RECAP OF KRISTY COMING HOME. . .

Friday, October 31, 2009

What a day!! It went so fast, and yet almost in slow-mo, the way everything happened!

Brandon and Tannya drove down from Idaho, but first dropped Amelia off at Linda's (my sister, for those who don't know) in Layton.

Hyunjoo (Korean friend in my ward, and now new Primary President!) came over to help make a Korean "welcome home" sign. She had no idea how BIG this sign was going to be!! And she IS a perfectionist! ^_^ So it took a couple of hours to make the sign. The good thing was she was here when the phone rang and Kristy's voice said, "Ahn-yang, haseo!" I quickly responded with "Ahn-yang! Ahn-yang!! Oh wait! Just a minute Kristy!" I quickly handed the phone to Hyunjoo and said, "Talk to her in Korean!" Well, the next five minutes they talked and talked in Korean. I'm not sure who was happier, Kristy or Hyunjoo!

Kristy was SOOOO happy to talk to someone in Korean after she landed at LAX. She said it was very depressing when the one Elder she flew home with was greeted by his family and friends there at LAX, and she was left all alone for the next two hours. AND it was compounded by her knowing she would have another FOUR HOUR layover in SLC before she got home. Little did she know. . .

As we were talking, I texted Amelia (Kristy's sister) in Layton and said, "I'm talking to Kristy right now. She asked to talk to you. I told her you were in town getting some groceries for me...she's going to be calling you!! LIE!"

And so it went. . .Kristy thought Amelia was at the grocery store, but she was really getting ready to meet Kristy at the SLC airport! Sure enough, about 3:30 p.m. Linda dropped Amelia off at the airport...but the plane had already landed!! Amelia dashed through security, her boarding pass in hand, quickly found a sister missionary who happened to be heading out to France on HER mission, and asked her to video the upcoming meeting.

Amelia quickly put on her very stylish, short, black-haired wig (I had bought it a couple of months ago) and started to "mingle" with some other people, just in the nick of time!! Kristy came off the plane, saw Amelia -- didn't recognize her -- and thought, "Wow, that girl's haircolor does NOT go with her complexion!!"

However, when "that girl" stood in Kristy's way and kept looking directly at her, recognition donned on Kristy!! She dropped her bags and threw her arms around her sister!! She couldn't believe it!! (It helped when Amelia pulled off the wig and Kristy saw it really was Amelia!)

With a four hour layover, they had time to get something to eat (a man from Cedar bought Kristy's lunch for her when they were in line!), look at pictures, talk, and even spend time in the bathroom trying to clean up and get presentable.

---

Now, flashback to Santa Clara...

At the same time this adventure was going on in Salt Lake, we were having our own "adventure!" Dallin had gotten home from school a little early, so I suggested he go pay his "homecoming debt" before he answered the girl who asked him to Sadies. So he did...but while Brandon, Tannya, Natalee and I were working on the "popcorn box", I got a phone call from Dallin. I thought he was at the bank, close to the store, so I said, "Hey Dal, you're going to need some more popcorn." He said, "Mom, that's not why I'm calling." I could hear something in his voice, so I asked, "What happened...?" Yep, he had been in a wreck!! I asked if he was hurt, who's fault it was, and what happened. BLAST!!! Another car "totalled!!"

I quickly went down to the high school (it happened with all the traffic that occurs when school gets out...a sudden stop by the car ahead, and not looking at the wrong moment...suddenly the front end of his vehicle was under his windshield!) This was NOT what I had really thought of happening this particular day, but, oh well!! At least Dallin was okay (sore where he hit his head and his knee, in spite of his seatbelt, depressed at the loss of his car, and embarrassed that the WHOLE studentbody drove by and witnessed his smashed up car); and a year from now this will just be a funny memory!!

After that, time went by rather quickly and 8:45 p.m. saw us heading off to the airport, leaving our BIG (4' tall and 25' long) sign staked on the lawn and lit up by two floodlights borrowed from McPhersons.

We had also made a fairly large sign that said "Welcome Home, MOGLI!!!" to hold up at the airport.

When the plane landed NOBODY wanted to hold the sign...except for the OTHER sign that the kids had made which was about 2' x 2' that said, "WORD." Do YOU understand that sign???? What a strange family we have!!!

