The Chicago Connection

Little Touches

2011-12-24T00:31:00.007-06:00

We're in Utah for the holidays. Kristin's home is beautiful with so many special little "touches." Here are some of her fun Christmas pillows.

Temples

2011-12-19T20:54:00.003-06:00

Believe it or not, I'm old enough to remember when there were only 7 operating temples in the world, and I had seen them all. Recently, our primary asked people to submit a list of all the temples they had visited and they marked them on a big world map on the bulletin board at church. Randy and I have quite a list -- certainly nowhere close to all of them, but some pretty fun ones -- New Zealand, Hong Kong, Switzerland, London, Sweden, Hawaii, Cardston, Kirtland, Palmyra, Nauvoo, Winter Quarters, and lots of others in the USA. Now that our kids are in Kennewick we just added another. It's beautiful!

Cooking

2011-12-18T22:42:00.004-06:00

Can too many cooks spoil the soup (salad)? Not when the combination includes Rob, the favorite uncle. Wherever we go, it's always better when Uncle Rob is there. Who else would get up at the crack of dawn and play Power Rangers until the adults want to get up? Who else would spend hours playing computer games or making Boys in the Kitchen a fun and successful activity. We're always happy when you're with us, Rob!

Christmas Attitude?

2011-12-18T00:05:00.004-06:00

One of the bishops' wives gave me this refrigerator magnet. I thought it was quite clever. I've never been part of the "Inn" crowd. Sure hope I'm one of the Stable few.

Christmas Luncheon

2011-12-15T01:50:00.004-06:00

I had my annual Christmas luncheon for the bishops' wives today. I don't think it was the nicest luncheon I've ever hosted, but my table looked pretty, and I made a personalized journal for each of the sisters. Checked that right off my "To Do" list. I only have one week at home during this entire month, and it seems like I will never get everything done. I had my classic "stress dream" last night. It's always the same dream. I'm trying to clean a friend's house. I've been there for hours and have only cleaned the living room and one bathroom. I'm working as fast as I can, but just can't seem to get anything done. Help!!

Baby Blessing

2011-12-14T10:35:00.003-06:00

Life events seem to get in the way of my blogging. We recently returned from a wonderful life event -- the blessing of our nineteenth grandchild -- Blakelyn Kamille. With four brothers around her, she is really treated as a princess. These are the little shoes I made for her blessing.

How Sweet is the Gospel?

2011-11-19T13:25:00.004-06:00

I'm just finishing up my fourth year as gospel doctrine teacher. Two more lessons to go, and I'm hanging on by the tips of my fingernails. My well has only a few liters of water left. I feel like I've shared every personal experience, every good story, every insight I can squeeze out. Yes, I know that men like Daniel Ludlow and Gerald Lund probably teach gospel doctrine for 17 consecutive years, but HELLOOOOO, I'm not Daniel Ludlow!

Tomorrow we will be discussing the book of James. I thought this idea by Bruce R. McConkie was cool. Paul wrote his letters for the benefit of those members of the church living at that time. Occasionally there are gems that benefit us today. James, on the other hand, wrote his letter for the members of the House of Israel today, and a few individuals from his day might possibly have benefitted from them. As I read James with that thought in mind I could truly get the picture.

Take James 1:5-6. It wouldn't surprise me if James wrote that scripture specifically for Joseph Smith. He said that no passage of scripture had ever come to his heart with more power than this one did. And think of the countless individuals who have been blessed because Joseph read and acted on that scripture. I like this quote by Bruce McConkie: "Thus, this single verse of scripture has had a greater impact and a more far reaching effect upon mankind than any other single sentence ever recorded by any prophet in any age."

Anyway, if you're ever feeling uncertain about whether you've prepared a good lesson, may I suggest that a treat during class goes a long way toward improving what you have prepared!!

Pie Scrap Treats

2011-11-18T15:48:00.002-06:00

Do you make pie scrap treats for your kids. Then you're a great mom. I make them for myself! Fortunately, I've reached the point where I don't make a whole pan of them. Here's my favorite pie crust recipe:

For every pie crust you plan to make, begin with one cup of flour.

For every cup of flour, add 1/3 t. salt.

Use half as much shortening as you have flour. Cut with pastry cutter until fine crumbs.

Use half as much cold water as you used shortening.

Mix gently. Squeeze together into balls. Roll out on well-floured counter. Try not to handle your dough too much. Bake at 450 degrees about 8-10 minutes.

Eleven, Eleven, Eleven

2011-11-10T22:49:00.003-06:00

Yah, surprise, it's me! Every day I think I'll blog, but quite truthfully, my life is pretty boring right now. Nothing of interest about me, but I did remember that tomorrow is one of those three amazingly unique days that will happen this year -- 11/11/11. Now if you check this post tonight then you can be ready to celebrate tomorrow at 11:11,11/11/11. Hey, open a can of Fresca, or go to Costco for one of those poisonous chocolate covered ice cream bars with chopped almonds. Or call me and remind me to celebrate.

Rob's B'Day

2011-10-20T12:40:00.002-05:00

It was Rob's birthday this week. Here's the "funky" quilt I made for him. It has minky on the backside, which makes it a really cozy TV blanket. Hope you enjoy it, Rob!

New Windows

2011-10-18T16:10:00.003-05:00

I just can't resist posting this. Maybe it's because we did just replace our windows a year ago, and I AM blonde!

REPLACEMENT WINDOWS

Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive
double-pane energy efficient kind, and today, I got a call from the
contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had
been completed a whole year ago and I still hadn't paid for them.
Hellloooo,............just because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I am
automatically stupid. So, I told him just what his fast talking sales
guy had told me last year, that in ONE YEAR these windows would
pay for themselves! Helllooooo? It's been a year! I told him.
There was only silence at the other end of the line, so
I finally just hung up. He never called back. I bet he felt like an idiot.

Soup Weather

2011-10-17T10:01:00.003-05:00

We've had some beautiful Indian summer weather, but the temperature has really dropped. It's time for soup! This blog was never intended to be a cooking blog, but every once in awhile I have a recipe that I think is worth sharing. This is one of my new favorite recipes.

Colombian Chicken Soup

3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs and/or legs

1 large white onion, peeled and cut into quarters

2 leeks (white and light green parts only) cut into 1-inch rings

1 green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces

1 handful of green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 ears of fresh corn, cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces (optional)

2 ribs celery, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (I cut on the diagonal for interesting shape)

2 lbs potatoes (gold, red, or Idaho), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

6 cloves garlic, peeled

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

2 chicken bouillion cubes

1 Tbsp salt, or more to taste

1/2 teas ground pepper

Aji

4 scallions chopped

2 tomatoes, peeled and diced

1 small white onion, peeled and chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped fine

3 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves

3 Tbsp white vinegar

1/4 teas salt

Boil chicken in 8 cups water. Simmer 10 minutes, frequently skimming off the foam.

Add all the vegetables, the garlic, cilantro, bouillion, salt and pepper. Stir a few times to distribute the vegetables. When broth returns to a boil, lower heat, partially cover pot, and simmer about an hour. Stir with a large spoon, breaking up some of the potatoes to thicken the soup slightly.

Serve the soup with a spoonful of the Aji. You can also garnish with sour cream, avocados, and cilantro springs, if desired. Enjoy!

Isaac's Birthday.

2011-10-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

Happy 9th Birthday, Buddy! I really wish that I were there having breakfast in bed with you. I love this picture of you and me together. Many times when I look at pictures of me I think, "Seriously? Is this what I look like?" And then I quickly delete them from my computer. But not this one! This is actually what I think I look like, except for the flashing white eyes. Of course, I look way better because I'm close to you.

Isaac collects fossils and rocks, and I like to help him add to his collection. Once I gave him a piece of petrified dinosaur egg shell. That was cool! I've tried to give him this crinoid fossil I found in our garden, but he says, "First of all, grandma, it's too heavy for me to carry (like 50 pounds), and second of all, it's too big for my collection box." Funny boy! Love you!

Don't be too quick to judge

2011-10-11T10:52:00.003-05:00

One of the wonderful things about serving on the Alumni Board is the opportunity to have my eyes opened to so many things. We are often quick to judge BYU. We are unhappy because our kids didn't get in. We are angry because BYU asks us to donate when, after all, we are paying tuition (Let's face it, tuition pays for a very small percentage of your student's education. It's like every student who attends BYU gets an almost full-ride scholarship from the church, yet we are so annoyed that the university calls once or twice a year and asks us for a small donation). Some think Bronco Mendenhall should lose his job because BYU lost to Utah. Others are upset because BYUTV didn't broadcast all of Education Week. It goes on and on. We have so little vision about the goals and purposes of BYU. And sometimes we forget who is really running the university. Every time President Samuelson speaks to the board he reminds us that he takes his orders from a living Prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he's not likely to question him.

One of the really interesting presentations we heard last week was from Scott Swofford, who is the content manager for BYUTV. He shared a few emails he had received containing scathing criticism about how programming has changed and suggesting that he might be headed straight for He - -. Not everyone understands that blessing the lives of the Latter-day Saints is only one of the purposes of BYUTV. It's broader purpose is to attract non-member viewers from around the world, thus opening doors for missionary work. (It happens with some frequency). As brother Swofford mentioned, when non-members click onto BYUTV and it is a man wearing a suit with a lei around his neck, they are most likely going to continue channel surfing. However, if they tune in and it is a guy riding a Harley around to historical sights it might just pique their curiosity. Check out "American Ride". If you pay attention you'll notice that every episode ends with the message that this little part of our history was in preparation for the restoration of the gospel.

