Santa'sComing...

Are you ready? I'm not. I have shopping to do, baking to do, mailing to do, organizing to do, cleaning to do... but hey, at least the tree is up. The stockings are hung. We have a fireplace but I don't dare actually light a fire in it. I think I'll fill it with poinsettias instead. That will look festive. There's no Christmas music this year because we haven't hooked up our home theater system. That's how we play CDs. I do have an iPod with Christmas music on it. Maybe we'll use that.

We had our monthly family dinner last night. (No, that doesn't mean that my family only eats dinner once a month. It means the whole family comes for dinner.) I'm still adjusting to a much smaller house with a much smaller kitchen. So, just as we have downsized our living space, I've downsized the dinners. Afterwards, everyone mentioned a family Christmas tradition they remember or like. Imagine my surprise when one of my children said we didn't have any because we had stopped doing them all. Grrrrrrrrrrr!

Well... if that's the case, why have I gotten up every Christmas before the crack of dawn to mix cinnamon roll dough? and why have I bought goofy slippers every year for I don't know how many years? and why have I made monster shopping lists and brought home monster grocery bags for "Cookie Day" each year since my children have existed? and delivering treats to friends and neighbors? and what about going to Salt Lake to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? and the Festival of Trees? and the Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey? and the nativity sets? and opening one gift on Christmas eve and the rest on Christmas morning? and the Christmas Jar tradition we started just a few years ago ??? and??? and ??? May I just say again, "GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!"

But, don't despair. I am holding on by my fingernails to my Christmas Spirit. That keeps my hands too busy to wring one of my children's necks!

Christian Wins

Hands down. The CUTEST little grandson ever. The Captain and I are enamored with him. He's enough temptation to consider moving to Texas.


At the park on the slide and the swing:

In the children's section at Marian the Librarian's library in Frisco:

Notice, he's trying to rock the hair like his uncle Josh does... but... um, well, it's needs a little more body first.

With Uncle Josh at the River Walk in San Antonio:


And yes, he smiles like that ALL THE TIME. He is the happiest baby I've ever seen. It's rumored he's not so happy when he rides in his carseat... but since the Captain and I were in a different car, we didn't find that out first hand.

32 States

During this past 9-day trip to Texas and back, I saw license plates from 32 different states. How cool is that? Here's my list:

Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Louisiana
Maine
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Now, of course, that wasn't the highlight of my trip. But, nevertheless... it entertained me on the interstates. So there.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Twenty-six

1 - Having a home to head to.

2 - Having a job to return to.

3 - Having made memories to recall on demand.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Twenty-five

1 - The Hansen family. The one I came from. The one that includes my Grandma Rose Hansen, my uncle Frank and aunt Kate, as well as my mom and dad, sister and brother, nieces and nephews. "My people." My tribe. We are small, but powerful.

2 - The Munson family. The one I married into. My mother-in-law and father-in-law. A million brother and sister in laws. Well, okay, not a million... just a thousand. More nieces and nephews. The Captain's uncles and aunts have also been very kind and accepting of me.

3 - The Holley family. Specifically my sister's family. She, her husband and sons, and one daughter-in-law. They are kind and fun. And they live too far away. (Of course, they'll tell you we're the ones that live too far away.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Twenty-four

1 - My mother. Her spirit, her spunk, her sense of self. Her example, her faith, her ability to 'wait on the Lord.' Her calmness, her experience, her sense of propriety. Her laugh, her smile, her mischief.

2 - My mother-in-law. Her willingness, her determination, her humility. Her kindness, her acceptance, her habit of service. Her sense of family and of heritage.

3 - The proclamation to the world on the family.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Twenty-three

1 - Turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls and pumpkin pie.

2 - Leftover turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls and pumpkin pie.

3 - Tums.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Twenty-two

1 - Point and click cameras.

2 - Wireless internet connections.

3 - People I love whose photos and messages I enjoy.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Twenty-one

1 - Little baby boy smiles.

2 - Little baby boy kisses.

3 - Little baby boy laughs.

These three things are worth a 21-hour drive through Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. Worth every bit of it.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Twenty

1 - Traveling cars in good condition. Not having to worry about breakdowns along the road. Heaters and air conditioners. Power windows and power locks. So many things that make a ride enjoyable and comfortable.

2 - Time away from Texas. I left Texas in 1999 with a bitter taste and bitter experience in my mouth. I returned in 2000 to collect my things and again in 2003 for court wranglings with the same sense of dislike. Rather than assign the bitterness where it belonged, I put it on Texas. It became the butt of my jokes and the place I would never go again.

But time has done what it's supposed to do. Texas is a place. To be going to visit family there this month is something I'm looking forward to. Texas is now the place where R & R and Christian live. It's the place Marian the Librarian and her Stalwart Husband live. This year it's the place the turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes are found. Who would have imagined I'd be all about the family reunion in Texas? I might even drive by my old house and neighborhood... motivated out of curiosity. No bitterness.

3 - My grandma's dinner rolls recipe. Four generations of use now.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Nineteen

1 - The end of a work week.

2 - The start of holiday time off. Not having to go to work again for over a week.

3 - Suitcases, pillows, quilts, CDs and packed goodies. They all equal up to "ROADTRIP" -- one of my favorite things to do.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Eighteen

1 - An education. More than just the ability to read and write. The exposure to cultures, systems and times different from my own. The training to process, express and apply. Comparison and contrast. Knowledge, supposition, theory and fact.

2 - Access to quality healthcare. This year many in my family have been the beneficiaries of skilled doctors, clinicians and hospitals.

3 - The U.S. Postal Service. Letters from loved ones. Letters to loved ones. Packages in one piece and uninfiltrated.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Seventeen

1 - Soft sweaters.

2 - Fuzzy warm slippers.

3 - Fires in fireplaces.

...Of The Day

Cookie of the Day: Raspberry Thumbprints with White Chocolate Drizzle

Word of the Day: Pusillanimity

Website of the Day: http://www.bakerella.com/

Color of the Day: Peach

Activity of the Day: Trip to the Library -- return five books, check out four more.

Memory of the Day: Grandma Hansen's Fiestaware in her kitchen in Ogden. I especially loved the pitcher.

Quote of the Day: "Golf is a good walk spoiled."-- Mark Twain

Song of the Day: "My Grown-Up Christmas List" -- Michael Bublé

Rule of the Day: Rule #1 - Be nice.

Scripture of the Day: "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces..." (Isaiah 25:8)

Gratitude 2010 - Day Sixteen

1 - High school theater productions. I went to one last night. Great to watch teenagers sing, dance, act, laugh and have fun. Love to see the light in their eyes when it's over and people come up to congratulate them.

