Adjustment Issues

 While my new location is primarily for my own health and rehabilitation from long-haul post-Covid fatigue, It has also brought a lot of unintended and un expected issues too.

I have always considered myself a "people person" but I can usually keep myself entertained and out of trouble. However, I have discovered just how much I miss my friends.  Sure, Genius Golfer is great, but if you know him, you know he is a capitol I Introvert. He is mostly at work and when he isn't he'd rather be golfing, right?  Sure, we have a weekly date night and our idea of a fun family home evening is grocery shopping together, I have learned to spend a lot of time by myself.

Since this shift in location as well as my work status, we have also scaled WAY back our monthly budget. I know have 18% of what I once had control of, while acknowledging I am not in charge of grocery or household shopping by myself any more, I still have been cut to 18% to what I was used to having freedom to control. I'm not complaining, it is just another adjustment. That being said, shopping--or browsing as I usually have preferred--is no longer a real good option to spend my day.

I have read several books since I have been in R&R mode. Luckily I like reading, and did really miss that when I was working all the time. But in order to get a local library card, I have to have a new drivers license with my new address on it.  And come to find out getting a new license to have the new address on it is a bit of a chore. I could get credit cards easier than a new local library card!  HAHAHA But that will be my next challenge. And that will open up new avenues of learning and imagination.

Luckily, I do have a darling DIL who pops over about once a week to swim with me after she has classes. She is also rehabbing a soft tissue injury in her back so swimming has been good for her.  It is good for me because it gives me someone else to talk to during the day. But it is not her job to babysit me or entertain me.  I am grateful she doesn't seem to mind spending time with me though.  I have thoroughly enjoyed having some one on one time with her to get to know her on a new level and I love her even more as I do.

But I have seen just how much I miss my girlfriends. Another friend from our previous area recently made a quick decision to move. (This after talking with her husband for a long time and he finally agreed with her.) Our other tribal friends are swirling about helping gather boxes and pack up her place to prep it to stage it for the market.  I feel bad that I am not helping with that project. I miss texting someone and asking if they want to go get a treat, or grab a drink, or just hang out for a  bit. Someday I will have people here too but I miss those that I left in our old place. Somedays that missing is stronger and harder than other days.

Today was one of those days.

#52 Stories--Story #21

Who was your first best friend?  Are you still in contact with each other?  What do you remember about the friendship?

The majority of my growing up my best friend was Kathy M. We rode the bus together.  We attended school together.  We had similar country-girl lives. In junior and high school we were inseparable. More weekends than not we were spending the night at each other's homes.  After graduation we both even attended BYU for our university studies.

We had been in tight contact until shortly after my kids were born. Her first marriage broke up in a rather ugly and hurtful way far beyond what I understood at the time. At our 10 year high school reunion I crossed a line and told her what I thought of some of her choices--completely out of bound as I now know--and she didn't speak to me again for 20 years. I regretted what I said from almost the very moment I said it.

We saw each other at the 20 year reunion--but our greetings were superficial and very brief and a little more than awkward.

By our 30th reunion this past summer, her life had radically changed. She was divorced a second time and was now living in a committed lesbian relationship. At the reunion I took the chance to ask her how she really was and how her kids were.  I asked how her parents and sister were doing. I feel so grateful that she took the questions in the genuine way I meant them and --whether it was the wine or something else talking--she told me JUST how things stood in her life. Since she had come out, her parents had disowned her and her sister didn't want much to do with her either.  Her partner Stacey was there with her and frankly, I thought she was terrific!   I took the chance again and told her that I  was so sorry things weren't better with her family, but that I was so happy that she seemed so happy and at peace in herself and with Stacey. I also told her that I always just wanted her to be happy.  We hugged and I felt like things are fallen back into place.

We aren't at any kind of similar place in our lives right now, but I am sincerely pleased that she has found some happiness after a life full of some really difficult and painful situations.  She is now a Nurse Practitioner in Montana and a grandma three times over. I wish her nothing but continued happiness and joy and some sense of peace about her family.  I have so many happy memories from growing up at each other's side. And that I can't ever regret.

