this morning Hungry! You'll have no doubt I got up at 5:16. But it's Saturday - hey. Got to sleep in.
Shayla and Will
08 October 2009
Observations
---
Oooh I've loved this picture of Noah since the moment I saw it! Erin says Abbie found the glasses that go to her Build-a-Bear kit and popped them right onto Noah. Cute as can be! Abbie got away with it and with the help of her mom who of course took the picture. Noah's tough and'll be able to whomp Abbie some day - straight tackle her. He may protect her and love her some of the time, but if she keeps dressing up these baby boys (note picture of Landon in princess gear a few posts down) he and Landon both'll have to come after her when they're big kids. In a few years I'll probably be scrapping a picture of Abbie in a dog pile.
I heard about Grandad failing on what I'm calling my very weird day at the beginning of the week. Monday I had three separate people call on me for help unexpectedly. I was a magnet I guess - my personal vibes out in the ionosphere attracting all kinds of persons. I got to talk to a couple of the kids about Grandad dying and to my sister about odd things, and dad briefly, and M that's helping me with my PAF stuff that I feel confused about; I talked to Kent once during business hours which was weird because I rarely call him then, but had to; feeling low and used up I made business-talk with him. When what I wanted most was stop the world I want to get off and can you come home now and let me cry. During dinner with him I sorted out the day and my feelings and he said what he thought. He put his arms around me as I cleaned off the table and I did cry.
I'm observing what can lower and raise feelings. I love how on Tuesday visiting teaching V (it was her birthday and my companion and I were there a long time and her dachshund jumped on my lap and licked me) I came home lifted, almost perky. I stood in the kitchen after that and well after Kent got home from work putting dinner together and being messy and late, but chattery and kind of high. S called in the middle, saying, "How are you?" Marinara defrosting and roasted vegetables cooling and a whole hour past dinnertime, "Happy!" I said. "Well," she came back, you don't hear that much! We gabbed.
Kent and I sat at the table a day after Monday night dinner when I was lower than a snake's belly, chatting and energized and considering what it is we think lowers and raises feelings.
He went to the dentist yesterday and was definitely low last night - mouth pain. Pain it is that lowers us, lowers our feelings. When I see poverty (and spiritual poverty) in people and their circumstances - disorder or casualness or poor confidence, whether or not I'm engaged with them - wow, it hurts me. True poverty seems out of kilter with the gospel of Jesus Christ and its very real assurances. There's subsets of thoughts I sort through and deal with when I am engaged with the poor, or I become emotionally swamped.
Order, in contrast, the spirit, confidence, calm energy - this lifts. I watched Oprah's interview with Stephanie and Christian Nielson aired yesterday and was interested in one comment made by the woman who spent a day with Stephanie in her home. She said the energy in Stephanie's home is calm. You have to wonder how that could be with four children under eight and a dog. And Stephanie recovering and herself always in pain. You have to wonder. I don't. Call it good energy, cheerfulness, acceptance, positive mental attitude - it's the spirit. It's the energy I feel in V's house when I visit teach. It was good to go on Tuesday when I'd felt depleted the day before and be filled. She's regular, a grandma like me with stuff going on all the time. She steadily does the basics at her house - studies scriptures and prays and speaks gently to her husband and laughs with him and totally disagrees with him sometimes, and regularly serves others. She keeps her house. She puts TLC in what she cooks and sews and organizes. She's calm. I like feeling her calm, and came home from being with her happy and full because of it. I like the feeling I had being with S at lunch together yesterday. She's got stuff going on like I do too; we pretty much tried to figure out how to be the (better) mothers of grown and married children while we ate salad. I came home to my house full. You know.
There's been pain at hearing about Grandad this week; though news of him passing soon is such good news for him, for us it's sad. Saddest for his children and grandchildren. My children. These days are stretching as we wait for word. I go back and forth between grieving and rejoicing.
I'm simply making observations. Sentences running on, thoughts tailing thoughts, thinking out loud. There's sure always more to go and better to be.
07 October 2009
Girls' time
Dear Sandra and Laura,
How about a girls' trip to Georgia? YOU two. To see little 'ol me?! Get your calendar out for 2010 and (please o please) put it on there . . . end of March, first of April is about the BEST time and I have time off from Seminary, a whole week. . . I miss you! Yes, yes, I'll see you in December, but it SNOWS then and things are BARE and brown and gray and I'm ALWAYS the one coming to you and you need to see my house and sleep in my guest bedroom and eat pecan pie and see antebellum mansions and, well. . . need I say more?
