So I've now blogged a few weeks in a row...I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with myself. I am making an effort.
This has been a rather rough week for me, in terms of health. I never felt fully recovered from the sinus infection I had over New Year's, and guess what? It came back. With a vengeance. And it brought along an ear infection just to add to the fun. Lucky me. But in all of this, there are silver linings... I am grateful for health insurance and access to medical care. I am thankful for a husband and daughter who are able to fend for themselves and possibly even do better without my help than with my help. LOL I'm thankful for the technology that made it possible on Friday for me to be at home and still get a project done for work that really needed to be finished on Friday. Mark braved the weather not once but twice for me -- I think he must love me or something. :-) The first time was Friday morning before he had to be at work...he went to the grocery store to get more tissues for me. The second time was Friday evening after work when it was snowing. The only thing that sounded good to me for dinner was Olive Garden's chicken gnocchi soup. He braved the snowy roads (and crazy drivers) to go 26 miles to Olive Garden to pick up dinner for me. Such a good man. I am thankful for him. And today at church, a sweet friend -- on asking how I was and listening to me unload -- offered to bring homemade chicken soup over today. I told her it wasn't necessary but appreciated the offer all the same. After me telling her I was probably going to have to break the Sabbath and go buy some nighttime cold medicine tonight so I could get some sleep, she left church during the last hour and ran back to her house and brought back homemade bread, nighttime cold medicine, and peppermint drops for me. Such a sweet woman. And then a few minutes ago she called to double-check my food allergies/sensitivities because she insisted on making homemade chicken noodle soup for us to eat tonight or through the week. What a blessing she is. This is the same family who kept our dogs over the holidays...after overhearing me tell someone I was looking for recommendations for a kennel for the dogs, she offered to keep both dogs over the holidays -- the entire two weeks we were gone. She truly exemplifies the motto "Observe, then serve."
Unfortunately, it seems my cold symptoms are spreading through the house because Mark and Brie are both now having cold/sinus symptoms. Even Alyssa, all the way in Utah, seems to have caught some of the germs and woke up with a sore throat and congestion yesterday morning. So I think that chicken noodle soup will be put to good use.
Brie continues to have drama rehearsals for her school's upcoming production of "Willy Wonka Jr." She is playing the part of the Candyman and has a significant vocal solo. She is also still going strong with basketball. She has decided to play rec league soccer this spring. Sports continue to dominate our household!!
Alyssa is doing well at BYU and continued to work on her mission papers this week. It is still strange to think of her leaving us to go on a mission but, at the same time, it feels very right. I know it will be an amazing experience for her, and I have had the strong impression since last week that this mission is something she needs to do, an experience she needs to have, in order to become the woman Heavenly Father intends for and needs her to be. Being a missionary mom isn't something I had planned on in any way, shape, or form, so this will be a new adventure for all of us.
We are excited that my parents and Grandma are coming up to visit for a couple of days this week. There is lots to get done before they come and we're looking forward to their visit!!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
It Really is a Small World
We had stake conference this weekend. It was a little sad for me because I'm so used to attending stake conference with my family and all of us sitting together. But I am grateful for an amazing, loving ward who has taken us in so quickly...I went to the adult session by myself last night (Brie had a basketball game) and was quickly invited to sit with several different ward members. One of the things that I really loved was looking around seeing entire pews in the chapel filled with members from our ward...I love that these people like each other and want to sit together and make a point of inviting other ward members to sit with them as they arrive. :-)
I sang with the choir, although my cold/sinus infection seems to be flaring up again and I really wasn't sure I felt up to it. But I did, and I'm glad that I did. I've made a lovely friend in another ward through singing with the stake choir and it's always nice to see her. Anyway, due to the size of our stake (11 or 12 units in four buildings), the stake center just won't hold everyone and so the meeting today was broadcast to all of the buildings in the stake (and online) and people watched from their regular meetinghouse. It was odd to be at the stake center and not look out and see my Mom and Dad, Mark, Alyssa, Brie, and my sister Erin and her family in the congregation...it was strange to sing with a different choir director than I'm used to (actually, it was strange to sing at all since I'm usually behind the piano!)...and it was interesting to watch the proceedings as someone who doesn't know anyone and therefore doesn't feel "invested" in who is called to various callings.
And so on to the point...our stake presidency was released and a new stake presidency was called today. Elder Piper and Elder Matthew Eyring were here to handle the business of the conference. I don't really know anyone in the stake yet and so I didn't have any thoughts as to who might be in the new stake presidency (had this been our stake in Georgia I would have been guessing!). One thing that I found interesting is that the entire new stake presidency (and the former stake president) are all from the same ward. I've never seen that happen before. And the thing is, there are probably at least 50 men in the stake who would be amazing stake presidents...this stake is just that strong. It's really neat to experience that.
