October 5, 2010

Dear Children,

What a wonderful week this has been. I have been in Utah since last Friday morning. Dad and I went for a visit and to watch a BYU football game for this season. Boo hoo; they lost right in front of our eyes. That was hard to watch after these many years of usually picking a winning game to see in Provo. It was a VERY warm day and our seats were at the tip top of the student section so the sun didn’t stop beating down on us until 8 minutes until the end of the game! It felt like summer. In fact, I have been so cold since returning late Sunday evening as the weather while I was there in Utah has been BEAUTIFUL!

The first day that we were in Utah we visited with Grandma and then went to Daybreak so Bill could go to a dinner to prepare for his half marathon the next day. Heidi was at a conference for Dazzle Apparel; she is planning on taking that back again from Bill’s company. We had a fun time with the girls after dinner just playing in their driveway and looking for rocks. Jenna loves rocks! Dad was hoping the girls would see the moon come up before we went in. When Bill and Heidi came back, we forgot all about the moon until Dad and I were driving home and saw the big, beautiful moon in the sky so the girls missed it!

On game day, Dad and I headed to the school and rented ourselves bikes so we could ride to the canyon. Our goal was Bridal Veil Falls. I did my best but my bike was too large for me since all their bikes my size were checked out. I never could sit back in my seat correctly so I was quite uncomfortable. I did make it to the first park in the canyon and then Dad raced up to the falls while I rode back. I thought he would catch up to me but he stopped to chat along the way . . . of course. It was an incredibly beautiful morning.

The Brady’s came down for the game and Adrianne watched the girls while Heidi and Bill attended the game. Adrianne and Blake took the girls to the park and kept them busy with fun activities. Then Adrianne made them a fresh fish dinner! They lucked out having Adrianne in charge. After the game Adrianne and I ran to Wal-Mart to find something to make a scooter cover on Monday. Well, for me to make while Adrianne was in class.

We had a barbeque and invited Blake’s sister, Amber, and her family. They had lots of fun in Grandma’s backyard . . . all children love Grandma’s backyard!!! Heidi and Bill were able to come down also. Blake and his sister brought the dessert, strawberry pies!

After dropping Dad off at the airport, I swung by the Brady’s home. Heidi was preparing for Jenna’s Joy School that she was teaching that day so I stayed and help with some of that. It is much the same as when Nate and Katie were in Joy School! Remember . . . Oh boy, I’ve got joy! That afternoon I worked on Adrianne’s scooter cover. I made it from a vinyl tablecloth. Adrianne wanted something lightweight to throw over the scooter in bad weather so it wouldn’t be covered with snow at the end of her school day. She stays long hours on campus with class and work. Luckily, she has lots more helpers in the research lab now with Doctor Roeder requesting (no demanding) that every student in her anatomy class do “volunteer” hours in the Sun Bear lab. Adrianne has organized them in groups so she doesn’t have to do so much training.

Adrianne and I got a little time to do some wedding planning on Tuesday when we found a place to print invitations. We learned that it is the same place that that Randy and Julie Young use for much of their printing so TJ told Adrianne to mention their name for a discount next time she goes in! YES! Adrianne wanted me to see the china she choose so we hurried over to Macy’s but they don’t have a good china department. I found that so hard to believe since it is in the middle or wedding mecca. They had a sample and it looks so close to Heidi’s china I thin that is amazing. I headed to Salt Lake for my SendOutCards meetings the rest of the week. Adrianne and I hadn’t had a chance to work on her Christmas quilt so I planned to come back on Thursday when she wasn’t feeling so stressed over a couple of tests that she needed to take before that date.

Adrianne is a great seamstress. I couldn’t believe how quickly she put the quilt top together when we had the chance on Thursday evening. She is putting a lot of hours into this project. She planned to do it last Christmas for Sharon Gueck but didn’t have the time so now she “thinks” she has the time!!! I will bring it back when I come the first week of November to help Heidi clean out her basement.

