The Robinson Family

December fun

2011-12-17T23:34:00.021-07:00

December started out very busy for us here.
1. Michelle and Clyde celebrated my birthday with Malawais Chicken Pesto Pasta. David Paxman, Jennifer Hoopes, and Letty came too. Michelle made 'the best brownies ever' and we used the triplets' birthday candles. I'm too old for the real number! Those are mini marshmallows under a yummy frosting.
2. Our ward did the first time ever "night in Bethlehem" and it was great. Very low lighting, cool booths with real mid eastern foods, everyone dressed up, and a very sincere Nativity narrated by the youth. We even had an angel appear.
Michelle and Cisco and I wrapped up in large tablecloths and we fit right in with the long bathrobes etc.
3. Erin helped get the house decorated just in time for my book group.That little linen embroidered cloth is from my Mom's cupboard. I love finding uses for items from my parents lives. I love Amaryllis in Dec. Real or not real?
4. I made one last trip to Aurora Colorado to finish the clean out of my family home. We found a few more interesting items, like this piece of chocolate from Russia. My father must have brought it home to Mom.
We took a photo of the siblings in the empty house. We worked hard! It's a different feeling to see it empty.On my way back to Provo, I witnessed the most gorgeous HUGE orange moon. It was about 5 pm, the moon was just rising in the east, and because Denver only has plains on the east the moon appears to be really large when it is close to the horizon. It was beautiful. My photos don't do it justice.5. The very next evening we held our annual cookie party with the cousins and our friend Kat and Ken Ojuka. Always a good time and this year Julius was a big help!6. No photos of: the party at my office, the play we attended, "The Miracle of Jonathan Toomey" (and saw Emily's aunt!), the most wonderful Musical Celebration of Christmas with the BYU choirs, the Tabernacle Choir concert with Jane Seymore and Nathan Gunn, and more.

7. I finally got out to do some shopping today and found this when I returned to my car in the Dillard's parking lot!
There must have been a whole flock of birds or ducks who decided to dump as they passed over my car. Michelle thought it was the funniest thing ever. The best part is that Clyde made sure we got it washed before Sunday!

Whew! Only a few more days until we see Nicole and Casey and cook, eat, and celebrate some more.

so sweet

2011-12-14T01:12:00.005-07:00

I loved this!
I hope it works for you, I can't seem to make it show up as a video.
The Christmas Story

Giving Thanks in Maryland

2011-12-07T07:48:00.019-07:00

We had a great time in Maryland visiting KC ,Emily, Alex, Bennett, and Ruby over Thanksgiving. The triplets have changed so much just since we saw them in August! They sing songs, play Ring around the Rosie (Ruby runs as she goes around the circle), run and walk fast, and learn new things so quickly.
They love being tossed "away" and tickled, and grabbed by the fish monster (a fish shaped oven mitt). When Clyde got worn out after tossing them on the couch, he invited them to a 'jumping place' on the couch with the cushions removed. This became a favorite!
Jumping on the couch

The weather was gorgeous, the food was great, and the company was delightful.
We had fun outdoors.

We loved getting up early with the babies and bedtime at 9:30 felt great too! They love a certain CD of classical music and ask for it as soon as they get in the car - "Muthsik? Bum, bum, bum?" and then they sing along to the rhythm. So fun. I cannot get enough of this one and I'm so glad I captured it as we were driving.
The Sing Along song

We miss them already!

Taking it apart

2011-10-31T22:12:00.012-06:00

I'm physically and emotionally exhausted. As evidenced by my tears, two (2!) cold sores and raw heart. Just completed the 2nd round ( two 9 hour days) of clean out of my parents’ home. Some things we ran across were so tender and full of love. Letters from mom and dad to each other in the 40’s. Love notes from flowers sent when Dad was away. Letters from a father to a daughter or from a grandmother to a 10 year old girl. They saved everything. Kept every talk, handouts from meetings, tons of stuff they had learned or were interested in over 90+ years. Such darling and handsome people in their early years. It was a little bit freeing to toss so much stuff that had accumulated, yet also felt a bit betraying to toss stuff that embodied the person – lessons, talks, book reviews, church notes, recipes, high school and college notes, teaching class notes. We came across so many items that triggered a memory of earlier family times, or an amazement of something we did not even know (like Dad had been invited to do something for the United Nations! Mom was the freshman secretary at BYU) That he bought his home for $12000 and he made a $7600 down payment!
The home is one deep layer cleaned out – nothing in the kitchen cabinets, all files and drawers and closets empty, furniture spoken for, treasures divided up and packed for transport. Here are the items Dad used to teach himself Russian in the 50's - 60's!

I learned that it is not just about the ‘stuff’ and who gets it. It is an opportunity to nurture and preserve relationships.
I just hope my heart can heal soon from the wide open rawness and tender feelings. Thanks for the memories, Jim and Jennie Carlson.

The cleanout has begun

2011-10-15T22:44:00.010-06:00

and here is what I have learned about my parents:
My dad had a comb in every coat pocket and in his tennis bag. He had a lot of coats. Apparently he always had nice hair.
He must have purchased many new handkerchiefs every year - we found SO many in his drawers.
Growing up in the Depression causes you to keep everything that might come in use someday, even if you replaced it with newer and better stuff. Especially if you had a cranny to store it.
Holding on to something simple like a GI issue Gillette razor and boxed blades since 1943 makes it turn into something really old and amazing to look at.
He wrote Mom some very sweet love notes. And she kept them.

My mom wrote out every talk and lesson she gave, word for word. And they were full of good thoughts and lessons.
My mom read and reviewed many books over 50 years for her book club, as evidence by pages and pages of review lecture notes. A bit different than how my book group does things.

My mom was continually learning. There were so many articles clipped out of magazines, good thoughts, notes from lessons, and recipes in every possible form in every possible spot. She loved to cook and think about trying new things. She made a lot (a LOT) of mints and chocolates for many many people - keeping logs of who and how many for each year since the 1970's.

seeing all these old items takes me back to a time long ago when I was a little girl and looking at cool items in our house.

these figurines were so much a part of our growing up memories. Even the many times they were broken!

small world

2011-10-14T19:54:00.003-06:00

The world is a very large place, with a lot of people in it. But we are all connected on various levels.
This morning i hopped a plane at the Provo airport bound for Denver.
A nice young girl sat next to me, but I was super tired and I slept a good part of the short flight. We started to talk as we were beginning the descent into Denver.
We talked about our reasons for flying - me to clean out my Dad's house, her to go to a wedding in Houston. I asked if she was a bridesmaid and found out she was the photographer, normally based in Provo. I mentioned that we had just had a wedding and Lindsey Orton had shot the photos.
This girl, Nicole Carmen, had grown up in the same ward as Lindsey and did not even know she was a photographer!
She mentioned she went to Timpview and I said so did my children.
I told her we lived in Indian hills. She asked if I knew the Shumways!
Megan was one of her best friends! I told her Shumways lived through our back yard!
She wondered if she knew any of my children, so we talked about names and ages. None were quite her age, but some sounded familiar.
We found out that her sister Cami Carmen was in the circle of Michelle's friends in high school.

Then she said Camille sounded really familiar and asked me if Camille has a friend, Claudia Slagowski. I said yes!
This girl, Nicole Carmen, was best friends with the little sister of Claudia, named Alicia.
Nicole Carmen, the photographer sitting next to me on the plane, remembers doing things with Camille and Claudia and EVEN coming to our house! She and Alicia were the little tag along sisters and thought Camille and Claudia were super cool.
She even remembered the blue bedroom that Camille had then, and said she loved our house.
She says she has not hung out or seen her first grade buddy for 18 years, but she remembers vividly coming with her to our house!

Small world indeed.

Our true characters

2011-10-04T20:09:00.009-06:00

enough said.
We had some fun times.

Fear not

2011-09-14T23:22:00.005-06:00

Lately I've been listening to April General Conference on CD as I drive to work and around town. The talks are just about the right length for an errand. But the gem I did not expect was the songs from the conference meetings. So far they have been such wonderful inspiring arrangements that I find myself hitting replay on the songs over and over! Truly uplifting. The words and arrangement to "How Firm a Foundation" have been especially poignant to me today because of some trials in my life.
I found this quote about the verses:
A powerful feature of the text is that the last five verses are written as if they are being spoken by Jesus himself to His faithful followers; a poetic summary of the reassurance one finds throughout scripture. The final declaration reassures repeatedly that Jesus will “never, no never, no never forsake” us.

the entire set of verses:

1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2. In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

4. When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow,
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

6. E’en down to old age, all my people shall prove
My sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs shall they still, like lambs shall they still,
Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.

7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

And the new ending of the song goes like this:
Men's voices - "Fear not, I am with thee...
Pause,
Women's voices very slow - "Fear not, I am with thee"

stunning.
This ending certainly caught my heart listening and thinking and being strengthened by the message.
I'll be buying CDs of conference again, to be sure I can hear the wonderful songs!

23 Days

2011-09-05T09:16:00.010-06:00

A lot has happened in the last 23 days.
My father E. James Carlson passed away.
A funeral in Aurora, Colorado.
A memorial service and burial in Logan, Ut.
Nicole and Casey moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado.
KC and Emily brought the triplets to Utah for a 10 day visit.
Camille married Tyler.

Can a heart be so broken apart and yet so full?
I'm grateful for prayer, love of family, and the hand of the Lord in my life.
It's been a glorious ride.

remembering Dad

2011-08-13T21:51:00.002-06:00

Just came across this post again from a sister in Denver who had an experience in the temple with my father in 2009. He was so determined to do temple work. Now that he is gone this means so much to me to have this story.

How Great Shall Be Your Joy

Kristy

September 11th, 2009

Bro. Carlson came in late.

There were about eight of us in attendance. I was sitting on the far side of the sealing room with a few others who had come to work in the temple on Wednesday, and the sealer was in the middle of speaking when the door opened slightly to indicate that there was someone else who wanted to come in when the time was appropriate. So we waited, the sealer concluded his remarks, and then the door opened to reveal the face of another temple worker who poked his head in and asked, “I have a gentleman here who would like to do a sealing, do you have room for him?” “Absolutely!” the sealer replied, and the door was pushed further open to allow our new patron easy access.

He didn’t appear right away, but after a brief pause I saw his stooped frame emerge from around the corner. His cane was grasped in his right hand, and it vibrated under his shaky grip. But little by little he made his way inside, inching closer to the front of the room where the sealer asked his name.

“Bro. Carlson,” he replied.

“Very good Brother Carlson, thank you for coming today. We’re happy to have you.”

It’s hard to describe what happened to me next, because I no longer felt like a patron here to do the work for other people. I felt like a privileged bystander who happened to be in the right place at the right time, as if I was walking the very streets of Bethlehem and happened to pass by the stable after the baby Jesus was born and got to peek in without anyone noticing. In Bro. Carlson left hand he was clutching a piece of paper. On it were the names of a family with two daughters. As he came face to face with the sealer he lifted his head, which appeared to be a gargantuan effort, and handed him the paper, wrinkled from a diligent effort to hold on to it. “I’d like to seal this family today,” he announced, to which the sealer promised we would do shortly. Minutes later I kneeled at the altar with Bro. Carlsen as a proxy daughter, and as I put my hand on his he lifted his head to look at me, smiled, then returned his gaze to the front of the room. By the time we finished his shoulders were shaking from over exertion and it took two gentlemen to help him up. The sealer asked if he would like to stay for the rest of the time, but he said, “Well, I’ve got some other things to do today so I suppose I should go.” And just like that, Bro. Carlson shuffled out of the room.

I wanted to share this experience because a couple of things were reinforced to me that afternoon. One, our honest efforts, however small they appear to be, are acceptable and even joyously received by our Heavenly Father for “by small and simple things are great things brought pass”. And two, “…if it so be that you should labor all your days…and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father.”

Bro. Carlson, dare I predict that you are headed for immeasurable joy.

tender mercy in the Nursery, sort of

2011-07-24T23:49:00.002-06:00

Warning, this might be a bit graphic - be warned.

Setting: Last hour of Nursery, leaving the "story room" and moving across the hall to the toy Nursery.
time: 3:45 pm
Children: 13 ( 4 visitors)
Adults: 3 nursery leaders, Clyde (who I grabbed as another helper), and Brother Tanner who just arrived very late with his shy son.

What: we had just gotten all (most?) of the children to hang on to the yellow rope, which helps us get the group from one room to the other.

Who: One new Nursery leader, picks up her 17 month old daughter

slight exclamation --'Oh no, she's leaking everywhere!"

I looked at the daughter in her mothers arms and see POOP coming out around her diaper area.

and THEN I looked down and see a HUGE messy poop drop right in the middle of the doorway!!
OH NO!

Most of the children had passed into the toy room at that moment - TENDER MERCY-
Brother Tanner following us in saw it and said, "I'll go get something to clean it up"
I tossed a handful of napkins on it and was able to close the door! - TENDER MERCY-

Time: 3:50 pm, church lets out in 10 minutes.

