MY TABLE IS SPREAD
Wouldn't you know I would choose to start blogging when I have limited use of my hands! As I prepared to run a small errand to the neighbor's little did I know my life would turn upside down. Luckily Rick decided to go with me because before I knew it I was face down on the pavement with two broken wrists due to my feet getting tangled in some wire strung across the sidewalk.

Fast forward three weeks and what an experience it has been. I went back to work within a day of the accident. Picture two red arms and only typing and paperwork staring at me. Someone at work has been assigned to do the bulk of the input after I have prepared and coded it. I still run, match, and stuff the checks and do payroll. Quite a feat I believe.

Several days after the accident some good friends came over with dinner and stayed to enjoy the meal with us. As we prepared to eat I looked around the table and these words sprang into my mind, "...in the midst of affliction my table is spread" and realized that although it was a trying time I still felt so grateful. And the rest of the line from "The Lord is my Sheperd" is "with blessings unmeasured my cup runneth over." Truly, a new understanding washed over me of how your burdens can be lightened even though you still must carry the burden.

I have learned more about service these last few weeks because it has become such a personal experience. I don't believe I'll view being of service in quite the same way. I plan on being there, which is what matters most.

A Talented Neighbor

My neighbor, Cate Stambaugh, invited me to the "Spring Fling" for her children's choir. Wow! In the beginning years of her choir she only had them sing, but she took a great course up at the University of Utah and learned that there is more interest if they get to do more. And the course provided her with ideas on how to accomplish that.

So they get to sing AND dance AND have speaking parts in a mini-broadway production for their spring fling. The scripts are pre-written and this year she used "S-Cool" for the older choir (9-14 yrs) which is about school, studying, and falling in love. For the younger choir (6-8 yrs) she chose "Bugz" and the costumes were so fun. The lead was dressed in black, with a pillow tucked in her back, dirty socks tied around her waist and a pair of shoes dangling from her neck. She was a stink bug, and she was the cutest little thing. There was a "fruit fly" with a colorful wrap around skirt and a bandana with flower and fruit in her hair. The boys were all dressed up in camoflauge with antenna protruding from their helmets and they were all carrying guns, because they were the army ants.

What a grand opportunity for the children to participate in something so fun. She has about 40 students and they were all involved. Lots of them are my neighbors and I loved every minute of seeing them perform.

The winter performance is more structured and they perform in choir robes. This was just plain fun. Next year I'll have to make myself available so I can be a part of the fun instead of just watching. She has the magic that brings out the talent in these kids and it just keeps getting better from year to year.

I Love You Everyday

I had some real quality "grandma time" with Jeffrey Robert this week. Thanks Tricia! I can't begin to tell you the fun we had together and how great it felt to just hold him close. He was a bit shy to begin with, but no tears were shed when I drove off with him and without his mom! We played at the park near our home, went for a long walk (not stroller ride, but walk!) around the block, and played with the neighbors and their toys. He was pretty taken with the Razor scooters. I was surprised when he picked one up, placed one foot on the scooter and started trying to scoot with the other. We stroked dogs, spotted planes in the sky, put pennies in the "bus bank", read stories, sang songs, put puzzles together and more. He even hugged me tight around the neck and let me sing about half a dozen songs to him while in the rocking chair.

When it was time for him to leave Grandpa and I loaded up his new birthday puzzle vehicles, his back pack, and his blanket. As he sat in his car seat ready to go home I gave him his birthday card and told him how much we loved him. He held the card all the way back.

At the end of the card I used a sentiment that I happened on as I read a story by Mitch Albom several years ago. The story was about a son being able to go back and see his mom one more time, seeking her help and guidance, even though she had died. One thing she had always done for him was to write notes of encouragement and counsel. She ended every note with "I love you everyday."

Every note to Jeffrey ends the same way.

Such a Nice Word

We have some of the nicest neighbors in the world. Next door lives the Duncan family, a family of nine. We love having these children in our home because they are so well mannered and pleasant to be around. They come over all the time and we read stories. Yesterday little Abby was on her bicycle with training wheels and she fell right in our front yard on the rocks in the curb! Her training wheels kept coming unbolted and she would tip over. I asked her if Rick could look at her bike and fix it for her. She agreed and so he took it into the garage and tightened the bolts. Later that night the doorbell rang and Abby (who is two) and her older sister Katie (who is six) were there looking for Rick. Abby handed him an envelope and inside was the cutest note,"Thank you for fixing Abby bike" signed Abbey, with two smiley faces. Rick just melted. It made what had been a ho-hum day for him into something special.

Oh, thank you is such a nice word.

How Can It Have Been So Long?

As Mother's Day approaches my mind flashes back to last year and the emotion that surrounded the day. Rick's mother had just passed away (she was a month shy of being 90)and as he was dealing with the funeral arrangements I was boarding a plane to Germany. I was going to "hand deliver" the anniversary gift that Cory was surprising Tricia with. We had joked about not trusting it to the mail, considering the last electronic item we mailed disappeared and it took FOREVER to get the claim processed and the money back! Plus it was Jeffrey's first birthday and Mother's Day all tucked into the time I was going to be there.