The more I know about BYU the more I love it. All of the very best things in my life were put into place while I was a student there. It has blessed the lives of all our children, and now our grandchildren are preparing and praying for the opportunity to go there. I'm grateful to be able to give back in a small way. Go Cougars!

Finally!

2011-10-10T16:24:00.006-05:00

Okay, so I got home from my board meetings Saturday night, dying to post about the birth of our #19 grandchild, who was born a week ago. BUT, no name, and consequently, the parents were not ready to release any pictures. It stopped my blogging dead in its tracks. Who wants to see pictures of women wearing navy blue blazers with Alumni Board patches on the pocket when I knew people were waiting for news about a new baby. Just couldn't do it. So here she is: Blakelyn Kamille.

After four boys, this is a real change for this family. A few months ago I asked Isaac how he felt about having a baby sister. His response: "Boring! Now we're going to have Barbie dolls everywhere, and we'll have to watch Barbie movies, and have all this pink stuff around." I think they are actually pretty excited about this adorable little pink bundle.

Navy blue blazers tomorrow!

Flight Delays

2011-10-04T01:00:00.002-05:00

"I'm leaving, on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again. OhhOhhhOhhh." Actually, I do know when I'll be back. I'll be back on Saturday in time for our stake conference Saturday evening session. I hate deadlines and tight connections, always fearing that something will go wrong. Don't you hate it when your flight is delayed and you have to sit there for hours! Once in a while, amazingly, it can be a huge blessing. Yesterday, Randy and one of his colleagues were on their way to China and when they got to Chicago they discovered they would have a 7 hour delay. Quick trip to the airport, Sunday dinner together, a nice walk and some conference, then back to the airport. That's the second time Randy has been delayed in Chicago. I can't think of a better place to have it happen.

One-year-old

2011-10-03T09:28:00.002-05:00

Today our little Soren turns the big #1. I was with the family a year ago when he was born, but have not seen him since. He looks an awful lot like his brother Max. Happy Birthday, Soren!

Tomorrow our 19th grandchild will be born. Stay tuned!

Another Opportunity

2011-09-28T23:51:00.005-05:00

Three years ago I finished a four-year term on the BYU Alumni Board of Directors. I always considered it such a privilege to be working with amazing individuals from all around the country. In preparing to write this post I went back and read some of the entries I made in my journal about the experiences I had. In almost all of them I expressed amazement at how I ever got asked to be involved. I never understood it, but I always felt it was a direct blessing from Heavenly Father for which I will always be grateful.

A few weeks ago I got a call from BYU. They need someone to serve on the board for just one year and wondered if I might be willing to fill in for them. WOULD I BE WILLING?! I'm thrilled! I jumped in with both feet and quickly prepared for the annual Alumni Chapter Conference, which was last week. I love everything BYU. Being back on campus was like going home. The conference was a nice blend of being instructed, sharing ideas, and meeting new people mixed together with some pretty fun stuff. We got to see the Jimmer Fridette Exhibition Game. Yes, that's him -- #32.

We toured the new BYUTV broadcasting facility. Tom Holmoe was our breakfast speaker, and we saw the BYU vs UCF football game. Cosmo came to our tailgate party and I got my own special hug. Some people think Cosmo may be a girl, but if so, she's really strong!

BFF

2011-09-15T08:31:00.004-05:00

My class reunion was really interesting. There were 150 kids in my graduating class. Twenty six of them have passed away and were honored at a little memorial service where we talked about each of them and released red and gold helium balloons in their honor. Two of my closest friends were among them.

The majority of my classmates still live in Utah. It was interesting to see how their lives have remained interwoven through fifty years. I felt a little bit like a satellite orbiting around at a distance. I have stayed in touch with a small group of girls that I still adore. They have been so loyal to me over the years. We are truly Best Friends Forever!

Finished Project

2011-09-14T09:38:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm home and the finished project looks great. Snapped a couple of pictures just as it started to sprinkle. O'Donovans really exceeded my expectations. I expected to see a finished walkway and a lot of dirt and dug up plants to fuss with. They brought in sod and re-planted all my plants -- perhaps not exactly as I would have arranged them, but at least I don't have to do anything with them this fall. I've hated our front porch for years, and most of our company just came in through the garage rather than try to negotiate our front steps. I've locked the garage door and want everyone to use and enjoy my beautiful (and safe) front entrance. Come see us!

Day Four

2011-09-06T20:29:00.005-05:00

Are you tired of seeing our porch yet? This is the end of the fourth day. Two more to go. Unfortunately, I leave tomorrow for Utah to attend my 50th Class Reunion. By the time I get back it will all be over but the bill.

I used to think that people went to their 50th High School Class Reunion in wheelchairs. Now here we are calling each other to see if we should wear Mary Janes or boots and wishing that we'd lost ten pounds this summer instead of gaining ten pounds (Perhaps I should have changed my goal from eating one Magnum ice cream bar every day to one Magnum bar every other day). Oh well, too late for that! I keep reminding myself that my classmates also do not look just the way they did the day we graduated. I'm taking my senior yearbook with me so I can study names and faces on the plane. Cedar City Class of 1961, Here I Come!

Geography Lesson

2011-09-05T12:30:00.001-05:00

My blog post from August 12th describes my 29 hour road trip across the country with Travis and the boys. What it doesn't describe is something that I thought was really cool about the trip. As we drove through Wyoming we crossed the Continental Divide, which is the dividing line separating waters that flow to the Pacific Ocean from waters that flow to the Atlantic Ocean. Now we've crossed this line so many times over the years it has become kind of old, but it was fun to explain it to the boys. But what was really cool was that as we drove through Oregon we crossed the 45th Parallel, which is the line that is half way between the Equator and the North Pole. To cross both these lines within 24 hours was kind of unusual and presented an opportunity for a mini geography lesson. Here's something you might not know about the 45th Parallel. At this latitude the sun is visible for 15 hours and 37 minutes during the summer solstice. That's a whole lot of daylight. We lived in Oregon one summer when I was eight and the thing my dad talked about for years was that you could read a newspaper outside at ten o'clock at night. On the other hand, in winter you only see the sun for less than 9 hours. Not good.

Sun, Water, and Patience

2011-09-04T16:50:00.004-05:00

In the Spring I wrote a blog about the beautiful flower beds at the Temple and my dream of converting one of my perennial beds into an annuals bed that would look like one of the beds at the temple.
After tearing out all the perennials and planting several flats of annuals I didn't have a lot of confidence that it would become something "Sehenswerdig" (or worth seeing) on my blog. Here's what happens with a little sun, water, and patience.
It doesn't exactly look like something you'd see at the temple, but it has filled in nicely and been pretty to look at as people have walked and driven by. It's not even over, and I'm already excited to try again next year.

Day Three

2011-09-02T22:36:00.003-05:00

Four men, ten hours of work, 94 degrees, lots of cold water and watermelon, lots of perspiration, and it's starting to take shape. Working half a day tomorrow.

Better?

2011-09-01T18:39:00.004-05:00

Before:

End of First Day:
End of Second Day:
Hopefully this is going to look better. They say sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. I think this is one of those times.

New Project 3

2011-08-31T09:17:00.001-05:00

We're starting a new project this morning. I'm really excited!

Young Punks

2011-08-29T23:12:00.002-05:00

So, wanna see what those two "wet behind the ears" kids looked like? Yikes, we were actually young once.

The Man I Married

2011-08-28T16:56:00.004-05:00

When you have to "sign in" to get into your own blog you know it's past time to post a new blog. I've been trying all week to write something about Randy. Why should it be so hard to write about somebody I love so much?! On Wednesday we celebrated our 44th Wedding Anniversary, and yesterday was Randy's birthday. Two good reasons to tell the world what a great man he is.

Divorce is such a terrible thing and I always feel sad for those who find out that the spouse they thought was so perfect turned out to be less than they had hoped for. For me, it was just the opposite. I'm honestly so grateful for heavenly guidance. I don't think I was smart enough to realize that when I agreed to marry Randy I was getting WAY MORE than I expected! It's hard for me to express what I think about my sweet husband, but I will share something that I wrote in my journal twenty-nine years ago

"Randy has been going through a challenging time the past few months. I have been thinking today of his many successes. It helps me to see with better perspective what a great man he is.

Successes & Strengths:

1. Passed through teen years without giving in to peer pressures. These days it seems there is something glamorous about having strayed or rebelled and returning. We sometimes forget that having remained faithful and true is still more honorable.

2. Eagle Scout

3. Filled honorable mission. Has to his credit (with Lord's help) several converts who have remained active and faithful and are a strength to the Church.

