Get Ready for Year 25

This year marks the beginning of my 25th year teaching at BYU. Wow, I was 32 when I started. Annie Oswald teased that I was 4 when I started. 

BYU did some crazy schedule changes and classes started on a Wednesday instead of a Tuesday. As a result, I lost my Tuesday lecture time with my advanced class. I thought I had thought it through and planned well how to cover everything in 3 hours. I had to do intro to course, expectations, talk eggs, then have a lab that included an extra recipe. Well...I forgot to account for the 1.5 hours it takes to make Pavlova. YIKES! I finished talking with less than 1.5 hours left. We had to hurry and get the pavlova in the oven. A couple of groups had to start over because they added the sugar too soon to the egg whites. We finally got all the pavlovas in the oven and worked on Eggs Benedict. We only went about 10 minutes over. I apologized profusely for not planning well. Many of them want to teach foods, so I asked them what I could have done differently. They mentioned that I should have gotten them in the kitchen soon, and we could have talked while the pavlova baked. BINGO! That's what I should have done. That's what I will do in the winter. I've already changed my notes and rearranged the order of my slides. 

Whew, we made it. 110 went well. The students worked hard to get their muffins and smoothies done. I told them I needed them to work fast. I told them that junior high students make muffins in 45 minute labs, and that I needed them to work like junior high students. 

I got good news that my department voted for me to go further in the tenure process. I submitted my file in late July and they discussed my accomplishments and contributions in faculty meeting on September 5. Erin Holmes, our director, told me that my file was approved. Now it goes to the college, then to the AVPs office. I won't find out until May if I get tenure. BUT, if I don't hear from the college or the AVPs by May, that is a good sign. It means they don't have questions, that there aren't any red flags. Natalie found out when we were on study abroad, and I'll probably find out on study abroad.

Speaking of study abroad, we've met to create the tentative plan and budget for study abroad. We plan to take the kids to London, Paris, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Florence, Venice, and Milan. It's an ambitious 6 weeks. 

I was very busy with SFLSA. We were really busy putting out fires. We found that we didn't have access to the instagram. We didn't have access to the t-shirt design that they did last year. We didn't have access to so many things. Unfortunately, I got very little training. I've made calls, sent emails, and visited with people on campus. Our registration wasn't working. Our website wasn't up-to-date. Well, after a lot of work and stress and some tears, I got everything done. I hope. We had some recruitment booths for Freshman orientation and have our opening social this Wednesday. It's a very ambitious start of the school year. Whew. 

I'm also a mentor to our 2 national FCS Ambassadors, Ashley and Kourtney. We also have a local ambassador, Abby Richardson. Their job is to raise awareness about the FCSE major and to recruit students to the major. They will focus their efforts not only on campus, but also in the high schools. 

SFLSA presidency members, Kourtney Gleen, Emily Dana, and Ethan Lloyd

Me and Ashley Berges (FCS Ambassador and study abroad student) and Bruce Cui (study abroad student)

Me with our FCS Ambassadors, Ashley Berges and Kourtney Glenn

Me with SFLSA Presidency, Ethan Lloyd, Kourtney Glenn, Emma Lambert, and Emily Dana. These kids work so hard to make things work and help students find a place to belong.

I'm also trying to get to the bottom of some health issues - sleep apnea, insomnia, and hormone imbalance. It's been a very overwhelming couple of weeks. I'm very grateful for Natalie's support. 

Indiana State Fair - Winners Drink Milk

Allie's shirt

Allie was very busy and overwhelmed and there is a direct flight from SLC to IND, so I went to see my girl. I got upgraded to Delta Comfort+ both ways. I helped her with yard work, we went to Costco and Aldi. I cleaned the whole house, and we did some cooking. 

Tommy recently bought an old house that's just a couple of miles from downtown Indy, and it's beautiful. There is lovely woodwork. He said he didn't want me cleaning while I was their guest. Allie said "she said she was coming to clean and you have to let her clean." I told him that I can't just sit, so I was happy to do it.  

That's downtown Indy in the background

We also had fun! Allie and I went on walks, got yummy cookies, and went to the Indiana State Fair. The kids had already been there twice and Tommy suggested they take me. Allie's favorite is the tram. It's a tractor-pulled wagon that allows many people to sit and be driven from one point to another. It goes in a loop and is a hop-on/hop-off around the fair. Allie also loves the milk bar. For $.75, you get a cup of milk or chocolate milk. Evidently, the winner of the Indy 500 drinks milk after the race, so it's a staple at the fair. We had so much fun. We saw quilts and ate food. We didn't go on any rides. We also saw table scapes, which cracked us up. People actually submit their idea for a beautifully themed and set table. Tommy got a giant bag of kettle corn, a favorite of his. 

