Speaking of Sunday activities--

I usually use that day to write on this blog but that doesn't always work.  I was surprised that it had been a few weeks since I last wrote but time has really flown by--

March 8th I was recovering from the Sanitation Fun workshop in our ward which is why I wrote on Monday the 9th.  The following Sunday was Stake Conference which changes the schedule a bit and followed a very busy week.  Last Sunday I was in Austin, Texas, enjoying my brothers.  That means I have a lot to catch up on, but it won't all happen tonight.  I will give it a start.

Saturday the 7th was the end of Jena's Comet bowling season and we had a small tournament at the Rush.  It was a nice afternoon watching her have fun and doing well.

 

After the bowling tournament, I headed south to Provo and visited with my good friend, Eileen Bradford.  We have know each other since Hong Kong and I treasure her friendship.  She was in town helping her daughter with her first daughter, little Olivia Grace.  I stayed until about 12:30 and on the Saturday night "where we spring into daylight savings", it might not have been the wisest choice but fun nevertheless.  Friends are awesome!

Nice that bowling stopped because golf and play practices started up soon after.  Jena again is managing the golf team and having a great time with the girls and the coaches.  She likes making little treats for tournament times.  She had one of those unusual days when she went skiing in the early afternoon and then headed straight to the golf course to golf.  Beautiful weather in both places!  How many times and places do you get to do that in one day?

It probably would have been more effective to take
a picture of her skiing and then one of her golfing
but alas all I have is the back of the car with
wet ski clothes and golf clubs.

We got exciting news that week as well.  My brother, Mike's son, Kyle announced that he was going to be baptized into the Church on March 14th.  My brother Rick and his family were able to travel to Lubbock from Dallas and attend the baptism.  Rick was able to baptize him which was a special opportunity.  What a great blessing for our family!  We wished that we all could have been there, but traveling to Lubbock for a quick trip is pretty expensive especially if since I was heading for Texas already the following week (more about that later.


Rick, Kyle, and Mike

The 14th was a busy day already for us.  We had tickets to the play at the Hale Theatre and went and saw "Ghost" which was great.  I wasn't sure how they would do it in live theatre but it was excellent.  Jena and her friend, Meggan, came too and neither of them had seen the movie yet they liked it too.

We got home, changed clothes and headed down to Farmington Station to participate in a fund raiser "Root beer Floats" for Special Olympics.

We finished there and headed back home to change clothes again and head to the Stake Center for the Adult Meeting for Stake Conference--one of the best meetings in the Church.

Then we had our first Stake Conference at the rebuilt Tabernacle at the Ogden Temple grounds.  Gary and I both forgot our phones/cameras so no pictures. That was too bad.  We took pictures almost three years ago on our last Stake Conference there so it would have been fun to compare.  It was a beautiful day and people were enjoying the grounds and taking pictures everywhere.

Homework is more intense this semester and includes two major group projects which are a very different thing than years ago when I was a student.  We live spread out over three counties, most work full time jobs, and doing much of the work over internet is a challenge.  So far so good.  I was very lucky to have great group members in both of my classes.  One group project is on Minimum Wage and the other is Human Trafficking.  Very interesting!

We turned in our literature review (huge relief) on Tuesday and Wednesday I flew off to Texas.  Time for another post...on another day!

Thank heavens for Sundays

I read a Facebook blog post by Jack Canfield where he talked about managing time to accomplish things (some useful others not so much).  He talked about a concept he learned from a professor--"There are three types of days that you need--(my words) "accomplishment days", "Odds and Ends days" and "24 hours off" days."  That shouldn't surprise us as Latter-day Saints because our Heavenly Father put such a day in every week.  Now, I know, like you do, that Sundays can be very busy and hectic. but it is in a different way.  I am so glad to have a day that I don't worry about school work, UDSF business, and other regular day stuff.  I can think about other things--of my family, my faith, and the hope and joy that life brings.  It is a day to walk around the neighborhood, eat popcorn and watch a movie (and get to hear Jena's laugh at the funny parts.)  It is not carrying my phone around unless I want too.

And it means sleeping in (1:00 Church) and sometimes naps in the late afternoon1

I need that...every week.  Thanks.

Sanitation Fun

Yes, it can be fun--talks about pandemics, toilets, and garbage--a bingo game with prizes and pie---and an assembly line to put together sanitation kits.  Of course what made it fun was the fun people who came and share the evening together.

