This morning Miranda was pretending to be a missionary. She taught me some good stuff about how Easter isn't just about the candy and the Easter Bunny, it's about Jesus. I was happy that some of our Easter discussion had actually made a mark. So I asked her about Christmas, what was it really about, just presents and candy? She said, no, it's also about Santa Claus.
But the best part of her missionary work was her door approach. I think I should probably contact the missionary department and pass on this line. Certainly we'd see a spike in conversions:
"If you believe in Jesus for FIVE YEARS...
I'll take you to Disneyland."
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Crystal HOT Springs
Xiao Yu and Patrick are leaving us for that mysterious and frighteningly gargatuan country across the Pacific soon. I cried last night about it and I will cry more times, certainly. This blog could easily turn to my heartache about the subject. But I will get back to REALLY important topics, like going swimming.
It wasn't just ANY swimming. Swimming at Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville, UT! Xiao Yu wanted to experience a hot springs before she went home, so we drove through beautiful northern Utah farm country. We saw some unbelievable homes out in the middle of what could be called nowhere by most people and we wondered, WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE DO FOR WORK???!!! I dediced they're all authors or online business millionaires. Any insights on the matter would be appreciated.
Crystal Hot Springs was just about how I remember it from when I was 12 or younger. It is always a neat sensation to walk into a place and be taken back. However, I do think that the Hot Springs in this case could benefit from updating their facilities and ambiance just a bit. Particularly the locker room. But I digress.
The main points in this post include the following 4 topics(note, some pictures are a little fuzzy. I have no photography skills):
1. The water was SO hot! The kids' cheeks instantly took on the Peruvian "chappas" look of their extremely distant cousins living in the highlands surrounding Cusco somewhere. We actually got into the cold water, even though it was not a very warm day, just to escape the heat.
2. The waterslide. This thing had some UMPH. The attendant risked his job by allowing Miranda (under-aged!) to ride with Fernando. I expected white-knuckled screams of childhood trauma from her, but she actually LOVED it. And I gained new hope that my daughter will not be the worry-wort(wart?) scaredy-cat I've always been.
3. We love hanging out with Patrick and Xiao Yu. China: Please appreciate the sacrafice that comes with our gift to you.
4. And finally, Miranda meets The Wrinkled. Fernando first made a witty quip about one of The Wrinkled as we entered the first Hot Springs pool. He said something like, "Don't stay in here too long. That lady has been in here two hours." And of course he didn't jesture or point or even look in her direction but I started scanning the vicinity and saw one cute little lady of The Wrinkled and couldn't help but laugh.
I think The Wrinkled come to the Hot Springs for health. The minerals are supposed to be really good for you. I plan on us moving to Honeyville when we are 90+ years old for this very reason (now Fernando's hoping he doesn't live that long...an L.A. boy, living in Honeyville?)(I'm kidding, he actually said he'd like to live out there somewhere in a place like that...in one of those INCREDIBLE homes, of course.).
We were sitting nearby to the same lady later on, soaking in all the minerals, and I noticed that Miranda noticed her. So, Miranda just walked over on the little stairs in the water to her. I started panicking! If she feels comfortable pointing out a little cash-register girl's freckles and calling them zits, what is she going to say to The Wrinkled?!!
But she just sat down and said, "Hi." She had to say it a few times to get the lady's attention. The lady responded, and Miranda said, "This is a nice place." And the lady said, "Yes, it is." And Miranda said, "You should come here a lot." And then she talked about some other stuff, none of which had to do with the appearance of The Wrinkled. Phew. Then another of The Wrinkled joined them and Miranda just sat there in the middle of them, chatting. I tried to run out of the pool and back to take a quick picture, but I sort of missed the moment. But at least you get to see Miranda and The Wrinkled together.
I'm thinking about taking her to Nursing Homes or Rest Homes just so she can spend some of her words with old people, who are usually SO nice to kids and also might appreciate the company. But then I'd have to take Samuel there too, and he would terrorize the place. On second thought....
