Mordue Musings

I could've written for t.v./movies

2012-02-04T20:22:00.000-08:00

My kids hate to watch movies with me. I talk too much and I always guess what's going to happen next. I laugh out loud and embarrass them. When I watch t.v. shows (like "Say Yes to the Dress" or "American Idol") I can't keep from critiquing the performance, or commenting on how incredibly unbelievable some people are. If I watch NCIS with Steve, I always know who the murderer is and then we will look at each other and I say, "I'm telling you, I could write this show." Most of the time I try really, really hard to keep my mouth quiet, but without much luck. It comes spewing out. You probably would not enjoy going to the movies with me. Which is sad, because I LOVE movies.

Beginning of the Birthday Season

2012-02-01T12:12:00.000-08:00

Markelle's Birthday in January officially kicks off the year of Birthday celebrations. I'm just two weeks after (February) and Kelsey is two months exactly from Markelle's day (March). Then comes Steve (May), Ashley/Gma Van Horn/Dandad (August), Covey (September), Gpa Van Horn and Madi (November), and Bam (December). Adam's is in April (I'm not sure when Trista's is), so if we celebrate his Birthday in the future, than we have just about every month of the year covered. We are still looking for a June, July and October.

Markelle's favorite restaurant is Sawadee in Salt Lake, and it has been the place to meet for her celebration for the last three years. They are used to us bringing in our own homemade cake. They keep it in the fridge in the kitchen for us and then serve it up along with their attempts at singing the Birthday song.

Adam and Madi

Bam and Dandad

Gma Van Horn and Markelle

Ashley, Dandad and Bam

Markelle and her room mate, Trista

Mom and Dad (we are too young to have a 20 year old!)

Getting ready to blow out the candles

New Year's Resolution

2012-01-21T20:06:00.000-08:00

After reading "The Happiness Project," I've had many ideas germinating in my brain about the changes I would like to make in my life. In following the model of the book, I'm focusing on health in the month of January. First stop? Sign up for workouts with Reid. He is the resident family fitness guru...my father-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law have all been working out with him for 3 plus years now. I finally bit the bullet and walked through the doors of Four Pillars, slapped my credit card down, and started in. My first work out with Reid totally whipped my body, but I have made it my goal to go three times a week for twelve weeks. That's a total of 36 workouts. I finished number six today. Oh, did I mention the 1200 calorie diet he put me on? Yeah, that's been fun. No diet Cokes, no cookies. Boo.

On the plus side, I am eating more fruits and vegetables than ever and I am definitely having an easier time lifting/moving the residents at work.

Engrossed

2012-01-05T19:46:00.000-08:00

There is nothing sweeter to me than to find a good book to read that is so compelling that you cannot put it down until the last word is read.

Today, I had the kind of a day that I could spend indulging in my favorite past time:

A good book, a comfy couch, hot cocoa and yes, maybe even some pita chips and red vine licorice.

Heaven!

Love my Lulu

2011-12-31T08:55:00.000-08:00

Back in May, Steve and I stayed in a very posh resort, the Arizona Biltmore. It was heavenly to lay by the pool and soak up the warmth of the sun, especially considering that we still were not fully out of an extremely long and cold winter back home. I was also in training for an upcoming Ragnar Relay race in June and was feeling the panic of being unprepared. This time away from the children was not only recharging my batteries and adding an extra jolt to my marriage (love our getaways, baby!), but it was also giving me some much needed training time in the sun. Unfortunately (or fortunately for me, as it turns out) I had failed to pack a good running bra. Steve, my ultimate "athletic supporter" (haha, I couldn't resist) insisted that we check out the LuLu Lemon store at the nearby mall. As I slipped on my first piece of LuLu athletic wear, I was in love. The running skirts, tanks, shirts, bras...the fabric! Not only functional, but SMART functional, and pretty. The clothing is designed to take you from the gym and into your day. Everything I picked up that day has since become my favorite running gear. Last month, on our little girl trip to St. George, Kelsey and I buzzed over to Las Vegas to do some shopping and I introduced her to LuLu Lemon. She, too, was immediately sold on their products and I had her Christmas presents bought and wrapped for under the tree in that one short store visit. Turns out that she went home and told her husband and in-laws also, because they all added to her LuLu Lemon collection. Well, after seeing all of the cute things she got for Christmas, I had to go back to LuLu for myself. Oh my, you should just see how smokin' hot I am in my new tights, long sleeved shirt and jacket...and it feels so incredibly good on! The best treat of all: Lulu Lemon in coming to Trolley Square in February. Love my LuLu!

My 2011 Christmas Gift to Lily

2011-12-24T13:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Lily,

I am so glad your family invited us to join them in giving gifts to you this year. These are gifts from the heart, and I searched mine to discover what it was that you would want me to do for you this Christmas. I thought that one thing you would want me to do was to follow the promptings of the Spirit, no matter how silly or illogical the prompting seemed to be. As you know, we got a cute little puppy this past summer, and we named her Jesse. She has brought our whole family so much happiness and joy, and every time I think about how much this sweet little soul has brought to our family, I immediately have the thought that I should thank her “birth parents”—the family that we bought her from. I have had this thought—or prompting—many times over the past 6 months, and so my gift to you this year is to act on that prompting. I bought a box of oranges and a bag of doggie treats and toys, wrote a card of gratitude and included the above picture and delivered it to Jesse’s pre-family (before she became ours). I was a little nervous to take it to them because I thought they would think I was a little strange, but it turned out to be such a great experience. We had a wonderful visit, and the kids were excited to see a picture of Jesse. I wanted them to know that when she left their loving home, she came to a home that was just as loving and that we adored her. When I left their home, I had a big smile on my face. It turned out to be one the most fun things I did for Christmas this year!

We love and miss you Lily!

Love,

Your Aunt Karen

The Best of Friends

2011-12-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Dear Jody,

My daughter called me at work today with laughter in her voice. You had just dropped off this GORGEOUS platter that you hand made for me (thank you, dear friend...I love it!) and the saying on it gave Ashley such a chuckle that she had to call me right then and there to share it. I thought it fitting that you chose this saying...and not just because I currently work with **ahem** mature residents of an assisted living facility. But because shortly after the phone call, I witnessed a perfect example of the kind of friends you and I are to each other. This is what I saw: Willma with her walker pulling Alice choo-choo style behind her and guiding her back to her room. Both women had huge smiles on their faces and you could tell that they truly cared and looked out for one another. You are that kind of friend to me...guiding me and laughing with me along the way. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

With love,
me

A New Tradition

2011-12-19T16:40:00.000-08:00

Kim and Spencer have invited the extended family to join them in a new Christmas tradition in honor of their daughter, Lily:

Dear Family:

We have been trying to think of something we can do to keep Lily in our Christmas. Everywhere we've been, we've wanted to get her a gift, which seems pointless. So we finally decided what we wanted to do as a family last night.

We decided that we would give her a gift. After thinking about it we thought that the best gift we could give Lily is what she would want from us right now. So each of us thought about what we thought Lily would most want from us.

As an example, I determined that what Lily would want most from me is to go to the temple more often. That is where I will be doing the Lords work and can feel closest to her. Which is what I think she would want most from me.

Each of us wrote Lily a letter with our gift on it and put it in her stocking. I told the kids that it was important that they followed through with this gift because she will know.

We decided to let Lily spread her wings and do the work she is meant to do for us all still on the earth. We decided to open it up to her extended family who she also loves and wants to be with forever.

If you would like to join us. You can do the same, by thinking of the gift you think Lily would want most from you. Write her a note and either come put it in her stocking, or mail it and I will put it in for you. I will be putting these in a book for each year, so if you don't want it read just seal it up and that is how it will go in the book.

Will you tell your kids and let them decide if they want to do it also.

Thank you, and we love you all,

The Mordue's

I am really excited to think of something special that I can do as my gift for Lily. I know that a lot of people have already been touched and have had their lives changed in the name of doing something for Lily. A friend of Kim's put up a pink Christmas Tree on Lily's grave. Aunts and Uncles went in on a beautiful Christmas tree from Kneaders for Spencer's family. They all met and set it up while Spencer and Kim and their boys were in Arizona for Thanksgiving. Other friends helped decorate the house for Christmas, so that the family could come home to a house all ready for the Christmas season. The manager from Kneaders was so moved by this outpouring of love for this family that she wanted to do something special also, and she joined in the decorating and donated a lot of beautiful Christmas decorations for the banisters and fireplace mantel. I love that Lily will always be a part of our Christmas celebrations through our yearly gift that we give her.

Among Friends

2011-12-12T20:32:00.000-08:00

Note: This post contains NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, just Martinelli's

Last Friday night, Steve and I hosted a semi regular Christmas party for a group of friends that we have known since we were all newly married and having our first kids. It was an interesting night...so different from years past when we have had these get-togethers. For the first time I felt that we have all been through life's storms and tossed around a little to where we are no longer naive, yet still hopeful for good things to come. This evening had a particular soberness to it, in that one of our dear friends has recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer. As she shared with all of us some of the incredible spiritual experiences that have accompanied this illness, we were moved to tears and filled with optimism for her recovery. I don't think life has turned out exactly how any of us planned, but it's still good. Just different. Here's to good friends, and many more years of getting together!

Remembering Mark

2011-12-09T22:34:00.000-08:00

As I sat in the audience of the Kurt Bestor Christmas concert and drank in the incredible orchestrations and Kurt's beautiful composition of "Carol of the Bells," I had an overwhelming feeling of Mark's spirit in attendance. He would have loved this music! I wouldn't be too surprised to hear him come up with his own version of emotionally moving renditions of beloved Christmas carols. He was an incredible young man who packed a life time of living in 26 too short years. Happy 41st Birthday on December 5th, Mark. I love you and miss and can't wait to see you again.

On another birthday note, Steve sent me this text while I was at work this morning:

"Donny Osmond birthday today.:). 54"

He knows and understands my crush from afar of Donny.

There Was Power

2011-12-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

Last night we watched the weathermen on three different news channels warn the masses of the eminent wind storm...they were predicting gale force winds similar to hurricanian (my new made-up word) rates of 80 to 100 mph. We pulled in the wreaths and patio furniture and secured as much as we could in preparation. The night time winds woke me up with the howling and banging, and the morning carpool run was impeded by non working stop lights, roaming tumbleweeds and flying gangs of leaves. As I drove towards Jody's house, I passed many toppled fir trees, their thin layer of root systems sprawled out heavenward. A classic lesson on the importance of establishing deep, substantial roots came to mind and I made a mental note to share this with my daughter when I picked her up at school later today. The power was out at Jody's house, and we contemplated on whether or not the power would be out at the temple. We decided to go forward with our morning plans of attending the temple. When we arrived, it was a lot more quiet than it normally is, but the temple was definitely open and functioning, albeit with the help of back up generators. With the soft glow of half light, we entered the temple to the warm smiles of greeting from the temple workers. It was business as usual, despite a few improvisations, and as I received the names I would be performing ordinances for, I had the sweet confirmation enter my heart that there was indeed power at the temple...not the electrical kind, but the highest form possible, the power that comes from our loving Father in Heaven in the form of the Holy Priesthood. I was so glad that we went this morning, despite the inconveniences that accompanied this high wind storm. I know that it made a difference for me today, as well as for Maria, Emelia, Elsa, and Sophia.

We did it all.

2011-11-23T06:49:00.000-08:00

Dinner at Pizza Factory

Outfitting a second home

(new beds/bedding/furniture/kitchen supplies & gadgets, etc.)

