Student Lead Conference

Today I had my first of 12 student lead conferences. What, you may ask, in the he** is that? Let me tell you. It's a chance for all the high school kids to be out of school for the whole day and parents to take off work so our kids can dress up, take us to the school, and tell us what they want to be when they grow up. Excuse me??? Am I missing something??? Today I had to leave 2 of my kids at home (I was lucky enough to get mine scheduled after work - I'm sure most parents were not so luck) and go to the school with Autumn. There she told me that she wants to go to college and be a doctor. Duh. She also told me what her goals are and what she needs to do to graduate. I've learned that and more just by interacting with my child. It seems that people who need to go to a mandatory conference at the school just to learn these things about their kids have bigger problems to worry about and probably didn't care very much about the experience anyway. So again I ask...am I missing something?

Where'd It Go?

When I walked out my front door this morning the first thing I noticed was a lonely little yellow flower peeking out of the ground. Actually, the first thing I noticed was that it was cold and dark at 5:20 in the morning. I mean the first time I went out at a decent hour. I thought it would be fun to take a picture of it for a post on springtime. So I set about looking for my camera. I still haven't found it!!! What am I going to do? Between now and Mother's Day I have 3 trips planned that will need to be documented on film - or memory card - and blogged about. I'm devastated. I swear the last time I saw it was before my fiesta so it has to be around here somewhere? Right?

50 Years Ago Today

On March 14, 1959, William Frank Holzendorf married Barbara Garrett in Lewisville, ID. They had only known each other for 5 months and he had only been a member of the Church for 3 weeks. Ill advised? Maybe. But the loved each other for another 43 years until her death on May 1, 2002. There may not be a party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their wedding but I still felt like I wanted to honor them today.

Soon after their marriage, my parents moved to Connecticut and my dad was promptly shipped off. Mom set about making a home. Dad's trip took longer than originally planned and he heard the other sailors talking about how they were going to have to go back and fetch their young brides who had undoubtedly gone home to mother. That was dad's expectation too. Instead, he arrived to find his 19 year old bride had spent the time finding a job in a department store and moving to a better apartment.

Over the next 20 years dad sailed around the world while mom raised a family in various locations including Virginia, California, Guam, Hawaii, and Washington before they finally "settled down" here in the Tri-Cities. They were always very supportive of each other's endeavour. There were a lot of tough years raising teenagers and young adults and the were relieved when we all finally left the house and let them have some time alone together, something they had never had before.

They were excited to serve a mission together in North Carolina. Dad has been very proud of how close they grew during this time. He has told me several times that the mission president told them that the toughest part of his job was counseling with senior couples who weren't used to spending so much time together. He always loves to tell us that they got a long better than ever and that the love only grew.

I really hope this post didn't upset anyone. That's not my intention. I was just thinking about the great celebration we probably would have had tonight if things had been different and I still think the occasion is cause for celebration.

Driving Miss Autumn

Or maybe it should read - Miss Autumn Driving.

For the record, among the things I distinctly remember NOT saying: "I think I should be the one to teach Autumn to drive. I will be calm and cool and never gasp or grab onto the dashboard." In fact, I'm pretty sure I said pretty much the opposite. I know for a fact I used the word "hyper" more than once.
So this evening Autumn and Devin needed to be taken to Pasco and afterward we were going to take Siri out to eat. It was decided that the whole family would go to Pasco to drop them off and then we would go straight to wherever we chose to go (Ivars, by the way. I rarely think to go to the mall just for food but when I do...mmmm I love me some fish and chips.) But, back to my story. So, we all get packed into the car and Rob realizes Siri and I don't have jackets and it will probably get cold so he sends me in to get the jackets. When I come back, Autumn is in the drivers seat and there is an empty place for me in the back. Seriously???? Let's make a mental map of the major streets we would be traveling: Gage Blvd, the 240, the 182, and Road 68. Are you freakin kidding me??? I recall stating very clearly that I didn't want to witness this learning process first hand until she was good at it. I am sooooooooo one of "those" moms! I didn't make it through the first round-about before I was covering my eyes and screaming SLOW DOWN.
I spent most my life thinking I was a laid back kind of gal. I AM NOT! I never, ever, ever want to live through another experience like that for as long as I live.
On a brighter note, she seems to be learning quickly and I think she'll be a great driver someday. Contact me when that happens.