4. Married ME! In the temple!

5. Graduated from college.

6. Graduated from Law School.

7. Graduated from Library School.

8. Fathered six WONDERFUL children

9. Served as Branch President at BYU, providing strong leadership and counsel to many students.

10. Served on three high councils.

11. Served as Sunday School President.

12. Received Master M-Men Award.

13. Nominated to Outstanding Young Men of America.

14. Was a successful and beloved seminary teacher.

15. Owns a beautiful home.

16. Musically talented -- much envied for his beautiful singing voice and guitar.

17. Has traveled widely.

18. Always had more friends than he could even foster and nurture. Associated with highest calibre people. Respected and envied by them.

19. Completed extensive scout training, including Philmont and Woodbadge.

20. Skilled with hands. Builds and repairs everything.

21. Very diversified -- known as a person who knows something about everything.

22. Remains calm in crisis and is sympathetic and compassionate. The children always prefer Daddy when ill or injured."

Now, that was written in 1982 when we'd only been married 15 years and before I realized what a Giant he is. He's magnified every gift and talent, served in incredible ways, and exceeded all my expectations. I'm trying very hard to hold onto his shirt tail!

Feeling Bad

2011-08-23T06:24:00.002-05:00

I guess everybody has days like this. We had one this weekend. We totally forgot to attend a going away get together for someone in the ward. But I did remember to make the ten dozen dinner rolls for a friend's wedding reception, and we did remember to go to another reception, feed the missionaries, and make homemade ice cream for Randy's home teaching family, so we're not total losers yet!

Glass Harp

2011-08-20T21:45:00.000-05:00

A friend sent me this link to hear a glass harp. Since my granddaughter, Emily, plays the harp that caught my attention. I expected to see a harp made of glass. I found this really inspiring. I can imagine that Mr. Tiso has had to practice at least as long and hard as someone who plays it on a real harp. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=XKRj-T4l-e8&vq=large

Hats Off to Lefties

2011-08-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

Today is International Left-Handers Day. If you are a lefty, here are some reasons you rock:

Only 10-15% of the people on the planet are left-handed.

Many presidents (Obama), inventors (Bill Gates) and celebs (Oprah) are left-handed.

You never have to worry about left-handed equipment (i.e. scissors) selling out.

You can always count on getting special table-seating considerations.

People like me are always amazed at the things you have learned to do (like writing, eating, crocheting). It looks so awkward and un-natural to me.

Hats off to all you Lefties! But please, try to pick a hat less ridiculous than this one!

It's Official

2011-08-12T11:18:00.004-05:00

Just returned from ten days in Kennewick, Washington. Yes, I got to help Travis and the boys with the 29 hour drive from Chicago. Britt (and her big belly) got to fly, making it possible for me to be the chief sandwich maker, snack passer outer, movie projectionist, and potty assistant for the trek.

So glad to get to go and to see where this cute little family will make their new home. What a wonderful place to live, but oh so far away!

And how official is this?

Marilyn

2011-07-29T15:35:00.003-05:00

Quinn has been invited to a scientific conference in Brazil, the very place he served his mission. It's hard to believe, but that has been ten years ago and his passport has expired. He's trying to go through an expedited process to get a new passport and visa, which necessitated me making an emergency trip to the Brazilian Consulate in Chicago on Quinn's behalf. It was a pretty straight-forward process, but it did require an early-morning trip into the city and walking a fair distance in the rain (which was probably good for me). What made it worth it, besides that I love my children and would do ALMOST anything for them, was that I got to see the new Marilyn Monroe statue that is causing a buzz in Chicago. She's hot for sure, but this is the part that seems to be getting everyone's attention!

Doctor X 2

2011-07-28T12:38:00.003-05:00

You know how sometimes good things come in pairs? Two of our kids became doctors this week. On Tuesday, our baby (Quinn) defended his dissertation at the U of I. We were able to attend his defense and were pretty proud of him. He looked great, and sounded great, even if we understood little of what he said. His PhD in Biochemistry is official now and next week he's off to Harvard to begin a 3-5 year post doc -- grades 24 to 28.

The following day, Travis graduated from the 27th grade and became an official doctor. He's done a bachelor's degree, medical school, residency, and now a fellowship, and I don't even think there is anything more he could do if he wanted to. Even as I write this he is driving his family across the country (and I really mean across -- from Boston to Washington State) where he will begin his practice as an orthopedic surgeon.

Our children have all worked really really hard and have gone through years of long hours and little income. They've had children and been good parents, held significant church callings, provided lots of service to other people, gone through discouraging times, scary times, tired times, and exhilarating times. Congratulations to our two newest doctors!

Play Clothes

2011-07-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

When Heidi's Lindsey was born I went to take care of Max and Elise. Heidi instructed me to get the kids cleaned up and bring them to the hospital to see the new baby. I chose a cute little play outfit for Elise, put matching ribbons in her hair and hauled the two of them up to the hospital. Heidi, mortified, said, "Mother, those are Elise's pajamas." They looked like play clothes to me!

So maybe I'm not a good judge, but I like to tell myself that when I putz around my yard before I get dressed in the morning, or when I go out in the evening to move the hose and people see me in my pajamas they just think I am wearing a cute little play outfit. What do you think?

More Pictures of the Laurs

2011-07-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I had a request for more pictures of the Laurs. On the day that we arrived in St. Quay we were just in time for a birthday party for Sandrine's daughter, Manon. The entire family was there but Vincent's wife, Soazig. I'm embarrassed that I do not have a single picture on my camera of that entire day. Andre, Florence and Nils were our guides the next day and we have lots of pictures of them, but will have to post pictures of the rest of the family stored on someone else's camera.

The oak tree where Ted's parachute landed.

At the harbor after our boat ride to the crash site.

At the memorial made from Ted's propeller engine.

La Chimere

2011-07-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

One of the things I loved most about our trip was the day we spent in St. Quay, France. That is where Grandpa Ted's plane crashed and he parachuted into the hands of the French Resistance. Through reading the history written by Mathieu Petitjean we became aware of two places where Ted hid out that we had never seen before. We were able to find one of them.

It was the home of Madame Cellerie. The house was named "La Chimere" and still bears the original name plaque. The couple who now lives there were very gracious to us and seemed excited to meet the family of one of the aviators who had actually stayed at the house. The aviators stayed on the top floor where you see the little dormer windows. Apparently, the ground floor was a little pub where the German soldiers often ate. Little did they know that while they ate their dinner, the upper story was filled with the very Allied aviators they were looking for.

Nicole's Baptism

2011-07-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Our little Nicole turned eight years old on June 11th. We were thrilled when Randy said they had received permission to baptize her while we were together in Portugal. On Saturday, July 9th, we drove to Agueda, the last city that Randy had served in. We drove into the mountains where the Alfusquiero River had created a beautiful little pool. It was such a peaceful, secluded spot. Nicole had asked different family members to help with a little baptismal program, and then, with Grandpa and Bennet as witnesses, her dad baptized her. It was a precious moment. She was confirmed a few days later on our last evening together. Not very many little girls can say they were baptized in a beautiful river in Portugal and confirmed in Paris, France.

France

2011-07-18T00:16:00.006-05:00

Family members are asking for photos. If a picture's worth a thousand words I think I've written enough for one night. Perhaps some more tomorrow.

Another Birthday

2011-07-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday, Dell! When people ask me what Dell does I have to admit that I don't really know. I know he is an entrepreneur. I know he runs companies and helps other people who are trying to run companies. He skis, he is an awesome cook, he's a photographer, he loves little babies, he hikes and bikes. He's a pretty impressive guy. I've always said he should be an ambassador, either for the United States or for the church. He's great with people! But at heart, he loves his ranch and his animals. He's the handsome guy in the cowboy hat. Have a happy day!

Happy Birthday, Elise

2011-07-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my little violin virtuoso! Twelve years old and going into Young Women. How is that possible? You were just born five years ago.

When grandpa and I were in Hong Kong last year we attended a dinner at which a young man performed on a chinese violin called an erhu. I was really fascinated by this instrument and caught a few minutes on a video. The instrument has only two strings and the bow is played between the two strings. It has a very unique sound, but I'll take Elise's music any day!

July Birthdays

2011-07-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

July is a month of family birthdays for us. While none of our six children were born in July, both of our sons-in-law and four of our grandchildren have July birthdays.

Brent was born on the Fourth of July. I once asked him if he minded sharing his special day with another holiday. He said he loved having his birthday of the Fourth of July -- he never had to go to school on his birthday, and he NEVER had to work on his birthday. Guess who has to work today--one of the down sides to becoming important. Happy Birthday, Brent! Hope you finish work in time to watch the fireworks. While you're celebrating, we'll be kissing like the French, eating heaping platters of steaming mussels from the shell at the St. Quay waterfront, dining around Agnes' table until 11 p.m., and taking MORE photos under the oak tree. Wish you were going to be with us.

A Lucky July

2011-07-01T06:00:00.003-05:00

Take a look at your July calendar. This year July has five Fridays, five Saturdays, and five Sundays. This phenomenon occurs only once every 823 years. It's supposed to bring good luck, so smile and then get about the business of making things happen!

Have Backpack Will Travel

2011-06-28T06:00:00.005-05:00

In this backpack is the sum total of everything I am taking to Europe for 16 days. I don't usually travel with a backpack, but we're renting a nine passenger van that advertises luggage capacity for four bags. With eight of us traveling, I decided to do my part to think small.

