Unexpected Journaling

I'm a complex combination of packrat and not-a-packrat. I hate clutter and love shelves and organizational systems. If everything has a place to go when it is not in use, then I'm happy, even if there's a lot of it and it is not always in it's place. On the other hand, I've grown ever fonder of the idea of a small house with very little stuff in it. Back to the first hand, I habitually save stuff. Doesn't make much sense, I know.
I'm good at purging stuff that has outlived its usefulness, like clothes and shoes and out of date decor, etc, but memorabilia, specifically anything that has a connection to a certain moment or a relationship, is really difficult for me to give up.
This morning, I had some time and got to work on my routine email purge. I save a lot of it because I have a computer with a huge hard drive and it doesn't really take up that much space. It just looks scary to have a 4 digit number of messages hanging around. As I filtered out the true junk mail and then got down to the personal emails from human beings I actually know, an interesting pattern emerged. It was a kind of journal. Each message brought back a particular memory, surprised me by causing me to realize how short my memory is (I thought that happened in 06, not 05...) and formed a sort of narrative of my life. I think what I am going to do now is, when I sort and file my emails, I'm going to have a folder for "journal" emails that pinpoint a place in time or offer insight into an event or emotion. My story is not big or exciting or made up of dramatic events, it is a million little things. Here is one more way to record some of them.

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Good Feeling

Among the several charity organizations for which I knit and donate, Afghans for Afghans is one of the ones I have very warm feelings for. They are a wonderful group of committed, caring people who have figured out a totally non-partisan, peaceful way to make a difference in the face of war. They have rallied knitters and crocheters all over the US and Canada to make wool blankets, hats, mittens, sweaters and other items for the people of Afghanistan. I know there are lots of needy people right here in the US, and I know that it might seem like a small knitted item from a stranger far away would not make much of a difference, but my heart tells me differently. I just feel good about helping the people of this particular country. They've been at war for so long, and I have been aware of their struggles in a major way ever since I was about 14. The mission of A4A goes along with my attitude toward the current political climate in the US. Frankly I'm tired of it, and my motto is "Shut up and do something." I can't stop the wars, I can't totally understand the reasons behind them, I can't always know what's really true, and I can't stop the media from making everything so scary. But I can send a pair of socks to a lady in San Francisco who will put it on a plane to Afghanistan. And some little kid might have warm feet this winter. Maybe that kid will get a good feeling and pay it forward someday. And on and on. Maybe.
Over the past couple of years, I have tried to knit something for them every year. This year it was socks and hats. Here is a slide show of the kids receiving the socks that were sent over in the spring. In the very last picture, the pair of socks 2nd from the left on the front row is a pair I sent! Now I can put that little face with my socks and think of that boy or girl wearing them. I think she's a girl, but most of them seem to have their heads covered, so I'm not sure. This just makes my day. I share this not in the spirit of self-aggrandizement, but in the spirit of the pride I feel for the good people who do this, the love I've developed for the people of this nation, and the little light of hope that it plants in me to have this tenuous but now tangible thread of connection between me and a child so far away.

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Comfort and Joy

It's Christmas morning and everything is pretty cozy here. After a wonderfully spiritual yet fun-filled Christmas Eve, which is where we really focus on the religious significance of this holiday, Santa made his rounds and everyone seems happy. Our gifts get simpler and simpler each year, as the kids mature and start to understand the difference between needs and wants and also to understand how blessed they already are. There was also more spontaneous giving between the siblings, which was heart-warming to see. A breakfast of Eric's waffles rounded out the traditional part of the day nicely. For us, the tradition of Christmas day is that there are no traditions. Usually it is the deep breath after all the preparations-we tend to stay in jammies, nap, read new books and watch new DVDs until we feel like doing something in the afternoon, like a walk outside, a trip back to my mom's or a movie. My son Jeff, who is serving a mission for our church in Panama, will call this afternoon, and that will be a highlight. We may have some webcam chats with friends and family, and that will also be lovely. I am overwhelmed by the love and generosity that I and my family have been the beneficiaries of this holiday season. I'm so thankful for this time of year when, regardless of beliefs, everyone seems to be looking for the light and opening their hearts just a little more.

Here are some highlights from last night at my Mom's:

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Help to Make the Season Bright

WARNING: This post contains candid scenes from inside my head. I'm not as crazy as House, but...Viewer discretion is advised.



My nemesis is sneaking up and lurking in the corner again--D. E. Pression is hanging around and just will not go away. I feel like I'm being stalked and I've watched enough Law and Order to know that I don't have to be a victim of stalking. Someone tall and handsome and a just little surly will come to my rescue, right?


I've been holding the creep off pretty successfully for a few weeks, but he is getting pretty insistent. I absolutely refuse to let him get me, so today was a day of service, present-wrapping, recognizing miracles like just the right person calling at just the right moment, shopping, singing loud to the stereo, cleaning, and making ta-da lists. Being aware and proactive really helps. For me, a little healthy anthropomorphizing helps as well (for those of you who aren't geeks like me, that's the process of picturing of my problem as a person and talking about him derisively).

Here's the ta-da for today:
Evan and I had to go to Target at the unholy hour of 5 pm to get a birthday present for a party that I heard about in passing while at a concert last week, but never heard from the mom about or saw an invitation. Therefore, it was not on my radar and the need for a gift was unknown to me as I was out shopping earlier in the day. Because I'm working so hard to keep my emotions under control, Not only did I not get upset, but I consciously decided to make it a memory instead of a nightmare. I told Evan to strap himself in for an adventure. We counted how many cars back we were from traffic lights, made bets on how many cycles of said lights we'd have to wait through, estimated the distance of our parked car from the store in light-years, fantasized about having the
Millennium Falcon show up to help us get out of the traffic, turned up the rock and roll and sang loud while we air-guitared and drummed, timed how long it took us to get out of the parking lot (18 minutes and 42 seconds), and other stuff like that. We ended up laughing our heads off at times, and believe me, I needed the endorphins. I appreciate his fabulous sense of humor. Miraculously, in spite of the insanity of the parking lot, Target was a dream-no lines, friendly people, etc. Even better was that they had THREE packages of my ridiculously hard-to-find favorite toilet paper (I am a TP snob like Mendy). I was literally climbing the shelves to get the last one. That definitely goes in the count-my-blessings file.

