Monday Memory Moment

Toby is learning the tricks similar to my neices and nephews. Camera is out...time to pose.

The picture is meant to be of the dresser. I am hoping some one recognizes it other than from being in my room. I have only had the dresser since 2001. My Grandma G. gave it to mee as apart of her weeding out items upon down sizing, and to help mee have items I could use in my own place.

Upon receiving it I gave it a fresh coat of paint. It took mee a while to get use to having a vanity mirror in my room. It is currently in what will soon be my guest room.

If any one knows more about the dresser please let me know.

The quote in the top right hand corner, that has been there at least since I got home from my mission reads:

“When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.”

--Ezra Taft Benson (Ensign, May 1998, p.81)

Visit from a Leprechaun

During my week off of school I received a visit from a Leprechaun. Rather than causing mischeif this he was a rather helpful one.We started out by sanding and staining the curtain rods and braces. Given the stain was already out, and I had a helping hand we also went ahead and stained the table.There is apparently some level of apperciation or couriousity about my attack. Knowing his sister had taken a trip my leprechaun also went on up. He was a little more adventurous than his sister, and wanted to stay longer than I wanted him too.This next shoot will either illustrate how tall Toby is, or how short my leprechaun is.

Can you hear mee now?

While wondering around Deseret Book the other day I read a comment on the back of a new book. It said something like; "finally single people have a voice." My thought was; why is the voice for single people coming from someone who is married ?" It is probably a well written and intended book. I might even read a least part of it if given to mee.

A while back I had a woman tell mee she wished her daughter could see the example of many of the single women in the church and how they have lived good, long productive lives. I don't recall all she said. And, I might have missed her intent. An exaggerated version of what I heard would go:

Although you are single. And, you have no one to just have around you at home. And, you have no one to help you make decisions about how to maintain and manage your home. And, you possibly spend 3-7 nights a week talking to no one but your dog after 5 pm. You really shouldn't ever complain about being lonely. (I am glad I have a dog so I don't feel I am going crazy and talking to myself.)

I try to keep my complaining to a minimum. Maybe there in lies a problem. The squeaky wheel gets the oil, right? I don't want to be a burden, or a source of annoyance. I want to know someone thinks about mee. Although I know there are worse situtation I could be in I would like to believe someone prays for mee.

For various reasons in my life I have felt invisible. I am not the oldest, bossy, brilliant child. I am not the boy who almost died, but didn't. I am not the girl whose conception and birth could have killed my mother, but was sought after anyway.

I am rather the child who was born in the wake of grief brought upon by the loss of a first born son. I am single in a church fighting the battle to maintain the family as God intends it to be. I am a Special Education Teacher in a program directed by therapist. I am fat. I am practical.

I long to be married. But more than that, I long to return home. Not to the presence of a unknowable God. Rather, I long to be engulfed in the embrace of my loving Father in Heaven.

I desire to have my voice heard. I am ready for people to know what I am thinking, even in the unrational moments of loneliness or moral indignation. I choose to be an advocate for children who are not wanted, and society wishes to "throw away". I want everyone to know am worried about the current direction our country is taking. I seek to join my voice with those who sing the praises of God. I pray for a return to family values.

Therefore, from here on out there will be a little more spice to my thoughts. Hell, the world might get to know the real MEE.

Monday Memory Moment

As many of you know I spent three years teaching at my Alma Mater, Meridian High School. It was a great blessing to have a job with so many people who are patient and willing to help mee learn my job. Among those people were my students. I fell in love with the students. I worked with the students who are cognitively impaired. Or, with other mild-moderate disabilities. Often others talk about their sweet spirits. Their happiness. Or their innocence. I want to laugh. It is not that I fully disagree. It is just that these individuals are just that individuals. They are funny. They are stubborn. They are mad. They taught mee what really matters in life. The ceramic flip flops were painted and given mee by a girl I worked with the three years at MHS. She is spunky, stubborn, full on energy, and wants to be involved in everything. She might make someone a great personal assistant. When given the charge to take of something she did it. I don't remember exactly what I needed reminded of. I do remember being fairly certain I would forget. I asked her to call mee at 6pm and remind mee. Right at 6pm my phone rang. "Miss G don't forget..." The next morning she checked in with mee to make sure I remembered. I pray she will be happy and successful in life.

