Sometimes I Need a Reminder...

Last night I had a meltdown because the kids (and the 3 youngsters I was babysitting) were crazy and wouldn't go to bed easily, because I had tax and costuming crises to work out, because we'd gotten four hours of sleep the night before (never a good thing), and because my yahoo page showed me the wrong time for the Academy Awards and I missed the entire first half. (cheesy, I know, and like I even saw any of the movies nominated this year, but I love the Academy awards. Even though I think Hollywood has some serious problems, I still believe in movie magic...) Couldn't even TiVo it - I was so irked. Anyway, Mindy was a total grump and went thrashing around the room like a T-rex on speed. An angry T-rex, with a stubbed toe AND a canker sore. I knew I was letting my worst side have full sway, so once the kids were snoring I betook myself to bed to just rid everyone else of my not-so-ebullient company.

I even woke up slightly grumpy after a good 7 hours' sleep. Obviously, I was needing some humbling. And it came. Mid-morning I got a call that a beautiful teenage boy in our ward, who played a gorgeous violin solo yesterday in Sacrament meeting, was killed in a car accident this morning on his way to school. I'm the compassionate service leader, so the RS president called me soon to get meals and cleaning their way as soon as possible. I am humbled. And heartbroken. And grateful for my family's safetly and comparatively good health for so many years. And so, so repentant.

Sometimes I fail to be sufficently thankful for my many blessings. My kids are smart, healthy, loving (when they're not pounding on each other) and beautiful. My husband is helpful and afffectionate and has a secure job that he loves. Sure, he can be a pill sometimes, but I love him. I have great health and a lovely home. My extended families love us and we love them, even though most of them are all so far away. It's so easy for me to wallow in the whole martyr-I-hate-sweeping-short-order-cook-why-can't-you-sleep-through-the-night-nobody-validates-me mudhole and forget that I am blessed. Blessed blessed blessed. Beyond the measure of normal blessings. I have it so good. Let me not forget it lest I be humbled in a greater way. Which will probably come anyway, sooner or later - that's life. "Comfort Retards Growth," as my old high school teacher George Henry used to say. I hope I pass the test with honor when it comes. And fulfill my duty better now, while I am here.

In the meantime, I am praying for the Walker family. And adoring my own.

“Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be?” -Kahlil Gibran

Yummy New Recipe

My friend Wendy Bone invited us over to dinner and she made the most fabulous quesadillas. I want to write the recipe down somewhere where I won't lose it. Ya-bing - I have a blog now! Perfect.

Wendy's Quesadillas
Stir fry chicken, bacon, green peppers, mushrooms, onions (and I'd add maybe canned corn) until cooked. Douse in plenty of Yoshida's sauce and simmer for as long as you want. Build quesadilla by putting cheese on a tortilla, then the chicken/sauce mixture, and grill. Top with salsa if desired.

YUM! Wendy makes a ton of the chicken mixture and freezes it for later -she's the queen of freezer meals so I'm learning from the master. It's a great week night dinner - I make it in the early afternoon before clogging class craziness starts and it's ready to go whenever I need. Enjoy!

10 Things I Love to do in Salt Lake City

10. Visit with friends La Beene and Cecily/Gretel/Lindsay, and whomever else happens to be in town.
9. Go to Jazz games… back in the glory days, that is!
8. Eat at La Caille and stroll down wedding memory lane…
7. Take the tram up the mountain and ride the alpine slide at Solitude
6. Shop at the outlets (for kid clothes, not Mindy clothes)
5. Have girl time with tomato soup at Zinn Bistro and a pedicure with Christy Knight
4. Eat at Hires (Roquefort Bacon H with fries and a caramel shake… life does not get much better than that. Nor does one’s cholesterol climb so high with the intake of any other one single meal…)
3. See a movie, get an apple pie caramel apple at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and watch the dancing fountains at the Gateway
2. Ride the train and see the bird show at Hogle Zoo with Nana and Papa. And visit Pioneer Park across the street.

1. Hang out at Shady Oaks (the Hunter family home) with my family!!! Walks on the golf course at sunset (or in winter, sledding down the hill in their back yard), playing in the playhouse with the kids in the gully, swimming twice a day, shooting hoops with Gar and Spencer, eating mom’s food, playing Scum and 5 Crowns, supervising cousin sleepovers, watching chick flicks and eating caramel popcorn with the sistas… you get the picture. It's my happiest place to be.

