Busy, Busy, Busy

What a full week of work this has been. First of all, we are so thankful that Tyler is doing better. It is amazing how kids seems to bounce back from something major like head surgery. My knee recovery was longer than his head recovery! Kids ae amazing.

Our schedule included a trip to the temple for our annual Stake Temple Super Saturday. It is a fun family day with activities for the Primary children, the YM/YW doing baptisms, and the adults attending a session together. I washed up our clothes, pressed and folded them and had everything all ready to leave Saturday morning. When Garth got home from the football game (I wasn't willing to risk sitting out in the cold air and getting sick again) I told him to be sure to check for his recommend so we don't leave it home. He checked....expired. Has it really been that long since we traveled to Manti? Saturday morning we called around to find the bishop but all the bishopric had gone with the youth to do baptisms. Knowing from experience last year that you can't just have the bishop and/or stake president talk with the front desk when your recommend has expired, we knew it was useless to try. Last year someone else's recommend had expired and even though the bishop and stake president were there, they needed a RECENT recommend. If it had been lost or forgotten the stake president would okay you to go in, but being expired you need a new slip. I think the bishop needs to just carry his recommend book around with him. Anyway, we didn't get to the temple. So we drove up to Salt Lake to see the kids.

I knocked on the door at Tammy's and heard Kayden yell "Grandpa." He opened the door, with me standing right there. He pushed me out of the way so he could get to Grandpa. So much for loving and missing Grandma! We had fun at Chuck E. Cheese's again. But it was too crowded and noisy. It was nice to spend time talking with Nicky and Tammy, learning about Lexi's school and running after Koy and Kayden.

The drive home was difficult. I had traveling at night because of the lights so I close my eyes and end up sleeping, leaving Garth to drive alone. He was tired and rolled down the window to keep him awake. I tried to keep him company but wasn't too good at it. In Price we switched drivers. By then I was wide awake, so he slept.

Sunday we went to church, hunted around to try to find something for dinner since we didn't go grocery shopping on Saturday. We were lazy all day until it was time to go to the fireside. We had Mack Wilberg speaking at the stake center in a three-stake area fireside. He spoke about his memories of the building, along with his responsibilities as choir director. It was basically the same thing he did a few years ago, but just fun to talk with him again. He is just a good friend, the kind you just pick up where you left a few years ago. There were a lot of us "old friends" there. We should have gone to his mom's house and had a party like we always did after a Sunday performance in high school choir.


Now I have a lot to do this week in school. I should get busy! No time to sit at the computer. Got to go.

Prayers for Tyler

Our sweet little Tyler had surgery last night. Apparently his shunt was not working properly and needed to be replaced. Nancy details it at her blog. She called about 9:30 last night telling us he would be going into surgery. We understood that it would be a few hours until the surgery, but she called again at 11:30 and said it was all over and he was going better. It was hard to not jump in the car and drive to Arizona, but knew we wouldn't really be any help by the time we got there. I am so glad we have planned on coming down next week and have our tickets ready. Please keep Tyler in your prayers. He is such a strong spirit to go through everything he has gone through these short three years. He is a fighter. We are so blessed to have him in our family, to teach us understanding, patience, and unconditional love.

I Felt Important

I was looking through my email messages and found a response to a question about a site I used to use called I Keep Bookmarks. Someone had responded to the questioneer to use del.icio.us because you can add so many tags. This summer I switched all my "I Keep Bookmarks" over to del.icio.us and I really enjoy using that social bookmarking site. Anyway, this responder left her del.icio.us address for us to check out her bookmarks. So I did, of course. Just looked around a little and then decided to tag it so I can look in depth at another time. (Teachers seem to have a ton of bookmarks!) As I was leaving I noticed there were a few Smartboard bookmarks so I decided to quickly glance over them. To my humble heart, there was Cottonwood Technology bookmarked! My wikispace for Emery County teachers using Smartboard technology! I have been discovered by the outside world! (Too many exclamation marks in one paragraph...rewrite, revise, and edit.)Just thought I would humbly pass this on to all.

Help or Suggestions

I have noticed that on my classroom blog there is a tool icon on each gadget on the side. I can't seem to get rid of it. This icon doesn't show up on this blog, or on other blogs I see. Does anyone know why it is there and how to get rid of it? I guess it is okay to sit there, but just looks a bit messy compared to others. Suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

(Since posting this message I now notice the same icons here! So this is an edit to the original post. Do other people see it? I don't understand. Maybe it is something new that comes on with a new post. Am I crazy?)

