For One More Day

For One More Day
I just finished this last week. It has been a wonderful read to have before Mother's Day. In the introduction, Albom begins the novel:

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This is a story about a family and, as there is a ghost involved, you might call it a ghost story. But every family is a ghost story. The dead sit at our tables long after they have gone.

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So true. I won't say much about the plot. In a nut shell, Chick Benetto, who has hit absolute rock bottom in his life, is given one more day with his dead mother. In the 24 hours they spend together, Albom explores the complexities of family relationships, and the way they influence life for life.

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The charming thing about the book is that it isn't complex. (Aside from the fact that there is a guy hanging out with his dead mother.) I found I was nodding and seeing little pieces of myself and people who are close to me in the pages.

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I have so many thoughts about the book, but I don't want to give anything away. So if any of y'all pick it up, we'll chat. All said, it is bitter-sweet story, with an interesting ending that is stuffed with life wisdom. Its a fast read, and I'd recommend it.

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I'll never know exactly how much my mother has done for me--and continues to do for me, but I do know that I've taken it for granted. The good news... and I'm so grateful... I still have the opportunity to express my thanks to her.

Real Simple Interview

With questions courtesy of Natalie's Real Simple mag., here's a little bit (more) about me.
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What makes you laugh? The people in my life. Gracie at least 3-5 times a day-- the real belly laugh kind of laughing. Cori-- he is adorable. My sister Sara-- one of the cleverest people I know. My mom-- who can find a way to laugh at just about anything.
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My first kiss was... Behind the gym after school. (Mom? Dad? Are you reading this?) A guy I had the warmies for asked me to meet him back there before getting on the bus. Anticlimactic for sure.
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What celebrity crushes did you have as a teenager? I was such a nerd. I don't think I had celeb. crushes until I was in college. I certainly had Broadway character crushes though. In my tween years, Joseph from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat. And in high school, Raoul from Phantom, and Marius from Les Miserables.
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Fill in the blanks: "I cannot leave a _______ store without spending less than $_______." The grocery store, $20. Costco, $50. Target, $10. Every place else, I can exercise a lot of self control. Hmmm. Food and bulk items are obviously weaknesses. I'm making a mental note about that.
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Name three things you have survived. 1.) Graduate school- vicariously through my husband, but being the wifie through something like that takes some skill too. 2.) Two miscarriages. 3.)Being a lactose intolerant person who loves dairy products (Exept straight milk, yuk).
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The big decision I'm currently wrestling with is... whether I should just go along with this doctor's plan to deliver 'Lil Bronco via C-section or to change doctors and fight to deliver VBAC. I really don't want to recover from another cesarean procedure. Opinions?

Meet George Rester

Life confirmed to me, once again, that one should always put on a little makeup before leaving the house. You never know who you are going to meet.

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Take for example, Mr. George Rester, who Gracie and I met over the orange stand at our grocery store. Gracie was helping me pick oranges and put them into the sack when she and Mr. Rester first caught one another's eye. Grace is extremely flirty with older gentlemen (older ='s 65-80's). He was immediately drawn to our cart and after some interaction with Grace, turned his attention to the oranges we had picked. He shook his head and preceded to instruct me in the finer ways of produce selection. We ended up replacing every orange in my bag. I thanked him for the little tutorial, wished him a lovely day, and Gracie blew him about 15 kisses.

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About 90 seconds later, we found ourselves together again in front of the apples. "I'd like to give you another lesson." said he. Four perfect Fuji's and a whole lot of Gracie flirts later, he turned to me and in a very serious fatherly tone said, "You know, you have a very special opportunity to teach your little girl to seek after excellence in everything." He gestured at the produce. "Even apples and oranges." I smiled and nodded, though I'm ashamed to admit that in my mind, I was thinking, "she isn't crying yet, she's learning to help me, and we just finished our list. Today was an excellent shopping day, Sir."

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"Let me tell you a little bit about myself" he continued. This is the part where I knew to get comfy, and take quick inventory of what frozen foods I had waiting in the cart. I soon forgot about all of this as he unfolded his life story. Mr. Rester was born and raised in the swamps of Louisiana. He began working as a logger at the age of 12. It was hard work. He asked a special mentor if she knew of anyone who was able to rise out of their life situation and make more of themselves. She replied that this was the quest of the Renaissance men. So at the age of 15, Mr. Rester decided he would be a Renaissance man. He educated himself in everything, always maintaining his quest for excellence, and found that he was good at drawing. He studied architecture and design. Later in the 60's, he found himself at the World Fair where one Walt Disney also had a few exhibitions. After some interaction with Walt (as Mr. Rester called him) he was invited to join the Disney team. Mr. Rester would work with Disney as the chief architect and designer for several projects including Space Mountain, parts of the Epcot center and Disneyland Tokyo. (You can look him up online. This stuff checks out)

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"Teach her at a young age," he concluded, "a quest for excellence in everything she does." He pointed again at my oranges. "Who could have thought that a poor logger from the swamps would do what I have done."

