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.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
NEED MORE SLEEP
Last night, rather late, I was going to make a quick post just to see if I could do it instead of the usual agonize over it for 2 hours kind. But when I tried to go online I got the irritating message “This page could not be displayed, etc, etc.”
It was a sign that I should go to bed and get some rest so I wouldn’t fall asleep over the keyboard today like I did yesterday. I need 6 hours of sleep, no more, no less. Lately I’ve been trying to get away with less.
Did you know that if you fall asleep with your finger on the enter key you can wake up and find 69 pages of returns?
It was a sign that I should go to bed and get some rest so I wouldn’t fall asleep over the keyboard today like I did yesterday. I need 6 hours of sleep, no more, no less. Lately I’ve been trying to get away with less.
Did you know that if you fall asleep with your finger on the enter key you can wake up and find 69 pages of returns?
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
THE PEOPLE ON THE BUS sequel to the Wheels on the Bus
People,
Like colors
Of the rainbow,
Add variety to our days
As they arc across our lives.
I can only assume that there are unwritten bus riding rules that state:
1) A single passenger entering the bus must occupy one seat of any remaining double seat until aforementioned double seats are all occupied by a passenger. Only then is a rider allowed to take a seat next to an occupied seat. This will assure that couples or close friends will not be allowed to sit together unless one of them leaves work early and walks 3 blocks to get on at an earlier stop or stands in line for 15 minutes in order to claim a double seat.
2) A single rider may sit on the aisle seat and plunk his/her bag on the seat next to them in order to keep both seats. This action may be nullified only if the bus is totally full or if some brave soul dares to ask to sit there.
But then there is George who takes a double seat and then gives it to us so dh and I can sit together. I’d like to meet George’s wife. She is brave enough to pull in front of the bus and stop so that he can get on, causing one bus driver to say, “That’s the first time I’ve been pulled over by a Camry!”
One morning we had just left the transit station when one of the passengers went to the front of the bus and asked the driver to stop. He stopped and the passenger walked quickly toward the gas station as we drove on. It wasn’t until the next morning that we found out the problem….diarrhea attack!
There are a number of approved activities for the hour long bus ride:
Sleep (with or without snoring)
Read scriptures or other books or at least start to read before you fall asleep.
Knit or crochet.
Apply make-up.
Tie the necktie which you threw around your neck as you ran out the door.
Solve Sudoko puzzles.
Play games on palm pilots.
Work or play on computers.
Conduct business on the phone.
Visit with your neighbor even if he his trying to finish an assignment on his computer.
Stare out the window.
Put on ear phones and listen to music. (Best if just loud enough for others to hear a teasing bit of percussion).
Listen to books on tape or conference talks on ipods.
Watch movies on your new minature DVD player. This only happened in January. The novelty must have worn off.
Observe other passengers.
The first and last on the list are my two favorites.
We like to give our fellow riders nicknames:
Roadrunner sits as close to the front as possible, often jockeying for departure position. He gets off at the most popular stop and takes off with a long stride that has him up to the corner and sometimes across the street before the last of the departing passengers are off the bus. We’ve seen him in the cafeteria and he eats like he rides the bus. He can down a hamburger in 4 bites.
Bag Lady gets on a few stops after us. She has long red hair, loud clothes, drags a huge bag on rollers up the steps with two more bags plus her purse. She wears ear muffs and overpowering, sickly sweet, heavy, sting your nose, “I took a bath in it” perfume. Can you tell the perfume really gets to me?
The Tall Man must get off work one minute before the bus arrives. He runs across the street (jaywalking of course) and barely makes the bus. On crowded days he often has to stand in the aisle on the way home with his head almost scraping the ceiling.
The Lawyer reads her scriptures, takes a blanket out of her bag, puts a mask over her eyes, curls up and goes to sleep. Since she’s a lawyer no one dares question the fact that she takes up two seats. See rule number 2 above. I like her because one day she loaned me an extra pair of reading glasses when I left mine in the car.
