travelin' oma assignment number seventeen
i am not a pack rat. i probably throw away more than i should. so, i have a hard time with the concept of souvenirs. at least, the cliche souvenirs that you see in shops when you travel to places accustomed to tourism. if you've ever been to hawaii and seen an "abc" store, you know what i mean. save your dollar, i don't want a miniature flip-flop key chain.
i even have a hard time collecting things that aren't cliche or that weren't originally intended as souvenirs. i know people who have collected ticket stubs, museum pamphlets, and things like that from their travels and even though i love to look through those and think that they are great alternatives to raiding the gift shop when you go to disneyland, i still can't bring myself to save things like that. i can't handle an extra box of clutter in my life. i used to tape things like plane tickets, movie ticket stubs, and programs into my journal and that was manageable for me, but now that i keep a journal digitally, it hasn't happened.
but reading travelin' oma's post for this assignment has caused me to rethink my grinch-like behavior towards souvenirs. because i do want to have something to show for my travels. and i want it to be something tangible, in addition to the memories that we make on our trips. and so, i've developed a bit of a souvenir plan. to overcome my unease at collecting.
here goes:
1. get a good camera, take high-quality pictures, save some of the ticket stubs, programs, etc., that i was talking about earlier and then when i come home, make a photo album for that trip. with all of the digital book software that is available now, it isn't that hard to do and is surprisingly inexpensive. i can scan in the non-picture items and discard them when i am done with them (how's that for sentimental?). and then, i have a book to look through and remember my trip by. and i never mind having another book around. hopefully, someday i will have a shelf full of these little books.
2. collect artwork from the places that i go. i think that it is going to need to be hanging artwork for the most part. because, as explained above, i have a hard time with clutter. randy and i are anxious to expand (read: start) our art collection, and what better way to do so than by accumulating art work with sentimental value? we are currently living in my grandparent's house and the walls are covered with art from the many places that they have traveled and lived. almost every piece has a story to go along with it. and i love that.
now that i have my plan, i just need to start traveling.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
genealogy
travelin' oma assignment number sixteen
the older i become, the more interested i am in genealogy work. i think this is probably a common thing. the older we get, the more we realize that we are shaped by not only our own past, but also the past of those that got us here. we realize that our personalities are more affected by genetics than we realized as kids and become curious about which of our ancestors we have similar characteristics to. we start to seek wisdom from those who have gone before us as we face more difficult circumstances in life and turn to journal accounts or oral histories to find that wisdom. hopefully we also seek it from relatives with more wisdom than us that are still alive.
i have some great things to learn from my ancestors. my linford grandparents are diligent genealogists and have compiled a lot of our family's history. they published a wonderful book on my great grandparents and i finally read it last year. i discovered many of the things that i talked about in the previous paragraph by reading about their lives. other branches of my family tree still wait to be researched and have wisdom gleaned from. randy's side of the family has some complex record issues that are going to take some real time and effort to sort through and find, but we are both anxious to find information about those ancestors.
learning more about my family history is a bug that i have just recently caught, but i know that there are a lot of practical skills that i need to learn and develop before i can really effectively do some of the research that i need to. and that is a little discouraging. especially given time constraints. hopefully i can push through some of that and at least do some small things to begin my lifelong pursuit of family history so that i'm not eighty by the time i finally get around to it and someone is trying to interview me for my own personal history before i pass on. baby steps.
the older i become, the more interested i am in genealogy work. i think this is probably a common thing. the older we get, the more we realize that we are shaped by not only our own past, but also the past of those that got us here. we realize that our personalities are more affected by genetics than we realized as kids and become curious about which of our ancestors we have similar characteristics to. we start to seek wisdom from those who have gone before us as we face more difficult circumstances in life and turn to journal accounts or oral histories to find that wisdom. hopefully we also seek it from relatives with more wisdom than us that are still alive.
i have some great things to learn from my ancestors. my linford grandparents are diligent genealogists and have compiled a lot of our family's history. they published a wonderful book on my great grandparents and i finally read it last year. i discovered many of the things that i talked about in the previous paragraph by reading about their lives. other branches of my family tree still wait to be researched and have wisdom gleaned from. randy's side of the family has some complex record issues that are going to take some real time and effort to sort through and find, but we are both anxious to find information about those ancestors.
learning more about my family history is a bug that i have just recently caught, but i know that there are a lot of practical skills that i need to learn and develop before i can really effectively do some of the research that i need to. and that is a little discouraging. especially given time constraints. hopefully i can push through some of that and at least do some small things to begin my lifelong pursuit of family history so that i'm not eighty by the time i finally get around to it and someone is trying to interview me for my own personal history before i pass on. baby steps.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
think like a lawyer
travelin' oma assignment number fifteen
i have always been an opinionated person. i can't help it, it's in my blood. i have never really had a problem sharing those opinions. i was voted most conservative in my high school and i don't think it's because i was actually the most conservative student in my high school, i think it is simply that i was one of the few people who was willing to vocalize more conservative viewpoints amidst a liberal student body.