Homemade Brownies

A Big Salad

"Holiday in Handcuffs"

(best Christmas movie title EVER)

M*A*S*H*

Shopping in Vegas

Running

Temple Session

Two trips to Swigs

Breaking Dawn

Kelsey and I packed it all in on a two day mini stay in St. George.

It is so fun to have my very own built in best friend.

I love you girl!

I know your name

2011-11-13T13:53:00.000-08:00

One of my all time favorite romantic movies is "One Fine Day" with George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer. I'm not sure if it's because of the hope that love will always find you, no matter the circumstances, but I just love this movie. One of the most endearing moments, for me, is when the character Melanie makes a comment out loud that clearly infers that Jack is a womanizing jerk who couldn't possibly remember or care to know her name. During her little diatribe, he quietly watches her then leans in and quietly says, "I know your name, Mel." Awwww, I love it! It speaks to my own basic need to know that someone out there knows and loves me. It's easy to feel so alone, sometimes. Or overlooked. Especially if you are a mom, and an on-the-cusp-of-middle-age one at that. I get a little thrill when someone calls me by my name. Is that weird? Conceited? Insecure? I don't know if it is or not, but I know I'm not the only one who must feel this way. That's one of the reasons I really appreciated President Uchtdorf's October Conference talk, "You Matter to Him": "...it fills me with wonder and awe to think that 'the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.'...God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe!" and "He know where we are, no matter how humble our circumstance...God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior's example and spend the days of their lives doing good...you are not invisible to your Heavenly Father. He loves you. He knows your humble heart and your acts of love and kindness. God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season--He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him." He knows my name. He knows your name. And we matter to Him.

Material attachments

2011-11-08T10:49:00.000-08:00

Or.....How Grate thou Art:)

I've discovered something about myself: I am a creature of habit and comfort. I like what I like, and if possible like to keep things the same. I was surprised by this because I also like gadgets...kitchen gadgets to be more specific. Steve always teases me about the amount of appliances I have (it's really not that many), but I dearly love every one for the particular purpose I use them for. Do I feel like making a panini? My panini grill is awesome! Same for my popcorn maker, my food processor, my bread maker, my high tech blender, the Belgium waffle maker, the CocoMotion, rice cooker, slow cooker, etc., etc. But the other day, as I was shopping for kitchen items to outfit our St. George home, I found myself drawn to exactly the same things I had at home. Take the cheese grater for example: I had a million really cool options to choose from, but none of them excited me because it was not like the one I use. I finally had to settle on a similar one before I was willing to purchase. Now, if I could just find the same awesome deal that I got on my KitchenAid Stand Mixer....

The girl CAN'T dance!

2011-11-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

As I struggled to keep up with the instructor of the local Zumba class, I had an epiphany: there is a REASON I run and ride bikes! I Do Not Dance. I've tried. I've taken ballet and jazz and have been completely lost. I tried figuring out Jane Fonda Aerobics and Jazzercise in high school, but ended up playing softball instead. I did okay with Step Aerobics, but got so tired of the same music over and over that I just could not bear to attend another Step class. I've tried again with the latest fitness craze of Zumba. Basically I just jump up and down and twist my body and move in place to keep my heart rate up. I try to follow the instructor, but the 3 beat timing of the salsa gets my feet tangled and I end up going to the right when everyone else is going to the left. I feel like Lucy sneaking into an unrehearsed performance on Ricky's Tropicana Night Club show. I realized how sad it was when I tried to follow the guys in the class, and even THEY were so much better and coordinated than I was. (except for DeOrr...he makes the class fun because he is totally uninhibited about his lack of timing. I feel like I am in good company). When I'm moving the booty and doing the shoulder shake and shimmy I think to myself that, dang...I must be looking soooo good!...and then I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I can't help but laugh. Oh, it is a funny sight. The one saving grace of going to Zumba is that I come home happy, and hopefully my lack of dance skills have elicited a smile or two from others in the class!

A Note

2011-11-04T20:35:00.000-07:00

I'm not so proud that I can't say I'm sorry. I hate it when I act poorly..."Badly done, Emma, badly done." (Thank you, Jane Austen).

Yesterday I wrote and delivered this note:

Dear: (insert child's name here),

I'm sorry that I let my hurt feelings get in the way of being a loving mother. I'm grateful that you are in my life and that I get to kiss you good night and blow dry your hair in morning. I love you!

Love,
Mom

It was a Graveyard Smash!

2011-10-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

See this girl? SHE is the reason behind the madness of the Monster Bash. Clear back in early September she started in on me about decorating for Halloween. We hit the stores and had a lot of fun gathering supplies and home decor items and slowly over the last 6 weeks we transformed our house.

I am a Halloween hater, so this really was a labor of love for me to indulge her passion for all things All Hallow's Eve. The culmination of our efforts? A huge family party!

We had funny treats (Eadible eyeballs, mummy face pizza's, taratula legs, pumpkin rolls, bubbling cidar...you get the point), howling games (Mummy Wrap, Donut Eating, Red Light/Green Light), pumpkin painting and costume contest. Oh yeah, costumes were required entry into the festivities.

Whew, it was a lot of work, but FUN work...and so worth it!

Boo!

2011-10-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

It is T-minus 2 hours until the 1st Annual Monster Bash. Thrown by our little family, for BOTH sides of the family. I'm talking 40 people. Eek.

I Love....

2011-10-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

It's a given that I love, with great passion and loyalty, my husband and children. I have to state that at the very beginning of this thought. But, as I was driving home from work the other day, it hit me how much I LOVE where I am working. It is hard, physical work but very fulfilling. I love the residents that I care for.

I also love my dog. She gives pure, uncomplicated and unconditional love. She let's me hold her and pet her and snuggle her like a baby. I'm practicing for future babies in my life.

I LOVE the mountains of Utah. I love the greening up in the spring, the golden browns of summer, the brilliant fire display of color in the fall and the crisp, snow-capped layers in the winter. The mountains are majestic and bold and fill me with awe.

These things touch my soul and make me feel contentment, tenderness, and gratitude.

And greatly loved.

There's an App for that!

2011-10-15T20:44:00.000-07:00

I am a beverage ice snob. I love a good diet Coke, but for it to be really satisfying, it HAS to have the right kind of ice. And a squeeze from a lime wedge is always nice. The right kind of ice can be a deal breaker for me. If I NEED a diet Coke (as opposed to, "eh, sure, why not") than it just has to have the right ice. Otherwise, it's just not worth it. What kind of ice would that be, you ask? Nugget (or Pellet) Ice. The little compact pieces of ice that "soak up the beverage." Ahhhhhhhh! A Coke and a smile just hit my face.

I know most of the places around town (and within 5 miles of my home) that have the good kind of ice: Pace's Dairy Ann, Barbacoa, Costa Vida, Common Cents, FireHouse Car Wash and Detail, Kneaders, Pizza Factory. I read in the paper today that there are enough of us Nugget Ice fans that there is now an app (luvthenug.com) for your phone that lists all the restaurants that have Nugget Ice. Cool! Oh, wait. I am already the app for that!

(I also noticed that this article mentioned a home ice machine that makes Nugget Ice...up to 80 pounds at a time! It's only $2,849!)

Cowboy Nic

2011-10-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

Little did I know that when I took my nephew, Nicholas, home from preschool I would be spending the afternoon with "Cowboy Nic." When we walked through the front door of Nicholas's home, he immediately ran upstairs to change. Meanwhile, I got out all the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies for his borthers (there's nothing better than coming home from school to freshly baked cookies, right?) I started wondering what was taking Nico so long, so I called up to him to ask if he was still going to help me with the cookies. He quickly responded that he just had to finish buttoning up his shirt. A few minutes later, he came clomping down the stairs in full "Cowboy Nic" attire: plaid button-down shirt, sheriff badge pinned to the chest, leather hat, belt, jeans, and--most importantly-heavy heeled cowboy boots (which where actually a pair of Kim's cast off fashionable low-heeled boots, but that did not bother Nic AT ALL). He clomped into the kitchen, hopped up on a chair and proceeded to help me make the cookies. After the dough was mixed up and plopped onto a cookie sheet (and after taste-testing, of course), Nic jumped back off the chair and continued to clomp around the kitchen, outside deck, garage, front side walk, and back in on the kitchen wood floor. I decided that there must be something very satisfying about the sound of clomping boots to a 6 year-old boy. Nic told me all about cowboy boots and why they are so good for walking in dirt and and desert sand. He then decided he needed to make a cowboy house (which he did on the deck) and then he asked if I would go on a walk with him. Heck yes, I would LOVE to walk the neighborhood with Cowboy Nic. As we headed down the street, we found piles of tree branches and cardboard boxes to clomp and stomp over.

Clomp, clomp, stomp, clomp, clomp.

Into the Sunset.

A Masterpiece

2011-10-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

"But trailing clouds of glory we come,

from God, who is our home"

Last March, we commissioned this painting from a very talented artist, Annie Henrie. I wanted something depicting our daughters, OUR masterpieces, looking down upon the earth from their pre-mortal home, and contemplating the beauties and soon-to-be experiences of their earthly existence. More importantly, every time they look at this painting I want my daughters to remember that they were sisters then and that they chose to be sisters now. Families ARE forever. We ARE sons and daughters of loving heavenly parents. We have a divine nature and we have the inner strength, abilities and capabilities to accomplish great and marvelous things.

Y be fit

2011-10-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Today was Kelsey's day off from school and her internship (at YbeFit) and so Markelle and I drove down to Provo to hang out with her for the day. I've been wanting to hike the Y for some time now, so when we arrived I told Kelsey to get her gear on and off we went to the trail head. We took Jesse along with us, and it was a good hard, steep climb that set our hearts beating. The temperature was perfect for this type of hike, the jagged mountains majestic in their autumnal colors and the view was fantastic. When we reached the snowy colored Y, we sat and talked about life, family and friends, marriage...all the good, girly kind of talk. I love my Utah mountains, and it was fun to hike a trail that I haven't hiked since my childhood days of living in Orem.

Afterwards, we showered and changed, then enjoyed a day of shopping at Cherry Lane, Deseret Industries (Halloween Costumes!) and JoAnn's and eating yummy pizza from SLAB. What a fun day with two of my favorite girls!

"To mourn with those that mourn..."

2011-10-04T21:10:00.000-07:00

And comfort those who stand in need of comfort."

Beautiful words,

Part of the covenant we make at Baptism.

How do we "mourn for those that mourn, comfort those who stand in need of comfort?"

