March 3

I decided to take a few pictures of what I see at my house today. I have been reading a lot and sewing some towels for the Primary. I keep these twinkle lights on a timer so they come on each evening in the kitchen. The white “snow” in the apocathary jars is ice melt. The boys built the gear clock after Christmas and I think it is beautiful. Those are Tim’s muddy cleats.

F is for February

F is for February. It is also for:

Failure: I missed some cues and regret it.

Fun: trip to St George, Lego movie

Friendships: broken heart

Fitness: racquetball

Flurries: snow this week

Faith: my lesson topic in Relief Society

Food: turkey and mashed potatoes; oven s’mores

Forgiveness: an essential key to resilience

Funny: joke shop in Payson, UT

Facebook: I’m not looking at it.

Fever: a couple of kids sick

Finally: My Christmas present on back-order arrived.

Forty-six: Richard’s birthday is this weekend.

Fantastic: the boys’ piano pieces

Finger: Paige’s finger is still broken but making progress

Fine: Everything is going to be OK.

teepeegirl.com

Winner

Paige had two submissions chosen for a drawing from life show at BYU. This one won second place.

Here is the other piece chosen for display.

Mark and I walked through the gallery of the Harris Fine Arts Center at BYU to see the finalists. Memories of my childhood looking through this gallery completed the circle. Finally I know someone whose name is on those little white labels. Good job, Paige!

St George 2017

Richard continually expressed the idea that it really wasn’t raining and cold and we could go hiking again, but we couldn’t elude the dreary skies. Good thing we weren’t there just for the weather. Here are some memories of the trip:

S’mores in the oven~Tim was sick~Lego Batman Movie~Cousins~Long talks~Superhero movies on tv~Scooby Doo laughter~ Archie comics~Alexa, what will the weather be tomorrow?~Joke Shop~Hospitality~Russ and Nancy’s view!~Krispy Kreme doughnuts

Relief Society presidency

Today when I saw how we were dressed, I knew we couldn’t let the opportunity slip away to take a picture.

A more accurate picture of this presidency would include Charlene laughing, Cindy in gentle, quiet conversation, Kristy making calls and carrying sign-up sheets, and me finding a scripture to match a comment made by someone in the class or asking nosy questions. Another would be sitting around my kitchen table on Tuesday nights going over Compassionate service needs and visiting teaching routes. It would be all of us in Charlene’s car driving around to visits. It would be of us working together, and also separately to reach out to as many sisters as we can each week.

If I could go back in time, I would take more pictures with the people I have served with in presidencies and classes, packs and camps. I know we won’t have this relationship forever, so I am savoring the lessons they teach me and the good times together.

Chocolate therapy

During the past week

  • We began the process for Mark to return to public school in the fall. It involved me dropping him off at the middle school for a tour and not being allowed to walk him to the cafeteria where it was to begin. I cry often about this transition. Do not talk to me about it, though. This is not something I will want to discuss with anyone. It’s a special kind of ignominy to place a child in public school after home school, even if it was always in the plan and we are not failing.
  • We picked up registration papers for Tim to begin high school in the fall.
  • Harvard contacted Daniel.
  • Mark and I made his last batch of Valentines. Elementary school is nearly over for us.
  • Mark thinks he wants to play the trumpet next year.

What happened when I gave up some phone time

I mentioned last month that I have given up using my phone around family members. I don’t carry it around the house with me. I have it set to “do not disturb” so it can’t make noises when someone posts something online or I get a text. I check it when I walk through the bedroom or kitchen where I leave it. When I have an appointment to visit someone I don’t bring it into the house.

I have learned that I was using the phone as an escape and a way to “numb” stress. I still use it for this. But not as often.

I have looked at social media less and I don’t miss it.

I have read more. I am plowing through books again like the days before I had a smartphone.

I check my email less often and I have forgotten to respond to a few messages. (I am still finding a balance.)

I have a new phone from Christmas but I am still not familiar with it because I don’t carry it like my other phone.

I am still thankful for a smartphone. I rely on texting to keep my presidency and compassionate service leaders informed. I still like being online. I still like creating my blog. I just needed to reign in the time and eliminate the phone as part of what family saw when they looked at me.

I don’t know if it has to do with less phone use or nutrition or that January ended, but I have been more cheerful. I have felt more emotion of other kinds, too.

We will see what else happens as time goes by.

 

These were fun.

Richard reminds me each year that one gift we give to each child should keep their hands busy on Christmas day. We gave these to the older boys who are no longer asking for Legos. I found these at Deseret Book. They were challenging and fun. They are not Lego brand, so I held my breath and waited for the complaints. There were a few grumbles about the instructions and that they are harder to fit together than Lego brand. Since we don’t plan to use the blocks for other projects, they are fine for building a model to display. I think they are charming.