Everyone can use a lawyer in the family!

I feel impressed to say a few words about my oldest daughter, Trisha. Trisha's been out of the home mostly for many years now, but she's about to embark on something very exciting soon as she has applied to law schools and will soon be choosing one and off to her new adventure next fall.

But, first to go back in time. Trisha was always an amazing kid, but I didn't have anything to compare it with her being my first so didn't really realize it. Before my second daughter was born, Trisha knew her ABCs (and could sing them) and her address and phone number. She was *this.close* to being potty trained, but the demands of a 2nd child -- when Trisha was 16.5 months old -- set that back. She ended up achieving that milestone when she was 20 months old (and that was day, night, everything!). When Trisha was 8, we let her fly across country from the Bay Area -- alone -- to visit my sister in DC. She even had a change of planes. What on earth were we thinking? None of my other kids could have ever done that. The twins will be 10 in a few months and I still can't envision the day I would think they are ready to do that and that's with them having each other, too! That's just how advanced Trisha was in some things (though her learning to drive was a whole other story -- she'd get mad if I shared that here so I won't ....)

We moved around a little during some of the critical years, but Trisha seemed to weather it OK after all. We moved from the Bay Area a few weeks into her freshman year in high school after a sudden military base closure happened (the base had been on a closure list then removed and then suddenly put back on the list with a closure within months). Just before moving, Trisha and her sister were involved in a very tragic auto accident that they were both treated and released for relatively minor injuries the same day, but 3 other occupants (friends) of the car died. We were transferred to the Seattle area where Trisha went back to middle school 9th grade and then on to high school again the next year for 10th grade. After a few months of 10th grade, military retirement was upon us and I was offered a job at a start up back in the Bay Area so the kids settled back into schools there. So just a little background on the curveballs fielded during this time. Trisha also went on Teen Jeopardy her senior year of high school which was a lot of fun. Other parents were all stressed at how their kids would do and I was just having fun letting her experience it all. It was a little sad how hard some parents were on their kids and some of these kids were sent to the best schools, boarding schools, etc. Anyway, 3 girls ended up as finalists and Trisha came in 2nd overall, winning nearly $18K in cash. Not bad!
Trisha applied to 7 colleges in her senior year. She had dreams of becoming a sports agent and would have really liked to go to school on the east coast, but I couldn't see that happening financially, but she went ahead and applied to some east coast schools anyway and was accepted to all 7 colleges she applied to, but ultimately we said she had to stay out west and she ended up at UCLA. Not too long after and while the twins were infants, I went through a divorce. Pretty bad timing for my freshman off to college and all alone! I'm sure that had to have been hard for her and after 2 years at school, she was struggling and I couldn't help financially at that point and we felt it would be best for her to come home. So she did. For a year. Then felt she was ready to go back away to school, but decided to go to ASU. After a year there, her heart was really set on UCLA so she returned there, got her degree, then went on and got a master's degree, as well.

Trisha got married in 2007 and was now a working professional, but she had always really wanted to go to law school and decided she should go for it. She prepared for and took the LSAT and apparently was pretty unphased with the testing process itself (that's a big score right there not being tied up in knots!) and got a terrific score, but decided to retake it to see if she could increase it just a little to give her a more sure chance of getting into a top tier school. The result? She did it. She scored in the 98th percentile with a score of 171.

So now the waiting game begins to see where she is accepted. She's gotten several acceptances already and has some scholarship opportunities in the works. Her top school she's been accepted to so far is UC Berkeley and University of Michigan (I think they are both around #4 & #5). She has also been contacted for an interview with Harvard. So it's a very exciting time, one Trisha probably didn't think she'd be into a few years ago, but by this time next year she'll be deep into her studies and probably at a very cold place. Between Berkeley and Michigan, her choice is Michigan, but not because of the weather!!!! That would be a hard adjustment. But, it's only for 3 years.

So I'm very proud of Trisha for pursuing her dream and channeling the gifts she was given (she must have a photographic memory -- don't ever play Trivial Pursuit if you expect to win or debate her on sports stats and whatnot -- you will not win!). It will be very interesting to see what comes and will be a wonderful example to the twins.

And, hey, everyone can use a lawyer in the family, right?

