Christmas Catchup

I wanted to post as I have pictures, but I haven't had my camera near my harddrive in a while. Here's what's happened recently.

We've gotten into the full Christmas swing. On the 5th, Jackson went to visit Dr. Robins and got a good bill of health on his L ear. While the very upper levels of sound have been affected, his middle-range, the speaking and low range is normal now. As long as he protects his hearing, he'll be great. The implant is working well and Dr. Robins was pleased. He said that most people don't get such a great result.

On Friday night, the kids got to come to school for the National Honor's Society babysitting evening. They had a marvelous time, and even Max had a great time. His diaper failed, however, and he required new clothing. He came home in a cute yellow NHS shirt. We wrote our letters to Santa when we came home that evening, and then put our shoes out for St. Nicholas to fill.

On Saturday morning, the shoes had been filled with delicious hand-rolled peppermint candy canes, and we cleaned the house and had a St. Nicholas Day feast. John made a gorgeous turkey, sweet-potato soup, candied yams, candied carrots, green bean casserole with hand-breaded Frenched onions, and cornbread-foccacia dressing with cherries and sausage. Everything was yummy, and Xandri loved the sweet-potato soup. She was tempted to lick the bowl.

Jack gave a talk about the secret of giving at church today. He read a message by President Henry B. Eyring, and he read the whole thing by himself! He's amazing. It's awesome how kids learn to read. Xandri is totally engrossed in figuring out what letters form which words and how they do it. She's interested in being a good reader. Asa has figured out "A's" and can find all sorts of A's. He's great at big and little A's---because his name contains both. ;o)

Yesterday, we got to celebrate Maddie Sue's 7th birthday (one day late!) We went to Jen & Joe's and her party was wonderful. Maddie enjoys everything so much. When we sang Happy Birthday, we added "Ho Ho Ho" in between each line, and each time we sang "Ho, Ho, Ho" she'd blow out one of her candles. When she got all the candles blown out, she raised her hands in victory and said, "YAY!" She was as excited by a box of popcorn and a Ziplock bag as she was her other gifts. She was super excited by "Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas" which Aunt Anna gave her.

Tonight, we're going to drive around looking for places to leave Christmas Pixie items. Then we're going to catch the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. We DV-R'd it last night and will discuss it for Family Home Evening.

The season passes so quickly! I can't believe it's already December 8th... If I don't take time to actually DO things with my kids, the days would just disappear. We have scouts and pixies to do tomorrow (and a board of review---and I'm supposed to go to Relief Society's dinner). On Wednesday, we're going swimming for the first time at the Lehi Legacy center. We got a year's pass to the Legacy center and I want to go at least 3 times this month while we have time off. On Thursday, my visiting teachers are coming. On Friday, John and I are going on a date... we might even make it to the temple! On Saturday, we have breakfast with Santa Claus with the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation at BYU and the ward Christmas party, and our lives are busy, busy, busy.

I often wish my children played instruments or danced or did other things, but quite honestly, I can't figure out when we'd squeeze them in. We leave home each day at 8am, and we don't get home again until 4 or 4:30 every day. Then it's homework, clean up, dinner, reading, and bed... When could we squeeze more in? I guess the moms who don't work have superlatively talented children. Now that Jack can hear, we're going to get him playing his guitar, and hopefully... the rest can get some musical training, too.

Fun Photos!

Most recent photos: (These are all Facebook links).

how people this album by sending them this public link:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12679&l=06f1b&id=1149311414

 Show people this album by sending them this public link:

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Show people this album by sending them this public link:

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Here's the Xandri Photos: 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=194861&l=ada11&id=1149311414

Here's where we went on vacation in Colorado:

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-- 

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Dare You to Move

I learned, recently, at a meeting that I was supposed to be teaching a research paper to my sophomores. I didn't want to go through reading hundreds of blah blah blah, so the research paper I have assigned is based on the song "Dare You to Move" by Switchfoot. http://www.amazon.com/The-Beautiful-Letdown-Deluxe-Version/dp/B0014KDR2I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1226600134&sr=8-1

Welcome to the planet 

Welcome to existence 

Everyone's here 

Everyone's here 

Everybody's watching you now 

Everybody waits for you now 

What happens next? 

