Happy Birthday, Son of Mine!

Well, today is your birthday!
It's finally here!
You are 16!
I remember so well the day your were born! It was a cold winter day and you arrived a little after Noon. Once you were born your dad and sisters left the hospital to get something to eat at Crown Burgers and then headed to a Utah basketball game. There we were, just you and me in the hospital, celebrating your arrival. It was one of the best days I can remember.

I am not quite sure what to think about your 16th birthday because that means you are just that much closer to independence from me and your dad. You are a good boy and smart and good looking, too. You make us happy and keep us busy. You have passed your driving test and are just waiting until then end of the semester to get your permit to get you license. You are a sports junkie and yet you study hard and get the best grades ever. You go to church and do most everything you are asked to do. As tall and strong as you are, you still like to sit on my lap for a big hug and hope that I can rock you to sleep. That doesn't last long, however, because I get close to passing out, and you move to another spot.

Your birthday will be spent doing what you like most of all -- playing basketball! And, I think we can add some pizza and cake and ice cream to the day when the Hunter Wolverines walk away with 3 wins!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Christmas is Coming!

Christmas is coming and my stress level is ever pushing upward. I am just the classic Christmas procrastinator. I hold out waiting for a Christmas bonus to use to purchase gifts, waiting for the best inspiration on what to get everyone, waiting to clean my house before getting the decorations out, waiting for something else to occupy my life instead of Christmas.

I love the holiday season and all it's festivities, but I am always slow to get going. While some have their Christmas "everything" checked off and relax and enjoy the month of December, I am out sometimes on Christmas Eve tracking down that last item I just know someone is wishing for.

Ups and Downs

November has been a month of ups and downs.

Up -- Willie survived the first term of high school and four months of football!
Up -- A quick trip to Washington, DC for some leadership training
Up -- Happy Birthday, Karl
Down -- Uncle Blaine passed away the night I returned home from DC
Up -- We saw family and friends we had not connected with for many years due to Uncle Blaine's passing
Down -- Mom's health diminished -- any stress puts her over the edge and losing her brother was very difficult for her
Up -- Willie made the high school basketball team!
Up -- Willie was a main speaker in church -- excellent talk!
Up -- I had lunch with a good friend!
Down -- My good friend is battling pancreatic cancer.
Up -- This friend who has cancer looks really good in her wig!
Up -- Attended an excellent meeting at UVU on Women and Education
Down -- The meeting focused on how our young women in Utah are delaying or choosing not to pursue higher education
Down -- Attending the Bye, Bye, Birdie production at the high school
Up -- Tending Molly while Haley attended a math conference
Up -- Sunday dinner at Annie's
Up -- Watching the "double tts" while Annie attended a staff meeting
Up -- Attending the Joesph production at another high school
Down -- Not attending the Nutcracker (niece and nephew performed) because of a crazy snow storm and icy roads
Up -- Short work/school week -- Thanksgiving Holiday
Down -- A colleague's wife passed away -- brain tumor
Up -- Utah's basketball team looks good and is playing pretty well
Up -- Karl had a job interview with a medical device company (keep your fingers crossed)
Up -- Family for Thanksgiving dinner at my house -- it was very nice to have the Petersens together
Down -- Preparing for Thanksgiving dinner at my house was exhausting -- but a good exhaustion
Up -- Sleeping in the day after Thanksgiving
Down -- Willie has more homework than any teenager should have -- reading, note taking, memorizing a 50 line poem, math assignments and preparing for math tests, French projects, physics problems, and driving (all this month)
Up -- Willie gets very good grades!

Up -- Willie is a very good driver!
Up -- Utah actually beat BYU in football today
Down -- It was the "ugly Betty special" (to quote Joe Cravens) -- a terribly played game
Up -- It's Saturday night and I have time to do some blogging
Down -- Only one more day and then back to work!
Up -- Christmas is less than 30 days away!
Up -- Life is good!

Arrggg!!!

I have intended to be a good blog poster for NABLOPOMO, but good intentions in my mind don't necessarily transfer to posting. As I have mentioned before, I feel like my life is a fast forward button pushed down and never released. (I think that is a simile with personification.) Well, it's been on super fast this week!

I am gearing up for the first ever Thanksgiving dinner at my house. Karl's family is coming and we are all very excited! Not to say I haven't prepared Thanksgiving dinner before. Every other year we go to my parents' home for the big day and for the past years, my girls and I have spent the entire day preparing the dinner. But this year, it's just different because it's here!

I am excited for Christmas. I have great gifts in mind for my kids (sons-in-law included) and grandkids. I am excited to decorate my house and all that stuff. And, I love the sugar cookies, fruit cake, fudge, and other treats I don't usually have around during the year.

Friday is my favorite day of the week and guess what -- that's today. I go into Friday always relaxed knowing that I will have two days away from the pressures of the working world. I love my work, but I love days off with my family even more!

Mr. Lincoln Exudes Inspiration

I am in Washington, DC, for a couple of days with my assistant superintendent attending a meeting hosted by the College Board.

I love this city! The drive from Reagan National Airport into the city on Monday evening was compelling! The taxi entered the city from Arlington Bridge which connects Arlington Cemetery to Lincoln Memorial. Washington Monument was in full view as was the Capitol. We headed NE to DuPont Circle to the DuPont Hotel (accommodations and meeting site). The Kennedy Center and the Watergate Hotel were well lit in the evening cityscape.

The meeting today was excellent! It was all about making a more intentional commitment [school districts] to improve college and career readiness strategies and instruction for students. After the meeting ended, the 20 or so counselor leaders and superintendents of some of the largest school districts in the country were treated to dinner.