This last weekend over President’s Day weekend we joined Nana and Papa and the Cranneys to do some of the above – we hit #6 and most of #1 (they went to Hires before we got there, unfortunately, but maybe I should count that too). Am looking forward to the summer when we will knock down most of the rest of the list as well!

A Charlotte Lucas Moment

I don't know if it was because I was watching Pride and Prejudice (the A&E version - it's a permanent fixture in my kitchen dvd player. Unless Gary's doing the dishes, and he puts in the Office season 1 instead). But this morning while cleaning up after breakfast I had a definite Charlotte Lucas epiphany. For the first time, I was able to relate to her and feel that she had done the right thing in marrying Mr. Collins for the sole reason that if she hadn't, she wouldn't have been able to have children, never known what it was like to be a mother. Though my kids drive me crazy sometimes and though I miss "me" time, uninterrupted sleep and quiet meals, my family is the heart and core of my personal universe. Life without them would be a lone and dreary wasteland. A diaper-free wasteland, true, but a wasteland just the same.

Is there no end to the wisdom revealed in the Jane Austen canon? :-)

That's my deep thought for the day.

A Hunter Family Update

For all those who may see this blog and know my family, below is a very comprehensive update of what we are all doing, courtesy of my amazing mom, Chris. It's long, and you may get more detail than you want, but we members of Clan Hunter find it vastly entertaining and applicable to all major aspects of the world at large... enjoy!

From Mom:

Dad and I had a sweet time with the Adamsons and their dog, Daisy, in Scottsdale golfing amid the rain storms, cooking fun dinners and trying the restaurant at the Boulders (remember Josh and Abby?). Joanna and I saw the Chihuly glass exhibit in the Desert Botanical Gardens--spectacula r! I'll add a picture if I can get someone to help me attach a picture to this email. Anyone, anyone?? We went from the desert to the freezing snowy weather of Island Park at the Talls cabin with the DaBells and Nanny, where we snow-machined across the frozen reservoir, played games and talked and ate cabin meals (ten lbs.) I won't tell what our menu was because it would freak out Hillary, but we had a relaxing time. And this weekend we are going to celebrate Katelyn's 8th birthday and baptism and Austin's 2nd birthday in San Clemente. Are we lucky or what! Dad spends long hours in between all these escapades working hard, and overseing all his committee work. I am only working in the Senate as needed as I am phasing out after ten years on the floor as a Page. Doing a little more painting--just finished a waterlily painting tonight.

We are looking forward to Valentine's Day when we will have the Cranneys and the Larsens here for a visit--Cranneys are coming for five days to see the snow and Larsens are coming to get out of the tundra (and of course to see cousins!). I got a great phone call from Graham in New Canaan showing me how he learned how to whistle in pre-school (Kate was greatly dismayed) and Dave called to tell us he was sitting next to Glenn Beck at a SuperBowl party. (Mary Kay would be so jealous!) Dave also mentioned that they were going to be going out to check out the areas around San Francisco where they could possibly rent a three-bedroom home to move into in June. Kate is checking out lots of areas, San Ramone, Burlinggame, etc--her pregnancy is going well and a new little boy will arrive the end of April. We all enjoyed viewing Graham and Gracie skiing down the hill like gangbusters, but what we didn't see was the hour and-a-half that it took to get from the car to the lift. Good work Dave! Kate enjoyed a Girls day out at Dunkin' Donuts while he did that. Gracie loves her school but her new dance class teacher is not what she had hoped. Where is Mindy when you need her! Dave is working hard in this financial climate and gave a seven hour presentation to the Cambridge Company which should bring in some new clients, and is off to meetings all over this week. They have loved living in New Caanan and will be sad to leave their friends there.

