Halloween Party

Ladybug Lisa (easiest costume on a time crunch!) and Fro Bro,

with David the Dragon (a costume his birth parents bought).

My calling (volunteer responsibility) in my ward is the Activities Committee Chairperson. Last night we had a fun activity combined with the neighboring ward, a Halloween Trunk or Treat party. We started with games and activities: several crafts, donuts on a string, a monster bean bag toss, even a game one of my students created for her little sister and which she had demonstrated in my Communications class for her "How-To" speech (we called it a Balloon-Bubble Burst). Then we had chili, cornbread, and hot dogs for dinner (I forgot to get the 20 pounds of carrots out of the fridge!), with storytelling on the stage. We attempted a costume parade (though it was like herding stray cats!), then trunk-or-treating and a hayride outside, and finally donuts and cider to top it off (and bring the children's sugar level to an all-time high).

Captivated by storytelling

Because my committee is small right now, it was a lot of work on the shoulders of a few, and I didn't shoulder nearly as much as Kathryn Latour, my counterpart from the other ward.

Kathryn Latour, the real reason for the success

I've felt a lot of stress this week, since quarter grades are due Monday (my plan tonight is to hit the sack early but wake about 2 or 3 in order to grade a class set of essays and compute grades). It didn't help that I slept 10 hours the night before last -- somehow I overslept my alarm, and Taylor let me sleep on and on. That meant yesterday was entirely Trunk or Treat, without the few extra hours I'd planned in the morning to work on grading. Oh well. The party did turn out great. Now today we start the planning for the Ward Christmas Party!

Rusty Hancock (one of my former bishops) and Stormtrooper

(the adult costumes were the best!)



Megan & John Nolls are expecting. Creative!

Jenny Jones (who watches David in the morning 4 days a week) and her daughters

The Fro Bro and the Dragon

Grandma Kathy

We were really fortunate to have Taylor's mom, Kathy Halverson, out for 4 days this past week. She arrived Sunday morning and attended church with us; afterwards we had dinner and then headed to Half Moon Bay, hoping to make a sunset on the beach. But traffic was bumper to bumper, so the journey took 2-3 times as long as it should. We got there in time to see the last streaks of color over a very dark beach.

Tuesday night we walked around downtown Palo Alto together, and then went to the 10th annual Stanford Ward Convocation. Kathy enjoyed seeing the beautiful Memorial Church, and the talks were great, including one by Rober S. Wood, a member of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy. I wish we had had more time to see more of Stanford; from what she saw Kathy could tell it's a lovely campus. The weather while she was here was perfect -- mid-70s, so she enjoyed our deck overlooking the Redwood Shores Lagoon.

I think David likes to show off for his grandmas, because he again has increased his standard milk intake each day. At his 2 month check on Thursday he weighed in at 11 pounds, 6 ounces, 2 pounds more than a month ago. His legs especially are strong.

Outside Play

A friend just referred me to a blog, http://playborhood.com, which discusses the need for kids to get outside and just play!

We played outside all the time as kids (I consider my "childhood" to be Fort Ord, where the mild weather was a boon for outside play). Dad constructed a tree fort with two zip lines going to different trees, a jungle gym, and the "rings" -- a maypole-like construction from which four big metal rings hung; you grabbed a ring and ran round the pole until you were swinging. The next-door neighbor boys had a sandpit we dug forts in, though later I learned that one of them would use the sandpit as a potty! (His mother must have suffered from depression because she supposedly locked herself in -- and the boys out of -- the bathroom to cry.) We walked ourselves to school, down a long dirt path we called "Stinker Bug Trail" because of the bugs that would raise their rears & pass gas at you if you nudged them. We knocked on strangers doors to sell Girl Scout cookies (though I made Meta do the talking because I was too shy!).

I know that today the world is more dangerous. But I also feel like kids need to feel free to roam and to play, exploring the world.

Am I just super naive? nostalgic? idealistic?

So this isn't "outside play" -- I don't have any of those photos in digital format.
Still, a gigantic box makes a pretty cool fort when you're little!

