Where to begin?

I feel like we have been running a race for the last month or so and we have reached the "finish line."  Yesterday we dropped off Brandon at the MTC in Provo, Utah.  He will be there for 12 weeks learning Russian before leaving to Donestsk, Ukraine.  It was very happy/sad, and ultimately wonderful.  I'll have to elaborate later.

It has been an amazing month.  It has been an exhausting and busy month.  The emotional rollercoaster we have been on makes me dizzy. 

I seriously don't remember sitting down at all during several of the days last weekend as we prepared for Brandon's farewell, open house, and enjoyed having both sets of grandparents in town.

Today I feel drained.  Kind of empty.  I have no will to get anything productive done right now.  I figure that we have been so productive over the last month that we deserve a lazy day. So I wore my pjs until noon, watched two hours of home decorating shows on TV, and ate most of a pound of fudge (which we bought from the BYU Bookstore yesterday.) Joseph played video games for two hours before I shooed him outside to play.

I have a lot of updating to do and lots of pictures to post in order to document our lives. In the words of Scarlet O'Hara, "I'll think about it tomorrow". Tomorrow is a new day.  I will start a new list (now that we crossed everything off the list "Preparing Brandon for a mission.") Soon, maybe starting tomorrow, I will begin to address all the things I have put off.  Bailey said recently that she wanted to make me a Tshirt which read "After Brandon is On His Mission," since that has been my answer to everything for the last few months.  I am pretty sure that tomorrow I will rescind Joseph's unprecedented unlimited video game time (I'm thinking that he has probably played enough Lego Batman to last him the rest of his life.)  The video game controllers might just get accidentally lost, starting tomorrow.  Tomorrow I will set new goals, make a new to-do list, and refocus my attention.

If any friends or family members want to write Brandon while he is at the MTC (until the first part of August), the address is:

Elder Brandon Scott Porter
MTC Mailbox # 101
UKR-DON 0803
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Another great way to write him is on dearelder.com.  You will need to create a free account and enter Brandon's MTC mailbox # and mission name.  Then you can very easily write him a letter anytime.  The dearelder.com people print out the letters every day at noon and deliver them right to the MTC (the service is free).  So, although the missionaries can only receive and send email to family on preparation day, they can receive and enjoy "dearelder" letters any day of the week.  He would love to hear from you!

Inspired

What a wonderful General Conference!  These are some of the messages which especially inspired me (Dan says he liked the same ones).

The message which impacted me the most was given by Lynn G. Robbins, "What Matter of Men Ought You To Be."  He addressed the differences between "doing" the right things and "being" the right things and related it to parenting and discipline of children in a way that is very helpful and relevant to us.

We also really liked Elder Bednar's message about the subtle and gradual discernment of light and how this relates to receiving revelation.  Elder Uchtdorf's message was similar, and we really liked the way he related small steps of faith to puzzle pieces.  "Each piece is a puzzle  which helps us see the big picture." "Listen to the Spirit . . . by becoming the answer to someone else's prayer we often find the answers to our own."

Another favorite was Elder Oak's talk.   "Desires dictate priorities, priorities shape choices; choices determine actions."

We thought some of the overall themes of Conference might have been finding faith in adversity and charity and service.

We enjoyed Conference amidst piles of blankets, endless supplies of Conference activities for the kids, and plenty of Skittles for Conference Bingo.  Joseph was pretty obsessed with filling up his Bingo board.  He listened for any "key" words, but whenever his attention wandered he asked us frantically, "Is he saying anything yet?"  As in, saying any of the words he was looking for.  Apparently, whatever else was being said was completely irrelevant to him! 

We tried some new recipes for Conference, and then had a Mexican fiesta for Sunday dinner.  Sunday afternoon we put out a spread of fruits, veggies, and dips (trying to counteract some of the junk we were eating).

And now we start Spring Break!  After the craziness of the last month (and it was incredibly crazy and busy) and the equally busy two months ahead of us (culminating in Brandon leaving on his mission on May 18th), it will be nice to have a respite this week. We are mostly staying home, but will spend one night at Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor water park hotel.

The kids will relax today while I spend all day at the allergist, getting three allergy shots every half an hour.  It is a "rush protocol" designed to jump start my allergy shots.  I am hoping for relief from allergies soon, but I am not looking forward to being a pincushion today.  And, won't I have nice looking (swollen) arms to show off in my swimsuit this week at the water park!

