Happy Birthday, Dad

We celebrated my Dad's 80th birthday last weekend. I loved having us all together. It may have been a party for him, but I think we all got a present of memories.

All of his children and grandchildren were there except for the three young men on missions. So we had them represented in cardboard form.

One big happy family!!

I can now breathe!

As you have probably heard, on Tuesday, September 29, a magnitude 8.3 quake struck off Samoa at 6:48 a.m. local time. The islands felt the earthquake and about 15 minutes later the islands were engulfed by four tsunami waves 15 to 20 feet high that reached up to a mile inland. It appears that American Samoa was hit hard as was the south side of Upolu.

My son, Andrew, is an LDS missionary in Pago Pago on American Samoa. The stories I have been hearing from some of the other missionary moms have been scary. Elders climbing trees to avoid the water, homes moved off of the foundation with missionaries inside, cars washed around like pin balls with missionaries inside, and missionaries on a ferry in the ocean during the earthquake/ tsunami. It is truly miraculous that every single missionary is safe.

Andrew called home to assure us of his safety and emailed us details today. He said that having never experienced an earthquake--he watched Elder Pepe jump over the bed and under the table and just sit there. After watching him under the table for about 30 seconds, Elder Pepe said "come under the table lest you get hit by a falling ceiling..." (translated exactly) So Andrew moved under the table.

I am so grateful for the safety of all the missionaries.

More simple joys...

I have been thinking today of more simple pleasures or memories that bring me joy. For example, in our Sacrament meeting today a member of our ward who is from Mexico bore his testimony in Spanish. It was so beautiful! (And rather amazing that I understood most of it!!) I was flooded with with such joy and memories of a time when I bore my testimony in Spanish on a daily basis. (Back when I could "speak" Spanish.)

Then there is the joy of holding a new grandchild for the first time. In July, we welcomed our second granddaughter. Even though Lily spent five days in NICU and was hooked up to so many monitors that it took a lot of caution and help to get her into your arms--WOW it was worth it. Can't you tell I was thrilled?

















Yes, I can honestly say that one of my favorite joys/blessings is being a grandmother. One of my favorite memories this summer was when Ally wanted to help me embroider the label I was making for her quilt. I was dubious that a 3-year old would be much help--but she was actually very good at pulling the needle and thread after I had poked it through the material. She cheered and clapped every time!! She turned a routine task into a celebration!!


Cooking was also a lot more fun with her help. Even when she kept sneaking nibbles of the cobbler dough.


















Then when the rest of my children arrived to meet the newest member of the family...and play with Ally. Every day brought happy joys and lovely memories. Ahhh, such happy memories.






I loved talking "quilts" with Natalie. She did a beautiful job on the quilt she made for Lilly.






























I loved watching Nathan tenderly hold Lily.









I loved the hair bows Debbie made... and seeing both their smiles.



























Here's Matthew, president and founder of the "naughty" uncle's club. They all delight in spoiling their nieces.

















Adam would hold Lily or play airplane or scary monster with Ally.
And even when Grandpa is exhausted, he still loves to hold his granddaughters. (We have an identical photo of him holding Ally when she was a newborn.)

Joy in simple things

When I think of happiness or joy in this life, I think of the those I love and the times we share. Steve and I were trying to decide what big exciting thing to do for our 30th wedding anniversary! We considered a trip to Bryan College Station to see the George Bush presidential library. But Texas A&M was starting its fall classes so we figured the place would be a zoo with all the returning students. We thought maybe a trip to San Antonio, but the weather forecast was 103 for the weekend and most of the tourist things in San Antonio are outside—not a lot of fun taking the river walk and visiting the Alamo in 103 degree weather. Dallas might have been fun, but it is a long drive for a 2-day trip.

