Thursday, June 25, 2009
Hoo boy. I just realized today that I am waaaay behiind with my hat production this year. I somehow forgot that I was supposed to be making 2 a month and started to think that one per month was my quota. That means I have about 20 left to make this year, if I want to reach my goal of 50 hats in two years. I don't think I can manage it. I will extend the time frame by another year, unless something happens to set me up to make a lot of hats in a short time.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
I didn't mention in my last post that the reason Ephram had his wisdom teeth out was for his mission application. The dentist wouldn't sign off without doing it. And now Ephram has his call. He is going to the Ghana Cape Coast mission. He enters the Ghana MTC on August 21st. We are excited. I feel that the assignment is perfect. He will speak English, but otherwise he will be in a world completely different than anything he has known. He will be great.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
I just remembered I had this site sometime last week. I have been so busy in the meantime with holidays and the start of the new year, which brings catching up with a lot of other work done on the computer that I clean forgot about this site. I guess I will need to start posting to it again.
Ephram had his wisdom teeth out this morning. I need to stick around to nurse him for the rest of the day. He took a sedative, so he is out of it. Ephram should sleep most of the rest of the day. I almost feel bad that I will need to rouse him to change cold packs, gauze compresses in his mouth, and to have him take pain medications.
Ephram had his wisdom teeth out this morning. I need to stick around to nurse him for the rest of the day. He took a sedative, so he is out of it. Ephram should sleep most of the rest of the day. I almost feel bad that I will need to rouse him to change cold packs, gauze compresses in his mouth, and to have him take pain medications.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
a new day?
The US has elected a totem, a symbol for its President. I have felt for many, many months now that Barack Obama's biggest asset in this election was his black skin. In a time when many Americans felt like their nation has done so many things wrong: the war in Iraq, the failed economy which is bringing down the world economy--the one thing the little man could do "right" would be to elect a black man President, thus putting behind, once and for all, the national disgrace, the national shame, of racism. The little man might be racist in his behavior, but he could say to himself that he was not--"I voted for a black man for President, didn't I?" No matter what anyone says, I believe that many whites voted for Obama because he was black more than because of what he said.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
time change
A person doesn't get an extra hour of sleep if turning the clocks back in the evening causes them to stay up an hour longer.
I planted some peach pits today by the side of the fence in the front yard. Do I have faith they will sprout into baby trees? Not much, because I planted some starts of a grey-green plant on top that my neighbor gave me.
I tipped D & C and P of GP reading schedules into little spiral bound notebooks this evening for the Relief Society sisters for 2009. Several sisters have told me how useful this year they have found the B of M reading schedule notebooks prepared by Cindy Gallagher last year. So I decided to do the same thing again for the scriptural course of study for next year. As usual, I am second guessing my intentions and wondering if it is a good idea after all, or if anyone will get any good out of my efforts.
I planted some peach pits today by the side of the fence in the front yard. Do I have faith they will sprout into baby trees? Not much, because I planted some starts of a grey-green plant on top that my neighbor gave me.
I tipped D & C and P of GP reading schedules into little spiral bound notebooks this evening for the Relief Society sisters for 2009. Several sisters have told me how useful this year they have found the B of M reading schedule notebooks prepared by Cindy Gallagher last year. So I decided to do the same thing again for the scriptural course of study for next year. As usual, I am second guessing my intentions and wondering if it is a good idea after all, or if anyone will get any good out of my efforts.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Halloween
After the trick-or-treaters were all gone, Iggy called his friends to come eat donuts and play games. I am happy that eight of friends came. They played "Pass the Pigs" as they laughed and talked. They had apple juice and hot cocoa with their donuts. It is good to have the kids' friends over. I am happy that so many friend would come on short notice.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
attitude
From Dead Lucky, by Lincoln Hall
"The values held by Sherpas certainly work well in the mountains, where being aware of the fullness of the present moment minimizes the inattentive lapses that lead to fatal accidents. I also learned from them that this same attitude -- of simply getting on with what has to be done -- is the best way to deal with uncomfortable situations. I remember arriving one afternoon at a clearing on a forested mountain ridge during gentle but continuous rain. We had stumbled upon an unexpected camp site, grass-covered and level, the perfect escape from the weather, so I called it an early day. The members of my trekking group huddled under a tree, not complaining but looking miserable while they eagerly waited for the Sherpas to finish pitching the tents. I was out in the clearing with the Sherpas, who were working busily as if the rain was not there. Suddenly the drizzle became a torrential downpour. Water ran down into my sleeve as I held up a tent pole. I cursed while the Sherpas laughed and shouted at each other, stimulated by the force of nature and not annoyed by it. Half an hour later I was in my tent when the flap was unzipped by two kitchen boys, who offered me tea and biscuits. They were still soaking wet but still laughing, this time at the waterlogged biscuits on the tray.