then i went to law school. it's not that i became any less opinionated, i just changed how i formed those opinions, how i expressed those opinions, and how i listened to other people's opinions. this is what they were talking about the first week of my first year when they told us that they were going to teach us to think like lawyers.
i know, some of you may be rolling your eyes and saying, "yeah, think like a lawyer. you mean see everything in gray when it is really black and white." no, that is not what i mean. you can save your evil crafty lawyer jokes for someone else. i still see plenty of things in black and white. but i also have learned to see the big picture and take in both sides before forming an opinion. it is rare that a law suit (or legislation, or any legal issue) gets to any kind of advanced stage in the legal process without there being some merit on both sides.
so now, i am an opinionated woman who thinks like a lawyer. i usually start out with a gut reaction to a situation, but very quickly after that gut reaction follows a look at the other side. i think that this drives randy nuts sometimes. he will say something and i immediately come back with the counterargument, even if i pretty much agree with him. it is simply my way of talking through the issue and really determining if i have formed a valid opinion.
i also am much slower to share my opinion. some of you may laugh, but you should have seen me before law school! i am still probably pretty quick to vocalize my opinion on small issues, but on issues of any kind of significance, i am much more reluctant to speak unless i have really studied out and researched both sides. while we were dating, randy had a roommate who would say, "what's your opinion on _____?" (insert big political or social issue here such as capital punishment or abortion), hoping for a good heated debate with a law student. and i just wouldn't do it if i didn't know enough to really throw my hat in the ring wholeheartedly. now, get me going on a topic that i know plenty about...
having said all of that, i think that it can be dangerous to get too entrenched in this process and never really arrive at moral conclusions for yourself. i've known people who let debates play out far too long in their head and end up feeling lost and confused in such a complex world. i feel fortunate to have a firm moral foundation that doesn't waiver and that serves as a constant backdrop for me when forming thoughts and opinions. i do think that there are absolute truths that should govern our behaviors as individuals and a society. but, armed with those, i am happy to listen openly to both sides of an argument and engage in lively discussion.
i have always been an opinionated person. i can't help it, it's in my blood. i have never really had a problem sharing those opinions. i was voted most conservative in my high school and i don't think it's because i was actually the most conservative student in my high school, i think it is simply that i was one of the few people who was willing to vocalize more conservative viewpoints amidst a liberal student body.
then i went to law school. it's not that i became any less opinionated, i just changed how i formed those opinions, how i expressed those opinions, and how i listened to other people's opinions. this is what they were talking about the first week of my first year when they told us that they were going to teach us to think like lawyers.
i know, some of you may be rolling your eyes and saying, "yeah, think like a lawyer. you mean see everything in gray when it is really black and white." no, that is not what i mean. you can save your evil crafty lawyer jokes for someone else. i still see plenty of things in black and white. but i also have learned to see the big picture and take in both sides before forming an opinion. it is rare that a law suit (or legislation, or any legal issue) gets to any kind of advanced stage in the legal process without there being some merit on both sides.
so now, i am an opinionated woman who thinks like a lawyer. i usually start out with a gut reaction to a situation, but very quickly after that gut reaction follows a look at the other side. i think that this drives randy nuts sometimes. he will say something and i immediately come back with the counterargument, even if i pretty much agree with him. it is simply my way of talking through the issue and really determining if i have formed a valid opinion.
i also am much slower to share my opinion. some of you may laugh, but you should have seen me before law school! i am still probably pretty quick to vocalize my opinion on small issues, but on issues of any kind of significance, i am much more reluctant to speak unless i have really studied out and researched both sides. while we were dating, randy had a roommate who would say, "what's your opinion on _____?" (insert big political or social issue here such as capital punishment or abortion), hoping for a good heated debate with a law student. and i just wouldn't do it if i didn't know enough to really throw my hat in the ring wholeheartedly. now, get me going on a topic that i know plenty about...
having said all of that, i think that it can be dangerous to get too entrenched in this process and never really arrive at moral conclusions for yourself. i've known people who let debates play out far too long in their head and end up feeling lost and confused in such a complex world. i feel fortunate to have a firm moral foundation that doesn't waiver and that serves as a constant backdrop for me when forming thoughts and opinions. i do think that there are absolute truths that should govern our behaviors as individuals and a society. but, armed with those, i am happy to listen openly to both sides of an argument and engage in lively discussion.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
blogging?
