We will be spending the month of October helping Grandma campaign, putting up signs, some door to door contacting, wearing our shirts! (notice how well my sleeves look, no puffy-ones, Napoleon).
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Here we are, purple army for good!
We will be spending the month of October helping Grandma campaign, putting up signs, some door to door contacting, wearing our shirts! (notice how well my sleeves look, no puffy-ones, Napoleon).
Celebrate Celebrities
Emma took this picture--love her profile and the solemn sky. 
I had a funny thought walking on my way to pick up Roxie from school Friday: my family spread out across the country--they are my celebrities. They are the ones I am curious about, yearning for more info, pictures, (not that I would wish a tabloid paparazzi following them, but how nice it is to see snippets from their lives, and how much would I pay for current pictures of some of them???).
This picture is for my siblings--so they can see CELEBRITY Mom and one of her ESL students and the 3 shelves behind her that contain her Spanish supplies, games, etc. It was kind of neat to listen in on her session (as I finished reading the amazing "Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. Waiting for the sequel at my library and there is a 3rd book+ in the works. And it would make an incredible film!)
I love taking pictures of Emma. Emmalyn, my CELEBRITY. On the plane ride home from Utah last week sitting next to a horse show judge I learned that fillies are named to rhyme with the mare's name.
Jennilyn-Emmalyn.
Ha ha hee. I didn't know! (Neigh, neigh, really.)
Emma's major is officially still chemistry, and she has a 4 year academic scholarship. (She is smart!) She is taking "Mission Prep" and "Marriage Prep" classes this semester. This is her holding her cousin, Ellie. She is good with kids and will be a great mother.
In high school the guys knew she had to wait until she was 16 to date, and then, if they still dared, there would be a "talk with my dad" they had to pass before they were allowed to take her out, especially as non-members outside of our faith.
Intimidating? Yes!
Did they look nervous that first official meet-the-parents moment? Yes!
Hey, but I was nervous, too!
And now, with her far away, we cannot screen the guys.
She is an adult. She makes the choices about her life.
We feel blessed with the long-distance relationship and confidence she puts in us and the phone calls/email/blog interaction. (she gave me the okay to publish this blog--I do not ever want to embarrass her. Put her in the spotlight, yes--I am so impressed with her and well-pleased with her choices and life!)
I start to wonder about facebook protocol...
Can you ask to be friends of a guy who has asked your daughter out? Just as a way of learning more about him, seeing who he has be-friended, see if he has family in facebook, check out the groups he is in, reading the comments he makes to others, seeing his public face...
All I had was a first name and a home state...so, I made a student directory list and cross-checked the guys using facebook.
John asked me if I was facebook stalking.
He says if I take notes on a separate piece of paper, that is stalking. He says I cannot ask to be a "friend" of someone dating her until she is his friend first. Makes sense. I can see why that would be polite.
I'm just trying to use all the technological tools available to find out as much as I can.
Protective mother-bear instincts? YES!
Curiosity? Did I order a credit check? No. And I won't.
Money isn't the issue, it's reliability.
Trustworthiness.
Steadfastness and integrity.
Anyone dating our daughter would instantly become one of my celebrities, too! Her choice would immediately make him interesting and someone I would seek to understand and know better.
Questions I would ask ANY returned-missionary guy dating her--imagine us sitting on opposite couches having a relaxed conversation--(no rifles in sight) and I would NOT be taking notes, really, just listening and learning and hoping he is as good as he sounds:
1. How do you feel about your mission service? Anything you would have done differently?
2. How did you get along with your mission president & companions? Do you stay in touch with any of them? Did they give you any specific dating counsel when you left?
3. Are you close to your parents? Siblings? (I would wonder this but wouldn't ask: What about inappropriate closeness with ex-girlfriends?
4. What attracted you the most about my daughter? When did you first notice her?
5. Do you value her and treasure her like her family does? Will you be kind to her, gentle, find out what she loves to do, see how brilliant and wonderful she is?