Obama's First Decisions

Gee, I hate to talk about Obama stuff two days in a row, but what can I say ... Obama's just had his first full day on the job and this is what's come about thus far:

Obama's Draft Order Calls for Closing Gitmo in One Year, Suspending Military Tribunals
President Obama wants to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay within the year and could put an end to the military tribunals after a four-month review, according to a draft executive order.

A judge has already granted Obama's request to suspend the war crimes trial of a young Canadian for 120 days. Army Col. Stephen Henley issued the ruling Wednesday after a brief hearing at the Guantanamo base.

Obama to Lift Ban on Funding for Groups Providing Abortions Overseas
President Obama will continue the back-and-forth of presidents before him by using the Roe v. Wade anniversary to allow non-governmental organizations working abroad to use U.S. funding to give counseling on or provide abortions.

President Obama will issue an executive order on Thursday reversing the Bush administration policy that bans the use of federal dollars by non-govermental organizations that discuss or provide abortions outside of the United States.

Obama will sign the executive order on the 36th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in all 50 states.

Then there's his spokesperson's word last week that Obama will end the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military. Should be loads of fun for service members in close living and bathroom quarters.


His inauguration speech was a little depressing. Sounded like he was more intent on positioning himself AGAINST anything Bush stood for for the past 8 years. Wanted to make sure our enemies know we're still their "fwends". I mean, was it really necessary to say, in his inauguration speech, "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect." Which "Muslim world" is he speaking to? The terrorists? Or the rest of the Muslim world? Because there's no "new way forward" with the terrorists and the rest of the Muslim world wasn't an issue in the first place, certainly nothing that should have warranted top billing ie. been in his inauguration speech. What a dork.

He should have taken a page out of Ronald Reagan's inauguration speech over 20 years ago. It all still applies today and would have more a completely compelling speech. In fact, he should have just repeated the whole darn speech. But, no, he's still playing the hate and negativity card and the oh-so-popular liberal "always diss America first" card.

I am really leaving myself open to what good Obama can do. Even in spite of and maybe even especially because the most despondent and negative people about America's future I know were Obama supporters and I don't carry the same baggage they do and count myself lucky that I have inner peace. But, so far his first actions in office aren't any kind of change I can believe in. I'm not black nor have I made a lifetime of dissing blacks or other minorities so I can't even revel in the new unity that some have found for themselves. I wasn't dis-unified in the first place. Oh well, we will wait and see, but could someone send Obama some tapes from Ronald Reagan. He could sure use them!

And, one last thought ... Obama said:

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.

The question I ask today is why is the federal government in the middle of any of these subjects in the FIRST place?

Oh yes, it IS an important day!

I realize an historic inauguration is about to take place, but I haven't seen or heard of change *I* can believe in ...

Until now ... Lloyd and I have decided to paint our front door red! Because the builder already used 4 paint colors (none of them red), we've been debating how to squeeze in a red door without taking on reducing the other paint colors to 3 (I'm not interested in repainting a 2-year old house already!), but we think we have it figured out. Now we just have to find a red shade to go with our existing colors.

House just before we moved in

A red door (not necessarily the right red)

Our door that's going to be sporting a new paint job soon (with 2 very cute 3rd graders in front of it last year)

If that's not enough to have our mind taken up with change we can believe in, we bought an ironing board cabinet thing that goes into the wall. Lloyd's been wanting one for a very long time -- for me, of course -- and we finally used a Lowe's gift certificate from my mom.



So now we'll have change we can believe in. Whew!

Most Amazingly Wrong Quote of the Day

"... the American government is the greatest force for good in the history of mankind."
~ Sen. Harry Reid, "The Good Fight", 2008

See, this is so odd to me since Senator Reid and I are from the same faith (and he's got a 40-year head start on me), the one that teaches us how families are the building blocks of society, divine institutions, and how much power we have to do good and if not in just our family units, then in our church ward families and in our communities. And, is it too not PC to recognize that the gospel, the true love of Christ is really THE greatest force for good in the history of mankind?!

But, somehow Sen. Reid has gained the wisdom that the American GOVERNMENT is the greatest force for good in the HISTORY of mankind .... Um, OK.

Funny how cartoons like this ring with so much truth, though ....



