Halloween Miracle

This morning I took a walk.  All through the night we'd heard the rain through the open bedroom window.  But this morning, it was a battle between sun and clouds.  As I plugged in the nano and tied up my shoes, the clouds were winning.

But just as I was cresting the last hill on my way home, the sun broke through the clouds.  And it got warm.  Almost uncomfortably so.  It was wonderful... one last kiss of summer.  It felt so good that I closed my eyes and inhaled as deeply as I could... only to realize that I smelled Christmas.  The wet pine needles and bark beckoned me to that other favorite of my year... the Holidays.

For one brief moment, I had it all:  summer saying goodbye and the holidays welcoming me back home.   It was the sweetest contradiction I've ever encountered.  A perfect moment in time.

[Editors Note:  just realized that Aussies get this combo every year... should I feel less special now?]

Out of the Mouths...

I haven't blogged lately because, well, I just haven't had much wit or wisdom to impart.  (I know...  I know... that never stopped me from speaking up in the past.)  But this little pearl isn't from me, but stolen from a 3-year old.

Many of you know that I have the incredible privilege of working with the Primary children in our church.  These kids are wonderful.  They are funny, sweet, kind, with just enough mischief to keep things really interesting.

Sunday was the Primary Sacrament Presentation and the kids were amazing.  The Sunbeam teacher (the three-year old class) was out sick, so I had the distinct honor and privilege of keeping three little ones "reverent" as they sat on the front row, right next to the pulpit.  After two two-hour practices they were no longer buying into "soldier arms" or "look, your parents are watching", but they really did an amazing job... again, they bring just enough mayhem to keep the Primary Presentation lively.  All the kids were incredible and the feeling in the chapel was so sweet and tender.  When the meeting was over, kids, parents and teachers alike were on a spiritual high and loving life.

Again, with the Sunbeam teacher out, I was able to substitute their class on the fly.  I love teaching this group.  Funny, funny kids.  Armed with crayons, cut out headbands and a blanket, I was ready.

The topic this Sunday was "Honesty."  The class has one little boy who is lovely, adorable and on a different planet most of the time, and two little blond girls:  "J",  who literally looks like an angel.  She has golden hair that falls into natural ringlets, big blue eyes and knows every answer to every question:  amazing.  The other little girl, "E"  is just as beautiful and just as delightful... and her forte is being forthright about her thoughts and feelings... sometimes painfully so.

Initially E let me know that she really wanted her "other" teacher"... you know... the one who brings treats.  At this, Angel J came up and hugged me, therefore guilting E into a hug as well.  Again, the little boy clueless, quietly picking his nose.  I did not ask him for a hug.

Then we begin discussing the topic for the week:  Honesty.  I asked lots of questions about it and it was clear that they had a great understanding of what Honesty is.  I was on a roll.  Then I asked, "Have you ever had a time when you weren't honest?  How did that make you feel?"

Angel J raised her hand.  I thought 'cool... there is a dark underbelly here that I'm going to learn about.'  But when called upon, J informed me, "I've never said anything wrong."  And looking into those blue eyes, I swear I believed her.

Then E's hand went up.  I called upon her.  She was uncharacteristically hesitant as she began to speak.  "Ummm, one time I said that I would eat my food up all gone when I was done with my bath."  She began to look uncomfortable as she spoke.  Cruelly I asked, "so did you finish your food all gone when you were finished with your bath?"  At this point E's face fell.  She said, "... uhhh, I forgot.... {heavy pause}....I don't want to talk about this honesty thing any more."

Ahhh, the wisdom (and honesty) of a child.  After almost crying I was laughing so hard, I realized that wise and (almost always)  honest E had made a very powerful point.  We don't feel good when we aren't honest.  And we certainly don't want to dredge up painful memories of past transgressions.... thank heavens for repentance!!!!

Please leave me in Primary until I become as wise as a Sunbeam.

A Hello from Paris, France

Brian sent me the best birthday present a mom could get:  a memory card filled with pics!!!  So fun to get a glimpse of missionary life in Paris!  Every letter is filled with joy and excitement.  And apparently, he's not faking it... judging by the smiles in these photos.

