U is for Understanding

This time of year made the call for my U...for Understanding. It seems like so many of our troubles stem from not understanding--the other guy, the other society, the other point of view etc. We all [in our culture, at least] talk about peace, joy, goodwill and understanding towards all, but it is so much easier done than said! Understanding does not mean agreement, nor even approval. It means just...understanding that the other person might have a different viewpoint, which is as valid to him as mine is to me. The other culture might have a different background, so a different way of interpreting events etc than mine. We can understand that we have differences.

That said, understanding that others have different viewpoints does not make all views equally valid. I can understand that the colorblind man sees the stop sign as grey, but it remains red. Verities do not change because of differences in understanding. I know certain things are true, but if you understand it differently, I do not have to look down on you, nor do I have to accept your understanding as true as mine. I simply have no right to ridicule you or persecute you for your lack of understanding as I do. That is true tolerance. To know what is right, to understand the differences others may have, to accept the people with the incorrect opinions as valid and justified in their opinions without accepting something that is intrincically abhorant as equal in value. The person is equal in value to me or to anyone else, but understanding is rarely equal because we have such divergent backgrounds that while some of us show great understanding, others might not be to our level as yet.

All this rambling can be taken in a religious sense, but not neccessarily so. It could be about politics or even about dog breeding! I think we [people] just need to show more understanding towards others in general.

T is for...

Time to spend as I like--reading, watching TV, visiting friends, sleeping, and a whole host of other things.

Toys to purchase--Christmas presents for family and friends. [Remember, we don't all define toys the same!]

Television to relax by, or to bake by or quilt by or a myriad of other things that occupy hands but leave the mind to wander.

Travel near and far. Not that I'm doing a lot just now, but a girl can dream, can't she?

Tools. I've told my family that I want a drill bit set for Christmas. I'm tired of having to take a trip to the hardware store every time I need a different drill bit!

Want to hear a joke? While set up was madly going on for the Nativity, one man sent his young son over for a hammer from my toolbox. "Be careful not to mess up Brother B's tools," he said.
Ha ha ha. Get it?! Brother B's the first to admit he breaks out in hives at the very idea of entering the hardware store, whereas, it is one of my favorite stopping places in town.

Town. I like mine. I hope we can work it out to stay awhile.

Talk. I like to talk with family and friends, and am grateful for the internet as well as
Telephones which make the communication lines easy to keep open.

Ta- Ta. And I'm going to get this alphabet finished off in a more timely manner now.

S is for Snow

S has to be for Snow. It is 5 Dec and we are getting our first snow of the year. It started during the night, so we awoke to a lovely scene. It is continuing, though expected to stop this afternoon. Because it is the first of the year...it came with accidents, school delays and school cancellations. We have planned to put up our Christmas lights this afternoon, but we may not get it all done in one day--I don't know because part of the drill entails walking out on the roof, and I'm not so sure that I want Richard out there in the snow. We'll see. With the Snow, I feel like Christmas really is coming! Just last night I was putting up jars of tomatoes from our garden--the last ones, picked green, but turned red finally. I still have six or seven pumpkins to put up, so I'll be canning yet awhile. Still Snow makes me feel Christmas-y. OK, I know the Saviour was born in the Spring [hence lambs...] but it certainly puts me into the mood! Now I'm ready to write my Christmas letter, finish my Christmas cards, start baking, decorate the house...of course I have to clean it first after the months of neglect! Keep Snowing!

R is for Rest, Reading and Relaxation.

Yep, R is for Rest, Reading and Relaxation. Post-Pageant I'm due a little R & R & R, I think. My feet hurt so much that I wore slippers to choir practice Sun afternoon. [I couldn't figure out which shoes would hurt the least--and it was time to go!] I don't plan to get out of bed on Mon 'til at least 2:00. If then. With the laundry all caught up by my thoughtful husband, and dinner being provided by a close friend, I am milking Mon for all it is worth!

Then...back to the Nativity--although we had a 3 hr "Strike" to change our building back into a church for Sunday, the coat closet is jammed with over 200 costumes needing sorting, laundering and storing for the year. It will be parceled out to many women at church, we just have to keep track of the costumes. I am currently devising a master index. I will also have a picture in each file showing the complete costume. Other files will be sets, and what materials were used and where those materials are stored. A shot of each "booth" in the marketplace will aid in set-up next year, as well as arranging for replacement of some of the rickety thrown together shelves from last year. A publicity file will show what all was done this year... and we carefully stored the missionary display which was made for this as well. Finally, I will update the cast files.

Then back to R & R & R. I am looking forward to getting our Christmas lights up--we're running late this year--not just my fault, Richard was working when we usually do it anyway...now for some good weather to do it in! It will be fun. [Relaxation] I will get busy on other Christmas activities [Relaxation] but I will be able to stay home mostly, and not have to be on my dead feet so much [Rest]. I will even be able to sleep in, and/or take naps as desired [more Rest!]. Once I am rested enough, I will even be able to read something longer than a post on a blog site--ooh, maybe a book! Wow! We haven't even had Book Club since Oct [and that was a sharing of old favorites] because most of us were too drained to read anything more than a couple pages long!

So, now you all know my priorities...burn myself out, then Relax, Rest and Read. Whoever it is in the family who has us for Christmas [don't be upset, Sariah, I know who we have...] Books...I'd like some new LDS fiction and even nonfiction. Books I'll never probably buy myself, but would enjoy very much. LDS because other stuff I can easily get from the library. My new Year's resolution will be to do more R & R & R. I need some right now!

In case you do not know what I am referring to when I mention: the Pageant, the Nativity, etc. the following is one of the advertisements I sent out to family and friends. It is the most difficult thing I have ever directed...because it is so varied and each detail much be followed. Each "scene" is presented in a very different way, for example: lighting--in the Marketplace is basically the cultural hall lighting, but on the Road to Bethlehem, we employ directional lights that turn on by movement. The Inn is lit by candles and lantern from inside, garden solar lights in the courtyard, and a couple [electric, disguised as not electric] torches. Add a couple strands of decorative lights in the bushes, and we're done. For the shepherd encampment [in addition to the fire pit] where and when the angels appear, we use a conglomerration of lighting trees [in regular life, volleyball poles] and a behemoth sound/lighting platform. We are adding an additional light this year to shine straight up and out of the Herald angel's costume, and a star above his head. Moving back indoors for the Holy Family in their cave, we use the lights in the foyer sparingly, with one focused on the Holy Family, and just enough other light for people to see by. Last year we used just the regular lights in the overflow for the courtyard of the temple, but I'd like to have a spot on Simeon's door. Not yet figured out! In the Temple, we have some ambient lighting from the side sconces, add a spotlight where the major action is, and light from the Menorah. And that's just the lighting!!! Every other aspect of the pageant must be similarly dealt with! I'm so tired! Two weeks to go and still so much to do! Then perhaps I can think R is for something other than rehearsal: here's my "flier"...

Nativity Enactment
"A Prophesy Unfolds"

Presented by
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints
6500 Fox Hill Dr
Canal Winchester, Ohio


FREE ADMISSION
TICKET REQUIRED due to limited group size

Call for FREE TICKETS: 614-837-8207

THURS NOV 29: 7:00, 7:30, 8:00
FRI NOV 30: 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30
SAT DEC 1: 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30

Come enjoy the LIVE NATIVITY plus the Marketplace at Bethlehem, [watch out for the Romans...] at the Inn, and later at the Temple with their Son. View with the shepherds the amazing appearance of angels.
Afterward as you explore the Marketplace, you will be offered free refreshments and the opportunity to visit the creche rooms containing a large collection of Nativity sets from around the world.
Sign Translation for the deaf throughout, Spanish and many other languages available upon request. [European, Asian, and African] If other languages required, please let us know when you order your tickets.

Of course, my smart-alec daughter [who won't be here anyway] asked for translation for...Canadian!

Q is for Quiet

Along about one of the last few days of Sept. my daughter arrived with her two little boys, aged 2 and 7 mo. to stay for a month. It was wonderful having them here--even if I spent over half the time sick. And I got sick as they recovered!

Finally everyone was well, and everyone adjusted. The last week and a half were terrific! I miss them so much!

They left 1 Nov, fairly early in the morning. Suddenly it was quiet...a quiet so loud that it screamed, "QUIET " in our house. Oh there is still noise--from outside, from TV and radio and even the refrigerator hum. But it is so QUIET! I still have not put the toy baskets away in the garage, but there are no musical toys playing.

I like the quiet at the church when I go over by myself and work on costumes [unpacking from last year, ironing, organizing]. I like the quiet as I sleep at night. I like the quiet as the colder temperatures drive us inside more and close our windows. But I miss my daughter's company. And I miss my grandsons playing, talking, and, yes, even crying. [I love cuddling and singing the baby to sleep!]

