MaeLyn's Musings

I like to read. I mean, I really like to read. According to Shelfari , I read 230 books last year. This year I've only read 158 so far. Almost all of these books are fiction. When I read, I like to escape from real life. For me, a good book transports me to another world. I like reading books in series, so that world expands and grows. One of my favorite series is Anne McCaffrey 's Dragonriders of Pern. She has created an entire world with a history, a culture, a life of its own. With a compelling blending of science fiction and fantasy in the earlier books, she makes the existence of dragons (through genetic engineering) seem plausible.  I enjoy how different books she has written tell about the same events from different points of view.  When I am reading her books I feel drawn into her society. Another series I enjoy is Raymond Feist' s Riftwar Saga, as well as other series set in that universe. Several years ago, I came across a copy of the first book, Magician: App...

As some of you may know, Steven found a job and began working a week ago today. So far I have very mixed feelings about his new job. Pros Steven has a job with a large company. Steven is finally earning a paycheck comparable to what he was making two years ago. The job benefits include good health insurance and 401k matching. Steven gets out of the house so I get more done during the day. We don't have to move away from our home. The kids don't have to change schools or leave their friends. Steven's new job is across the freeway from a light rail station, so he could potentially take public transportation there and back when he gets comfortable with the idea.  I'm getting more exercise, riding a bike or walking when I need to get around during the day.  We will soon have money to spend on non-essentials again.  We can start paying off the loans we have borrowed over the last couple years. Cons After one week on the job, Steven doesn't seem to...

Our ward's Trunk or Treat activity is tomorrow night. The Primary is in charge of it this year, and while I pawned the total responsibility for it onto one of my counselors, I am in charge of decorations. In preparation for that, I made ghosts today! I did this with the kids last year and they turned out really cute, so I thought I'd make a few to decorate some of the tables. What do you think?

A week or so ago, I posted some Funny Buddy Riddles . To those of you who looked at them and tried to figure them out, but gave up, or those who thought they knew some but weren't sure, here are the answers: bottle vehicle - can van or jar car polo soil - shirt dirt nylons container - socks box fuzzy fruit - hairy berry quill guys - pen men chart wire - table cable (or board cord, as April said) aqua loafer - blue shoe fedora talk - hat chat toad swine - frog hog cook dessert - bake cake insect squeeze - bug hug organ section - heart part divider toy - wall ball impoverished e ntry - poor door recliner duo - chair pair verifiable paste - true glue tome corner - book nook vomit muffler - barf scarf spirit emcee - ghost host unleashed gander - loose goose feline carpet - cat mat faint melody - swoon tune large stick - big twig insane flower - crazy daisy vegetable bird - carrot parrot video hood - tape cape tomb leaked - crypt dripped mind stretch - bra...

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka the Mormon Church), the Primary is the organization designed for children aged 18 months through 11 years. According to the Church's Handbook of Instructions: The purposes of Primary are to help children: Feel Heavenly Father’s love for them. Learn and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. Feel and recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost. Prepare to make and keep sacred covenants.  I have served as President of my ward (congregation) Primary for three years today. (Read here for the post I wrote the day I was sustained.) During that time I have seen a lot, learned a lot, and hopefully I have grown a lot. One thing that I have noticed - and I've been bothered by, is that many people seem to think of serving in the Primary, particularly as Primary Teacher as a "place holder" or "low class" calling. They seem to think the bishopric had nowhere else to put them and so threw them into the ...

Last week Thursday we had Parent Teacher Conferences. I spent over three hours talking with the boys' teachers - Josh's teacher, Peter's teacher, a speech therapist, John's Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Science and Engineering teachers, two art teachers, two media teachers, two music teachers, and two PE teachers. Later that day I went to Hannah's school and spent another hour talking with her Math, Language Arts and History Teachers, as well as her Great Books and Orchestra teacher. (Her Science teacher was out of town.) In general my children are doing very well. They have all scored very well on assessments, some are showing very good leadership skills when working with other students. John's math teacher described him as being "a Ferrari of math brains", jumping from problem to solution so fast, that he is working on getting John to slow down a bit so he can explain what he is doing to get the solution. At the moment Hannah is getting stra...

A little over a week ago, on Oct 5th, a girl named Jessica Ridgeway disappeared on her way to school. Five days later, her body was found, dismembered in such a way that it took two days for authorities to say decisively that the body was hers. She lived only 7 1/2 miles from us. As of now, police appear to have no suspects. At my own boys' K-8 school last week a 14 year old boy sexually assaulted a six year old. The incident was immediately reported, the 14 year old was removed from school, and letters have been sent home to assure us that increased security measures have been put in place to keep it from happening again. Hannah usually walks with friends to her bus stop. She learned last night that one of those friends wouldn't be walking to school with her until Jessica Ridgeway's killer is apprehended. This morning, I made sure that the boys were ready earlier so we could all walk together to Hannah's bus stop, and from there to the boys' school. I refuse...

A Funny Bunny! Can you solve these riddles? Each pair of words is a clue for another pair of rhyming words. bottle vehicle  polo soil nylons container fuzzy fruit quill guys chart wire aqua loafer fedora talk toad swine cook dessert insect squeeze organ section divider toy impoverished entry recliner duo verifiable paste tome corner vomit muffler spirit emcee unleashed gander feline carpet faint melody large stick insane flower vegetable bird video hood tomb leaked mind stretch corn dream  sheep sleep (I get extra points for this one because the clue rhymes too!)

This morning we awoke to a layer of white on the grass and the car. It was still coming down as we ate breakfast, but by the time the kids left for school it had stopped, and the sky was blue. I love living in Colorado. Peter kind of looks like an elf in his chosen coat and hat. The coat is actually one of Hannah's... Josh chose to wear layers of about three hoodies, rather than one coat. John wore a regular coat - and two hats, one big knitted one to keep his ears warm, and a smaller felt one on top of that to keep the snow from coming in through the holes in the knitted hat. Is it a good thing my children don't seem to care what others think about what they wear?

Last night I took the three older children to scouts and Young Womens. When I returned home, Peter was sound asleep in bed, but I could see what he had been doing. Several of Peter's favorite stuffed animals were lined up against the wall, each with either a backpack or a jacket. Facing them was the rocking chair and bench/desk with some books. Of all my children, Peter is the most attached to his stuffed animals. How many of your children set up elaborate games to play with their stuffed animals? (And how do you teach them to put the toys away when they are done with them - without being reminded?)

I guess my last real post didn't really mention much about how we are doing. Nothing much has changed since my last status update. Steven is still busily searching for a job, and still isn't getting much response from anyone. No longer is he searching mostly in Denver with a few scattered jobs elsewhere. Now he is applying for whatever jobs he can find - mostly elsewhere with a few in the Denver area. We wish the phone would ring more from potential employers, and less from political campaigners. We are grateful for the assistance we have received from home teachers and other ward members in the way of food and clothes, as well as with car repairs. In spite of their help, Steven's Jeep is out of commission. Until Steven finds a job, we can manage with just the van. It helps that both the boys' school and Hannah's bus stop are within walking distance.  I sometimes wish that I were in a better position to bring in money, but I'm afraid I don't have the ski...

This picture was taken on the kids' first day of school.