Greg's Mission Call

As one of the youngest in his graduating class, Greg has been anxious to join the ranks of those receiving mission calls. Over Christmas break from BYU, he applied for his passport, went to the dentist, went to the doctor and got some immunizations, and had his wisdom teeth out. He completed his paperwork and interviewed with his BYU bishop and stake president. He had things ready and turned them over to his stake president over President's Day weekend when he came home for his friend's farewell.

Greg had his call sent to him in Provo, but he knew we wanted to be involved. Particularly, he knew that I would be crazy if I couldn't see him open it. Therefore, he promised that he would wait for us to join him in Provo as he opened it. Greg texted me that he'd gotten that precious envelope in the mail on Feb. 29, 2012 (leap day).

I told Greg that if he couldn't stand the wait, please just call us and we'd be with him over the phone. He's a patient guy, so we left home as soon as everyone was free from school on Friday, March 2, 2012. Greg invited some friends and nearby relatives. Grandpa and Grandma Herron stayed home and anxiously awaited a phone call. We picked up Grandma Bird on our way through Salt Lake and arrived a little late for our 7:30 p.m. appointment with Greg.

We'd reserved a room in the Heritage Halls Central Building for the event. We picked up two Baskin-Robbins ice cream cakes on the way. We were met by Greg, Cindy Glad, Kirby Glad, Sarah Glad, Marcie Glad, Jacqui, her boyfriend Brendan, and many of Greg's friends, roommates and ward members.

Aunt Cindy videotaped the event. Greg drew in his breath, opened the envelope and started reading his letter. I saw him glance ahead, but couldn't tell what his expression meant.

He caught himself and continued reading. " You have been called to serve in the Spain, Madrid Mission. . . . you will enter the MTC on August 1, 2012." We cheered. He grinned with excitement. Robert walked over and gave Greg a hug, and I got my head and did the same.

We're proud of him. He took the lead and got his call. We're working on his visa paperwork as he finishes up his Winter semester. He will attend school for the Spring term and return home in the middle of June for six weeks of final preparation. We are excited to participate in his preparation and experience in Spain. He will have an amazing experience as he shares the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who are ready to listen.

We're grateful for the young man Greg is and pray that he'll stay strong and face the challenges which will face him in his time of preparation and service.

When Robert returns home with the Corinne's camera, I'll try to post some pictures and maybe even the video (if I can)

Recipes from Christmas

Kirby these are for you.

Fudge Sauce

2 cubes butter or margarine
4 cups powdered sugar
1 can evaporated milk
1 cup chocolate chips (semisweet)

Mix together. Boil 8 minutes. Add 1 tsp. vanilla


Triple Chocolate Fudge

6 cups sugar
1 cup butter
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (11 1/2 ounce) package (2 cups) real milk chocolate chips
1 (12 ounce) package (2 cups) semi-sweet real chocolate chips
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 (13 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
1 tablespoon almond extract
1 tablespoon vanilla

1. Combine sugar, butter, evaporated milk and cream cheese in 6-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally with wire whisk, until mixture comes to full boil (20 to 30 minutes). Boil, stirring constantly, until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees or a small amount of mixture dropped into ice water forms soft ball (10 to 13 minutes).
2.Remove from heat; whisk in all chocolate and marshmallow creme. Beat until smooth and glossy. Stir in almond extract and vanilla.
3. Pour mixture into buttered 15 x 10 x 1-inch jelly-roll pan. Refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours). Cut into pieces. Store refrigerated.

I'm not an Incredible Woman

My sister-in-law Kara has a blog called Incredible Women. She was running dry on ideas for this week, so she interviewed me. If anyone is interested you can go to www.reallyincrediblewomen.blogspot.com and read the interview. She posts the answers to two questions a day, so you may want to check it a few times. She's looking for amazing women to spotlight, so she has a way to nominate anyone you find interesting.

I Can Draw Me!