I was wearing a Hangbok (traditional Korean dress, big and fluffy, but also very beautiful!) borrowed from Celeste Reed.

Jacqui Moncrief was there, so she came over to my end of the sign and said, "NO, you need to be over there...I will hold the sign!" So she grabbed my end and I kind of stood in front of that end.

Then Kristy, with Amelia videoing from behind, came through the door!! Since no one else was moving, I quickly went up and gave her a big hug. She wrapped her arms around me and we cried. But after several seconds she backed away and said, "Wait!" She stepped to the side, set her bag down, and then knelt on the floor, and did a total bow with hands and head on the floor. I am sure, in the Korean culture, that must be the highest form of honor and respect. I was touched. Then she came back and hugged me like she would never let go. I finally pulled her back and Rod came over and she hugged him for dear life, too!

Besides Jacqui, Holly and Hilary Schram were there, Mykelle and Whitnee (her husband and baby, too) came, Hans Kirchhausen, and of course Natalee and Dallin, Brandon and Tannya were there, too! The funny thing was, there were other people there who watched and watched, especially when Amelia and Kristy reenacted how everything happened at the Salt Lake airport. It was HILARIOUS!! We don't have shrinking violets in our family, and they outdid themselves in their little skit!! Flet, almost, felt like we were there!!

Kristy loved the marquees at Ben Franklins and at Dutchmans, welcoming her home.

The spotlight on the sign at our house was PERFECT. She couldn't believe the sign!!! She loved seeing all the Korean letters and started to get emotional again. (literally translated, it said, "Kristy Sister, Congratulations on return Korea Mission!")

After stopping at the house for just a second, Rod, Kristy and I drove to the church. President Graf was in New Jersey for some meetings, so Pres. Esplin met us there to release her. As we drove up the street, with Kristy saying how hard it was to leave Korea, I said, "Well, let me see if I can remember a song, 'Nahn hah nah knee may chaw knee-yo...' " Well, Kristy joined in singing "I Am A Child of God," but by the time we pulled up to the church she was a mess!!

We had a good visit with Pres. Esplin. He asked Kristy if there was one experience she would like to relate about her mission...faith promoting, growing, or some such thing... Kristy thought for quite awhile, mumbling a bit as she thought through different things, then finally said, "Well, of course there are tons of things, but I have to come back to the amazing way the Lord helped me through every single day! It wasn't just once here or there, it was EVERY SINGLE DAY that I could feel angels helping hold me up...in fact, I think I have that on my plaque..." We talked a bit more, then we had a prayer together, and then it was time for Kristy to take off her name tag. Now THAT was hard for her. I finally said, "Remember what they told us at the MTC?" She said, "Rip it off like a band-aid?" "Yep!" I replied back.

Well, she didn't RIP it off, but she quickly took it off and held it in her lap as we talked for just a minute about her earning every single thought and feeling she was having right at that moment, and even though she was no longer a full-time missionary, NONE of her experiences and love for the Korean people would be taken away.

After that we went out to the church hallway to check her plaque, and sure enough, that was the scripture she had requested! Boy! Did she ever peg that!!

What a GREAT DAY it was!! We are THRILLED to have Kristy home. It's 9:05 a.m. Saturday morning, and Kristy has already answered her first phone call FROM Korea!! Now we're eating breakfast, going for a short (3 miles) run, then taking the horses out riding! WAHOO!!!

GARDEN HISTORY. . .w/ music!

Ever learning. . .

So guess what? Yep, I learned something new!! Corn and green beans do MUCH better in our hot climate when planted the end of July (Pioneer Day)!! I tried an "experiment" and put "just a few beans" in this little patch of bed that I had cleared when a couple tomato plants died in the Spring.
Thursday I thought I'd take a look in our garden since the beans were starting to produce at the Community Garden. I was amazed!
This pile of beautiful beans came off our little patch of plants in one picking! And there are tons more coming on! I LOVE THIS!!! (By the way, our corn is great, too!)

FAMILY NIGHT!!

Hi kids,
Welcome to Family Home Evening ONLINE!!

1. When Christ was on the earth he established his church with the FOUNDATION OF TWELVE APOSTLES.

2. The truths of the gospel are supported by the foundation of the apostles. Some of the truths we know because of the gospel of Jesus Christ are:
a. The Godhead
b. The atonement of Jesus Christ
c. Families can be together forever
d. The plan of happiness
e. Tithing
(these were some of the ones mentioned at OUR FHE...)