Brian's favorite P-Day activity is playing American Football in the "most beautiful park in the world" just across the way from the Eiffel Tower.  

 He says the Parisians take pictures of this crazy spectacle!

Happy and so Handsome!

Brian loves working with the Chinese in Paris.  He loves the language, the culture, and especially the people!

On a rare, precious day outside of the city:  a district hike.

Gangstah's or Missionaries?  You Decide.  This is with Elder Langouet.  Brian has taught this French elder many wonderful things:  like how to use the words "dope" and "sick-nasty" in a sentence.

He loves Elder Lazarev (from Washington DC)

and a special message from the Elder himself.

JUMBO JANGA!

One of Steve's and my favorite past times is the good ole' summer barbecue. We knew when the days of summer were dwindling, we needed to fit in one more backyard bash.

Early in the planning phase, I went to my consultant, Ashley, who is the UPG (Ultimate Party Guru). She mentioned Life-Sized Janga, and I knew we'd found the perfect activity. While the title "life-sized janga" in the invitation confused some of our guests, the more courageous/trusting souls showed up anyway. Did people really think I would stack human bodies?? Disturbing thought on many, many levels...

The final outcome of the evening were great gourmet burgers, a fun backyard movie (hence the classy sheet hanging in my backyard) and a soon-to-be classic game of Janga.

It was so fun to share the evening with friends from different parts of our lives. We are so blessed with good friends who love to have a fun together. We were also blessed that despite the lack of hard hats, no one was injured in this very intense competition. (next time bicycle helmets will be distributed prior to the opening kickoff.) Thanks to Mary Ellen's nimble movements, she avoided the fall of the Tower and won't need to sue us. Again, we are grateful.

We're sad to see summer come to an end, but felt like we did savor it to the fullest!

Lisette Getting Things StartedSteve courageously playing even with his injuries
Out Comes the Ladder
6'3" Dave needed to stretch to reach the top

Mary Ellen: Gracious... and strangely triumphant in defeat

What I Learned On My Summer Vacation

As another summer rolls to its close, it's time for my beginning of the school year report.  The first week of May Steve had foot surgery.  The surgery had complications and because of that, our summer has taken on a very different shape from prior years.  Judging by our activities, we were not only empty nesters, but apparently we were about 75 years old.  Steve has used a wheel chair, crutches, cane and of course hobbling to get from point a to point b for the past 4 months.

Here are some of the things that I learned:

• I can be trusted with a lawn mower.  (I have suspected this for years).  Steve had always jealously guarded the tending of the lawn.  I have never known if this was from the fact that he was protective of me... or protective of the lawn.   But I've taken on this weekly task and kind of enjoy the process... and dog gone it, both the lawn and myself look just fine.
• I cannot be trusted with a week whacker.  (Steve has suspected this for years).  After having real success with the whole lawn mowing thing, I was ready to move up to edging the lawn.  I soon learned it was either the weed whacker or me.  After a 90 minute epic battle, the two of us parted company, each a little worse for wear.  So please, come enjoy the look of our lovely lawn, just pay no attention to the long grasses along the edges. 
• Elvis Presley is not a great actor.  I know!  I was shocked too.  But no matter how large a part The King played in Steve's youth, I am still eternally grateful that the Elvis Marathon on TMC is now over.  Steve has watched more old movies in the past four months than you can imagine.  That Elvis weekend was a real low point.  Steve did love being sucked back in time to when his parents would pile in all the kids into the station wagon in their jammies to watch Jail House Rock or Girl Crazy at the Drive In... and unfortunately, I had to pay the price for that this summer.
• I love coming home to having Steve perennially perched on the couch!   One thing that I really came to enjoy that whenever I flew in from work, my walk, a meeting, Steve was right there... typically with the Remote in hand.  He continued to entertain me from this spot on the left end of the couch.  When he finally went back to work part time, I was amazed at how sad I was to come home to no Sofa Sentry.  I missed his laughter and his interest in my day... even when his own day had been quiet, boring and lonely.
• Steve can be focused, to a fault.  He is reading "Killer Angels" a novel of Gettysburg.  You would think that the battle is still raging.  Steve is so upset with Buehl and so saddened for Longstreet... "why won't they listen to him?"  I keep reminding him that the battle was was over about 150 years ago... and that by most accounts, it's good that the north won... but Steve is still pretty stressed about the whole thing.  That brings me to the last great thing I learned this summer:
• I need to learn to be more in the moment.  More present in my own life.  For 27 years I've considered myself "the efficient one" of the two of us.  I can cram a lot into my day and feel good about myself in the evening when I've accomplished things from an imaginary list in my head.  I've often been frustrated when I'm waiting in the car while Steve was still getting ready.    I finally realized this summer that Steve has a quality of stillness that I lack.  He "is where he is" with few distractions and no apology.   So often when I'm participating in one activity, I'm spending half my energy planning the next one.  Sometimes I swear that I'm sitting above myself critiquing my behavior.  As I've watched Steve patiently handle a very slowed pace of life, I realize that he's been able to handle it so gracefully because he doesn't rush himself and doesn't judge himself by some ridiculous list.   

