Beneath the Wraps

                My Baby graduated high school last night. There were ten students representing the honors list.  If they had picked twelve – Jai would have been up front with them wearing golden sash.  Yet just having four year cords was pretty cool – again because she did not attend the school during 2020-2021.  But it sounded like a wasted year for all of them.        Without meaning to, I had compared her graduation to my own and the HUGE differences between them.   The only similarity I saw was with the weather.   Both were overcast – though I don ’ t recall as much rain at my graduation as with hers.          She had called to ask if we would like to be seated in the very back so that I could lean against the wall or if we wanted to be the second row in front.   I was visualizing the bleachers and not three rows of chairs added to the front –...

            Cords are normally reserved for three and four year accomplishments – but there were many who received for just two and were credited for three.   Though Jai was credited for four we both know that she was only there in spirit during her junior year.   She did not attend a brick and mortar school in her junior year but was online with a charter school in a different district, different county.   And yet she received cords in both music and drama for her four year participation.   If she had pursuit her instrument in band, she could have received cords for that as well.      She could not take drama and choir that first year as they were at the same time. S he wasn't able to sign up for an "all electives" year until this year.  It kind of makes me wonder how students receive many multiple colors when the electives option would have seemed limited in their lives just as much. Again, last year didn't count as...

  Have you ever broken or spilled something in someone else ’ s home? My family had been asked to join Peggy ’ s family for the annual Bird pageant.   We were gathered in the living room where Peggy has displayed her many nativity sets for many years (but not as many as the pageant) and Peggy was digging through a box of BC looking clothes and passing them out to the children. I had been experiencing dizzy spells and had lost my balance and knocked over a table that where one of the sets was displayed.   I think two of the pieces broke.   I think Peggy thought it was Jaime that had knocked the set over  but I told her that it wasn ’ t Jaime but it was me who had lost my balance.   I apologized and did feel bad as I wasn ’ t even able to replace the set that had come from another country. not the actual set; I couldn't find one that I think I remember

          I started watching clips of the Bible Project when I was teaching Valiants in primary.   I never shared the illustrations with the class though I am fascinated by the short videos.   The book of Judges ( here ) is referred to as disturbing – which it is – as we explore in this week’s reading of “Come Follow Me”.   As we are limited on time and to spare all the gore (and there is A LOT of it) it has been suggested to study only certain scriptures (which still contain gore, stupidity, arrogance, violence, murders, and so forth) https://meetinggodinthemargin.com/2017/06/02/first- reading-of-judges-11-12-jephthah-his-daughter/         Chapter one gives us the account of the land of the twelve tribes – a recap if you will.   Where mortal corruption and child sacrifice is acceptable.   Chapter two gives the account of the cycle that each generation experiences starting with sin, oppression, repentance, deliverance...

  Ever since Jaime was born, I knew that I would be 60 years of age at the time my baby graduates.   I am 60 today.   She graduates on Friday. Wow. The weather has been perfect.   But my allergies have not been.   I haven’t enjoyed the day as much as I would like.   As of now, I don’t plan on attending church tomorrow.   Perhaps I shouldn’t have done so in the first place.   Perhaps I would be over this.   Perhaps.   I still don’t know for sure. Richard did make a cake for my birthday.  Perhaps he shouldn't have as he has been really good with his diet until today.  Jaime and I watched Soul .  I played a few games on the kindle.  Not much celebrating.  

               It is Jaime’s official last day of school – though she does not graduate until June 3.   There is a mandatory graduation practice at noon – and she has a concert performance on the first.   So much for the last day.   I don’t think Jaime is ready to give it up.   As I had mentioned before, she only needed two class credits to graduate from SUHS – though she could have theoretically graduated from ORCA last year.   But she is making the most of her senior year and has been assisting instructors with some of the freshman classes.             She had just turned 11 when we initially moved to Oregon in 2015.   Now look at her.   She’ll be starting college at SOU in the fall.   Sunrise, Sunset . . .  

 I must have fallen asleep with the fan on last Friday night, for when I woke up on Saturday (this was the week when Richard was out of town) I could feel a sore throat coming on. I needed to go to Church on Sunday. There was a training scheduled for the Relief Society. Perhaps I could just go to that and skip the other two meetings. But Jaime wanted to go to her meetings – even though Young Women’s had been on the agenda and she is not as comfortable with it as she is with Sunday School. I had planned on asking the missionaries if they would be teaching but learned that the primary had been invited to the instructor’s class and asked the instructor if I could be in the class also. There were only three other students in attendance and so I was welcomed. I had not enjoyed church. By the third hour (training) my head was throbbing and I had wished I had just remained at home. I did not feel like I had been trained and that the meeting had not been worth the effort on my part to be t...

  If you could talk with only one person for the rest of your life, who would it be and why? I would pick my brother, Steven, though I am certain I would not be his first choice.   Steven is not only knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects, but we share so many of the same memories and feelings and values.   I miss him on so many levels.   I miss talking with him on a daily basis.   I miss his insight that was more instantaneous in person than now.   I miss his ability to understand me when it feels like nobody else does (husband included).   He ’ s my youngest brother and has been there for me for most of my adult life.   (We did have a falling out for a couple of years – but we ’ re good now) https://lattice.com/library/how-to-create-a-culture-that-encourages-communicati Talking with only one person would be hard however.  I would miss Jaime's voice and singing.  I would miss other friends as well.  I am happy that I don't ...

  Did you or someone you know ever talk a police officer out of writing a ticket? Richard likes to share a memory of a time when his mother was driving.   She had been pulled over and did not know why.   The officer told her that she was being charged for speeding. “ In this old thing? ” she asked and was serious. The officer was laughing so hard that he did not issue her a citation but did give a warning.

Which is greater, love of one ’ s parents, one ’ s children, one ’ s spouse, or one ’ s friend? Love comes in various sizes and definitions.   Unfortunately we do not all define love the same way when it comes to relationships.   My initial response was the parents ’ love toward their children but I know for a fact that not all “ parents ” feel the same way about their children that they would make the ultimate sacrifice for them – even if that means teaching them with “ tough love ” which is often harder on the parent than the child.   Some people may have children but have absolutely no parenting skills or feel positive emotions toward their children.   Some people don ’ t know how as they were never taught themselves.   That goes the same for spouses.   Some will make small sacrifices for the other – such as cleaning the floor or ironing their shirts – it ’ s a sacrifice when one person does it not because of obligation but out of respect and l...

  What ’ s the best way to resist peer pressure? I have never been one to give into peer pressure.   I spent far too much of my life feeling sad or discouraged.   I never had the confidence that I tried so hard to instill in Jaime.   She is good at avoiding negative peer pressure, but does seem to give in to positive peer pressure.   An example of that would be whenever she follows suit when youth in our ward tend to challenge one another to bear their testimonies every fast Sunday.   Best way to resist?   Live for God and for yourself.   It doesn ’ t matter what your peers think. Peers should encourage not discourage.   https://www.verywellfamily.com/negative-and- positive-peer-pressure-differences-2606643

  Richard did not return last night as planned.  He is currently somewhere in the sky or at an airport waiting to be flown.  He says he ’ ll be in at noon.  Theoretically I could go get him, but my car is currently with a couple who graciously said that they would go pick him up since I do not drive at night. He has gone a few days without meds before and has been okay.  He has diabetes.  But he will be okay.  He is probably in better shape than either Jai or I right now.  She is staying home from school for the first time this year.  We won ’ t be going to the airport.  I am so grateful to the couple who have agreed to collect him.  I think it will be good for them to bond.