And now I'm really on to the point of this blog post...it really is a small world, especially in the church. As the new stake president came up to take a seat on the stand, I realized that I recognized him. When his wife was called up to bear her testimony, I *knew* that I recognized them. But I've never spoken to them before. I only ever saw/heard them once before...at the parents' orientation luncheon at BYU in August. They were seated, with their adult son who has a disability, one person away from me at the table. In a room full of thousands of parents, my soon-to-be stake president and his wife and son were seated one person away from me. Of course, I didn't know at the time that he would be our stake president. I was involved in converation with the people directly next to me and heard this gentleman say he was from Virginia. My ears perked up because we had just moved to Virginia three weeks earlier. I didn't hear what city they were from, but I distinctly remember him say they were from Virginia. I wanted to have a chance to talk to him and find out where they were from but wasn't able to. At the end of the luncheon, his adult son said hi to me and shook my hand. I could tell he had a disability and smiled and shook his hand and said hi back to him, at which point hsi parents said it was time to leave and they turned and left. I distinctly remember thinking how unusual it was that his wife was so much taller than he was -- he is very short and she is very tall, and I remember how gently and lovingly they guided their son. For some reason, this couple and their son stuck in the back of my mind over the last few months.
And so today, when he and his wife came to the stand, I immediately knew I had seen them before and remembered the events of that parents' orientation luncheon. In a room full of thousands of parents, I was sitting by my soon-to-be-stake president. And in a stake full of people I haven't met yet, our new stake president is someone that I have encountered before, halfway across the country, on a college campus with approximately 26,000 people.
Yes, it is a small world. A very small world. The mission president's wife spoke in the adult session of stake conference last night and said that there are no coincidences in the gospel -- that people are brought into our lives at specific times for specific reasons. I have to think that there was a reason that I encountered President Hicks and his wife and their son four or so months ago at BYU in a room full of thousands of other parents, and there has to be a reason that I distinctly remember them.
A random occurrence? Maybe. Maybe not. But at that moment, in that stake center this morning, in a room full of people that I don't know and who don't know me, it was strangely comforting to know that I had encountered this man before and that I had been impressed by how he interacted with his son...it made me feel that I wasn't so alone in that moment.
I sang with the choir, although my cold/sinus infection seems to be flaring up again and I really wasn't sure I felt up to it. But I did, and I'm glad that I did. I've made a lovely friend in another ward through singing with the stake choir and it's always nice to see her. Anyway, due to the size of our stake (11 or 12 units in four buildings), the stake center just won't hold everyone and so the meeting today was broadcast to all of the buildings in the stake (and online) and people watched from their regular meetinghouse. It was odd to be at the stake center and not look out and see my Mom and Dad, Mark, Alyssa, Brie, and my sister Erin and her family in the congregation...it was strange to sing with a different choir director than I'm used to (actually, it was strange to sing at all since I'm usually behind the piano!)...and it was interesting to watch the proceedings as someone who doesn't know anyone and therefore doesn't feel "invested" in who is called to various callings.
And so on to the point...our stake presidency was released and a new stake presidency was called today. Elder Piper and Elder Matthew Eyring were here to handle the business of the conference. I don't really know anyone in the stake yet and so I didn't have any thoughts as to who might be in the new stake presidency (had this been our stake in Georgia I would have been guessing!). One thing that I found interesting is that the entire new stake presidency (and the former stake president) are all from the same ward. I've never seen that happen before. And the thing is, there are probably at least 50 men in the stake who would be amazing stake presidents...this stake is just that strong. It's really neat to experience that.
And now I'm really on to the point of this blog post...it really is a small world, especially in the church. As the new stake president came up to take a seat on the stand, I realized that I recognized him. When his wife was called up to bear her testimony, I *knew* that I recognized them. But I've never spoken to them before. I only ever saw/heard them once before...at the parents' orientation luncheon at BYU in August. They were seated, with their adult son who has a disability, one person away from me at the table. In a room full of thousands of parents, my soon-to-be stake president and his wife and son were seated one person away from me. Of course, I didn't know at the time that he would be our stake president. I was involved in converation with the people directly next to me and heard this gentleman say he was from Virginia. My ears perked up because we had just moved to Virginia three weeks earlier. I didn't hear what city they were from, but I distinctly remember him say they were from Virginia. I wanted to have a chance to talk to him and find out where they were from but wasn't able to. At the end of the luncheon, his adult son said hi to me and shook my hand. I could tell he had a disability and smiled and shook his hand and said hi back to him, at which point hsi parents said it was time to leave and they turned and left. I distinctly remember thinking how unusual it was that his wife was so much taller than he was -- he is very short and she is very tall, and I remember how gently and lovingly they guided their son. For some reason, this couple and their son stuck in the back of my mind over the last few months.
And so today, when he and his wife came to the stand, I immediately knew I had seen them before and remembered the events of that parents' orientation luncheon. In a room full of thousands of parents, I was sitting by my soon-to-be-stake president. And in a stake full of people I haven't met yet, our new stake president is someone that I have encountered before, halfway across the country, on a college campus with approximately 26,000 people.
Yes, it is a small world. A very small world. The mission president's wife spoke in the adult session of stake conference last night and said that there are no coincidences in the gospel -- that people are brought into our lives at specific times for specific reasons. I have to think that there was a reason that I encountered President Hicks and his wife and their son four or so months ago at BYU in a room full of thousands of other parents, and there has to be a reason that I distinctly remember them.