It wasn't just ANY swimming. Swimming at Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville, UT! Xiao Yu wanted to experience a hot springs before she went home, so we drove through beautiful northern Utah farm country. We saw some unbelievable homes out in the middle of what could be called nowhere by most people and we wondered, WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE DO FOR WORK???!!! I dediced they're all authors or online business millionaires. Any insights on the matter would be appreciated.
Crystal Hot Springs was just about how I remember it from when I was 12 or younger. It is always a neat sensation to walk into a place and be taken back. However, I do think that the Hot Springs in this case could benefit from updating their facilities and ambiance just a bit. Particularly the locker room. But I digress.
The main points in this post include the following 4 topics(note, some pictures are a little fuzzy. I have no photography skills):
1. The water was SO hot! The kids' cheeks instantly took on the Peruvian "chappas" look of their extremely distant cousins living in the highlands surrounding Cusco somewhere. We actually got into the cold water, even though it was not a very warm day, just to escape the heat.
2. The waterslide. This thing had some UMPH. The attendant risked his job by allowing Miranda (under-aged!) to ride with Fernando. I expected white-knuckled screams of childhood trauma from her, but she actually LOVED it. And I gained new hope that my daughter will not be the worry-wort(wart?) scaredy-cat I've always been.
3. We love hanging out with Patrick and Xiao Yu. China: Please appreciate the sacrafice that comes with our gift to you.
4. And finally, Miranda meets The Wrinkled. Fernando first made a witty quip about one of The Wrinkled as we entered the first Hot Springs pool. He said something like, "Don't stay in here too long. That lady has been in here two hours." And of course he didn't jesture or point or even look in her direction but I started scanning the vicinity and saw one cute little lady of The Wrinkled and couldn't help but laugh.
I think The Wrinkled come to the Hot Springs for health. The minerals are supposed to be really good for you. I plan on us moving to Honeyville when we are 90+ years old for this very reason (now Fernando's hoping he doesn't live that long...an L.A. boy, living in Honeyville?)(I'm kidding, he actually said he'd like to live out there somewhere in a place like that...in one of those INCREDIBLE homes, of course.).
We were sitting nearby to the same lady later on, soaking in all the minerals, and I noticed that Miranda noticed her. So, Miranda just walked over on the little stairs in the water to her. I started panicking! If she feels comfortable pointing out a little cash-register girl's freckles and calling them zits, what is she going to say to The Wrinkled?!!
But she just sat down and said, "Hi." She had to say it a few times to get the lady's attention. The lady responded, and Miranda said, "This is a nice place." And the lady said, "Yes, it is." And Miranda said, "You should come here a lot." And then she talked about some other stuff, none of which had to do with the appearance of The Wrinkled. Phew. Then another of The Wrinkled joined them and Miranda just sat there in the middle of them, chatting. I tried to run out of the pool and back to take a quick picture, but I sort of missed the moment. But at least you get to see Miranda and The Wrinkled together.
I'm thinking about taking her to Nursing Homes or Rest Homes just so she can spend some of her words with old people, who are usually SO nice to kids and also might appreciate the company. But then I'd have to take Samuel there too, and he would terrorize the place. On second thought....
Thursday, June 5, 2008
sock empathy and the okay man
Nice title eh?
Vignette A:
I heard at Women's Conference that even 2 year olds can help with the laundry and I thought, uh huh. But I suggested Miranda help and of course she was ECSTATIC and now I will do whatever necessary to maintain her excitement until she's age 23 at least.
One of the things that she finds most fun about helping is matching socks. We were matching white socks and we got down to the final three. She matched two and I said, "Uh oh."
"What, mommy?"
"This one doesn't have a match."
"Why?!"
"Maybe it got lost or something, I don't know."
At this point I saw her face change. She drew the little white ankle sock to her chin. Her little eyebrows squinched together and her mouth turned down.