I couldn't have done it without Gary.  He is the one that made the trip to Wal-Mart to pick up 25 20 lbs. containers of kitty litter.  He couldn't believe how many comments he got.  One person said he must have had a lot of cats--Gary replied, "No just one!". Someone asked if he had a tiger.

Unloading the kitty litter

Waiting to be assembled
I have to say that adults are much faster than
similar projects with the Primary or YW/YM.

Gary thought he was very clever when he set up the toilet seats on these chairs prior to our event.  I took a picture and posted it on Facebook to remind people in my ward about the activity.  A couple of people made comments and I replied that Gary told me if I wanted people to actually come I should have taken pictures of the pies we were having for dessert.  One of my friends commented "cow pies?".  I didn't get it and just replied, "No, just toilet seats."  Later another friend said "Score one for Suzie".  Later that night when I was home, I finally got it!  Only excuse is that I was very busy---I think myself as being clever but I did totally missed that one.

Facebook picture

Stuffing the luggable loos

Doing the personal hygiene kits

Cutting ribbon for another emergency prep
project

Filling bags with part of the sanitation kits!

In case of emergency we now have 30 more luggable loos and "stuff" in our neighborhood...in case you need a place to go.


Adding garbage bags to fill the luggable loo

Most important thing I learned---you can't have too many garbage sacks in an emergency.

I am an official Aggie....

Selfie shot of my free Aggie shirt--first time I wore it!

Add caption

Yes, I might be wearing an Aggie shirt but I am really a Cougar underneath.  I will vote for Utah State except when they are playing BYU!  That's just how it is.

And Jena keeps having fun too....

Jena's Christmas present finally arrived--her class ring!

She loves wearing it to school and showing to everyone.

This side has her name with the drama masks and the other side says 2015 and has a falcon.

She loves it!  First time she has ever wore a ring.

On our anniversary with the snow in Syracuse, it was perfect up at Snowbasin for her ski lesson.  It was beautiful.

Jena is the one in orange pants.

Following her teacher, Terrie, down the mountain.

Here she is!  I love her orange pants
because I can see her from far away.

Then Friday was her weekly theatre class-"Friend to Friend" in Centerville.  Another friend, Brooke, just started coming with us.  Her friend Kaitlyn is also in this class but she was sick on Friday.

Emily, Jena and Brooke

They are practicing Beauty and the Beast Jr. which they will perform in June.

Happy Anniversary!!!

Although I thought I was certainly old enough to get married at 22 1/2 years old, now I know that I was still very young.  Despite being young I did a great job in picking a spouse.  How happy I am to be married to Gary!  I am so grateful for the past 37 years and I am looking forward to the next 37 too.

We were married on a snowy day in 1978 so it was fun to wake up to a snowy day on our anniversary this year.  The world was celebrating with us!

What country is this?

On a rainy day last week I saw these stickers on the car in front of me.  Of course I noticed the Texas right away.  What country is next to the Texas sticker?

A perfect example of the random things you can take pictures of with a camera on your cell phone!

And life kept marching on....

We got back and life was back to busyness.

As part of  my program, we had the chance to go visit Capital Hill while it was in session.

We sat in the gallery while they debated
and voted on Healthy Utah.



It was very interested to listen and watch.

Jena, Gary and I attended her last New Beginnings- "Embark".  It was great.  Sis. Laura Sessions did a great job on her talk about "Embark".

Sis. Denise Ashby and Jena
 

Scarlett came on Thursday since I was at the Capital on Wednesday.

Ben wanted to give her the bottle.
I loved this picture of the two of them.

Saturday was a busy day with UDSF activities. The morning was a new parent breakfast where we had about 50 people there.  Then in the evening was the UDSF teen/Adult Dance.  That is always a fun time, although I didn't end up dancing very much.  In fact just part of one dance with Scott Bone who left me when he saw a younger adult without a partner.  :)

Great shot--everyone's back.  :(

Feet were hurting after all of that dancing

Not often you see an elder at a dance.
This elder serves as a Church Service missionary
during the week.  He serves 2 hours a day five days a week.  He helps
students at a special school in Draper go
from school to seminary and back again.

Parties are so much fun with this group.

