The increasingly faster merry-go-round called Life

My life feels like a book left out on the porch, and the wind blows the pages faster and faster, turning always toward a new chapter faster than I can stop and read it.
-- Nancy E. Turner, These Is My Words

*I started another book club with the ladies in my neighborhood. I'm not sure what I was thinking, like I've got time for one more thing. But I'm excited. I love books and I love to read. Just wish I could carve out more time.

*Tyler is busy getting our yard ready for June. We signed up to be in the Tooele County Garden Tour and that means devoting some time to yard work.

*Ash turned 11. Holy moly. I can't believe next year she's gonna be in young womens with me. She scored a lunch date to Costa Vida.

*Erik is in full swing with tennis, playing 3rd varsity singles. After talking to his previous coach, sounds like that's not a bad place to be. He still has room to grow without all the pressure. Unfortunately, it also means some stiffer competition from last year. Undefeated is no longer part of his vocabulary.

*Kiersten and shopping go together like oil and water. Finding time to do it is nearly impossible. We had a date set to go prom dress shopping Friday after her piano lesson. This meant I could catch some of Erik's tennis match. Just as I was pulling out to go, she came home and her lesson had been cancelled. No tennis match for me. That extra half hour was a god send, enabling us to get to two places instead of one before they closed.

The second store was gold. She was pleased and I was ecstatic that I didn't have to find a third place to browse. She is gorgeous and will look stunning in a couple of weeks.

She also received her ACT score back this week: a 32!! 

Just what she wanted. That puts her in the running for a full tuition Presidential scholarship from USU. The science portion that she thought she bombed actually went up a couple of points.

*Nate and Ash took an international math test. Not sure they did all that great and not sure we'll do it again.

*Church basketball is over for another season. I always love when the games start and I always love when it comes to a close . . . just in time for soccer to start.

*Alex won the Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies in our family for March Madness. His secret: I take time when I fill it out my bracket and pick good teams. Oh, how he has gloated. When three of us picked Michigan St. to win the whole thing, it was pretty much downhill from there when they lost in the first round. As a side note, Alex also told us how he doesn't ever want to visit Indiana. And why is that? Because they have Indians, duh!


*Nate had Solo Ensemble and Kiersten graciously agreed to accompany him so I wouldn't have to. Love having talented musicians in our family.


Our latest craze is the ukulele Ashlyn got for Christmas. I've learned enough that I serenaded her on her birthday by playing Happy Birthday.

*Me and the girls joined Grandma Jules and Natalie on an impromptu Thursday-night-school-night date. We all love the show My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The sequel came out, mom was in town for a surgery, and spontaneity was the name of the game. Sometimes those spur-of-the-moment activities are the best. The movie reminded me so much of the show Mamma Mia that I belted Abba tunes all the way home with my girls, who got home much later than their typical bed time.


*The family relished in the San Diego sun during spring break. But that's another post for another day.

Good things
sunshine
beaches
yard waking up

40 years

The Salt Lake Temple was completed in 40 years, Moses and the children of Israel wandered for 40 years, and I'm one day past entering the promised land. So far it's been pretty good, full of Cheetos, cheesecake, Simply Orange, and chocolate orange sticks just like Joshua and Caleb said it to be. Or maybe they meant fruit and milk and honey. The steady climb up through my 30s sure had its ups and downs but I've crested and I'm certain the downhill side of 40 is going to be the bomb. I know it because my momma told me so. Who doesn't like going down rather than up.

I remember the day my papa bear turned 40.

Oh how 40 seemed so old. Do I look that old? I certainly don't feel it. I guess pictures never lie and they also tell a 1000 words.

Roller coaster week of emotions for Kiersten

Monday Kiersten got asked to prom by her friend Boy #1 in an unusual turn of events. He actually wanted to ask another girl and this girl was excited and waiting. Kiersten and Boy #1 even talked at lunch about how it would all go down. Then later Boy #1 handed Kiersten a note that said he was too chicken to ask her (Kiersten) face to face and would she go to prom with him.

Well this threw her for a loop because she was privy to a little information that Boy #2 was going to ask her, someone she's been hoping would.

