Daily Gratitude Journal

Perhaps you have noticed that I am going through our children, one by one, noting some of the reasons why I am so grateful for each one of you. And today's star is Eliza!!

Like Phoebe, Eliza came after a long wait. Unlike Phoebe, others came quickly after she did!! But that did not diminish my enjoyment of this sweet little girl - who early on showed that she had a mind of her own! I have come to know that her single-minded sense of purpose has been a blessing in her life - take note of that, all you parents out there. Qualities that may seem to make your life a little more difficult at times are often qualities that we actually should be fostering!

Eliza was a quiet child - something that wasn't the usual in our household. And she was very thoughtful - thoughtful as in being kind, but also thoughtful as in thinking things through! She was very deliberate and thorough - something of a perfectionist too.

And I miss her wonderful piano skills in our silent household!!

Looking forward to our upcoming visit!!

Daily Gratitude Journal

I am indeed grateful for Phoebe!! After our last visit with her here, I was sad to see her go - what's not to love about Phoebe??

She calls herself the true middle child. She was, for a time, almost like an only child, since Bonny and Harry were in school when she was born. She and I had some good times together during those years - times I do treasure. As I treasure all the times we get to enjoy together.

When she was heading off to BYU, Dad was the bishop, so he wrote her ecclesiastical endorsement - quoted Yeats - claimed that that was what clinched it for her!! Maybe it was.

"I sigh that kiss you, for I must own, that I shall miss you, when you have grown!!"

Fortunately for us, now that she's grown, it's just as much fun as it ever was!

Daily Gratitude Journal

We were surprised and delighted when Harry was born. The doctor had made it sound like we would only have girls, owing to certain chemical factors in my make-up. When he was born, I guess we seemed somewhat shocked, because the nurse said, "Did you want a boy?"

We assured her that we were just surprised - delighted indeed - and pleasantly surprised.

Harry is a great son - I've enjoyed being his mom all these years - in fact, I still enjoy it!! And enjoy that he seems to enjoy it too!

Thanks, Harry, and here's to more happy years ahead!!

Daily Gratitude Journal

I can't let Bontober end without saying how grateful I am for Bonny, who made us parents! (My own personal Bontober celebration goes until November 9th this year - I'm celebrating 40 days to commemorate her 40 years!!)

What a wonderful little person to start us on the path of parenthood!! And she's become such a wonderful woman!!

Thanks, Bonny, for being patient with us - in so many ways!

Daily Gratitude Journal

I teach school all day - and I spend lots of time with kids who don't like being there!! It is such a conundrum for me - probably because I always loved school!

I am flabbergasted at kids - and even many of the other teachers there - who say they hate reading!! I can't even remember not being able to read let alone not loving it.

So I'm grateful for school and reading - and for the joy they bring into my life!!

(I don't want to hear about it if you don't like school - or if you don't like to read!!)

Day Two - Daily Gratitude Journal -

Today I am thinking about how grateful I am for the wonderful friendships in my life. If I tried to do a post on my friends, it would get pretty long!!

What I love about our friends is that time and distance have not diminished the experience - they have only enhanced it. It is good to have daily friends, ward friends, work friends, school friends, parents of our kids' friends' friends, college friends, Utah friends, from the past friends, in-law friends - what a wonderful world of friends we have!!

Hug a friend today - better yet, send them a card!! (I know you are thinking email or Facebooking them, but a card, now that says you care!)

Daily Gratitude Journal

I was reading a magazine article today about how significant it is to focus on gratitude. There are mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits that we enjoy when we focus on what we have, and not on what we don't have.

Over the years, I have started more than one "gratitude journal" but haven't ever been very consistent. And I may not be very consistent this time - after all - I only got to 1997 in my 40 years of posts about our then 40 years of marriage - which are now approaching 43 years!!

But if it's helpful to do so, then doing so for any length of time is probably helpful too!!