Fun Weekend

Last weekend we had a much needed retreat. Garth and I went to the mountains and just relaxed. We hurried up with our trailer as soon as we both got home after work. It was around 7:30 so we decided to just go to the marina for supper before we went to the campground. We had a nice meal in the company of Shaun and Ima Jean Tomsick and Joe and his wife with their new baby. Also Grandpa and Grandma Andersen (Mindy's parents), and Brad and Jenny were there for a few minutes. After feasting on a delicious Reeder Burger we headed to the campground where we found one of our favorite spots, #19, still open. We backed in and set up the trailer, then built a fire and just enjoyed watching the stars come out. It was a very warm night, so warm it was hard to sleep without a breeze coming in the windows. We didn't have the generator with us for the AC, so we kept the windows open. We woke up early as usual, fixed a great breakfast then headed out to see what was going on in the world. When we got to the marina Scott insisted Garth try out the wave runner. As for me, I stayed on dry land. Garth said the water was fine, but he isn't ready to buy one of his own.

After reporting where we thought we would head, we took off. Here is a picture where we went. OKay, all you Emery-ites. First one to guess where it is gets a prize. What is the prize? I don't know, but you have the pleasure of knowing you know your Emery County geography. We went to two different lakes in one day. Both lakes Dad put his fishing pole in, but he only caught fish at one of them. Can you tell where he is? In all, it was a nice weekend.
Here is Dad on the waverunner



Dad at a good fishing hole:

Happy Birthday, Nancy

Today is my daughter, Nancy's, birthday. I won't say how old she is because it makes me old. I hope she has a very happy day on her xxth birthday. She lives in sunny Arizona with her husband and my grandson. They have been through many trials the past three years but she has shown what a great mother she is by pushing through all the pain and worries and making sure Tyler has all the services he is entitled to. She is patient with him and helps him learn to walk and communicate with others. She has had to go through things that most of us never know, but she is proving up to the task. She is very thoughtful of others and volunteers to help as much as she can at a long distance away. I remember her making me laugh so hard at her off-the-cuff jokes when she was in high school. Garth and I were talking about the time she bit her tongue and needed to get stitches, then just a few days later slit her head open and needed stitches again. Do you still have a funny bump on your tongue? A reminder to "watch your tongue!" We love you and can't wait for our visit in a few weeks! This picture was taken almost three years ago when Tyler was only about a month old. Sorry about the three year old picture. I need to update my files. Happy birthday

My Grandma Olsen

My sweet little Grandma Olsen's birthday is on August 28th. She was born one hundred years ago and lived for 88 years. She was a very hard worker, working on the farm with Grandpa and raising 3 children. Like many people of her generation, she saw may hardships and trials but came through each one with the desire to do what was right. She lived by herself for 31 years after her husband died. She loved her grandchildren. I would stop at her house on my way home from school just to visit with her and she loved it. So many times I still glance at her window when I drive past her home, and can see her hand opening the curtain to see who is driving by. I was so glad I could help her a few times at the hospital and care center. I spooned tea to her lips so she could sip when that was all she would take in. I patted her hand and wiped her tears that were rolling down her cheek. I know she knew I was there, and I was so honored to be there with her. I will never be able to grow flowers like her, that is Jan's job, but I can crochet and embroider, and I can pick out the towels and edges that were hers from all the others in my cedar chest. I am so thankful for the heritage she gave me. I know she lives on and will be there to greet me.
If you are reading this, leave a memory of Grandma if you would like.

My Mom

Tomorrow is my mother's birthday. She would be 74 years old. I can't imagine my mother at that age. She will always be 45 to me. She had just turned 45 years old when she was diagnosed with cancer. She died on September 29, 1979. But in her short life she taught me so many things.
She loved her daughters and her grandchildren so much. Yes, daughters because she didn't have any sons of her own, but the two sons-in-law she also loved. She was blessed to see two granddaughters and one special grandson come into her family. I remember so well the day she put those little booties on Barrett's tiny feet. The booties that had waited 25 years to be worn by the first boy born in the family. I cried when I saw little Maxwell wearing those same booties and hat on his blessing day. It was so thoughtful of Chantel and Barrett to have them saved in a beautiful frame so we can always remember Grandma Nell's love for her children.

Mom taught me to enjoy doing handwork. She passed on her love of crocheting and embroidery work. I didn't get her housekeeping genes that Ruanne received, but I do love to create beautiful afghans and keep my hands busy. I don't think I have her patience, either, but people say I have her looks. She woke up early every morning, something I do now as well. She loved to bake Christmas cookies and Linda inherited that talent with the raisin-filled cookies. She loved to do things with her husband, my dad, and enjoyed spending time with him. I follow her example in this, even riding to the dump with my husband just to spend time with him. Mom wrote poetry for special occasions and passed that talent on to Julie. She listened to my problems and tried to give me advice, some of which I took and some I later wished I had paid more attention to.

When I got married times were very difficult for all of us. There was a gasoline shortage and inflation was very high. The money just wasn't going very far. I was finishing up my last quarter of college at Weber State and not at home in EC for wedding plans. We decided that she would make my wedding dress using a pattern for a dress that I was currently wearing as I accompanied the Men's and Women's Choir at Ogden Institute. She knew how to fit the pattern for me so I didn't need to come for fittings myself. We met in Salt Lake and picked out the fabric. The rest was up to her. Because of the hard economic times, I couldn't see spending money on a dress that I wouldn't be able to wear again afterward. I wanted a dress that could be special for my wedding day, but that I would still be able to wear later to the temple. So we decided on the dress with an overlaid apron. She did a beautiful job and my dress was very beautiful. I wore it the next year every time we went to the temple. A great rememberance of my wedding day. (Then I was pregnant and it didn't fit any more!)

