We then settled in for a long weekend of General Conference where we heard from our prophet and the twelve apostles and other church leaders. That was beautiful too!
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Fall Beauty!
We have had the most beautiful fall weather and color change so far! Friday night we picked up Tennie at the train station and went to Sundance to ride the lift to the top, hike around and eat dinner. Leaves were just starting to change, but there were areas bursting with color. It was beautiful.
We then settled in for a long weekend of General Conference where we heard from our prophet and the twelve apostles and other church leaders. That was beautiful too!
We then settled in for a long weekend of General Conference where we heard from our prophet and the twelve apostles and other church leaders. That was beautiful too!
Friday, October 4, 2019
Growing Up Nowadays
We have three teenagers. All of them grew up with a pretty idyllic and protected childhood full of play, imagination, creativity and a lot of outdoor space. All three have always had individual inclinations, spirit, will and strength. Geoff and I often marveled at their childhood selves, wondering who in the world they were and who they would become. There was a certain force and power in their small beings, nothing dull or mediocre. As we pass through these teenage years, I feel their first big hurdle will be navigating this phase of life.
Why is it that teenage anxiety and suicide are at an all-time high, with many debilitated at 8-9 years old?
Is it a general rise in screen time, with its brain changing elements just from looking at the darn things?
Is it a lack of time outdoors feeling free and alive?
Is it social media and the comparisons to the ideal life, style, friends, travel, body, etc.?
Is it trying to portray who you wish you were instead of who you really are and losing touch with our basic, fundamental identity?
Is it the addictive nature of social media, video games, etc. that eat away the opportunity to create real self-worth through accomplishment?
Is it exposure to all of the evil in the world too young?
Is it the pressure to get into college with more and more stuffed into their heads (plus all being digested on social media) and less time to be creative and in their bodies? Or the pressure to be a superstar human or you won't get in to college at all?
Is it the confusion of gender and marriage and religion and politics and racism and privilege and sexual assault and the state of the planet ?
Is it the hate and anger now commonplace in the public square?
Is it worrying that any day someone could bust into your school and open fire?
Why do many youth not have enough grit to do hard things? Are they getting away with not doing hard things? For example, do we fill their summers with travel and camps and family gatherings and as a result there is not time for a summer, full-time job? Day in day out hard and sometimes mundane work?
Is the pace of life just too fast to keep up? Is life just too overwhelming?
I mean, this is just my observation, I'm sure there are many other hidden (and not so hidden) forces against these young people. Can you imagine? This is not like my adolescence. In most ways, I do not really relate to their reality. And they don't really remember a time when it wasn't like this, a time without being bombarded by conflicting input, a civil time, a calmer time. I used my first computer to write a paper in college at age 23. That is just how much has changed in the last 20ish years. I have to hand it to the kids of this age. They are brave and strong.
Let's talk about the climate march.
Our girls know a lot of the facts and realities of global warming. We've upped our personal, family game in trying to be more environmentally conscientious, but recognize it is really the big businesses and government leadership that will make the greatest changes. But they want action, they want to live life on this beautiful planet without devastating famines and natural disasters, and they want predictable weather and sea life and clean air and water to drink out of the tap. I admire the determination to bring attention to such a serious and urgent issue.
It is just one of many weights they carry. And yes they don't have a lifetime of experience and judgement, but they know a heckuva lot more than we did at their age. They have a lot to say and their voices are worth being heard. It might just make us think more deeply about things we've put on auto pilot. It has been a privilege, albeit a sometimes hair-raising one, to watch these three grow into themselves. They are capable to chart a different course than we've had to travel. I've learned a lot from their concerns and observations and opinions.
One thing is for sure, they need our confidence and support and encouragement and respect. These years of development are tough enough on their own, but this generation has a heavy load we didn't have to bear. I say, cheer them on!
Why is it that teenage anxiety and suicide are at an all-time high, with many debilitated at 8-9 years old?
Is it a general rise in screen time, with its brain changing elements just from looking at the darn things?
Is it a lack of time outdoors feeling free and alive?
Is it social media and the comparisons to the ideal life, style, friends, travel, body, etc.?
Is it trying to portray who you wish you were instead of who you really are and losing touch with our basic, fundamental identity?
Is it the addictive nature of social media, video games, etc. that eat away the opportunity to create real self-worth through accomplishment?
Is it exposure to all of the evil in the world too young?
Is it the pressure to get into college with more and more stuffed into their heads (plus all being digested on social media) and less time to be creative and in their bodies? Or the pressure to be a superstar human or you won't get in to college at all?
Is it the confusion of gender and marriage and religion and politics and racism and privilege and sexual assault and the state of the planet ?
Is it the hate and anger now commonplace in the public square?
Is it worrying that any day someone could bust into your school and open fire?
Why do many youth not have enough grit to do hard things? Are they getting away with not doing hard things? For example, do we fill their summers with travel and camps and family gatherings and as a result there is not time for a summer, full-time job? Day in day out hard and sometimes mundane work?