I have been to enough out of town meetings to know that hanging out in a hotel room after a day of meetings is not all that fun, so after dinner at a restaurant on Connecticut Ave., another attendee and I headed on a brisk walk to experience the monuments at night. We headed south on Connecticut Ave., past the Coccoron Museum and the Red Cross headquarters to the WWII Memorial, then we walked along Lincoln's reflecting pool to see Mr. Lincoln himself. We headed back to the hotel via the GWU campus. It was a great night -- I wish you all could have been with me! I love this city and all that it is about --the politics, the history, the museums, the people, the buzz and commotion and more. I am so thankful for all of the opportunities I have! Never did I imagine that I would ever have so many amazing opportunities come my way. And have a family that supports me in every way possible.

Happy Birthday, Karl!

Another year -- more candles to blow out on the birthday cake! You are the best around -- pretty good husband, dad, grandpa, and basically my best friend, ever! Hope you've had a great day!

NABLOPOMO Redemption

I am going to try and redeem my NABLOPOMO postings and make a strong attempt to get something down for each day the remainder of the month.

Willie is a good writer. He had an essay assignment to finish tonight on The House of Mango Street. He had to write about some of the figurative language elements and style characteristics of one of the vignettes in the book. He did a nice job -- it's kind of fun helping with English homework. As an English minor person, I like literature and the analysis, but I must admit I am much better at it all now than 30 plus years ago. I hope the students I taught learned something.

I taught French, English, and reading many years ago at Eastmont Middle School in the then Jordan School District. It was fun! I loved being a teacher, I taught some great kids. We had fun in class and I hope the students learned something along the way. I remember I always assigned a lot of homework (sorry former students). I now know that homework is tough even with parents who kind of know what's going on. However, I do like essays to be completed at home that way students can take their time and do their best.

November 2, 2010

Just when you think you are making progress, you are not. I thought on Monday night -- nablopomo 2010, no problem. Posted my first posting of the month and Tuesday came and went, so that means 2 postings today.

It's a black-out game of the week for Utah football vs. TCU, Saturday, November 6. Willie and I went up to the "bookstore" after school/work to see about getting some new black stuff to wear o the game. It was a hoppin' with people getting stuff and it was Touchdown Tuesday -- everything 20% off!

NABLOPOMO

Yes, it's that time of year -- a blog posting every day of the month -- I hope I can remember to do the posting!

Football is over!!!!! After June, July, August, September, and October it is now over! No more games (sniff sniff). Willie had a great season! Tonight was the first night of the school year without football practice and tons of homework. We didn't know what to do, so we wasted the night away.

For the months -- November, December, January, February -- there will be high school basketball. And then there will be March Madness followed by spring AAU in April and May.

Going to the State Football Playoffs!

Not only is the Hunter High Sophomore Football team amazingly awesome and the Region II CHAMPIONS, but the varsity team defeated Layton High this afternoon in a state "play-in" game and now get to play Bingham on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (How was that for a run-on sentence!)

Congrats Hunter Football!!!!

What makes a great birthday?

Family and others who make it special for you -- dinner, gifts, cards, visits, phone calls, text messages, voice messages, e-mails, treats, and hugs, smiles, special treatment, and more.

What a nice day! Thank, you! Thank you!

10-10-10

Do you utilize the international sign for plugged toilets at your house? For longer than I can remember, we have had toilet clogging issues (every home has their fair share). You know -- too much toilet paper, lack of intermittent flushing during usage, and other details that can remain unmentioned. Well, I don't know who invented the "sign" but whenever toilet clogging happens in our house we just close the lid and drape a long section of toilet paper on the closed lid. It's the sign that the toilet is out of operation -- it's used internationally -------

Somehow the "duty" of getting the toilet flushing again after clogging falls on our dad. There is nothing more exciting than to have him walk down the hall to use the facility, close the door, and then come out into the hallway grumbling the following -- "who was the last person to use this bathroom????" No one will ever take credit. The toilet manages to start working, again, like magic.

What can I say?

It's another Saturday night -- end of another busy week.

A Typical Saturday

So I got up Saturday morning and greeted a pretty spectacular day -- the most beautiful weather and in a most comfortable home. All seemed to be good at home and in the neighborhood. Karl did the yard work and I went to my neighbor's to have her do something to my hair. I checked in with my girls, and we agreed on doing something new for Sunday dinner.

I fixed breakfast for the boys, straightened up the house, and then headed to the parentals' home. On the way there, Willie and I stopped for his lunch and my DC (we left Karl home to do "Friends of Scouting" and studying).

I mowed their lawn, watered their flowers, swept and blew the leaves and stuff in the backyard while Willie stayed inside and played the piano. Haley and Molly were there (they helped with the housework), then came Cory and Conner (to do the yard work [oops!] and decided to stay and visit), then John and his girls (John worked on the pool), and we all had a nice visit.

Later on, Willie and Karl headed to the U of U football game (Karl wore a long sleeve shirt, took a jacket [he didn't want to get cold], and Willie put sunscreen on his face) --I headed to the cleaners and the grocery store (I went to Harmon's). I was suppose to go to the General Women's RS Meeting -- but, I decided to stay home and watch it on TV -- the rebroadcast that is. It was very good and the messages were inspiring -- serve others, love others, don't judge, do your visiting teaching, and basically -- be a good person.

Mom made it to 80!

Happy 80th Birthday!

Your 80th birthday, well some say that’s great!
Another year older, hey just a minute, just wait.
Your 80th birthday is special we know,
So to you, our dear mother, our love we will show.

Your children are many they now number eight,
Their spouses and children do make your life great!
With Dad at your side, you have nothing to fear,
But only because you both struggle to hear.

But because you are 80, not hearing is okay,
You've told us to always the good only say.
So now that you’re 80 and words you can't hear,
Just know that they’re good words and bringing you cheer!

You’ve been the best mom that eight kids ever had
You’ve loved us and scolded us in good times and bad
For all the long hours you’ve fretted over us,
We pledge to be good kids in your honour, please trust.

Your grandchildren love you like none other around,
Your home is a place where sweet refuge is found.
They love the red fish and the cookies and pop,
But more than the goodies, they love YOU a lot!

