A MERRIER CHRISTMAS

PH - Christmas as a child
I know, I didn't do one last week. Lots going on here.

My earliest memories of family Christmases was at my grandparents' mobile home in Carson, California. We would always meet with our cousins and their families, probably on Christmas eve, to have a fun meal, play, and open gifts. All of the photos I have here are from that time:

I'm willing to guess I'm about three here. Niles is a year and a half younger than me and Debbie, my cousin in the middle, was born the month after him. Obviously, I'm the rosy-cheeked cherub on the right!

Same dress, so I"m guessing the same time. I'm with my grandmother here. You can tell that, even at that age, my hair wanted to wave and curl!

This picture has four of our brood at the time, along with three of my cousins. I'm the smug one in the middle.

My grandmother sewed the outfits we were wearing. I had a lot of clothes she made for me!

I remember this pinata! My mom made it herself - a monumental task. She filled it with gifts and treats that we cracked open Christmas eve!

After we moved to Norwalk, my grandparents eventually sold their trailer and moved from different jobs, spending a little time in San Diego, and finally resting in Perris, California. We would spend our Christmas Eves at home and then drive out to visit them Christmas Day, having a nice dinner and playing games.

Christmas Eve began to be the big tradition at our house. We would have dinner by candlelight and it would be all the stuff we generally didn't have but rarely during the year: finger food, crackers & cheese, chips and dip. Mom would make a jello ribbon salad with three layers - red jello, a middle mixture of lemon jello, marshmallows, crushed pineapple and mayonnaise, and a green jello. It was very festive. At first we had actual lit candles, but as we got older, married, and had our own children, the little led candles were developed. Much safer and better for parental anxiety.

After dinner and clean up (at first it was dishes, but morphed into paper plates after two son-in-laws thought that holiday dishes were ridiculous - ahem!), we opened gifts (Santa stockings were for Christmas morning after breakfast). Dad for years played Santa, sitting on the floor and drawing gift after gift from under the tree. He would dole them out, one at a time, to each child in turn, so that everyone got to unwrap one before anyone received a second one. With six kids (eventually) the livingroom became a sea of paper and ribbons. For many years, I would become Dad's elfin helper to wrap his gifts for him. He'd call me out into the garage (which even in a California "winter" could be chilly) to wrap his things to Mom. I was always amused. I wonder who does it now, or does he just use gift bags, since they're easier?

In my parents' dining room is a large fireplace, with the whole wall lined with rocks (it's impossible to dust) and a tile ledge in front of it. My capable, construction-minded father managed to string our stockings across the fireplace. We used to take our yearly family picture sitting on the ledge in front of those stockings (sorry, I don't currently possess a photo). There was even one year with me with my arm in a cast. Photo time was always stressful for poor Dad, getting all six of us to cooperate at the same time. There was usually some emotionally breakdown, be it child or parent!

Mom made all of our stockings. She started, I believe, when Niles was little, using a pattern she found. They were felt and she cut out felt letters to put our names on them. Stylistically, mine and Niles' are similar, but as each child came, the patterns and colors changed some. I still have my stocking. It's old and beat up, but I cherish the time my Mom took to make something special.

We had lots of special decorations. Mom, for one, saved EVERYthing we brought home from school or Church during the holidays to put on the tree. We joked when we were grown that she still had paper stars from our Sunbeam days that held only a few flecks of glitter on them.  Also, being of a creative bent, I made several things for her. I made a hook rug tree skirt for her one year, made a corn husk wreath (so hard on my hands) another. I used to work at a craft store and once made a spiral wreath (all the rage that year) that falls in a spiral (duh) from the ceiling to the floor. I've had to redecorate it a time or two, but it still hangs in her living room, a unique decoration that fascinated visitors.

Of all her decorations, my favorite was her nativity set. Her sister had made several ceramic Christmas decorations for her, but this was special. Mom would lay it on cotton batting and surround it with Christmas lights. I loved to listen to Christmas music, watch the lights twinkle on and off, and just stare at the nativity. I think this is where I learned about how the Holy Ghost feels and my love for the music of Christmas began.  In fact, one of the first things I wanted to make for myself when we started painting statuary when I was nineteen, was to make my own nativity set. It is my most beloved and treasured decoration and I feel closer to God and my mother when I look at it.

Our So-Sweet Christmas

This year was one for the record books. Seriously. We had the most tender time unwrapping gifts on Christmas Day. This year has been full of ups and downs and plenty of struggle. But the thing we've learned the most was how much we loved each other.

