American Idol--The Final 11

I started watching American Idol a few seasons ago. I became a RABID fan the year David Archuleta competed. I mean RABID! I actually voted that season. Not once. Not twice. But easily a 100 or more times EVERY TIME he performed. Thank goodness, Emily supported me on this and she would take over the speed dial when my tender little fingers would get tired. Heather and Jennifer did not share our passion. They were David Cook fans.

I told them they were NOT allowed to use the family phone to vote for David A.'s arch-rival.

Yes, I had no life.

Alas, David A. came in second place and Heather and Jennifer's David won. But, at least my family did not support his victory with our votes. I have supported David Archuleta's career by purchasing all three of his CD's. But, I digress. It's now Season 10 and we're down to the Final 11. And unlike the season Archie competed, I haven't voted once. Not once. But, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the show.

In fact, this post is dedicated to Jennifer hoping that she'll jump on the American Idol bandwagon this season and make it one of her reality shows to watch! I would LOVE to know who her favorites are so we can have some good old fashioned competition.

So, now for a recap.

Last night was Elton John night. He's got so many great songs that I was excited. Overall, the contestants did well.

Scotty McCreery – “Country Comfort” This was the one Elton John song I was NOT familiar with. I love Scotty. I'm not a big country fan, but he's adorable and his low voice always impresses me. I'm worried because he's in the first spot, but he has enough teenage girl fans that he should be OK.

Naima Adedapo – “I’m Still Standing” This was my least favorite performance of the evening. She tried to add a little Jamaican flavor and I don't think it worked. Overall, she's a very good performer and I hate to see her go, but I think she may be in the bottom three tonight.

Paul McDonald – “Rocket Man” I like Paul. I like his relaxed manner and his unique singing style. He broke out "the outfit" again last night. When Steven commented on how his outfit had grown even more flowers, Paul gave his toothpaste commercial grin and said, "How could I not wear it on Elton John night?" My big question is: How does he get his teeth so white?

Pia Toscano – “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” Pia sang another ballad. Randy and the other judges have challenged her to do something different. She promises that if she goes through another week, she will do just that. Some people may feel Pia played it safe, but she has an incredible voice and stage presence. I predict she will be in the final four.

Stefano Langone – “Tiny Dancer” Two weeks ago, Stefano had the BEST performance of the night. Last week, he ended up in the bottom two. Last night he tried much harder to connect with the audience. He kept his eyes open more, looked into the camera and even sang to Jennifer. (Randy was hoping he would grab his hand and sing to him, too. One of the funnier moments of the show.) He has a good voice, but I'm not sure if this song and this performance will keep him safe. I predict he'll be in the bottom three tonight.

Lauren Alaina – “Candle in the Wind” Before the commercial break, Ryan announced that Lauren would be singing the all time number one song for Elton John. Ron and I had a contest to figure out what song that would be. I kept thinking--"It's the song about a dead person. It's a song about a dead person." Suddenly, I remembered the person was Marilyn Monroe. Since Emily was on the computer, I asked her to Google Elton John and Marilyn Monroe. I was thrilled when they announced this was THE song! My little bit of trivia brain had paid off.

OK, now to Lauren's performance. She is an incredible singer and mature beyond her years. I can't believe she's only 16 years old. She did incredible last night and I predict that she will be in the final four.

James Durbin – “Saturday Night’s All Right” James is NOT my favorite singer in the group because I don't really like the type of music he sings. He's a little too rocker for my taste. But, he is very talented and last night, I enjoyed watching him interact with the audience, jump off the piano, and have fire spout everywhere. His joke about worrying that his overly hair sprayed hair would catch on fire and he would have a "Pepsi moment" was the other funny part of the show since American Idol is sponsored by Coca Cola. Of course, us ancient ones KNOW he was referring to Michael Jackson's unfortunate incident filming a Pepsi commercial years ago.
I predict he will also be in the final four.

Thia Megia – “Daniel” I like Thia and I like "Daniel." When I was growing up, my brother Daniel told all his (gullible) friends that Elton John was singing about him. They believed him. His friends were not. too. bright. But, since I DO have a brother named Daniel, this song has a soft spot in my heart. Thia did an OK job with this song. She has an absolutely beautiful voice but tonight (sigh) she didn't wow me as much as other times. I'm very worried she will be in the bottom three.

