Why Don't I Blog More Often?

Wow, there's a lot to catch up on. Why do I do this to myself? Here goes...

Me: I celebrated my 48th (almost typed 38th) birthday on October 5th. It was General Conference Sunday and it was fabulous. Mel gave me some awesome bubble bath stuff and I took a lovely bath. I also took a nap, took a walk, and had some mint chocolate chip ice cream. I made dinner on Saturday that I just had to heat up, so clean up was minimal. I love birthdays. They're an excuse to just take it easy. To celebrate, I also went to lunch with my friends Wendy Lee, Debbie Larsen and Kim Blight. We've been celebrating birthdays for years...since our boys carpooled together to junior high. We went to Wild Zucchini and ate pasta and had a great visit. Next birthday is Wendy's in January. Looking forward to it already. I also went to lunch with my walking buddies/sisters, RaDawn Mehr, Sherie Ritchie and Sandy Hewlett. I really do love them like sisters. We tried a new bakery/lunch place that was ok, but the company was fabulous. Then, Jamie Wigington, my former neighbor and October birthday buddy went to dinner and a movie. It's our annual tradition. I also got to go to dinner with mom and dad. My birthday loot included aforementioned bath supplies, chocolates, a cute ghost halloween decoration, a WW drinking cup, a cute sign about friendship, workout videos, and cold-weather walking clothes. Birthdays are the BEST.

It was my 30-year high school reunion and someone posted this gem. Derek refers to me as "the hot dude on the left." with me are Craig McKinley and Annie Wagner.

Aunt Carolyn was in town and we all went to the women's broadcast at the end of September. Mel, Ann Hunter, me and Carolyn Brandt

My favorite...Halloween decorations

Me at Gardner Village. So glad we went at night. The lights were so pretty. The weather was great, too.

Me and Mel coming home from NPS, aka "the expired food store." We found some great stuff.

Work is going great. It's meat week and I feel that for the first time I've had time to spend with the kids, talking and getting to know them. We've been testing recipes and that has kept us busy during lab. There's also just a lot of "stuff" to take care of during lab. I finally got caught up and can just be with my peeps. It's been great.

I got an iPhone. I feel like a teenager with my first cell phone. It's so pretty and cool.

I have been offered a job as a WW leader. I start my training in December. So excited about that. I get to lead meetings on Tues nights. Just 3 hours/week. It's perfect and I get money doing something I love. Wow, now I officially have the two best jobs in the world. Sorry, people, but I got them!

Keenan: Keeps going at work. He's enjoying time in the bishopric. He gets to go to activities with the deacons and he seems to enjoy that. He turned 50 in September. We celebrated by going to Kamas and trying the best burger in Utah. It was really good. We also stopped at the outlet mall in Park City and he got some clothes.

Kamiko: Continues to be a fabulous missionary and inspiration in good ol' Santiago. He's now training a new missionary, Elder Tibbits, who, we found out, is Daysa's 2nd cousin. How's that for a small world? To make it even smaller, a couple of weeks ago, one of the Oswald's neighbors from Orem was visiting Kamiko's ward in Santiago. They got talking and put things together that they both knew the Oswalds. Crazy.

Someone asked me today if I just wish he could stay longer because they're out of trouble on a mission. I said "No." I love my kid and can't wait for him to come home so I can give him a big hug. I continue to have facebook friends in his wards. Boy, speaking Spanish has sure come in handy. He's back in Quilicura, his first area, but in a neighboring ward. He had been in Pudahuel for 6 months and the members really sang his praises. The were sad to see him go. This past week, he was with his companion at the mission doctor and he ran into a buddy from the Santiago MTC, who is serving in the South Mission. Good times. I love that kid. He stays positive and is still the fun guy we all love.

Oh, the best thing was that we had his trainer, James Call, over for dinner recently. James is a BYU student. I got to find out everything I've wanted to know like: how do they do their laundry, why is Kamiko getting so fat, what is a typical day like, etc. I am so appreciative that James took such good care of Kamiko. I asked him what his first impression of Kamiko was and he said "I thought he was VERY enthusiastic. When I found out he had been zone leader in the MTC, I assumed he was a typical guy who had been deacons quorum president, teachers quorum president, etc. Then I found out that was not the case." He and Kamiko really hit it off, even though they're very different. Both happy and hard-working. I guess that's what it takes. I gave that kid a huge hug. Closest thing to my boy.

