Post Vacation

If you follow my blog, be warned. I won't be posting for a bit, since I seem to be too busy to get to the computer to write anything earth-shaking. If my thoughts and/or life events start bursting forth in glory, I'll be back sooner than anticipated. Otherwise, come back in a couple of months.

Love ya'll.

Celebrating Tax Day?

We don’t celebrate tax day. Who does? People who receive refunds? We DO celebrate Merrell’s birthday, which happens to fall on the same day. Thanks to family, the celebrating phase of the event lasted a week!

At the beginning of the week, the Widts took us to the movie, How to Train Your Dragon, and then out to eat.

Before dinner, we sandwiched in the production of L’s play, The Devil On My Shoulder. Each member of her TMA class had to write a play, but only a couple were selected for production. It’s no surprise that L’s play was selected. Her play was easy to follow, well-written, and thoughtful. Great job, L.

The main actor in the second play was unable to attend and called in with some excuse. YIKES! If you’d like to know why he really missed the performance, click here. www.heraldextra.com/.../article_f24cbc85-a50b-5986-a443-887f1d5ee905.html

After that little side adventure, let's return to a more pleasant topic -- the birthday.
On April 14, Mom took us to lunch at Red Lobster. We shopped at Deseret Book, stopped to pick up a prescription at Rite Aid, and spent the afternoon at Mom’s house. We really know how to party.
On April 15, Joe took Merrell to lunch. That evening we saw C’s 5th grade program. The 5th graders sang their hearts out and danced a little too. I love to watch children perform. There’s something about being in an elementary school gym that warms my heart. Truly.

C: Grampa, you’re going to love our program.
Merrell: I know I will.
C: But, Grampa, you’re going to especially love it because all of the songs are OLD, and one dance is really OLD -- The Virginia Reel.

(FYI: The songs went way back to the 1950’s. That’s 60 years ago! When I was 10 years old, 60 years would have taken me back to the 1880’s. That puts it all in perspective!! )


The boys, T and C, were so excited to have us come to their house after the program. T said there was going to be a BIG surprise, and then another surprise, and then another surprise, and then another surprise. Oh yes, many surprises: Signs, door decorations, balloons, and an ice cream cake with 71 flaming candles that gave off more BTUs than the furnace. (Thanks P and L for being the fire-makers!)



April 16 we were still celebrating! The whole clan gobbled up everything in sight at the Pizza Pie Cafe and then waddled to Fat Cats to try tossing the ball.











April 18 Shauna invited us to her home for dinner. She wasn’t there (busy lady), but Paul prepared a delicious salmon and shrimp dinner with all the trimmings. Thanks, Paul T.

Merrell didn’t want any gifts. He just wanted TIME with family. In this busy world, the gift of time generally requires a greater sacrifice than using a credit card. Thanks everyone for the time and the phone calls. He definitely got his wish!!

Oh Barbie!

We took our granddaughter, C., shopping so she could choose her own birthday gift. She emphatically stated that she wanted a Barbie doll!

We didn't buy this doll because it's the 1959 original
and would cost thousands!

C's mother agreed with her choice of gifts, but wisely suggested, “Since we don’t dress like Barbie, see if you can find a Barbie doll that is dressed modestly -- not too outlandish!”

We didn't buy this one because
the poor thing is covered with tattoos!

Upon entering the toy section of Wal-Mart, it became obvious that Barbie had not read For The Strength of Youth. Her fashion outfits included spaghetti straps, strapless gowns, cleavage, bikinis, low tank tops, short short dresses, etc. It was difficult, if almost next to impossible, to make a modest choice, given Wal-Mart’s display of outfits.

We didn't buy this one because it was not for sale at Wal-Mart,
but WHAT in the WORLD??

We didn't buy this Barbie, because....well, just because.

Ultimately, my granddaughter chose a Barbie that was pretty conservatively dressed. Good for her. Good for her mom. Dressing modestly, and thinking about what modesty means, starts when you’re young. As the twig's bent, so dresses the girl – or something like that!

Barbie’s been around for 51 years, so I’m guessing everyone has an opinion, observation, and/or memory concerning this doll. Oh Barbie!

Home

Think of a member of The Young Ambassadors.

Did you picture a talented singer, dancer, and/or actor
whose countenance shines?
One of our student office assistants is a Young Ambassador,
and BOY does he fit that description!

Last week he was invited to sing a solo at one of the Young Men training sessions prior to conference. He was given two days notice. He practiced the notes and words at his desk. His iPod earphones were secured, but his voice floated quietly throughout the office.

Since I can’t share the music,
I’d like to share the words to this beautiful song.

I WENT HOME
Music by K. Newell Dayley (Also composed I Feel My Savior’s Love)
Words by Ralph G. Rodgers, Jr.

Joseph sings:
It was there in my home that I learned long ago
The lessons that carried me through
All the trials and strife that stood in my path
As from child to man I grew.

It was there in my home that I learned how to play,
How to work and the meaning of love.
I learned from example the power of prayer.
I grew close to my Father above.

I remember the nights with my family so close;
How we laughed, how we sang, how we prayed.
I learned from my family the lessons of life.
And I grew with my mind unafraid.

Then on that clear spring morning,
I went to the grove as a youth.
I needed to have an answer.
I went in search of truth.

And after that glorious moment,
When they had talked to me,
I rose from my knees, I ran up the path,
I wanted the world to see.

That the lessons I’d learned through those fourteen years
Were not meant for me alone.
I knew what to do; I knew where to go.
I went home,
I went home,
I went home.

Saturday, April 3, 2010. As I listened to conference today, talks about family and home were plentiful. Home. No better place to grow.

March Madness

March Madness is not all about basketball at our house. However, we really really enjoyed watching BYU play this year, and we loved watching our grandchildren run and shoot.