Casey Abrams – “Your Song” First I must say that I'm very, very glad that Casey got his hair and beard trimmed. He was looking positively scary and even evil the past couple of weeks. It wasn't just his hair and beard either--it was in his eyes as he growled and shrieked. I could not bear watching him. Last night, he did much better. He looked saner. He sang with less growls and I don't think I heard any shrieks at all. The judges saved him last week. I think he's safe on his own tonight.

Jacob Lusk – “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word” I like Jacob. I like the type of music he chooses and the emotion he brings to a song. He is trying harder the past two weeks to hold back a little and when he does, he's more successful. This performance was not the best one Jacob has ever had, but he did fine. He should be safe. I predict he'll be in the final four, too. Or it could be Scotty. Still trying to decide between these two.

Haley Reinhart – “Bennie and the Jets” This was my FAVORITE performance of the evening! I have not been a Haley fan in the past, but Ron and I could not stop smiling the whole time she sang. It was infectious. It was fun. We wanted to sing along. Haley had a couple of bottom three weeks, but tonight, she's SAFE!

Bottom Line: Bottom three: Naima, Stefano, and Thia. Who's going home? Hmmm... this is harder but I'll say Stefano.

Best performance of the evening: Haley, Pia, and Lauren.

So, I'll see tonight how I did.

Poor Aching Head

Emily suffers with migraines. It has progressively gotten worse over the past year. She called me again this afternoon and asked if I would please pick her up from school. She was having a very rough day.

This is the second time this month I've picked her up from school. I'm concerned. I've taken her to the doctor a couple of times and they have challenged her to keep a "headache journal" and record what she has eaten, how much she has slept, and rate the stress she is feeling.

Has she done this?

No, she has not.

Today, when I arrived at the school, I saw a fire engine and a ambulance in the parking lot. My first thought was--Emily! I hurried to the school office where I saw a stretcher, several paramedics, and worried looking school officials. I didn't want to be a "looky-loo" but I worried, "What if it's my daughter?"

A few minutes later, I realized it wasn't. The office personnel were pretty busy and I waited a few minutes before Emily came from her classroom. As we left the school, I challenged her once again to PLEASE keep a headache journal so we could figure out what is causing the migraines. She is finally to the point where this is important to her.

When we arrived home from school, she found a "pretty flowery" notebook and started recording what she ate yesterday afternoon and evening.

One chocolate peanut cluster.
One snack sized Snicker Bar.
Applesauce.
Microwave popcorn.
Baked Potato stuffed with cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, and bacon.
Baby carrots.
Milk.
Hot Cocoa.

As she listed what she had eaten she said, "I feel fat! I didn't realize what an unhealthy diet I have!"

I reassured her that she was NOT fat.

She moaned as she remembered more non-nutritious foods she had consumed such as Jelly Bellies.

"Mom, I can't BELIEVE how horrible I eat!"

She grabbed a banana and began chewing.

"I NEED to join the Smokin' Hot Mama challenge and watch what I eat!"

"I NEED to place the Smokin' Hot Mama challenge in my binder and remind myself to only eat healthy foods!"

Tonight for dinner, Emily was very conscious about what she ate.

Pasta, chicken breast, spinach, red bell pepper, romaine lettuce, baby carrots, celery, and non-fat milk and (shudder) non-fat salad dressing, too.

What a difference 24 hours make. I told her she needs to record this in her headache journal, also. That way, if she has another migraine tomorrow, we'll be able to see if there are trigger foods.

If keeping a headache journal helps us figure out WHAT is causing the headaches so we can prevent them in the future AND helps her improve her eating habits, it's a win-win situation.

But, she told me she's not giving up her Hot Cocoa.

I Wonder if Warm Milk REALLY Works?

It's 2:00 am. I've been awake since 1:00. This is a problem because I went to bed after 10:00 pm. So, what's the problem now?

The camp fundraiser is over.

I've completed my last BYU class.

My last BYU class has been graded and I passed.

I don't teach seminary until next week.

Everything should be GOOD. Eternally speaking--all is well!

But, I've been awake for over an hour and I know that it's going to be hard to go back to sleep.