Today I am grateful for so many good memories! I have been sending Bonny "Bontober B-day Wishes" for 32 days now - I'm planning to send 40 of them - in honor of her 40th birthday - and I have been trying to include a "memory" in each one. How wonderful it is to ponder a special day or a special time or a special dress or a special doll - and to find a measure of joy in doing so.

Think of a happy memory today. Or better still, make a happy memory today that you or someone you love can relive in the days, months, and years ahead!

Happy Halloween!!

I guess I'm not a total Halloween Scrooge after all - looks like I dressed up one year - I think this hair was from the Santa costume.

And I've always been a willing participant in the trunk or treat activity. (But I did stay at home this year - my dogs were killin' me that night!!)

I'm thinking that Alli and Meli's kids will come trick or treating again this year - maybe I should show them this!!

This is from the last Sunday Halloween that I remember - although there have been others since this one - I just don't remember them!! Probably because I didn't have 3 little kids at home who were told they were not going trick or treating - they seemed to enjoy themselves anyway.

And of course, the all-time fave Halloween photo - Phoebe commented this year when I was telling someone about it, "I'm really amazed that quiet Linda came decked out like this." I guess Linda does have her zany side!! We "Girls of '45" are like that you know!!

I was also thinking about how Sunday trick or treating didn't exist in my day. And even 30 years ago, after we moved here, Halloween was on a Sunday - and everyone trick or treated on Saturday night.

Times have changed.

Movie Night at the Krikorian

Dad and I had a hot date tonight - went and saw Hereafter. We'd read the reviews - which were generally positive - although some were quite negative - and thought we'd enjoy it.

I enjoyed it - it seemed a little disjointed - 3 stories that finally intersect at the end - in a somewhat contrived manner. But I always believe in "the willing suspension of disbelief" so those criticisms didn't bother me much.

It was entertaining - and sometimes that's all you're after!

Halloween

Eliza posted about Halloween - and her supposed deficiencies as a Halloween afficionado. And it made me think about all the Halloweens over the years - there have been many, that is for sure!!

I grew up in a family where Halloween meant digging through the rag bag and coming up with either a gypsy costume or a hobo costume - depending on your gender. And if you were old enough, you dug around for an old pillowcase to bring in your trick or treating haul. Eyebrow pencil took care of the make up. And no one, absolutely no one, decorated their house for Halloween - except for Jack-o-lanterns. (A haul meant getting full-size candy bars - and trying to keep them away from my dad!)

With the advent of cheap, store-bought costumes, the get-ups changed a bit. This shot is from 1965, the year I stayed home fall semester to earn the money for Grenoble. The kids are Bobby, Leslie, Donna, and David. I think I did the honors with the eyebrow pencil. I think I took them trick or treating too. And can you find Richard, hiding in the picture??

Our children have usually been enthusiastic about dressing up. And some years I went to a lot of trouble making costumes. And for Bonny's kindergarten year, Dad made a beanbag toss wooden pumpkin that still gets used at ward Halloween parties.

But I remember one year when I made a charming gypsy costume for Bonny - she was three - and she let me dress her up and even take a photo - but she would have nothing to do with trick-or-treating - or even opening up the door for trick-or-treaters!!

Over the years, as decorating for Halloween became almost de rigeur, I was known for decorating the house. And I wore Halloween themed clothing too - and jewelry. I've toned that down over the years. I gave Halloween socks and kitchen towels as gifts. I sent - and send still - Halloween cards.

But I don't dress up - and really never have. I have a tee shirt that says, "This is my costume," and that's about it.

Dad used to dress up - and the two of us wore Julius Caesar costumes a couple of years ago - but no one could tell what we were - that was disappointing! Dad also has some famous Halloween moments - probably the most notable being the time he came as a housewife!!




Maybe you have a Halloween memory you'd like to share. But it's okay if you don't. And it's okay if you don't go to incredible lengths to outfit yourselves or your kids. And it's even okay if you are Halloween Scrooge.