Is the pace of life just too fast to keep up? Is life just too overwhelming?
I mean, this is just my observation, I'm sure there are many other hidden (and not so hidden) forces against these young people. Can you imagine? This is not like my adolescence. In most ways, I do not really relate to their reality. And they don't really remember a time when it wasn't like this, a time without being bombarded by conflicting input, a civil time, a calmer time. I used my first computer to write a paper in college at age 23. That is just how much has changed in the last 20ish years. I have to hand it to the kids of this age. They are brave and strong.
Let's talk about the climate march.
Our girls know a lot of the facts and realities of global warming. We've upped our personal, family game in trying to be more environmentally conscientious, but recognize it is really the big businesses and government leadership that will make the greatest changes. But they want action, they want to live life on this beautiful planet without devastating famines and natural disasters, and they want predictable weather and sea life and clean air and water to drink out of the tap. I admire the determination to bring attention to such a serious and urgent issue.
It is just one of many weights they carry. And yes they don't have a lifetime of experience and judgement, but they know a heckuva lot more than we did at their age. They have a lot to say and their voices are worth being heard. It might just make us think more deeply about things we've put on auto pilot. It has been a privilege, albeit a sometimes hair-raising one, to watch these three grow into themselves. They are capable to chart a different course than we've had to travel. I've learned a lot from their concerns and observations and opinions.
One thing is for sure, they need our confidence and support and encouragement and respect. These years of development are tough enough on their own, but this generation has a heavy load we didn't have to bear. I say, cheer them on!
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
September Wrap-Up
Where in the world did September go? I barely remember acknowledging it's presence.
Geoff took two separate trips to New York for some investor meetings, to speak at a conference and for a YGL event. We had a two-week, late 20th anniversary trip to Amsterdam and Rome planned, but when Geoff got home from these trips and anticipated the weeks of travel, followed by more weeks of work travel, we decided to cancel our anniversary trip just a few days before departure to try to lighten his fall work load. Strangely, it was a relief to not be going and we quickly moved on. For the first time in a long time, Geoff is spending quality time in the office and feeling productive. That has been nice.
He attended a management retreat for work, which is really quite fun. Despite SNOW, he joined a group to hike one morning. I was sad to miss it, but so glad I was able to celebrate Ceci's birthday at home.
He has wanted to climb a mountain for his birthday for several years, and for one reason or another hasn't had the time to get in shape or been able to find a free Saturday around his birthday. But this year he threw training to the wind and just went and climbed Mt. Olympus. He paid the price with sore muscles for days, but he did it! Climb a mountain for birthday - CHECK!
Tennie held a housewarming party at her new student house in Provo where a handful of friends came. That led to more social invitations and friends, concerts, campouts, parties and bike rides. Her social floodgates have finally opened at BYU! That first year was tough for her. The dorms weren't her scene, but she has found her people and place. She also got a job as a stage hand and usher at the Harris Fine Arts Center on campus. Life is full and good in Provo!
School is well underway and mostly we're in comfortable rhythms. Adele is insanely busy and generally stressed out. She moves in and out of the house, living her own life and working to manage a lot of spinning plates. SAT testing and college applications are looming too. She'll be glad to get past those in the next couple months.
Ceci decided to take math online so she could work at her own pace, but we discovered that the math instruction for this online course was quite poor and moved very fast. We were having a difficult time finding a tutor, and in the meantime she and I were spending at least 2 hours a day trying to figure out the concepts and work through the assignments. It was a pathetic sight. I mean, me as her math tutor/teacher in high school?! Laughable. Basically, it felt like we ate, breathed, and slept math during the entire month of September. Starting in October we have her in a math class in school. This will require some catching up in the new class and wrapping up in the online class, but we're hoping for some smoother sailing in our near future.
A hummingbird flew in our open window and eventually got itself stuck in between our two window panes. After about 20 minutes, Geoff lifted it out carefully with two chopsticks. We took it outside where it sat, traumatized, for about 45 minutes. (We kept Mila indoors!) Geoff tried to feed it some sugar water, but it didn't move. It was so beautiful and so TINY!
We gathered with Geoff's siblings for a picnic in the canyon one weekend.
This past weekend Geoff, Adele, Ceci and I went to St. George so I could attend my 30th high school reunion, the first I've been to. I was so excited to see people after all of these years! It was so fun to catch up with long lost friends and find out where life had taken them. Not many were there, but I'm so glad I went. This is a great group of people.
Geoff and I went on a bike through Snow Canyon, which is so incredibly beautiful. I lost some of the pictures I took somehow, darnit!
On to cooler weather, changing leaves, pumpkins and warm tea!
Geoff took two separate trips to New York for some investor meetings, to speak at a conference and for a YGL event. We had a two-week, late 20th anniversary trip to Amsterdam and Rome planned, but when Geoff got home from these trips and anticipated the weeks of travel, followed by more weeks of work travel, we decided to cancel our anniversary trip just a few days before departure to try to lighten his fall work load. Strangely, it was a relief to not be going and we quickly moved on. For the first time in a long time, Geoff is spending quality time in the office and feeling productive. That has been nice.