Addendum to "Ready"

Just in case I erroneously made it sound like Conference at the Porters is a smooth, conflict-free experience, I thought I would mention that we had to pause the first session to have a long discussion about how "we do not speak rudely," "we can choose whether or not to be offended when someone else is rude," etc. There may have even been a few raised voices and a time out involved.  I'm sure the Spirit fled from our home for awhile.

That's just real life. But we still love Conference and we still love each other.

Ready

Conference comfort food menu prepared . . . . . . . check

Lots of candy in bowls (for Bingo, of course) . . . . . . check

Comfy blankets and pillows piled in the family room . . . . . . . check

Pictures of the general authorities around the fireplace . . . . . . check

Conference coloring pages and activity pages printed . . . . . . . check

Schedule cleared as much as possible for the next two days . . . . . . check

We are ready for LDS General Conference.  We can't wait!

Brandon's last "Home" birthday

It was an incredible treat to have Brandon home for his 19th birthday.  We flew him home from college on his birthday (St Patrick's Day), and he stayed through the weekend to do some missionary shopping.  It was so fun to shower him with love and attention and enjoy the remarkable young man he has become.  His siblings especially love to bask in "Brandon light."  He and I had some great talks, and we got a little bit of missionary prep done, too!

Below, when Brandon was ready to open his presents, Joseph took each present away momentarily, and when he brought it back the bag included a special "Joseph touch."  In the instance below, he added his dirty, smelly school shoes to the bag.  Oh, THANK you, Joseph!

After we told Joseph he could no longer add disgusting things to the birthday bags, this is how he spent the rest of the present opening time. 

Nice shades, Bailey!  Apparently Brandon got this free as part of a freshman package at school. He brought home half his dorm room and left it here, keeping only the bare essentials.  He is counting down the weeks until he is done with his freshman year.

How did my baby boy grow to be 19 years old and a responsible adult? The years have flown by. Here are 19 things I love about you, Brandon:

1.  Your sense of humor.  You have learned well from your Dad how to infuse life with gentle humor and fun.

2.  Your patience with everyone, including family members and challenging people in the college dorm.  I continue to learn much from your example of patience.

3.  Your determination.  When you decide to do something, you go for it with gusto.  And you find a way to get what you want.

4. Your persistence even when faced with challenges. Here's just one small example which exemplifies the way you have reacted when life has thrown you a curveball . . . . when you started college you were determined to be involved in as many clubs/activities as possible, especially ones which allowed you to enjoy your love of music. You tried out for the Men's Chorus but didn't make it.  You tried out for the Folk performing group but didn't make it. Instead of giving up, you persisted and found other activities you have enjoyed (Folk Club, Accapella performing group and club, barbershop group, and even stand up comedy.)  Way to go!

5.  You have taken advantage of every opportunity available at BYU, including attending almost every Forum or Devotional. It has been fun for me to watch the Devotionals broadcast on BYUTV and then talk to you about them.

6. Your loyalty.  When you make a friend/commit your heart, you don't back down.

7.  Your empathy for others and unwillingness to judge them.  You see the good in people and wait for them to show their best sides.

8. Your incredible intellect.  Who else (besides your Dad) thinks that Calculus is fun?  That is just strange, if you ask me. You have always loved to learn, and you have really excelled at many, many things, including mathematics, foreign languages, music, and filmmaking.  The study skills you have learned along the way will prepare you for learning Russian on your mission and prepare you for success in any paths you pursue in life.

9.  Your testimony and desire to do what is right.

10.  Your love of music. You love to write, play, and listen to music. This has become a real outlet and driving force for you. You have great musical talent and a good ear for fun, clean songs.  For the next two years I will miss having you share good new tunes with me.

11.  Your desire to honor Dad and me as parents.  Even through the sometimes challenging teenage years, you really wanted to honor and respect us and be trustworthy.  Thank you.

12.  Your crooked smile.  I think it is just so you (and it kind of looks like your Springer relatives, too.)

13. Your goal setting.  Now that you are living away from home, I miss coming across your tiny folded pieces of paper around the house, filled with lists of your goals for the next week. You have always been great about planning ahead and achieving goals in every area (intellectual, social, musical, financial, spiritual, etc.)  This is another great skill of your Dad's which you have adopted and made your own.