Jonathan, for one, blew my husband's mind. Ken's phone was dying; he needed a new one and we couldn't afford it. Jonathan took him out and bought him a new one! Then, he gave him an Amazon gift card as well. Ken, my unemotional Aspie, wept and went into an autistic mode, trying to hold back the overflow of feelings. He doesn't mind light-hearted gifts, like the Santa t-shirt Analiese got him and enjoyed the cheesy bubble loaf (think monkey bread with cheese) I made him. But this, he feels he doesn't deserve being treated well, which is, of course, ridiculous. I said it was high time he realized how much he was loved.

But that wasn't all. Analiese told me last week I had to get out of the house for at least an hour. Then, Christmas Eve she said I wasn't to get online at all on Christmas Day until she told me I could. At the end of our gifts, she gave me permission and said to look on Facebook. This is what she posted:

Analiese's present to Mom

(click on link)

Did I cry? You betcha! Not only was this personal, she wanted to world to know she loves her mother as well! I had a sister at church today (Sunday) say she was so envious. I realize it; I have an amazing relationship with my daughter. It is one of my most cherished possessions!

Christmas Dinner: Horseradish-rubbed beef roast!

No fireplace? Stockings on the piano!

That's Chuthulu. Don't ask, it's complicated. She loves it.

Ties & Taco Bell Cards

Jonathan spoiled me with Amazon and a keyboard vacuum.

The End of Taco Bell

Ken had a lovely week. Two days of Christmas joy with his family. And his last days at TB. He cleared stuff out of our storage that belongs to them (Merry Christmas to me!), and used up his vacation hours to come home earlier the rest of the week. Saturday he came home shortly after noon with hope in his eyes, joy in his smile, and singing songs of freedom! I had to laugh, though I'm not that naive about his new job. It's not going to be a walk in the park.

To celebrate his new job (and mine), we splurged on dinner out at a favorite restaurant. I have to tell you, their skillet mac and cheese with poblano cheese sauce and grilled chicken was amazing!

VIPKid - FINALLY

Anxiety issues I have: I seriously don't want my picture taken. I know I'm old, overweight, not good with the beauty/makeup stuff, and have a big gap between my two front teeth. Doing online Seminary was difficult at time for that reason, but I did it. For the kids. For the Lord.

But for Chinese parents and children, in a "professional" capacity, was nearly crippling. I'll be judged on this stuff - probably found wanting! I saw other people's profile pictures and their 15-second videos (you'd think 15 seconds would be no big deal, but it is) all sharp, fun, creative, edited and professional. Those were the last two things I needed to do to confirm my VIPKid employment. I was stuck and kept putting it off. At this rate, I'd never get hired and it would be all my fault. Anxiety is a vicious cycle.

I made myself just do it. Jonathan took a photo of me all dressed up the Sunday before Christmas in front of the blank walls of the Church. He does passport photos at Walgreens all the time, so I figured he'd help me. Friday, I just made a video (okay, several, I think I tried twelve or so times) and just sent the best (?) one off.

They said, "It'll be 5-10 work days to process your background check and info." Saturday morning, I had, not an email, but a text message. It was all done. I read the contract carefully, signed it and, voila! I am now a VIPKid teacher. There's more to be done. I will attend some online workshops and probably find someone to help me redo my photo and video. I've opened up my schedule availability. Now it's a waiting game, but in the meantime, I'll prepare and study up. One thing I'm studying is Chinese culture. Fascinatingly, the first thing I've learned is to count on my hand like they do. English numbers, Chinese hand signals. And it's all on one hand!

Here's my video I sent. Try not to be embarrassed for me. It's their script, my way!

MORE PICS

Pom flopped. She's happy and secure. And poopy!

Christmas cards and goodies!

Got this from his dad: Analiese and Brigham on their first date!

BAKING, SINGING, AND ALL THINGS JOLLY

CONSTANT CHANGE
So, our Branch President has been bugging Ken about coming to work for him. Not necessarily better $ at first, but better hours, benefits, and closer to home. Ken went and interviewed there Monday and now he's got a new job! At the Detention Center (aka Jail) as a Corrections Officer.

You'd think I'd be nervous and anxious about it. Nope. Either I'm so distracted, exhausted, busy, whatever that I'm not ready to wrap my brain around it or the Spirit has kept me calmed. Or maybe it's just another change and I'm inured to it after all these years. I prefer the spiritual answer.

