Wisdom in a Wink ;)

One More Thing, and Then I've Got it!

2010-04-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

It has been difficult to put my thoughts and feelings into written form since losing my incredible angel mother. Mom was always there, always eager to talk (usually just as we were eating, since there's a two-hour time zone difference), always working on a stitchery or a story, excited to share her thoughts or her garden's treasure yields (how do I bring a zucchini back to Ohio?). I can't put it all into words, that's simply the problem. I can't describe the hundreds, if not thousands of times that she helped me put things into perspective.

And one thing I haven't had to do is learn how to grieve...until now.

So I plunged wholeheartedly into something that I could do, that would be productive, that would walk me through the process without my having to think, or create major plans, or follow a set schedule. That something turned out to be my Young Women Personal Progress.

I had no idea it would help me through the grieving process. I just clung to it, like a drowning person to a lifesaver, as something I could do when I started to think too much, and cry. And it helped a lot.

Some days I would spend several hours, working on my Personal Progress. Or I would get started on another project, and I would have a meltdown, so I would go back to the ottoman in our living room, and sit and study some more, and work on my Personal Progress.

The exercises in each value gave me perspective, and gave me peace. They were almost like having my mother there in the room to talk over things with me. I could reflect upon the messages, and I could see a little more ahead, to how I want my life to be.

One of my projects was caring for her the night she died, and helping dress her body for burial, and following up with caring for her little dog Meggie and her things. I loved sharing much of that experience with my sisters. I wanted to include this time with her as a tribute to her, and to have that be a permanent part of my Personal Progress record.

Another project was working up to, and achieving, a 5K. I did that yesterday! Another was to read the Book of Mormon, which I finished last week.

There were more, of course--8 in all, each requiring a minimum of 10 hours in the project. I rearranged a file system, created a healthy recipe book, and coached someone in personal development. But I think, from the standpoint of my own pleasure, my favorite is the one I have yet to complete--the one I am working on today, and hope to finish soon. It is a song, my hymn of praise to a kind, wise Heavenly Father who allowed me to have my mother as my mother, as a sacred, important part of my life.

I don't have the music written down yet, but the music is in my head, and these are the words of my hymn:

No matter what your burdens be
They will be lightened as you humbly come to me.
My tender mercies help you face
All burdens; come child, and be held in my embrace.

When I find all around me
Is chaos and despair
I look up to the heavens
And He is always there

And when life overwhelms me
Or filled with loneliness,
I kneel and call upon Him
He reaches out to bless....me...

"Be still, and know that I am God
Peace will come in mine own due time
And you will know the love you seek,
My love sublime,
My love sublime.

These words of hope and peace and joy I wrote for you;
Come unto me and I will show you they are true

Come Unto Me! Know I Am here!
Know that I love you! I am always near.

Hey! I'm NOT Inactive!

2010-02-02T09:14:00.000-08:00

Just a little note to let you know I'm NOT inactive; I am merely a chrysalis waiting to emerge. Give me a few more warm days and when Spring hits, I'm back on track.

Our New Baby: Christmas Love

2009-12-22T17:31:00.001-08:00

I wish I had the expertise to really make this picture big; I'll try to do better in the future. But we are so grateful for our new little Christmas blessing: Robert Andrew Gardner.

Robbie was born December 18, after a very long and difficult labor--difficult for him, because his heart rate went down so much with each long contraction. Several times it looked like Melodie would have to have a C section, and we prayed multiple times during the day for both of them. Our little Robbie has relatively few negative anomalies--he is nursing quite well, and seems to be gaining weight. He is adorable and cute and wonderful, and we are grateful to have him here. We are also grateful for Melodie's courage, and grateful for Caitie's healing gifts and generosity, coming to work on Melodie so that a C section was not necessary.

More later... I'm having a blast with the family!

Happy Birthday to Our Jeff!

2009-12-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a special day for a very choice man--our favorite son-in-law, Jeffrey Holland Wright. Happy 25th Birthday, Jeff!

I met Jeff last year when he was Caitie's "best friend."--there wasn't any real romance, so to speak (at least, not from her perspective). She told me she thought he was incredibly handsome and super nice. But I'm glad the friendship part of their relationship is what developed first. Caitie had time to watch how Jeff handled problems, how he served, how he genuinely cared about people, and how trustworthy he is.

Then, over time, she realized she was in love with this guy. I'm so grateful for Jeff. A few weeks ago, Caitlin told me that every morning she wakes up and can't believe how blessed she is to be married to Jeff.

So they've only been married a little over 3 months, but I'd like to share some of the things I love about Jeff:

1. He is focused on serving.
2. He ADORES Caitlin--and he shows it.
3. He is willing to move out of his comfort zone to provide for her.
4. He is a willing and helpful worker.
5. He is full of kindness.
6. He is even tempered.
7. He is very bright, but
8. He is modest about it.
9. He is loyal and honest.
and 10. He fits perfectly in our family. (I love that he loves to sing!)

So, for now and for all eternity, I'm grateful that Jeff is part of our family. And--sorry, I can't resist it, even though I know it's so old--I'm glad Caitie married the Wright guy!

Breakfast, LAUNCH, and Dinner

2009-12-12T02:19:00.001-08:00

Whew. One thing I have been learning, as I've made the adjustment from writing daily in my journal to posting more often on the website, is that my daily life doesn't typically provide fodder for a daily posting. There's a lot going on, of course, but it's just kind of challenging to take the time to think of a topic and write something worthwhile. For those who do, I salute you.

But today, I can tell you about what has been consuming our lives for the past week: our launch of Stan's new supplement line, Primivia Nutritional Supplements. As of this entry we have 108 orders for our FREE--note that--FREE bottle of supplements.

The concept of giving supplements away free is Josh's brainchild. He couldn't sleep, he was so excited about the idea. We discussed the pros and cons at length together as a family at Thanksgiving. The consensus was that when people get on the products, they will want to stay on them because they'll feel so much better. So, to get people on them, we had to create an offer so compelling they couldn't refuse.

This "compelling offer" has taken most of our waking thoughts and energies. Poor Dave did not sleep at all the night before the launch went live. We were testing links and checking prices and writing sales letters right up until the final moment. I actually did something funny--I sent everyone on our list a live link to the site, so we had about 10 people jump our launch beginning time by a few hours! The whole thing wore us out and rejuvenated us at the same time.

I have to confess that it is really exciting to see line after line on my account read "a new order was placed for Stan Gardner MD," and get new traffic to our site (way more than ever before), and I think this is a good start for an ongoing program that will help a lot of people. Heather even put a link on her blog! Pretty awesome to have a family that supports our crazy business ideas . . . or comes up with them in the first place!

Goal-Diggers, Plots and Planners

2009-12-07T02:36:00.000-08:00

Last year, we were visiting Matt and Brit, and they showed us the exciting progress they had made on their goals. They created a chart that they posted in their bedroom of their financial progress, with space on the sides for their physical fitness goals and other achievements they wanted to accomplish during the year.

Well, it took us a while, but I'm pleased to report that I have become a "goal-digger." I dig this whole system! We drew a giant goal thermometer on a poster board and hung it over our door, so we can look at it any time we want. The thermometer contains our ginormous (to use Heather's word) financial goals, and we put little boxes to the side for our other goals.

In past years, I've gotten a little bit discouraged, because it seemed like every New Year I'd realize that I was rewriting the same old resolutions (could have saved the paper and just used it over and over). THIS year is slightly different: I have almost learned how to play two hymns on the piano (I keep track of the times I've practiced in my little boxes); we have driven to Pennsylvania and found grave sites of my ancestors, I have finished the ENTIRE Bible cover to cover, read Jesus the Christ, and the Book of Mormon.

I still have about 20 more boxes to check off with the workout section (which is cutting it pretty close), and I'm supposed to read books by C.S. Lewis and Emerson. I'm working on one with Adam Smith on the Wealth of Nations--not an easy read! But the big deal for me--what I really dig--is being able to keep track of making real progress.

On a side note, Stan's planner was lost while we were in Pokie. For us that's tantamount to disaster. Case in point: yesterday was Sunday. We came home from church pretty tired, and wanted to change out of our church clothes into jammies. Fortunately, the realtor had asked us to make the condo available for someone to come look at it, so we stayed in our suit and dress. I threw some pot pies from Costco into the oven for an easy dinner and we waited until the people came to see the house.

We were nonplussed when the doorbell rang a second time while the realtor and his group were here. It was a family coming for their son's patriarchal blessing! Yikes! They had made the appointment months ago--and it had been recorded in Stan's planner and forgotten. We remarked to each other afterward what a tender mercy it was to have the realtor bring some people by--or we would have been sitting in our jammies, eating pot pies, when they came.

Minding the Gap

2009-12-04T06:43:00.000-08:00

This morning I read the text of a talk I heard in September about "Minding the Gap," by Barbara Thompson. It is a terrific reminder of many aspects of life, including our relationship with God as His daughters, and our relationship with each other--even our relationship with ourselves. This last concept particularly caught my attention as I thought about various areas of my life where I want to "mind"--pay attention to--the "gap"--the discrepancy between an objective and something else that distracts me from my objective.

Say for example, I wanted to "mind the gap" between what I know about health and how I choose to spend my time, eating healthy and exercising. Or "mind the gap" between wanting to be able to play the piano and how I choose to spend my time practicing (or not). You get the idea.

So I decided to make a short list of a few of the areas where I want to be more mindful of the gaps in my life. I could probably go on for pages, but it usually is most effective for me if I create a short and manageable list, so here goes:

I'm going to "mind the gap" more in these areas:
1. Ideas and Action
2. Budget and Unfrugal Expenditures (my spell check tells me "unfrugal" isn't a word. Tough).
3. Being Fully Present with People and Trying to Get the Most Done in the Least Amount of Time

Duh! It Only Took Five Years!

2009-12-03T14:45:00.000-08:00

This has to be an admission of dumbness that very few people can boast about (and in my case, it's not boasting). I can't believe it took me five years to figure this out--and it all became obvious this morning. Here's the deal: for YEARS I have been faithfully writing in my journal every morning, sharing pithy little thoughts and meaningful stories, along with insights I've gained along my life journey thus far. My thought in the back of my head was that someday, when I'm gone, someone would discover this box of dusty old journals and study them profusely to gain all my knowledge. Duh.

What about technology (as they say in Napoleon Dynamite)? Here's what I wrote:

..."it occurred to me that by writing every day in my journal rather than in my blog, I am missing a lot of opportunities to share pictures and aspects of my life with family. I think I will continue to write in here [my journal] occasionally, but I'm also thinking that my words might be of benefit to people before someone finds my journals in some deep box somewhere after my life is over. Might be nice to share my experiences and what I've learned while I'm still here to explain myself."