travelin' oma assignment number fourteen
some people have parents who are very computer illiterate, but i am lucky to have parents who know their way around computers very well. my dad has been working with computers (hardware and software) for years and definitely knows far more about computers than i. my uncle, who works with my dad, also knows technology well and has his finger on the pulse of up-and-coming trends in the techno world.
several years ago, this same uncle mentioned "blogging," at a family dinner as a new thing that was happening on the internet. i remember him talking about people essentially publishing their journals on the internet for the whole world to see and thinking that, while it was an interesting concept, not much would really come of it.
wrong.
here i am.
so, how would i describe my blog hobby to someone unfamiliar with blogging? this is a hard question because i think that blogging has become very diverse in the few years that it has been in existence. there are different types of blogging communities out there. some are collaborative in nature, some are instructive, some are purely creative, and some are, as my uncle said, essentially people publishing their journals online. i wouldn't say that i am publishing my journal online, because this is certainly not my journal, however, i would say that it is similar in nature. it is a looser version of my journal. journalesque thoughts that i am comfortable sharing with everyone.
sometimes i feel like it is a collection of emails to those that care to check in on me in this online sphere. emails that often have pictures attached to them. it is a collection of random thoughts that i want to share with people in an unobtrusive way. i just float them out there and people can come look at them if they want to. that is how it is different than an email or letter, i suppose - i don't expect a response. i am not targeting any reader in particular. comments are always welcome and enjoyed, but quite frankly, i have no idea who or how many people actually look at my blog.
i recently read an article about a woman who did her thesis on "mommy blogs." not all of the article focuses on her thesis, but towards the end it focuses on it more and she talks about some of the reasons that women make blogs, especially why lds women make blogs. i thought she had some interesting insights and agree with a lot of what she said.
i think this was a bit of a rambling post that strayed a bit from the original prompt. but hey, that is what blogging allows for, right?
some people have parents who are very computer illiterate, but i am lucky to have parents who know their way around computers very well. my dad has been working with computers (hardware and software) for years and definitely knows far more about computers than i. my uncle, who works with my dad, also knows technology well and has his finger on the pulse of up-and-coming trends in the techno world.
several years ago, this same uncle mentioned "blogging," at a family dinner as a new thing that was happening on the internet. i remember him talking about people essentially publishing their journals on the internet for the whole world to see and thinking that, while it was an interesting concept, not much would really come of it.
wrong.
here i am.
so, how would i describe my blog hobby to someone unfamiliar with blogging? this is a hard question because i think that blogging has become very diverse in the few years that it has been in existence. there are different types of blogging communities out there. some are collaborative in nature, some are instructive, some are purely creative, and some are, as my uncle said, essentially people publishing their journals online. i wouldn't say that i am publishing my journal online, because this is certainly not my journal, however, i would say that it is similar in nature. it is a looser version of my journal. journalesque thoughts that i am comfortable sharing with everyone.
sometimes i feel like it is a collection of emails to those that care to check in on me in this online sphere. emails that often have pictures attached to them. it is a collection of random thoughts that i want to share with people in an unobtrusive way. i just float them out there and people can come look at them if they want to. that is how it is different than an email or letter, i suppose - i don't expect a response. i am not targeting any reader in particular. comments are always welcome and enjoyed, but quite frankly, i have no idea who or how many people actually look at my blog.
i recently read an article about a woman who did her thesis on "mommy blogs." not all of the article focuses on her thesis, but towards the end it focuses on it more and she talks about some of the reasons that women make blogs, especially why lds women make blogs. i thought she had some interesting insights and agree with a lot of what she said.
i think this was a bit of a rambling post that strayed a bit from the original prompt. but hey, that is what blogging allows for, right?
Monday, January 18, 2010
making babies
in preparation for baby diane, we've been talking to madeleine about why my tummy is so large, who's inside of it, that she's coming soon, etc. today, madeleine was standing next to me while i was working on the computer. she picked up the scanner's power cord (which was not plugged in), put the round end that goes in the scanner into her belly button and said, "i making babies."
not quite.
not quite.
my kid could draw that
travelin' oma assignment number thirteen
this is the prompt i chose for today's assignment:
"I love the book No, David. Did you know David Shannon wrote the book using pictures he drew as a little boy? Look at some illustrations and decide if you could illustrate your own book."
i immediately knew the answer to this. i could not illustrate my own book.
sometimes i think that i could and then i sit down and draw and reality hits. this seems to be a trend for me with creative endeavors in general. i get grandiose ideas in my head and have a beautiful picture of how i want something to turn out and then somewhere between my brain and the physical execution, that idea gets mangled into something less pretty than i originally envisioned. some of that is a lack of skills, which i am slowly trying to improve, but some of that comes from impatience. i tend to do alright at the beginning of the project, but by the end, i am anxious to get it done, i cut corners, and it shows. i need to work on my finish work.
