Beneath the Wraps

  My daughter-in-law comes from a large family.   Four boys and four girls.   Each have learned saving tips and coupon shopping from their mom.   They had also grown up with traditions that at least the four youngest try to honor now. There were two or three of them in the kitchen making pies the day prior to Thanksgiving. I don’t remember ever having baked beans as part of Thanksgiving dinner before, but it was a part of theirs.   A craft project of making turkeys with apple bodies, gumdrops and marshmallow parts. My second youngest granddaughter and I took a brief walk outside.   It was nice to get to know her a little bit.

          The first car that I had ever purchased was a used chocolate brown Volkswagen Dasher.  The only images I can find are of hatchbacks but I am certain that my car had a trunk.  I didn ’ t want a hatchback.  The saleman had tried selling me a Ford Pinto.  I did not want a Ford Pinto.  I did not care for the salesman ’ s tactic. I went and found another salesman. not exact but think similar to what I had           It was a cute little car, but NOT a spontaneous one.   I would have to warm the car up at least an hour before going anywhere.   I would let it warm up and allow the car to run for about five minutes and then I would have to give it an extra few minutes before I was seriously ready to go.   I don ’ t even know what year it was or how many years I had it.             When I left for my mission, I allowed my brother Patrick to driv...

Home and Health #4:  "In  childhood, did you share a bedroom with siblings or have a room to yourself?"             I believe it was in 1961 when my parents purchased the three bedroom house in Midvale.   I joined them a year later and had my own room.   I'm certain that I must have started my life in our new house in my parents' bedroom sleeping in a white bassinet.   I don't know how old I was when I was given my own room or why I ended up where I did.   My room was the furthest from mom and dad's room.   I think they put me in there as I was a light sleeper and heard every sound.   That is the first room I remember being mine.           I don't know how old I was when I requested that my room be painted pink, but I remember I had to take down my posters.   I had three of girls with big eyes.   I don't even remember what each was do...

Jenna has never been greedy with her wish list. Some things are not practical. Generally her wish is short. She rated the following from 1 - 10, 10 being the highest.   Only 7 things on her list. What I'd like to fulfill most is wish #4. That will require a lot of prayer. She just wrote her list in random order but not order of importantness.   The two things from the list that she would like most I don't have control. 1.       New   charger for tablet (Roland finally broke down and got one for her as she was using up his phone battery.)                           rates this as a 2 2.       "Everyone wants to steal your cheese" t- shirt            rates a 7.   3.       toy box chocolate surprise                 ...

            I remember how I enjoyed watching fireworks when I was younger.   I remember lighting sparklers with my dad and dancing around the yard.   Fireworks were reserved for July 4 th (anniversary of our nation) and July 24 th (anniversary of our state) and gradually that turned into weekends.   Here in our part of west Valley, the fireworks happen EVERY SINGLE DAY IN JULY – or at least from the 3 rd to the 27 th .   Jenna’s enthusiasm shines for each holiday.   She’d been nagging Roland for some time to get fireworks whenever we pass firework stands or displays.      Somewhere along the way (and I’m not really certain when) I outgrew the thrill of fireworks.   I get headaches from the smoke.   I have a hard time breathing when I am outside.   I’m no longer a night owl and thus not very fun parent.   But we try.   Jenna often feels bumm...

  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...

                 When I got married for the first (and only) time, I not only got a husband,   I had a ready-made family. Our boys were 11, 12 and 14 (we were married six weeks prior to the 12 year old turning 13)           I met the youngest one first.   My mom and I had gone over to a quadplex unit to visit someone.   We had knocked at the door but there was no reply.   I don’t know if Randy called “Hi” to us from the tree before or after we knocked.   He smiled brightly but gave no information about himself nor inquired who we were.    As it turned out the sister we were searching for had moved out and Randy was actually living at that particular unit with his two brothers and dad.           Randy was ten going on eleven.   We had the same size hands at the time.   ...

I have two brothers.   Patrick is two years younger than I.   Corey is nine years younger.   Both brothers are quite knowledgeable in the gospel.   Both are quiet.   Both are very forgiving of others.   Both pocess qualities very much like our dad. Both attend Church meetings each week – but each is on a mission that’s entirely different from the other           The eldest of the two currently serves as second counselor in the bishopric. Patrick is diligent and responsible.   Keeps confidences.   He’s organized.   GREAT father! Coveted husband. A good guy whom people respect.   Did I mention quiet?           I am actually closer to Corey than I am to Patrick.   Corey is an actor.   When he appears on stage it isn’t known how quiet he is when he’s not performing.   Corey is very diligent and responsible.   He keeps confid...