Victor (That’s his real name.) strikes up a conversation with whomever he is next to and maintains it the whole trip. He knows everyone by name even the bus drivers. He seems to have an aversion to wearing suits on the bus as he wears casual clothes and then changes at work.
Good Morning, America doesn’t ride the bus anymore. I miss him. He always got on and greeted us all with a smile and a loud, “GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.”
I just have to add my pet peeve:
Cell Phone Users who talk at TOP VOLUME on their cell phones all the way home. They must have a better calling plan than I do. One young man stood three seats behind me and called one person after another and spoke L-O-U-D-L-Y to them the entire trip. I was about ready to ask him to put his phone on speaker phone. We might as well have listened to the whole conversation as we were being forced to hear his three-fourths of it.
I will miss our fellow passengers when we’re no longer taking the bus. We will have to occasionally make the trip just to say, “Good morning, everyone”.
Like colors
Of the rainbow,
Add variety to our days
As they arc across our lives.
I can only assume that there are unwritten bus riding rules that state:
1) A single passenger entering the bus must occupy one seat of any remaining double seat until aforementioned double seats are all occupied by a passenger. Only then is a rider allowed to take a seat next to an occupied seat. This will assure that couples or close friends will not be allowed to sit together unless one of them leaves work early and walks 3 blocks to get on at an earlier stop or stands in line for 15 minutes in order to claim a double seat.
2) A single rider may sit on the aisle seat and plunk his/her bag on the seat next to them in order to keep both seats. This action may be nullified only if the bus is totally full or if some brave soul dares to ask to sit there.
But then there is George who takes a double seat and then gives it to us so dh and I can sit together. I’d like to meet George’s wife. She is brave enough to pull in front of the bus and stop so that he can get on, causing one bus driver to say, “That’s the first time I’ve been pulled over by a Camry!”
One morning we had just left the transit station when one of the passengers went to the front of the bus and asked the driver to stop. He stopped and the passenger walked quickly toward the gas station as we drove on. It wasn’t until the next morning that we found out the problem….diarrhea attack!
There are a number of approved activities for the hour long bus ride:
Sleep (with or without snoring)
Read scriptures or other books or at least start to read before you fall asleep.
Knit or crochet.
Apply make-up.
Tie the necktie which you threw around your neck as you ran out the door.
Solve Sudoko puzzles.
Play games on palm pilots.
Work or play on computers.
Conduct business on the phone.
Visit with your neighbor even if he his trying to finish an assignment on his computer.
Stare out the window.
Put on ear phones and listen to music. (Best if just loud enough for others to hear a teasing bit of percussion).
Listen to books on tape or conference talks on ipods.
Watch movies on your new minature DVD player. This only happened in January. The novelty must have worn off.
Observe other passengers.
The first and last on the list are my two favorites.
We like to give our fellow riders nicknames:
Roadrunner sits as close to the front as possible, often jockeying for departure position. He gets off at the most popular stop and takes off with a long stride that has him up to the corner and sometimes across the street before the last of the departing passengers are off the bus. We’ve seen him in the cafeteria and he eats like he rides the bus. He can down a hamburger in 4 bites.
Bag Lady gets on a few stops after us. She has long red hair, loud clothes, drags a huge bag on rollers up the steps with two more bags plus her purse. She wears ear muffs and overpowering, sickly sweet, heavy, sting your nose, “I took a bath in it” perfume. Can you tell the perfume really gets to me?
The Tall Man must get off work one minute before the bus arrives. He runs across the street (jaywalking of course) and barely makes the bus. On crowded days he often has to stand in the aisle on the way home with his head almost scraping the ceiling.
The Lawyer reads her scriptures, takes a blanket out of her bag, puts a mask over her eyes, curls up and goes to sleep. Since she’s a lawyer no one dares question the fact that she takes up two seats. See rule number 2 above. I like her because one day she loaned me an extra pair of reading glasses when I left mine in the car.
Victor (That’s his real name.) strikes up a conversation with whomever he is next to and maintains it the whole trip. He knows everyone by name even the bus drivers. He seems to have an aversion to wearing suits on the bus as he wears casual clothes and then changes at work.