#52 Stories--Story #10

What were your favorite hobbies or pastimes in your childhood?

As a kid I rode my bike to the neighbors' and played with friends like Susan, Lisa, Tracy, sometimes Brenda and Lainey. From the time I was about 10 I participated in 4H and we did a lot of things there--I raised dairy goats with some of the same girls. We spent a lot of weekends each summer showing the goaties and ended the summer with a week at the country fair.

I jumped on the trampoline with my sister and cousins when they visited and I just spent time in the weed field around our house.  I placed with my pets--Waldo, the wonder dog and the many cats we had over the years.

We always had chores to do but once we were done with those we were pretty free to do whatever we felt like.  I remember making forts in the weeds with Susan, a close neighbor. We played Barbies together and had a very busy imagination world outside in the dirt and weeds.

Tracy's family raised golden Labrador retrievers and she and I would put on shows for the dogs pretending to be the Carpenters or Sonny & Cher-like shows. We would sing along to her tape deck into the hoses near the dogs' kennels.

Lisa and Lainey lived further up the street and their families had horses.  I was never very comfortable on the horses, but they were sure beautiful and powerful and I wished I was good on them. They were a little scary to me still.

As I got older, I had friends in town like Julie and Jessica.  We'd bring our bikes to town and ride all over the sidewalks of Gilroy.  There were still Barbies to be played and imaginations to exercise.

We always had church things to do--Primary was held every Wednesday after school. We did that every week. I don't recall what kind of things were did, but it was a stable place with a lot of good friends that helped me feel right at home.

My grandparents moved in with us when I was about 7.  I learned to drive Grandpa's electric wheelchair--he even provided a "driving test" for us to that we had to pass to get his "driver's license" he had made for us. While my gram was still healthier, she did things with us that helped us use our imagination in new ways.  I remember her teaching me the basics of the right hand notes on her organ. I figured out how to play a few songs--just the right hand. She loved to play the organ and probably wanted to teach me more but I got busy doing other things and never finished lessons with her--or ever learned the left hand.

I gained an interest in photography through 4-H right away--I was 10 when my parents bought me a 35mm camera. After that I could entertain myself for hours with that camera--and the rolls of film I was always asking for. I loved the creativity I felt and I loved it when I got to work in the dark room under the direction of our 4H leader, Huck Hagenbuch.

I had a pretty idyllic childhood that way: lots of stuff to make up and do on our own.

#52 Stories--Story #9

What qualities in friends do you most admire? 

I've been very lucky to have some wonderful friends in my life.  And each of them have had wonderful qualities.

I love having an honest friend.  Honesty is even better when they have tact and compassion with that honesty.

I love my friends to be loyal.

I love my friends to be good examples of integrity.  Their values may not be exactly what mine are, but when they live with integrity to those values, my own desire to live up to my values increases too.

I love friends with a sense of humor--and even a dash of sarcasm and snark help.

I love helpful and cheerful friends.

I love friends with kindness built deep into their beings.

I love generous friends.

I love grateful friends.

Most Welcomed Surprise

Last night, I was in the middle of ironing shirts, watching the Prince of Persia, when the doorbell rang.  I wasn't sure who was home, so I went to answer it.  I'm glad I did, since it was for me.

One of my original Trek Boys was standing at my door. I broke into a big smile and had him come in and give me a hug.  We sat down in the front room and visited for 20 minutes or more.

I asked him about his family--they just moved this summer across town.  Everyone is great.  The younger siblings already knew people in their new ward and neighborhood, so that was an easier transition for them.  His older sister recently graduated from BYU and had started her first post-collegiate job, so I ask about how she was doing.

I had just received a sweet note from his sister, just younger than him, who is serving a mission and doing great!  We chuckled about how much she is loving being a missionary.  No surprise there.

Then I asked him about his work and school.  He works at the Senior MTC teaching Russian and Ukrainian to Senior Couples preparing to serve their missions. Crazy!  He loves it of course, and told me about Skyping with a general authority who was working in Germany, but who is trying to learn Russian.  He is teaching these folks via Skype and only gets to work with them about one hour a week or so.