So farewell, Journal writing. This is now my journal. Forget that you won't see it in my handwriting. If you want to see how I wrote...check out the dusty boxes in somebody's attic.

Contagiously Charismatic Christian

2009-04-01T03:16:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, we celebrated a wonderful occasion with Joel and Heather and their family, when little Spencer Aaron Gardner was blessed. There will be more on that little guy later, but for now, I want to celebrate a very special little guy who is getting bigger all the time: Christian David Gardner! Christian makes me smile constantly. I don't know of a more good-natured child. He is always chuckling at something, and his sense of humor is... I don't know how to describe it... he just seems to get the subtle ironies of life, even at the ripe old age of three. He has a depth and wisdom far beyond his years.

On my cell phone, I keep a message that Christian sent me many months ago, when he could barely talk. I listen to it when I am discouraged or lonely. Joel dialed my number, and then Christian said, "Hi Gammie. Love you." Oh how I cherish that message! It makes me tear up just to write about it. It's amazing the lift that gestures like that can give, especially coming from someone as wonderful as Christian.

Christian is a terrific big brother. I asked him the name of his new baby, and he says it proudly: "Spensa Aawon." If you ask him if he loves his new baby, he will tell you yes, and he really does. He's so cute with the baby!
He's also wonderful playing with Camryn, who shepherds him around doing all kinds of crafts and games with him, and he loves to wrestle and laugh with JD. I love being around this adorable little family. They are a great source of joy to us, and we will miss them when they move to Pocatello.

Happy Birthday Christian! Love you!

Emmie and Me (or We)!

2009-02-19T04:33:00.000-08:00

How do you describe a person whose life is a treasure? How do you describe an angel who loves little children, who is kind, who is beautiful inside and outside, who loves the Lord and her family (as well as pretty much all people in the world), who is constantly striving to be better, whose smile lights up the world around her? Those words describe our Emilie Anne Gardner. Emilie became a cherished member of our family after five sons had already joined us, and just before the blessed birth of her little sister Caitlin. She was a delight from the very beginning. The nurses decorated Stan's office with hundreds of pink ribbons and laces, and the hospital put two bows in her gorgeous dark hair. When she was about 5 months old and could sit up, I took her outside and set her on the ground while I planted some raspberry bushes. I turned around to see that she had picked up an earthworm and was licking it as it wriggled, held tight in her hand! She has always been fascinated with the world and its wonders.Emilie grew up with a love for music. She pretty much taught herself how to play the piano. We got her into voice lessons when she was about 10, and she took off with that talent as well. Before going to college, Emmie starred as Emma Smith in the musical theater production "Kirtland: City of Gathering and Glory," an absolutely thrilling experience for all of us. It was there that we discovered her amazing performing abilities. Her radiance seemed to embrace everyone in the audience. I am so excited that she has the opportunity to perform as a Young Performing Missionary in Nauvoo this summer. It will be yet another amazing blessing in her life. Emilie has been blessed with six terrific brothers and a wonderful sister, who all adore her. Her 5 big and 1 little-big (translate: younger but way taller) brothers have protected her and pretty much screened all would-be suitors, a role which Caitlin now fills as her roommate and best friend. I asked Stan for his input about Emilie for this blog entry, and he said, "talented, love of people, incredible teacher of children, knows a lot about the Gospel--a Gospel scholar, beautiful on the inside and the outside." (notice we BOTH said that) "She melts peoples' hearts with her voice and her piano playing." He added, "When she's on the Kajukenbo mat (a martial art), she really kicks _ _ _ _!" I could probably spend days expounding on how much we all love Emilie, but you can probably see for yourself, just looking at the pictures. Happy Happy Birthday, our beloved Emmie!

Marvellous Melodie :)

2009-02-11T06:25:00.000-08:00

Oh how we all love this girl! Melodie is a joy to have in the family, and she does a terrific job as wife, mother, homemaker, teacher, violinist...the list goes on. I could come up with probably several hundred more roles that she performs with equanimity (my $5 word for the day). I think one of the most fun things about Melodie is that she really listens to her children's conversations. She makes note of what they say, and she always responds. I will be sitting in blissful unawareness, oblivious to the fact that one of the children has said something in undertones, and Melodie will immediately respond. I have never been able to master the transition from my thinking sphere (or you can call it escaping sphere) to listening, without making a conscious effort to leave the one behind and go for the other. But Melodie is able to cross over without any seeming difficulty at all. Her children know she hears them and appreciates them. She also shares their fun little insights with us, which makes it much more bearable to be so far away--when I know I'll get at least a fraction of their adorable remarks.

The way that Josh and Melodie met is remarkable as well. How Josh ended up as a Young Performing Missionary in Nauvoo is nothing short of miraculous--he did a crummy audition (or at least so he says), turned it in at the last possible moment, and wrote an illegible application form that the missionary in charge of selection had to call me to translate for him! Divine intervention, for sure. We went out to Nauvoo to watch Matt and him perform, and Melodie was the first Young Performing Missionary we met; we went to a fireside and she came around during the "get-acquainted" number. We loved her the instant we saw her. The more we got to know her, the more those feelings grew.

By the end of the summer, Josh had fallen in love, and she knew that she was supposed to marry him through some very choice experiences. He and Matt arrived home, and Josh brought Stan and me upstairs so he could tell us about this amazing sister missionary; that he was supposed to marry her, but he had no idea how to go about courting her. Well, unbeknownst to us, she was sharing pretty much the same information with HER family. Long story short, they got together for a date three days later--Josh drove from Montana to Salt Lake for their date--and they were basically engaged, almost before they called each other anything other than "Elder Gardner" or "Sister Larsen." Four beautiful children later, Josh and Melodie have established an adorable family. Melodie is the heart of their home.

Melodie is talented, gorgeous, fun-loving, kind, and interested in everything good. I love hearing her play the violin. We love watching for her when the Orchestra at Temple Square performs.

Melodie is a pure soul. She puts her whole self into everything she does. I have never heard her speak an unkind or judgmental word. She is a treasure. She is an inspiration. I am reminded of the scriptural passage in Proverbs 31:10-31 about a virtuous woman when I think of Melodie. Have a wonderful birthday Melodie! We all love you very much!

Jumping Jupiter! It's Jarom!

2009-02-07T05:16:00.001-08:00

I'll never forget the delight I felt, seeing this bright-eyed, red-haired, clever little guy for the first time! Jarom is a treat to know; a wise soul who is entranced with the world around him. He is always thinking and always coming up with intelligent ideas.
This is Jarom with his Aunt Brit, who doubles as his cello teacher. Can you tell how much he loves her? At one point it was thought that maybe Jarom would be interested in a different instrument, but cello is very exciting and fun for him. How awesome is that, to have lessons from your aunt! Jarom has been entranced with all aspects of music. He loves learning about notes. Melodie wrote that one day he had arranged two oval rubber bands on the bathroom floor and said, "Look Mom, it's a an A and a G!" (I'm not sure if I remember the correct letters). She realized he had imagined a musical staff.
That gives you a clue as to the bright mind in this little guy.

Another thing that I love about Jarom is that he is so kind and helpful. I don't think I have ever seen him be unkind to his brothers or his sister. He is always very thoughtful and generous; always sharing. He surprised his mother Melodie by taking all of the wet laundry out of the washing machine and putting into the dryer, including a dryer sheet, at the ripe age of 3! When he had completed his task, he called for her to come see and was delighted at her enthusiastic appreciation of his work.

Jarom loves his dad and uncles too. He enjoyed being up in the air with Uncle Nathaniel, while Adam and Joshie were held up by Uncle Steve and Josh. Jarom likes to go up high.

I don't have a super large picture of Josh and Melodie and their family, so please forgive my blurry, swiped version from Facebook! They are a wonderful family, and Jarom is a wonderful part of it. Happy Birthday on February 10, Jarom! We love you!

Adorable Joshie

2009-01-29T04:02:00.000-08:00

Our adorable Joshua James was born one year and a few days ago, on January 5, 2008. He has been warmly welcomed into a loving family and is the third son and fourth child of Josh and Melodie. Happy birthday Joshie!

I have seldom seen a child with more smiles and enthusiasm at being alive. Joshua is loved by his big brothers Adam and Jarom and his big sister Rachel. They make sure he is happy and they love to bring him toys (or exchange toys with him if he is playing with something they would like to play with :) !) He was born at a very busy time for his mom and dad; Melodie was pregnant with Joshua when she and Josh came to Ohio and several other states for a Mormon Tabernacle Choir tour. Despite the confusion and chaos that are an inevitable part of a busy home, Melodie manages to meet his needs beautifully and he is secure and happy, a precious little boy. I don't know how she and Josh do it, but they do it!

Here is Josh with Josh. These two have a special father-son connection that goes beyond having the same first name. I think Josh the dad is becoming more comfortable with being a dad. I have enjoyed watching Josh as he prepares meals, changes diapers, and gives baths and reads stories. He is doing a good job. He and Melodie have done a good job figuring out how best to manage their many time demands and determine their goals as a family.

For Halloween, Joshua was apparently a pumpkin. He is so cute! I have missed being able to be with our grandloves. It was so fun to see him when he wasn't very old and had a long tuft of hair on top of his head.

Joshie is a cuddly, smiley, happy little boy. Happy Birthday Joshua James!

Our Lovely Lori

2009-01-26T09:59:00.000-08:00

Lori Caldwell Gardner joined our family on December 29, 1995, and we are SO glad David found her! I don't know what is wrong with my picture transfer-ability, so you may have to squint to see Lori. These pictures are super small, even though I upload them as large! Anyway, Lori is absolutely wonderful!

Oh how I love this girl! She's a terrific wife and mother, always full of good ideas and always welcoming. I'm sure that it is a daunting matter to face an influx of Gardner Clan invading their house, but she's always excited to have us (or at least she puts up a really convincing front!).

For me, it's fun to share the story of how she and David got together. They had a couple of classes together at Utah State: I think they were gymnastics and ballroom dance maybe? Lori, you'll have to correct me on that if I'm wrong. Anyway, David got his mission call (it came to our home in Billings Montana) and he went around, asking everyone he could find if they would bring him out so he could personally open his call. No one took his generous offer of free gas, except for kindhearted Lori. They arrived at about 3:00 in the morning, exhausted from the drive, after having narrowly avoided hitting a moose on the road. We were very impressed with Lori: her personality was so engaging and she was wonderful to meet, even at that super early hour. I remember Stan and I saying to each other, "It's too bad she's not going to be around when David gets back from his mission!"

Well, through a series of miracles, Lori WAS around when Dave got back, and he was a goner right from the start. Actually, I think they fell in love sometime around the middle of his mission, and it was just a matter of time before they moved forward to marriage. Lori and Dave have five absolutely adorable kidlets: Joseph, Sarah, Jacob, Bekah, and Emily. We love being with their family.

