Small World Encounter

There are two brothers who live in our ward on the same street. I wasn't sure if they were really brothers or cousins (because they don't really look that much alike) until I asked one's wife a couple of weeks ago if they are brothers. She confirmed it. Today at church I learned they also have a sister, who happens to live in Canyon, Texas, which is in the stake we lived in when we were in Pampa. Heidi Rindlisbacher is their sister. She and her husband, David, and their son, Taylor, were at church today in our ward. What a small world! They updated me on the latest back in the Amarillo Stake. It was fun to talk to them and to enjoy an "Its a Small World Encounter."

Carissa is 14 now.

Perry is working out of town...all the way over in Phoenix. His annual meetings fall on Carissa's birthday. So I'm left holding down the fort with 12 bee-boppin girls at her birthday party. Carissa invited all 18 beehives and miamaids in our ward. Thankfully they didn't all show up because our house isn't big enough to acommodate 18 dancing hiphoppers. Zack was on a scout campout so the girls were left home to do the partying. We had fun. We started at the park near our house. We ate pizza and then the girls played hide 'n' seek, 007, and kick the can. Back at the house we had more snacks, cranked up the music, and they danced the night away. I learned all about the Cha Cha Slide and can't get "1985" out of my head. The funny thing is I'm probably the only one at the party that knew all the names in the song. I think everyone had a good time and we didn't get any complaints from the neighbors about noise. I'd say it was a success. We have Spring Break this week, so the fun has just begun.

I tried uploading a video of the girls doing the Cha Cha Slide. After checking on all the kids, starting the dishwasher, and doing all of the bedtime routine it still wasn't through uploading, so you're spared. I canceled the upload. Maybe after I edit it down to about 30 seconds I'll try again...or maybe not.

Valentine's Day-Two Perspectives

On Friday the 13th, Danyka and Zack came home from school toting the Valentine's and booty from their respective class parties. Danyka opened her Valentine's cards and read each one carefully. She laid each one out on the kitchen table where she could admire them all as she enjoyed the candy that came with them. The Valentine's remained on the table until I insisted it was time to clean up.
On the other hand, Zack ran into his room with his bag of Valentine's, dumped them on the floor, picked out all the candy, and proceeded to throw all of the cards into his trash can.
The next day Danyka happened to notice Zack's trash can. In amazement she cried out, "Zack threw away all of his Valentine's cards." I seized the moment to teach a valuable lesson to my daughter about the difference between the things boys value and the things girls value, adding that she needs to remember Zack's trash can full of Valentine's in the future when she's writing Valentine's cards. That's a big pill to swallow at the tender age of nine. Hopefully it will steer her clear of a few heartaches in years to come.
A little side note: I did find one special Valentine in Zack's room that he didn't throw away.

Age is relative-A mother's perspective

When Zack was six Perry was a Bear Cub Scout leader. All those boys that came over for cub scouts seemed so much older than Zack. Then a couple of years later Zack became a Cub Scout and it seemed like he was too young to be handling a pocketknife and learning to shoot arrows and BB guns. When Zack was a Wolf Cub Scout I was his leader and the boys were still so young to be going off to day camp all day long. (Or maybe I was just too old to be spending a whole day with a bunch of cub scouts). And the eleven year old scouts were so much older. Then Zack turned eleven and he seemed too young to be going on an overnight campout, but at least his dad was with him. And the twelve year old scouts were so much older. Now Zack is a twelve year old scout going on campouts once a month. Can he be old enough to do that? And those fourteen year old boys getting their Eagles are so much older.

Zack went on his first overnighter as a twelve year old this weekend. They went on a snow campout up in the mountains. Their were only six scouts and three leaders when I dropped him off at the church with all his gear. I'm thinking one leader to two scouts is a good ratio. A mom can feel good about that. I was worried about him going off to camp in the snow coming off his recent illness. I prayed that he would be warm enough. He is still just a little skeleton of a guy. He broke his glasses in a snowball fight before they went to bed Friday night. He moved out of his tent to the other boys' tent because the two boys in his tent went to sleep at 10:00 o'clock, and the other boys were up talking and having fun. His broken glasses fell out of his pants pocket while they were sledding Saturday morning. He said his snow pants kept falling down every time he slid down the hill even though he cinched up the velcro waist bands as far as they would go. He left the money I gave him to buy lunch on the way home in his pants pocket at home. He arrived back home with no glasses (or pieces of glasses), a runny nose, and just about everything he took was soaking wet, including the season of X-files DVDs that he slipped in his backpack while I wasn't looking. He said he got about three hours of sleep, not because he was cold but because they stayed up talking all night. My question is, "Is he old enough to do this?" Needless to say, he had a wonderful time and can't wait for their next campout.

