ENSIGN moments

I have always scoffed at what I call "Ensign moments". Especially the stories that involve paying tithing. You know, the stories where a family has to decide to pay tithing or buy a loaf of bread or milk for their family. They decide to pay tithing, and later that night someone just knocks on their door, with a bag of groceries in their hand. They say they were just sitting down to dinner, when they felt a strong prompting to gather up some food and take it to this family. So they did. And it was a miracle.
I used to scoff and say those kind of things never happened. But I did recognize blessings in my life from paying tithing, but they were more subtle.
Well, I can now say we have had an "Ensign moment" and even thinking about it makes my eyes fill up with tears in gratitude and awe of our blessings.
My husband has recently decided to change careers. After 13 years of teaching, he has decided now is the time to see if he can make it as a writer. It is something he has always wanted to do, and opportunities came up that made it seem like the right time. I am excited about him writing. He has spent so many years teaching and helping other people to write. He is such a great writer himself. I'm excited to see what he writes.
Unfortunately, writing does not come with a steady paycheck every two weeks like teaching did. We have been stressed lately about how to fill in the gaps until the income starts coming in. This week I looked at our bank account and realized that that was it. We didn't have more money coming in for a few more months. I've panicked a lot in the past month, but have always felt calm when I prayed.
On Wednesday, we got an anonymous cashier's check in the mail with just the note "The Lord loves you". Thank you so much to whoever sent that to us. We have been in a position in the past to do that for other people. It's hard and humbling to be on the other end of it. But I feel the love of others and the love of the Lord for our family.
I know we are going to be OK. I am trying to have faith and trust in that peaceful feeling. I am so thankful for the Savior and His amazing atonement. I am learning to rely on Him even more during this hard time.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and love. Keep them coming!

Papers!!!

We have been spending our days sorting through boxes and files of paper in order to clear out room in our basement. I am so proud of Matt. He finally got rid of most of his law school notes and law books that he hasn't touched since he graduated in 2002. Yahoo!
I need your help, though. I am cursed for being a historian's daughter. I really need to get rid of more papers, but I'm struggling. I have saved letters and cards that I received since I was a little girl. I just have such a hard time throwing them away. I imagine that someday I will be famous and the world will be thrilled to have all of my correspondence. : > What will my mother's day card that I made in 3rd grade be worth someday? Please help! If you ever wrote to me, I probably have your letter. Would you like it back to keep for your posterity? Or would you be terribly insulted if I just threw the letter away? And what do I do with my Kindergarten report card? Wouldn't my daughter just treasure it some day?
And let's talk books. To keep or not to keep? I already went through a great purging of books this winter. I got rid of a lot of books that we haven't read and don't plan on reading. However, now I am left with books that I haven't read in years, but might want to read again someday. They are my friends. How can I get rid of them? But how can we store all of them? We're not talking children's books here. That is not even an option to get rid of.
These two school teachers need help! How do we part with books we might use again someday in our classrooms, books that Ginny might read some day, and papers that we might use again? But then how to get everything out of our basement? HELP!!!!

My mom is the best!

We went to a birthday dinner for Ginny at my parent's house. I should have known something was up when I read the green sign on the door that said "Doorbell Broken. Please Knock". We knocked and were escorted into the "Emerald City". After a yummy dinner of lasagna (on a green tablecloth with green napkins) we played some fun games. "Pin the Heart on the Tinman" was my favorite. We also had a relay race (boys against girls) of putting green jelly beans in a jar. My almost 2-year old nephew had a great time eating them out of the boy's jar.

Then came presents, which meant a new spring wardrobe. Matching, with butterflies on them, of course. I love Gymboree! Ginny had to go try them all on and dance in them.
The best part was the cake! My Mom made a beautiful and delicious "Emerald City" cake complete with the yellow brick road and poppies! We ended it all with my favorite birthday tradition. We took turns passing around "The Birthday Book" by Dr. Seuss, each reading one page. It was such a fun evening. Thanks to everyone for making it so special!

Wizard of Oz

My Mom is the best! We went to my parent's house for Ginny's birthday dinner. She went all out and did a Wizard of Oz themed party for Ginny. It was so fun. And best of all, I didn't have to do anything except show up with the birthday girl!
We played fun games like "Pin the heart on the tinman"! and a jelly bean race (green of course for the Emerald City). Then there were lots of presents which means new clothes that you immediately have to go try on. Again I'm thankful to my parents for always providing Ginny with a new spring wardrobe every year.

The best part was the cake! My mom made an amazing "Emerald City"cake complete with a yellow brick road and poppies!

It was beautiful and delicious We ended it all with a reading of "Happy Birthday to You" by Dr. Seuss. I love the tradition we have of passing the book around the table at birthdays with everyone reading a page.

Happy Birthday Ginny! You sure are loved by so many people. We are so thankful you are in our lives!!!!

Ginny's Birthday

Ginny is 5! Can you believe it? It is such a fun age. She is so excited about everything. Her favorite present was a wooden magnetic ballerina dress up doll. A ballerina, just like her.


Instead of a party, she wanted to go to the "space museum" with Mom and Dad. So we went to the Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake. We saw a movie "Attack of the Space Pirates" in their dome theater. Ginny kept leaning back and ducking down when the space ships passed over head. She loved it! We walked around and saw the different exhibits. Her favorite planet is Saturn, so she was excited to go see that. It was a fun outing with our family.

I do feed my child

Just had to make a quick disclaimer in case any of you talk to Ginny in the near future.
This morning she was pretending that she was Dorothy after we had read stories from the Wizard of Oz. (Great condensed version from the library, beautifully illustrated by Charles Santore). I was Glenda, the good witch. She said she wanted to stay with me because I would feed her. She said her parents don't want her to grow so they don't feed her. She was so grateful to me (Glenda) for being willing to feed her. She also said her parents are so mean. They never play with her and never read her stories. I pointed out that they probable don't snuggle with her or even go to her dance concerts. She agreed and said her parents just dropped her off at her dance concert, they didn't even come in! What cruel parents! But, luckily, Glenda was there to support her. Good thing there are other people out there to help take care of this poor, deprived child. : >

Dance Concert

Ginny had her final "showcase" for her little dance class yesterday. I was very curious to see what would happen. On Monday she sat out the last ten minutes of class, refusing to dance. But the performance bug hit her and she danced the best that I have ever seen her dance!

It's really all about the outfit. She got this tutu for Christmas. She spent most of the time before the concert (and during) admiring the spin factor of her skirt.

Matt captured it all on video. But I got a few candid shots. They somehow managed to all come together for the final bow. At the end, Ginny said "Is it over?". I had to go and get her off the floor. She looked like she wanted to do it again.
Her teacher, Mike, said some final words at the end of all the performances. After he finished saying something about how dance can change the community by building confidence in young people, Ginny interrupted him with "Um, Mike?". He stopped and said "yes?". She said "Look at me" and stood up on her tippytoes and twirled. It was the perfect end to what he was saying. Everyone laughed and he knew to end it right there.
I love my beautiful "Prima Ballerina" as she calls herself.