So a very happy birthday we share with you today,
We pray and we hope that your days go okay.
We want you around for more years to come,
Because you, our dear Mom, you are 80 years young!

High School Football

So the Hunter Wolverine sophomore football team finally got a win on Thursday -- 34-6 over West. The team played well and the kids seemed to be more connected as a team vs. individual superstar wannabe performances than in previous games. It's the teamwork part that makes it okay for my boy to play sports. Working together for a common goals is a pretty high-order task. Not everyone knows how to do it or how to make it happen. A team comes together when each player understands and works toward the same expectations. Consistency and continuity only lead to better teamwork -- everyone knows their role and works hard to do their part by working toward the expectations. I hope Willie will always work hard to be a good teamplayer -- if it ever seems like he's out for his own gain in any sport -- we will need to have a long talk.

In contrast, the Hunter Wolverine varsity team is struggling. The team membership consists of some very good players and a couple of them have signed letters of intent to NCAA Division One schools. But, sometimes super star players do not a better team make. And figuring out how to get all of the players to play together toward common goals and expectations and at the same time is challenging -- especially when the goals and expectations don't appear to be very clear to the players. I guess what I am trying to say is that the varsity game was out of sync -- I hope the players and coaches can get their stuff together or it's going to be a very long season.

34 Years Together -- Oh My!

September 1, 2010
Some said it would never last. Granted marriage is an on-going experience in maintaining a relationship, and Karl and I have worked hard (for most of the 34 years) to make our marriage stronger and our family the focus of our lives together. It's actually been pretty fun!

I remember the first time I noticed Karl -- we were in 8th grade and he was friends with my cousin. They were in Spanish class together. He was really tall in junior high -- taller than me!

Karl fell off of my radar screen until we were juniors in high school. Then it was the platinum blond hair against a chambray blue shirt over a white turtleneck that caught my attention. He was on the football team (#81 I think) and the junior varsity basketball team and was inducted in the honor society that year. We had common friend groups and ended up in the same places, a lot. We got to be pretty good friends.

By the summer between our junior and senior year, Karl finally asked me out and our first date was the 4th of July Fireworks at Liberty Park. Eleven dates later, he finally kissed me (on the lips), it was the night of the Senior Ball (I can't share the details, sorry).

We graduated from high school in 1973, and Karl went to Europe with his friend Bart for 6 weeks and when he returned home, he made plans for a mission. Before leaving on his mission (January 1974), he gave me a very nice birthstone ring (an opal for October) for Christmas -- it wasn't really a promise ring, just a nice friendship ring. Our friendship grew while Karl was serving a mission through letters and more letters. I attended the "U" and dated some while he was gone, but there was never anything special about any of those dates.

A little over four months or so after returning from his mission in the Netherlands/Belgium-Antwerp, Karl proposed to me on May 28, 1976. We'd been to see the musical "1776" (based on events leading to the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence) at the old Promised Valley Playhouse on State Street. After the production, we walked down the west side of State Street between First and Second South past a Dee's Hamburger Drive-Inn (on the way to the car) to get my favorite snack -- fries and a coke. We waited until we got to the car to eat our snack. Karl politely opened the passenger door for me, carrying our fries and drinks with him to the driver's side. Little did I know that his mom had made a tiny pink velvet pouch for an engagement ring that Karl slipped into my package of fries. Once in the car, we talked about the musical and began eating. When I found the surprise in my fries, I knew something was up -- and yes, he asked me to marry him. And I accepted!

Yes, there is much more to the story of our courtship and our 34 years together -- I will save the details for another day (we could fill volumes). But know that we love each other very much. We are so blessed to have three intelligent, healthy, beautiful children; two amazing sons-in-law, and three grandchildren who are leaps and bounds above all other grandchildren in the universe, in every way. We live in a nice home, we go to church every Sunday, we try to be nice and kind to others, and serve together in whatever we're asked to do.

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- someone is holding down the time fast forward button, and I am having a hard time keeping up!

It's the last day of August, the 31st to be exact. I consider it the unofficial last day of summer with fall unofficially beginning September 1. That is just the way I see these two seasons. I don't know where the summer went, but it's gone and left are only the memories of some pretty awesome and inspiring events and activities.

It's not every summer (in the same month) that someone (like me) spends time on both the east and west coasts of the US. I love the ocean, any ocean, and to have seen both the Atlantic and the Pacific this summer was so amazing! Karl, Willie, and I actually ventured out in the Atlantic some 30 miles on a whale watching adventure out of Boston Harbor. I did a solo trip to an educational institute in San Diego the last week of July and with evenings free, I headed to some of the local beaches. I am passed the sun bathing era, but I do enjoy the calming tranquility of watching the surf and topping an evening off with a beautiful sunset.

The summer was also very family-event-filled -- two baby blessings (Cole and Molly); two weddings (Matt and Jenn -- Preston and Katie); two missionary calls (Eddie - Samoa, and Travis - Taiwan); a Petersen family BBQ; a trip to the zoo and a nice lunch with the my kids and the grandkids; family dinners (nearly every Sunday); time with Mom and Dad (the grandparents) working in their home, their yard, and helping them with doctor's appointments; Shavy Jones on Saturday nights with pizza at Mountain Mikes; watching the grandkids (but not enough); and, other things that I can't think of right now or don't remember at all.

The summer zipped by even more quickly with football practice or some kind of football conditioning nearly every week day. Football has been Willie's full time job during the summer especially in August -- some days it was like 10 hours of football. there is no sport in the universe that requires as much practice and conditioning as football. I have told Willie and Karl over and over again that if the football players spent as much time studying school subjects as they do getting ready for football games, we would have a school of geniuses at Hunter High School.

8-9-10

Only once in awhile does the date come in consecutive numbers. I guess that is pretty significant.

My work life, July 22, 2010

So yesterday was a sad day. I arrived at work to find out that the head football coach at Cottonwood High school had died suddenly. I am on the district crisis team, so I am always on call in such situations.