He told me he was leaning a new direction for school.  When we trekked he was thinking some kind of neuroscience to study brain functions.  That was pre-mission, of course, and even pre-university.  Considering the upheaval Ukraine and Russia are in currently, I could absolutely see the interest International Relations wold hold.  I told him about my darling roommate and former FHE brother, now married, who work for the state department and have traveled most of their married life.  They have three daughters they have brought with them all over the world. He looked relieved to hear people can do that with a family.  He said he has a lot of homework to do to look into what kind of careers were possible, but he'd love to work fro the US in a diplomatic assignment or something in the eastern European countries.

Then I broached the subject: dating. He's been home about a year, and I asked him if he was seeing anyone yet.  He was very open with me. Apparently these kids get asked this a lot.  He said he's dated quite a bit, but nothing serious.  But there was one young women he knew from high school, where they were good friends, who just returned from her own mission about two weeks ago.  We chuckled about striking while the iron is hot, without scaring her away.  I gave him permission to ask her out next weekend.  If she is still in the obedient missionary mindset, and maybe she'd be more open to seeing someone seriously.  And if not, they have a lot of catching up and getting to know you again  to do too.  Hint, hint. wink, wink.  He promised to keep my posted.

This kid is one of the kindest, sharpest, brightest kids I have known.  He astounds me with his knowledge and understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He is a loving son and brother and took his responsibilities on trek, and in callings and as a missionary since that time appropriately.  Add some curly hair and big bright smile, and I'm a goner.

It's been five years since we were a trek committee together.  So most of the kids I have been blessed to serve with, I know they have moved on with their lives.  And that is good.  I want that for them.  But once in a while, a personal 20 minutes to catch up and give them a hug again makes my whole day.  I'm astonished that 12 kids I was fortunate enough to work with for about year have made such an impression on me.  I hope I did as much for them, but I love them whether they like it or not.  And I am so proud to call them my friends.

Last Game, At Least for a While

Last night The Girl and our neighbor girl, Christine, had a game of Lego Star Wars at our house after family home evening. It will be a long time before these girls play Lego Star Wars together again. Christine will enter the MTC tomorrow to begin full time service as a missionary in North Carolina.

These girls used to play together every day, at least once, when they were in the early years of elementary school. As they got older, busier, and more involved they grew apart a bit. But that is natural. They have always remained friends. And that was the basis of their gaming last night.

It was crazy to think, I watched them giggling & visiting while they were also concentrating on a silly video game, that these girls were old enough to head our intro the world, to teach the Gospel, and invite others to Christ. But there really is no age limit for that. That is just living the Gospel. 

And they've been doing that since they learned how to play their game.

  

Good Luck in the mission field, Sister Eastwood!   We'll hold your game for you!

A Welcomed Response & One That Confused Me

One of my old high school friends responded to my Facebook message about the Broadway show called The Book of Mormon, that I shared yesterday.  This is what he wrote back to me:

You are so beautiful, Shauna! There couldn't be a better example of the faith and God's love than you and your family. Please know that I have the utmost respect for the Mormon faith and religion.

While Trey and Matt did take extreme liberty with the subject matter, the one thing they didn't do was judge. In fact, they do a very good job at showing love, acceptance and understanding. They just have a round-about way of dong it! The two Elders that it focuses on come to grips with their own struggles and in the end realize that their message has been the same all along, even if told "slightly different" by each. But what was important was that they reached people and shared God's love.

If you've never seen the South Park episode where the Mormon family moves to town, and the SP kids are kinda confused, the ending really says it all: Gary (the new kid) tells Stan, (I'm paraphrasing here, so forgive me) "it may seem weird to you guys, heck, sometimes it's weird to me too. But it works for us, and our family. And we're a pretty good family. So if you guys can't accept it, that's fine. All I ever wanted was to be your friend."

Shauna, I hope you see it - as a thespian, and as an open-minded LDS member. PLEASE be open minded! It is rude and crude in some places but an AMAZING Broadway show. And to you, my dear sweet friend I offer you the same - if you have any questions about Trey Parker and Matt Stone, please come to ME - I have met them personally, produced an event honoring them at the TV Academy, and have followed their work since it magically appeared in front of most of Hollywood in the form of a simple little video tape. I assure you they mean no harm!