Fernando and Kamiko

Kamiko, Elder Porter and some young men or missionaries. I'm not sure.

Partners in crime. They got along so well!

Feeding Elder James Call. Oh, I found out that it took Kamiko about a week to be comfortable with Spanish. Bien hecho!

Eating Papa John's at Pia's house with Elder Porter

Sebastian and Kamiko

Kamiko and Elder Tornow...North meets South...friends since the CCM

Allie: Still loving the Razorback life and excelling at school. She studies hard and has taken advantage of opportunities to see that part of the country. She's been to Tulsa, Branson, St. Louis and Houston. She hitches rides with friends. She and her roommate continue to be best buds. A lot of people think they are sisters. They are also good friends with a couple of girls down the hall. The four of them, plus Cristina's boyfriend, Cam, have a great time together. The singles' ward is pretty small, but she's giving it a chance. I'm very proud of her for this adventure. She's a great girl. We bought her ticket for Christmas break and I'm excited to have her home for 3 weeks. Yeah Allie! Woo Pig Sooie!

Sisters? Roommates? Allie and Cristina

The girls at Fayetteville's farmers' market

Now that I have an iPhone, I can facetime her. That means we just dial each other up with the facetime app and we can live talk and see each other.

Melia: She still rules the house, setting the agenda for FHE each week. We've watched "Dancing with the Stars," gone to Gardner Village to see the witches, and gotten frozen yogurt...almost. When we got to the frozen yogurt place, we saw that they had moved. When we got to the new location, a tiny shack, we saw that they only had a few flavors, none of which impressed us, so we didn't get yogurt.

She's working at Hapari now. That's the swimsuit store where both Kamiko and Allie worked. She doesn't get a lot of hours, but it's a way better fit than Old Navy was. She'll get more hours starting in March, when their new line comes in and people start swimsuit shopping for next summer. She's getting excellent grades. 1st term ends tomorrow and she'll have mostly A's with a B or two. Way to go, baby Mel! She is one smart cookie. We work on ACT prep every week and she's really good at it. She's going to a girls' choice dance this weekend. Should be a lot of fun, even though she's having 2nd thoughts about going. Her date has to work all day and will get off work barely in time to go to dinner.

She went to homecoming with a friend and, boy, did they look cute! I can't believe she's a junior. Time is passing really fast now.

Mel and Wyatt Burns going to homecoming. I loved, loved, loved that dress. So cute and so Mel.

Some Inspiration

Went to the Ogden Temple Open House just before Allie left. The girls commented, "This must be what heaven feels like."

 Deseret Book had a list of 110 LDS leader quotes. These were some of my favorites.

Just September

Got an email from one of Kamiko's investigators in Chile. She has lived in the US before. She sent pictures of the Elders eating Papa John's Pizza. According to Carlos, Kamiko continues to fatten up.

Mel is doing well in school. We are enjoying time together. We've gone shopping, to the bookstore, and to the fabric store. We've gotten yogurt, sodas, pizza, etc. She's really fun to be around. She has also taught me how to use Pinterest. We'll see how much I use that. I actually think I will. It will be a good way to organize recipes, work stuff, etc.


Allie is working hard at school. She's surprised at how much reading and just time, in general, college takes. Good girlie. She went to Saint Louis last weekend and just told me she has plans to go to Florida in the spring. Wow, she's living it up. She enjoys her classes.

First Day of Class...Allie and Cristina

Allie and friends at Farmer's Market

I went back to work last week. The first lecture is usually really quiet. No one has a friend in class yet. Well, this group seems quite lively. Just what I needed after a fun summer. Wasn't really looking forward to going back. Now I kinda am. I realized I didn't have a first-day-of-school pic of myself, so my class helped me get some.
 

My new friend James took a fuzzy picture, but here I am.