Today, a voice message from a DCFS worker asking what to for school for a student going into eight grade this school year who had a baby in May. Another voice message was from the Salt Lake Detention Center, a worker needed to know how many credits a would be senior had toward graduation. When I called to report only .25 credits with an enrollment summary of attending only 9th grade, I couldn't help but think about these young people in so many different ways. I hope that the DCFS worker will find a good placement for a very young mom who needs support, motivation, and courage to move forward. I hope that the detention center will somehow have a positive impact on a young man who has pretty much nothing to show that he is progressing and moving along in his life.

One good thing, however, was a call from a young man who wasn't sure if he had graduated or not in 2009. He didn't finish graduation requirements on time, but he did take summer school classes last summer. However, he said he missed the last day of summer school, went the following day to get his diploma, and no one was at the school to give it to him. Fast forward to July 2009, he has a chance to work at FedEx if he can show proof of graduation. He had called the school but got the run around. I did some quick research (he had in fact completed everything for graduation) and then I called the school. I got some hesitation from the office staff about whether or not he could have his diploma, which was there at the school, without counselor clearance. Arrgggggg . . . Even counselors have telephones -- isn't graduation important enough to call someone at home? I emphatically asked the office staff person to get the diploma ready to present to the student -- I would call him and send him on his way. I asked the student to call me when he had the diploma in his hands -- he did -- and I gave him the "Yippee! Congratulations! Go celebrate!"

My work life . . . .

My home life -- my son was a door to door salesman this afternoon. With backpack and a sales pitch, he went off to sell Hunter Football Gold Cards (discount cards for a fundraiser). He canvassed half the neighborhood and sold 6-7 of the twenty he has. He is a good boy. He also went to summer seminary this morning. I must admit that I was not a seminary attender, nor were Karl, Annie, or Haley. I have been puzzeled all summer about his willingness to attend until one day Maddie Hunt's mom gave him a ride home. It then hit me -- GIRLS.

Summer is Slipping Away

It's July 12th, my sister Jackie's birthday.

One month from today is my nephew's wedding.

Football camp is now an all day thing and the first game is in a month.

Summer is slipping away and my "to do" list has more "to do" than "done".

I've been meaning to update my blog about our trip to Boston.

Maybe I can do a little every day.
A highlight was a whale watching adventure through the New England Aquarium. We took a boat ride about 30 miles out from Boston Harbor to a marine sanctuary where humpback and fin whales feed during the summer. It was absolutely amazing. We saw probably two dozen "blows" and a dozen or so actual whale sitings. Above is a nice picture of Willie -- we sat at the back of the boat on the upper deck. The weather was delightful, the trip was a little over three hours. I love the ocean, boats, sun, and everything. The other photo is a boat similar to the one we were on.

Boston, MA on the 4th of July Weekend

I have had some amazing opportunities with my world of work -- this year's ASCA conference is in Boston, MA, July 3-6. So, Willie and Karl came along with me. We came a day early to enjoy some of the sites before I am off to the conference sessions.

A full report will come later, but for now, a few photos.

Last day of the month --

June 30, 2010 -- it's my sister's birthday, and I think she is 52. Happy Birthday, Chris!

This month marked:
End of 9th grade for Willie
Flowers growing
Baby blessings and family parties for Cole and Molly
Mission call for nephew, Eddie -- Samoa
Shavy Jones -- work for the kids
Father's Day
Nephew in France -- study abroad in Tours
Brother-in-law in Burgess Hill, England -- work related
High school basketball games (Orem and Grantsville)
Basketball Camp -- Willie @ U fo U
Senior Sisters Brunch -- Stake Relief Society event
Cindy's presentation at her stake's women's conference
Yard work -- my house and mom and dad's house
Summer Seminary -- Hunter High
Football practice -- weights and running
Karl's school, project, and more -- SLCC
Shopping with Mom, Haley, Molly, and Parker
School year wrap-up -- my work
Family visits -- from kids, grandkids, sister, nieces and nephews
Niece in "Annie" -- Hannah
Lunch with former work friends -- Daveen and Toni
Visiting teaching and home teaching
Scuba test -- written test but no results yet and dive test
And, probaby a lot more --

What can I say, I love basketball!

So yesterday was the first day of Jimmy Ball -- U of U basketball camp. This is Willie's 4th and probably last year as a day camper (next year, he will be at a "team" camp somewhere). Jim Boylen, U of U basketball coach, is quite a character and a pretty good teacher. His routine with the kids includes a word of the day ( like enthusiasm or attitude) and usually a phrase of the day (like listen to learn and learn to listen). Willie, however, has decided on his own words of the day -- yesterday was dominate and today is annihilate. You see, the older the age group the fewer number of b-ball campers, and Willie really does have some sweet basketball skills, and I think he can see the difference in his skills when he gets away from all of the kids he usually plays with. He is well on his way to a championship somewhere, sometime, in the not too distant future. He is goal oriented and competitive -- actually, he just about had his first championship last school year with junior high basketball -- but, it was not to be.

As I have mentioned many times, Willie is a good boy and his dad and I are very proud of him! I am happy he loves the basketball because I do, too. I love to watch him play -- using his sweet skills and making some pretty good shots. Yesterday morning during shoot around on the Huntsman Center court, he was making shots like crazy -- even the long shots. What can I say, I love basketball!

Life is all about relationships . . .

The Martinez family is moving to San Antonio, TX, where there son and daughter-in-law and their grandchildren live. That means Sylvia, Alex, and Grandpa are moving. They were all at church this afternoon -- including their family from Texas.