6. Will she have fun with you, and will you be honest with her?
Oh, they get worse, more nosey, invasive as we go, stuff I would not ever ask him. But I would ask Emma, if she knows for her OWN decision-making-benefit---I don't ever need these answers, but I think Emma does (in addition to her own list made during that Young Woman Sunday lesson):
7. Are you in debt? Pay tithing? Wise with money?
8. Do you gamble?
9. Any addictions? Emotional problems/fears?
10. Problems with porn? Modest, chaste and virtuous now?
11. Future job options? Education plan?
12. Kind to your sisters and mom? Kind to anyone you have "power" over-employees, waiters, etc?
13. Ever in trouble with the law? Respect the laws? Responsible voter? Plans to be active in the community?
14. Good manners and hygiene? Floss?
15. Will you make her laugh with you? Good sense of humor?
16. Does she feel safe with you?
17. Does she trust you?
18. Do you love the Lord with all your heart, mind, might and strength?
I already asked her--and she said YES, not only did they meet in the chemistry lab, there is chemistry!
I am truly not trying to breathe down their necks. I do ask questions, lots of questions with the goal of communicating/knowing/loving/understanding).
These are things I hope she is thinking about, asking, wondering, finding out. For her. So she knows him well. So she can keep telling us that she is happy. Even if this is a short-term learning relationship/friendship.
BYU courting can be super-fast and intense, holding the physical in reign until after marriage. (Not all dating/courting ends up with marriage, but we believe in real honeymoons, waiting until then to see if we are compatible that way.)
So there is lots of talking and staying busy and seeing each other in many social situations with friends & roommates around as chaperons...judging if your personalities are a good fit, making sure your values mesh well, seeing how you could support one another emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and yes, physically (okay, it all goes back to Heart Mind Strength and Might!).
Kissing is a way to cement relationships quickly. Maybe we shouldn't have told her that John and I kissed first, then decided to date...so it's not like we disapprove.
I missed meeting him by 3 days...
Back to celebrity watching...(please take pictures and post them, my Utah family!)
I had a funny thought walking on my way to pick up Roxie from school Friday: my family spread out across the country--they are my celebrities. They are the ones I am curious about, yearning for more info, pictures, (not that I would wish a tabloid paparazzi following them, but how nice it is to see snippets from their lives, and how much would I pay for current pictures of some of them???).
This picture is for my siblings--so they can see CELEBRITY Mom and one of her ESL students and the 3 shelves behind her that contain her Spanish supplies, games, etc. It was kind of neat to listen in on her session (as I finished reading the amazing "Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. Waiting for the sequel at my library and there is a 3rd book+ in the works. And it would make an incredible film!)
I love taking pictures of Emma. Emmalyn, my CELEBRITY. On the plane ride home from Utah last week sitting next to a horse show judge I learned that fillies are named to rhyme with the mare's name.
Jennilyn-Emmalyn.
Ha ha hee. I didn't know! (Neigh, neigh, really.)
Emma's major is officially still chemistry, and she has a 4 year academic scholarship. (She is smart!) She is taking "Mission Prep" and "Marriage Prep" classes this semester. This is her holding her cousin, Ellie. She is good with kids and will be a great mother.
In high school the guys knew she had to wait until she was 16 to date, and then, if they still dared, there would be a "talk with my dad" they had to pass before they were allowed to take her out, especially as non-members outside of our faith.
Intimidating? Yes!
Did they look nervous that first official meet-the-parents moment? Yes!
Hey, but I was nervous, too!
And now, with her far away, we cannot screen the guys.
She is an adult. She makes the choices about her life.
We feel blessed with the long-distance relationship and confidence she puts in us and the phone calls/email/blog interaction. (she gave me the okay to publish this blog--I do not ever want to embarrass her. Put her in the spotlight, yes--I am so impressed with her and well-pleased with her choices and life!)