Hillary called laughing yesterday morning and explained that Hunter had been up since 4 am not feeling too well (might have been that his "sewing project" (a felt shark) was not done yet--although he had a slight fever), then at 5 am Jack jumps out of bed running around the house waking everyone up to go to the free breakfast at Denny's (after the SuperBowl) and by 6 am they were all in the car heading out for a breakfast with Joe remarking that it was a surreal experience they they all (Especially Hills) were up and in the car at such an early hour. Katie Rose, our budding artist, ate more than anyone else and was proud of it. She wakes up every morning and states that "This is just going to be a perfectly delicious day!" She is learning new words and creating new ones (scridiliyicious) all the time and loves to go to preschool and dancing and annoy poor Jack, who adores her. Jack the Jock really loves school and his indoor soccer and basketball, but with this horrible freezing weather (-14) needs to get out and run more to use up his energy. Joe takes the kids swimming often, but the winter has been hard. Duke the dog is getting better from his attack and has no more tubes sticking out. Hunter (who finished his cool shark sewing project) traded in all his Play Station stuff, shoveled snow, and earned enough money for a used X-Box 360 which he loves. He is working hard in school and making good grades, but has a hard time with his first hour staying on task--I heard this morning on the Today Show (Todayshow.com- -talking with teens) that the average teenager isn't fully with it until after noon--and they should start classes then. Hunter agrees. He is going this weekend on the scout Klondike overnighter. It is supposed to snow and be well below zero--Joe would rather be on the beach in California! Hunter loves to snow board with his friends each Friday night. Hillary's show in Atlanta was a great success--if she could only get paid! Her next market will be in Dallas in March and she is working to get items in catalogs. Teaching yoga saves her balance in life--and they are all looking forward to a trip to Del Mar the end of March during spring break with Nana and Papa.

I talked to Austin this morning and he told me that he was "two and had a new twuck." He spontaneously starts singing ABC's or Twinkle or eensy weensy spider (or some new one they learned at Library Time) all day, and he and Gabe are interacting more all the time. Gabe is so happy and smiley--he went to Abby's nursing training course with her and was the hit of the class--Not much got done. They go down to Karsen's to a Spanish immersion Mother and Me group with Emma and Paige each week and to the beach each Wednesday while Katelyn and Haley take their art lessons. Abby works each Friday night 7-7am at a local hospital and Pete holds down the fort with the boys. They love their new neighbors- LDS from Clovis-- who have little girls Austin and Gabe's ages, and they play often together. Abs is in the Young Women's presidency (beehives) (oh boy--beehive camp in Yosemite) and Pete just got set apart as the new Elder's Quorum president--busy getting organized. They just refinanced their house with a much better rate, hallelujah!

Karsen and Kevin love having the Lambs so close--Katelyn and Austin have a special relationship- -they adore each other. They all love going to the beach together (we are all envious). Katelyn not only has had her eighth birthday, but is having her first visits to the orthodontist. She has earnestly prepared for her baptism on Saturday--the home teachers came by with a challenge chart listing things that would prepare her for baptism(prayer, reading scriptures, etc) and by the time they came back the next month, she had 345 points checked off. She and Haley are having a contest to see who can read the most Book of Mormon pages each week. Haley also loves the Magic Tree House series and they both take art and soccer. Paigey is full of personality, loves her Sun Beams class and going to Joy School. She is Mom's great "helper" and loves to direct everyone (Like her mother did). Emmalicious loves her baby dolls and gets very territorial about her mother. She does however go into Nursery by herself now, Hooray! while Karsen teaches her Gospel Doctrine class. Karsen is running a triathlon Feb 21st (after their trip to SLC). Kevin is applying reluctantly for a new area in Pfizer as they love being in San Clemente, hoping that by some miracle they can stay there. Kev keeps busy with managing Pfizer elements as the go-to man for creating reports and analyzing data and running the Stake Athletic Program with amazing involvement (Regional Basketball starting). They love their neighbohood and the BEACH.

It was delightful to meet with Mindy and Gary with kids for dinner on the way up to Island Park last week, and see how Gary's creativity is on fire with his dance group preparing for their concert March 5, 6 and 7th and then leaving for Russia in April. He feels as though he has just been an conduit for ideas flowing from the spirit as he has created dances which show the Plan of Salvation through the different genres of dance. It will be very exciting, and they have all been working long hours with costuming, rehearsals, etc. The new performing arts building is half-way built (like the Conference Center) housing 15,000 and a beautiful stage. Mindy runs their dance studios "Foot Works" and also teaches classes in St. Anthony. She has been excited about a new recipe book, trying new recipes to change up meals. The other day when school was canceled because it was too cold, she hosted a neighborhood crepes fest. She loves her neighbors, the schools, her life and her friends--and the friends of her children. Maggie has 8 little girls in her Primary class and loves doing crafts with neighbors. She is composing songs now that are amazing and Gary accompanies her on his guitar. She is in a gifted program at school and was explaining what an isosceles triangle is compared to an equilateral to me. She is growing like a weed, and is excited to be eight in June. Sophie Joy is Spencer's advocate, so compassionate and endearing and squishy and loveable. She loves mermaids and learning her letters, and she has a very best friend, Charlotte, who lives next door and goes to the same pre-school at BYU-Idaho. Spencer is long, lean and tall--and black and blue from jumping off things. But he is finally sleeping through the night in his big-boy bed. He loves Dr. Zeuss books, his bottle, and Mindy's mole on her neck and has garbled reflections on life while he is constantly laughing at himself. He is all boy and revels in farting on command to make the girls giggle. (Why does that seem so funny to guys?). He loves making animal sounds, especially piggy noises.

