One more tribute

I don't think too much can be said about Gordon B. Hinckley.

Sunday Stew Vol. IV

The big news of the week is that Ella tried out for a part in the GFAA's youth production of Back to the 80's and got the part of a cheerleader. She was so excited! Her cousin Ashley is also going to be a cheerleader in the show.

She was so cute during the auditions and I'm so mad I didn't have my camera. It was SO last minute and we were not prepared AT ALL!! She came home from school saying that her friend had tried out the night before and that Friday was the last tryout night. I found out where and when and we just showed up! Once we were there we realized she would have to learn a short dance, sing a song, and do a monologue for the tryouts. Good thing she has to memorize a different every month for her school! She ended up singing a Hannah Montana song (they wanted a pop song) and doing her poem "When Santa Claus Comes." Right before she went in she started to get really nervous, but was a trooper and did her thing.

I wish I could have been in there to hear/watch her. When she came out she was on the verge of tears and kept saying she did horrible. I was just so proud of her for trying. I honestly didn't think she would get a part and wasn't to worried about it. I thought it would be good for her to know that you have to keep trying for things and work hard. It will be a great experience for her and the boys are already excited to go see the show in April! Way to go Ella!This is what I was up against on Saturday night when Paul and I were trying to get out of the house for a date!! The kids were NOT going to let him go. They were all snuggled together watching The Sandlot...daddy's favorite show.

Below you will see a variety of pictures from tonight. (Click on the pics to enlarge if you'd like) It had been raining all day and the kids just couldn't resist! Nora got her rain boots on, but decided to watch rather than join in! Daddy got into the fun and the kids thought it was all better than a night at Chuck E Cheese...THANK GOODNESS!!

Don't ask me what Ella's doing the gang signs for? We may need to talk about that...hmmm!

Here is Maggie....negotiating the pool. Maggie lost that negotiation!

I know I already posted one picture of ducks in our pool, but they were there again this morning and it just makes me so happy!! I wish they would stay!

We now have to Duct tape Nora's diaper on because she refuses to wear clothes and will take off her diaper. So, now we get this lovely result! Of course the "pretty shoes" have to be on at all times!! Any suggestions for what to do with this girls hair? It's so wild and crazy!

I picked up this little treasure at Ikea a couple of weeks ago. It is a detail reproduction of Gustav Klimt's painting The Three ages of Women. His most famous painting may be The Kiss. It makes me so happy to see this hanging in my bedroom. I don't pretend to have any great knowledge of fine art, but I sure do love it. Remember the painting I blogged about here? Well, Paul got it for me for Christmas. I love it, and someday will design (who am I kidding? I'll have it designed) a room around it.

Ella and Jack both had their first piano lesson this week. Jack was pumped...Ella was skeptical. She tends to be really hard on herself and doesn't want to try if she can't do it perfectly the first time. It is going to be a real challenge, and take a lot of patience an dedication on my part. I'm realizing that practicing is going to be another thing that I will be nagging about. Any suggestions? I know it will be SO worth it.

I just love seeing the beauty of the Orange trees in our backyard. The kids love to be able to go pick and orange, peel it, and eat it. I love to make fresh squeezed OJ! I need to get on that before they all go bad.

So, our Sunday show this week was Because of Winn-Dixie. It is based on the fabulous book by Kate DiCamillo. She is also the author of another of my favorites The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Anyway, this is such a great show!! Of course my kids were confused at why I was crying through the whole thing. I had a very emotional day for some reason today. It started in Church during the Sacrament prayers (so powerful) and didn't stop pretty much all day. Luckily I got it together during sharing time (I was in charge). Again, I digress....anyway, I was laughing that the actor Jeff Daniels was in this movie as well as the one we watched last week called Fly Away Home. He is so great in both, and it's hard to imagine that one of the stars of Dumb and Dumber could pull these off! He also appeared in The Hours (I loved that depressing show), and Goodnight and Good Luck. I guess that's talent.

Well, that's all I came up with for the stew this week. I hope it's pleasing to the palate!

President Gordon B. Hinckley

I can't even begin to describe how much I love this man. I just got word that he passed away less than an hour ago. I feel so blessed to have been able to meet and speak with him several times in my life. I grew up in the same neighborhood as two of his daughters. I lived right next door to one, and remember several Sunday afternoons when he would be over there visiting and we would be able to speak to him. He was exactly like I imagined all grandpa's should be. (I never met either of mine)

For my friends, and blog lurkers who are not aware of who I'm talking about, he was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have a strong testimony that he was a living prophet. If you want to know more about the church, you can click here.

