Time for an Update

Aaron got to hear Condoleezza Rice speak at BYU last week. He even skipped his Book of Mormon class to stay for the Q & A session. Was it wrong of me to say, "Great choice son!"? Can you spot him in the crowd?

Maybe it's just my eyes, but I can't find him!
UPDATE: Take a look at the comments for this post!

Marianne has been taking lots of fantastic photographs. Have you seen her picture a day site? Take a look! Just click HERE.

Evan has spent the last 3 1/2 weeks playing with these non-stop. They really are cool!
As a bonus, you get a glimpse of the stool he built for the carpentry merit badge. It works well as a building/staging area for the magnets as long as you stay clear of the screws.


Brianne (in addition to being the world's cutest child prodigy) has learned to crawl! Ryan and Molly are busy working, swimming, teaching Primary and keeping up with her.



John is fully embracing his role as "Papa John" and was recently seen flying his granddaughter around the cemetery while chasing cousins.


Me? Well, I am embarrassed to admit that I have succumbed to product placement marketing. I actually bought a book that says "as seen in the film Despicable ME" on the cover. Yes, I've even been playing with the little kitten puppets. But hey, it was on sale! Who could resist? Apparently, not me.

What's Old is New

Even the most organized, minimalistic people leave behind a whole lot of stuff when they pass away. No matter how often you clean up and donate to DI, you will still leave behind clothes, furniture and personal items that were part of your life of earth.

Last week, my dad asked my sister and me to clean out our mom's closet. Mom's closet was clean and well-organized, but it was still a tough assignment. We found a few things for ourselves, saved some items as keepsakes for family members and got rid of the rest. It was an emotionally draining experience. I am grateful that I was prepared by helping to clean out John's parents' belongings.

My sweet mother-in-law, Mary Alice, passed away in 1990, so many of her belongings were given away or disposed of years ago. Since my father-in-law survived for another 16 years, he of course, kept many useful things that were "theirs". Upon his passing, some of his things were sorted through and organized, but his second wife, Pearl continued living in the home, so many of his possessions remained in his home. Pearl passed away last spring, so it was only last summer that all of John's parents' belongings were finally divided, sold or donated.

Sorting through a lifetime of "stuff" is a big job. John's family worked hard and took care of everything, finally even selling the family home last fall.

During our New Year's trip to Utah, we picked up this "survivor" that belonged to Mary Alice. This little cabinet sat in her entryway for years. Even when Pearl redecorated and refurnished the home, she kept this cabinet. Now it is my turn to have it in my entryway. It contains some of Mary Alice's treasures and is a reminder to me of her Christlike life and example.


People are always more important that things, but I am grateful to have some tangible reminders of people I love who are waiting for me on the other side.

Lost and Broken

On the day of my mom's funeral, John had the foresight to make an audio recording of the services. Later, my dad told me he would like a written copy of the talks. I knew that several talented photographers had taken pictures that day, so I suggested that we put together a book that included photos as well.

I decided I could work on it over the next month or so and have it ready for my dad for Christmas. Denise, Kristin and Marianne were kind enough to share their photos with me. Some of my siblings emailed me their talks, but I knew that I would have to transcribe several of the talks. The trouble was, I couldn't find the mini-cassette tape with the funeral recording.

John had set the tape aside for me on his desk and showed me where it was, but his desk gets awfully messy.

Marianne used the cassette recorder frequently for her flute lessons. She said she was careful to use a new tape, but it is easy to get those things confused.

I was frustrated that someone had lost that tape!

I prayed about it and was sure that it would turn up sooner or later. I got to work on the book and finished as much of it as I could. Christmas came and went and I still couldn't find the lost tape.

Evan offered to help me. He searched all over and gathered every mini-cassette tape in the house. He started listening to them, when things went from bad to worse. The cassette player broke! Admittedly, micro-cassette recorders are pretty old school. Most stores only carry digital recorders now. I found what I needed online and bought it, having faith that the lost tape would soon be found.

Photo books can get pricey, especially if you're making several copies, so I was grateful to have a really good coupon code to use! The trouble was, it expired at the end of the year. Besides we were leaving the next day for a trip to Utah.