A random occurrence? Maybe. Maybe not. But at that moment, in that stake center this morning, in a room full of people that I don't know and who don't know me, it was strangely comforting to know that I had encountered this man before and that I had been impressed by how he interacted with his son...it made me feel that I wasn't so alone in that moment.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I was Nominated for a Liebster
So I was nominated for a Liebster. Which is a kinda like a chain letter for a blog. Someone who reads your blog nominates you. You have certain steps you must do before passing it along.
What I must do:
1. Post 11 random things about myself.
2. Answer 11 questions my nominator set for me.
3. Create 11 questions for my nominees.
4. Nominate 11 other fellow bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. (no Tag Backs)
5. Tell them each of their nomination.
Randomness
1. I have to do everything left to right -- putting in my contacts, putting on my makeup, getting dressed, sorting things, etc. Working right-to-left really, really bothers me.
2. I didn't try guacamole for the first time until I was in my mid 30s. Now I like it, but really only if it's fresh...the packaged kind at the grocery store is gross.
3. We went to church with one of my 2nd grade teachers. He taught us patriotic songs at school on a piano he brought into our classroom. Whenever I sing patriotic songs I think of him...Mr. (Brother) Jensen...at least I think that was his name.
4. I lke cross country skiing, but downhill skiing terrifies me. I don't like any activity or sport where I do not feel like I'm in control of my body.
5. When I get interested in something (like a book, movie, musical, music group), I get a little obsessed and do as much research as I can to learn as much as I can about it. For example -- did you know that, in every touring production of Wicked, if they change the choreography or steps in one touring company's performance those changes are immediately duplicated into all other touring shows? Or that there are numerous various types of fabrics used to make the amazing black dress Elphaba wears in the last part of the show? The audiende just never sees it because they're so far away...but if you look at pictures online, the detail in the fabric and the design is amazing. Or that the key changes in "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" help tell the story of the song? Yeah...I obsess over little details like that.
6. I love the beach. Except that I don't really care to be in the ocean, unless the water is really, really clear. I just like to be on the beach. Not in the ocean. Just on the beach.
7. When I was born my mom's coach announced I was a boy. I have four older brothers so she just figured I was another boy.
8. I firmly believe in the power of a well-tailored and fitted black pencil skirt and a fabulous pair of high heels. That is my ultimate power outfit.
9. The first record I ever bought with my own money was the soundtrack to Footloose and I used to play it in my bedroom wit the door shut and then dance my heart out. The first CD I ever got was a gift from a boyfriend -- it was a Phil Collins CD. I didn't even really like Phil Collins. I didn't have a CD player so I had to go buy one so I could listen to the CD. Wow, I feel old!
10. One of the reasons I wanted to be a cheerleader in high school is because my cheerleading uniforms were the only sleeveless tops and short skirts I was allowed to wear.
11. If there is music on, I will dance. I can't help it.
11 Random Questions for me to answer:
1. What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten? Hmmm...I make a point of not eating weird things, so the answer is probably moose meat lasagne. In Alaska, of course!
2. If you could spend a day with one famous person who would it be and why? Wow, another tough question! I think it would be Queen Elizabeth, because I want to know what it's really like to be a royal...and because I want to just gawk at all of her jewelry.
3. Which zombie movie would you think would have the best chances of surviving? I have never watched a zombie movie and never will, so I have no idea!
4. Who is the most annoying sesame street/Muppet character? Elmo! Definitely Elmo!
5. What was your favorite childhood movie? I don't really remember...I think I liked Lady and the Tramp and Cinderella.
6. Disneyland or Disneyworld? Definitely Disney World. I've been both places more than once and Disney World wins, hands down.
7. Worst job ever had? I have been fortunate to never have a job I would classify as "worst," although when I worked as a typesetter at a smalltown newspaper the office was full of spiders and that really creeped me out.
8. If you could attend any concert no matter who the performer was who would it be? RIght now I'm really loving Celtic Thunder...
9. Were you saddened by the loss of Twinkies? Only a little bit...I was more saddened by the loss of Zingers because I like them better than Twinkies.
10. How often do you actually make your bed? Ummm....next to never! I just don't see the point. But I have to have the sheets very straight and orderly when I get in the bed because I can't stand the feeling of wrinkled sheets against my feet/legs.
11. What is your favorite and least favorite remake movie? My favorite remake movie is Pride and Prejudice with Colin FIrth. I don't have a least favorite remake movie.
OK, now I have to come up with 11 people to tag....I don't think I know 11 bloggers! But I'll try...will tag them on FB.
They have to answer the following random questions:
1. What is your favorite childhood memory?
2. Do you have a theme for your Christmas decorating? What is it?
3. What is your "guilty pleasure"?
4. What was your favorite subject in school? Least favorite? Why?
5. If you could have any car in the world, what car would it be and why?
6. Who is your favorite Disney princess?
7. If you could swap places with a celebrity for a day, who would it be and why?
8. Star Trek or Star Wars?
9. What food combination do you like that other people might think is strange?
10. What secret childhood dream have you fulfilled as an adut, or which one do you want to fulfill the most?
11. If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what would your superpower be?
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Another Week in Review...