Once a Vandal...

Is there a time in every one's life they idealize? Recently I seem to be having an increased number of dreams about being in Moscow, or returning to Moscow. Moscow, Idaho, that is.

I decided early in my life to go to college and get a four year degree. I was NOT going to BSU (I usually refer to it is BJC, or some school down by the river). I thought about going to BYU. BYU was closed to mee as an option when a friend made a comment about how it was were all the Mormon snobs went to school.

I don't recall the whole conversation. I believe he said something like "...if you really don't like BSU you should go to the U of I. They are rival schools." The next day my sister's boyfriend brought mee in a course catalog for the University of Idaho. I remember the cover was a picture of their fall leaves. I was sold on it.

I couple days later I was meeting with my high school counselor and told him I had decided to study architecture at the University of Idaho. He liked that idea more than I expected. It was then I noticed the plethora of Idaho memorabilia around his office. As it turned out Dr. David Hanson got his degree from Idaho and his son was currently studying Architecture there. I was still in Moscow and able to attend the ceremony where Dr. Hanson receive his PhD. Needless to say, he was supportive of the idea. (This is actually Hello Walk.)

Before the end of my first year of high school my next 8 years of school were mapped out. And nine years after completing my degree, in Sociology (emphasis Human Services; minor, Interpersonal Communication) when asked if I am a Vandal fan I say no...I am a VANDAL.

Monday Memory Moment

If you look close enough you can see that there is a rather small horse shoe above my door. Here is the story as I remember it.

My Grandma Glasgow went on a church history tour a number of years ago. While they were in Navoo they visited a blacksmith shop. The blacksmith made the miniature horse shoe while explaining and demonstrating what was required of a blacksmith.

After it was made his method of determining who got the horse shoe was to ask who's birthday was closest. As it turned out, it was my grandmothers birthday and she got the horse shoe.

Monday Memory Moment

My favorite color is black. My mom's favorite color is green. My little sister's favorite color is purple. My dad's favorite color is purple with pink polka dots.

As a child I believed we tried to convince him that purple with pink polka dots was not a color. This did not deter him. As a result of this continued insistence of purple with pink polka dots being his favorite color we all remembered.

As a junior in college I wanted to make a shelf in my dorm room. For this project a friend and I purchased two four foot shelving boards and paint. You guessed it, purple and pink.

We had a number of people who witnessed our project of using random dishes to as templates to draw what would be pink polka dots. Two purple with pink polka dot shelves* are also somewhat hard to miss in a dorm room.

Later, during this same school year, an other friend handed mee this:

It is a handmade hemp and bead purple with pink polka dot gecko. He told mee he noticed I like pink a purple so decided those were the colors I got for my gecko.

Thanks Brandon!

*If I find any pictures of the shelves I get them up here.

Bragging Pictures...

My beautiful Wild Rose...

The two-sum...

Big Brother, Little Sister...

Toby emotions...

Happy

Content

Playful

Irritated

Impatient

Monday Memory Moment

I don't remember when I realized my view of the world was unique. I was reminded of this Saturday night as I drove back through Star to grab something I left at my parents house. Whereas I needed gas I decided to stop at the Star Merc for gas (surprisingly decent price).

As a child we lived about an 0.4 of a mile west of the Merc. As kids we would often, and I mean frequently, walk there. I believe we knew the exact amount needed for half  a gallon of ice cream. Sometimes we would be sent to the store with a signed blank check. We could see the Merc through the kitchen window and could check the progress of a family member walking back and forth.

From home to the Merc and back was my first solo drive. It is still the quickest shopping place in Star. Last I knew the Star Cafe was owned by the same family. The Star Cafe is still one of my favorite places to eat.

I realized how "Mayberrry" like my childhood was during one of my college breaks at home. I had gone down to the Merc to pick up a few things. As I had written out a check to make the purchase the woman asked to see my ID. I was taken aback. It have never crossed my mind to bring ID into the Star Merc. Luckily just then Phil walked by and told her I didn't need ID.

So, there may not be any more stores willing to accept my checks with out ID. And Star, to so many may still be a small town. I believe the population has at least tripled in  size since I graduated from high school. I am grateful I grew up in a town and place where I was know by at least me last name.