Yep, Q is for Quiet. Both bad and good.

P is for...Paper!

I'm drowning in it! If it isn't junk mail, then it is mail I must attend to. Where oh where are the cute Halloween cards bought to mail to grandchildren? Purchased ahead of time, and oh so thoughtfully, yet they carelessly ended up with the paper! I have computer paper--blank and used on one side, now "scratch" paper. I have paper of different weights and colors for publicity. I have more paper of more colors and more weights for scrapbooking. Then there are the pictures and the stickers and... and... and... when it comes to scrapbooking paper! Then there are scripts. "sides" [partial scripts for those who are in only one or two scenes] costume charts and pattern papers.

Papers which come home from school occasionally find me.

Then there are magazines [made of--you guessed it Paper! Oh, and books! ]

A number of years ago in our school district in VA it was claimed that we were to become a paperless society. If that is so, why do I need the printer so very much?

Some days I would really like P to be for entirely something else...Pageant [produces copious amounts of paper] Plants [recipes for green tomatoes after the freeze were printed out on --Paper!] planes [one of our family traditions on Thanksgiving was the making of Paper airplanes...] Popsicles [they come in Paper--very sticky...] Pumpkins...had to dig out the James Whitcomb Riley poem: "The frost is on the punkin..."but the poem was on Paper! It is everywhere!

Help! In this brave new world of a paperless society, I'm drowning in... Paper!

O is for Orders

There are a few different kinds of orders I must explain. As a child growing up Catholic, "Holy Orders" meant becoming a priest, as in "receiving Holy Orders" and was one of the seven Sacraments [the only one I never received, I might add [unless you don't count matrimony, as I was not married as a Catholic] and never could. But I had friends and family who did receive Holy Orders. And it made lots of sense to me because I was also an Air Force brat! In the military, Orders refers first to a duty assignment [as in "he received Orders for Canute AFB"]

Then, of course there are the everyday sort of "orders" given by parents or other persons in authority. Obedience to those orders are directly in line with respect for the giver by the receiver. I think that parents must give orders, and children must learn to obey, but all parent's requests should not be couched as orders, for then a child never learns how to decide correctly for himself. Soldiers must obey orders--usually without question, but American soldiers have always held the right to think for themselves, and to disobey a direct order if believed to be a bad order.

As a director, I must give orders at times, [tho I prefer to make requests] as final decisions must be made by someone who is then held accountable for those orders--just like in the military, or the family.

Sometimes it is nice to know that you are not the person responsible for the orders or for the consequences, for they do go hand in hand...[I love seeing school trips--and thinking, ha! I'm not in charge!]

I guess I've gone full circle in my thinking, for I think that commandments are "Holy Orders." Our Heavenly Father has given us relatively few...but if we follow them, we can reach safety and peace. I always think of the Johnstown Flood of Pennsylvania. I read of a boy whose Prussian Father always gave orders expecting instantaneous obedience. During the flood the two of them were on their roof awaiting rescue. When a boat came, there was room for only one, and the waters were so strong, they could not get very close to the house--nor stay in the area very long. At one point the boy, dimly understanding what was happening, received an order from his father. "Jump" was the order. Without hesitation, the boy followed his father's commamd. and was caught into the rescue boat. I don't recall that the father was saved. But he saved his son, who knew how to take an order. I think of this when I think of the many commandments given us by our Heavely Father. And I ask...Do I close my eyes and jump whenever He commands? I would like to say yes, but it would be a lie. I must learn to trust Him implicitly, close my eyes and jump at His orders. I pray we may all do so. It is hard to always be 100% sure of Holy Orders, but I keep trying.

Wednesday and Thankfulness

1] I've been really sick all week. A lousy way for my daughter and grandsons' visit to begin. But, it could have been so much worse! Lura brought a light case of IT with her. The boys went throught IT quickly. Richard hasn't caught IT, nor has Grandpa. I'm beginning to get over IT. And I am so very very thankful!

2] I love my new chiropracter. His goal is not the normal, "Let's get you off the cane." But rather: "Use the cane, fall over less." Unfortunately, I was not using my cane when I went out to push a solar lamp down into the flower bed. No, I fell--on my lovely [well at least they were]
flowers. But my neighbor heard my cry for help, and came over and helped me up. My back hurts, but it could be from sleeping sitting up just as much as from falling down! But at least I was taken care of!

3] Good friends who share their joys [Sarah had her baby! I just finished talking to her...] and sorrows [The good news is that it probably wasn't a heart attack, but...] and share in mine [my daughter this, my son that, my grandchild this and that!!!]

All in all, life is pretty good where I'm sitting right now!

N is for . . . NUMBERS!

I hate 'em! When I was younger, they would dance all over my page, so I ended up with the neatest arithmetic papers ever--I needed to have a huge margin above , below, and on both sides of each problem! Somehow, I suffered though all the higher math I needed for college. Then when I returned to school after a decade of absence, things had changed...more math [and I thought I had done with it!] Somehow or other, when I took my CBEST [CA teacher's exams] I actually pulled off an "above average"!

I even taught math...first grade level! That is about all I can handle.

But...I love the show Numbers. The mathematical talk and equations confuse me, but I find the whole idea a fascinating one. Guess some of my Dad's love of math rubbed off despite my best efforts to avoid numbers for life!

Time to go count some sheep!

Wed 3 Thankful Things

1] Being able to participate in grandson's school funraiser--even if it is online! [Rachel's candybar was easier & cheaper at church tonight! She just walked around with her bag, looking cute!

2] Additions to the household going smoothly. Yes, we have another cat--two year old and abandonned, Puck. Not the Faery King of Shakespeare, no, she is named for a hockey puck. Oh well. She's only up to almost 5 pounds, and she's getting some meat on her ribs at last.

3] Costumes are coming along--though I feel like I'm dragging and pulling, but the additional marketplace are almost done! My goal was 1 Oct--we'll probably not be quite finished, but awfully close!

M is for...

M is for Miracles. All kinds. There is a song from the musical Flower Drum Song that says it succinctly. My favorite line is about a girl not 2' tall not falling over as she walks.

M is for Musicals. Do you know that you can teach the most wonderful lessons through musicals? [see above] My favorite is the song "You've Got to be Carefully Taught" from South Pacific which explains the phenomena of racial prejudice. Children are NOT born with it, they must be carefully taught, "before they are six, or seven, or eight, to hate all the people their relatives hate..." One can teach lessons of hope, of faith, of charity all through musicals! They are also great for waking up the family on school days. My kids threatened me with death and worse at times, but getting them up with a rousing musical definitely brought a better mood into our home than other methods. [The Music Man starts out with whistles and 76 Trombones; 1776 starts out with a drumroll--my two personal faves]

M is for Monsters at the End of [the] Book, and other great reads for an with children! We sit with another family at church always. They have 4 kids aged 6 to 1; two of them are readers, the other 2 like books. They love to see what "Aunt [Allrie]" has brought each week. Won't it be fun next week when we add two grandsons to the mix?!

M is for Moms. Old or young, with many children or just one, actual physical mothers, or "other mothers" who stand in parentis locus both formally and informally. What influence on the next generation! How important to the secure development of each and every child. I've written about "other mothers" before, but I think they do not get enough credit. They may be family friends, they may be aunts, they may be teachers etc., but kids need not only their own Moms but the "Other Mothers" in whom they can confide and from whom they draw strength, and look up to and just generally know the security that they are loved and cared about by more than just their own Moms. "Other Mothers" usually have a different experiential background and can relate to the kids in a way different from their own Moms. And Moms, at least the good ones, love their kids unconditionally, providing a base of support for each and every human being--if all worked right.

M is for lots of really important things...I could go on, but my son wants the computer. M is also for "Mine" a favorite word of any two year old, but I am past that point in life, so I will share. My child deserves his turn.

Enough is Enough

Enough is Enough is the name of a campaign to ask that performers everywhere behave in a respectful manner when speaking of our Savior. Apparantly some actress--whom I understand is pretty well known--but not to me: Kathy Griffith [?] accepted her Emmy with a statement taking the Lord's Name not only in vain, but doing so in the most calculated and offensive way possible. The Miracle Theatre in TN decided they'd had it, so took out a full page ad in USA Today saying so. All they asked was that respect for our God, or at least our beliefs be shown. Any other religious group would not be forced to receive this growing degredation and persecution in America. I agree, so I decided to tell my family and friends about it. For more info, and to sign the petition [they are trying for a million signatures so it will be listened to, just go to their website--scroll past the theatre info [or read it, as did I] and you will find the whole story. www.MiracleTheater.com. And I was going to say M is for miracles! I'm not sure wether or not I will now...but then again...

