Blog templates tend to cause me a bit of angst. I can never find one I love, and I’m not patient enough to actually develop my own. Tom directed me to a site, squarespace.com, where you can use their online software to create your own template and I really loved the idea, only thing is it is very time intensive, and it costs $8.00 a month. Forget that. I want my blog to reflect my personality. Apparently no one else has the same personality as me because I can’t ever seem to find a pre-made template that works. Grr. Oh, I’m feeling stressed this morning. Why does changing my blog template make me stressed? Probably because it’s been gray and rainy for a week now, I’m spent. Oh I’m whinny. Okay I’m done.

I  guess this might fall on my honey do list (see below) but I apologize for the lack of formatting on these posts. It seems to be a setting within this template, and I haven’t figured out how to remedy it. Tom?!

I came up with a great idea yesterday, at least I thought so. I want to sit down with Tom (probably today as we drive to Boston) and make a list of the various things we would love the other to do. Then we could start a procedure that when we both have time one could ask the other, “I’ll exchange you banana bread for putting up the fan in the kitchen!”

Being home all week, as really helped me appreciate all Tom does for me. It has given me a look back into singlehood and helped me realize I much prefer marriage. I missed not having someone home in the evenings to enjoy dinner with, and then to have a reason to relax. This week even after working long days, I would often think, well I’ve been working for eight hours, I could probably relax and do something fun now, but what?  The things I was doing all day were fun, I love working in my garden, making small improvements on the house, singing, etc. So I would just keep working, or I would sit listlessly at the computer and waste the evening away checking blogs, catching up with friends on facebook, and researching the proper care for various plants.

I also realized I have much less ambition to cook when Tom isn’t here. Of course it didn’t help that I decided to go on a grocery shopping fast. I thought “If I don’t go grocery shopping, I’ll save $50.00, and there’s plenty of food in the house.” So I went for it. I pulled out the dried milk and everything. It was a success, and I probably lost a pound.  It did mean I ate Macaroni and Cheese twice, but I added squash the first time and peppers the second.

I also missed, as obvious from my great “new idea” is Tom’s as my help meet. Yesterday as I disassembled a drawer and made it into a shelve with a hinge front, I realized how much I needed a second pair of helping hands, and perhaps a second brain to think things through. Who knew how difficult it would be to hold up the wood front in such a way that the hinges laid where they needed to go, while inserting the screw and screwing it in. I finally finangled some string to at least prevent it from dropping, and that did the trick. I was thrilled with my completion of the task, mainly because it had been one of those I had sort of hoped Tom might do one day. It wasn’t too bad, I actually quite enjoyed the bit of carpentry involved. So my thought was, what other  projects that have long been left unattended because they are on my unannounced honey do list can I do? (Let me insert, this is not because Tom isn’t a great helper, rather because he is working on a much larger and more important project: a PhD.) I’ll do my best to scratch off as many as I can myself, but when it comes down to those last few, Honey can I make you bread?

As the percentage of single-mother homes rises I feel increasingly grateful for my father. I love and adore him. I admire his constancy in the gospel. There are few people that are as dedicated to learning about the gospel than my dad. I can thank him for my habits of scripture study. I remember vividly the day I got out the colored pencils, his scriptures and mine, and then proceeded to mark in my scriptures everything that he had in his. I watched him read his scriptures every night, and I enjoyed deep gospel discussions with him often. My Dad is never afraid to share his testimony with our family. Now a days our family gets together only a few times a year, but always, my Dad makes a point of bearing his testimony and sharing his love and trust in his Savior.

I hope I never forget the look of admiration and complete pride that has oft covered my Father’s face when I sang. It is a look of serene love and complete enjoyment. More than once that face has flashed before me when a decision of repertoire or operatic role has challenged me to sing something, I knew he wouldn’t approve of, and every time it has given me the strength to say no.

My Dad taught me to love work. My mom was always the one to write the list of chores, but it was usually Dad who was out there doing them with us. We planted and weeded the garden together, we pruned and hauled together, he helped me start the lawn mower when I was too young and weak to get it started. He had a pride in his yard and garden and as a result taught me to take pride in my work. I love the fact that gardening is a legacy dad has instilled in all of us children. As much as we grumbled and complained as youth; all of us, who have places of our own, now have gardens.

