Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Exhausting
I'd forgotten how exhausting it is to have remodeling work done in your home. We're in the middle of (self-imposed) chaos, and it will all be worth it when it's done, but in the day-to-day, it's exhausting and pretty inconvenient. I don't even have the energy to move to the other computer to type this so I can add pictures. You'll just have to look for them on facebook. (Or come by, if you want to see it in person while it's in progress.) Probably won't be many blog posts coming from this house for a little while...
Friday, September 17, 2010
The Lion King
We were able to go see "The Lion King" at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake last night. Wow! It was spectacular! If you ever have a chance to see it, I would recommend it. The creativity of the costumes was incredible. I can't even imagine how someone came up with some of those ideas. (Guess that's why I'm not a costume designer by trade)
If you want to see a "preview", here's a link that shows some of the awesome costumes.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Gary's Birthday Post
Not that he's going to see this, but like Aubrey's birthday post, I'm going to post it anyway.
Lots to say, but don't even know where to start...
It's been a rough ride the past 4.5 months, but we're making it. Taking it one day at a time, trying to do the things you would want me to with the kids, church, and myself.
We're getting together with your family for dessert on Sunday and we're having pie, your favorite kind--the round kind.
Hope your first birthday with your dad in 36 years was a good one.
The youth are having their annual Dutch Oven cookoff tonight. The kids and I decided it was an awesome way to celebrate your birthday. And...I got asked to be a judge, yum.
I'm sure you are busy with whatever calling you have now--is there a scout troop in heaven?
I love you and miss you. I'm so glad we were sealed in the temple so we can be together forever after the rest of my mortal life is done.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Happy Birthday Aubrey!
I know he won't be able to read this post, but I'm going to put it up anyway. Twenty years ago today I became a mother. Gary & I had no idea what we were in for with this parenting thing, but we were on our way, for better or worse. I know it's hard to be the oldest child--gotta train your parents what to do (or not to do)--and sometimes I've made mistakes as the mom. Somehow Aubrey has survived those mistakes and is becoming a wonderful man. He's so funny, especially when he and Carson get together. He's really smart and boy, do we miss him around here when it's time for math homework. He has a tender heart and feels the Spirit strongly. He must be working hard as a missionary because his mission president said he is a blessing to those around him (read more of this letter here). I miss hearing his laugh coming from downstairs, but it will be back in 15.5 months (no, I'm not really counting...well, maybe sometimes). I couldn't ask for a better first child to start my path of motherhood.
I love you Bud! Happy 20th!!!
I love you Bud! Happy 20th!!!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Small Gestures
I have been surrounded by small gestures of kindness for the last several months. One of the latest was an email from Aubrey's mission president. I know that sometimes the missionaries aren't able to email home on their p-days for various reasons--holidays that close the places they use, zone conferences, etc. I also know that the mission president doesn't have time to email all the parents to let them know when this might happen. However, two weeks ago I woke up to an email from President Pimentel rather than Elder Hatch. Here's part of the email:
I wanted to send you this email so you won’t worry when you don’t get an email from your son, Elder Hatch, today. The place missionaries in Mittweida normally visit in order to send emails home on Monday is not open today. There is some construction going on there. Elder Hatch will be able to send you an email on Wednesday.
He also let me know how Aubrey is doing. Here's another part of the email:
Everything is fine with him here. Sister Pimentel and I love having him in the mission. He is a blessing to his companion, to the other missionaries, to the members in the area and to the many people with whom he speaks every week.
A small gesture on his part, but what a great impact it had on me. I was assured of my son's well-being, reminded again of how much his mission president cares about him, and felt great happiness at what kind of man my son is turning out to be.
I wanted to send you this email so you won’t worry when you don’t get an email from your son, Elder Hatch, today. The place missionaries in Mittweida normally visit in order to send emails home on Monday is not open today. There is some construction going on there. Elder Hatch will be able to send you an email on Wednesday.
He also let me know how Aubrey is doing. Here's another part of the email:
Everything is fine with him here. Sister Pimentel and I love having him in the mission. He is a blessing to his companion, to the other missionaries, to the members in the area and to the many people with whom he speaks every week.
A small gesture on his part, but what a great impact it had on me. I was assured of my son's well-being, reminded again of how much his mission president cares about him, and felt great happiness at what kind of man my son is turning out to be.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Duct Tape Homecoming
Carson has wanted to make a duct tape suit for a really long time. His Homecoming date already had a duct tape dress she was working on, so they decided this was the time to make it all come together. So he made pants, belt, vest and tie for tonight's dance. Turned out pretty darn good! He also made three duct tape roses and I put them together in a corsage for his date to wear on her wrist.
I think he looks AWESOME!!
I think he looks AWESOME!!