When I got it packed I called Randy (the younger) to enumerate what I'm taking and see if there was anything I'd forgotten:

Jacket

Swimsuit

Umbrella

Rain Poncho

P.J.'s

4 games

First Aid Kit

7 gifts for French friends

Clothesline

Kindle

Flashlight

Chargers for phone, camera, Kindle and GPS

GPS

Camera

Metal water bottle

Journal

Walking Tour guidebook for Paris

Re-useable shopping bag

Toiletries

2 pair shoes

Randy: "Mom, all that's in a backpack? What are you wearing everyday -- a bikini?

Me: "Oh, are we supposed to take clothes?"

I'm actually quite proud of myself. I have four outfits (and lots of laundry detergent).

Emily

2011-06-27T00:12:00.003-05:00

Speaking of summer adventures, Emily's having an adventure none of her friends are having this year. She has gone to France to be a "mother's helper" for three weeks. Despite all of our French connections, we have always had to rely on our friends to speak English, as none of us has ever learned to speak their language. Finally Emily signed up for French -- our only hope. School learning is fine, but there's nothing like total immersion when learning a language, so we made arrangements for Emily to travel to France to stay with Florence and Stephane. In return for her taking care of LouAnn and Nils, Florence and Stephane are supposed to speak French to her. She's having a great experience. She flew into Paris by herself, then figured out how to get herself onto the correct train to Brittany (Remember, she just turned 16 and Brittany France is a long way from home. Pretty gutsy!)

Is she learning French? I think she still has a ways to go. She reported that Florence told her the plans for the weekend in great detail. Not understanding most of what was said, she just smiled and kept nodding her head. When Florence asked if she was ready to go, Emily said yes, got her purse, and got in the car. She noticed there were beach towels so she asked if they would be going to the beach. Florence said yes, so Emily jumped out of the car and got her swim suit. It turned out that they were going to Florence's brother's home for two days. No toothbrush, no p.j.'s, no makeup, no clothes -- nothing but a swim suit. Yeah, she's learning French the hard way.

Summer Adventure

2011-06-26T09:04:00.005-05:00

Our summer adventure has begun. Last night I dropped Randy off at O'Hare for a flight to Copenhagen. Tomorrow Randy (the younger), Judianne and four kids leave for Paris. I join them the following day. On Friday, Randy (the elder) finishes his work in Copenhagen and joins us in Paris. That evening we will have dinner with a friend we met fifteen years ago. He wrote a book about our Grandpa Ted's escape from France during WWII. Mathieu interviewed us on a 1996 trip to France as he was gathering information for the book. We have been in touch ever since and have seen him a time or two since then. He grew up in the St Quay/Portrieux area, and the crash of the "Lady Godiva" B-17 and subsequent rescue and escape of pilot Ted Peterson is one of the area's greatest claims to fame, and anyone from Ted's family who visits is a celebrity. We are happy to be taking five new celebrities back to St. Quay for a reunion with some of the dearest people in our lives.

I can do it with a Smile on my Face

2011-06-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

We're not having an easy week. We had a tornado warning Tuesday night and ever since the storm front moved through we've had nothing but trouble with our internet, phones, and our computers. Randy and I are getting ready to go to France/Portugal for a couple of weeks, and we have things that need to get done before we leave. And we're not smiling! I just watched this video clip again, and I'm ashamed. We have everything in the world to smile about. So do you! Watch this!

Sunset on the Mississippi

2011-06-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

As you read about Church history and events that have taken place in Nauvoo there is often reference made to "Sunset on the Mississippi." If you've ever seen it, those four words bring to mind a spectacular picture that you will never forget. As we drove back to Nauvoo one evening the sunset was so breath-taking we had to stop and take pictures. Unforgettable!

Nauvoo

2011-06-22T22:11:00.003-05:00

We had such a terrific Youth Conference in Nauvoo. It was my privilege to meet with five different groups of youth in the Old Nauvoo Cemetery and spend about an hour telling them stories of some of the amazing people and events surrounding Nauvoo and the old pioneer burial ground. When President Hinckley dedicated the cemetery in 1989 he said it was a "sacred and hallowed place," reminiscent of the Sacred Grove. There is a very special spirit there. Although it rained every day (and was often raining as I drove to the cemetery), there wasn't a single drop of rain during the time that the kids were there. It was so quiet and peaceful -- dappled light filtering through the leaves and birds calling back and forth. I dare say that next to the Temple, it is the most sacred spot in Nauvoo. I'm grateful to have had this sacred experience.

Am I Really Up For This Weekend?

2011-06-16T08:03:00.002-05:00

It's Youth Conference! The buses are ready for loading, chaperones have been trained, and we're off to Nauvoo--one of the great blessings of living in the midwest. Love that place and the spirit you feel while you are there.

Can Grandmas be Friends?

2011-06-14T17:13:00.002-05:00

You know I always wanted to be the grandma that lived close enough that the grandkids could stop by on their way home from school for snacks and a report on their school day. Well, that hasn't happened, so I'm always looking for little ways to forge some kind of relationship with our grandkids. For some unexplained reason, this guy seems to like to call his grandma -- sometimes as early as 6:00 a.m. (not really understanding the concept of different time zones, of course). When the phone rings early I think, "Ah, Theron," and you can't imagine how sweet it is to hear his little voice say, "Hi, Grandma. Guess what?" He recently had a birthday, and I now know all about these awesome Lego sets that are ninjas with "golden" weapons, like bullets ("ping, did you hear that Grandma?") or golden nunchucks. I think all my children should post our phone number next to their phone and have FHE lessons that teach them how to dial it.

A Sad Ending

2011-06-13T14:42:00.012-05:00

As you probably know, Randy's dad flew a B-17 in WWII and was shot down over occupied France, escaping only with the help of the French Resistance. B-17s have always held a special place in our hearts. On Saturday we learned that one of the remaining four operational B-17s (Liberty Belle) was at the Sugar Grove Airport. Although it was not a great day (foggy and drizzling) we drove out to have a look. They were having some mechanical problems and were not flying the plane, but we did enjoy looking at it and sharing stories with others who were also there to see it. Randy had a chance to talk to the pilot, who said that the plane was scheduled to leave this morning, but that is the weather was good they might stay today so people could take rides.

We, of course, were up early and busy with our daily "to do" list and forgot about returning to Sugar Grove. Imagine our surprise when we heard that Liberty Belle crashed this morning on its second flight of the day. Each year there are fewer and fewer WW Vets. Now there is one less operating B-17. Fortunately, all seven on board the plane survived, but the crash of the plane was a tragic loss. I'm so glad that we got to see it!

A Hard Day's Work

2011-06-11T19:20:00.005-05:00

Wow, what a day! It started at 7:00 a.m. for both of us--Randy to stake meetings, and I (with the help of our good friend Logan) started spreading mulch. Eight hours later we covered the remaining mulch and blew off the walks. May I just say that with the lawn freshly mowed, every flower bed weeded, preened, and mulched, hostas rearranged and transplanted, it was one of those ten minute windows where everything seemed just about perfect. By tomorrow there'll be new weeds, the roses will need to be dead-headed, and the front porch pot will need water. But just for those few minutes I want to take a folding chair across the street and sit and look at my beautiful yard through half-closed eyes to make sure I don't see something else that needs to be done. Thought you might like to see a couple of shots of the berm (before the mulch went down, so even more beautiful now). I love this little period with the peonies and the princess iris. Yes!

Traditions

2011-06-08T19:01:00.003-05:00

I'm a person who really loves traditions, and I've instituted a number of them throughout my life. A few of my children are just as bad as I am, and they are not happy when changes are made.

I've always liked the scripture from Luke 14:28-30: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish."

When our first grandchild was baptized and confirmed, receiving the Holy Ghost (also known as the Holy Comforter), Randy and I decided we would honor the occasion by making that child a "comforter". Unfortunately, when I sat down to count the cost and decided that I had sufficient to finish, I only had seven grandchildren and the energy of a 50-year-old. I've just finished comforter number ten (Nicole is turning eight on Saturday), and I have nine more to go. I'm going to do my best, but I'm not certain I have "sufficient to finish".

Geraldine Edwards (one of my favorite authors) said, "Traditions are an important part of the celebrations of our lives. The repetition of things we love leaves deep and happy impressions in our minds and spirits and helps us to live with rejoicing." She also said, "When an event becomes so crusted with traditions that we find ourselves dreading the work rather than eagerly looking forward to the event, when the doing is no longer a delight, then we are serving the tradition -- the tradition is no longer serving us."

Thank you, Geraldine! When I find that I am dreading the work involved in perpetuating a tradition, I give it up and replace it with something different. Remember, if you have done the same thing more than once, it is now a tradition. Perhaps I should work hard and make all the comforters now. Another ten years or more could do a lot to squelch my "sufficient."

Finished Project

2011-05-27T09:09:00.002-05:00

I haven't felt like I had anything to blog about for the past week. How is that possible? I've been busy all day every day. I did finally get my quilt finished and am pleased with how it turned out. I have a second one ready for the binding and will show it to you in a few days.