I don't know how I ever got roped into being an Art Mom. Never in my life have I claimed any artistic ability. When I was in high school, my English teacher assigned us to to write poems on a monthly basis. I didn't find that so terrible, but she had us illustrate them so she could post them on the bulletin board. My art almost always consisted of scraps of construction paper cut into geometric shapes and scattered across the page. I didn't even want to try drawing. I'd always told myself I was awful at drawing. I hated to do art--and was incredibily jealous of those who could. So, two years ago Claire's first grade class needed an Art Mom, and someone tried to recruit me. I resisted, but knew how much Claire likes art. Reluctantly I decided that if she was to ever have a chance at doing well at art, she needed some support at home.

I figured that I could probably draw as well as the first graders, and since the art projects were all outlined for me, I could manage. I enjoyed it, but didn't seek out any other opportunities--until this fall. Claire's third grade class was again short in that department, and my neighbor was in charge. She asked, I conceded, and have enjoyed the projects, but still feel I'm not really the woman for the job.

So, yesterday I looked at the project I'd intended and realized it seemed really similar to those the children had done already this year. I called a friend, who really enjoys teaching art at her daughter's school, and asked for an easy project with little prep time. Art was today before lunch.

She suggested drawing realistic portraits. She had prepared instructions on how the face is proportioned, so I decided to try it. WOW!

I still believe true art is a gift. The ability to create something with enough vision to move and inspire others thoughts and actions has to come from the depths of the soul. But good instruction and teaching can really improve any skill, and the ability to draw is a skill that can be taught. I teach my writing students that, but have a renewed understanding of it from a different point of view. I could actually see myself in my self portrait. Corinne tried it as well. The whole family was amazed at our abilities!

I'm not the most skilled art teacher, but the students seemed to have fun and learn. Some turned out amazing; some turned out pretty good;but they all turned out more realistic than they would have without the instruction.

I'm thrilled. I can draw me. I am an Art Mom. Any skill can be improved by instruction.

Halloween

We love Halloween. This year, the kids looked great. Corinne was a cave girl. Claire went as Ginny Weasley(from the Harry Potter stories). Mark was a scary, cute pirate. Greg went to a school dance as a '20s gangster, and his date, Sarah Eyring, went as a flapper. We think they looked very good.

The week was full of events starting the Friday a week before with the school carnival. On the 30th the kids had their class parties, which were fun. Then on the big day, Robert and Bruce Baxter took the kids "trick or treating" and afterward we all went to the Baxter house for their traditional candy swap and socializing.

On Sunday, we had the practice for the Primary Program, so the children had two hours in the Primary room. They were very energetic from the candy the night before. I hope that our Saturday practice goes better. The kids always pull it off in the end and I'm sure it will go well on Sunday, but it really strips the nerves to prepare for it. Now it's on to November for birthdays and Thanksgiving. . . .

Steven's Farewell

We had a wonderful trip last weekend--short, but wonderful. After watching some great soccer games on Friday and Saturday, we speed-cleaned the house, then packed and headed to Utah. We visited with Grandma Bird, Grandma and Grandpa Herron, saw parts of the sad BYU game, and picked up Jacqui from Provo. She seems like she's doing great. It was so very good to see her.

Sunday morning, we got up early and went to sacrament meeting in the ward Robert grew up in. Robert's sister Bonnie and her husband Richard live there near Robert's mom. Bonnie's son Steven was speaking before he leaves on Wednesday (tomorrow) for the MTC. He will be there two months before serving in Cebu, Phillippines. We're very proud of him. He gave a great talk. He is a strong young man. We'll miss him--especially Greg and Jacqui. He's part of their cousins "group." It was good to see him and all the family.

After a perfect afternoon in Bonnie's backyard (which brought back memories because we lived in their basement when Robert was at the U and Jacqui was born while we lived there), we headed to Provo to drop Jacqui back off. The kids got to see her dorm and her roommates. She has great roommates who have bonded well and really look out for each other. From there we headed back home. The only down side to the trip was that Claire and Mark were sniffling and coughing the whole ride home. I kept them home from school on Monday. They weren't nearly sick enough for that, but the schools are very cautious right now, and I didn't want them sent home. They played and played all day--something they haven't enjoyed very much lately. I guess there's even an upside to the colds.