2 - Home canned peaches. When I look at them, I see images of my grandma's basement lined with jars of peaches and cherries. Of course, I also see potential peach cobblers and crisps as well as bowls of peaches drizzled with dulce de leche.

3 - Photo albums. Memories made tangible.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Fifteen

1 - Rob. The Captain's oldest son. Kind and accepting. Quiet warrior with the battle scars and empathy to prove it. The other day as I worked my way through yet another moving box, I found a card I had received from him for Mother's Day along with a bottle of perfume. I sat back, read through it and remembered that day a few years ago. Now Rob has a son of his own. He's a good dad. Attentive and affectionate.

2 - Brett. Stepson #2. Resolute. Not a lot of fanfare but a lot of forward motion. Not afraid of things. Lots of friends. Generous. He's given me his honest opinions and answers when I've asked him difficult questions. He was the one at the hospital waiting for the Captain to come out of surgery. He brought Juliann and Mae to come see him while recovering. Mae lights up the Captain's world so that was a very nice thing for him to do.

3 - Spencer. Stepson #3. A part of my life since he was eleven years old. Funny. Quick-witted. Tender-hearted. We always looked forward to the weekends he was coming to the house. I don't know how many times I had to answer the question, "Is it a Spencer weekend?" The perfect addition to Josh and Jon -- kind of like completing the Three Muskateers. Josh, Jon and Katie adore him. So do I.

Today

In my mug: Chocolate Hazelnut Hot Cocoa

In my spoon: Cream of Wheat sprinkled with brown sugar

In my ears: The sound of rain pinging and clicking on the patio roof.

In the freezer: Ziplock bag full of last week's homemade spaghetti/pasta sauce. Made enough for four meals. So far, we've had two.

On my nightstand: 1. "Winston's War" by Max Hastings (the historical biography not the work of fiction) 2. Alarm Clock/Radio set to 7:00am. Apparently sometime during the weekend, Josh thought it would be funny to change the station to some seriously obnoxious rap music station. Not fun waking up to that noise this morning. But... effective, definitely effective. 3. A half-full bottle of Vitamin Water Mega-C. 4. Reading glasses (2.0 lens magnification)

Anxious about: Getting everything done to leave for Texas on Friday.

Out my window: An uncovered gas grill. Leaves cluttering the yard from all sides. Wet and soggy now from the rain (sigh).

Over my shoulder: The four hold-out boxes that just keep getting moved around and haven't found a home in our home yet.

In my prayers: Katie's safe arrival and an enjoyable time for the next two weeks in Argentina.

On my bedroom dresser: A magnifying mirror and eyebrow tweezers.

On my mind: Sorting through business ideas trying to land on one that will work.

On my grocery list: Dishwasher soap, dozen eggs, Gruyere cheese and Zip-lock bags.

Bing! Bang! Boom!

I have birthed three children. They arrived in rapid succession. When the youngest was born, the oldest was still two. When they were young, it was so overwhelming. It's like they got here so quick. You know... bing... bang... boom.

Hence, we've always referred to them as Bing, Bang and Boom. In fact, they even answer to their corresponding sound. It's crazy funny how suited to their personalities each one's nickname is. Josh is Bing. A sound that is quick-shooting and precise, not real loud but capable of ricochets left and right. Katie is Bang. Yep. Louder. More deliberate. Like a bullet being shot out of a gun coming at you with force. Jon is Boom. Pretty much impossible to ignore. Heard everywhere at once ... with everyone asking, "What was THAT?" 'Nuf said.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Fourteen

1 - My children's independent faith. As I have been prepping my Basic Roasted Potatoes (thanks Rookie) to accompany our grilled steaks for Sunday dinner and reading about startup small businesses on the computer, I have heard the voice of Jeffrey R. Holland coming down the hall. Now, down the hall are located the bedrooms of Bing and Bang (Boom is in the MTC). Bang is getting ready for her mission to Scotland/Ireland.

Yesterday morning Bing, Bang, the Captain and I were all sitting on my bed talking scriptures. I pulled out my marked-up copy of Doctrine & Covenants and referred to the 20th section. We talked about the difference between the statements put forth in the Nicean Creed and verses in Section 20 that declare the doctrines of the Restoration. We talked of the difference between the statement "we believe" and "we know." At that point, Bing referenced a terrific talk given a couple of years ago by Elder Holland. He specifically told Bang about it in the context of her preparation for missionary service. And then we moved on to other things... like who's cleaning the bathroom this weekend and what time the BYU game started.

Now today, I hear the voice of Elder Holland as Bing and Bang listen together to that talk. No parents directing discussions. No assignment to speak in church soon. Just the two of them and their common faith. I am more grateful than I have words to express.

2 - Isaiah. Now, there's a prophet for you. And for me. His writings and prophecies have been the subject of our Sunday school lessons for the past three weeks. It's cool to talk Isaiah with teenagers. Way cool! Since I'm on the subject, I better also express my gratitude for the resource books that have helped me understand Isaiah better. How appropriate that one is titled, "Understanding Isaiah." Ya think???

3 - Rookie Cookie's blog. She no longer actively posts there, but I'm grateful she left it up. Those recipes are wicked good. The simple ones and the complex ones. Were it not for Basic Roasted Potatoes we'd be having regular old mashed potatoes for the third time this week.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Thirteen

1 - The faith of my ancestors. The histories of sacrifice, focus, tragedy, blessings, miracles, perseverance, perspective, hope and audacity. I take pride in them though I can take no credit for them.

2 - The written word of God. Old Testament - covenants. New Testament - Glimpse into the life and teachings of Christ in His element. Book of Mormon - clear and prophetic. I can see my lifetime in it. Doctrine & Covenants - Contemporary and direct. Pearl of Great Price - Amplified first-hand experiences of prophets.

3 - Unplanned moments of conversations with my children about their ancestors and the written word of God.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Twelve

1 - Smells. Yummy ones like cinnamon rolls, chocolate cake, fresh bread, homemade spaghetti sauce, pot roast, etc. Soft ones like perfumes and flowers. Familiar ones like ocean breezes and mountain winds.

2 - Books. For enjoyment, for education, for escape, for entertainment.

3 - 'Nessun Dorma.' My, what a sound. Brings me to tears as the final chord resolves -- every time. Every. Time.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Eleven

1 - Friends from long ago. I was going to say 'old friends,' but I didn't want to offend them by calling them old. Besides, if they're old, then I'm old and that can't be possible. Plus, one of them didn't get the chance to grow old. She was gone at 31, dead from brain cancer. Today is the 14th anniversary of her death.

Facebook helps us keep windows into each other's current day-to-day lives. I'm not saying "reconnect" because I was never "disconnected" from them. One of them recently referred to our teenage years as 'idyllic.' It's an apt description. Loved them all then; love them all now. Grateful for what they added to the foundation of my life.