We are now down to myself and one other nursery helper, who came the last hour as back up. She quickly found the clorox wipes and met Brother Tanner in the hall and they cleaned it all up with water and clorox wipes.
And they found a spot in the 'story room' and more down the hall! Got it cleaned up right before the meetings ended and people spilled out into the hall- TENDER MERCY-

I was in the room alone with about 10 children while the cleaning up proceeded, outside our door!

I brought out the crackers again, read a book to anyone who would listen and gave a big sigh of relief when the last child was picked up.

No one stepped in it - miracle!
cleaned up before anyone noticed - miracle!

It could have been so much worse!!
Never in my life have I had such an experience...

Sorry for the graphic post. I warned you.

It's a treat

2011-07-15T00:25:00.019-06:00

to visit KC and Emily and Alex and Bennett and Ruby.
The triplets are so full of energy, and so fun to hug, tickle, chase, and watch.
We loved our 4 days there.

Buckles are very interesting and yes they can buckle up!

We took them to the park, since we had 3 adults for 3 toddlers. They also loved just running in the open.

Alex

Ruby

Bennett

Ruby loves to climb on everything and she is good at getting down.

Super toddlers! These capes were worn by KC and Camille when they were about 2 - 5 years old.

Ruby loves getting dressed up and carrying the perfect purse from Nicole.

They were thrilled to be allowed to eat a sandwich at the table instead of in the booster seats.

And doesn't everyone love to eat a sandwich with your foot on the table too?

The Robinson crew. Emily is entertaining them by showing videos of themselves on her camera. They were very polite and did not grab the camera! They loved laughing at the videos.

I loved Bennett's 'Sawrrwee' at the slightest bump. Loved it when Ruby said 'Hi Bit' to Bennett and then she walked over to Alex and hugged him.
I loved it when they came to me and Clyde with their arms up, wanting to be held or tossed onto the couch.
A favorite moment was when Alex got this thoughtful look on his face when Clyde was laying on the floor. Alex then walked over to him and said, '1, 2, away?' He remembered that game of being tossed from when Clyde visited in May.
KC and Emily are full of patience, love, and perseverance. And very skilled at functioning on little sleep.
It was a great 4 days, and I'm missing them already.

Who ever thought

2011-07-15T00:20:00.008-06:00

that a swampy area on the Potomac river could transform into such a nice beautiful new resort and place to visit?
I went to a conference at the Gaylord National resort in National Harbor, Maryland. It's just a mile or two south of the DC border, just across the river from Alexandria.
The views were wonderful.
Water show at night.
Fun sculpture on the beach.
I'd go back anytime.

Cruising

2011-07-15T00:08:00.007-06:00

First time cruisers.
It was definitely fun. Definitely relaxing.
I'm missing those blue waters, our friendly waiter, good company.
I never even thought about work the whole time we were on the ship or on an island. Sigh.
One view on the main street in Nassau. Fun. It took me a few days to get back into the groove and remember how to shop and cook.

Done!

2011-06-11T21:46:00.010-06:00

And I'm exhausted. And spent a lot of money. We moved into our new home in 1991. It's about time we landscaped the front yard corner. It became more of an eyesore after two events:
1. The plum tree fell over one Sunday about 5 ? years ago. It was searching for more sun and had really shallow roots. There's a life lesson there!
2. Last summer the neighbors cut down a really large pine tree that was leaning and eventually would fall on their house, or our house. See it here.
That left a really large bare spot in the front yard corner.
On Memorial weekend we laid the bricks for the terrace and planted a few things.
This week we got a load of 5 yards of garden soil (many thanks to Casey and another ward memer who shoveled and wheelbarrowed for three hours!).
We bought more bushes, plants and mulch. We even dug up the Hosta and divided it and replanted it in the terrace area. We had enough for three plants to give the neighbors!

Clyde was a big help, digging holes, replacing sprinkler heads and spreading mulch. Cisco came home after a long day of work and helped dig up rocks we did not know were in the soil next to the terrace so we could plant some small rose bushes.
We've had three neighbors stop by and tell us how nice it looks!
I am excited for when things bloom, since we planted carpet rose bushes, Rose of Sharon which has flowers like Hibiscus, and three Hydrangea bushes with gorgeous flowers. Now I'm just crossing my fingers that all the good soil, special root stimulator, and careful spacing will result in many years of a nicer view in our front yard!
And the best part today was when I found a bark mulch made by Preen, and it has weed preventer stuff in it - protecting from weeds for 6 months. Now that is my kind of gardening.

I'm going to bed now - my landscaping day began at 9 and ended at 4, then shopped for mulch and trellises, with a 7 - 8:30 pm second round to plant roses with Cisco and beans in the soil Casey moved for me.
Bushed!

P.S. If the plants do not do well, I'm going to garden like my neighbor Cindy - put out some cute colored chairs, small tables, and pots of geraniums. Simple and fast.

Grandpa's 95th

2011-06-11T21:09:00.011-06:00

What a great time we had all week with my dad, Jim Carlson as he hit the 95 year mark!
Clyde and I drove over on Wed, June 1 after a half day of work. The actual birthday was June 2nd, so we arrived at Grandpa's care center around 9 am and brought him his favorite treat: Raspberries! He eats the whole container in one sitting usually. We loaded him in our car (good thing Clyde was there to help cause moving Grandpa is hard) and went to the senior center where he used to go three times a week until last year when he had all his challenges. He was so excited to see old friends. Many remembered him, but two of the three he used to sit with had passed away, and another lady was now in a care center. People there were so nice and stopped to say hi and wish him a happy birthday. They sang and gave him sunflowers.
After that we went to the Botanic Gardens - I know- two outings in one day~! He loved the flowers, the tropical greenhouse and recognizing some familiar flowers. It was a hot day!
We arrived back at the care center and waited for Carolyn and Jon to arrive for a little birthday diner. We read all the letters that had been sent by the grandchildren and relatives.
For dinner we brought in some yummy food from Mimis and some carrot raisin muffins for our 'cake'. We lit candles ( only 2) but Grandpa blew them out quickly - he has an oxygen tank on the back of his wheelchair....
On Friday we took him to the Denver Aquarium where he saw lots of fish, many that he recognized such as Rainbow Trout, Brown trout, otters, and carp. There were lots of exotic fish too and we saw stingrays, sharks and turtles up close. The best part was the Bengal tiger! since they live in the rain forest, did you know they also swim!? Yep, my favorite part is the tiger in the huge water tank. The plexiglass there is about 4 inches thick.
After that we loaded up again and drive to Carolyn's for lunch with Gary. I know- 2 more outings in one day!

On Saturday we brought Grandpa to his home on Racine St for a lunch with the siblings and the Berg cousins who had driven over from Heber. It was a wonderful time to be together. An hour later, we rearranged the table and put out different food for a little open house. Grandpa's friends came by and visited with him. We only invited a few, and he loved seeing every one of them. His 4 buddies the the Bureau of Reclamation came and sat around him - they love him so much. He blessed one of the man's daughters since her mother was a member of the Church but the bureau friend was not, and years later this same daughter met Grandpa in the temple!
One sister told us how Grandpa was an answer to her prayers. She was not a member, but her husband was. Grandpa asked her to teach Jr Sunday school and she said yes, even though not a member. A year later she joined the church and many years later Grandpa also asked them to go on a mission ( he was bishop a 2nd time)- which they said was the highlight of their lives.
Frank and Lillie Vincent came, as well as others he has know for so long. It means so much to visit with those who have connections with him and have such good memories with him.
The only sad part was when it was time to go back to the care center he said, "I'm going to stay here at Racine." He feels so comfortable there, but does not really process in his mind how he need so much help to toilet, get to bed, etc.
We visited more with the Berg cousins and then visited Grandpa until it was bed time at the care center.
Gary and JD had a fun time with a dead battery in the parking lot. The temperature outside was perfect so Grandpa was out there at the care center with us watching as the battery was tested, removed, and a new one replaced.
Good times with a man we all love and have learned so much from our entire lives. I love how you can see our mom, looking over JD's shoulder in this photo. I thought about her a lot that day.

When I recounted all the outings he had been on that week, he said, "I guess I'm getting pretty active for 95." I think so.
Happy Birthday Enos James Carlson!

similar genes?

2011-05-30T00:42:00.005-06:00

When Clyde came back from visiting the triplets and KC and Emily, he wanted to find his baby pictures. There are not very many. But here is the one he thinks looks a bit like Bennett, both at age one:

Bennett

Clyde

Bennett again

What do you think?

forging on

2011-05-30T00:07:00.003-06:00

I just came across this great photo of my dad, taken a few years ago when he was sometimes at his house and occasionally cooking. (Thanks Carrie) He may have been making candied yams for Thanksgiving, I am not sure. But I LOVE that this photo shows his determination even in his wobbly 90+ years. Hanging on the paper towel holder (cardboard roll), standing on a 10 inch stool! And true to life there is Jean in the background ready to catch him if he falls and yet letting him proceed in his determination! I think the Lord is like that - very aware of our precarious steps, hoping we will succeed, and yet ready to help us not fall completely.
Enos James Carlson is about to turn 95 years old on June 2nd. What a great guy. Talk about enduring. He has done it.

It all started with a shovel

2011-05-28T21:28:00.011-06:00

It's Memorial Day weekend. We did not get caught in the parking lot of I-15 on Friday. We heard it was awful. We chose to stay in Provo. Saturday was cool and cloudy but no rain for most of the day. This was the day we tackled the HUGE bare spot in the north corner of our front yard. It used to house a plum tree, but the tree fell over a few years ago after it could not get enough sun while being shaded more each year by the neighbor's very large pine tree. I have planted a few things over the years and only a few have survived since the soil is so very hard and pure clay. The Bishops Weed grew too well and took over the space and was very aggressive. It took two years of Roundup and lots of shovel work to hopefully get it out completely. There is one small Hosta and a large mound of Snow on the Mountain that come back faithfully every year.
This was the day to do something. We had purchased a few good looking bushes the week before - not enough, but a start.
I started first by overturning shovelfuls of dirt. There were a LOT of med size rocks in the area by the neighbor. fun. I was not sure I would ever make a dent in the huge area that need to be dug up and composted. After an hour, Clyde joined in the fun of digging in the dirt. Michelle joined us and then Nicole arrived from her hike up to the Y. We resurrected the original plan to build a terraced area under the pine tree which meant the design had to be laid out, staked, and even roped off with decorative ribbon! Then the calculations, the selection of the terrace bricks, and two drivers (CRV and Ciscos jeep) off to purchases the bricks. Michelle and Clyde will have lots of back aches to remind them of all their heavy labors today! 54 bricks total. By the time they arrived, Cisco and Casey also arrived back home after a soccer game. More helpers! Clyde was thrilled to supervise while everyone else lifted bricks and smoothed dirt. Of course Clyde brought out the level, to make sure the bricks were laid evenly.
When we were about done planting the last bush, Nicole said "Uh oh, I think I hit something important." Turns out there was a sprinkler buried in the dirt right in the spot we planned to plant a bush! It seems our lawn has been receding over the years but the sprinkler stayed where it was and got buried with dirt. New plan - make that sprinkler have a tall extension to spray over the bushes - Clyde is not about to move it 14" to the edged of the grass!
With all those helpers we made short work of the terrace shape and got 5 bushes planted as well.
Lots of lifting, shoveling, digging, hauling, smoothing, sweating, and hard hard labor.
Hooray!!
Merry Memorial. Sorry backs.
photos for you:

Looks like it's almost fun, right?

In this picture, I wanted to show the beautiful design of the terrace area, not the faces of the workers. Oops.

And the happy crew is just about done!! Yay!

In a few days we will get a load of dirt, buy some shade plants and bark mulch and maybe there will be one more photo. It makes me so happy to look at this now. Such an improvement.
Thanks everyone!!

Waiting on the Lord

2011-05-27T22:53:00.005-06:00

I read this post today on a blog I sometimes follow.
Loved it.
I need to ponder more on this thought and scripture.
I especially loved the quote from Elder Christofferson.

My father - remembered # 4

2011-05-26T20:56:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorites:

Sept. 1993

Bishop Enos J. Carlson became my bishop shortly after my wife, Mary and I moved to Denver in 1951. He had been acting as bishop for sometime and called me to be his ward financial clerk. I was very inexperienced in financial accounting and was determined to do the very best job possible. I felt honored to be trusted in the accounting of Church funds which I felt to be a sacred trust. Each Sunday, in the Bishop’s office, the contribution envelopes were opened by a member of the bishopric and verified.

The financial clerk would then credit the contributor’s account properly, count the funds and prepare them for deposit by a bishopric member. Each Sunday the books were balanced and each month a financial report was prepared, copies of which were sent to the Stake and Church Headquarters. Several times a year the Stake would send in an Auditor. The Auditor and the financial clerk would sit down together and check the books to verify that all was balanced and correct. On the very first audit, the auditor, filling out his balance sheet, said, “You are $3.82 short.”

