Babies=terror
Children=delight
Teenagers=boredom
Parents=humor
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Are grateful people inheritantly faithful? Or does it take faith to gain a grateful heart?
10 Lepers were good, faithful, long suffering people. How did they know when Christ was going to pass by this exact spot on his way to Jerusalem through Samaria and Galilee? And how long were they waiting? I would be surprised if they happened to walk up to the road only to see Christ in the far distance making his way toward them. Did they wait? I would venture yes. How long? Probably longer than they wanted.
Do we every have to 'wait' for our desired blessing? Probably longer than we want.
How long do we wait? As long as it would take like these 10 lepers? There was probably nothing else more important to these 10 than the healing they sought. They were willing to expend every energy and endure any hardship required to seek Jesus Christ and the blessing at his hands. How deep runs our desire, and accompanying effort, to seek after and obtain the desired blessing at the hands of Christ who is able to grant it?
Were there other lepers? The lepers in that day lived in colonies outside the city. So were there more than 10? Most likely. Where were the others? They probably heard the 10 speak of the Miracle Worker and the 10 lepers' desire to "try it out". They had heard stories of others being healed from their maladies but only 10 of them wanted to obtain the same blessing bad enough to go out and do something about it. They not only heard the stories, but believed. So they were among the more faithful. (Side note: how do you think the ones left behind, who didn't follow the 10, felt when their fellow bunk mates never returned? Did they curse their unbelief? Were they mad or jealous that their former friends were now freed while they were doomed to a continued, no-end-in-sight life in pain and lonesomeness? I would venture a guess that at least 1 or 2 of them were angry that they didn't at least "experiment on the word").
The story of the 10 lepers is about gratitude. Sure. But there is more to it than returning to give thanks to God for our blessings received. And I think the story is concerning the small group of people--any faithful person-- that has already shown the degree of their professed faith. It's not a sweeping representation of the majority. It's pointed to a few. The ones who read about, hear stories from friends, watch videos on YouTube about people who have received grace....and then seek the same gesture to descend into their own life. It's about the small percentage.
Faith led 10 to receive a wonderful blessing. But something more, a higher degree of faith leading to something more elevated--gratitude, was found in the one leper. He was more faithful. (Proverbs 14:9; Alma 9:20; Luke 1:28; Genesis 39:21...there's a difference between good people and those who are even more than good-they are different-they find favor. There's probably something just beyond a blanket expression of faithfulness. I think it leads to gratitude. President Monson has spoken on gratitude a lot. And it would seem that he is pushing for something of significance if he takes the time to talk to the membership of the Church about this attribute. It leads us to a higher ground. To an increased level of faith. Beyond the obtaining of something good, but a return to recognition and expression of admission to the source of all good.)
So, now, after we establish that faith, first, is required and faith leads us to obtain mercy, grace, blessings, healings....and gives us cause for a celebration of some sort!...we are not all done.
Christ is concerned with what happens afterward as well.
On Christmas morning, we don't unwrap all gifts, jump up and down, and run to our bedrooms to play all day with the door closed. We look back to the giver and smile, put our hands around their neck and say "Thanks". And what are the 'Givers' feelings at that moment? So, too, is our God. Happy to bless, and even happier when we return to say, "Thank you. I have been wanting this for awhile. I am so glad you gave this to me. This will help me. This will make me happy. I will enjoy this gift."
I have probably been "gifted" patience when I asked, but forgot to turn around and say Thanks.
I was probably granted forgiveness and I didn't return and say thank you so much. I am now happier.
I most likely received health, inspiration, peace, direction....but, like the 90% of the faithful in desperate need of a blessing received, I failed to return.
My faith could be strengthened like the 1 leper's. He did something different.
I'd like to be different.
Sometimes it just takes faith
Last night (Saturday, November 29th), electricity went out again in Soda Springs. Rodger and Mary woke up at 5am freezing cold. It was 20 degrees outside and that was seeping its way inside without anything to counter its destined course. Had we not left on Saturday and stayed as planned until Sunday, no one would have received a restful night as the cold would have roused even the deepest sleeper. All the kids, Trent and I would have been cold and tired....with a 10 hour drive still ahead of us. I shiver just to think of the terrible prospect.
Another cool "coincidence". This morning (Sunday, November 30th), I went to grab milk at store. We had none and the kids would all be awake soon. On my way home, I tried a way I've never taken before. Just saw this street and wanted to see if it would take me all the way across the residential areas to my neighborhood. Just as I came to the end of the paved street and came upon a giant dirt lot not yet developed and with no marked road, I saw a dad and young son about 2 or 3, walking down the dirt road. They looked like they've been on the streets awhile...their clothes dirty and loose. Their hair unwashed and unkempt. Their gait a little slow...as though there was no place to get to in a hurry.
So I pulled over, opened my trunk full of freshly purchased groceries and asked them if they were hungry. The dad nodded and the little boy looked on unknowingly. I quickly went through sacks to find anything that didn't need to be cooked or kept cool. The first thing I reached for was Cheerios. I handed that to the dad and he looked about to move on. I returned to the bags even more quickly and tried to find anything else I could. Powdered donuts! I grabbed the white bag and pulled it out quickly. The little boys eyes lit up as bright as a Christmas tree on Christmas eve. It was wonderful.
A good detour that day.
So I pulled over, opened my trunk full of freshly purchased groceries and asked them if they were hungry. The dad nodded and the little boy looked on unknowingly. I quickly went through sacks to find anything that didn't need to be cooked or kept cool. The first thing I reached for was Cheerios. I handed that to the dad and he looked about to move on. I returned to the bags even more quickly and tried to find anything else I could. Powdered donuts! I grabbed the white bag and pulled it out quickly. The little boys eyes lit up as bright as a Christmas tree on Christmas eve. It was wonderful.
A good detour that day.
Monday, November 3, 2014
A Home.
