Cool8Mom

The Ending of a Season

2010-05-10T09:59:00.011-06:00

Wonderful memories and new horizons. Thanks for all your love and support. This truly was a team effort.

Chaos anyone?

2010-03-23T20:58:00.003-06:00

If an empty desk-top is the sign of an empty mind you now have a visual of my insanity. Needless to say, my obsessive-compulsive is desperately seeking Valium.
Six weeks and counting.

Too Cute Not To Share

2010-03-05T08:54:00.006-07:00

Angie sent these pictures of the girls getting their hair cut and they were too cute not to blog-share. Bryce was here yesterday and we had to sit and go through them at least ten times. I am so glad we will get to see everyone next weekend; it has been tooooo long!

The Home Stretch

2010-02-25T08:27:00.003-07:00

In two months and one week my time at Dixie College will come to a close. Amber, Adam, and I will all say good-by to academia - at least temporarily for some of us. I am excited. . . and not. I have done things that I wouldn't do because there were deadlines and tests. I don't know if I can keep that spirit of motivation or even if that would be a good thing. My floors will be cleaner and Kent's meals more predictable but there will be many things I will miss: the delightful energy of the students; my interaction with professors; the gong of the campus bell; the smell of the art building. I will look forward to: holidays not simply seen as an interruption; losing that guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach when I am not being productive; making cards again; sewing; spending time with family; finding things other than school to worry about when the lights go out (ha).
So, it is over and I did what I did. I could have done better in some places, outright failed in others, and was occasionally the top of the class - kind of like life. When the final gong sounds we bundle it all up and give it back to the Lord.

Celebrating 80 Years Young

2009-11-08T14:30:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A Halloween Who's Who

2009-10-29T07:55:00.002-06:00

I haven't put out holiday decorations since moving to St. George; the only exception being a $5 dollar 1 foot tall lighted Christmas tree from WalMart. This year as Dad was looking for black cloak he discovered these Halloween figures. I know we did these as a family, but I can't remember who painted what. If you recognize your little critter please let me know so I can write your name on it. It was such fun when we did these and I want to make the memory more complete.

Day of the Dead

2009-10-19T19:54:00.000-06:00

My 3D class is doing a huge Day of the Dead display. It will involve all the students and take up the entire foyer of the art building. These 5 terrariums are my donation to the morbid cause. The Spectrum is supposed to do a story on our project. (I know, we are a small town).

2009-09-15T08:27:00.002-06:00

I had a 3D assignment to create something from pop cans. Because I have been studying Medieval Manuscripts and have done significant reading in the Aberdeen Bestiary, I decided to make a phoenix. Following is a definition from Wikipedia of what a bestiary (best-ee-ary) is and a quote from the Aberdeen Bestiary describing a phoenix. Enjoy your history lesson for today.

“A bestiary is a compendium of beasts. Bestiaries were made popular in the Middle Ages in illustrated volumes that described various animals, birds and even rocks. The natural history and illustration of each beast was usually accompanied by a moral lesson. This reflected the belief that the world itself was the Word of God, and that every living thing had its own special meaning. For example, the pelican, which was believed to tear open its breast to bring its young to life with its own blood, was a living representation of Jesus. The bestiary, then, is also a reference to the symbolic language of animals in Western Christian art and literature. The earliest bestiary in the form in which it was later popularized was an anonymous 2nd century Greek volume called the Physiologus, which itself summarized ancient knowledge and wisdom about animals in the writings of classical authors such as Aristotle's Historia Animalium and various works by Herodotus, Pliny the Elder, Solinus, Aelian and other naturalists.” Wikipedia

“The phoenix is a mythical sacred firebird that lives for upwards of five hundred years, and when it observes that it has grown old, it erects a funeral pyre for itself from small branches of aromatic plants [frankincense and myrrh], and having turned to face the rays of the sun, beating its wings, it deliberately fans the flames for itself and is consumed in the fire. But on the ninth day after that, the bird rises from its own ashes.”

