Connecting with Brant, William and Families

Last week-end we drove and drove and drove and drove to Arizona to see our two sons.
Then we drove and drove and drove and drove home. It was worth it. Why? Because the weather was incredible, but that's the minor reason. It was worth it because my daughter-in-law made me a cup of chai and chatted with me, and because she wanted me to see the model of the house they want to build. Because she let me take her daughter to the movie with me. Because the grandkids enjoyed the craft I brought them. Because they hung around me and wanted to be with me and I wanted to be with them. Because I braved the cold water in the pool, instantly got used to it, and the kids all wanted to play and race, and show off their swimming tricks. Because my oldest grand daughter played the piano for me. Because we all hung out together and enjoyed each other. I could tell.

The Power of Minor Connections

Today as I was coming out of the Maverick Station with a big, icey drink, I noticed a wreck of a car parked next to mine. Inside was an overweight, long grey pony-tailed woman in a huge white stained T-shirt. She got out of the car and spoke to me and to my surprise she was a man. He said "Your car is a really nice color." (My car is Honda Orange Revolution) I thanked him and we talked just for a few seconds. As I drove off, the weirdest warm feeling came over me. He had made a comment about something that I identified with. I bought that car because of the color. I had connected with a human being, or rather, he had connected with me in such a pleasant way. My opinion of this person changed after he spoke to me so pleasantly. I wish he knew how his connecting comment had made me feel. Lately I have been becoming more aware how connections with other members of the human race are so vital to our happiness. Connections with the people in our social circle, friends and family, AND connections with strangers. Tomorrow, I am going to make a nice comment to someone.

Connecting with Old Memories

My life has taken some unplanned twists and turns. Today is June 6th, 2011. If I were still married to my first husband, today would have been our 42nd wedding anniversary. June 6, 1969 was a terrible day. He was supposed to pick me up at my parent's house at 9:00 a.m. Instead, as I later heard from his mother, he sat in their driveway in his packed car for hours deciding whether to get married or just to take off for California where he had a summer job. Finally he picked me up at 1:00 p.m. and he drove me to the LDS Temple in Idaho Falls. When we got there, after fishing around in his pockets, he realized he had left the marriage license, his Temple recommend, and the ring at home. He sent his best man for the license. The Temple President called his Bishop and Stake President for reports of worthiness. We married without the ring, but not before his mother had the President call us into his office for a private meeting. He asked us if we loved each other. We said yes. He asked us if we were going to obey all of God's commandments. We said yes. "Then go get married!", he said. At the time I thought his mother didn't like me, but looking back, maybe she did. Preventing that marriage might have been the nicest thing she could have done for me, but, of course I never would have known. I need to write her a thank-you.

It was customary for the groom's parents to arrange a dinner after the wedding, but since our engagement was so erratic (off and on 13 times), they hadn't made any arrangements. Al and I went to Arctic Circle for a hamburger but it was closed. If I had been seeking for a sign that this marriage was not a good idea, it would have to have been a direct vision of God conking me on the head and saying, "You idiot, can't you see he doesn't love you? Give it up, already!" I was a needy, pathetic, desperate little girl. Anyway, after that inauspicious beginning, the marriage was all downhill after that.

Stella At Her First Recital

You might think that Stella's too young
But she goes to ballet just for fun.
So she goes and she dances
Does her leaps, twirls and prances,
Unaware the recital is done.

Baby Ballet

You might think that two years old is too young to go to ballet class. Stella has been going to ballet for the last few months and today was her recital. She fell asleep in the car on the way and was grouchy when she woke up. She cried and refused to put her costume on. Finally Stephanie just left her there crying and went to her seat. The MC got up and warned the parents to not be disappointed if their children were less than cooperative. We waited with baited breath to see if Stella would come, or not, on stage for the beginning promenade. And she did! She actually had her costume on and looked happy and compliant . She was doing leaps and twirls just like all the other little girls, then followed her class offstage. When it came time for her dance, she cooperated and did her little dance so cute, then followed her class offstage. The kicker was the finale. Each class came on, did their twirls then sat with their group on stage. Everyone except Stella. She struck a little pose when she sat down then leaped back up to dance with the next group. Then she sat down with that group. By the time they took their bows, she was on a roll. She just kept on dancing. She stole the show and the MC even said, "Isn't Stella cute?" Stella was stellar!

A Profusion of Confusion

Today in Church the teacher was talking about the Spirit and how we need to live worthy to keep the Spirit with us in order to receive personal revelation. This goes against my personal revelation experience. Twenty one years ago I thought about going to work. The Prophet of the LDS Church at that time was vocal about mother's staying at home to care for children. I had seven children to take care of, so, of course, I had some internal conflict about doing this. So I thought I would just snoop around a bit. I looked into some jobs......$5.00 an hour jobs. Not for me. I was never going to feel good about taking a $5.00 an hour job. So I sauntered down to BYU Salt Lake and found out that it would take me two years to get a teaching certificate, even though I already had a Bachelor's Degree. That was pretty depressing. On the way home I was driving past Jordan School District offices and impulsively turned into the parking lot. When I told the receptionist that I was considering being a teacher, voila! she took me to the office of the Assistant Superintendent! How did that happen? He talked to me for a few minutes and when he asked me what my undergrad was in, and I told him Psychology, he escorted me down to Fulvia Nicholsen's office. She is still the Program Specialist for Guidance Programs only now her last name is different. She talked to me for a long time and encouraged me to apply to the program even though I was 43 years old. "You're just a pup!" Now she calls me an old goat. When she said that as a School Psychologist I would start out on the top end of the pay scale instead of the bottom, as a teacher, and that it would take me the same amount of time to Certify, I was sold! When I walked out of her office, I told her I would be back in two years to apply for a job. Well, that was a bit over-confident since I hadn't even applied for Graduate School. But I had the strangest rush of energy as I walked out of the building. That energy stayed with me for three years. At that time I had a nervous breakdown.

My point is, that I was seeking direction on a path that was against what the Prophet was expounding. I feel like I received not only spiritual confirmation of my decision but enough spiritual support to carry me through the admission process, the two years of Graduate School, and an Internship. Go figure.

The Hanging Plant Hook

Today George and I were at Home Depot buying a pear tree. I saw a woman take a plant hook to the cashier to ask how much it cost. He said $7.00 and she took it back. I have a beautiful plant hook. I bought it for Williams Wedding Reception at Scott and Mim's house. I put it at the end of their driveway and hung flower baskets on it. I used it for a few years, then decided that my yard was too gooky and I decided to take it to the Thrift Store. But I kept forgetting.

I walked up to the woman at Home Depot and told her that I had a nice plant hook and that if she followed me home she could have it. She threw her arms around me and planted a kiss on my cheek. She followed us home and she loved the hanging plant hook. She said it was for her daughter's wedding in July. As she was loading it into her Jeep she said that after she used it for her daughter's wedding that she would give it to someone else for their wedding reception. It would be the Wedding Hanging Plant Hook. She hugged and kissed me four or five times. She even hugged George. And we didn't even exchange names.