Wow...I'm blogging two weeks in a row! I'd say that's progress! We'll see how long I can keep this up. Sunday afternoons around here are pretty quiet...we have 9 am church (ugh....) and so then we have all afternoon at home. Mark usually naps (and watches sports), Brie usually naps and hands out with her electronic devices, and I usually make some cookies (don't be too impressed...they're usually pre-shaped refrigerator cookies from the grocery store), do some indexing, and maybe read. I'm hoping to get to the point where I can add regular blogging to that list.
This week, again, has been marked by illness. Poor Brie woke up at 2 am Monday morning with a stomach virus and so I stayed home with her on Monday. I think we sprayed the entire house with Lysol. Mark stayed home from work on Thursday and I haven't felt well all week. I think I'm finally on the tail end of my cold/sinus infection and though I have had an upset stomach part of the week I think (knock on wood) that I managed to escape the stomach virus. There are so many viruses and illnesses going around right now...there were a lot of people missing at church today.
Yesterday was a big basketball day for us. Mark's YM team had a game in the morning, then he refereed several games at the church, then Brie had a church YW game in the afternoon (they won by a HUGE margin), and then she had a league game at 9 pm last night (another win). She is pretty worn out and sore this morning! Me? Well, I'm a pretty good spectator/cheerleader, so I watched from the sidelines/stands. It is nice to spend time talking to other women while we cheer on our kids. It's nice to see Brie pretty much back to her normal energy level -- it really shows on the basketball court.
Alyssa had the opportunity to go up to her aunt Susie's house Friday night/Saturday and I know she enjoyed being surrounded by family who loves her and also having a break from campus. We're so grateful that she has so much family close by and that their homes are always open to her. What a blessing that has been!
Mark bought me a Soda Stream as an anniversary gift. So much for me giving up soda! LOL We're all enjoying this nifty little machine. The cola flavoring isn't quite the same as my beloved Coke, but it's pretty close. There is a grapefruit soda that I'd like to try, as well as a cranberry raspberry flavoring that looks good.
I'm doing well so far on my personal scripture study. I'm on track with the RS reading chart -- so I can say that I got the first week's readings done. I didn't do them all on the assigned done, but they did get done. That's the important thing, right? I hope so...
Last night some friends from church invited us over to hang out and watch football before Brie's late basketball game. It was so much fun to be around a lively group of people. The food was wonderful, but even more wonderful was just spending time socially with friends. We haven't really done that since we moved here. We all enjoyed it.
Today was supposed to be about 68 degrees and sunny. I was hoping to go on a drive up to the temple, just to walk around the temple grounds in the nice weather. Well, it's 48 degrees and foggy, rainy, and just yucky outside. So no drive up to the temple. Darn...
So what's ahead for this week? More of the same...school, drama rehearsal, and basketball for Brie; work for Mark and me; school for Alyssa. Alyssa has been going on to the temple in Provo on an almost weekly basis since she got to school...I need to be better about my own temple attendance. Unfortunately it won't be this week as we have stake conference this coming weekend. I'm looking forward to that, and we'll have two general authorities in attendance.
The one thing I'm definitely praying for this upcoming week is health for all of us. We're ready to be done with the germs and illnesses!!!
This week, again, has been marked by illness. Poor Brie woke up at 2 am Monday morning with a stomach virus and so I stayed home with her on Monday. I think we sprayed the entire house with Lysol. Mark stayed home from work on Thursday and I haven't felt well all week. I think I'm finally on the tail end of my cold/sinus infection and though I have had an upset stomach part of the week I think (knock on wood) that I managed to escape the stomach virus. There are so many viruses and illnesses going around right now...there were a lot of people missing at church today.
Yesterday was a big basketball day for us. Mark's YM team had a game in the morning, then he refereed several games at the church, then Brie had a church YW game in the afternoon (they won by a HUGE margin), and then she had a league game at 9 pm last night (another win). She is pretty worn out and sore this morning! Me? Well, I'm a pretty good spectator/cheerleader, so I watched from the sidelines/stands. It is nice to spend time talking to other women while we cheer on our kids. It's nice to see Brie pretty much back to her normal energy level -- it really shows on the basketball court.
Alyssa had the opportunity to go up to her aunt Susie's house Friday night/Saturday and I know she enjoyed being surrounded by family who loves her and also having a break from campus. We're so grateful that she has so much family close by and that their homes are always open to her. What a blessing that has been!
Mark bought me a Soda Stream as an anniversary gift. So much for me giving up soda! LOL We're all enjoying this nifty little machine. The cola flavoring isn't quite the same as my beloved Coke, but it's pretty close. There is a grapefruit soda that I'd like to try, as well as a cranberry raspberry flavoring that looks good.
I'm doing well so far on my personal scripture study. I'm on track with the RS reading chart -- so I can say that I got the first week's readings done. I didn't do them all on the assigned done, but they did get done. That's the important thing, right? I hope so...
Last night some friends from church invited us over to hang out and watch football before Brie's late basketball game. It was so much fun to be around a lively group of people. The food was wonderful, but even more wonderful was just spending time socially with friends. We haven't really done that since we moved here. We all enjoyed it.
Today was supposed to be about 68 degrees and sunny. I was hoping to go on a drive up to the temple, just to walk around the temple grounds in the nice weather. Well, it's 48 degrees and foggy, rainy, and just yucky outside. So no drive up to the temple. Darn...
