Post-It Notes

Grandpa Harmon

When my children were young, I used to sing to them before naps and bedtime. My repertoire included Primary songs, "Jumbo Elephant" which my mom sang to me growing up, and a song I have never heard anywhere else--a combination of Rock-a-Bye Baby with an added verse of Hush Be Still.

When I was a little girl, my parents took me nearly every year to visit my mother's parents. They lived several hours away, so it was always a treat to see them. One of my favorite memory's of those visits was sitting in my Grandpa's lap as he sat in a large, upholstered rocker. I remember it being a dark red, but that might be my imagination playing tricks on me. He would also be holding at least one or two of my siblings at the same time.

Grandpa Harmon

Slowly he would rock back and forth, back and forth and begin singing Rock-a-Bye-Baby. When he got to the end of the song he would begin singing:

Hush be still,
As still as a mouse,
There's a baby in the house
Not a monkey, not a toy,
But a happy brown-eyed boy.

He would then go back to singing Rock-a-Bye-Baby. I don't know how many times I heard him sing this song, but it stuck with me.

Three days after my eleventh birthday, I was practicing the piano when the phone rang. That wasn't too unusual in our house. The phone was constantly ringing. My mother answered the phone and then came out to the living room to tell me that Grandpa Harmon had passed away. I was shocked. It was the first person I ever knew who had died. I thought of this gentle man holding two or three squirmy grandchildren in his lap at a time and softly singing. I remember sitting at the piano crying.

Ten and a half years later, I held my first daughter in my arms. One of the first songs I sang to her was Grandpa Harmon's version of Rock-a-Bye-Baby. I changed the words slightly to describe her eye color and the fact that she was a girl. I sang this song to each daughter as they joined our family, but I'm not sure if I ever told them where I had learned the song.

I'm looking forward to someday being a grandmother and holding my own squirmy grandchildren in my lap as I sit in my soft blue rocking chair. As I softly sing Hush Be Still to them, I will think back to how their great-great grandfather introduced this song to my family. Perhaps one day, they will sing it to their grandchildren as well.

Waking up Happy

I Love to See the Temple

The Sacramento Temple

I love the Primary Hymn, "I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday. To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray..."

Last Friday night, Ron and I went to the temple with members of our ward. We had a sealing assignment. As I listened to the promised blessings I was filled with joy and gratitude for a loving Heavenly Father who makes it possible for us to be united as families for all eternity. The sealer shared with us that approximately 50 generations separate us from Abraham. For some reason, this made Abraham seem more like a close relative like a beloved Grandpa instead of someone whose story is only found in the Bible.

The temple has always been important to me. I remember as a little girl attending the Oakland Temple Open House. I don't remember much about the event except walking up a very steep parking lot and thinking my legs would not make it.

Later, as a 12 year old, I remember the special, reverent feelings I had doing baptisms for the dead. As a Senior in High School, I had the opportunity of being on the temple ground nearly every day for a week performing in the Temple Pageant. That was a life changing event as I felt the Spirit testify to me that the things I was hearing and singing about are true.

I remember the anticipation I felt as Ron and I prepared to be married in the temple. I recall waiting with Ron in the Celestial Room for our turn to be married. I held his hand and could not believe this special day was finally here! I was filled with great joy when the sealer joined us together as husband and wife for eternity.

This past summer as Ron and I attended the temple nearly every week, it became our anchor during our uncertain time. When we became nearly consumed with stress, we knew that a visit to the temple would bring us peace and help us remember the great love our Heavenly Father has for us. We looked forward to those weekly visits because we knew that for a few hours we would find peace and comfort. We would also return home filled with strengthened faith and hope.

I recall one visit in particular when I felt such overwhelming joy! It was a feeling I had not had in a very long time. I believe it was a gift from my Heavenly Father assuring me that we were not forgotten and that we could experience joy even during the dark times.

As we were at the temple Friday night with members of our ward family, I glimpsed to a small degree what Heaven will be like. I am so grateful for temples here on the earth and for their saving ordinances.

My dilemma

If you were a fly on the wall of our car as Ron and I were driving to the temple Friday night, you would have overheard this conversation.

Me: Ron, I have a dilemma.

Very long pause.

Ron: So, what is your dilemma?

Me: So, you know how much I like Christmas music?

Very long pause.

Ron: Yes, I know. So, what's the problem?

Me: Well, remember how I told you that I wanted to get TWO new Christmas CD's this year? I want to get David Archuleta's Christmas CD because I really like his voice. And you know how much I LOVE Hilary Weeks. Well, she has a new Christmas CD out, too. I really want that one also.

Very long pause.

Ron: Yes, I remember that. So, what's the problem?

Me: Well, now I want THREE Christmas CD's. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has a new one out and I heard selections of it on Amazon. It's very, very good! I don't know what to do!

Very long pause.

Ron: Why don't you buy me one of those Christmas CD's. for my birthday. That will solve your problem.

Is it any reason why I don't love my husband?