One-Year Anniversary

2011-05-22T15:56:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we celebrated the One-year Anniversary of Clarissa's diabetes diagnosis. We met Quinn, Tiffany, and the kids in Kankakee for a late lunch (we call it Linner). Lunch was delayed when Tiffany found a tick embedded in Clarissa's scalp which had to be dealt with before they could get away. Isn't it always "something?!" A year ago her diagnosis seemed so overwhelming. It's become so routine that Clarissa doesn't even bat an eye. Yesterday before we started lunch she said to her mom, "Mom, aren't you going to check my blood?" In fact, Tiffany had already checked it while Clarissa was busy doing the placemat dot-to-dot. Life is good!

Garden Experiment

2011-05-18T11:08:00.008-05:00

When I first became interested in gardening my next door neighbor was my mentor, always encouraging, reassuring me that nothing was final and that things could be moved and changed later. As an example, she told me of a woman who changed her garden every year. If the roses were in front one year, she moved them to the back the next, then moved the hostas along the fence, the day lillies from the walkway to the back porch, etc. I've become that woman! Every year I work my little fingers to the bone and think the yard is finally just perfect, but by the end of summer I realize that the Forget Me Nots are getting too much sun, the berm is over-crowded, the Scotch Broom didn't survive the winter, and the white Clematis doesn't look good next to the white Rose of Sharon. It reminds me of the scripture from 2 Timothy about "ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

So here is this year's "seeking for knowledge." When I created this flower bed years ago, it was underneath the ash tree and, therefore, a shady bed. Over the years the tree has struggled and is now only HALF a tree. As a result, this bed is now a sunny bed. While it looks beautiful in the spring with the lush hostas, by mid-July, the hostas are burned and riddled with holes where the slugs have feasted on them.

I think the flower beds at the Nauvoo Temple are so beautiful and have wanted to learn to create something like them. While I have neither the budget the temple has, nor the manpower, I have made a change. At this stage, it's hard to believe that it could ever become the beautiful bed of annuals I'm hoping for, but you'll be seeing how it progresses as the summer moves along. Right now we just need some sun and some warmer temperatures in order to get things growing!

Fashion Statement

2011-05-16T21:24:00.002-05:00

Do you think Randy can start a new fashion trend? I'm happy to report that the steroid injections in his back seem to be helping so far. He's been taking it pretty easy, but he did go to physical therapy today and got through it without any pain, so we are both hopeful!

Julia and Bobby Flay at Work

2011-05-14T13:19:00.007-05:00

While in Utah I got to spend a couple of days with Rob. He took two days off work and we spent one of them doing something we've enjoyed doing the last few times we've been together--COOKING! We put together a list of things he'd like to eat during the next couple of months. We make one giant shopping trip for ingredients, then return two or three more times as our plans change, we think of things we forgot to buy, or have to go to a different store to get something.

Ummm, this fruit compote is delicious!

We put everything in individual serving containers and freeze them so Rob can quickly nuke something when he gets home. We put about 30 meals in the freezer, including meatloaf with baby parsleyed potatoes, stuffed shells, sausage-ravioli soup, a fruit compote, gingersnap cookies, and homemade lime ice cream. Hope you're enjoying your meals, Rob!

Hey, you're supposed to bake those first!

Proud Sister

2011-05-13T15:18:00.004-05:00

In the later years of my mother-in -law's life it seemed like she was always going somewhere -- a week here, a week there. As long as there was an airline ticket in her sock drawer she was happy. I'm kind of getting to be that way, and I'm blessed to have a husband who's always willing to support my Wanderlust.

A few weeks ago I found out that my sister was receiving an honorary PhD at Southern Utah University's graduation, and I felt that I should be there to support her. She has been a "second mother" to me and has blessed my life a million times. She is one amazing eighty-year-old woman and I'm so proud of her. I'm planning to hang onto her coat tail as tight as I can. It was a wonderful trip!

Summer Dresses

2011-05-02T09:51:00.003-05:00

We did a really great humanitarian project in Relief Society last week. We made 80 little dresses for African children. Most of them were made out of pillowcases. We just cut off the top, gathered the front, and put the bias tape around the sleeves. The side seams and the bottom were already finished. It was easy, but as you might guess, there weren't many cute prints. I opted to buy cute fabric, which required a little more sewing, but will hopefully make some little girls happy.

Walking to Find the Cure

2011-05-01T16:46:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was the Juvenile Diabetes fundraising walk. Quinn and Tiffany drove to the Quad-Cities Friday night. Randy and I drove over early Saturday morning. A day that had been predicted as 100% chance of rain by 8:00 a.m. turned out to be pretty nice, albeit a little cool and windy. The walk raised over $200,000 for diabetes research. We want to thank all our friends and family who supported Clarissa's Crew in our efforts to help the Foundation.

The Empty Tomb

2011-04-23T23:19:00.007-05:00

Here are a few pictures from the tomb believed to have belonged to Joseph of Arimethea. While some believe that other sites are the actual location, President Kimball visited this tomb and said he felt impressed that this was the authentic spot.
The interesting thing about this picture is the track you can see running along in front of the tomb. This is where the stone would have been placed so as to be able to roll it back and forth to cover the door.
This is the empty tomb. He is risen! You can see where the body would have been laid, and I can imagine the Savior's folded linens laying on the rough ledge. The map of the tomb below is helpful.
Have a wonderful Easter!

The Garden of Gethsemane

2011-04-22T23:30:00.004-05:00

We were in Israel a few years ago, and I was rather surprised by the Garden of Gethsemane. I imagined it away from the city -- like going from Salt Lake into the foothills. But it is right there in the city. I loved seeing the centuries-old olive trees that I have heard so much about. It was much smaller than I imagined. I thought that the Savior left his apostles and went quite a distance from them. Not so! Too small for that. There was a feeling of reverence there. This is one of the most sacred spots on the earth.

The Ultimate Egg-rolling Contest

2011-04-21T23:05:00.002-05:00

As a child, part of our Easter celebration included a Saturday picnic to "Yoohoo Canyon." It was quite a unique setting where everything you said echoed off of the canyon walls and came back to you. We delighted in calling out "Yoohoo." (echo Yoohoo), "Yoohoo," (echo Yoohoo). Hence the name, "Yoohoo Canyon." We would take our Easter eggs and race them down the sandy hills. But the egg-rolling contest you are about to see was the all-time ultimate egg race for this Peterson family.

We started with a trip to Home Depot where we picked up a variety of tubes, rain gutters, and other interesting-looking objects. The men and the children spent a good half day building "the track." Everything was wet down, molded and smoothed. The grandchildren colored the eggs and picked their favorites for racing. The races began, heat after heat, until the eggs were beaten and battered, some of them reduced to mere yolks. Then the Grand Finale:

A Smile that Means a Lot

2011-04-20T22:57:00.003-05:00

Two of our sons-in-law grew up in the same ward with Greg Olsen. He was always good to them and to their children. A couple of our young grandchildren each got to paint a stone in one of his Jerusalem paintings (Do you think it's possible he may have "fixed" things after they left?) He autographed a copy of this painting and gave it to our kids for us. It hangs in our bedroom across the bed from where I kneel to pray.

In 1984, the Church held a Young Women's Encampment in Nauvoo. Our oldest daughter was able to attend, and I was privileged to be on the encampment staff. On the last day my friend and I were asked if we could drive Elder Rex Reeve (a member of the First Quorum of Seventy) to the airport in Moline on our way back to Chicago. We had him all to ourselves for two and a half hours. He shared so many interesting things. I recorded pages and pages of his stories in my journal when I arrived home. He talked about their meetings with President Kimball in the temple each week. I can hardly believe that I was so brave, but I asked him if he thought President Kimball had seen the Savior. He said that he didn't know if President Kimball had, but that once when he was in the presence of President Harold B. Lee they were looking at a picture of the Savior and President Lee said, "That's not the way the Savior looks."

Well, I don't suppose the Savior looks like my Greg Olsen painting either, but I like to look at it when I kneel to pray. He has a little bit of a smile, and I imagine that he is smiling at ME. It somehow makes me feel safer in his presence and able to feel his loving acceptance. I'm so grateful for his atonement and for the Easter season when we can focus on Him.

Dyeing Pioneer Eggs

2011-04-20T00:03:00.006-05:00

When I was a child we dyed Easter eggs the pioneer way. They are so beautiful, intricate and unique. Like snowflakes, no two are the same. We've passed this tradition on to our own children. It is a fun FHE or a "Saturday before Easter" activity. I wrote the little article below for The Friend years ago, which gives the directions. I've also included some "real" photos because "a picture is worth a thousand words." Have fun!

He Is Risen!

2011-04-19T01:00:00.001-05:00

A few years ago I learned about an Easter custom in Greece. Beginning on Easter and for the forty days following, people give up the traditional greeting of "Hello," or "Good Morning," and replace it with "He is Risen." The person who is greeted then responds, "It is True!" In a society where "true" Easter lasts a few split seconds until the Easter baskets are discovered, wouldn't it be nice to lengthen that celebration out a little. I think I'm going to make it a tradition to study the Atonement for 30 days prior to Easter and then remind those I greet that "He is Risen" for forty days after Easter. It won't be an easy habit to establish, so call me after Easter so I can practice.