Ideal High

It isn't often that your sister has her young adult novel published.  It was great because the Monday that we were there, 225 copies were delivered in preparation for her book launch party on the following Saturday.  We documented the event.



The boxes

I had already began reading her "proof" copy but I was excited to be the first one to buy one from the box and get it signed by Valerie.  Our nephew Niles Giberson, who is graphic designer, did the cover for her.

 

I read it on the plane and finished the book that night we got home because I needed to see how it ended.  Yes, it is that good.  You can order it on amazon.com either in print or for the kindle.Ideal High by Valerie Ipson

While I was reading the book on the airplane, Jena leaned over and said, "That is very special that Aunt Valerie's name is on every page."  That's what happens when you are an author.

The Saturday after we were in AZ, Valerie had her book launch party at a Krispy Crème Donut shop (there is a donut shop in the book).  We couldn't make it back to Mesa, but I picked up some donuts and we had our own party at home that day.

Speaking of books, Valerie showed me a book she had recently gotten:

This book has famous people choosing their books for each of those categories listed on the front.  I just want to have the book because it looks so awesome.  It reminded me of a few years ago when I came up with my list of favorite books which now sit together on a shelf in my house.  What books would you choose in those groups?  I will have to give it some thought which might not happen until after my group Lit review is turned in next week.  Right now human trafficking is on my mind---well, not right now--I am trying to catch up on my blog while watching the BYU-Portland basketball game.

Up, up and away!

Every time I get on a plane, I am amazed and grateful that:  Heavenly Father made wind and currents and Physics and that someone (whose name I used to know when I was more involved with Scouts) discovered the principles which allowed for air flight and the Wright Bros. and others who risked their lives to figure it all out so that I can get on a plane and shortly be somewhere else.

Heading to Mesa this time with Jena to spend some time with my nephew, Jordan, who just got home from his mission in Uruguay.  We left on Saturday afternoon and came back on Monday evening but packed in some fun times in the middle.

Although we have had great weather in Utah, it actually started to snow for an hour or so before we left Syracuse.  That really got us in the mood to head south to Mesa to more beautiful weather.



Jena loves to travel, too.

 Jena took some pictures at Valerie's house.

I love her use of the shadows and light in this one.

Uncle Lance's Farm

 Giberson family game playing---


I loved this image of Lance playing a game with his grandchildren
and the other Giberson great-grandchildren. They were all very
intent on the game.



Audrey Neerings, Morgan Willford, Jena, Jay, Max and Sophee Giberson

 And the games continue.....

Jordan did a great job on his talk and we all had fun being together.  The only sad thing was Valerie was not feeling great which is no fun when you have a household of fun people to be with.  I hope she slept for 2 days after we left.

Memories and familar faces.......

February 20 I attended the retirement for Dennis Ashton from LDS Family Services after 39 years of working.  He actually got a letter from the Frist Presidency thanking him for his service, but that isn't the purpose of this post.  This is more about the power individuals have to make a difference in other people's lives and sometimes it works both ways--we discover that we influenced or touched someone while they are influencing us.  So it is with Dennis and I.

If I had been a blog writer back in 1992 then there would be lots of background and stories about Dennis and his impact on me.  He was the director of LDS Family Services back in Texas when we first became foster parents for the agency, then later on I served as a volunteer doing lots of amazing things in foster care and adoption.  He taught me that to serve the Church and especially the priesthood leadership was a holy and important thing and though there were many ways to do that, LDS Family Services was an important piece. It was with him when I was helping with an adoption placement that I first saw a birth mother actually hand her baby to the waiting couple in a chapel at a hospital (again before this was actually allowed in LDS Family Services policy.) It was one of the most sacred experiences of my life.  Of course, I didn't realize that I would have that experience many times over--again due to Dennis.

He took the first phone call from the Las Vegas agency and told them that we would love an infant with Down syndrome when we were looking for a 3-5 year old with orthopedic or hearing problems. He stood by us when Jena's adoption was finalized and the judge read out her birth parents' names which at the time was a direct violation of LDS Family Services policies. (He leaned over and said, "I won't tell, if you don't"). He suggested my name to serve on the National Board of Families Supporting Adoption where I served for 3 1/2 years. And he was the one who hired me to work as a part time caseworker--replying to my statement that I had about 10 hours a week I could put into the job with "Let's not worried about hours.  Let's talk about what you can do."  Famous last words as it was really a 20 hours week job where many weeks went much past that. Although never my direct supervisor while I worked for the agency, he was my cheerleader and fallback guy.  He was the first person at work that I told about Ben's illness and he provided much support to me during those first few years.  He wrote one of my reference letters for graduate school and he was so excited for me.

