People and Stuff

I have felt the challenge of the people vs. stuff war since college.  Then it was a choice between doing necessary school work or bonding with friends.  Often I chose the friends.  But at a cost.  I've come to know, now that I'm an older woman, that people are the priority, just about always.  We have some challenging events coming up that I want to be prepared for.  I've got some goals set to make sure that happens.  But people keep getting in the way.  This past week it took the form of a trip to Utah to see my sister and her hub.  It felt more important.  So I went.  And it was a lovely time.  I need to know, on a regular basis, how Maryanne is.  I need to look into her eyes and take note.  I did that last week.  We had a good bond and made a little bit of a dent in the piles of family records that we have yet to go through.  There is so much to do, just with family history.

Here's an early picture of my mother, Mary Margaret Knox Kiser, that Maryanne and I found hidden away between sheets of paper that Mother filed away.  I think she is such a lovely girl.

I also visited an old friend, Frank Heiss.  He was our bishop in Fremont for a time.  He is a recent widower.  I've been a bit worried about how he was getting along on his own.  Seeing him has put my mind regarding him to rest.  He has rebounded and is happy and busy.  Most of his children are nearby and seem to be looking out for him.  He is a great example of joyfully proceeding through the dish the Lord serves.  He has some heartaches with some of his family but just keeps loving them and hoping for the best.  There are losses and gains, but with the right attitude, all can be made into gain.  He's done that.

Here's Frank, about 88 years of age.  He is full of personality and zest for life.

The drive to Draper, where Bob and Maryanne live, takes 6 hours.  I made the trip alone as Layne had things to do at home.  I enjoyed the trip!  I listened to conference, sang, thought about lots of things and enjoyed the view.  On the way home I visited very briefly with Layne's twin, Lynn and wife Camille.  I love those guys.  Somehow I'd like to overcome the Galbraith habit of rarely seeing each other.  It is so much fun to be together!  I also stopped in Odgen to see one of our Mongolian daughters, Marta, her husband and new baby girl.  So great to see her and take a look at their beautiful new baby.  So now all three of our Mongolian girls are happily married to American men and have babies.  So sweet to see.

Here is our girl, Marta, with her husband Matt Hansen, and their new little daughter, Madeline.

Somehow we find ourselves amazingly busy.  Here in Idaho, where we know so few people, we seem to be almost overwhelmed by opportunities to spend time with the few that we do know.  It is the people vs. stuff quandary all over again.  I find myself just caving in to the people demand and enjoying it.

Company

People fill my cup.  I find that I love having company and our past week has been full of it.  My Oakland Temple friend, Nikki, was here for a week with her daughter, Heather, who attended a horseback riding camp.  Nikki is a special person who has had many difficulties in her life yet is lovely and happy.  I so enjoy her company and loved having her with us.  I tried to make her stay especially comfortable and relaxing.  Below is Nikki and me, followed by her daughter, Heather, with Audrey and me.

While Nikki was here, Audrey drove over for a few days, bringing grandson James along.  James is 17, and the tall, silent type.  But he is so pleasant and helpful.  He just feels good.  We spent many of our evenings outside, watching the sunset and taking in the warm breeze as it cooled us and lifted the neighbor's flag into the evening air, adding to the magic of the sunset.  It has been very warm here the last two weeks.  I'm not too fond of that and spend the middle of the day inside.  But the evenings are glorious; the sun doesn't set until 9:30 or so.  I talked Layne into leaving our blinds open at night when we go to bed.  Sometimes I can see the last of the night light and the stars emerge.  Sunshine floods our room in the mornings, which I love.

Here's James, scratching the cat, Cherry's, belly.  She is brazen in her demands for belly scratches!  James is working on making a path to our compost with flagstone.  He did a nice job.