My Dad was always respectful to my Mother, and always insured that we as children were as well. I have oft been shocked at the disrespectful treatment some of my acquaintances have given their mothers, and wondered how such habits are developed. While I think it’s roots are varied, I believe the respectful relationship between the father and mother is vital.

My Dad placed an importance on family like few men I have known. He showed through his example that the home was a place to be loved and family relations something to be cherished.

I love you Pops, thanks for everything.

I think I have the best placement in my family. I am right in the middle.

I spend last week in Utah visiting with my two older sisters: Brigette and Sabina. Brigette had just moved into a new house, and Sabina was expecting her fifth and last child.

The week passed far too quickly, and I didn’t much welcome my flight home (except that I was eager to see Tom.) There is never enough time to do all the things I want. Regardless it was a wonderful visit, a very inspiring one.

I spent the first three days with Brigette. Friday night we went to a dance recital. Throughout the recital we danced and laughed reliving our own dance years together. During the recital Brigette made several comments: There are about 50 t-lets in this show. . . . I made those costumes. . .  I made those tutus. . .  I’ve taught about a third of the girls in this show. I couldn’t help being amazed at her many talents. Brigette was my dearest friend growing up, just three years older we were called the “little girls.” We came as a duo. I can thank much of my early expirementation in all things creative to Brigette. I took piano because she did, I started dance, because she danced. I learned to sew because she loved to. . . Getti was the type that stayed up until all hours of the night creating some craft or project that she had invisioned up in her head. I was the type who sat by her, slowly thinking and thinking and thinking about the best way to create the thing I saw on the picture in front of me, and rarely finishing because I was just too slow. Brigette’s creativity hasn’t slowed at all. She is now the C.E.O. of Gettis Accessories LLC. While I was there I got to see the “sweat shop” in her basement. It is equipped with three sergers, one sewing machine, a large cutting table equipped with three huge bolts of fabric- white, black and cream, an electrical fabric cutter (with a blade!) and many filing cabinets and tupperware which organizes her business. I felt so proud to be part of this grassroots business, and so impressed that my sister has built it into such a successful enterprise. (To see our product check here.)

One of Brigette’s latest interests has been gardening. (This may be one of the few things that I started before she did!) While I was there we built four planter boxes, weeded and planted a vegetable garden as well as cleared one of her beds and planted flowers. Gardening is a passion of mine and I am delighted that Brigette has joined in the fun.

I so admire Brigette. Thanks Gets, for being such an exemplary sister and for helping me think out of the box and be creative!

Sabina is my oldest sister, and the oldest child in our family. She has always confidently held the weight of that placement, and I thank her for creating the path along which so many of us younger siblings followed. Despite the nine years difference between our ages, Sabina and I have always had a special bond. I like to think of her as the woman I will be in nine years. Just out of luck I have been there for all of her childrens’ births. So I had to go for her last. Unfortunately she was overdue, and I missed the baby by a matter of hours, but I still delighted in her other four children.

Sabina is a career mother. By that I mean, that she has truly made a career out of mothering. She is constantly reading up on ideas to help her children be more responsible, informed, and loving people. Just one conversation with any of her four children and one is awed by their intelligence, maturity, and love of life.

Brecklyn is a creator (like her Aunt Brigette), plays the piano beautifully, acts, lives as if every day is her last, and is the kindest most thoughtful and affection oldest sister.

Talia plays the violin, is a gentle and sensitive girl with spunk and ready laughter. At 5 she reads, and already has an incredible ability towards self mastery.

Capriel at two was the youngest, and is a fiery enthusiastic child. She is incredibly coordinated, and can already nearly swim. She sings constantly, says “I love (blank)” with a huge grin at least five times a day, and can steal your heart in a matter of minutes.

These simple descriptors do little to sum up these incredible children. Everytime I visit I am reminded of the power of an excellent mother. A  mother who has devoted herself to her children and their proper upraising. If I am half the mother Sabina is I will consider myself successful.

However, Sabina does even more than just mothering (A full-time job in and of itself) she also keeps an immaculate and gorgeous flower and vegetable garden, she has renovated her entire house, and she is well connected in her neighborhood and community. How she manages to do all she does I will never know. (I must add she has a wonderfully supportive husband, whom I also love and adore.)

It was such a wonderful week. I only wish it had been longer. Thanks Sabina and Brigette for an inspiring visit. I love you.

Just had to add this adorable picture of Talia and their new dog Scout.