Coming Home is one of life's best moments. I believe it will be one of the next life's best moments also. So this blog is dedicated to what I view as the best moments of life.
As per tradition, Spring Break was anticipated with longing and an almost desperate desire to rest from our winter push through assignments, early departures, lunch preparation and just not quite enough sleep. One can't exactly have a list that only says, "sleep" so we included other fun-for-me activities that always include yard work. We thought about maybe a short day trip or other interesting adventure, but it was not to be. The week started out as it always does in our school district with General Conference. It's not that our whole school listens to LDS General Conference, it's that spring break always falls on the first weekend in April. On Saturday at noon, the Stokers settled into our comfy spots with note pads and pens, snacks and in Gabe's case Legos.
Two days later, after being much edified by the words of the prophet and apostles, we started in on the the rest of the awesomeness associated with days off. Gabe and I prepared the garden. I have been challenged in my hope for gardening success since all that ever happens when I plant is that the deer are alerted to the new eating place in town, but I do remember having a zucchini plant that bore fruit. We definitely had summer squash one year, and I recall the season I had lots of banana peppers for salsa. I admit, I'm kind of a crummy gardener, and I don't weed enough and I haven't kept my soil amended, but it's my duty as a living person to attempt a crop every year. Besides, studies show that gardening is great for mental health, and no one can be against more mental health, right? And what if this is the year that I actually weed my garden all summer? What if 2016 is the summer of the tomatoes and cucumbers? If I quit I'll never know what could have been.
So I spent some time pulling weeds. In fact, as I worked I thought we should all be more like weeds. Look at these little monsters that burst with seeds at the slightest provocation. What if the seeds represent love and happiness and good works? As we go though life meeting trials, we can burst with goodness and propagate good works all around.
Or what about this guy with a strong deep tap root? He's not moving for nothing. Winds blow, his top gets pulled off, but he keeps growing back because he is grounded. So if we are grounded in truth, we also will be strong and lasting and resilient until it rains for 3 days and the earth is softened and the gardener comes with the shovel. I guess we all have our time to die.
Next, it was time for my favorite spring activity, flower shopping. I took Gabe with me so he could share in the thrill of purchasing annuals. He just wasn't looking that impressed with the fun level. I tried to engage him in the selection process that involves carrying various flowers around, holding the sweet blooms next to each other to see how the colors and textures blend, exploring every aisle to make sure there isn't a beautiful little undiscovered flower that had not been considered. He was more concerned with helping me complete the task and keep my expenditures in check. He did carry the bag of soil for me which was magical, but I wasn't feeling the "I'm having the time of my life" vibe.
And then we planted:) :) :)
The next day we had to scrap the old list and make a new list that included 1. Help Gabe survive a nasty virus. 2. Force him to drink Gatorade.3. Get him to eat food, any food. 2. Take his temperature. We repeated this list for 3 days. He lamented that his spring break was wasted. I was thankful that he was not sick during school and wouldn't have to do make-up work. After some long days and nights he started to recover.
When Gabe was solidly on his way to health I left him with Paul and flew to Omaha to
celebrate the birthday of my good friend from my many years in Lincoln, NE. I had a lovely visit with her wonderful family who are some of my favorite people. Joyce's husband thinks that we have a tendency to get into trouble together, like that one time when we moved all the furniture around, and I ever so lightly tapped a couple of nails into a wall at midnight. We didn't want him to be disappointed so the next morning we went furniture shopping and picked out thousands of dollars of new furniture, and then I said, "Thanks for the fun time" and left. Of course we sought the approval of family members. I'm a helper.
And then it was time to return to alarms and routine and learning and life which all seems a lot easier now that spring is here.
My niece, Abigail, got married last week, and the wedding was in UT, and I love her, and I love some people in Utah, so I was happy to plan a trip.
Wednesday: Sometimes it takes a bit of a miracle (Christmas miracle, Delta employees like to say) to get where you need to go. I had tried and failed to get on a flight to SLC a few weeks ago, but that was an optional trip. This trip was for real. When I saw that there were 12 seats open and I was # 17 I had to go to my "calm yourself, it's not over til the door closes" mode. And then they called my name and I became one thankful little traveler.
