The Odyssey

Sunday evening Mr. Finch reading The Odyssey to us. The kids like his read aloud voice more than my read aloud voice. So do I. 

A Far Cry

Going to the local lake before eleven a.m. I find it lovely. Going after eleven a.m., I come dangerously close to putting my children and tires in harm's way wanting to ask, "Where'd you learn to talk so pretty?" It's easy to lose hope in mankind. Where's my charitable heart in these instances?

Spring Again

This warmth of spring bringing new life into my being. All I see appears new, clean, and alive. The fields and canyon green as they will be. Left our regular schedules behind to clear out the cobwebs of the winter and begin anew. Time to catch our breath, look around, and reaccess. Sloughing off the habits of the cold, some good, some bad, with the hope of open days, the only confines of which placed fresh upon our backs through our newly devised plans.

The canopy out back seems thicker than ever and the warmth is gentle enough that the relief we will long for in less than a hundred days is unimaginable. Feeling invincible hope that yes, all can and does change, ever singing the same tune of truth. Isn't it sweet?

Summer Plans

In Line

The marathon was tiring, but Disneyland was exhausting. 

Oceanside

              Lincoln the merman.

The Marathon

If you think Mr. Finch looks like he's about to cry, it's because he was! He only trained a bit and got a little sick from mile 18 on. Just a small side note: LAWDY BEAT MR.FINCH, SHANNA, and DAVE. 

Whenever I Hear the Song of a Bird

Happy Mothers Day! Here are some of my memories about my mom, and some of the things she taught me.

My mom taught me to be a friend to the friendless. I remember her telling me about a little girl in her kindergarten class. No one in the class would hold her hand, when they lined up, so my mom always would. I thought about that a lot throughout my school years, and even now.

My mom taught me that Heavenly Father lives and loves me. Probably my favorite memory is my mom singing primary songs to my sister and me when we were trying to go to sleep at night. The simple truths were ingrained in my memory from hearing them night after night. Truths like "I am a child of God," and "Dare to do right, dare to be true, you have a work that no other can do!"

Some of my happiest childhood memories are coming home from school on a day mom was home, especially if she had been cleaning and cooking. Days like that were heaven. I remember her fresh baked bread, and new flowers she planted around the pine trees in Jerome. I remember scrubbing the black tile in the entry way in the Jerome house, on hands and knees, mom beside me.

My mom taught me that God always keeps his promises. I remember her saying that the only real tragedy is sin. I most appreciate my mom's example of keeping her covenants with God. 

                My mom and me 1979?

My mom sewed me a lot of dresses throughout junior high and high school. I remember having her change the heighth of the waistline on my wedding dress three times! Oh, the patience she exercised. 

My mom is an artist. She loves making her surroundings beautiful. We all treasure the paintings she's done of our children--her grandchildren. Whenever she comes to visit she usually leaves having transformed some area of the house--maybe a closet, or possibly the entire garage.

I love that she was not a helicopter parent. No hovering here! She allowed us plenty of freedom to explore and do things our own way. I think this helped us to become independent in many ways.

I remember her blue bathrobe with red piping on the edges that smelled like her. If I missed her when she was away on a trip, I would smell that bathrobe for comfort. I love my mom. I am thankful Heavenly Father sent me to her home to learn and grow. 

Year Mark

Tru has been out serving on a mission for one year today. I haven't written or said much about his experience, somehow I feel that it's not mine to share, but I will share a portion of his testimony.

He recently wrote to us:

Well, it's true. 

What are we going to do? 

Better do something about it.

I love you and I love our Lord. I'm bound to Him by sacred covenants and I cannot break them. You are too. Those covenants are central. Through them we may gain The Lord as our companion. I pray He may someday be my companion. That will be a marvelous transfer. I hope he goes with you too, embracing each of us even more comprehensively. . . As He does so we will be happy.

Each Day

I like seeing his little worn out shoes. Our little mascot keeps growing. And each day with him is a joy. We did get him a new pair of vans, but he keeps these for work in the yard.

Crawdads & Waterskippers

Linc said, "these have been two of the best days of my life."

This Afternoon

Stories of Bigfoot, courtesy of Eli Olsen, kept everyone entranced.

My Headstone

Last night while Mr. Finch and I were trying to go to sleep, I composed my epitaph:

            She Loved Her Children

                  

                             Yes, him too.

-------------------------------

I am serious. I think it is just right. Succinct and a bit funny. 

Egg hunt at the Moffitt's

Well, it was like walking into a Martha Stewart magazine. No, that's not quite right--much more whimsy involved: the chandelier not only in the wallpapered chicken coop, but also in the large shade tree above the llama corral.

Dreamy time! Thanks Mitch and Brittany.