His humor was something that I remember fondly even from my youth. I remember one Sunday we were out on our back balcony and could see over the fence into the neighbors yard and he called over to say something to my Dad. I can't remember what he said, but I remember everyone laughing, and my parents re-telling the story later that night.

One of Paul's favorite memories of him was when we saw him several years ago at the farewell of his grandson. Paul had been telling his Dad that it was OK for his brother to have a gray suit for his mission. His dad was saying that he had never seen any of the general authorities of the church wearing a gray suit and therefore his son wouldn't be wearing one on his mission. So, on the day of his grandson's farewell, Paul couldn't have been more pleased to see the Prophet on the stand in a stylin' gray suit.

By far my favorite quote is one that President Hinckley has been given credit for on many occasions, but was one he was quoting from Jenkin Lloyd Jones. My good friend Sally posted it recently on her blog, but since it's private I'll refer you to an earlier post of mine about favorite quotes. You'll find it here. It will lead you to another classic from President Hinckley.

I was in Jerusalem, Israel when President Howard W. Hunter died and Gordon B. Hinckley became the Prophet. I had a very strong conviction that President Hinckley was indeed foreordained to be the Prophet at that time. His words have touched me in so many ways at this time in my life. He was so real and so "in tune" with what the people of the church (and the world in general) were going through. I will forever be grateful for his example, smile, power, faith, vigor, determination, humor, and mantle. I am so happy that he is with his dear sweetheart again. I know that his happiness is full at this time.

Women's Conference Anyone?

I am happy to announce that I will be able to go to Women's Conference this year. Last year was my first time and I have decided to try to make it an annual event. Paul had many various conferences he attends to enhance his abilities in his career. I have decided that Women's Conference will be that for me. Boy do I need it. I am also excited that this year there will be a Blogapalooza party that I will be able to attend too! How fun to visit all my "good" friends that I have actually never met! Crazy blogging world isn't it? Anyway, who else is going to be there? Let's get together. What is Blogapalooza? Email me and I'll let you know! Hope to see you there!

Happy Birthday Shawni!!

It's my fabulous cousin-in-law Shawni's birthday today!! She is really one of the most amazing people I know. The best thing about her is that she is also one of the most down to earth people too. So, everyone visit her blog here and wish her a very happy birthday. Boy does she deserve it!!She is the front left at a fun lunch we had together recently with cousins, sisters, sister-in-laws, etc.
My sister-in-law Natalie, Me, Shawni, and my sister Heather. Three of my favorite people in the world and I'm related to them all!!! Lucky me!

TTA - No Regrets, Just Lessons Learned

I don't like to think too much about the "I wish I would haves" of life. For the most part that has served me well. I do not live in the past. When I do allow myself to go there though, there are a lot of things that come to mind like:

• I wish I would have gone to Dental Hygiene School.


• I wish I would have kept a journal...all different kinds. (life, scripture, books read, etc.)


• I wish I would have enjoyed my newborns more.


• I wish I would have taken more pictures.


• I wish I would have run track in High School.


• I wish I would have run for office instead of Cheerleader.


• I wish I would have learned to cook.


• I wish I would have trained harder for my marathon.

By far my biggest regret in life though is that my friend Liz Pike-Murdock didn't sing at my wedding. Long story, but I still cry if I talk about it or think about it too much.

Luckily, when I look at that list and all the things I could have put there, there is nothing life altering. I actually had a hard time thinking of things to write. Boy am I grateful for that.

Now, on to the "I'm so glad I..." part of this post. We could be here all day!!! I am so glad I did everything! I would not be here now if not for the paths I chose. Of course there are certain things that stand out, so I will attempt to get them down here.

First, I am so glad that I was raised by parents that valued "experiences" more than "things", because the experiences I have had in life are my most cherished possessions. Here are some of the highlights:

I am so glad I was baptized at the age of 8 by my brother Brad. For me it is such a special bond, and one I will always cherish. I attended the baptism of one of Ella's little friends a couple of months ago and there was a little girl there getting baptized by her older brother. The second I saw them sitting on the front row together I was a weeping mess. It was so cute to see him with his arm around her and lean over to whisper something in her ear. I am so glad I share that with my awesome brother.