I love you, Shauna! My best to your whole family! Happy New Year to you too!!!

 So I guess I got my point across without too much trouble. I was grateful for his kindness and love.  He wasn't critical of my sharing my feelings, and yet isn't really interested in my faith either.  And that is OK.

The second response came in the form of a comment left here yesterday, almost as soon as I published my post.  It is from someone I do not know, nor have ever met in passing.  I think most online folks like this are generally called "trolls" when they haunt blogs and make odd comments--but in truth this guy may just be a dry-Mormon , you know...the kind who believes what we do but hasn't been baptized.  Or maybe I am just reading more into his comment than I should, but I really don't disagree with what he says, I'm just confused by the reasoning behind his posting a comment like this on my blog:

Steve Finnell said...CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD?

On the Day of Pentecost Peter quoted the prophet Joel (Acts 2:21'And it shall be that everyone who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.')

To call on the name of the Lord is to acknowledge the authority and power of the Lord, and follow in obedience by meeting the terms of pardon.

The apostle Peter did not tell those on the Day of Pentecost to say the "sinner's prayer." Saying the "sinner's prayer" is not calling on the name of the Lord.

Peter preached the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Peter declared the Jesus was Lord and Christ. (Acts 2: 22-26) They obviously believed Peter's preaching because they asked the question(Acts 2:37 ....."Brethren what shall we do?")
Peter did not tell them to say the "sinner's prayer." What was Peter's response to their question? (Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.)


THE NARRATIVE OF CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.
1. FAITH: Believe in the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
2. CONFESSION: Acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God.
3. REPENTANCE: Make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God.
4. WATER BAPTISM: Be immersed into Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.


HOW DID THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD? (Acts 8:25-40


1. Philip preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:35)
2. He confessed Jesus as The Christ the Son of God. (Acts 8:37)
3. He was baptized in water. Immersed by Philip. (Acts 8:38-39)
The Ethiopian eunuch did not say the sinner's pray nor was he asked to do so by Philip.


Romans 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."


Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.


To call on the name of the Lord is to acknowledge His power and authority and confess Him as Lord and Christ . (Acts 2:26,Acts 8:37, Romans 10:9-10) To call on the Name of the Lord is to repent and be baptized. (Acts 2:38)


WE ARE TOLD TO CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD TO BE SAVED.


We are never told we are saved by "faith only." We are never told that saying the "sinner's prayer" is calling on the name of the Lord.


IF SAYING THE "SINNER'S PRAYER" IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION? THEN WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SALVATION.


THE REQUIREMENTS!
1. Faith: John 3:16
2. Belief and baptism: Mark 16:16
3. Confession and belief: Romans 10:9-10
4. Born of water and Spirit: John 3:5
5. Grace and faith: Ephesians 2:8
6. Buried through baptism: Roman 6:4-5
7. Water baptism: 1 Peter 3:20-21
8. Baptism: Acts 22:16
9. Baptized into Christ: Galatians 3:27
10. Believe: Acts 16:30-31
11. Repentance and baptism: Acts 2:38
12. God's mercy, water baptism, and the Holy Spirit: Titus 3:5
13. Water baptism: Colossians 2:12-13
14. Repentance: Acts 3:19


IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED THESE REQUIREMENTS---THEN YOU HAVE CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!

YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com

December 30, 2013 at 7:52 AM

Never a dull moment when you write about faith and religion, huh?  Happy New Year, everyone!

Electronically Sharing the Gospel

Yesterday I had the chance to attend two wonderful sacrament meetings.  The first, in our ward, the speakers were a young husband and wife (she is from Wales and has the most darling accent) who spoke on making our homes Christ-centered.  They did a great job and were quite delightful speakers.

The second was in another ward in our stake where a young man was leaving for his mission this week.  The topic of their speakers was Building the Kingdom of God.  From these talks I got the strongest feeling that I needed to say something to a pair of old friends from high school.