I was so frustrated and prayed some more. I knew that the Lord knew where the tape was, why wouldn't he help us find it? Suddenly, it hit me. I had been silently blaming everyone else for losing that tape! I had never acknowledged that it may have been ME who lost the tape. Just minutes after I repented of my prideful thoughts, Evan called to me. He had found the lost tape--right behind MY dresser!

Everything came together and I spent a good portion of our car ride transcribing the talks and finishing the photo book. I was able to place the order just hours before the coupon expired.

I am grateful that because of the Savior, what was lost is found.

I am also grateful that:

"Broken clouds give rain
Broken soil grows grain
Broken bread feeds man for one more day

Broken storms yield light
The break of day heals night
Broken pride turns blindness into sight

Broken souls that need his mending
Broken hearts for offering
I believe that God loves broken things"

Lyrics by Kenneth Cope
(from a CD my Mom gave me for my birthday in August that I can't listen to without crying.)

You can listen HERE

Why Read? Part Three

I've thought about this some more and I realized that there is another reason I am motivated to read. As I looked over my list of books read last year, I pondered WHY I decided to read them. I was surprised to find that I read most of them because I was inspired to read them.

Take a look at the list below and you'll see what I mean.

1. Evan was reading these and convinced me to join him:
Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Swiss Family Robinson by Johann D. Wyss
Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle -He loved this one and literally "hounded" me to take turns reading aloud with him. I actually fell asleep one night while he was reading and he was kind of insulted.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Actually I was "previewing" this book for Evan. I was fascinated with it, but I don't think he ever got around to it!

2. These books came highly recommended to me by someone I respect:

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle - My dad wouldn't leave me alone until I read this. Apparently Evan inherited his skills of persuasion.

The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Trapp - Marianne loves the Sound of Music and asked me to read this one to her and Evan. It was fun to re-read this gem.
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen - My friend Angela kept mentioning this book, so I read it in 2009. In 2010 I read the young reader's edition to my kids for a girl's group my friend Rachel organized.
The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings - I read author Lois Lowry's blog and she loves this classic.
Song of the Lark by Willa Cather - A tour guide at the Chicago Institute of art, showed us the painting by this name and mentioned the book. My mom and sister love Cather, so I knew I had to read it!
A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt - My friend Patti made major changes in her life after reading this play.
Yearning for the Living God by F. Enzio Busche - My friend Sheree loved this book & so did I!

Clues for Acting Shakespeare by Wesley van Tassel - Another book Sheree told me I needed to read to prepare for the Classical Acting project I mentor.
Weakness is Not Sin by Wendy Ulrich - I had been wanting to read this enlightening book, so when my sister bought it, I figured it was a sign! (Thanks for saving me some $ Jenny)

The Enoch Letters by Neal A. Maxwell - My sister Jenny kept talking about this one. I've read it twice now.
Satan's War on Free Agency by Greg Wright - our Bishop mentioned this book one Sunday.
Consciousness Beyond Life by Pim van Lommel - also recommended by the Bishop (though not in his ecclesiastical capacity)
Silence of God by Gale Sears - my friends Becky & Becki used this in a history class they teach. It is historical fiction, but tells the true story of the only LDS family in St Petersburg during the Bolshevik Revolution.
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner - my friend Kathy told me how much she enjoys Stegner's work and I wasn't disappointed.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn - I read about this one in a catalog, but Jenny confirmed that it is a great read that includes lots great people, places and events from history.

3. Nothing inspires me to read a book like having to lead a discussion!
Here are a few we discussed at our commonwealth school.
Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens by Oliver DeMille & Shanon Brooks
Oedipus the King by Sophocles
Tartuffe by Moliere

4. A great author inspires me to keep coming back again and again!
Shakespeare - As You Like It, King Lear
Truman Madsen - Eternal Man, Four Essays on Love, Christ and the Inner Life, The Highest in Us, The Radiant Life

C.S. Lewis - Till We Have Faces

5. Sometimes I receive inspiration from the Lord that I need to read a book.
I feel that I was being prepared and strengthened before the loss of my mother by reading the Madsen listed books above as well as these:
The Book of Mormon
50 Signs of the Times by David Ridges
To Him That Believeth by Frederick W. Babbel - an old favorite that my family loves
Bring Forth Your Light by Frederick W. Babbel

6. Occasionally a book review is enough to inspire me to read!
Educating for Human Greatness by Lynn Stoddard

Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte - It didn't quite deliver the hilarity promised.

