Beneath the Wraps

         I don ’ t know how old I was when Grandma showed us the game Mr. Ree.   I vaguely remember seeing the game.   I don ’ t know if my cousins and I attempted to play it – I think we did, but soon became bored with it.   We didn ’ t really understand what we were supposed to do.          As I have researched the Internet to learn if there were really any similarities between Mr. Ree and Clue,   Mr. Ree sounds like it may have been more challenging or fun to play – but I could be wrong.   I just remember thinking the layout of the Mr. Ree board was similar to the mansion set for clue. Of course there are different versions of each game – changing design and pieces every decade or so for whatever reason.   This is what I remember from my childhood:     Recently my son, Tony, and his wife gave me a new addition of clue...

Recently Jenna and I checked some books out from the library.   One of these books was called Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Tai – a story written in a free verse and dated as would a journal or diary.   The experience of Ha (the narrator) reminds me of Thuan Huynh’s own life as recorded in April Rain – a book I received for a birthday almost seven years ago.   At the time Thuan was working at the same office as Roland.   He autographed the book for me and I started reading it and was intrigued with his life’s journey and for the huge sacrifice that his mother had made for him and his sister and for the love he had for his family members – particularly his mom and his sister.   And for the courage that each of them endured Though it is an easy book and can hold the reader’s interest to move quickly through the pages, I am still quite a slow reader (though I did read it quicker than most books while it was in my possession).   I s...

My brother just recently shared this post on his facebook page: When Mom was 13 her parents divorced. When she was 16 her mom remarried. Both of these events were very difficult for Mom for reasons I won't go into here. In this entry of 1982 she says the following: "It was also during my teens that I made some vows: 1) I would never raise my children in an apartment 2) With all my heart I would do everything to avoid a divorce 3) I would do my best to be home with my children 4) I would try not to lay guilt on my children 5) My children would be involved in family councils in which they could present their ideas." Check, check, check, check, and check, Mom. Well done! I remember mom clipping coupons from the back of the carton of Highland Milk.  Even on a budget, those coupons provided us opportunity for going to the zoo, amusement parks, and so forth.  Mom and dad held strong family ties and taught us values – though we didn’t know ...

Our theme for this month is on the plan of salvation.   I had wanted to get the class members’ input if there was a certain topic each would like to focus on.   Subject suggestions were on faith, agency and music to name a few.   I absolutely LOVE music and the concept behind the hymns and how to use the hymn book and so forth.   But as the month started, I just didn’t feel inspired to do the lesson on music.   I actually had one beam at the subject of music.   That was the same week of ward conference.   The musical number was beautiful – a medley of “Come Follow Me” and “Lord, I would Follow Thee” Very uplifting.   Scott got up after the musical and made comment that he hates going after the musical number.   I can’t say as I blame him.   The Spirit is often felt quite strongly through music.   When I returned home from the meeting I felt impressed to create a “Name That  Tune Hymn ...

  All three or my boys were in high school at the time.   (I don ’ t remember if I had given birth to Jenna yet) They were 15, 16, and 17.   My husband often referred (and still does) to the 15 year old as Casper as he had a way of disappearing for every chore. One night Biff and Tony were washing dishes when Randy went on one of his disappearing jaunts.   He had excused himself to get music – or perhaps it was already playing – his idea of music anyway. Biff and Tony listened to Soft Jazz and oldies.   Randy listened to what kids his age would listen to – I guess.   Still listens to bizarreness with no beat really.   I don ’ t care for what he thinks of as music.   Apparently neither did his brothers. As Biff and Tony (who are both older than Randy – but only by one of two years) continued to do dishes they went into discussion about how Randy was of another generation.   I started laughing.   So they trie...

I think most counties in Utah use a numbering system surrounding their “main street” I don’t actually know what the focal point is in Logan or Provo for example, but I do know that Temple Square is the central point in Salt Lake city and its surrounding areas.  Surrounding Temple Square are four streets called South Temple, West Temple, North Temple and Main Street.   Each street is numbered thereafter according to whatever direction – but starting in the three digits.       For example 1 st north is also 100 north.   I know, it’s confusing for those who don’t drive it everyday, but for those of us who live here, it is what it is. So if I grew up on 311 E 7980 S, I would be approximately 80 blocks south of the temple and a little over 3 blocks east. My mom grew up in San Francisco but still had family in Utah.   She used to feel sorry for children in Utah having to learn a difficult address like 2530 S 500...

         It was in January of 2012 that my sibs and I worked together with my niece and her husband to put ourselves on a schedule so that someone would always be at home with my mom – which unfortunately did not always work out.          We would keep in touch by phone and sending the same email to our group so that we could all kind of keep track of what was going on.   It wasn’t until November when Nate decided to create a group page on facebook.   He gave it the name “Operation Grandma Care”.   We started out with Six members and gradually we became Nine.          The site was up for less than three months before we had moved my mom into assisted living. I don’t know when Nate removed himself from the group but it couldn’t have been more than eight months after he’d created the site.   Nevertheless the seven of us that remaine...

I watched two different news stations lead with the story of the demolition and transformation taking place at Fashion Place Mall.   That was their lead story, I kid you not.   Both stations.   The second story on one of the stations (but further down the line of the other) featured budgeting for the homeless – what can we do for them?   Hey, here’s an idea: take the money that is being spent for the super Dillards and provide those many homeless with jobs – or build a place that the “homeless” might be able to afford.   It chaps my hyde when so much money is spent for unimportant matters.    Oh, I suppose for Dillards executives, the number one story was great news to their ears.   What awesome publicity.   And I suppose there are some shoppers who will be equally excited.   As I have previously mentioned, I hate malls.   I hate commercialism.   I hate the chaos and materialism.   How great it ...

There are some people who are so gifted in being in tune and teaching by the Spirit that the words they use just seem to flow so eloquently through their mouths and everything they say is so profound.   And you know that you can really learn from what is being taught.   That is how it is with my sister Sunny.   There are also several leaders in our ward that have that gift. I know that there are a few posts in which I mention that I co-teach the youth Sunday school class.   There is no longer a manual provided.   Leaders and instructors are given general themes and guide lines of what is to be taught each month.   This is to help us to get in tune and teach by the Spirit – though I haven’t always felt that I have been prepared enough to teach by the spirit.   I think I have attended all but two classes since I accepted my calling.   I don’t always teach, but choose to sit in on the days that Kelly teaches. Kelly does not atten...