It turned out to be such a memorable trip. Not only was the weather incredible but the sites we visited in Germany and Austria were beyond description. We strolled through an open merchandise market in Austria, leaned over a hedge to catch a glimpse of a centuries old cemetery in Bertchesgarten, kinked my neck looking up at the cathedrals in Nuremburg, enjoyed a spur of the moment picnic overlooking a site so "German" that it still plays on Rick's screensaver, and the list goes on and on. It was an experience I knew I wouldn't have the chance to repeat.

Brian and Chris were such a support to Rick during that painful week and it was greatly appreciated. And now a whole year later how all our lives have changed.

I heard a talk given by Teryl Givens at BYU and from his message I took a sentence I found so significant I have it framed in my office. It says, "The choices we make are the purest expression of who we are and what we love." As I reflect on the meaning of those few words I realize how important even my smallest choices are and as I get older I realize that those choices revolve around family and my love for them.

May you choose well.

Great Meeting!

It's not really my story, but it needs telling. Several days ago the missionaries were anticipating going to a Regional meeting that would feature Elder Bednar. In their excitement they mentioned to Rick that they needed a ride to the meeting. Because one of the three Elders was a District Leader and would be going early, leaving the others to find their own way there, Rick decided he could afford a day off and not only drive them to the meeting but hopefully get to hear the message. Success, his ploy worked and because he went dressed for the part he got in!!!

He said it was a most memorable meeting and mostly because he didn't follow a specific outline and just talk for those two hours. He read them a scripture regarding meeting together and having the spirit of the Lord with them because they were on his errand. His message was basically to help them understand because they were on the Lord's errand they could anticipate having the Holy Ghost to attend them. They just needed to learn to listen and to move out of the way. He fielded questions from the Elders and Rick said he handled each of their questions with interest and insight. As the meeting was winding down Elder Bednar asked them to pack up everything, get it zipped up and put away, then he would conclude with his testimony. Then after the song and prayer the Elders would be invited row by row to come up and have a few moments to shake hands and meet face to face. Rick said it was so impressive that once he began his testimony how peaceful it was because the focus was where it needed to be. It was several hours well spent at the feet of an apostle and Rick was so glad he could be there and learn. As we talked with the Elders later that evening they felt the same.

While at the meeting Rick had occasion to see the last Elders that were living with us, Elder Hitchins and Elder Trubey. They are now both Zone Leaders, and said things have gone well for them. Elder Hitchins said the home he moved into after leaving us in Orem didn't last long. They had to find other accommodations because the husband passed away.

Not a day goes by that when something happens to those Elders' living with us I don't think of either Brian or Cory. I hope to be able to make a small difference in their lives as I hope someone did for Brian and Cory. Serving a mission can be an an incredibly hard thing to do and I appreciate more and more their sacrifice and determination.

Still the Lady in Red

Our past Stake President and recently returned Mission President of the Ventura, California area, President Ellsworth, came by with his wife for Sunday dinner. As we were sitting across the table from this unassuming couple and participating in small talk I kept telling myself it was alright, they are just like us. Our discussion focused mostly on the missionaries staying in our basement. It was a delight to be able to share some fun stories and experiences we have had. He said when he was a missionary he served in Chile and saw his mission president maybe twice. That meant he didn't know how to conduct a personal interview and so came to this calling a bit untrained. But he soon learned what needed to be done. Then they shared a few stories about "their" missionaries.

Because he is not retirement age President Ellsworth, who had left a booming construction business in the hands of his partner, was hoping to come back and pick up where he left off. But because of the economy the bottom has pretty much dropped out of the construction industry so he is now facing some serious choices. But they both remain optimistic about being able to revive the business and are anxious to jump in and give it their best shot.

Saturday was an exciting day. Rick asked if I would go with him to a car dealership. He'd picked out a few cars he wanted me to look at. We'd been talking about getting a smaller car with good gas mileage. Although my car has been running well the mileage is getting up there and the few repairs that are needed would be a spendy. The motor for the fan wasn't working right (which affects the heating and cooling)and the mechanic quoted almost $800 to fix it. So he thought we should transition to a newer car because I still have several years of commuting ahead. He picked out two nice cars and it wasn't hard to pick the one that seemed to be the best value. After the paper work was drawn up and we were walking out the door the just washed and detailed car I had picked was parked next to a wine colored sporty Pontiac GT. Hmmm. After checking the sticker price I discovered it wasn't much more than the one we were buying and it had some pretty cool features. The tires had chrome hubcaps rather than plastic, the steering wheel was wrapped leather, the seats were nicer upholstery, etc. And the color! Well, needless to say they had to scrap the paperwork and begin again. So I'm now the proud owner of a wine colored sporty 2008 Pontiac GT. This means car payments begin again but that's the lot of a working woman.