38 Birthdays and Counting

It’s my favorite person’s birthday. He will have celebrated a total of 38 birthdays after today. 16 of those birthdays I’ve had the good fortune of being able to celebrate with him. That’s not quite half, but still quite a few. What makes me the most happy is that I anticipate being able to celebrate many more future birthdays with the person I like most.

Just a few reasons I like to celebrate that Mike is alive…

-After he plays ball or goes on a run he fixes himself a tall, cold glass of ice water to rehydrate. He then leaves that glass on the counter, always half-full. When I find it I drink the rest of the water and chew on what’s left of the ice and he doesn’t even mind.

-His body temperature is always at least 10 degrees higher than mine. When I get cold (which is often), I know where to go to find some warmth.

-He thinks everything I cook is delicious even when it’s not.

-He will watch a second and maybe even a third episode of “Friday Night Lights” with me if I really want him to, even when he’s sick of watching TV.

-He willingly runs to the grocery store for me anytime, for anything.

-I have no idea what it’s like to have computer problems. He keeps our computers running perfectly. (He keeps a lot of other people’s computers running smoothly too, come to think of it) He’s like a ‘cool’ geek.

-He has a major soft spot for our daughter and our dog and it’s very sweet.

-He’s nice and respectful to his parents. He’s nice and respectful to my parents.

-He’s an awesome basket ball player (but don’t tell him I said that).

-He picks up all the dog poop and it doesn’t even bother him.

-He’s fills out a shirt quite nicely with those broad shoulders of his.

-In all the time I’ve know him, I’ve never heard one person say they don’t like him or have had trouble getting along with him.

-He’s very precise and careful when doing home improvement projects.

-He doesn’t need very much sleep so he always gets up with the kids at night. How many kids want Dad in the middle of the night instead of Mom? Ours.

-He can put anything together without even looking at the directions. Impressive.

-He lets me drive so I won’t get car sick. I know he hates this, but he still lets me.

-He’s really nice to me…all the time.

I like him very, very much.

Happy Birthday Michael. You really are my favorite person.

Where Much Is Given

Yesterday, as I sat down to my extra large plate piled high with Thanksgiving delights, I found my thoughts going back several years to the evening I attended my first and only Hunger Banquet at BYU. For those of you not familiar with the Hunger Banquet it’s basically this: You purchase a ticket to the banquet and upon arrival you will randomly be assigned a particular meal. 70 percent of those in attendance will be assigned a seat on the floor and be served a meager meal of rice and beans to be shared among those sitting around them. Another 20 percent of attendees will be seated in chairs (no table) and be served a very basic meal, nothing too special. The rest, about 10 percent, will be seated at fancy, candlelit tables and served a lavish meal with all the fixings (similar to my plate of Thanksgiving dinner pictured above).

As you look around the room during the banquet (as I did from my seat on the floor eating rice and beans with my fingers) you can witness a powerful visual representation of the real distribution of our world’s resources. You see, in a whole new way, what it means that 70% of the the world’s population has very little to call their own or to fill their bellies. It’s quiet an experience and one that I have never forgotten. (Thanks Julie for introducing me to the Hunger Banquet) I remember feeling quiet a bit of shame that evening, because I knew that I personally took so much of what I had for granted. I’m sure I still do.

Thanksgiving is of course a time to reflect on one’s many blessings. Just the fact that I can sit down to a Thanksgiving feast like yesterday’s and fill my belly, along with other’s in that 30 percent of the world’s well-fed category, is proof of all that I’m blessed to enjoy in my life. No one has to be told that the world is an unfair place. It’s obvious. There are so many who have very little, some who have more than they could ever need, and several in between. I wish that I had the answers or even satisfactory explanations for why things are this way, but I do not. Though I do feel compelled to ask myself, what does it all mean for me, someone who has been blessed with so much?

Partially the answer is in a principle that I have been taught all my life: Where much is given, much is expected. Because I believe this principle is truth, it has many implications for me. Over the last little while I have been thinking more than I usually do about how this principle plays itself out in my life. I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to do better. I need to do more. I must do a better, more conscientious job of living up to the things that God, who is the source of all my blessings, expects of me, because I have been given much. (The last part of that sentence would be a good title for a song, don’t you think?)

One thing I am most grateful for are the people around me who live this principle consistently and show me how to do it. My Uncle Rob and Aunt Mary are two people who I feel are perfect examples of this. In the last few years Rob and Mary have had the blessing of being able to build an addition on to their home, complete with a large gourmet kitchen and dining area. It really is a beautiful, functional space that is most often filled to full capacity. Rob and Mary are always inviting over, feeding amazing food too, and loving and serving a household full of friends, neighbors, strangers (who quickly become friends), and family. Uncle Rob and Aunt Mary share their blessings with everyone. They truly live the “where much is given, much is expected” principle. (Thank you Rob and Mary for that amazing Thanksgiving feast and for all the love and service you give our family!)

