A moment of Joy

Just as I was missing my son terribly, a neighbor dropped by with a picture of him with her son. There is no better gift a mother could receive, he looked happy and that is what matters. One reason I was missing him so much was because today a group of friends and I from our water aerobics class went with our Russian friend Jenny, who is also in the class, to the Oquirrh Mountain LDS temple open house (SLC UT). There were close to a dozen sister (girl/21 years and older) missionaries at the open house. I have a soft spot in my heart for them because almost 27 years ago, August 4th to be exact, I left home for my mission in Rome Italy. I spoke to all the sisters finding out where they were from, how long they had been here, did they know English before and so on. I guess that got my emotions going or something. I even had to stop in to the work place of a friend of my son's to somehow touch a part of life before I dropped him off, thanks for putting up with me Scottie! It was a great afternoon and I hope that poor Jenny's brain didn't explode with all the information input, we love you Jenny! I think we did our job in educating her about Utah.

Like the man who built his house upon the sand...

Picking up and adding to a phrase of my son, on a day that was hotter that Gwen Stephani and Gavin Rossdale, I chose to have a yard sale. Yes, I was foolish just like that man who built upon the sand. Notice that I said "I", when you and you alone are the one to decide something, the responsibiltiy lies with you and no one (should they?) else feels any responsibility. After a hot day, and let's not forget the rain, it's no fun to clean up alone.

I also haven't grasped the idea of a yard SALE. My almost 13 year old was frustrated with me because every time someone came up that looked like they could use a little boost, I gave items too them free of charge. I'm very quick with my handy dandy calculator, so try as you might, even if you read this blog, you will never know who you are; except maybe the cute little boy who wanted a gift for his mother. I gave him a small bottle of body wash and you have never seen anyone so excited. OK so I wasn't meant for the dog eat dog world, but the infectious smile of a child is worth more to me than any money is.

Dayne reported in on Thursday as anticipated, only I haven't had a chance to write. He had the opportunity to teach his not so knowledgeable about girls companion, all about them. There might be a problem with the group getting their visas, regardless of what happens, I feel that it's all in the Lord's hands. We might not know why certain things happen, it's only at the end of whatever the situation is, that we can look back with wisdom. He also had to teach volunteers the lessons, not fun. As I look back on all that was accomplished in two months it's quite amazing, but while you're in the midst of it, it seems like you will never catch on or get it right. He reports that he is no longer allowed to play basketball because of his amazing skills, this week slam dunking the ball one handed after a spectacular 360. He also bore his testimony in spanish, well done son, bravo.

"quiero dar mi testimonio. el evangelio de Jesucristo
es verdadero. Yo se que jesucristo camino la
tierra y murio por mis pecados. La expiacion es real.
Yo se que el padre celestial escucha mis araciones.
A traves de la expiacion, familias pueden ser eternas.
Yo se que thomas s monson es el profeta verdadero
hoy. My spanish isn't the best yet so the conjugations
might be wrong but if you can't understand it ask ron
if you can borrow baxter."

If you didn't understand that last line,
watch Ron Burgandy:Anchorman

buenas noches!

You haven't changed a bit...

This is the blog I didn't' get written the other day; a friend and I, along with our daughters had a very long day yesterday thanks to a bite from a ground squirrel. Although for me it ended up a good thing, I felt bad for my 12 year old because we were 5 hours later than I had said. She was good about it anyway. I need to back up a week or so ago when an old college friend found me on facebook. We had gone our separate ways years ago and she was wary of starting up anything new when she saw conservative on my profile (can you say sick of taxes!). I could not convince her, no matter how hard I tried, that I was the same old girl underneath, actually a square peg in a round world hole. The encounter with the furry little critter brought me to the Children's hospital in town where I had just found out my friend has a coffee cart. I got to the third floor just in time and it only took a few seconds for her to recognize me. I just happened to be dressed funky (retro vintage) that day, like we did in college. She realized that I was the same after all and despite our different paths, the love and friendship we had is still alive. If you read this, I love you Annie and thank you squirrel!

Hotter than...

It is so hot today and I am so miserable that it got me to thinking, unless hell really does freeze over some day, I better live a good life because I imagine fire and brimstone is at least as hot as the weather today. Only good works for me!

It has been such a crazy week that I have hardly had a chance to think about Dayne, but I did anxiously await his letter. I told him in one letter not to stress out too badly because once you get to your country you realize that they are speaking something else anyway. So my advice was to work hard, but don't beat yourself up if you're not as fast learning things. I guess this was his reply, he said he wasn't going to learn Spanish anymore, he was going to teach and convert by his good looks. He told me his new favorite word which has a connection to a family joke. He also likes gym period because basketball is so fun; he towers over everyone and even slam dunks the ball! Do you know my son? He's a 5'8" Tattersall. Need I say more?

"Is that you Baxter? Bark once if you're in Milewakee".

Who doesn't love a computer?

I decided to tackle this topic today when my husband decided to write my son a letter...

A friend of mine who ran a computer magazine once told me that since your ordinary guy can no longer tinker with car engines, the computer has taken it's place. Well, I'm very confident in saying that my husband never would have been deft at car tinkering. He sits down at my son's lap top to write the letter; of course, I have learned how to do everything myself but I must walk him through every step. One thing I didn't mention was that if you rest the heal of your hand on the computer it will switch pages on you, minor detail. I hear him hen pecking away and what seems like forever later, when he should be about done I hear yelling. He had rested his hand and then instead of reversing he x'd. I know because I did it also, but at the beginning! Oh my, the entire letter lost! Much to my amazement however; he jumped right back on and wrote again. That was a proud moment!

