February 2009

We started a new family tradition. I wanted to give something for Valentines that would last over the years. I read a couple of articles in the Ensign that gave me an idea. I bought appreciation journals for every member of the family. We each wrote in each others journals, nice things only, for FHE and then got to read them on Valentines. We transcribed Enoch and Arlene's thoughts and all pages were decorated with Valentine stickers. Then on Valentines, instead of junk or candy, we all got to read our journals. The kids were actually looking forward to it. It was a big hit. Now we can do the same for anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, etc.

I told Heavenly Father if he would fill up my studio I would set aside the money for retirement. I have been super nervous about our lack of contributions since Doug left BYU. Well Heavenly kept up his end of the deal and so did I. We also started the refinancing paperwork at a 4 5/8 percent this week. We are glad to get such a great fixed rate. I love having a waiting list. It makes me happy.

Doug's worked has slowed a little but he is drafting like crazy for Tuacahn and working on sundry other projects. He organized a trip to the Draper Temple Open House for less active people in his stewardship. We went as a family but didn't have the lovely experience I was hoping for. The wait was SO long the kids were grumpy before we even got to the temple.

I got Jared signed up for Timberline. He is an inch taller than I am. He is playing basketball in a league. He hates it but we are making him finish what he starts.

Elena is developing into a young woman. Stop it already! She now wears some of my shoes and clothes. I'm not ready. Really, I'm not. She is gearing up for her knowledge bowl tournament. She is so smart she hardly has to study.

Miriam is also starting into the hormones: the screaming, the smelling, the mile wide mood swings. Help me! Actually, she does help me. She likes to cook with me.

Mary is wanting hair-dos. She is also wanting to be "a better person." An interesting pursuit for an 8 year old. She sees things she admires in people and tries to emulate them.

Arlene is reading long vowels now. She is mad about the rules. She knows them and all but she felt so on top of things with only short vowels. She feels knocked down a peg. It is bothersome to have to think it all through.

Enoch is quite the flatterer. He tells me I'm beautiful regularly. I can go for that. He wants to take dance and is counting down for the new season in the fall. I have mixed feelings about it. It would only ever be through the BYU Children's Creative Dance.