Any Suggestions Would Be Appreciated

I'm so new to blogging and illiterate about it, that I can't figure out how to place my pictures where I want them or how to keep them from keeping my writing from looking ridiculous. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Life in the Latest Stage

Robert and I bottled 13 quarts of pears today. His mom gave them to us last week, and Robert volunteered to help bottle them before he starts work tomorrow. It was really nice working with him while everyone was gone. He told me about the article he's working on, and we listened to the sound tracks of The King and I and Phantom of the Opera. We watched Mark and his friends have kicking fights with each other until the Recess Duty came over and gave them a warning. (Our backyard opens into the school yard.) I was carefully watching because some of the time it looked like he was in his mean mode, but nothing seemed to come of it.

I'm wondering how Jacqui's first day of class went, but I'm trying to resist hovering, so I'm hoping she'll call me before I call her.

New Stages

Jacqui is in college. How did she get so big? Is she ready for this? Am I ready for this?

I have always been so ready for Jacqui (my oldest) to go through each of the big firsts in life, and move into each new stage. I've loved watching her go to Kindergarten, middle school, jr. high, high school, into Young Women's, on her first date, even through applying for college and getting accepted. I've figured it was because I really enjoyed most of those stages myself, and wanted to help her enjoy these stages. But on Monday I left her 300 miles away where she will be working hard, dating, learning, stressing, crying, and living without me there to wipe her tears, cheer her on, and let her know how much we love her. I know she's capable of doing all this for herself. She's a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman now. But my greatest fear in the world has always been that something would happen to my children, and I wouldn't be the first to know and comfort them. Now, it's highly likely that she's have some tough experiences without me. I'm sure she'll do great, but I don't get to be as directly part of her life. She'll have to decide what to tell me, how much to include me, and how much she needs. I already miss the day to day involvement in what she does.

My Third 10k

Last Saturday, I ran the Teton Dam 10k. It was a a hard run for the first half, then the last 1 1/2 miles were downhill. I hadn't run that far yet this spring, so I was worried. The most I'd run this year is 5 miles.

I was really worried that the weather'd be lousy, but it was a beautiful day until just after the whole marathon was over, then the clouds burst and it poured. I'm proud to say that this was my best time--I'm not in it for any records, just to better my time every year. I ran it in 1 hour 4 minutes 46.5 seconds. I took fourth in my gender/age group. That sounds great, but there were only 6 in that group. I was 15 seconds behind the woman who got third, which was the last award they gave. I'm proud of myself. I wasn't in the best shape last summer, so I passed on the race. It made me mad at myself, so I decided I needed to be able to do it this year.

For those of you who know that Greg's run this with me before, I just want to add that Greg had shin splints this spring during soccer, so he opted out this year.

A short bit of history for those who care. The Teton Dam Marathon was started about 6 years ago to commemorate the breaking of the Teton Dam, which flooded our little town of Rexburg and many others. The race starts at the old dam site and ends at Smith Park, which is 1/2 a block from my house. There's a 5k, 10k, half-marathon, and a relay as well, so that those of us who are not real runners can play, too. Since the race literally runs by my house, I decided I didn't want to just sit on the sidelines. I don't do any other races, just this one. It's sort of my own personal marker.

The Awards Night

On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, we were invited to the Senior Awards Night. At our high school, the awards night presents the scholarships that each of the students have been awarded for the next year.

We knew that Jacqui hadn't received a scholarship from BYU-Provo, where she is planning on attending, but had applied for another scholarship. We weren't exactly sure why she was invited, but we went.

As the night began, we were excited to see what she had been awarded. One by one her friends were called up for this or that scholarship. As the Harlo Rigby Scholarship was announced and she was not the recipient, I started wondering why we were there. I felt bad for Jacqui because I could tell that she was getting a little discouraged.

When the BYU-Idaho people came up and started pulling almost every senior there up for scholarships, her name was called. She went up, but the awards they handed out didn't specify the amount of her award. Since the list was so long, she felt that her award was probably just a quarter scholarship. I could tell that she was feeling outclassed by her peers.

We congratulated her and were happy for her. Later, as graduation day came and went, I was thinking how much she'd achieved. We'd always pressured her to do her best and encouraged her to really stretch. As we did this, we sometimes used examples of ourselves and set expectations really high. I thought about how much she'd accomplished. I decided that, even though we've often told her this, she really needed to hear how much we admired her.