What happens next? 

I dare you to move 

I dare you to move 

I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor 

I dare you to move 

I dare you to move 

Like today never happened 

Today never happened before 

Welcome to the fallout 

Welcome to resistance 

The tension is here 

The tension is here 

Between who you are and who you could be 

Between how it is and how it should be 

I dare you to move 

I dare you to move 

I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor 

I dare you to move 

I dare you to move 

Like today never happened 

Today never happened 

Maybe redemption has stories to tell 

Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell 

Where can you run to escape from yourself? 

Where you gonna go? 

Where you gonna go? 

Salvation is here

My students have to 

1. Choose a current event or issue

 

2. Research the issue.

They will need at least

two newspaper articles

one magazine article

They may choose to include Internet search items, interviews, newsletters, etc. but they are required to have copies of their research.

 

3. They will need to write a 3 page paper.

Double Spaced

It should have a standard sized font (Lucida, Garamond, Times, Chicago, Trebuchet, etc.) No "fancy" or handwritten fonts except for as titles.

Type their name on the paper.

 

4. Their paper will explain the issue in at least 1 paragraph.

They could use other paragraphs to explain what is being done by other people, or what should be done about the issue.

They should have a conclusion that outlines what they intend to do about the issue. 

What can you, as one person, do about the issue? How do you make a difference? How can you have power as just one person?

 

5. The paper will be due the day before Thanksgiving.

 

6. The project will be due, and they will talk about what the issue is and what they did to make a difference, after Christmas break, January 5th or January 6th.

 

7. This fulfills several elements of the English core curricula: speaking, listening, research, evaluation and analysis, and inquiry. I hope they choose something that is fun that gives them a sense of "warm fuzzy" from making a difference.

Dare YOU to move... Where else you gonna go? The moment is here.

Elections in the United States

Elections in the United States are like great drama playing out on a large scale. I was astounded by the number of Utahns voting, and I was thrilled to hear that 75% of the registered voters voted. I think that's amazing.

I was so impressed by the amazing writing in both of the speeches given last night. John McCain's speech was great, and Barak Obama's will be compared to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. It was very like it in parallel structure and repetition of words. I must admit, I got a bit teary eyed when I saw Oprah Winfrey and Jesse Jackson crying. I was also touched by the tears in the crowd at large. It was an impressive, emotional moment.

Either way, the election was going to be an historic one: either a president of color, or a female in the vice presidency. I didn't vote, but if I had, I was planning to vote for Nader. I was shocked when John voted for McCain because Jack did, but I do think that it's sweet that John considered Jack's feelings when he voted.

I was impressed with the speeches, and I'm really glad I wasn't the one in charge of writing the words either of the candidates had to say last night. They had to write two speeches: the "If I Win" speech and the "If I Lose" speech. I'm glad I got to watch it on TV!

My Pum-mingo

I am so thrilled about my submission to the school pumpkin "carving" contest. My pumpkin+flamingo is such a DIVA. She's so pink and feathery.

I had the idea all-on-my-own, which is a first for me with Halloween. I actually despise Halloween. However, this school year (October) has been so terrible, that I decided I needed validation for something. I decided, I would win the pumpkin carving contest. Here she is: My Pummingo. She will live permanently in my classroom. I don't know if I won, but this morning I almost didn't enter her in the contest because I was afraid she wouldn't win. I decided I was a winner, no matter what!!

The Incredible Time-Waster...

Here is the new 2008 edition of getting to know your family and friends.Here is what you are supposed to do, and try not to be lame and spoil the fun. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. Some of you may get this several times; that means you have lots of friends. The easiest way to do it is to hit "forward" so you can change the answers or copy and paste. Have fun and be truthful!
 