I was devastated! My honesty and integrity were being questioned! I looked over a Bishop Carlson, sitting behind his desk, fully expecting that he would have to call the police or excommunicate me. I thought, “This is the end!”

Bishop Carlson, barely looking up said, “Just go over it again. You will find it.” For me, the heavens opened. The sun was shining. From that moment on, Bishop Carlson has been my HERO. I doubt that anyone will ever know how important his trust and faith were to me at that time. The Auditor subsequently found the error. Nothing was missing. That incident was a valuable lesson to me. Thank you, Bishop Carlson, for being a great Bishop and a great man. Thank you, we love you and Sister Carlson,

Keith & Mary Harris

My father - remembered # 3

2011-05-26T20:54:00.000-06:00

9-1993 Jim & Jennie are so dear to us all, an example of faith in the gospel “over the long haul.” I {Marj} especially liked Jim’s encouragement of me in my Russian studies. It got to where I could read & write it passably, & he spoke & understood it more than passably. So-I guess in this case 2 Americans=1good Russian! I’ve enjoyed his little impromptu clarinet solos for me. I enjoyed in years past Jennie’s Spiritual Living lesson in Relief Society. Her sincerity led me to believe she has lived the points she taught us. And her candy! Well, we won’t even go into that. I put on inches just thinking of that lovely stuff.

Love,

Marj Crawell

My Father remembered # 2

2011-05-26T20:52:00.000-06:00

In a few days I will be visiting my father for his 95th birthday. Here is another comment from my parent's 50th wedding anniversary book:

1993 The importance of doing Temple work for our ancestors was re-affirmed recently while Jim was running a Temple Ready disk at the Aurora Family History Center. A power failure occurred which turned off all the computers in the center except the one Jim had been running for almost 2 hours, he was able to complete his submission disk. All power failures experienced since then have caused all of the computers to fail. Congratulations Jim & Jennie. Keep up on all the things you do.

Warm Regards,

Keith & Kris Richins

Proud day

2011-04-23T09:34:00.010-06:00

Graduation, 2011
Michelle and Casey graduated from BYU this week. I am so proud of them both, for working hard and facing challenges and continuing on. What a great feeling to be done and know that you have accomplished something huge over the years. Nicole will graduate with her Masters Degree next month from the U! Way to go Nicole!
We celebrated with three other cousins who were also graduating - party!

Here's a great photo of my dad from my last trip, just because he always encouraged us all to get an education!

close call

2011-04-18T19:41:00.005-06:00

I've been traveling a lot these past 12 days. This morning I returned from Denver after visiting my Dad. I've done this every month since July, 2010. It's old hat now and I know where all the good eateries are located in several of the Denver Airport concourses. I pack very light, have my little routine about my bag, and shoes, baggie for liquids, etc. I usually fly Southwest and I know the drill: log in 24 hours before the flight to check in and get my boarding number and position. Sometimes I print my pass then, sometimes I am using wireless internet and access to a printer is not convenient. No biggie, I just plan to print out the boarding pass at the airport. It's a cinch as long as I have my confirmation number; I often write it larger so I can read it easily when I need it.
This morning I arrived at the airport at 5:25 am (4:15 am wake up), accessed the kiosk and entered the information and pressed the prompts on the screens. The paper printed out and I stuck it in my purse pocket and proceeded to head to security. The man at the top of the escalator told me the north end security had shorter lines so I opted to go there. It was a long walk. I wound my way through security and when I finally reached the desk where they look at the pass and license, I pulled out my boarding pass. But it was NOT my boarding pass!!! It was an "itinerary receipt"!!
Oh no.
The very nice lady wrote me an orange pass that would allow me to get back in the security area by using the employee line - a lot shorter than winding through the regular lines. I dashed back up the escalator and all the way to the other end of the terminal to the Southwest kiosk. The 'reprint boarding pass' button is in the MIDDLE of the three options. I must have been asleep, distracted, or just too casual about doing this so often.
I hurried to the closest security area this time, through the employee line and waited my turn for screening. I made it to the trains by 6:00 am (I had to jog to catch the almost closing doors).
Lucky for me my gate was the closest one the the escalator. Usually the SLC flights are at the very end of the concourse.
The southwest attendants were just finishing boarding the A group, so I was able to walk to the front of the line and board with the beginning of the B group. I was so fortunate to have arrived when I did, and that the security area was not terribly busy the second time I reached the screeners.
Sheesh! My second close call at the Denver airport. Note to self : close attention to details is necessary.

My favorite moment of the plane trip over was when the guy in the row across from me was holding a very LARGE mesh dirty clothes bag on his lap, full of clothes! The attendant walked by and said, "you're going to have to put that up in a bin". The passenger did not move or do anything. So the attendant finally came back and got the very large bag full of clothes and took it somewhere in the back of the plane. So funny! who packs their clothes for a trip in a mesh clothes bag? I'm still curious to know if they were dirty or clean.

Now here is a smart well packed traveler - Camille on her way to Costa Rica in November!

Triple treat!

2011-04-15T08:13:00.016-06:00

April 14, on the plane missing three darling little ones, Alex, Bennett, and Ruby. Here are the things I loved about my trip:

Loved hearing their little voices say animal sounds- they know quite a lot!

Loved seeing their eyes light up when they said a word they knew and were saying it for me.

Loved Bennett’s belly laugh when I tickled him. Loved Alex’s hehehe when he was enjoying a moment with a sibling.

Loved Alex's proclamation of ‘whoa, numm-ee” when Emily fed him chocolate cake.

Loved the way Ruby reads books to herself and talks with all kinds of voice inflection and googley words.

Loved seeing the triplets wrinkle their noses for ‘what does the bunny say?

Alex looking at me when I said the turkey sound – “gobble gobble gobble” and then he said it too.

Loved when Bennett signed ‘grandma’ and then he and Alex said ‘grandma’ – at least that’s what it sounded like to me!

Loved when Ruby knows she is doing something not allowed and she whines and looks at you for approval. Loved when she lifted up her arms to be picked up, or backed up to me for a book reading in my lap.

Loved how she piled the books on me – all of them.

Loved how she shared her bottle with me – milk drops and all.

Loved Bennett's cheer "yay" and hand clap when he did something successfully.

Loved tickling Alex with the ‘knuckle’ and hearing him belly laugh. Loved creeping up on him with my fingers and his belly laugh and squeal without me even touching him.

Loved how they figured out the new bath toys and Bennett says ‘yay’ when the water trickles out – and he tries to catch it or drink it.

Loved the way they splash in the tub and Alex lays on his belly and kicks.

Loved the way Ruby wants to climb on everything and go higher and farther than last time. Hence, the bungee cords around the chairs and table!

Loved the dinners by Emily – she makes it look so easy and it was always so tasty!

Loved looking at KC holding his babies and how they loved to say ‘dada’

Loved the children as they completed Emily’s song with the last line “What does the Mommy say?”and they reply ‘I a yu’ (I love you). Loved all three voices coming from the car seats with animal sounds to the song Emily sang – What does the (Horse, cow, cat, insert any animal here) say?

I tried to write down all the words they said over the past 5 days. There are so many!

Light, fan, up, down. Car, cold, blankee, milk, airplane, bus, Truck, cow, dog, cat, lion, hippo, elephant, duck, chicken, giraffe, mouse, horse, pig, bear, dada, mommy, I love you, team, bowl, juice, outside, sock, shoe, pretzel, cracker, car, red, blue, green, yellow, purple, all numbers, all alphabets, night night, day, go, bottle, avocado, bean, book, moo, neigh, quack, meow, woof, hoo,hoo, cock a doodle doo, cluck, ribbett, wheee (elephant sound) eye, mouth, nose, ear, toes, belly, baby. Hat, hair, play, toy, ball, pillow, bungee

Home for 12 hours, then off to see my dad in Denver.

slideshow

To be remembered

2011-04-03T20:28:00.005-06:00

18 years ago, we celebrated the 50th anniversary for my mother and father, Jim and Jennie Carlson.
We had invited many of their friends to write and send memories of earlier times with them.
Carolyn has been reading these remembrances again to Dad, and I thought that there were some that were worth sharing. My children were quite young at that party, and we have always lived away from Denver so they may not have had a chance to read some of these treasured and poignant memories.
So I am going to post a few over the next while that I think show what great people Jim and Jennie are.

Sept. 21, 1993

Dear Jim {Enos} and Jennie,

Congratulations! Fifty years is quite an accomplishment, but there was no doubt that you two would make it. Our thoughts went back to the old Western States Mission experience and the wonderful times we shared with you during that time. Last year we had opportunity and pleasure to visit with Helen and Crawford Davis in Medford, Oregon and of course Jennie and Jim were a very large part of our conversation.

To remember any one special event that we enjoyed together at that time is difficult to recall, but one special event I do recall was an occasion when I found myself almost quietly coveting something that was given to Jim by Elder Hartman Rector.

Jim, do you recall the occasion when President Redd was called to preside over the Mission. Elder Hartman Rector came from Salt Lake to set us apart as Counselors to President Redd. I was set apart first, and given a wonderful blessing by Elder Rector; then it was your turn. Hands were laid upon your head and you were set apart; the first words of your blessing by Elder Rector were “President Carlson, your sins are forgiven you.” It was a moving experience for me, one which I had never been a part of before. I would have paid money for that, but it could not have happened to a greater Guy. I later justified it by understanding that you probably had not had any sins prior to your blessing. We will be thinking of you two, and the joy you have brought into our lives.

We love you,

Don and Carrell Thorpe

Watching the news

2011-03-15T01:46:00.004-06:00

tonight I watched the news and listened to a woman in Japan, a survivor of the earthquake and tsunami. She said that every one she knew was gone, dead, washed away from her town. It just struck me as so incredibly tragic. It is one hardship to have to deal with loss of a home, roads, transportation, a job, access to food. But to lose Everyone? I can hardly imagine the sorrow and loneliness and sadness. I'm sure evacuation centers and government workers will care for her needs like food and shelter. But to lose all her relationships so suddenly? Heartbreaking. Makes me feel guilty to just be able to call someone, drive in my car to work, see friends at church. It makes me want to hug everyone in my life that I love and care for and even have a casual acquaintance with. I'm praying for all those broken hearts in Japan.

С ДНЁМ РОЖДЕНИЯ

2011-01-21T01:17:00.000-07:00

This means: Happy Birthday! It is directed to my Russian speaking son- KC Robinson.
We love you!

Look who I found

2010-12-21T20:57:00.004-07:00

Look who I found in my Christmas book! One year we made place cards with photos of all the children and cousins who had played parts in our Nativities through the years. Such fun memories. We have Joseph, an angel, a shepherd and Mary. Sweet. I'll never forget the year that one cousin wanted to be Mary, then got shy. The other cousin loudly stated as the group was ready to enter the room, "Mary does not want to come!" I think Nicole and KC stepped in to play the parts of Mary and Joseph (and they were in college).

I'm sure we still have that robe - Clyde got it for our wedding and it has only been used for Nativities ever since!

the weather is frightful

2010-12-21T12:31:00.006-07:00

Lots of snow - up to my knees and still coming. And it is supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow.
Yikes.
In the last 15 hours on our street I have seen:
-10:30 pm, two deer in the middle of the road - not running, just walking slowly as if looking at all the lights.
-7:40 am there was a road grader moving snow on our street - not a snow plow.
- 8 am there was a person on a full size snowmobile going up the road. fast.

What's next?

Sharing the love

2010-12-21T12:08:00.008-07:00

Here's some favorites from our mid December trip to visit KC and Emily and the darling grandbabies.
They are so cute, huggable, happy, and fun to be with. Emily is amazing with her organization and speed with which she feeds, bathes, diapers and dresses the crew. KC is the father of triplets! It's still a wonderful miracle.

Ruby

Alex and Bennett - they all love books.
Bennett was still happy even with his ear infection!

Bathtime is a favorite - Alex usually flops on his belly and kicks his feet.

We were sad to leave them all. We are grateful for their health and successful year.

We made it

2010-12-21T11:52:00.008-07:00

This is a catch up post about our November trip to Colorado. We decided to go to Denver because everyone wanted to see Grandpa since his trials of the summer - ventilator, pneumonia, septic shock etc.

Clyde and I traveled early on Tuesday, before the 'blizzard that wasn't' hit Provo. Nicole, Casey, Michelle and Cisco could not leave until Wed due to work obligations. After deciding to come, then not, then yes they are coming - they finally left at 5 pm! They drove through Wyoming and had good roads for 5 hours then awful roads for the next 2+ hours. They stayed in the first hotel they saw in Laramie and made it down to Carolyn's in plenty of time for Thanksgiving. It was so good to spend time with Grandpa Carlson, who now lives in a 24 hour care center.All the siblings were there and it was a wonderful time to be together. Clyde was his helpful self, keeping up on the dishes as we cooked!Cousins!