"This one is all alone," she lamented, in sad, soft, quivery tone. "He's lost his brothers and sisters."
"Oh, that's too bad." I wanted to see where this was going.
"Those other socks in the drawer are the mean kids, and this one is leftover (she says leftover for left out)." Then she took a deep breath, looked down solemnly and uttered, "This is all my fault."
This storyline went on for some time. I loved it for many reasons, two of which are 1, she doesn't need toys in order to entertain herself (this is a big relief in my future budgeting...just give her some old socks or shampoo bottles for Christmas), and 2, her empathy extends even unto footwear.
Vignette B:
Sammy isn't yet verbally complex, although he's of course staggering in other areas. He's said several words, but he usually says them once or maybe twice, and then doesn't use them again. (However last night he repeated "No," which he's said only about 2 times previously, from about 4-4:15am.) He probably just thinks there is PLENTY of conversation already going on between Miranda and I. But I think he understands most things we say. For example, when I ask him if he'd like his milk, he says, "OHH kay." I'll ask him, "Do you want to go outside?" "OHH kay." "Would you like a treat?" "OHH kay." Simple. Helpful. THIS is communication at its most efficient.
Fernando decided that Sam just knows the way I ask questions, and then responds with "OHH kay."
I didn't think this was true. So we tested the theory.
"Sammy, do you want a treat?"
"OHH kay."
"Do you want to go downstairs?"
"OHH kay."
"Would you like to become President of the United States?"
"OHH kay."
But that doesn't prove anything. I think he really does want to be President of the United States.
Vignette A:
I heard at Women's Conference that even 2 year olds can help with the laundry and I thought, uh huh. But I suggested Miranda help and of course she was ECSTATIC and now I will do whatever necessary to maintain her excitement until she's age 23 at least.
One of the things that she finds most fun about helping is matching socks. We were matching white socks and we got down to the final three. She matched two and I said, "Uh oh."
"What, mommy?"
"This one doesn't have a match."
"Why?!"
"Maybe it got lost or something, I don't know."
At this point I saw her face change. She drew the little white ankle sock to her chin. Her little eyebrows squinched together and her mouth turned down.
"This one is all alone," she lamented, in sad, soft, quivery tone. "He's lost his brothers and sisters."
"Oh, that's too bad." I wanted to see where this was going.
"Those other socks in the drawer are the mean kids, and this one is leftover (she says leftover for left out)." Then she took a deep breath, looked down solemnly and uttered, "This is all my fault."
This storyline went on for some time. I loved it for many reasons, two of which are 1, she doesn't need toys in order to entertain herself (this is a big relief in my future budgeting...just give her some old socks or shampoo bottles for Christmas), and 2, her empathy extends even unto footwear.
Vignette B:
Sammy isn't yet verbally complex, although he's of course staggering in other areas. He's said several words, but he usually says them once or maybe twice, and then doesn't use them again. (However last night he repeated "No," which he's said only about 2 times previously, from about 4-4:15am.) He probably just thinks there is PLENTY of conversation already going on between Miranda and I. But I think he understands most things we say. For example, when I ask him if he'd like his milk, he says, "OHH kay." I'll ask him, "Do you want to go outside?" "OHH kay." "Would you like a treat?" "OHH kay." Simple. Helpful. THIS is communication at its most efficient.
Fernando decided that Sam just knows the way I ask questions, and then responds with "OHH kay."
I didn't think this was true. So we tested the theory.
"Sammy, do you want a treat?"
"OHH kay."
"Do you want to go downstairs?"
"OHH kay."
"Would you like to become President of the United States?"
"OHH kay."
But that doesn't prove anything. I think he really does want to be President of the United States.
Monday, June 2, 2008
warm weather
It has been so nice out. I didn't appreciate fully the simple gift of a fenced backyard until I had kids. Sam and Miranda LOVE to be outside. Especially Sam. He will sit by the window like a little puppy longing to go out. The second thing he wants to do when he wakes up is to go outside. The first thing is to find his sleeping sister and attack. Weird how brothers come programmed to bug their sisters. Back on topic...when we bring him in from outside it's like he's getting his ears cleaned out. Which he finds torturous.