1. What is your occupation right now?   English Teacher

2. What color are your socks right now?  I'm wearing white crew socks with pink toes and heels!

3. What are you listening to right now? Students discussing the validity of John McLaughlin as an artist.

4. What was the last thing that you ate?  Peanut Butter granola bar 

5. Can you drive a stick shift? My first car was an old Volkswagon  Beetle. DUH.

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone.  My Aunt Joan?

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?  Love Starr

 8. How old are you today?  36

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?  Michael Phelps

 10. What is your favorite drink?  Strawberry Energy Crystal Light

  11. Have you ever dyed your hair?  Hahahahahaha.

 12. Favorite food?  Restaurant?

 13. What is the last movie you watched?  Where? How is one defining movie?

 14. Favorite day of the year?  Spring-forward Daylight Savings Sunday

15. How do you vent anger?  I get irrationally angry, rant and rave, and stomp around. Then I take a Xanax.

 16.     What was your favorite toy as a child?  Lego

17. What is your favorite season?  Spring

  18. Cherries or Blueberries?  Strawberries. Pass on the rest, please.
 
 19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?  Meh.
 
 20. Who is the most likely to respond?  Jen

 21. Who is least likely to respond?  John

 22. Living arrangements?  6 people crowded into a very small, poorly cleaned home. HEY! We're NOT in foreclosure, so I guess it's all good.

  23. When was the last time you cried?   Last night when I banged my head on a wooden box and then tripped and wrenched my knee and twisted my ankle.

 24. What is on the floor of your closet?  Shoes. And Christmas presents, I think.

 25.  What did you do last night?  I ran around like chicken with my head cut off at Pack Meeting
 
 26.  What are you most afraid of?  Outliving my children.

 27. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburger?  Cheese, with pickles and mayonnaise. I WOULD like bacon on that. Thanks for asking.

 28. Favorite dog breed?  Someone else's.

 29. Favorite day of the week?  Saturday

 30. What states have you lived in?  Alberta. Google it. It's a province.

 31. Diamonds or pearls?  I like variety--anything sparkly works for me. I own both diamonds and pearls. I don't wear them together, however.

 32. What is your favorite flower?  Peonies. And roses. And snapdragons.

Jackson's Surgery...

Yesterday, Dr. Kip Robbins did a choleastomy on his L ear. Jack had a congenital tumor that had been growing since he was conceived. It measured 5.5mm. We had been told to expect that Jack would need to have complete reconstructive surgery in the spring to restore part of his hearing, with a potential of having a bone-anchored-hearing-aid (on his exterior skull). There was a possibility that Jackson's exterior ear would need to be opened if the tumor had gone into the attic of his ear (which could potentially push itself into Jack's brain).

Yesterday, the surgery was entirely successful, and the outcome was beyond our wildest expectations. Dr. Robbins discovered that while the tiniest bone was missing, only half of the middle-sized bone was gone, and the large bone was fully intact. He rebuilt Jackson's hearing with a prosthetic device for the tiny bone, and he added a bit to the middle bone. It is anticipated that Jack will hear again, probably for the first time in 2 years, within a very short time. His ear needs to heal (they lifted up his eardrum), and the prosthetic needs to grow into place, but it should give him some hearing (even if it's not as great as "natural" hearing may be.  

Even better, a friend from work (Allison Wakefield--we had babies at the same time, 4 times!) mother-in-law was Jack's post-op nurse. It's a small, small world when you know good people. Aunt Shirley & Uncle Duane's oldest daughter Barbara Craighead was RUNNING post-op, so that was fun. John commented on how much she and my Aunt Kim look alike. I laughed. She is both my 2nd cousin and my 3rd cousin!

I'll post more picutres later.

Picture Day!

Here's  my picture on the first day of school. Mama rolled my hair in pin-curls, and we scrinched and scrunched it into all my natural curls. I love having long curly hair. I was saving my hair for "Locks of Love."