So what's ahead for this week? More of the same...school, drama rehearsal, and basketball for Brie; work for Mark and me; school for Alyssa. Alyssa has been going on to the temple in Provo on an almost weekly basis since she got to school...I need to be better about my own temple attendance. Unfortunately it won't be this week as we have stake conference this coming weekend. I'm looking forward to that, and we'll have two general authorities in attendance.
The one thing I'm definitely praying for this upcoming week is health for all of us. We're ready to be done with the germs and illnesses!!!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
A New Year...
It's a new year, and this new year has been marked by illness at our house. Not fun! I have been battling a cold (or something) since December 14, and now a sinus infection. Poor Alyssa came home from BYU for the holidays and got a horrible cold and ended up with the beginnings of an ear infection and sinus infection. Brie appears to finally be getting over her illness, and now Mark is starting to have cold symptoms. *Sigh*
We had a wonderful Christmas in Georgia with our family. We met my family at a cabin in the "mountains" (they aren't mountains...they're really hills, but people in Georgia call them mountains) and spent four days there. It was a nice cabin and it was fun to be together, although all of the "littles" (my younger nieces and nephews) had colds, which they kindly shared with the rest of us. I love spending time with my family, and especially at Christmas. It was especially wonderful to have Alyssa home for three weeks. I was sad to take her to the airport Friday to fly back out to school, but I know she'll have a great semester, and we love that she is so close to Mark's family and able to spend time with them.
I have decided not to make an New Year's Resolutions because I'm terrible at keeping them. Instead, I've been thinking about things I want to work on this year but not putting the pressure of a "resolution" on myself. I've thought about things in the areas of home, family, spiritual, and self.
For our home, I am continuing a decluttering challenge I started on Facebook last year. I am hoping to be more successful with it this year. I want our home to be a place that is welcoming and ready for guests with very little notice. Right now I would say it is welcoming but definitely not ready for guests! One thing I have learned is that it's much easier to keep something clean than it is to get it clean in the first place. I did ok with the challenge last year but plan to be more dedicated this year. Clutter and stuff seems to be overtaking my life and at times it feels claustrophobic. So we'll see how it goes this year.
For our family, I want to focus on being present and in the moment when we are together. So often my mind is racing off in multiple directions when we're together and I don't stop and just savor the moment. Having Alyssa leave for school this past fall really hit me hard and I realized how much time we spent together where I just wasn't fully present and focusing on the time we had together. We have missed her so much, and I realized that I missed out on a lot of moments because I was physically present but not mentally present. So this year I want to work on that.
Spiritually, I want to be better about personal/family scripture study. That is something I've never been good and I want to work on it. Our Relief Society Presidency sent out a reading chart over the holidays and I'm going to work hard to keep up with it as much as I can. I've tried listening to the scriptures during my commute time but I don't seem to absorb it that way. I have found that I really need to read it myself.
Finally, for my self...I have felt my body turning to jell-o since I stopped taking ballet classes and I hate it. I bought some ballet workout DVDs and I really need to find time to do those, at least once per week. Brie mentioned that she wants to exercise more and be more physically fit and that is something we could work on together. When the weather gets nicer I want to walk. I love going on walks. My commute/work schedule makes it hard to do things in the evenings but I need to not just plop myself down on the couch and veg out all evening...I need to be active.
So we'll see how we do this year....
We had a wonderful Christmas in Georgia with our family. We met my family at a cabin in the "mountains" (they aren't mountains...they're really hills, but people in Georgia call them mountains) and spent four days there. It was a nice cabin and it was fun to be together, although all of the "littles" (my younger nieces and nephews) had colds, which they kindly shared with the rest of us. I love spending time with my family, and especially at Christmas. It was especially wonderful to have Alyssa home for three weeks. I was sad to take her to the airport Friday to fly back out to school, but I know she'll have a great semester, and we love that she is so close to Mark's family and able to spend time with them.
I have decided not to make an New Year's Resolutions because I'm terrible at keeping them. Instead, I've been thinking about things I want to work on this year but not putting the pressure of a "resolution" on myself. I've thought about things in the areas of home, family, spiritual, and self.
For our home, I am continuing a decluttering challenge I started on Facebook last year. I am hoping to be more successful with it this year. I want our home to be a place that is welcoming and ready for guests with very little notice. Right now I would say it is welcoming but definitely not ready for guests! One thing I have learned is that it's much easier to keep something clean than it is to get it clean in the first place. I did ok with the challenge last year but plan to be more dedicated this year. Clutter and stuff seems to be overtaking my life and at times it feels claustrophobic. So we'll see how it goes this year.
For our family, I want to focus on being present and in the moment when we are together. So often my mind is racing off in multiple directions when we're together and I don't stop and just savor the moment. Having Alyssa leave for school this past fall really hit me hard and I realized how much time we spent together where I just wasn't fully present and focusing on the time we had together. We have missed her so much, and I realized that I missed out on a lot of moments because I was physically present but not mentally present. So this year I want to work on that.
Spiritually, I want to be better about personal/family scripture study. That is something I've never been good and I want to work on it. Our Relief Society Presidency sent out a reading chart over the holidays and I'm going to work hard to keep up with it as much as I can. I've tried listening to the scriptures during my commute time but I don't seem to absorb it that way. I have found that I really need to read it myself.
