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Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday.  He is 71.  (Wait, how is that possible?!?)

He is a great guy and a pretty funny one too.  I am grateful to be his daughter and I am grateful he is here to see #71.  He got a new kidney last Labor day weekend or so, and just a week or so ago he was in the hospital with scary-low calcium levels after having 3 of his 4 parathyroids removed.  But so far things are looking up and he was feeling better when I talked with him Saturday.

Besides his guidance in all things automotive, he also helped to shape my sens of humor--we had dinners as I was growing up that were full of snorting and laughing so hard that you couldn't understand what we were saying...but we did and we were amused!

He also taught by example that we were expected to work hard and do an honest days work.  There wasn't much allowance for sitting around--he never did.  That helped me to fill my time with good things--work and otherwise.  Being busy to accomplish good things was something I saw him --and my mom-- do as I was growing up.

He is a patriotic man with a deep love of this country. He never forced that on us but it came through loud and clear.  He knows this is a God given land with blessings we enjoy because of other people's sacrifices.

He is proud o his family and loves us all very much!  We are glad he is here to celebrate today and look forward to many more years with him.

A Sore Spot, Still

Last week while I was with The Girl in Logan, we had a luncheon with other "scholar" students and our table was hosted by current students in similar programs as the science-brainiacs at the table who are potential students this fall.  Int he course of introductions and first impressions, one of the student hosts was going around the table and introducing herself to the future-Aggies and their parents.  In the course of the circle around the table, this young women asked me my name--assuming I was The Girl's mom--and then asked "And what do you do?"

That question stumps me still.  What am I supposed to say?

I am a full time mother to two kids.

I am a nearly-full time volunteer in my local schools.

I am a devoted member of The Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I currently am fulfilling a calling to teach children every Sunday.

I am a wife of nearly 21 years to my husband.

I am a friend who cares for my friends and tries to serve them.

But, you and I both know, she really meant what kind of job do I have?  What does someone pay me to do?  What justifies my being?

When I told her I was a stay at home mom and PTA volunteer and leader--she immediately changed subjects and moved on to another topic of conversation.

Maybe I am overly sensitive on this at the moment because I have bee looking for a change in my "career".  Maybe I just miss the immediate answer of a job that I do.  Maybe I was just intimidated by the other parents who had career responsibilities that they shared at her questions as posed to them.

I realize that I should have to justify what I do, and I generally don't feel like I should have that justification.  But other days I sure feel it.  It stings and I wish I had a better answer, to be honest.  But I know being a full time mom--even to teenagers--is an important role.  Even if others don't consider it all that way all the time.

You Have Chosen....Wisely

I love Indiana Jones, and I think my favorite (at least this week) is the Last Crusade, you know where Indy and his dad--Sean Connery as Dr. Jones--search fro the the Holy Grail.  Remember they finally find the aged knight and the Nazi stooge rushes in and drinks from the wrong challis?  The knight tells him "You have chosen poorly" just before his body turns tot dust.  Then Indy selects a plain, jane cup and drinks it before he can rush the healing waters out to his injured father?  Remember what the knight tells him?  Yeah,
"You have chosen....wisely."

Friday I saw the same thing happen, without the knight, Nazis, or Holy Grail.  I drove The Girl and a friend, Nate, to Logan for their Aggie Day--an on campus "prospective student" visit.  It was fantastic.

Nate is going to study Engineering, but has a mission call to Norway and will leave in August first--so he has a little time to wait.  He is a good kid, and has had classes with The Girl since, maybe, kindergarten...so this was a fun carpool.

The Girl couldn't figure out how everyone knew she was from PGHS.  Well, it is on her name tag, oh!  And she wore her Viking shirt?!?  For a super smart girl she sometimes surprises me with her blond-ness.  Let's hope college will help her develop her street smarts as well as the book ones.

April Fool's Day

May all your pranks be good ones!

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