The reason I can't sleep now is because when I tried to order my cap and gown for graduation, I found out it was too late. The deadline to order caps and gowns closed over two weeks ago. Two weeks ago, I didn't know for sure that I had been approved to graduate in April. Two weeks ago I didn't know that the deadline to order caps and gowns was happening.

Without a cap and gown, I can't walk. Oh, I'll still graduate, and that's the big thing. But, I wanted to walk.

Now, not all is lost. There will be a LIMITED amount of caps and gowns to purchase the week of graduation. First come. First served. Christie has already told me that she would be willing to help out. I'm sure Heather or Jennifer would be, too.

But it's the NOT knowing that keeps me awake. Thanks, Grandma for my "worry gene."

But, that's ANOTHER blog post.

A Taste of Heaven on Earth

Last Friday evening, Ron, Emily, and I went to Mimi's Cafe to celebrate that I was finally finished with college. Possibly forever. Although Emily thinks I should now go on and get my Master's and eventually Ph.d. I laughed hysterically when she said that.

Emily is a very, very funny girl.

But, as I was saying, we went out to dinner. We enjoyed a lovely meal but the highlight for Emily and I was their delicious chocolate mousse topped with yummy sliced strawberries.

It truly was a little taste of heaven on earth.

Emily was enjoying her portion so much, that she ate v-e-r-y slowly. She wanted to savor every bite. I actually finished before she did. That's saying something.

So, now that I have accomplished the goal of getting my college degree, my next goal is to learn how to make a delicious, melt in your mouth wonderful, chocolate mousse.

If you have a GREAT recipe, let me know. When I find a winner, I'll post it and share my glad tidings with the rest of the world.

We Believe

This evening, Emily and I attended the Young Women broadcast. It was wonderful. The talks by the General Young Women presidency were inspiring. The message from President Eyering was thought-provoking. I'm looking forward to reading them in the May Ensign so I can digest their messages fully. The theme tonight was I Believe. I believe in being honest and true. I believe in being benevolent. I believe in being virtuous. President Eyering taught eloquently how we can believe--how we can have a living, growing testimony all the time. He mentioned Alma 32 quite a bit and explained how we can gain our own testimony. I had finished re-reading Alma 32 earlier in the week so many of his references were very fresh.

One thing he said that impressed me was, (and I'm paraphrasing) "Every time I read the Book of Mormon I take Moroni's challenge and pray and ask Heavenly Father if the Book of Mormon is true. This is one way that I keep my testimony living and growing."

I've done that myself occasionally, but I can't say I've prayed about the truthfulness every time I've finished reading it. It's something that I need to do.

As I was sitting in the chapel next to Emily, I suddenly realized that this was the last Young Women meeting I would attend with a daughter. I've been attending one of these meetings since 1994 when Christie was 12. Every year for 15 years, at least one daughter has sat by me in the chapel. I'm feeling a little nostalgic that another chapter is coming to a close.

However, I may have the opportunity of sitting in the chapel with my daughters for the Relief Society broadcasts. That will be a lovely experience.

Lost and Found

In February I checked out a book from the library called A Year of Fog. I read about three chapters before I needed to return it unfinished. I had started my last BYU class and simply didn't have time to read like I wanted to.

The opening chapters have haunted me. Someday I will have to finish this book. It's about a woman who loses her soon to be step-daughter on a beach in San Fransisco. She looked away for just a few seconds and in the blink of an eye, this little girl disappeared in the thick fog. This reminded me of something that happened within my own family:

When Christie was three years old, I was pregnant with my second daughter, Heather. My mom, Ron, Christie, and I drove over to Santa Cruz where we enjoyed a lovely day at the beach. The Santa Cruz boardwalk with all their thrilling rides was nearby. After enjoying a picnic lunch, Ron and Christie went down near the water to build sandcastles. My mom and I sat on blankets and towels and visited with each other. The beach was very crowded that day. It was one of those perfect days where there wasn't any fog and the temperature was very warm.

After Ron and Christie had been playing happily for 10 or so minutes, Ron walked up to where we were sitting.

"Where's Christie?" he asked.

"She's with you," I replied.

"No, she isn't. She said she wanted to get a couple more toys from you and then build more sand castles."

Panic set in immediately. With all the people at the beach, she somehow had not seen my Mom and I. We immediately began searching for her. I know that each one of us had a prayer in our hearts that we would find her soon.

