Beneath the Wraps

I think Roland woke me up to ask me something I don't remember what I guess he didn't wake me but I did get out of bed I dragged myself into the living room.   I don't even know what time it was Jenna asked me if I would make her lunch. I made a sandwich and cut some potatoes and the remaining ham and put them in the crock pot with 2 cans of milk and a   can of corn. I went out to the shed for bubble wrap and boxes and started wrapping ornaments to mail to the boys. I had planned on sending letters and the "legend of the candy cane" thought. first package: Tony's family.   Large box. Extra items.   First I put in bubble wrap for padding boxes of cookie decorating kits hats, ornaments.   Seal box.   Whoops.   Forgot the letter.   Go to computer.   Type and print letters. Put Tony's in an envelope.   Tape it to the box. Next:   I open box of hats for Randy's family wrap ornaments.   Take off t...

          The discussion post this week is on being an effective leader.   We need to have examples about our emotional intelligence and what skills we need to improve on and how we would improve.   Roland is always coming up with ideas that I've never thought of.   I don't see myself as a leader and I knew that Roland would have some suggestions - one was my position in the family, which of course I hadn't considered.   I tried writing a few paragraphs about that - but each paragraph felt too biography and introductory and perhaps a little too horn-blowy - which is not what I wanted.   I don't know how many times I changed it before I finally turned something in.   Meanwhile I have come up with some more thoughts for a blog post.           I remember going to a wedding reception held outdoors.   I don't even recall what time of the year, but I remember the...

                Before I applied to the position of a library board member, my neighbor had told me that the library could close.   I did not want to see that happen, and wondered if I would have something pertinent to bring to the table.   As I was the only person in Myrtle Creek to apply for the position, I ended up on the board.   Two months later it was announced that the libraries would close by the end of March.             The Friends of the Myrtle Creek Library formed at the end of February, I believe.   I believe there were over 30 people who attended that first meeting.   I was in awe. Where were all those people been nine months before when the library had asked for another board member?             No one had really been against keeping the library open.   The opposition had been to the ...

I am a visual person I like parables, analogies, crashcourse videos, mnenomics and pictures The fluff and flowers help me remember. Whatever I'm trying to learn will make more sense if I can compare or have an image in my mind. Roland seems to do better without the fluff and flowers; he can read a wordy textbook or listen to a person ramble on and on during a lecture - the more boring or over my head the more he understands and vice-versa. He has the talent to read the wordy textbook and dummy it down to my level.   I don't have the talent of taking all the fluff and turn it into 68 words instead of just five so that he will understand. We're two different people.

        I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by!   Winter Break will take place during the two classes I am currently taking.   It doesn't seem like it's been too long since the last winter break.   I know a few months have gone by, but not 12!   Not even 10.   Only one month left of 2017. What the heck?   How can the year have gone by so quickly when there were so many spurts of activity that almost seemed/felt endless ( here and here for example) Jenna painting ornaments         Last year I had participated in a posting class offered during winter break - students shared Christmas memories and recipes.   I remember one recipe for salt dough ornaments, and made up some batch for family home evening, but waited until yesterday morning to cut out the dough as the recipe suggested a four hour baking time, and I knew I wouldn't want   to be checking the oven after 8:0...

            Yesterday I started two new classes in addition to a grant class I'm taking for the library.   The two classes I'm taking currently delve into personality.   I have a feeling my head will fill faster than my fingers will be able to keep up. I've taken intelligence quizzes before - even before I started taking classes online.   I see the growth in my answers.   The instructor made the suggestion to look at where we were ten years ago and where we are now emotionally.   This is what I've written - but feel that it's too long for the discussion.   Even if I reference myself, I don't have anything to put in APA form as a reference.   So I'm posting it here - although you may have read it all before.             Ten years ago I walked with my three year old daughter to the school.   We took many walks around not only our neighborhood but my mom'...

cookies created on Wednesday Nov 22                  Jenna had invited two of her friends over to hang yesterday. Roland had made cookie dough the night before so that her friends could roll dough, cut into shapes and decorate when they came over.   Jenna was very excited.   She and Roland went to the store to pick out cookie decore and Jenna was quite selective making certain that none of the candy or frostings contained any nuts or nut oils as one of her friends is allergic.          But both had given excuses not to come and so at 7:30 this morning, Roland rolled out dough while Jenna and I cut out the cookies.   After they were baked, we started our decorating.   About 2/3 were complete before Jenna and I got bored and decided to play games for a while.   We also watched "The Muppet Movie" and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" As we watched "Charlie Brown" I reminised over a few dif...

                I guess I could have gone into more detail about Danny's class.   As I mentioned, there were fourteen children in the Valiant class alone - four of them boys.   I have never seen more than two Valiant boys in class since I started attending the ward in Myrtle Creek.   After the opening prayer, Danny passed out scriptures to each child - part of a scripture anyway.   Seven children had the names of a book found in the scriptures.   Seven had a chapter (or section) and a verse.   Danny asked why none of the children had looked up the scriptures she had handed out, what may have been the problem - when it was decided that each of the children had only part of scripture, Danny asked that they check the paper and find a partner that had the other half.             I was impressed how each of them actuall...

                 I came home with a headache yesterday.   I still don't know for sure what caused it, though I have a better idea.   Our youngest beehive attends primary before Young Women's starts.   She had been picked to introduce and conclude the primary program.   I noticed she had been wearing make-up; perhaps she was wearing perfume as well.   That is one plus about being in primary - usually my allergies don't react as the children don't tend to wear it for the most part. I can't say for sure as I have lost the majority of my sense of smell.   I'm guessing a sweet perfume.   Those fragrances I think smell best are the ones that irritate my sinuses the most.             The stake primary president was visiting as well.   Perhaps one of those sisters had been wearing a perfume - though they were all on the other side of the sli...

          Primary programs seem necessary, but I loathe practicing for them.   I always have. As a child, my primary day was on Thursday right after school.   I was then a part of the Midvale East 4th ward.   I can remember on days when it would snow, an announcement would go over the intercom: there will be no primary for such and such a ward.   Never did they announce Midvale East 4th would be cancelled - not even once!   And some days we were faced with more severe snow!   I did not appreciate nor understand it at the time.   I have since thanked my former primary president for her love and devotion.           However, practicing for the primary program, for me, was worse than crossing the street in the snow.   Though I do enjoy singing, I did not enjoy practicing them or keeping still or staying reverent while others took their turns. I would actually play hooky from pr...

          Our swim instructor retired from teaching in public education but has agreed to substitute on occasion.   She happened to be subbing for one of Jenna's teachers and had mentioned to me how Jenna is well liked by so many of her peers.   She is admired because she is herself.   She hangs on to the things she likes and disregards things she doesn't like and refuses to play games of "following the leader" unless she's the leader.           There are several times that I've called Jenna "crazy" or "weird" referring to her personality differences and not necessarily with Jenna herself.   There have been a few concerned about "labeling" - but my family understands what I am saying and in many cases will agree with me.           Take today for instance: Jenna has an opportunity, along with several other honor students, to go to the cinema in ...