Happy birthday, Julie!
Since you got me started in this blog business, I might as well write about your birth day.
You came 5 days early, not that tripping on a hole in the carpet at the old church where we were speaking in the Spanish Ward and falling to my knees down two steps in front of everyone had anything to do with it.
I went into labor around 6:00 a.m. the next morning. My brother, David, was coming over at 9:00 to help your Dad move the furnace over so we could add a room downstairs. Your Dad said I had to hang on ‘til after that. I did, but not without a few complaints. After the furnace got taken care of (first things first) David stayed with the 4 older kids while we went to the hospital. As we were going out the driveway, I noticed a rose that was ready to bloom. I told your Dad to bring it to me when it bloomed. He came into the room that evening with a lovely rose hanging limply over his hand. Sister, Kathy, had sat on it in the car. But it survived. That was back in the days when children could not come in to visit but could stand on a certain place on the lawn and I could wave down to them.
When I was on the delivery table you were still kicking. The doctor said I would have a big, active boy. I told him, No. It’s a girl and her name is Julie.” (pre-sonogram days) Hey, you were my 6th baby. I was pretty good at figuring it out by then. Sure enough, when you were born he plopped you on my stomach and said, “Here’s your Julie.”
You were our biggest, healthiest baby. Our only concern came when you were about two weeks old and decided that projectile vomiting was great entertainment. We could count on it after your 6:00 p.m. feeding. That lasted about two weeks and then you settled down to be a delightful baby with BIG blue eyes and a ready smile.
You were an explorer and a CLIMBER. Dad about had a heart attack when he was up on the top of the house repairing the roof. He heard, “Daddy!” and turned around to find you at the top of the18’ ladder. We weren’t sure you would reach the ripe old age of two.
We’re glad you did. We’re proud of you and your many accomplishments. Reflections awards in literature, piano festival trophies, chamber choir, scholarships, and a masters degree to name a few. You’ve brought us a lot of joy as well as presenting us with a great son-in-law, our first grandchild and three other wonderful grandchildren to follow.
You’ve come through the rough times in your life with flying colors. You’ve learned what your priorities are and you are doing a super job as a wife, mother, daughter, friend and daughter of God.
Hang on to your dreams. We love you.
Mom and Dad
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
GRADUATION CHEERS
Our baby just graduated from law school. There should be an appropriate picture here but my camera battery was dead and my kids haven't sent me their pictures YET. So picture black robes with red velvet bands on them.
Anne (pronounced Annie) walked across the stage to the cheers of her family and friends. Her parents, four sisters and two of her brothers let out a loud synchronized “Wahoo, Annie!” In other graduations our family has participated in, the practice of yelling or clapping for individuals was strongly discouraged but happened occasionally anyway. Good grief! A student has worked hard to reach a proud point and all he/she merits is a quick reading of a name (often poorly pronounced) and a dash across the stage as the next name is announced? I liked Anne’s graduation ceremony. Each name was read loudly and carefully as the student paused at the front and then walked across to be handed a diploma by the dean BEFORE the next name was read. Several students waved, or held their hands up high or did a 360. Everyone cheered and clapped. I think my favorite was the little boy behind us who stood up on his seat and yelled, “Way to go, Grandma!” It was nice to be able to let out a loud cheer instead of a synchronized whisper (which also carries amazingly well.) It was a joyful occasion, as it should be. Each of these graduates had worked hard to be there. As we were informed by the slightly long but informative introduction by the dean, there were ten applicants for every available spot in this class of 2007. Anne, our tall willowy blond with a million dollar smile was, of course, the most beautiful one there.
Going to law school was Anne’s own idea. She graduated 3 years ago with a bachelor’s in recreational therapy management. From her years of summer work as a counselor in wilderness survival programs for troubled youth, part time work in a detention center and an internship in a therapeutic school for boys, she decided she wanted to be involved in the juvenile court system. She saw a need for good compassionate judges, prosecutors and defenders. So, after securing a great job, she decided leave it and spend the next several years in poverty to study law.
This is typical of Anne’s life. She decides what she wants in life, researches and considers the pros and cons, makes her decision and goes for it. Law school was that way. During her 3 years of study she was on the law journal staff, wrote and had published a paper based on her freshman intern experience, was a member or the national moot court team and won a contest for designing a new law school T-shirt with the creative help of her brothers.
Anne has an amazing ability to care for others. She loves babies and older people and people with physical and mental challenges. She has lots of friends because she is a loyal friend. Maybe because her budget is tight or because she is creative and willing to give of herself she thinks up great Christmas presents like a packet of foot soaking salts complete with a total foot massage (painted toenails, too) or climbing up on the roof to put up and take down our Christmas lights, or sewing or making things for friends (quilts, framed photos, sky diving pants.)
Can you tell that I am proud of Anne along with all my kids? It was so fun to share this wonderful occasion as a family.
Wahoo, Anne! Go for it!