Be sure to save me the candy corn and the circus peanuts though!!

Making Do!

A few weeks ago our Stake Relief Society put on a dinner prior to the Women's Broadcast. This was our 4th year. We don't actually do it - the High Council and the Stake Presidency do the work - but we set up and decorate the tables.

There wasn't a whole lot of money left in our budget, so we weren't sure what to do. But then I got to thinking that there were flowers and greenery growing in our yards - and on the stake center grounds themselves.

So we gathered up what was growing at the time and used the vases my secretary had bought up for her daughter's wedding reception that is coming up in November. And it looked great - I should have taken photos. Afterwards we gathered them up and each of us took home an armful - and my armful looked like this.

We were inordinately proud of our skill and frugality!!

The Joys of Teaching

I am involved in a collaboration model where I teach. 11 RSP students are clustered in an 8th grade Science class, and I co-teach with the general ed instructor. Since 8th grade Science is physical science - think chemistry and physics - I mostly support the teacher. He does let me do the inter-active reader with them as a group, but I don't think he's sold yet on my scientific abilities. But he does appreciate having another adult in the room to monitor progress - and on-task behavior - and he is growing in his confidence in my abilities!!

The students go with me to my room to take their tests, because some of them do better if I read the questions to them. I have 7 of them in my Study Skills class, so they decided to do their water content project as a group - and it was certainly fun to watch them dive into the project. This is significant, because these are kids who traditionally feel like they aren't doing things right, and worry about looking bad in front of their peers.

They did a good job on the project - it was spread out over about 3 weeks - it involved drying out fruit see how much of the fruit was water - a standard middle school science project. I got a display poster for them, and they tabulated their results and did a nice job of displaying the work they had done. When they were finished, they - at least the boys - wanted to take it over to the science room. All 5 boys "carried" the poster across campus to turn it in. It was gratifying to see the joy and sense of satisfaction they displayed.

I guess this is why I keep teaching!!

When I turned 40!!

So, Bonny is 40 today. Doesn't really seem possible that all those years have gone by. Most of the young women I know who turn 40 have a pretty different experience than I did turning 40!

The above photo - taken when we got ready for Karen and Jeff's reception - is from the year I turned 40. And in case you can't tell, I'm pregnant - with Hannah!

Here I am with Jim and Trudy on the temple grounds that same day.

So in case you plan to have a "pity party" about being 40 - you could be 40 and pregnant!!

But let me just say that I wouldn't have it any other way - otherwise we wouldn't have our own Hannoula Flannigan.

And I've even done being 42 and pregnant!! (and lived to tell the tale!!)

Quotable

We're here in St. George for the marathon - which Harry ran this a.m. - so we missed the first session of conference. But Harry had no desire to go anywhere after that, so we snuggled in for the second session - with carbs and electrolytes to fortify the recovering runner!!

"You become what you want to be by being what you want to become each day."

Elder Richard G. Scott

These words resonated with me - mainly because I keep thinking how I'm going to change and be the person I want to be. Turns out I'm going about it backwards!

I'll keep you posted on my progress. But then, if I go about it correctly, you ought to be able to see my progress!!

Can I just say that I love President Monson???

So, if you missed the Relief Society broadcast, you missed a treat!!

I have to say that I love President Monson!! If you somehow missed it - and somehow missed the word that it was wonderful and not to be missed - be sure to go to LDS.org and watch and listen to him - just reading it will not be enough - you really had to be there!!

And of course, the message was as wonderful as the delivery!!

What I do, where I go, who I work with!!

Another staff photo to add to my collection. The first few years I worked, I would put them all up on a bulletin board - but after awhile, I thought the emphasis was misunderstood by students, as in "You've been here that long!!"

I've been teaching since 1996. I've been at Clifton since the 1997-98 school year. I guess I have been here that long!!

