Only One Week of Work Left til Christmas Break

Check out the centerpiece these two students made for their group's Magnificent Meal.
They bought blocks of ice and sculpted snowmen out of them. I've never seen anything like it. Very creative!

Yes, because of a weird BYU calendar, my last day of class with my students is November 30th. How's that for awesome?! I have a lot to do to get ready for the next semester. I need to update my recipe packet and get assignments posted online, but I plan to do that early and enjoy December. I love work and I love vacations from work!

Next? Thanksgiving!

Halloween decorations are down. Time to get ready for Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving and spending time with family. Kris and Doug are coming from California this year. Should be a lot of fun. Already have plans to get together at Deb's house the night before Thanksgiving for pie. Oh, also have tickets to see "To Kill a Mockingbird" movie with my sisters on Nov. 15. We are such nerds! Here's a peek at my Thanksgiving decorations. I'm ready!

Halloween and Sadie's Dance

October was busy with a girls' choice dance at the high school and Halloween. The girls threw together cute ideas for both. I taught lecture on Halloween, then came home and handed out candy while working on some sewing projects in the living room. Didn't have a ton of kids come. Have since learned that the kids go where they know they will get soda or full-sized candy bars. Guess they won't be coming to my house year after year.

Allie the cat and Melia the jack-o-lantern on Halloween morning

Proudly wearing my halloween sweatshirt that I received as a birthday present from friends 19 years ago .

Michael, Allie's date, and Allie

Allie and her group of friends before Sadie Hawkins dance

Been Busy Helping Mitt Romney

Proudly displaying my loot from the Romney offices in Orem

Allie and grandma outside of Romney office - November 5, 2012 - Election Eve

Three generations of volunteers. Go Hunter Ladies!

Me, Allie and Mom outside of Romney offices on Election Eve

In the middle of all the family excitement of October, Honu woke up one day with a really swollen neck. Daddy came home from work and took him to the vet, Dr. Lamb. Antbiotic shot for $120 and he got better. Poor guy!

Keenan showing off the Romney bobble head I earned.

First election for Kamiko!

It's a presidential election year. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are the Republican candidates for President and Vice President. Living in Utah, our electoral votes always go to the Republican candidate...NO MATTER WHAT! I really want Mitt Romney to win. I think Barack Obama has done a HORRIBLE job as president. Since my one little vote won't make a difference here in Utah, I've been volunteering in the Mitt Romney offices to call potential voters in swing states. Mom and I started going a few weeks ago. I go every Monday around noon. At first, it was tedious and not very fun, asking likely voters around the country if they supported Romney or Obama. We were collecting data to see where to target ads. Then it got more fun as we called likely Romney supporters and reminded them to vote. I stayed for 4 hours last week and earned my t-shirt. I had to make 1,000 calls total to earn it. I love it. I also earned a bumper sticker and today they gave me a cap. I have made 1,700 calls for Mitt Romney. Allie came with me today. She didn't need to go to school, so I told her I would check her out if she came with me, which she did. We are entered to win one of three iPads, too. I would love to have an iPad named Mitt.

Halloween Decorations!

I always love to decorate for Halloween. I don't like the creepy stuff. I just like the cute stuff. Jen gave me a new decoration this year...a countdown to candy. It is so cute. Here are a few pictures of my fun stuff. Melia is bummed that she can't trick-or-treat this year, but I think once kids are in high school, they don't need to beg for candy anymore. If she decides to go with a friend to take a younger sibling, that's ok.

A corner shelf houses some fun knick-knacks

My new-this-year countdown to candy!

Jamie Wigington, our old neighbor and a dear friend, made this pillow for me in 2011.
The girls gave me the bear a few years ago for mother's day and we have a few holiday outfits for it.

Ghost/bat pillow made by Sandy Hewlett

A favorite spot...right by the front door

On the ledge, heading downstairs

A Story I Want to Always Remember

Written by my sister-in-law, Rachel's, visiting teacher. She was instrumental in Derek and Rachel coming back to church...

"When my Relief Society President was visiting my home one summer, she mentioned that she might want to add another sister to my route – but, she said, she would have to think about it and pray about it some more.

A couple of months later she asked me to visit Rachel Hunter.  She said, “Rachel is very hard to get hold of, but please don’t give up.  And, please, don’t let this be a drive-by visiting teaching effort.  Don’t just leave cookies on the door step.”  At this time, I didn’t have a companion, which interestingly, I think, added to the comfort we both felt with each other.

The first month I phoned and phoned, and finally reached Rachel who said I could come.  Imagine my surprise when she opened the door – here stood a beautiful, YOUNG lady with spiked red and black hair.  I know her in-laws, and somehow just didn’t picture Rachel being part of this very conservative family.

Rachel warmly invited me in, and we had a lovely visit.  I asked if she wanted the message each month, or would she just prefer to visit.  Her choice was just visiting.  And visit we did!  We had great discussions, covering a myriad of topics, which didn’t include the gospel.  I came to appreciate and love Rachel for her down-to-earth sensibility, and I soon discovered we had many, many things in common, even though we were separated in age by almost 40 years.  I usually visited bearing cookies or some other gift, but soon learned that this relationship was strong on its own merit, and a monthly trinket wasn’t necessary, though sometimes fun.  About three years later I delivered a birthday cake on her birthday, which was my custom.  She was excited to receive it, and told me that she’d told her mom she wouldn’t need a cake on her birthday, because she was sure her visiting teacher would be bringing her one.  Whew! Glad I didn’t let that one slip by!

