Simply: Thankful

I went grocery shopping this morning, and unless I’d checked my calendar before leaving the house, I would have been quite sure I had landed smack in the middle of December. Christmas music blared over the loudspeaker, the shelf stockers wore Santa hats, and the florist section was full of poinsettias. It took me a while to locate the lone display of Thanksgiving paper plates. Thanksgiving always gets short shrift, but I think the fact that it’s the underdog might be one of the reasons why it’s also one of my favorite holidays.

Christmas is five weeks away, and I already have a list taped to my fridge of the cookies I’ll be making. Markus is chomping at the bit to get the five rubbermaid bins of decorations and ornaments out of the storage room. But the season isn’t technically even here yet. Once it gets here I’ll have to balance the “am I buying too much and spoiling the boys forever?” with all of the Santa wish lists. I’ll try to balance the focus on Christ with the man in red. It’s a great time of year, and would be seen by many as the “most important” holiday of the year, but let’s face it, it’s also exhausting.

Thanksgiving reminds me more of a peaceful holiday. A couple of weeks ago my sister invited some friends and the family members to have dinner with her, but it wasn’t until last night that I finally pulled out the cookbooks and started to plan my shopping list, which took about fifteen minutes. I have exactly two Thanksgiving decorations– a set of pilgrims sitting on the table and a "Give Thanks" door decoration. I do have plans to spend a lot of time on Thursday in the kitchen, but it won’t hold a candle to the hours I spend each year rolling tiny balls of dough into millions of Christmas cookies. During the Christmas season, I’m very careful to say “Happy Holidays,” so as not to offend anyone who may not believe the way I do. I appreciate that Thanksgiving celebrates something we can all agree on– good food and being thankful.

I’m thankful for potatoes and apple pie and ice cream. I’m thankful for family to share the day with. I’m thankful for the simplicity of Thanksgiving. It may not be the most important holiday of the year, but sometimes simple is best.

Out of This World

{Mom, Marilee, and Monet at the Hubble 3D movie}

{Ben got tickets for everyone, from his work, to go see it yesterday for his birthday}

{They all came to lunch after the movie at Rio Grande to celebrate the day that Ben was born into the world!}

If you ever get the chance to see the IMAX movie, Hubble in 3D, go! You will experience the gripping story of hope, disappointment, ingenuity, bravery, and triumph to journey through distant galaxies to explore the mysteries of our spacial surroundings, and accompany astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA's history. An awe-inspiring and unique look into the space telescope's legacy and its impact on the way we view the universe and ourselves.

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

{Nicole turns 40 30}

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{After we saw "Breaking Dawn" we headed up the canyon in a snow storm}

{To have a girl night sleep-over in Midway}

{Laurie's parents own a condo at the Zermatt- so we stayed up there and watched Pride and Prejudice until 3 a.m.}

{Laurie made a decadent chocolate cake to celebrate and we set the smoke alarms off with the sparklers she put on it!}



{What a great night! I am SO glad that Nicole was born and that we were able to celebrate with her!}

Reach!

Markus was reaching for the puck Friday night at his game versus the Black Bears and boy did he ever get it! He played defense the entire game and they didn't score once while he was on the ice. In fact the other team only scored once while the Terriers held their own with a score of 6-1. Or something like that. lol

Tenderfoot

Of the many things I have learned about scouting, so far, it is the idea in my mind of this recipe: take one young boy, coat generously with sunscreen, toss him into the wilderness with two adult leaders and lots of his friends, make sure to occasionally lose him, teaching him to pray in scary situations. Add a large helping of silly scout songs, dutch oven potatoes, and a dash of freezing nearly to death in a tent and sleeping bag. What is accomplished is something rather remarkable. An Eagle Scout.


So, I buy the $30.00 scout shirt and a scout book. It will require lots of reading, goal-setting, reminding, and maybe some threatening, to finish.

Today my twelve year old son pinned a small tie tack to a simple ribbon hanging loosely around my neck. It had a little symbol on it. His first goals realized and first reward earned. The pin is for me as a thank-you for helping him. This help mostly coming in the form of driving him to troop meetings. I take in this moment when his arms and legs are skinny and awkward, when he stumbles a little during his first flag ceremony. I think of the sunburns, and prayers, and also of the leaders who’ll be molding him. I imagine him morphing into a stronger, confident, and spiritual kid. I wonder if all those lessons on hard-work and serving others will seep into my everyday actions as well. Can scouts make a mom a better mom? Will I mature along with Max, will my spiritual arms become leaner and stronger? I am grateful to know what scouts can do for a boy, and maybe I’ll come to know what it can do for his mother.

