Family. It's about FUN!

About three times a year I invite my cousin's kids, who are students at BYU, over for dinner. We usually eat a lot of food, play games, and laugh a lot. I always look forward to them coming. At Christmas we play Christmas BINGO and exchange white elephant or dollar-store gifts. I usually lose at playing 5 Crowns (Sarah always won when she and Chad were here). Last night, I complete lost at Spoons (note the sad faces of those who are already out). I got a token card in Apple to Apples (I always liked playing with JD when he and Brittany were here-- he had a good sense of humor).

Over the years I have never taken pictures at our parties. But I still have lots of memories of good times. Last night I finally pulled out the camera. Jill informed me that she was not looking particularly pretty so I should not post these on the blog. Sorry Jill. :)

This was a farewell party for Mike and Katelyn who are moving to Texas. We will miss them. Mike has been our token male for the last two years. He joined the family the year I was in Atlanta. Their daughter is our first baby in the group. Last night we also welcomed a new member, Shane, who is Kim's fiance.

They are all incredible people. I love the laughter and good times that they bring to my home. Family is the best! Life is good!

We're not in Kansas Anymore

With Kansas losing to Michigan State last night, my March Madness brackets are busted. I picked them to win it all. However, I also picked CT, Villanova, and North Carolina to be in the final four. So if North Carolina can pull it off tomorrow, then I'll have 3 out of 4 in the final four. Not too bad. I really enjoyed watching the NC, Gonzaga game... that is until I fell asleep in the second half. They know how to play!

Life is Good

My Life

This is me this semester....

This is how I cope on days like today...

So many books, So little time

I love to read. I could spend the whole day reading a good book. The problem is there are just too many. Today at our university forum we had Dr. Martin Seligman, a psychologist who focuses on positive psychology. His talk was fascinating. On the way home I stopped at Borders, used my 25% off coupon, and bought his book "Authentic Happiness." I look forward to reading it.

But first I have to finish Cold Sassy Tree, for the book group I am hosting the first of April. I read it when I was in Atlanta, but am doing it again. I rarely read a book twice (except scriptures), because already know what is going to happen. But I am really enjoying the second time around with Cold Sassy-- it brings back many fond memories of the South!

little happy secrets

This is a shout out to my cousin Christie who has a lead in the local play "little happy secrets." The play is about a woman who is trying to deal with her same-sex attraction to her best friend. Christie played Brennan, the object of the affection. Christie is quite the actress-- not the same person that I've seen at my home for dinner. They play was tastefully done and left the audience with a lot to think about.
I decided that anytime your life doesn't fit what you believe is the "ideal" that you struggle to make sense of it all and figure out how and where you fit. For this play it was same-sex attraction, but there are many other circumstances such as never-married, divorced, having a child die, having a severe disability or illness that affects your ability to work or perform daily duties, and the list could go on. There is something to be said for being accepting and less judgmental of others.
My little happy secret is that I've discovered Reese's Peanut Butter Easter Eggs. Yum! It is one of those candies I can't keep in the house (right along with jars of peanut butter)!

March Madness

I have always loved watching basketball. I think it started in junior high when my brother was the star of the basketball team. For several years we spent hours watching basketball, traveling to away games, and attending tournaments.

So when March madness comes around I like to fill out the brackets and see how close I can come, though I do not follow all college teams religiously. This year I did pretty good in the West and South brackets- only missing one team. In the East I missed two. Then there is the Midwest. Yikes. Not so good there--I got more wrong than right. That's what a few upsets can do to your picks.

I admit that though I teach at the rival university, I still cheer for the University of Utah. And I was really hoping they would beat Arizona. But after the first 30 seconds where Arizona started with a full court press I knew the U was in over their heads. It was not going to be a pretty game. I just couldn't bring my self to watch them be destroyed. I checked the score at half-time and they somehow pulled it together, but then they still lost at the end. Let' s just admit it, we can't play with the big boys who eat, drink and sleep basketball year-round.

Life is Good.