Drew (my Arkansas daughter), Alyssa (Allie's friend) and ? (a former TA's cousin) and EVERYONE

First Day of School: SOLO

It's been a VERY long time since I had just one kid in a back-to-school photo. This year it was just Mel. She starts her junior year at American Fork High School. She is settling into this only child thing. She does see the benefit of not having to share the Subaru with anyone else. She's gonna be busy this year. She's playing soccer on a club team, she'll be working at Hapari starting later in September, and she's an editor for the yearbook.

I love the cute girl that she is. She's very into fashion and very creative with her outfits. I really think she has a gift. She looks for good deals and also buys some real unique pieces, both clothing and accesories. She's sure fun to spend time with. She likes shopping more than I do, though. I don't have the stamina to shop as long as she would like. I do like shopping, but not as much as baby Mel does.

She's off to the first football game of the season, with camera and long lens in hand. She'll be taking pics for the yearbook. 

P.S. before going to the game, she took time to play a quick game of SkipBo with her mommy. I love that girl.

My Boy is Doing Great!

So, I have a number of facebook friends in Kamiko's ward in Chile. We message back and forth. Here's a sampling of what they're saying about my favorite Elder:

"Your son is like a member of the family. We love him a lot because he's so friendly. You have a marvelous son. Thanks for making him the man that he is. He's very spiritual and very funny." (Single Young Adult representative in his ward)

"Your son and his companion are great missionaries and they are helping me a lot. He is great because his parents taught him well. He's like Nephi, born of goodly parents."
(Young man in his ward)

"It was your son's turn to confirm a new member and the spirit was very nice when he performed the confirmation."

"Your son is very enthusiastic in his work here in Chile."
(a member who helps the missionaries tons)

"Your son is a great Elder." (young man in his ward)

I really feel that Kamiko was sent to the right place. He loves Chile and Chile seems to love him. He's working hard and enjoying the work. He's also finding great people to teach and has support of fabulous members to keep the new converts strong. Way to go Elder Adcock and Santiago North! Love you!

Leaving Everything Most Loved

Well, well, well...on my way home from Arkansas, I finished the latest Jacqueline Winspear novel called "Leaving Everything Most Loved." At the end, I found the perfect quote that pertains to my big kids and our family's changes.

"Leaving that which you love breaks your heart open. But you will find a jewel inside, and this precious jewel is the opening of your heart to all that is new and all that is different, and it will be the making of you -- if you allow it to be." 

I think this is why I don't cry when my kids go. It's emotional, but not sad. How can I be sad when they're doing great things? Both Kamiko and Allie are making themselves great with these adventures in college and mission. So is Mel, as she plays the role of only child at home. Changes for everyone.

On to my trip to Arkansas.

Tuesday: left EARLY. Flight left SLC at 6:30. Had a layover in Phoenix. Allie slept and I walked around the concourse. Got into Tulsa, rented car and drove 3+ hours to Eureka Springs, AR, to see Christ of the Ozarks. It's a 70-foot high statue of Christ. It was very pretty and tall. We were gonna go there later in the week, but were up for the drive. In hindsight, it was a good idea. The end of the week got busy. NW Arkansas is gorgeous, hilly and green. I loved it and told Allie I was so glad she took this adventure. Had she gone to BYU, she would have missed out on seeing a new part of the country. We checked into our hotel and went to Walmart and Target. We bought some school stuff and bought groceries to keep in our room. It was the first of many trips to Walmart. We were right around the corner from it. Oh, first thing I noticed...Walmart was totally decked out for UARK. Razorback stuff and banners everywhere!

Out of juice by the time we got to Eureka Springs. There was an outlet outside of the bathroom building. We rested and charged there for a few minutes.

Only two of about four rows of Razorback stuff at Wal-Mart

On the road in our Mazda

Stopped at Whataburger in OK. They messed up my order. :( All I got was a hamburger with ketchup and mustard. No pickles, onion, lettuce or tomato. It was still good, though. Allie said if they put fry sauce on the burgers, they would be perfect.

Why didn't Allie tell me how awful this picture was? Or retake it?