14.  Your spirit.  When you were a tiny baby I knew that Heavenly Father had blessed us with a precious and unique spirit. You have often seemed more mature than your age, and often I think that in heaven you were older and wiser than me.

15.  The fact that you like to talk to us. I have always loved staying up late and talking to you about life. You have a great perspective, and I enjoy hearing your thoughts.

16.  Your desire to serve a mission.  And you will be an amazing missionary.

17.  Your pursuit of career paths which make you happy and which will utilize your talents.  You will do well in whatever career path you take.

18.  Your ability to fix computer or electronic problems.  It must be your analytical side which helps you out here.

19.  Sometimes when we get to spend time with you for a split second I marvel at what a good job we must have done, to produce such an amazing young man.  Then I realize that we didn't have that much to do with it . . .we provided some genetic material and a home environment, but you have drawn upon your own strengths to become a young man who is not only remarkable, but also uniquely you.  I'm proud of you.

Happy Birthday, Brandon!

Joseph is 6!

Early in March Joseph celebrated his 6th birthday.  Below, this is what he looked like before we awakened him with breakfast in bed and a few gifts.  His requested breakfast: cinnamon streusel muffins, bacon, and strawberries.

He was super duper excited to receive his big birthday gift - his very own Nintendo DS. He had used Brandon's old DS until the screen broke a few months ago.

After opening gifts and finishing breakfast Joseph left to kindergarten, where he was the special birthday celebrity and where he shared yummy brownie bites with his class. After school I picked up him and his friend Alex and we bought lunch at Burger King. (Nuggets, fries, and a soda. The soda was a special birthday treat - we rarely get the kids soda at restaurants - so he felt extra lucky!)  Joseph and Alex played the rest of the afternoon, stopping in the afternoon to enjoy a special birthday Push-Pop treat.

When everyone gathered at home we ate dinner.  What Joseph wanted for dinner was for me to not bug him about eating "3 healthy things from my list of foods."  So, I didn't.  I can't remember what he chose to eat, but I doubt it was a very balanced diet.  But, that's what birthdays are for!

After dinner Joseph opened a few more gifts, including a new helmet, bat, and balls for tball.  Other gifts he received include a Build a Bear from Grandma and Grandpa Springer and a fuzzy blanket from Grandma and Grandpa Palmer.

 The next day we hosted a Spiderman Birthday party for four active little six year olds.

Dan, who is a master party planner, helped plan games for the party. He set up rotations of activities for the kids . . . beanbag toss, bowling, ring toss, soccer kick, water gun target practice, etc. He bought Spiderman and Star Wars figurines for the kids to earn as prizes for doing all the stations.  It was a great idea, and they kind of liked all the activities, but they wanted to pretty much do their own thing, not follow the plan we had set forth.  After all, Joseph's best little buddies are used to having the run of the house when they play at our home several times a week. So, after making everyone do all the activities at least once, Dan gave in and just gave them the prizes. And then they were off to run around the house and create an imaginary Star Wars/Spiderman universe in which they beat every possible bad guy. Dan and I just watched them run while we munched on leftover pizza and chocolate cake.

Joseph's friends were so excited to have him unwrap their gifts - all Superhero toys, of course! 

Here the boys (Chase, Alex, Joseph, and Gabe) hold their new figurines, which they call their "guys." 



Joseph, in honor of your 6th birthday, here are 6 things I love about you:

1.  Your infectious smile.  I mean, really, how could I ever stay upset at you when you flash that smile at me?  Because of that, you probably get out of the half of the punishments you have earned!

2.  Your enthusiasm.  Everything you do is done with gusto. Playing soccer, running around with friends, going to kindergarten, learning to read, playing your favorite video games . . . you don't do anything halfway, and you generally have fun at whatever you do.

3.  Your hugs and kisses.  I am so glad that you are at home with me half the day and that you love to hug and kiss me and be cuddled.  I hope you know that you will always be my baby and you are never allowed to be too cool for your mom.  I mean it. 

4.  Your imagination.  I love the imaginary worlds you create.  I love the tents you make out of random household objects and blankets.  I love that you ask me if you can sleep all night in the small, claustrophobic tent you have created.  I love that you really believe that you will be able to do this. I love that you change your mind and run up to be tucked into bed by your Mom.

