Tag: life

Kathy’s Birthday Party

Entertaining, Musings on Life and Beauty

Three years ago we started getting a special knock on our door every time someone in our family celebrated a birthday.  That special knock always comes from the same person, and she’s always holding in her hand a handwritten birthday note.  She doesn’t miss anyone; all of my children as well as my husband and I have had visits from her.   The amazing thing about this is that she does it for everyone in our ward.  A little math tells me that she’s written close to 1,000 birthday notes in the past three years!

Meet my friend Kathy:


Sunday night we held a surprise birthday party for her in my backyard, and it was everything I hoped it would be.  She wore a birthday crown, blew out a special candle on the cupcake of her choice, and a very large group of voices joined in singing “Happy Birthday” to this wonderful woman who has shown such love to all of us.  Kathy is a perfect example of someone who finds a way they can contribute, commits herself, and then sticks to it.  Each birthday note in itself may be simple, but the cumulative effect of her efforts is grand indeed.


I’m estimating we had at least 150 people come.  (I wish I’d had the presence of  mind to count, but at least I had the thought to take pictures.)  It was a success precisely because so many people came.  I cannot express how heartening it was for me to watch them smile and jump in to help and to attend.  In our busy world, and especially on that first weekend after school begins, there is SO much going on that it would have been so easy for everyone to view this idea as just one more thing and skip it.  I understand that feeling.

But they didn’t.
The response was 100% positive and my heart was filled with love not just for Kathy, but for all the people I saw there who chose to come, who were willing to complicate their day to say thank you to someone who has done the same for all of us.  I felt so happy, so grateful to live among these good people, so honored that I got to watch it all unfold.


People volunteered to bake a batch of cupcakes for the party.  The tables were covered with them.  I also asked that families or individuals write a birthday note to Kathy.  A week ago while we were at church the children 11 and under in our ward all wrote/drew a birthday card for her.  Thumbing through that stack brought tears to my eyes.  We set a basket out and I got teary again as I watched it fill, then overflow with birthday wishes for Kathy to take home and read.


I am so grateful to everyone who contributed to this effort.  I’m particularly grateful to her good friend who got her to the party for me.  What a great lady she is as well!


It was a bit windy, but it was also nice and cool.  Gratefully the rain held off and when it came it only sprinkled a bit.  People visited and mingled, children ran and played, everyone ate cupcakes and talked to Kathy.  A smashing success.  I don’t think she’ll forget this birthday EVER, and that’s exactly what I wanted.  I wanted her to know that we love her, and I think we sent the message loud and clear.


Best of all, I kept having the feeling that the Lord was pleased with all of us.  Gathering to celebrate Kathy was more than just acknowledging a birthday.  We were celebrating the worth of a soul, celebrating on the same terms that God sees us on without regard to status, wealth, fame or fashion.

In 1 Samuel chapter 16 it says, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature;… for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (verse 7) I feel like I got to see a lot of hearts on Sunday night, and it was a beautiful sight.

Jennifer

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All over the place

Musings on Life and Beauty

Tuesday afternoon I was in Alpine, Utah when the fire started.  I watched it go from an obscure little plume of smoke to raging flames racing up the mountainside.  It’s been interesting to watch the smoke and the glowing orange of the fire from our home since then, and equally interesting to observe which of my children have been constantly on the watch.

I went on a walk this morning, accompanied by my son on his bike.  It was nice to have him with me, nice to enjoy the overcast skies and cool breeze.  We came home and opened all the windows before it began to rain.  Off and on all day long we’ve had the pitter-patter of a perfect rain.  The carpet is a bit damp, the smell of a fresh-washed earth is everywhere, my plants look happier than they’ve been in weeks.  The children have played in it all day long, imaginations taking them to far off places and grand adventures.  The smoke from the fire is nearly gone, evacuations lifted, and my small children have discovered the wonder of being part of a community praying for something and watching God work.  Tonight I took a break from cooking dinner to watch my girls dance in the rain.  Life is wonderful, isn’t it?


