the evergreen state and other green things

Last night I returned to Rexburg after a wonderful trip to the great Pacific Northwest. Each trip reminds me how much I love the green and how much I miss it while I am away. This last trip went too quickly. Brianne and I drove to Twin Falls on Thursday after class, where Mom and Dad picked us up. We drove all the way to Washington and arrived on Friday morning. We drove the entire way back to Rexburg (via Twin Falls) on Monday.

Friday was Sarah's birthday, so we went to dinner and then spent time at Justin and Jessica's house. We were fortunate enough to have our entire family together. All seventeen of us! It was wonderful. I am truly blessed to have such a great family, one that thrives on getting together every chance we get, one that actually gets along when we meet together. I am blessed to have great in-laws who have quickly become my siblings. My nieces and nephews are beautiful. I know you all know that, but I had to share anyway.

Being back in Rexburg is good for me, though it is not easy. I miss my family already, and I came back to an enormous pile of homework and a somewhat less-than-enthusiastic greeting from a pile of close and other things on my bed and floor. I was not so happy to have to clean all of that up before I could sleep. The good news: I changed my sheets and showered. There is nothing better than getting into fresh, cool sheets after taking a hot shower.

The weather is gorgeous in Rexburg. Of course we have the never-changing Rexburgian wind, but the sun is shining, the tank is clean...Okay, that was a Finding Nemo moment. I am grateful to be in Rexburg for the beautiful sun. The grass and trees are green. Flowers are blooming. The sun is out enough to give me some pretty intense sunburns. Oh, how I love the warm breeze and the green grass and trees. I didn't know what I was missing before! I'll exchange winter for spring any day!

ever changing, ever busy

I'm sure I don't have many readers, especially readers who don't already know what's going on in my life. But just in case I do have a reader or two whom I don't talk to every other day, this is a little taste of my life...

My golf class is difficult, but I am enjoying all the vitamin D from the abundant Rexburg sun. I didn't know Rexburg weather could be so beautiful and warm! The wind hasn't slowed down, though. This last week we had 40-mph winds. I thought I would literally blow away. My young adult literature class is tons of fun. I am glad I was able to take it again. Third time's a charm! I am determined to get through this semester and actually pass that class. Not that I don't love taking it over and over. I've found some amazing books. But I would like to graduate in this century. My religion class is wonderful. We are focusing on The Family Proclamation. I didn't realize how specific, inspired, and prophetic that document really is. My job at the Reading Center in the McKay Library on campus has slightly changed. Originally I was going to be a tutor, but the prospect of tutoring was a bit too much for me to handle this semester. Instead, the dear Sister Engstrom has made me her "slave," as she says. I look at it as getting paid to do things I enjoy. I have been editing many of the lesson plans, etc. for the Reading Center. It is similar to the work I did as a Scroll copy editor, but it is not nearly as stressful, and I don't have to deal with flack from everyone around me (Scroll is infamous in Rexburg--more than famous, but not in a good way). I didn't enjoy Scroll. Working for Sister Engstrom is great. She is so fun to be around, and has created such a low-stress environment for me. I actually enjoy going to work. I couldn't imagine ever feeling that way.

The seventh grandchild, fifth girl, was born in my family this week. Liliana Kay (Lily) joined Justin and Jessica on 13 May. I have only seen a few pictures of her, but next weekend I am flying to Washington for a few days, and I can't wait to see all but two of my babies--Lily, Sophie, LaMar, Rochelle, and Sierra. Yes, they are all my babies. If I can't have ones of my own, I will just have to live vicariously through my siblings.

In the next few days I am going to start up a young adult literature blog for my class, and I will be posting a link to it. It will basically be like mini reviews of the books that I'm reading for class, but I will probably continue using it even after the class.

Bye for now.

early sunday morning

This is the earliest I've gotten up without someone or something waking me since...I don't know...last summer? I don't know exactly why. Maybe not taking any sleeping pill, or even this pill that sometimes makes me tired, had something to do with it.