3. Within these truths can be found the first Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel: Faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; Repentance; Baptism by Immersion; the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

4. As we come to understand and accept these truths, we begin to develop a testimony. What are some of the things that we can do to help strengthen our testimony?

A. Read the scriptures
B. Pray
C. Attend our church meetings

5. As our testimonies grow, we come to understand the importance of having AUTHORITY, and having the keys to receive REVELATION . . .

. . . JESUS CHRIST leads his church today, through a living prophet, and 12 apostles, who have AUTHORITY and receive REVELATION for the world.

When Christ was crucified, the apostles were left to carry on. One by one, the apostles of the Lord were killed, and the truths, the authority of Jesus Christ were lost and there was a GREAT APOSTACY (falling away...or falling "down").

Gradually, people started seeking truth, and building up churches. Most contain SOME truth , but none of them have all of the truth AND the AUTHORITY from Jesus Christ.

MOST churches have SOME truth, but only the RESTORED Gospel of Jesus Christ has the COMPLETE TRUTHS from Jesus Christ himself.

Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet on the earth today! The Twelve Apostles are: Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, and D. Todd Christofferson.

I am SO grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and through him ALL of the truths of Christ's church were restored. The authority to act in God's name (the Priesthood), was restored; there is a living prophet on the earth to day, President Thomas S. Monson. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It was translated by the power of God and is another witness and testament of Jesus Christ. I am SO thankful for living prophets and apostles. I'm grateful for divine revelation to our living prophet, and for personal revelation that we each are entitled to! I love my husband so very much! And I love every one of my children. I am grateful for the strength I feel from our family, for the love and support we feel for each other, and I really do LOVE MY JOB as a wife and mother!! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

FAMILY

Mom's Moment
February 19, 2006

As I have spent time over at Julie's house helping with Scott, I have gotten a lot of scrapbooking done. I enjoy my time over there. As I have cooked and cleaned at different times I have found Julie and I are alike in many ways, but also different. I am very grateful for my "other sister" and her profound influence in my life.
One day as I opened her pantry door I noticed a quote on the inside. Funny...she puts her quotes on the inside of her door...I put mine on the outside. Similarities. Her pantry door is mostly open, mine is mostly closed. Differences.
Anyway, I loved the quote and felt it very important to share. One, because it's true; two because it's from a prophet of God; three because it's a good reminder.


"Your most important friendships should be with your own
brothers and sisters, and with your father and mother.

LOVE YOUR FAMILY

Be loyal to them. Have a genuine concern for them.

Pray for them.

Help carry their load."

-- Ezra Taft Benson


The day Aunt Linda graduated from high school she moved out of our home. (She and our parents had some major difficulties throughout her teenage years.) For the next couple of years I was very afraid for her. She had moved in with a girlfriend who wasn't very active in church, then Linda moved to San Francisco for awhile, living with my aunt and uncle. All the while I was worried about what she was doing with her life, and I CONSTANTLY prayed for her. I will never forget the feelings I had and prayer was the only way I could help. And it did.
I was thrilled when she decided to move up to Provo the second year I was there. It was a good change for her.
I'm sure I wasn't the only one praying for my sister. The important thing is that I was praying for my sister. I hope we will love each other. Be loyal to one another. Have genuine concern for our family. Pray for them, and help carry their load.

Mindless. . .or "little things"

September 20, 2009 -- Sunday

So, with everything I have going right now . . . Primary Program just finished, the Peanut Pulling Party (www.santaclaracommunitygarden.blogspot.com), Swiss Day's Parade, state-wide Piano Competition, rodeo stuff, and so on . . . I still have had time to THINK!

I've mentioned a little about "baby steps," taking things from the "minimum" angle so as not to defeat ourselves before we even get started. I've been re-motivated to do this with regards to weight loss, and I'm amazed at how it applies to everything.
As I've read more about the Kaizen method, I understand WHY it's so important to do very little things. I'll give you some examples:
"What's the smallest step I can take to be more efficient?"
"What can I do in five minutes a day to reduce my credit-card debt?"
"How could I find one source of information about adult education classes in my city?"
Each of these are small enough to bypass fear. This, in turn, allows the brain to focus on problem-solving and action.