I feel like the day sort of ran away from me.  I’ve had this feeling every day since my husband’s knee surgery, like I start off well and almost get there, but something fizzles along the way.  I find myself spending many moments checking on him, sitting with him to see how he’s feeling, offer encouragement as he tries to bend his leg, and generally try to be of service.  We’ve always loved sitting quietly together but in recent years it rarely happens.  I guess we’ve got it back, and even if the days are running away from me I feel blessed to have this pause.  It’s a pause that is underscored by little visits here and there from our children and more snuggling from our youngest than she has been inclined to do for months.  Yes, there is always good that comes of the challenges in our lives.  His post-op appointment was this morning, so we’re moving forward.  We’ll find a new normal here soon!

I renewed my driver’s license today.  Braving the DMV wasn’t as painful as I feared it might be.  I got to sit and read quietly while I waited.

My grandmother is dying.   Part of my heart has been with my Mom and her sisters as they sit with her.

I started a new project yesterday.  As if I needed another unfinished project in my life!  Still, it’s so pretty and I’m excited to finish it.


My boys have plunged headlong into the world of Louis L’Amour.  They’re both disappearing at random moments only to be found hours later in some quiet spot devouring a new book.  My eleven year old started his 5th one for the week tonight.  It makes me laugh and I’m so happy to see them unable to put a book down.

In the quilting world I’ve noticed this quilt along and this one as well .  I’d really like to jump in on both of them, but that’s a LOT of cutting and I’ve already got several quilts going.  Both of the quilts are from the talented Katy of I’m a Ginger Monkey.  She has templates for both quilts in her etsy shop , as well as for her spring carnival pattern.  I’m tempted by them all.

I really want to stitch this embroidery .  It speaks to my heart.  I’ve wanted to stitch this one ever since she designed it.   I’ve been in the mood for embroidery lately.

I tried this recipe for dinner earlier in the week.  We loved it.

I can’t believe it’s July.  So many things I planned to do in June went undone for more urgent issues.  I can’t believe how much of the summer is already gone.  We’ve made great memories, but wow!  I’ve got to get to work!  There’s so much going on in July and early August that I’m afraid I’ll be swallowed up by it and not at all ready when school starts.   These thoughts keep coming at random moments and I have to breathe slowly while I look around so I can ground myself in the moment and be grateful instead of stressed.

Yes, today was a nice slow day.  Who can be stressed when there are puddles to jump in?

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Cherry Picking

Musings on Life and Beauty



Our family spent a dreamy summer afternoon recently picking cherries together, all ten of us.


After some disappointing harvests our tree was covered with fruit this year.
Thousands of cherries just waiting for us.


There was work enough for all of us, and plenty of cherry stained shirts, faces and hands before we were done.


As we filled bucket after bucket, which filled an entire refrigerator with plenty left over, I kept laughing aloud at the wonder of it all.


I told the children that someday they will tell their children about the joy of picking cherries in our backyard in the summer, of eating cherries until we’re full, of sharing with friends and neighbors.  Year after year of doing this will combine in their memories to form a golden thread in the tapestry of family life which they will someday look back on and share with their children.


We talked about how people have been picking cherries for centuries, while most of the “fun” people have today is relatively new.  I love having activities in our lives that connect us with generations long departed.  It gives me a sense of continuity, reverence and deep gratitude.  I want my children to value memories such as this.  It was work, but it was the best kind of work:  outdoors, together, a warm summer afternoon, the shade of the tree, total harmony and cooperation among the children, a bit of adventure for the older kids perched oh-so-high up in the tree, a seeming never-ending supply of fruit, and a full fridge to show for it!


I wish I could wave a magic wand and send a basket directly to the kitchen counter of everyone I love.

We made cherry milkshakes to celebrate.  Yum!

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