Tuesday was the ACT test day for all juniors. She and Boy #1 went to lunch afterwards in celebration of it being over. Again, she tried to talk him into asking this other girl. In dropping him off at his car in the school parking lot, she accidentally backed into another car, causing some minor damage (bottom dent and scrape, not the top one).

Oops!

I was in Salt Lake and she was in the truck. A call home to dad was made, wondering what to do. He advised her to leave a note with her information on it and meanwhile he called dispatch and they decided to send an officer. Kiersten came home and picked him, and while they were waiting for the cop in front of the school, the little black car she hit drove by. So a chase was pursued (not really, but it sounds cool). They followed her to her house and ironed out all the nitty gritty.

Tyler made a few phone calls to auto body shops and meanwhile we're waiting to see what the final verdict is and hoping we don't have to go through the insurance.

As Kiersten is telling me all this, she also mentions how the ACT test kind of stunk, especially the science portion. The kids in my English class the next day backed her up. Nobody was happy with it. She's taken it once before and got an incredible score. Her counselor on Monday pretty much told her that it would be extremely hard to increase it by even a point. But a point is the difference between full tuition for 4 years at Utah State and half tuition at the same school.

The good news of the day was Boy #1 texted her to say he got brave and asked the other girl. Now Kiersten is dateless. And what a shame if she doesn't really get asked again.

Fast forward to Thursday.

Thursday night a knock came to our door. Ash and Alex were quick to respond, finding a canning jar of popcorn, a note on the doorstep, and someone in a hurry to get away.

As we're all investigating this gift left for Kiersten, a knock came to the door again. This time Boy #3 was at the door making sure he got the right house. So now she's got a second chance at prom. Boy #2 should know that all the cute girls are going to get asked and you don't want to be the slow one.

Grandpa Sharm gave her a tip on how to respond. It included Hot Tamales and Mike n' Ike's. She put one red Mike n' Ike in the box of Hot Tamales and said if he finds a sweet one, the answer is yes.

Kiersten basically has three groups of friends she likes to call family. The orchestra group that Boy #1 is apart of. The cross country group that Boy #3 belongs to. And her regular friend group that her other dance dates have come from. I think I just ended all those sentences with prepositions. Is rethinking and rewording even necessary at this point in my post?

I guess we're in the market for an orange prom dress (we've already got the orange sweatshirt). Keeping my fingers crossed that either we find one or find something that will be good enough.

What a week of up and down emotions.

Good things
working in my yard
temple nights
fitbit

Green Christmas coat

For years my little sister Angie has chided me about my green Christmas coat, telling me I really need to get with the times and update my wardrobe.

I got that coat when I was heading to college 22 years ago and it has served me well. We've bonded over the years and telling me to get rid of it was like telling me to get rid of a longtime friend. Some things you just don't do.


Right before Christmas the zipper broke. How's that for timing. Seems it always goes the other way, breaking right after Christmas.

Tyler talked me into getting a new one and I have been in love. Forgive me my old green friend, but I'm moving on.

Bye bye green coat. Hello to new green coat. Hoping this one lasts just as long.


Good things
sunshine
sisters
faith

Provo City Temple Open House

Temples are the greatest university of learning known to man, giving us knowledge and wisdom about the creation of the world. Washings and anointing tell us who we are. Endowment instructions give guidance as to how we should conduct our lives here in mortality.

--Robert D. Hales, BYU Devotional Address, November 2005

This past week I took advantage of the couple of days the kids had off from school and took them to tour the new Provo City Temple Open House. I love these opportunities they've had to visit so many in our little Mormon-saturated part of the world.

Draper

Oquirrh Mountain

Payson

And now Provo City.

As I was attempting to find parking, I kept looking for the temple. It's not so visible as some temples since it occupies part of downtown Provo and isn't really on a hill. But soon the Angel Moroni was spotted and I knew we were in the right vicinity. It reminded me of the trip to Seoul, Korea with Tyler when we were also trying to find the temple there and it was the angel that led us to it.

Keep your eyes on the temple and you will always be on the right path.