I witnessed many examples of people who did this very thing for Spencer and Kim and their family this past week. All of us who love this family, and grieve with them for the loss of their little girl, have been compelled to offer comfort in our own individual ways:

* Buying/wearing pink ties
* Rushing to Spencer and Kim's side from North Salt Lake, Bountiful, California, Italy, Arizona, the Book Cliffs, and the Divorce court

* Catching up and keeping up the laundry of a grieving family

* Bleach, wash, and press the white shirts of four brothers who just lost their sister
* Clean and vacuum Lily's room, put away her clean clothes, put sheets on her bed

* Sewing a dress for Lily

* Making bead bracelets with Lily's name to give to family members to wear

* Dinners

* Coolers full of drinks

* Flowers, letters, notes

* Framed pencil sketch of Lily

* Framed photos of Lily

* Lovely display tables

* Video of Lily's life

* Singing for Lily

* Prepared luncheon for the family, which included a lot of Kim's favorite dishes

* White Balloons and sidewalk chalk

* Silver Lily flower tie tacks for the boys, pendant for Kim

* Handmade pink bows for all the girl cousins, matching ones for Lily and Gemma

* A potted Lily plant delivered to the house in the early morning hours

* Donated money

* Lots of hugs, whispers of love, support, prayers

* Attendance at viewing and funeral
* Careful explanations to the children, beautiful presentation of God's Plan of Salvation
* Powerful testimony of God's love and knowledge of each of His children

* Cleaning the kitchen, vacuuming the floors

* Floral spray for Lily's casket

* Floral arrangements for the family dinner

* Cute table cloths and beautiful arrangement of food at family dinner
* Beautifully prepared program for the funeral service
* Recording the funeral program and documenting with pictures
* Cards, letters, emails, facebook posts
* Handmade cards from classmates
* Handling of business affairs/insurance
* Rolling down the hill with the little cousins during the viewing
* Pink ribbons tied to the front yard trees

These are just a small sample of comfort I saw being offered. Everything was done with love and with hearts turned to the Spencer Mordue family.

I discovered a very interesting fact: we all have talents and abilities that we have been blessed with that we in turn can use to bless others.

Which in turn comes right back to bless us and help bring us peace.

As quoted from Yogi Berra at Lily's funeral:

"The main thing is to keep the MAIN thing the main thing."

Lily Ann

2011-10-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

Gemma and Lily Ann

Our Little Princesses

My heart is full, even while it is hurting. Our family has experienced many mercies from a loving Father in Heaven in the days following the passing of our darling niece, Lily Ann. I feel an urgency and desire to record some of the little miracles, while acknowledging that many surrounding this event are very sacred and private. Over the course of the past few days, our family and Lily's family have felt the outpouring of love, compassion, and comfort of many who are on the errand of angels. This morning, while watching the morning session of General Conference, we as a family once again knew that our Father in Heaven is watching over us as we listened to the beautiful Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing "Consider the Lilies," the song that Soni will sing tomorrow for Lily. It didn't escape our notice, either, that the women of the choir were dressed in pink...the color that all of us are going to wear in honor of Lily at her funeral service.

Birthday Boy

2011-09-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

My patriarchal blessing states that I will have "sons and daughters," and so after three girls I held out for one more chance at a son. When my baby Ashley arrived in all of her unmistakable feminine glory, I had a revelation: someone else was raising my sons, and I would know and love them when they married my four beautiful daughters. Happy Birthday to son #1--I admire and love you for many different reasons, Covey, but most of all because you love my daughter. Thank you for taking such good care of her. We love you!

Modern Day Warriors

2011-09-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up my new friend, who greeted the day with a big smile. I helped her put on her shoes, do the necessary things in the bathroom, and helped her gather together her temple clothing. Today was her temple day. I brought her a tray of food for breakfast, and then made the rounds to check in on some of my other new friends. A while later, I looked up to see several other women, all dressed in white, walking down the hallway to the front room of the care center. I followed them in to wish them well, and was meet by a room full of others dressed in their temple whites. They were smiling and happy and excited for their excursion to the temple. As I walked away, I have to admit that I was a little overcome with emotion at the humble show of power and strength in that little living room, being exhibited by some of God's greatest warriors who have gracefully and gratefully "endured many things, and will endure many more things." They are showing me how it's done, how to serve and endure and do what's right, until I have "finished my work on the earth."

Triple R....Done, done and done!

2011-09-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

Alicia/John Tebbs, Steve/Karen Mordue, Kathy/Ray Fisher

Team Run, Walk, Crawl

I thought Ragnar with 5 fun ladies for 34 plus hours was awesome....but then there was the Red Rock Relay, the Triple R. Running with good friends and their adorable husbands, sharing the running road with my own fabulous husband: what a treat! I was so proud of each member of our team. Not only did we show up with positive attitudes, but everyone was willing to pound out their miles happily, despite some limitations. Steve is a killer cyclist but has a harder time with running. He usually starts hurting after about five miles. Because of that, we gave him the hills so that he could just walk them. But his competitive nature and love of hill climbing took over, and he ended up running every single uphill mile, and at a fantastic pace, too! Thanks, Alicia, for inviting us and thanks to Fishers for letting us twist your arms into joining us. I thought it was the perfect combinations of personalities and abilities, with everyone working hard to do their part and a lot of fun laughter along the way.

A True and Honest Heart

2011-09-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

I heard this phrase many times today while attending the Bountiful Temple, and it perfectly sums up what I strive to have every day: a true and honest heart.

These past couple of weeks have been very full of a lot of hard work---mentally, physically and emotionally--as I have started my job working with the residents of a local care center. A few days into my job training, I recieved a call from my mother-in-law. There was a job opening at the care center where she and my father-in-law are currently serving as LDS leaders (Dandad is the Branch President). She wanted me to come over and check out the facility and talk with the head CNA. I went over and immediately loved the calm, peaceful and happy feeling of the place. I was offered a position right on the spot and I started my training with them last night. A lot of the residents are LDS, and it was so cute how many asked me if I was also LDS. I think they were worried that I wouldn't know about the temple garments they wore, but when I told them I wore them also, they would give me a big smile. I have been touched by how well they are all living their lives despite the limitations that age has put on their bodies and minds. There is no guile, no intent to hurt or mock, just a desire to be as happy as possible and enjoy their remaining time on this earth. They each have the true and honest heart that I desire and work at having every day.

Puppy Sling

2011-09-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

Peek-a-boo!

I got a coupon in the mail for a "free" baby sling. I have a hard time passing up on "free"--if anything, I could give it to Kelsey or someone else as a baby gift. But then I just couldn't resist trying it out with Jesse.

She LOVED it!

Now Ashley lives in mortal fear that I will show up at her school wearing Jesse in the sling.

Hmmm, not a bad idea....

Weeeeeeee!

2011-08-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

If packages could talk....

2011-08-31T17:47:00.000-07:00

"Hope ya know, we had a hard time."

I'm not sure what kind of travels this package has been on, but it's story must be a pretty good one.

P.S. The contents of this package (a cute red sweater from the Loft) had a cinder hole in it. Not to fear, Ann Taylor immediately sent a new one out Next Day Air upon notification.

A Girl and Her Dog

2011-08-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

Here's to the last of the lazy dog days of summer....

Now playing at a backyard near you!

Hot Pot Singer Dinger

2011-08-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

To my brothers:

Remember how we used to tease each other unmercifully when we were little? We had fun nicknames for each other (Hos Van Cartwright, Squirrel Pie, Hang Tooth, TA--or TATA--??). Remember when all nine of us would wrap ourselves in blankets and then tumble down the stairs in one big heap? What about the brother(s) who often came home from the across-the-street park with a cool bike or Big Wheel that they "found?" We also loved to catch each other singing on the potty. If that ever happened, we would sit outside of the bathroom door and chant: "Hot Pot Singer Dinger!" Those were good times, weren't they?

I had forgotten about the Hot Pot Singer Dinger chant until just the other day when I had to help a sweet older person get on the potty and then wait for them to finish their business. You can't hurry these things, and usually I would leave them to it and ask them push their call button when they were done. But not this person, oh no. They wanted to have a full on conversation with me. Twenty minutes later, after repeated inquiries into whether or not they had finished, we were able to wrap things up. As I helped this lovely person back into their chair, I could hear the lovely strains of "Hot Pot Singer Dinger" running through my head while exiting the room.

So, dear brothers, thank for the fun and crazy times we shared as younguns...the memories have brightened many a day and have given many occasions to laugh!

A Prince in the Making...

2011-08-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

I had a friend email this picture to me last week. Isn't that a good looking couple? She looks just like Audrey Hepburn. I think Audrey totally copied her style and elegance. A few years ago, this now older gentleman spoke of his courtship of this lovely young woman, and it is truly a fairy tale story. Our young women group was invited to the General Young Women Conference where he told us this story, and I think every young girl (and us older women) fell in love with him ourselves. My girls and I call him "Hottie Uchtdorf."

Is that a little sacrilegious? However, it fits and he is a very handsome older gentlemen, and a very nice human being to boot. Harriet definitely got herself a prince of a man.


(Prince and Princess Uchtdorf waving to their adoring public)

As a side note, I was asked to say the closing prayer in Sacrament Meeting today. When I got to the chapel, I noticed that President Uchtdorf was in town and on the stand. No pressure.

Summer's End

2011-08-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

We had a Cousin Camp today at Kim's house to commemorate the end of summer and the beginning of another school year. Yikes, where did the summer go? It has been a busy, fun-filled 10 weeks and for once I'm not ready to ship the kids off to school. As Ashley and I walked the halls of South Davis Jr. High at her back to school night, and felt the excitement brimming off of the kids, I realized how happy I am that she is going to this school for her 9th grade...it has a very positive vibe and the teachers were excited to have her again in their classes. I sense and anticipate great things from this school year.

Madi is also on the brink of an exciting year: senior year of high school, college applications, an internship using her CNA and new job at The Legacy House. We both got jobs at the same retirement home (although we will be working different shifts), and we begin our training next week. It's been a laid back summer with some fun trips, delicious watermelon (I personally have eaten at least five on my own), good books, Ragnar/Dessert News running events, long bike rides, leisurely walks with Jesse, movie marathons and BBQ cookouts. But now it's back to a schedule--work and school--and the shortened days of autumn and winter. The light is already changing, and soon the crispness will be in the air, signalling the change of seasons. Ahh, the lazy dog days of summer....I will miss you!

A Top 10 List

2011-08-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Top 10 Things I loved about New York

10. The All American Buffet Breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria.

I chose to add this option when I booked the room, and I am so glad I did! I just assumed it would be a mamby bamby continental breakfast, but it was a full on Little America type of breakfast buffet---omelets prepared to you personal specification by a chef, fresh fruits, incredible Blitzes and other pastries, oatmeal with a huge variety of add-ins, meats and cheese, yogurt bar, Belgium waffles and toppings, etc. All this came with a very attentive, friendly and happy serving staff.

9. Native New Yorkers who were so willing to help us out with the metro.

I did pretty well navigating the subway, but the few times I looked confused or needed to clarify a question, I was always amazed at how I could ask anyone and they would rattle off which metro location or stop or train we would need to take to get to were we wanted to go. There were even a few times that someone volunteered to help when they could tell we weren't sure of what to do. I was especially impressed by this, since I am not sure if I could tell someone how to get anywhere in Salt Lake...

8. Bagels and cream cheese from a street vendor.

7. Going for a morning run and discovering that the city had blocked off traffic from Park Ave so that all runners and bikers had a straight, unhindered path. Awesome.

The city does this on certain Saturdays in the summer, and I just happen to be there on the right Saturday. I ran down Park Ave towards Central Park, and then through Central Park up to the Met on 83rd and back to the hotel...it was a great 4 miler, and I was running with lots of other bikers and runners. I loved it.

6. The nice gentleman who gave us an impromptu tour of Brooklyn Heights.

We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, which was pretty cool, but when we didn't get off when we should have, we ended up walking a lot farther then we intended too. We really wanted to eat at Grimaldi's, but we had a member of our party with foot problems developing, and we were a little lost. The nice gentlemen could tell we were unsure of which direction to go, and he began to explain what we needed to do, and then he said, "You know, I'm heading in that direction anyway, so I will just walk with you and make sure you get to where you want to go." He then proceeded to tell us about the history of Brooklyn Heights and took us past the Plymouth church, where the the Pastor Beecher (abolitionist and brother to Harriet Beecher Stowe) invited Abraham Lincoln to speak and campaign.