this is something that i can work on and actually am working on, but i think that it will be a long time before i am ready to illustrate a children's book. for now, i'll leave that to the professionals.
this is the prompt i chose for today's assignment:
"I love the book No, David. Did you know David Shannon wrote the book using pictures he drew as a little boy? Look at some illustrations and decide if you could illustrate your own book."
i immediately knew the answer to this. i could not illustrate my own book.
sometimes i think that i could and then i sit down and draw and reality hits. this seems to be a trend for me with creative endeavors in general. i get grandiose ideas in my head and have a beautiful picture of how i want something to turn out and then somewhere between my brain and the physical execution, that idea gets mangled into something less pretty than i originally envisioned. some of that is a lack of skills, which i am slowly trying to improve, but some of that comes from impatience. i tend to do alright at the beginning of the project, but by the end, i am anxious to get it done, i cut corners, and it shows. i need to work on my finish work.
this is something that i can work on and actually am working on, but i think that it will be a long time before i am ready to illustrate a children's book. for now, i'll leave that to the professionals.
time for pictures
these are not great quality photos, but they highlight some of madeleine's activities from the last month:
this is madeleine using her new art easel that we got her. she recently learned that in addition to coloring on the chalkboard, she can erase it with a paper towel. i think that she enjoys drawing with the chalk, simply so that she can erase it.
here she is doing some yoga. i'm not sure what poses she was going for here. warrior one? no yoga session would be complete without a finding nemo tin box.
madeleine is still my little bookworm. here she is sitting on my bed and reading with her feet crossed (something she has done since she was a baby).
one of her favorite things to do is play with rachel. i believe that this next series began as a gentle attempt at a hug, but turned into a little bit of a wrestling match. rachel didn't seem to mind too much.
just a cute shot:
madeleine loves to help me clean and one of her favorite tasks is sweeping. beth was trying to help wrangle her so that she would actual hold still for a second.
this is madeleine using her new art easel that we got her. she recently learned that in addition to coloring on the chalkboard, she can erase it with a paper towel. i think that she enjoys drawing with the chalk, simply so that she can erase it.
here she is doing some yoga. i'm not sure what poses she was going for here. warrior one? no yoga session would be complete without a finding nemo tin box.
madeleine is still my little bookworm. here she is sitting on my bed and reading with her feet crossed (something she has done since she was a baby).
one of her favorite things to do is play with rachel. i believe that this next series began as a gentle attempt at a hug, but turned into a little bit of a wrestling match. rachel didn't seem to mind too much.
just a cute shot:
madeleine loves to help me clean and one of her favorite tasks is sweeping. beth was trying to help wrangle her so that she would actual hold still for a second.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
to raise an independent child
travelin' oma assignment number twelve
i think i've mentioned this before, but i cannot thank my parents enough for raising me to be an independent and self-sufficient adult. i've tried to come up with some specific things that they did to foster independence. they didn't coddle us, they provided opportunities for us to take on responsibilities (even if it wasn't convenient for them) and trusted in our abilities. but most of all, they talked to us. when they were doing things, they would talk about why they were doing it the way they were doing it. and at a young age, too. they created teaching opportunities whenever possible.
all of that is a preface to my assignment for today: make a list of ten things that kids need to learn to become self-sufficient. and so, without further ado...
1. money management - teach your children how to handle money. how to live within their means. how to save, how to spend wisely, how to be generous. teach them how to open a bank account and keep the bank account balanced. teach them to use a credit card.
2. food prep - teach your children to prepare their own food. they should be able to plan healthy meals, shop for the ingredients, and follow a recipe. you'd be amazed at how many college roommates i had who had little to no idea of how to do anything other than microwave prepared foods. i also think that having a garden is a great addition to this skill set, but that's another post for another day.
3. cleaning/home maintenance -teach your children how to clean. i mean really clean. not just run a vacuum and do the dishes, but scrub out the details and make a room sparkle. i remember my dad teaching me the wonders that you can work with a toothbrush in your cleaning arsenal. teach your children how to do things like plunge a toilet, change a light bulb, and turn off the main water valve. teach your children how to do laundry. how to separate out colors from whites, get out stains, fold and put away clothes.
4. spiritual self-reliance - teach your children how to pray and receive personal revelation. they need to have their own relationship with god, you cannot always be the liaison. this is a huge one and involves a lifetime of your example, providing opportunities for them to have their own spiritual experiences, and explicit teaching about the mechanics of the spirit.