It's somewhat ironic that when something big is about to change in your future, it causes you to look backward.
We are about to move into our first home. Yes, we've "lived" in many houses, but there is a marked difference when that piece of land and everything on it belongs solely to you and yours. It's such an incredible feeling and I cannot wait.
However, it has caused me to look back at all the memories we've created along the way.
Trent and I first started out in an apartment above 4 boys. Trent knew the guy who bought the house, Ladd Marshall, and so we rented out his top floor...which had NO air conditioning. Even the swamp cooler was a joke. We would sweat if we put covers over us in bed. Our butter melted if we left it on the counter. Chocolate candy melted. Everything had to be kept in the refrigerator. It was nuts. We shared the washing machine and dryer with the boys downstairs. Makes coordinating laundry times a little difficult when sharing with 4 other men....
Then we moved to a nice apartment in the basement of an old couple. Berkley and his new wife. It was on a hill on the east side of town. The master bedroom was huge to me. I could even fit the pack and play in there! (Talk about 'big' in relative terms...) We lived there until we finished school...and brought our firstborn home to that apartment. I even remember watching a BYU football game with Berkley and it must have been awhile since he had watched a football game because when he saw a black player on the BYU team, he said something to the effect, "They let black kids play now? Wow! Times have changed."
After moving to Las Vegas with our newborn to find a reporter/news anchor job for Trent, we ended up back in Utah while Trent studied for the LSAT. There were lots of park visits when we lived in the West Jordan apartments so that Trent and Brenden and I could run around some green grass for awhile. However, going up and down 3 flights of stairs with two children (Kyleigh was brought home to this apartment) and groceries to haul...quickly turned into a priority to find us a new place to live. (Compacting the problem was our tiny 800 square foot place no longer fit 4 people. We had to turn sideways to get to our bed due to the way the pack and play was placed in our bedroom.) Brenden spent two years in this apartment. I wonder if he'll remember any part of it?
There were many visits to Salt Lake City to walk around Temple Square while we lived in West Valley City since it was fairly close. Oh how I loved any and every time we would walk around Temple Square. That is probably the thing I miss most about living in Utah. We shared a duplex with a couple downstairs. The Dunns. Great people. The backyard was HUGE! Trent's favorite backyard of all time. Trampoline, lots of grass, concrete area for little tykes car. I remember feeling like the ceilings were so tall in that place and it opened everything up and I felt like I was in a mansion compared to the cramped, low basement and top floor apartments we just came from. The walls were a bright turquoise, so we painted those brown. Brenden's room was a bright orange, so that was turned into a tan color. We had great neighbors, despite the city being known as one of the most dangerous ones in Utah. But, when the Dunns moved and an alcohol drinking couple moved in downstairs, it was time for us to leave. (There was a stairway inside the home that could be accessed to and no one outside would know if there was any trouble. I didn't feel comfortable with such meager means of security, so we moved...)
Lehi was fun to be able to not share a wall (or floor) with anyone. I no longer had to worry about if my volume was too high on the tv. Or what time of night it was when I started to run the dishwasher or washing machine. I could bang the floor with toys and not wonder if the neighbors were home and bothered with our noise level. It was so great! We set up a tent in our backyard and popped popcorn to watch movies in our backyard. We got a year pass to Thanksgiving Point and visited the place often. The first night we stayed in our new home, we kept the windows open...but quickly changed our minds when we realized how close the train tracks were when a passing train made known its presence. Brenden began Preschool at Lehi Elementary. He had a great time there and learned how to speak with the help of some great specialists. We threw our first Halloween party...in our own place!
Then it was a move to Akron, Ohio. Where? Exactly.
I had no idea where that city was or what it was like. But we packed up every article of belonging and shipped it all with us to Ohio...the Buckeye state. (Do you know what a buckeye is? Or what it looks like? I do, now.) Akron was very good to us. Our neighbors, Dave and Debbie Derr and Dan and Kim Thomson could not have been any better. A handpicked selection would not have warranted any greater people than what we drew with these families. The house was old and smelly. (I feel like alot of my stuff is still trying to dry out...) But it had character....until our landlord's parents came to 'modernize' everything. So we lived through MONTHS of renovations. Painting walls and cupboards in the kitchen, paint the playroom from its yellow color, our room from its orange color, soften the green in the baby's room, and strip the wallpaper in B & K's room as well as the wallpaper in the 2 bathrooms. Oh, and paint the basement wood paneling. Then, new countertops in the kitchen and some landscaping. We got to know the Mummas very well. And how glad we were to do so. They can make a great Chicken Cordon Bleu. We tried to take advantage of living on the East coast and visit as many sites as possible while there. We saw Niagara Falls and waved to the Canadians. Visited Palmyra and saw the temple and Hill Cumorah as well as Grandin Building where the Book of Mormon was first published. Kirtland and John Johnson various times. Philadelphia and New York. Brooke and Todd Cook lived nearby Philly so we stayed with them and even went to an amusement park that they recommended. Kids had a blast. Washington DC was probably our favorite. Soooooo many museums. And the history is very rich. Mount Vernon will always be my personal favorite. Trent enjoyed it immensely as well. He said he wouldn't have minded to stay at least an entire day there. The property is expansive and I came away wanting to become more self-sufficient like ol' George.
Akron was the place where we stuck around for the longest in our married life. However, it was also the shortest amount of time we got to see Trent. Many days, the kids never saw him before they went to bed. Trent had class about 2-3 nights a week for the last two years and mutual on Wednesdays. Saturdays was always either a study day or a time with Trent to visit whichever Metropark he wanted....we had plenty of those to choose from. The summers were sticky, hot. The winters were icy cold. Fall was beautiful but was over far too quickly. Airplane and Space museum in Canton was a hit. Amish country always lent itself to some beautiful vistas and a few pastries to bring home.
