Paige was accepted to BYU a few days ago. In the next few weeks she’ll let us know which school she has decided to attend: BYU, Utah State, or University of Utah.
That’s all for today. Oh, wait. Is THIS what it feels like to exhale? Wow, that feels much better.
We met with Richard’s sisters and their families for dinner before the basketball tournament in Salt Lake. Simple gatherings like this are reason #852 that we are happy to live here.
Richard asked me to make this for his birthday today. We have this recipe from his mother. It is comforting, warm, old-fashioned, and full of butter and spice. Delicious.
Baked Apple Pudding
Mix and bake in an 8-inch square pan for 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve with butter sauce. The result will be a dark brown, moist cake.
Butter Sauce
Blend together in a saucepan. Warm but do not boil. Spoon butter sauce over cake and serve warm.
A few weeks ago, Richard came home unexpectedly early from work and I sang him this song. Minus the first few seconds, this song is awesome.
Last night was my favorite piano recital so far for our children. They each played so well. I could hear improvement in the areas they have focused their pratice this year, whether it is in expression, strengthening the hands, or dexterity. I thought I’d share a small part of my experience at this recital, even though it only focuses on one child. They ALL made us proud.
Daniel sat down to play at the grand piano at the small recital at our library. The room was full of young boys not far into their piano study. When they heard that one of Daniel’s songs had the word, “Wizard” in the title, there were excited whispers among the youngest of boys.
I smiled, knowing exactly what the notes were coming, having heard him play them for months. I expected that Daniel would play well and I trained my attention to the rows of children behind me and how they would respond.
However, when he began to play, I learned that my attention couldn’t be shared. The music drew me to it and I could think of nothing else. Daniel’s playing was affecting me in a dramatic way. When the dynamics soard in Grieg’s Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, I saw briefly the boys in my peripheral vision respond to its power, but my eyes filled with tears and could see no more that that. I realized that I was probably the one benefitting most from this music played by my son.
The phrases of music felt like a blessing, a benediction, a celebration of his years of work. I swept away tears with my fingers and applauded when he finished. I am wondering if it’s time to just embrace the tears that come more freely with the years, or to continue to try to hide them. Do I really want to hide tears of happiness?
We have taken a couple of days off from our regular routines to reconnect with each other. I am related to each of these darling and amazing women.
Today I taught a little oil painting class to the group. I didn’t get a photo of one of the paintings, but here are most of them.
Then we painted these letters to hang in the craft room at Spring Lake. My mom pulled out her guitar and we sang songs as we painted. What a happy time.
Mine is the PINK Starry Starry Night “A.”
Last week Timothy hinted meekly that he was playing in a concert during school. I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to be there so I asked him on a scale from one to ten, how much he would like me to come. (Helping him avoid having to say the awkward, “Please don’t come, Mom.”) To my surprise, he said, “8 or 9.” So I went and I was one of four guests, three of whom were clearly grandparents. In other words, I was one of the privileged few. He even let me take a picture.
He is growing up but he still lets me be in love with him.
Last night Paige and I hosted the salad course of a progressive dinner at our house for the Young Men and Young Women in our congregation. We entertained 3 groups of 15 youths and leaders. Timothy and Daniel were in one of the groups together, but Tim didn’t depend on Daniel, nor did he sit by his dad who is now one of his youth leaders. He sat beside the new boy. I was glad to see it.
We felt like climbing red rocks all weekend, so we did.
We went hiking today and Timothy spent a lot of time in a shallow cave in the canyon. When he emerged, he handed me my first hand carved sandstone valentine.
Ooooh. I finally got brave and sewed these paper hearts I cut out a year ago. I’ve never sewed paper before, but it was easy and I love how it turned out. Please don’t ask me what the camera is focused on in the above picture. Not a single bit of that picture is in focus.
I’m a little ambivalent about Valentines Day. I think it stresses Richard out. I don’t like to feel high maintenance, because I’m not. Except when I am shopping for a violin. Ahem.
My annual reading of The Gettysburg Address and Pink and Say will happen today when I find some time alone. I used to read Pink and Say aloud to the kids each February, but I gave it up. I just prefer to cry in private. Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln.
Sometimes I am guilty of giving my best to my students instead of my children. I am learning that I can give my best to both. When it is my turn to give a family home evening lesson, I share what I am learning in my personal study or preparations for lessons at church. This month I made some extra copies of the Plan of Salvation kits that I made for a young women lesson. Last night the kids cut them out and added them to their missionary/future family collections. We also prepared some for a missionary care package.
My mom told me that she would make Plan of Salvation visual aids with the missionaries all the time. She suggested that we include transparent “spirit bodies” which enter at birth, are separated at death, and reunited with the colorful physical bodies at the resurrection. I have to admit that this little detail is my favorite part of these laminated kits. Most of these elements come from The Friend Magazine, January 2008. If you want a copy I would be happy to send them to you. You can use my laminator if you’re close by, too.