These are spiral-cut potatoes, fried and topped with cheese, sour cream, and chives

On the tram - me, Allie, and Tommy

Enjoying the animals

My shirt

Just before we left, we passed a booth with t-shirts. They really had some awesome shirts. I bought us each a t-shirt. I sent a picture to family, and Derek said he wanted the shirt that I got for Allie, so she drove me back to the fair later in the day and I grabbed it for Derek. 

Tommy's sister, Diari, lives in the house. She's a sharp young lady. I enjoyed visiting with her. Tommy's really good friend, also Tommy, came over one night. He's really nice. I only stayed 2 nights, but it was great. I got one of the last seats on the flight back to SLC. I'm really glad I went. 

Allie is currently waiting for her final check ride with the FAA for her private pilot's license, so she's traveling a bit. She's in Hawaii now, and says she's coming to Utah. I sure hope she comes. I love spending time with her. 

Can you believe this is my girl?

Summer California Trip

It's always nice to walk together in person. We walk while talking on the phone all the time. 

This is the best way to enjoy the beach

Look at all those birds. Kristen has never seen anything like it. 

This year's trip to California was a bit different because I couldn't go until early August and I had to be back by August 10th. Kristen and Doug had been on a 2 week trip to Africa for a safari and I had to get back for Houston Hjorth's wedding. 

So, I flew into San Francisco on a Friday afternoon and took BART to Pleasanton/Dublin, where Kristen picked me up. We mostly relaxed and watched the Olympics. We ate dinner and chatted. We hung out on Saturday, watching Olympics, and not doing much else. Sunday morning, Kristen took me to meet Maria in Tracy, where I hopped in the car to ride with her to Disneyland. We had a great drive. After 3 days at Disneyland, I spent the night at Maria's house, then met up with Kristen in Tracy on Thursday morning. I showered quickly and she and I headed to the beach. We set up her tent and just enjoyed the breezes and the waves. We were only there for about 2 hours before we had to head back to avoid traffic. Doug thought we were crazy to drive for close to 4 hours for only 2 hours at the beach. We told him we'd just be sitting at the house, talking, so we might as well be in the car, then enjoying the beach. Doug gave me a blessing Thursday night. 

Friday Kristen and I went to the outlet mall. I didn't buy anything and Kristen bought a pair of shoes. A very uneventful shopping trip. We then went back to their place. I changed the sheets on the bed and finished packing. We stopped at Kim Cassetti's house on our way to the San Francisco airport. Her daughter, Emily, was there, and we had a nice visit for about an hour. Rob's mom recently passed and we talked about that. Kim, Rob, and Michael were with her when she passed and Kim feels like her mother-in-law was reaching for something. We told her that it's very possible that she was reaching for loved ones. That's what Kim believes too. She has great faith and a love of the Savior and belief in God. She's like a sister. We love seeing each other, even if for just a short time. We always pick up where we left off. 

Spiritual Things

I spent last week in California, part of it with Kris and Doug, and part at Disneyland with lifelong friends. Before heading to California, I was listening to "The Lazy Genius" podcast and she was talking about back to school. She said in the introduction that it was primarily for people with kiddos and suggested an alternate episode for those of us without littles. I decided to listen anyway. I'm so glad I did because she talked about opening ceremonies - creating ways to mark transitions. That made me think of back-to-school blessings, so I texted Doug and asked if he would give me a blessing while I was there. 

Thursday, the day before I flew home, Doug gave me a very nice blessing. Kristen took notes. My impressions were that I was blessed to be flexible, to be able to figure things out (interesting since I had just realized I needed to reconfigure 215 in a pretty significant way - a thing giving me anxiety), to enjoy my students, and to look out for myself. Kristen's notes included the following: 

I will be healthy and strong

I will have the ability to perform my duties

I will have the ability the discern the needs of your students and those you work with that I will be flexible and adaptable and able to adjust to keep me and my students in mind

Remember to balance myself and my students and those who rely on me (note from me: to me, this means my kids and some friends)

Enjoy the time with my students as I see them progress, learn, and grow

Foster friendships around me. Assist them and be assisted 

I'm grateful for priesthood blessings. I think a back-to-school blessing is the best type of opening ceremony. I'm glad I grew up in a house that set that foundation. 