5. Our hotel and room (the Waldorf Astoria)

We scored on this one. The hotel and staff were wonderful and our room was beautiful and comfortable.

4. Turning the corner of Exchange Place and seeing the New York Stock Exchange among the canyon of tall buildings...BAM! There it is.

3. Wicked! On Broadway! At the Gershwin Theater!

2. Meeting up with Liz and her mom. Liz always make us happy.

1. Being with all my girls: Kelsey, Markelle, Madeleine and Ashley!

1:20 AM

2011-08-09T00:34:00.000-07:00

I started this pillow tonight at about 10:00 p.m. and my brain has been taxed to the limit from trying to figure out how to put the iron-on transfer onto the muslin, piece together the rest of the fabric, sew the decorative embellishment, and then get the picture/muslin piece centered while making the rest of the fabric fit the pillow form nice and snug. I am not a seamstress, and I did not use a pattern, so there was some unpicking of the stitches (as Markelle would say) being done. I know my brain is fried because it is now 1:20 a.m. and I cannot figure out how to turn the picture (of pillow, shown above) around. My dog is sleeping beside me (and breathing a little heavy, I might add), but my brain won't shut down. I think I will have to pull out the scriptures and read some of the fun passages from 2 Nephi...you've got to love those Isaiah chapters!

Happiest Day on Earth

2011-08-05T21:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Ashley,

Happy Birthday to my baby girl. I'm sad that we weren't able to give you breakfast in bed on the red "You are Special Today" plate, and sing to you while you wear the birthday cake hat with it's flaming candles. We didn't get to huddle together with you on our bed and watch you eat while you opened your presents. Instead, we sent you off to California and Disneyland with your best friend and a pocketful of cash. What kind of parents have we become? Please forgive us. I did give you a wonderful gift, which you will discover when you come home tomorrow: a clean room! Yes, I went through every drawer and cleaned out/organized your dresser, closet, book shelf, desk, and under the bed (unfortunately, I still did not find the two missing phones...which was the real reason behind the massive room detox). I hope you know how much we love you and are so happy that you joined our family 14 years ago. How lucky for you to spend your Happiest Day on Earth at the Happiest Place on Earth. Have a Magical Day! (cue The Cricket singing....)

Love,

Your mommy

The Case of the Missing Glasses

2011-08-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

I called Steve at work this morning to check on how his day was going, and I could tell that he was in a crabby mood. When I asked him what was wrong, he responded with a very stressful, "I can't find my glasses!"

I asked a couple of question on when he last wore them and tried to calm him with "well, they must be in the office, just retrace your steps and ask the office staff to be on the look out for them." I figured that he must have set them down somewhere while talking to someone and walked away without them. I knew he'd find them eventually. Turns out I was right, and we got a good laugh of WHERE we found them: on my mother's face! My mom, bless her heart, is still--at age 74--working for Steve. She had been in his office earlier today and was admiring his sunglasses. Without realizing that her own glasses were propped on top of her head, she took Steve's reading glasses as she was leaving the office...thinking they were hers. When I came in later this morning to bring her some lunch, I noticed that she had on a pair of glasses that looked A LOT like Steve's missing glasses. When I asked about it, she reached up to take the glasses off and look at them, then saw her own glasses sitting on her desk! We had a pretty good laugh and quickly put Steve's glasses back front and center on his desk. As I left the office, I patted myself on the back and exclaimed, "My work here is done!"

Breaking Free

2011-08-02T23:03:00.000-07:00

As Madi and I drove into St. George at midnight, I turned to her and said, "You know, if we got up at 5:30 in the morning and drove to the beach, we could be there before noon..."

Ahhh, Laguna...I just can not stay away. I've been land locked a little too long and just needed to squish the sand between my toes, feel the salty breeze on my face, hear the roar of crashing waves and yes, even watch the cute surfer boys brave the cold water and do their thing.

It was a fun, quick, SPONTANEOUS road trip, but I had a great accomplice: thanks for throwing your hat in, Madi!

First

2011-07-31T06:50:00.000-07:00

A Day for First

Steve and his little biking team just rode 500 plus miles from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas in the Saints to Sinners Relay and they placed first as a mixed relay team AND set a course record! (27:40) I'm so proud of him and his team!

On another note, I rode my first 50 mile bike ride, and it was great! We even had a group of inline skaters drafting behind us for at 15 miles, and Am bought a baby swing from a garage sale at the park that was our half way point. She joked with me that I could have it when I have my first grandchild...haha, still a while to wait. Later that day, Markelle, Madi, and I had a very nice lunch at The Blue Lemon in Salt Lake, I got to talk to Kelsey for about in hour on the phone, and Ashley/Giselle put "coon" tails in their hair.

All in all a good day.

Follow the Prophets

2011-07-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

They've got your back!

Sing with me now:

"Lat-ter-Day Proph-ets are: num-ber one, Jo-seph Smith; then Brig-ham Young;

John Tay-lor came third, we know,

Then Wil-ford Wood-ruff, Lo-ren-zo Snow;

Jo-seph F. Smith (remember the F);

He-ber J. Grant and George Al-bert Smith;

Da-vid Ohhhhh Mc-Kay was followed by

Jo-seph Field-ing Smith.

Then Har-old B. Lee, Spen-cer W. Kimball,

Ezr-a Taft Ben-son,

HowardW.Hunter (really fast)

Gor-don B. Hinck-ley shows the way.

We hear and fol-low his words to-day!"

Woo Hoo!

2011-07-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

After ruining my last few batches of cookies, brownies and cupcakes with baaaaad Costco vanilla, I tracked down the Good Stuff.

Blue Cattle Truck MEXICAN Vanilla!

I love it, I love it, I love it.

MWAH!

A Conversation with Eve

2011-07-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

I met up with four friends early this morning to go for a 30 mile bike ride. The weather was wonderful (with just a little wind) and the five of us took turns in front of the "Estrogen" train, as I fondly dubbed our group. We rode well and made good time, averaging 18-22 mph. As we headed into the final stretch, I felt my wheel hit something and the tire immediately deflated. The rest of the group was far enough ahead that they didn't see what had happened, so I told Cathy to ride up ahead and tell my Am (my ride home) to meet me at the nearby park and I would walk/run my bike the last mile. As Cathy rode away, I took off my bike shoes and began running back towards the park. Unfortunately, I thought we had already passed the park so I was running in the wrong direction. I had just turned around and began to retrace my steps when a kind women stopped on her bike and asked if I needed help. After telling her my plan to meet up with my friend at the park, she asked again if I would like help fixing my flat since the park was still about a mile away. Yikes, was it that far? I told her that I didn't have a patch kit, and had no idea how to even get my wheel off. She calmly took my bike in hand, removed the wheel, grabbed her patch kit from the back of her bike and went to work, explaining as she went how to fix a flat. She told me that her husband had taught her how right before he unexpectedly passed away. As we worked together on patching up my tire, I asked her about her husband and she began to share her story with me. He was the love of her life. Now she has remarried--to a man who also lost the love of his life. I asked her how things were going and she started to tell me about how emotional it can be when two people remarry after having a previous wonderful marriage. I was so intrigued and wanted to talk with her more about her new circumstances. Alas, just then a group of riders stopped to lend a helping hand and to let me know that my friend was at the park looking for me. Unfortunately, Eve's valiant efforts to fix my flat didn't work (the tire still would not hold air), so I asked if she would mind riding up ahead to let my friend know I was coming, and I once again began running with my bike down the path. I made it to the park, and to my friend, and as we loaded up the bikes we were already making plans for a 50 miler on Saturday. All's well that ends well, but I've been thinking about Eve all day: her kindness to stop and spend the time to help me and to share some very personal things about her life. I really wish I could have heard the rest of her story. I felt that what she had to say was very important for me to hear. No, Eve wasn't able to fix my flat tire, but she did much more for me: she taught me that I can easily learn how to do things for myself (such as fix my own flat tire) and that I should not be afraid of big life changes. Life is good, go out and enjoy it!

Post It Note: Steve coached me through a tire change tonight, and I felt very empowered. He set me up with a great little kit, which contains two tubes, two CO2 cartidges and two tire levers. I'm good to go!

A Pioneering Spirit

2011-07-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Utah's Independence Day (as KSL Radio calls it), I spent the morning running in honor of my pioneer heritage. As I ran on South Temple towards the parade route, I recalled running along this same stretch of road back in '08--it was the 24th mile of the Deseret News Marathon. The last 2.2 miles of this marathon were probably the longest--and most painful--of all the marathons I have run. What kept me going? Thinking about what the first and subsequent pioneers endured on their journey to freedom and Zion. My little moment of discomfort and pain was nothing to what they pushed through, and so with renewed effort and energy I pushed myself through to the finish line.

This year, however, I only had to pound out 6.2 miles, and it was glorious and fun to let loose and just run. After getting home from the race, I joined my friend Jody for a good 6+ mile hike up Mueller Park Canyon from her home. I'm basically counting the two events as a half marathon.

As a reward, Steve and I went on one of our beloved movie marathon dates. Now THAT is a marathon I can do anytime with out a complaint!

Yo-Yo

2011-07-19T22:11:00.000-07:00

Is it a bad thing that we use Jessie as a Doggie Yo-Yo?

We call this trick "Rock the Dog."

A Sunday Meal with the Family

2011-07-17T22:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday at our house means family dinner. That is the one guaranteed meal you will get out of me during the week. I usually make it a meat/potatoes kind of an affair, and the kids know that we gather together to break bread and visit as a family.

We have some pretty interesting discussions, including topics that I have to shut down if it's sounding like it's spinning out of control. I had a dream as a young mother of having intellectual and philosophical discussions, as well as deep doctrinal debates as we revisited topics from church lessons of the day. Alas, our conversations--while stimulating-- rarely go in that direction.

Case in point: Today during our afternoon Sunday meal, someone brought up the recently released Winnie the Pooh Movie, which spun off into past Winnie the Pooh movies and the observation that most--if not all--of the characters of this beloved children's story suffer from one form of mental psychosis or other.

Think about it.

Winnie the Pooh?

Binge eating

Piglet?

Anxiety. And possibly the added bonus of incontenance.

Eyeore?

Ah, Eeyore...what a depressed mess.

Owl?

Delusions of Grandeur and Narcissism.

Rabbit?

Maybe a touch of OCD?

Tigger?

Definitely ADHD.

And good ol' Christopher Robbins?

The boy talks to his stuffed animals and has created an imaginary world in which they all live. A touch of the schizophrenia?

We're still trying to work out Kanga and little Roo. They seem pretty normal, aside from the fact that Roo is still hanging out in his mom's pocket.

I don't even want to get into the hufflelumps and woozies. Even my kids at a young age recognized that segment as very messed up.

And the most compelling question of the day: what IS a Pooh Bear anyway?

And a Diet Coke, Please...

2011-07-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

No, this is not for our frequent movie marathons (we just had another one this past week...we saw Super 8 and Green Lantern), but it almost could be.

This is how much popcorn it takes to feed 300+ girls at Girls Camp for our Movie Night. My storage room has the lingering "dirty-sock" popcorn smell. Mmmmmmm!

Side note: don't you just love how Jessie blends in with the couch? Good thing she came color coordinated with my living room color palette!