Lori is always finding amazing deals. She knows where to get great coupons, and she has created a stash of awesome gifts and presents for the family with some of her wonderful purchases. She feeds the family beautifully with wonderful homemade breads and home-canned or frozen peaches or strawberries. One of my favorite meals is crepes at their house. I imagine Lori will get those for breakfast herself in the near future if not today, because I think crepes are the family special birthday breakfast! This is Lori with Melodie, Josh's wife. Lori is holding their youngest, Emily. I love how all of "our girls" get along so well with each other. When we are all together, it seems like heaven to me.

This is a picture Lori took of herself with the Mac computer. I'm glad she doesn't REALLY look that way! I love watching Lori and David dance. They are really good. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of them dancing, but fortunately, I can edit the blog if I find a picture later! Lori, the happiest of birthdays to you! We love you and are very grateful for you.

Sensational Steve

2009-01-19T11:56:00.000-08:00

派克汉尼汾流体传动产品（上海）有限公司
中国上海浦东金桥出口加工区
云桥路２８０号
201206

This is Steve's address in Shanghai, if anyone would like to try to copy it and send him a birthday card :) And here's a picture of Steve with his wonderful, almost fiance Alina:

To try to describe Steve, you have to have an amazing vocabulary. He is highly intelligent, thoughtful, service-oriented, straightforward, funny, enthusiastic, has a zest for life and is very inquisitive, creative, athletic, caring, and completely dedicated. He has a drive and determination that serve him well in any endeavors he attempts. He is not the kind of person you could put in a box and label. He is definitely his own man. As one of the performing missionaries in Nauvoo said, "Steve is one guy who has a lot of layers."

Those are some of the things I love about Steve. His 29th birthday is coming up on the 22nd of January. Happy Birthday, Steve! This is one of my favorite pictures of Steve. He and Caitie are holding Adam and Jarom.

He is an awesome uncle and a great brother. His nephews and nieces adore
him. They all look forward to the times that Steve comes back to the U.S.
I know they are excited (we all are) to meet Alina, Steve's sweetheart, whose Chinese name is Yue Yang (did I get that right, Steve?).

Steve tells us that when you make the "victory sign" in Asia, it kind of means that you are smiling.

From the moment Steve was born, he has been a lively, eager, delightful, full of life person. I feel deeply privileged to be his mother. In high school he would dive into the dumpster across the street from the office building where he cleaned. The dumpster was from a florist shop, and every night he would gather flowers that were still fresh and make beautiful bouquets, which he and his siblings would anonymously deliver, often past three in the morning. I had the honor of helping him to apply for the Montana state Discover Card Gold Scholarship, where I learned for the first time that Steve had set a personal goal to perform an act of service each day. I believe he still does that. (By the way, he was awarded the Gold Scholarship--but that's another story!).
When Steve served his mission in Romania, he literally exhausted himself, giving his mission everything he had. His mission president told me he wished he had a hundred more like Steve. Then Steve went to Nauvoo, just 3 days after returning home.

Steve and Emilie on the day we took Elder Nathaniel Gardner into the Missionary Training Center.

At BYU-Idaho, Steve took top honors in debate on a national level. He decided on a lark to take a Chinese class, and ended up discovering a passion for learning and teaching languages. His Chinese students love him and clamor to have him as their teacher. For the time being, though, he is learning business, doing work for Parker Hannifin in Shanghai.

Oh how we all love our son and brother and uncle Steve! I could write enough more to fill a book (or bookshelf), but suffice it to say: Steve we love you very much and are so grateful you are part of our family! Happy Birthday! And just remember: everything you learn that helps you grow (or saves a sand castle) is worth the SACRIFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joseph David Gardner: 11 Years Old!

2008-12-29T07:39:00.001-08:00

Today is our oldest grandson's 11th birthday. Happy Birthday, Joseph! As you can see, Joseph is a fantastic soccer player (his dad is his coach!), but Joseph also has many other skills and interests. I'm amazed at his creative abilities. Joseph is one AWESOME dude!

It's hard to believe that it has been eleven years since Joseph was born. Joseph's birthday falls on his parents' wedding anniversary--Happy Anniversary, Dave and Lori :) Joseph is interested in all things having to do with athletics.

You can see how proud David is of his son. These two are great friends. Joseph is also a wonderful son to Lori, and a very supportive older brother to his four siblings: Sarah, Jacob, Bekah, and Emily. Joseph is taking on the responsibility of baby sitting on rare occasions for short periods, and he does a terrific job. Joseph shows remarkable maturity in helping his siblings to learn how to do things, as well as a lot of patience in interacting with them and helping them to interact with each other.

Joseph has recently demonstrated pretty terrific skills as a ballroom dancer. We got to see him perform over Thanksgiving break and he was outstanding! He takes after his parents and aunts and uncles. I would love to see him develop that skill. He also is learning how to play the piano. I have heard him doing very well with a few good musical pieces.
Joseph loves living near so many cousins. He and his cousin Max have a special bond. Their birthdays are very close. Even though Max is quite a bit taller, the two of them have a lot of fun playing together.

This morning, Joseph was telling me about the cool things he got for Christmas. One of them is a
HUGE truck with all kinds of amazing features. I'd love to show you a picture of it, but unfortunately I don't have one. Joseph also received a super Lego kit. He's amazing with Legos, and has loved them since he was teeny (a trait that is common among all Gardner guys).

Some of the things I love about Joseph are his enthusiasm, his sense of humor, his creativity, his love for family and friends, his spiritual sensitivity, and his good looks. He's a great young man, growing up to be a remarkable and wonderful person. We all love Joseph. Happy Birthday!

Super Sarah!

2008-11-24T13:22:00.000-08:00

TaDah! It's Super Sarah! The one and only 8 year old in our family who is turning 9 on November 25th! We are so proud of Sarah. She is a delight, an impish little angel girl who has delighted us from the moment we were blessed to have her come into the family.

Here's Sarah with her little sister Rebekah, who is also a joy. Sarah is a wonderful example of a kind big sister, and she is always helping to take care of one of the little ones. I love how she is so kind and caring. Sarah follows her mother Lori's example.

Some of Sarah's talents are: she is very creative with crafts, especially in the art department. She is always making the most wonderful things! She draws, she colors, she designs. She's really remarkably talented. I have a cute note she wrote me when she was first learning to write, and I still treasure it.

Sarah also loves sports. I have watched her play soccer and would like to see her ice skate. I hear she's pretty good at that too!

I can't wait to see our Sarah-soda. She's a delight in every way. We're excited because we get to fly to Utah for Thanksgiving and see her! Love you Sarah and Happy Happy Birthday!

Cute Cutie Pie Camryn

2008-10-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

This adorable little girl that is with Elder Nathaniel Gardner is Camryn Marie Gardner, whose birthday is today! Happy Birthday, Camryn! She is 5 years old, and she is wonderful. She has definitely stolen her daddy Joel's heart, and we are so grateful she is part of our family.

Camryn is a fashionista. She loves having her hair done and doing hair. I had the privilege of having her do my hair the last time we were in Ann Arbor, and it was fun to have her do it (especially learning that I had to have my hair sprayed with water). She is very gentle and very focused. She also is very creative. I don't know that my hair will ever look as good as it did with Camryn's creative skills! She uses them on her My Little Ponies also. I am pretty sure she got Grandpa to play My Little Ponies with her.

Camryn has lots of friends, and she is a very good hostess. She likes to play with dolls, stuffed animals, and ponies. She also is very tidy. I have watched her make her bed without being asked, and I am pretty impressed that she can do that as a young lady.

When we first got our Mac computers, we played with the special effects and Camryn had fun with them:

If you look at her eyes you can see how they sparkle with fun ideas. She is the epitome of creativity, and she is such a social little duck that it's fun to watch her in action.

Camryn is also a leader. She's a good example to her little brother Christian and I know she is very excited to have a new baby in the family. She will take very good care of her new baby brother when he comes in February.

I wish I had some more pictures of just Camryn alone! I think I'll steal a few from Heather's blogsite.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to our precious little Camryn! You are a joy to us!!!!!!

Our Wonderful Joel Daniel Gardner

2008-10-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

In the foreground is our birthday boy, Joel Daniel Gardner, holding his son Christian: great dad, creative dating husband and one of the most wonderful guys in the world. Happy birthday, Joellie! I tried to do this blog entry yesterday, but the blog website was down for some reason. So please accept my apologies for the belated birthday wishes. We'll just have to celebrate extra hard in CHICAGO baby! Next weekend, yep, we're all 7 of us heading back to Chicago. I'm pretty pumped, especially since I had just told Stan how much I wanted him to come up with a fun idea to take me somewhere spontaneously like Joel did with Heather!

If I were to pick one word to describe Joel, it would be this: determination. I have loved this boy since I first saw his adorable face when he was born. He has an unquenchable desire to know all about everything. When he was crawling he got into soap, butter, sugar, toasters, cockroaches (we were in the Philippines and they are rampant there--even if you're a spectacular housekeeper), and was always watching everything with intensity. If we turned our backs, he could figure out how to take something apart and put it back together, and it would still work! The best fruit of Joel's determination is Heather. Joel fell in love with her when he was 14, informed me he would marry her when he was 15, and finally convinced her to marry him when they were going to school at Utah State University. They have three, going on four, adorable kids: JD, Camryn, and Christian. Heather tells me that they're considering naming their expected little guy after the places where they fell in love with each other. Pretty cool! With Heather's support and encouragement, I have watched Joel become a truly great man, and I know there's even more to come, because that's just the way Joel is. Once he decides something, NOTHING will stop him. Nothing. Nada. No Way. He just decides and goes for stuff, and gets there.
This is a picture of Joel and Christian. They are good buddies, and Joel loves all his kids. He and JD have a ton of fun together with Legos and ball games, and Camryn is definitely Daddy's little girl.

It always amazes me how each of our children has grown into such a unique, yet amazing individual in their own right. Joel has gone from a marginal student who worked part time at Checker Auto to an exceptional physician--an anesthesiologist who will be doing well in his contracted job next year in Pocatello Idaho. It's fun to see Heather and Joel excited to find a house. They deserve it after all these years in their crumby little apartment in Ann Arbor!
These six boys have a great time with their dad and each other. From left: David, Nathaniel, Joel, Stephen, Stan, Joshua, and Matthew.

Joel is wise, hilariously funny, witty. Inside he's a marshmallow: kind and compassionate, always willing to do everything he can to make things right. I love his integrity and I love his drive. Most of all, I love Joel. Happy birthday, dear son! You are an inspiration to me. I love you! Mom

Bekah Boo!