3 Things yet again!

1] Daughters: one who makes me think about the things for which I am thankful on a regular basis. Thanks for starting this, Sariah!

2] Tomatoes. And Bro. Schultz. He supplies our whole ward with tomato plants for our gardens, then during the season, he brings a couple of big boxes full of tomatoes each week to church. I am busy laying in a years supply. I'll soon be set--I don't know about the rest of the household!

3] Friends. I have friends here. Real friends. Not just see you on Sunday, but call you up and say have you had lunch yet? Want to run to _________ with me? And whom I can call in the same way. You don't really appreciate having friends like that 'til you go a number of years without them! And it is not just one or two--I have lots of friends here--it's so great!

L is for...Light

I really don't appreciate the new OH law which does not yet accept Seminary as school, so until the 20th I have to go with Richard as he cannot drive 'til 6:00am, and Seminary begins at 5:45 am. I have, however always liked the early Light of pre-dawn and the Light of a beautiful sunrise. It makes me feel renewed in a way sleeping in does not.

I love the way a silver lining looks, an edge of Light, caused by clouds and sun lining up just right--and it really does look like the proverbial "silver lining". It tends to make one believe...

I love the look of rays of Light refracted through a cloud--like we see in the movies. Once we saw it from the air in a small plane all around us when I was a kid--a sight I cannot begin to describe accurately. Suffice it to say that it filled me with awe.

The spray of refracted Light that is a rainbow is fun for everyone. You can see them in rain + sun; you can see them in sprinklers. Sometimes we see double rainbows, sometimes just partial rainbows. But the rainbow I remember best was in AZ, as we traveled. It had the most clear, vivid colors--especially purple, that I've ever seen in a rainbow--and Olie [exchange student from Berlin] said he'd never seen a rainbow before!! His first was a real goodie! We have to remember the pollution that Communism had hanging as a pall over East Germany [which surrounded Free West Berlin] while he was growing up. I wonder if he sees rainbows there yet?

Prisms also refract Light, making little rainbows, and it is fun to play with the Light. We have a glass bird feeder hanging on our front porch. It was placed there to draw birds to the front windows for the cats' entertainment...and they do like the birds, but Todd, especially likes the play of the Light as the glass refracts it into the living room. The more birds, the more the Light dances on the ceiling. Now he has discovered that he can make Light dance on the ceiling when he pushes his water dish. The water is acting once again to refract the Light.

In theatre, it is quite simple: The purpose of Light is to make the show visable. But it is usually much, much more. The colors and shadows can affect, even control emotions, without the audience even being aware of the manipulation of their feelings.

We study about the Light of Christ within each of us...that quickening which gives us Life...and we can understand because Light [or the lack thereof] does affect us. Think about it the next time you are at a play, movie or concert. What are they doing with the Light? Speaking generally, Light, like music, plays to the emotions. It affects our attitudes, expectations, and moods.

I will enjoy sleeping in once Richard turns 17 this week, but I will usually then miss out on dawn's early Light. It energizes my whole day when I see it, so, I guess I'll just have to get up--watch the sunrise--and then go back to bed!

K is for ...Kites

As we loaded costumes into the back of my friend's van last Sat to return to our building, she apologized for the lack of room due to the fact that their family went to fly kites the day before...and I recalled a time when, with the single adults, my oldest three kids and I not only flew kites, but made them first! Fortunatly my friend Kent, [kitemaker extrodonaire!]helped a lot--my dexterity leaves something to be desired. The kites did get off the ground, tho they didn't do as well as store bought kites. Good memories.



As a kid, I had a neighbor, Randy, who would fly his kite from the cliff edge of their house. He let it out so far that it seemed to fly miles over the valley before he would reel it in. I loved to watch as I was the Charlie Brown of kite flying in our neighborhood!




Then my mind turned to darker things. Where I taught in Richmond, the science committee sponsored Kite Day each spring. I had a combined 2nd/3rd grade class that first year. My class was the overflow, asnd when I was hired, each second and third grade teacher was asked to choose who they would send on to the new class. [Very unfair to the incoming teacher because you know they did not send their best behaved students...] but one of my little second graders was of particular concern. Because of what he said and drew, I felt that he had been sexually abused [I had previously worked in an area where I received special training in catching these things.] I did not believe it was at home, nor was I sure that it was ongoing. But I was positive that it had occurred. I duly reported to the school counselor, and to my disgust it was dropped. Until kite day.



Because k-2 went out at one time, then 3-5, I sent my 2nd graders out with another class, remaining behind with my third graders. We were working away when a child from that other class came saying I was needed right away!! So out went my third graders and I. The boy I had suspected of having had sexual abuse was now pulling the pants off some of the sweetest and most naive girls in the grade level! Moms had also been called. As we discussed the situation, I learned that my concerns had not been passed on. The counselor just brushed it off because generally our school population knew more about sex than their ages warranted anyway. If the Mom had known, she could have gotten the child in for counseling, and removed him from the day care [an uncle] who was the suspected perpetrator. Those little girls would never have had to suffer such trauma.



So, now when I think about kites, I think of that infamous Kite Day where lives were changed for good and ill. Kite day was totally changed at our school by the next year. So K is not my favorite letter, but it does remind me that we should all be vey careful with our precious children [and grandchildren] and help to keep them safe from predators. My neighbors found me to be a crazy woman, but I would practice with my kids on what to do it someone snatched them--kick and howl like crazy: "This is not my mother! this is not my father!" It can save a child from a kidnapper. [We also have a code word to ride with even someone who is know to them.]



So K is for Kites. . . and Safe Kids. . . and bad Kidnappers/molesters.

Three More Things

1] Talents--mine and others. It was interesting performing in the Relief Society Dinner Theatre this past weekend. I also supplied the costumes from our Nativity Marketplace, with several of us wearing our own costumes. It is nice to be considered a "good" actor--even tho I know that I had to write the first two words of both my paragraphs on my hand!!! I simply could not remember which came when--too similar! The whole program went really well. I heard comments like "Wow! I didn't know Jill could sing like that!" [I did--I sit next to her in choir.] and so on...

2] Birthdays! Even tho I missed getting Parker's box mailed on time, at least he's too young to care, and it will be there early for Aiden! Richard will soon turn 17 and I won't have to go to Seminary any more [OH law does not allow for a 16 yr old to drive before 6:00am and Seminary starts at 5:45.] Plus...my next birthday means Sr. Citizen discounts at many places. Yay!

3] Sleep and quiet days. I've been extra busy of late, with my regular committments, plus the RS play, plus gearing up for pageant, plus helping a friend with a particularly hard move, plus helping a neighbor with some issues, etc. So today, after seminary, I came home and returned to bed for several hours. I did work on pageant stuff most of the afternoon, but it was paperwork--calm and quiet. My migraine is all but gone and my eyes are functioning again. I love sleep!

J is for... Jars

The rows of tomatoes in canning jars. Little tiny jars for little tiny babies. Fancy Jars in fancy shapes for perfumes or oils. Jars of plain glass. Jars of blue glass. Jars that are really brown bottles. Jars on a window sill filled with water, but each jar containing a different mixture of food coloring makes a rainbow come in the window. Jars...of creams both as lotions and for eating. Jars with salsas and jars with basalmic oils. Glass jars, clay jars, marble jars. Jars...1" tall in a row on a 3" shelf. Jars 1' tall on a fire place, filled with cat tails and rushes. Jars of paperclips. Jars of coins. Jars...an amazing word for a wide range of similar yet, amazingly different items.

Three Things

1. Experience done with. I'm grateful to have gone though having had a child with Thrush so that when I am asked about its symptoms I can recognize it--but not have to deal with it any more myself. Time for someone else to benefit from my experience.

2. Parades: I love a parade and though our community is small, and the parade was not the fanciest ever, it was a fun time for one and all!

3. Keys--since I have to go to Seminary at 5:45 with Richard until he turns 17, I'm glad I have keys that enable me to work on Pageant stuff by going upstairs as needed, getting into the library as needed, or just taking a nap. I will ride my bike home, but have to wait until it is a] light out, and b] rush hour is over. Then I can cross Hwy 33!

I is for...ice

This one took me awhile to figure out, but I is for Ice. Ice on the water. Ice for skating, ice for cream, ice for drinks...just ice.

I appreciate ice in the summertime, or on a warm/hot day like today. Sitting in the sun for 2 hours watching our town's Labor Day Parade made me grateful for the ice in the drinks tub--I didn't care so much about cold drinks as sucking on ice putting ice down backs [and fronts] and just generally cooling off with ice!