While I stayed at Grandma Max's, grandma cut my hair. It's shorter now, and not as curly. For picture day today, Mama rolled my hair in pink sponge curlers. We used mousse; we used lots and lots of hairspray. We didn't use any glitter, though.

It isn't very curly anymore, and it didn't stay curly all day. Mama will have to try something else to make it curly. If she uses a curling iron, my hair goes very straight.

Spa Vacations are the Best!

Today began our glorious holiday. I have not remembered what it is to travel without children and to be self-indulgent and really go on break. We are staying at this gorgous inn, way, way off the beaten track called the Red Rooster Inn. http://red-rooster-inn.com/welcome2.htm

We have the best room in the inn, and it has a gorgeous view and the sun rises over the Sopas Valley and is stunning.  We're staying in the Lavender Room (and it really DOES smell like lavender, with home-made lavender, and wake-em-up-mint soap and fresh lavender in the bathroom). Here's some pix of the room:

This picture is of the view out of our bedroom windows:

We also bought the "spa package" which included a massage at the Splendor Mountain Day Spa (a local's favorite). Tomorrow, we'll be visiting the Yampa's Vapor Caves and the renown Glenwood Springs Pool. We are also considering visiting a castle...

We ate at a "local's choice" restaurant called "The River" and it was great. John had citrus crusted halibut, and I had a warm spinach/walnut salad with bacon, feta cheese, and a specialty basalmic vinaigrette. Dessert was amazing. John had the smoothest raspberry sorbet, and I had a bourbon-sweetened pecan pie. It was the best pecan pie I've ever had.

We're having a great time, and I hope those who are with my children know how much we appreciate them!

A Day of Adventure

Today started out with an adventure. Jack got to go have a CT scan... Mama got up, after much harassing by Dad, and then Dad took Jack to UVRMC and Mama went back to bed. Jack was thrilled that Dad got to be with him when he had his CT scan, which was 2 scans, one of around his head about his ears, and the other of just his L ear. Jack was a bit nervous, and a bit worried. However, he loved the gizmo (what is it about Phippen men and gadgets?) He loved watching the CT machine spin around him. 

After Dad and Jack got home, they woke Mama back up by throwing Max at her. Dad got Xandri and Asa out of bed, and we all started to get ready to go. Daddy took everyone, to start with. He left Xandri and Max at Jackie & April's. Then, he, Jack and Asa and met Aunt Kim (Rasmussen) at IKEA. Then he met Aunt Jen at McDonalds in Lehi. Then, we joined up and drove Max and Xandri's gear and met Grandma Max at her office at Coldwell Banker. Then we were on our way. It was 11:48, just short of noon.

We got to Moab at 3:45pm and met with our friend Sherry and walked around her new property in Moab (we even saw "schmooder," which is a "supercalifragilistic word for "nasty stuff.) We talked about her new house, visited her old house, and saw the cutest newborn Dachshund puppies (they were only 2 days old!!) We left Moab after getting take-out from the Moab Diner.

We have finally arrived at the Red Rooster Inn up a lovely canyon just past Glenwood Springs. Tomorrow begins the Spa Retreat. I'll take some pictures and post those, too.

Jackson's Hearing

Today Jackson visited the ENT. They have determined there is a growth behind his eardrum that is benign (Cholesteatoma:http://www.entkent.com/cholesteatoma.html), and it's probably congenital (it's been there since birth and has grown to the point where it no longer allows for sound conduction.) He will have a CT scan tomorrow (Thursday, 10/16) early in the morning. They are looking at how large the growth is, how far in they will have to go, and how much damage it might have done to the bones in his ears. 

Jack will have surgery (cholesteatomy) next Thursday, 10/23 at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.