2008-10-22T17:55:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to our little princess, Rebekah Loreen Gardner! She is a bundle of sunshine and a joy to everyone who knows her. Some of the things I love about Bekah are: she loves to smile. I think she is smiling 99.9% of the time! She makes ME smile, just seeing her smile. She loves her brothers and her sisters. She is kind and loving to her baby sister Emily and she thinks of ways to make her happy. She also loves to play with her big brother Jacob. Bekah also loves her oldest brother Joseph, who is a very good example to her, and her big sister Sarah, who helps her learn lots of creative skills. Another thing I love about Bekah is that she loves to talk and sing! In fact, just about any form of happy communication is something you will find Bekah doing. She is a little angel girl.
Bekah finds joy in everything, also. She loves to learn about things, and she gets excited about life and all the fun things life has to offer. She loves to play--outside, inside, it really doesn't matter. She just has a lot of fun!

We love this precious little girl and are so glad that she is part of our family. We are very grateful that she was born to Dave and Lori, who are some of the best parents in the world. Happy Birthday, Bekah Boo!

Nananananananananah....MATT MAN!

2008-10-12T11:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Matthew! Today is the 27th birthday of our precious son, and how we love him! Matt is a pillar of strength and integrity, a man who has blessed our lives and those of his brothers and sisters (and wife and daughters). We are so grateful for our Matthew Aaron Gardner. As I type this, I am listening the the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing "Sunrise, Sunset." "...when did she get to be a beauty, when did he grow to be so tall; wasn't it yesterday when they were small?" Tears come to my eyes as I realize how precious life is and what a miracle to be a part of someone's life--and how especially blessed I feel to know Matthew as a part of my life. Maybe Matt never grew to be "so tall," :), but he definitely stands tall in the things that matter!

This is Matthew's precious wife, Brittany, who is a marvelous mother to their little Della (pictured), and tiny newborn Aliya (above with Matthew and Brittany at top of page). The way that Matthew met Brittany and their subsequent courtship and marriage has been an answer to prayer. She is a treasure to us. The story of how they came to know and love each other is a story of divine promises fulfilled and friendships that extend throughout eternity. How we love her!

Matt and Della have a special "Daddy-Daughter" relationship. It's so fun to see them together. I know his three girls have Matt wrapped around their little fingers. Couldn't imagine a better place for him to be!
Last year, I was so proud of Matt, Josh and Nathaniel when they ran a half marathon in Logan, Utah. They were successful because they spent months consistently preparing and working to achieve their goals. I'm proud of the example Matthew sets in working to achieve his goals. I'm grateful that he brings inspiration into his decisions and he has great faith, which strengthens my own. We were also very proud of him when he prepared and studied and practiced and was chosen to join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Now we get to watch Matt and Josh singing on Sundays!

Oh how I hope that someday everyone reading this will have the privilege of knowing Matt. I am greatly blessed to have this wonderful son. We love you Matthew Aaron Gardner! Have a marvelous birthday. And may you be blessed as you have blessed our lives!

Our Super Duper Jedi JD Birthday Boy

2008-08-28T10:04:00.001-07:00

This awesome dude is our grandson JD (Joel Daniel Gardner, Jr.), whose birthday is today. JD is 8 years old! I am so proud of him. JD is an exceptionally kind and thoughtful young man, who is a terrific older brother. I have been excited to do this blog about him for a long time, and I'm glad we're back from Utah so that I can access a few pictures of him. One I don't have, however, is the one where we were at Disneyland and JD and his cousin Joseph were both chosen to be Jedi Knights and fight Darth Vader and Darth Maul! So Heather, if you read this, please send me a copy and I'll post it.

JD is the Lego master. He makes incredibly intricate Lego creations, and he spends hours thinking through the details. He is also very talented at playing games on the Wii. I make him laugh hysterically when I attempt to play. His grandpa Stan is much better than I am--I usually end up at the end of the race, no matter how easy my part is! But JD zooms past everyone and always does a great job.

I love JD's thoughtful creativity. He made a wonderful clay set of a fork, knife, and spoon for me, that I treasure. He wrote me a note telling me he loves me that I keep with some of my most precious things. JD thinks a lot about many things. He loves to do adventurous things, and he is willing to try a lot of new things. I give a lot of credit to his awesome mother and dad, who do a marvelous job raising him and his sister Camryn and his brother Christian. JD is both very serious and very funny, and it's so fun to talk to him because he has a lot of wise ideas. I'm so glad we get to live nearby for a little longer before his family moves to Pocatello Idaho.

JD, I'm so proud of you for your birthday, and for making the decision to be baptized! You are a wonderful person, and a blessing in our lives. We love you so much, and we are proud of you.

JD with sister Camryn and cousins Joseph and Sarah! Best buddies, these guys; when they all get together they have a terrific time!

Let's Face it: English is a Crazy Language

2008-07-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England nor French fries in France.

Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?
Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital, ship by truck and send cargo by ship, have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

PS. - Why doesn't Buick rhyme with quick?

Happy Birthday Josh!

2008-07-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

(here's an older picture--we're missing little Joshua James in this one, but it's the only family picture I have on my computer!)

Our third oldest son Joshua Adam celebrates his birthday this month. Josh will be 31 on July 19th. So what can I tell you about Josh? Well, for starters, he’s a very smart man. I enjoy hearing Josh’s perspective on decisions because he usually has a lot of interesting thoughts, and his counsel is solid. Sometimes I wonder who is the parent and who is the offspring here! Josh is a Certified Financial Planner, and he gives sound financial advice. He has built a good business through some challenging beginning years, and he is inspiring to me because once he makes a decision he sticks to it. He works with Prudential and is one of the few remaining in the group with which he was hired.

Josh sings with the Tabernacle Choir, and you’ll often see his face grace the TV screen. He and his brother Matt are in it together; Matt was selected for the choir earlier this year, and it is so gratifying for me to see them singing, often sitting together! My heart swells with pride when I listen to them and watch them perform. I love it most of all when Josh and Matt are singing in the Choir, and Melodie and Brittany are in the Orchestra at Temple Square, all at the same time. I know that being in the Choir is a great sacrifice of time, and it is amazing to me how Josh and Melodie manage that challenge with four little ones. But manage they do, and do it beautifully. Their children are happy and confident and they are very well behaved.

The best choice I think Josh ever made was in finding his eternal sweetheart, Melodie. They met when they both served as performing missionaries in Nauvoo, Illinois. The first time we met Melodie, we were touched by her warmth, her radiance, and her goodness. She is a blessing to Josh and to all of us!

Josh and Melodies’s house tends to be “Command Central,” as Brit has called it. Over the years, they have welcomed everyone to stay there. They have tirelessly changed bedding, set up beds, hosted family gatherings there, and welcomed Steve, Dave and Lori and their kids, Matt and Brit (before they got their own home a few blocks away), Emilie (who stayed there for about a year I think), Joel and Heather, Stan and I, Caitlin, and Nathaniel. All of us, in addition to other family members from Melodie’s side. I enjoy the spirit in their home. It is loving and patient, and I know that Josh and Melodie are doing their best to keep their relationship strong and raise their children well.

Josh, I am very proud of you, and I love you very much. Happy Birthday, Dear Son!

Adam Matthew Gardner

2008-07-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

The handsome young man you see in this picture is Adam Matthew Gardner, who turned five years old on July 6! Adam is Josh and Melodie’s oldest son. His siblings are named Jarom Dallen, Rachel Lovina (who was featured in another blog entry earlier), and Joshua James.
Adam is a very bright little boy. He is full of life and interested in everything. I would have to say his greatest love seems to be playing the cello. He is already quite proficient, especially for a five-year-old! He has a number of pieces in his repertoire. He doesn’t need to have music to be able to play “I Am a Child of God.” He performed that piece beautifully at the family reunion we just had in Provo Canyon has week, and completely wowed the whole Gardner family!
Adams’ cello teacher is his Aunt Brittany. She has encouraged him and helped him to learn so much. Now she is also teaching Jarom how to play the cello! Adam works hard to learn, and his mother Melodie is wonderful at helping him to practice consistently.

Adam seems to remember everything he is told, and he is very good with his brothers and sister. He takes care of them, he helps his mother and father, and he sets a good example. He and Jarom are best friends. Yesterday I was able to visit their family and I enjoyed watching how he and Jarom interacted. They truly enjoy each other.

He also has learned to read quite well, mostly teaching himself. He enjoys learning.
I guess when you’re talking about your grandchildren (and your children!) you tend to be a little bit prejudiced. But that’s ok—I just have to say that Adam Matthew Gardner is a wonderful boy and I am so proud of him! I love him very much. Happy birthday this month, Adam!

A Fun Idea...

2008-07-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

I got this off my friends blog and thought it might be fun, plus it gives me a chance to find out how many people actually read my blog :)

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you

Panda-monium!

2008-06-30T19:40:00.001-07:00

This is for those that haven't seen the 16 baby pandas. SICHUAN , China -- One zoo in southwest China has its hands full with 16 baby pandas.

The Sichuan Wolong Panda Protection and Breed Center is dealing with the results of a breeding boom where 16 pandas have been born.

The brood includes five sets of twins.

The cubs are weighed and measured every five days (see pics)

The heaviest tips the scale at just over 24 pounds, while the lightest weighs about 11 pounds.

The pandas are due to stop suckling soon - just about the time they'll start learning to walk.

Once weaned, the panda cubs will attend panda kindergarten.

In the meantime, more little ones are expected at the centre since 38 giant pandas were artificially impregnated.
Sorry these are so little! I couldn't get my computer to transfer the pictures any larger. But they're still VERY cute!

Thoughts to Make You Smile

2008-06-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

Dream what you want to dream;
Go where you want to go;
Be what you want to be,
Because you have only one life
And one chance to do all the things
You want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
Enough trials to make you strong,
Enough sorrow to keep you human and
Enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily
Have the best of everything;
They just make the most of
Everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always
Be based on a forgotten past;
You can't go forward in life until
You let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying
And everyone around you was smiling
Live your life so at the end
You're the one who is smiling and everyone
Around you is crying.

- Anonymous

My Man Stan

2008-06-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

The guy you see to your left is the greatest man in the world. I know some of you might argue with that, but you're probably married to his sons, so you have to credit the source. I have been married to My Man Stan for over 35 years; this year will be the 36th on December 15. I can honestly say I have never met a kinder, more compassionate, more willing to serve person than Stan.

When I first met Stan, he was dating my best friend Elaine. The staff for the high school newspaper was assembled in our classroom, busily working on the next issue of the paper. My friend was the editor in chief and I was the editorial editor. In walked this amazing, tall dark and handsome (ok, well, not ALL that tall!) dude. My heart and just about all my innards did a flip flop. He was incredibly attractive! I felt terrible--having feelings for my best friend's boyfriend? I quickly squelched the idea and ducked my head right back down to my work on the desk, all the time being amazed at my reaction to this guy. He literally about knocked me off my feet!