“Our Lord Jesus Christ displays the features of this bird, saying: 'I have the power to lay down my life and to take it again' (see John, 10:18). If, therefore, the phoenix has the power to destroy and revive itself, why do fools grow angry at the word of God, who is the true son of God, who says: 'I have the power to lay down my life and to take it again'? For it is a fact that our Saviour descended from heaven; he filled his wings with the fragrance of the Old and New Testaments; he offered himself to God his father for our sake on the altar of the cross; and on the third he day he rose again. The phoenix can also signify the resurrection of the righteous who, gathering the aromatic plants of virtue, prepare for the renewal of their former energy after death.” Aberdeen Bestiary

If you are interested you can access the Aberdeen Bestiary at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/bestiary/index.hti

Homework

2009-09-10T08:51:00.004-06:00

All right - so it's not quadratic equations or Aristotle's ethical theory, but this homework was something you don't find at college every day: FUN!!! My classes this semester are time consuming but on the lighter side. Last week for 3D art we were to make an organic sculpture. This week we are working with pop cans. I will let you know how it goes. I get to play AND get a degree. Bet you wish you were me!

Pass the Textbook, PLEASE!!!

2009-08-15T17:22:00.003-06:00

Good thing school starts next week. This summer my kitchen has been WAY too accessible.

Friday Adventures

2009-07-17T13:52:00.001-06:00

I am getting my wisdom teeth removed in less than two hours. This is a picture of how I expect to look next week - except not so cute and a tad older.

Thompson Photo Shoot

2009-05-31T21:51:00.009-06:00

Too good not to pass on.

Grace and the Caterpillar

2009-05-23T16:32:00.007-06:00

I found this cute little caterpillar in our flowerbed. I love him and kiss him and take him with me everywhere.

My mommy says that someday he will be a beautiful butterfly.

I bet you wish you had a caterpillar like mine.

Maybe we could find you another caterpillar in our flowerbed and then we will all play together.

But you know what? After you have played with them for a while, caterpillars like to sleep,sleep,sleep. Mommy says that then you have to put them in a little dirt bed and come in for dinner. Goodnight Mr. Caterpillar.

Friday Night Pizza in Salt Lake

2009-05-21T18:28:00.010-06:00

Last weekend we got together with the "Wasatch Brood" at Grandma and Grandpa's house for pizza. We thought Grandma and Grandpa were going to be at the sand dunes with Ralph, but their trip got canceled at the last minute. We were a little chagrined that we had planned a party at their house, so we felt obligated to let them come. It was a glamorous night and everyone who is anyone along "the front" was there.

We had the house-owning, party-crashing host and hostess. (Is that a halo around Grandma's head?)

Along with some foxy gals (We just gave Sadie her cheesecake. A true woman in the making!)

And macho guys (Where did Richard go???)

And two little girls too cute not to show twice. (Austyn and Sami are pretty cute too)

Even Grandma was feeling the effects of her pizza. (This was not staged. She actually went for a ride. She probably felt - with the halo thing - that she better live it up while she could)

There is nothing like family when paired with Papa Murphy's Pizza, motorcycles, and cheesecake!

Our Vernal Weekend

2009-05-11T09:43:00.020-06:00

Saturday night we all got together in celebration of Mother's Day and Grandma and Grandpa's 59th anniversary. We did a lot of talking, laughing, eating, and loving - what more could you want.

On Sunday we went out to see Chantel and Bryan's new house. I noticed that I didn't get a picture of her living room. It is lovely - trust me - right down to the white carpet (brave girl). The horses in the distance are theirs. We stopped by Ron and Wendy's and saw a deer grazing in their yard. Tammy said that there were about 10 the morning before. Beautiful to see but hazardous to gardens.

After church we drove home and arrived about 11:00 pm. The only exciting thing that happened along the way is that a bat smashed onto our windshield. I decided not to blog the remains.

A Thompson Glimpse

2009-04-13T17:23:00.000-06:00

Amber sent me these and I had to share. I included the cats so you could see their summer "do." Enjoy!

A Tiny Mexican Village

2009-03-15T18:53:00.000-06:00

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs...I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat. With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and then a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open up your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City or Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Perhaps twenty years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? That's when it gets really interesting" answered the American laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And then after that?"

"After that", concluded the American, "you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny fishing village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta, and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying the company of your wife and friends."

Just to Say - I Love You

2009-03-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

I know pictures of our Christmas party have been blogged already but I couldn't resist. These two photos capture the treasures of my life. You are all such incredible people and have remarkable children. I love all of you "out of the numbers," as Scott would say. Thank you for the life you have given me!
Love you all, Mom
ps. Amber, just thought you should know that Grandpa fell in love at that party!

Sorry

2008-11-01T19:34:00.000-06:00

I am sooooo negligent on my blog entries. But, like a puppy accident on the floor - it will probably happen again. School is good. I register in a couple of weeks for spring semester (another big one), am going to try to do my Senior Project over the summer, and then should only have about three classes left. Unfortunately one is taught in the fall and the other in the spring - so graduation for me will be the last of April 2010. Then I will start to blog regularly. Meanwhile, I love to read yours and see the posterity pictures. Miss you all and can't wait for Christmas.