O.K. I know I've posted this picture before, but It's the only one I have of me in my Senate Page uniform. I swear I have one somewhere of me with Senator Jake Garn, but I haven't found it yet. So, another thing I am so glad I did was spend a semester my Junior year of High School as a Senate Page in Washington D.C. Four of my older siblings had done it and so of course I applied too. Every year the Senators from each state sponsor a Junior in High School to work as a Senate Page each semester. I remember filling out my application with excitement but apprehension. It sounded like a lot of fun, but at the same time I would be missing football season at school and a couple of school dances (Oh, woe is me!) Of course, at the time it seemed like a huge sacrifice, but luckily I knew that you can never go wrong with choosing the road less traveled by.

There were so many times during the months I lived on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. that I thought about how much the people back home were missing out. I felt so blessed to be chosen and able to have that experience. It has given me a lifelong love of politics, a sense of patriotism, and a sense of duty to feel informed and active in how our government works. I would never give up the things I experienced for anything.

I am so glad I went to college. I started out at BYU, which I LOVED, and ended up graduating from the University of Utah. So, I guess my blood runs....purple?! I was so glad I was able to have the experience of living "away" even if it was just and hour away. I am SO SO SO SO SO glad that I went on Study Abroad to Israel for six months in 1995. It would have been really easy for me to not go since Paul and I had been dating for a year and a half and were really serious. I knew I wanted to marry him, but I had ALWAYS dreamed of going to Israel. When I was accepted, I knew that this was an opportunity that would not come around again. I knew that if it was the right thing for us to get married that it would be the right thing when I got home. It only took him until my plane from SLC landed in NYC on the way to Israel to call me at the airport and tell me he had a temple date set. So, I guess you could say I was pretty much engaged while I was there. I cannot put down in words how much the things I saw, the way I felt, and the people I met have influenced my life for good. It is more valuable than I can express. I was able to go to Egypt, Jordan, and of course all throughout Israel. Here I am with cute Mindy on the Israel/Lebanon border! Again, amazing experiences. I am so glad I got my Masters Degree when conventional wisdom would say that it was the worst timing in the world. I had three kids, no friends, a husband who was rarely home, it was bitter cold 8 months of the year, and we were dirt poor! It ended up being the best thing for me at the time. Do I use my degree in Exercise Physiology? Yes, for myself...but no, I don't make any money off of it. But, that's my point. Things you can take with you IE. education, experiences, memories, relationships, are the things that matter the most. I always say that I could be a student my whole life. I love school and I love gaining more knowledge. Perhaps someday I'll go back. I will never regret the time and cost involved in my education...even if I never make a dime from it!On a less serious note, I am so glad we got a Mac a few months ago if simply for the reason that I can do funny photo booth pictures with my kids. O.K., there are so many reasons I love the Mac, but photo booth is awesome. My kids will make little videos, and then at night I come down and watch them and laugh my guts out. Funny to hear what they have to say when they are alone. Now all I need is private tutoring on this thing so I can really use it! Sue, it looks like you are a pro already. Be prepared to give me some tips when I see you for Romey's baptism!I am so glad I am a part of this big crazy family. This is all five of my siblings, their spouses, their kids, and my parents this summer at a family reunion. These are the best people in the world!!Last and most important I am SO GLAD I married this guy!! (Isn't he so cute?!) I'm speechless when I think about what my life would be without him. Everything he does is for our family. He is the hardest working, smartest, most determined husband. I wouldn't want to make this journey through life without him. So, by far, the thing I'm most glad I.... is go here...with him...that beautiful day in July 1995!!

Inspirational!!

I know this is long (17+ min.) but it is worth every second.
Happy MLK Day!!

Sunday Stew - Hearty this time!

So...what to throw in the pot first...hmm. I guess it really doesn't matter. Here it goes!
Paul and I put the kids to bed last night, and left my parents who are in town to listen for them while we ran out to catch a late showing of Juno. I LOVED this movie. Cute, funny, quirky, touching, all rolled into one. I recommend only seeing this with someone you are REALLY comfortable with. Paul and I were really glad we didn't go with anyone else. It's not bad (PG-13), but explores sometimes embarrassing territory. The actors were all perfectly cast, and I'd love to see it again. We give it a big two thumbs up!
It was so nice the other day while I was in the garage organizing that I had to open the garage door and let the wonderful air in. The kids were pushing each other in the Burley and making Maggie (the dog) quite nervous I'm sure.
I couldn't resist putting in this adorable picture of Jack. Maggie looks pretty cute too!
In the organizing and de-cluttering, I found many items that the kids were sure they needed to keep. Ella was excited to find her old Dora backpack, and she promptly gave it to Nora. She's wanted to wear it everyday since.