Josh is so happy that the Boards are over and he passed, and the next few months are going to be much less stressful! His interviews are all over, and he and Jill went to Danville, Pennsylvania, and Rochester, New York, for a "Second Look" while Marianne watched their two girls. Their first choice is still Loma Linda in Redlands, California, however, and they will find out the first of March how he matches with the choices made by the Hospitals. He got great letters of recommendation from his teachers, and the residents at Loma Linda told him that he was one of their top resident choices. So we'll keep our fingers crossed. He just has a couple of easy rotations this spring and he will graduate May 15. They just spent a week in the Wisconsin Dells with some of thier friends and had a good time at the water parks and snow boarding. Jill is getting along well with little Hailey sleeping through the nights. She is gooing and making such cute little giggling noises (Hailey, not Jill). She is alert and always looking for someone to engage with her so she can show off her precious little smile. Alyse is as ever the queen of layering, stacking and organizing. She has been known to wear all eight pairs of panties at once with seven or eight skirts and as many hats as she can get on, only to take them off and put on another set of whatever. She is so double jointed, she is like a rag doll when she falls--just loose and limber. She thinks she can do whatever Mikayla can do, and usually she gets pretty close especially with princess dress-ups. Milayla however is still the queen of drama, and sings all the day in a beautiful voice to most any song from any movie or CD she has ever heard. She is very adept at picking up songs and remembering stories. She goes to school every morning from 8-10:30 am and loves her little neighbor friends, as does Leesy Lou. Josh and Jill will miss their great friends as they all go their separate ways, but will be friends for life. They all adore little Hailey, and she gets much attention because she is so yummy!

Well, anyone feel free to add to these ramblings--just what I remembered from phone conversations and visits. I love reading your emails and blogs (thanks Abby and Pete at austinlambs. blogspot. com) when you have time to send them. For bookclub, Dad and I just reviewed "No Ordinary Time" by Doris Kearns Goodwin who won the Pulitzer prize for it.--one of the best books we have read. Dad is in the middle of "Snowball" by Warren Buffett and I just finished "The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Society" and am in the middle of "I Hate My Neck" that Kate gave me for Christmas--hilariou s for someone my age. I am still working away in the Relief Society (We will probably be released in April--three years) and Dad still loves teaching the Teachers--they love his lessons. We have enjoyed reading The South Blog from Morocco where they will be for the next three months. Dad and I are working on our health (a broken record) yoga anyone? and an hour of pain? swimming? and still love gazing at the Christmas tree. I am taking a CES class from Michael Wilcox that I truly love. We love studying Joseph Smith's teachings and reading the D & C again and stil have our daily morning devotional with the B of M.. Vadim is enjoying his nursing classes, working at the Cannon center and periodic dating (or should I say hanging out--He doesn't know how to really court yet, but he hasn't found the "right one"and will work this summer before going back to nursing classes in the fall. He and Gary Larsen have found the buzz look for their hair--easy and cheap. Dad and I still go to Jacque, who is in love and dating a nice guy. I think that is all the news on the Utah front. Hoping this finds you all well and happily engaged in holding down your forts from the surrounding fray!

You are missed and loved and cherished, love Mamar

7 Self-Defining Statements

A friend was doing this exercise and it sounded interesting. So, as I’m just getting started on this blogging thing, I guess a little introduction to Mindy Larsen wouldn’t be out of order:

1. If you’re familiar with the Color Code book, I am a red/blue personality. My two sides often fight, but they have gotten me places in the past – good grades and organizational skills from my red streak, and some very dear friends from my blue.

2. I love food! Really good food. One of the highlights for me for our family Maui trips was the food we ate there – Joe’s cooking, restaurants we got to eat at, the big family dinners always featuring something wonderful… if I were to pick a Last Meal, it would have to be at Pacific O’s in Lahaina, with the ocean right there and warm sand between my toes, watching the sunset as I nibble on Macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi with the most amazing sauces… and my family all around me! Now that is as close to heaven as I think I’ve ever been (outside of the temple, anyway).