Last week, I was blessed to attend the sealing of Houston Hjorth and Savannah Butler in the Manti Temple. The sealer was so great. He was sweet and infused just the right amount of humility and humor. It was a beautiful day. Sealing...lunch...reception. More than once, the sealer pointed out parts of the sealing and said he didn't know what it meant, but he finds it important or noteworthy. One that particularly hit me was the mention of angels. He said we don't know who the angels are. They could be people who helped Houston and Savannah make it to the temple, it could be ancestors, it could be their future children. He did say with surety that the room had more individuals in attendance than who we saw in the room. I wondered if dad was with me and I felt that he might have been. Why wouldn't he be in a sealing that meant a lot to me and to Starlyn, my dear friend. It's not that I had a certainty that he was there, but I do think he probably was there, watching and enjoying my time in a sealing in the temple where his parents served. 

Judy Sumsion, Starlyn Hjorth, and me after the sealing

Look at how beautiful the temple was

The day after the sealing, I drove to church and found my hazard lights stuck on. I know that can drain the battery. I toggled the switch that I thought took care of those lights and nothing helped. DANG. I drove home and looked up solutions. I tried resets and nothing helped. I had to call Starlyn and Lee. They came over. I prayed we could solve it. I looked at a different video and realized I'd been toggling the wrong switch. I was doing the parking lights, not the hazard lights. I found the right switch and fixed it right before they got to my house - the day after a long wedding day. They are so great. They did have to come to my house sometime anyway, because I had brought home all the food from the wedding lunch. It had to be refrigerated and I was leaving. I had plenty of room in my fridge because I'd been out of town. Everyone was done eating and I was happy to help. 

Yesterday, I went to an endowment session in the Payson temple. I got there early and had time to read the Book of Mormon in the chapel. I also had time to just sit in quiet. The organ music in the background was nice. All of the sudden, I was aware that "I Stand All Amazed" was playing. It's the only hymn that dad still remembered and sang in Swedish. It's one that I partially remember in Spanish. We sang it at his funeral and I sang it in Spanish. I also switched to Swedish and tried to sing the last verse in Swedish. 

As I write this, Allie has texted me that a fellow flight school student, who is a member of the church, offered to give her a blessing. She's going through a pretty stressful time with school. I think it's so sweet that he did that. She said he blessed her that things will be ok and that Heavenly Father loves her. 

I love these little reminders that Heavenly Father is aware of me and of my kids. 

I love this family! Libby and Emmett, Garret and Lanelle, Lee, Starlyn, Houston, Savannah, Lacey with Trey, Jared, and Colby

Manila 2nd Moms at Disneyland

Last week I was in California. As part of my trip, I met up with my good friend Maria Trump, who lives in Manteca, just 30 minutes from Kristen's house. Maria and I drove down to Disneyland. We stopped at Derek and Rachel's house for a bit. Maria and Rachel spent time talking about kids with special needs. John and Maria has Abby, a 19 year old with autism, and Derek and Rachel have Charlie, a 10 year old with Down syndrome. We showed up unexpectedly because I wanted to surprise them. I had just seen them on Wednesday at mom's house. They had driven all night Saturday, arriving at their house around 2:00 am. It was a fun little visit. 

Maria and I got to Anaheim around 4:00 and checked into our hotel. We were pleasantly surprised by the size of the room. It was very roomy and provided a decent amount of privacy. I took the couch bed. Maria had brought a mattress topper, which made it quite comfortable. Maria also brought blankets for us. We went to Downtown Disney and got delicious peach ice cream at Salt and Straw, then Maria went into California Adventure to watch the parade. I was blocked out. After the parade, we got dinner at Earl of Sandwich, then went back to the hotel. It was a great drive and a fun evening. 

Amy Bowden and Stefanie Nebeker, both from our American Fork neighborhood flew in Monday morning. We picked them up, got them settled in the room, then we all went to the park. We started at Disneyland. It was crowded, but not too bad. We went on a lot of rides and showed Stefanie the ropes. She hadn't been to Disneyland in years. Amy, Maria, and I are pros. We don't even need a map. We saw the flag retrieval ceremony and all enjoyed it. Then we went back to our hotel for a couple of hours to rest and cool off. We returned to California Adventure for dinner reservations. Maria is a genius. She gets a reservation at the Lamplight Lounge for 7:30 pm. The last table seated is at 8:00. We asked to sit outside. When 9:00 came around, we had VIP seating for World of Color, the show on the water. It was fantastic. We also enjoyed our dinner. A great way to end the day. 

Maria also has a trick for getting into California Adventure. We Uber to the Grand Californian. She said that there might be a guard controlling access to the high end hotel. She said she would say we were going to dinner. I jokingly asked "where are we eating dinner?" To which she responded "Storyteller's Lounge." Well, that's exactly how it played out. There was a guard. He asked Maria, who was in the front seat, if we were checking in. She said "no, we're going to get dinner." He asked where, and she answered, without hesitating "Storyteller's Lounge." I couldn't believe it. It's a quick way to get to California Adventure. 