He will also probably have to have reconstructive surgery on the bones in his ear later in the year based on the damage the growth has caused. The growth is benign (non-cancerous), but it's acidic and can damage the delicate bones in the ear. If his bones need to be reconstructed, he won't have hearing until then, but his hearing should be restored at that point.

We'll know more as we go along, but this is our current update!

Where Your Heart Is

Luke 12:13-15

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"  Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

We readily agree that our lives should not be about our possessions.  But Jesus warns us to watch out and be on guard.  How does living with a short-life mindset help you be on guard against greed? As you’ve thought through this over the last two weeks, are there possessions that you’ve recognized as overly important?

I have very few objects that I consider "irreplaceable." However, since my Aunt Kim's house burned down, I have often wondered: what would I want to save? I've tried to keep my pictures backed up in more than one spot. I don't think I have any pictures that I couldn't replace. So even my scrapbooks are replaceable. I could replace all of my knick-nacks... except the casts I had done of my children's hands. I never did get one done of Max's hands because every time I called to schedule it, I got an answering machine! That is kinda sad. I do have foot prints of his feet, and that's the first time I got newborn foot prints. However, are they irreplaceable?

I have the chairs from Brenda that I love... but I haven't started petit-pointing them, so they are not yet irreplaceable.

I do have some very special antiques (the hutch from my parents, my mother's sewing machine cabinet, Grandma Meek's mirror, crystal from Grandma Herrick's house), but they wouldn't be worth running into a burning house for.

I have some paintings that are valuable, but also not irreplaceable. I guess I'm doing OK on not placing items above people. I did cry the day that Asa smashed the crystal bowl from Grandma Lizzie's house. I also got angry with Xandri for breaking the heads off my Willow Tree figurines (for the second time), but I don't think I was obsessively or punishingly angry. I guess I'm doing OK at not valuing items.

I certainly am never planning to retire! I am not counting on a retirement; I know that I'll have to work as long as I can to keep health insurance. I'm just counting on God to keep me here. I've had to let my "issues" go to God, because I can't do anything more about them. I can't bear the stress sometimes of being sick all the time, always being on-guard about what I eat, what medicines I take, etc. I just have to let it go and trust that I will have faith that God will keep me here as long as He needs me here.

Looking Toward Economic Future...

Pastor Rich sent us this

Luke 12:16-21

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '

 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

 

There is wisdom in planning ahead, in being responsible with all that God has entrusted to us.  The issue is focus.  Think for a minute:  do you trust in your retirement plan, your investments?  Or do you trust God? We all, I think, immediately say, “I trust GOD!!!”  But the events of the past few weeks ought to reveal where our trust really lies...

I have been listening, raptly, to the rise and fall of the Dow. I remember panicking when my 401k was cut in half in 2004, and it had only recently recovered what I lost then. It will be the same with this crash. Interestingly, more and more, as I am uninsurable, I have come to the conclusion that I shall never stop teaching unless I can not work any longer. If I am incapacitated in some way, then I'll quit, but I'll go out fighting.

I've had to "let it go to God." It's all I can do at this point.

Ira Allan

John was in Mapleton yesterday surveying his projects, and he saw this sign. He took the picture, JUST FOR ME, and brought it home. We were delighted to see that Grandpa Ira was also honored with a sportspark in Mapleton---AND, notice the maple leaves! It's Mapleton, thus the maple leaves. Funny, though!

Go, Grandpa!!

Radioactive Woman

10 days ago, I had a thallium stress test on my heart. It turns out that my heart should be good for at least 15 more years: my valves and heart look great. This is great news for me. Since then, my family has been on a roller coaster as all of the medicines, etc. I've been on have been adjusted.

I takes something like this to remind me how much my health affects my family. My house is a wreck (and not because my husband isn't helping, but because he has had to be both of us). My "simple" cold became something very major. My blood sugar is completely out-of-whack. Being sick isn't just about ME; it affects my entire family. It reminds me of the old saying, "When mama's sick, ain't nobody happy!" and that's really true around here.