3. Random things I love: pomegranates, bean bag hand warmers, a clean house, So You Think You Can Dance, flavored creamers, silky pajama bottoms, being snowed in, Sophie’s laugh, Spencer’s liveliness, Maggie’s charm, head tickles, white chocolate, massages, girl time with my few but dear “bosom friends,” hot tubs, taking naps and late night tv with my hubby, reading the Conference edition of the Ensign (and Conference Weekend), scrapbooking, yoga, the smell of rainstorms and the air in Maui, paying off bills, task completion, loyalty, travel!!!, and the sweet hour of peace after the kids are all asleep and I can savor their sweetness uninterrupted.

4. Things I don’t like: being so far away from all my siblings, being interrupted while on task, not getting enough sleep, bad food, being late, donuts and salmon (alas, it’s true), commercials (yeah for TiVo), long-term coughing sicknesses, too much sun, car troubles, Washington corruption.

5. I LOVE to read. It is my escape and my joy. I like biography, history, and adolescent literature (the Little Prince, Frances Hodgson Burnett’s works, Peter Pan, the Shoe books, anything innocent, sweet and beautiful). My three great passions historically, however, are 1. the entire Jane Austen oeuvre, in its numerous incarnations (movie, book and otherwise). Wit, humor, romance, Mr. Darcy… need I say more? 2. the Twilight books (yes I will admit it, although Breaking Dawn grossed me out and I’m not about to go to Portland and beg to be an extra in the movies) and 3. Lord of the Rings. I never thought I’d be a fan of fantasy/sci fi, but the story resonates so deeply with me and I find in it so much of what I’m seeking for in literature – epic scope, marvelous characters I can love, purity of motives and action in a dark world… Okay, so we almost named Spencer Sam(wise). Anyway, none of these three works above have ever let me down. Unlike most contemporary literature which is full of sex and cussing and ambivalent morality.

6. I’m a political and moral conservative. I am fiercely proud of being American, a citizen of one of the greatest countries in the history of the world. I am a strong and active member of my church and community. I work hard to make sure my family is provided for and I try hard to be a good person. My family is sacred, and my husband and I are the ultimate authority under God for my family’s intellectual, physical and spiritual well-being. The government works for me, not vice versa, and it is answerable to me as a free, voting, thinking citizen. I find the nanny and welfare state concepts abhorrent in that they enable so many people to make so many wrong choices (aka New Orleans). I don’t believe in government bailouts and handouts to organizations and people who don’t work and won’t learn from past mistakes (halting their progression). I did not vote for Obama, nor will I kowtow to him because of the color of his skin or his cult popularity. (That doesn’t mean I won’t pray for him though.) I don’t care what color the president’s skin is, as long as he’s doing the right thing for our country. I do not want our country share the fate of socialist Europe: mediocrity, failure, unemployment, inflation, higher taxes and economic stagnation. Our Founding Fathers would be horrified at what’s going on today, on both the Democratic and Republican sides of the aisle.

Sorry, I tend to get a little passionate about politics and sometimes get carried away.

7. In case you couldn’t tell…I’m an idealist, almost to the extreme. On one hand, this means I set high standards for myself. I often fail to reach them, but at least the goals are set and I try to be realistic about how close I get. (Isn’t that what the Atonement is about, anyway?) On the other hand, this makes me slightly intolerant at times and my opinions (not always right) are slow to change and often tactlessly forwarded. I’m working on this though, trying to balance my view of the way the world (and the people in it) could and should be, vs. reality. Some things I’ll never compromise on (see #6) but I’m trying to keep my focus on improving myself and strengthening my family and community instead of stressing over things over which I have no control.

Quote of the Month

In honor of Valentine's Day:

“Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his personality. No one can become fully aware of the very essences of another human being unless he loves him. By the spiritual act of love he is enabled to see the essential traits and features in the beloved person; and even more, he sees that which is potential in him, that which is not yet actualized but yet ought to be actualized. Furthermore, by his love, the loving person enables the beloved person to actualize these potentialities. By making him aware of what he can be and of what he should become, he makes these potentialities come true.”
-Viktor Frankl

and

“Whenever someone asks me to define love, I usually think for a minute, then I spin around and pin the guy’s arm behind his back. Now who’s asking the questions?” -Jack Handey