Both of these two HS pals posted pictures of them with their significant others--a husband and fiance--with friends in San Fransisco seeing the Book of Mormon musical.  I had seen their posts and the thought that these two would come away from the show thinking they knew what I believed and held dear based on what they saw made my heart sink.  But until I sat in that sacrament meeting, I wasn't sure what to do.

By the end of the meeting, my heart was pounding and I knew I had to message them and at least tell them a little of what I believe and that if they were ever really interested in knowing about the Book of Mormon, they ought to ask me.

So, I messaged them this morning and this is what I told them:

Hey, you two! Glad you got to see the Book of Mormon musical in SF. I've heard it is a pretty funny show. However, if you are ever interested in what the Book of Mormon actually teaches, please ask me. I've read it and believe it is a wonderful companion to the Bible in teaching us of Jesus Christ and just what God's plan of happiness is for us as His children. The South Park guys see silly and different as funny--and a lot of time it is really is. But any one they take under their microscope is going to be made to sound more than bizarre.

Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior and the Son of God, that we are all one big eternal family of God's children and therefore need to treat one another as such. We believe that we can continue our family relationships after death as we obey His commandments and stay faithful to the covenants we make with God. I don't mean to preach anything to you, but I'd just ask, as old friends, that if you ever were really interested in what Mormons believe, that you'd ask one of us that does believe and lives our faith. I have read the Book of Mormon many times and have felt the love of God in my life as I do. He loves His children on earth now just as much as He did the people in Bible times. I'm glad you had a great experience with the show, but please understand that there is much more depth to this faith that I love than some silly songs and funny lyrics.

I wish you both a very Happy New Year and hope you have a terrific 2014 with your beautiful families!

I just hope it is enough without being preachy.  My heart feels better this morning, so I feel better just saying this much.

A Friend Moves Away--Temporally, At Least

I have some really great friends from long ago--like 20 years ago.  Some are old roommates.  Some are childhood friends or high school friends that I've kept in touch with on Facebook.  Some were newlyweds about the same time we were and we all came from the same (final) singles ward.

One of those friends is Amelia.  This is a friend from 20+ years ago, from my last singles ward, but she never married and has had more than her fair share of struggles and trouble.  Some has been health, some has been financial.  But throughout it all she has been one of the most faithful women I have ever met.

I learned from other Facebook friends that Amelia was struggling again, but this time it was really serious.  She was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer.  She was in the hospital and was scheduled for surgery the next day or so.

She was in Provo at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center--a tremendously successful place for healing--at the time, so I took advantage of living relatively close and headed down to give you my support in person.  When I go there, her sister and brother were there from out of state.

She hasn't had the ideal, picture perfect family life.  Ever.  So this was the first tie I had met her siblings.  Her brother was going through some paperwork, including a living will, with her, and her sister caught me outside the room and told me what was going on.

The doctor's were preparing to do a hysterectomy and remove her cancer-filled kidney (luckily only one was diseased).  Her ovaries were covered in either cysts or metastasized cancer.  they wouldn't know until they saw it.  Her strength was low and her  understanding about the situation wasn't complete yet.  The doctor's knew that this first surgery would either make it a possibility to fight the cancer, or it would break her.  There wasn't much in between.

That weekend, we heard fro her family that the surgery was successful, but that the real test would be to see if her remaining kidney would start up once they take off the meds and dialysis that were necessary fro the surgery.  Monday was the day for the kidney to step up and do it's job, or Amelia would be on dialysis the rest of her, likely, short life.

Having seen a little of kidney issues with my dad's kidney transplant and the months leading up that that miracle, I didn't want Amelia to have to look forward to a life like that, or worse.  As friends who knew her, we committed to fasting for her kidney to work on Sunday, knowing that we were running out of time for the miracle she needed.

That Monday, the kidney specialist (who is a little on the dour side anyway, according to Amelia) was shocked and amazed that her remaining kidney immediately kicked into gear and began running properly.  We knew why and were so grateful for that blessing for our friend.

Not long after that miracle, a new challenge arrived:  her port became infected.  And the infection was bad.  It nearly wiped her out.  But with some strong antibiotics, surgery to remove the port, and a blood transfusion plus some time to heal and regain some strength, I saw her Wednesday after work and she was just remarkably better.