Something Beautiful

2008-09-29T17:15:00.000-06:00

Would love to say that these were mine, but they were done by an artist named John Singer Sargent - one of the biggest names in the art world. He was famous for laying down a stroke and then never changing it. I thought they were breathtaking and wanted to post them. The size here doesn't do them justice. There is nothing I would love more than to create something really beautiful - in addition to the beautiful eight babies I had a hand (?) in.
School is going well. This semester is busy, but I love most of my classes (and the others are ok). I have a new appreciation for the ceramic pieces many of you made. I am adept at making mud spin and then wedging it back into some semblance of clay. I am loving my oil painting class but still feel nervous before I go. Not many classes display your failed attempts quite so flagrantly. Kent is in a new business venture which keeps him very busy also. It looks promising, although the money will take some time. Does that sound familiar to anyone?? All in all, life is hectic, happy, and hopeful - what more could I ask!

Alaska This 'N That

2008-08-19T12:02:00.000-06:00

Ethan was not thrilled with the river running outfit.
Haylee and Ethan learned to be pirates at kids camp.
A great eagle picture taken by Kent.

Towel Zoo

2008-08-19T11:52:00.000-06:00

Every night our steward would fold fresh towels into some type of critter and I would get Kent to take a picture. They had a ship activity where they taught you how to fold these, but I missed it. My amateur towel creations are a lot like the clouds: the fun is in imagining what you see.

Alaska - Final Installment

2008-08-19T11:46:00.000-06:00

We docked in Whittier early Wednesday morning and traveled a couple of hours up to Anchorage. Lunch was at the famed Moose's Tooth pizza place, afterwhich we saw the biggest chocolate fountain in the world. Later, Kent, Gina, and Jon scouted out the city while Amber and Chris went to see the new Batman offering. The next day's trip to the Imaginarium, a hands on science center of sorts, we found that (as we had long suspected) Jon and Gina exist inside a bubble. A long but uneventful flight returned us to LA just before midnight. Alaska is a sweet memory.

Alaska - Installment Five

2008-08-19T11:35:00.000-06:00

Tuesday was another sailing day with lots of food (notice a subtle "fleshing out") and beautiful scenery. Our waiters were lots of fun and we gave them rave reviews on our comment cards.

Alaska - Installment Four

2008-08-19T11:22:00.000-06:00

Sunday we stopped in Skagway, our favorite, but unfortunately I didn't get any pictures and must again refer you to the infamous Jonina blog (by the way, Gina NEVER gets on my nerves). Monday we docked in Sitka, which was the capital of Alaska from 1867, when the US purchased Alaska from Russia, until 1906 when the capital was moved to Juneau. A pretty little town with a lot of history. Note - in the totem pole picture, everyone was assuming the totem pole stance; Chris found a HUGE slug; and Alaskan Amber is the ale of choice which is golden in color and has just a hint of bitterness. Ha! (I didn't make that up; we read it on a menu).

Alaska - the Third Installment

2008-08-19T09:56:00.000-06:00

Saturday was our day in Juneau, the capital of Alaska. Four of us Shot the Mendenhall (which in layman terms means we floated the river coming out of the Mendenhall glacier). We braved some class four rapids and, in calmer water, Ethan and Haylee both got to help row. The rest of our group were relegated to the comparatively tame excursion of taking a helicopter into the glacier to do a little hiking - ho hum stuff but it kept them busy. See all about that on Jonina's blog, which has beautiful grid-framed pictures that enlarge when you click on them, delightful witty dialog, and the entire vacation organized into one entry - sometimes Gina gets on my nerves.

Alaska - the Second Installment 2b

2008-08-19T09:30:00.000-06:00

The zip line was 130 feet above the ground and consisted of 7 stations. Our team got the gold (I know they look like bronze but I am sure they are gold) and had a great time in the process (despite Chris's expression). The nature walk was one of Haylee's favorite events. We saw bald eagles, a mama bear and cub, salmon, a great horned owl, and reindeer. We were continually warned of the bear danger and briefed on protocol if one was sighted. Our guide carried a flare in case we met an aggressive critter. It was all a little unnerving. When we saw the mother bear and cub, the guide immediately hurried back to the next group to warn them. As we walked the trail, we could hear overhead the hoops and hollers of zip line participants. We were told that it was one of several lines in the vicinity. The yells sounded somewhat Jonathanian, and, sure enough, we met our group at the trail's end general store. After hot chocolate and cookies, we all headed back to the boat for the real adventure - Dinner!!!