5.  Your love of learning.  I will never get over how much fun it is to see a child learn to read.  It is like seeing a whole new world open up you. I love your love of learning. I love that you want us to read lots of books to you every night. I even love that you won't let us get out of reading to you even if we are incredibly exhausted. I love that you grab the book halfway through and start reading it out loud yourself. Reading is awesome.

6.  You willingness to keep trying to do things that are hard.  You stick with us as we push you to reach a little more outside of your comfort zone. You will be a better person for having learned to do this.

I love you, Joseph!

Aubrey is 11!

 Birthday season at the Porter house began with a day to celebrate everything about Aubrey, who celebrated her 11th birthday early in March.  The day started with breakfast in bed (crepes, bacon, and strawberries).

Then it was off to school. At lunch I picked her up and we ate Wendy's (nuggets, fries, and shake) and then picked up donuts for her class. After school she enjoyed her chore-free and piano practice-free afternoon, and then we ate her choice of dinner (pasta, bread, and apple crisp instead of cake).

At the dinner table, we looked through her baby scrapbooks and remembered lots of fun things about baby and toddler Aubrey. Then she opened presents.  Her favorite gift was her first camera!  And it's "mini", and Aubrey likes everything mini. From Grandma and Grandpa Springer she received money for a new book and the Gepetto DVD (she is currently in a play based on this show).  Other highlights . . . money from Grandma and Grandpa Palmer (oh, the possibilities for shopping), Epic Mickey Wii game, shower gel and a sleep mask, a calendar for her room, and plastic popsicle molds (she and Bailey love to experiment with different types of juice popsicles).

Her party was the next weekend. She and three close friends met at our house for pizza and then spent a few hours at a ceramic painting shop in downtown Vancouver called Earth Glaze and Fire.  After they finished their painted masterpieces we walked next door to Ice Cream Renaissance and ate delectable ice cream creations.  All the girls got "Doctor Chocolate" and then played card games for awhile before he headed home.

 

 

We loved the chance to focus on our precious daughter Aubrey.  In honor of her 11th birthday, here are 11 things I especially admire about Aubrey:

1.  Your enthusiasm about trying new skills. You seem to be fearless as you choose to try new things . . . singing in the ward choir, singing, dancing, and acting in musical theater, learning to be a better basketball player . . . . and so many more examples.

2.  Your artistic eye.  You have a real ability to see the beauty around you and translate into art.  That is definitely one of your special gifts.

3.  Your sense of humor.  To those who don't know you well you might seem quiet at first, but pretty soon your eyes start to twinkle and you share some of your dry wit and your beautiful smile.

4.  Your love for your siblings.  You have forged a special bond with Brandon, Bailey, and Joseph. I know that it makes you so happy to hang out with them and have fun.  And I'm glad that you still let me hold you and cuddle you like my baby "Aubrey-doodle."

5.  Your loyalty.  You have had the same special friends since you were very little.  One of your friends has been your "bestie" since you were two years old!  You stick with your friends, and you are a very good friend to them.

6.  Your upbeat attitude.  Every day when I pick you up at school I know that you will answer my question "How was your day?" with a big grin and an enthusiastic "It was great!"  You generally love what you are doing, whether it is school, an extracurricular activity, or relaxing at home.

7.  The fact that you can quote every John Bytheway talk verbatim from memory.  Okay, so our family might just be Bytheway's biggest fans!  You have always liked the blend of humor and doctrine. 

8.  The fact that you will still skip down Main Street at Disneyland with me.  We don't care that Dad and Brandon walk way behind, pretending like they don't know us.  How can we not skip in the happiest place on earth?

9.  Your love of all things mathematic.  This is obviously something you inherited from your father, because I did not and do not feel that way about math.  But, you really get math concepts, and you think it is fun to learn more and more.

10.  Your commitment to read the scriptures.  It's hard to remember to read every day by yourself, but you have really tried, and you give real attention to trying to understand what you read.

11.  Your willingness to work really, really hard to try to overcome challenges.  We all have challenges, and you are no exception. You have demonstrated a willingness to give energy and attention to overcoming hard things. Because of this, you will be ready to handle challenges all through your life.

I love you, Aubrey!

Welcome to our home

Last week we had a visitor coming to town. I spent most of one day vacuuming, changing sheets, freshening the bathroom, taking out trash, doing dishes and laundry, and straightening everywhere.

