MaeLyn's Musings

Hannah sent me a text yesterday morning: "I made the play! but not as ruth, as edith, the maid" The fall play this year is " Blithe Spirit ". And although there are only seven parts in it, (two male, five female) Hannah got one! Rehearsals began yesterday, and the performances will be November 12th and 13th. I'm excited for her!

When I was a child, I got a thrill from watching for that magical moment when the hour changed on a digital clock, the :59 becoming a :00, the hour digit changing. It was an especially big thrill if I got to see it at noon or even better, at midnight. Now that I'm older, watching the clock change has lost some of its appeal (and who wants to be awake at midnight, anyway?) But now I find myself watching the odometer in the van... To see all those 9s becoming 0s is kind of cool. Yesterday I noticed that sometime in the next week or so, our van will reach 144,444 miles, and I was hoping that I would be the one driving when it does. Do other people do this? Or do I really need to find more sources of excitement in my life?

"Good morning, Good morning, Good morning I say, Good morning, Good morning, and have a nice day" I sang. I had exercised, showered, dressed, read my scriptures and was ready to start the day. The lumps in the beds didn't budge. Hmmmm. I switched to reveille type tune: "It's time to get up, it's time to get up, it's time to get up in the morning! It's time to get up, it's time to get up, it's time to get up today!" One of the lumps rolled over and pulled a pillow over his head. "Come on boys, it's time to wake up. We leave for school in forty-five minutes." "Uuuuuuhhhhhnnnnnnggggg." One of the lumps said. "Breakfast is on the table." I told them. "Rrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnngggggghhhhhh!" The other lump said. Speaking English is not their strong point first thing in the morning. I left the room and went to the kitchen where I pulled out the cereal and placed it on the table. I gathered bow...

There are some moments that fill my heart with pure joy. Thank God for children. A week ago Sunday, I watched my son Joshua pass the sacrament for the first time. I marveled at the respect and reverence with which he passed the trays. I rejoiced that another member of my family holds the priesthood, and has the power to serve in God's name.  That same Sunday, after church, Hannah and I were pulled aside by a member of the bishopric, and Hannah was extended the calling to lead the music in Sacrament Meeting. Without a doubt or a qualm, she willingly and happily accepted the call to serve.  Yesterday, John began teaching Peter how to play "Follow the Prophet" on the piano. Once again I was filled with joy to watch my children sharing their talents, their willingness to serve others. I understand the apostle John's words when he said, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:4)

It was quiet. Too quiet. I could hear boards creak as the fat cat sauntered down the hall. I could hear the neighbors moving around in their condo on the other side of the wall. The computer's fan was extraordinarily loud. "Did it used to be this quiet?" I asked myself. "Probably. You just forgot what it was like." "Huh." I answered. I finally turned on some music to drown out the silence as I went to work on a sewing project I had been putting off. Engaged in thinking, planning, cutting, sewing, ironing, thinking some more, ripping out seams, and then sewing again, the day passed quickly, and I soon forgot about the silence. Eventually I set out to collect Peter from school. The other kids had also returned home by the time I arrived back. We quickly settled into normal life again: "Can I be on the computer?" "Did you have any homework to do? Are your chores done?" "Awww, Mom!" "Can whoever left the...

This summer, our family acquired four free tickets to Jump City , a type of family fun center featuring trampolines, a foam pit, a climbing wall, and other attractions. I took the kids last Thursday, as end of summer celebration. I sat on the sidelines and watched and read. (I supposed I could have paid for a ticket for myself, but having already dislocated a shoulder this year, I admit I'm a little nervous about these kind of activities.) After a while, Hannah got bored, so I gave her the camera ... which is why there are no pictures of her. (You can see her socks at the bottom of the video at about the 0:30 mark.) I think the kids had a lot of fun. What do you think? Joshua John Peter John on the tight rope over the foam pit.

1 Exciting   family vacation. 1 ranger injured on a nature walk. Peter experiences the clinging power of a gum weed blossom. 1 birthday celebrated: Josh turned 12! Who knew you could bake a cake in a dutch oven? It turned out great!      1 stream played in Earlier in the season, the stream would be more like a river, but it was fun anyway! 1 distant planet sighted: Saturn 2 Campsites stayed at.   2 great parks: Garden of the Gods , Great Sand Dunes National Park 3  Miles John traveled while looking for me... when I took a ten minute walk before dinner. 4  days spent in the wilderness 4 deer seen wandering through the campground 4 hikes: Siamese Twins, Bouldering rocks, High Dune, Zapata Waterfall 5 sand dunes John rolled down     5 boulders climbed 6  types of animals seen at close range: deer, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, li...