Alaska - Installment 2a

2008-08-19T08:57:00.000-06:00

Friday we arrived at the town Ketchikan. Is was a beautiful little place that had shops restored to look like "gold rush" days. The Thompson's went to a Lumberjack show while Jon, Gina, Kent, and I wandered and shopped. Jonathan bought me an 'Alaska' fleece blanket and Haylee bought an Alaskan doll. The salmon were running and we saw a harbor seal fishing in the beautiful river. After lunch at Subway (we are, after all, still in America), Amber and I took the kids and did a wildlife excursion while the more adventurous of our group headed for the zip line.

Alaska - the First Installment

2008-08-18T13:58:00.000-06:00

These are pictures of the beginning of our trip. You can tell because the kids are with us at dinner and we all still look relatively thin (some even braved the hot tub). You will notice a certain fullness about the cheeks (and not just on the face), and an absence of youthful faces at dinner (Carnival has an outstanding kids camp which became progressivly indispensible) as our adventure continues. After launching on Wednesday, we spent Thursday sailing towards Ketchikan. The swells Thursday morning were substantial, as was Amber's discomfort, but they soon passed. We spent time in Amber and Chris's "room with the view" watching for bald eagles and enjoying the breathtaking shoreline.

New Digs

2008-08-12T12:58:00.000-06:00

After a little experimentation with Picassa, I learned that it will load four pictures max for blogging, and because I never get the actual picture (just text) I am never sure what I have. These next four blogs show pictures of our new house, unfortunately starting with my closet and master bathroom. Hang in there with me - someday I will master this silly program.

New Digs

2008-08-12T12:55:00.000-06:00

New Digs

2008-08-12T12:54:00.000-06:00

New Digs

2008-08-12T12:47:00.000-06:00

These are pictures of our new house which is just up the road a bit from the last one. If you want to see what the house looks like from the front, go to http://sshomes.info/estrellaCapella.cfm. That is our very house and it also shows the floor plan. If you come and visit, we will show you the real thing!

And The Winner Is . . . .

2008-06-23T20:30:00.000-06:00

Amber!!!! That was pretty impressive text, didn't you think? I was intimidated when I read it. Amber was the first to get it right - it was nothing but nonsense. But, that is not the silliest part of the story. The editors of a major scientific journal, Social Text, took the paper seriously and published it. At once, the author, a reputable physicist from New York University, revealed it for the hoax that it is. So, remember the old saying - don't believe everything that you read. And congratulations to Amber - it is sad to say but we certainly get well acquainted with obscure unadulterated gobbledy-gook when going to school; and sometimes we are the ones spewing it out.

My Nemesis

2008-06-18T15:59:00.000-06:00

I deal with this every day! For example, try the little entry below and tell me what it means. I would love your responses and will give the answer next week. Don't for a moment think I figured this one out by myself. I had to read someone else's more user-friendly interpretation. (I can't even figure out how to work this blogspot!)

"The Einsteinian constant is not a constant, is not a center. It is the very concept of variability - it is, finally, the concept of the game. In other words, it is not the concept of something - of a center starting from which an observer could master the field - but the very concept of the game" (Derrida).
In mathematical terms, Derrida's observation related to the invariance of the Einstein field equation under nonlinear space-time diffeomorphisms (self-mappings of the space-time manifold which are infinitely differentiable but not necessarily analytic). The key point is that this invariance group "acts transitvely": this means that any space-time point, if it exists at all, can be transformed into any other. In this way the infinite-dimensional invariance group erodes the distinction between observer and observed; and the putative observer becomes fatally de-centered, disconnected from any epistemic link to a space-time point that can no longer be defined by geometry alone" (Sokal 1996, 221-222; quoting Derrida, above, 1970,266)

P.S. The answer is VERY simple.

Fantastic Florida!

2008-06-03T19:58:00.000-06:00

I am not even going to try and do fancy stuff with this blog because I think it hates me. My pictures don't even show up as pictures - just a bunch of symbols - until I post. So...Here are the pictures (or if they happen to load on top) there were the pictures; hope they are in order; we loved our trip; miss Cami, Aric, and Marley; can't wait to go again; Florida is the BOMB! (you know, I still have no idea what that means. Hope it is acceptable)

Baptism Weekend at the Thompsons

2008-05-04T19:22:00.001-06:00

Grandpa was a hit right from the start.