I took the opportunity to tell her that with a 3.99 GPA and having played soccer 4 years, done debate for 2 years, and being a student body officer for one year, she had achieved things neither her father nor I had accomplished. She has worked incredibly hard and is an amazing girl. We are very proud of her.

The conclusion to awards night comes about a week later when Robert found a newspaper article posting all the scholarships of the graduating seniors. Jacqui still hadn't checked out the website at BYU-Idaho to find her award amount. The newspaper announced that she'd earned a 1 year 1/2 tuition scholarship. We were surprised, though we shouldn't have been. With our tuition waiver she could have attended for one year free, and then continued on with the 1/2 tuition waiver for the rest of the four years. She is still attending BYU-Provo, where scholarships are harder to come by, but we were all pleased that her hard work was recognized by someone.

Dance Recital

This is the conclusion to the April 23rd post. On May 7, 2009, all three girls danced in their recital. They danced beautifully. To me, they were each the star of the class. This was Jacqui's last recital--a very bittersweet evening for both Jacqui and me. She's danced with her teacher for 13 years and has learned so much.

If you read the post about preparedness, then you know I was concerned that we'd spoiled Corinne's pictures for her. Thank goodness, they turned out beautifully. She looks poised and serene, and the flowers we pinned on look almost normal. In her solo picture, you'd never know that they were not supposed to be that way. Each of the girls had a fun photo this year.

Greg's First Date

Yes, that's right, we allowed Greg to go on a date before he was sixteen.

Here's the story. So, Jacqui and I were talking about what she was going to wear and what she and her date would do for the Commencement dance. She mentioned that Ty, her date, hadn't found a group to go with yet. I asked who was taking her good friends Ashlie and Valerie. She said that neither of them had been asked. I was surprised; they usually go to the dances.

Jokingly, I said, "Well, Greg should ask Valerie, and you could double."

She laughed and then decided that sounded like fun. "But then we'd need to get a date for Ashlie."

Well, I knew exactly who to set up with her. Greg's best bud Brodie Davison had been crushing on Ashlie off and on since he was 11 or 12. You know the obnoxious way little brother's friends cause problems, insert themselves next to you on the couch, and throw things at you. Well, we got talking and thought this might work. It would be fun to have them all go, the girls would get to go to their senior prom, and Brodie and Greg would get to take out good-looking senior girls as lowly sophomores.

We talked with Greg and Brodie, and found there were a couple of problems. First, Brodie had to work that night. Second, Greg would be in a soccer tournament in Pocatello all that Saturday. We decided that if Val didn't mind missing her date during the pre-date date, then Greg might be able to survive three games and make it back in time for pictures, dinner, and the dance.

Brodie finally found out on Wednesday that he could get the night off. He was excited about the proposition and came up with an interesting way to ask her. The problem: dance on Saturday. Thursday came, and Greg was still waffling on whether he'd have the energy for the date after soccer. He was convinced when we decided that since neither of the boys had suits yet, we'd let them rent tuxes. That idea really appealed to him.

I was excited to see the two handsome boys in tuxes, and Jacqui was thrilled this was all coming together. She was so excited. Brodie's like a third brother, and her best friends would get the chance to go. Since time was short, Jacqui hinted at the friends through texts that they might be asked, and asked what dresses they'd wear. We got the colors, so, before they even asked the girls out, they went and rented their tuxedos. Jacqui took charge of ordering the corsages. Brodie's mom, Colette, just laughed because every time she asked Brodie if he'd thought of this or that, he answered that Jacqui'd taken care of it.

On Friday, (yes, the day before the dance), the boys put Goldfish crackers, sour gummy works, and a fishing line in the girls' shared locker. They each had a cute saying that asked the girl. Brodie'd had a running joke with Ashlie about catching her once ( I don't know the details.), so they played on that.

The girls answered that night with their own goldfish. Brodie was at work so his parents took the package to him. Before he got to open it, he told his parents that he didn't feel so well. He couldn't breathe very well. He has a personal and family history of some heart problems, so his parents decided to take him to the hospital for some tests. After the tests showed nothing was wrong, he had a strange reaction to the dye for the MRI, so he was treated for that and went home that night with a big nose.