Friends on the road

Rachel, Derek, Raine, and me - quick surprise visit

While waiting in line for Pirates of the Caribbean, I hear "Dana!" It was my former TA and Mel's good friend, Emily Burdette. She was also there for Monday - Wednesday. 

4 beds - each of us got our own bed

Mini-fridge, counter space, 2 sinks. Great hotel.

Amy Bowden, me, Maria Trump, Stefanie Nebeker

Amy, Stef, me, and Maria

Look at that dinner view!

Day 2 started at California Adventure. Like day 1, when it got hot and crowded at mid-day, we went back to our hotel. But, before gonig back to the hotel, we went on rides, ate yummy food, people watched, and went to the pass holders lounge. I got a fun watermelon drink and delicious flat bread. I had gone there before with the Wasdens in May. 

Stefanie said she really liked how we do Disneyland...good food, lots of resting, great strategy for getting on rides, mostly enjoying time together. Maria had heard about a "buddy pass" for Monster's, Inc. It was crazy. We literally walked up and asked for a buddy pass. They handed each of us a piece of paper that said Buddy Pass. We took it to the exit and got on the ride within 10 minutes. The regular line was close to an hour. No stroller required. No disability needed. It was nuts. I learned so many tips and tricks. We also rode single rider on Soarin' Around the World. The line was about an hour and we waited maybe 25 minutes. Tuesday was really hot and more crowded than Monday. When we went back Tuesday night, Amy stayed behind to rest because she felt an ear issue coming on. We saw Fantasmic and the fireworks on Tuesday night before going back to the hotel. I sure wish people would put their phones down and enjoy the show. It's the strangest thing. We stayed up way too late talking. These ladies are so great. 

Wearing my Monster's Inc shirt, so I had to get a picture at the ride

Guardians of the Galaxy

Put your phones down

Incredicoaster

Wednesday was a half day. It was noticeably crowded from early on. Keenan surprised me with a Venmo for us to buy churros. We rode a lot of rides in the morning, got snacks, sat in the shade and rested and talked. Thank goodness for free cups of ice water. Maria got reservations for Carnation Cafe, which is a great place to grab lunch. We sat inside. It was cool and the food was good. I got a turkey club sandwich. We were going to stay until about 5:00 and take Amy and Stef to the airport, but the park was really crowded and lines were long. We had a 6-hour drive back to Manteca. So, after lunch, we said our goodbyes and Maria and I got on the road. I helped drive a bit because we were tired from a fun 3 days. 

We might have even talked Stef into getting an annual pass, but they weren't selling passes, so she couldn't get one. 

Me and Amy at our favorite bathroom. The doors are painted to resemble playing cards - a nod to Alice in Wonderland's Queen of Hearts

Tired eyes, but very happy faces. Maria says she keeps her sunglasses on to hide the tired eyes. Good idea. 

Congress of the International Federation for Home Economics

I'm so grateful for Natalie and all the opportunities she gives me. I try to show that gratitude by supporting her in her role in our department and campus-wide. We had the chance of a lifetime to present at an international conference in Galway, Ireland. We presented about blended learning in a session on best teaching practices.

We arrived in Dublin and had to take a 2 hour train ride to Galway. We stayed at the Galmont Hotel and Spa because it was the best value for what we got. Wow, it was a super nice hotel. It also included a hot breakfast. I didn't think to bring a swimsuit and I kinda wish I had because there was a hot tub. Realistically, I probably wouldn't have walked there. 

The conference was held at Galway University, which was about a 20 minute walk from our hotel. We walked daily to and from the conference. Sunday afternoon, after getting settled in our hotel, we walked to the conference to check in and get our name tags, etc. We ran into some people that Natalie knows. They've now become people that I know and consider friends. 

There were about 500 attendees and about 35 countries represented at the conference. There were university students, university professors, and public school educators. There were 2 keynote speakers in the morning each day. Lunch was provided at the conference. I spoke with attendees from Sweden, Ireland, Kenya (one woman from Kenya was going to Arroyo Grande after the conference to visit her daughter. WHAT?!), Germany, Japan, Canada, and all over the US. I think Natalie and I were the only ones from Utah. 

I went to some sessions about food and nutrition, about the field of Home Economics, and about best teaching practices. It was fun. I only skipped part of one day because there was nothing of interest for me and I was super tired, so I went back to the hotel and took a nap. 