But the decision was made that she'd move this weekend to Portland to live with her sister and very near her brother and many nieces and nephews.  She will resume fighting the cancer now that the periphery issues are cleared up.

I was happy to see her, and to find her in such better health and positive spirits.  Good luck, Amelia.  A new adventure just means there are new friends to make.

Genius Golfer's Theory

We like to tease Genius Golfer that he only has three friends....in the whole world.  He generally agrees, as making and keeping friends is hard work.  So when I saw this little funny, I thought of him immediately:

Attitude is everything, friends.

Disappointment Containment

Today was a do-over attempt for me and a pair of dear friends to get together.  We had scheduled to meet for brunch last week, and then one of the friends couldn't make it because she just had too much to do to get her family ready for their trip over Fall Break.  So we didn't meet.

Today we were going to try again, but one of the friends has a preschooler who came down with croup over the break and can't go to preschool today.  So we didn't meet.

I'm not going to lie.  It is a bummer.  It isn't a life or death kind of disappointment, but I do feel the loss of my friends.  We haven't gotten together in some months and I was really looking forward to catching up with them both.

I have several small groups of friends like this.  I know in some cases, it is a natural separation and and eventual drifting apart.  Our lives change  and we grow apart.  That happens.  But it is still sad.

I miss having the number of ready friends to work with at school, catch up with over lunch or sit and visit with to vent or console or ask advice.  Now this isn't to say that I feel bereft of friends.  I don't fell that at all.  I just wish we all had more free time to be together.  But families are busy.  Moms go back to work.  Kids get sick. Life makes demands on all of us.  It just happens.

I still keenly feel affection for each one who has been important in my life.  I hope that part never changes.  But I sure wish sometimes that life would slow down and we'd have more time to be together.  But I have yet to see any change in the speed of life beyond getting faster.  I guess that is just how it goes.

And I'll learn to deal with it, whether I like it or not.

He Shouldn't Have Surprised Me...But He Did

While The Girl was going to the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night, The Boy was having a fun night of his own with some buddies from football.  They had gotten together and went to the indoor trampoline place they love in the afternoon and then planned to go the movies about 7:30 PM.

Genius Golfer and I took advantage of having no one with us and went to dinner.  While we were at dinner I got a text from The Boy that said they were headed back to out house to play night games.  But it was less than and 1.5 since their movie was supposed to start.  GG thought they had not told the whole truth about going to the movies, but maybe had some ulterior motive going on.  I worried that they hadn't planned well enough and the movie they meant to see was sold out or something.  Either way, we were soon headed home to supervise the six or so boys that wee headed to our house.

When we got home, the boys ended their outside night games and came in to watch a movie in the family room.  While they were settling in, I asked the group if their movie was sold out or did they decide to see something else instead.  They boys hesitated a bit before answering me. Finally The Boy piped up and said, "Mom we went to he movie we told you but we left early.  It wasn't a good movie.  There was some bad  language in it like The Green Hornet (there is another story here, but I'll tell you in tomorrow's post) and we were kind of uncomfortable about it so we left early."

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

They had gone to a PG 13 movie, at the $3 movies theater that is walking distance from our house.  They thought they had all the checks in place to see something fun and would have a good time together.  But even with the "rule" in place they still found themselves in a spot they knew better than to be in and they did the right thing to get out.

I was so proud of the boys and I told they how impressed I was that they had done the right thing and stuck together and got out of it.  I patted them on their knees or shoulders and told them that I thought they were good boys for doing the right thing even if it was hard at first.  I was so proud of them.

I have been worried with this group--being football players, and "too cool for school" sometimes--but they chose to do the right thing, and they did it together.

After that experience, I figure The Boy knows how to make good friends. And I should probably relax my worry about them--but not relax my continued emphasis on the standards I want them to embrace.  It made me so happy to see them do that as a group and come away proud of themselves for knowing they did the right thing too.

With a Little Help From My Friends....

Today is the finale of Strawberry Days.  And as I have mentioned I have been running ragged, and taking the chance for naps anytime I can get it.  This year's celebration allowed for some nap time thanks to two lovely ladies: Shanna and Cat.