Here are a few March shots (basketball and otherwise).

What? Where did the ball go?

It's coming down any minute. I think.

Over 6000 members of the SOT (Society of Toxicology-- or whatever) held their annual meetings in Salt Lake City. Young Dr. Hansen is a member. Go figure. Each member was supposed to infuse $800 into Utah's economy. J stayed with us. We didn't charge him $800. Go figure.

Hugs are good.

Food is good too.

C earned a superior rating. Well done!

So clever.

Off to serve in Tennessee.

Grampa's girl (shares his name, ya know).

Happy 95th Birthday, Aunt Maxine.

Lit Events

Lit, Literary, Literacy, Literature, Literate
It’s all the same to me!

Gramma’s my name.
Literacy’s my game.

OK, that’s pretty corny, but also pretty much true. I spent over 20 years getting paid to encourage kids to read. Now I do it for free!

I don’t want to take any credit for the fact that my grandchildren are all such great readers. I just want to tell them, and their parents, how button-bustin’ proud I am of each and every one of them for READING. Some enjoy it more than others, but all CAN read.

Thank a teacher.
Thank a mom and dad.
Thank a brother or sister.
Thank an aunt and uncle.
Thank every member of our extended family.

“Fortunate we are to rub shoulders with educated folk.” (Yoda)

C, L, G, G, and GG all spent "An Evening with Richard Peck" at the Provo Library. Peck has written over 30 books, but A Year Down Yonder (Newbery Winner) and A Long Way from Chicago (Newbery Honor) are probably his most famous. My opinion.

We arrived early, but still had to wait in line.

Such a nice man to autograph our books.
Unfortunately, he would only sign 2 books per person.

Such a nice man to let us take his picture.

Reading with Dad at school.
(Well, Dad couldn't come, so Grampa substituted.)

Reading and writing go together.
Yes, that's right, they do.

Thanks to one fantastic PTA volunteer, Brad Wilcox spoke to the 3rd-6th graders for Literacy Week. He is such a fun friend to the youth, a marvelous motivator, and a totally awesome speaker!

(What did we do to deserve such wonderfully smart
children and grandchildren?)

A Historic Week?

Airports are fabulous. They make everyone smile and smile again. This semester we flew to Washington, D.C. the week of March 15.

The House voted on Sunday, March 21.
A historic day.
Obama-Care was resurrected and passed -- 219 to 212.
Does anyone care what the public wants?

Democrats cheered.
Security and care will be provided for millions.

Republicans gnashed their teeth.
More debt. One step deeper into an entitlement society.

The week prior to “the vote” did not make everybody smile. However, we were not in D.C. to participate with the 9,000 tea party activists protesting Obama's Health Care Reform, or to ban together with the groups protesting immigration and/or Afghanistan.

We observed the National Mall “set-up” for the protest events, and a few poster carriers riding the metro, but our purpose was to visit our student teachers and see the sights. That we did.

Yes, this week will go down in history. For us it became a “brush” with a historical event that SOME are grateful for and ALL will pay for! History tells us that U.S. social reform is never repealed. Time will reveal the ramifications of this historic day.

For once the weather was fantastic!! Temperatures varied from the low 60s to the high 70s. The pictures below are the best yet of the historic building used as a Civil War hospital and now as a performing arts high school.

Our J&J and M&M DC days of sightseeing took us to The Air and Space Museum, The National Art Gallery, The Museum of Natural History, The American History Museum, The Capitol Building, The Library of Congress, The Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and Arlington Cemetery.

There are lots of things to see, do, and feel in D.C.

Spend hours in the Air and Space Museum.

Turn your back on the National Art Gallery.

Turn to the right and stand in front of the Washington Monument.

Turn to the left and stand in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Walk, walk, walk,walk,walk.

Stand by the only DaVinci painting in the United States.

Enjoy the inside gardens of the National Art Museum.

Experience the inside of a shark's mouth in
the Museum of Natural History.

Allow Georgia to be on your mind at the
WWII Monument.

Blow your top at the WWII fountain.

Enjoy the beautiful weather.

Pose as "The Three Amigos."

Feel very small compared to Lincoln.

Walk from the American History Museum to the Capitol.
It's a long way. Stand in front of the west side of the Capitol.

Sense a bit of moisture forming on your forehead. Definitely warm.

I try to learn something new each time I visit D.C. Here's my newly acquired knowledge:

(1)The current Statuary Hall (internet photo above) inside the U.S. Capitol once housed the House of Representatives (1807 to 1857).

Brass plates on the floor show desk locations of Representatives that also served as Presidents. John Quincy Adams' desk location is sometimes referred to as "The Whispering Spot." As the story goes, Adams pretended to sleep, but actually was listening to political rivals whispering across the room.

The fun part was when our guide walked to the other side of the room, cupped her hands, and whispered close to the floor, we heard everything she said, and the room was filled with noisy people! Cool!
(2) Our Capitol guide asked, “Who’s buried in George Washington’s tomb?” Her answer, “Nobody!”

When the U.S. Capitol was designed, a tomb underneath the rotunda was intended as the burying place for George Washington. However, Washington specified in his will that he wanted to be buried at Mount Vernon, not under the U.S. Capitol. The tomb remains, but is empty. Unfortunately, Capitol tours do not include viewing this tomb. I didn’t even know there was a tomb in the Capitol. This photo came from the internet too.

Stand in front of the Library of Congress
with the east side of the Capitol in view.

Just try to take in all of the paintings, symbolism, and statues
displayed in the Library of Congress. Impossible.

Feel reverence and patriotism at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Lots of things to see, do, and feel in Washington, D.C. Guess we'll go back again. Tired feet. Weary bones. It's all worth it when you can go with family. Thanks J&J and K&C for making our trips memorable.