Sugar Buzz

2011-07-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

Plates and Palates

$4.95/slice

Oh My Heavenly Goodness!

We had these guys cater Kelsey's wedding, and I was never so happy for leftovers! It is one of our favorite restaurants in town, and after hearing Soni and Treion and Kim gush over the coconut cake, I had to stop in for a take home slice. The piece is big enought to share with four people, but I may have to hide it and have a bite here and there over the next few days...it is THAT good!

A New Tradition is Born

2011-07-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

It was a long day of unloading the houseboat down at Lake Powell, and loading up the speedboat and jet ski's and then making the 7 hour drive back to Bountiful. But the promise of a barbecue feast, organized by Steve, at the end made it all worth it. Gathering together for burgers, dawgs, homemade ice cream, watermelon, potato salad and FIREWORKS was a fabulous end to our annual Mordue Lake Powell trip. Thanks, Steve for the BBQ, and thanks Bam and Dandad for the fun memories of Powell over the past 22 years!

We had the best seats in the house, without the frustration of finding a good parking space, for the annual 4th of July show put on by North Salt Lake. Everyone agreed that this would have to be our new 4th of July Tradition.

Doga (pronounced "Doe Guh)

2011-07-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Doga: n. Noun: A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation by a dog.

Salutation to the Sun

Down-ward facing dog

Namaste!

Reconstruction

2011-06-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, the LDS church embarked on a huge construction project in Downtown Salt Lake City to create an incredible urban center that would include shopping, apartments, entertainment and education. In the 1980's, the church was able to buy up the two existing downtown malls for a song, and so the careful planning commenced. The architects for this massive renovation visited many other successful downtown urban centers and took notes on what worked and what did not. Soon, they had a plan ready to present for approval. They felt that they had the prefect plan, except for a little hitch: a small, locally owned business that had a hundred year lease in a prime location right smack in the middle. And they were not about to give up their spot. Rightly so. They stuck to their guns on this one, forcing the architects to go back to the the drawing board. At the time, I'm sure it felt like a disaster. But in the end, the architects came up with in even BETTER plan. They sing praises to this little company: "God Bless that little business because it allowed us to come up with a better plan." Life, by it's very nature, does that same thing to us. We are going along with our carefully laid plans, and a curve ball is thrown at us. Or maybe we are the one who throws that curve ball. Either way, it's amazing to me how, with a little time and space, we can look back and see how that change in plan actually moved us towards a different and better direction. As I was sitting on the front porch today with Markelle, I marvelled at the fact that I was sitting on THAT front porch, looking at THAT view. A year ago, it never even crossed my mind that I would be living anywhere else. It was not in the plan, it was not in my thoughts and it wasn't even a desire. The passage of time has also brought a lot of understanding and healing into my life. While my life a while back seemed like a construction zone, I no longer feel like I have to go around wearing a hard hat. I feel safe, secure, strong and happy. I think I will survive and thrive under this reconstruction.

DAAAAANG!

2011-06-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

Looking good....

Very good!

Ouch!

2011-06-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

It's gross looking, I know...even covered up. I have a matching one on my other foot. But the question is: was it worth getting?

Was it worth 34 plus hours in a car with 5 other fabulous women (Team Leader Alicia, Fasty Hillary, Team Motivator Michelle, Birthday Girl Lauretta and Ragnar Virgin Angela) and no real R.E.M. sleep?

Was it worth resting on a Thermarest pad and sleeping bag on a grassy area in both Morgan and Heber?

Was it worth running 15.5 miles (7 of which were on a rugged "trail rail" in the middle of the night all by myself under the moon, stars, chirping birds and other unknown creatures sounds?)

Was it worth eating a $5 Subway footlong in increments throughout the 34-hour period?

Was it worth regular and frequent trips to the Honey Bucket?

Was it worth sitting in sweaty, stinking clothes (sorry, team, I tried to change often)?

Was it worth paying $4 for the privilege of using a clean, flush toilet and taking a HOT shower, and getting dressed in the gym locker room of a middle school in Heber?

Was it worth seeing all of the crazy costumes and reading the crazy things other people wrote on their vans?

Was it worth seeing our husbands, family members and friends at the finish line?

Was it worth the Fat Boys, free pizza and MEDAL when we were finally all done?

The answer is a big, fat resounding: YES!

Thank you RUN, WALK, CRAWL team for another fabulous Ragnar experience. See you next year!

Riding the wake...

2011-06-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

Many years ago I had a neighbor my age that told me of the time their family got caught in a storm while vacationing on their boat off of the coast of California. All of a sudden, a huge yacht pulled up along side them and signalled to them to follow them in their wake to safety. Afterwards, they learned that the yacht belonged to John Wayne. I don't know whether Mr. Wayne was on the boat at the time, but the lesson of following in the safety of a bigger boats' wake has stuck with me.

This past weekend, while driving home from St. George, I spotted an approaching ambulance in my rear view mirror. As I moved over to allow it to pass, I decided to jump right back in the lane behind it. I called it "riding in the wake." It turned out to be a genius idea, because all the cars got out of the way of the ambulance, and by following it, we were able to finally maintain a good, consistent speed (no more dodging the slow cars that refused to move out of the "fast" lane.) I rode in the wake of the ambulance for a good half hour before it exited the freeway. It was awesome!

Oh, What Do You Do in the Summertime?

2011-06-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

When all the World is green? (finally!)

Do you sit by a pool?

Make a quilt that is cool?

Or run with the sun in your eyes?

Is that what you do?

So do I!

Do you shop at a store?

Eat more & more & more?

Or drop your kids off at EFY?

Is that what you do?

So do I!

Do you read a good book?

plan good things to cook?

Or climb a mountain so high?

Is that what you do?

So do I!!

Jessie

2011-06-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

A favorite movie from my teenage years was "A Man From Snowy River." That scene where Jim rides his horse down the vertical side of of mountain...so steep that he is practically laying horizontally on the back of his horse??? Oh my, that is my all time favorite scene. Another favorite is of the horses "dancing" in the snow. Because of this movie, there were a lot of baby girls named Jessica. It definitely was a contender when Steve and I were expecting our first baby . It was my choice, in fact. Jessica, or Jess for short, Mordue. Steve really wanted a Jordan, so that he could call her Jo. Because we weren't willing to give in on our individual choices, we kept searching for the perfect name. We heard the name Kelsey for the first time when we were in the hospital after having our first baby girl. Yes, I was still in a somewhat drug induced stupor, but we both thought it fit her perfectly and we liked the idea that it would be unique enough that she wouldn't be one of many Kelsey's in her Kindergarten class (which was a worry with the at-the-time trendy names of Jessica and Jordan.) We were somewhat disappointed when her first day of Kindergarten came and she had to go by Kelsey M. because she was one of THREE Kelsey's in her class!

Fast forward from 1989 to 2011, and it looks like I finally got my Jess! We have been missing Elfins, but really have not seriously considered getting another dog. Until last week. I'm not sure why we felt we were ready, but the whole family came together on this decision and we started looking and we found her. She is sweet and adorable and it is a wonderful addition to our family.

A Very Sweet Accomplishment....

2011-06-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

Back in February, Madi and I hatched a plan: let's take the CNA class together! We opted for the 6 week course taught at Lakeview Hospital. We went for 4 hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and four hours on Saturday mornings. We had a fun group and I think Madi was one of the youngest in the class and I was the second oldest. At the end of our six weeks, we had two 12 hour days of clinicals, which I thought was an amazing experience. I still think about some of the residents that I had the privilege to work with and serve for those 24 hours. The icing on the cake was taking, and passing, our written and skills test. Congratulations, Madi, I'm so proud of you! Now, go and get a job!

Just Because We are So Cute!

2011-06-02T22:08:00.000-07:00

Kelsey sent me this picture she snapped of her parents on her daddy's big day. Aren't they a cute couple??

Markelle moved back home this past weekend (yeah!) and so Steve and I had to move some furniture around to give her a bedroom to sleep in. We also had to go buy a bed. We just wanted this whole process to be over and done with as quickly as possible, because we both hate projects and working around the house. We (or me) would rather read, or go see a movie, or grab a bite to eat somewhere, or really anything but working on home projects. I'm a lazy bum, I know it. Back to buying a bed: the local store we went to had great beds at great prices being sold by a nice older gentlemen. As he was asking about our bed needs (how much does the child weigh that will be using the bed? etc.), he seemed genuinely shocked to find out that we were buying this for our 19-year old daughter. He was further surprised to learn that we had an even older daughter. Bless his heart, he made us feel like we were twenty years old ourselves. I think that's what really sold Steve on the bed. After turning the big 4-7, he's been feeling the years and I think it made his day for someone to think we were babies having babies.

True Love Stories Never End....

2011-05-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

Happy 1 Year Anniversary

Kelsey and Covey!

47 Years YOUNG

2011-05-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

S-Supportive

T-Tender hearted

E-Even Tempered

V-Valiant

E-Elk Hunter

47 years ago, a fairly newly married couple welcomed a beautiful baby into their home. He grew up loving the outdoors--hunting, fishing, backpacking. He is neat and tidy and loves to laugh and is the most loyal person I know. He found his passion for bike riding 24 years ago, back when bike riding wasn't cool and people scoffed and laughed at the funny little outfits. He has a high tolerance for pain, and insisted on trying to ride his bike to the end of the white rim trail, even though he had fractured all the bones in his clavicle. If I just hint at the possibility of a wacky idea, he will throw his hat into the ring, 100% in support. He loves to sleep in, but gets up and goes to work anyway. He is the last person to leave anything...whether it's work, play, church, or a party. He loves to visit and talk and get to know people. He is the best friend to anyone, but he is MY best friend forever.

Happy Birthday, baby. I love you.

Giving In

2011-05-24T20:46:00.001-07:00

I am a Bosch girl. I grew up with my mom mixing bread in a Bosch. After a few years of marriage, I began borrowing my mother-in-law's Bosch to mix up my own bread. Eventually, I grew up enough to have my very own Bosch Universal. The cookie dough hooks are, shall we say, off the hook. I love my Bosch. I love the power, and the bowl capacity and complete and even mixing. When all the newly engaged girls started registering for those KitchenAids in their rainbow of color options, I secretly felt a little sorry for them. They would never know the joy of true mixing. But then today, while at my sister-in-laws house, I used her Candy Apple Red Artisan 5-qt KitchenAid Stand mixer to whip up some frosting and I was in HEAVEN. The texture of the frosting--so fluffy and airy--was amazing. Oh my goodness, I have to have one. Scratch that. I think Steve needs to recieve one for either his birthday or Father's Day. After all, the goodies I make with it would be for him...a gift that will keep on giving! (and really, we all remember the set of golf clubs he bought me for my wedding gift. So sweet of him to have such confidence in my golfiing abilities!)

The Faith Fall

2011-05-24T06:11:00.000-07:00

I was asked to help plan and prepare meals for 275 girls at Girls Camp this summer. We get to go to the beautiful Heber Valley Camp, and I am excited to be up there all week with Ashley and, hopefully, Madi. (She is hoping to have a job...) One of the many activities available to the girls at this camp is a Ropes Coarse, with different scenarios designed to build trust and faith. I think one of the hardest is The Faith Fall. This requires a person to stand high up on something with their back to their group, eyes closed, arms folded and to fall back into the waiting arms that are linked and ready to catch. It is always interesting to observe how some girls can get up to that high position and fall back without hesitation, while for others it is a struggle and the group has to patiently wait for them to gather up their courage to "just let go and fall back." I am always curious as to how I would feel...and was surprised to find out how unnerving it really was when I was given a turn. I like to be in charge of me. I think most of us like to be in charge of ourselves. It is how we are designed and how it should be. But we can't always be in charge, can we? As the bumper sticker states: Spit happens. And that is really when The Faith Fall happens in real life.