I met the next Greg Olsen or Del Parson a week or two ago. He was visiting my advisor in the Reading Center on campus (where I work), and he gave me one of his business cards. I got on his blog immediately when I got home that evening to see all his work. It is truly amazing. He has had work in the Friend and the Liahona. Check it out here:http://www.jamesjohnsonart.blogspot.com/. My favorite painting of his is "Eve's Temptation," which is pictured here...
I survived two weeks of school. The first week went really well. The second week was incredibly overwhelming. Lucky for me, my cousin Brianne made a trip to Utah for her birthday and engagement, so I rode with her to spend the weekend with my parents and sister. It has been a relaxing and fun trip. I slept in on Saturday and we went shopping. Today I am going to Stake Conference with Stephanie, which is in the Ogden Tabernacle (the reason why I needed to get up in the first place). I love my family. I don't know what I'd do without them. I don't want to even try to find out. After such a bad week, I needed to come home to outstretched arms. They--despite what they might think--are my greatest love and joy in my life. I can't wait for the day when all seventeen of us will be together.

I love you all!

back to the 'burg

Saturday was the big move-in day. Mom and Dad brought me up to Rexburg and helped me move in. I'm still trying to get completely settled. This week has felt like two weeks...and it's only Wednesday. I have been walking too much, probably close to four or five miles a day, between walking to and from and all around campus. Next week I start golf, which mean adding another seven or eight miles each week. Every night passes far too quickly. I don't have enough time to finish my homework and get a decent night's sleep. Usually I decide that if I can't have both, I'll choose neither, thus resulting in a night of laughing and talking until midnight. So far I have been fortunate enough to sleep in on Monday and Wednesday morning, but that won't last for long. Adjusting to a regular schedule has been difficult so far, but I have to remind myself that I haven't even been here six days. For now I am enjoying my classes: golf on Mondays and Wednesdays, and family foundations and young adult literature on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Next week I start work in the Reading Center, and the following week I'll start tutoring in the Reading Center. I am so grateful for the dear Sister Engstrom, the patient and loving woman in charge of the Reading Center. She has been a true answer to prayer, providing me with a job while still being understanding, patient, and supportive enough to allow me to work as little or as much as I want.

Living with Andra has also been a great blessing so far. Already I'm wondering how I ever lived without her. I have missed her so much while she was on her mission. We lived together at Colonial House during my first two years of school. She is like another sister to me...my favorite person ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever in the world. (She told me to put that, but I'm not going to lie. It's true). She is also the T.A. for my young adult lit class, which means she will be grading my assignments...I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...

adventures with talbi & ani part II

After another few--very busy--days in Texas, and I have officially decided that I could live here only if every month were April and I could sit under a try all day! The weather has been gorgeous and hot; nevertheless, a wonderful breeze has helped me get through the heat. I think at last I am becoming exhausted, dehydrated...probably both. But still we keep going every day.

Monday morning we drove to Corpus Christi, which is near the Gulf of Mexico. It was a very appropriate activity, I thought, to do on the day so famous to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, April 6th. It was a long drive, but I was happy to pass the time away talking to Brandon as she drove. When we got there we checked into our hotel, the Radisson, and then went on a few tours of the U.S.S. Lexington, the only WWII aircraft carrier left. It was featured in the movie Pearl Harbor. The ship was huge, and had steep stairs. We all got a great calf workout for sure. While we were walking around, I remember hearing a little pop and my ankle started hurting a bit. I didn't think much of it and continued to walk on it. When I woke up on Tuesday morning my ankle was throbbing and I had to wrap it in an ace bandage. It still hurts a little, but not as bad as before. The hotel was right on the water. It was absolutely beautful. Corpus Christi is actually in an inlet or bay of the Gulf, so while Talbi and Ani went with their parents to our next destination on Tuesday, the rest of us drove to Port Aransas (pronounced "air-AN-sis,") to stick out feet in the Gulf. We rode a small ferry to the island of Port Aransas. The weather was absolutely perfect--because we got there in the early afternoon, the sun was almost directly over us, but we still had a nice breeze. The sand was much finer than the beach in Corpus Christi, and the water was warmer as well.

After an hour or so in Port Aransas, We drove up to Gruene (pronounced "green") to stay in a time-share. Dad turned on Betty, his GPS, which took us on the "scenic route" to Gruene. On Wednesday morning we spent in Gruene, which is a little German town. We went into little shops, which reminded me a lot of Leavenworth, Washington. My favorite store was a large antique shop. I could have spent hours in there if we had the time. While there I bought a book from 1924 called Essentials in Journalism. Inside I found an old English assignment and some notes. I had forgotten how much I love old books, especially ones that have to do with English.