He attended a management retreat for work, which is really quite fun. Despite SNOW, he joined a group to hike one morning. I was sad to miss it, but so glad I was able to celebrate Ceci's birthday at home.
He has wanted to climb a mountain for his birthday for several years, and for one reason or another hasn't had the time to get in shape or been able to find a free Saturday around his birthday. But this year he threw training to the wind and just went and climbed Mt. Olympus. He paid the price with sore muscles for days, but he did it! Climb a mountain for birthday - CHECK!
Tennie held a housewarming party at her new student house in Provo where a handful of friends came. That led to more social invitations and friends, concerts, campouts, parties and bike rides. Her social floodgates have finally opened at BYU! That first year was tough for her. The dorms weren't her scene, but she has found her people and place. She also got a job as a stage hand and usher at the Harris Fine Arts Center on campus. Life is full and good in Provo!
School is well underway and mostly we're in comfortable rhythms. Adele is insanely busy and generally stressed out. She moves in and out of the house, living her own life and working to manage a lot of spinning plates. SAT testing and college applications are looming too. She'll be glad to get past those in the next couple months.
Ceci decided to take math online so she could work at her own pace, but we discovered that the math instruction for this online course was quite poor and moved very fast. We were having a difficult time finding a tutor, and in the meantime she and I were spending at least 2 hours a day trying to figure out the concepts and work through the assignments. It was a pathetic sight. I mean, me as her math tutor/teacher in high school?! Laughable. Basically, it felt like we ate, breathed, and slept math during the entire month of September. Starting in October we have her in a math class in school. This will require some catching up in the new class and wrapping up in the online class, but we're hoping for some smoother sailing in our near future.
A hummingbird flew in our open window and eventually got itself stuck in between our two window panes. After about 20 minutes, Geoff lifted it out carefully with two chopsticks. We took it outside where it sat, traumatized, for about 45 minutes. (We kept Mila indoors!) Geoff tried to feed it some sugar water, but it didn't move. It was so beautiful and so TINY!
We gathered with Geoff's siblings for a picnic in the canyon one weekend.
This past weekend Geoff, Adele, Ceci and I went to St. George so I could attend my 30th high school reunion, the first I've been to. I was so excited to see people after all of these years! It was so fun to catch up with long lost friends and find out where life had taken them. Not many were there, but I'm so glad I went. This is a great group of people.
Geoff and I went on a bike through Snow Canyon, which is so incredibly beautiful. I lost some of the pictures I took somehow, darnit!
On to cooler weather, changing leaves, pumpkins and warm tea!
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Geoff is 48!
Geoff's birthday was before Ceci's, but it was so uneventful I wasn't even going to give it its own post. He had a busy day at work and didn't get home until 8PM, all of us gathering to eat his cold blackberry cobbler before scriptures and bed. But his family always rallies with some birthday love, and it is worth recording and remembering, so here are the things people love about Geoff:
Brittany
Happy happy happy birthday Geoff!!!! I admire you on so many levels. For your absolute love and devotion to your family, for always putting others needs and well-being above your own, for your fun adventurous spirit, for your active interest in others lives, for your hard work and dedication towards helping those less fortunate, for all you've accomplished, for your sense of style, for the way you treat everyone you meet, for your connection to Heavenly Father and our Savior, for the peace you carry and instill in others. I'm so proud to be your sister and I love you!!
Nikki
Happy happy birthday, G! You're dang old, but still got it! For real, though, I love how young at heart you are, how much fun you are, how you love adventure and being a nutball with kids and just living life to the fullest! Your dedication to constantly improving yourself is very admirable. Your sensitivity to the feelings of others and constant striving to terat people like the Savior would is equally as admirable. I love your thirst for knowledge and passion for empowering others. And your'e an amazing dad, husband, brother and friend. Have a great day and a phenomenal time in Europe!
Erica
Happy happy birthday Geoff! A common conversation in our house lately has been about you and how you have channeled your deep love for teasing into something that is so incredibly fun to be around. You are really amazing at self-mastery and changing in really deliberate and positive ways. We hope that some of our little teasers can grow up to be as kind, thoughtful and fun as you! Love you! Happy Birthday!
Ian
Hope your day is awesome, G! I have learned a lot from you--both actual information from talking with you and how to be a better person from being around you and seeing your example. You strike a perfect balance of being smart, considerate, adventurous, thoughtful, in tune with the Spirit, ambitious, empathetic, light-hearted and fully engaged! Love ya, man!
His dad
Geoff, I'm very glad you were born, especially as the first of the Mesha and Keenan issue. I'm gratified that you've repeatedly demonstrated over the your lifetime and intense desire to serve every mission you were sent here to perform! Happy Birthday! I love you. It's wonderful to watch those missions unfold.