About that time, I was dating a cute, balding return missionary who had gone to Scotland. But it clearly wasn't going anywhere. Meanwhile, Elaine's former boyfriend was dating our other girlfriend Shirley--not seriously, just fun. We kind of had this "As the World Turns" type of story line going on with our whole group--but you need to understand, that's the way people dated in those days. We just all had a great time with each other.

Along with working on the school newspaper, I was the high school reporter for KOVO radio. Every week I went in and recorded a little blurb about what was going on in the school. I always had to know the scores for the games, but I never went to the games. So someone suggested that I should call Stan Gardner. I did. He always knew the scores, and after a few calls he started asking me if I'd like to go see the next game with him (then I could write down the score as it happened). I always politely refused--after all, I was dating another guy.

And so it was that over time Merrill (my RM boyfriend) and I broke up, and so did Stan and Elaine. But we were all going to prom with the wrong people! So in a moment of privacy during our prom date, I asked Elaine to let Stan know I was "available." I think he asked me out a week or so later. In fact, I think I took him on a treasure hunt picnic. We also went to see Camelot at the theater. Afterwards he took me to his house for ice cream, because it was free there, and it cost 10 cents at the ice cream shop. We had a bowl of ice cream and then he played "Clair de Lune" for me on the piano.

I practically swooned. I was totally wowed by this guy.

But I fought it. Over the course of the next several months we became close friends. We read the Book of Mormon together, we talked a lot, we hiked up to the top of the Y to watch the sunrise while we ate oranges. We went a lot of places with the whole group. We became partners on the ballroom dance team at the school (he would come pick me up in his tennis shorts and do the tango just before tennis practice).

Some of the things that attracted me to Stan that I have found to be super important over the years: he has absolute integrity. He has drive and dedication. He is talented, but he works very hard to develop his talents. He is faithful to me, to our family, to the Gospel. He is thoughtful and kind. He loves to learn. And he is infinitely wise.

We dated for several months. We didn't kiss until the night we graduated from high school. Okay, I'm not going into any more detail there, but suffice it to say, we were in love over the summer, and that love continued as we grew and worked on our individual goals. In the fall we were both supposed to go to BYU, but his parents were wise and felt it would be best if there was a little distance between us. So they enrolled him at Utah State, where he got a four year tennis scholarship and majored in Pre-Med. We wrote to each other every day and it was so fun to get his letters! I still have them all, somewhere...He often came home on the weekends.

We became pretty serious, but we wanted him to go on a mission. Only problem was, it was during the Vietnam War, and young men could be drafted. The Church had arranged that two boys could go from each ward per year via a special quota system they had with the government. But there were six guys older than Stan. From every possible standpoint it seemed that he would have to wait three years before leaving on his mission. We prayed about it and made the decision that no matter how long it took, he would go.

Once we made the decision, I had a strong feeling that we wouldn't have to wait that long. Within a few months, the government announced a lottery system for the draft, based on birthdays. They put all 365 days into a bin, pulled them out and whatever number you were drawn, that was your ranking. Anyone whose birthday fell after somewhere in the 200s could serve a mission. Earlier birthdays planned on serving in the military. But there was a caveat: the Church still had the quota system in place, so they chose the two boys with the earliest birthdays and sent them on missions from the quota. Everyone else fit into the parameters for being able to go out immediately, so Stan left in the fall of 1970.

We wrote to each other, and I dated and grew spiritually while he grew spiritually on his mission. When he came home, it was obviously right. We got engaged two weeks after his return and were married three months later.

Well, that's a long story to tell about our romance! Maybe one of these days I'll tell you some more about this amazing man. His birthday is June 13th. I'll try to get some more pictures on here so you can see a little of our history, but right now I don't have a scanner and my internet connection is flaky, so it will have to wait.

I want to honor my wonderful husband, father to our adorable and amazing eight children. I love you Stan! Someday I'll give you space on my blog so you can tell YOUR side of the story!

Beautiful Brittany!

2008-05-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

Back in the year 2002, our son Matthew returned from his mission to Armenia. He came to join us in Ohio--his first visit to this home. He had only been with us a few weeks when he decided to attend the singles branch on the other side of Cleveland. He came home entranced with a beautiful young woman who had played a solo on her cello during the meeting.

Well, Matt was a goner. It took him a little while to convince Brittany that she should choose him too, but boy did he get a prize! We fell in love with her over the next year; while Matt attended BYU-Idaho, Brit would often come and spend the evening with us, watching scary movies or enjoying dinner together. She bonded with Emilie and Caitie and loved to tease and be teased by Nathaniel. I came to love her as another daughter, so I'm so glad that she and Matt decided their love was eternal.

Brittany is a spunky, committed girl. When she decides something, she does it. She loves to organize and schedule, and she is a stellar example of integrity. I'm sure it is sometimes amusing and sometimes distressing to interact with such a large family as ours--over the years my focus on organization has changed quite a bit!--but she's plucky and flexible, and she loves us all despite our "playing it by ear."

Speaking of "playing it by ear," this girl is an incredible cellist! I love watching her face when she plays. She gets the most glorious sounds out of her cello. The tones are rich and delicious to hear. When we had our family reunion this past month, Brit and Melodie played a hoe-down kind of duet that was great! It was so fun to hear the knee-slapping renditions while watching Brit twirl her cello and play it like a base. Then it was awesome to hear the contrast in the classical pieces she played. I love how she teaches Josh and Melodie's little Adam. Recently he had his first book recital, and it was fun to hear her accompany him.

Brit is a wonderful, conscientious mom, and she adores their baby girl, Della. I remember how it was with MY first baby, David, and I relate to so much of what Brit is learning as she goes along. And now that #2 is on her way, we're excited to see this precious family growing. Recently Brit ran a 5k race while Matt walked alongside me. Her time was under 30 minutes! Way to go!

Take heart, Dearest Brit--it does get easier and more fun as time goes on! You are doing a magnificent job, and I for one am very proud of my extra daughter! Love you a ton, Brittany Platt Gardner! Happy Birthday!

Here's the wonderful family of Matthew, Brittany, and Della Lucinda Gardner!

Happy Birthday Jacob Matthew!

2008-05-29T04:18:00.000-07:00

Five years ago this month, Jacob Matthew was born! Happy Birthday, Jacob!

I adore Jacob, and have from the moment he was born. He has a most amazing ability! From the time he was about 2 months old, David and Lori discovered that he has uncanny musical skills. They would pull him up to a standing position on their laps, and he would rock back and forth in perfect rhythm to whatever music was playing. Lori told me that if she was changing his diaper and music was playing, he would still HAVE to wave his arm in time to the music. I have seen him continue to love music, and to respond to it as one who is passionate about it. I'm excited to see what he does with this great gift.

Jacob is a very kind, sensitive boy. He has love for everyone. I don't think I have ever seen or heard him do anything that was less than kind or loving. Sometimes that gentleness puts him in rather vulnerable positions, but he always gets through the tough times with a smile on his face. He is a joy to be around, always interested in everything going on around him.

Now that he is five years old (today!), he is becoming a big boy--he is eager to learn, he is full of energy and enthusiasm, and he is a grandson who makes us very proud. We adore his family, each and every one, and today, May 20th, is Jacob's day--his birthday! We love you Jacob! Happy Birthday!

Below are Jacob and his big brother and best friend, Joseph David Gardner:

Enchanting Emily Arianna

2008-05-24T03:40:00.000-07:00

One year ago this month, we added a captivating little person to our family. Her name is Emily Arianna Gardner, and she is a sweetheart! As you can see from her adorable smile, this little lady is full of life and joy and love. She looks like a carbon copy of all her siblings. Dave and Lori seemingly have a mold for all their babies. I'm glad they all look so much alike because they are all so cute! Bald little heads, great big smiles, warm happy eyes, and cute cute dimples!

Emily and Della (Matt and Brit's baby) were originally due three days apart. But Emily chose to wait a month longer than Della. The two little girls are discovering each other and having a blast doing so. Right now the interest doesn't last long. It's fun to put them together and see what happens. I know they will be best friends down the road. I can't imagine anything more fun than a cousin who is just your age!

Emily is David and Lori's fifth baby and third little girl. Her two older sisters, Sarah and Rebekah, are wonderful examples to her and those three will have a great time growing up together. Although Dave and Lori would probably tell you that having five kids is a little overwhelming, there are no greater parents in the world than they are. They are always involved with the children, always doing fun things together as a family. What a privilege it is to be grandparents to these kidlets!

Even though I'm a bit late getting this blog entered (we took Uncle Nathaniel into the MTC for his mission earlier this month), I want to wish Emily Arianna a VERY Happy Birthday! We love you, Emily!

My Angel Mother

2008-05-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

When "us girls" get together, we have a ball! This is me with my mom and my two sisters, Melanie and Jamie. We are posing in our favorite place to eat together, Cracker Barrel in Layton, Utah.

Since my mom's birthday is May 24th, I want to honor her. Happy Birthday, Mom!

When I was a little girl, I used to write notes to my "Angel Mother." It kind of reminds me of Abraham Lincoln, now that I'm older and know about his comment that all he was he owed to his angel mother. But I have always thought mine was an angel. She is very gifted with language. She has written dozens, if not hundreds, of books, and six-going-on-seven have been published. She has an uncanny ability to remember what it was like to be a child, and her books reflect the insights and thoughts that children have about things. Her books are funny and inspiring. My favorite is one that hasn't been published yet: "The Potter and the Fitter Fritter."

Mom contested while we were growing up. One year she won the grand prize in the nation--two new cars! I have a newspaper clipping that shows Melanie and me and mom as she is handed the keys to the cars. She won that by coming up with a winning 25-words-or-less slogan in a Pittsburgh Paint contest. She has also won a trip for two to Hawaii, a $1000 dollar wardrobe (which back then was REALLY something!), a clothes dryer that played "How Dry I Am" when the cycle was completed, another new car, a $1,000 gift certificate to an exclusive Japanese store called "Seibu," and countless other TVs, cash awards, radios, pretty much you name it, she's won it. If you want to get an idea of the kind of thing she did, there's an interesting movie called "The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio," that accurately depicts life as a contester (except for the mean husband in the movie). That was Mom--always coming up with clever words, double meanings, catchy phrases. She was, and still is, the greatest source for coming up with great slogans.

Mom does counted cross stitching that amazes me! I have many of her pieces, and I prize them. She spends thousands of hours, making beautiful stitcheries that will be a marvelous legacy for her family. She gardens, she draws and paints, she is wonderful.

Our little girls were the recipients of many of Mom's creative efforts when they were growing up. Mom made Emilie and Caitlin matching dresses several times. They always looked adorable.

