Presented at a Conference in Saint George and Some Favorite Quotes

Natalie, Sandy, Nicole, and I all work with student teachers. We presented at the state conference for CTE (Career and Technical Educators) in Saint George. It was my first big trip that BYU paid for. Imagine my joy when I got to my hotel room and saw the greeting on the TV. It was most definitely time to relax. We had a great time and the presentation went well. I got to see many former students and long-time friends. I got to catch up with Jean Manuela, a dear, kind FCS teacher at Pleasant Grove Junior High. 

I also want to journal a few thoughts. I always share a thought with my classes and here are some things I want to keep so I can perhaps share with them when the impression hits. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once said: "When life is hard, remember - we are not the first to ask, 'Is there no other way?'" We love EVE!

Jacques Pepin, French chef, said: "When the kids come home from school, they run to the kitchen. The smell of the kitchen, the noise of the kitchen, the voice of your parents, the cling of the instruments, the taste of the food - that stays with you the rest of your life. This is the most sacred, best place in the world."

This is especially important to me since someone in an academic conference this past week was a bit dismissive of the work of women - sewing, cooking, and crafts. We are MUCH, much more than sewing, cooking, and crafts. We are SACRED! Home is SACRED!

STUDY ABROAD DIRECTOR!

Me with my official study abroad backpack

That title deserve all capital letters! It also deserved an exclamation point!

I had told Natalie that I wanted to go on study abroad this May to be helpful and to learn how it works. I knew there were already 2 directors and it would be on my dime. We found some travel funds to help offset part of the cost of the trip. It would cost me about $3,500. That isn't bad for a month in Europe. Well, we started planning and meeting and submitting our covid plans. The university came back and gave us approval to to to the UK and to France. Since we were going to 2 countries, they wanted a 3rd director in case a student had to stay behind due to covid. So, guess who is director #3? ME! It's all paid for. I get to help plan and help teach the prep course every Tuesday night. It's been a lot of work, but I'm so excited. I'm also trying to learn a lot. With upheaval in the world and Russia invading Ukraine, we're not 100% sure we're going, but we're planning and preparing until we hear otherwise. 

We will got to Edinburgh Scotland and learn about weaving, textiles, the industrial revolution, and fashion. We're also going to visit a pleater to see if it might be a tour we want to do in the future. We'll then go to London and visit some local designers, see some plays, including "Julius Caesar" at the Globe Theater! Natalie, Dawna, Craig (Dawna's husband), and I have reservations for afternoon tea at a very trendy place called Sketch. We will see jewels, castles, etc. Then we go to Paris. It was my job to line up a cooking class. I found a crepe class in Paris. Natalie and I plan to go to Euro Disney on our free day. Allie plans to meet me there at the end if she can get on a standby flight. We'll learn about designers Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Dior. We'll see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triumph, Versailles, and the Paris Temple. 

It's such a wonderful opportunity to learn, contribute, and prepare for future responsibilities. I also have all the wonderful travel accessories that anyone would need. I have bought a killer carryon bag, I've got a travel hair dryer, clothesline, packing cubes, detergent packets, spray wrinkle remover, and some clothes. I haven't bought many clothes because I have many things that will work. 

My Story Includes the Title Associate Professor

Our director, Natalie Hancock, and I literally had the same outfit on at work one day.

Looks like I'm staying. Time to add some permanent touches!

Dawna Baugh, clothing professor, and I give Allie's boyfriend, Mario, suggestions on which sewing machine to purchase her for her birthday. Dawna was most helpful and Allie loves it!

I get to teach the high school juniors and seniors in Sunday School. I have seen a common theme in the Old Testament. I testified to my Sunday School class today that God always takes care of His children. He is the great provider. He always works for the benefit of His children and while our stories NEVER turn out the way we think they will, they ALWAYS turn out for the best. We cannot grow without trials. Brother Clements in sacrament meeting said today that we cannot expect to connect with Christ if we have never borne a cross. 

I've seen that in my life, especially in the last few years. Am I where I thought I'd be? NO. Am I blessed? YES. Am I in a better place than I would have ever expected? YES!

Something I heard in a daily devotional really resonated with me. It's from a blog called wrkwndr. The author said, "If something hasn't gone according to my mortal narrative, I've felt cheated. I felt like someone ripped beautiful pages form the story I was writing. Have you felt this? It couldn't be further from the truth. your future is unwritten. Those pages are blank. When we project our own plans onto those pages, we're scribbling in pencil over what Christ will write in ink. Turn the page with curiosity and openness. Ask questions you don't already know the answer to, and be ready and humble enough to follow His will over your own. Watch his hand scroll a beautiful story and be mesmerized by the grace and beauty that unfolds. You are the main character, but you are not the author. Hand over the pencil." 