Teaching: Animal Farm & How-To Speeches

I'm only assigned one lit class of the six I'll teach over the course of this year. That is a bummer in some ways, since I really love the discussion of ideas that comes when teaching a literature class. So I want to engage your minds, too, in some of the things I'm teaching!

In my lit class (general level), we just finished All Quiet on the Western Front, alongside which we read a few chapters from Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried and poetry about war (much of it written by poets from the "Lost Generation"). Very powerful works -- Taylor stayed up past midnight one night finishing off All Quiet. Wish my students were moved by it in that way!

Now we're starting Animal Farm. Even though I read this in middle school, I remember it better than a lot of books from high school. If you also read it, tell me what you remember. What ideas from it were important to you?

This will be followed by Macbeth and then one of my favorites, Cyrano de Bergerac.

In my two Communications classes, we're in the middle of a "How-To" speech unit. I haven't been much of a You-Tube user -- any clips of Martha Stewart or the like you know of from there that I should search for?

Sweet (and Smilin') Six Weeks

David had his 6-week birthday on Tuesday. His smiles are still hard to catch on camera: you can see I didn't frame this well, as I was trying to look not through the viewfinder, but at him, so he'd smile! To offset his lovely smiles, he has been more fussy of late, though he conks out for a long nap if I turn on the static of the radio -- works well, except then we're stuck in a house with loud static noise (right now, the radio is 2 feet from my computer!).

I asked Taylor what he likes best about parenting David. I wondered if he would mention how he loves to laugh and laugh at some of David's funny grimaces or reactions (or our antics, like trying Taylor's glasses on David!).


But Taylor's real answer was both a surprise and the most natural thing. "It's just wonderful to love someone unconditionally," he said. Yes, I agree! It's amazing how quickly and fully your heart opens. Taylor also mentioned that he hardly ever thinks about the fact that David is not of our own blood. He's of our heart!

Beloved

I don't fully understand slide.com, or why this slideshow is shown in the format it is. Does anyone know of a free slideshow program that lets you set the time for each slide and format/presentation of slides? These slides are much more fun seen quickly, more like he's really moving!

Conference Weekend

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (the "Mormons"), few weekends are more fulfilling to me than those of our bi-annual "General Conference." Twice a year, Mormons either travel to Utah to attend General Conference in person, or watch/listen to it by satellite broadcast, television/cable, or internet. We believe that Jesus Christ guides the church through revelation given to the President of the Church (currently Gordon B. Hinckley), who we consider to be a prophet. A "First & Second Counselor", as well as 12 Apostles, are also believed to be prophets; Conference is a chance to hear from them, as well as from the women and men who hold other worldwide leadership positions in the church. Over the two days, there were 4 sessions of two hours each, as well as another 2 hour session for the men (women had had their session a week prior). Believe it or not, this is my favorite way to spend a Saturday and Sunday!

These are my highlights from this October Conference:

• As I got settled in for the first session Saturday morning, David smiled big and broad! No, I didn't have a camera ready, but it was a beautiful start to the day!
• The calling of Henry B. Eyring as the new Second Counselor (after the death of James Faust a few months ago). Eyring used to be a professor at Stanford and Bishop of the Stanford Ward; I like having a connection!). His father, Hal Eyring, was a prolific writer and a recipient of the National Medal of Science for developing the Absolute Rate Theory of chemical reactions. I have always admired both father and son for their humility, careful thinking, & convictions. President Eyring gave a powerful talk about recognizing the hand of God in our lives. He recommended keeping a record each day of ways we have seen God's hand touch us. I have done this in the past (my "gratitude journal") and have known for some time I need to do it again; my life is richer when I recognize the ways in which I am blessed.
• Spencer Condie (a member of one of the Quorums of the Seventy) spoke about what he called "the Lord's precious promises." Many of his examples were of barren women from the Old Testament. He spoke so tenderly of a subject that is tender to me, that I wondered whether he or someone he loved had dealt with infertility.
• M. Russell Ballard (an Apostle) gave a very clear explanation of basic tenets of Mormonism, though I didn't hear the whole talk since David needed a diaper change!
• Joseph Wirthlin (an Apostle) spoke about love, saying that the development of love is the greatest measure of success. He also said: "Love is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures, and consoles. It leads us through valleys of darkness and through the veil of death." As he spoke, he began to tremble (he is 90 y.o.), yet he plunged on with his talk. Elder Nelson, who was a cardiac surgeon before being called to be an Apostle, came and stood protectively behind him. Both men seemed to me symbols of love -- Nelson of protecting his colleague and friend, Wirthlin of feeling the importance of the message he had to share.
• Jeffrey Holland (an Apostle) is one of my favorites (along with Eyring and Bednar). He spoke of the Mormon concept of the Godhead. Holland once spoke in the Stanford Ward (where his son was in the Bishopric); as I listened, I knew this man spoke truth and knew God. I feel that again each time I hear him in Conference, and I love his mind & conviction.
• David Bednar (an Apostle) focused on a Book of Mormon scripture from Christ's visit to the Americas. He says, “Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:20). Bednar encouraged us to "overcome both the taint and the tyranny of sin" -- to have both clean hands and a pure heart.
• I could go on, but I'll just mention briefly Robert Hales' talk on personal revelation, Tad Callister's on personal testimony, and Dallin Oaks' on choosing the best (not just the good or better) things before us.
• Finally, it always warms my heart to hear from President Hinckley. He's 97 years old, and yet he bears on his shoulders the weight of an organization of 13 million members. As he ended his talk he said, "May windows of heaven be opened and blessings showered upon you as the Lord has promised. Never forget that this was His promise and that He has the power and the capacity to see that it is fulfilled." Because I believe him to be a prophet of God, I am touched by this beautiful blessing.

Though it's a lot of sitting and listening, I always feel so spiritually rejuvenated by Conference. I am so glad for men and women who lead lives of goodness and service, and for the chance to be reminded of what I believe and what I value most.

Feelin' Groovy

My sisters have bugged me for more photos of David. I keep wanting to get one of him smiling -- he does smile, though not spontaneously but rather after I do smile aerobics with my own face and he finally mimics me! But I will need Taylor to be photographer for that, since David usually stops smiling once I change to camera-head not smile-machine.

Becca (Marcus's wife) says that soon
David will compete with Eliza for tummy rolls!

The camera has the power to bring on his "Furrowed Brow" look. He looks so worried sometimes! I've been singing him a rendition of the Simon & Garfunkel song, "Feelin' Groovy," to reassure him he truly has very little to worry about these days:

Slow down, you slurp too fast.
You gotta make this bottle last.
Just spitting up, and pooping out.
Looking for milk and feeling groovy.

Ba da da da da da da da.... Feelin' groovy.

You got no deeds to do, no promises to make.
You're pimply and poopy but it's nice you're awake.
Let us go to San Carlos for Mom & Dad's date [or whatever -- we were about to leave on a "group date" -- Taylor, me, and David -- the last time I sang this!]
David we love you.... All is groovy!


It's fun how a baby encourages you to sing all the nonsensical things you can think of!

Life has been busy but sweet with David. He continues to be an easy baby (though his two nights in a row of sleeping for more than 8 hours seems to have been a "teaser", as he had Taylor up every two hours last night). Poor Taylor has had a monster of a deadline for work, too, and yet he almost never wakes me up to help with David at night. He is spoiling me badly!

I love it when he clutches on to my hand like this.
And when he feeds, he always tucks up both arms
like his left arm is tucked here.

Last Saturday we made the move to our current house-sit, which will last 5 months. After this one ends, we may cave and begin renting. David has quadrupled the "stuff" we need on hand, and it would be nice to settle in. But for now, we're in a lovely location and nice neighborhood, with a deck that looks right over the water of the Redwood Shores Lagoon. On move day, David cooperated and slept for 6 hours (with only one brief awakening) during the daytime, helping us have time to pack and clean. I worried that he wouldn't sleep at night, but like I said, he had an 8-hour sleep! A well-rested baby sleeps better, I've read.

Our last house-sit, in lovely Old Palo Alto