5. eating out - teach your children how to eat out at any level of restaurant. i remember going to restaurants with my dad and having him teach us how to order on a date (pay attention to the hints your date gives you), how to calculate a tip, and general restaurant etiquette. i am very comfortable eating out in any situation, thanks to my dad.
6. cultural events - please teach your children how to behave at cultural events. proper attire, arriving on time, and all other etiquette that goes along with individual types of events. these can be complicated and are best taught with experience (you don't clap between movements or after classical solos in an orchestral setting, but you do clap after jazz solos, even if it is in the middle of the piece). social blunders can be embarrassing for you and your kids and these are big ones to discuss before the event (not during!).
7. social etiquette - teach your children how to make introductions. how to answer a telephone, leave a message, and make an appointment (oh, how my siblings hated my parents for making them set their own appointments). teach them how to look someone in the eye and converse comfortably with people of all age groups.
8. work ethic - this is a very general one that applies to many of the other topics, but i think it is the most important. if your children know how to work hard, they will be able to survive in many tough situations. if they have confidence in their own abilities to work and learn, they will not fear new responsibilities or hard things. make your children do manual labor.
9. car maintenance - teach your children how to take care of a car. how often a car needs an oil change (whether or not you want to teach them to change it themselves is up to you). how to change a tire. how to replace a headlight bulb. things that will save them money in the long run.
10. time management - teach your children to manage their schedules. teach them to use a planner. how to schedule appointments. how to prioritize. to allot an appropriate amount of time for different events.
these are the ten that i came up with off the top of my head. i am sure there are many more, but these are some of the big ones.
i think i've mentioned this before, but i cannot thank my parents enough for raising me to be an independent and self-sufficient adult. i've tried to come up with some specific things that they did to foster independence. they didn't coddle us, they provided opportunities for us to take on responsibilities (even if it wasn't convenient for them) and trusted in our abilities. but most of all, they talked to us. when they were doing things, they would talk about why they were doing it the way they were doing it. and at a young age, too. they created teaching opportunities whenever possible.
all of that is a preface to my assignment for today: make a list of ten things that kids need to learn to become self-sufficient. and so, without further ado...
1. money management - teach your children how to handle money. how to live within their means. how to save, how to spend wisely, how to be generous. teach them how to open a bank account and keep the bank account balanced. teach them to use a credit card.
2. food prep - teach your children to prepare their own food. they should be able to plan healthy meals, shop for the ingredients, and follow a recipe. you'd be amazed at how many college roommates i had who had little to no idea of how to do anything other than microwave prepared foods. i also think that having a garden is a great addition to this skill set, but that's another post for another day.
3. cleaning/home maintenance -teach your children how to clean. i mean really clean. not just run a vacuum and do the dishes, but scrub out the details and make a room sparkle. i remember my dad teaching me the wonders that you can work with a toothbrush in your cleaning arsenal. teach your children how to do things like plunge a toilet, change a light bulb, and turn off the main water valve. teach your children how to do laundry. how to separate out colors from whites, get out stains, fold and put away clothes.
4. spiritual self-reliance - teach your children how to pray and receive personal revelation. they need to have their own relationship with god, you cannot always be the liaison. this is a huge one and involves a lifetime of your example, providing opportunities for them to have their own spiritual experiences, and explicit teaching about the mechanics of the spirit.
5. eating out - teach your children how to eat out at any level of restaurant. i remember going to restaurants with my dad and having him teach us how to order on a date (pay attention to the hints your date gives you), how to calculate a tip, and general restaurant etiquette. i am very comfortable eating out in any situation, thanks to my dad.
6. cultural events - please teach your children how to behave at cultural events. proper attire, arriving on time, and all other etiquette that goes along with individual types of events. these can be complicated and are best taught with experience (you don't clap between movements or after classical solos in an orchestral setting, but you do clap after jazz solos, even if it is in the middle of the piece). social blunders can be embarrassing for you and your kids and these are big ones to discuss before the event (not during!).
7. social etiquette - teach your children how to make introductions. how to answer a telephone, leave a message, and make an appointment (oh, how my siblings hated my parents for making them set their own appointments). teach them how to look someone in the eye and converse comfortably with people of all age groups.
8. work ethic - this is a very general one that applies to many of the other topics, but i think it is the most important. if your children know how to work hard, they will be able to survive in many tough situations. if they have confidence in their own abilities to work and learn, they will not fear new responsibilities or hard things. make your children do manual labor.
9. car maintenance - teach your children how to take care of a car. how often a car needs an oil change (whether or not you want to teach them to change it themselves is up to you). how to change a tire. how to replace a headlight bulb. things that will save them money in the long run.