I bought pillows for the new front porch bench and I find that sitting there is quite pleasant.  It is a good place to study the New Testament, which I'm trying to do daily.  I'm quite taken up with the life of Christ and realize, more than before, how difficult His whole life must have been.  He was so alone in His mortal errand.  I imagine Him anticipating His upcoming Atonement and how He must have dreaded what He knew would be unbelievably difficult.  Yet He did it.  Surely if He can finish the most difficult task in all Eternity, I can finish my challenging tasks.  I find the thought of it inspiring.

Here's a picture of one of our sunsets.

Miles Presents

I love being home.  It is lovely to have a space that is organized just so and feels so embracing.  But when the chance comes to leave and visit family and friends, that is not to be turned down.  So when daughter Jessica invited us to come to Normandy Park and attend a science fair for Miles, we decided to go.  It is close to an 8 hour drive.  Since being here, driving time feels different to me.  Hours on the road don't feel all that badly to me now.  I brought things to do along our way and the time passed pleasantly.  For me.  Layne was driving so he was much happier to be done with the travel.  We arrived at Chris and Jessica's early in the afternoon.  Miles gave his science presentation that night.  He dressed way up for it, sporting jacket, tie and even a hat.  He and two friends gave a presentation on global warming and what we can do about it.  The gym at school was filled with such politically correct science projects as saving the trees, addressing bullying, body consciousness, accepting homosexuals and transgenders, etc.  I found it rather disturbing that there wasn't much of conventional science there.  Miles and friends did a great job of presenting but the bias of the teachers was definitely present.

I love visiting the Gendreaus.  The kids are always very happy to see us and bonding with Chris and Jes is always rewarding.  The kids seem happy and motivated.  Not much of spirituality among them, which I wish I could do something about.  I worry that without a spiritual footing, the kids will fall into the dark holes that surround them in our increasingly caustic culture.  They are so precious and good.  I had a sweet visit with Jessica and, in general, the visit was lovely.  I love living closer to them, even as I miss being farther away from my California kids.

I talked Layne into stopping to visit our friends, Gary and Nora Jacobson, on the way home.  They are just a few minutes off the freeway and about half way between us and Gendreaus.  This time we stopped.  It was so good to see these precious friends again.  We raised children together and, while in Fremont, they were among our best friends.  Nora is struggling with her health now.  Her sister, who lives with them, has Parkinsons.  Time brings its challenges for sure.  In spite of theirs, Gary and Nora were their same upbeat selves.  We so enjoyed our time with them and, even though it has been a long time since we've seen them, the years melted and it was as if we had never been apart.  I believe the best friendships work like that.  Layne mentioned that he was very glad we stopped.  A late arrival home was worth it!

Our neighbor, Jim, has been talking about displaying a flag in his back yard for some time now.  Jim will not be suppressed in his plans and he managed to finish the big flag project this past week.  A huge flag pole now reaches up to the sky with a beautiful American flag waving in the breeze.  Our back yards open to each other, so our view of the flag is,  perhaps, even better than his.  And so our sunset views are now accompanied by our flag, waving its greeting in the spring winds.

My Oakland Temple friend, Nikki Larsen, arrived for the week yesterday.  She and daughter Heather will attend a horse riding camp for the next 5 days.  Although I rarely talk to Nikki in between her yearly visits, we instantly connect.  Already we've had some wonderful conversations.  I'm looking forward to a sweet week ahead.

This and That

I am loving this time of year.  Our skies are full of clouds, wind, rain and sun.  We had the most amazing lightening storm last Tuesday night, just at dark, about 10 PM.  Lightening flashed between the clouds every few seconds for what seemed like a long time.  The sky lit up above us and thunder filled the air.  It was amazing.  I've never experienced anything like that before.  California, you know, has no such sky works.  A hard rain soon accompanied and then followed the lightning, along with lots of wind.  It was impossible to ignore such a show.