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us....If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers." ----President Gordon B. Hinckley

Keeping It in the Family

2011-05-19T05:35:00.000-07:00

These last couple of posts have got me thinking (in the dead of night) about families, and family names, and how family names connect us.

For example:

Verlaine Carol Thon Van Horn + Ted Elliott Van Horn

Begat

Jeffrey Loren

Jackie Lynn

Julie Ann

John Elliott

Peter James

Karen Elaine

Thomas Alexander

Mark Alan

Matthew William

Jeff had a Jonathan, Jackie had a Jeffrey, Julie had a James, John had a Mark, Karen had an Elaine and Caroline, Mark had a Matthew and Matthew had a William.

John Henry Smith + Sarah (Sally) Jones Brown Smith

begat

Roger

Holly

Barbara

Charolotte

Caroline

Rueben Elmo Mordue + Winona Hansen Mordue

begat

Margaret

Hansen

Jack

Boyd Hansen

Barbara Smith + Boyd Hansen Mordue

begat

Steven Smith

Sydney

John Spencer

Suzette

Sheridan

Soni

Steve had a Sarah, Barbara and Caroline, Spencer had a Steven, Suzette had a Boyd, Sheridan had a Henry, and Soni had a Ruby (and a Winona, although I'm not sure if it's her name, technically. It's on the church records--that's the name her daddy gave her when he blessed her--but they have not made the change on the birth certificate...yet.)

Some other favorites from the family tree that I never got to use: Clara and Josephine.

My girls have a LOT of great names to choose from someday.

What's in a Name?

2011-05-18T20:25:00.001-07:00

Esther May Hawley Van Horn and Guy Elliott Van Horn

Howard Alexander Thon and Vernice Brauer Thon

(pronounced "Tone")

Kelsey and Covey were throwing out possible names for their future little munchkins (no, they are not expecting), and a favorite of mine is Kingsley, just because we would have too much fun with Kingsley Cole ("Ol' King Cole was a merry old soul...."). I told them how much I've loved having family names for my girls (Elaine, Sarah, Barbara and Caroline are all family names--a few from my side of the family and a few from Steve's side) Just think, if we kept going we could've had an Esther, Vernice, Guy, Elliott, Howard or Alexander running around. Maybe one of my girls will choose to bestow one of these names on a child of theirs some day. That would be sweet.

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

We. Are. Family.

2011-05-15T19:17:00.001-07:00

All my brothers and sisters and me.

This is the Van Horn clan. Growing up, we were the Herdman's of our Orem and Bellingham neighborhoods. A favorite collective memory: mom, at the end of her rope, throwing golf balls at the retreating backs of my brothers and their friends while yelling, "I have had it!" We are not perfect. Our kids are not perfect. But together, somehow, we are perfect. We have all been down the road to hell and back, and I can not think of a more reliable and non judgemental group to have in my corner. We will move heaven and earth to be there for each other, and have done so many times. We all have helped each other in our own little ways, whether it's financial, or moral and physical support. We have flown to Pete's bedside when he suffered electrical burns over a huge part of his body. We answered the call to go to Bellingham to help look for our missing niece and console our grieving sister. We have gathered together to say a final earthly goodbye to our brother, Mark, and sister, Julie. We will go and watch Pete perform his music in many different venues. We prayed for Jeff when he fell off the roof. We have prayed for Tommy and John and their families. They have prayed for me and my family. Whether it's weddings or funerals--and all of the joys and sorrows of this life--we are there for each other.

The Clan: Karen, Jackie, Mom, Dad, (back row) Tom, Jeff, Peter, Matthew and John. In memoriam: Mark and Julie...we miss you!

The Boys: Tom, John, Jeff, Peter and Matt.

Whenever we get together you can bet that they will bring out the war stories of their childhood exploits. They still laugh raucously at their twistedness. Ah, the good ol' days...

The Girls: Jackie and Mom are the best of friends. They have to talk to each other by phone at least three times a day. That is a little much for me, personally, but I love these two women to the moon and beyond. They are two ot the most kind hearted, generous, compassionate and fun women I know.

The Mordue Girls (and honorary Boy): Markelle, Madi, Ashley, Covey and Kelsey. It is my hope and dream that these girls will be as good to one another, and there for each other, as my siblings have been for me.

And then there's Steve and I: we are hanging on by our fingernails and enjoying the ride. 25 years and counting, baby. As my dad just told me (like two minutes ago, when he asked about our anniversary), "You're half way there!" (which I promptly replied that I hope I get more than another 25 years with this guy!)

Lucky 13

2011-05-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

Friday the 13th does not scare nor bug me. However, this past Friday the 13th certainly made itself known. First off, did you know that this will be the only Friday the 13th we have this whole year? And when Steve and I had a few minor mishaps with our anniversary trip (nothing we couldn't shrug our shoulder at, or at least get over very quickly) we definitely spooked ourselves a teeny tiny bit when we noticed that our hotel room was on the 13th floor. But the biggest annoyance of Friday the 13th? It definitely had to be when Blogger shut down and lost everyone's latest post. I really hope they find and restore my latest post, because it was a tribute to my siblings and their awesomeness, and I just don't think I have it in me to recreate it. I'm crossing my fingers!

On a good note about the 13th: Steve and I flew up to Boise, stayed at the lovely Grove Hotel, ate a long and leisurely meal at The Melting Pot (and we had the place to ourselves, as they had just opened for lunch time this week) and was served impeccably by the very attentive Hunter, and then we went to see the play, "Wicked." Incredible as it may seem, I have never seen this play. I bought tickets on KSL.com and so, being Friday the 13th, I was definitely saying my prayers and crossing my fingers that we didn't get ripped off. I loved the play, the humor, the music, the energy of the show, the crazy costumes (Lady GaGa inspired). What a wonderful way to celebrate being married for 25 years to my darling man. I am lucky.

7 Random Facts of Kindness

2011-05-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, I was just looking for a cute title to a post that I am finding very hard to write. My daughter, Kelsey, issued an invitation to write seven random facts about myself (hence, the title's allusion to Random Acts of Kindness...eh, eh? Clever). I couldn't think of anything. I asked Steve what I should write. With his help, I came up with:

1. I ran the Boston Marathon the year I turned 40.

2. While I have never personally been summoned before the court, I have had the honor and privilege of appearing with my three daughters who are currently of driving age. I am on first name basis with the Bountiful City Prosecutor. I'm counting on my youngest to continue this family tradition.

3. I LOVE to take baths....I think I've only used the shower in our new home the total of 5 times. (and as I am writing this, I just realized that I left the bath faucet running so I have to quickly go check on the levels RIGHT NOW. Just so you know, I will be saying "oh, crap!" as I run up the stairs and praying that it has not overflowed...)

4. I like old people. (definition of old people: anyone at least 20 years older than me)

5. I have to make my bed first thing every morning.

6. I still have my wisdom teeth.

7. I would make a great government employee. I love rules and structure. I do not think outside of the box. I want to clock in at 8 a.m. and clock out at 5 p.m. and waste a little time in between. Is this scary?

Golden

2011-05-08T05:34:00.000-07:00

She was a 24 year-old devorcee with three small children when they met for the first time...on a blind date no less. He was a 22 year old farm boy who had dabbled in the arts before and after high school. When a mutual friend set them up, I don't think they had any idea that nine kids and a lot of heart ache and joys later they would be celebrating 50 years together.
"Oh, help!" as my mother, Verlaine, is fond of saying. Happy 50th Mom and Dad!

Biltmore is a "Bit More"

2011-05-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Toasted whole wheat bagel with cream cheese: $5.00

12 oz. diet Dr. Pepper: $4.70

1 liter of water: $6.00

$15.00 for a breakfast at the Phoenix Biltmore!

But....laying out by the pool in 80 degree weather with my hunny of 25 years: Priceless!

reLAX Girl

2011-04-30T20:45:00.001-07:00

Ashley's been waiting since last fall to start up Lacrosse again. I'm so glad that she has found something that she is passionate about. She came home with a bunch of bruises on her legs and couldn't have been more proud.

A Royal Flush

2011-04-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

One nice thing (the only nice thing) about experiencing hot flashes that produce a fevered flush which infuse my face, neck, chest and arms is that it got me up in the wee morning hours to witness this fascinating event:

Now, if I can just figure out what to do when this happens while sitting on a crowded bench during church! (I am learning to dress in layers...)

Choosing the Good

2011-04-25T19:16:00.000-07:00

I'm having a love/hate relationship with Free Agency lately. It is so hard to watch the consequences and unhappiness of bad choices. It leaves me feeling helpless. I often find myself wondering and asking myself how it will all turn out.

I wish I could see ahead a little farther than I currently can--it would really help me pace myself. One of my favorite running routes is along Bountiful Boulevard towards the Bountiful LDS Temple, because I can see it in the distance during the entire run. It's far away, but I have a constant visual of it and I can at least see a forward progression. Right now, it feels like I'm running in the dark without a headlamp and only occasional splashes of light from a passing car or a stationary lamp post. I'm still moving forward and making progress, but sometimes it's scary and a little lonely. This is where endurance kicks in. I continually remind myself that I have to keep moving forward so that I can get back to my safe, warm home. And family. Even when others are choosing unwisely, I can still choose the good. Again, and again, and again. Endurance.

Happiness is "the consequence of exercising one's right to choose between good and bad, and choosing the good."---Sweet Misfortunes

A Slice of Karma

2011-04-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

I am a big believer in Karma...when you do good, good comes back to you. I learned that from Alma, in his beautiful teachings to his straying son, Corianton: "...for that which ye do send out shall return unto you again..." (Alma 41:15) But last night, I found myself in a quandary...and asking the question: who PAYS for the Karma?

The situation: Yesterday I spent a LOT of time sending out good Karma vibes into the universe(12 hours to be exact). As I was driving home from my first CNA clinicals, and reflecting on the incredible day I had just spent helping the helpless, I was moved to tears and gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of something as beautiful and rewarding as helping fellow human beings with every basic need. Victor Hugo said it perfectly: to love another is to see the face of God. That happens when we see another as God sees them, and I don't think we truly see someone until we witness...and help...them in their most vulnerable state (this is why we love babies and children, because I am pretty sure I would never have kids if they came to us as fully functioning--well, except their brains--young adults). At the end of the day, although my feet and legs ached, I walked into my house with a spring in my step and a feeling of complete fulfillment. I found Steve and Ashley waiting for me so that we could go to dinner together and they could hear about my day. As we drove down the hill, we discussed different restaurant options and settled on The Pizza Factory. We had a nice time together (I even got a laugh out of Ashley, although she was very determined to not have a good time with us. Because, you see, she is a young adult), but when it came time to pay the bill, we waited and waited and WAITED for the waitress to bring back our credit card that we had paid with. At one point, Steve turned to me and said, "I think they lost our card." What? No way, that doesn't happen...does it? Sure enough, the waitress and manager came to our table and sheepishly told us that they could not find our card. They had been looking all this time for our card and could not find it anywhere. We immediately called our credit card company to cancel the card, while the manager apologized profusely, comped our meal, plus added in a $100 gift certificate in the hopes that we would come back again. We just laughed it off, told them no worries, left our phone number in case the card DID show up and left the restaurant. As I was walking out the door, I looked backed and I could see Steve giving the waitress a pat on the back and telling her again not to worry. We were not even in the car long enough to start it, when Steve received a call from the restaurant that they had found the card! (it had gotten tucked into a menu). As we drove home, my first thought was: Cool! Karma! But just as quickly on the heels of that exhalation came the question just as fast and furious: who paid for the pizza?