Anyway, I'm keeping ugly old D.E. in time-out in the corner. He'll get tired of waiting and leave eventually, but until then, I am incredibly grateful for all my blessings, chief among them being the people in my life right now. As long as I have something to do for or with someone else, I'll be fine. I have lots to be thankful for and lots to look forward to. The fact that I have delivered not one plate of cookies, sent not a single card, nor sent out thank you notes from my birthday 4 months ago is not a reason to let the villain in and entertain him. Some people are wonderfully talented at the niceties. How I love and admire them. I want to be them when I grow up. For now, I will look up to them and keep trying to just be nice. Like most people, I'm my own worst critic, but there is just no time for that at such a happy time of year. I need to remain positive.

The upshot for me is that I think it really is true that if you smile at the world (even if it is a slightly fake smile), the world will smile back. Usually.


So I will keep smiling. Thanks for always smiling back.

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Training has begun

This past Saturday marked 16 weeks till the next race I'm in. My friend and I are going all out. She's never finished a marathon so we are going go for the whole enchilada: 26.2 miles. Yep, I have lost my mind as a matter of fact. But ironically, running is where I usually find it long enough to keep going in the craziness of life. I often joke that I run because I'm too clutzy to participate in any other sport, but the fact is that I really love it. I know I function better in every way when I make the time to do this, and I'm grateful that after law school was done, that Eric has been willing to support me for the last 8 years of off and on long-distance training and running. I'm also grateful for my friend Ken who lit the fire in my belly when he and a couple of other guys in our ward were training for a marathon in 1999 and I thought to myself-are there no women in the ward who are doing this? Then it became a challenge. I did that first one with no real research, no training partner, and even without decent shoes. I quickly learned about the shoes (they are worth every single penny that you have to spend) and have also learned the value of trusting in someone else's expertise, so I train using proven techniques. I complain at times that it hasn't helped me to lose any of my baby weight, but I have to say that I'm sure it has helped me to stay at a stable weight in spite of genes and eating like a mom for all these years (I can't possibly waste this half-eaten sandwich, and it won't keep, so I'd better just eat it...)
Anyway, just for my own little brain, I've put up a countdown and I'm going to keep track of my training miles. It's not meant to brag or bore, but this is part of my journal now, so, bear with me.

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Another Sick Day

Now Evan has a fever, so maybe the virus has morphed into an infection. Bless his heart. He is taking it like a trooper, though it means we missed the church Christmas party and then will miss church today. The storm never came, which is not a bad thing. Life around these parts, where folks are largely unaccustomed to winter weather, does get annoying when storms come through.
Anyway, I now find myself with a long day at home instead of a fairly busy day of choir practice and church. Not a bad thing either. This weekend was nice, with a good mix of Christmas cheer and getting things done. I learned that the term "White Elephant" does not always mean what I think it means, but that you can still have fun. Ha Ha. Thanks to Christie for being and extremely good sport. I also learned that a taste of the Nutcracker Ballet is just as much fun as the whole thing, especially when there are friends with you. I am just about ready to get all my mail out tomorrow. The 225 stars are finally painted. Packing the advent calendars will take a bit of work, but I think I have it figured out. Come chat if you see me in the long post-office lines. I'll be the one with the two giant IKEA bags full of packages and my knitting.

Also, I thought this was very interesting from a leader of the LDS (Mormon) church that I belong to.

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Days go by

Evan is sick today. Poor kid. He really wants to go to school, but he's got a miserable sore throat. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), it is not strep. It is the same nasty sinus thing Sam, Eric and I had that involves nasty post-nasal drip that just wears out the throat. So, no help from meds for him (the unfortunate part). I will take him back to the Dr., just in case, but I feel fairly confident the test will be negative again. My sinus-y thing lasted 3 weeks. So, today I will tend to him while I listen to Christmas music, watch for the storm, and putter around at getting a myriad of Christmasy and photography projects out the door. He is a very sweet, grateful little sick person. When I bring him sodas to sip or a bowl of soup, he says, "Thanks, mom" in the cutest way. The main way you know Ev is sick is that he slows down. He is such a happy, active little guy that when he sleeps late or takes a nap or just lays on the couch under his Spongebob blankie, he is NOT feeling well at all. Today he doesn't even have the energy for a video game. That's serious.

Yesterday was lovely-I got to go to another fun get-together with friends. Heavenly. My favorite moment was when one very young friend named Eli came and grabbed my two hands, looked into my eyes and earnestly asked me to come race cars with him. Of course I did, how could I refuse such fun? I hope that children I meet will always try to forget that I'm significantly taller than them and see the little girl in my eyes who will always want to get on the floor and play.

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What Matters

Two of my favorite holiday traditions happened this week: The Ornament Exchange and The Cloverhill Holiday Dinner. They represent friendships that have spanned the years and weathered many ups and downs.


The women in the ornament exchange are all among my most long-lasting and enduring friendships-at least one I've known since I was about 17.





Over the years, the ornaments I've collected have become sweet reminders of the times we've spent together. This gathering even spans moves and changes because it was begun by my friend Jill before she moved to Omaha, and it goes on without her here, but I always think of her. Now we have a new friend-but she is the sister of an old friend, so I've known and spoken her name for many years. It's like she was always with us. So fun.

The women of Cloverhill Yarn Shop are the wonderful people I've worked with over the years. Some have become intimate friends and others are respected colleagues, and all are admired.

I have more gatherings of both friends and family coming up, and I will trade a lot of the trappings and usual holiday expectations to make sure my schedule will allow for these precious memories. It really is the relationships that matter. I love the gifts and the ornaments and the food, because they remind me of the relationships, but just as they discovered down in Whoville, even if all that were gone, what matters most would remain.

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Good Soup

Here was a successful new recipe. The combination of savory, curry and sweet is one of my favorites. This was so good I am glad it made a huge batch. I'll be living off this all week. I am going to freeze some as an experiment. Skip if you're not into squash-I just love it.

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup Note from Kellie: Peeling the raw squash is a pain. I recommend that you prepare the squash as follows while the onions and then the apples are cooking, or do it completely ahead of time, or buy already cut and peeled squash: Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Place halves face up on baking sheet and roast at 350 for about 45 minutes, till soft. Scoop the flesh from the rind and add to the pot. Puree, add cider and adjust seasonings as indicated. You can also microwave the squash, but roasting adds better flavor.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons good olive oil 4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large) 2 tablespoons mild curry powder 5 pounds butternut squash (2 large) 1 1/2 pounds sweet apples, such as McIntosh (4 apples) 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 cups water 2 cups good apple cider or juiceWarm the butter, olive oil, onions, and curry powder in a large stockpot uncovered over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the onions are tender. Stir occasionally, scraping the bottom of the pot. Peel the squash, cut in half, and remove the seeds. Cut the squash into chunks. Peel, quarter, and core the apples. Cut into chunks. Add the squash, apples, salt, pepper, and 2 cups of water to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, until the squash and apples are very soft. Process the soup through a food mill fitted with a large blade, or puree it coarsely in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pour the soup back into the pot. Add the apple cider or juice and enough water to make the soup the consistency you like; it should be slightly sweet and quite thick. Check the salt and pepper and serve hot.