Anne (pronounced Annie) walked across the stage to the cheers of her family and friends. Her parents, four sisters and two of her brothers let out a loud synchronized “Wahoo, Annie!” In other graduations our family has participated in, the practice of yelling or clapping for individuals was strongly discouraged but happened occasionally anyway. Good grief! A student has worked hard to reach a proud point and all he/she merits is a quick reading of a name (often poorly pronounced) and a dash across the stage as the next name is announced? I liked Anne’s graduation ceremony. Each name was read loudly and carefully as the student paused at the front and then walked across to be handed a diploma by the dean BEFORE the next name was read. Several students waved, or held their hands up high or did a 360. Everyone cheered and clapped. I think my favorite was the little boy behind us who stood up on his seat and yelled, “Way to go, Grandma!” It was nice to be able to let out a loud cheer instead of a synchronized whisper (which also carries amazingly well.) It was a joyful occasion, as it should be. Each of these graduates had worked hard to be there. As we were informed by the slightly long but informative introduction by the dean, there were ten applicants for every available spot in this class of 2007. Anne, our tall willowy blond with a million dollar smile was, of course, the most beautiful one there.
Going to law school was Anne’s own idea. She graduated 3 years ago with a bachelor’s in recreational therapy management. From her years of summer work as a counselor in wilderness survival programs for troubled youth, part time work in a detention center and an internship in a therapeutic school for boys, she decided she wanted to be involved in the juvenile court system. She saw a need for good compassionate judges, prosecutors and defenders. So, after securing a great job, she decided leave it and spend the next several years in poverty to study law.
This is typical of Anne’s life. She decides what she wants in life, researches and considers the pros and cons, makes her decision and goes for it. Law school was that way. During her 3 years of study she was on the law journal staff, wrote and had published a paper based on her freshman intern experience, was a member or the national moot court team and won a contest for designing a new law school T-shirt with the creative help of her brothers.
Anne has an amazing ability to care for others. She loves babies and older people and people with physical and mental challenges. She has lots of friends because she is a loyal friend. Maybe because her budget is tight or because she is creative and willing to give of herself she thinks up great Christmas presents like a packet of foot soaking salts complete with a total foot massage (painted toenails, too) or climbing up on the roof to put up and take down our Christmas lights, or sewing or making things for friends (quilts, framed photos, sky diving pants.)
Can you tell that I am proud of Anne along with all my kids? It was so fun to share this wonderful occasion as a family.
Wahoo, Anne! Go for it!
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Sad news
I'm sorry to report that the injured missionary died yesterday afternoon. His mother reports that they are doing well and will return to Utah on Monday. Please continue to pray for this wonderful, faithful family.
Express your love to your own family and friends. We never know when one of will be taken. After my younger sister died in a car accident a year ago. Her children resolved to never say goodbye to each other without also saying I love you.
Express your love to your own family and friends. We never know when one of will be taken. After my younger sister died in a car accident a year ago. Her children resolved to never say goodbye to each other without also saying I love you.
Friday, May 4, 2007
POWER IN PRAYER
I'm breaking my rule of not posting while at the office because I need to put my feelings in writing and to ask for your help.
Some of you may have seen or heard on the news that an LDS missionary serving in the state of Washington was critically injured in a bicycle /SUV collision. We learned this morning that he is the son of one of our dear colleagues here in the translation department. She and her husband have flown to be with him. The doctors do not expect their son to live, but miracles can happen. There has been a real out-pouring of love and concern here in the translation division. We are all praying for him and for his family and would ask you to join us.
There is great power in prayer.
Just to let you know what kind of a person his mother, Uini, is: She was supposed to bring her very large rice cooker for a celebration here today, so last evening, after they got the news and before leaving, she made a trip here to bring the rice cooker and the rice. She is a sweet, gentle, giving person and it breaks my heart to know how she must be suffering. But, she is also a woman of great faith. We can just hope and pray that the Lord’s will be done and that the family of this noble young missionary be blessed with comfort and strength.
We can all be comforted in the knowledge that God has a plan for us and that he knows us and loves us.
Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.
Some of you may have seen or heard on the news that an LDS missionary serving in the state of Washington was critically injured in a bicycle /SUV collision. We learned this morning that he is the son of one of our dear colleagues here in the translation department. She and her husband have flown to be with him. The doctors do not expect their son to live, but miracles can happen. There has been a real out-pouring of love and concern here in the translation division. We are all praying for him and for his family and would ask you to join us.
There is great power in prayer.
Just to let you know what kind of a person his mother, Uini, is: She was supposed to bring her very large rice cooker for a celebration here today, so last evening, after they got the news and before leaving, she made a trip here to bring the rice cooker and the rice. She is a sweet, gentle, giving person and it breaks my heart to know how she must be suffering. But, she is also a woman of great faith. We can just hope and pray that the Lord’s will be done and that the family of this noble young missionary be blessed with comfort and strength.
We can all be comforted in the knowledge that God has a plan for us and that he knows us and loves us.
Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.
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