Oh, and 'Nae, your children have grown into beautiful people (I'm sure you know that). They are smart and kind, friendly and service-oriented. They are talented and so very loved by their aunts, uncles and grandparents. But, of course, you know all that, too.

2 - The nation's soldiers, past and present. On Veterans' Day, it seems appropriate to acknowledge all they have done. Grateful for their service and their sacrifices. I know a few first-hand. I know their families. I have seen the impact on both. Their service comes with a price... sometimes a high one. Sometimes the ultimate one. The experiences they have, the images they see, do not just go away once they have come home. They carry them in memory... and sometimes in body. It's a lot for a nation to ask of people. We should be more grateful.

3 - The Hill family. Kyle, Tanya, Rutger, Kylee and Porter. See item #2 above. My friends for 20 years. My neighbors for 17 of those 20 years. I am grateful for (Orem): impromptu Sunday meals in the yard between our two houses; help setting up a swingset; joint rental and tilling of gardens side-by-side; hilarious memories of dealing with the drug dealers and punk teenagers from across the street; night-vision goggles from Camp Williams used for watching Macey's shoppers two miles away; introduction to Stephen's Hot Cocoa mix late at night; helping me to keep my sanity during 'the bad times' of my first marriage; moving three different times to three different houses all on the same street; cross-stitching and crafts; Porter's birth and Tanya's recovery from it; Disneyland 2001. (Elk Ridge): fishing at Maple Lake; workouts in the basement gym; Super Bowl get togethers; cooking in the kitchen; answering the door at night in Oct 2005; opening it again in April 2006; the place Katie could 'run away' to; good friends for my children; Halloween parties through the years; more combined dinners than I can count; prayers and Family Home Evenings together; borrowed Boy Scout uniforms; the Hill/Munson two-way grocery store; taste testers. My dear, dear friends.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Ten

1 - Farmer's Markets. Fresh fruits and produce. Fun arts and crafts. Artisan breads.

2 - Supermarkets. One-stop shopping. Emergency gallons of milk and cartons of eggs. Quick movie rentals at RedBox. Time savers.

3 - El Mercado Latino. I'm a junkie for empanada shells, dulce de leche, mate cocido and yerba mate. Argentina doesn't feel so far away when I've got these things in my cupboard.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Nine

1 - The start of a new day. Yesterday is over. Today may be a repeat of the previous. It may be a continuation. It may be something entirely different. It may be a combination -- part continuation, part something new. The possibilities for change that a new day brings renew me. The possibility to build on the past reinforces me. Every new day is a reminder of the gift of agency.

The sun comes up over the Wasatch mountains. The neighbors start up their cars and the sound of the motors' humming and revving comes through the windows and under the doors. The hope of it being cold enough for hot cocoa is with me right about the time I throw back the blankets and look for my slippers. The furnace wakes up and warm air makes its way through the hallways.

2 - The end of each day. Maybe exhausted. Maybe exhiliarated. Maybe defeated. Maybe just calmly transitioning. Cold, crisp sheets. Warm soft blankets and comforters. A lamp on the end table for reading. A book and my reading glasses perched on the edge, just waiting for these final ten-fifteen minutes. The Captain and I each have a reading lamp. We sit with pillows propped and read our respective books. Each night my eyes tell me I'm done long before my interest in the story wanes, but that's okay. Tomorrow will end, too and I'll pick up where I left off.

3 - Grape-raspberry Vitamin Water Zero. Yum.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Eight

1 – Time with Josh. Of all my children, he has been the best “multi-tasker” about splitting his time between two families. He lived with the ex for part of his senior year. He lived there again prior to his mission and again for a few months after returning from his mission. While it’s hard to not have your children with you all the time, it’s a price to be paid for divorce. I never felt it was right to try to obligate, manipulate or guilt a child to “choose” one parent over the other. I tried to put myself in their shoes. If I had ever had to “choose” between my dad and my mom, I would have felt impossibly conflicted.

Josh has decided to attend school here in Utah, for now. So, he has been here at home since the end of the summer. It has been a blast. He’s very quiet by nature. But, he’s also hilariously funny. He’s quick witted and likes to tease and banter with the Captain. Last month, he decided the foyer of Chuck-A-Rama was the perfect spot for a boxing ring.

He does accents quite well, and ever since Katie got her mission call to Scotland, he’s been speaking almost constantly in a Scottish brogue.

We laugh a lot around here, and almost always it’s with Josh.

2 – Bill Pay. Love it. No envelopes. No check writing. Verifiable delivery.

3 – Traveling plans. Headed to Texas for Turkey Day. Starting negotiations with the Captain for a winter trip to sunny San Diego. I love road trips.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Seven

1 - Sundays. A day of rest in every week. A day when the worries of a weekly schedule don't encroach. No punching a clock. Free to sit for a three-hour block and think of and participate in spiritual things. The anticipated platter of pot roast. Some TV watching; some book reading.

2 - Leisurely drives home from church. Not in a hurry to get back to Cougar-town right away. (Uh... let's be sure we're clear on this: "Cougar-town" as in 'home of the BYU Cougars' not over-40 women on the prowl.) Sightseeing through the neighborhood to see which houses are selling, which ones are sold. The changes of the leaves on the trees.

3 - The change back to Mountain Standard Time. Oh yeah! An extra hour of sleep.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Six

1 - Visits from Mae.



2 - Visits from D & R. (Not to be confused with DNR -- do not resucitate).


3 - Visits from RJ. (Sorry, no picture. Didn't think to pull out my camera in time.)

Gratitude 2010 - Day Five

1 - Working from home while the Captain recovers. Yep, I've taken the stereotypical approach. Some days I've worked in my pajamas until noon. Other days I've not gotten out of bed until ten minutes before the start of my shift. Oh, wait, no... I guess that was on the same days I worked in my pajamas. Drinking hot cocoa at my desk in my very cool Disney Villians mug that I would never think of taking to work lest my co-workers discover my true nature. (Bwah ha ha ha!) Eating dinner leftovers for lunch... in my own kitchen. Waving at the mailman.

2 - Paydays! Money in my pocket. Money in my account. Bills paid.

3 - Paying tithing. Grateful to be able. Grateful the Lord keeps his word as regards to it. Hope He knows I'm more than happy to write those checks. No resentment at all. No wishing I could keep it in my account. It's a small gesture, I know, but when I consider all the bounty with which I'm blessed... and not just financial and temporal, but also spiritual, inter-relational, and all the rest... well, I'm just grateful to make the gesture to the Lord.