I think our first visit was in August, and when I went to see her in January, Rachel asked what time the church services were.  I was serving with my husband at the MTC, and told her I attended Relief Society in our ward, but not the other meetings.  I told her I was the pianist, and so she wouldn’t feel lonely, she could sit by me in the corner by the piano. 

The next Sunday she was up and dressed, and her husband asked where she was going.  She told him, “To Relief Society”.  Derek quickly dressed and went to church with her, but since I wasn’t there for the entire block of meetings, I don’t know if they attended all of them.  She sat by me the first week, but from then on she was busy making friends and helping others feel welcome.

It wasn’t long until I learned that Rachel shared her testimony in Sacrament Meeting.  I wasn’t there to hear it, but that month I asked if I could begin teaching the monthly lesson.  With a big smile, she said I could.

Several months later, at a ward visiting teacher’s meeting, Rachel made a comment.  We were in the cultural hall, at opposite ends of the room, so I didn’t hear what she said.  But when she finished the president (a new president by this time) asked us both to stand.  The president said, ‘Look at these two.  They’re great friends.  Go figure!”  By now Rachel’s hair was jet black, she was charming in her short skirt and fish net stockings, and I, her friend, was staid and plump, with a few strands of grey hair.

I don’t believe I was the full reason for Rachel’s return to church activity, but perhaps my visits became the impetus to help it happen.  I did say to Rachel one time, “You’ve always had a testimony, haven’t you?  You just needed to be your won person.”  Her grin told me my assessment was spot on.  Because I was a visiting teacher, I made a charming friend, who eventually, with her husband, was worthy to go to the temple and be sealed for time and eternity.  For this gift, and I consider this experience a gift, I will be eternally grateful."

Beverly Johansen

July 1, 2009

General Conference...one word...WOW!

This weekend we celebrated my 46th birthday and general conference. I had a great birthday. Jen came on Thursday to lab and brought a cake and plates and forks. We were able to serve all of my students. They couldn't get over how much Jen and I look and act alike. That's a compliment. Friday mom and dad showed up as a surprise, too, bringing balloons and candy for all of my students and TA's. That was super fun. Then Starlyn ordered pizza, my absolute favorite meal, and we all took a 15-minute break to enjoy pizza together while students worked in the lab. We did get interrupted occasionally by a loud knock on the door. As you do with a crying baby, we took turns checking on "the kids." Everyone at work had surprised me with a really nice card in my bag. They are great. Keenan and the kids gave me a really pretty necklace and matching earrings that they purchased in Hawaii. I wore them all day on my birthday. It is nice to feel loved.

On Saturday, we woke and watched conference. Big announcements...two new temples (one in Arequipa, Peru, and one in Tuscon, Arizona). Those were overshadowed by the next announcements. Young men can now serve missions at AGE 18 and young women can serve at AGE 19!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot believe it. While it doesn't affect Kamiko, who is preparing to submit papers in the next 6 months, Allie could go in 2 1/2 years. Wow! The kids facebook pages and twitter accounts lit up with comments from youth about mission age change. The talks on Saturday morning were really touching, about spending time and effort on what really matters and on the importance of hope through the resurrection and the atonement. All talks all weekend were really good, but President Uchdorf's about remembering what is truly important was really touching.

Our kids are leaving soon, our friend Sue Vincent is waiting on a possible cancer diagnosis. She received a kidney transplant 3 years ago. Scott Sykes brother, Mark, just got news that he has terminal cancer. The political world is crazy. The economy is in upheaval. Things can change at any time. I want to make the most of the time with the kids at home. For this reason, Keenan and I have decided to take the kids to Disneyland in December for Christmas. We all love that place and haven't been in 3 years. We can't think of a better way to spend Christmas/vacation money than to take a fun trip before Kamiko and Allie leave, then soon, Melia.

Speaking of things that are important, I was cleaning out my email and found some photos that mean a lot to me. I'll post them here so I can always remember the events and look at the pictures often.

A dear, dear friend...Kim Rose Cassetti. We grew up together and she is an honorary Hunter girl. I made her this apron for her birthday in April of this year. The friendship really began our freshman year in English with Mr. Bright.

Kamiko at his high school graduation (2011) with lots of leis

Aunty Edna and Lynne Shiroma at Temple Square...Arlette and Lane Kiriyama took them (June  2011)

Aunty and Lynne at Temple Square

Me and my sisters at Allison East DeVuyst's wedding (Jenny, Karen, Kris, and me)

One more sister joins us...Kim Rose...August 2011

Jen, Kim, me and Kris at the wedding

Allie and her hula sisters Summer 2011

The presidential election is in less than a month. I've been volunteering at Mitt Romney call center in Orem. I go on Mondays for a couple of hours, making phone calls to collect data from swing states. Yesterday I called voters in Wisconsin. I really hope and pray that Romney wins. Since the electoral college process guarantees that Mitt will carry Utah, I will vote, but my vote won't make a huge difference. So, I decided to volunteer so I can contribute in some way.