My friend Carole shared this, and I thought I would pass it on:
"When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: 'Baby, I love burned toast.'
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, 'Debbie, your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides-a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!'
You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people."
And I imagine that father, whom I assume was grateful that he had a wife helping him to support the family, was just glad someone besides him had made dinner.
Smart man.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Father's Day
It started out pretty well with some of the kids coming over for a nice dinner--Erin and her kids, David and his family, Robert came by for a bit but his wife had to work, Paul and Kelsey came later since they were at her family's for dinner. Afterward, the vote was to watch the movie Forever Strong. It's an inspirational movie about an award winning Rugby team (here in Utah).
It all went downhill from there.
I'd made a double batch of brownies (that Ed could actually eat), but Dave found a piece of glass in his brownie. I had used a plastic bowl to fix the mixes, and the glass baking dishes didn't have any chips in them. It appears the glass shard was in the brownie mix itself--so I threw all those brownies away.
Paul and Kelsey arrived, but Paul seemed a bit of a grump. He says he doesn't like any kind of sports film, so he messed around at Ed's computer. Since we were halfway through the movie and continued watching it.
The grand kids kept going in and out of the house (and since the TV was facing the door, the evening sun was blinding). Eventually I told them they had to stay inside, so they went downstairs to play in the playroom. The movie finished, and I commented that Aidan hadn't come back in. While we were chatting, Erin must have decided to go check on him. She came in quite angry a minute later because we hadn't kept her daughter Madelyn from going outside, and Mad had run in the street.
But worse yet, Erin couldn't find Aidan. We hadn't realized we were supposed to be watching Madelyn and we were a little stunned, but we all jumped up to help search for Aidan.
After a few horrible minutes--poor Erin was so frightened--Paul found Aidan hiding on the back porch. Erin and Adam had both looked back there. The little stinker thought it was time to go home and didn't want to. Ugh!
Then as David and Shannon were leaving with their children, the topic of David's birthday last year came up, and I found out we'd really dropped the ball. Through oversight, inattention, or whatever lame excuse, the bottom line is that Dave had a birthday that had gone unacknowledged (except for my e-card) even though the family was gathered for a late celebration of Ed's birthday. What should have been a joint event was not, and Dave felt really bad.
Dave, if you read this and for what it's worth, I'm really very sorry. I wish I could take back your hurt. With you and your family moving to China, I don't know how many birthdays we'll be able to celebrate together, and I'm sickened that we blew the chance to party on the first one you'd spent in Utah since you were married. I know what's it like to have a sucky birthday, so I apologize for having contributed to a sucky birthday memory for you.
Anyway, I wasn't feeling very well yesterday. The pews at church are about the worst ever for my tailbone, and I ended up having to stand for most of the service--and that makes my lower back hurt.
I'm glad that at least Ed seemed to have a nice day.
It all went downhill from there.
I'd made a double batch of brownies (that Ed could actually eat), but Dave found a piece of glass in his brownie. I had used a plastic bowl to fix the mixes, and the glass baking dishes didn't have any chips in them. It appears the glass shard was in the brownie mix itself--so I threw all those brownies away.
Paul and Kelsey arrived, but Paul seemed a bit of a grump. He says he doesn't like any kind of sports film, so he messed around at Ed's computer. Since we were halfway through the movie and continued watching it.
The grand kids kept going in and out of the house (and since the TV was facing the door, the evening sun was blinding). Eventually I told them they had to stay inside, so they went downstairs to play in the playroom. The movie finished, and I commented that Aidan hadn't come back in. While we were chatting, Erin must have decided to go check on him. She came in quite angry a minute later because we hadn't kept her daughter Madelyn from going outside, and Mad had run in the street.
But worse yet, Erin couldn't find Aidan. We hadn't realized we were supposed to be watching Madelyn and we were a little stunned, but we all jumped up to help search for Aidan.
After a few horrible minutes--poor Erin was so frightened--Paul found Aidan hiding on the back porch. Erin and Adam had both looked back there. The little stinker thought it was time to go home and didn't want to. Ugh!