However, we have had a couple of talks. I don't want his work to come home with him and he needs to watch his spiritual levels. I am not naive about what goes on in there; neither is he. If anything, his Asperger's could be of benefit to him since he will be able to hold his emotions apart from the situation. And, yes, there will be training: self-defense, tasers, weapons. Not sure how I feel about that. Jonathan has a rifle, Ken will be learning about weapons. Maybe it's time to take the family to the shooting range!

COOK AND BAKE AND BAKE AND COOK
I had two more SM (Sisters to Minister to) to visit this week, so my kitchen was redolent with nutmeg and cinnamon and pumpkin. Due to assignment confusion - Is one my companion or my MS? - I took one with me to visit the other, bread in tow.

When my MS (Ministering Sister) called me to find out about how my SMs were doing, I explained the confusion. Which confused her. The Branch is having a hard time figuring this stuff out. At least, the RS is. So, I'm just going with the flowing of my own making. As long as they know someone out there cares for them, I guess it doesn't matter. And I can do that.

ASSESSMENTS
This was the last week of Seminary before the new year. I only had three official lessons with the assessment set for Thursday and reviewing it on Friday (with something special added).

One of my students took her assessment last week because she was flying out to Boston on Thursday to help transport cats for a couple in our Branch moving out there. Crazy, I know, but if I wasn't allergic to cats and had the time (which I would never!), I would have LOVED to have done it. She comes back Saturday, though, which is good. She's a big part of the Christmas program on Sunday.

Other than that, everyone was present and accounted for Thursday and Friday. Friday, a sister in our Branch had provided breakfast (muffins, fruit, juice & milk) for our class. We reviewed the assessment, everyone passing, and then I had prepared a special Christmas lesson.

I had focused on gifts. First, we talked about the gift of our Savior, and then what gifts we could offer him. Watching a 5-minute Fireside from Brad Wilcox, I appreciated the quote: "Any gift is special when it is given with love."

But my favorite was showing a clip from Mr. Krueger's Christmas where he imagines himself in the stable at the foot of the baby Jesus. Jimmy Stewart gives a touching performance as he bares his souls to the Christ child. I used that opportunity to have my students write what they would say to the Savior if they were in Mr. Krueger's place. They wrote that on special stationary and put them in envelopes to open again on Christmas and keep in a special spot where they could always remember. The Spirit was so strong! I had been wondering what gifts I could give to my students and a greater testimony of the Savior through the witness of the Holy Ghost was the best thing I could offer!

RAISING VOICES & TESTIMONIES IN SONG
In between all of that other stuff, was rehearsal and practice. Wednesday after YW; Saturday afternoon, right before Church on Sunday. Suffering from allergies on and off the last two weeks, both Analiese and I were praying that our voices would hold!

Our family was well-represented. Ken was conducting (for the month of December), Jonathan gave the opening prayer, and Analiese was the program narrator. She and I sang a duet (Away in a Manger) per her request. I also sang a duet in English & Spanish with a marvelous soprano from our Branch (Star Bright). I played the piano for the meeting in general, as well as a solo (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring), and a duet with one of my student's on the violin (Come to the Manger). There was a flute duet (Still, Still, Still/Fairest Jesus) and a piano duet (O Holy Night).

Ken had started things off by telling the congregation that this was an opportunity to feel the Spirit and increase our testimonies of the Savior. It certainly was! Music is my favorite part of Christmas and, as a child, this is how I learned to recognize the Spirit. And I'm so grateful that I was a part of it. I don't often get to sing, and I was nervous. But it was all lovely.

CUP OF BLESSINGS OVERFLOWING
It all started Wednesday. Ken told me I had to go to the Detention Center (oh joy) to pick up a Christmas treat that they gave all the Corrections Officers, even though he hasn't started yet. This was BP's doing, of course. I figured it would be a turkey or a ham, as Ken had suggested that. Nope. It was a turkey AND a ham, along with a bag of accompanying groceries. I had exclaimed to the officer helping to put it into my car that it was too much. He said it was normal; the warden was very generous at Christmastime. My freezer was filling.

But things weren't done. Thursday afternoon, the other BP counselor drove up to our house. He had a turkey and a pumpkin pie from the hospital, where he works. He said they had extras and, since we're only a couple of blocks from there, decided to drop one off for us. NOW my freezer was full. (except I lost the pie to my stupidity. It didn't make it to the freezer, but instead to the floor where a mouse - yeah, new fun - had a field day in it).