Siblings! We are not as darling and cute anymore, but we still love each other...In order to depart early to beat another storm and take Erin with us, we all pitched in Friday night and decorated Carolyn's tree and house. We had it done in 1 hour. I propose that is how we should all decorate for the holidays!!

the moment in Church

2010-11-20T20:36:00.006-07:00

I forgot to record this funny moment we saw in Dad's ward. There was a little 14 month old girl two rows in front of us and she mostly stood on the bench with her mom holding on to her arm. The mom had several other children and during the sacrament she was looking the other way.
The 14 month old was on the end of the bench. The deacons had just finished passing the water and were waiting in line to return. The little girl looked at the trays, reached for one, then removed her binky and reached out again. The deacon never flinched or moved and she was successful in grabbing a cup of water from the tray. Her mom was still looking the other way. As the baby tried to put the cup to her mouth, a young teen boy in the row behind her took the water cup from her. She turned and gave him the meanest scowl I have ever seen. And she kept scowling at him for a few minutes. She had been successful in getting something and he had taken it away from her!
It was sort of hilarious and we were quietly laughing and glad we had witnessed the whole thing.

The other great moment in church was when I sat next to dad in his wheelchair and shared the songbook with him. My tears started flowing as I listened to him sing the hymns and hear his voice. I don't know why, I guess it is the spirit that is so present when we sing of the Savior and ponder the words.

great moments

2010-11-19T21:47:00.006-07:00

I just returned earlier this week from a 4 day visit with my 94 year old father. The care center is pretty nice and the nurses and CNA's really like him. The dining room server is really darling with him and tries so hard to encourage him to branch out in his eating habits. He recently has been asking for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at every meal. When he ate soup and a pasta dish she was ecstatic. I'm grateful they are so nice. I got kind of attached to some of the sweet patients there - they have such interesting stories and are so kind. I made sure I said goodbye to four of my favorite ladies when I left them last Sunday. Dad and I spent time talking about different stuff and he was so pleased to hear all about my travels in Calgary recently. He loved talking to KC and Michelle on my cell phone. I loved shaving his face, combing his hair, pushing his wheelchair and sharing clementines and sweet grapes. We ate fresh raspberries together and talked about how to care for my raspberries in my garden. We ate Japanese food at one activity and he told the funny story about my mom who got stuck squatting over a 'toilet hole' that was so common in Japan. Dad had to go in and rescue her! Dad went to the morning devotional on Sunday and I joined him. I got pretty teary eyed as we were singing hymns from other churches - the words referred to walking with the Savior, meeting him when we die etc. It touched my heart to think that so many of the patients there are close to the end of their lives and may see their Savior soon. I loved hearing Dad's voice sing the songs. I could hardly hold it together when the activity leader asked Dad to give a closing prayer. He gave the sweetest, strongest prayer of love and appreciation for family and the Lord. His voice was clear and strong and he definitely knew what he was saying. Several of the people in the room acknowledged what a nice prayer he had said.

Here he is - almost 4 months after he went to ICU with aspiration pneumonia, a ventilator, and septic shock. I just wish he had not lost so much strength in his legs, requiring him to have so much help transferring from bed to chair, and to the toilet. He has taught me about patience.

On another note, since I have returned to Provo we have been having some gorgeous sunsets.
Today as I was about to close down my computer, I watched a beautiful golden light come through the trees and light the tops of the mountains. It was amazing to watch from my second story office window. I walked out the west door and watched the clouds turn to pink and the white snow covered mountains turn a soft pink. It was spellbinding. I walked through the yard to the side walk and began my trek to the far off parking lot. I saw at least 6 students on a path stopping to take pictures of the sunset. Two minutes later I heard a noise. Looking back I saw a deer darting out of the yard I had just come from, running and jumping across the road in front of cars, in front of people, and back across the road to the back side of the Faculty Office Building. And then I saw a second deer, and then a third! They all did the same thing and followed each other. It happened in just a few seconds but I won't forget it. I was happy that the girl about to cross the street had seen the deer, because if she hadn't they surely would have run into her. The darted past her only three feet away. It was a great moment to share with random strangers on their way home in the gorgeous light.

Here's one photo I took from our deck: Looks like a fire doesn't it?

A great moment.

The most gorgeous place

2010-11-10T21:37:00.012-07:00

We just returned from Calgary Canada. We drove to a place I have always wanted to see - Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It was a dream come true! The water was SO SO blue and dreamy.

The color of the water is startling.
Eating in the hotel, looking out at the postcard beautiful scene: priceless.

And this. I loved looking at it. Do you know what it is?

miracle meal or my lucky day

2010-10-31T19:19:00.006-06:00

Last night Clyde asked me what I was going to fix for dinner. I thought of serving the leftover tortellini pasta and pesto, but said, "I have a roast I can cook." I knew I had a frozen roast. Clyde said, "that would be good." So I planned to cook a roast, but I decided to put it in the crock pot on low over night - so it would be really tender for Sunday dinner.
I smelled it cooking in the early morning hours and by 9:30 am it was done! I took it out at 10 and put it in the fridge, with the juices for gravy in another container.
I never really shopped for the week yesterday on my Costoco run - I only picked up toilet paper, some nice pears, grape tomatoes, black grapes and that's about all. Camille had just left last night for Costa Rica and I wanted to use up stuff in my fridge and freezer so I didn't even have a plan for the week. It's clean out time.

At church, my Visiting Teachers wanted to stop by at 3:30 and that was fine with me. I wasn't going to think about dinner until after they left. Clyde kind of surprised me when he vacuumed the family room at 3:15 and I just figured he never got around to it on Saturday so he decided to do it on Sunday. Random, but whatever.

So one of my VT sisters told a long story about all these step children living in her house, and in the background I hear dishes, glasses, silverware - I though Clyde had decided to empty the dishwasher but it sounded like things were being set on the counter and not put in drawers or the cupboards. At 4:15 pm Clyde hollers from the kitchen, "remember we have dinner guests coming in 15 minutes."

YIKES!! Then I remembered that he had made arrangements to host 5 MFHD students at our house for dinner!! I had completely forgotten until that very moment.
I shooed my VT sisters out the door and went to work!

Here's all the lucky things that fell into place:
1. I had just found my 1/2 full big bag of red potatoes in the pantry - I hadn't seen them until Saturday and put them where I would remember to use them. Clyde washed and cut them quickly and into the pressure cooker they went. Luckily I had a cube of butter and small container of sour cream for the mashed potatoes!
2. I heated up the meat juices and added water and flour for gravy.
3. I found a 1/2 full bag of peas in the freezer - quickly put those on to heat through.
4. I had a 1/2 box of baby spinach and also a box of sassy mix lettuce that had not even been opened - but had it been in the fridge a week?
5. I had just purchased a container of grape tomatoes - perfect for the salad.
6. I had just purchased a box of Costco pears - perfect for broiled pears!!
7. There was barely enough ice cream left from last week's dessert to add to the pear dessert if we were really skimpy on the servings.
8. Clyde sliced the meat and we heated it up in the microwave!! I have never in my life cooked a roast and not served it as soon as it was done. This was a first for me.
9. One guest was on time, but the other 4 persons were late and did not arrive until about 4:50.

That gave me enough time to make the salad with sliced almonds and goat cheese I had on hand, make the mashed potatoes, thicken the gravy, and find salad dressings.

We were sitting down by 4:55! It is like a miracle to me - I had not planned to have guests at all, nor did I shop to have nice meals to prepare. I'm going to Calgary soon so it's time to clean out the fridge.

The funny thing is that when Clyde asked me what we were having for dinner he assumed I was planning on the students, but he never mentioned the student guests to me last night or anytime today. The vacuuming did not even clue me in. I did think it was strange he wanted to know what I was making for dinner - he never asks that!

We did have plenty to eat and the mashed potatoes were a big hit with one 8 year old who came with his mother. They'll never know that I usually serve rolls with my Sunday dinner - I didn't even have time to think about putting bread on the table.
This was my version of the loaves and fishes - miracle or just lucky?

I'm just grateful we pulled it off and there was enough of everything I needed.

special guests

2010-10-25T22:54:00.003-06:00

Look who came to visit!
Pee Wee Herman and a little sheep!
Prizes were won with these costumes.

35 years

2010-10-25T22:31:00.007-06:00

Married 35 years.

Here's the photo to document that we made it and are still smiling.And happy!

memories

2010-10-25T21:48:00.005-06:00

Found these photos of KC and Camille at the Atlantic beach. Camille about 9 months, KC 2 years, 4 months.
Reminds me of Alex and Ruby.

the airport disaster...

2010-10-11T18:27:00.005-06:00

setting: Denver International Airport
time: 7:40 pm
Gate:C30
departure time: 8:35 pm

Everything went fine as I arrived at the airport after a nice three day visit with my dad, age 94. Security went fine, put my shoes on, and headed to the trains and concourse C.
I looked at the board to determine my gate and made a stop at TCBY for a $4 (one scoop) bowl of ice cream. I made my way to gate C 30 - clear at the end of the concourse.
I had about 3-4 bites of ice cream when I decided to call Camille to make sure she knew my plane would be on time.
WHAT!? WHERE IS MY CELL PHONE??
A quick check of my bag (not my purse, but a rectangular shoulder bag with outside pockets) confirmed it was gone! I ran my mind over my last steps and thought of places it could have been misplaced. I didn't think it was in JD's car, I thought I saw it as I placed my stuff in the security bins. All day Sunday my glasses and cell phone had been in the mesh side pocket of the bag, normally used for a water bottle. I recalled setting the bag down on the floor after going through security so I could put my shoes on. I couldn't even call JD - he likely was not home yet and I did not have his cell number memorized!!
So a kindly fellow traveler suggested I get the airline counter staff to call Lost and Found for me. Great idea! It was now 7:55 pm - plane to leave at 8:35 pm
She found the number after some searching, and let me describe the phone to the Lost and Found attendant. After a few moments I heard the good news that it was there!! I was told how to get out of the 'incoming traveler doors' so I could get back to the checkpoint without having to go through security again. I quickly asked the counter staff if they thought I could make it for my 8:35 flight. She said "what flight? We are not gong to SLC!! You need to be at gate C 35!!"
Yikes - my eyesight has failed me again!
I quickly made my way to C 35 and told the attendant I was here, going back to get my phone and to please not leave without me. She said, "you'll never make it and no we cannot hold the plane for you!" I begged her, asked her to pay attention to her conscience and please hold the plane and I told her "I'll make it!"
So I walked as fast as I could to the escalator to the trains, hauling my rolling luggage and my shoulder bag, computer and all.
The train had to stop at concourses B, A, and the main terminal. It was a really quick trip - so far this is great!
I followed the instructions to wait for the incoming passenger doors to open and went through them to the checkpoint entry - seeing only two down escalators and one long flight of stairs. I hiked up the stairs, hauling my bags. At the top I hollered to the attendant, "where's Lost and Found?"
He pointed me to my right and said, "looks like he just stepped away."
So I go over to the tall counter, wander to the side, stick my head in a doorway to an office. One TSA person was in there, looking at a computer. I asked him if he was Lost and Found. He came out and mumbled that he was not, but sometimes helped with Lost and Found out in the city.

I quickly explained that I lost my cell phone at the checkpoint and they had told me it was there at lost and found, a red flip phone. He turned to a bin behind the counter and pulled it right out.
Hooray!! "That's my phone!" I said.
He then grabbed a huge clipboard with 2 inches of paper and said he had to check it off as being picked up. He couldn't find the listing, I kept saying I had an 8:30 plane to catch and he was having nothing to do with just giving me the phone and he was all about protocol.

So I finally put on my glasses and looked at the page with him. I spotted the entry "Sanyo/ cell phone" and I exclaimed, "here it is!"
I grabbed the pen, sort of signed my name, and he handed me the phone.
I flew back to the escalators to the trains and waited a minute to board, saying a little prayer.
I made it to Concourse C in pretty good time, 8:17 to be exact!

I hauled my stuff back up two escalators, walked quickly to C 35 and noticed there were NO passengers waiting to board. I hurried to the door and gave my boarding pass to the attendant. He seemed surprised but happy that I was there. I hurriedly got on the plane, and the flight attendant said there was some bin space in bin 7 or 8. We got my bag up there and I sat down in row 9.

I made it and it was only 8:20 or 8:22 pm!!

I think I had just pulled a Camille - boarding the plane at the very last minute! Tense but what a relief!

I think, but will never know since I didn't wait to ask where it was found, that the phone slipped out of the side pocket when I laid my bag down to put on my shoes. A phone is heavier than glasses and that much inertia from laying the bag down propelled it out of the mesh pocket, onto the floor. My guess anyway.
Thoughts of having to spend another night in Denver, calling JD to come back to get me, re-booking a flight out - maybe waiting a whole day for an open seat, all were forefront in my mind as I raced against time with prayers and hope. I think everything that fell into place was a blessing - I did get the phone and I made my plane. And I was sure to use the plane restroom since there was no time before boarding.