What did we end up doing? Well, drum roll please… we decided NOT to stay over anywhere. We took a day trip to Brenham to the Bluebell Creamery. It is only an hour drive away. We paid to take the tour. Steve was quite happy that he qualified for the senior priced ticket. lol. He kept telling me that his ticket cost less than mine.  Then at the end of the tour, they give you a “free” scoop of yummy ice cream. I had pralines and cream MMMM, Steve had mint chocolate chip. That's my adventurous sweetheart—he had that flavor in the freezer at home. lol Then we drove over to the museum at Washington on the Brazos and spent an hour or so touring the museum. We were the only ones in the place (I guess with school starting this week, no school kids were visiting yet.) It was actually very interesting. It was a lovely happy way to celebrate.

Then today I got an email from my missionary son in Samoa. He has not written for the last 3 weeks. It is funny how 600 words can brighten your day. What little things are you happy about! I sent him this picture to let him know how happy he made me

Happy Birthday Matthew

Early this month, we flew to Denver to celebrate Matthew's birthday. We planned it to coincide with Nathan and Natalie's visit as they were heading to Iowa for the summer. My dad and Annette also joined us so he could ordain Matthew a high priest. Debbie is a lovely hostess and we had a great time.
We celebrated Matthew’s birthday by spending the morning moving rocks. Who says that the Salt family doesn’t know how to have a fun time? The rock moving extravaganza was part of some landscaping efforts in their back yard.
Later we went to a movie and we played a lot of games together. As usual I lost EVERY game—but I loved every minute of playing together. Well, ALMOST every minute—losing Quiddler by nearly 200 points was not exactly my favorite part of the game playing. HAHA
Even though we enjoyed working together no one thought to take pictures of us covered with dirt. These pictures of us all cleaned up will have to do. :)

A rainy day full of joy

A couple of weeks ago, we had a rain day and schools were closed. So, I used the day to make quilt squares for a fund raiser for MD Anderson. The project is to raise money to help cure ovarian cancer. I had decided to make the squares in memory of my mother. As I am learning to quilt, it was fun making the squares. It is also a good cause but it mostly it made me feel close to my mother. I had been thinking a lot about her because I had recently heard a lesson about how from the beginning of time, God has used angels as His messengers to convey love and concern for His children. Elder Jeffrey Holland said, “Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near… But I testify that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the world Himself. I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He “would fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our] children’s children.” And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to “search diligently, pray always, and be believing. Then] all things shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted.”

It just made me feel like my mother would really be someone who would volunteer to come be near us whenever we needed love and comfort. She did a great job of that while on this earth.

What's that smell?

I LOVE SMELLS!! My sense of smell has returned and I am so GRATEFUL for smells. I went to Bath and body Works this week. The lady asked me when I walked in if she could help me. I said, No--I just came in to sniff!! I walked around smelling all the different scents. It was amazing so many different pleasant aromas. When I am making dinner, I can smell dinner cooking and it smells wonderful. Chicken baking. Soup boiling. Onions frying. MMMMMM Dishwashing detergent smells so clean!! I actually like scrubbing the dishes just so I can enjoy the aroma of the soap. Laundry detergent and fabric softener also smell clean--and the clothes when they come out of the drier. It is fun to fold them as they smell so GOOD!!

And it is not just the good smells...it is so nice to know when the trash NEEDS to be emptied. Or the toast is burning. Or that casserole is really not edible. Or to be able to tell if those socks on the floor fell off the laundry pile or need to go into the laundry. It has been a fun week to really be grateful for a small yet truly wonderful part of Heavenly Father's world. What are your favorite smells?

Today in church an 8 year old autistic boy with such a wonderful spirit shared his feelings about life. His message was full of wonder and joy at things he found amazing. I was so touched by his awe and sweet spirit. Maybe because I have been so apppreciative of some of the little things in life this week. As he listed some of the things he was grateful for...My personal favorite was that he was grateful that Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were friends!!...My heart smiled and I thought...So am I!! What are you grateful for?