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Later, I had to smile as I unpacked the groceries. 4 perfect oranges laid alongside 4 perfect apples. But I had come home with more than perfect produce.

When a sonographer says,

"I've got a pretty good view here, and I can tell you... that's not the umbilical chord."

It's a boy!

We are beyond thrilled. We are also taking recommendations for names. For the time being, I am affectionately referring to him as " lil' Bronco" (after Coach Mendenhall, of course) in tribute to the BYU football fan he will inevitably become. Any suggestions?

3 Years

Three years ago today, I married the man who left the man of my dreams in the dust. Cori, I love:

Your dedication to us, your family always comes first

The way you honor your priesthood

That you appreciate good music, good food, and good places

Watching you play sports-- this guy is a stud

The father you have become

Your work ethic

Your love for BYU sports, and the Jazz

The 1 1/2 children we are raising together

Watching you with the young men in our ward

The way you love me

Two years ago, we celebrated our first anniversary atop Machu Picchu

Last year we celebrated #2 during our graduation trip to Yellowstone

This year, we look forward to simply enjoying an evening together. As I mentioned in my last post, this weekend we visited the Temple where we were married. It was so special attending the sealing there at this time of year. Not only did it bring back so many memories, but it brought to memory so many promises that have been fulfilled in our little family.

All my love, Cori!

Welcome to Gardnerville

I'd like to introduce you to my home town. Cori and I just returned from 4 1/2 wonderful days with family and friends there. Every trip home, we find ourselves dreaming up schemes that will help us move back. What could be so great about a little ranch town in Northern Nevada? What could inspire the desire to spend our lives in a place that is barely a blip on the map? Well, among its surprising amenities, Gardnerville boasts:

the home of the W* family

amazing views of the Sierra Nevada's

out door everything all year round

great proximity to Lake Tahoe (only 15-20 min. to South Lake)

3 Basque restaurants

visits to Virginia City of Mark Twain lore and the great camel races

(and the best rib eye sandwich at the Bucket o' Blood Saloon according to Cori)

smog free air

small town feel without the small town living

the piano that took the brunt of my emotional ups and downs during high school

an impressive number of Saints

accessibility to Reno (1 hour) and San Fran (3 hours)--a girl has gotta shop

millions of stars at night

seasons-- snow in the winter, green in the spring, hot in the summer, we love the changes

the Ponderosa Claim, home of the Cartwright's and the famed series Bonanza

enough memories to stuff a book shelf

Maybe I haven't convinced you. I have to admit that even I forget how great this place is. However, I completely understand what possessed my dad to move our family here. We had lived in So. California for nearly 14 years, and then within less than a year, my parents relocated dad's business, built a home atop an alfalfa field and moved us to the country. Its grown and changed so much in the 13 years my family has been there. But something that will never change about Gardnerville is that like only a few other places (London, Washington D.C., and BYU), it will always be a part of me.

The dream house my parents built together

not pictured: the barn and horses, dad's orchard, mom's daffodils

The view from our front porch

Our Trip

Here is a little list of highlights from our trip to NV:

Attending the sealing of my dear friend on the weekend of my own anniversary with Cori in the Temple where we were sealed three years ago.

Going to a Rockapella concert with the whole fam. These guys are so amazing!

http://www.rockapella.com

Eating out at J.T.'s - our fav. Basque restaurant. It is a family style affair complete with five courses. The night we went, the courses included: vegetable soup, bread and salad, ox tail stew with beans and lentils (ewe, I know. It was actually very tasty), share-sees of salmon, sirloin steak and lamb chops, and finally, a little bowl of pistachio ice cream. Oh, I almost forgot the seasoned fries. It is more than a meal. It is an experience.

Hangin' with Thea and her BFF (a.k.a. her iBook).

Laughing it up with Sara over some piano duets.

Spending time with Jared and his girlfriend Larissa.

Feeding the horses with Gracie. And watching Grace with all the dogs (there are 3 when everyone gets together).

Being spoiled in general by the two best parents a girl could ask for. Cori and I had nearly two whole days to ourselves. We spent time at the temple, visited friends, did some shopping and saw a movie... in the movie theater! (Spiderman 3 is worth the matinee ticket. Seriously.) Our plans for a day hike were cancelled due to crazy weather, yes, it snowed.We like to call this one 'Grammie Marla helping Grace go down for a nap'