Lessons I learned:

Store cell phones in a secure tight compartment like a jeans pocket, or zippered purse, or similarly designed cell phone spot – NOT a loose open top pocket on the outside of the bag
Keep a list in your wallet or bag of important cell and home numbers of family and others you might need to contact in an emergency or other cell phone disaster
Prayers are indeed answered
You can go back to the security checkpoint without having to go back through security

As a side note, I must tell you that I tossed my ice cream bowl as I began my race back to the checkpoint - could not be encumbered holding one more thing. I figure each bite cost me a dollar. But I got very few calories in that treat! bonus!

I guess this post should be titled Airport Disaster - almost.

when the floor becomes hazardous

2010-10-03T19:34:00.002-06:00

So, if one thinks of using the immersion blender WHISK attachment
And gets the oil, water and two eggs needed for the brownie mix
And places them in a 1 cup Pyrex measure
Then
there might be a slight (or a lot) spray of water, oil and egg
Everywhere!

And YES, I did that
today, right during dinner prep.

A super slippery floor was the result.
Hazardous, just so you know.

Cousin's dinner resumes

2010-09-19T15:41:00.008-06:00

Summer is over, the leaves are changing on the mountain, the Provo traffic is back, and Cousin's Dinner has started again!

Cait Earnest is now married, James is married; Alicia, Dustin, Carrie, are back in town. We hope to see Whitney Robinson at some of our cousin's dinners. Michelle helped her get a job at LDS Philanthropies and we hear that they love her!
We love to see everyone and hear about what has been going on in their lives. Time with loved ones just passes too quickly.

Today's menu and recipes:
Creamy meatballs and rice - recipe found here from an earlier post.
Broccoli salad
wheat rolls and strawberries
Pig Pickin Cake ( which we renamed - Hawaiian Delight cake )

Broccoli Salad
1 head broccoli chopped small
1/2 lb bacon cooked and crumbled OR 2/3 cup real bacon bits ( from Costco)
1/2 cu sunflower seeds
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup diced red onion

dressing:
1 cup mayo
2 T rice vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
mix well and pour over salad 10 minutes before serving. It will seem like there is not enough, but it gets runny after a short time on the veggies and will be plenty.

Hawaiian Delight Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
1 can mandarin oranges and juice
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
beat all together in a mixer for 3 - 4 minutes
pour into a Pam sprayed pan
bake at 350; for 1 10 x 15 pan bake 25 - 27 minutes
for three 8" round layer pans, bake 20 minutes

frosting:
1 large can crushed pineapple and juice
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 carton Cool Whip (8 oz)

Mix pudding into pineapple, then stir in Cool whip. Spread over cake, or between layers if you did a 3 layer version.
Store in the fridge, preferably overnight.

what a summer

2010-09-04T23:00:00.012-06:00

Twenty days total in Denver with Dad, wedding events, family time, and we are now in September.
I've seen a few spots of color on the mountain today - Fall is coming and I feel it in the morning air.

to remember:

free wireless while Dad was in the hospital!

Cousins at James and Taryn's wedding

The Newlyweds

Grandpa about 60 days after his stay in ICU - looks good!

Rainbow we saw on the way to the airport after my recent five days in Denver.

The wasps who think my gutter and shingles are a great place to make a home...

My garden basil is almost three feet tall - want some?
And I'd like to show you my wonderful pole beans, but they seem to have only grown great leaves, runners, and a few blossoms but NO BEANS! I planted them June 1, and folks it is Sept 4th. I think I'll just pull them out and let the raspberries take over.

Some summer.

UPDATE ON THE BEANS: Sept 16th and I now have lots of beans - almost ready to pick. Maybe the threat of being pulled out worked some magic. Magic beans, hmm.

did you feel it?

2010-08-18T22:25:00.011-06:00

We just returned from a quick trip to Cedar City to see a couple plays and have a little vacation before school starts.
Cedar City is a great little town and a lot revolves around the Shakespeare Festival. We saw The 39 Steps (hilarious spoof of Alfred Hitchcock) and Pride and Prejudice. So fun and entertaining.
Great weather, great nap under a tree on a grassy lawn, great B&B.

But there were some other "earthly / universe" things happening while we were there.
For example:
Fire. There was a wild fire between Cedar and St George. It was so close to the freeway that they had to close the freeway to only one lane! And then we spotted another mountain on fire that had started since our drive down the day before - this one not close to I-15.

Earthquake: We learned of an earthquake that occurred at 6:45 am on Wed morning while we were there. The epicenter was only 9 miles south of town! Too bad we didn't feel it - but others in our B&B did.

Sun Activity: We drove to Cedar Breaks and met a park ranger who was really excited about the sun. He had a scope set up with a filter and allowed us to look at the sun and current activity there called a Sun prominence - see a picture here. So fascinating - totally worth the trip to the park to be able to see the sun and the activity there!
Cedar Breaks was quite the sight too:
And, we stayed just through the block from our apartment where we lived when KC was born. I definitely recall sitting out on the front steps while KC cried himself to sleep inside - he must have been 5 months old. It was fun to reminisce as we walked around the block to see if we could remember any names of former ward members.
Our little get away was just what we needed. Sun, fire, and quake to remind us of what a really fascinating world we live in and yet how fragile.

Lost in translation- as a tree what has

2010-08-15T20:05:00.008-06:00

Nicole bought these (meant to be very sincere) cards in Romania. She had a fit of hilarity in the store as she was looking at these.
You'll have to click on the photo to read the fine print, but it is worth it.
Hope they make you laugh too.

A boy and his dreams

2010-08-15T17:20:00.007-06:00

I came across this little booklet created by KC in grade school - age 6, grade 1!!KC is my hero but I'm glad he is an engineer and not MR T.

And then he tells us his favorite foods.
Phonetic spelling is priceless.
KC, do you still like Three Muskateers?

Huh?

2010-08-11T19:55:00.003-06:00

Just some random bits about my day:

As I was getting out of my car in the parking lot, a BYU police officer walked past my car. In his hand was a RIFLE!! Since when do BYU Police carry or need a rifle? I thought they handled traffic citations, weirdness at the dorms, and owls in the President's Home.
Breakfast for breakfast, breakfast for dinner, and dessert for lunch. Goodness. I enjoyed too many gourmet cupcakes from the Cocoa Bean Cafe today at a garden party at our office. Coconut lime; Better than Whatever chocolate; Chocolate Raspberry; Raspberry lemonade. Yum, but my tummy hurts.
Remember all those bats that our neighbors shooed out of their eaves with high powered water, then the flashing light all night long since then? Umm, we saw bats leaving the very same eaves last night. They're back. I'm not going to mention it to the neighbors.
I am excited to use my brand new Eureka hand held vacuum on my stairs.
I heard a fascinating story about Southwest airlines and how they computer modeled ant behavior to come up with the current practice of reserving a number and then lining up, still selecting your seat on the plane. Then the best part of the story was how the CIA modeled a new way to gather information based on termites. Called Intellipedia found here on the Dian Rehm show.

That's the randomness for today.

The Lesson

2010-07-27T19:08:00.007-06:00

It was dark, very dark, and impossible to see in the large hall for someone 50 + and eyes that are slow to adjust to dark rooms.

As I was sitting in the balcony for the devotional, another BYU staff person came in and was trying to sit in the empty seat next to me.

He was unsure of where to step but knew there was an empty seat.

I reached up and grabbed his hand, placed it on the arm of the chair so he had something to hold on to that guided him to the seat, since he could not see it in the dark.

He made it just fine, with that bit of help.

After the devotional was over, he turned to me and thanked me for my guiding hand.

Surely there is a lesson here about faith and our Father in Heaven and reaching out for Him, moving ahead in uncertainty but with the strength of faith.

And finding solid ground.

I'm going to think about it.

That would be nice

2010-07-11T16:02:00.009-06:00

photo taken July 4, 2009

These are the words spoken by my father, Grandpa Carlson, as he was in the ER and struggling to breathe due to the aspiration of fluid into his lungs. The Dr had asked if he wanted help breathing. "That would be nice." So he was quickly intubated. I was there in Denver and drove to the hospital to see him in a very serious condition. Septic shock, pneumonia, weak kidneys, and ventilator tube down his throat. It all happened so fast - he was having such a good time with us just two days before. As siblings we were contemplating the possibility of making decisions to remove the breathing tube and every doctor told us how sick he was with everything against him because of his age of 94 years. What a week of tearful tenderness, conversations and prayers and blessings. The nurses were wonderful, and Grandpa rallied to the surprise of all. We were willing to accept the Lord's will no matter what.

Saturday the breathing tube was removed, he spoke, sat up, and asked for water about 10 times.

He was back!

And just to show how faithful and determined he is, he occupied his waiting time for the drink of water by repeating the Thirteen Articles of Faith, one by one. Then, the list of Denver temple presidents in order.

I flew home late Saturday night and today in RS I finally realized how this past week has made me much more sensitive to the messages in the words of the hymns. Each song we sang reminded me of my father, his goodness, his faith, and all the ways we depend upon the Lord. It painted the picture of what I had just experienced mentally and emotionally and spiritually. A week of examining my love for my father, my faith in the Lord, my acknowledgment of His love.
I was surprised by how tender my heart still was after all the progress Grandpa was making. It felt like a warm hug from the Lord and gentle lesson that He does know and love my father and me and each of our needs. Of course there were tears on my cheeks. Amazing how quickly one can feel the spirit in the presence of hymns.

I want to include the words here for my reading later on.

More Holiness Give Me, no. 131
1. More holiness give me,
More strivings within,
More patience in suff’ring,
More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my Savior,
More sense of his care,
More joy in his service,
More purpose in prayer.
2. More gratitude give me,
More trust in the Lord,
More pride in his glory,
More hope in his word,
More tears for his sorrows,
More pain at his grief,
More meekness in trial,
More praise for relief.
3. More purity give me,
More strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains,
More longing for home.
More fit for the kingdom,
More used would I be,
More blessed and holy—
More, Savior, like thee.

Be Thou Humble, no. 130

1. Be thou humble in thy weakness, and the Lord thy God shall lead thee,
Shall lead thee by the hand and give thee answer to thy prayers.
Be thou humble in thy pleading, and the Lord thy God shall bless thee,
Shall bless thee with a sweet and calm assurance that he cares.
2. Be thou humble in thy calling, and the Lord thy God shall teach thee
To serve his children gladly with a pure and gentle love.
Be thou humble in thy longing, and the Lord thy God shall take thee,
Shall take thee home at last to ever dwell with him above.

In Humility, Our Savior, no. 172
1. In humility, our Savior,
Grant thy Spirit here, we pray,
As we bless the bread and water
In thy name this holy day.
Let me not forget, O Savior,
Thou didst bleed and die for me
When thy heart was stilled and broken
On the cross at Calvary.
2. Fill our hearts with sweet forgiving;
Teach us tolerance and love.
Let our prayers find access to thee
In thy holy courts above.
Then, when we have proven worthy
Of thy sacrifice divine,
Lord, let us regain thy presence;
Let thy glory round us shine.

Carry On, no. 255
1. Firm as the mountains around us,
Stalwart and brave we stand
On the rock our fathers planted
For us in this goodly land—
The rock of honor and virtue,
Of faith in the living God.
They raised his banner triumphant—
Over the desert sod.

A First

2010-06-27T11:35:00.004-06:00

Location: somewhere in the atmosphere 40 minutes above eastern Wyoming, on my way to Minneapolis
Seat: window
status: online!

That's right. Using the new Delta wifi available on their planes now. Kind of fun. I just watched two videos posted by Emily about the babies! Cool.

When I arrived at the Delta terminal there were MANY PEOPLE checking in, in line to check in, and looking for the end of the line to check in. When I arrived at the security line, I was amazed to find that I was number 10 in line! No kidding - I walked right up, no weaving back and forth and through the long lines. There was one scanner line that had NO people in it. I was checked in and through security in under 5 minutes!!
A first for me.

I also had a funny dream this morning that I was going on a trip, traveling in cars, and Kc and Emily and the babies and Clyde were part of the entourage. We fed the babies, and I went looking for Alex. I found him with Clyde, peeking out from a blanket with the biggest smile ever! There were some odd parts about this trip, like KC strapping one baby on his chest so KC could travel on the FRONT of the car, and Cindy Pratt, our neighbor, was leading us with her motorcycle. Yes dreams are weird.
Too bad I woke up and found I was only traveling by myself!
But that big smile from Alex was real and I can't forget it.

sorry no photos.
sorry for the overuse of the word 'line'

Ta Ta from the sky.

June Growth

2010-06-26T12:16:00.009-06:00

I love my pot of front porch florals. I love to water it.

Tiger lilies, that I brought from my parent house 20 years ago, and they grew so well I transplanted these from the first bunch I planted.
(and notice there is no grass in the raspberries for about one minute..)