We've been enjoying outside things so much since the weather got warmer.
Miranda flew her princess kite the other day with Patrick. She loved it. I must say that I was nervous about my frugality when the measly kite came out of the wrapper, but it actually flew quite well.
We've had a few occasions to enjoy the blossoms at Temple Square. This was after my cousin's wedding where Sammy only wanted to tear out every tulip and eat dirt. But he cleans up well.
Miranda is beginning to interact with the camera in moviestarish fashion. We're always well supplied with dramatic flare with Miranda around.
"Thinking back on all the good times" Miranda:
Playful, wistful Miranda:
Coy, coquettish Miranda:
And WORKING the camera Miranda:
I got to spend some time last month with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and friend at Women's conference. The blossoms were beautiful and I learned a lot.
Miranda and I also had a summer-evening mommy-daughter date to a concert in the "Families Making Music" series. I served with the parents of the Hart Family in Nauvoo (they married each other after we got home) and their overflow of talent has just spilled into their kids. Their extended family performed as well. A little 4-year-old nephew (isn't the word "nephew" great?) played this adorable cello and the Hart's daughter played the violin which she got at 9 months old! It was lovely. These are pictures I took of my date while we were on Trax down to the concert. Another example of her many moods for the camera.
And of course
We've been enjoying outside things so much since the weather got warmer.
Miranda flew her princess kite the other day with Patrick. She loved it. I must say that I was nervous about my frugality when the measly kite came out of the wrapper, but it actually flew quite well.
We've had a few occasions to enjoy the blossoms at Temple Square. This was after my cousin's wedding where Sammy only wanted to tear out every tulip and eat dirt. But he cleans up well.
Miranda is beginning to interact with the camera in moviestarish fashion. We're always well supplied with dramatic flare with Miranda around.
"Thinking back on all the good times" Miranda:
Playful, wistful Miranda:
Coy, coquettish Miranda:
And WORKING the camera Miranda:
I got to spend some time last month with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and friend at Women's conference. The blossoms were beautiful and I learned a lot.
Miranda and I also had a summer-evening mommy-daughter date to a concert in the "Families Making Music" series. I served with the parents of the Hart Family in Nauvoo (they married each other after we got home) and their overflow of talent has just spilled into their kids. Their extended family performed as well. A little 4-year-old nephew (isn't the word "nephew" great?) played this adorable cello and the Hart's daughter played the violin which she got at 9 months old! It was lovely. These are pictures I took of my date while we were on Trax down to the concert. Another example of her many moods for the camera.
And of course
Thursday, May 29, 2008
your name is MUD
These could be my favorite pictures of the kids together so far in LIFE! You should have seen the bathtub after I cleaned all this mud off. Why do I ever buy them toys?! (Please forgive that both children are without pants in this picture!! What kind of mother am I?)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
We're going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo, How bout you you you
We had the most wonderful time at the Zoo with our dear friends the other week. Everything about the day was just wonderful, especially being with my friend and her adorable and well-behaved boys. I mean, they are 5 and 3 and they opened the door for all of us girls all day. I'm glad my little Sammy got to observe such manhood in his near peers. Hopefully he can "ape" their behavior....get it...the next picture? I know, I know, but I couldn't help myself.
I don't have too many pictures but you can see the whole story and some great shots here.
I will mention something so, so fun. It was worth the whole price of admission. There's one of those big marble looking balls that has water flowing all around it somehow and kids can rotate it...they have one in Disneyland too in Tomorrow Land.
Anyway, most kids love water and mine take that love to the extreme. I got a huge kick out of Sammy. He was yelping and laughing, he was so excited just to be out of his stroller and touching the water. But then he wanted to DRINK the water. He tried to put his mouth down into the drippage area but his head kept hitting against the huge ball. So sad. I was laughing. But he was the smart one because he quickly figured out that if he angled his head against the ball just right, the water would flow down his forehead, over his eyes, nose, and cheeks, and dribble into his mouth.