Ahhhh...how sweet!

Grace needs a little work on the pose.

In the baptismal dressing area on the big day.

Ethan is resisting temptation while Haylee looks angelic.

A little trouble with the size. We have to go to XXXL.

A first for both of them.

Everyone is ready for the big moment.

Clean, pure, and dressed in white.

It was a wonderful day for the Thompsons and the Cooks.

The Cat is Out Of the Bag!

2008-05-01T19:11:00.000-06:00

I am officially an Associate Graduate! I got word this morning that I passed my math final and that completed all my requirements for my associates degree. I am a little over halfway to my goal. Hooray!

My math was a living analogy of life. We come to things that appear insurmountable; cry a little and pray a lot, and before we know it are somewhat saddened to have the experience over. If I accomplished nothing more in education I would be content with the lessons I have learned from taking math. And the truly ironic thing is that as of right now I have much more measurable talent in math than in art! There have already been tears shed and prayers said over my artistic efforts, and right now I'm not sure if I will ever have an artists vision and temperament. But, I cling to the memory that I wasn't sure I would ever understand a quadratic equation either. Perhaps math came first for a reason.

This n' That

2008-03-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

This is just a newsy little update with no pictures included. Life is good and the weather here is incredible. I have about 7 more weeks of school this semester and then will have my Associates Degree. I am considering an Integrated Bachelors degree that will give me two majors - English and Fine Arts. It will take about 16 more classes to complete and I am shooting for April of 2010 to graduate, maybe sooner if I get really ambitious and maybe later if I want any kind of life outside of school. We will see what time brings.

Kent is healthy, happy, and excited about the future; the eternal optimist. He has a friend who bought a model home in a development outside of our Stake about 3 miles up the parkway from Ivins. He has begged us to rent it for less rent than we pay here with some utilities included. Bigger house, new, beautiful, less money - what is the problem, you say. The problem is that it doesn't feel right. We fasted this weekend and things happened to ratify the decision to stay here. It is interesting how much more dear your house becomes when you choose to stay instead of feeling that you have no other options. So, for the time being, here we are and that is better than ok.

We are heading to California and Florida in May. Haylee will be baptized on May 3rd (an already great day in our family) so we are going down and taking Grandma and Grandpa Wood with us. On our return we will watch Kristen and Tyler's children for a few days while Mom and Dad have an exciting and relaxing time cleaning out their cabin in Springville. We then head to Florida to spend some time with Cami, Aric, and Marley and see the sights of their beautiful state. It is a lot to fit in between Spring and Summer semester but we are very excited.

That is about it for now. This weekend we are headed north to help Scott and Angie move into their beautiful new home. A memorable time for them marred briefly by Scott's painful hospital stay. (Desperate measures to avoid moving a little furniture!!) They are certainly in our prayers.
Love to you all,
Mom

Color Country

2008-02-08T17:01:00.001-07:00

My homework is done - actually homework is never done but I am done for the day - so I am blogging. After looking through my life and my pictures I came to the conclusion that Kent's week would be much more interesting to blog. You can only say so much about homework before inducing snoozes. Kent went hiking with a friend a couple of weeks ago and found some interesting formations and petroglyphs. Come and see us and he will take you there.

Giving credit where credit is due.

2008-01-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

I apologize for not acknowledging where the title for my last blog came from. You would think, as a college student, I would be very aware of plagiarism. In all honesty I wasn't taking credit for Mr. Guest's work, I just thought it would be well enough known to render it public domain. He is one of my favorite down-to-earth folksy poets and I share with you his famous "It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home."

by Edgar Guest

It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home,
A heap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes have t' roam
Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef' behind,
An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus on yer mind.
It don't make any differunce how rich ye get t' be,
How much yer chairs an' tables cost, how great yer luxury;
I ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a king,
Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round everything.

Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;
Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' livin' in it;
Within the walls there's got t' be some babies born, and then
Right there ye've got t' bring 'em up t' women good, an' men;
And gradjerly, as time goes on, ye find ye wouldn't part
With anything they ever used -- they've grown into yer heart:
The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the little shoes they wore
Ye hoard; an' if ye could ye'd keep the thumb marks on the door.

Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t' sit an' sigh
An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know that Death is nigh;
An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's angel come,
An' close the eyes o' her that smiled,
an' leave her sweet voice dumb.
Fer these are scenes that grip the heart,
an' when yer tears are dried,
Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an' sanctified;
An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant memories
O' her that was an' is no more -- ye can't escape from these.