They came on board with me as Photo Avengers!  (Well, not really.  But that kind of team name would be so cool.)  Instead we are the Strawberry Days photography team.  We divided the events and conquered them all.  Cat still has the Saturday night rodeo but she will be great.  Then we will have thousands of photos to sort though and edit and collect and turn into the committee and the City for the website and future print and web campaigns for years to come.

There is no way I could do another year like the last three.  The events are bigger each year, and they add one or two more each time as well.  I simply can't be in that many places at the same time.  So these lovely women, out of the goodness of their hearts, volunteers to share the load.

Thanks is a tiny word to express my gratitude for having nap time and cohorts and team members who are smarter and more talented than I am.  And they also inspire me to leanr more about my camera and its capabilities.

But for now I am just glad that I got the shots I did, and that they were there to lend a helping hand. 

Photo-Avengers, Assemble!!

"Special" Friends

You know you have one or two (or more) friends like this...the ones you love in spite of them being more than a little weird.  They are special...like, short-bus special.  But we love them just as well.  And really, they make our lives a little bit better--even if that better comes in the form of recognition that at least our life isn't as messed up as theirs.

Looking Forward To It

I got a message from an old college roommate that another of our roommates was coming to town, after living overseas for several years, and they were planning a dinner out--just the grown ups.  The girls messaged me to invite Genius Golfer and I to join them.

I don't think I have seen these girls for 5 years or more.

They were the last set of roommates I had before GG and I got married.  Three of us married that year, and the other two were patient and kind watching the three of us become wedding idiots.  You just can't put a price on that kind of friendship.

So we are meeting this week to catch up, and probably crack up a little too.  Can't wait for that!

TAG--You're It!

The Crew BEFORE

(Back row: Ty and The Boy; Front row: Dalton, Spencer, Christine, The Girl)

Half the Crew AFTER 

(Comparing the percentages...hits, kills, shots taken....)

The Younger Half AFTER

(Just messing around..must have been fun.)

Over Spring Break, I caught a Screaming Deal online and bought 6 admissions to a local Laser Tag place for half off.  (I love a good deal!)  And according to the local TV meteorologists, we were due to have snow for about half the week we were off school, so I scheduled a Laser Tag "party of 6" to go on one the alleged snow days. 

Our admission included a round of glow-in-the-dark mini golf as well, so I figured we could blow a couple hours at least .  The Kids each invited a couple of friends and I packed the coupons, a cooler of sodas and granola bars.  (Plus, for myself, I grabbed a book and a mental note to stop at a downtown store near the laser tag joint that I had wanted to check out.)

While the mini golf was not as difficult as the participants would have wished, they had a good time hanging out together.  The laser tag option got them grouped with  family of four--the kids were younger that our group, but very enthusiastic to play.  To make even teams, good friend Spencer volunteered to be on the "strangers' team". 

[Have I mentioned what a good kid our friend Spencer is?  Not only does he put up with The Girl in an online game they both like and play together, he is just an all round nice kid who loves his mom and even likes his siblings.  He is bright, clever, and funny. What is not to like about this kid?!]

So the Stangers' team got beat up pretty well.  [Sorry, Spencer.]  But when the groups emerged, they were all smiling and enjoying each other's company still.  I figure any time they come out from a war-like game and are still friends, it is all good.  Plus the ride home was filled with laughing and talking...much more so than the ride down.

And as my luck would have it, the day we went Laser-tagging, the weather was just fine, and the yucky stuff came the next day.  Of course.  But oh well.  Fun seemed to be had by all, and the deal was so great I didn't even mind driving a car load of kids to Provo and back.

For the Love of Facebook

I know that I have blogged previously about the gigantic waste of time Facebook can be for its users, but today I'd like to pay my homage to this crazy addictive Internet phenomenon--because of the birthday reminder they give you whenever one of your "friends" is having a birthday.

As it was my birthday yesterday, I found I had received dozens and dozens of happy birthday wishes via Facebook. I love that! Some were from friends who also stopped by or called from across town. Other well wishers live across the country or around the world--New Zealand, to be exact!