I also think the Senator lost sight long ago of the roots of American government and the good it did and how government has turned into something now our founding fathers would not recognize as being fruits of their sacrificial labors. Sen. Reid must be equating big, bloated, and usurping individual and states' rights as "the greatest force". Oh, OK, then on that note I would agree with him.

P.S. If you're wondering how I came across this quote, I'm currently reading "The Good Fight". It was a gift from a family member who figured since he was from NV and is Mormon and we like politics, that we'd like this book. Um ... OK so reading it and trying to remember that he can't feel it when I slam the book closed from time to time ... :-) (just kidding -- he does have an interesting life story)

"Heavenly Father said we shouldn't work on Sunday"

This past weekend, Lloyd worked. He signs up to work typically 2 Saturdays a month and these days doing MRI that means 8-2. Except this Saturday he agreed to have them add on a stat case at the start of the day and the last appointment wasn't UNTIL 2 so he actually worked 7-3. The kids had a primary meet-the-teachers breakfast in the morning and then after that I wanted to take them on a bike ride, but Sheridan's bike had a flat so we determined to do something later when Dad got home and stay home and get some things done in the meantime.

I did the wash, worked on figuring out how to remove ads from our Beyond TV recordings, and straightened up the downstairs. Then I sat down for a while, but couldn't ignore the massive tree covered in decorations calling out to me from the living room so resolved to get that done once and for all. In the mean time, the kids had total leisure. Philip seemed oblivious of what I was doing at all and Sheridan peeked in once and quickly made herself scarce. I had a choice of getting the work done (because I really really did not want to do that at all, let alone by myself) or playing taskmaster and I opted to get something accomplished.

Later the kids went back and forth to a friend's around the corner and when Dad came home we loaded the twins and the 3 friends (siblings) up to go to the park for the 1 hour of daylight left and the day just got away from us so before I knew it it was Sunday and after arriving home from choir practice after 5PM, the reality of the kids having done nothing to help around the house, no chores, no putting away laundry -- NOTHING -- and facing a busy week with that start, I cracked the whip.

I really wanted the kids to see how much they could do in 15 minutes. I hadn't given them a time limit, just the things I wanted them to do and it should have only taken about that long, but Lloyd threw in a few things (he took the cleaning part very seriously) and that was after they stalled complaining they had to do anything at all. Sheridan brought out the big guns that "Heavenly Father said we shouldn't work on Sunday" so I let her know that he also said "Honor your mother and father" and if she'd been doing that, then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

It's not like we're perfect parents (no one would accuse us of that!) or bad, either. We all have our faults so if you want to call it that, my fault this weekend was "making my kids work" on Sunday. Of course, they have their own free agency to choose not to accept chore money for it on pay day. We have been reading the Book of Mormon together as a family and are in the process of setting goals together as a family for this year. We are trying.

But, I could not bear the thought of going into a week in disarray even if it meant breaking the complete and total peace that is our home on the Sabbath Day (yes, I'm kidding -- I have kids, remember?!). The Sabbath Day is a principle I had to master when I joined the church because the entire weekend had previously been open for errand running and going out to eat, things that are hard to get done when you work M-F, but setting aside the Sabbath really does help one put their life in order. Now that I am responsible for other beings to understand that concept and DO it, it's 2 steps forward, 1 step back, but I think the kids learned a lesson about working on Saturday and preserving the Sabbath day. We'll see.

I wear my wife's eyeglasses because she wants me to see things her way

“I wear my wife's eyeglasses because she wants me to see things her way.” ~Jayson Feinburg

So maybe some day Philip will have some fun with it and use this Jayson Feinburg saying. For now -- it's touch and go. Glasses arrived today, picked them up this evening. Philip was good at the optometrist. We could tell he was happy to see better. Going out to the car afterward, he exclaimed how he could see some signs down across the street. On the short drive home he decided the glasses were giving him a headache. Or maybe it was the Nintendo DS he was playing (no, it COULDN'T be THAT!). So he's gone back to saying he doesn't like them and was definitely not up for posing for pics. Not sure if it's because of the glasses. Or having to put down the DS for a minute to take them.

So these are a few I got. He thought the sad face was warranted, apparently.

But, then did agree to do me a big favor and gave a wan smile.