Bonus:

If you have the pleasure of little ones in your life, I HIGHLY recommend having this book handy. It is guaranteed to create moments of giggles and fun, especially if you follow the recipe.

Stoic Words of Wisdom...

2011-04-10T18:16:00.001-07:00

"Scars remind us where we've been,

but do not have to dictate where we are going."

---Criminal Minds (one of Steve's favorite shows)

Just for Fun....

2011-04-10T18:13:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth Bennet's Email:

This was a happy find--enjoy!

Sacred Work

2011-03-31T09:08:00.000-07:00

I arrived at my visiting teaching appointment still sweaty from my run. My lungs were all juiced up, as the physical activity had loosened up all the congestion I've been battling for the past few days. In the middle of explaining to Am B. (my visiting teachee) about Eliza's Wish and Team Give (Am's a cyclist and was interested in some of the organized rides planned for this year), I felt that distinctive tickle in my throat that quickly turned into an asthmatic event. My poor partner, as well as Am, were much alarmed and concerned for my safety, hopping up immediately to get a glass a water, pound my back, get me a throat lozenge. I non verbally indicated that I would be fine, that I just needed to sit and let my throat relax, and that they should just carry on with the discussion at hand, which was this month's visiting teaching message in the Ensign magazine. I listened as they talked about how the Relief Society organization of the Church is under the Priesthood and "after the pattern of the priesthood," and how this truly does give our service to one another a sacredness.

"We operate in the manner of the priesthood--which means that we seek, receive, and act on revelation; make decisions in council; and concern ourselves with the caring for individuals one by one."

It is a beautiful concept to me that something as basic as a pat on the back and a glass of water-- or offering to help deliver baby shower invites, or just being a much needed friend--becomes "sacred work" as we love and serve one another.

Boo Y U

2011-03-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

If I was rating colleges on their customer service skills and willingness to help their students succeed, graduate and then VACATE THE PREMISES in a timely manner (i.e. less than 5 years), I would have to give BYU a big, tall, spindly F. No, an F does not give it enough weight. How about an F++++++++ (cue Ralphie's dream sequence from A Christmas Story, only in reverse). Come on, BYU, give my girl a break. Especially on her birthday. She just wants to get in and get out and allow another paying customer to take her place. You, powers that be at the Y, should be bending--OVER BACKWARDS--to help her on her way out the door. Badly done, BYU...badly done!

Knowledge

2011-03-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

NEW KNOWLEDGE!

We have had our Mac for about 4 months now, which we purchased along with a One to One subscription. It's taken me this long to figure out how to even make the appointment online with the Apple store. On the day of my appointment, I wrote down a list of all the little things I couldn't figure out how to do (such as: how do I throw away a stack of 459 photo's that I inadvertently saved to my desktop without having to trash them one at a time? How do I find the icon for my scanner? How to I unblock cookies so that I can actually sign out of my hotmail account?) It's scary how technologically crippled I am. But not any more! I met with the very nice Nicole, who enthusiastically and very patiently walked me through all the different computer functions that would help me perform all the tasks on my list that have baffled me thus far. That stack of photos was gone with a quick selection box and drag to the virtual trash can. Poof! I learned all about the smiley faced finder box in the bottom left hand corner of my monitor. I reset my Safari browser. I learned how to get all of my pictures and music that are currently living on any three of our Macs and put them onto one computer, using Photo Share and Home Sharing. Life is exciting and good and I love my Macs. I think I am ready to move on to learning about movie- and book making.

In another arena, Madi and I started our CNA class this week at Lakeview Hospital. We thought it would be fun to train together. Madi wants to test the waters of the medical field and she thought that this would be a good place to start. I just wanted to see if I could still learn anything. Plus, it's a little scary for me to try something so far out of my comfort zone. I know that this will be good for me. I am such a creature of habit and comfort, that I really have to force myself to experience new things and allow growth. Also, my children (okay, Steve also) are convinced that I have no sympathy when it comes to taking care of the sick and afflicted. Obviously this is a deficiency in my character that could benefit from correction. As we were discussing the various duties of CNA's and opportunities for service, I kept feeling strongly about Hospice care. I am surrounded by many wonderful elderly men and women that I would love to serve and help bring comfort to in their last years. I might even be able to finally give my family some sympathy when they are sick!

A Study

2011-03-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

I read the following out loud to Steve, but had to stop because we were laughing so hard:

(From The Deseret News, Saturday, March 19, 2011)

"Scientific studies have found that having children does not increase happiness. In fact, experts say it has the opposite effect. The more children you have, the less happy you are.

Children restrict freedom. Children require sacrifice. Children require work.

As Daniel Gilbert, a professor of psychology at Harvard University wrote in Time magazine, 'Studies reveal that most married couples start out happy and then become progressively less satisfied over the course of their lives, becoming especially disconsolate when their children are in diapers and in adolescence, and returning to their initial levels of happiness only after their children have had the decency to GROW UP AND GO AWAY.'" (caps added)

Okay, Steve and I have finished wiping the tears from our eyes by now. This article could not have come at a more appropriate (inappropriate?) time. We are smack in the middle of the adolescence of our last two children, with our oldest two in the beginning steps of independent living and the "grow up and go away" phase--which, by the way, brings with it a whole new set of joys, worries and potential sorrows. So, why do we have children? Why, why, why? We have children, as Timothy Dalrymple wrote in a blog post on Patheos.com, because "love overflows, they make us human, and they teach us to love."

Timothy Dalrymple: "Marriage teaches people how selfish they are. Children require selflessness on an even deeper level. The pure form of love is selfless love. Children are an instrument in the hand of God to teach us selflessness. Happiness is a cheap substitute for the full richness and dynamism of the human experience found in loving relationships."

I will try to remember that when one of my children ineviably does something that will drive both Steve and I to ask ourselves, "Why, why, WHY?"

At which point, hopefully, I will recall with great fondness how fun it is to watch them play a sport or an instrument, laugh out loud together at a theatrical play, try on clothes while squished in the same dressing room, try a new restaurant, watch a movie together late at night, or call for a quick visit and advice on dating, decorating, meals, etc., and--more importantly--help them answer that same question of "why?" when they have THEIR children!

Intimations of Immortality

2011-03-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

But trailing clouds of glory do we come

From God, who is our home.

--William Wadsworth

I have been looking for a painting for a particular place in my home, and I came across the work of a wonderful young artist, Annie Henrie. We learned about her through the art work of her farther, Cary. We love his work, and she has a similar style yet with her own distinctive touch. I especially love her portraiture...she gives her subjects a Renaissance, old world feel. I contacted her about purchasing an existing painting, but after meeting with her, Steve and I decided to commission a painting, using our daughters as the subject. We both loved the above painting (titled "Star of Wonder"), so we asked her to paint something similar. I envision something that depicts our pre-mortal selves looking down upon the majestic earthly creation and anticipating our mortal journey. I am excited to see what Annie comes up with!

2 a.m.

2011-03-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

It doesn't seem that long ago that I was up at night with a new baby. Soon that baby grew up to a beautiful young woman who would not go to bed at night. When she was in high school, she would roam the house until the wee hours of the morning. As her parents, we used to constantly harp on her to just go to bed. But eventually, out of sleep deprived desperation, we would give in to sleep after saying prayers and passing out hugs and kisses. She would stay up organizing her room, or most likely finishing up a huge school assignment that she had left until the last minute. Recently we found out that she spent a lot of time on the phone talking to the boy that would eventually become her husband. When she moved out of our house, we found that we could close the house down at 10 p.m. with confidence that all the chickies were in and settled for the night. We finally caught up on our sleep.

This past weekend we had the chance to have this girl all to ourselves, and once again I found myself up until 2 a.m. on both nights that she was with us. The first night was due to a quick midnight run to Provo to pick up medication that she forgot to pack. The next night was due to watching a movie together at home (after going out to dinner and a movie at the theater) and the fact that the time changed to Daylight Savings.

Staying up until 2 a.m. is still fun with you, Kels! I know you were missing your sweetheart, but we loved spending time with you this weekend. Thank you for bringing your sweet, happy spirit to our home.

Playing Footsie

2011-03-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

Steve, Kelsey and I went on a daddy/mommy/daughter date last night: dinner and a movie. As we sat down in our reserved seating at the megaplex (I love reserved seating! I pretty much get my same seat every time) and settled in for a few hours of escapism, the women next to me got up and changed seats with her male companion (date? husband?). While trying not to feel offended, I leaned over to Steve and asked him if my breath or body smelled. I soon learned what her intentions were: getting a killer leg and foot message from her movie going companion. It started out with her beautifully shod feet up on his lap (her shoes were darling, and I was THIS CLOSE to leaning over and telling her so) while he slowly rubbed his fingers up and down her lower leg and ankles. "Luckeee" (cue Napoleon Dynamite's voice), I thought to myself. I poked my elbow into Steve and said, "Now THAT'S the way to watch a movie. " Soon the movie was going, and I focused my full attention on the storyline so that I could figure it out and lean over to whisper to Steve what I knew was going to happen next (you really do not what to go to the movies with me, I can't help that I do this). After an exhilarating two hours, the credits were rolling and the house lights came up and I noticed that my companions to the left of me were still in the same position--she with her now unshod feet up on his lap--and he was messaging her naked toes and feet. Bless his heart, he had kept this up during the entire movie! I really hope he got a great reward for his efforts...I know Steve would've if the shoe was on (or off!) the other foot.

The Crafting of the Lenses

2011-03-03T06:25:00.000-08:00

Markelle has a wicked way with descriptive words that often reduces us to tears of laughter. A couple of her gems are: "Bachelor Degreedom" and "mowing of the lawn" (as in, "have you seen my "mowing of the lawn" shoes?).

Well, she out did herself the other day. She needed a new pair of eyeglasses, but she couldn't wait weeks for a pair to be ordered and shipped. As I was driving her in to Salt Lake to the nearest optical store, she was on the phone with LensCrafter and asked them--in all seriousness--"how long does it take for your store to craft some lenses?" I about died, I was laughing so hard. "What?" she asked. "Crafting of the lenses!" I replied. Awesome.

Becoming Fully Present in Life...

2011-02-25T12:37:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago my good friend, Maria C., agreed to meet me for lunch to talk about my options for going back to school.

"I want to do something meaningful with the extra hours I find I have in the middle of most days," I bemoaned to her, "but I don't know what that something meaningful is."

We talked about courses of study I would be interested in pursuing (English Lit? Humanities? History?) and what the various schools offered (BYU, UofU, Weber), what kind of classes it would involve, and the time commitment. We had a wonderful visit, and she gave me a lot to think about. But when all was said and done, I came to the realization that I am not yet ready to put my whole heart, mind, and soul with it's accompanying singular focus on school when I have daughters who still need me to be their mommy. When I go back to school, or spend my time pursuing something, I want to SAVOR the experience (Maria's perfectly descriptive word). What I am doing right now--being a mom and wife and daughter and friend--are the things I want to "savor."