Wednesday: Got up and had our free breakfast. I had raisin bran and yogurt every day and Allie had biscuits and gravy every day. I love biscuits and gravy, but I'm too old to think I can eat like that and not get super FAT. Met a nice man at breakfast who comes into Fayetteville often. He told us he works with sorority girls and cheerleaders. I was curious about what exactly he does. Well, we found out later. He sets up shop in is room to give spray tans to the cheerleaders and sorority girls. Creepy, huh? They all know where to find him. He was really nice, but I think his job is creepy. We went on a nice drive to an art studio that has cute walking trails with murals and pottery throughout. We had orientation that afternoon. That's when I got most emotional. Allie was with students and I was in the parent session and I had to work really hard from crying every 2 minutes. I made it. What helped was remembering that she has institute across the street and a mormon mom 30 minutes away. Through my TA Annie, I met Michelle Blankenship, who has a daughter coming to BYU, and we promised to take care of each other's daughters. Had dinner at orientation, then went back to hotel.

Thursday: Got up early to get back to orientation. Allie met with her advisor and we walked around campus a bit. While she was in her student session, I met a mom who had heard that someone from Utah was there. She said "You're Utah!" She had lived in Vegas and her best friend is LDS and lives in Cedar City. She happens to live in Eureka Springs, where we went on day #1. She said she'll be Allie's mom, too. So, Al has two moms, both named Michelle, in Arkansas. We found the Home Economics building and I got a pic there. The administrative assistant even let us in one of the foods labs so I could see it. It was a nice lab for an old building. Ours is much nicer, but ours is much newer, too. We went to institute that night. There were a few kids there. It was the last week of summer session. More will be coming. There's a kid with down syndrome, named Nick, who goes. He picks the hymn every week. Went home. Watched HGTV. That's pretty much all we had on our TV. We just enjoyed watching the home makeover shows. 

Allie is the recipient of the Silas Hunt Scholarship. We found this framed information about him.

Friday: Last day to get stuff done before moving in and before lots of students get into town. We bought Allie's books, bought her mini fridge, microwave, more things she needed. It costs a lot of money, but that's ok. My kids are great and worth it. Allie reminded me how many old navy bucks I was earning by charging it on my old navy card. Went to a custard place and got a concrete with vanilla custard and key lime pie. That was delicious!!!! Oh, also drove by Bill and Hillary Clinton's house. Hahahaha! Bought boxes and packed everything up that wasn't in the two suitcases Allie was keeping.

Saturday: moved Allie in quickly! Record time. I was glad I had thought to buy boxes instead of having a million walmart bags. We got the first batch moved in about 20 min, then ran back to the hotel to get batch #2. Fridge, microwave, more boxes. Got everything in and her roommate, Christina, came. She's super cute and her family is really nice. Her dad, sister, stepmom and stepsisters were all there. I helped unpack a bit, then went to shower and check out. I had to fly home and I wanted to freshen up a bit before my drive, then flight. Allie and I picked up a pizza for our last meal. We went to a place called Eureka Pizza. It's like Little Caesar's, in that it has cheap pizza. BUT, they have a drive-through window. What a GREAT IDEA! I dropped her off and I drove the 2 hours back to the airport. It was a beautiful drive through small towns in Oklahoma. I only cried a little bit. It's more emotional than sad. Kinda like when Kamiko left. It's hard to be sad when your kids are doing great things, but it's emotional because there is change and I'll miss her. 

Beginning stages of moving in

Getting there. The bed is made.

Christina Mandujano, from Houston, TX

Eating pizza in the car

Funny Experience/Oklahoma Miracle: On they way back to the airport, in the middle of nowhere, there is a toll road and NO attendant. You must have exact change. I threw all the change I had into the little funnel thingy, but the light was still red. If I just drove on, I would risk a HUGE fine from the rental car company if they got a ticket. I searched through my purse, the car, etc. I watched to see if any cars might come and give me some money. Then I decided to look on the ground to see if there was any money people had thrown that didn't make it to the funnel thingy. I immediately found 2 pennies and threw them in. GREEN LIGHT! I had been only 2 cents short. Found them and got on my way. Milagro!