I know so many, like Rob and Mary, who live this principle. I’ve so often been the recipient of service given by people who live this principle; even those who don’t have much but still give much. So many of those people are you who are reading these words right now. Thank you, thank you!

At this Thanksgiving time, I resolve to be more like you.

Master

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, Mike and I spent most of the month of October doing some home improvement projects. It was mostly chaos and hard work and we are totally sick of painting, moving furniture and hanging things, but we are really pleased with the results of our industry. We didn’t do too much, mostly cosmetic stuff like new carpet and paint, some new bedding and pillows. Mostly we just rearranged and re-appropriated things that we already had around the house.

I’ve decided the Mike and I make a good team. I enjoy the design aspect of the redecorating process and Mike is a true handy man.

So without further ado, the results…

Before…

After…

As you can see, it’s not that different…just some color changes, a fresh coat of paint, new carpet (after 20 years of use out of the old stuff), a rearrangement of the book shelves, some new drapes.

My jumping off point for this room was the Pottery Barn bed duvet cover that I found on EBay for way less than I would have paid at Pottery Barn. Definitely the way to go if you like Pottery Barn stuff but don’t want to pay through the nose. I knew I wanted to go with gray on the walls (and the duvet has some gray in it), but I wanted to warm the room up with some golds, browns and corals, so it was perfect.

My favorite things about the master bedroom now are the paint (Martha Stewart’s Bedford Gray from Home Depot, highly recommend it) and the picture frames above the bed displaying photos from my trip to Paris. I got the frames about ten years ago from Joann’s for like $5 dollars a piece. Still love them.

Before…

After…

My other favorite thing in our new room is the vanity that I got for free from a neighbor’s garage sale. Mike and I repaired and refinished it together this summer. You should have seen it before. Now it looks as good as new! I also love the pictures on either side of the vanity mirror. They’re of Mike and I when we were kids. They make me smile.

The pictures in the gold frames above the rocker were hanging in my room at home when I was growing up, and on the opposite side of the window is a picture that used to hang in my Grandpa’s office. I’ve always loved it, and it matched perfectly. I like the sentimental touches that these things add to the room.

We also redecorated the bathroom.

Before…

After…

We stripped the wall paper and painted a coordinating color (Martha Stewart’s Morning Fog from Home Depot. Martha has helped us a lot with our painting projects this time).

My favorite thing about the bathroom is the new caulking around the tub and shower. I scrapped up all the old stuff and now it looks awesome, almost like new! I can’t believe how much difference little things like that make. I also love the little white cupboard that keeps all our toiletries out of sight. Much more neat and tidy.

As you can see, our improvements aren’t anything earth shattering, but it’s nice to have everything looking fresh and different.

Now if I could just convince Winnie that she can’t sleep on my new bedding…

*I would still like an end-of-the-bed bench for this room, something to fill the empty space and to sit upon when tying shoes and such, but I can’t find the right thing for the right price (I don’t want to spend too much for it). Any suggestions out there? Maybe I should have Mike build one? You up for that Mike?

Good night…

What Happened in Vegas

Every November Mike goes to a NextGen training conference. (NextGen is the company that produces the electronic medical records software used at the pediatric clinic where he works) These NextGen conferences take place in all different parts of the country such as Washington D.C., Florida, and Tennessee. This year the conference just happened to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Usually I stay home and hold down the fort while Mike attends these annual events, but this year I decided to tag along with him; mostly because some friends of ours (one of the pediatricians at the clinic and his wife) were also going and with Kristin there I would have someone to hang out with during the day while Mike was in classes.

I personally have a love-hate relationship with Vegas. Sleaze is everywhere in Sin City, but so are bright lights, great shopping, world class entertainment, and the most delicious food…not to mention 3 floors worth of the M&M store!

The Strip is something that never fails to blow my mind, in more ways than one. As soon as we had checked into the hotel (we stayed at the MGM Grand Signature Towers which are smoke and Casino free and very nice), Mike and I took a stroll from one end of the Strip to the other to see the sights. I brought along my trusty camera…

Las Vegas is the only place where you can see Lady Liberty…next to a garish medieval castle…next to a near exact replica of the Eiffel Tower…next to a larger-than-the-original Egyptian pyramid…next to a volcano that actually erupts…next to a ginormous pirate ship teaming with actual pirates. Las Vegas has multiple personality disorder.