Finally, for my self...I have felt my body turning to jell-o since I stopped taking ballet classes and I hate it. I bought some ballet workout DVDs and I really need to find time to do those, at least once per week. Brie mentioned that she wants to exercise more and be more physically fit and that is something we could work on together. When the weather gets nicer I want to walk. I love going on walks. My commute/work schedule makes it hard to do things in the evenings but I need to not just plop myself down on the couch and veg out all evening...I need to be active.
So we'll see how we do this year....
Monday, November 12, 2012
And This is Why I Don't Make Resolutions....
Because I'm very apt to not keep them shortly after I make them! In my last post I said I wanted to add blogging to my Sunday afternoon activities...well, obviously that didn't happen! In my defense, though, it's been a little busy...
I was in Georgia to help my sister after the birth of her new baby. They are adopting a precious little girl who was born on October 30. Moriah was diagnosed with pneumonia the morning after her birth and was in the hospital for a week, so I went down to help take care of her other two girls. I won't lie -- it was exhausting at times -- but I am so glad I was able to be there to help. My time in Georgia included making two tutus for my nieces, hours of Spongebob Squarepants (I hate that show -- honestly, I hate it...I cringed every time the girls asked to watch it!), watching them play outside, supervising school work, and helping with crafts. And, oh yes -- snuggling babies! Not just Moriah, but my sister Erin's baby, Parker. SO much fun to snuggle babies! It is one of the great joys of life. I am convinced that people in the world would be so much happier if they would just spend 30 minutes each day snuggling a beautiful, perfect, sweet baby.
Brienna's volleyball season wrapped up on Saturday. One of her coaches said she was the most improved player from the beginning of the season. By the end of the season she was starting almost every game. We could see her improving every week. She loves volleyball. Both of her coaches wanted her to try out for club volleyball (travel team). Unfortunately, though, it turns out that all of their games are on Sundays. So when Brie's coach approached her about playing on a club team (one of her coaches is on the board of directors for the club program), Brie asked what days they play on. The coach told her they played all of their games on Sunday. Brie immediately replied that she wouldn't be able to try out, then, because she doesn't do sports on Sunday. SO proud of her -- she didn't even think twice about it. We're going to look into some volleyball camps for her for next summer (maybe one at BYU), as well as taking her up to the local volleyball center for their open gym playing time, and whatever else we can do to keep working on her skills during the off season. I have a feeling her high school years will be filled with volleyball.
And now that volleyball season is over, basketball season is beginning. No rest for the weary! LOL Brie is playing on a team and Mark will be helping to coach a team at church. He took this year off from coaching high school sports because of my work schedule, and I have a feeling he really misses it. So this will help him keep his toes in the water until next year when he will start coaching high school sports again. For the next 8-12 weeks, then, we will be a basketball family. Mark will be helping with Brie's practices and games (when they don't conflict with his games), plus coaching his boys' team at church, so we'll be busy. One thing that I like about the basketball league is that parents *must* volunteer to help (or pay an extra $40 or so in registration fees). So I'll be helping with score keeping, time clock, etc., etc., etc. Too bad Alyssa isn't here -- she was Mark's clock and score book person for his high school team for a couple of years -- she's very good at it!
Alyssa is doing well at BYU and it seems she has found her footing and rhythm there. She has a wonderful roommate and I love that they go to the temple together each Saturday morning. How awesome is that??? She's doing better than we are on that front...we haven't been yet since we moved. We need to do that soon. She is doing well in her classes and has enjoyed going to BYU football games. She gets to spend time with her cousin Jordan and his wife and sweet baby, and will be spending Thanksgiving with Mark's family -- a first! We've never been able to spend Thanksgiving with Mark's family because of coaching schedules, so this will be neat for her. I love that Alyssa calls home frequently, usually on her way back to her dorm for lunch. :-) We miss her terribly but we know she is where she needs to be.
We escaped Hurricane Sandy's wrath. Really, down here there wasn't much storming going on at all. We had worse rain and wind during several storms in Georgia. But better safe than sorry. It could have been so, so, so much worse if the storm had come ashore farther south than it did. We were well-prepared for the storm and it was a good exercise in preparedness and got us thinking about the things we would need in case of a serious emergency. I think we may buy a generator next year.
We will be going to Georgia for Thanskgiving...just a quick trip...but we're all excited to go home again and see our family (and especially those sweet babies). I wish the drive wasn't so long, but it's do-able. And then we'll be back down there for Christmas. :-)
The weather here is gorgeous today...blue sky and sunshine with light, wispy white clouds. I see fall colors outside and am reminded of how beautiful this area is. My menu and grocery list are filled with soups and stews...fall always makes me crave soups and stews. So off to the grocery store I go...
