July Wrap-Up

This wrap-up mostly consists of this past week since we have been out of town the rest of the month.

Geoff went to California to surf and sit on the beach for four days just after returning from Ghana. He is now home and fighting some kind of stomach/digestive issue he picked up in Africa almost 5 weeks ago. Fun fun!

Tennie and a friend went on an epic road trip up to Banff National Park, over to Victoria, down to Seattle for a few days, a short stop-over in Portland, and then a long drive home. They slept in the car and ate Spaghettios. Cold. Out of the can. She is a minimalist of a different breed than I am!

The girl's cousin Taeya came home from McCall with us and has been here this week. We went to the 24th of July parade (this was my first and last time). People were staking their spots the day before, and hundreds slept out! Lots of high school bands and stake floats.

They've made several trips to Starbucks for specialty drinks. They've been to the mall a couple times. They've eaten four boxes of popsicles.

They've seen Mama Mia 2 twice, and they have memorized every song and filmed their reenactments.

They've created a movie about spies, since that is their deep, vocational aspiration.

They spent an afternoon rollerskating and playing laser tag. We went to the Sugarhouse farmer's market and tried out homemade ginger beer, empenadas and crepes.

We went to Park City for an evening concert with my brother and his family, and our good friend Ashley and her kids.

And on a somber note, Taeya brought her hamster, much to Adele and Ceci's delight. The hamster developed an eye infection, which caused his eye to bulge out, which was quite distressing. They administered eye treatments with salt water. The eye infection passed to our cat. Now feeling like a vet clinic, eye treatments expanded. Then one morning the hamster began to chew its own hand, hop up and down and sort of spasm out. Finally after this short episode, it fell on its face and didn't move all day. By the end of the day the little guy died. A funeral was held, and the hamster was buried in our small planter pot cemetery with fish and birds who have passed on during our living here.

Finally, we had a Brinton family reunion, the first in many, many years. It was really fun to see aunts and uncles, cousins and their kids (and some grand kids!) There was a taco truck, an auction (to offset costs and donate to the Road Home) and karaoke. Good times.

Happy Summer!

Stepping Up My Game

In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, it states the "mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children". I've thought a lot about this responsibility over the years. It means more than just feeding kids, keeping them clean, and driving them to soccer practice. I've wondered what it looks like to nurture my kids spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally. The depth of our role as mothers is is endless!

I would say that over the years I've succeeded in many ways, and thankfully as a mother there are many ways to succeed! But recently I've been feeling that my influential years are dwindling, and I decided to revisit what it means to really nurture my children, now teenagers.

I brainstormed all that I want my girls to know, and what skills I want them to develop, before leaving home - spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally/intellectually. I'm sure I'll add to this list over time, but this was a good exercise to see what could use a little fine-tuning and what needed serious attention.

Next I tried to think how I could incorporate this knowledge and skill-set into what we are already doing, because I know from experience that adding a bunch of stuff to an already busy week just isn't going to happen. Even still, this will require commitment, persistence, patience, and a lot of getting back in the saddle on my part! But motherhood is my full-time job! This is really about how consecrated I am in this role. So, I'm stepping up my game. (Please NOTE: this is my version of stepping up my game. There are many ways to be a good mother and nurture children to their potential. The project manager in me wants something concrete to work on.)

Let me confess at the outset that I LOVE coming up with all of these ideas, charts and systems. The carrying them out part, on the other hand, is not my strong point! Once established I sort of expect 100% buy-in and cooperation from my kids. I did when they were wee too. I don't mean to, I just sort of subconsciously do. Obviously that's not how it works. I have learned through long, frustrating experience that I have to accept that growth is a process. My kids won't leave home perfect, but hopefully they'll leave home with a little experience for the life they'll live ahead under their belts. So progress. That is what I'm going for.

Systems

My sister-in-law Ingrid is really good at systems. I love going to her home in Meridian or McCall because everything is organized and in its place. Like any mom, she is working with less-than-willing kids, but her home is still beautifully smooth.

While there I took pictures of a few admirable things I observed. I love gathering effective ideas!

First is the back of the main bathroom door. She hangs quotes and scriptures in different colors and fonts. Some are new, and some have been there for awhile. They all have them memorized because what else are you going to do with those minutes you spend on the toilet each day?

Every summer she has a point system for routines the kids are to do each day, as well as extras they can do to receive points (productive things they can do with their time). Points in the past have been for outings and privileges; this year the points are for cash. I love her inspiring messages right there on the pantry door for everyone to see several times a day. (I love how some kids are inspired by points and/or cash and others aren't! A good thing to learn about your individual kids! I think age matters too.)

Her job chart includes school-day morning and after school routines.

Still hanging from last school year is each child's schedule. This is super helpful when scheduling appointments or helping them think through their day!

For years she has had a piece of paper hanging on the side of one of her cupboards where she quickly captures the funny things her kids say. It is so easy to think I'll remember later and then totally forget to write it down, or forget the quote altogether! What a treasure!

While in Africa I spent quite a bit of my down time thinking about things I want to change and improve in my mothering and household. We're kicking things off this Sunday. I'll share my strategies as I implement them!

Cousin Camp - McCall, Idaho

Still feeling the effects of jet lag, we packed up the car, with cousin Bailey joining us, and headed north to McCall, Idaho. It was a relatively quick trip, and the only trip to McCall we were taking this year, so we really tried to soak it all in.

On the way to McCall, we spent the night in Meridian at Ingrid's home. First things first, we tie-dyed t-shirts. This is cousin camp tradition.

Always fun. Always a mess.