As a hockey Mom, I am intimately familiar with ice rinks. I love them in the summer when I really want to cool off! In the winter they're OK, because they are pretty much the same temperature as in the summer--and so familiar.

I remember ice skating on Lake Indiana as a young child. My Aunt & Uncle lived on the lake. I learned to skate there--withh every dog on the lake following my Cousin D around--and she was my skating teacher! I think now that that is the perfect way for a hockey player to learn--not that I ever played hockey! But I thought I did. Remember...this was on an open lake--no boards. My job was to chase after and retrieve wild pucks. Of course the game had gone on with another puck, but I saved quite a few in my day.

I also went ice skating on the Elkhart [IN] River. A particular section was cordoned off and cleared for safe skating. You know how you carry skates--laces tied together and skates draped over the shoulder. Once I returned home with just one ice skate! Now that takes true talent.

Then we moved to California and my ice skating days were over. In vain each year I would watch for a pool to freeze over. Even a large puddle...but, no, it was not to be. So ice became most useful for crunching, for shaving and adding syrups: the 7-11 Slurpee, and home made ones. Shaved ice also made great ice cones in the summer.

So Ice went from a winter joy to a summer treat.

I still like to crunch on ice and hang out at ice arenas, though my puck chasing days are long over. I'm thirsty--guess it is time for that perennial favorite: ice water.

Children Say the Darndest Things

I had a most illuminating conversation with my oldest grandson this evening. We talked about how school was going. I asked what he was learning at school.

"Nothing, Grandma. I'm at home right now."

Well, duh! How could I be so foolish? The conversation continued, some of which I could not follow, but the gist of it was about how sad he was that his friend had had to go home. They pretended really good. Aiden was a grouchy troll. etc.

I said I liked to pretend, too.

"What do you pretend, Grandma?"[With his tone of voice rather disbelieving.]

"I am in a play at church about a Bible story [The Ten Virgins] and I pretend that I'm a really really OLD woman."

"But you are old, Grandma. [The intimation was that I was not pretending.] Ouch.

H is for Hallelujah!

I'm hard at work on the Nativity Enactment, so am obviously thinking along those lines...but H is for Hallelujah. I can't think of a more expressive word for that certain feeling of joy and awe and reverence and praise for God all mixed into one.

As a kid, I got to sing in several choirs, including Children's Choir at school which was the Church Choir for St. Anthony's Parish. Back in those days we had High Mass for special occasions. My favorite was, is, and probably always will be Easter. In the Catholic Church [in which I grew up] the year we live is also a "Church Year" in which the events of Christ's life are celebrated and taught. Easter comes after a period of 40 days called Lent in which we usually "gave something up" [like no desserts] in order [among other things] to teach self-control, for Our Lord had to have great control to give up His Life.

The final week leading up to Easter is marked by special events beginning with Palm Sunday. On Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross are followed, [that is we go to each plaque or picture in turn which explains part of the last hours leading up to Christ's death.] The church is then shrouded in purple--every statue, every painting, whatever there is. And there is no music in the Church. The organ is locked and covered. No rehersals are even allowed [not in the church--maybe in siter's classroom, though.]

Then on Easter morning, the first Mass of the day was a High Mass. [The old Latin High Mass involved a lot of singing by priest, altar boys and congregants.] At first there is no music, but then we get to the part where the Risen Christ is taught. The purple shrouds are pulled down, the organ plays, the choir sings great Hallelujahs and the bells peal and peal.

In our little Ward of the LDS Church where I now live, we have something rather unusual for LDS buildings: a bell tower! It came from an older and previous building. So on Easter [and Christmas] we in the Choir sing and the organ [and sometimes piano] play and the bells ring out loud and laud...Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

G is for Grandma's Garden

{I'm up to G...but I don't think anybody read my C, and I thought it a more interesting one.}


G is for Grandma's Garden. I actually have one! It has been many years since that was the case, and this one is tiny. Just 4' square. Brother Schultz brought small tomato seedings to church for everyone [an anual event.] So I took 4. Unfortunately, they stayed in the car for 24 hours...but after a good watering, they perked right up! So it was off to Home Depot. I purchased two pieces of masonite for the bottom as my "garden" as it was going in the backyard, and I didn't want to have to deal wih breaking sod, or weeds and grass coming through. Next I got boards 1" x 2' x 4'. Put together, they made a nice box frame. Then we [Richard & I] poured in the dirt and planting soil. I got this zig-zag wire fence-like piece and put it in across the box. Then I planted my tomatoes zig-zag on either side of the "fence" that was advertised to use for tomatoes. Don't. A strong wind knocks them over. I now have the traditional cones, but putting them in after so much growth is really hard!

Chloe was supposed to come for her final visit on a Sun. A week earlier than originally planned, she [and parents!] came. She and I went out to Grandma's Garden, carefully counting all the Green tomatoes. Not a single one was red yet. Two hours later, my tomato-loving grandaughter wanted to check and see if they were red yet. Nope. But the following week [when they were to have originally come!] they were. So I had to take a picture for Chloe.







I also have green bell peppers, zucchinni, and basil, all harvested here. I've yellow summer squash, but none ready to pick yet, and at least one pumpkin growing nicely for Halloween.

The garden has over run its borders--with the squases sending their vines out everywhere!


As I harvest, I cut everything up and put it into snack-sized ziplocks. Then as I cook, I have everything handy. Of course, I go out and get fresh basil--and will 'til the end of the year when I will pick and dry the rest.

An overabundance at any one time? Canning! I've one jar of tomatoes to put up, and when my husband return from the store with a couple pears and some apple juice, I can do my pear butter and apple-cinnaman jelly at the same time!







Oops--I just deleted my third picture. Oh well, I got two on. Illustrated blogs are hard! Kinda like coaxing plants to produce food in Grandma's Garden!

Three Good Things

It is the end of a long and busy week, so I decided to say my 3 good things, even tho it is not Wed!

1.Good family: Aiden starting kindergarden, Dad finishing his program, Erica getting a new job, Lura finnishing her Master's Program, Richard doing a yeoman's job of helping his friend, Seth's family move etc.

2. New friends: Kim down the street who is a real inspiration as far as neigborliness! And less new friends: spending time helping Sylvia move [see above!]

3. A long wished for and now owned yard swing!!! Picture coming soon!

F Is For Frustration

I am trying. Really, really trying. Very hard. But I am not suceeding. At what? At joining the computer generation. I have been working on my F posting for well over an hour. I had pictures. I messed up. I fixed it, but had to correct the order again. And again. Ad Nauseum! So, for now I Failed in Frustration! Perhaps I was just trying to do too much at once. I'll try again tomorrow--after all Fruits of My Labors can easily turn into Grandma's Garden since G so conveniently follows F. So I'll give myself the
F
and try again tomorrow. Sigh.

E Is For...Elephant

E is always for elephant, so how could I deviate?

A couple, three months ago I went downstairs first thing in the morning, and saw a pink elephant. No, I hadn't been secretly drinking, nor was I imagining things. All right it was a small stuffed pink elephant, but there it was--right in the middle of the floor! How did it get there? Where did it come from? It's not like I have little kids who leave toys scattered about the house, and I assure you that my 16 year old son does not play with pink stuffed animals of any kind, or even any-color stuffed animals! I picked it up and chucked it away into Erica's closet [the "catch-all" place for the storing of all the girls' left behind stuff. And didn't give it another thought.

Until there it was again! Only this time it was only one of several small stuffed animals in a trail reminicent of Hansel's bread crumbs. The route? Erica's closet to the living room. The culprit? Erica's cat, Fleury. As indoor cats, ours are frustrated in their attempts at hunting. Todd goes nuts chasing light and reflections. Fluery wants to deliver up something tangible. It used to be wet washcloths retrieved from shower and tub. But now he had discovered the container of stuffed animals stored in the closet...and decided they must be fair game. Literally. So we find stuffed animal "presents" all over the house now. Sometimes he even gathers them all up one by one at delivers them to Erica's room at night, though I think with her leaving, that will end. [It was nice while it lasted--picking up after himself.] So yes, I see pink elephants.

I have an ongoing project of framing and preparing to hang pictures. One section includes some of my kids childhood artwork and projects from the past. In the meantime, they are sitting on the floor along the hallway wall awaiting hanging [for how can I hang them until everything is gathered?] While Chloe was here, she loved to go "look at pictures " [especially hers and her cousins!] One is a Jungle sand painting. It has a zebra, a giraffe and--you guessed it, an elephant. Coming from her 2 year old mouth it was just so cute sounding. I enjoyed looking at it several times each visit just to hear her say, "elephant." Carefully and correctly.