Sylvia is just about the most beautiful and dearest woman I know. She works at the Salt Lake Temple office. She doesn't drive so she catches the bus. The bus stops have moved over the years from just down the street to 4 and a half blocks away. On a few occasions, I have given Sylvia a ride to the TRAX station on 21st South rather than see her wait for the bus. Her father (I call Grandpa) who is close to 90 years is also a very kind and dear. A few years back when I was the RSP, Grandpa felt like he was a burden on Sylvia and her family. He asked our Bishop if he could have a food order thinking that would take some pressure off Sylvia and her family. Grandpa came over to my house where I had my son-in-law, Ross, or Bro. Chacun help translate the food order process. Our brief little meetings always concluded with Grandpa giving me a kiss on the cheek and whispering "I love you sister," in my ear.

Well today was probably the last time for the Martinez family to be in our church meetings. They are packing up and heading to San Antonio at the end of the week. I spoke with Sylvia only briefly at the end of sacrament meeting and she gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. We left the chapel and headed down the hallway to head for home when I turned to see Grandpa coming toward me. He gave me a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and in his very broken Engligh told me that he loved me and and thanked me for helping him in my home. It felt nice and warm to feel his appreciation and the sweet spirit of his soul. It was a testimony unlike anything that can be learned through a speech or a church lesson -- it was a connection of one spirit to another. And in my opinion, that's what life is all about -- relationships -- built by service and love and caring and kindness to make something better for someone else and be appreciated in the most genuine way.

I will miss the sweet feelings I get when I see Sylvia and Grandpa -- they will always be very special to me --

June 13, 2010 and all is well . . .

One week of summer vacation is now history. It was a crazy and somewhat stressful week at the office (no further comment).

Willie had a pretty good summer vacation so far -- Lagoon Day wrapped up the school year; scuba diving test #1; the first person to jump into Grandma's pool (60 degrees); football weight lifting and a day of basketball at the rec center; an afternoon with the Woods and Shavy Jones with Preston; a day at the ZOO with the nephews; some hang-out time with his sisters; Shavy Jones "gig" with Ross at C4; tennis with the Woods; and a movie at home on a Saturday night.

Count your Blessings!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done!
Healthy and loving and good and nice (most of the time) family
Karl
Annie
Haley
Willie
Ross and James
Elliott and Wyatt
Molly
Parents
Parents-in-law
Sisters and brothers, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law
Nieces and nephews
Grandparents and great grandparents
Extended family and predecessors
All the conveniences of the world
Religion, faith, hope, belief
Spiritual strength
Physical strength
Senses -- see, hear, touch/feel, smell, and taste
People I care about
People who care about me
Opportunity
Education
Work
Ability to do so many things
Ability to think and serve others
A nice home
A nice yard
Running water
A refrigerator
Happiness and joy
Comfort
Tastey food
Things to read and things to learn
Colors
A Hires cherry COKE, now and again
And so much more . . . .

May 25th -- Happy Birthday, Annie

Happy Birthday to my daughter. She is now an adult and an amazing one at that. She takes good care of her family and she is a great wife, mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and now auntie to little Molly. She is smart and nice (to most people), and she has developed a cooking skill that surpasses any of mine.

I got to spend most of her birthday with her boys and we had a very nice day. Later in the evening we had cake and ice cream at her home. I had presents for her and Ross (belated, sorry Ross). Happy Birthday!

Long story . . . . literally!

Boa Constrictor

by Shel Silverstein

Oh, I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor,
And I don't like it -- one bit.

Well what do you know?
It's nibblin my toe.
Oh, gee,
It's up to my knee.
Oh my,
It's up to my thigh.
Oh fiddle,
It's up to my middle.
Oh heck,
It's up to my neck.
Oh dread,
It's upmmmmmmmmmmfffffff.......

May 14, 2010 -- a Granddaughter!

A week ago tonight I got a call from Haley that she was having contractions and that baby girl was making her way into the world. The contractions were on and off, on and off until Friday morning. Then the long awaited call came, a text message on May 14, at 9:42 a.m. from Haley -- "In the hospital. Waiting for baby."

After wrapping up some interviews and other business at my office, I made my way to the hospital around 12:30 p.m. and waited for the delivery to happen. I checked in with Haley and James and everything seemed to be under control. So, I sat in my car in the hospital parking lot for at least an hour, just waiting (I think I had a nap). Then I decided to go inside and walk around. I ended up in the cafeteria and had a late lunch -- baked salmon, Au gratin potatoes, vegetables, and a Diet Coke. After eating, I found a nice comfy chair and texted James and Haley -- back and forth. Around 2:30-3:00 p.m. James found me sitting and waiting. He told me he thought it would be another hour or so. At 4:00 p.m., I made my way to a little waiting area in the labor and delivery area. At 4:10 p.m. I heard a baby cry -- it was so sweet -- but not our baby -- I overheard that it was a 9 lb. 6 oz. boy. I talked with the nurses outside of Haley's room and asked how things were going with her. They told me that Haley had been pushing for at least an hour and that sometimes with a first baby it can take two hours of pushing. Ouch! I sat back down and watched the rain outside. A little after 5:00 p.m., I heard another baby cry, much sweeter than the cry of an hour earlier -- this time I knew it was my granddaughter entering this crazy world of ours. I felt a quiet peace and almost instantaneously, I was flooded with calls/texts from Annie, Willie, then Karl, then my mom! They all must have sensed the same feeling. And guess what -- we were all right -- she was finally here!

Text message from James received at 5:38 p.m.:
Molly Ardith Binggeli,
9 lbs. 3 oz., 21 inches, 5:05 p.m.

Text message from Haley received at 5:56 p.m.:
Come in!

I went into the delivery room and saw my sweet daughter and her husband and their beautiful baby daughter -- Molly! What an incredibly wonderful way to spend an afternoon! Molly was just minutes old and looking around and ready to take a drink from her first bottle.

Happy Birthday #1 for Wyatt!

Today is Wyatt's birthday -- he is my grandson and I love him. For his birthday, he let me give him a haircut. He is not afraid of the clippers at all -- unlike Elliott. I love my grandsons and I am patiently waiting for my little granddaughter to come. But, today is Wyatt's special day and I think it was a good one!