The next morning we went to the Boise temple. TK just turned 16, so he did the baptizing. That was super cool. And look at the yellow rose bushes growing outside! Their Mormor said to think of her every time we see a yellow rose, and we did.

That same Mormor created the idea of "Secret Surfboards" one family reunion, and these cousins wanted to draw names and buy little gifts for their "Secret Surfboard". We made a stop at the dollar store to load up on (mostly white elephant) gifts. No one did a very good job at being secret.

With bikes and teens loaded, we headed to McCall. The rest is in no particular order, just the overall happenings of cousin camp.

Every morning we had a short devotional. This year Tennie, Adele and TK each taught a standard from For the Strength of Youth pamphlet. They did a great job and we had great discussions. They also have a cousin song, Battle Hymn of the Republic. They always stand and march to the chorus and sing with gusto. I love it!

Tennie gave a tutorial on how to change bike tubes (as many were in need of repair).

We went to the farmer's market where these crazies danced to a guy playing the trumpet. They were offered money to come the following week and dance! It added a nice energy to the market, which is pretty small.

We went out for pizza and burgers and shave ice and Ice Cream Alley (Ice Cream Alley was every day).

The Ice Cream Alley line is always very long (like 45 minutes), but always very worth it.

(I think this picture is my favorite cousin camp photo ever.)

They ate ice cream at the lake at sunset and then swam.

We played at the lake every day.

Ingrid and I had hours of lake time to talk and catch up. What a treat!

Trent came up the last two days with the boat. And dog.

We stayed until it was dark. Then the kids like to ride in the boat on the way home while blasting our McCall song, Let's Get Rich, by Ingrid Michaelson. That is tradition.

Oh man do I love McCall. Every time I go I imagine up my dream home on the lake. Maybe some day. But for now, I'm so grateful that Trent and Ingrid generously invite us to stay at their place. It is sharing it with family that makes it so amazing.

Meanwhile, Geoff returned from Ghana and went straight to California for a few days of beach and waves. And while he is at it, he rented a convertible Audi. It is the next best thing to living there. 😊

Let Summer Begin!

My brother and his family are in Park City for the month of July. We have been able to see them a couple times since we've been home. And one of my favorite friends, Ashley, just moved to Park City. And it just so happens that my sister-in-law Joann and Ashley grew up in the same area in Texas, so they know each other too.

We all got together for a few hours at the pool and went to dinner. It was our first official fun summer outing, since Africa is hot but doesn't count as summer, and summer in New Zealand was really winter here, and friends and family and watermelon and popsicles and open days weren't part of the experience. So, let SUMMER begin!

We at at Vessel Kitchen. Yum! And our post-dinner photo shoot had one too many cameras, as is evident by the eyes! We love all of these people!

Grateful

During our travels we've met people who visit these poor countries and give up everything to serve the people in some way. I've really marveled at their willingness to sacrifice comforts and familiarity for a people they have just met. To be honest, I got home and really appreciated the comforts of America! I was grateful to be back!

America has its share of serious issues right now, and if we aren't careful, we could lose many of our rights and privileges, but overall, we live in an incredible country. For those who are willing, there is a job. For those that work hard, their is potential to climb. In our comfortable culture, many of us have TIME. Time to pursue; time to expound; time to play; time to explore; time to create; time to enjoy life.

I went grocery shopping and couldn't believe the selection of colorful, fresh food. Options. And the store itself is remarkably beautiful and bright and inviting. Business thrives.

America has a remarkable infrastructure. We have space. We have free community events. We have drinking fountains and public toilets and reliable cell service. We have clean water, hot water and some to spare. We have trash collectors, doctors with sufficient skill and equipment, and customer service. We live a good life.

I'm grateful to have been made aware of many people's struggles, and I'm especially amazed at those who so directly give all to meet those people's needs. But mostly, I'm grateful to be HOME.

Final Days

Our last two days were relatively uneventful. Before Geoff and Michael were off one day, we went to an artisan market for tourists. We anticipated annoying sellers forcing their goods on us, but it was worse than expected. We were the only prey in the market too. Oh, you don't want a bracelet? How about a necklace? No? How about a t-shirt? No? How about a wallet? You don't want a wallet? How about... You get the idea. There is no such thing as browsing around here.

At one point we found some beaded bracelets we liked and thought we would take back for cousins. We spent 15 minutes sorting and deciding which ones to buy. When we finally asked how much (we should have agreed to a price first), this master, white-skinned predator gave us an outrageous price. We offered much lower. He didn't budge. Our driver Joe happened to accompany us through the market and he began a heated argument with the shop owner in Twi, the native language. I thought it was going to break out in a fist fight! Finally Joe told us it was way too expensive and we should move on. Negotiations over. Later he explained that he could walk in there and buy the same thing for a small fraction of the price, and he had let the guy know. I'm sure the shop owner was not about to give us his black brother's price and was mad this guy was ruining his ruse!

When Ceci saw this dress on this hanging mannequin, she said, "Well, that dress is made for certain body types!" (Not ours, I might add!)

The shopping was so exasperating, we didn't stay too long. So strange they wouldn't barter! High price or no deal.

When going out to dinner for the last time at our favorite World Cup-watching restaurant, Coco Lounge, the traffic was terrible. We had been telling our driver, Joe, that he needed to get a siren so he could zip on past the traffic, as we often see government cars do. He laughed and laughed. Then one went by and Geoff jokingly said, "Joe! Follow it!" Without hesitation, Joe lunged the car from the near standstill line of cars and clipped right behind the speeding car with a siren! We were shocked! What would have taken 30 minutes took 3 minutes. No joke! Go Joe Go!

Go France!

And then we packed and swam and watched one more World Cup match and our trip to Africa was over.