I was in Georgia to help my sister after the birth of her new baby. They are adopting a precious little girl who was born on October 30. Moriah was diagnosed with pneumonia the morning after her birth and was in the hospital for a week, so I went down to help take care of her other two girls. I won't lie -- it was exhausting at times -- but I am so glad I was able to be there to help. My time in Georgia included making two tutus for my nieces, hours of Spongebob Squarepants (I hate that show -- honestly, I hate it...I cringed every time the girls asked to watch it!), watching them play outside, supervising school work, and helping with crafts. And, oh yes -- snuggling babies! Not just Moriah, but my sister Erin's baby, Parker. SO much fun to snuggle babies! It is one of the great joys of life. I am convinced that people in the world would be so much happier if they would just spend 30 minutes each day snuggling a beautiful, perfect, sweet baby.
Brienna's volleyball season wrapped up on Saturday. One of her coaches said she was the most improved player from the beginning of the season. By the end of the season she was starting almost every game. We could see her improving every week. She loves volleyball. Both of her coaches wanted her to try out for club volleyball (travel team). Unfortunately, though, it turns out that all of their games are on Sundays. So when Brie's coach approached her about playing on a club team (one of her coaches is on the board of directors for the club program), Brie asked what days they play on. The coach told her they played all of their games on Sunday. Brie immediately replied that she wouldn't be able to try out, then, because she doesn't do sports on Sunday. SO proud of her -- she didn't even think twice about it. We're going to look into some volleyball camps for her for next summer (maybe one at BYU), as well as taking her up to the local volleyball center for their open gym playing time, and whatever else we can do to keep working on her skills during the off season. I have a feeling her high school years will be filled with volleyball.
And now that volleyball season is over, basketball season is beginning. No rest for the weary! LOL Brie is playing on a team and Mark will be helping to coach a team at church. He took this year off from coaching high school sports because of my work schedule, and I have a feeling he really misses it. So this will help him keep his toes in the water until next year when he will start coaching high school sports again. For the next 8-12 weeks, then, we will be a basketball family. Mark will be helping with Brie's practices and games (when they don't conflict with his games), plus coaching his boys' team at church, so we'll be busy. One thing that I like about the basketball league is that parents *must* volunteer to help (or pay an extra $40 or so in registration fees). So I'll be helping with score keeping, time clock, etc., etc., etc. Too bad Alyssa isn't here -- she was Mark's clock and score book person for his high school team for a couple of years -- she's very good at it!
Alyssa is doing well at BYU and it seems she has found her footing and rhythm there. She has a wonderful roommate and I love that they go to the temple together each Saturday morning. How awesome is that??? She's doing better than we are on that front...we haven't been yet since we moved. We need to do that soon. She is doing well in her classes and has enjoyed going to BYU football games. She gets to spend time with her cousin Jordan and his wife and sweet baby, and will be spending Thanksgiving with Mark's family -- a first! We've never been able to spend Thanksgiving with Mark's family because of coaching schedules, so this will be neat for her. I love that Alyssa calls home frequently, usually on her way back to her dorm for lunch. :-) We miss her terribly but we know she is where she needs to be.
We escaped Hurricane Sandy's wrath. Really, down here there wasn't much storming going on at all. We had worse rain and wind during several storms in Georgia. But better safe than sorry. It could have been so, so, so much worse if the storm had come ashore farther south than it did. We were well-prepared for the storm and it was a good exercise in preparedness and got us thinking about the things we would need in case of a serious emergency. I think we may buy a generator next year.
We will be going to Georgia for Thanskgiving...just a quick trip...but we're all excited to go home again and see our family (and especially those sweet babies). I wish the drive wasn't so long, but it's do-able. And then we'll be back down there for Christmas. :-)
The weather here is gorgeous today...blue sky and sunshine with light, wispy white clouds. I see fall colors outside and am reminded of how beautiful this area is. My menu and grocery list are filled with soups and stews...fall always makes me crave soups and stews. So off to the grocery store I go...
Sunday, October 21, 2012
We Did It!
The move is over. Actually, it's been over for some time. We arrived in Virginia on August 1 and are slowly getting unpacked and settled. Mark really enjoys the school he is teaching at and gets along great with his fellow teachers. There are several other new teachers in the biology department and that has helped -- they all pitch in to help each other out and they get along great. He tells funny stories about their lunchtime conversations all the time. I'm glad he's enjoying his new job. Brie is doing great in middle school and is at the top of her class in pretty much every subject. She has some really good teachers and a teacher or two who are not quite as good. As seems to be the case every year, there is always one teacher that is problematic and this year is no exception. But other than that I think she really likes her new school. She is playing on the volleyball team and has fallen in love with the sport. She seems to have a natural ability for it and really enjoys it. I find that I prefer being a "volleyball mom" over a "soccer mom"...mostly since volleyball is played indoors so we don't have to worry about either roasting or freezing outdoors during her games! Alyssa is at BYU and making the adjustment to being a college student. We miss her terribly and the entire experience has not been without growing pains (for all of us) but we know that she will be successful. She has a wonderful roommate and is close to lots of family, which is nice. She has enjoyed the football games, even though the football season isn't having the win-loss outcome we would hope for. My job is ok...I'm doing something different from anything I've ever done before and, truth be told, I'm not really loving my current rotation. But in another 10 months or so I'll rotate into something else that is more similar to what I really love doing and all will be well. I am learning a lot, and that's good. I don't love my commute, though. It would be fine if I could read on the bus but, sadly, I get motion sickness very easily and just can't do it. So in the mornings I listen to uplifting music and on the way home I get my fill of show tunes and Broadway musicals. :-) I have to get up at 5 am and leave the house by 6 am and I get home just a few minutes after 6 pm. As a result I am constantly and chronically tired and I miss having more time with my family. But I have some great coworkers and it all manages to work out.
