Summer...

Summer is gone...it was insanely busy and stressful. Google reader is also gone so I am just going to assume that I will be the only one using this blog...which is perfect for me :)

I am sure a bit of summer will trickle into more posts but I just want to jot down a few summer favorites...

Antares and Arcturus. My mind is gone so every year it seems I have to relearn the sky. This year I really enjoyed these two. I have spent other summers dwelling on other stars. I think I am finally over my 10 year love affair with Cygnus. Something about these two gems spoke to me this summer. They were brilliant as I watched them travel each night through the summer sky.

“If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.”-Emerson

Speaking of Emerson...another part of summer I have enjoyed was re-reading Emerson and Thoreau, reading John Muir and researching Ansel Adams. I started in the spring which inspired the post alfresco. I am still working my way through all I want to read but my spirit has been renewed. I also worked through many of the films from Ken Burns (National Parks, Lewis & Clark, Dust Bowl) which I just love. Due to dedicating so much of my life to art education, this time around I focused a lot on the art done about the parks and found many wonders to inspire...

Sara and Anne (and family). Another set of gems I got to experience this summer :) These two amazing women have been a part of my life now for over 14 years (technically Sara is probably at 17 years ;). I still remember turning to Anne when I needed suggestions and advice while pregnant with my first baby or when I informed Sara in Taco Bell that John had been robbed at gun point on his mission when his family still didn't know (apparently mail from Europe gets to Utah faster than Texas) or babysitting a new born Zoey...since those times these lovely ladies have been constant friends and support. Over the years we have grown closer and I am always so happy when I get to chat with them whether it is for hours on the "nursing couch" or hours following our teenagers around, my sanity is always increased. These two also brought along my nieces Bethany and Zoey who I really enjoyed getting to know better this summer as they are all grown up :)

This year brought visits from some of my all time favorite people...Tonia D, Kristen B and the forever awesome Prices. Hanging with old friends is always wonderful. Oh how I miss my Austin family! 

Lava Hot Springs and the amazing and glorious Snow family. I hope everyone in the world is lucky enough to have relatives like mine. Some of the most thoughtful, intellectual and fun people in the world. Always an excellent party!! I love them all!!

The garden. Besides being full of tomatoes and zucchini and a dozen herbs we tried spaghetti squash, pumpkins, and blue hubbard squash with great success. It is fun to try new things...my lavendar is suffering a bit (a lot)...any thoughts?

Mountains. I am always grateful for mountains. Nothing stirs my soul quite like mountains but this year we got to spend a lot of time in the mountains. This summer also marks the first and only time I have out run John on a trail. I don't expect it to happen ever again but it felt awesome! :)

The leaves started turning this week, summer is over. As Hyrum said, "It seems like the instant we go to school summer ends." This year that is so true. The 90's  disappeared from the forecast today when they started school. And now my heart turns to the spectacular season that is autumn!

Next year I want to try and remember to do a few things I missed this year...get better with wildflowers and native trees, more canning-didn't do enough this year, even more hiking and perhaps finally get a telescope and exploit my love of the sky and for sure I want to find a t-shirt/summer shirt that I like next summer so I don't have to wear all the same clothes for 3 years in a row :)

Sam: I love butterflies. They make me so happy and then I won't feel sad anymore...

Sam: PLEASE...I need ice cream. It is not good for my body but it is really good for my tummy.

After losing Candyland and not taking it very well we had a discussion on what happens when you lose a game. John explained to Sam that he should say, "Good job mom, that was fun." Sam looked at me and said, "Good job mom, I want to beat you."

Watching the supermoon, Sam exclaimed..."The clouds look like a milkshake." We had just talked about the milky way so that might have added to the comment ;)

thinking about christmas...

So...I have been thinking about Christmas...
Please don't act surprised, I post about Christmas and talk about Christmas and listen to Christmas music all year long and I put up decorations a bit too early :)

Anyway...I have always wanted to make a traditional English Christmas Cake and traditional English Christmas Pudding (I love all things British) but the last few years either I forget until Christmas time when it is too late or I was pregnant. Does anyone else have this tradition? I would love to hear about it :) Maybe you could text me in October and remind me to make my pudding right then!

alfresco...

Did you know that outdoorsy is an actual word in dictionaries :) I didn't know that until last year. I knew that people use it all the time but I didn't realize it was a "real" word until I looked it up awhile back. I wonder how long it has been in dictionaries...maybe forever?

The actual definition is pretty general: relating to, characteristic of, or appropriate for the outdoors, fond of outdoor activities. But the common use seems to be taken by those who do large, extreme "outdoor" activities. This is something that has unsettled me for years. I used consider myself "outdoorsy."  Not because I ever did any extreme outdoor activities...I haven't really. I just considered myself outdoorsy because I actually love the outdoors. I am like any child under the age of 10. I like to be outside. 