Not many people have fences out east and the backyards all blend together. In Akron, specifically, there were no sprinkler systems...that would have been redundant. But then you had to deal with more things growing in places you didn't want them to in the first place.
Now, we look forward to putting down some permanent roots. A place where the kids will make memories, hold traditions, and recall specific events. It is a wonderful thing....a Home.
We are about to move into our first home. Yes, we've "lived" in many houses, but there is a marked difference when that piece of land and everything on it belongs solely to you and yours. It's such an incredible feeling and I cannot wait.
However, it has caused me to look back at all the memories we've created along the way.
Trent and I first started out in an apartment above 4 boys. Trent knew the guy who bought the house, Ladd Marshall, and so we rented out his top floor...which had NO air conditioning. Even the swamp cooler was a joke. We would sweat if we put covers over us in bed. Our butter melted if we left it on the counter. Chocolate candy melted. Everything had to be kept in the refrigerator. It was nuts. We shared the washing machine and dryer with the boys downstairs. Makes coordinating laundry times a little difficult when sharing with 4 other men....
Then we moved to a nice apartment in the basement of an old couple. Berkley and his new wife. It was on a hill on the east side of town. The master bedroom was huge to me. I could even fit the pack and play in there! (Talk about 'big' in relative terms...) We lived there until we finished school...and brought our firstborn home to that apartment. I even remember watching a BYU football game with Berkley and it must have been awhile since he had watched a football game because when he saw a black player on the BYU team, he said something to the effect, "They let black kids play now? Wow! Times have changed."
After moving to Las Vegas with our newborn to find a reporter/news anchor job for Trent, we ended up back in Utah while Trent studied for the LSAT. There were lots of park visits when we lived in the West Jordan apartments so that Trent and Brenden and I could run around some green grass for awhile. However, going up and down 3 flights of stairs with two children (Kyleigh was brought home to this apartment) and groceries to haul...quickly turned into a priority to find us a new place to live. (Compacting the problem was our tiny 800 square foot place no longer fit 4 people. We had to turn sideways to get to our bed due to the way the pack and play was placed in our bedroom.) Brenden spent two years in this apartment. I wonder if he'll remember any part of it?
There were many visits to Salt Lake City to walk around Temple Square while we lived in West Valley City since it was fairly close. Oh how I loved any and every time we would walk around Temple Square. That is probably the thing I miss most about living in Utah. We shared a duplex with a couple downstairs. The Dunns. Great people. The backyard was HUGE! Trent's favorite backyard of all time. Trampoline, lots of grass, concrete area for little tykes car. I remember feeling like the ceilings were so tall in that place and it opened everything up and I felt like I was in a mansion compared to the cramped, low basement and top floor apartments we just came from. The walls were a bright turquoise, so we painted those brown. Brenden's room was a bright orange, so that was turned into a tan color. We had great neighbors, despite the city being known as one of the most dangerous ones in Utah. But, when the Dunns moved and an alcohol drinking couple moved in downstairs, it was time for us to leave. (There was a stairway inside the home that could be accessed to and no one outside would know if there was any trouble. I didn't feel comfortable with such meager means of security, so we moved...)
Lehi was fun to be able to not share a wall (or floor) with anyone. I no longer had to worry about if my volume was too high on the tv. Or what time of night it was when I started to run the dishwasher or washing machine. I could bang the floor with toys and not wonder if the neighbors were home and bothered with our noise level. It was so great! We set up a tent in our backyard and popped popcorn to watch movies in our backyard. We got a year pass to Thanksgiving Point and visited the place often. The first night we stayed in our new home, we kept the windows open...but quickly changed our minds when we realized how close the train tracks were when a passing train made known its presence. Brenden began Preschool at Lehi Elementary. He had a great time there and learned how to speak with the help of some great specialists. We threw our first Halloween party...in our own place!
Then it was a move to Akron, Ohio. Where? Exactly.
I had no idea where that city was or what it was like. But we packed up every article of belonging and shipped it all with us to Ohio...the Buckeye state. (Do you know what a buckeye is? Or what it looks like? I do, now.) Akron was very good to us. Our neighbors, Dave and Debbie Derr and Dan and Kim Thomson could not have been any better. A handpicked selection would not have warranted any greater people than what we drew with these families. The house was old and smelly. (I feel like alot of my stuff is still trying to dry out...) But it had character....until our landlord's parents came to 'modernize' everything. So we lived through MONTHS of renovations. Painting walls and cupboards in the kitchen, paint the playroom from its yellow color, our room from its orange color, soften the green in the baby's room, and strip the wallpaper in B & K's room as well as the wallpaper in the 2 bathrooms. Oh, and paint the basement wood paneling. Then, new countertops in the kitchen and some landscaping. We got to know the Mummas very well. And how glad we were to do so. They can make a great Chicken Cordon Bleu. We tried to take advantage of living on the East coast and visit as many sites as possible while there. We saw Niagara Falls and waved to the Canadians. Visited Palmyra and saw the temple and Hill Cumorah as well as Grandin Building where the Book of Mormon was first published. Kirtland and John Johnson various times. Philadelphia and New York. Brooke and Todd Cook lived nearby Philly so we stayed with them and even went to an amusement park that they recommended. Kids had a blast. Washington DC was probably our favorite. Soooooo many museums. And the history is very rich. Mount Vernon will always be my personal favorite. Trent enjoyed it immensely as well. He said he wouldn't have minded to stay at least an entire day there. The property is expansive and I came away wanting to become more self-sufficient like ol' George.
Akron was the place where we stuck around for the longest in our married life. However, it was also the shortest amount of time we got to see Trent. Many days, the kids never saw him before they went to bed. Trent had class about 2-3 nights a week for the last two years and mutual on Wednesdays. Saturdays was always either a study day or a time with Trent to visit whichever Metropark he wanted....we had plenty of those to choose from. The summers were sticky, hot. The winters were icy cold. Fall was beautiful but was over far too quickly. Airplane and Space museum in Canton was a hit. Amish country always lent itself to some beautiful vistas and a few pastries to bring home.