We are getting settled in our home and have finally finished buying furniture to fill it. Now it's just a matter of getting pictures up on the walls and finding places to keep everything. It's been a long time since we've had stairs in our home and going up and down stairs all the time is helping to keep us all in shape.
It is definitely fall here. The trees are blazing with gorgeous red, orange, and yellow leaves. The colors are so incredibly vibrant. It won't be long until winter sets in, and "the locals" are telling us to expect a long, hard winter. Apparently the Farmer's Almanac is calling for a long, hard winter and, according to at least one person, the incredible abundance of acorns all over the place mean it will be a long, hard winter. We'll see if that turns out to be the case. I am hoping it is not! We need to buy winter coats and boots...we have found that our Georgia "winter" gear is really more appropriate for fall here. There has already been one morning that we had to scrape frost/ice off the car windows.
One of the things I have made a tradition of since we moved here is going to the local farmer's market on Saturday mornings. Yes, the produce is (usually) more expensive than the grocery store, but it is SO much better. And we have tried so many new varieties of tomatoes! I never knew there were so many kinds out there! This week we are trying green zebra striped tomatoes (no, they're not green as in unripe -- they're green and fully ripe!). One of our favorites is "chocolate tomatoes" (named that because of their color, not their flavor) as well as brandywine pink tomatoes. We've had tie dye tomatoes which are yellow and pinkish/red on the outside *and* on the inside. Lots and lots of varieties of tomatoes and my goal is to try them all. :-) Now that it's fall apples are in season and we have fallen in love with locally grown honeycrisp apples. We've tried freshly made local mozzarella cheese (well, Mark and Brie tried it!) and Mark even tried (and loved) banana salsa. Yes, salsa with bananas in it. No one liked it but him. LOL
We love our new ward at church. People have been so warm and welcoming. Mark is serving as a Primary teacher, Brie was just called as the Beehive class president and I am serving as a RS teacher and ward missionary. I bet you never expected to see my name in conjunction with those titles! LOL Honestly, I never expected those callings (and didn't want them). But I am finding that I appear to be slowly recovering from my "allergy" to Relief Society. It helps that our ward has the most incredible RS President. She is truly amazing and inspirational and I learn something from her every time I hear her speak or give a lesson. If I can grow up to be even a little like Sis. Tagg I will consider myself to be a success.
My goal is to add blogging to my Sunday afternoon routine that currently includes working on dinner and indexing. Hopefully I can be better about updating so you can all keep up-to-date on what's happening with us!
We are getting settled in our home and have finally finished buying furniture to fill it. Now it's just a matter of getting pictures up on the walls and finding places to keep everything. It's been a long time since we've had stairs in our home and going up and down stairs all the time is helping to keep us all in shape.
It is definitely fall here. The trees are blazing with gorgeous red, orange, and yellow leaves. The colors are so incredibly vibrant. It won't be long until winter sets in, and "the locals" are telling us to expect a long, hard winter. Apparently the Farmer's Almanac is calling for a long, hard winter and, according to at least one person, the incredible abundance of acorns all over the place mean it will be a long, hard winter. We'll see if that turns out to be the case. I am hoping it is not! We need to buy winter coats and boots...we have found that our Georgia "winter" gear is really more appropriate for fall here. There has already been one morning that we had to scrape frost/ice off the car windows.
One of the things I have made a tradition of since we moved here is going to the local farmer's market on Saturday mornings. Yes, the produce is (usually) more expensive than the grocery store, but it is SO much better. And we have tried so many new varieties of tomatoes! I never knew there were so many kinds out there! This week we are trying green zebra striped tomatoes (no, they're not green as in unripe -- they're green and fully ripe!). One of our favorites is "chocolate tomatoes" (named that because of their color, not their flavor) as well as brandywine pink tomatoes. We've had tie dye tomatoes which are yellow and pinkish/red on the outside *and* on the inside. Lots and lots of varieties of tomatoes and my goal is to try them all. :-) Now that it's fall apples are in season and we have fallen in love with locally grown honeycrisp apples. We've tried freshly made local mozzarella cheese (well, Mark and Brie tried it!) and Mark even tried (and loved) banana salsa. Yes, salsa with bananas in it. No one liked it but him. LOL
We love our new ward at church. People have been so warm and welcoming. Mark is serving as a Primary teacher, Brie was just called as the Beehive class president and I am serving as a RS teacher and ward missionary. I bet you never expected to see my name in conjunction with those titles! LOL Honestly, I never expected those callings (and didn't want them). But I am finding that I appear to be slowly recovering from my "allergy" to Relief Society. It helps that our ward has the most incredible RS President. She is truly amazing and inspirational and I learn something from her every time I hear her speak or give a lesson. If I can grow up to be even a little like Sis. Tagg I will consider myself to be a success.
My goal is to add blogging to my Sunday afternoon routine that currently includes working on dinner and indexing. Hopefully I can be better about updating so you can all keep up-to-date on what's happening with us!
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