I think this sums it up:



For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies;
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour,
Of the day and of the night;
Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind's delight;
For the mystic harmony,
Linking sense to sound and sight;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child;
Friends on Earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thy church that evermore,
Lifteth holy hands above;
Off'ring up on ev'ry shore,
Her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the martyrs' crown of light,
For Thy prophets' eagle eye,
For Thy bold confessors' might,
For the lips of infancy.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thyself, best Gift Divine,
To the world so freely given,
For that great, great love of Thine,
Peace on earth and joy in heaven.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

by Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1864

Gratitude 2010 - Day Four

1 - All my Lion House cookbooks.

2 - New computers and new software. After my old computer bit the dust this summer and I lived a couple of months without one, it is nice to have one again. As of tonight, I even have word processing, spreadsheet, presentations, and database programs on it as well.

3 - The Provo Library. Love the building itself. Love the shelves of books. Love that I can walk out of there with 4-6 books and still have all my money in my wallet. Can't seem to do that when I go to Barnes & Noble.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Three

1 - Being a teenager in the San Diego North Stake 12th Ward. My friends from that time have grown up to be some of the most remarkable people I know. We recently lost one of them to death. His name is Rod Dial. I'm blessed to have known him.

2 - The miracle that is "the Law of the Harvest." If you want proof, it's right here.

3 - Facebook.

Gratitude 2010 - Day Two

1 - Three adorable little nieces.


2 - Smiles through tears.

3 - Bill Cosby "Himself" DVD. Hilarious. Simply hilarious.

Gratitude 2010 - Day One

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to put the focus on all the good things in life. Time to think about and express gratitude. Time to find God and goodness in each day. So, here it goes... back for a repeat performance: My November gratitude posts, version 2010.

1 - Katie's mission call. Scotland/Ireland. Reports to the England MTC on January 14th.

A perfect fit for her personality (just like Josh's call to New Zealand was for him). She likely won't have a lot of baptisms, due to the whole 'Europe is a hard place to baptize' thing... but that's all in the Lord's hands. I think of her upbringing. She knows how Primary is supposed to work, what Sunday School is all about, how Young Women's should impact young women's lives, what the transition to Relief Society feels like, what Institute can add to a young adult's life and preparation. Any ward or branch she is in, she will be able to strengthen and contribute. She will leave her mark there... because that's what God wants from her.

Besides, she's really gonna rock those Argyle socks and sweaters.


2 - Jon's mission call. Mexico Tuxtla Gutierrez. October 13th. Already in the MTC.

For the third time, an excellent fit: Part rain forest & jungle/part big city with a temple;, a little political unrest thrown in for good measure; and having to struggle to express himself in a different language. The work is likely fast and furious with teaching and baptizing. It matches his energy level. The exposure to third world and humble beautiful people. That works for me (for him).

Besides, he's been chowing down on Mexican suckers (you know, the ones coated with hot chili powder) since he was eight.


3 - David Tipton.
A bishop that took hold of my 14-year-old son and didn't let go. Not ever. Not even after he was no longer the bishop. The image of him wrapping Jon up in his arms in the Celestial room two months ago will stay with me forever. It has given me a visual for what 2 Nephi 1:15 means. God bless that man for all he did for my son... and me.

Bad News... Good News

Bad news: The furnace isn't working
Good news: Three space heaters work like a charm.

Bad news: It snowed in Elk Ridge already.
Good news: I don't live in Elk Ridge anymore.

Bad news: The Captain's recovery is a bit slower than originally anticipated.
Good news: I'm working from home so it's all okay.

Bad news: No peppers for my killer Autumn Chili.
Good news: Grocery store is out back and through the gate.

Bad News: It's cold at night in this house.
Good News: My new bedspread looks great and is warm and toasty, too.

Bad News: I can't take any more college classes right now.
Good News: Jaclyn puts her MPA reading list on her blog and I end up at the library (often).

Bad News: Colder weather is coming.
Good News: It's an excuse to get up to Sundance and enjoy it before it crowds up with skiiers.

Bad News: No more fresh berries-n-cream.
Good News: Peach Cobbler!

Bad News: Mae keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Good News: Next year she'll be old enough for the Primary Sacrament Program. Should be a hoot!

Bad News: Christian lives too far away.
Good News: Thanksgiving in Texas!

The Captain Has Dropped Anchor

After four days in the hospital, the Captain is back home. His surgery was successful and he is now tumor-less, though he's got quite a white bandage mustache going on. It kind of looks like Hitler's mustache run amok. His upper lip and nose are still quite swollen, but nothing like it was on Wednesday. Sorry I don't have any photos, but he wasn't willing to pose for pictures in his current condition. If you'd like an idea of what he looks like (sans bandage), well, it's kinda like this:

Now, lest you think that's an insult... IT IS NOT. We are big on superheroes at this house and Underdog is way up there as one of our favorites. In fact, one of our cars is named "Underdog" in his honor.

"Make it hap'n Cap'n" got his checkout once-over this morning from a good friend of mine from teenage days gone by... David Glassford. Dave says he's good to go, but that he'll have to take it easy for awhile. Looks like he'll be staying home from work until the middle of November. No lifting more than ten pounds, no bending over to tie his shoes, no mowing the lawn or doing any household fix-it projects. I told Dave that the Captain is quite a reader, so he'll probably spend some time moving through the stack of "to-read" books he's got. So far, the list includes:

"American Assassin" by Vince Flynn
"Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
"John Adams" by David McCullough
"Truman" by David McCullough
"Yearning for the Living God" by F. Enzio Busche
"Play Dead" by Harlan Coben

If anyone has any other book suggestions, feel free to let us know.

For now, the Captain is comfortable laying in his bed reading. At about 2:00, though, I suspect he'll be in the other room watching BYU play TCU. (Good thing we got his pain medication prescription filled earlier. I think he's going to need it for that game. Sigh. Oh well, it's a rebuilding year.)

I'm Back Online

Since moving to Provo, I have deliberately taken life slower than before. Don't ask me why; it makes no sense. Before I lived in a sleepy town on the side of a mountain, about 30 minutes away from the closest metropolitan area. I had to drive ten minutes just to buy gas or a gallon of milk. Deer routinely crossed my front yard and most of the city streets. Elk could be heard (if not always seen) on the golf course every winter at night. You would think that was the time I would live with life being at a slower pace. But reflecting back on all of that, I find that I actually lived pretty much with a "to-do list" approach to my life.

I have decided to dump that way of living for the 1-2 years we are going to live in Provo. This time around, I walk to work. I walk to the grocery store. The house is small and there isn't a lot of room for all the "stuff" the Captain and I have accumulated in 50 years of living. But, rather than stress out about it, I just haven't made 'finding a place for everything' a huge priority. There are still boxes on my back patio. The windows don't have drapes or valances on them. (I have definite ideas of what I want each room to feel like, so I'm going slowly as I work on the design one room at a time.) AND, much to the chagrin of my children, I was in no hurry to get internet access.