It reminds me of Elder Cornish's sweet words to me in my interview just 4 days after the divorce was final: "This is not the end of your story. It's just the end of a chapter." Chapter 3 is turning out to be pretty great. I got offered a tenured position at BYU. We're still negotiating the salary, so nothing is signed, but I will be staying there, with a great salary, half tuition benefits for Melia, the world's best health insurance, 401K retirement benefits, and a strengthened FCS program. I am blessed! I get to go up for tenure in 3 years, instead of 6!

Memories and Reunions

Oh my goodness! I think this is the longest I've gone in between posts since I started using this as a journal. I feel sad that I haven't been more diligent. I also recognize that I've been extremely busy with work. I really am!

The last couple of weeks were full of memories and reunions and I'm still just brimming with joy because of the blessing of good friends and an idyllic upbringing. 

On Friday, March 11, I went with Kim and Rich Blight from the Manila 2nd Ward to Max Rose's wedding reception. It was at the nursery that backed up to the home in American Fork where we raised the kids. It was WONDERFUL! There were so many people from the old ward. I fully expected to see Keenan there, and was as prepared as I could be. He was close to the Rose family, but he wasn't there. I saw so many, many supportive and loving friends. It was the first big event in the old neighborhood since the divorce. I've been to bridal showers, but this was bigger. Kim and Rich are great friends. I had a wonderful time. Everyone seemed sincerely interested in my wellbeing and in the kids' wellbeing. 

Saturday morning, I went to the funeral of Brother David Young, who died at age 87. He was a wonderful, kind member of my ward here. He took homemade bread to new neighbors, he baked treats for the primary children, and he was a talented stained glass artist. He was a retired dentist from Southern California, so we had some fun conversations. He went in for a routine procedure and had a bad reaction and passed away. He'd been longing to be reunited with his sweet wife for 19 months. I'd never met her, but he talked so lovingly of her. Ward members seemed genuinely happy for his reunion with her. At his request, the primary children sang. It was an absolutely beautiful celebration of a good life. 

From there, I went to Provo for the funeral of LaVere Adams, the best teacher I've ever known. He and his wife Karelyn are the parents of Cami Adams Hansen, my childhood best friend. I spent many, many nights at the Adams' house. I went to many birthday parties. I looked forward to many roadshows and youth activities planned by Brother Adams. I was also lucky enough to have him as my seminary teacher twice. The story of the Pool of Bethesda is one of my favorites because of the way Brother Adams taught the story. He acted out how difficult it must have been for the disabled man to get to the pool first for the healing waters to do their work. My sister Karen was in town from Colorado and she and mom went with me to the funeral. It was the ultimate Pleasanton reunion. There were people there from the following families: McCleary, Mano, Mori, Morris, Hemming, Hansen, Adams, Burnett, Peterson, Larsen, Coburn (oldest son, Hal, drove down from Idaho just days after his sister Michelle passed away), and many more. Mom took photos of everyone. She was in her element. Brother and Sister Adams were both musical and their kids and grandkids inherited the talent. Each of the 5 kids spoke. The grandkids sang a song. Sister Adams and her kids and their spouses closed the funeral singing "We Can Be Together Forever," with grandkids joining from their seats, then walking up to the stand. All of LaVere's posterity was testifying through song. It was wonderful. As he would have wanted, there were treats and games in the cultural hall afterwards. We stayed and visited for over an hour. It was very healing for me. I loved my childhood and it was great to reminisce about such a great time. 

I'm grateful Karen always insists on a photo while we're taking our walk together. 

If that wasn't a good enough day, I had an appointment for initiatories at the temple, so I got to spend time reflecting on my covenants and the blessings of eternity that I am trying to earn. 

Then Karen came with me to American Fork. We picked up Kim Blight and the 3 of us went to Jess Hewlett's wedding reception. Sandy Hewlett is one of my walking friends. Once again, many friends from our American Fork neighborhood were there. It was so fun to connect and visit. 

To say my heart was FULL is an understatement!

Yesterday I got to be the guest at Mackenzie Christensen's baptism and her brother Benjamin's blessing. I've known Amy and Dane Christensen since they moved to American Fork, when Amy was pregnant with Mackenzie. Amy and I were assigned to be visiting teaching companions. I learned so much from Amy about visiting teaching. Once I offered to go alone because her life was busy. She asked if we could schedule a time when she could go so she wouldn't miss out on the blessings. I love that woman! I got to sleep at their house with Mackenzie when Amy gave birth to Scarlett. I had since moved when Ben was born, but I took them dinner and have enjoyed maintaining a friendship with them. Amy and Carrie Gibson are my Starbucks visiting teaching friends. We used to meet at Starbucks about every month and talk for hours. Many friends were at the baptism, including Trudy and Gary Barnes, Ginger and Scott Livingston, Brenda Wilbur, Trina and Mick Preece, Candy Kinser, Derrick Snyder and his son (mom Lauren was home resting as she had just had an embryo implanted), and Theresa Escalante and her kids. So many reasons to feel loved and blessed.