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Merry Craigslist!

I do love a bargain, and Santa just scored big. Thanks to Craig's List I was able to get two major gift requests for my kids for less than a fraction of what just ONE of them would have cost retail. All I have to do is drive a little, and that's okay--more time to listen to Christmas music!

Ironically, the catalog madness has started up again after a brief respite. Today's count was 14, and yesterday's count was 6. The funny thing today was that I got 5 different Sierra Trading Post catalogs. I love their stuff, though and found a few good deals. No weirdies today. Maybe they've all given up.

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Cozy

Why I love the first snowy days of the season:

Everything inside feels cozy with flakes coming down outside the window.
The light is different because of the reflection off of billions of icy crystals.
The world is damped to near silence.
Time seems to slow down as I wait to hear if plans have changed.
When things get canceled it feels like an extra evening gets dropped into my lap.
The kids can't wait to play outside.
I love the sight of their boots and coats draped all over the living room.
It goes so well with Christmas decorations.
Even the suburbs are pretty in the snow.
The cycle of the seasons seems complete.

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Traditions

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7:30 am and All's Well

I slept in today till 6:30. The house is still quiet an hour later. If I let them, everyone will sleep till at least 9, with the tweeners sleeping even longer. That's when you know they're teenagers or going to be soon. They just love to sleep. When they get the chance, I let them, because they work pretty hard all week. Sam is so whipped from wrestling and cutting weight (arrgggh) that he has been going to bed at 9. That is weird for a teen.

Johnathan started work at Costco yesterday. He did a full shift: 11-7. I am very excited for him and his 11 bucks an hour. He got to work most of the day with a friend, Derek, which isn't a bad way to start a new job. He has at least one other friend working there, also. It has been an interesting journey to this point with Costco. He applied back in the summer and they called him right away, before the store even opened. To give a little background, and without this being any kind of a judgement on any other individual or family's beliefs or practices, we have taught our kids that the Sabbath (Sunday for us) is not a day for working if it can be avoided, and that it should be avoided actively. Johnathan has decided to adopt this belief and practice for himself. So, when they called a couple months back and told him he would have to work on Sunday, he politely told them he would not because of religious conviction, and they politely told him no thanks. So he applied for several other jobs, and just never got called. We kept hearing that Costco was shorthanded and Johnathan should call back for reconsideration. So he did, twice. Twice he was told the same thing. As much as I wanted him to get a job, I did not want to suggest that he compromise his personal integrity by standing down on his Sabbath beliefs. I knew there would be other rewards, even if it wasn't in the job market. So, a couple of weeks ago, they called him back, not for an interview or any questions, but just a straight up drug test. They said they needed seasonal help and still had his application. So we figured he was hired if they went to the expense of a drug test. The end of the story is that he went Friday for orientation, asked about the Sunday thing and this time they said, "No problem." He started up the next day and said it went well. I don't know what will happen from here, but I'm glad he is starting his working life with this experience. Doing what you believe is right is not always easy and it doesn't always bring obvious rewards, but his knowing that he was true to himself will stand him in good stead for the rest of his life. At least I hope it will.

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My Gift to Myself

I just bought my Christmas gift. I went to the store and bought 6 0r 7 pre-made meals: Lasagna, marinated salmon, non-homemade stuffed shells, frozen pizzas, etc. They were not inexpensive, and I could have done the freezer thing, which I often do, but my heart rate is already elevated about 20 points as I look at the calendar and start negotiating with Eric about how we fit buying a tree in between my seminary meeting, the Stake Presidency's Christmas reception and the wrestling team service project. Then I have to face the fact that I have to miss both Evan's first band concert AND Sam's first meet because I scheduled a class 6 months ago on a Wednesday night, etc., etc., repeat approximately three times a week till Christmas... Now, however, several cold but precious reminders that I was in fact born into the millenial modern age and not onto a 19th century farm are now in my freezer, standing at the ready to save me from ordering pizza without a coupon on those upcoming pre-holiday nights when dinner preparation falls to the bottom of the long list. I feel so much better knowing that in the next month, there are at least a few days for which dinner is made. I can handle coming up with a salad on a busy night.

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Memory Noodles

Whenever I care for someone small during the day, my kids always figure out that fact when they walk in the door and see the toys and books that are still out. The first question is, "Who was over playing today?" Then they ask if the little one is still here and are usually disappointed when they're not. They are sweet in that way. An advantage of being the oldest cousins perhaps. They really enjoy younger kids.

Today the clue was the play-doh out on the table. Earlier in the day, my young friend and I had a blast with the play-doh, and I hadn't cleaned it up entirely. When Evan saw it on the table, he immediately went to the drawer and got out his favorite play-doh tool from his younger days-the garlic press. He and Sara made "noodles" for a good half hour and then when Ev got home from scouts, he made some more. It was fun to watch them take a break from hours of GT homework and emails and video games and get lost in simple play for a few minutes. They just grow up too dang fast.

Today, the catalog count was 6. The deluge has become a comparative trickle. The unusual catalog today was called Cloudveil. At first I thought it was my Patagonia catalog, which I've never ordered from but drool over like an issue of National Geographic. It is similar in look, feel and price. They don't have the front-end, high-visibility environmental comitment that Patagonia has, but it looks like nice stuff. I hope I get a few more really weird ones to laugh about. I am in awe of the power of the sale of mailing lists.

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On the Road Again

Today I went back up to PA to a wonderfully cozy new yarn shop in a little town called Seven Valleys. It was a beautiful drive, just over the border and a few miles off of I-83. The owner was in one of my classes at a conference and now I am going to be teaching for her. We get along well and were able to work together easily. She's done a really great job rehabbing of all things an old butcher shop and making it warm and inviting but chic and well put-together. The walls are a soft sage green and the old, gigantic freezer doors are painted in a barely-metallic soft coppery color. It really works.