The Captain had surgery this week. He had a pituitary tumor that needed to be removed, so he now gets to add brain surgery to his list of lifetime experiences. 2010 will go down as the year of tumor removal for both of us. Anyway, he will be going home from the hospital in the next couple of days and then will spend a couple of weeks recovering at home. In talking with my supervisors at work, I asked to be able to work from home during those two weeks so he wouldn't be left alone all day. That's a go, so... I finally had to get internet access.

Of course the children are deliriously happy about it. Josh can now get on the internet from his iPod in the living room while I sit at the computer in the "other room." (I don't quite know what to call that room yet. It currently has the dining table, computer desk and a big comfy chair and reading lamp in it.)

So, now that we're connected to the world again, I'll get busy uploading all the pictures on my camera and try to get back to some regular entries here.

Today

In my mug: Belgian Dark Hot Cocoa

In my spoon: Baked Oatmeal with sliced peaches

In my ears: “Buffalo Soldiers” Bob Marley

In the freezer: Individual slices of fresh Utah peaches sitting on my baking sheets, getting ready to be stored in zip-lock bags to tide us over during the fresh-fruitless winter.

On my nightstand: 1. My Grandfather’s Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen 2. Bayer Baby Aspirin (one tablet every morning) 3. A half-full bottle of Vitamin Water Go-Go. 4. Reading glasses (2.0 lens magnification) 5. Blackberry scented candle – unlit. And 6. Dust (sigh).

Anxious about: Juggling the Captain’s surgery and Jon’s entrance into the MTC on the same morning next week.

Out my window: The back patio cluttered with boxes, chairs and other items that haven’t found a home inside the new digs yet. Thirteen quail skittering across the lawn. My bicycle (that the Princess seems to think is hers now) leaning up against the post.

Over my shoulder: Cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom. A stove that needs to be wiped down.

In my prayers: Rod’s wife and children.

On my bedroom dresser: Tonight’s “project:” So many things in piles. I have no idea what they are.

On my mind: The Princess's mission call. Has it come today?

On my grocery list: Apple cider, hothouse tomatoes, Zip-lock bags.

My Friend Died on Wednesday

I feel such grief. I spent yesterday morning trying to compose myself enough to go out in public. He has been my friend since I was in junior high. I talked to my sister, Marian the Librarian, yesterday. She had the same 'crying-in-the-morning' reaction I did. She lives a few hours away from him, so she and my brother-in-law are going to the funeral. I'm so glad she will be there to represent all of us who loved him.

http://www.kvue.com/news/Family-remembers-kayaker-killed-in-accident-103085204.html

Well done, Rod. Well done. I never had any doubt. The quality of who you were always going to be was evident even when we were young.

... Of The Day

Cookie of the Day: Gingerbread Boys

Word of the Day: Pontificate

Website of the Day: http://www.thisisreverb.com/

Color of the Day: Aquamarine

Activity of the Day: Shopping with Jon

Memory of the Day: Worst Parenting Moment of My Life -- ask Jon about the Mervyn's parking lot and his mother and siblings driving away while he sat on a curb.

Quote of the Day: "Where there is great love, there are always miracles."
---Willa Cather

Song of the Day: "When Love Comes to Town" -- U2 and B.B. King

Rule of the Day: Rule #2 - Close the fridge. Seriously... close the fridge.

Scripture of the Day: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:4)

General Petraeus' Tongue In Cheek

He came to BYU last March. He's a serious soldier. But he also has a sense of humor. He included the following... (and I laughed a lot):

General David H. Petraeus' 10 reasons BYU grads make great soldiers.

10. They have already been on many a mission.

9. Army chow is no problem for folks accustomed to eating green Jell-O and shredded carrots.

8. It's no problem if they don't know what rank somebody else is; they just refer to them as brother or sister.

7. They never go AWOL; they prefer to call it being less active.

6. They will seize any objective swiftly if you tell them refreshments will be served.

5. They know how to make things happen. In fact, if you ever need a base built quickly in a barren wasteland, you have only to stride out to where you want them to start, plant your walking staff firmly in the ground, and say with a loud voice, "This is the place!"

4. They have innovative ideas for handling insurgents, like assigning them home teachers.

3. They always have a year's supply of provisions on hand.

2. They are the world's most reliable designated drivers.

1. They understand how far Iraq has come over the last seven years; in fact, they think that Iraq's old spot in the "Axis of Evil" can now be filled by the University of Utah.

The Benefits of Moving

We're on the move again. To a cute little brick "grandma" house within walking distance to where we work. While we wait for the housing and construction markets to stabilize a bit, we'll pass the time walking to work, the grocery store, the BYU football and basketball games and who knows where else. I'm quite excited about it.

But, what I'm really excited about is this: I'm going to get a utility bill from Provo City. Do you know what that means? It means I can get a Provo City Library card. Do you know how exciting that is?

During my convalescence, my sister Marian the Librarian (otherwise known as 'She Who Must Be Obeyed), came to take care of me. She brought her way cool iPad with Kindle and other eReader software loaded on it. I read "The Book Thief" and "Game Change" while faking like I'd just had major surgery so I could be waited on hand and foot. (I'm a sneaky one, eh?) Between the books SWMBO had on her iPad and all the perusing I've done on GoodReads (along with the recommendations I've gotten through my GoodReads friends -- shout out to Shelley, Jaclyn, Juliann, Sue and Jackie), I've got quite the list of books to read.

Considering how small our new home is, there's no room for bookcases so buying more books isn't an option. So, until Christmas comes (hint, hint Captain Santa) and I unwrap an eReader of my own, I plan on taking advantage of a well-stocked library or two (Provo's and Orem's, to be exact.) For the record, the Ridge was wonderful and all, but the Payson City Library that serviced the general area was dismally understocked.

Now, back to my sister. I kind of like referring to her as 'Marian the Librarian.' (That isn't her name, but it is her profession. It kind of cracks me up to visualize her in the lead role (look out, Shirley Jones) and dancing around in the "Marian the Librarian" number from The Music Man. Actually, it cracks me up A LOT!

Did I mention she lives in Texas?

You may wonder where she got the 'She Who Must Be Obeyed' title. I believe it was her husband who borrowed the term from the British comedy Rumpole of the Bailey. Never seen an episode??? Two words: "Netflix, baby!"

Chronicles of Convalescing - The End

So... after two days of anxiously waiting for pathology results, Dr. Glenn (OB/Gyn extraordinaire) bursts into my room on day 3 of the hospital stay with the happy news.