Kiersten invited her friend Trenton to come along. He is not a member and has been somewhat interested in things. In December she took him to Temple Square to see the lights since he'd never been. They toured and he asked questions and that's when she suggested he come with us to see the inside of one. A seed has been planted; only time will tell what comes of it.

As we watched the short introductory video before the tour, the part that got me and that gets me every time is when Elder Holland says that heaven just wouldn't be heaven without his wife and children. Amen to that. The single life just does not appeal to me.

I'm going to share a little doctrinal insight that President Rose gave at a seminary morningside a couple of weeks ago about the temple.

Doctrine and Covenants 84:19-20

19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.

20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

Reworded:

19 And this MELCHEZEDEK PRIESTHOOD administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the TEMPLE ORDINANCES, even the key of the knowledge of God.

20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the CAPABILITY OR CAPACITY of godliness is manifest.

Temple covenants and ordinances give man the capability to become like God.

If we go to the temple to learn who God is and to become like him, wouldn't the same kind of learning take place in the hereafter?

Aren't there probably temple ceremonies in the after life but without the physical signs and tokens being made (because obviously they don't have a physical body)?

Isn't that why temple work is so important, enabling each person without a physical body the opportunity to progress toward Godhood if they choose? 

Just some thoughts I've been stewing about for several days.

Daddy Whiskers

I just walked in the house from dropping Alex off at the bus stop and gave a barbaric yawp (Dead Poet Society was our weekend movie) because I could. Because no one was home. Not even Tyler who is on a business trip for 2 days. Because I haven't had a quiet house to myself for awhile.

And while walking up the street, I decided I didn't want to spend my precious few hours finishing the laundry or cleaning some bathrooms (which I had determined I would do upon my arrival back at home). Instead I'm simply doing something I want to do and which I get very little time to do lately. Blog.

Monday I took four of the kids to Big 5 to get some shoes for Trek coming up this summer. While at the checkout line, Ash and Alex oogled and awed over Daddy Whiskers.

You see, we have Baby Whiskers at our house and Alex desperately wanted to add to his collection.

I firmly told him no and for him to put it back. A half hour later all 6 of us piled out of van at home. Um . . . we only had 5 on the way there!?!?!

Alex, the Great Houdini, had managed to sneakily whisk Daddy Whiskers out of the store and into the van without a soul seeing him.

This was a great teaching moment as we talked about stealing and the consequences. It was already late by the time we got home, but I knew I couldn't let a day go by without returning our little stuffed pet. Alex and Ash and I piled back into the van and made the 40 minute trip to Big 5. Alex reluctantly gave his friend back and apologized. If it had been up to him, he'd have simply walked into the store and put it back on the shelf. But I told him that part of fixing what he did was he needed to tell the store employee.

I would like to report that he felt much better afterwards, but he didn't. He still felt miserable wanting that stuffed dog. I do believe it will be a memory he will be able to look back on.

I clearly remember a similar incidence when I was about Alex's age, maybe a little older.


My friend Lynn and I had walked down to Morley's, a grocery store in our little town (the taller, white building in the back).

We wandered and gazed and looked and I ended up walking out with some bubble gum. My mom asked me where I had gotten the gum from and when I told her I had taken it from the store, she promptly made me spit it out (no enjoying stolen contraband) and took me back to pay for it. That was a hard thing having to fess up about something I'd done wrong.

All kids are going to make mistakes, but they can be turned into learning/teaching junctures if we seize that crucial moment.

Palmyra, New York 15 years ago

In 2001 Tyler was working for Fidelity Investments and had to travel to Boston and Rhode Island for work sometimes. This particular work trip we was scheduled to be there for several months. When that would happen, the company would fly the spouse out for a rendezvous.

So in January of 2001, 15 years ago, I found myself leaving two babies behind with grandma and boarding a plane by myself to fly across the country. I was slightly nervous with only a 1000 butterflies in my stomach. My connecting flight was on time and I eventually made it to Providence, Rhode Island where I met up with Tyler and we went out for seafood.

