journaling prompt #1

What lessons did you take as a child that have carried over into your adult life?

We were not super scheduled children as so many are these days. I assume that this was due both to financial constraints as well as inability to do many things with five kids to involve in different activities.

Mom did force me, however, to take piano lessons for several years although I don't recall exactly how many years I participated in them. I took lessons from Elaine for several years and then continued with LaFaye Hamilton for several more years. I remember dreading piano lessons although I think it is more likely that I dreaded LaFaye's dogs. I quit even though Mom didn't want me to. And she was right. As an adult, looking back, I wish I had continued with lessons for a few more years. I feel pretty confident playing most of the hymns. I sometimes like to sit down and play them and find it oddly relaxing. I have been successful for several years in not letting others know that I play the piano and have rarely had to play in the presence of others. Then I moved into the Englewood ward where very few people play the piano. I now have to play frequently in Relief Society. It makes me nervous, and I often make mistakes. But no one cares. They are just glad that someone can play--even if sometimes it is only the top hand.

I also recall taking tap lessons from Darlene Stoker. I enjoyed it, but every time I think about that pink pepto bismol outfit with the feathers I get a bit queasy. Angela Anderson and JaNae Webb were in my class. I can still do the stomp hop step flap step. It is one sweet move.

In middle school I was on the volleyball team for two years. I loved it. I played as the setter simply because I was too short to play anything else. I still have the t-shirts although I haven't worn them for ages. I still enjoy playing. I think playing volleyball has led me to want to maintain an active lifestyle.

journaling prompts

I came across some journaling prompts while visiting at home this summer that must have come from a Young Womens lesson or activity. They are little colored strips of paper with questions typed on them. I'm going to post one here occasionally and try to write about it. You may join me if you wish. I think it will be interesting to share what our experiences have been and also to get down some information about ourselves for posterity.

Third Week of Winter

On the first week of winter (Dec 21st) the weather gave to me
A twenty-four hour storm, so I nearly slid into a tree.

On the second week of winter (Dec 28th) my honey made sure to see,
That we bought tires for the car, so we sped along with glee.

On the third week of winter (Jan 2) smog surrounded the city.
At Five Mile pass we played in the snow 'til we were giddy.

On the fourth week of winter (next week), avoid the cold take pity.
While the weather's super bad, make some tortillas super pretty.

By then winter will be one third over, and this little ditty
Will continue on measuring the snow, cold & salt so gritty.

Ten Years in the Making

Ten years ago we looked forward to 2000 with anticipation, fear & wonder few alive had experienced. Now a decade has past and what did we do with our lives?

One went on a mission & one was baptized.
Two graduated from high school & two colons removed.
Three of you bought homes, three sold homes & three became parents.
Four of you married, four kids started school & 4 broken bones.
Five graduated from college & five kids were potty trained.
Six adults plus 6 kids now live out of state & six adults live in state.
Seven children were born & seven of you turned 30.
Eight combined surgeries were done.
Nine bought a car or truck.
Ten changed or got jobs.

Wow! I'd say we did alot in the last ten years. Did I leave anything out?
Tell us what great things you did this decade. Include photos.

Mike's Surgery

Mike had his surgery on Tuesday the 15th. It was suppossed to be a quick in & out gallbladder removal with three little incisions the size of the tip of a pen. It did not turn out that way.

The 1 hour surgery turned into 2 1/2 hours and a large 15" incision down the center of his chest, another 3" under his belly button and two the size of a pen tip in other places on his tummy. All are up & down - very painful. His gallbladder was "very diseased" they kept saying & had a large gallstone - dark maroon with gnarly markings and two tips, the whole thing was the size of a marble.

After two nights in the hospital they let him come home today, Thursday. He almost passed out when he saw the incisions for the first time. He still has a bulb to help with drainage that I get to empty a few times a day.

He still has today of clear liquid diet. He had to go 36 hours without anything to eat or drink, anything - he felt like he would die over that one. Tomorrow he can have only very soft foods until Monday when they remove the drain & has a follow up visit. The list of what not to eat is 1 1/2 pages and the what you can eat is rather short.

It Had the Gall to Go Out

Mike had his gall bladder removed yesterday. It had the gall to go out on him this fall, resulting in excruciating pain. Being extremely enlarged & diseased, it's been giving him trouble for some time. Due it's severity & size, a laproscopic surgery was not an option. After almost three hours in the operating room & a nice size incision, he's on the road to recovery.

Here's what our gall bladder does for us:
The adult human gallbladder stores about 1.7 fluid ounces of bile, which is released when food containing fat enters the digestive tract, stimulating the secretion of cholecystokinin (CCK). The bile, produced in the liver, emulsifies fats in partly digested food. After being stored in the gallbladder, the bile becomes more concentrated than when it left the liver, increasing its potency and intensifying its effect on fats.

Sounds like our gall bladder works hard at breaking down the FATS we eat. I'd say this is a wake up call to all of us. Let's reduce eating greasy foods right now especially, if they're a large part of your diet. No one is invincible & eventually our intake will catch up to us.

Mike is convalescing in the Othello Hospital & hopes to be released on Thursday or Friday, depending on how well his body responds to all he's endured. Fifteen pounds have been lost in the ordeal (yeah!) & we pray he'll get well soon.

Pretty Princess Here We Come

Emma has her first princess dress as you can see her posing here in all her finery. The soft pink furry cape and sheer tulle with ribbon encircling number was given to her by Jenn's Visiting Teacher at a shower. Wow! What a great gift for this little gal's coming out party. I couldn't resist posting it, after waiting one week for her mom to do it.