Then as David and Shannon were leaving with their children, the topic of David's birthday last year came up, and I found out we'd really dropped the ball. Through oversight, inattention, or whatever lame excuse, the bottom line is that Dave had a birthday that had gone unacknowledged (except for my e-card) even though the family was gathered for a late celebration of Ed's birthday. What should have been a joint event was not, and Dave felt really bad.
Dave, if you read this and for what it's worth, I'm really very sorry. I wish I could take back your hurt. With you and your family moving to China, I don't know how many birthdays we'll be able to celebrate together, and I'm sickened that we blew the chance to party on the first one you'd spent in Utah since you were married. I know what's it like to have a sucky birthday, so I apologize for having contributed to a sucky birthday memory for you.
Anyway, I wasn't feeling very well yesterday. The pews at church are about the worst ever for my tailbone, and I ended up having to stand for most of the service--and that makes my lower back hurt.
I'm glad that at least Ed seemed to have a nice day.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Tail Bones
For the last month my tail bone has been really hurting me again. Almost 13 years ago my youngest, Adam, crashed into me when we were rollerskating and I fell--hard. I knew the tail bone was broken because there was a crunching sensation if I moved certain ways, but I never went to the doctor about it. What would they be able to do--cast it? After about 3 years it was finally not too bad, though certain positions would begin to cause great discomfort--a recumbent exercise bike would never be my choice.
So I went to the doctor on Wednesday, he sent me to get x-rays taken, and guess what? I've got quite a nice break in my tail bone. How could this happen? Surely I haven't been running around for nearly 13 years with an original, unhealed break. But I haven't done anything to my tail bone. Surely if I'd broken it again I would have noticed it right away.
Ugh.
So I went to the doctor on Wednesday, he sent me to get x-rays taken, and guess what? I've got quite a nice break in my tail bone. How could this happen? Surely I haven't been running around for nearly 13 years with an original, unhealed break. But I haven't done anything to my tail bone. Surely if I'd broken it again I would have noticed it right away.
Ugh.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Princess Festival and the Fairy Tea Party
Last Friday, we went to the Princess Festival in Lindon. Erin left Madelyn with Grampa who was also with the boys, and they all went to have fun at Nicklecade. So it was just Erin, Sienna, Shannon, Savanna, and me. Only Sienna and Savvy were dressed as princesses.
This is Sienna and Savanna by the fountain before the group was taken to the castle to help save the princesses.
Sienna gets a picture with Ariel.
This is Savanna sitting next to Aladdin. Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter (to the left in the picture) had the group play the game of Duck Duck Goose. Savvy watched what everyone was doing and even jumped up to chase one of the characters when she was touched on Goose, but suddenly she realized that everyone was looking at her. Overcome with shyness, she ran to her mommy.
The Blue Fairy led the group to the castle. Sienna's back can be seen in her white dress.
Savanna (and all the little princesses) walk through the flowered arbor.
Their first stop is the house of the Seven Dwarfs to rescue Snow White.
Then it's up to the castle to save several princesses: Beauty, Rapunzel, and Cinderella.
Then it's off to another large building to save one more princess (Sleeping Beauty). On the way, Savanna gets a little distracted by the elephants.
The little girls all screamed that the prince should "Kiss her!"
Posing with a royal couple after the ball.
The girls ride in the pumpkin coach.
Then it's home to the Fairy Tea.
Savvy remembered her fairy outfit, so she's playing with the fairies in my garden.
Sienna joins her.
This is Sienna and Savanna by the fountain before the group was taken to the castle to help save the princesses.
Sienna gets a picture with Ariel.
This is Savanna sitting next to Aladdin. Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter (to the left in the picture) had the group play the game of Duck Duck Goose. Savvy watched what everyone was doing and even jumped up to chase one of the characters when she was touched on Goose, but suddenly she realized that everyone was looking at her. Overcome with shyness, she ran to her mommy.
The Blue Fairy led the group to the castle. Sienna's back can be seen in her white dress.
Savanna (and all the little princesses) walk through the flowered arbor.
Their first stop is the house of the Seven Dwarfs to rescue Snow White.
Then it's up to the castle to save several princesses: Beauty, Rapunzel, and Cinderella.
Then it's off to another large building to save one more princess (Sleeping Beauty). On the way, Savanna gets a little distracted by the elephants.
The little girls all screamed that the prince should "Kiss her!"