Amazing, right? It wasn't finished yet. Friday, the missionaries were over to dinner (we had three, including one back for a visit - it was wonderful!), when I received a phone call. And somehow, I decided to answer it. It was a piano tuner (from Norman, I think), who said that someone from my church was paying him to tune my piano as a Christmas gift! What an amazingly thoughtful, personal gift! I have no idea who it is...I have guesses, that's all. He's coming on the 31st to tune my piano!

I can't begin to say how much I feel blessed, and loved, by the people of our Branch. We were fearful that we might have to move (back to Altus) because things weren't working out financially. But now it looks like we're staying, with the full support of all those caring people at Church. We haven't been here a full year, but we've come to be close to them and they love us back!

PICS OF THE WEEK

Pom in her little hidey box!

Jonathan is a Walgreen's Shift Lead now!

A rare Christmas selfie!

COOKIES!

VIPKid Update - I Did It!
I'm starting to feel just on this side of crazy for trying to do this at Christmastime. Seriously. Because, on top of Seminary study, family stuff (chores, driving, etc.), and Christmas prep, I've been studying and preparing to teach.

Tech issues reared their ugly heads on Tuesday when I tried to do my mock certification for Level 3. I was practicing about an hour before hand when...everything stopped working. Analiese was near me doing her school work and said, "Oh no!" The Internet was down. We managed to get it back up but it was running very slowly. I decided that wouldn't do, so I canceled that certification and rescheduled it for Thursday.

Thursday, my tech was behaving well. But I was a little nervous. I've been working on my pacing. My Seminary students will tell you, I have an alarm go off ten minutes before the end of class so that I can wrap up and get them out on time. Otherwise, I could (obliviously) go over time and they'd be late for school! I learned that Year One! So, with only so much time to teach my mock class (10 minutes, 1 minute per slide), I really had to watch myself. I did better on the pacing, but...I let something else go. I forgot to have the "student" repeat words in full sentences. No pass. Erg.

Saturday, I had my Level 2 mock. I felt much better, more confident. And I did better. In fact...I passed! I got my results back in less than an hour and did a happy dance. I still want to pass Level 3 and have it rescheduled for next week. But for now, it's time to do paperwork and get my background check started. When that is all finished and cleared...work and $$$!

YIKES!
Ken was driving Analiese to TB on Monday. He got a phone call from a young man in our Branch (who also works at TB)...for Analiese. He watched her carefully as she talked to him. She smiled -

A LOT - and moved a wisp of hair behind her ear. When the call ended, they were at TB and she ran out to work. But he was suspicious and told me so. I said maybe the young man was asking her to work a shift for him. Ken doubted that.

I went to pick her up later. We were barely out the door when she told me: she has a date! She's been sixteen barely over a month. I've worried about that, my pretty charismatic child. She's had guys try to pick up on her at TB. Ack!

Ken grumbled. "Only group dates!" I KNOW. It is. A double date with the young man's older brother and his girlfriend. It's on Sunday, but they were going to see the Festival of Light at the park across from the Church. They live the next town over, so they hadn't seen it yet.

Oh, my! My sensible girl got a little giggly. Mind, she was still very sensible; her head is far calmer than mine ever was at that age. Still, it was, what to wear, do I put on makeup, etc.  She didn't talk too much about it. I probably talked about it more: advice, warnings, etc.
So...Sunday, he came to pick her up. I was ready. He's a pretty quiet fellow, but he chatted nicely with me while waiting for Analiese. His DAD drove up behind them...and took pictures of the two. I guess this was his first date, too!

They had a good time. They walked and talked. It was actually a nice place for a first date. No loud and dark movie theaters. Better to get to know each other. She came home happy. That's all I cared about (well, and safe. Momma Bear Alert!). A good experience to start with!

COOKIES COOKIES COOKIES
2 Days of Rolling, Cutting & Baking sugar cookies Minimum 2 hours each = 4 hours
2 Days of Decorating said cookies (with help) = 3 hours

SO...seven total hours of work, gobbled up in an hour at Church. Was it worth it?

First, Christmas isn't Christmas without making sugar cookies. I've done it since I was a child.
Secondly, I wanted to do this for the children in the Branch. Part of the Christmas magic. Incidentally, the big "kids" loved them too. A certain member of the Branch Presidency is apparently very fond of them.
Thirdly, it was fun to have my kids, the sister missionaries, and a friend of Analiese's over to decorate. That's always a party!