For everyone who doesn't want to read a forever long post I will just say I figured out an answer to the "outdoorsy" dilemma...so you can skip to the last paragraph :)

Growing up I was like most children and lived outside. My parents encouraged us to be outside and we loved it. As a teenager the pattern continued.  In high school my friend and I found "the wall" which was a place outside we sat all the time. If it was too cold we would stay inside but we honestly spent almost all our time outside. My brothers and I spent most of our time playing outside together even in high school (except at 11:00pm which was star trek time :). I moved the trampoline under the huge tree in our yard so that I could have shade on everything but my legs and I would nap and read their daily. In the winter I would bring my up my electric blanket, plug it in and sit outside under it reading or watching the snowfall. College was even worse :) In my freshman year we searched out places to sit outside to hang out. The favorites being the spitting spot and then a vent over by the MOA. The vent was important because it had warm air blowing out of it which was critical for winter. You had to climb through bushes to get to both spots so we could sit there out of view from passing people and talk. I would often go by myself for hours just to sit outside. The next year, I took an extra mattress and put it on our balcony so I could sit and sleep outside which I did regularly. I spent that summer outside with my friend watching/learning the stars. I was a zoology major. I love John Denver. I love John Denver so much that when he died different people called me to see if I was okay :) I love shoveling snow. I love rainstorms. I love yard work (thank mom) and gardening. I taught Environmental Science. Knowing about plants and animals brings my soul extreme happiness. John and I walk most nights. That is how we like to spend our time together.

The first time I read Little Women I loved the book (this is no secret :). There was no internet so I did what research I could on Louisa May Alcott but eventually the internet arrived and I did a lot of research about her. She was a feminist and closely associated with Thoreau and Emerson and her family was influenced by the Transcendental movement. I then became interested in the writings of Thoreau and Emerson. I also spent a lot of time reading and discovering all the work of John Muir. I really appreciated their work and writings. In fact, my brother used to have a t-shirt that had quotes from Thoreau on it. I would steal it from his room and wear it and then return it (blogs are a good place for confessions right? :) When I joined schemer and added everything I wanted to do it all basically consisted of National Parks to visits and different eclipses/comets to see. A few months ago (while walking) John asked what would we do if we had all the time and money to take any vacation we wanted. You might think that we'd want to spend it in luxury vacations or traveling but our first idea was hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. Even after considering all the million other things we could do we both still thought camping for 6-8 months and walking miles everyday sounded like the most fun. It takes a few months to complete if you do it all in one swath. 

Anyway...I could go on but I will stop because I am just trying to make the point that I feel that when I say I like the outdoors I legitamately mean it. The point is that the word "outdoorsy" has been somewhat hijacked. I don't like to say that I am outdoorsy because I feel like it implies that I do things like bike slick rock or ski the backcountry or run the 100 mile trail races through the night. I don't. I do normal things like hiking and running really slow. We bike, we walk, we play up the canyon, we ride the river, we sit out under the stars. I read outside, I sit and think outside and I have a deep interest in nature both from the biological view and the spiritual connection.

So...I decided that instead of saying that I am "outdoorsy" I will just tell people that I like life alfresco. Now when people ask me what I like I can just say, "I like living alfresco." This way I don't have worry about proving or living up to "outdoorsy" :) For all you outdoorsy people keep rockin your sky surfing and 8 day bike trips and endless energy that make us jealous! For all you alfresco people out there...now you know who you are so you can sit outside or walk around the block pondering everything wonderful about you and this beautiful world!!

And if you want to come visit us and see why we love our outdoors...Utah put out this video awhile ago...I am happy to say I have been to them all although I only drove through Capitol Reef...

Life...with a princess...

Hometown my spring

That is the title to my favorite Korean folk song (except of course Arirang) and it is also the song I remember best :) In English it is really Spring in my/of my Hometown.

What do you say when people ask you where you are from?  I dislike this question because I never know how to answer it. For some it is really easy, but for others (like me) it isn't so straight forward. So let me ask...how do you determine "where are you from?" Is it where you were born? Is it where you lived the longest? Is it where you went to high school or elementary school? Is it where you last moved from?

When I break down my life...it gets pretty messy...
Born in "state 1" but we moved before I turned 2 years old.
Went in elem school in "state 2" but moved after 5th grade to "state 3" where I went to 6th and 7th grade.
Then moved out of the country where I went to middle school and high school.
Moved back to "state 3" and finished high school. Went to college in "state 3" also but then moved to "state 4" for 8 years, then to "state 5" for almost 2 years and now back to "state 3" for forever or until John gets fired :)

So...where am I from?
I lived the longest in state 2 but I was very little for most of that and I know tons of people who have moved when they were young and never claim to be from that place. They usually claim the place where they went to middle school or high school.
I lived the second longest in state 4. I was an adult there. I had most of my children there and it felt like "home."
Next is the foreign country. I only lived a total of 4 years of my life there but they were probably the most important - middle and high school. I have lots of friends in this situation. I went to an international school and most of my friends there went to middle and high school in Korea. Lots of them just say they are from Korea...but...have you seen me? How do I (or my friends from Australia, Sweden, Africa, Germany, Egypt) look at someone and tell them, "I am from Korea." If people ask about high school or middle school I often just say I "lived" in Korea :) Although it wasn't as long as other places, it was definitely during the most formative time and I still prefer Korean food to almost anything :) I often just say I am an egg...white on the outside, yellow on the inside cause that is what Koreans tell me I am especially after they see me eat the food :)
Next is state 3...I have lived here a long time and it too is "home" but it has always been cut into small pieces. Two years here, two years there...leave, come back, leave again, come back again, leave again, come back again...you get the point.
I most recently moved from state 5 so I should I claim that?

