Back to School Blessings

I asked Kamiko if he would give me a blessing for the new school year while he was here. I also asked him to dedicate my home. On Saturday morning, we all took a minute to have him do this. Melia also asked for a blessing for the school year. I took notes and asked Mel to take notes during my blessing. I'll write some of my notes and what my feelings were. I'm very grateful that Kamiko is happy to exercise his priesthood gifts. I also realize I can pray for help and pray for my home. I just wanted to allow Kamiko to serve me in the special way that only a priesthood holder can.


When dedicating my house, Kamiko said it was a special blessing that my home would protect, edify, and strengthen those who were in/visit it. He blessed it to be a place to raise children (which I kinda thought was funny at first, then I realized I'm still raising my children. I'll always be raising my children. This weekend was so full of kid/family time that it's obvious this will be a family's home, even if my kids are adults). It will be a place to raise grandchildren and to help others who seek refuge. People will feel comfortable here and be able to express themselves. They will be able to find relationships with God and have bonds of friendship. My home was blessed to be one of order and a place where I would find refuge, comfort, and peace and be guided by Heavenly Father. He mentioned that it will be a temporary space (WHAT? that really caught me off guard. Then after the prayer, Kamiko asked me if I'm planning on moving. My response was "no." Mel laughed and said "haha, you're moving again." We all realize that temporary could mean anything. I mean, this life is temporary. But, it is interesting). Finally, I see in my notes a mention of all blessings to mom and family. I don't recall exactly what I meant by that. I guess I was so caught off guard by the temporary part that I lost my train of thought.
I do love my home. I go to bed every night just happy and safe and wake up the same way. It's a blessing for sure. I was asked by a sister in the ward who does the newsletter to write a bit about me and my family. Here's what I sent her:

"Dana felt guided to her new home on Townhouse Drive and is excited to be here. She appreciates the warm welcome she's received and looks forward to getting to know everyone. She moved here from Saratoga Springs where she had lived for only a year. Before that, she lived in American Fork for 18.5 years, where she raised her 3 kids (1 son and 2 daughters). Her son and daughter-in-law live in Rogers, Arkansas, where her son works as a data analyst and his wife is finishing her PhD in business. Dana's second child graduated from BYU in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and teaches sewing at Diamond Fork Junior High. Her youngest is a BYU student living in Provo. Dana and her daughters have had many DIY nights together, sewing one project or another. 

Dana grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and still likes to visit California as often as possible. Sadly, Covid has put a damper on her usual travel plans. She served a mission in Cochabamba, Bolivia, from 1988 -1990. She has taught cooking at BYU for 20 years and all 3 of her kids have taken her class. The thing she likes most about her job is the fantastic students with whom she gets to interact. They cook and eat together. It doesn't get better than that. She also loves that she can share spiritual thoughts in class. During Covid, she has kept busy reading cookbooks and testing recipes for an advanced cooking class that she'll be teaching in the fall. 

Why did Dana choose to buy a townhome? She doesn't like yard work and is admittedly a house plant. She likes the great indoors. She also wants the flexibility to travel when that becomes a thing again. In 2016, she crossed off the ONLY thing on her bucket list - she saw Mount Rushmore! It exceeded her expectations. In 2018, she and her oldest daughter had annual passes to Disneyland and they went there A LOT. She also had the opportunity to go with a friend to northern Italy in 2018. From Italy, they drove to Slovenia, via Austria. She highly recommends a trip to Lake Bled in Slovenia for anyone who can swing it. Go there before the whole world discovers it. When her parents served missions in Stockholm, Sweden, she took her kids there, stopping in the Netherlands on their way. Her motto is "live frugally and travel." Dana's favorite scripture is Doctrine & Covenants 112:10. 

Some favorite books include: Oil and Marble, the Maisie Dobbs series, I'm Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers, To Kill A Mockingbird, and The Kitchen Counter Cooking School."

Now on to my back to school blessing from Kamiko. Mel took these notes for me:

guided to those to help

beacon of light

sensitivity of the spirit to help

more than just a teacher

servant of God and Christ

They recognize the good you've done

Don't diminish the effect (this really touched me. He mentioned that the effect I have on families and their futures is immeasurable)

nothing is too small

love will go a long way

your impact has gone further than you know

strength to set boundaries

patience

receive strength from others (I felt prompted to realize I'll need to ask for help sometimes and I don't need to figure out everything on my own).

not perfect - you'll need help

You'll recognize those you'll need help from

God is guiding you

Future family

strengthen hobbies and talents

serve in your ward

lift others and yourself

You're strong and are doing your best

School year will be a blessing

I'm very grateful for my fantastic kids. I'm also grateful for the gospel and for Priesthood blessings. I'm grateful for Kamiko and Bekki's trip here and for them taking time to stay here. I'm grateful that the girls came and stayed here so we could all be together. I'm blessed. 

All My Kids Were in Town!