Halloween Bag Dinner

If you were to ask my four darling daughters what their favorite holiday traditions are, chances are that the Halloween Bag Dinner would be at the top of their lists. Many, many years ago, I wanted to encourage my children to EAT dinner before going out trick-or-treating. I knew what would happen if they didn't--they would gorge on sugar when they got home, end up with horrible "stummy-aches" and then we would ALL be miserable. Yet, for some reason, the thought of actually enjoying a healthy meal on Halloween night was nearly impossible when there was so much exciting action waiting outside.

As I thought about my not-so-serious dilemma, I decided that if I could make the Halloween dinner FUN, that perhaps they would actually eat the food, thus consuming less sugar, and alleviating the potential "stummy-ache." (Yes that is a real word in our family--a combination of stomach and tummy.) Thus, the Halloween bag dinner was born!

The Halloween Bag Dinner is ready to be served!

I decided on a menu that has twelve items--including utensils, napkins, and some type of beverage. Then I come up with Halloween names. Rolls might be called "tumbled tombstones." Baked potatoes could become "Revenge of Swamp Thing" and orange Jell-O could become "frosted pumpkin." Even the fork, knife, and spoon have new names. I typed up this Halloween menu, made enough copies for each member of the family, cut the names into slips, and then placed them in individual paper sacks. Over the next hour, each member of the family would draw three items at a time and wait to see what Black Cat's teeth really are (corn) or find out if they would be eating their first course with their hands because they didn't get a fork or a spoon (a family favorite) or if they would get dessert first! (Another family favorite.)

Ron clearly didn't have any utensils for this course...

Neither did Emily...

Ahhh...but Jennifer has a knife to stab her pork chop! Good times!

We always eat our Halloween bag dinner by candlelight which adds to the spooky fun. Best of all, the Halloween Bag Dinner became almost as popular as trick-or-treating. When Jennifer left home, Emily was very concerned that we would stop this tradition. I told her we weren't getting rid of it anytime soon because Ron and I enjoy it, too.

You know you have a successful family tradition when your adult children continue it. I know Christie and Tim have carried it on. Heather and Jennifer have introduced their college roommates to the messy fun. It wouldn't surprise me if those roommates don't introduce it to their OWN families someday!

I am Woman

Many, many moons ago when I was a teenager, Helen Reddy recorded a song that celebrated womanhood. It wasn't my favorite song, but I heard it ALL the time on the radio because it was a very big hit.

It's funny because this past week I've burst out in a exuberant voice saying "I am Woman...Hear me ROAR!!!" not once but three times. Weird.

Let me share with you my three experiences. Maybe you will agree that they were memorable and worthy of a ROAR. OK, maybe not memorable for anyone else but me.

Shrimp Scampi

A week ago, I made Ron a brand. new. recipe. He mentioned how much he LOVES shrimp and I decided, "I'll make him a shrimp dinner." I had never made Shrimp Scampi before, but I found a recipe on All Recipes website that received rave reviews. It looked easy. One problem--I needed to buy raw shrimp. Raw shrimp that was still in its shell. I've never peeled a shrimp before but for Ron, I was willing to give it a go.

Well, can I tell you that peeling shrimp was not hard at all! I was so proud of myself for figuring it out that I said, "I am Woman...Hear me ROAR!" I think my family was a little startled by that random comment. Even better, the dinner was delicious! I am definitely making this one again!

"Fixing the Garage Door"

OK, when I say I "fixed the garage door" I want you to know upfront that I didn't fix the springs. But I did do something for the first time.

The day of the BIG storm, I needed to pull a string to release the garage door thingy. (Obviously, I don't know what it is called.) After I did this, Emily and I were able to manually open and close the door. Well, as you may recall, the power was out for TWENTY-ONE hours (not that I was counting or anything) and Ron went back to work before putting the garage door thingy back together.

When I talked to Ron on the phone later on Wednesday, he walked me through the steps on how to reattach whatever that thing is called that I need to reattach. (I hope this makes a little sense.) When I actually did it, I was so excited that I yelled, "I am Woman...Hear me ROAR!" Emily raised her eyebrows in mild astonishment.

Conquering the Leaf Blower

After the BIG storm, our front yard was looking very straggly. Our beautiful maple tree lost several tree branches (not too big thank goodness) and there were hundreds of leaves and maple seed pods all over the place. I thought it would be nice to get the yard cleaned up before Ron came home on Friday. I spent a long time picking up branches and raking leaves. The entire green waste container was filled with the fruits of my labor. It looked great, but the driveway was still covered in leaves and debris. I started sweeping and then I remembered the leaf blower! I have never used his mechanical piece of magic before, but I am WOMAN! It took me longer to untangle the extension cord then it did to plug it in and begin getting rid of the leaves. It was so much fun! I think I should work for a lawn service company being their expert leaf blower. After I put everything away, I walked into the house and yelled, "I am Woman...Hear me ROAR!" By this time, Emily hardly blinked an eye. Clearly, her mother had lost it.

I was hoping that Ron would teach me how to use the BBQ tonight so I could yell my favorite new phrase once again, but he had an even better idea. We went out on a date. To dinner. Perhaps next week I'll conquer the BBQ.