I loved pulling up my wall and seeing another 25 messages. Then a dozen more. Then a few stragglers made it last night after I had shut the computer down. These are just few examples:

Claire: Happy Birthday!!!!

Craig: Shauna!!!!! Happy 29th sis. Hope you had a great day!

Jacqueline: Shauna I hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Julie: Shauna I hope you did something fun just for you today after all it was your birthday! Hope it was a good one!

I enjoy leaving other people birthday wishes on their walls for their birthday and, conveniently enough, Facebook reminds me when to do just that! I ♥ Facebook birthday wishes. It is almost enough to deal with all the Mafia Wars, Farm Land, and iGifts just to celebrate your birthday with friends and family all over the Internet.

Christmas in July

In preparation for some shifting of furniture and new paint in the front room, our job of the day was to unload two tall put-them-together-yourself college-student-quality bookshelves both of which mostly held board games and tchotchkes.

The tchotchkes are being redistributed throughout the house, but the board games needed to find some new families who would actually play them. I had the kids pare down what they were willing to keep and play. Then we made another pile for games that needed new homes.

We called The Girl's BFF and she came over with her sister and little brother to check out the pile. They took about four. We still had quite a pile left.

I called Dear Friend Sherry who, with a house of five kids all younger than mine, certainly had the correct ages appropriate for these homeless games. I called her and she was happy to check them out for her crew.

The Girl and I just dropped them off to their family and you would have through we arrived with the Publisher's Sweepstakes for Kids. Her girls were thrilled and her little guy, only two, was ecstatic just have new people in the house--much less those that brought him stuff.

I love it when I can pass on things someone else might use and enjoy. I don't mind the stuff going to Goodwill or Deseret Industries, but it a nice feeling when we can pass on clothes, games, toys that we have outgrown but that still have life in them for someone else we know.

Simple Pleasures of Service

Today I had a chance to help Dear Friend Amy who is preparing her classroom for the return of students in just a few more weeks. This good lady serves in the Young Women's presidency with me and teaches at the high school. In fact, she will be The Girl's pre-calculus teacher this fall.

Amy has a L-shaped teacher's desk that she wanted to make a skirt for as it has no back to it. However, she is not a sewer. She had called me and asked me if I could help her with this project, which I know means "Can you sew this for me?" And I said I could do that.

So today was the day we measured and planned and then went to the fabric store where she did not have an anxiety attack, as she previously thought she'd do. Instead she selected a gorgeous Asian inspired print for the desk and a couple of coordinating fabrics to cover the otherwise blah bulletin board in her classroom.

We got the bulletin boards covered today and I have the fabric for the desk skirt which I will work on tomorrow, if all goes well here at home.

It was nice to know I was helping a friend who needed my help, and it was a delightful way to spent a few hours just enjoying her company all the while getting something done she needed to do before school begins.

When I finish the skirt, I'll try to remember my camera and get a photo of the room all dolled up. I hope it helps her feel at home int he classroom where she spends more time during the school year than she does at her home. And I hope it illustrates to her students how much she loves her work and, consequently, them.

I Have Brilliant Friends

I have some fantastically brilliant friends. Not like super book-smart brainiacs, though some of them are that too. Today I recognized some true brilliance the moment I heard it.

You see, The Boy lied to me twice yesterday. My gut reaction was to ground him. But in doing that I also, inevitably ground myself. It is not at all a picnic for me to have either of the kids grounded, to be honest. So, while I told him that he was busted, I hadn't finished the full sentencing procedure. So when I heard this idea I was thrilled.

Dear Friend Wendy, who is a brilliant mom generally, listened to me when
I whined about the unintended consequences to myself when I have grounded the kids.

She told me that she requires a 5 paragraph essay. The child then is required to practice some handwriting, composition, spelling and still must think about the crime that was perpetrated. They must write their essay to her satisfaction. She even added the thought that this can also become very entertaining as the child outgrows some of their bad behavior. Scrapbook gold mine, I think.

Brilliant, I tell you.

Therefore, tomorrow I will share The Boy's original essay on "Why I Shouldn't Lie to My Mom". Stay tuned for that.