I start to wonder about facebook protocol...
Can you ask to be friends of a guy who has asked your daughter out? Just as a way of learning more about him, seeing who he has be-friended, see if he has family in facebook, check out the groups he is in, reading the comments he makes to others, seeing his public face...
All I had was a first name and a home state...so, I made a student directory list and cross-checked the guys using facebook.
John asked me if I was facebook stalking.
He says if I take notes on a separate piece of paper, that is stalking. He says I cannot ask to be a "friend" of someone dating her until she is his friend first. Makes sense. I can see why that would be polite.
I'm just trying to use all the technological tools available to find out as much as I can.
Protective mother-bear instincts? YES!
Curiosity? Did I order a credit check? No. And I won't.
Money isn't the issue, it's reliability.
Trustworthiness.
Steadfastness and integrity.
Anyone dating our daughter would instantly become one of my celebrities, too! Her choice would immediately make him interesting and someone I would seek to understand and know better.
Questions I would ask ANY returned-missionary guy dating her--imagine us sitting on opposite couches having a relaxed conversation--(no rifles in sight) and I would NOT be taking notes, really, just listening and learning and hoping he is as good as he sounds:
1. How do you feel about your mission service? Anything you would have done differently?
2. How did you get along with your mission president & companions? Do you stay in touch with any of them? Did they give you any specific dating counsel when you left?
3. Are you close to your parents? Siblings? (I would wonder this but wouldn't ask: What about inappropriate closeness with ex-girlfriends?
4. What attracted you the most about my daughter? When did you first notice her?
5. Do you value her and treasure her like her family does? Will you be kind to her, gentle, find out what she loves to do, see how brilliant and wonderful she is?
6. Will she have fun with you, and will you be honest with her?
Oh, they get worse, more nosey, invasive as we go, stuff I would not ever ask him. But I would ask Emma, if she knows for her OWN decision-making-benefit---I don't ever need these answers, but I think Emma does (in addition to her own list made during that Young Woman Sunday lesson):
7. Are you in debt? Pay tithing? Wise with money?
8. Do you gamble?
9. Any addictions? Emotional problems/fears?
10. Problems with porn? Modest, chaste and virtuous now?
11. Future job options? Education plan?
12. Kind to your sisters and mom? Kind to anyone you have "power" over-employees, waiters, etc?
13. Ever in trouble with the law? Respect the laws? Responsible voter? Plans to be active in the community?
14. Good manners and hygiene? Floss?
15. Will you make her laugh with you? Good sense of humor?
16. Does she feel safe with you?
17. Does she trust you?
18. Do you love the Lord with all your heart, mind, might and strength?
I already asked her--and she said YES, not only did they meet in the chemistry lab, there is chemistry!
I am truly not trying to breathe down their necks. I do ask questions, lots of questions with the goal of communicating/knowing/loving/understanding).
These are things I hope she is thinking about, asking, wondering, finding out. For her. So she knows him well. So she can keep telling us that she is happy. Even if this is a short-term learning relationship/friendship.
BYU courting can be super-fast and intense, holding the physical in reign until after marriage. (Not all dating/courting ends up with marriage, but we believe in real honeymoons, waiting until then to see if we are compatible that way.)
So there is lots of talking and staying busy and seeing each other in many social situations with friends & roommates around as chaperons...judging if your personalities are a good fit, making sure your values mesh well, seeing how you could support one another emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and yes, physically (okay, it all goes back to Heart Mind Strength and Might!).
Kissing is a way to cement relationships quickly. Maybe we shouldn't have told her that John and I kissed first, then decided to date...so it's not like we disapprove.
I missed meeting him by 3 days...
Back to celebrity watching...(please take pictures and post them, my Utah family!)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Thresholds
Busy Saturday!
Sam mowing like a man! Rite of passage, complete.
