Crazy cousins

Holden, Lili, Ian, and Saffron we're going crazy today. Here's the proof:

Cousins at Red Butte

Today was a beautiful day, and an especially beautiful day for gardening. The sun was out, but it was still cool. It had rained in the last couple of days so the soil was moist and perfect for plucking weeds. I was very content to have a few hours to weed, spread compost, transplant, and enjoy the day.

This afternoon we all went to Red Butte Garden. All of Melinda's siblings are in town visiting so our kids have their cousins to play with. Two of their cousins live in Texas and four of them live in Minnesota, so they don't get to see each other too often. They've really had fun playing together this last week.

Here's Grandma and Grandpa relaxing near the pond, enjoying watching their 10 grandchildren.

This bee is enjoying the nectar from this allium.

Miles took this picture of a stand of Golden Peas, Thermopsis montana.

Here are the cousins riding the moose. Only Asher and Miriam are missing, they were in the stroller.

The ducklings and goldfish are glad to be fed.

The kids loved feeding the ducks and the fish. Scott make sure that Saffron and Lili didn't fall in.

Red Butte Garden was beautiful and even more fun with family.

Emulation

Grandma Lena's funeral yesterday was really nice. She never wanted anyone to make a fuss over her, which is ironic because she served so many people, so it felt good in a slightly subversive way.

These are some of the traits she had that I would like to emulate:

1. Patience. She didn't complain about the privations and changes during her and her husband's mission in Tonga.
   
2. Selflessness. She was always more interested in others.
   
3. Non-materialistic. She would save her money to buy things she wanted, and by the time she had the money, she wouldn't care about them anymore.

After the services we had a luncheon at the church. The lights went out again so we ate ice cream with raspberries and bratzle cookies in honor of Grandma in the dark. I'm sure she would have been happy to see all of the people she loved all together, enjoying food that she loved.

Tongan hymns

Tonight we walked across the street from Grandma's house over to the mortuary where they were having the viewing for Great Grandma Lena. The evening was warm, overcast and very peaceful. I held Saffron's hand and we could hear the bells chiming from the nearby Methodist church while we walked over.

Viewings always put me into a meditative mood. There is the sadness of loss, but also the happiness of being with family and those we love and the promise of Christ's redemption. And although Grandma Lena wasn't my grandma, but she is Melinda's grandma, and my children's great grandmother. We will all miss her and I will miss that my children won't be able to give her kisses anymore and she won't be there to tell them how beautiful they are and how much she loves them. But I'm so glad they could know her, and enjoy her for the last years of her life.

Their was a large group of Tongans seated in the back of the mortuary's chapel. They their green books and started to sing the hymns of Zion in their native tongue. It was beautiful. I was imagining how sublime those songs must have sounded on Tongatapu with the waves gently lapping the sand. Her missionary service with her husband and children in Tonga so many years ago haven't been forgotten.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7

I must say I had a hard time keeping my cheeks dry every time they sang.

After the viewing we all went back to Grandma's house. I loved seeing my kids play with their cousins. There seemed to be a little trepidation when they first saw each other, but it quickly faded away and they played with an ease and joy that only cousins have.

It was a windy day and in the evening the power went out. People were snacking the kitchen and chatting in the living room in the dark with flashlights and lanterns. Lisette seemed to think the dark made it more memorable.

We stayed up late chatting and enjoying each others company. Grandma will be happy knowing that her death her gave the family a reason to come together and affirm our love for each other, for her, and most of all for Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah!

Yeah! Melinda will be home in the next couple of hours! She's been visiting her sister in Minnesota for 5 days and 4 nights (not that anyone's counting.) I think she's had it in her mind for some time to take a trip to visit her sister. Amy has 4 kids (2 of which are very small) so Melinda was going to help her travel to Utah to be at Grandma's funeral.

We were worried about how Saffron would do with her Mom away for so long, but she's done very well. I think it helps a lot having her 3 older siblings look after her; they're very attentive. Melinda also talked to her on the phone once or twice a day and she seemed excited that her mom was coming back with 2 of her baby cousins.

We've done pretty well being orphaned and widowed for these few days, but it will be soooo nice to have Melinda back with us again. We've all missed her very much.

Karen was also very gracious to watch the kids during the day. Thanks Auntie Karen!