I think he's adorable. And, his taste in glasses is amazing. (And they are titanium so can't break no matter how they're twisted so Mom likes that!).

He was disappointed to hear I'm going to be looking for sport goggles for him. He thought that would be an excuse not to wear them. Hehe, I love that little guy!

First glasses, now braces! What next??

Philip (9.5yo) got a referral from school for failing the vision screening so over the Christmas break, we took him to the optometrist. Leading up to it, we heard no end of declarations how he was NOT going to wear glasses. We figured it would be a big battle getting to the appointment. Thankfully, it was not. The optometrist was really good with him. I clued him into Philip's state of mind on this. He told us how anyone that's told they do NOT need glasses tries to talk him into finding a way that they DO need glasses. Seems to be the rage to wear glasses. Somehow Philip ended up doing just fine which is good because he DOES need glasses. We let him pick them out right there even though I know of a good online site to buy them for much much less on .... I figured we better just keep going with the flow. Anyway, the glasses aren't in yet, but Philip picked a very stylish pair. I'll share a pic when he gets them!

So yesterday I had the twins to an orthodontic consult appointment. Getting ready to leave the house, Philip said, "First glasses, now braces! What next??" LOL. He has repeatedly told us how either will ruin his life. My bank account is happy to report that they DO need braces, but not for another few years still. :-)

Annual Pilgrimage

I have been a member of the church for 7 years now. We have developed a tradition since of going to Salt Lake over New Year's each year. Since my husband alternates when he has his kids (now only 1 of them left under 18), he's had to do some trading around so they can join us, but we've managed to keep up the tradition so far and the 5 of us made it this year again. I enjoy living in the "mission field" as they say, but sometimes just want to be in the land where so much sacrifice was made, where I can feel the spirit so strongly, even just walking around on the grounds of Temple Square. As an adult convert to the church, I really hunger sometimes to be fed of the things I didn't have in my life until such a late (ha!) date.



We had hoped to see Marvin Goldstein play piano, but he had apparently been hurt in a car crash so had a sub to play for the soprano, Karen Larsen. The music was all very good even though the kids asked after every song, "Can we go now?" It wasn't nearly as cold as last year -- THANK GOODNESS!! I do not like the cold, but it's a necessary evil if the kids are going to play in the snow.





We also took in Bedtime Stories. We went to the Provo mall off the I-15 to enjoy the larger theaters they have there than we have in Vegas. Silly thing, I know, but I miss the large movie theaters like we used to have in CA so thought it would be fun to see the movie there. The movie was good, but I don't know that I'd recommend rushing out to see it. This one can wait for DVD.

We also decided to try to find President Hinckley's gravesite on the way back from sledding. We didn't tell the kids because we thought they would complain. They really wanted to get back to the hotel and swim or get on with whatever else they thought was important. But, I really wanted to see his gravesite and Lloyd did, too, so I fought with my Palm Treo (I really need a new phone!) and got the driving directions that we managed to mangle, but we found the cemetery and just drove in and really went right to it, just knowing that it was on a hill. I really miss President Hinckley.

I hope I can keep this blog up. Life is so busy these days, just when I think I maybe kinda sorta am on top of things, another ball gets thrown in to juggle so it's a risk thinking I can keep this up, but I'll try! And, thanks to Kathy for asking about my blog again today ... I figure even if everyone else has given up on my blog, she still had hope!

OK, I'm back (post election stress on hold for now)

I don't know what happened ... I had so much to say, but nothing I wanted to commit to this blog! This election was just the weirdest thing. "My" candidate didn't make it anywhere close to the party's nomination, I wasn't sure what I'd do in November, then I wanted to fight like heck for the other party's candidate NOT to win ... Oh well, 2009 is going to be an interesting year. In reality, I didn't really have a candidate. The one I thought I liked the most would not have been "small government" enough for me and the one that touted small government ... well, he didn't have the personality or charisma to do what he said he would. I guess it serves us right we are where we are now, for being too complacent for too long. I would have been happy with "my" candidate, though, I suppose, but then the Republican party can't seem to quit slicing and dicing their own so good luck to the next good man or woman that steps forward. I'm sure we'll make mincemeat of them as a party, too.

So that's an explanation for my absence from sharing thoughts. Now on to more fun stuff!