For example: If the Lady Liberty outside doesn’t satisfy, you can take just a few short steps inside and see her made entirely out of Jelly Bellies…

…Walk just a few blocks further and along the way you will see the worlds largest chocolate fountain, a lion habitat, water fountains that spray in time to music, and a talking apple tree whose eyes follow you as you walk past…

… If that doesn’t do the trick for you, you can push and shove your way through the crowds, find a empty spot along the marble fence, and watch the water show out front of the world famous Bellagio hotel and casino…

…the Bellagio water show is totally nuts. As you watch, it suddenly dawns on you that you’re standing in the middle of the desert hovering over eight acres of water that periodically sprays 100 feet in the air. How can this be?

The multiple personality factor doesn’t stop there. In Vegas you’ll see stretch limos, Gucci stores, restaurants menus featuring meals at $250 a plate, and people walking around dressed to the 9’s; while the homeless are everywhere too, sitting along the Strip, hoping someone will be kind enough to throw them a bone. There are people of all ages there too, stand all night on street corners, wearing sweatshirts with girls, girls, girls printed across the front, trying to shove pornography in your hands in hopes of luring you into tawdry strip joints and night clubs. Multiple personalities indeed!

You know me, if there is a documentary to be seen I am compelled to watch it. I found a interesting documentary on the history of Las Vegas, all about how this crazy place in the middle of nowhere came to be. It was very compelling and full of interesting facts. Did you know that Casinos make a whopping 70 percent of their gambling profits from slot machines alone? It’s not that hard to imagine since most of the noisy, obnoxious things seem to be going 24-7, with people sitting at them for hours and hours trying their luck against the house. (The house always wins in the end. They make certain of it).

Gambling isn’t for me though, I would rather sample the delicious food. If it’s good food you’re after, Vegas is the place. Good heavens, we ate well…

Tuesday nights dinner: Portobello Mushroom Ravioli with with Champagne cream sauce, here at this little gem of a Italian restaurant in Caesars Palace. And how about breakfast from Las Vegas’s own Serendipity 3. The breakfast platter was as long as my arm. I couldn’t make it through half of it.

I’ve wanted to try Frozen Hot Chocolate for years, but the wait at the restaurant was always too long in New York City. There was no wait in Las Vegas on a Tuesday morning, and the Frozen Hot Chocolate did NOT disappoint…

Kristin was a convert as well…

Kristin and I also did a little shopping, mostly at the 40%-off-the-sales-price rack at the Loft and a little at H&M…most everything else was way out of our price range. Kristin was a perfect shopping partner though, she has great taste.

My favorite event of the trip… seeing Mystere by Cirque De Soleil at Treasure Island…

It was incredible. I’m dying to take the kids sometime. It would blow their little minds!

p.s. If you do go see Cirque De Soleil I would warn you not to use you cell phone to take pictures or video. You WILL get you phone confiscated until after the show.

Second favorite event…

…stopping at Trader Joe’s on the way home. I must admit I went a little over board there, throwing things in the cart for us to try and filling orders and requests from folks at home. We’ve now got Trader Joe’s groceries and food storage to last us until we get back to Las Vegas…someday. I so wish Utah would get a Trader Joe’s!

It was a fun filled few days, especially since most of the major expenses were on the company dime (except the Trader Joe’s shopping spree of course). Mostly I loved spending time with Mike. He’s the perfect traveling companion and we never get sick of each other.

A heartfelt thanks to Rebekah, Grandpa Dave and Mary Kate who were vigilant and capable babysitters for the boys. Anytime you travel together as a couple you are at the mercy of someone who’s willing to watch your kids. Thanks Grandpa Dave and Rebekah. The kids and the dog were all safe, sound and happy when we arrived home. We can’t thank you enough!

*I forget to mention that we also attended a big event for all the NextGen clients where we saw STYX in concert (which was awesome) and also Sammy Hagar of Van Halen fame, who was totally crazy and WAY to loud. Mike stuck it out, but I went back to the hotel so my ears would stop ringing!

One Year Today

My family at our parents farewell

My parents left for their mission to New Zealand one year ago today. In some ways that year has flown by quickly and in other ways is has seemed to drag on endlessly.

So much has happened while my parents have been gone; we’ve had baptisms and births, moves, hospitalizations, funerals, and holidays, some of those things being tough challenges that would have been much easier to face if mom and dad were home. For me, having my parents gone has been a classic case of not knowing what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. I miss my parents!