Ingrid
Happy birthday, Geoff!!! I love reading all the great things everyone has said about you. You are an incredible person-you are kind and sensitive; you seek to understand; you are introspective and self-improving; you live life fully and enjoy the present moment; you have great ambitions and hopes for the future; you soak in the sunset and the ocean and the sun-warmth and the natural beauty around you; you are a delightful and playful uncle for all the cousins; you are a protector and cheerleader for all of us. I love you tons, and if I were with you today, I would let you shoot a spit-wad into my ear. Happy Birthday!!!
Emily
Happy Birthday Geoff! You are a truly remarkable person and older brother. You always make me feel like a million bucks. You are humble and kind and generous. I sure love you.
Booch
Happy birthday Geoff!! I still cry like I did when you left for your mission every time I have to leave you because that's how much you mean to me and how much I love you! I seriously have looked up to and respected you so incredibly much my entire life, and I think on a consistent basis about how you would approve of different decisions that I make in my life. You lead with so much integrity, thoughtfulness, love, service, intent and humility. It has been such an honor to witness you develop your fabric as a human being that's constantly refining, learning, growing, sacrificing, purifying, and rinsing and repeating these processes until the greatest core of a man is developed. I vividly remember many moments when you could have gotten made in a situation and that I was able to watch you go through your process that was clearly prepared for that moment to change your order of thinking into how you wanted yourself to respond in a positive manner and treat the moment as a learning experience. This was very inspiring for me to witness and it proved how much self development you put into your character. This character has led to making an astonishing impact in the world, your amazing family and our entire family as a whole. I absolutely love hanging out with you and just spending time and I'll never forget our amazing trips that we have taken together. I love your sense of humor and the way you tease us as mentioned. I love your soul. I love your heart and desire to do so much good. I love your effortless leadership. I love your love of adventure and up-for-a-good-time personality. I love your passion for life and I love that I get to call you my brother for eternity. I love you always man! Happiest of birthdays!!
And a written-in email from Tennie to read as we all verbally said what we love about him (I'm so glad we have this in writing, as it captures a bit of Geoff's devotion and sacrifice and love as a dad.)
Brittany
Happy happy happy birthday Geoff!!!! I admire you on so many levels. For your absolute love and devotion to your family, for always putting others needs and well-being above your own, for your fun adventurous spirit, for your active interest in others lives, for your hard work and dedication towards helping those less fortunate, for all you've accomplished, for your sense of style, for the way you treat everyone you meet, for your connection to Heavenly Father and our Savior, for the peace you carry and instill in others. I'm so proud to be your sister and I love you!!
Nikki
Happy happy birthday, G! You're dang old, but still got it! For real, though, I love how young at heart you are, how much fun you are, how you love adventure and being a nutball with kids and just living life to the fullest! Your dedication to constantly improving yourself is very admirable. Your sensitivity to the feelings of others and constant striving to terat people like the Savior would is equally as admirable. I love your thirst for knowledge and passion for empowering others. And your'e an amazing dad, husband, brother and friend. Have a great day and a phenomenal time in Europe!
Erica
Happy happy birthday Geoff! A common conversation in our house lately has been about you and how you have channeled your deep love for teasing into something that is so incredibly fun to be around. You are really amazing at self-mastery and changing in really deliberate and positive ways. We hope that some of our little teasers can grow up to be as kind, thoughtful and fun as you! Love you! Happy Birthday!
Ian
Hope your day is awesome, G! I have learned a lot from you--both actual information from talking with you and how to be a better person from being around you and seeing your example. You strike a perfect balance of being smart, considerate, adventurous, thoughtful, in tune with the Spirit, ambitious, empathetic, light-hearted and fully engaged! Love ya, man!
His dad
Geoff, I'm very glad you were born, especially as the first of the Mesha and Keenan issue. I'm gratified that you've repeatedly demonstrated over the your lifetime and intense desire to serve every mission you were sent here to perform! Happy Birthday! I love you. It's wonderful to watch those missions unfold.
Ingrid
Happy birthday, Geoff!!! I love reading all the great things everyone has said about you. You are an incredible person-you are kind and sensitive; you seek to understand; you are introspective and self-improving; you live life fully and enjoy the present moment; you have great ambitions and hopes for the future; you soak in the sunset and the ocean and the sun-warmth and the natural beauty around you; you are a delightful and playful uncle for all the cousins; you are a protector and cheerleader for all of us. I love you tons, and if I were with you today, I would let you shoot a spit-wad into my ear. Happy Birthday!!!
Emily
Happy Birthday Geoff! You are a truly remarkable person and older brother. You always make me feel like a million bucks. You are humble and kind and generous. I sure love you.