As a quick update: despite the housing market, the stock market, and the lack of real estate sales, my husband still has a job that he loves! He is also cleaning out the trash in our back yard. We've determined to get our house engineered, and over the winter get the house ready to rebuild. We'll start the major work in the spring. Hopefully by then, we'll know what the stock market is going to do...

Jack has a new Primary teacher who says he's the best of all her students! And, he's back to shouting at his siblings. It turns out that being the oldest when mom is sick is stressful on the oldest child, too. He is doing well in school. He's a good reader; he's working on his math and loves his teacher.

Xandri continues to terrorize her siblings; she thinks Max should be held all the time, and Max feels like she is his personal strait-jacket. Xandri is a dress-up queen, and she loves styling her hair! Who knew THAT day would come?? She loves headbands and bows, and she'll let me do side-pony tails and poofs. She's the glitter, nail polish, etc. queen. I got a girly, girl, and it makes me deleriously happy. I know that the day she starts stealing (and ruining) my shoes, I'll have gotten my comuppance from what I did to my mother's shoes.

Asa's speech is so clear I am beginning to believe he's learning English at pre-school. He's a motorcycle fantic. He loves Cars (the movie), trucks, and all things with engines. He uses Tinker Toys... to make motorcycles. He, Jack and Max play cars virtually all the time.

Max is sad that we have finished nursing. I am too! It's sad when the baby isn't a baby anymore. He's so big! He likes to pus his cars around (he makes a "th" sound as he does so). He rearranges shoes, and drives them around like they are cars. He loves pulling daddy's socks out of the sock drawer, and he's really starting to talk. He says: "mama," "dad," "no," "mine," (in some variation--it's not quite clear yet), "Hi," "this," and "Asa" (in some form) and "Jack" (in some form). He also knows the meanings of all sorts of words. "No" from Mama makes him laugh. "No" from Dad makes him cry. He also cries when you say, "Let's go to bed." He's great at "snuggle" and "hugs" and he understands "kisses" and sticks out his tounge appropriately. You gotta be careful with him. He's into "french" kissing. You get slobbered by him, but at least you know you're loved.

That's the update!

Day 10: Choose Ye This Day

James 4:13-15

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

What plans are you making that ignore God and His work in your life? 

I hope I live my life that I don't ignore Him and His work, but I think there are times I go through the motions of living: morning prayer, repetitive prayers done quickly over meals, not planning Family Home Evening properly, and not making enough opportunities to share my inner faith with my children. I think my problem is my failure to plan for Him and see His work.

Like the Army of Helaman, I grew up in a house where I knew my mom had a testimony. My mom read her scriptures every day, had the Ensign, wrote in her journal, and often shared her testimony of her prayers for us, over us, and for the world at large. I knew my mom believed, and it made it possible to believe upon her words.

We had times on Sunday where we had Book of Mormon stories on tape, and they were turn the page books... We had to listen to stories as a kid, and I loathed it. However, my mom invested lots of time and effort to teach us music and scripture that would increase our testimonies and help us find God's Hand in all things. We would listen to "inspiring" stories as we drove in the car, and we sang as mom would prepare her Sunday lessons for Primary.

Are there any shifts in attitude you need to make in order to acknowledge God and His plans?

I think I need to take more time to show my children how I believe in a Heavenly Father who loves us. I do most of my studying in private, and I need to be more public in my study of the scriptures, the reading of the words of the prophet, and in my belief that Jesus is the Savior of all mankind.

I think that I do a great job at Christmas time, and I am working on Easter... I need to do a better day-to-day job of showing my children what I believe and that I believe that God's hand is always over me for good.

525,600 minutes...

The email I got today from Pastor Rich asked this question:

For today’s thought, take one minute right now and jot down things you’d want to do if you only had 21 days left to live.  Really.  Stop what you’re doing and for the next 60 seconds, write down as many things that you can think of.