Grandma Sandy is running for office this fall, after much encouragement by her peers. Today was a photo shoot for her webpage of her family living in town (so there were grandkids and 2 daughters missing). Lots of honks from people driving by and waving at us! An army of purple!
This is Great Grandma Straw-Billie surrounded by 5/6 of our kids.
Grandma Sandy and her sweetie!
Gpa John gave us $ for Rita's Italian ice afterwards. Max mixed S'mores + caramel apple, and made us nervous with his Incredible Hulk impersonation trying to kill yellow jackets by clapping them to death.
Sam asked about tractor driving licenses, what he would have to do to get one.
We still have a bbq with friends tonight, I have a quilt Wild Threads meeting, and I hope to squeeze in a date with my own sweetie.
Sam mowing like a man! Rite of passage, complete.
Grandma Sandy is running for office this fall, after much encouragement by her peers. Today was a photo shoot for her webpage of her family living in town (so there were grandkids and 2 daughters missing). Lots of honks from people driving by and waving at us! An army of purple!
This is Great Grandma Straw-Billie surrounded by 5/6 of our kids.
Grandma Sandy and her sweetie!
Gpa John gave us $ for Rita's Italian ice afterwards. Max mixed S'mores + caramel apple, and made us nervous with his Incredible Hulk impersonation trying to kill yellow jackets by clapping them to death.
Sam asked about tractor driving licenses, what he would have to do to get one.
We still have a bbq with friends tonight, I have a quilt Wild Threads meeting, and I hope to squeeze in a date with my own sweetie.
Hack & Hairstyle
Do you have men's-style t-shirts that are unflattering, unattractive, uncomfortable?
To get the not-tight-fit around the bust sometimes you end up with a t-shrit with sleeves that come down to your elbows, not cool. I did this hack to a bunch of Emma's shirts to make them fit femininely and modestly.
Not hard, but a good pair of scissors, knit "ball point" needle on sewing machine, and thread to match shirt helps.
1. Take a t-shirt that you love the fit(=*A*), right shoulder seam length, good sleeve length.
2. Place *A* right-side up on top of shirt to be cut *B*, matching neck openings and laugh at the HUGE shoulder seam difference. Carefully move *A* out of way of your scissors but follow the curve of *A* and cut *B* to match. Don't worry about seam allowance, cut the curve.
3. Then reposition *A* on top of cut off sleeve, use the HEM of *A* and match it to hem of *B* and cut away extra sleeve fabric. This way you don't have to do any hemming, nice finished edge already made. You are just creating a new sleeve-shoulder seam!
4. Join new sleeve to body of *B*, stretching if necessary or gathering if sleeve is bigger than opening. On this shirt the armpit armscyle (I don't think I spelled that right--it's the space under your armpit in clothing) was lower than I wanted it, so I just sewed it up an inch and a half higher so it would match the sleeve length.
It isn't sewn in this photo, but you hopefully get the idea.
Roxie had a Princess Daddy-Daughter Dance last night, so we did an up-do. My favorite easy one. When she started to fidget because it was taking so long, I told her it was the same hairstyle I did for Emma before one of her dances. That made Roxie hold still.
It is actually pretty fast, considering...All you need are a pony tail made high on back of head, Bobby pins to hold braided sections--don't wrap ends, just twist into loop and secure leaving stick sections to spritz and flare out.
The amazing stake Primary presidency taught them how to waltz with their dads and supplied the tiaras! 80 princesses aged 8-11 twirling and dreaming their dreams true.
To get the not-tight-fit around the bust sometimes you end up with a t-shrit with sleeves that come down to your elbows, not cool. I did this hack to a bunch of Emma's shirts to make them fit femininely and modestly.
Not hard, but a good pair of scissors, knit "ball point" needle on sewing machine, and thread to match shirt helps.