Booch
Happy birthday Geoff!! I still cry like I did when you left for your mission every time I have to leave you because that's how much you mean to me and how much I love you! I seriously have looked up to and respected you so incredibly much my entire life, and I think on a consistent basis about how you would approve of different decisions that I make in my life. You lead with so much integrity, thoughtfulness, love, service, intent and humility. It has been such an honor to witness you develop your fabric as a human being that's constantly refining, learning, growing, sacrificing, purifying, and rinsing and repeating these processes until the greatest core of a man is developed. I vividly remember many moments when you could have gotten made in a situation and that I was able to watch you go through your process that was clearly prepared for that moment to change your order of thinking into how you wanted yourself to respond in a positive manner and treat the moment as a learning experience. This was very inspiring for me to witness and it proved how much self development you put into your character. This character has led to making an astonishing impact in the world, your amazing family and our entire family as a whole. I absolutely love hanging out with you and just spending time and I'll never forget our amazing trips that we have taken together. I love your sense of humor and the way you tease us as mentioned. I love your soul. I love your heart and desire to do so much good. I love your effortless leadership. I love your love of adventure and up-for-a-good-time personality. I love your passion for life and I love that I get to call you my brother for eternity. I love you always man! Happiest of birthdays!!
And a written-in email from Tennie to read as we all verbally said what we love about him (I'm so glad we have this in writing, as it captures a bit of Geoff's devotion and sacrifice and love as a dad.)
I love how sensitive dad is to people. He’s sensitive in a way that feels truly empathetic. Across every aspect of his life, and since he was young, dad feels and recognizes other people’s struggles and then will do whatever he can to fix it. Professionally, dad has dedicated his whole life to helping people. He cares about every single person he helps and he wants - on an individual level - for every person to have a good and happy life. And so he’s given so many things away to people on the street. He’s bought huge meals for people who can’t afford their own. I remember a few times he even gave away clothes he was wearing (and clothes he really loved) to people, and I know he wishes he could do that more often. And then with us, and with me specifically, dad has always sacrificed comfort, time, sleep, food, health, and other things that are really valuable to him, for me. I can specifically remember multiple times when dad sat with me at the kitchen table working on an essay or a math problem, both of our eyes drooping, both of us watching forlornly as the oven clock ticked onward towards midnight. I always told him he could go to bed, and he always smiled a tired, loving smile (and I can see it in my head, and will be able to see it forever!) and told me he hoped I would remember this. There have to have been at least a few hundred times I or one of my sisters wanted a muffin or fruit or something dad was eating or saving, and as soon as he caught wind that one of us wanted it, he gave whatever it was to us, no matter how much he wanted it. No matter if it was rationed, and we had already eaten our ration, and he hadn’t. And almost every time I call dad, he answers and says he’s in a meeting but that he can talk for a second.
I can’t really fathom the mind-blowing selflessness he has. He’s so fiercely and sincerely loving and determinedly, quietly, humbly, selfless. I hope I can be more like that when I grow up. I really want to be as selfless and caring and empathetic and thoughtful as dad is. He makes me feel so safe. I can’t imagine getting any more lucky in the dad department.
Happy birthday to a human who’s gotta be just about as good as they come.
Monday, September 30, 2019
Snapshot of Ceci - Part 2
Here are what Geoff's family members said of Ceci on her birthday (all over text)...
Brittany
Happy happy happy birthday to my darling Ceci! Ce, you are a contagious light that offers goodness everywhere you go and to everyone you see. I admire your care for the world around you, your sensitive spirit, your incredible smile and laugh, your show-stopping dance moves and overall I'm grateful to have a friend like you! Your'e a real gem, Ce. Happy freakin' birthday!
Erica
Happy Birthday Cecer!!!!!! I love how true you are to yourself and how cool that inner self is. You are purely good and kind and thoughtful, and also a riot and totally creative and end less fun for everyone around you. I love you tons.
Nikki
Happy birthday Ce-bo-bee!! I love your amazingly spunky and fun personality, your fearless attitude, your willingness to try anything, your ability to conquer/rock at everything you try, your easy-going way of doing life, your brilliant mind, your giant heart, and your strong work ethic. Love you so much and hope you have a phenomenal day!!!
Ingrid
Happy birthday, little C!!! You are such a treasure of a person. You are fierce and determined and full of strenth; you are smart and wise; you are crazy and spunky and full of beautiful Ceci-ness. I love you to pieces, and am so grateful to be related to you forever!!!
Lucie (age 8)
Happy b-day Ceci! I'm so glad you're my cousin! You are so nice to everyone! You make everything so fun! Love Lucie
Poppop
Ceci!!! Life of the party! Dancing queen. Actress extraordinaire. Natalie to those who know...(an acting job she was in)...you're a right maniac when it's time to be! Happy birthday, your wonderful person! I love you!
Emily
Happy birthday sweet C. You're hilarious. And strong and brave and valiant. And beautiful and creative and just a knock out human bean 😛. You bring any costume box to life. It's hard not to smile when you are around. Keeping being you, just 15! Love ya!
Ian
C, you are amazing. One of a kind. So hilarious and full of character. And also smart and considerate and energetic and creative. You connect with people on a deep level. Your love of life is contagious. We need to do another road trip! Happy Birthday, girl!