I still DVR Oprah even though I'm a bit disenchanted with her. So, at night while I'm waiting for Paul to come home (he's putting in some LONG, LATE nights these days) folding clothes, organizing my Primary folder, sorting through garage boxes etc., I'll flip on one of the recorded episodes. (I usually have to have something to do while I watch T.V.) I started watching the episode that just aired on Friday and it got me thinking.

I don't know if any of you saw it, but I only saw the first 15 minutes. She and Suze Orman (financial guru) were having an intervention of sorts with a family that included two sisters and a mother. The one sister was responsible and held a very good paying job. The other was a bit of a slacker and was always hitting up sis and Mom for money. They talked at length about how the Mom and sister were enabling the other sister and not really 'helping' her at all when they gave her money and allowed her to become dependent.

Here is the "got me thinking" part. I am politically conservative. I think one of the only issues I struggle with in that arena is the death penalty, but that is fodder for another post...if I ever dare...probably not. I am very politically minded due to a variety of experiences in my life, but I will get into that more on Tuesday's post. Aren't you excited? Anyway, everything they were saying on the show I could related to government and bureaucratic programs. Now, before any of you get up in arms, I acknowledge that there are many necessary, helpful, and positive government programs out there. I just tend to think people are more capable of running their lives than the government is. So, in many cases I think the wisdom spouted by Suze and Oprah on Friday could be applied on a much higher level. I wonder if Oprah would want to pass that on to Barack and his Universal Health Care Plan. Just thinking....

Now, lest you think I actually want to get political on this blog I will move to a different subject.
In addition to a myriad of Church videos, we also have a section of non-church movies that the kids are allowed to watch on Sunday. Today the kids chose Fly Away Home. I LOVE THIS SHOW so much. The music and scenery are incredible, and I cannot watch the end without balling. The first 1/2 hour probably only has about 7-8 min max of actual dialogue, but it really isn't slow moving to me. I like movies that really draw you into the setting. This does it famously. So, if you haven't seen it, pop some popcorn, throw a log on the fire, and snuggle up for a great evening.
I have been SO BAD at running lately. I was able to get out a couple of times this week and it was SO GREAT!! I am trying to get back into a good routine after the holidays and it has taken me a while. I want to find a couple good races to train for. I've been wanting to get more into triathlons, but the bike thing makes me a little nervous for many reasons. First and foremost is that my rear might not be able to handle it! I taught several spin classes and I never got used to it. Another thing is the expense of a bike. I think I'll get a beater until I know if I like it or not. I also worry about the safety. I don't really like riding with traffic. I know there are more secluded areas to ride, but that takes more time and planning than I am willing to put in right now. The main thing is that I think I will wait until my youngest is at least in Preschool. Someday!! For now, I like the idea of a splash and dash. (just like it sounds). That way I don't even have to factor in the bike thing. They are my two favorite sports anyway.

I took the above picture because I had to document what a dork I am for still having my St. George Marathon microchip on my shoes. NO, I am not attempting to show how cool I am like in Jr. High and High School when you would load up the ski passes on your jacket just to show everyone what a "rad" skier you were. It is actually my motivation as it reminds me that I really can do more than I think I can sometimes. I was sure that my time this year would be slower than the last time I ran it, but it was actually quicker! I'm thinking I need to re-think the naps for this guy. I've always prided myself on getting my kids to nap up to a ripe old age. Ella was 5 and I had to stop her to prepare her for full day Kindergarten in Wisconsin. Jack was 4 1/2 and was having a hard time going to bed at night. Max will be 4 in about 6 weeks and I have kept him up on some days this last week. He will nap every time I put him down, but then he has a hard time falling asleep at 8:00 bedtime, and is up bright and early at 6:00am (sometimes sooner). It has been going pretty good, but today I came into the living room to find him snoozing on the carpet. That's amazing if you know this kid. I love that his light saber is at the ready, and the backpack (power pack) is still on. I guess he's not totally finished with naps yet. I guess it is kind of nice to know I have the option!It has been fun having my parents here for the last week and a half. I have been reintroduced to some of my favorite things about them. The picture shows one of my favorite snacks. Toast (or English muffin in this case) with raspberry jam and medium cheddar cheese. YUM! I know it sounds a little crazy, but boy is it tasty. I hadn't made myself one of these for a year or so, but my Dad loves it and we've had a few.