Anyway, I left the house at 9:15, got home around 1:15, napped for a minute or two, then got going on the usual afternoon activities. It was a good day. Tonight I am alternately working on proofing pictures and writing scriptures on Advent Calendars. I will not be getting them all sent in time for December 1, but I am really okay with it. I'm proud of myself that I'm not depressed or yelling at my kids or pulling all-nighters to get them out the door. I'm finally getting that there is little in life that is worth that kind of stress. I'll have them all done by the weekend, and that'll do pig, that'll do. Everyone helped me pound nails and paint stars for FHE last night and it was really fun to work together. It will be a fun memory that will be woven into the calendars that hopefully my family will use for many years. If I had gotten them all done last week when I wanted to, I might have missed that moment.

Now this catalog thing has become an obsession. Even the kids are in on it now. Today's count was 11. That included two copies of Title Nine Sports, one of my favorite catalogs and my 4th Lands' End Catalog in a week. No Joke. I have not ordered from Lands' End in about 5 years. There is a tie for the winner of today's unusual catalog and I have nothing but complements for both: Pajama Gram, from whence you can order a gift of fun jammies and other accessories to be sent to your pal on just the right day; and Wind and Weather, from whence you can order all kinds of nifty, geeky weather predicting and monitoring items, as well as interesting timepieces, windchimes, and the like.

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Teachy Monday

Today I taught 3 private lessons. I am enjoying my private students very much. Most come regularly-once or twice a week-just like piano lessons. We talk a lot in an hour of knitting per week--I mean shoot, I don't talk to many of my friends for a whole hour in a week. As a result, I get to know these women pretty well. They are good women, and it is truly satisfying to see them progress on their projects. Here are some of my favorite things happening with students right now (Names have been replaced by letters):

-A's family told her they think the blanket she is making is ugly (it is not) but she has decided not to listen to them any more and be proud of her work. That made my day because she sometimes does listen to them and will abandon projects because she feels ashamed of them.

-B's daughter is getting married and I found a pattern for a knitted Chuppah, which is the Jewish Wedding Canopy, that (even though it might sound weird) is incredibly beautiful. It is lace, like a shawl, made of silky white yarn held together with a strand of silver.



I suggested she make it. She was afraid she couldn't do it, but decided to try. She's doing great. I LOVE it when people change their minds about their abilities.

-C is 77 years old and is recovering from multiple health issues in the past couple of years. She used to be a master knitter. Now, she has trouble with numbness in her fingers and is not "getting" the instructions as well as she used to. She won't give up though, and is determined to finish the two projects she is working on. She is learning to be patient with herself and honor the progress she makes each time we meet. She is an inspiration to me.

How blessed I feel to be part of these women's lives. I hope that they will always leave our sessions feeling stronger about their abilities, never doubting themselves more than they already sometimes do.

Today's catalog count is 21. That's TWENTY-ONE! IN ONE DAY! Holy cow. The winner for the most random, unheard of, never ordered from catalog is.....Bits and Pieces. It is a puzzle company. Some of their offerings are quite cool, if you like puzzles. Some are, well, not so much. They have, among other things, Native American Russian Nesting Dolls. Hmmm. Is it possible that cross-cultural understanding can go too far? Mostly though, I hope that someone has been helped along in the quest for the perfect gift.

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Thanksgiving

Here is our "small" Thanksgiving: only 10 people together. Top to bottom is Jakey, Evan, Sophie, Josh, Cheyenne, Sam, Dave, Steph, Me and Eric. The rest of my family was in Tennessee (Mom and Pop; my Sara; Randi, Dave and their three boys), Colorado (Amy, Aaron, their two boys; my Johnathan; Steph's Chad; Ryan), Arizona (Mike, Tina, their two; Mandi and Tim and their little guy), California (Phil and Alex and their two), and of course, Panama (Jeff). Our day here in Maryland was great-quiet, full of good food, good conversation, plenty of playing together, washing of dishes and web-cam conversations with the other pockets of family scattered about. There were few leftovers, so I made a big batch of mashies yesterday to eat with my turkey sandwiches. Tomorrow comes the soup. Can't wait. It will bubble in the crock pot while we're at church and be so very yummy to come home to.

Friday was a photo day. I had two shoots: Corinne's family reunion-so much fun-and a senior photo shoot for a boy in my seminary class. They both went well. It's fun to take pictures of people I really like. Last night, on a whim, some friends and I went to see August Rush. It was sweetly romantic enough to pull me in and make me cry, but if you don't make it to the theater, don't worry about it.

Today, the family begins to come back together. Johnathan made it through Atlanta Airport (I was worried all day) and got home a few minutes ago. Evan is back from his extended cousin sleepover at Steph's. Sara gets back tonight or tomorrow morning. It will be sooo good to have everyone back together. For now, we are firmly in the testosterone zone as the boys revel in football games and working on cars. I was going to get all kinds of things done today, but instead I went to PA with a dear friend to visit a yarn shop in East Berlin. Such pretty country up there.


After a lovely morning catching up with Elizabeth and a good ole' chicken-fried, country lunch at Cracker Barrel outside of York, I came home and crashed. The cold I've been pretending not to have all week because it just wasn't a good week to be sick has finally caught up with me. I'm losing my voice (hopefully I'll be able to croak out the song for choir tomorrow since I talked all my kids into joining the choir with me), and just feeling generally whipped. I do have to get some laundry done, though. So I'm trying to decide what movie to watch while I fold. Hmmm.

I've decided to add a new feature for the holidays: Every day I get about 4 pounds of catalogs in the mail. Every day there is a really weird one that I've NEVER heard of, let alone ordered from. Today's winner is Mrs. Prindable's. It is some sort of gourmet food catalog. I love that name. I hope I've helped someone with their holiday shopping.

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Not a Ham-grenade, but...

So, Corinne's post about their family ham tradition made me laugh when she explained the name Ham-grenade. Then I opened an email and found this.