Kamiko, Bekki, and Dottie came for a week. They spent the first few nights at the Brau's house, then they came and stayed with me. I've been in heaven, staying up way too late, and cooking and cleaning non-stop.

Even before the kids came from Arkansas, Allie and Mel came and stayed here, so I've had a houseful for a few days. It's been fun. I've had fabric all over the place, as Allie and Melia both brought sewing machines and things for projects. Allie made 5 shirts! She also made many, many masks. Her tops aren't just any tops. They're tops from a pattern that she made to perfectly fit her measurements. They are so cute. I'm so proud of all she applies that she learned in college. She's a fantastic teacher and loves to learn. It's so fun to be around her. I enjoy every minute of time spent with her.

Melia made some masks too. She also went to DI and bought some cute second hand clothes that she can re-purpose. She's such a great person. She hates school. To say she doesn't like school is an understatement. She hates it. But she's sticking with it for now. She'll find her path. In fact, Kamiko gave her a blessing and Heavenly Father is aware of her and He's guiding her. It seems her path will be circuitous, but she'll get there. Coincidently, today uncle Mike gave her the advice to not rush through college, but to enjoy these years. I couldn't agree more.

Bekki had interviews at BYU. It seems she's in the same boat I was in in March. Interview...another interview...wait...wait. She won't have an offer until October if there is to be an offer. We all think there will be one, but no one knows until it's official. BYU would be lucky to get her. She'd be such an excellent addition to the faculty there. She's young. She has good ideas. She's smart. She's edgy. She's loving and accepting.

Kamiko dedicated my home and he gave me a blessing for the upcoming year. I took notes and had Melia take notes. I'll write those up for FHE tomorrow. Today I just want to focus on the fun I had with the kids. Kamiko and Bekki and Dottie got here on Friday afternoon. I had shopped for and planned a celebratory dinner for our family. Bekki's interviews and my job. I made delicious steaks. First time I've tried to make really good steaks. I also made potatoes and cut up a watermelon. I made Kamiko's favorite cake: chocolate chip pound cake. I also made Bekki's favorite: funfetti with chocolate frosting. We had dinner, then all got ready (makeup, dressed, showered, etc.) and went up Provo canyon for family photos. Mel's friend Matt took our pictures with his new camera. They turned out great. I'm so excited to get them printed. I have to wait until I'm full time and have access to photoshop. Kamiko had a funny grease spot on his shirt that needs to be erased. After I left, Keenan met the kids for his own photo with them. Then he took them out for ice cream.

They got back to my place around 10. I was down the street, watching fireworks with the Schultz family. It was Pioneer Day. An unusual one since we're all still in lockdown due to Covid-19 and also the divorce adds a unique twist from years past. Saturday we woke up and I made my first trial of Kouign-amann, a French pastry that I'm trying to learn for my advanced cooking class. I set off the smoke alarm many times with that hight heat and dark pan and butter and sugar. It was a mess, but they were good. We had salad for dinner with everyone building their own with chicken, steak, cheeses, and veggies. We had cake and drank lots of soda. It's been quite the weekend. I have loved every minute. We watched "Hamilton" on Disney + twice. We ate. We sewed. We talked. We watched trash reality TV. It was so fun. All of the kids are gone now except for Allie. She's cleaning up her fabric.

On Saturday afternoon, Kamiko and I went to mom and dad's for a short bit to visit on their porch. This social distancing is getting old!!!!! It was a fun visit, though. They're doing well and are enjoying taking little drives around to see temples and Holden, dad's birthplace.

Kamiko and Mel joined me for church today. Kamiko wasn't expecting to go to church, so he wore his Kanye West "Jesus is King" shirt. It was fun to have them with me. Allie and Bekki stayed behind and slept. We stayed up past 1:00 am on both Saturday and today. Hamilton and trash TV. For lunch today, I cooked up some rice and made chicken gravy to go with the leftover chicken I had. You see, I've been recipe testing for my advanced class. I bought 2 whole chickens. One I broke down and braised, then made pan gravy with it. The other I spatchcocked then soaked in buttermilk then roasted. I did all this in my new cast iron skillet. That pan has gotten a ton of use in the last 4 days.
One funny thing was that Mel wanted to watch TV, but she didn't want to have to turn around on the couch, so she got out her phone and watched TV using the camera feature of her phone. Talk about creative and lazy.

 

The only thing that isn't going well is that Mitty is gone again. I let him out on Thursday night, just before Mel got here. I didn't think about it. He likes to go outside. He hasn't come back yet. There has been a sign of him in the form of a dead mouse left by my front walkway on Friday morning. I sure hope that little guy finds his way back. We're kinda worried that he might have come back but heard Dottie barking, and left. I sure hope that's not the case. Mel and I went out tonight after Kamiko and Bekki and Dottie left to drive around and see if we could lure him home. No luck yet. I sure hope he makes it back.