Mother's Day

It's a one day a year celebration for neverending influence and contribution to family, community, nation, and world. No one, no one, would be here without a mother and that is pretty amazing! I guess we need fathers, too. Sorry --

These photos are my mothers!

Graduation Season

I scanned this picture and quote from a shopping bag that held my souvenirs purchased at George Washington University last summer. I love quotes! This is a great one! I sent it out to the counselors earlier today and received some great quotes in return:

"The day we stop learning is the day we die."

"Growth is the only evidence of life."

It's that time of year -- graduation season. The U of U commencement is on Friday, May 7. Graduates I received announcements for 2010 U of U grads are:

James Binggeli (son-in-law) Bachelor of Science, Nursing
Lauren Stapley (niece) Bachelor of Science, Health Promotion and Education
Arlee Heslop (neighbor) Bachelor of Science, Human Development and Family Studies
Tycen McCann (friend's son) Bachelor of Science, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Others still in higher ed programs:
Karl, Haley, Peter, Natalie, Preston, Meranda, Rubie, Travis, and Lee Ann -- our family spends a lot of sweet $$moolah$$ on tuition!

Alex (nephew) finished his Automotive and Related Technologies program at SLCC in December.
Chloe (niece) will return to school in the fall - she's home from her mission on Friday.
Meranda (niece) gets her Associates Degree form SLCC on Friday along with an Academic All-American junior college softball award.

Hello Blog World!

A good friend and colleague passed away a few weeks ago. She was very ill due to complications with her heart. I think she had her first heart surgery when she was in her 40s. She was 62. I first met her when our husbands were serving in church leadership at the Stake level. We attended a dinner/get together for leaders and spouses. We sat across the table form each other. She was working on her master's degree at BYU, and I was working on mine at the "U". We ended up working as counselors in the same school district, took care of many work-related committee assignments together, traveled to the same national conferences a couple of times, and much more. When she was the RSP in the Lake Ridge 9th Ward, she asked me to speak at her Relief Society's Women's Conference on hope. She talked to me for weeks about the needs of the sisters in her ward and how they needed to see life as hopeful and felt strongly that I had something to share. I studied for the talk, and it was probably okay, but I always thought it awkward that she would ask me to speak on hope when she exemplified greater strength in hope that I could ever know. She lost three children as babes, struggled with health issues for as long as I knew her with the most difficult and aneurysm that brought on an early medical retirement. As I look back, it may have been my lesson to learn as I think about that talk tonight.

My friend was also very smart, clever, witty, and funny. In fact, it was in 1998, that she wrote up her funeral plans and left them as an icon on her computer desktop. Her children carried out their mom's wishes with funny stories and events. The funeral service was truly a celebration of her positive impact and a fun-filled contributor to the world around her. Interesting to note that she went to Hawaii with her husband and sister and brother-in-law just after Christmas. Needless to say that was a trip to cherish.

No place like home!

After a long day at school, work, or wherever, there is nothing like coming home. Generally speaking, home is where you feel safe and comfortable. It's where you find the people you love the most. I think our home is all of these things and more.

I have been thinking about the homes where I've lived. When I was a baby, our family lived on 5th East and Kensington Avenue in a basement apartment. The apartment was located halfway between the Eccles' and the Hubers. When I was about a year old, my family moved to Magna where my parents still live. That was the home of my childhood, Grandma and Grandpa's place to Annie, Haley and Willie, and now where Elliott and Wyatt find Great Grandma and Great Grandpa.

When Karl and I were first married, we lived in Grandma Chipman's house (in old Magna). It was the nicest house, very tight and neat and clean -- with a garage, a patio, and an air conditioner. Annie was born while we lived there and since it was only a one-bedroom home, we created a place for Annie in the corner of the living room. We lived there for about three years.

We then bought a little house a little further east in Magna where the girls grew up and a place Willie can't remember. It was a tiny house, but we made it such a beautiful home. We named this home, and we still refer to her as "Mildred" even today. We lived there 20 years.

It's now been nearly 11 years since we moved to Hunter -- and this is really the nicest home in so many ways -- I love it! And, when I come home at the end of a very long day, there is nothing like the feeling I have when we have dinner, watch a little television, do some homework, talk, have a late evening treat, snack, or tall glass of cold milk, and then watch "The Office" before going to bed. It's the best, and I really must say, "There's no place, anywhere, like home!"

Happy Birthday, Haley!

I can remember the arrival of each of my kids as if those events were just yesterday. As I was sitting at my computer an hour or so ago and waiting for Karl to get home from school, I couldn't help but think about the night Haley was born. It may be of interest to note that 30 years ago tonight I was doing the same thing (minus the computer). Then almost two-year-old Annie was in bed asleep and my sister Cindy was hanging out with me waiting for Karl to get home from a late class so he could take me to the hospital to deliver a beautiful baby girl. Mind you, this was long before cell phones and texting -- I had no way of letting Karl know that he needed to get home, fast. I just waited -- with some pain now and again. Needless to say, we made it to the LDS hospital and Haley Quinn was born a little after midnight on April 8, 1980. She weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 21 inches long, she had all of her fingers and toes, and a fuzzy head (I can't say it was hair). She was a very healthy baby and toddler and very smart, too. She could walk at 11 months and toilet trained herself by the time she was about 18 months old. Not to discount all of the life events over a 30 year time frame, but Haley is still a beautiful daughter and smart. She has a great husband, James. She teaches kids of all shapes, sizes, and intellects how to do hard math problems, and in her spare time she teaches a few lucky kids to play the piano, the guitar, and the banjo. She takes care of James, Willie, and the grandparents, like no other. She loves the double T's -- Elliott and Wyatt. She will do anything for anyone -- so often ahead of her own things. And, she loves her family, Utah basketball, family history and history in general, controversial topics and opinions, the colors green, yellow, and brown, all kinds of music and documentaries, yard work, Primary kids, bread, potatoes, and cheeseburgers.

