After having dinner with the in-town kids, then seeing Sara off on Sunday afternoon January 3, I went over and spent a pleasant evening with Sam and Madison at their cute apartment. Late that evening, after some adventures in navigation, Sam dropped me off at the train station in Salt Lake City and I got ready for my first overnight train experience in 40 years. I had booked a sleeper compartment on the California Zephyr and I was excited!
2015
Coast to Coast: Utah-Arizona-Utah
January 16, 2016 • 2015, arizona, family, grand canyon, road trips, star gazing, travel, Utah
After our lovely white Christmas in Utah, we all went our separate ways, with Eric heading home, Jeff and Ashlyn and Johnathan and Kristen heading to California to see family there, and Sara and I departing for Arizona on the 26th. Sam and Madison stayed in Utah.
My 50th Christmas Dawns And I Post All the Pictures
December 25, 2015 • 2015, Christmas, family, missions, travel, Utah
I haven't been keeping a record of all my Christmases, so this being the 50th one isn't hugely significant, but it crossed my mind this morning as I woke early and put on some music. I am back in Utah, where I would have spent my very first Christmas, so there's a little symmetry for you, but other than that, the only thing to remark on this morning is that it's a White Christmas, which doesn't happen too often in Maryland. I woke at 6 am and heard the plows out, which means there was fresh snowfall in the night.
A Beautiful Dichotomy
December 21, 2015 • 2015, Christmas, december, family, thinking out loud, travel, waxing philosophical
Whoops, thought this posted last week. This is from early Tuesday, December 15, just before we left for Utah.
Today, my daughter and I leave for another big trip. This time last year I was gone from home for 6 weeks exactly. This time it will be a little less than that, about 28 days.
The Long Journey of a Mormon Missionary
October 25, 2015 • 2015, autumn, Evan, leadership, missions, quotes, travel
A week ago Saturday night we got an email from Evan letting us know that he would indeed be heading to Argentina on Monday. There was some question because of a glitch in his visa application, and we were prepared for the possibility of his serving in the US for about 6 weeks while his visa was sorted. Apparently though, he needs to be in Argentina, because something that was expected to take a week to get through bureaucratic channels only took 24 hours.
Book Review: The Nightingale
October 13, 2015 • 2015, audible, audiobook, book reviews, books, fiction, Kristin Hannah, world war 2 stories
Fiction
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Polly Stone
You might like this book if you are interested in yet another story about the intensity of World War 2 and how it affected families and individuals. Also, if you enjoy stories about unlikely heroism and finding strength in the midst of impossible scenarios.
All the Updates
October 8, 2015 • 2015, autumn, daily photos, Evan, my red door days, routine, work
I am so grateful for the friendships I've cultivated over the years. I'm not great at cultivation, but it seems that even my little efforts yield lovely things. It matters so much to me that others want to know how I'm doing. I always hope I'll remember to ask about you. If I don't, please remind me.
Here are updates on some of the things:
Here are updates on some of the things:
...So That You Can Come Back
September 25, 2015 • 2015, blogging, catch-up posts, my red door days, ordinary days, travel
Terry Pratchett says this is why you go away, so that you can come back, and I am back. Since I last wrote on the last day of August, another month has nearly come and gone, and I have been home for 10 of those September days. It will actually be good to be home for the next month.
Time Keeps on Slipping, Slipping Slipping
August 31, 2015 • 2015, faith, family, New York City, Temple times, travel
Since I last wrote, lots has happened. The revolving door of our house just keeps spinning, and the time hasn't stopped.
Forty-Nine
August 26, 2015 • 2015, 49, birthdays, kelsniftyfifty
Last Sunday was my 49th birthday. I think I confused some people when I said in a recent Instagram post that I would be entering my 50th year, but it's true. I have finished 49 years, and have now begun my 50th year. Lots of people use this time as a touchstone, a time to get busy making unfulfilled dreams come true or go to places they've always wanted to go. I love hearing about those kinds of years for people, especially if it means that there is discovery and joy.
A Tangential Association
August 12, 2015 • 2015, choosing optimism, family, illness, Mom and Pop, mom's cancer
Some weeks ago, my mother had a bad fall down some stairs. In the aftermath of that, it was discovered that she has breast cancer. There are masses in her breast as well as in her lymph nodes. She's still being tested to find out any other places it might be. Next week she gets an infusion port installed and thereafter will begin both chemo and radiation therapies to shrink the masses. In a few months, it's likely that she will have surgery to remove what is left.