Our neighbors, the Wintersteens, invited us to visit a park full of American flags on Memorial Day last Monday.  The field there held flags for a large number of veterans.  We discovered that we could buy flags and attach a name and military organization to each one, and post it with the other flags.  So I bought one for Layne and one for my father.  We labeled each one and placed them with the other flags.  As I walked through those flags I could see the soldiers they represented in my mind.  It was an emotional experience for me.  I could feel the spirits of those soldiers.  Being surrounded by those flags brought such feelings of love and gratitude that we have men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line for us.  For our country.  I'm so grateful for them!  And that we have military men in our family.  We were able to bring our two flags home once the display was over.  I plan to display them in the yard when the occasion calls for it.

Layne holding his flag on Memorial Day at the Park.

Layne and I among the Flags.

We've been playing with our ATVs a bit lately.  Playing.  Layne also.  Layne.  He isn't much of a player you know.  Yet, for some reason, he is into this.  I'm happy to see it.  So we are joining friends and going on several ATV trips this summer.  I think I'm excited.  It is fun to drive them.  We rode through the foothills next to our development this past week.  It was great until I had to drive down what appeared to me to be a pretty steep hill.  That scared me.  But I did it, once Layne led the way.  And I made it out alive and unscratched.  So perhaps I can manage this.

View of our neighborhood from the foothills, when ATVing.

We are still taking singing lessons from our opera-oriented teachers.  Brett and Sue Hamilton are professionals and we are lucky enough to have them teach us.  It has been a revelation to me.  I'm actually learning how to use my voice and how to breathe better.  My mediocre voice is also improving somewhat, although I wouldn't want to display it too openly.  The Hamiltons performed at a local hotel Friday night and we were lucky enough to get tickets for it.  Wow, what fun to see professional singers up close and observe how they handled themselves, mistakes and all, in stride.  It was such fun!  There were even people there that I knew, which is such a joyous thing considering our limited experience here.  Since we don't get out to things like this much, it was an experience worth noting, and, hopefully, repeating.

I will say that Idaho is providing us with a multitude of new experiences and new friendships.  I'm enjoying that.

Treble Clef

I've been singing with my singing group, the Treble Clef Singers, for three weeks now.  Saturday night was our last performance, for family and friends.  We've been singing mostly in Old Folks Homes, and a couple other places.  It has all been very comfortable as the audiences are easy to please.  It is a great format for growing confidence.  I'm definitely not as scared of singing in front of people as I used to be.  In informal situations that is.  Singing for friends and family was a bit more stressful, even in a group.  But, much like giving a talk, once we got going the fear left.  My ladies are a lovely group ranging in age from 30s to 70s.  We costume up, make up some choreography and sing.  It has become a very rewarding and fun activity for me.  Our group has adopted Layne as their token male and he performs something at each of our concerts.  So we are the "couple"of the group.  This time around Layne and I sang a duet, "Old Black Magic".  My ladies were very supportive of our efforts.  I found my courage singing this with Layne and learned to belt out my part.  This is a major step for me.  My usual singing effort involves blending in and, if possible, not being heard.  So this was a milestone.  I found that I liked it and was not nervous.  It feels good to face this fear.

Our singing instructors have committed us to sing as a quartet at Church.  Hum.  That is an altogether different kind of singing and it scares me to death.  I may be about over Treble Clef fear but singing in Church crosses the line.  Except in the choir.  Lots of voices there and I can hide if I want to.  But before the summer is over we will be singing in a quartet during sacrament meeting. Sigh.  Face the fear, right?  I'm afraid my voice will turn to a frog.  I'm afraid of singing flat.  I'm afraid of losing my breath.  All the fears overcome in Treble Clef are alive and well in Church.  Can I possibly get over this?

It has been stormy this week.  I love it.  Thunder storms are to continue throughout the coming week. It is an open week!  I have all sorts of plans for accomplishing my own personal goals.  Here's hoping I can stay the course.

Our singing group at the Friends and Family performance.
I'm in the back, in the green hat.  Good view, eh?