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All Sorts

I am waiting for a large amount of photos to upload to Heritage Makers so I can finish our reunion photo book before next week's publishing deadline for Christmas. It will take a while, and I sort of need to hang around to make sure nothing goes wrong, so I get to blog a little. I discovered HM through a dear friend, the queen of Multi-level Marketing. She is at the top of the Stampin' UP! pyramid, has joined up with lots more over the years, is active with at least one other right now that I know of in addition to HM and just joined up with yet another called Bookwise that was started by author Richard Paul Evans of The Christmas Box fame. I have looked into it. It is simple, like Amway or Shaklee: you pay a fee for the privilege of buying books at wholesale cost. Then you talk other people into doing the same thing and voila! you have an instant income. I've tried several of my pal's companies out of curiosity about the product but never get past the paying-a-fee-for-the-privilege part. The secret of business is seeing the product not from an emotional point of view, but solely as a tool for making money. Then, you'll talk it up to anyone. This is not a criticism, just an observation. My interest in money does not go beyond using it as a tool for living. I don't care about it as a hobby so I'm not much of a business woman. I wish money would go away. My friend cares about it, is a good business woman and makes a ton of money through her success with Stampin' UP! I am proud of her for that.
Anyway, Heritage makers has nice, hardcover, digital scrapbooks with a lot of options from simple to complex. I do a lot of digital scrapbooking, so it is worth it for me to pay-the-fee-for-the-privilege. If you like digital photobooks, let me know and I'll set you up.
Today, my 9 year-old niece-in-law Shania is over for the day while her mom works. She is adorable and is excellent company in Sara's absence. She is helping me pick out pictures for the reunion book and also offered to help me paint stars for my advent calendars. All the detail work is done as well as the lettering. All that remains are those stars. So, I am happy for an enthusiastic 9 year-old's help.
Johnathan flew off to Denver last night and should be gearing up as I write to head to the mountains for a little snowboarding with my brothers and a cousin. Sam is fasting today because of wrestling weight certifications. This is the part of wrestling that is hard on a mom, but to his credit, he seems to have the eye of the tiger and is determined to get his place on the varsity team. He's only a sophomore, so it is exciting that the coach is grooming him for varsity. Evan just woke up. He and Shania get along pretty well, so they should have a fun day. I'm thinking we might go see Bee Movie. Other than that, I'm making a pie or two, getting my turkey in the brine and working on Christmas projects. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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Proud Mom Moment

Here are the latest photos from my missionary, Jeff, or Elder Nuss as he is known in Panama. He has found 4 different candy items in Panama with Nuss in the name (it is German for Nut). He was a Golden Bear in High School, now he'll be known as the Golden Nuss. We'll be able to talk to him 5 weeks from tomorrow! I'm not excited or anything.

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Cycling Class

One more thing on my laughably long list of hobbies is cycling. I used to be pretty serious about it. I have two super-nice bikes and all the goofy-looking paraphernalia. I used to have permanent greasy chain marks on my legs all summer. I've even ridden two centuries (hundred-mile rides). I got into it because Eric is into it-if he had more time, it would be his exercise of choice. Someday I dream of Eric and I cycling together, except he goes really fast and I don't, so we wouldn't actually be cycling together...but I digress. I got back into cycling when I sprained my ankle really badly about 6 years ago. I stopped cycling regularly because it just doesn't fit into a seminary teacher's life. Or a mom's life for that matter. The best time to ride is super early in the morning before the cars are all over the road, and it takes forever to get out the door to cycle-on with the teeny-tiny shoes, the gloves and the helmet, then get the bike off its hangers in the garage, check the tires, make sure you have a spare tube and your tools, etc., etc. Plus, cycling is non-impact, so you really have to do it longer and harder than running to get an equal workout. Not happening for me. But oh, how I love the feeling of being on a bike. Zooming down Murray Hill Road, topping 30 mph...that's a rush.

In the mean time, in a desperate attempt to start doing cardio work (in any form) regularly again ( I haven't run in about a month) I signed up for a cycling class at the gym. I respond really well to appointments and outside accountability, and I had apparently already forgotten about last week's near fainting spell. Eric reminded me about that later. So swathed in fearless oblivion, I got out my goofy shoes and my funny-looking padded pants, got myself over the to club, figured out how to adjust my training cycle and rode my guts out. It was so surprisingly much fun. I felt fine. Certainly I missed the wind in my face and there was no place I could politely spit (I have trouble with that when I run on treadmills, too--What??? You don't spit when you run???) but it was a serious workout. I worked hard and stuck with it for the whole hour and felt great afterward-I was wobbly-legged and red in the face, but I loved really pushing myself. The class atmosphere helped with that. No one knows how you have your bike adjusted, so you really are only competing against yourself and your mind. There was the challenge of that whole mental thing. When I'm out on a road, 5 miles from my house, if I want a shower, I have to ride home. In the class, I had a couple of moments when my brain tried to get me to jump off because it knew that I only had to walk out to my car to go home. I didn't though. I am a great starter but not always the greatest finisher, so every time I finish something hard like that class, I am happy I've made a little progress. I am going to try and take a class every week. Wednesdays at noon. Come ride with me. You don't even need the goofy paraphernalia.

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Book Recommendation

Cheri has put this on her blog, but I wanted to add my appreciative second to her choice of parenting book: The Power of Positive Parenting by Glenn I. Latham. He has other books which I love as well:

Christlike Parenting: Taking the Pain out of Parenting

Parenting with Love: Making a Difference in a Day

What's a Parent to Do? Solving Family Problems in a Christlike Way

The last is out of print, but there is redundancy among all the books, and I have a couple copies if anyone wants to borrow. Everything he writes is based on this truth: "Research has shown that the most effective way to reduce problem behavior is to strengthen desirable behavior through positive reinforcement rather than trying to weaken undesirable behavior using aversive or negative processes." What his books do is give practical advice, scripts, roleplays and situational examples of how to put that simple but oh-so-difficult truth into practice. He even includes the inevitable talking back in his role-plays and scripts. He might say something like: Here's how it could go...Here's how it should go...and here's what will probably happen...so be prepared. I actually keep the first book, which is almost like a textbook, with my scriptures, so I can get little bites of worldly parenting wisdom to go along with the other.

They were originally recommended to me by my friend Leslie. His books and insight were her touchstones as she parented her autistic son. She said many times that he saved her as a parent. When Dr. Latham passed away, she was really shaken because he had been kind enough to personally correspond with her about Lukas. To me they represent the best possible marriage of sound, scientifically based thought and the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So anyway, to make a short story long, yesterday the last book saved me. I had a really difficult parenting situation facing me. I was angry, frustrated, resentful, feeling hopeless because it is a recurring problem, and I just wanted to scream. Instead, I prayed, found one of Dr. Latham's books and started reading. The page I turned to had the insight and the perspective that I needed. He had scripts and roleplays that were, word for word, exactly like the things that were running through my mind. I had enough time before school got out to get myself together, and when the involved child and I talked about it, things went okay. We were able to figure out a solution and are on track for a much better outcome than the imagined one I was dreading yesterday. So, thanks to Dr. Latham, everything is okay today instead of our family being stuck in teenage door-slamming-freeze-out land. Of course the whole point is not changing the kid, but changing myself and the way I respond. So basic. So hard. I am so ready to trade in my natural woman. I know I need her to get where I want to be, but boy she is a pain in the neck sometimes.

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More Morning Musings

This NY Times article was of interest to me, because of my own theories about the problems associated with the loss of play in childhood. I personally think that the expectation on kids today to grow up so much more quickly is a major issue in education.