"Many people who visit Nepal are deeply inspired by the Nepalese attitude to life and vow to find pleasure in the simplest of things. However, after a week or two back in a modern city, with the cut and thrust of office politics and not enough time at home to do the many apparently important tasks, it is easy to overlook the promised subscription to the values and priorities of the people of Nepal. For me it was much easier, as I was working with deeply religious Buddhists and Hindus and at the same time climbing mountains -- both powerfully centering influences.
"I came to realize that the common ground of both climbing and spiritual practice is the state of being "in the here and now". Essentially, this is a focus of mind, which offers a simpler but somehow deeper and clearer appreciation of reality. During the most intense passages of climbing, the "here and now" keeps you alive. There is no analysis of what is happening, no judgements, and no plans of what to do next. You are kept alive by the awareness of ever-present danger, which focuses all your faculties on the decisions and actions directed entirely to your survival."
Lincoln Hall states that his experiences with climbing mountains in the company of Nepalese eventually converted him to Buddhism. From the experiences of my own life, I think that the attitude and approach to life he describes are accessible without the danger of climbing, and within Christianity, when Christianity is understood. I don't know if I could laugh as I pitched tents in torrential rain and then prepared snacks for those sitting in their tents who didn't help me pitch those tents in the rain. But then, if such was my job, I think I could. I don't think a person needs to be in a state of ever-present danger to achieve that focus.
"The values held by Sherpas certainly work well in the mountains, where being aware of the fullness of the present moment minimizes the inattentive lapses that lead to fatal accidents. I also learned from them that this same attitude -- of simply getting on with what has to be done -- is the best way to deal with uncomfortable situations. I remember arriving one afternoon at a clearing on a forested mountain ridge during gentle but continuous rain. We had stumbled upon an unexpected camp site, grass-covered and level, the perfect escape from the weather, so I called it an early day. The members of my trekking group huddled under a tree, not complaining but looking miserable while they eagerly waited for the Sherpas to finish pitching the tents. I was out in the clearing with the Sherpas, who were working busily as if the rain was not there. Suddenly the drizzle became a torrential downpour. Water ran down into my sleeve as I held up a tent pole. I cursed while the Sherpas laughed and shouted at each other, stimulated by the force of nature and not annoyed by it. Half an hour later I was in my tent when the flap was unzipped by two kitchen boys, who offered me tea and biscuits. They were still soaking wet but still laughing, this time at the waterlogged biscuits on the tray.
"Many people who visit Nepal are deeply inspired by the Nepalese attitude to life and vow to find pleasure in the simplest of things. However, after a week or two back in a modern city, with the cut and thrust of office politics and not enough time at home to do the many apparently important tasks, it is easy to overlook the promised subscription to the values and priorities of the people of Nepal. For me it was much easier, as I was working with deeply religious Buddhists and Hindus and at the same time climbing mountains -- both powerfully centering influences.
"I came to realize that the common ground of both climbing and spiritual practice is the state of being "in the here and now". Essentially, this is a focus of mind, which offers a simpler but somehow deeper and clearer appreciation of reality. During the most intense passages of climbing, the "here and now" keeps you alive. There is no analysis of what is happening, no judgements, and no plans of what to do next. You are kept alive by the awareness of ever-present danger, which focuses all your faculties on the decisions and actions directed entirely to your survival."
Lincoln Hall states that his experiences with climbing mountains in the company of Nepalese eventually converted him to Buddhism. From the experiences of my own life, I think that the attitude and approach to life he describes are accessible without the danger of climbing, and within Christianity, when Christianity is understood. I don't know if I could laugh as I pitched tents in torrential rain and then prepared snacks for those sitting in their tents who didn't help me pitch those tents in the rain. But then, if such was my job, I think I could. I don't think a person needs to be in a state of ever-present danger to achieve that focus.