Ye've got t' sing an' dance fer years, ye've got t' romp an' play,
An' learn t' love the things ye have by usin' 'em each day;
Even the roses 'round the porch must blossom year by year
Afore they 'come a part o' ye, suggestin' someone dear
Who used t' love 'em long ago, an' trained 'em jes' t' run
The way they do, so's they would get the early mornin' sun;
Ye've got t' love each brick an' stone from cellar up t' dome:
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home.

It Takes a Heap of Livin' to Make a House a Home

2008-01-16T13:52:00.001-07:00

Angie sent me a link for a photo gallery on their house. As I browsed through the pictures the memories of 14 years flooded back to me. We did a 'heap o' livin' in that house and most of the feelings I had today were ones of joy: a kitchen filled with happy, noisy family; a family room overflowing with friends; bedrooms (usually impassable) containing the people who are my dearest treasures on earth; a front door that opened often to reveal the loving faces of ward members; etc. etc. etc. I know that we shed a bucket of tears there also and that's as it should be. I think tears and smiles are the stuff of which hearts are made. Sandy and West Jordan were where my heart was born, broken, and re-born over and over again, and I can't thank you all enough for the experience.

"Rilla" two.

2007-12-20T19:39:00.001-07:00

I had to pass these along. I don't know how one person can have 10 (nearly 11) of the most beautiful, charming, intelligent, and lovable grandchildren on the planet. I must have done something right before I came here to be so blessed. By the way, who does the little imp in the middle remind you of? Hmmmm. . .
My finals went well and I can't tell you what a faith promoting experience my math class was. I came away with an A in that class and it was not through any brilliance on my part. I was carried through that one, like I am in all of my classes. It is incredible what can happen when we have the Lord on our side.
Merry Christmas to each and every one of you and know that you are thought of with love in St. George.

2007-12-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

Can you tell what is on my mind? My last final is tomorrow and it is in - you guessed it - math. I have been calling on heavenly tech support all semester and I have to say their customer service is awesome!

Good Friends at "Best Friends."

2007-11-24T10:43:00.001-07:00

Some of our very good friends from the temple are Betty and Truman Lynch. They live in Kanab, so on my day off school we decided to go for a visit. They were wonderfully hospitable and showed us all the local sights. One place they took us was called "Best Friends Animal Sanctuary." Some type of group bought a huge section of Kanab canyon and turned it into a posh animal shelter and cemetery. Betty went up once to adopt a puppy for her grandson but was not admitted because she didn't have an appointment. She was sent away with the proper forms to fill out and told to call and arrange for a time to be interviewed. The papers were as in-depth as adoption papers for a baby and even required that one of the employees come and inspect the prospective home. Needless to say, she went to the local animal shelter and picked up a dog. The cemetery was something to see. It was a huge, landscaped, wind-chime filled park complete with alcoves for urns to hold doggie's (or kitty's) dusty remains. Now, don't get me wrong - I happen to be a pet lover, as my kids can attest to, but by the looks of the organizer's home located in the distance this pet sanctuary is BIG business. It also is a very secretive enterprise and leads one to wonder if fido is a ruse for something much larger. Employees come from all over the world and never fraternize with the locals. Since the establishment of "Best Friends" a curiously all women development is building up just outside the city limits. Hummm. . .
All in all, we had a memorable time and I would encourage anyone to go out of their way to visit this lovely little Utah town.

2007-10-07T19:06:00.001-06:00

This weekend was the annual St. George marathon and it was a memorable one. Friday night Barry Johnson, Garth Masterson, and Jerry (a friend of Barry's who has run - and won his division in most- 80 marathons) came over for a carb-loading dinner. We had a great time eating and watching the Louisiana/Utah game. David/Emily, and Jonathan/Gina got here about 9:30, had a bite to eat and we all headed to bed. Saturday was Kent's 20th St. George marathon and he was so pleased to have accomplished this goal. On our way there David found out, first hand, how nice (and forgiving) the St. George police are. The weather was a perfect fall day, with just a nip in the air. Kent looked fabulous as he crossed the finish line. Later, we all attended the Runner's dinner where they recognized the 10 , 20 , and 30 year runners. It was nice (a little underwhelming for such an accomplishment!) but the company was what made it wonderful. We went to Kristen's for a while to play Wii and David/Jonathan got hooked on the boxing. Emily, Gina, and I excelled at bowling (my humility is showing - you'd think I was a guy!). Kristen had a house full of company (24 while we were there and everyone was staying overnight except us) so we didn't stay too long. Dinner with the kids on Sunday and General Conference added icing to a scrumptious weekend. Congratulations Kent! You are one incredible man (and sexy too - just ask Gina!)