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As a Mormon, this Made Me Laugh

So, a little self-aware humor is always a good thing. This was not originally directed at members of the LDS church, and I certainly intend no disrespect, but as a member of a group that is often accused of being a cult, This cracked me up.

“I do what they tell me, I eat what they give me. How do I know they’re not a cult?”

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Cross Post, as they say...

This is a cross-post from my knitting blog. I have known for a few weeks, but it just became public recently so I am at liberty to discuss it. It feels right. I feel like something really good will come of this sometime next year.

Cloverhill Yarn Shop, my beloved professional home for the past 7 1/2 years, is for sale. I am taking the news quite personally because this place means so much to me. Chris's reasons for selling are personal and important, and because she's become a friend, I totally support her in this decision. I have been associated with it since before it was Cloverhill. When I started working on Saturdays to save my sanity during Eric's law school years, it was The Weaver's Place. It was Terry Flynn who first thought I could teach and gave me that opportunity. When Chris took over, thanks to Ginger's influence, I ended up back in my old classroom with a new name. Chris took over where Terry left off and continued to build the shop (which has been around in some form for about 30 years I think) into a place customers love to be. She changed things, such as refocusing the shop from weaving to entirely knitting with spinning on the side, but the atmosphere stayed cozy, unassuming and welcoming. The amazing education program continued, with fabulous teaching and a wide array of classes. Customers and students have become friends. It is so much more than a job to me. It has been the ticket to personal growth beyond my role as a stay-at-home mom, but within the confines of that first and most important focus. Teaching there gave me the confidence to teach at Stitches, which has grown to mean just as much to me. Chris has been a generous mentor, patient employer and great example to me of what a business woman should be. The other women who work there have become important friends in my life as well. I have no idea what will happen with the eventual new owners, but for some reason it feels like an ending to me. I was going to take a leave of absence from formal teaching in the winter anyway, so the news coincides with my own realignment of my professional goals. I certainly would still teach at the new shop if I find a place there, so I am not closing the door, but even if it turns out to be the end of an era, I feel sure it also signals a new beginning.

Please contact Chris through the shop if you are interested in acquiring this little gem of a place.

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A Little Hope From Someone Who Knows

In my wanderings through books and talks and articles today, I came across this quote from President Boyd K. Packer, a beloved leader in the LDS Church:

“It was meant to be that life would be a challenge. To suffer some anxiety, some depression, some disappointment, even some failure is normal. …
If [you] have a … miserable day once in a while, or several in a row, … stand steady and face them. Things will straighten out.
There is great purpose in our struggle in life”
Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1978

This actually makes me feel a warm sense of comfort; of reassurance that we are indeed human during this life and that's okay. The humanness, the frailty, the emotions--they are all part of something larger. Sometimes the counsel and the pressure ( especially on women) veers a little toward being super-human, and while I know I'm capable of that in some far future day, the idea shared above says that on the way to becoming super-human, take a minute to live and learn from being actually human.

This man had his share of miserable days as he struggled with polio as a child, then re-learned how to walk, then fought in WWII. Sometimes it is sort of overwhelming and even discouraging to hear the advice to "Don't Worry, just be happy." I love that he doesn't say to snap out of it if you have miserable days, but instead to face them, acknowledge them, learn from them. I like to be optimistic, but sometimes a situation calls for a little mourning. I am not down or unhappy today, but this quote will be secreted away in my heart for the inevitable miserable day or two in my future.

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Busy Day

Yesterday, I felt fine when I woke up, so that was good news, because I had a lot to do. It was all good, so I really didn't want to lose another day. Everything went well. My in-person book group liked the book I had suggested, and it was wedding day for my pal. What a good day-I now have a very clear picture of what an incandescently happy couple look like. They were definitely giving off an amazing amount of radiance. I am so thrilled for them.

Today, Evan is playing in his Soccer tournament. Eric is at the first game with him as we speak. I stayed behind to take Sam to the Scouting-for-food pickup. We'll be leaving in a few minutes. I'll go to the afternoon game. It is cold today, but since I like the changes that come with the seasons, I am good with that. It is fun to be able to layer up and feel the cold on my cheeks.

My big goals for today include a number of things. First is getting Jeff's Christmas package totally ready to send on Monday. I am a little behind as I wanted to get it sent out this past Monday, but a few of the things he requested were harder to find than I gave myself time for. After that, the goal is to get at least one more Advent calendar finished. I have one almost done. and all 8 in process. I am torn between assembly-lining all the rest of them (do the windows on all 8, then do the lettering on all 8, then the palm trees, etc.) but sometimes that method doesn't work for my little pea brain. I need to see finished product on big, outrageous projects like this. The last thing I have to do is get my seminary tests graded and the report cards done. I need to hand them to the parents tomorrow. I am so bad at the administrative stuff. I need to improve in that area. I mean, I get the job done, but I would just rather spend my time reading up on the content. Balance. I always need to strive for balance.

Seminary is going okay. I mean the kids come and the atmosphere is good, but I have been a little critical of myself lately, and I have to stop that because it impedes the spiritual power I need to prepare my lessons. I would say that is the biggest challenge of seminary. It is sort of like being a missionary, except I don't have the benefit of being somewhat cut off from the world. I have to be "on" just about all the time-ready at a moment's notice to act on a prompting. I know that is how I should live even if I weren't teaching seminary, but the every-day nature of seminary puts in sharp relief every thing I do. I am never more than 23 hours away from teaching again during the week, so I have to question every minute of tv I watch or everything I read. "Will this make it easier or harder to prepare my lesson and know what my kids need?" At the end of the year, I will have an impressive list of all the books I've read, but Elder Oaks' talk in Conference has caused me to consider more carefully whether they are the better or BEST books or merely good books. It is a blessing that seminary makes me think of these things, but it does bring up some hard choices, because I am so endlessly curious. I don't want to miss anything. Especially books. I have realized that I have been working hard to catch up on all my book group books, but with the coming of the holiday projects, I've fallen behind on the invitation our ward has to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. What is up with THAT? Talk about good, better and best.

Okay, enough rambling. I am off to accomplish all my goals...

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Time to Count the Blessings

I am not feeling well. I had an incident at the gym this morning during which I almost got to the point of passing out. I didn't go under but I did go very white, according to those who saw me, and I did have to sit still for about 30 minutes before I could drive home. I have no idea what happened. I ate breakfast, felt fine, had a great workout and then while I was stretching, whoosh, all the starch went out of me. I have subsequently felt weird all day. Several things I wanted and even needed to do went by the wayside as I dozed in and out of the day. The only thing I can think of is that my iron has bottomed out and my anemia took over the controls of my brain. So, instead of slogging through the mud and getting depressed, I'm going to make a list and count some blessings.