Now that Mom is over 40 years old :), she is still very busy doing fabulous things. Every year I look forward to whatever she has enthusiastically stitched for us. I love it when she calls me up to read me her latest story. My brother John used to always buy Mom books and inscribe them with "To Mom on her 16th Birthday." Well, I don't think we can claim 16 any more, but she is still young at heart. Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you!

"Who We Really Are"

2008-05-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Over the past several days, I have experienced several separate “aha” moments, which have come together into a rather majestic understanding that I’d like to share with you.

The first is an analogy about a farmer in Ireland, who goes out to his freshly plowed fields on a brilliant sunny day and enthusiastically scatters seed upon the ground; he stands there, watchful and eager. Then his eagerness shifts when he realizes that the crops are not coming up immediately. It will take some time.

The second is my observing each of you sets of parents in your busy homes, with anywhere from 1 to 5 little people. No matter the number, babies and wee folks consume 100% and more of your time. I have watched as you feed the kidlets, play with the kidlets, and carry the kidlets everywhere. I have watched as you repeatedly do that most menial of tasks, changing messy diapers and blowouts, with equanimity. I’ve watched you talk to the babies, bathe the babies, and try to entertain the babies, all the while probably thinking how much you would like to carry on a meaningful conversation. I’ve watched you stretch to be patient—stretch way beyond all the educational insights you learned in college—to do things that seem trivial and unpleasant.

The third was my own personal experience, raising eight children. One morning was particularly difficult. Nathaniel was a toddler, about 18 months old. Caitlin was about 3 ½, and Emilie was 5.

I had the three preschoolers and five very busy sons who were all involved in scouts, sports, and school (and girls). The house was a mess, as usual—I didn’t get on top of that for any extended period of time, ever, it seemed—but on this particular day it was especially so. Nathaniel had wakened early. He had been hungry and had gotten out the Rice Krispies, spilling them in the process. He had also opened the fridge and somehow gotten out the pickles (he loved pickles), spilling pickle juice on the floor. He walked through the pickle juice and Rice Krispies, picking up the sticky and crunchy wherever he went, through the kitchen and down the carpeted hallway.. Then he decided to come into our bedroom with his sticky, crunchy bare feet and jump on our bed, where I was lying down, too tired to move.

After a few minutes of tolerating that (hopefully I was good natured about it), I got up and went into the bathroom, where ants were carrying away the remainder of Nathaniel’s sandwich he had dumped on the floor the night before. I sat on the toilet, too overwhelmed to get up, when Caitlin appeared in the doorway with serious bedhead. She had decided to dress herself, in hot pink and orange long sleeved fleece top and shorts with contrasting patterns. I had no idea where Emilie was, but I figured I hadn’t heard anything—which could be good or bad, I wasn’t sure which. It was in that moment that I had an epiphany.

Ignoring my children, I sat down and wrote a long entry in my journal about how discouraged and inadequate I felt. I spared no details—didn’t gloss over my woeful housekeeping or the fact that the kids were getting their own breakfast. I described the scene exactly as it felt to me then, knowing through my epiphany that there would come a time when I would share that journal entry with my children, and it would lighten their burdens slightly to realize that this too, would pass for them.

The fourth happened a few nights ago, and since then my “majestic” understanding has gelled and taken on significance for me.

Stan and I went to see the latest “Chronicles of Narnia.” In the midst of a regular school day, on their way home in the station, the four children—Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy—are transported to Narnia, where they once again take on their true role as kings and queens.

As I watched the children in this excellent movie, an awareness occurred inside me that left me almost breathless; it was so profound that I was almost unable to fully take in the rest of the film.

It was that we—each of us—are kings and queens in disguise. So are our children. It is through the tending, nurturing, and diaper changing that we become our most noble of selves. That process does not occur with the education we receive in universities. Nor does it come in the moments where the house is spotless, meals are perfectly prepared and balanced, and everyone is blissfully, magically perfect.

It comes when we are on our knees, changing diapers or kissing a tiny scratch on a finger. It comes when we see our little one tracking in mud, covered head to toe—and the fleeting thought crosses our mind that it would be easier to have another baby than to clean this one up! The majesty, like the farmer’s scattered seeds, grows inside us as we drag our exhausted, discouraged selves around, doing what needs to be done with equanimity, and coming to love—in ways we never before could comprehend—these little ones whom we serve.

In a way that is difficult to describe, thoughts unfolded in my mind during the movie. They were thoughts that began to comprehend the amazing glory of a Plan that brings us higher as we go to the depths to serve one another, that teaches us godlike character and awareness and compassion, even as we kneel to change yet another dirty diaper.

When Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy once again take on their rightful role as kings and queens, their countenances change. Their shoulders straighten; their clothing and demeanor reflect their true nature.

On that day so many years ago, with Nathaniel’s sticky pickle juice feet and Caitlin’s ragamuffin appearance, I had a tiny inkling of what it was all about, despite my discouragement. But never then did I realize the magnitude of my role as a mother, until now (and maybe now is only the beginning).

Two weeks ago yesterday, we took Nathaniel into the MTC, in preparation for his service as a missionary in the Korean Daejeon Mission. Just prior to that, at our family reunion, I almost felt as though time had ceased to exist. As we all laughed and played and sang and joked and were rather crazy together, I sensed this magnificent chain of generations behind us and generations yet to come, all linked through the service we give one another. I looked around at each of you, mature and confident and quietly efficient, loving each other and loving each others’ children, and I felt a sense of supreme gratitude. You have all turned out beautifully. And despite the fact that I know you would be quick to tell me all is not perfect in your lives, I can point with gratitude at the crops now flourishing in our field.

We plant, we nurture, we tend, we wait, we serve, we kneel, we grow, we understand. As time passes and the fruits are more evident, we sometimes do not recognize the personal growth we have experienced in the refining process. We only see what we view as woefully inadequate, time-pressed selves, too tired to get past our frailties.

But perceptions change when we become more fully aware of who we really are. You have each blossomed into kind, caring, gifted royal individuals. Nathaniel’s sticky pickle juice feet became the feet of a missionary prepared to serve.

Stan wrote down a quote and stuck it on our bulletin board. I guess this epitomizes my little message of hope, gratitude and confidence in each of you:

“Be realistic. Expect a miracle. But remember, the Impossible takes a little longer than the Difficult.”

If I were to be gifted with a wish to bestow upon each of you, it would be that you somehow obtain a vision of the true majesty of what you are doing; the incredible seeds you have planted, the fertile ground you have plowed, the intense labor in which you're engaged--it's all worth it! It's all so very worth it. "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her...Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Proverbs 31:28, 31)

Each of you, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, is becoming more and more the royalty you are as you continue onward. I promise you this--The day will come when your children will rise up and call you blessed, as mine have so beautifully done with me.

Radiant Rachel Lovina

2008-05-20T05:25:00.000-07:00

This is Josh and Melodie's little girl, Rachel Lovina, who was born two years ago on May 22. She is full of wisdom and mischief and creativity, all bundled together in an adorable little red-headed girl!

We were all so excited when Rachel was born. She has three brothers, two of whom were born before she was, so it was fun for Melodie to have a little girl doll to dress up. Rachel can hold her own, however, with three brothers. She can dig in the dirt and draw with sidewalk chalk right alongside them. Recently, I watched her baby brother Joshua James while Rachel and Adam and Jarom pulled dandelions with their Aunt Brit. Each filled their buckets and then dumped them out in the trash by the side of the yard. It was fun to be an onlooker with those three busy little people, helping enthusiastically.

For Christmas, Rachel received her own tiny violin. She LOVES her violin! She is scheduled to begin lessons this year, and she is very ready to play. Her violin is so tiny and it is so fun to see her hold it and care for it. I am excited to attend her first recital.

Rachel is blessed to have a very wonderful family. Her brothers love her and her parents do such a great job with their four little ones. We love you Rachel! Have a Happy Happy Birthday!

One Down, Eighty to Go. . .

2008-04-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

Two and a half years ago, while working for the airlines late one evening, my feet felt as though they were walking on cut glass that had been shot out of a volcano. I couldn't work anymore. Couldn't lift a bag, could hardly walk. Even going to Sam's Club was excruciating. Mornings were the worst. For two and a half years, Stan has worked on my feet and legs nearly every night, trying to help my body heal from a major case of plantar fasciitis, with accompanying bone spurs and rigid calf muscles. Honestly, I didn't know if I would ever be able to walk again for any length of time without the pain being unbearable. Countless tears, major weight gain, and I felt as though I was facing an insurmountable obstacle, hoping to get well again.

In January I wrote down 81 goals that I had chosen for myself. Maybe I'll share those with you on a future occasion, but for now I'll share this story. Earlier our daughter in law Brittany had asked if anyone wanted to run in a 5K race with her in April 2008. I thought this would be a good time to shoot for being well. So began the effort--a little walking here, a little more walking there. I joined the local athletic club and began teaching water aerobics, which are great for someone in my situation because there is such buoyancy in the water that you can really get a great workout with very little impact. As soon as spring hit, I started walking outside. I got up to two miles, but it was painful! Nevertheless, when the weather permitted (which, face it, in Ohio, wasn't very often!), I walked.

Fast forward to yesterday, Saturday, April 19th. We all gathered for a group photo before the starting horn blew. Brit, Emilie and Caitie ran on ahead. But Matt, bless him, and Della were with me. We walked. We kept walking as group after group passed us. We had started fairly far back because the strollers were supposed to be last. But finally we were the last in the race except for one group behind us. We kept walking. I remembered Heather telling me to just enjoy the scenery and the experience, and that helped me a lot. I focused on the sensations--the incredible rush of the crowd's energy, the loudspeaker playing "Mony, Mony" at high volume as we went through the starting gate. There was a large group of girls from a high school team ahead of us, shouting cheers. That got a little annoying, so I was relieved when they got way ahead of us.

Throughout it all, Matt was beside me, pleasantly carrying on a conversation, feeding Della bits of banana and crackers and water from her sippy cup. I honestly don't think I would have made it without Matt there. He was encouraging without being "rah rah" and he was so fun to talk to. I loved the time we had walking and talking.

We got to the one mile marker and people offered us Gatorade and water. I gladly drank a sip of Gatorade and almost a cup of water. I think by this time the one group behind us was catching up fast! We kept going. . .

It seemed like it was taking forever to get to the two mile marker. For the first time I was beginning to wonder if I could do this. My legs and feet were starting to ache and cramp up. I had wanted to get our picture taken by each marker along the way. Finally, I mentioned to Matt that I was wondering how soon we'd get to Mile 2. He said, "Oh, we passed that a long time ago, Mom. We only have about 6/10 of a mile left." I could have hugged him! What hope filled my heart. I felt a wave of euphoria flood through me. I KNEW I would do this. I knew I COULD do this, and my heart sang.