1. Take a t-shirt that you love the fit(=*A*), right shoulder seam length, good sleeve length.
2. Place *A* right-side up on top of shirt to be cut *B*, matching neck openings and laugh at the HUGE shoulder seam difference. Carefully move *A* out of way of your scissors but follow the curve of *A* and cut *B* to match. Don't worry about seam allowance, cut the curve.
3. Then reposition *A* on top of cut off sleeve, use the HEM of *A* and match it to hem of *B* and cut away extra sleeve fabric. This way you don't have to do any hemming, nice finished edge already made. You are just creating a new sleeve-shoulder seam!
4. Join new sleeve to body of *B*, stretching if necessary or gathering if sleeve is bigger than opening. On this shirt the armpit armscyle (I don't think I spelled that right--it's the space under your armpit in clothing) was lower than I wanted it, so I just sewed it up an inch and a half higher so it would match the sleeve length.
It isn't sewn in this photo, but you hopefully get the idea.
Roxie had a Princess Daddy-Daughter Dance last night, so we did an up-do. My favorite easy one. When she started to fidget because it was taking so long, I told her it was the same hairstyle I did for Emma before one of her dances. That made Roxie hold still.
It is actually pretty fast, considering...All you need are a pony tail made high on back of head, Bobby pins to hold braided sections--don't wrap ends, just twist into loop and secure leaving stick sections to spritz and flare out.
The amazing stake Primary presidency taught them how to waltz with their dads and supplied the tiaras! 80 princesses aged 8-11 twirling and dreaming their dreams true.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Things to Do in UTAH!
See cousins! (go to happy funeral/family reunions. That is Mom in the middle wearing black, surrounded by a few of her generation of Davidson cousins).
See faculty art show in H-FAC at BYU.
Climb the Y--or just take your picture in front of it! Can you see it, there on the mountain behind us, above Emma's head slightly to the left of her part? Real life hike is on my bucket list.
Go to the Church Art competition show in the Conference Center! (It doesn't open until 10 am, so we went to the new Church History Library first and were wow-ed. Beautiful building, touching stories. Do the tour, and watch the film about WHY we should write in our journals, little things that will matter to future generations.)
See foreign films at International Cinema, in the SWKT (say skaaah-wik-it; we called it the Kimball tower 20 years ago)
Take pictures of significant personal historical places: My seminary building...
...turn around and this is how close the high school is! Easy fast walk across one street. I only took released time my freshman year, early morning the last 3 years. Why early morning? I preferred it. The students there early wanted to be there, wanted to learn, and I liked the atmosphere/spiritual priority.
See faculty art show in H-FAC at BYU.
Climb the Y--or just take your picture in front of it! Can you see it, there on the mountain behind us, above Emma's head slightly to the left of her part? Real life hike is on my bucket list.
Go to the Church Art competition show in the Conference Center! (It doesn't open until 10 am, so we went to the new Church History Library first and were wow-ed. Beautiful building, touching stories. Do the tour, and watch the film about WHY we should write in our journals, little things that will matter to future generations.)
See foreign films at International Cinema, in the SWKT (say skaaah-wik-it; we called it the Kimball tower 20 years ago)
Take pictures of significant personal historical places: My seminary building...
...turn around and this is how close the high school is! Easy fast walk across one street. I only took released time my freshman year, early morning the last 3 years. Why early morning? I preferred it. The students there early wanted to be there, wanted to learn, and I liked the atmosphere/spiritual priority.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Happy Funeral
Great Aunt Helen was a loving, soft-spoken, gracious woman, two days shy of her 97th birthday.
She sold my parents their home in SLC.
She let us stay in her beautful home many, many times when the over-flow at reunion time at my parent's made John & me seek some privacy.
She fed us. She taught me how to cook a few things. She had a wonderful garden.
She loved us.
I miss her.
But I am thankful to know that I will see her again, and that she is reunited with her husband, her sister (my grandma Laura) and the rest of her family.
We believe in life after death. In the Resurrection. In family bonds lasting beyond the grave, thanks to ordinances performed in Holy Temples.