Some of the fruits of our labors!

You gotta try one!

Was it worth it? Yes!

PERSONAL HISTORY - Favorite Pasttime
Rather than focus on my time line, I decided to use some ideas from a couple of personal/family history writing books. So this week I'll talk about my past times.

From childhood, I would say my biggest and most beloved past time (still is) is to read a good book. I am very grateful for my parents encouraging reading at an early age. Also, one of our favorite things to do for Family Home Evening was to go to the library! With my own family, the library is one of the first things we locate in a new neighborhood and heaven forbid I go to the library by myself! My daughter, in particular, would find it selfish of me. The way she goes through books, we're there nearly every week!

I've had so many books, they wouldn't fit on bookshelves. Paperbacks have been known to have been stacked in two rows on one shelf. I've had to whittle things down for moving, but I still hang on to my favorites. Also, I have joined the e-reader/kindle wagon because I can download books without making an extra trip. Though, I still love the feel of a book in my hand and, while you can mark and make notations in an e-book, it's not the same! Is it any wonder I love libraries and working in one was my most favorite job, ever!

Reading is obviously a solitary past time. As a child, I'd play out in the backyard (hopefully Joey was there to liven things up), and I watched plenty of cartoons on the television. As I grew older, though, I loved being able to be creative and do things. Obviously, I did a lot of writing, but I loved to learn embroidery and cross-stitch, and loved trying pretty much any new craft that came along. Mom's homemaking projects from RS became one of the things I'd complete for the fun of it. When I was old enough to go to RS myself, I'd do my own things.

For example, I got into painting statuary. It's like ceramics, only no firing. It started with a couple of RS projects: a Halloween haunted house and a rabbit for Easter. My mom and I started going to Darlene's Statuary place once a week to paint, get tips/help from Darlene, and to socialize with other people there. Over the years I'd painted things for people and myself. My pride and joy is my Nativity set. Mom has a ceramic one her sister made her years ago. I wanted one of my own and took lots of time over many months to carefully paint my figures. I don't let anyone else touch it at Christmas. It's mine to put up and care for!

Set up with lights, just like Mom's

The technique is called dry brushing. It gives it an antique look

I really love my camels!

The details were painstaking!

As I got married and started a family, past times would change. Well, reading never did, I still read voraciously. But I learned to crochet a little. I've made a few things, including a garland for my Christmas tree. Crocheted in white cotton with red beads that catch the lights, I like it's nod to popcorn and cranberries (less messy) and it has a Victorian feel.

Currently, besides spoiling rabbits

Who,me, spoiled?

and baking goodies, I'd say my biggest past time (no, Seminary is NOT a past time...too involved for that!) is my journaling/blogging

My journal has rings so I can add things to it, like programs and notes and such!

and planner. I've tried several different types of planners over the years, boring or creative, all done by hand or all set out. For 2018 I'm using the Mormon Mom Planner (her name, not mine) and I like it so much, I've already got my 2019 out and ready to use!

I like the features and how I can add a touch of creativity to it. I have great needs to be creative; I think it helps calm the anxiety and gives me much to look forward to!

A doodle a day keeps the blues away!

Week spread - I'm not busy (LOL)

There's even Sunday pages for notes, quotes & announements!

OTHER PICS from the WEEK

A gift from Sister Oviatt, one of our missionaries (leaving soon!)

Branch party dinner decoration...the young women did it. Beautiful!

We say goodbye to Sister Oviatt!

Ken and Jonathan made a brief visit to the Arkansas family Sunday.

SNOWPOCALYPSE

CORRECTION: PH
My Dad (thanks!) told me that he & Mom wouldn't go from Reno to Las Vegas to see shows. They went to Sparks, NV. He reminded me of one show in particular they'd go to see, which I remember them telling us kids about: Bertha & Tina, the performing elephants at the Nugget.


What's up? Snow?
To say that the weather in Oklahoma is bipolar is to totally miss the point. I think, instead, it's completely contrary. Basically, it does what it wants. This week, in particular, showed that emphatically.

Everyone - weather forecasters, prognosticators, and people with arthritic joints - were issuing dire warnings of a humongous snow-and-ice storm this weekend. A sister in my ward jokingly called it Snowmaggedon. In fact, the nervous of all the older & fragile-r members of the Branch won out and the party for this Saturday evening was canceled.

The skies teased us back and forth. Tuesday afternoon we had tiny, melt-as-they-go snowflakes come down for a short period of time. Analiese and I were in a parking lot when I saw "a" flake land on me. It was hardly visible and didn't collect a bit.