I love computers and am lost without one, but my husband would like a world without them. then at least he could relax some!

Computers...worth it, but sometime a pain!

My computer has been a thorn in my side for some time now as the DVD component stopped working. I finally ordered one and tried to install it, ha! no one told me about that little thingy ma jig! Luckily a friends's son came to the rescue. With the dvd up and running i discovered that my stopzilla had not been up for a while, thus the snails pace. I have upwards of 20 trojans on the thing and need to wait until tomorrow to fix it. I did finally get one thing done which has been a great frustration. Tommorrow we will hopefully be fast again. You don't realize how intertwined out lives are with computers til we are without them.

Last week was one big frustration. I am looking forward to a fruitful and somewhat frutration free week. I hopefully took it all this past week. Clouds rolled in Sat. and it has litterally been a big pain. P-days are Thursday, so I won't be hearing much until then except what is passed along to me.

Tuesday is Bastille day and I will wait until then to share my thoughts on the subject of freedom.

Until then, adieu.

What you see is not always what you get!

I was musing today (something my husband says is dangerous) about something a young girl at the check out and her friend had said to me my last night in England. She said I was so lucky to be going home and when I asked her why she said it was because everyone was nice in the States. I asked if everyone wasn't nice there and I was told no, they are mean. Of course this is a generalization, but I think I know what she meant. My friend who moved there has had some character building experiences and i think the difference is that they are always nice to your face, but you don't know who actually might be harboring a grudge or two. I found everyone to be quite friendly, but isn't that the beauty of visiting and not living somewhere.

My Dvd drive is now up and running thanks to a friend's son, yeah! You dont' realize how much you rely upon it until it doesn't work!

PS

If anyone knows how to get the gadgets to work, please let me know!

Musings on motherhood...

Today as my husband attended a funeral for a friend's mother, it got me to thinking about why as mothers we raise our children the way we do and is there a correct way. Once at a family party for this same friend's birthday, I was speaking to a nephew of his who had to get himself up for school, now that's an oxymoron if I've ever heard of one, and basically be responsible for himself. He was also failing whatever grade he was in at the jr. high. At the other end of the Spectrum you have the"helicopter" parent whose children don't fail no matter what the parent must do. I have also known these parents and the children almost always end up failing sooner or later. Is the answer the same as in most things, moderation? I have done my best to support and encourage my children without doing for them. So far, the oldest two (Dayne is #2) have been successful so far. the most fun I have had is being involved with them in high school. Now I must work there to get my fill. Number three child on the other hand, gives me grief no matter what I do. So maybe in the end it's pure luck!

A few things to report...

I finally recieved a letter, two in fact, by way of email. Unfortunately in order to forward them, gordon insisted I edit them. I say everyone knows Dayne well enough to read all. He is a character. He likes the food as much as i did and said some elders have put on 10 in one week. he has been eating fruits and salads and says he would rather be in Argentina eating old snake from a tree (ask me when you see mme next). He has been putting oranges in the other boy's pillows, one elder slept with it 2 nights! Probably was wonderign why he didn't sleep well. He seems to be doing well and enjoying it. I have been too busy the past few days to miss him too much. I'll be back...

Empty Mailbox

I am a sad mother this morning. I wish I had something to fill this blog, about my son at least. what I should be doing is calling banks to find out my balances. ouch. That one is not difficult to put off. Well I must go and hopefully next post I will have something to talk about.

When is P-Day?

Today marks a full week of Dayne's missionary life. So then I ask myself the question, when is p-day? I recieved a forwarded letter today from a friend of his, but nothing from Dayne. what could he be thinking??? Doesn't he know that an email goes home every pday...mothers are waiting for them! Pday is over at 5, so he better have a very good excuse.

I think back 25 years ago when my mom had to let me go, she had no choice in the matter as I did what I wanted. It is so difficult to let your little boy go, really, isn't that how we mothers still see them; I can't imagine having to send a daughter off. I'm sure that I carelessly forgot to mail a letter here and there, as there was no such thing as the world wide web back then and pc's were just appearing.

If anyone sees my son, tell him to write home! I would at least like to get his email!!!!

Yeah a letter!

I finally received a letter; it also had some writing from day 2 so I think someone didn't get it in the mail too quickly. I guess after one day there isn't much to say, but I do know that the Cafe Rio burrito he had as a last meal made it very unpleasant for his companion! His companion is an Elder Pearson from Pleasant Grove. In his group is a boy from Riverton who he didn't know, but he knew Dayne, awkward. He leaves for Argentina on August 31 st. Well that's about all he wrote, except the P.S. that said he should have listened to his mother! It just makes more work for me now.

I'm still working on the slide show...fell asleep while trying last night, enjoy the sights till it's up.

Sunday Afternoon

I'm getting along, my little friend migraine is with me. I am told that I will receive the letter tomorrow...the holiday got in the way. I think I will fix dinner and sleep today.

Title of Liberty

i saw a banner on a home the other day that said:

LIBERTY
RIP
1776-2009

It gave me something to think about, something my Romanian friends saw coming from the beginning, after living under communism, you never let your guard down. I love you Polipovs, thank you for teaching me the meaning of patriotism!

Happy fourth of July

It's been a busy day, breakfast at the park, poolside sun, bbq with family, very anti climatic. I am still waiting for some sign that my son is alive; a neighbor did see him from far away. Who knows, maybe that's where Elvis is hiding out!

Okay, now it 's really time to go to bed. Gordon wants to know what I do up so late on the computer...I guess now he can see for himself!

I am still waiting for Dayne to come home and tell me about his day. I think it's time I faced reality!