I arrived at the SLC airport to the usual family groups waiting to greet their returning missionaries. It gets me every time. Then, I grabbed a shuttle which was heading Provo way and was off. Sharing the shuttle with me was a very brave missionary starting his 2 year mission. He was the only active member of our church in his family, but he was determined to serve the Lord even without family support. I was inspired by his faith.
My youngest daughter has been at BYU since September, and I was happy to see her digs, meet her awesome roommates and relive some of the exciting, stressful, fun, overwhelming, fulfilling, heart breaking, victorious glory days of college life.
Back in the day you could run the diagonal and it looked like Brigham Young
was doing the funky chicken. Now the sidewalk is parallel, and the illusion is lost.
Sorry, cougars.
We went to the bookstore, did some laundry, organized her clothes, and basically had a blast.
Thursday: Okay, do you know what I used to love to do in college? Play raquetball. Baby girl rounded up a racquet from a friend and we walked down to the RB for a game or two. I felt so nostalgic in those courts. (Paul and I had our first date there.) I remembered the squeaks and the smells and the fun.
And when we were done, I remembered the stairs. There is nothing more real than the stairs from the Richard's building up to campus. My calves were begging for mercy. They were not used to morning, million-stair climbing.
Then my daughter went to class and I met my cute son for lunch.
We ate delicious sandwiches at Gloria's downtown. The only problem was when he told me he was across the street from the Provo Temple, in actuality he was across the street from the Provo City temple.
Having two temples close to each other is never a problem, however. We'll just have to be more specific. Then we went for a quick shopping trip. This boy never buys clothes. I mean, his 5 year old jeans still stay on his body, and who would buy pants when they could buy concert tickets? But the Easter Bunny loves him.
With my boy safely delivered to work it was time to get back to campus. As I waited for my daughter in the library, I observed a sociology project where the awkwardness of a mismatched height couple was studied. It involved taking this picture of 2 strangers of differing height. I love BYU.
Then I saw a few of Rebecca's friends that I only know through my expert facebook stalking. It was tricky hiding my face of recognition while still staring and eavesdropping. It's a lot of work being this nosy.
Next was the wedding reception. It was held at Thanksgiving point in a beautiful venue in The Loft. One of my favorite experiences is walking into a designated place and finding my far flung family gathered together. I just love these people. We had pie and visited and then of course, we danced. I know I'm kind of old to be dancing, but I do it for the family unity, and I just kind of still like to. We created a circle and took turns initiating dance moves. Cousins, brother in laws, sisters and friends left their comfort zones and brought the fun.
Blair, Rebecca and Gwen
Me, Heidi and Mary
Miller cousins
This is the same night my daughter caught her 6th wedding bouquet. She has proven that catching the bouquet does not determine who gets married next, (she caught her first one when she was 12) but does develop some excellent tracking the trajectory and positioning skills.
Beautiful bride, Abigail and lucky cousin, Rebecca
Friday was the wedding. The temperature was a brisk 30 degrees. The wedding was lovely and the bride and groom were beautiful. They were some of the first to be married in the Provo City Temple.
Afterwards we gathered and visited and took pictures and complained about the weather and visited and took pictures. I actually had to tone down my complaining when I was reminded that it was a lot colder at my first daughter's December wedding a few years ago. Point taken.
Mom and Susie (the mother of the bride)
Me, Mom, Susie and Mary
Following the sealing was a groom's luncheon where we ate delicious soup (about 6 varieties) and engaged in more visiting, this time in the warm inside. We were then treated to some real cowboy poetry and music as provided by the groom's father and friend. The groom is from Wyoming and apparently that's how they roll there. I feel culturally enlightened. Since the reception was before the wedding the bridal send-off was from the luncheon. We had to stall the bride and groom while the get-away car was made ready, and our crowd contained mostly close family members, but the sentiment was warm and genuine.
