OK, It's Been a While

I was telling Bekki today that I used to be really good about journaling here, and that I've let that go. Now I see that it's been almost a year since I last wrote. Wow. Why?

I'm not quite sure. Maybe it's the void from losing dad. Maybe it's the overwhelm with life. Maybe it's that I don't think there are any important updates. Maybe it's because I don't think anyone will ever read this. 

I probably should get back into the habit of documenting my boring life. I've got the movie "Oklahoma" on in the background and I've got 2 hours 20 minutes to attempt to catch up. 

First of all, let me write some highlights:

1. September 2024 - finished my 3 years in UAFCS. I was president elect, president, then past president. The conference in Logan was great! Natalie and I presented on what it takes and what it looks like to attend an international conference. Our students presented on best practices. Both sessions were well attended. I spent a session or two in the halls, talking with Natalie and Nicole. The best part of conferences is hanging out with friends. I also like getting a hotel room, paid by work. 

2. October 2024 - turned 58. It feels weird to be approaching 60. I also have a fairly new tradition of taking sugar cookies, frosting, and sprinkles to young families to celebrate Kelly and Ben's son Zachary, who died 5 months in utero. Oh, speaking of babies, Allie had a miscarriage in August, but got pregnant right away, so there we prepped for a grand baby. Allie's dear friend Taryn's mom, Crystal Arel, passed away after battling cancer for a few years. It was heartbreaking. Crystal was a nurturing mom to many. 

Lacey and Cody Carter, Brent and Katy Carter's kids decorate cookies

3. November 2024 - took Mel to Disneyland. I have my annual pass and it seemed like a great idea to go together. Spent time with Sarah and Cameron and a great day at the park. Cameron started our trip with a "surprise activity." We got in the car and he wouldn't disclose where we were going. Even Sarah didn't know. He had scheduled a test drive of a Tesla Cyber Truck. that was a blast. I tried mole sauce for the first time, and loved it. At least, I loved expensive mole. I spent $35 on parking to try to ride the new Tiana ride. I got a timed entrance, but was running out of time before we had to head to the airport. I asked a very nice cast member, who walked me through the line, and to the entrance so I could ride. That ride gets you VERY wet. I'm glad I got to go on it, though. It was open only for pass holders. I forgot to grab the free poster, but Maria Trump had an extra one, which she gave me. I've framed it, and it's in my kitchen. Karen was in town for Thanksgiving. She invited me and mom to the Crockett pie night. Imagine my surprise when I realized it was a pie making night, not a pie eating night. We left after a couple of hours. I had a good laugh about it, because most pie nights I've heard of are for eating. It is a good idea, but I told Karen that the event was falsely advertised. 

The nice cast member who got me on the ride

I'm so excited to ride!

Enchiladas Divorciadas - mole and green chile

Our surprise activity

Crockett Pie Night

Sooo wet, even with a poncho and flip flops

4. December 2024 - finished the semester and went to California to help babysit Derek and Rachel's kids while they went to Japan for Comic-Con. Kristen went first. We overlapped for a couple of days, then I was solo. Watching those kids is no joke. Maria Trump, my friend who has a young adult daughter with autism have had some good laughs about my experience. At first, I was surprised by the lack of structure and that Charlie eats his meals alone in Derek and Rachel's room. It took me only a couple of days to give up, and just let him do what he wanted. Kids with special needs are a lot of work. He likes two burritos for breakfast - one for each hand. I would get up, take care of breakfast for all the kids, get them ready for school, take them to school, etc. It wasn't until my last day that I learned that Charlie usually shows up at school with his uneaten burritos. Wow, that would have saved me some daily hassles. Raine was in a community theater production of "A Christmas Carol." Kristen saw it one night, and I went another night. She did great. The whole production was great, getting me in the Christmas mood. Kris and I bought bags of "Elf" cookies for everyone, and watched the movie with the kids. Since I was already down there, I got together with Maria and Amy and we went to Disneyland. We really enjoyed our passes this year. Maria's daughters Sierra and Sydney joined us with the understanding that they couldn't "act like sisters." They had to behave. LOL. It was great. I also spent time with Sarah and Cameron. Allie and I flew to Cabot, Arkansas, for Crystal's service. We stayed with Jess Hewlett and her husband. They live outside of Little Rock. We also spent some time in Little Rock, seeing the capital, Little Rock Central High School, the monument to the Little Rock Nine, and got some good food and shopped a bit. We got the Steven's Special, which is an iconic rice, chicken, and queso dish. We had our delicious Christmas dinner of roast beef, potatoes, carrots, Yorkshire Pudding, and Sticky Toffee Pudding. Mel and I fell in love with that meal in London. The kids were so thoughtful with their gifts. Kamiko gave me a little blue glass bird, a nod to "Arthur's Perfect Christmas" that we watch every year. Mel gave me a peanut Christmas tree ornament and a beautiful Karl Larsson calendar. I had surprised Mel with a reindeer peanut JellyCat that made her cry when it arrived. She was so excited about it. Bekki gave me some beautiful handmade candles for next year's advent. I can't wait to use them. She's very thoughtful. I committed to lighting my candles and enjoying the warmth of that little bit of winter light. 