2008 Boise Captial Kids Run

Last spring, I think it was in May, my brother, Courtney, invited Devin and Siri to participate with his kids in the Boise Capital kids run. It's the biggest children's run in Idaho and kind of a big deal. The run is 1 mile from the Old Depot to the Capital building. We stood near the finish line and watched this huge swarm of maroon clad kids running down the hill towards us. It was really cool. Of course, my brother gave us a disk with the pictures, which we promptly lost, and I finally stole these off his facebook. We also had pictures of Devin and Siri & Riley finishing up the race, but as I mentioned, we lost the disk. Big losers.

But anyway, here the racers are at the depot getting ready to run the race. Maybe if we would have known the shirts were going to be maroon I would have gotten my kids black shorts too. Oh well. It's not a fashion show. Right?

Alex and Riley participated in the 2007 event and had a great time. A few months later, in September, Alex (then age 9) started having trouble with her coordination. Before long she had lost the use of most of the right side of her body. She now has very little use of her right arm and struggles to get that poor leg going. She walks but is not at all sure on her feet. After many tests and trips to San Francisco to the neurologist, they still don't have a definite diagnosis although they believe she may have sarcoidosis in her brain. It's been such a struggle for her to go from being a healthy "normal" 9 year old to becoming so dependant. They have done a great job of encouraging her to overcome her trials and do for herself what she can.
So, last year before the run, Alex decided she was going to enter the race again. There is not a walking category but she didn't care. She trained with her family. Courtney and Riley would run and Alex and Paige would walk. The day of the race Courtney walked along beside her to help steady her. She came in dead last. But at the finish line family, friends, volunteers, and strangers were all there to cheer her on. There was hardly a dry eye to be seen. What a sense of accomplishment. She was a rock star!
Alex's family has a magnet board in the bonus room that I just love. It says "WE DO DIFFICULT THINGS." On this board they have photos of Courtney's marathons, report card, and other reminders of accomplishments. This photo has had a spot on the board since the race. Thanks, Alex, for teaching us not to be afraid of difficult things.
We won't be participating in the race this year. Alex and Riley will be with their mom that weekend. Hopefully next year we can do it again.

Siri's Testimony

Siri bore her testimony for the first time in Sacrament meeting today. Well, maybe not the first time ever, but definately the first since she's been old enough to understand what it's all about. She was really proud because she had written it in her Faith in God book and she wanted to read it for the ward. She ended up remembering what she said and not having to read so that was good. She said that she knows the Church is true. She knows Joseph Smith was the first prophet. She knows she is a Child of God. What more could I really ask for her to know. She was scared to go up because there were other people going and she had to sit on the stand for a couple minutes, but she did a fantastic job and I'm extremely proud.

Book List

I've been tagged to list my favorite books. It will be impossible. I love books. I'm sure when I finish this list I'll think of others and be bugged that I missed them but, oh well. Also, I tend to love a book and then forget details but I'll do the best I can.
In no particular order:

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough: This is the first adult book that I read and loved. I read it when I was about 19 and have read it several times since. My duct taped copy sits proudly on my bookshelf. It's about 3 generations a family living in New Zealand.If I read it for the first time now I might think it a little trashy but for some reason it holds a place in my heart.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry: A novel about the caste system in India. Set during their revolution in the 1970's.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini: About 2 boys growing up together in Afghanistan and the way their lives intertwine.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini: Same thing but this time it's women.

Atonement by Ian McEwan: I hated almost every minute of the first half of this book. It wasn't until then end when it all made sense that I realized it is brilliant.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells: If you liked the movie you'll love the book. Just a fun read.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See: I wonderful book set in China, I don't really remember when. It's about the life of women. The descriptions of foot binding are haunting.

The Life of Pi: This is currently being borrowed so I also don't have the author for this easily accessible. Push through the pain of the beginning and it's worth it. It's an imaginative story about a boy trying to survive on a life raft after being shipwrecked. Oh, did I mention there is a tiger on board?

The Book Thief: Also being borrowed. A holocaust book narrated by Death. Appropriate.

Where the Red Fern Grows: I can't remember the author off the top of my head but I remember my mom reading it to me and I have read it to my older kids. I love it. It's just a beautiful story that actually makes me care what happens to those darn dogs.

Holes by Louis Sachar: Love, love, love this book and reading it to my kids. I also love the movie.

Here is my partial list. I'm sure I'll kick myself later when I remember what I missed. Enjoy.