We've actually been quite busy these past few days, which probably helped the time pass more quickly. Here's a short list:

1. Thursday we had homeschool Lagoon day. Miles, Ian and I had a great time.
2. Friday we went to Connie's book group "After Hogwarts" at Barnes and Noble.
3. Saturday we gardened and weeded at home. Then in the evening we went up to see Ed, Salena, Teancum, and Rachel. Karen and Wendy fed us (though they also tricked me into helping them plant tomatoes.) Actually, I enjoy gardening so even though it's work it feels recreational.
4. Sunday we went to church in Roy for baby Hope's blessing. My parents, Grandma, and most of my siblings (we missed you, Ruthie!) were there. Everyone got to meet Jame's finance, Brooke, and we had a nice picnic in the park.
5. Sunday evening went back to Grandma and Grandpa's just in time for dinner. The kids were pretty lucky today; two sets of cousins to play with in one day!

Grandma's funeral and viewing are going to be held in the next two days and things will be very busy with all the family in town. It will be busy, but it's a good busy.

Pickle pie

My parents are in town visiting from Alaska. Although Alaska has it's nature adventures, I think Dad has really missed the southern Utah desert. As soon as he arrived Joy and Dad went down to enjoy the beautiful sites on the Colorado plateau. In one weekend they went to Arches National Park, Goblin Valley, and Capitol Reef National Park; quite the whirlwind trip.

For years Dad has told us about this cool restaurant in Bicknell (near Capitol Reef) that has unusual pies. This time they brought some pies from the Sunglow Motel and Cafe home to share with us. They were as delicious as they were unique.

My favorite was the buttermilk pie, which had a nice clean lemon taste, however the pinto bean pie was a close second. Lisette's favorite was the pickle pie, and everyone liked the oatmeal pie.

These were first class pies; the crust was just right and the fillings were excellent. Thanks for sharing, Dad!

Combating cynicism

Friday I went to the state Democratic party convention as a delegate for my precinct. The Salt Palace was packed with delegates, candidates in booths, political signs and various politicians and local celebrities.

It was really cool because I felt that my vote actually made a difference. Melinda doesn't share my political leanings, but I really like Obama and I find his positive outlook and focus very refreshing. It's such a contrast to the reactionary paranoia that seems so pervasive today.

I've felt so pessimistic about politics and the state of things generally. This has been a good exercise in not feeling helpless. It's nice to feel that my vote makes a difference and that I can make my voice heard.

Top 10 Reasons Why I Homeschool My Kids

by Melinda

10. Because it’s been a great way to make friends. This may be horrifying, but before I started homeschooling I hadn’t really made new friends for, oh, maybe ten years. But through homeschooling, in the last five years, I’ve made many friends. The kids have also been able to make some good homeschool friends.

9. Because I can. I’m very grateful that our country allows us this freedom. Our country isn’t perfect, but freedom to homeschool is indeed a nice benefit of living in the good old U.S. of A.

8. Because I am a nerd. Researching, planning and buying our homeschool curriculum makes me really happy.

7. Because homeschooling means that our schedule is flexible. When Grandma and Grandpa come to town, no problem. Plus we can take vacations any time of the year!

6. Because I love learning with the kids and homeschooling gives us lots of opportunities to learn as a family.

5. Because my kids can spend more time together. I hope all the time they spend playing Legos together will be one of their enduring memories.

3. Because I can spend more time with my kids. I read an article once where the author (Anna Quindlen?) said something to this effect: Being with your children isn’t all bliss. But it is about as far from dead as you can get.

2. Because I think homeschooling is the best educational option for these particular children right now.

1. Because homeschooling is what I really, really want to do, and life is too short for regrets.

Remembering Grandma

We were very sad to get the news yesterday that Melinda's grandmother had died at age 96. She went very peacefully, so we were happy that she wasn't in any pain.


We've felt very fortunate to be able to live nearby so that we could be close to her during the last years of her life. She loved to see the children, and we feel blessed that the kids were able to know her.


I was very small when my great grandmother passed away, but I do have some vague memories of her. I'm glad that Lisette, Miles, and Ian will have good memories of Grandma, and I hope Saffron will remember her too. Grandma was always so kind and loving to Saffy, and she was always happy to see her.

Today I was digging dandelions out of the lawn, it reminded when Grandma was digging them out of Marsha's lawn. It wasn't so many years ago that she would come and visit and just start cleaning up; she wasn't one for just sitting around.

We used to go up to Yellowstone almost every summer and we would stop and stay a night or two with Grandma in Rexburg. Even when we arrived really late she was waiting up for us and she always had something good for us to eat. She would feed us breakfast and she made sure that we had plenty to eat. She was very kind.

I also remember she would always bake lots of bratzlies (a thin crisp cinnamon cookie) and send them for us to eat.

We'll all miss her very much.