Tortellini, White Bean and Spinach Soup

I am always inspired by my friend Maria's blog Two Peas and Their Pod
She makes cooking yummy food look so easy and good.
Next week I have to give a presentation at church about how to cook healthy. I told them that I'd really rather cook out of my Southern Living books. My philosophy is that you can eat anything in moderation. But, since Maria inspires me and I have to do this presentation, I've been looking for quick, healthy meals. Here is one I tried yesterday. It was really quite tasty.

Tortellini, White Bean and Spinach Soup
source: Cooking Light Magazine

1 tsp olive oil
2 cups chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 tsp dried Italian Seasoning
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups coarsely chopped spinach
2/3 cup water
1- 16 ounce can navy beans, drained
2 cups fresh vegetable broth, or 1- 14 ounce can vegetable broth
1- 14.5 ounce can non-salt-added whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped
1- 14 ounce can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
1- 9 ounce package uncooked fresh cheese tortellini (found in the refrigerated section of your grocery store)
1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, bell pepper, seasoning, and garlic; saute 5 minutes or until tender. Add spinach and next 5 ingredients (spinach through artichokes); bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 2 minutes. Add tortellini; cook until thoroughly heated. Sprinkel with cheese. Yield: 6 servings (serving size 1 1/2 cups sout and 2 tsp cheese. YUM!

Life is Good.

What NOT to Say to Single People

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is all about families. That is a good thing. But sometimes being single in a family oriented church can be difficult. Well intentioned people make comments that are supposed to make you feel better, but more often than not they have just the opposite affect. My friend Ally, who is on my list of incredible women (see earlier post), sent me this email today (see below). I laughed as I read it, because I think I've heard pretty much everything on the list. The one I would add is "You are so cute. I can't believe you are not married. But I am sure you have had lots of opportunities." Just what exactly are you supposed to say to that??

What not to say to a single person in the church . . .(specifically to one who has never married)

• “Just look at Sheri Dew . . .” (What is that supposed to mean, anyway?)
• “Don’t worry, the Lord will bless you, even if it’s in the next life”
• “Are you putting yourself out there?”
• “The Lord is saving you for someone special”
• “If you pray and fast about it and have enough faith, it will happen”
• “Have you tried the internet?”
• “Well, the way it worked for me . . . .”
• “I don’t understand why you aren’t married”
• “Don’t lose hope, the Lord has a special plan for you”
• “Are you living the way you should, because the Lord blesses those who are keeping the commandments”
• “It’s obvious why you aren’t married” (then focusing on a negative trait of mine); or, saying to someone else “it’s obvious why she isn’t married” (then focusing on a negative trait of mine)
• “Why are you still single?”
• “You are being too picky . . .”
• “Have you ever had a real relationship?”
• I’m sure there are more . . .

How to treat a single person in the church . . .

• Don’t refer to us collectively and obligatorily as “the single sisters”; focus on us individually just as you would a particular family.
• I may not be married or have children, but that doesn’t mean I’m clueless about how it all works.
• Assume my life is just as busy as yours; just because I don’t have a family doesn’t mean I sit around with nothing to do or have tons of free time.
• Assume that sometimes I get lonely - that’s a given and it’s natural; but don’t have pity on me or feel sorry for me. Show empathy but not grief. I’m not suffering from a death in the family.
• Don’t say “I know how you feel” because unless you’ve been 39 and never married, you don’t know how I feel.
• Ask about my family; I may not have one of my own, but I still come from one.
• Accept invitations to spend time with me.
• Set me up! It’s the greatest tool of all - networking.
• Just know that it’s harder than you think to be single in a family oriented church.

Life Is Good!

Hooky Weather is Here

It has been a long, long winter. However, hooky weather has arrived. Yeah. I've missed the warm sunshine.