I approached a life guard sitting on his tower and explained what had happened. I described what Christie was wearing and he radioed the other life guards to let them know to be on the lookout. I began walking down the beach, heading in the direction of the boardwalk. Where could she be? Was she in the water? Was she attracted to the rides on the boardwalk? Had someone taken her?

Meanwhile, my mom came across a group of young adults from our church. She had overheard them talking about church related topics and so she asked if they would also join in the hunt. Ron, my mom, fifteen or so strangers, and I along with the lifeguards were now searching for our lost girl.

As I prayed, I felt prompted to head toward the boardwalk. I didn't even want to think about if Christie was in the water. She could not swim. I'm sure I was crying as I continued my search wondering if I would ever see her again.

After searching for what seemed like forever, a lifeguard approached me and asked if I was the mother of the lost girl? I told him yes.

"We found her," he said. "She's in the first aid station eating a sugar free lollipop."

He directed me where to go and I was so relieved to see her again. Christie had been trying to find us in the mass of people. She wasn't wearing her sandals and the sand became so hot to her tender feet that she began crying. When a family saw her, they asked what was wrong.

"My feet hurt and my Mommy and Daddy are lost, " she told them. They allowed her to stand on their towel to cool off her feet and then immediately sprung into action and took her to a safe place.

When I picked her up, the person at the first aid station told me what a smart girl she was. "She knows her name, address, and phone number." All the practicing had paid off! I was so glad she remembered this important information. I was so happy that we were reunited and that she was safe.

As I remember what happened all those years ago, I am so grateful that we had a happy ending. I'm not sure if the plot in A Year of Fog does.

Someday, I'll have to find out.

Just the Way You Are

This morning I did a step workout that combined circuits of cardio and strength training. I had not done this tape in nearly a year and I forgot how quickly it moved.

"Turn off the heater," I exclaimed to Ron as beads of perspiration were running down my face. "I'm hot."

Oh yeah. That's right. A real woman NEVER perspires. OR sweats. I was glowing in an over-abundant way.

Ron kindly turned off the heater even though he said it was FREEZING in our house.

It felt like 95 degrees to me.

Fifty minutes later, I was finished. It was time to take Emily to school.

"Oh, Emily," I said as we were walking out the door, "I am so hot and sweaty."

And then she burst into song,

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are!

Somehow, I don't think Bruno Mars was picturing a glowing, middle-aged woman wearing sweats and an old T-shirt as he sang this song.

But it put a smile on my face as we loudly sang together.

Goal Accomplished!

Have you missed me?

I've missed you.

I have spent the past five weeks intently working on my last BYU class. I have spent the past five weeks reviewing textbooks and notes of all the courses I have taken. I have spent the last five weeks doing research for my capstone class. I have spent the last five weeks writing many papers. This has left little free time for blogging. Or cleaning my house. Or making nutritious meals.

It has left little free time to read books. Or talk on the phone. Or do fun things with my family.

But, it's been worth it. I've taken 14 classes the past five years. Finally, I'm done.

A few minutes ago, I submitted a 12 page research paper, a 6 page paper, a 24 page paper, and two one page papers, along with assorted other necessary documents to prove that I have learned something the past five years.

I am sitting at my computer weeping tears of joy that the journey is over. I am happy the finals are over. I am SO glad I don't have to write any more research papers. I am relieved that I don't have to figure out exactly what my instructor wants sitting at my computer 800 miles from their office.

I am sitting at my computer weeping tears of sadness that the journey is over. I have LOVED going back to school and learning new things. I have LOVED having my mind and imagination opened to new concepts. I will miss being a BYU student. It has been a joyous journey.

I want to shout to the world that almost 30 years after I left college to raise a family...

GOAL ACCOMPLISHED!!!

I'ts Not Easy Being Green

Do you remember watching Sesame Street when you were just a child and Kermit the Frog would sit on a log out in the pond and sing with great emotion, "It's not easy being green...." Well, it's not always easy turning a meal into a green-fest either. But last night, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, I did.


First, I started with a lovely green and white checkered tablecloth and a green and white floral centerpiece that Emily created. Beautiful!