Wiz Kid

Some photos from The Wiz!!!!!!!!!!

My cute little niece, Aria, invited me to come watch her perform in the musical tonight, and I loved watching her. She knew exactly what she was doing and where to go, plus she had all the dance steps down and had this vibrant personality to go along with it. She is a natural performer!!!



{Morgen and Cole}



Presents for the little star!

{Both sets of grandparents were there to support Aria}

{Monet and her girls, Aria and Kailey}

{Aria had a great time and was all smiles after}

Do You Want to Know?



A.S. Degree - 2005

10 things you may be interested in knowing about me lately:

{or not, I know my Mom will be excited to know}

1. I am going to finish my RN. My next nursing class, probably Pharmacology.

2. I am already getting excited to listen to Christmas music...the day after Thanksgiving.

3. I am so excited to snowboard this year, it can't come soon enough!!! SNOW MORE PLEASE!!

4. I saw Markus writing his Christmas list last night- I want to get the shopping done early. (I know I say that every year!)

5. I am helping with Markus' Lightning team.

6. My throat is feeling better!

7. The family will be at Monet's house for Thanksgiving-I'm making pies and rolls.

8. Will also be in Ogden for a few days after Thanksgiving for the hockey tournament.
9. Think my boys in boxer shorts are the cutest things ever.
10. Excited to see my niece, Aria, dance and sing in the Wizard of Oz tomorrow night!!

A List

Me and Markus - Hawaii swimming with dolphins

What do you want to do before you 'kick the bucket'? I started my own Bucket List (or things to do before I die) a few years ago and wanted to share these life goals - that way I will be more accountable for action. Here goes:

X Start my own blog
X Race in a triathlon
X Sleep under the stars
X Play in a band
X Swim in a waterfall in Hawaii
X Watch a meteor shower
X Give more than I can afford to charity
X Go to Disneyland
X Climb a mountain
X Hold a praying mantis
X Sing a solo
X Perform live in Madison Square Garden
X Visit Paris
X Watch a lightning storm
X Teach myself to read
X Adopt a dog
X Walk to the top of the Statue of Liberty
X Grow my own vegetables
X See the Mona Lisa in France
X Sleep in a yurt
X Have a pillow fight
X Go on a hut bicycle tour of Colorado
X Take a sick day when I'm not sick
X Build a snow fort
X Learn how to telemark ski
X Go skinny dipping
X Run a Marathon (2)
X Ride in a gondola
X See a total eclipse
X Watch a sunrise

X Ski a couloir
X Go on a cruise
X See Niagara Falls in person
X Visit the birthplace of my ancestors
X See an Amish community
X Learn to speak German
X Have enough money to be truly satisfied
X See the Eiffel Tower at night

X Go rock climbing
X See Davinci’s other famous painting Ginevra de’ Benci
X Sing karaoke
X See Old Faithful geyser erupt
X Buy a stranger a meal at a restaurant
X Visit Spain
X Walk on a beach by moonlight
X Have my portrait painted
X Surf in Hawaii
X See the Sound of Music sites in Salzburg
X Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
X Go scuba diving or snorkeling
X Kiss in the rain
X Play in the mud
X Go to a drive-in theater
X Be in a movie
X Walk the Ramparts of Neuschwanstein
X Start a business
X Take a martial arts class
X Visit Portugal
X Serve at a soup kitchen
X Buy Girl Scout Cookies
X Swim with dolphins
X Get flowers for no reason
X Donate blood, platelets or plasma
X Go sky diving (indoors)
X Visit a Nazi Concentration Camp museum
X Bounce a check
X Ride in a search and rescue basket

X Learn Salsa dancing 
X Save a favorite childhood toy
X Visit the Lincoln Memorial
X Eat Caviar
X Piece a quilt
X Stand in Times Square at night 
X Tour the Everglades
X See the Changing of the Guards in London
X Break a bone (or 4)
X Be on a speeding tandem mountain bicycle 
X Ride the same tandem over the Hoover Dam
X Write my story
X Visit Notre Dame cathedral 
X Buy a brand new car
X Walk in a cast
X Have my picture in the newspaper
X Read To Kill A Mockingbird
X Visit the White House
X Kill and prepare an animal for eating
X Have chickenpox
X Save someone’s life
X Ride in an ambulance
X Meet someone famous
X Join a book club
X Have a baby (or 3)
X See the Alahambra
X Swim in the Great Salt Lake
X See Mount Rushmore
X Learn to play piano
X Keep a journal
X Shop the Magnificent Mile
X Experience natural childbirth
X Close my eyes during a movie
X Shoot a gun
X Build a backyard shed
X Sleep in a castle in Scotland
X Visit Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Hawaii 
X Volunteer as President of the Oncology Nurse Society Local Chapter
X Horseback riding on a beach at sunset

That's all updated for now. Start living your very best life, today.