I am going to leave you all with some pictures of my cute (raggedy) kids at the park today. Ella Belle with that cute toothless grin....again!Sweet Jack and his gorgeous blue eyes! That hair better stay red or I'll be MAD!!Max the crack up. I think he brought a pound of sand home with him.Ella being the ever helpful and fun big sister to Nora.Sweet Nora Jayne...need I say more!

Family Plan?

I'm at a loss.

I am finally starting to realize that perhaps life is not about getting through something so that it becomes easier, but that it is about getting through something so that you are ready for the next thing that will inevitably come your way. (how ya like that run-on?)

For a couple of years now I have been wishing I had a "family plan" of sorts. Kind of like a users manual for how we want our home life to run. I have actually scoured bookstores, Internet, etc. to see if there is some sort of guide on how to create your own family plan. Perhaps I'm not making sense. Here is what I mean.

I want to be able to sit down with Paul and decide things once and for all like:

• what days can we count on to sit down for dinner together
• monthly meeting with kids
• allowance
• consequences
  
• what are our Sunday rules
• T.V. time/electronics rules
• Saturday plan
• yadda
• yadda
• yadda

I don't want to bore you with the myriad of questions I have asked myself, but hopefully you get the idea.

I feel stuck.

I feel like I am just winging it every day and reacting to everything instead of guiding things. I know it is not productive for our family, and not leading us to the place I want us to be. There are some things that I'm sure would help. I look at how organized the church is and I realize that if we had a plan...things we have decided...things to count on, then we would know just what was on the agenda.

I want to be effective and I want to enjoy the ride as much as possible. I'm drowning in all that I need to organize and accomplish before I feel like I could even develop a plan let alone implement it. Am I making any sense, or has my teetering on the edge of sanity finally turned to a free-fall? Any suggestions? Anyone else ever felt this way? What have you done?

HELP!!

Oneity

One of my good friends from growing up has an amazing company. I have been enjoying the clothing for a couple of years and am SO EXCITED that his online store has now opened up. Here is his story and how the company started from his perspective.

While getting my masters in International Development at the London School of Economics I focused my studies and dissertation on how to help improve the quality of lives of people through altruistic business practices that help family and small businesses. A few years down the road I decided to put these ideas into practice and took off on a two week trip taking me to Africa and India where I focused on finding small family businesses to begin working with.

I started importing primarily girls dresses at first and setting up rounders of these items at any ones house who would let me. Mothers where excited to have something different than the usual big box offerings and when I told them about the people they were helping with through their purchases mother's were even more excited about ONEiTY.

I quickly realized that ONEiTY was a natural extension for mother's already altruistic lifestyles and this was the demographic ONEiTY would focus on. So we decided to start adding seed, nurture, and harvest projects to all of our individual products.

ONEiTY moms and dads through their purchases have been able to do things like build a water well in India, outfit a kitchen for an orphanage in India, provide oral surgery for a girl who couldn't talk or eat well because of birth defects, buy 1 liter of milk daily for a year for women who worked on our hand smock dresses, send a computer to Africa so a village could connect to a global marketplace with their handicrafts, and more.

So now with 1 trip to India, 2 to Africa, 1 to Peru, and a couple to Europe to go to the Pitti Bimbo children's show in Italy and meet with designers, here we are excited to start spreading our concept outside of Utah.

Just so you know, on average between 40-60% of the price you pay goes back to the manufacturer, and country where the product was made for fabric, labor, and projects. Most of the people we work with had never even exported a singe product to the USA before working with ONEiTY. Also many of our fabrics we have picked up as leftovers from companies like Bonpoint, Jacadi, Pinco Pallino, Hermes, and other luxury brands, these are very nice fabrics (the pictures don't do them justice).

So my friends, check this place out. If you are lucky enough to live in Salt Lake then visit their brick and mortar store in East Millcreek. You will not be disappointed!