An Outside Summer

I've been feeling like I need to write something, but nothing overly interesting is going on around here.  I did get to lead the ward choir on Sunday for a performance and two practices.  The choir that sang in the performance was much bigger than the one that showed up early for practice.  They watched me carefully, which made me laugh a bit because some of them probably didn't know that I'd led the song maybe twice before the performance!  The choir sounded good and I made no embarrassing leading faux pas, for which I am thankful.

So, what sounds fun to write about?  Summer of course.  I love to plan Summer -- usually more than I actually like to do the things I plan.  Sad.  So what are my great plans this year?  So far I just have the vague notion that I am going to make myself stay outside at least two hours a day.  Now this number is hilariously small for people like my Dad and Sisters who will probably try to go inside for at least two hours a day.  I just realized that I have become a bit of a wimp.  Cold out?  Stay in by the fire.  Too hot?  Isn't that air conditioning nice?  Possibility of a mosquito bite?  Stay behind a screen.  Might get sore muscles?  Take a nap.  (Okay so I'm not THAT bad).

Other plans?  Well, the calendar is already filling up and so I don't feel a need to plan a lot.  I think I'll try to plan some simple adventures and send out e-mails inviting people.  I'll see how many impromptu, low stress, activities we can pull off -- outside.

I would like to:
Go to the zoo
Hike in Rock Canyon
Ride my bike on the Provo River Trail
Cook outside over a fire.
Look through a telescope (I never did it last year)
Walk in the dark with Derek (imagine me raising my eyebrows up and down)
Play hide and seek outside with the kids -- but I'll have to wear smelly bug spray -- eww!
Have a cabin adventure
Ride my awesome four wheeler with reckless abandon (okay or safely)
Take Dan to the pool (because he has really wanted to go)
Paint a picture outside (I didn't get this crossed off last year).
Go with Derek farther on his favorite hike in Santaquin

There are other things too, like swinging really high.  I also want to sit in the shade and drink lemonade and read a good book in a good outside nook (couldn't resist).  Jake wants to play tennis, which he says is his favorite sport after soccer.  Dan really wants to go to Lagoon.  He loves Lagoon.

What are your favorite things to do outside in the Summer?

Jake Goes Fishing

Jake said he could cast his line really far out into the lake.
This was Jake's first experience with fishing.
I haven't had my first experience with fishing yet.
I'm okay with that.

Jake with his new scout group.  He seems to be enjoying it so far!

A Quote and Dan Conversations

Derek and I went to see a play at the High School the other week.  It was very well done.  In the program they had all of the cast members give a favorite quote.  My favorite, though I don't know where it originated, is:

"Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."

The other morning Dan said to Jake:  "The sun is really Jesus, because He's so bright, huh?"
Jake answered: "No, but Jesus lives there."

Hmmmm.

Later Dan had a friend over and he asked him:  "Alex, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Alex said:  "A policeman"
Dan said:  "Well don't arrest me, because I'm going to be a super hero."

Later that night Dan said:
"There is really no such thing as a super hero (pause) until Jake and I grow up."

So, there you have it.  Before too many years I will be the Mom of two super heroes!

An Heirloom

On Thursday I went to a Relief Society birthday party.  The Relief Society, whose motto is "Charity Never Faileth", has been around for 170 years.  At our party dinner was provided, and we were asked to wear an heirloom if we had one that could be worn.  A few were brought and placed on tables.

When my Grandma F. passed away, one of my aunts gave me a necklace that had belonged to my Grandma.  It was a bee on a chain, and it did not look very beautiful.  It was kind of a copper color.  I knew of no story behind it, and had never worn it.  I did not get rid of it though because it belonged to my Grandma.  That is the only heirloom I have to wear and so I got out my computer and tried to do a little research.  Here in the Beehive State, in a church who has a group of girls called the Beehives, I knew that bees are often significant.  I wondered if perhaps this was some jewelry that my Grandma had received because of some service she had done in the church, or for some milestone she had reached.  I could find no history of church jewelry, and decided to look more closely at the necklace itself.  When I squinted at the very small letters on the back, I found the word sterling. 

I have sterling silver cleaner and went to work.  Here is the result.

Derek insisted a picture of me wearing the necklace was required!

The more I thought about this necklace, the more thankful I felt to have it in remembrance of my Grandma.  She worked very hard, like bees do, and even when she was in her 80s she could outwork many who were younger.  It was hard to keep her out of the trees at pruning time and off of the roof where she would go to clean the gutters.  She would pull garbage bags full of weeds and wonder why she was sore!  She worked for years and years in the Primary (over 30 years I believe) and was a Relief Society President herself at one time.  She served one mission before her marriage and one after my Grandpa passed away.  I can still remember feeling sheepish one summer morning when  I was about 17.  I woke up and looked out my window and could see that, while I had slept, my elderly Grandma had been working in the garden! 