Reflections on my Math Test

2007-09-30T15:06:00.001-06:00

How did my test go, you ask? Well, suffice it to say that I now have something in common with Edison. Unfortunately it is not in the intelligence department. Edison said that he never had a failure, just a multitude of opportunities to find a way it doesn't work. Well, I had the same success on my last math exam. Nearly half the answers were new revelations on how numbers shouldn't be combined. To put it simply - my light went out. How can I be so philosophical about the first test in my life that I have actually failed? Well, this is only the first test that was graded by a fellow human being that I have ever failed. I think there have been many instances where my heavenly professors are shaking their heads and wondering aloud -"do you think she will ever really get it?" Hopefully the Lord allows a lot of extra credit. Hmmm....do you think that is where the Atonement fits in?

2007-09-16T19:49:00.000-06:00

The Nelson family recently gave me a gift certificate to Bear Mill - St. George's version of Build a Bear. We went there for Chelsea's birthday and had a great time. I had recently visited the Golden Compass site and found that my daemon is a fox, so naturally, that is what we built. Kristen named her Roxy the Foxy Coed and we put a little letterman's jacket on her. I bought the DSC pin and Dixie College socks at the bookstore and she now adorns my bookcase sitting next to her hiking bear counterpart. I haven't received the words of wisdom that a daemon is supposed to supply but she brings me a lot of joy. She reminds me of the fun part of this school experience, and as my stomach has a tendency to knot up Sunday nights in anticipation of the looming school week, I need that.

Sometimes Do You Think You Have To Do It All?

2007-09-02T21:16:00.001-06:00

I think that this picture just about sums up my first couple of weeks back in school. I have been overwhelmed and ready to quit because the load was not only heavy, but incomprehensible as well (I have a college algebra class and I could swear it was being taught in a foreign language). Upon self-reflection, blended with a fast, I realized that I had left the One who really does put the sun in the sky, out of the equation. I am not here to do it all myself and this moment in my life is less than the blink of an eternal eye. I probably had similar panicky feelings as I began 7th grade, kindergarten, or even learned to walk. I read in Corinthians today that "So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." My professors plant the seed, I water with study - but ultimately it is the Lord who gives me understanding.
I can sit here safely in my office this beautiful Sabbath evening, basking in the afterglow of a Spirit-filled day and wonder how I ever feared. The trick will be to retain these feelings as I face my Algebra exam on Tuesday, Grammar exam on Wednesday (tell me again what an adverb is?), and Geography exam on Thursday (how many degrees does earth tip on its axis from the elliptical plane?).
I will post a picture reflective of my success in the future. Meanwhile, I keep chanting my mantra - and this too shall pass.

2007-08-13T16:05:00.000-06:00

The Stranger

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger. . . he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to our first major league ball game.

He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind. Sometimes, mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home,... not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol, but the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked and NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name? We just call him "TV." He has a younger sister now. We call her "Computer".

Faster Than A Speeding Bullet

2007-08-03T15:49:00.000-06:00

There is nothing more beautiful than Ivins on a cool summer morning. I am the first to admit that exercise consistency is not my strong suit, so Kent needed to document this event.

My Favorite People in this World and the Next

2007-07-24T10:59:00.001-06:00

This group would be perfect - Bryce and Bambina are even there tucked safely away - except we are missing Grace, Ethan, and Chris :( I love you all and thank you for indulging Dad and I for this family photo shoot. You will understand one day why this is so priceless to us.

Tagged, I'm It - But What is IT?

2007-07-19T11:26:00.000-06:00

The old phrase "better late than never" may not apply here, but this is my tag anyway. Now I can sleep at night.

4 Jobs I’ve Had

1- Assistant Butcher

2- Receptionist/Secretary at place that sells electronic innards

3- Snack Bar hostess at roller-skating rink

4- Maker of babies (maybe I really shouldn’t classify that as a job – sorry Kent)

4 Movies I Can Watch Over and Over

1- Friendly Persuasion

2- Pride and Prejudice (the five hour job)

3- Emma

4- Shrek 2 (I know, there is a bit of dichotomy here [look it up, I am in school and have to use it or lose it]. Maybe it’s the line “I love the ogre I married” that gets me – sorry Kent . . .again).