HA. Little bubba. He was SO wet. Miranda got a little wet too.
We had such a great time. It is GREAT when you end up loving your friends' kids as much as you love your friends. Thank you Ace for coming up so we could herd our own little zoo together at the zoo.
I don't have too many pictures but you can see the whole story and some great shots here.
I will mention something so, so fun. It was worth the whole price of admission. There's one of those big marble looking balls that has water flowing all around it somehow and kids can rotate it...they have one in Disneyland too in Tomorrow Land.
Anyway, most kids love water and mine take that love to the extreme. I got a huge kick out of Sammy. He was yelping and laughing, he was so excited just to be out of his stroller and touching the water. But then he wanted to DRINK the water. He tried to put his mouth down into the drippage area but his head kept hitting against the huge ball. So sad. I was laughing. But he was the smart one because he quickly figured out that if he angled his head against the ball just right, the water would flow down his forehead, over his eyes, nose, and cheeks, and dribble into his mouth.
HA. Little bubba. He was SO wet. Miranda got a little wet too.
We had such a great time. It is GREAT when you end up loving your friends' kids as much as you love your friends. Thank you Ace for coming up so we could herd our own little zoo together at the zoo.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Memorial Day
We had an early "Memorial Day" trip on Friday and Saturday. We wanted Xiao Yu to see Logan and we wanted to visit our family graves. We had the extreme joy of staying at the Maughans (I hope I spelled that right!) in Wellsville. Their home is just ideal and the company is even better. We all had a wonderful time and were even treated to gourmet Belgian waffles. Anyone who has ever tasted the kinds of foods served at that home can vouch for the deliciousness of it. THANK YOU Israelsens and Maughans for being such wonderful hosts!
This is Great Grandparents Reed and Ruth Johnson's graves in the Logan Cemetery. I remember her by the books I have with dedications from her inside, and from all the times I went with my grandmother to care for her as she suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease until she died. Grandma would take Grandma Johnson's dentures out to clean them and we would laugh because she looked like a cabbage patch kid. I didn't know her well when she was well, but I feel a closeness to her because of the way my mom feels about her and because I spent so much time there with my Grandma and felt Grandma Johnson's spirit even when she was sick.
Here is the marker for Joseph Sr. and Ardella Clawson Baugh, great grandparents buried in the Logan Cemetery. He died when I was a baby, but I remember her very, very well. I remember her soft voice and ways, her handwriting, the kinds of candies she served, how soft her skin was, the smell of rose in her bathroom, the toys she had downstairs, how she valued being a lady and behaving appropriately and respectfully, sailing boats down the gutter across the street, her kindness and reverence, and most of all, sitting on her front porch as the sun set, talking and drinking her sweet grape juice while my dad mowed her lawn. I always think of her when I sing "O My Father," which I also sang at her funeral.
We had dinner at Cafe Sabor, the renovated train station down beautiful Main Street in Logan. Samuel's Latin roots came out when the Mariachi band played. He danced a rythmic salsa of sorts while strangers watched.
Miranda in front of Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's old house in Logan. I couldn't bear to take a picture of Grandma and Grandpa Baugh's old house, because it doesn't at all look the way it looked when she took care of it.
The drive out to Wellsville was beyond picturesque. We felt like we were in Scotland or something, at least England, it was so green. And we saw so many baby animals along the way. We stopped to take a closer look.
Xiao Yu. Oh how we'll miss you in a few short weeks!
Just basking in the post-waffle glow at the Maughan estate. Kenz and Craig with Miranda
We drove through country towns in Cache Valley to get to Clarkston (where the Martin Harris marker and pageant are), and I would have liked to go all the way to Clifton to see our Howell side, but we didn't have time. I didn't get a picture in Clarkston because we were busy searching for the right headstones and it was so windy. I didn't remember to snap a shot.
