My Little Girl

This is just one of the many faces of Jennie--"The Platypus", which has made me smile for at least two decades. Jennie may be physically small, but she's HUGE in personality, and spirit, and confidence, and love. She laughs at Erma Bombeck books, cries at U2 concerts, takes spills in stride, and makes the world's best quesadilla. I just got off the phone with her, at the finish line of the half marathon she ran in New Hampshire this morning. In a little over 2 hours. She dreamed up this challenge for herself several months ago. It was a stretch to get ready, what with two little ones, and supporting Dustin in devoting himself to his studies, and the huge amounts of time and love that she gives to her sisters in Relief Society. But she did it. Like she always does. I'm so proud of my beautiful little daughter. I want to be like her when I grow up.

Dreaming Dreams, And Then Some

Here's the story of Maisie DeVore, whose example of saving for a pool inspires me. Daring to dream a dream is the huge first step. But continuing to work tirelessly toward its fulfillment, in the face of seeming impossibility, is the part that eludes most of us. Many years ago, when he was a little boy, Jake dreamed of playing college basketball, and in a few weeks he'll head off to Virginia to begin doing just that. Maisie dreamed of building a swimming pool for the children in her town. See how she finally made that happen. Both remind me of the truth my mother always taught me: "Can't is a sluggard, too lazy to try."

Happy

I'm so happy that my very best girlfriend is in town. Jennie and Dustin and the kids are here for a far-too-short visit. I love every minute they are here, whether we're doing the platypus, having a waterfight and then reading books in the "secret place", or going to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Openhouse.

Last week I went to the temple, and came out with the same message I usually come out with: "Be happy". That's what the Lord has asked us (well actually commanded us) to do. Here is a poem that says the same thing to me. It's from a book of Good Poems, collected by Garrison Keillor, which I gave to Jon to take with him to Alaska. He gave it back to me and told me he probably wouldn't have much reading time, so to just post some of my favorites on my blog. So this one's for you Jonny. It reminds me not to wait until all the sadness is gone to be happy.

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountain and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

It's Official. I'm Old.

Sniff, sniff........

The Last Dance

Prom was last night, and Jake went out in style for his last high school dance. Couldn't have had a hotter date than Taylor (his brothers have had a crush on her since she was in 6th grade). And couldn't have had cooler wheels than Coach Shell's Lexus convertible. A good time was had by all.
Thanks Coach!

My other favorite pianist named Jon

Someone shared this video with me and I loved it, so I wanted to pass it along. This is definitely my kind of music.

Love Story Meets Viva La Vida

That's My Boy

An era has ended. It has been a long one.....many years of enjoying watching Jake play basketball. I have always enjoyed watching my children play. I remember when they were little, sending them out to the back yard so I could get something done in the house, then I would just stand at the window and watch them play anyway. But basketball has been extra special. Jake has put his heart into it. It's where many of his best character traits show themselves most observably: hard work, tenacity, loyalty, determination, friendship, team work, obedience, leadership. Not to mention talent, intelligence, and an irresistible sense of humor.

I love you Jake and am proud to have been your biggest fan for all these years. Perhaps you'll bless another team at the next level. But whether you do or don't, you've blessed my life more than you'll ever know.

Golden Girls

Remember this old camp song about friends?

"Make new friends but keep the old,
One is silver and the other is gold."

Here's to some very golden ones. This cute phone photo was sent from San Diego, where my darling friends were celebrating (unfortunately without me) our graceful collective entry into middle age. Okay, we entered that a while ago, but there's absolutely no denying it now. Just as I tried to warn them, this photo confirms that they were unable to have one bit of fun since I wasn't there. :)

Simple Truths

"The process of living seems to consist in coming to realize truths so ancient and simple that, if stated, they sound like barren platitudes. They cannot sound otherwise to those who have not had the relevant experience....every generation starts from scratch...." C. S. Lewis

Big Snow

One week ago was the big snow. One of the biggest storms I remember in a long long time. It may not rise to the level of those "Where were you when..." moments for most people, but I'll remember where I was during the storm of January 5, 2009.

I was stranded. A couple of times. And rescued.

My battery died in the grocery store parking lot. After scanning my phone list thinking about who I could call for help on a night when the roads were extremely hazardous and the conditions very harsh, I opted to ask a stranger who happened by to give me a jump. Gratefully, he did. I waited a few minutes, then put my car in gear to back out. It died again. Totally, stone cold dead. Thought I'd have to wait for the man to come back out from grocery shopping to ask him for a repeat. But I was getting very cold, so I asked another guy. This time I sat and idled for some time before attempting to move, and then drove around the parking lot for a while before daring to venture out on the roads, intending to go straight to Walmart for a new battery. Heat was out of the question, even though I was FREEZING. And I only occasionally used the wipers, even though the snow was still falling very heavily. I finally went out on 800 North, revving my engine at every slight pause. About two blocks down the road my visibility was zero because the windshield was all fogged up on the inside and totally covered with snow on the outside. I had no choice. I slowly switched on the defrost, and my car immediately died. I got off the road, but not comfortably. Started calling for tow trucks. Three hour wait times. Freezing. Dark. Worried every time a car(or especially a snow plow) passed. Phone battery almost dead...... Blah blah blah. You get the pathetic picture.

Let's get to the good part.

All of that vulnerability was very memorable, but the part I'll never forget is when Jon pulled up behind me and honked. It was a huge emotional sigh of relief. I got out and walked back to his car, and sat down on a wonderfully warm seat. Thank you Jon. For coming out in the storm to rescue your mama, and for being the kind of young man who would think to turn on the seat warmer before you got there.

For reference, here's a picture of the snow on my deck, several days later. A lot has melted, but you get the basic idea of how much snow fell in a few hours time.

Danny

I'VE HEARD IT SAID
THAT PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIVES FOR A REASON
BRINGING SOMETHING WE MUST LEARN
AND WE ARE LED
TO THOSE WHO HELP US MOST TO GROW
IF WE LET THEM
AND WE HELP THEM IN RETURN
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE
BUT I KNOW I'M WHO I AM TODAY
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...