Trevor and Amy's Emma
Friday evening, the Easter Bunny took Rebecca shopping and we closed up the night with a delightful viewing of Zootopia. I dropped my daughter in BYU land and I headed to Springville to stay with Paul's brother and his awesome family.
Saturday: I woke up to icy windows and snow. I muttered over the inconvenience of doggedly persistent winter, overlooked the ice scraper that was in the car and made do with a dustpan from the garage that worked surprisingly well for scraping windows. I drove the 70 snowy and cold miles to Manti (I know I whine so much) to visit my parents. I walked into the quaint 120 yr. old house that my mother has decorated to be the perfect English cottage with her pink silk rose bouquets, lace and patchwork, camel back couch and crystal chandeliers. Classy radio was playing in the background and I felt that "coming home" warmth in my heart that always gives way to gratitude for my loving parents. Each time I am with them I am impressed with something different. This time, as my mother showed off her new bathroom, I observed that she had placed a little dresser with a table cloth and of course, a rose bouquet in an empty space that just wasn't beautiful enough. I recognized that no matter where they are, my parents improve. They improve their space, they garden, they decorate, create music, develop talents, solve problems. Their energy may wane, and their health may decline, but they will be forever progressing and making the world better. And since I am their child, I should do the same.
The bathroom
Manti temple where Eliza was married
View of the temple from Mom's porch
Dad sitting under the lamp he created from natural wood from his property.
After a wonderful afternoon I returned to the Provo area to gather for another mini family reunion hosted by Paul's brother and family. We were joined by Paul's sister and daughter. It's interesting how children grow even if I'm not there to watch them. We played a rousing game of spoons, which was new for Andrew's friend and ate Mexican food and BYU creamery ice cream. Another fun night.
Easter Sunday: So on the day we celebrate the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I was able to worship in my daughter's ward (congregation). It couldn't have been a more perfect day for a mom. There were many beautiful musical numbers performed by talented college students. Baby girl had been asked to be a speaker and share a scripture and her testimony of the Savior. What a sweet gift from heaven to be listening to a child share her faith and conviction and love for her Redeemer.
Rebecca and roommates and friend
We joined my brother and sweet family for Easter dinner. Played more fun games, ate lots of delicious food. shared great times with cute children, and a puppy and bunny, and then it was over.
The Miller girls
Catch Phrase. The girls won.
I woke up to more snow, and my brave sister-in-law drove me to the airport. I got on the plane without incident, a miracle to be sure, There was only the slight complication of needing 3 trucks to de-ice the plane, but I wasn't bothered, because I had had a fantastic week with so many loved ones. And besides, I landed in 70 degree GA sunshine. Life is good.
So here I am, living the dream, no babies to wake me up at night (that actually is a dream), no diapers to change, plenty of time to myself. I can go out to lunch if I want to. I clean and it stays that way. I leave my fragile items on low tables, and no one hardly ever spills milk. But my life can feel lacking at times. I just need a little...excitement? energy? enthusiasm? chaos? Yes, all of those things. And last week I got them. They came in the shape of 2 little bodies. One has been growing and learning for 2 years and the other for 5 months.
They came on the scene with their loudness and hugginess and smiliness and never ending need to stimulate or be stimulated, and it was just the ticket. The best part of babies is that they open your eyes to the magic around you or the not magic as the case may be. What is not magic is me sitting at the computer or me dusting or folding laundry...all that quiet, productive (boring) stuff. What is magic is jumping on the trampoline, climbing the tree house ladder, looking for turtles, finding 2 lizards on the wall, one brown and one green, rolling tennis balls, drawing H's on the driveway with chalk, reading "The Day Jimmy's Boa ate the wash" 8 times a day, pretending to ride the horses and swing with the playhouse family, giving the dinosaurs a bath, racing the hot wheels, sliding on the slide at the park, playing hide and seek with the toy animals and eating Doritos and fruit snacks. To think, I could have been doing those things all along. Netflix Shmetflix.