Wednesday morning was freezing and everything was frosted over. At the park where we walked (crazy us, my nose and eyes don't like getting cold!) there was frost coating all of the light strands. Yet, by that afternoon, going out I didn't even want a sweater. It was comfortable. Thursday was reasonable comfy, too, only getting cold once the sun set. We were out at a parade and I experienced a few dots of precipitation, but not much to call anything!

Friday was nice, though a little gray. Eyes were on the skies. I bought some rock salt, just in case. I don't want to slip on any ice, if it comes or not.

Saturday morning, you could tell it had rained and then frozen in the night. The remainder of the day was a cross between ice pellets, rain, and snow, depending on the weather which kept bobbing above and below freezing. This time, there was enough accumulation to note on the ground. The van that morning was covered with a good-sized sheet of ice!

But, it was not the catastrophe everyone was freaking out over. I think we could have still had the party; if anything, they canceled it too early (by Wednesday). It wasn't my call, though.

VIPKids Update
I'm in the certification stage, now. I'm going to online coaching classes and teaching "mock classes" to certify to teach certain levels. I'm focused on doing the interactive level two and hope to pass level three next week as well. The more levels I certify on, the more availability I have to teach student, the more $$ I get.  Let's get going!

I took two mock classes in level two this week. The first went really well, but I had technical issues to resolve: lighting and camera quality (my laptop camera was very pixelated). I went to OKC mid-week to find a better camera and bought softer light bulbs to prevent too much glare. Though, I'm still awfully white on camera. But I think that's more genetics!

My second one had the technical stuff resolved. My biggest problem right now is timing. I'm taking too much time on the slides. I need to take only about one minute per slide. I know it's doable, but I haven't figured it out yet. At least not for VIPKids. When I teach Seminary, I have it down pat! Actually, I have alarms set so I don't go over! LOL

A sister in our Branch teaches High School English and, talking to her, she knows a couple of fellow teachers who teach for VIPKids and love it. I think I'm going to enjoy it, too. They say the little kids are fun to work with and from the videos I've seen, I think I will have a good time. Might as well like your job! If anyone out there wants to give it a try, let me know. I'll refer you...it benefits you and me! 😁

I love a parade!
The Chickasha Christmas Parade was held Thursday evening downtown. Thursday is Jonathan's day with the car (Norman Institute) and Analiese & I didn't really feel like walking all the way down and back in the cold. BUT...I had to go! Three of my students are in the High School band and one kept telling me all about it. She really wanted me to go and I couldn't disappoint her!

Nevaeh is on the trumpet on the very first row, very first person.

Joe is the tallest guy on the clarinet a little ways down in the middle.

Sam is the one you hear me shouting at, wrapped in green lights & playing the flute!

Luckily, we were able to hitch a ride with a family from the Branch (the Mom who teaches HS English). Analiese is good friends with the daughter and they sat on the pickup tailgate, sipping cocoa and huddling under a blanket. I tried to keep warm as I took pictures and waved at people I knew (mainly Branch people).

Analiese and friend Savannah (who apparently can take a serious picture, while my daughter can't!)

Me, bundled up against the cold!

Lots of trailers with people on them, throwing candy!

I guess the fun part is that the participants all throw candy along the parade route. I got pelted several times and Analiese and I filled our pockets to take home. It made for gaps in the parade, though, as vehicles had to slow to allow kids to go out into the road and get goodies. Analiese's friend even got a free t-shirt!

Grinchmobile

Doggie blow up on trailer

Santa waves hi!

After the parade, we walked a couple of blocks to the town square tree and the "snowball" fight. Basically, they were fluffy poofs that everyone chucked at each other while two guys sprayed fake snow over their heads. It was fun chaos!

Santa peeks over the store!

Town tree.

I've got a "snowball"

Fun chaos! Fake snow!

PH - CALIFORNIA, Here we come!
Following Nevada, my family made it to California, first moving to Cerritos. We only lived there a year, but here's what I remember. We rented a home on Sheryl Avenue, not far from the elementary school. We went to the Cerritos Second Ward there, where I made friends and was baptized. Shortly after that we moved to Norwalk, where my parents live at this time. Our ward stayed the same for several years, until they did some dividing around 1980 and made the Cerritos Fifth Ward and I didn't get to be with the all of the same friends.