In about a month from now, Haley and James will have their own beautiful daughter. How lucky their little one will be to have such excited and awesome parents and too many family members to count who will love her and care for her.

Happy Birthday, Haley!

Oh Puke!

The college basketball season came to an end tonight but not without a battle to the last second! I am so proud of the Butler Bulldogs! And how about their coach, Brad Stevens, a 33-year-old amazing coach!

The Bulldogs got past UTEP, Murray State, Syracuse, Kansas State, and Michigan State in some of the most exciting basketball I've seen all season. But the final game, oh Puke! It ended in a loss by a just 2 measly points. But, to the Butler Bulldogs' credit, they held their heads high and walked off the court -- no floor slamming or towels covering teary eyes. They walked off the court as the second place team in a 64 team NCAA March Madness Tournament. Good job!

March -- Out Like a Lion or Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

The old saying goes -- if March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb. March has pulled a reverse this year. The weather for the first days of March was beautiful and calm. Yesterday and today have been insanely windy, dusty, and gritty. People are sneezing, coughing, and generally stuffy and congested. On the last day of March (tomorrow) we can expect more wind and rain and snow and maybe even a few meatballs.

Weather sayings are pretty cool and most of them come from the Farmer's Almanac or some other weather predicting source. Other March weather sayings are:

A dry March and a wet May fill barns and bays with corn and hay.

As it rains in March, so it rains in June.

March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.

Ides of March

Ides of March is a phrase from Roman calendars of thousands of years ago. Ides means the 15th day of any month. The phrase became an infamous line in Julius Caesar, "Beware the Ides of March," Caesar was warned by a seer. The phrase infers or foreshadows something scary or awful may happen to him and it in fact did -- Julius Caesar was killed -- stabbed to death by a bunch of crazed Roman Senators.

Well, today has been just like any other day in spite of it being the Ides of March. School and work and then home. Karl and Willie went to a Jazz game; I just returned home from checking on the grandparents; and, I plan to go through a few weeks of mail and straighten up the house.

Where did February go?

When time flies so quickly, blogging becomes a low priority, sorry.
So, where did February go?

A lot of my weeknights went to church meetings in preparation for our Hunter Central Stake Women's Conference. It was held on Saturday, February 20, and I would consider it a huge success. We had over 220 in attendance! Our guest speaker was Camille Fronk Olson and our guest vocalist was Allyse Smith-Taylor.

Annie and Ross invited us for Sunday dinner at their home for Super Bowl Sunday, February 7 -- it was very nice to be invited out. And, the dinner was yummy and the company was awesome.
Nephew Parker spent a few days (February 3-6) with us because Cindy and Evan took some time off to watch Meranda play softball in Yuma, Arizona. Meranda is playing her second year of college softball at SLCC. Parker is good company -- we all enjoyed having him overnight and during the day. I tease him that he is my favorite nephew.
Willie and I had intended to celebrate Bob Marley Day on Feb. 6, but we forgot. But we did go to a couple of weeknight Utah b-ball games together during the month -- just the two of us -- we had fun.
After school on February 9, the Granite Technical Institute Open House kept Willie and me busy. It was great to see (up close and personal) all of the technical programs available there. Willie wandered around and identified 4 classes he's interested in (3D animation, engineering, pilot/aviation, and electronics) while I played my roles as welcomer/counselor lady. I guessed there were probably 3000+ students and parents who participated.
Science Fair projects were due February 17, so Willie and I worked to get it put together. We decided to recycle a project from the past, but it still took hours to get it put together. We were both kind of disappointed at the teacher's lack of excitement for the whole thing. She didn't even have the kids share their projects with each other.
I went to the 5A State Swim Meet on February 12. Niece Emily was in 2 events that night and 2 the next day. She swims for Copper Hills High School and her sister Maddie is the team's coach. By the way, Emily has been nominated for Junior Prom Queen -- how about that!
On four different days during February, I helped Dad get Mom to her doctor's appointments. Mom is getting stronger every week. I'd hoped that her strength would come back faster, but when you are nearly 80, rebounding is slow. Getting Mom anywhere is tricky. She needs a wheelchair -- we use Moria's red one. She needs forced air at 6 units 24/7. A long tank has enough air for about 90 minutes, so Dad has to bring at least one extra tank and sometimes two. We usually end up changing out the tanks at the end of her appointments (in the parking lot before they head for home). It's doable, but I know it stresses them both out. Mom made it to church twice in February and she was so excited to go.
Haley and I took Mom/Grandma shopping on Presidents' Day. We just went to ShopKo, but she was in heaven filling up her shopping cart. I wheeled her around with the oxygen tank straddled between her legs while Haley pushed the shopping cart -- Mom bought birthday gifts for February and March birthdays and a baby present for Maddie's baby shower.
I helped Haley, Karl, and Willie with homework/papers (it's my hobbie).
On Saturday (February 27), Elliott spent the day with me! Wyatt needed some time away from big brother, so Grandmama Judy was the lucky one -- he is such a good boy. He did spend some time with Grandpa and Willie (he helped Grandpa coach Willie's ball game). We had fun and ended the day at Shopko to buy a prize -- he chose Lightning McQueen from the movie Cars.
Willie grew in February -- he is now the tallest in the family -- a little over 6'3"! How about that! He played in about 8 basketball games in February and scored over 100 points total in the month. He also missed a day of school (February 22) -- sore throat (again) and general achiness.

Wyatt was sick, too (Feb. 24th on), a little more serious illness for a little guy, RSV. I've seen him a couple of times and he looks so peaked and has little bags under his eyes. (snif, snif)
I am excited for March!

Opinions . . .

