Thursday, June 21, 2007

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 .

Monday, June 18, 2007

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."

Sunday, June 10, 2007

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!

Saturday, June 09, 2007

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.