We’ve managed to hold it together as a family pretty well despite their absence, but my parents really are the cement that holds our family together. It will be so nice to have them home in just 5 short months.

On another note though, I have so enjoyed hearing and reading about their experiences on their mission. I don’t mind so much that they are gone when I see how much good they are doing for the people in New Zealand. As happy as we are going to be to have them home, the people in New Zealand are going to experience a loss when they leave…

My dad with some of the Young Single Adults at the Institute – My parents love these YSA’s so very much

My mom with just a few of her piano students in Ashburton. You would be amazed what these kids have learned with my mom as their piano teacher

My parents with some of the Elders and Sister Missionaries in their area – They’ve met some great missionaries

My beautiful mom on one of her trips to visit Seminary students and seminary teachers in the far corners of the South Island. Along with teaching Institute, my parent run an online Seminary program and help train early morning Seminary teachers.

My dad modeling his All Blacks jersey given to him by the YSAs on his birthday. The All Blacks won the Rugby World Cup this year. It was mayhem in New Zealand! My dad is now a huge rugby fan.

My parent’s mission has been a blessing to me and to our family. I think the biggest blessing is just my parent’s example of never failing dedication and devotion to what they believe and their example of faith and service. I know this mission has been difficult for them despite all the good. 

I have goodly parents.

I love you and miss you Mom and Dad.

It’s Officially Over

It’s been a nearly perfect Fall season. A person couldn’t have asked for more beautiful Fall weather. But, all of that is officially over. It’s freezing outside! My body is not liking being forced to adjust to the temperature change so quickly. I can’t seem to get warm. I’m adding a layer of clothing each day. Soon I will look like the Stay-puff Marshmallow man. Mike on the other hand, well, he’s still dressing in his signature shorts and t-shirt, he’s just added socks to his outfits. You know it’s cold when Mike wears socks. (You can probably imagine how stylish he’s looking as well)

We’ve had a good Fall as a family. It’s been crazy and we’ve worked hard and accomplished much. I’m excited to post pictures of our home improvement projects soon. They are almost complete, just putting on some finishing touches.

But… in the mean time I thought I’d post my two favorite things about Fall this year.

First…

Mike took the boys over to Ace Hardware and bought them each a $6.00 rake. As soon as they got home, and after they utilized the Sharpie marker to label their identical rakes so there would be no confusion about whose was whose, they went to town on the leaves that had fallen off our one lonesome tree in the back yard. They had a ball raking, jumping, throwing, raking again. Best $12 dollars ever spent. I’ve decided I need to put the boys to work more often. I’m going to make sure I buy them matching snow shovels come snowfall.

Second…

Jeffrey played on a community Little League flag football team this Fall. I was a little skeptical about the whole thing, but Jeffrey loved it! He was genuinely sad when it was all over. I enjoyed it too, surprisingly. I loved watching the games, chatting with friends on the sidelines, cheering for my boy. Maybe I will be a good sports momma after all, despite my total lack of interest in sports. We’ll see.

Side note: You might be asking yourself, “Why didn’t Jonathan play?” He refused…and he was very content with his refusal until we went to watch Jeffrey play his first game and they brought out team treats afterwards. Then Jonathan had a melt down. He was so angry with me that I had forgotten to mention that when you play on a team you always get treats afterwards. I learned my lesson. Next time I will make sure he has ALL the details before he makes a decision. Anyway, he didn’t play. Maybe it’s just as well since he isn’t much into anything that requires him to physically exert himself.

Mike and our neighbor Tom coached Jeffrey’s team. Turn’s out football is a complicated sport and tough to teach kids, but he and Tom did a fine job with the boys. Towards the end they were really starting to understand the game.

Each coach was issued a t-shirt with a subtle but very clear statement on the back. It’s unbelievable how crazy parents can get over their kid’s sports! I had no idea, but now my eyes have been opened.

Although Jeffrey spent considerable amounts of time standing on the field with his finger in his nose (we are hard at work trying to curtail that nasty habit), he wasn’t too shabby when he decided to try. He was a pretty decent blocker and grabbed a good share of flags. His fondest desire was to hike the ball. Mike let him do it one time and he was completely satisfied.

I love my Jeffrey boy, nose picking notwithstanding.

I feel I must add one more of my favorite things about Fall to this post…

…but she’s always my favorite.

Fall has been good. I will miss it.

Pig Tails

Could you just die? Is she not the cutest little, chubby, pig-tailed thing? My niece Catherine is 3 months old, and Sunday she was blessed. She was an absolute doll the whole day and it was good to get together with family and friends for a visit. We missed you again Mom and Dad.

A few more photos, because she is so darn cute….