Infinite

2011-04-18T11:10:00.000-05:00

Good morning, bloggers. It's been a busy week. Three weeks ago our singles ward instituted a program to study the Atonement for 30 days before Easter. They invited Randy and me to participate with them. Every night they email us the reading assignment for the following day. Sometimes it is a conference talk, sometimes a scripture block. It can even be a chapter from a book such as Jesus the Christ or Infinite Atonement. This morning I read President Hinckley's beautiful Christmas message, "A Testimony of the Son of God."

It has surprised me how doing such a small thing as spending 20-30 minutes reading and reflecting on the Savior's life and Atonement each day could make such a huge difference in how I feel, in the choices I make, and in the love I feel for Him. During this last week leading up to Easter I want to share some of my feelings. If you're not interested in Jesus Christ, Easter, or his amazing Atonement, check back a week from now. BUT, you should know that I prepared one of these posts more than two months ago and have been waiting patiently to post it. It's WAY fun and I don't think you will want to miss it.

Proud, and proud of it!

2011-04-13T01:00:00.001-05:00

I've been writing my personal history over the past couple of years. Here's a little paragraph about my introduction to the violin.

"In the fifth grade, Eugene Hellend (band director) came into Mr. Bauer’s class and, using a set of drum sticks, tapped out a series of rhythms which we were supposed to clap back. Shortly thereafter, Roy Halverson called my parents and told them that they should consider starting me on a string instrument. My first violin, borrowed from Etta Leigh’s attic, was taken to the violin shop, and after an incredibly long week of waiting, was finally ready to be taken home. I was most impressed by the inside of the case with its apple green velvet pile and the long satin ribbons where the bows were fastened. Our beginning violin class later formed the nucleus of the Second Ward string orchestra and included some of my best friends—Trudy Knell, Linda McFarlane, Linda Carpenter, and Sherry Leigh. After three or four days of playing, I arrived at our violin class one morning with each of my sore fingertips carefully covered with adhesive tape. Mr. Halverson assured me that within a few weeks my fingertips would be toughened. He was right." I took private lessons and played with the University orchestra until I left Cedar. That is where I learned to love the music of the masters.

By contrast, this is my granddaughter, Elise, last year when SHE was in the fifth grade. No tape on her fingers. She's playing a concerto (from memory) and doing a pretty dang good job -- good bow control, good intonation, playing in the upper positions, double stops. I used to love playing with her, but since my stroke she can play circles around me. You go, girl. You've got a great future ahead of you!

My Wordless Weekend

2011-04-11T01:00:00.001-05:00

A Divine Tutor

2011-04-08T23:23:00.002-05:00

Randy and I have had some conversations recently about the direction my life is going, which often seems like it is nowhere, and very slowly at that. We find ourselves on a bit of a teeter-totter. I am alone so much of the time and long for the days when he would eventually come home from work and we could do things together. He hardly ever has time to himself and longs for the days when he could come home from work and do nothing. And our conversations have confirmed to us that there is no way we can change things right now. But I have been praying that Heavenly Father will help me see ways that I can fill my life with more meaningful and satisfying things so that I can serve and grow in ways that are commensurate with the ways that Randy's calling is helping (or causing) him to grow. When his service as stake president is over we hope that we will have some service opportunities together in which we will be prepared to be equally yoked.

How grateful I am for a Divine Tutor who led me to this story and for the insights that followed--specific ideas that came into my mind about ways that I can make a difference. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Have Mixer, Will Travel

2011-04-08T17:22:00.002-05:00

One of the young mothers in our ward asked if I would teach her how to make rolls when she gets a mixer. I remember that stage of life well -- a long list of needs and another list of wants. It could be a long time before those "wants" make it to the top of the list. Since Randy has been out of the country all week, I offered to bring my mixer to her home for a lesson. I also offered to let her use my mixer in the future until she is able to get one of her own. One of her friends joined us and I so enjoyed being with them and feeling their great energy and enthusiasm for life. I think we made about 40 dinner rolls and 20 sweet rolls. I resisted eating one until I left. I took a sweet roll "for the road." It was the perfect amount to satisfy myself, but right now I really wish I had another one. Dang they are good!

Walking for the Cure

2011-04-07T15:50:00.003-05:00

I've posted before about our four-year-old granddaughter who has Juvenile Diabetes. Difficult things happen in all our lives that require adjustments, patience, effort and sometimes help from other people. My stroke was like that. For a few weeks it consumed my life, but two years later my only thoughts about it are gratitude that my life is pretty much the way it always was.

I can hardly even comprehend Clarissa's life (70, 80, 90 years) managed and controlled by diabetes. Our greatest source of hope and comfort is the possibility that through research and medical advances that will occur during Clarissa's lifetime, she will be able to lead as normal a life as possible. For five years, her dad (Quinn) has studied cancer research. He will be finishing his PhD within a few months and has been accepted to do his post doc at Harvard where he will be switching to diabetes research. We are so thankful that he will become a small part of the solution we are hoping and praying for.

Randy and I are planning to be part of this year's Walking to Cure Diabetes event on April 30. We'll be walking with Clarissa's Crew. If any of you would like to donate toward Diabetes research you can read more about it and donate online here.

Killer Bees

2011-04-02T03:38:00.000-05:00

I remember as a young mother how Conference Saturday was a day filled with soccer games, grocery shopping, music lessons and errands. When we lived in Utah we could sometimes catch a talk or two in the car. After moving to Illinois we listened on a special side-band radio or had to go to the church for each session. At this stage of my life I look forward to every session of conference and enjoy being able to receive it at home through sattelite. I still enjoy going to the stake center on Sunday to watch it on the big screen.

Today might be a good time to tell the story of my friend Gayle. In 1990, she and her husband gathered their family together a week before conference and promised them that by praying for the brethren and listening carefully they could receive answers to any concerns they might have. With a magic marker and a flip chart they invited their children to make a list of concerns: getting good grades, reducing contention at home, finding good friends, earning money for college and missions, understanding more about the gospel, how to get answers to prayers. Their seven-year-old son was learning in school about killer bees coming up from South America or Mexico. That's what he was concerned about! His parents wrote it on the list with a heavy heart knowing it would not likely be discussed in conference.

For each session of conference, the family gathered to listen, and as each topic was discussed it was checked off their list. One speaker discussed the "Signs of the Times." They tried to convince their son that Killer Bees could be one of the signs. No dice. How about being prepared? If we're prepared, with won't have to worry about killer bees. No way. What about faith, or praying for protection. Absolutely not! He wanted to hear the words.

Finally in the last talk of the Sunday morning session, President Hinckley said, "Our generation is affected with critics in the media who think they do a great and clever thing in mercilessly attacking men and women in public office and in other positions of leadership. They are prone to take a line or a paragraph out of context and pursue their prey like a swarm of killer bees." Blessed are the Merciful, Ensign, May 1990, p. 69

One little boy is completely convinced that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers through our living apostles and prophets who speak to us in conference. I am convinced too, and hope that we are all listening for answers to our concerns this weekend.

Good Morning

2011-04-01T10:54:00.000-05:00

Wow, my day got off to a great start! Before I even realized that Randy was up, he appeared at my bedside with a breakfast tray for Her Majesty. It's not my birthday. It's not our anniversary. It is April Fool's Day and I wondered for just a moment if . . . . . But no, he hasn't had time to think about April Fool's pranks. He's just a wonderfully kind, thoughtful man to everyone, but especially to me. He loves to serve others, and it is evidenced by the life he has led. William Shakespeare said, "To business that we love we rise betime, And go to 't with delight."

To a man who rubs my feet without even being asked; to a man who still helps me in and out of the car; who is still working when he would prefer not to; who thinks "the best" is good enough for me; who polishes my shoes; who is never in too big a hurry to kiss me good-bye; who praises every meal as though it were a feast; who turns on the light, brings my study books and glasses to me, and plumps up my pillow each morning; who saves part of every little treat to share with me; who takes credit for everything that goes wrong and gives me the credit for everything that goes right, I love you!

How Very Cool Is This?!

2011-03-31T12:09:00.000-05:00

I am pretty excited about the discovery of these metal plates in a Jordanian cave. There are about 70 of these small plates (about the size of a credit card) and they are bound together in groups of 5 to 15 plates and fastened with metal rings. Some of them are bound all the way around (sealed). Some have speculated that they carry secret information that may pertain to the temple. They date back to the period between 200 BC and 100 AD. Scholars suggest that if these plates are authentic they may be the most important archaeological discovery ever (including the dead sea scrolls). Right now there is a dispute over ownership and I'm hoping that some angry Bedouin doesn't destroy them or hide them somewhere. I wonder if the church will get involved as they did with the dead sea scrolls. I will be watching this story with interest.

Ward Fun

2011-03-30T06:15:00.000-05:00

We had our first ward activity since the church did away with the Activities Committee. They divided the adults into groups of 8-10 and had dinner parties in individual homes. Randy and I hosted one of the groups. It turned out to be the night of the BYU basketball game. We had a little bit of a dilemma because some of our group (including, or maybe especially, us) wanted to watch the game, but we also had the missionaries and they were not allowed to watch. We solved the problem by having an early 5:30 dinner. The missionaries then left to go make some visists and the rest of us watched the game.

I really enjoy this kind of activity. It throws you together with a group you would be unlikely to get together with and provides a great way to expand your circle of friends.