The home in Norwalk has four bedrooms. With (eventually) six kids, this meant that we all shared a room. It has a large living room and dining room (people were always in awe of our huge dining table) and a big enclosed patio. Over the years it's become THE place to have baby and bridal showers and parties. Dad put up a dividing wall (aka The Divider) between the living room and the bedrooms, creating a hallway. It was a blank wall on the living room side and a huge book shelf, cupboard area in the hallway. We are big book readers and much of our personal collection was put here (more would be added later to shelving Dad built on the long back wall of the living room). It also became the realm of clutter, on top of the cupboards below. Goodness knows, I've done my share of dropping (and losing) stuff there over the years!

On the other wall between bedrooms in the hallway Dad put up a huge bulletin board. All kinds of important messages and reminders have been posted there over the years. Every Christmas-time, however, it is all cleaned off for Mom to be able to post all of the Christmas cards. It's one thing you cannot overlook in that house - the big board covered with cards at Christmas!

My bedroom was at the corner of the house, down by the second bathroom (the other bathroom is on the other side of the living room between a bedroom and the master bedroom). I've shared it with my sister Kym, and at one point with my cousin, Debbie. The last few years before I left to go on a mission and before I got married, I had the room to myself. After I left, Dad immediately (I mean within a day or two), turned it into an office for himself.

The back yard is sizeable, too, for SoCal home. Dad, Mom asserts, bought the house for the apricot tree. We kids, however, cursed that tree. The fruit on the ground was mushy, smelly, and full of bugs. Guess who had to clean that up? We were miserable when it was apricot time. Dad loved it, though, and Mom canned a lot of fruit or made jam. I do like apricot jam despite it all. Over time, though, the tree grew old and quit producing. Sadly, Dad cut down the tree.

We also had an apple tree back there for a long time. The apples, green, were strange. They weren't good for eating, as they had no flavor. But they made excellent apple pie and applesauce. To this day, I am spoiled about applesauce. The stuff in the stores is bland mush. Homemade - and warm - was like dessert. Nothing beats that!

Then there was (and is) the lemon bush/tree. It backs up against the back fence and is constantly growing like crazy and having to be pruned. It produces enormous, juicy lemons. My husband swears they are the best lemons for flavor. I miss good lemons in Oklahoma. Mom has sent me a couple of boxes of them, and opening them is like opening a box of sunshine. The first few minutes I spend just inhaling the goodness of them!

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE

Now what, you ask? Come find out!

VIPKids
With things being a bit squeaky-tight, it was time for me to look for a job. This wasn't as easy as you might think. We only have two cars: Ken takes the Honda to OKC for his work and Jonathan coordinates van use with me. Either he drives or I take him. What if we had conflicting schedules?

Also, there's Analiese. I didn't want a job that kept her at home alone a lot. She's doing much better with keeping up on her school work, but what if I wasn't there? Would things get done? Plus, Momma worries about her baby's safety. Then, there's her activities and meetings with her EPIC teacher and her occasional work. So, what do we do?

I'd heard a lot online and through FB friends about VIPKids. It's based out of China and it connects North American teachers (for the accent) with Chinese children to learn English! The requirements were that you had a Bachelor's degree (any subject) and some experience with children. Which I do! I did some research, decided it was legitimate, and decided it was worth applying for.

I had an online interview with a gentleman from China (!) Wednesday morning. He talked with me for a few minutes and then I presented a pre-prepared lesson to him, with him acting as a child. Afterwards, he gave me some feedback.

And...he hired me! Usually, you hear back with an email, but he hired me on the spot! On top of that, he gave me a higher pay rate than I expected. The starting pay is anywhere between $14-22 an hour. I'd hoped for a little more than the minimum, since I've had lots of teaching (albeit nonprofessional/ public school) experience, including online. But I don't have a teacher certification and I'm not ESL (English as a Second Language) certified. I had explained all of the experience I had, including my online experience, but also said I understood how ESL worked, having been in bilingual elementary classes for a couple of years as a child and having had to learn another language for my mission. I must have impressed him, because, while not the highest amount was offered, it was almost there! Ken was suitably impressed.

The next step is my certification with VIPKids. This is where I am trained to teach the way they want it (Example: They are VERY picky about correct phonetic pronunciation from the start) and to set up my classroom and my tech needs. Since it's going all the way to China (!), I have to have a strong internet connection and headphones with a microphone. My "classroom" has to have good lighting and needs to be in a quiet place.

My "classroom" in it's early stages...