 

Mother's Day

I don't like being in Idaho for holidays.  Mother's Day fits that as well.  No family is here to celebrate with.  But friends are abundant.  We had dinner with our Fremont group last night and one of them, Lisa Young, invited us to dinner today.  So, in spite of Layne's willingness to fix me dinner, we will share our Mother's Day meal with the Youngs.  Even without family here, I rejoice in the family I have.  My children and grandchildren bring me nothing but pleasure and gratitude.  They are all such good people.  There are many here who have such family heartaches.  But we are not among them.  So, even without family here, I am rejoicing today that I have a family and that they bring me joy, not sorrow.

My Mother's Day Treasures

Our week has been full of singing.  It takes lots of time and energy, so I find that I am getting little else done.  But I believe we are doing a good job of bringing some pleasure to those we sing to.  And the money we make will go to a doctor who fixes cleft palates in developing countries.  And I'm learning not to be afraid to sing in front of people.  Except that our singing teacher wants us to sing in a Sacrament meeting at Church. That scares me.  We are scheduled to sing next month.  Can I pull through without being scared out of my wits?  I keep telling myself that I should face my fears.  I'll let you know how that turns out.

Me on one of our new ATVs.

Dad enjoying an ATV ride in the neighborhood.

Layne and I tried out our ATVs by driving through the neighborhood.  I can see that they are going to be a lot of fun.  Layne is hot to use them and has already ordered helmets and goggles for us.  We will join a group to go ATVing later this month.  Singing and ATVing; who knew that we would be doing these things?  I have Idaho to thank for these grand adventures.

"Must Change"

The blossoms of spring are gone and replaced by the green leaves of early summer.  Our yard is bursting forth with life of all sorts.  The sound of birds fill the air, along with the sweet smells of our lilac trees.  Green fills my vision as I look out on our expanse of grass.  Layne's care has turned our yard into a green heaven.  Several neighbors have told us that we have the loveliest lawn in the neighborhood!  As I look upon all this beauty, I imagine how nice it would be if we could add a gazebo, redo the deteriorating deck left over by the previous owners, plant more flowers and trees.  "Must change," Layne tells me, mocking my dream.  He is slow to share my vision!  Of course it would probably work better for me if I simply appreciated all that he has already done.  I'm trying to do that.  I do appreciate it.  I really do.  But I have this vision...

The kitties are spending some of their nights
outside now.  But by morning they are eager
for breakfast.  Here is one of them looking in
our bedroom window, greeting us as we get up and
pleading for food.

Our spring.  One of the lilac bushes is at left.

Our spring concert has begun.  My singing group has performed 8 times already.  It is uplifting, energizing and exhausting all at the same time.  The duet that Layne and I sing is so far going pretty well I think.  We even sang it at a wedding reception on Friday.  I'm rambling on about this because I am usually scared to death to sing in front of people.  Unless I'm part of a good sized group.  But I don't feel afraid singing with Layne.  Maybe it is the song.  We are singing "Old Black Magic".  It is not serious, but fun to sing.  Mistakes can be absorbed into the presentation.  I like that.  So, amazing as I find it to be, I'm actually enjoying singing!

Layne, you know, is a serious kind of guy.  He isn't much into recreation but prefers to be productive. That is where his joy comes.  I've become more of that kind of person also.  His influence is pretty powerful.  With is in mind, I was amazed to hear him talk about buying a couple of ATVs from a couple we served in the temple with.  It seems they want to go on a mission and decided to sell their ATVs and trailer to finance it.  The price was very good, so Layne went for it.  Us and ATVs.  Who knew?  Layne is talking about going on ATV trips with another temple buddy and actually having some recreational fun!  I'm amazed.  And pleased.  Is this an example of "must change" perhaps?

Lately I am filled with thoughts about how much our lives have changed since moving here.  We are doing things we've never done before.  I never thought that, by this time in our lives, so many new experiences would present themselves.  While I still miss my family, I can't help but enjoy and be grateful for these new adventures.  I feel myself expanding, in good ways.  I'm grateful for it.

Daughter's art.  This was done by Jessica.

Audrey drew this.  I love them both and have framed
them alike to hang together.  My daughters, the artists!