Christian
Ce to the ci! I absolutely adore you in so many ways! You are so stinking hilarious and my face hurts right now just thinking about how much I laugh when I'm around you. Your heart is so incredibly huge and you care deeply for all of those around you and for all of those that you bring into your circle. You effortlessly light up a room with your dynamic personality and charismatic self. You are beautiful inside and out. You carry a valiant and radiant light. You have an admirable passion for life. You have an unmatched love of adventure. Your love of family makes me grateful I'm in it! Your ambitions and dreams are commendable and will be met as they are followed with a disciplined and focused approach toward what you want out of life. I'm so excited to watch you flourish and grow in life and obtain everything that your heart desires. I love being around you and that you laugh at my silly voices and jokes. I love that I get to be with you forever and I can't wait to see you to celebrate YOU. Happy happy birthday!!
How is that tradition for making a birthday? Ceci is one of a kind. And a good kind!
Brittany
Happy happy happy birthday to my darling Ceci! Ce, you are a contagious light that offers goodness everywhere you go and to everyone you see. I admire your care for the world around you, your sensitive spirit, your incredible smile and laugh, your show-stopping dance moves and overall I'm grateful to have a friend like you! Your'e a real gem, Ce. Happy freakin' birthday!
Erica
Happy Birthday Cecer!!!!!! I love how true you are to yourself and how cool that inner self is. You are purely good and kind and thoughtful, and also a riot and totally creative and end less fun for everyone around you. I love you tons.
Nikki
Happy birthday Ce-bo-bee!! I love your amazingly spunky and fun personality, your fearless attitude, your willingness to try anything, your ability to conquer/rock at everything you try, your easy-going way of doing life, your brilliant mind, your giant heart, and your strong work ethic. Love you so much and hope you have a phenomenal day!!!
Ingrid
Happy birthday, little C!!! You are such a treasure of a person. You are fierce and determined and full of strenth; you are smart and wise; you are crazy and spunky and full of beautiful Ceci-ness. I love you to pieces, and am so grateful to be related to you forever!!!
Lucie (age 8)
Happy b-day Ceci! I'm so glad you're my cousin! You are so nice to everyone! You make everything so fun! Love Lucie
Poppop
Ceci!!! Life of the party! Dancing queen. Actress extraordinaire. Natalie to those who know...(an acting job she was in)...you're a right maniac when it's time to be! Happy birthday, your wonderful person! I love you!
Emily
Happy birthday sweet C. You're hilarious. And strong and brave and valiant. And beautiful and creative and just a knock out human bean 😛. You bring any costume box to life. It's hard not to smile when you are around. Keeping being you, just 15! Love ya!
Ian
C, you are amazing. One of a kind. So hilarious and full of character. And also smart and considerate and energetic and creative. You connect with people on a deep level. Your love of life is contagious. We need to do another road trip! Happy Birthday, girl!
Christian
Ce to the ci! I absolutely adore you in so many ways! You are so stinking hilarious and my face hurts right now just thinking about how much I laugh when I'm around you. Your heart is so incredibly huge and you care deeply for all of those around you and for all of those that you bring into your circle. You effortlessly light up a room with your dynamic personality and charismatic self. You are beautiful inside and out. You carry a valiant and radiant light. You have an admirable passion for life. You have an unmatched love of adventure. Your love of family makes me grateful I'm in it! Your ambitions and dreams are commendable and will be met as they are followed with a disciplined and focused approach toward what you want out of life. I'm so excited to watch you flourish and grow in life and obtain everything that your heart desires. I love being around you and that you laugh at my silly voices and jokes. I love that I get to be with you forever and I can't wait to see you to celebrate YOU. Happy happy birthday!!
How is that tradition for making a birthday? Ceci is one of a kind. And a good kind!
Friday, September 27, 2019
Snapshot of Ceci - Part 1
How does one capture Ceci? She is a force and a light. That's it in a nutshell. But I'll try to delve deeper, particularly into her 15-year-old self.
Ceci is energy and sunlight and goodness wrapped up into a human being. She is one of the most generous-of-self people I have ever met. She is gifted at sensing what people need around her, and she is more than willing to give it. She'll include the outsider, she'll encourage and cheer on the doubtful and fearful, she'll listen to the down and out, she'll pass up something she wants and give you her savings, she'll massage tired feet, she'll walk with you if it will help fill your dreams/goals...you get the idea. She is a builder and cheerleader and a loyal friend.
Over the summer when we went to the Olympic Park and I challenged myself to face my fear of heights by doing the ropes course, I knew that I was doing something big for myself. It took all of my courage. Ceci intuitively understood how big it was for me. She watched me intently and cheered me on. When I finished she looked me in the eye, deep into my own soul, and understood the personal victory I had just accomplished. She kept saying, "Good job, mom!" It wasn't a trite congratulations, she was very sincere. This is a small example of her deep loyalty, friendship and goodness.
Ceci is affectionate and loves to cuddle on the couch or hold hands or express her love in anyway possible through her physical touch. She receives love in this way too. She also receives love in doing fun things together. It is not uncommon for her to say, as she is heading out the door to school, "Mom, want to hang out and do something with me today?"