I Flew Away Last Night

Yesterday after I finished with the primary program practice, I packed my bags and flew away...literally! My sister Darlin was staying about an hour away for the competition and test session this weekend and invited me to come up for her activity that she plans with every competition for her students. This time it happened to be at iFly, the indoor skydiving arena. I have never experienced anything quite like it. It almost felt like I was floating in the pool or something, but instead I was floating on air. If you ever get the chance, go! You won't be disappointed. Darlin went skydiving last year and she said it felt exactly the same way (only about a thousand times more because she was jumping out of a plane).

Darlin and one of her students last night at iFly



{Loving the Goggles!}

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Darlin and I went to dinner afterwards and talked for a couple of hours. Then we went back to her hotel and watched tv until I fell asleep about 10. I kind of had a sore throat already and knew that I needed to get up at 5:40 this morning for the test session. My student Amanda was taking two tests and about 11 of Darlin's students were testing this morning as well.

{Amanda and her mentor/friend/foster mother Paulette drove up early this morning}

{Amanda passed both her pre-juvenile freestyle and her juvenile moves-in-the-field test!}

Amanda was really nervous for her first test, but she passed by all three judges! She was pretty excited about that and the confidence from passing the moves test helped her to pass the freestyle test. I am thrilled for her and how hard she has worked to get to this point. I love to see her example of what hard work, and dedication can really do to help you achieve your dreams. I heard this quote in a movie I watched this weekend:

"Sometimes the things you want the most don't happen and what you least expect happens. I don't know - you meet thousands of people and none of them really touch you. And then you meet one person and your life is changed forever."

{I am so proud of Amanda and the example that she sets for me and everyone around her.}

GOALS!

{Cute Jake's mom sent me these photos from Max's game today}

{Since I was at Markus' game and wasn't able to see Max play his game against the Sioux}

{I hurried back from the other rink just in time for the game to end}

{everyone told me he had a great game with two goals}

{and two assists}

{to help his team win 6-0}

{Way to go Terriers!}

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Meanwhile up at Markus' game...

{Markus' team played the Fighting Irish}

{Markus played offense for one of the first times this year}

{and scored two goals and had three assists!}

{He was in charge of treats after the game and was grinning from ear to ear while handing out the chocolate chip cookies!}

Adventures

I find myself turning to Travelocity more and more at this time of year. Is your favorite getaway experience a family affair or a honeymoon repeat? Maybe a girls’ weekend free of family obligations?

Here’s mine: North Carolina, or Hawaii with about 45 of my favorite family members. The week we would spend together is as close to heaven as I’ve imagined. What could be better than a quiet beach, a stack of books to read, dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins to hang out with, evening board game competitions, and a pantry that is always stocked with popcorn and M&Ms?

I had hoped, but never thought I’d be one of those people who traveled to exciting places in the world. I lived in Los Angeles, traveled the west coast and saw most of what there was to see in California. I’ve been to all but two states (driving around the country added some in that I probably never would have visited otherwise). My dad also took us to Mexico when we were kids and to Canada as adults on a family trip when Max was six weeks old.

I lucked out with three business trips to Europe while Ben was working on his MBA and for a software company. He asked me if I wanted to join him on his business school trip–in Europe! A year later he asked about Germany! Both trips lasted two weeks with fourteen days of school/work for him and exploring for me, with the other wives and on my own. I wasn’t sure I was ever going to get to Europe again so I took advantage and saw as much as I could. From the Sound of Music tour to Neuschwanstein Castle, Austria, driving on the autobahn, seeing Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower, buying Crystal in Prague, riding trains, making new friends, seeing the Mona Lisa, eating croissants and wiener schnitzel, drinking apple juice from a beer mug at the Hofbrauhaus and visiting villages—all three trips were great adventures!

Traveling in Europe was an amazing experience that I captured on 45 rolls of film (I know it would have been better with a digital camera but I didn't have one of those at the time. lol). I loved walking on the cobble stone streets. I loved all the sights and smells and seeing how people lived. I loved seeing people riding bikes loaded with bundles. I loved trying new food, meeting new people, experiencing a new place. I bought a travel journal before I went. Everyday I wrote and glued things in it. The cover says: I AM NOT THE SAME HAVING SEEN THE MOON SHINE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

Ah, vacations. I was just dreaming the other night that someone offered to fly my whole family to Hawaii—lol. A getaway sounds heavenly: a beach, books, and fun family togetherness. I love any getaway that includes a beach and books. Some of my fondest vacation memories from my childhood include the times we stayed on a beach in Oregon. We walked and played on the beach, ate fresh crab, and slept in a cabin, all of us together, falling asleep to the sound of the surf. Ah, to be on the beach with a good book, my toes curled in the sand, listening to my boys laughing nearby.