I few days ago I took advantage of the warm weather and met my sister at Maddox for lunch. YUM. I have never been here before, but the food was really good. I was starving, so maybe that made it taste extra good. I had roast beef and mashed potatoes. Their rolls are homemade, fresh, and hot. Extra Yum. Next time I am just going to order a side of mashed potatoes & gravy and rolls. For dessert we shared a raspberry creme pie. It was definitely different, but good. The creme was like a thick custard, the crust made of something like butter cookies, a tangy raspberry sauce made from real raspberries and a big dollop of real whip cream on the top. It was tasty and we couldn't eat it all.

We had a great time just relaxing and talking-- no rush to go anywhere or do anything. We saw the entire lunch crowd of older folks come and go-- some who seemed to be regulars. I think our server wondered if we were ever going to leave :) It was a great hooky day.

Life is good.

Incredible Women

This week my friend Nikki was in town from Georgia. She and her friend Nicole from Seattle were meeting here for a girl's-weekend. We went to lunch at the Brick Oven. Nikki works in public health and has traveled to Switzerland, Africa, and Guatemala working to make the world a better place. Nicole does marketing and public relations for a health care agency. She gave me some great ideas for how to use social media like Facebook and Twitter for some potential marketing projects. It was a great afternoon!

I am adding Nikki and Nicole to the list of incredible women I know who, though their life may not be the ideal they desire, are "making a significant contribution to the world of which she [is] a part". They join my list of Brenda, Gayle, Ally, Katie, Becky, Peggy, Lazette, Jennifer and Erin, just to name a few. They all inspire me to be better and enjoy life.

Life is good!

Mom

This is a Happy Birthday greeting to my mom-- though she will never read it. She leads a pretty simple life. She has never accessed the Internet. She does have a cell phone, but only uses it on occasion. I vaguely remember the days before pagers, cell phones, email and text-messaging. How did we ever communicate? Oh, yeah-- we wrote letters and called on land-line telephones.

Anyway, I have an incredible mom. Her whole life has been unselfish dedication to her family. I can't quite imagine how she did and still does it. It must come with motherhood.

My grandma used to tell my mother that she would never know how much she loved her until my mom had a daughter of her own. My mom has told me the same thing. I guess I'll have to take her word for it, because I won't know from personal experience. But as I have been working on my grandma's history, I've read things that she wrote about my mom that gives me a glimpse of how much grandma loved her, and perhaps how my mom feels about me too. Grandma would write how good mom was to her parents; that she hoped that one day she would find the happiness she was deserving of (she didn't marry until almost 30 years old); how excited she was to go visit when one of the babies were born; or how she looked forward to calling her on her birthday. Love is a good thing. Families are a good thing. Life is good!

My latest read: "The Associate" by Grisham

I just finished John Grisham's newest book "The Associate." I've never purchased a hardcover copy of a fiction book (see previous post about being practical). It was an impulsive purchase on a sunny day earlier this week-- before winter returned today.

I have read all but two of Grisham's books (didn't read Innocent Man or Playing for Pizza). With every book I get totally engrossed and can't put it down. This one was much the same.

Because I've read so many of his books, I can almost predict the plot (I did with "The Summons"). For this one, until the end, I would say that it wasn't so predictable. Though another review said they had deja vu that they were reading "The Firm." The characters didn't hide any money in off-shore accounts or fly to the Caribbean so I thought this really was a different book. But in the end, the character goes to Destin, Florida (not the Caribbean, but I've heard it's a great vacation place in the Gulf Coast) and drinks rum. Well, I guess he had to use some of the same plot components he always does.

My biggest disappointment was with the ending. It ended abruptly and uneventful. I was hoping that good would finally triumph evil, but that was not to be. I won't spoil the ending for those who will read it. I'll just say, blah. It was anti-climactic. But for a few hours this week it was a great diversion.

Today I got a letter in the mail saying that I have been selected as a potential jury member. Do you think that reading all those John Grisham books about lawyers and juries will get me off? I'll let you know!

Life is Good.

This comic is so me...

This was in the newspaper today. It is so me...

Spring is Almost Here

When I came home from church today, this is what was in my front flower-bed. YEAH. Spring is on it's way... Life is Good!