So...if you were me where would you say you are from? I really don't know how to answer this question. I think it is a little easier for my siblings because they at least went to all of high school and middle school here (except tys). My husband doesn't have this problem either. He only strayed from his state for 2-3 years but the rest of his life was spent there :)


There aren't too many versions of this song out there but this is a very famous Korean singer and she does a lovely version...

True folk version...


PS - this new background is for you Jahnelle...it is time again for the stars :)

Things I do...part 5...resoluting...

So I decided on "things I do" because I had a few people tell me that they weren't really "wrong"...just a different opinion but...in my defense, I have had people (in this calendar year) actually tell me those things were WRONG. :)
So...I continue...I haven't actually been told this is wrong ;)

Resolutions. This post is late for New Year's Resolutions. I finally gave up on New Year's Resolutions. I settled on Feb 1st Resolutions. This post is a little late for Feb 1st Resolutions too but the month got a little busy but don't worry (I know you aren't) I did make them. I am never ready by Jan 1 for resolutions. Christmas and Thanksgiving are so busy and fun. It seems that I never find time to sit and think about what I really want to do. Everyone starts talking about their resolutions in January and I get inspired and start thinking. Usually by Feb. I know what I should do! When I woke up Feb 1st this year I knew it was time and knew I had the right things to focus on in my life!

Remember this post on my slogan "Built Pioneer Tough"

Well...I have a new one for this year, "Built Good Enough!" John is also feeling this way this year so he decided his slogan would be "Within Specs".......so that is us for this year :)
This is related to all my "things I do wrong" series. The last year has been a good reality check and sometimes you just got to deal with the real reality and not the one you hope you invented :)
More to come...(probably)

Day of Love...

Happy Valentine's Day...
This last weekend we were in Austin for the funeral of John's Grandmother Pauline Goodwin. We didn't take the older boys but we took Sam and our own little Elizabeth Pauline. Today I thought a lot about Grandma Goodwin and her wonderful life of faith and service and love. We have spent a lot of time the last two weeks talking about all our special memories of Pauline and I am always surprised how much the boys remember her.
Since it is a day of love I leave you with my two favorite quotes from the boys about Grandma Goodwin...

Hyrum's birthday letter to her...quoted exactly ;)
"We think this is your finale birthday on earth. I had so much fun with you. Earth will never be the same without you."
And from Seth...
"Don't worry...my friendship with Grandma Goodwin will last forever."

Brings me tears :) The boys still pray she is having a good time in heaven...
Love you Pauline Goodwin...love you....

Things I do wrong, part 4...VT reporting...

I do not report visiting teaching correctly...I know I don't. I am pretty sure I annoy my supervisors because I don't do it right.

It is related to an experience with a sort of anal know-it-all bishop (we loved him though) and less active sister who had moved into the ward but had never come to church in years (and had never been to the ward) so no one even knew who she was. I was her VT and I felt like (and I still feel like) I had done what I could to see her and get to know her. It wasn't especially easy. (I think I might hear Michele sighing as she reads this but hopefully you have forgotten since it was more traumatic for me :)

It was not a pleasant experience but I should still repent and just report my VTing how I am suppose to but I won't. I don't send in a report, instead I basically send in a letter account of everything I did that month and then let my supervisor decide how to report it. She can make the judgement call...

Today though I am sending in my report and I am going to try real hard and just do it right! :)

Things I do wrong, part 3...using a scale

Really this is just sort of a funny post...

I don't always get on the scale so today when I did I had a few thoughts as I kept moving the weight down the scale...

5 lbs lighter...wow! YES!! So happy...!!!

10 lbs lighter...a flipping miracle, how did this happen??

15 lbs lighter....wait...what????

20 lbs lighter....this CANNOT be right!!!!

Look down and adjust the scale that had been played with...

0 lbs ligher...yea, that seems right :)

Things I do wrong, part 2...winter wonderland

This isn't really something you can do "wrong" but it is still something throughout my life that people have made me feel "wrong" about it. I like winter. I like it way more than summer. Summer is my least favorite season. My favorite temperature... in Utah and Colorado I like it about 60-65 and in Texas 50-55. I don't love extreme cold but I don't mind the 20's and 30's which makes moderate climates like Boulder and Provo fairly perfect (except this winter!!!!)
Snow is magical. Many, many nights I love to sit by the window and just watch the snow fall and enjoy my thoughts. Shoveling it is one of my favorite pass times especially when it is a warm snow and late at night. It is less magical when you get 8 inches and have drive in it but even then...I still love it.
It is not socially acceptable to like winter. People gawk at you when you say things like that and even worse when you say summer is your least favorite season. I must be wrong!