Next we had a Subway picnic at Landa Park, which is close to Gruene. I sat in the shade the whole time. Again, the weather was perfect in the shade where the breeze was warm but still cool enough to keep me from getting hot. Some friendly squirrels found me, and we all had fun giving them peanut M&M's, which they ate quickly. A few of the squirrels burried the M&M's. I wonder if they'll still have their candy coating and chocolate after rain. We then drove back to San Antonio and went to Build-a-Bear. Steph made "Troy Bearton," a High School Musical bear. Talbi created "Fluffy," a puppy that he turned into Spiderman. Ani picked a pink monkey that she put a swimsuit and goggles on and call "Charly." Mom and Dad took a bunch of pictures and filled the memory card on their camera. We went to Rudy's for dinner, a barbecue place, and then we rented Bedtime Stories and watched that after Talbi and Ani went to bed. Such a good movie!

Today has been a low-key day. We've been playing Wii. Aaron has some games that we don't have, so we've been having fun playing Wii Dodge ball. Talbi amazes me with his crazy mad Wii skills. I am glad to rest my ankle before tomorrow's trip to Sea World. My sleeping pills knock me out for several hours, so any time I can get extra sleep is good--like this morning when I slept in until about 11:00. How good that felt!

adventures with talbi & ani part I

Day two in San Antonio. It's hot here. And humid. I stay indoors because I'm terrified of becoming burnt chicken. I've given in to the inevitable frizzy hair and mousse and diffuse it--better to start with and end with the curls and save the frustration of partially straight hair. We watch General Conference. We watch Marley and Me. Marley and Me reminds me of Scrat. I feel a little homesick. I have my first taste of Blue Bell ice cream. I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to pass the time until I sleep. I text Ben. I text Elisabeth. I text President Moyes. I text anyone who will give me a little taste of normalcy. I eat curry for the second time in my life. I like this curry better than before. I take endless quizzes on Facebook. I play several rounds of Text Twist. I check my email fifty times. I check my Facebook fifty times. I discover online Jumble--a newspaper classic. I solve many Jumbles. I love work games. I try to sleep. I fall asleep on the floor. I wake up with imprints from my computer keyboard on my cheek. I wake up shortly after Conference has started, but in time to hear the first speaker. I listen to Conference. I shower. I eat lunch. I begin typing, and find what little I've actually done.

A bleak paragraph, I know. But as I type and Ani sits next to me, watching me pound out the words on my keyboard and looking adoringly up at me with her beautiful blue eyes and gorgeous dimples, I realize why I'm here. Tomorrow we head for Corpus Christi and are going to spend some time lying on the beach. I am so glad that I get to spend more time with these kids. Talbi is so smart. He plays the piano like you wouldn't believe. And Ani dances like a pro. The life, the learning, the Spirit in this home...it's amazing. So far my adventures in Texas have not been all that exciting, but they've been simple, which in many ways is so much better.

pray for your own dam rain

Anyone who has ever lived in Rexburg or who is closely associated with Rexburg knows that the best thing about living in Rexburg is the plentiful supply of dam jokes. I love them. It's like when the opportunity arises to read a scripture in Sunday School that has a "bad word," and everyone volunteers because it's an opportunity to say a "naughty word" in church.

I was thinking about how every year there's a "water shortage." We're always in a drought. But one of the very few things I learned in my three attempts at my geography class is that drought + rain = flooding. And then everyone complains because they have to travel to work in a life raft, they have to sleep in life jackets, their carpets are ruined, yada, yada, yada...whine, whine, whine.

I love rain. It's my favorite kind of weather. Don't get me wrong. But this whole, "Everyone needs to pray for rain" mentality...I'm not so sure about it. "Let's pray for rain, but then when it starts raining, quickly switch to praying for sun."

In The Other Side of Heaven, I am deeply moved by one of the lines that says, "We are praying for a south wind. Others may be praying for a north wind. Perhaps we should be praying for a good wind." And so, as we move into the drier months of the year, perhaps we should be praying for "good weather," not for sun or rain or (for the mentally unstable) snow.

If you want to pray for rain, pray for your own dam rain.