For dinner, I served sweet and sour cabbage rolls. The less said about this, the better. My family sadly lacks the cooked cabbage taste buds. We were not fans. Ron however gave me props for trying another new recipe. He is grateful that I am willing to try new things out occasionally.

We also enjoyed green rice.

Green home-made bread. (I know--it's hard to see that it's green, but it is.)

Green Jello.

Green cheesecake with little green shamrock sprinkles on top. Aren't they cute?

And a lovely green bottle of Martinelli's sparking apple cider.

It was a lovely evening.

And the best part--no one got pinched!

Drive Through Tri-tip Dinner

Yesterday, was our Young Women's camp fundraiser. Our wonderful Bishop and another talented man in our ward were the chefs. They BBQ-ed tri-tip, roasted new red potatoes, and we tossed together a yummy salad. My big contribution to the meal was whipping up batch after batch after batch after batch (do you get the picture?) of raspberry vinaigrette. Because Chef K. does EVERYTHING by taste, each batch was slightly different (Hmmm...this needs more pepper. Hmmmm.... this needs a couple more squeezes of lemon juice. Hmmmm....a little more red wine vinegar. PERFECT!)

The Young Women sold tickets to members of the ward, neighbors, and friends. They baked oodles and oodles of delectable cupcakes, chocolaty brownies, and soft and moist cookies to sell at the bake sale. They came to the church in three shifts to prep, serve, and sell their baked goods at our first annual "tri-tip drive-through dinner and bake sale."

At least it MIGHT be our first annual "tri-tip drive-through dinner and bake sale."

Just before 6:00 pm, the first cars arrived in the parking lot. I was at my official table, spreadsheet and highlighter marker in hand ready to call in the orders to the kitchen. Using a trusty walkie-talkie, I would ask for three, or four, or sometimes 10 meals at a time. The girls in the kitchen would scurry and put together the requested meals and then hustle outside to deliver the warm food to the waiting occupants.

Other girls wheeled delectable goodies to each car, selling their baked goods at $3.00 a plate. Many of the members said, "Keep the change." They were very generous and we were very happy with how well things turned out. The food was delicious! If I had been in charge of making 210 dinners, I know it would not have turned out so well.

After many, many nights of losing sleep over this production, I am so grateful it is over. I am grateful for all the men and women who helped me pull it off. I am grateful for the sweet young women in my ward who worked so hard selling tickets, working cheerfully, and having fun at the same time.

Now, I need to concentrate on that last BYU class! Life is busy. Life is good.

Ripples in a Pond

Nearly every child I have ever known loves throwing rocks in a pond. There is something mesmerizing about watching the rock hit the water, make a splash, and then watching the ripples making constantly widening circles as they spread from the point of impact.

A couple of days ago, an 8.9 earthquake hit Japan, devastating this country. A tsunami struck a short time later. Thousands of people have been killed or are missing. A nuclear power plant is having major issues as it has a partial meltdown and leaks radiation. Men, women, and children are without sufficient food, water, or power. My heart goes out to the victims, their families, and everyone who was impacted some way. I'm sure it will take years to rebuild everything that was lost.

Yesterday morning as I arrived at the Oakland Temple we noticed a lot of people in the parking lot. It was not even 6:00 am and the temple didn't open till 7:00. We wondered why there were so many people there. They were dressed casually. I speculated that they were gathering together for another activity.

A couple of hours later, I found out why they were there.

They were afraid a tsunami was going to hit the Oakland area. They drove either to get out of harms way or in hopes of seeing a monster wave strike Oakland. I think that it is interesting that these men, women, and children would flock to the temple. Perhaps they could sense a place of safety and refuge even though they are not members of my church.

The earthquake struck Japan, but like a rock thrown into a pond with enough force, the ripples it created stretched halfway across the world.

Thank You for Being Jesus' Friend

A couple of weeks ago, a 14 year old girl was at the temple. She had only been there one time previously with her ward youth group. This time, she came alone to do baptisms. She was nervous, but the woman who helped her was kind and loving. It was a very positive experience for this young girl. As she was leaving the temple, the young girl thanked the temple worker profusely for all her help.

"I have always heard that the temple is the House of the Lord," the teenager said, "But today was the first time that I could feel it was Heavenly Father's house." She paused and added, "Thank you," she gestured to the temple worker and those standing nearby, "for being Jesus' friend."