Not many people have fences out east and the backyards all blend together. In Akron, specifically, there were no sprinkler systems...that would have been redundant. But then you had to deal with more things growing in places you didn't want them to in the first place.
Now, we look forward to putting down some permanent roots. A place where the kids will make memories, hold traditions, and recall specific events. It is a wonderful thing....a Home.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Baby food overload in the grocery store
I want to remember a very touching event. One of those God-is-listening-and-loves-you confirmation type of events.
It had been on the tougher side of days. Physically, it was taxing. Unpacking an entire household of goods while running the family as both Mom and Dad so that Dad can study for a very important test, was taking it's toll. Mentally, I was making mistakes that I wished I could re-do and make it better. Somehow the mental stuff seems harder than the physical. I'd rather wake up early and go to bed late and perform physical labor for 10 hours straight than have to sort through and filter and overcome mental difficulties. Without hesitation.
Under this duress, I was at my third store for the day, and this time because I forgot to pick up bottle liners at Target while picking up a modem. I knew that Kent could use some more baby food since he has 1 prunes and 2 green peas left, so I stuff as many as I can into my arms (carts would take too long since I went in to grab bottle liners and I was trying to get in there and back home as fast as I could). Also, I have milk and meals planned so as to not have to run to the grocery store again in awhile...so I tried to do the same with the baby food...grab a lot so that I don't have to come back for awhile.
Then I remembered that I wanted to make molasses crinkle cookies for the men who helped get our house painted, and I was missing ginger and nonfat dry milk. I scan the titles of the aisles quickly and find the baking aisle. Ginger was easy to spot, and as I make my way down for the dry milk, a nice older man and his teenage son see me and call out,
Initially, I don't want to bother them or take their cart they brought into the store and I'm really just trying to go fast, but he says it again,
At this juncture, I stop. And think, it would be nice to not worry about all the baby food toppling when I reach for the dry milk and make my way to the check out. And he is so nice, and the gesture seems so genuine.
So, I smile at him, and say, "Thank you so much. I was just trying to hurry home to feed the baby, and this will certainly help. Thank you."
They both smile and move on their way down the aisle.
Right there, in the middle of Walmart at near 8pm, I felt it. God's love and recognition of me. He was aware of my plight...not just the physical one, but the mental one as well and He sent a very nice older gentleman with graying hair and glasses and his son to send me a tender mercy....someone is looking out for me. Someone cares.
I turn around and walk again toward the dry milk...this time with tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. It was a wonderful night, after all.
It had been on the tougher side of days. Physically, it was taxing. Unpacking an entire household of goods while running the family as both Mom and Dad so that Dad can study for a very important test, was taking it's toll. Mentally, I was making mistakes that I wished I could re-do and make it better. Somehow the mental stuff seems harder than the physical. I'd rather wake up early and go to bed late and perform physical labor for 10 hours straight than have to sort through and filter and overcome mental difficulties. Without hesitation.
Under this duress, I was at my third store for the day, and this time because I forgot to pick up bottle liners at Target while picking up a modem. I knew that Kent could use some more baby food since he has 1 prunes and 2 green peas left, so I stuff as many as I can into my arms (carts would take too long since I went in to grab bottle liners and I was trying to get in there and back home as fast as I could). Also, I have milk and meals planned so as to not have to run to the grocery store again in awhile...so I tried to do the same with the baby food...grab a lot so that I don't have to come back for awhile.
Then I remembered that I wanted to make molasses crinkle cookies for the men who helped get our house painted, and I was missing ginger and nonfat dry milk. I scan the titles of the aisles quickly and find the baking aisle. Ginger was easy to spot, and as I make my way down for the dry milk, a nice older man and his teenage son see me and call out,
"Here, please take my cart. We only have this one thing and you have so many in your arms. Please take it."
Initially, I don't want to bother them or take their cart they brought into the store and I'm really just trying to go fast, but he says it again,
"Oh, it's no trouble. Here, [taking out his bottle of juice and pushing the cart toward me] take our cart and if you'll allow me, I'll just grab this top baby food so that you can manage getting the rest of them into the cart."
At this juncture, I stop. And think, it would be nice to not worry about all the baby food toppling when I reach for the dry milk and make my way to the check out. And he is so nice, and the gesture seems so genuine.
So, I smile at him, and say, "Thank you so much. I was just trying to hurry home to feed the baby, and this will certainly help. Thank you."
They both smile and move on their way down the aisle.
Right there, in the middle of Walmart at near 8pm, I felt it. God's love and recognition of me. He was aware of my plight...not just the physical one, but the mental one as well and He sent a very nice older gentleman with graying hair and glasses and his son to send me a tender mercy....someone is looking out for me. Someone cares.
I turn around and walk again toward the dry milk...this time with tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. It was a wonderful night, after all.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Kent and the Ball
The kids are in bed, well, at least Brenden and Kyleigh are, and baby Kent and I are sitting in the playroom. He took a late nap, so I'm trying to get his energy out before putting him to bed for the night. While he plays with toys (mostly fake vacuum, a ball, and the rolling wheel that makes noise) I grab a book and sit on the floor to let my presence be known. Had I sat on the couch, he may have clamored to climb up and not played so well on the floor. (And he is acutely aware of an audience because not 60 second after I left the room to find my phone to record this scene, did I hear his huffing and bursts of excitement at having found me in the kitchen).
I pause from my reading because I can sense some purpose to his play and find myself enthralled with this little boy. He pushes the ball with not his whole hand. Just enough fingers to get the job done. After awhile, he figures out how to direct the ball and doesn't just whack it every time. At one point, the ball gets stuck under a stool and he cannot reach it from the side he pushed it, but he doesn't give up, and he moves to the other side and is able to make contact with the ball after going down prostrate on his belly. Pardon me, but I find this level of fine motor skills quite remarkable.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Today
10/1/14
Today Kyleigh wanted to wear her Halloween shirt we bought at Target.
