Easter

Easter Sunday was a treat from beginning to end. We had planned to attend Music and the Spoken Word as a family, but forgot that the age limit is 8 years old. Nathan took the younger two over to the visitor center, and I went in with Cameron, Jason, and Tiffany. We had seats near the front, and enjoyed the whole program. After the program we spent some time walking around Temple Square. I think we usually take the family there when the whole world gathers to see the Christmas lights, so it was fun to be there when it was not extra busy, and it wasn't freezing! We went back to the hotel, checked out, and stopped by the This is the Place monument. I am ashamed to say that I have never been there before - how does that happen? I grew up in Utah, for goodness sakes!! We spent the rest of the day with our friends in Park City. They had organized a big Easter egg hunt in the back yard - they even went to the effort to shop vac up the majority of the deer and elk poop pellets that sprinkled the yard. We wouldn't want them to be mistaken for chocolate Easter eggs, now would we? We did chuckle a bit, because the oldest son had been out "helping" hide the eggs (He is at least 30). He opened several eggs and ate the candy, then filled them with gravel and put them back. My Andrea opened three such eggs, and was a bit more cautious about just opening the egg and dumping the contents into her bucket after the first gravel filled one! :-) We enjoyed good (great) food, wonderful friendship, and a beautiful day.

Spring into new focus?

The semester has drawn to a close. Physiology is done, nutrition is complete, and I have one final test to finish off human development. Two A's and one B. 10 more credits under my belt...or on my transcript, I suppose...and the prerequisites for nursing programs are done. Two programs have been applied to, and the wait is in full swing. And I find myself curiously floundering. I have let the bathrooms be dirtier than normal, have trimmed down the menu plan to meals that can be prepared in five minutes or less, and the wood floor has been spot mopped for a month. But I have the oddest sense of needing something to do! I threw my heart and energy into successfully getting through these classes, and I'm having a hard time pulling myself into the new - old - current phase of house cleaning and projects. My sister informed me that I had this same problem when I was released from a responsible and time consuming church calling several years ago. Is this a basic flaw in my character?

I have concluded that I have adjustment problems. I dive in head first to opportunities (just not into cold swimming pools), and coming back out is painful. On the other hand, once the transformation has occurred, my appreciation for the past experience increases, and I'm thrilled to have moved past it. The constant is my cute little family (can my 6'4'' tall fifteen year old be called "little"?) that takes up my first love and attention. There is always more than enough to do with them and for them. They make me laugh, and sometime make me grind my teeth. Over spring break we spent lots of uninterrupted time together, and it was wonderful. (More to come on that...I haven't downloaded the pictures yet) I may feel the pain of change, but the joy and work of the experience is worth it!

Where do they come up with these things?

Derek played in his soccer game on Saturday. It was freezing cold, little snow flakes were blowing around, and I didn't bring a hat for his little ears. When he was out, he would come sit on my lap, and I would try to warm up his ears and hands. He turned to me and said, "Mother, I love you so much!". I said, "I love you too, buddy!". He said "Oh man, I was trying to make this romantic, and you ruined it!"