A House of Order

Yeah --but....

Were handfuls of grated cheese being toted by children on the go-- included in this idea?

How about muddy fields (the "no-shoe-rule" ignored) and light carpet?

And I don't think toothpaste and it's capacity to travel far and wide was considered either.

Little, teeny-tiny-toys and accessories seem resistant to myriads of organizing methods.

Sam's "guys" incarcerated in the table carvings

Have you ever read books with titles such as "Confessions of an Organized Housewife", or "Overcoming Chaos"? I have skimmed through these and others in various spurts of Spring Cleaning (or Deep Cleaning, or Desperate Detailing...) and I have to wonder if the authors are really eligible to be experts? (Have they had 5 children --boys and girls? (because there are more toys, more clothes, more books... if you have both). Have they lived in 3 houses where their spouses were doing yard work that involved deep mud (like dealing with swine)? Have they lived with a stream and a sand box just across the street? Is one of their children a Kleptomaniac?)

Perhaps I should share some of my space-saving and emotionally-freeing techniques:

If you are feeling tight on space, try putting all the laundry that needs folding or ironing in the master bathroom for several days...when you finally do put it away, you'll feel as though your water-closet is very roomy.

For a tidier pantry, bring a recycling container with you and deposit all of the empty boxes your children have left after they have knowingly (and happily) taken the last fruit snack, or bit of cold cereal, or cracker, or granola bar...

For motivation to mop the children's bathroom floor, leave an overflowing toilet to do it's thing for a couple of hours. Not only will you have the chance to really serve your family on the Sabbath, but you'll get to use towels that had gone unused for a while. While you're at it, I'd suggest a big pot on the furniture downstairs to catch the liquid descending from the light fixture. That will prompt a discussion on fire safety and electrocution precaution --and every busy family with busy imaginations will want to encourage such discussions right before bed.

So many more tips and tricks...installments might be the best method for my sharing.

Yes --perhaps order means different things in different households.?

In Our 16th Year

I had to smile this morning as Star proudly announced to Abbie, "Did you know I'm in my 16th year of marriage?"

When we first met and began dating, I was 19 years old. Star had big lavish plans to marry a returned sister missionary, but he wasn't sure he wanted to wait for me to own that title. When asked by close friends soon after his proposal, he'd explain that I was in my twenties (after all -- I was in my 20th year).

Our engagement was official: Feb. 1994

Last night he conspired with ward members and family to have a lovely new front door installed while we went to dinner and a movie for our anniversary. The porch lights were on as we pulled into the driveway of this place that has become home. I cried.

Once upon a time, many years ago, I tore a picture out of a magazine and showed Star. "This is my dream door," I said. And then one day when I drove up, I looked over at my Grandview house and there was that door -- on my house! I stopped in the middle of the street and sobbed. It was such a symbol of his effort to show that he valued my ideas. And that I was worth the effort.

When we moved I mourned leaving behind that red door. And now -- he has done it again: hours, years worth of effort --cutting, sanding, measuring, coordinating. And he thought I was worth it.

Nov. 2004

A decade and a half is a long time. We have faced challenges, losses, and joys. But like this wonderful door, my marriage can keep out cold, welcome children and family, let in the changing seasons through it's windows. Over this threshold we will say hello, wave goodbye, and watch our children come and ultimately go. This wood door has been several years in the makings. It was worth it. I am determined to have my covenants be as solid -- they will get me Home.

Post Edit about the monstrous miniscule manuscript...

I have tried --in vain ---to change the font size for the paragraph on Eric Whitacre. I have spent too long on the whole process. Apologies. Get out your handy-dandy magnifying glass.

Paragraph on Eric Whitacre re-posted:

This man has an extraordinary gift for composing music. His harmonies come in and out of dissonance --at times resembling Gregorian chants, but with modern lyrics. They sweep over me and cause me to have the same physical reaction I do when I'm supposed to testify strongly about something. My heart beats quickly, my head becomes buzzy and numb, and I feel like I'm going to explode. The beauty of it all swirls around inside me.
Look him up. Eric Whitacre (Jed heard his music performed live).
Listen to his music. Then get on your knees and thank you Father in Heaven that you can hear.

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

I count myself very lucky to live in a time where I can have access to works of art that improve me. Libraries, museums, printed books, Internet, ipods...

A sampler of old and new favorites:

Robert McCloskey, author and illustrator of such classics as Make Way For Duckings, Blueberries For Sal, One Morning In Maine, Lentil, Time of Wonder (Sam recently listed this as his favorite book ever)

Robert McCloskey who featured himself as the Dad in The Maine books
Look him up. He's an understated, devoted family man. One who was capable of almost any type of artwork, but chose children's literature as his medium. If you don't have a personal collection of his work--go haunt the DI or half.com and get one. There is so much that is implicit in his work.

Cynthia Rylant, another children's book author has a way of grabbing her readers from the 1st paragraph --in a thoughtful way. Every time I begin her books, I want to copy the first couple of paragraphs and keep them in my pocket for the day.

Cynthia Rylant in the Appalachia Mountains
Try When the Relatives Came, or Night in the Country. She has series books for beginning readers (like Poppleton, and Henry and Mudge, or Mr. Putter), but her picture books like A Country Christmas, and When I was Young in the Mountains are my favorite.

My brothers were always good to introduce me to the right kind of music in my awkward, private-school-tween-days. And Jed has continued to keep me musically educated in my hermit/awkward-mothering-days, but I discovered Steve on my own. And I think he's fantastic. His lyrics are clever, he doesn't patronize the children that he sings to. And empathy is carefully woven into the music he creates. Check him out on PBS (everyone who's anyone is hip on the PBS happenings).
Steve Roslonek


The self-taught composer Eric Whitacre

This man has an extraordinary gift for composing music. His harmonies come in and out of dissonance --at times resembling Gregorian chants, but with modern lyrics. They sweep over me and cause me to have the same physical reaction I do when I'm supposed to testify strongly about something. My heart beats quickly, my head becomes buzzy and numb, and I feel like I'm going to explode. The beauty of it all swirls around inside me.
Look him up. Eric Whitacre (Jed heard his music performed live).
Listen to his music. Then get on your knees and thank you Father in Heaven that you can hear.

Ahhh- a lucky girl am I to have such friends.

What If We'd Not Had Siblings?

Parents take on a lot --usually only one at a time--but nevertheless, a lot when they bring a child (and then his/her siblings) into the world. But what if they didn't? What if there had been only Uncle Rulon? No Grandma. Only Uncle Mark? Can you imagine no Gawain, Gary or Scott?

Wells Bunker and his Grandpa

Traci and her boys, Scott and Jake
What if Miek never made it? Six children is a hand full.

Singing Happy Birthday to a very well lit, rose covered cake.
Life is richer with more people to love. Siblings, despite causing occasional contention, are such a gift. And then as they grow older and marry, sibling-in laws add another beautiful dimension.

Riley, Lisa, Anita, and --Emma in the candy dish.

Maxler and his Uncle Scott
For the last two weekends we have celebrated family. Grandma Hall-Peterman's 60th, and last week Grandma Rose's 100th birthdays.

Some of the Hall posterity paying tribute: Scotty, Jesse, Linda, Star and Susie March 21st
These kinds of occasions help put into perspective the bigger picture; the blessing of lives intertwining and creating deep and joyful relationships.

Thank you Hannah Grover. Thank you Ione Gillespie. Thank you Aggie and Elmer. Thank you Emma Mathilda Rogers, George and Hannah, Gawain and Gayle.

And Star, thank you--my children complete me.

Tubby time

Good friends