I am so humbled that I was able to have her sitting beside me at the Ogden Temple when I was married to my husband. That was so special to me. It was something I had always dreamed of, and I know she enjoyed every minute of that day.

I wished I could have spent more time with Mom the last few weeks of her life. But with a new baby and a one-year-old, I was only able to visit her once in the few weeks she was in the hospital. During that visit she was very sick, had just had surgery. But she wanted so much to hold Barrett. She stroked his head and kept saying "What a beautiful boy." Her passing was such a shock to everyone, so fast and sudden. We didn't have time to prepare but how do you prepare for something like that?
I don't know if my sisters ever knew, but that same day Garth was in a farm accident.
He had come home at noon with plans to take Tammy on the farm truck with him. He was hauling corn from the field to the barn and thought he would give me a break and take her along for the ride. She happened to be asleep when he came home, so we decided to let her sleep. He went to the farm and continued hauling corn. I got a phone call a few hours later saying to come to the farm, that Garth was alright but the truck had rolled. I still thank the Lord that Tammy had been asleep. She would have been with him at that time. We didn't drive with car seats for our children back then. She could have been standing up beside him when the truck went off the road. I think the Lord was protecting us so that I wouldn't have to go through the loss of my Mom and the possible loss of my little girl and husband.

I have lived longer without my mom than I did with her in this life. But I know she lives on and still loves me, watches and protects me, strengthens me when I need strength and comforts me. Many times I feel her presence when I wonder what direction I should take. I know she lives and I will see her again.

Please leave a memory if you would like.

Happy Anniversary to Us

Thirty-one years ago today we started our life together. What a wonderful time it has been. We have had so many joyous occasions and so many trials that have brought us closer together. We have learned to lean on each other for strength and found comfort from each other. We have laughed together and cried together. We are each other's best friend.

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband. He helps me in ways I know other husbands don't do for their wife. Garth washes clothes and dishes, mows the lawn and vacumns the floor. He is the one to mop the kitchen floor and clean the bathroom. (Yes, just one bathroom in our house.) He works two jobs because he can't sit still. The old farmer in him must keep busy.

We started out our life together after a two month courtship. Just two months from our first meeting to our wedding day. I would never advise that for anyone but us. Since we had written to each other for close to two years, we knew we had very deep feelings for each other. It just seemed so natural and it still does. I can't imagine being with anyone else. He reads my thoughts and knows what I am thinking even before I do, sometimes.

I just want to publicly tell him I love him and I am so happy he choose me to share his life. He is the best father and most wonderful grandfather. Nothing humbles him more than hearing from his children and especially his grandchildren. He worries about them and loves to be with them. He is a great man who honors his priesthood and would do anything to help his children.

Thanks, dear, for making my life so wonderful! I love you!

No Time

Have I really failed to update this since August 5? Man, have I been busy. It must be close to the beginning of school. Hey, wait. It is! No wonder!

I have spent the past two months living at school. I just finished up a class for our teachers and it went very well. I work with a wonderful group of teachers. We are all best friends and enjoy going to work every day for more reasons that loving kids. We enjoy working together. We have a lot of technology available to us and some of us are more excited about learning and using new things than others, but we are all willing to learn and try. Since I enjoy learning how to do things on our computers and the Smart Boards, I took it upon myself to help train our teachers. Everyone had been asking me for help, so I helped myself and prepared a two-day training for our faculty. I was very humbled when other teachers from our district asked if they could come, but we kept it for just our faculty so I could see how it would work out. Everyone was there and it went better than I expected. Mrs. Nelson even told me I was a success because she was able to make a paper that she wanted to make, and it actually looks really good. She was so proud of herself.

And because it is the beginning of school I am busy getting my room in order, which is a big job for me. I just can't seem to concentrate on just one thing to get done, but flit from one thing to another. I hope to be able to post some pictures of things on my classroom wikispace and blog. I hope I remember to have the kids update the blog each day. Now, what was that log-in and password?

I have been ready "The Infinite Atonement" that my dad gave us for Christmas. I was thinking of some wonderful things in there and wanted to post about it but just haven't had time. I can only read about 2 pages while I eat my breakfast, and then because I am running late I hurry and get off to work. I hope I can settle down and post some thoughts in a few weeks.

We had the Labrum family reunion on Sunday and it went well. We were happy to see so many of the family. We missed having Ross and Linda there, and all the "second generation" kids that couldn't come. But we had a good time and the food worked out nice. Thanks to Tammy for suggesting we ad sloppy joes and warm them in the big cooker we use for turkey. It worked out fine. I was informed that Candace is getting married on October 3, so I am filling my nights with busy hours of crocheting. I'm not sure I will have this afghan done by Octoer. So I had better get off this computer and go get busy!