• The weather has been spectacular! It has been cool and crisp with clear air so the colors of the sky and trees are vivid and full of richness.
  
• I am really enjoying the book I am listening to right now. I have a knitting deadline, plus 8 of those advent calendars to finish so I'm listening to a lesser known Charlotte Bronte work called Villette. The words and the language are just sublime.
  
• I have the most wonderful friends ever. This has been a wonderful week for feeling the heady glow of true friendship.
  
• I love my F'Ugg boots. (Fake Uggs) Someday I'll spring for the real thing, but for now, my $20.00 pretenders are sooo cozy.

• I've been home every day this week when my kids got home. There's not much sweeter than hearing the door, then hearing them call for me, just to make sure I'm around.
  

• I've gotten to bed before 11 pm 3 nights this week.
  
• Christmas is coming. I've started sorting my rather prodigious collection of Christmas music-an annual tradition of mine. I think I'll have to get the new Josh Groban one.

• I got to help a little with setting up a friend's wedding reception. I love the Zion feelings of unity and common purpose that I feel when I'm part of something like that. Everyone just pitches in and puts their own agenda aside to make the event the best it can be.
  
• Tomorrow is treat day in seminary.

• I love living by my mommy even though I never planned to. I was the kid that was going to travel the world. Instead I'm the only one who has lived near my mom & dad almost my entire marriage.
  
• Even though it's hard at the time, I'm okay with having the occasional big fight that clears the air and allows the whole family to just reboot and start fresh. Sometimes a shake-up is just what everyone needs.
  
• I am going to go get in my jammies and watch a little inane, vegetative, recorded television to help my brain shut down and go to sleep.

• I am very glad that tomorrow is a new day.
  

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Turn on Those Sad Songs

Just so everyone knows, if you have to say goodbye to someone you love, playing sad songs while you cry on the way home really does help. I belted them out for 20 minutes on Northbound I-95 and by the time I got home, I had experienced a thorough catharsis and was back to smiling about all the fun we'd packed into our brief time together. Thank goodness my pal and I can keep in touch.

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Trees and Leaves and Times Gone by

The tree across the street has donned its autumn finery again. Here are views of it during this last week of cool weather. It has changed dramatically in the last 7 days. I remember when I put a photo of it in a newsletter for Jeff last year to show the change of seasons. Every year this tree is a signal to me that the leaves are changing in earnest and that they will soon be gone. Winter, such as it is around here, will be upon us.

This is my 20th autumn as a mother, and I still feel like every day is new. Every season comes with new challenges and joys, fresh adventures and interesting new ways of testing my mettle. I hope that like my tree, I can roll with the changes, be the best I can be at each season, rest when I get the chance, then burst forth again with a fresh, green kind of beauty when the warmth of spring comes back around. Sometimes joy and ease seem to go into hiding for a while, but this year's fallen leaves are the nourishment for future growth.

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A Little Teenage Home Video Fun

Being one of the elder stateswomen of this blogging world, sometimes I don't have things that are super-cute or that evince "Awwww" as the response to share about my kids. There are not so many firsts any more. It is satisfying to say that, yet again, my 15-year old went to football practice, came home and got his homework done but it is a little less exciting than reporting that a little one was successful at potty training or had a great first day of kindergarten.

Well, today, the 15-year old and his cousin did something that made me so tickled I just had to capture it on video. They both love music and on their own(that's the real excitement) they took a break from the video games and spent a major portion of their day off working on a musical collaboration. I think they spent about 3 hours on this. Sam loves the canon form and he learned this one somewhere. They used our electric piano to lay down additional tracks so they could get three voices, then Sam decided to add the guitar. They got it to the point where they liked it and decided to get dressed up for the final performance. It was so fun to listen to. I just set the camera up on a tripod and let it roll. Here is what we edited it down to. Nobody took their first steps, but the fun of motherhood doesn't end there.

Just so you know, it is about 4 1/2 minutes long, and I feel to apologize for the wacky action sequence in the middle. They are, after all, teenage boys.

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Armchair Traveler Reading Challenge

This is something I signed up for through a link I found on my book-group pal Melissa's blog. I have not done a good job, but I am getting serious about it again. I forgot to post my list of books and have not posted any reviews or anything. But, in some way, the purposes have been fulfilled. I've read some great new books and and looking forward to my last few. Here is a list of the books I'm reading, with some indication of which ones I've finished with. One of my great ambitions is to spend a lot of the time after my children are raised exploring the world. I want to travel everywhere. In fact, knowing that my youngest will be off to college in 7 or 8 years has me seriously planning for the next phase, thus this reading challenge excited me and I have greatly enjoyed it so far. My list of places to go is growing rapidly.

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A New Media Campaign by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I just found these on www.lds.org. I thought they were very powerful. What do you think? They and several others like them are being shown in test markets right now as the new wave of LDS public service spots. There is an article here.

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Where to Begin

Since my last post, the world has turned little bit topsy turvy and I wasn't even around to see it. I have spent the last 4 days or so living a very odd double life. On one hand, I was trying to support my husband in a most trying time through the tenuous connection of a cell phone. I was aching for friends, worried and unhinged, yet profoundly grateful for the truth I hold dear. All this was set against the backdrop of one of my dearest friends arriving from Seattle so that we could spend a once-in-a-lifetime weekend together in New York City. It has been very weird and now I find myself so drained and exhausted that I feel like writing will be the best way for me to put things in perspective and be able to sleep.

Side A of this Surreal Coin was the news that trickled home Wednesday night of the terrible breach of the sanctity of our church building and the temporary destruction of the precious feeling of warmth and safety that we feel there. A ward is like a family, and so what happens to one, affects all the others. Some of the most precious and vulnerable were endangered last week, and we are all feeling the shock and unrest on behalf of our beloved sisters and brothers. Heaven intervened and everyone is safe, but the difficulty is that nothing will ever be the same. Fortunately, based on what I know about my friends, I have every reason to believe it will be better.