Reflections on Motherhood and Beyond

About a week before Evie was born Brooke called to tell me she was having contractions. I advised her to go to the hospital so they could tell her if she was dilating and if the contractions were progressing toward giving birth. When I hung up the phone I thought, "This is really easy." Then I reflected back to when Brooke was born, and the other children as well. I still remember quite vividly holding each one in my arms for the first time, and feeling the communion with this spirit fresh from Heavenly Father's presence. I compare it to Lehi's dream when he partook of the fruit of the tree and he described it as "sweet, above all that I ever before tasted" and "that it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy." Holding a brand new baby for the first time is an experience most sweet, above all experiences I have had so far in this mortal life and it truly did fill my soul with great joy. As I contemplated that Brooke was about to have this same experience and also that I was about to become a grandmother, the thought occurred to me that this new generation adds another dimension of glory to our posterity. I think I understand a little bit better what it is to have glory added upon us and why Heavenly Father considers it one of his greatest blessings.

Grandmotherhood is Grand

Our first grandchild, Evie Mikell Palmer, was born 23 Sep. 2008 at 8:24am. She weighed 8lbs. 1oz. and was 20 inches long. I would like to have been there when Brooke had her. Brooke called about midnight and told me she was at the hospital to stay. No being sent home this time. I was too tired to drive all night to get to Provo from Gilbert, AZ. Of course, I couldn't sleep either after her call anyway. Perry was in Austin on a business trip, so I got the kids off to school in the morning and Carissa and I took off for Provo. We got there at 7:30 that evening. Being a grandmother is all it's cracked up to be. Seeing little Evie for the first time and knowing she is mine, a generation and a delivery once removed, is indescribable joy. It's so much easier having a grandchild than a child. Evie is beautiful. She wasn't due to arrive until the first of October, but she is a healthy, good-sized little girl with a head full of dark hair. What a joy to behold.
The new mom and dad were worn out. They had been up all night the night before. Carissa and I stayed at the hospital that night so Brandon could go home and get some sleep. Evie stayed in the room with us the whole night. She slept from midnight to about 7:00am. That first night she didn't really cry. She made squeaky noises and little squeals. She was a little bit better at crying by the time we left to go home a week later, but she's not a fussy baby. She is very good-natured. I think Brooke was able to rest some, too, as much as is possible in a hospital. Then Brooke and Evie were released to go home by 9:00pm the second night.
Carissa and I were able to stay a week and help out around the house and hold little Evie every chance we got. I am thankful that we could stay and spend some time with the new little family. Brandon is a very good dad and loves to help care for his sweet little girl. Brooke is doing well and getting her energy and strength back quickly. Evie has started training her parents in what to expect from a newborn, from nighttime feedings to soiling the new diaper before you can get the velcro fastened. All is going just about perfect so far.

Life Throws Us Fast Balls

Life throws me fast balls.
My kids throw me curve balls.
I'm playing dodge ball.

The week before last Carissa came home from school one day and asked me if I would homeschool her. After evaluating her reasons for making such a request, and also after much thought, prayer, and discussion with her and Perry, I have decided to homeschool Carissa. Last week was spent scouring the internet for curriculum and educational activities and websites to enhance and enliven the academic experience. Homeschooling Brooke was a positive experience for her, I think. At least educationally she was way ahead when she re-entered the public school system. Get feedback from her to get her slant on its affect on her. It's been almost ten years since I homeschooled Brooke. The available curriculum is pretty much unchanged since then, but there is so much more out there through the internet now. The challenge is weeding through it all and not letting the tares overcome the wheat so to speak.

Friday I withdrew Carissa from school and tomorrow we embark on a new journey together. At the moment I'm not sure if I've been plastered with a dodge ball or if I'm helping Carissa prepare to play better dodge ball in the future. Hopefully I can move her in the direction of throwing fewer curve balls.