Saturday after the Relief Society party, as I studied this necklace some more in the sunlight, I could see on the back where Grandma had scratched her initials.  The initials used were those of her maiden name, so it is possible that she got this necklace some time before she got married in 1934.

I have found myself being very thankful for this years Relief Society birthday party.  It caused me to really look at what I had been given.  Discovering the beauty in my heirloom has reminded me of what a treasure I have always been blessed with in a Grandma who loved her family (including me), and her Savior, and who knew how to work hard, even when she might not have felt like it.  I am thankful for my Grandma and for something to remember her by.

Grandma with my Sister Tina (On the same visit that made me feel sheepish I think)

February Pictures

Jake opens a present from Grandma and Grandpa F. with Tia looking on.

Dan in his green monster truck with dragons on the side.  This was for the Kindy 500.

Jake earned his Bear, I got a mother's pin.

Jake is up front with his Cub Master after getting his Bear getting ready to do a silly cheer.

Uncle Jordan

Jordan is having his tenth birthday today, which means that he is actually 40.  I'm not sure if he has feelings of gloom and doom over being forty, but forty sounds pretty young to me so it shouldn't be too tragic.  My children get a kick out of saying that Uncle Jordan is ten, but since he is the father of four, I think forty sounds better!

I used this picture for Angela's blog, but since they are married it works for Jordan too!

Jordan was a teenager when I met him, and he was a member of the quartet that played at Derek's and my reception (along with other brothers).  He went to Alaska the summer after his high school graduation and worked with smelly fish. He came back before Trisa was born, when I was stuck in bed, and he was brought to visit me before he got to go home, and so I was one of the few who got to see him sporting a nice beard.  Derek was working and missed it, and it was shaved off quickly and has never returned.

Jordan served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Samoa and, through practice, became one of the few brothers who can sit cross legged without his knees pointing at the ceiling, though he still doesn't think it is very comfortable.

After coming home, and attending BYU for a while, Jordan started dating Angela.  Eventually they decided to get married in the Jordan River Temple so that they could live happily ever after.  I'm particularly glad about that because Angela is great.  Of course, living happily ever after takes some work and there bumps along the road for everyone, but Jordan and Angela work together to handle challenges, and are generally happy. 

Now Jordan works for the same company as Derek, and we are fortunate to have him and his family living in the same town as us so that we can see them regularly.  Jordan and Angela are good at helping with lots of things.  I happen to know that Jordan spent hours working in his parent's yard last time they were on a mission, even going over early in the morning before work.  I admire this because we are in charge of the yard this time and I never once got up early to go over and work in the yard (sorry Mom and Dad!).   I also know that Jordan has gone over late at night to help his parents.  He's helped at regular hours too.  He is a good person, who works hard and is a lot of fun.

This next week Jordan and Derek "get" to be in a flash mob at their company's National Convention.  I believe they are supposed to dance toward the stage, but I fully expect that both brothers will be walking along hoping nobody is looking at them.  They're supposed to hold someone's hand too but they aren't too keen on that idea.  Their wives are not attending after all!  At a different convention Jordan did a 70's dance on stage, in a cruise ship, in front of lots of people, costume and all.  It is unfortunate (for everyone except maybe Jordan) that I do not own the video.  He was really nervous, but he nailed his part.  It was great.

Ah, happy memories for me, and a happy birthday to Jordan. 

Trip to the Sun

Saturday the 18th of February we took a trip to St. George, where it was sunnier than here, and where we were generally spoiled by Quinn and Tonya and the cousins.  We were slightly evil guests in that we arrived with a sick Dan.  He had a horrible cold, but fortunately, he perked up by Sunday and was obviously better by Monday when he was back to talking a mile a minute.  He still managed to go on a good walk with us when we went to see some Indian houses and such on Saturday.  Here he is getting a ride during a part of our adventure.

Picture courtesy of Tonya and her ipad

We all needed a break, and spending time with our St. George relatives is fun for all of us.  We got to see Trisa briefly for lunch on the way there.  She was disappointed that her work schedule prevented her from coming to St. George too.

*Derek enjoyed being far away from work, visiting with Quinn, and getting to read a book.
*Sherie enjoyed visiting with Tonya, playing on our electronics side by side or together even though Tonya creams me at any word game.  It is fun to watch her impressive speed.  I also enjoyed trying out a couple of electric guitars.  I'll be sticking with the acoustic guitar even though bar chords are easier on the electric.
*Tia enjoyed not being at home for a while and getting to visit with her fun Aunt and Uncle and cousins.
*Kayli said she had a really good time and was glad that we went.
*Connor helped Porter take care of the neighbors dog and house and they made us all laugh with their stories on the few occasions we saw them.
*Jake played with Haven and since I didn't see him much I am sure he had a good time.
*Dan got better, and then talked, and talked, and talked, and sometimes played too.