When I heard this story today, I was touched. One of my favorite things is to work in the temple once a month. I was reminded that one of my goals is to be more like Jesus--to be His friend. As I greeted the men and women who were visiting the temple today, I tried harder to smile and greet them with warmth. I wanted them to feel that this is truly "The House of the Lord" and that I am striving to be His friend.

While I was in the temple, I noticed a beautiful young woman with her mother. She was getting married and was glowing like most young brides. Her mother was obviously happy about her daughter's choices. What a wonderful day for this family!

A few minutes later, I saw her mother alone. I greeted her and asked, "Is your daughter getting married today?"

She smiled and said yes.

"Congratulations," I said, "Having a daughter get married is such a wonderful occasion, but a little bittersweet, too." I felt like I needed to explain, "I've had three daughters get married, and even though they married wonderful men, I realized that I'm no longer the most important person in their life."

She agreed and then said, "Today is even more bittersweet for me. My husband is not a member and he's having a hard time not being able to watch his little girl get married." Her eyes filled with tears. "I'm going to join him in the waiting room so he isn't hurt even more."

Tears filled my eyes, too. I'm sure this mother has dreamed about her daughter's wedding day for years, yet she wasn't going to be there either. I tried to say something that would give her comfort. She then left to join her husband.

I saw the mother a couple more times this morning. We shared a smile each time we met. For a few minutes we made a small connection. Hopefully I was able to be, in some small way, Jesus' friend.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

For the past week or so, I have been waking up between 3 and 4:00 am. As I stare at the clock, I will myself to go back to sleep. I try to relax and think of pleasant memories, but all the things that are going on right now keep coming to the front of my mind. I'm unable to push the thoughts back down to my sub-conscious mind so that I can go back to sleep.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

How am I going to finish this last BYU class by March 26th? I have to write three papers, including a 10 page research paper. My topic is interesting, but will I be able to pull it off? I have spent over a week going through my old textbooks looking for resources. I have spent over a week doing research on-line. I have spent over a week taking notes, compiling information, and trying to figure out some type of outline for this paper. Slowly, ideas are coming together, but I don't know if it's coming fast enough. Every night, I wake up thinking about my topic and what steps I need to accomplish that day if I HOPE to be finished on time.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

My stomach churns as I think about the Young Women Camp fundraiser. This is definitely out of my comfort zone. I've never helped with a fundraiser before and now, I'm in charge. I asked the young women to turn in their information on Sunday. Only five girls did. Before Saturday, I need to collect all the information, consult with my "chefs" and shop for the food. I sent out an SOS e-mail to the other Young Women leaders on Sunday expressing my concerns. I'm so grateful that they are willing to help out. But, I am worried that I'm forgetting important details. I'm worried that this is going to be a flop. I feel like I'm proving myself in my new ward that I CAN do challenging things and I'm worried that I am going to mess everything up. So, I lay awake in the early hours of the morning thinking about what needs to be done and hoping that everything turns out.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

I hope I sleep tonight.

Little Letters--BYU Edition

Here are some little letters I would like to send to BYU.

Dear BYU,

Congratulations! You made The Today Show this morning as they discussed the suspension of one of your key BYU basketball players because he broke the Honor Code. I know that BYU was recently voted #3 in the nation. I know the NCAA championships are rapidly approaching. But, may I just say that as a current student (with one class left) how PROUD I am of you for making the Honor Code real and relevant. Each year as I meet with my Bishop, I commit to living the Honor Code and I'm glad the rules aren't bent for your star players. Yes, you lost a game against New Mexico after he was cut. Yes, you may not do as well in the polls next Monday. Yes, there are many, many people who just don't get it. But I do. So thanks!

Sincerely,
A Current Student


Dear BYU,

Thank you so much for having such AMAZING performing arts groups! Last night, Ron, Emily, and I attended the International Folk Dance Ensemble and we LOVED it! We loved the energy of the dancers and the Mountain Strings band. The performers radiated joy and light and love. As we watched them perform one high energy number after another, I wondered, "How do they do it?" As we left the venue, I overheard one man ask a male performer, "How many calories do you burn up there?" I never heard the answer, but that's what I want to know, too!