A very full line of bushes along the fence. This is what happens when you let everything just grow, no pruning for a few years. Um, I'm sure there is a life's lesson here, but I'm too tired to attempt to state one..

Roses in their June glory. Love this view cause it makes me happy every time I see it.
See Pratt's cute storage shed with the red door in the next yard? fun.

The Plum bushes were very over grown the last few years. They flopped almost to the ground every time it rained and the snow was 10 times worse. We pruned with a vengeance this spring and they are more upright, more healthy and not out of control.
There must be something to this pruning concept - must get on board more often..
Life lesson here too I bet.

tonight

2010-06-22T00:35:00.002-06:00

Tonight I read many of the emails sent to me by my brother for the last two years since my father moved in with them. He's now 94. I found many comments of ward members, friends, and dad's co-workers from the temple that my brother had included in his email updates. So many of the comments were about how all these people were so happy to see my dad at church, or how much they loved him, or how they recalled a special experience with him.
I wanted to have all these types of comments/ memories in one place so I only copied and pasted these comments - I have 5 pages!
It was a privilege to read these again and be reminded of my heritage.
It feels like a Sunday to me.
Amen.

Just Dance in Park City

2010-06-09T20:38:00.009-06:00

Setting: Park City Resort
Event: Robinson family vacation
Challenge: To 'Just Dance' and beat Camille's score!
We also played plenty of Farkle. Clyde and the boys created a new rule and we heard them talk about playing for real money!

We loved the zip line, the scooter and slide
(even though we waited 50 minutes for a 45 second zip!).
Great views - too bad we did not photograph the huge marmots outside our window.

And yes, the snow was melting.

We love these faces

2010-06-09T20:13:00.008-06:00

We enjoyed a full day / evening of tending the triplets in late May. There were four of us to tend three babies - Clyde, myself, Nicole, and Michelle. The babies did great, we enjoyed every moment, and we all grew in our appreciation for what Emily does on the many days she is the one adult at home with three infants!

I love how Bennett was trying so hard to imitate Clyde and his disappearing tongue.

Alex is very captivated by Clyde's facial antics.

Ruby is cute as ever.
We miss them - they are changing so fast!

More triple treats

2010-05-15T19:01:00.003-06:00

Mother's day was great. Clyde made me breakfast!
Church talks were entertaining and sweet.
Camille sent me a very nice gift and she called me from California.
Nicole made me a delicious dinner with this fancy fruit tart:
Michelle called from Chile, and I talked to KC in Maryland. He and Emily gave me more photos and a frame for grand babies.
Emily brought the babies over to Nicole's so we could enjoy time and photos with them. Especially yummy on this great day!
That's Alex in the middle, Bennett on my left, and Ruby in the bow of course.
Great day!

Down it came

2010-05-15T18:52:00.005-06:00

Our neighbors have three pine trees right on the edge of our property, next to their driveway. A local tree expert has been warning us that one of the huge trees was leaning and potentially could fall on their roof, or maybe our roof.
Imagine our surprise when we returned from a delicious dinner with Emily and Nicole to see this:

It was leaning quite a bit and it seemed so strange for the person cutting such a big tree down and only using a small chain saw. It took him two days.
You can barely see our house through the huge limbs. Now we really must plan our landscaping to take care of this huge bare spot!

A sweet memory

2010-05-08T13:09:00.002-06:00

From my journal, written Dec 9 , 1980.
KC was 3, almost 4 and Camille was 2 and 4 months. In North Carolina, still in graduate school.

Clyde was gone to his evening class. I was making orange coconut bread and KC kept trying to help and yet doing things that irritated me. I got upset when he almost spilled all the orange juice. He just looked at me like he turned his ears off. Then just one minute later he started singing "Love One Another" all the way through - boy did that make me feel small. After he left the room I started to feel bad for my silly upset and began to shed a few tears. KC walked in and asked, "Why are you crying?" I told him I felt bad for getting upset at the orange juice and he hugged me and said, "I like you so much, I love you, I'll go get you some toilet paper." (Maybe we were too poor to buy Kleenex?) Then Camille came in and she said, "I want to love, too." So KC gave her a big hug. When she went to bed she said, "Let me kiss you so you won't be sad."
Little children do teach us how to be humble over and over with their sweet forgiveness. If I had not apologized to KC I may have been grumpy till bedtime and missed his sweet hugs and words and Camille's tenderness.

Many thanks to all my children for teaching me, stretching me, loving me, and allowing me to grow as their mother.

love this

2010-05-03T20:11:00.002-06:00

Here's a link to Mother's day message from a one of my new favorite authors, Kelly C0rrigan.

Alcatraz

2010-05-03T19:49:00.006-06:00

We just returned from a weekend in San Francisco and one thing we did was to take a night tour of Alcatraz. It has a famous and eerie reputation.
There are some fascinating facts about the island - like the 2,000 gulls that live and nest there. Apparently the male and females come back to the same exact spot to mate with each other, build a nest and lay three eggs year after year. You can see the birds in the air and all the white spots on the land are birds. San Francisco is across the water.

Clyde shows us how miserable the cells were. Every Friday night was 'music' night for 1 hour and one person may have played a harmonica and another played the trombone - only three notes!

There were some attempted escapes here and we even saw the two cells where the inmates enlarged their vent opening with spoons. Those two may have left Alcatraz the prison, but everyone thinks they drowned in the frigid waters because they were never heard from again!
We were glad to leave when the ferry left!

Triple treats

2010-05-02T21:53:00.007-06:00

We've had some delightful visits lately from some very special people.

Michelle shared her birthday dinner with visits from Alex, Bennett, and Ruby, and Cameron!

The only way to feed three babies at once and eat dinner yourself at the same time!

There's nothing better than mommy's kiss!

Triple the fun

Technology =$
3 generations of Robinson boys = Priceless

treasures

2010-04-17T10:58:00.004-06:00

I'm cleaning out my bedside drawers.
Found this little entry in a notebook written by Nicole in 1990.
Love her spelling.
click to enlarge the writing.
gost melt's there haert
Look what can happen in 20 years! She is a Master's student now.

What's that smell?

2010-04-16T23:27:00.003-06:00

In the last 6 months or so I noticed a strong earthy smell when I turned on the water in my kitchen sink. I rinsed it well, ran baking soda vinegar and hot water down the disposal, read up on where the smell might originate. Nothing conclusive and I wasn't ready to accept it was some weird water standing in the pipes somewhere or some mildew growing in a hard to reach place. It didn't always smell, but was noticeable when I first ran the water. It was not the dishrags.

I finally figured it out. By mistake.

I was cleaning in and around my sink and scrubbing the rubber thing that sits inside the drain opening. It came out with the sponge into my hands! One look and I knew where the smell originated. Apparently our disposal is so powerful (YAY) that little bits of food and pulverized debris get tossed UP into the rubber thing instead of it all draining down through the blades of the disposal (BOO) and drain pipe.

So now I just have to regularly pull up the rubber sink drain thing (does it have a name?) that is supposed to stop a spoon or knife from entering the disposal, and scrub the gunk off!

Sorry no photos. Use your imagination.

heartaches

2010-04-16T00:08:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I was so sad to learn of heartaches experienced by some sisters in my ward. Mostly involves decisions by their grown children to cut off all contact with the parents. This is hard for a family who was super involved in their children and grand children's lives. We talked of the difficultly to overcome hurt, pain, anger, and learn how to depend on the Lord for strength and forgiveness every day. It is a huge hurdle to let go of hurt feelings when loved ones turn against you .
Another sister told us of her recent brief visits with a daughter whose husband made her cut off all contact with the family for the past 6 years! Talk about heartache. She is so fearful of the husband cutting them off again. and these are her only grandchildren who live in state.

Then my neighbor told me of another friend whose 30+ son just committed suicide, and this jsut one year after the friend's daughter committed suicide because of a very emotionally abusive marriage. I can't fathom the heart and pain. How can she even get out of bed each day? All these stories I heard in the past two days painfully teaches me again that there is sadness, struggle, pain and heartache in so many people's lives. It's people we know and may not even suspect any hardship. I want to be the one to offer friendship, love, acceptance, and hope to all in my little part of the world. How we all need it!! How it hurts to feel judged, rejected, and not wanted. My heart aches with them now.

In a pinch

2010-04-15T23:58:00.002-06:00

Tonight I wanted to use up some stuff in the fridge. So I made up a recipe as I pulled things out.
-Sauteed chopped onion in olive oil in large skillet.
-added 2 cups brown rice that I had cooked two days ago
-added 1 can diced tomatoes with basil and garlic, liquid drained
-large handful of spinach, torn
Heat all this till the spinach is wilted, then add:
-1/2 large cooked breaded chicken breast leftovoer from previous dinner, chopped

stir in, heat through and top with 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese. cover till the cheese melts.

Quite tasty for not knowing where I was going with all the things I pulled out of the fridge. But not photo worthy :(

Clyde liked it and I might make this again - very healthy and low fat! We added a mini cucumber and microwaved asparagus to round out the meal. Four veggies in one meal!

Good Vibes

2010-04-11T22:27:00.002-06:00

Today I reported my good news in RS - that I had visited the triplets and had a great time; that the babies are happy, healthy and growing so well. One sister commented that I still had the "triplet glow" all around me. I'll take that as a compliment! It's kind of fun as I have noticed that others will come up to me and marvel about having triplet grand babies, or how much work it must be for the parents. I tell them how organized Emily is and how well the babies are sleeping now. Even strangers on the plane, the cab driver, people I work with across campus and others get all gushy and happy when they learn that I have been visiting the triplets. They talk about what a miracle it is, god's love, how great families are and how blessed KC and Emily are. I love it! It brings good vibes to me all the time for a good happy reason.
Thanks Emily and KC.

Good times for grandma

2010-04-08T11:37:00.024-06:00

I just returned from a great time visiting KC, Emily and Alex, Bennett, and Ruby.
We enjoyed good weather some of the days I was there. Every moment with the babies was a joy and they are so fun and developing very unique personalities. My favorite was getting them up after naps or nighttime. Even though they may have been crying, they were so happy as soon as they joined us in the living room. I loved talking to them as Emily prepared their bottles. Such fun to tickle and hear them giggle.
Here are a few favs:

It is serious business to learn about the world - babies are hard at work.

Emily looks great and really happy to be at this doctor visit. Maybe because she had two helpers (Nicole and myself) to help hold and cart babies?

Look out world, Bennett will be on the move soon!

KC the dad and his ukulele time with the babies.

I loved feeding time!

I also stopped to see the cherry Blossoms in full bloom at the Tidal Basin on my way to the airport. Gorgeous!

Cousin's dinner recipes

2010-03-21T22:09:00.004-06:00

Just enjoyed one more cousin's dinner! We love visiting with the college age cousins who live in UT County.
We have enjoyed a loaf of hot Artisan bread the last two dinners, and Julie has requested that the recipe be posted on the blog.
the menu:
Chicken, broccoli, mushroom Alfredo
Linguine
brussel sprouts
spring mix salad
no-knead Artisan Bread
Chocolate covered cherry cake
hot fudge sauce & ice cream with the cake

Alfredo: saute onions and mushrooms. Micro cook a chopped head of broccoli.
water saute 2 chicken breasts, sliced into three slices each, then chop into small pieces.
Dump all into a large sauce pan, and pour 1 or more jars of classico Alfredo sauce over. Add 3 T water per jar to thin the sauce. Serve over hot noodles.

Brussel sprouts: buy large bag at costco. place a bit of water in a casserole or pyrex, add some sprouts, cover with plastic wrap. Micro cook on high for 6 - 10 minutes, depending on how many you are cooking.

Chocolate covered Cherry cake:
1 devil's food cake mix, 1 can 20 oz cherry pie filling, 2 eggs. beat all together for 2 -3 minutes. Pour into 9 x 13 and bake 30 minutes at 350.

HOT FUDGE SAUCE
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. cocoa (mixed with a little water)
1/8 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 can evaporated milk less 2 tbsp.
1 tsp. vanilla
Heat butter and cocoa until melted. Keep stirring. Add salt, then sugar. Mixture becomes thick and grainy. Now stir in milk and cook additional 5-6 minutes, until slightly thick. Stir frequently.
Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into a jar. To use as hot fudge sauce, put jar into hot water for 30 minutes. Keep well if tightly covered.

no-knead Artisan Bread recipe here:

I added a bit more water since my flour was pretty dry. I let mine rise on a floured and cornmeal covered cutting board - easier to flip. I cover my pan with a pie pan, since I don't want my lid handle to go in a 450 degree oven. Perfectly easy and so crusty and moist at the same time.

