Keepers

A good friend sent me this article that reminded me of the adage:

Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or do without."

It looks like our society is returning to this old way of thinking, partly because of the desire to be green and partly due to the economy. I think that's a change for the better. Here it is:

"I grew up with practical grandparents who had been frightened by the Great Depression in the 1930's. A mother who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a Name for it.... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things;Â a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.

"It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that repairing, eating, reusing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

"But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

"Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So.. While we have it... it's best we love it... And care for it.... And fix it when it's broken..... And heal it when it's sick.

"This is true... For marriage.... And old cars.... And children with bad report cards..... And dogs and cats with bad hips.... And aging parents.... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with...


"There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special.... And so, we keep them close!"

... Even when we live far apart.

This and That

Roger and I spent Tuesday in NYC. We parked in the Bronx, walked at least a mile to the subway which we took to see his spine doctor. We had to walk another 10 minutes to his office and the good news is that he declared last year's surgery a success!

After the Dr. we had a wonderful walk through Central Park (another 20-25 min) to the temple. It was cool but sunny and we went further north than we've ever gone. Lots of people were enjoying the park with us:)


We were able to join our good friend, Corie Richter, when she received her endowment. It was wonderful in every way. The security took a photo of some of us who were there. This is in the entry between the front door of the building and the front door of the temple.


Thursday night was our RS Birthday dinner and service auction. I baked 6 1/2 dozen rolls and made a big cranapple salad with poppy seed dressing for the dinner and 2 dozen cinnamon rolls for the service auction. When I got to the church I helped some more - It was a lllloooonnnggg day in the kitchen, but everything turned out okay.




This is what I won at the auction - a homemade apple pie (for Dad) and a knitted cap from Anne Nagy. I think I did quite well. And I slept extremely well last night.

Today I subbed at an elementary school and was told more than once by a young boy that he loved me. Aren't teachers lucky?!

Creating memories

In preparing a brief history of service in Relief Society to share at our ward RS birthday celebration and service auction, I found an excellent video based on Elder Uchtdorf's talk about the importance of creating. I think you will appreciate it as much as I did - watch it at http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4644-1,00.html.


Roger decided to do some creating of his own over the weekend. He chipped out 4 kitchen floor tiles that were cracked when our granite counter tops were installed. (That was a sad story.) Then replaced the tiles. The process took more than an hour per tile, but it looks great now. See for yourself:




And to make it a memorable weekend, Jim and Ann joined us last night to celebrate Roger's birthday (not even 5 weeks late). Here they are standing by the new tile. We're wondering if we'll live close enough to maintain the tradition of celebrating with the Rawlings next year - Where will we be? Where will they be? We've stayed together through 2 moves; can it happen again? We'd like that very much!

A Good Day

Here's the Saudi Arabian salt & pepper camel set. Isn't it adorable?!


Yesterday was a day full of good news! First of all, my mom is home and feeling much better, after a day of severe stomach problems and a night in the hospital. I talked to her on the phone last night and her voice was the strongest I've heard in a lllloooonnnngggg time. That makes me very very happy.





Also, I finished writing a paper for lesson one of my capstone course at BYU. YEA!!! I can't express what a tremendously welcome relief that brings. I've already completed lesson two's assignment so I'm on to lesson three today. I will make it!

Last of all, Norm and Gus accidentally called last evening and we had a good visit with them, in spite of our political differences. They said to give their love to everyone in the family, so there you have it.

Family - It's About Time

Well, it's almost a month since my last post. That's because our home was full of people we love and I haven't had a chance to sit at the computer. First Dave, Belky, Elena, and Victoria came. We were so spoiled and loved every minute of it.



Then we had the privilege of playing with the girls for a whole week while Daddy and Mommy went to Saudi Arabia. Thanks to the miracle of the computer, the girls got to see and talk to them almost every day. I took them to the the Children's Museum, to play in the snow, and to Church. I was quickly reminded of how much energy it requires to be responsible for preschoolers and felt a renewed gratitude and admiration for the parents of my grandchildren.







Cheryl, Kayli, and Bryce joined us for a few days, letting these cousins get better acquainted and making their visit even more fun.














With Roger's help, the girls and I, along with a large suitcase, double stroller, and 4 bags of miscellaneous items boarded the train to Grand Central Terminal, where David and Belky met us.


We had a great visit in GCT for a couple of hours and then rode the subway together to the AirTrain where we had to say "good bye." They brought me the cutest S&P set and a beautiful rug.

A few days later, Jennifer came for a week. Roger again drove us to the train to GCT in NYC early the morning and we walked a few blocks to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum where we hung out with many famous figures, past and present. It was great fun, especially with Jennifer who knew who they all were :) After some shopping we went to lunch at Red Lobster and then to the Broadway production of Mary Poppins. It was very well done, and somehow she magically pulled a plant, floor lamp, and bed out of her handbag. We were center stage 4 rows back, not bad! Amazingly, everything we did took place on the same block.

After a day of watching Jane Eyre (5 1/2 hours!)




Roger drove us to Stew Leonard's in Danbury where we met Cheryl and ate samples until we couldn't eat any more.





We had a great time duck pin bowling that night, where Roger met us. The next day we had a blast at the New England Aquarium in Boston and then drove home so I could teach RS on Sunday. Megan suggested I post the lesson, which I will do on our family website.

Cheryl and the kids arrived and helped us prepare dinner for Joe & Ginger. We ate, played games, and sent them on their way before the snowstorm that lasted the next 24 hours.



The rest of the week was spent visiting, playing with the kids, and eating and eating and eating deliciously rich food. We all worked on food preparation since it was about the only way we were burning off any of the calories :)









Sadly I had to say good bye to everyone yesterday afternoon. It was very hard to come home to an empty house. But the good news is that Amy is flying out in 2 1/2 weeks so we'll get to see her and Blake, Cheryl, and kids again! :)

I love our family!!!