But I did get a picture of the Joseph Rulon and Mary Myler Standing site in the Fielding Cemetery. These are my great-grandparents on my dad's mom's side, and I knew them BOTH very well. There are so many "grandpa" things I see in my dad that I remember from my grandpa Standing. He was all smiles and always made us laugh. They would both just talk with us for hours. You could tell that family was their joy. They had such a fun way of teasing each other. I liked their relationship a lot. They had a beautiful home that we spent lots of time in, and a perfect backyard complete with a climbing tree that also produced wonderful cherries. They always had candy, pop, and Popsicles. I loved the way they talked. I interviewed my grandma Standing not very long before she died and I treasure that experience, and I left every single colloquialism in the transcript. I miss hearing them talk. With my grandma and grandpa Standing, sometimes I forget they are gone and wish I could stop by.
Then we went to Hooper to our Belnap side. These are my Great Grandparents Belnap, and I remember only her. They had the most amazing little pioneer home there. I loved going up into the attic and just imagining living there, looking at every antique thing in her home. I loved that music was such a big part of her life and that she had her organ there in the house. I always think about her baking 12 loaves of bread every day and know I can do better at my homemaking. We used to go out into her garden and my dad would make us hold the fat, spikey green worms in the tomatoes. Sometimes they would flood the front yard to water the lawn and the frogs would come out. We only got to see that once, I think. Sometimes I wish there were some way for my little family to move out to Hooper and live in that house. I have very fond memories of her and the feeling I had in her home.
This is my children sitting ON the gravestone of their great-grandpa and mine that I never met, Gary Devar Belnap. He passed away when my dad was 3. I think a lot about my Grandma whenever I visit that headstone and how she must have felt trying to comfort her 4, 3, and 2 year old children while she herself was experiencing such grief. I think about my Grandpa Howell too who stepped right into being the father to those three little kids and what a blessing he has been to her life, and my dad's life, and mine. I think about how it will be so wonderful to meet my grandpa Belnap someday and I loved seeing my little children sitting there on his grave. I thought he would have liked them and then my mom said she's sure they already knew him. That was a very nice thought.
I guess Memorial Day is a strange holiday, but I've been raised to love it. I read this morning about Lehi searching the plates after Nephi had recovered them, and how it gave him a genealogy of his fathers, and how he discovered he was descended from Joseph of Egypt who he had been sold into Egypt and had to go through all that to be able to save his family from the famine. I thought, it must have given Lehi a lot of comfort and strength as he sat there reading in the wilderness, far from a destination he did not know and from the home he had known, to think about what his ancestor had gone through and that there was a greater purpose in it. I'm also grateful for the direction these great-grandparents and grandparents of mine have provided for me just by the goodness of their lives. I hope by taking the kids around for Memorial Day like this whenever we can they will be able to benefit in the same way I have.
This is Great Grandparents Reed and Ruth Johnson's graves in the Logan Cemetery. I remember her by the books I have with dedications from her inside, and from all the times I went with my grandmother to care for her as she suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease until she died. Grandma would take Grandma Johnson's dentures out to clean them and we would laugh because she looked like a cabbage patch kid. I didn't know her well when she was well, but I feel a closeness to her because of the way my mom feels about her and because I spent so much time there with my Grandma and felt Grandma Johnson's spirit even when she was sick.
Here is the marker for Joseph Sr. and Ardella Clawson Baugh, great grandparents buried in the Logan Cemetery. He died when I was a baby, but I remember her very, very well. I remember her soft voice and ways, her handwriting, the kinds of candies she served, how soft her skin was, the smell of rose in her bathroom, the toys she had downstairs, how she valued being a lady and behaving appropriately and respectfully, sailing boats down the gutter across the street, her kindness and reverence, and most of all, sitting on her front porch as the sun set, talking and drinking her sweet grape juice while my dad mowed her lawn. I always think of her when I sing "O My Father," which I also sang at her funeral.
