11/19/23

When I went to open LaVonna's old apartment for the cleaners the other day, I almost gasped because where there had been just a few dead plants and what I thought were weeds, there were all of these blooms to greet me. It was like a little message of life in the middle of remembering death. My good friend Kristy's mom had her funeral Saturday morning (I got to watch on Zoom), and as I've cycled through a range of emotions this week, and as I've thought of the respiration cycle in my breathing meditation, and as the seasons are cycling into change again, I've (amazingly!) felt a new gratitude for cycles, for the healing and growth that come from what seems sometimes hopeless and repetitive. We were talking about the iterative process of prayer/seeking God today in SS, and I looked up the difference between iterative and reiterative. Reiterative is basically a synonym for repetition, while "Iterative" is a math/science term which repeats the action BUT with NEW VALUE. I have wrestled a lot with cyles over the years. When I took my meditation class, I think I first learned to look at what seemed like useless circular motion as climbing a spiral staircase, and that's iterative. And the way we can breathe air in one way, and breathe it out transformed, I love thinking of how cycles can be transformative (even though it's sometimes hard to remember!), and that we can find hope even in difficult situations knowing there's that potential. I didn't have too much planned this week, so thought I should be able to get in lots of extra visits, but then there was so much laundry, and I got into deep cleaning bathrooms, and Seth needed help, and I didn't get to as much as I had hoped, and it was one of those times where I was seeing my weak spots more glaringly. Then today at church, the car had left, but Seth didn't have his coat and it was a little drippy. I wasn't overly worried about still walking home, but two of our sweet widows were following us out, and asked Super Seth if he wanted to ride in their car, and he did! They were laughing at me not being able to open the doors on their high tech car, I made sure the one's daughter was recovering okay from back surgery, and double checked on an identity theft issue with the other, and just loved being with them. As they quizzed Seth on directions home (which he knew of course, with his scooter practice) and they dropped us off, I thought, what a sweet nod from God that was to BRING me a little visit with the women I wanted to see this week. I felt SO known and seen. (It was a good cycling through of feelings of inadequacy to strengthening/assistance). Because the weather was near 60 all week, we took advantage of cheap winter Zoo fare, and took the littles (and 2 school skippers) to Hogle Zoo. Breely and Lily rode with us, and Maddie met us with her boys. We saw SO many great animals!! Feeding the red panda, leaping seals, an iguana that looked like it was about to start talking to us, and a swimming jumping polar bear that was OVERWHELMING!! I also ran into one of my old roommates Brooke, who was there with her first grade field trip--haven't seen her for at least a decade! It was such a great day--Seth had never been, and of course, loved it all, and was SO thrilled to be with Tommy, Henry wanted to hold my hand!💗, Lily stayed so cheery without a nap, and Lucy and Jane ended up being extra helpful with all the little ones. My favorite line from Seth was when we encountered this young wildcat expert by the leopard who asked if we had any questions and was a walking expert. Seth asked if they swam and then how high they could jump, and by the 3rd question, he whispered up to me, "I'm really good at this!" I tried digging out our leaning Linden tree in the backyard, then called for professional free estimates, where I think the nice tree guy was trying not to laugh at my ideas to move it. I also re-stained the front door while I could leave the door open a bit. I had an order pickup in Layton, so I ran to pick that up with Seth after library storytime, and I finally got to meet adorable Baby Everett (Masina's and Colter's) when we dropped by Stacey's for a bit. Seth did not want to leave, and "Aunt Stacey's house" was one of the first things he wanted to write on our "Grateful Tree." Dad & I went to ward temple night Friday, and last night I helped in the kitchen for the HS Madrigals dinner that Anne was singing in last night. It is a BIG deal with 4 courses and almost 200 people served every night! Schwew!! It made cooking Thanksgiving dinner seem like no big deal! I got to work with Shylee Koefed's parents (she's still dating Braxton--they both run at ISU) Anne & I got home around 11, but we got to bring so much leftover food home that I barely had any cooking to do for the missionaries coming over. They are a treat--one from NC, and one from TX, and one is a SINGER!!!!! I begged him for at least Christmas carols, and had Brian play for him, but after one verse, I was like, "Oh, you can play AND sing I bet!!"--he was SOOOOO GOOOOOOD!!!!!! and he did sit at the piano without a stitch of music, and sang this gorgeous arrangement of "Because I Have Been Given Much" --his voice was like BUTTER--AND Southern accent?!!! I almost didn't let them leave. Emily also had an awesome experience meeting a Catholic lady from Colombia on the bus to SLC, and visiting with her so much that they both knew it was no coincidence they ended up together. Missing you as we have so much family time this week, love you SO SO MUCH!!!! (and Brent just realized you've been out now as long as his whole mission!) Love, Mom