No - Knead Artisan Bread ( Sullivan bakery in NY)
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.
1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.

large loaf: 6 cups flour, ½ t yeast, 2 ¾ c water 2 ½ t. salt,

work work work

2010-03-10T21:49:00.002-07:00

This afternoon felt like a hurricane hit at my desk.
After a busy morning talking with three groups at a workshop, the afternoon just hit like a ton of bricks/ problems.
a sampling:
- looked up 10 ids, researched each one on 4 screens to discover why the programmer was missing their current endorsement date; sent email; responded to several ensuing emails and phone calls and conversations about this bug.
- worked with Claire in my office on an email response regarding a new online page/ process that will soon be rolled out; tested a few pages while crafting the email and discovered new bugs to report.
- took a 6 minute phone call about creating test apps to run against a fix for the webapp upload and test of English status
- discussed early morning bug of dates printing on the email address on the letterhead; sent scanned copies to developer; afternoon suggested staff member try reprinting - or requeing. reported back that worked - bug solved. sort of - someone still needs to reprint all those letters.
- talked to another developer about running the batch to load the Law admits; found only 36 added out of 90. got a call from data entry staff. scanned reports to send to her. scanned reports to send to developer. took about 5 calls from several on this issue
-crisis call about three ETD templates that suddenly became "not found"; quickly had pubs intern upload a different version;
- back and forth 3 times email conversation with a BYUH faculty, needing to submit his ETD and having navigation issues. Called library programmer for assistance, forwarded this info to the student.
-couple calls from front desk
-visit from Kevin reporting more craziness from two depts.

My current assignment is to create a procedures manual for what I do. How in the world will I do that?

I love my job - never a dull moment!!

started on the test apps at 7:30 - done by 9:40

no wonder I feel wound up some days!
ready for bed now.

Internet saves me

2010-02-28T09:08:00.003-07:00

Yesterday we had a ward activity, a Musical Review. The committee planned ice cream sundaes with lots of toppings. I helped figure out the amounts, and helped buy the straawberries and bananas. I got Krispy Kreme hats and covered the wording with strips that said "Ice Cream Shoppe".
I was bringing some serving bowls and some spoons but others were getting the toppings, cutting the fruit, etc.
We were to be at the church by 5 to get ready for the 6 pm event.
at 4:00 I got a call from the chair who told me our hot fudge sauce person had forgotten her assignment. We already had some Hersheys, but we really wanted the hot fudge sauce.
So, I told her I'd find a recipe and call her back.
I had just made some hot fudge for Clyde the week before, but it used chocolate chips and I didn't have a ton of chips and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on chocolate chips. We were expecting 120 people.

So I googled 'hot fudge with cocoa' and Voila there were numerous recipes to choose from. I found one that was similar to the recipe that used chocolate chips. I had all the ingredients at hand. By 4:20 I had quadrupled the recipe and we had hot fudge! The committee chair made some also. I knew I had a recipe somewhere using cocoa for hot fudge, but it would have taken me 30 minutes to look through all my cookbooks for it. The Internet gave us the answer so quickly. What did we ever do with out internet helps in our lives before??

The musical review was so fun and the youth loved their parts, some adults participated too. Everyone was so excited that they invited all grandparents, adult children and families, and friends. There were chairs for 160, then they opened up the overflow with 30 more chairs and at least 10 - 15 people were standing. I think we fed 200!! The committee chair and I made a quick decision to use smaller bowls and only give one scoop instead of the two we had planned. It worked!! The strawberries and gummy bears ran out near the end, but everything else lasted till the end. I think the cans of whipped cream were the most popular.
We even have 1 qt of hot fudge left!!
Note to self: 12 gallons of ice cream will feed 200. (small scoops)

Burgers and Fries

2010-02-12T20:50:00.003-07:00

Last weekend we stopped by the new In 'N' Out burger place in Orem. We needed to see what all the fuss was about and why the long lines of cars at the drive thru.
Our assessment:
burgers - were just ok, loved the big slice of tomato and leaf of lettuce. Like toasted buns.
fries - kind of dry and very short!

Then we decided to leave the rest of the fries and stop in at the third!! new burger place within a 1/2 mile of In 'N' Out and Five guys -- it's called Smash Burger.

Our assessment:
Nicer booths, decos, more upscale. Pricier burgers.
burgers - very juicy and VERY salty. tomato and lettuce ok - not as thick as In 'N' Out
fries - longer, and not quite as dry as In 'N' Out. option of rosemary and olive oil fries!

I think the Five guys fries win. Have you seen the grease on their bag of fries?

But I will go back and try a few different items at Smash Burger - maybe the smash chicken burger!

I do remember my favorite burger this summer was had at the little tiny burger place in downtown Provo -Sammy's. Delicious - only the bun needed to be toasted!

And there is one more joint in downtown Provo to try - Stumpy's!

This great work

2010-02-03T20:00:00.004-07:00

Great video / photo essay on mothering found here.

After being with Emily for two weeks I could not contain my tears every time I thought about the great journey of mothering, love, and parenting happening in the Maryland Robinson household. Heavenly.
What a privilege to witness and memorize.

Happiness is a warm baby

2010-01-18T22:50:00.007-07:00

This Christmas season and January has been so wonderful because some very special people came to Utah! Alex, Bennett, Ruby and of course Emily and KC. The triplets are my very first grandchildren and I'm in love with them. Could squeeze them all day. They make me happy to think about as I go to sleep and full of gratitude to have witnessed many miracles in their journey and healthy bodies I get to hug and hold.

And in two days I will travel with them on the plane (one on my lap) and spend two weeks with them at their home. Can't wait. Will not mind missing sleep. Will love smiles and coos and every little milestone.
Here's some recent photos of the darlings:Ruby smiles a big one!
Alex and Bennett were really into smiles and cooing.2nd cousin baby Cameron Schick came to visit for a photo op - he was due the same time as the triplets. He's about their same size!KC's cousin Alicia with her boy Cameron and Emily with her three-Alex, Bennett, and Ruby.
(Alex is sleeping)

And we must not forget to mention the wonderful support, commitment, and constant nurturing of Emily's parents, Janice and Steve Graham. They deserve a medal for hosting Emily and the babies for 6 weeks! And I hope they'll soon get some nights of 8 hour sleep! Thank YOU both.

Button Button

2010-01-18T22:38:00.003-07:00

I've recently cleaned out some drawers and shelves in our closets. Found a ton of change in Clyde's "toss it" shelf from his pockets - 20 years worth is my guess!
In my drawer I cleaned out many many little envelopes titled, "extra buttons". Do you ever get those on new clothing? There were so many and for years I've been annoyed at the build up of those envelopes and once I even made a button book with a description of the item it belonged to. Ha! That didn't last long - maybe two clothing seasons. I don't think I have ever used one of those extra buttons in the whole time we have lived here.
So, I just emptied each envelope or little bag into this cute little jar and maybe I'll use them for a crafty frame or sewn on a cute little pillow. No more envelope stashes for me. As soon as I get new envelopes I'll put them into a jar. Now I'll need a bigger jar. And my drawer is so much more useful without that envelope/ button collection!
Each of those buttons represents a new item of clothing over the last 30+ years.
One funny thing I did find were two sets of button covers. I don't remember what decade we used those but they were just so cool I kept them. Any chance they will return to fashion? Hope so.

Growing again!

2010-01-18T22:36:00.003-07:00

The amaryllis were wonderful, but they eventually faded. I cut the stalks and now it seems there are some new leaves growing again!

Before Our Eyes

2009-12-28T17:41:00.004-07:00

I love Amaryllis flowers. This year I asked for a set of bulbs for my birthday, and Costco had a very nice set on sale at the right time. It is amazing to watch it change overnight and grow so much in 24 hours. It seems to change before our eyes!
Here's a photo record:

taken Dec 5taken Dec 7

Dec 19

December 25th!!

Before our eyes!

Christmas Eve thoughts: hearts and newborns

2009-12-23T23:25:00.005-07:00

A couple of years ago I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting on Christmas Eve. I just re-read my thoughts and they are even more tender to me now that I am getting acquainted with THREE miraculous newborns/grandchildren! I needed to ponder these thoughts once again.

The talk:
Today in this meeting, and tonight with our families, we commemorate and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on the earth. Many songs we sing, stories we read, and the scriptures all paint a picture of a long and dreary trip to a bustling and busy Bethlehem, and discouraging reports that all the inns were full and there was no room.
We have sung and thought of the moments when Joseph and Mary are allowed to spend the night in the stable, with the animals. In spite of the humble surroundings, we also know that a glorious event occurred with the birth of a new baby, the Christ Child.

I think of the awe that I feel when I see a newborn baby. I am filled with amazement at the miracle of new life, I am filled with love for this new person, and I am filled with desires to nurture, to protect, and especially to become acquainted with this new person and every moment of its beginning life. In other words, my heart becomes quickly attached to a newborn the more I become acquainted with the child.
Remembering that tender scene in the stable so many years ago, and placing myself there as a witness to the birth of Christ, I receive a personal gift every year – feelings of tenderness, love, hope, and acceptance of His gift of life and atonement for me.

At Christmas time, our hearts feel close to Heaven. It is a time when the sharing of love fills our lives with comfort and joy.
This is the time of year when our hearts are most tender, we feel grateful for warm relationships, and we feel forgiving. We wish to express our love and thanks and gratitude to those who are in our circle of relationships and also to those less fortunate. All this movement of feeling in our heart and souls, works to make us teachable and fills our hearts with righteous longings and desires. Desire is actually a yearning or craving and is of critical importance because desire and action are inseparably connected. They have a cause and effect relationship. In time, our desires will make us who and what we are.
Because our desires play such a significant role in our eternal destiny, we can choose to exercise our agency in countless small ways that will help our desires to become more worthy and eventually even holy. Quote by Neal a Maxwell,“Each assertion of a righteous desire, each act of service, and each act of worship, however small and incremental, adds to our spiritual momentum.”
At this season, it is not hard and I think it is especially important to take time in all of our business to assess the worthiness of our desires
As an example, I want to use Alma’s words as he was recounting his transcendent gaze into heaven, he stated, “My soul did long to be there.”
This scripture teaches me about the power of desire (My soul did LONG) and the critical importance of the object of our desire (to be there).

Let me share something that illustrates desires of the heart.

My friend taught me a great principle she has learned about the first and second commandments. The first commandment is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart” If we acknowledge, feel, and speak our love to the Lord, we can use the power of that love to ask for help in living the second great commandment – Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. She tells me that sometimes she thinks she is really ok in her behavior, and her husband thinks he is really ok, but they both are thinking their spouse is not ok – they might feel annoyed, or a bit of anger, or resentment or frustration or whatever it is that builds walls between any of us in close relationships. This is what my friend has taught me about desires. She has literally learned to ask for help in the following way: She says a silent prayer to father in Heaven and tells him she loves Him, the lord, first in her life. She then asks the Lord to help her fulfill and live the second commandment and humble her heart so that she can overcome those feelings of resentment, anger, frustration etc. Many times The Lord has literally helped her heart to quickly soften and those negative feelings to become feelings of love, acceptance, forgiveness and humility. IN that silent prayer and in the moments after, she has just invited the Lord into her heart and in her humility the Lord can help govern her thoughts, actions, and allow the Holy Ghost to help her open her heart to her spouse. She feels an increase of love for her spouse and also from the Lord for herself. The power of her heart’s desire (to draw upon her love of the Lord) and the object of her desire – (to have help in loving others) are very real and powerful in how she is changing in her heart and behavior, and thus becoming a more worthy and holy person.

In this Christmas season, the phrases “Let him In” or “Is there room?” are often seen on cards, found in songs, or written on wall plaques. What do these words mean to me? I do not picture making a room ready for the Savior, but I am always reminded to check my inner thoughts and see if I have made room in my mind and heart for thinking about and pondering the gifts of the savior. I want to follow the example of my friend in drawing upon my love of the Lord to help my heart make room.
There is a phrase in one of my favorite Christmas Carols, The Bleak Midwinter, with words by Christina Rossetti. I was touched by her words when I read them first as a freshman in college, and each time I hear or read these words, I am touched again.
This portion of the song refers to the gifts given to the Christ child.

What can I give him
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
But what I can I give him
Give him my heart.

I can give my heart.
What does it take for my heart to allow Him to “enter in”?
I need to have the Desire to want him to be there, I need to be present of mind, be focused, and not be swayed in distractions of this world, To allow Christ to enter my heart, I need a desire to become acquainted with Him and his voice– in D&C 84:52 we are reminded, “And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me.” I want to be acquainted with Christ. I want to let Him in to my heart. I have had the experience of becoming acquainted with new born babies, and thus I can use my experience and also learn how to be attuned to His voice – I listen, I notice, I ask, and I desire.

As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow him, we can have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day or few weeks each year, but as a companion always. We can turn our thoughts and desires to become acquainted with his voice. As the verse in the song tells us:

How silently how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven
No ear may hear his coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

I pray that this day and season our hearts may be filled with desire to be more acquainted with the Christ Child, His gifts, His love, His hope, and that we may Let Him In to our hearts, in every way possible.
Amen

Thoughts on Mary

2009-12-15T08:50:00.002-07:00

I often read a blog called "Segullah" by a collection of women. Today I read a thoughtful post on Mary. Enjoy it here.