I hate roller coasters. I hate most carnival rides. I hate most amusement park rides. I suffer badly from motion sickness. so it is not fear as much as nausea--and I had my fill of that during my 100 and 1 pregnancies! [Not to mention my hours logged fly all over the country as a kid.] So I avoid them. [OK truth--I am scared of roller coasters--but not the others] The Ferris Wheel, the Carousel, I'm done. But each and every time the opportunity has presented itself--I will wait in line for as long as it takes. I love riding an elephant! I find it an exhilerating thing to be up so high with such a powerful, yet docile animal underneath me. I'm sure that born in another place and time I would have been an elephant boy. No doubt! I think that elephant rides are the cherry on the top of an otherwise wonderful/ wonder-filled day. Like the Rennaissance Faire in VA. Like a special zoo trip. [or Wild Animal Park.] And always in the company of family--my favorite people. So, yes, E has to be for...Elephant!

D Is For ...Daughters

My daughter, Erica is desperatly trying to teach me. It is hard. Not only am I slow, but somehow, my phone is unco-operative. She is trying to teach me how to e-mail pictures from my phone to myself, and then to post the pictures. It is harder than it sounds because my phone is unco-operative to the max. I can send a pic to her--or just about anyone else, but not to myself. We can't figure out how it is blocked, but it is. So I will try first to put a picture of daughters on my blog: So, here is Daughter #1:

Sariah with son, Aiden in his Russian shirt.

Daughter #2:

Lura at her wedding, and Jesse, too.

And, Daughter #3:

Erica visiting her aunt in San Diego got to hold a lion on her lap!

Not new pictures, but I'm getting the hang of this!

Daughter #1 introduced me to blogging.

Daughter #2 has the patience to walk me through various computer problems I have.

Daughter #3 shows me what to do and then leaves me alone to practice.

Now, if I can only get the phone to e-mail problem solved, I can put up my own pics!

PS--I don't think I've got the linking part down...Daughter #3 was just too fast on that one! But I'll keep trying!

Sorry Tanya--I don't have a decent picture available, and would have to start over...see, we really needed to take pics when you were here!. I'll try again later! I need to show Daughter #5 as well, who is "grand"!

C is for...Cars I Have Known

How do you really know you are getting old? I discovered the true answer. I sat at the Pickerington Fourth of July Parade with friends from Church. I am [age-wise] inbetween the Mom and the Grandma, and friends with both. The 12 year old daughter, Jessie, who sat next to me was in my Sunday School class. The parade was very nice, we cheered our friends and family and called for candy for the little ones, helping them to scramble for it safely. Then came the "antique" cars section. The lead car was a Chevy Impala Super Sport Convertable. I leaned over and told Jessie, "That was my first car."

Mine was a '63 and was my Dad's car first. But he was driving a company car by the time I turned 16, at which point, it became my car--as did chauffering duties [had to have my sister at the Jr High at 6:00am the following morning--in the fog. Ugh!] But I really enjoyed that car. It held to the road, and I could zip up our hill easily. It was great for transporting large numbers in a day when few had seat belts, we just piled kids in and on higher! But I did have seatbelts installed, and required their use as much as possible. A convertable is also good for hauling stuff: like younger brother's drum set, and dorm mates bass viol to lessons in downtown San Diego. Little things would go wrong [by 1971 the speedometer went out, not to worry, the car made a different noise for every 10 miles an hour faster. I did not rush to fix the speedometer--my whole car was a speedometer.] I loved that car. I lost it in an argument involving a lady speeding, a stop sign and an old irrigation flume that the city had been supposed to remove a couple years earlier. The stop sigh cost $10.00, the city said "Thanks for removing the flume. The lady yelled at me, while she received a ticket for speeding. And my car was totaled. So sad.

The Parade continued with a nice vintage "cherry" [that's car talk for mint condition--thanks Tony, for my car education] Mustang. I leaned over to Jessie again, "and that was my second car, only mine was baby blue .

Ah yes, the Mustang era of our family: '65, '66, or '67, I forget which was which. My younger brother and I had our Mustangs at the same time, but mine had the more powerful engine. He became quite adept at changing out engines quickly and stealthily. Our house was up a very steep hill, so leaving the house I rarely realized the switch. Coming home was almost difficult with his engine. I'd walk into the house yelling [and trying not to laugh], "TO-NY!" Busted, and he knew it! Later Mom had a cherry, cherry-red Mustang, so among us, we had the 3 vintage years covered.

The third car in the parade--a Ford Model A. No, I never had that car, but my cousin did, and that was their car--not a show piece, but a vehicle they bought cheaply and drove 'til they could get something newer and better! Next came a couple of cars from the '40's--like one a boyfriend of mine had. That was it for me. I am officially old. The old cars in parades--my cars! Following were the requisite '55 Fords [yes, I remember, and rode in many of those] then a T-Bird with the porthole windows [from the '50's] A college boyfriend drove one of those.

Jessie was pretty impressed that I knew so many of the cars, but she was also impressed by how much older than her Mom I really am--she had never really realized it before! So that's it--I am officially old--betrayed by the cars I have known.

B is For Bumps and Bruises

B is for bumps and bruises. Of which I have waaay too many. My sister used to say that you became an official "kid" once you had band-aides on your knees, and that conversely, you weren't a kid anymore when you didn't have bandaides. If this were the real way to tell, I'd never grow up!

I fall easily, which is why I use a cane outside or for long stretches of walking inside--like at church. I am careful, wearing only flat shoes now. I use a wrist brace on my right [good] hand because I need the extra strengthening from leaning on the cane. I often wear an ankle brace on my right [good] side for similar reasons.

Doesn't matter. Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed--like today. I thought I'd get a jump on the day and went quietly into Erica's room to grab the laundry basket, and bashed my hip on the doorknob leaving her room. Ow! S'OK, I went to my closet to collect hangers and whacked my elbow on my dresser. OUCH! Went downstairs [Oof! that was my ankle against the corner wall, which sent me off balance so Ow! that was me bouncing off the opposite wall.] Ah, the landing--time to regain my poise. I manuvered the last part of the starcase with grace. My mother would be proud. Dang! Someone left dishes in the living room. So I smoothly walked acrtoss the room, picked them up and turned and WHACK! fell over the boxes of new shelves for organizing the food storage. I knew I should have put them together yesterday. Now I have one broken bowl, a badly scraped up right leg and a painfully twisted back. So I cleaned everything up--ending with me. Neosporin is the best stuff!

Unfortunately, that was all in the first hour of a day that did not change. I have so many bumps and bruises at so many varying stages...I am white and black and red and yellow and purple and it just goes on! We do not have enough ice-packs for all the spots needed.

And it is catching! Poor Erica just whacked her nose as she took a lid out of the pan cupboard! I sure hope it is not a genetic trait--watch out kids! I'm finished for this day! Let's see if I can make it to my bed without any new bumps or bruises. [I wouldn't bet on it!]

A is For...

I'm going to try to take on te challenge given by Goofyj and go throught the alphabet letter by letter to have different topics for writing. I don't know how well I'll stick to the original directions, but I'll give it a try, tho undoubtedly not daily! So:

A is for...All My Children. Those in theatrical circles may recognize the title of an Arthur Miller play, my favorite. At the end, we realize that everyone in the next generation is also "my" child. It is the way I feel about my kids and their friends...my friends' kids... all the kids at church...or at school where I am involved...

I credit this feeling to my parents, who were always involved in what we did as kids. My mom never went to an opening night or closing night of our plays [our school did 2 weekends regularly, sometimes with additional performances.] Why not? Because she was busy making sandwiches for cast parties held regularly at our house because 1] there was room and 2] we didn't have close enough neighbors to have to worry about noise and 3] because my parents were willing. Once I mentioned this to my Dad and he rather wistfully said, I did my part by earning the money to pay for all those sanwiches." He was feeling a bit left out as I praised my Mom. And he was right. He did pay for not only the volumes of food consumed by hungry teens at many castand/or pool parties for years on end, but he also copied scripts [that we could write on] with the fairly new technology of the xerox machine below cost, and had particularly difficult set pieces made for shows in his cabinet shop at work--thus paying not only for materials, but for the expert carpenter to make it.

I have tried, and I think with some success, to treat those in my path as All My Children as well. And even All My Grandchildren. But it is because I was taught by goodly parents who always made time for All Their Children. Thank you, Mom and Dad, you taught us well.

Brilliant!

Mon. night I was up into the wee hours of the morning awaiting my traveling child's return as her phone was on the blink and she couldn't call out, tho. she could receive calls. So I, of course, stayed up to check on her periodically. No sweat--no need to rise at a specified time on Tues...

When I did get up on Tues. I called the vet to make an appt for later that day for a cat--and noticed FHC written on the calendar! OH, NO!! My shift at the Family History Center is 10-2 on alternating Tuesdays--excepting fifth Tues.