"Well, looks like we dodged a bullet." Turns out the tumor (Lucyfer as the Captain named her) was "pre-cancerous." So... to do my best Pollyanna/Mary Sunshine... it was a good thing that Mabel the Mass began to encrouch uncomfortably on my innerds or else I would never have known about Lucyfer lurking in the background.

Crisis averted. Cancer avoided. All things are good with the world. I am now back at work and reengaged in my real life.

A special thank you to the wives and husbands of Dr. Glenn, Dr. Grover, Dr. Platt, Dr. Thomas and Dr. Urie for sucking it up while they went to medical school. To all the doctors themselves... it was rude of me to doze off like that in the operating room rather than meet and greet each of you. I apologize -- my mother taught me better manners than that, I promise.

Speaking of which, a heartfelt shout-out to my mother and my sister who came to take care of me for the first 14 days post-surgery. I am now missing my mother's cooking and my sister's iPad. Another shout-out to all who sent flowers, plants, text messages and other well-wishes. A particularly personal "thank you so very much" to the Captain -- for the attentiveness, the calmness, the meals, the prayers, the concern, the 'taking the wheel' of moving before surgery and now moving again.

Did y'all know he has a mass too? Only his is in his brain. You think I'm kidding? I'm not. We'll be doing this 'mass removal' thing again in October when he goes under the knife. I plan on doing my part and stepping up while he's laying down.

Chronicles of Convalescing - Part IV

The gifts you give each other. (Warning... this may get mushy.)

I can't really say what, if any, gifts the Captain feels I give him. However, I can speak to the gifts I receive from him. Yes, there were get-well lilies in my hospital room... the first ones to arrive. And yes, there were a dozen long-stemmed red roses on our anniversary a couple of weeks ago. More than that, there were the intangibles like steadiness in the face of uncertainty while we waited for pathology results, and marathon-like patience to sit in my hospital room with me for hours on end for three days just because I was stuck in there with nowhere to go -- except round and round the nurses' station on my hourly walks.

Most of all, there was the insight one day while reading out loud to me to pass the time. He was reading the book "Return" written by his mission president, Elder Robert D. Hales. In it there is a section regarding faith. Now, unbeknownst to the Captain, I have been having my own personal conversations with God about my faith.. or rather my lack of satisfaction with the condition of it in my own life. Frankly, the whole subject has been troubling me because, try as I might, I couldn't seem to increase mine. I had somewhat decided the trial of my faith was going to be having none... or not enough.

So, there we sat in my hospital room. The Captain's voice quietly read. I quietly listened... more to the lilt of his voice than the words he was quoting. Then my ears perked up. He was talking about faith... or rather, an apostle was talking about faith. What it's for. How to pursue it. How to increase it. The answers to the dilemmas I had been sending ceilingward for the past few months in my personal moments.

Coincidence that the place in his reading when he chose to read out loud to keep me company was addressing exactly the subject of my private struggle lately? I think not. Coincidence that the message came through the Captain to me? I think not... again.

Gifts. Gifts that strengthen. That repair. That bind. That build.

Chronicles of Convalescing - Part III

Masses. Scary things. So the images taken at the ER six weeks ago showed a pelvic mass... about 13 centimeters. For one night and part of a morning, the Captain and I sat with our private thoughts about, "Wow, cancer. What will that do to my life?" But a visit with Dr. Glenn (my OB/Gyn) later in the morning diffused all those thoughts. It was an endometrial mass... consequence of my endometriosis. Been brewing around in there for years. Now it was taking up too much real estate that didn't belong to it. Time to take it all out. Boom! Spaying was the solution. Not emergent. Not life and death. Pick a date that is convenient and we'll take it all out. That's okay with me. This factory has been closed for 19 years now.

So, the Captain and I compared schedules. We crunched numbers (paycheck and budget numbers). We calculated PTO ("paid time off" not "Parent Teacher Organization" -- those days are over). And we settled on the date. Three weeks hence.

Tumors. Scarier things. The morning after surgery, with my mind still loopy and before the Captain gets there with his unloopy mind to act as interpreter, in comes Dr. Glenn for a visit. Turns out Mabel the Mass was a secondary player in all of this. Hidden behind her, undetected by the CT scan and ultra sound images, was an ovarian tumor. A large one. Dr. Glenn proceeds to give me a narrative of his thoughts when he found it mid-surgery. I'm trying to concentrate but my mind is stuck on the words "unexpected ovarian tumor." He called in Dr. Urie (pathologist) to look at it there in the operating room. He's concerned with the looks of it. Dr. Urie thinks it's "pre-cancerous" but ordered some of it sent to the lab to be sure.

Now we're in wait and see mode. It's Thursday. Long Fourth of July holiday weekend coming up. Lab results won't be back until Tuesday. Quick discussion on the chemo and/or radiation options should the results come back positive. Very cursory. We'll deal with all that later. I'm channeling my best "calm waters, 'let's not get ahead of ourselves', I can handle this." Sure am grateful for all that theater training when I was younger. Inside my head, it's a completely different story. I'm back to "wow, cancer. What will that do to my life?"

Chronicles of Convalescing - Part II

Hospitals are not meant as long-term housing options. Sure, meals and clean-up are provided for you, but trust me… the trade off is not worth it.

Originally, I was scheduled to stay in the hospital 4-5 days. Then, once the operation began and they found the hidden tumor in there, my doctor revised my “release date” to Monday, which would mean six days in-patient. NOT my idea of fun.
So, I dutifully walked around the surgical recovery area approximately every other hour, beginning the second day of my stay. I stayed one step ahead of the pain by staying on schedule with the pain meds. I concentrated on happy, healing thoughts…well, except on Saturday morning when Argentina lost 4-0 to Germany in the World Cup Quarterfinals and my hopes were dashed for yet another four years. Beautiful, and I do mean beautiful, flower arrangements delivered to me from the Captain, my extraordinary mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and her husband, my co-workers (whom I have left in the lurch with workload while I recover at home), and two of my dearest friends, helped to keep my blood pressure low and my spirits high. The live orchid my daughter brought when she came on Saturday morning helped to ease the aforementioned World Cup loss.

The best news of all came Saturday morning when Dr. Grover came in to check on me. After checking my incision and my vital signs, she decided to take the drain out (icky bloody thing) and pronounce me recovered enough to go home. Woo hoo!!! Two days early. So, stocked with four different prescriptions for pain management and red blood cell production, I got to take the triumphant wheelchair ride down to the revolving doors. We were quite the procession: the Captain and Katie carrying flowers, the patient care tech pushing the wheelchair and me doing my best Queen Elizabeth wave at the crowds lining the hallways.