Got Hope?

My sister Sheri, and her son Connor are sleeping over tonight after they were able to attend Disney On Ice as a part of the Got Hope? organizations night out. Josslyn and Whitney were invited to attend as well. Josslyn loved it of course, since she loves all things Disney. Connor will be making his wish with the Make A Wish foundation in July (Sheri is teaching him how to say Hawaii even as I am typing this!) and will get to have one of his dreams come true. When’s the last time you dared to dream? Last night? Dreams are slippery things. Sometimes they can be bizarre and embarrassing, but I’ve also had beautiful, peaceful dreams that have wrapped around me like my favorite blanket. Many times I wake up with just a whisper of my dream remaining. Trying to recall any concrete images is like grabing at smoke. Only a few dreams leave any lasting memory, but I’m intrigued with trying to remember. But what about waking dreams—those personal ambitions each of us have (or used to have, at least, before life got in the way)? Those goals that speak to the very heart of who we are and who we want to become? We all have the capacity to dream. When we dream, ‘hope shines brightly before us.’ We may be out-of-practice or not yet learned how to dream. But those of us who are mothers didn’t know how to do that either at first. After we dared to dive in, we began to figure it out.

Informative Performance

{A photo from Markus' "Informance" today}

{Markus, Cooper, Jason and Tyler}

I enjoyed Markus' "Informance" today almost as much as I enjoyed my yogurt for dessert tonight. I eat dessert. I enjoy dessert. It’s probably more accurate to say that I hugely enjoy dessert.

Dessert is good. Why make it bad?

Same with jumping in puddles. Taking a long, hot bath. Eating with your fingers, noticing the tiny purple flowers in the grass, watching a fire or looking at the moon. Reading a book – any book I lose myself in – until far too late. That tv series. My favourite perfume, blanket, dress, pair of boots. Whatever it is, but that sensational, simple thing that stops your shoulders from drooping, and makes a smile spread across your face and into your heart. Being an adult means responsibilities, duties, schedules, musts, to-do’s and obligations. But I refuse to accept that it also requires the forfeiting of quiet, simple pleasures – those small activities that wash the dust from our days, and give sparkle to our lives.

Especially if it’s called dessert.

My Mom



{My mom ~ 1956}



Mothers receive very little appreciation in our world. I’m as guilty of this as anyone else—I just don’t remember to thank her for dinner and new pencils and life. My gratitude for my mother endures for so many reasons but here, for her birthday, are just a few: 1. She was always there. It might sound babyish, I liked my mom to be home as much as possible—breakfast, during home school, at midnight after a date. A lot of moms “check out” of parenting when their kids are in high school, but I still needed her. Every child likes to feel like they are top priority in their mother’s life. It seems that children aren’t proud of their parent’s accomplishments the way parents admire their children’s. People comment to me all the time about the amazing things my mom can do but I’m just glad that she’s always been an amazing mother to me. 2. She wasn't afraid to set strict rules about movies, music and tv. A lot of parents seem to be afraid of their children, but honestly, I liked limits. 3. She lived her testimony. A hundred family home evenings couldn’t match the decisions I saw my mom make when attending church while on vacation in Hawaii, handing back the $500 in cash she found in a wallet at Disneyland and taking care of grand babies. 4. She loves me. Adults aren’t much different from little kids. I might not have wanted to sit on her lap, but I still wanted to be told that she loved me, she was proud of me when I did something well and yeah, sometimes a hug and a kiss were what I needed too.

70th Birthday Celebration



Max's game yesterday morning in Park City at 7 A.M.



Ended in a shoot out with a victory over the Steelheads

 Max played great defense and had an assist to tie the game. He was pretty excited afterwards that they had at least won one game and the whole team definitely improved over the course of the tournament.

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After church it was my mom's birthday dinner at Little America

You need a pretty large table to accommodate the whole fam!

Todd taking a photo of me taking a photo! lol



The Birthday girl! It's not everyday that you turn 70.



Josslyn loves Morgen

Everyone stayed and talked for a few hours after dinner. It's what you do for family.  

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Josslyn and Whitney eating breakfast this morning after sleeping over last night.

It was a little crazy at the house this morning, dog, cat, and kids all laughing and playing together.
Just the way I like it. :)

My mom's actual birthday is tomorrow. I am glad that she was born.