Ten days to myself was luxurious. Tyler would work during the day and I would hang out at the hotel. No diapers, no bottles, no working around nap times. A few times I ventured out on my own but the nights were when we would hit the town. One time is was up to Boston where we got to visit the temple that still didn't have a spire on it due to the controversy with the neighbors not wanting it (eventually everything got settled and the spire was put on).

I rode the subway for the first time. I would SOOO love to go back when its not January and see more of the historic sites. I've always imagined autumn to be a beautiful time to visit the eastern states.

One weekend we ventured over to Palmyra to visit the church historic sites. The trees! I couldn't get enough of all the trees that lined the freeway and pretty much every street. And I loved the homes that were set back from the road, hidden in the trees.

Our first stop was Clifton Springs, New York, a 15 minute drive southeast from Palmyra to see the hospital where my mother-in-law Laura was born. Her parents were there helping with the upkeep of the Joseph Smith farm and she came two months early.


The Hill Cumorah came next on our stops. It was much larger, taking in more area than I ever imagined. I can only wonder what the hillside and surrounding country might look like in early spring. With snow on the ground and biting cold air, you don't stay long to really appreciate much.

Joseph Smith's log home and the Sacred Grove was a short distance from the hill. I walked into that grove and didn't stay long because of the cold, cold air.

The Palmyra temple sits not too far from the home and the grove. It had only been in operation a short nine months before we came along.

It was time for lunch and then a visit to the Grandin Press. Tyler's dad has worked at a bindery his whole life and Ty has dabbled in the printing business as a copy editor thus making this place quite intriguing to see how books were actually made at that point in history. What a tedious, laborious job to actually set all the characters by hand . . . backwards. Oliver Cowdery, as he wrote the translations Joseph Smith dictated to him, never included any punctuation even though he was a school teacher by profession. It wasn't until the book went to press that punctuation was added. The Book of Mormon took only 63 days to translate and seven months to have printed so that all may read the words. Joseph Smith didn't want to send the original translation to the printer, so he had Oliver rewrite the translation and make another copy. This is the reason it took seven months to print. They could only go as fast as Oliver Cowdery could write.

We toured Peter Whitmer's home before finding lodging for the night. That was an adventure -- not Peter Whitmer's home but the lodging.

This was in the days before the internet really became a way to find information. I believe we looked in the phone book and found a place and reserved the room. But then to find the place took an act of faith and an even greater act of faith to actually stay. But it was a bed and we were tired. I so badly wanted a HOT bath but didn't dare in our little budget motel. At first light we were out of there only to discover 20 minutes south was the town of Canandaigua with several hotel chains we could have stayed at.

But back to the Whitmers. A story was relayed to us at the visitor center about how Joseph and Oliver were feeling hostility in Harmony as they progressed in their work of translation. Oliver wrote to his friend David Whitmer, asking if he could come and get them and if they might stay at David's father's home (Peter) as they continued in their project. It was springtime and much needed to be done to get the fields ready for planting. 

"[David] had some twenty acres of land to plow and concluded to do that and then go. 'I got up one morning to go to work as usual,' he says, 'and on going to the field, found that between five and seven acres of my land had been plowed under during the night. I don't know who did it; but it was done just as I would have done it myself, and the plow was left standing in the furrow. This enabled me to start sooner.'

Nor was this the only assistance of like character given to him. While harrowing in a field of wheat before starting on his journey he found to his surprise that he had accomplished more in a few hours than was usual to do in two or three days. The day following this circumstance he went out to spread plaster over a field, according to the custom of the farmers in that locality, when, to his surprise, he found the work had been done, and well done. David Whitmer's sister, who lived near the field, told him that three strangers had appeared in the field the day before and spread the plaster with remarkable skill. She at the time presumed that they were men whom David had hired to do the work." (Comprehensive History of the Church, B.H. Roberts)

God is in the details of our lives and surrounds us with everyday miracles if we have eyes to see.

Oh, how I loved that trip. But I was so grateful to get home to my babies. Erik didn't remember who I was and grandma and grandpa did a dandy job fattening him up with too much ice cream. Isn't that the job of a grandpa?