For as long as I can remember this is just what we do. If someone is coming to visit our home, we clean and try to create a temporarily orderly home.  I mean, our house is generally not filthy, and everybody pitches in on daily and Saturday chores, but I don't mind a certain amount of chaos. If there is so much going on that the dishes from last night don't get done till tomorrow it hardly fazes me (unless there are no clean bowls for breakfast cereal). If the kids build a fort in the living room, I am happy to keep it there for two weeks. And don't get me started on unmade beds . . . I try at times to emulate my mother (who was and is a much, much better housekeeper than I am) and get everybody to make their beds.  But, to be honest, I don't really see the point.  I make my bed about half the time. And that's okay. Friends who are in and out of our house expect superhero toys to be scattered on the stairs and perpetual piles of laundry (one of the things that made me gnash my teeth when we decided to buy this house was the fact that the laundry room is visible from the front entryway, unless the door is kept closed, which it never is.  So, everyone who comes over knows that the Porters have dirty clothes. Lots of them.)

But, if someone is coming to stay, I excitedly and feverishly clean. And so, that brings me back to last week.
In the middle of cleaning bathrooms I had to stop to laugh. I knew that THIS particular visitor would not even be aware of my housecleaning efforts.  Brandon, our BYU student, was flying home for the weekend for his birthday and for missionary clothes shopping. He was just happy to be home and out of the dorms. I really questioned myself about why I thought the house had to be clean for Brandon. It wasn't like I was trying to impress him with my superhuman housekeeping skills. He certainly knows that our home is not usually clean throughout and is generally oblivious to many cleanliness details.  I mean, this is the same college freshman who admitted to me at Thanksgiving that he hadn't remembered yet to wash his sheets. And it didn't bother him.  Yuck!

But, that didn't change how I felt.  I organized corners of the house that hadn't been touched since . . . well, since the last time someone stayed for a few days!  Why bother? 

This is what I decided.  There are lots of ways to show love. To me, the nonverbal message sent by a clean home for visitors is "We love you. We are so glad you are here. We know that disorder will reign again during your stay in our home, but for a brief moment we want you to feel the peace of order and cleanliness."   I guess an additional message would be "I want to focus on you. Everything in the home is orderly for now, so I can concentrate on hanging out with you."  My kids have protested at helping with the pre-visitor cleaning over the years, but I have told them and retold them that it's a matter of respect. We offer our best to our visitors, hoping that they will feel comfortable in our home.  I have always felt like this even though I can't think of any visitor we have ever had at our house who would have thought poorly of us for undusted tables and piles of laundry. Our family and friends who visit us are aware that four kids live in our house, and families make messes. 

I wish I could apply this same thinking to every day, and have our home be a mythical haven of sparkling clean surfaces and sweet smells. But that is so not my reality. Keeping the home in order is one of my daily to-dos and priorities, but by no means is it the top priority.  I do my best, but life is busy.  Many years ago, when Dan and I were first married, I wrote this in my journal: "I will never let having a clean house be more important than having a good relationship with my family."  I really believe that.

But, I always have and always will prepare a clean abode when a visitor comes to hang out.  So come visit.  I promise the house will be clean (temporarily)!

Lesson learned in December

I realized the other day that, in the rush of Christmas craziness, I didn't record something we experienced.  It is something I want to remember and hopefully learn from.  So, here it is (three months after the event) . . .

The third week of December was a busy one. It felt like I was driving all day, every day.  Wednesday morning I noticed that my gas gauge registered close to empty, but I had no time to stop for gas. I made a mental note to stop before Mutual that night. Then, I was running late to Mutual, so I promised myself I would stop the next day. Of course, Thursday was even busier, and my "empty light" was on as I ran here and there and everywhere. In the afternoon I remember picking up Bailey from school and taking all three kids to a ceramic shop to squeeze in Christmas ornament painting before we needed to rush home to meet the notary and sign papers for our mortgage refinance, while watching a friend's newborn baby. Whew. I forgot again to get gas.

Friday morning I had an important very stressful doctor appointment. Because I needed to leave early, Dan had arranged to drive all the kids to school. I hopped in the van and took off toward the freeway. A few miles from home I realized again that I was almost out of gas and that I urgently needed to stop when I got to the gas station. Then I realized in a panic that I had left my purse sitting on the kitchen table, where we had signed mortgage forms the night before, so I had no way to purchase gas. At that very moment my van sputtered and slowed, right in the middle of a very curvy, busy road.  It was a terrible place to be stuck - I wasn't even able to pull over to the side, and I was stopped just past a blind curve.  As I fumbled for my cell phone, cars careened around around the curve and swerved around me when they saw my hazard lights, barely missing me every time. 