She is not demanding or high maintenance. At all. You give something (whether gifts, time, compliments, etc.) and Ceci is very grateful. She is easy to celebrate, she is easy to be with and she is easy to please. While she has a particular style, she isn't really into clothes or shopping. While she appreciates good food, she'll be happy if it is a quesadilla for dinner. While she has an opinion of what she would like to do on a trip, she'll be flexible with the plans, often foregoing what she wants. As a family we have to be aware of this, and Ceci is learning that this flexibility and generosity-of-self can be taken advantage of. It will be good for her to learn boundaries to care for herself, but isn't it beautiful to err on the side of giving too much?
Ceci is her own person. She doesn't like to go along with a crowd. She protects her individuality carefully. Now that she is in a large public school she is aware that if not careful she can become numbed to her own voice and passions. She doesn't want to be typical. She knows deep down that she is unique and powerful. She is fighting to not be dimmed by a conformist culture. She thinks deeply. She is a quick thinker and processes information rapidly, but she is also on-guard, knowing that all information coming in is not truth. I really appreciate her constant radar. Her desire to seek truth is admirable, and the ability to not conform while doing it shows great courage and strength. For example, she wears pants to church. She recognizes this as a cultural expectation, and not a sign of discipleship. She is more comfortable in pants. She feels it allows her to worship more as herself. She is courageous, true and strong.
She is smart. She doesn't think like the average person, which causes some challenge in a typical, public school classroom, but she is wonderfully creative and imaginative. Her writing is magnificent. She is a strong problem solver. She is discovering this semester that she loves Earth Science. She loves nature, astronomy, plants, animals, mental puzzles, art and anything to do with being in her body. Her three choices of future paths right now are working at NASA (do you have to be good at math to be an astronaut?), being a creative writer of fiction, or being an actress. Like, a red carpet actress. This last one is her big dream right now. She wants to be in a movie. And she could be! She is really talented at acting. She is so observant and imaginative that she can get into any character and nail it. Her childhood play was delightful because of it.
Ceci is athletic and fearless when it comes to trying new things. When learning to surf she would go out again and again until she got the hang of it. She went on a black diamond run the first time skiing. (Her competitiveness helps in this. She wants to be the best of whatever she does.) Her next focus is rock climbing. She is joining a team to fine tune her skills and work toward a competitive team. But from climb one she was strong and focused and scaled easily from level to harder level. She has a lot of drive and determination. Again, being in her body is one of her favorite things. She is definitely body smart!
Ceci is incredibly gifted with people. She talks easily to adults, she makes friends easily and kids are attracted to her good naturedness and fun. She is genuinely interested in people of all ages. She is a good conversationalist. She is a natural leader. People can trust her goodness, her integrity and all the while know they'll have a great time if she is around. She is fun and crazy and hilarious. She is likable from day one.
None of our kids have been excited to grow up, and Ceci is no exception. She is a kid at heart. She loves to play and be free, but growing up is happening, and she's adapting and becoming just as remarkable as a young adult as she has been as a child. A force and a light.
( Flats photo credit: Tennie's friend Lindsay, 2018)
Ceci is energy and sunlight and goodness wrapped up into a human being. She is one of the most generous-of-self people I have ever met. She is gifted at sensing what people need around her, and she is more than willing to give it. She'll include the outsider, she'll encourage and cheer on the doubtful and fearful, she'll listen to the down and out, she'll pass up something she wants and give you her savings, she'll massage tired feet, she'll walk with you if it will help fill your dreams/goals...you get the idea. She is a builder and cheerleader and a loyal friend.
Over the summer when we went to the Olympic Park and I challenged myself to face my fear of heights by doing the ropes course, I knew that I was doing something big for myself. It took all of my courage. Ceci intuitively understood how big it was for me. She watched me intently and cheered me on. When I finished she looked me in the eye, deep into my own soul, and understood the personal victory I had just accomplished. She kept saying, "Good job, mom!" It wasn't a trite congratulations, she was very sincere. This is a small example of her deep loyalty, friendship and goodness.
Ceci is affectionate and loves to cuddle on the couch or hold hands or express her love in anyway possible through her physical touch. She receives love in this way too. She also receives love in doing fun things together. It is not uncommon for her to say, as she is heading out the door to school, "Mom, want to hang out and do something with me today?"
She is not demanding or high maintenance. At all. You give something (whether gifts, time, compliments, etc.) and Ceci is very grateful. She is easy to celebrate, she is easy to be with and she is easy to please. While she has a particular style, she isn't really into clothes or shopping. While she appreciates good food, she'll be happy if it is a quesadilla for dinner. While she has an opinion of what she would like to do on a trip, she'll be flexible with the plans, often foregoing what she wants. As a family we have to be aware of this, and Ceci is learning that this flexibility and generosity-of-self can be taken advantage of. It will be good for her to learn boundaries to care for herself, but isn't it beautiful to err on the side of giving too much?