I was willing to sit in front. Never again. Soooo wet. 

Kamiko, Mel, Bekki, me, and mom

Raine, Charlie, Kristen, Milo

Milo, me, Raine, and Charlie

Riley, Jessica, Lane, Allie, and me

Arkansas State Capitol all decked out for Christmas

The Arkansas Nine

My blue bird

Me, Sierra, Maria, Syd, Amy

Dinner group moms do Disney...again!

5. January 2025 - took mom to visit dad's grave. I haven't taken her there many times, but I like to give her quiet time there. I usually walk around the cemetery a bit. Started the process to get my roof replaced. It had defective shingles. Projects like this are difficult for me to do, and I wish I had a husband to help, but I'm getting more and more independent. I feel like I'm getting emotionally stronger and healthier with time. We're gearing up for study abroad...constant emails to coordinate 6 weeks' worth of appointments. It's A LOT! I'm sure this will be my last study abroad. It's too much for me to juggle. Allie came into town and she picked out fabric for me to make flannel blankets for her little BOY. His name will be Thomas Ren McClendon, going by Tomo. We love him already. 

Smiles all around when the driver buys drinks 

6. February 2025 - UACTE conference in St. George. I had to drive a van of students there and back. Natalie and I presented on what it looks like to attend an international conference. Our students presented again. We have 15 student teachers, which must be some kind of record. Natalie, Nicole, Pam Rock, and I are running ragged trying to observe and mentor all of them. They're doing great, though. I was asked in December to present the SFL Faith in Learning lecture on February 14. I think it went well. A lot of students (SFLSA and FCSE) came. Starlyn and Natalie came too. I do like sharing my testimony and the miracles I've seen in my life. I feel very blessed. Then Natalie, some students, and I went out for pedicures and burgers on Valentine's night. I was the advisor for SFLSA and the mentor for the FCS ambassadors. It's been a very busy year for mentoring. VERY BUSY! We tried many, many ways to spread the word about FCS. Some were successful...some not so successful, but we kept trying. The SFLSA presidency and I were invited to attend the BYU basketball game as guests of President Reese. I got to bring a plus one. Kamiko came, and we had a blast. We had VIP tags, awesome seats, snack bags, etc. We had a great time. Some of the students had never been to a basketball game before. We joked that they really peaked with their first game in the Marriott Center and that it would be downhill from there. 

Me, Ruby, Ashley, Abby, Kourtney, and Natalie

Ethan, Michael, Lizzy, me, board members, Emily, and Emma 

7. March 2025 - Trip to Disneyland with Maria Trump to enjoy the Food and Wine Festival. We tried lots of fun treats, including some gourmet macaroni and cheeses and spam and rice. We were there on a big adventurer day. It was an unofficial day for fans of Jungle Cruise and Indiana Jones to gather, dress up, and have a scavenger hunt. It was fun to see their creativity. Maria and I agreed that it would be fun to go on Jungle Cruise with a bunch of them. Allie and Tommy came into town and Allison, Mel, and I threw a baby shower for them. Friends and family were so supportive to come and help celebrate our new baby who's coming in May. My house can handle a lot of people. It was a bit crowded, but we made it work. It is what it is. Keenan was going to come, but didn't come at the last minute. He chose to fly to Indianapolis for her shower there. Some of Allie's former students came, which was really cute. Then, because everyone was in town, and it was springtime, we had our annual Easter egg hunt. Always so much fun. Shauna Crockett got married, and I had fun seeing Karen and family for that event. 

Mel, Allie, and Allison

Mom and dad

8. April 2025 - Time to wrap up the school year and get ready for study abroad. Taught my advanced class how to cook a nice steak on the stove, and they were successful. Natalie, Amber, Chad, and I helped at grad night. I got to greet many SFLSA students, FCSE majors, and give Summer, Connor Crockett's girlfriend, a hug. I also went to graduation, and was able to give her a hug when she walked across the stage to receive her diploma for a degree in Geography. Kamiko, Bekki, and Jerry sold their house in Vineyard and moved into my basement for a few weeks until closing on a new place. The Brau's basement is housing Jameson and his cats, so they couldn't go there. I'm happy to help them. I take Jerry on walks. I was on my way to a meeting on campus when a school bus sideswiped me. I saw them taking the turn too tightly, honked my horn, and just watched them keep driving. I heard a crunch! WHAT!? It was raining. A security kid came and helped and called campus police. In the end, my car was totaled and I got $3,000. Not bad, considering the car is 20 years old. I decided to not repair it, but keep driving it until it died. They placed dad's grave marker in the Holden Cemetery, and I took mom down there to see it. Bought a new-to-me Bernina sewing machine. My Pfaff is from 1988. I got a really nice machine that had been used at BYU. I'm excited to do some projects. I'll take a class when I get back from study abroad. 

Mel got a machine, too. We're here with Dr. Dawna Baugh

Look at that sewing view

SFLSA presidency and advisors. Amber Williams, Emma Lambert, Kourtney Glenn, Emily Dana, Ethan Lloyd, and me

I love this cooking class

Summer is graduating

The school bus went along the entire driver's side

Graduation bound

Spring walking buddy

Look at all of those April graduates in FCSE