Most days I'm happy to go to work. Lately I haven't been as happy - some "political" issues have "sapped my energy." But I always love the kids - and I have some great kids this year. We are also continuing with a program of collaboration that I spear-headed, and I'm proud of the progress we are making.

So I will stick it out! Retirement probably has some bad days too!

I LOVE this apron!

From the LA Times today - a shot of the stars of the Mark Taper Forum production of

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.

"A Beggar's Banquet"

For those of you who may be unaware of such information, school teachers, in California anyway, are only paid ten months out of the year. This is not so bad, since we only really work 9 1/2 months out of the year. But it does mean that you go from June 30th to September 30th without a paycheck.

You also may be unaware of the fact that at my school, we have a monthly or maybe every 6 weeks or so potluck lunch in the staff room. My good friend Marcie (who is a member of my ward in addition to being a teacher) usually spearheads things and gets out a flyer. And being the creative woman that she is, she always comes up with a theme. I usually provide the tablecloths and a pretty good main dish - at least it always gets snarfed up first. (That occurrence is more to be attributed to the fact that Marcie and I are the only ones who really "cook" - the rest just "fix food" - than to any superiority of my cooking. But I do have some specialties that are certainly "passing fair.")

So this month we had a "Beggar's Banquet," where we were supposed to come up with whatever we could out of our cupboards and freezers. Marcie made fudge. I made Shepherd's Pie. And there was a lot of chips and salsa too! Some of them must manage their money better, because there were a couple of buckets of chicken - and they hadn't made them themselves! And instead of buying flowers for centerpieces, I wandered around the campus classrooms and offices and borrowed plants !

This little exercise got me thinking, and I decided to see how long I could subsist on what was in my cupboards and freezer. I did go to the store for fresh produce, milk, yogurt, and bread, but I haven't really bought "groceries" for a couple of weeks now. It is somewhat liberating too. I even put on Sunday dinner last Sunday without going to the store (there was a lot of sour cream in the fridge so we had stroganoff.)

We are scraping bottom now though, so I hope I can get out of my meetings in a timely manner tomorrow so I can go to the store before dinner!

A good read -

Eliza has posted about These is My Words, a novel/biography by Nancy Turner. My book group read it some time ago, and I quite enjoyed it. She also noted that there were two sequels, and she recommended them to me. So I dutifully headed off to the new Monrovia Library and discovered that neither one of them was in the system. But they did have The Water and the Blood by the same author, and I needed something to read, so I checked it out.

Frankly, it's almost a better read than her first book. It takes place in East Texas, and the time period is World War II. I can't say much without spoiling it for any who might want to read it, but I will say that it's a compelling read with lots of historical detail that I find fascinating.

It's really a novel about prejudice, small-mindedness, resistance to change, religious fanaticism, and hypocrisy.

And it's a love story.

Let me know what you think!

Errata:

My photo files on the computer are majorly disorganized. Those that have been taken on my digital camera are in chronological order, but they are not labeled, nor are they in folders. Some day I'm going to do that. (I should have done that when I was down with my knee surgery - I read 37 novels instead!!)

But in the last week, I have been looking for certain photos, and the scrolling process just didn't work - I missed them. But today, when I was looking for photos for a post on Harry's birthday, I found some of them!! So I thought I'd post them anyway.

It was Andrew's birthday on the 4th - and I knew I had this photo. And it turns out I did!

I figured after celebrating Eve and Grandma's birthdays 8 times together, there ought to be a photo of just the two of them together - and there was!

I was thinking that I had photo of Ida - but assumed it was in with the ones that still need to be scanned. Turned out my assumption was incorrect - this is from a shower at Kathy Knudsen's house - maybe for Michelle M. or Nora G. - so it would be 2 plus or minus years ago. Try to remember to take photos of people you love - this certainly brought a smile to my face.

And I totally forgot to even blog Sarah N's b-day - it was yesterday - happy day to you Sarah!!

I keep planning to get organized - someday. But maybe I never will - I will maybe just read novels instead!