I called Dan, who had dropped off two kids and was preparing to drop off Bailey. He was probably 10 minutes away, but said he would come help me as quickly as possible (he had to run home to get the gas can, then meet me on the road).

In the meantime, I sat, very much stranded.  I felt vulnerable and scared. I knew there was no way I could push my van out of the way by myself. No one had offered to stop.  In fact, quite a few people honked at me, and several even rolled down their window and yelled something unkind.  Now I had tears running down my face. Did the impatient people passing me think I wanted to be in this position?  I was stranded, I was scared, and I needed rescue because I was incapable of solving the problem myself. 

After about five minutes, a man pulled up his big, beat-up truck behind me and jumped out.  He ran up to tell him that he would do his best to help. He left his truck there in the road to block the way as he pushed me out of the middle of the road and up the road. It was hard work - I don't think Honda Odysseys are very light!  Finally, when I was in a safer position, he stopped, out of breath and exhausted.  I thanked him and told him that my husband would be there in a minute with gas. So, he wished me good luck and hopped in his truck and left. I didn't get the name of my anonymous rescuer, and I had no real way to thank him.

Dan and Bailey arrived and switched me cars so I could continue to my doctor appointment. They got gas and walked back to the van. After my appointment I met Dan at his work to switch back our cars and process what had happened. I told him how absolutely frightening the experience had been. I said that I realized what it feels like to be vulnerable and stranded, and we agreed that we should stop if we see anyone in that position. He put the gas can in the trunk of his Hyundai and I took off for home.

Later that evening we had somewhere Christmasy to be (I don't remember where), but Dan arrived home  late. He sat down and said, "You're never going to believe this."  And this was his story:

As he was leaving work and driving down a busy street, he saw flashing hazard lights to the right side of the road, in a very dangerous spot to pull over. He said that his first thought was to keep driving, because he was in a hurry to get home so we wouldn't be late. He said that any other day he might have not stopped, but, remembering our experience that morning, he pulled over. As he got out, a man and a woman were walking toward the stranded car. He said they looked really dejected. He asked how he could help them, and they said that they had run out of gas and were actually out of money to fill the gas tank. They had walked down the road to a grocery store and had spent an hour asking shoppers for money so they could at least get enough gas to drive home, but no one had given any money. The man was pretty teary, and he said that they had just moved to Vancouver from Hawaii and hadn't been able to find a job.  They wished they hadn't moved, because "people here just aren't friendly." It was clear to Dan that this was a couple who had lost hope.

Dan told them that he just *happened* to have a gas can in his car!  He poured in the remaining bit of gas from the can, but it wasn't enough to start their car. So, he asked them to wait while he ran to fill it up again at the gas station. While there, he felt like he should get some cash to offer the couple.

When he gave them the gas, money, and some cold waters, they were very grateful and tearful, and maybe a bit more hopeful.  As Dan drove away, he thought about how little time and money it had taken to be able to really help someone who was stranded and in need of rescue.

We have thought a lot about this experience. As terrifying as my experience had been that morning, we were grateful that it reminded us that there are other people out there who are feeling hopeless and who might need rescue. It is so easy to drive by, walk by, not notice, be skeptical. In fact, Dan admitted that if the couple had asked him for money at the grocery store, he very well may have turned them away, thinking that the "out of gas" story was fake.

We thought about how Heavenly Father knows and loves the couple who were stranded. He knew they were scared and lonely, and He needed someone to do His work and rescue them, show them kindness, and help them find hope again. Just as my anonymous stranger had rescued me when I was in danger, sometimes we need to be the rescuer.  And sometimes we're stuck because of our own unwise choices (I certainly should have chosen to get gas instead of driving on empty for days), but it doesn't change the fact that the stranded person needs help and hope.

Later on, we talked to the kids about the day during dinner. We told them that there are lots of little ways to help people find hope. Sometimes it might be reaching out to the lonely person in the classroom, saying hello to someone we might not usually talk to, praying to be aware of little ways we can help others when they feel stranded and alone.  It's easy to be the one driving by, annoyed that a car is stranded and blocking the way as we hurry through life. But, I'll never forget what it was like to be the one stuck. I hope I never again avert my eyes from those in my life who need me to offer hope and rescue.

