Family is great, isn't it?

I have one of my grown children home for a month.  Everyone, especially his four sisters, were thrilled that he was coming "home".  It's so fun to see how happy my children are to be together.  That first night no one wanted to go to sleep; they talked and laughed, teased each other, and even tickled and wrestled each other. 

Our precious nine year old daughter (the youngest) was so excited that he was coming that she wanted to make him a cake, and not just any cake.  She got out her little recipe book and chose to make one that included a 9X13 pan and another smaller cake for the top that was the shape of a dome.  Then she frosted it all and, lacking the correct ingredients, proceeded to make an original crumb topping out of several ingredients she found.  It was delicious. I was so amazed because she didn't need any help from me and that she would go to all that trouble for her brother.  

Tonight when the oldest daughter(17) came home from work she was a little weepy and told us of fighting with a boy at work.  When her brothers (four were at home at the time because the oldest son had cooked) heard how this boy had treated her, they all wanted to go to his house and threaten him.  I managed to keep them home and cool them down, but inside I was proud of them that they wanted to protect their sister and that they had learned one of my rules so well (boys don't fight girls) and were outraged that another boy had not followed the code.

I've been worried about how my children, lately.  Then, they go and show me that I don't need to worry at all.  I just need to keep loving them and watch them turn into wonderful adults.  I'm glad I get to be related to these amazing people and that they seem to love me, too.

What is normal?

Some of our daughters think our family isn't normal.  They told us that tonight as we were trying to have a family discussion.  They could be right.  But, which family is normal?  How do we decide what constitutes normal?  I used to be sure that it was the TV show Father Knows Best's family.  I've thought of all my friends' families.  And, sorry guys, but I can't think of any of you that have a more "normal" family than ours.  I'm not denying that we're weird.  It's just that everyone else is weird, too, in some ways.  We were recently interviewed as a family to test our suitability for being a host family for a foreign exchange student.  We didn't think the interviewers were any less weird than we are.  And, that's why we were having the discussion.  Apparently we passed and our family will soon be hosting a young lady from France.  We're all concerned that she will have to make a lot of adjustments to living with us.  We just hope it won't be too hard for her, or us.

What did it all mean and where did it go? My trip to Europe

I can't actually say it was my life-long dream to go to Europe. I never even thought it was a possibility. It was too big a dream and I think consequently I still have a hard time realizing that I was really there. At times I would stop and say to myself, "You're at the Eiffel Tower!" or "This is actually the leaning Tower of Pisa, not a picture!" I even took a picture of myself standing on the stones of the Colliseum. (see above).

It was really all too much. I couldn't take it in. It was that feeling, I think, that made me concentrate on more mundane things, like toilets. You can't get any more "real" than that. I have pictures of "Toilets across Europe". They are different, more scarce in public, and often, cleaner, with attendants that need tipped. That's funny. One didn't tip in Europe except in toilets.

One of my favorite memories was one that was difficult at the time. I was lost, by myself, in Paris. I had to go back to the hotel by myself to retrieve my moneybelt which held not only money, but credit cards and passports. In other words, everything I needed and could least afford to lose. Thus, my solo trip through the metro including changes (to different lines). My problem was that I hadn't paid quite enough attention on the way to the Eiffel Tower as I was simply a follower of the guide and our group. On the way back I saw the name of the street on which our hotel was located and got off, only to find when I emerged from underground that nothing looked familiar. This was because, I later discovered, the street was correct, but it was a long street and I had hopped off too soon. I tried to re-enter the metro, but (remember that part about my money belt being at the hotel) was unable to buy another ticket and mine had run out.

So, my options were to walk, but which way? I tried unsuccessfully to go this way and that but still nothing looked familiar. I was getting a little panicked, but remembered to say a prayer. I asked Heavenly Father to send me someone who could speak English and be able to help me. A few minutes later as I fruitlessly studied the map above the Metro, a woman neared me and I asked if she spoke English. She answered positively and I asked if she could help me. She was so gracious. She was a Librarian in town for a convention and was on her way to a local library to spend the day observing. She had some time before her appointment and apent it all helping me to find my way. She even took me to the llibrary and used the internet to find the exact address of the hotel. Finally, she got me going in the right way and I walked the rest of the way to the hotel.

Am I back? Hi, Mom

I am totally surprised that I still have access to this blog, but as I attempted to create a new blog that would be linked to my Google page (so that I wouldn't forget to write on it) I discovered that my old blog was still active, so here I am.

My precious daughter-in-law, Courtney, has a beautiful blog. It is always so well written and illustrated. I have never understood how she could possibly have the time with all of her school and work commitments to blog at all, much less such an impessive and professional looking blog. I know her mother, Sue, agrees. It's such a treat to read.

Then, my friend, Jen, has a professional blog. She even has advertisers and gets paid to blog. Wow! Her articles are always so well informed and helpful. I know she has a large readership.

I, on the other hand, doubt my ability to string together two sentences that make sense, much less make any difference. However, I have been so impressed by Courtney and Jen and have thought it would be a good way to communicate with my mother and other family and old friends. So, with out further explanation, I am back. Hi, Mom!

Am I back? Hi, Mom

I am totally surprised that I still have access to this blog, but as I attempted to create a new blog that would be linked to my Google page (so that I wouldn't forget to write on it) I discovered that my old blog was still active, so here I am.

My precious daughter-in-law, Courtney, has a beautiful blog. It is always so well written and illustrated. I have never understood how she could possibly have the time with all of her school and work commitments