Now, so you can see by example, what I'm talking about, I'll share with you MY four SIMPLE things I'm doing this month to help me reach my weight goals. Here they are:

1. Keep a mug (water bottle) with me all during the day. (I don't have to drink it, I just keep it with me...funny how such a small thing triggers bigger results...as I keep that water bottle with me, I'll drink more water, keep myself hydrated, probably reduce the times I mistake thirst for hunger, etc.)

2. I can eat whatever I want, but if it something that's probably not the BEST thing to be eating, I may eat THREE small to medium-sized bites. (This one sometimes feels like a deprivation, until I really start thinking about it...and 3 bites usually satisfies the craving!)

3. Eat with my non-dominant hand. (This one is probably the hardest because we eat so automatically. It takes a lot of remembering!!)

4. My Non-food goal is to do my AB video workout at least three times a week. This is easy since I've been doing it every weekday for about 4 weeks. But I wanted to make sure I gave myself some leeway so as not to "fail."

I hope you will find three or four "little" things you want to work on for the month, and see how this very small changes make a big difference!

MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL . . .

Mom’s Moment
March 1, 2009
I thought this was so well put that I would simply include it as it was written rather than filtering it. Hope it helps each of us understand ourselves better. Awareness is powerful!
Love,
Mom

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AND THE AWARD GOES TO . . .
by Marci Shimoff

Does the idea of standing in front of a mirror and appreciating your positive qualities feel uncomfortable and stupid? It did to me—which was a sign that I really needed to try it.

I first learned this mirror exercise in 1990, when I took a week-long course from my mentor, Jack Canfield, on self-esteem. Jack assigned the exercise as homework every night, saying, "Make sure you do this behind a closed door so nobody walks by and thinks you’re crazy." Each night my roommate and I took turns going into the bathroom, shutting the door, and whispering sweet nothings to our reflections: "You’re kind." "You’re loyal." "You have a loving heart."

The first night, I felt like a California New Age woo-woo nutcase, but soon I experienced a rush of sadness; I was such an expert at judging myself—why was it so hard to say nice things?

With practice, it gradually became easier to list reasons to love myself: "You’re smart." "You go out of your way to help others." And so on. But the real power of this exercise came when I learned to express appreciation for myself for no reason—to look myself in the eye and simply love who I was, unconditionally.

If you’re like most people, consciously recognizing the positive about yourself may feel conceited. After all, we’re raised not to "toot our own horns." So we end up not giving ourselves credit or acknowledgment or even worse, beating ourselves up, which shuts down our hearts, contracts our energy, and decreases our happiness levels.

Doing the research for my book Happy for No Reason, I interviewed scores of scientists along with one hundred unconditionally happy people (I call them the Happy 100). One of the things I discovered is that truly happy people have a compassionate, encouraging, and validating attitude toward themselves. This isn’t arrogance or self-centeredness; it’s an appreciation and acceptance of who they are.

Learning to see the positive about yourself starts by changing your brain’s habit of focusing on your negative experiences and instead inclining your mind toward joy.

So today, begin registering your happy experiences more deeply-- consciously look for them. You can make it a game you play with yourself. Have the intention to notice everything good that happens to you: anything you see, feel, taste, hear or smell that brings you joy, a "win" you experience, a breakthrough, an a-ha, or an expression of your creativity—the list goes on and on.

This intention triggers the reticular activating system (RAS), a group of cells at the base of your brain stem responsible for sorting through the massive amounts of incoming information and bringing anything important to your attention. Have you ever bought a car and then suddenly starting noticing the same make of car everywhere? It’s the RAS at work. Now you can use it to be happier. When you decide to look for the positive, your RAS makes sure that’s what you see.

Adelle, one of the Happy 100, told me about a unique method she has for registering the positive. As she goes about her day, she gives away awards in her mind: the best-behaved dog award, the most colorful landscape design at a fast food drive-through award, the most courteous driver award. This keeps her alert to the beauty and positivity that is all around her. Charmed by this idea, I tried it myself. I liked it so much, I’ve been giving out these "Happiness Oscars," as I call them, ever since.

Once you notice something positive, take a moment to savor it consciously. Take the good experience in deeply and feel it; make it more than just a mental observation. If possible, spend around 30 seconds, soaking up the happiness you feel. If you want to accelerate your progress, take time every day to write down a few of your wins, breakthroughs, and things you appreciate about others—and about yourself.