2011-03-28T10:45:00.000-05:00

The other day I was listening to the radio in the car and heard a little snippet about iodine being used as a treatment for nuclear radiation exposure. It has led me on an interesting little chain of thoughts.

When I was in elementary school our teachers would dispense iodine tablets to us every week. They were little round brown chewables. They tasted a little bit like chocolate and we really liked them. Sometimes when the teacher wasn't around we would try to get in her closet and sneak a few extra tablets. You could get in really big trouble if you got caught. That was during the time when the government was testing the atomic bomb in the Nevada desert. From my home in southern Utah, we could feel the blast, and some time later the cloud of radiation would drift over our community. We were unaware of it's potentially harmful effects. It wasn't until years later that sheep ranchers were able to prove that thousands of sheep died from its deadly fallout. It was many years before the government conceded that the astonishingly high number of deaths in the area from cancer might be attributed to radioactive fallout.

There were other things we didn't know at that time. We didn't know that iodine could protect you from radioactive fallout. If the body is deficient in iodine, it will absorb iodine from any source it can get it -- even radioactive iodine. They gave us iodine at school not to protect us from radioactive fallout, but to prevent goiters. I've been led to wonder how many more could have suffered from cancer if we hadn't received the iodine tablets.

Gratefully, I have never had cancer, but my thyroid began to malfunction in my early twenties and had to be removed. I wonder if there may have been a connection. The recent explosion of the nuclear plant in Japan has released radioactivity into the jet stream with nothing between it and North America but open water. Statistics show that 95% of Americans are iodine deficient. While the government is not saying anything about it, other sources are suggesting that it would be wise to take iodine to make sure the body is not iodine deficient and will not not allow radioactive iodine to bind in the body. You can read more about it here.

Earth Hour

2011-03-26T16:15:00.000-05:00

I'm interested in looking around this evening to see if there is any evidence that people are observing "earth hour." The idea is that everyone should turn off their lights from 8:30-9:30 p.m. While I believe in conserving all of our resources all of the time, I do not consider myself to be a "green" person. The Lord created this earth. He knows all things from the beginning to the end. He knew precisely what would be necessary to sustain life on this planet until his purposes were fulfilled. I think He expects us to appreciate the beautiful world he has created and to take care of it, but I don't believe in global warming or that all the fuss about being "green" is necessary. Let's enjoy the beautiful creations God has given us!

Out of the Mouth of Babes

2011-03-25T17:32:00.000-05:00

I know this is not a very good picture, but I found this on the piano after Clarissa and Clayton left and I thought it was pretty cute. The writing is not Clarissa's, but the words definitely are. And knowing how much they like Gummi bears I can hardly believe they parted with two bags full. Being grandparents is really the best!

Loving Yourself

2011-03-24T13:42:00.000-05:00

I love this picture of Clayton. When was the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror with this much love and joy. These days I just try not to even look in the mirror unless I absolutely have to. It's hard to believe that the person looking out of the mirror is really me. What happened to the cute, young Judy I used to be (and still am in my mind's eye).

I like this quote from an anonymous source. "No one has the right to look with contempt on himself when God has shown such an interest in him."

One Brave Indian

2011-03-22T21:37:00.000-05:00

Clarissa and Clayton are here to spend a few days. When my own children were small I never thought that stepping on small toys with bare feet was much fun. Neither was cleaning spaghetti off the floor, or crying babies, or water on the bathroom floor. Somewhere through the years those things became a pleasure.

About a year ago Clarissa was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. She was only three years old, and I wondered how in the world they would ever help her adjust to that. She has at least five shots a day and has to have her blood sugar tested through a finger "stick" at least that many times as well. What a little trooper. When you say, "Clarissa, it's time to check your blood," she comes running with her figure already held up. In fact, if you happen to say, "Clarissa, come here," she dutifully brings you her finger, when all you wanted to do is brush her hair. She hardly even flinches when you give her shots, never asks for treats or snacks, and allows you to go in during the night and poke her fingers without even stirring. At this point she is so young she may think that this is all just a part of life. She looks at her younger brother and asks, "When is Clayton going to get diabetes?" I worry about the difficult teenage years ahead when she will not want to be compliant, different from her friends, or denied the foods and snacks that everyone else is eating. She is being considered for a pump before she starts kindergarten next fall. That wouldn't change what she can or can not eat, nor would it change the amount of insulin she has to have, but it would make it easier for other people to learn to care for her, and the pump can be inserted with a needle that can stay in the same location for three days, That would significantly reduce the number of times she has to be poked.

How I wish that I could finish my life with diabetes in her behalf. It's given me some new thoughts about the atonement.

Get Them Out by the Roots

2011-03-21T23:48:00.000-05:00

Well, it's Spring. I went out today to have a look around, and things look promising!

My tulips and daffodils weren't the only things growing. I pulled my first weed. I actually kind of like pulling weeds. It reminds me of the importance of getting rid of bad habits. There are those weeds that come out fairly easily, but you can hear a little tearing sound as they come out. That reminds me that there is almost always a little pain associated with repentance. I get a lot of grass growing in my berm. They look fairly innocent on the surface -- a single shoot of grass -- but when I pull them out I find that the root runs fairly close to the surface, but can be two or three feet long. Ohh, those little things that seem fairly innocent on the surface may not be as innocent as you think. And don't you just hate those stinkin' thistle weeds. You can't even touch them without getting a pair of gloves, and the roots are so deep that I can't even get them out with a shovel. It seems like there's always a little piece of root left in there to sprout up again. And never try to pull them out by hand! They break right off at the ground. Let's see, those would probably be pride, judging, selfishness, being grouchy, anger. Wow, I have a lot of weeding to do. My favorite weeds are the little tender ones that just kind of slip out without any trouble at all. Yup, gotta love that daily repentance!

Some Things Never Change

2011-03-20T22:43:00.001-05:00

Last week after I wrote about Quinn Patrick's birthday and posted the picture of him with his little dog, Fudge, he sent me this side-by-side picture of himself with a dog named Weazel. I was so struck with the similarity that I want to share this picture and the story behind it.

Quinn has a really unique and cool relationship to dogs. His PhD research is in the area of cancer. He's developed a drug which promises to be really successful. Of course, it takes about 15 years from the time a new drug is discovered until it is FDA approved and on the market, so the end of that process is still a long ways in the future. While the drug is intended to eventually be used with humans, dogs also suffer from cancer and treatment for them is so expensive that most people cannot afford to get help for their pets. In conjunction with Quinn's research at the University, the Department of Veterinary Science is accepting dogs into a program where they can be treated with Quinn's drug, PAC-1, as part of the clinical trials necessary to get the drug approved. If you are interested, here is a link to a blog Quinn wrote about his work a couple of years ago. He can certainly explain it better than I can.

Relax

2011-03-18T11:21:00.000-05:00

My brain is completely fried today. Do you remember last summer when I posted about the multiple trips to Goodwill with all of the things we were donating? Yesterday I had to figure out the original value of each item and then the thrift store value -- yes, every vase, every candle, every t-shirt, every potato masher -- all three hundred and something items. And now today we have to calculate every mile we have driven for the church for an entire year. I can't possibly think of anything worthwhile to post about. Could you just close your eyes and enjoy two minutes of Emily's beautiful harp music?

Happy Birthday Quinn

2011-03-17T10:29:00.000-05:00

Thirty-one years ago today a leprechaun found a newborn baby under a cabbage leaf. Not knowing how to care for a newborn, he brought the baby to us and said that we could keep him on two conditions: We must give him an Irish name (hence Quinn Patrick) and we must eat corned beef and cabbage every March. We quickly became crazy about both the baby and the corned beef and cabbage.

Perhaps there was something in those cabbage leaves he first sucked on, but Quinn's CQ (creativity quotient) has been off the chart since the very beginning. His grandparents once gave him a book entitled, What to do with a Squirt of Glue, and Paper, Paint, and Scissors too. Throw in some string, a few coat hangers and some popsicle sticks and Quinn was a happy boy. Always working on a project. If I were a really skilled writer I would write a book about Quinn. One chapter would be entitled "How to Save Your Energy."

One night after he had gone to bed Quinn thought of something he wanted out of his backpack, which was sitting on the floor a few feet from his bed. In order to reach it he would have to get out of bed, and that could use a lot of energy, so Quinn's little brain began to devise a plan whereby he could reach that backpack without having to get out of bed. "Hummm. First of all I need some kind of hook that I could grab the handle with. Let me just get a couple of coat hangers out of the closet. Oh, and I'll have to run down to the garage and get some wire cutters. Hey, this is working really great, but it's not long enough to reach the backpack. If I run down to the laundry room and get the yard stick maybe I can attach the hook to it to make it long enough. Yeah, I think this will work. I just need to get some masking tape from the basement. Perfect! Now just let me get back in bed here. Yes, I got it. What a great idea! Think of all the energy I saved by not having to get out of bed to reach my backpack!"

Have I mentioned before that somewhere along the way this little boy's IQ caught up with his CQ. Now he's just finishing up a Phd in Biochemistry and heading to Harvard for a post doc. Happy Birthday, Quinn. Love you to pieces! Thank goodness that leprechaun found you!