Ceci is her own person. She doesn't like to go along with a crowd. She protects her individuality carefully. Now that she is in a large public school she is aware that if not careful she can become numbed to her own voice and passions. She doesn't want to be typical. She knows deep down that she is unique and powerful. She is fighting to not be dimmed by a conformist culture. She thinks deeply. She is a quick thinker and processes information rapidly, but she is also on-guard, knowing that all information coming in is not truth. I really appreciate her constant radar. Her desire to seek truth is admirable, and the ability to not conform while doing it shows great courage and strength. For example, she wears pants to church. She recognizes this as a cultural expectation, and not a sign of discipleship. She is more comfortable in pants. She feels it allows her to worship more as herself. She is courageous, true and strong.
She is smart. She doesn't think like the average person, which causes some challenge in a typical, public school classroom, but she is wonderfully creative and imaginative. Her writing is magnificent. She is a strong problem solver. She is discovering this semester that she loves Earth Science. She loves nature, astronomy, plants, animals, mental puzzles, art and anything to do with being in her body. Her three choices of future paths right now are working at NASA (do you have to be good at math to be an astronaut?), being a creative writer of fiction, or being an actress. Like, a red carpet actress. This last one is her big dream right now. She wants to be in a movie. And she could be! She is really talented at acting. She is so observant and imaginative that she can get into any character and nail it. Her childhood play was delightful because of it.
Ceci is athletic and fearless when it comes to trying new things. When learning to surf she would go out again and again until she got the hang of it. She went on a black diamond run the first time skiing. (Her competitiveness helps in this. She wants to be the best of whatever she does.) Her next focus is rock climbing. She is joining a team to fine tune her skills and work toward a competitive team. But from climb one she was strong and focused and scaled easily from level to harder level. She has a lot of drive and determination. Again, being in her body is one of her favorite things. She is definitely body smart!
Ceci is incredibly gifted with people. She talks easily to adults, she makes friends easily and kids are attracted to her good naturedness and fun. She is genuinely interested in people of all ages. She is a good conversationalist. She is a natural leader. People can trust her goodness, her integrity and all the while know they'll have a great time if she is around. She is fun and crazy and hilarious. She is likable from day one.
None of our kids have been excited to grow up, and Ceci is no exception. She is a kid at heart. She loves to play and be free, but growing up is happening, and she's adapting and becoming just as remarkable as a young adult as she has been as a child. A force and a light.
( Flats photo credit: Tennie's friend Lindsay, 2018)
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Ceci is 15!
Ceci's birthday was squished in with a lot of other goings on this year. Geoff's company had their annual management retreat where employees and their spouses spend three days in Park City, and C's birthday fell right in the middle. Geoff felt obligated to be there this year, so I didn't join him, and he came home for a couple hours in the afternoon when he could get away.
And then Ceci woke up really sick with a fever and no energy. Super big bummer for all she had planned that day. But she wasn't about to miss out on her plans. Tennie had come home the night before, and after a birthday breakfast of crepes with strawberries, cream and nutella (Ceci's choice), the three of them were off on the climate march. I'll write more about this later, but it was really fun to follow along and see the commitment of this generation to call attention to this issue. It was rainy and chilly and Ceci dragged herself along, but she marched for this beautiful earth and her future despite her feeling horrible.
She came home, crawled in her bed and shivered in her covers for a couple hours, and then was off with Tennie and Adele and five of her new school friends to an escape room birthday adventure. It was on Groupon and turned out to be such a terrible experience that is was full of outrageous stories, so luckily that was memorable which made it sort of funnish. All came back for pizza and a movie afterward.
We didn't even get to her presents. The following day we had her treasure hunt and she got her one big present from us, as well as cards and gifts from family. Her big gift from us was an electric drum set! Yes, they make them electric so she can hear it with headphones. Perfect for our apartment living!
So this didn't go down as one of the most perfect birthdays, but it was a good birthday despite the not perfect parts. Ceci was grateful and made the most of it. Very typical of this remarkable 15-year-old.
And then Ceci woke up really sick with a fever and no energy. Super big bummer for all she had planned that day. But she wasn't about to miss out on her plans. Tennie had come home the night before, and after a birthday breakfast of crepes with strawberries, cream and nutella (Ceci's choice), the three of them were off on the climate march. I'll write more about this later, but it was really fun to follow along and see the commitment of this generation to call attention to this issue. It was rainy and chilly and Ceci dragged herself along, but she marched for this beautiful earth and her future despite her feeling horrible.
She came home, crawled in her bed and shivered in her covers for a couple hours, and then was off with Tennie and Adele and five of her new school friends to an escape room birthday adventure. It was on Groupon and turned out to be such a terrible experience that is was full of outrageous stories, so luckily that was memorable which made it sort of funnish. All came back for pizza and a movie afterward.
We didn't even get to her presents. The following day we had her treasure hunt and she got her one big present from us, as well as cards and gifts from family. Her big gift from us was an electric drum set! Yes, they make them electric so she can hear it with headphones. Perfect for our apartment living!
So this didn't go down as one of the most perfect birthdays, but it was a good birthday despite the not perfect parts. Ceci was grateful and made the most of it. Very typical of this remarkable 15-year-old.
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