It is finally appropriate to don a black shirt with a Hello Kitty Witch that shimmers.
September was stretching it a bit.
Brenden was incredibly obedient today. It was like he knew Mom had alot going on and she didn't really want to be calling for him twice everywhere we went.
We signed him up for NJB-Nevada Basketball league at the Y at Centennial Hills. He was so excited. His raw enthusiasm made the two older ladies at the registration desk smile and say what a wonderful boy he is. (He seems to collect older women's smile of approval like we used to collect pogs).
He has a skills evaluation on Saturday at noon. Inbetween sessions of General Conference.
Trent is worried that he hasn't prepped Brenden adequately and that Brenden isn't going to preform well. I told Trent that he probably won't perform well, but we'll work with him and make sure he has a good time and not to worry about what he does compared to the other kids. Brenden is an awesome kid and I wouldn't trade a LeBron James and MJ combined for Brenden. I like his unadulterated spirit.
Kent seemed to eat the whole time he was awake this afternoon. We put a roll, sandwich meat, cheese, baby food and a Gerber grabber in front of him and he ate it all, and still acted like he wanted more. He has been doing the 'down dog' lately where he puts his head on the floor, lifts his butt into the air and looks at whoever is behind him.
He seems to be saying Mom, Dad, Pa Pa, Hello
And when he wanted more food for dinner he did the food sign language signal.
Trent's Mom gave Trent his old baby blanket when Trent met them in SLC to get his car and now Kent has been sleeping with it every night. These kinds of things mean a whole lot to Trent.
Trent is still working long hours for the upcoming Oct 15th tax deadline, waking up early to study for his CPA and prepare to move into our new home in roughly 3 weeks. He is a champ. Grateful to have that guy by my side through this wonderful life.
Today Kyleigh wanted to wear her Halloween shirt we bought at Target.
It is finally appropriate to don a black shirt with a Hello Kitty Witch that shimmers.
September was stretching it a bit.
Brenden was incredibly obedient today. It was like he knew Mom had alot going on and she didn't really want to be calling for him twice everywhere we went.
We signed him up for NJB-Nevada Basketball league at the Y at Centennial Hills. He was so excited. His raw enthusiasm made the two older ladies at the registration desk smile and say what a wonderful boy he is. (He seems to collect older women's smile of approval like we used to collect pogs).
He has a skills evaluation on Saturday at noon. Inbetween sessions of General Conference.
Trent is worried that he hasn't prepped Brenden adequately and that Brenden isn't going to preform well. I told Trent that he probably won't perform well, but we'll work with him and make sure he has a good time and not to worry about what he does compared to the other kids. Brenden is an awesome kid and I wouldn't trade a LeBron James and MJ combined for Brenden. I like his unadulterated spirit.
Kent seemed to eat the whole time he was awake this afternoon. We put a roll, sandwich meat, cheese, baby food and a Gerber grabber in front of him and he ate it all, and still acted like he wanted more. He has been doing the 'down dog' lately where he puts his head on the floor, lifts his butt into the air and looks at whoever is behind him.
He seems to be saying Mom, Dad, Pa Pa, Hello
And when he wanted more food for dinner he did the food sign language signal.
Trent's Mom gave Trent his old baby blanket when Trent met them in SLC to get his car and now Kent has been sleeping with it every night. These kinds of things mean a whole lot to Trent.
Trent is still working long hours for the upcoming Oct 15th tax deadline, waking up early to study for his CPA and prepare to move into our new home in roughly 3 weeks. He is a champ. Grateful to have that guy by my side through this wonderful life.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Kyleigh Mae and Bugs
This girl likes Bugs Bunny.
I ain't lyin'.
I can get her to do almost anything if I bribe her with a cartoon of Bugs Bunny afterward.
Her latest infatuation is the older version of The Wizard of Oz. (This may be in part due to her love of all things Poppy related...he told her how much he liked it when it first came out when he was a little boy. It was on television and everyone gathered around the small tv screen and watched it in black and white).
Completely unrelated, I bought her some shoes that are red and sparkly.
She feels like Dorothy when she wears them.
The only problem with that is when she tries to wear them with clothes that are wildly mismatched.
For this little girl, matching is a learned quality. Not inherently obtained.
But we sure love this little Dorothy ruby-red-slippers wearing, mismatched chooser, bugs bunny watcher....
Friday, September 26, 2014
BYU Football and dude time
Trent had to make a quick trip up to Salt Lake City to meet his parents, and he readily, albeit hesitantly but somewhat urgently, told me that it happened to fall on the same day BYU was to play a home game against Virginia and that would be a shame to be in the same city and not go see his beloved cougars whom he had not had the privilege to see in over 3 years. 
I could see it clearly in his eyes how very badly he wanted to go, but I calmly reminded him that we were on the brink of forking over all our liquid assets into our very first home we were about to purchase.
I wanted to give him those football tickets. Very much.
But I couldn't convince myself of the judicial decision that would be. It felt unwise.
Then I talked with my sister, Courtney, and remembered that this life is one to make a lot of great memories as well. We won't take our liquid assets with us, but Trent and Brenden would always have this Father and Son outing with them. I didn't want to be the one to rob them of that.
So, before Trent got home on Friday, the night before the game, I presented Trent with BYU football tickets for 2 and an extra plane flight.
Oh how his eyes lit up! There was an extra excitement and a lightness to his mood. He immediately set forth to fix anything in the house and be as big a help as he could possibly think to be. It was as if he was trying to find any way to express his gratitude. He fixed every drawer and cupboard that was loose in the kitchen, he fixed the stool legs, he helped with dinner cleanup and putting the kids to bed with a light and airy temperament. It was awesome.
