Oh, To Be Loved

This is what I came home to tonight:

Tangible evidence that my sister loves me and thinks about me. She is one of the most thoughtful and generous people I know.

Tangible evidence that I will see every day of my life in this house that my dad loves me and has always worked for my well-being and comfort. (There used to be a wire shelf above my washer and drier. Apparently, I have not taken any photos of said wire shelf. Now, I have beautiful ceiling-high cupboards...fabulous.) My dad is another of the most thoughtful and generous people I know.

I am blessed to have many thoughtful and generous people in my life...this weekend in Utah alone:

-Claire Fogelquist made sure that we didn't go hungry Thursday night, as we were late for the pre-wedding dinner...enduring much persecution for her kind deeds

-Pat, Sid & Leigh Beckstead opened their home to us, shared their beds, food, hot water and cold medicine as only family would...we are so glad that they include us as part of their family

-Cari & Jesse Fairbanks welcomed us as true friends do on our unannounced visit to Landin's birthday party

-David & Marianne Hunt fed us the BEST food ever and let us hang out with family in their gorgeous home...they are consummate hosts

-Tricia & Bret Remington opened their home to us and let us come and go as we pleased...we renewed our friendship during the times that our paths did cross in their home

-JR & Lana Dansie shared their sweet son, Noah's, baptism day with us, fed us a delicious lunch and we caught up on each others' lives

-Jerry Higley gave us some money to help with gas for our trip home

-so many of Jeremiah's family visited and caught up with us and genuinely cared about what and how we're doing

We are so blessed by the love and generosity of friends and family. When I write it down, it's overwhelming! I am grateful for the true friends that I have found. And as for Heather & my Dad...Heavenly Father may have made us family, but we are friends by choice. I am grateful that they choose to be my friends. And to my sisters of 13 by 4...

There are many people that we meet in our lives

but only a very few will make a lasting impression in our minds and hearts.

It is these people that we will think of often

and who will always remain important to us as True Friends.

--Unknown

You are true friends, and I thank a loving Heavenly Father for the blessing of having you in my life!

Simple List

As I pondered what was worthy this week of a post, I realized I was mostly grateful for the little things:

• The snow at my house has finally melted - and even this weekend's snow wasn't enough to cause me to get out the snow blower again
• I attended a great photography class, where discovered I have so much more to learn, but I'm excited to take on the challenge
  
• Baby T is growing and doing well and his sister is adjusting to life with a baby in the house
  and I've been able to spend plenty of time with them

I do have to say how great it is to reflect each week on the good that has happened in all of our lives. It really helps me battle the Sunday night blues.

Wicked and More

Hello, my friends.

I'm not great at this blogging thing, but I really love reading your posts!

We had a very fun weekend. We took the girls to Wicked last night. They LOVED it! The production was great, we sat on the 2nd row, and the girls got autographs after. They were in heaven the whole night.

I love the story of Wicked. I like that someone thought to frame a popular story around some very important concepts.

While I'm raving about things I like, I have to say that I am loving two books right now. I finished "Two Cups of Tea" a couple of weeks ago. Wow. That has to be one of my favorite books. Right now I am listening to "1776" on CD. I am totally loving it too and can't wait to go on a New England tour someday. I'm always open to new book recommendations! I'll be finishing up finals next week and can finally have a chance to read again!

Praiseworthy

My little brother, Tim, graduated from Army Blackhawk Flight School this week at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Thanks to the generosity of my big sister, Heather, the goodness of my Aunt Arva and Uncle Ron in staying with my kids during the day, and the support of my dear husband (that's a lot of blessings right there!), I was able to fly out to witness this great accomplishment in his life. I am so proud of him! He has worked hard and been so dedicated to learning this new skill. He is amazing! My heart swells with pride and gratitude for my brothers (all three), who are willing to put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. Their accomplishments and dedication are definitely "...of good report or praiseworthy...".This may be a little known fact among friends and family...if I'd not married, my plan was to join the Navy and fly helicopters. Tim scheduled time for us to fly in the Blackhawk simulator...what a RUSH! I hovered...not an easy task... "To fly is human, to hover is divine." I also attempted a traffic pattern. I'm sure that if I had more education and training, I could fly that baby. So, it was like a dream fulfilled for me, something I'll no longer have to wonder about, "Could I do that?" I think I could!

We also played Rock Band on the x-box...has anyone played that game? SOOOOO fun! I think I'll save my money for a Wii and Rock Band.

Bottom line: Graduation Day was a GREAT day!

New Arrival

What is it about the birth of a baby that reminds you what life is really all about. Is it there perfect innocence, trust and dependency? Or is it the beauty when they open their eyes, or the way the fit perfectly in your arms? I'm not sure what it is, but I do know it is an amazing experience.

My nephew arrived safely as planned this week. Both he and mom and doing well. As an added bonus I've got to spend lots of time with my niece this week and while she hasn't yet added Jamie to her vocabulary, she has added Grandma and it sounds very sweet.

After a blessing this big, it isn't hard to find many things to be grateful for in my life.