So my goal this fall is to take it all a bit more and not judge my self worth by how full my day is.  Thanks Steve for the lesson.  (I do still reserve the right to sigh and roll my eyes when I am waiting for him in the car).

Happy Happy Birthday Brian Dear!

Our Brian turns 20 tomorrow.  Of course he is always, always in our thoughts, but this week it's with an added measure.

Being Brian's mom has always brought so much laughter and joy... & just a touch of embarrassment from time to time!  Though this is the first year of Brian's life that we haven't spent physically together, I feel like I've learned so much about him in the past 11 months and 6 days (who's counting, right?).  The things I've learned most about him are about his character.

I've always known that Brian had a sunny disposition.  I've known that he is positive & optimistic by nature since he was an infant.  But I never realized just how deeply that ran.  I've come to see in the last year that even in times of incredible testing and challenge, Brian looks for, and finds the good.  He taught me a huge lesson this year in an email he sent me.  In responding to my question, "was this week a good one, or was it hard?"  He returned this thought to me that has rung in my ears ever since, "Mom, are you crazy????  Don't you know it can be both?"  I'll never forget that wisdom.

I've also learned a lot about the depth of Brian's faith.  I always sensed faith and conviction within him, but Brian has been one to hold those precious things close to his heart.  And so I silently prayed all through Brian's teenager years that he would be quietly gaining a testimony of His Savior.  Oh, how this prayer has been answered.  When Brian received his mission call, I was terrified.  How could he learn these two incredible difficult languages and then serve in such a challenging place?  I'm pretty sure Brian was a little terrified himself.  Being able to watch Brian tap into his faith and rely on his Savior this past year has been one of the great privileges of my life.  His work and prayers have brought about miracles that I couldn't imagine.  Brian's faith has strengthened mine.  His efforts have strengthened my resolved.  His service strengthens me... from 6000 miles away.

So on the eve of my son's 20th birthday, I give thanks to a loving Heavenly Father.  I thank Him for giving me 19 years with a son who brought more joy and happiness to his parents than was imaginable to me back in 1989.  And I'm thankful, as well, for the past year being physically apart.  I'm thankful for the unique lessons that Brian is learning from this sacred experience and I'm especially grateful that I'm able to learn a few of them as well.  Maybe Missionary Work is Vicarious Work in its own way.

I Give Thanks. 

Water Babies II

Last weekend we had a Rowley Reunion.  It had been too long since we'd been together.  I forgot just how fun... and how loud we are when we get together.  It really was a blast.  Because the weather was hot and beautiful, and because the kids have the coolest grandparents EVER, a slip and slide miraculously appeared in the heat of the afternoon.  The kids were hysterical together...  Let's not wait three years to do this again!

Elizabeth Rowley making it look like water ballet

Cole and Mark Rowley 

Cole Edgell, or as I call him "Colby, Swiss and Cheddar" - Funniest Kid on the Planet

Brett Edgell

Mom and Dad and their 7 Children

With Spouses

and Grandkids!