The next morning, as I drove Trent and Brenden to the airport, the happiness was again palpable. They promised to send me lots of photos and call me often with updates. I wanted to be a small part of the action in real time :)
Below are a few photos I received via text from their adventure up north.
Trent showed B around the BYU campus and took their time walking back to the car after the game was over....it was as if Trent didn't want to leave his alma mater behind.
They went to the HLRC where Trent was working when he and I first met, to the duck pond and forage near the bell tower, and to the creamery on 9th for some mint chocolate chip ice cream. They past through a few rain and lightning storms on the 6 hour drive home, but safely made it back to their beds just before midnight. A long, exhausting day.....but one they'll probably remember for some time.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Wrestling and Belts
Tonight, we had a little wrestling match in our home. It reminded me of when I was a little girl and after scriptures and prayer, all of us kids would try to wrestle Dad and take him down! Somehow, even with our combined strength, we never quite could bring him down. But that never stopped us from trying....
This particular night, Brenden was playing with his belt he wore at church, and during the wrestling match, the belt just looked like a really great tool of amusement, er...I mean training. Right, I was training him how to get himself out of tight spots. You know...like my brother's "Navy Seal training".
And let me tell you, Brenden did well.
He got himself free.
Able to stand to fight another day...
I can't wait for tomorrow's match :) :)
Thursday, September 11, 2014
The day that changed my life
Ok, so there are more than just one of these days that change the course of my life, but here is one that stuck out to me today.
I got a text from my husband today, he must have been taking his lunch at work, and it said:
i love you so much, i miss
you, but i remember when
i asked you to Mary me, it
was an awesome day
(yes, either his fingers or autocorrect inserted 'Mary' for 'marry', but I understood what he meant).
Reading his words threw me back 8 years. Chattham Towne townhomes, the one on the corner, second row back. Plaid couch, small TV (my tv that I bought with the money my Grandma Jackie gave me when I graduated HS and started off to BYU...and in those days, the tv was HUGE, like 19 inches I think).
Trent was tall, dashingly handsome and smelled good. He was everything I had dreamed of. Seriously---I made a list of all the qualities I wanted in my future husband. On one side I wrote "need" and on the other was "want". Trent could check off every single item off the "need" list and almost everything on the "want" list, so you can imagine what seeing him did to my heart. Racing heartbeat was just the beginning of what he did to me once I was near him.
On this particular night, it was cold, so we were dressed warmly. He only had about 5 nice shirts to his name, so it was probably the white with black stripes button up one I thought made him out to be a living Ken doll. He told me that he was taking me out to eat at Chili's.
(His text today said):
We ate at Chiles, I wish I
had more money to take
you out somewhere really
nice
Do you think I cared that we 'only' went to Chili's? Oh no! Just to have a night out with him was the fulfillment of a good day. (Side note: after our first date, we couldn't wait to be together again, so we decided we would have breakfast at Mimi's Cafe on University Parkway in Provo the next morning. We talk about that every time we drive by the place).
But I didn't even remember where we ate. I had to ask him. All I remember about that day was that all my roommates were gone somewhere that night, and I couldn't wait for him to come over. It seems like the wait was forever....
And then he showed up. But he was holding a basketball. And that was exciting. We played basketball on our first date because I had promised a former mission buddy that I would play but I also didn't want to skip out on a date with this handsome guy I just met, so I asked him if he wanted to come along and play ball...and he did...which isn't the most ideal situation for a first date....sweaty, red face, unflattering clothes, etc....but it all turned out ok:)
So, anyway, back to the basketball. I was so excited that he bought me a ball because it looked expensive and nice leather. But then he told me to read it. And I was thinking, "read it? people don't 'read' basketballs...they 'play' with them"...and in my confusion, Trent started to turn the ball in my hands and got down on one knee. Hold everything. This is the moment every girl dreams of. They picture this moment happening and sometimes play out what their response will be. That's why we all love watching the last episode of The Bachelor and Bachelorette...
He's getting down on one knee. In my apartment. I'm holding a basketball. It's not a ring. What?
Then I come to his writing on the basketball. It says:
Will you marry me?
Yes No
And then he hands me a sharpie marker....still no ring.....And I read the message again. I don't know why I read it and re-read it. It was a surreal moment. This was really happening. The man of my literal dreams was asking me to be with him forever. I could become his wife!!
YES!!! Are you kidding?! Did I need a second to even consider it? (Some people would have probably said that I should have given the amount of time I knew him....but that's another story....)
So I un-capped that sharpie marker and circled the word:
YES
about 5 times.....and that's almost all that I really remember. I don't remember how he pulled out the ring and slid it on my finger (which it fit perfectly) or anything else that night. Food, conversation, whatever...it was all a blur after the moment he gave me the basketball and I circled yes.
(In true confession--I didn't even remember what we did that night and had to ask Trent and he said we ate at Chili's and then talked about the wedding and our future and began planning right away. Hahaha. Sounds about right.)
That day was one of those life altering moments in my life. I got a new basketball. And a ring.
And the man of my dreams.
Maybe we should go out to Chili's for our anniversary from now on:) And play a little one-on-one. Basketball, people! Keep it clean.
Monday, September 8, 2014
A Friend
Our Church has a few statements. And they are careful when they put one out that it be theologically correct and morally straight.
One of these statements is that everyone needs a Friend, a Calling and nourished by the Good Word of God.
I want to touch on the 'friend' part.
I have moved alot...and made many different friends from many different walks of life. And there are many different levels of friendship.
Some who you smile at and are friendly with.
Others who you would chat with at a neighborhood/community function.
Some whom you may seek out at the school playground and converse with while the kids play. You go home with a smile on your face because you enjoyed the conversation.
Others who you may even go out of your way to dial up their number (or text) and ask them to come over for a dinner, game night or movie double date.