The Power of WOW

Good morning dear friends. I have to say I really enjoy a quiet Sunday morning when I have a chance to reflect on the happenings of the week. This weekend has been one not soon forgotten with my brother in law entering the waters of baptism and becoming a member of the church. What an amazing opportunity to witness this event and see the progression that he and his family have made. How fortunate we are to know that we all have the chance to make significant changes in our lives that can lead to boundless blessings. The true meaning of joy was manifested to me this weekend and that ladies makes all the difference.

Mentors

We all have people in our lives...the people who give us those opportunities just when we need them. I was able to visit with one of those people in my life this week. Her name is Roberta, and she was the Director of Federal Programs in Fallon. I haven't seen her for probably three years. She is the woman who hired me to teach ESL Kindergarten in Fallon back in 1999. I was so grateful for that job. When I quit to have Jeron, she found "just a little something" for me to do in Even Start. I eventually took over the program, which allowed my husband to go back to school and allowed me to have a flexible enough schedule to work full time and be home with Jeron and then Jadee. I loved that job. It was my perfect job at the perfect time, and then the not-so-perfect time. Jeremiah graduated and got a real job and we moved to Reno, so I had to leave that job. Roberta had retired the year before and her successor left a huge gap in the department, so I was okay to move on.

During my conversation with Roberta on Monday, she expressed to me that Even Start was never so great as when I was at the head. That's really saying something, as she wrote the original grant 18 years ago and ran the program all those years before I took over. She is an amazing woman. So much of what I know about leading people in the professional world I learned from her. She always believed in me and my abilities and really gave me wings to fly.

I loved talking with her again. She helped me with the issues I'm having with Jeron's education. When I told her I've been thinking of going back to school to be a marriage and family counselor, she told me I'd be good at that, that I have the ability to be empathetic, yet realistic. Then we talked about my mom dying and she listened and empathized. I am so grateful for the many roles she's played in my life. I am grateful to know that she is still out there, ready to help in any way she can. She truly is a lovely person, worthy of good report.

Good Friday (Thursday and Saturday)

Happy Easter!

I've had a busy and productive last few days which makes me very happy.

It started Thursday when I got to help my new sister-in-law (to be) shop for wedding dresses. It was great to spend the time with her and to share in her joy.

Friday, I decided since Good Friday is a no-work holiday in most of the countries where we have people working it would be a no work holiday here in the states as well. So I got up early and spent the day doing some work around the house I've been trying to get to for months. I got my bedroom closet and drawers cleaned out and even better, I FINALLY got my office cleaned out and organized. Come Monday, I'm finally able to start working out there. I'm hoping this will give me a separation between my home and work (not to mention keeping me out of the kitchen most of the day!)



Best of all was Saturday. My parents brought my grandpa up and we spent the day at my sisters. We BBQed, watched Miss M find her Easter Eggs and put together a playset for her in the backyard. It was fun to spend Easter with my family (a rare event for me.) But most of all it was amazing to see my grandpa light up when Maggie was around. I haven't seen him that full of joy in a long time.

Victory at State PBL

I was away all weekend with my PBL students in Ogden. We attended the annual state competition. I always worry before we go. I worry that we won't win any awards. I worry that someone will have car trouble on the way. I worry that I will forget the projector and laptop. I worry that someone will miss their test. And on and on.

Fortunately, everything went very well! My students won lots of awards and everything worked out in the end. Ten of our 13 students qualified for nationals. We'll be traveling to Anaheim in April. The Anaheim PBL trip was the only one I went on as a college student, so I'm excited to go back again with my students. Now we just need to raise $10,000 so everyone can go!

I've really enjoyed reading your entries, girls. Thanks for the great idea, Jam. I look forward to reading about your "good news" every week. Take care!

Something I Love

I am grateful this week to have been able to attend the Reno Bridal and Beauty Expo as a vendor, marketing my photography. What a blessing photography has been in my life the last three years. It was one of those almost immediate, in-your-face answers to direct and specific prayer. I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who knows each of us so well and desires that we be happy and have joy in this life. Photography is joy for me. I am not perfect at it...disconcerting for a perfectionist...but more often than not, I get something salvageable. I love to capture moments and personalities. I am hoping for some more wedding bookings this wedding season. Cross your fingers and say a prayer for me!

You've gotta love Phil

My highlight of the week was meeting Phil, the host of the Amazing Race. I'm usually not one to get starstruck, but I must say adventurous men from New Zealand are welcome to visit Cedar City anytime. When you get a chance check out Cedar City on his daily blog at philridesacrossamerica.com.

What really struck me about Phil was that he invited his father to join him in his adventure. It was sweet to see the love between him and his father. You could tell they really enjoyed being together.

I hope each of you had a wonderful week and may we all gain a treasure talk from conference this weekend.

Conference

It is so nice this morning to be able to sit down with my mom and watch conference. After more than 3 years of hoping my internet connection will stay up long enough and work well enough that I can hear conference that way. It feels like a rare treat to sit in front of the TV in Aurora and watch conference. But, I am also incredibly grateful for the fact that I've also been able to participate in conference no matter where in the world I've been.

A talk from Elder Wirthlin in the October conference, "Come What May and Love it" has gotten me through the last several months, and I'm very excited to discover a new talk to guide me this year.