4 Places I’ve Lived

1- Redondo Beach

2- Davis County – Bountiful/Centerville/Farmington

3- Salt Lake County – Sandy/West Jordan

4- Ivins

4 Places I’ve Been

1- CA, from San Diego to San Francisco

2- Hawaii – thanks to Thompson’s

3- Ohio

4- New York, state - not city.

4 Favorite Foods

1- Not candied yams

2- Not oysters

3- Not liver

4- Everything else

4 Websites I Visit Every Day

1- Dixie College Homepage

2- Gmail

3- Google Search

4- Blogs

4 Places I’d Rather Be

1- Hawaii with family

2- Cabin with family

3- Beach with family

4- With family

4 People I Want to Tag

1- Cami Ellis

2- Hillary Kirschman

3- Amber Thompson

4- Kent Cook

Not too exciting a life, but I have absolutely loved it and hope it is only half over.

p.s. - could someone please teach me how you fit your pictures in so nicely, sometimes framed, and sometimes even in a slide show?

Rear Window

2007-07-07T08:40:00.001-06:00

Diane Cobey was in for a visit and, as St. George is now the proud possessor of a professional baseball team and the co-owner’s wife sits next to me in class and offered free tickets, we went to a Roadrunners game. Arriving late because of a field mix-up, I backed into the first available spot and we hurried in. Unease brushed by as I watched one of the foul balls fly in the general direction of my car. Surely they wouldn’t put a parking lot close enough that cars could get hit, I reasoned in my baseball naiveté, and settled back to enjoy the game and the company. After the third high-flying foul I decided, just for peace of mind, to move my car. As I got to the parking lot, which I must add has no warning signs of any kind, I found my sweet little car nestled between to huge pseudo-protective SUV’s with its back window smashed out and a small white baseball lying innocently among the shards of glass. Diane took pictures; I fumed. The assistant manager, (a used to be football coach with “cowboy-up” oozing out his ears) was a perverse kind of sympathetic. “Shouldn’t park there (duh!), it’s the foul zone. Hope you have good insurance,” he says as he laughs, like having the back window smashed out of your brand new car was some type of lark. I brought my injured car and parked it at the front entrance, right in the no-parking zone, and mentally dared anyone to challenge me. I sinfully took pleasure at the adverse publicity I hoped I was creating. Diane, Kent, and I got it cleaned up and went back in to watch our team get slaughtered. Reno got 9 runs the inning we came back in. I like to think it was heaven wreaking justice on a heartless management, discounting the fact that the fledgling team’s record is 2 and 12. $300 insurance dollars later my car is almost as good as new. The back deck is scarred up a bit, but you know the old saying – “chicks dig scars,” which just goes to prove once again that I am no chick, spring or otherwise.

I Am So Grateful for Fathers.

2007-06-17T15:31:00.000-06:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

These four men bless my life immeasurably;
never to be repaid but always to be loved.

And What to My Wondering Eyes Should Appear

2007-05-21T10:47:00.001-06:00

When I awoke a few days ago, this vision presented itself in my front window. I thought "Oh, it's a boat." Kent said "That is some boat." He then proceeded to point out what I, in my ignorance, had missed. Two Viper V10 engines, all leather interior, tri-hulled, sleek aerodynamic design, and speed speed speed. He talked to our neighbor who said, with a sigh, "Yeah, it's my son's and he says it will do 100 on the water." Having sons that own bullet bikes, we understood the sigh. Kent was impressed; I saw a flaming leather lined coffin. Our personal world truly is subjective.

Neighbors

2007-05-15T09:08:00.000-06:00

I live at the mouth of a southwest canyon so our neighbors tend to be a little unusual. This gila monster was sunning itself on a nearby patio when the owner (which in itself is a subjective term; who was there first?) decided his territory was being invaded and the monster would have to go. We regularly have quail, lizards, roadrunners, and rabbits. Kent sees the shyer side of the desert, such as tarantulas, turtles, and some large creature with glowing eyes which followed him down the trail during his 4 am run. I would love to see those residents, but they don't regularly visit my kitchen or office. I guess I really do need to get out more often. I will, just as soon as I finish this home work (which I am feeling guilt plagued about as I write this frivolous blog) and get dinner ready. Meanwhile, I will live a vicariously exciting life through the eyes, feet, and camera of my adventurous husband.

Cool8Mom Signing On

2007-04-23T19:49:00.000-06:00