Chronicles of Convalescing - Part 1

This is the part where I go to sleep on an operating table wearing only a hospital gown while counting back from 100 (I remember getting to 98), and wake up feeling warm blankets all over me... that I really would have enjoyed, except for the stabbing pain of a butcher knife sawing away in my gut. A distant voice says, "Karla... Karla... how do you feel?" over and over again. Ever the over-achiever anxious to please type, in my mind I try to come up with an accurate answer. Will "groggy" give them enough information? Or should I try "disoriented with a touch of panicked thrown in?" Or perhaps "my stomach is on fire and whoever is stabbing me with a knife better knock it off before I get a hold of their lower lip and pull it over their forehead." I think better of that one because my mother taught me manners and that's no way to speak to someone. In the end, I come up with a very faint, "I hurt."

Time doesn't exist. Whether my next memory was 10 minutes or 2 hours later, I can't be sure. The pain is gone and I'm on the sixth floor (Surgical Recovery Unit) in my own room. IV with an antibiotic drip? Check. Blood pressure cuff in place and heart rate clip on my finger? Check. Suction drain at the incision site filling up with red bloody yucky stuff? Check. Eyelids too heavy to keep open for any length of time? Check. TV mounted above the door so I can watch upcoming World Cup matches? Check. The next item will tell me if the last eight years were a dream or reality... The Captain standing by the side of my bed? Check.

I go back to sleep. It's going to be okay.

Attention, Attention..... This is the Captain speaking..

Greetings and well wishes from the redhead's lair. I, the Captain, have been assigned (go figure) to write this post to keep all y'all informed of the events of the past week. First bit of news; ding dong the witch is dead! Yep, Mabel the mass has gone the way of the dodo! As it turns out Mabel had company. None other than her wicked cousin Lucyifer. Lucy tried to spread her wrath in Karla's body but alas the mighty surgeon's knife was quicker than her spread of venom. The pathologist has offered the news that there will be none of Lucy in the body governed by the sister of "She who must be obeyed". By the way, who would have figured that "She who must be obeyed" would be a Librarian?

Who knew that nurses in the hospital would comment on the redhead's hair? "Oh you have such a full head of hair", and "My what a beautiful color of hair, and so much of it". Yep, I was very proud walking the redhead, or should I say walking with the redhead around the hallways of the sixth floor. Everything but whistles coming from the rooms as we walked by for the lady. Now I work at the hospital but because of my chameleon skills the folks don't recognize me in civvies. Anyway I feel that I have destroyed the redhead's blog well enough now. By the way, she is doing famously and is bound and determined to get home one or two days before the good doc says she will, possibly tomorrow. It has been a learning experience for the Mrs and me. Good things have come from the time spent together rehabing. I'm sure the redhead (she actually likes being called "the Ginger") will keep you posted on what those things have been. Before I cause any more damage I will sign off, never to write again I am sure. Cheerio!

A Day With Mae...

... is a walk in the park.

Getting Divorced

The Captain and I are packing up our home and moving on to new adventures. In the process, I decided not to lug around things that have been stored in boxes with previous moves but never accessed or needed at each stop along the way.

Enter my file cabinets. There, in the back, three hanging file folders, contributed by my ex-husband. Each folder bulged out about 4 inches thick, full of unfriendly emails and letters, receipts for expenses still unreimbursed, legal briefs and responses from the numerous court battles he embroiled me in and then dropped when it appeared things wouldn’t end up going his way with the judge. Twelve inches of paper and history purchased at a price of close to $30,000.00 in legal fees to compile, collect and occasionally display in court. All these years I kept all this negativity, all these weapons for battle and defense, moving from house to house. Just in case.

No need to defend myself anymore. The divorce decree that cost me a small fortune is no longer needed to enforce anything. None of my children are minors now. No child support to collect; no visitation to coordinate. No more worries about being hauled in front of a judge on a whim. No need to keep these behemoth file folders just in case I need them to refute the story being woven in court.

Keeping all this “documentation” for ten years now. To prove… what??? What??? After all these years, I finally and completely don’t care.

It was cathartic to throw it all away. At first I looked through a few pages. Then I decided, “why?” I don’t care to be reminded about what I have forgotten.

No grudge. Wishing him peace on the east coast while I live peacefully closer to the west coast.

So, to be divorced… completely divorced… I guess it took longer than I thought it would. It took 11 years.

Don't Cry For Me, Argentina

Argentina recently celebrated its bicentennial. I have spent the day reviewing the news reports and photographs of that country I love so much.

For Cindy... (and also for my children)

For Cindy because of now... and for the Captain's and my children because they are always in our thoughts.

http://www.meridianmagazine.com/1/4717/article

Movin' and Shakin'

So… we’re moving. I know… I know. Don’t gasp. I have been deliriously happy here in The Ridge. Have loved it with all my heart and soul. Have never lived in a more beautiful place… both the surroundings and the people. Oh, the people! How I love them! I could go on and on about the wonderful, kind, soulful, beautiful people that I have lived amongst for the past eight years.

However, it’s time for a change. You see, we rent the only rental in our ward. We’ve been living in it while planning to build our home on the lot we own up the road. As much as I have loved The Ridge, since last September the Captain and I have had a reason to think twice about whether it was really best for our family to stay here long term.

Now, here’s an eyebrow-raising turn of events: One of the wonderful Ridge people we love has recently had a terrible tragedy in her life. Her husband has left her and her four children. (Let’s just say, like a fool, he’s traded down.) Unfortunately, he has torched his family’s life on his way out. They have been left without a home as well as without financial support. Don’t get me started on just how angry I am about it all.

When I heard about it, I knew what we needed to do. I just knew. I came home and told the Captain what had happened. I told him flat out, “We need to move out of our house so Cindy and her children can move in. They need to be able to stay in the area. They need the support of the people here. They need everything The Fourth Ward Ridge has to offer.” Lucky for me, the Captain is the man he is. One day of figuring out logistics and we got started. So… we’re boxing things up. We’re gearing up for our next adventure. Yep, that’s the Captain and Karla Show… everyday a new adventure!

Life is good. Memories are good. Friendships are good. Packing is NOT good. Hauling things is NOT good. Labeling boxes is NOT good. Saying good-bye will NOT be good. We intend to continue attending church in The Ridge through the summer so that Jon can have his farewell here in this place with these people that played such a role in helping him get to this point in his life. Once he is safely tucked away at the MTC, the Captain and I will raise our heads, look around, and decide where we are headed next.

Will we be back in The Ridge in a couple of years happily building our home on our lot? Don’t know. Don’t need to know. It’s enough to know we’re doing the right thing now.

To my Ridge homies… may you wrap up Cindy and her young ones in all the love and friendship you shared with me and mine. There really isn’t a kinder, safer place on earth than right here. It’s been my great blessing to know you and be amongst you. “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”

Perspective

Oh Baby, Baby...

Christian has arrived.

