Memory Lane

I've been exploring Facebook over the past few weeks and have been connected with my old high school graduating class. I will be completely honest, I have avoided all association with high school since I graduated. But during a bout of curiosity, I Googled my best friends name and found her phone number. As I sat staring at my computer, all the avoided feelings of high school came rushing back. It's weird, sitting here at my desk and remembering the grey skies coming out to the parking lot after classes. The smell of the moss on the cement in the quad at lunch. The rain, always the rain (I went to HS in Washington state). I remember the sheen of my headlights on the asphalt at night driving home from games. Most (worst) of all, I remember the undying urge to be popular, the need to be adored. The constant friction between wanting to fit in and wanting to be myself.
There are some key people in my memories. Some are fond, others not so much. It's a funny paradox, wanting to see them again and hoping to never see them again. I wonder, do other members of my class have this aversion to their high school memories or is it just me?
In a few weeks I will be visiting my parents who still live in the home where I basically grew up. Every time I go back I wonder- who will I see at the store? Will I run into an old friend? Will they think I've changed?
I want to scream out "Look at me, I'm so much smarter than I was then! I know who I am and she's somebody who is settled and happy." I guess there is still that need to be accepted by those same friends and part of me that is still afraid of not being accepted. But the rest of me realizes that The best thing about being this far out is that now I know if I were to run into someone I had not seen for years their reaction would not change who or what I am now. I have atoned for my high school mistakes with the life I am living. There are strange ideas about how I left high school that I have carried with me for a long time but as I write this post I realize I have carried this silly ideology with me for far too long. I am just grateful that the best part of my life is yet to come and isn't something that has already passed.

Here's a little poem that I love to read this time of year;


Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings each morning, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes tightly closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you Lord, that I can see. There are many who are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off the effort of rising, thank you, Lord that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, and tempers are short, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord for the food we have. There are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for the gift of life.

-Author Unknown

Headin' Out

We're going to the cabin this weekend for some much needed R&R. I'll post pics when we get back. Have a great weekend!

Does anyone have any tips on getting sponsors? I need to help the local youth theater raise some money and I want to be as effective at it as possible (and spend as little time as possible). I'm sending letters out this week and will follow up with phone calls but that just seems so impersonal. I'd love any suggestions anyone has.

I'll Admit It

We listen to High School Musical 3 music around here all the time. I will happily admit, I really like it. I know, it's kind of corny but as Kate Winslet's character in "The Holiday" says, "I like corny, I'm looking for corny in my life."

I thought it was funny to read a review about HSM3 saying that Disney missed a great opportunity to teach teenagers about real life situations, that the show was too wholesome.

What about the lesson that you can be happy without alcohol or drugs? You can have a fun relationship with the other sex without, well, sex. The lesson that you don't have to totally screw up your life at 16 in order to be a knowledgeable adult. I'm glad someone finally put out some movies that actually teach helpful lessons.

So we've been struck by the curse of the stomach virus (again). I've now done 3 extra loads of laundry and sprayed five gallons of air freshener. I'm not even sure what else to say other than I'm looking forward to a nap this afternoon and I'm grateful most of my children can make it to the bathroom on their own.

Masterpiece 2008

Here is the gingerbread house Jessica and I worked on (late into the night) for the Gingerbread House Festival sponsored by the PTA. We think it turned out pretty good.

I Need a Breather

I don't know about you but I've had enough of the news lately. I found this great website goodnewsdaily.com and had a great time perusing their site. If you've got a minute and need a little something nice in your life today, take a peek.

A Sticky Situation

I was watching the news last night and reading this morning. There was a protest in front of the LDS temple in LA and one planned tonight at Temple Square in Salt Lake. My heart just aches for everyone involved. On Wednesday morning I woke up and thought about all those couples who were married in California whose marriages may not be legal now and I can only imagine how devastating that must be for them. After seeing the news I thought of all the members of the church who went to the temple yesterday and had to walk through a crowd shouting at them as they passed. What a sad situation!
I'm really grateful for those members (of the LDS church and other denominations) who have remained steadfast in the face of what I can only assume is very daunting opposition.
I know one protester yesterday mentioned that this is merely a civil rights issue, not a moral one. Let's say for the sake of argument that they are correct. I would say then, what happens to Mormon members who-if gays are allowed the chance to marry- when gay and lesbian couples request that their unions be solidified in the Mormon Temple? The church will of course, say no and then I'm sure that the state will remove the church's right to marry and couple by state authority. So, members of the church will have to be married civilly first, then wait to be married in the temple later. (It's a one year waiting period to be married in the temple if you are married civilly first.) What about the ability of the members of the Mormon church to practice our faith? The consequences of this decision are far reaching and long lasting. This issue, even if only considered a civil rights issue, creates a plethora of legal problems and ramifications we, as US citizens can't even begin to fully anticipate.

As for those who insist that the LDS church is inserting it's morality into the civics of our country, I believe the same could be said for the other side.

Heavenly Friends

My Daughter's best friend. Her mother and I think they were twin spirits in Heaven.

It was a great, long day yesterday. I don't know about anyone else but my home was filled with political talk and questions. As the day ended and numbers were called in, we sat as a family in front of the television and watched as our country selected, in a peaceful manner, a new leader.

Voting was a different experience for me yesterday. I went to the polls feeling uneasy about my candidate of choice and about the future of our country. For the record, I voted for Senator Obama. As I touched the screen to select his name I did so with hope that he would be what he has promised, no, better than he has promised. I have pinned all my hopes on this man who, on many issues, I disagree with. Why? Because he has promised me it's safe to hope and that he will listen not only to the concerns of those who agree with him but mine also.

To President Elect Obama- please sir, be the man who is the servant of all the people. Be the man who encourages the good and inspires greatness. It is what you have promised and our nation has trusted you to deliver.

Candidates in the Making!

I was at the school today getting some stuff done for our mock election tomorrow. We had the Young Republicans and Young Democrats come to campaign for the presidential candidates during lunch. First they made a little spiel over the PA system and then they stayed for lunch to talk with the kids. While they were passing out little flag stickers and talking to the students all of a sudden the student body erupted into a "Go McCain" chant. It was so loud and sudden it surprised all the adults in the room. The lunch ladies started yelling at the kids to be quiet and then they scolded me for "getting the kids riled up." It was awesome! I was so impressed that they even had an opinion that I just laughed as they said their little chant. I'm pretty sure how our mock election will turn out tomorrow but irregardless, I'm happy that our students seem to be taking an active interest in their country's electoral process.

Thanksgiving

I'm so excited it's November. A friend of mine put all her Christmas decorations up and has them turned on already. I have to say, I'm tempted. However, I'm going to wait and make the most of Thanksgiving. This year, I'm going to have a Thanksgiving Wall like we did last year. We just put up a large piece of paper with a pen and anyone can write what they are Thankful for during the month then we read it on Thanksgiving. I love doing this and I think my children enjoy it when they find their names on the wall with something that their dad and I have written.
I think we'll also do the thank you note to the garbage man too. Last year we just taped a big sign that said "Thank you Mr. Garbage Man" to the garbage can and left if out on trash day. I don't know if he cared or not but my kids had fun! Any way you want to slice it, it's a great time of year.