My meetings in Salt Lake were wonderful. I gained a huge appreciation for this company while there. I was a little concerned at how I would feel at the meetings but I came away SO IMPRESSED. The people are such good people. I wondered, “Does the SendOutCards product attract these kind of people or does it make these kinds of people?” I think it is a little of both. As you become a distributor, you are asked to become a product of the product and it is suggested that you try and think of one person each day to whom you send a heartfelt card. I have noticed, as I try and do that, I notice things for which to show gratitude to someone or I notice other’s achievements to express a congratulations; things like that. I used to feel good that I am lifting someone else when they read the card that I have sent, but I have learned that it changes my outlook on the day; it changes how I feel also. My benefit is huge from thinking of someone’s life to celebrate; it’s magical. I heard someone suggest to someone who was feeling depressed, to think of someone to send a card of gratitude each day. I see how that can work. I love being a part of something that is not only fun and an incredible tool to stay in touch personally and for businesses but it is really doing good in the world by simple means. I also loved the many stories of the moms in the business that have been able to return home to their children instead of working outside the home.

One of my favorite parts of being in Salt Lake this past weekend was getting tickets to Sunday morning general conference. That is always such a great experience to be right there. Adrianne and Blake came from Orem to join Carol Stanger and me. The meeting was wonderful starting with the Spoken Word’s beautiful music. The arrangement for the second song, “The Lord is my Shepherd” was so beautiful that you just wanted to exclaim, “WOW” at the end. Adrianne said she especially enjoyed their last song “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” since it was the same arrangement she played for the Portland Mormon Choir and Orchestra.

The messages of conference were so clear; I can’t think of a better word. I have loved the opportunity to listen to them over and over again as I walk with my iTouch. Thank you for all of you who bought that for us! In the Sunday morning session I loved President Packer’s promise, when he asked us to improve our moral standards, that the angels would coach us and priesthood leaders would guide us when we tried to stop bad behaviors. I loved Sister Mary Cook’s warning that the use of too much social media was really taking us away from valuable relationship time. I can see how this happens. I also learned that I should go to bed earlier; that is a good goal for me to set. I loved the speakers in Sunday afternoon with the accents that made me have to really concentrate as they talked! I loved it and that story about the cow breaking through the fence to the dangerous wheat! I can’t wait to turn my attention to the Saturday messages. That is usually my favorite day of general conference.

I felt that I had been primed to listen to the prophet’s message all week long at my convention workshops since he spoke on cultivating an attitude of gratitude. For years I have had a quote from him in the front of my planner that reads, “Think to thank; take things with gratitude rather than for granted.” He said that in 2000 and really expounded it on it in conference this time. He promised us that while we sincerely give thanks, we unlock the door of heaven and can feel God’s love. I have felt this! He asked us to focus on our blessings instead of what we lack and to refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought. This reminds me of something I ALSO have written in my planner from your wise Grandma Bitter: “I use and enjoy what I have and don’t make myself unhappy for what I am not or don’t have.” She told me that in 1989 and I have turned to that quote many times. President Monson promised us that a prayerful life is a grateful life; to not take people for granted and don’t wait to express love and appreciation.

I have had a great week and now, after going through more than a week’s worth of mail and emails, I am ready for Alina, Adam, Sunhee and Meeja to visit. We will have a great time this weekend. I will have them help me grind some wheat and practice making bread since I am teaching a workshop next Saturday! Ha! I had to laugh when they asked me to do that. I said, “Well I guess I better practice doing that since I haven’t made bread for years!” If Dad is willing, I may drag him along as he has been our chief bread maker for the last few years.

We will be celebrating Adam’s birthday on Friday; he has requested shrimp pasta (or Alina got him to request it!). He is 11 now . . . yikes! Can you believe it!

I was in Utah while Morty came up for a Duck game last weekend. Luckily, I was able to see him in the airport. My flight came in just before his was leaving. We gathered by Katie’s desk . . . well, Southwest’s desk where Katie was working. She was at the desk that serviced both mine and Morty’s gate. It was pretty fun.

Dad has been working in Salem so he went extra early so he could have time to visit with Scott today. He is in good spirits. We were worried how he would react to Angie’s legal papers served him last week for guardianship of Alina. He seems to be coming to the realization that those of us outside working with the children may have a better understanding of their needs. He is good to be thankful for those helping his family and also fast and prayer for his children and Kyre. I love you, Mom