In the long moments that followed, Eric was where he needed to be, but I was not here with him. Under the circumstances, I decided not to change my plans, so he had only the sound of my voice to remind him that someone was on his side no matter what. Of course, there were other helpers at hand, and he has been able to do what was needed and more, but each time we spoke during the weekend, I felt torn in two. The thing about time is that it passes whether you are miserable or not, so I decided to put myself back together and be where I was. So, from my vantage point, the situation stands thus: God is in the heavens; people are mostly good, with a few notable exceptions; my utter derision of the media continues to be justified; and people who love each other and pull together are the best. My family was watched over and the ward came together and had a great time at the annual Halloween Party. I still don't know most of the details because of my husband's faithfulness to his position, and I hope I will only find out when those involved feel it is right for me to do so. Because I was gone, I have been spared the rumor mill and, because I've seen everything through the steely eyes of my good man, most of the fear-mongering. For that I'm profoundly grateful. I have the easy road. It's the people I love who now have to start living in the after. I will do all I can for them. It is all I have to offer.

Side B of this Surreal Coin, if you're ready to flip with me, was a memorable weekend in the Big Apple with my pal. My daughter is her namesake because of my love and admiration for her. She was my older, wiser friend when I was far from home and family living in Seattle. Her family became my family and we have kept in touch for 18 years now. Her kids are grown and she has grandkids now, but we still find anything and everything to talk about. How I love her.

We started planning this in the spring when I was out in Washington visiting her. I've been saving my knitting money. She got time off work. Everything came together and we were able to get a hotel right in Times Square (thank you Hilton Honors Points!) and tickets to three, count em! three Broadway shows (thank you Amex rewards points and the TKTS booth in Times Square). Credit cards can be good for something if you use them right.

We had a ridiculously easy drive up to NY. There was no traffic except at the Lincoln Tunnel. It took us an hour to get through that last mile. Why have I always been afraid to drive there? Well never more! It is so easy to get into the Theater District. The Lincoln Tunnel DUMPS you right on 42nd street. Just like THAT. Our hotel was great. The shows were great. The food was amazing. I will never forget this weekend. For the rest of the story, I'll let you watch this slideshow for the Campbells Condensed Version



or
view this Picasa Album for the whole story.

NY-NY October 2006

Here are my Top Five Memories:
1. Conquering both my fear of driving in NYC and my fear of the Subway. Both are actually fun, once you get the lay of the land.
2. Wicked from the 5th row, center.
3. Singing along to "Let's Go Fly a Kite," my favorite song from Mary Poppins.
4. The full moon over the Chrysler Building.
5. Eating NY cheesecake in our hotel room Saturday night, in our jammies, after a long, full weekend in the city together.

And now, to sleep...perchance to dream. Hopefully not as Hamlet feared, but of more pleasant things.

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The View from Soccer Practice

Here is tonight's sunset captured, amazingly enough, on my phone's camera. I went to take a photo with my trusty sidekick point-n-shoot and discovered that I had forgotten to take the battery out of the charger and actually put it into the camera. So, I was left with a deep sense of unfulfilled artistic urgency but no tools. I considered writing about it but I didn't want to take that much time away from trying to catch up on my book group reading. So, I fiddled around with the camera settings on my phone and was pleasantly surprised to find a decent image. It really was a beautiful sunset, and every time I looked up from my book while turning the page, everything had shifted and become a different, yet equally beautiful panorama. I am grateful I had the margin in my day to be able to take it in, because many's the day when the sun rises and sets with no notice from me. So, the days when I really get to notice become special-evidence that life is still good.

The new room, which seems to be known in my head as my own Sequestered Nook (that is the name of the online book group I belong to), is just about finished. I am still experimenting with some pictures on the wall and getting rid of the last of the sorted clutter and oh, it's going to be lovely. The sort of room I've dreamed of all my life. It will make waiting for the real kitchen a lot easier. The impetus for this rather sudden room re-do is that my pal Sara comes in from Seattle tomorrow night and we needed a guest room. Normally, we put guests in the family room, but since I am teaching Seminary on Thursday before Sara and I leave for New York, it wouldn't work for her to stay in there. Thus this flurry of activity. It has been immensely satisfying to get rid of about 8 garbage bags and two big shredders full of junk. So, thanks, Sara for being a good enough friend and visiting my house for the first time ever so that I felt highly motivated to make things nice for you...I can do anything when I have a deadline.

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Turn of the Season

After resorting to actually turning on the air conditioner on Friday, the last two days have been refreshing. It is still a bit hot for my taste, but I can handle the higher temperatures if the humidity is low. Thursday and Friday about did me in, especially since we went whole hog and cleaned everything out of our lower room to make way for a brand new Ikea office system. I will take a picture when I get it completely put together. It is coming along nicely and will be a real room, not a pathetic, cluttered, giant walk-in closet. I wish so badly that I had remembered to take a "before" picture, because it was bad, but once we got started, that was it. With everyone's help, the mess was moved out in about 45 minutes.

Tomorrow I start actually attending Weight Watchers meetings, since there is now a meeting at Supreme Sports Club. I am excited about that as my weight has plateaued after a measly loss of about 8 lbs. Not quite my lifetime goal, that.

The above shot is of leaves on the river. I was at the river doing a family shoot for my friend Holly. I'll let her post one of the family shots if she wants. She and her family are moving in a couple of weeks, so I was glad to have the morning to spend with her. Holly-I am torn between feeling so blessed that we met up and became such good friends so quickly and feeling completely gypped because I only got six months with you in person! I will choose option A in the name of true friendship because I am really excited for you. Thank goodness we can carry on in cyberspace.

As for my family, everyone is doing well. Evan had an awesome soccer game on Saturday-he scored his first goal of the season. His playing has been getting stronger and stronger this season. He is fearless and incredibly fast. He can keep up with and sometimes even outrun kids 6 inches taller than him. Johnathan teamed up with several of the other young dudes in our ward for Ultimate Frisbee and our guys won. He always underplays these ultimate games, and never invites us to come watch, but next time I so want to go. Sara hiked 12.5 miles of the Alonso Stagg hike (a 50 mile endurance hike along the C&O Canal that STARTS at 9pm) on Friday night. She has been having some knee trouble and it cut her walking short. Last year she went almost 20 miles. Someday I will try that, just for the "Now I can say I did it" file. I like pushing myself, and I am curious to see how it compares to a marathon. Everyone I know who's done both says that walking 50 miles is harder than running half as far. Especially during the night, when your head plays tricks on you. Sam is looking forward to wrestling. He considers football nothing more than staying in condition for wrestling, so he will be happy when Hammond's miserable JV season finally ends. They've gotten (pretty much) creamed every game. It is a little painful to watch. Sam is playing well, though.

So, life goes on, and our version of "The Office" is just about ready for primetime viewing.

Quote of the day: "Now I know why dad is always so bored. There is absolutely nothing interesting in a newspaper, and he reads them all the time." From Evan, after searching the paper for an article to take to school.

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