10. time management - teach your children to manage their schedules. teach them to use a planner. how to schedule appointments. how to prioritize. to allot an appropriate amount of time for different events.
these are the ten that i came up with off the top of my head. i am sure there are many more, but these are some of the big ones.
remembering 9-11
travelin' oma assignment number eleven
i'll never forget where i was on 9-11-2001. i was about a week into my freshman year of college and was running a little behind on my way to my tuesday morning 8:00am class. i wasn't late, but i barely scooted into the room as the bell was ringing and remember being surprised at how much talking was still going on among my classmates. my professor quickly quieted everyone down and made an announcement that a plane had just crashed into one of the wtc towers in nyc and they were waiting for more details. after a few more minutes of discussion on the news, we tried to press on with class as usual.
i don't remember a lot of details from the day. i don't remember specific video clips or details about the timing of events, but i do remember the general feeling on campus. every t.v. on campus was turned on and everywhere you looked, the news was playing. you couldn't avoid it. by the end of the day, i remember feeling (with a little guilt) like i was going to be sick if i saw any more and wishing that we could just turn all of the t.v.s off and pretend like it had never happened. i wanted the noise to go away.
i remember people walking around with stunned looks on their faces, as if they had just been punched in the stomach. BYU has a weekly devotional every tuesday, where speakers come to deliver addresses on various topics. that tuesday, the scheduled speaker was canceled, but we still had a campus devotional where president bateman, our university president, addressed us. he spoke comfort to a solemn student body and we reverently mourned the loss of those involved in the events of the day.
i remember talking to my mom and having her say that i would never forget where i was that day. she recalled certain events in her life that were similar such as the moon landing and jfk's assassination. i knew that she was right and i knew that i would not only remember the events of the day for the rest of my life, but i would be affected by those events for the rest of my life.
i'll never forget where i was on 9-11-2001. i was about a week into my freshman year of college and was running a little behind on my way to my tuesday morning 8:00am class. i wasn't late, but i barely scooted into the room as the bell was ringing and remember being surprised at how much talking was still going on among my classmates. my professor quickly quieted everyone down and made an announcement that a plane had just crashed into one of the wtc towers in nyc and they were waiting for more details. after a few more minutes of discussion on the news, we tried to press on with class as usual.
i don't remember a lot of details from the day. i don't remember specific video clips or details about the timing of events, but i do remember the general feeling on campus. every t.v. on campus was turned on and everywhere you looked, the news was playing. you couldn't avoid it. by the end of the day, i remember feeling (with a little guilt) like i was going to be sick if i saw any more and wishing that we could just turn all of the t.v.s off and pretend like it had never happened. i wanted the noise to go away.
i remember people walking around with stunned looks on their faces, as if they had just been punched in the stomach. BYU has a weekly devotional every tuesday, where speakers come to deliver addresses on various topics. that tuesday, the scheduled speaker was canceled, but we still had a campus devotional where president bateman, our university president, addressed us. he spoke comfort to a solemn student body and we reverently mourned the loss of those involved in the events of the day.
i remember talking to my mom and having her say that i would never forget where i was that day. she recalled certain events in her life that were similar such as the moon landing and jfk's assassination. i knew that she was right and i knew that i would not only remember the events of the day for the rest of my life, but i would be affected by those events for the rest of my life.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
my true love
travelin' oma assignment number ten
warning (yes, the second post in a row to begin with a warning): this is a mushy post. but don't worry, it won't be too long because this is a bit of a push for me.
for my travelin' oma assignment, i was supposed to write a mushy love letter to randy, but i am going to take a little bit of a different spin on it and just write about our relationship. i have a hard time expressing these thoughts in writing, so bear with me.
randy and i don't do conventional romance very well. i'm okay with that and usually prefer it that way. sure, we tell each other "i love you," all the time (and mean it), but we don't do big valentine's day or anniversary celebrations and i've never received flowers from randy. i don't leave love notes in his lunch and i've never put on lipstick for him when he comes home.
i love randy because he loves me the way that i want to be loved, not the way that other people expect husbands to love their wives. he doesn't buy me flowers because he knows that i'd rather go to dinner with him using the money he would have spent on flowers. people have heard that and said, "oh, she doesn't really mean that," but randy knows that i don't say things unless i mean them and he trusts me to be honest with him.
i love randy because he lets me be me. he knew that i was independent and strong-willed when he married me and he gives me room to fly when i want to. he is never critical and always encourages me to do things that will help me to maintain and foster my own identity as an individual, not just as a wife and a mother. i think that our relationship works because i try to do the same thing. i married him, knowing that he was a bit of a space cadet, but that with those occasional trips into another world, came fierce creativity and deep spirituality that attracted me to him in the first place.