Soon after this lunch meeting, I went to St. George with Madi for a few days and spent some precious time with her before the rest of the family came down to join us. Although it was a rainy weekend, which curtailed some of our planned activities, it was still heaven to "laze" around with Steve, Ashley, Madi, Kelsey and Covey. We watched "I Love Lucy" episodes, basketball, movies, ate good food, did an "Insanity" workout and logged in some great running miles. We attended a local ward on Sunday, and the family that spoke had the assignment of talking about Family Home Evening. The mother of the family told us that in preparation for her talk, the following three words kept coming to her mind: Stronger Than Ever. Those words, along with the rest of her talk, struck a chord in my heart of the very thing I had been struggling with (what to do with my extra time) and helped me to see very clearly that my extra time is sacred time to be dedicated to my family: my husband and my four girls/their current and future spouses, my parents, my in-laws, my extended family, my ward family, my world family...in that order.

A day after getting home from St. George, Markelle called up very sick and needing some mommy love time. I had the luxury of a free day to take her to the doctor, get her Rx filled, take her to lunch, help her order glasses, and even try on clothes together at the mall (while waiting for the lenses to be made). This was such a gift to both Markelle and myself, to have this quality one on one time to be together, with all of the grief and pain behind us, and a chance to be our true selves with each other.

The final icing on the cake, the personal message from Heavenly Father to let me know that I am on the right track with my relationship with my family, and that I AM doing something fulfilling with my time, was this little book that Maria gave me for my birthday:

On the back cover it reads: "Coming home to ourselves, we are able to offer our children the one thing they need more than anything else: our own quiet presence. And we receive something priceless in return--the chance to savor our lives and the precious people in them."

Oh, Yes I Did!

2011-02-16T14:27:00.001-08:00

One nice thing about turning 44 is that you can wear the Birthday Hat with PRIDE!

V-day epilogue

2011-02-15T09:52:00.000-08:00

Note to self: don't spend ALL the V-day energy on the kids....leave a little something for the TRUE Valentine of your life.

May we have a do-over, honey?

A Lover of Lover's Day, and proud of it!

2011-02-14T06:20:00.001-08:00

This is my Valentine shout out to all of the lovely people of this magnificent planet!

When people are asked to name their favorite holiday, they will most likely choose Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Halloween. But me? If you were to ask me, I would tell you that Valentine's is my holiday of choice. Because of it's close proximity to my birthday, I have always considered it my personal holiday. And it's all about LOVE! Not necessarily boy/girl love, but love of everyone in your life--past, present and future. The ability to love is one of the most glorious thing about being a son or daughter of loving Heavenly Parents.

Many years ago, our family's Valentines Day tradition morphed into a celebratory breakfast, complete with sugar cookies, strawberry crepes, hand written Valentines cards and flowers. What girl does not love receiving flowers? No matter what ever else is going on in their personal lives, all of our girls get some loving from their mommy and daddy.

This year, we have a daughter with a built-in flowergiver, but we wanted to show her and husband how much we love and appreciate them. On a whim, we drove down to Provo and heart attacked their humble little patch of grass and front door. Then we stayed and had a nice visit. They didn't even know about the heart attack until we left to go home!

Last night, Steve and I stayed up after the girls went to bed to make our Valentine's Day preparations: table set? check. Flowers? check. Cookies? check.

Love sentiments in cards? check.

Happy Valentine's Day, darling girls! We love you!

Holly Golightly goes to a dance....

2011-02-13T21:36:00.001-08:00

We love Audrey Hepburn at our house...especially Madi. She has a lot of Audrey inspired clothing, and she definitely has the body type...although she isn't as tall as Audrey.

When it was time to find a dress for the Bountiful Sweetheart dance, Madi took a page out of Audrey's design book. She found this luscious little number:

She looked absolutely stunning!

I've decided that I have to pose with my arms bent so that you can't see my "bat wings."

Thanks, Adam, for inviting her with 50 beautiful and perfect long-stemmed roses. We have been enjoying them in our entryway for the last two weeks!

It's All about the Hills

2011-02-05T11:40:00.000-08:00

Last week I received an email from my Ragnar team (RunWalkCrawl) with our "assigned" legs, and I noticed that, although I had requested leg 11 or 12, I was asked to do leg 10. The asking was followed by a bunch of "please, please, please!" All I remember about leg #10 during last year's race was watching Lisa S. run 4 miles straight up a gravel path on a very hot day. She had her Camelback on, but as her support vehicle we were still worried about dehydration. We all watched in wonder at her studliness while at the same time silently sending up prayers to the heavens that we weren't running that leg. So, with great trepidation at receiving this "assignment," I pulled up the Ragnar course map:

Yep, it is still as gnarly as it was last year. But with a huge "gulp," I typed back a "yes," closed my eyes and hit the "send" button. I am committed to leg #10, with it's Easy 3.6, Hard 7.7 and Very Hard 4.0.

Now for the training. I am so lucky to live in the foothills of Bountiful. If I want to go anywhere, it involves going up or down a hill. I knew that I could come up with a good simulation for Ragnar. I clocked a great training run in my car, and today I ran it and it felt great! Mentally and physically, I know I can do this. And I will definitely live up to our team name of Run, Walk, Crawl (as I will be doing all three!).

One Year Older and Wiser Too...

2011-01-30T21:13:00.001-08:00

(My famous German Chocolate cake. That's how you know how much I really love you!)

Happy Birthday, To You!

Happy day to you, Mer Baby. 19 years of WOW!

Grandpa and Grandma Van Horn and Bam and Dandad Mordue

Markelle gets a lot of her spunk and sparkle and creativity from these four folks. As Grandad is fond of saying, "She has 25% of my genes!"

Channelling Sarah B.

2011-01-26T16:04:00.001-08:00

This is Sarah B., one of the most genuinely beautiful--both inside and out--people I know. She is thoughtful, kind, gracious, helpful, uplifting, and eternally positive. Her spiritual depth is breathtaking and she has an incredible brain in that beautiful head of hers. She always has an enthusiastic "Wonderful!" or "Fantastic!" ready to unleash under any circumstances, whether it truly IS fantastic, or an utterly chaotic disaster. I find that when I want to be really, really, really nice (for instance: when I at work, or answering the phone at home, or meeting people I don't know very well) I ask myself the very important question, "WWSS? (What Would Sarah Say) and before I know it, phrases such as: "That is absolutely FANTASTIC!" or "Wonderful!" or "Thank you so much!" and "I would LOVE to!" come rolling off of my tongue.

Something very magical happens when I channel my inner Sarah: I have a smile on my face and in my voice and I feel HAPPY!

But it's exhausting to keep up. How does she do it?

Roy G. Biv

2011-01-26T08:43:00.001-08:00

One of the greatest things I learned from books is how to remember the order of the colors in a rainbow. When I was about eight, I read a mystery novel, and one of the clues that gave away the criminal was the use of the name Roy G. Biv. The smart young detective spotted this immediately for the mnenomic device it was: the 1st letters of the colors in the rainbow. I have used this immeasurably over the years, and today I shared it with my nephew, Asher. I realized after watching a very informative episode of Dr. Oz that I am not eating nearly enough of the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables. So with Roy G. Biv and Asher in hand, we headed to the grocery store, where I had Asher pick out: Red apples and bell pepper, Orange grapefruit and carrots, Yellow lemon, Green cucumbers and broccoli, Blueberries, Indigo grapes and Violet (purple) cabbage.

Just look at that smile:

Dang, now I can't get that cheesy song out of my head...you know, the one that was played with the primary lesson? "I'll build you a rainbow...."

The Trust? Fall

2011-01-19T07:09:00.001-08:00

"Just put your heels on the back of the platform, spread your arms out and fall."--Dan, Outfitters of Kauai.

This, coming from the man that snuck a picture of himself on our camera! We found this nice surprise as we were looking through our pictures after we got back from our zipline adventure.

Kauai on my mind....

2011-01-15T18:57:00.000-08:00

Things to remember during the long, cold months of winter:

Lappert's macadamia nut coconut hot fudge ice cream, Pukadogs, fresh fish: mahimahi, ono, ahi, opah, lava flow mocktail, hula pie, plumeria scented lotion, orchid gardens, warm rain, humidity laden air, soft breezes, fresh fruit stands, tropical forests, soft sand, tropical fish, sea turtles, colorful roosters, no schedules, changing sky, long walks, beautiful music, fire dancers and beating drums, cute water boys (Madi and Ashley, haha), hawaiian quilts, being sung to by the local LDS ward, long drives along beautiful coastline, mysterious mountains, wearing "slippers," running in shorts and tank top, adrenalin rush of zip lines and pouring down rain, being together in a beautiful place.

Until next time, because we WILL be back!

Po'ipu

2011-01-12T23:14:00.000-08:00

On the flight out to Hawaii, the in flight movie was "Life as We Know It" w/Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. There is a line in the movie that was overplayed in the trailers, but still got an immature laugh out of Steve and I every time we heard it. Now that we are staying at a resort in Po'i pu, we keep saying that line to each other: "Darling, you've got po'ipu on your face!" Hahaha, are we a couple of eight year old boys, or what?

Conversation in car today:

Dandad: Those are taro fields, it's what they make poi out of.

Madi: What does poi taste like?

Dandad: Let's just say that Po'ipu is aptly named.

To Love it is to Run it

2011-01-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

This morning I got up, put on my running clothes, laced up my shoes and headed out for a run. As I passed by beautiful and unique vegetation, listened to the birds chirp and the roosters crow, felt the warm island breeze and eventually the light sprinkle of rain on my face and I couldn't help but feel on top of the world and fall in love with my surroundings. I'm sure it's the endorphins pumping through my brain, but I am convinced that to truly love a new place--and to really appreciate it's charms--you have to RUN it. I have fond memories of running along the river walks in Portland, OR and Spokane, WA and the red rocks of Lake Powell, the beaches of California, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii, countless roads across the U.S. and even a parking lot in Ontario, OR (believe it or not, I eeked out a 6 mile run using the parking lots of big box stores such as Home Depot!) There is nothing that makes you feel more alive than running in the open air and elements, feeling your heart pumping, your lungs working and all the parts of your body humming in unison to move yourself forward. I love it!

Getting old...

2011-01-08T23:58:00.000-08:00

We left this morning for Kuaui (yippee!), and when Boyd arrived at 7:45 to take us to the airport, it took a good half hour for Steve to go through the house ONE MORE TIME to make sure that every light was off, every lock was in place, every little possible item he would need for our trip was packed. And please do not rush him, it will just fluster him even more. I've learned this over the years. Getting out the door is a process. We had to move all four cars around, and get keys/remotes together to give to Jody (who will be picking us up when we come back). Finally, I just joined the girls in the waiting car, knowing that Steve would come out eventually. He came out the front door, locked it, checked it and we were ready to go. After a little glitch at the airport (I had to run back to check some lacrosse sticks through--the TSA wouldn't let us take them through security...you have to worry about Madi using it as a weapon!) we finally made it on the plane and all the worries and stress of the last week were a memory. Then Steve leaned over to me and asked, "Did I lock the front door?" I am just wearing a Big Ol' Smile!

Happiness and Love

2011-01-06T18:43:00.000-08:00

I came across this picture on www.leweddingparty.com, and I was bowled over by the pure happiness and joy of this darling couple. I don't even know who they are, yet I can feel their excitement and enthusiasm for each other and life and their upcoming marriage adventure. Here's a big Toyota leap to happiness, joy and LOVE!