There is a superficial level, cordial level and intimate level. And my husband read an article that said family should have elements of each...we should be able to talk about the superficial stuff--how's the weather, how bout them Broncos?...as well as find out about their health (cordial) and then do something about it (intimate level--are they sick? Bring them over some dinner!).
So, when I lived in Ohio, there were people who I knew that could fit into each category...and I think we all have people we know who belong in their own separate categories...
And how nice, like REALLY REALLY nice, was it to have friends on the intimate level. Who you cared how they were doing and they cared about you. On the last week before I was to move from Ohio, I had no greater experience of friendship than to have a couple women come over randomly to help out and then call other 'friends' to come over and help pack. What would have taken me days to accomplish, was done in a matter of hours. I just kept doling out garbage sacks, boxes, tape and plastic bins...and with a giant smile on my face for the companionship. How wonderful to feel of their love...as demonstrated by their actions.
So it is, I believe with our Savior. Jesus Christ is...or at least should be...our Friend. Our Greatest Friend. He's our ally, our advocate, our judge, our redeemer. And do you know why we all find comfort in running to him with our problems as well as our triumphs? Because he's been there!! During law school, there was a different comfort level when talking with a fellow law or medical student wife. They had been through the trenches...they knew what life was like on a VERY intimate level...they KNEW what we were talking about. They could talk from experience about the longing for a husband to come home, for kids who don't finish their dinner after we spend a long time preparing it, or late night bedtimes and feeling utterly exhausted at the end of it....not able to stay awake until our spouse comes home even though we tried.
I enjoy saying my prayers, because I find the same 'comfort'. There is one person who can say "I know", and there is no doubt that he truly does know just what we are going through. Life is hard. Life is fun. Life is crazy and it's wonderful....and He knows every aspect, corner, high and low. Jesus Christ is my friend. He does not stay on the superficial or cordial level...he begs for us to come to him so that we can form an intimate friendship. And how incredibly comforting, elevating and consoling during the hard times that wonderful friendship can be. It's always available...just up to me to open up the lines of communication. No busy signal will ever be found. No conflict of schedules will be hassled with. No lag of effort, care or concern will be on the receivers end. A friend is a wonderful arsenal to have. Oh, how I need Him every hour.....
One of these statements is that everyone needs a Friend, a Calling and nourished by the Good Word of God.
I want to touch on the 'friend' part.
I have moved alot...and made many different friends from many different walks of life. And there are many different levels of friendship.
Some who you smile at and are friendly with.
Others who you would chat with at a neighborhood/community function.
Some whom you may seek out at the school playground and converse with while the kids play. You go home with a smile on your face because you enjoyed the conversation.
Others who you may even go out of your way to dial up their number (or text) and ask them to come over for a dinner, game night or movie double date.
There is a superficial level, cordial level and intimate level. And my husband read an article that said family should have elements of each...we should be able to talk about the superficial stuff--how's the weather, how bout them Broncos?...as well as find out about their health (cordial) and then do something about it (intimate level--are they sick? Bring them over some dinner!).
So, when I lived in Ohio, there were people who I knew that could fit into each category...and I think we all have people we know who belong in their own separate categories...
And how nice, like REALLY REALLY nice, was it to have friends on the intimate level. Who you cared how they were doing and they cared about you. On the last week before I was to move from Ohio, I had no greater experience of friendship than to have a couple women come over randomly to help out and then call other 'friends' to come over and help pack. What would have taken me days to accomplish, was done in a matter of hours. I just kept doling out garbage sacks, boxes, tape and plastic bins...and with a giant smile on my face for the companionship. How wonderful to feel of their love...as demonstrated by their actions.
So it is, I believe with our Savior. Jesus Christ is...or at least should be...our Friend. Our Greatest Friend. He's our ally, our advocate, our judge, our redeemer. And do you know why we all find comfort in running to him with our problems as well as our triumphs? Because he's been there!! During law school, there was a different comfort level when talking with a fellow law or medical student wife. They had been through the trenches...they knew what life was like on a VERY intimate level...they KNEW what we were talking about. They could talk from experience about the longing for a husband to come home, for kids who don't finish their dinner after we spend a long time preparing it, or late night bedtimes and feeling utterly exhausted at the end of it....not able to stay awake until our spouse comes home even though we tried.
I enjoy saying my prayers, because I find the same 'comfort'. There is one person who can say "I know", and there is no doubt that he truly does know just what we are going through. Life is hard. Life is fun. Life is crazy and it's wonderful....and He knows every aspect, corner, high and low. Jesus Christ is my friend. He does not stay on the superficial or cordial level...he begs for us to come to him so that we can form an intimate friendship. And how incredibly comforting, elevating and consoling during the hard times that wonderful friendship can be. It's always available...just up to me to open up the lines of communication. No busy signal will ever be found. No conflict of schedules will be hassled with. No lag of effort, care or concern will be on the receivers end. A friend is a wonderful arsenal to have. Oh, how I need Him every hour.....
Monday, August 18, 2014
Kent has a dinfinitive personality
Tonight he was especially giggly and Trent and I had way too much fun making him squeal as he tried to clamber away from my tickling attacks.
He is alot of fun. He also stood on his own for a few seconds and took his first step. He immediately fell down after taking the step, but he took it on his own in the guest room at my parents house while I was chatting with Maddy and she witnessed it:)
He is a fairly good eater. I can usually get him to try everything I place in front of him.
He has 4 teeth on top and 4 on bottom. (At least...I haven't counted in awhile, so he may have more).
He still crawls like a gorilla-on hands and feet instead of knees.
His smile is the greatest. Worth a million bucks.
He loves being right next to someone. Hates to be alone. If I'm on the floor, he'll come crawling over to me and climb all over me like a jungle gym. My hair will always get pulled out, but I'd rather have him enjoy to be right next to me than not. Hair always grows back.