Since Sun was a fifth Sun, I had assumed that Tues was a fifth Tues, but according to the calendar page, it was only the fourth Tues!!!

Panicked, I called out to Richard that he was going to have to take me to the Stake Center NOW!! I quickly threw on my clothes, grabbed my genealogy bag, reading glasses, and a Glucerna bar to eat en route. Swallowed meds and left. Brilliant.

Upon arrival, I learned that no, it was not MY day, but another person who's day it was hadn't come in, so a building person stayed so that the library could be open [two workers are required.] Patrons were there. I figured it all out--Richard had just turned the calendar page, and so did I without really looking, [brilliant] so I was looking at the last Tues in Aug! Which will be my day. Without panic. But I was able to really help a couple people, so I guess I was supposed to be there that afternoon. Brilliant.

Wed was calmer, Thurs quite busy and today I've just been really tired. All week I've gotten in at least 6-8 miles of riding my bike to various destinations, in the growing summer heat. Now I have plenty to do at home, but I'm just too tired! Brilliant, huh?

But dinner is made--I managed that at least, so now I need to drag myself downstairs to eat it. I need one of my grandkids around to perk up some energy in me. My "aura" is really NOT brilliant just now.

Brilliant--such a lovely word! Thank you Brits for its current usage and Harry Potter et al for bringing it to the minds of countess Americans. : )

Grandmothering is sooo much fun!

Yesterday [Sun] my grandaughter--and her parents--came to visit. I love visiting with her parents, but she is the most fun! We went barefoot out into the yard. She examined every flower, naming colors and gleefully discovering the various trolls among them [Others might call them gnomes, but to me they are trolls--another topic for another time] One was sleeping and hidden behind a new mass of purple flowers, so we had to find him a new place. Chloe tried more than a dozen before she was satisfied.

We walked around to the backyard and to my tiny garden. Finally, I have tomatoes!!! We counted at least ten [they're really hiding] and several peppers, picked some basil leaves to crush and smell, and followed the tendrils of squash and pumkin that are growing wildly crazy out of the box and blooming with bright orange blossoms that hopefully mean the fruit is not far behind!

In one corner ther was a little blank spot. Just the right size for the sleeping dwarf. This is where he now reposes, keeping watch over the vegetable garden. Chloe was right. The garden neede a dwarf, too.

I have really loved havng these visits off and on. Even Todd [our shy cat] came out to see Chloe. Her exuberant, " Hi, Todd!." was a little too much and he hid again, but he did creep out a couple more times. He's ready to see her--just not have her see him! But she pets Fleury and they seem to have reached quite an understsnding. She talks to "Furry" awhile, then goes on to something else. She often returns, and he mostly just accepts her now, recognizing she is part of he family. At least we'll see them one more time before this lovely [for me anyway] interlude is over. I know they are looking forward to being home for good, but it has been so nice to see them fairly regularly this summer.

And Life Speeds On

Last week on Monday, I actually went to bed earlyish, knowing I had to be up on time to go the Family History Center. As it turned out, I was almost an hour late. Erica woke me with horrible news--she'd just been informed of the death of her assistant hockey coach from Richmond. Now, as a Richmond City cop, this was not totally unespected EXCEPT he was not killed in the line of duty as we always feared, but was home on vacation in the NY finger lakes region and while boating at night, with all the lights on, he was run over by a larger boat being driven by a drunk boat driver! John was killed instantly, his girlfriend lived a short while, but also died as she made it to shore [rescued].

In a town of 2,000, there were over 1200 at the funeral. Including over 70 Richmond cops, Henrico, VA cops, local NY cops, sheriffs etc. firefighters from all the above, last year's la crosse team from Benedictine HS in Richmond [John was their coach] this summer's hockey teammates [including Erica's old coach and the friend who had notified her] as well as other misc hockey friends.] John was the youngest of seven in a "typical" Irish Catholic family. It was a wonderful funeral, and we all left feeling much better than when we came.

Except for the exhaustion. We drove to Niagra Falls [how could we go that close and not stop?] and had a lovely afternoon seeing the American side--we were obviously not prepared for that side trip. Made it into OH and stopped for the night. The previous night had taken much time searching for a place "at the inn" due to the huge amount of visitor's for the funeral.

Slept in until checkout time, and got home late aft/early evening. For those of you who do not normally drive in OH--if and when you do, follow traffic laws carefully--so many cops out with radar guns on our highways! And no--we did NOT get pulled over--just observed!

The next morning saw me at church with Richard at 5:30 am. I got to go to my first Youth Conference!!! I loved it! We went to Kirtland [yes, retracing part of the previous day's drive!] I had warned all the drivers about the abundance of law enforcement. Let's just say they were all grateful for the warning. I also warned that the exit for Kirtland was closed, and we would have to go up one further to detour. Valuable information, right? Guess what--ODOT, the highway dept--not my friend since taking away my traffic light, now made a liar out of me--they had it open again!

The van Richard rode in missed the exit--by a LOT--and the driver was the guy who grew up in that area!

I've been to Kirtland several times before, but this was different. For one, the whole area is changed--the highway has been moved so that it does not run right through the church/historic sites. Much safer! Also, there are more restored sites now. I loved the Ashery. It is possibly the only restored ashery in North America! Seeing the Whitney store was always something, but add the sawmill, ashery, seperate house, and so one and one begins to get a more real picture of what that family gave up in material wealth for te church. Then the next day we went to te Johnson Farm. Again, recognition of what was given through the Laws of Concecration and Sacrifice, and I am embarrassed by the piddly bits of what we tend to give today. Those early Saints gave EVERYTHING! We give so little. There were huge groups who lived in absolute poverty because they gave up all and gathered to Zion.

I also was unaware of the Curse placed on OH when the Saints finally left [driven out] or that the Curse was officially lifted some years ago by the prophet, and that new promises were given to "the Ohio" and that here in Canal we are a part of that!

I rode in a van of all boys [not Richard--he was with girls!] always an education, and was, of course, in the dorm with the girls [we stayed at Hiram College] another education [flip side!]
A great time was had by one and all. Richard even danced on dance with me Fri night--"I will acknowledge your existance for one dance." was his way of asking me. Oh well, at least I got one!

Sunday I started my new SS assignment--I now teach the adult class [they took away my 12 year olds--hear me whine!] It went OK. But now I have to work doubly hard at preparing! 'Cause just being 54 does not put me way ahead any longer. And back to work on the Nativity. Ah well. Still have the Arkansas trip to look forward to. [Going to collect friends for a visit.]

I am really grateful for my kids and their BRILLIANCE and for the wonderful experiences I have because of them. Each one. Next week is a hockey week.

Today I got to attend the Temple with a friend, then go visiting teaching. Life is really good when we can make the most of our experiences.

My next door neighbor had her baby--girl just 7 lbs, 20 1/2": Aubrey. Lots of dark hair. I enjoyed holding her today. And at Friday's dance I had a partner, William, for over an hour. While other girls came for him, I was able to fend them off--he was just my speed at 4 months! See: lovely experiences because of my kids. And life speeds on.

Worthy of the Time

I've been on a big kick lately of trying not to waste time [that means no Snood...] and really making an effort to fill my time with worthwhile pusuits. It's pretty easy, 'cause there are so very many worthwhile things to do. I am NOT going to list examples, because it would only depress me with how much I don't do. So I'm going to accentuate the positive. It is all Sariah's fault--she started the Wed 3 things that you're happy about or whatever. Well, Wed passed, and she didn't post, so...

1] I'm really happy to live in a town and Ward where I have so many friends--not just aquaintances! I can pick up my phone at any time and have someone to talk to--or go to lunch with--or set up to do something else with. It has been so many years since that was the case, I missed it, but now that I have it again, I realize how much I missed it!

2]I'm really happy about my callings. Not only am I not "put out to pasture" here, but I LOVE teaching the 12/13 yr old Sunday School class. Good thing--'cause I've had this calling many times: in Newburg 31 yrs ago, in Bangor 16 yrs ago, in Deming 10 yrs ago. and now for the past year and a half in CW. I also love doing the Nativity Enactment. Yes, it was really tough and lots of work last year. Yes, it took me about 6 months to recover--if it can be said with full assurance that I did! The work has begun on Pageant 2007--and it is so much easier already--just getting a cast together!

3] I love the closeness with my family--even if some of that closeness is over the phone. I'm grateful that we can use the phone as much as we want--I wish I could have talked as much with my Mom as I now can with my kids--it would have made the distance so much easier to bear. I love seeing my grandkids grow and develop, again, even tho often it is over the phone or through pictures.