• With all the talk about Jordan School District's multi-million dollar deficit, I can't help but wonder why district's don't trim the excess at the top. The big district superintendents in the Salt Lake area make upwards of six times as much as a new teacher. It seems to me that making cuts in the administrative level could save six teachers' jobs or maybe seven or eight classified staff. Not sure how superintendents arrived at such a high level of entitlement. Hmmm . . . And, after nearly 32 years working in education, I am not sure what a superintendent does that impacts the day to day operation of a school. For the most part they [superintendents] are nice people who have climbed to the top through hard work in the field, but I am not sure their work is worth so much more than our classroom teachers.


• The opening ceremony for the Vancouver Olympics was little more than boring. It was a mix of mixed up stuff -- from native dancers to orca whales to flying snowboarders to opera singers to river-type tap dancers to . . . . The one and only bright spot was the parade of the countries -- a fashion show really, the outfits were quite interesting.


• Education is knowledge and power and worth the effort at any point in your life. I ran into a former neighbor/friend this afternoon. She is my age and just finished a bachelor's degree in accounting. She indicated that she is thinking of continuing on with school to complete a master's in business (MBA). Karl is currently working on another degree this year -- nearly thirty years after completing a bachelor's degree. And, Lee Ann, my sister-in-law is back in school this year finishing a bachelor's degree. No matter the age, education is something that can never, never be taken from you and is an invaluable asset. Way to go to all who are taking classes, studying hard, and acquiring new and up-to-date marketable skills.


• Take care of what you have! As I look out my kitchen window I can see the backyards of three neighboring houses. Each has a trampoline and all of them were purchased about the same time -- 2 or 3 years ago. Two of the 3 are in the best of shape complete with their original safety nets. One, however, is a complete worn out mess. The safety net is long gone -- actually it is torn to shreds. The bars are bent, and it is no longer a nice backyard toy but a big safety hazard. The shape of this neighbor's trampoline in pretty indicative of their entire yard (old tires all over the north side of the house and other junk scattered around the yard) and also creeps into their house -- another big mess. I am not sure that the people who live there value much of anything. So sad -- In my opinion, the better care you give to anything, the longer it lasts.


• Money is overrated -- yes you need it to survive and thrive in the world -- but it's all relative. The NBA ALL-Star Game was on TV last night. The glitz and bling of the rich and famous of the NBA were all about the 100,000 plus seat Dallas Cowboy Stadium. The fans (whose seats were miles from the court) paid big money to watch the game on a basketball-sized jumbo screen. But the fans are not the point of my opinion (I digressed). In my present older and much wiser state, I am not nearly as impressed by nor need to be supported by as much of the dollar as I once thought important. After all, money is for stuff and once you (speaking for the greater public) figure out basic needs and have those met by what money you have, all of the extra money you have just goes to stuff and believe me we (speaking again for me and the greater public) have more stuff than we really need or will ever use. Karl finished painting before Christmas. He boxed up a bunch of stuff (roosters, greenery, . . . ) from the top of my kitchen cabinets in October/November and put them in boxes now stored in the garage. Guess what, they are still there, I am not sure I will put the stuff in the boxes on top of the cabinets, ever. Actually, when I look through my house, I can see a lot of stuff (maybe junk) I don't need nor want. Sometimes I feel like I am going to be taken over by all the stuff in my house. I have a goal this year to go through and de-stuff my house. I now think twice and thrice about money spent on stuff -- I save any extra money instead for something I may need in the future or someplace I would like to take my family. Karl has always been a saver and what has taken years to save is making life very comfortable for our family today.

Group Projects

My kids have been in the public school system off and on for many years -- too many to track. Every year there is a "group project" or two. No matter the class, the topic, the project, my kids get stuck with the responsibility. Willie and three kids in his "group project" have been hanging out at our house "working" on the project. After three long hours this afternoon/evening -- Willie and I were the only ones left standing, trying to work through putting the pieces of the so-called "group project" in order. The other kids just left -- I shooed them away -- we had other things to do -- like eat dinner. Most of the time, Willie was working on the project while the other "group members" were checking out YouTube videos. Arrggggg!

Week in review --

My mom hasn't been feeling well since Christmas. I attributed her low energy and general sense of not feeling well to Christmas and general holiday preparations. She planned for months getting gifts for 53 people -- it's her annual late summer/fall daily activity. (She's a catalog shopper extraordinaire!)

Since January 7, Mom has spent time at the LDS Hospital ER, followed up with a couple of doctor's appointments, and by Wednesday (last week) she was too weak to do much of anything. She and Dad got ready for a noon doctor's appointment, and Mom couldn't make it walking to the truck. Dad wheeled her to the passenger door and realized he needed help getting her into the truck. Liz came to the rescue, but by the time she and Dad got Mom into the passenger seat of the truck, she had passed out and began convulsing. A desperate call to 911 lead to a brief stay at Pioneer Valley Hospital and then an ambulance transfer to IMC. After several days in the hospital, Mom came home late Sunday afternoon much better off than when she left but not in the best of shape.

Mom's health issues are all interconnected and very complicated and difficult to describe if you are not in the medical profession. But, here it goes: bad lungs because of years of scar tissue build-up largely due pulmonary fibrosis and aspiration because of her pretty severe hiatal hernia; bad heart because of years of unattended high blood pressure; even more damage to the heart because it doesn’t get enough air from the bad lungs to work properly; water retention because Mom's bad heart can’t work hard enough to get rid of excess bodily fluid; severe leg and foot pain because the excess fluid in her feet and legs puts pressure on her already sore and painful neuropothy there; no energy because of bad lungs, bad heart, sore feet and legs, and a lot of pain. But, as Mom made it clear to the ER doctors, “I’m not dead, yet!”

She's home now with a few new medications, increased oxygen with a new reservoir nasal cannula, a lung capacity tester, a heart monitor (for two weeks), a finger oximeter, and a bunch of new instructions ------

She's lost close to 50 pounds in a year, and you wouldn't recognize her if you haven't seen her in that time. I (we) pray that she feels a little better each day and that she can build her strength and capacity to maintain quality in her life -- she's determined she can do it (but not without support and help from the whole family -- especially Dad).