Love,
A Very Happy Fan


Dear BYU,

So, do I get to graduate in April with my darling daughter, Jennifer or do I need to come back in August and graduate by myself? It's been almost three weeks since I sent in the paperwork asking if it would be possible to change my graduation date from August to April. I haven't heard anything. Think about the memories and photo opportunities that another mother-daughter pair could have graduating together? Think how GOOD it would look in a commercial on BYUTV advertising the success of the BGS program? Think how GOOD Jennifer and I would look in print ads? Please consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.

Very sincerely,
A Hopeful Graduate

Trust in the Lord

Shortly before we moved, our stake President asked me to spontaneously share my testimony in stake conference. I had a few minutes to gather my thoughts together before it was my turn to speak.

What should I share with the people I loved so much in Stockton? These people were my family. I had lived among them for 25 years. They had helped raise my children as they taught them in Primary, Sunday School, Young Women, and Seminary. They are my friends--they will ALWAYS be my friends. Now, our family was commencing a new chapter in our lives and I was being asked to share a parting message.

The thought that came to me is found in Proverbs: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him; and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

As I shared that scripture with the large congregation, I announced to the stake what most people did not know--that our family was moving in a couple of months. They were gasps of shock. No one expected us to move--including ourselves. We thought we would stay in Stockton for the rest of our lives.

This scripture has been my guideline for most of my married life. I remember living in Texas soon after Ron graduated from BYU. After a year of living there, Ron and I were moving back to California because the construction project he was supervising was coming to an end. Even though I was excited about being close to family again, I was puzzled why we came to Texas in the first place. One day, as I was visiting teaching a mature, wonderful woman and her elderly mother I expressed my thoughts. With tears in my eyes I asked, "Why is this happening to us?"

This good sister paused a couple of minutes before answering my question. Perhaps she was praying and asking for guidance.

"Loralee," she said, "I don't know exactly why you came to Texas for such a short time nor do I know why you are going back to California now. But this I do know, you will look back on this time in your life and see that you have learned some important lessons that will help you in your next chapter in life."

Her words brought me comfort.

Ron, Emily, and I have lived in our new home for six months. It is still hard at times living here. I miss my friends and Stockton home greatly. But, I am learning lessons that hopefully are making me stronger and a better person. I see the great good that Ron is doing as ward mission leader. He has helped touch the hearts of several people in our ward and they are coming back to church. I see how Emily has become a more diligent student as a result of this move and developing greater self-confidence. I am relishing living closer to my mother, brothers and their wives, and nieces and nephews and developing a more tight-knit relationship with them.

I pray that I may know what other lessons we are supposed to learn. I am trusting in the Lord that this will be a rich experience and that when I look back I will see the hand of the Lord in our lives. I know that He does indeed direct our paths.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Do you remember how excited I was when I found out I won a book? About two weeks later, a copy arrived in my mail box. I could not wait to begin reading because from the description on the Goodreads website, I knew I would enjoy this book. I was not disappointed.

Calpurnia Tate (isn't that the most delicious name?) is an 11 year old girl living in Texas in 1899. She is the middle child in a family of seven--sandwiched between three older brothers and three younger ones. Her mother has high aspirations for her only daughter--good student, well-behaved daughter, schooled in the domestic arts, and promising debutante. Unfortunately for Mother, Calpurnia does not share those aspirations.

During an extremely hot summer in Texas, Callie Vee wonders why there are yellow grasshoppers instead of the normal green ones. She doesn't think her parents will know, so she musters up her courage and asks her rather aloof grandfather, who spends his days studying nature and tinkering in the shed. He replies that he is sure she'll figure it out. After several more days pondering this perplexing question, she comes up with an answer. When she shares the news with grandfather, he takes an interest in her--the only member of the family he IS interested in.

Grandfather opens up a whole new world to Callie. She soaks up her new knowledge of the world around her like a thirsty sponge. She also is awakened to ambition and desires with all her heart to attend the University (an unheard of thing in 1899) and learn more. Mother is not amused by Callie's new interests and her homemaking education takes on an added fervency.

While the story line is wonderful, it's the way Jacqueline Kelly writes that made this book so special. She writes with such a sense of description that it is poetic at times. Several times I found myself laughing out loud with her touches of humor. This is a wonderful book for anyone 5th grade on up.





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