I've been thinking of only that for the past several days. I've been thinking about how quickly days turn into months turn into years, and suddenly my oldest has been baptized and my youngest has been weaned, and where did the time go? Did I spend it wisely?

I think often of Randy Pausch and his "Last Lecture" and how he spent his last year, and what am I doing with my todays that will make them memorable tomorrow? I love the story of the 1,000 marbles, and all those Saturdays that seem so endless (like Summer Vacation); but each day of every day is numbered. All of us are going.

What would I do if I knew the actual number of days? The though runs through my mind that I am not doing enough. I always feel like it has not been enough. If there were no tomorrows, I know what I would NOT do. Let's start there.

1. I wouldn't grade another paper. Ever.

2. I wouldn't hike to the top of Mt. Timpanogos, just to say I could.

3. I wouldn't worry about how messy my house was.

4. I wouldn't travel to some exotic place.

5. I wouldn't stop working.

I have thought hours about what I would do. In no particular order:

I'd read or have some special time with my children at night.

I'd sing to my children, so they would remember the sound of my voice.

I'd take each one on a date, somewhere, so they could have time alone with me.

I'd go on a date with John, a fun one, someplace unique and wonderful, like a tiny light shop, or a museum of fine art.

I'd teach some of my best, most finely tuned lessons at school, one last time.

I'd send an email or card to all my friends to remind them of how much I love them.

I'd phone my grandparents.

I'd re-read one of my favorite books.

I'd blog.

It turns out that the life I'm living is pretty close to what I'd do, even if I knew how many days I have left. I have a great life. My children are marvels, each one. My husband is fantastic. I associate with teenagers who will grow to be thriving adults in my community, and what I do with them and for them makes a difference in this world.

525,600 is the number of minutes in a year. If we are to "Carpe Diem" and seize the day, we must, therefore seize each of these moments, seconds, and make them count. I choose to make my mark on people, rather than objects, for people are the only thing that matters. Only our associations last into the hereafter, and if all I have left is today, I want you to know: You matter to me.

Prince Maxwill Turns One

As Max is the king of the castle around our house, we went with the prince theme. His dad made an impressive castle-looking cake (with 3 flavors!) and we had guests and ate cake.

Max liked the chocolate bars on his cake, and he ate one whole slice of chocolate and then cake... and was of course, ill. He threw up, and then was as happy as a clam. I can't WAIT for Halloween. I think I'll see

 a three-peat of that sort 

of activity.

"Life is Measured in the Moments that Take Your Breath Away"

I was talking Stacy! and told her that the Bretheren (and Sisteren) were going to give me good advice. What did I get from the Bretheren?

Brother Perry: Sometimes bad things happen to good people: we need to endure these things with hope and being positive. "The best is yet to be..." I needed that right now. Find hope and peace because no matter what happens, the best is yet to come. AND, he talked about Henry David Thoreau!!

Sister Allred (RS): I thought of my teaching and how I have the opportunity to share myself with my students. I love that opportunity of being with the young people in my city. It also reminded me of how working with the cub scouts gives me the chance to help young boys grow into good men. I am doing what I can in my small part of the world to do good things.

Brother Anderson: Told the story of the deaf girl; my son Jack immediately identified with her in that he said, "I'm special, and when Jesus comes again, I will be perfect." That's a beautiful gift.

From Brother Uchtdorf, I learned that I must have HOPE and FAITH and charity towards myself and to others. I need to hold hope for it is a gift of God.

I know that there were other messages for other people this morning, but this is what the leaders said *to ME.*

Let us enjoy life while we live it: Carpe Diem! Seize TODAY.

Ecclesiastes 8:8

None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will certainly not rescue the wicked.

Today's scripture reminds me of Dylan Thomas' poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night."

Do not go gentle into that good night, 

Old age should burn and rave at close of day; 

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right, 

Because their words had forked no lightning they 

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright 

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, 

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, 

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, 

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight 

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, 

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height, 

Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. 

Do not go gentle into that good night. 

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.