(You’ll have to excuse the blurriness. I just got a new phone and I’m still learning how to use it and it’s camera functions properly).

Here’s baby Cate with Unlce Eric who blessed her beautifully.
Don’t you just want to kiss those chubby cheeks all day? (Cate’s, not Eric’s.)

Legacy

Last week I attended my Aunt Leah’s funeral. (Technically Aunt Leah is my great aunt but who’s getting technical?) Having Aunt Leah on the other side (now reunited with her mother and father, sister, two brothers, husband, and twin daughters who have gone before her) will certainly change things for those of us left behind on this side. She was an incredible women, a powerful force. If you knew her at all you know what I’m talking about. My mom wrote a wonderful post about her which says it all perfectly. You can read it here.

Attending Aunt Leah’s funeral was a powerful experience for me. I couldn’t stop thinking about how blessed I am. I’m blessed to know some truly amazing women in my life. I‘m blessed to be related to some truly amazing women and to have the influence of these good women all around me everyday. I realized, as I sat there at the funeral listening to the stories about Aunt Leah’s life, as the speakers mentioned my grandmother and great grandmother, my mom, aunts and cousins; I realized how much and how often I draw strength from the lives and examples of the good women around me, those here on earth as well as those on the other side.

The picture above includes some of these good women of whom I speak…my incredible mother of course (in the darling red polk-dot dress), my Aunt Kathy, my Great Grandmother Amalia (whom I’ve never met in person but whose life has had a profound impact on mine regardless) my sweet Grandma Winnie whom I miss everyday, and of course Aunt Leah up there on the back row. (Also included in the picture are my mom’s cousins Teri, Winnie, and the twins Jeanine and Jalane, 4 other incredible women who have blessed my life).

My Uncle Paul spoke at Leah’s funeral. He spoke about how Aunt Leah, along with many others before her have left legacies for the rest of us still on this earth, legacies of faith, devotion, strength, loyalty, endurance, hard work, service and love. I was overwhelmed with gratitude as I considered how right he was and how lucky that made me. I found a renewed energy to live my life better, to give more, to be more like these strong, good women.

My mother, my mother in-law, my grandmothers, aunts, cousins, sister in-laws, good friends, neighbors, my beautiful daughter…I’m so lucky to know some of the best women on the planet. I want to name each one of you individually but this blog post would be so very long if I did.

I think what I’m trying to say here is this…whenever I consider how I should live my life, I don’t have to look very far to find the answers. With all the messages, ideas and pressure about what women should do and be and become in this world of ours, I know exactly what I want to be, do and become, and for that I’m am truly blessed.

Halloween Delivered

The spookiest holiday of the year most certainly didn’t let us down, it delivered big time….

…starting with a visit from cousin Julie and family and the baking of a batch of traditional Hoot Owl cookies. Joyce (oops, I mean Fern) models an orange-eyed beauty. I vow that I will make these every Halloween from now on. My kids loved them!

Halloween delivered in the costume department. The boys decided to go Wild West this year. I know I’m a bit biased as the mom here, but I thought the boys brought it home in the adorable department…

…and Jonathan delivered the rockin’ poses, as usual.

Mary Kate delivered the sweetness as a lovely, curly haired peasant girl…

(This was her last year to trick-or-treat so she made sure to live it up. Her basket full of candy is proof that she did so.)

Mike delivered, as per usual, in a wac-a-do sports getup that harkened to his favorite Chevy Chase movie…

…I personally thought the fro was a nice touch and it did make him a few inches taller (which I liked).

“Here’s Fletch, he’s actually 6’5”… with the afro, 6’9”.”

Halloween didn’t stop there…it delivered a neighborhood Trunk-or-Treat and warm soups feast…

…doughnuts on a string…

…adorable babies in fuzzy animal costumes…

…1st grade celebrations…

…the busting out of our traditional family pumpkins…we <3 these guys…

…and of course, a whirl wind of Trick-or-Treating. (I can’t get the boys to walk two blocks to school without whining, but for buckets full of candy they will walk/run three entire neighborhoods with nary a complaint!

No worries, Halloween didn’t let us down, it certainly delivered in the sugar department. The candy stash was vast and deep indeed. This morning I purchased the candy for ten dollars per kid, and it was worth the money I will save in dental bills.

(Don’t worry, I’m not that mean…I let them keep some of it.)

Halloween also delivered the stress, which holidays tend to deliver when you’re the mom orchestrating it all behind the scenes. But, in the end, the stress is worth it because the kids had a fabulous time and made Halloween memories that will last forever. As did I.

Hope your Halloween was Spook-tacular!