Thursday I had a coaching session with a group of other potential teachers online. This was with a gal from the US. They want teachers who have a US or Canada accent (two of the teachers were from Canada!), so they are picky about accents, too. It was a fun session, practicing the lessons and learning to be physical (They call it TPR - Total Physical Response). We gave ideas for rewards systems (very important to the kids) and shared feedback with one another. And, yes, it's supposed to be fun. Chinese kids are pressured to do a lot of studying. We are encouraged to be as energetic and fun as possible so they want to be with us and enjoy learning English.

I'm in the process of creating my "classroom," which is basically the wall behind me. It needs to feel colorful and creative and encourage learning. Dollar Tree is becoming my go-to place for teacher supplies.

Next week I will try to pass off my certification for them on Tuesday. I have to pass one to be able to start teaching (well, before teaching I have a background check, paperwork, and a contract to sign). They have several levels, depending on the child's age and ability. I'm starting at the very beginning.

Yes, I'm a contractor so, yes, I have to pay the taxes. My mentor (yes, I have one) recommends just saving 15% of your income each month to go toward taxes. Yes, I have to work around Beijing time, but it's not as hard as you think. I work the hours I can (as many or few as I want, though they give you incentives for working more) and, yes, families have to sign up for me. After all the paperwork stuff, I'll have to focus on preparing an introductory video for families in China (!) to see and decide if they want me.

So I was busy this week, and will be next week. Of course, this is all on top of the holiday season now in full swing.

The Downside of the Festival of Lights
This weekend was Stake Conference. I really wanted to go Saturday to the evening adult session. It was being broadcast to our location (and other farther buildings) since the Stake is spread far and wide. I'd been working hard all day Saturday with absolutely everything (domestic and non) and looked forward to sitting down for a bit and being fed spiritually.

I left my house with ten minutes to spare for the meeting. It shouldn't have been a problem. That's about the time it takes. But I didn't take into account the Festival of Lights on a weekend.

I drove through the USAO campus to get to the main street at one end of town toward the Church. The traffic was backed up on that street for EIGHT BLOCKS before turning right on the road that leads to the park and - SIGH - the Church. What was I going to do?

Was there a back way in? I turned early onto another road to see if it would cut over onto the road the Church is on (think: main road, right on road to park, right on road to Church). Nope. Anything I got close to was too close to the park and blocked off. I also got consistently and fervently lost. I have no internal GPS and the one on my phone was not helping.

So I tried to go around, past the turn to the park and right onto the other main road (the two intersect at Walgreens) to get around there. I knew Ken had taken me down there some time and would bring me up the park road further and have me turn left at the Church. But, it is also a wooded road and, in the dark, I couldn't find it.

I was so frustrated. By then, it was twenty past the hour. I went home, got in my jammies, worked on some other Seminary stuff and then vegged in front of the TV. Disgusted with myself. And the crowds... you should have seen the mobs swarming all over the park and the stuffed parking lots. I dread the Branch Christmas dinner/party next Saturday and the youth activity the Saturday after. Ken has shown me another way in, but seriously! It could make a Grinch out of me!

PH - Reno, Nevada
I'm starting to get older here, so I have more memories of these times than of the past.

My parents liked Reno very well. They made good friends there and had a nice ward. It was a busy area, though not nearly as developed as it is now. I do remember some of the stores having slot machines in them and Mom & Dad would sometimes drive to Vegas to see shows. We're not gamblers; we like to keep our hard-earned money.

The school there was interesting in that they had some classes for deaf children there. They taught us a little sign language, though I don't remember any except the "Clean Up" Song (Think Barney the Purple Dinosaur though MUCH before his time!).

We got snow there, too, which was a fun adventure for us. Dad once came in the house in the morning with something in his hand. Could we guess what it was? I thought it was a foil-wrapped carrot. No, it was an icicle! I'd never seen one. At school, they had the classes compete to do snow sculptures. The winter I was there our class won because my teacher had the bright idea of mixing poster paint and water and using spray bottles to color our snow-dinosaur. That was fun.

I remember a little about the friends I made there. One was Shelly, a daughter of friends of my parents in the ward. We went to school together along with another girl we befriended named Lisa. Niles would tease me about them and call us all Michelly-Lisa. To this day, I don't like the nickname of Shelly. That was my friend's name, not mine! I was Michele. Still am, even though I have siblings (and now their children - thanks guys) who will call me Shelly. And they know better!

PIC

Pom flopped - a very contented bunny!