We had dinner at Cafe Sabor, the renovated train station down beautiful Main Street in Logan. Samuel's Latin roots came out when the Mariachi band played. He danced a rythmic salsa of sorts while strangers watched.
Miranda in front of Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's old house in Logan. I couldn't bear to take a picture of Grandma and Grandpa Baugh's old house, because it doesn't at all look the way it looked when she took care of it.
The drive out to Wellsville was beyond picturesque. We felt like we were in Scotland or something, at least England, it was so green. And we saw so many baby animals along the way. We stopped to take a closer look.
Xiao Yu. Oh how we'll miss you in a few short weeks!
Just basking in the post-waffle glow at the Maughan estate. Kenz and Craig with Miranda
We drove through country towns in Cache Valley to get to Clarkston (where the Martin Harris marker and pageant are), and I would have liked to go all the way to Clifton to see our Howell side, but we didn't have time. I didn't get a picture in Clarkston because we were busy searching for the right headstones and it was so windy. I didn't remember to snap a shot.
But I did get a picture of the Joseph Rulon and Mary Myler Standing site in the Fielding Cemetery. These are my great-grandparents on my dad's mom's side, and I knew them BOTH very well. There are so many "grandpa" things I see in my dad that I remember from my grandpa Standing. He was all smiles and always made us laugh. They would both just talk with us for hours. You could tell that family was their joy. They had such a fun way of teasing each other. I liked their relationship a lot. They had a beautiful home that we spent lots of time in, and a perfect backyard complete with a climbing tree that also produced wonderful cherries. They always had candy, pop, and Popsicles. I loved the way they talked. I interviewed my grandma Standing not very long before she died and I treasure that experience, and I left every single colloquialism in the transcript. I miss hearing them talk. With my grandma and grandpa Standing, sometimes I forget they are gone and wish I could stop by.
Then we went to Hooper to our Belnap side. These are my Great Grandparents Belnap, and I remember only her. They had the most amazing little pioneer home there. I loved going up into the attic and just imagining living there, looking at every antique thing in her home. I loved that music was such a big part of her life and that she had her organ there in the house. I always think about her baking 12 loaves of bread every day and know I can do better at my homemaking. We used to go out into her garden and my dad would make us hold the fat, spikey green worms in the tomatoes. Sometimes they would flood the front yard to water the lawn and the frogs would come out. We only got to see that once, I think. Sometimes I wish there were some way for my little family to move out to Hooper and live in that house. I have very fond memories of her and the feeling I had in her home.
This is my children sitting ON the gravestone of their great-grandpa and mine that I never met, Gary Devar Belnap. He passed away when my dad was 3. I think a lot about my Grandma whenever I visit that headstone and how she must have felt trying to comfort her 4, 3, and 2 year old children while she herself was experiencing such grief. I think about my Grandpa Howell too who stepped right into being the father to those three little kids and what a blessing he has been to her life, and my dad's life, and mine. I think about how it will be so wonderful to meet my grandpa Belnap someday and I loved seeing my little children sitting there on his grave. I thought he would have liked them and then my mom said she's sure they already knew him. That was a very nice thought.
I guess Memorial Day is a strange holiday, but I've been raised to love it. I read this morning about Lehi searching the plates after Nephi had recovered them, and how it gave him a genealogy of his fathers, and how he discovered he was descended from Joseph of Egypt who he had been sold into Egypt and had to go through all that to be able to save his family from the famine. I thought, it must have given Lehi a lot of comfort and strength as he sat there reading in the wilderness, far from a destination he did not know and from the home he had known, to think about what his ancestor had gone through and that there was a greater purpose in it. I'm also grateful for the direction these great-grandparents and grandparents of mine have provided for me just by the goodness of their lives. I hope by taking the kids around for Memorial Day like this whenever we can they will be able to benefit in the same way I have.
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