Sometimes, Big Things
July 28, 2015 • 2015, Colorado, craftsy, Denver, knitting, teaching, teaching knitting, travel
Most things I write about are little things. No, really, they are. I say that in plainspoken earnestness, not as a martyr or moper. They are important to me, my family, and a few others. They will never affect the outcomes of global events, nor will my little words influence ideological trends. I'm totally fine with that. I promise I am not trying to be dramatic or silly. I have little ambition for big things. But sometimes they happen anyway.
4 am
July 15, 2015 • 2015, family, insomnia post, my red door days, photos, thinking out loud, travel, Utah
As a mother, there seem to be certain reflexes that haven't had long enough to slow in the scant year since my youngest left home.
When I heard someone stirring in the wee hours, I woke up immediately to full alertness. It wasn't a big noise, just steps and a door opening, and those sounds came through my closed door and covers over my head. I marvel that I yet have that ability to instantly be aware that something is not right and feel the need to investigate.
When I heard someone stirring in the wee hours, I woke up immediately to full alertness. It wasn't a big noise, just steps and a door opening, and those sounds came through my closed door and covers over my head. I marvel that I yet have that ability to instantly be aware that something is not right and feel the need to investigate.
Westward, Ho!
June 21, 2015 • 2015, redminiroadtrip, travel, Utah
It's my last day in Utah. I am presented with an emotional dichotomy, to be sure, because leaving Utah means I bid farewell to mountains and endless skies and lots of my family and friends, but it also means going home to sheltering trees and fireflies and my family and friends waiting there.
The Other Side of Last Week
May 12, 2015 • 2015, balance, sam's wedding, wedding
After my little rant in the middle of last week, I did want to revisit and tell about the gorgeous parts that happened. It was a great week in a lot of ways. I'm still processing some of the ways it was overlaid by some serious challenges, but right now, looking back just a week, I'm remembering little of the difficulties.
A Quick Post to Dissipate Some Crazy
April 3, 2015 • 2015, april, easter, friendship, missions, Sara, thinking out loud
Goodness! My nervous system is on high alert today. I'm so excited for Sara's return on Tuesday but I'm now into the tiny last minute details of wanting her to have a really nice place to come home to. Since we had turned her room into an office, we are remaking it into a bedroom. The flood we had last weekend when our water heater quietly leaked gallons of water all over the two lower levels of our house definitely put me off schedule and I wish I had things more put together for her welcome home. I have to admit I'm kind of upset about not having things perfect (as I define it, ha), but that's generally not the way of life, especially not my life.
Book Review: Dad is Fat
March 17, 2015 • 2015, book reviews, comedy, humor, jim gaffigan
Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
Memoir, Non-fiction
I listened to the audiobook read by the Author. I found it through my local library on Overdrive.
You might like this book if you're a fan of the author's comedy, or if you like humorous memoirs about family life.
Book Review: All the Light We Cannot See
March 15, 2015 • 2015, Anthony Doerr, book reviews, fiction, world war 2 stories
Anthony Doerr
Fiction
I listened to the Audiobook read by Zach Appelman
You might like it if you like stories about Europe during and after World War 2, especially those told in an unusual way rather than just recounting events, or if you like stories told from an interior perspective, understanding the feelings and perceptions of the characters.
Grown-up kids are great. They are smart, care about their money (and yours, at least while they're still in college), are doing amazing things, and are living good, productive lives. It does a mom's heart good.
My grown-up kids are all those things, except that they live anywhere from 1800-4800 miles away, so I don't always get all the details of those good lives they are living. I have to remember to ask about the details because it's just not a habit for them to share everything that's going on. I get that, but sometimes I do shake my head a little. Moms want to know some stuff, you know?
My grown-up kids are all those things, except that they live anywhere from 1800-4800 miles away, so I don't always get all the details of those good lives they are living. I have to remember to ask about the details because it's just not a habit for them to share everything that's going on. I get that, but sometimes I do shake my head a little. Moms want to know some stuff, you know?
A Little Preventative Gratitude
March 5, 2015 • 2015, facebook, gratitude, march,
This quote from President Monson helped me today so I shared it on the Facebooks.
How can we cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude? President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, provided an answer. Said he: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.” He continued: “Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”9
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