I especially liked this thought: "I think about how sometimes we don’t really want our blessings to be hard. We want our trials to be confined to one part (the lesser part) and our blessings to be easy. But when has this ever been the case? Aren’t blessings and hardships one and the same?"

Grand America buffet found in Provo?

2009-12-13T13:51:00.010-07:00

Well, maybe.
It was just our ward brunch, but the goal was to make it look nice! My goal was to not have to haul food out of the kitchen during the whole party - just put it all out and have two people inside the tables keep the drink pitchers filled, keeping the extra milks and juice in coolers under the tables. I used vases and urns from Nicole's and Michelle's receptions!

The Menu:
egg, potato, bacon, cheese strata
ketchup and salsa
mini quiche
turkey sausage links (pre-cooked from Costco)
variety or breads, muffins, sweet rolls from ward members
yogurt
granola
mandarin orange or peach fruit cups
black grapes
bananas
pineapple
sliced oranges
boiled eggs
Cinnamon toast crunch cereal
milk, choc milk, OJ

set up
four tables in a square.
plates at two corners
drinks at other two corners
people could go either way, so there were four directions of food, all basically the same on each table.

The aprons were made by the Activities chair - so fun!

The Best Gift

2009-12-07T22:41:00.006-07:00

My birthday was Nov 22. We had planned a family outing to the Garden restaurant at the Joseph Smith Memorial building in Salt Lake on Saturday. Nicole called and told me Casey did not go to Seattle after all, and they would drive up themselves and meet us there. When I called her to tell her where we were on the freeway, she said she was just a bit behind us. When we arrived at the JSMB, there was Nicole at the top floor to greet us. She said Casey was in the bathroom and she wanted me to look out the window at all the new construction. She seemed so excited to see the buildings and I kind of had to plow through a group of people blocking the windows. After gazing out at the construction (not so amazing, really) I asked Nicole how she got there before us. By this time Nicole and Michelle were laughing and I said, "What is so funny? Your drive up here is not that funny!" I turned to see what might be making them laugh behind me and to my great SURPRISE -- it was CAMILLE!!! Apparently I had looked right past her twice on my way to the window and she was making funny faces to make her sisters laugh.

I was so surprised! I really thought Camille was not going to come for Thanksgiving and all along she had planned to surprise me for my birthday! Everyone kept a great secret - even Clyde. I had NO clue.
It was a great treat to have Camille home all week! As Emerson said, "The best gift is a portion of thyself." Thanks Camille! You brought your whole self - ha!

And the girls created a delicious dinner on Sunday with broiled pears for dessert - delicious and low fat!

7 week progress

2009-12-07T22:24:00.003-07:00

I visited the wrist surgeon last week. He was thrilled with the x-ray of my wrist. He was very happy to see my range of motion turning my palm to face the ceiling. I still have nagging swelling, nerve numbness and minor tingling, and much stiffness when I bend my hand down. It's 20 -30% only and I hope to get to 50% +. That takes lots of heat, icing it, pushing and stretching it till it hurts. And I am supposed to massage the scar a TON! That is supposed to get rid of the scar tissue.
My scar so far:I visited with an older sister in my ward and she has the same scar, same fracture, same plate in her wrist. She showed me how much movement she has and she still plays the piano in Primary. She gives me hope!

great thoughts

2009-12-04T14:41:00.006-07:00

These words were sent to me in an email from the Tabernacle Choir broadcast last week.
I love the message.

'A Christmas to Remember'

As we look forward to Christmas this year, let’s look back to Christmases past and appreciate what makes a holiday memorable. Some memories may involve less-than-perfect circumstances—and that’s all right. Few real-life celebrations resemble the slick ads and scenes in holiday movies. In fact, sometimes the most cherished Christmases take place in conditions that are not quite ideal.

Of course, it’s easy to feel discouraged when things don’t go according to our plans. But in time, families often look back and laugh about the mishaps: the year the tree fell over, the time they forgot to turn on the oven, the school program when everyone forgot their lines.

Other times, families weep when they remember more serious hardships: the year when someone was in the hospital, the year there were no presents because times were tight, the first Christmas after a loved one passed away.

As such memories fill our hearts, we would do well to recall that original Christmas night. It was not without difficulty. Mary and Joseph were far from home. No room could be found in the inn. Few comforts were available. And yet, love was born. Heavenly choirs sang. A new star lit the sky, and shepherds came to worship.

Unrealistic expectations for a picture-perfect Christmas may be misleading and actually keep us from appreciating the holiday’s more subtle yet more satisfying blessings. Everything does not have to be just right for wonderful things to happen.

No matter the circumstances for Christmas this year, cherished moments are within reach. Hold a child in your arms. Pause to look at the night sky. Welcome friends and family into your home, and listen to heavenly choirs. Give the love that only you can give, and you will have a memorable Christmas: a Christmas that recalls that first holy night when, in the lowliest of circumstances, a King was born.

This is a photo of KC and Emily a few years ago as they dramatized the nativity at the DC temple.
KC and Nicole were born in January and I still have a tender spot in my heart as I recall those long ago December months, with a large pregnant belly, and singing carols that remind me of Christ's birth and Mary's challenges.

sweet

2009-12-03T13:52:00.004-07:00

The Bean Museum displays all the baby animals at Christ's birth. All nature celebrates the babe.
Sweet.

hand minus wrist

2009-11-12T19:18:00.002-07:00

It's been 1 month since I fractured my wrist in Maryland. My surgery was three and a half weeks ago. I have progressed a long ways since those first days, when I could not use my right hand for anything and had to depend on my left hand or Clyde. I can now do quite a lot with my right hand:
-hold the round brush to style my hair - although stiffly
-open the car door, slowly
-pull up my pants - tenderly
- type and use a mouse - not too hard
- put on eyeliner and mascara - have to hold them funny sine I can't turn the wrist

You see, the bone is healing, but the stiffness remains. I cannot eat soup with my right hand because I cannot turn the wrist to point the spoon to my mouth. I still feel like a toddler if I eat with my right hand - clumsy and the spoon points to the wall, not my mouth. Do you realize how much wrist action you need to dry yourself off with a towel? A LOT.
I have a lot of work to do on my range of motion and strength. I still can't open a can, a bottle of prescription pills, hold a gallon of milk etc. And I'd be very excited if the remaining swelling would go down!
Today I began moving my wrist up and down according to DR's orders. Little movements, like baby steps. Every day. I hope to be whole soon.

Why I love my office

2009-11-12T13:31:00.005-07:00

Today was a quiet, cool, gray and cloudy day. From my office desk I could look out and see the constant falling leaves, like snow flakes. It was not windy, just breezy enough to cause the leaves to fall off the branches and float to the ground. Peaceful.
At 12:30 pm I went to the kitchen to slice my pear and eat lunch, after a very busy and sometmes frustrating morning. I looked out the window as I stood over the sink and to my delight I saw a few deer. I went to the kitchen nook window and ate my pear and counted six (6!) deer just having a nice lunch in the back yard of the Former President's home. There are three young deer and three who look a year older. I know the one mother deer we watched last year had three babies this summer, but it seems a few more deer have joined the herd. Watching those deer and especially the young fawns leap and dart across the yard just calmed me and made me peaceful.
At 4:30 pm in my second story office I decided it was time to shut down and I stood at the window to gaze out. This time the deer were back and some were in the yard and some were just standing in the bushes on the edge of the hill. I think I counted 7! Nibbling, nuzzling, and posing.
When I went out the front door to meet Clyde, there were three deer on the lawn just by the door where I was exiting. They startled, but I said to them, "It's OK, just keep eating your dinner." They calmed right down and only stuck their heads into the bushes. As soon as I was in the car they turned back to the grass they had been eating.

My little spot and magic of nature, right here on the BYU campus. I'm glad deer get hungry everyday. I'll be watching.

Back in the Groove...almost

2009-11-01T16:39:00.003-07:00

Two meals in less than 24 hours - that's what I have made with just a little help.

Taco soup for Halloween. Michelle helped finish chopping the onion, and opened a few cans for me. (then she left for SLC)
It made so much we invited Tom and Linda over to share.
Clyde chopped olives, Linda sliced the avocado. I did most of it myself!

Today, fast Sunday, Clyde was feeling a bit sick. Flu maybe? I made dinner by myself, mostly.
-herbed turkey breast (courtesy Costco) Clyde cut the plastic off.
-roasted mini carrots (kinda crunchy, oops)
-boiled new red potatoes with butter and rosemary
-reheated green beans (cooked for an earlier meal)
-apple, pomegranate, and vanilla yogurt salad (I cut the pomegranate ,myself, very slowly, and got the seeds out under water very carefully)
-croissants (from a pop open can)

Dessert was chocolate chips cooked in four of the remaining croissants - kind of similar to the European pastries we often had for a treat or breakfast.

I am typing this with both hands, just not full function of the right hand.
Lots of exercises are to be done in two weeks to get me stronger.

I'm healing.

Being able to cook makes me feel a bit more balanced. Isn't it great that small successes bring much happiness?

Clyde folded all the laundry last night - what a guy.

Happy Anniversary

2009-10-24T19:27:00.003-06:00

I love fall for it reminds me of our wedding and anticipation of a life together. Clyde and I celebrate 34 years today. We did a little shopping for house stuff - new glasses, cutting board, timer, and various other improvements. We went to the grocery store for a few items - Clyde had to push the cart due to my wrapped and restricted hand. We stopped for lunch at Pizzeria 712. Clyde cut the salad into fork size bites and he even cut my pizza that was too floppy to pick up. He never made fun of me nor complained. I have been a bit tender with my off balanced life of trying to cope with only one hand. Clyde asked me what were the highlights of the past year or years. I told him one of my favorite memories was the random times he came home from work in the past year and just told me, "I'm so glad I am married to you." These were not on a special holiday or anniversary, just an ordinary day. His words were totally unexpected, spoken in truth, and cherished dearly on my part.

Daily kisses and hugs in the kitchen weave the fabric of comfortable appreciation, tying our hearts together.
One of the best parts of 34 years together is knowing that in the moments that he annoys me (like forgetting to tell me where he parked car) - I will be annoyed only temporarily. It all melts away so quickly and I don't have any desire to be mad. Forgiveness amazes me and nourishes us.

Oh, and another highlight was when Clyde plucked my chin hairs yesterday -- just matter fact, no squeamishness, and with a kiss. That's happily married.

Time heals all

2009-10-22T09:00:00.011-06:00

Surgery went really well - says Clyde per the doctor. (I was there but fast asleep). My arm had a nerve block that lasted 12 - 15 hours. Imagine the same feeling you have when numbed for a tooth filling. Multiply that to the entire arm. Weird. I had this big appendage I could not feel, and I had to remember to carry it if i moved or walked. When I got dressed in the hospital it just flopped like a dead fish and I did not feel a thing! That really surprised me. The docs promised I'd be glad for the block once it wore off and the pain began. I was prepared with plenty of percocet. By the next morning I was woozy after feeling 'out of body' all night pain relief. Clyde brought me the 'throw up bucket' and I used it. ugh.
Same story 4 hours later, but after the docs called in the anti nausea meds I was sleeping for hours and feeling more normal.
Please excuse the left handed photography.

Wed was better, still lots of sleepiness though. 9.5 hours between pain meds.

Black eye: 10 days later.
Time does heal all hurts.
This is the view that inspires me on my quiet days of healing:
And today I looked up a photo of KC as a six week old baby. Kind of looks like Alex and Bennett.

What's a klutz?

2009-10-18T13:55:00.008-06:00

Me!!
Apparently fast walking for exercise on old uneven sidewalks is not good for some.

I tripped, caught myself with my hands, and barely hit the sidewalk with my head.
result?

Big shiner
and fractured wrist!

surgery tomorrow.
left handed temporarily.
ps: ever tried to close side zip pants or dress in female apparel with one hand only? That feels klutzy.

a grandparent's happy moment

2009-10-18T13:43:00.006-06:00

Last weekend Clyde and I flew to Maryland to see the 4 week old triplets born to Emily and KC. I was so happy to see and hold these special little miracles. They are so perfect! Every moment with them was a new thrill. Each night I try to memorize and recall each sweet face: Alex, Bennett, and Ruby. I could not contain my tears of gratitude for this long prayed for miracle.

Bushed!

2009-10-02T18:49:00.002-06:00

This week was a marathon work event. My responsibility was to oversee the implementation of a new product for communicating with graduate prospects and applicants, and newly admitted students. One person came out from Cincinnati and I spent 9 - 5 with her every day, intensely building content for web pages, 7 emails for 55 departments, filters for sending all the emails on a schedule, figuring out data issues and more.
Imagine trying to manage it all - 55 departments, 7 emails each, 7 areas of content for each program web page, 4 communication plans, 97 users. I can't even do the math. I am bushed!!!

And, I don't know how to find photos on the internet without the stock photo logo. oh well. On to my NAP.