Wednesday was tour day. Natalie and I took the tour to the Cliffs of Moher, which is a rocky, cliffy coastline. It was beautiful. On the way there, we stopped at a national park known for its fauna and had a guided walk with an expert on the flowers, plants, and trees there. It was stunning. We also enjoyed lunch at a pub. At the top of a lighthouse at the Cliffs, I talked to a couple of youth who were obviously siblings and were having fun teasing each other. I found out they were from Danville. Again, how crazy is that? The top of the Cliffs of Moher and they went to the same high school as Kelly and Derek. 

One night I went on a walking tour of Galway and learned a bit about the history of the city. I found Ireland, overall, to be a bit tacky. They lean really hard into their drinking culture. I was kinda sad about that. I was really excited to be in Ireland, and I have to admit that I much prefer Scotland (from what I've seen). There is a monument to John F. Kennedy, who visited Ireland. They're proud of Kennedy's Irish heritage. 

We did get some great pub food. We got awesome Shepherd's pie. We shared a burger and fries. We also stocked up on candy bars. Their average candy bar, like our Snicker's, is made by Cadbury and is incredible. My favorite is the Picnic. I also liked the Lion bar. I remember getting the bars in London last year. YUM. I brought home a bunch of chocolate bars. I also brought home pins of the Hunter family crest. 

Dinner was often me and Natalie stopping at the neighborhood store on our way home and grabbing what hot food was left - sausage rolls, chicken pot pie. We also got fruit and yogurt and scones. We're such cheap eaters most of the time. I got a t-shirt that ended up having a horrible fit. The neck hole is soooo high and small. I ended up cutting off the ribbing and hemming a new neckline when I got home. It works. In fact, I'm wearing it as I write now. 

Our presentation went well. We presented after lunch on Friday, the last full day of the conference. We were in a session with presenters from Sweden and Norway. In fact, we were the only Americans presenting. I felt like dad set that up. I almost fell over when I saw the names of the presenters on the board - all Scandinavian. Whoa. We presented on how we use blended learning in our classes at BYU and how it's used in the public schools in Utah. We were asked to present at a webinar in the fall. 

We finally made it inside the cathedral that we passed daily. I could tell that there was stained glass, but it was nothing to look at from the outside. BUT, once we got inside, we saw some beautiful colorful stained glass. Brother Wolfley in my ward works in stained glass and mentions that stained glass is the perfect metaphor for what the light of Christ can do in our life. When we let the light in, the beauty shines. 

At the closing session they announced that the 2028 Congress will be in Wellington, New Zealand. You know we'll be presenting at that one. 

Before heading home, we took the train back to Dublin and spent the day in Dublin. The city was hopping because it was day 2 of Taylor Swift concerts and the 50th anniversary of the pride parade in Dublin. We went to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells. We went to St. Patrick's Cathedral. We also went to a museum about the history of Dublin. I was hoping to get to the bottom of how we became Irish, but I found out that Swedish vikings went east to Russia and Norwegian vikings went west, to Ireland. Well, we still don't know. I'm sure dad is figuring it out. 

It rained and rained all day in Dublin. It finally stopped when we got to our hotel. Natalie's parents were nice enough to use some of their Hilton points to get us a room near the airport. It made making our 6:00 am flight easy. The hotel called and paid for a cab for us in the wee hours of the morning. They also gave us a sack breakfast since we couldn't enjoy their hotel breakfast. It was a great trip!!!!!

Failte means welcome in Gaelic

BYU Family and Consumer Sciences takes the international stage

Cute little street in Galway

Bus to Cliffs of Moher with Natalie and Susan Turgeson, from University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. She brought 8 students (and her husband who is hiding from our selfie).

Wait until you see this window from inside!

We walked through this park every day on our way to and from the conference. 

Burren National Park

Just cute sights and beautiful churches around Galway

This woman, Jacqueline Holland, taught with MaryJane McGuire. MJ went to Washington, DC, to teach for a year and taught at Jacqueline's school. What a small world. 

Cute little town near Burren National Park. We ate at a pub here. 

Look at the beauty of this park

Irish!

Look on the right of Jesus...it's JFK

We love Home Economics

It rained all day in Dublin

Nice cozy pub in Galway, our last dinner there.

Library at Trinity College

Old time Dublin

Life in old-time Dublin was not great

St. Patrick's Cathedral

I loved these old flags

Went to this old pharmacy that keeps its look from decades past and still makes soap with its 1930's recipe

50 years of gay pride parade in Dublin

The shelves are usually full. They hold every book published since the 1800's. BUT, they are renovating/cleaning, so some shelves were empty. You don't see that everyday. 

Harp is symbol of Ireland. This is a very old (and very small) harp