our expressions of love may not be overt or conventional, but they are there in the little details. we have learned to communicate our love to each other in the way that we understand best and i never doubt randy's love for me. hopefully he feels the same.
warning (yes, the second post in a row to begin with a warning): this is a mushy post. but don't worry, it won't be too long because this is a bit of a push for me.
for my travelin' oma assignment, i was supposed to write a mushy love letter to randy, but i am going to take a little bit of a different spin on it and just write about our relationship. i have a hard time expressing these thoughts in writing, so bear with me.
randy and i don't do conventional romance very well. i'm okay with that and usually prefer it that way. sure, we tell each other "i love you," all the time (and mean it), but we don't do big valentine's day or anniversary celebrations and i've never received flowers from randy. i don't leave love notes in his lunch and i've never put on lipstick for him when he comes home.
i love randy because he loves me the way that i want to be loved, not the way that other people expect husbands to love their wives. he doesn't buy me flowers because he knows that i'd rather go to dinner with him using the money he would have spent on flowers. people have heard that and said, "oh, she doesn't really mean that," but randy knows that i don't say things unless i mean them and he trusts me to be honest with him.
i love randy because he lets me be me. he knew that i was independent and strong-willed when he married me and he gives me room to fly when i want to. he is never critical and always encourages me to do things that will help me to maintain and foster my own identity as an individual, not just as a wife and a mother. i think that our relationship works because i try to do the same thing. i married him, knowing that he was a bit of a space cadet, but that with those occasional trips into another world, came fierce creativity and deep spirituality that attracted me to him in the first place.
our expressions of love may not be overt or conventional, but they are there in the little details. we have learned to communicate our love to each other in the way that we understand best and i never doubt randy's love for me. hopefully he feels the same.
out of the woods
warning: this post is entirely about potty training. it's not gross or anything, but it may bore you a bit.
i've been waiting to post about our potty training success because i didn't want to jinx myself, but we have now had three great days in a row and i am finally willing to come out and say that madeleine has been potty trained.
i started last monday and although i don't have any huge horror stories, i was ready to give up on day five, having seen hardly any progress. i was tired of constantly following madeleine around, waiting to catch the next accident. she was frustrated with me and i have to say that the feeling was mutual.
and then, potty training day six arrived. success.
i changed my approach ever so slightly, but i think for the most part, madeleine just suddenly decided that she wanted to do it. and that was all it took. she has been happy and almost entirely dry since. she even wakes up dry in the morning. i am a new woman and feel incredibly relieved on so many levels.
let's just hope there isn't any major regression when the baby arrives.
i've been waiting to post about our potty training success because i didn't want to jinx myself, but we have now had three great days in a row and i am finally willing to come out and say that madeleine has been potty trained.
i started last monday and although i don't have any huge horror stories, i was ready to give up on day five, having seen hardly any progress. i was tired of constantly following madeleine around, waiting to catch the next accident. she was frustrated with me and i have to say that the feeling was mutual.
and then, potty training day six arrived. success.
i changed my approach ever so slightly, but i think for the most part, madeleine just suddenly decided that she wanted to do it. and that was all it took. she has been happy and almost entirely dry since. she even wakes up dry in the morning. i am a new woman and feel incredibly relieved on so many levels.
let's just hope there isn't any major regression when the baby arrives.
Friday, January 8, 2010
a visit from grammy and granpda bob
my in-laws came into town a few days after christmas and stayed with us through the new year. it was so fun to have them here. one of the highlights for madeleine was getting to open her christmas gift from her grandparents- an overstuffed chair just for her.
i think she likes it.
she also enjoyed the extra attention from her grandparents (and so did i). grandpa bob was nice enough to sit and sing songs with her at the piano for a while a few times while they were here. we love having family visit!
i think she likes it.
she also enjoyed the extra attention from her grandparents (and so did i). grandpa bob was nice enough to sit and sing songs with her at the piano for a while a few times while they were here. we love having family visit!
rainy days
travelin' oma assignment number nine (back in the saddle again, at least for today...)
i grew up with many rainy days in my life. i just typed that and it feels like some metaphor for depression or hard times. but no. we are talking about literal rainy days here.
ahem. i grew up with many rainy days in my life. and learned to love them. and so, as i reached adulthood, i felt well equipped to deal with rainy days. rain rarely keeps a native pacific northwesterner from going out, and yet, there is something about a gray and rainy day that makes you want to stay in and curl up on the couch or in bed with a good book. or watch an old movie. not an action flick or some new movie. something about rainy days requires an old friend. musicals are always welcome.