I could go on and on [I know, I have...] but life is pretty good and I have so many things for which to be thankful, it is hard to keep the list down to 3 .

My Grandma Day

OK, Yesterday was technically Father's Day, but for me, it was a really good "Grandma Day." My husband, when asked what he wanted for Father's Day, answered [quite plaintively], "Just to see my kids." He saw the boys--Vin & family came for the afternoon, but not the girls. Not even Erica--she left for work while we were at church, and came home after he'd gone to bed. Sad... I know.

But, my day was pretty good. In Sacrament Meeting, I got to hold Adam Carman while his Mom struggled to settle the older three kids [they arrived a little late and breathless...we all know how that goes] Adam, one, was born with a mass of dark, curly hair--like my babies! [of course it's ony a memory now:( ] He played Baby Jesus in the Temple scene in the Nativity Pageant last year--and tho he was "blessed" again and again for a week, he never cried. None of his family was even in that scene, but all busy elsewhere--he was amazing!

So I got to hold and snuggle with him, then later Lizzie, the oldest at 5 moved over next to me to quietly play with her magnetic dolls [like paper dolls] and show them to me. She was very good.

At the beginning of Relief Society, I had to run to the water fountain to down my morning pills at the right time. In the hallway near by stood a couple women, who stopped me--each for a different reason, and co-incidently one was holding Adam. I then took Adam with me back to RS. He soon snuggled against me and went to sleep.

The Vin, & family came over for the afternoon. My granddaughter now knows that this is her Grandma's house and that she belongs here. She knows where her toys are, what she can get into in Uncle Richard's room, and how to pet the cat.

I especially enjoyed taking a walk around the block--just the two of us. She was interested in everything! I loved it! We smelled all the flowers, talked to all the ceramic creatures in yards--including a bear her size! [She really liked that one.] We discovered some moss, but no geese, ducks, or fish at the "lake", still the fountain in the middle made up for the others' lack. And she especially enjoyed all the chirruping birds, just like Grandma.

Yep, yesterday was a very good "Grandma Day."

Richard Addendum

Actually, he is far from dumb! Announcing Richard's first ever semester with the coveted and worked for GOLD SEAL on his report card denoting a 4.0 GPA!!! I am so proud of him, it was touch and go there at the end with his English grade, despite earning a 99% on his research paper. But he set the goal, and he did it!

Unfortunately, here in OH, it is the custom not to be invited to join the National Honors society, but to apply. Because of having the opposite experience elsewhere with older siblings, he didn't realize in time to apply for this year, so he has to wait until next year.

Oh, and he is also playing on a new inline summer hockey league and learning to play baseball, which if he can get good enough [helps to have a retired pro as his teacher...] he's thinking about possibly going out for the HS baseball tweam, having discovered that it is lots more fun to be involved in stuff at school than not!

Richard

Richard just left today for his "Mini-Mission". The Priests in our stake--maybe our whole Mission--I don't really know--are elsewhere with a set of missionaries for a week. They even received name tags saying "Elder ____" [it was explained that in this case the "Elder" was a title--temorarily assigned, not an office.] Richard was pretty excited about that! He even had to shave today [his first time] because he has not been clean shaven in quite awhile. [I had to laugh--well giggle.] There's the Italian blood showing--so gone is the mustashe, gone are the sideburns he's had since birth! His new haircut looked good--just like my Dad's--except missionaries have to have a part in their hair. I didn't know that! So he combed it that way this afternoon as he was preparing to leave, and commented how this was just how he wore his hair all his life [until about a year ago when he got it cut a little differently]. It was with a very wry tone. On the list were envelopes and stamps. He said he was not going to write a letter that would get home after he did, so he sorta forgot to take those items. I told him I expected a picture postcard at least--even if he brought it back with him. I hope he really works hard and gets a lot out of this opportunity.

Hmmm, I wonder if our Elders will have extra companions this week? We have two sets in our ward, so it seems highly possible to me. And we have one set scheduled for dinner this week as well! This could be interesting.

Busy Busy Busy

It seems that life continues just busy, busy, busy, all the time. So, if you haven't had a chance to look at my pics on flickr, please do, I am most interested in comments--thank you, Lura [and Erica] I want things to be even better this year.

Happy Mother's Day to all of whom it applies, both mothers and "other mothers", both aunts and grandmas, both teachers and mentors. I like the tradition in our church of every woman aged 18 and up to receive 'honor' on Mother's Day, recognizing that Mothering is ever so much more than giving birth. In our Ward today we received geraniums...I made sure to get a nice healthy looking bright red one! My flowers actually look pretty good right now, and I struggle, so I know I have to start with a really strong plant! A few of my pansies are a bit ill, and I'm afraid I may have to end up replacing them, but in all the flats of flowers, there were those three that just did not look so good to begin with, and they still don't. A green thumb I haven't!

Health Update: [because I remember to tell some of my kids--multiple times, and others not at all.] Tomorrow [Mon] I will have a partial colonoscopy, Dr. sees something in the same place as last year, but this time it has been causing symptoms. Hopefully it will be done with by this time tomorrow.
Wed/Thurs--I willk be doing a "sleep study" [ now that's a test I should pass, eh?] I may not nap all day before hand [the hard part.] Then I get six hours of sleep at night, and many 20 min naps throughout the day. Unfortunately, I seem to prefer 4-5 hour naps! And after no napping the day before! Should be interesting.

Not willing to rest on my pageant laurels, I am working with the teens by assignment on their act for our Memorial Day Patriotic Program--actually, it will be held on the Sat eve beforehand. We are portraying the first arrival of the Hocking Valley Railway to Canal Winchester, OH on Jan 26, 1869. Richard plays the mayor of the time making a speech. He, of course, persists in calling it the "Hockey" Valley, which we all decided to keep in for the laugh--especially as the actual name will be on the signage--and just about everybody here knows his obsession. We will sing two verses and our mish-mash of a "town band" will play a third as the train comes in. I'm trying to recruit a few of the older girls home from college to help play, adding much needed talent, instruments and stability. Erica, pleeeease will you play, too? It is in one of your old easy books: Fun With Trombone. Sariah, as soon as you can get those parts to us...currently we have more willingness than expertise! If I could have Erica and a certain pianist, then I am sure we can pull it off, otherwise, it'll be rather sketchy, I'm afraid. And we don't want the Primary with Take Me Out to the Ball Game showing us up [especially since we wanted that piece!]

The FamilySearch Indexing Project is going great guns. Once completed, genealogical research will be a breeze! It usually takes me only about 1/2 hour to index one batch now [50 names or one census page] I've chosen to work on the Indiana census of 1900. I have a secret hope that I'll stumble across some of our family one day, but I haven't gotten the right counties for that yet! [I am getting pretty darn good at reading the handwriting of the period, however!]

Excitement! My husband starts his new classwork tomorrow. He will be attending Capitol University Law School taking the paralegal course. He will finish in August as it is an intensive program. Hopefully, that will mean employment by Sept!!! He says I'm just excited because I want him out of the house--and after coming up on a year, there is some truth to that, I am also excited for him to get to go into a field in which he has always wanted--the law. I trully, trully hope it all goes well and that he loves it!

Now, family and friends, you are essentially all caught up in my life--what about yours?

Flickr Pics

I did it! I did it! I have finally posted some pictures on Flickr. Five to be precise. But I will do more tomorrow, now that I get it [and now that I have the pics I want to put up, uploaded to my computer] But I did it essentially by myself--just had Lura on standby in case I tangled up. Also--one of these first pics has Richard's erstwhile girlfriend in it [albeit from her back]. So check it out!

VA Tech Funerals

Please go to Rabid Bostonian's blog and read about te VA Tech funerals, and the planned disruptions. As if those poor families haven't suffered enough? Thank you, Erica.

Reading and Grieving: Dedicated to our Friends at VA Tech

My current reading matter is somewhat eclectic. I am re-reading the Tennis Shoes books [Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites, The Sword of Gadianton etc. by Chris Heimendinger, a series written for LDS youth--I've not read last lst couple, so decided to start over as I read them as they came out initially, starting in the '80's.] I am reading Standing For Something by Gordon B Hinckley and this morning read a section on optimism and looking for the good--including the uplifting and famous paragraphs from a couple of Winston Churchill's speeches [we will continue to fight...] This is "feel good" reading, for that is what it does: it uplifts me and makes me feel good. However, at the same time, I'm reading and listening to news stories about The Massacre at Virginia Tech. I read an especially good commentary by someone I've never heard of before, that I recall. I don't know how to do links, so I simply cut and will now paste the URL:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55234 I encourage anyone to read this, it is not only about VTech but also about our society and grieving. Somehow, it all fits wilth the optimism of Pres. Hinckley in the face of horrific events. We must grieve before we can "have closure" or "begin to heal" and this writer expressed my thoughts so very well. I once learned firsthand about not grieving properly and wat it can do to you...in my case, I had a serious case of shingles for over six months, until I finally cried about the death in question. Sometimes grief is a very personal thing--over the death of someone close, over the death of a relationship, etc ... Other times, it can be a large scale event shared by strangers, Pearl Harbor, 9/11, the Sniper attacks in VA , DC and MD a few years ago, and now VTech. I grieve for those who were senslessly killed, I grieve for their amilies, and I grieve for their friends...still hoping and praying that none of our friends were among that group, but we don't yet know, a one person remains unacounted for as far as I know at this time. So let us grieve, and then go forward healing with optimism for the future.