By morning, Brodie's nose was normal. Jacqui, Ty, Brodie, Ashlie, and Valerie went out to the country and played air soft guns. Greg went to the tournament, won two games, lost the third, and made it back in time to shower, shave, and take pictures before he picked up his date.

The guys looked handsome. The girls beautiful. They had their pictures taken, went to Idaho Falls to eat at Johnny Carino's, and went back to the dance. Jacqui said that Greg was a little tired, but they all had a good time.

It was a fun experience, but I told Greg that this can't count as his first date because he's supposed to take me out first.

I'm teaching this term, so I started on Monday. My students are about to write a "This I Believe" Statement, so I'm doing some pondering about what I would write if I had time.

I believe in being prepared. As is often the case, I was reminded of this belief by failing to be prepared. Every single year for 13 years now, my daughters have taken dance. Each year, as the recital draws near, we are given lists, costumes, props, and so on to prepare us for the big day. I take my daughters, carefully coiffed, made up, and dressed to the picture night. Each year there is someone who doesn't have all the correct pieces, is late, or unprepared in any number of ways. I take my safety pins, bobby pins, hairspray, and make-up and share whatever I can with those in need. I tote everything I can think of so that I will be prepared. I'm bothered by those who don't remember everything and fill in with what I can so that the pictures or recital night can be perfect.

Then comes yesterday. My oldest is in her final year, and I have two other daughters to prepare for the day. As I run out of the house five minutes late for the youngest's appointment, I hope the older two would be on track, but it is not to be. First, as we arrive, Claire realizes that she forgot her ballet shoes. Oops, but I've seen this one done a thousand times--borrow the shoes of a girl from another class. Good, got that done with just a minor inconvenience. We head home to get the next girl.

After the five minute drive home, I find a grumpy near-13-year old (a week to the day) who's not happy that the older sister has been putting her make up on her. She thinks it's too heavy, but it looks fine to me.

Did I remember to pick up some white tights on the way home? Nope--she'll have to borrow from Jacqui. We start primping at the incredibly clumpy mascara, clean it up, and move on to the hair when I look down at the clock. "Oh, it's 7:50," I stupidly mutter. Corinne hears this and bursts into tears. "

"My appointment was for 7:45, and I'm not even dressed!"

Unprepared for the typical young teenage outburst, I grump on my own. "Don't start this. It doesn't do any good." I go on and on. She shuts down, so I walk out of the room. I need a few seconds to blow of steam, but oops, she storms off to her room crying. GREAT! Now we're all a mess and late. Jacqui shifts over and starts working calmly on her makeup.

I've done this before. I should know how to defuse this situation, calm her down and get her in the car. I should be prepared. This time I'm too frazzled myself, so I blow it up. She's dressing, crying, and I just look at her and tell her that there is no way she's going to do this. Just stop right now. It's over. You can't cry anymore. --Like that would ever calm anyone down.

Finally, after 8:00 we pull out of the driveway. As we pull into the studio, we grab everything and rush inside. I'm hoping for some distance to calm her down. Let her stand with her friends or something, but the next thing I hear is "Mom, I forgot my flowers." I'm tempted to send Jacqui home, but then she'd be further behind and Melanie (the dance teacher) says, "I've got some." We madly start pinning individual flowers the teacher has (because she is always prepared). Corinne's putting on her pointe shoes, we're pinning, and the photographer and his assistant keep calling out "any more white girls [costume description not physical]?" We keep saying, "yes, but just a moment." The ballet teacher is unfrazzled. She keeps pinning and handles others problems as we go. "Yes, I've got some of those." --and heads to get them, then comes back to pinning--still she pins more than I can and finally Corinne is ready. She gets her picture taken. I'm afraid to watch. I don't even see if she's able to pull off a pleasant look. I guess the pictures will tell the story.

Time to move to the next girl. We've brought three costumes for her. It's her senior year and she has two groups and wants an individual in the third costume. We have the time to smooth her hair, settle down, help her change, pose her, but Corinne goes home feeling once again the middle child. I failed her.