As you can see, my life was really connected and influenced by him over the 20+ years we have known each other. 

When I arrived at the Church where the party was being held, I actually walked in the door right where he was standing.  He hugged and we exchanged the normal things you say at these events.  Then he asked me if I had seen his display of things from his career.  I had not as I had just arrived.  He pulled me across the room where the displays were set up.  He grabbed first a Texas Ranger baseball which was signed by all of the people who had worked in the Texas office.  Then he pointed to a Dr. Seuss book which was placed in a stand in the center of the table: "Oh, the Places You'll Go".  It was a book I had given him when I quit working at LDS Family Services in 2011.  He had missed my "quitting party" and so I had just left it in his box.  Inside I had written a thank you for many of the things I had listed above and others.  He said that it was one of the most meaningful gifts he had ever received because it reminded him first of the message of the story and also of the influence we have on each other in life.  He had never said anything about it before though we had seen each other from time to time.  It was very touching to me.  Later his wife and I spoke.  She expressed her delight that I was there to represent both the Texas years but also the influence that I had had on Dennis over the years.

Not only was it fun to share that moment with Dennis but to see all of the amazing people I have worked with over the years--the caseworkers and the "big-wigs" of LDS Family Services.  I couldn't believe how many dear friends I was able to touch bases with and to share sweet memories with.  The two caseworkers who helped with Jena's adoption from Las Vegas were both there wanting to see new updated pictures of "that sweet baby".  I was too busy talking and enjoying the event so I didn't really get any pictures except this one:

Amber Falk, me, Monica Hall (no relation)

And this one is missing Lisa, Rhonda, Tammy, James,(who were all there but it was impossible to get us together) and Robin (who is in Virginia).  Amber and I started working at the same time back in 2004 with Robin and Sundee in the Farmington office.  Monica joined us at the Layton office.

It seems right to end with a few of the verses from Dr. Seuss:

"Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go."
then to the end............

"You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!"
That is how Dennis has led his life by being "off and away"....me, too, in my own way and in my own direction...you, too, sweet grandchildren who might read this some day (and those of you reading it today)...life is a grand adventure.  Your Heavenly Father intended it to be.... so "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way."

Life is awesome!!!

Again....Grandkids' pictures

What can I say...I am a grandma!

Bought a stroller to add to my grandma "stuff":

The beautiful weather allowed us to take a walk around the neighborhood while I delivered some information about an upcoming emergency prep. event we are having.

I call the picture below "Center of the Universe".  This past week Scarlett came on Friday because I had an event on Wednesday.  That worked out great because Ben and Jena both got to spend about an hour with her--whatever she wanted to do, they were right with her.  She loves her Uncle Ben and Aunt Jena (and everyone else as well.  :) ).

She can pull herself up almost everywhere and she knows it and is quite proud of herself.  When she woke up from her nap she was standing up in the port-a-crib.  I am not sure how she did that.

 Ben wanted to give her with her afternoon bottle.

Unfortunately, no in-person time with sweet Niki but look at this darling picture of him with the hat that we got him before he was born.  In fact we took a picture with it when he was 2 days old.  It fits better now and look at that expression.  LOVE IT!

Jessica just posted on Facebook that she has 13 more weeks to go before little Liam arrives.  I am sure he will seem very little compared to Scarlett and Niki but it is fun that he will join them as "the big cousins" (presuming that there will be other little ones in the future.).

Quirky side note:  So far, the sex of the grandchildren is in the same order as our kids-girl, boy, boy--if that follows then the next two should be girls!  Another interesting note is that is the same as in my family of origin-girl, boy, boy, girl, girl----of course my parents are overachievers so they added another girl and two boys after that! Patterns are fun, but not really predictors of future performance.

Happy Presidents' Day

The weather was beautiful and perfect for flying a flag in honor of Presidents' Day.  I love this world we live in and I am so glad that I have had a chance to see parts of it, but I am also glad (no matter its problems) to be an American.