The funeral was a happy, reunion, seeing cousins, 2nd cousins (meeting some for the first time)aunts & uncles. Rejoicing in family. Feeling the Holy Ghost testify that this life has meaning, that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior.
Good to know.
3 generations: Mom-me-Em (I kind of like saying that all together, sounds very cool).
I learned more about my great grandma listening to stories about Helen.
For example, "Scotch Blessings!" Cousin Joe was talking about them, and then another talk mentioned them. How did we miss out on them growing up with this kind of heritage?
When someone explained that it is a call to repent, a scolding as only an older Scottish lady can give, I remembered instances that qualified. Ohhhh, Grandma was opinionated and didn't hold back when she felt something was wrong or you were in the wrong. Scotch Blessing, in deed!
She sold my parents their home in SLC.
She let us stay in her beautful home many, many times when the over-flow at reunion time at my parent's made John & me seek some privacy.
She fed us. She taught me how to cook a few things. She had a wonderful garden.
She loved us.
I miss her.
But I am thankful to know that I will see her again, and that she is reunited with her husband, her sister (my grandma Laura) and the rest of her family.
We believe in life after death. In the Resurrection. In family bonds lasting beyond the grave, thanks to ordinances performed in Holy Temples.
The funeral was a happy, reunion, seeing cousins, 2nd cousins (meeting some for the first time)aunts & uncles. Rejoicing in family. Feeling the Holy Ghost testify that this life has meaning, that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior.
Good to know.
3 generations: Mom-me-Em (I kind of like saying that all together, sounds very cool).
I learned more about my great grandma listening to stories about Helen.
For example, "Scotch Blessings!" Cousin Joe was talking about them, and then another talk mentioned them. How did we miss out on them growing up with this kind of heritage?
When someone explained that it is a call to repent, a scolding as only an older Scottish lady can give, I remembered instances that qualified. Ohhhh, Grandma was opinionated and didn't hold back when she felt something was wrong or you were in the wrong. Scotch Blessing, in deed!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Multi-Tasking My Way
I bought 5 dozen ears of corn. Sweet, wonderful stuff. I've been blanching and bagging it up for the freezer...
And decoupaging cool Paper Source wrapping paper to a curb-side find: hard plastic suitcase! Yes, that is corn alongside my art project. Put corn cobs in boiling water, hit 3 minute timer, paint on glue, align paper edge with suitcase edge, ringer goes off, pull out corn and put in ice water, back to painting glue...
Little sleepy today because of a trip last night. I drove down our big green van full of youth. Helped them get started changing into white clothes inside the women's locker room to prepare to do baptisms by proxy...then switched with a young mother and watched her darling baby so the mom could go in. Baby H and I listened to the Visitor's Center spiel about The Book of Mormon prophets: Lehi and his family, Helaman's army, Moroni. It was great! Babysitting AND seminary prep time! More multi-tasking!
Sealed portion! Love the patina where hands have touched this replica of the plates.
34 youth at DC temple to do service! (example of my camera...
...and the professional's version:
And decoupaging cool Paper Source wrapping paper to a curb-side find: hard plastic suitcase! Yes, that is corn alongside my art project. Put corn cobs in boiling water, hit 3 minute timer, paint on glue, align paper edge with suitcase edge, ringer goes off, pull out corn and put in ice water, back to painting glue...
Little sleepy today because of a trip last night. I drove down our big green van full of youth. Helped them get started changing into white clothes inside the women's locker room to prepare to do baptisms by proxy...then switched with a young mother and watched her darling baby so the mom could go in. Baby H and I listened to the Visitor's Center spiel about The Book of Mormon prophets: Lehi and his family, Helaman's army, Moroni. It was great! Babysitting AND seminary prep time! More multi-tasking!
Sealed portion! Love the patina where hands have touched this replica of the plates.
34 youth at DC temple to do service! (example of my camera...
...and the professional's version:
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