Songs
I thought of this the other day and realized that I hadn't written it down anywhere. I want to share it here, Just So You Know.
In the first week following Gary's death I had lots of things going through my head, most of which I don't even remember. But I do remember that two songs kept coming into my mind, as songs sometimes do.
Lucky by Jason Mraz, featuring Colbie Caillat (youtube video here)
1,2,3,4 by Plain White T's (youtube video here)
In the first week following Gary's death I had lots of things going through my head, most of which I don't even remember. But I do remember that two songs kept coming into my mind, as songs sometimes do.
Lucky by Jason Mraz, featuring Colbie Caillat (youtube video here)
1,2,3,4 by Plain White T's (youtube video here)
Likening the Scriptures to Myself
Subtitle
August 22: An Emotional Sunday
(warning: long post)
What a day. I woke up feeling so nervous--not afraid nervous, but, more like the feeling you get when you KNOW you need to bear your testimony in Fast & Testimony meeting. I prayed all morning to be able to control my emotions enough to be able to teach the lesson I had prepared--the one on Job. All too soon it was time for Sunday School. I could barely get through an apology about being emotional before I even started the lesson. I taught the lesson I had prepared and strongly testified about trusting in the Lord and about being blessed by the Lord during trials. Soooo emotionally draining, but I felt good about what I had taught. Next was priesthood meeting where Carson was ordained a priest by his Uncle Geoff. Surprisingly, I shed no tears (maybe they were all used up in Sunday School). I was so happy to see my son surrounded by the members of his quorum and his leaders as he was ordained.
After church, Geoff, Marla, & Jackie joined us for dinner before I had to rush off to get an ecclesiastical endorsement signed by the bishop. He asked me how I was doing and I told him I felt so relieved after such an emotional day and that I was going to go home and take a nap. He asked me what I was seeing him about and I explained that I was going to take a class at BYU this fall semester. I wanted to do some online computer classes, but have to be a student to have access to them. I decided that I could take a New Testament class and prepare myself a little better for my Sunday School lessons next year, and that way I'd be taking care of two things at once. After going through the questions for the endorsement, he asked me if I had a minute to discuss something else. Uh oh, that's never a good thing. He wanted to discuss the possibility of a new calling for me--3rd Counselor in the Primary Presidency. BOMBSHELL!!! (no nap for me now)
If you know me at all, you know I immediately began to cry. Here's an excerpt of the letter I wrote to Aubrey describing this discussion and the following days:
"You've got to be kidding me" is the thought that went through my mind immediately. Next was something like "Don't I have enough change going on right now?" Followed by, "That's really hard & scary--I'm doing lots of hard & scary things already." Of course it was a discussion, so I told him all of these thoughts. He shared with me what Sis. Waddoups (Primary President) had said. He also shared with me his thoughts about it and told me that he wanted to be sensitive to my situation--and that's why he wanted to talk about it first. I was in his office for about 45 minutes and when I left I had asked him to give me some time to think and pray about it. He was coming over later for home teaching and I had asked him to give Maren & Carson blessings for the beginning of school. I also asked him to give me one.
Of course, this was all very emotional for me (imagine that!) and very draining. I really felt like I needed to talk with someone about all this--I was really missing Dad. I spent all Monday afternoon at Cheryl's house talking with her, sharing my concerns, crying, etc. She lovingly listened and when I asked her what she thought she shared with me some really good thoughts. I had also emailed Papa that morning. Tuesday & Wednesday were spent at work, getting last minute stuff done for school, school, etc., but always in the back of my mind was this possible calling. I had been praying hard for an answer, but didn't have an answer yet. Thursday rolled around and I had decided to call Sis. Waddoups just to talk to her about the calling. She shared with me many things I needed to hear--I think that's how I got my answer. I was much calmer, less emotional, and could finally sleep at night again. I still didn't want to do it, but knew that I needed to try. So I told the bishop today that I would accept the calling. I still don't have any answers about the timing of all this (did I mention my Sunday School lesson last week was about Job?), but I am trying to put my trust in the Lord, again. It's still really scary to me and I know that it will be hard, but I said I would try.
So here's the "likening" part--I had just testified to my class about trusting in the Lord, yet just a few hours later when I was given an opportunity to put that into action I couldn't immediately do it. Sometimes I'm just like Laman & Lemuel. Thankfully, within a few days, I felt that I could put my trust in the Lord. I had asked the bishop to call me on Thursday evening and by then I was ready to tell him yes, he could extend the call and I would accept it. He didn't call that night and during the day on Friday I was feeling a little bit like maybe I could hide from the bishop for a while and all of this would maybe just go away?? Well, Sunday rolled around and I still hadn't talked to him. I went into Sunday School to find the lesson was on...Jonah. Hmmm, was I being reminded of something? I found the bishop after church, we had some more discussion and he did extend me the call to serve as the 3rd Counselor in the Primary Presidency and I told him I would try.