A List of Sorts

1. James Taylor

2. Robert Frost

3. Abraham Lincoln

4. Joan of Arc

5. C.S. Lewis

I don't know the title of this list yet. It has something to do with lunch in the next life. Yes, James Taylor is right there with Lincoln. Laugh if you must.

General Conference

Sister Reeves and Elder Anderson both just hit it out of the field. Now, Elder Eyring! Our Henry named after him. Adoration city.

P.S."Yes, I'm listening mom. Just resting my eyes."

Common

With warmer temps, this is a common scene.

Lincoln: Swiss Family Robinson (abridged)

Henry: The Alchemist

Lucy: Tom Sawyer

Lilian Goes To Prom

No Place Like It

Seeing new places is nice, but I am so happy to return home and see these people again soon!

Ingrate No Longer

No longer an ingrate, Puerto Rico pleasing all the senses. Enjoying every moment. Balmy air, birds singing back and forth, ocean warmer than the pool. Mr. Finch in meetings today. One day of rest was all he could take, "bless his heart." To comfort him I told him the story of President Hinckley driving to the California coast with his family. They get out of the car and look at the ocean and something like ten minutes later he says, "okay, let's go." They had seen the beach. Too funny.

Oh Baby!

My dad and Linc holding Penny, Roger and my neice Jill's baby. Yes, she is a looker!

At Home On Earth

Happy hearts day! Hope you feel the love!

I am thankful for running shoes, children, rain, parents, grandparents, good books (currently the one about uncle Chuck), and most of all the one person who most helps me feel at home on this earth, Mr. Finch, the love of my life.

Girl's Weekend in Arizona

           Sarah, Joanna, Tiffani, me

At the Gilbert temple open house yesterday. I am currently sitting on a bench outside the store, while the ladies are shopping. They introduced me to La  Grand Orange--and wow, the food is amazing and so many healthy choices!

Long Awaited

You've no idea how many bricks of bread I've made over the years. You know--door stops, very large paper weights, bookends. So, it is pretty much a party around here due to the fact that my last three attempts at wheat bread have been successful! Just call me Holly. You know, homemaker? 

Couch? What couch?

47 miles last week.

New Year's Resolution

I'm only making one and I am very excited about it.

You ready?!

My one and only resolution for 2014, a stroke of pure genius that came to me while riding the ski lift:

Share more of the books I love with others. Oh, the sheer joy of introducing someone who has never read it, to To Kill a Mockingbird, or Little Britches, The Endless Steppe, The Yearling, or Wuthering Heights! Is that an awesome resolution or what? 

If I had a limitless budget I would order cases of my absolute favorites, carry them in my car, and give them out to grocery clerks, waiters, and bank tellers, when the occasion presented itself.

Easy Peesey and fun as all get out! My kind of resolution!  I will share some of my faves with you too. . .

Cheaper Than Therapy

Nice ice falls on the grade.

From left to right:

Shanna, v.p., Dave, janitor, Lawdy, pres.

Cinnamon rolls

My first time ever making these. So far, so good. Aren't they pretty? I will let you know how they turn out!

Skiing

The home schoolers have a great ski program. It's a fun way to kick off the week each Monday. 

See my little linc on the right side? He liked skiing with the "big kids" part of the  time. They are nice enough to welcome him.

Stopping for ice cream on the drive home. Almost like stopping by woods on a snowy evening.

Downton!

"I don't believe in types, I believe in people."

                  -Thomas Branson

Mornings

Our mornings are my favorite lately. They are going well. Our routine: we meet at 9:00 and I first read to Lu and linc from The Story of the World. We have the activity book that goes along with it which really makes the prep for me easy. I just make a few copies of maps, coloring pages, or other activities before we begin. They really enjoy working on those while I read aloud. We are doing Middle Ages now.

Then, it's The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We have been eating this up! Almonzo just entered the scene, fun foreshadowing. We usually spend about an hour on these two read alouds, before moving on to "book work" at the table.

Becoming

The chalkboard hangs by the dining table, close to the kitchen. Lili writes the quotes I give her-- her penmanship looks nice. This is our thought for the month.

The Floodgate

It never ceases to amaze me when pure inspiration is received. The process of seeking with real intent: wanting, asking, humbling the heart, immersing in sources of truth, and then being still. Waiting.

And then it comes, full and overflowing, as though floodgates have been opened. Things long since forgotten, yet stored in the memory, filed away "for such a time as this." Scrambling for paper and pencil, scrawling it down as fast as I can, not wanting to lose a drop.

And then the realization: this did not come from me. It worked. Again, it worked. Gratitude. And a bit more gratitude and hoping that one day I will learn to live seamlessly in this realm of inspiration.

Is this how it happens for you?

On the Lift

          Lawdy and Linc 

What I found

I don't know what this is about, but it sure made me smile.