I'll cook enchiladas for you . . . come! Love, N :)
How about a girls' trip to Georgia? YOU two. To see little 'ol me?! Get your calendar out for 2010 and (please o please) put it on there . . . end of March, first of April is about the BEST time and I have time off from Seminary, a whole week. . . I miss you! Yes, yes, I'll see you in December, but it SNOWS then and things are BARE and brown and gray and I'm ALWAYS the one coming to you and you need to see my house and sleep in my guest bedroom and eat pecan pie and see antebellum mansions and, well. . . need I say more?
I'll cook enchiladas for you . . . come! Love, N :)
04 October 2009
General Conference
Here's a short-list of the speakers at Conference, and points they made.
Richard G. Scott: Spirituality yields two fruits: Inspiration to know what to do and power to do it!
Vicki F. Matsumori: How the spirit can be evident in us: D&C speaks of it in the heart; Enos, in the mind; Joseph Smith once said it may come as strokes of ideas; Henry B. Eyring describes it as peace, hope, joy - a sensation of light; eight year-old boy says it "felt like sunshine;" Sister Matsumori says a flood of warmth.
L. Whitney Clayton: We must do our very best to carry our burden for the "small moment" it lasts.
Russell T. Osguthorpe: As a teacher do I see myself as a messenger from God? Am I prepared to save lives? Do I close the manual during lessons I teach and invite the students to do the work - apply? Do I express confidence in them? Do I invite them to enjoy the blessings promised in the lessons?
David A Bednar: Three ways to be more diligent and concerned at home: Express love and show it. Bear testimony and live it. Be consistent.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf: How do I become a true disciple of Christ? Love the Lord thy God (1st great commandment) and love thy neighbor as thyself (2nd great commandment). Love should be at the center of our families and homes.
Dallin H Oaks: Among principles he taught regarding "love and law," I noted: Real love does not support self-destructive behavior.
Robert D. Hales: How can I know for myself Christ lives?
Tad R. Callister: Truths learned about God and Christ's gospel from Joseph Smith's vision of the Father and Son.
Kent D. Watson: Temperance (exercising self-control) is a spiritual gift available through the Holy Ghost.
Neil L. Andersen: Arms of mercy, repentance. It involves turning aside from some things and turning toward others.
Boyd K. Packer: Among many priceless basics he taught, I wrote: All beings who have bodies have power over those who do not.
Henry B. Eyring: We can and must expect to become better in our lives. Christ's declaration to become perfect is not just a hope, but a command! Counsel for four groups:
Couples: Pray for the love that allows you to see the love in your companion. (I think this is what he said . . .)
Parents: Pray for your children, the good and the wayward.
Children: Honor your parents!
Others without family - Pray for chances to listen, adopt, nurture
L. Tom Perry: Preparation removes fear. Have a working knowledge of gospel basics and use lessons from the past to prepare for the future.
H. David Burton: "-ITY" virtues (like responsibility, humility, accountability, charity . . . ). Integrity = adherence to moral values; the light that shines from a disciplined conscience.
Sister Ann Dibb: Hold to the iron rod shown in Lehi's vision - the promised blessings are everything!
Russel M. Nelson: Praying with "real intent" (Moroni 10:4) = one really intends to follow the answer given. Personal revelation can be honed to become spiritual discernment.
President Thomas S. Monson: Sometimes we are in the thick of "thin things." The service to which ALL of us have been called is the Lord's service.
Jeffrey R. Holland: The Book of Mormon begins and ends with a call to come unto Christ. Hope! One cannot come to full faith in the church until he embraces the Book of Mormon and the testimony of Christ therein.
Quinton L. Cook: Accountability as stewards - to ourselves and families and to the poor and needy. I'm accountable to God for my time and talents .
Brent H. Nielson: (Wonderful first talk from the pulpit at the Conference Center by my brother-in-law) The rising generation is to carry the message of Christ's gospel to the world!
Dale G. Renlund: Spiritual change of heart. Don't let yourself reject a "new" heart by being casual about taking care of it. (Parallel to being the recipient of a physical heart transplant - some patients are casual about taking their medicine and the body rejects the heart.)
Michael Ringwood: Easiness and willingness to believe in the word of God comes from repentance and obedience; becoming like a child; committing to live the gospel, as circumstances are hard and we become humble; from doing the seemingly insignificant things (basics) taught in our youth.
Joseph W. Sitati: (From Africa) A global church! An outline of the history of Christ's church from Adam to the present.
D. Todd Christofferson: Moral agency must be accompanied by moral discipline. Choose the right because it is right! A disciple of Christ is a "virtuous and morally" excellent person.
President Monson: If we heed the word of Christ and obey His commandments, we will survive the permissiveness of the world.