I don't know why this is supposed to happen now, but I am putting my trust in the Lord, just as Job and many others have done and will do my best, whatever that may be. And I'm still taking the New Testament class, JSYK.
August 22: An Emotional Sunday
(warning: long post)
What a day. I woke up feeling so nervous--not afraid nervous, but, more like the feeling you get when you KNOW you need to bear your testimony in Fast & Testimony meeting. I prayed all morning to be able to control my emotions enough to be able to teach the lesson I had prepared--the one on Job. All too soon it was time for Sunday School. I could barely get through an apology about being emotional before I even started the lesson. I taught the lesson I had prepared and strongly testified about trusting in the Lord and about being blessed by the Lord during trials. Soooo emotionally draining, but I felt good about what I had taught. Next was priesthood meeting where Carson was ordained a priest by his Uncle Geoff. Surprisingly, I shed no tears (maybe they were all used up in Sunday School). I was so happy to see my son surrounded by the members of his quorum and his leaders as he was ordained.
After church, Geoff, Marla, & Jackie joined us for dinner before I had to rush off to get an ecclesiastical endorsement signed by the bishop. He asked me how I was doing and I told him I felt so relieved after such an emotional day and that I was going to go home and take a nap. He asked me what I was seeing him about and I explained that I was going to take a class at BYU this fall semester. I wanted to do some online computer classes, but have to be a student to have access to them. I decided that I could take a New Testament class and prepare myself a little better for my Sunday School lessons next year, and that way I'd be taking care of two things at once. After going through the questions for the endorsement, he asked me if I had a minute to discuss something else. Uh oh, that's never a good thing. He wanted to discuss the possibility of a new calling for me--3rd Counselor in the Primary Presidency. BOMBSHELL!!! (no nap for me now)
If you know me at all, you know I immediately began to cry. Here's an excerpt of the letter I wrote to Aubrey describing this discussion and the following days:
"You've got to be kidding me" is the thought that went through my mind immediately. Next was something like "Don't I have enough change going on right now?" Followed by, "That's really hard & scary--I'm doing lots of hard & scary things already." Of course it was a discussion, so I told him all of these thoughts. He shared with me what Sis. Waddoups (Primary President) had said. He also shared with me his thoughts about it and told me that he wanted to be sensitive to my situation--and that's why he wanted to talk about it first. I was in his office for about 45 minutes and when I left I had asked him to give me some time to think and pray about it. He was coming over later for home teaching and I had asked him to give Maren & Carson blessings for the beginning of school. I also asked him to give me one.
Of course, this was all very emotional for me (imagine that!) and very draining. I really felt like I needed to talk with someone about all this--I was really missing Dad. I spent all Monday afternoon at Cheryl's house talking with her, sharing my concerns, crying, etc. She lovingly listened and when I asked her what she thought she shared with me some really good thoughts. I had also emailed Papa that morning. Tuesday & Wednesday were spent at work, getting last minute stuff done for school, school, etc., but always in the back of my mind was this possible calling. I had been praying hard for an answer, but didn't have an answer yet. Thursday rolled around and I had decided to call Sis. Waddoups just to talk to her about the calling. She shared with me many things I needed to hear--I think that's how I got my answer. I was much calmer, less emotional, and could finally sleep at night again. I still didn't want to do it, but knew that I needed to try. So I told the bishop today that I would accept the calling. I still don't have any answers about the timing of all this (did I mention my Sunday School lesson last week was about Job?), but I am trying to put my trust in the Lord, again. It's still really scary to me and I know that it will be hard, but I said I would try.
So here's the "likening" part--I had just testified to my class about trusting in the Lord, yet just a few hours later when I was given an opportunity to put that into action I couldn't immediately do it. Sometimes I'm just like Laman & Lemuel. Thankfully, within a few days, I felt that I could put my trust in the Lord. I had asked the bishop to call me on Thursday evening and by then I was ready to tell him yes, he could extend the call and I would accept it. He didn't call that night and during the day on Friday I was feeling a little bit like maybe I could hide from the bishop for a while and all of this would maybe just go away?? Well, Sunday rolled around and I still hadn't talked to him. I went into Sunday School to find the lesson was on...Jonah. Hmmm, was I being reminded of something? I found the bishop after church, we had some more discussion and he did extend me the call to serve as the 3rd Counselor in the Primary Presidency and I told him I would try.
I don't know why this is supposed to happen now, but I am putting my trust in the Lord, just as Job and many others have done and will do my best, whatever that may be. And I'm still taking the New Testament class, JSYK.
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