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Three years ago when we went to Hawaii the week before Christmas, B and I really liked the low key holiday we had because we left town and didn’t have to – honestly – put a lot of thought into … Continue reading
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Thanksgiving 2014 had a lot of awesomeness and some not so awesomeness. The week leading up to it, I was slammed with homework and I got a cold that pretty much wiped out my voice. Master D very kindly mimicked … Continue reading
Aub sent me these delightful flowers on Mother’s Day and they bloomed the next day into this…
I thought it’d be funny to use the word “musing” because it seems to be a buzz word in the philosophy student world. One guy in particular really liked to use it. He spent a lot of time musing. I thought he sounded ridiculous. Maybe it’s appropriate here? Or maybe it’s never appropriate.
Three Mother’s Days have made a forever imprint on my memory in the 26 years I’ve been a Mom. The day we blessed Aub (not even 2 weeks old) and the two that we were allowed to talk to Master D on his mission. Most likely there won’t be another one that sticks with me until TT goes on a mission. That’s not to say I am ungrateful for being spoiled and treated well by B and kids. I just really treasure those memories and moments. Master D did send me an email saying that his mission Pres was allowing him to skype at a certain time on Sunday. It was better to have him here!
With the death of Maya Angelou last week (she’s an author & poet that I liked) I ‘mused’ on her quote “When you know better, you DO better”. It’s one of my favorites and I have adopted this as sort of my motherhood mission statement. Lord knows, as well as B and kids, that I haven’t made all the best mothering choices. I’ve read about, watched and studied various parenting experts and other moms attempting to figure out HOW to be the best mom that I could. After an overwhelming amount of information I’ve come to a simple epiphany that reacting to what was going on has created the most regret in my life, rather than pondering, praying, accepting what is and/or …musing and then acting. It really sucks to realize this at age 45 when I really could have used this realization at 20! Thus, Aub’s description of “first human experiment” is painfully accurate. I could pontificate a good long time about this subject but I will just wish every mother out there a late Happy Mother’s Day. I know we are all in it together doing the best that we can with the knowledge that we have. And I hope I did a little better last year than I did the year before. By the time they are all moved out, maybe I’ll have it mastered?
My kids think they are hilarious. This was my gift from Master D and TT – from Izzie. They are pretty darn funny but don’t tell them I said that.
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I copied and pasted exactly her answers and altered nothing: 1.What do you like to dream about? Seeing old friends that I love and miss/kissing cute boys 2.what is your best memory this year? Dhane coming home!!!! It was … Continue reading
The gang at Brighton on a beautiful day – minus Michelle & Aub at home ‘slaving’ away.. (Wyatt and Lelu in the helmets)
It’s a problem when you wait almost 2 months to write about stuff. I will most likely forget something. This year for Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to have Michelle & Maruan, Aub, Jeff, Christina and their boys. The day before, however, on Wednesday didn’t quite go as well as I usually like it too. I ruined the first set of rolls that I made, then the next batch just didn’t quite raise, so the rolls were pretty much a bust for our meal and then Aub’s flight was VERY delayed and a nightmare of traffic at the airport.
Thursday morning shined anew and we had plenty to be grateful for:
1. The turkey got put in bright and early
2. We went skiing. Christina skied for the first time in eight years and didn’t fall down once – neither did I. That’s a big deal. We rocked it!!
3. Michelle and Aub prepared all the veggies and peeled the potatoes while we were gone.
The adult table with an Ari photo bomb
The table of kiddos…poor Landon & Lelu. They are almost adults
4. The food was awesome – except the rolls…. yet no one complained that the rolls sucked.
I think this is Lelu’s plate so not all food groups are represented, but you get the idea..
5. i dragged everyone to see “The Book Thief”, which I absolutely loved (in my top ten favorite books) and no one else did because it’s kind of a downer story — even though the main character triumphs in the end. I’m grateful they humored me.
6. On Friday, it was fairly nice weather and we all walked to the park. We played baseball & soccer. Aside from B pulling some kind of toe/foot muscle, it was a ton of fun!
a little soccer..
An electronic game at the park, that would be Michelle diving for the button, And the little kids just hanging around..
a friendly baseball game, with little to no bad sportsmanship from unnamed players..
Lucky little Ari got a ‘massage’ from uncle Maruan
The brothers Taylor settle in for a hold-your-tummy-long-winters-nap.
7. This is the last Thanksgiving without Master D. He had 3 meals that day. So much gratitude for the people of New York!
8. I have a nearly perfect life….just the right amount of imperfection.. for me… and it’s enough. For that I am pretty dang happy!
If I posted separately about everything we were up to the last month, I’d have at least five more posts and probably bore most people to death. So in the same manner as my previous quickcast – Here’s our top news stories:
05/23/13 Ari had her spring dance recital – which I missed again. Boy, that makes me seem like I get ‘bad mom of the year’ award. We were flying home that night. Once again, trip planned before the recital was planned…
05/31/13 I went to visit Aub in Portland for two days and failed again to take any photos. Continue reading
The last birthday of Aub’s that we didn’t get to celebrate with her was in Germany eight years ago. Geez EIGHT?? years? Until this year:( Anyway, It reminded me that I sent her favorite enchilada recipe to her incredible host mother Anne Simon and she attempted Continue reading
I can’t remember which letters I’ve forwarded or to who, so I thought I’d just add some photos that D has sent to us. He’s still in Ithaca. He’s been there a long time now. He’s only had three areas since he’s been out and we are coming up on fourteen months! I remember Melinda telling me the first six months goes by really slow and then it speeds by. She was absolutely correct. Although, looking ahead ten more months seems like an eternity. Every so often I get these heart wrenching bouts of Master D sickness, I just want to talk to him, hear from him, contact him in some way. Mother’s Day can’t get here soon enough! I miss Aub in the same way, but thank heavens, I can contact her any time I feel that way. (An update for her and her awesomeness coming soon) D told me in his latest email that last week he all of a sudden missed Bikram yoga and then music and then his family – to the level of his first week out:( The funny thing is, I went back to Bikram yoga the same week and a concert of one of his favorite bands (Airborne Toxic Event) I hadn’t been to yoga since he went with me before he left. At the concert I kept saying, D would love these guys! Coincidence? I think not. Today I miss him with that ‘I have a small hole in my heart’ feeling.
His favorite tie, in honor of his Scottish heritage!
Master D and his second companion, Elder Horton. They were together 6 months in Lowville – 17 member area.
Elder McPherson (his current trainee companion) who has a lot of current event info since he just got out there and Elder Simmonds, Master D’s trainer. At area conference
Like his choice of egg decor – he’s still D!
You can give this your own caption…..
D’s comp in the MTC. He’s 6’4″ so he crouched down just a bit.
This family that has adopted D as one of their own. The Mizjahi’s. He skyped from their house on Christmas. They feed him often and celebrated his birthday with gifts, dinner, cake and all. When he gets transferred, I am pretty sure he’ll be homesick for them. They are from Israel and speak several languages. In all senses, an amazing family.
Shel has the best Thanksgiving decor for her house and our heads
Our usual Thanksgiving is spent putting the turkey in the oven, going up skiing and then coming home to a warm house and an even warmer meal. Without having D around this year, not wanting us to feel sorry for ourselves missing him too much, I convinced B to deviate from our tradition and head south. Continue reading
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See Tallon – we told you it was a very girly trip, pink cars everywhere! COOL! You were better off staying manly back in UT playing FB. BUMMER:( This is a preview of GREAT things to come! This is a … Continue reading