(One more lesson I learned . . . I have repented of my habit of driving around with the "empty" light on. I have always pushed it to the last drop, convinced that I would never actually run out of gas. Dan could have really given me a well-deserved "I told you so," but he kindly refrained!)

Birthday interviews

I'm going to copy my sister Ali and interview my kids on their birthday.  Last week Aubrey celebrated her 11th birthday and Joseph celebrated his 6th birthday.  It was a busy week!

Interview with Aubrey
age 11
March 2, 2011

What do you want to be when you grow up? 
An architect and an accountant.

What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, because everyone is so joyful and it is magical.

Do you wish you had a pet?
No, I don't like pets.

What is the nicest thing anybody ever did for you?  
Dad took me out to lunch and we went to a store and we had fun.

What is your favorite book?  The Lost Hero
Favorite TV show?  Psych
Favorite movie?  Tangled

What was your favorite age and why?
Age five.  Because in preschool it is all about fun, and everyone thinks you are so cute.  It was fun.

What is your favorite scripture story?
The Sermon on the Mount.  I really like the Beatitudes, especially the one that talks about not judging people.

What does Dad do at work during the day?
He like gives out paychecks and he is in charge of loans and money for the company.

What does Mom do during the day?
She takes care of us and keeps the house running.

What is your favorite breakfast?  French toast with buttermilk syrup
Favorite lunch? Macaroni and Cheese
Favorite Dinner?  Spaghetti
Favorite restaurant? Olive Garden. I love their breadsticks and Fettucini Alfredo.

If you  had a free day tomorrow, with absolutely nothing you needed to do, what would you do with the day?
I would throw a party and invite everyone in my church class and everyone in my school class, and we would do Just Dance, karaoke, and water games outside.

What is your favorite vacation spot?  Hawaii!
Who are your best friends right now?  Breanne and Laura.

How many kids do you want to have?
Two, a boy and a girl.  Their names will be Jordan and Jack.

What temple do you plan to be married in?
The Salt Lake Temple.

What college do you want to attend?
BYU Provo. 
What is something you did this year which was hard for you but you did it anyway?
I tried out for plays and I tried out for VSAA (Vancouver School of Arts and Academics).



Interview with Joseph
Age 6
March 4, 2011

Who is the president right now?
Abraham Lincoln

How old are you?
Five.  (long pause)  No, I'm six!

Do you wish you had a pet?
No.  Well, only a cat.  Because it doesn't chase you.

What does Brandon do at college?  
He swims in the pool and plays with books, I think.

What is your favorite thing to do at school?  
Free Choice, when we can choose what we want to do.  I like to play with the legos.

What is your favorite sport?
Soccer!  Oh yeah . . . it is so fun!  And I am going to do Tball, too, which is kind of like baseball but not as scary.

Who are your best friends?
Alex, Dad, Chase, Brenner, Gabe, and Ian. 

Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?
Disneyland!  I love the rides and the candy.  My favorite ride is "It's a Small World."  I do NOT like "The Haunted Mansion", but I might like it when I am big like Brandon or Bailey.

What is the nicest thing that anyone ever did for you?
Aubrey played with me.

What church do you belong to?
Jesus Christ's church.

Who is Heavenly Father?  
He is our father.  

Who is Jesus?
He tells us stuff to do and how to be and stuff. And we learn about him at church.

Where do you live?  Washington.  Yes, yes, yes.

What is your favorite scripture story?
David and Goliath.  Why do you like it? I like the lions.

What does Dad do at work?
He sits on computers.

What does Mom do during the day?
She stays home.  And picks me up and drops me off and plays with me.

What do you remember about being a baby?
I was so cute and naked.

What is your favorite breakfast?  Chocolate milk and cheerios.
Favorite lunch? strawberries, peanuts, and apples.
Favorite dinner?  Bacon and grapefruit or red peppers.
Favorite restaurant?  Sweet Tomatoes.
Favorite book? Officer Buckle and Gloria.
Favorite TV show? Arthur or Magic School Bus or cartoon Spiderman.  Probably the last one, because it is the coolest one.

What is your favorite holiday?  
Birthday days.  Because we get presents,  play games, open presents, and get cake and ice cream.  It's just the best day ever.

What do you want to be when you grow up? 
A spy and a policeman.