A Christ Centered Christmas by Emily Freeman

Deliverance From Depression by GG Vandagriff - A great book about the atonement, even if you're not depressed!

Poetry Matters by Ralph Fletcher

Sounder by William Armstrong - This led me to read Sourland and The MacLeod Place by the same author.

7. Sometimes I feel inspired that there is something my children need to hear.
Growing Up by Brad Wilcox
What's the Big Deal About Pornography? by Jill C. Manning

8. Finally, I am inspired by FREE books!
As a Man Thinketh by James Allen was free on my Kindle, so I re-read this little pearl.
Drive by Daniel Pink - When I had to wait 3 hours for John at a mall in Palm Springs, I headed to Borders and read this book. I enjoyed it, but not as much as his A Whole New Mind that I blogged about a couple of years ago.

It amazed me that I didn't read a single book that I wasn't inspired to read. If you would like a review of any of the above books, just let me know. Maybe I'll inspire you to read something new!

Who or what inspires you to read?

Why Read? Part Two*

Why do you read? Which of these reasons apply?

1. to get information (a recipe, product review, instructions, directions, your teenager's journal**, medical answers, etc.)
2. entertainment/escape (novels, magazines, newspapers, websites)
3. requirement (homework, job training, work assignment, lesson prep)
4. to connect with someone (facebook, letters, emails, blogs, journals, biography, historical fiction)
5. gain understanding/inspiration (scriptures, non-fiction, church magazines)
6. physical response (distraction from pain/discomfort, relaxation, to fall asleep)

At various times, I have read for nearly all of the above reasons, but the most important reason isn't on the list. I'll tell you more about that later.

For now, I'd really like to hear your reasons for reading. Please leave a comment. If you're not a reader, why not? Your reasons are valid reasons too. I'm interested!



*Don't worry if you can't remember part one. I wrote it months ago!

**I do not read my children's journals for information--entertainment maybe, but not information! Wouldn't most of us just be happy if our children actually wrote in journals?! My son did tell me about a recent lesson at church. The teacher was talking about journals and one of the boys sighed and said, "Well I write in my journal, but my Dad keeps sneaking in to read it when I'm not there." Evan thought it was pretty funny that his friend knew all about his Dad's "secret".

Ringing in the New Year

With kazoo duets

Paper crowns
(sadly this is what I look like when I stay up past midnight)

family members
(who look really good after midnight!)

Lots of beautiful snow

And even better than snow,

ICICLES!!

We had a great trip to Utah.
The kids got their fill of snow.
John (and the boys) got to ski.
Marianne checked out a new cupcake bakery.
We were spoiled by John's sister and family
and my aunt Muff and family.
Aaron is back at school sans wisdom teeth

and I came home to find these treasures waiting for me

a necklace with the initials of my true love and I


and a CD of pictures of this beauty


and her beautiful parents


2011 is looking good already!

Prophecy Fulfilled

Yesterday Marianne had an orthodontist appointment. Usually I just drop her off at the office, but this time I decided to go inside. As I sat down and opened my Kindle, I felt uneasy. I couldn't quite figure out what was wrong. Why was I feeling so distracted?

Suddenly I knew.

To my right was a computer touchscreen for patient check in. To my left were three wall mounted TV screens, each on a different channel. In front of me was a large Nintendo 64 screen. Across the room sat two women, both busy with their iPhones and earbuds. I looked down at my own Kindle screen and back up again. I counted eight screens in the waiting room alone. I knew that the rest off the office was filled with computer monitors and a TV for each patient.

Sure enough, it was Fahrenheit 451!

Have you read Ray Bradbury's prophetic novel? Published in 1953, it tells of a futuristic society where homes have TV walls where they can watch and interact constantly. One character can't wait to have the fourth TV wall installed so she can be completely surrounded by her TV "family". Literature is outlawed and books are burned daily. Fortunately, it's okay because no one really wants to read anyway.

I thought about Fahrenheit 451 as I set aside my ebook and began watching the happy couple on "Minute to Win It." They knew the tune to Jingle Bells and could play it on water glasses. They even knew how to stack three golf balls in a tower!

It kind of reminds me of Beatty, the fire chief in charge of burning books. He says,

Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy.

He ends his explanation with the comment, "But I don't care. I just like solid entertainment."

Too bad he's never been to the orthodontist!