The Call Has Come

So... Thursday in the mail comes an envelope to Jon from Salt Lake City. Problem: Jon is in Kansas for the summer working. (Side note: so are Brett, Juliann, Mae, Josh and Spencer.) Sigh. I know I have to forward it on to him. I know I have to leave it unopened. Temptation. Decision time. Looking at the iron (specifically the steam feature); looking at the envelope. Gauging my acting ability to sound surprised in a couple of days when he calls to "tell me" where he's going.

Nope. Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent. I drive to the UPS Store and send it to Kansas... unopened. I tell Jon I've sent it for Monday delivery, but I actually sent it overnight. I wanted him to be surprised. I sent it to Brett and Juliann's place. I called Juliann and told her it was coming. Bless her heart! She comes up with a plan. She makes cookies and invites Josh, Jon and Spencer to come over after work for "dessert." Little do they know... it's really to have Jon open his call.

The Cap'n and I watch the clock all day. Finally, at 10:00 at night the phone rings. Jon's about to open his call. I'm thrilled for him... and proud of him. Fogive the parental boast, but he is one prepared young man.

I don't know who to kiss first: Steve Jobs for inventing an iPhone that records video that can be sent from a cellphone to an email address, or Juliann for knowing all about that feature and using it so I can "see" my son open his call in far away Kansas.

OH?? Have I not told you where he's going? Well, I'll let him do that.



Brett's got me on the phone. The Cap'n and I have our heads smashed together trying to both hear at once. Josh has the ex on his phone. Spencer has Katie on his phone. I love cell phones!!! Oops? Are you still on pins and needles? Here ya go:



Yeah, that was some seriously butchered Spanish pronunciation. But... no worries. Two years from now he'll come back saying it correctly.



Okay, please notice in that last clip how subtly Brett calls him a girl. "For eighteen months." And did you catch in the first video clip how Jon picks Mae up and is kissing her on the top of the head when he notices the UPS package. So sweet.

So here are the details:
Mexico Tuxtla Gutierrez Mission
Reports to the MTC on September 1st
A million and one immunization shots to get

Transitions

They are happening. Personal transitions. Marriage transitions. Family transitions. I’ve got so many on my mind lately that I think I’ll use the next few entries to process my thoughts about them all.

The transition of going from working primarily from home for the past 14-15 years (with all the blissful flexibility that came with it) to working somewhere else with a set schedule has been a real eye-opener. It’s been a change for my children as well as for me. It’s weird to not see them at all until the end of the day (if then). It’s weird for them when they call me and I don’t answer the phone or am not able to talk.

I need to again express out loud just how fortunate I have been to be able to raise my children, and work full-time from my home for as long as they have been in school. My working was almost invisible to them. I attended assemblies, games, activities, doctor and dentist appointments, graduations, and the like as seamlessly as anything. Forgotten assignments or lunches could be delivered. Household and family errands were done on my time throughout the day. Dinners were cooked at home and served.

Visiting teaching was easy to coordinate. Lunches and spur of the moment visits with friends could happen whenever they came up. Opportunities to make dinners or treats for sick neighbors or friends were easy to participate in.

I didn't have to accumulate sick time or have rigid vacation schedules. I remember working while in my bed, my laptop on a breakfast tray, the day after a same-day surgery procedure. If a chance for a road trip to San Diego or Idaho came up, I was all over it. There were trips I called my clients from a cell phone as I drove across Northern California; others when I worked in the morning while visiting my mom and used her computer and then took my children to the beach in the afternoon.

In short, I designed my work schedule around my life. Now… I feel like I have to design my life around my work schedule. Yuck! How do full-time working-outside-the-home mothers do it? Holy cow!

Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful for my job. Grateful to have one in this economy. I'm just surprised at how many alterations to my life I have had to make in order to work full-time outside my home.

Cresting the Hill and Heading Over

$5.37. That's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bell said to me.

I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the car to grab some change when the kid with the Emo hairdo said the harshest thing anyone has ever said to me.

He said, "It's OK. I'll just give you the senior citizen discount."

I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me. "Only $4.68" he said cheerfully. I stood there stupefied. I am 48, not even 50 yet? A mere child! Senior citizen?

I took my burrito and walked out to the car wondering what was wrong with Emo. Was he blind? As I sat in the car, my blood began to boil. Old? Me?

I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting with a smile. Before I could say a word, he held up something and jingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted! What am I now? A toddler?

"Yeah, um, ... Can't get too far without your car keys, eh?"

I stared with utter disdain at the keys. I began to rationalize in my mind. "Leaving keys behind hardly makes a person elderly! It could happen to anyone!" I turned and headed back to the car. I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn. What now? I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing.

That's when I noticed the purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror. Then, a few other objects came into focus. The car seat in the back seat. Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard. A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard.

Faster than you can say ginko biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle.

Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger! My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito, only it was nowhere to be found.

I swung the car around, gathered my courage, and strode back into the restaurant one final time. There Emo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish. All I could think was, "What is the world coming to?" All I could say was, "Did I leave my food and drink in here?" At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle, and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits.

Emo had no clue. I walked back out to the car, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag. His mother explained, "I think you left this in my car by mistake." I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized. She offered these kind words: "It's OK. My grandmother does stuff like
this all the time."

All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40. Yes, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius.. And no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast.

As I walked in the front door, my son met me halfway down the hall. I handed him a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket. I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blanky.

The good news was I had successfully found my way home.

Just in case you weren't feeling too old today, there's a few things you should know:

The people who are starting college this fall were born in 1991.
They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.
Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
The CD was introduced two years before they were born.
They have always had an answering machine.
They have always had cable..
Popcorn has always been microwaved.
They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.
They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.
They never heard: 'Where's the Beef?', 'I'd walk a mile for a Camel ', or 'de plane Boss, de plane'.
McDonald's never came in Styrofoam containers.
They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.

Decisions, Decisions

Orange Chicken and Ham Fried Rice

OR

Shredded Beef Taquitos with Green Sauce


?????

How To Communicate

Can you tell me how you do it? How do you effectively communicate? Are there people you just "click" with? Ones that it isn't a lot of work explaining yourself and your thoughts to? (Yes, I'm aware of the dangling participles at the end of the two previous sentences.)

It's always confusing to me when a conversation begins where I think people are all sharing ideas, then in the middle of it, you get blindsided with someone objecting to the "motives" behind what your saying. Especially when you had no such motives.

Why is it some people are offended by one's "delivery" and others aren't? How can two people hear what you are saying... the exact same words... and have such different interpretations of them?

It makes me want to only talk with the people I click with... the ones that "get me." Is it lazy to want that? Is the point of communication to do the striving and the straining of making oneself understood as well as heard?