Revenge

What a wild and crazy fun week I have had! (Please note the heavy sarcasm.) Actually all went well with the surgery. I slept through the whole thing! :) Then I slept most of the rest of the day. Because I knew you would want to see it and as revenge for all of the wisdom teeth pictures that I took of my children—Adam took this picture for you. I did have to wear this truly lovely nose sling for several days. Some more good news was that I did not have a lot of swelling--so technically I could breathe through my nose. However, breathing through a nose that is covered with a lovely nose sling is not a lot easier than breathing through a nose full of nasal polyps.

Everyone always asks if I was in a lot of pain. Actually, it didn’t hurt at all until my follow up visit this week. The nurse forgot to spray my nose with the numbing spray and when the doctor got busy cleaning the surgical debris out of my sinuses—I got busy crying. My nose bleed for the next three hours and ached the rest of the day. Next week I am going to be SURE I get numbed first!!

It's batman!!

Andrew sent me some pictures this week. One was of him holding a bat!! What's up with that?!? It is hard to believe that in the intensive safety training that his dad gave him every day of his life with us --did we leave out the part where people should not touch bats!?! I did not even show the picture to Steve--or I'd have to give him CPR. :) Seriously, in Texas they tell you if you see a bat not to touch it or get near it. I don't know if it is the same everywhere but bats in Texas spread rabies and the only ones that will let you near them are usually sick. Oh well at least rats aren't gnawing on his feet.

My nicest experience today was when I announced to my AMI third graders that because I am having nasal surgery on Wednesday today would be my only day with them this week. I expected cheering or big happy smiles at least!! After all, these kiddos have missed their "specials" classes almost every day since January to attend math tutoring with me. But instead of cheering, they were sad. AHHHH They are the sweetest kids ever. I am going to keep praying they pass that test. The fifth graders cheered but I will pray for them too. :)

Can you hear me now?

Happy March!! If you wonder why I am whispering :) I have had a bout of laryngitis this week. It made teaching school a lot more interesting. I really need to be able to talk when my job is to tutor children for their math TAKS.. One day I put my hand on my chest as I tried to suck in enough air to speak loud enough to be heard. One of my little sweeties very seriously asked, "Mrs. Salt are you having a heart attack?" It made me laugh so hard that I started coughing and I still didn't get to say what I needed to. Can you imagine 6 little third graders trying to give me CPR if I was really having a heart attack? But I am doing much better.

The school I work at is so great at trying to build the confidence and encouragement of the children that they CAN pass the TAKS. They have been holding assemblies and all kinds of attivities to give them confidence. Friday they had the final assembly to wish them well. The little kids (K-2) made posters and lined the halls cheering for the older kids (3-5) as they marched into the gym. Then at the start of the assembly they said they had a surprise...the gym doors opened up and in marched the high school drum line!!! WOW! They were amazing and the kids were pumped--lets hope they pass those tests!!

Say what?

I recently read an article on "supporting" your missionary. The author said, “A letter from home can be like pure spring water to the thirsty soul. What you say in a letter may very well be the highlight of the week.” Hmm, doesn’t that seem like a lot of EXTRA pressure to put on a mother just trying to keep in touch with her own child?!?

Also, the article said that I should try “to limit describing what is going on at home.” HMMM let me see if I have this correct—

1) I should try to make my letters “like spring water to a thirsty soul” but..

2) not tell him anything we are doing?!? Is it just me or does that seem a little difficult?? Well, it has made me ponder and reminisce about letters that I received from home while serving on my mission. I started thinking how much I liked to get letters from my dad telling me about his garden. One time he even sent me a picture of himself standing in his potato patch!! I laughed out loud. It was just so much like my dad to be so proud of his potato patch!!

So I plan on continuing to send my letters filled with happenings at home AND I sent him a picture of me with my quilt squares!!

This is really my first blog post...(maybe my last)

So Matthew decided I should set up my own blog page...I wonder if he is seeking revenge for a comment that I made on his. :) More likely he is trying to drag me into the world of modern technology. He has no idea how challenged I am. Or how boring.