----
There were 21 separate references during the two days of conference (by 15 of the brethren) to Scripture Mastery scriptures!
----
Natalie, Kent, Erin, Abbie in hot tub at Hales
Richard G. Scott: Spirituality yields two fruits: Inspiration to know what to do and power to do it!
Vicki F. Matsumori: How the spirit can be evident in us: D&C speaks of it in the heart; Enos, in the mind; Joseph Smith once said it may come as strokes of ideas; Henry B. Eyring describes it as peace, hope, joy - a sensation of light; eight year-old boy says it "felt like sunshine;" Sister Matsumori says a flood of warmth.
L. Whitney Clayton: We must do our very best to carry our burden for the "small moment" it lasts.
Russell T. Osguthorpe: As a teacher do I see myself as a messenger from God? Am I prepared to save lives? Do I close the manual during lessons I teach and invite the students to do the work - apply? Do I express confidence in them? Do I invite them to enjoy the blessings promised in the lessons?
David A Bednar: Three ways to be more diligent and concerned at home: Express love and show it. Bear testimony and live it. Be consistent.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf: How do I become a true disciple of Christ? Love the Lord thy God (1st great commandment) and love thy neighbor as thyself (2nd great commandment). Love should be at the center of our families and homes.
Dallin H Oaks: Among principles he taught regarding "love and law," I noted: Real love does not support self-destructive behavior.
Robert D. Hales: How can I know for myself Christ lives?
Tad R. Callister: Truths learned about God and Christ's gospel from Joseph Smith's vision of the Father and Son.
Kent D. Watson: Temperance (exercising self-control) is a spiritual gift available through the Holy Ghost.
Neil L. Andersen: Arms of mercy, repentance. It involves turning aside from some things and turning toward others.
Boyd K. Packer: Among many priceless basics he taught, I wrote: All beings who have bodies have power over those who do not.
Henry B. Eyring: We can and must expect to become better in our lives. Christ's declaration to become perfect is not just a hope, but a command! Counsel for four groups:
Couples: Pray for the love that allows you to see the love in your companion. (I think this is what he said . . .)
Parents: Pray for your children, the good and the wayward.
Children: Honor your parents!
Others without family - Pray for chances to listen, adopt, nurture
L. Tom Perry: Preparation removes fear. Have a working knowledge of gospel basics and use lessons from the past to prepare for the future.
H. David Burton: "-ITY" virtues (like responsibility, humility, accountability, charity . . . ). Integrity = adherence to moral values; the light that shines from a disciplined conscience.
Sister Ann Dibb: Hold to the iron rod shown in Lehi's vision - the promised blessings are everything!
Russel M. Nelson: Praying with "real intent" (Moroni 10:4) = one really intends to follow the answer given. Personal revelation can be honed to become spiritual discernment.
President Thomas S. Monson: Sometimes we are in the thick of "thin things." The service to which ALL of us have been called is the Lord's service.
Jeffrey R. Holland: The Book of Mormon begins and ends with a call to come unto Christ. Hope! One cannot come to full faith in the church until he embraces the Book of Mormon and the testimony of Christ therein.
Quinton L. Cook: Accountability as stewards - to ourselves and families and to the poor and needy. I'm accountable to God for my time and talents .
Brent H. Nielson: (Wonderful first talk from the pulpit at the Conference Center by my brother-in-law) The rising generation is to carry the message of Christ's gospel to the world!
Dale G. Renlund: Spiritual change of heart. Don't let yourself reject a "new" heart by being casual about taking care of it. (Parallel to being the recipient of a physical heart transplant - some patients are casual about taking their medicine and the body rejects the heart.)
Michael Ringwood: Easiness and willingness to believe in the word of God comes from repentance and obedience; becoming like a child; committing to live the gospel, as circumstances are hard and we become humble; from doing the seemingly insignificant things (basics) taught in our youth.
Joseph W. Sitati: (From Africa) A global church! An outline of the history of Christ's church from Adam to the present.
D. Todd Christofferson: Moral agency must be accompanied by moral discipline. Choose the right because it is right! A disciple of Christ is a "virtuous and morally" excellent person.
President Monson: If we heed the word of Christ and obey His commandments, we will survive the permissiveness of the world.
----
There were 21 separate references during the two days of conference (by 15 of the brethren) to Scripture Mastery scriptures!
----
Natalie, Kent, Erin, Abbie in hot tub at Hales
02 October 2009
Official Count
Dear children of mine who have children: I uploaded scrap pages onto MyPhotoAlbum.com today. There was a bunch. I ran through several slide shows of the grandkids' pages (delicious!) (do you often feel that way about your babies?) and decided to count them . . . for each child. . . . and the winner is . . . . well.