59 and Holding

2011-03-16T14:36:00.000-05:00

According to my iPhone, the temperature right now is 59 degrees. I just noticed that my neighbor, Daisy, has her grandson out digging in her flower bed. This might be my very last opportunity to post this picture of little Soren wearing his hat and mittens. (If I allow myself to believe that I'm setting myself up for disappointment. We're bound to see more snow before warm weather comes to stay.) Anyway, we haven't seen enough pictures of my adorable grandchildren. Who would post pictures of jello molds and toilets when they have pictures like this?!

Good Things Come in Small Packages

2011-03-15T11:14:00.000-05:00

It is not true that all good gifts come in small packages. THIS was delivered to our home yesterday. Wow! What can I say? Thank you!!!

Correction

2011-03-14T14:02:00.000-05:00

It has been brought to the attention of management that there is an error in today's Havin' Fun blog post. Quinn reminds me that they didn't put the toilet on the front porch of the girl he wanted to take to prom. They put it on the front porch of the girl his friend wanted to take to prom. She accepted, and she did not put the toilet on his front porch either.

I've also been reminded that my young gentleman son went to the home of the girl he wanted to take to prom and scattered rose petals in her shower and Hershey's Kisses on her bedroom floor. The sign on her door said, "I've showered you with roses and kissed the ground you walk on. Will you please go to prom with me?" Yes, Quinn chose the more romantic of the two options, but you can definitely believe that he was the mastermind behind both invitations.

Havin' Fun

2011-03-14T03:00:00.000-05:00

Remember when I wrote this post in which I suggested that replacing a couple of toilets was sounding pretty fun to me? Well, we had some fun this past weekend. In case you're thinking about replacing a toilet, let me give you some advice on how to pick a good one. Color? Doesn't matter. Oval or round? Doesn't matter. Height? Doesn't matter. The ONLY thing I need to know is -- just how much toilet paper will it flush! We think we've got a keeper this time.

This is actually the second time we've replaced this toilet. The last time, we set the old toilet on the patio to wait for garbage day. Before long, it had disappeared. That evening we were informed that Quinn had hauled it to the front porch of a girl he wanted to invite to Prom. (The least he could have done was tell me so I could clean it). He put a sign on the lid that said, "Prom. If ya gotta go, please go with me!" Believe it or not, she accepted in some since forgotten clever way that, mercifully, didn't even involve the toilet being returned to our front porch.

I believe Prom is coming up. Anybody need a toilet?

Making Jello

2011-03-12T10:33:00.000-06:00

I'm teaching gospel doctrine tomorrow. As usual, Randy asked me what I was planning to do with my lesson. I said, "I'm making jello." I put all my ideas in a bowl, added two cups of boiling water, and stirred it for about a week while I looked for additional ingredients (some fresh berries and a little bit of lemonade concentrate sounded good). Despite my best efforts I have not found the perfect story, a great personal experience, or not even any really new insights. I'm afraid it may turn out to be just plain jello after all. I put it in the fridge for a few days to see if something would gel. When I checked on it this morning I decided it has turned out to be "jigglers". I think I've got to get it out today and whip it up a bit, get some air into it. I'm still praying that the Lord will provide the whipped cream (spirit) to fold in. I love being a teacher. I've been tasting this "jello" all week and it has been nourishing and tasty to me, but I don't know if one giant spoonful tomorrow is really going to be satisfying to my class.

If you're looking for a jello recipe, here is the one that our family has always loved:

Lemon Cream Jello

1 package lemon jello (3 oz.)

1/2 c. sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup boiling water

Dissolve all the above.

Add 6 oz. frozen lemonade concentrate

Refrigerate until partially set. Whip jello until frothy.

Whip 1 cup heavy cream. Sweeten. Fold into jello and pour into

jello mold. I use a ring mold. When I serve it I unmold it on a

plate and fill the center with fresh fruit -- especially strawberries,

bananas and kiwis. You can use a different mold and then arrange

the fruit around the outside edge. Enjoy -- almost like dessert!

Crafting

2011-03-11T11:38:00.000-06:00

Last night we had a Relief Society activity and made these little photo clips. It was easy to do and oh so much fun to be together with a great group of women -- sharing paper, trading embellishments and stories that made us all laugh and feel better about ourselves. There were plenty of brownies for those that needed that kind of comfort, and veggies and dip for the strong. Love these ladies!

Facelift

2011-03-09T20:04:00.000-06:00

Yes, you are in the right place. I've been looking at all these new blogs with adorable scrapbook paper backgrounds with flowers and bows. I decided that my blog needed a facelift. Yes, another trip to the apple store. We looked at a lot of options, but when it came right down to it, I decided that I'm really not a "cutsie" person. It felt a little bit like I was trying to wear leggings with a tunic -- doesn't really fit my age. So I settled on something that is perhaps not as much fun, but different for a change. I'm still playing with it a little bit, so keep watching.

How do you like the new family picture (that is only missing the last four grandchildren)?! It's impossible to keep up.

2011 Trivia

2011-03-08T23:07:00.000-06:00

My granddaughter Natalie made a 2011 Family Photo calendar for me. I love it and keep it here on my desk by my computer. I heard this little bit of trivia for the year 2011. This year we will experience four unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, and 11/11/11.

Now a little math exercise. Take the last 2 digits of the year you were born and add the age you will be this year. IT WILL EQUAL EITHER 11 OR 111! Go figure!

Happy Birthday Kim!

2011-03-06T03:00:00.000-06:00

Randy's youngest sister was born just three months before he came home from his mission. It had been nine years since there was a baby in the house, and, as you might imagine, she was the center of a great deal of attention. She was a year old when I met her, and I can assure you that I was just as crazy about her as the others were. She was not even four years old when our Kristin was born, and the two of them grew up more like sisters or best friends than aunt and niece.

Happy Birthday, Kim!

Confetti Cake

2011-03-03T13:46:00.000-06:00

Last night I finished piecing my Confetti Cake quilt top. While I worked on it I listened to a book on tape, The Quilter's Apprentice, by Jennifer Chiaverini. I actually learned a few things I hadn't known before.

The log cabin quilt top is a very common quilt. Traditionally, the center square is red (representing the hearth of the home) or yellow (representing light and warmth). During the Civil War and the days of the underground railroad a family sympathetic to the underground movement would make a log cabin quilt with a black square in the center. This might be hung in the window or on the clothes line, and signaled to a runaway slave that this was a home where they might knock on the door and expect to receive help. I love quilting, but still have so much to learn.

One thing I hate about quilting is threads, threads, threads everywhere. Last night I was wearing a fleece jacket. Randy took one look at me and said, "No one seeing you in that jacket will ever be able to call you "threadbare." I'm done, now where's the vacuum?

Medical Partners

2011-03-02T14:00:00.000-06:00

I know that my blog has a small readership, and on a day like today that is probably a good thing. I'm certain that this post will not seem like something the wife of a stake president would share, but frankly, I can always use a good laugh, and I got one today. Thanks to the friend who sent this to me. Hope you get to read it before Randy reads and makes me delete.

"  Best friends graduated from medical school at the same time and  decided that, in spite of two different specialties, they would open a  practice together to share office space and personnel.   Dr. Smith was a psychiatrist and Dr. Jones was a proctologist;  they put up a sign reading: "Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones: Hysterias and  Posteriors". The town council was livid and insisted they change it.   So, the docs changed it to read: "Schizoids and Hemorrhoids." This was  also not acceptable, so they again changed the sign. "Catatonics and  High Colonics"......No go.   Next, they tried "Manic Depressives and Anal Retentives"....thumbs down again. Then came "Minds and Behinds"....still no good. Another attempt resulted in "Lost Souls and Butt holes".......unacceptable  again!   So they tried "Analysis and Anal Cysts".....not a chance. "Nuts and  Butts".....no way. "Freaks and Cheeks".....still no good. "Loons and  Moons".....forget it.   Almost at their wit's end, the docs finally came up with: "Dr. Smith  and Dr. Jones--Odds and Ends" Everyone loved it."

Now after you finish laughing, try to think about me as the prim and proper person I should be. Have a great day!

Music, You are a Friend to Me

2011-03-01T10:25:00.000-06:00

Last night we spent another evening at the Chicago Civic Orchestra with some of our friends.

We all grabbed a quick meal at Panera Bread before the concert.

Orchestra Hall is always spectacular, and although I walked to the very top to take this picture, we sat in our usual seats behind and just above the orchestra. It was an unforgettable experience watching Esa-Pekka Salonen conduct the orchestra. But I received something yesterday that I enjoyed even more than the Civic Orchestra. Check out my ten-year-old granddaughter, Elise. I want her to play at my funeral too. I want my funeral to be a happy event, and I love "Millionaire's Hoedown," but unless Randy makes a whole lot of money in the next couple of years the whole "millionaire" thing just won't work! Better start working on a hymn, Elise.

February's Fairyland

2011-02-28T12:28:00.001-06:00

We've had such an interesting February--the biggest single snow fall in history, 60 degree temperatures, temperatures in the single digits, and last night we had a thunderstorm with pouring rain. By morning the temperatures had dropped significantly and we awoke to the beautiful sight of every bush and tree encrusted with ice. It was difficult to photograph because you had to be shooting into the sun to get the full effect of the sparkling ice. The picture doesn't do it justice, but nature truly provided an event worth noting and remembering. Winter is beautiful!