I asked Matt if we could pick up the pace, and I actually jogged for a few yards, something I haven't done in years. One by one, we passed the groups that had passed us earlier, even the group of high school girls (who by then had stopped shouting cheers). We got ahead of about 25 groups, one at a time.

We reached another batch of onlookers, who were encouraging us. One lady shouted that we only had about 4 blocks to go, and that triggered incredible hope within me. Caitlin and Brittany, who had run on ahead, came back to walk the rest of the way with us. But I wanted to give that last little bit everything I had. And I did! I jogged-walked the rest of the way, tears streaming down my cheeks as I crossed the finish line.
It was a little embarrassing to be so emotional about what for some would seem such a small thing. But for me it represented a major victory, the knowledge that I could get better and could heal and do wonderful physical accomplishments once again. I am crying as I write this blog entry, remembering the amazing feeling of triumph.

Before I flew out here to Utah, Stan said to me, "Honey, you and I are the only ones who know how hard you have worked, how much pain you have suffered with this, and I want you to know that I'll be right there with you, rooting for you all along." I felt his love and encouragement.

Last night I went out to dinner with my sisters and their husbands to celebrate Tom's and David's (same day) birthday. I was so sore and stiff that I could hardly move. But today I'm only a little sore, and I am so grateful for yesterday! Grateful to Brittany for cooking up this particular idea and offering it, grateful to Emilie and Caitlin for being there with me, and most of all to Matt, my dear son, who walked every step of the way with me, who kept me thinking positively, and who would tell you it was no big deal. Matt, it was a big deal for me. I love you and will be forever grateful to you for this, the first of my 81 goals. I love you all! Thank you!

P.S. I just checked the race results: I was #2926 out of 3020 runners. (94 ahead of the last one!) And it took just over an hour. So next year. . .

OK, So Maybe I AM an Author. . . Never at a Loss for Words!

2008-04-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a guaranteed smile for the day, for those of you who love words:

HUMOR FOR LEXOPHILES (LOVERS OF WORDS)

I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

Police were called to a day care where a 3-yr-old was resisting a rest.

Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all
right now.

The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.

The butcher backed up into the meat grinder & got a little behind in his
work.

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.

The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at
large

A thief who stole a calendar got 12 months.

A thief fell & broke his leg in wet cement. He became a hardened criminal.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.

The dead batteries were given out frėe of charge.

A dentist & a manicurist fought tooth and nail.

A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

A will is a dead giveaway.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

A backward poet writes inverse.

In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count
that votes.

A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.

If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.

Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft & I'll show you A-flat miner.

The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.

A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France, resulted in Linoleum
Blownapart.

You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

A calendar's days are numbered.

A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.

A boiled egg is hard to beat.

He had a photographic memory which was never developed.

Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

When you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.

When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis

Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

Acupuncture: a jab well done.

Happy Surprise Birthday Blog, Heather!

2008-04-09T17:59:00.001-07:00

Here's a tribute to one of the funnest people I know, and she happens to be my daughter-in-law! We knew she was meant to be part of our family from the moment Joel came home from a church dance. I think he was fourteen and he was in LOVE. By the time he was fifteen, he informed me he was going to marry Heather.
To know Heather is to get it straight--no hype, no pretense, just
great common sense and a dose of reality. She is inventive,
creative, and
she works incredibly hard, always learning, always thinking, always figuring out ways to make things better. I love how she organized their tiny apartment so that it looks gorgeous (on the inside--I can't say much for the weathered exterior!), and it is functional and efficient. She has exquisite taste.

Heather is an exceptional mom. She loves the kids and is always doing fun things with them. She is consistent in her discipline and she is fearless in their defense. But boy, if they are on the wrong side of the line she sets them straight quickly and kindly--a hard thing to do. I love watching her snuggle with the kidlets and it's fun to see how much she enjoys being a mom.

Joel is blessed to have Heather for his wife. Not everybody can get through medical school, especially with kids, jobs, and all the hassles of study, no sleep, no money. She has taken everything in stride and just rolls with the punches. These two know each other so well, and are great friends. Their relationship is supportive and understanding and it's enjoyable to spend time in their home.

Heather inspires me in so many ways! She always looks fantastic, even when she's cleaning the house in scrubs. She's classy and sassy. She uses her brain and she loves figuring stuff out. I'm so grateful for you Heather! Have a fabulocity of a birthday (one of her words) on April 18th!

Our Radiant Caitie

2008-04-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

I was going to say something like Charismatic Caitlin for the title of this blog, but even the term "charisma" doesn't do this adorable daughter justice! When I think about Caitlin I think, full of life, full of joy, full of peace, compassion, understanding, full of wisdom. And that is only the beginning...

When Caitlin was born on April 13, 1987, she was a precious gift. We were kind of stunned to have another girl after five boys. It was great! She and Emilie have been the perfect friends and companions for each other during their growing up years. I suspect they will continue to have a strong relationship with each other forever, just as I have with my sisters.

When Caitlin was a little girl, she would sing the most soothing, lovely songs to me. She has a knack for making me feel at peace. As she grew up, she gained an intense interest in healing, probably largely from her dad! She has a gift for helping others to heal. She also knows her anatomy and physiology! Somehow, in a way I can't quite articulate, she is just healing to be around.
A few years ago, I worked for America West, and Caitlin, Emilie and I went to New York City. We got to see Wicked and had a wonderful time. Then last year we went to Hawaii together. You can see the joy and beauty shining out of the girls' eyes. And I think every picture I have of Caitlin shows that same joy and radiance. She just shines!

On the dance floor, there's no one with more enthusiasm. She has an energy that is tangible, and she enlivens any group she's in. She has an infectious laugh that can at times be downright silly! I remember many times when we would quote to her the phrase that Peter Sellers used to give his Asian servant in the old Pink Panther movies: "Caito! Now is not the time!"

Caitie has grown into a gorgeous and amazingly talented woman. A few weeks ago, she choreographed a routine for eight people and danced in a performance with the BYU Women's Chorus. At the last minute one of the dancers dropped out, and she recruited and taught another dancer the routine in few hours. That night the team performed and received a standing ovation. Talk about amazing! This girl rocks! Twenty-one years old. You are a blessing beyond description in my life, Caitlin Beth Gardner! I am so grateful for you and I love you. Happy Birthday!

Our Della-Dollie

2008-04-08T05:51:00.000-07:00

It's a bit of a challenge to do blog entries, one right after the other, when you have three birthdays right in a row! David's is the 11th, Della's is the 12th, and Caitlin's is the 13th! So please scroll down and make sure you read about David, and Caitie's is coming . . .soon, I promise!

This wee bitty girl is a year old on April 12th. I remember last year when Brittany and Lori were expecting within a couple of days of each other. I was with Melodie shopping for clothes when we got the call that Brit was in labor--a month early! We were nervous and prayerful, and when Della was born she was sooo little. But I am so grateful she was healthy and beautiful and adorable, and she becomes even more so every day. She is a little treasure. I'm delighted that she will be a big sister sometime in September or October--depending on if Brit keeps up the early bird tendency. (Brit--you're always so quick to deliver--on EVERYTHING! You're amazing!). Anyway, I think Della is precious. She has two of the most wonderful parents in the world, and they love her to pieces. I'm so proud of Matt and Brittany for being the wonderful examples they are, and for their adorable baby girl to be an example to. We love you three and wish Della the happiest birthday she's ever had! :)

Our Amazing David

2008-04-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys--I'm not too great at importing pictures yet!

These are pictures of our wonderful firstborn son David and his adorable wife Lori. I could write a blog just about Lori (in fact, I will--but it's not her birthday!). She has been a perfect wife for Dave and a wonderful mother. But David, whose birthday comes up on April 11, is the man of the month. What can I tell you about David? Well, for starters, he is VERY funny. I absolutely love his sense of humor. That seems to have been tempered somewhat as he and Lori have had more (5 now) children. But he is hilarious when he gets going. And he loves to find the humor in situations and laugh about them with everyone. He is also very intelligent and creative. I love his integrity and his down-to-earth wisdom. He puts his whole self into projects and uses his creativity in ways that bless his family.

When David was little, he drew all the time. I still have some of the incredibly detailed pictures he drew. One picture of a giant and a castle that he drew in 2nd or 3rd grade was featured in a magazine. He used to always win coloring contests, too. As a junior high student he won a $1000 scholarship in a drawing contest.

Over the past couple of years, David has been very involved in soccer, coaching Joseph's (his oldest son) team. He's been dedicated to the boys and really treats them fairly. Last fall I got to go up to Logan and watch the team play and I was struck with how much he supported each boy, sending each one in to play and praising them individually for doing a good job. Even when the boys messed up, Dave just quietly told them they were doing fine and to keep focused. That, I guess, pretty much expresses how he treats everyone. He's a wonderful man!

I love watching Dave and Lori swing dance. They are incredibly good, and they look so cute together. They have a natural rhythm and they know each other's moves so well that they intuitively put together great routines, seemingly without effort. I suspect when their kids grow up they will all have natural dancing ability, because Dave and Lori have danced while expecting each of the kids.

It's amazing to think that our oldest son is old enough to be a father of five children, but what an intense pleasure it is to see how beautifully he does his job as husband and father. I know, Dave--when you read this, you'll shake your head and think your mom is just being your mom and praising you, but it shows in your wife and children and the wonderful feeling that exists in your home. I'm so grateful that God blessed Stan and me with David Stanley Gardner, our beloved oldest son! Happy birthday Dave!

Korea Daejeon!

2008-04-01T09:52:00.001-07:00

Wow! That's about all I can say about the last several days. I feel like I've been on a roller coaster, and I'm sure how I have felt doesn't hold a candle to Nathaniel's experiences. Wednesday is the typical day for mission calls to arrive, and we collectively held our breath, thinking, "Oh well, if it isn't this week, maybe next." Wednesday was a crazy day, anyway. Nathaniel and Caitie and Emilie all danced a standing ovation performance, swing dancing a routine that Caitlin had choreographed. I'd like to try to figure out how to load their recording onto this blog. So Wednesday came and went. Then Thursday. Nothing. Friday night Stan and I were at home when the phone rang. It was Nathaniel, strangely out of breath. "Mom! Dad! It came!" We were puzzled at first, then put two and two together. He had just gotten off work, headed back to the apartment, and there it was. As we talked on the phone, his roommates were threatening that the call was opening itself in the background.

We all took a deep breath and decided that EVERYONE had to be in on the call. I'm proud that Nathaniel had the gumption and the self control to wait until the next night. By then I had arranged for a conference call number (thanks Leslie!). Even Steve called in from China.