This is embarrassing.
Brady.
Yeah, well, who can say why he has 25, with Joseph only 23 next to Abbie's 18? Huh? The oldest three grandkids, the most pics, right? That goes. (But in the exact wrong birth order.) Speaking of birth order, I just did about three for Abbie, which were the funnest! Ever! You've seen'em here on the blog. . . I love looking at the bright beautiful faces of your children as I work - it keeps me noticing all their little details . . . back to the point. Then Land'o 15, Andrew 14, Garrett 8 and Noah-baby 5. Not bad.
You are the mother or father of one of these; please oh don't be bugged. Your child is very extremely important to me. Really. Yessir!
Love, Nana (your very own mother.)
This is embarrassing.
Brady.
Yeah, well, who can say why he has 25, with Joseph only 23 next to Abbie's 18? Huh? The oldest three grandkids, the most pics, right? That goes. (But in the exact wrong birth order.) Speaking of birth order, I just did about three for Abbie, which were the funnest! Ever! You've seen'em here on the blog. . . I love looking at the bright beautiful faces of your children as I work - it keeps me noticing all their little details . . . back to the point. Then Land'o 15, Andrew 14, Garrett 8 and Noah-baby 5. Not bad.
You are the mother or father of one of these; please oh don't be bugged. Your child is very extremely important to me. Really. Yessir!
Love, Nana (your very own mother.)
Exhortations
In Seminary yesterday I asked the students to "exhort" as Nephi did. They were supposed to think of a friend or a group of people or a family member and write a paragraph urging them to . . . well here's where they were to make up the exhortation using the latest chapters of Nephi. Nephi's witness was of Jesus Christ (to come in the meridian of time) and his theme throughout his writings was obedience. He exhorted, or preached and warned, his family continually.
The students could write it like in the scriptures or in their own way of talking.
"And I, Kyle, do write to the future people to read the Constitution, and to stand by it."
Anna: (To her dad.) There are four things that need to be done to come unto Christ; that is baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, repenting and having faith. You have had all these things, but because you did not endure in faith, you have lost some. Consider enduring to the end so that you can continue on the strait and narrow path to The Gatekeeper, our Christ. *Note: In order, the first four principles and ordinances of the gospel are: First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and fourth, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by one in authority. Nephi adds throughout his last chapters "endure to the end."
Daniel (Anna's brother) to anyone: Have a testimony of the gospel. Have personal and spiritual experiences and keep the commandments. Learn from your mistakes and repent. Serve the Lord and do what he needs and follow all these things, and you will be saved.
Peter (to a family member) : Hey ______. It's me, Peter. Be glad about your new calling.
Tania (thinking of a friend) : Please, I beg you, repent and be clean and sin no more. You say you want to be happy and I want you to be happy and this is the pathway that leads to eternal happiness. But you need to put aside your old ways and habits. It's a whole new lifestyle, but it's worth it. Please. I don't want to lose you.
Alex (to a family member): "Oh you that has stopped believing, pray much and strive to remember the promises you made with God. Repent of your sins that anguish you and do not think it is okay to sin, for it is not okay."
I'm proud of the kids' progress.
Joseph May 2009
The students could write it like in the scriptures or in their own way of talking.
"And I, Kyle, do write to the future people to read the Constitution, and to stand by it."
Anna: (To her dad.) There are four things that need to be done to come unto Christ; that is baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, repenting and having faith. You have had all these things, but because you did not endure in faith, you have lost some. Consider enduring to the end so that you can continue on the strait and narrow path to The Gatekeeper, our Christ. *Note: In order, the first four principles and ordinances of the gospel are: First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and fourth, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by one in authority. Nephi adds throughout his last chapters "endure to the end."
Daniel (Anna's brother) to anyone: Have a testimony of the gospel. Have personal and spiritual experiences and keep the commandments. Learn from your mistakes and repent. Serve the Lord and do what he needs and follow all these things, and you will be saved.
Peter (to a family member) : Hey ______. It's me, Peter. Be glad about your new calling.
Tania (thinking of a friend) : Please, I beg you, repent and be clean and sin no more. You say you want to be happy and I want you to be happy and this is the pathway that leads to eternal happiness. But you need to put aside your old ways and habits. It's a whole new lifestyle, but it's worth it. Please. I don't want to lose you.
Alex (to a family member): "Oh you that has stopped believing, pray much and strive to remember the promises you made with God. Repent of your sins that anguish you and do not think it is okay to sin, for it is not okay."
I'm proud of the kids' progress.
Joseph May 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)