Good Morning, America doesn’t ride the bus anymore. I miss him. He always got on and greeted us all with a smile and a loud, “GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.”
I just have to add my pet peeve:
Cell Phone Users who talk at TOP VOLUME on their cell phones all the way home. They must have a better calling plan than I do. One young man stood three seats behind me and called one person after another and spoke L-O-U-D-L-Y to them the entire trip. I was about ready to ask him to put his phone on speaker phone. We might as well have listened to the whole conversation as we were being forced to hear his three-fourths of it.
I will miss our fellow passengers when we’re no longer taking the bus. We will have to occasionally make the trip just to say, “Good morning, everyone”.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
WACKY WEDNESDAY
This was one of “those days.” Nothing was going right.
Started out with a bad headache for the FIFTH day in a row.
My hair would not cooperate. DH said I was beautiful anyway. He’s funny that way.
About an hour into the work day I was kindly informed that my blouse was ripped out in the back under-arm seam. My 2 month old blouse was literally falling apart. Not just in the arm seam but in two other seams as well. Fortunately I had worn a jacket. Unfortunately it was too hot to keep on all day. I kept my arms down and my shoulders back. Aha! New way to improve your posture.
I had a deadline to meet before 9:20. Thought about skipping prayer meeting. Not a good idea since I had the scripture thought and I need all the prayers I can get.
The headache and accompanying nausea were making it hard to concentrate, so I finally decided to take the really strong medication which gets rid of the headache but makes it hard to stay awake. The two Tylenol from earlier were not making one bit of difference.
Made the deadline (barely) but had to ask David (my sanity saver) to check it to make sure I hadn’t made any really stupid mistakes.
Feeling really overloaded and gloomy. I didn’t even feel I had time to read one single blog. Now that’s really sad!
Moved groggily on to the next deadline which was looking really overwhelming. I was close to tears.
Our supervisor came in and said, “I don’t think I have told you lately how very much I appreciate both of you and everything you do.”
Wow! It’s amazing how fast the sun can come out!
The day was still busy but it was a good day.
Thank someone today. You may change their whole outlook.
Scripture thought:
Joshua 24:15 . . . Choose ye this day whom ye will serve; . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
In today’s crazy world with so many demands on our time and loyalties, it’s important to know who’s on the Lord’s side.
I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord and am convinced that all else will fall into place even on wacky days.
Started out with a bad headache for the FIFTH day in a row.
My hair would not cooperate. DH said I was beautiful anyway. He’s funny that way.
About an hour into the work day I was kindly informed that my blouse was ripped out in the back under-arm seam. My 2 month old blouse was literally falling apart. Not just in the arm seam but in two other seams as well. Fortunately I had worn a jacket. Unfortunately it was too hot to keep on all day. I kept my arms down and my shoulders back. Aha! New way to improve your posture.
I had a deadline to meet before 9:20. Thought about skipping prayer meeting. Not a good idea since I had the scripture thought and I need all the prayers I can get.
The headache and accompanying nausea were making it hard to concentrate, so I finally decided to take the really strong medication which gets rid of the headache but makes it hard to stay awake. The two Tylenol from earlier were not making one bit of difference.
Made the deadline (barely) but had to ask David (my sanity saver) to check it to make sure I hadn’t made any really stupid mistakes.
Feeling really overloaded and gloomy. I didn’t even feel I had time to read one single blog. Now that’s really sad!
Moved groggily on to the next deadline which was looking really overwhelming. I was close to tears.
Our supervisor came in and said, “I don’t think I have told you lately how very much I appreciate both of you and everything you do.”
Wow! It’s amazing how fast the sun can come out!
The day was still busy but it was a good day.
Thank someone today. You may change their whole outlook.
Scripture thought:
Joshua 24:15 . . . Choose ye this day whom ye will serve; . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
In today’s crazy world with so many demands on our time and loyalties, it’s important to know who’s on the Lord’s side.
I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord and am convinced that all else will fall into place even on wacky days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