Unfortunately, the best laid plans...our connection was pretty muddy. We took a poll to find out where everyone thought he'd be going. Here are the results:
Steve: Korea or a Chinese speaking mission
Lori: Samoa
David: Alabama
Cristie: Latvia
Josh: Central America
Melodie: Guatemala
Joel: Germany
Heather: Canada
Emilie: Utah Provo
Caitie: France
Matthew: Soviet Union
Nathaniel: Stateside or Africa

Adding that to the background noise to Nathaniel's shaking, tear-filled voice, we couldn't figure out at first where he had been called.

But as it turned out, Steve was the winner. He'd nailed it on the first guess! Korea Daejeon. I guess it used to be called Taejon or something like that. It's still pronounced with a T sound to begin the word. When we read it, all we could think was "mustard." The Korean Dejon Mustard Mission. Pretty cool name! But we're all pretty pumped, especially Nathaniel. He reports on May 7. That's only 5 1/2 weeks to get ready. Yikes!

Oh--and one pretty funny side comment: When Nathaniel was 15, he went to China to spend a few months with Steve. When he came back, he told me, "You know, the only language I really have no interest in learning is Korean. They sound so whiny!" I think Someone Upstairs overheard that remark and is having a pleasant little chuckle right now. Because, you know, you learn to love wherever you go--and you learn to love the people, and the language. Nathaniel already does! Have a great mission, beloved son!

About English!

2008-03-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Stan and I are heading to China this summer, and our son David just sent us this hilarious poem. It makes me think of how difficult it is to learn our native language--poor Chinese! Here it is:

Hints on pronunciation for foreigners
By T.S.W. *

I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough
Others may stumble but not you,
On hiccough, thorough, laugh* and through.
Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,
To learn of less familiar traps?

Beware of heard, a dreadful word
That looks like beard and sounds like bird.
And dead: it's said like bed, not bead -
For goodness' sake don't call it "deed"!
Watch out for meat and great and threat
(They rhyme with suite and straight and debt.)

A moth is not a moth in mother
Nor both in bother, broth in brother,
And here is not a match for there
Nor dear and fear for bear and pear,
And then there's dose and rose and lose -
Just look them up - and goose and choose,
And cork and work and card and ward,
And font and front and word and sword,
And do and go and thwart and cart
Come, come, I've barely made a start!
A dreadful language? Man alive!
I'd mastered it when I was five!

As the Snow Flies...

2008-03-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

Oh wow! Remember a couple of days ago? Yeah, I put the pictures up of our back deck and barbecue and my thumb (I always take pictures of my thumb when I take pictures)? Well, that's not even holding a tiny candle up in comparison to what we have now. Oh my goodness. It is Snowville here. The snow is wayyyyyyy up past what it was when I took the pictures before this week. And then it melted, and it snowed again, and it melted, and all last night and today it snowed and snowed and snowed. They canceled church services (we're supposed to have stake conference) for tonight and tomorrow. About 3:00 this afternoon I told Stan I had to get out of the house or I would go stir-crazy, so we ventured out. We crept along the 57, which is normally a 55-speed limit highway, at a snail's pace, because it hadn't been plowed for hours. Every time we got to a stoplight we either breathed a sigh of relief (green--we could go through) or held our breaths (red--we were nervous about being able to move forward once stopped). We made it to Blockbuster, where, thanks to Joel and Heather's urging, we decided to try a diet of Jericho. I mean, you can only read scriptures for so long, you know? So we got the first two discs and got stuck in Blockbuster's parking lot three times. The last one, Stan got us cleared out so we could get out of the parking lot, but we couldn't quite make it up the hill. Two nice guys pushed with Stan while I tried to steer us on the final ascent, but we couldn't quite do it. Just then, like an angel appearing, a man walked past carrying groceries. He didn't even ask if we needed help, just dropped the bags in the middle of the street, said, "This'll be the third time today," and pushed with Stan and the other guy. As I was steering the car (Stan said to go STRAIGHT up into the street), a snowplow was coming along the cross street! I panicked a little bit, but the snowplow moved around us, and we got into the middle of the street. We said a hurried thanks to our helpers, Stan and I switched spots, and he drove s-l-o-w-l-y home. I should have asked if we could have gone out for dinner! I'll try to take some pictures tomorrow.

Our Incredible Nathaniel

2008-03-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

How does a mama llama go about describing an incredible son? It hasn't been too hard for me, because we've already raised five awesome older brothers and two incredible sisters. But this Nathaniel is one amazing guy. And since today's his birthday, he's the one in the spotlight.

Nathaniel has an amazing ability to cheer me up. He never lets himself get down much, either. His sense of humor is infectious. One time I came upstairs to find seven phones on the bed, with yellow pieces of paper on top of them that said, "Let's play which cell phone is yours and which one is mine." He had gathered all of our nonworking phones and decided to make a game out of that fact that we had gone through so many phones. That's only one experience; I could name dozens, but let's go on...

He has been blessed with almost countless talents: language, dancing, music (composing and playing and singing), speech, thinking and reasoning, and a sense of adventure. It's so fun to watch him break dance! And I hope someday I can get a recording of the magnificent songs he has written (hint hint).

He has a great love and loyalty to his family, and that goes for everyone from the oldest to the tiny newest. He shares this birthday month with his nephew Christian, and in his Facebook picture he's holding Christian in his lap. He's fiercely protective of his sisters, and makes sure he approves of the guys who are interested in them.

Nathaniel also has a strong sense of integrity. He will stand for principles without shrinking back, and he is articulate and convincing when he makes his points. He is respectful without giving an inch for something that is not right and true. Recently he was featured on KSL, ABC, Fox News, and CNN (as well as probably a bunch of other sites) as a spokesman for Standing for Decency, a group that asked Gold's Gym to show only appropriate movies. He took a lot of flack for that, but he stood his ground.

Nathaniel is powerfully self-motivated. He sold products on eBay and earned his way to China, so he could stay there with his brother Steve and learn the language while seeing the country. He did this at the age of 15, at the same time as he was earning his Eagle rank in Scouts.

In many ways I think Nathaniel is almost as wise as Solomon! Let me give you an example: years ago, he and his sisters were the only ones not invited to a guy's birthday party. Nathaniel and his sisters each put in some money, and Nathaniel walked up to the guy later and said, "Hey, I heard it was your birthday last week. Happy birthday." And he gave him a birthday card with $20 inside. A pretty great way to make his point without becoming a victim!

I could go on for pages and pages, but there's no way I could even begin to express how much I love this boy! He is such a joy to all of us. We are so grateful and blessed to have him in our lives, as a part of our family, and as a dear friend. Happy Birthday, my beloved Nathaniel!

Democrats for a Day

2008-03-04T06:07:00.001-08:00

Well, we just did something I never thought we'd do...we changed our party affiliation, just so we could do our tiny little bit NOT to get a certain someone elected! It was really pretty hilarious--we went to the polls early this morning . Right off the bat they asked us what party we were. We thought that was a little nosy. Isn't that supposed to be a private thing? And who said we have to tell at the voting booths? Eh? So we were a little bit annoyed that they asked, but apparently in the primaries you have to vote straight party.

So...let me backtrack a little bit. Our foster son Land is living with us for a while. He's big into politics (Republican politics) and he went down to Columbus to visit with party headquarters about possible job options for him in this swing state. The party head made mention that inasmuch as we have a de facto candidate for the Republican party, he was thinking of switching just to make sure that we had as good a chance as possible in November. Then last weekend we went to Joel and Heather's and heard Joel talking about the perspectives of one of the folks there whose doctorate is in international politics or something like that. This guy feels the best choice is the one who will do the best in international relationships, where we aren't doing too well right now, and he had a strong opinion on who would do the best job.

To make a long story short, this guy's perspective struck home with Stan and me, and we decided to vote for our best, least favorite candidate. When we got to the polls, and learned we couldn't do that unless we changed parties, we had a quick conference outside the doors in the cold, then marched inside and asked, "Where do we sign?" A few moments later, we were handed a Democrat ballot. That's the first one I've ever seen! It didn't take long and we were on our way. I forgot to ask though--how long before we can switch back? Yikes!

Holy Snow Batman!

2008-02-27T13:34:00.001-08:00

I'm going to try to figure out how to take a picture and import it, because you HAVE to see how much snow we have had in the last two days! Oh my goodness! The back patio is over a foot deep, and that's just the part that hasn't seeped through the slats in the wood! It's amazing. The biggest snow we've seen in Ohio. It's supposed to warm up in the next couple of days. That will be interesting, since we have a little stream next to the house that gets big when the weather warms up. Check out the pictures on the sidebar. The snow is past a foot above the railing!

In This Despair

2008-02-26T06:56:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone! Don't think that I'm hopelessly depressed when you read this. I simply woke up yesterday feeling caught up in despair, and I write to get myself out of those thoughts. Maybe this will someday be helpful to one of you.

In This Despair

By Cristie B. Gardner

Oh God! Where art thou? Hear my plea;

I yearn to know what pleases Thee;

And though my heart is painful; still

I seek to know Thy mind, Thy will.

Where dost Thou want that I should go?

What dost Thou want that I should know?

Amidst the many tasks I face

I seek Thy comforting embrace.

A knowledge and a surety

That what is now and what will be

Are two distinct paths I shall take

To find my peace, for my own sake.

I need not know the end just yet

I only ask not to forget

The clear direction Thou hast shown;

The solace of Thy will has grown.

The hole is deep; I burrow in.

I do not know where to begin

To find the light once more in me.

I struggle with futility.

Though seeming mindlessly I grope

Through darkened halls, I hold my hope

And set before me, like a lamp,

It warms the wall so cold, so damp.

Its tiny spark is fuel to life;

It flares to brightness, as a knife

To trim the trappings binding me

And then, at last, to set me free.

Helpful Information about Vaccines

2008-02-23T03:40:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! Several of you have asked Stan about his professional opinion about vaccines, when, what age, why, risks, etc. For those of you who are interested, here is an excellent article about something taking place in France, I believe. Dr. Mercola's comments afterward are even more interesting: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/2/23/vaccine-companies-investigated-for-manslaughter.aspx

Hold the Dream

2008-02-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

Hold on to the dream that you care for;
To the dream that enlivens your soul.
Move forward without hesitation,
And KEEP YOUR EYES FIXED ON YOUR GOAL.

You'll encounter adversity; stumble.
Sometimes it is hard to go on.
Opportunities now that await you
Must be taken or soon will be gone.

You will find strength in lifting another.
Give your heart with compassion and care,
But stay true to the course you must follow
And reach out for the dream that you dare.

The course in your life that awaits you
Is the one designed only for YOU!
And in truth there is no competition:
There are only the things you can do.

So, persistent and focused, keep moving
And go forward with courage to be
Brush aside any doubts that you'll make it;
Learn your lessons in humility

Then, completing this race you have started
Step by step, till you've finished the whole--
You'll be crowned with a glory resplendent
For you kept your eyes fixed on your goal.

2008-02-22T11:22:00.001-08:00