I started writing that I should have been prepared with all the things in advance, but when I hit the climax I saw that I should be prepared to handle the emotional problems better. I believe in having all the stuff in line, but the dance teacher kept everything calm even though we were late, unprepared, and upset. She even talked a little small talk to Corinne to settle her down. I've always admired that about her, but last night my unpreparedness in handling my own daughter glared as she defused the situation I had created by not knowing how to help Corinne. I didn't have the necessary calmness, compassion, and control on hand for the moment they were needed.

I believe in being prepared with all the little things someone might need. Now I need apply that to the big things we all need when the moment gets tense. Will I be prepared next time?

Spring Break and Beyond

I'm still trying to find my voice here, but I'll try to post things of interest.

The kids had Spring break this weekend. Friday was cold and yucky, but I borrowed my friend's steam cleaner, and Jacqui and I cleaned her bathroom, the upstairs bathroom, floors, the fridge (a little), etc. (Mark helped too on Thursday.) I fell in love with the steamer. It cleans so easily and feels so much cleaner than with other things. The steam had a real relaxing effect I guess, like being in a sauna, so I had to take a short nap before going back to it in the afternoon.

I'd promised the kids we'd go to Idaho Falls on Saturday, so we got ready and headed out during the last 1/2 hour of morning conference and listened on the radio. We arrived at the mall just after the session ended, dropped off the big kids and headed to Don Aslett's Cleaning Center for my own personal steam cleaner ($109 + tax). I'm really excited to have it, but it's tempered with the thought that that will be my 40th birthday gift. The kids had fun; we bought some Easter clothes, shopped at Sam's Club, and headed back home a little later than we'd planned, but still got to listen to most of the afternoon session of conference.

Sunday was beautiful. Robert got sunburned because he pulled our old couch off the patio onto the lawn and listened to conference on the radio. We barbecued and had steak and baked potatoes on the patio after the second session, then we played a game of ultimate frisbee. Good days. We hope the weather continues this week so that Robert's birthday will be nice.

Monday, Robert had to work, but got in a game of golf in the late afternoon--more sunburn. He says that he just has to see if the sun still works after our long Rexburg winters. Greg got out golfing in the afternoon. He went with some of his soccer friends. The other kids played with friends, or hung out around the house. Jacqui finished crocheting around a burp cloth that she started about 4 years ago (she actually undid everything and started again on Sunday morning, so she's quite pleased with herself that she completed it during her break).

Everybody got up and went to school this morning. We're back to the same routine, but the break was a blessing. We need to recharge those batteries.

Jacqui's officially passed on her Student Body Officer responsibilities, so she's relieved. She just has to finish up her college and AP classes, pass the AP test, and perform her last dance recital in the next month. She's feeling the burden and the excitement of the stage of life.

Corinne and Greg are playing spring soccer. Corinne's first game was a surprise 7-4 win. In the Spring season, the girls often struggle, but we're hopeful now. Greg's team plays the first game this week. They're a strong team, but have yet to prove themselves this season. Wish them luck.

Claire and Mark work together to drive us crazy. Pray for lots of sunshine this Spring so they can get outside a lot. They enjoy each other a lot, but are together so often, they end up fighting. On our trip to Utah, we were all ready to throw them out and leave them by the side of the road, but we're pretty glad we kept them.

Claire's preparing to play in her first piano festival. She's been taking lessons for about 10 months now. She's doing pretty well and likes it most of the time.

So that's Spring break and beyond, but I'll have to post some pictures soon. I don't have any recent ones to show, but keep checking.

Visiting this weekend

We'll be in Utah this weekend visiting some of our family. Rebecca's nephew, Grant, has returned from his mission and will be speaking in his ward. We are also planning on letting Jacqui check out potential new digs on the BYU campus. She's been accepted there and is planning on living on campus. Greg won't be with us because he has a scout campout and needs to work. We don't know how many of you we'll have a chance to see since right now our plan doesn't have us leaving for Utah until the middle of Saturday morning.

For the Birds

I'm joining the craze. The Robert Bird family is now in on the blog trend. I'll try to post every couple of weeks, and maybe some family members will check in now and then.--Rebecca