getting creative

Decided tomake something for my visiting teachees. Since we are close to the Chinese New Year I dipped fortune cookies. I saw the idea somewhere else but I think they turned out cute.

Good Book

I just finished a book for our book club called The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.  It is interesting and an easy read about how ideas can go from just a few people to became contagious and spread like an epidemic to lots of people.  I don't agree with all his outcomes but he has some great examples like the study I talked about a couple of days ago.  He also wrote Outliers which I heard was a great book too about how people become exceptional..
     I also liked this conference story of Pres. Hinckley's that has been put to video on Mormon Messages:  Lessons I Learned as a boy .

Remember This!

     You were all good sports but I think Mia was the only one who was excited to have the braces. In comparison she was not excited about the float down the Milk River.

Our Mind is a Funny Thing

     There was a study done where students thought they were testing headphones for stability.  They had one group nod their head up and down, one group shake it back and forth and the control group just sit there. While doing this they listened to music and a story on how their tuition was going up. After, the people who were shaking their head no thought they should pay less tuition. The control group thought they paid about the right amount and the ones who were nodding yes agreed that they should pay more tuition (even though this would cost them money).       It reminded me of another study I just read where people got better when they took a placebo pill even though they were told that it was just a placebo, a sugar pill, and had no medicinal properties.  It seems strange that just going through certain motions would influence us so much.  I guess, as a pharmacist, I should have the people nod their heads while I tell them they need to exercise more or stop smoking.  I could have really used it is a mom.  I should have had my kids watch a bouncing ball go up and down while I brain-washed them.

We have the best sunsets!

     Okay, the sunset might have seemed especially nice because the inversion finally cleared. I can't remember the last time we could see the lake clearly.  But, regardless, the colors were so vibrant that it was an extra good one. The sky was beautiful bronze in the east and so we had to run out to the street  so we could get the whole sky. The blue was intense in between the crimson and orange clouds. I went to get a camera but of course the colors faded and it just wasn't the same so sorry, no picture.  Ah, we do have some of the best sunsets in the world right here.
     I also was amazed at the beauty in the Celestial Room in Bountiful when I entered and the light was coming in through the stained-glass window and making all the crystal and mirrors sparkle. I just had to sit and enjoy. It reminded me of that line in We Thank Thee ...Prophet: we rejoice in the gospel and bask in it's life-giving light. That's what I did; I basked.
     We got to skype with Jon and Nicole for his birthday.  What fun! Seeing our kiddos while we talked twice in a week.  We might have to do it more than just on birthdays.
      We have been challenged to read the Book of Mormon in 100 days again in our Relief Society.  If any of you want to join in there is a 100 day reading chart at this site:  Book of Mormon in 100 days . Each day has a quote and scripture to mark and ponder.
     Aunt Nancy is amazing.  She received an award from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil rights commission in Utah for her work with Head Start nationally and her emphasis on letting every child have a chance at a good education.

Just a Few Notes on the Week

     *Bryan and I went to the movies.  I don't know how long it has been since just us 2 went.
     *We saw True Grit.  I love the Coen brother's dialogue.  If you liked Hudsucker Proxy and O Brother, Where Art Thou  you would like it although it is more violent.  Also, being an American, I like nice, tied together, happy endings and so the ending was a little disappointing.
     *I pretty much missed the Harry Potter movie unless I go to the $ theater.  I am a little disappointed but look forward to the DVD release.
     * I indulged myself this fall by reading all the Harry Potter books and watching all the DVD's. It was fun but would have been more fun to do with someone.  Bryan has no interest.  The books are definitely better than the movies; many more details and tie-ins.
     *I took my Activity Day girls too the Family History Library.  They loved it.  Too bad the age that finds it so interesting is a little too young to do much with it. Although, my grandma got me interested at that age and I still find it fun to do.
     * It was so fun to skype Amy on her birthday.  Too bad our connection wasn't very good.  I think she liked her gifts.
     *Matt came up so he got to talk to Amy too.  He was getting camping equipment for this weekend.  I think even in southern Utah it will be colder than they are planning on.
     *We finally got over freezing for the first time in 17 days.  Woo-Hoo! Now if the inversion would just go away.

Sunday

     Trying to do the good Sunday stuff: Activity Days, Scriptures, Family History, etc.  Relief Society was a little lonely after 3 weeks of having daughters with me.
     Yesterday was my cousin Mary's funeral.  She committed suicide after a life of depression.  It seems like she planned it for months and was quite at peace with it but I feel for her children.  The only thing good about these events is that we get to connect as cousins again.  That part is just a joy.
     I got a ride down with Ike and Leslie Egan. Suzie and Aunt Nancy, Laurie Peterson and my sister Jenny all piled into a suburban.  It was a fun ride down.  Aunt Nancy (Auntsy-Nancy) had us leave quite early and then treated us all to lunch because we had so much time. She hurried us to the cemetery at Spanish Fork where we waited in the car for half an hour.  Ike told us about our ancestor Isaac Stearns that came across with one of the first puritan groups after the Mayflower (1630).  I guess it qualifies us to be part of the Winthrop Society. (Kind of like the Mayflower Society but not as exclusive.) I read that about 20,000 people came over from England in 10 years and then by 1940 it totally stopped so if you have one puritan ancestor you probably have lots.  Looking at Dad's genealogy and mine it seems to be true. The Holbrooks were also over here by 1640.  It was interesting.  Looking through the puritan records I also saw many names that I see in Utah. It seems like many of the puritan ancestors responded to the message of the restored gospel. Ike and Leslie and Bryan and I all came from these lines.

typical empty nest week

      So lots of cleaning and washing but the house is getting in shape. I think this is probably the fastest I've gotten the Christmas decorations away - thanks to Dad doing the heavy work. With a Court of Honor, homemaking meeting, symphony and a fun night out (down to the Museum of Art at BYU and dinner with Matt, Alyssa and Dan) it has turned out to be a rather busy week.
     I just learned that Neon Trees is a Provo band.  I like their music. They got big when they toured as the opening act for The Killers whose lead singer is LDS.  Other bands that have formed down their are Low (named for their minimalist arrangements) and Retribution Gospel Choir.  Those 2 actually have some of the same people but just take their music in a different direction although play a little to slow of beat for me. The next big group from Provo might be Parlor Hawk; who have a single out called Home. Personally I like the one Aaron Hatch plays in. He is my cousin's (Susie Paxman Hatch) son so he has got to be good. Check him out at: Eyes Lips Eyes      Go Mormon indie bands!

Back to the Sausage and Onions

     The holidays are over and it was soooo fun.  I enjoyed having my kids all here even more than I thought I would; and I thought it was going to be wonderful. We skied and played games and watched movies and made goodies and laughed and enjoyed each other.  Perfect.

     Dan and Alyssa stopped by yesterday to pack up after their week in Cheyenne and it felt like they never had left. It was hard to say good-bye.  Then Jon and Nicole left about 4:30 this morning. It was even harder to say good-bye. They should be getting close to Amarillo right now (they decided to do all the drive in one shot). The house felt quite empty this morning. I think it will be harder for me as each one leaves. Matt is waiting for school books so luckily he can't leave until tomorrow after the mail comes and Amy catches a plane at 7:00 on Tuesday. By then I will probably be crying. It will be very quiet on Tuesday evening I think. So, as my Mom and the English like to say at the end of their holidays, its back to the sausage and onions now.

     My kids think I don't do anything so I thought I would also post a picture of some of the 26 Christmas stockings I made this year for the Food Bank along with a little decorating and cooking.