Posing with a royal couple after the ball.
The girls ride in the pumpkin coach.
Then it's home to the Fairy Tea.
Savvy remembered her fairy outfit, so she's playing with the fairies in my garden.
Sienna joins her.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Warbreaker
Last night I finished Brandon Sanderson's newest book Warbreaker. I loved it. I want to read it again, but I'm letting a coworker read it first. Click here for more details about the book.
I am a fan of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, and I had never heard of Sanderson until it was announced that Jordan's widow had chosen Sanderson to finish the Wheel of Time series. I thought I would try out one of his books to see how I liked his writing and see if I thought he would do okay with Jordan's series. I was thrilled to find that I loved the book Elantris. I then began to read his Mistborn series. Loved that one. I think he does a fabulous job with his world building. And what he does with magic! It's so imaginative. What's really something is that with these five books, he has three completely different kinds of magic--and they're WAY cool! He's got a gift at making me care for the characters he writes. And since becoming a Harry Potter fan, I learned to appreciate plot twists and foreshadowing. Sanderson hasn't disappointed me yet. Each book gets better and better.
So if you're looking for a fun summer read, check out Warbreaker!
I am a fan of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, and I had never heard of Sanderson until it was announced that Jordan's widow had chosen Sanderson to finish the Wheel of Time series. I thought I would try out one of his books to see how I liked his writing and see if I thought he would do okay with Jordan's series. I was thrilled to find that I loved the book Elantris. I then began to read his Mistborn series. Loved that one. I think he does a fabulous job with his world building. And what he does with magic! It's so imaginative. What's really something is that with these five books, he has three completely different kinds of magic--and they're WAY cool! He's got a gift at making me care for the characters he writes. And since becoming a Harry Potter fan, I learned to appreciate plot twists and foreshadowing. Sanderson hasn't disappointed me yet. Each book gets better and better.
So if you're looking for a fun summer read, check out Warbreaker!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Savanna's 3rd Birthday Party
Today, Dave's little daughter Savanna celebrated her 3rd birthday. She's getting SO big!
The Birthday Girl and her cake.
David and Shannon (her mom & dad)
Robert checking out the view of the valley from Dave's house.
Erin & Sienna
Madelyn and Papa
Tyson & Aidan
The newlyweds Paul & Kelsey
The other newlyweds Robert & Michelle
The Birthday Girl and her cake.
David and Shannon (her mom & dad)
Robert checking out the view of the valley from Dave's house.
Erin & Sienna
Madelyn and Papa
Tyson & Aidan
The newlyweds Paul & Kelsey
The other newlyweds Robert & Michelle
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Price of Children
My Dad forwarded this to me, and I just had to share it.
The Price of Children
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
• $8,896.66 a year,
• $741.38 a month, or
• $171.08 a week.
• That's a mere $24.24 a day!
• Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140.00?
• Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
• Glimpses of God every day.
• Giggles under the covers every night.
• More love than your heart can hold.
• Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
• Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
• A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
• A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
• Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:
• finger-paint,
• carve pumpkins,
• play hide-and-seek,
• catch lightning bugs, and
• never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
• keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
• watch Saturday morning cartoons,
• go to Disney movies, and
• wish on stars.
• You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
• retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
• taking the training wheels off a bike,
• removing a splinter,
• filling a wading pool,
• coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat in history to witness the:
• first step,
• first word,
• first bra,
• first date, and
• first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!
It's the best investment you'll make!
The Price of Children
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
• $8,896.66 a year,
• $741.38 a month, or
• $171.08 a week.
• That's a mere $24.24 a day!
• Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140.00?
• Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
• Glimpses of God every day.
• Giggles under the covers every night.
• More love than your heart can hold.
• Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
• Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
• A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
• A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
• Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:
• finger-paint,
• carve pumpkins,
• play hide-and-seek,
• catch lightning bugs, and
• never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
• keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
• watch Saturday morning cartoons,
• go to Disney movies, and
• wish on stars.
• You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
• retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
• taking the training wheels off a bike,
• removing a splinter,
• filling a wading pool,
• coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat in history to witness the:
• first step,
• first word,
• first bra,
• first date, and
• first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!
It's the best investment you'll make!
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