Musings on Fear II

I must add to my musings of yesterday. In light of today's tragic shootings at Virginia Tech, I fear for my children's friends as well. I was almost as relieved as my daughter to learn that one of her good friends was OK [I was especially fond of him anyway, of all her hockey teammates ever...and got on very well with his parents, too.] But the worry is still there as another teammate is not yet accounted for. Lists of the dead and injured have not yet been released, and I fear to see his name on the wrong list.

So many vagaries of life...I fear for the children of my friends as well as I work with the youth in my ward. I am comforted by the words of the prophets, knowing we are in the end times, and despite worry [equated with fear] try to "be of good cheer" as we strive to do that which we know is right. We can do no more.

Musings on Fear

Fear is a very strange thing. It can have so many different reasons and perhaps even more manifestations. I remember eons ago [1971] when, as a college student in a philosophy class, we were asked to write down and then share our biggest fears--reasonable or un-. Mine was of fire--I think quite reasonable since I grew up in the southern CA foothills in chaparrel country. That is semi-arid, and the type of western countryside hit with forest fires on a yearly basis. A classmate [who was a Seminarian--Catholic college--he was studying to become a priest] very seriously said." Bishop Buddy" [LDS read 'Stake President" for Bishop] A formidable man--I was scared of him too--when I was 12.

I have been in life threatening situations, and while experiencing some fear at the time, it is usually after the crisis that the fear is most heartily felt. During a crisis there is no time to worry or feel afraid, just time to DO. I have had fear for my children, usually my older son, while in emergency rooms. It is just that there were more ER trips with him than with all the rest of my kids combined.

In 1980, as a young mother with 3 small children, one under 4 months, I went to the Dr. myself with what were at the time odd symptoms to me. He told me that I "had all the signs of an impending stroke." I sat in my car and cried for at least half an hour. He also arranged for an immediate CT scan in Portland. My husband was in TX with the Air Force so I had my father-in-law take me. I asked if I could go up to the military hospital at Fort Lewis WA for the test, but my Dr. said no--it would take too long. So we ended up with a huge bill for nothing. What I had were all the signs of a previous stroke--with the stress of my life at the time bringing them on. A neurologist would have known, but they were few and far between back then.

So this evening when I awoke from my "nap" unable to move, literally paralyzed, I tried not to fear. I'm sure it was just another type of seizure, or related to one of my other health problems. I see my Dr. this week anyway, so I am calling in the morning to get my bloodwork date moved up [I'm sure they'll fit me in with this!] I shall NOT fear. It is a useless emotional response when I can not take action.

But yes, I did fear for the minutes that seemed like hours before I could force my body to move. This happened once before and I was co-incidently already in the ER, so they kept me in the hospital overnight for observation. My observation was they no one had a clue--so they called it a seizure and sent me home. That was about 17 years ago, so this is not a great frequency, and nothing to worry about.

But it's got me thinking...what do I fear now? As I get older, I find I fear less for myself--even fire no longer hold the fear once it did for me. I don't fear severe illness--been there, done that--poverty, nope--homelessness, nope--death, nope--judgement, ah, there's the rub! As I read and study and learn and hopefully improve and grow, I find myself severely lacking in areas I had not previously thought were big problems. I used to find my temper and impatience my worst fault, but while I cannot claim to have it conquered, I do think I've made progress. So I try to strip the onionskins of my personality--where do I most need to improve...

So I've discovered my greatest fear--not recognizing faults in time to improve in a given area before the Judgement. But at least it is a fear upon which I can act. So if I can DO something about it, I won't fear--not really, for this life, then, is the crisis and so long as I act upon that which I can, everything will be just fine in the end.

disclaimer: I still fear for and worry about my kids and grandkids...but I can't do anything to help in their needs.

Family history

Yes, again. But most of what I do is centered around it, so... I'd like to explain what it is.Scrapbooking is, of course FH. I have Richard's book up to date. I am making great strides in Erica's book.Then I'll move up the ladder: Lura, Vinnie, Sariah, Keith's and mine.Eventually I expect to organize the materials on my parents and do viable [tho obviously less detailed] books for them.I also have books going on family lines: SorBello, Sipe, Montesano, Lueckenbach, Pinion, Harrington, etc.I work on FamilySearch indexing. It is a fantastick project, and will make genealogical research so much easier.Our Ward is considering a cemetary project. The large cemetaries are kept up and lists are even availible online. However, within our Ward boundaries are dozens of little old family plots--it is not an uncommon site to see a "cemetary" of 5-10 gravestones and surrounded by a low wall or fence. Generally, they are not kept up. I think it quite sad that researchers cannot find this info. I will definitely participate should this project get off the ground.And, of course, as anyone who knows me is aware, I research my own ancestry. My Grandpa Sipe started it. Originally, we were doing a background check for family medical reasons, but out search turned up nothing [I know now that that for which we were seeking is a male-inherited characteristic, so we'd never find it working on my mother's side. But we found lots of interesting stuff anyway.]I have had the pleasure of getting to know or at least to meet distant cousins and mid-distant cousins, and forming family relationships that have enriched my life. How? Through bumping into others who were researching the same people.Why do I do it? Because once you start and the "genealogy bug" bites, one does not want to stop!Besides. I love my family. I've missed my big brother my whole life, as he was institutionalized on my second birthday. In those days, resources for people with brain-damaged children were far and few between. My brother, born with an open ventrical in the brain, was worse off than most. While he had a modicum of control over his muscles, he was both blind and deaf. I barely remember him, and indeed at this point, my memories are more like memories of memories as my mother helped me to remember him always. As a result, I've always felt close to Mark. A second brother was born many years later with he same problem, only worse as he had less control of his muscles. Being five years older than he, I remember Vance very well. Besides, he lived at home much longer--because the waiting list to get a child into the Children's Hospital in Northern Indiana was now much longer.My mother said in her last years how she wished they'd made a different choice and kept them home. But who was to know that the services would develop as they have? And indeed, too late for my brothers who died of old age when young children. I recall when Mark died, I was in the fifth grade, and broken hearted, had a long discussion with my teacher, Sister Nicholas. I asked her if Mark would still be my brother--even in heaven. She answered with an unwavering "Yes!" I knew she was right and was comforted. As the years went by and we lost family member after family member [Seemingly one per year] I never again wavered or worried, for I "Knew" that they would still be my brothers, my sister, my grandpa, etc.When I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints [LDS or also cslled "Mormon"] I found that this is a widely shared and even focused upon teaching, not only at funerals. We have the ordinances of the Temple. We do earthly ordinances by proxy for family members who have not, perhaps, had that opportunity in this life. This makes them not LDS, but gives them the opportunity to accept the sealing bonds among families...if they should so choose. My nonCatholic Grandpa [mentioned above] never joined the Catholic church, even tho. the rest of his family were good, faithful, practicing Catholics. Upon his death, my Grandma had her priest baptize him right away--just in case--and he was given a Catholic burial. I think that the Temple Ordinances I do and have done for my deceased family members are to be viewed in the same way--just in case--only they can choose to accept them or not. But I will have given them the opportunity.How can anyone object to this? Still, many who are not of my faith, do object. If I am wrong--then I guess I'm wasting my time, if I am right, then it is a good thing I do. But what does it matter to anyone who does not believe? It is not hurting them in any way, It is not changing them in any way, if they don't accept it. I have discussed this with most of my older relatives, and most have told me to go ahead and have their work done for them. For some, it may be a way of hedging their bets, but for most, it is showing their support of me. Just as I would attend church dinners at the parish with my Mom, so would she attend ours when visiting. Her brother put it best,"If you are going to be a Mormon, then you be the best Mormon you can be. And that means doing the temple work, too."So, when I learned recently of a cousin's death, after shedding my tears, I brighened up and realized that because, due to some odd circumstances, I had not received notification until over a year afterwards. This means I can do her work right away--and seal her to her parents. It is what she told me to do, long ago.
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