and then i moved to utah and encountered less rain and more snow. and snow does keep this native pacific northwesterner from going out as much as possible. a snowy day is like a deeply entrenched rainy day. add some hot chocolate and maybe a pair of knitting needles. add an extra quilt on top. and yet, i still felt well equipped to handle snowy days, thanks to experienced gained on many rainy days.
but then the child came along. and children (at least mine) take a little while before they understand that rainy days are for movies and books. fortunately, madeleine understands that rainy and snowy days are for staying in, but she needs a lot more activity in her rainy days than this seasoned veteran. i've learned to fill the days with art projects, making cookies, and singing time, but i've also managed to squeeze in some time curled up on a rocker with madeleine and a stack of books on my lap, followed by a few movies. so that maybe, she'll learn to appreciate rainy days as much as i have.
i grew up with many rainy days in my life. i just typed that and it feels like some metaphor for depression or hard times. but no. we are talking about literal rainy days here.
ahem. i grew up with many rainy days in my life. and learned to love them. and so, as i reached adulthood, i felt well equipped to deal with rainy days. rain rarely keeps a native pacific northwesterner from going out, and yet, there is something about a gray and rainy day that makes you want to stay in and curl up on the couch or in bed with a good book. or watch an old movie. not an action flick or some new movie. something about rainy days requires an old friend. musicals are always welcome.
and then i moved to utah and encountered less rain and more snow. and snow does keep this native pacific northwesterner from going out as much as possible. a snowy day is like a deeply entrenched rainy day. add some hot chocolate and maybe a pair of knitting needles. add an extra quilt on top. and yet, i still felt well equipped to handle snowy days, thanks to experienced gained on many rainy days.
but then the child came along. and children (at least mine) take a little while before they understand that rainy days are for movies and books. fortunately, madeleine understands that rainy and snowy days are for staying in, but she needs a lot more activity in her rainy days than this seasoned veteran. i've learned to fill the days with art projects, making cookies, and singing time, but i've also managed to squeeze in some time curled up on a rocker with madeleine and a stack of books on my lap, followed by a few movies. so that maybe, she'll learn to appreciate rainy days as much as i have.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
update
in the middle of potty training madeleine, no doubt there will be updates to come on my fun adventures with that.
just got back from an appointment with the midwives. measuring at 4cm already and 80% effaced. looks like this is going to be another fast one. better get myself prepped, mentally and physically.
off to try to get something done for the day while madeleine sleeps.
just got back from an appointment with the midwives. measuring at 4cm already and 80% effaced. looks like this is going to be another fast one. better get myself prepped, mentally and physically.
off to try to get something done for the day while madeleine sleeps.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
2010 resolutions
for a little accountability in my life, some of my 2010 resolutions:
maintain a large garden and can up a storm this summer
learn to bake bread (recognize this one?)
in general, make sure to take care of myself despite being busy with two children
finish two quilts
finish the travelin’ oma writing seminar
read two biographies
i have many more, but these are the easier ones to share. looking back on last year's, i didn't do too bad, but there is always room for improvement.
maintain a large garden and can up a storm this summer
learn to bake bread (recognize this one?)
in general, make sure to take care of myself despite being busy with two children
finish two quilts
finish the travelin’ oma writing seminar
read two biographies
i have many more, but these are the easier ones to share. looking back on last year's, i didn't do too bad, but there is always room for improvement.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
children's book illustrators
travelin' oma assignment number eight
children's books have always been and continue to be a big part of my life. my grandparents gave us a book each birthday and christmas and consequently, i have a nice collection of my own children's books that madeleine is currently benefiting from. i have fond memories of sitting and reading these books and most of the memories relate heavily to the illustrations found in some of my favorite books.
two of my favorite illustrators that i remember from my childhood are audrey and don wood:
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interestingly enough, the next two that i thought of are illustrators that i have been introduced to later in life. emily gravett did two books that my mom gave madeleine last year and i love her simple watercolors:
i also discovered charley harper recently, but love his art and bought madeleine his abc and 123 books last year. i love his geometric style and am always happy to read madeleine one of his books.
children's books have always been and continue to be a big part of my life. my grandparents gave us a book each birthday and christmas and consequently, i have a nice collection of my own children's books that madeleine is currently benefiting from. i have fond memories of sitting and reading these books and most of the memories relate heavily to the illustrations found in some of my favorite books.
two of my favorite illustrators that i remember from my childhood are audrey and don wood:
n
interestingly enough, the next two that i thought of are illustrators that i have been introduced to later in life. emily gravett did two books that my mom gave madeleine last year and i love her simple watercolors:
i also discovered charley harper recently, but love his art and bought madeleine his abc and 123 books last year. i love his geometric style and am always happy to read madeleine one of his books.
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