Kyleigh has started to pull him out of the play pen when he wakes up so that she can immediately play with him. I wonder if he'll notice when she's not around once she starts Kindergarten in about a week.
It is so awesome to be in Las Vegas where Kent will grow up knowing my parents and siblings on an intimate level instead of occasional visits every quarter. He likes following my Dad when he walks into the room and touches foreheads together. He'll flip in his seat and watch my Dad until he can no longer see him. He is not yet 1 year old and already knows that there are a lot of people that love him. What a blessing.
He is alot of fun. He also stood on his own for a few seconds and took his first step. He immediately fell down after taking the step, but he took it on his own in the guest room at my parents house while I was chatting with Maddy and she witnessed it:)
He is a fairly good eater. I can usually get him to try everything I place in front of him.
He has 4 teeth on top and 4 on bottom. (At least...I haven't counted in awhile, so he may have more).
He still crawls like a gorilla-on hands and feet instead of knees.
His smile is the greatest. Worth a million bucks.
He loves being right next to someone. Hates to be alone. If I'm on the floor, he'll come crawling over to me and climb all over me like a jungle gym. My hair will always get pulled out, but I'd rather have him enjoy to be right next to me than not. Hair always grows back.
Kyleigh has started to pull him out of the play pen when he wakes up so that she can immediately play with him. I wonder if he'll notice when she's not around once she starts Kindergarten in about a week.
It is so awesome to be in Las Vegas where Kent will grow up knowing my parents and siblings on an intimate level instead of occasional visits every quarter. He likes following my Dad when he walks into the room and touches foreheads together. He'll flip in his seat and watch my Dad until he can no longer see him. He is not yet 1 year old and already knows that there are a lot of people that love him. What a blessing.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Friends...
How thankful I am that these two are friends. She learns patience from him and he learns perseverance from her. She learns kindness and he learns service. She learns sharing and he learns caring. How they each bring their own table of strengths and build each other to greater heights than had they attempted this time of childhood alone.
How grateful I am to be a mother....perhaps I, too, can learn a thing or two. Heaven knows there is still so much to learn. And oh how badly I want to be better. Will any of us ever be fully finished with our own growth and learning?
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Air Force Museum in Dayton
It was huge. Well organized. Good assortment of various airplanes--ours and the enemies--and fun hands on displays for the kids to keep entertained.
(I forgot my camera, so all the following pictures are from camera on my phone).
Gift shop was entertaining in and of itself.
Fully checking out the mechanics.
The front desk gives out a little scavenger hunt paper for kids to find certain objects or names of planes throughout the museum.
Kyleigh got a little boost whenever called upon.
So many planes, so little time.
1912-first Army flyers officially recognized.
40% of cadet pilots didn't graduate flight school.
Ooops....
Studiously reading up on the history behind what she is viewing.
This is the Beginning of Flight hanger.
Old army car with crank on front to start it up
No blinkers, no windshield wipers (no windshield), no seatbelts....
I thought this was clever staging. Check out what the guys in the hot air balloon basket are pointing at.
Checking out the size of the old bombs. Trent likes the white one. B likes the big one.
Quilt made by Jewish children. Was really touching to read their thoughts on the sad event.
Pictures of the Liberators who freed the prisoners from the concentration camps.
For being a small country, Japan sure knew how to advance...
Brenden checking out the belly of a plane.
This was a cool exhibit. 80 silver goblets shown below commemorate the 80 men who flew in a raid against Japan. The have Reunions every so often and every time they do, they toast their commrades who have died since the last reunion and turn the goblet upside down. And the names are written twice on each goblet so that it can be read whether upside down or not.
Kids saw a real Zero.
Kent was so taken with the whole museum. I bet he can't wait to go back.
I like when the museums put life-size mannequins in action of what they would have done in that era.
I had NO IDEA that Disney participated in the war efforts like this...
This guy was good.
Kyleigh wasn't allowed to join the men on the train...they were going to a cold, bad place...(was an exhibit showing American prisoners of war being transported to a German camp).
The following are a bunch of ingenious articles and artifacts that the American POW made during their time in German camps.
It's incredible to see the types of things the men were able to make...even crochet.
Try to read some of the captions of the photos below. Incredible.
They MADE an oven from tin cans...
They MADE an oven from tin cans...
I bet these men were especially glad to get back to Momma's cooking.
Planes and mannequins representing the war efforts on the Pacific.
Interesting to see the different uniforms.
Planes and mannequins representing the war efforts on the Pacific.
Interesting to see the different uniforms.
The planes in the photo below were lined up to be scrapped. Dang that must have taken a long time.
WWI flyer (check out that guy's gloves)
Clothing for high altitude flying 10 years later that the above picture. Now we're in the 1920-1930s. Gloves and jacket not so bulky.
Goggles have improved by the 1940s. Boots look more heavy duty.
Then we went into the space area. They had a simulator. We all tried to hook up the pod to the spacecraft...but we all failed. The lady at the desk nearby said that the only people that can actually pass the simulator are pilots. That thing is hard!
Once again....thrilled to be here....(the hangers at the museum are so huge that they didn't really even attempt to heat them. There were small areas that were heated, but for the most part, it was slightly warmer than outside...so Kent had to stay bundled up while we perused the planes.
They had a control tower simulation in this room with pictures of what the guy inside the control tower would typically see. Trent was pleased to see a Northwest airplane in view....(those are the planes his Dad flew).
It got intense...
This game was one where you had to release a lever at just the right moment to help a plane land on a ship in the water. It was fun...for all ages. :)
Great museum. If you're in the neighborhood....or not so near....try to schedule a visit. The admission is free and you can offer a donation if you like. If I ever go back, I am definitely going to get a pen in the shape of a bullet. (And one for Trent....I guess he really wanted one, but I thought he was kidding...)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
