Spring has Sprung out of town...

From the evidence of the snow falling outside my window, you wouldn't think that we celebrated Easter just four days ago.  In case you need a reminder, here is the evidence:

We are going on thirteen years this month.  What an exciting ride it's been!

Mini-Ben (Hyrum) sporting his Easter duds.

"Ehk?" Yep, Hyrum, that's an egg alright.  The pink is a little misleading.

Who says you can't have an Easter egg hunt when it's raining?  We cheated and hid the eggs around the house.

I'm not the best photographer but all of what I lack is made up for in the cuteness of the child.

 HAPPY SPRING!!

What do Real Estate & Singing have in common?

I can't seem to get into real estate topics like my husband would like me to.  Topics relating to money figures and crunching can be such a bore to me.  Is it any different if I started talking about a topic I'm interested in, but he's not?  I think that a conversation about keys, notation, technic and other aspects of singing might bore him as well.  Married individuals somehow have to find a balance in each others interests, while still letting each other "fly".  I guess I'm just not sure how.  How do two people "fly" together?     

Reminiscence

A neighbor friend of mine wanted to know where the best places are to visit in or around Prague.

Charles Bridge in Prague

  

It has thrown me into reminiscing about my LDS mission to the Czech Republic.  I have been surprised at the mix of emotions I get from it.  I love the land and people, but there is a certain sadness that has come from losing contact with the majority of those I came to know well. I can't wait for the day I'll be able to return.  I may be reacquainted with old friends, and even make new friends.  No matter what happens, however, the Czech Republic will always occupy a special place in my heart.  

It's 1:25 a.m., I'm tired...

I guess you'll remember my angel, Hyrum.  Just one question? What are angels doing up from 11:30 p.m.+?  I thought we'd train him to stay in bed tonight, so when he woke up at 11:30 p.m. I explained to him that I would rock him, put him back to bed and then go to bed myself.  Well, I rocked him for 15 minutes, put him back in bed and for the next hour listened to him whine "Mommy!  Daddy!"  Since I couldn't sleep, I got up to do some FamilySearch Indexing.  (Note: He has only gotten out of bed by himself once.)  The next thing I know Hyrum is walking into the kitchen.  I ignore him in a matter-of-fact, not-supposed-to-get-any-attention fashion.  He proceeds to get some cups out of the drawer.  Then he climbs up on the stool, then to the stove and (under my inconspicuous supervision) finds out how to turn on the stove light and oven light.  He also discovers how the toaster "may" work.  I get him down as he is getting too close to falling.  Now he is pulling on my sleeve..."hum, I wonder what's under this."  Oh, and now he has a plate.  Could this be a request for a midnight snack?  

Okay now my head is getting a pain.  It's trying to coax me to go back to bed.  Hyrum also tripped in his delirium.  I think it's time to try going to bed, what do you think?  Wish me luck!  

Spelling Bees CAN sting

Two weeks ago I completed my duties as spelling bee chairman at my children’s elementary school. I think the wounds from being "stung" are finally gone, so I thought I'd send you a bit of advice.  Don't shake a hive that's full of bees!

I didn't think the spelling bee would be too time consuming or stressful...what?...distribute a couple of lists, organize the pre- and final spelling bees...how hard could it be.  It ended up more stressful and painful than I ever expected.  Volunteer work shouldn't be this painful, right?

The cause of my pain and stress came from shaking up the past years' format. Normally I wouldn't have changed things, but I wasn't satisfied by some experiences that I had from past spelling bees. Now that the spelling bee was "mine", I wanted to facilitate some change.  Once the changes became obvious, that's when I started to get stung.  I soon learned that shaking the hive can be quite painful.  I was too stubborn to give up, so I forged ahead despite differing opinions.  

I figured that Scripp's National Spelling Bee knew what they were doing, so I decided to use their format.  Instead of a school-wide written pretest, we'd do classroom bees (leaving this task in the hands of the teachers and a fun activity for all the school's students).  The study lists would come prepared (no extra work or reinventing the "wheel" needed).  And the final spelling bee would utilize the national spelling bee's guide (again, no extra work, it is already done for you).  

Once the new plan was approved by the principal and PTA, I was good to go. It fulfilled my objective--involve every student by helping them expand their vocabulary in a fun, interactive way.  I learned from a few bumps (of my own making) in the road, but this new format took shape and it seemed like the best one.

By the end I felt the spelling bee was successful.  The parents of the winner were pleased by the length and fairness of the bee.  I got some negative feedback as well (that could have waited).  And you know, I think I prefer the positive feedback.  As you can imagine, I slept like a baby that night.

Next time (if there is a next time), I'll be a little more aware of how I'll except and digest feedback and criticism.  In the meantime I'll have to grow some thicker skin.  I also hope that with the next opportunity I'll be allowed to do some free flying.

Temporal lesson learned:

 

No matter how others choose to implement their ideas, we should respect them and exercise patience and faith in each other, and then trust that that person will do his/her best. 

Spiritual lesson learned:

Gentle guidance and leadership will help a person to see what lies ahead of them and how to apply their agency wisely.  It's never forced.

25 Random Thoughts

1. I love the smell and taste of homemade bread hot out of the oven.  I smother it in butter and honey or my favorite homemade raspberry jam.

2. I love to rest my face on the top of a baby's head and let their angelic hair tickle my nose.

3. I can't believe I have already started to feel my age, especially in my right knee.

4. Another sign of getting older is when your oldest son moves from cub scouts to boy scouts.

5. I appreciate two cars that run, because right now I would be out and about instead of writing this blog.

6. iMacs are the best!  Brothers who sell used ones to little sisters are even better!

7. My second to youngest child is my twin and is a sucker for back tickles just like me.

8. A "love of money is the root of all evil"...maybe that's why I hate it so much.

9. Luckily, it doesn't kill anyone to wear only one pair of pants.  

10. My biggest fear is that I'll be the only one left after all those I love have gone to the "castle in the sky."

11. We are all in the same boat, we just move through different waters--tumultuous or calm, murky or clear, shark infested or not--sometimes by choice and other times so we will have the chance to learn how to navigate better.   

12. I dream of performing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

13. I sometimes think that I should have been born in Mexico, cause I can't get enough Mexican food.

14. Christmas is still the best day of the year, even if you all forget to celebrate my birthday.

15. I love children's honesty until they start remembering all of my bad days.

16. I want to try out and be chosen for a part in a musical production on stage.

17. I thrive in a clean and organized house. Then why do I hate to do the laundry?

18. I'm glad I can speak Czech with my husband so the kids can't understand what I'm saying.

19. I wish I could read faster and with more comprehension so I could devour books more quickly.

20. It should be a law that everyone spells their names logically and with legible handwriting so genealogists don't have to guess so much. Oh, and tell me, how do children of same-gender marriages do genealogy?

21. There are days that I can't believe I landed the husband I got.  He is the epitome of patience since being married to me requires lots of patience.

22. I write too many run-on sentences.

23. I can't wait to go back to the Czech Republic so I can dip rohliks in yogurt.

24. My second biggest fear is that my husband will lose his job again.

25. Miracle of miracles! You made it to the end!

Getting out of the smog, super...going ice fishing, okay...

...whipping around on sleds and being with family, AWESOME!