Remember. . . I have always liked computers . . .

Mom's Moment
January 16, 2005

Last week I talked about the "hardware" we are made of:

1. I am the son/daughter of our Heavenly Father;
2. He loves me unconditionally and completely;
3. He doesn't compare me to anyone else.

We need to remember the amazing "hardware" we have!! Now, if you have a way cool computer system, but have no software to run with the hardware, there is a problem. Or, if you have a bad or corrupted operating system, your hardware isn't going to perform well, if at all.
Let's say you go out and smoke a cigarette. The program you're running at that moment might be called "Rebellion 1.1" or "Curiosity 2.1" Initially it seems like a cool program. It might make you feel popular, or "in" with a certain group of friends or associates. It might make you feel like you don't stick out like you would if you said, "No, thanks." However, this software has some faulty programming in it and eventually you get awful signals...text messages that say, "You're such a jerk! I can't believe you'd go against God like that! You're an idiot to smoke. What would your PARENTS think if they knew?!?!" But then the program entices you back to smoke again. "You smoked once, so what's the big deal. It's not going to hurt to do it again. What would everyone say...since they know you smoke?!"
Around and around this program goes. And there are millions of programs out there just like it. They might be named things like: Negativity 1.0; Drinking 2.3; Questionable Jokes 5.0; Bad Language 3.1; Don't Have Time For Prayers 4.1; I'm Too Tired For Scripture Study 2.1, and so on.
However, there is a software program, if followed, that is perfect and will help us attain all that our Heavenly Father has in store for us. It's The Gospel Plan version 1.0.
Occasionally, when other "programs" are advertised and the newest and best thing around, The Gospel Plan version 1.0 can appear to be outdated, old fashioned, and not keeping up with the times. However, just as President Hinckley has pointed out in the January 2005 Ensign: "The Lord has given us counsel and commandment on so many things that no member of this Church need ever equivocate. He has established our guidelines concerning personal virtue, neighborliness, obedience to law, loyalty to government, observance of the Sabbath day, sobriety and abstinence from liquor and tobacco, the payment of tithes and offerings, the care of the poor, the cultivation of home and family, the sharing of the gospel—to name just a few."

If we will use the right "software program" – pursue a steady course in living the gospel in our own lives, the gospel standards will help us through all of the troubles and trials of the world, and we will emerge victorious.

Sabbath Surprise

Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009

We were just a little surprised when Mark and Andrea Wittwer knocked on our door saying there was a problem in the street... I went out and saw the asphalt mounded up like a small volcano just waiting to erupt, with lots of "fissures" leaking tons of murky red water.


I quickly called Barbara Salmon, who knew the right people to call. For the next several hours there were lots of people standing around watching, work crews literally "getting to the bottom" of the problem.


Dad and I moved the truck and suburban so as not to be in the way. It was the weirdest thing to see the suburban driving on MOVING asphalt!! That water was under the asphalt from the intersection by our house, down past McMullins house. We'll see if we start pumping lots of water in the next day or so...hope you like the pictures!! (Click on the pics to see the bigger version.)

MM Archives

Mom's Moment
October 31, 2004


Last night, as I sat out in my "Spider Woman" costume and handed out candy while kids and parents were very impressed with the giant spider on the lawn, I saw lots of different characters...some costumed, some not. There was only one teenager who came up to trick or treat without a costume on. I teased her a bit and told her "I don't get dressed up like this to give out candy to someone NOT in costume...come back next year with a costume and I'll give you some candy!" I heard her mother laughing, as they walked away with the younger kids, saying, "I told you so...you should have worn a costume!"

Right before I came in for the night (Dad had come out to start bringing things in), another memorable family came to get candy. The mom had stopped by the wall to help her little girl who had dropped her bag of candy. The dad came up, without a shirt on, pushing a stroller with a toddler in it. I couldn't believe he would be so immature as to go without a shirt (it was starting to get very cold!) to go trick-or-treating with his kids. After I put a candy in the child's pumpkin I casually asked the dad, "So, what's up with the no-shirt look?"
He meekly replied, "My baby was getting really cold so I wrapped him up in it..."
I glanced back at the stroller and, sure enough, there was the dad's shirt wrapped around his son.
I guess it was a good reminder not to be hasty in our judgments of others. . . . we might not know the whole story!